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Governors heading to Utah. Poll: Should polygamy be legal? Huntsman's lucky denim jacket.
Happy Monday. It's going to be a busy week in Utah with the big National Governors Association conference slated to commence in a few days. Prepare for a bit of grid-lock downtown, a lot of black SUVs and some super-star governors to be in attendance. On top of that, presidential candidates and other federal office seekers will have to file their second-quarter reports by Friday.
Topping the news: Presidential candidate Michele Bachmann signs an anti-gay marriage pledge that says children of blacks were better off under slavery than they are under Obama. Yes, it really says that. [LATimes]
-> A Weekly Standard writer says Jon Huntsman's announcement day was the peak of his campaign. [WeeklyStandard]
-> The Trib's Nate Carlisle writes a fascinating profile of Minuteman leader Eli Cawley who grew up in a polygamist enclave. [Trib]
Today's news: The new head of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says proposed cuts to conservation projects could do major damage. [Trib]
-> Paul Rolly warns of a scam advertisement running on ksl.com. [Trib]
-> The DNews compares the post-governorships of Olene Walker and Jon Huntsman. [DNews]
-> A good majority of Utah Policy's insiders believe the tea party will have reduced influence in the 2012 elections. [UtahPolicy]
Tweet of the day: From @CarlWimmer: "I am so sunburned from standing directly in the sun at the Cut, Cap and Balance rally yesterday. It was worth it."
Hmm: A little birdy tells me that she got a call last night from "Public Policy Polling" asking various questions about favorable/unfavorable on the president and GOP candidates as well as various Utah matchups (Hatch v. Chaffetz, Herbert v. Matheson). But the poll also asked:
-- "Do you think same sex marriage should be legal, illegal, or you don't know"
-- "Do you think interracial marriage should be legal, illegal, or you don't know?"
-- "Do you think polygamy should be legal, illegal, or you don't know"
Anyone get the same call? Email us.
Oops: The DNews apologizes to its readers for writing up a hoax press release saying the Southern Baptist Convention endorses gay marriage. [DNews]
Opinion section: The Tribune backs House Speaker Becky Lockhart's screed against the state's federal delegation with regard to immigration policy. [Trib]
-> Pat Bagley draws up Sen. Orrin Hatch's comments that the middle class should pay its share of taxes. [Trib]
-> Rep. Ken Ivory defends the nation as a "compound republic." [Trib]
-> Critics of the BLM's plan to use public lands for solar energy production say the move could destroy treasured landscapes and hurt wildlife. [Trib]
-> An energy consultant says oil shale has been "just around the corner" for a hundred years and is the equivalent of petroleum's fools gold. [Trib]
-> LaVarr Webb and Frank Pignanelli discuss the Huntsman and Romney connections to Utah and how the state is handling the attention. [DNews]
-> Former Sen. Bob Bennett says "good news:" Congressional leaders and the White House are looking at both cutting government spending and reforming the tax structure. [DNews]
Where are they?
2012 watch: Huntsman loves his denim jacket because he's never lost a race when wearing it. [Politico]
-> The Herald's Billy Hesterman asks state lawmakers from Utah County why their lining up behind Mitt Romney, not Huntsman. [Herald]
-> Iowa Gov. Terry Brandstad says it's a "stupid mistake" for Huntsman to skip the Iowa caucus. [DNews]
-> Huntsman believes cooler heads will prevail by the deadline to raise the debt limit. [TampaBayOnline]
-> KSL's John Hollenhorst heads to Florida to catch a visit by Huntsman. [KSL]
-> Rolly says there are two Mitt Romneys: one who is true to his record and the other who flip-flops a lot. [Trib]
-> Sen. Lee explains how he turned down endorsement requests from Huntsman and Romney. [Trib]
-> Huntsman and fellow presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty should be careful criticizing Romney's health care program since they considered many of the same tools in it. [LATimes]
-> Huntsman, in Clearwater, stresses his family ties to Florida. [StPeteTimes] And says he's going to own the Sunshine State's key I-4 corridor. [TBO]
-> Romney's New Hampshire neighbors have a personal interest in his presidential bid. [LATimes]
-> Critics say Romney's job creating record isn't as solid as he touts. [LATimes]
-> PolitiFact does a truth-telling scale: First, that Romney is correct Obama, by the end of his first term, will have accumulated more debt than the 43 presidents who came before him. [PolitiFact] Second, that Democrats are correct that Romney is the first Massachusetts governor to lose the N.H. primary in a generation. [PolitiFact]
Weekend in review: The nation's governors will be in Utah this week and Herbert's office says its an opportunity to showcase the state. [DNews]
-> The White House is vetting Lee's lawyer, David Barlow, for the vacant U.S. attorney for Utah. [Trib] [ABC4]
-> State lawmakers are going to be back in session this month but immigration is not likely to be on the docket. [Trib]
-> Democratic congressmen charge that Rep. Bishop's legislation to allow border patrol to waive public land laws is really an attempt to push a GOP agenda against environmental regulations. [Trib]
-> Bishop says lessening government regulations would help boost job numbers. [TPM]
-> A homeless man is charged with stalking LDS Church President Thomas Monson. [KSL]
-> Senate President Michael Waddoups draws a redistricting map that puts his hometown of Taylorsville at the center of one district. [Trib]
-> Hatch is making unsteady progress with conservatives in his re-election bid. [NationalJournal]
-> Salt Lake City's downtown is starting to thrive again, John Daley reports. [KSL]
Correction: In Friday's edition, I accidentally promoted Corroon's spokesman Jim Braden to mayor. I've been told I do not have that kind of power and apologize for the mistake.
Got a tip? A birthday, wedding or anniversary to announce? Email us at cornflakes@sltrib.com.
-- Thomas Burr
Twitter.com/thomaswburr
