BREAKING NEWS! Why Bruce Fealk Endorses Joe Knollenberg for Congresss

You know what, I've changed my mind. All those letters in the Oakland Press and the Eccentric newspapers have helped me see the light of day. Oh, and this commercial helped too. Here's all the reasons I'm voting for Joe Knollenberg on Nov. 4th, 2008. (Just kidding)

OP Letter Writer Gets It Right

Finally, some truth about Joe Knollenberg and his stance on health care. Liz Sadowski , a family law attorney in Rochester, writes about the real point of my guest opinion in the Oakland Press recently.

Oakland Press Editorial Focuses on the Trees, misses the Forest

This morning's Oakland Press editorial focuses on my recent guest column in the paper. The piece focuses entirely on the wrong issue. My point of the column was not Joe Knollenberg's urging women to do self exams and to get their mammograms. My point was the hypocrisy of Joe Knollenberg being at a health conference for women, when he has such a terrible voting record on health issues. Joe Knollenberg voted against expanding a successful government program that provides health care coverage for millions of low income children (SCHIP). Even when the majority of his colleagues voted to expand the program, Joe voted against it.

The issue for millions of Americans is that they don't have any health care coverage for themselves and their families. Families across Oakland County and this country are afraid every day that they will have a major health issue that they won't be able to afford to get treated because they have no insurance or worse yet, no job.

Oakland County residents are hurting because of $4 gas, lack of health coverage and an uncertain economy and Joe Knollenberg is talking about being called a name.

• Maybe Joe Knollenberg should start talking about issues that really matter to Americans, like a health care program that makes it so that a mother earning minimum wage can afford to take care of her children when they get sick and take them to a doctor.
  
• Maybe Joe Knollenberg should do something about outrageous profits of America's oil companies that continue to rip Americans off at the pump.
  
• Maybe Joe Knollenberg should worry more about our soldiers in Iraq that are committing suicide at an unprecedented rate and others that are coming home and not being able to get the care they need to lead productive lives.
  
• Maybe Joe Knollenberg should think about what it does to our soldiers to be sent into a war zone for 3, 4, 5 times and what it does to their families.
  
• Maybe Joe Knollenberg should vote for funding to screen and treat our soldiers for post-traumatic stress syndrome when they return from Iraq.
• Maybe Joe Knollenberg should introduce legislation to address the mental health issues that are causing our returning soldiers to commit suicide at the highest rates in history.
  
• Maybe Joe Knollenberg should think of what a war that our President lied us into and our country is borrowing hundreds of billions of dollars from China to support is doing to our nation's economy and the fact that our great, great grandchildren will be working to pay off that debt. Those are some of the real issues.
  
• Why isn't Joe Knollenberg talking about those issues, instead of worrying about whether his opponent's campaign literature has a logo on his shirt or not?

Joe Knollenberg has had almost 16 years to make the lives of his constituents better and his most noted legislation is the repealing of a law that required low-flush toilets because they couldn't clear the bowl. I know my life isn't one bit better because Joe Knollenberg has been my Congressman for the last 16 years.

Other people have noticed Joe Knollenberg's voting record too. I repeat these rankings for those that may think that I've veered off course.

Stop your whining, Joe and let's talk about the issues.

2005-2006 Representative Knollenberg supported the interests of the National Breast Cancer Coalition 0 percent in 2005-2006 and 2006-2007.

2007 Alliance for Headache Disorders ranked Knollenberg as a 0

2007 American Academy of Family Physicians gave Knollenberg a 0 rating

2007 Children's Health Fund gave Knollenberg a 0 rating.

2006 American Public Health Association ranked Knollenberg with a 0 rating.

2005-2006 AIDS Action Council rated Knollenberg with a 0 rating.

2005-2006 American Academy of Emergency Mediine ranked Knollenberg - 50 percent.

2005-2006 American Nurses Association ranked Knollenberg with a 0 percent.

2005-2006 National Rural Health Association ranked Knollenberg with a 0 percent.

Knollenberg Campaign off Track

Today's Politically Speaking column in the Detroit Free Press refers to a post made on this blog. Apparently Sandi Knollenberg, wife of Joe Knollenberg has taken a comment here and turned it into a fundraising issue. Glenn Clark, 9th District chair for the Republicans is being so petty as to suggest that a picture on a piece of literature is considered "elitist" because a logo appears in one photo, but not another. It seems the Knollenberg campaign is off into the grass now and is so rattled by the strong anti-Knollenberg campaign, that they are forgetting about the issues facing voters in Oakland County, like health care, the economy and a disastrous war in Iraq. How about we raise the level of discussion, Joe and stop using the Karl Rove play book?

As far as Joe Knollenberg's record on health care issues, look at these rankings from several health advocacy groups.

2007 Alliance for Headache Disorders ranked Knollenberg as a 0

2007 American Academy of Family Physicians gave Knollenberg a 0 rating

2007 Children's Health Fund gave Knollenberg a 0 rating.

2006 American Public Health Association ranked Knollenberg with a 0 rating.

2005-2006 AIDS Action Council rated Knollenberg with a 0 rating.

2005-2006 American Academy of Emergency Mediine ranked Knollenberg - 50 percent.

2005-2006 American Nurses Association ranked Knollenberg with a 0 percent.

2005-2006 National Rural Health Association ranked Knollenberg with a 0 percent.

Congressional contest gets snarky

It was a big week in presidential politics. The presumptive Democratic and Republican nominees started hammering each other on the economy, the war in Iraq and ethics.

But in Oakland County, one congressional campaign was mired in concerns of who said who's a jerk and breast cancer.

Sandie Knollenberg, the wife of U.S. Rep. Joe Knollenberg, a Bloomfield Township Republican, issued a fund-raising letter blasting Democratic challenger Gary Peters for labeling her husband a "jerk" for supporting breast cancer prevention.

But the "jerk" label came from a blog by Bruce Fealk, a Knollenberg provocateur who is not connected with the Peters campaign. Fealk, using wildly creative interpretation, wrote that a newspaper column by Knollenberg suggested that women are responsible for creating their own cancer.

Republicans took another shot at Peters, a former state lottery commissioner. They noted his campaign brochure shows a stern-looking Peters wearing a blue shirt with a Ralph Lauren Polo label. On the inside photo, the Polo label has vanished.

Republican activist Glenn Clark claimed that Peters airbrushed the Polo label to show he's not elitist, suggesting, of course, that he really is. Peters' campaign pooh-poohed the claim as a nonissue to distract from Knollenberg's record.

Economy and war, anyone?

Will Joe Knollenberg Distance Himself from John McBush

In an interview with Brian Williams, John McBush again commits to keeping troops in Iraq basically forever. He still thinks we're winning in Iraq. I say he's delusional. What say you?

Veterans Ready to Knock Doors for Peters - Detroit News

Dems battle to woo leery veterans

Party works to shake off lingering anti-war image with more focus on military issues.
Deb Price / The Detroit News
WASHINGTON -- Army veteran Chuck Griffiths grew up in a Democratic household, but feels the party "abandoned" him decades ago and hasn't won back his trust on military issues.

"The anti-war activists were outside the Democratic Party in '68 and running the party by '72," said Griffiths of Westland. "It's anti-military, by and large. If they really want to appeal to people like me, they need to put more guys like (Vietnam War veteran and Virginia Sen.) Jim Webb in leadership positions and not as window dressing."

His view isn't hard to find around VFW halls and other gathering spots of veterans. Pollsters and military analysts say vets tend to be more conservative -- and more Republican -- than other voters. But Democrats, in a national trend demonstrated in Michigan, are increasingly trying to woo the Chuck Griffiths of America.

The party is running challengers with Persian Gulf-era military experience, such as Gary Peters, who is trying to oust eight-term Republican Rep. Joe Knollenberg in Oakland County and has a "Veterans for Gary Peters" group ready to knock on doors for him. CLICK HERE for the rest of the story.

The Girl that Silenced the UN

Someone sent me this video today and it's one of the most powerful videos I've ever seen. Please pass it along to your friends. Here's the link. Copy and paste it into an e-mail and send it to your e-mail lists. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWqIrmxtcoY

Joe and Many Republicans Vote Against Efficient Schools

I borrowed this post from another blog, but since Joe fell into the category of Congressmen voting against this bill, I thought it was important to include here.

Republicans Vote Against Efficient Schools

June 5, 2008 at 4:55 pm · Filed under All Articles, House legislation

Republican politicians are always complaining that public schools are not efficient enough. They use this complaint as an excuse for cutting off the funds that public schools need to give American children an adequate education.

Yesterday, the Democrats in Congress called the Republicans’ bluff. You want efficient public schools? Good. Congressman Ben Chandler, who is very far from liberal, had introduced H.R.3021, the 21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act. The proposed law would encourage public schools to run efficiently.

No more money-guzzling out of date school buildings. No more safety hazards for American children. The legislation would provide an investment in energy-efficient, healthy, technologically-updated schools. That way, taxpayers would save huge amounts of money on their property taxes by not having to pay so much on energy costs for schools at a time when the price of energy is shooting through the roof.

Under this law, more money would go toward quality education. Less taxpayer money would go to just keeping children warm in the winter, or to protecting schoolchildren in the South from record-breaking heat. For a small national investment in efficient schools, taxpayers around the country would get huge savings for an entire generation to come.

This legislation does exactly what Republicans say they want to do. It makes public schools more efficient. In fact, the bill makes such plain sense that 27 Republican members of the House of Representatives crossed the aisle yesterday to vote in favor of it. Thanks to them, the bill passed, and will become law if passed by the Senate. One of those Congressmen was our own Joe Knollenberg. Let's hear it for Joe. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Oakland Press Letters off base

These letters in the Oakland Press missed my point entirely. I'm all for preventive health care for everyone, not just women. That having been said, Joe Knollenberg seems to think that his bill will solve America's health care crisis. He thinks that by doing away with "frivolous" lawsuits we can cut the cost of health care significantly. It's just not true and he knows it or maybe he's cherry picking information the way George W. Bush did lying the United States into war with Iraq. Who knows.

Joe Knollenberg's voting record on health care for all Americans is abysmal. Joe opposes universal health care, even though a majority of Americans say it's time to cover everyone, not just our Congress men and women. Why shouldn't every American have the same health care coverage that Joe Knollenberg has? Joe even voted against expanding health care coverage for children, our most vulnerable citizens saying it was too expensive. Yet he votes time and again to fund the fiasco in Iraq. How does that make any sense?

Something else I found interesting, in 2005-2006, Joe Knollenberg got a 0 rating from the National Breast Cancer Coalition. CLICK HERE to see Joe's ratings on other health care issues.

2005-2006 Representative Knollenberg supported the interests of the National Breast Cancer Coalition 0 percent in 2005-2006.

Gary Peters and Brenda Lawrence Comment on Barack Obama's Victory

Gary Peters and Brenda Lawrence, candidate for Oakland County Executive, comment on the historic victory of Barack Obama for the Democratic party nomination.

Oakland Press: Knollenberg Shouldn't Dole Out Blame In Health Issues

See if reading Joe Knollenberg's callous approach to health care doesn't make your blood boil too.

Joe, You Really are a Hypocrite Now It's Personal

Joe, I'm talking directly to you because I know you and/or your staff read this blog.

I read it in the paper this morning, but I couldn't believe my eyes. As I read your guest column in the Oakland Press I got so mad I could barely contain my anger. Is he actually saying what I think he's saying? Is he really, in essence, blaming women who get breast cancer for their disease because they weren't vigilant enough in doing self exams and having mammograms?

Let me tell you something, Joe. My sister, Joyce, died at the age of 41 from breast cancer. She did her self exams. She had her mammograms. And you know what, she got breast cancer and died any way. She had the best care available, but she died any way. So for you to write on the pages of a major Oakland County newspaper that women have to be more vigilant and to use breast cancer as a way to promote your lousy wellness program as a "health care" program is ludicrous. Sometimes people get sick and it's not their fault, Joe. No wellness program in the world could have prevented my sister's illness and you, sir, are a jerk for even suggesting that your wellness program is the answer for what ails America's health care system. Your legislation wouldn't have helped my sister and it won't help the tens of millions of people in this country that are going bankrupt and dying because they have no health care coverage.

Another thing, Joe, trial lawyers are not the cause of the expense of our health care system either. Oh, I know Republicans like to blame big bad trial lawyers, but it's just not true. What you call frivolous law suits only account for about 1% of the cost of our health care system, not too high a price to pay to have the right to get justice if a negligent doctor harms you. I bet you'd sing a different tune if something happened to one of your loved ones. You'd be in a lawyer's office so fast it would make my head spin if it happened to Sandi or Marty or Steve or your grandchildren. That's the problem with most Republicans. They scream about other people suing big companies or doctors and their insurance companies, until they need to use the system to get what small measure of justice financial compensation provides.

What's even worse, you voted against the expansion of the children's health insurance program that would have covered an additional 10 million children, children that get sick and may not be able to go to a doctor for preventative health care because their parents can't afford it. These days, with $4 a gallon gas, real Americans in your district are having to choose between driving to work and taking their child to the doctor. What are you doing about that, Joe?

Name me one American that doesn't deserve the same health care program you have in Congress, Joe. Can you name even one? I didn't think so. No amount of "personal responsibility" would have saved my sister's life. What's even worse, if she hadn't had health care coverage through her employer, she would not have been able to afford the care she got. Thank god she had an employer that cared enough to have excellent coverage for his employees and didn't instead take your approach, perhaps eliminating employee health care in favor of a "wellness program" and a $200 tax credit.

You, sir, do not deserve the high office you have been serving in for the last 15 years.

My sister Joyce

Democrats Thrilled with Candidates - Peters Running Hard Against Knollenberg

Today's Oakland Press discusses how the Democrats in Oakland County are really excited about their prospects of winning in the fall, especially the race against Joe Knollenberg, now that Peters has national assistance. Other county-wide races are looking good too with the best candidates in years. Click here to read all about it.

Administering the Bush/McCain Challenge in Rochester at the Heritage Festival

We had a great time talking to people at the Heritage Festival in Rochester. Most people already knew the only difference, McCain is older.

George Bush, John McBush and Joe NOllenberg at the Heritage Festival in Rochester

Here's something I'd never do with the real McCain and Bush. But I think the T-shirt says it all.

Joe NOllenberg made a visit to the Heritage Festival in Rochester on Saturday. I think Joe feels America has had enough of his brand of Republican, as you can see from his t-shirt. Enough of George Bush, John McCain and Joe Knollenberg. Joe is pretty tight with George and John. Joe's voted with George W. Bush 94% of the time and most people couldn't tell the difference between George and John McBush when the took the Bush/McCain Challenge. My favorite question was who finished 894 out a class of 899 in college? Answer: John McCain.

Mike Smith of Clawson joins Joe, John and George for a photo op.

Dave Woodward, Oakland County Democrat Chair, in Spinal Column on the Peters/Knollenberg race

The May 21 edition of the Spinal Column contains a rather lengthy interview with Oakland County Democratic Party chair, Dave Woodward. Woodward had some specific comments about the Peters/Knollenberg race you may find interesting.

SCN: U.S. Rep. Joe Knollenberg has been targeted by the Democratic Party and is considered to be vulnerable this year, after barely beating his Democratic opponent in 2006. Tell us why you think Gary Peters can be successful in the general election.

Woodward: Gary Peters understands first and foremost what's most important to the voters of Oakland County, and that's leadership that will help create jobs. Gary, in his own rite, has a huge amount of experience in serving his country in the Navy, serving his community while being everything from being a city councilman to being a state senator, completely within the district, to being an administrator when he worked as director of state lottery and generated record revenues for public education. (He has) all those things combined with broad leadership and values in sync with the priorities of this county, and he knows how to run a campaign. But most importantly he knows how to lead with his values and voters in Oakland County want change. They are sick and tired of the same old policies that have gotten our county and our nation in the situation that it is in. Joe Knollenberg has voted with President Bush almost 100 percent of the time and continues to embrace those failed policies. So voters have to ask themselves are they ready for change, are they ready for a new direction, are they ready for someone who's going to fight for job creation and to keep jobs from being outsourced overseas, investment in our young people in terms of early education and higher education, and protecting our environment.

Joe Knollenberg has scored very low in all of those arenas. Voters will have that opportunity. I'm very confident things are going to change.



SCN: We don't nearly as often hear that U.S. Rep. Thaddeus McCotter is as vulnerable as Knollenberg, but his district has traditionally been a swing area. Please explain why you do or don't think the Democratic Party should shift some of its focus away from defeating Knollenberg and devote more toward knocking off McCotter.

Woodward: I think it's a couple things. I think Knollenberg and McCotter are equally vulnerable. There's no question. I think, again, voters in general want a change. I think when you look at Joe Knollenberg's record, he is extremely out of touch, much more entrenched in Washington. Is he easier? I guess I don't know. I do expect significant resources will be spent in the 11th Congressional District, which Congressman McCotter represents. You have to remember this stuff isn't happening in a vacuum, that we're going to have a presidential campaign like Michigan has never seen before. Whomever that nominee is — and very likely, most likely it will be Sen. Barack Obama — you'll see an immense amount of resources spent to make sure we maximize the turnout of every single voter in Michigan, thereby including both congressional districts. I don't believe at some levels there are significant resources that take on incumbents, unfortunately. It's by flawed design that incumbents automatically walk out with huge leads in these kinds of races. You need candidates who can raise money. You have two democratic candidates who really are breaking records across the country in the amount of money they've been able to raise this early in the game. So that's why there's a lot of attention in the Knollenberg (district) but I wouldn't say that we're writing off the other races. I think we are going to have them and can pull off these elections come November. I think there will be a lot of surprises. There will be races that couldn't have of been won, but will be won because voters are frustrated with the direction George Bush has taken this country, and people want change.

Will Joe Knollenberg Call John McBush and Demand McBush Denounce Hagee?

Some more inflammatory audio has turned up. Now Hagee is outright saying that God sent Hitler and that the Holocaust was a good thing because it forced the Jews to move to Israel. Being raised Jewish, I can't even begin to tell you how offensive I find Hagee's comments. These comments by Hagee and McBush's refusal so far to denounce Hagee is a story that the corporate media needs to bring to the fore. Joe Knollenberg has substantial support among the Jewish population in Oakland County. Will his Jewish support dwindle by his being affiliated with John McBush and McBush's refusal to disassociate himself from Hagee?
Here's the audio of Hagee's comments.

John McBush, Joe Knollenberg and the Republicans are the real Elitists

I found this video today and it points out what a crock of hooey it is when John McBush refers to Barack Obama as an elitist. Obama just recently, with proceeds from his book paid off his student loans. On the other hand, John McBush dumped his first wife for a rich heiress and they own 8 homes across the country. Cindy McCain just divested her portfolio of investments in the Sudan. Apparently she thought that they might be a problem in the campaign and she refuses to ever release her tax returns.

Joe Knollenberg is also wealthy from his prior involvement in his insurance business. Maybe that's why he is so opposed to universal, single-payer health care for all Americans.

Joe Knollenberg and John McBush have a credibility problem

This video points out why Joe Knollenberg and John McBush have a real problem with the American people when it comes to telling the truth.

Oakland Democrats and Gary Peters in Birmingham

Oakland County Democrats were out in force on Sunday in Birmingham's 75th Anniversary parade. Democrats Sheila White Smith, candidate for County Clerk, Gary Peters, candidate for the 9th Congressional District and Jane Boudreau, candidate for Oakland County Sheriff joined the troops as we marched through downtown Birmingham.

Joe Knollenberg wasn't quite so popular. We found Joe's thundersticks in the trash outside the Townsend hotel and there were lots more in trash cans all over downtown Birmingham.