Saturday August 9th

Join us for a special town hall style event and campaign party on Saturday, August 9th at Trader Jack's Riverside Grille in Eastlake. The restaurant is located on Lakeshore Blvd. at the Chagrin River. No cost to enter, but we are accepting donations. Please come one down and have some good eats with Mike and other Lake County candidates.

More Obama Madness

It never ceases to amaze me how much these democratic candidates flip flop. Kerry was a huge flip flopper and now this Obama. Today both he and McCain were talking energy in Michigan and Ohio. Obama now favors off shore drilling, something he has opposed until polls show Americans support it. He dropped his opposition to oil drilling and reversed himself to advocate release of oil from the nation's strategic reserve. He stated today that President Bush handed his 2005 Energy Policy over to Vice Prez Dick Cheney and that "Cheney met with renewable-energy folks once and oil and gas executives 40 times. McCain has taken a page off the Cheney playbook." Well then why did you vote for the bill you moron? That's right Obama voted for Bush's energy bill in 2005 which included billions in subsidies for oil companies. When the Obama campaign was asked why he voted for the bill they said it was because it included huge investments in renewable energy. What? The same bill that Cheney wrote for Bush? The same bill that Obama said "Cheney met with renewable energy folks once"? Wow, that one meeting sure was powerful, it developed "huge investments in renewable energy." He voted for big oil giveaways, he voted for this so called Republican lead energy policy. Yet he states that it's a bad policy that gives big oil to many give aways. Are you as confused as I am? I'm not really confused, this is typical democratic politics. You see many in the crowds that this man attract don't know what he's voted for. They don't know because they seem to be drinking the same kool-aid. Oh, one last thing, McCain voted against the 2005 Energy Bill on the grounds it included unnecessary tax breaks for the oil industry. That's right, the same bill Obama is smearing, the bill he voted for, McCain opposed. Is this just plain crazy or what. Can you believe that the corporate fighting, environmental candidate is the Republican candidate?

The Fourth and More

It is my hope that all had a safe and happy Fourth of July. My wife and I watched a great firework display in Wickliffe, Ohio. Major props to the mayor and festival organizers, it was a quality show. It was great to see over 1200 troops sign up for longer tours in Iraq. How can our media paint such a dreadful picture when there are consistent reports coming out of Iraq that are positive? I know the answer, it's election year. In speaking with a co-worker today, I realized that much of our problem advancing a real conservative movement comes from fellow conservatives. Many do not understand what being a conservative is all about. The think it has to do with money, or traditions. Well in some cases sure, profit is good, if not at the expense or abuse of others, and traditions are great, once again if not at the abuse of others. But it is so much more than that. Its about protecting our Constitution, empowering individual people, reducing government intrusion and abuse. My co-worker attended a very well funded private school, and her limited interaction with conservatives wasn't very positive. The students that claimed to be conservative were very wealthy (not a bad thing) and promoted that as the reason for being such. As if conservative means to conserve your own wealth. I can understand her issue, when I was a lib the same picture was painted to me. Some conservatives I knew were much of the same, selfish, unable to communicate the beauty of conservatism, indignant and basically uneducated on social issues. What's up with that? Are conservative parents not teaching their kids what it means to be conservative? Do they themselves not know? I'd assume the don't expect the schools to teach conservatism.

NOBAMA

This whole candidacy is crazy to me. Having been a liberal I can only imagine how happy so many liberals are to have this guy running for office. He's taking the typical approach of manipulating peoples emotions, stressing our social problems as his reason for running, telling people that they "should" have free health care, that they are entitled to this and entitled to that, which is so completely unconstitutional it isn't funny. The role of our national government is not to provide health care to all, forcing so many others to pay for it. So many people think that this man is going to help "The People", when his proposed policies actually hurt them. He talks about increasing programs, providing health care, paying for college tuition, all of which increase our national government, thus decrease state governmental power and decrease the power of the people. One cannot increase power of government and power of the people at the same time. In our Democratic Republic only one source can truly posses power, and it is up to the people to vote in candidates who will empower our Constitution, thus empowering The People it was created to protect. This man's proposals will undoubtedly decrease the power of the average person and entrap so many millions to the government. Yet, so many follow him. They believe him, even though he isn't really saying anything. I wish he was running up against someone who would call him out, ask him if he supports the constitutional rights of the people or the power grab actions of government. If any of you are considering voting for Obama ask yourself this...are you satisfied with the way government takes care of our veterans? Are you satisfied with the way government educates are children? Are you OK with the same government dictating health care to all of us, reducing our choice and reducing our ability to do for ourselves? Do you believe that government does a better job at helping people than deep rooted community organizations? There are so many questions you should ask yourself, the problem is that you have a candidate who isn't being clear where he stands so you don't know exactly what to ask.

Burgers-N-Beer

Join us tomorrow after work in Historic Downtown Willoughby. We are hosting a fundraiser and meet-n-greet at Burgers-N-Beer. It's a popular place with great food and drink selection. The suggested contribution is $35 solo and $60 per couple. Hope you can make it!

Local Press

This past Tuesday I organized and held a successful press conference with Pacific Fuel Cell Corporation. Last year they moved their entire production facility to Willoughby from Tustin, California. When I had learned about their move and their hiring of local machinists I became very excited and decided that the word need to get out. As usual I put together the release, faxed and emailed it everywhere it needed to go. We had a great turnout, NBC, ABC and Fox affiliates arrived, along with our local newspaper, The News-Herald. Members of the press asked questions about fuel cell production, workforce numbers and the reasoning behind moving to Lake County. CEO George Suzuki, along with VP of Ops Michael Tyler gave great presentations and shared with the press their delight and hopes for the future. The coverage was terrific and I am so excited that people know about PFC, their plans and our area's need for skilled machinists. Now, I realized that some members of the press would exclude me out of the piece for "political reasons", but I thought that it was important that a candidate organize such a conference for the good of our community. It was with no surprise that the TV affiliates didn't mention my efforts, presentation or presence, but when I read the local newspaper I was a bit taken back. It didn't mention one thing about my effort to organize the press conference, instead it stated that "Pacific Fuel Cell Corp. held the conference..". The writer failed to mention an initiative I talked about, "Train and Gain Initiative" which would create legislation providing manufacturing companies tax credits for training. Please understand I wasn't and am not so concerned for my own political benefit. What bothers me is the fact that citizens were not given the opportunity find out about such efforts from their candidate for state rep. It's no wonder why so many say they don't know much about candidates come election time, the press doesn't help them find out. Low and behold the front page of the paper had a huge article about CANDIDATE Obama, his campaign efforts and presumed victory over CANDIDATE Clinton. Yes, I know it is the presidential race, but there in lies the problem with local press. Like most mainstream media they'd rather the voters focus on candidates for offices in Washington who have nothing to say than candidates here at home who have something to say. What a shame. This isn't about me, it's about us. It's about the voters and the ability they are given to learn about individuals who may serve or represent them. No matter how hard I may have to campaign, no matter how high the climb, I do have a 50/50 chance at this. I am one of two candidates for state rep in Western Lake County and I believe the voters should have all the information about my proposals and efforts.

Liberals love Europe

The Department of Labor Statistics released new numbers today, causing the media to of course focus on the negatives and elude to Republican failings. Unemployment had it's highest jump since 1986, up to 5.5%. Europe has an average unemployment rate of around 21%. That's right, 21%. What is up with the liberal fascination with European life? They have universal health care, libs want universal health care. They drive small cars, libs love small cars and want all of us to be in one. Even Barak Obama stated, "we can't drive our suv's, keep our homes at 71 degrees and expect another countries to look at us as leaders." Well, screw them. And you know what Barak, "Yes we can!". Our presidential elections have Europe buzzing. So many Europeans have said that it's about time we elect an African-American for president. Who are they to make such comments? Has England ever had a black prime minister? Has Germany? Has France ever had a black president? No. They should really focus on themselves and their racist roots before looking to us. Back to the unemployment rate, it's disappointing news for sure. The media has been talking up a recession and they're itchin to see it happen. But who has been running both the House and Senate in Washington for the last two years?, Democrats. So let's see, gas prices sky rocket, unemployment continues to rise, companies continue to move or cut back, and no one sees the connection? Democrats want these things to be happening. They want us to match Europe with a 20 something percent unemployment rate, they want automobile manufacturers to generate more smaller cars in the name of greenhouse gases. It is strategic and it's the only way they can attempt to win this November. They want Americans to have a hard time. Do you think they would be able to convince us to vote for them if things were great? They have no substance, no real issues. They talk up our needs driving people to make emotional decisions, "we need this..." and "you deserve that..." resonates with individuals who have struggled. Democrats play into these emotions, never getting into specifics, just creating hype and desire. It's a strategic plan to eventually flip our capitalist system in to a government providing socialist country. The mainstream media wants the same, along with a recession, the more people laid off, the more people at home watching, primarily, mainstream networks. In 2006 Americans voted power over to Democrats and what have they done? Nothing. Does one really think they deserve the White House? It is time we wake up and dig into our conservative roots. It's time we study our Constitution and demand that government become limited once again. Our social ills can be solved by members of the community, organizations who do a far better job of caring for the sick, the homeless, children and families. Far better than the government that is.