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Principals group accused of blocking school reform

2012-03-15T06:24:00.000-07:00

A dissident group of 50 principals accused the ChicagoPrincipals Association on Tuesday of blocking school reform andcalled for giving more power to local school councils.

"We are a group of principals who really do not want to be viewedas obstructionists," said Sylvia Peters, principal of DumasElementary, 6615 S. Kenwood. "We want to come out in full support ofreform."

Peters and several other principals charged that the association'slawsuit, which challenges loss of tenure and questions theconstitutionality of the way local councils operate, is givingprincipals a reputation as anti-reformers. The case is before theIllinois Supreme Court.

"The principals …

Japan earthquake to exacerbate Asia's slowdown

2012-03-15T03:58:00.000-07:00

Japan's devastating earthquake will further slow growth in Asia, where rising oil prices and higher interest rates are already cooling an engine of the global economy, economists say.

No one is predicting a massive slowdown, but as the grim human toll of Japan's March 11 quake mounted Monday and fears of spreading radiation and prolonged power outages grew, forecasts about the economic effect of the quake also darkened.

Few economists are ready to specify just how big Asia's slump will be because of the uncertainties over Japan's Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant and when power shortages — which are hitting industrial production — will be resolved.

"You are clearly not …

New Zealand beats Italy 20-6 in rugby test

2012-03-15T01:37:00.000-07:00

Luke McAlister's five penalties helped New Zealand beat Italy 20-6 Saturday for a third straight win on the northern hemisphere tour, but it was the team's least impressive performance so far.

Corey Flynn scored the game's only try in the first half for New Zealand, while flyhalf Craig Gower kicked two penalties for Italy.

The All Blacks started with an inexperienced side that included three players _ Ben Smith, Mike Delany and Tamati Ellison _ making their test debuts, and the lack of familiarity was evident from the number of errors and lack of fluency.

Italy began in determined fashion in front of 80,000 fans at the San Siro, and took the lead …

Score signs leadoff men with hopes for long run

2012-03-14T23:14:00.000-07:00

H igh levels of radio activity:It's official: Norm Van Lier and Doug Buffone start Monday asweekday morning co-hosts at WSCR-AM (1160). The former Bull andformer Bear, who previously co-hosted a weekend sports talk show,signed new multiyear contracts Wednesday with the Score.

Van Lier and Buffone replace six-year veterans Tom Shaer and JimMemolo as the Score's leadoff men. Shaer, who couldn't come to termson a contract renewal, hosted his final show Wednesday. Memolo willbe assigned other duties.

Harvey Wells, vice president and general manager of the Score,denied speculation that his new morning team may not be around forlong. "This is something we sincerely hope …

Federal disability legislation also protects employers

2012-03-14T20:53:00.000-07:00

Kathy Speaker MacNett heads the labor and employment law group of the Harrisburg office of Buchanan Ingersoll.

A Pennsylvania federal court recently reaffirmed that under the Americans with Disabilities Act, employers do not have to create a new or light-duty position for a disabled employee or promote the individual into a vacant position.

Rochelle Sweet worked as an office clerical assistant at Bell Atlantic's central mail distribution facility in Norristown, a lengthy commute from his home in Reading. In 1992, he injured his back while pulling heavy bags of mail off a pallet and was restricted to light duty. He was diagnosed with two herniated discs and took a medical …

Lohse shackles Mets, wins seventh in a row in Cardinals' 7-1 victory

2012-03-14T18:33:00.000-07:00

Kyle Lohse allowed an unearned run in seven innings for his seventh straight win and Albert Pujols had two hits and two RBIs in St. Louis' Cardinals' 7-1 victory over New York on Monday.

Chris Duncan added a two-run homer, his first since May 16, for the Cardinals and Aaron Miles had three hits while extending his hitting streak to 12 games.

John Maine (8-6) lasted four innings to match his season low for the Mets, who have lost three of four.

Mark Mulder got the last three outs, making the first relief appearance of his career in his 2008 debut. He missed most of the previous two seasons with a shoulder injury. He allowed two hits with a …

Celebrity Assets: How the stars manage their brands: The Troublemakers: Primadonna stars put studios in jeopardy with eRratic behavior

2012-03-14T16:13:00.000-07:00

Movie-studio executives may be pining for the good old days of the"morals clause."

Walt Disney Co. quickly tried to limit its damage from MelGibson's arrest on recent drunken-driving charges. A few days afterthe incident in Malibu, Calif., Disney said it would drop a Holocaustminiseries project Gibson was planning for the studio's ABC network.But there is little Disney can do about its other entanglement withthe actor: its agreement to distribute his next movie, "Apocalypto."

Studios have little recourse these days when a star implodes. WhenTom Cruise entered the danger zone with public tirades aboutpsychiatry, Scientology and postpartum depression, executives …

Something for everyone

2012-03-14T13:52:00.000-07:00

Like the sprawled-out section of the city where it's located, Hall's Tavern at Covent has a little something for everybody. It's roomy and cozy at the same time, and it's a hometown refuge in a chain-dominated landscape.

When Hall's Tavern at Coventry opened eight years ago, the area southwest of Fort Wayne was booming - new housing, large schools and shopping options galore. It hasn't slowed down at all in the intervening years, but chief among the growth has been the surge of restaurants. In the intervening years, eating establishments in the area now number 50, up from a mere three in 1997.

To thrive in such a competitive environment, Hall's must be doing something right. …

Panthers-Rangers Sums

2012-03-14T11:32:00.000-07:00

Florida 0 3 1_4
N.Y. Rangers 0 0 0_0
First Period_None. Penalties_Voros, NYR (slashing), 1:33	Booth, Fla (interference), 5:25	Zherdev, NYR (roughing), 5:25	Boynton, Fla (cross-checking), 8:06.
Second Period_1, Florida, Peltonen 3 (Dvorak, Skrastins), 9:55. 2, Florida, Weiss 3 (Frolik, McCabe), 16:01. 3, Florida, Campbell 4 (Dvorak, Bouwmeester), 16:13. Penalties_Redden, NYR (hooking), 3:09	Bouwmeester, Fla (hooking), 12:44.
Third Period_4, Florida, Frolik 2 (Weiss, Olesz), 1:00. …

Europe to oust more Libyans

2012-03-14T09:11:00.000-07:00

BONN West Germany and Denmark yesterday prepared to expel nearlyall of the Libyan diplomats stationed in Bonn and Copenhagen, whileBritain, which broke diplomatic ties with Libya in 1984, announced itwould deport 21 Libyan students on the ground they threaten nationalsecurity.

A government source here said the West German government islikely to expel today all but two or three of the 11 Libyans nowaccredited to the people's bureau, or embassy, in Bonn.

The mass-circulation Bild Zeitung, in today's editions, said 20people out of a total diplomatic and non-diplomatic staff of 43 wouldbe ordered out.

Reliable sources in Copenhagen said the government was …

9 American Soldiers Killed in Iraq

2012-03-14T06:51:00.000-07:00

BAGHDAD - Nine American soldiers were killed in Iraq on Monday, including eight who died in vehicle accidents that also claimed the lives of two detainees, the military said.

The deadliest of the vehicle accidents, in western Baghdad, killed seven Multi-National Division - Baghdad soldiers and wounded 11, and left two detainees dead and a third injured. The cause of the accident was under investigation, the military said.

In a separate accident, east of Baghdad, an American soldier was killed and two injured when their vehicle flipped and caught fire. A ninth soldier died of injuries sustained Sunday while on patrol in the Kirkuk area of northern Iraq.

THIS IS A …

Chris Cagle is arrested for domestic assault

2012-03-14T04:31:00.000-07:00

Country music singer Chris Cagle has been arrested for domestic assault in Nashville after police said he and his girlfriend got into a drunken fight.

Corrections officials say Cagle and his girlfriend, Jennifer Tant, have been jailed on misdemeanor …

Architects to Prince Charles: We're staying home

2012-03-14T01:44:00.000-07:00

A respectful audience, polite applause, and congratulatory cocktails at the inevitable reception. That's what's expected when Prince Charles gives a speech.

But there may be empty seats and pointed silence Tuesday evening when the heir to the British throne addresses the Royal Institute of British Architects, some of whose members have called for a boycott of his remarks.

They are angry not only over his long-standing opposition to much modern architecture, but his efforts to block a major steel-and-glass tower project on the site of an old army barracks in the posh Chelsea neighborhood of London.

This time, they say, he's gone too far, trying to torpedo the normal planning process by using his connections and influence to pressure developers into using a more traditional design. The royal family, they say, is supposed to remain above the fray.

"An empty room would be the best response," said Piers Gough, a prominent British architect who signed a letter urging his colleagues to stay away from the prince's talk, which marks the institute's 175th anniversary. "I think the prince has been a poor influence on architecture, and he's had a bad influence on the Chelsea barracks."

Gough said the prince takes an elitist view, advocating classical architecture _ with its origins in the grand public buildings and columns used by the ancient Greeks_ and rejecting modernist designs that typically include plans for affordable housing and increased public access.

"I can see why classical architecture suits him as he sits in his palace, but it's very bad for society," said Gough, who believes the architects should not have invited the prince to speak.

Charles used a speech to the institute in 1984 to spell out his opposition to modern architecture, launching a 25-year crusade that has had limited impact on British building styles.

He said modernists were destroying the distinctive centuries-old fabric of London by replacing classical works with modern ones. He even put his architectural and planning theories to the test by building a traditional village, called Poundsbury, 130 miles (210 kilometers) southwest of London.

In recent years his criticism has been muted and he has concentrated on a number of environmental and food safety concerns. But his opposition to the barracks project has angered some top names in the architecture world. Norman Foster, Frank Gehry and other luminaries have signed letters urging Charles to remain on the sidelines during the planning and permit process.

The barracks redevelopment plan calls for steel and glass towers designed by decorated architect Richard Rogers to be built next to the Royal Hospital Chelsea, a classical building by Christopher Wren, the renowned 17th century architect who designed St. Paul's Cathedral and other London landmarks.

The 13-acre development would include a hotel and 552 apartments, half priced by market forces and half classified as affordable housing. It is a mega-project by any standard _ the site alone cost 959 million pounds ($1.44 billion).

The majority of the funding comes from the Qatari royal family, and British press reports indicate Charles has lobbied Qatari royals to rethink the design along traditional lines.

That has angered many in the field, said architect Tony Fretton, who is urging a boycott of Tuesday's speech.

"If that's true, it's far outside the democratic process," he said. "He wrote directly to the client, who was also a prince, in an attempt to get him to modify the design. I think it's a bad thing, to try to influence things in that way. It's been recommended for approval. What right does the prince have to interfere?"

The Westminster City Council will consider the plan with hearings expected to begin in June.

A spokeswoman for Prince Charles who asked not to be identified because of palace policy said she could not comment on reports that Charles had contacted his Qatari counterparts to discuss the project.

"We don't comment on alleged private correspondence," she said.

Pastor facing deportation over '92 case

2012-03-13T22:53:00.000-07:00

The federal government wants to deport Jose Walter Bohorquez of Bolingbrook by sending him back to his native Colombia as part of the Obama administration's crackdown on illegal immigrants with criminal records.

What makes his case unusual is that Bohorquez came here legally, committed his crime 18 years ago, served a little more than a year in prison and has been an apparently solid citizen in the 16 years since.

Two years ago, he even took over as pastor of a small Evangelical church in Albany Park, El Taller del Maestro.

In November, however, Bohorquez was returning from a visit to his brother in Colombia when he was detained at the Miami airport by immigration officials who spotted his old criminal conviction, confiscated his green card and ordered him to report to an immigration judge in Chicago to face deportation proceedings.

SYSTEM HAS LITTLE ROOM FOR DISCRETION

If they had come after Bohorquez 15 years ago, I doubt that anybody would have made a peep on his behalf. You sure wouldn't have been reading about this from me.

But to try to deport him after all this time, during which Bohorquez would seem to have been a contributing member of our community, raises more issues of fairness with the one-size-fits-all Obama effort to look tough on immigration by going after "criminals."

And that has given Bohorquez many allies from the campaign to fix our broken immigration system.

"It doesn't seem to make sense to anyone to send him back to Colombia," said Matt Soerens, an organizer with World Relief DuPage, which works with evangelical churches on the immigration issue and is supporting Bohorquez.

While some aspects of Bohorquez's case are unusual, there are many more immigrants like him caught in a system that doesn't leave much room for discretion, Soerens said.

On Saturday, Bohorquez is supposed to deliver the opening prayer at an immigration reform rally with Sen. Dick Durbin being organized by the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights.

The rally is part of a series of events being carried out by immigration-rights activists to turn up the pressure on Congress to move ahead with reform legislation this year -- despite clear signals that neither the president nor Democratic leaders want to bite that off so soon after the controversial health-care bill.

Former Gov. Jim Edgar is even supposed to headline an appearance here today with business leaders who will be making the case that comprehensive immigration reform is necessary for the health of Illinois' economy, in keeping with Edgar's prior statements that Republicans need to quit turning off Hispanic voters. Some believe it would be a nice start if Edgar could just get his good friend Rep. Mark Kirk to see the light.

Bohorquez, 42, is still hoping the immigration court will allow him to stay here.

It's not as if he has been in hiding all these years.

He still had his green card, held jobs as a shoe salesman and loan officer, got married to a woman he met through the church and had two kids. He had even made some other trips out of the country in the years since his conviction, including to Guatemala to help start a new church, and wasn't challenged on his return.

Bohorquez does not minimize the seriousness of his 1992 criminal conviction --on a charge of money laundering -- three years after he was brought legally to the U.S. in 1989 by his parents, who were already permanent legal residents and later became citizens.

He was a 24-year-old computer student on a soccer scholarship when, he says, an acquaintance talked him into delivering a bag of cash to someone who turned out to be an undercover DEA agent.

"I knew it wasn't for Christmas presents," said Bohorquez, who pleaded guilty and was treated like the little fish he was, serving 15 months in prison. "It was a stupid dumb mistake, and I paid for it."

The year after his release, he got involved in the church and says, "Since I met Jesus, I haven't done nothing wrong."

I'd rather keep the immigration focus on those people whose only wrongdoing was to enter the country without our permission. But most of those folks would rather keep their heads down to avoid trouble.

Instead, we get individuals like Bohorquez or Rigo Padilla, the UIC student tripped up by a traffic arrest, whose best chance of staying here is by going public, as the faces of immigration reform.

There are many more such faces. You see them every day, all around you, and probably don't realize it. They keep their heads down. If it takes a Jose Walter Bohorquez to remind us of them, so be it.

Metro BRIEFINGS

2012-03-13T20:01:00.000-07:00

COYOTES ON THE PROWL: Animal control officers investigated tworeported sightings of coyotes on the Northwest Side near O'HareAirport. Police said sightings were reported Friday and Saturday inNorwood Park east of Harlem Avenue and north of the Kennedy Expy.One caller reported a family of coyotes. Another reported seeing twoadult coyotes. Police speculated that the coyotes came from nearbyforest preserves. ASSETS FROZEN: Attorneys representing two children of a slainHighland Park woman won a court order freezing her alleged attacker'sassets. Mary Beth Kerulis was found stabbed to death in her HighlandPark home on April 4. Her children's lawsuit seeks compensatory and$5 million in punitive damages from Juliann E. Martin of HighlandPark, who is charged with the murder. A $5 million award to thechildren, ages 5 months and 20 months, would depend on reversal of anIllinois law that precludes punitive damages in a malicious murder. PHONE COMPANY TO PAY: An Illinois long-distance company accused ofswitching customers to its service without their consent has agreedto pay $500,000 to the federal government. The FederalCommunications Commission said Cherry Communications Inc. did notadmit liability by entering into the consent decree. Cherry hasbetween 300,000 and 400,000 customers in 21 states, including NewYork, Illinois, and New Jersey, said attorney Michael Hayes, whorepresents the company, based in west suburban Westchester. The Region `NEGLECT' AT DRESDEN: A burst pipe in a closed Commonwealth Edisonnuclear plant shows a "progressively worsening pattern of managementneglect," regulators said. The Nuclear Regulatory Commissionfaulted Edison for inattention to the Dresden Unit 1 plant nearMorris, Ill., since it closed Oct. 31, 1978. Edison found Jan. 25that 55,000 gallons of water had leaked in the unheated basement ofthe building housing the reactor. "We agree with the NRC that moreattention should have been paid," Edison spokesman Art Massa said.

Chance for fishermoss

2012-03-13T17:08:00.000-07:00

Fishermoss can regain top spot in the R A M Tubulars PrimaryLeague One with a win over Kingsford.

Kingsford's form has improved recently and this may be more of atest for Fishermoss than previously.

In League Two, Portlethen can close the gap on Newtonhill as theyuse up one of their games in hand against Muirfield.

Walker Road are three points behind leaders Newhills in LeagueThree but with games in hand over all their rivals can jump a fewplaces as they should beat Kirkhill.

SATURDAY'S FIXTURES

9am

Harlaw 1: Loirston v St Josephs (TI); 2: Kittybrewster v HolyFamily (L4); 3: Newhills v Charleston (L3); 4: Quarryhill v Dyce(L3); 5: Crombie v Glashieburn (L1)

Nelson St: Middleton Park v Tullos (L3)

Groat's Road: Muirfield v Portlethen (L2)

Tullos: Walker Road v Kirkhill (L3)

10.30am

Harlaw 1: Balmedie v Danestone (L1); 2: Cornhill v Ferryhill(L2); 3: Kingsford v Fishermoss (L1); 4: Fernielea v Braehead (L4);5: Newtonhill v Middlefield (F)

Nelson St: Greenbrae v Bucksburn (L4)

Groat's Road: Scotstown v Kaimhill (L3)

Tullos: Abbotswell v Westhill (L2)

Lawsondale: Elrick v Mile End (L1)

WORLD SPORTS at 1330 GMT

2012-03-13T14:16:00.000-07:00

TOP STORY:

SOC--ENGLISH ROUNDUP

LIVERPOOL, England — Liverpool begins its Premier League season by hosting Arsenal with the future ownership of the 18-time English champions no closer to being resolved. Expected by 1700 GMT.

NEW/DEVELOPING:

OLY--YOUTH OLYMPICS

SINGAPORE — Japan's Yuka Sato wins the first gold medal in the inaugural Youth Olympics, racing to a comfortable victory in the women's triathlon. Meanwhile, British diving phenom Tom Daley said he may not take part in the games after tearing his tricep. Moved. By Michael Casey.

WITH:

— SINGAPORE — BC-OLY--YOUTH OLYMPICS-IRAN. Moved. By Michael Casey.

— SINGAPORE — BC-OLY--YOUTH OLYMPICS-FIRST GOLD. Moved. By Michael Casey.

— SINGAPORE — BC-OLY--YOUTH OLYMPICS-DALEY. Moved. By Michael Casey.

FOOTBALL:

SOC--FRENCH ROUNDUP

PARIS — Title contenders Bordeaux, Lyon and Lille are still chasing their first victory this season. They will face teams that won in the opening round. Bordeaux hosts Toulouse, Lyon visits promoted Caen, and Lille plays Paris Saint-Germain. Expected by 1730 GMT. By Trung Latieule.

SOC--ENGLAND-CAPELLO

LONDON — England's Football Association wants an English coach to succeed Fabio Capello. Moved.

ALSO:

— LIVERPOOL, England — BC-SOC--LIVERPOOL OWNERSHIP. Moved.

— MANCHESTER, England — BC-SOC--MAN UNITED-FERDINAND. Moved.

— LONDON — BC-SOC--ASTON VILLA-LERNER. Moved.

— SANDY, Utah — BC-SOC--MLS ROUNDUP. Moved.

— MEXICO CITY — BC-SOC--MEXICAN ROUNDUP. Moved.

— BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — BC-SOC--ARGENTINE ROUNDUP. Moved.

GOLF:

GLF--PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

SHEBOYGAN, Wisconsin — Nick Watney opens a three-stroke lead at the U.S. PGA Championship by making birdies on five of his first seven holes on his way to 12 under in the third round on Saturday, ahead of Dustin Johnson and Rory McIlroy. Tiger Woods is 10 shots back. Moved. By Nancy Armour.

WITH:

— SHEBOYGAN, Wisconsin — BC-GLF--PGA CHAMPIONSHIP-MCILROY. Moved. By Nancy Armour.

— SHEBOYGAN, Wisconsin — BC-GLF--PGA CHAMPIONSHIPS-NOTEBOOK. Moved. By Doug Ferguson.

— SHEBOYGAN, Wisconsin — BC-GLF--PGA CHAMPIONSHIP-WOODS. Moved. By Nancy Armour.

TENNIS:

TEN--ROGERS CUP

TORONTO — Andy Murray will face Roger Federer in the final of the Rogers Cup after the Briton beat top-ranked Rafael Nadal 6-3, 6-4 in the first semifinal while the resurgent Swiss advanced with a 6-1, 3-6, 7-5 victory over Novak Djokovic. Moved.

TEN--CINCINNATI OPEN

MASON, Ohio — Kim Clijsters reaches the final of the Cincinnati Open when Ana Ivanovic hurts her left foot only 12 minutes into their semifinal and leaves the court in tears. In the final, Clijsters will play Russia's Maria Sharapova who beat compatriot Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the other semifinal. Moved. By Joe Kay.

BOXING:

BOX-PASCAL-DAWSON

MONTREAL — Canada's Jean Pascal retains his WBC light heavyweight title by beating Chad Dawson on points Saturday after the fight was stopped in the 11th round. Moved.

ALSO:

— DAMBULLA, Sri Lanka — BC-CRI--YUVRAJ-DENGUE FEVER. Moved.

— LONDON — BC-CRI--ENGLAND-PAKISTAN. Moved.

— SYDNEY — BC-RGL--AUSTRALIAN ROUNDUP. Moved.

— SYDNEY — BC-SOC--A-LEAGUE ROUNDUP. Moved.

— JOHANNESBURG — BC-RGU--CURRIE CUP-ROUNDUP. Moved.

— BRNO, Czech Republic — BC-MOT--CZECH GP. Moved.

— NEW DELHI — BC-COM--INDIA GAMES RESCUE. Moved. By Nirmala George.

— BUDAPEST, Hungary — BC-SWM--Europeans. Moved. By Pablo Gorondi.

— MELBOURNE, Australia — BC-FBO--AUSTRALIAN RULES ROUNDUP. Moved.

— NEW YORK — BC-BKL--WNBA ROUNDUP. Moved.

— ARLINGTON, Texas — BC-BBA--AL Roundup. Moved.

— SAN FRANCISCO — BC-BBN--NL Roundup. Moved.

YOUR QUERIES: Questions and story requests are welcome. Contact your local AP bureau or the AP International Sports Desk in London by telephone at 44-207-427-4105, fax 44-207-427-4118.

Huckabee, Thompson play class warfare card against Romney, the richest of the Republican group

2012-03-13T11:16:00.000-07:00

Mike Huckabee and Fred Thompson have begun casting Republican presidential rival Mitt Romney as a scion of the upper class, contrasting him with their more humble roots in hopes of undermining the richest candidate in a well-off group.

America's colonial founders "had a brilliant, really revolutionary idea that the people elected would not represent the elite, but would represent the ordinary," Huckabee, a former Arkansas governor, said at a debate in Iowa this week, a subtle poke at the former Massachusetts governor.

Thompson, a lawyer, actor and former senator from Tennessee, was more direct, saying: "My goal is to get into Mitt Romney's situation, where I don't have to worry about taxes anymore."

The populist pitches mark a shift for Huckabee and Thompson, two Southerners who, while starting their lives in families of modest means, now live comfortably, if not lavishly. It also marks an interesting push by Republicans are often seen as the party of the wealthy while Democrats attempt to portray themselves as being closer to those with humble means.

Both candidates are playing the class card against Romney _ essentially telling Iowans that unlike him, "I am one of you, and I will speak for you" _ as polls show a competitive race just three weeks before the Jan. 3 caucuses that lead off the state-by-state Republican nominating fight to determine who will represent the party in the 2008 presidential election.

Romney, worth between $190 million (euro131 million) and $250 million (euro172 million), took issue with Thompson's comment. But both presidential opponents already had planted the idea with Midwestern voters that Romney lives a life of wealth and privilege.

Huckabee, a Southern Baptist preacher, has come from far behind the pack of candidates to seize the Republican lead in Iowa. Romney, the front-runner for months, is fiercely challenging him to gain ground back. Thompson trails both and is hoping to benefit from daily skirmishing between the two.

On Thursday, Romney dismissed the jabs from Huckabee and Thompson, saying he did not believe voters choose their president based on "the pocket book" of a candidate.

"We've had great presidents of different economic status from the Bush family and the Reagan family and others. So I don't think an appeal to the differences in income is a successful political strategy," he told reporters.

Indeed, the class arguments may not hold much weight.

Americans have previously not shied away from electing men born into wealth, such as Republican George W. Bush and Democrat John F. Kennedy. And neither Huckabee nor Thompson is struggling to make ends meet like many Americans.

Some polls suggest most people do not really resent the rich; they just want to join them.

However, two-thirds of people in a Gallup Poll in April said the distribution of money and wealth in the country is not fair, and only a third of people in a Gallup Poll in November 2006 said they would be happier if they were rich.

Class warfare has marked the Democratic presidential race all year.

John Edwards _ who goes home to a 28,000-square-foot (2,600-sq. meter) North Carolina estate when he is not campaigning _ complains about the lack of attention to the "two Americas" that separate the poor from the rich. Hillary Rodham Clinton _ a senator and former first lady _ says it is OK for her to accept lobbyist donations because it keeps her in touch with the issues of the working class.

The issue emerged in the Republican race during a debate Wednesday in Johnston, Iowa, near Des Moines.

Given the chance to make a 30-second statement, Huckabee said the president should not represent "a ruling class" but "a servant class."

"I can tell you that it's a long way from the little rent house I grew up in to this stage. I'm still in awe that this country would afford kids like me the opportunity to be a president. I'll try not to forget where I came from and where this country needs to go," he said.

The former Arkansas governor frequently spins the tale to voters of his cash-strapped upbringing in the little town of Hope, Arkansas. But he is hardly a pauper these days, and used a gift registry to help furnish his new home after leaving the governor's mansion where he lived for 10 years. He made nearly $75,000 (euro51,700) as Arkansas governor plus a pension and also has brought in $300,000 (euro206,800) in book sales, royalties and honoraria. He has between $331,000 (euro228,100) and $815,000 (euro561,700) in investments, and tens of thousands of dollars in savings and stocks.

Thompson made his tax-bracket remark as he answered a question about taxes.

In his Southern drawl, he always reminds voters of his early small-town boyhood in tiny Lawrenceburg, Tennessee. However, during his eight years in the Senate, he made the rounds on Washington's exclusive party circuit, and he spent more than a decade in Hollywood circles while he starred in TV shows and big-screen films. He made millions as an actor and now lives in a Washington, D.C., suburb.

Unlike the two of them, Romney has a privileged pedigree, having grown up in tony Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, as the son of a former governor and chairman of American Motors. After leaving home, Romney attended Harvard law and business schools, and quickly earned millions of dollars as a venture capitalist. He has three homes.

But he glosses over all that as he campaigns, mindful that much of the country probably cannot relate.

Despite his background, Romney says his policies on immigration, spending, and health care could appeal to those in the middle class and below.

"I'm proud of the record that I have in making the difference in the lives of everyday Americans," he says.

Bush leaves note for Obama in Oval Office

2012-03-13T08:03:00.000-07:00

Continuing a White House ritual, President George W. Bush left a note in the Oval Office for President-elect Barack Obama, wishing him well as he takes the reins of the executive branch.

"I won't provide any details, but the theme is similar to what he's said since election night about the fabulous new chapter President-elect Obama is about to start, and that he wishes him the very best," White House press secretary Dana Perino said Tuesday.

She said the two-term Republican incumbent wrote the message to his Democratic successor on Monday and left it in the top drawer of his desk, which was crafted from timbers from the H.M.S. Resolute and given to the U.S. by Great Britain in 1879.

Bush was in the office before 7 a.m. EST. He spoke on the phone with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley, former White House chief of staff Andy Card and T.D. Jakes, the pastor of a megachurch in Dallas who will preach at a private church service that Obama is attending before the Inauguration.

"He's good," Perino said, describing the president's mood. "He's the president of the United States, the way he always is. He hasn't changed. He gave me a big kiss on the forehead."

She said he took one last stroll around the south grounds of the White House and would spend the rest of his final morning at the White House with first lady Laura Bush; their daughters, Barbara and Jenna; and his mother and father, former President George H.W. Bush and former first lady Barbara Bush.

During his last moments at the White House, former President Ronald Reagan scribbled a note for his successor on a notepad with a turkey insignia that said, "Don't let the turkeys get you down." He, too, slipped the note in the presidential desk for his successor, the elder Bush.

Four years after that, he left a note for President Bill Clinton. And eight years after that, Clinton wrote a note for Bush, and included a copy of the message he had received from Bush's father.

Bush's final half-day as president includes a goodbye to Washington and a hello from fellow Texans.

Before heading to the Capitol for the swearing-in ceremony, the Bushes will welcome Obama and his wife, Michelle, to the White House. The Bushes, the Obamas, Vice President-elect Joe Biden, his wife, Jill, and leaders of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies will have coffee in the Blue Room.

From the Capitol, Bush will take a helicopter to Andrews Air Force Base, where he'll make private remarks inside a hangar.

The Bushes then will fly to Midland, Texas, on the familiar blue-and-white presidential aircraft, although it will be called Special Air Mission 28000 instead of Air Force One because Bush will no longer be president.

While the inauguration frenzy continues in Washington, thousands of well-wishers are expected to greet the Bushes at Centennial Plaza in Midland _ the same place the president stopped on his way to the nation's capital for his own inauguration in 2001. While Bush was born in New Haven, Conn., he spent his childhood in Midland. He returned there as an adult in the 1970s and met the future first lady.

After the rally, the Bushes are flying to Waco, Texas, on their way to their 1,600-acre ranch in nearby Crawford.

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2012-03-13T04:06:00.000-07:00

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Bikers provide vroom at Combe

2012-03-13T01:00:00.000-07:00

MOTORSPORT Castle Combe's Pro-Bike national motorcycle road racesprovided a packed 14-race programme to treat the large, enthusiasticcrowds on Saturday.

Local riders Darrell Higgins and Aaron Ridewood got things off toa flying start in the up-to-690cc Allcomers race.

Higgins got his DTR TZ250 Yamaha onto the back of Ridewood'sleading ZXR400 Kawasaki and finally slipped past with a neat moveinto the Esses.

Higgins' win took the Melksham rider past Mike Hailwood's long-standing Castle Combe victory tally, while Radstock teenagerRidewood had the satisfaction of setting the fastest lap and toppingthe F400 class.

The pair resumed battle in the 125/250GP/F400 races when Higginsagain scythed through the pack to chase down Ridewood, who had beenstretching a good lead.

The four-stroke Kawasaki could not resist the relentless speed ofthe two-stroke GP Yamaha in the masterful hands of Higgins, who madeit a trio of wins on the day.

Keynsham's Justin Garrett finished second in the SV Suzuki classto Stephen Sweetman.

Ridewood was out on the track again, this time on a Ducati 916,in the Sound of Thunder class, finishing runner-up to Lee Reveley'sDucati 1098.

Chippenham's Freddie Nickless (Triumph 675) finished a fine fifthand Luigi Moto riders Tom Luton (Ducati 748) and Radstock's RobJones (Ducati 996) were in the top 10, along with Chris Richardson(Ducati 1000).

With Reveley a non-starter in the second race, Ridewood stretchedout an unassailable lead as he set the fastest lap and won by 18seconds from Chris Norris (Ducati 1098).

The up-to-1300cc Allcomers race saw a close duel for the leadbetween circuit track-day instructor Simon Knowlson on a Yamaha 1000and Paul Shook, who took victory on his Kawasaki 1000 by less thanhalf a second. Peasedown St John's Sean Ridley won the pro-stockclass on his new Suzuki 1000.

The Pro-Bike open races presented a great spectacle of close-battling groups, all chasing the rapid of Yahama 1000 of MichaelO'Brien who won both races and the King of Combe trophy.

Doug Johnson and Paul Shook's Kawasakis, the Yamahas of ChrisPope, Nick Pusey and Simon Knowlson, plus the Suzukis of Phil Croweand Peter Wilson all raced hard for a top-10 finish, as did AlistairFagan on the JHS Triumph despite injury.

Pope set the fastest lap to just pip Pusey to second spot in racetwo.

With the classic parades providing an entertaining reminder ofpast eras, spectators enjoyed the two Landsowne

Waratahs beat Brumbies 29-22 in Super 15

2012-03-12T22:03:00.000-07:00

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Replacement lock Sitaleki Timani scored from the last play of the game to give the New South Wales Waratahs a 29-22 win over the ACT Brumbies in the Super 15 on Saturday.

The Tongan international, a former Brumby player, stretched a long arm through a goal-line ruck to force the ball for the winning try, deciding a match that for much of its course had seemed to be bound to be a stalemate.

Waratahs fullback Kurtley Beale kicked 19 points from two conversions and five penalties and Brumbies flyhalf Matt Giteau kicked 17 from one conversion and five penalties.

They also laid on their team's first tries as the sides battled to a 22-22 deadlock with the final whistle about to sound.

Timani's second ever Super rugby try gave the Waratahs their first win in Canberra in six years and a third victory out of five games this season.

Beale's deft chip kick created a try for Waratahs center Ryan Cross in the 60th minute and Giteau's charge-down of Beale's clearing kick produced a try for prop Ben Alexander which leveled the scores five minutes from fulltime.

Beale's conversion of Timani's try provided the last points of the game, but the Brumbies still earned a consolation bonus point for a loss by seven points or less. Defeat left the Brumbies with only one win from five games but still in third place behind the Queensland Reds and Waratahs in the five-team Australian conference.

The Waratahs' hard-fought win restored some pride after last week's upset loss at home to South Africa's Cheetahs and staved off what might have been their third straight defeat.

"It's been a tough week after last week's performance and to turn it around like that was pleasing," Waratahs captain Phil Waugh said. "To put ourselves in a position to win that game like we did and to come back right at the death there was a big effort.

"That try right at the end there by big Sita (Timani), those sort of plays can change a season."

The first 60 minutes of the match were dictated by tight defenses, handling and tactical errors and by the goal-kicking duel between Beale and Giteau. Both kicked four goals from five attempts in the first half to produce a 12-12 deadlock at halftime.

Giteau added his fifth penalty in the seventh minute of the second half when Waratahs inside center Tom Carter was sent to the sin-bin for a professional foul. Even with New South Wales down to 14 men, linebreaks and tryscoring chances were rarities.

Cross finally broke the drought in the 60th minute, fetching Beale's kick behind the defense and using his strength to crash over in the corner. Beale converted for a 19-15 lead and added his fifth penalty five minutes later to push the Waratahs ahead 22-15.

It was in the nature of a desperately close match that the Brumbies rallied and eventually tied the scores. Giteau charged down Beale's goal-line clearance in the 75th minute, the Brumbies regathered and Alexander ran onto a short pass to force his way through the defense. Giteau converted.

The match seemed likely to end with the scores tied and, in many ways a draw would have been the most accurate measurement of the merits of both teams, but the Waratahs produced one final surge and Timani the winning try.

___

New South Wales 29 (Ryan Cross, Sitaleki Timani tries; Kurtley Beale 2 conversions, 5 penalties) def. ACT 22 (Ben Alexander try; Matt Giteau conversion, 5 penalties). HT: 12-12.

US man ordered freed after 21 years in prison

2012-03-12T19:04:00.000-07:00

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A California man whose murder conviction was overturned has been ordered released from prison after more than 20 years behind bars.

A judge ruled Friday that 43-year-old Maurice Caldwell be set free after prosecutors who wanted to retry him discovered evidence in the case had been destroyed.

Judge Charles Haines says evidence was needed to assure Caldwell a fair trial.

Caldwell had spent 21 years behind bars in the fatal 1990 shooting of Judy Acosta when Haines overturned his conviction last year. Haines said Caldwell hadn't received an effective defense.

Acosta was allegedly shot over a drug deal gone bad at a San Francisco public housing project.

Acosta's cousin, Raelyn Acosta, tells the San Francisco Chronicle newspaper that the family still believes Caldwell is guilty.

More relaxed, smiling George checks in to papal 'hotel' Comforts of suite, supply of chocolate will keep him going

2012-03-12T14:58:00.000-07:00

VATICAN CITY -- Chicago's Cardinal Francis George was smiling andseemed relaxed as he ducked into a chauffeur-driven sedan Sundayafternoon for the short ride from the seminary where he's beenstaying for two weeks to the special hotel within the walls ofVatican City where he will stay for the duration of the conclave toelect Pope John Paul II's successor.

"Thank you for your prayers," George said before his car sped awayfrom the Pontifical North American College to the Domus SanctaeMarthae, the 130-room "hotel" built by John Paul II expressly tohouse the 115 voting cardinals during the conclave.

George, 68, lucked out when the cardinals drew numbered Ping-Pong-type balls to see who would get one of the 106 two-room suites at theDomus and who would be stuck with a single room. Chicago's RomanCatholic cardinal-archbishop has a suite, his spokeswoman ColleenDolan said.

He also has a bag full of dark Italian chocolate -- his favorite -- Dolan procured for him to keep his spirits up during what could bea long conclave. "Is it enough to last six weeks?" George kiddedDolan when she gave him the chocolate Saturday night, she said.

The cardinal's mood has improved in recent days, said Dolan, whohas seen George every day and dined with him on several occasions.

"His sense of humor is back," she said. "For a while there, he wasso somber."

"Talking about this process, he had originally used the expressionthat it was 'daunting.' As the week went by and he developed his ownprocess . . . his comfort level seemed to be much greater."

Dolan said she had the impression that other cardinals wereseeking out George for his keen analytical abilities.

"He has the ability to cut through information and ideas and seethe essence of situations quickly," she said. "I'm sure he seesthings other people don't see. That's his gift to this conclave."

Kendrick pitches Phillies past A's

2012-03-12T11:28:00.000-07:00

Kyle Kendrick pitched eight strong innings, allowing just four hits in the longest start of his career, to help the Philadelphia Phillies end a season-long six-game losing streak with a 4-0 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday night.

Chase Utley, batting second for the first time this season, snapped out of a slump with a 4-for-5 performance as the first-place Phillies finally gained ground in the NL East for the first time in nearly two weeks.

Chris Coste drove in a pair of runs for the Phillies and Pedro Feliz and Pat Burrell each had an RBI.

Kendrick (7-3) didn't allow a hit until Jack Hannahan's ground-rule double in the fifth.

The right-hander retired 13 of the first 14 batters; 11 in a row after walking Jack Cust in the first inning. He walked one and struck out four. J.C. Romero pitched the ninth to preserve the win for Kendrick, who gave up a season-high six runs in three innings in his last start and had allowed six of his 11 home runs in his previous four starts.

Greg Smith (4-6) pitched 5 2-3 innings, giving up four runs on seven hits. He walked two and struck out three, while receiving support of a run or less for the eighth time in 15 starts.

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel shook up the lineup, batting Jimmy Rollins third, Ryan Howard fifth and Shane Victorino seventh for the first time this season. Eric Brunlett made his first career start, and just his second ever appearance, at first base. While with the Houston Astros, he replaced Lance Berkman late in the game on Aug. 20, 2005.

Utley had one hit in his previous 29 at-bats entering play. He came within a home run of the cycle.

Burrell's sacrifice fly in the first put the Phillies on top. Feliz tripled home a run and scored on Coste's sacrifice fly in the fourth to make it 3-0.

With two outs in the sixth, Victorino bunted safely and then raced around to score on Coste's short fly that fell just in front of Carlos Gonzalez for a single.