Some truth on John McCain and Iran

Democrats finally are going against what are John McCain's perceived strengths. Congratulations to the Democrats.

Obama vs. McCain on Taxes

Very interesting analysis of Obama and McCain's tax plans. Unless you make over $2.9 million, it's an easy choice.

Amen, Brother.

This editorial by Bill Press makes a lot of sense. The fact that Barack Obama is courting evangelical voters is driving Republicans crazy. All along they thought they had a monopoly on religious issues and voters. Well, guess what, it turns out Democrats can appeal to religious voters too, even Christians. There are issues other than abortion and gay marriage that matter to people of faith, like saving our planet so that we can continue to live here without wiping ourselves out. Sounds like a pro-life agenda to me.

Some Personal Stories - Why Health Care Matters

Here are some personal stories about health care and why it matters that we have universal health care for all Americans.

John McCain, Mac or PC?

During the Republican primary the candidates sat down and were asked if they use a Mac or PC. Wait till you see John McCain's answer.

John Conyers asks John Yoo whether the President can Order a Suspect Buried Alive

John Conyers in this video clip is asking John Yoo, the guy wrote the memo that authorized torture about whether the President has the authority to bury a suspect alive. Remind me again, why we aren't serious about impeachment.

Peters Hits Knollenberg on Energy Policy

Ah, the good old days. When George W. Bush took office the price of gas was $1.70. Why in the world does Joe Knollenberg think we'll trust him and his constant companion, George W. Bush on a real energy policy to bring down prices now? I will admit, the Republican "energy plan" has been good for Bush's buddies in the oil industry and have produced record profits.
This is a quote from George W. Bush in 2001. "I worry about the fact that hard working people are paying high prices at the pump; it concerns me a lot," the president said recently. "I also say we need to build more refining capacity. We need more supply." Isn't that the same thing he said last week? Sounds to me like Joe Knollenberg and George W. Bush need some new material.

Driving into Debt?
May 23, 2001

Traveling by car these days will cost you more this summer-- at least $1.70 a gallon for gas. That's the average price at the pump this month, up 13 percent from just a year ago.

An estimated 30 million drivers will hit the road for Memorial Day weekend. If each one buys just a gallon of gas, they'll have spent about 51 million bucks. Click here for the rest of the article.

Delusional President Bush Defends Record in Livonia

Wow, how out of touch can one guy be. President Bush, the guy with a 22% approval rating in Michigan, was in Livonia last night defending his record. And it looks like the Republican faithful were eating it up. I wonder why Bush didn't mention Joe Knollenberg's name. But I can't blame Joe for not wanting President Bush mentioning his name.

Bush comes to Livonia to stump for candidates, defend his record

http://hometownlife.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080625/NEWS27/80625019 (Go there and leave a comment)

By Hugh Gallagher • Observer Staff Writer • June 25, 2008

President George W. Bush came to Livonia Wednesday to give a stump speech for Republican candidates and to strongly defend his legacy.

Bush spoke for about 20 minutes before a group of about 400 party supporters, who paid $1,000 or $5,000 to attend the Max M. Fisher National Republican Award Dinner at Laurel Manor.

At a time when Bush’s national approval rating in recent polls has been in the mid-20 percent range, the president defended his tax cuts, his energy policies, the treatment of detainees at Guantanamo and the war in Iraq.
“The decision to remove Saddam Hussein was the right decision at the time and is the right decision today,” he said.
Bush acknowledged that times are hard.
“These are challenging times in America, recession, high energy prices, a housing down trend, wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, devastating natural disasters,” he said. “You can’t know what the future will bring, there will be unexpected challenges to the country.”
After Bush’s speech, Republican Party chair Saul Anuzis said the speech could help raise $500,000 toward a $1 million victory program for state GOP candidates.
“I think the president gave a great speech,” he said. “The crowd was excited. It’s helpful to motivate the troops, the base, and we raised a few dollars as well.”
Bush opened his remarks by spotlighting several Republican office holders and candidates including U.S. Rep. Thaddeus McCotter of Livonia, who flew down on Air Force One with the president; state Rep. Jack Hoogendyk, GOP candidate for the U.S. Senate; Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard; and state Attorney General Mike Cox, who made introductions.
“Our message will be to get to work to elect Republicans to the state legislature, to Congress and to elect John McCain to be president,” Bush said.
While urging support for Republicans, he supported the decisions of his administration and said there is a “wide chasm” separating Democrats and Republicans.
He said he delivered the largest tax cut since Ronald Reagan and Democrats are threatening to end those tax cuts.
“The last thing we need is a tax increase, that is why we need to elect a Republican Congress and John McCain to the presidency,” he said.
He reserved his most stinging criticism for the Supreme Court and its decision allowing Guantanamo detainees the right to trial in criminal courts.
“By a bare majority, five Supreme Court justices overturned a bipartisan law that Congress passed and I signed to deliver justice to detainees at Guantanamo Bay. Because of this decision terrorists enjoy the same rights reserved for Americans,” he said. [President Bush just loves torture and depriving everyone of their right to know the charges against them. It's the Republican way.]
Carl Berry, a candidate for Plymouth Township trustee, who provided help with security at the event, said Bush is a man who has the ability to make a decision.

As Bush Approaches, Peters proposes energy plans

As Bush approaches, Peters proposes energy plans

by Greg Kowalski • Eccentric staff writer • June 25, 2008

As President George W. Bush came into Livonia to raise money for the Republican Party Democratic Congressional candidate Gary Peters wasted no time tieing him to Joe Knollenberg, Peters’ opponent for the 9th U.S. House seat.

Linking the Republicans might seem to be a natural match, but these days Knollenberg, like many other Republicans, is distancing himself from the president, who now has a dismal public approval rating.

“The fact that he is coming in shows the Republican Party in Michigan is closely linked to Bush,” Peters said. But, “the people of Oakland County are ready for a change,” Peters said in a noon telephone news conference.

Although Peters had some choice comments for Knollenberg and Bush, the primary focus of the conference was on Peters’ plans to deal with the high cost of fuel and how it is impacting municipal operations.

“I’ve been extremely frustrated with the lack of an energy policy,” Peters said. Peters proposes a short-term and long-term approach, starting with reining in oil speculators and going after price gougers. Long-term he wants to see development of alternative energy sources.

“We have to make a serious commitment to research,” he said.

But he doesn’t approve of off-shore drilling or drilling in environmentally sensitive areas. The oil companies, he said, already have access to 67 million acres of oil fields where they aren’t drilling.

“Even if they were to drill, an impact (on prices) wouldn’t be felt for 10 years,” he said

Also taking part in the conference were Birmingham City Commissioner Scott Moore, Waterford Township Supervisor Carl Solden; Royal Oak School Board Member Kevin McLogan; West Bloomfield firefighter Dave DeBoyer; and Fred Timpner, executive director of the Michigan Association of Police.
All described how the high cost of fuel is impacting their community or working conditions.

“We’re considering more outsourcing,” Moore said. That saves the city money, he said but the contractors tend to pay less, which means the workers have less to spends and ultimately, “That affects the quality of life.”

DeBoyer said the West Bloomfield Fire Department is already $7,000 over budget this year for its fuel expenditures.

“We started shutting trucks off at the scene, which is something historically we don’t do.” But allowing trucks to idle burns gas.

Timpner said some police departments are severely curtailing police patrols to save gas. One department, he said, has limited its officers to drive only 45 miles per shift. Other departments, like Pontiac, have drastically cut the number of officers
“We have less officers on the street today than we had on 9-11,” Timpner said.
Yet, Peters said, Knollenberg has voted against funding for such operations as COPS, the Community Oriented Policing Program.

Echoing the theme of change, Peters said. “The policies of the past are not working now.”

General Election news and Polls

Barack Obama is consistently running ahead of John McCain nationally, and the state to state polls look even better.

Obama ad set to run in 17 states

This ad is set to run in 17 battleground states, including Michigan.

Obama, Gore and Granholm aim to keep Michigan Blue

This picture says it all. Michigan is FIRED UP AND READY TO GO!

Democrats set sights on Oakland County prosecutor job

Democrats set sights on Oakland County prosecutor jobBY L.L. BRASIER • FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER • June 19, 2008

It's an office that often has garnered the region's attention.

And those who have held the seat have sometimes made national headlines: Richard Thompson prosecuting Jack Kevorkian, current prosecutor David Gorcyca bringing charges against Nathaniel Abraham.

Now, with Gorcyca deciding not to run for re-election, the Oakland County prosecutor seat is open for the first time since 1968. And Democrats are hoping to regain the office after 35 years of GOP control, opening their wallets and pinning their hopes on Jessica Cooper, a former judge on the Michigan Court of Appeals and a ferocious campaigner. She's an early favorite and has handily won six of seven elections since she first became a district court judge in 1979.

The Republicans admit that this is the year to be worried, particularly with an open seat where no Republican holds the advantage of an incumbency. In prior years, Oakland County has been such a Republican stronghold that Democrats usually produced only sacrificial candidates who lost by double-digit margins.

"We're worried not over the strength of the Democratic candidate as much as the phenomenal impact that Barack Obama appears to have," said L. Brooks Patterson, county executive and the godfather of Oakland County Republicanism. "When he gets 75,000 to come out for him in Portland, that's the stuff that scares us politically."

The Democrats "have more fire in the belly, and it's going to reverberate down through the ticket," Patterson said. "Local candidates can benefit from that level of enthusiasm. Yes, so we've got some tough races ahead."

CLICK HERE for the rest of the story

YES WE CAN

I think this is a great video that brings home the message of Barack Obama.

Executive Decision - Brenda Lawrence v. Brooks Patterson

This article appeared on the front page of the Oakland Press today. I think Brenda has a real shot at taking over the county executive position. She's stressing regionalism, participation in regional transportation and support for a more robust Cobo Hall, which affects the entire southeast Michigan economy in a positive way. You can visit Brenda's web site at BrendaLawrence.com.

Meet Sheila Smith 6/28 in Royal Oak

Why I'm Voting Republican in 2008 (Satire)

This is a brilliant satire on voting Republican.

Levin calls for extending unemployment benefits

Representative Sander Levin introduced a bill calling for the extension of unemployment benefits. Now there's something likely to help a lot of people. Joe Knollenberg's spokesperson said he thinks Joe will vote for it.

Barack Obama Impresses Rochester Voters

Click here to read the story at the Rochester Eccentric

Eric Coleman, Brenda Lawrence and Gary Peters Introduce Barack Obama

Oakland County Commissioner, Eric Coleman, Mayor of Southfield and candidate for Oakland County Executive, Brenda Lawrence and 9th Congressional District candidate, Gary Peters, introduce Barack Obama.

Barack Obama in Town Hall in Troy, Michigan Q & A

Barack Obama took some questions at the Troy, Michigan town hall. Check it out.

Barack Obama in Troy, Michigan Part 1

It's finally here, my video from the Troy, Michigan town hall meeting. Enjoy.

Gary Peters and Brenda Lawrence Comment on Barack Obama's Historic Victory

Gary Peters and Brenda Lawrence, candidate for Oakland County Executive, comment on the historic victory of Barack Obama for the Democratic party nomination.

Barack Obama Excites Crowd in Troy

Some of the Oakland County Democratic Party contingent, from left to right, Jim Kruer, Jason Bauer, Jayne Hamilton and Liz Sadowski attended Barack Obama's Town Hall. We took this picture after Obama's speech.
I didn't get this woman's name, but I loved her T-shirt. Peggy Agar from Channel 7 did get her interview, just like Barack Obama promised.
Oakland County Commissioner, Mattie Hatchett and candidate for Oakland County candidate for Clerk, Sheila Smith.
Me (Bruce Fealk) with Southfield Mayor, Brenda Lawrence and candidate for Oakland County Executive.

Obama in Troy Part 1

Well, I'm here at Troy High School sitting in the press section. The gymnasium is filling up and excitement is in the air. It's a small venue and I'm probably 50 feet from where Senator Obama is going to speak. I think I am sitting where Obama is going to enter the gym.