State of the Debate
George Pyle
RECENT POSTS
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DEBATE
Debate: All of the sudden, Chaffetz is back in the middle of things...
“Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in.” — Michael Corleone, “The Godfather, Part III” Just when we all thought Utah’s Rep. Jason Chaffetz might be on his way out ... — Utah’s Chaffetz says he will subpoena Comey memo if necessary — Thomas Burr | The Salt Lake Tribune “Washington • ... “Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in.” — Michael Corleone, “The Godfather, Part III” Just when we all thought Utah’s Rep. Jason Chaf... -
DEBATEDebate: He’ll see the Big Board ...If you are above a certain age, or a real film expert, when you read what’s below, you thought of what’s above. — Trump revealed highly classified information to Russian foreign minister and ambassador By Greg Miller and Greg Jaffe | The Washington Post “Washington • President Donald Trump reveale... If you are above a certain age, or a real film expert, when you read what’s below, you thought of what’s above. — Trump revealed highly classified i...
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DEBATE
Debate: President repeats phony argument in attacking national monuments
The argument from many elected officials in Utah — distressingly echoed Wednesday by the new president of the United States — is that the two big national monuments in Utah, and the many monuments in other states, result in millions of acres of land being “locked up” in “a massive federal land grab.... The argument from many elected officials in Utah — distressingly echoed Wednesday by the new president of the United States — is that the two big nati... -
DEBATE
Debate: Maybe they do read the editorials ...
In my Sunday column, the one about changing roles on The Salt Lake Tribune Editorial Board, I said this: “ ... The decisions we make are independent of The Tribune’s news writers and editors. They don’t dictate to us and we don’t dictate to them. Although we read their news stories diligently so we ... In my Sunday column, the one about changing roles on The Salt Lake Tribune Editorial Board, I said this: “ ... The decisions we make are independent o... -
DEBATE
Debate: With Trump in the White House, Chaffetz finds the thrill is gone ...
I did NOT see this coming. — Chaffetz won’t seek re-election, leaves option for 2020 gubernatorial run — Thomas Burr, Matt Canham and Courtney Tanner | The Salt Lake Tribune “Washington • In a stunning announcement, Rep. Jason Chaffetz said Wednesday he would not seek re-election to his House seat o... I did NOT see this coming. — Chaffetz won’t seek re-election, leaves option for 2020 gubernatorial run — Thomas Burr, Matt Canham and Courtney Tanner ... -
DEBATE
Debate: Academic politics. When the stakes are not small at all ...
There’s an old saw about academic politics being the most vicious because they matter the least. Or not. — Acclaimed researcher fired from top post at Utah’s Huntsman Cancer Institute — Alex Stuckey and Benjamin Wood | The Salt Lake Tribune “ ... The move has drawn public protest and criticism from ... There’s an old saw about academic politics being the most vicious because they matter the least. Or not. — Acclaimed researcher fired from top post at... -
DEBATE
Debate: Those Pulitzer winners and me ...
[Video: The Announcement. Tribune bit at about 6:30. Storm Lake Times part at 7:58.] I am among those who are deliriously happy for the team of editors, reporters and photographers who did the hard, long and often gut-wrenching work that led to Monday’s awarding of the Pulitzer Prize for Local Rep... [Video: The Announcement. Tribune bit at about 6:30. Storm Lake Times part at 7:58.] I am among those who are deliriously happy for the team of edit... -
DEBATE
Debate: Sex surveys, students and student journalism ...
Any more, just about everything that happens reminds me of something that happened a long time ago. Here’s what’s happening now: — Utah school districts block sexual-orientation question on student survey — Kelly Gifford | The Salt Lake Tribune “Health officials have been effectively blocked from ga... Any more, just about everything that happens reminds me of something that happened a long time ago. Here’s what’s happening now: — Utah school distric... -
DEBATE
Debate: A Tale of Two Tent Cities
Guy tells his doctor he’s been having strange dreams. “Sometimes I’m a wigwam. Sometimes I’m a tepee. What does it mean, Doc?” “Obviously, you’re two tents.” Tents are in the news a lot these days: — County sheriff proposes opening Salt Lake homeless camp, reducing Road Home shelter beds, closing li... Guy tells his doctor he’s been having strange dreams. “Sometimes I’m a wigwam. Sometimes I’m a tepee. What does it mean, Doc?” “Obviously, you’re two ... -
DEBATE
Debate: Redford remembers something serious. I remember what may be the biggest laugh he ever got...
In honor of this compelling op-ed contribution from Robert Redford ... — 45 years after Watergate, the truth is again in danger — Robert Redford | Special to The Washington Post ... a flashback to one of my blog posts from nearly two years ago: “I’d say it was the biggest laugh that actor Robert... In honor of this compelling op-ed contribution from Robert Redford ... — 45 years after Watergate, the truth is again in danger — Robert Redford | Spe... -
DEBATE
Debate: Jason Chaffetz as the point of contention ...
— ‘I want Chaffetz out of that seat’: D.C. resident starts anti-Chaffetz PAC — Courtney Tanner | The Salt Lake Tribune “Lynette Craig has a sort-of pet name for Utah Republican Rep. Jason Chaffetz: ‘would-be despot.’ “ ‘He doesn’t come out to talk to us,’ explained the District of Columbia resident,... — ‘I want Chaffetz out of that seat’: D.C. resident starts anti-Chaffetz PAC — Courtney Tanner | The Salt Lake Tribune “Lynette Craig has a sort-of pe... -
DEBATE
Debate: We said, Veto, veto, veto. He said, Yes, no, no ...
The Salt Lake Tribune Editorial Board last month urged Utah Gov. Gary Herbert to veto a bill, passed in the recent session of the Legislature, that would remove a cap on the number of people from any one political party (i.e., Republicans) on various state boards and commissions. This week, he did j... The Salt Lake Tribune Editorial Board last month urged Utah Gov. Gary Herbert to veto a bill, passed in the recent session of the Legislature, that wo... -
DEBATE
Debate: Medicaid expansion rides again ...
— Obamacare is what we have to work with. Fix it. — Salt Lake Tribune Editorial “ ... For seven years, the Republicans who rule this state without significant opposition have been so obsessed with their dislike for the Democratic president’s signature legislation that they have left what now amounts... — Obamacare is what we have to work with. Fix it. — Salt Lake Tribune Editorial “ ... For seven years, the Republicans who rule this state without sig... -
DEBATE
Debate: Who didn’t kill Obamacare? It’s no mystery ...
— Blaming conservatives, Trump signals new openness to Dems — Hope Yen | Associated Press | Salt Lake Tribune “ President Donald Trump on Sunday attacked conservative lawmakers for the failure of the Republican bill to replace former President Barack Obama’s health care law, as aides signaled a grea... — Blaming conservatives, Trump signals new openness to Dems — Hope Yen | Associated Press | Salt Lake Tribune “ President Donald Trump on Sunday attac... -
DEBATE
Debate: West Jordan’s Haaga resigns. Just like we told him to. Six months ago...
— West Jordan City Council member should resign after trying to hide behind his office — Tribune Editorial, August 2, 2017 “It appears that Jeff Haaga, a member of the West Jordan City Council, has taken the concept of white privilege and blown it up beyond all recognition. It’s enough for some of h... — West Jordan City Council member should resign after trying to hide behind his office — Tribune Editorial, August 2, 2017 “It appears that Jeff Haaga... -
DEBATEDebate: Humpback whales are organizing in large numbers. Star Trek? Or Hitchhiker’s Guide?— Humpback whales are organizing in huge numbers, and no one knows why — Sara Chodosh | Popular Science “The world is ending and only the whales know. At least, that’s one explanation. Humpback whales are normally pretty solitary—scientists used to call groups of 10 to 20 “large.” Now they’re congre... — Humpback whales are organizing in huge numbers, and no one knows why — Sara Chodosh | Popular Science “The world is ending and only the whales know....
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DEBATE
Debate: Bagley vs. Bleiler - Colorado and the Outdoor Retailers ...
— Why Colorado doesn’t deserve the Outdoor Retailer show — Gretchen Bleiler | For High Country News “I grew up snowboarding in two of the best states for the sport: Colorado and Utah. The world-class ski mountains in these neighboring states were key factors that allowed me to represent our country ... — Why Colorado doesn’t deserve the Outdoor Retailer show — Gretchen Bleiler | For High Country News “I grew up snowboarding in two of the best states ... -
DEBATE
Debate: Republicans have steered Obamacare into its ‘death spiral’
“The Earth is not dying. It is being killed. And the people who are killing it have names and addresses.” — Utah Phillips “Of course we know the Iraqis have weapons of mass destruction. We have the receipts.” — Molly Ivins “House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) says Obamacare is in a ‘death spiral... “The Earth is not dying. It is being killed. And the people who are killing it have names and addresses.” — Utah Phillips “Of course we know the Ira... -
DEBATE
Debate: Jason Chaffetz — God’s gift to editorial writers, Twitter, liberals, Colbert ...
Utah 3rd District Rep. Jason Chaffetz walked into a buzzsaw this morning by saying on CNN that poor people don’t have access to health insurance because they do dumb things like buy new iPhones. It was a particularly stupid thing to say, a blame-and-resent-the-poor absurdity that recalls Ronald Reag... Utah 3rd District Rep. Jason Chaffetz walked into a buzzsaw this morning by saying on CNN that poor people don’t have access to health insurance becau... -
DEBATE
Debate: Taxing the basics. ‘Thirty-seven states have already figured this out ... with the exception of Utah.’
Utah lawmakers are looking to bring the sales tax charged on groceries back up to the full rate. Idaho lawmakers are looking to remove their sales tax levy on groceries completely. Utah is looking to create some kind of income tax credit to help low-income families deal with the regressive tax. Idah... Utah lawmakers are looking to bring the sales tax charged on groceries back up to the full rate. Idaho lawmakers are looking to remove their sales tax... -
DEBATE
Debate: Cause and effect? As goes Utah ...
This morning: — Chaffetz is first congressional Republican to say Sessions should recuse himself from Russia investigation — Thomas Burr | The Salt Lake Tribune “Washington • Rep. Jason Chaffetz called Thursday for Attorney General Jeff Sessions to recuse himself from any investigation of Russia’s m... This morning: — Chaffetz is first congressional Republican to say Sessions should recuse himself from Russia investigation — Thomas Burr | The Salt La... -
DEBATE
Debate: Connecting some dots ...
We said: — Legislature should not stop judicial nominating process from diversifying the bench — Tribune Editorial, Feb. 17 “A strong argument can be made that it is a bad idea to put a job applicant’s gender, race, sexual orientation or other such factor ahead of that person’s qualifications for th... We said: — Legislature should not stop judicial nominating process from diversifying the bench — Tribune Editorial, Feb. 17 “A strong argument can be ... -
DEBATE
Debate: Liquor laws get real. (In Minnesota.)
While we are going around and around to make Utah’s liquor laws more complicated: — Utah should keep the Zion Curtain. No, really. — Robert Gehrke — The Salt Lake Tribune “Sometimes Utah liquor laws are enough to drive someone to drink. “That’s the case, at least, as lawmakers have gone from trying ... While we are going around and around to make Utah’s liquor laws more complicated: — Utah should keep the Zion Curtain. No, really. — Robert Gehrke — T... -
DEBATE
Debate: On the Jason Chaffetz Watch, 2
Some folks from the national media are watching us watch him: — Utah Paper Ups Pressure On Jason Chaffetz: Investigate, Don’t Imitate, Donald Trump — Chris D’Angelo | The Huffington Post “In a searing editorial Tuesday, The Salt Lake Tribune urged Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) to do his job and inv... Some folks from the national media are watching us watch him: — Utah Paper Ups Pressure On Jason Chaffetz: Investigate, Don’t Imitate, Donald Trump — ... -
DEBATE
Debate: On the Jason Chaffetz Watch ...
Down the street and around the nation, it’s all Jason Chaffetz, all the time: — Chaffetz’s arrogance and partisanship are no help — Jennifer Rubin | The Washington Post “WASHINGTON • Before national security adviser Michael Flynn’s forced resignation Monday night, all Democrats on the House Committe... Down the street and around the nation, it’s all Jason Chaffetz, all the time: — Chaffetz’s arrogance and partisanship are no help — Jennifer Rubin | T... -
DEBATE
Debate: Jason Chaffetz’s Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Night ...
Rep. Jason Chaffetz is thought to love nothing more than being the center of attention. Tonight may have cured him of that alleged affliction. He received lots of attention from national new websites for this rowdy town hall meeting. Little of it good. (Note that much of the national coverage is dra... Rep. Jason Chaffetz is thought to love nothing more than being the center of attention. Tonight may have cured him of that alleged affliction. He rece... -
DEBATEDebate: Chaffetz and Hatch figure in Colbert’s monologue. Sometimes these jokes just write themselves...Hatch bit at about 1:45. Chaffetz takes over at 5:13. Utah’s congressional delegation is providing the late night comedians with an never-ending flow of material. Last night on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” the host got some well-deserved laughs out of both Sen. Orrin Hatch and Rep. Jason ... Hatch bit at about 1:45. Chaffetz takes over at 5:13. Utah’s congressional delegation is providing the late night comedians with an never-ending flo...
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DEBATE
Debate: George Will blogs? Will wonders never cease?
About 20 years ago, maybe more, I called the Washington Post Writers Group to ask if columnist George F. Will had an email address. Those were still kind of a new thing then, but some reporters and columnists were appending their direct email addresses to the end of their articles as a way of encour... About 20 years ago, maybe more, I called the Washington Post Writers Group to ask if columnist George F. Will had an email address. Those were still k... -
DEBATE
Debate: A tale of two State of the States, Utah and California, and #HeWhoMustNotBeNamed ...
If the State of the State Address delivered Wednesday evening by Utah Gov. Gary Herbert was not your cup of tea, you might be more pleased by the State of the State delivered the day before by California Gov. Jerry Brown. Both governors took note of the change of administration in Washington. Herber... If the State of the State Address delivered Wednesday evening by Utah Gov. Gary Herbert was not your cup of tea, you might be more pleased by the Stat... -
DEBATE
Debate: Thousands march. Police video released. Monday was a good day for open government in Utah ...
If you are looking for evidence that the people’s voices and right to know still matter, Monday was a good day: — ‘We raised our voices here’: Massive women’s march headlines Utah Legislature’s opening day — Benjamin Wood | The Salt Lake Tribune “Thousands of Utahns filled the Capitol on Monday in a... If you are looking for evidence that the people’s voices and right to know still matter, Monday was a good day: — ‘We raised our voices here’: Massive...
