BYU Alternative Commencement Speech

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Friday April 27, 2007 · 1:54 PM PDT

2007/04/27 · 13:54

Complete audio of the entire BYU Alternative Commencement is here.

The most sobering commentary of last night was from the students whose parents had chastened, berated, and even outright abandoned them over their involvement in this event. For a community that prides itself on family values, I was ashamed of what these young men and women have had to go through to speak their conscience. If my children were ever doing a similar event and I disagreed with their politics, I would still be by their sides, cheering them on. I can expect a random knucklehead passing by to lob a thoughtless comment at these individuals, but if you are a parent who abandoned your own child over this, I find it utterly disgraceful. You should be so lucky to have sons and daughters as bright and committed as these.

The text of my speech follows.

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Wednesday February 07, 2007 · 11:32 AM PST

2007/02/07 · 11:32

Some have asked for the commentary I gave at the governor's Divine Strake hearing. I didn't give that commentary from written material, so I had to wait for the transcript to come through. Thanks to Sherry Milne for her efforts in emailing me the transcript.

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Friday January 19, 2007 · 9:30 AM PST

2007/01/19 · 09:30

Why did the senate have to go and enact ethics reform? You win a sixth term at the party and they take all the fun out of it. Utah's Senator Hatch joined Tom Coburn to form a coalition of the unwilling against the following ethics reforms that passed 96-2:

Bar lawmakers from accepting gifts and travel and lodging paid for by lobbyists.
Extend from one to two years the time a former member must wait before he can engage in lobbying activities.
Deny pensions to lawmakers convicted of serious crimes.
Require more reporting by lobbyists on their activities.
Require public disclosure of those home-state projects.
Require senators hitching rides on private jets to pay full charter rates rather than the current practice of paying the far-cheaper equivalent of a first-class ticket.
Require reporting by lobbyists who obtain small donations from clients and then "bundle" them into larger contributions to politicians.
Prevent spouses of sitting members from lobbying the Senate.

Keep fighting the good fight Senator Hatch! Utah is proud of you!

Salt Lake City Divine Strake Meeting Moved

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Wednesday January 10, 2007 · 6:55 AM PST

2007/01/10 · 06:55

Apparently the people telling us that everything is OK with a "test" blowing up 700 tones of ammonium nitrate can't schedule a meeting venue properly. It has been moved at the last minute. On the bright side, Governor Huntsman is aware of the farce that DTRA is putting on and has scheduled another meeting with real public input. In any case, please try to show up for both.

Forwarded information:

The Jan. 10 public meeting on Divine Strake will be moved to the Grand America Hotel at 555 So. Main at 6:30 p.m. The National Nuclear Security Administration and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency said late today that the location wasn't available. Curious they didn't know this earlier.

You'll have a chance to participate in a true public hearing where public comment will be taken at hearings that Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman is hosting. They will be:

St. George, Jan. 18 from 5-8 p.m. in the Dunford Auditorium of the Browning Building at Dixie State College Salt Lake City, Jan. 24 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. in Room 135 of the Utah Capitol West Building, main floor.

Thank You America

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Wednesday November 08, 2006 · 8:59 AM PST

2006/11/08 · 08:59

The two words I have said more often than any others during my campaign for U.S. Senate, were "Thank you." I can not say them enough to fulfill the humbling support and encouragement I have received from so many people. I will not give up the fight. What I stand for is what America needs and will continue to need. I simply have to get that message to more people.

Please read my election night speech:

http://peteashdown.org/... Read More

UT-Sen: What a Ballot Looks Like

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Tuesday November 07, 2006 · 10:10 AM PST

2006/11/07 · 10:10

(Daily Kos won't let candidates post images from candidate websites. Even when they ask nicely. Go figure.)

My wife Robin and I voted this morning and we asked for paper ballots. Being a candidate with a computer background causes a frequent question about voting that I happily answer, "Paper and pencil."

Sometimes the best solution is the simplest. The Canadians vote on paper ballots and are able to count their national votes in around four hours.

There has been news of problems with machines throughout Utah. If you encounter a polling location that is having problems, it is the law that the poll workers give you a provisional ballot. Do not take "No" for an answer! Whether or not you ask for a paper ballot at a polling location with working machines is up to you.

If you do not know your polling location in Utah, go to this website. If you need help getting to the polls, drop me an email or call the campaign office at 801-983-7383.

Most of all, VOTE! Let your voice be heard!

UT-Sen: Volunteer Submitted Commercial

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Friday November 03, 2006 · 10:06 AM PST

2006/11/03 · 10:06

Brandon Dayton looked at our commercials and said he wanted to give it a try. I told him that this campaign is open and collaborative and nobody needs my "permission" to make a commercial. So in the space of two days he cooked up this:

http://www.youtube.com/...

Please note that if you are looking for something beyond a 30 second attention-grabber, I encourage you to watch the longer "speech" commercials, watch the available debates, read some of my journal entries and press releases. All of which are available on the website. Read More

UT-Sen: Response to Salt Lake Tribune Endorsement of Hatch

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Thursday November 02, 2006 · 9:16 AM PST

2006/11/02 · 09:16

The last opinion piece I submitted to the Salt Lake Tribune went unanswered for a week before I put it on my blog. I wrote a response to their endorsement of Senator Hatch and it greeted with the same silence. Realizing time was of the essence, I emailed the editor and called their Reader Advocate. Last night, I received a call from Vern Anderson informing me that the Salt Lake Tribune does not publish opinion pieces from candidates. Not only that, the letter my wife wrote correcting Matt Canham's mistaken statement that, my "friends and family told (me my campaign) was a waste of (my) time", would also not be published.

So here once again is an Internet exclusive.
Read More

UT-Sen: New Ashdown Commercial

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Friday October 27, 2006 · 8:13 PM PDT

2006/10/27 · 20:13

I'd like to put this commercial on the air in the remaining days of the campaign. I need your help to do that. If you'd like to see it on TV as much as I would, please donate.

Campaign Website Version

YouTube Version

Please forward this commercial to as many people as you can. If your friends get it from you, it is much more persuasive than seeing it on TV. Thank you for all you do!

UT-Sen: More videos of Ashdown v. Hatch debates

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Thursday October 26, 2006 · 2:30 PM PDT

2006/10/26 · 14:30

The videos for two more televised debates are now available on the website:

KUTV Debate on Main Street, October 24th:
http://vote.peteashdown.org/...
http://vote.peteashdown.org/...

KSL Debate, October 25th:
http://vote.peteashdown.org/...

Also check out these short bits from KTVX:
http://vote.peteashdown.org/...
http://vote.peteashdown.org/...

Plus the prior debates:
KTVX:
http://vote.peteashdown.org/...

Tuacahn High School:
http://vote.peteashdown.org/...

Audio of SLC Library Debate with all candidates except Senator Hatch:
http://vote.peteashdown.org/...

UT-Sen: New Ashdown Political Animation

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Tuesday October 24, 2006 · 12:28 PM PDT

2006/10/24 · 12:28

My dedicated and talented wife has animated a short cartoon about the campaign. Thanks to Reid Baty and Richard McAllister for their technical and musical help.

Little Bear Goes to Washington
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UT-Sen: More Debate Video + Recipes and Ringtones

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Monday October 23, 2006 · 1:10 PM PDT

2006/10/23 · 13:10

Last week I personally canvassed much of Beaver, Emery and Carbon counties. Many other volunteers have been working to do the same in Salt Lake, Cache, Davis, Utah, and Washington counties. It has been energizing to meet so many good people going door to door and hear their concerns that seem to usually be swept under the rug by government.
Read More

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BYU Alternative Commencement Speech

Divine Strake Hearing Comments

Its Fun Being a Senator!

Salt Lake City Divine Strake Meeting Moved

Thank You America

UT-Sen: What a Ballot Looks Like

UT-Sen: Volunteer Submitted Commercial

UT-Sen: Response to Salt Lake Tribune Endorsement of Hatch

UT-Sen: New Ashdown Commercial

UT-Sen: More videos of Ashdown v. Hatch debates

UT-Sen: New Ashdown Political Animation

UT-Sen: More Debate Video + Recipes and Ringtones