Talkin' turkey — the political kind

The holiday season has sneaked up on us, which means the 2008 legislative session and election can't be far behind. Thus, political rumors are flying like late November snow. Here are a few items politicos are talking about as they contemplate fat turkeys (of the political, not Thanksgiving, variety).

Grumbling about Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. from within GOP ranks is percolating again. Some GOP activists are frustrated by what they believe was his lack of enthusiasm for the voucher referendum, cozying up to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's global warming initiative, and other slights to their agenda.

Pignanelli: Remember 2000! That is the mantra (currently whispered behind closed doors) of some conservatives officials frustrated with the governor. They are referring to the 2000 Republican State Convention, where an unknown, last-minute candidate — Glen Davis — attracted enough conservative delegates to bump Gov. Mike Leavitt into a primary. These GOP hardliners believe that they can repeat history in 2008.

But the internal complaints against Huntsman started a year before his election and never caused significant problems. The crucial difference now is that former Huntsman enthusiast Overstock.com CEO Patrick Byrne is openly attacking the governor and his leadership style. Political observers are watching in earnest to see if this opens the floodgates of public criticism or if the governor again dampens his detractors.

Webb: The Republican Party is a great big tent with many factions. But the notion that any serious threat to Huntsman's nomination will occur is just plain silly. Such ideas are mostly promoted by wishful-thinking Democrats trying to create divisions in the GOP. Facing what could be a tough election in Salt Lake County, Republicans will be grateful Huntsman shares the ticket. By far, the best recipe for Republican success in 2008, especially in Salt Lake County, is to snuggle close to Huntsman and follow his moderate lead. To do otherwise would be suicide.

Rumor has it that Salt Lake City Mayor-elect Ralph Becker is going to pack his Cabinet and advisers with legislative buddies. The names making the rounds are State Sen. Scott McCoy, former state Sens. Karen Hale and Patrice Arent, and Reps. Roz McGee and David Litvack.

Pignanelli: This is a good omen. Democrats with legislative experience are an efficient group of individuals with a "Utah Realpolitik" experience. Always surrounded by Republicans, they learned which battles to fight (and not undertake) while remaining loyal to their principles. This is the needed recipe for the capital city. He is unlikely to hire the whole group. But don't be surprised if McCoy and Hale have positions of prominence.