Tag: Hoogendyk

Yeah, I used the word 'obviously'. If it weren't so, we wouldn't be used as the initiation tool for the wet-behind-the-ears punk Republican fraternity, and its sponsoring institution, Sergeant Upton's Lonely Brain Club Band.  

Because we have a(dare I say it) 'liberal' posting policy, nearly ANYONE could post here.  In fact, if it isn't spam, and it isn't lefty talking points, (some people call them lies) we let the conversation stay.  It allows for a free discussion, and sometimes it even gets fiery. Debate is good for the soul, and frankly sharpens the tools we use in fighting off the progressive horde.

Its the American way.

But posting here has apparently become the holy grail for some folks. The very same folks who were maybe once upon a time excited to go to the big city 'Mayberry', and hopefully find the icon with the single bullet in his shirt pocket, now find excitement in our editorial environment.  So much so, that we are being used as the tool to try and (do the impossible) convince the conservative base that Fred Upton, who has the lowest conservative ranking for a congressman in Michigan,  is the better candidate in the CD6 race.  Not through a series of accolades for the man who banned what might be the greatest invention of the industrial age, but denigrating the character of the opponent Jack Hoogendyk through non substantiated claims and falsehoods.

And even as it was obviously a hit piece, it was allowed to remain.

Our commenting community quickly eviscerated the post adolescent author as was expected, and we did not expect to hear much from him again other than the weak rambling that is so often associated with such affairs.  What he doesn't know, is the whimpering his mom hears at night from the basement is really bothering her.

Maybe its time for him to move out.

Jack Hoogendyk talks a good conservative game, but his record tells a different story.  Hoogendyk voted for a billion dollar stimulus touted by Democrat Governor Jennifer Granholm that would let a board of bureaucrats' handout our money to the corporations and special projects of their choosing.  According to the highly respected Mackinac Center for Public Policy, this bill authorized government ownership of private businesses.  Hoogendyk voted twice for higher property taxes, six times for Granholm's revenue enhancements and a gas tax increase.  He voted dozens of times for failed Hollywood subsidies and for a full variety of green energy subsidies.  In the State House, Hoogendyk was one of a handful of members to vote against stronger punishments for extremely drunk drivers (the 1% who cause 50% of the alcohol-related traffic fatalities) and against a voluntary email notification so families could know when a convicted sex offender moved into their neighborhood.

"I have said at nearly every climate change hearing that for me I don't dispute the science.  Right or wrong, the debate over the modeling and science appears to be over."

Guess who said that?  While those comments appear similar to the sentiments expressed by the likes of Al Gore, it was actually Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton who said it during a 2009 hearing before an E&C subcommittee hearing.

And people wonder why there isn't excitement in the elections any longer.

The Madison project points out what everyone should know, that Upton would be as comfortable on the left side of the aisle as he is presumably, by voting with the Republican Caucus.  Aside from the several extreme environmental in-your-face regulatory votes where he did in fact jump ship and vote left of center.  Like THIS VOTE. Or even a famous vote banning the incandescent bulb, and costing US Jobs in the process.

Yay! Pelosi! Woot!  Aren't you proud???!

Retire Fred.  Your heretical pandering to the big government left ideals is pathetic.

A Republican, Rick Snyder, is the father of the MEDC.  It was his baby, and lest anyone forget, it was created under the Republican Engler administration.  The MEDC, which has yet to produce a model that definitively demonstrates taking taxpayer funds, then giving those funds to hand picked "winners" produces net economic growth in our state.  The MEDC which essentially could be called a taxpayer funded venture capital scam.

The MEDC's MEGA, The state of Michigan through Tax Breaks, and the DOE,  which gave us that "success story" A123 systems.:

"When A123 Systems announced it was opening its lithium-ion battery manufacturing plant in Livonia in September 2010, then Gov. Jennifer Granholm wrote about it on the Huffington Post calling it "a Recovery Act success story."

But there have been troubles for A123 Systems in the 17 months since then despite a lot of state and federal aid to prop it up.

The state of Michigan gave it a $100 million MEGA tax credit that is contingent on the company creating 300 jobs by the end of 2016. A123 Systems also received another $41 million in tax breaks and subsidies from the state. The Department of Energy awarded A123 Systems a $249.1 million grant.

But the company has not been able to meet its own projections. For instance, on March 28, 2011 in an SEC filing, the company projected total revenue between $210 million to $225 million for 2011. Its latest report shows they had just $118 million of total revenue through the first three quarters of 2011 and reported a net loss of $172 million."

Yeah, that's a winner.

In fact doing so well, taxpayers should be happy to know that the top brass in the company thanks them for providing a generous raise.

According to Dr. Mark O'Brien, the status quo represents a true "us versus them" battle pitting responsible doctors and their patients against "big business, big government, big hospitals, big insurance companies and the big media."

Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Health Reimbursement Arrangements give health care consumers more control over how much is spent on their health care and how it is provided.  That is in stark contrast with the current system where insurance companies and government providers often make the calls.

Medicare's current unfunded liability stands at $38 trillion, ore more than $335,000 per American household.  More frightening, the Heartland Institute reports it is anticipated that Medicare will consume half the federal budget by the year 2035.  Individual and corporate income tax rates would have to rise by 90 percent to finance projected Medicare costs through 2050.

The biggest reason?  Neither the consumer nor the supplier pay any attention to the price.

Read on...

Jack has made a decision.

I am writing today to announce my decision to withdraw from the race for Party Chairman. This comes after a great deal of careful consideration and discussion with close friends and family. I congratulate Ron Weiser for his strong and successful campaign. I wish him well in his new role as chairman and pledge to do what I can to help strengthen the party and deliver victory in 2010.

God speed on your future endeavors sir.  I hear you are up to some good things too!