I don’t pretend to know and understand the ins and outs of internal party races like the RNC chair race, but [...]]]>

I don’t pretend to know and understand the ins and outs of internal party races like the RNC chair race, but I do know this, it makes sense for former MIGOP chairman Saul Anuzis to become chairman of the Republican National Committee.

Saul has been the first to throw in for the race, and Steele is expected to announce his intentions this evening.  Others who have formally announced according to Anuzis’ blog are “former Bush Administration Official Maria Cino, RNC Legal Counsel & WI Chair Reince Priebus,”and,” Ambassador Ann Wagner.”  Still, it is not clear if former Republican National Committee political director Gentry Collins is in yet, Collins left the RNC in a huff decrying Steele’s ineptness at fundraising and his mismanagement of funds, nor is it clear if former RNC chair Mike Duncan is in.  Regardless, the field is crowded, and may get more so.

Putting aside all the politicking, my purpose for encouraging endorsements for Saul Anuzis is from a purely grassroots level.

I have never met Saul Anuzis, but I know him.  I entered the Michigan Republican Party less than a week after Barack Obama was elected President.  Anuzis was on his way out as Michigan Party chair, and I heard him speak at the February of 2009 convention in Lansing.  Saul’s outgoing message to the convention was one of conservatism, principled leadership, and republicanism.  He reminded everyone that the Republican party was founded in Michigan, “Under the Oaks.”  It was not long after the convention that I realized what Anuzis was doing to help people like me become more involved in the Republican Party.

Through his facebook, blog and twitter account, Anuzis shares information and creates a notable relationship between himself and members of the Party.  It is my view that he led the internet charge during this last election cycle here in Michigan, even though Ron Weiser was MIGOP chair.  That ability to contact and connect people from all walks of life and plug them in to the conservative message of the GOP is as valuable as gold.  Anuzis won over many conservatives who had never been involved in the Republican party before, to the cause of defeating the Obama agenda, and democrats in general.  The grassroots turned Michigan red, and that relationship between the grassroots and the suits is what the RNC needs.

I cannot think of a better, more clear reason to vote for an RNC chair at a time when so many are so upset at the RNC.  Too many times the RNC has gotten itself involved in primaries and tried to pick winners prior to the people casting their votes.  It is unconscionable that the RNC acted as kingmakers and plenty of GOPers let it be known by refusing to give money to the RNC, instead electing to give money directly to the candidates of their choice.  Anuzis has made it clear that raising money is important in being RNC chair, but now that the Republican Party has the potential of massive grassroots support via the tea party and conservative causes nationwide, there has to be someone at the helm who understands the problem.  Saul does.

The Republican Party in Michigan has been on life support for years.  It is my view that it has only recently come alive, not due to Ron Weiser’s leadership, but Saul’s grassroots outreach.  Of course money is the mother’s milk of politics, as Duncan has said, but so is what has driven our wins in this last most crucial election cycle, those people who have not money, but time and ability to influence.  To be blind to the effectiveness of the internet in political campaigning is ridiculously naive and should count Ann Wagner out of this race.  During the recent debate, she mused that the internet is used by women to watch what their children are doing online.  She clearly has not been paying attention to how we won across the country.  Anuzis was correct in his suggestion that, “The largest demographic that’s now growing on Facebook are women between the ages of 45 and 55,” he said. “These aren’t just kids, guys. These are our viewers.”  (Although I don’t completely fill that demographic, let’s just say I’m before my time.)

Anuzis is clear, conservative and focused.  I am in favor of Saul defeating Steele, and I don’t look at people’s skin color or gender to persuade me in filling jobs.  The RNC needs grassroots driven people at it’s head if it expects to keep grassroots working for them in 2012.

Uh oh.

Fred Upton, a Republican from Michigan, is insisting he is worthy to [...]]]>

Uh oh.

Fred Upton, a Republican from Michigan, is insisting he is worthy to chair the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and has written an Op Ed in the Washington Examiner titled, “Rep. Fred Upton: A new majority for America.” In it, he describes what he will do if in fact he is chosen as chair, and reiterates his manly chainsaw approach to the budget, and unfortunately, uses the words, “shine the spotlight” on the Obama-Pelosi regulatory policies.

Hang on, check the spotlight bulb first, is it the government-mandated type?

But the kicker was when he said,

“I also look forward to working with my fellow pro-life colleagues to protect the sanctity of life, beginning with the passage of Rep. Joseph Pitts’ Protect Life Act and Rep. Christopher Smith’s No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act.”

Hang on, gotta check another link. Wait, Mr. Johnson of the National Right to Life Committee points out that Upton’s Pro-Life record is abysmal, voting against Pence’s legislation to cut off funding of Planned Parenthood twice.

“Johnson goes on to highlight Upton’s votes for cloning, embryonic stem-cell research, and the abortion drug RU-486. Johnson also points out Upton’s record on the unborn victims’ of violence act:

During the Administration of President George W. Bush, one of the major pro-life debates in Congress was over this question: If, during commission of a violent federal crime, a criminal attacks a pregnant woman and kills her unborn child, does that crime have one victim, or two? Polls showed that about 80% of the public said “two victims,” but Mr. Upton’s answer was “one victim” – he twice voted for the Lofgren Substitute, which would have codified the doctrine that such a crime has only one victim”

The Weekly Standard posts the entire letter from Douglas Johnson to the House Republican Steering Committee. Johnson points out,

“Throughout his career in the House, Mr. Upton has been a strong defender of Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion provider.”

After reading that piece in the the Weekly Standard, Nolan Finley looks like a fool in his, ‘What a great pal Fred is,’ post in Sunday’s Detroit News.

Finley points out that Upton says he’s a conservative and votes with the GOP leadership nearly 100 percent of the time. Well, to quote my mechanic, “there’s your problem right there.”

It is the duty of conservatives to be conservatives first, and unfortunately, Upton is a Republican first, who is not conservative, even though he uses words like cut and chainsaw.

Upton’s record clearly shows he is liberal, and many people I know would call him a RINO, but the idea that he is being considered for the Chairmanship of the House Energy and Commerce Committee after all that has come to light is unreal.

Rep. Doc Hastings of Washington has suggested this week that the Energy Committee be enveloped by his Resources Committee for many reasons, which would moot the rejection of Upton altogether.

According to the Houston Chronicle, there are four “contenders to the top Energy job- Reps. Fred Upton of Michigan, John Shimkus of Illinois, Cliff Stearns of Florida and Barton” of Texas. Barton is term-limited by the House’s own rules, but is seeking a waiver from his colleagues to run again. Barton made news during the BP oil spill this summer, when he apologized to BP for the government’s “shakedown.” Barton was immediately back-handed by the leadership and was forced to apologize for his comments lest he lose his committee seat on the Energy Committee. But, Barton’s comment was right by conservatives like Rush Limbaugh and Mark Levin, who denounced the leadership for reprimanding Barton. It is believed Cantor and Boehner forced him to apologize, and they are still in charge.

Incidentally, Barton has a 94% rating from the American Conservative Union, Shimkus has an 88% rating, Stearns has a 94% rating and Upton, a 72% rating.

Freedom Works has posted a website titled, “Down With Upton!” that points out his non-conservative leanings and sends visitors to call members of the GOP Steering Committee and to sign a petition against Upton.

The Republican Party of Michigan had better put a stop to this before the Democrats take up the idea. Bruce Patterson (R) Canton introduced bill [...]]]>

The Republican Party of Michigan had better put a stop to this before the Democrats take up the idea. Bruce Patterson (R) Canton introduced bill 1323, (Establish “Michigan Registered Reporter” registration and screening criteria) on May 11th, 2010.

Shut up, Americans!

This is the type of thing that really ticks off the tea party people. The idea that our lawmakers are supposed to protect us from ourselves. NO! You lawmakers are supposed to protect our rights and our borders, pay the bills on legitimate spending set forth in the Constitution AND NO MORE!

What are we doing here?  Did I wake up in China?  I suppose the moderates in our party thought this was a grand idea.

According to Fox News, the law would:

… regulate reporters much like the state does with hairdressers, auto mechanics and plumbers.

According to the bill, reporters must provide the licensing board proof of:

–”Good moral character” and demonstrate they have industry “ethics standards acceptable to the board.”

–Possession of a degree in journalism or other degree substantially equivalent.

–Not less than 3 years experience as a reporter or any other relevant background information.

–Awards or recognition related to being a reporter.

–Three or more writing samples.

Reporters will also have to pay an application and registration fee.

That’s crazy, but this is even crazier:

Patterson, who also practices constitutional law, says that the general public is being overwhelmed by an increasing number of media outlets–traditional, online and citizen generated–and an even greater amount misinformation.

He practices constitutional law hey?  Um, hey Brucie, I’m just a seamstress, but I know damn well that Congress shall make no law…abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press.  Would you like a pocket Constitution, I have three extra from the Heritage Foundation.

The senator said that he feels that there’s no way to tell who’s a legitimate journalist and who’s just rewriting other reporters’ reporting and twisting facts.

“What’s the definition of a reporter? I haven’t been able to find out? What’s a reporter? What’s a journalist?” Patterson said. “I thought you had to have a degree in journalism but apparently not. I could retire and be a journalist.”

Yes, see we are all stupid, and we can’t think for ourselves, so Bruce wants us to be able to click on the reporters name and find out every thing about them so we can then make a judgement on whether they have sourced material. Do we do that on a national level?  Does Keith Olbermann sound like he came out of journalism school?

Obviously, if I cite a source and take quotes from the source, it’s sourced.  It is then up to the reader to click the sources ie. the highlighted words and phrases that take them to the original news source.

But my point in writing about all of this is that Bruce Patterson is a Republican.  The Republican party is supposed to be on the side of limited government and adherence to our founding principles.

Bruce Patterson probably should retire and become a journalist, he is term-limited (Thank God) and practicing Constitutional Law would be way over his head.