The leader of the Cynic Party, I.P. Freeley, was quoted as saying, "It's been a long struggle, one we never thought we'd win, but today we finally succeeded in proving to politicians how much we hate them and how little we care for their so-called 'democracy.'" He then wrung his hands together nervously before adding, "What the fuck just happened?" and breaking in to hysterical sobbing.

President Mouse, who is set to assume office in January, wasted no time in selecting Jerry Mouse (R-AK) as his vice president. Jerry Mouse will be the first mouse of color ever elected to the Executive branch. During a disturbing speech given on the National Mall, Mickey promised to round up all cats, whom he blames for the recent economic downturn. "These cats came here uninvited and illegally, and now they expect us to support them in their lazy, criminal lifestyles. I mean really, who the hell shits in a box of sand and expects someone else to clean up their mess? It's time we took back America for the mice who fought so hard to gain liberty from the fascist cats of the British Empire."

Owners have been ordered to turn in all feline pets within 72 hours so that they may be transported to concentration camps around the country, where they will be forced to construct armaments for the U.S. Government before being sterilized. "God Bless the cynics," Mickey Mouse declared in a speech delivered in front of the Lincoln Memorial, "Their lack of faith in humanity, and ignorance regarding politics has finally allowed sociopathic mice to assume their rightful place at the top of the political chain not to mention the top of food chain. Their self-indulgent cynicism -- barely above the views of shallow adolescents -- has ensured the doom and destruction of all they hold dear. So today, we say, 'God Bless the hipsters, the youth, and their childish arrogance.' We hope they're happy toiling miles below the Earth in our cavernous cheese mines."

In accordance with the New Mouse platform, the Star Spangled Banner has been replaced as the national anthem with the far jauntier There Are No Cats in America. This reporter for one is awe-struck by the optimism this new leadership brings to a country full in dire trepidation.

"Welcome to the new world, you pathetic, hipster, cynical fucks. We hope you enjoy your stay in our country, but given that we are going to exterminate your beloved pets, and the fact that you will go without sunlight for six months as you mine for rare Gouda, we doubt you will." Mickey and Jerry then proceeded to laugh maniacally for four minutes before referring to the American public as "shit heads."

Oh my God where is our Flag the Flag our troops have fought to fight for that represents the people and the wonderful States in America? It sure is no longer on Barack Obama's plane! I found one flag on his plane that he had refurbished and just like everything else it is ALL about him and taking away the Pride and Values that this Country was made of. Our soldiers are dying for your freedom and saftey and all Barack Obama can do is continue to strip the love of our Country from us, sorry Barack Obama I will NEVER give up my United States Flag for your ugly logo! That ugly logo is being plastered and replaced over everything Obama. Show your pride for this country and rid yourself of that ugliness THEN ONLY THEN WILL I FORGIVE YOU FOR WHAT MAKES YOU APPEAR TO BE A TRAITOR OF OUR UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND ALL THAT IT STANDS FOR or are you toside with ayers who steps on the flag like it is trash?

The answer to the question is “yes,” but before explaining why this is so, the terms “regeneration” and “conversion” should be explained briefly.

Regeneration means that one has been born again or born from above (John 3:3, 5, 7, 8). The new birth is the work of God, so that all those who are born again are “born of the Spirit” (John 3:8 ESV here and henceforth). Or, as 1 Pet 1:3 says, it is God who “caused us to be born again to a living hope” (1 Pet 1:3). The means God uses to grant such new life is the gospel, for believers “have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God” (1 Pet 1:23; cf. Jas 1:18). Regeneration or being born again is a supernatural birth. Just as we cannot do anything to be born physically—it just happens to us!—so too we cannot do anything to cause our spiritual rebirth.

Conversion occurs when sinners turn to God in repentance and faith for salvation. Paul describes the conversion of the Thessalonians in 1 Thess 1:9, “For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God.” Sinners are converted when they repent of their sins and turn in faith to Jesus Christ, trusting in him for the forgiveness of their sins on the Day of Judgment.

Paul argues that unbelievers “are dead in trespasses and sins” (Eph 2:1; cf. 2:5). They are under the dominion of the world, the flesh, and the devil (Eph 2:2-3). Every one is born into the world as a son or daughter of Adam (Rom 5:12-19). Therefore, all people enter into this world as slaves of sin (Rom 6:6, 17, 20). Their wills are in bondage to evil, and hence they have no inclination or desire to do what is right or to turn to Jesus Christ. God, however, because of his amazing grace has “made us alive together with Christ” (Eph 2:5). This is Paul’s way of saying that God has regenerated his people (cf. Tit 3:5). He has breathed life into us where there was none previously, and the result of this new life is faith, for faith too is “the gift of God” (Eph 2:8).

Several texts from 1 John demonstrate that regeneration precedes faith. The texts are as follows: “If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him” (1 John 2:29). “No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God” (1 John 3:9). “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God” (1 John 4:7). “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whomever has been born of him” (1 John 5:1).

We can make two observations from these texts. First, in every instance the verb “born” (gennaô) is in the perfect tense, denoting an action that precedes the human actions of practicing righteousness, avoiding sin, loving, or believing.

Second, no evangelical would say that before we are born again we must practice righteousness, for such a view would teach works-righteousness. Nor would we say that first we avoid sinning, and then are born of God, for such a view would suggest that human works cause us to be born of God. Nor would we say that first we show great love for God, and then he causes us to be born again. No, it is clear that practicing righteousness, avoiding sin, and loving are all the consequences or results of the new birth. But if this is the case, then we must interpret 1 John 5:1 in the same way, for the structure of the verse is the same as we find in the texts about practicing righteousness (1 John 2:29), avoiding sin (1 John 3:9), and loving God (1 John 4:7). It follows, then, that 1 John 5:1 teaches that first God grants us new life and then we believe Jesus is the Christ.

We see the same truth in Acts 16:14. First God opens Lydia’s heart and the consequence is that she pays heed to and believes in the message proclaimed by Paul. Similarly, no one can come to Jesus in faith unless God has worked in his heart to draw him to faith in Christ (John 6:44). But all those whom the Father has drawn or given to the Son will most certainly put their faith in Jesus (John 6:37).

God regenerates us and then we believe, and hence regeneration precedes our conversion. Therefore, we give all the glory to God for our conversion, for our turning to him is entirely a work of his grace.

(HT: 9Marks)

Barack Obama gave a speech on foreign soil.  200,000 people who can't vote for him turned out to listen.  John McCain couldn't fill a waffle house in the American heartland, and appeared (at best) out of his element while pretending to grocery shop with a regular, mom-type voter-person.

Leave aside the tortured and twisted attacks on Obama, the lies, the gaffes, the stunted delivery, the inane and insane sound bites that telegraph the sheer desperation of the GOP as their senile, doddering, POW anachronism stumbles from proof that he's ill-suited to proof that he's in the early stages of dementia and a cranky fucker to boot...yes, leave all that aside.  Who LOOKS presidential?

"I know how to win a war," mumbles McCain.  No one asks where he learned that skill.  The one war in which he participated did not go into the books as a win and John S. McBush spent most of that one in the Hanoi Hilton, giving up information and having his armpits sewn to his ribs.

McSame gives a purely political speech in Canada, then criticizes Obama for speaking in a foreign country.
McNugget asserts that using the military for partisan political gain is contemptable, then attacks for Obama for refusing to use wounded soldiers for a photo-op.  Imagine the outrage the sputtering old fuckwit would pretend to exhibit had Obama been photographed with wounded soldiers: "Exploiting those brave men and women who sacrificed for a political photo opportunity is despicable!"  I'm sure McCain is disappointed that he's stuck with, "Obama didn't visit the wounded soldiers - he doesn't support our troops!"  Visit them, you're exploiting them - don't visit them, you don't support them.  No one bothers to point out that if it weren't for McCain, the doppleganger he wants to replace, and the cadre of Satanic fucktards that inhabit the shadows behind them, those soldiers wouldn't be wounded in the first place.  Sadly, when those same wounded soldiers get back to America, they won't have the benefits to which they are entitled because McCain voted against the bill.

McJowls blasts Obama timeline for withdrawl from Iraq as amounting to unconditional surrender then adopts it as his own; fucks up the timeline on the Surge / Anbar Awakening then tries to redefine both in order to suit his delusional convictions about historical facts; can't distinguish between Sunnis and Shiites...
The wizened old cunt has gone well past flip-flopping to outright, unabashed hypocrisy.  America has not only reached the point where it has gotten used to being lied to by its leaders, but may have achieved some pathological Jack Nicholson state in which it cannot handle the truth.  You can see it on McCain's face as he's pushing more and more shit that even he doesn't believe to be true.  At least Bush was stupid enough to honestly believe the crap that tumbled out of his mouth, and perhaps it was that degree of personal sincerity that allowed Americans to choke it down.  No longer.  The lies have become so transparent, the countering evidence so overwhelming and America's belly so stuffed full after eight years on a diet of misinformation, that the old Rovian strategies just won't work anymore.  That's not to say those strategies have been retired...it's just what they're stuck with.  After running the world from the top of a pile of manure for almost a decade, it's not like admitting it and promising to tell the truth in the future is a viable alternative.

So, fuck the polls and CNN's insistence that this election is still an open question.  John McCain is an incompetent old warhorse who needs to be retired.  He was incompetent on the day of his graduation from the Naval Academy, did nothing in his miltary career to justify the fawning adulation it seems to promote, and is now all too obviously too old for the burden of command much less Commander in Chief.  Add that to the fact that the party he represents has steered America down a fool's path of bullying, lies, trashing the constitution, chipping away at civil liberties, flushing the economy down the crapper and fanning the flames of extremist rage and hatred, and the stage is set for something more than mere change.

Who looks presidential?
It's gonna be a landslide.

Even though this video clip is a little dated, the question remains the same: what does Senator Barack Obama have that would make him a good president?  By the time November rolls around, hopefully the American people realize the answer, which is all too simple: Nothing.

Le Berliner Morgenpost passe en revue le coup de PR.

Des célébrités invitées à commenter le discours pour Der Spiegel ont mis un bémol assez révélateur de la popularité d'Obama: "On aura ri de Bush s'il avait fait la même chose" ici

Parlant du Spiegel, c'est lui qui est le plus enthousiaste: le chef de sa section internationale a vu dans le discours d'Obama un discours du 44ième président des États-Unis d'Amérique. là

Voici quelques images de couvertures de la presse allemande sur Barack Obama. Remarquez le Bild qui demande un Obama allemand.

with most people you find out who they really are when they are pushed into a corner. with the press ignoring him, his funding not even close to obama's, and the polls also not going his way, mccain is certainly in a corner. and it is getting quite clear what kind of person he really is. i am sorry to be so blunt and i had to think for a while about how best to say it, but in the end asshole was the only word that kept on sticking. there have been tons of stories about his temper and even republicans in the past have said that would not trust mccain with the presidency. and until recently i thought he is just an old guy. but then when he started the campaign last week in which he cheaply portraits obama next to castro, when he kept on saying that obama does not want to win the war but is only interested in winning the election i have to say a line was crossed. and that line was no longer about good or bad taste, but about being an asshole or not. 

now today i saw this new mccain ad: 

just to make sure you get what he says: 

"And now, he made time to go to the gym, but cancelled a visit with wounded troops, ...  Seems the Pentagon wouldn't allow him to bring cameras. ... John McCain is always there for our troops."

mccain is always there for the troops? oh, yes, i know, he is always there to send them into a way that is based on lies. 

mccain is certainly there for the vets ... he goes so for as to vote against an expansion of the GI bill, which would provide more education support to vets: 

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, seemed to give a thumbs down to bipartisan legislation that would greatly expand educational benefits for members of the military returning from Iraq and Afghanistan under the GI Bill.

why, does he not vote in favor for it? 

... saying he had not studied the bill close enough.

hmm, ok, sounds like vets are not that important to him, unless they are a stage prop at one of his events. 

and while i has no problem sending soldiers off to war, he also is quite ok with cutting funding for the veterans health care system (something that is especially needed since his war of choice is resulting in more injured soldiers than in any war before: 

Why then, did McCain vote last year against providing more money for military and veterans hospitals? In February 2006, McCain voted against a Senate amendment that would have provided for at least $19 billion for these facilities, paid for by eliminating tax cuts for the wealthiest earners. [Senate Roll Call Vote 7, 2/2/06].

so what has mccain done for soldiers lately? maybe he should stop blabbering about his surge, and instead for once doing something that is actually going to help soldiers. he seems to be quite good at sending them to their grave, but not help them stay alive.

It should be made clear from the very beginning that I am not what you call a Bumper Sticker Person. Bumper Stickers have always seemed, to me at least, the adhesive-backed embodiment of the sentiment contained within the phrase "Better to keep one's mouth shut and be thought a fool than to open it and remove all doubt."  While I adored stickers of all kinds as a child (and still do, now that I think about it), I never saw the point of a small piece of paper as the vehicle (har, har) for expressing one's sexuality/ideology/politics/religion/sports-team-affiliation.

This is because I am what is known as "snooty."

Last night, however, something changed. While opening the mail, I discovered my Barack Obama bumper sticker had arrived from MoveOn.org, and as I looked down at it, I thought to myself, "Really? A bumper sticker? Are we this person? What's next, mud flaps with sexy girlies on them?"

Despite my innate snootiness and fear of what might come next (I'm fine with the mudflaps, but what if I suddenly find myself saying "NASCAR? Yeah, that might be a sport." with a straight face?), I cast my fears aside. I busted out my Simple Green cleanser and recycled paper towels, walked out the back door, and wiped clean a small area of Lola's rear panel (before you get too excited, friends, Lola is my 2000 Bravada, not some exceptionally dirty girl with an environmentalist fetish).

After cleaning her panel, I then applied my brand new, freshly-printed Barack Obama bumper sticker to my precious baby's hitherto-unblemished backside thusly:

In an ironic twist, you'll note the sticker leans slightly to the right, har, har, choke, gasp, wheeze!

As I promised a while back, I will NOT exhort you to vote for any particular candidate, but if you, like me, are ready to give your car a tramp stamp for change, you can get your bumper sticker here.

You're on your own for mudflaps, though.

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The more and more I learn about Obama, the more I like him.  But I think the thing I like most about him right now is that he just seems like a nice guy.  He may be setting me and everyone else who loves him up for a very big disappointment if he's actually some huge jerk.  And I get that he's a lawyer AND a politician so of course he's well versed in giving half-truths and evasion but that's every lawyer and every politician.  

Thing is, I think we all really like Obama as a person even more than we like him as a politician.  He just seems like this really nice, cool guy that everyone wants to have as their next door neighbor.  Imagine moving into a house and that evening, there's Michelle and Barack on your doorstep with a casserole welcoming you to the neighborhood.

Makes you all smiley, right?

Of course, this is why everyone criticizes Obama and Obama supporters.  I remember during the heat of the Hillary/Obama race so many people tried tell me I only liked Obama because he was so charismatic.  And I agreed he's very easy to like and very charismatic.  But I also like his health care plan, his record on Iraq, his plan for the economy, etc.

So really the fact that his personality is so pleasing is really just a huge bonus.  I voted for Kerry in '04 and Gore (when Gore wasn't cool) in 2000.  But I have to admit, I voted and caucused for Obama with much more enthusiasm.

Anyway, all this thought came about when the Maariv Newspaper in Israel published Obama's note to God.  Earlier in the week, Obama visited the Western Wall.  Pilgrims have historically put a little note in the ruins that is supposed to be a private message between the person and their creator.  The notes are removed periodically and buried in the Mount of Olives.  It's considered taboo to read the notes.

But as soon as I read that he had visited the wall and had acted out the tradition, I knew I would be reading what he had written soon enough.  He probably knew too.

Either way, his note to God could be every man and woman's: Lord, protect my family and me.  Forgive me my sins and help me guard against pride and despair. Give me the wisdom to do what is right and just. And make me an instrument of your will.

I especially like the Pride and Despair part.  Pride is my main pitfall and I don't have the entire world at my feet.

Also, yesterday Obama was "caught on tape.".  He was in London speaking to Tory Leader David Cameron where he DID NOT address him as "Yo, Cameron."  That hurdle passed, the two had a conversation about vacation and the need to clear one's head.  Conversation can be read here.  

Also, I do feel guilty posting Obama's note, even though so many have done so before me, and yes the hypocrisy does bother me.  I really don't have a good reason for putting it up except that I really liked it and it really spoke to me, an agnostic.  Lame, I know.

BALLOT PROPOSAL:

...A group called Reform Michigan Government Now, which says it wants to streamline government, has taken a length list of proposals and packaged them into one big offering.  The proposal would change aspects of state government's legislative, judicial and executive branches, rewriting a large chunk of the Michigan constitution.

The number of state lawmakers would be reduced, along with their pay and benefits.  The way boundaries are drawn for legislative districts would change.  Two state Supreme Court Justice positions would be eliminated.  And that's just the start of the proposed changes that the group wants to put before voters...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(Information from Cadillac News, 05/23/2008.)

PRIMARY ELECTION:  August 4, 2008.

GENERAL ELECTION:  November 4, 2008

The Aug. 5th  primary election will narrow down party candidates for the Nov. 4th general election. 

In 2008, every seat on local township boards is up for re-election.  Each township has five-member boards that include two trustees, a supervisor, a clerk and a treasurer, except for Haring Township, which has four trustees along with other positions.

The Nov. 4th election will determine which candidates from each party will take office in January, 2009.

                          ** CEDAR CREEK TOWNSHIP**

Cedar Creek Township has contested races for supervisor, clerk and trustee.  All candidates are running as Republicans.

For Supervisor:  Larry Paquette and Larry Rogers are running.  Incumbent supervisor, Gary Gilmore has not filed for re-election.

For Clerk, incumbent Pat Buttermore is being challenged by Wendy Johnson.

Treasurer Mary Hallett is running unopposed.

For Trustee, three candidates are seeking two positions:  incumbents Keith Stutzman and Jean Schnitker and former trustee John Fuscone.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

        (Information taken from Cadillac News, 7/16/08 & 7/18/08.)

     MEET THE CANDIDATES for CEDAR CREEK TOWNSHIP BOARD

                 PERSONAL INFORMATION and KEY ISSUES

                                     [Alphabetical Order:]   

• PAT BUTTERMORE, incumbent Clerk:  Personal Information.   "For nearly eight years, I've servied as the Cedar Creek Township Clerk.  My husband, James and I have been married 25 years this year.  Together, we cleared the land and built our own home, with the help of wonderful neighbors.  We raised our two sons here and they are now grown and on their own.  I haven't had much "spare time" recently, but when I do, I enjoy painting and have painted murals in homes and businesses.  I am passionate about healthy eating and fitness, and enjoy working out and encouraging others to reach their goals."   Key Issues.  "Blight enforcement and road maintenance are  two priority issues.  it costs approximately $150,000 per mile to pave a road.  The township operates on about $190,000 a year, so major paving projects would cripple other township services, such as fire protection.  However, maintaining our currently paved roads is possible with continued careful financial planning.  Long term financial planning has been extremely beneficial and needs to continue.  Providing excellence in delivering township services, providing services in a cost efficient manner, and minimizing the township's liability exposure, insures that tax dollars are used efficiently.  That is always a key issue."
• JOHN FUSCONE,  challenger for Trustee:  Personal Information.  "I retired from the Milwaukee Railroad where I held a management position in the marketing, pricing and sales department.  Also during this time my wife Patti and I owned and operated a remodeling and construction company.  My age is 67 years and I have been retired for 12 years.  We have two daughters and three grandchildren living in the immediate area.  We also have two sons who reside in Illinois.  Having worked for the railroad, I became involved in railroad memorabilia collecting, which I have since given up, and now I concentrate on woodworking and furniture repair."  Key Issues.       "I believe any subject involving Cedar Creek Township is a key issue.  However, at the top of the list would be the ongoing landfill contamination problem and the establishment of the municipal water system.  This is an enormous undertaking for Cedar Creek Township and we should make certain all of the affected residents are properly protected.  But we as elected officials should be able to handle other problems such as fire protection, roads, zoning issues, and development of the M-42 highway interchange. We need elected officials who are willing to work with the residents to determine what is best for Cedar Creek Township."
• WENDY JOHNSON, challenger for Clerk:  Personal Information.   "I have lived in the Manton area at least 48 years.  When my parents moved out of state, my husband and I bought my family home and raised our family here.  My son is married and remains in the area where they are raising our grandson.  I currently work for the Manton Senior Center and have been there for eight years.  We have a lot of fun there.  I also like to make things which I sell at craft shows and enjoy so many different things, they are too numerous to mention."   Key Issues.   "Fire department, landfill, and roads.  Leave the fire department alone.  The landfill is an issue that is still up in the air and we're not finished with it yet.  I cannot support out-of-county trash that costs us $67 a ton, while surround counties will pay $35 a ton; nor the cuts to the fire department.  I would improve the township Web site and keep it updated or get rid of it.  There is still contamination in our groudwater.  The dirt roads in our area are deplorable.  I would like to see a dirt road paved, not one re-paved."
• LARRY PAQUETTE, challenger for Supervisor:  Personal Information.    "I am a mechanical design engineer and have worked and consulted for local, national and international companies for the past 15 years.  I currently work in Aerospace and Jet Engine design focused on part development and trouble-shooting automation and casting processes.  I am 47 and have lived in Cedar Creek for more than 35 years.  My wife, Tami, is a lifelong resident of the area, and we have three children and one grandson.  I enjoy church, car building, hunting and high school sports.  I was a volunteer coach and assistant for many years at Manton as well as a paid varsity coach.  Key Issues.   "The county's most serious economic and management issue is its landfill.  As host township to the county's landfill, Cedar Creek issues and county issues are joined at the hip.  Millions of public dollars have been thrown at contamination problems and millions more are slated for expenditure.  Serious questions have been raised over the landfill's future, county-wide disposal rates, and the county's ability to effectively manage the landfill.  Meanwhile, Cedar Creek residents suffer from lost home values and contaminated water.  There is no doubt that Cedar Creek's No. 1 economic and political issue is the satisfactory resolution of landfill and its contamination problems."
• LARRY ROGERS, challenger for Supervisor:   Personal Information.   "I am the owner of Manton Tire & Party Store.  I am 68 years old and married to Sheila.  We have two children, Chuck and Cheri; three step-children, Angie, Brandy, and Paul; and six grandchildren.  I like fishing, camping and spending time with Sheila and the grandkids."  Key Issues.  "Revenue will probably be the key issue.  Revenues are down and will be;  also road maintenance and new construction of roads; and to build a good relationship between the board of trustees and residents of Cedar Creek."
• JEAN SCHNITKER, incumbent Trustee:   Personal Information.  "Jean Schnitker, 57 years old.  Registered Nurse for 36 years.  Currently employed at District Health Department No. 10 in the Maternal Child Division.  Married to husband, Bill Schnitker for 35 years, also have two grown sons.  I enjoy volunteering in the community, staying active and involved with church and other service organizations."  Key Issues.  "The issue of contaminated ground water and providing safe water to the residents in that area has been overwhelming and consuming.  The Solid Waste Management Plan will be voted on later this year.  We are all affected by these very important issues.  An issue that is very important to me is maintaining an atmosphere favorable to raising families and supportive to country lifestyle that has drawn so many of us to this area.  Governing needs to be done on the local level through townships, not strictly through the counties as proposed by recent legislation in Lansing."
• KEITH STUTZMAN, incumbent Trustee:  Lives in Cedar Creek Township and has been a Trustee for the past 2 years.  (No information was available in Cadillac News about this candidate.)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MEET THE CANDIDATES for WEXFORD COUNTY COMMISSIONER FOR DISTRICT #1: (Cedar Creek Township, Liberty Township, Manton)

•  KEVIN HEITGER (pronounced "HIE-cher"):  Challenger for County Commissioner for District #1.  He lives in Cedar Creek Township.  Kevin and his wife have been married for 21 years and have three wonderful daughters.  They moved to Manton 12 years ago, built their home, and love the rural atmosphere.  Kevin enjoys reading, hunting, fishing, long walks in the woods, and playing softball.  He is a CCW instructor and was a girls' softball coach.  He attends church regularly.  He has had many meetings and conversations with federal and state legislators about a variety of issues such as Public Act No. 381of MI.  He has attended many government meetings over the last 2-3 years in an attempt to understand the issues in our county.  His present position allows him to converse with people in the county as well as the surrounding counties about the issues and similar ones.        
• To learn more about this candidate, go directly to his website by clicking on the following web address:  http://klheitger.web.officelive.com/default.aspx 

•    TOM AKERS, Incumbent County Commissioner for District #1.  Tom and his family live in the town of Manton, and he owns the Manton Ace Hardware store.    He has a son who is currently in service with the military.   He has served as County Commissioner for one 2-year term.   

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The dilemma is that the voters do not seem to trust Brown but substituting him with another unelected Prime Minister would be even less justified than the present situation. The honorable thing to do would be to call a general election right now. Labour have been in power for long enough to be corrupted by the power. And the difference between Labour as it is and Tories is like a line drawn in streaming water.

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MoveOn members have ordered over 600,000 Obama buttons—way, way more than expected.

So MoveOn decided to print more. If you want one they are available to everyone.

I am forwarding this message to you so you can a free Obama buttons! Here's the link to get yours.

http://pol.moveon.org/obamabuttons/?id=13339-9160348-w1mAyHx&t=3

If together we can give out a million buttons, people are going to start seeing them everywhere they go.

And the more that people see these buttons, the more they'll get the message that Barack Obama is the candidate with the buzz, momentum, excitement—and sincere support of regular folks across the country.

* Independent bookstores: the one in my neighborhood has the most incredible Middle Eastern politics, current affairs and history sections I've ever experienced. It's tiny, but hard-to-find and rarely-encountered volumes abound. I'm like a kid in a candy store.

* Caffeine: I don't drink alcohol (no, not at all). Nor do I smoke. But I drink a good four shots of espresso a day. Six if my hours are especially long. Yes, my doctor and I talk about this. She's not thrilled with me. At least it's fair trade and organic, right?! (If you're ever in San Diego, you must check out my favorite coffee shop in North America).

 * Miscellaneous: book-collecting, za'atar, the feeling I get after a great workout, the smell of jasmine, orchids, and clean floors (swoon).

But the worst of my vices? The one that makes my friends think me truly bizarre?

CNN / MSNBC / the whole political-commentary universe that is auto-programmed on my cheap analog set.

I can't get enough. I even get glued to the commentators who make my skin crawl. After all, what's more invigorating than countering their slimy, often empty points with scholary and sassy remarks?

Love, you say? Fortune? No way. I'll take my nerd-time over both any day. Politics never bore. I can't say the same for romance. Sorry - do I sound bitter? Must be all of that espresso.

Last night, when my internet cut out for several hours, I spent my Friday night (this is the "this Muslim knows how to have fun" part) simultaneously cursing at and commending MSNBC.

In a feisty conversation about Obama's presence on the world stage and McCain's - uh - blathering at a restaurant ('scuse me, he was blathering at "Schmidt's Sausage Haus" - closest he could get to Berlin I guess), I ruminated on some recent commentary by one of my favorite pundits, well, ever. I'm talking about the hyperintelligent, quick-as-a-whip Rachel Maddow.

My Friday night TV-watching buddy didn't know of Ms. Maddow - nor do a lot of people I come into contact with. Sad, considering that most people can recognize at least a name or two off the roster of ornery old dudes she outshines on MSNBC.

I won't belabor you with biographical data - that's what Google's for. I will say that I personally think she should have her own show -- perhaps she could replace the one show on CNN I simply cannot stomach.

Below, one of my favorite debates: Rachel Maddow vs. Pat Buchanan on healthcare. It's just too delish.

A meal in Greece is highlighted with a selection of hot and cold plates known as mezedes. Soups are few but they are meals by themselves.

- The main course is a boiled or grilled meat/fish. There are also many delectable meat stews to choose from, as well as plain grilled cuts of meat and of course the well known charcoal grilled lamb or pork called souvlaki.

- Fish and shellfish are excellent in any kind of cooking.

Salads are usually ordered with the main course and can consist fresh vegetables or cooked dandelions .

- Horiatiki, the traditional Greek salad, consists of tomato slices, cucumber slices, olives, peppers, onions and feta cheese dressed with oil and vinegar.

- Cheese, the most commonly offered in restaurants are feta (white semi-soft and salted), graviera (yellow hard), kasseri (yellow semi-soft), and manouri (unsalted creamy and fattening).

- Desserts, are a delectable treat, including baklava (consisting of strudel leaves and walnuts) and kataifi (which consists of nuts wrapped in shredded wheat with a honey sauce). During the summer as desserts are preferred large peaches , watermelonmelon, grapes and pears

- Greek coffee is like Turkish coffee. Greek coffee is always served with a glass of water.

Eating Establisments

There is a wide variety of eating establishments in Greece:

- Tavern, eating establishment with emphasis on the traditional cooking and mezedes.

- Psistaria, a barbecue style eating place.

- Estiatorion (restaurant), a conventional eating establishment.

- Psarotaverna (fish tavern), they specialise in fish and almost found by seaside or harbour side.

- Prices and Tipping, in Greece a 15% service charge is usually included in your bill. Menus are usually presented with two parallel price charts. On the left the price of the food and drink. On the right the same price with service and tax included. The service charge is ordained by Greek law so additional tipping is really a recognition of special service for special requests.

Extract from our Yachting in Greece - General Information and info. http://www.seascope-sailing.com/

About The Author Yannis Moraitis, director of Seascope Sailing Yacht Charters. For more information please check my web site. http://www.seascope-sailing.com/.

The hard reality is something, anything, must be done to contain and lower rising health care cost. The average cost of employer sponsored programs for individual consumers is $3,281 per year. This is a huge bill to swallow. Couple this with Medicare- Medicaid payment that supplements regular coverage, which in a word is atrocious, leaves the average American with their hands tied when it comes to health insurance.

Millions of average Americans have lost house, and home, because of Nursing home care and insurance cost that are designed to pay the destitute. So the government takes everything from you, your assets, you home and your dignity, before any Medicaid payments kick in after your insurance and income is exhausted.

The travesty is that we allow such a system to exist in America. We live in the richest country in the world and we lack the necessary compassion to take care of our own. When will it change?

Cambodia's national election is on today and it might not be surprise who will win. But obviously most Cambodians would like to see change and finally see progress in the country but with an impending war with neigbouring Thailand and various political issues including the never ending graft and corruption, this generation might never see a progressive Cambodia, yet.

First, there was the fact that he went to the cheese isle and denied he lied about the Iraq war timetable.  Not only that but, he said to a response of a reporters question, McCain said that there was a surge before the surge...Im wondering which surge is McCain taking credit for.  If he's taking credit for the first surge, then that means that the government with held secrets about the first surge.  If McCain is taking credit for the second surge then that means that he shouldn't get credit for the surge because it wasn't his idea.

Heres the CNN video of McCain in the supermarket...THE EDITED VERSION

Heres the part that was edited out.  Apparently McCain doesn't like applesauce and applesauce doesn't like McCain.

Another thing you might have not noticed is that McCain doesn't know what the price of milk is.  Not surprising you say? You are correct.  I would just like to point out that McCain has to look at his cue cards in order to tell know what the price of milk is.  He didn't even have the decency to remember the price.  How disrespectful of the milk and cows that produce it.  And how disrespectful to me, someone who likes milk very much, and is willing to pay an excessive amount of money for it.

Also bad picture to be attacking obama and defending his lie about that awakening and surge timetable in front of the cheese isle.  It makes his attacks look more cheesy then they already were.  A bad week for McCain is a good week for me.  Adios.

MSNBC’s Chris Matthews said, in the course of covering the Obama candidacy, and I’m paraphrasing,
” He (Barack Obama) brings none of the ‘ bad stuff’, you know?”

By ‘Bad Stuff’, he meant the legacy of enslaving Africans in this country and then keeping them as second-class citizens until 1965, a mere 11 years before this country celebrated its 200th anniversary. So, for 189 years from its official founding as a country, and tack on another 150 years pre-Revolutionary War, and you’ve got the ‘ Bad Stuff’ done to people of African descent. You know, ‘the original sin’, or ‘ the birth defect’, as Condi Rice called it.

But, guess what…..despite being ‘ oh so smart’ by supporting Barack Obama, the ‘Bad Stuff’ smacked White America in the face.

First, with the revelation that his White Side was still involved in ‘the bad stuff’ (slavery), only as SLAVEOWNERS.

I had a good chuckle on that.

But, also, he comes home every chance he can, to ‘the bad stuff’.

To the ‘ Bad stuff’ wife and ‘ Bad stuff’ children he had with said wife.

And there it is: the 400 years of ‘ Bad stuff’, wrapped up in Michelle Obama.

When that came to me on the elliptical machine this morning, it all made sense.

Michelle Obama is a direct threat and lightening bolt against White Superiority.

Because, she’s Black…

VISIBLY BLACK…

But, does not, in any way, shape, or form, contour to the acceptable Black Pathologies that enable White Supremacy to sigh with relief.

- Rikyrah, Update: Michelle Obama As Racial Rorschach Test (h/t Michelle Obama Watch)

Thanks to Alberta: Get Rich or Die Trying for the video (by way of MOW)

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