Mr. President takes notice!

Lets warm up the presses . . . President Bush has discovered a housing crisis in America!

Today the White House announced that they were going to do more to help the American people in the foreclosure crisis. The plan, which would help some Americans refinance prior to foreclosure with government aid, begins to resemble a plan proposed by President Roosevelt during the great depression.

We all should be thankful that America is represented by a leader who pays such close attention to the economy and the lives of citizens.

If only someone had thought of this sooner. Wait a minute, this sounds like something that those liberals have been mumbling about for over a year.

Yes. Hillary Clinton & Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and the rest of the Democratic party have been proposing various plans for well over a year now.

Although it could be worse. If there were to be a McCain administration, an administration headed by someone who acknowledges that the economy ‘just isn’t his think,’ the American people would still be left with unreasonable mortgages, built on the Regan administration’s deregulation policies that plague America more now than ever, and tax cuts for the wealthiest of America . . . because trickle down has been working so well for us lately (just look around at America’s economic prosperity).

Here is what I recommend to the President. Have your sleazy White House cronies pick up a copy of the New York Times on their way into work - or perhaps you can change the White House TVs from Fox to CNN. You may also want to start to pack your bags - after all, the next president will have a “d” after their name.

Thank You Senator Levin!

Last night, the College Democrats, the campus community and the Kalamazoo area had the privilege of hearing Senator Carl Levin speak, primarily on the War in Iraq and the Michigan Democratic primary.

 Following the speech he took questions from the audience and then met audience members one-on-one.

 His speech was wonderful, focused and he address the exact issues that he was asked about. I wish to thank Senator Levin for his continued dedication to Michigan residents, Western Michigan University and the opinions of College Students despite our general lack of participation.

 His is a prime example of why we should not have term limits. Despite some bad people, on both sides of the aisle, who have proved that they do not deserve the trust of the people, there are also Senators and Representatives who continue to represent our interests and the interests of the American people year after year.

 Thank you Senator Levin!

Senator Carl Levin Tonight!

Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Michigan’s Senior Senator, and one of Time Magazine’s 10 Best Senators will be speaking at WMU tonight!

 Join us at 8pm in room 157 of the Bernhard Center. Doors open at 7:30, seating is open and free, and everyone is welcome!

See you there!

4,000 troop deaths. A continuing tragedy

Overnight, the number of American military casualties reached 4,000.

Now in it’s sixth year, it the cost of this war is quite clear for all to see. If the monetary price wasn’t enough, if the price of loosing our credibility wasn’t enough, if the mental and emotional anguish wasn’t enough, surely, the death of 4,000 American men and women in uniforms is.

 The President claims that the costs are not as high as some claim. Here Mr. President, 4,000 coffins. Shouldn’t one be enough?

Senator McCain claims that we are succeeding and progress is begin made. Perhaps he will reconsider as coffins draped in American flags return home.

We are at a turning point in American history, and a clear choice in before us. Do we continue to roll back the progress that is American democracy, where tyrants conquered foreign lands for financial gain, despite the costs of war? Do we travel back to the days of occupying forces, foreign based governments, and a constant clash with the people? Do we set our military bases permanently, as a sign of superiority and control? Do we punish local fighters, violently protesting for independence?

No.

Let us move forward once again as an America of hope and a sign of freedom. No longer shall nations be governed by foreign invaders. Let us move past this blemish in history where 4,000 American troops have perished, where tens, maybe hundreds of thousands of Iraqi lives have been lost.

Rather than spending more than $505 billion to kill people in the Middle East, lets invest that money into the American education system. Rather than providing a surplus package to battle the recession, let each household keep the $4,681 that the war has cost them so far. The money in Iraq could provide each and every senior citizen in American with nearly $14,500 to spend on medication, housing, food, or any other need.

In November, the election will be on much more than the surface. If for one moment, in the voting booth, we put aside the failing economy, our troubled schools, a broken health care system, the Social Security mess, the rising cost of college tuition, food, gasoline, and living, the out of control spending, and most other issues, and just focus on the loss of 4,000 lives by this Republican Administration, than our choice should be crystal clear.

The decision is between a policy that will continue our problems and a policy that will begin to reduce our problems.

No matter what Democrat is elected, we will be in a better place on January 20, 2009 at 12:01 p.m. than we will be on January 20, 2009 at 11:59 a.m.

The War, the Election and More! Carl Levin at WMU

March seems to be the month of the Senator at WMU. First the Junior Senator and first female Senator from our great state (Debbie Stabenow) and now Carl Levin!

Senator Carl Levin, Senior Senator of Michigan, Chairman of the Senate Armed Forces Committee, Co-Chair on several task-forces regarding the Great Lakes, autos, and leading voice representing the people of Michigan and our concern for the economy, war, gas prices, environment, etc. will be at WMU.

His speech will focus primarily on the War and the election, and will take place on March 27 in room 157 of the Bernhard Center at 8 p.m.

Lasting about an hour, Senator Levin will have an opportunity to answer questions from the audience as well.

Doors will open at 7:30, so make sure to arrive early. Seating is limited and on a first-come, first-serve basis.

The event is hosted by the College Democrats . . . because that’s how we roll!

5 years in Iraq

Today marks the fifth year of George W. Bush’s illegal War in Iraq.

Thousands of American lives. Tens of thousands of Iraqi lives. For what?

For George W. Bush to finish what his father began. For Dick Cheney’s friends to go from very wealthy to very very wealthy.

This is a shame and this is a sham. Fortunately,  soon enough an end to this lie will be over. I look very forward to January 20, 2009 at 12:01 p.m.

Celebrating Women’s History

Yesterday we had a barrier breaking woman speak on campus.

Michigan’s first female Senator, and the junior Senator of our state, Debbie Stabenow, spoke on Women in Politics.

Her speech documented many of the barriers broken by women in American and global history.

Through personal insight, she shared with us how personal this stuggle for equality has been, both in her personal and in her political life.

After the speech, I was thinking about how incredible it is for a person to have gone from having three career choices (teaching, nursing or social work) to being one of the most influential women in American politics. She has gone from “the young broad” running for county commissioner to a Senator in the United States government. She has helped to bring the views of the people of Michigan into view of the government, despite her gender, despite the money behind her political rivals, and despite an administration that is blind to and ignorant of the needs of the American people.

Prevent future NeoCon control . . . Impact08

Take part in an effort this fall to prevent future neo-con control and get active in a campaign.

This weekend, the Governor’s political staff will be leading a training - Impact ‘08.

To register and for more info, visit www.michigandems.com/impact08

3am phone calls in 2009

With the competing Clinton and Obama commercials over answering the White House phone at 3am running in media markets and all over the news over the past few weeks, a few other conversations have emerged.

The first conversation is over John McCain. No matter who is the Democratic nominee, I look forward to John McCain answering the phone from Arizona in 2009 - and no, I don’t mean during a vacation.

The second conversation is over George Bush. I suspect that he will get to make a phone call about once a week in 2009. They still allow a weekly phone call from prison, right?

The final conversation is over the Obama supporter to be that appeared sleeping in the Clinton 3am ad. Now I don’t want to sound elitist or stuck up, but who cares if an actor from one commercial really supports another commercial. Doesn’t it seem a bit ridiculous for the news (and now us) to pay any attention? I don’t really think that Bruce Willis is invincible, or that John Travolta is a woman, or that Jennifer Coolidge is really Stifler’s Mom! That is why it is acting. It is also why it isn’t news worthy.

Should Spitzer Resign? Let’s ask Sen. Larry Craig!

Allegations surfaced yesterday, potentially connecting New York Governor Elliot Spitzer to a prostitution scandal. Immediately we began to hear calls for his resignation.

Once again, we are faced with a decision that was highlighted by the Monica Lewinski scandal. Should politicians personal actions lead to political ramifications.

Originally, I would have said no. Personal actions are personal, and if, like President Clinton’s, doesn’t break laws, it should not be taken into account. With several years now of Mark Foley’s, Newt Gingrich and Larry Craig, however, it is becoming increasingly appear ant that not only is this occurring much too often, but also often does indeed break the law.

I don’t know if Governor Spitzer is guilty of involvement in a prostitution ring. I do, however, know that if he was, he should be held accountable for his actions. For me, it is not a matter of holding our elected officials to a higher level of moral integrity (after all, the Republicans have made it clear that moral integrity is not a GOP value). I think it is now holding our officials to the same scale that we hold ourselves and our peers to.