This update focuses on liberalism. Barack Obama has extensive ties to communist terrorist Bill Ayers. Liberalism has an ignoble history. Unions want to take away secret ballots for union elections.
John McManus: Behind the Obama Agenda
William Jasper: Ukrainian Genocide: NY Times Still Covering Up
Thomas Sowell: Intellectuals
Phyllis Schlafly: The Catholic Connection to Barack Obama
John Lott: Workers, Be Wary
William Jasper: Terrorist Bill Ayers Misrepresents His Past
William Jasper: Obama's Friend Ayers: Kill 25 Million Americans
William Jasper: Obama's Terrorist Ties and Radical Roots
Brian Johnson: Joe the Non-Union Worker
Michael New: Conservatives Have New History of American Left
Much information on liberal individuals and organizations can be found at David Horowitz's Discover the Network site.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Friday, November 28, 2008
More Obama Betrayals
Obama is going to keep Robert Gates, Bush's Secretary of Defense. Change you can believe in, liberals?
Obama's other appointments include Eric Holder, who helped to pardon multimillionaire swindler Marc Rich. Way to stick up for the little guy!
Obama also intervened to save Joe Lieberman's position as Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee.
He's also backtracking on closing Guantanamo Bay and supposedly even on tax increases on the rich.
How long will it take for Obama's followers to realize that he's just another politician?
Previous: Obama Breaks Promises, Betrays Supporters
Obama's other appointments include Eric Holder, who helped to pardon multimillionaire swindler Marc Rich. Way to stick up for the little guy!
Obama also intervened to save Joe Lieberman's position as Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee.
He's also backtracking on closing Guantanamo Bay and supposedly even on tax increases on the rich.
How long will it take for Obama's followers to realize that he's just another politician?
Previous: Obama Breaks Promises, Betrays Supporters
Stop Eric Holder
Probably the most troublesome appointment announced by Barack Obama so far is that of Eric Holder as Attorney General. Holder has a long and bad record from his previous years in the Justice department during the Clinton administration.
Opposed to Holder without Apology
Holder was deeply involved in the scandalous pardon of fugitive criminal Marc Rich at the end of the Clinton administration. Rich had been a fugitive for years, but after his ex-wife contributed money to Clinton, he was pardoned.
Holder was also a major part of pardoning of two Weathermen terrorists.
He was also involved in the pardoning of sixteen Puerto Rican FALN terrorists during Hillary's campaign for Senate in New York. The terrorists hadn't even asked for pardons.
He was also involved in the commando raid that took Elian Gonzales away from his legal guardians in Miami and gave him back to Fidel Castro.
Holder is a major supporter of gun control. He opposed the Heller decision by the Supreme Court and does not believe that the Second Amendment protects an individual right.
For all these reasons and more, the nomination of Eric Holder should be defeated if it is not first withdrawn.
Opposed to Holder without Apology
Holder was deeply involved in the scandalous pardon of fugitive criminal Marc Rich at the end of the Clinton administration. Rich had been a fugitive for years, but after his ex-wife contributed money to Clinton, he was pardoned.
Holder was also a major part of pardoning of two Weathermen terrorists.
He was also involved in the pardoning of sixteen Puerto Rican FALN terrorists during Hillary's campaign for Senate in New York. The terrorists hadn't even asked for pardons.
He was also involved in the commando raid that took Elian Gonzales away from his legal guardians in Miami and gave him back to Fidel Castro.
Holder is a major supporter of gun control. He opposed the Heller decision by the Supreme Court and does not believe that the Second Amendment protects an individual right.
For all these reasons and more, the nomination of Eric Holder should be defeated if it is not first withdrawn.
The Kucinich of Oshtemo
The Western Herald profiles one of the no-name democrats swept into office by the democrat tide.
Newly-elected township trustee has progressive agenda for Oshtemo
Newly-elected township trustee has progressive agenda for Oshtemo
It is in Concord Apartments, just off KL Avenue, in the fifth voting precinct, where newly elected Oshtemo Township Trustee Scott McCormick lives.McCormick could have campaigned dressed as the Philly Phanatic on a platform of driving a stake through the heart of every voter and he still would have won thanks to straight ticket voting.
Now the youngest township official in Kalamazoo County, at 36, he uncomfortably wears a suit.
“Normally I wear a shirt and blue jeans, you can’t get down to work in a suit,” he said.
McCormick ran a unique campaign this fall, spending “zero dollars and zero cents.”
“Scott signed a waver in the beginning of his campaign that said he would spend no more than $1,000 and he stayed true to that,” said David Pawloski, chair of the Kalamazoo County Democratic Party.So how did he get 5,378 votes?
“7-Eleven campaigning,” McCormick said, “I would stand outside the 7-Eleven on Drake and KL and talk with people. I would go door to door at my apartment building and talk to people, tell them I am on the ballot.”
Inspired by politicians like Ohio Representative Dennis Kucinich and Consumer Advocate and four time presidential candidate Ralph Nader, McCormick has some big dreams for Oshtemo.If this guy really tries to build a windmill in Oshtemo, I will not rest until he is recalled from office.
“I’m looking to get a grant and tax credits so Oshtemo can get a wind turbine installed on township property,” he said.
McCormick is excited about the possibilities of his four year term as Township Trustee.
“If there is room for Kucinich, there is room for me,” he said.
Kalamazoo Township Goes Godless
From the Gazette:
Kalamazoo Township seeks grant for tower, drops prayer
KALAMAZOO TOWNSHIP -- During its first meeting with new Supervisor Terri Mellinger at the helm, the Kalamazoo Township Board of Trustees authorized the supervisor, clerk and treasurer to work with Kalamazoo County in seeking grant money for a new communications tower.
The tower would be part of the Michigan Public Safety Communication System. It could be placed by the end of March at the Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Office.
The meeting was the first for the newly Democratic-controlled board.
Board members sported new blue name tags and didn't take a moment for prayer before reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Mellinger said a decision was made to eliminate the prayer.
"We're going secular,'' Clerk Don Thall said before the meeting.
Thall, who has served on the board since 1962, said it was the first time since the early 1970s that a prayer was not said before a township meeting.
-----------------
Ann Coulter had a point.
Kalamazoo Township seeks grant for tower, drops prayer
KALAMAZOO TOWNSHIP -- During its first meeting with new Supervisor Terri Mellinger at the helm, the Kalamazoo Township Board of Trustees authorized the supervisor, clerk and treasurer to work with Kalamazoo County in seeking grant money for a new communications tower.
The tower would be part of the Michigan Public Safety Communication System. It could be placed by the end of March at the Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Office.
The meeting was the first for the newly Democratic-controlled board.
Board members sported new blue name tags and didn't take a moment for prayer before reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Mellinger said a decision was made to eliminate the prayer.
"We're going secular,'' Clerk Don Thall said before the meeting.
Thall, who has served on the board since 1962, said it was the first time since the early 1970s that a prayer was not said before a township meeting.
-----------------
Ann Coulter had a point.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Saturday, November 22, 2008
POLITICAL UPDATE--Environmentalism
This update focuses on environmentalism. Gas prices have dropped to below two dollars per gallon. Environmentalists continue to promote the global warming myth. New resources counter their claims.
Cynthia Grenier: Red Hot Lies About Global Warming
Ed Hiserodt: Liberty From Global-warming Alarmism
AWR Hawkins: We Cannot Worship Nature and Remain Free
Bill Anderson: Sustainable Fascism
Alex Newman: A Convenient Book About the Environment
Chris Horner: Attack of the Energy-Rationers
Eric Englund: Environmentalism Is Racism
Floy Lilley: The Fraud of Global Warming
POLITICAL UPDATES are archived here.
Cynthia Grenier: Red Hot Lies About Global Warming
Ed Hiserodt: Liberty From Global-warming Alarmism
AWR Hawkins: We Cannot Worship Nature and Remain Free
Bill Anderson: Sustainable Fascism
Alex Newman: A Convenient Book About the Environment
Chris Horner: Attack of the Energy-Rationers
Eric Englund: Environmentalism Is Racism
Floy Lilley: The Fraud of Global Warming
POLITICAL UPDATES are archived here.
Local Politics
News about local politics.
Democratic voters boosted record turnout for presidential election in Kalamazoo County
11 apply for opening on Portage school board
New township supervisors take office today in county
Kalsec chairman, former congressman Paul H. Todd Jr. remembered for his integrity, sincerity
International enrollment up 15% at WMU
Transit officials brainstorm for ideas
Hefty pay increases proposed for Kalamazoo County Officials
Crowd turns out here to support same-sex marriage
Local demonstration part of nationwide protest against California vote
DeShazor is named vice chair of GOP caucus
WMU nears med-school decision
Democratic voters boosted record turnout for presidential election in Kalamazoo County
11 apply for opening on Portage school board
New township supervisors take office today in county
Kalsec chairman, former congressman Paul H. Todd Jr. remembered for his integrity, sincerity
International enrollment up 15% at WMU
Transit officials brainstorm for ideas
Hefty pay increases proposed for Kalamazoo County Officials
Crowd turns out here to support same-sex marriage
Local demonstration part of nationwide protest against California vote
DeShazor is named vice chair of GOP caucus
WMU nears med-school decision
Bad News for Michigan
Michigan's economy keeps getting worse.
The unemployment rate is now 9.3%. Even worse, economists are predicting even more job losses to come. Specifically, 108,000 in 2009.
Meanwhile, congressional democrats have shown what they think of Michigan by replacing Congressman John Dingell as head of the Energy and Commerce Committee with Henry Waxman of California. Dingell is a liberal, but he has the saving graces of being mostly pro-gun and sympathetic to the auto industry. Waxman is hyper-partisan, mean, and extremely left-wing.
More tough times are ahead.
The unemployment rate is now 9.3%. Even worse, economists are predicting even more job losses to come. Specifically, 108,000 in 2009.
Meanwhile, congressional democrats have shown what they think of Michigan by replacing Congressman John Dingell as head of the Energy and Commerce Committee with Henry Waxman of California. Dingell is a liberal, but he has the saving graces of being mostly pro-gun and sympathetic to the auto industry. Waxman is hyper-partisan, mean, and extremely left-wing.
More tough times are ahead.
Friday, November 21, 2008
The Right Agenda: Stop Doing What Doesn't Work
In any political movement, there are bound to be tensions between following principle and political feasibility. But there shouldn't be any problem with rejecting strategies that both violate principles and fail politically.
Yet this does not seem self-evident to some in the Republican Party. Hence the need to review the strategies employed by Republicans in recent years that have been proven failures.
BEING MODERATE
It sounds so reasonable. "Republicans should move to the center to get the support of more moderate and swing voters." The only problem is that there is absolutely no evidence that this ever works. There may some particular districts where moderates have an advantage, but on the national level they don't. Consider recent Presidential elections. Every time the Republican ran as a moderate (McCain, Dole, Bush 41 in 1992, Ford) he lost. Every time the Republican ran as a conservative, whether he actually was or not, (Bush 43, Bush 41 in 1988, Reagan, Nixon) he won. Republicans also won control of Congress in 1994 on a very conservative platform.
Why is this? Conservatives motivate the Republican base. There are plenty of people who are broadly conservative but not very political. If Republican candidates never mention the issues that are important to them, and take liberal or moderate position they disagree with, they will stay home. Who can really blame them?
Further, the base donates money and does the volunteer work necessary to make political campaigns successful. This is no surprise, as people whose ideals are further from the status quo have more reason to work to change things.
Conversely, there aren't nearly as many votes in the center as people think. Many 'swing voters' are really just indecisive people who don't know what they believe.
Yet another reason not the be moderate is that 'moderate' policies are bad policies, and bad policies have bad political consequences. When energy prices were a major issue in 2008, Republicans were stuck with a candidate who had opposed much expansion of energy production, until he did a quick turnaround on offshore drilling. Plenty more examples could be given.
PORK-BARREL SPENDING
Many Republican members of Congress believe that obtaining 'earmarks', provisions in bills directing that money in appropriations bills be spent in certain ways, are the key to political success. But where is the evidence of this? Yes, there are many safe Republicans who also get lots of earmarks. There are also safe Republicans who don't get earmarks. The fate of vulnerable Republicans doesn't seem to depend on whether they got earmarks or not.
But pork-barrel spending has carried plenty of political risk. It has upset the base, and likely depressed conservative support for Republicans. Earmarking helps to pass bad legislation and discourages Republicans from voting against big spending bills they would otherwise oppose. Earmarking also carries a significant risk of encouraging corruption, which can not only endanger individual seats, but tarnish the party across the board.
Earmarking should be significantly curtailed, if not eliminated.
COMPASSIONATE CONSERVATISM/BIG-GOVERNMENT CONSERVATISM
While "compassionate conservatism" may have been meritorious as conceived by Marvin Olasky, as practiced by the Bush administration it has been a disaster. "Compassionate conservatism" and "big-government conservatism" have become almost the same thing in practice.
The idea of this strategy as conceived by Karl Rove is that once Republicans won an election, they should do the exact opposite of what people who voted for them wanted and try to attract the votes of people who never vote Republican to create a "permanent Republican majority". They should use big government toward supposedly conservative ends like everyone owning a house and all students performing equally well on standardized tests.
Of course, when put this way it doesn't sound like such a brilliant strategy. Predictably, this strategy alienated the base and didn't attract many new voters. The few it did attract didn't stay long.
Bush's biggest legislative efforts centered around this strategy. No Child Left Behind increased federal education spending and regulation. It failed to win more votes from teachers or mothers and is widely regarded as a failure. Conservatives were upset by increased spending and bizarre requirements, and democrats falsely claimed that it was 'underfunded' and didn't spend enough.
Bush's prescription drug bill was designed to win the support of old people by spending huge amounts of money giving drugs to seniors. It further alienated fiscal conservatives, and did precious little to win the votes of seniors. Democrats voted against it because it wasn't big enough.
Bush also made a major effort to increase mortgage lending for minorities, particularly Hispanics. This could only be accomplished by lowering lending standards. This led to the housing bubble, and the ensuing bursting of the bubble. This has led to the present financial crisis that we face. Hispanics went a bit more for Bush in 2004, but stayed away from McCain in 2008, amidst widespread home foreclosures. The financial crisis was a major factor costing Republicans votes across the board in 2008. It's true that democrats have pushed similar policies for years, but that doesn't negate Bush's share of the responsibility.
Then there was Bush's repeated attempts to promote amnesty for illegal aliens. This failed to win Hispanic votes for him or McCain. It not only alienated conservatives, but also many of the roughly 70% of Americans who oppose amnesty.
If these examples prove anything, it is that it is never a good idea to promote bad policies in order to win votes. (Rather, it's never a good idea for a Republican to do so.)
Whatever strategy Republicans pursue henceforth, it should not be any of these three, which have been tried and repeatedly failed.
Yet this does not seem self-evident to some in the Republican Party. Hence the need to review the strategies employed by Republicans in recent years that have been proven failures.
BEING MODERATE
It sounds so reasonable. "Republicans should move to the center to get the support of more moderate and swing voters." The only problem is that there is absolutely no evidence that this ever works. There may some particular districts where moderates have an advantage, but on the national level they don't. Consider recent Presidential elections. Every time the Republican ran as a moderate (McCain, Dole, Bush 41 in 1992, Ford) he lost. Every time the Republican ran as a conservative, whether he actually was or not, (Bush 43, Bush 41 in 1988, Reagan, Nixon) he won. Republicans also won control of Congress in 1994 on a very conservative platform.
Why is this? Conservatives motivate the Republican base. There are plenty of people who are broadly conservative but not very political. If Republican candidates never mention the issues that are important to them, and take liberal or moderate position they disagree with, they will stay home. Who can really blame them?
Further, the base donates money and does the volunteer work necessary to make political campaigns successful. This is no surprise, as people whose ideals are further from the status quo have more reason to work to change things.
Conversely, there aren't nearly as many votes in the center as people think. Many 'swing voters' are really just indecisive people who don't know what they believe.
Yet another reason not the be moderate is that 'moderate' policies are bad policies, and bad policies have bad political consequences. When energy prices were a major issue in 2008, Republicans were stuck with a candidate who had opposed much expansion of energy production, until he did a quick turnaround on offshore drilling. Plenty more examples could be given.
PORK-BARREL SPENDING
Many Republican members of Congress believe that obtaining 'earmarks', provisions in bills directing that money in appropriations bills be spent in certain ways, are the key to political success. But where is the evidence of this? Yes, there are many safe Republicans who also get lots of earmarks. There are also safe Republicans who don't get earmarks. The fate of vulnerable Republicans doesn't seem to depend on whether they got earmarks or not.
But pork-barrel spending has carried plenty of political risk. It has upset the base, and likely depressed conservative support for Republicans. Earmarking helps to pass bad legislation and discourages Republicans from voting against big spending bills they would otherwise oppose. Earmarking also carries a significant risk of encouraging corruption, which can not only endanger individual seats, but tarnish the party across the board.
Earmarking should be significantly curtailed, if not eliminated.
COMPASSIONATE CONSERVATISM/BIG-GOVERNMENT CONSERVATISM
While "compassionate conservatism" may have been meritorious as conceived by Marvin Olasky, as practiced by the Bush administration it has been a disaster. "Compassionate conservatism" and "big-government conservatism" have become almost the same thing in practice.
The idea of this strategy as conceived by Karl Rove is that once Republicans won an election, they should do the exact opposite of what people who voted for them wanted and try to attract the votes of people who never vote Republican to create a "permanent Republican majority". They should use big government toward supposedly conservative ends like everyone owning a house and all students performing equally well on standardized tests.
Of course, when put this way it doesn't sound like such a brilliant strategy. Predictably, this strategy alienated the base and didn't attract many new voters. The few it did attract didn't stay long.
Bush's biggest legislative efforts centered around this strategy. No Child Left Behind increased federal education spending and regulation. It failed to win more votes from teachers or mothers and is widely regarded as a failure. Conservatives were upset by increased spending and bizarre requirements, and democrats falsely claimed that it was 'underfunded' and didn't spend enough.
Bush's prescription drug bill was designed to win the support of old people by spending huge amounts of money giving drugs to seniors. It further alienated fiscal conservatives, and did precious little to win the votes of seniors. Democrats voted against it because it wasn't big enough.
Bush also made a major effort to increase mortgage lending for minorities, particularly Hispanics. This could only be accomplished by lowering lending standards. This led to the housing bubble, and the ensuing bursting of the bubble. This has led to the present financial crisis that we face. Hispanics went a bit more for Bush in 2004, but stayed away from McCain in 2008, amidst widespread home foreclosures. The financial crisis was a major factor costing Republicans votes across the board in 2008. It's true that democrats have pushed similar policies for years, but that doesn't negate Bush's share of the responsibility.
Then there was Bush's repeated attempts to promote amnesty for illegal aliens. This failed to win Hispanic votes for him or McCain. It not only alienated conservatives, but also many of the roughly 70% of Americans who oppose amnesty.
If these examples prove anything, it is that it is never a good idea to promote bad policies in order to win votes. (Rather, it's never a good idea for a Republican to do so.)
Whatever strategy Republicans pursue henceforth, it should not be any of these three, which have been tried and repeatedly failed.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
The Right Agenda: New Leadership
Surveying the smoldering wreckage of the Republican Party, Republicans and conservatives are looking to rebuild. But we must pay careful attention to planning what to do. More of the same won't cut it.
This series of posts will try to lay out "the right agenda" to get Republicans and conservatives back on track.
At the top of the agenda must be new leadership. The same people who have failed so disastrously must not be rewarded by putting them in charge again.
The Bush administration is leaving Washington, so there is no need to spell out their failures just this moment.
How about Republicans in Congress? Their leadership has been mediocre at best. Perhaps the most significant failure was the fact that they supported the 'crap sandwich' trillion-dollar corporate welfare bailout of failed banks. A majority of house Republicans actually voted against the first version of this wildly unpopular bill, but House Republican leader John Boehner urged them to vote for it, and even coined the term 'crap sandwich' to describe it. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell similarly supported the bill.
More Republicans actually voted against the bill than democrats, but it was widely associated with the Republican party since it was proposed by officials in the Bush administration. A Club for Growth survey found that when asked which party was "The party that supports taxpayer bailouts for big corporations", voters 43.4% identified Republicans, 15.9% said Democrats, and 25.8% said both.
McConnell and Boehner should both be replaced. In all likelihood, neither will be. There is some good news in the House, though. Roy Blunt is stepping down as Republican whip, and will likely be replaced by his deputy, Eric Cantor. Mike Pence, a leader of fiscal conservatives, is currently running unopposed for that position. Jeb Hensarling, the leader of the conservative Republican Study Committee is running for conference chairman, the number four position in the leadership.
Republicans also need to replace the chairmen of their campaign committees. This is not only due to the widespread losses under their watch, but due the inept way that they very publicly 'pulled out' of certain races, effectively saying that thought candidates in closely contested races would lose.
The position of Chairman of the Republican National Committee will be filled through a wide open race. According to John Gizzi, the leading candidates are GOPAC chairman, former lieutenant Governor of Maryland, and former Maryland Republican Party chairman Michael Steele, Michigan Republican Party Chairman Saul Anuzius, and South Carolina Republican Chairman Katon Dawson. There are plenty of others considering running, including current RNC chairman Michael Duncan and former Michigan RNC Committeeman Chuck Yob.
In the Michigan House of Representatives, Republicans selected Kevin Elsenheimer as their new leader to replace the term-limited Craig DeRoche. Elsenheimer is a staunch conservative who is not likely to let democrats pass liberal legislation without a fight.
Michigan will see a heavily contested race for state chairman. There are a number of candidates running, but this field will be narrowed before the state convention in February.
Republicans should also be very wary of nominating any members of the Bush administration for office. The same goes for nominating any member of the least popular congress in history to any offices other than those they currently hold.
Republicans cannot keep doing the same things and expecting different results.
This series of posts will try to lay out "the right agenda" to get Republicans and conservatives back on track.
At the top of the agenda must be new leadership. The same people who have failed so disastrously must not be rewarded by putting them in charge again.
The Bush administration is leaving Washington, so there is no need to spell out their failures just this moment.
How about Republicans in Congress? Their leadership has been mediocre at best. Perhaps the most significant failure was the fact that they supported the 'crap sandwich' trillion-dollar corporate welfare bailout of failed banks. A majority of house Republicans actually voted against the first version of this wildly unpopular bill, but House Republican leader John Boehner urged them to vote for it, and even coined the term 'crap sandwich' to describe it. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell similarly supported the bill.
More Republicans actually voted against the bill than democrats, but it was widely associated with the Republican party since it was proposed by officials in the Bush administration. A Club for Growth survey found that when asked which party was "The party that supports taxpayer bailouts for big corporations", voters 43.4% identified Republicans, 15.9% said Democrats, and 25.8% said both.
McConnell and Boehner should both be replaced. In all likelihood, neither will be. There is some good news in the House, though. Roy Blunt is stepping down as Republican whip, and will likely be replaced by his deputy, Eric Cantor. Mike Pence, a leader of fiscal conservatives, is currently running unopposed for that position. Jeb Hensarling, the leader of the conservative Republican Study Committee is running for conference chairman, the number four position in the leadership.
Republicans also need to replace the chairmen of their campaign committees. This is not only due to the widespread losses under their watch, but due the inept way that they very publicly 'pulled out' of certain races, effectively saying that thought candidates in closely contested races would lose.
The position of Chairman of the Republican National Committee will be filled through a wide open race. According to John Gizzi, the leading candidates are GOPAC chairman, former lieutenant Governor of Maryland, and former Maryland Republican Party chairman Michael Steele, Michigan Republican Party Chairman Saul Anuzius, and South Carolina Republican Chairman Katon Dawson. There are plenty of others considering running, including current RNC chairman Michael Duncan and former Michigan RNC Committeeman Chuck Yob.
In the Michigan House of Representatives, Republicans selected Kevin Elsenheimer as their new leader to replace the term-limited Craig DeRoche. Elsenheimer is a staunch conservative who is not likely to let democrats pass liberal legislation without a fight.
Michigan will see a heavily contested race for state chairman. There are a number of candidates running, but this field will be narrowed before the state convention in February.
Republicans should also be very wary of nominating any members of the Bush administration for office. The same goes for nominating any member of the least popular congress in history to any offices other than those they currently hold.
Republicans cannot keep doing the same things and expecting different results.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Blue Kalamazoo?
The Gazette has an article discussing voting trends in Kalamazoo County.
Kalamazoo County swinging to Democrats, both parties agree
Read it all. Excerpts:
Nonetheless, it is true that the trends are against Republicans. Republicans must redouble their efforts to win in 2010.
Kalamazoo County swinging to Democrats, both parties agree
Read it all. Excerpts:
Among the worrisome trends for local Republicans:A couple statements in the article are erroneous. Mary Balkema is not considering switching parties.
The highly regarded organization of the Obama campaign means local Democrats now have extensive lists of supporters and volunteers as well as a structure that can be remobilized in the future. "We now have a permanent precinct organization, a permanent set of people in the neighborhoods talking to people about the issues," Pawloski said.
The Obama campaign also generated high enthusiasm among young voters, who overwhelmingly supported Obama. Research indicates that voters continue to identify with the party that captured their first presidential vote, and that could have an impact on local politics for years to come.
This election showed a significant shift in straight-ticket voting that favored Democrats. Kalamazoo County voters opting for a straight Democratic ballot went from 22 percent of the electorate in 2004 to 27 percent this year, while straight Republican ballots dropped from 25 percent to 19 percent of ballots cast.
Balkema said that straight-ticket votes were a factor in her race. "I could have run against Jerry the Clown and I would have had the same problem," she said. "It was amazing that I won at all."
Barack Obama won 58 percent of the vote countywide, including 54 percent in Portage. Democrats were undefeated in Kalamazoo, Oshtemo and Comstock townships, creating Democratic majorities on three township boards for the first time in Kalamazoo County. Even the sole candidate for Wakeshma Township supervisor ran on the Democratic ticket.A democratic candidate for trustee in Comstock was defeated. Democrats do not have the majority in Oshtemo, as they contested only three of the seven races.
Nonetheless, it is true that the trends are against Republicans. Republicans must redouble their efforts to win in 2010.
Kalamazoo to Persecute Christians
The city of Kalamazoo is discussing an ordinance to discriminate against Christians. Of course, that's not how they put it.
Proposed Kalamazoo ordinance would ban discrimination against lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgendered individuals
And there is no need to. If someone refuses to hire you or rent to you, go somewhere else. If you would be a good employee or tenant, someone else will be happy make money from you. Anyone who discriminates irrationally only hurts himself. There is no need to take away his freedom.
This ordinance will not only take away freedom, it will hurt business. It opens up one more front for lawsuits, whether or not they have any merit. It will only help to further drive business and jobs out of Kalamazoo.
One category of people not likely to be protected against discrimination in Kalamazoo anytime soon are people who want to be free to hire and rent at will.
Proposed Kalamazoo ordinance would ban discrimination against lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgendered individuals
KALAMAZOO -- A proposed Kalamazoo city ordinance aimed at protecting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered individuals from discrimination will be introduced Monday before the City Commission.So Christian bookstores would be forced to hire crossdressers. This proposal would take away everyone's right to hire or not hire whomever they please. This is a violation of the freedom of association.
"There is not one law on the federal level or state level that protects against discrimination for sexual orientation," said Terry Kuseske, head of the Kalamazoo Alliance for Equality's political action committee.
The proposed city ordinance, dubbed the "Equal Rights Ordinance," would protect against discrimination in the areas of housing, employment and public accommodations. The ordinance would apply to both the private and public sectors, although there would be some exemptions. Churches would be exempt and so would individuals who are seeking to rent out part of a residence in which they are living.
Violations of the ordinance would be referred to the city manager and could be punished with a fine of no more than $500 plus costs of the action.
The city of Kalamazoo and Kalamazoo County have previously adopted an Equal Employment Opportunity statement that says sexual orientation should not be considered in hiring employees. The protection outlined in the statement, however, is limited to employees of city or county government and applicants for jobs within city or county government.The gay rights movement is not about freedom or tolerance and it never has been. It quickly moved from changing government policy to restricting private behavior. How long will churches and private citizens be exempt if this proposal is passed?
"I would be shocked if it didn't pass," City Commissioner Barbara Miller said. "When Terry first told me that the LGBT community were not a protected group, at first I laughed because that is absurd in 2008."Why aren't people protected from discrimination on the basis of left-handedness, or chess-club membership, or musical ability? It's 2008! Of course there are almost infinitely many things that should not be a basis for discrimination. You can't put all of them into a law.
And there is no need to. If someone refuses to hire you or rent to you, go somewhere else. If you would be a good employee or tenant, someone else will be happy make money from you. Anyone who discriminates irrationally only hurts himself. There is no need to take away his freedom.
This ordinance will not only take away freedom, it will hurt business. It opens up one more front for lawsuits, whether or not they have any merit. It will only help to further drive business and jobs out of Kalamazoo.
One category of people not likely to be protected against discrimination in Kalamazoo anytime soon are people who want to be free to hire and rent at will.
Mike Adams' Speech
Dr. Mike Adams spoke at WMU on Thursday. His topic was "A Constitutional Right to Abort Free Speech".
He described several cases in which university officials have suppressed pro-life speech. At his employer, UNC Wilmington, the website of the Women's Resource Center linked to the local Planned Parenthood affiliate, but would not link to the local Crisis Pregnancy Center. His repeated inquiries were to no avail. One of the directors of the center admitted on a list-serve that they would not link to the CPC because it was a religious institution. Specifically, a pro-life religious institution, since it linked to religious sites of other persuasions.
Then there was a case in Kentucky where a pro-life group set up a memorial of crosses. Professor Sally Jacobsen led her students to vandalize and destroy the memorial. Jacobsen was caught on tape and she was fired by the university.
At Georgia Tech university, a performance of The Vagina Monologues included use of a vulgar reference to women. Two female students chose to protest this by sitting in front of a sign saying 'I am not a ****". The sign was censored by a feminist from the local women's center because their intent was supposedly negative. They sued the university and a judge issued an injunction against its speech code. Both students were subjected to racial slurs by campus liberals for their stance.
Adams speech was impassioned and effective at making his point.
He described several cases in which university officials have suppressed pro-life speech. At his employer, UNC Wilmington, the website of the Women's Resource Center linked to the local Planned Parenthood affiliate, but would not link to the local Crisis Pregnancy Center. His repeated inquiries were to no avail. One of the directors of the center admitted on a list-serve that they would not link to the CPC because it was a religious institution. Specifically, a pro-life religious institution, since it linked to religious sites of other persuasions.
Then there was a case in Kentucky where a pro-life group set up a memorial of crosses. Professor Sally Jacobsen led her students to vandalize and destroy the memorial. Jacobsen was caught on tape and she was fired by the university.
At Georgia Tech university, a performance of The Vagina Monologues included use of a vulgar reference to women. Two female students chose to protest this by sitting in front of a sign saying 'I am not a ****". The sign was censored by a feminist from the local women's center because their intent was supposedly negative. They sued the university and a judge issued an injunction against its speech code. Both students were subjected to racial slurs by campus liberals for their stance.
Adams speech was impassioned and effective at making his point.
POLITICAL UPDATE--Education
This update focuses on education. Barack Obama's associate Bill Ayers has radical plans for American education. Obama and the NEA promise to push education further to the left. Racial preferences continue to hurt minorities.
Education Reporter: McCain Hits Obama's Sex Ed Bill
Phyllis Schlafly: Teaching "Social Justice" in Schools
Ann Coulter: Ayers: Radical Loon When Obama Was Only 47
Cooper Sterling: Beyond ‘Taco Night’: Barack Obama And The Frightening Future of "Critical Multicultural Education"
Phyllis Schlafly: Bill Ayers's Scary Plans for Public Schools
Samuel Blumenfeld: Pavlov's Dogs and American Education
Walter Williams: Academic Mismatch I
Walter Williams: Academic Mismatch II
Education Reporter: Some NEA Resolutions Passed at the 2008 Convention in Washington, D.C.
Learn more about education issues in Education Reporter.
Education Reporter: McCain Hits Obama's Sex Ed Bill
Phyllis Schlafly: Teaching "Social Justice" in Schools
Ann Coulter: Ayers: Radical Loon When Obama Was Only 47
Cooper Sterling: Beyond ‘Taco Night’: Barack Obama And The Frightening Future of "Critical Multicultural Education"
Phyllis Schlafly: Bill Ayers's Scary Plans for Public Schools
Samuel Blumenfeld: Pavlov's Dogs and American Education
Walter Williams: Academic Mismatch I
Walter Williams: Academic Mismatch II
Education Reporter: Some NEA Resolutions Passed at the 2008 Convention in Washington, D.C.
Learn more about education issues in Education Reporter.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Analysis: Michigan
The 2008 election results in Michigan were bleak for Republicans.
Election Results:
President, US Senate, US House
Michigan House of Representatives
Ballot Propositions, Ed Boards, Judiciary
Barack Obama carried the state with 57% of the vote to 41% for John McCain. McCain's decision to pull out of Michigan was the right one, but the way it was handled was terrible. Republicans hoped that voters would blame democrats for Michigan's economic troubles, but this didn't happen.
Carl Levin defeated Jack Hoogendyk by 63% to 34%. Levin remains quite popular in Michigan, thanks in part to plenty of favorable media coverage. Jack was outspent something like 20:1. If he could have gotten out the message that Levin supported the bailout, amnesty, and gun control, this election might have been a lot closer. But that would have taken many millions of dollars.
Congressman Fred Upton won a clear victory over Don Cooney in the 6th congressional district. His margin was 59% to 39%, which is down a few points from previous elections.
Congressman Tim Walberg lost to Mark Schauer by a narrow 49% to 46% margin in the 7th congressional district. Walberg won the three southern tier counties, but lost the other four counties in his district. Walberg ran a strong campaign, hitting Schauer on taxes and illegal immigration, but it just wasn't enough. The national environment and lingering resentment from a bitter 2006 primary with Joe Schwarz, who endorsed Schauer, were too much to overcome. It is notable that of the seven state representative seats in the 7th congressional district, five will be held by democrats.
Congressman Joe Knollenberg lost to Gary Peters by a significant 52% to 43% margin in the 9th district. His Oakland County district has been trending democrat. Congressman Thaddeus McCotter won by a relatively narrow 51% to 45% margin in the 11th district. Expect him to be a top democrat target in two years. The Republican challenger to Carolyn Kilpatrick got 19% of the vote in her Detroit-based 13th district, indicating that there was an anti-Kilpatrick vote.
One of the most painful losses for Michigan was the loss of Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Cliff Taylor to liberal democrat Diane Hathaway. This race is covered in a separate post.
Republicans were wiped out in the education board races, which are mainly decided by party identification. The Republican who did best was Scott Romney, but even he lost by 3% (or 6%, depending on whether you use the percentage of total votes on the percentage of voters supporting each candidate).
Proposal 1, to legalize medical marijuana passed 63% to 37%. This is no surprise, as similar proposals have passed practically everywhere they have been on the ballot. The opposition was not particularly well-organized or effective.
Proposal 2, to legalize the destruction of human embryos for research, passed 53% to 47%. Both supporters and opponents spent a lot of money on this proposal. So why did it pass? The main argument for embryo destruction is that it will save a lot of lives. Supporters made this argument, and opponents never effectively rebutted it. Instead they argued that the proposal would lead to taxpayer funding and ran ads at least implying that the proposal itself would do this. But most people would support taxpayer funding for research if would save lots of lives.
Opponents also implying that bad things would happen if the proposal passed. Scaring people is sometimes an effective strategy, but you're going to do this, you have to be specific. The ads they ran were vague. Opponents should have spent less on computer graphics and more on developing a clear message.
Republicans lost nine seats in the Michigan House of Representatives. All nine were open seats which were vacated due to term limits (except one where the Republican left to pursue another office). The seats were spread across the state, in the Grosse Pointes, Canton, St. Claire Shores, northern Macomb County, West Bloomfield, Calhoun County, Montcalm County, the northwest lower peninsula, and the central upper peninsula. Most of them probably would have gone democratic in 2006 had they been open.
The legislators who voted to raise taxes in 2007 did not pay a political price at the ballot box. Speaker Andy Dillon was overwhelmingly reelected and the recall against him was defeated. The national anti-Republican tide hit Michigan hard, and McCain's pullout of Michigan hurt Republican efforts at the local level. Voters clearly blamed Bush for the bad economy, despite Michigan's single-state recession coming long before the current national economic troubles.
Were there any bright spots in Michigan's election results? Well, a gay rights-supporting Granholm-appointed judge in Allegan County was defeated by a conservative challenger. That's all that comes to mind.
Will democrats ever pay a price for their misrule of Michigan? Perhaps in 2010.
Election Results:
President, US Senate, US House
Michigan House of Representatives
Ballot Propositions, Ed Boards, Judiciary
Barack Obama carried the state with 57% of the vote to 41% for John McCain. McCain's decision to pull out of Michigan was the right one, but the way it was handled was terrible. Republicans hoped that voters would blame democrats for Michigan's economic troubles, but this didn't happen.
Carl Levin defeated Jack Hoogendyk by 63% to 34%. Levin remains quite popular in Michigan, thanks in part to plenty of favorable media coverage. Jack was outspent something like 20:1. If he could have gotten out the message that Levin supported the bailout, amnesty, and gun control, this election might have been a lot closer. But that would have taken many millions of dollars.
Congressman Fred Upton won a clear victory over Don Cooney in the 6th congressional district. His margin was 59% to 39%, which is down a few points from previous elections.
Congressman Tim Walberg lost to Mark Schauer by a narrow 49% to 46% margin in the 7th congressional district. Walberg won the three southern tier counties, but lost the other four counties in his district. Walberg ran a strong campaign, hitting Schauer on taxes and illegal immigration, but it just wasn't enough. The national environment and lingering resentment from a bitter 2006 primary with Joe Schwarz, who endorsed Schauer, were too much to overcome. It is notable that of the seven state representative seats in the 7th congressional district, five will be held by democrats.
Congressman Joe Knollenberg lost to Gary Peters by a significant 52% to 43% margin in the 9th district. His Oakland County district has been trending democrat. Congressman Thaddeus McCotter won by a relatively narrow 51% to 45% margin in the 11th district. Expect him to be a top democrat target in two years. The Republican challenger to Carolyn Kilpatrick got 19% of the vote in her Detroit-based 13th district, indicating that there was an anti-Kilpatrick vote.
One of the most painful losses for Michigan was the loss of Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Cliff Taylor to liberal democrat Diane Hathaway. This race is covered in a separate post.
Republicans were wiped out in the education board races, which are mainly decided by party identification. The Republican who did best was Scott Romney, but even he lost by 3% (or 6%, depending on whether you use the percentage of total votes on the percentage of voters supporting each candidate).
Proposal 1, to legalize medical marijuana passed 63% to 37%. This is no surprise, as similar proposals have passed practically everywhere they have been on the ballot. The opposition was not particularly well-organized or effective.
Proposal 2, to legalize the destruction of human embryos for research, passed 53% to 47%. Both supporters and opponents spent a lot of money on this proposal. So why did it pass? The main argument for embryo destruction is that it will save a lot of lives. Supporters made this argument, and opponents never effectively rebutted it. Instead they argued that the proposal would lead to taxpayer funding and ran ads at least implying that the proposal itself would do this. But most people would support taxpayer funding for research if would save lots of lives.
Opponents also implying that bad things would happen if the proposal passed. Scaring people is sometimes an effective strategy, but you're going to do this, you have to be specific. The ads they ran were vague. Opponents should have spent less on computer graphics and more on developing a clear message.
Republicans lost nine seats in the Michigan House of Representatives. All nine were open seats which were vacated due to term limits (except one where the Republican left to pursue another office). The seats were spread across the state, in the Grosse Pointes, Canton, St. Claire Shores, northern Macomb County, West Bloomfield, Calhoun County, Montcalm County, the northwest lower peninsula, and the central upper peninsula. Most of them probably would have gone democratic in 2006 had they been open.
The legislators who voted to raise taxes in 2007 did not pay a political price at the ballot box. Speaker Andy Dillon was overwhelmingly reelected and the recall against him was defeated. The national anti-Republican tide hit Michigan hard, and McCain's pullout of Michigan hurt Republican efforts at the local level. Voters clearly blamed Bush for the bad economy, despite Michigan's single-state recession coming long before the current national economic troubles.
Were there any bright spots in Michigan's election results? Well, a gay rights-supporting Granholm-appointed judge in Allegan County was defeated by a conservative challenger. That's all that comes to mind.
Will democrats ever pay a price for their misrule of Michigan? Perhaps in 2010.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Dr. Mike Adams at WMU
The Students for Life at Western Michigan University are bringing Dr. Mike Adams to campus to speak. Dr. Adams is a professor of criminology at University of North Carolina Wilmington. He is also a conservative author and columnist for Townhall.com. He is a dynamic and engaging speaker.
Dr. Adams will be speaking on the topic "A Constitutional Right to Abort Free Speech".
His speech will be Thursday, November 13, at 7PM in 2303 Sangren Hall.
You can read Dr. Adams' Townhall.com columns or visit his personal website, DrAdams.org. He is the author of two books, Welcome to the Ivory Tower of Babel and Feminists Say the Darnedest Things.
Dr. Adams will be speaking on the topic "A Constitutional Right to Abort Free Speech".
His speech will be Thursday, November 13, at 7PM in 2303 Sangren Hall.
You can read Dr. Adams' Townhall.com columns or visit his personal website, DrAdams.org. He is the author of two books, Welcome to the Ivory Tower of Babel and Feminists Say the Darnedest Things.
Analysis: Michigan Supreme Court
One of the most painful losses for Michigan was the loss of Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Cliff Taylor to liberal democrat Diane Hathaway. This is all the more so since it was unexpected. The vote was 49% to 39%, with 11% going to Libertarian nominee Robert Roddis. Taylor significantly outraised Hathaway, got a lot of good endorsements, was the incumbent, and was not listed on the ballot as a Republican. So what happened?
Democrats ran an ad accusing Taylor of falling asleep in court. The ad wasn't true, of course, but it was never effectively rebutted by Taylor's ads. The democrats appear to have done a good job of getting word out to their voters to support Hathaway. With the large turnout for Obama, enough of it carried over to defeat Taylor.
Still, it's noteworthy that Hathaway didn't get a majority of the vote. Roddis pulled 11%, and there was no far-left candidate (Green, etc.) to pull votes from the left. Libertarian nominees have typically done relatively well in supreme court races in Michigan (that is, around 10%). Why? No parties being listed on the ballot has something to do with it, but beyond that it's a mystery.
Now, goodness knows there are plenty of reasons for libertarians to not be happy with the Republican Party right now. But how does that carry over to Taylor? Taylor supported the rule of law, the free market, property rights, limiting lawsuit damages, gun rights, and opposed racial preferences. What's a libertarian not to like? Of course, libertarians are nowhere near 11% of the Michigan electorate. There had to be a lot of other voters who went for Roddis. But why?
With the seats of staunch conservative Robert Young and RINO Elizabeth Weaver up for election in 2010, Republicans had better figure out the answers to these questions.
Democrats ran an ad accusing Taylor of falling asleep in court. The ad wasn't true, of course, but it was never effectively rebutted by Taylor's ads. The democrats appear to have done a good job of getting word out to their voters to support Hathaway. With the large turnout for Obama, enough of it carried over to defeat Taylor.
Still, it's noteworthy that Hathaway didn't get a majority of the vote. Roddis pulled 11%, and there was no far-left candidate (Green, etc.) to pull votes from the left. Libertarian nominees have typically done relatively well in supreme court races in Michigan (that is, around 10%). Why? No parties being listed on the ballot has something to do with it, but beyond that it's a mystery.
Now, goodness knows there are plenty of reasons for libertarians to not be happy with the Republican Party right now. But how does that carry over to Taylor? Taylor supported the rule of law, the free market, property rights, limiting lawsuit damages, gun rights, and opposed racial preferences. What's a libertarian not to like? Of course, libertarians are nowhere near 11% of the Michigan electorate. There had to be a lot of other voters who went for Roddis. But why?
With the seats of staunch conservative Robert Young and RINO Elizabeth Weaver up for election in 2010, Republicans had better figure out the answers to these questions.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Obama Breaks Promises, Betrays Supporters
Anyone who believed what Obama said during the campaign is in for a big surprise.
Obama ran as someone who would unite America, bring people together, be 'post-partisan', centrist, etc. As soon as he won, he named Congressman Rahm Emanuel to be his chief of staff. Emanuel is one of the most bitter partisans in Congress.
Remember, the biggest reason that Obama beat Hillary in the primaries is that Hillary voted for the war and Obama opposed it. Then after Obama won the nomination, he turned around and picked Joe Biden to be his Vice-President. Biden not only voted for the war, but he held hearings supporting it. Still, this pick might be rationalized as political expedience needed to win the election.
But Emanuel's appointment comes after the election. Emanuel not only supported the Iraq War, but he used his position running the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee to sabotage antiwar democratic challengers.
What's more, Emanuel also favors reinstituting the draft, in the guise of 'national service'.
Whatever you think of the Iraq War, it should be clear that Obama has completely sold out the people who voted for him.
How long will it take them to realize it?
Obama ran as someone who would unite America, bring people together, be 'post-partisan', centrist, etc. As soon as he won, he named Congressman Rahm Emanuel to be his chief of staff. Emanuel is one of the most bitter partisans in Congress.
And there’s the story of how, the night after Bill Clinton was elected, Emanuel was so angry at the president’s enemies that he stood up at a celebratory dinner with colleagues from the campaign, grabbed a steak knife and began rattling off a list of betrayers, shouting “Dead! … Dead! … Dead!” and plunging the knife into the table after every name. “When he was done, the table looked like a lunar landscape,” one campaign veteran recalls. “It was like something out of The Godfather. But that’s Rahm for you.”In addition to this, Emanuel is also a supporter of the Iraq War.
Remember, the biggest reason that Obama beat Hillary in the primaries is that Hillary voted for the war and Obama opposed it. Then after Obama won the nomination, he turned around and picked Joe Biden to be his Vice-President. Biden not only voted for the war, but he held hearings supporting it. Still, this pick might be rationalized as political expedience needed to win the election.
But Emanuel's appointment comes after the election. Emanuel not only supported the Iraq War, but he used his position running the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee to sabotage antiwar democratic challengers.
What's more, Emanuel also favors reinstituting the draft, in the guise of 'national service'.
It's time for a real Patriot Act that brings out the patriot in all of us. We propose universal civilian service for every young American. Under this plan, All Americans between the ages of eighteen and twenty-five will be asked to serve their country by going through three months of basic training, civil defense preparation and community service. ...Remember when leftists were convinced that Bush would reinstitute the draft?
Whatever you think of the Iraq War, it should be clear that Obama has completely sold out the people who voted for him.
How long will it take them to realize it?
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