I came home this afternoon to a phone message from the Campaign to Defend America. It used the old term "rubber-stamp," and gave Rogers' office number, urging me to call & tell Rogers to "stop supporting Bush, Cheney and Big Oil." There were also a few lines about getting the US out of Iraq. The caller ID just said Out of Area -- aren't robocalls required to show the name & # of the organization?
A little digging showed that the group is also known as Americans Against Escalation in Iraq, a coalition of progressive organizations.
Here's the question: why waste time and resources on Rogers? He was singularly unmoved by the AAEI activities around the district this summer; conventional wisdom says the seat is not competitive; there's no challenger to benefit from a CDA/AAEI push against Rogers.
So, any thoughts as to why they're sending out robocalls?
My kids are fairly skeptical bunch -- but they come by it honestly. When they were younger, they'd complain about books and movies that had totally silly plot lines or situations. That's when we sat down and talked about the concept of "willing suspension of disbelief."
Coined by the poet Samuel Coleridge, this is a device used in fiction (particularly in theater and film) which allows the author to get his or her point across without bowing to the constraints of reality. Wikipedia has a pretty concise description of why this works:
According to the theory, suspension of disbelief is a quid pro quo: the audience tacitly agrees to provisionally suspend their judgment in exchange for the promise of entertainment.
I thought about willing suspension of disbelief recently when a retired friend forwarded me a letter from Mike Rogers. In it, he described his latest reason for opposing SCHIP: "...[it] could cut the Medicare program by $190 billion if it becomes law."
Oh, please. Apparently, the bogeymen of illegal immigrants and wealthy families free-riding on taxpayers wasn't scary enough. Mr. Rogers decided to expand his apocalyptic vision of the future to include senior citizens losing funding for home oxygen as SCHIP threatened the Medicare Advantage program.
(Hey, kids -- don't provisionally suspend your judgement just yet! )
Despite everyone's best efforts, despite the facts, despite the reality of millions of uninsured children, it's not likely that the House will get enough votes to override the Bush SCHIP veto today.
I won't rehash the lies misstatements that Mike Rogers and the other anti-family politicians used to defend their votes against SCHIP. Suffice it to say, they seem to think that non-stop parroting of Bush talking points served as some sort of protective charm against hideous liberal plots like affordable vaccinations for children.
Mike Rogers doesn't appear to be a terribly introspctive person. He is the kind of guy who keeps moving ahead & isn't too worried about what's already happened.
So here's the question: what do YOU think will be Roger's Next Big Issue?
As a book group veteran, Friend of the (Brighton) Library and the daughter of a librarian, I was thrilled to hear about the Cromaine Library's Saturday kickoff of "The Big Read." With the support of an National Ednowment for the Arts (NEA) grant, the library offered free copies of Ray Bradbury's Farenheit 451as part of its community read. The library has also organized a series of programs and speakers focused on the book.
This is a great honor for the Cromaine Library, which was one of a limited number of community libraries to receive the NEA grant. It's a terrific boost for literature in our community. It's also a timely book:
Fahrenheit 451 takes place in an unspecified future time in a hedonistic and rabidly anti-intellectualAmerica that has completely abandoned self-control and bans the possession of books. People are now only entertained by in-ear radio and an interactive form of television. The protagonist, Guy Montag, is a fireman, certain that his job—burning books, and the houses that hold them, and persecuting those who own them—is the right thing to do. (from Wikipedia)
Making the day even more interesting was one of the attendees: Mike Rogers. Rogers has been mighty scarce in these parts lately, but he did manage to provide a nugget o' literary wisdom for a local reporter :
U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Brighton, stopped by and said programs such as "The Big Read" are important because less than half of adults now read literature, according to an NEA report.
That trend can transfer over to children, he added.
"If they don't see the adults around them reading, you can imagine what it could do," Rogers said.
And when exactly did Rogers become a supporter of the arts? Americans for the Arts gave him ratings of just 37% in 2006 and 38% in 2004. Americans for the Arts isn't some loony group that considers elephant dung an art supply; they're a well-established organization that focuses on local arts and developing partnerships with business leaders and educators.
To put it mildly, it's annoying to see Mr. Rogers use one of his (increasingly rare) appearances at a local event to give the impression that he's concerned with child welfare, education and arts funding. if a student did something similar, it would very likely be described as plagiary.
Merriam-Webster defines plagiarize as a transitive verb, meaning "to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own : use (another's production) without crediting the source."
(More news on one our least favorite Congresscritters... - promoted by LiberalLucy)
Yes, that's right: Rep. Mike Rogers has once again donned his plaid skirt & picked up the pom-poms to cheerlead for the Bush Administration's latest dubious WMD claim. This morning's Detroit Free Press features a piece by our own Congressman titled "Beware Iran." He led off his guest column with:
Like me, many Americans are spending this week buying the last-minute pencils, backpacks and school clothes our kids need as they head back to their classrooms.
As we are busy with this important task, I hope we don't forget about a threat that is looming 3,000 miles away. One year ago this month, the House Intelligence Policy Subcommittee, which I chaired, issued a report warning that "despite its claims to the contrary, Iran is seeking nuclear weapons."
[Note: even for me, it's tough to muster enough snark to properly address that opening line.]
Also included in Mr. Rogers' What I Did on My Summer Vacation essay are tidbits like
According to press reports, Iran could have 8,000 centrifuges by January. And the theocratic government in Tehran has said it plans to construct up to 50,000 centrifuges.
Interesting word choices here: "seeking," "could have," and "plans to". Well, I'm seeking to eat less ice cream. According to press reports, my husband could have booked us a flight to a tropical island. And my teenagers have plans to stay home and clean the garage on Saturday night. Hey, it could happen!
People who truly support the troops by trying to get them out of harm's way are gathering for a vigil as we speak with sleeping bags, bongo drums, protest signs and plenty of coffee in front of U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Brighton?, Lansing office as the "Iraq Summer" concludes Tuesday with "Take A Stand" town meeting at noon on the Capitol steps in downtown Lansing.
Many local people will be making their presence known at Rogers only office outside of Washington, D.C., located at 1327 E. Michigan Ave. in Lansing. Since Congress has not been in session for the entire month of August to allow lawmakers to spend time in their district, there is a very slim change Rogers could actually show his face in the three days the vigil will take place. Come and join the following groups in their vigil:
America Votes, Michigan Peace Works, Michigan Peace Team, SEIU, Military Moms for Peace, GLNAWI , Mid-Michigan DFA, UU Church of Greater Lansing and Cristo Rey Parish.
The "Take a Stand Campaign" is a nation-wide organizing drive to demand that members of Congress and the Senate take a stand with the vast majority of Americans who want a safe and responsible redeployment of American Forces from Iraq.
Across America, over 100 "Iraq Summer" organizers are working to involve thousands of ordinary Americans in an effort to pressure targeted members of Congress to vote to bring a safe end to the war. The summer campaign is culminating with "Take A Stand" town meetings to be held on Tuesday, immediately before congress reconvenes. The Iraq Summer Campaign-Michigan, 8th District the Take a Stand town hall will be held at noon on Tuesday on the Capitol lawn in Lansing.
Feel free to join them.
Iraq Summer is a campaign organized by Americans Against Escalation in Iraq and the Campaign to Defend America, designed to turn public opinion against the war in Iraq into political pressure on members of Congress who stand in the way of a responsible end to the war in Iraq.
For further information call (202) 425-0263 or email michigan7@iraqcampaign.org.
It's that time of year again: the HOWELL MELON FESTis this weekend. join the Livingston County Democrats (the few, the proud) for two days of curcubit-related fun.
We have an entry in the parade on Saturday -- we'll meet at 11:30 in the Metropolitan Title Company parking lot (622 East Grand River in Howell) and the parade steps off at noon. Wear red, white or blue and help us show up the pitiful GOP marchers once again.
We'll also have a booth at the Community Lane area by the Courthouse on Saturday & Sunday. Lend a hand or just come say hi -- we'd love to see you!
Concerned citizens, volunteers and political activists will join with Americans Against Escalation in Iraq and Military Moms for Peace to welcome home U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Brighton, one of most ardent supporters of President Bush's failed polices in the Iraq occupation/civil war, following the August recess of the U.S. Congress with a rally Wednesday at Rogers' Lansing office.
Activists hope to turn up the heat to help Rogers see the error in continuously voting to continue Bush's failed Iraq policies and to make excuses for its failure in an unjustified and useless occupation that that has killed more Livingston County soldiers and Marines than the entire 16-year history of the war in Vietnam.
Over the last several weeks Americans Against Escalation in Iraq's "Iraq Summer" campaign has rolled out the welcome mat in preparation for Rogers' arrival by signing up hundreds of Rogers' constituents as volunteers, holding rallies in front of his office and planting lawn signs and going door-to-door throughout the 8th Congressional District. Outraged at the fact that the Iraqi government is going on vacation while major milestones in the plans for moving Iraq forward remain unmet, the volunteers will be greeting Rogers in their vacation attire: Hawaiian shirts and sunglasses at his Lansing office at noon Wednesday Aug. 8. The office is located at 1327 E. Michigan Ave. in the City of Lansing, and for those that use one of the driving directions programs the zip code is 48823. Don't forget your vacation gear.
Americans Against Escalation in Iraq is a national campaign comprised of a variety groups from across the political spectrum that are committed to opposing the Bush plan to escalate the war in Iraq and to work for the responsible redeployment of American forces. It's a loose coalition of various groups, including the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), MoveOn.org Political Action, VoteVets.org, Center for American Progress Action Fund, USAction, Win Without War, Campaign for America's Future, the United States Student Association, Working Assets, Americans United for Change and Campus Progress Action.
As a Vietnam Veteran and a member of Shiawassee County Veterans For Peace I'm concerned about Congressman Mike Rogers continued support of President Bush's war in Iraq and his lack of support for the troops on the ground. He supports sending our children to Iraq but won't fight himself. He possesses skills that are critical to the war effort. He should live out his convictions and enlist.
His job in Congress isn't so critical that others cannot do it. Yet, he sits safe at home out of harms way, removed from the conflict ignoring all the graft and corruption that has gone on, on his watch. Please call, write or talk to Congressman Rogers and ask him, if he believes in this war so much that he will send our children to their death, why doesn't he enlist and go and fight himself.
If you're looking to get out in the beautiful sunshine to get some exercise and enjoy the weather you can also do that and save our brave soldiers and Marines from dying needlessly in Iraq because of President Bush's failed policies by joining Americans Against Escalation in Iraq in canvassing in Brighton from 2-4 p.m. Saturday (7/21).
The group is meeting at 2 p.m. behind the McGivney Law offices - 210 E Main St. -
before dispersing. That's just about a block east of the main four in downtown Brighton - and the home of one of Bush's and the Iraq war's biggest cheerleaders, U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers - and less than a mile west of the Spencer Road exit from I-96. The zip code is 48116 so you can type it into Google maps to get here. Canvassers will be distributing yard signs and asking Brighton residents to call their Congressman to stop supporting Bush's reckless war policy.
We all know that politics aren't pretty and that the money flows right along with the greasy grimy hands. The hope is that there is still enough around of that cynical yet practical idea of the Founders that "ambition counteracts ambition" and that pluralism wins in the end.
But what happens when a single Congressional District has at least two of its largest media outlets, a private college, a county economics club and its U.S. Representative all on the same page? Well, you get a greasy gravy train.
Um, no. The real insult is that it takes threats to incumbency to get Rogers to clue in about spending, and only when a Democratic member of Congress is involved, not when a Republican may have inserted an earmark any time during the last 6-plus years as his voting record indicates (94.4% of the time Rogers votes with and for his Republican peeps).
The real insult is that he thinks we are so stupid that we don't notice this political gamesmanship, or that we can't see the source of revenue siphoning.
When you fill up your car's gas tank in the next couple of weeks, I hope you remember Mike Rogers voted, again, with big oil companies in opposing a bill that would outlaw gasoline price gouging.
U.S. Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Menominee) introduced HR 1252, the Federal Price Gouging Prevention Act, that would provide penalties for those who take unfair advantage of consumers at the pump. The legislation would penalize individuals or companies for taking "unfair advantage" or charging "unconscionably excessive" prices for gasoline and other fuels.
The bill passed the House 284-141 last week and now goes to the Senate. The bill saw 56 Republicans joining all but one Democrat in supporting the bill, including two Michigan Republicans, but Rogers joined fellow Republicans Pete Hoekstra, Vern Ehlers, Dave Camp, Fred Upton, Tim Walberg and Joe Knollenberg in voting for big oil and against the consumer.
Gasoline is near the $4 a gallon mark, and gas prices in Michigan are the highest in the nation, yet Rogers thinks record and obscene profits by oil companies are not enough.
Even without the numbers in yet for the record gas prices, oil companies are raking it in. BP Amoco enjoyed a profit increase of 117 percent between 2002 and 2004. In 2002, BP Amoco netted a hefty $8.4 billion. In 2004, this ballooned to $17 billion. Shell raked in a hefty $10 billion dollar profit in 2002, which jumped to $18 billion by 2004. In 2002, Exxon Mobil's profit was just a measly $11.5 billion, but by 2004 that more than doubled to $25 billion.
You will remember Bush's energy policy, put together by oil men in secret, threw money at oil companies for research, new drilling, new refineries and it even allowed them to drill on federal land without paying any royalties.
We are told the high price is because of increased demand, but oil companies are not increasing new drilling and increasing supply. Why? Because that would increase supply and drive down prices. We are told we pay more for gasoline the farther away from a refinery we are. Ironically, the ones closest to Michigan, like in Toledo, shut down for maintenance just as demand is heaviest, driving the supply down and the price up. Oil companies do not want to build any new refineries because it will increase supply and drive the price down.
With all this stacked in the favor of oil companies, why not a small protection for consumers?
With his party in the minority and Mike Rogers shuttled to the sidelines with the Democratic majority, he has found a new way to both continue his role as Bush's biggest cheerleader and lackey by going after the biggest Republican target and getting the most recognition and attention he has ever had in his entire political life.
As you are aware, Rogers tried last week unsuccessfully to strike from an intelligence spending bill an item that would restore $23 million for the National Drug Intelligence Center, a facility in Rep. Jack Murtha's Pennsylvania district.
According to Rogers' account, the Pennsylvania Democrat - the chair of House Defense Appropriations Chairman - angrily told Rogers he should never seek earmarks of his own because "you're not going to get any, now or forever." Rogers took the unusual step and called on the full House to reprimand Murtha. Rogers introduced what is called a "privileged" resolution charging Murtha violated House ethics rules when he allegedly threatened to cut off "now and forever" any earmarks for Rogers' district. Luckily, the measure was killed.
For that ridiculous threat, Rogers made just about every newspaper in the country, he was allowed to make the weekly GOP radio address where he attacked Murtha and he was also talked about on my favorite radio show, "The Stephanie Miller Show." The point they made is this is the way politics have been conducted for years, and he should stop being a whiny baby. I agree. One lawmaker had this to say about Rogers, "put on your long pants and grow up." How is this an ethics violation? If you need an ethics violation you just need to hear the names Bob Nye, Duke Cunningham and Jack Abramoff.
I challenged people earlier in the week to show what "earmark" - his job - Rogers has brought back to the 8th Congressional District. I'm still waiting. People here in Livingston County complain that we are a donor county because we send more money to Washington, D.C. than we get back, but somehow Rogers has painted properly representing your district as an ethics violation. Isn't bringing some of that money back to the district what we sent him there for? I guess that's why he never does, but I thought that was his job?
Murtha did take the high road and apologized to Rogers, but, according to Rogers' spokesperson, he also took the low road and declined not to accept it, "Congressman Rogers does accept the apology, but he is truly hopeful that this whole episode will change the way Congress spends the American taxpayers' money." Please. If Rogers does not accept an apology and his "privileged" resolution is going nowhere, what does Rogers want? He wants to smear Murtha and score political points.
This is from Rogers radio address, "Last Friday, House Republicans discovered that a Member of Congress had hidden a wasteful earmark -- or pet pork project -- worth tens of millions of dollars into a bill designed to fund America's Intelligence operations. It comes down to a choice between spies catching terrorists or pork barrel spending in a Congressional District. We are a nation at war, and when we find wasteful spending, we must stop it. "
Really.
The "pet project" in question is the National Drug Intelligence Center in Johnstown. The center "continues to play an important role in assessing the drug threat, identifying the patterns of distribution and gathering information from documents to help arrest drug traffickers," Murtha said.
So let's see if I got this right. Rogers is criticizing Murtha for trying to keep a facility open in his district that provides jobs and helps fight terror, and Rogers has done nothing for our biggest employer and simply watches as plat after plant closes and moves jobs overseas? Great job Mike.
Is it just me or does anyone else remember being bombarded a few years ago with public service commercials saying that by buying illegal drugs you were funding terrorists and terrorism?
Apparently Bush does. President Bush said that drug users aid terrorists who get their money from global trafficking in narcotics. "If you quit drugs, you join the fight against terrorism," he said. Mr. Bush offered a new argument in the fight against drugs while signing a bill to expand a federal anti-drug program over the next five years. The administration has linked the al-Qaida network in Afghanistan to heroin trafficking. The terrorist group, led by Osama bin Laden, is suspected in the Sept. 11 attacks on America.
It appears Rep. Mike Rogers is the latest weapon in the GOP's quest to discredit U.S. Rep John Murtha, D-PA.
The Associated Press is reporting that during a series of House votes Thursday, Murtha walked to the GOP side to confront Rogers, a former FBI agent. This month, Rogers had tried unsuccessfully to strike from an intelligence spending bill an item that would restore $23 million for the National Drug Intelligence Center, a facility in Murtha's Pennsylvania district.
According to Rogers' account, which Murtha did not dispute, the Democrat angrily told Rogers he should never seek earmarks of his own because "you're not going to get any, now or forever."
"This was clearly designed to try to intimidate me," Rogers told The Associated Press on Friday. "He said it loud enough for other people to hear."
If anyone can tell me what funding Rogers has brought back to the 8th Congressional District I would sure like to hear it. Rogers appears to be fitting into his role as the minority quite well, and after being a cheerleader for Bush's ill-conceived Iraq fiasco, he now appears to be serving it in a new role as the attack dog.
Rogers said he planned to file a "privileged resolution" Monday that would seek a House vote on whether to reprimand Murtha.
Rogers also claims Murtha made the alleged threat in front of a lot of people, and they are all, of course, Republicans. However, as of Sunday no one has come forward to back up Rogers' yard.
Murtha, a harsh critic of Bush's botched Iraq policy, has long been a target of the Republicans. During the last election season an offshoot of the Smear Boat Vets for "truth" that smeared every veteran who ever earned a medal, citation or commendation in their quest to get Sen. John Kerry formed something called "boot Murtha." It operates just like the smear vets, and it smears all veterans, a tactic taken by the Bush Administration that pays mere lip service to their "support the troops" mantra.
Murtha is a Vietnam combat veteran, and apparently they don't like that Murtha won two Purple Hearts. Murtha is also a retired Marine Colonel.
This is not a new tactic for Rogers. A few years back, around 2002, the Rogers camp claimed a former staffer named Bill Nowling - who was working for a political consulting group called Persuasion, Inc at the time that was representing a large telecommunications, At & T, I believe- tried to blackmail Rogers. The Rogers people claim Nowling said if Rogers didn't vote for a telecommunications bill the group's client wanted passed there would be hundreds of the company's employees picketing in his office the next day. Now, Nowling claims it never happened, but the Rogers people sure made a big deal out of it at the time. I am still looking for the article that ran in the Livingston County Daily Press & Argus.
***This post brings up an interesting discussion we need all to have. How is it that our congressional delegation really feels about this serious issue and what, if anything, are they doing to work on it? I think that this is a great litmus test for all of our congresscritters, and I'd like to see more of us sending letters, asking the important questions, and publicizing the results. It's issues like these that are sure to help with the '08 elections.
Does the Congressman believe "it's been proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the Earth is warming because of man-made problems?"
The poll I was referring to surveyed 113 members of Congress: 10 Senate Democrats, 48 House Democrats, 10 Senate Republicans, and 45 House Republicans (including Mike Rogers).
This is what the poll found: 95% of Democrats believe in man-made global warming, whereas 83% of Republicans do not believe the science behind global warming.
Well, after seven weeks, I finally received a response from Mike Rogers' office via snail mail today. It's almost two pages long, and lays out all the steps the Congressman has taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the House. As Mr. Rogers says, he is...
acutely sensitive to the delicate balance we must reach protecting our precious environment, while preserving the jobs that provide for our way of life.
Unfortunately, nowhere in the two-page letter does he use the term "global warming." Nowhere does he say how he voted in the National Journal poll (which is what I asked). And nowhere in the letter does he admit that there is a link between the warming of the Earth and man-made pollutants, such as carbon dioxide.
Now, I do appreciate that the folks at Mike Rogers' office took the time to send me this letter, and I'm willing to give the Congressman some credit for what efforts he has made to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (trust me, his record is better than some of his Republican colleagues).
Update: Profiles in Courage.. Fred Upton is one of the 11 Republicans who confronted Bush privately this week. But he voted publicly against two Iraq bills yesterday that would actually hold the President accountable. Read more.
Second update: Cut-and-run Gen. Batiste fired by CBS for participating in Vote Vet ad. Go below the fold to see Keith Olbermann interview him about it.
VoteVets.org is today launching a three-ad series featuring three retired generals, two of whom were George Bush's commanders on the ground. Their ads are airing in states and districts of those Members of Congress who are very close to breaking with the President on Iraq, and joining the troops and American people. You can visit the Vote Vets homepage here.
MR. RUSSERT: This is how you describe it: "National Security Council officials had asked us to start assembling a public case that might be made against Saddam regarding his possession and possible use of WMD. It was our turn to deliver [the briefing] to the president, vice president," chief of staff "Andy Card," Condoleezza "Rice," who was then head of the National Security Council, "and a few others. Some might criticize us for participating in what was essentially a marketing meeting."
And, in fact, that has happened. A former CIA officer (Jim Marcinkowski) said this: "What is the head of the intelligence community in the United States [doing] involved in marketing this war? That's not his role. His role is to give advice to the president, unvarnished advice, and speak the truth."
Why did you participate in a marketing meeting?
MR. TENET: Well, well, well, the critics have said it is--
On the video there is a photo of Jim Marcinkowski along with the attribution. Good to see Jim Marcinkowski in the news again!
Happy Friday, everyone. Have a great Easter weekend...
Conservative
Media: Ward tries again with alleged campaign finance reform that targets
Democrats
Chris Ward is trying to resurrect a couple campaign finance reform laws that
died last fall. The Comm Guru has the scoop.
LSJ: Skubick: Here's what's ahead at Capitol
There's nothing really new here, but this sentence caught my eye: "Senate GOP leader Mike Bishop has not ruled out a tax hike, but he's in no hurry to make a final deal. It's called a negotiating stance." Mike Bishop hasn't ruled out a tax hike? Huh? He's already signed a pledge with his BFF Grover Norquist to "vote against any and all efforts to increase taxes." Or was that just a "negotiating stance" too?
Mr. Rogers: Rogers effectiveness and influence plunges
According to Congress.org, Rogers fell from his spot as the 37th most powerful member of Congress to 274th. Ouch!
No on Joe: Knollenberg Loses Power
Hawaii Joe fell from 12th to 220th. Double ouch! You can see the full list here.
Conservative Media: Senator again pits Detroit against the rest of the state as reason for opposing gas tax increase
Nice commentary about the gas tax from the Comm Guru.
MyDD:
DNC Shuts Out Fox
Good news: the DNC won't be giving Fox News its formal stamp of approval for
one of the democratic presidential debates. Expect Fox to respond with a blistering
attack on the DNC, like any fair-and-balanced network would do.
State News: Icers to play for national title Go right through for M-S-U!
