The winners and the losers

Loser: Wonder why the Obama administration seems to be keeping Vice President Joe Biden in the background? It's because every time he opens his mouth, something ridiculous seems to pop out. Biden's comments this week, urging people to stay off airplanes, trains and public transit to avoid the flu, were irresponsible (and later "clarified" by the White House). What the economy doesn't need right now is needless panic or a grinding halt to commerce.

Winner: You have seen the statistics. Unemployment is up, home prices are down, and governments are struggling with dwindling revenues. And yet an overwhelming 65 percent of Utahns told a Dan Jones & Associates poll they haven't been harmed by the recession. Maybe, just maybe, Utah won't be hit as hard as other place apparently are.