UPD: Tell Us What You Like and Don’t Like

Many Utah Policy Daily readers have filled out a quick on-line survey that will help us improve UPD’s content. If you haven’t taken the survey, I hope you’ll do so. UPD has been published for more than four years, and it’s time to check with readers to see what's working and what isn't. The survey is fast and confidential. We appreciate your feedback. Please click here to complete the survey. Thanks again.

Hinckley Journal of Politics

An Answer to Subprime Market Problems

In the latest edition of the Hinckley’s Institute’s Journal of Politics, U. of U. student Clinton Reeder, in an article titled, "Government Solutions: An Answer to the Subprime Market Problems,” discusses four approaches government agencies and branches are taking to with mortgage defaults and foreclosures. His abstract:

“Though homeownership has grown phenomenally in the United States over the past decade, recent developments with subprime mortgages threaten to undo that growth and hurt the economy in the process. With record rates of foreclosures and defaults on subprime mortgages, there has been a public outcry for the government to take charge and fix the problem before it does significant damage to the United States economy. Many different government agencies and branches have answered the call with four differing approaches to this issue. Each group’s approach is analyzed and the four approaches are then compared to see which provides the most success in the current situation. In the end, each has had mixed results that seem to answer most of the problems effectively but each has its drawbacks, as well. The final conclusion is that the federal regulatory agencies approach has the most effective solution with the least drawbacks.” Read the Journal on-line here.

Becker's 180-Day Plan
The SLC Mayor's Office has posted a progress summary of Ralph Becker's 180-Day Plan. To read it, click here.

Washington Watch

Cantwell Co-Sponsors Bennett Bill
Washington state Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell signs on to co-sponsor Sen. Bob Bennett's Healthy Americans Act, joining 15 other senators who've endorsed the health reform legislation (see press release).

Today in Political History

July 8, 1919:  President Woodrow Wilson receives a tumultuous welcome in New York City after his return from the Versailles Peace Conference in France.

July 8, 1950:  Gen. Douglas MacArthur is named commander-in-chief of United Nations forces in Korea.

July 8, 1994:  Kim Il Sung, North Korea's communist leader since 1948, dies at age 82. (Source:  NY Times) 

Wise Words

“He who does not bellow out the truth when he knows the truth makes himself the accomplice of liars and forgers.”

-- Charles Peguy (Patriot Post)

Communications Tip

The Art of Email Subject Lines

Your email message is one of scores of messages in your recipient's inbox. If the recipient does not know you, your subject line determines whether your message is opened or deleted.

Good subject lines for routine correspondence are specific and tell the reader what to expect in the message. Lines such as "Campaign launch at 10 today" or "Energy Policy Unveiled" telegraph the emails' content and motivate the reader to open them. By contrast, subjects such as "New Product" or "Policy News" say little and prompt no action.

Subject lines of sales emails are most effective when they're short and contain a promise. Tell the reader what's in it for him and what action he might be expected to take. Put key information up front so it isn't truncated by the email client. And as with all sales messages: test, test, test.  (Source:  Access Consulting) 

National Politics

Best Stories From . . .

-- Politico: Barack Obama "will leave the hall of the Democratic National Convention in Denver and deliver a rock-star-style acceptance speech at nearby Invesco Field at Mile High, quadrupling his live audience, the party announced Monday. The speech ... will be on the fourth and final night of the convention, Aug. 28. Adding to the historic resonance of the first nomination of an African-American for president, that date is the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s 'I Have a Dream Speech.'"

-- Washington Post: "Conservative activists are preparing to do battle with allies of Sen. John McCain in advance of September's Republican National Convention, hoping to prevent his views on global warming, immigration, stem cell research and campaign finance from becoming enshrined in the party's official declaration of principles."

-- New York Times: Columnist William Kristol says "acquaintances and sources in and around the McCain campaign" have told him that "McCain is frustrated. He thinks he can beat Obama (politicians are pretty confident in their own abilities). But he isn't convinced his campaign can beat Obama's campaign."

-- Bloomberg: Columnist Heidi Przybyla: "The prerequisites for [McCain's] running mate are clear: a Washington outsider with solid economic credentials who isn't associated with President George W. Bush, can fill the vice-presidential attack-dog role, help win Western and Midwestern states and cut into [Obama's] fundraising advantage. One candidate fits the bill: former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney."

Blog Watch

-- At Salt Blog, Holly Mullen reports on Rep. Rep. Mark Walker’s abrupt resignation and the cancellation of the Ethics Committee meeting: “I talked to (Richard) Ellis, who beat Walker in the primary, after the 11-minute meeting was adjourned. 'I'm surprised [at the outcome],' Ellis said. Ellis showed up with a stack of documents and other paperwork regarding his testimony -- he apparently didn't get the resignation memo. 'I was subpoenaed to be here today,' he said. 'Essentially I was prepared to discuss my affidavit with the committee, which is public record.' Ellis said he'll stand by his account of events with his opponent, and is ready to testify in any criminal case, should it go that far. Meanwhile, he said, 'I'll just pursue my election.'"

Lighter Side

“Women are like the police. They could have all the evidence in the world, but they still want the confession.”

 -- Chris Rock (Reader’s Digest)