385 days until a Democrat Represents Michigan's 9th District

Well, it's New Year's Eve and only 385 days until January 20, 2009, when a Democrat will finally start to represent the 9th Congressional District of Michigan.

I have done my best in 2007 to draw attention to Joe Knollenberg's voting record on things that Americans care about, like torture, the fiasco in Iraq, warrantless wiretapping andthe criminals in the White House and their above-the-law attitude toward the high office they hold. George W. Bush, Dick Cheney and Joe Knollenberg all think that the presidency is their personal playground to do with what they will. Well, the American people have news for you, George, Dick and Joe, this country was founded on government of the people, by the people and for the people and 2008 will be the year that Americans remember this founding principle of our government and start to treat the U.S Constitution the way our founding fathers intended.

The long nightmare of the George W. Bush presidency can't be over soon enough for me, nor can the nightmare of Joe Knollenberg's representation of the 9th District of Michigan. Soon we will have a representative that actually cares about the people and not the corporations.

Joe brings home money for Woodward signs, but says no to money for children's health care

This article showed up in Friday's Free Press. So I guess residents are supposed to say thank you to Joe Knollenberg for bringing home money for signs for Woodward Avenue? Not me. Joe Knollenberg has let voters down on the big issues like health care, voting against expanding a government program that works, the State Children's Health Insurance Program. Thanks to Joe 9 million children won't be able to afford health care. He continues to vote with the President to fund the fiasco in Iraq. He votes for more invasion of our privacy by allowing President Bush to spy on Americans. He votes to allow the President to break international laws by allowing torture of prisoners, leaving American prisoners open to the same treatment by our enemies.

Joe Knollenberg bringing home a few hundred thousand dollars for signage for Woodward Avenue does not make up for all the damage he's heaped on our country. I'd gladly give up the money for the signs in exchange for bringing our soldiers home to their loved ones. I'd gladly give up signs for Woodward in exchange for him protecting our civil liberties. I'd gladly give up the signs for a vote for protecting the health of our children. What kind of human being is Joe Knollenberg that he thinks that signs are more important than children?

How many children will die needlessly that could have been covered by the $845,000 that Joe brought home for signs? Shame on you, Joe.

Fortunately I have health care coverage, so I can afford to say this, Joe, you make me sick.

Woodward Avenue beautification helped by federal grant

December 28, 2007

BILL LAITNER

FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER

Woodward Avenue’s signs and tourist attractions will get a shot in the arm in the new year from a fresh round of federal transportation grants.

News of four grants totaling $845,000 came early this month in a letter from U.S. Rep Joe Knollenberg, R-Bloomfield Township.

The letter was being made public this week, said Debbie Schutt, a consultant for the nonprofit Woodward Avenue Action Association, which will implement the grant spending. The actual grant recipient is the Michigan Department of Transportation.

Knollenberg “was instrumental in getting this money,” said Schutt, who lives in Bloomfield Township one block from Woodward.

The real goal of Shock and Awe in Iraq

I'm reading Shock Doctrine by Naomi Klein right now, and it's a very enlightening look at the U.S. involvement and how Milton Friedman's economic theories have played a role across the globe. Iraq was the ultimate testing ground for the theories Friedman espoused. As we now know, the experiment has gone very badly and has been a catastrophe for U.S. foreign policy.

3.3 Million MoveOn Members Target Joe Knollenberg

Joe Knollenberg is one of the most vulnerable members of Congress. We will have a strong, well funded candidate that will finally flip the 9th Congressional District of Michigan to the Democratic column and help turn this country around.

To help, please consider donating at Peters for Congress. There is no coordination of effort between MoveOn and the Peters campaign. However, Joe Knollenberg is one of the races that MoveOn has targeted in the 2008 election cycle.

Joe, Santa could use your help to bring them home for Christmas

I'm getting to spend the holidays with my granddaughter, so I know how special it would be if all of our soldiers serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and around the world could spend the holidays with their spouses and children, the way it was meant to be. We can do it. Our soldiers have done all they can in Iraq. Let's show some real family values and reunite our service men and women with their families. Not one more Christmas in Iraq.

Joe, this is why we need, single-payer, universal health care

(From Crooksandliars.com) Many people have followed the horrifying story of Nataline Sarkisyan. She was denied a liver transplant by health care giant CIGNA because they called it “experimental.”

Play video

CIGNA has ignored this medical decision and calls the transplant “experimental” as justification for denying the treatment. CIGNA’s refusal of Nataline’s liver transplant—overruling the urgent appeals of an array of doctors and nurses—is indicative of the failures of the new healthcare plan sponsored by Arnold Schwarzenegger and Fabian Nunez. That plan, which is actively supported by CIGNA, requires every single Californian to purchase insurance products from companies like CIGNA, but does not address the problem of denial of care evident in this situation.

After a protest led by the California Nurses Association along with family and friends turned the heat up on CIGNA, they finally approved the life saving procedure, but…

In a stunning turn around, insurance giant CIGNA has capitulated to community demands, and protests that the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee helped to generate, and agreed to a critically needed liver transplant for Nataline Sarkisyan, a 17-year-old girl in the intensive care unit at UCLA Medical Center…

…they acted too late and she died.

The California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee today blasted insurance giant CIGNA for failing to approve a liver transplant one week earlier for listen to 17-year-old Nataline Sarkisyan, who tragically died last night just hours after CIGNA relented and agreed to the procedure following a massive national outcry.

An editorial by the Houston Chronical called CIGNA’s decision to deny the teen a liver transplant until it was too late “Heartless.”

As California and the nation debate how to institute universal health insurance coverage for citizens, the Sarkisyan case indicates that more must be done than simply covering everyone with a policy. All too frequently, insurance company bureaucrats are making medical judgments that should be left in the hands of a patient’s physician…

If the staff at the UCLA transplant unit approved Nataline’s procedure, that should have been the end of the discussion. For universal health coverage to be meaningful, such decisions must be taken out of the hands of insurance adjustors and placed with an impartial arbiter whose interest is the welfare of the patient rather than a corporation’s balance sheet.

Will the tragedy that struck Nataline Sarkisyan and her family because health care giant CIGNA initially refused a life saving medical treatment become an important story for the voters in Iowa as they begin the process that will determine which candidate will represent each party in the upcoming Presidential election?

Republican voters may face the same situation as the Sarkisyan’s. The CIGNA’s of the world could care less if a family filled out a GOP loyalty oath or did the Pledge of allegiance to President Bush...

Trent Wisecup - The Gift that keeps giving (Crain's)

I found this little gem in Crain's Detroit Business.

Gifts we hope will keep on giving

Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and U.S. Rep. Joe Knollenberg: New press aides. Though hailing from different political parties, these guys share at least one thing in common: Both had press aides flame out in spectacular fashion during 2007. Kilpatrick aide Matt Allen was out after his arrest for domestic violence in November. Knollenberg aide Trent Wisecup had been sending bizarre emails to news media for months before he left the congressman's office. What took so long?

I hope you're happy Joe. How many children will die because of your callousness?

This story makes me literally sick to my stomach, that the Democrats pass legislation extending health care to millions of children and Joe Knollenberg and his Republican colleagues vote the legislation down and then don't have the courage to override the President's veto of this important and life-saving program. What kind of country is this anyway, that leaves children without health care coverage? Pro-life my ass. Joe Knollenberg and the Republicans that voted against this bill are hypocrites of the worst variety.

Democrats Suffer Loss as House Extends SCHIP

by Julie Rovner

Listen Now and read the rest of the story [3 min 33 sec] add to playlist

All Things Considered, December 19, 2007 · The Democratic-led Congress on Wednesday officially waved the white flag of surrender on its top domestic issue: the State Children's Health Insurance Program, or SCHIP. Eleven months and two presidential vetoes after vowing to expand its reach, the House instead passed and sent to President Bush a bill that will essentially continue the program in its current form until 2009.

Naomi Klein - Shock Doctrine

Yesterday I purchased a book every American should read, The Shock Doctrine by Naomi Klein. I've been struggling to make sense of the Bush Administration's policies, torture, war, privitzation of government functions, etc. I thought surely George W. Bush gets that he has lost the support of most of the country, yet he continues to put forward policies that make him less and less popular with the vast majority of Americans. But yet he pushes forward. Why?

The first 20 pages of Shock Doctrine explain why. Get yourself an early Christmas present and pick up a copy for all your friends. This is a very powerful book, and I'm not even through the first chapter of the book, but I know everyone needs to read this book if you love America, the way America used to be. CLICK HERE to purchase it at Amazon.com.

Republicans pass Christmas Resolution, but Joe votes against children's health care and for torture

I have to admit to being a little confused this morning. As Christmas approaches, it makes me wonder what the Christmas spirit really means and how Christian Republicans translate their faith into their political life. I wonder what Jesus would say about how the U.S. Congress voted yesterday. Congress approved a non-binding resolution recognizing the importance of Christmas in America. Yet the same people, Joe Knollenberg among them, twice voted against expanding health care to more of America's children, and he's for allowing torture by America's armed forces, CIA and contractors on behalf of the U.S. military and all Americans, for more war, threatening war with Iran, for more spying on Americans and countless other measures that go against the historical moral position of America, not to mention the President continuing to diminish the power of Congress in general and disrespecting the checks and balances the founding fathers wrote into the Constitution that Joe Knollenberg swore to uphold when took his oath of office while his right hand was on a bible.

But Republicans still try to claim the moral high ground based on their "pro-life" position on abortion, but justify their pro-capital punishment position somehow. "Faith" whatever that means in America today, has been a topic of much discussion in our presidential debates, even though the Republican party only has one candidate that is on his first marriage, and he's a Mormon. Rudy Giuliani's shortcomings (a polite word for corruption) are now coming to light. First it was the fact that his mistress had a security detail paid for with public funds. Yesterday it came to light that one of his clients was a company that provided data mining services to U.S. intelligence agencies and Rudy's company, Giuliani Partners was paid a commission by the company he helped and that that help consisted of setting up meetings with Vice President Cheney with the data mining company.

The most religious of the Republican candidates, Mike Huckabee, thinks women in this country should be subservient to their husbands and HIV patients should be put in quarantine.

How in the world did we get to this point in American politics?

Joe Votes to Allow Torture

Joe Knollenberg voted against banning waterboarding to interrogate detainees. Joe wants America to continue to break international law and against the Constitution of the United States.

This morning the House Republicans once again affirmed that they want the CIA to disobey international law AND use interrogation techniques proven to result in false or inaccurate intelligence. In short, the Republicans love torture.

The U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation to bar CIA agents from using waterboarding during the questioning of suspected terrorists...

The House, in a 222-199 vote, passed annual policy legislation for intelligence agencies that included the ban on the use of simulated drowning in interrogations.

``This would mean no more torture and no more questions about what the CIA is allowed to do behind closed doors,'' said Representative Jan Schakowsky, an Illinois Democrat...

The legislation approved by the House today would require that all U.S. spy agencies follow the Army Field Manual's interrogation standard, which doesn't authorize waterboarding or other harsh techniques.

To become law, the legislation approved today would have to be approved by the Senate, which hasn't scheduled a vote, and be signed by Bush, who has stated his opposition.

Gary Peters Receives SEIU Michigan Endorsement

Joe Knollenberg got a 0% rating last year on the AFSCME scorecard. Today the SEIU Michigan Council has endorsed Gary Peters, in his congressional campaign for Michigan's 9th district. "Our members firmly believe that Gary Peters is the best candidate to represent the citizens of Michigan's 9th District," said Phil Thompson, SEIU Michigan State Council president and executive vice president of SEIU Local 517M. "He has a proven record of standing by working families, particularly when it comes to providing access to quality and affordable health care." Gary has also received the earliest Congressional endorsement from the AFL-CIO, been endorsed by the Michigan Building Trades, American Federation of Teachers, and the local Operating Engineers, Communication Workers, and Pipefitters. Peters was proud to accept the endorsement, saying "I'm extremely pleased and honored to get the support of the SEIU Michigan State Council. The SEIU believes, as I believe, that working families deserve a voice in Washington and that it is time for a change." Michigan's 9th District is currently represented by Joe Knollenberg. Last year Knollenberg received a dismal 0% rating on labor issues in the AFSCME House Scorecard.

Getting the endorsement was a very thorough and unique process. Gary Peters and other candidates in Michigan's 9th filled out a questionnaire, met with SEIU members who filled out assessment forms, and took part in a "Walk a Day in My Shoes" event where the candidates worked side by side with an SEIU member. Marge Faville, the secretary-treasurer of SEIU Healthcare Michigan and the Michigan State Council treasurer, said Peters understands the struggles that SEIU members face. "Gary Peters understands our values and our concerns," Faville said. "He spent a day side-by-side with a home care worker as part of our endorsement process, and we were very impressed with Gary's passion and his grasp of the issues SEIU workers face." Faville went on to highlight two of Gary Peters key beliefs that impressed SEIU members: Ending the war in Iraq, and supporting children's health care. "Gary Peters wants to end the war, bring our troops home and make sure their children get the health care they need through an expansion of the S-CHIP program. Those two issues are extremely important to SEIU members, as they are to Michiganders as a whole. Our members are excited to support a candidate who shares their vision for a better Michigan and a stronger America." SEIU Secretary-Treasurer Marge Faville

Joe Knollenberg, fool him once, you can fool him again

It's unbelievable. The National Intelligence Estimate, which is the best assessment of 16 intelligence agencies now concludes that Iran discontinued its nuclear weapons program 4 years ago. I haven't hear a word from Joe Knollenberg about this dramatic finding, but recently Congressman Knollenberg has been beating the drums of war against Iran.

On October 15 he gave a speech at the Holocaust Memorial and here is part of what he said, which I obtained from his own web site. CLICK HERE for the link to Joe's web site.

I don’t want to get political this evening. We are here to support the Holocaust Memorial Center. But I am increasingly worried about the situation in Iran. The current dictator in Tehran is a menace to the state of Israel. He’s a menace to the United States. And he’s a menace to people around the world who want to live in freedom.

The Iranian president has said on many occasions that he wants to destroy the state of Israel. I believe him, and I think we have to do everything in our power to prevent him from obtaining nuclear weapons. I know the war in Iraq is not popular. But what happens if we lose in Iraq.

The Iranian dictator, who is supporting the insurgency in Iraq, will move quickly to establish a Hegemonic presence in the Middle East. Moderate Arab nations like Egypt and Jordan will be at risk of falling victim to the scourge of radical Islam.

Now we know, from the most recent NIE, which Vice President Cheney tried to withhold from the public for a year, that Iran is not the threat that the neocons and Joe Knollenberg, have been making it out to be. In fact, it was all a lie and Congress must now hold George W. Bush to account for his lies. Joe Knollenberg needs to be held to account too.

Here is another quote from Joe's web site on a "Hegemonic Iran." CLICK HERE to read the entire page.

The Iranian president continues to march forward with his nuclear ambitions in defiance of the international community. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is hell-bent on developing nuclear weapons because he wants to dominate the Middle East. If the United States withdraws from Iraq before the country is secure, Ahmadinejad and his desire to construct a hegemonic state will be empowered. Iraq will become a haven for radical Islamic fundamentalists who want to destroy Israel and the United States.

You would think with the recent release of the NIE that Joe Knollenberg would reassess his position. But not Joe. He's as stubborn as George W. Bush and takes his marching orders from George W. Bush.

Joe Lets America Down Again - Votes No on Energy Bill

I wish I had good news to report, but Joe Knollenberg let America down again and as expected, voted against the energy bill. It did pass 235-181, but Republicans in the Senate are threatening a filibuster and President Bush is threatening a veto if the bill were to pass the Senate. Looks like another example of obstructionism by the Republicans and Joe Knollenberg.

The Democrats in the House have reached a compromise on fuel economy standards calling for a 40% increase by 2020, including trucks and SUV's. Finally! Some action. It's not nearly enough, but it's a good start. According to this article a vote will take place next week. Let's start calling and writing Joe's office now to urge him to vote yes on this important legislation. Given Joe's history of screwing consumers and the environment, I'm sure Joe will vote No, but miracles do happen. Call Joe's office in Washington D.C. at (202) 225-5802 or go CLICK HERE to send him an e-mail.

VIDEO: Joe NOllenGrinch at the Rochester Christmas Parade

Sorry this is a little out of order, but my computer was sick. Here's some video from Joe NOllenGrinch's visit to the Rochester Christmas parade on December 2. We also passed out flyers, urging people to send in a form to Joe's campaign office urging him to change his vote on children's health care.

What to expect from Republicans in 2008

There is a special election today in Ohio's 5th Congressional District. The Republicans keep playing the same old song, fear. Here's a commercial they are running against the Democrat in the race, Robin Weirauch. I'm sure it's what we can expect next fall against Gary Peters.

Politically Speaking Confirms: Wisecup Leaves

Knollenberg aide leaves

Trent Wisecup, who was U.S. Rep. Joe Knollenberg's chief of staff, is no longer with the office.

Knollenberg's office confirmed this week that Wisecup isn't working for the Bloomfield Township Republican but declined to discuss why, saying it was a personnel matter.

Last month, Wisecup took a leave of absence a couple of weeks after a video posted on YouTube showed him screaming at a persistent Democratic activist. In an e-mail to reporters, Wisecup said he had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

Wisecup declined to comment Monday.
CLICK HERE to link to the Free Press

Joe NOllenGrinch took to the streets of Rochester Sunday

Rochester held its 56th Annual Christmas Parade on Sunday, Deccember 2 and Joe NOllenGrinch was on the street with his message that Joe Knollenberg stole children's health care this Christmas. Joe didn't even show up for the parade this year. All his buddies were there, but no Joe. Another no show for Joe. I doubt he was missed though.

Will Joe hold Auto Companies Accountable on Fuel Economy?

The Democrats in the House have reached a compromise on fuel economy standards calling for a 40% increase by 2020, including trucks and SUV's. Finally! Some action. It's not nearly enough, but it's a good start. According to this article a vote will take place next week. Let's start calling and writing Joe's office now to urge him to vote yes on this important legislation. Given Joe's history of screwing consumers and the environment, I'm sure Joe will vote No, but miracles do happen. Call Joe's office in Washington D.C. at (202) 225-5802 or go CLICK HERE to send him an e-mail.

Vote No On Joe Ranks above Knollenberg campaign web site on Google

It's hard to believe, but Vote No On Joe now ranks above Joe Knollenberg's official campaign web site in the Google search engine and just one spot below Joe's official campaign web site on Yahoo.

Representative Joe Knollenberg
Official web site for Representative Joe Knollenberg (R - MI).
www.knollenberg.house.gov/

Joe Knollenberg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Joseph (Joe) Knollenberg (born November 28, 1933) is a politician from the U.S. state of Michigan, representing Michigan's 9th congressional district in the ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Knollenberg - 50k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this

Vote No on JOE (Knollenberg) joe knollenberg, joe knollenberg, joe ...
I got word today that there is a rumor that Trent Wisecup is no longer working for Joe Knollenberg. I sent an e-mail to Trent's address and it bounced back, ...
votenoonjoe.blogspot.com/ - 191k -

Joe Knollenberg -- The Official Campaign Website of Congres

Trent Wisecup Fired?

I got word today that there is a rumor that Trent Wisecup is no longer working for Joe Knollenberg. I sent an e-mail to Trent's address and it bounced back, another indication that Trent is no longer employed by the Knollenberg camp. It's a good thing Trent is on his wife's health care, what with all the medication he needs, now that he's been diagnosed as being bi-polar and undoubtedly he'll be needing psychiatric care, which isn't cheap either. Without his wife's health care, Trent would know what it's like to be one of the 47 million (37 million if you believe Trent) without health care coverage. I'm going to miss you, Trent.

Nominate Joe Knollenberg for Grinch of the Year

NOMINATE JOE KNOLLENBERG AS YOUR FAVORITE GREEDY GRINCH!

CLICK HERE to nominate Joe Knollenberg

For more than a decade, JwJ coalitions across the country have held local 'Grinch of the Year' elections to determine the most deserving greedy Grinch in their hometowns. This year, national Jobs with Justice will sponsor the seventh annual online Grinch of the Year election to determine the national figure who does the most harm to working families.

Please submit your nomination for the national Grinch of the Year by Friday, November 30th. Be sure to include a few sentences on why you think your nominee is deserving. We will be annoucing the nominees and beginning the election in a few weeks.

More Health Care News for Joe

This article appeared in the Nov. 29 edition of the Detroit Free Press. There are some interesting statistics here. CLICK HERE to read the full article. The part I liked was this.

Dr. A. Mark Fendrick, director of the University of Michigan's Center for Value Based Insurance Design, said lower health premiums in the state reflect Michigan's strong union history that bargained for workplace benefits and made it "a national leader regarding the provision of generous and affordable health insurance."

Basically unions are helping to keep the overall cost of health care below the national average.

Report links higher rates of uninsured and suicide

Joe, since you're a good Catholic, I would hope that this report gets your attention and may even change your mind on voting for measures that provide health care for Americans.

Report links higher rates of uninsured and suicide

November 28, 2007

By MARILYN ELIAS

USA TODAY

The higher the percentage of residents in a state who say they can't afford health care, the greater the prevalence of serious depression and the higher the suicide rate in that state, suggests a report released to USA TODAY.

The state-by-state analysis also links fewer suicides to more adults receiving mental health treatment, greater availability of psychologists and psychiatrists, and "parity" laws requiring equal insurance coverage for physical and mental illness.

(Since your own chief of staff, Trent Wisecup apparently suffers from a serious mental disorder, maybe you will support mental health parity in health care coverage. Is he back to work yet, Joe or was the whole paid leave a cover for Trent being fired or let go from the campaign? Is he still on the payroll?)

The report doesn't prove that lack of care causes depression or suicide, says senior author Tami Mark of Thomson Healthcare. "But it suggests we should be monitoring mental health care and comparing outcomes," she says.

Mark used federal data on mental health and state databases to develop a "depression index," ranking states and the District of Columbia on seriousness and prevalence of depression, as well as suicide rates.

CLICK HERE for the rest of the story

Joe, What Good is a Cutting Edge Cancer Center...

... if people can't afford to get treatment there? Joe Knollenberg's web site brags about how Joe helped get funding for a cutting edge cancer center. But guess what, even people that have insurance may not be able to receive the treatment afforded by this center if we don't change the way we pay for health care. Please read yesterday's post about Fred Holling, who is now in the hospital and needs treatment that his Blue Cross policy won't pay for. He's having to hold spaghetti dinners to try to raise the money needed to get the treatment he needs to stay alive.

Joe Knollenberg's health car plan consists of a $200 tax credit that goes to employers, not the employee, for having wellness programs. Please tell me, Joe, what good does that do for a person that gets cancer and their policy doesn't cover their treatment, someone like Fred Holling, who played by all the rules, but still can't get the treatment he needs.

Joe, this is why we need universal, single-payer health care

I opened up my Oakland Press electronic edition today, and there on the front page is the story below, about a man that worked hard all his life, has purchased health insurance that he pays for himself who gets sick. He assumes that his treatment will be covered by Blue Cross Blue Shield. He trusts that the premiums he's paid all these years will take care of him. But unfortunately he was wrong. He needs an expensive, life-saving procedure that isn't covered by his insurance.

If you haven't read about Joe Knollenberg's health care plan, Joe says that it would be great if employers received a $200 tax credit for offering their employees a wellness program. Ain't that great? But what about the 47 million without health care coverage, 9 million of whom are children? Joe's excuse for for voting against the Children's Health Insurance Program - it's paid for by raising the taxes on the 22 million people who smoke cigarettes by 61 cents per pack.

What about people like Fred Holling who have bought and paid for private insurance, but when the time comes, they turn down their customer for the treatment they need? Oh, and Joe doesn't believe Fred should be able to sue his insurance carrier either. So people like Fred Holling have no recourse against their insurer, who has taken his money all these years, and yet when the time comes to take care of their customer, they tell him, sorry, you're on your own. So, what does Fred have to do, hold fundraisers, to help raise the money needed to pay for his treatment. It shouldn't be this way in America, the only industrialized country in the world that doesn't offer its citizens universal health coverage. Oh, Republicans and Joe Knollenberg get on their soap box and preach that universal health coverage is leading us down the path to "socialized" medicine, as if using that word scares us into submission. Joe would rather spend America's financial resources, and use our national credit card, borrowing money from China to pay for the disasters in Iraq and Afghanistan. How's that for having your priorities straight?

The time has come for Democrats and Republicans to get busy in Congress to pass John Conyers' universal, single-payer health care legislation, so people like Fred can get the treatments they need, without having to beg relatives, friends and strangers for the money to pay for the care they need. What do you say, Joe? Will you help John Conyers pass H.R. 676 now?

CLICK HERE for the rest of the story

It Looks Like Joe and the Republicans Have a Problem in the Hispanic Community

It's interesting that Joe Knollenberg and the Republicans are trying to court the Hispanic vote, when it now appears, according to a Washington Post article, they are slow walking applications for citizenship, which could keep hundreds of thousands of new Hispanic citizens from voting in the 2008 Presidential election. CLICK HERE to read the Washington Post article.

There's also a new report out showing that Hispanic voters are breaking overwhelmingly for Democrats and that may be the reason that the government is not processing new citizen applications as fast as they might otherwise. CLICK HERE to read the report.

Law Enforcement urges override of SCHIP veto

This opinion piece is from the Oakland Press on October 13, 2007, oddly enough the same day I shot my now famous video of Joe Knollenberg and Trent Wisecup in the drug store in Rochester. It's signed by law enforcement officials in several cities and Oakland County Prosecutor, David Gorcyca, urging an override of the SCHIP veto by President Bush. They all recognize that treating children's health and mental issues early prevents crime.

Trent Wisecup makes the case for Mental Health Parity. This might not have happened if Trent had received early treatment.

9th District Campaign Intense, but not "weird"

Last November 15, the Birmingham Eccentric ran a story, "The Strange Saga of the 9th U.S. House Race" and an accompanying opinion piece entitled "Campaign is already weird" One thing conservative writers like Greg Kowalski are very good at is putting emotional words into their stories. Below is Greg's opinion piece, although it doesn't have his name attached, and my reply. Even though, when you ask, they say they are not partisan, reading their stories, you can't help but notice how biased they are. I do give Greg credit, though, for running my reply, unedited, except I had to shorten it to meet the 400 word guideline. And I do appreciate Greg's campaign advice, but with Joe's approval rating at 33% I tend to think that people are paying attention to this race and Joe's voting record and position on issues, maybe due in part to the letters to the editor campaign, the admittedly unique tactics and the truth being told about Joe Knollenberg.

Campaign is already weird (from the 11/15/07 Eccentric)

The November 2008 election is shaping up to be one of the most bizarre in memory.

And it's still 2007.

The big race on the ballot locally will the be 9th U.S. House seat currently occupied by Joe Knollenberg. The Republican from Bloomfield Township has been in office since 1993 and has been a consistent conservative. Only recently has he tried to distance himself from President George Bush and taken up the cause of the American auto industry and its plight.

Knollenberg has come under bitter attack by political foes who are taking their message to the street - literally - following Knollenberg to businesses and even going to his home to challenge him with their questions on such issues as the Iraq war and health insurance coverage.

On an anti-Knollenberg Web site, Joe is held responsible for just about everything bad there is including the number of soldiers killed in Iraq and the $9 trillion national debt.

We're not in the habit of giving campaign advice, but the anti-Knollenberg camp might note that such overkill tactics are not particularly effective in this area where voters tend to be more moderate and reasonable.

We will, however, continue to push for clean election campaigns. Knollenberg is vulnerable on many issues and there is no need to resort to such cheap, and frankly weird, tactics.

My Reply in Thursday’s Birmingham (Thanksgiving Day) Eccentic

Not so weird (My title was, "Campaign is intense, but not "weird")

The only people that are calling the occurrences in the 9th District race weird are members of the press. I think it's important to point out a few things that Kowalski's story, "Strange Saga" overlooked and get a few facts straight. First, there was an incident in a drugstore in Rochester, but I have not been following Knollenberg around. I have been looking for an opportunity to question Knollenberg about the issues important to Oakland County and I had that opportunity in the drugstore.

In the recording in the drugstore, Knollenberg's chief of staff, Trent Wisecup, totally lost his cool when I questioned Knollenberg about his positions on children's health care and Knollenberg's continued support of the war in Iraq. Knollenberg is for more war and death and against providing health care for our children. I would like to see Knollenberg get his priorities straight. I have every right, as an American, in fact it's my duty as a citizen, to ask questions and get straight answers from my representative in the people's House.

Knollenberg also voted against the Health and Human Services bill and helped to block an override of President Bush's veto.

This bill would have provided $3.4 billion for state unemployment insurance and employment services, $340 million to strengthen mine safety protections, $183 million to enforce wage and hour laws, $37 billion for school districts across America, $16.4 billion to lower the costs of student loans, $2 billion for affordable, high-quality child care for low-income families, $7 billion for Head Start programs and $2.2 billion for community health centers, all worthwhile expenditures, especially when compared to more than half a trillion dollars that has been spent on the war and the estimated $1.5 trillion that has been spent so far when all the expenses to the American public are taken into consideration.

Knollenberg can no longer claim to be a fiscal conservative, as he has played a role in the $9 trillion national debt, twice what it was before Bush took office, caused by Bush's tax cuts that benefited the wealthiest 1 percent of Americans.

As Kowalski's article pointed out, Knollenberg's approval rating is down to 33 percent, so people are now paying attention to this race and are starting to realize that Knollenberg doesn't represent their views on the issues and they are ready to vote a Democrat into office next November.

Bruce Fealk

Progressives - for America

I love the Apple commercials that this commercial is patterned after. I think it's the simple, effective message that hits at the heart of the debate over what kind of country we want. I know what kind of country Joe Knollenberg wants. What about you?

Just for Comparison. Here's the Rantings of Trent Wisecup.

I'm a Proud Progressive

I found this new commercial that I think perfectly makes the case for being a Progressive vs. being a Conservative. Maybe some of my readers will weigh in. I'd certainly put Joe Knollenberg in the Conservative column.

Knollenberg to Speak to Hispanic Republicans 11/26

I wonder what kind of questions Joe Knollenberg will get about his stance on immigration at this event given his stance on illegal immigration. Seems like Joe might have some splaining to do to his Hipanic constituency. English as the official language?

Nov 26th – Hispanic Community and Leadership Meet and Greet US Congressman Joe Knollenberg: 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.; Jalepeno’s Restaurant; 812 Baldwin Ave; Pontiac, MI

The Night of the Living Republicans

This video sums the Republican platform very succinctly and with humor, a winning combination.

Joe (Rambo) Knollenberg stars in Unnecessary Force

Knollenberg Helps Bush Sustain Veto of Health and Human Services Bill

George Bush sends a big thank you to Joe Knollenberg, helping him save face at the expense of our nation's workers, veterans and children. I guess Joe decided, our country - and Michigan - didn't need the critical funding that bill would have provided for these domestic programs provided for in H.R. 3043

$3.4 billion for state unemployment insurance and employment services

$340 million to strengthen mine safety protections

$183 million to enforce wage and hour laws

$37 billion for school districts across America

$16.4 billion to lower the costs of student loans

$2 billion for affordable, high-quality child care for low-income families

$7 billion for Head Start programs

$2.2 billion for community health centers

Eccentric: The Strange saga of the 9th District U.S. House Race

This article appeared in the 11/15 edition of the Birmingham, Troy and West Bloomfield Eccentrics. There is one factual correction in regard to the web site that my brother complained about, the e-mails I sent went to my personal e-mail list and it was an invitation to a protest at the Republican debate in Dearborn on October 9. Otherwise, it's kind of amusing and reads like a soap opera. However, I'm glad Greg Kowalski focused on the issues and the fact that Knollenberg has a 33% approval rating and Gary Peters' robust fundraising efforts and his endorsement by the entire Michigan Congressional delegation.

Trent Wiseup's Outburst Covered on MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann

Knollenberg Under Attack by Catholics

Now Joe is under attack from a group called Catholics United, who don't think Joe's vote on SCHIP is a pro-life position that they support. Finally, Joe is being held accountable by pro-life voters.

CLICK HERE to listen to the ad that is currently running



Press Release from Catholics United:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 11, 2007

Contact:
Chris Korzen
(202) 903-0856
ckorzen@catholics-united.org

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.

The ads, which feature a mother urging her Congressional Representative to support SCHIP, will primarily air on Christian and talk radio stations from Monday Oct. 15 to Wednesday, Oct. 17 as Congress approaches a critical Oct. 18 vote to override President Bush’s veto of bipartisan SCHIP legislation.

“Building a true culture of life requires public policies that promote the welfare of the most vulnerable,” said Chris Korzen, executive director of Catholics United. “At the heart of the Christian faith is a deep and abiding concern for the need of others. Pro-life Christians who serve in Congress should honor this commitment by supporting health care for poor children.”

Guest Opinion: By John Ashcraft: Blogger Has a Right to Question Congressman

GUEST OPINION Blogger has a right to question congressman
By JOHN ASHCRAFT

Enough already with the complaints about Bruce Fealk "ambushing" Congressman Joe Knollenberg.

His approach may be disagreeable, but he has a right to hold his U.S. Representative accountable for his decisions and he's been left no other way to do that.

Knollenberg is notorious for snubbing constituents who want to discuss important issues (unless they share his views). His actions better represent the positions of the radical right than his Oakland County constituents.

In his most recent encounter with Fealk, Knollenberg was only asked to explain when he would represent the views of his district and vote to end the war in Iraq or support the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).

Keith Olbermann of MSNBC Covers Wisecup's Outburst

Rather than answer Fealk's fair questions, Knollenberg walked away and turned loose his chief of staff, Trent Wisecup, who ripped into Fealk like a pit-bull.

True to form, the media have framed the whole episode as an example of political activism gone too far. But, Bruce Fealk is just an American citizen who deserves representation.

Yes, he's a member of MoveOn.org, but he hasn't been hired by that or any other group. He's acting on his own accord.

In contrast, Wisecup is on Knollenberg's staff. In fact, he is the chief of Knollenberg's staff. Furthermore, in the video of the confrontation, Wisecup told Fealk he spoke for the Congressman when he said Fealk was Un-American, that he wanted to lose in Iraq and that he wasn't a citizen. Why wasn't that the story?

"Congressman attacks constituent for asking policy questions," seems like a pretty good headline to me.

I agree that politics has gone too far lately. But the offense is not that of a constituent who is forced to use desperate means to hold his representative accountable.

It's the abusive personal attacks that are loosed on anyone who doesn't tow the party line.And this is part of a broad pattern that extends from big shots like John Kerry to little children as we saw with 12- year-old Graeme Frost, who dared to advocate for SCHIP.


By holding our leaders accountable for not doing their jobs, Bruce Fealk also exposed the media's failure to do its job. So it makes sense that the media and the politicians don't like him.ÊBut the rest of us should praise him, not vilify him.Ê

John Ashcraft of Troy considers himself to be a liberal, a lay person and a Christian
Click here for the rest of the story

Oakland County Democratic Chair: Knollenberg Should Apologize to the Kids

Joe Screws the Middle Class Again

Joe Knollenberg voted against middle-class taxpayers again by voting against a bill that will protect middle income taxpayers from a tax that was meant to only affect wealthy people.

CLICK HERE to read the entire article

The AMT was created in 1969 to ensure that a very small number of wealthy people could not use tax breaks or deductions to avoid paying any taxes. But it was never indexed for inflation, and every year the AMT draws in more middle-income taxpayers. This year some 4 million people were subject to the tax.

What is certain is that if Congress and the White House do not reach acompromise by the end of the year, anywhere from 21 million to 25 million middle-income taxpayers will be hit by the AMT, costing them as much as $2,000 in extra taxes.

But anti-tax Republicans said the AMT was a mistake and thus offsets were unneeded. "What absolute lunacy," said Rep. David Dreier, R-California, "paying for a tax that was never intended."

Democrats argued that 23 million people in danger of getting hit by the AMT would be protected by tax changes affecting some 50,000 people earning carried interest.

Joe Says He Supports Veterans. Another Lie

Joe Knollenberg voted against H.R. 3043 which would have provided the following for veterans. Looks like another case where what Joe says and what he does don't match up.

• $231 million for Veterans' Employment and Training programs to assist returning veterans to find and train for jobs
• $23.6 million for the Homeless Veterans' Program. $10 million for those veterans suffering from traumatic brain injuries (TBI), for their rehabilitation, hospital care and long-term support.
• $3.4 billion for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Here's what Joe says on his web site: CLICK HERE to read the rest of Joe's web site on Veterans issues.

Our most vulnerable veterans are those that were disabled during their tenure in the military. The government will always have a duty to care for these men and women. Recently, Congressman Knollenberg has strongly advocated for an annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for the benefits of disabled veterans.
Currently disabled veterans do not automatically receive a COLA for their benefits. Congressman Knollenberg supports an annual automatic increase for disabled veterans in order to keep their benefits relevant and their purchasing power equal to the cost-of-living.

Guess What, Joe? 69% Support Higher Mileage Requirements

Joe Knollenberg says that raising CAFE standards, higher mileage for our cars and trucks would ruin the domestic auto industry. The people say, give us higher mileage.

Give us more m.p.g., voters say
November 10, 2007
BY JUSTIN HYDE
FREE PRESS WASHINGTON STAFF
Voters aren't buying the arguments Detroit automakers are using against tougher fuel economy standards in Congress, with 69% supporting a 35 mile-per-gallon rule by 2020 in a nationwide poll released Friday.
The survey of 1,000 voters this month by the Pew Campaign for Fuel Efficiency and the National Environmental Trust came as Congressional leaders consider fuel provisions in an energy bill that could come up for a vote as soon as next week.

The pollsters said national security worries, such as depending on terrorism-linked regimes for oil, were overwhelming every argument automakers had made against tougher standards.

CLICK HERE for the rest for the rest of the story.

SCHIP covered on PBS Puts a Human Face on the Lack of Funding

While President Bush and Republicans like Joe Knollenberg try to explain away why they won't vote to extend the State Children's Health Insurance Program real children with real health problems go without health care coverage and some will die.

CLICK HERE to watch NOW on PBS report on the crisis in children's health care.

I hope everyone in Joe Knollenberg's office will watch this report. I know you're watching this blog, so make good use of your time.

Oakland Press - Knollenberg got it wrong on SCHIP

This is the Oakland Press version of my guest opinion about Joe Knollenberg's opposition to the SCHIP bill. It's been edited since I wrote it, but you get the point.

Trent Wisecup Bullying a Constituent

Keith Olbermann Covers Trent Wisecup's Outburst in Rochester

Detroit News: Knollenberg Approval at 33%

Michigan Dems back Peters, Schauer for Congress
Gordon Trowbridge / Detroit News Washington Bureau

CLICK HERE to read the full story

Michigan's congressional Democrats will unite next month to host a fundraiser for congressional candidates Gary Peters and Mark Schauer.

Sens. Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow, as well as the state's six House Democrats, will host the Dec. 15 fundraiser in Livonia. The announcement cements the Democratic establishment's support for Peters, the former state senator and state lottery czar who faces a primary opponent in his bid to unseat Republican Rep. Joe Knollenberg, R-West Bloomfield.

"This definitely sends a strong message that we have the enthusiastic support of the entire congressional delegation," said Peters.

Coming Soon: Joe Knollenberg as The Grinch that Stole Chldren's Health Care

Peters Surging, Knollenberg Tanking

It's very bad news for an incumbent when they poll below 50%, so this is very good news for challenger Gary Peters. And the SCHIP polling shows a 14 point swing.

Gary Peters (D): 35
Joe Knollenberg (R-inc): 42
(MoE: ±4.8%)
While the exact trendlines are not available, Knollenberg's 7-point lead is down from a 12-point lead in April. He's also well under the magic 50%
mark, well before the campaign has even been engaged. Not good news for Team Red.

And in a sign of S-CHIP's salience, Knollenberg is very vulnerable on the issue:

Knollenberg's 7-point lead turned into a 7-point deficit after respondents were read both a push question characterizing his position on SCHIP, and the Democratic and Republican arguments for and against the program.

Joe Does the Right Thing, for a change

Today the House passed the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and Joe Knollenberg voted for it. Congratulations Joe, finally something I can actually genuinely praise you for. Way to go. I knew you could do it.

Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2007 - (Sec. 4) Makes it an unlawful employment practice for covered entities (employers, employment agencies, labor organizations, or joint labor-management committees) to discriminate against an individual on the basis of actual or perceived sexual orientation, including actions based on the actual or perceived sexual orientation of a person with whom the individual associates or has associated. Prohibits preferential treatment or quotas. Allows only disparate treatment claims.

Joe Knollenberg to Michigan's Children: DROP DEAD!

Joe Knollenberg has picked up a really bad habit from George W. Bush, LYING! He is incapable of telling the truth. The guest opinion piece in Wednesday's Oakland Press, is outrageous in the number of lies. Here's Joe's version of why he's not supporting expanding the State Children's Health Insurance Program. The truth is below the lies. Even several of Joe's fellow Republican colleagues are speaking out on providing health care to children.
Lie 1: The bill opens the door for illegal immigrants to receive benefits.

Reality: The latest version of the SCHIP bill specifically excludes illegal aliens from receiving benefits under the provisions of the bill.

Lie 2: The bill is paid for by 22 million new smokers.

Reality: The bill is paid for by raising the tobacco tax by 61 cents a pack. The higher the cost of cigarettes, the less likely kids will take up smoking. According to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, a 61-cent increase in the tobacco tax means that 1,873,000 fewer children will take up smoking. Furthermore, the vast majority of Members of the House and Senate – both Democratic and Republican – are on record in favor of raising tobacco taxes. In August, all but 4 House Republicans voted for the GOP motion to recommit that included an increase of 45 cents a pack in the tobacco tax.

Lie 3: The bill would expand coverage to 700,000 adults.

Reality: The SCHIP program focuses virtually all of its resources on children in the poorest of working families – fewer than 1 in 10 children covered under SCHIP lives in a family of four earning more than $41,000 a year. This is how the program will remain under the bill.

This bipartisan bill places the priority on children’s coverage – and therefore PHASES OUT the coverage of parents and childless adults entirely over a two-year period (there are currently about 600,000 of these adults covered under SCHIP). Only optional coverage for pregnant women remains under the bill.

SCHIP has broad bi-partisan support and Joe Knollenberg is out of step with many of his Republican colleagues.

Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa)“[This bill] breaks the legislative impasse and should have strong support from both Democrats and Republicans. The bill will enable the Children’s Health Insurance Program to help cover millions more low-income children.”

[Joint press release, 9/21/07]Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Iowa)“I have been fighting for legislation that will not only continue the CHIP program, but also cover more low-income kids who are eligible for CHIP. Today, we are unveiling our bipartisan compromise that accomplishes those two very important goals. Our proposal is an honest compromise which improves a program that works for America’s low-income children.”

[Joint press release, 9/21/07]Rep. Vernon Ehlers (R-Mich.)“I grew up with acute asthma, and I know personally how important it is for kids to have access to affordable health care. This bill will continue to provide health care coverage to millions of children who otherwise would be uninsured."

Guest Post: Trent Wisecup Posterboy for Universal Health Care

By Kathy at BloggingForMichigan


Joe Knollenberg's Chief of Staff, Trent Wisecup, has been getting lots of press following his tirade against anti-war activist Bruce Fealk. The story doesn't end there. Wisecup recently sent the following statement to a local paper:

"I haven't been sleeping well of late, as you all will know from all the late e-mails I have been sending over the past few months. Some of the e-mails have been really weird and flat-out kooky. I recently checked myself into Beaumont (Hospital)... to see what was up. I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. This is a form of depression that fortunately is treatable with medication."

Wisecup's reports of sleeplessness, kooky behavior and his recent outburst toward Fealk are all symptoms of bipolar disorder. Other symptoms include impulsiveness, reckless behavior, poor judgement, anger, agitation, social withdrawal and thoughts of suicide. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness "the ramifications of bipolar disorder include a significant economic toll, as well as family disruption, caregiver stress, and an individual burden encompassing comorbid illnesses, substance abuse, poor functionality, and high suicide risk."

Wisecup is lucky to have health insurance and a more than generous salary of $160,000 to cover his deductibles and other expenses necessary to treat his illness. That's not the case for more than 40% of Americans. According to a recent Consumer's Report survey, there are three tiers of health care consumers in the United States: the adequately-insured, who account for 59% of all Americans in the population sampled; the underinsured, who represent 24% of all Americans sampled; and the uninsured, who comprise 16% of our sample.
Bipolar disorder is the 6th leading cause of disability worldwide according to NAMI and the most expensive mental health care diagnosis, both for patients with the illness and for their health insurance plans. The costs to society are significant too: "lost productivity of wage earners, totaling $17 billion; homemakers, $3 billion; and caregivers, $6 billion, as well as the cost of institutionalization, $3 billion, and the lost productivity costs for individuals lost to suicide, $8 billion."

Additionally, NAMI reports that patients with bipolar disorder and their families experience significant losses in functional status and quality of life, placing untoward stress on personal relationships; 56 percent of people with bipolar disorders abused or were dependent on illicit drugs, and 44 percent had comorbid alcohol abuse; many patients with bipolar disorder divorce or experience martial problems; caregivers also feel the effects of patients' illnesses on their work and leisure time; and the combination of missed work hours and lower productivity caused by stress adds a financial burden on the caregiver, as well as on society as a whole.

It's no wonder a majority of Americans favor some sort of universal health coverage. Mental and physical diseases touch all of us, not just the person afflicted by the condition.
Wisecup will get the medications and regular checkups he needs to keep his disease under control, but millions of others won't be so fortunate - including a number of the more than 800,000 children who are diagnosed with bipolar disorder each year and the 2.3 million adults currently living with the disorder.

It's time to put Trent Wisecup's face on a poster advocating health care for all Americans.

Eccentrics - Wisecup takes medical leave

Today several of the Oberserver and Eccentric newspapers carried the story below about Trent Wisecup taking a leave of absence from Joe Knollenberg's office. Funny thing is some people don't believe Wisecup's story. When I posted an entry on Daily Kos and asked whether Trent is really sick or if he is using the medical story as cover for his behavior, these are the results.

Do you believe that Trent is really sick or is this a cover story?
Trent is really sick
18 votes - 20 %
It's a politically motivated cover story
68 votes - 79 %

It's kind of interesting too that Wisecup is blaming his behavior in the Rochester drug store where I confronted his boss, Joe Knollenberg about his vote on the war on lack of sleep, not his bi-polar disorder.

If Trent is really sick, then I have all the sympathy and empathy in the world for him, but if he isn't, this is a really despicable act to use a medical condition to cover up for really bad behavior and bad judgment. In the Keith Olbermann piece about Trent's outburst, Rachel Maddow seems to say that she had contacted Knollenberg's office and was told that they actually had a meeting about me and what to do should they encounter me and they made a concious decision to confront me the way Trent does in the video. Wisecup claiming to be sick is just the kind of tactic Trent might have learned at the knee of Karl Rove the most prolific polital dirty trickster in history, who even stooped to outing a CIA agent to protect his boss, President Bush. It would gain Wisecup sympathy and make him immune to further attacks, since anyone attacking him would be criticized for attacking someone with a mental illness.


Knollenberg's chief of staff takes medical leave
By Greg Kowalski
STAFF WRITER

The bruising campaign for Joe Knollenberg's 9th U.S. House seat took another hit Thursday when Trent Wisecup, Knollenberg's chief of staff, announced he is going on medical leave.

Wisecup sent an e-mail Friday stating, "I haven't been sleeping well of late, as you all will know from all the late e-mails I have been sending over the past few months. Some of the e-mails have been really weird and flat-out kooky. I recently checked myself into Beaumont (Hospital)... to see what was up. I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. This is a form of depression that fortunately is treatable with medication."

Steve Betz, field representative for Knollenberg, said Wisecup went on paid leave Oct. 22, and no date has been set for his return. He'll come back "when he's rested and ready," Betz said. "It's left up to him."

Betz said the election race - which is already in full force more than a year before the vote in November 2008 - is exceptionally hot. "It's a stressful environment," Betz said.

Knollenberg has been under a virtual siege with Democrats targeting his seat as vulnerable. Knollenberg was first elected in 1992 and has won re-election every election since as a solid Republican.

He is facing a strong challenge from Democrat Gary Peters and Nancy Skinner. Knollenberg narrowly defeated Skinner last year.

In recent weeks, anti-Knollenberg campaigners have been following the Congressman around to area stores and even to his Bloomfield Township home with video cameras asking him, among other things, why he supports the Iraq war.

In a widely circulated video, Wisecup had a confrontation in an area store with Bruce Fealk, a Rochester Hills man who has been highly critical of Knollenberg. The video shows Wisecup berating Fealk and shielding Knollenberg. "I got fired up about the MoveOn.org protester and his mugging video, protesting Sandie Knollenberg at her home tactics because I think politics in America should be better," Wisecup said in his e-mail.

"I love my job, especially when I can make a difference for people in Michigan and Oakland County," Wisecup said.

Valerie Plame and Joe Wilson with Bill Maher

This is definitely off topic, but this is a great interview of Valerie Plame and Joe Wilson on Real Time with Bill Maher. It's clear to me that this administration is guilty of treason and the attendant punishment for outing Valerie Plame. This is a must watch interview.

Oakland Press Story

This morning in the Oakland Press a story appeared, "Brother Speaks Against Political Activist." While I'm disappointed in my brother's actions, writing to Trent Wisecup, and the resulting story is personally hurtful, I am confident I did nothing wrong and I want to focus on issues. Were my activities of no consequence Trent would not have a need to try to attack me personally and distract attention away from his behavior and Joe Knollenberg's voting record. I choose to stay focused on Joe Knollenberg's voting record. I'm still waiting for an answer to my questions, Joe.

1. When are you going to finally realize that the war in Iraq is an unmitigated disaster and vote to end the war?
2. While you, your fellow congressmen and women and Trent Wisecup (although according to Trent, he chooses to get his insurance through his wife) enjoy full medical benefits, millions of children in this country have no insurance and rely on SCHIP to supply affordable health insurance in the private insurance market. When will you decide to have compassion for America's children and vote in favor of the SCHIP program?
3. Why have you been beating the drums of war against Iran. We have conducted no diplomacy with Iran and we all know another war, with Iran, will only create another disaster and possibly lead to dire consequences for the world?

All of my efforts are focused on the issues, Joe. How about you and Trent do the same and honor the desires of your constituents that pay your salary?

Press Release - Activist Calls for Equal Treatment for all Americans

All Americans Deserve Full Health Coverage and Mental Health Parity

Political activist Bruce Fealk hopes that the current situation of Rep. Joe Knollenberg's Chief of Staff, Trent Wisecup, taking leave from his position to address a bi-polar disorder "can be seen in a very sympathetic light by everyone in our community. Like any medical condition, your hope is for full recovery and that the financial burden of this sudden situation will be relieved."

"I offer my thoughts of support to Trent Wisecup and his family" said Fealk upon learning that Wisecup had recently been diagnosed and is being treated for bi-polar disorder. "I want to commend Congressman Knollenberg for keeping the door open for Wisecup to return to work in the Congressman's office."

Fealk is hoping the situation of Rep. Knollenberg having a health crisis strike so close to him will help him change his mind on health care coverage in this country.

"While Wisecup will receive full pay (almost $160,000 per year) and have his treatment paid for, many average, hard working Americans would not be so lucky if the same thing happened to them," says Fealk. "This situation for others could have left them with huge medical bills for their treatment, perhaps even sending them into bankruptcy. Even those lucky enough to have medical coverage, may not be covered for mental disorders, like bi-polar disease, and would then be denied the mental health care that should be sought along with the medication."

"The majority of voters in America want universal health care. We call on Rep. Joe Knollenberg to not only change his vote on SCHIP, but to join those in Congress calling for universal coverage for all Americans, and with mental health parity. Why should members of Congress and their staffs get Cadillac coverage while 47 million Americans have no health or mental health coverage at all?"

"Congressmen and women should not be seen as better than any other American." said Bruce Fealk, the videographer in the incident in downtown Rochester, in which Wisecup spewed venomous comments into Fealk's camera, calling him an un-American, Toyota lover.

"Name one person you know that doesn't deserve medical and mental health care when needed without the worry of asking how to pay for the treatment. Did you think of one yet?" "I wonder if Congressman Knollenberg thinks of Wisecup's health care coverage as socialized medicine, as he stated in a recent guest opinion in The Oakland Press?" Fealk commented

Wisecup checks himself into hospital after outburst in Rochester

Knollenberg's chief of staff takes time off after heated words with anti-war activist.

Deb Price / The Detroit News

CLICK HERE FOR FULL STORY


U.S. Rep. Joe Knollenberg's chief of staff, who was recently caught on video in a heated exchange with an anti-war activist, said Thursday he is on paid medical leave to deal with a mood-swing disorder.

In an an e-mail to reporters, aide Trent Wisecup said he recently checked himself into Beaumont Hospital in Oakland after sending out "weird and flat out kooky" e-mails.

He added that on Oct. 13 he got "fired up" in what became a tense verbal skirmish with a camera-wielding activist challenging Knollenberg, R-Bloomfield Hills, over the Iraq war and children's health care.

A video of the incident at a Rochester drugstore, titled "Trent Wisecup goes crazy in Rochester," is up on YouTube.com, where it has been viewed more than 35,600 times.

Wisecup said he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, which can be treated with medication. Knollenberg spokesman Steve Betz said Wisecup will return to his nearly $160,000-a-year job as chief of staff.

Now it's time to Fire Joe Knollenberg

Now that Trent Wisecup is on paid leave from the employ of Joe Knollenberg's Congressional office, it's time to look at Joe's lack of judgment. Joe took over two weeks to act on Trent Wisecup's despicable behavior toward me. I was asking legitimate questions of my Congressman that I deserve to have answered.

Joe Knollenberg is accountable to his constituents and he should be out in public answering questions about his positions on issues, not hiding behind his chief of staff who apparently was given the go ahead to confront me when they encountered me. Joe Knollenberg works for his constituents. This is still a government of the people, by the people and for the people, no matter how much George W. Bush, Dick Cheney and Joe Knollenberg may tell us we have to turn over power to them to stay safe. I hope this incident gives strength to other citizens to hold their elected officials accountable to them.