So, let's take a look at Joe's environmental record
Dirty Dozen Member # 2: Representative Joe Knollenberg
The second person added to the Dirty Dozen today is Representative Joe Knollenberg (R-MI). While Rep. Knollenberg calls himself an environmentalist saying that “protecting, preserving, and providing for the health of our environment is one of his top priorities,” his record paints a much different picture. Rep. Knollenberg has repeatedly voted for corporate polluters and against environmental protections, earning him a lifetime LCV score of only 7 percent. Rep. Knollenberg has strongly opposed all attempts to raise fuel economy standards for cars and trucks. In 1998 and 1999, Knollenberg attached a rider known as 'the Knollenberg amendment' to congressional budget appropriation bills to prevent government agencies from doing anything that would regulate global warming pollution, including forbidding the EPA from holding educational seminars about global warming. In August 2007, he voted against a provision that would increase the amount of renewable energy produced in the United States.
“Michigan families need to ask, ‘whose side is Representative Joe Knollenberg really on?’” LCV President Gene Karpinski said. “Rep. Knollenberg’s record clearly shows that he votes for policies that reward his corporate contributors rather than supporting clean energy solutions to our energy challenges that would help fight global warming. We want to help inform Rep. Knollenberg’s constituents about his terrible environmental voting record – he can’t hide from it any longer.”
Joe earned a score of 20 from the League of Conservation Voters. If you look at his web site, you'd think he was the best thing to happen to the environment ever. There's even pictures of Joe picking up leave at a park in Royal. So, you'd have to conclude that Joe give a rip about the environment if he and his staff were at a park picking up leaves, right? Nothing could be further from the truth. If it comes down to business or the environment, business wins every time. God forbid the auto companies should be required to build cars that get higher mileage when gas is pushing $4.00 per gallon.
Joe Knollenberg is no environmentalist, no matter what his taxpayer paid for mailers or his web site say.
Gary Peters and Joe Knollenberg are on opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to their environmental records. On Earth Day, Gary Peters gained the endorsement of the League of Conservation Voters. Peters and Knollenberg can't be further apart on the environment. Knollenberg was added to the LCV's "Dirty Dozen" list as one of the members of Congress with a terrible record on the environment.
Gordon Trowbridge / Detroit News Washington Bureau
ROCHESTER -- Outside groups are gearing up to spend thousands of dollars in Michigan's two high-profile congressional races, pushing everything from environmental protection to tax cuts to animal welfare.
One of the biggest outside players weighed in Monday, when the League of Conservation Voters endorsed Democrat Gary Peters in his bid to unseat Rep. Joe Knollenberg, R-Bloomfield Hills.
"There's a clear contrast here in the 9th District," Peters said at a news conference announcing the endorsement, criticizing Knollenberg for what he called a failure to help position Michigan for a new economy based on alternative energy sources.
So, Joe, what kind of resolution will you call for if Jimmy Carter is successful in negotiating peace between Hamas and the Israelis. Will he sponsor legislation doubling the amount of money the Carter Center gets? Doubt it.
DAMASCUS, Syria - The leader of Hamas said Monday that his Palestinian militant group would offer Israel a 10-year "hudna," or truce, as implicit proof of recognition of Israel if it withdrew from all lands it seized in the 1967 Middle East War.
Khaled Mashaal told The Associated Press that he made the offer to former U.S. President Jimmy Carter in talks on Saturday. "We have offered a truce if Israel withdraws to the 1967 borders, a truce of 10 years as a proof of recognition," Mashaal said.
In his comments Monday, Mashaal used the Arabic word "hudna," meaning truce, which is more concrete than "tahdiya" — a period of calm — which Hamas often uses to describe a simple cease-fire.
Well, it's hard to believe, but Joe Knollenberg actually found a way to make it into the news. Joe Knollenberg is ok with torture, no health care for 47 million Americans, the war in Iraq, the shredding of the civil liberties of Americans, and a whole host of other issues that have been devastating to our standing in the world.
Now, though, he wants to go after Jimmy Carter. Now, I don't pretend to know if Carter's conducting talks with a leader of Hamas is a good idea or not. It seems any time, though, that we are talking to our enemies conducting diplomacy at least we have a chance at negotiating a settlement of differences.
In this interview (click here to listen. it starts about half way through) Joe actually took a shot at Carter's age, suggesting that Carter may be losing it by choosing to talk to Hamas.
By TODD SPANGLER • FREE PRESS WASHINGTON STAFF • April 17, 2008
Rep. Joe Knollenberg is pushing legislation that would prohibit the federal government from giving money to a center headed by former President Jimmy Carter – a reaction to Carter’s plans to meet with Hamas, an Islamic militant group.
Knollenberg, a Bloomfield Township Republican, introduced the legislation in Congress on Wednesday to block future funding of the Carter Center, a human rights organization based in Atlanta and founded by the former president.
Carter has been criticized by officials in the United States and Israel for agreeing to meet with Hamas as part of a Mideast peace mission. Hamas has opposed peace negotiations and has called for Israel’s destruction, and the United States considers Hamas a terrorist organization.
Said Knollenberg: “America must speak with one voice against our terrorist enemies. It sends a fundamentally troubling message when an American dignitary is engaged in dialogue with terrorists. My legislation will make sure that taxpayer dollars are not being used to support discussions or negotiations with terrorist groups.”
Knollenberg, according to his staff, was the first member of Congress to speak out against Carter’s meeting, sending him a letter after hearing of it and asking him to reconsider.
“I would hate for Hamas to realize any benefit from an American dignitary, such as you, engaging in dialogue with them,” he said.
The bill, the Coordinated American Response to Extreme Radicals or CARTER Act prohibits taxpayer funds from being appropriated to the Carter Center, which Knollenberg’s office said has received at least $19 million in federal money since 2001.
The Associated Press reported Carter’s meeting with Hamas officials was occurring in Cairo, Egypt, today
Disarmament with mutual honor and confidence is a continuing imperative. Together, we must learn to compose differences, not with arms, but with intellect and decent purpose.
If you said the five-star general who planned and carried out the invasion of Normandy, and later as president said that he'd use force to prevent the dirty Reds from taking over the Middle East, you'd be right. But, those were perhaps naive days, what with generals talking about peace plans and rebuilding Europe with American money and what not. Talking, especially to people you call enemies, is treason, which explains:
With the highly publicized meetings of late between Jimmy Carter and the terrorist group Hamas, Rep. Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) is pushing legislation that would prohibit the federal government from giving money to the Carter Center here in Atlanta.
I mean, this is just downright embarrassing. You can think that talks with Hamas will ultimately not be fruitful, but punishing a Nobel Peace Prize laureate for trying to promote peace (not to mention playing a big role in the historic talks between Begin and Sadat that got both of them the same prize)? The name of the bill? The Coordinated American Response to Extreme Radicals Act (CARTER Act). It's a slap in the face to an ex-president and an insult to the idea of respectful disagreement.
But, naturally, Knollenberg's legislation wouldn't actually hurt Carter, but rather those who benefit from Carter's work, which is really all of humanity. That means Joe Knollenberg wants to punish all of humanity because Jimmy Carter is going to a part of the world where he's had success finding peace where it'd proven elusive for the previous four decade, and try to help people compose differences, not with arms, but with intellect and decent purposes.
Ike must be rolling over in his grave at the idiocy rampant in what used to be his party.
Two of the Eccentric Papers, Birmingham, Rochester and West Bloomfield published the letter I wrote regarding Joe's appearance at the Rochester Chamber's Legislative update meeting.
As I was sitting in the audience at the Rochester Chamber Legislative Update meeting in Rochester, I felt angry, and the more I listened, the angrier I got. There was Joe Knollenberg telling everyone how his health care idea, tax credits for wellness programs for employers and his other mantra, personal responsibility, are the cures to what ails the American health care system.
Then I see this little article in a local paper. I see them all the time, people holding fund-raisers for people who have some kind of health care crisis, many times it's children. When I saw this article it made me think, this should never happen in America. It also made me think how Joe was telling the audience about personal responsibility. Mike Bishop was doing it, too. Well, I have to say, all that talk about personal responsibility was making me sick. When someone we know gets diagnosed with cancer, there is usually no personal responsibility that person has for getting cancer. Maybe smoking is an exception.
The boy mentioned in the article isn't to blame for getting cancer. What did he do that he doesn't deserve to get the best treatment available?
We are spending trillions of dollars on the fiasco in Iraq, but we can't afford health care for all of our citizens? What a joke.
As the line from the movie Network says, "I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore." We can have universal, single-payer health care in this country, if we just get mad enough and direct our anger at our government and demand it.
Joe, we aren't going to take it any more. Republicans are out of touch with mainstream, middle-class Americans and the "Let them eat cake" attitude of the Republican Party is going to lead to sweeping victories for Democrats in the fall.
This article appeared in today's Birmingham Eccentric. The Democrats are now united behind Gary Peters and up to the challenge of knocking off 8-term incumbent Hawaii Joe Knollenberg.
Money talks — and Skinner walks — in 9th House race by Greg Kowalski Eccentric Staff writer
It was money — specifically, the lack of it — that forced Nancy Skinner out of the race for the 9th U.S. House seat.
She didn’t have an exact amount Tuesday morning of how much her derailed campaign had raised before she withdrew from the race, but she badly trailed fellow Democrat Gary Peters and incumbent Republican Joe Knollenberg.
“The system is so geared toward money, it makes it so difficult to compete,” Skinner said. On Saturday, Skinner officially endorsed Peters.
She said she did not want to compete against a fellow Democrat all the way to the August primary election. “That would be a gift to Knollenberg,” she said. “For the sake of the party,” she threw her support behind Peters.
Yesterday, Joe Knollenberg voted against a bill that would have ensured that your vote is counted. Democrats are concerned about electronic voting machines accurately counting Americans' votes in the upcoming election. Republican could give a hoot. $3 trillion for the fiasco in Iraq, $0 to ensure we have a real democracy. Way to go, Joe.
Legislation sponsored by a New Jersey congressman that would have reimbursed states wanting to adopt voting safeguards before the November presidential election failed to win approval Tuesday in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The bill, dubbed the Emergency Assistance for Secure Elections Act of 2008, fell short of the two-thirds majority it needed to pass, even after clearing a House committee unanimously. The vote was 239-178 in favor, with all but two Democrats supporting it and all but 16 Republicans opposed.
The two Democrats who voted nay on H R 5036 were Reps. Dennis Kucinich and Nick Rahall. The 16 Republicans who voted in favor of the bill were Reps. Vern Buchanan, Steve Chabot, Tom Cole, Tom Davis, Charlie Dent, Lincoln Diaz-Balart, Mario Diaz-Balart, Jim Gerlach, Dean Heller, Tim Murphy, Marilyn Musgrave, Jon Porter, Jim Ramstad, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Chris Shays, and Chris Smith.
The bill would have allowed states and jurisdictions to be reimbursed by the federal government for converting to a paper ballot system, offering emergency paper ballots or conducting audits by hand counts.
The measure was designed to ensure that every vote is properly counted. Voters in all or parts of 20 states including New Jersey now cast ballots electronically without backup paper verification, according to the bill's sponsor, Rep. Rush Holt, D-N.J.
The bill would have provided reimbursements for states to provide voter-verified, audited balloting for the general election, but it would not have mandated standards for the states.
Gary Peters nearly matched Joe Knollenberg in the run for the money. Peters raised over 90% of his money from within the state of Michigan and the race has been added to the Democrats' Red to Blue program where Democrats are targeting incumbent Republicans. Keep up the good work, Gary. We're counting on you.
The U.S. congressional race for Michigan's 9th District is shaping up as a microcosm of the presidential election in Michigan: an evenly divided red-blue battleground whose recent voting patterns closely follow national trends. The contest has already seen angry confrontations between the candidates' supporters, dueling videographers seeking damning footage, and now a candidate with the nickname "Dr. Death."
The incumbent, U.S. Rep. Joe Knollenberg, R-Bloomfield Hills, is seeking his ninth term in the House. He faces a challenge from Gary Peters, a Democratic former state senator and lottery commissioner. Dr. Jack Kevorkian, famous for assisting more than 100 patients who wanted to commit suicide, announced in March his intention to run as an independent.
The district lies in Oakland County, a suburban area northwest of Detroit that also encompasses the city of Pontiac.
"Oakland County has been considered Republican, and most of the county commissioners are Republicans," said Glenn Clark, chair of the Republican party in the 9th Congressional District. The decision by Democratic presidential candidates Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama not to campaign in Michigan for the primary, coupled with the decision by the Democratic National Committee not to seat Michigan's presidential delegation in retaliation for moving up the presidential primary in violation of party rules, has further encouraged Knollenberg supporters.
"The district went for [Democratic presidential nominee Sen. John] Kerry in the last election," counters Democratic activist Bruce Fealk."It is definitely a swing district." CLICK HERE for the rest of the story
Virgil Goode, a Virgina Congressman and dare I say a racist of the highest order. Here is a video of Goode appearing on Fox News. Goode gave Joe's campaign $500. I wonder if Joe keeps any track at all of who is giving him money. This is $500 I would send back immediately, if I were Joe Knollenberg.
Another interesting donor, Anthony Saove. You remember Saove. He is the guy that builds those refrigerated rail cars that Joe helped out in the last election cycle. It looks like Anthony and his wife are maxed out though. He and his wife each gave $4600 to Joe's campaign.
Gary Peters' campaign is really picking up momentum. Gary's campaign came close to matching Joe Knollenberg's fund raising for the first quarter of 2008. I can't wait for some polling to come out on this race. I really feel like Gary has old Joe on the run and the Republicans know this seat is at risk due to Gary Peters being right on the issues Americans and 9th District voters care about, the economy, the war and health care.
For an 8-term incumbent, the trends are encouraging for Peters. Knollenberg only raised $282,046 from individuals. Click here for Joe's campaign finance report. Almost a third of Joe's money comes from PACs. 94% of Peters' contributions came from individuals and 90% from in-state contributors. Comparing Joe to other long-term Congress members, Joe looks like he's in real trouble this year.
Demonstrating Continued Momentum, Peters Raises More Than $346,000 for 1st Quarter 90% of Peters' Nearly $748,000 for the Cycle Raised in Michigan; 94% from Individuals
Oakland County MI – Congressional candidate Gary Peters will report raising more than $346,000 for the 1st Quarter, his strongest fundraising period to date in his 2008 bid for Congress. Peters, who will officially file tomorrow with the Federal Elections Commission, raised over $346,000 for the first quarter, bringing the total funds raised this cycle to over $748,000. The numbers also demonstrate Peters' strong support within the state, having received 90 percent of his contributions from Michigan and 94 percent from individuals.
"As I travel throughout Oakland County, people tell me over and over again they are energized by our grassroots campaign for change, because they are fed up with Washington and they are worried about the economy," said Peters. "For the past seven plus years, Joe Knollenberg has rubberstamped President Bush's disastrous economic policies every step of the way resulting in job losses, soaring gas prices, and mounting health care costs, and Oakland County voters have finally had enough."
Peters has continued to gain strong support in Oakland County by garnering several key endorsements this quarter including the League of Conservation Voters, the United Auto Workers, and his former primary opponent Nancy Skinner.
"We are thrilled with the outpouring of instate support that Gary has received from individuals in Michigan," Peters' Campaign Manager Julie Petrick said. "This just goes to show Michigan contributors from across the political spectrum are the ones fueling Gary's grassroots campaign for change, because they are tired of President Bush, Joe Knollenberg, and the Washington special interests."
Peters' momentum is underlined not only by his strong fundraising numbers, but by his support on the ground and in the grass roots community. Peters ended the quarter with nearly 2,000 contributors joining his campaign for change in Oakland County. In fact, this past weekend, at a grass roots organizing event held by the campaign, Peters recruited more than 100 volunteers. Peters' strong fundraising quarter comes on the heels of being named to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's "Red to Blue" List.
As if this is really news, the trade policies of the Bush regime, with the help of Joe Knollenberg are an abject failure. This article merely tells us what we already knew. Our manufacturing base has been leaving the country for a long time, going to low wage countries, countries that have no worker protection, no environmental laws to protect the earth from being raped and pillaged. The jobs that are left are mostly in the service sector. What does Joe Knollenberg want to do, more of the same. The Democrats want to stop the Colombia Free Trade Act, but Joe says, give me more, please. Even though Knollenberg talks all the time about saving good paying jobs, the exact opposite is true. Enough is enough. Democrats are the party that polls show the American public trusts on the economy and this is one of the reasons why.
As I was sitting in the audience at the Rochester Chamber Legislative Update meeting in Rochester yesterday I felt angry and the more I listened, the angrier I got. There was Joe Knollenberg telling everyone how his health care idea, tax credits for wellness programs for employers, and his other mantra, personal responsibility, are the cures to what ails the American health care system.
Then I see this little article in the Oakland Press. I see them all the time, people holding fundraisers for people who have some kind of health care crisis, many times it's children. When I saw this article it made me think, this should NEVER happen in America. It also made me think how Joe was telling the audience about personal responsibility. Mike Bishop was doing it too. Well, I have to say, all that talk about personal responsibility was making me sick. When someone we know gets diagnosed with cancer, there is usually no personal responsibility that person has for getting cancer. Maybe smoking is an exception.
The boy mentioned in the article isn't to blame for getting cancer. What did he do that he doesn't deserve to get the best treatment available?
We are spending trillions of dollars on the fiasco in Iraq, but we can't afford health care for all of our citizens? What a joke.
As the line from the movie Network says, "I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it any more." We can have universal, single payer health care in this country, if we just get mad enough and direct our anger at our government and demand it.
Joe, we aren't going to take it any more. Republicans are out of touch with main stream, middle class Americans and the "Let them eat cake" attitude of the Republican party is going to lead to sweeping victories for Democrats in the fall.
Well, at least Joe Knollenberg showed up in person this year. But as to what he had to say on health care, I must say, it was less than impressive. Nothing new from Joe. Just more of the same. Knollenberg again talked about employer based wellness programs and the idea of offering tax credits to employers who offer "wellness" programs.
The other favorite topic of conservatives was also touched up, blaming trial lawyers for the high cost of health care, even though studies show that only 1% of our health care dollars go to patients who are harmed by medical negligence.
One place where Joe and I agree is on creating and using electronic medical records more extensively. My only concern with electronic medical records are privacy issues and protecting those records against government spying or those records being used for nefarious activities.
While Knollenberg, Bishop and Garfield all talked about the problems, the don't seem to have many solutions, except for more personal responsibility and cutting costs, and of course more competition.
The only problem is, none of them really offered one solution for the 47 million Americans with no health care, regardless of how healthy they are, they still can't afford. Oh, and the other thing Republicans always talk about, the word privatization always rolls off their tongues.
Basically the Republican response to those 47 million Americans, "Let them eat cake," or to paraphrase Dick Cheney's response to Martha Raddatz when Cheney was told that 2/3's of Americans are against the war in Iraq, "So."
The Colombia Free Trade Agreement has been in the news a lot lately. Yesterday Nancy Pelosi had a vote to change the rules to allow the House to delay a vote on the deal. Joe Knollenberg says he wants to protect Oakland county jobs, but guess what, Joe wants even more jobs to be shipped overseas apparently. Free trade has proven to be the giant sucking sound for good paying American jobs going to other countries. Yet apparently Joe Knollenberg wants even more free trade and even more jobs to leave Michigan for low wage countries.
Tomorrow morning, Joe Knollenberg, Mike Bishop and John Garfield will face the public and talk about health care. Joe Knollenberg's position on this issue is that businesses should offer wellness training to their employees and the business owner deserves a $200 tax credit per employee for offering the training.
Well, I have news for you Joe, that's not nearly a good enough plan for the 47 million Americans without health care coverage. Studies are now coming forth that lack of health coverage is killing us prematurely and an employer based wellness program won't help. I ask you this question, Joe, what American doesn't deserve the same coverage that you have as a member of the House of Representatives? What American doesn't deserve to be able to go to the doctor and receive the best health care available? Are you better than the rest of America, Joe?
Joe Knollenberg has endorsed John McCain for President. John McCain wants to stay in Iraq as an occupying force for 10,000 years. How do we stay in Iraq for 10,000 years? 6 months at a time.
John McCain's Temper has also been an issue. John McCain drops the C* word
Joe Knollenberg in the video below is seeking the help of College Republicans, headed up by Justin Zatkoff. Usually volunteers aren't paid, which is the definition of being a volunteer. Apparently though, Joe Knollenberg isn't getting volunteers to help his campaign, as my prior posts indicates. Joe has to pay his "volunteers" to come help his campaign.
This post showed up in a conservative blog, bconservative.blogspot.com. It's interesting because it seems to point out that the chair of the Michigan Federation of College Republicans, Justin Zatkoff has become somewhat of an embarrassment to the Joe Knollenberg campaign. Zatkoff offered in a video he recorded to pay expenses for students to travel to Rochester, Michigan to help Joe Knollenberg's campaign knock doors. The video has been removed after some inquiry from The Michigan Review, a conservative newspaper. You can read the article here. You can read the full post from bconservative.blogspot.com here. You can view Zatkoff's video here even though Zatkoff took it down. I captured it before he removed it.
I wonder if Joe will acknowledge that Zatkoff's efforts were possibly breaking campaign finance law and tell voters that his "volunteers" are actually being paid to knock doors for Joe Knollenberg.
218 Days
Since Joe Knollenberg was invited to appear in public to answer questions and has refused to appear and answer questions.
I just read a post about a very interesting topic, Republican offenders. And boy is the list long; 272 Republicans accused of various crimes, from embezzlement to rape. You can visit the site at by clicking here. Want the entire list in a .pdf file, click here.
217 Days
Since Joe Knollenberg was invited to appear in public to answer questions and has refused to appear and answer questions.
Yesterday I attended the Global Security Summit at Oakland University. Doris Tennant, an attorney from Massachussetts discussed her representation of a Guantanamo Bay detainee, Abdul Nagi, who was picked up in Pakistan and has been held without charges for 6 years in solitary confinement at Guantanamo Bay. Read this story, Joe, and tell me we shouldn't close Guantanamo Bay permanently.
215 Days Since Joe Knollenberg was invited to appear in public to answer questions and has refused to appear and answer questions.
Joe Knollenberg has endorsed John McCain for President. I guess he kind of has to, since he's a Republican. I wonder how he's feeling about that endorsement and how he'll feel after watching this video.
Of course, Joe Knollenberg enthusiastically supported President Bush's re-election, so it's really not a surprise he's endorsed John McCain and his policies of war and destruction.
In the approximately two years since I've been involved helping elect a Democrat to replace Joe Knollenberg, one of the things I've noticed is that Joe Knollenberg will not come out in public and conduct a public forum of any kind where all constituents are invited to ask the Congressman questions on the issues. I know that on August 9 of 2007 we invited Joe to a public forum on the war in Iraq. So, that is the day we will start counting from. So far is has been
214 Days Since Joe Knollenberg was invited to appear in public to answer questions and has refused to appear and answer questions.
Congressman Knollenberg, this is a very disturbing article that implicates the President and Vice President and many top White House officials directly in torture. I’m hoping that you will read the entire article and provide me with you thoughts regarding whether the President, Vice President and other government officials should be held responsible for their actions regarding torture. After reading this article, please respond as to whether, if the information in this article is true, you would support impeachment and criminal proceedings against the President, Vice President and any other administration officials involved in violating the law.
As the first anniversary of 9/11 approached, and a prized Guantánamo detainee wouldn’t talk, the Bush administration’s highest-ranking lawyers argued for extreme interrogation techniques, circumventing international law, the Geneva Conventions, and the army’s own Field Manual. The attorneys would even fly to Guantánamo to ratchet up the pressure—then blame abuses on the military. Philippe Sands follows the torture trail, and holds out the possibility of war crimes charges.
Jack Kevorkian sure got lots of press when he picked up forms to be on the ballot as a candidate for Congress from the 9th District of Michigan. Since then, though, cooler heads have prevailed. Now some think he may not even get the 3,000 signatures needed to get on the ballot, let alone be a real challenge for the seat.
Jack Lessenberry write in Metro Times about Dr. K's bad idea.
Fourteen years or so ago, Jack Kevorkian called me to ask a question. Someone had told him you could collect signatures and get an amendment put on the ballot to change the Michigan Constitution.
Yes, I told him. That was absolutely true. "Well, how many do you need?" he asked. I looked it up; back then it was only about 260,000.
"Is that all? Why, we can get that many in no time," he said excitedly. "I could get that many by myself." Later, he checked in again. He had never voted. Was that a problem? Well, you need to register, I said. How do you do that, he asked?
Eventually, he got himself registered, and Kevorkian and his supporters — he then had quite a few of them —went to work.
But they never got anything close to the number of signatures they needed; insiders told me that when their time expired, they had less than half that. All this came back to me last week, when naive media types reported that the mostly forgotten apostle of self-snuffitude was running for Congress. Even the hint of having Dr. Death in the House was enough to fire up the stand-ups:
Yes, indeed. He'll sure know how to kill a bill. We can't wait till we see the details on his health plan. I can't wait to see how he cuts off debate, etc., etc.
But in reality, you could almost bet the farm that he will not only fail to get elected, he won't even get on the ballot. Kevorkian, who lives in Royal Oak, just barely inside U.S. Rep. Joe Knollenberg's district, plans to try to get listed as an independent. That has some Democrats worried.
I found an article today in the New York Sun where Joe Knollenberg is talking about giving wasteful subsidies to farmers who live in New York City, but have farms outside the city. Joe thinks it's wasteful use of taxpayer dollars.
It made me think, why is Joe against these farm subsidies, but yet he's in favor of subsidies for oil companies that are making billions of dollars in profits off the backs of Americans struggling to put fuel in their cars to get to their jobs. To my way of thinking if you're against "wasteful" spending, it would seem that the oil companies certainly don't need the subsidies and tax breaks that Congress passed when the Republicans were in control.
What do you say, Joe? Shall we end the tax credits for oil companies? I think it's time to invest that money in alternative energy. $6 billion can go a long way.
In an open letter to their colleagues, two congressmen wrote that the subsidies to Manhattan farmers are a true example of government waste. "The American taxpayer deserves better than having their taxpayer dollars used to pay urban 'farmers' in Manhattan," Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin and Rep. Joseph Knollenberg of Michigan said.
The award is intended to point out that federal funding is funneled to wealthy New Yorkers who live on the densely packed island of Manhattan, nowhere near a farm. Most New Yorkers on the list are not farming in the city but own farms outside New York.
Deliberations over a new farm bill are under way, and Congress is supposed to reach an agreement by April 18. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has proposed that the bill give subsidies only to farmers whose adjusted gross income is less than $200,000 a year.
Mr. Knollenberg, who supports an income cap for farm subsidies, said that under the current plan federal funding is given away to millionaires, CEOs, and entrepreneurs.
"The farmers in Manhattan aren't dumb. They know what they are doing. They are making money on the property and they are making money on the subsidy that is passed along with it, and I guess they are doing it because they can," he said
Please watch this video of Naomi Wolf. She goes through the 10 steps to fascism. It is an eye opening interview. Naomi will be at Oakland University on 4/2 at 7 p.m.
CLICK HERE to do something, the American Freedom Campaign is our best chance to turn things around.
Gary Peters' race against 8-term incumbent Joe Knollenberg is getting lots of attention at the national level from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Peters has been added to the Red to Blue program for Democrats who have the best chance to unseat incumbents. Peters and Mark Schauer will be targeted with financial resources to help take out Republican incumbents. Michigan is one of the only states with two candidates in the Red to Blue program. Peters task is made a little harder, in that Knollenberg has a bigger war chest, but Peters has enthusiastic supporters in Michigan and across the country. If you want to help out with a little financial support of your own, CLICK HERE. Today is the reporting deadline for the campaign and Peters would appreciate your donation.
This morning I found this article by Jack Lessenberry about Dr. Death's run for Congress and why he's doing it. I think he's dead on, Kevorkian is crying out for attention and the media has sure given it to him. But Kevorkian's run is a joke and Jack lays out why.
ROYAL OAK, Mich. - So, Dr. Jack Kevorkian, the man who made assisted suicide a household phrase back in the 1990s, wants to go to Congress? Everybody's first reaction was pretty much the same: We can't wait to see his health care plan …
That, or: I'll bet there's a few bills lying around the House he'd really like to kill.
Two things are certain:
First, Kevorkian in Congress would be a full-employment guarantee for Jay Leno, Dave Letterman, and every stand-up comedian in every coffee house from here to Botswana.
And, second, it isn't going to happen.
Matter of fact, he almost certainly won't even get on the ballot. Reporters took his announcement far too seriously, and anyone who knows the aging, cantankerous former pathologist knows he is unlikely to have either the stamina or the stick-to-it qualities needed to collect enough signatures to get on the ballot as an independent.
What his candidacy is really about, instead, is a cry for attention from someone the world has passed by, and whose quarter hour of fame was used up soon after he went to prison nine years ago.
It looks like Joe Knollenberg may finally come out of hiding and answer a few questions from the public. On April 11 he will attend the Rochester Chamber of Commerce Legislative update meeting at the OPC in Rochester and the topic will be health care. You can even submit questions in writing to the chamber ahead of time. I know I have a few questions for Joe. How about you? I hope Joe doesn't chicken out and send Shawn Ciavattone, like he did last year.
Rochester Chamber spotlights health care at April 11 Legislative Update Health care legislation will be the focus of a special Rochester Regional Chamber of Commerce forum next month.
The event is the Chamber’s annual Legislative Update. It runs 8-10 a.m. on Friday, April 11 at the Older Persons’ Commission, 650 Letica Drive, Rochester. Light refreshments will be served at 7:30 a.m.
Guest speakers at the Legislative Update, which is open to the public, are Congressman Joe Knollenberg, State Sen. Mike Bishop and State Rep. John Garfield. They will brief the audience on their respective areas of government and then tackle health care and health insurance matters. Audience members will be able to question the lawmakers following their updates.
“We hope the community joins us for this event,” says Sheri Heiney, the Chamber’s executive director. “The Legislative Update is a wonderful opportunity to hear and question our local legislators about the state of our government.” People can also submit questions for Knollenberg, Bishop and Garfield to the Chamber by e-mailing Jennifer Fulton at jenniferf@rrc-mi.com.
Joe, look what I found. Timmy Walberg, your fellow Bush lackey, held a forum and 40 people showed up. I bet if you held a forum on anything, people would show up in droves and ask you questions that matter to their lives. I dare you, Joe. You choose the date and location and we'll show up and have a lively conversation. You don't have the guts to actually do it, though. You are a coward, Joe Knollenberg. You only want to have telephone townhalls with people that agree with you.
How about a real town hall with people with diverse opinions about the issues of the day, instead of all the safe venues where only people that agree with your votes and stances on issues are invited? I'll make it easier for you, you agree to show up and I'll find the venue and do all the planning.
40 turn out for Walberg forum on foreclosures Nick Schirripa and Justin A. Hinkley The Enquirer
For some, foreclosure is a looming threat. For others, it is a harsh reality.
Many of the 40 or so people at Burnham Brook on Wednesday had their own foreclosure stories, and all had concerns about the local and national increase in the number of people losing their homes.
"In two years, I'm going to be facing losing my home," said Dorothy Long of Battle Creek.
The 63-year-old retiree said she lives on a fixed income and is worried she might not be able to pay a balloon mortgage payment due in a few years.
"They tell you to communicate early to avoid foreclosure," Long said, "but my lender isn't trying to help me."
The forum was sponsored by U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Tipton. Kathy Coon, an appraiser with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, was among the experts on hand to answer questions and concerns.
Now I guess we know why Dennis Lennox has been trying so hard to get his name in the paper. He was planning a run for the Michigan State House. Now maybe there's someone who will follow Dennis around with a video camera and stalk him the way he's been stalking Gary Peters. Good luck with that, Dennis.
It will be intersting to see where Dennis' financial support comes from and whether the ailing Michigan Republican party will be backing Dennis' run. My guess is Saul will be right there at Dennis' side, like he was for his press conference with the giant milk carton.
CMU activist seeks seat in House Wednesday, March 26, 2008 ANDY HOAG THE SAGINAW NEWS MOUNT PLEASANT -- A Central Michigan University student known for battling with the college over a professor's campaign for Congress is running for state representative in his home district.
Dennis G. Lennox, 23, announced Tuesday he will run in the 105th House District, which spans Antrim, Cheboygan, Charlevoix and Otsego counties. Lennox is from Topinabee in Cheboygan County.
He received a formal reprimand from CMU after campus authorities found him guilty of three student code violations they say he committed in October while passing out documents related to his criticism of CMU educator and political candidate Gary C. Peters, who Lennox said should ''pick either Congress or campus.''
Lennox made his decision to run after the incumbent, Kewadin Republican Kevin Elsenheimer, announced he is seeking the state Court of Appeals judgeship that Midland Republican Bill Schuette is vacating.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
I want to thank Joe Knollenberg for laying out the bullcrap that he and his Republican colleagues have been espousing to the American public for years. What is this bullcrap you ask? That lower taxes lead to the ruin of the American economy. Here's the fallacy Republicans ask Americans to believe. If you have an economic problem, lower taxes will solve it.
Here's what really happens though. Republicans lower taxes to the point where agencies that protect Americans from things like polluted drinking water, poisoned food, tainted beef, you know things that keep you from dying, start to collapse from the lack of proper funding. Then what happens. People start dying and then people suddenly say, oh, I guess maybe we do need some of those revenues for government to provide essential services, like keeping my children and myself from dying.
Then when government stops working, Republicans like to say see, we told you, government doesn't work. Every man for himself.
Then Republicans say, we need to wage war to protect America. We have to fight them over there so we don't have to fight them over here. I used to think this was a joke, until I actually had people who believe this crap say it to my face. Republicans actually believe that we can fight an unending war, borrowing money from the Chinese and the Japanese to finance it, outsource the duties that used to be performed by soldiers to Halliburton at 10 times the cost and that this will somehow protect America. The war in Iraq is nothing but a business deal, and a bad one for America at that. No-bid contracts have been going to Dick Cheney's old company for years, to the detriment of the American economy.
And Joe Knollenberg buys into the whole load of bullcrap. How can this guy represent the voters of the 9th District any longer?
We the people need to do something about it in November and it is imperative that we send Gary Peters to Washington D.C. in January of 2009. We can't afford to have Joe Knollenberg represent us any longer, not even one minute longer. Below is Joe's speech regarding the new budget that Republicans are fighting tooth and nail, because Democrats are seeking to protect essential services to average Americans. Don't let them fool you.
Knollenberg Fights to Prevent Massive Tax Increase Record-setting tax hike would hurt families, kill jobs
Washington, Mar 12 - Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Chairman, Iwould yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Knollenberg),one of our leaders in this conference and one of our most distinguished leaders. Mr.KNOLLENBERG. Mr. Brady, thank you very kindly for yielding. I appreciate that very much.Mr. Chairman, I rise tonight on behalf of the hardworking men and women of Michigan and particularly of my Ninth District. It will come as no surprise to most to hear me say that Michigan has been struggling mightily of late. For the past 6 years, we have suffered from incomparable job lossesthroughout Michigan. In fact, Michigan was the only State in the Union to have lost jobs in each and every year of that time frame. Our unemployment rate has been the Nation's highest, or close to it, for longer than anyone can remember.Home foreclosures are up. Wages are down. Costs seem to be rising at every turn. To put it lightly, the people of Michigan are facing some tough times.Not too long ago, the Governor of Michigan proposed an income tax increase. The citizenswere on the verge of revolt. The State government actually shut down for a bit. As Michigan families struggled, the last thing they thought they deserved from their government was a bigger tax bill. But, sadly, they got one anyway.Now the leadership of this body wants to send the good people of Michigan and the peopleacross the country another tax increase. In fact, they want to send, as has been said before, the biggest tax increase in American history.Well, I'm here to say, and to say strongly, enough is enough. Enough with higher taxes. Enough withwasteful spending. Enough.Analysts have calculated that the average family in my district would see their taxes go up by more than $4,100 if this budget were to be enacted. That's $4,100 that families in Oakland County simply cannot afford. Worse yet, we know that a tax increase this big would do serious harm to the economy, costing even more jobs and putting more people out of work.The other problem is, and some have told me that my district alone would lose some 2,000 jobs in the wake of this scale of tax increase. I do not want to let thathappen. Many are concerned that the national economy is showing signs of weakness. I submit to my colleagues the weakness you may be seeing is just a common cold compared to the prolonged pneumonia Michigan has suffered from during its single-State recession.I'm going to fight and fight hard to protect Michigan's families, as every Member here I know would protect the people fromtheir own States, protect them from higher taxes. Taking more of theirhard-earned money from their pockets will only lead to more problems, more job losses, and more hardships.So I repeat: Enough with higher taxes. Enough with wasteful spending. Simply, enough.If you're thinking of voting for a tax increase this big, I'd invite you to come to see me in Michigan. There you can see firsthand what higher taxes do to an economy. Higher taxes shutter factorydoors. They close small businesses, and they hurt families right to the core. This budget, and the $4,000 increase that comes with it for Oakland County's families, is simply unacceptable.Instead of raising taxes, we should be focused on solutions that will strengthen the economy, create jobs, encourageinvestment, and foster innovation. Raising taxes would do the exact polar opposite.So I strongly urge my colleagues, Mr. Chairman, to reject this massive tax increase on average Americans. I know firsthand how much harm it would do toMichigan's families, and I have every reason to believe it would do the same to families across America.
Running as an independent, Jack Kevorkian won't win, but he could be a factor in a close race. Based on the stories in the papers yesterday, Kevorkian's only reasons for running are selfish ones. Gary Peters is out to help provide the change we need in Washington. I have no doubt Kevorkian is in to stay, given his quotes in the stories I've seen. I also believe the votes he does get will come from independents and Democrats. So, what do Democrats have to do to make sure Gary Peters is our representative, work even harder for Gary Peters to make sure the few thousand votes Kevorkian pulls from Peters are not the margin of victory for Joe Knollenberg. Every phone call, every door knocked, every dollar donated have to count. We have to make sure Gary's message gets out effectively by every method available.
How can you help? Click hereto make a donation to Gary's campaign, NOW!
"I have never been a political person. I have only voted once in mylife," he said, during a rambling news conference Monday in Southfieldin which he quoted a range of historical figures that included Alexis de Tocqueville and Frederick Douglass.
Kevorkian plans to run as an Independent candidatein the 9th Congressional District, for a seat that is held by U.S. Rep. Joe Knollenberg, R-Bloomfield Township. Kevorkian promised to stay in officeonly two years if elected.
"I'm 79, almost 80," he said. "That's old."
His goal is to raise awareness of the Ninth Amendment, which says rights spelled out in the Constitution do not diminish rights that aren't specifically spelled out.
It's so great to see some young people get involved. Over 100 people gathered at Shain Park on Wednesday to commemorate the 5th anniversary of the beginning of the Iraq war. How many more have to die, Joe? HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS GATHER TO PROTEST WAR IN IRAQ 'Give peace a chance' By Jay M. Grossman ECCENTRIC STAFF WRITER
Meet Nolan Astrein, a bright young man with a vision for peace.
"I never thought that nearly a third of my life would be spent watching my country fight in a war," said the 16-year-old Seaholm High School student.
On Wednesday, he organized a candlelight vigil at Shain Park in Birmingham to mark the five-year anniversary of the Iraq war. Dozens showed up, young people and old, holding candles and carrying signs of peace.
"I don't know anyone who's been in the war," Astrein said. "But there's no telling how long this war could last ... and I realize in another time I would almost be at the perfect age for the draft."
The time he's referring to was the Vietnam war, a conflict his father opposed many decades ago.
"Back in the '60s he protested Vietnam," he said about his father, Gary Astrein, 57. "He's never imposed any of his views on me, but he always told me what he thought about things."
His own search for peace began three or four weeks ago, when he searched the Web site moveon.org for a local vigil to attend.
"I noticed there were none in the area, so I decided to do one on my own," he said. "At first it was just for other students, but then I posted something and within days a bunch of people wrote back and said they planned on attending."
Growing up in Birmingham in the heart of Oakland County, Astrein realizes there are very few people from this wealthy enclave who enlisted to fight. At the same time, he believes a majority from this area support the cause.
"The percentage of people from Oakland County who are fighting overseas is so low," he said. "Very few have siblings or cousins over there ... but it's not a good excuse. We should all be aware of the war."
It's a battle he opposes, a conflict he feels is senseless.
"This needs to be quickly brought to an end," Astrein said. "Bringing home all the troops in one day would be dramatic - but it should end in a year."
Probably most of the readers of this blog don't know who Dennis Lennox is. Dennis is a student at Central Michigan University who has literally been stalking Gary Peters as evidenced by the video below. This isn't the first video Dennis has taken of Gary, who is working as a professor at Central Michigan, as the Griffin Chair professor. Dennis obviously has been getting from the Michigan Republican Party, since Saul Anuzis has shown up at press conferences with Dennis with a giant Milk carton, which I have a feeling was paid for by the Michgian Republican Party, but I have no proof of that at this point.
Back in October, Dennis wanted to serve a FOIA request on Dean Pamela Peters. Dennis has made FOIA requests prior to this, so he knows that they don't have to be served personally. Dennis made quite a splash on the Internet with his 10 second video where Dean Gates pushes his camera away from her. Dennis has claimed on more than one occasion that Dean Gates "slapped him" even though there is no evidence of her ever having hit Dennis and the CMU investigation of the incident, after interview several witnesses to the incident, concluded that there was no actual physical contact. Dennis even testified, although it wasn't under oath, at a hearing in Alma regarding higher education funding, that Dean Gates slapped him. No witness has ever confirmed this slapping incident.
On top of the fact that no witness has ever confirmed this incident, Dennis himself when the university conducted its investigation of the incident, refused to be interviewed for the investigation.
After Dennis' 10 second video was put up on the Internet, Dean Gates received several e-mails, one of which said that had the Dean treated the sender in the same manner as Dennis was claiming the Dean treated Dennis, "I would have knocked your teath down your throat."
Dennis has pretty much gotten a free ride in the media on this issue, and the media has done no real investigation of Dennis' claims, but they have been taking his word that all of his claims are true.
Another claim that Dennis made in Alma was that his motivations are not political. He just wants Peters to choose between teaching and running for Congress. His logic here escapes me. According to Lennox, candidates for public office can't hold jobs and run for office at the same time. If that were the case, every member of Congress would have to resign from office when they start to campaign for re-election. All 3 of the presidential candidates are members of the Senate. Should they resign from the Senate to run for president?
In addition to Dennis' video, below is a copy of the investigative report of the incident between Dean Pamela Gates and Dennis Lennox, regarding the incident when Dennis claims Dean Gates "slapped" him. CLICK HERE to view the document.
It's been five long years now and we're still in Iraq. Joe Knollenberg, President Bush and Vice President Cheney think things are going great. Actually, for them it is. Oil is at $110 a barrel, gas is closing in on $4 a gallon and their buddies in the oil industry are making record profits. For the rest of us, not so great. Foreclosures are at all time highs, middle-class Americans, so-called are having to choose between paying the mortgage and buying gas to get to work, if they have a job. And yet President Bush and Joe Knollenberg push for more war and more free trade.
When will Joe Knollenberg start caring about the constituents in his district more than the big money interests that fund his campaign? ENOUGH!
This is written directly to Congressman Joe Knollenberg. Below are the pictures of the 18 young men from your district that died fighting the disaster of a war in Iraq. 18 families whose sons will never return, because George W. Bush, your president, sent them to war based on a lie. Your votes on continuing this war will come back to haunt you in November, Joe. The people of your district have had enough death and destruction. Your votes have helped to continue this war that has ruined the lives of the families of these 18 young men. Your votes have committed America to a war that cannot be won. Oh, I know you will say the level of violence is down since we sent more troops. But the purpose of the so-called surge was to allow for political reconciliation, which has not happened, even according to General Petraeus.
Now, not only has the war ruined our reputation around the world, but it has come home to roost in the steep decline in our economy and is wreaking havoc here at home. When is enough enough, Joe? When will you stand up for the majority of Americans that want to end this war now? When will our troops come home. You say you support John McCain for President. He wants to stay in Iraq for 100 years, 10,000 years. Do you want to do the same and blindly follow him off that cliff? I assume your answer is yes. If so, then it's time for you and the Republican party to be removed from elected office so that responsible leaders can bring our young men and women home to their families and take care of their needs, physical and mental. Enough!
This is getting ridiculous. I guess the Kevorkian story was a novelty, but giving this guy as much press as he's received when there is a real race between Gary Peters and Joe Knollenberg is over the top. Kevorkian has never held elective office and has no experience in raising money, putting together an organization, gathering volunteers, and all the aspects of a real campaign. How about asking him his views on the war, the economy, the foreclosure crisis, now the debt crisis in general. I haven't seen one piece of responsible journalism on this story.
By now I am sure that Gary Peters and Joe Knollenberg are huddling in their respective corners weighing what to do next.
No sooner had Nancy Skinner been knocked out of the race for the 9th U.S. House seat then a new candidate entered the arena.
Jack Kevorkian announced that he is going to run for the seat.
Dr. Death.
Oh, my.
This could upset the entire dynamic of the contest, which already has taken some pretty sharp turns as it is. To recap, incumbent Knollenberg is up for re-election this year to represent the sprawling district, which stretches from Waterford to Royal Oak and from Farmington to Oakland Township.
Knollenberg has been the representative since 1992 and has enjoyed success in every re-election bid he has faced since then.
But things are changing. The district was reconfigured several years ago from the old 11th District to the new 9th District. It now includes Pontiac, which has a sizeable Democratic tilt. And even the Birmingham area has been leaning more toward the Democrats in recent years.
Anyway, in the last election Knollenberg was nearly upset by Skinner, who was at that point known as Nancy Skinner Who?
Actually she had some decent credentials, including being clobbered by Barack Obama in an Illinois Senate race, but she was not a well-known name in these parts. Yet she came within 15,000 votes of upsetting Knollenberg.
You can attribute that a lot to the Iraq War and frustration with the Bush administration and its spending policies. True blue - or is it red? - Republicans don't like what they are seeing in Bush's - dare we say, reckless - domestic spending. And more moderate Republicans are uneasy about the trillion-dollar expense being racked up in Iraq.
Knollenberg has a reputation of walking in lockstep with the Bush administration, even though he has been trying to distance himself from the prez in recent months.
The FISA vote occured just moments ago. Of course, Joe Knollenberg voted against the bill without immunity for the telecom companies, and by extension immunity for the George W. Bush regime. However, even without Joe's vote, the bill passed without immunity, 213-197. Joe is on the wrong side again.
It's ok for George W. Bush to break the law and invade our privacy, according to Joe Knollenberg. Way to go, Joe. According to Joe, treasonous acts, like outing a CIA agent is OK, reading our e-mail is OK, tapping our phones is OK, even though all these things can be done legally, Joe Knollenberg thinks George W. Bush and his fellow criminals at the CIA and the NSA should be able to violate our civil liberties at will. We can be safe and not give up our civil liberties, but Joe Knollenberg thinks we don't deserve civil liberties.
Awaiting reconciliation with the Senate version of the bill.
The Legislation:
The Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act mandates that group health plans provide mental health and substance-related disorder benefits that are at least equivalent to benefits offered for medical and surgical procedures. The legislation renews and expands provisions of the Mental Health Parity Act of 1996. While that bill requires only financial equity for annual and lifetime mental health benefits, this legislation also compels parity in treatment limits and expands all equity provisions to addiction services. Thus, the bill not only requires that the deductibles, co-payments, and out-of-pocket expenses applied to mental health and addiction services be no more
January 2007January 19, 2007Rochester Regional Chamber of Commerce - Legislative Update 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.Rochester College (in the RAC Theatre)800 W. AvonRochester HillsNo charge
