Stout and Granato on KVNU

I just listened to the archive of KVNU's For The People interviewing both Christopher Stout and Sam Granato last night.

If you have an extra hour, listen to it here. Stout is interviewed first, and Granato goes second.

It's "I have solutions" vs "I'm a small business owner."

I could make more editorial comment, but I'll let you have a listen and decide for yourself.

-Bob

Delegate Email From Christopher Stout: Effective Government

Dear Friends,

Over the last several months, I have been speaking with you about the issues that concern me. I know there are far more issues that each of us are passionate about and while I've been on the campaign trail, I have been privileged to learn about and discuss your important issues in far more detail and depth.

One of the important issues I’ve addressed is the need for truly effective government. It can be briefly summed up in the following three points:

It is important to promote legislative transparency because senators and representatives have become complacent and distanced from constituents. We can change this by providing tools for voters to better express their concerns through social media and live webcasts.

We need to bring resolution to challenges through compromise and bipartisan collaboration.

We need to set congressional term limits to twelve years. Term limits will allow more citizens to serve and help bring fresh ideas to Congress.
I believe strongly in transparent, effective government. The Federal Government should be focused on serving the people, not the special interests that scour the Washington of today. Strong reforms promoting the public interest will therefore be a central pillar of my service. To read more about this specific issue and my stance on other important issues, please visit my website at http://stout2010.com.

Thank you,

Christopher Stout

ENDORSEMENT: Stout for Senate -- Substance over Style

I like Sam Granato. I was excited to see what he had to offer when he first started running.

However, other than his friendships with "Mr Mac" Christiansen and Frank Layden, delicious food, and the ability to identify that the Government is not doing things well, I don''t really see where he has brought anything to the race.

Yet, the more that I look at Christopher Stout, the more I like him.

Not only does he identify the problems we are facing, he provides solutions, more than most candidates at this stage of a campaign.

Stout has been labeled as the more Liberal of the two Democrats running for this seat, mostly because of the company he is keeping.

However, does this sound like a typical "Liberal" candidate?

Many people have asked me, “Why do you want to run for U.S. Senate?” The answer is as complex as the many problems our nation faces today. First, and foremost, I believe that a Democrat can represent the people of Utah in the U.S. Senate. Many Democrats within Utah feel that the state isn’t willing to accept Democrats in the state’s highest offices. I disagree. We need more Democrats to step up and prove that we have the ability to identify issues and work towards resolutions that benefit the people of Utah. We have viable solutions to issues, we share common values with our Republican friends, and we can make a difference.

Second, the nation was founded on compromise, maintained by compromise, and successful because of compromise. In the Senate today, I see very little compromise. I see a Senate that is playing politics and pampers the special interests rather than meeting the needs of the People. The health care debate over the past year provided an insight to me, that many politicians and special interests groups aren’t really trying to help bring solutions to our issues. We must determine problems, offer solutions, reach compromises, and then revisit the issue again next year to see how well our compromises worked and reach more compromises until we have the best possible government that we can have. I believe that this effort is missing from our Senate representation. It is missing because we keep electing career politicians, and not representatives of the people. We must approach our solutions that are in the best interests of the people, not special interests, and not politicians.

It sounds like someone who knows what it will take to be an effective Senator for Utah.

And that's why I am endorsing Christopher Stout for US Senate.

-Bob Aagard

Read More about the candidates::
Sam Granato
Christopher Stout

Delegate Email 2-for-1: Chris Stout and Sam Granato

Two emails, two candidates, same theme.

Chris Stout:

Dear Friends,
I’d like to offer my sincere thanks to those of you I’ve had the opportunity to either meet in person or talk with on the telephone over the last several months. As I continue expressing my views of good government and my desires to work for the people of Utah in the U.S. Senate, I want to ask you to do two things:
1. Compare the candidates. Take a long look at both web sites and compare our plans and our issues. I suggest starting at www.stout2010.com. For several months, as I've worked to reach out to every delegate in person, by phone and email, I've had a plan; a clear outlining of important issues and solutions.
2. Ask me questions. As detailed and as open as this campaign has been, I know that some of you still have questions about who I am and what I believe. The simplest solution to any problem is usually the best solution – so; call me and ask.

Between now and the state convention, my phone line is open and I am standing by to take your calls. Leave a message if you don’t get through and I’ll return the call as soon as I can.
Take the time to get to know me and the reasons I’m running for the U.S. Senate. I am always happy to share with you my thoughts and feelings on any given issue. I also promise to listen to your take and engage in sincere discussion and constructive dialogue about the topics that matter most to all Utahns.

Sincerely,

Christopher Stout
801-892-9700

Granato:

Dear Bob:

Congratulations on being elected as a delegate to the Utah Democratic State Convention! I'm running for United States Senate and am asking for your support.

I value your vote and your opinion. As a delegate, you are among the most active and engaged Democratic voters in Utah and I want to hear from you. Since kicking off my campaign in June 2009, I have visited dozens of communities and talked with thousands of people about the issues that concern them most. In Roosevelt, it's immigration and energy policy. On the Wasatch Front, it's air quality, jobs, and education. In St. George, it's growth, water resources, and wilderness designation.

Of course, everywhere I've been, people are angry that healthcare reform either went too far or did not go far enough. People are anxious about the economy and disgusted by the nasty rhetoric of Washington politicians.

In the days remaining before the State Convention, I hope we have a chance to talk about these issues as well as other concerns you may have. Please contact our campaign headquarters at (801) 486-2010.

As you know, the State Convention will be held Saturday, May 8th at the Salt Palace in Salt Lake City. Registration begins at 9am and I hope we can talk more then, too. Let me know if you plan to attend so I can look for you and we can spend some time together. Either reply to this email, or answer our brief survey on the top left of this page.

Thank you for your time!

- Sam

Thoughts on the 2010 Salt Lake County Democratic Convention

When I got home from this year's convention Saturday, I posted on Facebook that I have a real hate/love relationship with political conventions.

I love going, but I hate being there. Long and tedious.

Don't get me wrong, I'm looking forward to the state convention on May 8. But I'll also be glad when it's over.

And now, some random thoughts as they would have probably come to you via live blogging or tweeting if I had the ability Saturday. (If I had been smart, I would have used the cool notebook Holly Mullen gave me to write these thought down. Instead, you have to rely on my memory.)

*I have been to most Democratic Conventions held in the county since 2004, plus one Republican one. Add to that numerous fairs and other "community events" where I have helped run a booth or just gone to as a patron. Every candidate booth looks exactly the same. Except Holly Mullen's. I think that I would have bought something from her, had she been selling something, it was that slick and professional. Also, donating a tree to Tree Utah for every endorsement was a great idea. (I didn't get a picture of the booth.)

*Arlyn Bradshaw had these potted trees all over the place with postcards with his name hanging from them. Very cool idea.

*I like that they split the caucus meetings into two groupings, so that it was possible to attend more than one. I made a cameo appearance in the education caucus (before I remembered that my brain wasn't yet fully engaged and the room was starting to fill up), and then an hour later went to the Young Democrats caucus.

*I love having candidates stop by caucuses, but it makes it really hard to conduct any business when candidates take all the time. I also think some deference to candidates in contested races should be paid.

*I am sick of candidates coming in and talking to the Young Democrats like we're all in high school. Most of us aren't.

*I'm amazed at the number of people who see my name and go "hey, you're the blogger, right?" It makes me proud, but at the same time, I have no witty comeback.

*I spent a good 20 minutes talking to Representative Jim Matheson about bicycle safety, earmarks, healthcare, redistricting, the Jazz, and blogging.

*I also spent several minutes talking to Claudia Wright about her pet issues, and what "moderate" means.

*And,I finally got to meet Christopher Stout. I was very impressed.

*I had a real tough time deciding who to vote for for District Attorney. I was leaning towards Sim Gill, then was to the point of wearing a Sim Gill button, to taking off the button and leaning slightly towards Greg Skordas, before then leaning slightly toward Sim Gill again, but asking some friends (and a few complete strangers) why I should vote for their candidate of choice. In the end, I voted for Sim.

*Two brilliant moves involving food: 1) The Young Democrats selling Little Cesar's Pizza for $2/slice and Big K Cola for $1/can. 2) Holly Mullen having Gelato. Awesome.

*Why aren't there recycling bins at the convention? I thought we were the environmentally friendly party.

Overall, it was a great convention. I give it a B+. Which is the highest grade I'd give any county convention I've been to.

And, I'm ready to make endorsements in the Senate and US House races. Look for those by week's end. I am also planning on making an endorsement in the House District 25 race. I'm going to be sending the candidates a questionnaire today, and hope to have the endorsement ready by next Monday at the latest.

-Bob

Delegate Email From Christopher Stout: Thank You

Dear Friends,

Congratulations on being elected as a delegate! It is truly a dedication and sacrifice from people like you that make the democratic process work. I'm sure you can agree that it is important to be such a central part of the democratic process, one that I know personally to be both exciting and rewarding.

My name is Christopher Stout, and I am seeking the democratic nomination for U.S. Senate. For the next few weeks, hundreds of people will participate in their county conventions all across Utah – a massive amount of work and time all culminating in the state convention on May 8. I am asking for your support at convention.
This year’s election is critical to the future of our party, state, and country. We need a candidate that knows the issues, can communicate with the majority of the electorate and posses the drive, and has the acumen and skill to run a powerful campaign against an entrenched majority.

Take the time to visit my website, www.stout2010.com, to learn more about our campaign, our key issues, and how you can participate in the coming weeks and months. Feel free to contact me with any questions or suggestions you may have. It's essential to our campaign’s success, and I would be honored to have your delegate vote, and would appreciate your help and support as we work to build a better future for Utah and a brighter, stronger future for our country.

Thank you,

Christopher Stout

Another Democratic Challenger to Bennett

From an email:

January 21, 2010, Salt Lake City, Utah –Seeing a genuine need for a better quality of representation from Utah’s leaders in Washington D.C., Christopher Stout (D-UT) will announce his candidacy for U.S. Senator on Saturday, January 23, 2010 at The Bad Ass Coffee Company, 3530 South State Street, Salt Lake City, Utah at 1:00 pm.
“Senator Bennett is holding a seat in the U.S. Senate that belongs to the people, not to Republicans or Democrats,” Stout says. “Utah needs a strong, independent Senator, not another beltway lifer who caters to special interests and plays party politics with important issues. My voice in Washington will speak on behalf of the people of Utah and take the responsibility as this state’s elected representative seriously.”
Stout, a lifelong Utahn, will conduct a grassroots campaign that speaks directly to Utahns and their needs in Washington D.C. With a background in accounting and a profound love for Utah and its people, Stout believes it is time for Utahns to take back their representation from leaders who have over the past decades become too complacent and self-serving. Providing solid leadership in times of uncertainty and solving key issues such as reducing the national debt and freeing America from its energy dependence on foreign oil are a few things Stout believes are important to Utahns, and causes he will take up in Washington.