CD07: Introducing the New Walberg Watch

by: Fitzy

Tue Jul 01, 2008 at 23:51:34 PM EDT

In August of 2006, a man named Tim Walberg (R-Tipton) defeated incumbent Congressman Joe Schwarz (R-Battle Creek) in the Republican primary. Those that live in Michigan's 7th District may remember the vicious primary campaign, in which Walberg-- funded by the Club for Growth and other radical right-wing groups-- destroyed the name and good work of a dedicated public servant. Schwarz was conservative, but he was honest and hard-working, and was one of the few "good" Republicans left. And Tim Walberg, a former far-right minister, attacked Schwarz without mercy.

A few days after the primary, I started a blog called Walberg Watch. Originally hosted on Blogspot, I wanted to create an online record of Walberg's extreme positions as the 2006 election approached, facing the terribly underfunded Democratic nominee Sharon Renier. Walberg won that election by just four percent, and I found myself with a new blogging mission: following Tim Walberg's adventure through what will hopefully be his only term in the United States House of Representatives.

Over the last two years, a lot has changed, with much of it building toward the re-launch at the new www.WalbergWatch.com. Below the fold, I'd like to walk you through some of the additions to Walberg Watch. I'm excited by what we can accomplish in the next 126 days as we work to bring about better representation. I hope that by the time you're done reading this, you are too.

What Can You do to Help Democratic Leaders Win In November? Run to be a Precinct Delegate!

by: Representative Barb Byrum

Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 10:03:18 AM EDT

Diebold accidentally release results of 2008 election early

by: bfealk

Tue Feb 26, 2008 at 06:19:40 AM EST

In our crosshairs: Cliff Taylor

by: Eric B.

Thu Jan 03, 2008 at 13:03:08 PM EST

We kick off the new year profiling a few of the key political races statewide that deserve -- nay, demand -- your attention.  Vote, vote, vote these people out of office.--Eric B.

I'm told that Michigan's Supreme Court, in particular the gang of four that routinely puts special interests ahead of the public, is something of a joke among out-of-state lawyers and judges ... so bad is their reputation for rending reason and sanity in pursuit of judicial activism.

We could dig into history from the tenure of Cliff Taylor and create an indictment from his entire record for why booting him from the state Supreme Court should be one of our hottest priorities for 2008, but that's not necessary.  We have plenty of lowlights from just 2006-07 that are crying out for recognition (enough that Taylor could have easily been nominated as the state's worst public servant for 2007).  Roll the tape: 

Brief for primary injunction

by: Eric B.

Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 15:19:41 PM EST

I haven't had any time to read this, but here is the brief filed for the federal suit seeking an injunction against the Jan. 15 primary.

What are there ... like three weeks until the primary?

CD07: Meet Tim Walberg

by: Eric B.

Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 13:16:49 PM EST

I still remember, with great amusement, the first few months after Nick Smith went to Washington to represent my old hometown of Jackson.  He not only gave Spy magazine a long, eloquent discourse on what U.S. policy towards the country of Freedonia should be, but he was also spotted crawling on either the wall or roof of his office building because of a locked bathroom door (the specifics of the story escape me).

And, I can't say that I was at all surprised that the 7th put in office Tim Walberg.  The entire district is filled with pockets of Walberg-like folks, who have slipped the surly bonds of reality and orbit somewhere in their own strange fantasy world.  Tim Walberg, as far as I can tell, is one of these people.

Walberg won his primary in spite of heavy opposition from his own party.  How did he do it?  Through the heavy contributions of the Club for Growth.  They gave him something like 86 percent of the $1.184 million he needed to unseat Joe Schwarz, one of the few remaining moderates in the Republican Party.  In exchange ... Walberg essentially admitted in the Jackson Citizen Patriot that he's their boy.

Most of us remember Walberg for other colorful remarks.  There was the comparison of Baghdad to Detroit.  There was also this, the reasoning behind Walberg's protest vote against a resolution recognizing Ramadan:

To offer respect for a major religion is one thing, but to offer respect for a major religion that has been behind the Islamic jihad, the radical jihad, that has sworn war upon the United States, its free allies and freedom in Iraq, is another thing.

In short ... Freeeeeeeedom!

You'd think that almost a full year of spoken blunders would take the edge off his blade.  You'd think wrong.  Here is Walberg, less than a month ago, talking about the mortgage crisis:

This Week With Barack Obama, November 18-24, 2007

by: icebergslim

Sun Nov 25, 2007 at 22:00:30 PM EST

 
  obama in clarion, ia

December 1, 2007 - Des Moines, IA, Brown & Black Forum
December 1, 2007 - Des Moines, IA, Heartland Presidential Forum
December 4, 2007 - Des Moines, IA, NPR News/Iowa Public Radio Debate
December 10, 2007 - Los Angeles, California, CBS
December 13, 2007 - Johnston, Iowa, Des Moines Register Democratic Debate
December 17, 2007 - Boston, MA
January 15, 2008 - Las Vegas, Nevada

We would lose if the '08 Election were today.

by: zbeta

Mon Oct 01, 2007 at 17:42:54 PM EDT

Jennifer Granholm is an easy target, as she is likely the best known politician in the state, even though between her, the House, and the Senate, she probably deserves the least amount of blame.  The old narratives about tax and spend liberals will be flayed out at the expense of our candidates once again.

All of this would have happened anyway, but because of a series of blunders by House leadership, the narratives will be much, much worse.

Will Carl Levin Face Any Republican Opposition?

by: Senate 2008 Guru

Thu May 31, 2007 at 13:51:21 PM EDT

Carl Levin's Michigan Senate seat should be one of the safest up for re-election in 2008.

CQPolitics just profiled the seat, labeling it "Safe Democratic."  The profile offered as potential Levin challengers:

There are some prominent Republicans mentioned as possible 2008 candidates, though, who could give Levin a stronger test than usual were any of them to run. They include 8th District Rep. Mike Rogers, Michigan Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land and state Attorney General Mike Cox. None of them is expected to run.

In addition to these names, the wives of prominent Michigan Republicans, Michelle Engler and Jane Abraham, have seen their share of speculation.

So, what's the latest gossip?  Who do you think will get in the Senate race?  Or do you expect that Carl Levin and his hefty campaign war chest will face only token opposition, if any?