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NO PRINCE CHARMING - by lakeshoremmm

07/01/2008 WES CLARK (speaking truth to power): "I don’t think getting in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to become president."
BARACK OBAMA (lurching to center): "[I] honor and respect Senator McCain's service, and of course [I] reject yesterday's statement by General Clark."

Ah, jeez. There’s his FISA support, there’s his 2nd Amendment cop out, and now there’s Wes Clark - under the bus. Barack, dude, Dubb Tee Eff?

Kos is pissed:
“Now that the primary is over, he can turn his back on the people that brought him
[snip] He wants to send the message that he doesn't need us, all the power to him. Message received. I'll spend [my campaign contribution] somewhere else.”

Me, I’m just sad. It happens every cycle: the candidate becomes the nominee, and everything shifts to the right.

SF Chronicle columnist Jon Carroll feels sad, too. The fact that it happens every cycle doesn’t make him feel any better either: "I feel the same way that I have every election year about this time. I've usually decided whom I'm going to vote for by now, particularly as the Republican Party has moved rightward, and now I have to come to grips with the shortcomings of my guy. This has happened often enough that I have reached two conclusions about it.

"First, any candidate who holds precisely the views that I hold could never get elected. I'm not to the left of everybody on everything, but I'm way to the left of the American electorate as a whole, and any candidate who ran for nationwide office on my platform would go down in flames. Thus, I will be required to vote for someone with whom I disagree on many matters.

"Second, I am no longer receptive to the idea promoted by some on the left (Naderites, usually) that there's not a dime's worth of difference between the candidates. There is a difference this time; there is a difference every time. If Al Gore had been allowed to take office in 2001, I doubt whether we'd have invaded anyone, and I'm darn sure that we'd have some good environmental policies in place."
See full article at
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/a/2008/07/01/DDNB11GE88.DTL

I’ve had to hold my nose and cast my vote plenty of times since I was became eligible to vote (1972). There were times when I couldn’t tell the good guy from the bad guy. This is not one of those times.

What can I say? He was charming, We hit it off. I took home my Prince and woke up with, well, an ordinary schlub. I can drop him like a hot rock and start dating his loser Grandpa, or I can remember what it was that made me fall for him in the first place. That's not gone; it's just waiting, I audaciously hope.

CAPITOL NEWS FROM MARY VALENTINE

06/30/2008 Steps Taken Toward Securing Final Budget Plan
Working into the wee hours on Saturday morning, I joined my House colleagues in approving several major pieces of the state budget for 2008-2009. We are closing in on a final budget plan that will invest in higher education, protects job creation programs and cuts over $100 million in state spending.

House Passes Bipartisan Water Package
In a historic move that will maintain Michigan's status as the Great Lakes State for generations to come, the House this week voted in favor of a bipartisan and comprehensive plan that will take us further down the path of protecting our water from large scale diversions from outside the Great Lakes basin.

The "Great Waters, Great Michigan" plan is the result of two years of work among the state House and Senate, business groups, environmental organizations and other interested parties and now goes to the Governor to be signed into law.

Identity Theft Protection Plan Passes House
Identity theft has surpassed drug trafficking as the No. 1 crime in the nation affecting approximately 10 million people each year. In an effort to safeguard Michigan residents, the House of Representatives on Tuesday afternoon passed a comprehensive plan to crack down on identity theft and enable victims to obtain compensation when they spend thousands of dollars to get their lives back in order and restore their credit history.

House OKs Plan to Crack Down on Predatory Lending
In an effort to protect Michigan residents from predatory lending, I voted in support of the Michigan Home Loan Protection Act to crack down on predatory mortgage-lending practices and strengthen consumer protections in the face of the collapsing subprime mortgage market.

The Michigan Home Loan Protection Act is a key component of a comprehensive strategy to combat the rising tide of foreclosures currently devastating Michigan. Other pieces of this strategy include Save the Dream, mortgage loan officer regulation, combating appraisal fraud and streamlining tax foreclosure law.

House Adopts Resolution to Extend Unemployment Benefits
Earlier this month, I joined the House in urging the U.S. Congress to extend federal unemployment benefits for workers who have lost their jobs in Michigan's struggling economy.

Congress is considering legislation that calls for unemployment benefits to be extended by up to 20 weeks in most states. States with high unemployment rates – including Michigan – would see unemployment benefits extended an additional 13 weeks. Michigan residents currently get up to 26 weeks of unemployment benefits. The plan in Congress could provide unemployment relief for Michigan workers who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own for up to 59 weeks.

Consumers Energy FYI
On Tuesday, July 1, Consumers Energy will be changing to a new software system. This system aims to allow the company to be more responsive to customer needs, offer integrated customer data and enable the company to move toward energy efficiency programs. Consumers Energy has provided information to help understand your new bill and the changes that are coming.

As your State Representative, I am honored to serve as your voice in Lansing and I want to hear what's on your mind. Please don't hesitate to call my office toll-free at (877) 633-0331 or e-mail me at maryvalentine@house.mi.gov.

FRED JOHNSON'S QUARTERLY REPORT

06/30/2008 Our second quarter reports will include every contribution we receive by midnight today. Every dollar we can raise before then will help our campaign finance reports look as strong as possible. If you haven't yet contributed financially to the campaign, please send us a contribution of $100, $25, or whatever you can afford today via our ActBlue contribution page: http://www.actblue.com/entity/fundraisers/18568

If you've already donated, please consider contributing a little bit more. Anything up to the FEC maximum of $2300 helps us buy literature, purchase advertising, and pay for the expenses of running a congressional campaign that covers 11 counties in West Michigan.

If you care about the bringing jobs to and keeping jobs in West Michigan, if you want a Congressman who will support Universal Health Care, or if you want to bring an end to the occupation of Iraq - contribute today and show your support.

If you want to protect our environment, restore fiscal responsibility to the federal government, and ensure that our children have access to a quality education - help Fred get our message out to the voters of the 2nd District by contributing today!

If you don't want to contribute online, you can send a check to the following address - Make sure that you include your name, address, phone number, employer, and occupation (FEC required information): PO Box 2474, Holland, MI 49423

Thank you!

SUPPORT MARY VALENTINE ON JULY 4TH

06/25/2008 We need to make a strong showing at the Whitehall 4th of July Parade. This parade is in Mary's opponent's neck of the woods.

The campaign season is upon us. Please join us in walking in the parade and show your support for Mary. Just like last time, our campaign is AGAIN the #1 race in the state!

We will lineup behind city hall at 9:00 AM with the parade starting at 10:00 am.