News roundup: Rumsfeld calls Obama 'so-called commander in chief'

Rumsfeld calls Obama the 'so-called commander in chief.' Watchdogs call for probe of UTA Draper development. Huntsman raises $100k for PAC.

Happy Thursday. Former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said Secretary of State John Kerry made a good case for intervention in Syria but charges that the Obama administration shouldn't have gone to Congress for approval. Kerry was "persuasive and forceful," Rumsfeld said, but then argued that President Barack Obama doesn't act like he's in charge and called him the "so-called commander in chief." [TheHill]

Topping the news: Government watchdogs are calling for an investigation into the UTA and development near the Draper FrontRunner station after newly unearthed documents show the involvement of an embattled businessman with ties to former AG Mark Shurtleff. [Trib]

-> Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman has raised $100,000 for his new political action committee, Red Rock PAC, and spent half of that on starting it up. [Trib]

-> Rep. Chris Stewart faced a town hall meeting with a polite but skeptical crowd, eager for answers about his views on certain policies. [Trib]

Outside the town hall, though, protestors raised concerns about his views on climate change. [Fox13]

-> State Sen. Luz Robles will announce next week her intention to challenge Stewart for his congressional seat. [UtahPolicy]

Tweets of the day: From @JennyJohnsonHi5: "The prison guard in charge of watching Ariel Castro must've become distracted by the online poker game he was playing with John McCain."

From @JonahNRO: "It's amazing how many people — on the left and the right — think 'policy I don't like' = 'unconstitutional.'"

Happy birthday: To gun rights advocate Clark Aposhian and lobbyist Jeff Rogers.

In other news: Sen. Mike Lee warned that a missile strike against Syria could be a dangerous move and he still hasn't decided how to vote. [DNews]

-> Gov. Gary Herbert hosted a social reception in the Governor's Mansion with Log Cabin Republicans. [KUTV]

-> The U.S. Department of Interior said that the proposed West Davis Corridor would significantly damage Great Salt Lake wetlands. [Trib]

-> Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams unveiled a new recycling campaign. [Trib] [DNews]

-> Saratoga Spring's Mayor Mia Love appeared on the Glenn Beck Program to discuss the American dream. [Blaze]

-> After seven months, Murray Mayor Dan Snarr gets his SLC traffic citation dismissed but he still isn't satisfied. [Trib]

-> Bryan Schott says that if the feds decline to prosecute AG John Swallow, he'll start a charm offensive despite the other ongoing investigations. [UtahPolicy]

-> Leaders from several faiths protested outside Herbert's mansion to raise issues about his stance on Medicaid. [Trib]

-> Herbert orders U.S. and Utah flags to be lowered on Friday to honor slain Draper Police Sgt. Derek Ray Johnson. [StandEx]

-> Rep. Jim Matheson visited the Mt. Pleasant library this week and donated a bunch of books that were leftovers from those sent to the Library of Congress. [Herald]

-> Pat Bagley gives his take on the dog of war. [Trib] -> And Bagley urges Utahns to grade their lawmakers like they're doing with Utah schools. [Trib]

-> The backlash over the school grading system is coming for state lawmakers. [UtahPolicy]

Nationally: The Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved a resolution calling for a limited strike on Syria; the resolution will now go to the full Senate. [WaPost] [Politico] [NYTimes]

-> Two prominent liberal advocacy groups have announced their position against the president and the attacks on Syria. [Politico]

-> Members of the Bush family are fighting for immigration reform. [NYTimes]

-> Former President Bill Clinton urged opponents of the Affordable Care Act to stop trying to repeal it and to work together to improve it. [WaPost]

-> Corporations are losing clout with members of the GOP. [NYTimes]

-> Heritage Action for America is using grassroots movements to try to defund Obamacare. [WaPost]

-> A Massachusetts court will review the wording "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance for elimination because of discrimination. [CNN]

Where are they?

Gov. Gary Herbert attends "Beat Hunger by the Mile," declares September as Hunger Action Month, attends the Greek Festival and the Utah State Rodeo and judges a muffin contest.

SL Co. Mayor Ben McAdams hits a United Way of Salt Lake board meeting, hosts a mayor's Twitter chat and meets with Deputy Mayor Nichole Dunn.

SLC Mayor Ralph Becker meets with U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Javier Palomarez, dines with community leaders, attends the Salt Lake Council of Government meeting and a Greek Festival ribbon cutting.

WVC Mayor Mike Winder heads to the Salt Lake Council of Government meeting.

President Barack Obama meets with Swedish royalty, travels to Russia, meets with Prime Minister Abe of Japan and participates in various G-20 sessions.

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 your inbox. [Trib]

— Thomas Burr and Jordan Bailey Twitter.com/thomaswburr and Twitter.com/thejordanbailey