Posted on 12/30/2009 1:32:39 PM PST by Colofornian
The Mormon Media Observer looks back at the year filled with LDS newsmakers. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., tops the list, based on a newsmaker's frequency in the news as well as the significance of their stories.
1. Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nevada
The Senate Majority Leader led the battle to push through health reform in the Senate. News coverage of Reid made a household name and the divisive debate made him out to be both villain and saint. He may still face a tough battle in his home state of Nevada to save his seat.
On Christmas The New York Times wrote:
"WASHINGTON -- It was the pinnacle moment of his political career. The Senate majority leader, Harry Reid of Nevada, on the verge of making history by shepherding through far-reaching health care legislation, was called upon by the clerk to cast his vote. And Mr. Reid, who had fought tirelessly for months to get the health care bill adopted, looked up from his desk and said, "No." ...Mr. Reid's oh-no vote capped one of the more remarkable stretches in what is shaping up to be one of the more remarkable careers in American politics, characterized in no small part by the sheer inscrutability of much of what he says and does. In the end, of course, Congressional leaders are judged on one thing alone: whether they come up with the votes. And Mr. Reid -- the miner's son from Searchlight, Nev., the amateur boxer who worked his way through law school as a Capitol Hill police officer, who has a knack for mumbling and off-the-cuff gaffes -- had the votes."
2. Stephenie Meyer
The release of "New Moon" attracted media attention around the world. Here's a sampling of the some of the worldwide headlines: "New Moon takes biggest bite," "Vatican denounces the 'deviant' Twilight Movie," "Mormon who put new life into vampires."
The Sunday Mail of London wrote: "Her teenage vampire books outsell Harry Potter -- but she's a devout Mormon who lives modestly in Cave Creek, Ariz., and eats at the local burger joint. For a woman who has sold more than 85 million books and has been hailed as the new J. K. Rowling, it is a remarkably modest home. Set down a dusty dirt trail, the four-bedroom property blends seamlessly into the desert landscape -- low and sand-colored with just a few cacti for decoration. Only a high-tech camera and newly installed metal gates give some hint of the occupant's desire for privacy."
3. Elizabeth Smart
The young woman endured brutality and came to court this year to face her abuser, Brian David Mitchell. After attending Brigham Young University, she is preparing to serve a mission in France. She was named Utahn of the Year by the Salt Lake Tribune. The excellent tribute by Trib columnist Peg McEntee reads:
"She had wanted to confront Mitchell with her eyes and words, but, predictably, he sang his hymns and was removed from the courtroom. When it was over, Elizabeth Smart strode, tall and straight, into the rest of her life. For so many of us, her astonishing homecoming restored hope when there seemed to be none, and the knowledge that even terrible times can end, and end well. And she taught us this: Faith, whatever its source, can make amazing things happen."
4. Jon Huntsman Jr.
President Barack Obama named Utah's former governor U.S. Ambassador to China. He took his post in August. Huntsman played host to Obama during a visit to China in November. Chinese media lauded Obama for the choice for Huntsman's understanding of Chinese language and culture. Huntsman previously served a U.S. ambassador to Singapore.
5. Orrin Hatch
Sen. Orrin Hatch was a key opponent to health care reform and taken on foes like the Bowl Championship Series. He also played a role in honoring the Sen. Edward Kennedy at his death. Over the years, the pair made an interesting senatorial odd couple. Along with speaking at Kennedy's memorial service, Hatch penned this piece in Newsweek. He also penned a Hanukkah song which was both complimented and parodied on "The Tonight Show."
6. Glenn Beck
The firebrand talk show host continued to attract attention on his national radio and TV shows, through his books and in the news media. The picture of Beck sticking his tongue out made it on the cover of Time magazine and parodied on several comedy shows. Here was Time's assessment:
"Glenn Beck: the pudgy, buzz-cut, weeping phenomenon of radio, TV and books. Our hot summer of political combat is turning toward an autumn of showdowns over some of the biggest public-policy initiatives in decades. The creamy notions of postpartisan cooperation -- poured abundantly over Obama's presidential campaign a year ago -- have curdled into suspicion and feelings of helplessness. Trust is a toxic asset, sitting valueless on the national books. Good faith is trading at pennies on the dollar. "
7. Mitt Romney
Emboldened by conservative supporters, Romney is keeping his eyes on 2012 presidential prize. Romney has been delivering a lot of keynoters and political endorsements around the nation and is getting ready to launch a book-promotion tour. A National Public Radio blog recent said this about who is a GOP frontrunner for 2012:
"Answer: No one so far. Mitt Romney, the venture capitalist and former governor of Massachusetts who ran a pretty good campaign in 2008, remains the class of the field but kept a low profile in 2009. Mike Huckabee led in some polls of Republicans that also found Sarah Palin popular. But Huckabee ended the year uncertain about running (and damaged by a clemency scandal from his days as Arkansas governor). Romney remains too much a general election candidate, a problem for the Democrats to be sure but far from the average Republican activist's cup of tea. His past positions on social issues were too styled to Massachusetts, and his Mormonism still leaves the party's religious base lukewarm at best."
8. Max Hall
BYU football quarterback Hall got his 15 minutes of national fame after the BYU-Utah football game when he said: "I don't like Utah. In fact, I hate them," Hall said. "I hate everything about them. I hate their program. I hate their fans, I hate everything. ... I think the whole university, their fans and their organization, is classless." He later issued an apology and was sanctioned by the Mountain West Conference.
9. John Yettaw
The Missouri man widely noted in international media for his Mormon faith was held for a time in a Burmese prison charged with crime related to a swim across a lake to one of the world's best-known democracy figures, Aung San Suu Kyi. He left Myanmar with a U.S. senator. Despite his good intentions, Yettaw gave an unfortunate impression of Mormons to the world.
10. Michael Otterson
He was the spokesman behind the LDS Church statement at the Salt Lake City council meeting in early November that appears to be changing the politics in Utah for gays.
"The Church supports these ordinances because they are fair and reasonable and do not do violence to the institution of marriage. They are also entirely consistent with the Church's prior position on these matters. The Church remains unequivocally committed to defending the bedrock foundation of marriage between a man and a woman. I represent a church that believes in human dignity, in treating others with respect even when we disagree -- in fact, especially when we disagree."
Very good, Grasshopper.
Expect the unexpected.
sorry forgot the /sarc tag
I am impressed. You read the Koran in Arabic? Or the Bhagavata in Sanskrit. The Tanakh in Hebrew? The Buddhavacana in Pali? That is really amazing :) Or were you just pulling my leg?
Familiarity with the stories does not equal a detailed or scholarly knowledge. That applies to believers as well as non. A knowledge of a religion goes far, far beyond a reading of the “standard works”.
Yes, but a familiarity with the teachings does go a long ways towards understanding the religion. Have you found that most of your comrades truly understand their beliefs?
And reading does not equal comprehension.
I couldn't agree more : )
A book knowledge is entirely different from a faith. Christians usually refer to it as a “head” knowledge vs. “heart” knowledge.
And your point is that faith trumps actual knowledge? The reality is the other way around : )
I will agree that blind faith often has the power to get people to do stupid and crazy stuff, the Moslem suicide bombers for example.
I will accept your lack of denial as an admission.
“Mormons are definitely on the move — I’ve had no less than 5 calls per day (excepting Sunday, of course) since 12/26 from “Mitt Romney for President” campaign.”
I find it interesting how those of us who dislike Romney are accused of not liking him because he is Mormon.
But then a person realizes that most of his support and organization is from Mormons; and they support him precisely because he is Mormon. And his liberal views are excused away.
So you read the "Black Swan' too? There is hope for you yet : )
Your own advice is good advice, there is no need to treat this one seriously by any means.
Yep Reaganaut will need to savor that for a long time : )
Where have you been Godzilla? It has been a long time since I last smacked you down : )
Another one bites the dust : ) All these fundamentalists without the courage of their convictions.
I am impressed. You read the Koran in Arabic? Or the Bhagavata in Sanskrit. The Tanakh in Hebrew? The Buddhavacana in Pali? That is really amazing :) Or were you just pulling my leg?
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Not pulling your leg. Arabic, Sanskrit and Hebrew, (not Pali) as well as Greek, Egyptian (demotic and hieroglyphs), Latin, Gaelic, and several modern European languages. It’s a gift made easier by a Graduate degree in Linguistics.
A lack of response does not indicate an inability to respond. Thread hijacking is not taken well here on the RF.
Vague accusations does not a debate make.
Are you willing to defend your beliefs or do you want to run away?
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You have given me nothing to defend. I don’t run away, I just don’t feed trolls.
I've been right here wondering when you'd stagger in again.
You made an accusation about me that you refuse to back up with sources or links.
The argument that I refuse to answer your question as being admission of guilt is intellectually dishonest and I will not accept it.
Back up your contention or admit that it’s a lie and what you’re up to.
RM, for the record, I haven’t pinged lg in months. Out of the blue, he comes along and makes an accusation about me that he treats as fact because of some bizarre *reasoning* (for lack of a better term) on his part. I don’t know what provoked this incident, but it was completely unwarranted.
If he’s going to make statements like this, he either needs to support them or acknowledge them as slander.
Reaganaut and Elsie were courtesy pinged to this comment because they were the ones he posted the comment to and he was making accusations about them as well.
I will not play your game.
Try someone else.
From LG’s profile page:
Libertarian who thinks what we need is more Honor and Accountability
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Anyone else find the humor in that statement?
Irony ping to #119
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