a live note about the President's State of the Union (2008)
While President Bush was talking about No Child Left Behind as a "bipartisan effort" and a "good law" Ted Kennedy was sitting next to Barak Obama (whom he endorsed for President today). Senator Obama was staring ahead as if he had heat vision. Senator Kennedy looked down, as if adjusting glasses. Neither were clapping. I've read that Obama has qualms with the Bush 43's education bill in his autobiography. Ted Kennedy's hostility is puzzling because he wrote the bill. Apparently alliances demand a revisionist sort of history.
"a political candidate at his best is a trustee of the people. A trustee has a responsibility to guard the assets of others with a higher degree of care than he does his own. Those who nominated the candidate deserved the best effort possible." - John Ashcroft Never Again p 31
“They were so desperate to slow the advance of the German Sixth Army that they would send us into battle without weapons. Among the Red Army soldiers in front of us, there was quite a lot of panic. When they heard that the Germans were on their flanks, they started to run. To get rifles or submachine guns we had to take them from these men. Sometimes we even had to fight them for the weapons” *Russian soldiers account of the battle of Stalingrad*
"The Capitalists will sell us the very rope, from which we will use to hang them." *Vladimir Lenin*
"We're at war with the most dangerous enemy that has ever faced man kind in its long climb from the swamps to the stars; and its been said if we lose that war, and in so doing lose this way of freedom of ours, history will record with the greatest astonishment, that those who had the most to lose, did the least to prevent it from happening, well I think its time we ask ourselves if we still know the freedoms that were intended for us by the founding fathers." *Ronald Reagan*
Senator Fred Thompson today issued the following statement about his campaign for President:
"Today I have withdrawn my candidacy for President of the United States. I hope that my country and my party have benefited from our having made this effort. Jeri and I will always be grateful for the encouragement and friendship of so many wonderful people."
We started this campaign a year ago right here, in San Diego Harbor, against the backdrop of American Naval power. We launched a campaign emphasizing a strong national defense, enforceable borders and restoring the industrial base of America.
Today we end this campaign. The Nevada caucuses reflecting only 2% of the vote for me. I ran the campaign exactly the way I wanted to, and at this point not being able to gain traction in conservative states of Nevada and South Carolina, it's time to allow our volunteers and supporters to focus on the campaigns that remain viable.
It's time for me to gear up for 2008's defense bill that will be put together over the coming weeks. There is work to be done in the areas of troop protection and new capabilities to be deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. And over the horizon, the emergence of Communist China as a military super power will require a new emphasis on U.S. capabilities in undersea warfare, space, and long range air-power.
The best way to maintain a new era of peace is for the U.S. to remain strong. Over the coming year I will endeavor to help craft a defense bill that meets the new security challenges.
Since our campaign began over 200,000 additional manufacturing jobs have been lost. 1.8 million jobs have left the U.S. for China. This fracturing of the U.S. industrial base is a long term threat to America. I hope that the remaining candidates will recognize it and address it. As the senior Republican on the House Armed Services Committee, I will seek to address it.
Only hours ago a border patrolman was killed in the California Desert. This tragedy emphasizes more than ever the compelling case for the completion of the border fence. Since I wrote the bill that mandates 854 miles of double border fence only a few miles have been constructed. Over the next year in Congress I will do everything in my power to get that fence built.
Finally, for Lynn and me, the campaign over the last year has shown us this: America is a wonderful country. Our people have great character and goodness, and the meeting of new friends has enriched our lives.
The failure of our campaign to gain traction is mine and mine alone. But we have driven the issues of national security, the border fence, the emergence of China and the need to reverse bad trade policy. Because of that, this campaign has been very worthwhile, and for the Hunter family, a lot of fun.
To our friends and supporters and volunteers: many thanks. And now it's time for me to focus on developing a 2008 defense bill that serves our troops and our nation.
Over on Real Clear Politics Steve Chapman lays out how the number of abortions have dropped across the nation compared to pregnancies. Abortionists insist that America wants to tear children from their wombs, bleeding and convulsing, except that there are not enough abortion clinics to do so. Free market capitalists retort that if there really were such a demand for abortions across the country as abortionists insist there is, the market would supply abortion clinics to meet the aforementioned demand. The conclusion of the article is that the nationwide desire and bland general approval of abortions has decreased.
I agree with the article, if only because it is so logical in its argumentation.
South Carolina finds Mike Huckabee moving right on immigration while John McCain stays left
I find Mike Huckabee's rise towards the Presidency only mildly encouraging because I believe ultimately he may be browbeaten towards doing the right (conservative) thing. Part of his rightward shift is this Tancredo-like move.
Gov. Mike Huckabee yesterday continued to move to the right on immigration during this year's presidential campaign, signing a pledge to enforce immigration laws and to make all illegal aliens go home.
The pledge, offered by immigration control advocacy group Numbers USA, commits Mr. Huckabee to oppose a new path to citizenship for current illegal aliens and to cut the number of illegal aliens already in the country through attrition by law enforcement — something Mr. Huckabee said he will achieve through his nine-point immigration plan.
"Some would say it's a tough plan. It is, but it's also fair and reasonable," Mr. Huckabee said.
John McCain isn't doing so well on that front, as people putting pressure on him for immigration policies, which included cuddling with Ted Kennedy in all the wrong ways. Further problems come from
charges from a group called Vietnam Veterans Against McCain.
The McCain campaign said the veterans group is circulating fliers that say Mr. McCain turned his back on fellow prisoners of war in order to receive special treatment while in captivity in Vietnam.
That sounds almost like a conspiracy theory to me, but I do not know the facts or the truth.
Thursday, February 7th. 2008 from 7:00PM to 8:00PM* The meeting will be a "Call to Convention," where we vote on delegates to the State Party Convention. The convention is usually held first and then the regular meeting. Please arrive early if you want to vote. *Regular meetings are the first Tuesday of the month, unless posted otherwise.
Place:
Tony M's Home-cooked Italian meals and refreshing beverages. 3420 South Creyts Road (map) Lansing, MI 48917
Parking:
Free and plentiful around the building.
Attire:
Casual, most people come directly from work on meeting night.
Eligibility:
Anyone with an open mind. New members are always welcome.
Costs:
The meeting has always been free to attend. Food and beverage is the responsibility of the guest.
Notes:
Many members arrive at 6:00PM to buy dinner or stay after for drinks and conversation.
The following has been in my side bar, unfortunately unedited, for the past year as I reckon. It should be more flexible and fixed. So many of these sites are stupid or dead and so many just should be on the list but are not. So I will keep a copy of this thing so I don't forget anything.
I don't know what it means. It did not win Ron Paul Michigan. There is a logic floating here that "the Patriot Act" is especially threatening to Muslims above other people but I won't follow it.
Congressman JD Hayworth, author of Whatever It Takes: Illegal Immigration, Border Security and the War on Terror endorses Hunter!
Hayworth bucks the milquetoast trend of the GOP party-establishment to marginalize the immigration issue and tuck it out of the way of the current crop of amnesty candidates.
Instead, he's voting for the last remaining border security hawk in the race: Duncan Hunter.
Congressman Hayworth writes:
"To base a primary vote on 'electability' instead of ideas and principles seems to me a reduction of your rights via rationalization.
No one will ever completely agree with every position that a candidate takes…as Sharon put it, 'there is no perfect candidate,' but I believe my vote should go to the candidate who comes closest to espousing the philosophy I share.
That brings me back to Duncan Hunter.
No, he won't be on the stage tonight in the South Carolina GOP Debate, and his name appears nowhere near the top of the polls…but he supported tax cuts, did a masterful job as Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, and stands for 'enforcement first' on illegal immigration.
That's why he'll get my vote and my support for as long as he is in it."
Clearly Hewitt knows nothing about my state or the protracted Primary battle that has occurred here for the past 15 months. His headline regarding the Mass Governor's Primary win in Michigan: Romney Wins Easily
I tell you the truth: I am not a Mitt Romney supporter. At best I am a skeptic and a cautious one at that. It is inarguable that Governor Romney had to fight and work very hard to score his one and only Primary victory (that does not count his one earlier Caucus). To suggest otherwise in fact undercuts the work of his crew, employees, so-called "Grassroots" infrastructure, and campaign organizers.
Yes, Romney has superior organization. Yes, he outspent McCain 2-1. Yes, he’s a native son. Yes, weather likely played a factor (how about the irony of global warming-panicked McCain losing voters because of cold, snowy weather?).
But Michigan plays to all McCain’s strengths. He won it over a Romney-esque Bush in 2000 because the state has a large independent vote, plenty of Reagan Democrats ready to cross over, and a primary where only the Republican vote mattered.
Yet, McCain stepped all over himself with a careless, “straight-talking” strategy of telling Michiganians their jobs weren’t coming back. And then he stubbornly stuck to the line despite its obvious damage.
The comment came across as callous and out-of-touch, independents stayed home, and Romney rode it all the way to a nine-point shellacking. Even Huckabee, who had been playing tag team with McCain against Romney, couldn’t resist jabbing at McCain’s defeatism.
Romney's victory was greater than I anticipated, thanks to the difference between today's views of the poll numbers and yesterday's forecast.
Despite the great numbers, indicating a whopper, my initial assertion is correct. Mitt Romney had to work disproportionately hard for this victory and part of the deficit between the Mass Governor and the Arizona Senator is because John McCain slipped up personally on the road. Ultimately for all the Massachusetts native put into this state (and other states) his victory should have been a lot easier. One could say it would have been "easy" if he put in less money and his visits carried much word of mouth, or if he had to visit less while spending as much, but if what Mitt Romney did in Michigan was easy... a lot of people lying, which would not be unusual in politics.
In my market, commonly called Lansing, the station that plays Glenn Beck (#3 talk show in the nation), 1240 AM, only plays exactly one half of the show, that running from 10 AM to 11:30 AM so I definitely miss Glenn's interview with Jonah, which I am certain was a laugh riot. Now I love the Jerry Doyle Show so certainly I could catch the interview that was in hour 2 on 1320 AM. I cannot do that because a few months ago some bright guy decided to move Jerry Doyle to a late night slot (so the episodes aired are pre-recorded and not live) and the two of the three hours that were played in the afternoon (fortunately the current slot features all three hours for what it is worth) were replaced by not-live but pre-recorded two hours (the first two hours out of three) from the Dennis Miller Show.
Dennis Miller is funny but not as fun or interesting as Jerry Doyle, but apparently the majority of the 1320 AM listeners would rather listen to a recording of Dennis Miller's show than a live airing of Jerry Doyle's.
Jerry Doyle's program airs 3 to 6 PM ET, Dennis Miller's airs from 10 AM to 1 PM I believe. It doesn't really matter. I just prefer my radio programs live and whole. That's sort of irrelevant now that I just cannot listen to the Goldberg interviews that sound so awesome conceptually.
I certainly hope this is a willful misinterpretation of Mitt Romney's politics and political philosophy based on my natural suspicion of all politicians. I don't want to be correct here in my suspicions given the odds that this man may be the Republican candidate for President.
This is a clip from CBS' "Face the Nation" aired on January 13th, 2008. Bob Schieffer interviews Governor Romney and the central focus is on Michigan's recession and the automotive industry. Governor Romney talks about not "sitting back" and that's indicative of a bad idea in general. He talks about "getting together" with private sector leadership in the automotive industry, especially regarding how the government will regulate the companies. That is, instead of interfering outright, he'll enter into hostage negotiations before organizing government interference.
When he means that "we" will "fix" Michigan it generally means more government involvement. Government involvement already is Michigan's problem. That's a philosophical argument though. It's a libertarian view.
Just past the three minute mark we see Mitt Romney's notion of investing in science and technology. By "investing" he means government subsidies, grants, and payments in the (probably vain) hope for technological, scientific growth and generally positive constructive results. He will take your money and my money and lots of people's money and put it somewhere based on his judgment, which really isn't an idea that appeals to my better instincts.
Clip 2 boasts the last four minutes of the interview. He talks about his expertise and experience in the private sector, and that while he isn't an insider in Washington (I've heard that rhetoric before from a lot of people) he is knowledgeable how the country work, based on his leadership success in the business world, the private sector. (Mike Huckabee's quote probably won over Mr. Schieffer to some extent; populism and victim-politics are ugly things but persuasive). Governor Romney has done many good and wonderful things in the private sector and generally shaped companies, and thus human lives, for the better. He was even willing to cut people off as necessary. "Don't cast rocks at people who are trying to create jobs and turn around businesses."
I have no problem with ideas such as cutting positions and other data-heavy pursuits and I'd love to see that role being fulfilled.
Now, I'm one of those folks that is fond of the expression "run America like a business". That is we wish it to be not wasteful, especially given the investments are somewhat absolute in nature, and we don't care for redundancies. The fact is though I don't like the notion of a President being akin to a corporate CEO to the ultimate logical extent of the notion. A corporate head may or may not have flexibility in the extent of his own power to fulfill his vision of an improved company. That depends on who is empowered to limit his abilities and how much controlling stock or controlling ownership the corporate leader has in the company. The President of the United States, on the other hand, practically and historically can expand the power of the Executive branch quite extensively and so the limits of Presidential power are not very tangible. Yet Constitutionally and ideally the President has a specific role to fulfill and the wisest of the citizens don't want the President to work his ways especially as he sees fit.
We'll see how this fits in with Mitt Romney and why that makes me uncomfortable in Part II.
ABC, the television network as we know it, is owned by the corporation known as Disney.
ABC Radio Networks is owned by Citadel Broadcasting, the largest pure-play radio company in the United States with a strong national footprint reaching more than 50 markets. Citadel Broadcasting owns 177 FM stations and 66 AM stations in the nation's leading markets.
Who owns Citadel Broadcasting? The ABC Radio Networks and television networks have the same logo, so what exactly is the relationship between the two and what therefore is the relationship between Citadel and Disney?
"(Fred Thompson is) a conservative. What does that mean today?"
Fred Thompson breaks it down and leads it, links it, right to the beginning of everything.
I think that it means things that are consistent with God`s design for man. It`s consistent with human nature. It`s consistent with the lessons of history and the lessons of the ages. They found form in the Constitution, I think, and what our founding fathers believed. They understand that man can do great and wonderful things, but man is prone to error, and sometimes do terrible things. That too much power in too few hands is a dangerous thing, that power is a corrupting thing.
CHARLIE ROSE: In all of that, you didn`t mention abortion, gay rights — all things that have been part of recent presidential elections.
FRED THOMPSON: Those — well, you`re talking about different things there. Those are issues that are before us, which derive from principles. I don`t consider them to be...
CHARLIE ROSE: Principles.
FRED THOMPSON: ... the first principles. But the principles are what guides you in coming to positions with regard to the issues. You know, the Declaration of Independence said that our basic rights come from God and not from man. The founders talked about, you know, life and liberty and the importance of that. And everything is based on those basic principles. And I take those principles, and you know, for example, I come to a pro-life conclusion there. And when we had issues, you know, for eight years when I was in the United States Senate about whether or not the federal government should be funding, for example, abortion-related activities and things of that nature, you know, the application of those principles in that instance told me the answer was no, properly.
So there is a difference between issues and principles. One comes from and another and defines how the proper leaders acts.
This Corner post raises the question whether Fred Thompson is divining voters of his own from Huckabee crowds, or if he is merely splitting off voters from Huckabee or McCain thus strengthening the other candidate, enabling a victory with a mere plurality of votes.
It starts off with the possibility, imposed by an e-mailer, that what Fred Thompson is offering (real Conservatism) has little appeal to the type of South Carolinan in the Huckabee crowd. That suggests terrible things about South Carolinans.
People cheered him when he said something suitable Patriotic and good, but when something was un-Conservative and could damage the country, like Senator McCain's immigration law policies, he received jeers and boos.
This was at "the Americans for Prosperity Summit held Saturday in the Detroit suburb of Livonia."
That makes the sort and sorts of reception somewhat predictable.
500 Conservative activists... makes me wish there was more than one of me so I could have gone. I wonder how John Stossel was.
Little Rock, AR - Former Arkansas Governor and Presidential Candidate Mike Huckabee will attend events in Augusta, Lansing, Ypsilanti, Detroit and Warren, Michigan on Monday, January 14, 2008.
NOTE: Subject to change.
Monday, January 14, 2008:
8:30 a.m. ET - Augusta, MI - Attends "Mike Huckabee for President" Rally at the Brooke Lodge Hotel and Conference Resort, 6535 N 42nd St.
1:00 p.m. -- Lansing, MI -- Tour of Demmer Corporation, 1600 N. Larch St.
3:30 p.m.-Ypsilanti, MI - Tour of General Motors Run Plant (Next to Willow Run Airport).
4:30 p.m. - Detroit, MI -- Attends Detroit Auto Show, COBO Center, One Washington Blvd.
7:30 p.m. - Warren, MI - Attends "Meet Mike Huckabee for President" Rally at the Royalty House, 8201 E 13 Mile Rd.
It's not about issues. It's not merely about policy. It's about the deep ages-old reasonings behind them. That which unites various ideas and notions and movements are core principles, some would say first principles.
Many so-called Conservatives, and most liberals or media types fail to realize this. Charlie Rose is among them, so candidate Senator actor Philosopher King Potential Fred Thompson educates him.
The real-life John McCain believes what the cartoon John McCain claims to believe. These are not good things. Who wants me to support this characiture of sound public policy?
Just don't.
For the record: I love John McCain and respect John McCain. I admire the war hero and I wish I had the sort of character he demonstrated in the sixties and seventies.
It's unfortunate that he has such support for become President in this state.
Senator Barak Obama became a Senator, we assume, because he was practically uncontested, his only opponent being perennial candidate Alan Keyes, literally moved in from another state to replace Jack Ryan.
But if Jeri Ryan (most famous for playing Seven of Nine on Star Trek: Voyager) had not divorced Jack Ryan in such an ugly and vicious way then Barak Obama may simply be a little State Senator dreaming of becoming Klingon High Council Leader. One hot blonde inadvertently and indirectly changed the fate of the world. Atomic Trousers and Charlie Sykes explains it.
I wrote about this on message boards before but I really should go into depth on it, from my particular angle some day. But until then Atomic and Sykes makes anything I have to say about it redundant.
The following is a press release from the Michigan Republican Party website.
1/4/2008
Bill Kristol, editor of the Weekly Standard and newly announced conservative columnist for the New York Times, told a Detroit talk-radio show today that Michigan is now "ground zero" for Republicans seeking the presidential nomination.
Bill Kristol, editor of the Weekly Standard and newly announced conservative columnist for the New York Times, told a Detroit talk-radio show today that Michigan is now "ground zero" for Republicans seeking the presidential nomination. Michigan holds its presidential primary on Tuesday, Jan. 15.
Speaking on WJR-AM's "Frank Beckmann Show," Kristol said:
"Michigan now becomes 'THE' state, I believe, for the Republican nomination with McCain, Romney and Huckabee going at it...I think Michigan becomes ground zero for the Republican race."
Listen to Kristol's complete interview with Frank Beckmann here.
I heard about this on Rush. I'm sorry I cannot watch this right now.
10 minutes into Sen Clinton's address to a crowd of 700 in Salem, NH, a man near the front of the hall interrupted the remarks — standing up with a big, yellow sign reading "Iron My Shirt" and loudly chanting the same phrase. He was soon joined by another man in the back. Added: January 07, 2008
As Mr. Limbaugh sees it, it's a rip-off of a joke he told at an event. In fact, he (and I) both suspect that these two "sexists" and "idiots" are plants to set up how Hillary can react well and wittily under pressure. They set her up and she completes with a series of remarks glass ceilings and other bits of gender-themed idiocy. This is rot that Margaret Thatcher would have deemed beneath her. The issues of defending the free world do not have much overlap with sick selfish gender politics, but unfortunately getting high in Democrat Party polls have a lot to do with gender reflecting.
The following is a press release from Saul Anuzis on the Michigan Republican website.
1/8/2008
GOP Presidential Contest Moves To Great Lakes State for Crucial Electoral Match Up Jan. 15
MANCHESTER, N.H. - The polls in New Hampshire are closed and now Republican presidential candidates are heading to Michigan for what could be a watershed GOP primary in the Great Lakes State.
"Michigan is positioned to be a make-or-break state for Republican candidates," said Michigan Republican Party Chairman Saulius "Saul" Anuzis. "Michigan is a better test of a candidate's general election appeal than most of the early primary states. Michigan is a perennial bellwether political state. Its citizenry is extremely diverse, and it and has a long tradition of independent-minded voters. A Republican who does well in Michigan will do well across the country."
Anuzis said Michigan will play a major role in determining the next Republican nominee for president, adding that the decision to move up the state's primary to Jan. 15 - despite the likelihood of delegate sanctions by the Republican National Committee - has proved the correct one. Starting Wednesday, candidates will fan across Michigan in a final push to woo the remaining undecided voters.
"The early states set the tone and tenor of the primary elections," Anuzis said. "Michigan, with its single-state recession, higher-than-average unemployment and recent population losses, faces unique economic challenges the next president must help address. Making sure the Republican contenders spend time in Michigan getting to know its people and issues will make sure we have a friend in the White House next January."
For an up-to-date list of presidential candidate visits to Michigan, visit www.MIGOP.org.
This is ripped from Saul Anuzis' weblog. It is by no means absolutely complete, given the busy schedules. Mike Huckabee is still an enigma and aside from some indefinite indeterminate rumors, Fred Thompson will be spending the entire time in South Carolina until the SC Primary.
The Michigan Republican Presidential Primary is Tuesday, Jan. 15.Below are the scheduled campaign and Michigan Republican events as of 5:52 PM Wednesday, January 9, 2008. Candidates confirmed unless otherwise noted.
Events contained on this list are based on notifications to the Michigan Republican Party from the individual campaigns. If no events are listed for a particular candidate then that campaign has not made its Michigan schedule available to the Michigan Republican Party. Please confirm candidate appearances directly with the individual campaigns.
Wednesday, Jan. 9
10:15 AM McCain for President
Grand Rapids Rally and Town Hall Event
Gerald R. Ford International Airport Northern Jet Management
(Past the terminal on the right)
Confirmed speakers: Senator McCain
5500 44th Street SE
Grand Rapids, MI
1:15 PMMcCain for President
Oakland County Rally and Town Hall Event
Oakland County International Airport at McInerney Center
Part 2 is the predictable impact of the Democrat Primary in Michigan and the semi-open nature of both Primaries.
Part 3 is a summary of my impressions of the television advertisements and the Romney radio advertisement I saw. I shall spare the effort of finding youtube encodes of these ads because my internet can't sustain the effort. I also cannot stand the expense of recording these animals myself.
Part 4 is a brief rundown of the candidates' event shout-outs and schedules. I hope I can find an excuse to rip into people.
Part 5 is my ripping into candidates' relationship with Michigan. It will be brief; I hope it is ten sentences at best.
Part 6 is a video recorded: I will name my endorsement.
Maybe I'll record part 6 tomorrow and upload it Friday. Why bother taking the risk of absolute irrelevance when baseline irrelevance suits me fine.
Although with national attention on my state I might actually write about politics such that people might notice: for the purpose of the Primaries.
Of course to do this I'll have to start writing material for RightMichigan.
Who knews. Hey, Nick! How unconditional a deal do I have?
My first article is an easy topic. I tell you the truth: I think the early Primaries are a bad idea and I have thought so since before.... September or October! I should have wrote about it months ago.
Tuesday, January 8th. 2008 from 7:00PM to 8:00PM* The January meeting will be a "Call to Convention," where we vote on delegates to the State Party Convention. The convention is usually held first and then the regular meeting. Please arrive by 6PM if you want to vote. *Regular meetings are the first Tuesday of the month, unless posted otherwise.
Place:
Tony M's Home-cooked Italian meals and refreshing beverages. 3420 South Creyts Road (map) Lansing, MI 48917
Parking:
Free and plentiful around the building.
Attire:
Casual, most people come directly from work on meeting night.
Eligibility:
Anyone with an open mind. New members are always welcome.
Costs:
The meeting has always been free to attend. Food and beverage is the responsibility of the guest.
Notes:
Many members arrive at 6:00PM to buy dinner or stay after for drinks and conversation.
In this case Mayor Rudy Giuliani is full of crap and as usual Senator Fred Thompson does not take BS from anybody. He calls it as he sees it and tells it like it is.
That quality will not help him become President. We'll probably get a BS factory for President.
DISTRICT AND FAMILY State Representative John Proos was elected to the Michigan House in November 2004 to represent the 79th district in northern Berrien County. Rep. Proos resides in St. Joseph with his wife Kristy and three children, Elena, Jack and Nora.
EDUCATION Rep. Proos is a 1988 graduate of Lake Michigan Catholic High School. He holds a bachelor of Political Science from Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI and a Master's in Higher Education Administration from Michigan State University.
PROFESSIONAL Over the past ten years, Proos has worked on the staff of Congressman Fred Upton serving in several different capacities, most recently as deputy chief of staff and district director. Proos also worked as vice president of Heritage Homes Inc. of Michigan in Berrien County.
PAST PUBLIC AFFILIATIONS In addition to working for Congressman Upton, Proos has served as Berrien County Republican Party Chairman and has been a member of the Berrien County Republicans. Proos was also a member of the Berrien County Election Staff for the Bush/Cheney campaign in 2000. Proos was also a member of the Lakeland Regional Health System Community Benefits Committee and HOSTS mentor for Benton Harbor Area Schools.
COMMUNITY SERVICE AND AFFILIATIONS In addition to family and political life Proos is active in many southwestern Michigan groups including the Rotary Club of St. Joseph/Benton Harbor and the United Way of Southwest Michigan. . Proos is a board member of the Berrien Community Foundation and member of St. Joseph the Provider Knights of Columbus Chapter of St. Joseph Catholic Parish.
COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS Rep. Proos has been appointed to the House Appropriations Committee for the 2007-2008 Legislative Session. He is serving as Minority Vice Chair of the Corrections and Environmental Quality Subcommittees and is a member of the Joint Capital Outlay Committee. In addition, Rep. Proos has been elected to serve on the Republican Caucus Leadership Team as Caucus Chair.
LEGISLATIVE AWARDS 2005 Wine Michigan Legislator of the Year 2006 Michigan State Medical Society Legislator of the Year 2006 Literacy Advocate Award 2006 Michigan Agri-Business Association Agricultural Advocate Award
"My priority remains to listen, to learn and to understand the challenges that face our families in Michigan's Great Southwest. As your representative in Lansing, I will continue to serve as your voice on issues that matter to our economy, to the education of our children, and to our natural resources."
Dear 79th District Voter,
Since January 1, 2005 I have served the 79th District of Michigan as your State Representative. I took to Lansing the ENERGY, VISION and EXPERIENCE as I promised during my campaign. During my first term of office:
I worked hard with the Republican majority for a balanced budget that increased education funding by $175 per pupil and maintained Public Safety through State Police Funding and Revenue Sharing.
Introduce Public Act 8 of 2005 which allows townships the ability to provide differential pay for military personnel fighting overseas.
Introduced a resolution that urged re-licensure for Cook Nuclear Power Plant in Bridgman, keeping hundreds of jobs in Michigan's Great Southwest.
Voted to create the 21st Century Jobs Fund, a committee that will give loans and assistance to the manufacturing industry to improve our economy.
Introduced legislation to toughen penalties for kidnapping and confinement, responding to a situation that occurred in Lincoln Township. This legislation passed committee 2/15/2006.
Supported a bill package that allows consumers to receive direct shipments of wine from in-state and out-of-state wineries.
Working in the 79th District my office my staff and I:
Assisted 27 local businesses and municipalities in supporting special projects, and we aided in Department and Commission communications to encourage job creation and economic growth.
Aided nearly 300 constituents in their communication with over 50 State Agencies, Departments and Commissions to cut red tape.
Bridged the gap between Northern Berrien County and Lansing by bringing departments from Lansing to Berrien County to work with local folks as well as having local folks travel to Lansing to meet directly with department staff. Some of those activities included:
DNR meeting with local citizens about the Cougar sightings.
DEQ and DNR meeting locally to discuss the St. Joseph Harbor dredging problems.
My office hosted Student Council Day at the Capitol for all area high schools.
4. My office hosted groups of local elected officials in Lansing to encourage better dialogue and communications
I have personally attended community meetings in the 17 cities, townships and Villages in the 79th District to provide legislative update and hear their concerns.
Last but not least, I feel very privileged to have been appointed to the House Energy and Technology Committee where I serve as Vice Chair as well as the House Education Policy Committee, the House Agriculture Policy Committee and the Senior Health, Security and Retirement Committee. These committees are all very important to my constituency and I have worked very hard to provide leadership on these committees to protect the interests of voters in the 79th District.
Truly,
John Proos Republican Candidate, 79th District State Representative
The Energy to represent our community
Past President and Active Member of St. Joseph/Benton Harbor Rotary Club, 1996-present
United Way of Southwest Michigan Cabinet Member, 1995-1997 and 1999-present
Lakeland Regional Health System Community Benefits Committee Member, 1999-present
St. Joseph Improvement Association Director, 2002-present
HOSTS Mentor for Benton Harbor Area Schools, 2002-present
Berrien County Intermediate School District Board Member of the Foundation for Educational Excellence, 1998-2002
St. Joe Aquatics Assistant Swimming Coach, 1994-1997
Lake Michigan Catholic H.S. Girls' Tennis Coach, 1999-2001
The Vision to keep the 79th District growing
As a father of two young children and a lifelong resident of St. Joseph I am dedicated to the future of southwest Michigan. I am determined to use my energy and experience to grow the economy, foster education, and protect our environment. My vision is to generate positive change and growth for the 79th District.
The Right Experience to make it happen
Deputy Chief of Staff, District Director for U.S. Representative Fred Upton, 1999-present
District Director, 1998-present
St. Joseph Office Director, 1996-1997
District Representative, 1994-1997
Vice President, Heritage Homes, Inc. of Michigan, 1997-1998
Berrien County Republican Party Chairman, 2002-present
Berrien County Republican Party Member, 1994-present
Since January 1, 2005 I have served the 79th District of Michigan as your State Representative. I took to Lansing the ENERGY, VISION and EXPERIENCE as I promised during my campaign. During me first term of office:
I worked hard with the Republican majority for a balanced budget that increased education funding by $175 per pupil and maintained Public Safety through State Police Funding and Revenue Sharing.
Introduce Public Act 8 of 2005 which allows townships the ability to provide differential pay for military personnel fighting overseas.
Introduced a resolution that urged re-licensure for Cook Nuclear Power Plant in Bridgman, keeping hundreds of jobs in Michigan's Great Southwest.
Voted to create the 21st Century Jobs Fund, a committee that will give loans and assistance to the manufacturing industry to improve our economy.
Introduced legislation to toughen penalties for kidnapping and confinement, responding to a situation that occurred in Lincoln Township. This legislation passed committee 2/15/2006.
Supported a bill package that allows consumers to receive direct shipments of wine from in-state and out-of-state wineries.
Working in the 79th District my office my staff and I:
Assisted 27 local businesses and municipalities in supporting special projects, and we aided in Department and Commission communications to encourage job creation and economic growth.
Aided nearly 300 constituents in their communication with over 50 State Agencies, Departments and Commissions to cut red tape.
Bridged the gap between Northern Berrien County and Lansing by bringing departments from Lansing to Berrien County to work with local folks as well as having local folks travel to Lansing to meet directly with department staff. Some of those activities included:
DNR meeting with local citizens about the Cougar sightings.
DEQ and DNR meeting locally to discuss the St. Joseph Harbor dredging problems.
My office hosted Student Council Day at the Capitol for all area high schools.
4. My office hosted groups of local elected officials in Lansing to encourage better dialogue and communications
I have personally attended community meetings in the 17 cities, townships and Villages in the 79th District to provide legislative update and hear their concerns.
Last but not least, I feel very privileged to have been appointed to the House Energy and Technology Committee where I serve as Vice Chair as well as the House Education Policy Committee, the House Agriculture Policy Committee and the Senior Health, Security and Retirement Committee. These committees are all very important to my constituency and I have worked very hard to provide leadership on these committees to protect the interests of voters in the 79th District.
Truly,
John Proos Republican Candidate, 79th District State Representative
payment of application fees, acquisition of English-language skills, understanding of American civics, a medical exam, and registration fro military service. Individuals convicted of a felony or three misdemeanors were ineligible. Despite these requirements, all agree that the 1986 law amounted to amnesty.
Does it not lessen the value of money and contracts that deals between individuals or other entities can be willfully invalidated by government intervention? Good question. William F. Buckley notes that the the free market doesn't judge; people make or break their own fortunes.
Social critics are despondent over the failure absolutely to fix blame on somebody for the terrible subprime-mortgage phenomenon. There's the temptation to blame a phenomenon judged to be malicious, or at best thoughtless, on an institutional feature of the free-market system. Jared Bernstein of the Economic Policy Institute in Washington cites a pressing need for regulation, the invisible hand of the marketplace having failed us.
It is useful to remind ourselves that the market does not pose as, or at least ought not to pose as, an executor of justice. If John and Jim, apparently equally endowed and equally motivated, launch identical business enterprises and John succeeds while Jim fails, one can't look to the market to weigh the two entrepreneurs by meritocratic standards. The market can't judge what role sheer luck played in the different outcomes. Free-market theory intervenes only to say that Jim, the loser, should himself bear the costs of failure.
There is a difference between a winner and a loser and in the old days the loser would pick himself up, dust himself off, seek help from neighbors to live during the tough times and struggle to fight for the livelihood of his loved ones. These days there is a bigger focus on clean slates and evened odds.
Fred Thompson six points behind the leader in the national polls
The leader is actually two people tied at 19% each. Mike Huckabee and John McCain are ahead of the pack. Fred Thompson actually comes in last at 13%. None of the candidates in the middle of the pack are far from either extreme. What this logically means is that popularity and poll numbers are not going to persuasive determining a candidate's next action and this sort of "dead heat" likely won't be a factor in getting rid of my man from the election.
On the other hand this kind of even spread dissuades major donors or large numbers of minor donors from making serious commitments to a candidate and serious lack of cash is likely the only factor in forcing a decision on whether and when Fred Thompson will leave the race.
It's also fun looking at this way. The Chameleon Candidate is second from the bottom and Rudy is third from the bottom with only four points higher than the bottom, yet paradoxically he's in second place of five candidates with a two-point deficit. What this means is simple. Polls are (largely) meaningless; their main purpose in an electoral horse race is a rhetorical bludgeon used to convince people that the candidates they love and support are unworthy of support because they may not be "viable" or "electable", hammering those potential voters with the words "he won't win". Polls are usually, not always, a tool to disenfranchise people and rob them of hope, to persuade them to change their actions.
Jack Kemp was a man who in serious Conservative circles used to carry serious weight for his work and beliefs in Ronald Reagan's supply-side economics. Economist and NRO/CNBC pundit Larry Kudlow addresses Mr. Kemp's endorsement of Senator McCain under this light.
Jack Kemp’s endorsement of Sen. John McCain for president is both interesting and significant. Kemp was one of the founders of the Reagan supply-side tax-cutting movement. And of course, he’s been a prominent free-market advocate for economic-growth policies for several decades... The former-Buffalo, New York, House member/Housing secretary and 1996 GOP vice-presidential candidate would surely be able to relieve doubts about Sen. McCain’s tax-cutting intentions should he become president... McCain has steadfastly maintained on the campaign trail that he would preserve the Bush tax cuts on capital gains, dividends, and personal incomes that are set to expire in 2010.
Kemp would join former Sen. Phil Gramm as key McCain economic advisors. As I noted in an earlier post, Phil Gramm is the quintessential free-market advocate. He spent a career in the House and Senate limiting government spending, taxing, and regulating.
Both Kemp and Gramm are strong free-trade supporters. Gramm was also the original sponsor of the Reagan tax-and-spending cuts back in 1981 in the Gramm-Latta bill reported out of the House. That bill incorporated Jack Kemp’s original proposal to slash personal tax rates by 30 percent across the board.
Down through the years, Jack Kemp has been a tireless advocate of economic growth through supply-side tax reform and free trade. Getting him on board is a real coup for Sen. McCain.
Mark Levin sees it how I see it, and how other, smarter Conservatives (Conservatives that are smarter than me) see it. This does not make Senator McCain look better, it continues to make Jack Kemp look worse. To many Jack Kemp is a disappointment and to some he is a shell of a promise of his historical 1980s self.
Sorry Larry, but most endorsements mean little, and Kemp means less. His 1996 performance against Gore was a long-time turn-off for many, not to mention his affinity for open borders and affirmative action.
Jack Kemp's (confrontational) connection to Al Gore is what throws his credentials out the window. Of course, to many, Jack Kemp is still not the softy from his Vice-Presidential bid of 1996 and to those this could be influential, but to the common man few will remember Kemp and those that ask (me) will not be learning of him in a favorable light.
She was on an episode of Stargate Atlantis tonight. More's the pity I have no cable nor Sci-Fi Channel.
Also a pity I will have to wait until syndication or DVD to see the beauty grace my screen otherwise. No, I do not watch the Blade cable television series.
A widower (Beau Bridges) and his daughters (Heather McEwen, Chantal Conlin) enter a surreal world to fullfill an enigmatic prophecy after they are attacked by evil trolls. Mackenzie Gray, John DeSantis. Lily: Wanda Cannon. Based on a book by James C. Christensen.
That is, he is a fantasy guy. I'm temporarily going to address any science fiction that is not hard sci-fi as fantasy for the present purposes. Clearly it is a false distinction. Beau Bridges plays 'the General' character on Stargate SG-1. I recognized him on at least episode of the last iteration of The Outer Limits. Here he is in an RHI/Ion gig. The funny thing is that there was one point which is pretty obviously and cheerfully an homage to a moment from Star Trek III!
I love that sort of stuff. Eventually I'll see this flick. Perhaps the same year I'll bother to sit through a whole viewing of Hogfather.
Fantasy and science fiction are different concepts again for the rest of the purposes.
Austin City Limits Bloc Party; Ghostland Observatory (New)
11:00 PM, 1 hr Fri 01/04/2008 WKAR 23
Music/Other TVPG, English, Letterbox, 2007
The British post-punk band Bloc Party with selections from their 2007 CD, "A Weekend in the City." Also: the techno-rock band Ghostland Observatory perform.
Just based on the advertisements on WKAR/PBS tonight/today I should seek out Bloc Party and Ghostland Observatory music.
Senator Barak Obama became a Senator, we assume, because he was practically uncontested, his only opponent being perennial candidate Alan Keyes, literally moved in from another state to replace Jack Ryan.
"My priority remains to listen, to learn and to understand the challenges that face our families in Michigan's Great Southwest. As your representative in Lansing, I will continue to serve as your voice on issues that matter to our economy, to the education of our children, and to our natural resources."
