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    Who are the NERD fund donors Mr Snyder?

    Raise the curtain.

    Jim Slezak . . . Republican for Congress


    By Kevin Rex Heine, Section News
    Posted on Wed Sep 21, 2011 at 09:43:16 AM EST
    Tags: Jim Slezak, Michigan's 5th Congressional District, Dale Kildee, Genesee County, Bay County, Arenac County, Iosco County, Saginaw County, Tuscola County, Ronald Reagan, Rick Perry, Parker Griffith (all tags)

    Back in July of this year, when 18-term U. S. Representative Dale Kildee (D-Flint) announced that he would not seek a 19th term, the predictable herd of jackasses started jockeying for position in whatever's going to pass for a Democrat Primary in Michigan's 5th Congressional District.  And with the John Kupiec (Kildee's 2010 challenger) not sure if he's going to run again, and Rick Wilson (Kupiec's 2010 primary challenger) currently mulling over a potential U. S. Senate run, we're sort of left wondering what sacrificial lamb the MIGOP might find to show up on the 2012 ballot for this seat.

    And that, ladies and gents, is where we go below the fold.


    Permit me to introduce you to Jim Slezak (R-Davison Township).  Yeah, I get it, you're confused.  And there's good reason for that.

    A cursory Google search for "michigan state representative jim slezak" will produce plenty of evidence that indeed one "Honorable Jim Slezak" did represent Michigan's 50th State House District from January 1, 2009 to January 1, 2011.  That same search would produce evidence that this same Rep. Slezak introduced a resolution in October 2009 to place the Michigan Personhood Initiative on the state's 2010 ballot.  That same search would also reveal that Jim Slezak ran unsuccessfully as a primary challenger to Paula Zelenko for the right to fill the 26th State Senate seat being vacated by the term-limited Deb Cherry.

    But, yeah, he did all of those things as a Democrat!

    True enough, but he's not a Democrat anymore.  And quite frankly, that's a trend that's been seen nationwide (with the obvious exception of Arlen Specter).

    Evidently, according to an APNewsBreak from about 05:05 this morning, Slezak is now the latest former-Democrat to walk away from a political party that long ago turned its back on its original principles.

    In a press release given to the AP, Slezak said that he's switching parties because President Obama and other national Democrat leaders "have failed our community":

    Davison, MI - Today former Democrat State Representative Jim Slezak switched parties and announced for Congress as a Republican in the 5th Congressional District of Michigan.

    "I am announcing today for Congress in the 5th Congressional District as a Republican because President Obama and national Democrat leaders have failed our community.  He came to Flint on the campaign trail, but has ignored us as President while unemployment and government spending have skyrocketed.  We need a Congressman who puts our community first," said former Democrat State Representative Jim Slezak.

    Slezak continued, "President Obama and national Democrats are not up to the task of leading our country.  They have shown no vision, no leadership, and no understanding of the problems families, small businesses, and the hard working men and women of Michigan face every day.

    President Obama hasn't been to Flint since he was elected.  He's found time to go to Holland on the west side of the state twice. But not once has he been to Flint to work with us on job creation.

    The failure of national Democrats have driven me, and a lot of hard working families, to look at our priorities.  My priorities are helping the communities by getting people back to work and getting government spending under control."

    Jim Slezak served as a member of the Michigan State House of Representatives in the 50th District.  He is pro-life, pro 2nd Amendment, pro-worker candidate for Congress.

    Slezak's website will be live here at 1pm today:  http://www.slezakforcongress.com

    Not that this is actually a surprise.  As a Republican Precinct Delegate in my hometown, I've talked with several democrats who are disgusted with the guy, sold to them as "the chosen one," who has shown zero aptitude for the job he was elected to, and who has been in perpetual campaign mode since being elected . . . when he hasn't been on vacation.

    One problem that Slezak is going to face, though, is the shortsighted twits who redrew Michigan's congressional districts this past summer redrew the 5th to be more solidly democrat than it was under Kildee, and that means that any republican is facing an uphill battle to flip this seat.  The upside is that BHO's approval ratings are so dismal right now that any credible republican with a pulse can probably flip the White House . . . and that should filter downticket, even in Flint.


    < Wednesday In The Sphere | The MI-GOP: Getting Our Percentage >


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    Display: Sort:
    5th District Redistricting (none / 0) (#1)
    by Conservative First on Wed Sep 21, 2011 at 06:43:22 PM EST
    The new district is not more democrat.  It is actually about 1% more Republican than the old district.

    http://www.redracinghorses.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=649

    MI-05: Dale Kildee (D-Flint)
    Old District: Obama 63.7, McCain 34.7, GOP avg. 43%
    New District: 63.0, McCain 35.4, GOP avg. 44%

    The district about D+5.  It would be tough to win, but if the democrats nominate someone like Woodrow Stanley, we would have a chance.  Here is my profile of the district.

    http://www.redracinghorses.com/diary/853/michigan-5th-congressional-district-election-preview

    I believe that Slezak should be given a chance to make his case.  He was elected in 2008 by beating a democrat incumbent who he criticized for raising taxes.

    http://www.rightmichigan.com/story/2008/8/6/111839/0463

    He has received criticism for supporting the restaurant smoking ban, however.

    Surprised there isn't more commentary. (none / 0) (#2)
    by JGillman on Wed Sep 21, 2011 at 10:49:33 PM EST
    Given the make-up of the district, if he pulls it off, its another vote for majority.

    Sadly, the majority leader has been a little more than disappointing.  When 12% approval for congress is quoted by the left, they should be reminded it is because they won the debt ceiling debate.

    Aw ferchrissakes... (none / 0) (#3)
    by Corinthian Scales on Sun Sep 25, 2011 at 11:25:29 AM EST
    ...yet another Yobbite RINO.

    Campaign spokesman John Yob said Slezak's partisan switch is a sign that some Democrats are growing disaffected with Obama, a theme the GOP strategist apparently plans to expand on in Michigan. GOP U.S. Senate candidate Pete Hoekstra, who's also working with Yob, criticized Obama's failure to visit Flint in a recent television interview during a campaign stop in the city.

    The president was in Michigan most recently on Labor Day when he talked to thousands of union workers in Detroit after they'd walked in the city's annual Labor Day parade. He visited a battery plant in Holland on Aug. 11 to promote his program to create jobs through clean energy.

    Yob said Slezak is a very good fit for the district.

    So, Democrat Slezak has his shorts in a bunch because The Obamessiah, who he voted for, didn't stop in to visit his failed Liberal armpit of Flint?  So that's why he's now back bellying-up to the taxpayer trough as a Republican?  Well boo-hoo-frickin'-hoo to the stuck-on-stupid Democratic crowd in Flint.  Go clean up your own backyard.

    And the power broker Party folk actually buy into this?  I truly wish that one day establishment, and more importantly, the wannabes, would quit behaving like the assclown also in the GOP that covers for illegal alien in-state tuition.

    Jesus H Christ!  It's no wonder Lansing looks what it really is... the MI-GOPMDP.  Just elect anything with an R dangling off its last name and damn Conservative principles.

    Frilliant!

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