August 12, 2026

Are we in the midst of the rise of China and the decline of America? [graphs]

If these days and years will be seen as great, it will be because we will decide in coming months and years what course we will take, pass policies that reverse the trends and return America to its competitive edge and full solvency as the best investment in the world, or whether we will lapse into decline. Will we figure out a way to care for the poor and disadvantaged, to keep our promises to older generations, but refrain from pouring an unbearable burden on our children and grandchildren?

Or, perhaps better said: will we return America to a beacon on a hill, the leader of the free world? [cont…]

Iowa Caucuses are Bad for Democracy

Are you paying attention? Are you watching the results? Is Iowa on your radar?

Today, a non-binding vote by a tiny fraction of America will kick-off the primary season. That vote will award zero delegates.

That’s right. Zero. [cont…]

The Patrick Henry Caucus getting some love from GOP voters?

Rep. Stephen Sandstrom (left) & Rep. Carl Wimmer (right). (Photo KSL.com) The Deseret News put a poll out this last weekend. It shows, among other things, that if the election for the 4th Congressional District were held today, Matheson would probably win. Meh. This same polling company also put Philpot at 26 points behind Matheson back […]

Every time Gingrich calls himself a conservative, an angel loses its wings.

Ok, maybe not an angel. But I am sure that Ronald Reagan is rolling over in his grave. This one’s for you, Marco. Today’s witness to the lack of conservatism in Newt Gingrich is George Will who, frankly, says things better than I do, including when he calls Newt the “anti-conservative”: When discussing his amazingness, […]

I agree with Bagley: Indefinite Detention of Americans is Wrong.

Our laws promise access to “due process” and the courts, but at a time when enemies do not wear uniforms, follow a chain of command, can use our own technology and resources to surveil and attack, our multicultural population to hide, and our large and porous borders to infiltrate, the difficulty of providing security has increased dramatically.

Fighting the Nazis and the Japanese in World War II was bloody, but the enemy was clear. Knowing who the enemy is in the twenty-first century is a much more difficult task, especially when the enemy often lives and works among us, looks like us, and acts like us.

That doesn’t mean we quit following the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. [Cont…]

Meet Rep. David Butterfield of Utah’s 4th Legislative District

When Rep. David Butterfield talks about his constituency, you can tell he loves living and working among them. A nearly lifelong resident, he refers to Cache Valley as “God’s country” and remembers milking cows and hauling hay and moving pipe. Perhaps it is that background–working the land in beautiful northern Utah–that has taught him the pragmatism and commonsense that was plain when we spoke on the phone.

Like all the legislators I’ve interviewed, he prefers serious non-fiction and focuses on reading what will inform and prepare him, as both a legislator and as a leader in business and his community.

Posted: Rep. David Clark’s Letter of Resignation from the Utah Legislature

I just received the following press release and letter of resignation regarding Rep. David Clark’s stepping down from the Utah State Legislature, ostensibly to run for Congress: