Mich. may play key role in GOP race
Gordon Trowbridge / Detroit News Washington Bureau
With the date and the field now set, and just six weeks remaining until election day, Michigan has an opportunity to play a crucial role in the Republican presidential nominating process.
But it’s largely irrelevant in the Democratic race.
The Jan. 15 primary amounts to a partial victory for Michigan political elites, who sought to put the state in the same class as traditional kickoff states New Hampshire and Iowa in the 2008 White House sweepstakes. With Democrats choosing not to campaign here, and four of their candidates not even on the ballot, Michigan is unlikely to have any impact on the competitive race among Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards.
But the even more tightly bunched GOP contenders could wage a key contest of their campaign here, political analysts say. Michigan’s role may largely depend on results in Iowa and New Hampshire, which vote in the two weeks before Michigan. more
Note: McCain is in a distant 4th place in Michigan.
However, prominent McCaniac’s conducted a straw poll at Western Michigan University and McCain came out on top, imagine that.
On Zatkoffs website “Turn Michigan Red,” also known as “Turn Michigan McCain,” he deceptively labels the heading of his article “John McCain Wins Western Michigan Presidential Straw Poll.“
It was not a “Western Michigan” poll as he asserts, but a “Western Michigan University” straw poll. Furthermore, the poll was ran by some of the most notorious members of the McCain team here in Michigan.
The campaign can’t create real momentum so they have their young lackeys create artificial momentum.
Thoughts on the CRs and Cronyism
I was just checking my email a few minutes ago and I had a Google alert to another college Republican blog in it. I read over it, and it appears to be very thoughtful analysis of the current situation. Check it out, I believe they raise very valid points. Many I agree with, one or two I don’t.
View the website here
One thing that I would say about it is that the past and present actions of two members of the credentials committee was not as forcefully stated as it should be. There is a fine line between political maneuvering, and proposing something that has unfairness and cronyism written all over it.
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Team McCain-Yob: A Constant State of Aggression
I am so tired of the divisive nature of many members of the McCain campaign here in Michigan. Earlier this year, they initiated a civil war on the state committee and were handily defeated. The price they paid for the insurrection: Chuck Yob’s seat on the National Committee. (This was not the only action that contributed to his fall. He recruited Dave Dishaw to run against Saul. Some may have there problems with him, but he is absolutely one of the most popular Chairmen in recent history)
Holly Hughes who has never went to far from the side of Chuck Yob was spared for some obvious reasons and some not so obvious ones. Should she have been spared? The answer to that will unfold over the next year.
Then there is Matt Hall. For the sake of not veering of course here, I am going to stick to his involvement with the “youth budget.”
Hall came to a state committee meeting a few months ago with “Support the Youth Budget” stickers. He didn’t talk with the necessary people about it in advance. He just came to the meeting with his stickers and essentially asked for $18,000 for the youth budget.
Not only was state party blind sighted by this turn of events, it appears that they eventually gave Hall a flat out “No,” because of the undignified manner in which he handled himself.
Not many college Republicans attend state committee meetings, so they don’t see all of this stuff that is going on behind the scenes. Because of the surprise attack by Hall coupled with Justin Zatkoffs threats of suit against the State Republican Party CRs should not wonder why there is no youth budget for the first time in years.
Justin Zatkoff: Cronyism, Team McCain and Aggression against the Establishment
Cronyism:
I will begin this section on the make up of the MFCR credentials committee that would make Rodrigo Borgia proud. The credentials committee is comprised of two staunch Zatkoff allies.
One, Pete Vitale angrily and violently defends Zakoffs honor from any criticism or critique and is running on his slate. Pete likes to throw mud and when it’s thrown back at him, he threatens to sue. He believes Zatkoff is above reproach.
The second is Megan Buwalda who is a member of “Team McCain,” and has cheated for her team before by submitting a fraudulent delegate list before last years convention in opposition to that of the then chapter Chair.
With the composition of this committee he effectively switched the traditional role of the secretary, Paula Barrett who all know is honest with someone who has openly cheated in direct relation to credentials.
This act is so blatant and disgusting.
Team McCain
There is a very clear line of aggression from “Team McCain.” Perhaps one of the easiest alliances to illustrate in the entire state.
I am going to illustrate the connections between the the members of Team McCain.
Chuck Yob offered his faction at the disposal of Matt Halls campaign for Youth Chair. Matt Hall won and now owes undying loyalty to Yob.
Glenn Clark fudged numbers and maneuvered to circumvent the will of his district to support Hall.
Yob or Yob affiliates paid for the hotel rooms necessary to house Zatkoffs delegates. (most whom were not CRs) Zatkoff now owes his undying loyalty to them.
Why does Chuck Yob persistently meddle in youth politics when he is clearly more toward the end of his life then beginning? The answer to that is, I have no idea. I don’t even have a guess.
Now we are in a situation where the Youth Chair of the Michigan Republican Party, Matt Hall is again acting highly unprofessional and actively campaigning for a member of his Yob clique. Does he not have a clue about the etiquette his position requires?
Aggression against the establishment
Justin has proven to be a very fluid leader. (leader by title only) He has often conducted himself in a highly inappropriate manner (publicizing “pornographic pictures” as some members of state committee described it at the last meeting) to degrading and committing libel against people who do not support him or even innocently just asking questions.
Back toward the beginning of October Zatkoff and I had a long email exchange. In it he threatened to sue the State Republican Party. He also sent another one saying that he would not promise to not recall sitting Republican legislators.
His Executive Director, Andrew Boyd (who is a very respectable person) filed the paper work to recall Republican State Senator Gerald VanWoerkom.
How many blunders will this organization continue to accept? I don’t believe that the above behavior would be tolerated in any other state. If you put aside all of the rhetoric and think about it for a second I am convinced you will come to the same conclusion as I; “What the hell is wrong with this kid?”
Other observations
At the last state committee meeting I had the unfortunate experience of hearing some Team McCain-Yob chatter. They are like a strange cult. They go around referring to each other by their political titles “Chair ____” or “Secretary ____” in a disgusting self important way.
Glenn Clark likes to stand at the side at state committee meetings and send his young apprentices Matt Hall and Brent Stanton to carry a message to another McCainiac on the other side of the room. The self importance involved is dreadfully suffocating.
How can someone feel so self important when they have had their asses handed to them time and time again. When they lose their biggest supporter in the state, Attorney General Mike Cox. When the party activists throw out your most prominent member; Chuck Yob. Or when your candidate is losing in Michigan, is fourth place nationally and third or forth place in every other early primary state?
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The downfall of The Dossier: Not likely
On Justin Zatkoff and Pete Vitale’s website www.MichiganCR.com they are posting terrible things about people that stand in there way.
Both of them have also stated that “The downfall of the Michigan Conservative Dossier is near.” Just the opposite is happening. Every time they commit libel against me or people on Team Reform everyone that reads the libel checks back on my blog to see my response.
This month I have averaged between 350-400 hits per day. Since they have been attacking, my audience has now grown to 600 and 700 hits per day.
This reminds me of when Matt Hall sent an email to State Committee asking people not to read my blog. My numbers permanently went up. Perhaps out of the deep respect and admiration that the committee members have for Hall they disregarded what he said and now read what I have to say like a fiend.
On Facebook.com “MichiganCR’s” profile was deleted for libel. They still have a group though. And guess who is in it?? Justin Zatkoff, Pete Vitale, and a non noteworthy McCain supporter!
Out of the hundreds of invites sent and the amount of time that has lapsed the numbers clearly show that it is a very unpopular endeavor.
The Dossier is not going anywhere. I’ve taken on bigger and better then Zatkoff and Vitale.
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To those of you that have IMd and emailed your support after this post, I greatly appreciate it!
Duncan Hunter to Hillary Clinton on debate "plant"
Merry Christmas,
Duncan Hunter
Gay & Lesbian Republicans going after Mitt
The Log Cabin Republicans have created a new radio ad that is running in New Hampshire going after Mitt Romney’s tax increases as Governor of Massachusetts. In it they played a clip of Sen. John Kerry’s infamous “I voted for it, before I voted against it,” line. They accuse Mitt of just being another Massachusetts flip flopper.
Listen to the ad here
Interview with CMU Americans for Prosperity, Andy Chieppo
I interviewed Andy Chieppo who recently started an Americans for Prosperity chapter at Central Michigan University. Andy is a sophomore and a Journalism major.
Joe: So Andy, I see that you have started a new chapter of the national organization Americans for Prosperity at Central Michigan University. Can you tell me a little bit about the organization and what your goals are?
Andy: The organization is a branch of the nation-wide organization “Americans for Prosperity.”
Andy: The goals are to get students involved in what the money they spend on tuition is actually being used for, and the educate them on free markets and free economies.
Joe: You mean as in showing them exactly how their money is spent?
Andy: Yes, we’re working on transparency and getting it shown on the internet or other publicly accessible avenues to show everyone what tuition money is actually being spent on.
Joe: That sounds like a good idea.
Joe: What is the makeup of your organization? Do you have officers, elections, regular scheduled meetings?
Andy: Our group is set up similarly to other RSO’s (registered students organizations). We have a president, secretary, treasurer, and other active members. Once we get things running for next semester we may expand our e-board. Our only eboard are the officers at this moment, who are founding members, once new members join we plan on having elections for each of the positions. We are currently planning different meeting times based on members’ class schedules.
Joe: The Americans for Prosperity recently had a “Summit” in Washington DC called “Defending the American Dream,” I was at this event and it was very successful. I’ve been a large number of these types of events and this was one of the better ones. Where did Americans for Prosperity come from? When was it founded Nationally, when was it founded in Michigan?
Andy: It was founded nationally in Washington D.C. and later branched out to 20 of the 50 states, Michigan was one of them.
Joe: Amy Hagerstrom the AFP State Director in MI recently took the reigns of the Ron Paul campaign in Michigan. Who is leading the organization now?
Andy: She divides her focus between the Ron Paul campaign and assisting us with this newest chapter of SFP.
Joe: Does AFP support Ron Paul for President?
Andy: I’m not exactly sure. I know there is a lot of personal and private support for Ron Paul within the membership of AFP-MI. I am not sure if they have, or plan to, publicly endorse him. however.
Joe: Do you guys have any other chapters in Michigan?
Andy: Yes, we are currently starting chapters at Western Michigan University, Oakland University, University of Michigan, and Michigan State University.
Joe: On a final note, if someone from CMU reads this and wants to get involved, how do they contact you
Andy: There is a facebook group that anyone can join by searching for Students for Prosperity at Central Michigan, there is a gmail account for the group (sfpatcmu@gmail.com), and they can email me personally at aanday68@gmail.com.
Joe: Alright, that concludes this interview…thank you for taking the time to answer some questions
Andy: Thanks.
Email from the Senate Majority Leader
Dear Friends:
I cannot tell you how disappointed, appalled and sickened I am with the actions of yesterday’s House session.
Speaker Dillon and the House Democrats, in the most negligent action I’ve seen in my political career, purposely turned their backs on our state and failed to act on legislation to alleviate the service tax burden they created – after promising the business community and Michigan taxpayers they would work to fix the problem.
The Senate Republicans’ approach has been abundantly clear from day one: The State of Michigan will never achieve prosperity through greater taxation. The Senate took action two weeks ago to repeal the tax and awaited House action – nothing came. At every point in this year long process, we have attempted to further an agenda of cuts and reforms that we believe is the best way to move Michigan forward. Any effort to compromise has been met by a wall of partisan obstruction. House Democrats have rejected multiple proposals to compromise and reach a sensible repeal of the service tax. It should be known that the House’s actions yesterday were not once discussed during the negotiation process. It is clear that the service tax introduced by the Governor and carried to fruition by the House Democrats has been their goal all along – despite their lip service to the contrary.
Yesterday’s House inaction includes:
- Adjourning from a two day work week – after coming off a two week legislative break!
- Purposely sent over a piece of legislation that could not procedurally go to the Governor, and
- Adjourned until next week – blowing off the service tax deadline of Dec. 1st and all our families, small businesses and job providers.
If you haven’t noticed by now, this is what happens when Democrats control the House. Time and again, they have proven that they will stop at nothing to overburden you and every other family in our state to grow government bigger and bigger and control how your money is spent – many times, wastefully.
It is the Republican Senate’s intention to work toward a reasonable resolution and we have scheduled to work through the weekend, if needed, to achieve that goal. We demand that the House return to Lansing to continue working on this reasonable solution. However, if they do not agree to resume House session before that deadline, the service tax will take effect on December 1st and the misery and economic woe it begets will rest squarely on the shoulders of the uncompromising, partisan Democrats in the legislature.
You can bet that if they fail to heed to our calls, I will stand shoulder to shoulder with L. Brooks Patterson and all who oppose this tax, to take this matter to the vote of the people and repeal the service tax by way of a ballot proposal. If the Governor and Democrat legislators refuse to listen to the public, we’ll take this fight to them directly next November and beyond.
I URGE YOU TO TAKE ACTION TODAY!
The repeal of this tax is now the charge of the citizens of Michigan and the Senate Republicans pledge to do all we can to make this a reality.
I also urge you to share this with all your co-workers, family members, friends and neighbors. Write letters to the editor, call into local talk radio shows, contact these legislators and let them know that you demand more of your elected officials.
It is time to take back Michigan!
Sincerely,
Mike D. Bishop
Senate Majority Leader
Service tax repeal taxing lawmakers
Senate rejects latest House version, forwards it to joint committee.
Mark Hornbeck and Gary Heinlein / Detroit News Lansing Bureau
LANSING — Negotiations broke down between the House and Senate over the widely despised service tax late Wednesday, boosting chances the unpopular levy will go into effect on Saturday.
After leaving a closed-door bargaining session, House Democrats about 9 p.m. pushed through their own service tax repeal and replacement legislation, then quickly adjourned until Tuesday, four days after the 6 percent sales tax on a strange mix of services takes effect.
Senate Republicans rejected the House version less than an hour later, sending it to a joint House-Senate committee to iron out differences. Majority Leader Mike Bishop, R-Rochester, then sent a letter to House Speaker Andy Dillon, D-Redford Township, calling for an emergency session to deal with the issue Friday. The Senate also scheduled a rare Saturday session. more
Tonights debate
Tonights CNN YouTube debate started off with a sparring match between Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani on immigration.
Romney mentioned the fact that Giuliani presided over a “sanctuary city,” which is true. Giuliani responded that people hired to do yard work at Romneys “mansion” were illegals. He rebutted it by saying that he hired a company to perform yard work, not illegal immigrants.
Giuliani kept pressing his point and the crowd eventually booed him.
John McCain was asked if he would veto any legislation that offers amnesty to illegal immigrants. He responded “Yes, of course…” and then the audience immediately started to boo him. The host Anderson Cooper interjected “Let him finish.”
When the issue of tuition breaks for illegals came up, you could see the sparks between Mike Huckabee and Romney. Romney criticized his tuition breaks for illegal immigrants. There exchange was fairly heated especially since the latest Rasmussen poll has Huckabee ahead in Iowa, but within the margin of error.
John McCain was asked about his position on the FAIR Tax and he responded very quickly and changed the subject to ridiculing Ron Paul on the war in Iraq.
When Giuliani was asked about the second amendment, he responded “The Government can impose reasonable regulations,” he was stopped briefly by the sounds of booing.
Giuliani, Romney and McCain do not own guns.
Ron Paul stated that he supports a criminal penalty for doctors who support a 3rd trimester abortion, but said that he would leave that decision up to the states. He also said that in all of his years of experience, he has never came across a woman that needed an abortion out of medical necessity.
You can view the debate here
MSU for Reform?
Tonight at the MSU CR meeting two resolutions were introduced. The first is to offer MSUs endorsement of the “Reform Constitution.”
The second is to endorse the “Team for Reform.”
Since the Chair at MSU, Ben Morlock actually follows the rules (unlike Zatkoff) he said that the resolutions cannot be voted on until the next meeting.
I have talked to a ton of people from MSU and all agree that the resolutions will pass, most even think unanimously.
Good job MSU CRs, you should be proud of the contributions you are making to build a better organization!
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Update: Justin Zatkoff has solicited a second person from MSU to run with him. She declined.
The Identity of Michigan CR
The outgoing Chairman of the Michigan College Republicans, Justin Zatkoff has started an anonymous blog to attack me personally and fight the MFCR Reformation.
With Zatkoff’s new website, he also created a new screen name called MichiganCR. How do we know this? The political neophyte forgot to change his profile picture that he has on his original screen name CarpeDiem.
Take a look:
This anonymous email was also sent to me tonight:
“If you look at the original email announcing the site, it came from Apple
Mail. (Look down by the X-Mailer line.)”“If you go to Justin’s campaign website, justinzatkoff.com, there is a sign
in screen. On top of the username area, it says idisk.mac.com or something
like that. The designers of Justin’s campaign website, and MichiganCR, both
use Macs.”
Justin Zatkoff’s brother is the web designer.
For those of you that are thinking “Man, he can’t actually be that stupid.” Think again. He sent me an email threatening to sue the Michigan Republican Party.
My only question in all of this is, did Zatkoff find the interview of himself on his blog a difficult one?
Note to Justin: Everything that I have said and did has my name on it. If you are in the right, why do you need an anonymous (not anymore) website to defend yourself and fight reform. What are you hiding?
As a further note, Zatkoff’s other website, TurnMichiganRed (also know as Turn Michigan McCain) has not been updated since MichiganCR came about. He’s been devoting so much time to this new MichiganCR website that he doesn’t update the former.
UPDATE:
UPDATE 2:
Brief interview with Nate Sherman:
CheneyGun: What do you think of Justin Zatkoff impugning your character by suggesting that you did a photoshop to allegedly frame him?
natesherman2005: I think it shows his true character. A person that has integrity would not resort to lying and providing false information to an anonymous blog, that he runs, if he was not trying to save the little or any creditability that he has as the leader of the Michigan Federation of College Republicans. This lack of honesty will only hurt him. He needs to say that he is sorry for what he has done, and man up to his actions. My challenge to Justin is to stop throwing mud, and start getting things done. The personal attacks just reveal his insecurity about what he has done and the way he treats fellow CRs (even ones like me that he has not even meet)!!
CheneyGun: Do you have anything against Justin Zatkoff?
natesherman2005: Before this, nothing at all.
Brief interview with Stu Kelly:
stukelly5180: I support the Reform Constitution and the reform slate. I am not writing these blogs. I hope all College Republicans in Michigan can unite against the use of these tactics and support reform.
CheneyGun: Do you even have a picture of yourself as a buddy icon?
stukelly5180: No, that pic was with Rudy Giuliani in Grand Rapids, and is currently my facebook pic, but I’ve never used a picture of myself as a buddy icon. I’ve had the Spartan symbol for a while, and prior to that I had the planet Uranus.
Note: Anyone can verify that Stu has NEVER used a picture of himself as an icon.
Keep lying Justin, we’ve got you!
PS: Neophyte = Novice
You are a political Novice.
Send me another email if you still don’t understand. I can try and clarify again.
UPDATE 3:
Justin Zatkoff posted on his website the following tonight on MichiganCR (his website)
Tonight, Amanda Zaluckyj’s spokesman sent out an email claiming he knows the identity of MichiganCR. He uses the following picture as proof:
[AIM screen capture of Zatkoff]
This comes as an amusement though because Michigan CR managed to retrieve the original screen capture in which Stu Kelly, author of the late ReformCaucus blog was actually pictured:
[Fake Zatkoff Photo Shop replacing his picture with Stu Kellys]
It gets better…
In the comments section, I have been going back and forth with him. He clearly admits that he lied…
By Michigan CR on Nov 28, 2007 | Reply
Joe-
Do you have a learning disability? Let me repeat:
Obviously the above screen capture is a photoshop used to show how easy it is for scum like Joe Sylvester to cheat and lie.
———-
There you have it, Justin Zatkoff just admitted that he did NOT retrieve the original but created his own screen capture to illustrate his point. This DIRECTLY contradicts what he has been saying all along.
Keep ‘em coming…
Buzz eludes McCain despite efforts
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‘The only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about,” Oscar Wilde once said, and that is the problem the John McCain campaign is now grappling with.
Over the past few days, Mitt Romney has been attacking Rudy Giuliani (and vice versa), and Fred Thompson has been attacking Mike Huckabee (and vice versa), but who has been attacking McCain?
In politics, you don’t draw attacks for only two reasons: You are a saint or you are irrelevant.
According to the RealClearPolitics Poll Averages, McCain is in fourth place nationally, fifth place in Iowa, third place in New Hampshire and fourth place in South Carolina. So he could use some buzz, even if it’s in the form of an attack.
McCain now has an ad running in which he says, “Since I have been in Washington, I’ve made a lot of people angry.”
I think he wishes that people were even angrier with him these days. And talking about him. more
Potential US Senate Changes
Michigan voters close to ugly win
November 25, 2007
It hasn’t been pretty.
And it isn’t over yet.
But right now, leaders of Michigan’s two major political parties are on the verge of getting everything they sought when they set out last fall to challenge Iowa and New Hampshire’s hammerlock on the presidential primary process.
Michigan’s Jan. 15 primary was resurrected from the dead the day before Thanksgiving when Michigan Supreme Court justices overturned a lower court ruling that had threatened to scuttle it.
Now House Speaker Andy Dillon, D-Redford Township, says he intends to hold a vote Monday on a bill that would reinstate the names of four presidential candidates who withdrew from the state’s Democratic presidential primary last month.
If the legislation passes, Michigan will be poised to realize an improbable trifecta triumph: The first large-state contest in the 2008 presidential cycle, a ballot featuring all the leading candidates in both parties and an opportunity for every registered Michigan voter to participate.
From the jaws of fiasco
We’ve come a long way from three weeks ago, when all of the major Democratic candidates, except Hillary Clinton, pulled their names from the Michigan primary ballot in a misguided show of deference to national party rules favoring Iowa and New Hampshire.
The Republican state Senate quickly voted to restore the dropouts’ names to the ballot. But some Democratic legislators saw the primary meltdown as an opportunity to pick their nominee in a more-exclusive party caucus, and Dillon and Gov. Jennifer Granholm have been reluctant to force a vote that could split the House’s fractious Democratic caucus.
But Friday, facing the prospect of a one-sided rump primary, Dillon began counting votes, and by Saturday, he had decided to put legislation restoring the dropouts’ names to a vote when the House reconvenes Monday.
“I don’t know where Republicans are, but it looks like there’s support” in the Democratic “caucus, so I’m going to put it up on Monday,” Dillon told me Saturday afternoon. “That’s my plan.”
Difficult, but doable
Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land and the 1,700 local election officials she oversees have every reason to be annoyed that the primary lineup is still up in the air. The House should have fixed the Democratic ballot long before the state Supreme Court resuscitated the primary last week.
But Land, who has publicly expressed doubts that election officials could meet the Dec. 1 deadline for printing primary ballots if the Democratic lineup is altered, has privately assured Democratic leaders that her team can get absentee ballots out on schedule if the Legislature finalizes the candidate list Monday or Tuesday.
Both national parties have threatened to penalize Michigan for scheduling a January primary by refusing to seat some or all of the state’s delegates at the parties’ nominating conventions next year.
But most political veterans said it will be practically impossible for either party to follow through against a state likely to play a critical role in next November’s election.
New Hampshire, which also violated party rules when it rescheduled its primary for Jan. 8, will ask the Democratic National Committee to waive any penalties when the DNC’s rule-making body meets next week, and Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., said Saturday that it would be hypocritical for the party to sanction Michigan if New Hampshire is forgiven.
Michigan Republican Party Chairman Saul Anuzis has also expressed skepticism that his national party will make good on its threat to slash the Michigan GOP’s convention delegation by half.
Michigan hasn’t recorded many wins lately, but this victory for voters seems within our grasp. State legislators shouldn’t be forgiven if they fail to close the deal.
Contact BRIAN DICKERSON at 248-351-3697 or bdickerson@freepress.com.
Schismatic ‘Archbishop’ Rowan Williams delusional comments on America
US is‘worst’ imperialist: archbishop
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THE Archbishop of Canterbury has said that the United States wields its power in a way that is worse than Britain during its imperial heyday.
Rowan Williams claimed that America’s attempt to intervene overseas by “clearing the decks” with a “quick burst of violent action” had led to “the worst of all worlds”.
In a wide-ranging interview with a British Muslim magazine, the Anglican leader linked criticism of the United States to one of his most pessimistic declarations about the state of western civilisation.
He said the crisis was caused not just by America’s actions but also by its misguided sense of its own mission. He poured scorn on the “chosen nation myth of America, meaning that what happens in America is very much at the heart of God’s purpose for humanity”. more
Thompson charges Fox News is biased against his campaign
Former Sen. Fred Thompson (R-Tenn.) suggested on Sunday that Fox News is biased against his campaign, charging that the network highlights commentators who have been critical of his run for the presidency.
In an interview on “Fox News Sunday,” host Chris Wallace pressed Thompson on how some conservatives have lambasted Thompson’s campaign and showed clips of Fox conservative commentators Charles Krauthammer and Fred Barnes criticizing the former senator.
Thompson said, “This has been a constant mantra of Fox, to tell you the truth.” He noted that other conservatives have praised his bid for the GOP nomination and took issue with a Fox promo that focused on polling in New Hampshire, where Thompson is registering in the single digits.
He said he is running second in national polls and has been leading or tied for the lead in South Carolina for “a long, long time.”
Thompson, in a firm, but measured tone, scolded Wallace: “…for you to highlight nothing but the negatives in terms of the polls and then put on your own guys who have been predicting for four months, really, that I couldn’t do it, kind of skew things a little bit. There’s a lot of other opinion out there.” more
CR Update
There have been some developments which I have come across through the grape vine. Megan Buwalda, WMU CR Chair is not slated to run for election as an MFCR officer. However, there is no sign that she plans to relinquish her spot on the credentials committee.
The Executive Director, Andrew Boyd has allegedly made known his intention that he does not plan to serve as E.D again. Boyd has been under fire for filing paperwork to recall Republican State Senator, Gerald VanWoerkom.
Pete “I blindly follow Justin Zatkoff for unknown reasons” Vitale is said to be running with Zatkoff as Co Chair. His position on the credentials committee is already a stretch given that he has endorsed Zatkoff. The convention is at his school, he’s endorsed a candidate and he is running with him, but yet he still sits on the credentials committee.
Justin Zatkoff has solicited people at MSU to run on his slate. I have confirmed one definite rejection thus far. As far as we know, no one has taken him up on his offers.
Chaz Oswald, the Chair of the Grand Rapids Community College Republicans is said to have joined the slate as one of the Vice Chairs. Earlier this years, we had an email exchange in which he was angry that Trevor Pittsley was drinking on Mackinac Island.
As best as I can tell, NO current MFCR officers are running with Zatkoff for reelection. Two are reportedly not running again (Migliore and Buwalda) while three officers have joined the slate against him (Zaluckyj, Rankey and Barrett)
There will be a meeting at state party to discuss the reform constitution, Friday the 30th at 6pm. Afterwards, Amanda Zaluckyj is having a fund raiser for MFCR Chair. If you need further details, feel free to contact me.
Keep in mind, the MIGOP Youth Chair Matt Hall gave a speech at the last state committee meeting saying, “Reform is not necessary…only a few bomb throwers are pushing it…” Make no mistake about it, the reform movement is a broad coalition and there will be reform.
Paul baffles pundits with maverick GOP bid
Presidential long shot’s popularity, fundraising success stuns the field.
Jose Antonio Vargas / Washington Post
STRAFFORD, N.H. — There’s no mistaking which house on Lake Shore Drive, about 45 minutes northeast of Manchester, is the one full of Paulites — the almost fanatical supporters of Rep. Ron Paul. Signs are everywhere. On the back window of a brand new black Toyota, on the bumper of a green Geo: “Ron Paul 2008.”
“The other campaigns aren’t worried that he’d win the primary. They just don’t know who his supporters are and whose support he’s taking away.” more
Michigan Supreme Court OK’s Jan. 15 primary: What it means
November 21, 2007
Read More: Primary Calendar
Politico.com
Mitt Romney may have just gotten an early Thanksgiving present.
In a 4-3 decision, the Michigan Supreme Court today struck down a lower court ruling and paved the way for a GOP primary in the state on Jan. 15.
“[It's] good for the state, good for the process and good for the party,” Michigan GOP chair Saul Anuzis said in an e-mail. “We still hope the Democrats pass the ‘fix’ legislation and put all the Democrats on the ballot.”
State Democrats are split over whether they’ll hold a convention or a primary.
Romney has worked his native state harder than any other GOP candidate and put in place the most extensive organization. It was such that some of this rivals, namely Rudy Giuliani, were inclined to cede him a victory had the state GOP been forced to schedule a convention. The prospect of a hollow victory in a low-profile gathering of a few thousand party loyalists in late-January would have done little to boost his chances.
But a statewide primary — where independents can participate — that will likely take place directly after New Hampshire and include Giuliani offers a considerable opportunity for Romney.
If he can win both Iowa and New Hampshire, he’d have a head of steam going into a friendly large state where he does not suffer name ID problems. And coming out of the gates 3-0 would put him in a very strong position to win the nomination. more
National averages:
Note: McCain and Romney are back and forth vying for 3rd for several months.
| RCP Average for Republican National Nomination | |
| Candidate | Average |
| Giuliani | 28.0% |
| Thompson | 14.8% |
| Romney | 12.7% |
| McCain | 12.2% |
| Spread: | Giuliani +13.2% |
Supreme Court Allows January 15 Presidential Primary
Michigan’s January 15 presidential primary will go forward under a decision issued Wednesday by a 4-3 majority of the Supreme Court. The court said the law served a predominantly public purpose, reversing lower court rulings that said provisions giving the two major parties exclusive access to primary voter lists was an unconstitutional appropriation of public property for private purposes.
Both the Democratic and Republican Parties said they would participate in the primary if the law were to be upheld. The voter lists at the center of the dispute identify which primary ballot each voter in the primary selects to use.
The court majority said parties unquestionable serve a public purpose and that the voter lists help them to support or oppose candidates and ballot issues, which is an integral part of democracy.
Chief Justice Clifford Taylor and Justices Maura Corrigan, Stephen Markman and Robert Young Jr. signed the majority opinion (Grebner v. Michigan, SC docket No. 135274).
Justice Michael Cavanagh would not have taken the appeal and let the lower court rulings stand. In the dissent, signed by Justice Marilyn Kelly, he said there is no express public purpose in how access to the lists are restricted. Justice Elizabeth Weaver dissented, saying the lower courts correctly held that a two-thirds majority vote was required to give the lists to the parties.
The Michigan Press Association had also filed a brief on Tuesday asking the entire primary statute be tossed because of First Amendment violations regarding the penalties assessed to journalists and citizens for publishing any information they acquire regarding the voter lists.
Signatures turned in to put medical marijuana issue on ballot
The Associated Press
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — A group that wants to allow the use of marijuana for medical purposes has turned in nearly 500,000 signatures to put the issue on the November 2008 ballot.
The Michigan Coalition for Compassionate Care says the 496,000 signatures it handed over to the secretary of state’s office should easily contain 304,101 valid signatures, the minimum required.
If approved by voters, the initiative would allow qualified, seriously ill patients to use and grow a limited amount of marijuana for medical purposes upon the recommendation of a doctor.
Twelve states and five Michigan cities have passed laws allowing the medical use of marijuana. Marijuana is illegal under federal law under all circumstances.
