I attended a press conference yesterday at which a bipartisan group of grass-roots activists and community-media types called for Utah politicians to fess up the details of an obvious deal between GOP Sen. Orrin Hatch and President Barack Obama to install a Republican as U.S. Attorney for Utah.

Apparently, the somewhat pathetic dog-and-pony show held at the sleepy Avenues library branch managed to hit a nerve. Later, The Tribune received the press release (shown above) from Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office countering the press conference "organized by those prepared to attack the proposed appointment of Scott Burns as U.S. Attorney for the State of Utah from a political view point."

The release goes on to say attorneys from liberal defense lawyer Ron Yengich to SLCo District Attorney Lohra Miller support Burns' appointment "and believe the public should be aware that political attacks have no business in the appointment of a bi-partisan official like the U.S. attorney."

Haha. And I thought defeated congressional candidate Claudia Wright and company were naive in holding a press conference to get their questions out.

Speaking of questions, who is Miller, the political equivalent of Ridley Scott's acid-dripping "Alien," trying to kid? Politics, as anyone with an IQ bigger than their hat band knows, has everything to do with the appointment of U.S. attorneys.

Second, why is Miller sending out press releases in support of Burns on county A.G. letterhead, using taxpayer resources, computers and phone lines?

For the record, the grassroots group, which includes conservative talk-show host Mills Crenshaw, did not question Burns ability, ethics or integrity. They demanded to know the details of the "horse trade" between Obama and Hatch that made Burns the apparent nominee, rather than a Democratic candidate selected by Rep. Jim Matheson.