Wise, and well said… We Democrats are fortunate to have such diplomats as yourself among us.

After the next census, if the Republicans decide to create one safe Democratic seat to assure three safe Republican seats, we will need such a diplomat to explain to my congressman that if he wants to stay in Congress, he’ll be trying to take one of the Republican seats, because there’s no way in hell he gets the safe Democratic one…

None of that changes some facts about him though that can’t be glossed over. 2006 isn’t 2009, and people are paying attention to all our Congressional leaders and putting them under the microscope. The public was not engaged 3 years ago like they are right now. It’s kind of hard to ignore how he keeps holding his constituents at arms length and utterly REFUSES to acknowledge our presence.

His money trail is a sham too. Given the amounts he has taken in from the health insurance industry and then a Nay vote on the HC bill wasn’t a big shocker. That was despite the CBO report that should have told his “fiscal conservative” rear to not only support the health care bill but support an even stronger P.O. version of it, and he didn’t. He also had the gall the hire Amy Andryszak as his Chief of Staff. He sits on the Sci and Tech committee and hired a telecom lobbyist to be his Chief of Staff… Of all the people in the world she just happened to be the best person for the job. Somehow I doubt it.

Despite his voting record and abysmal ethics, it appears he pisses off the Republicans. Until another rock star shows up, I guess that will have to do.

Instead of having civil war for UT CD02, if Weber, Salt Lake, and Davis can pull it together someone could lock up Bishop’s seat especially in an off-presidential election. If there was more organizational structure as you get away from Salt Lake, it can be done, I really believe that. We just need someone who can really pull it all together to get it. We need a reason to build that structure. I personally don’t think you should give Matheson a second thought other than to learn from his mistakes. Unseat Bishop, go to Congress, and show Matheson how a Democrat is supposed to act, how a leader is supposed to act. You lead from the front, with dignity, with integrity, and with a sense of purpose driven by something other than saving your own skin.

As a supporter of the way you have built your your business (I’m a long-time Xmission subscriber), the fact that you engage in community, artistic and philanthropic endeavors, and your proverbial tilt-against-the-Hatch-windmill senatorial bid, I can think of few local individuals that I’d rather have sitting in Jim Matheson’s seat than you. Nonetheless, your reasons for NOT running are both pragmatic and wise. And while I am greatly frustrated with the level of so-called pragmatism on the Democratic side — from the President to our local representative — I understand it. Jim’s vote against the (admittedly bloated) health care bill was a last straw of sorts for me. Does this mean I will vote for a Republican in 2010? Hardly: they have done nothing but merit derision. But, more critical than voting for the other (or, ANY other) party, is the possibility that the generation of progressive voters who campaigned and strove for CHANGE, will turn inward, opt out of any political dialog, and again become convinced that the System is rigged, that there is no point in trying. We have seen this before: it was called the Reagan 80′s.