A House Divided

I imagine that this story will be of cold comfort to my friends in the MNGOP.

The House is on fire, and Republican factions are busy dousing each other in gasoline.

Long-running feuds and tension in the Utah House of Representatives have erupted recently in name-calling, ethical charges and countercharges, and claims of retribution and character assassination.

I say cold comfort because it shows that the infighting that we have been seeing for the last couple of years in Minnesota are not an anomoly. Sadly though, this infighting does not show any sign of abating any time soon. Especially when you have people like Chris Cannon saying things like this about the party and party leadership.

Rep. Chris Cannon is angry.

Not at the voters who tossed him from his 12-year perch, but at the Republican leaders and those vocal few hammering on about earmarks and lobbing stinging criticism at their own party members. While he says he's not bitter, Cannon argues that some Republicans are tearing apart the Grand Old Party.

"I'm angry at Republican leadership and I'm angry at the people who have demeaned the political process by claiming corruption," Cannon said during an interview this week.

Sound familiar Minnesota? It should...

Again, the people speaking out, whether it be the voters themselves or the grassroots volunteers in the county and state organizations, who felt that the politicians have quit representing them are the ones at fault....not the politician! It is frustrating to no end for the grass roots workers to be this roundly ignored day in and day out and we are the ones at fault for daring to speak out against it Rep. Abeler and Rep. Cannon. You don't get it do you....you serve at the pleasure of the voters - we don't serve you. That is the lesson that you need to take to heart here!

Here is a radical thought for everyone....let's get back to doing what is right for the COUNTRY and the STATE. I mean that is what we elect you to do...not line your pockets or spend other peoples money. Do what is best for the state and the country and we will all get along a little better. If we don't agree about "what is best" you should be able (with all of your years in the Legislature) to articulate your position better than just saying "you're not from my district go away!". We can and should be able to discuss that with our legislators - shouldn't we?

What do you say? Can ya do it?

On Tour

I've been meaning to post on this for a couple of days, but life just kept getting in the way. Jason Chaffetz, the Republican endorsed candidate for Utah's 3rd Congressional District is joining a bunch of candidates on a trip to the most disputed piece of American wilderness in recent history - ANWR.

"Energy has become the No. 1 issue and I want to see firsthand part of the solution," Chaffetz said Wednesday.

Mr. Chaffetz has figured it out. His opponent (Bennion Spencer) on the other hand is parroting the Crisis of Choice talking points.

"We're not going to drill our way out of this oil problem," Spencer said.

Sitting on our hands, which is apparently Speaker Pelosi's solution, is not the answer either Mr. Spencer. Mr. Spencer echo's another familiar theme in this current debate.

Additionally, he added,despite the Republican push to open up the Arctic refuge, the oil would not hit the market for about 10 years and even under today's market prices, would only reduce the cost of oil by 41 cents a barrel.

Do any of you remember the last time we heard that particular refrain? Bill Clinton said the very same thing in 1996 when he vetoed a bill that would have opened up a very small portion of ANWR for exploration. Do the math people...1996 was how many years ago? That's right - 12 years ago. Now I am certainly not saying that we would not be in the mess we are in right now if we had opened up a tiny fraction of a huge area for domestic drilling, but I am saying that it would not have been as drastic a problem as it is today.

I have said before that increased domestic drilling is only a part of the solution. However, the Democrats, as stuck as they are in 1970 (more on this later), are bound and determined that there is nothing that we can do to resolve this problem. Which is one reason why this needs to be called a "Crisis of Choice".

It Is Time....

Well dear friends, it is time. The Logical Husband found that rarest of rarities - a short term rental that will accept multiple dogs (we have two). Since the school year is finally at an end, that can only mean one thing....I am officially moving to Utah after 4 months of waiting. We have not sold the house yet, but we do have a couple of people who are interested....provided they can get the financing!

So with that in mind it is Keegan's time again. I will be heading up to Keegans this Thursday and next for trivia night and to catch up with as many MOB bloggers as I can. Hopefully I will see YOU there.....

Doors

There is an old saying that says "A door closing leads to one opening elsewhere" or something along those lines. Well today a door is closing.

Back in September, the Logical Husband was told that his job here in the Cities was going away in March of next year. Two weeks ago, the Logical Husband was interviewed for and offered a job in Salt Lake City, Utah. After much prayerful consideration (along with a serious discussion about pulling the Junior Logician out of school in the middle of a year) we have decided that this is the best move for our family.

I have to admit that I never anticipated ever leaving Minnesota. In spite of my Chicago upbringing, I have become quite fond of the state. It is going to be tough to leave friends (some who are close enough to call family) but it is something that needs to be done.

This is where the door opens. The industry that the Logical Husband and I are both in is in decline here in the Midwest, but it is growing and thriving in the West. Plus the move puts me back in the mountains! I was born in Denver and to me the mountains are home - even though I haven't lived in the mountains for a long, long time.

So while it will be hard to leave my friends (especially my dear, dear friends in the MOB) this is the opening of a new adventure for the Logical Household.

Needless to say, blogging will probably be light for a few days as I prep the house for sale.