Utah politicos have many reasons to be thankful

For all Americans, this is a weekend of humility and appreciation — despite the difficult economic situation — for the benefits of living in the greatest country on the planet. Of course, Utah politicos also have much to be thankful for, and we think we know the essence of their expressions of thanks last Thursday:

Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. is grateful for the "flexible" definition of a Republican in Utah. He can hang with the famous glitterati (i.e. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger) and high-profile liberal Democrats (i.e. Sen. Harry Reid), mix it up with extreme sports fanatics, jam with rockers, push environmental causes and still enjoy the enormous political benefit of being a Utah Republican (and win an automatic majority of the statewide vote). Apparently, Utah voters like adaptable conservatives.

Lobbyists will always kneel in thanks to a higher power who guided the actions of our federal and state constitutional authors for mandating the right of the people to "redress of grievances" to their governments. In other words, schmoozemeisters have ironclad recession-proof employment protection. God bless America!

Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert is grateful for state senators who bounced Sen. John Valentine from the Senate presidency. One less likely opponent for the governorship in 2012. Of course, Herbert still has to worry about Attorney General Mark Shurtleff, Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce CEO Lane Beattie and probably a host of others.

Utah's far right is grateful for the election of Barack Obama. Once again it has a bogeyman to paint with crazy conspiracy theories for at least the next four years. Nancy Pelosi just wasn't enough.

Utah's far left continues to pray for the health and well-being of Eagle Forum leader Gayle Ruzicka and Sen. Chris Buttars. Now that it has lost George Bush, and one of its own is in the White House, it faces a bogeyman vacuum.

Rep. Jim Matheson continues to thank legislative Republicans who tried to gerrymander him out of existence. By extending his reach throughout eastern and southern Utah, he has learned how to appeal to rural Utahns and is now poised to run for higher office.

Rep. Rob Bishop is pleased with his receipt of the highest percentage of votes among Utah's congressional delegation. These are great bragging rights to rub in the noses of Sens. Hatch and Bennett.

Sen. Orrin Hatch appreciates the jury that convicted Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens on corruption charges. Although they are friends, Stevens' departure launches Hatch to the top of the Republican seniority heap in the U.S. Senate. (Although Sen. Richard Lugar still needs to leave via an appointment to the Obama administration.)