Two things about today:

1. Sci-Fi Network
2. Firefly Marathon

Telecommuting Kicks Ass!

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Whoo Hooo! The “Homosexual Agenda” (or, for the sane, equal justice under the law) marches on.

From CNN:

California ban on same-sex marriage struck down

WASHINGTON (CNN) — In a much-anticipated ruling issued Thursday, the California Supreme Court struck down the state’s ban on same-sex marriage as unconstitutional.

California’s Supreme Court ruled Thursday that the state’s ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional.

Several gay and lesbian couples, along with the city of San Francisco and gay rights groups, sued to overturn state laws allowing only marriages between a man and a woman.

“There can be no doubt that extending the designation of marriage to same-sex couples, rather than denying it to all couples, is the equal protection remedy that is most consistent with our state’s general legislative policy and preference,” said the 120-page ruling.

It said that the state law’s language “limiting the designation of marriage to a ‘union between a man and a woman’ is unconstitutional, and that the remaining statutory language must be understood as making the designation of marriage available to both opposite-sex and same-sex couples.”

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Disturbing is one word I’d use here. Insane is another. You want a phrase? Sharp as a marble. All of that completely understates my feelings on republicans in Utah (and around the country) when it comes to this planet and the environment.

A couple of things have sparked my annoyance in the last week:

First, as reported by Robert Gehrke of the Tribune:

“Jon Huntsman, as much as I like you, you’re wrong on global warming. It’s a farce,” said Chaffetz, Huntsman’s former chief of staff, to applause.

I was unaware that the BYU football team taught climatology, meteorology, geology and environmental sciences to its kickers (you know, the guys too fragile to actually play the game). My guess is he either majored in Pyramid Schemes or Hyperbole in college, as I can’t find any mention of what he studied in college on his website.

I don’t want to “kick” Chaffetz too hard, mostly because I’m still pretty pissed at Yapius and the gang for knocking Jacobs out of the 2006 race BEFORE he could knock off Cannon AND THEN show the world that he was insane, but, really, a farce? Hey, Jason, your RNC talking points are a couple of years out of date.

Then comes this gem from Paul Rolly in the Tribune:

Speaking of resolutions: Delegates at the Salt Lake County Republican Convention May 8 passed a resolution on energy independence that states, “Utah alone has enough oil and natural gas resources to supply the United States for tens of thousands of years.”

Two delegates - a geologist and an engineer - stood to speak against the resolution because, they said, that statement was blatantly false.

But they were talking to Utah Republicans, who have shown disdain for science getting in the way of ideological blustering.

The resolution cited as its source “members of the Utah State Legislature,” the same body where the statement once was made that since there is a dog species, and there is a cat species, but there is no “dat” species, the theory of evolution obviously is bunk.

Seriously: members of the Utah State Legislature. These people are running the show?

Maybe they should take a look at the 2007 IPCC report on Climate Change. I know, I know, it has a lot of big words, but, I’m sure if one of these boneheaded Republicans needed help with it, and they asked nicely, a Democrat would be happy to read it to them and explain the hard parts. I’ll even throw in some crayons so that they can take notes.

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McCain Vision of 2013?
Its Even Worse Than Bush’s 2009

McCain’s Health Care Plan Does Little to Help America’s Uninsured. McCain’s plan does not focus on “reducing the ranks of the uninsured,” of which there are about 47 million, or one in seven Americans. According to the New York Times, “The McCain campaign has no estimate of how many of America’s 47 million uninsured would likely gain coverage under its plan.” [Wall Street Journal, 10/11/2007; New York Times, 3/2/2008]

McCain Said US May Stay In Iraq For 100 Years. At a New Hampshire town hall when McCain was asked “President Bush has talked about our staying in Iraq for 50 years.” McCain responded: “Maybe 100″ and “that would be fine with me.” [McCain Town Hall, Derry NH Opera House 1/3/2008]

Centcom Chief Admiral Fallon Resigns, Reportedly Argued Iraq Troop Levels “Hurting Operations” in Afghanistan. “It was often reported that he and Gen. David Petraeus butted heads about troop levels in Iraq, which the two denied, but was an ongoing dispute that simmered below the surface within the Pentagon. Fallon is responsible for not only Iraq and Afghanistan. The article noted that the troop numbers were so taxed in Iraq that it was hurting operations in Afghanistan.” [Foxnews.com, 3/11/08]

Iraq War Has Permitted al-Qaeda and the Taliban to “Regenerate,” Now Pose Greatest Threat to U.S. Security Since 9/11. “We write out of deep concern over the deteriorating situation in both Afghanistan and Pakistan: the negligent policies of the last half-decade have permitted al-Qaeda and the Taliban to regenerate, and to pose a greater threat to the national security of the United States than at any point since September 11, 2001. In order to protect our homeland from attacks which may well be developing in the border areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan at this very moment, we urge you to refocus the U.S. counter-terrorism strategy and our national security resources on this region and implement a comprehensive new strategy to keep America safe.” [Press Release, Senate Majority Leader, 4/6/08]

McCain Wants To Make Bush’s Tax Cuts For the Wealthy Permanent. At a debate earlier this year McCain said “I’m disappointed because I think it’s very important that we make the Bush tax cuts permanent. I voted to make them permanent twice already.” [MSNBC Debate, Boca Raton Florida, 1/24/08]

Cost of “Four More Years” Placed At $6.3 TRILLION. The CBO’s “January Budget and Economic Outlook” showed continued deterioration in the budget outlook with the projected 2008 deficit growing to $219 billion. But as bad as the budget situation has become under the current Republican Administration, continuation of the Republican policies by any of the Republicans on stage tonight will only make things worse. The majority staff of the Senate Budget Committee estimates that funding Republican priorities like making the Bush tax cuts permanent and funding ongoing - and perhaps permanent - operations in Iraq will add $6.3 trillion to the CBO’s already dismal ten-year predictions. http://budget.senate.gov/democratic/documents/2008/cbojanupdatefactsheet2008.pdf

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For Immediate Release
May 15, 2008

Contact: Damien LaVera - 202-863-8148

Dean: McCain Speech Highlights Hypocritical, Flawed Agenda

Washington, DC - During his remarks in Ohio this morning, Senator John McCain outlined a fictional account of what he expects the American people to believe he will do as president. In reality, on each of the issues he addresses, Senator McCain has either failed to outline any plans or has actually promised outdated ideas that would make the problem worse. Senator McCain’s health care plan would do nothing to reduce the ranks of the uninsured, leave people with pre-existing medical conditions uninsured, and gut employer-based health benefits while raising taxes on families. His reckless tax cuts for the wealthy and his special interest friends would take President Bush’s budget deficits to dangerous new extremes. His willingness to keep our troops in Iraq for 100 years would continue to drain resources from our efforts to confront terrorists in Afghanistan.

Now, Senator McCain expects people to believe he will bring greater transparency to government, despite the fact that he never applied that same standard to his own political career. Before this year, Senator McCain never released a single year of tax returns during his 25 years in Congress. Now that he is running for President, he released just two years of tax returns–far less than any party nominee since Ronald Reagan in 1980–and is refusing to release Cindy McCain’s tax returns despite well-documented links between Senator McCain’s political career and the McCain family’s business and financial interests.

Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean issued the following statement in response to Senator McCain’s speech:

“The reality behind Senator McCain’s new rhetoric is that his plans either ignore the problems he identifies or actually makes them worse. Whether he is taking President Bush’s fiscal policies to new extremes, continuing a stay-the-course strategy in Iraq that has distracted from the real war on terror, or pretending he would bring transparency to government after refusing to even release his own tax records, Senator McCain found yet another way to show he’s the wrong choice for America’s future.”

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I have to think that certain Union leaders are breathing a little easier today. In the early days of the 2008 campaign season (1912, wasn’t it?), Edwards was a favorite of a lot of different Unions and I know that more than a few Edwards supporters were hoping that things would break this way.

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From a Press Release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts:   Jenni Engebretsen
May 14, 2008
Damon Jones
Natalie Wyeth
720-362-2006

DNC CHAIRMAN GOVERNOR DEAN ANNOUNCES BLOGS SELECTED FOR 2008 DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION ‘STATE BLOGGER CORPS’

Party Chairman Notifies Selected Blogs Via Online Video Message

DENVER - As part of the Democratic National Convention Committee’s (DNCC)
commitment to engaging a broad spectrum of audiences in the 2008
Democratic National Convention experience using new technology and
other creative means, Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairman
Howard Dean today announced the blogs selected to participate in the
DemConvention State Blogger Corps during the four-day event in August.
Governor Dean notified the blogs selected via an online video message
available at www.DemConvention.com .

“Similar to the record-breaking voter turnout our Party has seen
during the primary season, the demand for these coveted blogger
positions is yet another indicator of the tremendous interest in this
historic Convention,” said Governor Dean. “The Internet has played a
critical role in connecting Americans to elected officials and
candidates seeking office. The DemConvention State Blogger Corps will
continue to foster this dialogue - in all 50 of our states and our
territories too - as we head towards this year’s historic election and
elect a Democrat to the White House.”

The DNCC previously announced an expansion of the credentialed blogger
pool from past Conventions and the addition of a state blogger
credentialing program. As part of the new DemConvention State Blogger
Corps, designed for bloggers covering state and local politics,
bloggers will receive unparalleled access to state delegations and the
floor of the Convention hall. In a truly unprecedented move, the DNCC
will seat these bloggers with their respective delegations during the
historic four-day event, providing even greater access for local
coverage and perspective. Highlights from these blogs will also be
featured on www.DemConvention.com in the lead up to and during the
Convention.

“The members of the DemConvention State Blogger Corps represent a
broad spectrum of voices that illustrate the ‘big tent’ nature of our
Party,” said DNCC CEO Leah D. Daughtry. “Many of these blogs are
vibrant communities, well respected in their home states and committed
to ensuring that all voices can be heard in the political process. I’m
excited about the roles these bloggers will have in engaging an even
broader, more diverse base of people from around the country in
conversations not only about the Convention, but about the future of
our nation.”

More than 400 applications were received from bloggers across the
United States and multiple territories. Some of the blogs selected for
the State Corps are full-time, professional endeavors while others are
the work of individuals, who through their own efforts have become
recognized authorities on state and local politics. Bloggers had to
submit daily audience information and provide examples of posts that
made their blogs stand out as an effective online organizing tool or
agent of change, a demonstration of both the reach and impact blogs
have had and will continue to have on the 2008 election. The program
recognizes the growth of more localized blogs and is in line with
Governor Dean’s 50-state strategy.

In addition to the State Blogger Corps, the DNCC will soon credential
a General Blogger Pool, to include local, state and national political
bloggers, as well as niche and video bloggers from across the country.
All applicants not selected for the State Blogger Corps are now
eligible for selection as part of the General Blogger Pool.

The DemConvention State Blogger Corps is listed below.

STATE - BLOG NAME - BLOG URL

UTAH - The Utah Amicus - http://utahamicus.com(I was Robbed! [get it?])

Continue reading this post…

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If that’s not playing to a stereotype, I don’t know what is. When you’re out stumping about, say, how huge the deficit got under Republican “leadership” you’d think that you would know better than to get TWENTY MILLION IN THE HOLE!

From Anne E. Kornblut at the Washington Post:

CLARKSBURG, W.Va., May 11 — With her campaign falling ever deeper into debt, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton spent a rainy Mother’s Day seeking votes ahead of Tuesday’s primary here, turning a deaf ear to calls for her to leave a Democratic presidential contest she has little hope of winning.

Clinton aides continued to insist that she will remain in the race even while confirming that she is $20 million in debt. “The voters are going to decide this,” senior adviser Howard Wolfson said on “Fox News Sunday,” acknowledging the $20 million figure. “There is no reason for her not to continue this process.” Wolfson said he has seen “no evidence of her interest” in pursuing the second-place spot on the Democratic ticket, contrary to rumors that she is staying in the race to leverage a bid for the vice presidential nomination.

Good lord … Maybe the PTSD she got in (getting caught lying about) Bosnia has finally gotten to her.

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Do you think that Democrats in Utah have the testicular fortitude to make a point this clearly or this powerfully? Sadly, I doubt it. We have a legislature that is far worse than the Republican Caucus in California, but, year after year, Democrats keep trying to polite their way into office instead of framing the truth and presenting an argument in the most powerful way possible. Like this:

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That may be just too good a ticket … I want Obama to pick Wesley Clark, but … Jim Webb … that’s not a bad idea.

From Real Clear Politics‘ Gerald Pomper:

Virginia Senator James Webb should be the Democratic candidate for vice-president.

Senator Barack Obama is close to winning the Democratic nomination for president. His overwhelming victory in North Carolina and virtual tie in Indiana, with a forthcoming tide of superdelegates, will bring him within a hundred votes of the nomination. Obama has victory in sight, unless the iron laws of arithmetic are repealed by superdelegates meeting in “smoke-filled rooms” in an age of “no smoking” edicts in air-conditioned retreats.

Obama must soon turn to the choice of a running mate. The best choice, in my opinion, would be Senator Webb. To make the case, let’s first dispose of two contrary arguments.

Read the REST HERE, it’s a pretty good article.

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Time Magazine - Michael Scherer

Sometimes you don’t need the secret memo, a Deep Throat source, or the combination to the safe to get the story. Sometimes it’s lying right there in front of you, a series of fragments ready to be pieced together.

Such is the case when it comes to John McCain’s general election strategy for defeating Barack Obama. For weeks now, the Arizona senator’s campaign has been laying its cards on the table, spelling out a strategy for November. Here’s a look at seven of their key strategies.

1. Paint Obama as a False Messiah
The big debut for this message came on the night of the Virginia and Maryland primaries. Mike Huckabee was still in the race, but the McCain campaign wanted to pivot towards the general election. So at an Alexandria Holiday Inn, McCain offered these words: “I do not seek the presidency on the presumption that I am blessed with such personal greatness that history has anointed me to save my country in its hour of need.” The code was not hard to break. McCain was calling out Obama as an unfulfilled prophet, built up on lofty rhetoric and personal charisma. McCain’s advisors have been hammering the theme ever since, privately speaking skeptically of Obama’s big crowds and “Yes We Can” ritual chants. “The lofty rhetoric,” said Steve Schmidt, McCain’s message man, on a recent flight. “It’s nonsense.” This will not let up. McCain’s campaign calculates that it must put a dent in Obama’s powerful aura to keep a Republican in the White House.

Read the OTHER SIX

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Outstanding choice, Utah Democrats! Josie has the energy, the vision and the personality to run a vigorous campaign. Look out, Herbert.

From the Out of Context blog:

Utah Democrats nominated Josie Valdez for Lieutenant Governor even before delegates had a chance to vote for governor.

During gubernatorial candidate Bob Springmeyer’s speech, he suspended the rules and nominated Valdez, former assistant director of the Small Business Administration Office in Salt Lake City, as a running mate.

Valdez is a national delegate supporting Barack Obama. Her husband is Rep. Mark Wheatley.

“My task is to help unite and grow the party and see victory in November,” Valdez said. “We stand united and united we shall win.”

Springmeyer called himself the “good jobs, good education, good health, clean air and clean water” candidate.

This’ll be a fun race.

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This is a question for my local fans, but, everyone can play a lot …

What should we chat about on Tomorrow?

Let me get this started:

1. International nuclear waste storage in Utah?

2. AG Shurleff’s legal yet dirty money?

3. The Utah State Democratic Convention?

4. Utah State Democratic Convention?

Should I bring on a guest?

Come on lefty readers! Those GOP kids don’t think that have any good ideas, so , speak up in the comments section and let me be your voice (please provide reference materials, as I am crunched for time )

SHOW #1 - JM Bell\’s Left of the Dial on KSL

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It was the one of the darkest years in American History …

The dark prince of the GOP and his trusty ventriloquist’s dummy were gearing up to stumpf**k the American people by winning another election; once again showing that the GOP has no shame, conscience and no level to which it will not sink in lies, misinformation, terror and bullsh*t to win an election ….

In Utah, Jim Matheson and his campaign were hiding from Democrats … Chris Cannon was asking illegal immigrants to register to vote and crowning Reverend Moon as the Second Coming of Jesus Christ (seriously, I’m not kidding), and Rob Bishop was … well, not doing much of anything, really. All three “men” won proving yet again that most Utah voters have the electoral flavor of battered wife syndrome.

Oh, and This Happened: UPD was born. Behold the dark, yet strangely high pitched voice of LaVarr Webb:

I wasn’t watching the date (four years of getting up at 4 a.m. to compile UPD destroys a few brain cells) and missed the 4-year anniversary of Utah Policy Daily. We’ve been publishing since May 7, 2004. So eat some cake today.

CAKE!?! Diabolical!

Happy birthday, you right winged chuckle-monkeys. I wish I could quit you, but there I am, reading every morning. That you guys survived the “revamping” of both the Trib and the Des News websites added to the MS Frontpage flavor of the Standard and the Herald is truly evidence that you’ve sold your souls to Sith Lord Cheney … or something.

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