Posted on 06/29/2005 6:53:19 AM PDT by Theodore R.
Governor's beheading threat real - Lummis
By Doug Hecox
For the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle
Published in the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle
CHEYENNE - Wyoming Treasurer Cynthia Lummis has confirmed Superintendent of Public Instruction Trent Blankenship's account of a threat made by Gov. Dave Freudenthal to the other state officials.
At a private meeting of the state's top officials in December 2002, Freudenthal, then governor-elect, allegedly threatened to behead Lummis, State Auditor Max Maxfield, Secretary of State Joe Meyer and Blankenship, then superintendent-elect, if they went against him.
In a phone interview, Lummis corroborated Blankenship's story, which first was reported last year in the Riverton Ranger and was repeated recently on Casper's KTWO Radio.
Blankenship told Riverton Ranger editor Steve Peck that Freudenthal told the group, "Don't ever cross me or your head will be in your lap before you even know I've drawn my knife."
Blankenship has related the same story on Wyoming Public Radio in recent days.
When asked to respond, Freudenthal's press secretary, Lara Azar, said, "The governor doesn't remember saying it. But if he did say it, it might have been in jest because he doesn't remember ever being particularly angry."
But Lummis said she did not view the statement as a joke.
"The tone was made as a threat, and it was out of character for the discussion we were having," she said. "We were all stunned and taken aback."
Such comments, she added, are "entirely inappropriate - especially when that technique is being used as an intimidation technique abroad."
"It is not an acceptable tone for a governor-to-be to take," she added.
Lummis said the comment came during a get-acquainted luncheon at Maxfield's Cheyenne home. The meeting was just after Freudenthal and Blankenship had been elected to state office for the first time.
Blankenship's retelling of Freudenthal's comment has appeared in state media in recent days in the wake of the superintendent's decision to resign his post to take a position in Barrow, Alaska.
Among other reasons, Blankenship has cited conflicts with the governor's office as a reason for his decision to quit his position before the term of office has expired.
Maxfield was unavailable for comment. His staff said he is vacationing out of the country.
Some Wyoming veterans are critical of Freudenthal's alleged beheading threat as being in poor taste, given the risks borne by U.S. military personnel in the Middle East.
John Guy of Laramie, a former colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps who did three tours in Vietnam, said it was inappropriate.
"It's embarrassing for the leader of the state coming off like the leader of a gang," he said. "When you're in the top leadership position, you have to watch your mouth.
"It bothers me somewhat because it is negative leadership. Whether in jest or not, it's not the thing to do. You have to lead by example.
"Negative leadership lowers morale, it impairs operational efficiency and it doesn't help the organization achieve its goals."
Jim Storey of Cheyenne, another retired Marine, agreed - sort of.
"I'm outraged, and I'm a citizen," he said. "I assume legislators and other citizens are too.
"But I'm more outraged that the other officials would keep quiet about something like this for this long."
Is he related to Kenny Blankenship?
I do not know about the outgoing superintendent's relatives, but he is a WY native. Blankenship will be moving to a difficult area. The high temperature in Barrow, Alaska, now is about 35 most June days, with nearly 24 hours of sunshine. Imagine what it will be in the winters???
It could be that WY is in the process of being transformed into a clintoid state led by this popular Governor Freudenthal.
What a bunch of wussies!!!!
Why is he moving?
I can see a new market for miniature recording devices.
Indeed!
If Kenny moves with him, he'll have an even bigger adjustment to make.
This Govenor is probably on the same meds as Howard Dean.
Is it the case that since the party membership is not mentioned, that Freudenthal is a Demoncrat?
These officials are fearful and easily intimidated because people who have ever crossed the Clinton have sometimes had unexpected twists of fate. And this particular clintoid, Governor Freudenthal, is apparently the first to speak openly of beheading.
Gee, I guess handing them thier head on a platter is out as well....
Or my all time favorite, ripping off thier head and s***ing down thier throat . . .
Some people just need to lighten up a bit. Althought I do agree with the vet who stated that it might not have been the most appropriate thing to say as a "leader".
Had a Republican threatened to behead his Democrat foes, that Republican could have well been forced to resign. There is a double standard that favors clintoids.
Did you see today's odds that HRC is now seen as highly likely to take over the White House on Jan. 20, 2009?
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