Tancredo wins 2008 Presidential Tourney

The results are in:

63% - Tancredo
29% - Bayh
8% - 3rd parties

Tom Tancredo wins the tournament. What will be most interesting is if any of the dark horse outsider candidates catch on in the next two years. If too many Washington Republicans (McCain...) push "big government conservatism" on the base, it could backfire in a big way. The spending needs to cut down as well. Both Tancredo and Mike Pence are members of the Republican Study Committee. Both of them have been good on these spending issues that are plaguing the top leadership.

I'm looking to support a fiscally conservative pro-2nd amendment and pro-life candidate. If SC Governor Mark Sanford changes his mind, he's my first choice. If Pence runs, he's my 2nd pick. I'm also considering Tancredo and George Allen.

State Supremes to determing requiring ID to vote

From the AP/Lansing State Journal

The state Supreme Court agreed Wednesday to decide whether Michigan can require voters to show photo ID, entering a decade-long political fray over issues such as election fraud and voter intimidation.

The court voted 5-2 to issue an advisory opinion on the constitutionality of a 1997 state law requiring voters to show photo identification to get a ballot. A court spokeswoman said the ruling will be binding, though it could be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Former Attorney General Frank Kelley, a Democrat, ruled nine years ago that the law violated the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees U.S. citizens the right to vote.

There is no reason why ID to vote should not be required. If someone can't afford an id, comp the individual. This can reduce fraud.

Castle Doctrine Passed! (UPDATED)

UPDATE - No votes were as follows. All Democrats.
Cheeks
Hood
Lemmons, Jr.
Murphy
Clack
Hunter
Lipsey (Running for Attorney General)
Smith, Alma
Condino
Kolb
McConico
Tobocman
Cushingberry
Leland
Meisner

Mary Waters voted yes on 5142, no on the rest.

From the Lansing State Journal.

The state House passed bills Tuesday that supporters said would strengthen and clarify self-defense rights in Michigan.

A key provision in the legislation is a presumption that someone who forcibly enters a home or a vehicle intends to harm the occupant. The legislation also would eliminate a requirement that people being attacked must retreat before responding with deadly force.

The bills would allow people who feel threatened, in their homes or in a public area under certain circumstances, to defend themselves and use deadly force without facing criminal or civil liability. The law would cover only people who are not committing crimes and are in a place in which they legally have a right to be.

And from SAFR's email.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 25, 2006

Jones seeks to assure victims' rights to self-defense during attack

Law-abiding Michigan residents who actually and reasonably believe
they are facing imminent death, great bodily harm or rape at the
hands of a violent criminal are justified in using force to defend
themselves and their families. They are no longer required to retreat
from a violent attacker in their own home under a package of bills
sponsored and spearheaded by state Rep. Rick Jones. The measures were
approved today by the Michigan House of Representatives.

One of Michigan's most basic values is that a person's home is their
castle,. said Jones, R-Grand Ledge. .This legislation makes it clear
that not only do you have the right to stand your ground and defend
yourself, but you will not be prosecuted or sued for defending
yourself or your family in your own home..

The 'castle doctrine' is enshrined as a sacred right in English
common law. It holds if you're wrongfully threatened or attacked in
your home, you may meet force with force.

One inspiration for this law is the historical account of Dr. Ossian
Sweet's 1925 trial for defending his home against the Ku Klux Klan in
Michigan,. Jones said. His attorney, Clarence Darrow, successfully
used the castle doctrine to defend Dr. Sweet from prosecution for
murder.

House Bills 5142-43 eliminates the duty of law-abiding citizens to
retreat in a home or occupied vehicle and establishes a presumption
that a criminal who forcibly enters intends to cause death, great
bodily harm, or rape. House Bill 5548 would amend current law to make
anyone who lawfully defends themselves immune from civil liability.
House Bill 5153 creates immunity from criminal prosecution.

This will prevent criminals or their families from suing victims for
injury or death, Jones said. It's common sense and good law.

Jones says this law is necessary to protect the law-abiding.

As a former sheriff, I can tell you there are times when action needs
to be taken before it is physically possible for law enforcement to
get there, Jones said. This will give the average resident in
Michigan the confidence to know that they can act to defend their
life and their family without threat of a lawsuit or criminal
prosecution..

The provisions of the legislation do not cover persons engaging in
criminal acts.

The vote for most of them was 91-15. The YEAS and NAYS will be posted here once HJ38 from MichiganLegislature.org is published.

Campaign Finance Proposal by Terri Lynn Land

Secretary of State Terri Land has a comprehensive campaign finance reform plan.

Land’s proposals include:

Requiring real-time online reporting of all contributions, receipts, expenditures and disbursements by every committee filing with the state.

Prohibiting committees from spending contributed funds until the information is posted on the Department of State Web site. As Land says, "Don’t spend a dime until it’s posted online!" The department’s Web site will be redesigned so that citizens can immediately view each committee’s recent transactions and current cash balance, similar to an electronic checkbook register.

I have no problem with that, but unless local races are now covered at the state level by MERTS, this will be a major pain in the arse. I really do not want to have to go to the Clerk's office every time I have a transaction. That's my only objection. That said, I certainly support this in principle. Currently, we only see part of the transactions, and only three to five times a year. January, Pre-primary, post primary, pre-general, and post general election statements. That's not good enough. I need to know what the opponents are doing.

Requiring committees to provide their unique identification number with each contribution made to a candidate committee or another committee. That helps regulators and the public better track contributions.

I'm not sure what this changes offhand. Mertz requires this now.

Requiring that the sponsors and financing sources of "issue" ads be reported.

I have no problem there as long as ads themselves are not restricted 30/60 days before like Mr McCain insists on.

Eliminating confusion by having all Political Action Committees (PACs) file with the Department of State. Some PACs currently register with county clerks.

This affects me, but I have no problem with that. All it changes is who sees them.

Keeping campaign finance laws current by requiring all new political communication mediums – such as the Internet and robotic phone calls – to carry a disclaimer that identifies who is paying for the message.

I hate those robocalls. As for internet, I need to see the specifics first, but I don't think it should be touched.

Closing a special allowance in current law that permits candidates to transfer money raised for their current office to a new committee created for seeking a higher office. Land wants to prohibit those transfers, usually made by incumbents, and require candidates to deposit money raised for their next campaign into a committee formed solely for that purpose.

I support this 100%, but good luck getting this passed.

Providing the Department of State with audit authority and subpoena powers so that it can ensure proper reporting and bring necessary data to compliance hearings. An effective compliance process needs the basic tools to do the job.

I have no problem with that.

The details are here.

I need to see everything in final form, but currently support this as long as the proposals are the same in their final form as they are here. I do get my guard up at anything internet related in regulation. That's my only concern.

Kessel, Tierney have experience, right priorities

This time the Argus backs the same candidates as the Concerned Taxpayers Group PAC

The Hartland Consolidated Schools district faces difficult times because of ever-tightening budgets. The challenge is to maintain high-quality education despite those financial hurdles.
So as voters go to the polls May 2 to fill two seats on Hartland's Board of Education, they should select board members with an acumen for finances and the budgetary experience needed to do the job.
Hartland voters are fortunate to have five solid candidates running for the board. Yet two candidates stand out.

Updates in Hartland and Pinckney School races

With all the hype in Howell, we can not forget that two other Livingston County communities have contested elections as well. Hartland and Pinckney.

Hartland Article in the Argus.

The issue most on the minds of residents of the Hartland area will likely be settled by the time the winners of the May 2 election for the Hartland Consolidated Schools Board of Education begin their four-year terms in June.
The privatization of the district's custodial services has been the most hotly debated topic in the district in recent months. The school board will likely decide on whether to take the privatization route just days after the election.

The Concerned Taxpayers Group PAC endorsed Nora Kessel and Dennis Tierney. Cindy Sinelli and Lynn Burril showed their "support" for taxpayers by snubbing the Taxpayers Group.

Article from Pinckney.

The Concerned Taxpayers Group PAC did not issue any endorsements for Pinckney. Richard Gass and Marcia Jablonski snubbed the Taxpayers Group. Laura Burwell was not endorsed, but at least took the time to interview and deserves credit for that. The Argus endorsed Jablonski.

2008 Presidential Tournament Finals

The results of the semifinals are in:
Tom Tancredo edged out my choice for 2008 Mike Pence 51% to 49%. Evan Bayh trounced Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer 75-25.

It's now the finals. Polling will start when the poll is up and will run until Thursday. Representing the republicans in Tom Tancredo. Representing the Democrats Bracket is Evan Bayh. We will also add the Libertarians, US Taxpayers (Constitution Party in Michigan), Greens, and Natural Law Party as they are usually on the ballot in Michigan races.

Argus endorses Jim Pratt and Phil Westmoreland

From the Argus

The Howell Public Schools district needs a strong, well-focused school board to face demanding times and challenging issues. Paramount among those issues are budgets, strong curriculums, controlling the costs of health benefits and opening the new Parker High School under construction south of town.
With that in mind, we endorse JIM PRATT and PHILIP WESTMORELAND for the two four-year board seats that are being contested by six candidates in the May 2 election.

The Argus also has another article on the school race keying mostly on the flag issue, but also to school funding.

This is the current list of Endorsements. My vote is going with the Concerned Taxpayers Group PAC first and foremost and will be for John Arthur and Wendy Day.

John Arthur:
Livingston County Republicans
Concerned Taxpayers Group PAC of Livingston County
Livingston Organization for Values in Education (LOVE PAC)

Wendy Day:
Livingston County Republicans
Concerned Taxpayers Group PAC of Livingston County
Livingston Organization for Values in Education (LOVE PAC)
Right to Life of Michigan
Michigan Campaign for Families

Dennis McGuire:
No endorsements

Jim Pratt:
Right to Life
Daily Press and Argus

Valerie Webster:
Howell Education Association (MEA's Howell affiliate)

Phil Westmoreland:
Howell Education Association (MEA's Howell affiliate)
Daily Press and Argus

Also - in Hartland the MEA's Hartland affiliate endorsed Cindy Sinelli and Lynn Burrill. The Concerned Taxpayers Group PAC of Livingston County endorsed Nora Kessel and Dennis Tierney for Hartland Schools. In Pinckney the MEA's affiliate endorsed Laura Burwell. The Concerned Taxpayers Group did not endorse anybody for Pinckney Schools. The candidates who snubbed the Concerned Taxpayers Group were Sinelli, Burrill, Marcia Jablonski, and Richard Gass.

Jim Marcinkowski turns in his campaign statement - Here's the lowlights

By law, Jim Marcinkowski is required to turn in his financial statement to the FEC. These are public record, so I decided to take a look at them. Unlike Michigan law, only significant donoations of $200 are required to be reported. Here is a brief summary.

At least $79567 came from outside of the 8th district. Much of that is from left-wing havens like Royal Joke, I mean Oak where Marcinkowski is an attorney. The "working class" havens of Birmingham, Rochester Hills, Huntington Woods, anti-gun Farmington Hills, and the Bloomfields are well represented.

At least $22224.57 came from in the 8th district. Less than 1/4 of the money is 8th district money.

$25,850 came from union leadership.

$500 came from Hollywood Producer Robert Greenwald. He's an extreme leftist on the Michael Moore level - a Communist.

$4200 came from the Gun Lake Indian Tribe and their casino interests.

$6000 came from one Lobbyist firm - The Capitol Advocacy Services Group.

$500 came from extreme leftist and gun grabber John Conyers.

$24525 came from trial lawyers outside of the 8th district.

Do you really think that Jim Marcinkowski would represent the 8th district of Michigan, or would he represent rich leftist trial lawyers, Hollywood, and union leadership?

No thanks Jim, we don't need another Oakland County Democrat. They are the worst kind in the entire state.

2008 Presidential Tournament Semi-finals

The results are in for the 2008 Quarterfinals:

4. Tom Tancredo – 65%
8. Sam Brownback – 35%

6. Mike Pence - 56%
2. George Allen - 44%

9. Brian Schweitzer – 54%
3. Bill Richardson – 46%

3. Evan Bayh – 65%
2. Mark Warner – 35%

The finals are as follows:

In a rematch from Survey St Louis’s final, Tom Tancredo and Mike Pence once again go at it. Pence has a close match with Senator George Allen, while Tom Tancredo easily bested Sam Brownback.

Evan Bayh ran over Mark Warner in a race expected to be much closer. Brian Schweitzer of Montana had a tough match with Bill Richardson in a battle of governors. Montana won over New Mexico. Senator Bayh now faces Governor Schweitzer.

Polls will be open from posting until SUNDAY.

President Bush backs Joe Schwarz.

I don't agree with this decision from President Bush. From the AP

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Bush has endorsed Rep. Joe Schwarz of Battle Creek in his Republican primary against a conservative challenger who has questioned the congressman's stances on abortion and taxes.

I know it is always customary to back the incumbent, but I can not get past Schwarz's record from the state senate or his 2002 gubenatorial campaign. In that campaign he supported higher taxes, abortion, and was the most anti-2nd amendment candidate running for office - including the democrats.

Joe Schwarz has been slightly better as a congressman than as a state senator, much of it because he has been forced to look over his right flank. If he no longer has to worry about it, we'll get the state senate version of Schwarz who after 16 years in the legislature, no longer worries about the base.

When it comes to taxes, life issues, and the 2nd amendment, I know that Tim Walberg will be a friend of ours. Schwarz just can't be counted on - no matter what endorsements come flying in. The only endorsements which can change my vote from what they would be previously are from SAFR and the Concerned Taxpayers Group.

The Republican Michigander endorses Tim Walberg for Congress.

MSU's Luke Pelican says it best

Clawson Taxpayer

For the readers and fiscal conservatives in the Clawson/Troy area, we have counterparts to our own Concerned Taxpayers Group. Taxpayers' Groups around the state need our support, and this one is no different. Paul Garfield founded the Clawson Taxpayer and is good people.


The Clawson Taxpayer

2008 Presidential Tournament - Quarterfinals

It’s now the quarterfinals for our presidential tournament. Our 2nd round results are as follows.

GOP Bracket

8. Sam Brownback – 61%
16. Alan Keyes – 39%

4. Tom Tancredo – 74%
5. Newt Gingrich – 26%

6. Mike Pence – 81%
14. Tim Pawlenty – 19%

2. George Allen – 63%
10. Fred Thompson – 37%

Dem Bracket

9. Brian Schweitzer – 73%
1. Hillary Clinton – 27%

4. Bill Richardson – 65%
12. Tom Vilsack – 35%

3. Evan Bayh – 84%
11. Howard Dean – 16%

2. Mark Warner – 73%
10. John Edwards – 27%

Reps Tancredo and Pence continue their online dominance over other candidates. Immigration and Government spending are major issues among much of the conservative base.

Over on the democrat side, Hillary gets eliminated by Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer. Is this due to the democrat base turning on her, or to republican cross votes? Schweitzer is seen by some as a model democrat for the future. Hillary is still considered the measuring stick by others. Mark Warner is the favorite among many of the moderate democrats. Russ Feingold is a favorite of the liberals, but was taken out early. One of the Evan Bayh’s supporter blogs linked to our polls here, so that explains the lopsided margin in his race. Indiana is represented well in both parties here.

Things get tougher now. Sam Brownback has a strong following among cultural conservatives, and he faces Tom Tancredo. Mike Pence faces George Allen. Brian Schweitzer faces New Mexico governor Bill Richardson in the battle of the West. Two frontrunners face off in the other bracket with Evan Bayh and Mark Warner going at it.

Polls are open from posting until WEDNESDAY. The top two republicans and top two democrats face each other in the semifinals. The finals will consist of the top republican verses the top democrat and third parties.

Granholm's Detroit Backers calling from 517 area code (Lansing area)

From the Detroit News

WJR-AM 760 radio host and Detroit News columnist Frank Beckmann says the governor's office called his studio Friday morning and asked about the program lineup. On the schedule was Detroit political analyst Adolph Mongo, who is an outspoken critic of the governor.

When Mongo got on the air, the station's telephone lines lit up with calls from young women purporting to live in Detroit and saying they were Granholm supporters. Producer Kevin Collard was suspicious. He did a star 69.

Turns out many of those calls all came from the 517 area code, which covers Lansing.

The closest the 517 area code comes to Detroit is Genoa Township between Howell and Brighton.

Former Senator Mike Gravel declares a run for President

From the Left Wing rag The Nation

The Nation -- In the tradition of the late Paul Tsongas, the former Massachusetts senator who in 1991 launched a decidedly uphill run for the Democratic presidential nomination and succeeded in making his concerns about deficit spending central to the national discourse, another former U.S. senator will launch a presidential campaign Monday that seeks to highlight big ideas -- in this case about the Constitution and direct democracy.

Mike Gravel, who represented Alaska as a maverick Democratic Senate from 1969 to 1981, will announce his candidacy for the Democratic nomination with a press conference at the National Press Club.

It's always fun to see the Mavericks run. I don't know much about Gravel as he's before my time, but from what I've read about him, he may be more of the Kucinich school of thought giving the establishment democrats a real headache.

Race for Schwarz's seat begins in earnest

From the Lansing State Journal

Tim Walberg finally has the one-on-one matchup against U.S. Rep. Joe Schwarz that he wanted two years ago.

Walberg is trekking across Michigan's 7th Congressional District planting seeds that Schwarz is too liberal for Republican voters' tastes. Four months before the GOP primary, he has run radio ads criticizing the incumbent for his positions on abortion, taxes and spending.

"He's done exactly what he said he would do, and that's the reason we campaigned so strongly against him," said Walberg, a former Tipton lawmaker who finished third in a six-person primary in 2004.

"He is far more liberal than the 7th District voters expect of their congressman."

Well, those are are pro-2nd amendment have an obvious choice. That choice is Tim Walberg. Joe Schwarz earned his unacceptable rating from SAFR in grand fashion. Anyone who calls pistol owners "Bubba who straps on a 9mm" needs to get sent back to Battle Creek. Go Walberg!

Endorsements flowing in for school candidates (LOVE PAC and MEA make endorsements)

From the Argus

Endorsements flowing in for school candidates
By Christopher Nagy
DAILY PRESS & ARGUS

The list of endorsements for candidates in the race for the Howell Public Schools Board of Education continues to grow, and one official from the state's largest school union said he expects it only to continue to do so — if not this year, then in the coming years.

The endorsements are as follows.
John Arthur:
Livingston County Republicans
Concerned Taxpayers Group PAC of Livingston County
Livingston Organization for Values in Education (LOVE PAC)

Wendy Day:
Livingston County Republicans
Concerned Taxpayers Group PAC of Livingston County
Livingston Organization for Values in Education (LOVE PAC)
Right to Life of Michigan
Michigan Campaign for Families

Dennis McGuire:
No endorsements

Jim Pratt:
Right to Life

Valerie Webster:
Howell Education Association (MEA's Howell affiliate)

Phil Westmoreland:
Howell Education Association (MEA's Howell affiliate)

Over in Hartland the MEA's Hartland affiliate endorsed Cindy Sinelli and Lynn Burrill. The Concerned Taxpayers Group PAC of Livingston County endorsed Nora Kessel and Dennis Tierney for Hartland Schools. In Pinckney the MEA's affiliate endorsed Laura Burwell. The Concerned Taxpayers Group did not endorse anybody for Pinckney Schools. The candidates who snubbed the Concerned Taxpayers Group were Sinelli, Burrill, Marcia Jablonski, and Richard Gass.

I hope these endorsements cause one thing more than anything else. Raise awareness among the voters and causes them to look at all the candidates and find out which candidats share their values. A turnout of informed voters is best for the schools in this county. For years, school boards have been dominated by a "good old boys" club thanks to strange election days and 3-10% turnouts. Starting last year, school elections are always on a set day in May. Last year, the millage increased turnout to 25%. I'd like to see that increase this year, especially in a conservative county such as Livingston. Us voters have a responsibility to learn as many facts as possible about the candidates running, and then show up and make our decisions. For me, the most important endorsement is the Concerned Taxpayers Group endorsement. For others, it may be the GOP, LOVE PAC, MEA, or Right to Life. For others, endorsements don't mean anything.

Education is consistantly ranked as one of the top issues in every election. Nowhere is edcation more affected, than by the people on our local school boards. This is our chance to put our money where our mouths are when it comes to education.

Update on Howell School Board Race

The Argus has us all on the Front Page due to our controversy. I do thank Dan Meisler for quoting me accurately in the article.

A candidate for the Howell Public Schools Board of Education who is also a federal employee said he may have to exit the race because county Republicans gave out endorsements in the contest.
That's just the latest reaction to the county GOP's decision to endorse candidates in two local school board races, in Howell and in Pinckney Community Schools.
Under the Hatch Act, federal employees cannot run in partisan races. Jim Pratt, who works for the Federal Aviation Administration, said he has suspended his campaign while he waits for a ruling from the Office of Special Counsel on whether the GOP endorsements mean the campaign has become partisan and he is no longer eligible to run.

Here is a brief summary of the events so far in the school board race.

First, the Concerned Taxpayers Group PAC endorsed John Arthur and Wendy Day due to their fiscal conservatism and answers to the questions. The Concerned Taxpayers Group PAC also endorsed Nora Kessel and Dennis Tierney for Hartland Schools. Following that, Right to Life endorsed Wendy Day and Jim Pratt. The Livingston GOP later endorsed John Arthur and Wendy Day, and also endorsed Marcia Jablonski (although Jablonski’s endorsement wasn’t my resolution).

(Full disclosure – I did not vote for Marcia Jablonski’s endorsement and abstained there for conflict of interest reasons, as the Concerned Taxpayers Group PAC does not support her – and personally, I would not vote for her because of her lack of support to the taxpayers)

As to this article here, I think Jim Pratt has nothing to worry about ethics wise. All the GOP did was to endorse two of its most active members. His party affiliation will not be on the ballot. He can still run this as a nonpartisan race if he chooses to. The Republicans are not actively opposing any candidates and nobody’s party affiliation is on the ballot itself.

So why did we do it? The reasons stated in the article are two of them. This is a 63% Republican County that usually has high turnout in elections. The main exception to high turnout is in school board races. This is despite polls placing education as a top issue to voters year after year. In most years, people have trouble finding out information about school board candidates. I remember one year when I was living in Brighton where we had a 3% turnout for a contested race. That is sad. Another year we had a 9% turnout. Last year with the enhancement millage, it was 25%. A 25% turnout is usually bad, but for a school election, it was great.

Because of the low turnouts, we want to give the voters more information and give them choices to make. We are giving them a service. The job of the Concerned Taxpayers’ Group is to let voters know who the most fiscally responsible candidates are. The job of the Livingston County Republicans is to let voters who are active Republicans. The job of the MEA is to let voters who support the teachers’ union. The Press and Argus’ job is to give readers information. Combined, these should raise the turnout in school board races.

Lastly, the final judge of all of this is the voters. If the voters support us, it will show in the polls. If they oppose us, it will show in the polls. Voters make the final decision. I just hope we don't have one of these 3% turnout races from the good ole boys clubs like we did in the old days.

Time to Veto Granholm and kick the Single Business Tax to the curb

From the AP

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — The Board of State Canvassers on Tuesday approved the form of a petition that would repeal the Single Business Tax at the end of 2007.

The petition is being pushed by Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson, who wants to gather enough signatures by May 31 to bring the initiative to the Legislature.

Democratic Gov. Jennifer Granholm last month vetoed a bill that would have eliminated the state's main corporate tax at the end of 2007, about two years earlier than now scheduled. She said she wanted a plan to replace the nearly $2 billion in lost revenue as part of any deal to kill the tax.

I'm not the biggest Brooks fan, but he and I agree on this one. We need to get rid of this trash as once and help stop the flow of jobs out of this state. I'll sign this petition ASAP.

In related news, Granholm hired one of RINO Bill "Turn out the Lights" Milliken's jokers. Robert Kleine was hired as state treasurer by Granholm. He WROTE the Single Business Tax 30 years ago.

The good news is that we can make a change in November and elect Dick DeVos as our next governor.