Fort Hood Shooter Major Malik Nadal Hasan Allegedly Yelled Out "Allahu Akbar" Before Opening Fire; Muslim/Arab Groups Condemn Shooting

The developing story about the Fort Hood shooting and its perpetrator, Major Malik Nadal Hasan, is now taking an ominous Islamofascistic turn. According to an eyewitness report, Major Hasan yelled out the jihadi war cry "Allahu Akbar" (God is great) before opening fire.

The eyewitness is a female soldier who was present in the Soldiers Personnel Readiness Center when the massacre occurred. She has elected not to identify herself for fear of supervisory retaliation. But after the shooting occurred, she phoned her family who lives in an unidentified location in northern Utah to assure them that she was O.K. The family also asked that their precise location not be revealed at this time.

According to this KSL Channel 5 story, the female soldier called her father soon after the shooting and was frantic and upset. She said, "Dad, I'm OK. Don't worry, I'm OK". When the father asked her what she was talking about, the soldier said "We've been attacked by terrorists". She explained to her father that soldiers were sitting in a staging area inside the Readiness Center for medical and dental checks when the group was startled by gunfire. A person behind the counter stood up and shouted, "Allah Akbar!", and then just opened up on everybody. The daughter immediately fell to the ground and played dead, which was a wise move, because the person right next to her was shot and killed instantly. KSL news video embedded below:

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

KSL Channel 5 stresses that no government or military officials are reporting this and there is no way for them to independently corroborate this account.

At last count, 12 were killed and 31 wounded in the attack. It was originally reported that Major Hasan was killed, but it's now being reported that he's alive and in stable condition in hospital. He was shot four times, and is on a ventilator and unconscious. Two other soldiers taken into custody since the attack have since been released.

U.S. Senate Rejects Bob Bennett's "Fairness In Representation Act" To Require Counting Of Illegal Immigrants On 2010 Census By A 60-39 Vote

On November 5th, 2009, the U.S. Senate voted 60-39, with one abstention, to reject Utah Senator Bob Bennett's proposed "Fairness in Representation Act", which would have required the U.S. Census Bureau to count illegal immigrants during the 2010 census. Media stories published by the Salt Lake Tribune and the Deseret News.

The methodology of this vote was a bit convoluted, so pay attention. Senator Bennett's bill was appended on to a larger Commerce Department budget bill, H.R. 2847, and this amended version was put forth. But 58 Democrats and two left-leaning independents voted to move forward on H.R. 2847 WITHOUT Bennett's immigration amendment, while 39 Republicans opposed the proposal to move forward. Arizona GOP Sen. John McCain, previously a champion of immigration reform, did not vote. View the full roll-call vote HERE.

Senator Bennett's bill would have merely required the U.S. Census Bureau to collect information about the citizenship status of each person contacted during the 2010 census, simply by adding a question box about the issue to the census form. It would have had no bearing on federal assistance, and the immigration information would not have been used by law enforcement to track down and deport illegal immigrants. His sole purpose was to remove non-citizens from the counts used to determine U.S. House representation.

But both Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and Census Director Robert Groves opposed the bill, saying that it is far too late to add a question to the census forms, which are already being printed to prepare for their mass mailing in March. Doing so would carry a significant cost for reprinting and reprogramming computers. Bennett dismissed their argument, saying all the government would have to do is print an extra sheet of paper to mail along with the already-created questionnaire. Bennett's argument is sound, since the Census Bureau doesn't intend to mail out the questionnaires until March 2010, so there would be ample time for them to print the extra page - if they really wanted to.

Of course, this same Census Bureau that doesn't mind counting illegal immigrants can't seem to find a way to count LDS missionaries deployed outside the United States.

After the vote, Senator Bennett charged that Democratic leaders moved to side-step his amendment because the majority wants to have illegal residents included in the apportionment count so that states like California and New York can gain more congressional seats. He promised to continue to push for a citizenship question on the census in future years, so we can fairly determine congressional representation and ensure that legal residents are equally represented. A hat tip to Bob Bennett for his efforts, even if the primary motive is election year politics - and turning back the stiffening primary challenge posed by Cherilyn Eagar.

Mark Shurtleff Suspends Campaign Against Utah Senator Bob Bennett For The Sake Of His Daughter's Health; Cherilyn Eagar Now The Lead Challenger

In a rather stunning development, Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff announced on November 4th, 2009 that he is suspending his campaign to challenge incumbent U.S. Senator Bob Bennett for the Republican nomination in 2010 in order to spend more time with a daughter whose mental health is reported to be deteriorating. She is suffering from depression. The most detailed story was published in the Salt Lake Tribune; other reports from KSL Channel 5, KSTU Channel 13 with video, and the Deseret News. Another Deseret News article refers to a 2006 series where Shurtleff and his now-17-year-old daughter Danielle talked about suicide struggles. KSL news video embedded below:

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

The decision doesn't impact his present status as Utah's Attorney General, a position he's occupied since 2001. Here is Shurtleff's complete statement from his campaign website:

Today, I am announcing the suspension of my campaign for the U.S. Senate. This announcement comes with sorrow because I do want to serve my country, and I do believe both political parties have put this nation in grave danger by spending so foolishly that our children and grandchildren will have a difficult time recovering.

I have chosen to take pause because my daughter’s health is very fragile. She is struggling with emotional issues and has recently been placed in a treatment center. Her recovery depends on the focus and energy we give her as parents over the next several months. In the time since I announced my candidacy for the U.S. Senate, she has started experiencing severe mental health problems and is now in a treatment center. M’liss and I have been told by her doctors that we will be needed in numerous counseling sessions to give our daughter a chance of recovery.

Many of you know that I had a serious motorcycle accident a few years ago, and I would have lost my leg if I had not paused and taken the time to receive medical treatment to take care of it. I am not willing to lose my daughter, so I am suspending my campaign to care for her and my family. Most folks understand physical illness; it is my hope that people will learn how serious and dangerous mental illness can be.

I want to thank the thousands of supporters who have been by my side thus far. I ask for your prayers for my family and specifically my daughter. We don’t think our trials are any harder than rest of the world’s, but right now, we could use a little extra help.

To the citizens of Utah, rest assured, I will continue to do everything I can as Attorney General to protect you against identity theft, internet predators and anyone who tries to bring harm to the children and families of this great state.

Sincerely,

Mark Shurtleff
November 04, 2009

Although technically Shurtleff said he was "suspending" his campaign -- meaning he could resume it later -- he made it clear during an interview on KSL's Doug Wright show that he had no plans to return to the race. Shurtleff, who was considered by the elite to be Bennett's lead challenger, had raised just $210,000 for his Senate campaign and had spent $63,805. In contrast, Bennett had already raised more than $2.7 million and spent more than $1.8 million in his re-election bid. But City Weekly's not so sure Shurtleff is out for good, because by federal election laws Shurtleff stands to face steep taxation and/or penalties if he doesn’t use the money he raised for his Senate campaign. They think it's possible Shurtleff might jump back in the race should his daughter's medical situation become stabilized.

Shurtleff was not unaware of this possibility when he decided to launch his Senate campaign. But at the time, he was led to believe his daughter's situation was under control. Obviously, his daughter's situation has deteriorated since that time, and Shurtleff now believes that both "quality time" AND "quantity time" are necessary to help his daughter. A subsequent Tribune article offers more details. Danielle had twice attempted suicide, but received help, returned to school and her grades were good. But Shurtleff said she had fallen into trouble and started to spiral out of control in a whole lot of self-destructive ways. She has now been in a residential treatment facility for five weeks, but Shurtleff said her treatment was going to require more time and support from her family. Complicating the issue is the fact that, after June 2010, when she turns 18, she can no longer be kept at the facility, but may still require further treatment.

There has been no recorded reaction yet from any of the other candidates. However, many public comments posted to the media stories are quite cynical, speculating on Shurtleff's "real" motives. As Bennett's most prominent challenger, Shurtleff had been the primary target of the Bennett campaign, with Bennett's operatives accusing Shurtleff of commingling state and federal campaign funds. There may eventually prove to be other factors contributing to Shurtleff's decision, but out of respect for his family situation, I will not explore them at this time. It takes a true family man to sacrifice his personal ambitions for the welfare of a family member.

Salt Lake Voters Buy A New $125 Million Cop Shop; Proposition 1 Easily Passes With Over 65 Percent Of The Vote, Ralph Becker May Compromise On Site

Despite controversy over the proposed location of the new public safety building and even some dissatisfaction over Police Chief Chris Burbank's refusal to consider responding to SB81, Salt Lake City voters were even more concerned over the deteriorating conditions of the present public safety facility, and manifested it by voting authoritatively to approve Proposition 1, which would authorize $125 million of taxpayer money to construct the new facility. The bond's passage means property owners will see an increase in property taxes; a home valued at $260,000 will see an increase of $6 a month, while a business valued at $1 million will see a jump of $43 a month. Passage wasn't really a big surprise; several pre-election polls showed a consistent 60+ percent support rate.

With 100 percent of the votes counted, 12,432 people voted in favor of Prop 1 (65.74 percent), while 6,479 people voted against it (34.26 percent). In gratitude, Mayor Ralph Becker said he would reopen the site selection process after the bond's passage; at least eight other sites were previously considered. Completion of the project is still at least three years away, and Becker said he hopes to include state and county officials in the project.

Results of all Utah elections statewide can be found at the following links (between the two links, the whole state should be covered):

-- Most results now available via the Deseret News.
-- Some other results available via the State website

Other election stories of note:

-- In Stockton, irate voters punished incumbent Mayor Dan Rydalch for his abuse of Police Cpl. Josh Rowell by replacing him with Councilman Mark Whitney, giving Whitney over 75 percent of the vote.

-- Saratoga Springs elects its first black mayor. Councilwoman Mia Love defeated challenger Jeff Francom in the contest to replace outgoing Mayor Timothy Parker. In becoming just the city's second mayor, Love ran on a platform of growing the city's commercial base in a way that preserves its quality of life. Love also touted her experience serving on the council during a budget crisis, which she said gives her the experience and ability to guide the city through uncertain economic times. The question: Will she be another Condollezza Rice, or another Maxine Waters?

-- In Logan, incumbent Mayor Randy Watts withstood a stiff challenge from Mike Morrill, defeating him by just over 5 percent of the vote. Watts' victory was uncertain not only because of his awkward handling of the Gary Jensen controversy, but also because the city of Logan appeared to equivocate after the lethal Logan landslide earlier this year. There was a pronounced geographical split in the voting; Morrill virtually owned the west side, although his victory margins were shallow. In contrast, Watts owned the east side, where Utah State University is located, but his victory margins were wider, so he prevailed overall. Ironically, Watts won the precinct in the east side neighborhood where the landslide occurred. Read post-election story in the Logan Herald-Journal.

-- In Payson, Councilman Scott Phillips was handily re-elected. He became the center of controversy in May 2008 when he caught a couple of teenage punks vandalizing his truck and physically detained them. A vindictive district attorney chose to prosecute him for misdemeanor assault, and deliberately dragged it out until Phillips pleaded no contest to misdemeanor disorderly conduct in March 2009, merely paying $100 in court costs. The council and community were solidly behind him, and proved it in this election.

Stockton, Utah Has A New Mayor: Councilman Mark Whitney Crushes Incumbent Dan Rydalch With Over 75 Percent Of The Vote

It's final, if not necessarily official. The city of Stockton, Utah will have a new mayor. With all votes counted in both precincts, challenger Mark Whitney crushed incumbent Dan Rydalch, getting three out of every four votes cast.

The final tally, as posted by Tooele County:

-- Mark Whitney: 173 votes, 75.22 percent
-- Dan Rydalch: 54 votes, 23.48 percent
-- Write-In: 3 votes, 1.30 percent

The vote was heavily influenced by the political flap which ensued when Rydalch suspended a police officer last week after the officer issued a traffic citation to the mayor's son. The City Council promptly reinstated the officer. Rydalch had been mayor for one term. But according to another Tribune story, the election would have been close even without the controversy, because some voters were ready for a change. "I kind of doubt he would have been re-elected anyway," Ronnalee Hessord said. "Mayor Rydalch has his supporters, but a lot of people wanted change."

County officials will have to officially certify the results before Whitney can be sworn in. Afterwards, a replacement for Whitney on the city council will have to be selected.

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

Other up-to-the-minute Utah election results:

-- Salt Lake County Election Results HERE and on this Salt Lake Tribune page. Note: With 21 percent of precincts counted, Proposition 1 is being supported by 63 percent of voters. This figure has been consistent, so it looks like Salt Lake voters have bought themselves a new cop shop.
-- Utah County Election Results via the Provo Daily Herald.
-- Davis County Election Results HERE
-- Logan Election Results HERE
-- All election results statewide will be posted on this Deseret News page.

Utah Senator Orrin Hatch Questions Constitutionality Of Forcing All Americans To Buy Health Insurance Under "Obamacare"

Utah's senior U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch's stewardship has been increasingly questioned by Utahns - particularly by those who are conservative - over the past few years. He's been widely perceived as having done little of note except hold Ted Kennedy's hand since his [Hatch's] marginal Presidential campaign in 2000.

But perhaps the rank statism promoted by Barack Obama and his Congressional allies since January 2009 has jolted Senator Hatch awake. In particular, Hatch has become alarmed at many of the aspects of what has become known as "Obamacare". According to CNSNews, Hatch says he does not believe the Democrats’ health-care reform plan is constitutionally justifiable, noting that if the federal government can force Americans to buy health insurance “then there is literally nothing the federal government can’t force us to do.” Hatch also said if the federal government starts ordering Americans to purchase specific products without being able to plausibly justify that mandate through the Commerce Clause of the Constitution which empowers Congress to regulate interstate commerce, it will mean “we’ve lost our freedoms, and that means the federal government can do anything it wants to do to us.”

Both the House and Senate versions of the health-care reform plan would force all individuals who are citizens or legal residents of the United States to buy health insurance. President Obama has endorsed this provision. Watch CNS video of Hatch's remarks below:



Senator Hatch rejected the argument some have made that the federal government forcing everyone to buy health insurance is no different than state governments mandating that people who want to drive must buy auto insurance. “You know, the illustration they give all the time is: Well, states require people to buy auto insurance. Yeah, they do, if they want to drive,” said Hatch. “But here would be the first time where our [federal] government would demand that people buy something that they may or may not want..."

The bottom line - a person can legally evade auto insurance requirements by not owning and driving a motor vehicle. In contrast, the only way a person could legally evade health insurance requirements would be by not breathing.

It's good to see that Senator Hatch is waking up and taking a stand against the rampantly onrushing extraconstitutionality of the Obama regime and its hod-carriers in Congress. Perhaps he's learning a lesson from the robust intraparty challenges faced by Bob Bennett. And his objections to Obamacare may be slowing down the headlong rush in that direction; on November 3rd, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said that a health care bill is no longer considered likely this year. Reid is no longer confident he can line up the 60 votes necessary to prevent a filibuster.

New Dan Jones Poll Shows Salt Lake City Remains A "Blue" City In A "Red" State; Salt Lake 32 Percent Liberal Vs. 12 Percent Statewide

Utah's premier pollster Dan Jones has taken the political pulse of Utah once again, and finds that Salt Lake City continues to be a "blue" city in a "red" state. While this isn't exactly headline news to most Utahns, Jones' poll offers one of the more detailed statistical snapshots we've seen in a while. Media story published by the Deseret News (see DN graphic HERE).

And here are the pertinent findings:

(1). Party Affiliation:

-- Salt Lake: 37 percent Democrats, 31 percent independents, 24 percent Republicans.
-- Statewide: 15 percent Democrats, 28 percent independents, 46 percent Republicans.

(2). Political Philosophy:

-- Salt Lake: 20 percent Very Liberal, 12 percent Somewhat Liberal, 31 percent Moderate, 14 percent Somewhat Conservative, 17 percent Very Conservative
-- Statewide: 6 percent Very Liberal, 6 percent Somewhat Liberal, 29 percent Moderate, 29 percent Somewhat Conservative, 27 percent Very Conservative

(3). LDS Church Membership: Salt Lake 40 percent, statewide 68 percent.

(4). College Degree: Salt Lake 63 percent, statewide 48 percent.

There are a few other "blue dots" in Utah, to include Park City, Moab, Springdale and Price, but only Salt Lake County and Summit County (Park City) went for Obama in November 2008.

The distinction between degrees of liberalism and conservativism is of interest. Those who are Somewhat Liberal are older and tend to be mainstream, like Rep. Jim Matheson, and a conservative can have a dialog with them. While committed to their beliefs, they are not intolerant, extremist or dogmatic; they value political diversity and don't view opposition as heretical. In contrast, those who are Very Liberal are younger and tend to call themselves "progressives"; it's generally quite difficult for a conservative to hold a dialog with them since progressives tend to be intolerant, extremist, and dogmatic. They view those who disagree with them not merely as wrong, but as heretics who need to be suppressed. When arguments go against them, they are quick to resort to juvenile name-calling.

Those who are Somewhat Conservative tend to be mainstream. Oftentimes they are big-government conservatives, favoring an elaborate security infrastructure and a robust interventionist foreign policy. Economically, they tilt towards Wall Street over Main Street. Some, like John McCain, are actually moderates who masquerade as conservatives during elections to sucker conservatives into voting for them. In contrast, those who are Very Conservative, who sometimes refer to themselves as paleoconservatives, tend to be much more constitutionally-oriented, prefer a strong national defense without unnecessary foreign intervention, and believe Main Street is a better source of economic salvation than Wall Street. They can be dogmatic about social issues from time to time.

Citizens For Better Leadership And Planning Opposes The Proposed $125 Million Salt Lake Cop Shop, But Dan Jones Poll Shows 60 Percent Favor Prop 1

A group called Citizens for Better Leadership and Planning have taken a last minute stand against the projected new $125 million Salt Lake City cop shop on the ballot as Proposition 1, to be decided during the November 3rd, 2009 general election. Media story published by KSL Channel 5. Previous posts HERE and HERE.

-- Official information about Proposition 1 HERE.
-- General Salt Lake City November 3rd election information HERE.

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

In their press release, the citizens group acknowledges that a majority of voters do favor replacing the existing Public Safety Building simply because the existing facility is becoming more decrepit, but that a growing number of supporters oppose the preferred site at the Barnes Bank Block on 300 East, diagonally across from Library Square. The most recent Dan Jones poll shows the bond would pass if the election took place now, with 60 percent of respondents either definitely or probably in favor of it (a September Dan Jones poll also showed 60 percent support). The citizens group claims the city is trying to get voters to buy a pig in a poke by refusing to release all the details of the project before the election. They want the selection process to be conducted with full transparency, public discourse, and, above all, full disclosure of the possible alternatives and lower cost options before a vote. Eight other prospective locations for the proposed facility previously discussed and highlighted on this Salt Lake Tribune map were rejected; they are listed below:

-- 7/11 northeast corner of 300 South and 400 East (this has been considered the primary alternative)
-- Burger King northeast corner of 300 South and 200 East
-- State Office of Education 500 South midway between 200 East and 300 East
-- Garff dealership 500 South midway between State St and 200 East
-- Chamber of Commerce parking lot southwest corner of 400 South and State St
-- Health Department property 600 South halfway between State St and 200 East
-- Youth City southeast corner of 2100 South and 700 East (near Sugar House)
-- Holding parking lot Main Street halfway between 400 South and 500 South

Consequently, Citizens for Better Leadership and Planning is calling for the elimination of the 300 East location from consideration for the new public safety compound, a new and transparent selection process, consideration of other alternate sites already identified, and a more cost-effective solution for an Emergency Operations Center that places less tax burden on the average Salt Lake resident and small business.

Environmental Extremist Utah Moms For Clean Air Pushes People's Republic Of Park City To Promote Anti-Idling Ordinance

Here we go again. Another group of stay-at-home ditzy soccer moms with too much time on their hands wants to make our lives more complicated and miserable with yet another oppressive nuisance law. It's not enough that we're told where to smoke and what kind of seats our kids must ride in when being transported, and that our airports are infested with uniformed Gestapo in the name of "security". Now they want to tell us where and when we can idle our vehicles.

An extremist group of green vigilantes known as Utah Moms for Clean Air, already infamous for their knee-jerk opposition to coal-fired power plants in Utah, is pushing the Park City Council to adopt a resolution restricting vehicle idling in the community. According to the Salt Lake Tribune, the group Clean Air Park City, which is a chapter of Utah Moms for Clean Air, has provided the City Council with a draft resolution asking residents not to warm up vehicles in driveways, leave them running when dashing to an ATM or post office, and even to turn off vehicles while at any drive-thru facility. At this point, it would strictly be a resolution instead of an ordinance, so there'd be no penalties for non-compliance.

It should be noted that they do NOT advocate forcing people to turn off vehicles at stop lights while in traffic. Additional stories posted by KSTU Channel 13 (with video) and KSL Channel 5, whose video is embedded below:

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

According to Mary Jacquin of Park City Clean Air, the resolution is an education tool to remind drivers that unnecessary idling of autos has harmful effects on human health and the environment. She acknowledges that Park City's air is clean compared to Wasatch Front communities, but she thinks this resolution will keep it that way. In other words, a solution looking for a problem.

But although Jacquin is merely interested in education at this time, others have more sinister intent. Park City Sustainability Coordinator Tyler Poulson is openly licking his chops at the prospect of using this "resolution" as a precursor to an ordinance that could include fines. There is no timetable for such a regulation or how it would be enforced. It most likely would include exceptions for severe weather conditions and other health-related factors. But just as we have regular DUI blitzes in Utah, we'd eventually see "No-Idling" blitzes. Don't laugh - a no-idling blitz was launched by police in Toronto in 2006. And another one is being launched in London, Ontario this month.

Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Ogden and Provo already have ordinances disallowing public employees from idling city and county vehicles, but no municipality in Utah has such a rule for the general public. But air pollution levels along the Wasatch Front continue to run afoul of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards, primarily during wintertime inversions. It is estimated that 50 percent of Utah's air pollution is generated by motor vehicles. Utah Moms for Clean Air also cite more supporting justification HERE, using information provided by the Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment (UPHE). But it should be noted that the EPA is now enforcing more stringent PM 2.5. pollution standards, which means Utah's "non-attainment" area, once limited to Salt Lake, Davis, Weber and Utah Counties, is now being expanded to include portions of Cache, Box Elder and Tooele counties, plus a portion of Franklin County, Idaho, that is part of Cache Valley's airshed. So is pollution really "increasing", or are the EPA's tighter standards merely making it appear that pollution is increasing, the illusion of which can be used and manipulated to keep the "green" industry flush with profits and increase state control over the American people?

But it should be noted that UPHE is another environmental extremist organization who promotes climate change theology; the antics and attitudes of its president, Dr. Brian Moench, are documented HERE. Some of UPHE's goals include reduction of the speed limit to 55mph when air pollution exceeds EPA limits, public subsidies for mass transit, free ridership and expanded service, state funding for more extensive environmental monitoring, and policies prohibiting school buses should from idling in school yards while waiting for students.

The last thing we need is to allow radicals to be dictating energy policy in Utah.