Ken Punter announced mid August that he will be running for the 91^st State House seat.  See my post about it below. 

—–link—–
http://bottomuppolitics.blogspot.com/2009/08/servant-leadership-for-91st.html
————– 

Holly Hughes announced that she is entering the race for the 91^st also.  With both Ken and Holly in the race for the Republicans, the field is set.  There will be a Primary come Aug. 2010. 

Holly ran in 2008 for the 91^st and lost.  She has name recognition not to mention all of her signs from that race.  She will be hoping to take that advantage from her loss into this race to put her over the top. 

This race is turning into a classic “David and Golliath” match up.  Holly has the money and political connections and knows how to play the game while Ken Punter is a fresh face and running his campaign on a shoestring and a lot of effort. 

Below is the press release Holly issued. 

I’m sorry for the delay, but look on the bright side I scooped the Muskegon Chronicle.  I hope they decide to report on the primary.  If not I’ll keep you all informed from my lonely outpost in the hood at Bottom Up Politics.com . 

Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative

——–PR———– 

For Immediate Release             

Contact: Holly Hughes-(231) 740-8974

October 19, 2009                                                                           

 Holly Hughes Launches Campaign for State House with Hoekstra Endorsement

Hughes emphasizes need to start solving problems – will use background in small business, education and local government to work for Muskegon.

Muskegon, MI. – Congressman Peter Hoekstra joined Holly Hughes today, announcing her run for State Rep. of the 91^st District in Muskegon at Eagle Alloy and Eagle Precision.  “I have a passion for Muskegon.   I have fought for jobs and actively worked to make Muskegon a better place to live and I would like the opportunity to do more for our hometown.” Holly said. 

Hughes thanked John Workman and Mark Fazakerley for providing jobs for generations of Muskegon workers and being dedicated to our hometown. Eagle Alloy has been using

alternative energy though piping of  methane gas from the landfill for heating of the plant.  Eagle Alloy is currently experiencing 60 percent less business with the economic downturn but is expecting to add another shift in January.  Eagle Alloy and Eagle Precision could get better tax incentives by moving to another state but have chosen to stay in Michigan.  Mark Fazakerley said, “I am pleased that Holly selected Eagle Alloy and Eagle Precision to announce her run for State Representative.” 

As a small business owner and 4^th generation to live in Muskegon, Holly Hughes knows that Michigan is struggling to keep and attract jobs.  Hughes said, “I would like the opportunity to do more for our community.  Jobs are priority ONE, so that our children and grandchildren do not have to leave West Michigan to find a meaningful job in a distant state.”   

Congressman Hoekstra endorsed Hughes this morning and said, “Holly Hughes is the type of leader we need in Lansing.  She has proven her dedication to Muskegon.” 

Holly has worked to attract small business in Montague by rehabbing the historical buildings retaining the character of downtown.   Small business in downtown Montague include a pet store, real estate agency, book and coffee shop, art gallery and arts center.

Master Tag is their family business run by her husband, Rick.

Holly says, “We are judged by the way we treat our youngest and our oldest.”  Healthcare needs to be affordable and accessible.  Holly says, “Seniors need our special attention.”   When she took care of her grandmother, her prescription drug bill was $1,600 a month.  She was taking a drug for years that she originally should have been only taking for 2 weeks.  Holly helped her grandmother reduce her drug bill a third by asking the right questions.  

As a former school board member of Montague Public Schools and mother of two daughters who have graduated from college, Morgan and Taylor, Holly Hughes understands that education is the key to a brighter future and higher quality of life in Michigan. 

Hard working people of Muskegon deserve to keep more of their money to support their families.  Lower taxes facilitate business with job growth.  We are competing with other

states for business.  Holly says, “We need to establish an environment that encourages

business to want to expand here while protecting needed infrastructure, emergency services and education.” 

Holly Hughes has actively sought clean up dollars from the federal and state government for the many contaminated Super Fund sites in Muskegon.  She has testified before the legislature, regarding Tannery Bay cleanup, encouraging the passage of a resolution for clean up of Muskegon and White Lake.   Holly also encouraged legislators to include Muskegon sites in the Clean Michigan Initiative that passed in the 1990’s.  She was recognized with a special tribute at our State Capitol for working tirelessly to seek funding for Muskegon cleanup and protecting our environment. 

A drowning death of a local teenager off of the White Lake Channel spurred Holly to call her friend Tim Korthase to develop and install a system.   Life rings were being stolen as souvenirs for college dorms and tourists.  That system has successfully ensured that life rings are always in place for emergencies.  This was the first of its kind in the nation!

Hughes finished by saying, “We have a lot of work to do to bring more jobs to West Michigan to make sure that our future is strong.  I am ready to rollup my sleeves and get to it.”

### 

BIO

Holly J. Hughes – (R)

Holly is in her third term as White River Township Trustee and is a former Montague Area Public School board member. Being involved in the community in making Michigan a better place to live is very important to Holly. Holly Hughes is the National Committeewoman for Michigan.  She has served and continues to serves on a number of boards including the Community Foundation for Muskegon County, White Lake Community Fund, Hackley Hospital Cornerstone Foundation, West Shore Symphony Orchestra, White Lake Recyclers and Lebanon Lutheran Church. She has received the White Lake Chamber of Commerce Athena Award in 1999 which recognizes businesswomen and community leaders. Holly was also awarded in 1999 the American Hometown Leadership Award from the National Association of Townships after being nominated by her fellow White River Township Board members.  This award also came with $5,000 for use by the township.

Holly is a small business owner working in property management and her husband Richard is CEO for Master Tag in Montague. Holly has worked at Master Tag, which manufactures horticultural tags and worked with her family business Bolema Lumber, a retail hardware and lumber company and property management. Holly received her degree in business from Michigan State University in 1981. Rick and Holly have been married for 27 years and they have two beautiful daughters, Morgan and Taylor have graduated from college.

 Business Owner – Property Management

Master Tag – Family Business

White River Twp. Trustee – 1996 to 2008

National Committeewoman for Michigan – 2004 – Present

Montague Area Public Schools Board Member and Sec. – 1992-94

Community Foundation for Muskegon County – Board Member

White Lake Community Fund – Board Member, Sec.

     and former Chair 1998-Present

Hackley Hospital Cornerstone Board Member – 2006 - 2008

Muskegon Rotary Club

Muskegon LEPC – Local Emergency Planning Commission

    Former Board Member

MUSTFA – Michigan Underground Storage Take Financial

    Assurance Policy Board – Former Board Member

West Shore Symphony Orchestra

    Former Board Member and Pres.

White Lake Recyclers – WLR

    Former Board Member, Chair

    WLR – Established Recycling Center and Curbside

               – Community group earned “Recycler of the Year” Award

Athena Award –  1999 Businesswomen recognized for Community Work

Hometown Leadership Award – National Assn. of Townships – 1999

Lebanon Lutheran Church

    Former Council Member, Former WELCA Chair

B.A. Business – Michigan State University – 1981

Paid for by Friends of Holly Hughes, 8801 Lehman, Montague, MI.  49437, (231) 740-8974

# # #

Juanita forwarded this email to me.  Thanks Juanita

From: Gretchen Randall <grandall@winningreen.com>

Date: October 21, 2009 11:42:18 AM GMT-04:00

To: Donna Kolinger <brassanchor@charter.net>

Subject: FW: HIROSHIMA – 64 YEARS LATER

Excellent contrast between Hiroshima and Detroit—at the end.

HIROSHIMA – 64 YEARS LATER
 Worth looking at??especially toward the end?.  
HIROSHIMA – 64 YEARS LATER

THE AFTER PICTURES ARE VISUALLY EXTRAORDINARY  

 HIROSHIMA  64 YRS LATER…

Hiroshima,  Nagasaki

1945

 

We all know that  Hiroshima  and  Nagasaki were destroyed in August 1945 after explosion of atomic  bombs.
However we know little about the progress made by the people of that land during the past 64 years.

Here are some photos…
THE COLORFUL CITY
Now

 

 

 

 
 
DETROIT – 64 YEARS AFTER HIROSHIMA
Welcome to Detroit …next 2 Exits – Drugs- Ammo

















Who the hell won the war!    GOOD QUESTION  !! HOPE TO GET AN ANSWER SOON !!!!

 

 

Freedom is what Jim DeMint in an address to the Conservative Party of NY said the poles of the Republican big tent should be made of.

* (1)
—–quote—–
Republicans need a big tent, but big tents need strong poles to hold them up. And to win back our majority, we must once again make freedom the center pole of our party. It must be the one overriding principle that we can all rally around. Freedom must define our entire agenda, including our political, economic and social agenda.
—————–

Freedom is not a mushy soft and cuddly thing.  It is hard.  It must be fought for to be had.  Sacrifice must be made to understand its value and to laminate our experience to it, to make it harder.  At its core however is a slender and brittle thread easily broken through neglect.

 By paying attention to that slender thread through our sacrifices we add layers of strength to it.  Over time we have in America built up a pretty strong support for our tent.  The Romans had a saying describing that strength; “Union is strength”.  A single stick will break easily but put together 50 sticks and no one can break them. 

To build and keep our freedom, we must also be hard. 

Freedom flourishes when we use it; when we sacrifice for it.  Freedom becomes real and not a cliché when we make it personal.  Without the effort to keep it Freedom doesn’t exist.  The originators of our government knew we had the right to the pursuit of happiness; I think they would agree we had the right also to the pursuit of freedom.  I would say that is what the Bill of Rights is all about. 

Just an example of what I mean at a local level. 

Pursuing freedom is not using government money through a bureau of the government to pay people to “volunteer” to work in a soup line.  Pursuing freedom is donating your time from your work or your family or your personal time to work in a soup line – for free. The only reward you get from the second way is that you add another layer of strength to your personal freedom and take one away from government. 

I recently read an interesting article about the psychology of the ups and downs of the artistic temperament; and whether it would be good to regulate those highs and lows.  The article was by Jeanette Winterson entitled “In Praise of The Crack-Up”

*(2).  She started by saying this.   
—–quote—–
 Although I knew I had plenty of personal failings, and that my mental states were unreliable, I also knew that I could do the work. I have never taken antidepressants because I couldn’t face the flatness. I preferred the highs and the crashes, even though it meant the rages and the withdrawals, and anyway, I’d rather have my own suffering than someone else’s solution.  
—————-

Jeanette Winterson’s interesting article seemed to point to the common sense conclusion that the artistic breakthroughs and highs artists received was paid for by the cost of the lows.  Whether artists can achieve those highs without suffering the lows may be in question, but the idea that “the flatness” whether from medication of over government regulation will stop the highs and creativeness seems to be valid.

Throughout the article I kept drawing conclusion of a political nature in regards to using ones own flawed abilities to their fullest and learning from that.  To think that effort could produce something less flawed and closer to perfection is the leap of faith that all artists are willing to take.

Perhaps Conservatives and their faith are more akin to artists than the liberals that claim to be really are.

“In Praise of The Crack-Up” is indeed a weighty article; an article I keep thinking about.  It wasn’t written on a whim, but rather from close inspection of her life.  She goes on to say that the wounds of childhood that psychiatry is made of are actually blessing that we can learn or gain from.  She explains how the word blessing comes from bloodletting and wounds; and from which can come good things.

—–quote—–
The happening that common sense and animal instinct would have us avoid—after all, who wants to be wounded?—is also the event that brings unexpected gains.
—————–

So next time when you think you can’t “afford” the two hours to volunteer for a candidate you believe in do some door to door or making some calls – think of the sacrifice George Washington’s troops made, even though they had been repeatedly defeated, disheartened, and weakened by desertions.  Think of the freezing and bloody trail they left as they fought through their own demons to surprise and capture a German troop to turn the Revolutionary war around.  Newt Gingrich I recently heard in a speech in DC at the Defending the American Dream Summit paint that heroic sacrifice in colors I could understand.  Below is a video of that part of the speech.  If you just want the part about George Washington, go to the 3 minute mark of the video.

—–video link—–
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LeiksSMDAM
———————-

“What Can I Do Today?”  Well – probably a little more than I am.

Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative

*(1)
 http://www.cpnys.org/05-28%20transcript%20-%20cpnys.pdf  Demint transcript to Conservative Party in NY.

*(2) http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704322004574475654003711242.html Winterson, “In Praise of The Crack-Up”  

PS.  What would you think of starting a Conservative Party or group in the Five Counties ?????

Look at the Michelle Malkin link below to see what brought all this up.

http://michellemalkin.com/2009/10/16/an-acorn-friendly-big-labor-backing-tax-and-spend-radical-in-gop-clothing/

This website of mine is to help the Republican Parties of the Five Counties, I wonder is forcing the issue with a Conservative Party might get more republicans acting like Republicans what do you think?  This would not have to be antagonistic to Republicans maybe an offshoot or a “Conservative Republican Group”.  Like the “Republican Study Group” in the US House which is made up of Conservative Republican House members.

Forgive the brevity of this post.  I’m on the run and have to make this short and sweet.

I went to Ottawa County’s Lincoln Day Dinner last night.

I was invited by the Hoekstra campaign to get signatures on Pete’s nominating petition at the door.  Along with that came a free dinner.  I was happy to do both.

There was a straw poll taken during dinner and the results were given around 10pm.  Below are the winners.

Governor – Pete Hoekstra

SOS – Michelle McManus

AG – Bill Schute

US Congress 2nd dist. – Bill Huizenga.

There were approx. 350 people attending.  Below is a pic of about half the crowd.  I will post more later as I have to get to work.

Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative

Dr. Sowell goes beyond the Political maneuverings of the Elephant and the Donkey to explain why there are two parties; or more precisely why in 1776 two parties started to form and what concepts they formed around. 

This is a philosophy book written by a great thinker of our time.  It is short but it is a book that takes time to read; much less understand. 

Below is a link to buy it.  Remember this book is old and has been out there for a long time.  Therefore there are plenty of used copies available.  Look close and you will see that there are 42 used copies available.  Don’t forget the library if you’re strapped for cash. 

—–link—–
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=conflict+of+visions
————–

The reason I’m posting about this now is that I found a video by Bill Whittle on PJTV that talks about “Conflict of Visions”.  This video is a good synopsis of the book and brings it up to date and into the pop culture.  This is 10 minutes in length and easy to understand;  which is exactly what Breitbart thru “Big Government”, PJTV and others are trying to do with the visual arts of movies etc. 

—–link—–
http://www.pjtv.com/?cmd=video&video-id=2403
—————

I find that I need an underpinning of theory on which to hang my conservative thoughts and make my arguments with the left more credible, and this is one of them.   

Why can’t the government give us everything we need?  Why isn’t government-run health-care a good thing?  Why should we have less government?  The PJTV video demonstratively brings to life those arguments which are found in Thomas Sowell’s book “Conflict of Visions”. 

Read the book once and see the video and I promise that your conviction in your argument with the left will become stronger and your lingering doubts less because of it.  Did I dare say I have doubts? – Read the book and you will see that Doubts are a necessary thing in a “Constrained” vision of the world and mankind. 

You may also see, as I have; that those doubts in our ability to create a perfect union have led to our Founding Fathers creating a “More” perfect union.  That the ensuing “More” perfect union has far outlasted any of the other “Perfect” unions and at a cost far less on the scale of human misery.

Regards, Live Dangerously Be a Conservative

The Republican Primary Race to see who will become the Candidate to fill the shoes of Peter Hoekstra is full up and starting to show the vigor with which the candidates have begun to campaign.

There are four Republicans running.  Billy Cooper, Bill Huizenga, Wayne Kuipers and Jay Riemersma.  To date and for your information I have interviewed Wayne Kuipers and Jay Reimersma.  See link called “Interview sets”.

—–link—–
http://bottomuppolitics.com/interview_sets_26.html
—————

Jay Riemersma recently (October 7^th) put the following up on his website, and sent it out in an email.

—————————-

Business Leaders Endorse Jay Riemersma

Date: October 7, 2009
For Immediate Release

Holland, MI – Today the Jay Riemersma for Congress Campaign announced endorsements from a number of key West Michigan business and community leaders.

These endorsements come on the heels of Riemersma officially announcing his campaign and signing the Americans for Tax Reform Pledge not to increase taxes. Two of Riemersma’s opponents in the Republican Primary voted for the job-killing Michigan Business Tax (MBT).

“I am humbled to have the support of these important business leaders and job providers in West Michigan,” said Riemersma. “I’ll honor the trust they’ve placed in me by standing up for my conservative principles and making sure the Obama administration’s reckless-spending doesn’t lead to increased taxes.”

The business leaders endorsing Riemersma include Ambassador Peter Secchia, Dick Haworth, and Jim VanderKolk, among others.

“The MBT is unfair to small business and could be the worst tax in the country. It should never have passed the Michigan legislature,” said Ambassador Secchia. “West Michigan job providers need to unite behind Jay Riemersma so that the 2nd district has a Congressman who will not raise taxes when he gets to Washington DC.”

“We need a Congressman who will fight for sound economic decisions and the creation of more jobs in our state and country,” said Dick Haworth. “Jay Riemersma will not buckle under pressure to raise taxes to pay for more government expansions when our need is for less government that is more efficient.”

“Jay Riemersma has the leadership qualities we need in our next Congressman, and I believe he’ll make a positive impact for our values from his first day in office,” added Jim VanderKolk. “Jay has been a leader throughout his career at Zeeland High School, at the University of Michigan, in the NFL, at Family Research Council, and he will be a leader for West Michigan in Washington DC.”

Additional business leaders endorsing Riemersma include: John Canepa, Keith Brophy, Jack DeWitt, Luciano Hernandez, David Hooker, Joel Langlois, Arlyn Lanting, Dave Mehney, Dan Pfeiffer, and Mike Teeter.

———————————-

Below is the link to it.

http://jayriemersma.com/2009/10/07/business-leaders-endorse-jay-riemersma/   

From the release above – “Two of Riemersma’s opponents in the Republican Primary voted for the job-killing Michigan Business Tax (MBT).”

This could be interpreted as a swipe at the only two “opponents” who were in a position to vote on the bill in question; Bill Huizenga and Wayne Kuipers.

Former Rep. Huizenga quickly (October 9^th) put out the following email to let everyone know his take on the Riemersma email and exactly how he voted.

While Bill Huizenga voted for the original MBT, as he states; he did not vote for the later version that did pass both House and Senate without his vote, and which included the 22% surcharge on gross receipts.  As the email below claims the original MBT without the surcharge would have helped business, at least in relation to the Single Business Tax.

Below is Huizenga’s reply.

—————————–

 +++++++++

 With just under a year until the primary, we are already getting some heat to help us through this coming winter. 

On a positive note it is also warming to the heart of this conservative to hear two Republicans arguing over who is the most fiscally conservative.

Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative

If actions speak louder than words then the above swearing in ceremony should be held without delay.  Over a month ago the House Republicans came out with their version of the balanced budget without raising taxes.  Then both sides of both the House and the Senate agreed in writing to a balanced budget that didn’t raise taxes.

—–link—–
http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/21015257/detail.html
—————

Notice the last line. “They signed an agreement last week to cut $1.2 billion in spending and not raise taxes.”

Now that agreement was done in the open and with a sigh of relief, but wait they only needed one more signature and the lady governor was out of the country visiting Japan.  Well guess what? She’s back and common sense flew out the window.

I just got this email from the communications director of the Mi. House.

—–link email—–

Higher Taxes: 3; Reforms: 0

Elsenheimer: House Dems block 15 key money-saving government reforms offered by GOP

House Republicans today decried the move by House Democrats to raise taxes by nearly $400 million on Michigan families and job-providers, and issued warnings on the effects the taxes will have on Michigan’s economy.

            “On a day when the Washington Post predicts Michigan will lose a million jobs during Granholm’s tenure, we should be doing everything possible to prove them wrong – not help the prediction become reality,” said House Republican Leader Kevin Elsenheimer. “A tax increase sends the wrong message not only to Michigan families and Michigan businesses, but to job-providers looking to come to our state.

            “This is exactly what Democrats did in 2007 – they raised the state sales tax without public input, at the last minute and behind locked doors, taking Michigan down the path from 7 percent unemployment to 15.2 percent. We simply can’t afford another doubling of the unemployment rate.”

Elsenheimer also noted that the Democrats had to lock the members onto the House floor, for their tax votes to be approved. The Democrat tax increases were narrowly approved, with bipartisan opposition on all tax increases.

The House Republican caucus offered 15 amendments that provide serious reforms for state government. Republican cost-saving reforms include:

• Eliminating lifetime benefits for lawmakers;
• Stopping job-killing actions by the Department of Environmental Quality;
• Freezing the Earned Income Tax Credit at 2009 levels;
• Rooting out unemployment fraud;
• Encouraging local government consolidation of services;
• Allowing school districts flexibility in designing student curriculums; and  
• Improving transparency by creating a Web site that details every dollar of state government spending.

“Democrats knew the public support for tax increases simply wasn’t there, especially in the absence of real government reforms,” Elsenheimer said. “There are better options – target agreements have already been reached to balance the budget without raising taxes. It couldn’t be more clear that our state has a leadership problem, not a revenue problem.”

#####

____________________________
Phyllis Browne
Communications Manager
Michigan House of Representatives
(517) 373-1690 office

(269) 806-4936 cell
 ———————————-

As the email alludes to, someone wrote another bill and decided to take away what progress the Republicans had made.  Bipartisanship just flew out the window tied to common sense.

It is more than obvious to those who study politics even casually that all of the citizen input and rallies and outcry has had lots of effect on the rhetoric but little on the actions of our elected officials.

To those who don’t pay attention to politics, the doubling of the unemployment rate under Granholm/Cherry is hard to miss especially if you are one of the newly jobless.  It is apparent to even the most secluded that something is wrong and most know that we cannot spend our way out of debt.

I hope Mister Dillon isn’t in too hot a water from trying to use some common sense to get Michigan out of the hole we’re in.

 Well they could have had the coronation ceremony in conjunction with Dear Leaders in Chicago at the Olympics but ooops that kind of fell through.  Well maybe a Denny’s in Crystal City will have to suffice.

 If these taxes go through — well like someone we all know once said “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet”.  And we thought 15% unemployment was bad – Try 30%

 If I was a Senator at this point I would say shut down the government instead of caving to this kind of two faced intimidation.  Let the voters decide in 2010.

 Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative

This blog is about what is going on in the “Five Counties” and what I’m up to.

I drove back from where the bus dropped me off in Kalamazoo Sunday nite and got back home at 1am Mon. Woke up at 7am and hitched a ride with Goeff Hansen to meet up with Mike Nofs and Darwin Booher (Candidate for the 35th State Senate Seat) to do some door to door in Marshall just outside of Battle Creek.  Below is a picture of Mike and Goeff and a seperate one of Darwin.

Later we were going to have lunch at a really different Denny’s I had to take a pic of that below; but we made it there late and Goeff had another Dinner to go to back up North at 5:30 so our lunch was on the road.  The other pic was of the group that was leaving who had helped with the door to door.

It was nice to see Steve Sachs again (pictured above) from the Nofs Campaign and Mike himself.  I keep being impressed with Mike and the level of energy he exudes. His Competition is just not a good campaigner.  An inside source told me that they are thinking the Democrat party is in the process of hijacking their own candidates campaign, to try and salvage it.

I don’t know if that is true but it shows just how hard Mike Nofs has been campaigning and for how long.  Representative Hansen told me that he has known Mike for a long time and they served together as state Reps.  Goeff reitterated how hard a worker Mike is.

Well I left with Goeff around 3:30 and got back, I think around 6:00.  I had just enough time to throw on some clothes and head out to Reethes Puffer Highschool in Muskegon to hear Peter Hoekstra give his 4th town hall in the district and the second I had the pleasure of attending.

I am continually impressed with Pete and how well he has handled the townhall format.  His command of the whole Health Care Debate is awesome.  Congressman Hoekstra understands the process and explained it clearly and well to the audience which was between 2 and 300.

Pete is the only politician I have seen who is willing to field unfiltered questions from the audience.  The beauty of the townhall was that Pete spoke briefly and to the point about the mechanics of the legislative process.  He noted that the US House has three Health Care Bills and the Senate also has three.  He then explained that in the next committees they go to these bills can be completely rewritten and then once again after that they can be rewritten again. 

Speaking of unfiltered questions, Pat and Frank Uriarte from the Muskegon County Party attended and below is a pic of Pat asking Pete a question relating to how to keep this bill from becoming law.  Below that is a pic of Marve Engle our 5th Seat County Commissioner and Bill Huizenga, Holly Hughes our National Committee Woman was there also.  Other than that the Muskegon Republicans were sadly under represented. 

The rest of the time was taken up with questions from the audience.  Pete’s ability to manage the crowd started with him quieting down any partisan applause.  A lesser man would of let the partisan applause overcome the opposition: instead he continually shushed down any partisan applause.  It was refreshing to see that and better yet to see an elected politician talk straight not only about his good points but also his not so good points.

Perhaps the biggest “news” was that Representative Hoeskstra said  later this week he and his staff will be releasing alternatives to the Obamacare HR3200.  Pete said they will put out actual bills that will break down the larger bill into more manageable parts.  He intimated 6 or 7 such bills, and that they would be online at his website and other places.  Below I believe is the outline for these bills.

I’ll post them when they come out.

Last Thurs before I left for DC, I went to Muskegon’s Carmen Group Breakfast and we had a nice turnout and talke about what we usually talk about — anything and everything from politics to gun rights.

Below is a pic of the group and also a mystery photo of someones head. Who is that smooth domed  fellow ??

Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative

When I first boarded the bus there was just me and the driver, two more shortly climbed on board. Over the next 15 minutes people started filtering in. By our 7pm departure time there was a full house.

As I said I wasn’t ready for the make up of the busload. They did not look like me. (read old white guy). I counted six families (Jack Hoogendyk and his family included) with children running from 10-18, and the parents along with most of the rest of the bus were middle age. On top of that they were well behaved. Did I forget to tell you though that the ride was 12 long hours?

I got very little to zero sleep. But around 7:30am we pulled up to the Marriot Gateway in DC. The rooms weren’t registered yet and bloggers row had a lot of trouble. They had tried, there were 15 stations with computers set up but the network they used only let on 2 or 3 work at a time and the speed was really slow.

We had at least 15 bloggers “discussing” the problem to no avail, but I had a chance to wander around the Marriot a little and finally I got registered next door at the Sheraton which had free WIFI which I’m using now.

I had hoped to do some live blogging but I’m too tired to think let alone blog. On top of that I left the usb cord to download my pics with. I have taken a lot of pics and the crowds were great the first day. The breakout sessions were awesome. There were some real pros at the various ones.

The rally at the capital had I would guess around 500. They were fired up and the speakers were pretty good.

The Reagan dinner Tribute was pretty impressive. In my book Mike Pence stole the show. There was easily 2000 people for that The main ballroom became full so d they had to open 3 other rooms and feed them with video.

I’ll fill in the details hopefully Sun. and add the pics.

Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative