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Ex-Mormon empathizes with Romney. Bain Capital timeline haunts Mitt. Wildfires cost could be historic.
Happy Monday. Ex-Mormon Walter Kirn is out with a lengthy piece in The New Republic this morning explaining that while he has left the LDS Church, he still finds himself defending parts of the faith and empathizing with Mitt Romney amid all the bigoted attacks. But, Kirn says, there are often reminders of why he departed from his family's religion at the same time:
-> "Attacks on Mormonism by liberal wits and their unlikely partners in ridicule, conservative evangelical Christians, instantly filled me with resentment, particularly when they made mention of 'magic underwear' and other supposedly spooky, cultish aspects of Mormon doctrine and theology. On the other hand, legitimate reminders of the Church hierarchy's decisive support for Proposition 8, the California gay marriage ban, disgusted me." [TNR]
Topping the news: Wildfires in Utah have already burned through 400,000 acres, and according to estimates, cost roughly $46.6 million to fight so far this year. [Trib]
-> Jon Huntsman has loaned his former presidential campaign another $1 million to help pay down the leftover debt — meaning the ex-Utah governor has now spent more than $5 million of his own fortune for the six-month effort. [Trib]
-> Romney's time as Massachusetts governor sheds light on how he would manage as president, though it's a complicated picture that included deep budget cuts and corporate tax hikes. [Politico]
Today's News: Gov. Gary Herbert says Romney couldn't have been running Bain Capital while he was running the Olympics. [Yahoo]
-> Paul Rolly says the Governor and lawmakers are happy to give local authorities control over firework rules, but when it comes to shooting they say no way. [Trib]
Tweets of the day: From @PatBagley: "If I #retroactively resign from LDS, do I get tithing back?" (That's a reference, for those who missed it, to a senior Romney adviser saying Romney "retroactively" left Bain Capital: [CNN])
And from @politicoroger: "I should be watching 'Political Animals' but I'm not going to desert 'South Pacific' at this point."
Opinion section: Rolly says the recent debacle of Jordan School Board members wanting to apologize for a school play shows how easily low-level elected officials can bend to the will of the Eagle Forum. [Trib]
-> The president of the Snow, Christensen & Martineau law firm says the new federal courthouse should be named after George Sutherland, the only Utahn to serve as an associate justice on the Supreme Court. [Trib]
-> Barb Guy says while the Barack Obama parody portrayed in the Huntsville 4th of July parade was fully protected, it may have been in bad taste compared to other parodies of presidents. [Trib]
-> Democratic candidate for Senate, Scott Howell, says he's running on a platform of bi-partisanship, restoring the economy and reforming the education system. [Trib]
-> George Pyle says Rep. Jim Matheson's vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act was a cynical ploy to keep his job. [Trib]
-> A Boise man says closure won't come anytime soon for his family after his son was the victim of a random act of violence. [Trib]
-> The director of Washington County's water conservation board says residents are in desperate need of a water pipeline not only from the Virgin River, but the Colorado River as well. [Trib]
-> Pat Bagley wonders why anyone would think that the LDS Church is like a business. [Trib]
-> Frank Pignanelli and LaVarr Webb discuss Mia Love's approach to campaigning, including the long held Republican taboo of plotting out massive budget cuts before getting elected. [DNews]
-> Former Sen. Bob Bennett takes the conservative line and says that voter ID laws may be inconvenient, they will prevent vote fraud. [DNews]
Weekend in review: Controversy rises ahead of a Utah convention for ALEC, the corporate-sponsored conservative think-tank that helps plan state legislation. Utah's GOP lawmakers say there's nothing nefarious, but critics call it group puppet-masters. [Trib]
-> Records show Utah is significantly hotter and dryer than it was 6o years ago. [Trib]
-> Howell shows optimism in his second bid to unseat Sen. Orrin Hatch, but analysts say the senator has to screw-up big for that to happen. [DNews]
-> KSL's Richard Piatt looks at climate change and political rhetoric in his weekly Sunday Edition. [KSL]
2012 Watch: President Barack Obama says he's unapologetic in his criticisms of Romney's time at Bain, saying that the Republican contender needs to take responsibility for his actions. [Reuters] Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanual says Romney shouldn't complain since the former governor touts his experience as a venture capitalist. [TheHill]
-> Romney helped set up his deals with Bain Capital to ensure private gain but "socialized" any losses. [Bloomberg]
-> Everyone wants to know: When did Romney really leave Bain Capitol? Even Republicans are curious and ask for more tax records. [NYTimes]
-> Mother Jones' David Corn asks whether Romney broke the law with his past statements on Bain Capital. [MotherJones]
-> Romney prepares for a fresh barrage of attacks on Obama's "crony capitalism," with plans to call the president out for giving political favors to donors. [WaPost]
-> Obama calls Romney's attacks on the the economy under the president's watch typical and ineffective. [ABCNews]
-> GOP Governors rally around Romney and offer advice. [ABCNews] At the same time, Democratic governors chime in on what they think Obama should be doing. [Politico]
-> The Nebraska votes are in, and the final bell has tolled for Ron Paul's White House hopes. [LATimes]
-> Ex-Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty could be high on Romney's list for VP; Those close to the presidential candidate say Pawlenty is an "anti-Palin." [NYTimes]
Where are they?
Rep. Jason Chaffetz reviews port security in South Korea.
SL Co. Mayor Peter Corroon attends the National Association of Counties annual convention in Pittsburgh.
SLC Mayor Ralph Becker visits Washington to meet with congressional members and federal agencies.
President Barack Obama attends a campaign event in Cincinnati, Ohio, and then watches the U.S. vs. Brazil basketball game in Washington.
Got a tip? A birthday, wedding or anniversary to announce? Email us at cornflakes@sltrib.com. If you haven't already, sign up for our weekday email and get this sent directly to you inbox. [Trib]
— Thomas Burr and Andreas RiveraTwitter.com/thomaswburr and Twitter.com/andreascrivera