This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Huntsman: campaign going fine. Fake tweeters abound. Bell, blogging.
Happy Friday. Polygamous sect leader Warren Jeffs was found guilty yesterday of sexually assaulting two underage "wives" and will face some serious prison time — perhaps even life behind bars. The Tribune's Nate Carlisle and Lindsay Whitehurst lay out the facts from west Texas. [Trib]
Topping the news: The fallout continues over David Fischer, the ex-aide to Jon Huntsman's presidential bid who went rogue after being squeezed out of the campaign. [WaPost] [CBSNews] Huntsman's national finance chairman tamps down the turmoil talk and tells me they're meeting all their goals and raising money is no problem. [Trib]
-> The NY Times digs up an interesting tidbit about Fischer: he got immunity in the Iran-Contra scandal despite taking bribes for meetings with President Ronald Reagan. [NYTimes]
-> Slate's David Wiegel says Huntsman should have probably stayed in China. [Slate]
Tweets of the day: From the non-parody @JasonintheHouse: "Breaking news. No Fox News this morning."
And from @LarrySabato: "Traditionally, at least one POTUS campaign has a staff meltdown in the summer prior to election year. 2012's entry: Jon Huntsman."
Where are they?
Sen. Orrin Hatch returns to Utah.
SL Co. Mayor Peter Corroon meets with Mayor Kamimura of Yuzawa City, Japan and then with Deputy Mayor Nichole Dunn and Linda Hamilton.
SLC Mayor Ralph Becker attends the Outdoor Retailers Convention and meets with Westminster College Dean of Gore School of Business Dr. Jin Wang.
WVC Mayor Mike Winder is taking personal time.
President Barack Obama heads to the Washington Navy Yard to discuss his administrations' efforts to prepare the nation's veterans for the workforce and then heads to Camp David for the weekend.
In other news: My discussion with KCPW's Jeff Robinson about the Huntsman race so far, Hatch's radio personality endorsements and Rep. Carl Wimmer's early backers. [KCPW]
-> Fake Twitter pages parodying politicians are all the rage now. [ABC4]
-> Robert Gehrke fact checks Karl Rove. Guess which one wins. [Trib]
-> Provo City Councilwoman returns from a year stationed in Kuwait. [Trib]
-> Does the Salt Palace need to expand to retain the Outdoor Retailers Conference? [Trib]
-> Paul Rolly reports that Park City Mayor Dana Williams may have purchased a bottle of booze illegally on a Sunday and Mayor Winder grabs the wrong drink at a breakfast. [Trib]
-> Pat Bagley takes on Warren Jeffs. [Trib]
-> Tea Party Republicans say the derogatory comments by Democrats shows the tea party won the debt ceiling debate. [WashTimes]
-> Lt. Gov. Greg Bell is blogging. [Utah.gov]
-> Corroon and Becker urge their residents to Commit to be Fit. [Fox13]
-> The Leonardo science center's grand opening has been postponed and could clash with that of the long-awaited debut of the Utah Museum of Natural History. [Trib]-> Equality Utah has launched a campaign in southern Utah that includes a billboard promoting equal rights for the LGBT community. [Trib]-> A new study has some disturbing findings about the prevalence of suicidal thoughts and attempts by student veterans. [Trib]-> More than 300,000 Utahns rely on Social Security and almost as many on Medicare, according to a county-by-county analysis by AARP Utah. [Trib]-> Seven non-profits in Utah will split $1.86M in AmericaCorps grants — most going to education programs. [Trib]-> Immigration reform remains a hot topic in Utah's second-largest city, West Valley. [Trib]
-> Bryan Schott and Bob Bernick's weekly podcast discussing the latest in redistricting, Rep. Stephen Sandstrom's potential congressional bid and Utah's improving budget picture. [UtahPolicy]
-> Bernick discusses the election cycle and how several people are talking about seeking higher office. [UtahPolicy]-> South Salt Lake voters will be making ballot decisions on more than city council races this November — they'll also be be deciding the fate of the old Granite High School. [Trib]
2012 watch: Huntsman talks to CNN's Wolf Blitzer about his rivals, immigration and skipping Iowa. [RCP]
-> The Huntsman campaign misspells John again. [NHJournal]
-> Huntsman is struggling to get that surge of support in New Hampshire. [LATimes]
-> Huntsman's campaign manager tries to dispel any concerns about the campaign operation in memos to donors. [CNN]
-> Two Utah companies that have no substantial business (and share the same offices) operations donated $1 million to a pro-Mitt Romney group. [Fox13]
-> Two watchdog groups are requesting the Justice Department probe the donation to Romney by a company that was set up and folded around the time it tossed the same pro-Romney Super PAC $1 million. [MSNBC]
-> A Post blogger says religion will be an issue in the presidential election. [WaPost]
-> Tim Pawlenty says climate change is coming from natural causes. [TheHill]
-> Romney signs a pledge to fight against gay marriage. [CBSNews]
Got a tip? A birthday, wedding or anniversary to announce? Email us at cornflakes@sltrib.com.
— Thomas BurrTwitter.com/thomaswburrwith editor Dan Harrie