YOU ARE FIRED!!! Get this through your head, you are fired, your job is gone. If you vote for people like Huntsman or Obama you are fired. I fired 100 people because of Huntsman being worthless. Those people will never again have the incredible opportunity I gave them. Nobody wants to work so they can have their money stolen and given to those that didn’t earn it. You are fired. . . .

1. Vote them all back in. After all, only bad people have to deal with these guys anyway. (Boy Scout's choice.)
2. Vote 'em all out. Change is good. (Anarchist's choice.)
3. Rapidly dance your fingers down the touch screen, randomly voting "yes" or "no," until you run out of judges. (Putting the ball back in God's court.)

• Seventh District Judge Lyle Anderson scored 63 percent for behavior free from impropriety, and 66 percent for behavior free from bias and favoritism.
• Third District Judge John Kennedy scored 69 percent for understanding the rules of procedure and evidence, and 68 percent for perceiving legal and factual issues.
• Third District Judge Denise Lindberg scored 68 percent for behavior free from bias and favoritism, and 64 percent for demonstrating appropriate demeanor.
• Third District Juvenile Court Judge Andrew Valdez scored 68 percent for behavior free from bias and favoritism, and 69 percent for giving parties a fair opportunity to present the case. His overall favorable score was 76.

He has been more moderate than expected, and wants Utah to reduce fuel and energy consumption. He is also concerned about nuclear waste being stored in his state, which might raise red flags for McCain.

What they did may have been a break of faith, but I believe it was within the scope of their license to do. I have no problem with them accepting foreign waste as long as it is in compliance with their agreement and the disposal meets the regulations that have already been set forth.

The waste they receive is the lowest level radioactive waste. You can get more exposure to radiation at your doctor’s office. No, I do not oppose importing waste as long as it continues to be low-level and it is handled appropriately.

I see irony in that if one views it without the belief that we affirm in divine revelation. . . . The Mormons of the 19th century who practiced plural marriage, male and female, did so because they felt it was a duty put upon them by God . . . . In short, if you start with the assumption of continuing revelation, on which this Church is founded, then you can understand that there is no irony in this.

It is an unusual movement indeed that unifies blacks, Mormons and orthodox Jews. It hints at how cultural conservatives might evolve to meet the challenge of an unfavourable Washington political climate in the next few years.

From Sacramento to San Diego, there have been reports of Bishops publicly and privately questioning the faith of members who are not willing to donate their time or money to Proposition 8. Some moderate Mormons have even found themselves reaching out to the gay community after receiving the metaphorical cold shoulder from their brethren.

“I feel exiled from the church over this issue,” wrote one Mormon blogger. “I want to connect with other church members. If there aren’t any anti-Prop 8 rallies in my area, I think I am going to organise one.”

Why, then, aren't they closed every business day between now and November 4? People are voting. Many people at designated voting places. Shame. For Shame!

Who's the better role models? Craig and Kidman or Harry and Hermione?

Over the course of four years I made time to read all of the Harry Potter books out loud to my daughters.

I unequivocally support John Rendell. I will vote for him, and I urge other people to vote for him. I'm not frustrated with the John Rendell tactics.

We were OK. I wish we had done better, but we will survive. We are going to talk to other NPR stations who did fundraisers during that last week and sort of compare apples to apples.

I think it had an impact. We had some people who didn't give as long as Blair was [linked to KCPW].

Patrolling the lawless backwaters of the Jordan River.

• Democrat Paul Pugmire, who is trying to dump Salt Lake County Councilman Michael Jensen wants to make Magna a film-industry production center with—drum roll—a bus free-fare zone. (They'll have to replace the huge "Think Safe" sign on the hillside with even huger white letters spelling out MAGNA.)
  

• Jani Iwamoto, who is trying to knock off Republican Councilman Mark Crockett, would designate an ethnic corridor through downtown Salt Lake City, including a Greektown, Japantown and Little Italy. (With the way the city's demographics are headed, she might have to add a Mo'Town.)

• Steven DeBry, a sheriff's captain, who is after Randy Horiuchi's SL County seat, wants to put cops on Jet Skis to patrol the crime-ridden 12-foot-wide Jordan River. (I can see the Cops episode already.)

• Republican Bill Dew, who wants alleged-Democrat Jim Matheson's congressional seat, says, Yee-haw! — bring that low-level radioactive waste to the Beehive.

• Michael Renckert says government's health benefits should be denied to gays and other unmarried couples who devalue husband-wife relationships.
  
  
• Poster "Are You Kidding?" reminds us that Republican Jason Chaffetz, future congressman and mayor of Tent City, has offered his innovative ideas on enforcing immigration law.
  
  

Brittany listens to Orrin Hatch's "America Rocks!"

One of the first things babies understand communicatively is emotion, so for them the melody is the message.

Wayne Holland wins over a convert.

More and more, Democratic values — like stewardship of the land, a healthy environment, family health care, a safer community — are also values of many LDS people.

• He ignores the voice of the public.
• He pushes through laws that lead to expensive court cases and referendums.
• He's big on back-room deals.
• He crushes ethics reform like a steamroller over a bug.
• He's a bully (hence the nickname: "Brambo.")
• He's "ham handed." (I never looked that closely, but whatever.)
• He's a lousy tipper. (They forgot that one.)
  

• He gets into hilarious chest bumping confrontations with other legislators, Democrats, activists, reporters, pizza delivery girls, small dogs and anything else that crosses his turf.
  
• He's got a bad haircut.
• When he gets pissed on the Senate floor he looks like Mussolini.
  
• When he tries to be charming, nearby babies cry and dogs howl.
  
• His eyes pop out of his head cartoon-like when you ask him hard questions.
• He's got a really creepy relationship with Rep. Becky Lockhart and her husband, GOP party overlord Stan Lockhart.
  
• There's probably a lot more dirt about his relationships with lobbyists and special interests than we'll ever know.
• He's a passionate bully.
  
• HE'S NOT BORING!
  

Federal regulators gave their blessing to low-level radioactive waste from Canada and Mexico that is now buried in Utah.
But Utah never got the memo. Nor did the regional radioactive waste oversight organization Utah belongs to [Northwest Compact].

If anybody has a less hostile question, I'll be glad to answer.

I'm happy to take that suggestion back to EnergySolutions management.

. . . a radical right-wing idealogue. . . who is at odds with much of his own party.

He would incarcerate undocumented immigrants in tent cities while they await deportation.

Fortunately, the views of the Third District differ significantly from the expressed views of the Tribune. A September Dan Jones poll showed Jason Chaffetz with a 42-point lead over Bennion Spencer, although according to [Democrat leaning] Utah Amicus, a later poll . . . showed Chaffetz with only a nine-point lead, but with over 30 percent undecided. . . .

I suspect the truth lies somewhere in between, and Jason Chaffetz will win by 15-20 points on election day.

Evans, of course, notified the media before filing the complaint with the Lieutenant Governor's Office.

Whoa, James, Snap!

This is, of course, eerily similar to the chain of events that got Johnson's opponent Rep. Greg Hughes dragged in front of the House Ethics Committee. Repubs called that a low-down, dirty Democrat trick. Johnson says she had no knowledge of the complaints. (Yeah, right.)

Meanwhile, Trib reader Dave Glissmeyer offers a suggestion for ethics reform:

The first question any voter should ask of a candidate who knocks on their door and asks for their vote is: "What are you going to do about getting a meaningful, enforceable ethics law passed - one with teeth?" If they so much as stutter, vote for someone else.

"We are getting a ton of apparel, handbags, shoes," Byrne says, and even big-ticket items, such as flat-screen TVs.

Of course, the risk remains that even Overstock.com's deep discounts will fail to open the wallets of anxious consumers.

"Team Guido" showed mainstream America that gay couples are not only charismatic, but also that they can be stable, loyal and devoted, with longevity.

Here's a white, gay couple who are older, who are hysterically funny. . . . I gotta say, I love 'em!"

[Team Guido] highlighed the idea that these issues are becoming more prevalent. It does not advocate a gay marriage position.

Most of these families live in the district where John Chaffetz's son Jason is running for Congress. I'd like to send all 59,000 a copy of John Chaffetz's book.

I love my dad. He's written a book about a gay couple. I don't see any relevance to my campaign or my issues.

They all want to know what we're doing and continue to plan to do in regard to the polygamy issue. They encourage us to make sure we go down that road and hold these guys responsible who use religion to hurt kids.

You can prosecute for forced marriages, but to actively prosecute a polygamist for being a polygamist? You're not going to succeed.

LDS blogger Lowell Brown writes: If you are a Mormon and you donate to Prop 8, thousands of strangers will try to smear you, in the hope of intimidating you and others into not exercising your right to freedom of speech.

So to my fellow Mormons: I ask you to please re-consider. Take the time you would spend fighting this errant cause with your family. Go to a movie. Take a drive together. Watch the World Series.

Maybe you don't completely understand homosexuality. Maybe you think it's a sin. But shouldn't we leave that to God and allow others to make their own choices? As followers of Christ, isn't it always better to err on the side of compassion and love?

It going to take a Democratic president to clean up after these Republicans. . . .

Our next president will inherit the most difficult situation any president has had to walk into since Harry Truman. . . .

Harry Truman said the buck stops here. I don't know where the buck stops in this administration.

George Bush has practiced what John McCain has preached. Think about it.

Unfortunately, I think John McCain will win Utah. But I have some very good news. Barack will win the nation. By his second term he is going to win Utah, too.

Eriksson, Rigby and Werzinski

We've got to save our country.

People in Utah are starting to think for themselves. Utah is changing.

I wouldn't want my potential president saying "You betcha," and winking at the camera.

It's really, really bizarre. It's cavalier and disturbing. It was horrifying to find that (posting). It's really disturbing on so many levels. If you don't want to let them go, just stuff them and make a rug out of them? Catering to a money issue ... what in the hell is that all about?

All work is carried out at my private home in Federal Heights. I can promise your pet a quick and painless death. I have had experience with everything from cows and horses to dogs, snakes, parrots and even a few whole litters of unwanted kittens. . . .

Ask about my posed taxidermy and throw-rug options for the serious pet lover who can't let go!

Utah Animal Adoption Center's Temma Martin is aghast:

Who would have their pet made into a rug? I love my pets, but I never want them made in to a rug. What are you going to do? Go sit on your dog and watch TV?

Have these Shih Tzu huggers no feel whatsoever for tasteless, twisted humor? About the only thing ever killed in Federal Heights were some souls.

The guys at the frat house will be mirthfully reading the Deseret News and high fiving all weekend.

Arguably the most iconic intervention in the U.S. landscape is Robert Smithson’s Spiral Jetty, 1970, a spiral constructed from basalt rock and earth which juts into the Great Salt Lake in Utah from its northeastern shore.

We can disagree without being disagreeable and engage in spirited public debates without scaring everyone away from public service.

• Teen abortion without parental permission. (Not true)
• The legalization of marijuana. (Not true.)
• Slightly raising the gasoline tax. (True but so has Curtis.)

It's nasty. It's a close race. It's trench warfare.

A judge should not make a contribution to a political organization or candidate.

Utah's September unemployment rate was just 3.5 percent — less than half of California’s. The Milken Institute declared Provo America’s best city for technology output and job and wage growth, with Salt Lake City coming in third.

The Economist focuses on what it says out-of-state business leaders politely refer to as the “cultural thing” — Utah's Mormon demographics (a young, educated workforce) and culture:

Utah’s almost universal conservatism makes for stable, consensual politics. It took the state legislature just two days last month to plug a $272m hole in the budget. . . .

Mormons do not come to work nursing hangovers, and they are inclined to stay put in the promised land rather than pursue better-paying jobs elsewhere. Matthew Donthnier, who is hiring for a new Procter & Gamble plant, has only one complaint about the local workforce: it can be a little difficult to persuade people to toil on Sundays.

Long before coach Bronco Mendenhall came up with his "quest for perfection" motto, his star receiver was making that a part of his life — even when it came to coloring.

Clearly an ethics complaint was filed in retaliation. The public had a right to know what was alleged [about Hughes' conduct].

The MediaNews CEO (who is also chairman of the board of The Associated Press — speaking of consolidating positions) said at a meeting of the Southern Newspaper Publishers Association:

In today's world, whether your desk is down the hall or around the world, from a computer standpoint, it doesn't matter.

He told the publishers:

One thing we're exploring is having one news desk for all of our newspapers in MediaNews ... maybe even offshore.

Rumor has it that editor Joe Cannon also is considering outsourcing the LDS church-owned Deseret News' operations — to Kolob, which would make corrections unnecessary, saving the DNews vast amounts of newsprint.

Do Mormons Deserve Equal Protection under the Law?

When in history has this country grown stronger through division, through the premise that stripping away equal rights somehow strengthens religion or society?

Perhaps the Elders of the Mormon Church can explain how, on the one hand, they are protected by the state from persecution by Christians who think them apostate, but on the other hand, they are free to persecute me for having civil rights?

. . .Thursday evenings in the downtown building of a health-products company owned by one of Idaho's richest Mormons, groups of Rexburg college students and townies get together. They're using the company's call center to make call after call to California voters, trying to persuade them to pass a ballot measure in the November election. It's titled Proposition 8 . . .

It's all legal, and totally within their democratic rights, but it is striking that one single religious grouping could invest so much in attempting to strip civil equality from gay couples.

Have you seen me?

St. George may be a haven for right-wing codgers, but they have apparently made up for their lack of limberness with stealth. Nearly all the Obama signs in the area have disappeared. James McMahon, chairman of the Southern Utah committee for Obama, says:

These weren't just signs set out carelessly, we set out 175 and they're all gone. We've put up a lot of signs on St. George Boulevard and Bluff Street and they're all gone.

Signs in Obamatons' yards also have been targeted. Obama supporters "are having a hard time holding on to their signs," McMahon laments.

After losing 40 signs, Ben Shaffer bolted the last one down only to have it defaced with racial and sexual slurs:

It starts to teeter on a hate crime.

She said, "No way. I'm not going to do that."

I said, "You absolutely should do this, and it's an important issue. You ought to make it an issue."

That is not what she stated publicly in the past. [Smith] has basically sold her out.

What could have been . . .

They have to show real, honest progress.

Buy this SUV and stop the recession.

The program was created in hopes of helping families to stimulate the Utah economy.

Yes, that's right, receive up to $13,500 in cash in your hand.

His threats to file a suit against me are just more attempts at bullying, but neither I nor anyone else ever defamed him.

He was aggressive from the moment he walked up to me.

Your aggressive and vague accusations while she was alone, away from her car and supporters, but while you were surrounded by yours, would be unsettling to anyone in her position. Please do not approach RaDene again while she is alone during this campaign.

Romney has the operational skills to excel at the role of RNC Chairman, and while I'm not sure he's the transformational leader the Right might like, I suspect he could be quite effective at setting the stage for the emergence of such a person.

Of course, Mitt is also expected to be a presidential hopeful in 2012. But if Obama wins, he could be a tough incumbent to topple. And if McCain wins with Sarah Palin's help, the party might turn to her. And, as is obvious from this video, Mitt can't seem to find much enthusiasm over Palin's qualifications. In fact, his response on the question is eerily similar to Obama's in the last debate:

The Salt Lake Tribune wants you to vote for Barack Obama. Of course, the Trib controversially endorsed W four years ago. So the line: ". . . we see too many of Bush's failed policies in McCain's recipe for recovery" is hilarious. Democratic pundits around the country have linked to the Trib endorsement because it comes right out and says that the "inarticulate, insular and ethically challenged" Sarah Palin is good a reason to vote against McCain.

The Ogden Standard-Examiner says boot Attorney General Mark Shurtleff and put in Jean Welch Hill, above. "Frankly, we don't see [Shurtleff] as someone too willing to take on the sometimes-dysfunctional Legislature. Welch Hill is willing to talk about ethics, and the hazards of predatory lenders."

Obama-lovin' Esquire says re-elect Jon Huntsman and congressmen Rob Bishop and Jim Matheson. As for the Third Congressional seat, the men's magazine recommends Democrat Bennion Spencer over "reactionary" Kamp Kommandant Jason Chaffetz. But considering that Esquire also describes ousted Chris Cannon as a "reasonable" Republican, maybe it should just stick to picking the Sexiest Woman Alive, right.

The conservative National Review gives Huntsman a so-so score for being pro-growth tax cuts, but his "mediocre spending record" dragged down his grade.

Copy the style with a can of Aqua Net to create that signature upswept, face-framing style. And if the $60 entry-level "teen" dress from fldsdress .com is a bit expensive, women are advised to hit thrift shops to find similarly modest looks.

1. The late LDS President Gordon B. Hinckley probably wasn't a Russian spy.

2. We can be fairly sure the Mormon Tabernacle Choir never sang Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody."

"I doubt that the Mormon Tabernacle Choir would sing anything about "killing a man".

I think all their performances are to build up the spirit of man and not anything derogative (even though I LOVE that song!).

We're going to see ethics legislation because people are demanding it. They expect it and they deserve it.

When a student applies for graduation, he or she must be in good standing with the university.

Martin Luther: 'Joseph who?'

When should such contracts nonetheless be unenforceable on the grounds that they require courts to make theological decisions, such as whether Mormonism is included within Christianity, whether Jews for Jesus is included within Judaism, whether Reconstructionist Judaism is included within Judaism, or whether Mormonism is included within Protestantism?

". . . Lisa Johnson, disgruntled Democrats, or the Democratic Party?"

I have always been a fierce critic of the practice because it attempts to deceive people and luckily, in most cases, people see right through it....

I have never conducted these pretend polls nor have I allowed any group to come into the district and conduct them on my behalf. . . .

Instead of push polls or negative attacks, we can spend more resources advertising debates!

Get ready for transgender month!

Lawn signs don't vote. [sigh]

Widower Doug Grant, 42, who owns a nutritional-products company (that alone should be a felony), is weeks away from going to trial for her murder. Doug married his current wife, 27-year-old Hilary, also a staunch Mormon (she's been cast as he "other" woman), three weeks after Faylene's funeral.

At the center of the case are Faylene's diaries and letters. In them, she often predicts she will die soon. Apparently God was calling her. She also wrote in a letter to her children:

I have asked Hilary (invited her) to sit at the table as your mother while I am away,

So far, so-o-o-o creepy.

. . . alimony and child-support payments were extremely high, over $2,500 a month. Doug was fearful that Faylene may leave him again, that he didn't want to pay that kind of money.

Wouldn't you love to be a fly on the wall of the jury room as they decide this case?

". . . these dishonest ethics charges: Lisa Johnson, disgruntled Democrats, or the Democratic Party?"

• Ban the practice of politicians pocketing their well-stocked war chests when they leave office.

• Require campaign contributions be posted online within 48 hours or less of receiving them.

• Create a seven-person panel to hear ethics complaints against lawmakers. The "ethics commission" would include the majority and minority leaders of the House and Senate and three state judges.

"Just this afternoon."

The timing of the plea agreement seems premature, considering Walker hasn't been charged with anything yet. In fact, investigators only yesterday called for a grand jury to look into possible charges.

Walker's attorney, Jim Bradshaw, says his client hopes to enter a plea within two weeks. University of Utah Law Professor Paul Cassell told KSL News:

I don't think the prosecutors would be calling a grand jury unless there was a lot of smoke there. They're obviously trying to get to the bottom of it and see if there's fire. They wouldn't be calling a grand jury unless there was something pretty serious afoot here."

A swift plea bargain should not derail the grand jury investigation, which would fire up shortly after a separate House ethics probe into other charges of bribery ends. But Walker's probably got good reasons to get clear as fast as possible.

Here's hoping the prosecutors have the political guts to make it a part of the plea deal that Walker rats out everyone involved before he scampers away.

Even East Coast snow riders -- the new, industry-approved term combining skiers and boarders -- can frolic in the state whose license plate proclaims "Greatest Snow on Earth." Even better? They can do so without spending much more than they would on a trip to upstate New York or New England.

Lodging tends to be expensive, and the resorts are generally costly . . . On-mountain and downtown dining and services also tend to be pricey.

President Bush favors the development of oil shale, as a means to remove the country's dependence on foreign oil. But Gov. Huntsman is afraid that the next commander in-chief might not be -- and that any chance for Utah to start exporting oil might soon be lost.

The conversation was, you know, if you change your vote on vouchers, we can fund your campaign. It mentioned no specific dollar amounts. It wasn't a personal bribe, but it was an offer to fund my campaign if I would switch my vote.

I didn't view it as just . . . Certainly to me, [it] goes into the bribery category.

Kastleman wrestled with his addiction for 20 years before he was able to break its stranglehold.

He was so moved and altered by his experience that in 1997, at age 38, he made a career change, from corporate training to author, researcher and "recovery coach" in the field of pornography.

He took a corruption strewn, beleaguered Olympics in Salt Lake City that was losing money and turned it around . He made it one of the most secure, smooth running and profitable Olympic spectaculars in history.

To win, Sen. McCain must take a risk. He should hold a press conference as soon as possible and announce the team that will turn the economy around. . . .Sen. McCain should announce that Rudy Giuliani will be nominated as Attorney General and Mitt Romney as Secretary of the Treasury.

This would fundamentally change the race. It wouldn’t be doubling-down; it’d be all-in. This would combine the separate talents of McCain, Romney and Giuliani into one attention-grabbing conglomerate . . . .

The legislators behind the promised abortion bill are being lambasted for unveiling it a month before an election. . . .

But when should legislators announce such a drive? After the election? Then they'd be accused of deceiving their constituents by not publicizing their beliefs when voters were mulling things over. Or should these lawmakers unveil the plans in some politically dead season -- say July of a non-election year? Then they'd be accused of trying to bury it.

No, this is the best time.

. . . don't like abortion but neither do they like sweeping change or the wasting of money."

Then again, perhaps it's worth just making a point.

[Chaffetz's] statements do nothing more than add more of the same divisive political rhetoric that incites confrontation and does not solve the problem . . .

This is another graphic example of why the US needs a comprehensive immigration policy that is tough yet fair. We can have a policy that helps secure our borders while dealing in a responsible and humane way with immigrants who break our laws.

I did not have discussions with anyone involved. I will not.

Lorne Michaels, executive producer of Saturday Night Live told the New York Times:

I think the gods smiled on us with the Palin thing. Like if he [McCain, not God] had chosen Romney, I think it would be completely different. As exciting as a Romney-Biden debate would have been, it just would have been politics as usual.

Clearly the public is very very interested and entitled to have more knowledge about what's going on.

How could they possibly compete with Michelangelo, the initial designer of St. Peter's dome, and Bernini, who laid out the magnificent plaza in front of St. Peter's?
A Mormon temple in Rome would be the religious equivalent of a Wal-Mart box store marring the skyline.

I have attached a picture of the new Rome Mormon temple that has been designed to blend into the local architecture. Note the three distinctively LDS components of the architecture.

We train as we fight. And fighting is dangerous work.

This new program totally ignores the needs of employees with children, in favor of energy savings for the buildings. This is wrong.

Jeremy Dunn says the schedule "is the worst idea I've heard in a very long time."

I believe the change is a disservice to your constituents. You could see more substantial savings by trimming staff and revising processes to make the state run more efficiently.

Holding Sarah Palin to just three interviews and microscopically focusing on each interview I think has been a mistake. I think they'd be a lot wiser to let Sarah Palin be Sarah Palin.

And that's a good strategy for Mitt, says Mike Shea, a veteran Boston Democratic strategist:

The more interviews for Sara Palin, the less likely she will be the heir apparent to the Republican Presidential nomination next time. Whatever happens, McCain probably will not be the Republican nominee next time, and Romney will begin campaigning for that post the day after the election.

Live it up, Matani, because like your Mormon counterparts, you lose your her divine status when you reach puberty.

I enjoy your blog and I don't mind the shots, but . . .

Let me just say: She did not faint. She did not faint. Are you kidding me? She came [backstage] and had a Red Bull!

Any check that I receive from a lobbyist and deposit in my campaign account to pay for yard signs, newspaper ads or brochures means one less check that I have to write from our family's bank account, where we keep our money to buy groceries, gasoline and school clothes.

My wife and I are seriously tempted to abandon our personal pledge and subscribe to the standard mantra that accepting checks from interest groups is fine as long as all contributions are fully disclosed for the voters to see.

Bountiful — holier than thou as "God's Backyard."
Woods Cross — "Gateway to the Refineries."
Centerville — intermarried six-toed, pink-eyed hillbillies.
Farmington — the name says it all.
North Salt Lake — where Utah gets its mufflers fixed.
West Bountiful — home of the eponymous dump.

I don't think we can get the bill passed in a time where we are seeing budget cuts. I don't' think we can get the bill passed unless we have a provision in there that says it will be funded from an outside source.

Wimmer and two other lawmakers last week called press conference/rally in the Capitol Rotunda to announce they were going to sponsor a package of anti-abortion bills to stop "the slaughter of innocents."

Wimmer claimed he had already lined up the firm "known worldwide" to accept the legal costs. Most state senators hadn't heard of the proposal until the day of the press conference.

Wimmer (a former cop who was tragically born without a neck) and Rep. Stephen Sandstrom righteously denied the move was a cheap campaign stunt, timed to appeal to their mostly conservative voters before too many hard questions could be asked.

KCPW followed through on the question of who, exactly, was going to foot the bill for the millions of dollars in legal fees involved. The public station learned that the D.C.-based American Center for Law and Justice, a likely candidate for the legal work, acknowledges that even if they took the case Utah taxpayers could still end up paying for legal fees.

Wipe the smile off this guy's face.

• A former lawmaker says Rep. Greg Hughes offered her $50,000 in campaign funds to drop her opposition to school vouchers.

• Hughes files an ethics complaint against Rep. Phil Riesen for leaking the ethics complaint to the media after state troopers prevent him from "getting a piece of" Phil.

• House Speaker Greg Curtis, above, denounces the demand for a ethics probe (not the allegations) as "disgusting."

• Attorney General Mark Shurtleff gives a lucrative contract to a law firm that is not only a major campaign contributor, but hired his daughter.

• House members are accused of colluding to offer a bribe of a lucrative job in the treasurer's race to get a candidate to drop out.

• Rep. Mark Walker resigns to avoid an ethics probe. (A criminal probe still pending.)

• In the crossfire, Rep. Steve Mascaro is accused of sexually harrassing an intern. (Whatever happened with that?)

• Sen. Chris Buttars writes a threatening letter to a state judge on behalf of a developer buddy.

Unrighteousness before God! All problems in all states and countries are directly related to people not following God. This is the number one problem. . . .

Either we follow God or we will be removed or destroyed from this country.

I am a child of God and am ordained to be a king and priest unto the most high God....

Henious [sic] abomination runs rampant and Jony Jr does nothing about it. . . .

• Make himself poster boy for arrogant lawmakers everywhere.
  
• Help ram a voucher bill through the House even though voters made it clear they didn't want it.
• Fail to stop teachers unions and voters from round-filing said bill in a referendum.
• Totally piss off teachers unions and pro-public ed. lawmakers during the voucher fiasco.
• Allegedly offer former Rep. Susan Lawrence a bribe of $50,000 in campaign funds if she switched her vote on vouchers.
• Drive away even GOP allies by mocking a diminutive Republican senator as a "midget."
  
• Lose his s**t with House chief of staff Chris Bleak in Legislative parking garage.
• Continue losing s**t to the point the state troopers are called in.
• Pull the rest of the roof in on himself by filing a counter ethics complaint against furniture pitchman Rep. Phil Riesen for "leaking" the Lawrence allegations to KSL.
  

Utah elevated in Boston.

The state spends millions to promote Utah around the world, so it's sad to hear that an absolutely free "Utah" advertising campaign has come to an end. According to the Boston Herald:

A globe-trotting graffiti goon accused of desecrating historic Back Bay with her artistic upchuck was held on $10,000 cash bail yesterday after several of her victims painted a picture of solidarity by standing up in court.

Graffitti artist Danielle Bremner, 26, a student at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, who has left her tag "Utah" on dozens of buildings in Boston and New York, pleaded not guilty in Boston to 33 counts of tagging.

“Utah,” a folk hero among taggers, has been on the run since May 2007. She was captured in August returning from Europe (which explains the uptick in French and German tourists we've been seeing in southern Utah).

There might have been a crowd more predisposed to view Gov. Sarah Palin’s debate performance as favorable than the one here at the Rock Creek Pizza Co., but it was probably gathered in Alaska.

I think she’s very sophisticated and strong.

Give me a break. It's not a massive erection like some of the ones you see on the panels. If [State Parks] are going to be bullied, they should at least announce it so other people can step up.

If a handful of ladies can pressure a state park into changing their displays without anybody having input, that should be outrageous to everybody. . . .

These poor ladies have never been to Florence or Rome or any actual art museum. They would be scandalized.

I'm honored by the recognition, but legislative service is a team sport. This is a credit to my colleagues . . .

It's very distressing to me as a journalist and writer when this sort of thing happens—we need to be able to trust our sources. That's what our business is all about.

1. Marie suffered from mental illness as a child.
2. Had an eating disorder as a teen.
3. Attempted suicide.
4. Lost her virginity, at age 17.
5. Lost said virginity to the late Bee Gees brother Andy Gibb*.
6. The reason for her divorce from Stephen Craig was that she found him in a hot tub with her personal assistant.
7. Fabricated claims of child abuse to spice up her 2001 autobiography.

Guv at hippy ethnic love-in.

• In a recent debate, Huntsman swung to the left of his Bolshevik opponent Bob Springmeyer, bragging about how he bucks his own party's stone-age ideas.
  
• Huntsman ordered a crack down on patriot families who recreate in Utah's wild spaces with gas-burning, sage-rippin' ORVs. Jon says their wholesome good times are "an abomination."
• He's hanging out with the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance.
• After dragging the state into an initiative to reduce greenhouse gases, he's urging other governors to join him and T. Boone Pickens in signing an "Energy Independence Pledge."
• He denounced patriot Jason Chaffetz's totally swell idea to incarcerate illegal immigrants in tent camps as "extreme."
• Huntsman says he'll have to read proposed legislation banning abortion before he signs it.
  
• He reads books and has a dreamy look in his eyes.
  

Perhaps they didn't like the questions. Maybe they figure that in today's online world, they can ignore a statewide newspaper.

If you want to pay [city workers] more, put it in the budget, send it through committee, go through the public process.

Recommended "bonus" schedule for government workers:

Meter reading without stomping the flower bed: $1

Water service promptly turned back on even though you still can't pay the bill: $15

Garbage picked up without dumping it all over the street: $2

Garbage picked up even though you have mop handles, part of a bike and 50 pounds of used cat litter pushing up the lid: $5

Cop courteously writes you a ticket: $1

Cop gives you a warning, instead of a speeding ticket: $25-$250 (depending on how fast you were going and your standing with your insurance provider).

Legislator "takes care" of your interests in a bill: One Jazz ticket.

U.S. senator gets you a casino license: Let him/her win big at poker.

I want to be diplomatic* about this. I respect the efforts made by my own party's leadership. I would like more leadership.

If it was, Tancredo would've been the Republican candidate for president instead of his sworn enemy, John McCain; instead, Tancredo sits somewhere in Colorado, drowning his tears in green chile over his hypocritical endorsement of McCain.

The problem for your side of the political aisle is that you've never been able to lay out a cogent argument against illegal immigration that doesn't inevitably turn into a Know Nothing screed against culture.

Again, look at Tancredo, also known as Mr. Deportation, who's now leaving Congress with little to show for his nine years on Capitol Hill other than having his name become a synonym for pendejo*.

Starting today, retail sales of flavored malt beverages will come to a halt in Utah. . .

Remeber back when Gov. Jon Huntsman made a deal with the devil (worse, actually, the state Acoholic Beverage Commission) to move the "drunkard's training wheels" to state liquor stores just to get a lousy additional half-ounce of liquor in a drink? The bill came today.

But as yet none of the national drug dealers have met the requirement that alcopops have special for-Zion-only labels, including a skull and crossbones*, so consumers are aware that they are about to purchase something containing alcohol from a SHELF IN A LIQUOR STORE.

So far, no one thinks the lucrative Utah market is worth it. Until then, a cold Bud Light Chilada will have to do. MMMM, Clamato . . .

Lawrence says the bag man was Draper Rep. Greg Hughes. But Hughes, chairman of the Conservative Caucus, says the money offer was unrelated to her vote:

There is nothing illegal or unethical that ever took place. There was never a quid pro quo.