Observances Part 2

Yesterday I posted some thoughts about campaign ads. In thinking about those ads, I got to thinking about some of the candidates I've gotten to meet on the campaign trail. And there is one, in particular, who has upset me a great deal...Dave Schwab.

Schawb is running for the Michigan House of Representatives 97th District against incumbent Tim Moore (R-Farwell). Tim Moore is a decent guy who has done his best to fight for his district, including a major push towards bridging the funding gap between school districts. He has been endorsed by many associations (both liberal and conservative). In short, he's done a good job so far. But to hear Schwab talk, you'd think Moore was the worst thing to ever happen to northern Michigan.

During a debate in Gladwin, Schwab accused Moore of accepting PAC money. He said Moore had taken money from 39 PACs, most of which were from out-state sources. LIE! but more on that later.

1)Accepting PAC money is NOT a bad thing. I'm sick and tired of these whiney union liberals talking about PAC money as if it's dirty or somehow forces a candidate to be beholden to that PAC. Guess what, often comepeting interests will both donate money to a candidate (MI Credit Union League and MI Bankers Association are two common examples). They donate this money, on behalf of their membership, because they feel the candidate has done a good job representing their employees in the district. They can't possibly expect that candidate to do what they say, but they can at least expect the candidate to give an attentive ear and to work towards a mutually beneficial end. Why would a candidate refuse to accept money from the Farm Bureau (representing farmers), the MEA (representing teachers), the Chamber (representing business owners), the MML, the MAC, or the MTA (representing cities, counties, and townships respectively. These ARE the people politicians represent. Politicians should feel humbled when a PAC offers a contribution...they should not be made to feel they've committed a crime.

2) Schwab himself accepted PAC contributions. 6 in all. Obviously less than 39...but look at it this way. Schwab has raised a total of $23,007. $9210 of that came from PACs. That's 40% of his contributions. Moore raised $88,909, $29,638 of which came from PACs. That's 33%. Seems a bit hypocritical of Schawb to "accuse" Moore of accepting PAC money.

3) Out of State. Schawb said most of Moore's PAC contributions were from out of state sources. Complete LIE. Of the 39 PACs, only 4 were out of state. They were the Commonwealth PAC (Boston), the Norfolk Southern Good Government PAC (Norfolk, VA), Comcast Corp. (Philadelphia) and Cingular Wireless (Atlanta). Comcast and Cingular barely count because they do business in Michigan and contribute substantial monies to both Repbulican and Democratic candidates throughout the country. The Norfolk Southern Good Government PAC gives money to both parties as well, including $3000 to Congressman Bart Stupak (D-Menominee) and $4000 to Congressman John Dingell (D-Detroit). Seems the $150 Tim Moore got is pretty miniscule by comparison. The Commonwealth PAC is Gov. Mitt Romney's PAC that's sole purpose is to get Republicans elected. They donated $500.

Of the total $29,638 in PAC contributions, $1300 (4.4%) came from out of state sources. Schwab, on the other hand, received $1000 from the IBEW COPE pac based out of Washington D.C. Of Schwab's $9210 PAC contributions, 11% came from out of state sources.

Schwab is a liar. I have no tolerance for those who accuse others of doing something, which is in no way against the law, in order to gain political support, when THEY THEMSELVES have done those very things and to a greater degree. Shameful.

And what's worse...Schwab was at another meeting where he said all that's happened in the last couple years is "we're losing our freedoms. And after this election we'll lose more of our freedoms." What a bunch of hooey. How about some substance, Sir? How about one single reason to actually vote for a liar like you? What do you bring to the table, other than complaints and an ability to aggrevate those around you?

Nothing. I encourage anyone in the 97th District to take a long look at Schwab's rhetoric before considering a vote for him. He comes across as nothing more than an angry old man, complete bereft of leadership and lacking ideas for helping northern Michigan residents.

The Final Week

Ok, I know it's been a long time since I posted, well before the primary to be exact...since the act of God. Anyway, I won't attempt to sum up the last two months of the campaign, I'll just offer some observances.

1) Campaign ads. Some people think there are too many, I couldn't care less...a commercial is a commercial is a commercial. It gives us time to get a drink during the game or to take care of other business before "Lost" comes back on. Anyone else wonder why there are no "Hanso Foundation" commercials on during Lost this season? Anyway...negative campaign ads are interesting. I think they are very effective, but they often annoy me due to their deception. I will not say my beloved GOP is innocent of all deceptive advertising, though I'm proud to say the Midland County candidates have run positive and truthful campaigns. But there are two commercials out there that have particularly annoyed me this year.

Granholm's attack on DeVos for his comment about heath care and having a job. This one is just ridiculous. It says: "Dick DeVos says those who want health care should get a job." This is meant to sound cold hearted and mean, playing off the typical liberal BS position that the Republican party doesn't care about people. OH MY GOD...We want people to have a job??? We are indeed scum.

But what's funny about this commercial is 1) that's not exactly what DeVos said. What he said was: "the best way to get access to health care is to have a job....We have 53,000 more people without health care today than when the governor took office....We have to get this state back on track.'' Not only does this make sense, it's does not even remotely approach anything that could be considered cold-hearted. I know Dr. Farr, President of MSMS, has been used by Granholm to refute this statement, but none of his quotes actually refute it. He says: "The model of employment being the only model of health-care insurance is really not working right now.” This doesn't refute DeVos' comments. It simply says the idea of having a job being the ONLY model for health care doesn't really fit.

And it's obvious Granholm actually agrees with DeVos' statement. Her rebuttal in the debate and the next line in the TV commerical both demonstrate that. "Governor Granholm has a plan to bring health care to working people." Huh????? ISN'T THAT THE SAME THING??? Working people...aren't they usually considered to be those with Jobs? Bring health care to those with jobs? Hmmmm, man that sounds a lot like what DeVos said.

Granholm would say no, it only refers to the 900,000 workers without health care. Fine. But what do we do about that? Just give everyone socialized health care like they have in Canada? That's what Granholm's proposed and petitioned the federal government for. Talk to some people in Canada about what they think of their medical programs there. Ask them how many of them come here for surgery instead of waiting for 6 months or a year. Granhom is Hillary-incarnate.

It's simple. Create jobs. Economy does better. State Medicaid reimbursements improve, payments to health care professionals improve. Business expands, creates defined contribution system, businesses work with their employees to offer health care packages. Enact Medical liability reform and insurance prices go down. Costs go down. More accesible and affordable.

Nah...just have the Government pay for everyone like Granholm wants. Yep, our state can easily afford that. To hell with specialists!

Trees vs. Signs

I am most humbled by the recent acts of God that swept through Midland yesterday evening...the eve of the celebration of my 27th birthday.

As many of you no doubt noticed, a shockingly lime green Donoghue sign was erected in the parking lot of the Ashman Plaza. This lot happens to be where I park my Republican-Bumper-Stickered Subie. On hot days, like yesterday, I park out by the trees, right along side the Donoghue sign...reasons being twofold: Shade cools.....and I like the juxtaposition of this particular car and that particular sign.

And on this glorious weathery day...I had that car parked right along side the sign up until around mid-afternoon...before moving it to go swim laps at the Ashman Court Hotel. Within 20 minutes of arriving at the hotel, the storm hit, blowing over trees left and right. One such tree was an enormous elm...right behind the Donoghue sign...right where I had parked not half an hour earlier. The sign is destroyed. My car...GOP stickered dented wagon, no worse for wear, would have been destroyed if not for a message in my head that said: "You're bored...go swim laps."

God has spoken...and s/he must not like green signs.

And now, Hogi is off to bed.

This mornings point 2

To continue...Granholm's office today raved about their successful attempts at bringing some 1000 jobs to Michigan (Google is bringing jobs to Ann Arbor). Good, great, grand....but here's the deal...You can say whatever you like about who should take credit for these jobs being brought in (Gov, Legislature, google owner being from UofM area, etc.). But what is noteworthy is an apparent hypocrisy of thought evident in the Granholm camp.

Here's what they admit it took to bring Google to Ann Arbor: " Under the package offered by the MEDC, Google was given a $38.25 million tax break for a net gain of $126.9 million." (Source: MirsNews.com). Let's say that one more time.... $38.25 MILLION in tax breaks. That's what it took. One more time... $38.25 Million in tax breaks. For 1000 jobs. For a company that doesn't require a ton of acerage, or real property, capital etc..... tax breaks, tax breaks, tax breaks.

But this same Governor refuses to get rid of the most uniquely burdensome tax in the Country....the Single Business Tax? Business owners all over the state say this tax is unfair...and part of the unending obstacle to keeping business in the black. Since it is obvious Michigan struggles to lure new businesses here without significant tax breaks, does it not follow that other businesses, existing businesses, might benefit from similar tax breaks?

I'm not a businessman...I could be off my rocker here...but it seems to make sense to me.

Just some things...

I've read a few things in the paper lately that, well, tick me off. I'll list them as different posts, to allow any visitors to comment on each item of tickedness.

1)Notably is this latest action on part of the Granholm campaign, where they used Government dollars to fund a petition/signature drive, and then used the lists gathered during that drive for campaign solicitations. I have no problem with that...because I'm going to assume the Granholm campaign did as they should and FOIA'd the list from the State.

What concerns me is the apparent lack of equal treatment for the GOP's FOIA request. The MiGOP was given simply a list of names, no contact information nor email addresses....yet somehow the Granholm campaign had these email addresses...and probably full contact information. What possible reason could there be to give the MiGop different information???? Obviously the powers that be in the Executive think it's okay to play politics with this information...and it's not. Just like our Senators and Representatives have to treat their constituencies the same, regardless of party affiliation, so should it be with our Governor. Unfortunately, she obviously doesn't case...because she knows she in the race for her political career.

Weather and

Okay, what's with the snow? Honestly? It's April 4th, a good two weeks after the onset of spring, and for two days in a row now it has snowed. Is this a punishment? Is it simply toremind us all that warmer climes do, in fact, exist? BTW, thanks Joe Lubbehusen, for your service in Florida. Keep us north-countryers proud.

Has anyone gone golfing yet? Someone asked me the other day...I'm pleased I've got the clubs out and ready to go...but I think there should be a rule against golfing when the trees don't even have leaves yet. And for the low low price of over $700, I can golf the soggy leaveless wilderness of Currie any day I want.

Well, I'm off to find a podium. I hope I'll see everyone at Tony's announcement tomorrow. Breakfast pizza...not sure if it's an abomination or not, but it's tasty...like bacon. And groundbreaking for the baseball stadium is next week. I can't wait for next season...although I still hold out hope our beloved Tiggers will finally eclipse that pesky 81 win plateau. Course, last three seasons: 43, 71, 70, don't exactly paint a picture of confidence...BUT we have a new manager. And Leyland will take the Tiggers to the World Series in his first season, just as he did with Florida. After all...how could it not be destiny...and can we say Lions Super Bowl XLI ??

ok no.

Medical Care

I know this issue isn't necessarily political, but I created this blog as a place to vent, so that's what I'm going to do.

Let's say we have a relative who is fighting for her life. The doctors have decided to end all treatments and to just let nature run it's course. This includes denying water. Now, I can certainly appreciate the doctors admitting that there is no hope and that death is inevitable, but I'm wondering about the decision to deny water. Basically, the patient will be dying from starvation...but I'm betting it will get listed as natural causes.

I am emotionally attached to this case, so I admit I have a personal bias here. Though I almost always side with Doctors, I'm wondering what your thoughts on the matter are. Should doctors, in order to fulfill their obligation to improve quality of life, be allowed to deny fluid access to someone who can't drink by his or herself, simply because death is inevitable?

It would seem to me that, morally, the doctors should tell the family: "Look, there's nothing we can do for the patient...so we're going to put her on "whatever IV constitutes the minimum nutritional intake (water) needed for a healthy person to sustain life". Although death is certain, these fluids will ensure she does not die from starvation, but, actual natural causes.

What is your view?

Hogi Begins

With the unveiling of the new Midland GOP web-site, I am pleased to offer this Blog...just for Midland Republican updates, issue discussions, and well...who knows what else.