"That's Saul, folks!"Michigan Republican Party Blog

Obama..."Doesn't Have the Record"

Fox News Contributor Juan Williams explains one of Obama's major short-comings as a candidate:

Articles of Interest 5-9-08

179 Days until Election Day

MORNING UPDATE:

SMOKE FREE MICHIGAN…bill passes the Senate, on its way to the House. Smoking banned in all public buildings.

OBAMA..DOESN’T HAVE THE RECORD…so says FOX commentator Juan Williams: http://migop.blogs.com/blog/2008/05/obamadoesnt-hav.html

2nd CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT ROUNDUP…with Congressman Pete Hoekstra and other leaders from around the district and state will be held Saturday, May 17th at Muskegon Community College. The round up will begin promptly at 9 a.m.

ABC’s ‘THE NOTE” ON CLINTON… Will we see an exit that’s a Mitt Romney (crisp and timely), a Mike Huckabee (a few weeks too late), or a Ron Paul (non-existent)?

SPEAKER ANDY DILLON…we’re still looking for him, while his colleagues are working in session, in Lansing, in Michigan. Where the world is is Andy Dillon???

STOP TAXING OUR CELL PHONES…States and cities are all too often raising the cost of your monthly wireless service by imposing new discriminatory taxes and fees. The "Cell Tax Fairness Act of 2008" - would place a five-year hiatus on new, unfair state and local wireless taxes.

CARD CHECK…Protect the workers' right to a secret ballot. The vast majority (around 81%) of Americans believe that American workers have a right to have a secret ballot election before they are forced to join a union. Last year the House Democrats passed a bill that would strip American workers of the secret ballot. A new bill should be introduced re-affirming that right, and it should be brought up again and again until marginal Democrats are forced to vote with the American people against the union power structure. This coming from a Teamster.

TALK RADIO 1400 AM…I’ve become a weekly guest on the Hughes Sullivan Show on WDTK-AM 1400, which is broadcast in Metro-Detroit every evening. I am scheduled to regularly appear Mondays and Fridays between 8:20-8:50pm. Good, conservative talk radio. You can hear it online at http://wdtkam.townhall.com/

NATIONAL TRACKING POLL…
Rasmussen Tracking
5/3 - 5/6 (1600 Likely Voters)

McCain 44%
Obama 45%

McCain 44%
Clinton 47%

WALL OF HONOR…we are honoring Michigan Republicans who have served our party in the past…remembering those who have built our party…more info below.



THE REST OF THE STORY:

- WALL OF HONOR…Nominations are currently being accepted for the 2008 Michigan Republican Party Wall of Honor.

Last year marked the inaugural year for the Wall of Honor and we recognized 43 Republican activists from across the state. To submit a nomination this year, or to review the nomination criteria, please download a nomination form at http://www.migop.org/WallOfHonor/.

Saul Anuzis

Articles of Interest 5-8-08

 

180 Days until Election Day

 

MORNING UPDATE:

 

McCAIN DOES MICHIGAN…in a whirlwind fundraising, political, and ‘town hall’ style meetings across Michigan, John McCain reminded America why he’s tested and ready to be our next Commander-in- Chief.

 

McCAIN TALKS JUDGES…in what is now considered a key speech to the “center-right” coalition in America, John McCain promised to appoint constructionist, conservative, main-stream judges to the court…not liberal activists.

 

STATE SUPREME COURT… ruled yesterday that public institutions are not permitted to provide health benefits to same-sex domestic partners. Read more below.

 

LIVINGSTON COUNTY GOP WIN SCHOOL BOARD RACES…as Republicans and taxpayers groups teamed up to challenge the MEA backed candidate for the Brighton School Board, both “non-MEA”, “non-partisan”, candidates defeated the MEA, union backed candidate. Yes they used Voter Vault walking lists!!! Congratulations.

 

NEWT’S APPEAL TO THE GOP…here is a great message that should resonate with Republicans running this fall. Republicans need an opportunity society styled agenda!

 

ANDY DILLON…missing in action. While Rome (Michigan) burns, while OTHER House and Senate members work to help bring Michigan back…Democrat Speaker Dillon is missing in action. Rumor has it he’s still celebrating Cinco de Mayo?

 

WHERE IN THE WORLD IS ANDY DILLON?...timing is everything.

 

CONGRESSMAN ERIC CANTOR …was profiled in the May 6^th edition of “Roll Call”, the article was titled “Leader in Waiting”. I’ve met with Congressman Cantor several times over the last few years… sharp, committed, politically savvy, and forward looking. Cantor is someone worth watching…and on of the “Young Guns”.

 

PETITION CIRCULATORS…time is running out.  If you have petitions for our federal candidates…please mail them in so they can track their progress.

 

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THE REST OF THE STORY:

 

STATE SUPREME COURT…The state Supreme Court ruled this morning that public institutions are not permitted to provide health benefits to same-sex domestic partners under the "one-man, one-woman marriage" constitutional amendment of 2004.

 

Under the 5-2 ruling in National Pride at Work v. Governor, the five Republican-nominated justices upheld an appellate court decision that since the amendment bans the public recognition of any union that isn't between one man and one woman "for any purpose," granting a gay employee's significant other benefits typically reserved to a married employees spouse is not allowed.  The two Democrat-nominated justices wrote in a dissenting opinion that "it is a perversion" to read into the constitutional amendment an extension into health care benefits.

 

In the 5-2 decision, Democrats Kelly and Cavanaugh were the ONLY two dissenting.

 

Saul Anuzis

Newt's Plea to Republican Candidates

My Plea to Republicans: It's Time for Real Change to Avoid Real Disaster
by Newt Gingrich (more by this author)
Posted 05/06/2008 ET
Updated 05/06/2008 ET

The Republican loss in the special election for Louisiana's Sixth Congressional District last Saturday should be a sharp wake up call for Republicans: Either Congressional Republicans are going to chart a bold course of real change or they are going to suffer decisive losses this November.

The facts are clear and compelling.

Saturday's loss was in a district that President Bush carried by 19 percentage points in 2004 and that the Republicans have held since 1975.

This defeat follows on the loss of Speaker Hastert's seat in Illinois. That seat had been held by a Republican for 76 years with the single exception of the 1974 Watergate election when the Democrats held it for one term. That same seat had been carried by President Bush 55-44% in 2004.

Two GOP Losses That Validate a National Pattern

These two special elections validate a national polling pattern that is bad news for Republicans. According to a New York Times/CBS Poll, Americans disapprove of the President's job performance by 63 to 28 (and he has been below 40% job approval since December 2006, the longest such period for any president in the history of polling).

A separate New York Times/CBS Poll shows that a full 81 percent of Americans believe the economy is on the wrong track.

The current generic ballot for Congress according to the NY Times/CBS poll is 50 to 32 in favor of the Democrats. That is an 18-point margin, reminiscent of the depths of the Watergate disaster.

Congressional Republicans Can't Take Comfort in McCain's Poll Numbers

Senator McCain is currently running ahead of the Republican congressional ballot by about 16 percentage points. But there are two reasons that this extraordinary personal achievement should not comfort congressional Republicans.

First, McCain's lead is a sign of the gap between the McCain brand of independence and the GOP brand. No regular Republican would be tying or slightly beating the Democratic candidates in this atmosphere. It is a sign of how much McCain is a non-traditional Republican that he is sustaining his personal popularity despite his party's collapse.

Second, there is a grave danger for the McCain campaign that if the generic ballot stays at only 32 % for the GOP it will ultimately outweigh McCain's personal appeal and drag his candidacy into defeat.

The Anti-Obama, Anti-Wright, and Anti-Clinton GOP Model Has Been Tested -- And It Failed

The Republican brand has been so badly damaged that if Republicans try to run an anti-Obama, anti- Reverend Wright, or (if Senator Clinton wins), anti-Clinton campaign, they are simply going to fail.

This model has already been tested with disastrous results.

In 2006, there were six incumbent Republican Senators who had plenty of money, the advantage of incumbency, and traditionally successful consultants.

But the voters in all six states had adopted a simple position: "Not you." No matter what the GOP Senators attacked their opponents with, the voters shrugged off the attacks and returned to, "Not you."

The danger for House and Senate Republicans in 2008 is that the voters will say, "Not the Republicans."

Republicans Have Lost the Advantage on Every Single-Issue Poll

A February Washington Post poll shows that Republicans have lost the advantage to the Democrats on which party can handle an issue better -- on every single topic.

Americans now believe that Democrats can handle the deficit better (52 to 31), taxes better (48 to 40) and even terrorism better (44 to 37).

This is a catastrophic collapse of trust in Republicans built up over three generations on the deficit, two generations on taxes, and two generations on national security.

House Republicans Should Call an Emergency, Members-Only Conference

Faced with these election results, the House Republicans should hold an emergency members-only meeting. At the meeting, they should pose this stark choice: Real change or certain defeat.

If a majority of the House Republicans vote for real change, they should instruct Republican Leader John Boehner and his team to come back with a new plan by the Wednesday before the Memorial Day recess. This plan should involve real change in legislative, communications, and campaign strategy and involve immediate, real action, including a complete overhaul of the Congressional Campaign Committee. The House Republican Conference would then vote for the plan or insist on its revision.

If a majority of the House Republicans are opposed to acting then the minority who are activists should establish a parallel organization dedicated to real change. This group should focus its energies on creating the changes necessary to survive despite a conference with a minority mindset that accepts defeat rather than fights for real change (which is what we had when I entered Congress in 1978).

Nine Acts of Real Change That Could Restore the GOP Brand

Here are nine acts of real change that would begin to rebuild the American people's confidence that Republicans share their values, understand their worries, and are prepared to act instead of just talk. The Republicans in Congress could get a start on all nine this week if they had the will to do so.

Repeal the gas tax for the summer, and pay for the repeal by cutting domestic discretionary spending so that the transportation infrastructure trust fund would not be hurt. At a time when, according to The Hill newspaper, Senator Clinton is asking for $2.3billion in earmarks, it should be possible for Republicans to establish a "government spending versus your pocketbook" fight over cutting the gas tax that would resonate with most Americans. Lower taxes and less government spending should be a battle cry most taxpayers and all conservatives could rally behind.

Redirect the oil being put into the national petroleum reserve onto the open market. That oil would lower the price of gasoline an extra 5 to 6 cents per gallon, and its sale would lower the deficit.

Introduce a "more energy at lower cost with less environmental damage and greater national security bill" as a replacement for the Warner-Lieberman "tax and trade" bill which is coming to the floor of the Senate in the next few weeks (see my newsletter next week for an outline of a solid pro-economy, pro-national security, pro-environment energy bill). When the American people realize how much the current energy prices are actually a "politicians' energy crisis" they will demand real change in our policies.

Establish an earmark moratorium for one year and pledge to uphold the presidential veto of bills with earmarks through the end of 2009. The American people are fed up with politicians spending their money. They currently believe both parties are equally bad. This is a real opportunity to show the difference.

Overhaul the census and cut its budget radically. The recent announcement that the Census Bureau could not build an effective hand-held computer for $1.3 billion and is turning instead to 600,000 temporary workers to do a paper and pencil census in 2010 is an opportunity to slash its budget, shrink its bureaucracy, and turn to entrepreneurial internet-based companies to build an information-age census. This is an absurdity that cries out for bold, decisive reform (see my YouTube video "FedEx versus federal bureaucracy" for an example of what I mean).

Implement a space-based, GPS-style air traffic control system. The problems of the Federal Aviation Administration are symptoms of a union-dominated bureaucracy resisting change. If we implemented a space-based GPS-style air traffic system we would get 40% more air travel with one-half the bureaucrats. The union has stopped 200,000,000 passengers from enjoying more reliable air travel to protect 7,000 obsolete jobs. This real change would allow the millions of frustrated travelers to have champions in congress trying to help them get places better, safer, faster.

Declare English the official language of government. This real change is supported by 87% of the American people including a majority of Democrats, Republicans, Independents, and Latinos. It is an issue of national unity that brings Americans together in a red, white, and blue majority.

Protect the workers' right to a secret ballot. The vast majority (around 81%) of Americans believe that American workers have a right to have a secret ballot election before they are forced to join a union. Last year the House Democrats passed a bill that would strip American workers of the secret ballot. A new bill should be introduced reaffirming that right, and it should be brought up again and again until marginal Democrats are forced to vote with the American people against the union power structure.

Remind Americans that judges matter. Senate Republicans should mount an ongoing fight (including a filibuster of other activities if necessary) to get the American people to realize that liberals want to block all current judicial appointments in order to maximize the number of left wing radical judges they can appoint if they win the White House. This issue has three advantages. It reminds people that judges matter and that a leftwing radical Supreme Court would be bad for the values of most (70 to 90 percent, depending on the issue) Americans. It shows the Democrats are not engaged in fair play. It arouses the activism of those who have been disappointed by Republicans and have forgotten how bad a liberal Democratic Presidency would be.
What Is at Stake

No Republicans should kid themselves. It's time to face up to a stark choice.

Without change we could face a catastrophic election this fall.

Without change the Republican Party in the House could revert to the permanent minority status it had from 1930 to 1994.

Without change, the majorities of Americans who support the Republican principle of smaller, more efficient, smarter and fairer government will be in for a rude awakening.

It's time for real change to avoid a real disaster.

The "May Day Massacre": Can Liberals Govern in a Global Economy?

Despite the poor outlook for conservatives in our elections this November, there is encouraging news from across the Atlantic. The conservative wave sweeping Europe hit England last week when the liberal Labor Party suffered its worst local election results in 40 years.

Boris Johnson became the first Conservative Party member elected mayor of London when he defeated Labour candidate "Red" Ken Livingstone. In contests for more than 4,000 local seats across England, Conservatives captured 44 percent of the vote, compared to 25 percent for the Liberal Democrats and just 24 percent for Labour.

This Conservative victory in England comes on the heels of a history-making rout of the Communists and the Greens in parliamentary elections Italy two weeks ago. And the Italian results follow center-right victories in France (Sarkozy) and Germany (Merkel). The countries of so-called "old" Europe are turning away from the liberal high tax, big government policies that have crippled their economies and are turning toward pro-growth, pro-competitive center-right solutions.

All of which raises the question: Can the Left successfully govern in a modern, global economy? The voters of Europe seem to be saying no.

Your friend,

Newt Gingrich

Articles of Interest 5-7-08

 

181 Days until Election Day

 

MORNING UPDATE:

 

CLINTON WINS INDIANA…OBAMA WINS NORTH CAROLINA…the race is on and the Democrats don’t have a nominee. It looks like they are heading towards their convention in Denver. We’ll be ready for either or…a clear choice…McCain v some liberal, out of touch, big spending, higher taxing, cut and run Democrat!

 

McCAIN PROMISED CONSERVATIVE JUDGES…addressing the center-right coalition in America, John McCain committed to appoint mainstream conservative judges.

 

McCAIN FUNDRAISER A HUGE SUCCESS….Republican donors from around the state gather to offer their support for Senator John McCain. This was a very successful fundraiser last night at the home of Peter and Danialle Karmanos . John and Cindy McCain were awesome in their graciousness and hospitality. Truly a united party!

 

McCAIN IN TOWN TODAY…details below. Join us where you can…Clinton and Obama have boycotted Michigan for a long time while John McCain has been getting to know us…and we, him! A president we can trust.

 

WHERE THE WORLD IS ANDY DILLON…we are debating the budget, the MBT is a disaster, unemployment is at record levels…and where is the Democrat leader of the House of Representatives?

 

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THE REST OF THE STORY:

 

Senator John McCain still has an event for people to attend here in Michigan!
 
This morning Senator John McCain will also hold a Town Hall Meeting at Oakland University in the Shotwell-Gustafson Pavilion (adjacent to Meadow Brook Hall) at 280 South Adams Road in Rochester.  There is no cost to this event, no tickets are needed, and doors open at 8:00 AM.  You can RSVP at Michigan@JohnMcCain.com.

 

Saul Anuzis

Articles of Interest 5-6-2008

182 Days until Election Day

MORNING UPDATE:

McCAIN IN TOWN TODAY…details below.  Join us where you can…Clinton and Obama have boycotted Michigan for a long time while John McCain has been getting to know us…and we have continue to receive more opportunities to know him!  A President we can trust.

HOUSE REPUBLICAN DINNER…Governor Pawlenty got caught up in budget negotiations in his state, but called into the House Republican dinner last night.  House Republicans helped raise funds to load their coffers and prepare for this fall elections.

WALBERG FOR CONGRESS…this weekend, over 40 College Republicans from all over Michigan gathered in Jackson County to kickoff Congressman Tim Walberg's re-election campaign. College Republican Chair Justin Zatkoff and their troops hit the streets dropping thousands of pieces of lit.  Special thanks to Congressman Walberg, Lola Peterson, and Isabella County GOP Chairman Matt Golden on making this a meaningful experience for all.

HISPANICS…John McCain is good for Hispanics, Carly Fiorina explains why.

LIBERAL ROADMAP TO CRUSH CONSERVATISM…in their own words, liberals have embarked on a planned effort to “define” President Bush for their long term goals.

NUCLEAR POWER…America wants peace and prosperity.  We need to become less dependent on foreign oil and have more domestic sources of power.  Cheap, reliable and affordable energy will change the world. More below.

WALL FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS: The arrangements for Smokie Wall in Wayne County are as follows:  Tues. May 6 viewing at Beacon Bapt. Church 5pm-8pm.  Funeral at same place with viewing at noon and service at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday May 7th.  The address is 21721 Northline Rd. Taylor, 48180. It is between Pardee and Allen Roads.

THE REST OF THE STORY:

--Senator John McCain has two events for people to attend here in Michigan!

Tuesday night May 6, Senator John McCain will be attending a Fund Raising Reception hosted at the home of Peter and Danialle Karmanos with special guest Governor Mitt Romney.  The cost is $2,300 per person and you should contact Sarah Prues Hecker at 313-586-4314 or sarah@prueshecker.com for more information and to RSVP.  The event starts at 5:30 PM.

Wednesday morning Senator John McCain will also hold a Town Hall Meeting at Oakland University in the Shotwell-Gustafson Pavilion (adjacent to Meadow Brook Hall) at 280 South Adams Road in Rochester.  There is no cost to this event, no tickets are needed, and doors open at 8:00 AM.  You can RSVP at Michigan@JohnMcCain.com.

- Nuclear power is the world's largest source of emission-free energy. Nuclear power plants produce no controlled air pollutants, such as sulfur and particulates, or greenhouse gases. The use of nuclear power in place of other energy sources helps to keep the air clean, preserve the Earth's climate, avoid ground-level o-zone formation, and prevent acid rain.

Nuclear power has important implications for our national security. Inexpensive nuclear power, in combination with fuel cell technology, could significantly reduce our dependency on foreign oil.

Nuclear power plants have experienced an admirable safety record. About 20% of electricity generated in the U.S. comes from nuclear power, and in the last forty years of this production, not one single fatality has occurred as a result of the operation of a civilian nuclear power plant in the United States. In comparison, many people die in coal mining accidents every year and approximately ten thousand Americans die every year from pollution related to coal burning.

For more information go to: http://www.nuclearnow.org/ and http://www.nei.org/

Saul Anuzis

Liberal Roadmap to Crush Conservatism

John McCain: The Right Choice for Hispanics

By: Carly Fiorina
May 5, 2008

Mexican Americans have contributed to the cultural fiber of the United States in so many ways - and today we celebrate those contributions as well as our common visions. It's important that we continue this rich combination by electing a president who is the best choice for Americans and who will share their values and interests.

We mark the anniversary of the Battle of Puebla by celebrating the hope and courage of an outnumbered band of Mexican soldiers. Under the leadership of Gen. Ignacio Zaragoza, these soldiers fought and won in the name of freedom for their people. That same spirit is very much alive today in our Armed Forces - in which many brave Latino Americans serve - whose great sacrifices are very much appreciated by Sen. John McCain. Though we are fighting a very different war, we do so under the banner of freedom that led Gen. Zaragoza's troops as well.

As the largest minority group in the U.S., many Hispanic Americans have followed the American Dream, an ideal Sen. McCain highly believes in and endorses. It is also worth noting Sen. McCain's strong leadership on immigration issues. He wants to bring our country forward, providing opportunity for all who are willing to achieve this dream.

As I've said before, the American Dream starts with a home and a job - with the proper tools, everything else will fall into place. To get started on that mission, Sen. McCain has proposed a number of initiatives to put an end to the current housing crisis and make sure it doesn't happen again by targeting predatory lenders and creating transparency in the lending system. His HOME plan will bring targeted relief to families affected by the current housing crisis. Under the plan, all deserving homeowners will be able to trade cumbersome mortgages for a manageable loan comparable to the home's market value.

Sen. McCain also has made innovative proposals to improve the economic climate for small businesses to succeed. With over two million Hispanic-owned businesses generating nearly $300 billion annually for the economy, there is potential under Sen. McCain's economic plan for these businesses to grow even stronger.

The pro-growth tax agenda that Sen. McCain endorses is very much in line with the needs of many Hispanic-American families. His plans to keep taxes low, cut taxes for middle-class families, and free up more money for hardworking Americans. You see, Sen. McCain believes that power and choice should be in the hands of the people, not the government. It is the American people, not the government, who work hard to earn their paychecks and deserve to manage their money without government influence.

To ensure that our children are able to continue our legacy and be afforded opportunities we weren't, our education system must provide them with the skills to succeed. As the achievement gap continues to narrow, we must hold our schools to the highest standards and push for continued improvements.

Sen. McCain is the right choice for all Americans because he will keep their best interests at heart - in the business sector, in the classroom, and at the dinner table, because he shares similar values. That's why it's important that John McCain has the support of the Latino community, because they have his support.

Carly Fiorina - RNC Victory Chairman and Economic Advisor To Sen. John McCain

Link to article: http://latinoreport.com/

Articles of Interest 5-5-2008

183 Days until Election Day

 

MORNING UPDATE:

 

CINCO DE MAYO…

Republicans joined in activities around the state this weekend as Hispanics celebrated Cinco de Mayo. Special thanks to the Michigan Republican National Hispanic Assembly and the Sojourner Truth Womens Republican Club for their effort over the weekend. Our party’s philosophy is a natural fit with Hispanic Americans everywhere…share, reach out, include and recruit our friends!

 

YARD WORK DAY…yesterday, after catching some of the morning news shows, my “honey do” list was pretty long. We spent a gorgeous day working outside, cleaning up and catching up around the house. I hope everyone’s ready for a busy week!

 

MC CAIN IN MICHIGAN…Senator McCain will be in Michigan for a fundraiser and Town Hall meeting next week. Details below…join us where you can.

Mc Cain’s Town Hall flyer here:

 

http://migop.blogs.com/blog/2008/05/senator-mccain.html

 

HOUSE REPUBLICAN DINNER…TODAY…Governor Pawlenty will be our featured guest on May 5th at the Rock Financial Center in Novi…more info below.

 

SMOKIE WALL INFO…long time Republican activist and friend Smokie Wall passed away Saturday morning. Please keep Gerry (Roscommon County Chair) and the rest of their family in your prayers. Funeral & Visitation info below.

 

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FOR THE LATEST NEWS, COMMENTARY & INFORMATION:

 

www.migop.blogs.com

 

Check…out…our…blog………News…you…can…use………

 

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THE REST OF THE STORY:

 

--HOUSE REPUBLICAN DINNER DETAILS - TODAY

 

Today, the HRCC will be holding its annual dinner on May 5th. Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty will deliver the keynote. This will be a great event. Details including location, time and cost below.
 
Diamond Center
Rock Financial Showplace
46100 Grand River Avenue
Novi, MI 48374

To RSVP please call 517-371-1830 or mihrcc@gmail.com
 
5:00 – 6:00 PM ~ VIP Reception
$5,000/Couple
 
5:30 PM – 7:30 PM ~ Strolling Dinner
$1,000/Person
$5,000/Silver Sponsor*
$10,000/Gold Sponsor**
$20,000/Platinum Sponsor***
 
*Silver sponsors will receive 5 tickets to dinner, or 2 tickets to attend the VIP reception
**Gold sponsors will receive 10 tickets to dinner, including 2 tickets to attend the VIP reception
*** Platinum sponsors will receive 20 tickets to dinner, including 4 tickets to attend the VIP reception

 

--Senator John McCain has two events for people to attend here in Michigan!
 
Tuesday night May 6, Senator John McCain will be attending a Fund Raising Reception hosted at the home of Peter and Danialle Karmanos with special guest Governor Mitt Romney.  The cost is $2,300 per person and you should contact Sarah Prues Hecker at 313-586-4314 or sarah@prueshecker.com for more information and to RSVP.  The event starts at 5:30 PM.
 
Wednesday morning Senator John McCain will also hold a Town Hall Meeting at Oakland University in the Shotwell-Gustafson Pavilion (adjacent to Meadow Brook Hall) at 280 South Adams Road in Rochester.  There is no cost to this event, no tickets are needed, and doors open at 8:00 AM.  You can RSVP at Michigan@JohnMcCain.com.

 

--FRIENDS,  VISITATION & SERVICES FOR SONJA “Smokie” WALL  

IMMANUEL BAPTIST CHURCH.

VISITATION 4:00-6:00P.M. SERVICE 6:30P.M. MONDAY MAY 5, 2008.

 2794 W. MAPLEHURST, ROSCOMMON, MICHIGAN PHONE 989-275-4363.

 

SERVICES IN TAYLOR, MI. WILL BE MAY 6 & 7, 2008

AT HOWE PETERSON FUNERAL HOME

9800 TELEGRAPH RD. TAYLOR MI. 48180; PHONE 313-291-0900

Articles of Interest 5-4-08

 

 

184 Days until Election Day

 

MORNING UPDATE:

 

MRNHA DINNER…we ended yesterday evening in Detroit at the Michigan Republican National Hispanic Assembly dinner. Republican volunteers and activist had a tent set up at the Cinco de Mayo festival at Clark Park located in Mexican town Detroit.

 

Dinner guests included Congressman Joe Knollenberg, Senator Mark Jensen and Representative John Stakoe among many others. Congratulations to David and Manny for a job well done! Hispanic Republicans are growing!

 

SOJOURNER TRUTH WOMENS REPUBLICAN CLUB…organized the booth at the Cinco de Mayo festival Saturday and will be bringing the DRGO elephant “Ike” to the parade today. Great job ladies!

 

McCAIN IN MICHIGAN…Senator McCain will be in Michigan for a fundraiser and Town Hall meeting next week. Details below…join us where you can.

McCain’s Town Hall flyer here:

 

http://migop.blogs.com/blog/2008/05/senator-mccain.html

 

HOUSE REPUBLICAN DINNER…Governor Pawlenty will be our featured guest on May 5^th at the Rock Financial Center in Novi…more info below.

 

R.I.P. SMOKIE WALL…long time Republican activist and friend Smokie Wall passed away yesterday morning. Please keep Gerry (Roscommon County Chair) and the rest of their family in your prayers. 

 

MICHIGAN MATTERS…Carol Cain brought Brooks Patterson, Kwame Kilpatrick, Robert Ficano and Bill Crouchman together for a great show.  "Michigan Matters" airs Saturday and repeated today, Sunday on CW 50 at 11 a.m.

 

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FOR THE LATEST NEWS, COMMENTARY & INFORMATION:

 

www.migop.blogs.com

 

Check…out…our…blog………News…you…can…use………

 

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THE REST OF THE STORY:

 

McCAIN IN MICHIGAN.

 

Next week Senator John McCain has two events for people to attend here in Michigan!
 
Tuesday night May 6, Senator John McCain will be attending a Fund Raising Reception hosted at the home of Peter and Danialle Karmanos with special guest Governor Mitt Romney.  The cost is $2,300 per person and you should contact Sarah Prues Hecker at 313-586-4314 or sarah@prueshecker.com for more information and to RSVP.  The event starts at 5:30 PM.
 
Wednesday morning Senator John McCain will also hold a Town Hall Meeting at Oakland University in the Shotwell-Gustafson Pavilion (adjacent to Meadow Brook Hall) at 280 South Adams Road in Rochester.  There is no cost to this event, no tickets are needed, and doors open at 8:00 AM.  You can RSVP at Michigan@JohnMcCain.com.

 

HOUSE REPUBLICAN DINNER DETAILS.

 

The MRP is doing all we can to assist the Michigan State House Republican Campaign Committee (HRCC) to add seats this November and reclaim the Majority lost in 2006. The HRCC will be holding its annual dinner on May 5th. Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty will deliver the keynote. This will be a great event. Location, time and cost details below.
 
Diamond Center
Rock Financial Showplace
46100 Grand River Avenue
Novi, MI 48374

To RSVP please call 517-371-1830 or mihrcc@gmail.com
 
5:00 – 6:00 PM ~ VIP Reception
$5,000/Couple
 
5:30 PM – 7:30 PM ~ Strolling Dinner
$1,000/Person
$5,000/Silver Sponsor*
$10,000/Gold Sponsor**
$20,000/Platinum Sponsor***
 
*Silver sponsors will receive 5 tickets to dinner, or 2 tickets to attend the VIP reception
**Gold sponsors will receive 10 tickets to dinner, including 2 tickets to attend the VIP reception
*** Platinum sponsors will receive 20 tickets to dinner, including 4 tickets to attend the VIP reception.

 

Articles of Interest 5-3-2008

186 Days until Election Day

MORNING UPDATE:

LIVINGSTON COUNTY GOP LINCOLN DAY DINNER…another huge success. I joined Congressman Mike Rogers and a big crowd of excited and committed Republicans.  Congressman Rogers lead off the night…a great leader for Michigan and our country.

ELSENHEIMER FOR STATE REP....Kevin Elsenheimer agreed to withdraw from the race for the Court of Appeals at the request of the party to give us a better shot at holding this conservative seat.  He agreed to run for re-election and continue his service in the Michigan Legislature and help ensure the House Republicans come back as the Majority Caucus next year. 

We certainly understand how difficult of a decision this was for Kevin considering his family priorities and the level of support demonstrated by the over 10,000 signatures he turned in this week.  Thanks to Kevin for being an all around team player and helping the party.

U.P. TOUR DOES ESCANABA…The Political and Candidate & Party Assistance teams were on the road again yesterday on the UP "Unity Road Show" for our fourth and final stop in Escanaba .  We had a great group of local party people from Menominee, Delta, and Dickenson Counties including Arlene Bright chair for Menominee and one of the 1st district Congressional candidates, Linda Goldthorpe.  Thanks to you to all that attended and participated.

McCAIN IN MICHIGAN…Senator McCain will be in Michigan for a fundraiser and Town Hall meeting next week.  Details below…join us where you can.
McCain’s Town Hall flyer here:

http://migop.blogs.com/blog/2008/05/senator-mccain.html

HOUSE REPUBLICAN DINNER…Governor Pawlenty will be our featured guest on May 5th at the Rock Financial Center in Novi…more info below.

PETITION CIRCULATORS…time is running out.  If you have petitions for our federal candidates…please mail them in so they can track their progress.

LATEST TRACKING POLL…to early to mean much other than it’s a horse race!

Rasmussen Tracking
4/27 - 4/30 (1700 Likely Voters)

McCain 46%
Obama 43%

McCain 44%
Clinton 44%

MICHIGAN MATTERS…Carol Cain brings Brooks Patterson, Kwame Kilpatrick, Robert Ficano and Crouchman together for a great show.  "Michigan Matters" airs Saturday on CBS Detroit at 11 a.m. and is repeated on Sunday on CW 50 at 11:30.

HUGHES SULLIVAN SHOW…I’ve become a weekly guest on the Hughes Sullivan Show on WDTK-AM 1400, which is broadcast in metro Detroit every evening.  Good, conservative talk radio.  You can hear it online at http://wdtkam.townhall.com/ or my interviews every Monday and Friday night between 8:20-9:00pm.

FORWARD THESE EMAILS…yes, feel free to forward these emails to any of your friends or like-minded souls.  Our goal is to spread the message and give activists the tools they need to be better informed.  If anyone wants to sign up directly, just shoot me an email and we’ll add them to our email list.

THE REST OF THE STORY:

McCAIN IN MICHIGAN.

Next week Senator John McCain has two events for people to attend here in Michigan!

Tuesday night May 6, Senator John McCain will be attending a Fund Raising Reception hosted at the home of Peter and Danialle Karmanos with special guest Governor Mitt Romney.  The cost is $2,300 per person and you should contact Sarah Prues Hecker at 313-586-4314 or sarah@prueshecker.com for more information and to RSVP.  The event starts at 5:30 PM.

Wednesday morning Senator John McCain will also hold a Town Hall Meeting at Oakland University in the Shotwell-Gustafson Pavilion (adjacent to Meadow Brook Hall) at 280 South Adams Road in Rochester.  There is no cost to this event, no tickets are needed, and doors open at 8:00 AM.  You can RSVP at Michigan@JohnMcCain.com.

HOUSE REPUBLICAN DINNER DETAILS.

The MRP is doing all we can to assist the Michigan State House Republican Campaign Committee (HRCC) to add seats this November and reclaim the Majority lost in 2006. The HRCC will be holding its annual dinner on May 5th. Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty will deliver the keynote. This will be a great event. Location, time and cost details below.

Diamond Center
Rock Financial Showplace
46100 Grand River Avenue
Novi, MI 48374
To RSVP please call 517-371-1830 or mihrcc@gmail.com

5:00 – 6:00 PM ~ VIP Reception
$5,000/Couple

5:30 PM – 7:30 PM ~ Strolling Dinner
$1,000/Person
$5,000/Silver Sponsor*
$10,000/Gold Sponsor**
$20,000/Platinum Sponsor***

*Silver sponsors will receive 5 tickets to dinner, or 2 tickets to attend the VIP reception
**Gold sponsors will receive 10 tickets to dinner, including 2 tickets to attend the VIP reception
*** Platinum sponsors will receive 20 tickets to dinner, including 4 tickets to attend the VIP reception

Saul Anuzis

Articles of Interest 5-2-08

187 Days until Election Day

MORNING UPDATE:

U.P. TOUR CONTINUES: The Political and Candidate & Party Assistance teams were on the road again yesterday on the UP "Unity Road Show" for our second stop in Marquette and third in White Pine .  We had a great group of local party people from Marquette, Alger, and Delta counties along with the 1st district Chairman. Special thanks to Joel Westrom for his help in putting the Marquette event together.  Our third stop in the western UP for Gogebic, Ontonagon, and Houghton had our largest UP crowd yet.  Thank you to Kirk Schott for his help in putting the event together.

DILLON RECALL PETITIONS FILED…11,384 validated signatures filed (15,000+ signed)…law requires the signatures of 8,724 registered voters from within a state representative district. Dillon was the chief architect of the Granholm-Democrat $1.4 billion tax increase on Michigan families and businesses.

CITIZENS TAXPAYERS SPEAK UP…recalls are democracy in action.  It’s frustrated voters taking matters into their own hands.  The Democrats raised taxes when they had a surplus.  NO cuts, NO reforms. The grassroots do matter!

REPUBLICANS SHOOTING FOR ANTI-TAX MAJORITY…this is a good indication of mood taxpayers and voters…let your voices be heard.

McCAIN IN MICHIGAN…Senator McCain will be in Michigan for a fundraiser and Town Hall meeting next week.  Details below…join us where you can.
McCain’s Town Hall flyer here:

http://migop.blogs.com/blog/2008/05/senator-mccain.html

HOUSE REPUBLICAN DINNER…Governor Pawlenty will be our featured guest on May 5th at the Rock Financial Center in Novi…more info below.

PETITION CIRCULATORS…time is running out.  If you have petitions for our federal candidates…please mail them in so they can track their progress.

THE REST OF THE STORY:

McCAIN IN MICHIGAN.

Next week Senator John McCain has two events for people to attend here in Michigan!

Tuesday night May 6, Senator John McCain will be attending a Fund Raising Reception hosted at the home of Peter and Danialle Karmanos with special guest Governor Mitt Romney.  The cost is $2,300 per person and you should contact Sarah Prues Hecker at 313-586-4314 or sarah@prueshecker.com for more information and to RSVP.  The event starts at 5:30 PM.

Wednesday morning Senator John McCain will also hold a Town Hall Meeting at Oakland University in the Shotwell-Gustafson Pavilion (adjacent to Meadow Brook Hall) at 280 South Adams Road in Rochester.  There is no cost to this event, no tickets are needed, and doors open at 8:00 AM.  You can RSVP at Michigan@JohnMcCain.com.

HOUSE REPUBLICAN DINNER DETAILS.

The MRP is doing all we can to assist the Michigan State House Republican Campaign Committee (HRCC) to add seats this November and reclaim the Majority lost in 2006. The HRCC will be holding its annual dinner on May 5th. Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty will deliver the keynote. This will be a great event. Location, time, and cost details below.

Diamond Center
Rock Financial Showplace
46100 Grand River Avenue
Novi, MI 48374
To RSVP please call 517-371-1830 or mihrcc@gmail.com

5:00 – 6:00 PM ~ VIP Reception
$5,000/Couple

5:30 PM – 7:30 PM ~ Strolling Dinner
$1,000/Person
$5,000/Silver Sponsor*
$10,000/Gold Sponsor**
$20,000/Platinum Sponsor***

*Silver sponsors will receive 5 tickets to dinner, or 2 tickets to attend the VIP reception
**Gold sponsors will receive 10 tickets to dinner, including 2 tickets to attend the VIP reception
*** Platinum sponsors will receive 20 tickets to dinner, including 4 tickets to attend the VIP reception

Saul Anuzis

Senator McCain to hold Town Hall in Michigan

Articles of Interest 5-1-08

188 Days until Election Day

MORNING UPDATE:

U.P. PARTY BUILDING TOUR…The Political, Candidate & Party Assistance teams were on the road again last night on the first stop of the UP "Unity Road Show" in Sault Ste. Marie.  We had a handful of local party people from Chippewa, Delta, Luce, and Mackinac counties along with the Chippewa County Chair and former State Senator Walt North . Special thanks to Anthony Stackpoole for his help in putting this event together.

McCAIN IN MICHIGAN…Senator McCain will be in Michigan for a fundraiser and Town Hall meeting next week.  Details below…join us where you can.

HOUSE REPUBLICAN DINNER…Governor Pawlenty will be our featured guest on May 5th at the Rock Financial Center in Novi…more info below.

PETITION CIRCULATORS…time is running out.  If you have petitions for our federal candidates, please mail them in so they can track their progress.

THE REST OF THE STORY:

McCAIN IN MICHIGAN.

Next week Senator John McCain has two events for people to attend here in Michigan!

Tuesday night May 6, Senator John McCain will be attending a Fund Raising Reception hosted at the home of Peter and Danialle Karmanos with special guest Governor Mitt Romney.  The cost is $2,300 per person and you should contact Sarah Prues Hecker at 313-586-4314 or sarah@prueshecker.com for more information and to RSVP.  The event starts at 5:30 PM.

Wednesday morning Senator John McCain will also hold a Town Hall Meeting at Oakland University in the Shotwell-Gustafson Pavilion (adjacent to Meadow Brook Hall) at 280 South Adams Road in Rochester.  There is no cost to this event, no tickets are needed, and doors open at 8:00 AM.  You can RSVP at Michigan@JohnMcCain.com.

HOUSE REPUBLICAN DINNER DETAILS.

The MRP is doing all we can to assist the Michigan State House Republican Campaign Committee (HRCC) to add seats this November and reclaim the Majority lost in 2006. The HRCC will be holding its annual dinner on May 5th. Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty will deliver the keynote. This will be a great event. Location, time and cost details below.

Diamond Center
Rock Financial Showplace
46100 Grand River Avenue
Novi, MI 48374
To RSVP please call 517-371-1830 or mihrcc@gmail.com

5:00 – 6:00 PM ~ VIP Reception
$5,000/Couple

5:30 PM – 7:30 PM ~ Strolling Dinner
$1,000/Person
$5,000/Silver Sponsor*
$10,000/Gold Sponsor**
$20,000/Platinum Sponsor***

*Silver sponsors will receive 5 tickets to dinner, or 2 tickets to attend the VIP reception
**Gold sponsors will receive 10 tickets to dinner, including 2 tickets to attend the VIP reception
*** Platinum sponsors will receive 20 tickets to dinner, including 4 tickets to attend the VIP reception

Saul Anuzis

Articles of Interest 4-30-2008

189 Days until Election Day

MORNING UPDATE:

HARVARD…I spent Tuesday at the Kennedy School for Public Policy at Harvard as a panelist on the 2012 plans and reforms for the next presidential primary.  It was a great conference and the first time both Republicans and Democrats sat down at the same table to talk about the process.

KALAMAZOO COUNTY…The Political, Candidate & Party Assistance teams were on the road again last night on the Kalamazoo "Unity Road Show".  We had a handful of local party people along with District Chairs and County Chair.  Special thanks to Gerry Hildenbrand and Fred Taylor for their help in putting this event together.

OBAMA “DENOUNCES” WRIGHT…yesterday Barack Obama criticized the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, his former pastor, saying that Wright's comments about the United States in recent days have been "destructive" and "outrageous."  NAACP reaction?

MICHIGAN’S YOUSIF GHAFARI…The U.S. Senate yesterday confirmed Yousif Ghafari to be our Ambassador to the Republic of Slovenia. Congratulations!

HOUSE REPUBLICAN DINNER…Governor Pawlenty will be our featured guest on May 5th at the Rock Financial Center in Novi…more info below.

PETITION CIRCULATORS…time is running out.  If you have petitions for federal candidates…please mail them in so they can track their progress.  The deadline for judicial petitions have passed.  Three excellent Republicans; long-time Michigan Republican Party Legal Counsel Eric Doster, State Representative Kevin Elsenheimer, and former State Representative Jim Howell; will be on the ballot to replace retiring Judge Bill Schuette in the 58-county 4th District Court of Appeals seat.

BILL HARRISON…long time Kent county GOP activist, teacher and friend, Bill Harrison passed away last week.  His son Bryan and I worked together for Dick Posthumus.  Please keep the Harrison family in your prayers.

THE REST OF THE STORY:

HOUSE REPUBLICAN DINNER DETAILS.
The MRP is doing all we can to assist the Michigan State House Republican Campaign Committee (HRCC) to add seats this November and reclaim the Majority lost in 2006. The HRCC will be holding its annual dinner on May 5th. Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty will deliver the keynote. This will be a great event. Location, time and cost details below.

Diamond Center
Rock Financial Showplace
46100 Grand River Avenue
Novi, MI 48374
To RSVP please call 517-371-1830 or mihrcc@gmail.com

5:00 – 6:00 PM ~ VIP Reception
$5,000/Couple

5:30 PM – 7:30 PM ~ Strolling Dinner
$1000/Person
$5,000/Silver Sponsor*
$10,000/Gold Sponsor**
$20,000/Platinum Sponsor***

*Silver sponsors will receive 5 tickets to dinner, or 2 tickets to attend the VIP reception
**Gold sponsors will receive 10 tickets to dinner, including 2 tickets to attend the VIP reception
*** Platinum sponsors will receive 20 tickets to dinner, including 4 tickets to attend the VIP reception

Saul Anuzis

Articles of Interest 4-29-2008

190 Days until Election Day

MORNING UPDATE:

WAYNE COUNTY…The Political, Candidate & Party Assistance teams were on the road again last night on the Wayne "Unity Road Show" in Dearborn Heights.  We had a handful of local party people along with District Chairs and the Wayne County Chair on hand.  Special thanks to Susan Chmielewski for her help in putting this event together.

HOUSE REPUBLICAN DINNER…Governor Pawlenty will be our featured guest on May 5th at the Rock Financial Center in Novi…more info below.

MI DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES...OUT OF CONTROL…Governor Granholm should skip Kuwait and fix her own departments first.  A state bureaucracy that needs immediate attention…who runs this state? A must read…outrageous:

WEST MICHIGAN DONORS…we ended last night in Grand Rapids with a series of meetings with donors who will be supporting our entire ticket.  Our team grows!

CHIEF JUSTICE CLIFF TAYLOR… Justice Taylor continues his swing around the state meeting with Republicans to secure his nomination and reelection this fall.  Thanks to all for their help in this critical race.

U.S. SUPREME COURT RULES…Indiana's law requiring voters to show photo identification before casting a ballot is constitutional, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled this morning. Upholding the strictest voter ID law in the nation and dismissing any uncertainty that may have existed going into the election after justices heard arguments in early January.  This is good for Michigan…it’s the law of the land.

POPE BENEDICT…here is my favorite photo from his historic visit that Callista Gingrich took and was kind enough to share.

PETITION CIRCULATORS…time is running out.  If you have petitions for judicial or federal candidates…please mail them in so they can track their progress.

JERRY & SMOKIE WALL…long time Republican activist Smokie was hospitalize yesterday after suffering a stroke.  Please keep Smokie and Jerry in your prayers.

THE REST OF THE STORY:

HOUSE REPUBLICAN DINNER DETAILS.
The MRP is doing all we can to assist the Michigan State House Republican Campaign Committee (HRCC) to add seats this November and reclaim the Majority lost in 2006. The HRCC will be holding its annual dinner on May 5th. Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty will deliver the keynote. This will be a great event. Location, time, and cost details below.

Diamond Center
Rock Financial Showplace
46100 Grand River Avenue
Novi, MI 48374
To RSVP please call 517-371-1830 or mihrcc@gmail.com

5:00 – 6:00 PM ~ VIP Reception
$5,000/Couple

5:30 PM – 7:30 PM ~ Strolling Dinner
$1000/Person
$5,000/Silver Sponsor*
$10,000/Gold Sponsor**
$20,000/Platinum Sponsor***

*Silver sponsors will receive 5 tickets to dinner, or 2 tickets to attend the VIP reception
**Gold sponsors will receive 10 tickets to dinner, including 2 tickets to attend the VIP reception
*** Platinum sponsors will receive 20 tickets to dinner, including 4 tickets to attend the VIP reception

Saul Anuzis

His Holiness Historic Visit to the U.S.

Photo Courtesy Callista Gingrich.

Articles of Interest 4-28-2008

191 Days until Election Day

MORNING UPDATE:

CARDINAL MAIDA and Arch Bishop Tamkevicius from Lithuanian officiated at our sons Confirmation yesterday.  It was an inspirational celebration.

CONG. JOE KNOLLENBERG…joined our Confirmation and the celebration of 100th Anniversary of our parish Divine Providence in Southfield.  Cong. Knollenberg addressed the over 500 parishioners during our lunch and congratulated the newly Confirmed youngster and talked with Cardinal Maida and the Arch Bishop for a bit.

REV. WRIGHT…The Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr., the outspoken former pastor of Barack Obama, told an audience of nearly 10,000 on Sunday that despite what his critics say, he is "descriptive," not "divisive" when he speaks about racial injustices.
"I describe the conditions in this country," Wright said during the Detroit NAACP's 53rd annual Fight for Freedom Fund Dinner.  Ummm….very “descriptive”.

FORBES RATE MI CITIES…and it doesn’t look good.  Michigan’s cities round off the “worst” cities…  http://www.forbes.com/leadership/2008/04/10/best-cities-jobs-lead-cx_kb_0410jobs.html

TAX REVOLT?...the Wall Street Journal wrote a great commentary that every taxpayer should read… http://migop.blogs.com/blog/2008/04/tax-revoltare-y.html

BECOME A PRECINCT DELEGATE!!  Fill out and return the Affidavit of Identity to your county clerk or send it to the state party…we’ll handle the filings. Link to form
http://www.migop.org/precinctdelegate/PD_Affidavit.PDF

Many folks have asked…what does a precinct delegate do?  Here is some basic information about how we try and organize our precinct delegates to be part of our “political machine” to help elect Republicans.

PETITION CIRCULATORS…time is running out.  If you have petitions for judicial or federal candidates…please mail them in so they can track their progress.

THE REST OF THE STORY:

No further commentary today.

Saul Anuzis

Articles of Interest 4-27-2008

192 Days until Election Day

MORNING UPDATE:

TAXPAYERS DEVASTED BY MBT – GRANHOLM TRAVELS TO KUWAIT…I wish the governor would spend more time traveling around Michigan and listening to the problems Michigan’s job providers have…instead, another overseas junket.

http://www.mlive.com/newsflash/michigan/index.ssf?/base/business-15/1209143350319100.xml&storylist=newsmichigan

MORNING MASS…This morning my youngest son Marius will receive the sacrament of Confirmation at our parish, Divine Providence, which is celebrating it’s 100th year anniversary.  Special guests will include Cardinal Maida and Congressman Joe Knollenberg.

NAACP…I plan on ending the evening at the NAACP dinner where I hope to hear the infamous Rev. Wright…I’m ready for anything.

ST. CLAIR GOP…I finished Saturday night at the St. Clair County Lincoln Day Dinner.  It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Republicans statewide so united and so excited about winning in the fall.  These last couple weeks of Lincoln Day Dinners across the state have been fantastic!

BOWLING ALLEY…I hit a bowling alley fundraiser on the way home through Livonia.

POLITICOS SUNDAY TALK SHOW TIP SHEET… get the scoop on who’s on where with Politico.Com’s talk show schedule below.

BECOME A PRECINCT DELEGATE!!  Fill out and return the Affidavit of Identity to your county clerk or send it to the state party…we’ll handle the filings. Link to form

Many folks have asked…what does a precinct delegate do?  Here is some basic information about how we try and organize our precinct delegates to be part of our “political machine” to help elect Republicans.

PETITION CIRCULATORS…time is running out.  If you have petitions for judicial or federal candidates…please mail them in so they can track their progress.

THE REST OF THE STORY:

POLITICOS Sunday Talk Show Tip Sheet.

The “Obama Watch” is over.
Roughly 772 days, 13 hours and 54 minutes after Sen. Barack Obama reportedly promised “Fox News Sunday” host Chris Wallace that he’d come on his Sunday show, the Democratic presidential hopeful has finally agreed to an interview.

Wallace had been keeping a running “Obama Watch” on his show’s website, trying to bait the Illinois senator into appearing. Now that Wallace has finally succeeded, how will Obama spin his 9-point loss to New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) in Pennsylvania? And what are his thoughts on the May 6 Indiana and North Carolina primaries?

On NBC, Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean headlines “Meet the Press,” as his party’s presidential race stretches into the spring amid increasing calls for him and other party leaders to intervene. On Thursday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) floated the idea of authoring a joint letter with Dean to undecided superdelegates, pressuring them to make their decisions public. What will Dean say about that? Host Tim Russert also leads an all-star political panel with The Washington Post’s David Broder, PBS’ Gwen Ifill, Newsweek’s Richard Wolffe, Slate.com’s John Dickerson and NBC’s Andrea Mitchell.

On CBS, “Face the Nation” is the latest venue for the ongoing Sunday show battle between Obama chief strategist David Axelrod and Clinton senior strategist Howard Wolfson. How is Pennsylvania altering each team’s playbook? Host Bob Schieffer also interviews former CBS correspondent Roger Mudd.

ABC’s “This Week” leads with a pair of high profile surrogates: Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.) for Clinton and former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) for Obama. Will Bayh be able to deliver his home state for Clinton? Host George Stephanopoulos also interviews a pair of Democratic representatives — Artur Davis of Alabama, for Obama, and Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas, for Clinton. And he breaks down the past week’s politics with New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd, Democratic political strategist Donna Brazile, Republican political strategist Matt Dowd and ABC’s George Will.

CNN’s “Late Edition” leads with foreign affairs, featuring a pair of congressional intelligence experts. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R-Mich.) will discuss recent reports that North Korea helped Syria develop a nuclear rector and Iran’s attempts to develop nuclear weapons. Also, host Wolf Blitzer hosts a debate between Jamie Rubin, a foreign policy adviser for Clinton, and Susan Rice, an adviser for Obama. And he’ll interview Democratic Sens. Claire McCaskill of Missouri, who supports Obama, and Charles Schumer of New York, who’s backing Clinton.
Bloomberg’s "Political Capital” focuses on the economy, featuring Al Hunt’s interview with Robert Steel, Treasury’s undersecretary for domestic finance, who will discuss the credit crisis.

Finally, C-SPAN’s “Newsmakers” hosts Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health’s National Human Genome Research Institute. He’ll be questioned by Rick Weiss of The Washington Post and Jonathan Rockoff of The Baltimore Sun.

Saul Anuzis

Tax Revolt...are you paying attention

http://online.wsj.com/public/article_print/SB120916309243845933.html

REVIEW & OUTLOOK

Property Tax Revolt
April 26, 2008; Page A8

Arizona has been hit hard hit by the real-estate bust, with the average home value down 17% in a year and a record number of foreclosures. So Democratic Governor Janet Napolitano has devised a clever way to revive the housing market: Raise property taxes.

Last week Ms. Napolitano vetoed a bill that would have made a two-year suspension of the state property tax permanent. "It's untimely. It's untenable. It's unwise," she said of her untimely and unwise veto. So as housing values slide, Arizonans next year will get walloped with an extra $250 million property tax bill.

Arizona is one of a growing list of states and big cities looking to raise taxes on homes to close budget gaps in 2008 and 2009. Housing values are expected to decline by $1.2 trillion this year, according to Global Insight Inc., an economic consulting firm, and that means tens of billions of dollars in lost taxes.

In recent weeks, Fairfax County in northern Virginia, Washington state, Chicago and Memphis have announced proposals to increase residential property tax rates to offset declining revenues. So at the very time that states and cities are begging for money from Washington to help distressed homeowners pay their mortgages, property tax hikes could push hundreds of thousands of homeowners under water.

Higher property taxes impose a double whammy on those at risk of losing their homes. First, they act as a tax surcharge on homeownership. And second, when the tax hikes aren't tied to better public services, they reduce housing values, thus reducing owner equity.

The Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Kentucky reviewed dozens of studies on real-estate prices and concluded that "the evidence from the most reliable estimates" is that between 60% and 90% of property taxes are capitalized into a reduced value of the home. So a permanent $200 a year increase in the property tax could reduce the sales value of the home by between $1,200 and $1,800.

Lawmakers mulling other revenue-raisers to close budget deficits need to know that these may also exacerbate the housing decline. Richard Vedder of Ohio University has found that, from 1980-90, the 10 states that increased their state and local tax burdens the most suffered a 12% decline in prices versus a 48% increase in housing values for states that reduced their tax burden the most. His study found that "while property tax changes have the biggest impact on housing price changes, other forms of taxation exhibit the same effect." Income taxes, for example, chase people out of the state, which reduces home values for those left behind. Think Michigan, or Ohio.

State and city governments lived well – too well – during the housing boom. From 2000-07 property tax collections climbed by 62%, two-and-a-half times faster than per capita incomes, according to Census Bureau data. Homeowners tolerated the tax hikes as long as the equity in their homes was rising. But voters may not be so forgiving when values tumble and assessments lag behind this fall in prices. One early sign of voter discontent came last year in Indiana, where 21 incumbent mayors lost re-election bids due to anger over taxes. Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson lost to underfinanced GOP challenger Greg Ballard, thanks in part to a doubling in property taxes and a 65% increase in the local income tax.

In Arizona, Florida, Georgia and Nevada – four states where property taxes soared during the boom – citizen revolts are also brewing. Steve Voeller of the Arizona Free Enterprise Club says his state's voters are already gathering signatures for a ballot initiative to overturn Ms. Napolitano's veto. Property tax relief could be the sleeper issue of 2008.

See all of today's editorials and op-eds, plus video commentary, on Opinion Journal1.

And add your comments to the Opinion Journal forum2.

URL for this article:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120916309243845933.html

Hyperlinks in this Article:
(1) http://online.wsj.com/opinion
(2) http://forums.wsj.com/viewtopic.php? t=2303