I read the news today, oh boy ... dog days' distractions, pack journalsim**, where's Mitt?

Mid-summer's news slowdown at the Trib? Pack journalism** at the Deseret? The Crawler morphs from a Howard Beale to a Bob Woodward? Mitt and McCain snooker one of their own in Utah? Whatever. We must be entertained.

And then comes Matheson, just keepin' on keepin' on ...

Helping Utahns keep their homes

JULY 10

“Welcome to Utah, one of the new foreclosure capitals of the United States. After years of economic prosperity, Utah now has the country's 10th highest home foreclosure rate.” – Lesley Mitchell, The Salt Lake Tribune

JULY 23
Congressman Jim Matheson supports a housing relief bill titled “American Housing Rescue and Foreclosure Prevention Act.” It is designed to shore up the shaky real estate market, which in turn is a major factor in the weakening economy.

JULY 26

The Senate votes overwhelmingly for final approval of a huge package of legislation that includes an ambitious program to save hundreds of thousands of families from losing their homes to foreclosure.

________

High gasoline prices

July 20

“In summers past, Britney Visser mostly fixed lunch for her two children at home. But this summer, with gasoline and food prices rising, she's taking them to a Kearns park every day for free, federally funded lunches. The free lunches help offset the cost of the gas her husband needs to drive to work each day.” – Lisa Schencker, The Salt Lake Tribune

LAST MONTH

Congressman Jim Matheson introduces a bill (H.R. 6284, which is expected to become law in the very near future) to ensure that the federal Commodity Futures Trading Commission has the same authority to detect, prevent and punish excessive speculation and price manipulation for traders who operate on foreign exchanges, just as the Commission does for U.S. exchanges.

Oil traders working overseas exchanges can "game” the system, driving up the price of oil in excess of what the supply and demand market would dictate.

Matheson's bill is a market-oriented solution intended to drop the price of a barrel of oil and therefore lower prices at the pump.

___________

Crandall Canyon mine disaster

JULY 24, 2008

“MSHA cites poor design, anemic oversight in Crandall Canyon disaster” – headline, The Salt Lake Tribune

Oct. 31, 2007 (last year)

Congressman Jim Matheson co-sponsors S-MINER ACT, far-reaching mine safety and health legislation. It would help prevent mining disasters improve emergency response when disasters do occur, and reduce long-term health risks, such as black lung disease. The U.S. House of Representatives passed the legislation. A similar bill awaits Senate approval.

Republican Rob Bishop, Utah's lone representative on the mining oversight committee, snubs survivors when they travel to Washington and testify. He votes against the bill.

******************************************************

Report it and it may happen ... or not

On Wednesday The Deseret News asked, "Will Romney be announced as VP this week?" Looks like they (and their readers) got sucker punched by McCain:

Barack Obama may be grabbing headlines overseas, but John McCain's campaign knew exactly how to grab a few of its own this week. His staff apparently encouraged a report that the Arizona senator was on the verge of stealing a march on Mr. Obama by announcing the name of his vice presidential running mate. Columnist Robert Novak reported that Mitt Romney was the most likely front-runner.

The report got the requisite attention and also may have been a useful trial balloon. But, so far, no veep announcement has been forthcoming and, indeed, one isn't likely before the GOP convention in late August.

What are the odds that Joe Cannon, former chairman of the Utah GOP and now editor of The Deseret News, will publish a folo with a headline such as "Republican presidential hopeful snookers Deseret News"? Or a quote reported by someone on his staff saying, "I resent your implication," said editor Cannon. "We didn't make it up. We just reported what McCain made up. ..."?

It could happen.
_______________________________

** According to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary pack journalism is:

"journalism practiced by reporters in a group and that is marked by uniformity of news coverage and lack of original thought or initiative."

It's not something most journalists aspire to, rather it's a routine aspect of daily newspapering and broadcasting forced upon otherwise respectable journalists whose resources are stretched thin by the bottom-line mentality of bosses such as Cannon who recently "let go" of 34 people at his paper - including his reporter in Washington, D.C.

I read the news today, oh boy ... trivia, horse races, anonymity, rumors, and more of Mitt

It's tough for the media to break old habits in their public affairs reporting. Trivia over substance, who's ahead in the horse race, mucking around, rumor and speculation from biased sources: That’s just how it's done. We must be entertained.

TRIVIALIZING THINGS THAT MATTER

Bob Springmeyer’s campaign for governor presents an opportunity for political journalists to break away from their conventional reliance on racehorse-style coverage - who’s up and who’s down, according to “scientific” polls that don't seem to predict much in this volatile election year - and ask questions related to actually being governor. After all, it’s not really news that he faces a challenge ... although that's something constantly shadowing him.

What could be news is the fact that his opponent has been traveling all around the country recently promoting efforts to fight climate change (and maybe a spot for himself in the next presidential administration, whether it’s Obama’s or McCain’s). Yet he refuses to lead his own party in Utah on the very same issue. He was MIA on the tough stuff during the most recent legislative session and a bill that would have required utilities to reach renewable-energy goals got nowhere. Maybe that's what Springmeyer meant in Rebecca Walsh's column today when he said Huntsman was a weak governor.

A strong governor would not put up with the ethical gyrations of members of his own party and certainly would not have signed bills he didn’t believe in and knew would trigger costly lawsuits. It is unconscionable that when a prominent senator of Huntsman's party spewed racism all over the floor of our Senate, our governor just let it stand. He couldn't or wouldn't stoop down and clean it up.

Despite the GOP's Panglossian worldview, Utah faces problems related to its schools, healthcare system, environment, economy, and corrupt Legislature. It needs a governor willing to mix it up a bit.

Springmeyer has launched a campaign to fight for good jobs, quality education, a healthy environment, and openness in government. He’s a candidate with roots in Utah that go back several generations, business-development experience, and old fashion decency (He helped build the Ronald McDonald House in Salt Lake City, not only in a capacity as one of the guys who dreamed up the idea but with his own sweat and hammer and nails).


Bob Springmeyer with his pen that will open up closed Republican caucuses and end backroom wheeling and dealing.

Springmeyer carries around a pen and every chance he gets pulls it out and says, “This pen will veto any bill that comes out of a closed caucus.” It's hard to imagine Springmeyer's opponent facing down the surly speaker of the House that way. He sure hasn't done it yet.

Walsh missed a good story.

RAKING MUCK

So much for editorial independence. Both newspapers (Tribune, Deseret News) were used as tools in a GOP power game this month when they slimed a Republican lawmaker who by their own accounts was most likely a target of retaliation because he dared to stand up to party big dogs for open and honest government.

The lawmaker's name and reputation continue to be associated with unsubstantiated allegations of sexual harassment because, according to newspaper conventions, the larger and continuing story on ethics demands context. By my count, at least four other stories or columns in The Salt Lake Tribune alone have been published mentioning the charges and identifying him since the first story. And that doesn’t include the blogs.

The woman leveling the charges remains anonymous as does the person (or persons) who peddled the story. According to The Deseret News, no ethical complaints are expected to be filed and no one seems to be looking into anything remotely resembling a criminal investigation.

Apologies, if indeed the lawmaker did nothing he should be punished for or even ashamed of? Don't hold your breath. The dean of political reportage in Utah, the Trib's Dan Harrie, wrapped himself around the credo of The New York Times in a blog titled "Fit to Print." Harrie asserted his right to publish anything he damn well pleases - which, of course, he can (and, come to think of it, so can I) given the fact that the lawmaker is a public official and has limited recourse under libel law. He also displayed a sensibility that, I believe, partially explains why many people just don't give a damn about newspapers anymore.

Redress? The editorial board of The Deseret News, led by former Utah GOP Chairman Joe Cannon, allowed the Republican lawmaker to fully tell his side. Read it then ask yourself, "Who is the victim?" I'd say our democracy in Utah has suffered the most.

BIASED SOURCES

Despite the 90 or so political scientists working at the four big universities in Utah, most holding doctorates and many presumably available as experts to news reporters, The Deseret News relies almost exclusively on Republican partisan, Kirk Jowers, for its local analysis. A search of The Deseret News’ archives using the terms “Jowers” and “Hinckley Institute” indicates Jowers was identified as a source of political information in 191 stories over the past couple of years (that includes duplications picked by the search engine).

Jowers unabashedly promotes McCain and Romney and all things generically GOP. He is “a key adviser” and “ardent supporter.” In 2006, Jowers was identified as general counsel for Romney’s Commonwealth PAC. Last year, a Deseret News story said Jowers has offered advice to more than 30 GOP congressional candidates and provided legal counsel to Bush's 2000 presidential campaign.

RUMOR AND SPECULATION

Equivocation often trumps solid reporting at The Deseret News. Its pages brim with weasel words such as “could,” “likely,” and “may,” as well as question marks and vague attribution. Here's what I mean: “FLDS could hurt Romney’s VP chances,” “Romney address may skirt religion,” “Rove criticism may be his way of helping Romney,” "Don’t rule out Mitt as v.p. candidate, some say,” and “Will Romney be announced as McCain’s v.p. this week?”

Well, we'll see. If it happens, here's something Glen Warchol, the Trib's version of Howard Beale, the Mad Prophet of "Network," bird-dogged:

Short-term relief from high gas prices your GOP representatives don't want to talk about

While touring a pristine piece of America, the 3rd-District-GOP-congressional-candidate-who's-living-in-the-2nd-District tells us that Nancy Pelosi is responsible for $4 a gallon gasoline. Let’s just start drillin’.

Our Republican-senators-for-life tell us we have all we would ever need right here in Utah. Get out of the way, let ’em start drillin’.

And maybe in 10 or 20 years good times will start flowin’ again …

Well fine, but what about today? Utahns want a solution that will help them make ends meet now.

That solution, according the Center for American Progress, involves selling a small portion of the oil stored in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

The reserve is currently at 98 percent capacity. By releasing 50 million barrels of oil over 100 days — 500,000 barrels a day — President George W. Bush could likely reduce oil prices by anywhere from 5 to 33 percent. And it would still be over 90 percent full.

How do we know releasing oil from the reserve will dramatically reduce oil prices?

Because that's what happened after the first Gulf War and after Hurricane Katrina.



Introducing more oil to the domestic market can pop the speculative bubble that drives up prices, deliver fast help to struggling Americans, and net a tidy profit the federal government could use to fund home weatherization programs, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or even energy efficiency research, development, and deployment.

Let's do it.

Write or call your Republican-senators-for-life. Tell them about this simple short-term fix that can happen with the stroke of Bush's presidential pen. And while you're at it tell them to support Harry Reid and other Democrats in passing the “Stop Excessive Energy Speculation Act of 2008” (S 3268), which was introduced last week.

I'm afraid the long-term fix will have to wait on a Barack Obama administration and a filibuster-proof Democratic Congress that includes Jim Matheson, Bennion Spencer, and Morgan Bowen ...

jump-started, perhaps, by T. Boone Pickens, that billionaire wildcatter and Bush family friend from Dallas who helped bankroll the "Swift boat" ads against John Kerry and who has made a killing by "drilling on Wall Street." Pickens has a plan to ween America off its addiction to oil from Saudi royalty, Venezuelan dictators, and Nigerian paramilitary thugs. Let him tell you about it:



His message to our 3rd-District-GOP-congressional-candidate-who's-living-in-the-2nd-District and our Republican-senators-for-life? "I've been an oilman all my life. But this is one emergency we can't drill our way out of."

Random bits on the Houston-Washington-Riyadh connection and gas prices

This just in as a follow-up to comments made by the 3rd-district-congressional-candidate-who's-living-in-the-2nd-district on reasons why we're paying $4 a gallon for gasoline:

HOUSTON (AP) - Halliburton Co. said Tuesday its second-quarter profit fell about 67 percent from a year ago, when the company recorded a nearly $1 billion gain from the separation of former subsidiary KBR Inc., but the oilfield services provider announced record revenues.

Revenue rose to a record $4.48 billion from $3.73 billion a year ago, beating Wall Street's $4.25 billion average estimate.

"I'm very pleased with our results for the second quarter as we continue to show healthy expansion of our business on a worldwide basis," said Halliburton chairman and chief executive Dave Lesar, who moved his office to Dubai last year to be closer to important markets in the Middle East and Asia.

Vice President Dick Cheney was chief executive officer of Halliburton from 1995 through August 2000. KBR is the main government contractor working to restore Iraq's oil industry in an open-ended contract that was awarded without competitive bidding.

According to a 2003 report of the Congressional Research service, Cheney receives deferred compensation from Halliburton under an arrangement he made in 1998, and also retains stock options.

Just before the war, in 2001, Cheney's deferred compensation account was valued at between $500,000 and $1 million, and generated income of $50,000 to $100,000.

Halliburton has contracts worth billions for its work in Iraq.

While Cheney was defense secretary under President George H.W. Bush, the Pentagon chose Halliburton subsidiary Brown & Root to study the cost effectiveness of outsourcing some military operations to private contractors. Based on the results of the study, the Pentagon hired Brown & Root to implement an outsourcing plan.

Cheney became Halliburton CEO in 1995 and lived in Houston, where the former president maintained his residence and frequently entertained Saudi royalty. "Shrub" Bush was elected governor of Texas in 1994 after failures as a West Texas wildcatter and after trading away Sammy Sosa as part owner of the Texas Rangers.

We live in strange days.

The placekicker offers nothing more than platitudes, character attacks, and unsubstantiated talking points

2nd District resident Jason Chaffetz, the former BYU placekicker who now wants to be our 3rd District congressman, is on a trip organized by a group lobbying to open the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling. He has concluded that “there’s no doubt Democrats are the problem (to high gasoline prices). ... since (House Speaker) Nancy Pelosi took over, gas prices have doubled.”

Nancy Pelosi responsible for high gasoline prices? Chaffetz is starting to master Karl Rove’s art of "the character attack," "the rhetoric of diversion," and "the unsubstantiated talking point." All three tricks get a free ride from the media nowadays. All three tricks do nothing to help us find solutions to serious problems.

You think maybe the two oil men in the White House and their cronies cultivated within the Houston-Washington-Riyadh network over the past 30 years might have had something to do with today's $4-per-gallon gas prices?

When President Bush (formerly of Arbusto Energy) asked Vice President Dick Cheney (formerly of Halliburton) to come up with our energy policy a few years ago, he met with the environmental groups once, and he met with the renewable energy folks once, and he met with the oil and gas companies 40 times.

At that point, I should've told Grady, my good ole boy at EdwardJones down in Texas, to dump my "eco-friendly" stocks and buy ExxonMobil.

Multiple initiatives intended to lower high energy costs have passed the Democratically controlled House only to run into a brick wall in the Senate because they did not receive the 60 votes needed to overcome Republican filibusters.

Or maybe a loophole that allows corporations (such as the now-defunct Enron run by Bush's friend, the late Ken "Kenny Boy" Lay) to engage in unregulated speculation that ends up artificially driving up the price of oil and contributes to record oil industry profits (and, in Enron's case, cost thousands of retirees their life savings). Maybe that had something to do with it.

Oil companies have no need to exercise the drilling rights on untouched 68 million acres of federal land they currently own when it's profitable, very profitable, to speculate.

Utah's Democratic Congressman Jim Matheson has introduced legislation to curb the role of excessive speculation in the oil futures trading market. It's not sexy. It didn't grab many headlines. But it could be part of a larger package that lowers gasoline prices. It’s called the Close the London Loophole Act.

“I share the suspicion that something other than the normal law of supply and demand is behind the record run up in oil prices. I think there are actions that we can take to ensure a level playing field so that no one is unfairly ‘gaming the system’ on oil trading exchanges,” said Matheson, testifying before the House Agriculture Committee. “The problem before us today is not black and white. It exists in shades of gray.”

The former placekicker could learn from Matheson. Our nation’s energy problems demand thoughtful consideration of many ideas from both sides of the aisle - not sound bites, platitudes, and accusations based on fantasy that only drive wedges between us and prevent consideration of realistic solutions.

So far, Chaffetz appears unable to meet that standard.

Congressman Chaffetz? A horrible idea for many Deseret News readers

The Deseret News published a story Wednesday on how the two District 3 congressional candidates, Democrat Bennion Spencer and Republican Jason Chaffetz, see their prospects.

As you’d expect both are optimistic. Unexpected, however, was the volume of commentary directed at the character of Chaffetz and his lack of qualifications to hold high public office. Many comments were written by people who apparently know him or have done a little research into his background. I know of no concerted campaign by "political insiders" to damage Chaffetz' chances, although it's clear a lot of people are passionate in their dislike of the guy. The comments apparently came in unsolicited.

Here’s a sample of over 79 comments. They paint a portrait of smugness, arrogance, and entitlement. Is this a person who can effectively represent our values in what may be one of the most important congressional sessions in history?

• “Chaffetz ought to not get too smug with laughing and believing his opponent doesn't have a chance. Weirder things have happened and I wouldn't be surprised if Spencer pulls out an upset. See if Chaffetz is laughing then.”

• “Yes, I'm voting for Spencer and not Chaffetz. I'm done with the Utah GOP criminals.”

• “Message to Chaffetz - don't forget how Bill Orton got elected.” (Bill Orton has become Bennion Spencer's campaign chairman)

• “I don't want a candidate who’s all talk - and Chaffetz – that’s how you come across.”

• “I just might be voting Democrat this November - Chaffetz - do not take my vote for granted! It's not a given that it will be for you.

• "That is Chaffetz: smug, arrogant & assuming that the seat is 'his.' I always voted for Cannon but will go for Spencer in November."

• “I think the fact that Harry Reid has gone higher than any LDS politician indicates that the LDS/Republican days are coming to an end. I think Chaffetz has the potential to be a serious embarrassment. Let's hope that Utah Valley Repubs will give Bennion Spencer a long look.” (Bennion Spencer is an active member of the LDS Church.)

• “For the first time ever, I'm voting for a Democrat.”

• “Chaffetz is world-class arrogant, and it is just showing. Just ask the people in the governor's office, not one of whom supported Chaffetz.”

• “Chaffetz knows he fooled the GOP and is rolling around in his greatness. What he hasn't counted on is the level of disdain for his lies. I've served on the GOP State Central Committee, state delegate a dozen times, county delegate more than that, etc. I am organizing Republicans for Spencer.”

• “The state of Utah and the 3rd District will be much better served by having a Bill Orton type Democrat for two years, then come back with honest Republican candidates in 2010.”

• “Chaffetz must not win this fall! Tell everyone you know: Dump the conman!”

• “Wow someone is already acting arrogant, without being elected first. Wow, I know who I'll be voting for and who to rally people against.”

• “I'm carefully studying both candidates. If the Democrat candidate speaks against abortion and against socialized government he might pull off an upset. I'm one Republican that just can't see any reason to vote for Mr. Chaffetz. In my opinion, his resume shows that he has not been able to handle the little jobs (compared to being a Congressman). I just don't think that he is prepared to represent me in Congress.”

• “That guy is a fake. I've heard stories he's not what he claims to be. Faking conservative is the easiest position to take ... He's pulling the wool over everyone's eyes.”

• “When someone is as arrogant about his chances of winning as Chaffetz is, I see no scenario where he will be accountable to the people. Why should he bother listening to them and representing him if the people automatically vote for him instead of approaching the ballot box with perpetual skepticism. At least with his attitude, in my mind he has already been corrupted by Washington.”

• “I hope the voting public will realize that they will get a supposed right-wing NUT, if they elect Chaffetz. We need to bring the party back to the people and electing a NUT will not do so. Let's elect Spencer Bennion and have someone who will represent the normal person in the 3rd District.”

• “How can a guy who doesn't live in the district he seeks to represent be so certain that the people of the district will elect him? His primary election was just a backlash against Chris Cannon.”

• “The article paints Jason just how he is, an arrogant hot shot. Anyone who has seen/worked with him in a professional setting (NuSkin) knows that he doesn't care about anyone but himself. Find a former co-worker and ask them who they will be voting for.”

• “The Deseret News has used great restraint in all articles about Jason Chaffetz. If anything, Mr. Chaffetz has NOT been misrepresented, he has not been truthfully and accurately represented at all.”

• “The 3rd District has a right to know exactly who he is and what he has done. We voters should picket the Deseret News until Mr. Cannon finally prints the known facts about Mr. Chaffetz. If Mr. Cannon actually did that, Mr. Chaffetz could save his campaign funds because the voters would know that Mr. Chaffetz is not qualified to represent the 3rd District.”

• “Typical Republican arrogance! You think he takes for granted your vote? He believes because he is the Republican nominee, he is "entitled" to the position. That's a lot of hubris coming from a place kicker.”

• “Chaffetz won't be getting my vote with such arrogance, but he will still be the representative. He is effectively running unopposed being the Republican in the race, even if he is so undesirable.”

• “I have checked into Cheffetz from BYU football players /students that knew him... Let me say, this guy is a self-absorbed fraud.”

Candidate for governor Bob Springmeyer asks: Is the juice worth the squeeze?

Huntsman's 4/10/40 proposal ignores good management practices and is a disaster for many Utah families.

Bob Springmeyer, the good education, good jobs, good health, good government candidate for Utah governor, today said that "Huntsman again demonstrated how detached he is from the realities of life as most Utahns live it and the real issues affecting state government."

Springmeyer an economist and management consultant drew attention to how "Huntsman's wrongheaded management and top-down policies" took a "good idea and made it into a disaster for state employees."

Huntsman has directed that state employees would be working a 4/10 workweek.

• Why weren't Utah's 17,000 state employees' part of the decision?

• Why weren't the state's clients - Utah's taxpayers consulted?

• All this for an unknown and undefined energy savings!

• All this for the potential saving of just 27 cents on each $1,000 the state spends!

• Are Republican leaders afraid their "emperor has no clothes"? A nice guy who hasn't done anything!

For those employees who have young children in day care, children would need to be left by 6:30 a.m. and then not pick up them up until after 6 p.m. Young children would need to eat dinner at the day care since parents wouldn't get home until 6:30 or later. Latchkey children will need to get their own breakfasts and be unsupervised for afternoons and early evenings.

For those employees who are working second jobs, the Huntsman 4/10 proposal is a disaster.

For those employees who are furthering their education the Huntsman 4/10 proposal is a disaster.

Hardly a Family Values Proposal.

The 4/10/40 Alternative Work Week Schedule is not a bad idea, but if we are going to do it, we must do it right and it must be worth the effort.

State employees and people who depend on state services must be involved in the early planning and implementation. Utah is a Great State, but we must do better, and leaving the employees and the public out of the planning is a "recipe for disaster".

Springmeyer has operated his own management consulting business for 30 years. The company, Bonneville Research, specializes in strategic planning and economic development. Springmeyer was born in Provo and raised in Ogden and Sugarhouse. He attended the University of Utah where he earned degrees in economics and political science.

Springmeyer has a long record of working to make Utah communities better places to live. At the recent State Democratic Convention, Springmeyer was nominated to be his party's standard bearer by 88 percent of the vote. Josie Valdez was nominated to run as his lieutenant governor.

Contact: Bob Springmeyer,
(801) 558-1114
info@bobforgov.org
www.bobforgov.org

Rendell, Saturday's Voyeur vs. Buttars: Have some fun as part of a noble fight

Join John Rendell and fellow Democrats on July 30 for a benefit performance of Saturday's Voyeur at the expense of the Republican senator from District 10.

Where: Salt Lake Acting Company, 168 W. 500 North
When: Reception, 6:30 p.m.; performance, 7:30 p.m.
How much: $75, $85, $100; tickets available at SLAC box office

Write (please include phone and/or e-mail) and mail check to:
John Rendell for Senate
P.O. Box 95111
South Jordan, UT 84095-1111

For more information: (801) 949-9321 or e-mail bglarson@comcast.net.
Why:
“It would be easier to accept Buttars' mea culpa if not for his history of outrageous, sometimes hurtful, statements on issues ranging from gay-straight clubs in Utah public high schools to teaching "intelligent design" in public schools. Viewed in the most charitable light, Buttars may well have difficulty expressing his points of view. In a less charitable light, many of Buttars' public statements during his legislative service have been ugly and divisive ... (Voters) need to remember that the election is not just about who represents them in the Legislature. It's about how the nation views Utah and Utahns. Surely we all deserve better.”
– Deseret News editorial, Feb. 15, 2008
___________________________________

“I gave a speech a few months ago that ended with a call to action to get involved with the legislative process. As the 2008 legislative session wore on I kept hearing about the unbelievable actions and statements of our elected senator. Many told me they hoped that someone would step forward and say ‘ENOUGH!’ I decided to be that person – I want to be your state senator.”

Thank you for helping out in this fight.

– John Rendell

A simple solution to the institutional sexism that permeates the GOP-dominated Capitol

Tribune columnist Rebecca Walsh today described a pattern of institutional sexism that permeates the GOP-dominated Utah Legislature. She didn’t comment on recent politically driven allegations leveled anonymously against Republican Rep. Steve Mascaro by a college-age intern. She focused on what she had witnessed as a Capitol Hill reporter over the years:

“Blond reporters were warned to stay on guard with a particular senator who had a penchant for leering down blouses; some eventually complained to Senate leaders. In a scandal a few years ago, a veteran representative left his wife for a much younger female page. Some lawmakers claim “trophy” interns year after year - beauty pageant winners and the like. Ribald jokes and sexual innuendo about male enhancement are an occasional diversion from the drudgery of lawmaking. And uninvited touching is rampant - on the shoulder, the arm, between the shoulder blades.”

Democrats have a simple solution that reflects our values as a party that leaves no one out. Send these balding, middle-aged, chubby ole boys into retirement - the way they sent Olene Walker, Utah's first and only female governor, into retirement four years ago.

Put these strong Democratic women in charge: Josie Valdez, Jean Welch Hill, Clare Collard, Luz Robles, Kathie Davies, Denise Hancock, Cora Lee JcKowski, Karen Mayne, Karen Morgan, Jennifer Burley Wolfe, Trish Beck, Marie Poulson, Laura Black, RaDene Hatfield, Tanya Taylor, Suzanne Marychild, Ava Painter, Marcie West, Carole Peterson, Pat Herrera, Sue Duckworth, Jen Seelig, Rebecca Chavez-Houck, Christine Johnson, Gwyn Franson, Janice Fisher, Jackie Biskupski, Kathie Davies, Carol Spackman Moss, Denise Hancock, Patty Rich, Lisa Johnson, Kathy Lofft, Mary Lou Huffmon, Deon Turley, Claralyn Hill, Debbie Swenson, Christine Watkins.

McCain/Gramm on the tanking U.S. economy: It's all in your head

After a weekend of watching John McCain's campaign try to distance itself from campaign co-chair and top economic advisor Phil Gramm, the Democratic National Committee hasreleased a new video highlighting the inseparable link between McCain and Gramm. The new video shows McCain repeatedly praising Gramm's judgment on the economy and echoing Gramm's claim that the economic challenges facing America's working families are "psychological."





The video also shows that, despite Carly Fiorina's claim on Meet the Press that Phil Gramm doesn't speak for John McCain, Gramm was in fact speaking for McCain at the Wall Street Journal editorial page on the same day McCain was saying otherwise. In reality, Phil Gramm was a key architect of the economic agenda John McCain is trying to sell on the campaign trail and a key component of his effort to win over skeptical conservatives. McCain even cites the advice he gets from Gramm as an example of why voters shouldn't be worried about McCain's admission that the economy is something he doesn't understand as well as he should.

Democrats' presumptive nominee for president outlines plan for Iraq

By BARACK OBAMA

CHICAGO — The call by Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki for a timetable for the removal of American troops from Iraq presents an enormous opportunity. We should seize this moment to begin the phased redeployment of combat troops that I have long advocated, and that is needed for long-term success in Iraq and the security interests of the United States.

The differences on Iraq in this campaign are deep. Unlike Senator John McCain, I opposed the war in Iraq before it began, and would end it as president. I believed it was a grave mistake to allow ourselves to be distracted from the fight against Al Qaeda and the Taliban by invading a country that posed no imminent threat and had nothing to do with the 9/11 attacks. Since then, more than 4,000 Americans have died and we have spent nearly $1 trillion. Our military is overstretched. Nearly every threat we face — from Afghanistan to Al Qaeda to Iran — has grown.

In the 18 months since President Bush announced the surge, our troops have performed heroically in bringing down the level of violence. New tactics have protected the Iraqi population, and the Sunni tribes have rejected Al Qaeda — greatly weakening its effectiveness.

But the same factors that led me to oppose the surge still hold true. The strain on our military has grown, the situation in Afghanistan has deteriorated and we’ve spent nearly $200 billion more in Iraq than we had budgeted. Iraq’s leaders have failed to invest tens of billions of dollars in oil revenues in rebuilding their own country, and they have not reached the political accommodation that was the stated purpose of the surge.

The good news is that Iraq’s leaders want to take responsibility for their country by negotiating a timetable for the removal of American troops. Meanwhile, Lt. Gen. James Dubik, the American officer in charge of training Iraq’s security forces, estimates that the Iraqi Army and police will be ready to assume responsibility for security in 2009.

Only by redeploying our troops can we press the Iraqis to reach comprehensive political accommodation and achieve a successful transition to Iraqis’ taking responsibility for the security and stability of their country. Instead of seizing the moment and encouraging Iraqis to step up, the Bush administration and Senator McCain are refusing to embrace this transition — despite their previous commitments to respect the will of Iraq’s sovereign government. They call any timetable for the removal of American troops “surrender,” even though we would be turning Iraq over to a sovereign Iraqi government.

But this is not a strategy for success — it is a strategy for staying that runs contrary to the will of the Iraqi people, the American people and the security interests of the United States. That is why, on my first day in office, I would give the military a new mission: ending this war.

As I’ve said many times, we must be as careful getting out of Iraq as we were careless getting in. We can safely redeploy our combat brigades at a pace that would remove them in 16 months. That would be the summer of 2010 — two years from now, and more than seven years after the war began. After this redeployment, a residual force in Iraq would perform limited missions: going after any remnants of Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia, protecting American service members and, so long as the Iraqis make political progress, training Iraqi security forces. That would not be a precipitous withdrawal.

In carrying out this strategy, we would inevitably need to make tactical adjustments. As I have often said, I would consult with commanders on the ground and the Iraqi government to ensure that our troops were redeployed safely, and our interests protected. We would move them from secure areas first and volatile areas later. We would pursue a diplomatic offensive with every nation in the region on behalf of Iraq’s stability, and commit $2 billion to a new international effort to support Iraq’s refugees.

Ending the war is essential to meeting our broader strategic goals, starting in Afghanistan and Pakistan, where the Taliban is resurgent and Al Qaeda has a safe haven. Iraq is not the central front in the war on terrorism, and it never has been. As Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, recently pointed out, we won’t have sufficient resources to finish the job in Afghanistan until we reduce our commitment to Iraq.

As president, I would pursue a new strategy, and begin by providing at least two additional combat brigades to support our effort in Afghanistan. We need more troops, more helicopters, better intelligence-gathering and more nonmilitary assistance to accomplish the mission there. I would not hold our military, our resources and our foreign policy hostage to a misguided desire to maintain permanent bases in Iraq.

In this campaign, there are honest differences over Iraq, and we should discuss them with the thoroughness they deserve. Unlike Senator McCain, I would make it absolutely clear that we seek no presence in Iraq similar to our permanent bases in South Korea, and would redeploy our troops out of Iraq and focus on the broader security challenges that we face. But for far too long, those responsible for the greatest strategic blunder in the recent history of American foreign policy have ignored useful debate in favor of making false charges about flip-flops and surrender.

It’s not going to work this time. It’s time to end this war.

Barack Obama, a United States senator from Illinois, is the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee.

Obama to accept Democratic nomination in front of crowd of more than 75,000

DENVER – Breaking the mold of traditional political Conventions, the Democratic National Convention Committee (DNCC) today announced that Senator Barack Obama will accept the Democratic nomination for President of the United States at Denver’s INVESCO Field at Mile High. INVESCO Field can accommodate more than 75,000 people and will be the site of the 2008 Democratic Convention’s final day of programming on Thursday, August 28, 2008.

“The Democratic Party is nominating a true change candidate this August, and it is only fitting that we make some big changes in how we put on the Convention,” said Governor Howard Dean, Chairman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC).

“Senator Obama’s candidacy has generated an enormous amount of excitement and interest, not only in the Democratic Party but also in the 2008 Convention. By bringing the last night of the Convention out to the people, we will be able to showcase Barack Obama’s positive, people-centered vision for our country in a big way. ”

“Barack Obama’s campaign for change has inspired millions of Americans and brought people into the political process who might never have been involved,” said Convention Co-Chair Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius. “This change in the Convention program will allow thousands of first-time participants a chance to take part. I can’t think of a better Convention finale for our nominee who has made reaching out to voters a hallmark of his campaign.”

“When we said we wanted to ‘bring down the walls,’ open up this Convention like never before and truly speak to the American people, we meant it,” said Leah D. Daughtry, CEO of the DNCC. “On August 28, we will offer grassroots Democrats, who have turned out in record numbers this year, the opportunity to witness history shoulder to shoulder with thousands of Americans standing up for the change our country desperately needs.”

“Senator Obama and the DNCC have truly brought the community into the Convention,” said Colorado Governor Bill Ritter, Jr. “This decision will enable thousands of residents from Colorado, the Rocky Mountain West and across the nation to witness history first hand. What a way to fire up our grassroots activists as we head into the fall campaign.”

Primetime Convention activities Monday, August 25 through Wednesday, August 27 will continue to be held at the Pepsi Center. The final day of the Convention on Thursday, August 28, including the nomination acceptance speech of Senator Barack Obama, will be held at INVESCO Field at Mile High, also located in downtown Denver. Daytime Convention events, including meetings of the Democratic caucuses and councils will continue to be held at the Colorado Convention Center.

The DNCC announced today that a special block of “Community” credentials will be reserved for Colorado residents for Thursday night’s program at INVESCO Field. Details about how to sign up and receive a “Community Credential” for the last night of the Convention will be released in the coming weeks.

“This is the type of Convention people will want to experience together with family, friends and neighbors, and we hope this move enables thousands of Americans to come together, experience history and put Senator Obama on the path to victory in November,” Daughtry added.

Walker's resignation highlights need for honest, open government, says Holland

SALT LAKE CITY – Although Rep. Mark Walker, R-Sandy, resigned his seat in the Utah House of Representatives Sunday, just before an investigation into a bribery allegation that was to begin today, the chair of the Utah Democratic Party said the party remains fully committed to a more open and accountable government.

“I sense heavy-handed backroom political deals here,” said Wayne Holland, chair of the Utah Democratic Party. “We can only hope Walker’s resignation will not derail the attempt of a few courageous lawmakers to force our GOP-dominated Legislature to work for us instead of lobbyists and their cronies. This is exactly the reason we need an independent ethics commission.”

Legislation for just such a panel was introduced by Democrats in January, but it was not even given a committee hearing.

Holland says he is hopeful the five lawmakers – two Republicans and three Democrats - who filed the ethics complaint will not become targets of retaliation, and he challenged Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. to lead his party in creating the kind of state government every Utahn can be proud of.

Walker, who lost his bid last month to run for state treasurer, remains under criminal investigation in connection with allegations he offered deputy treasurer Richard Ellis a pay raise if he would not run against him.

Even on July 4th, Utah Republicans show how low they'll go to silence their "dissidents"

The news media in Utah theoretically have a First Amendment responsibility to keep us well-informed in order to maintain our democracy, but that usually comes in a distant second to keeping us happy, shiny, and laughing.

Today the "patriotic duty" of The Deseret News and The Salt Lake Tribune gave us a slimy little sex story, a titillating rumor of the “she-said-vs.-he-said” variety – virtually impossible to substantiate but guaranteed to damage the reputations of people whose only crime most likely was attempting to do the right thing when good judgment (or possibly a more refined sense of political correctness) dictated otherwise.

It was just enough to draw attention away from an ethics investigation involving GOP candidates, possibly GOP leadership and lobbyists, and bribery allegations and generate an avalanche of baseless personal attacks and gratuitous and venomous commentary on the papers' Web sites.

She said:

According to a March 5 report filed with the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel and obtained through an open records request, the alleged victim was working as a college-age GOP legislative intern when on Valentine’s Day she asked Rep. Steve Mascaro, R-West Jordan, to repeat a comment he was laughing about earlier (The atmosphere of their office was termed “friendly and fun”). He repeated the remark, which was something that could've been rejected as juvenile even by an ad campaign selling Viagra. She then became nervous about the direction of their conversation as well as the hugging she said he initiated.

He said:

Mascaro vehemently denies any physical contact occurred. “That hugging and all that stuff is a bunch of crap.” Mascaro said the alleged victim mentioned dating problems and an episode with one of her college professors. She seemed distraught and potentially suicidal. He offered the kind of counsel any other decent person would offer. A warm-hearted uncle, perhaps.

So what do we know?

• No substantial investigation occurred in February or March and no action was taken against Mascaro, although House Speaker Greg Curtis issued an implied threat after the legislative session ended. In a letter dated March 13 and published on official stationery, Curtis wrote, "I have met with the Representative and sternly warned him of the potential dangers of his actions. I have not yet imposed further discipline, but would certainly consider that ... ."
• Curtis, his lieutenants, or anyone at the Capitol familiar with the rumor knew that official state correspondence or results of any investigation could be accessed easily enough through a GRAMA request then published by reporters and editors sniffing for something juicy in their role as government watchdogs.
• The story was manufactured by sources, likely politically motivated, who were granted anonymity by the watchdogs and fed to readers as something that somehow nourishes democracy (or at least something entertaining to publish prominently).
• The alleged victim said she did not want to press her case even though she told her story to Jerry Howe, the intern coordinator, Gay Taylor, legislative counsel, and Michael Christensen, director of the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel. She now feels betrayed by whomever leaked the story to the press.
• Mascaro is not a Curtis acolyte by any stretch of the imagination. The powerful speaker has called Mascaro a “dissident” for speaking his mind, and he was a vocal opponent of Curtis' unsuccessful campaign to privatize public schools using vouchers.
• Based on reports published in The Deseret News and The Salt Lake Tribune, there is no indication from Mascaro that he asked Curtis to formally apologize on his behalf.
• Republican leadership and Republican lawmakers in Utah have a track record of bullying, punishing, and bending the rules to suit themselves when faced with dissent from inside their own party and criticism of their performance as “public servants” from political pundits, voters, or anyone anywhere. The most recent example was published in today's Tribune. Officials of Mapleton said they were "shocked" at the raw intimidation tactics and imperial attitude Sen. Chris Buttars used in a private meeting yesterday on behalf of a crony.
• The harassment story now is a sideshow that blurs the focus of the ethics complaint.
• Both Mascaro and the alleged harassment victim have become pawns, perhaps unwittingly, in a larger GOP power game. Can anyone say that GOP challengers of Curtis didn't plant this whole thing as a little step in a plan to unseat their arrogant and surly speaker? Well, they had to smile at the implications.
• One of those possible contenders, Rep. Greg Hughes, R-Draper, said the episode should be thoroughly investigated, possibly by the House Ethics Committee - which, of course, would be an embarrassment to Curtis after he did nothing in March.

Oh, and here’s another thing we DO know: Election Day is 200 days away, and Curtis is up for re-election.