Who is Peter Teahen really – perhaps a disaster waiting to happen?
Nathan Greene
24 Comments
Written by David Tredrea,
12 Harley Street, London, UK
email: davidtredrea@yahoo.com
mobile: 070 107 56789
So … Peter Teahen wishes to be honoured as an extraordinary Iowan. Well, as a Brit I truly agree he meets the criteria for being extraordinary. He wants us to see him as an Indiana Jones replacement, swashbuckler, universal hero and amazing international humanitarian. His claims and ambitions are very enticing and impressive - but what if his true reality is more like that of a Walter Mitty character? Let’s dig a little and take his 8 page résumé for example.
Does he really have an MA degree from Liberty University? Is he really a certified traumatologist? Was he really a deputy medical examiner at the Oklahoma City bombing? The hard evidences say no even though Peter says yes. Peter inherited the funeral business set up by his parents and he also sells life insurance when not helping others. All good stuff but it would be truly sad if some of the very strong mortuary chemicals could have seeped into his brain leading him to think he was licensed or competent for anything more.
Concerning the certificates he lists from the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation anyone from able actor to zulu warrior can join the ICISF. Peter’s studies with them on short courses with long names over 8 years probably don’t exceed 14 days in total. He also claims Presidency of some grand sounding Companies. However, only yesterday AmericaReady.com was a garage in Korea re-engineering Toyota cars for export. Today, one can buy “premium tv” from AmericaReady.us. Other than its fine web-site, it is difficult to find any filed accounts or indicators of life for his International Mass Fatalities Centre. Even though it may not be his fault (just unfortunate coincidences), Peter is well qualified in divorce though - but endearingly and, perhaps not surprisingly, he fails to promote that.
Peter wants us to rejoice with him in his work as an extraordinary volunteer with the American Red Cross and as an innovative mental health professional. One might wonder how this comes about as he has no in-depth training nor qualification nor registration anywhere in mental health, psychology or related subjects. He has zero military experience nor ever treated anyone for mental health trauma and does not know how to - yet he lectures widely as if he is well read, competent and safe. He likes to talk about being “personally selected” for Mayor Giuliani’s HQ staff for 9/11and then contracting anthrax – and surviving, just! He says he has served in leadership roles following more than 40 large disasters including Hurricane Katrina, the South Asia Tsunami and the conflict in Darfur. Was he really in action for Operation Desert Storm as well?
Let’s explore a further selection of these claims: his leadership and teaching roles after the tsunami in Sri Lanka were, in reality, very minor - and largely set up by others. He followed me out as Team Leader 2. After I left, Peter went off track quickly and without anyone’s knowledge or consent to set up private initiatives. About Darfur last year, Peter Teahen was invited out by me as a junior, pro-bono assistant for a project to run a stress management programme for aid workers. He was very keen and persistent because he had never been to Africa (or even London) before and wanted to enhance his international status. Not known until much later, Peter has his sights focused on Condoleezza Rice’s job and needs credibility.
Peter Teahen has expensive tastes whilst on mission and enjoys talking about his unaudited US Red Cross credit card so he can stay in luxury hotels. Peter believes he has to look after himself properly – and he most certainly does. Despite perfectly adequate free and safe local housing, Peter was the only one who chose to stay in a luxurious hotel in Khartoum and sadly used Darfur aid money for that.
Out there, his mood swings were untamed and he was easily angered – especially if his chilled, diet Pepsi was not always readily available. His small teaching role was so problematic that he was asked to cease involvement. His delusions about events are legion.
"Last year in Darfur, I was 25 feet away from a truckload of Janjaweed rebels. That's the group responsible for murdering 200,000 to 400,000 men women and children. You look into the eyes of those terrorists, and you look into the eyes of the Tamil Tigers of Sri Lanka” (John Deeth Blog , May 16, 2008)
Rubbish. He talks of being held at gunpoint and staring into a 50 calibre machine gun. Poop! Peter never looked into anything much out there save the occasional mirror when he could check his tinted hair was not ruffled. As a figure of fun, the locals laughed at his constant need to preen. His time in Darfur was so laid back in terms of security it would make Disneyland seem severe. Certainly Peter met nobody senior or politically important, saw no genocide, no danger, no guns no death, no starvation, nor any front-line action – a camel eating grass perhaps – oh yes, and a small, smelly donkey.
Peter was proud that he had upgraded his gun licence before coming to Africa in case he needed to save us. How lucky we were that he did not need to. Here is another of Peter’s wild claims printed in the Fort Madison Daily Democrat on 14 May 2008 :
“He was hired by the British government to start a mental health program in Darfur to help people there cope with the psychological impact of the fighting in that region. He was scheduled to go back several weeks ago, but aide workers were being killed so he was instructed to stay away” .
Balderdash.
Top line in his exit report for the pilot Darfur mission 12 months ago, Peter complains about not being told before he left Cedar Rapids that he might need to bring his own towel then refused to buy one from the many local markets we visited so I gave him one for peace. There were also loud moans from him about how many large suitcases he could bring and he was further annoyed at not being given a list of local quality restaurants or tourist spots. It seems possible he would have taken his deck-chair out there given the mildest opportunity!
His often unmanageable conduct could easily have us arrested - such as liberal photography despite well known and extremely strict rules. Peter seemed to think that if he had his personal copy of the Qur’an he could have saved us from all the vicissitudes of local law because that ownership conferred upon him degrees of freedom not available to us un-enlightened others. He thought Muslims would be impressed if he carried their Holy Book and that they would then treat him kindly. Those darned chemicals again.
Peter says he is the author of several articles and an industry-standard disaster management manual used by local governments in many states but it really is difficult to track any of them down and nothing seems to be peer-reviewed. In addition, Peter is the proud and loud recipient of several distinguished awards. Judge for yourself - but what if Peter Teahen actually is like this Walter Mitty character who is an expert at talking the talk but in no way has ever really walked the proper walk – not even nearly? OK, pranced about on the low trip-wire maybe but always with safety blanket, harness, quality credit card and sharp-angled photographers.
Regrettably, even Peter’s political stance is not consistent. He has been a Republican for a few months only. It was truly embarrassing to hear Peter describe his own friends and neighbours with the Iowan sobriquet of “Idiot Out – Walking About”. Sadly, Peter may be the blueprint because he was as useful in Darfur as an ink-blot. A considerable liability and serious mistake. So, is Peter Teahen really a disaster waiting to happen? That answer will depend upon which of his fuzzy personalities smiles at the next focused camera.
Vote for Peter Teahen if this is the kind of chap you want to represent you in Congress. Your vote doesn’t matter to me as I am not American. However, Peter might be safer in Washington rather than in the real world of proper disaster management where integrity, competency and decency are vital. Those are the more vital realities. Hence this note. As Dr. Phil says, the best predictor of future behaviour is past behaviour. Peter Teahen for Congress maybe but Peter Teahen for Confidence - definitely not.
The above was article is written by David Tredrea, a disaster aid worker from London, UK. BattlegroundIowa posted the article in its entirety. The views and claims of Mr. Tredrea are not necessarily the views of BattlegroundIowa.
Reader Comments (24)
wow. I heard about this letter but it's nice to see it finally posted somewhere...
I hope this information is valued as a first hand reference to Mr. T's proclivities for living on the corporate DIME. I can only imagine the press junkets he will go on as a Congressman.
I cannot afford to vote for this guy.
Vote Miller-Meeks!!!
I would urge the resident of the 2nd District to abstain from voting for any of these clowns. They are all not worth voting for, they are all RINO's. No more lesser of two evils.
If that what Al thinks, then Al hasn't done his homework. Harder is a joke, but Miller-Meeks is the real deal. Too bad morons like Al don't realize that it's not smart to run an "I'm the most conservative" *(even if you are the most conservative) campaign in the 2nd district which includes the Peoples Republic of Johnson County.
Al, I would be interested in understanding your long term objectives by not voting for one of the better candidates that has come along in a while...
Miller-Meeks is NOT a RINO by any interpretation I give to the word.
I think she would really shake things up in DC.
VOTE MILLER MEEKS on JUNE 3!!!!!
Miller-Meeks is the perfect example of what is wrong with the Republican Party today. Too busy with what the current political trends are rather than having convictions of her own. If you are a Miller-Meeks supporter please have the Iowa GOP send you a copy of the Republican Party's platform so that you can clearly see in black and white that she is a RINO. I don't care if she is running for office in Siberia or anywhere else, she should never change her colors just for the district she is running in. I am tired of conservative values being thrown under the bus. Why didn't she just challenge Loebsack in the primaries? She wouldn't have had to change any of her stances to run as a Democrat and maybe she would've had a better chance for victory in the Peoples Republic of Johnson County.
In what way do you consider that she is a Republican In Name Only.
Is it her heath plan?
Her Energy Plan?
Her acceptance of the use of non-viable stem cells?
Her Service to Our Country?
Her Tax plan?
Her refusal to take a litmus test for special interest groups?
If she's a RINO, I am too.
VOTE MILLER MEEKS June 3!!!!
OPERATION EXTINCTION
Miller-Meeks is our only chance to take out Loebsack. She is an outstanding woman and she deserves your vote!
Miller Meeks June 3rd!
Please..go ahead with your little "Operation Extinction"...when you're done..we'll end up with a Republican Party like we had in the 70's and 80's..Impotent to oppose anything the Democrats put forward..and unable to challenge the liberal agenda that will then be put forward
Al..so lets say we follow your advice and "vote for no one"..Guess what happens.. Loebsack wins and becomes entrenched for the next 10-15 years. How smart is that?
It just amazes me how quickly so many so called Republicans are willing to cut off their nose to spite their face. All in the name of so called "idological purity"
While you guys are out there making sure every candidate is "pure"..the Democrats will be out there taking more seats in Congress, more Governorships...and then where will you be?
You will have driven away potential great candidates you might have...simply because they dont meet your "purity" tests.
All the while..the Democrats will pass goverment-run health care (which will be paying for such lovely "family values" as abortion-on demand, sex change operations, and other proceedures you might find abhorrent), slash our military further, cut and run in the War on Terror, RAISE taxes and do nothing about Social Security..
Ask yourself.. Can you AFFORD to have that happen?
I'm still waiting to hear from Al about what's not to like about Miller-Meeks.
We can all wait for END TIMES... I can only assume that's what Iowa Rocks is proposing...
I chose to fight for a corner of santity for my family and myself - and Miller-Meeks will be a person of integrity for which I can proudly cast a vote.
I especially appreciate that she has chosen the most difficult path to nomination - not allowing herself to be aligned with any special interest groups.
You wanted to hear from me. Here I am. I along with many others are tired of voting for the lesser of two evils. In this case I am not even sure which of the two is more evil, Miller-Meeks or Loesback. One of the problems that I have with your so called savior is that she favors abortion. This is not a Republican viewpoint, that is a Democratic view point. You should check out the Party platform, you may learn a thing or two.
I guess what I am saying is that I will not vote for the party. I am voting for candidates that share my convictions, family, life, and education. If a candidate does not agree with my convictions then they will not be receiving my vote and I will advocate that they do not get anyones votes. The Republican Party needs to get back to it's roots based on those three convictions.
Good Job Al. Operation Extinction........
Let me offer a tidbit of perspective.
Lee Harder is the most conservative in the race. So if you want to vote for the real right winger, vote for him. But you won't. Because no one is willing to say that he's electable. Ever.
And then, if you want to vote for rhetoric, vote for Peter Teahen. He says all the right things, perfectly scripted, with tales of swashbuckling heroics and millions, no BILLIONS of lives saved. But you won't, because you know deep down that real heroes don't tell you about their heroics. Ever. They are quite comfortable in their own skin and don't need your applause.
So, go ahead. Mask your choices in the wrapper of being a "true conservative." And vote for Lee, or Peter. And then watch either one or both of them be sliced into chubb by the DCCC.
We will never WIN by shrinking or staying the same in terms of our arguments and issues. Rather than harp on the same old issues, why don't we go talk about traditional Dem issues like health care? Why don't we offer real candidates, those who don't lie about their backgrounds and inflate their resumes? Why do we hammer the same three issues when the American people are asking about other issues?
The roadmap for Democrat success has been two-fold: First, we shot ourselves in the foot by spending like a bunch of drunken sailors. Second, they came and stole our issues. So the roadmap back seems pretty simple: we stop spending, regain trust, and go steal their issues.
Al, I am familiar with the party platform as I am the secretary of a county central committee and ran the county caucus and convention.
I have never found a perfect candidate but Miller-Meeks is a VERY LONG way from being EVIL.
Miller-Meeks does not "favor" abortion, that's your spin. I have listened to her for hours on the subject. She believes abortion ruins lives. She believes Roe v. Wade was bad law and she would like to see it over turned and the choices moved to the states. That is where you can start to change hearts and minds...
My parents were social conservatives but they also taught me that you can't legislate morality. The republican party is also a party of individual power and and its members want less government intrusion in our lives. Why should a republican be for more laws of any kind? "let freedom reign!". Why shouldn't a republican be humble and teach about forgiveness and salvation?
An 18 year old friend of mine (I'm 3x his age) told me the most heart stopping statement I've heard relative to abortion. He is very pro-life and told me last year "I have lost HALF of my generation to abortion". He told me this in sadness. He did not tell me that in resignation to that fact.
His statement is the most moving of any I have heard relative to abortion - some day he will be a leader and I will support him with all I can muster. Today, this young man is whole heartedly supporting MMM because she is simply the best candidate in the race.
The President of the Iowa Right to Life group is actively supporting Peter Teahen. Hardly a man that would stand up to family values litmus test(three marriages).
Not having your perfect candidate should be regretable to you, but representing MMM as EVIL and a political equal to Loebsack is just plain wrong.
You have your opinion about what republican roots are, I have a differing opinion.
Al Bregar...name for me ONE instance where Miller-Meeks says she "favors" abortion. She was on the record at an Iowa Christian Alliance event where she clearly stated that Roe V Wade should be overturned...she believes in the sanctity of life at both ends of the spectrum.
What she has said is that our party has to be more than just a single issue party. Voters priorities right now isnt abortion..its whether or not they're going to be able to pay the increasing tax bills or afford to fill up their tank and put food on the table at the same time.
Our party needs to be offering SOLUTIONS to real problems that are happening right here..right now.
The only candidate willing to do so is Miller-Meeks
I have never heard her come out to say that she is pro-abortion, but I have heard her skirt the issue. She has said that she thinks that Roe v. Wade should be overturned but not because she opposes abortion. She had the opportunity to announce that she opposes abortion and yet she did not. Here is a radio interview where she had the opportunity to do so but failed.
http://a1135.g.akamai.net/f/1135/18227/1h/cchannel.download.akamai.com/18227/podcast/DESMOINES-IA/WHO-AM/miller-meeks%20podcast%20052108.mp3?CPROG=PCAST&MARKET=DESMOINES-IA&NG_FORMAT=newstalk&SITE_ID=1165&STATION_ID=WHO-AM&PCAST_AUTHOR=Steve_Deace&PCAST_CAT=Talk_Radio&PCAST_TITLE=Deace_in_the_Afternoon
Yes, please do go ahead with "little Operation Extinction"... we need some 'purity'... Operation Extinction may not change any of the minds of posters at this site but keep making your insights known. Some people are ready for a different way of thinking and will pay attention.
Good Luck.
Al, I appreciate you continuing this "debate". Thank you for that.
What I have found with Miller-Meeks is that people (most notably her opponents who call her a dirty campaigner and some of the Iowa Right to Life Group) paint a vivid color of Miller-Meeks as a rabid abortionist when that could not be further from the truth.
Below are my words not hers...
What she will not stand for is anyone judging and sentencing another person for doing something that is legal under the law today. AND she feels strongly that flipping the law on its head (making abortions illegal) is not the right thing in today's society either. She has related in painful detail what she learned in her years in residency working in ERs for example and can speak to the mental pain abortion causes for women - if not then, in later years.
Any of us wishing abortions away - will not make them go away, any more than making them illegal will make them go away.
Setting a single issue litmus test is short sighted.
MMM wants to help create an ownership society through her health, energy and tax policies - where people are responsible for themselves. Properly manifested - that alone will create personal responsibility for procreation.
We are quickly heading toward a society where the government controls everything - the direct opposite of personal choice.
I hear your sadness at the state of the world today, but labeling MMM as favoring abortion does no service to your cause. MMM is a potential public servant that WOULD help you get closer to your perfect world than anyone on the slate today.
Let me conclude by saying I share your end results, just not your method of getting there and I think the way MMM proposed us getting there will work - I do not believe any other way will be successfull.
That's just it. It isn't necessarily purity that we are looking for. What we want is someone that has the correct priorities. And that is obviously not MMM, Teahen, and Harder. I don't see anyone in that race that I could in good conscience vote for.
At this moment, I'm listening to Deace interview Mr. Teahen. Interesting how Teahen was able to shut down any discussion of this letter simply by saying its author is deranged and extremely dangerous, even to the point of being a serious threat to Teahen's family. Deace really bought that. How convenient for Mr. Teahen. Well done, Peter!
As for Miller-Meeks, having just downloaded and listened to the MP3 of Deace’s interview with her, certain things make me wretch. Her #1 issue is health care BUT she insists she’s not for government takeover. I got the impression Chuck Larson Jr. is a close, trusted advisor. She says one of Loebsack’s primary weaknesses is that he votes 98% with his party. When asked why that’s a bad thing, she mentions “a representative” we once had in our district who could be commended for his independence, thoughtful consideration, insight, and great intellect. Oddly, she seemed reluctant to say his name; Deace did it for her (Jim Leach). “I tend to be conservative” but, when asked to name any issue where she differs from Steve King, she would only say when it comes to conservative social issues, she’s “more compassionate and more understanding.” Generally, she came across as being very careful to avoid taking a firm stand on anything. Abortion should be left to the individual states but marriage—”like slavery”—may have to be decided at the federal level; however, she’d have to see a bill before she could commit to supporting anything.
At least she believes kids benefit greatly from having a mom and a dad, sees the looming Social Security crisis and believes we need some kind of national energy policy.
But, if I’m Loonsack, it's all I can do to convince myself any of the Republican candidates is capable of mounting any serious threat to my reelection.
I have met and listened to all three candidates. They came to our local monthly Republican meeting. I liked what they said but then I was obligated to look into them and see if their past behaviors matched their rhetoric. I don't feel Teahen or Miller-Meeks has sufficiently explained their conversions from Democrat to Republican. My concern is they converted out of political expediency. I am also concerned about Peter's resume questions. Miller-Meeks's squishiness on abortion is bothersome but her idolizing Leach bothers me more.
I am still looking into Harder. He is rough around the edges but that also means he isn't as slick as the other two. That is a plus in his favor to me.
What's a conservative to do . . .?
I don't think Miller-Meeks was ever registered Democrat. I heard her say she was registered as no party for a while when legislative advocacy work was part of her job with the medical society.
River City.. Miller-Meeks has NEVER been a registered Democrat. She was no party while in full time practice as a doctor. She felt doing so helped her in obtaining the trust and confidence of her patients as well as for the advocacy work she did on behalf of the Iowa Medical Society.
She has a clear record of heavy financial support to Republican candidates and committees.
Teahen on the other hand has been all over the map, switching party registration multiple times when it suited his needs...Teahen also has a clear record of supporting liberals like Julie Thomas and Mike Blouin and Lee Clancey in Cedar Rapids.
You talk about Miller-Meeks "idolizing" Leach... That's taking it a bit far.
Lets be honest here..everyone respected the hell out of Jim Leach because he would tell you his position on an issue..and if you agreed or disagreed..you at least knew where he stood on the issue.
With Dave Loebsack..you get someone who will vote the party line every time..and not even take into consideration the wishes of the constituents back home he represents..
Miller-Meeks wants to be a Rep in Congress that people will be able to look at and say..she represents US..not the party hierarchy or the special interests.
Its time that we have leaders that start putting forthe SOLUTIONS to problems..instead of empty rhetoric...and Miller-Meeks is a leader we need to do that.
I feel sorry for the voters in the 2nd district...and also the winner of the primary. Sounds like the 1st district all over again. And it ended up being a losing proposition for the Rs in 2006 all the way around. It also sounds to me like the blogs of 2 years ago...is it staffers posting out here? Who needs Ds when we can and do bash each other? And why are we taking the word of a Brit none of us know or can vouch for?