Articles of Interest 1-29-06
DNC Chair Dean: If Any Dems Wrote Letters On Behalf Of Indian Tribes Jack Abramoff Represented "That's A Big Problem":
Fox News' Chris Wallace: "[I]f We Find That There Were Some Democrats Who Wrote Letters On Behalf Of Some Of The Indian Tribes That Abramoff Represented, Then What Do You Say, Sir?" (Fox News' "Fox News Sunday," 1/29/06)
- DNC Chair Howard Dean: "That's A Big Problem, And Those Democrats Are In Trouble, And They Should Be In Trouble, And Our Party, If The American People Will Put Us Back In Power In '06, We Will Have On The President's Desk Things That Outlaw All Those Kinds Of Behaviors." (Fox News' "Fox News Sunday," 1/29/06)
FACT: Democrat Leaders Did Write Letters On Behalf Of Indian Tribes Jack Abramoff Represented:
Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI): "[There Were] Half-Dozen Letters Written Or Signed By 14 Lawmakers On Behalf Of The Tribes. One Was Written Jan. 23, 2003 By [Democrat Sen.] ... Debbie Stabenow ... On The Saginaw's Behalf." (Sharon Theimer, "Lawmakers Helped Abramoff Tribes Get Federal Money, Collected Donations," The Associated Press, 11/25/05)
- "Stabenow Got $2,000 From The Saginaw In March 2002, Around The Time [Sen. Conrad Burns (R-MT)] Sent His First Letter Requested By The Michigan Lawmakers. She Later Thanked Burns In A Senate Speech For His Help. She Received $2,000 More From The Saginaw About Six Months After Her 2003 Letter." (Sharon Theimer, "Lawmakers Helped Abramoff Tribes Get Federal Money, Collected Donations," The Associated Press, 11/25/05)
Ooops Debbie….it looks like your double standards are coming back to roost!
The filibuster has begun....please call our Senators and let them know that you support Judge Alito and that you encourage them NOT to filibuster the Senate.
To successfully block the nomination, 41 senators must join the Democratic filibuster. Most Republicans and a few conservative Democrats have already pledged to vote for Alito, so getting to 41 won't be easy. Every single Democrat could end up casting the last crucial vote — and this is the moment for us to weigh in.
Keep it simple, just register your opinion.
Senator Carl Levin
Phone: 202-224-6221 District Offices: Detroit: 313-226-6020 Escanaba: 906-789-0052 Grand Rapids: 616-456-2531 Lansing: 517-377-1508 Saginaw: 989-754-2494 Traverse City: 231-947-9569 Warren: 586-573-9145
Senator Debbie Stabenow Phone: 202-224-4822 District Offices: Detroit: 313-961-4330 East Lansing: 517-203-1760 Flint: 810-720-4172 Grand Rapids: 616-975-0052 Marquette: 906-228-8756 Traverse City: 231-929-1031
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060129/METRO01/601290333/1006
Wayne County
Councilwoman to quit state GOP post
Dearborn Heights official won't say why she's stepping down as vice chairwoman of the Mich. Republican Party.
Darren A. Nichols / The Detroit News
DEARBORN HEIGHTS -- City Councilwoman Margaret Van Houten is quitting as vice chairwoman of the Michigan Republican Party. But she's not saying why. Yet.
"My intentions will be known in a short time," Van Houten said Friday. She's been party co-chairwoman since 2004. "I'd rather not reveal them at this time. There are potential (career) opportunities. It's been an honor and privilege to serve."
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060129/POLITICS/601290335/1022
Michigan
Hearing will seek details of health plan
Granholm proposes billion-dollar strategy to trim by half the number of residents lacking coverage.
Gary Heinlein / The Detroit News
LANSING -- At a public hearing Wednesday, lawmakers will press for details of Gov. Jennifer Granholm's billion-dollar strategy to cut in half the number of Michigan residents who lack health insurance coverage.
http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060127/COLUMNIST17/601270336
Michigan governor needs to turn rhetoric into reality
LANSING, Mich. - Gov. Jennifer Granholm's election year state-of-the state speech this week said a lot about both her strengths and weaknesses - and about those of her GOP opponents.
She inspired listeners, connected with them emotionally, and at times seemed to have both a joint session of the Legislature and a statewide TV audience hanging on every word. Republicans, who solidly control both houses of the Legislature. tacitly admitted they couldn't begin to match her oratory.
If it weren’t so true…it might be funny???
One cartoon that’s right to the point!
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=COL25
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/28/AR2006012801086.html
Analysis
Bush's Midterm Challenge
Rebuilding Public Support May Bolster GOP Candidates
By Dan Balz
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, January 29, 2006; Page A01
President Bush's State of the Union address on Tuesday night marks the opening of a midterm election year eagerly anticipated by Democrats and fraught with worries for Republicans, whose hopes in November may depend in large part on how successfully Bush can turn around his troubled presidency.
http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110007883
The Education Borg
In Florida and Wisconsin, teachers unions crush educational opportunities.
Sunday, January 29, 2006 12:01 a.m. EST
Teachers unions keep telling us they care deeply, profoundly, about poor children. But what they do, as opposed to what they say, is behave like the Borg, those destructive aliens in the "Star Trek" TV series who keep coming and coming until everyone is "assimilated."
http://www.opinionjournal.com/extra/?id=110007884
An Act of Hygiene
Democracy fells yet another anti-American government.
BY MARK STEYN
Sunday, January 29, 2006 12:01 a.m. EST
QUEBEC--Remember the conventional wisdom of 2004? Back then, you'll recall, it was the many members of George Bush's "unilateral" coalition who were supposed to be in trouble, not least the three doughty warriors of the Anglosphere--the president, Tony Blair and John Howard--who would all be paying a terrible electoral price for lying their way into war in Iraq. The Democrats' position was that Mr. Bush's rinky-dink nickel-and-dime allies didn't count: The president has "alienated almost everyone," said Jimmy Carter, "and now we have just a handful of little tiny countries supposedly helping us in Iraq." (That would be Britain, Australia, Poland, Japan . . .) Instead of those nobodies, John Kerry pledged that, under his leadership, "America will rejoin the community of nations"--by which he meant Jacques Chirac, Gerhard Schroeder, the Belgian guy . . .
National Journal Hotline: Future’s Market
MICHIGAN: False Start
One source, using an interesting turn of phrase, told us most of the Cong. delegation will only leave DC "feet-first." There are plenty of talented stars here, and GOPers on our list may find themselves an opportunity when Reps. Mike Rogers (R) and Candice Miller (R) move up, a prospect that's not so much an "if" but a "when." Dems are waiting for Reps. Sander Levin (D) and John Conyers (D) to retire, or they're moving back to populous Oakland Co., a nearly essential base to win a statewide Dem primary. At least one Dem was so antsy that he actually filed for Conyers' seat when it was unclear if Conyers would run again, only to drop out when the Rep. himself filed.
The stars we've been watching since '03:
- Oakland Co. Sheriff Michael Bouchard (R): Running for MI SEN against Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D). A former State Rep, he was "always one of the most popular members." He plans to focus on homeland security during the race, something he feels will set him apart from GOPers in the primary and, eventually, Stabenow.
- Dominos Pizza CEO David Brandon (R): Now the chair of Dick DeVos' Gov bid, the ex-Michigan football star has a "bright future, it's just a matter of when he wants to pull the trigger."
- Ex-MI GOP Vice Chair Victor Diaz (R): He's no longer involved in politics.
- State Sen. Bill Hardiman (R): Some say he's considering a bid for MI 03 when Rep. Vern Ehlers (R) retires, but others believe the State Sen. "may be as far as he's going to go."
- Letica Industries CEO Maria Letica (R): An "effective fundraiser," many wonder about her future ambitions. For now, it's unlikely Letica will run for office given that her husband, Henry Saad, was nominated for a position on the federal bench. His nomination remains holed up in the Sen.
- Ex-Oakland Co. GOP chair Paul Welday (R): Is considering a bid for MI 09 when Rep. Joe Knollenberg (R) retires. "Everyone assumes" it's his seat to run for, although Knollenberg's son Marty is positioning himself for a bid.
- State House Dem Floor Leader Gilda Jacobs (D): Still in leadership, there's "always quite a bit of buzz around her name," though she may be looking at Oakland Co. positions. Could take a shot at Rep. Sander Levin's (D) seat when he retires.
- Southfield Mayor Brenda Lawrence (D): Her name is also floated for Oakland Co. office.
- State Rep. Doug Spade (D): Term-limited out of the House, but he's "looking to get back into politics."
- State Sen. Samuel "Buzz" Thomas (D): Had been minority leader in the House, has been contemplating a bid for Rep. John Conyers' district when he retires. Had filed for the race but pulled out.
- State Rep. Gretchen Whitmer (D): Running in special election in State Sen. "She can raise a lot of money," "The sky's the limit for her." A possible statewide candidate.
- State Rep. David Woodward (D): No longer in the State House, now Oakland Co. Commiss, chair of Oakland Co Dems, the "go-to guy when it comes to building local parties" around the state. Has concentrated on "building the farm team."
And the stars to watch in the future:
- House Speaker Craig DeRoche (R): At just 34, he's said to be a future Congressional candidate. Elected Speaker after being in office just 2 years, he's "pretty darn good," especially compared with previous speakers, but term limits might force him out before a higher office opens up.
- State Sen. Mike Bishop (R): Would be competitive for Knollenberg's seat or for AG if he chooses to run.
- Sec State Terri Lynn Land (R): Land had been the next choice of the NRSC to run against Stabenow before Bouchard jumped into the race. Some believe that she'll be a hot commodity in the future, as Sec State has been a jumping-off point for a number of MI's higher office holders.
- State Rep. Andy Dillon (D): Works more with GOPers than other Dems do. "Very polished, I think leadership positions would make sense for him."
- Battle Creek City Commis. Ryan Hersha (D): In his 2nd term and still just 30, as Battle Creek City Commis, a "real sharp guy," serves in a conservative area and he's "just able to connect with folks." May make a bid for legislature in the near future.
- State Rep. Barbara Farrah (D): A "proven fundraiser," she's considered a potential leadership candidate in the State House. "Able to cross the aisle" and Dems still like her.
- State Sen. Michael Switalski (D): He "works his" butt "off." From a political family, "his name is gold." Could run for Levin's seat when he retires, and would be the prohibitive front-runner.
