It's About Time

From the Detroit Free Press:

Telling Detroiters "I've always said that you need to stand strong for the City of Detroit...but sometimes standing strong means stepping down," Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick delivered a televised speech that was part-apology, part campaign speech.

As his mother, U.S. Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick watched, Kilpatrick said, "I want to emphasize tonight that I take full responsibility for my actions ... our challenge now is to put the anguish and the turmoil of recent months behind us."

Kilpatrick then proceeded to take light jabs at Gov. Jennifer Granholm, who he said put his removal above the many other problems facing the state. He said, though, that he would continue to support her.

“I'm stepping down because the new spirit of this city, the new expectations and standards that we've set for excellence in the past six and a half years has been tangled up in what I believe is the pursuit of many people's own political ambitions, even our governor, Jennifer Granholm, who I wish well,” he said. “Rather than focusing on the huge issues that are facing our state, from the record home foreclosures, the lack of affordable healthcare, a record unemployment in our state, Kwame Kilpatrick was at the top of her list,” he said. “I wish her well and hope that the same tenacity, the same professionalism, if you will, and intensity that went around putting together a quasi-administrative court will also be the same tenacity to solve the problem of the people of the state of Michigan.”

The nerve of this guy. My sympathies to Detroit residents for this debacle and my congratulations for FINALLY getting this scumbag out of office.

Godspeed 1463rd Trans Co.

Army Spc. James Cooley, left, of Caledonia, kisses his girlfriend, as Army Pfc. Josh Dietrich, of Grand Rapids, hugs his girlfriend after a send-off ceremony Monday at the Grand Valley Armory in Wyoming.

HOOAH! Deployment ceremony pix link.

Gore endorses Obama in Detroit

Michigan might matter this election!

DETROIT - Al Gore made his debut in the 2008 presidential campaign Monday night, encouraging voters to back Barack Obama because "take it from me, elections matter."

The former vice president's speech at the Joe Louis Arena was part endorsement and part blistering attack on the man who denied him the White House eight years ago.

"After eight years of incompetence, neglect and failure, we need change," Gore said. "After eight years when our Constitution has been dishonored and disrespected, we need changes."

Hey Al? BJ Clinton wasn't President the last 8 years you know.

Happy Birthday US Army

Happy 233rd! HOOAH!

Happy Memorial Day

To all those who gave the ultimate sacrifice, to those who served and came home, to those who served and didn't have to go anywhere, to those who are still serving.. Thank You.

From The RNC

Effect of Climate Change Legislation

The Senate's leading climate-change bill, while aiming to combat global warming by reducing carbon dioxide in the air, actually poses "extraordinary perils" for Americans and the economy, according to a new study from The Heritage Foundation.

The study, produced by Heritage's Center for Data Analysis (CDA), forecasts severe consequences—including crushing energy costs, millions of jobs lost and falling household income—if Congress enacts the so-called Lieberman-Warner bill.

What follows are 50 state-by-state breakouts of the impact the bill would have on jobs and the economy.

How Michigan Will Be Affected by the Lieberman-Warner Global Climate Change Legislation

Workers and families in the state of Michigan may be wondering how climate change legislation before Congress will affect their income, their jobs, and the cost of energy. Members of Congress are considering a number of bills designed to address climate change. Chief among them is S. 2191, America's Climate Security Act of 2007, introduced by Senators Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) and John Warner (R-VA). 1

The Lieberman–Warner legislation promises extraordinary perils for the American economy, should it become law, all for very little change in global temperature…perhaps even smaller than the .07 of a degree Celsius drop in temperature that many scientists expected from worldwide compliance with the Kyoto climate change accords. S. 2191 imposes strict upper limits on the emission of six greenhouse gases (GHG) with the primary emphasis on carbon dioxide (CO2). The mechanism for capping these emissions requires emitters to acquire federally created permits (called allowances) for each ton emitted.

Arbitrary restrictions predicated on multiple untested and undeveloped technologies will lead to severe restrictions on energy use and large increases in energy costs. In addition to the direct impact on consumers' budgets, these higher energy costs will spread through the economy, injecting unnecessary inefficiencies at virtually every stage of production and consumption.

See tables listed here.

To see your state's breakdown, click here.

To learn more about the economic effects of the Lieberman-Warner legislation, see "The Economic Costs of the Lieberman-Warner Climate Change Legislation", CDA Report published on May 12, 2008. This Report is available at www.heritage.org. The authors gratefully acknowledge the work of Dr. Shanea Watkins in preparing the maps used in this briefing memo.

Edwards Endorses Obama in Grand Rapids

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Former Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards endorsed Sen. Barack Obama on Wednesday at a campaign event in Grand Rapids, Michigan.


Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. John Edwards in a CNN sponsored debate in South Carolina in January.

"The reason I'm here tonight is because the Democratic voters have made their choice, and so have I," he told the boisterous crowd.

"There is one man who knows and understands that this is a time for bold leadership. There is one man that knows how to create the change, the lasting change, that you have to build from the ground up," Edwards said. "There is one man who knows in his heart there is time to create one America, not two ... and that man is Barack Obama."

Edwards also praised Sen. Hillary Clinton's candidacy.

"What she has shown ... is strength and character, and what drives her is something that every single one of us can and should appreciate," Edwards said. "She is a woman who, in my judgment, is made of steel, and she's a leader in this country not because of her husband but because of what she has done."

Edwards is such a phoney. He wants the Attorney General spot so badly, he waited until an obvious nominee and then this.

Update!
A couple pics from inside. The arena was filled to capacity, over 10k people attended.

More pictures here.

Iraqi Boy Recovering At DeVos

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) -- The Iraqi 7-year-old who came to Grand Rapids for heart surgery is doing well, according to a spokeswoman for DeVos Children's Hospital.

The boy, Hasan, had a hole in his heart closed and his blood flow enhanced in surgery on Tuesday. The hospital expects him to be well enough to be discharged Friday. He should need about six weeks to recover.

Here's the story, pics and video. Good job to all involved in this endeavor and may Hasan have a speedy recovery.

Obama To Come To VanAndel Arena

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) -- Sen. Barack Obama will be in Grand Rapids Wednesday for a public appearance beginning at 7 p.m. at Van Andel Arena.

Doors open at 5 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Tickets are NOT required, but an RSVP is encouraged. To RSVP, members of the public can do so at BarackObama.com.

Many Democrats see Obama's visit as a sign the drought is over, with Michigan returning to the national political stage.

The controversy over how to seat Michigan's delegates at the national convention after the state broke party rules by holding their primary early. Armand Robinson is a delegate - officially listed as "Uncommitted" - but is a staunch Obama supporter and eager for the visit.

"I'm willing to bet 99.9 percent I'm going to be there in Denver with a seat," he told 24 Hour News 8. "He needs to be part of us, he needs to be here. He needed to be here three months ago, but the way he saw it, playing by the rules, I think he wasn't able to."

Robinson is hoping Obama's visit will heal any rifts in the party, and convince the undecideds, adding momentum that will carry through November.

If anyone attends, please give us a report on the event.

Be Not Afraid

Former Green Beret Michael Yon is hands-down the best and most exciting battlefield reporter working today, internationally renowned for his dispatches and photos seen by millions around the world. Yon, who has spent more time embedded with U.S. combat forces in Iraq than any journalist in the world, is totally independent and has never been co-opted by Left or Right, Military or Media. Yon’s blunt reporting often angered the top brass. But our fighting soldiers and officers trust Michael Yon and point him to the hottest spots and biggest stories.

Townhall.com is pleased to offer an exclusive look at Chapter One of Yon’s new book, Moment of Truth in Iraq. Yon’s book is FREE for a limited time for Townhall readers with a subscription to Townhall Magazine! Subscribe today to receive 12 issues of Townhall Magazine and a FREE copy of Michael Yon’s Moment of Truth in Iraq.

click here >> Chapter One of Moment of Truth In Iraq: Be Not Afraid << click here

Update!
I received this book in the mail from
amazon.com today. Can't wait to dig in.

Michigan Will Sit Down

The beat goes on.

LANSING, Mich. - Michigan Democratic leaders on Wednesday settled on a plan to give presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton 69 delegates and Barack Obama 59 as a way to get the state's delegates seated at the national convention.

Clinton won the Jan. 15 Michigan primary and was to get 73 pledged delegates under state party rules, while Obama was to get 55. The state also has 29 superdelegates.

The state party's executive committee voted Wednesday to ask the national party's Rules and Bylaws Committee to approve the 69-59 delegate split when it meets May 31. The plan would allow the state's 157 delegates and superdelegates to be seated at the convention.

A separate plan submitted to the rules committee by Democratic National Committee members Joel Ferguson of Michigan and Jon Ausman of Florida, both superdelegates, apparently will be withdrawn now that the Michigan executive committee has settled on the 69-59 plan. Under their proposal, delegates would have been allocated based on the primary election results, but have had only half a vote each. The superdelegates would have had full voting rights.

The 69-59 split was proposed last week by four prominent Michigan Democrats who have been working for months to find a way to get Michigan's delegates seated at the Aug. 25-28 convention in Denver: Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, United Auto Workers President Ron Gettelfinger, Sen. Carl Levin and DNC member Debbie Dingell, wife of Rep. John Dingell.

Granholm made a fine mess of the primaries.

Are You Smarter Than A Sixth Grader?

For Monica Conyers, I'd have to answer "No".

Rep Ehlers on Gas Prices

From the desk of Congressman Ehlers:

The price of gasoline has risen dramatically in West Michigan over the last month. It shot past $3.50 per gallon this week, and in some parts of my district it is as high as $3.70. I have a number of suggestions to alleviate the burden we are experiencing at the pump. This week, I wrote a letter to Speaker Pelosi, President Bush, and Congressional leaders outlining some of those ideas, which I would like to share with you.

A major factor contributing to the price we pay for gasoline and diesel fuel in the United States is global demand for oil. Oil is traded for well over $100 per barrel today, and reducing demand will help reduce the price. As you can see in this graph from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the price of gas is greatly affected by the cost of crude oil. With this in mind, there are a few things we can do to reduce the price of fuel.

First, I propose we consider suspending petroleum acquisition for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. The reserve is filled to 96 percent of its capacity, and while the stockpile plays an important role in protecting the United States from oil supply disruptions, we can help reduce the demand for oil by suspending acquisitions, thus impacting the price we pay for gas.

Second, I am urging the Bush Administration to streamline the permitting process for building or expanding oil refineries in the United States without waiving environmental laws. It has been 30 years since a new refinery has been built in the United States, and adding capacity could improve the supply of fuel in the U.S. market, which would help lower prices.

Also, I would like there to be more transparency from oil-producing countries. Private oil companies are required to be transparent in their business dealings, but the majority of the world’s oil comes from nationalized oil companies controlled by foreign governments. The United States should consider working more closely with those countries so that information about production and oil reserves would be more reliable.

Finally, while it is difficult to change, the low value of the U.S. dollar is having a negative impact on how much we pay for fuel. If the dollar had the same value as it did one decade ago, it would drive down the cost of oil dramatically. The weak dollar makes it much more costly for the United States to import oil, which makes our fuel more expensive. Despite this, I do not think it is appropriate for the United States to drill for oil in protected areas. The risk of destroying our environmental assets is not worth the potential benefit.

None of this will happen overnight, but there are some things that you can do right now to make your vehicle go farther on a tank of fuel. Inflating your tires to at least the maximum pressure specified on the sidewall of the tire, driving less aggressively, keeping your car well-tuned, and carpooling can do a great deal to increase your gas mileage and reduce the financial burden of today’s high fuel prices.

More information on increasing your vehicle’s fuel efficiency can be found at http://www.fueleconomy.gov/.

I have been a strong advocate for improving public transportation in West Michigan. I am helping local officials at The Rapid establish a bus rapid transit system. Nationwide projects such as this, which is currently under development, can help drive down the price of fuel for everyone in our area.

I am well aware that fuel prices are putting an incredible burden on people who rely on a vehicle to get to work, take their children to school or day-care, and perform other necessary tasks. Gasoline and diesel fuel prices are crippling local businesses where transportation is an integral part of their livelihood. I rely on my car, and I am feeling this pain as well. I will continue to work hard in Congress on this issue so that we may all find some relief at the pump.

Best wishes,

Vernon J. Ehlers

Thanks Vern!

SCOTUS: States Can Require Voter Photo ID

Most excellent news:

WASHINGTON - States can require voters to produce photo identification, the Supreme Court ruled Monday, upholding a Republican-inspired law that Democrats say will keep some poor, older and minority voters from casting ballots.

Justices Stephen Breyer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and David Souter dissented.

That's no surprise. What is a surprise: Stevens and Kennedy sided with the Conservatives.

End times!