News Highlights

Media reports earlier this week citing Barack Obama's fundraising advantage in Utah over John McCain omitted the fact that they have raised virtually the same amount of campaign cash in the state since Mitt Romney dropped out of the race in February (Daily Herald).

Columnist and political editor Bob Bernick describes how national political conventions, and news media coverage of them, have changed over the years (Deseret News). In a related story, Bernick and reporter Lee Davidson compare the national, state and Utah County Democratic platforms.

Quote of the Day

"If you've ever used a cheap Band-Aid, they work for a minute then fall off. We need to be patient and look for long-term solutions. In a remote-control society, we expect with a click we'll have the answer. This is not going to be that."

-- State Sen. Sheldon Killpack, commenting on how difficult it is to enact real health care reform (Deseret News).

The Question: To Drill or Not to Drill?

Domestic energy production is perhaps the nation’s hottest issue right now, with many Republicans demanding that we drill for oil and gas offshore and in Alaska, and also develop oil shale resources. Utah’s congressional delegation has been in the thick of the fight, supporting more drilling. Many Democrats (though not all) and environmental groups are fighting domestic carbon-based energy production.

This issue is essentially being played out right in Utah’s own back yard, both with regard to oil shale development and also with a major opportunity to drill for natural gas in a large field atop the West Tavaputs Plateau in Carbon County. I saw a presentation recently about Bill Barrett Corporation’s proposed natural gas development on West Tavaputs and came away convinced of the importance of this project. The issue basically comes down to the same question Congress has been grappling with: Will we produce more domestic energy, or not? Will we drill to become more energy self-sufficient and to keep energy costs low, or not?

Bill Barrett, based in Denver, is requesting BLM approval to drill 800 natural gas wells over 8 years. The firm expects to produce about 1 trillion standard cubic feet of natural gas, enough to meet 60% of Utah’s demand for natural gas for 10 years. Utah currently enjoys low natural gas prices compared to the rest of the country, but prices are expected to rise and this increased production is crucial to maintain reasonable natural gas prices.

The fight over the West Tavaputs field really captures the energy debate in a nutshell: Are we going to produce more domestic energy, or are we not? Is Utah going to lead in energy development, or not?

Bill Barrett is deploying state-of-the-art environmental mitigation and will leave the area literally in better environmental shape than it is today, with better dust suppression on the 9 Mile Canyon Road and a better mix of native plant species in areas that were disturbed and reclaimed. There will be no net impact to wildlife, and complete avoidance of impact to cultural and archeological resources. Utah will receive more than $85 million annually in severance taxes and mineral royalty shares, bolstering school funding. State leaders should do all they can to help this project go forward.

Today in Political History

Aug. 22, 1846:  The United States annexes New Mexico.

Aug. 22, 1902:  President Theodore Roosevelt becomes the first U.S. chief executive to ride in an automobile, in Hartford, Conn.

Aug, 22, 2003:  Alabama's chief justice, Roy Moore, is suspended for his refusal to obey a federal court order to remove his Ten Commandments monument from the rotunda of his courthouse.  (Source:  NY Times) 

Wise Words

“This country will not be a good place for any of us to live in unless we make it a good place for all of us to live in.”

-- Theodore Roosevelt  (Source:  Quote Garden) 

Utah History Spotlight

Beating Colorado to State Tree

Legislation designating the blue spruce (Picea pungens) as the official state tree zoomed through the Utah Legislature in record time in February, 1933. The reason for the fast action was that Colorado was considering a similar move and the Utah proponents of the blue spruce wanted to beat Colorado to the punch. Colorado also made the blue spruce it’s official state tree, but not until 1939. The Utah legislation was sponsored by the Utah Federation of Women's Clubs.

While the blue spruce is not plentiful in Utah, it is found in the Wasatch and Uinta mountains at elevations between 6,000 to 11,000 feet. It can be transplanted successfully and is widely used as an ornamental tree. It's foliage is generally silvery blue in color, and the tree has the ability to withstand temperature extremes and drought. The blue spruce ranges from eight to 100 feet in height and grows to two feet in diameter. Under optimum conditions, a blue spruce may reach a maximum of 150 feet in height and four feet in diameter. The brittle and knotty wood of the tree is of little commercial value. The chief use of the tree is for ornamental landscaping of homes, schools, and public buildings.   (Source:  Utah.edu) 

National Politics

Best Stories From . . .

-- CBS News: "Threatening letters containing an unidentified white powder have been received at John McCain's campaign offices in Denver, Colorado, and Manchester, New Hampshire ... The city of Denver is at a heightened security level, as the Secret Serviec and other officials prepare for the Democratic National Convention, which is set to begin on Monday."

-- Politico: McCain said Wednesday in an interview "that he was uncertain how many houses he and his wife, Cindy, own. ... Newsweek estimated this summer that the couple owns at least seven properties. And a Politico analysis ... found McCain's family owns at least eight properties ... In recent weeks, Democrats have stepped up their effort to caricature McCain as living an outlandishly rich lifestyle -- a bit of payback to the GOP for portraying [Barack Obama] as an elitist, and for turning the spotlight in 2004 on the five homes owned by Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) and his wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry." (See also related Chris Cillizza column.)
 
-- National Review: Stanley Kurtz discusses his efforts to examine documents detailing the relationship between Obama and unrepentant Weather Underground terrorist Bill Ayers; a library run by the University of Illinois at Chicago (where Ayers is a professor) initially gave Kurtz permission to study the document cache, but top library officials intervened to block access. (See also related John Kass column.)  
 
-- NPR: "An NPR poll of likely voters in 19 battleground states finds about half consider Illinois Sen. Barack Obama too risky. Those polled rank [McCain] slightly behind Obama in terms of independence. The poll results reveal voter doubts about both candidates' presidential qualities that may explain why neither seems to be able to break through a kind of ceiling this summer."

Blog Watch

-- Rep. Steve Urquhart says: "Bob Bernick and the D News were caught in an outright lie. ... When called on the lie, the editorial board was forced to acknowledge it. They, then, forced Bernick to write a retraction. He didn't. Instead, he furthered the lie. ... The D News didn't publish anything approaching, 'We made it all up.' Instead, Bernick wrote that Legislative leaders weren't going to change the law after all -- as if they'd seen the light only after reading Bernick's article where he first told this lie. That is a significant misrepresentation. As indicated in the comments to Bernick's 'retraction,' people were (intentionally) led to believe that the Legislature reversed course. Nope. ... I called the D News and again asked for the recording of the editorial board meeting. It is important that they exercise a little of the transparency they supposedly laud, and give people a chance to see how accurate the D News is with facts." (See also related Glen Warchol post.)

Lighter Side

“Don’t go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first.”

-- Mark Twain (Tea Leaf)

Casual Friday

Utah Fishing Report

Labor Day weekend is fast approaching and people always ask, "Where should I fish?" There will be crowds, but it is still worth getting out. These locations are good bets for fast action: Lake Powell; Green River; Flaming Gorge; Uinta Mountain lakes and streams; Provo, Weber and other rivers; Fish Lake; Utah Lake for catfish; virtually all high country lakes and streams.

Strawberry, Otter Creek and other major reservoirs will be spotty -- good if you are in the right place with the right bait. Many other reservoirs will offer decent fishing. Check DWR's weekly fishing reports for more ideas.

Lake Powell now offers very good fishing lake-wide. Striper boils have been consistent on the upper lake, and have now spread to other areas. Wayne Gustaveson reports: "Topwater striper fishing will be the big news on the lake from now until the end of September. Most boils in the lower lake are in the channel but there will be many boils in coves as well. Most boils will happen at dusk and dawn but daytime boils will become more common with time." Read his complete report. See the fishing report on RedRockAdventure.com for more information.

Outdoors Report

-- Outdoor retailers showcase new products in the Deseret News and the Tribune
-- Cyclists rave about the Tour of Utah in the Deseret News
-- Deseret News offers some fishing secrets
-- Enjoy some scenic waterfalls in the Tribune’s Hike of the Week
-- Find out about upcoming events in the Deseret News’ Outdoor Notes
-- Check out the Tribune’s Outdoor Notebook  and Recreation Roundup for sports and recreation activities this week

-- For the latest wildlife news and information and the fishing report visit the DWR website

New Films

-- Hamlet 2: Tribune review
-- The Rocker: Tribune review

Concerts

-- Mama's Boys, Shumway family music, Friday, 7:30 p.m., Brigham Young Historic Park, State Street and Second Avenue, free
-- “Dancing Under the Stars,” Louis van Amstel, Chelsie Hightower, Gev Manoukian, Matt Dorame, Jason Celaya, Hefa Tuita, Ashly Delgrosso, Friday, 7 p.m., and Saturday, 8 p.m., SCERA Outdoor Theatre, 699 S. State, Orem, $10-$16
-- Untold Stories, Momentum '08 Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company Alumni, Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m., Rose Wagner Center, $18
-- Carla Hurtado Lee, soprano, Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Temple Square Assembly Hall, free (no children under 8)
-- Phebe Craig, harpsichord, Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Robber's Roost Bookstore, 125 W. Main, Torrey, free
-- Celebration of Dance, Saturday, 8 p.m., Murray Park Amphitheater, 495 E. 5300 South, $6
-- Park City Jazz Festival, through Sunday
-- Organ Recitals, every Saturday, noon, and every Sunday, 2 p.m., Temple Square Assembly Hall

Theater

-- “The Best of Broadway” through August 23, Center Street Musical Theatre
-- “Footloose” through August 23, Egyptian Theatre Company
-- “Honk!” through August 23, St. George Musical Theater
-- “Indiana Bones: A Whip-Cracking Parody” through August 23, Desert Star Theatre
-- “Peter Pan” through August 23, Draper Historic Theatre

-- “South Pacific” through August 23, Sandy Arts Guild
-- “Thoroughly Modern Millie” through August 29, Pickleville Playhouse
-- “Othello” through August 29, Utah Shakespearean Festival
-- “The Taming of the Shrew” through August 29, Utah Shakespearean Festival

-- “Chuck Wagon’s Wild West Showdown” through August 30, Pickleville Playhouse
-- “Cyrano de Bergerac” through August 30, Utah Shakespearean Festival
-- “Fiddler on the Roof” through August 30, Utah Shakespearean Festival
-- “The School for Wives” through August 30, Utah Shakespearean Festival
-- “The Two Gentleman of Verona” through August 30, Utah Shakespearean Festival

-- “Oklahoma!” through September 1, Thanksgiving Point Show Barn

-- “The Hasty Heart” through September 13, Hale Center Theater Orem
-- “Lucky Stiff” through September 19, Terrace Plaza Playhouse
-- “Big: The Musical” through September 20, Hale Centre Theatre
-- “The Sound of Music” through October 15, Tuacahn Amphitheatre
-- “Les Miserables” through October 18, Tuacahn Amphitheatre

Museum Exhibits

-- Monet to Picasso from the Cleveland Museum of Art Exhibition through September 21, Utah Museum of Fine Arts

Et Cetera

-- Rock n’ Ribs Festival, Saturday, 11 a.m. – 8 p.m., Gallivan Center
-- Friday Night Movies, Fridays through August, Pioneer Park
-- Utah Shakespearean Festival, through August 30, Cedar City

-- Oktoberfest, Saturdays and Sundays through October 5, Snowbird Resort
-- Downtown Farmers Market, Saturdays through October, 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Pioneer Park

Elected Officials Birthday List

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