Don't forget I said this... I half expect this family to wind up on the Governor's next Christmas card.  C'mon, the symbolism is just too perfect.  Family moves to Michigan from hated China, the land of stolen jobs?  Oh, right, she's not actually worried about jobs heading overseas, free trade or any of that.  She actually endorsed the Queen of NAFTA.  I'm sorry.  I always seem to forget.  But I'm not talking about that either.  Cheery news only this morning.

And this certainly counts.  The Ivory Tower reports that Michigan's January 15th joint primary is expected to draw as many as four-million voters, absolutely blowing away turnout results in any primary in Michigan history.  

According to a new poll:

Michigan Democrats are exhibiting the most intense interest in the 2008 election, with more than 71% saying they would definitely vote in the primary. Fifty-seven percent of Republicans said they would definitely vote, and independents were at 45%.

Unfortunately for Democrats, four of the party's candidates -- including top contenders former U.S. Sen. John Edwards and U.S. Sen. Barack Obama -- won't be on the Michigan ballot.

(Pollster Ann) Selzer said many potential voters aren't aware of that, so their interest may wane as the election approaches.

Interest may wane and voters might become disenfranchised?  Because their candidates of choice asked, specifically, that Michigan residents not be given the right to vote for them?  Because their candidates all but looked them straight in the eye with two fists and two fingers extended?  Well that's an interesting tidbit to keep in mind the next time some high-but-closed-minded lefty starts spewing populist catch phrases about democracy and "the people."  

But I'm not getting into that.  Happy news only.  And the fact that despite the efforts of Mark "nobody will trust and believe in a Jewish carpenter for salvation" Schauer and Andy "Go John Go" Dillon to scuttle the entire primary in the first place, despite the fact that four of the major candidates don't want your vote and despite the fact that one major political party refuses to step foot in the State we all love (or claim, with fingers crossed, to love in the case of the regressisphere)... that we could very well still shatter turnout records?  That's GREAT news.

And almost as exciting as Christmas Eve must have been for ten US soldiers serving in Iraq.  According to the Associated Press a small group of troops received personal telephone calls with Christmas wishes from President Bush.  Among them was a Coast Guardsman with family in Michigan.

"He said he couldn't thank them enough for their contribution to their country, hopes they are in high spirits, and that they are serving a cause that is very noble," Perino said. "He said, `I know that you miss your family.'"

"He asked them to pass on to their colleagues his appreciation and his wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year."

Now if you read that and that doesn't jump out as one of those things that sort of touches your heart... well, this probably isn't your home blog.  I don't agree with everything the President's ever said or done (see CAFE and the recent omnibus budget, for instance) but these sorts of personal touches, the phone calls to the troops... they are quintessentially American and I can't get enough of them.  

So while today may very well stink (it does) it's not all thunder clouds and rain storms.  There's still good in the world and even here in Michigan (though in much shorter supply these last few years).  Trust in that and start counting down.  Tomorrow is 363.