The Democratic Party is well aware that, at the present time, Mitt Romney is the one Republican who can defeat Barack Obama in 2012. Poll after poll not only shows Romney the most powerful Republican candidate, but also shows in head-to-head results that Romney ties or beats Obama. And the Democrats are scared to death.
So they've embarked upon an insidious strategy: Weaken Romney by praising him. Knowing full well that the Tea Party element within Republican ranks is just as interested in "purging RINOs" as it is in defeating Obama, Democrats are capitalizing upon that by praising Romney in order to re-direct Tea Party hostility away from Obama -- and towards Romney. Barack Obama himself launched this campaign in November 2010 by favorably comparing Romneycare to Obamacare and citing Romneycare as an inspiration, reiterating that praise in February and May 2011. In March 2011, Larry Summers, President Obama’s former economic czar, said Romney did good when he signed Romneycare into law, just days after Massachusetts Democratic Governor Deval Patrick praised Romney's role in passing the massive overhaul of the state’s health-care system. Then on June 15th, Mitt Romney got a big thumbs-up from Al Gore for "not heeding right-wing calls to reject the science behind climate change".
And on June 30th, former President Bill Clinton joined the chorus. Clinton praised those Republican candidates who are seen as more moderate and who might be formidable opponents to Obama because they are more connected to the real world. Clinton opined that Mitt Romney seems to be doing a better job this time around than he did when running for the GOP nomination in 2008, noting “Romney comes across as more relaxed, more convicted about what he did do, less willing to just be forced into apologizing for it.”
Considering that Clinton's wife just happens to be Obama's Secretary of State, I have a hard time believing this was done without coordination through Obama himself.
Naturally, some conservative Republicans have swallowed the bait. Earlier, even before Clinton sounded off, former Alaska U.S. Senate candidate Joe Miller expressed his intent to spend as much as $500,000 to work for Romney's defeat, saying that “Unless you have the perspective of government that puts the constitution first, that means getting back to the enumerated powers, you have no business running for president and we’re not going to support you and in fact, we’re going to stop you”. Miller has launched the Restoring Liberty PAC to work towards that end.
Hot Air wrote, ..."Clinton’s not actually afraid moderate candidates will lose the GOP nomination — he’s afraid the GOP will pick someone who can unseat Obama (and that person, I’d argue, is unlikely to be a milquetoast moderate — and very likely to be whichever candidate most clearly articulates a message that resonates with the values of American voters). If Democrats like Clinton and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid could only pick our candidate, they’d pick whoever will bow to Obama most obsequiously, whoever will surrender most readily".
If we immediately reject Mitt Romney simply because Obama, Gore, and Clinton have praised him, then we play right into the hands of the Democrats. The fact is, conservatives can and do support Mitt Romney with a clean ideological conscience. Just today, the Romney campaign released an extensive list of Utah politicos who have formally endorsed him; they include some of the leading conservatives in one of the reddest states in the union. Among them:
-- Senator Orrin Hatch
-- Congressman Jason Chaffetz
-- Congressman Rob Bishop
-- Lieutenant Governor Greg Bell
-- Attorney General Mark Shurtleff
-- State Senate President Michael G. Waddoups
-- State Senate Majority Leader Scott K. Jenkins
-- State Senate Majority Whip Wayne L. Niederhauser
-- State Senate Assistant Majority Whip Peter C. Knudson
Jason Chaffetz is the Joe Miller of Utah. You can't get more conservative than that.
The trick now is to steer Romney towards picking a more conservative running mate to flesh out the ticket and recapture the Tea Party. The best selections would be Sarah Palin, Michelle Bachmann, or Ron Paul.
Wednesday, July 06, 2011
Patrick Tauanuu And Rex Faumui Charged With Assault After Brutal Two-On-One Beating Of Quinn Hennessy In East Anchorage
The local Polynesian community celebrated Polynesian Cultural Flag Day at the Delaney Park Strip in Anchorage on June 2nd, 2011. Prominently featured were members of the Lake Otis (Samoan) Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who performed at the event (dressed in white and purple in this photo gallery. The LDS Church permits the creation of linguistically-segregated congregations to better fulfill its mission to have people hear the Gospel in their own native language whenever possible; membership in a linguistically-segregated ward is voluntary and members are free to switch their membership back to a standard ward at any time.
However, two Polynesians in Anchorage found a different way to celebrate the Fourth of July weekend -- a way which earned them a trip to jail and put their victim in the hospital with serious injuries. Rex Faumui, 18, and Patrick Tauanuu, 22, who are cousins, face second-degree assault charges in a savage two-on-one attack on 45-year-old Quinn Hennessy in East Anchorage. Tauanuu is also accused of witness tampering. Stories published by KTUU Channel 2 and the Anchorage Daily News.
Police received a report about 3 A.M. on Sunday July 3rd that the two men were punching and kicking Hennessy near 5700 Rocky Mountain Court, east of Boniface Parkway, continuing to do so even after Hennessy was lying motionless on the ground. Hennessy suffered severe head injuries and was taken to a local hospital; doctors were monitoring for the possibility of his brain bleeding. Police arrested the two assailants after multiple witnesses said they'd seen them beating and kicking Hennessy. A judge set Faumui's bail at $25,000 cash only and Tauanuu's bail at $1,500 cash or corporate bond; they were warned not to contact the witnesses. Some people posting comments on ADN were outraged at the low bail and wanted to know who the judge was; the record indicates it was Magistrate Christina Teaford.
However, Tauanuu must have thought the magistrate was just joking; after making bail, he returned to the neighborhood and threatened the witnesses. So he was arrested again, charged with witness tampering, and his bail upped to $25,000. Police say these two thugs are organized gangbangers, but offered no further details.
-- Alaska Court System entry on Patrick Tauanuu available HERE.
-- Alaska Court System entry on Rex Faumui available HERE.
Both Tauanuu and Faumui have a criminal past. On this page of the Alaska Court System database, you'll find eight entries for Tauanuu's name (DOB 1988). Most of the cases are for traffic violations, with one exception. In June 2007, Tauanuu was charged with Riot, Assault 1, Assault 2, and Assault 3, all felonies, and Assault 4, a misdemeanor (Case No. 3AN-07-06501CR); in March 2009, Tauanuu pleaded guilty to Assault 4 and all other charges were dropped.
Rex Faumui's page shows two previous entries, one for a traffic violation and another for Disorderly Conduct in February 2011. Charges were dropped on May 19th.
However, two Polynesians in Anchorage found a different way to celebrate the Fourth of July weekend -- a way which earned them a trip to jail and put their victim in the hospital with serious injuries. Rex Faumui, 18, and Patrick Tauanuu, 22, who are cousins, face second-degree assault charges in a savage two-on-one attack on 45-year-old Quinn Hennessy in East Anchorage. Tauanuu is also accused of witness tampering. Stories published by KTUU Channel 2 and the Anchorage Daily News.
Police received a report about 3 A.M. on Sunday July 3rd that the two men were punching and kicking Hennessy near 5700 Rocky Mountain Court, east of Boniface Parkway, continuing to do so even after Hennessy was lying motionless on the ground. Hennessy suffered severe head injuries and was taken to a local hospital; doctors were monitoring for the possibility of his brain bleeding. Police arrested the two assailants after multiple witnesses said they'd seen them beating and kicking Hennessy. A judge set Faumui's bail at $25,000 cash only and Tauanuu's bail at $1,500 cash or corporate bond; they were warned not to contact the witnesses. Some people posting comments on ADN were outraged at the low bail and wanted to know who the judge was; the record indicates it was Magistrate Christina Teaford.
However, Tauanuu must have thought the magistrate was just joking; after making bail, he returned to the neighborhood and threatened the witnesses. So he was arrested again, charged with witness tampering, and his bail upped to $25,000. Police say these two thugs are organized gangbangers, but offered no further details.
-- Alaska Court System entry on Patrick Tauanuu available HERE.
-- Alaska Court System entry on Rex Faumui available HERE.
Both Tauanuu and Faumui have a criminal past. On this page of the Alaska Court System database, you'll find eight entries for Tauanuu's name (DOB 1988). Most of the cases are for traffic violations, with one exception. In June 2007, Tauanuu was charged with Riot, Assault 1, Assault 2, and Assault 3, all felonies, and Assault 4, a misdemeanor (Case No. 3AN-07-06501CR); in March 2009, Tauanuu pleaded guilty to Assault 4 and all other charges were dropped.
Rex Faumui's page shows two previous entries, one for a traffic violation and another for Disorderly Conduct in February 2011. Charges were dropped on May 19th.
Monday, July 04, 2011
Serial Arsonist May Be On The Loose In Juneau, Alaska; Crow Hill Fire The Latest Of 18 Suspicious Fires In Just Two Months
In Detroit, 18 suspicious fires can take place in just one night; it's considered a recreational activity in that city. But in Juneau, Alaska, a city of only 31,000, 18 suspicious fires within a two-month period is the earmark of a possible serial arsonist at work.
The Juneau Empire reports that the fire which consumed a carport and six vehicles at the Crow Hill Condominium complex at 12:30 A.M. on Friday July 1st, 2011 is of suspicious origin, and that it's the 18th suspicious fire which has taken place in Juneau during the last two months. Capital City Fire and Rescue Fire Marshal Dan Jager hasn't suggested the existence of a serial arsonist yet, though. “They [the fires] are all different sizes,” Jager said. “They run the gamut. At this time we can’t relate them to one individual but we are piecing it together with the police department as far as finding similarities. Both agencies are looking at stuff.”
But it is difficult to believe that 18 different people set 18 different fires in a city as small as Juneau in just two months. There are also a series of photos of the fire scene included in this other Empire story.
From some of the descriptions of the Crow Hill fire, it is a miracle it did not spread beyond the carport into the neighboring condos. One person who lives directly across the street described the fire as a huge orange fireball with flames as high as 25 feet and said she could feel the heat inside her apartment. Another person living in a building adjacent to the carport noticed that the leaves of a tree had burned and her window caulking softened; the person believes that if the fire department response had been five minutes later, the building would have caught fire. The sloping hillside could have also led to leaking fuel from the burning vehicles flowing and igniting multiple residences. From all accounts, firefighters did an excellent job in combating and extinguishing the fire. It was not without human cost, though; one first responder was sent to Bartlett Regional Hospital for breathing problems, but later released. A Honda SUV, Ford pickup, Ford Mustang, Toyota 2-door pickup, an older Subaru, and a new Subaru Forester were totaled, along with the carport itself; total damage is estimated at $150,000. It took roughly 10-15 minutes to extinguish the blaze after a hookup to water was established.
Juneau Police Sgt. Paul Hatch assures the community it's one of their highest priorities. “Follow up is happening as we speak,” Sgt. Hatch said. “We’ve assigned it to investigators and it is being actively investigated. No suspects at this point, but based on the fire marshal’s determination we believe it is arson.”
The Juneau Empire reports that the fire which consumed a carport and six vehicles at the Crow Hill Condominium complex at 12:30 A.M. on Friday July 1st, 2011 is of suspicious origin, and that it's the 18th suspicious fire which has taken place in Juneau during the last two months. Capital City Fire and Rescue Fire Marshal Dan Jager hasn't suggested the existence of a serial arsonist yet, though. “They [the fires] are all different sizes,” Jager said. “They run the gamut. At this time we can’t relate them to one individual but we are piecing it together with the police department as far as finding similarities. Both agencies are looking at stuff.”
But it is difficult to believe that 18 different people set 18 different fires in a city as small as Juneau in just two months. There are also a series of photos of the fire scene included in this other Empire story.
From some of the descriptions of the Crow Hill fire, it is a miracle it did not spread beyond the carport into the neighboring condos. One person who lives directly across the street described the fire as a huge orange fireball with flames as high as 25 feet and said she could feel the heat inside her apartment. Another person living in a building adjacent to the carport noticed that the leaves of a tree had burned and her window caulking softened; the person believes that if the fire department response had been five minutes later, the building would have caught fire. The sloping hillside could have also led to leaking fuel from the burning vehicles flowing and igniting multiple residences. From all accounts, firefighters did an excellent job in combating and extinguishing the fire. It was not without human cost, though; one first responder was sent to Bartlett Regional Hospital for breathing problems, but later released. A Honda SUV, Ford pickup, Ford Mustang, Toyota 2-door pickup, an older Subaru, and a new Subaru Forester were totaled, along with the carport itself; total damage is estimated at $150,000. It took roughly 10-15 minutes to extinguish the blaze after a hookup to water was established.
Juneau Police Sgt. Paul Hatch assures the community it's one of their highest priorities. “Follow up is happening as we speak,” Sgt. Hatch said. “We’ve assigned it to investigators and it is being actively investigated. No suspects at this point, but based on the fire marshal’s determination we believe it is arson.”
Sunday, July 03, 2011
Detroit-Area Residents Have Bitter Memories Of The Late Mat-Su School Superintendent Kenneth Burnley; Alaskans Laud His Performance
Residents of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough were taken by surprise at the sudden death of 69-year-old Mat-Su Borough Schools Superintendent Kenneth Stephen Burnley on Saturday July 2nd, 2011. He was recovering from double knee replacement surgery at Alaska Regional Hospital in Anchorage when he suddenly became ill. Burnley is survived by his wife, Eileen, and two children. The public is invited to a celebration of his life at 11 a.m. on Friday July 8th at Teeland Middle School. The most detailed media story is provided by the Mat-Su Frontiersman. The Anchorage Daily News has also weighed in with an original story.
Update July 8th: Over 500 people showed up at the July 8th memorial service for Dr. Burnley held at Teeland Middle School in Wasilla. ADN gallery of 16 photos available HERE.
Deena Paramo, MSBSD assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction, becomes Acting Superintendent pending selection of a permanent replacement.
The predominant reaction was best summed up by Mat-Su School Board President Michael Dunleavy. “We don’t know all the facts yet,” Dunleavy said. “We’re all just trying to take it in and support the family the best we can. It’s going to be a loss not just for the state, but for the nation. He made huge impacts in Detroit, Colorado Springs, Fairbanks and here. I’ve been in education for 28 years as a principal, a teacher and as a superintendent, and I probably learned more from him this past year than I probably learned in all those years combined.”
During his Mat-Su tenure, Dr. Burnley negotiated contracts with four unions with the help of a mediator and community input. He invited unions to his weekly meetings with top staff. He brought in an expert who examined school buses and found safety issues that needed to be addressed. He directed that the district's home-school center be expanded to better serve the many Mat-Su children who are taught by their parents. His primary focus was student achievement, starting a new math program to help kids who were falling behind, and pushing for online classes so students who had failed a class could retake it at their own pace.
Dr. Burnley's complete career resume is posted HERE. Looking further back, he served as the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District Superintendent from 1981-1987. He received an excellent rating each year for his performance, commissioned an efficiency and effectiveness study and used the results to reorganize the school district, built a strong leadership and management team recruited from around the country, and left the school district performing at the 84th percentile.
During his tenure as Colorado Springs School District 11 Superintendent from 1987 to 2000, Dr. Burnley received an excellent rating each year for his performance and left the school district performing at the 84th percentile. It was during this tenure that he was named National Superintendent of the Year in 1993. Public comments to the story indicate most locals were favorably impressed with his record at Colorado Springs.
Because Kenneth Burnley previously served as the CEO of Detroit Public Schools from 2000-2005, the Detroit media found his death newsworthy. According to the Detroit News, Burnley was hired in Detroit in 2000 as part of a state takeover plan of Detroit schools. Under his direction, reading scores improved, parent involvement increased, and new schools were built in the troubled school district, one of the nation's largest. Despite this, Burnley became a frequent target of criticism by teachers and parents angry over the state takeover, and the Detroit School Board chose not to renew his contract in 2005. This criticism re-surfaced in the comments section of the Detroit Free Press. Lekan Oguntoyinbo, a former Detroit schools spokesman who worked with Burnley from 2003 to 2005, said he was shocked to hear about Burnley's death because he was so athletic. He claimed that Burnley was never able to use his credibility as a Detroit native and Detroit Public Schools graduate to his advantage in the job, and noted that Burnley dealt with issues including a budget deficit and student exodus during his tenure. But the story kicked open a hornet's nest in the comments section; some Detroit-area residents have unfavorable memories of Burnley's tenure. Two major irritants cited were Campus Martius and Learning Village:
Prior to his Mat-Su appointment, the Mat-Su School Board grilled Burnley thoroughly about his Detroit tenure. Burnley ended up with no actions against him and he was mostly absolved of all the stuff he was accused of. Burnley told the board that he had to shutter 71 schools and lay off 4,400 people, the bus system was badly broken, the district had $1.5 billion in bonds it had sold but hadn’t done anything with, and the computer system was so badly broken there were huge problems every payday. Despite those challenges, reading scores improved, parent involvement increased, and new schools were built during his Detroit tenure. Ultimately, the Mat-Su Board decided to judge him on his entire employment record, and he was hired effective July 10th, 2010.
Update July 8th: Over 500 people showed up at the July 8th memorial service for Dr. Burnley held at Teeland Middle School in Wasilla. ADN gallery of 16 photos available HERE.
Deena Paramo, MSBSD assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction, becomes Acting Superintendent pending selection of a permanent replacement.
The predominant reaction was best summed up by Mat-Su School Board President Michael Dunleavy. “We don’t know all the facts yet,” Dunleavy said. “We’re all just trying to take it in and support the family the best we can. It’s going to be a loss not just for the state, but for the nation. He made huge impacts in Detroit, Colorado Springs, Fairbanks and here. I’ve been in education for 28 years as a principal, a teacher and as a superintendent, and I probably learned more from him this past year than I probably learned in all those years combined.”
During his Mat-Su tenure, Dr. Burnley negotiated contracts with four unions with the help of a mediator and community input. He invited unions to his weekly meetings with top staff. He brought in an expert who examined school buses and found safety issues that needed to be addressed. He directed that the district's home-school center be expanded to better serve the many Mat-Su children who are taught by their parents. His primary focus was student achievement, starting a new math program to help kids who were falling behind, and pushing for online classes so students who had failed a class could retake it at their own pace.
Dr. Burnley's complete career resume is posted HERE. Looking further back, he served as the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District Superintendent from 1981-1987. He received an excellent rating each year for his performance, commissioned an efficiency and effectiveness study and used the results to reorganize the school district, built a strong leadership and management team recruited from around the country, and left the school district performing at the 84th percentile.
During his tenure as Colorado Springs School District 11 Superintendent from 1987 to 2000, Dr. Burnley received an excellent rating each year for his performance and left the school district performing at the 84th percentile. It was during this tenure that he was named National Superintendent of the Year in 1993. Public comments to the story indicate most locals were favorably impressed with his record at Colorado Springs.
Because Kenneth Burnley previously served as the CEO of Detroit Public Schools from 2000-2005, the Detroit media found his death newsworthy. According to the Detroit News, Burnley was hired in Detroit in 2000 as part of a state takeover plan of Detroit schools. Under his direction, reading scores improved, parent involvement increased, and new schools were built in the troubled school district, one of the nation's largest. Despite this, Burnley became a frequent target of criticism by teachers and parents angry over the state takeover, and the Detroit School Board chose not to renew his contract in 2005. This criticism re-surfaced in the comments section of the Detroit Free Press. Lekan Oguntoyinbo, a former Detroit schools spokesman who worked with Burnley from 2003 to 2005, said he was shocked to hear about Burnley's death because he was so athletic. He claimed that Burnley was never able to use his credibility as a Detroit native and Detroit Public Schools graduate to his advantage in the job, and noted that Burnley dealt with issues including a budget deficit and student exodus during his tenure. But the story kicked open a hornet's nest in the comments section; some Detroit-area residents have unfavorable memories of Burnley's tenure. Two major irritants cited were Campus Martius and Learning Village:
amazenbrazen 5:31 AM on July 3, 2011:
Although he did Detroit & our children wrong, may he rest in peace. Prayers go out to his family.
amazenbrazen 9:08 PM on July 3, 2011:
DPS had a $90 million surplus; he ate through that. contracted out food service, construction trades jobs to Service Masters. Put dps in a $100 million plus deficit. Closed schools. Stole $3 Million in Artwork "he" purchased for his Office. Sold the building dps OWNED to RENT 5 bldgs for Adm. Services. Bobb finished dps off. Sellouts sold their own souls. Closed GOOD Schools. Burnley even built a school ON top radioactive hazardous waste ground. . .darn the kids health. He had No character
teachnow 6:02 AM on July 3, 2011:
Arguably one of the worst, most incompetent Superintendent in DPS history. He set DPS on its road to economic disaster. His ineptitude in business and budgetary matters is superseded only by that of Mr. Robert Bobb.
May rest in peace but pay for his sins
gearheaded 7:08 AM on July 3, 2011:
That this guy got a job says a lot about Alaska.
amazenbrazen 8:27 PM on July 3, 2011:
Where's that $3 Million in Artwork he bought from Sherry Washington? It came up missing after Burnley's Departure...now Shery, her sister and the gang are frying alone. Minus ARTWORK! Sheesh. Burnley was a freaking crook.
Prior to his Mat-Su appointment, the Mat-Su School Board grilled Burnley thoroughly about his Detroit tenure. Burnley ended up with no actions against him and he was mostly absolved of all the stuff he was accused of. Burnley told the board that he had to shutter 71 schools and lay off 4,400 people, the bus system was badly broken, the district had $1.5 billion in bonds it had sold but hadn’t done anything with, and the computer system was so badly broken there were huge problems every payday. Despite those challenges, reading scores improved, parent involvement increased, and new schools were built during his Detroit tenure. Ultimately, the Mat-Su Board decided to judge him on his entire employment record, and he was hired effective July 10th, 2010.
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