Check out this site time and time again as it contains the most up-to-date national poll numbers for the Presidential Primary as well as a state-by-state breakdown of the most recent poll numbers in each state:
http://www.presidentpolls2008.com/
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Congressman Walberg on the floor of the House
Check out this link from a little floor attention by Congressman Walberg: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21dIeyCcwxQ
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
The Immigration Question
The hot issue of the day is the immigration bill being debated in the Senate this week. Today, Congressman Tim Walberg explained his opposition to the bill in an op-ed piece that appeared in the Battle Creek Enquirer. You can read it here:
http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070627/OPINION02/706270313
I think that we all can agree that more work needs to be done to implement the Secure Fence Act of 2006 (requiring a fence be built along the borders). In addition, Congressman Walberg points out that the bureaucratic hurdles thrown up during the immigration process also need to be streamlined and reformed. This too, is a point of solid agreement among most Americans and most Republicans.
Some Republicans, however, are supporting this bill, including President Bush. The bill does require hefty fines (in the area of $5,000) for illegal immigrants, an approximate 10 year process to obtain citizenship, a concentrated requirement for English and Civic knowledge, and increased requirements for identification.
What I think is most impressive about this debate, though, is that it is being driven by our Party. Even though the Democrats control both Houses of Congress, it is Republican ideas and leaders who are controlling its future. However you fall on this issue, be proud of the fact that our party is not satisfied with the status quo and that we have leaders like Congressman Walberg and President Bush hashing out the details. Thanks fellas.
s
http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070627/OPINION02/706270313
I think that we all can agree that more work needs to be done to implement the Secure Fence Act of 2006 (requiring a fence be built along the borders). In addition, Congressman Walberg points out that the bureaucratic hurdles thrown up during the immigration process also need to be streamlined and reformed. This too, is a point of solid agreement among most Americans and most Republicans.
Some Republicans, however, are supporting this bill, including President Bush. The bill does require hefty fines (in the area of $5,000) for illegal immigrants, an approximate 10 year process to obtain citizenship, a concentrated requirement for English and Civic knowledge, and increased requirements for identification.
What I think is most impressive about this debate, though, is that it is being driven by our Party. Even though the Democrats control both Houses of Congress, it is Republican ideas and leaders who are controlling its future. However you fall on this issue, be proud of the fact that our party is not satisfied with the status quo and that we have leaders like Congressman Walberg and President Bush hashing out the details. Thanks fellas.
s
Thursday, June 21, 2007
A Fighting Parent
Ma ny of you know the story of our own Robert Pederson - if you haven't, you must be hiding under a rock. Check out Rob and Angela's Blog here: http://www.daddy.typepad.com/ .
They share a great story of what a parent is willing to do to be an important part of his children's life. Thanks for all your hard work and devotion. You are an inspiration to us all.
In addition, Robert is planning a bike trek from Lansing to Washington, D.C. to bring awareness to equal parenting rights. If you can find a way to support him, do it.
s
They share a great story of what a parent is willing to do to be an important part of his children's life. Thanks for all your hard work and devotion. You are an inspiration to us all.
In addition, Robert is planning a bike trek from Lansing to Washington, D.C. to bring awareness to equal parenting rights. If you can find a way to support him, do it.
s
Did Our Founding Fathers Smoke?
What would our Founding Fathers think of the proposed smoking bans? Well, first of all, being profiteers of the tobacco industry, they would not appreciate the government interference of their business. But secondly, and more importantly, what about the individual freedoms they tried to protect here in the New World?
James Madison explained the philosophy behind the new government in The Federalist Papers. What he tried to explain was this:
Human beings can be selfish creatures. They will continually try to get more things and take more actions that they think will help them in their own pursuits of happiness. Sometimes these desires may conflict with others. Previous forms of government had been instituted to deal with these conflicts by force and decree, thereby removing the cause of the conflict. Madison and the Founding Fathers thought this obscene. They thought that if you remove the freedom that causes the conflict, you have despotism. Rather, what they lobbied for and succeeded in achieving, was a government that protected people’s freedoms to do what they want while controlling the effects of those actions, ensuring that everybody’s rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are protected.
Smoking is bad. People should not smoke. People should also not eat fatty foods. People should not drink too much, gossip, call each other names, buy things they can’t afford, etc. etc. But people do all those things.
I completely understand and support the banning of smoking in publicly owned buildings (most people do not smoke, they should not have to deal with smoke in buildings they, in effect, are part owners of). However, the intrusion of government into privately owned buildings is going too far. Having said that, if I owned an entire building, I would either ban smoking in it or at least regulate it to a broom closet in the basement. But to have government tell me how I must run my building is not acceptable. The property rights guaranteed to us by the Founding Fathers are still important to many of us. Let’s not eliminate a freedom to prevent conflict (despotism), rather, let’s work together to control freedom’s effects so that a balance between the public health and personal freedom can be found.
James Madison explained the philosophy behind the new government in The Federalist Papers. What he tried to explain was this:
Human beings can be selfish creatures. They will continually try to get more things and take more actions that they think will help them in their own pursuits of happiness. Sometimes these desires may conflict with others. Previous forms of government had been instituted to deal with these conflicts by force and decree, thereby removing the cause of the conflict. Madison and the Founding Fathers thought this obscene. They thought that if you remove the freedom that causes the conflict, you have despotism. Rather, what they lobbied for and succeeded in achieving, was a government that protected people’s freedoms to do what they want while controlling the effects of those actions, ensuring that everybody’s rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are protected.
Smoking is bad. People should not smoke. People should also not eat fatty foods. People should not drink too much, gossip, call each other names, buy things they can’t afford, etc. etc. But people do all those things.
I completely understand and support the banning of smoking in publicly owned buildings (most people do not smoke, they should not have to deal with smoke in buildings they, in effect, are part owners of). However, the intrusion of government into privately owned buildings is going too far. Having said that, if I owned an entire building, I would either ban smoking in it or at least regulate it to a broom closet in the basement. But to have government tell me how I must run my building is not acceptable. The property rights guaranteed to us by the Founding Fathers are still important to many of us. Let’s not eliminate a freedom to prevent conflict (despotism), rather, let’s work together to control freedom’s effects so that a balance between the public health and personal freedom can be found.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Executive Committee of Calhoun County GOP Meets
We had a great Executive Committee meeting last night. Not only did we do some official business, but got to hear what our elected officials are up to:
County Drain Commissioner Blaine VanSickle has taken care of the beaver nusiance out on Cotton Lake by installing a beaver bypass system. Good work.
Congressman Walberg has been actively listening to his constituents, most recently at Battle Creek Health System and out at Fort Custer Industrial Park.
County Commissioners Greg Moore and Jase Bolger have been pleased with the new Hard Labor sentencing and thanked Sheriff Byam and Jeff Albgaugh for helping this be successful. In addition, they informed us on the proposed smoking ban that could take place in Calhoun County - more on that in the days to come I hope. Finally, there is a proposal to increase the number of Road Commissioners from 3 to 5. This seems like this will only cost the taxpayers more money. What is the benefit? Anyone?
Finally, Anne Norlander, the Calhoun County Clerk announced that almost every document her office keeps (and that the public has access to) will be available on-line in the near future. Many of the more common documents are already on-line, but the rest should be up and available in cyberspace in the weeks to come.
Great meeting - thanks to all.
s
County Drain Commissioner Blaine VanSickle has taken care of the beaver nusiance out on Cotton Lake by installing a beaver bypass system. Good work.
Congressman Walberg has been actively listening to his constituents, most recently at Battle Creek Health System and out at Fort Custer Industrial Park.
County Commissioners Greg Moore and Jase Bolger have been pleased with the new Hard Labor sentencing and thanked Sheriff Byam and Jeff Albgaugh for helping this be successful. In addition, they informed us on the proposed smoking ban that could take place in Calhoun County - more on that in the days to come I hope. Finally, there is a proposal to increase the number of Road Commissioners from 3 to 5. This seems like this will only cost the taxpayers more money. What is the benefit? Anyone?
Finally, Anne Norlander, the Calhoun County Clerk announced that almost every document her office keeps (and that the public has access to) will be available on-line in the near future. Many of the more common documents are already on-line, but the rest should be up and available in cyberspace in the weeks to come.
Great meeting - thanks to all.
s
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Juneteenth a Huge Success!
For any one who participated in the Juneteenth Celebration yesterday, you'll know that a great time was had by all. The organizers deserve a lot of thanks. State Representative Mike Nofs, County Commissioner Greg Moore, and I participated in the parade and I must say, it is one of the best parades we've been in. Many good things are happening in Battle Creek and many good people are making them happen. We should never let our political differences get in the way of making progress in areas and in ways that we can all agree on.
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