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By saul anuzis Posted in John McCain | Michigan Republicans | Republicans | Saul Anuzis | Tim Walberg — Comments (1) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »

125 Days until Election Day

July 2, 2008

MORNING UPDATE:

CONGRESSMAN WALBERG...held a series of events in his congressional district with the Chairman of the House Republican Campaign Committee, Congressman Tom Cole (OK).   Walberg continues to draw national attention for his leadership and service.

GENERAL PETRAEUS...here is a great article about General Petraeus and his philosophy and tactics in Iraq.  Very impressive.  Please share.

CHIGAGO HAS THE HIGHEST SALES TAX IN THE COUNTRY...are they trying to make Granholm and Michigan look good?

MICHIGAN McCAIN OPERATIONS...are in full swing in Michigan.  See details below.

VICTORY CENTERS STATEWIDE...are being opened.  Staff has been hired.  We are moving into full campaign mode throughout the state.  There is more detailed information on all of that below.

FACEBOOK...MICHIGAN McCAIN SUPPORTERS...join this group to get the latest on what's happening in our region.

FLAT TAX REVOLUTION....here is a great video about the Flat Tax and how it's working around the world...maybe we could learn something from this???

RAND STUDY ON POST INVASION IRAQ...has been released to the public which highlights some of the planning and strategic errors that were made early on in the process.  Once again, it shows why McCain's experience and instincts were right.  Read the summary or download the whole report here.

JACK HOOGENDYK FOR U.S. SENATE...to follow the latest on Jack's campaign to defeat Carl Levin go to: http://www.jackformichigan.org/media.htm

NO COMMENTARY OVER THE 4th OF JULY WEEKEND...we'll be back on Monday July 7th....we will NOT have commentary July 4, 5 and 6th.

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FOR THE LATEST NEWS, COMMENTARY & INFORMATION:

Check...out...our...online Articles of Interest.........News...you...can...use.........

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THE REST OF THE STORY:

MICHIGAN McCAIN OPERATIONS...are opening this week in Farmington Hills and our coordinated Victory Centers are being set up as we speak.  A central, McCain for President email has been set up for Michigan that goes to all the right staff if you are interested in volunteering or getting any information about the campaign. Email: Michigan@johnmccain.com

Check out the McCain Michigan specific webpage.

The McCain Great Lakes Regional office and the Michigan Victory office is located at: 31440 Northwestern Hwy, Suite 100, Farmington Hills, MI 48334. Telephone Number: 248-579-0350

MI McCain State Director, Al Ribeiro - aribeiro@mccain08hq.com

MI Victory Director, Mike Grissom - mailto:aribeiro@mccain08hq.com

VICTORY 08 STAFF AND OFFICES ANNOUNCED:

Staff currently hired:
 
Victory Staff:

Mike Grissom - Victory Director - mgrissom@rnchq.org

Scott Greenlee - Deputy Victory Director - sgreenlee@migop.org

Dan Blough - Voter File and Logistics Director - dblough@migop.org

Kelly Harrigan - Election Day Operations Director - kharrigan@migop.org

Gayle Alberda - Farmington Hills Field Rep - galberda@migop.org

Mike Telliga - Brighton Field Rep - mtelliga@migop.org

Brandon Darin - Traverse City Field Rep - bdarin@migop.org

Chris Bradley - Grand Rapids Field Rep - cbradley@migop.org

Janice Nearon - Macomb Field Rep - jneron@migop.org

 
McCain Regional Staff covering Michigan, Wisconsin and Indiana -
Phone number: 248-579-0350

Jennifer Hallowell - Regional Campaign Manager - jhallowell@mccain08hq.com

Jason Sondhi - Deputy Regional Campaign Manager - jsondhi@mccain08hq.com

Al Ribeiro - McCain State Director for Michigan - aribeiro@mccain08hq.com

Leah Yoon - Regional Communications Director - lyoon@mccain08hq.com

Lynn Aronoff - Regional Coalitions Director - laronoff@mccain08hq.com

Megan Robertson - Regional eCampaign and Political Projects Director - mrobertson@mccain08hq.com

Laura Perloff - Regional Events Director - lperloff@mccain08hq.com

Sign-up on the McCain Regional Facebook page for updates on events and visits by the Senator 

 
Victory Offices:

We have offices opening in:
 
Farmington Hills - State Victory Headquarters - 31440 Northwestern Hwy Suite 100, Farmington Hills, MI 48334
 
North Oakland - 8330&8340 Highland Rd , Waterford MI 48327

Brighton - 455 E. Grand River, Suite 101 Brighton MI 48116

Grand Rapids - 264 Leonard St. NW Grand Rapids MI
 
Traverse City - 121 Front St Suite 100 Traverse Cities MI 49686

Kalamazoo - 1210 W. Milham Ave, Suite 103 Portage, MI
 
Holland - 511 E. 8th St., Holland, MI 49423
 
Marquette - 925 Washington St., Marquette, MI 49885
 
Livonia - Address Coming Soon!
 
Macomb - Address Coming Soon!
 
Ann Arbor - Address Coming Soon!
 
Dearborn - Address Coming Soon!
 
East Lansing - Address Coming Soon

 

TODAY'S TOP STORIES

The following stories and more are available at my Articles of Interest online.

 

Enough signatures expected for ballot proposal to reduce government

The Associated Press

LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- Organizers expect to have enough signatures to get a proposal on the Michigan ballot that would reduce the number of state lawmakers and appellate judges. The proposal also would cut the pay of legislators, judges, the governor and other elected officials; set up a different way to draw legislative districts; and cap the number of state departments.

Many of the changes would affect the state constitution.A spokeswoman for Reform Michigan Government Now said Tuesday the group expects to turn in more than 380,000 valid voter signatures next Monday, the deadline to qualify for the November election.

 

Reform package may aid Dems
State party wants petition on ballot to overhaul Legislature; GOP say it's power play.

Gary Heinlein and Mark Hornbeck / Detroit News Lansing Bureau
Wednesday, July 2, 2008

The Michigan Democratic Party would be the jackpot winner of a far-reaching ballot proposal to overhaul state government -- a movement that Republicans say is a sneaky power grab engineered by Democrats.

A spokeswoman for Reform Michigan Government Now!, an organization whose origins and finances are shadowy, said Tuesday she believes enough voter signatures will be collected -- at least 380,000 are required -- by Monday's deadline to get on the November ballot.

The proposal would give Democrats a better shot at redrawing legislative districts -- a process that is done every 10 years and, to a great extent, determines which party will win.

 

Cox says sheriff belongs in city
Attorney general: 'Principal' office should be housed in county seat

By NICHOLAS DESHAIS
July 1, 2008

The St. Clair County sheriff's principal office must be in the county seat, Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox said in a Monday opinion. "The mere designation of one of several offices throughout the county as the principal office is not sufficient ... the office must, in fact, serve as the sheriff's principal or primary office," Cox wrote.

The opinion comes after months of discussion about the issue, mainly at the behest of Port Huron Mayor Brian Moeller. The county's 2005 move to a new jail in Port Huron Township included moving the St. Clair County Sheriff Department's administrative staff and operations from Port Huron to Michigan and Moak roads.

 

Rising tuition threatens Michigan education goals

By TIM MARTIN 

LANSING, Mich. (AP) - A reduction in state aid going to Michigan's public universities has helped spark skyrocketing tuition and threatens to undermine the state's efforts to dramatically boost its number of college graduates.

While state leaders have paid lip service to increasing the state's commitment to college education, they haven't backed it up with significant resources, other than increases in merit scholarships for college-bound Michigan students.

 

Kilpatrick lawyer's letter to state called 'rant'

7/1/2008, 8:12 p.m. EDT
The Associated Press   

DETROIT (AP) - A lawyer for the Detroit City Council says Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's lawyer went on a "rant" when she compared her client's treatment to that of atomic spies Julius and Ethel Rosenberg.

William Goodman wrote Gov. Jennifer Granholm's office Tuesday in response to Sharon McPhail's letter seeking a halt to state removal proceedings against Kilpatrick.

The council asked Granholm to oust Kilpatrick and began separate forfeiture of office proceedings against him.

 

Dates set for Granholm to get information on ouster request

By ZACHARY GORCHOW
July 1, 2008

Gov. Jennifer Granholm's legal counsel set a schedule today for attorneys to make motions on the Detroit City Council's request that she remove Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick from office because of his handling of a whistle-blower lawsuit.

The mayor's attorneys want Granholm to dismiss the request. Her legal counsel, Kelly Keenan, gave attorneys until Aug. 1 to file a written motion and briefs on the merits of the removal request. Responses are due Aug. 22 with further responses due Sept. 5.

Tim Walberg at the Pump

Posted: July 1, 2008 05:55 PM EDT

Republican Congressman Tim Walberg is getting hands on with pain at the pump and pushing his solution. 

Rep. Tim Walberg, Republican Michigan 7th District: "If we have resources in Anwar or off the outer shelf, or if we can use nuclear technology or clean coal, lets do it" But Walberg admits his plans are a long term fix and he'll only make one promise when it comes to dropping gas prices any time soon.

Rep. Tim Walberg: "If I have their words not just mine as a politician in Washington , they're voices will be heard" And they're speaking loud and clear. Many just plain fed up with their government's reaction to rising gas prices.

 

Auto sales plunge to worst in 15 years
Companies say rest of '08 looks shaky as they try to meet call for small cars

BY SARAH A. WEBSTER
July 2, 2008

The sour U.S. economy -- dragged down by anxious consumers and deep-seated problems in the housing, credit and energy sectors -- gave Detroit's automakers and most of their competitors a bloodbath last month. Few expect the suffering to end soon as automakers cut truck production and scramble to build more of the fuel-efficient cars that are showing sales strength.

 

Conservatives need a shot of Red Bull

Jillian Melchior / The Detroit News
Wednesday, July 2, 2008

If the conservative movement dies, it will be of boredom. Yes, the unpopular Bush presidency has taken its toll. And the failure of Republicans to live up to conservative values when they controlled Congress didn't help.

But the movement also has a youth problem. Young people are avoiding conservatives for the same reason they stay away from their grannies -- because all they do is pine for the past and complain about their aches and pains. It shouldn't be that way. Conservatives have a message that ought to appeal to youth.

But to win them over, the conservative movement needs a makeover. Some spunk. Some sauciness. The movement first needs to showcase younger, hipper faces. Its standard-bearer is a 71-year-old who hasn't updated his wardrobe in 20 years, and its most recognizable Hollywood helper is fading action star Chuck Norris.

 

How to avoid becoming part of the unemployment rate
College graduates still thrive in this state's unforgiving economy

Susan J. Demas
Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Here's a dirty little secret. For all the handwringing over Michigan's unemployment rate, it's not that bad.

If you're a college graduate, that is. Those armed with a bachelor's or higher face a roughly 3.4 percent unemployment rate, according to the Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth in April. That was half the state's 6.9 percent average, which has long topped the nation.

Those with some college or an associate's degree mirror the state's April average. Even with the jobless rate spiking to 8.5 percent in June, economists say college graduates are still faring well.