August 11, 2026

I doubt Romney has ever approved more of Santorum’s word’s …[video]

“It’s not the campaign. This is Rick Santorum. I think everybody knows that nobody puts words into my mouth. The words out of my mouth were that, uh, if you want a conservative as the nominee of this party you must vote for Mitt Romney.” Rick Santorum, 2008.

Utah’s March 15 Caucus: To go, or not to go…

Today, with the Utah caucus finally within site (it’s on Thursday at 7 PM if you’re Republican, Tuesday if you’re a Democrat…find out where to attend here), many are still questioning whether we should even have a caucus.

Why not just hold a primary? Why do we have to sit in a room with our neighbors and elect someone else to be our delegate? It would be easier to just hold a primary. [cont…]

Obama’s 2012 Budget Proposal is a Trip to La-la Land.

What would you say if I told you that the Obama Administration is proposing in a budget that cuts out spending to the equivalent to getting a penny off of your Wendy’s value meal?

Let’s be clear: for an administration that has had to deal with the worst economy in decades, the Obama Administration has proven an uncanny ability to live in La-la Land when it comes time to make a budget.

I don’t say this to attack the Obama Administration on its handling of the economy. Indeed, that might be seen as a different issue. Rather, I point it out because it is significant in that budgeting is how the executive branch sets its priorities for the coming year. As yet, over the course of his tenure in the White House, the President has not had a budget survive through Congress, even when his party controlled both the Senate and House.

Further, it is widely accepted by economists that once national debt exceeds 90% of GDP (gross domestic product or the value of everything a country produces in a year), “annual economic growth tends to be about one percentage point lower.” The current GDP for the US is about$14.58 Trillion. The current national debt is at $15.087 Trillion, or about 103.45% of GDP. [cont…]

Meet Senator Todd Weiler of Utah’s 23rd Senate District

Although I’ve known Senator Todd Weiler for a couple years now, perhaps what most indicates his quality and value is how he is judged against his opponents in his election, earlier this year, to the Utah Senate. I was there in Davis County when Republican Party delegates met with and listened to speeches from seven candidates seeking to fill the state Senate seat vacated when Dan Liljenquist challenged Orrin Hatch for the US Senate. I met several of them, and I am good friends with one of them (occasional contributor here, Ben Lusty). Without exception, all were qualified and intelligent individuals, and I would be hard pressed to find a local race in recent memory where so many good candidates have been seeking the same office.

Todd beat them all, though, and with good reason. [cont…]

Meet Rep. Jim Nielson of Utah’s 19th Legislative District

I met Rep. Jim Nielson during a town-hall meeting. Self effacing and intent, he was just as quick to listen to my questions and thoughts as he was to share his. It’s a refreshing change from a lot of politicians who seem more interested on in their opinions.

Rep. Nielson doesn’t waste time on fluff or message bills. This year he’s proposing a change to the Utah Constitution that would protect the revenues from natural resources from raiding by hungry politicians for short term needs. I like that it protects the great mineral wealth in Utah for future generations and maximizes our assets. I found Rep. Nielson to be like that about everything–thoughtful, considerate, and smart. […]

from Newt.org: “A Tale of Three Wives…”

Nope, it’s not a story about Newt’s three wives…though I can’t help but wonder who let the story get headline status on Newt’s site. For a guy who has been in three marriages, this kind of headline is more than a bit ironic. Never mind context. (Ironically, it’s not the candidates with polygamy in their […]

Tea Party bait in the NYT: “You are white, Republican, and racist. Oh, and theocratic, too.”

I’ll admit it: just the fact that the story is coming  from the New York Times gives me pause. But there it is: “Crashing the Tea Party,” by David E. Campbell and Robert D. Putnam, a couple of professors who think they have profiled Tea Party members based on some wide ranging research. The results are provocative and, […]