Student nabbed in Koran dunk

BY KERRY BURKE and MICHAEL WHITE
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS

Saturday, July 28th 2007, 4:00 AM

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Since when do we criminally charge someone with performing a community service?

Conservatives Need To Rally Behind Duncan Hunter
posted July 30, 2007

It doesn’t take much to see that conservative, Republican voters are still having a little trouble deciding which way to turn in the 2008 presidential election. If you listen closely to the American people, you will hear people talking about the concept of an ideal candidate. Sean Hannity described him as someone with the optimism and the ability to speak to the public like Ronald Reagan, and with the intellectual backbone of Newt Gingrich. Let me make a proposal to you about Congressman Duncan Hunter.

Congressman Hunter is not just another politician. If you look at his list of accomplishments, you will see that he has supported many issues that conservatives hold dear, and actually did something about them with passion and intense commitment. He wrote the bill to build the border fence, he wrote the bill to define person-hood at conception, he has stood up to government over-spending, he has supported enlarging our national defense, and he is a lone voice speaking out for bringing manufacturing jobs to our country. He has perfect ratings from the NRA, the National Right to Life, the Eagle Forum, The Campaign for Working Families, and Americans for Better Immigration. He has been a leader to strengthen our national defense in the style of Ronald Reagan as chairman of the Armed Services committee. He has been a leader for strong borders, he built the fence in San Diego that cut drug and human trafficking by 90%. He has never stopped lobbying the president to finish the job. He has never voted for amnesty, he has never voted pro-choice, he was a Vietnam veteran, he has 26 years of experience, and he has never backed down on his Reagan-conservative principles.

But don’t take my word for it, I encourage you to investigate congressman Hunter and see that this is just the tip of the iceberg of his strong conservative ideals and corresponding accomplishments. Join the countless others that have encountered Congressman Hunter, his policies, his record, and left with their jaws dropped.

The reaction to the McCain-Kennedy bill earlier this summer said something very important about our country. It proved that the people can still have the power in this country when they stand up for what they believe in. Some have said that Duncan Hunter could never rally enough support to win. I highly disagree. Selectsmart.com created a poll in which people were asked to define the perfect candidate. When the answers were compared to current candidates, 69% had describe Duncan Hunter. Furthermore, according to the Washington Post, 74% of Americans agree with Mr. Hunter’s Iraq policy (focus on training the Iraqi military so we can leave, but leave safely). His success is dependent on people like you or me.

In this country, anything can happen. In fact, I have never heard a conservative disagree with Hunter on policy. I have merely heard the excuse that we should settle for someone more moderate. When a moderate runs, the Republicans lose portions of the conservative base, the Libertarians, and the conservative Democrats. History has proven that moderates do not win for the Republican party. In fact, if the GOP could rally every conservative vote, they would win by a landslide unprecedented in American history. If the people decide that they want a president who will actually enforce their borders, stand up for their jobs, protect their economy, end government over spending, and strengthen our national security, I strongly suggest that we rally behind Congessman Duncan Hunter. We can do it.

In an election with a pro-choice and pro-amnesty mayor, a former liberal governor, and a senator from Tennessee who has an immigration voting record very similar to that of John McCain and who has hired a strong open-border advocate to his campaign, I hope we can give a close look at Duncan Hunter. He could be that elusive, ideal candidate that everyone has been whispering about and keeps hoping will show up. I strongly encourage you to join me in supporting Congressman Duncan Hunter. I will leave you with Mr. Hunter’s vision for this country, and if it sounds anything like yours, please pay him the attention a candidate like this deserves. He said, “I would like to see a country where the day I walk out of the White House, after a couple of terms, the American people are more independent of government than the day that I walked in.”

Just like fighting for our borders, his success is dependent on you, the American people. But it’s up to you.

Spencer Johnson
sk.johnson00@gmail.com
http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_110780.asp

What does Sen. Basham think of smokers? “Bash ‘em”

If Senator Ray Basham (Fascist – Taylor) has his way, Michiganders will not be able to enjoy tobacco with their favorite adult beverage at the bar.

Bashams bill is stalled for now in the Senate. Majority Leader Mike Bishop and Senator Alan Sanborn are standing up to the fascists that want to take away your rights.

It gets even better though… Basham is now talking about banning smoking in a car that has anyone under the age of 18 in it.

If he were genuinely concerned with the health of his constituents, he would encourage them to eat at home because it is healthier.

On his website, he uses a 7 yr. old to further his agenda:

“Josh asked how someone at his young age could stop smoking in public places in our state,” Andrea Polka wrote. “Josh knows that California has banned smoking in restaurants and wants the same here in Michigan. He says that when he’s an adult, he wants to move to California strictly for that reason.”

We should run from the politics of California and New York, not join them!

Smokers of the state unite! Break the chains of fascist tyranny!

Contact Sen. Basham (Fascist-Taylor) and tell him thanks for his concern, but No Thanks!
http://www.senate.michigan.gov/basham/contact.html

Right To Work, The Topic du Jour
Sources tell MIRS Senate Republican and House Democratic leaders are discussing the possibility of putting a “right to work” proposal on the 2008 ballot as part of any budget agreement involving a temporary tax hike. If adopted, right to work would allow workers to decide whether to be a part of a union, seriously crippling its power.

While some insiders see a “right to work” deal as “do-able,” others believe the prospect is so high-risk that even if the idea got momentum, either the Republicans or the Democrats would likely get cold feet and decide not to go through with it.

In a MIRS article last month (See “Is Tax Vote For Union Vote A Good Trade?” 6/22/07), opinions differed widely over whether the Republicans or the Democrats would emerge as winners if a 2008 budget deal involved a tax hike vote in exchange for putting “right to work” on the ballot.

Apparently, the same divergence of opinion exists elsewhere.

Senate Majority Leader Mike BISHOP (R-Rochester) has said he’d only allow a tax hike vote if the House passes it first and if sufficient reforms are in the mix. House Speaker Andy DILLON (D-Redford Twp.) and Bishop have been talking sporadically over the last few weeks about what these potential reforms would look like.

First and foremost, Republicans want changes that would invite competition for the Michigan Education Special Services Association (MESSA) in the school employee health care arena. Also on the Republican wish list is employee-related changes within the Department of Corrections and right to work (See “Senate GOP Has $1.8B In Reforms/Cuts,” 6/25/07).

A line of thinking on the Democratic and union side is the following:

- Right to work on the ballot would bring the Democratic base to the polls in 2008 in large numbers.

- Aggressive union spending would crash the proposal, thereby inoculating themselves from the threat of future “right to work” proposals (in election years likely to be more favorable to such a proposal) for the next 20 years.

- 2008 is the best year to knock down a “right to work ” proposal. The only races of note from a state perspective in 2008 will be House races. The cards are stacked in favor of the House Democrats due to an expected Democratic pendulum swing in a presidential election year and the number of open House seats Republicans need to defend. If there was ever a year when the Democrats could afford to let the unions divert the bulk of their campaign money to defeat a ballot proposal, 2008 is probably the year.

Under the hypothetical reform package Republicans would be getting:

- Enough political cover for Bishop to make a very plausible argument that he negotiated enough reforms (and the potential for an even greater reform) to justify allowing the tax hike vote.

- Democratic “yes” votes on a tax hike combined with a loss of union funding because of the ballot proposal might improve the Republicans chances in House seats in 2008.

- A shot at having Michigan become a “right to work” state, a crippling blow to unions not only in Michigan, but across the country

According to polls, current voter support for a “right to work” proposal is a little above 60 percent. Conventional wisdom is unions would need to outspend proponents of such a proposal at the rate of about 3 to 1 to get it down below 50 percent on Election Day. Observers believe unions would spend “whatever it takes” to defeat such a proposal, but what if they can’t?

Suppose entities from outside the state decide it would be worth $10 million to see a traditional union state like Michigan become a “right to work” bastion? Americans for Prosperity, a Washington D.C.-based outfit is already attracting some out-of-state interest to support a right to work proposal in Michigan (See “Right To Work Given 50% Chance On ‘08 Ballot,” 7/23/07).

It’s possible the Democrats are just putting up a bluff. Recall that last week Bishop publicly called for someone to put “right to work” on the ballot via the initiative route, (See “Bishop Wants RTW On Ballot,” 7/17/07). As would be expected with such a high risk-reward matter, some Republicans thought Bishop’s move was a mistake.

So while Bishop deals with the inevitable fall-out and complaints from some of his GOP colleagues, what better pose for the Democrats to take than, “Yeah, we might go along with that” rouse to create the impression that they, too, believe the Republicans would be making a mistake by trading a tax hike vote for a “right to work” proposal on the ballot?

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DeVos & Co. Spent $29.70 Per Vote, Granholm $14.77

Did you vote for one of the two major party gubernatorial candidates last year?

Your yes vote for Republican gubernatorial nominee Dick DeVOS cost him and his supporters $29.70. Your yes vote for incumbent Gov. Jennifer GRANHOLM cost her and her supporters $14.77, according to information released last week by the Michigan Campaign Finance Network (MCFN).

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Smoke-Free Cars Next For Basham
Assuming he eventually gets his ban on smoking in bars and restaurants passed, the next crusade for Sen. Ray BASHAM (D-Taylor) is banning smoking in cars when children are passengers.

“Absolutely. I support that,” Basham told the Off the Record panel this week. The proposal would effect children 18 and younger. Basham said he would not move to ban smoking if just adults are in the car.

In fact, Basham has talked to Senate Majority Leader Mike BISHOP (R-Rochester) on that item and he said Bishop was more open to the idea than the legislation to ban smoking from restaurants and bars, which he has not budged on.

Conservative activist hired by openly gay mayoral campaign

By Todd A. Heywood

Originally printed 07/26/2007 (Issue 1530 – Between The Lines News)

Capitol Correspondent

FLINT-

The campaign of openly gay mayoral candidate Dale Weighill has hired Tyler Whitney to run the campaign’s field operations. Whitney has been trained by the Leadership Institute in Virginia. He is also closely tied to the Southern Poverty Law Center recognized hate group Young Americans for Freedom chapter at Michigan State University.

BTL reported a month ago that Whitney had begun the process of coming out to his friends in the conservative community. The story lit up the internet because he had participated in a protest against a human rights ordinance passed by the City of Lansing, and was picked by the leader of MSU YAF to run the WMU YAF chapter in Kalamazoo. MSU YAF leader Kyle Bristow has written homosexuals should be jailed, and says that homosexuality kills people almost to the extent of cigarettes.

Whitney was also the webmaster for the Tom Tancredo for President web site. Tancredo has a 0 percent rating with HRC, and at the time, Bay Buchanan s enior advisor to the campaign and sister to Pat Buchanan, told BTL that sexual preference had “nothing to do” with the campaign.

Reached by cellphone, Whitney said he left the Tancredo campaign because he wanted to come back to Michigan. “I decided to come back to Michigan because I missed home. So I’m back here now.”

He said he decided to work for Weighill for several reasons. “He’s more conservative than pretty much anyone else, and I agree with him on the issues. He seems like a very nice guy.”

Asked which issues Whitney said, “Mainly economic issues. I’m more of a libertarian and he is very fiscally responsible.”

Asked specifically if he joined the campaign because Weighill was openly gay, Whitney responded, “It doesn’t make a difference to me whatsoever.”

He said residents of Flint are responding well to Weighill’s campaign message.

Weighill has also been given a strong endorsement by Triangle PAC.

McCainiacs discouraged by MIGOP State Committee

As many of you know, the Republican State Committee agreed to have a semi closed, state run primary in conjunction with the Democrats by February 5th. A bill to reflect this is currently in the Senate and expected to be passed onto the House tomorrow.

If it does not pass through the House; or is passed through the House and not signed by the Governor, that will bring us to option two. Option two is a state convention toward the end of January.

This is where the controversy comes into play. Some provisions have been recommended to eliminate cheating and make it nearly impossible to strong arm delegates which has Team McCain in a helpless position.

1) All voting would be done by secret voting (hard to intimidate)
2) Local clerks have offered ballot machines to tabulate votes (impossible to cheat)
3) Automatic elevation from alternate to delegate. (the Chair cannot prevent you from voting because he disagrees with who the delegates may or may not support)

Another provision that is generally supported by the state committee, but opposed by Glenn Clark and Matt Hall is one that would give precinct delegates preference in being a state convention delegate. This would take power from Clark, as he cannot offer all of his delegates to John McCain.

It is obvious why people supporting McCain do not support these provisions; but Congresswoman Candice Miller recently sent a letter to Republican activists warning against having a convention in January. She says it could lead to the loss of 90% of Michigan’s delegates to the Republican National Convention.

We aren’t sure if the McCain and Giuliani campaigns in Michigan are working together on this, in fact I am pretty sure they would both deny it.

Michigan Republicans should stay the course and follow the leadership of Saul Anuzis and state committee to ensure a transparent and fair process.

In an email sent out by state party today, Saul Anuzis mentioned Matt Hall:

Youth Vice Chair Matt Hall also expressed concern over the precinct delegate priority, stating, to my understanding, that the provision would prevent a county from sending 100% of their delegation committed to one presidential candidate. In fact, this is most likely what will happen, but I believe it is a benefit to the priority, not a shortcoming. This provision will prevent a “tyranny of the majority” while at the same time preserving the minority. While it is likely that one candidate will have more support in a county than another, this provision will simply prevent any one candidate from “stacking the deck” of the delegate list while passing over dedicated grassroots who have been duly elected as precinct delegates and workers just because they may support another candidate.

It looks like CR elections are easier to steal then Presidential primaries.

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Former Sen. Steil Endorses McCain
Former Sen. Glenn STEIL, father of Rep. Glenn STEIL Jr., announced today he is endorsing U.S. Sen. John McCAIN (R-Ariz.) for president.

The two-term senator and Republican Party leader in Kent County said McCain “is a man of principle with the experience necessary to lead our nation during this difficult time.”

“As president, Sen. McCain will restore trust in government by fighting special interests and vetoing every pork barrel bill that crosses his desk,” Steil said.

I came across this website in my Google alerts that are emailed to me every night.
Check it out http://hotmfcr.blogspot.com/

McCain’s Media Team Resigns,

Futher Shaking Up Campaign

WASHINGTON — Sen. John McCain’s well-known media team has resigned, an indication that his campaign shake-up is continuing to backfire and imperiling the Arizona Republican’s presidential candidacy.

Political ad-makers Russ Schriefer and Stuart Stevens, veterans of President Bush’s 2000 and 2004 campaigns, on Monday emailed the new campaign manager — lobbyist and longtime McCain adviser Rick Davis — to say that they were quitting. The two men told friends they had considered leaving for days, as they hadn’t been paid and the campaign’s financial straits raised questions of when and how much they would be.

Their resignations came on a day in which The Wall Street Journal reported on Mr. Davis’s business and lobbying activities. Current and former campaign McCain advisers say those activities — which involved a business he started and another launched by an acquaintance of his — amounted to profiteering at the campaign’s expense and risked embarrassing the senator. (See related article.)

Since Mr. McCain accepted the resignations of former campaign manager Terry Nelson and chief strategist John Weaver two weeks ago, and put Mr. Davis in charge, more than a dozen senior staffers have left from the headquarters in northern Virginia as well as state offices in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina — all states with early nominating contests. Several fundraisers have cut their ties to the campaign, which reported a debt at the end of the second quarter.

Now the loss of the Schriefer-Stuart media team is considered a new blow, Republicans strategists say. The McCain campaign had long planned to begin running ads this fall in early-contest states; those plans are at risk given Mr. McCain’s debt, compounded now by the difficulty of getting donors to invest in a troubled campaign.

Mr. Schriefer, in an email, referred any questions to the campaign. “We never discuss any internal campaign matters,” Mr. Schriefer wrote. “We admire the Senator and wish him well.”

“I can confirm that they have amicably left the campaign,” Mark Salter, Mr. McCain’s closest longtime adviser, wrote in an email from New Hampshire, where he was traveling with the senator for town-hall events that still are drawing hundreds of people. Mr. Salter said he was speaking in behalf of the campaign and Mr. Davis.

The unraveling of the McCain team this month climaxes months of infighting between other McCain advisers and Mr. Davis. Mr. Davis privately complained to Republicans outside the campaign about the Nelson-Weaver team’s strategic leadership, while within the campaign his own actions were a source of building tension.

In particular, last year Mr. Davis and lobbying partner Paul Manafort had started and co-owned an Internet services firm, 3eDC, which billed the campaign more than $1 million. Mr. Davis also arranged for the campaign to give its property-management business to a second new company started by a lobbyist-friend’s client, Indian-casino developer Richard Fields. That move came despite the fact that Mr. McCain had become known as the Senate’s biggest critic of scandals involving Indian casinos. The campaign has ended both companies’ deals, though it still owes them money.

The other advisers also objected that Mr. Davis and his firm lobbied for a Kremlin-backed Ukrainian Party that is opposed by the U.S. government and Mr. McCain.

As these issues festered, Mr. McCain twice agreed to sideline Mr. Davis as CEO, last December and in April. But Mr. Davis continued to advise the senator informally, and was a frequent traveling companion and confidant of the senator’s wife Cindy. McCain supporters privately attribute her influence to Mr. Davis’s reemergence at the head of the campaign.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118539592996077778.html?mod=home_whats_news_us

Your help is needed in stopping Democratic politician Gary Peters, who has lived off taxpayers for years, from using a professorship at Central Michigan University to run for Congress.

If you haven’t already heard, Peters will begin a part-time, once-a-week teaching gig at CMU in August even though he is preparing a campaign against Congressman Joe Knollenberg.

Please take a couple minutes and send an e-mail to CMU President Michael Rao at president@cmich.edu and the Republican members of the Board of Trustees: Jeffrey Caponigro, capon1jr@cmich.edu; Stephanie Comai, comai1s@cmich.edu; John Kulhavi, kulha1jgl@cmich.edu; and Gail Torreano, torre1gf@cmich.edu.

As a professor, he would have troubles fairly answering questions on Knollenberg or other Republicans when he’s schmoozing donors at fund-raisers and dishing out his partisanship on the campaign trail.

There are also potential conflicts with campaign finance laws, as Peters would have access to a number of taxpayer-funded resources – computers, printers and school e-mail accounts with no limitations on use.

He could even use his CMU office as a space for developing campaign strategy while taking time in the classroom to recruit impressionable students as volunteers or interns by offering extra credit.

Unfortunately, there are too many issues with allowing Peters to remain in the classroom. Nobody is questioning his academic credentials, but if he truly wishes to be a professor and help educate students at CMU, he needs to commit to campus not Congress.

Everything factored, do you support the war in Iraq?

WASHINGTON – Republican presidential hopeful Fred Thompson is replacing his acting campaign manager with former senator and energy secretary Spencer Abraham and Florida GOP strategist Randy Enright.

Thompson spokeswoman Linda Rozett said acting campaign manager Tom Collamore, former vice president of food and tobacco giant Altria still will advise the campaign. Collamore has helped organize the campaign for Thompson, who has not officially jumped into the race.

“The Friends of Fred Thompson have made a number of changes as they prepare to enter the next phase, adding new experience and political strength to the organization,” Rozett said.

Enright has served as Florida regional political director for the Republican National Committee and was executive director of the Republican Party of Iowa and the Republican Party of Florida.

Abraham is a former Michigan senator who lost a bid for re-election in 2000 to Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow.

Rozett said Enright and Abraham both would be in charge of Thompson’s campaign. Enright is heading the political operation and Abraham doesn’t yet have a title, Rozett said.

Scott Reed, a GOP strategist and campaign manager for Bob Dole’s 1996 presidential campaign, said, “Collamore has put a good structure in place. Now the campaign can move to the next level with a formal announcement.”

Michigan Young Republican pleads guilty in sex case

Posted by Jim Nichols July 24, 2007 17:26PM

The former head of the Michigan Federation of Young Republicans admitted today that he sexually abused a colleague during a national convention here last summer.

Michael Flory, a 32-year-old attorney from Jackson, Mich., pleaded guilty to sexual battery on the day he was to stand trial for rape.

The teary-eyed college student he overpowered in a downtown hotel room gasped and dabbed her eyes as Flory replied to Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Peter Corrigan’s question, “Are you indeed guilty?”

“Sure – yeah,” Flory said.

Corrigan set sentencing for Sept. 13. Flory faces a sentence that ranges from probation to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Flory is also a licensed insurance broker; Corrigan warned him that the guilty plea places both professional licenses in jeopardy of revocation.

Assistant County Prosecutor Carol Skutnik said Flory’s lawyers, Henry Hilow and Bill McGinty, surprised her with a plea offer as trial witnesses from several states were arriving to testify.

The plea bargain, she said, doesn’t include any suggestion of leniency, and the state will seek incarceration. She also said she hopes to present evidence of several “other incidents of sexual misconduct” in which Flory took advantage of vulnerable young women.

The victim, who is 22, declined to speak after Flory’s guilty plea.

She and some supporters lamented when the incident became public last winter that Flory and his followers within the Republican organization had been smearing her reputation in retaliation for accusing Flory of rape. Skutnik said she found that to be true.

“People were using every opportunity to try to trash her, on Web sites or whatever,” the prosecutor said. “He’s been running around telling everybody what a piece of trash she is, so she was very happy to see him plead guilty.”

The defense can say little until sentencing, Hilow said.

“He would just like to put this in the past for everybody,” the defense attorney said.

Flory gained some notoriety at age 18 when he gave a televised speech to the Republican National Convention in the Houston Astrodome in 1992. The Michigan Young Republicans’ Web site once hailed him as “one of the rising stars of GOP politics in America” and declared that “Mike has earned a great name for himself.”

Flory, the victim and other members of Michigan’s delegation to the national Young Republicans convention were partying in the Warehouse District last July 6, police and prosecutors said. The victim became so intoxicated that she headed back to her hotel room. Flory escorted her.

But when she lay down to sleep, he “violently forced several sex acts upon her,” Skutnik said.

More Links:

http://www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjournal/news/state/17536153.htm

http://www.wtol.com/Global/story.asp?S=6834262

BOUCHARD FOR ROMNEY: Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard on Monday became the latest Oakland County leader to endorse former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney’s presidential bid. Mr. Bouchard, who will serve as a Michigan co-chair, said he made the decision because Mr. Romney “understands the importance of protecting children and our families from predators and criminals. He recently proposed federal legislation, ‘One-Strike, You’re Ours,’ to crack down on Internet predators who seek to harm our most precious asset, our children.”

Other Oakland officials who have backed Mr. Romney, a Michigan native who grew up in the county, are County Executive L. Brooks Patterson, County Prosecutor David Gorcyca, U.S. Rep. Joe Knollenberg (R-Bloomfield Hills), House Minority Leader Craig DeRoche (R-Novi), Sen. Nancy Cassis (R-Novi), Rep. Fran Amos (R-Waterford), Rep. John Garfield (R-Rochester Hills), Rep. Marty Knollenberg (R-Troy), Rep. James Marleau (R-Lake Orion), Rep. Chuck Moss (R-Birmingham) and Rep. John Stakoe (R-Highland).

Select group could choose for GOP

Rumors of McCain people switching to Rudy from nunquamcede@aim.com

McCain, in Michigan, calls for tax overhaul
BENTON HARBOR — Making his first visit to Michigan since his presidential campaign’s overhaul, John McCain called Monday night for repeal of the Alternative Minimum Tax and institution of a line-item presidential veto, saying he would “leave a budget that stays balanced after I’m gone” if he’s elected.

I am a flying monkey!
By Leon Drolet(Leon Drolet)
Is he trying to appease the Wicked Witch of Notaxistan lobby, whose Flying Monkey, former state Rep. Leon Drolet, hounds legislators with his gigantic, fiberglass pig? Or are dreams of the governor’s mansion dancing in the

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Bill Kelly (R-Flint) has dropped out of the race for US Congress. He cited district Chairman, Eric Klammer and myself for finding a better candidate.

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Tired of the sarcastic headlines, John McCain puts his campaign …
Newsweek - 20 minutes ago
John McCain today posted his campaign bus, the Straight Talk Express, on the Internet auction site eBay. McCain denied that the move stemmed from money

McCain loses key South Carolina supporter
CNN - Jul 22, 2007
John McCain received welcome news late this week when a new CNN poll showed he still maintained strong Republican support in South Carolina

Even in Ariz., McCain’s hold loosens
Los Angeles Times, CA - Jul 22, 2007
By Scott Martelle, Times Staff Writer PHOENIX — Gary Godsey liked all that “Straight Talk Express” stuff from John McCain’s 2000 presidential campaign

Boy-Molesting Priest Also Giuliani Consultant
Wonkette (satire), DC - 21 hours ago
Cross-dressing thrice-married abortionist Rudy Giuliani is building a “dream team” of consultants that so far includes a diaper-wearing hooker-fucker in New

Will Romney Flip on Minimum Wage?
ABC News - 7 hours ago
By TEDDY DAVIS Automatic increases to the minimum wage were a key part of Mitt Romney’s campaign platform for governor — No. 39 on the list of promises he

Fred Thompson picks up steam
DetNews.com, MI - Jul 22, 2007
Iowa insiders expect Fred Thompson to be in the presidential race for real by Aug. 11. So they’re putting him on their straw ballot

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10 MOST EXPENSIVE SENATE/HOUSE RACES IN MI (MIRS)

The 10 most expensive Senate races were:

1. George ($1.173 million) v. Lipsey ($1.134 million) — $2.308 million
2. Pappageorge ($1.044 million) v. Levin ($1.082 million) — $2.126 million
3. Sen. Glenn ANDERSON (D-Westland) ($1.027 million) v. former Sen. Laura TOY ($970,098) — $1.997 million
4. Sen. Roger KAHN (R-Saginaw) ($1.107 million) v. former Rep. Carl WILLIAMS ($849,599) — $1.956 million
5. Sen. Gerry VAN WOERKOM (R-Norton Shores) ($768,171) v. Julie DENNIS ($258,919) — $1.027 million
6. Sen. Randy RICHARDVILLE (R-Monroe) ($780,640) v. Bob SCHOCKMAN ($126,794) — $907,434
7. Sen. Bruce PATTERSON (R-Canton) ($721,935) v. Mark SLAVENS ($110,725) — $843,153
8. Sen. Bill HARDIMAN (R-Kentwood) ($409,907) v. David LaGRAND ($131,044) — $540,951
9. Sen. Deb CHERRY (D-Burton) ($319,135) v. Brian SIEFERLEIN ($139,607) — $458,742
10. Sen. Jason ALLEN (R-Traverse City) ($424,540) v. Sharon UNGER ($24,161) — $448,701

The 10 most expensive House races were:

1. Ebli ($758,783) v. Manor ($570,358) — $1.329 million
2. Rep. Martin GRIFFIN (D-Jackson) ($497,579) v. former Rep. Rick BAXTER ($752,644) — $1.250 million
3. Rep. David LAW (R-Commerce Twp.) ($605,808) v. Lisa BROWN ($634,618) — $1.240 million
4. Rep. Mike SIMPSON (D-Brooklyn) ($566,129) v. former Rep. Leslie MORTIMER ($639,733) — $1.205 million
5. Rep. Mary VALENTINE (D-Muskegon) ($495,048) v. former Rep. David FARHAT ($343,882) — $838,930
6. Rep. Gary McDOWELL (D-Rudyard) ($339,963) v. Jay DUGGAN ($404,647) — $744,610
7. Rep. David PALSROK (R-Manistee) ($203,016) v. Daniel SCRIPPS ($359,350) — $562,366
8. Rep. Kathy ANGERER (D-Dundee) ($380,800) v. Matthew MILOSCH ($58,908) — $439,708
9. Rep. Robert DEAN (D-Grand Rapids) ($134,733) v. Tim DOYLE ($296,067) — $430,800
10. Rep. Barb BYRUM (D-Onondaga) ($280,341) v. Don VICKERS ($87,201) — $367,541

I guess chicken hawk is better than chicken shit.

I was checking out Michigan Liberal today (which is where I got the above clip) and I found the following:

Generally, legislation is introduced to correct a problem, but what problems are Ward and the Republicans trying to correct? What voter fraud are they trying to correct? When was the last time you heard of voter fraud in Michigan? The answer to all of those questions is there is no problem with voter fraud in Michigan.

This is an outright lie. For example, election night 2004 I was in Detroit poll watching. The location that we were at closed, but we received a call asking us to go check on another location. We arrive at this school in downtown Detroit and people are still voting at 10pm with no end in sight.

In 2002, I was poll watching in Bay City. A gentlemen came in to vote and could not provide identification. Even more interesting he was not on the registered voter list, and could not produce an address that was even in the district. The poll workers were going to let him vote, but I spoke up and challenged it.

After an unpleasant verbal exchange with the poll workers, and a death threat from the alleged registered voter the City Clerk showed up. Apparently one of the workers had called her? She stormed into the polling location and told me that I didn’t have the right to challenge him voting (which I did).

Ten minutes later of back and forth argument the Clerk, she threatened to call the police because I had challenged the ballot. I stood my ground and explained the situation. The alleged voter stormed out shortly after the exchange between the Clerk and I was finished. As he was leaving he threatened to kick my ass.

Sure enough, the police never showed up because the Clerk knew that what I was doing was legally justified. I stayed there the rest of the night until the polls closed, sitting next to a Democrat lawyer that the Clerk had obviously called to try and keep me in line.

To say that no voter fraud exists in Michigan is a good picture as to how the blogger over at Michigan Liberal is blinded by her political ideology.

People in Michigan are required to have IDs with them at all times, why not when they vote?

If what the Democrats are saying is that black people are less likely to have ID’s, why? It’s a serious question. This is news to me.

If the Democrat Party is so concerned about disenfranchisement, then why not buy everyone new ID’s in Flint and Detroit.

“Sen. John Edwards began what he’s calling his poverty tour today. He’s visiting people who have no money and no hope. His first stop: John McCain’s campaign headquarters.”—Jay Leno

The Michigan Supreme Court today ruled that voters have to provide identification cards to ensure that it is in fact the registered voter voting.

Sounds pretty standard right? Not according to the Michigan Democrats who claim that the ruling amounts to a poll tax and it disenfranchises voters.

“This Michigan Supreme Court decision is simply wrong. These photo identification laws are nothing more than a poll tax and are part of an ongoing strategy by Michigan Republicans to disenfranchise minority and older voters. There is no problem with voter fraud or voter misrepresentation in Michigan which could justify this disenfranchisement of voters. We will be reviewing the decision and consulting with our allies to determine how to best protect the rights of these voters.”

What I don’t understand is how does this disenfranchise voters? Apparently there was a poll out that shows Democrats are less likely to have identification cards.

Michigan citizens are required to have ID’s to buy booze and cigarettes, to get onto a plane, to go to a titty bar and operate a motor vehicle among many other things, but shouldn’t be required to furnish proof to vote for the leader of the free world?

What I don’t know for sure is, which base of the Democrat party is going to be harmed by this… the illegal immigrants?

Inside Michigan Politics’ list of vulnerable, safe and tossup State House seats

Ben Stafford is interning at the Mackinac Center, this is his latest column

Recall Congressman Walberg efforts underway
Retired Jackson citizen James CARR has filed petition language with the Lenawee County Clerk’s office to recall U.S. Rep. Tim WALBERG (R-Tipton), according to the Daily Telegram.

Carr filed the language with the Lenawee County Clerk’s office after the Fourth of July. Recall petitions can’t be filed until the politician’s been in office for six months. Carr filed his petition shortly after this mark.

According to the Daily Telegram, Carr suggested the following language for the petition:

Congressman Walberg has voted for the continuation and funding of the current conflict in Iraq without providing sufficient funds, thereby necessitating the borrowing of money by the federal treasury, thus increasing the federal debt on the current and future taxpayers of this country.

Walberg Spokesman Matt LAHR issued the following statement about the recall effort against Walberg:

“Our focus is on initiatives that matter to south-central Michigan: making tax relief permanent for millions of Americans, working toward energy independence, restoring the Great Lakes and making health care more affordable and accessible.”

The Lenawee County Election Commission scheduled a hearing for 1:30 p.m. on July 23 to decide whether the proposed petition language meets clarity standards, according to the Daily Telegram.
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Quote of the week: “I have always thought of him [President Bush] having the same leadership qualities of our beloved Ronald Reagan, but only 6% of the GOP agrees with me” Dennis Lennox Link

Today the Michigan Democrats and Michigan Liberal made a huge deal about court vehicles and mileage. They neglected to post this information about people in their own party, so here it is:

Hunter testifies for border patrol agents

California Congressman seeks full pardon for Ramos and Compean

(Washington, D. C.)…..United States Congressman Duncan Hunter took his fight to the nation’s capitol today (July 17) to convince President Bush to pardon two border patrol agents he feels were unjustly imprisoned. Hunter appeared before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Terrorism, Technology and Homeland Security.

The California Congressman testified that he strongly supports a Presidential pardon of former agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean because, “there is absolutely no justification for such unfair and excessive prison sentences.”

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Stance on Iraq Not to Blame for McCain’s Fall

Thompson, Giuliani May Be Winners as McCain Struggles (Update2)

Thompson’s Political Potential

UNH poll: Romney, Clinton hold solid leads, McCain and Edwards tank

More aides quit McCain campaign

McCain ignoring will of the people

For McCain, Two Night Club Events Brought Two Hefty Bills

Giuliani’s Judges: Two Birds, One Stone

Giuliani Fights Back Against IAFF

New poll: Thompson has wide lead over Giuliani in Georgia

Romney spent $300 on make-up appointments

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Hilarious Giuliani Clip

Obama Girl vs Giuliani Girl

CMU Student Takes On New Prof
He’s not even on campus yet, but instructor-to-be Gary PETERS is generating a flap.

Dennis LENNOX, the former head of the Young Americans for Freedom at Central Michigan University (CMU), is urging Peters to choose between teaching and running for Congress because he said Peters can’t do both.

Peters said on statewide public TV this past weekend there’s a “better than 50-50 chance” he’ll take on U.S. Rep. Joe KNOLLENBERG (R-Bloomfield Hills) in Oakland County next year. Knollenberg’s 9th Congressional seat is not near Mt. Pleasant-located CMU.

“Students deserve someone who can commit to teaching without sacrificing time to campaign for Congress,” Lennox said in a press release. The CMU junior said the situation also raises, “Ethical questions because it will be difficult to remain impartial when it comes to discussing his opponent in the classroom.”

Lennox noted that Peters expressed concerns during the TV broadcast about not running for office while he was state Lottery Commission, “But apparently he didn’t have any issues with receiving taxpayer money at CMU and campaigning against Knollenberg.”

Peters is on vacation this week and promises a decision on running by the end of the month. He is not slated to step down as head of the lottery until Aug. 10.

The former Democratic state senator has been named the Griffin Chair in American Government at CMU, succeeding Inside Michigan Politics editor Bill BALLENGER.

(Contributed by Senior Capital Correspondent Tim SKUBICK.)

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Knollenberg Replenishing Coffers
Suddenly finding himself in a targeted race come 2008, U.S. Rep. Joe KNOLLENBERG (R-Bloomfield Hills) raised more than twice as much money as any of his fellow Michigan congressional incumbents from April to June this year, save one, according to information filed today on the Federal Elections Commission (FEC) Web site.

Knollenberg raised $711,600 in the second quarter of 2007, $434,410 from individuals and $271,198 from political actions committees. His campaign paid salaries to three people. The only member of the Michigan delegation to come close to Knollenberg’s fundraising total this quarter was U.S. Rep. John DINGELL (D-Dearborn), whose $679,196 raised gives him $969,616 in cash on hand.

At this time in 2005, Knollenberg raised $605,418 for a total of $996,784. But Knollenberg’s traditional stockpile of money was depleted in 2006 to $134,000 after a tougher-than-expected race against Democrat Nancy SKINNER and a nuisance primary against former Rep. Pan GODCHAUX.

But this year, the threat to the eight-term incumbent is more real with Lottery Commissioner Gary PETERS and Skinner leading a group of potential challengers that may grow before it shrinks. Andy LEVIN, son of U.S. Rep. Sandy LEVIN (D-Southfield), now lives in Knollenberg’s 9th Congressional district and could be an attractive candidate, having nearly won a state Senate seat last November.

Also in the Democrats’ crosshairs is first-term, U.S. Rep. Tim WALBERG (R-Tipton), who raised $268,349 and now has $240,784 in the bank, which puts him in the second half among his Michigan congressional delegation colleagues.

One of his potential opponents in the 7th Congressional district, Democratic Ann Arbor attorney David NACHT, raised $160,642 from 183 individual contributors, a large amount coming from Ann Arbor. He also put $4,000 of his own money into the race. Former Sen. Jim BERRYMAN raised his $50,364 from 36 contributors including $2,300 from 1998 Democratic gubernatorial nominee Geoffrey FIEGER.

Last year’s Democratic nominee in the 7th Congressional district, organic farmer Sharon RENIER still owes $5,387 from her last campaign and has an account that’s $113 in debt as of March 31.

On the Democratic side, U.S. Rep. Bart STUPAK (D-Menominee) has picked up his fundraising. He gathered $303,902 in the second quarter of 2007 and now has $273,284 in the bank. Republicans are targeting Stupak as the Democrats’ most vulnerable Congressional Democrat. Rep. Tom CASPERSON (R-Escanaba) is being groomed as Stupak’s likely 2008 challenger, but he has yet to formally declare.

The following is a list of the state’s other members of Congress in descending order of money raised.

- U.S. Rep. David CAMP (R-Midland) raised $389,521, $1.162 million in the bank

- U.S. Rep. Candice MILLER (R-Harrison Twp.) raised $242,996, $1.01 million in the bank.

- U.S. Rep. Fred UPTON (R-St. Joseph) raised $283,687, $947,589 in the bank

- U.S. Rep. Mike ROGERS (R-Brighton) raised $290,009, $491,383 in the bank

- U.S. Rep. Carolyn KILPATRICK (D-Detroit) raised $280,209, $473,224 in the bank

- U.S. Rep. Vern EHLERS raised $113,744, $408,032 in the bank

- U.S. Rep. Thaddeus McCOTTER (R-Livonia) raised $210,296, $255,012 in the bank

- U.S. Rep. Peter HOEKSTRA (R-Holland) raised $100,600, $243,161 in the bank

- U.S. Rep. John CONYERS (D-Detroit) raised $256,551, $180,908 in the bank

- U.S. Rep. Sandy Levin raised $116,488, $66,638 in cash on hand.

The report for U.S. Rep. Dale KILDEE (D-Flint) was not available.

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Romney Fund Raising Still Tops
Michigan native Mitt ROMNEY is still raising more presidential campaign money in Michigan than any other candidate — by a long shot.

The son of former Gov. George ROMNEY has still raised more money in Michigan than every other Republican presidential candidate combined and every Democratic presidential candidate combined, according to updated numbers released today by the Federal Elections Commission (FEC).

Romney’s $1.634 million raised in-state means 60 percent of every bit of 2008 presidential campaign money for a Republican candidate has gone to Romney. More than 43 percent of the $3.749 million Michigan residents have given to presidential campaigns has gone to Romney.

Among Republicans, U.S. Sen. John McCAIN (R-Ariz.) is second with $795,640, which is nearly twice as much as the top fundraising Democrat, U.S. Sen. Hillary CLINTON (D-N.Y.) ($428,774).

Although he topped the last Republican poll, former New York City Mayor Rudy GIULIANI has raised $177,775 in Michigan, behind Clinton and two other Democratic hopefuls — U.S. Sen. Barack OBAMA (D-Ill.) ($325,645) and former U.S. Sen. John EDWARDS ($221,462).

Overall, Romney has raised more money in only four other states — California ($5.38 million), Utah ($3.83 million), Florida ($1.97 million) and Texas ($1.77 million).

In the months of April, May and June, Romney raised $620,000 in Michigan, but McCain wasn’t far behind with $449,240 raised, despite the recent turmoil in his campaign. Giuliani raised $129,175 in that time period.

For the second quarter of 2007, Clinton raised $317,479, Obama $237,537 and Edwards $74,047.

Among the second-tier presidential candidates, U.S. Rep. Ron PAUL (R-Texas) raised a surprising $44,272 in Michigan. U.S. Sen. Sam BROWNBACK (R-Kansas) raised $27,861 in Michigan and Democratic New Mexico Gov. Bill RICHARDSON raised $27,861.

Nationwide, Democrats are far exceeding Republicans on the fundraising front, having collected $177.2 million to Republican candidates’ $118.7 million. Clinton is leading the charge with $62.5 million with Obama a close second at $58.6 million.

Nationwide, Romney is leading among Republicans with $43.5 million raised. Giuliani ($35.4 million) and McCain ($25.9) are close behind.

Edwards has raised $23 million, Richardson $13.2 million and U.S. Sen. Christopher DODD (D-Conn.) has $6.4 million.

The Michigan College Republican website is up and running. The Chairman, Justin Zatkoff would like to encourage members to go and register. www.mfcr.org

The College Republican National Convention in Washington DC concluded yesterday. Dan Carlson was elected Secretary.

I had some pictures emailed to me anonymously earlier today; it looks like Zatkoff had more fun than most.

CMU CR Tracy Dunigan felt up by Zatkoff

CMU CR Chair Leslie Little getting ready to mate

Socking it to the liberals!

David

“I’m in love with a stripper…”

Seductive?

Hard lovin’, straight thuggin’, Bitch I ain’t doing this shit for nothing

Do you think this is acceptable behavior for the leader of a statewide political youth organization?

Notes:

Allegedly no swords were crossed in the making of this production

Tan lines are God’s way of reminding people that they are white

Questions to Zatkoff as to whether sins were committed after the taking of these pictures were not returned

Tax votes raise specter of recalls for lawmakers
http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007707150693

McCain’s national, Iowa press staff call it quits

Seaton won’t run Iowa for McCain

2 McCain campaign workers quit in South Carolina

Novak: Giuliani Has Tin Ear for GOP

Mitt Romney and Hillary Clinton lead in state fundraising

Thompson Uses Loophole to Avoid Reporting Fundraising

Fred Thompson’s Sort of Libertarian Stance on Abortion