Mitt 'n' Joe - BFF!

by: kelster

Sun Nov 02, 2008 at 17:21:28 PM EST

As you may know, Chez Kelster is nestled in Livingston County, almost smack in the middle of the Eighth Congressional District.

Imagine my surprise, then, when the phone rang about ten minutes ago.  It was a robocall from Mitt Romney -- The Mitten himself! -- to tell me all about his good friend Joe Knollenberg.  See, I need to vote for Joe, 'cause Joe needs to go back to Washington to get all those silly big spenders straightened out.  When Mitt's soothing tones ended, a perky woman's voice came on to tell me that the call had been paid for by the Knollenberg for Congress Committee.

Uh, OK.  If I were one of Joe's individual donors who had coughed up $1.9 million, or an "Other Committee" contributor who ponied up over a million, I would be a little put out that Joe was using that money to make calls to voters in another Congressional District. 

And to make it even more interesting, my caller ID showed "Washington, DC call 202-495-7115" -- but a reverse 411 showed no listing.  No listing for 495-7100, or 495-7000, either.  Bopping over to the fabulous site whocalled.us, I found that the phone has been used by the RNC, Mitch McConnell's campaign and a bunch of other GOPers. Oh, the company you keep...

Wes Clark, Blue America, and a Visit from President Bush

by: Gary Peters

Tue Jun 24, 2008 at 10:44:06 AM EDT

Today, I am proud to announce that our campaign has just received the endorsement of General Wesley Clark.

Gary Peters is a uniquely qualified leader with the experience, character, and judgment that we need in Washington right now. From the Navy Reserve to the state Senate, Gary Peters has made a career out of taking action to solve problems, and that's what he'll do as the Congressman from the 9th District.

Mission Not Accomplished - Caring for Our Veterans

by: Gary Peters

Fri May 02, 2008 at 11:11:08 AM EDT

Friends,

First, I’d like to begin by thanking all of you for your support. Because of contributions from people like you, our campaign has just been ranked in CQ’s list of the top ten best funded challengers in the country. The voters in Michigan’s 9th Congressional district are tired of the failed leadership they’ve gotten from my opponent, Congressman Joe Knollenberg, for the past sixteen years, and they’re eager for a real change in Washington.

As a former Lt. Commander in the Navy, I wanted to take a moment to write to you this week as we pass the fifth anniversary of one of the most shameful moments in recent American history. On May 1st, 2003, President George W. Bush landed on the USS Abraham Lincoln, in front of the now-infamous “Mission Accomplished” banner and said these words: “My fellow Americans, major combat operations in Iraq have ended. In the battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed.”

More after the break. 

Detroit Free Press reporting Nancy Skinner will not challenge Joe Knollenberg in 08

by: AntiqueLibertyLover

Mon Feb 25, 2008 at 22:08:52 PM EST

She announced Monday that she's withdrawn from the race to clear the way for former Lottery Commissioner Gary Peters, who has widespread support of Democratic leadership and labor organizations, to take on Knollenberg. Peters, a former state Senator from Bloomfield Hills, has raised more than $400,000 for his campaign.

Catholic Ad critical of Knollenberg, McCotter, Walberg over S-CHIP

by: Gaspare

Fri Oct 12, 2007 at 11:42:14 AM EDT

Ad Campaign Criticizes Pro-Life Members of Congress for Voting against Children's Health Insurance

Washington, DC- Catholics United will launch a radio advertising campaign targeting ten members of Congress whose opposition to the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) have compromised their pro-life voting records.

Nancy Skinner Considering Rematch Against Knollenberg

by: SharonRB

Sat Aug 11, 2007 at 16:27:27 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrat Nancy Skinner said Friday that she was laying the ground work to make another bid for Congress against Rep. Joe Knollenberg, R-Mich., in Oakland County.

Skinner, who was defeated by Knollenberg last year, said she would make a final decision after Labor Day.

http://www.mlive.com...

Just Say No to War (and Do Something about it)

by: LiberalLucy

Fri Jul 13, 2007 at 01:20:49 AM EDT

Americans Against Escalation in Iraq plans to hold those Congressmen accountable for their votes on Friday with a Press Conference and Rally as part of their Iraq Summer campaign.

This campaign is effective. Eight Republican US Senators have recently changed their position on the war in Iraq.  Five of them were targets of the Iraq Summer campaign.

Please do whatever it takes to make this rally.

Friday Coffee Talk/Open Thread

by: BZP

Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 06:18:51 AM EDT

• DNews: Gov: Tax hike or school cut
  If we don't raise more revenue, we're talking about cuts in the ballpark of $125/student. Ouch. But wait... look over there! Michigan pays more in taxes than New Jersey! Everybody freak out!
• DNews: Michigan students won't get iPods; lawmakers will repay Apple for trip
  Rep. Tim Melton: "'Let me be clear -- there is no plan for an iPod for every kid... There never was such a plan." Oh, and another thing... the dems who went to California are going to repay Apple for the trip out of their own pockets, which is more than former Republican House Speaker Rick Johnson did when he took trips to visit Apple in 2002 and 2003. Okay, can we stick a fork in this story now?
• GR Press: City, schools may be sued over contract policy
  This is what Proposal 2 hath wrought.
• Among the Trees: Arnold the Concern Troll
  Ah-nold has declared himself one of the "big environmentalists." That's a bit of a stretch, but as much as I agree with Eric here, Schwarzenegger is still miles ahead of global warming deniers like Joe Knollenberg.
• Lessenberry: Essay: Budget Balancing
  Nails it, as always: "You might want to ask what kind of state you want to live in, and whether clutching your tax cut in your cave is really what you want. Frankly, I have lived in an era of good public schools, responsible government and smallpox vaccinations, and it worked." Listen to Lessenberry's interview with Bob Emerson about the budget here.
• City Pulse: Lansing arts organizations feel April grant freeze
  If and when we "fix" this budget crisis, Michigan is going to be a lot less fun to live in.
• City Pulse: First gentleman takes the lead with new book
  FYI: Dan Mulhern will be appearing at Schuler Books & Music in Lansing's Eastwood Towne Center on Monday, April 16.
• Conservative Media: It takes one to know one
  Ann Coulter, Don Imus. Pot, kettle, black.

Poor Joe Knollenberg doesn't like it when the Democrats play politics

by: SharonRB

Mon Mar 26, 2007 at 22:17:54 PM EDT

"Support our Troops
Earlier this year, I introduced a resolution recognizing March 26th as "National Support Our Troops Day." I introduced the same resolution last year and the House passed it unanimously! However, this year Speaker Pelosi won't even allow a vote on my resolution. There is only one reason for this: POLITICS. Why won't a Democrat Speaker allow a Republican member to offer a resolution honoring our troops? POLITICS!It's time for the politics to end and the bipartisan support of our troops to begin."

OMG! Politics in Congress! Who could ever imagine that.

Yes, we should support our troops, Joe, and the best way to do that is TO BRING THEM HOME!!!! Funny how short the Republicans' memory is -- when they were in charge it was okay to block votes on resolutions, but now that the Democrats are in the majority, it's all of a sudden something to cry about.

And, by the way, Joe, Nancy Pelosi is the Democratic Speaker, not the Democrat Speaker.

cross-posted from http://votenoonjoe.b...

Joe Knollenberg Keeps His Friends Close & His Lobbyist Closer

by: Rhonda

Wed Mar 07, 2007 at 18:57:04 PM EST

Not just any lobbyist -- but the lobbyist behind the campaign to keep Seniors from being able to import their medicine from Canada.

Farmington Eccentric: War protetors turn up the heat on Knollenberg

by: bfealk

Fri Feb 23, 2007 at 14:52:30 PM EST

War protesters turn up heat on Knollenberg
By Sue Buck
Staff Writer

A group of 35 protesters braved a nasty wind chill Thursday to call for an end to the Iraq War.

They lined up in front of U.S. Congressman Joe Knollenberg's (R-Bloomfield Hills) office on Northwestern Highway in Farmington Hills Thursday and hand-delivered letters with the message, "You're the decider."

The letters, part of a national letter-writing campaign, urge Knollenberg not only to vote against the president's plan but also to stop the president from escalating the war.
They never met with Knollenberg but spoke to his aides in the hallway.

"This event follows on the heels of Republicans in the Senate, once again, blocking debate and a vote on a non-binding resolution opposing the president's escalation," said Bruce Fealk, a MoveOn.org organizer.
Trent Wisecup, chief of staff for Knollenberg, responded with Knollenberg's views in a prepared statement.
"Congressman Knollenberg's patience with the Iraq war is growing thin," Wisecup said. "He wants to see our troops return home as soon as possible. But he wants them to come home in victory, not defeat."
Now that the election is over, it's time for the politics to end and the bipartisan statesmanship to begin, he said.
"Democrats and Republicans voted to authorize this war in 2002, including Hillary Clinton," Wisecup said. "Democrats and Republicans will have to work together to find a solution to Iraq. This can't be a partisan issue any longer. We have too much at stake in Iraq. It's time to put America and our troops first and leave the politics for last."
Wisecup said that Knollenberg "stands ready to work with Democrats to find a solution."
He also slammed MoveOn.org as "nothing more than a radical liberal organization that is determined to score political points."
"They should be ashamed of themselves for playing politics when we have tens of thousands of brave men and women fighting for America in Iraq."

Thursday's rally in Farmington Hills was one of more than 225 events nationwide.
Fealk complained that Knollenberg continues to ignore requests from his constituents to meet with him.
"If the president won't listen to the people, Congress must stop the escalation and bring our troops home," Fealk said.

A survey

MoveOn.org members did their own survey in downtown Birmingham during the last two weekends. Of 531 people interviewed, 77 percent of the respondents did not support sending more troops to Iraq.
Birmingham was chosen because this is an area where the core of Knollenberg's constituents are Republicans, said Fealk, a Rochester resident.