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Pignanelli & Webb: This could be Demos' big year — or not

Of course, Becker, Matheson and Corroon are popular. The press never gives them any negative publicity, just fluffy positive articles about all the "good" they are doing.

Webb is right about the Drinking Liberally crowd. Again, did you notice the fluffy, positive article in the Tribune about this group? The Tribune would never write such a piece about Republican activists.

Now that Webb and Pig are done profiling the two statist parties, can DesNews readers get some information about the alternatives? (Hint: Constitution, Green, Libertarian, etc.)

Well, here's the problem. Today's Republican Party matches up almost perfectly with the contemporary LDS Church. Anywhere LDS are in the majority, a non-republican CANNOT win. That's just the way it is. And why I can agree with Mr Webb that Utah Democrats often seem to have a tin ear when it comes to going after LDS votes, the fact remains that Democrats cannot win among LDS, no matter what their tactics.

If the Democrats believed in a "live and let live" policy, then they might have a chance. Instead they believe in controlling and dictating the lives of the "ignorants" in Utah.

The Republicans may have stumbled, but the Democratic agenda is even more destructive. The real question is whether it's time to vote for a 3rd party.

It would be a winner for them except they don't want to do anything about the energy situation. Wouldn't surprise me if the Republicans win.

Just because Democrats are against values held dear by the LDS, don't suppose that republicans do much more than give lip service.

It was Ronald Regean that put Sandra Occoner on the supreme court. Had she voted the other way, we wouldn't have Roe v Wade now.

Regean gave lip service to the religious right but he used them. When ever he spoke about cutting taxes to groups of people he showed up in person. When he spoke about right to live he spoke by live television feed. This showed his priorities.

Republicans are the party of the rich. If the Religious right thinks Republicans have their interests in mind, they are dupes.

What a bogus arrogant statement to say the GOP matches up perfectly with the LDS Church. The National Republican Party hates Mormons. Just look what happened to the best presidential candidate to come along since Clinton and Reagan.
The Republican Party dropped Brother Romney like a hot potato. The bible thumping fascists Evangelicals think we are all evil and going to hell.
I have been a life long Democrat who will on occasion cross over and vote for a Republican. I voted for Reagan because Jimmy Carter was a horrible honest President.
There has been numerous Mormon Democrats. To name a few, Bruce R. McKonkie, James Faust, David O. McKay. We have had excellent Mormon Congressmen and Senators.
Probably the best Senators and Congressmen this state has ever had have been Mormon Democrats. Let's see Moss, Gunn McKay, Wayne Owens, and all the Mathesons.
I went to the County Democratic Convention this year. I felt very welcome. There was Stake Presidents and tree hugging hippies.
This was a lot better environment than hanging out with a bunch of suit wearing lawyers and businessmen. Mormons can be Democrats and all of us should be!!!

"In the middle". Both parties have some bad examples of the extreme sides, but most Democrats (and I believe Republicans too) are somewhere in the middle of issues. I am previously a Republican from the way I grew up. When I came "into my own" I made informed decisions and became Democrat. I did not use it as "therapy" as suggested in this article. I came into it after healing myself after negative "right wing" experiences. The Democratic party is a good party and it will help us if we give it a chance. When they win the presidency I believe that maybe some Republicans will need some therapy to cope with their changing world. I found that some Republicans don't face reality very well.

It is quite arrogant to say the GOP matches up with the LDS church. Idiots have been elected to office simply because the candidate has an R at the end.

However, Corroon and Matheson have done more to represent Utahns' interests, both Ds and Rs. In fact, I would argue that Corroon represented his constituents in fighting against funding Real Salt Lake Stadium while the GOP gloated in their public thievery with Real Salt Lake jerseys. Oh boy.

I am active in the LDS Church and I am active in the Democratic party. Don't forget that the late James E. Faust was a card carrying member of the Democratic party.

This state has the worst Legislature in the Union. We need to implement ethics reform and get rid of our House Leadership. We need to vote out Curtis and his band of conservative hacks.
The voters in this State need to send a message loud and clear that we have had enough. We need to send Jay Seegmiller and other like minded Democrats to the Legislature this fall. Vote all the bums out.

The Tribune article did nothing to accurately describe the Drinking Liberally organization. The article was written while attending a special party celebrating the 5th birthday of the national organization.

Regular meetings are full of though provoking conversation. Some of our members are mormon, not all of our members are Democrats. Not everybody agrees on all issues but we can engage in the conversation in a mature and democratic way.

The logo was used to highlight the uniqueness of being a progressive in Utah. It points of what most Utah Mormon conservatives forget - that their religion has a very rich history with alcohol. Brigham Young's Valley Tan wiskey and all the beer sales that funded about 75% of the infrastructure development of Salt Lake just to name a couple.

Before making rash assumptions about the group based on one article, visit a meetup. Judge for yourself. Otherwise you are just one of the reasons groups like this exist.

I usually think Webb has some good prose but this article (or his contribution) to it was weak...