Right now, the only official candidate for Utah Governor in 2010 is Gary Herbert. I tired, but right now do not see the point in blogging about rumored candidates. Most GOPs are waiting to see how Gary governs...good idea.
One topic that does come to mind is how Mark Shurtleff will do against Bob Bennett. The seven readers of this blog know well about my disappointment with Mr Bennett and Mr Hatch. The reason the latter is the namesake of this blog is because he will be around until 2012. But I am more disenchanted with Bennett. It is because he represents what is wrong with the GOP right now. He is a social conservative that knows very little about fiscal conservatism. Bennett is the reason that people like me will never, ever be able to retire.
But my question for Mark is whether or not he can make the transition from prosecutor to legislator. He will have to go from enforcing the rules to making the rules. He has to convince me and 60% of state delegates at next years convention that he will be an effective advocate of fiscal and social conservatism.
Now, let me say a word about California. The hand of their legislature are tied. There are several constitutional amendments that determine how a percentage of the state's budget is to be spent. There is talk of a constitutional convention to draft a new state constitution. Bankruptcy seems inevitable.
There are some who say that California has become too large.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_of_Jefferson
It is hard to argue against it. But if the state constitution is going to be redrafted, all options should be on the table...including the creation of smaller, better geographically linked states. But creating a new state out of parts of two different states is unlikely because two state legislatures need to agree.
But look at how the southern boundaries of Monterrey, Kings, Tulare and Inyo county form a straight line.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:NorCal_Counties_Map.jpg
There is one easy split to make. The new state south of this line I would call Medio California. (Mexico has a state called Baja California.) Pasadena would make a nice state capital.
Another possible state is the 10 counties that surround the San Francisco Bay. I would call this state Alta California it could also be called Baya Dorada. There may be some land in Fremont for a state capital.
What remains I would call Sequoia (Sacramento and the Central Valley) after one of my favorite national parks and historical figures.
Now breaking up is hard to do, but one of the solutions for GM and their problems is to break up. (Spin off Saturn, Hummer, etc.) It will work as long as the debt is split according to population. The legislatures of four or five more georgraphically linked states may have an easier time comming to agreements.
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