Thursday, March 27, 2014

Standard-Examiner: Weber Commissioners Sidestep Nominations, Pick Library Board Member

We guess we need to follow Mencken's advice; sit back and enjoy it, right?
It is certainly within our purview to select any applicant that we deem appropriate... whether they have been forwarded as one of the three names, whether they have put in an application or not. The ultimate decision lies with us, so we can nominate anyone we want.
Weber County Commissioner Kerry Gibson
Weber commissioners sidestep nominations, pick library board member
March 26, 2014
Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard.
H.L. Mencken - American Curmudgeon
A Little Book in C major
1916

Click to Enlarge
Some Weber County lumpencitizens are all a-tizzy this week, as the Weber County Commission majority (Matthew G. Bell and Kerry Gibson) follow up on their January 8, 2014 block vote action and "break tradition" once again:
Normally, this would be a bold move for Commissioner Gibson, who stands for re-election this year. The fly in the ointment? Gibson is running entirely unopposed in November.

While the loyal political opposition has generally done a pretty fine job of fielding candidates for our upcoming 2014 Utah General elections; we're nevertheless scratching our heads in disbelief, wondering how they missed the boat on this chewy Commission race, where the potential campaign issues have been rapidly piling up.

Commissioner Gibson is entirely correct.  For the next two years, at least, our our current commission majority will be free to do as they dang well please.

We guess we need to follow Mencken's advice; i.e., sit back and enjoy it, right?

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Standard-Examiner: Debate Commission Starts a New Utah Tradition

Needless to say, we'll be keeping our fingers crossed

Click to Enlarge
In a national political environment where the Republican National Committee has decided to "drastically shorten their primary season, reduce the number of primary debates and even hold their convention earlier in an attempt to limit the beating exposure their candidates receive before the general election period begins," we'll put the morning spotlight on this encouraging story from the Standard-Examiner, wherein former U.S GOP Senator Bob Bennett and former Democratic State Senator Scott Howell tout the Utah Debate Commission, a "newly formed organization, [which] is bipartisan and independent of any other group, which will [henceforth] accept the responsibility to host, produce, and televise debates among candidates for statewide and federal office, and will sponsor at least one candidate debate for each federal and statewide race":
Here are the full particulars from the Utah Debate Commission website:
At this juncture we'll be eagerly looking forward to this "regular system of candidate debates that offers broad exposure for voters to the men and women who seek offices such as governor, U.S. Senator, and member of Congress."

Sadly, the process of  lining up Utah political big-shots to square off against each other in debate-style format has been,  historically, at least, the political equivalent of "pulling teeth."  So needless to say, we'll be keeping our fingers crossed.

The more [debates] the merrier we say.

Sunday, March 23, 2014

Climate Progress: House To Vote On Controversial ‘No More National Parks’ Policy - Updated

No connection with blind hatred of the Marxist Muslim Kenyan in the White House?

By: Patrick B.

Our very own couch potato congressman, Rob Bishop (R - Cheetos) has sponsored a bill to take away a 100 year old presidential prerogative to protect iconic American lands.
I'm sure it has nothing to do with visceral, blind hatred of the Marxist Muslim Kenyan in the White House.

Update 3/25/14 8:50 a.m.:  Pat Bagley now helpfully supplies this explanatory  graphic:


Update 3/27/14 8:55 a.m.: Thanks to this morning's Mark Saal story, we learn that Bishop's bill has cleared the U. S. House:
Our confident prediction? The bill will be dead on arrival in the U.S. Senate, not without providing, however, significant wing-nut ammo for Bishop's 2014 re-election bid.

Saturday, March 22, 2014

Standard-Examiner: Investigator: No Mistreatment or Unfair Prosecution Against Matthew Stewart

God Bess America!

Chirpy front page story in this morning's Standard-Examiner, concerning the Matthew Stewart shoot'emup matter, reporting that the Utah law enforcement establishment has investigated itself, and (surprise of surprises) found it did nothing wrong:
There's nothing happening here, folks.  Move along (wink-wink, nod-nod).

Friday, March 21, 2014

Pre-convention Candidate Overview: A Glimpse of How Weber County's 2014 Election Candidate Pool is Shaping Up

Added bonus: A tantalizing chance to change the Ogden School Board balance of power within the span of one single year

There's important new information coming from the Standard-Examiner this morning, as we eagerly embark upon the 2014 General Election season. Here's the intriguing lede from this morning's story, a joint collaboration of journeyman S-E reporters Bryon Saxton, Tim Gurrister and Cathy McKitrick, who report, among other things, that we'll have a brand-new Weber County Attorney by January, 2015:
Weber County's lone elected Democrat -- County Attorney Dee Smith -- has chosen not to seek re-election. But Deputy County Attorney Chris Allred, a Republican who has worked in the County Attorney's office for 17 years, filed earlier this week and attracted a last-minute GOP challenger -- South Ogden resident Rick Westmoreland -- who filed shortly before 5 p.m. Thursday.
Check out this morning's full Standard-Examiner writeup, for a brief overview of how Weber County's 2014 Election candidate pool is shaping up, a month or so prior to the April party nominating conventions:
And thanks to Weber County Clerk Ricky Hatch, here's the full "official" list of all candidates who beat Thursday's candidate filing deadline, and will be "jockeying" for slots on our  2014 Weber County General Election ballots:
Additionally, the Standard provides this tantalizing morning news tidbit, indicating that those Ogdenites who are unhappy (and who isn't) with the malperformance of our current Ogden School Board,  now have a chance to change the balance of power on that "bumbling" public administrative body, all within the span of one single year:
We thus invite you all to check out the above links, and check into our comments section to let us know what you think.

Don't let the cat get yer tongues...

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Standard-Examiner Editorial: Our View: Swallow Must Be Prosecuted

It's time to stop dithering. Let's get this show on the road!
It will be a Byzantine effort to prosecute Swallow and some of his minions. But it must be done. A prosecution would also serve to move Utah toward greater campaign finance reform. Our  legislators' failure to set simple campaign limits is an embarrassment. The Swallow saga shows what can happen -- what can be enabled -- in a state that has little respect for campaign finance reform or lobbying reform.
Standard-Examiner editorial
Our View: Swallow must be prosecuted
March 19, 2014
Justice delayed is justice denied.
William Ewart Gladstone
29 December 1809 – 19 May 1898

Top-notch editorial in this morning's Standard-Examiner, expressing what all conscientious Utah political wonks are nervously thinking:
Memo to Davis and Salt Lake County prosecutors Troy Rawlings and Sim Gill:

It's time to stop dithering.  Let's get this show on the road!

Monday, March 17, 2014

Deseret News: Caucus Meetings This Week Give Public a Chance to Get Involved

Roll up your sleeves and get on over to your caucus meetings, O Gentle Ones! Experience the sheer joy of "grass-roots" politics, for once

Amidst all the hullabaloo concerning Senator Bramble's Senate Bill 54, which, as of January 1, 2015,  will establish a dual track, hybrid Caucus-convention/Direct Primary Utah political nomination system, we're reminded by the Deseret News this morning that Utah is still bound by old caucus/convention procedure.  That's right, folks. This week is Caucus Week in Utah.  Here's the lede: 
SALT LAKE CITY — Many in Utah have mobilized to increase participation in neighborhood caucus meetings, in what may be the last election under the state's current system.
Senate Bill 54 — a bill allowing those who gather enough signatures to become candidates without attending a party caucus or convention meeting — takes effect on Jan. 1. This year neighborhood caucus meetings will move forward as usual: Democrats will meet Tuesday and Republicans will meet Thursday.
Read the full story, Weber County Forum political wonks, wherein DNews reporter Whitney Evans provides all the "particulars.":
As an added bonus, the the DNews also provides this handy caucus system "primer," for the enlightenment of those readers who may be unfamiliar with with our still-operational caucus/convention system.  It's a pretty decent thumbnail overview of  the current system, although some of the embedded links are, shall we say, less than optimally functional. 
For those political wonks who'd like to cut to the chase, and quickly find your caucus location, here's caucus search link which actually works:
Roll up your sleeves and get on over to your caucus meetings, O Gentle Ones. Experience the sheer joy of "grass-roots" politics, for once.

And remember, WCF political wonks:  If you sit this week's party caucuses out,  Utah's 2014 General Election nominations will likely be again decided by the usual claque of political extremists and crackpots.

You know what to do;  do it on Caucus Night.

Sunday, March 16, 2014

Sunday Morning Weber County 2014 General Election News Roundup

The most recent stories, concerning our upcoming 2014 Utah (and Weber County) General Election

In our relentless Weber County Forum fetish interest in covering Weber County politics to the hilt, we're delighted to post the most recent stories, concerning our upcoming 2014 Utah (and Weber County) General Election.
In the most interesting plot development here, we're gobsmacked to learn that  learn that our very favorite  Utah GOP House Rep Ryan Wilcox will be abandoning his State House legislative post, and will be going to work for Senator Mike "Shortsale" Lee, notwithstanding Lee's still-developing political baggage:     
A bad political move for Wilcox, now that it's possible that Mike Lee "could be going down in flames," along with the GOP "Tea Party Movement," we ask? Who knows? Maybe a big fat (but short-term) paycheck will "make up" for that. Ryan's gotta feed his kids, right?

On a brighter note, it's good to hear that former Weber County Sheriff and Weber County Commissioner Craig Dearden will be running for Wilcox's soon-to-be-vacated legislative seat.

Comments, anyone?  Don't let the cat get your tongues!

Friday, March 14, 2014

2014 Utah Legislative Roundup

A fairly lackluster performance on the part of our Utah legislature, we'll conjecture

To kickstart our Friday morning Weber County Forum discussion, we'll devote a few paragraphs and provide some links to a roundup of  the 2014 Utah General Legislative Session, which wrapped last night around midnight, starting with this updated legislative summary from the Salt Lake Tribune:
We'll also reel off a few Trib stories which deserve special post-session attention:
    And here are few more, just for good measure:

    On the heels of  yesterdy's Standard-Examiner guest commentary, the Trib reports that "[l]awmakers passed a compromise bill to increase the privacy of voter-registration records. The House and Senate unanimously passed SB36, which outlines prohibited uses of the voter registry, makes changes to who can access voter birth dates and allows people to make their voter information private":
    On the downside. here are several items spotlighting instances where our legislature missed some glorious opportunities and entirely "fumbled the ball," in our never-humble opinion, of course:
    A fairly lackluster performance on the part of our Utah legislature, we'll conjecture;  but what say our Gentle Readers about all this?

    And the floor's open, WCF political wonks.  Is there any important 2014 Utah legislation which you believe we missed?

    Update 3/19/14 7:00 p.m. Top-notch 2014 legislative session post-mortem via Salt Lake City Weekly. "Take a ride with Salt Lake Weekly [columnists Eric S. Peterson & Colby Frazier] as [they] look at the critical bills that made it over the hump, from cannabis-oil treatments for epileptic kids to the controversial Count My Vote compromise bill and more":

    Thursday, March 13, 2014

    Salt Lake Tribune: House Committee Releases Damning John Swallow Report

    A ‘For Sale’ sign on the Utah A.G.’s office?

    In the interest of getting the ball rolling this morning, we'll shine the spotlight on two blockbuster Salt Lake Tribune stories, the latest additions to our ever-startling Weber County Forum John Swallow Three-ring Circus series. Here's the lede from last night's Robert Gehrke story, folks:
    A damning report from a House committee concluded Wednesday that former Utah Attorney General John Swallow hung a "For Sale" sign on the door of the office, doing favors for wealthy supporters and friends, compromising Utahns’ interests and damaging the integrity of the justice system in the process.
    Read up:
    And drilling down to the substantive issues revealed in yesterday's report, Trib reporter Marissa Lang reels out a dazzling litany of potential crimes which former AG John Swallow could be charged:
    • Bribery
    • Official misconduct
    • Theft of services
    • Obstruction of justice
    • Evidence tampering
    • Witness tampering
    • Violation of open records laws
    • Other patterns of unlawful of activity. 
    Read Ms. Lang's eye-popping earlier story here:
    Davis and Salt Lake County prosecutors, Rawlings and Gill: The ball's now clearly in your court. Looks like your cases have been handed to you on a silver platter, thanks to the relentless work of Special Counsel Steven F. Reich, and his support team of carefully selected legal and investigative hot-shots.

    And on an equally positive note, it appears that our Utah legislature is busily setting the stage for John Swallow's future "digs," even as the Swallow story continues to play out in the Utah press:
    Needless to say, we'll continue to follow this story here on WCF as it develops.

    Update 3/13/14 11:34 a.m.:  More from the Salt Lake Tribune's niftiest blogger. The headline says it all:
    Mark your bookmark links to WCF, O Gentle Ones.  Our "psychic sensors" detect a whole new raft of articles on this topic coming right up.

    Wednesday, March 12, 2014

    Standard-Examiner: Candidates Line Up in Weber for County and State Offices

    It already appears that there will be some hot action in the upcoming Weber County Republican caucuses

    In the interest of kick-starting a wee bit of Weber County Forum political discussion, we'll shine the spotlight on this morning's Standard-Examiner story, announcing that the 2014 Utah General Election will soon be fully up and running, with the legally required five-day candidate filing period commencing at the end of the week.  Here's the lede:
    OGDEN -- For people dissatisfied with the status quo, Friday ushers in the five-day candidate filing period for certain partisan state, legislative and county races...
    In Weber County, eight of its nine elected offices go to a vote this November. 
    Here's the full Cathy McKitrick story, folks:
    In a notable plot twist which is bound to break the heart of every Weber County Forum political wonk, "Sen. Stuart Reid, R-Ogden, will not seek a second term representing District 18. Former Weber State University President Ann Millner declared she will seek his seat as a Republican," Ms. Mckitrick reports.

    It already appears that there will be some hot action in the upcoming Weber County Republican caucuses, with two GOP Jackass challengers, James Ebert and James Humphreys for instance, already jockeying for incumbent Weber County County Commissioner Jan Zogmaister's Commission seat.  

    Keep your eyes on our right sidebar, O Gentle Ones.  Our WCF 2014 Utah General Election module is now "under construction."

    Tuesday, March 11, 2014

    Count My Vote Citizens Initiative Wrap-up: Governor Herbert Signs SB 54 Into Law

    Added Bonus: Senator Stuart Reid predicts " the birth of a new, two-intra-party system within the Utah Republican Party"

    In the interest of wrapping up our discussion of the Count My Vote citizens Initiative matter, we're delighted to follow up our WCF writeup of  March 6, 2014, wherein we reported that Utah State Senator Curt Bramble's compomise bill, SB 54, which establishes a new dual-track system for Utah election nominations, had successfully cleared the Utah legislature, we're delighted to provide links to morning's main Utah media stories, reporting that Governor Herbert has now signed this landmark legislation into law:
    Yesirree folks.  It's all over now, except for the wailing and gnashing of teeth, as our current crackpot-laden Utah caucus/convention system yields in 2016 to a parallel direct primary system, a system which we predict will open up the nomination process to "the masses" and ultimately render our current party caucus and convention system virtually  irrelevant.

    As an added bonus, we'll link this morning's Deseret News Op-ed piece, wherein our beloved Weber County-based Utah State Senator Stuart Reid, weirdly enough, not only agrees with us, but takes it all to a new level.

    Here's the lede, WCF political wonks:
    Some believe the passage of SB54, “Election Amendments,” will be the death of the caucus and convention system in Utah. I am not one of them. Instead, I believe it will have far more reaching consequences, not the least of which is the death of the two-party system and the birth of a new, two-intra-party system within the Utah Republican Party. -Stuart Reid
    And here's Senator Reid's full rant: 
    That's right, folks.  Senator Reid predicts that moderate Utah Democrats will jump party ranks and hook up with moderate Republicans, and that "[t]hese two intra-party factions will replace the two-party system in Utah."  Senator Reid is an expert on this subject, of course.  Who can forget how Senator Reid jumped party lines and nailed his (now lame-duck) State Senate seat in in 2010? Here's the Reid history, via the Standard-Examiner, for those who may have forgotten:
    Yesirree.  We fully agree with "turncoat" Senator Reid, this go-round, at least.

    There's a first time for everything, we guess.

    Saturday, March 08, 2014

    2014 Utah Legislative Update: Full Medicaid Expansion Dies in Committee

    "Conservative" ideology again "trumps" financial prudence and common sense

    Via a sharp-eyed and alert friend of Weber County Forum:
    Wonk alert. Tragic. Senator Gene Davis's "Accept the Full Medicaid Expansion" SB272 effectively died in Committee on a 2-1 vote late yesterday afternoon. A Senate Committee heard the common sense, Democratic proposal that would have brought life saving, already paid-for health care to 123,000 Utahns. Sad, sad, sad day. Ideology wins over people.
    For those reader "keeping score," be sure to take note that Weber County's own State Senator Allen Christensen (R) - District 9 is one of the two committee members who voted a thumbs-down on this bill, a fact which we're hoping all Weber County political wonks will remember well, the next time Christensen stands for re-election, claiming to represent the interests of "financial prudence."

    By way of background, and to bring everyone up to speed, Standard-Examiner heavy-weight columnist Don Porter skillfully articulated and distilled the common sense argument in favor of this bill only last week, providing an essential, financially prudent rationale which the Senate committee "conservative" majority neverless ignored, thus depriving Utah State Legislators of the opportunity to debate the full "merits" on the House and/or Senate floors:
    Yep, that's right.... Utah again demonstrates that it's the "Best-managed State in America", as a measly two "conservative" (so-called) legislative committee members succeed in taking one demonstrable financially prudent health care measure completely off the table.

    And the beat goes on... as Utahns blindly persist in voting for candidates simply because they sport the "magic" "R" behind their names.

    Sad, very sad, indeed.

    Update 3/10/14 7:23 a.m.:  Most excellent morning graphic via the Trib's Pat Bagley:

    Thursday, March 06, 2014

    Salt Lake Tribune: Deal on Count My Vote Gets Legislative OK

    Thanks and congrats to the Utah lumpencitizens for enthusiastically embracing the petition and forcing the legislature's hand

    Encouraging news in the Count my Vote citizens initiative matter from from the Salt Lake Tribune:
    Despite grumbling and constitutional doubts, the Utah Legislature sent a deal to Gov. Gary Herbert that will overhaul the process for choosing candidates for office and bring to an end Count My Vote’s ballot initiative.
    "I don’t argue that this policy will be better than the caucus-convention process," said Rep. Dan McCay, R-Riverton. "The vote today is not whether you like one [nominating system] over the other. … Your vote today is ‘do I preserve a history at the same time I grab the future?’ That is this bill."
    While the bill, SB54s2, lets parties keep their existing caucus-and-convention system for nominating candidates, it also allows aspiring officeholders who collect enough petition signatures to go straight to the primary ballot.
    Feast your eyes on the full Robert Gehrke story here:
    The bill is now headed to Governor Herbert for his signature, which looks like a fait accompli, judging from his remarks on this subject:
    I applaud their efforts of trying to find a compromise that protects the convention-caucus system, which I’ve been a big supporter of in the past, and yet provides opportunity for a general primary and a different pathway to the ballot," Herbert said before the Legislature’s final passage.. 
    Brace yourselves for a sea change in Utah politics, as these monumental changes to the nominating process take effect, beginning with the 2016 Utah General Election.

    We'll chalk this up as a rare victory for the democratic process in Utah, folks.

    Thanks and congrats to the Utah lumpencitizens for enthusiastically embracing  the petition and forcing the legislature's hand.

    Wednesday, March 05, 2014

    Judge Napolitano: How To Get Fired From Fox In Under 5 Minutes

    A video that should be forwarded and shared with every single man, woman and child in this country

    Whoa, WFC political wonks. Regardless of your political leanings, whether lefty, righty, libertarian, anarchist (or whatever,) you owe it to yourself to listen to the awesome rant, which (purportedly) got the libertarian-leaning Judge Napolitano fired by Fox News. Whew! It's a doozy!

    Here's the lede:
    Asking questions as Judge Andrew Napolitano did in a recent broadcast on his now cancelled daily show may very well be the reason behind his recent dismissal from Fox. Though specific details are hard to come by because the Judge has yet to give any interviews on the matter, it’s believed that his refusal to bow to commonly manufactured media narratives is among one of several key reasons he his no longer with the network.
    The following 5-Minute Speech that Got Napolitano Fired from Fox News is one that should not only be forwarded and shared with every single man, woman and child in this country, but taught and expounded upon in every social studies, civics and government class from first grade through college.
    Here's the full video:



    Food for thought, no?

    So what about it, O Gentle Ones? Is Judge Napolitano simply "off his rocker?" Or has he honed in, to his pecuniary detriment, on some important points which all American lumpenictiizens ought to be carefully thinkin' about?

    So who'll be the first to throw in his or her 2¢?

    Monday, March 03, 2014

    UEG: Our Take on CMV Compromise, and 2 More Bad Bills to Kill

    Three bills to comment on, all of which are initiative killers in one form or another

    Via: Utahns for Ethical Government


    Dear friends and supporters of legislative ethics:

    We have 3 bills to comment on, all of which are initiative killers in one form or another. So please read our whole message.

    You have probably been hearing about the intense negotiations over the past few days between the Count My Vote leaders and legislative leaders. Sunday evening, they jointly announced a compromise that seems to please both groups. Monday morning, Substitute 2 of Senator Bramble's Senate Bill 54 will have a hearing. As we understand it, the compromise bill (in which we played no role) will preserve the caucus/convention system but will also allow someone to get on a party's primary election ballot by gathering 2% of the signatures of registered voters (regardless of party) in the district in which the candidate wishes to run. (We think 2% is the correct figure, but we haven't been able to access the amended bill yet.) The compromise will also allow unaffiliated voters to cast ballots in a party's primary, something not allowed currently in the Republican Party primary.

    Count My Vote leaders stated that they would keep gathering signatures until the compromise legislation is passed and the Governor signs it. They will also maintain their "brand" (Count My Vote label) and follow subsequent legislative actions. So, if you haven't signed the initiative, please still do so. Go to their website (www.countmyvoteutah.org) for sign-up locations.

    We urge you to go Utah Legislature's web page to find and read the amended version of SB54, which should be posted on Monday for all to see. As the saying goes, "the devil is in the details." We would have preferred to see the initiative proceed, but we are not privy to all that went on. At this point, we too are interested in reading the whole bill. There will be remaining issues to be resolved in a subsequent legislative session, but CMV and legislative leadership seem pleased with the compromise and assert that it represents a win-win situation to achieve wider voter participation in state elections.

    REGARDLESS, there are 2 other bills regarding initiatives that are of grave concern to UEG. One is Senator Scott Jenkins' Senate Joint Resolution 15, which if passed by 2/3 of both Houses, would put a constitutional amendment on the 2014 ballot. The amendment would establish that the political parties alone control the process for nominating their candidates to public office-without interference from the Legislature or a public initiative petition. We hope you will want to tell your legislator not to support this resolution.

    The other bill, HB 192, is also attempting to severely curtail initiatives by requiring that signers state that they have "read, understood, and support" the initiative. This is tremendously unworkable. Some petition signers sign before deciding their actual vote on an issue; they sign because they want the initiative placed on the ballot and want to hear the full debate during the election campaign. Furthermore, ballot initiatives can be long and are written in legalese (just like other legislation) and cannot be read in full in a timely manner. Moreover, legislators themselves seldom are able to read and understand legislation they vote for and must rely on their basic understanding of the legislative intention and on the word of bill sponsors whom they trust. Again, please help to defeat this bill by contacting your legislators.

    Continual oversight (watchdogging) of legislative shenanigans remains a priority with UEG.

    Thank you for your interest in ethics reform.

    UEG Executive Committee

    Update 3/3/14 7:31 p.m.:  Looks like Senator Bramble's 2d Substitute SB54 is moving right along like clockwork; just what you'd expect from an old political pro like Bramble.  

    Saturday, March 01, 2014

    Salt Lake Tribune: Count My Vote Leaders Strike Deal to End Ballot Drive - Updated

    Extremely bad news for those of us who'd hoped to completely eliminate Utah's quirky caucus/convention system, although we'll "hold our editorial fire" until full details have been fully fleshed out.

    The Spirit of Compromise
    There's a stunning development in the Count My Vote citizens initiative matter, as the Salt Lake Tribune reports that CMV organizers have cut a "compromise" deal with State Senator Curt Bramble, which would preserve the current caucus/convention system, but also provide a parallel path to nomination for candidates who choose to bypass  the current caucus/convention nomination process. Here's the lede:
    Organizers of the Count My Vote initiative struck a deal Friday with legislators to pull the plug on an initiative to overhaul Utah’s nominating system after being assured candidates would be given a new path to the primary ballot without going through party caucuses and conventions.
    The group, which had spent more than $1 million gathering 100,000-plus signatures on a voter initiative aimed at instituting direct primaries to nominate candidates, notified supporters and volunteers Friday night in a conference call that it would abandon the effort once the compromise is signed into law.
    Read the full story, folks:
    "The [CMV] group has planned a news conference at the Capitol for 11 a.m. Staurday [this morning] to formally announce details of the deal," the Trib's Robert Gehrke reports.

    Needless to say, this is extremely bad news for those of us who'd hoped to completely eliminate Utah's quirky caucus/convention system, but we'll refrain from editorializing on this topic until full details of this plan have been fully fleshed out.

    Keep your eyes on this space as the situation develops, O Gentle Ones... 

    Update 3/1/14 11:41 a.m.:  Oops. Looks like the above-mentioned "deal" has fallen through, which obviously won't break the hearts of CMV petition signators who'd like to see the Eagle Forum-driven Utah caucus nomination system wiped off the face of the earth. 

    Here's the suddenly revised version of the above-linked Trib story
    We'll whole-heartedly issue a "shabby journalism thumbs-down" to the Trib this morning, by the way, due to their extreme laziness in failing to post a new Gehrke story on this latest development, rather than amending the Trib's earlier-posted article.

    Update 3/3/14 4:47 a.m.: Via the Trib:  "An on-again, off-again deal between organizers of the Count My Vote ballot initiative and state legislators is back on, after a false start, a cancelled news conference and a day of negotiations Saturday. In the end, the deal struck to overhaul Utah’s system of nominating candidates is much the same as it stood Friday night: Count My Vote will get a system where candidates for office could gather signatures to get on a primary ballot, rather than going through the parties’ caucuses and conventions":

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