“Utah” on The Daily Caller

President Obama’s aides were flabbergasted. Here was Mark Shurtleff, the conservative Republican attorney general of deeply red Utah, explaining how he and other GOP officials had approved a statewide version of the immigration measures that the president and his progressive allies have long sought. (more)

“I think he should run as a Democrat.” (more)

While some deny that there are problems with Social Security, it is facing deficits for the foreseeable future. However, the U.S. government has assets it could offer up to cover the shortfalls. (more)

When an audience member questioned Orrin Hatch’s conservative principles because he voted for the 2008 TARP bailout, the Republican senator from Utah said he may have made a mistake with that vote. Hatch was sitting on a Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) panel on whether there should be a constitutional amendment to force a balanced budget, and defended his decision as one made under pressure. (more)

Last week the federal government released its official 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the last step in a process that’s repeated every five years. (more)

An unidentified flying object was filmed dropping flare-like objects over Utah last week, leaving locals to wonder if they had experienced a close encounter with alien spacecrafts. (more)

Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah, who may face a primary challenge next year, apparently now has one less thing to worry about. (more)

An analysis of tweets has found that residents of the southeastern U.S. swear the most compared to the rest of the nation. (more)

The Huntsmans’ new home in the posh D.C. neighborhood of Kalorama is the prototype of pricey Washington real estate: a tall, boxy structure defined by red brick and right angles. Last spring, Bravo used the space to film its reality show Top Chef: Washington, D.C., but on a Sunday morning in mid-December, the spacious rooms on the first floor were largely unfurnished. “We’ve been living out of boxes for the last two years,” says Jon Huntsman Jr., who resigned the Utah governorship in 2009 to become U.S. ambassador to China. “We’re just now unpacking things we didn’t even remember we had. It’s like Christmas.” (more)

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Navy might want to bring a dry dock. (more)

Warning: if you’re in Sacramento on December 21, you may see lots of gloomy faces. On that day the Census Bureau will announce which states will gain or lose U.S. House seats, and it appears that California will not gain a seat — for the first time in California’s history. It’s another indicator that the boom times are over in the Golden State. (more)

1.) Inouye and other Senate dinosaurs make one last mad hobble for cash register — “In the waning days of the lame duck congressional session, Democrats controlling the Senate — in collaboration with a handful of old school Republicans — are pushing to wrap $1.27 trillion worth of unfinished budget work into a single ‘omnibus’ appropriations bill,” reports the AP. Sen. Jim DeMint hates this bill so much that he has threatened to read all 1,900 pages aloud if his colleagues do not make it smaller. To that end, a small contingent of fiscal guerillas are hoping to address the federal budget in the new year, when reinforcements will have arrived from Florida, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Utah, and Kentucky. Until then, it’s DeMint, McCain, and Coburn attempting to hold back a red sea of pork. Their efforts are not completely futile. After requesting an earmark for the Kentucky National Guard to eradicate the most valuable cash crop in the United States, Sen. Mitch McConnell suddenly realized that he is not supposed to be spending other people’s money willy-nilly anymore, and had the earmark removed. “This is exactly what the American people said Nov. 2 they didn’t want us to do,” a chastened McConnell said. (more)

This should come as no surprise to anyone who’s been on I-94 after a Packers game. (more)

“127 Hours” (2010), directed by Danny Boyle. Fox Searchlight, 93 minutes. (more)

Senator-elect Mike Lee acknowledges that he could very well become one of the most conservative members of the upper chamber when he takes office in January. (more)

Four Loko, a “premium malt beverage with natural and artificial flavors,” has taken over America.  Most popular with the underage and college drinking set, it has in turn caused some concerns. Why is the canned, wildly designed drink upsetting people? Well, one 23.5oz can is equal to a bottle of wine (or five beers) and two cups of coffee.  As you might imagine, this results in some loko behavior. States like Michigan, Utah, Kansas and Washington have already banned it, and Debbie Downer, ie. Sen Chuck Schumer, said federal regulators are ready to ban alcoholic energy drinks entirely. (more)

NEW YORK (AP) — Watch out, TCU. Boise State is gaining. (more)

The 10 things we’re buzzing about as the Big East continues to court Villanova: (more)

As House Speaker Nancy Pelosi mulls her future, conservative Democrats in the House are pushing her not to run for Democratic leader in the new Congress. (more)

The trial of Brian David Mitchell ground to a sudden halt in the middle of opening statements. (more)