From The Salt Lake Crawler: Why not Frank for senator?

By Glen Warchol

News that Mitt Romney plans to support Gov. Gary Herbert's re-election is not half as exciting as beloved former Utah Jazz coach Frank Layden's endorsement of Democratic Senate candidate Sam Granato.

Layden hasn't lost his knack for rapid-fire patter:

"Can you hear me out there? I've been in front of more dead mikes lately than an Irish undertaker. . . .

Read Glen's entire post here!

Sam Granato for United States Senate partners with Redirect Relationship Marketing

Salt Lake City - On Monday September 28, 2009 Sam Granato's campaign for United States Senate entered into a partnership with Redirect Relationship Marketing.

Granato said, "We had several agencies approach the campaign and we felt that they all had some great ideas for this race, but in the end we felt that James Roberts and Brian Seethaler from Redirect best understood the direction we needed to take to build a winning campaign."

Redirect was an instrumental partner in Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker's winning campaign, and their experience goes all the way back to former Utah Attorney General Jan Graham's re-election campaign, the last statewide race won by a Utah Democrat.

Rob Miller, Granato's campaign manager said, "I have known James and Brian for quite some time and I am excited to be working with two old friends who I believe in.  Not only do they have the skills to get our message out, but simply said, it was obvious to Sam and me that James and Brian want Sam to win. They want "us" to win!  How fortunate are we in this campaign to be working with great talent and great friends."

To learn more about Redirect Relationship Marketing click here!


For questions please contact Sam Granato's campaign at 801-867-1704.

Posts on Civility from last night's Sutherland Institute's Blogger Briefing

The Sutherland Institute held a blogger briefing last night where Utah Republican Chair, Dave Hansen and myself had the opportunity to speak with Utah bloggers on civility.

Here are a few posts that were inspired from last night's event:

Pursuit of Liberty (David Miller) Civility in Politics

Simple Utah Mormon Politics (Frank Staheli) I'm Right...and You're Stupid. How Civil is Utah Politics?


Just and Holy Principles (Matthew C. Piccolo)“Look what you did you little jerk!”

Thanks to the Sutherland Institute, the Utah bloggers, and United States Senate Candidate Sam Granato for being part of this discussion.

News Release: Utah Union Copper Workers ratify new Kennecott Contract

Magna, Utah – Union copper workers employed at Kennecott Utah Copper ratified a new, long-term contract on Tuesday September 29, 2009 prior to a Wednesday, midnight expiration of their current contract.

Union copper bargaining chair, Bob LaVenture, who also serves as District Director for the United Steelworkers in the Western United States, praised the agreement which he said will add in excess of $8 million new dollars to the economies of Salt Lake area communities during the next 12 months.

Additionally, $50 million new dollars in purchasing power for Union copper workers over the term of this agreement will be available. This will provide significant boost for Utah’s economy.

According to Union spokesperson, Wayne Holland, a Staff Representative for the United Steelworkers, the new Union contract results in the most significant pension increases ever achieved for American copper workers and will provide vital health care security to Union retirees.

Union bargaining co-chair, Dale Cox, who also serves as the District Manager of International Union of Operating Engineers and as Vice President of the Utah AFL-CIO, believes the agreement establishes new opportunities beyond the economic benefits by opening productive procedures for positive and constructive labor management relations.

Utah's Next United States Senator, Sam Granato! Sam Granato addresses Utah State Democratic Central Committee

Peter! Peter! Peter! Utah State Democratic Central Committee Meeting - September 26, 2009

Do you know Nikki? Nikki Norton - Organizing For America

THANK YOU! Rob Miller elected as Chair of County Chairs for the Utah State Democratic Executive Committee

Party Lines: How vital is the current redistricting initiative?

By Rob Miller, Democratic Party

slideshow

I am an adamant believer in the Fair Boundaries redistricting initiative due to my belief that voters should pick

their legislators and that legislators should not be picking their voters, as do 75 percent of Utahns and 60 percent of registered Utah Republicans based on a recent Deseret News/KSL poll.

Although the Fair Boundaries initiative’s primary drafter was a Republican, this initiative and the Fair Boundaries coalition is a nonpartisan coalition whose purpose is to set up an independent redistricting commission to replace the committee of legislators that normally draw the map every 10 years following the United States census.

One phrase I have heard too often during my travels throughout Utah as the former state vice chair of the Utah Democratic Party has been, “I don’t vote because my vote doesn’t count.” I can’t tell you how many times I have heard that excuse, but after thoroughly investigating the current lines drawn in 2001 by the Legislature it is easy to see that the current boundaries were drawn to give the advantage to GOP office holders, by breaking up communities to ensure that the GOP candidate wins. No wonder so many Utahns feel like their vote is meaningless.

In my eyes having the Legislature decide the boundaries is a huge conflict of interest. As I said before, legislators should not be picking their voters, we should, as voters, and as communities, be picking our legislators, and that is the simple reason why the Fair Boundaries coalition was founded and the 11-member commission is needed, to ensure that your community is safe from the current process that hews to no values, and therefore, no accountability beyond the broad rules set forth by the Supreme Court. On the other hand, the Fair Boundaries initiative does provide values, and hence, accountability.

Think of this: Accountability, values, principles, and rules made in law instead of by the courts. The Fair Boundaries initiative provides a system of checks and balances where communities and people are prioritized over politics.

With an 85 percent of Utahns wanting ethics reform in the Legislature, the Fair Boundaries initiative is a great step forward to achieving that reform, but unfortunately, like with the voucher referendum, many of our elected GOP officials are ignoring the voice of the people, and are trying to confuse the issue by claiming that there isn’t a problem, or that this initiative is a “Liberal” attack on conservatism. Nothing could be further from the truth, and one could wonder why any elected official who proclaims to be patriotic would want to discourage an initiative that is aimed at furthering the interest of democracy.

In a state that is among the lowest voter turnout rate in the nation it would seem that it would be important to elected officials, stewards of the people, to do everything in their power to ensure that every registered voter’s vote does count.

In 1989 President Ronald Reagan warned Americans of the “conflicts of interest” legislators have in drawing their own districts, and it is my belief that no election should ever be a forgone conclusion. You can learn more about this issue at www.fairboundaries.org.

Party Lines: How vital is the current redistricting initiative? ♠

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

by Todd Weiler, 

Republican

What’s in a name? If I say I am against the Fair Boundaries Initiative (“FBI”), then that makes me in favor or

something unfair, doesn’t it? And no one wants to be perceived as being unfair.

Another problem with the name is that it assumes that the status quo is unfair. And I reject the underlying premise that our duly elected legislators are inherently corrupt. Yes, some gerrymandering takes place. And it has been taking place for 200 years. Rob Miller will invariably reference the re-drawing of the second congressional district eight years ago to try to favor a Republican win over Jim Matheson. While it’s true that it happened, it was also widely reported in the media. The result? Jim Matheson was re-elected four more times and is now poised to run for a statewide office. A case could be made that the voters who were offended by the overreaching went to the polls and showed their dissatisfaction. That’s democracy in action.

Utah currently follows a meticulous process to solicit and obtain public input for redistricting plans. While I will concede it's not perfect, it is certainly thorough. As things stand today, the Legislature: (1) appoints a redistricting committee; (2) establishes a transparent process that emphasizing public involvement; (3) adopts governing principles to promote fairness; (4) solicits public input, which includes public hearings statewide; (5) prepares, deliberates, and chooses among alternate plans; and (6) convenes in special session to adopt a final map.

Our government was founded on a system of checks and balances. The FBI seeks to strip power away from the legislative branch and give it to an extra-governmental committee with no check and no balance. The authority to appoint members to the commission would be delegated to three organizations that currently lobby the Legislature: three members appointed by the Utah Association of Counties, three more by the Utah League of Cities and Towns, and one by the state school board. The remaining four members would be chosen by the first seven appointees.

The primary intent of the FBI appears to be to create political districts that respect municipal boundaries. While that may be a worthy goal on the surface, it is uniformly unachievable on a macro level and may not even be desirable. I have lived in Woods Cross for 12 years. Currently, six of the seven precincts are represented by Roger Barrus, and the seventh by Sheryl Allen. Is that a bad thing? The FBI would seek to consolidate all seven precincts into one legislative district. So right now, if the Mayor of Woods Cross needs some help in the Legislature, he can rightfully call on two representative for help. If FBI goes into effect, then he will likely only be able to bend the ear of one. I may be missing something, but a small city like Woods Cross appears to benefit from having two voices instead of just one on Capitol Hill.

Revive the Rooster

YES WE CAN, AGAIN! Come help the Davis County Democrats retain their softball champion title!

The time has come for the Davis County Democrats to retain their championship title at the Fifth Annual Championship Softball Game and Picnic between the Davis County Democrats and the Davis County Conservatives in Layton, Utah (Chappel Park 152 S 900 E, Layton, UT 84041 - Map it) at 3 p.m.

We will play at ball at 3 p.m. Afterwards we will break bread with our Republican challengers. 

Anyone is welcome, but Independents will probably want to play on our team this year.

Here's a link covering last year's game. 

If you have any question please call Democrat Extrodinaire, Richard Watson, at 801-540-3146.

HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

KSL.com: Cross-country health reform bus tour makes stop in Salt Lake

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

Here's a few more links on Wednesday's event (The Salt Lake Tribune missed the bus):

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bluheron/show/

http://www.deseretnews.com/user/comments/705330668/Gallery-Hundreds-rally-for-reform.html

http://www.obamachronicles.org/2009/09/16/health-care-reform-bus-stops-in-utah-hundreds-rally/

http://www.abc4.com/content/news/slc/story/Health-care-reform-bus-comes-to-Salt-Lake/wA59Mi-LcUqBYKQ-LfNZ9A.cspx

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/09/08/dueling-bus-tours-in-health-care-debate/

Lady Killer wants a senator with passion!

Sam, I want a senator who is ..., respectful

Sam Granato Continues His Interviews, "What do you want from your next United States Senator?"

Granato and Corroon

At The 2009 Avenues Street Fair

Utah's next U.S. Senator, Sam Granato, addresses the Weber and Davis County Democrats

Sam Granato Speaks With Davis and Weber County Dems from Donald Lewin Nelson on Vimeo.

Frank Layden for Sam Granato - Unedited

Frank Layden Supports Sam Granato For US Senate from Donald Lewin Nelson on Vimeo.

Sam Granato asks, "What do you want from your next United States Senator?" Part Four

United States Senate candidate, Sam Granato, asks Utahns at the 2009 Avenues Street Fair what they want from their next senator.

This video features Salt Lake family businessman Stephen Hatch of Hatch Family Chocolates.

Sam Granato asks, "What do you want from your next United States Senator?" Part Three

United States Senate candidate, Sam Granato, asks Utahns at the 2009 Avenues Street Fair what they want from their next senator.

Sam Granato asks, "What do you want from your next United States Senator?" Part Two

United States Senate candidate, Sam Granato, asks Utahns at the 2009 Avenues Street Fair what they want from their next senator.

Sam Granato asks, "What do you want from your next United States Senator?" Part One

United States Senate candidate, Sam Granato, asks Utahns at the 2009 Avenues Street Fair what they want from their next senator.

From KSL: Dirty Dealings in Syracuse, Utah

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

Police investigating mysterious phone call in mayoral race
September 11th, 2009 @ 6:07pm
By John Daley

SYRACUSE -- Allegations of dirty politics have surfaced in the race for mayor in Syracuse. At the heart of it: religion and a mysterious phone call.

Police are investigating a call in which a woman apparently pretended to be one of the candidates and made an offensive comment. They don't know who made the call, but the caller identified herself as candidate Jamie Nagle.

Nagle, who works for the state of Utah as a human resource manager, is running for mayor of Syracuse. She says she was beyond surprised when Theresa Sheffield, who is running for city council, told her about a conversation she'd had with a man while out campaigning door-to-door.

"He said, ‘I want to know who you're voting for, for mayor." And I says, ‘Well, I'm voting for Jamie Nagel.' And he says, ‘Get off my property! Get out of here! I'm not voting for you. Here's your brochure back. I want nothing to do with you!' And I said, ‘Why?' And he said, ‘She called me a white Mormon male bigot,'" Sheffield explained.
Jamie Nagle says she wonders if the campaign of rival candidate Craig Jenkins is behind the mysterious phone call

Sheffield told Nagle; Nagle filed a police report. Police interviewed the man and believe someone pretending to be Nagle made the call and provoked an argument.

"I have no idea who was doing this, really," said Syracuse Police Chief Brian Wallace. "Obviously, It would benefit the other candidates. It's kind of smearing Jamie Nagle."

Wallace continued, "He said that the lady, whoever called him, got irritated and said, ‘You're just a male Mormon bigot like that Craig Jenkins.'"

Nagle says she has no proof but wonders if the campaign of rival candidate Craig Jenkins is behind it, but the Jenkins campaign denies it. Jenkins' campaign manager Betsy Thurgood says she's not sure of other campaigns might be involved either.

"I don't know, because I know most of the people that are running, and there's nobody that I know that's running that would do anything like that," Thurgood said.

Both Jenkins and Nagle are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

"I've been asked by several people how I feel about Mormons because they've heard from that campaign that I hate them," Nagle said. "And that couldn't be further from the truth. I'm Mormon. I'm active in my church. I hold church callings."

If police can figure out who is behind the call, it could lead to criminal charges. Anyone with any information is asked to call Syracuse police at 801-825-4400.

Syracuse voters will head to the polls to vote in the primary on Tuesday.

E-mail: jdaley@ksl.com

In memory of 9-11

Here are a two posts I wrote in 2006 on the aftermath of 9-11. Remember how this tragedy brought us together as Americans? I do, and it is my hope that we never need experience a similar tragedy to remember that we are all in this together.

With every best wish,

The Utah Amicus

Images of fear: The aftermath of 9-11

9-11 Aftermath: Let optimism be your guide

Frank Layden's Remarks In Support of Sam Granato

This is a short version of retired Jazz coach Frank Layden's remarks at a recent fundraiser for United States Senate candidate, Sam Granato.

You can access the complete video which includes a bit of Frank Layden's comedy here.

Article One of the United States Constitution

Section 8: Powers of Congress

Section 8: The Congress shall have power

To lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, to pay the debts and provide for the common defence and general welfare of the United States; but all duties, imposts and excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;

Could the general welfare of the United States include health care?

You can now access this blog...

at utahamicus.com.

Making life simple.

United States Senate Candidate Sam Granato's Statement on President Obama's Message for America's Students

"Today was a historic step for our most valuable natural resource, our children.

President Obama's address hit to the very heart of the issue.

I, like many Utahns, along with seventy percent of people all across America, was elated to see our eloquent president use his gifts of communication to inspire our children on living a principled and disciplined life. A life set with goals and ideals that will better help our youth compete on a worldwide scale.

Let's work together to re-challenge our youth so they may have better opportunities, into the future, and for generations to come."

photo from ksl.com

President Obama's Message for America's Students

Democrat Rob Miller: Party Lines - How should parents/schools respond to Obama?

By Rob Miller, Democrat

Today (September 8) at 10 a.m., President Barack Obama was to deliver a historic address to our nation’s school children where he sought to speak directly to students about persisting and succeeding in school. The president challenged students to work hard, set educational goals, and take responsibility for their learning. White House spokesman Adam Abrams has assured us that this address is not a policy speech, but is part of the president’s efforts to dramatically cut the dropout rate.

One may wonder why some parents in Utah and nationwide could be against our president presenting a principled message about taking responsibility for one’s own education; but as Karl Rove said recently during his visit to Utah, “This year is going to be defined by Republicans and conservatives by what we oppose.”

The fact is Mr. Rove was speaking directly on health care insurance reform, but to the vocal minority who cannot agree with anything Obama, his message may have meant just a little bit more.

Unfortunately there will be some children whose parents will not allow them to hear the president’s address. Although I do concede that it is their right to do so, let me state that if the election had gone the other way and John McCain was now our president I can assure you that my children would still be listening because I want my children to respect our president regardless of his partisan affiliation, and because I want my children to be inspired to take their education seriously from the leader of the free world.

Maybe I have a poor memory of the past, but what has happened to the notion that once the election is over and the votes have been counted we should come together as United States citizens and work together for our common good?

This doesn’t mean we need to agree on every issue, but surely we can respect each other.

Funny thing, this lesson was taught to me by my grandmother Helen Romney, a Bountiful resident who served as vice chair of the Utah Republican Party. After a gala in her honor, I asked her why was it that just as many Democrats were there honoring her as a Utah Republican?

“Robby”, she said, “Anyone can come to me and discuss an issue, and it was easy for me to say, ‘I may disagree with your point of view but I understand and respect you; let’s find a way to work together.’”

Those words haunt me, in a good way, to this day, and I appreciate the fact that she was there to teach me that our greatest value is when we value each other.

Unfortunately, I am concerned that some parents are afraid that the president’s address might win over some of their children.

But as I see it, our president should be someone my children can look up to, and if there is something in his address I disagree with then isn’t this just an opportunity to better explain my values, principles, and point of view?

And, isn’t the responsibility of setting educational goals a message we can all embrace?

For our children's sake, I certainly hope so.

Republican Todd Weiler: Party Lines - How should parents/schools respond to Obama?

By Todd Weiler, Republican

When President George H.W. Bush decided to make an address directly to children in schools in 1991, Democrats accused him of making it into a campaign commercial. Eighteen years later, the tides have turned. Some conservatives, who are manifesting a deep seated mistrust of the current administration, see something “Orwellian” about President Obama trying to circumvent them and speak directly to their children. Hopefully Rob Miller and I can agree that taxpayer dollars should never be used to spread a socialist ideology through the public school system.

While the White House claims the President’s message is “simply a plea to students to really take their learning seriously, find out what they're good at, set goals, and take the school year seriously,” the written materials released last week (before the controversy erupted) tell a slightly different story.

Some of the language in those materials seemed to play into the critics’ contention that the address was about building Obama’s image more than about educating our children. For instance, teachers were prompted to ask the children, “What is the president inspiring me to do?” They were also encouraged to make posters of Obama’s notable quotes about education.

The lesson plans, available online, originally recommended having students “write letters to themselves about what they can do to help the president.” This comes on the heels of a video shown to elementary school students in Farmington last week that contained messages from celebrities who pledged to “serve Barack Obama”.

Isn’t the President a servant of the people? Isn’t he supposed to be serving us? Shouldn’t we be teaching our children to serve their neighbors and the country as a whole, rather than one individual who happens to already be the world’s most powerful man?

The story has legs because there is a ring of truth in the charge that Obama may have tried to use the opportunity to promote his political agenda while overstepping the boundaries of federal involvement in schools.

I have reviewed the text of the speech that was released 24 hours before it was to be given and found nothing objectionable about it. But the question will linger as to what revisions may or may not have been made after some parents started announcing they would be pulling their kids from schools.

One Arizona state school superintendent said the lesson plans released for teachers “call for a worshipful rather than critical approach.” Other school officials have expressed concern that Obama is “cutting out the parent” by speaking to kids during school hours.

As a result, school districts in states like Texas, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Virginia and Wisconsin have decided not to show the speech to students.

Like Gov. Gary Herbert, I have no problem with our nation’s president addressing our school children. While I strongly disagree with some of President Obama’s political positions, I respect him and the office to which he was duly elected by the American people. I do not believe his speech is an attempt to commence political indoctrination or to mold impressionable young minds into his left-wing rationale.

Our Greatest Generation...

will be listening to the president as he addresses school children across the country, tomorrow.

Those who do will be inspired.

They are our greatest generation.

And, President Obama understands this.

Prepared Remarks of President Barack Obama
Back to School Event

You said it, I didn't...

From Rep. Carl Wimmer's twitter account:

Utah Democratic Party Outraged by School Districts’ Reaction to Presidential address

The Utah State Democratic Party has been receiving calls all day regarding the reactionary position some Utah School Districts have taken in response to a very small minority of right wing extremists expressing paranoia over the President’s scheduled address to students around the country on Tuesday morning. The Department of Education has made abundantly clear on its website and through communications with local schools throughout the nation the purpose of this address is simply to encourage students to work hard and commit to achieving the best education possible.

The Utah State Democratic Party is extremely troubled by reports district administrators are caving to extremists by “warning parents” of the president’s speech. In the newly formed CanyonsSchool District waiver forms are proactively being circulated via their website.

President Obama is not the first president to address students and appearances by presidents in public schools to promote literacy, science and other aspects of the educational experience are common. The address by our president to the nation’s school children is in this tradition and is not a political speech. It has become clear the right is intent on politicizing everything in an effort to derail the presidency of Barack Obama and this politicization will not stop even at the school house door.

According to Utah State Democratic Party Chairman Wayne Holland “It is a sad day when even a very small number of Americans respond to a plea from our country’s leader to value the educational opportunities our schools offer with fear and paranoia. I am disappointed local districts are in turn responding with letters warning parents of the president’s speech.”

The Utah Democratic Party urges school superintendents, principals, and teachers to show our president the respect he deserves. While as Americans we value the right to disagree over how best to respond to various issues, a call by our nation’s highest elected official for our children to work hard and live up to their full potential is surely something all of us can agree on regardless of party affiliation.

© September 3, 2009 Utah State Democratic Party

Ah Shucks!

Dave Matthews concert at USANA Amphitheatre tonight postponed

Maybe they will come and play the "Us" Festival next summer.