Conservative News

Conservative News, Elections, Michigan Politics

AFP Michigan – 2014 Tax Day Rally Livonia Video

by  •  • 2 Comments

Okay, for those of you you didn’t have the chance to attend one of the rallies scheduled across Michigan, I’ve posted video below from Saturday’s AFP Tax Day Rally at Schoolcraft College in Livonia (H/T KG Two).

All in all, the video I saw was interesting and informative.

Congressman Bentivolio was there meeting with attendees as they arrived, unfortunately they didn’t have him speaking to the group as a whole during the event.

Michigan State Senator Patrick Colbeck was there and gave a short speech about himself, his term in office and some of the shenanigans various groups, whom I strongly suspect were affiliated with The Center for Michigan, pull on incoming legislators.

WJR Air Personality Frank Beckmann was next. What I personally found curious is how his style in front of a live audience is subtly (but definitely noticeably) different than when he is on the air. He really needs to adopt the latter when he is on ‘JR.

Next was Town Hall Contributor and WIBC Indy Air Personality Tony Katz. Cigar quips aside, I had enjoyed his portion more than Beckmann’s, especially with his take on direct taxation and its history. Nothing against rooting for the “hometown” guy, he was just more interactive with the audience (with apologies to Aretha Franklin).

Bill McMaster was also there meeting with those attending, but he didn’t speak before the group either.

{Continued below the fold}

READ MORE ►

You Betcha! (5)Nuh Uh.(0)

Conservative News, Elections, Michigan, Michigan Politics, Philosophy, Republicans

For the Record…

by  •  • 1 Comment

Why primary Benishek???...

 

For the Record…
Why primary Benishek?
Let us count the whys…
Dan Benishek on Government Reform 
The 4 R’s: Read It; Reduce It; Repeal It; Reform It
Dan thinks the three R’s are great for schools. But Congress need’s 4 R’s:
Read It. Dan actually thinks it’s crazy that this should even need to be said, but the biggest change you could make to Congress is to make them all read the bills they’re voting on. Washington’s biggest messes are coming from legislation no one has read.
Reduce It. We’re $13 trillion in the hole, and on the brink of a financial meltdown that will ruin the nation because Congress won’t stop spending. Dan will. It will be hard. It will take lots of sacrifice. But we can’t leave this debt for our kids to pay back.
Repeal It. The health care bill is a mess. It needs to be repealed, and replaced with real reforms to put patients–not bureaucrats–in charge of health care.
Reform It. Out with the career politicians. Out with the special interests. And in with the voices of taxpaying American citizens who agree that enough is enough.

READ MORE ►

You Betcha! (4)Nuh Uh.(0)

All the Other Stuff, Conservative News, Cronyism, Michigan, Michigan Politics, Opinion, Republicans

Ethics, Integrity, And Long Knives

by  •  • 6 Comments

wayne-afp009“He’s our hometown boy.” Said one of the executive committee members of a vote taken this last Thursday.

The vote, was one by the executive board of the Grand Traverse County Republican Party on whether to endorse State Senate Candidate Wayne Schmidt over Greg MacMaster in the 37th State Senate primary contest.  The vote to choose one candidate over another in partisan (GOP) races would normally be considered off the table except under extraordinary circumstances.  At least that is how it is designated in the by-laws of a number of other GOP county parties.

Questions must be asked.  Is it prudent or even a legitimate practice? Is it fair to the candidates?  Is it fair to the membership, and does it misrepresent the opinion of the party at-large?

READ MORE ►

You Betcha! (21)Nuh Uh.(4)

Conservative News, Elections, Michigan, Opinion

The “New Normal” Nation Within America

by  •  • 0 Comments

Little did the Founding Fathers know that only 237 years after giving George III a boot ride out of America, that a new empire surpassing Britannia’s size would now occupy America.

The number of Americans who were enrolled in Medicaid at any time during fiscal 2013 exceeded the entire population of the United Kingdom, according to new data published by the federal government’s Medicaid and CHIP Payment Access Commission (MACPAC).

Were Medicaid a nation instead of a U.S. entitlement program it would be the 20th most populous country on earth.

“The estimated number of individuals ever covered by Medicaid remained steady at 72.7 million in FY 2013, compared to 72.2 million in FY 2012,” said MACPAC’s statistical report, released on April 1.

MORE

Congratulations Nerdpublicrats, and Mr. “Take a vote, not a vacation” – You ALL helped Obama grow that!

You Betcha! (10)Nuh Uh.(0)

All the Other Stuff, Conservative News, Michigan, Opinion

Stephen Henderson, why do you have a Free Press reporter playing fast and loose with the facts?

by  •  • 2 Comments

This is an update to a post that I wrote yesterday.

Let me start off by saying that sometimes I get feedback on what I write. Usually e-mail. Sometimes face-to-face. Last night/this morning it was different…someone actually called me. I didn’t recognize the number at first, but later found found out afterwards it was through a mutual friend.

I got some complements on what I wrote, but they wanted to know why I stopped where I did.

Truth be told, I was on the Eastside for most of that day. I didn’t have enough time for a more thorough follow-up because of my own schedule.

I spoke to them about what was missing and asked them to forward me some links for verification.

It’s amazing what gets “omitted” in a product put out by “professional” journalists. In this case, The Detroit Free Press’ own Niraj Warikoo.

READ MORE ►

You Betcha! (3)Nuh Uh.(0)

Conservative News, Elections, Opinion, Philosophy, Republicans

Oh Bouchard, you haz Some ‘Splaining to do

by  •  • 4 Comments

Interesting series on local government invasion of privacy events in the Detnews.com

Now, though, some privacy advocates question why one of the safest counties in Michigan needs the super-secretive Hailstorm device that is believed to be able to collect large amounts of cellphone data, including the locations of users, by masquerading as a cell tower.

“I don’t like not knowing what it’s capable of,” said county Commissioner Jim Runestad, R-White Lake Township, who has met in recent weeks with sheriff’s officials about his concerns.

The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office is one of about two dozen forces nationwide — and the only one in Michigan — with the $170,000 machine. So little is known about Hailstorm that even national experts will only speculate about its capabilities. The technology from Florida-based defense contractor Harris Corp. is believed to be an upgrade of Stingray, a suitcase-sized contraption that is installed in cars and used to trick nearby phones into connecting with it and providing data to police.
….

Undersheriff Michael McCabe said, “Hailstorm helps us capture fugitives from the law, people wanted for murder and rape” and can be used only with a search warrant. He said the federal Homeland Security Act bars him from discussing Hailstorm, but he elaborated at length about what it doesn’t do.

“It’s not a tool to spy on people, unequivocally,” McCabe said. “It does not record cellphone conversations … Hailstorm does not capture personal information on anyone or store unintended target data. It does not take photos of anyone. It doesn’t take videos or fly in the sky. It’s a tool used for criminal investigations and it’s legal and lawful.”

McCabe recently gave similar assurances to county commissioners. He was prompted in part by persistent, anonymous emails that have been sent to county officials and others about the system, but also questions from Runestad.

MORE

Sure… like why would anyone question the on record judgement calls from the Oakland County Sheriff?

You Betcha! (13)Nuh Uh.(1)

Conservative News, Elections, Humor in Michigan, Michigan Politics

And the Jim Stamas for State Senate Robocalls Begin…

by  •  • 3 Comments

Well, if it is exposure that Rep. Stamas seeks, then let’s give him some true exposure.

Obamacare Medicaid Expansion? Yes, Roll Call 241 and Roll Call 265

Give billionaire Mike Ilitch roughly $290M so he can build a new ice rink with our money? Yes, Roll Call 807

Create a Metro Detoilet Mass Transit Authority when road repairs allegedly require a fuel tax and registration fee hike? Yes, Roll Call 691

Shake down motorists every 10 years for an extra $5 for a Mandatory new plate? Yes, Roll Call 308

From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs utility meter wealth redistribution tax “surcharge”? Yes, Roll Call 234 OABTW, that’s working out just swell.

Impose a MANDATE on health insurance policies for “broad spectrum” disorders? Yes, Roll Call 159

Dole out $50M for electric batteries in Wixom? Yes, Roll Call 613

Well, I guess that’s enough for now but, there is way more that can be listed. Anyhoo, thanks for calling, Rep. Stamas.

Just ring again if you need anymore help getting your name out to the voting public.

You Betcha! (22)Nuh Uh.(0)