Tribune Runs Out of Stories, Prints No-Duh Story on Mormons moving to suburbs

No Shiz Sherlock:

Now it seems the Mormon population is shifting north, south and west. As Mormons move to the suburbs, downtown Salt Lake City has grown more religiously diverse - and often more attractive to outsiders.
In the past few years, Mormons near the city center have prayed for more of their own to move in, while real-estate agents alert potential homebuyers than these areas have the smallest LDS concentration. LDS stakes in Sugar House, the Avenues and the areas around the University of Utah, which typically comprise six to nine congregations of 300 to 500 members apiece, have had to regroup, while stakes in South Jordan and North Salt Lake are pushed to the limits.

Like we didn't notice. It's been happening for 15 years now.

Oh, and my favorite part:

The flight includes, by the way, many of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' highest officials. Currently only LDS apostles Dallin H. Oaks, Joseph B. Wirthlin and M. Russell Ballard live on Salt Lake City's east bench. Apostles Russell M. Nelson, Robert D. Hales, Jeffrey R. Holland and David A. Bednar all live in North Salt Lake and Bountiful, as do Henry B. Eyring and Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the governing First Presidency.

Who cares that Gordon B Hinckley lived in East Millcreek before he moved downtown for security reasons. Same with James E Faust. President Monson currently lives in Holladay.

McCain's not-so-excellent timing in St Louis

From Fired Up! Missouri:

John McCain certainly knows how to rub salt in the wounds of Missourians suffering the slings and arrows of a GOP-ruined economy.

Just a day after Missourians learned that Anheuser-Busch would be sold to Belgian firm InBev, McCain promptly comes to St. Louis --the home of Anheuser-Busch-- for a mega-dollar reception at the vast estate of the former United States ambassador to, of all countries, Belgium.

Notwithstanding the fact that John and Sindy McCain will reap millions of dollars from the Anheuser-Busch sale, their advisors would be wise to warn them not to celebrate too loudly about the deal as they rub elbows with the former diplomat in the STL.

That would be like the LDS Church announcing it was moving HQ to Massachusetts and McCain doing another Mitt Romney fund raiser here the next day.

-Bob

Bob's take on the GOP Manifesto

Obi wan over at The Utah Hornet's Nest pointed out that the Utah Republican Party has posted a new manifest on it's website.

And, like most things that come out of their offices on South Temple, this one is all talk.

And, like I always do, I will take the opportunity to give my take on the manifesto. Everything that follows not in brackets [] and italics is taken straight from utgop.com:

We are Republicans Because...

The Declaration of Independence says, “We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal [except blacks, Democrats, and Mexicans], that they are endowed, by their CREATOR[that's right! bold and CAPS!], with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.—“[Well, OK, we only agree with one. Liberty is a commie term, and happiness is a sin.]

These God given rights are sacred and precious to Republicans. The United States Constitution and Bill of Rights give us further direction with words of wisdom like, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion [unless it's the one true religion], or prohibiting the free exercise thereof [unless that free exercise conflicts with our own views]” and “the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed”. Government must protect the rights articulated in these texts [except freedom of speech, the press, assembly....oh, and the 4th amendment, just to point out a few exceptions to the rule.].

The platform of the Republican Party helps us understand our mission to protect these timeless, traditional values for our families, our children and our posterity.

Life

We value the infinite worth of a human being [with the exception of the time period between 1 hour and vegetable].

We fight for the life of the unborn and oppose abortion except to preserve the life of the mother or in cases of rape or incest [unless the A word comes up during the 45 days the legislature is in session. Then we oppose all abortion, until the Church reminds us otherwise].

We recognize the traditional family as the fundamental unit of society [as long as your idea of traditional family doesn't include our state's history pre-1890] and that parents have the responsibility to direct the upbringing of their children.

We believe in God and that government must be based on a moral foundation with honesty, integrity, morality and accountability [psyche!].


Liberty

We are a law abiding Party and support the rule of law [Well, except election laws....].

We unabashedly support our military, honor their sacrifice unless they need services from Veteran's Affairs.... and commit ourselves to do our part to protect the freedoms they protect [except those outlined above].

We affirm the right to individual religious expression, including prayer, in public and in private [again, unless it's a prayer to someone other than the approved Father In Heaven].



Pursuing Happiness

We encourage free enterprise, private initiative and volunteerism.

We support the right of individuals to own and use property [Unless they want to use said property for purposes we disagree with, or we want to build a soccer stadium].

We encourage individuals, families and charitable organizations to help the needy, but support a government safety net if all else fails.

We want welfare recipients to work towards self-sufficiency. [We encourage this by taking away welfare.]

We are committed to all children having access to quality education.

We support parents’ rights to choose public, private or home education [and for the state to pay for that choice].

We support incentives to promote competitive excellence in education.

We accept the need for limited taxation in order for government to perform and administer essential public services, but advocate simplification of our tax code, Elimination of the estate tax and broad based tax rate reduction where possible [because we have not been able to pull this off in our 25+ years in power].

We have seen that government regulations can be a major impediment to productivity and competition and encourage reliance more on market forces and less on government. Our environment, air, water and land are at the heart of our existence and must be protected through balanced management [which is why we don't have things going crazy in the private sector right now....].



Join with the Republican Party as we promote and defend these principles and values.

Another "Why I'm a Democrat:" Story

So, I read a few non-political blogs (yes, they exist) from time to time. Most of them are written by friends, but some I have no idea why I found them and added them to my Google Reader.

However, sometimes those blogs run something political. Such is the case with The Life I am Choosing:

A new reader, Carissa (welcome to my blog by the way...) asked me to make a case for being a democrat, since she didn't find my balance argument convincing, citing that there are too many mormons in Utah and that half of us should convert to catholicism. I think that is different, because the church does not run the government (for the most part...I acknowledge that some will disagree). I also want to note that in most cases, I typed my views before reading the entire party platform, so although there are some phrases that are the same, it wasn't intentional.

A lot of the reasons why I have chosen to be a democrat have to do with my religious beliefs. I believe that we were given the earth to live on and to be stewards over. That means that we must act responsibly and conserve resources, avoid polluting and otherwise harming the earth as far as is possible. I also believe that we were meant to enjoy the beauty around us and that there needs to be balance as far as land use goes. My Mister, for example, loves to ride dirt bikes. I think it's good that he is able to go out with his brothers and cousins and do something that they all enjoy together. I also think (and he agrees) that he needs to stay on set trails to protect the rest of the land. The world is not his to ride rampantly over.

She then goes on to quote from the Utah Democratic Party Platform on this subject, as well as on welfare, immigration, health care, church and state, abortion, and ethics.

The post is a great read. I highly recommend it!

A Rundown of Mark Shurtleff's Conflicts of Interest

Democratic AG Candidate Jean Welch Hill gives us a rundown of various conflicts of interest Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff has suffered.

Read it here on her campaign blog, On the Campaign Trail.

John McCain -- adulterer or polygamist?

Here's a little relationship timeline for you:

July 3, 1965: John McCain marries Carol Shepp.
Mid-70's: John has several extramarital affairs
April 1979: John, still married to Carol, meets Cindy Hensley in Hawaii
April 1979-??: John and Cindy travel between Arizona and Washington DC to continue their relationship.
January 7, 1980: John McCain last "cohabitation" with Carol McCain
February 19, 1980: John first sues Carol for divorce.
March 6, 1980: John Applies for Marriage License.
April 2, 1980: John and Carol's Divorce finalized.
May 17, 1980: John and Cindy get married.

Imagine the "family values" uproar if John were a Democrat....

-BOb

Legal Bribery

KSL:

Getting some of the toughest tickets in town was no problem for some state lawmakers thanks to a paid lobbyist.

Financial disclosure reports due Thursday show Micron Technology lobbyist Stan Lockhart paid for seven legislators to go the NBA playoffs.

Democratic Sens. Ross Romero and Scott McCoy received tickets to a Jazz playoff game against the Los Angeles Lakers, along with Republican state Rep. Kerry Gibson. The tickets were worth $400.

Republican Sens. Pete Knudson and Howard Stephenson accepted tickets from Lockhart to a playoff game against the Houston Rockets.

Republican state Reps. Paul Ray and Lorie Fowlke also accepted tickets to see the Jazz and Rockets play. The tickets to the Rockets' game were worth a combined total of $500.

Antone want to tell my why this isn't blatant bribery by GOP Chairman Lockhart?

In Memorium: Amendment IV

If terrorists hate us for our freedoms, why not take those freedoms away?

An open message to Rep Urquhart: Quit whining

In a recent post on his, Representative Steve Urquhart complains that two COLUMNISTS for the Salt Lake Tribune apparently say nothing negative about Democrats.

And when was the last time SteveU said anything negative about a Republican?

Anyone?

So his biggest complaint is that these columnists are still trying to find the unnamed legislator who allegedly helped Mark Walker Allegedly bribe Richard Ellis.

The fact of the matter is, the complaint to the Ethics Committee said that there was another person involved. Another Legislator.

As SteveU says, that could be 103 people. Given that there is better than a two-to-one ratio of Republicans to Democrats, and the alleged bribery happened in a Republican primary, it's safe to say that the unnamed legislator is not a Democrat.

And, the person would probably have to have some power in the legislature. I'm sure that Brad Winn (R-Ephraim) would have the power to make that kind of promise. So, why not try to pin it on the Speaker, who has been known to have a few ethical lapses? If it's not the speaker, reopen the ethics investigation.

However, I don't think it's Speaker Curtis. No, if it were him, he would be talking about it more.

But, I do have me guess as to who it is.

Rep Urquhart, methinks thou doth protest too much.

-Bob

U.S. Trades Goods With Iran

You remember Iran, don't you? That country that is part of the axis of evil? The country next door to Iraq that ACTUALLY has WMDs and is on their way to Nukes? Oh, and we've threatened them to stop or we would attack, to which they said "You and what army..." and had a good point?

Yeah, that Iran. We had all been under the assumption that we wouldn't actually be trading with them, especially since we were trying to get other countries to stop trading with them.

Yeah, about that. Oops:

US exports to Iran have risen dramatically during George Bush's years in office in spite of his tough rhetoric against Tehran and the imposition of fresh economic sanctions.

Analysis of US government trade figures published yesterday by Associated Press revealed a near tenfold increase in US sales to Iran over the past seven years. Goods included cigarettes, aircraft spare parts, bras, musical instruments, films, sculpture, fur, golf carts and snowmobiles. Although the sums involved are small, the disclosure is a political embarrassment for the US, coming at a time when it has been putting pressure on European governments, banks and companies to cut ties with Tehran.

Bush Tours Another Disaster Area

Bush Tours America To Survey Damage Caused By His Disastrous Presidency

Help Shape the Democratic Party's Platform

I got the following email this morning from the Obama Campaign:

Bob --

Every four years, the Democratic Party assembles a platform that outlines the party's position on a number of issues.

Traditionally, the drafting of the platform is not open to ordinary people.

This year, that's going to change.

For two weeks in July, people all across America will hold Platform Meetings in their own communities to discuss the issues and share their input. The outcome of these meetings will be reviewed by the Drafting Committee as it creates the final Platform.

No political experience is required. Your thoughts and experiences are all that matter, and they will shape a platform that -- like this campaign -- is owned by the people.

Sign up to host or attend a Platform Meeting in your neighborhood:

http://my.barackobama.com/listening

This year, ordinary people like you will gather in their homes, community centers, places of worship, and even coffee shops to discuss the issues that matter to them and help decide what should be at the heart of the Democratic platform for change.

The input we get from these meetings will help shape the platform at the Democratic Convention in August.

Platform Meetings are a great way to connect with fellow supporters and help write the next chapter in the history of the Democratic Party.

We'll make sure you have all the resources and support you need to succeed. All you need to provide are your ideas for America and your hunger for change.

To get started in your community, just log onto My.BarackObama.com and go to our Platform Meetings page. (If you don't have a My.BarackObama.com account, creating one is simple and easy.)

Sign up to host or attend a Platform Meeting now:

http://my.barackobama.com/listening

I hope you'll take advantage of this opportunity to make your voice heard in the political process.

Thank you for all that you do,

Barack

McCain's Politics of Hate

Daggett County Voter Fraud update

(Hat Tip: JM Bell)

As I reported back in March, 5.4% of registered voters in Daggett County were charged with voter fraud.

This was after AG Mark Shurtleff drug his feet in the investigation.

Well, now the Daggett County Attorney has been fired, apparently for no reason, other than the fact that he was going to file more charges in the voter fraud case, including the county clerk and sheriff. (The Sheriff's race was the one where the fraud took place).

KSL has the story:

The vote was two to one. As for why Floyd Briggs and Henry Gutz voted to terminate Sidwell's contract, Briggs said, "More or less for a change in direction. Just try something different."

It's an answer county residents couldn't understand. Lisa Bennington said, "I find it very hard to believe there aren't personal feelings in these decisions."

Those personal feelings could involve the county's 2006 election fraud case. Many say Sidwell was looking into charging county clerk Vicky McKee and sheriff Rick Ellsworth with malfeasance of office, claiming they were in on the fix.

Because those two are close friends of Briggs, those same residents feel Briggs wanted to get Sidwell out of office before any charges could be filed. Gretchen Northcott said, "It really looks suspicious to me. I think as Bryan Sidwell digs deeper, he's finding new things, is what I'm supposing, and people are getting uncomfortable with that."

We asked commissioners Briggs and Gutz that very question. Briggs said, "No, that wasn't the reason. Like I commented today in the meeting, this wasn't a representation of the county as a whole."

Gutz said, "I'm not trying to cover anything. If there's additional investigating that goes on, it will happen."

Sidwell says he was just enforcing the laws, and if some in the county don't want the laws enforced, then he's not the right attorney for the job. "I believe that when people violate the laws, no matter who you are, the law needs to be enforced," he said.

Breaking: Walker Resigns

Deseret News:

Rep. Mark Walker, R-Sandy, resigned his seat in the Legislature, his campaign manager in his unsuccessful run for state treasurer said Monday morning.

The confirmation came just moments before the House Ethics Committee was scheduled to convene to consider allegations that Walker tried to bribe his GOP primary opponent in the treasurer's race, Richard Ellis.

"He said, 'I just can't do this to my family anymore. I know I should stay and fight….I'm done,' " said Steve Hunter, who ran Walker's campaign.

Hunter said Walker turned in a letter of resignations Sunday night to House Speaker Greg Curtis, R-Sandy, and plans to spend a few weeks with his family in a secluded cabin.

On Democrats, Republicans, and Satan's Plan

Paul Mero has a post at the Utah Amicus regarding a qote frome former LDS Prophet Ezra Taft Benson (before he was the Prophet. The quote:

In the war in heaven the devil advocated absolute eternal security at the sacrifice of our freedom. Although there is nothing more desirable to a Latter-day Saint than eternal security in God's presence, and although God knew, as did we, that some of us would not achieve this security if we were allowed our freedom—yet the very God of heaven, who has more mercy than us all, still decreed no guaranteed security except by a man's own freedom of choice and individual initiative.

Today the devil as a wolf in a supposedly new suit of sheep's clothing is enticing some men, both in and out of the Church, to parrot his line by advocating planned government guaranteed security programs at the expense of our liberties. Latter-day Saints should be reminded how and why they voted as they did in heaven. If some have decided to change their vote they should repent—throw their support on the side of freedom—and cease promoting this subversion...

...No true Latter-day Saint and no true American can be a socialist or a communist or support programs leading in that direction. These evil philosophies are incompatible with Mormonism, the true gospel of Jesus Christ.

However, I see much more of Satan's plan in the modern Utah Republican party than anywhere. Their repeated attempts to ban everything that is a sin is the antithesis to the gospel of freedom.

-Bob

Utah Democrats wanting a coverup of Republican sex scandal?

I was shocked to see the official blog of the Utah State Democratic Party blasting the local papers for printing a story on a potential Republican sexual harassment scandal.

Instead, the papers should be praised.

Yes, the timing of the story is suspect. The Republican in question is one that has brought Representative Walker before the Ethics Committee. However, that doesn't mean the media should sit on the story.

And, if the USDP took this story seriously, they would see that it shows multiple things about their counterparts:

*It's a REPUBLICAN sex scandal. You know, the party of "Utah values?"
*The fact that party leadership knew about this months ago but quietly shows how willing they are to protect their own, at least until their own stands up to them.

So, I ask my friends at 455 S 300 E: Why not get this out in the open? Why try to defend Rep Mascaro? I know he is on our side on occasion, but it's our job to work for guys with a D behind their name, not the guys with the R.

-Bob

Democratic Convention: Last Night At Pepsi Center Canceled

I just saw on NBC's Today Show that the Democratic National Convention has canceled the last night of events at Denver's Pepsi Center.

Well, canceled is the wrong word. Those events have moved.

The last night of the convention is always when the nominee speaks. They have moved the speech by Barack Obama to Invesco Field at Mile High.

Why?

Because they can.

Obama speaking to 80,000 people makes for better TV than Obama talking to 17,000. He's spoken to arena-sized crowds before. But an NFL stadium?

It's gonna be awesome!

Read the Press Release here.

-Bob

Senator Buttars is Republican, a dark and ugly thing

Salt Lake Tribune:

Mapleton officials say Sen. Chris Buttars repeated his infamous remark about a black baby during a meeting with them this week.
Three city officials - one was Mayor Laurel Brady who has three adopted black children - said Buttars referred at least three times to inflammatory remarks earlier this year, saying of a bill, "this baby is black . . . it's a dark and ugly thing."
The comments, they said, came during a Capitol Hill meeting Wednesday to discuss a Utah County developer's ongoing dispute with the city over a proposed Maple Mountain housing project.
That's not all Buttars said during the meeting, according to the city officials. He also expressed no regret for writing a critical letter to 4th District Judge Derek Pullan who had ruled against the Maple Mountain developer - and Buttars' friend - Wendell Gibby.
That letter prompted Senate leaders to remove Buttars as chairman of the Judicial Confirmation Committee, which makes recommendations on judge appointments.
City Administrator Robert Bradshaw said Buttars appeared to be proud of writing the missive and told the group he would send it "a hundred times over." In addition, he was looking forward to Pullan coming before the Legislature's Judicial Review Committee, said Bradshaw.

Help defeat Senator Buttars. Donate to John Rendell's Campaign, or get involved.