Surprisingly, Congressman Fred Upton's conservative rating from the American Conservative Union plummeted to 64% in 2011. Here are the bills on which Upton voted the wrong way, according to ACU. Time to nominate Jack!
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1. Legal Services Corporation. HR 1 (Roll Call 54)
The House defeated an amendment to the 2011 appropriations bill that would have struck all funding for the Legal Services Corporation from the budget bill. ACU has always opposed this wasteful program which has been used primarily to expand the welfare state and was found by a GAO study to be rife with waste, fraud and abuse and supported this amendment. The amendment failed February 16, 2011 by a vote of 171-259.
7. Davis-Bacon Wage Rate Requirements. HR 1 (Roll Call 144)
The House defeated an amendment to the 2011 appropriations bill barring the use of funds to enforce the Davis-Bacon Act. This requires federal projects to pay workers the “prevailing” wage, usually union rage rates which are often well above the local market rate. This adds billions of dollars in cost to federal programs and adds to the deficit. ACU opposes this federal mandate and supports this amendment. The amendment failed on February 19, 2011 by a vote of 189-233.
11. Conservative Budget. H Con Res 34 (Roll Call 275)
The House defeated a conservative alternative to the budget that would freeze total discretionary spending at 2008 levels beginning in 2013 and balanced the budget within ten years. The bill cut mandatory spending by $1.9 trillion over 10 years. The bill assumed the repeal of the Obama health care bill and a gradual increase in the retirement age for Social Security and Medicare. ACU supports this alternative as a reasonable attempt to eliminate our annual deficits. The amendment failed on April 15, 2011 by a vote of 119-136. 172 Democrats voted “Present” even though they opposed the bill and their votes are rated in opposition.
16. Foreign Agricultural Service. HR 2112 (Roll Call 432)
The House rejected an amendment to the Agricultural Appropriations Bill to eliminate the Foreign Agricultural Service. This agency uses taxpayer money to fund 98 offices around the world to help find export opportunities for large corporations. ACU opposes this wasteful spending when our national debt stands at $15 trillion and supported this amendment. The amendment was defeated on June 15, 2011 by a vote of 99-324.
20. Vehicle Subsidies. HR 2354 (Roll Call 580)
The House rejected an amendment to the Energy and Water Appropriations bill that would eliminate funding for the Advanced Manufacturing Loan Program and apply the funds saved to the federal deficit. This program gives taxpayer money to manufacturers who work on vehicle programs favored by the government. ACU opposes government programs that pick winners and losers in the marketplace and supported this amendment. The amendment failed on July 14, 2011 by a vote of 114-309.
21. Spending increase. HR 2354 (Roll Call 586)
The House passed an amendment to the Energy and Water Appropriations bill increasing spending on renewable energy and energy efficiency programs by $10 million. These programs had received massive increases in the 2009 budget and the Obama stimulus program. ACU opposes these attempts to reverse modest spending cuts and opposed this amendment. Nevertheless, the House passed the amendment on July 15, 2011 by a vote of 212-210.
23. Endangered Species Act. HR 2584 (Roll Call 652)
The House rejected an amendment to eliminate a provision in the Interior Appropriations Bill that would place a moratorium on new listings under the Endangered Species Act. ACU supports a moratorium on a program that has been used as a vehicle to stop development and harass private property owners and opposed this amendment. The amendment failed on July 28, 2011 by a vote of 181-240.
24. Debt Limit Increase. S 365. (Roll Call 690)
The House passed a bill that allowed a debt increase of up to $2.5 trillion with no spending reductions required in Fiscal Year 2012. The bill also set up a “supercommittee” of twelve members of Congress who were to meet in secret to negotiate a deficit reduction of $1.2 trillion over 10 years. The bill also requires a ”sequestration” or automatic reduction of $1.2 trillion in spending over 10 years if no other agreement is reached by 2013. ACU opposes automatic debt limit increases with no congressional action required and opposed this bill. The bill passed on August 1, 2011 by a vote of 269-161.
25. “Catch-All Appropriations. HR 2055 (Roll Call 941)
The House passed a year-end appropriations bill, known as the “Omnibus” bill that funded $915 billion dollars in one 2,300 page bill for Fiscal Year 2012 The bill avoided limits imposed in the debt-limit negotiations by labeling additional spending as “emergency spending” so the total spending for the year is an increase over Fiscal Year 2011. ACU opposes these massive bills that are written in secret and passed with no amendments allowed. Nevertheless the bill passed the House on December 16, 2011 by a vote of 296-121.
Previous: Fred Upton's Conservative Ratings
Saturday, March 03, 2012
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Santorum in Kalamazoo
Rick Santorum will speak at Heritage Christian Academy on Monday night
It's confirmed: Rick Santorum will speak Monday night at Heritage Christian Academy, 6312 Quail Run, in Kalamazoo.
Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and seating will be on a first-come basis. There will be no cost for the event.
It's confirmed: Rick Santorum will speak Monday night at Heritage Christian Academy, 6312 Quail Run, in Kalamazoo.
Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and seating will be on a first-come basis. There will be no cost for the event.
Waltz Out
Democrat John Waltz has dropped out of the race for the 6th congressional district for health reasons. Democrats are looking for a new candidate.
6th District Democrats to look at candidates to run against Congressman Fred Upton after John Waltz dropped out
John Waltz's wife: 'There's no way for him to continue' race against Congressman Fred Upton
John Waltz dropping out of race against Congressman Fred Upton because of life-threatening illness
6th District Democrats to look at candidates to run against Congressman Fred Upton after John Waltz dropped out
John Waltz's wife: 'There's no way for him to continue' race against Congressman Fred Upton
John Waltz dropping out of race against Congressman Fred Upton because of life-threatening illness
Michigan Redistricting: Court of Appeals
The Michigan legislature recently passed a redistricting plan for the Court of Appeals. This court is below the Michigan Supreme Court. It consists of 28 judges (2 currently vacant), which may soon be reduced to 24 under a bill to reduce the number of judges passed in Lansing. The court is split into four districts based in Detroit, Troy, Lansing, and Grand Rapids.
Here is the new district map.
This is the old map.
The Court of Appeals is quite a different problem from usual redistricting plans. Incumbents have a huge advantage and are almost always reelected uncontested. This is because non-incumbents must collect a huge number of signatures (5000, I think), while incumbents can run for reelection simply by filing an affidavit. Furthermore, incumbents are listed as judges on the ballot, giving an additional advantage. Hence the only contested races are for the occasional open seat.
While the court is officially nonpartisan, conservatives have a significant advantage on the Court of Appeals due to the long tenure (1990-2002) of Governor John Engler, who appointed many of the judges to fill vacancies. Hence the goal is to draw four districts that aren't heavily dem, account for population changes, and if possible keep current incumbents in their districts.
District 1: (Detroit) [Wayne, Monroe, Lenawee, Hillsdale, Branch, St. Joseph, Kalamazoo] Given the population loss in Detroit, this district needed to add people. It drops Calhoun and adds Branch, St. Joseph, and Kalamazoo. (Now I'm in a district with Detroit. Boo!)
District 2: (Troy) [Macomb, Oakland, Genesee] This district drops Schiawasee due to strong population growth in central Macomb County.
District 3: (Grand Rapids) [West Michigan, Washtenaw] Adds Mason, Oceana, and Montcalm from 4 and Calhoun from 1. Loses Branch, St. Joseph, and Kalamazoo to 1. Washtenaw is kept in the most Republican district, as putting in with Wayne might be enough to consistently elect democrats.
District 4: (Lansing) [Northern Michigan, Ingham, Livingston] Adds Schiawasee from 2, loses Mason, Oceana, and Montcalm to 3.
Overall, it appears to be a reasonable map.
Here is the new district map.
This is the old map.
The Court of Appeals is quite a different problem from usual redistricting plans. Incumbents have a huge advantage and are almost always reelected uncontested. This is because non-incumbents must collect a huge number of signatures (5000, I think), while incumbents can run for reelection simply by filing an affidavit. Furthermore, incumbents are listed as judges on the ballot, giving an additional advantage. Hence the only contested races are for the occasional open seat.
While the court is officially nonpartisan, conservatives have a significant advantage on the Court of Appeals due to the long tenure (1990-2002) of Governor John Engler, who appointed many of the judges to fill vacancies. Hence the goal is to draw four districts that aren't heavily dem, account for population changes, and if possible keep current incumbents in their districts.
District 1: (Detroit) [Wayne, Monroe, Lenawee, Hillsdale, Branch, St. Joseph, Kalamazoo] Given the population loss in Detroit, this district needed to add people. It drops Calhoun and adds Branch, St. Joseph, and Kalamazoo. (Now I'm in a district with Detroit. Boo!)
District 2: (Troy) [Macomb, Oakland, Genesee] This district drops Schiawasee due to strong population growth in central Macomb County.
District 3: (Grand Rapids) [West Michigan, Washtenaw] Adds Mason, Oceana, and Montcalm from 4 and Calhoun from 1. Loses Branch, St. Joseph, and Kalamazoo to 1. Washtenaw is kept in the most Republican district, as putting in with Wayne might be enough to consistently elect democrats.
District 4: (Lansing) [Northern Michigan, Ingham, Livingston] Adds Schiawasee from 2, loses Mason, Oceana, and Montcalm to 3.
Overall, it appears to be a reasonable map.
Monday, February 20, 2012
Clearing the Drain Commission
Republican Kalamazoo County Commissioner Nasim Ansari will challenge democrat incumbent Drain Commissioner Patricia Crowley. Ansaii has been a commissioner for ten years representing northern Portage. Before that, he was on the Portage city councilman.
Kalamazoo County Commissioner Nasim Ansari to challenge Drain Commissioner Patricia Crowley
Ansari's district was cut in half in redistricting, and was placing in the same district as John Zull (not Phil Stinchcomb, as the article says, unless Ansari recently moved). Ansari is a tough campaigner who held a competitive district for a decade. (He may well have more name recognition than Crowley, who was swept in on the 2008 democrat wave.) That said, I suspect that this race will go to whichever party does better overall in 2012.
Kalamazoo County Commissioner Nasim Ansari to challenge Drain Commissioner Patricia Crowley
Ansari's district was cut in half in redistricting, and was placing in the same district as John Zull (not Phil Stinchcomb, as the article says, unless Ansari recently moved). Ansari is a tough campaigner who held a competitive district for a decade. (He may well have more name recognition than Crowley, who was swept in on the 2008 democrat wave.) That said, I suspect that this race will go to whichever party does better overall in 2012.
Dear Republican County Commissioners
Don't vote to raise taxes! Certainly not if you plan on getting reelected. And if you think something is a bad idea, then putting it on the ballot is also a bad idea.
Kalamazoo County commissioners still divided on tax to help homeless
Kalamazoo County commissioners still divided on tax to help homeless
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Bring Back Beck
WKZO has replaced Glenn Beck's radio show, which had aired 5-8PM with inferior programming.
Glenn Beck off the air at WKZO, replaced with local news hour
Write them to let know that they should bring Beck back: http://wkzo.com/contact-us/
In the mean time, you can hear Glenn Beck 27/7 here: http://www.glennbeck.com/publish/themes/glennbeck/live_player/
Glenn Beck off the air at WKZO, replaced with local news hour
Write them to let know that they should bring Beck back: http://wkzo.com/contact-us/
In the mean time, you can hear Glenn Beck 27/7 here: http://www.glennbeck.com/publish/themes/glennbeck/live_player/
Racing Against Snow
Democrat County Commissioner Brian Johnson will challenge Republican County Clerk Tim Snow. Snow has been clerk for over a decade and has not faced a serious challenge in some time.
Kalamazoo County Commissioner Brian Johnson to challenge Tim Snow for county clerk
Johnson lives in the same county commission district as Michael Seals, and would otherwise have run against him. Johnson has been on the county commission for a total of over 14 years (1986-1992, 2003-present). He does not appear to be particularly qualified to be clerk.
Kalamazoo County Commissioner Brian Johnson to challenge Tim Snow for county clerk
Johnson lives in the same county commission district as Michael Seals, and would otherwise have run against him. Johnson has been on the county commission for a total of over 14 years (1986-1992, 2003-present). He does not appear to be particularly qualified to be clerk.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Dale Pominville, America's Newest County Commissioner
The Kalamazoo County Commission selected Dale Pominville to replace Deb Buchholtz on the county commission. He is currently the Parchment School Board president. He is also a neighbor of Buchholtz. He appears to work at Metro Toyota. He claims to be a Republican, though it is not clear how active he has been.
Parchment School Board President Dale Pominville selected to replace Deb Buhholtz on Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners
The remainder of Deb's term lasts less than a year. Due to redistricting, he would run against Jeff Heppler if he runs for reelection.
Parchment School Board President Dale Pominville selected to replace Deb Buhholtz on Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners
The remainder of Deb's term lasts less than a year. Due to redistricting, he would run against Jeff Heppler if he runs for reelection.
Converted Electric Car
Converting a gas-powered car to an electric car is an interesting project. The one key fact that the article leaves out is that it cost $17,000, not including labor. Electric cars are not cost-competitive.
Western Michigan University physics professor converts 1992 Honda Civic into electric vehicle
Western Michigan University physics professor converts 1992 Honda Civic into electric vehicle
Upton's 'Perfect' Record
Of course, the real issue is not whether you make every vote, it's how you vote.
Congressman Fred Upton posts perfect voting record for 2011
Congressman Fred Upton posts perfect voting record for 2011
2012 Kalamazoo Primary Election Preview
This is a preview of elections in Michigan in 2012. It focuses on primary elections. This post was last updated on August 1, 2012.
While most of political coverage has focused on the 2012 presidential primary races, there will be many other races on the ballot. Here is an overview of the races relevant to Kalamazoo readers. More detailed profiles of some of the races will follow soon.
[List of Michigan Presidential Candidates]
[List of Primary Election Candidates]
[List of Kalamazoo County Candidates]
February 28: Presidential Primary
This was the date of Michigan's Presidential Primary. Mitt Romney, Ron Paul, Rick Santorum, and Newt Gingrich battled for delegates, with Romney winning the popular vote but splitting the delegates evenly with Santorum. Romney is the presumptive nominee to face President Barack Obama and various third party candidates in November.
In other races, Democrat county commissioner Tim Greimel won the election to replace Tim Melton in district 29 (Pontiac). Republican County Commissioner Joseph Graves won the race to replace recalled state rep Paul Scott in District 51 (south Genesee).
May 8: School Elections
There were various school bond proposals on the ballot in "Kalamazoo, Gull Lake, Galesburg-Augusta, Allegan, Bangor, White Pigeon, Gobles, Paw Paw, Martin and Marcellus." The following article gives a good summary. Note that school board elections have been moved to November.
Absentee ballots now available for May 8 election; five Kalamazoo-area school districts voting on multi-million tax requests
November 6: General Election
President (Michigan)
Michigan leans slightly to the left in Presidential elections. This means that democrats need to win Michigan to win the White House, but Republicans don't. Michigan still has a bad economy thanks to eight years of democrat Governor Jennifer Granholm. Will this help Republicans in the presidential race? Perhaps.
August 7: Other Primaries
US Senate
Democrat Senator Debbie Stabenow is seeking a third term. Four Republicans are seeking to replace her. They are
Clark Durant, businessman and former member of the state board of education (1994-98)
Gary Glenn, conservative activist supporting right-to-work and opposing 'gay rights', who announced that he has dropped out
Randy Hekman, former Kent county judge
Pete Hoekstra, former congressman who represented the 2nd district in West Michigan 1992-2010. He lost the Republican primary for governor in 2010
Businessman Peter Konetchy was disqualified for insufficient signatures.
Hoekstra is the favorite, leading in the polls and in fundraising. His main competitor is Durant.
US House of Representatives
Only one of Michigan's 14 congressional districts is likely to have a competitive general election. However, there are interesting primaries shaping up in the 6th, 13th and 14th districts. The following post examines the races in greater detail.
2012 Michigan Congressional Races
Michigan Supreme Court
Conservative Republican Steven Markman will likely seek reelection. Appointed Republican Brian Zhara will likely seek to fill the remainder of the term to which he was appointed. Democrat Marilyn Kelly has reached the age limit, so her seat will be open. Republicans Jane Markey and Colleen O'Connor are running. Republicans currently have a 4-3 majority on the court, so this election could result in anything from 5-2 D to 5-2 R. Democrats have endorsed Connie Kelley, Shelia Johnson and Bridget McCormack for the court.
Education Boards
Two seats on each of four boards will be up. Democrats endorsed candidates in March.
Michigan Board of Education
Republicans: Nancy Danhoff, Melanie Kurdys
Democrats: Lupe Ramos-Montigny, Michelle Fecteau
University of Michigan Board of Regents
Republicans: Ron Weiser, Rob Steele, Dan Horning
Democrats: Mark Bernstein, Shauna Ryder Diggs
Michigan State University Board of Trustees
Republicans: Anne Norlander, Jeff Sakwa, Melanie Foster
Democrats: Joel Ferguson, Brian Mosallam
Wayne State University Board of Governors
Republicans:
Democrats: Sandra Hughes O'Brien, Kim Trent
Ballot Proposals
Seven propositions have submitted signatures and may appear on the ballot, pending verification of signatures and legal challenges. See the following.
2012 Michigan Ballot Propositions
Michigan House of Representatives
All 110 seats in the Michigan state house will be up for election. Some members will be term-limited. Republicans currently have a 63-37 majority. The new redistricting plan helps Republicans some, but not as much as it could have. The following article summarizes all the races.
2012 Michigan State House Races
In the greater Kalamazoo area...
60th District (Kalamazoo city) Safe democrat
Democrat Sean McCann has an even safer district than before, and should have no trouble getting reelected. The Republican candidate is Michael Perrin.
61st District (Portage, Oshtemo) Safe Republican
Conservative Republican Margaret O'Brien will likely be reelected easily against democrat Michael Martin. The district became safer by losing western Kalamazoo Township to the 60th and adding Schoolcraft Township.
62nd District (Battle Creek, Albion) Leans democrat
Incumbent democrat Kate Segal will face Republican former Battle Creek mayor Mark Behnke. This district became more democrat with the addition of Bedford and Pennfield.
63rd District (E Kalamazoo, S Calhoun) Safe Republican
Republican Speaker Jase Bolger won't have trouble with reelection against democrat Bill Farmer in a district that drops Bedford and Pennfield and adds rural conservative townships in Calhoun.
66th District (Van Buren, Cooper) Safe Republican
Conservative Republican Aric Nesbitt should be safe against democrat Richard Rajkovich in a district that drops a small piece of Allegan and adds NW Kalamazoo.
Kalamazoo Countywide Offices
All six countywide offices are up for election. Republicans hold four of six offices.
Sheriff: Leans Democrat
Democrat Richard Fuller defeated Republican Michael Anderson in 2008. Republicans Bruce LaBrie and Ward Lawrence are running.
Prosecutor: Leans Republican
Incumbent Republican Jeff Fink will not seek reelection. Assistant prosecutor Scott Pierangeli, a member of the Portage Library Board, will run. The democrat candidate will be former assistant prosecutor Jeffrey Getting.
Clerk: Leans Republican
Incumbent moderate Republican Tim Snow will seek reelection. He will face leftist democrat County Commissioner Brian Johnson.
Treasurer: Leans Republican
Republican Mary Balkema, who was appointed to replace Sharon Cubitt in 2007, will seek reelection. Balkema barely defeated a token challenger in 2008. Her democrat opponent is Oshtemo Township Trustee and Mattawan School Board member Grace Borgfjord. It is possible that liberal billionaire Jon Stryker will fund Borgfjord this time due to Balkema's opposition to a 'gay rights' ordinance in Kalamazoo city in 2009.
Drain Commissioner: Tossup
The incumbent is democrat Patricia Crowley. In 2008, she defeated Republican Pat Crouse who was appointed to replace Bill French, who was convicted of a crime. She will face Republican County Commissioner Nasim Ansari, who had applied for the position in 2008.
Surveyor: Safe Republican
Incumbent Republican Bill Hahn is unopposed. The position is unpaid, and its holder must be a licenced surveyor.
Kalamazoo County Commission
Republicans have a 10-7 majority on the commission. Redistricting will shrink the commission to 11 seats, changing the district boundaries. The new map is likely to yield a 7-4 Republican majority, but district 5 will likely be competitive. The following post has detailed descriptions of the districts and their political leanings.
Kalamazoo County Commission Districts.
The following article has more detailed analysis of the county commission races.
2012 Kalamazoo County Commission Election Preview
Township Elections
There are plenty of contested township elections. Some are noteworthy.
Here's who is running in Kalamazoo County in August and November county and township elections
Several township supervisor positions in Kalamazoo County to be decided in August primary
Comstock Township: Incumbent democrat Supervisor Tim Hudson will not seek reelection. Moderate Republican County Commissioner Ann Nieuwenhuis will face trustee Randy Thompson. There will be a competitive race for the other township board positions.
Kalamazoo Township: Democrat incumbent Supervisor is Terri Mellinger, who has had trouble paying her taxes and has had health problems, is not seeking reelection. Two democrats, trustee Ron Reid and Michael Szekely are seeking the seat. Four democrats and one Republican, Kathleen Doornbas, are seeking the four trustee positions currently held by democrats.
Oshtemo Township: The incumbent democrat Supervisor is Elizabeth Heiny-Cogswell. She will be challenged by former democrat county commissioner John Nieuwenhuis, running as a Republican. There are also four trustee positions up for election, two of which are currently held by appointee due to the resignations of Republican Jim Grace and democrat Scott McCormick. Seven Republicans and three democrats are running.
Texas Township: There is a conflict between Supervisor Dave Healy and the other members of the township board. There are two slates of candidates competing in the Republican primary. Healy is being challenged in the primary by Greg Pendowski. Conservative Erin Hoogendyk is among the four incumbent Republican trustees. The following post offers more details.
Trouble in Texas
Don't Mess With Texas Township
Judges
Incumbent judges J. Richardson Johnson, Pamela Lightvoet, Paul Bridenstine, and Curtis Bell are all unopposed.
School Boards
School board elections were moved to November by a recent bill. There is nothing to report on these elections yet.
While most of political coverage has focused on the 2012 presidential primary races, there will be many other races on the ballot. Here is an overview of the races relevant to Kalamazoo readers. More detailed profiles of some of the races will follow soon.
[List of Michigan Presidential Candidates]
[List of Primary Election Candidates]
[List of Kalamazoo County Candidates]
February 28: Presidential Primary
This was the date of Michigan's Presidential Primary. Mitt Romney, Ron Paul, Rick Santorum, and Newt Gingrich battled for delegates, with Romney winning the popular vote but splitting the delegates evenly with Santorum. Romney is the presumptive nominee to face President Barack Obama and various third party candidates in November.
In other races, Democrat county commissioner Tim Greimel won the election to replace Tim Melton in district 29 (Pontiac). Republican County Commissioner Joseph Graves won the race to replace recalled state rep Paul Scott in District 51 (south Genesee).
May 8: School Elections
There were various school bond proposals on the ballot in "Kalamazoo, Gull Lake, Galesburg-Augusta, Allegan, Bangor, White Pigeon, Gobles, Paw Paw, Martin and Marcellus." The following article gives a good summary. Note that school board elections have been moved to November.
Absentee ballots now available for May 8 election; five Kalamazoo-area school districts voting on multi-million tax requests
November 6: General Election
President (Michigan)
Michigan leans slightly to the left in Presidential elections. This means that democrats need to win Michigan to win the White House, but Republicans don't. Michigan still has a bad economy thanks to eight years of democrat Governor Jennifer Granholm. Will this help Republicans in the presidential race? Perhaps.
August 7: Other Primaries
US Senate
Democrat Senator Debbie Stabenow is seeking a third term. Four Republicans are seeking to replace her. They are
Clark Durant, businessman and former member of the state board of education (1994-98)
Gary Glenn, conservative activist supporting right-to-work and opposing 'gay rights', who announced that he has dropped out
Randy Hekman, former Kent county judge
Pete Hoekstra, former congressman who represented the 2nd district in West Michigan 1992-2010. He lost the Republican primary for governor in 2010
Businessman Peter Konetchy was disqualified for insufficient signatures.
Hoekstra is the favorite, leading in the polls and in fundraising. His main competitor is Durant.
US House of Representatives
Only one of Michigan's 14 congressional districts is likely to have a competitive general election. However, there are interesting primaries shaping up in the 6th, 13th and 14th districts. The following post examines the races in greater detail.
2012 Michigan Congressional Races
Michigan Supreme Court
Conservative Republican Steven Markman will likely seek reelection. Appointed Republican Brian Zhara will likely seek to fill the remainder of the term to which he was appointed. Democrat Marilyn Kelly has reached the age limit, so her seat will be open. Republicans Jane Markey and Colleen O'Connor are running. Republicans currently have a 4-3 majority on the court, so this election could result in anything from 5-2 D to 5-2 R. Democrats have endorsed Connie Kelley, Shelia Johnson and Bridget McCormack for the court.
Education Boards
Two seats on each of four boards will be up. Democrats endorsed candidates in March.
Michigan Board of Education
Republicans: Nancy Danhoff, Melanie Kurdys
Democrats: Lupe Ramos-Montigny, Michelle Fecteau
University of Michigan Board of Regents
Republicans: Ron Weiser, Rob Steele, Dan Horning
Democrats: Mark Bernstein, Shauna Ryder Diggs
Michigan State University Board of Trustees
Republicans: Anne Norlander, Jeff Sakwa, Melanie Foster
Democrats: Joel Ferguson, Brian Mosallam
Wayne State University Board of Governors
Republicans:
Democrats: Sandra Hughes O'Brien, Kim Trent
Ballot Proposals
Seven propositions have submitted signatures and may appear on the ballot, pending verification of signatures and legal challenges. See the following.
2012 Michigan Ballot Propositions
Michigan House of Representatives
All 110 seats in the Michigan state house will be up for election. Some members will be term-limited. Republicans currently have a 63-37 majority. The new redistricting plan helps Republicans some, but not as much as it could have. The following article summarizes all the races.
2012 Michigan State House Races
In the greater Kalamazoo area...
60th District (Kalamazoo city) Safe democrat
Democrat Sean McCann has an even safer district than before, and should have no trouble getting reelected. The Republican candidate is Michael Perrin.
61st District (Portage, Oshtemo) Safe Republican
Conservative Republican Margaret O'Brien will likely be reelected easily against democrat Michael Martin. The district became safer by losing western Kalamazoo Township to the 60th and adding Schoolcraft Township.
62nd District (Battle Creek, Albion) Leans democrat
Incumbent democrat Kate Segal will face Republican former Battle Creek mayor Mark Behnke. This district became more democrat with the addition of Bedford and Pennfield.
63rd District (E Kalamazoo, S Calhoun) Safe Republican
Republican Speaker Jase Bolger won't have trouble with reelection against democrat Bill Farmer in a district that drops Bedford and Pennfield and adds rural conservative townships in Calhoun.
66th District (Van Buren, Cooper) Safe Republican
Conservative Republican Aric Nesbitt should be safe against democrat Richard Rajkovich in a district that drops a small piece of Allegan and adds NW Kalamazoo.
Kalamazoo Countywide Offices
All six countywide offices are up for election. Republicans hold four of six offices.
Sheriff: Leans Democrat
Democrat Richard Fuller defeated Republican Michael Anderson in 2008. Republicans Bruce LaBrie and Ward Lawrence are running.
Prosecutor: Leans Republican
Incumbent Republican Jeff Fink will not seek reelection. Assistant prosecutor Scott Pierangeli, a member of the Portage Library Board, will run. The democrat candidate will be former assistant prosecutor Jeffrey Getting.
Clerk: Leans Republican
Incumbent moderate Republican Tim Snow will seek reelection. He will face leftist democrat County Commissioner Brian Johnson.
Treasurer: Leans Republican
Republican Mary Balkema, who was appointed to replace Sharon Cubitt in 2007, will seek reelection. Balkema barely defeated a token challenger in 2008. Her democrat opponent is Oshtemo Township Trustee and Mattawan School Board member Grace Borgfjord. It is possible that liberal billionaire Jon Stryker will fund Borgfjord this time due to Balkema's opposition to a 'gay rights' ordinance in Kalamazoo city in 2009.
Drain Commissioner: Tossup
The incumbent is democrat Patricia Crowley. In 2008, she defeated Republican Pat Crouse who was appointed to replace Bill French, who was convicted of a crime. She will face Republican County Commissioner Nasim Ansari, who had applied for the position in 2008.
Surveyor: Safe Republican
Incumbent Republican Bill Hahn is unopposed. The position is unpaid, and its holder must be a licenced surveyor.
Kalamazoo County Commission
Republicans have a 10-7 majority on the commission. Redistricting will shrink the commission to 11 seats, changing the district boundaries. The new map is likely to yield a 7-4 Republican majority, but district 5 will likely be competitive. The following post has detailed descriptions of the districts and their political leanings.
Kalamazoo County Commission Districts.
The following article has more detailed analysis of the county commission races.
2012 Kalamazoo County Commission Election Preview
Township Elections
There are plenty of contested township elections. Some are noteworthy.
Here's who is running in Kalamazoo County in August and November county and township elections
Several township supervisor positions in Kalamazoo County to be decided in August primary
Comstock Township: Incumbent democrat Supervisor Tim Hudson will not seek reelection. Moderate Republican County Commissioner Ann Nieuwenhuis will face trustee Randy Thompson. There will be a competitive race for the other township board positions.
Kalamazoo Township: Democrat incumbent Supervisor is Terri Mellinger, who has had trouble paying her taxes and has had health problems, is not seeking reelection. Two democrats, trustee Ron Reid and Michael Szekely are seeking the seat. Four democrats and one Republican, Kathleen Doornbas, are seeking the four trustee positions currently held by democrats.
Oshtemo Township: The incumbent democrat Supervisor is Elizabeth Heiny-Cogswell. She will be challenged by former democrat county commissioner John Nieuwenhuis, running as a Republican. There are also four trustee positions up for election, two of which are currently held by appointee due to the resignations of Republican Jim Grace and democrat Scott McCormick. Seven Republicans and three democrats are running.
Texas Township: There is a conflict between Supervisor Dave Healy and the other members of the township board. There are two slates of candidates competing in the Republican primary. Healy is being challenged in the primary by Greg Pendowski. Conservative Erin Hoogendyk is among the four incumbent Republican trustees. The following post offers more details.
Trouble in Texas
Don't Mess With Texas Township
Judges
Incumbent judges J. Richardson Johnson, Pamela Lightvoet, Paul Bridenstine, and Curtis Bell are all unopposed.
School Boards
School board elections were moved to November by a recent bill. There is nothing to report on these elections yet.
Saturday, January 28, 2012
2012 Michigan Congressional Races
Cross-posted at The Western Right, Right Michigan, and Red Racing Horses. This post was last updated on August 9.
Michigan will see a number of interesting congressional races in 2012.
Michigan will lose a congressional seat, going from 15 to 14. Redistricting changed the congressional map, particularly in eastern Michigan.
There are several articles that analyse the general political leanings of the new districts.
Michigan Redistricting: Congressional Map Passed
Republican Michigander Congressional District Profiles (Sidebar at right)
District 1 (Upper Peninsula, Northern Lower Peninsula) Likely Republican.
In 2010, Dr. Dan Benishek won an open seat vacated by democrat Rep. Bart Stupak against democrat state Rep. Gary McDowell 52-41. The new district gets more Republican, adding areas around Traverse City. Benishek has generally voted with the leadership, displeasing some of his former Tea Party supporters. McDowell is back for a rematch, but Benishek will be difficult to beat as an incumbent.
District 2 (Ottowa, Muskegon) Safe Republican.
Republican former state rep. Bill Huizinga won a close primary in 2010 to replace Pete Hoekstra, who was running for governor. Since then he has generally voted the party line. This remains the most Republican district in Michigan. There was talk that conservative state rep. Dave Agema might run, but he declined. Huizinga will run unopposed.
District 3 (Kent, Calhoun) Safe Republican.
Republican state rep. Justin Amash won the primary to replace moderate Republican Vern Ehlers, who retired rather than face a strong primary challenge. Amash is a libertarian in the mold of Rep. Ron Paul. He has stepped on some toes in Washington, most notably getting into a spat with the NRA over procedural objections to a gun rights bill. There were repeated rumors that someone would challenge Amash in the Republican primary, but nobody did. Amash remains the favorite. Moderate democrat former state rep. Steve Pestka defeated leftist Trevor Thomas for their nomination.
District 4 (central Michigan) Safe Republican.
Republican Dave Camp has been winning big margins in this district since 1990. He's now the Ways and Means Committee chairman and still going strong. Debra Freidell is the democrat candidate.
District 5 (Genesee, Saginaw, Bay) Safe democrat.
Democrat Dale Kildee, who has held this district since 1976, is finally retiring. His nephew, former Genesee Treasurer Dan Kildee, notable for his proposal to tear down sections of Flint, is running. This could have been an interesting race, but several other prominent democrats, including former Congressman James Barcia, State Senator John Gleason and state rep. Woodrow Stanley, considered running but declined. Former moderate democrat state rep. Jim Slezak won the Republican nomination over Tom Wassa.
District 6 (SW Michigan) Safe Republican.
Moderate Republican Fred Upton has won by wide margins since defeating conservative Mark Siljander in 1986. In 2010, former state rep. Jack Hoogendyk, running with Tea Party support got 43% in the Republican primary. The race received almost no outside attention and Jack raised only $60,000 in that race. Since then, Upton became Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and his record received more scrutiny from national conservatives. Upton defeated Hoogendyk 67-33 in a primary rematch.
In 2008 and 2010, Upton easily defeated leftist Kalamazoo city commissioner Don Cooney. In 2012, the democrat John Waltz, dropped out for health reasons. The democrats' new candidate is farmer Mike O'Brien.
District 7 (south-central Michigan) Safe Republican.
Republican Tim Walberg defeated liberal democrat Mark Schauer in a hard-fought race in 2010. This followed Schauer's defeat of Walberg in 2008, Walberg's defeat of RINO Joe Schwarz in 2006, and Schwarz's winning a divided Republican primary to replace Nick Smith in 2004. Redistricting removed Schauer's base of Calhoun county, and he is not running again. Walberg tends to be underestimated, but even in 2008, facing a strong opponent supported by Schwarz in the worst Republican year in memory, he only lost by 3%. Walberg defeated minor challenger Dan Davis, as Mike Stahly was disqualified.
Schwarz toyed with running as a democrat, but declined. Attorney Kurt Haskell, who seems to be a paleocon, won the democrat nomination over Jackson County democrat chairman Reuben Marquez. Walberg will never win the margins of Camp, Rogers, or Miller, but I suspect he will settle in and win 55-60%.
District 8 (Ingham, Livingston, N Oakland) Safe Republican.
Republican Mike Rogers has won big margins since 2000, and he should have no trouble with his new district. He defeated two minor primary challengers, Dan Hetrick and Vernon Molnar. Lance Enderle will be the democrat nominee, as Michael Magdich was disqualified.
District 9 (S Macomb, Royal Oak, Bloomfield) Safe democrat.
This is mostly the old 12th district of Sander Levin, though it also takes in part of Gary Peters' old 9th district. This district is less liberal without Southfield and Oak Park. Levin is more liberal than the district, but he is popular enough to win here as long as he wants. He will likely be succeeded by a less liberal Macomb county democrat. Republican Don Volaric, who lost to Levin in 2010, won the nomination over Greg Dildilian.
District 10 (N Macomb, the Thumb) Safe Republican.
Republican Candice Miller is highly popular in Macomb County and statewide, and that isn't going to change. Jerome George Quinn and Chuck Stadler will compete for the democrat nomination.
District 11 (NW Wayne, SW Oakland, Troy) Likely Republican.
Republican Thad McCotter saw the most improvement in his district, trading increasingly democrat suburbs of Detroit in Wayne County for Republican areas of Oakland County. But McCotter's staff committed fraud, leading to his being disqualified and dropping out. Tea Party Republican Kerry Bentivolio was the only Republican on the primary ballot. A coalition of establishment Republicans endorsed a write-in campaign by former state senator Nancy Cassis, but Bentivolio won 65-35. Democrat Canton Township Trustee Taj Syed defeated William Roberts, a "LaRouche democrat", for their party's nomination.
District 12 (Downriver, Ann Arbor) Safe democrat.
Democrat John Dingell, in Congress since Eisenhower's first term (really!), gets a new district that reunites his Downriver base. This successor of the old 15th district loses Monroe to Walberg. If Dingell ever leaves Congress, we could see an interesting Downriver versus Ann Arbor primary. Dingell defeated a minor primary challenger Daniel Marcin (check out his URL), a 26-year-old Ann Arbor grad student. Cynthia Kallgren won the Republican nomination over Karen Jacobsen.
District 13 (W Detroit, Westland) Safe democrat.
This district contains the bulk of John Conyers' base, although Republicans drew him out of the district. Conyers, in Congress since 1964, hadn't had a tough primary or general election since 1994. Conyers' image has been tarnished since his wife Monica, formerly Detroit city council president, pled guilty to bribery and is now serving time in federal prison. He was challenged in the democrat primary by state senator Glenn Anderson, whose base in the mostly white suburbs of Westland and Redford was moved from McCotter's district into the 13th; Senator Bert Johnson, who is a convicted felon since he robbed a country club at age 19; State Rep. Shanelle Jackson; and John Goci, as Godfrey Dillard was disqualified. Conyers won 55% to 18% for Anderson and 13% for Jackson. Harry Sawicki is the Republican candidate.
District 14 (E Detroit, Southfield, Farmington, Pontiac) Safe democrat.
This district had a very interesting primary. The majority of the district is the old 13th of democrat Hansen Clarke, who beat the scandal-plagued Carolyn Kilpatrick in 2010, though he was drawn out of the district. Congressman Gary Peters, whose old 9th district was split into four pieces, ran here. This was the best of several bad options for him. Also running were Southfield Mayor Brenda Lawrence, former state rep. Mary Waters, who has pled guilty to filing a false tax return, and Bob Costello. Peters did very well in endorsements and fundraising, and he won this majority black district 47-35-13 over Clarke and Lawrence. John Hauler is the Republican candidate.
Michigan will see a number of interesting congressional races in 2012.
Michigan will lose a congressional seat, going from 15 to 14. Redistricting changed the congressional map, particularly in eastern Michigan.
There are several articles that analyse the general political leanings of the new districts.
Michigan Redistricting: Congressional Map Passed
Republican Michigander Congressional District Profiles (Sidebar at right)
District 1 (Upper Peninsula, Northern Lower Peninsula) Likely Republican.
In 2010, Dr. Dan Benishek won an open seat vacated by democrat Rep. Bart Stupak against democrat state Rep. Gary McDowell 52-41. The new district gets more Republican, adding areas around Traverse City. Benishek has generally voted with the leadership, displeasing some of his former Tea Party supporters. McDowell is back for a rematch, but Benishek will be difficult to beat as an incumbent.
District 2 (Ottowa, Muskegon) Safe Republican.
Republican former state rep. Bill Huizinga won a close primary in 2010 to replace Pete Hoekstra, who was running for governor. Since then he has generally voted the party line. This remains the most Republican district in Michigan. There was talk that conservative state rep. Dave Agema might run, but he declined. Huizinga will run unopposed.
District 3 (Kent, Calhoun) Safe Republican.
Republican state rep. Justin Amash won the primary to replace moderate Republican Vern Ehlers, who retired rather than face a strong primary challenge. Amash is a libertarian in the mold of Rep. Ron Paul. He has stepped on some toes in Washington, most notably getting into a spat with the NRA over procedural objections to a gun rights bill. There were repeated rumors that someone would challenge Amash in the Republican primary, but nobody did. Amash remains the favorite. Moderate democrat former state rep. Steve Pestka defeated leftist Trevor Thomas for their nomination.
District 4 (central Michigan) Safe Republican.
Republican Dave Camp has been winning big margins in this district since 1990. He's now the Ways and Means Committee chairman and still going strong. Debra Freidell is the democrat candidate.
District 5 (Genesee, Saginaw, Bay) Safe democrat.
Democrat Dale Kildee, who has held this district since 1976, is finally retiring. His nephew, former Genesee Treasurer Dan Kildee, notable for his proposal to tear down sections of Flint, is running. This could have been an interesting race, but several other prominent democrats, including former Congressman James Barcia, State Senator John Gleason and state rep. Woodrow Stanley, considered running but declined. Former moderate democrat state rep. Jim Slezak won the Republican nomination over Tom Wassa.
District 6 (SW Michigan) Safe Republican.
Moderate Republican Fred Upton has won by wide margins since defeating conservative Mark Siljander in 1986. In 2010, former state rep. Jack Hoogendyk, running with Tea Party support got 43% in the Republican primary. The race received almost no outside attention and Jack raised only $60,000 in that race. Since then, Upton became Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and his record received more scrutiny from national conservatives. Upton defeated Hoogendyk 67-33 in a primary rematch.
In 2008 and 2010, Upton easily defeated leftist Kalamazoo city commissioner Don Cooney. In 2012, the democrat John Waltz, dropped out for health reasons. The democrats' new candidate is farmer Mike O'Brien.
District 7 (south-central Michigan) Safe Republican.
Republican Tim Walberg defeated liberal democrat Mark Schauer in a hard-fought race in 2010. This followed Schauer's defeat of Walberg in 2008, Walberg's defeat of RINO Joe Schwarz in 2006, and Schwarz's winning a divided Republican primary to replace Nick Smith in 2004. Redistricting removed Schauer's base of Calhoun county, and he is not running again. Walberg tends to be underestimated, but even in 2008, facing a strong opponent supported by Schwarz in the worst Republican year in memory, he only lost by 3%. Walberg defeated minor challenger Dan Davis, as Mike Stahly was disqualified.
Schwarz toyed with running as a democrat, but declined. Attorney Kurt Haskell, who seems to be a paleocon, won the democrat nomination over Jackson County democrat chairman Reuben Marquez. Walberg will never win the margins of Camp, Rogers, or Miller, but I suspect he will settle in and win 55-60%.
District 8 (Ingham, Livingston, N Oakland) Safe Republican.
Republican Mike Rogers has won big margins since 2000, and he should have no trouble with his new district. He defeated two minor primary challengers, Dan Hetrick and Vernon Molnar. Lance Enderle will be the democrat nominee, as Michael Magdich was disqualified.
District 9 (S Macomb, Royal Oak, Bloomfield) Safe democrat.
This is mostly the old 12th district of Sander Levin, though it also takes in part of Gary Peters' old 9th district. This district is less liberal without Southfield and Oak Park. Levin is more liberal than the district, but he is popular enough to win here as long as he wants. He will likely be succeeded by a less liberal Macomb county democrat. Republican Don Volaric, who lost to Levin in 2010, won the nomination over Greg Dildilian.
District 10 (N Macomb, the Thumb) Safe Republican.
Republican Candice Miller is highly popular in Macomb County and statewide, and that isn't going to change. Jerome George Quinn and Chuck Stadler will compete for the democrat nomination.
District 11 (NW Wayne, SW Oakland, Troy) Likely Republican.
Republican Thad McCotter saw the most improvement in his district, trading increasingly democrat suburbs of Detroit in Wayne County for Republican areas of Oakland County. But McCotter's staff committed fraud, leading to his being disqualified and dropping out. Tea Party Republican Kerry Bentivolio was the only Republican on the primary ballot. A coalition of establishment Republicans endorsed a write-in campaign by former state senator Nancy Cassis, but Bentivolio won 65-35. Democrat Canton Township Trustee Taj Syed defeated William Roberts, a "LaRouche democrat", for their party's nomination.
District 12 (Downriver, Ann Arbor) Safe democrat.
Democrat John Dingell, in Congress since Eisenhower's first term (really!), gets a new district that reunites his Downriver base. This successor of the old 15th district loses Monroe to Walberg. If Dingell ever leaves Congress, we could see an interesting Downriver versus Ann Arbor primary. Dingell defeated a minor primary challenger Daniel Marcin (check out his URL), a 26-year-old Ann Arbor grad student. Cynthia Kallgren won the Republican nomination over Karen Jacobsen.
District 13 (W Detroit, Westland) Safe democrat.
This district contains the bulk of John Conyers' base, although Republicans drew him out of the district. Conyers, in Congress since 1964, hadn't had a tough primary or general election since 1994. Conyers' image has been tarnished since his wife Monica, formerly Detroit city council president, pled guilty to bribery and is now serving time in federal prison. He was challenged in the democrat primary by state senator Glenn Anderson, whose base in the mostly white suburbs of Westland and Redford was moved from McCotter's district into the 13th; Senator Bert Johnson, who is a convicted felon since he robbed a country club at age 19; State Rep. Shanelle Jackson; and John Goci, as Godfrey Dillard was disqualified. Conyers won 55% to 18% for Anderson and 13% for Jackson. Harry Sawicki is the Republican candidate.
District 14 (E Detroit, Southfield, Farmington, Pontiac) Safe democrat.
This district had a very interesting primary. The majority of the district is the old 13th of democrat Hansen Clarke, who beat the scandal-plagued Carolyn Kilpatrick in 2010, though he was drawn out of the district. Congressman Gary Peters, whose old 9th district was split into four pieces, ran here. This was the best of several bad options for him. Also running were Southfield Mayor Brenda Lawrence, former state rep. Mary Waters, who has pled guilty to filing a false tax return, and Bob Costello. Peters did very well in endorsements and fundraising, and he won this majority black district 47-35-13 over Clarke and Lawrence. John Hauler is the Republican candidate.
Allegan Surrenders to Terrorists
Allegan police chief Rick Hoyer shut down an event where Kamal Seleem was to speak on the threat of radical Islam. This is an attack on the First Amendment rights of free speech and freedom of association. This was due to a rumor of a bounty on his head (which seems dubious). It's a shame that the police chief would surrender to the threats (real or imagined) of terrorists rather than stand up to them.
Allegan High School event canceled after police learn of 'bounty' on speaker Kamal Saleem's head
Allegan High School event canceled after police learn of 'bounty' on speaker Kamal Saleem's head
Friday, January 20, 2012
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Jack Announces
Jack Hoogendyk has announced a second challenge to Congressman Fred Upton.
Jack Hoogendyk to challenge U.S. Rep. Fred Upton again for seat in Congress
Jack Hoogendyk announces bid for Congress at Kalamazoo event
Congressman Fred Upton responds to Jack Hoogendyk entering the Republican primary for the House
Jack Hoogendyk to challenge U.S. Rep. Fred Upton again for seat in Congress
Jack Hoogendyk announces bid for Congress at Kalamazoo event
Congressman Fred Upton responds to Jack Hoogendyk entering the Republican primary for the House
Monday, January 16, 2012
Retiring POLITICAL UPDATES
Due to time constraints, I have decided to cease my weekly POLITICAL UPDATES. We had a good run, dating back to summer 2005. Unfortunately, I can't keep up the same schedule any longer. Readers can find good conservative articles by visiting the websites frequently linked to, and reading frequent authors such as Steve Sailer, Gary North, Thomas Sowell, Ann Coulter, and Phyllis Schlafly.
Thank you.
-Conservative First
Thank you.
-Conservative First
Tuesday, January 03, 2012
Sunday, January 01, 2012
POLITICAL UPDATE--Immigration
This update focuses on immigration.
Victor Davis Hanson: Vandalized Valley
James Fulford: Republican Legislators And The US Chamber Of Commerce Collude On Increasing Legal Immigration During Great Recession
Steve Sailer: Import Teachers Who Can’t Speak English—Alienate Reagan Democrats
James Fulford: So Why Doesn’t The “Broken Windows” Theory Apply To Illegal Aliens?
Washington Watcher: The Achievements Of Russell Pearce—Arizona’s Patriotic Immigration Reform Champion is Down But Not Out!
For more on immigration, see VDARE.com.
Victor Davis Hanson: Vandalized Valley
James Fulford: Republican Legislators And The US Chamber Of Commerce Collude On Increasing Legal Immigration During Great Recession
Steve Sailer: Import Teachers Who Can’t Speak English—Alienate Reagan Democrats
James Fulford: So Why Doesn’t The “Broken Windows” Theory Apply To Illegal Aliens?
Washington Watcher: The Achievements Of Russell Pearce—Arizona’s Patriotic Immigration Reform Champion is Down But Not Out!
For more on immigration, see VDARE.com.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
The Best of The Western Right: 2011
This blog was somewhat less busy this year but still covered many topics. We had 180 posts this year. Here are some of the best posts of 2011.
A series of articles on redistricting in Michigan.
Michigan Redistricting
Conservative of the Year: Scott Walker
Who are the "Michigan Citizens for Fiscal Responsibility" and why do they support Fred Upton?
GOP Leaders:Merry Christmas Happy Holidays!
Evangelical Environmental Network Runs Misleading Ads
Van Jones' Speech
Another Kalamazoo College Employee Lies About Van Jones
Kalamazoo College Professor Lies About Van Jones
Howard Wolpe, RIP
City of Kalamazoo Declares War on Kalamazoo County!
Up From the Projects
The Case for a Creator
Weapons of Mass Instruction
The ACLU vs America
Michigan 5th Congressional District Election Preview
Does Detroit Need Immigration?
How Busing Wrecked Kalamazoo
Reagan Forever
Democrat Supervisor Doesn't Pay Taxes
Snyder Appoints Democrat WMU Trustee
2011 Election Preview
Previous:
The Best of The Western Right: 2010
The Best of The Western Right: 2009
The Best of The Western Right: 2008
The Best of The Western Right: 2007
The Best of The Western Right: 2006
A series of articles on redistricting in Michigan.
Michigan Redistricting
Conservative of the Year: Scott Walker
Who are the "Michigan Citizens for Fiscal Responsibility" and why do they support Fred Upton?
GOP Leaders:
Evangelical Environmental Network Runs Misleading Ads
Van Jones' Speech
Another Kalamazoo College Employee Lies About Van Jones
Kalamazoo College Professor Lies About Van Jones
Howard Wolpe, RIP
City of Kalamazoo Declares War on Kalamazoo County!
Up From the Projects
The Case for a Creator
Weapons of Mass Instruction
The ACLU vs America
Michigan 5th Congressional District Election Preview
Does Detroit Need Immigration?
How Busing Wrecked Kalamazoo
Reagan Forever
Democrat Supervisor Doesn't Pay Taxes
Snyder Appoints Democrat WMU Trustee
2011 Election Preview
Previous:
The Best of The Western Right: 2010
The Best of The Western Right: 2009
The Best of The Western Right: 2008
The Best of The Western Right: 2007
The Best of The Western Right: 2006
Best Articles of 2011
It is time for the best articles of 2011. These articles were selected from roughly 10,000 articles this year. More than 400 articles appeared in this year's 52 POLITICAL UPDATES.
The economy and the government were the most frequent topics, inspiring seven updates each. Immigration and the culture war were tied with six each.
Here are the ten best articles of 2011.
Victor Davis Hanson: Two Californias
Gary North: Facebook, Twitter, and the Arab Revolutions
Steve Sailer: Census 2010: Hispanic Hype, Black Backwash, White Flight
Thomas Sowell: Voting with Their Feet
Steve Sailer: Obama and Osama: Can We Go Home Now?
Gary North: College: Why It Is Not a Bubble
Gary North: London Riots: What Nobody Dares to Say
Federale: Obama Regime's Administrative Amnesty: Impeachment Is The Only Answer
Gary North: Too Many Eurozone Summits
Victor Davis Hanson: Vandalized Valley
Previous:
Best Articles of 2010
Best Articles of 2009
Best Articles of 2008
Best Articles of 2007
Best Articles of 2006
Best Articles of 2005
The economy and the government were the most frequent topics, inspiring seven updates each. Immigration and the culture war were tied with six each.
Here are the ten best articles of 2011.
Victor Davis Hanson: Two Californias
Gary North: Facebook, Twitter, and the Arab Revolutions
Steve Sailer: Census 2010: Hispanic Hype, Black Backwash, White Flight
Thomas Sowell: Voting with Their Feet
Steve Sailer: Obama and Osama: Can We Go Home Now?
Gary North: College: Why It Is Not a Bubble
Gary North: London Riots: What Nobody Dares to Say
Federale: Obama Regime's Administrative Amnesty: Impeachment Is The Only Answer
Gary North: Too Many Eurozone Summits
Victor Davis Hanson: Vandalized Valley
Previous:
Best Articles of 2010
Best Articles of 2009
Best Articles of 2008
Best Articles of 2007
Best Articles of 2006
Best Articles of 2005
2011 Year in Review
Local news from the Gazette:
Here are the top stories in the Kalamazoo area for 2011
National news from Dave Barry:
Dave Barry’s Year in Review: The 2011 Festival of Sleaze
Here are the top stories in the Kalamazoo area for 2011
National news from Dave Barry:
Dave Barry’s Year in Review: The 2011 Festival of Sleaze
Friday, December 30, 2011
Conservative of the Year: Scott Walker
2011 was a year of political stalemate, following Republicans' victories in the 2010 election. Consequently there isn't as clear a choice for conservative of the year as in some past years. In Congress, conservatives including Paul Ryan in the House (Human Events' choice for Conservative of the Year) and Rand Paul in the senate fought good, but mostly losing fights. 2009 winner Glenn Beck continued his efforts with a rally in Israel and launching an internet television network.
2011 was also the year of the mob. There were protests and riots in the Middle East and Egypt. There were leftist rallies in Wisconsin and the Occupy Wall Street movement in Manhattan and across the country. No one called this better than Ann Coulter, whose new book Demonic explains the liberal mob.
In the states, many conservatives fought the good fight. Arizona Senate Majority Leader Russel Pearce fought the good fight on immigration, gun rights, and more, and was recalled for his efforts. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie continued his efforts to reform that state. All of the preceding deserve honorable mentions.
But the best embodiment of these trends is Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker. Walker proposed reasonable reforms to the budget process and monopoly (collective) bargaining of some government employees. In response, Wisconsin leftists generated a firestorm of outrage. The democrat state senators fled the state, attempting to stop the bill from passing. Mobs invaded the state capital for weeks. But Walker and legislative Republicans refused to give in. They stood their ground and passed the bill anyways.
The issue didn't end there. Democrats tried to snag a state supreme court seat that would have given them the majority, but Republican David Prosser held them off. Leftists tried to recall enough state senators to take a majority of the state senate, but that effort was beaten back, with democrats winning only two seats under exceptional circumstances.
The issue still isn't over, as leftists are organizing to recall Walker in 2012. But Walker has continued to calmly stand his ground and argue for the merits of his reforms. His approval ratings have improved, and he stands a good chance of beating the recall.
Budget reform is all the Wisconsin Republicans accomplished. They also made Wisconsin the 41st state with the right to carry a concealed weapon. They strengthened self-defense laws. They passed a voter ID law to protect elections.
For standing up for conservative principles against the worst the left had to offer, Scott Walker is the 2011 conservative of the year.
Previous winners (including retroactive):
2010: Jim DeMint
2009: Glenn Beck
2008: Sarah Palin
2007: Ron Paul
2006: Jerome Corsi
2005: Tom Tancredo
2004: John O'Neill
2003: Roy Moore
2002: John Ashcroft
2001: George W. Bush
2000: William Rehnquist
2011 was also the year of the mob. There were protests and riots in the Middle East and Egypt. There were leftist rallies in Wisconsin and the Occupy Wall Street movement in Manhattan and across the country. No one called this better than Ann Coulter, whose new book Demonic explains the liberal mob.
In the states, many conservatives fought the good fight. Arizona Senate Majority Leader Russel Pearce fought the good fight on immigration, gun rights, and more, and was recalled for his efforts. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie continued his efforts to reform that state. All of the preceding deserve honorable mentions.
But the best embodiment of these trends is Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker. Walker proposed reasonable reforms to the budget process and monopoly (collective) bargaining of some government employees. In response, Wisconsin leftists generated a firestorm of outrage. The democrat state senators fled the state, attempting to stop the bill from passing. Mobs invaded the state capital for weeks. But Walker and legislative Republicans refused to give in. They stood their ground and passed the bill anyways.
The issue didn't end there. Democrats tried to snag a state supreme court seat that would have given them the majority, but Republican David Prosser held them off. Leftists tried to recall enough state senators to take a majority of the state senate, but that effort was beaten back, with democrats winning only two seats under exceptional circumstances.
The issue still isn't over, as leftists are organizing to recall Walker in 2012. But Walker has continued to calmly stand his ground and argue for the merits of his reforms. His approval ratings have improved, and he stands a good chance of beating the recall.
Budget reform is all the Wisconsin Republicans accomplished. They also made Wisconsin the 41st state with the right to carry a concealed weapon. They strengthened self-defense laws. They passed a voter ID law to protect elections.
For standing up for conservative principles against the worst the left had to offer, Scott Walker is the 2011 conservative of the year.
Previous winners (including retroactive):
2010: Jim DeMint
2009: Glenn Beck
2008: Sarah Palin
2007: Ron Paul
2006: Jerome Corsi
2005: Tom Tancredo
2004: John O'Neill
2003: Roy Moore
2002: John Ashcroft
2001: George W. Bush
2000: William Rehnquist
2011: The Year at Western
2011 was a fairly quiet year at Western, at least politically. The big news on campus continues to be the effort to establish a medical school. The school continues to raise money and hire administrators. It was also given a building downtown to serve as the location of the new school. (Presumably, the business that donated it will get a big tax writeoff.)
Construction continued on the new Sangren Hall, with the exterior now mostly complete and interior work continuing. Work is also progressing on an expansion to the Lee Honors College.
There has been little political activism on campus from either the College Republicans or the various leftist groups on campus. The Students for Life were revived from near death. The Western Herald has cut publication down to twice a week and seem to have lost significant readership. The WSA hasn't been involved in any recent controversies.
In February, Governor Snyder reappointed businessman Ken Miller to the WMU Board of Trustees and also appointed former Granholm staffer Dana Debel. Retired professor Joseph Ellin passed away. Veterans of the WMU College Republicans celebrated the five-year anniversary of Ann Coulter's speech on campus.
In March, the speed limit on Stadium was increased to 45 mph. In April, Jesse Jackson spoke on campus. The great Paul Maier finally retired as a history professor at Western. In May, university continued living well. In July, a federal appeals court panel overturned the MCRI; the ruling is being appealed to the full 6th circuit court of appeals . Western bought the University Bookstore , establishing a monopoly on physical bookstores on campus.
In August, Western's 'weak' education college was debated in the Gazette. A Western alumnus was involved in one of the big political stories of the year in Michigan. Western was rated as a 'gay-friendly' campus. In September, the costs of college continued to be debated. Western remembered 9/11.
In October, Human Events editor Jason Mattera spoke at Kalamazoo College, causing controversy. Later in October, it was announced that communist Van Jones would speak at Kalamazoo College. After the Gazette told a little too much truth about Jones' past, Kalamazoo College professor Any Elman and employee Hussain Turk lied about his record. His speech promoted big government under the guise of 'green energy'.
Former Congressman and WMU professor Howard Wolpe passed away. Khan Academy is changing math and science education. Western cut down trees to install solar panels.
What's next in 2012?
Previous:
2010: The year at Western
2009: The Year at Western
2008: The Year at Western
2007: The Year at Western
2006: The Year at Western
Construction continued on the new Sangren Hall, with the exterior now mostly complete and interior work continuing. Work is also progressing on an expansion to the Lee Honors College.
There has been little political activism on campus from either the College Republicans or the various leftist groups on campus. The Students for Life were revived from near death. The Western Herald has cut publication down to twice a week and seem to have lost significant readership. The WSA hasn't been involved in any recent controversies.
In February, Governor Snyder reappointed businessman Ken Miller to the WMU Board of Trustees and also appointed former Granholm staffer Dana Debel. Retired professor Joseph Ellin passed away. Veterans of the WMU College Republicans celebrated the five-year anniversary of Ann Coulter's speech on campus.
In March, the speed limit on Stadium was increased to 45 mph. In April, Jesse Jackson spoke on campus. The great Paul Maier finally retired as a history professor at Western. In May, university continued living well. In July, a federal appeals court panel overturned the MCRI; the ruling is being appealed to the full 6th circuit court of appeals . Western bought the University Bookstore , establishing a monopoly on physical bookstores on campus.
In August, Western's 'weak' education college was debated in the Gazette. A Western alumnus was involved in one of the big political stories of the year in Michigan. Western was rated as a 'gay-friendly' campus. In September, the costs of college continued to be debated. Western remembered 9/11.
In October, Human Events editor Jason Mattera spoke at Kalamazoo College, causing controversy. Later in October, it was announced that communist Van Jones would speak at Kalamazoo College. After the Gazette told a little too much truth about Jones' past, Kalamazoo College professor Any Elman and employee Hussain Turk lied about his record. His speech promoted big government under the guise of 'green energy'.
Former Congressman and WMU professor Howard Wolpe passed away. Khan Academy is changing math and science education. Western cut down trees to install solar panels.
What's next in 2012?
Previous:
2010: The year at Western
2009: The Year at Western
2008: The Year at Western
2007: The Year at Western
2006: The Year at Western
Thursday, December 29, 2011
POLITICAL UPDATE--Election 2012
This political update focuses on the 2012 election.
Mark Steyn: The Gingrich Gestalt
Larry Kudlow: The 2011 HUMAN EVENTS Conservative of the Year: Paul Ryan
Ann Coulter: Newt: Speak Bombastically and Carry a Tiny Stick
Ann Coulter: Newt Presents a Fresh New Virtual Face
Ann Coulter: If Not Romney, Who? If Not Now, When?
Peter Bradley: Newt Gingrich—GOP’s Anti-White Quota King
Steve Sailer: Herman Cain And The Limits Of Permissible Republican Ideology
James Kirkpatrick: Is “Conservatism” Enough? Russell Pearce’s Defeat And The Future Of “The Movement”
Phyllis Schlafly: National Popular Vote Is a Bad Idea
For campaign and election coverage, visit Red Racing Horses.
Mark Steyn: The Gingrich Gestalt
Larry Kudlow: The 2011 HUMAN EVENTS Conservative of the Year: Paul Ryan
Ann Coulter: Newt: Speak Bombastically and Carry a Tiny Stick
Ann Coulter: Newt Presents a Fresh New Virtual Face
Ann Coulter: If Not Romney, Who? If Not Now, When?
Peter Bradley: Newt Gingrich—GOP’s Anti-White Quota King
Steve Sailer: Herman Cain And The Limits Of Permissible Republican Ideology
James Kirkpatrick: Is “Conservatism” Enough? Russell Pearce’s Defeat And The Future Of “The Movement”
Phyllis Schlafly: National Popular Vote Is a Bad Idea
For campaign and election coverage, visit Red Racing Horses.
Michigan Articles
Steve Sailer on Benton Harbor:
Municipal Coup
Will Grigg on self-defense in Michigan:
The Right To Resist: Will Michigan Repeal the 'Rapist Doctrine'?
Municipal Coup
Will Grigg on self-defense in Michigan:
The Right To Resist: Will Michigan Repeal the 'Rapist Doctrine'?
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
POLITICAL UPDATE--Sovereignty
This update focuses on sovereignty.
Phyllis Schlafly: China Celebrates Outwitting Us in the WTO
Phyllis Schlafly: UN Mischief from Durban to Rio
Steve Sailer: Newt Gingrich, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush—Servants of Davos Man
Phyllis Schlafly: Goodbye UNESCO a Model for Goodbye UN
Gary North: Europe's Hangover
Gary North: Too Many Eurozone Summits
POLITICAL UPDATES are archived here.
Phyllis Schlafly: China Celebrates Outwitting Us in the WTO
Phyllis Schlafly: UN Mischief from Durban to Rio
Steve Sailer: Newt Gingrich, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush—Servants of Davos Man
Phyllis Schlafly: Goodbye UNESCO a Model for Goodbye UN
Gary North: Europe's Hangover
Gary North: Too Many Eurozone Summits
POLITICAL UPDATES are archived here.
Monday, December 26, 2011
Who are the "Michigan Citizens for Fiscal Responsibility" and why do they support Fred Upton?
Radio ads in Southwest Michigan are touting the supposed fiscal conservatism of Congressman Fred Upton. The ads praise his work on the "Supercommittee" and claim that Upton was picked because "he's a tough conservative", instead of his insider connections. Of course, the supercommittee didn't accomplish anything, though the fact that they didn't raise taxes can be seen as a victory.
The ads are run by an outfit called "Michigan Citizens for Fiscal Responsibility". Who are they? Their FEC filing lists the people sharing control and Stephen Linder and Jeffrey Timmer. They are both also listed as owners of the Sterlling Corporation, a major Republican political consulting firm in Michigan. The group had previously run ads in 2010 (presumably) attacking Gary Peters, Mark Schauer, and Gary McDowell.
MCFFR seems to be a "SuperPAC" that is not required to disclose its donations. The organization does not appear to have a website.
It would seem that some wealthy person or persons, who may not actually be citizens of Michigan, paid the Sterling Corporation to run ads praising Upton through a front group that doesn't actually exist except on paper. Listeners are advised to be skeptical.
The ads are run by an outfit called "Michigan Citizens for Fiscal Responsibility". Who are they? Their FEC filing lists the people sharing control and Stephen Linder and Jeffrey Timmer. They are both also listed as owners of the Sterlling Corporation, a major Republican political consulting firm in Michigan. The group had previously run ads in 2010 (presumably) attacking Gary Peters, Mark Schauer, and Gary McDowell.
MCFFR seems to be a "SuperPAC" that is not required to disclose its donations. The organization does not appear to have a website.
It would seem that some wealthy person or persons, who may not actually be citizens of Michigan, paid the Sterling Corporation to run ads praising Upton through a front group that doesn't actually exist except on paper. Listeners are advised to be skeptical.
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Deb Buchholtz Resigns
Deb Buchholtz, the county commissioner representing district 13 (Alamo, Cooper, Parchment) will resign to devote more time to her new job.
Deb Buchholtz resigning from Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners
District 13 is staunchly Republican. The county commission will appoint a replacement to finish Deb's term. It will be interesting to see whether they appoint a moderate like Deb or a more conservative Republican.
District 13 was chopped into three pieces in redistricting. The largest part, Cooper, which is where Deb lives, was put in a district with longtime commissioner Jeff Hepler. Parchment was added to a democrat district, and Alamo is in a new, open Republican district. If the county commission wants to appoint someone who will be around for more than a year, that person will likely have to be from Alamo.
Deb Buchholtz resigning from Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners
District 13 is staunchly Republican. The county commission will appoint a replacement to finish Deb's term. It will be interesting to see whether they appoint a moderate like Deb or a more conservative Republican.
District 13 was chopped into three pieces in redistricting. The largest part, Cooper, which is where Deb lives, was put in a district with longtime commissioner Jeff Hepler. Parchment was added to a democrat district, and Alamo is in a new, open Republican district. If the county commission wants to appoint someone who will be around for more than a year, that person will likely have to be from Alamo.
2000 Posts
This is the 2000th post on The Western Right. This blog began February 12, 2006 as a group blog for the WMU College Republicans and eventually transitioned into a personal blog when the other contributors moved on to other things. Some of the posts have since been off-lined, but I have kept count.
Here is the first month of posts. Many of the highlights of this blog are linked at right.
Here is the first month of posts. Many of the highlights of this blog are linked at right.
Friday, December 23, 2011
GOP Leaders: Merry Christmas Happy Holidays!
Christmastime for conservative activists brings lots of spam emails from GOP leaders in Michigan. These provide a curious sidebar in the "War on Christmas", the leftist effort to eliminate traditional symbols of Christmas as part of the broader culture war.
The chief symbol of the War on Christmas is the battle between the greetings "Merry Christmas" and "Happy Holidays", with "Season's Greetings" making an occasional appearance. Of course, there wouldn't be "Holidays" without Christmas. The bizarre argument for using "Happy Holidays" is that some tiny fraction of the population would be offended by "Merry Christmas", so we must use a phrase that annoys far more people. (But they're the wrong people, so who cares are them?)
Two recent polls have shown that 69% and 77% of Americans prefer "Merry Christmas". The percentages of Republicans was 88% yet another poll.
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/content/pdf/7006
http://www.goppolk.org/?p=1131
Yet some Republican leaders have taken a cowardly stand with the forces of political correctness rather than the vast majority of the Republican base. Here is a list of the greetings used by prominent Republicans who have mailed or emailed me.
Rick Snyder: "Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays"
Brian Calley: "Seasons Greetings"
Bobby Schotak: "holiday season"
Saul Anuzis: "Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays"
Bill Scheutte: "Happy Holidays"
Randy Richardville: "holiday season, a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year"
Pete Hoekstra: "Merry Christmas"
Dan Horning (candidate for UM regent): "Warmest Holiday Wishes"
Jack Hoogendyk: "Merry Christmas"
Senator Tonya Schuitmaker: "Happy Holidays"
Rep. Margaret O'Brien: "Merry Christmas"
Speaker Jase Bolger: "A Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and Happy New Year!"
Kalamazoo GOP: "Merry Christmas"
Please post any additional data you have in the comments.
The chief symbol of the War on Christmas is the battle between the greetings "Merry Christmas" and "Happy Holidays", with "Season's Greetings" making an occasional appearance. Of course, there wouldn't be "Holidays" without Christmas. The bizarre argument for using "Happy Holidays" is that some tiny fraction of the population would be offended by "Merry Christmas", so we must use a phrase that annoys far more people. (But they're the wrong people, so who cares are them?)
Two recent polls have shown that 69% and 77% of Americans prefer "Merry Christmas". The percentages of Republicans was 88% yet another poll.
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/content/pdf/7006
http://www.goppolk.org/?p=1131
Yet some Republican leaders have taken a cowardly stand with the forces of political correctness rather than the vast majority of the Republican base. Here is a list of the greetings used by prominent Republicans who have mailed or emailed me.
Rick Snyder: "Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays"
Brian Calley: "Seasons Greetings"
Bobby Schotak: "holiday season"
Saul Anuzis: "Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays"
Bill Scheutte: "Happy Holidays"
Randy Richardville: "holiday season, a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year"
Pete Hoekstra: "Merry Christmas"
Dan Horning (candidate for UM regent): "Warmest Holiday Wishes"
Jack Hoogendyk: "Merry Christmas"
Senator Tonya Schuitmaker: "Happy Holidays"
Rep. Margaret O'Brien: "Merry Christmas"
Speaker Jase Bolger: "A Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and Happy New Year!"
Kalamazoo GOP: "Merry Christmas"
Please post any additional data you have in the comments.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
POLITICAL UPDATE--The Culture War
This update focuses on the culture war.
Immanuel Velikovsky: Deluge
Gary North: The Coming Break-Up of the Nation-State
Pat Buchanan: The Equality Racket
Steve Sailer: Steve Jobs: Nature, Nurture, And Apricot Orchards In Silicon Valley
Pat Buchanan: Why We Should Care If Whites Become A Minority
Gary North: The Paterno Affair and Western Liberty
POLITICAL UPDATES are archived here.
Immanuel Velikovsky: Deluge
Gary North: The Coming Break-Up of the Nation-State
Pat Buchanan: The Equality Racket
Steve Sailer: Steve Jobs: Nature, Nurture, And Apricot Orchards In Silicon Valley
Pat Buchanan: Why We Should Care If Whites Become A Minority
Gary North: The Paterno Affair and Western Liberty
POLITICAL UPDATES are archived here.
Monday, December 12, 2011
WMU CR alum's latest column
Hey everyone, I've been writing a few articles for a number of places across the nation. My latest has been published on RealReaganConservative.com. Here's a short preview:
It seems that a number of conservatives won’t be getting what they want in 2012. Far too many conservatives are defining the current presidential pack as less than inspiring. What followed was a number commentators and pundits hoping that someone with experience and a solid conservative record would jump in and save us all from the mediocrity they saw in the current field.
For the past few months, I’ve heard nothing but comments like “Sarah Palin needs to run,” and “Marco Rubio would be prefect!” Ann Coulter even joked about taking away Chris Christie’s inhaler until he ran. But the window has come and gone for people to join in the race, and there’s a lot of disappointment with many now talking about 2016.
It’s as if all the hoopla surrounding the race for the White House has caused us to completely forget the fact that there are other elections taking place in November. One third of the Senate seats and the entire House of Representatives will be determined by voters in November. There are also numerous state and local elections taking place across the nation. That’s a sizeable chunk of our government that cannot be ignored.
Read more
It seems that a number of conservatives won’t be getting what they want in 2012. Far too many conservatives are defining the current presidential pack as less than inspiring. What followed was a number commentators and pundits hoping that someone with experience and a solid conservative record would jump in and save us all from the mediocrity they saw in the current field.
For the past few months, I’ve heard nothing but comments like “Sarah Palin needs to run,” and “Marco Rubio would be prefect!” Ann Coulter even joked about taking away Chris Christie’s inhaler until he ran. But the window has come and gone for people to join in the race, and there’s a lot of disappointment with many now talking about 2016.
It’s as if all the hoopla surrounding the race for the White House has caused us to completely forget the fact that there are other elections taking place in November. One third of the Senate seats and the entire House of Representatives will be determined by voters in November. There are also numerous state and local elections taking place across the nation. That’s a sizeable chunk of our government that cannot be ignored.
Read more
Monday, December 05, 2011
POLITICAL UPDATE--The Economy
This update focuses on the economy.
Gary North: French Fried Banks
Gary North: Europe's Two Endgames
Gary North: German Pope, Italian Central Banker
Gary North: Boomer Blindness
Gary North: Compound Economic Growth and Atlas
Phyllis Schlafly: Let's Talk About Jobs
POLITICAL UPDATES are archived here.
Gary North: French Fried Banks
Gary North: Europe's Two Endgames
Gary North: German Pope, Italian Central Banker
Gary North: Boomer Blindness
Gary North: Compound Economic Growth and Atlas
Phyllis Schlafly: Let's Talk About Jobs
POLITICAL UPDATES are archived here.
Saturday, December 03, 2011
Evangelical Environmental Network Runs Misleading Ads
An environmentalist group that claims to be Christian is running ads in Michigan.
http://creationcare.org/
http://creationcare.org/blog.php?blog=35
Christian environmental group says the EPA's new rules on mercury pollution is a pro-life issue
The Evangelical Environmental Network is running radio ads in six states. The ads are virtually identical, merely substituting the name of the state and the senators who are targeted in the ad. The ads, narrated by "Pastor Tracy" (no last name given) all say that "children here in [state] are vulnerable". But unless she recorded identical ads in each state, she is LYING about where she is in most or all of the ads.
The ads also reference "members of Congress who say they are pro-life", which is bizarre since since some of those mentioned, including Levin and Stabenow, say no such thing.
I can't claim to be an expert on mercury emissions, but I am extremely skeptical of the scientific claims of environmental organizations, which have a long history of distorting science for their own ends. But whatever the dangers to the unborn of a few parts per billion of mercury, it pales in comparison to the dangers of BEING STABBED IN THE NECK AND HAVING YOUR BRAINS SUCKED OUT.
Abortion has killed 50 million or so unborn, and Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow are ardent defenders of it. For "Pastor Tracy" and the EEN to imply that Levin and Stabenow are pro-life is outrageous, and to attempt to use the pro-life cause to promote their environmental agenda is despicable.
The EEN also uses bad theology. In the Bible, God requires that we "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it." Earth's resources are there for our use, and while we should use them responsibly, producing energy is essential to our standard of living. Coal plants are an essential part of our energy production, and taking them away would hurt our economy and even our lifespans.
http://creationcare.org/
http://creationcare.org/blog.php?blog=35
Christian environmental group says the EPA's new rules on mercury pollution is a pro-life issue
The Evangelical Environmental Network is running radio ads in six states. The ads are virtually identical, merely substituting the name of the state and the senators who are targeted in the ad. The ads, narrated by "Pastor Tracy" (no last name given) all say that "children here in [state] are vulnerable". But unless she recorded identical ads in each state, she is LYING about where she is in most or all of the ads.
The ads also reference "members of Congress who say they are pro-life", which is bizarre since since some of those mentioned, including Levin and Stabenow, say no such thing.
I can't claim to be an expert on mercury emissions, but I am extremely skeptical of the scientific claims of environmental organizations, which have a long history of distorting science for their own ends. But whatever the dangers to the unborn of a few parts per billion of mercury, it pales in comparison to the dangers of BEING STABBED IN THE NECK AND HAVING YOUR BRAINS SUCKED OUT.
Abortion has killed 50 million or so unborn, and Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow are ardent defenders of it. For "Pastor Tracy" and the EEN to imply that Levin and Stabenow are pro-life is outrageous, and to attempt to use the pro-life cause to promote their environmental agenda is despicable.
The EEN also uses bad theology. In the Bible, God requires that we "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it." Earth's resources are there for our use, and while we should use them responsibly, producing energy is essential to our standard of living. Coal plants are an essential part of our energy production, and taking them away would hurt our economy and even our lifespans.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Bus Tax Zone
The Kalamazoo County Transportation Authority, which has never met a tax it didn't like, is proposing a map of areas of the county with access to bus routes. The goal would then be to raise taxes in those areas. This follows the failure of its attempts to raise taxes on the entire county.
Transportation authority recommends new map to include residents with access to bus routes
The problem with the map is that it is based on election precincts. Thus there are people in Comstock, Oshtemo, and Portage who live miles away from the nearest bus stop who would be paying extra for buses. In Comstock 5, some residents appear to be six miles or more from the nearest bus line.
The map should be fixed to only take in those who actually use the bus lines. Better yet, only the people who use the buses should pay for them.
Transportation authority recommends new map to include residents with access to bus routes
The problem with the map is that it is based on election precincts. Thus there are people in Comstock, Oshtemo, and Portage who live miles away from the nearest bus stop who would be paying extra for buses. In Comstock 5, some residents appear to be six miles or more from the nearest bus line.
The map should be fixed to only take in those who actually use the bus lines. Better yet, only the people who use the buses should pay for them.
Khan Academy
A very interesting article about learning math and science online. I don't think this will replace teachers, but it can be a nice supplement.
How Khan Academy Is Changing the Rules of Education
How Khan Academy Is Changing the Rules of Education
Sunday, November 27, 2011
POLITICAL UPDATE--Government
This update focuses on government.
Allan Wall: Photo ID For Voters—How Come It’s OK For Mexico?
Mark Steyn: Biden’s Fourth-Grade Economics
Gary North: Not Theirs To Occupy
Allan Wall: Photo ID For Voters—How Come It’s OK For Mexico?
Mark Steyn: Biden’s Fourth-Grade Economics
Gary North: Not Theirs To Occupy
Gary North: Lake Wobegon Politics
Gary North: Occupy Liberty Street (OLS)! (The Federal Reserve Bank of New York)
Gary North: Gasoline Sales in Oregon: 16x7
John Whitehead: SWAT Team Mania: The War Against the American Citizen
POLITICAL UPDATES are archived here.
Gary North: Occupy Liberty Street (OLS)! (The Federal Reserve Bank of New York)
Gary North: Gasoline Sales in Oregon: 16x7
John Whitehead: SWAT Team Mania: The War Against the American Citizen
POLITICAL UPDATES are archived here.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Sunday, November 20, 2011
POLITICAL UPDATE--Liberalism
This update focuses on liberalism.
Dan Flynn: The Original Kool-Aid Drinkers
Gary North: Ellen Brown's War on the Constitution
Mark Steyn: Corporate Collaborators
Washington Watcher: J. Christian Adams’s INJUSTICE: The “Racial Agenda Of The Obama Justice Department” Turns Out To Be Anti-White Zealotry
Mark Steyn: American Autumn
Dan Flynn: Progressives' Prohibition
Steve Sailer: Randall Kennedy On Barack Obama:"Eloquence And Candor Are Not Always Useful Qualities"
Steve Sailer: How Smart Is Obama, Anyway? About As Smart As Gerald Ford!
Much information on liberal individuals and organizations can be found at David Horowitz's Discover the Network site.
Dan Flynn: The Original Kool-Aid Drinkers
Gary North: Ellen Brown's War on the Constitution
Mark Steyn: Corporate Collaborators
Washington Watcher: J. Christian Adams’s INJUSTICE: The “Racial Agenda Of The Obama Justice Department” Turns Out To Be Anti-White Zealotry
Mark Steyn: American Autumn
Dan Flynn: Progressives' Prohibition
Steve Sailer: Randall Kennedy On Barack Obama:"Eloquence And Candor Are Not Always Useful Qualities"
Steve Sailer: How Smart Is Obama, Anyway? About As Smart As Gerald Ford!
Much information on liberal individuals and organizations can be found at David Horowitz's Discover the Network site.
Friday, November 18, 2011
Parking Lot Carry
This bill would prevent people from being fired or prosecuted for having a gun in a car at a business. While this is a very small restriction on the property rights of businesses, it will reduce crime and make the public safer.
Michigan: Bill would allow residents to lock guns in cars at work
Michigan: Bill would allow residents to lock guns in cars at work
Van Jones' Speech
After all the buildup, what did Van Jones say at Kalamazoo College?
Van Jones, former White House advisor and author, attracts hundreds to Kalamazoo College event (video)
Kalamazoo College Professor Lies About Van Jones
Another Kalamazoo College Employee Lies About Van Jones
Van Jones, former White House advisor and author, attracts hundreds to Kalamazoo College event (video)
KALAMAZOO – More than 400 people filled Dalton Theatre to hear author, activist and former White House advisor Van Jones speak for Kalamazoo College’s William Weber Lecture on Government and Society on Wednesday night.What a suck-up. Pathetic.
Jones began his lecture by praising the students in the room for the Occupy Wall Street movement started by young people, which he made appearances at in California.
“You are bigger than the Baby Boomers,” he said. “You are more ecologically aware, more humanitarian than any generation of Americans ever. You stood up in 2008 and in your enthusiasm you made history. In 2010, you sat down and made history and now in 2011 you stood up – or are laying down in sleeping bags – whatever you do you make history.”
Many of the college students and adults in the audience said they regard Jones, 43, as a man who has answers to our grim economy with green jobs, which he outlines in his book “The Green Collar Economy.”You know what you also don't get from wind turbines? Affordable energy.
“When the wind turbine falls over, you don't get a massive wind slick that wipes over,” Jones told the audience.
“I've worked in solar energy for 10 years and I've never seen a sun spill.Have you heard of skin cancer? By the way, when has Jones ever "worked in solar energy", as opposed to being a political activist?
There is a smarter way to power America and the good thing about it is everything that is good for the environment is a job.”Yet more liberals who don't have a problem with a communist past.
Jones joked about hot-topic issues such as gay marriage and immigration reform and said the millennial generation is the most diverse one yet.
“Y'all make up genders and still get along, it's a miracle in human history,” he said. “This diversity you are managing and celebrating and multiplying will be a source of your solution to find a way to restore the prosperity.”
Mayor Bobby Hopewell – who sat in the second row among the lecture's namesake Bill Weber, who founded of the William Weber Chair in Political Science – said Jones is already making a difference by finding a new approach to improve urban communities. Kalamazoo billionaire philanthropist Jon Stryker was also present at the event.
Kalamazoo's Fran Kremlick, 78, said Jones's visit reminds her of when Martin Luther King Jr. visited her church 60 years ago.
Jones is currently president of the liberal nonprofit organization called Rebuild the Dream as well as co-founder of the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, Color of Change and Green For All. He is a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress and on the board of several organizations including Demos, the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights, and the Campaign for America's Future.They were lying, as was Jones.
TIME magazine recognized Jones as one of the 100 most influential people in 2009. That same year, Jones was asked to resign from his position as green-jobs advisor in the Obama administration.
Rumors about his involvement in a Sept. 11 conspiracy group, a radical group with Marxist roots and past statements against Republicans are what led to his resignation, according to The Washington Post.
The Gazette’s advance article on Jones’s lecture, which mentioned the above controversy, was met with sharp criticism in a letter to the editor from Kalamazoo College Professor R. Amy Elman, who pointed to Jones’s New York Times editorial piece explaining how the rumors were false.
Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership of Kalamazoo College program coordinator Hussain Turk also wrote a letter accusing the Gazette of being “racist and heterosexist” for publishing the public controversy surrounding Jones.
Kalamazoo College Professor Lies About Van Jones
Another Kalamazoo College Employee Lies About Van Jones
“This is the most controversial thing I am going to say and I know you were waiting for it,” Jones said, poking fun at his controversial reputation. “America is not broke. We are the richest country in the world. We can't drill and burn our way out of our energy problems but we can invent and invest our way.”'Evidence? Wind and solar don't produce anywhere near enough energy.
While his humor brought much laughter to the room, some audience members wanted a more solution-oriented conversation.Van Jones continues to sell his gospel of more spending, more corporate welfare, higher taxes, and more debt. He is exploiting and promoting the fad of "green energy" to do so, but the real goal continues to be big government.
"Van Jones shows himself as a true showman," said Bejamin Leventer, 22. "Ultimately he left us with a challenge of how to bring jobs back and bring about climate change by changing our reliance on 'dead' energy sources."
There was an hour-long question and answer period and a book signing after the lecture. It was not disclosed if Jones received payment to speak at Kalamazoo College, but tickets to the event were free.
Jones is participating in a panel discussion called “The Political Moment: Social Justice Tensions, Possibilities, and Aspirations,” at Kalamazoo College’s W.K. Hicks Student Center banquet room on Thursday morning.
Monday, November 14, 2011
POLITICAL UPDATE--Education
This update focuses on education.
Roger Devlin: Higher Education: The Impossibility Of Reform
Phyllis Schlafly: College May Be Dangerous for Men
Phyllis Schlafly: Scandals in the Classroom
Gary North: Just Say No to School Vouchers . . . Again
Phyllis Schlafly: Obnoxious Classroom Curricula
Phyllis Schlafly: Perpetuating Federal Spending on Education
Learn more about education issues in Education Reporter.
Roger Devlin: Higher Education: The Impossibility Of Reform
Phyllis Schlafly: College May Be Dangerous for Men
Phyllis Schlafly: Scandals in the Classroom
Gary North: Just Say No to School Vouchers . . . Again
Phyllis Schlafly: Obnoxious Classroom Curricula
Phyllis Schlafly: Perpetuating Federal Spending on Education
Learn more about education issues in Education Reporter.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Kalamazoo County Tax Rates
Julie Mack of the Gazette compiled the following useful chart of local tax rates.
Which Kalamazoo County community has the highest millage rate? (Julie Mack blog)
-------------------------
2011 homestead millage rates for Kalamazoo County
This chart is organized by school districts, which are listed in bold, and show the millage rates for owner-occupied homes. The tax bills shown are for a home with a market value of $130,000 and a taxable value of $60,000, which is the county average.
____________Mills Tax bill
Kalamazoo
City of Kalamazoo 51.2 $3,072.00
Kalamazoo Twp. 38.7 $2,322.00
Oshtemo 30.7 $1,842.00
Texas 28.3 $1,698.00
Portage
Portage 37.7 $2,262.00
Texas 28.4 $1,704.00
Pavilion 27.8 $1,668.00
Climax-Scotts
Climax Village 38.9 $2,334.00
Climax Twp. 30.9 $1,854.00
Charleston 28.6 $1,716.00
Wakeshma 28.6 $1,716.00
Pavilion 28.5 $1,710.00
Comstock
City of Kalamazoo 52.9 $3,174.00
Kalamazoo Twp. 40.5 $2,430.00
City of Portage 40 $2,400.00
Portage 37.9 $2,274.00
Comstock 30.6 $1,836.00
Pavilion 28.5 $1,710.00
Galesburg-Augusta
Augusta/Ross Twp. 42.4 $2,544.00
Augusta/Charleston 41.8 $2,508.00
Galesburg 37.2 $2,232.00
Climax 30.7 $1,842.00
Comstock 30.4 $1,824.00
Ross 29 $1,740.00
Charleston 28.4 $1,704.00
Gull Lake
Village of Richland 36 $2,160.00
Charleston 28.4 $1,704.00
Comstock 27.6 $1,656.00
Richland Twp. 26.5 $1,590.00
Cooper 26.4 $1,584.00
Ross Twp. 26.2 $1,572.00
Mattawan
Oshtemo 31.1 $1,866.00
Prairie Ronde 27.5 $1,650.00
Texas 27.5 $1,650.00
Otsego
Oshtemo 28.8 $1,728.00
Alamo 26.4 $1,584.00
Cooper 25.6 $1,536.00
Parchment
City of Kalamazoo 50.8 $3,048.00
City of Parchment 46.1 $2,766.00
Kalamazoo Twp. 38.4 $2,304.00
Cooper 30.3 $1,818.00
Plainwell
Cooper 25.6 $1,536.00
Alamo 26.4 $1,584.00
Portage
City of Kalamazoo 50.9 $3,054.00
City of Portage 37.9 $2,274.00
Texas 28.3 $1,698.00
Pavilion 27.8 $1,668.00
Schoolcraft
Schoolcraft Village 44.7 $2,682.00
City of Portage 40.3 $2,418.00
Schoolcraft Twp. 29.6 $1,776.00
Prairie Ronde 29.3 $1,758.00
Texas 29.3 $1,758.00
Vicksburg
Vicksburg Village 42.6 $2,556.00
City of Portage 37.4 $2,244.00
Pavilion 28.6 $1,716.00
Schoolcraft Twp. 26.7 $1,602.00
Brady 26.6 $1,596.00
Wakeshma 26 $1,560.00
Which Kalamazoo County community has the highest millage rate? (Julie Mack blog)
-------------------------
2011 homestead millage rates for Kalamazoo County
This chart is organized by school districts, which are listed in bold, and show the millage rates for owner-occupied homes. The tax bills shown are for a home with a market value of $130,000 and a taxable value of $60,000, which is the county average.
____________Mills Tax bill
Kalamazoo
City of Kalamazoo 51.2 $3,072.00
Kalamazoo Twp. 38.7 $2,322.00
Oshtemo 30.7 $1,842.00
Texas 28.3 $1,698.00
Portage
Portage 37.7 $2,262.00
Texas 28.4 $1,704.00
Pavilion 27.8 $1,668.00
Climax-Scotts
Climax Village 38.9 $2,334.00
Climax Twp. 30.9 $1,854.00
Charleston 28.6 $1,716.00
Wakeshma 28.6 $1,716.00
Pavilion 28.5 $1,710.00
Comstock
City of Kalamazoo 52.9 $3,174.00
Kalamazoo Twp. 40.5 $2,430.00
City of Portage 40 $2,400.00
Portage 37.9 $2,274.00
Comstock 30.6 $1,836.00
Pavilion 28.5 $1,710.00
Galesburg-Augusta
Augusta/Ross Twp. 42.4 $2,544.00
Augusta/Charleston 41.8 $2,508.00
Galesburg 37.2 $2,232.00
Climax 30.7 $1,842.00
Comstock 30.4 $1,824.00
Ross 29 $1,740.00
Charleston 28.4 $1,704.00
Gull Lake
Village of Richland 36 $2,160.00
Charleston 28.4 $1,704.00
Comstock 27.6 $1,656.00
Richland Twp. 26.5 $1,590.00
Cooper 26.4 $1,584.00
Ross Twp. 26.2 $1,572.00
Mattawan
Oshtemo 31.1 $1,866.00
Prairie Ronde 27.5 $1,650.00
Texas 27.5 $1,650.00
Otsego
Oshtemo 28.8 $1,728.00
Alamo 26.4 $1,584.00
Cooper 25.6 $1,536.00
Parchment
City of Kalamazoo 50.8 $3,048.00
City of Parchment 46.1 $2,766.00
Kalamazoo Twp. 38.4 $2,304.00
Cooper 30.3 $1,818.00
Plainwell
Cooper 25.6 $1,536.00
Alamo 26.4 $1,584.00
Portage
City of Kalamazoo 50.9 $3,054.00
City of Portage 37.9 $2,274.00
Texas 28.3 $1,698.00
Pavilion 27.8 $1,668.00
Schoolcraft
Schoolcraft Village 44.7 $2,682.00
City of Portage 40.3 $2,418.00
Schoolcraft Twp. 29.6 $1,776.00
Prairie Ronde 29.3 $1,758.00
Texas 29.3 $1,758.00
Vicksburg
Vicksburg Village 42.6 $2,556.00
City of Portage 37.4 $2,244.00
Pavilion 28.6 $1,716.00
Schoolcraft Twp. 26.7 $1,602.00
Brady 26.6 $1,596.00
Wakeshma 26 $1,560.00
Sackley/Randall Spat
There is a spat between Portage council members Ed Sackley and Patricia Randall. Sackley criticized her attendance, and she responded that she had been seeking treatment for breast cancer.
Portage council member reveals 'detour in my life' in response to statement read at council meeting (viewpoint)
Portage City Councilwoman Patricia Randall speaks out to 'set the record straight'
Portage council member reveals 'detour in my life' in response to statement read at council meeting (viewpoint)
Portage City Councilwoman Patricia Randall speaks out to 'set the record straight'
Friday, November 11, 2011
POLITICAL UPDATE--The Economy
This update focuses on the economy.
Thomas Sowell: Numbers Games
Phyllis Schlafly: Mexican Trucks Are On Our Roads
Gary North: On Rebooting America
Phyllis Schlafly: Korean Agreement Is a Jobs Killer
Gary North: Newton's Apple and Jobs's Apple: Their Dual Trajectory Is Inevitable
Gary North: The #1 Historical Question Is Unanswered
Gary North: God, Gold, Groceries, and Guns
Gary North: Flying PIIGS
Gary North: Europe's Botox Bailouts
POLITICAL UPDATES are archived here.
Thomas Sowell: Numbers Games
Phyllis Schlafly: Mexican Trucks Are On Our Roads
Gary North: On Rebooting America
Phyllis Schlafly: Korean Agreement Is a Jobs Killer
Gary North: Newton's Apple and Jobs's Apple: Their Dual Trajectory Is Inevitable
Gary North: The #1 Historical Question Is Unanswered
Gary North: God, Gold, Groceries, and Guns
Gary North: Flying PIIGS
Gary North: Europe's Botox Bailouts
POLITICAL UPDATES are archived here.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Herman Cain in Kalamazoo
Presidential candidate Herman Cain visited Kalamazoo today.
Herman Cain says he's 'been through hell,' Kalamazoo supporters stand by his side (with video)
Herman Cain says he's 'been through hell,' Kalamazoo supporters stand by his side (with video)
Tuesday, November 08, 2011
Election Day
Today is the day for local elections in Michigan.
Vote!
Mattawan voters, please oppose the millage.
Results later.
9:12:
Mattawan millage trails 760-925 in Kalamazoo County.
Mattawan millage trails 805-1156 in Van Buren County.
Die, millage!
9:37:
Kalamazoo marijuana ordinance is passing 3866-2084.
City commission: Hopewell/McKinney/Cooney/Miller/Anderson/Cinabro/Bell
Boyd trails...
9:42:
Mattawan millage loses 1379-1471 in Kalamazoo County!
Mattawan millage loses 805-1156 in Van Buren County!
9:51:
Kalamazoo final results:
Marijuana proposition wins every precinct, including absentees: 4649/2416.
City commission: Hopewell/McKinney/Cooney/Miller/Anderson/Cinabro/Bell
Miller and Anderson switch places, Bell drops to seventh.
Portage:
Campbell/Pearson/Randall
Bailes trails...
9:56:
Paul Scott recall (13/35 precincts)
51.24 Yes
48.76 No
10:04:
Genesee County Election Results
STATE REP RECALL, 51ST DIST-PAUL SCOTT
VOTE FOR 1
(WITH 18 OF 35 PRECINCTS COUNTED 51.43%)
YES . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,210 50.15
NO. . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,167 49.85
Total . . . . . . . . . 14,377
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 9
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 55
Down to the wire...
10:13:
No trails...
STATE REP RECALL, 51ST DIST-PAUL SCOTT
VOTE FOR 1
(WITH 23 OF 35 PRECINCTS COUNTED 65.71%)
YES . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,892 49.49
NO. . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,075 50.51
Total . . . . . . . . . 17,967
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 9
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 71
10:17:
Portage all but over (one precinct left)
Portage:
Campbell/Pearson/Randall
Bailes defeated.
10:48:
No inching ahead...
STATE REP RECALL, 51ST DIST-PAUL SCOTT
VOTE FOR 1
(WITH 29 OF 35 PRECINCTS COUNTED 82.86%)
YES . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,361 49.21
NO. . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,693 50.79
Total . . . . . . . . . 21,054
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 10
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 88
11:57:
The final percentage in Mattawan was 55% no.
12:56:
Paul Scott recalled. Lost by 232 votes.
State lawmaker says he accepts his recall in Genesee County
Vote!
Mattawan voters, please oppose the millage.
Results later.
9:12:
Mattawan millage trails 760-925 in Kalamazoo County.
Mattawan millage trails 805-1156 in Van Buren County.
Die, millage!
9:37:
Kalamazoo marijuana ordinance is passing 3866-2084.
City commission: Hopewell/McKinney/Cooney/Miller/Anderson/Cinabro/Bell
Boyd trails...
9:42:
Mattawan millage loses 1379-1471 in Kalamazoo County!
Mattawan millage loses 805-1156 in Van Buren County!
9:51:
Kalamazoo final results:
Marijuana proposition wins every precinct, including absentees: 4649/2416.
City commission: Hopewell/McKinney/Cooney/Miller/Anderson/Cinabro/Bell
Miller and Anderson switch places, Bell drops to seventh.
Portage:
Campbell/Pearson/Randall
Bailes trails...
9:56:
Paul Scott recall (13/35 precincts)
51.24 Yes
48.76 No
10:04:
Genesee County Election Results
STATE REP RECALL, 51ST DIST-PAUL SCOTT
VOTE FOR 1
(WITH 18 OF 35 PRECINCTS COUNTED 51.43%)
YES . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,210 50.15
NO. . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,167 49.85
Total . . . . . . . . . 14,377
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 9
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 55
Down to the wire...
10:13:
No trails...
STATE REP RECALL, 51ST DIST-PAUL SCOTT
VOTE FOR 1
(WITH 23 OF 35 PRECINCTS COUNTED 65.71%)
YES . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,892 49.49
NO. . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,075 50.51
Total . . . . . . . . . 17,967
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 9
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 71
10:17:
Portage all but over (one precinct left)
Portage:
Campbell/Pearson/Randall
Bailes defeated.
10:48:
No inching ahead...
STATE REP RECALL, 51ST DIST-PAUL SCOTT
VOTE FOR 1
(WITH 29 OF 35 PRECINCTS COUNTED 82.86%)
YES . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,361 49.21
NO. . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,693 50.79
Total . . . . . . . . . 21,054
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 10
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 88
11:57:
The final percentage in Mattawan was 55% no.
12:56:
Paul Scott recalled. Lost by 232 votes.
State lawmaker says he accepts his recall in Genesee County
Monday, November 07, 2011
Electric Cars Versus Trees
Western cut down trees to install electric car chargers near Miller Auditorium. I'll take the trees over the bogus green energy boondoggle.
Green energy project leaves WMU student group seeing red
In Western Michigan University's trees vs. charging stalls 'green' debate, trees have the edge (letter)
Green energy project leaves WMU student group seeing red
In Western Michigan University's trees vs. charging stalls 'green' debate, trees have the edge (letter)
Global Warming Propaganda in Michigan Schools
This excellent article exposes a bogus left-wing propaganda book on global warming. The book calls Al Gore an eco-hero and urges students to "vote green" while containing plenty of factual errors.
Farm Bureau upset that science kit for students contains left-wing book with misinformation about modern farming
The book was eventually pulled from the BCAMSC science kits.
Climate change book recalled by Battle Creek Area Math and Science Center
Farm Bureau upset that science kit for students contains left-wing book with misinformation about modern farming
The book was eventually pulled from the BCAMSC science kits.
Climate change book recalled by Battle Creek Area Math and Science Center
Thursday, November 03, 2011
Club for Growth Encourages Upton Challenge
The Club for Growth is considering supporting Jack Hoogendyk in another bid against Fred Upton. I suspect this a warning to Upton not to support any bad deals on the Supercommittee. It would have been nice if the Club had supported Jack last time when he got 43% against Upton.
---------------------
Club for Growth Encouraging Upton Primary Challenger
The Club for Growth is considering supporting a primary challenge to Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.) next year.
Club spokesman Barney Keller said the conservative organization is “impressed” with former state Rep. Jack Hoogendyk, who is considering challenging Upton for a second time in 2012.
“The club met with Hoogendyk today and came away impressed,” Keller said. “We’re taking a look at the race.”
Upton has faced renewed scrutiny from conservatives since he became chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee earlier this year. After House Republicans appointed Upton to the Joint Committee on Deficit Reduction, conservatives groused.
But back home in Michigan, Upton has consistently won re-election by double-digit margins. Last year, Upton defeated Hoogendyk in the primary, 57 percent to 43 percent, although the Congressman heavily outspent his GOP challenger.
Hoogendyk has not announced a campaign yet. But the club’s statement is likely meant as encouragement for him to challenge Upton in the August primary.
“Hoogendyk has a good record in the Michigan Legislature, he voted against spending and tax increases,” Keller said. “And Fred Upton has a long record of voting for bigger government that’s inconsistent with our policy objectives.”
Keller pointed to Upton’s meager lifetime score of 54 on its Congressional Scorecard.
---------------------
Club for Growth Encouraging Upton Primary Challenger
The Club for Growth is considering supporting a primary challenge to Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.) next year.
Club spokesman Barney Keller said the conservative organization is “impressed” with former state Rep. Jack Hoogendyk, who is considering challenging Upton for a second time in 2012.
“The club met with Hoogendyk today and came away impressed,” Keller said. “We’re taking a look at the race.”
Upton has faced renewed scrutiny from conservatives since he became chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee earlier this year. After House Republicans appointed Upton to the Joint Committee on Deficit Reduction, conservatives groused.
But back home in Michigan, Upton has consistently won re-election by double-digit margins. Last year, Upton defeated Hoogendyk in the primary, 57 percent to 43 percent, although the Congressman heavily outspent his GOP challenger.
Hoogendyk has not announced a campaign yet. But the club’s statement is likely meant as encouragement for him to challenge Upton in the August primary.
“Hoogendyk has a good record in the Michigan Legislature, he voted against spending and tax increases,” Keller said. “And Fred Upton has a long record of voting for bigger government that’s inconsistent with our policy objectives.”
Keller pointed to Upton’s meager lifetime score of 54 on its Congressional Scorecard.
Local Campaign Finance Reports
Local campaign finance reports are out.
Mayor Bobby Hopewell leads candidates in Kalamazoo campaign fundraising, reports say
Local elections have been very quiet so far. Bobby Hopewell is the biggest fundraiser so far, with $24,000. He always raises and spends a lot even though he could be reelected without spending anything. Robert Cinabro is second with $12,000. He was appointed to fill a partial term on the commission. The other incumbents trail. Nicholas Boyd and Nicholas Wikar are the only challengers who have raised more than $1000.
The Portage race is pretty quiet, with Cory Bailes leading and Patricia Randall trailing.
The pro-tax-hike group in the Mattawan School district raised $2477.
Mayor Bobby Hopewell leads candidates in Kalamazoo campaign fundraising, reports say
Local elections have been very quiet so far. Bobby Hopewell is the biggest fundraiser so far, with $24,000. He always raises and spends a lot even though he could be reelected without spending anything. Robert Cinabro is second with $12,000. He was appointed to fill a partial term on the commission. The other incumbents trail. Nicholas Boyd and Nicholas Wikar are the only challengers who have raised more than $1000.
The Portage race is pretty quiet, with Cory Bailes leading and Patricia Randall trailing.
The pro-tax-hike group in the Mattawan School district raised $2477.
The filing didn’t list itemized spending but top contributions included $500 each from Kingscott Associates Inc.,an architectural and engineering firm,and the Miller-Davis Co., a construction management firm.I'm sure those construction firms donated because they are concerned about quality schools, and not at all because they hope to get million-dollar building contracts.
Another Kalamazoo College Employee Lies About Van Jones
Hussain Turk, the "program coordinator for the Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership of Kalamazoo College" took time off from defending the rights of great apes to pen a letter to the Gazette protesting its accurate characterization of Van Jones as a Marxist. Turk, who has virulently anti-American views, writes
What Van Jones really offers is rebuilding the American dream, not a course in Marxism
1. Invest in America's infrastructure [government spending]
2. Create 21st century energy jobs [corporate welfare]
3. Invest in public education [spending, socialism]
4. Offer Medicare for all [spending, socialism]
5. Make work pay [You can get PAID for work? All this time I've been working for free!]
6. Secure Social Security [spending]
7. Return to fairer tax rates [raise taxes]
8. End the wars and invest at home [spending]
9. Tax Wall Street speculation [raise taxes]
10. Strengthen democracy [socialism is central planning by elites, which is undemocratic]
Turk is either clueless or lying, most likely the latter given his oblique endorsement of Marxism. I'll quote again Politifact on Van Jones.
Previous:
Kalamazoo College Professor Lies About Van Jones
Van Jones at Kalamazoo College
What Van Jones really offers is rebuilding the American dream, not a course in Marxism
In a recent piece on Van Jones' upcoming presentation at Kalamazoo College, the Kalamazoo Gazette echoed the archaic and unprofessional (and not to mention historically racist and heterosexist) red-baiting cry of "Marxist!" in its description of the progressive intellectual.What is 'red-baiting'? Why would criticism of Marxists, who murdered 150 million people, be considered a bad thing by Mr. Turk? How is it 'racist and heterosexist'? Communists certainly weren't very kind to racial minorities and homosexuals when they were in power. Incidentally, the original progressive intellectuals were incredibly racist, supporting eugenics. Woodrow Wilson segregated the White House, for example.
This is an outdated tactic that will not save any of us from the immoral and disgustingly expansive web of corporate greed that in 2010 afforded John Paulson a $4.9 billion annual paycheck while unemployment rates soared to unprecedented heights.Turk then blathers about corporate greed for a few paragraphs.
Van Jones' movement to Rebuild the American Dream might offer us a solution. On Wednesday, Nov. 2 he will speak at Kalamazoo College's annual Weber Lecture about this movement, which he sums up in a Contract for the American Dream:[Comments in brackets]
1. Invest in America's infrastructure [government spending]
2. Create 21st century energy jobs [corporate welfare]
3. Invest in public education [spending, socialism]
4. Offer Medicare for all [spending, socialism]
5. Make work pay [You can get PAID for work? All this time I've been working for free!]
6. Secure Social Security [spending]
7. Return to fairer tax rates [raise taxes]
8. End the wars and invest at home [spending]
9. Tax Wall Street speculation [raise taxes]
10. Strengthen democracy [socialism is central planning by elites, which is undemocratic]
Jones offers a traditional American solution to the problems that have plagued this country since its beginning. Rebuild the American Dream repositions the American Dream as an ideal worth striving for: "this basic idea that ordinary people should be able to find a job, keep a job, keep a home and give their kid a better life."Which Founding Father would endorse this platform?
My political theoretical barometer picks up little to no Marxism here — but for things to be as unfortunate as they are at present, a healthy dose of Marxism might be "productive."Little? So there is some? So Turk does want Marxism?
In spite of the Gazette's false accusations and vapid commentary, I encourage your attendance at this tonight's presentation by Jones — a presentation that is sure to raise both viable solutions to and critical inquiries around the national crisis.Communists don't gain power saying that they're going to kill people. They always promise good things like jobs and health care. At the same time, they exploit existing divisions in society through class warfare (and phony accusations of 'racism'). Van Jones made a strategic decision to abandon overt radicalism in favor a phony 'green jobs' agenda, but with the same goal of imposing big government socialism.
On Thursday at 10 a.m. in Hicks Banquet Hall, Jones will also speak on a panel discussion, "The Political Moment," alongside two local community activists and two Kalamazoo College students. Admission is free and no RSVP is necessary.
Hussain Turk is program coordinator for the Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership of Kalamazoo College.
Turk is either clueless or lying, most likely the latter given his oblique endorsement of Marxism. I'll quote again Politifact on Van Jones.
There's little question that Jones was an avowed communist.Would Turk make the same excuses for a speaker with Nazi ties? Would he invite David Duke (who has also endorsed Occupy Wall Street) to speak about social justice? If not, why not? Communists killed far more people than Nazis. Once again I'll ask--is communism the sort of 'social justice' Turk and the Arcus Center are promoting?
In a Nov. 2, 2005, profile of Jones in the East Bay Express , an alternative weekly in Berkeley, Calif., Jones said his life hit a turning point in the spring of 1992 when he was swept up in mass arrests while protesting the acquittal of police officers accused of beating Rodney King.
Although the charges against Jones were dropped, Jones said that while in jail, "I met all these young radical people of color — I mean really radical, communists and anarchists. And it was, like, 'This is what I need to be a part of.' I spent the next 10 years of my life working with a lot of those people I met in jail, trying to be a revolutionary."
"In the months that followed," the Express article said, "he let go of any lingering thoughts that he might fit in with the status quo. 'I was a rowdy nationalist on April 28th, and then the verdicts came down on April 29th,' he said. 'By August, I was a communist.'"
In 1994, the story states, Jones formed a socialist collective called Standing Together to Organize a Revolutionary Movement, or STORM.
According to a history of STORM written in the spring of 2004, the group held "structured political education" training at every meeting "to help members develop an understanding of the basics of Marxist politics." They "trained members on capitalism and wage exploitation, the state and revolution, imperialism and the revolutionary party."
Previous:
Kalamazoo College Professor Lies About Van Jones
Van Jones at Kalamazoo College
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