263 Days until Election Day
MORNING UPDATE:
Our State Convention ended with thousands of Republicans heading back home ready to do their part in this fall’s elections.
We elected 60 delegates to the Republican National Convention to be held in Minneapolis over Labor Day Weekend.
Keith Butler was elected our next RNC National Committeeman to replace our longest serving member from Michigan, Chuck Yob. We honored Chuck at the convention with various resolutions, “under the oaks” plaque and a great Friday night party.
Holly Hughes was re-elected to a second term as RNC National Committeewoman. This year, Holly is running in one of our most competitive state legislative races. Her victory will be a big step towards regaining our House Republican Majority.
The McCain team put together a slate of delegates, committee assignments and made preparations to send our delegates to the 2008 National Convention.
Our party is ready, united and looking forward to drawing the contrast between Senator John McCain and whichever liberal Democrat we have to take on.
Attorney General Mike Cox, Secretary of State Terry Land, Justice Cliff Taylor, Congressman Mike Rogers, Congresswoman Candice Miller, Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop, House Republican Leader Craign DeRoche, First Lady Janet Huckabee as well as other elected helped fire up the troops and make the round amongst our activists.
I met with Chuck Yob, Holly Hughes and Cong. Fred Upton and they said our delegation would be seated as we put together a “unity slate” with regard to Michigan’s delegation. Working together, we put forth exactly what the McCain asked for and leave this convention united, motivated and ready to fight for victory in November.
P.S. we pitched the McCain leadership for good seating on the floor of the convention and better hotel accommodations.
THE REST OF THE STORY:
No further commentary today.
Saul Anuzis
STATE STORIES
______________________________________________________________________________________
http://jackshow.blogs.com/jack/2008/02/interview-saul.html
Interview: Saul Anuzis
February 15, 2008
The Michigan Republican Party holds its State Convention in
________________________________________________________________________
http://migop.blogs.com/blog/2008/02/notes-from-jane.html
Notes from Jane
Posted February 17, 2008
We had a great State Convention in
Lansing
this weekend. Party activists came from every corner ofMichigan
and from every part of our great Republican Party. We elected our National Convention delegation, heard some great speeches and elected Holly Hughes as National Committeewoman and Keith Butler as National Committeewoman. They will make a great team and will represent us well at the national level.As everyone left the convention hall today, we are more committed than ever to deliverMichigan
to John McCain. WhenMichigan
goes Republican, the country will go Republican. Several people asked me to post the remarks I made at the convention on our blog so they could pass them along to others. So, here they are:Jane Abraham’s RemarksMichigan Republican State Convention–February 2008Lansing
tonight. They are expected to choose 60 delegates to attend the national convention in September. The Republican National Committee strippedMichigan
of half its delegation whenMichigan
moved the primary to January 15th. But it is expected that all the delegates will be seated. Normally, many of these delegates would go to Mitt Romney who won theMichigan
primary. But he's dropped out of the race. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry spoke with the Chairman of the Michigan Republican Party Saul Anuzis about how things will work.http://www.wilx.com/home/headlines/15702762.html
MI Republicans Pick Delegates
Posted: 5:59 PM Feb 16, 2008
Reporter: Jessica Aspiras
Up for a vote was a slate of Republican delegates -- twelve at-large delegates who will help represent
Michigan
at the Republican National Convention, in
Minneapolis
, later this year. 6th Congressional District Chairman Gerry Hildenbrand was one of those on the list that was presented Saturday at the state's GOP convention.
"I want to make sure we get the right guy that's going to do the right thing for our country.
Hildenbrand voted for Mitt Romney in the primary, but since Romney has dropped out, Hildenbrand will be going to the convention uncommitted.
"On the convention floor they'll be free to vote for whomever they like on the first ballot."
Michigan Republican Party Chairman Saul Anuzis is referring to the thirty-nine congressional district delegates and six at-large delegates that Mitt Romney won in last month's primary. Since Romney dropped out of the race, party rules state that those delegates become uncommitted.
"I think realistically we'll get an overwhelming majority of the delegates from
Michigan
will vote for John McCain on the first ballot," said Anuzis.
"They know what's at stake, and they understand if we come in unified we're going to have the money and organization in place. There's no fighting, and we won't have to scramble after September to get things rolling," Hildenbrand said.
That's why, though uncommitted, he's planning to vote for Senator McCain at the convention. Through the primary, McCain is promised a total of ten delegates from our state. Six are from two congressional districts the other four are at-large.
"In order to get any delegates in
Michigan
you had to get at least fifteen percent of the vote statewide," Anuzis explained.
At-large delegates were divvied out according to the percentage of the vote a candidate received. There are fifteen Congressional districts in our state with three delegates per district. In addition, the state chairman and the national committeeman and committeewoman, will round out the delegates. Despite the GOP stripping our state of half its delegates, for holding the primary too early,
Michigan
will send sixty to the National Convention. That's because McCain's committee would like to have all the delegates reinstated.
________________________________________________________________________
Most Romney delegates now plan to back McCain
By KATHY BARKS HOFFMAN
The Associated Press
LANSING
,
Mich.
(AP) — The majority of
Michigan
's Republican presidential delegates say they'll back Sen. John
McCain now that primary winner Mitt Romney is out of the race, although it's still unclear how many will go to the national convention.
The Republican National Committee stripped
Michigan
of half its 60 delegates for defying party rules by moving its presidential primary to Jan. 15.
Counting just the 30
Michigan
delegates allowed so far, 23 were supposed to go to Romney, who won
Michigan
's primary. Although those delegates technically will go the Sept. 1-4 Republican National Convention in
Minneapolis-St. Paul uncommitted to any candidate, four-fifths now say they'll back McCain.
Lousiana Republicans also named their national convention delegates Saturday. McCain picked up at least 50 delegates Saturday between
Michigan
and
Louisiana
, giving him a total of 903, according to an Associated Press tally. He needs 1,191 to secure the nomination. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee picked up three, giving him 245. Romney dropped to 253 after losing the 23 he had won in
Michigan
.
With the Romney delegates divvied up, McCain has the backing of 24
Michigan
national delegates, while Huckabee has the backing of four. It was unclear which candidates two delegates would back.
But GOP activists are sure they'll get 57 pledged delegates and three unpledged delegates seated in
Minneapolis-St. Paul, so they filled all those spots — plus 57 for alternates — during their state convention Friday and Saturday at the
Lansing
Center
.
Of the 57 pledged delegates, Romney was supposed to get 45. At least 36 now plan to back McCain, according to conversations with delegates and party leaders. The
Arizona
senator already had 10 delegates after winning 30 percent of the primary vote, plus the backing of RNC members Chuck Yob and Holly Hughes, two of the three unpledged delegates.
The third unpledged delegate, state GOP Chairman Saul Anuzis, remains uncommitted.
________________________________________________________________________
http://www.rightmichigan.com/story/2008/2/16/184725/672
There Are Some Things Money Can't Buy...
By isaacmorehouse, Section News
Posted on Sat Feb 16, 2008 at 06:47:25 PM EST
Michigan
's playing host to the "Cool Cities 2.0 Summit" this fall. Our coolest city must beDetroit
, 'cause that's where it will be. Catch the quote from the bureaucrat at the bottom of the clip from Mirs...looks like we have a confidence problem.
MIRS News 2/14/2008
Cool Cities 2.0
Detroit
will host the second International Creative Cities Summit in October, Gov. Jennifer Granholm announced today.
"Creative Cities 2.0" is being billed as providing a next-generation look at how communities are integrating innovation, social entrepreneurship, arts & culture and business to make vibrant economies. The
Michigan State Housing Development Authority's (MSHDA) Cool Cities Team is a key organizer for the event.
Summit
Coming This Fallhttp://macombdaily.com/stories/021708/loc_n2001.shtml
Communities to receive fewer block grants
February 17, 2008
By Frank DeFrank
Macomb
Daily Staff Writer
Macomb
The Community Development Block Grant program, which returns taxpayers' dollars from the federal government to local communities, cut its allocation for 2008. Communities will receive anywhere from $3,000 to nearly
$36,000 less than they did last year.
"The basic reason is because we're getting less money from HUD (the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development)," said Mike Rozny, who administers the CDBG program for
The CDBG program has operated more than 30 years. Funds are allocated to communities with significant spending strings attached.
http://battlecreekenquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080217/OPINION01/802170304
EDITORIAL
Raising legal dropout age not a cure-all
Battle Creek
Enquirer
In today's world, a high school education is a bare minimum for getting a decent job. So it makes a certain amount of sense to raise
Proposals currently in the Legislature would require young people to stay in school until they turn 18, unless they earn their diploma before that age. Gov. Jennifer Granholm and a number of lawmakers are pushing for the change, saying the state's economic future depends on an educated work force capable of handling 21st century jobs.
We agree, but changing the dropout age is only one very small step toward that goal. We certainly hope that there are teenagers who, by being legally required to stay in school two more years, will come to realize the importance of earning a high school diploma.
________________________________________________________________________
http://theoaklandpress.com/stories/021708/loc_20080217288.shtml
Term limit tossup
Democrats may have an edge in state legislative races
February 17, 2008
By CHARLES CRUMM
Of The
It didn't take long for Amy Peterman to jump into the race for the 39th District state House seat being vacated by Rep. David Law,
The Walled Lake Board of Education member and family law attorney announced she is running as a Republican for the seat representing
Law's seat is one of 45 of the 110 House seats up for grabs this year, because the lawmaker is running for
Oakland
The other 44 seats are occupied by lawmakers who can't seek re-election because of term limits that hold House members to three two-year terms.
http://freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080217/COL06/802170664/1002
DeVos' answer for manufacturing in Michigan: Flexibility, teamwork
February 17, 2008
BY TOM WALSH
FREE PRESS COLUMNIST
HOLLAND
-- Dick DeVos may have been soundly thumped in his bid to unseat Gov. Jennifer Granholm 15 months ago, but he still believes he has some answers for what ailsMichigan
's economy.
"This culture," he said, waving an arm across the floor of his Windquest Cos. factory in
We were touring the plant that DeVos bought 18 years ago when it sold only closet-organizer systems, nearly all in one color -- white. Today Windquest and its 130 employees -- up from 60 in 2001 -- make organizers for kitchen pantries, garages, laundry rooms or offices, using many colors and materials from sturdy plastic to luxurious-looking cherry or maple woods.
________________________________________________________________________
http://freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080216/NEWS15/80216044/1001/NEWS
Redo
February 16, 2008
By KATHY BARKS HOFFMAN
ASSOCIATED PRESS
LANSING
— Many top Democrats inMichigan
are saying a "do over" presidential caucus isn't needed and would be too expensive and difficult to pull off. But that isn't stopping grassroots activists like Willie Hall of Monroe from pushing for one. Hall, the former NAACP president inMonroe
County
and a supporter of Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, said he signed up dozens of new voters before the presidential primary, only to watch their enthusiasm turn to anger when they found out New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton was the only major candidate on the Democratic ballot.
He said a caucus that involved both Clinton and Obama would be the best way to re-energize voters forced to vote for uncommitted because Obama and John Edwards pulled their names from the ballot.
Michigan
vote with caucus, grassroots activists sayHolland
last week, "this fast, flexible, teamwork culture, is the future of manufacturing."County
Commerce
Township
,Wolverine
Lake
and much ofWest
Bloomfield
Township
on Jan. 30, well before the May 13 filing deadline.R-Commerce
Township
.Oakland
PressMichigan
's legal age for dropping out of school from 16 to 18.Macomb
County
. "Congress cut the budget by about 3 to 7 percent nationally."County
www.wlns.com/Global/story.asp?S=7882352
MI GOP Convention in
Posted: Feb 16, 2008 11:58 AM
Katherine Jones
WLNS 6
It's a big campaign weekend in the
15th, but the state will still seat 60 GOP delegates in St.Paul this coming September. And taking center stage for the Republicans, the wife of presidential candidate Mike Huckabee. There's more excitement then ever for the Huckabee campaign. Michigan-native Mitt Romney has dropped out of the presidential race.And now Janet Huckabee stopped by the State Republican Convention hoping to pick up the handful of delegates that Romney left behind.
Janet Huckabee, presidential candidates wife: "Team Huckabee is really out there. They're fighting for everything they can get, and they won't give up until the race is over."
________________________________________________________________________
http://info.detnews.com/redesign/blogs/politicsblog/index.cfm?blogid=11556#
A Recipe: MDP & DNC Egg-in-the-Face Cake.
February 16, 2008
Mako Yamakura
DETROIT
NEWS
Recipe for Egg-in-the-Face Cake (MDP-styled):
1 lb. Mark Brewer (lightly chopped)
1 Tbsp. Debbie Dingell
3 cups of Howard Dean (distilled)
328,151 votes for Hillary Clinton (immorally whipped)
237,762 votes for Undecided
28,824 votes for Kucinich, Dodd, and Gravel
To begin, place Mark Brewer and Debbie Dingell in a bowl with Howard Dean. If you need more Dingell, add to
taste. Mix thoroughly, and ensure that they properly combine. Place all of Hillary Clinton in and blend at 1/4 speed, adding Kucinich, Dodd and Gravel, and blend again until frothy peaks are formed. Add mixture to baking pan, and let cool for at least one week.
Preheat DNC Oven at 451 degrees Fahrenheit, and place the baking pan on the highest rack, and bake for 24 days.
Remove pan, and let cool, adding Undecided until enough Undecideds cover the cake. Discard leftover
Undecideds. Serves approximately 156 delegates.
I have issues with anyone stating that a "do-over" is actually going to help
http://freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080217/NEWS15/802170638
ELECTION 2008
Mich.
delegates may get seats; how a mysterySecond Dem vote not likely for state
February 17, 2008
BY TODD SPANGLER
FREE PRESS
WASHINGTON
-- Pretty much everyone expects some or all ofMichigan
's delegates to be seated at this summer's Democratic presidential nominating convention inDenver
.
It's the "how" that is anyone's guess. Dismissed as a meaningless beauty pageant and ignored for campaigning by all the top Democrats,
Now, from political pundits to the candidates themselves, everyone is talking about
________________________________________________________________________
http://www.lsj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080216/NEWS01/802160321/1002/CONTACTUS01
Hoogendyk to challenge Levin for his longtime Senate seat
Published February 16, 2008
Ken Thomas
Associated Press
WASHINGTON
- Republican Jack Hoogendyk may have a clear path to challenge Sen. Carl Levin in November after one of his potential rivals pulled out because of a military commitment.
Hoogendyk, a state representative from Kalamazoo, said Friday he was "moving forward with his campaign" after Republican Andrew "Rocky" Raczkowski, a major in the U.S. Army Reserves, said he could not continue in the race because he was being sent overseas this year.
Levin, who was first elected in 1978, has not drawn a major Republican opponent, and party officials acknowledge that he will be difficult to defeat. But Hoogendyk said he could mount a competitive campaign, starting with this weekend's activities at the Republican State Convention in
________________________________________________________________________
http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080216/POLITICS01/802160415/1022/POLITICS
McCain supporters urge Republicans to unite
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Gordon Trowbridge /
LANSING
-- Michigan Republicans sought to unite their organization behind Sen. John McCain on Saturday, elected a slate of delegates to the national convention that will likely be packed with McCain supporters.
But the campaign of Mike Huckabee, who has continued his quest despite having almost no chance at winning the nomination, fought efforts by McCain and
But, the McCain campaign said it has 56 of the 60 delegates, which would leave Huckabee with four. Huckabee's decision to remain in the race, and to contest every delegate in states such as
With Romney and McCain joining forces, most of the state's GOP machinery was backing efforts to close party ranks behind the
Arizona
senator.Michigan
, appeared aimed less at winning than at slowing McCain's march to the 1,191-delegeate total he needs to clinch the nomination.Michigan
primary winner Mitt Romney to deliver Romney's former delegates to McCain. Huckabee's campaign -- aided by a trip toLansing
by the candidate's wife, Janet -- said they believe they succeeded in electing at least five Huckabee supporters to the state's delegation, adding to the two the formerArkansas
governor won by virtue of his performance in the Jan. 15 primary.Detroit
NewsWashington
BureauLansing
.Michigan
-- andFlorida
-- as a razor-thin margin separates Clinton and Barack Obama.Michigan
's Jan. 15 primary seems to be gaining influence because one of those Democrats, Hillary Clinton, didn't take her name off the Democratic ballot and, consequently, easily won the uncontested race.WASHINGTON
STAFFMichigan
voters have their say. The entire process isn't about theMichigan
voter, but the process of the MDP to literally risk every single Michigan Democrat's voice for a list of items for a pre-window state in 2008's elections.Capital
City
. Michigan Republicans are gathering to choose delegates for their national convention. Delegates to this state convention were grouped by district, that was done to help select which delegates will go on to the party's national nominating convention.Michigan
lost half of its allotted number for defying party rules when the primary was moved up to JanuaryLansing
NATIONAL STORIES
_____________________________________________________________
Clinton
's pull with unions to be testedTheir support for Obama is setback
BY BRIAN TUMULTY
February 17, 2008
GANNETT NEWS SERVICE
WASHINGTON
-- Tuesday'sWisconsin
primary is shaping up to be a critical test of whether Hillary Clinton can hold onto her base of support among low-wage and blue-collar workers despite the growing number of labor unions endorsing Barack Obama.
The Service Employees International Union -- which represents 150,000 health care workers, janitors, security guards and municipal employees in Wisconsin, Texas, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island -- announced Friday it will campaign for Obama. Primaries in those states have not yet taken place.
For Clinton, who has stressed that Obama's health care plan does not require universal coverage as hers does, it's a major setback because the service employees union has been one of the most vocal advocacy groups for universal coverage.
________________________________________________________________________
http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080216/NATION/802160407/1020
Bush sends Congress message from
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Ben Feller / Associated Press
COTONOU
,Benin
-- President Bush is betting Congress will hear him better from the heart of Africa than it does from down the street inWashington
.
Foreign aid programs that Bush sees as crowning achievements -- and which he holds dear -- are having their spending levels questioned on Capitol Hill. By visiting
His first stop Saturday was
________________________________________________________________________
http://washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080217/NATION/723980080/1001
Africa
embraces Bush
February 17, 2008
By Jon Ward - DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania — Africans showered President Bush with praise yesterday for the billions of U.S. dollars spent to help fight disease and poverty, while administration officials threatened sanctions against Kenya if its president does not compromise in that nation's political crisis.
Mr. Bush, who will send Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to meet tomorrow with leaders in
________________________________________________________________________
Gun rights dispute threatens lands bill
By MATTHEW DALY
Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON
— An election-year dispute over whether to allow loaded guns in national parks is holding up a vote on a massive bill affecting public lands from coast to coast. Democrats accuse Republicans of trying to score political points by injecting a “wedge” issue like gun rights into a noncontroversial bill.Republicans counter that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is trying to protect the two leading Democratic candidates for president by shielding them from a politically difficult vote on an issue that many rural voters consider crucial.
Arizona Sen. John McCain, the leading Republican contender for president, is a cosponsor of the amendment, which would allow gun owners to carry loaded, accessible firearms into national parks and wildlife refuges.
_______________________________________________________________________
http://www.jsonline.com/watch/?watch=1&date=2/16/2008&id=35716
Clinton
scales back campaign schedule
SATURDAY, Feb. 16, 2008, 12:38 p.m.
By Craig Gilbert
Clinton
scales back campaign schedule
Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton has scaled back her
The move suggests the campaign does not think it can overtake rival Barack Obama here. Obama has already campaigned in the state Tuesday night, Wednesday, Friday, and today. He also has single events planned for Sunday (Kaukauna) and Monday (
While the two have exchanged hard-hitting TV ads here, Obama began airing ads a week earlier and has spent much more on TV.
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http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=MTc4YTk1Y2IyN2RhMGMxNzJlZDM5NjUyMjZiMDcwMzU
February 16, 2008 12:00 AM
A Super Fight Down the Road
The tensions among the Dems are mounting.
By Michael Barone
Beloit
).Wisconsin
campaign schedule by a full day, and is now planning to leave the state after Monday morning instead of Tuesday morning.Kenya
, said during his first stop, in the small West African nation ofBenin
, that theU.S.
desires "that there be no violence, that there be a power-sharing agreement that will help [Kenya
] resolve its difficulties."Benin
, a tiny sliver onWest Africa
's coast. Hundreds of millions ofU.S.
dollars are helping to pay for an aggressive anti-malaria campaign, the training of tens of thousands of teachers and reforms toBenin
's judiciary, port and financial systems.Africa
for six days to showcase their results, Bush aims to change that in the short term and secure the programs' future beyond his presidency.Africa
It's appropriate that our two major political parties are depicted as different animals. Forty days and forty nights out from the Iowa
