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  • A Teabagger In the Crowd!

    It amazes me how real life can play out years or decades ahead of time in the movies. It was only a year and a half ago that I watched the film A Face in the Crowd for the first time. A classic movie directed by Elia Kazan, who you [...]
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    Posted: August 02, 2009, 1:55pm EDT

  • Thoughts that Cross my mind

    It struck me that the people I hear who use every single cool day in the summer to sarcastically ask "where's that Global Warming" (never mind that any 3rd grader should be able to tell you Global Warming refers to average global temperatures and not any one day or year' [...]
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    Posted: July 02, 2009, 7:36pm EDT

  • Peter the Tweeter is at it again!

    Apparently fearing that the Iranian election dissent has taken America's eyes off the unbearable tragedies of being a Republican our favorite torture loving extremist decided to make a post in his twitter account.


    Photo Courtesy Crooks and Liars

    Follow as Logan Murphy,' [...]
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    Posted: June 18, 2009, 8:38pm EDT

  • Serf and turf

    Yesterday I was driving by the Barry County Friend of the Court and noticed that the county was getting free landscape work courtesy of an inmate at the county jail. Well, free if you ignore the cost to the taxpayer to keep someone in the county jail and to drive [...]
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    Posted: June 10, 2009, 9:40pm EDT

  • Hoekstra knew of torture...Admits it!












    "It was not necessary to release details of the enhanced interrogation techniques, because members of Congress from both parties have been fully aware of them since the program began in 2002."

    If it [...]
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    Posted: April 23, 2009, 7:48pm EDT

  • Of tea bags and d-bags

    So, the Republican Party has suddenly once again found its voice when it comes to deficits and bailouts to large industries. Despite years of being in power where they increased deficits, taking the nation from surpluses that could have secured Social Security and Medicare to deficits that were given mostly [...]
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    Posted: April 19, 2009, 9:38am EDT

  • Don't forget to turn out the lights...

    Bye the way...Don't come in on monday either!
    More unfortunate news as Wayland Chevy closes in Wayland. Tempers apparently ran high and there were a couple of scuffles.
    Video from a WWMT report captured one of these scuffles.




    It drives home the real cost of this' [...]
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    Posted: March 29, 2009, 8:06pm EDT

  • CARS Act...Cash For Clunkers!


    I was considering a post on the outlook for new fuel efficient auto's and new business' that are interested in making them here in Michigan. But rather than running through some hopefuls that may or may not designate this state for their American home I [...]
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    Posted: March 24, 2009, 6:56pm EDT

  • A taste for cheap political stunts

    One of the rumored contestants in the reality show political sweepstakes to be Michigan's Next Top Governor is the CEO of Domino's Pizza, David Brandon. Now, if you're like me, when you heard that you said "who?" Maybe you know Tom Monihan, the wingnut billionaire who founded Domino's and is [...]
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    Posted: March 21, 2009, 1:45pm EDT

  • Found in the local paper

    Found in the Thursday, March 12, 2009 edition of The Hastings Banner:

    "...there was an editor in Barry County who sometimes freely published his opinions about individuals."

    ..."he had a way of stating what he meant. He did not criticize to be mean-spirited. He had the conviction that" [...]
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    Posted: March 17, 2009, 9:42am EDT

  • On the Virge

    There always seems to a seminal moment in the career of many leaders. An instance where clarity of voice welds with singularity of purpose. The most recent of these has culminated in an overwhelming response from the net roots. Captured forever on the blogosphere in this video.



    [...]
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    Posted: February 24, 2009, 6:01pm EST

  • 2010 Governor's race heats up in Feb. 2009

    Despite it only being February of 2009, the eyes of politicos are all cast on fall of 2010 when Michigan elects a new Governor to replace term-limited Jennifer Granholm. A mushrooming field of entrants have declared or are testing the waters, almost a year and a half before the August [...]
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    Posted: February 22, 2009, 8:33am EST

  • Prosecutors propose prolonged punishment

    According to this story in the Muskegon Chronicle, West Michigan prosecutors are coming out of the woodwork to loudly oppose Governor Granholm's proposal to release thousands of non-violent offenders from state prisons, saving the state $262 million dollars in 6 years:

    Gov. Jennifer Granholm and legislative leaders asked' [...]

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    Posted: January 24, 2009, 9:35am EST

  • All-inclusive invocation

    I just talked to someone tonight who still had their Christmas tree up and since this is my first post of the new year I guess I can't make fun of the Hastings Banner for still having it's Seasons Greetings header up on their web site. I didn't even' [...]
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    Posted: January 12, 2009, 9:17pm EST

  • 2008- Leftovers (part 1)

    I think going forward it would do us well to take a look back at things left unsaid, and those little items that made mention but were lost in posts that may have been on a different subject at the time.
    A perfect example of loosing the forest through [...]
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    Posted: December 28, 2008, 3:13pm EST

  • Union Busting!

    Thom Hartman is one of those people that can cut through the bull like a laser through butter. He was on Countdown recently to discuss the GOP's opposition to helping the Big3 automakers. As has been proven this has nothing to do with the amount of money asked for,' [...]
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    Posted: December 14, 2008, 5:40pm EST

  • Making bail

    The news since Election Day has been mostly filled with talk of the next administration which is akin to following the pre-season in sports. Well, as many Michigan residents may know the Lions went an undefeated 4-0 in pre-season and have yet to win any games in the regular season [...]
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    Posted: December 06, 2008, 10:31am EST

  • Governor to Obama Cabinet?

    MLive carries an AP story speculating on Governor Granholm's future:

    Granholm has made attracting wind turbine manufacturers and alternative energy suppliers a key part of her administration's economic development strategy. Now, some are speculating that could mean Obama might be interested in asking ask her to lead the [...]

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    Posted: November 06, 2008, 8:36am EST

  • EARTHQUAKE

    This is what a landslide looks like....

    Michigan 2004:



















    Michigan 2008:











    [...]
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    Posted: November 06, 2008, 8:22am EST

  • Election Day Night

    WOOD TV is reporting they exit poll showing Proposal 1 and 2 both passing by a wide margin, also Obama winning huge in Michigan. 7th House district, the only competitive West Michigan national race is tight with Schauer looking to take the seat- hasn't been called yet' [...]
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    Posted: November 04, 2008, 9:30pm EST

  • Election day resources

    Well, here we go!

    During the day tommorow you may want to check in with electoral-vote.com, they have comprehensive coverage of polling results. Or if you are a numbers freak I highly recommend fivethirtyeight.com. They will make you wish you payed more attention in math class, but [...]
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    Posted: November 03, 2008, 8:28pm EST

  • Proposal 2

    PROPOSAL 08-2
    A PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE STATE CONSTITUTION TO ADDRESS HUMAN
    EMBRYO AND HUMAN EMBRYONIC STEM CELL RESEARCH IN MICHIGAN

    The proposed constitutional amendment would:

    • Expand use of human embryos for any research permitted under federal law subject to the following limits: the embryos --
    -- [...]
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    Posted: October 26, 2008, 2:59pm EDT

  • Proposal 1

    PROPOSAL 08-1
    A LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVE TO PERMIT THE USE AND CULTIVATION OF
    MARIJUANA FOR SPECIFIED MEDICAL CONDITIONS

    The proposed law would:

    • Permit physician approved use of marijuana by registered patients with debilitating medical conditions including cancer, glaucoma, HIV, AIDS, hepatitis C, MS and other conditions as may [...]
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    Posted: October 26, 2008, 2:55pm EDT

  • DDA should ante up with facts

    When the Hastings City Council decided they wanted to tear down the old library building, citizen outrage forced them to reconsider the fate of the library which also once housed the local post office. Now, the beautiful and historic brick building that some wanted to be a parking lot (in [...]
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    Posted: October 14, 2008, 7:24pm EDT

  • It is not about equality...It's about ME!

    Sitting inside tonight nursing a cold. It seems it always comes on like this during the last really nice weekend of the year.
    Anyway I have a box of tissues next to me, and a half a pot of hot tea on the stove. I am thankful that my disease [...]
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    Posted: October 11, 2008, 7:05pm EDT

  • Obama's October Surprise!

    The following is a review I wrote about the first presidential debate between McCain and Obama. I withheld it in order to contrast my opinion on the outcome of that debate to the second one that took place last night. I have changed nothing since wrote it.

    As someone [...]
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    Posted: October 08, 2008, 6:21pm EDT

  • A precipitous withdrawl?

    Today it was announced that John McCain is pulling his ads and campaign staff from Michigan and canceling a campaign event planned for next week in Plymouth, essentially giving up hope of winning the state's 17 electoral votes. Until recently many people saw Michigan as an important swing state' [...]
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    Posted: October 02, 2008, 7:56pm EDT

  • Schwarz switches for Schauer

    The AP is reporting that Former Congressman Joe Schwarz has decided to endorse Democratic State Senator Mark Schauer over Republican Tim Walberg who defeated Schwarz for the 7th Congressional seat 2 years ago in the GOP primary.

    Schwarz told The Associated Press on Tuesday that he decided to [...]

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    Posted: September 30, 2008, 7:41pm EDT

  • Local Lipstick Pork

    While watching Governor Palin squirm her way through the part of the ABC interview dealing with the amount of earmarks she helped bring to her local village while mayor, I came upon the thought that this in itself may open eyes of local politicians on the effect that requests for [...]
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    Posted: September 16, 2008, 5:00am EDT

  • Undecided idiots or Independent patriots?

    A long while ago I posted on my own blog evidence of the visceral hatred I have for those that cannot decide the most important issues of their lifetime. In that post I pointed out that the mushy middle may very well be the catalyst for the problems that we [...]
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    Posted: September 14, 2008, 5:00pm EDT

  • In 100 words or less...

    The Michigan Supreme Court defied the will of the people. Justices Taylor, Corrigan and Young agreed with the Court of Appeals while Justices Markman, Cavanaugh and Weaver said the the proposal was too complex to distill into 100 words or less. The disgusting decision ignores that complex issues are [...]
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    Posted: September 13, 2008, 10:35am EDT

  • False fact checking and biased balance

    Obviously, I started this blog because I felt like the major news media was letting down the American people. I couldn't begin to chronicle the exhaustive list of abuses but one central theme I notice that seems to strike me as particularly disturbing is the notion that the truth must' [...]
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    Posted: September 10, 2008, 8:27pm EDT

  • A Democrat Can Win in Barry County

    The history of government in Barry County is riddled with incompetence. All one has to do, is read back issues of the local newspaper for the last few years to see a pattern of government mismanagement, and malfeasance. These incidents seem to have one thing in common:

    "Republicans"

    [...]
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    Posted: August 30, 2008, 9:12pm EDT

  • Why I love conventions

    As a kid one of my reasons for becoming interested in politics was the quadrennial national conventions. As someone who loves language and its ability to move people, the lofty speeches that called out to our ideals was something I found awesomely inspiring. Every four years at least one person [...]
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    Posted: August 27, 2008, 7:34am EDT

  • The party is started!

    Photo courtesy of Democratic party.

    You can make a lot of claims right now, but slow news week is not one of them!
    BarbinMD is Liveblogging the convention at dailykos.
    I will try to link to some Michigan sites that are also taking [...]
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    Posted: August 25, 2008, 9:07pm EDT

  • Read more about Anger

    West Michigan Rising recently ran a profile of the Democratic candidate for Barry County Drain Commissioner, Rose Anger. Part of the article also looks at the lack of Democrats running for office in Barry County. Take a look. [...]
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    Posted: August 24, 2008, 2:49pm EDT

  • Parade politics provokes applause

    Watching the annual Hastings Summerfest parade was just a bit more interesting this year for watchers of politics and the pols who use such events to campaign. Considering that Barry County has so few contested races after the August primary election (this year it seems even less than usual), I [...]
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    Posted: August 24, 2008, 10:23am EDT

  • Calley, Not Nanny Enough

    One of governments jobs involves protecting the welfare of its citizens. This includes making laws that deal with lurking dangers that may not be apparent to all.
    In a move that many conservatives would consider furthering the "nanny state", this week Michigan representative Brian Calley (R) introduced legislation that would [...]
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    Posted: August 17, 2008, 10:30am EDT

  • Primary results

    Some surprising and not-so surprising results coming in. Leaf and Evans look to have comfortable leads (Sheriff's race a blowout). Drain commissioner race between Yarger and Englerth as expected. Jarvis and Smith neck and neck for Clerk post. Commissioner races: Lyons beats Ferris, Stolselberg wins, Bremer on top with [...]
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    Posted: August 05, 2008, 9:34pm EDT

  • Contempt

    |kənˈtem(p)t|
    noun
    the feeling that a person or a thing is beneath consideration, worthless, or deserving scorn : he showed his contempt for his job by doing it very badly.
    • disregard for something that should be taken into account : this action displays an arrogant contempt for the [...]
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    Posted: August 04, 2008, 6:21pm EDT

  • Pol Watcher's Primary Picks

    Here are my picks for the contested races in Barry County in the Tuesday, August 5, 2008 primary...

    Barry County Board of Commissioners
    Note: District 1 (the city of Hastings) and District 5 (Maple Grove, Castleton and Assyria Townships) have no challengers so the board will retain incumbents Don [...]
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    Posted: August 03, 2008, 6:20pm EDT

  • UofM Wins Solar Race Again

    The beginning of an article on the website UM Solar reads:
    The University of Michigan Solar Car Team has crossed the finish line for the 2008 North American Solar Challenge after traveling nearly 2400 miles from Plano, Texas to Calgary, Alberta. The team [...]
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    Posted: July 26, 2008, 12:19am EDT

  • Paying taxes is patriotic

    The need

    With troops in foreign lands, and an economy in shambles, it seems to me the least patriotic thing someone could do is not pay their taxes. Complaining about tax rates, is as much a national past time as watching baseball, or eating hot dogs. But this nations [...]
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    Posted: July 24, 2008, 9:27pm EDT

  • That's debatable-County Clerk & Register of Deeds

    As I type this, the debate for Barry County Register of Deeds and County Clerk is getting underway at the Barry County Commission on Aging in Hastings. I dropped the ball on providing a place for discussion of the last two debates so here it is.

    (Fair warning: Any [...]
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    Posted: July 24, 2008, 7:00pm EDT

  • Introducing agnosticrat

    In case you haven't noticed, this is now officially a group blog. I've asked agnosticrat to come on board and provide his unique and caustic commentary to issues that affect West Michigan. I was at a point where it was either ask for help or call it a day. I [...]
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    Posted: July 24, 2008, 6:40pm EDT

  • Bullet points (or: Annie, Get Your Gun)

    Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
    brandish
    Pronunciation: bran-dish
    Function: transitive verb
    Etymology: Middle English braundisshen, from Anglo-French brandiss-, stem of brandir, from brant, braund sword, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English brand
    Date: 14th century

    1 : to shake or wave (as a weapon) menacingly
    2 : to exhibit in [...]
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    Posted: July 23, 2008, 7:36pm EDT

  • How to win votes and influence elections

    As we hit two weeks to go before Primary election day, I figure it might be my final chance to give some last minute advice to those brave and/or fool-hardy souls who have chosen to run for public office. I see too many people who throw their hat in the [...]
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    Posted: July 21, 2008, 8:41pm EDT

  • Media lays an egg inreporting on reform effort

    It's said that space abhors a vacuum and so, it seems, does the media.

    When word finally got out that a grassroots group had a petition drive in motion that would reform Michigan government the media was caught by surprise. The group was quietly gathering the 370,000+ signatures [...]
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    Posted: July 06, 2008, 7:22pm EDT

  • That's Debatable- Prosecutor Edition

    Barry County prosecutor Tom Evans will square off against primary challenger Kerri Selleck tonight (June 26) at 7 p.m. at the Barry County Commission on Aging. The debate will be moderated by attorney David Makled. [...]
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    Posted: June 26, 2008, 6:25pm EDT

  • That's Debatable- Sheriff's edition

    Based on the comments on this blog and from what I'm hearing, the Barry County Sheriff's race may be the "big one" this primary season in Barry County. The candidates will be debating tonight at the Barry County Commission on Aging building on Woodlawn Avenue in Hastings at 7 p.m. [...]
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    Posted: June 19, 2008, 8:00am EDT

  • Lights Out

    Wow. The entire city of Hastings is without power and estimates seem to be getting pushed back as to when it gets restored – yesterday, I kept hearing maybe Wednesday while today I'm hearing it might be Thursday. Makes me wonder where all those people I saw driving around town [...]
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    Posted: June 09, 2008, 9:41am EDT

  • Vander Roested

    I'm not sure what to say about this...

    News Release
    I am requesting to have my name withdrawn from the 63rd House Seat, for which I served from 1998-2002. I do this reluctantly and sadly, because I believe I could have been a good State Legislator for the 63rd District [...]
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    Posted: May 29, 2008, 6:14pm EDT

  • Once More To The Point

    So, Brian Calley was once again interviewed on WOOD-TV's political news show, To The Point. Rick Albin and Republican State Rep. Calley discussed Michigan's response to the foreclosure crisis with Democratic State Rep. Steve Tobocman.

    Nice to see some common sense in our politics and so [...]
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    Posted: April 27, 2008, 11:45am EDT

  • Not as unpopular as they would have you believe

    According to the newest Epic MRA poll of Michigan voters, Barack Obama leads John McCain. The more interesting bit of news is how much better he matches up against McCain than Hillary Clinton would.

    Obama, the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination, leads McCain 43 percent to 41 percent, [...]
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    Posted: April 14, 2008, 10:16pm EDT

  • Going back to Calley

    For those of you who don't know, State Rep. Brian Calley sat in the "hot seat" with WOOD TV8's political reporter Rick Albin on last week's "To The Point." The main focus is Calley's "Kwame Bill" which would seek to make responsible sitting public officials, once they have been convicted [...]
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    Posted: April 09, 2008, 6:07pm EDT

  • Seek the truth, but not from a liar

    If you’re a regular reader of West Michigan Politics (and given my infrequent postings of late, there’s still a surprising number of you), there’s a good chance you’ve read one of the many messages from a certain Seeker of Truth in the comments. This “truthseeker” often leaves off-topic comments in [...]
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    Posted: March 25, 2008, 6:32pm EDT

  • Mock Election

    As most of you know, the states of Michigan and Florida were stripped of their presidential primary delegates when both states broke national party rules and scheduled primary elections before they were allowed to do so. I don't know how or why it is that some people still fail to [...]
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    Posted: February 25, 2008, 7:18pm EST

  • West Michigan blogging community expands

    While I was out, it appears a new West Michigan political blog has formed. It looks a bit familiar but it should provide some interesting commentary and a place for West Michigan's growing progressive community to congregate. Head on over and check out their nice, long assortment of [...]
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    Posted: February 21, 2008, 6:13pm EST

  • Free speech- unless you make a profit?

    A little while ago a story made the news that a Michigan mother whose son had been killed in the Iraq war realized her son's name was among the 3,000 listed on a t-shirt which said "Bush Lied." The flap made headlines when Vicki Dickinson enlisted politicians to line [...]
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    Posted: January 22, 2008, 7:05pm EST

  • Primary post-mortem

    It sure was nice to see that Barry County Commissioner Jeff VanNortwick survived the recall attempt. As many of you surely know VanNortwick was singled out for voting for the TOST ordinance requested by the local health department despite being but one of seven commissioners to vote for it. [...]
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    Posted: January 16, 2008, 9:10pm EST

  • My primary concern

    So last time I discussed issues regarding the coming Presidential primary on the Republican side of the ticket and promised to look at the Democratic ballot. However, the race on the Democratic side just isn’t as interesting as the chaotic free-for-all on the Republican side (which seems a reversal in [...]
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    Posted: December 31, 2007, 9:32am EST

  • Gee! Oh, Primary...

    After a ridiculous year long pre-season that is mostly a fund-raising tour where lobbyists and media conglomerates are allowed to shape the race in advance, the Presidential primary election is finally close at hand. I really doubt most people besides political junkies have followed the race in any way other [...]
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    Posted: December 16, 2007, 11:07am EST

  • State of confusion

    Saturday was an interesting news day for Michigan. First, the state legislature, once again acting at the last minute, finally got a bill passed and signed into law both repealing the sales tax on some services 7 hours after it took effect and replacing the lost revenue with a bump [...]
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    Posted: December 02, 2007, 4:54pm EST

  • No means no park

    When Barry County voters go to the polls Tuesday, November 6, 2007, they will be faced with a simple question: Should Charlton Park remain open?

    Now, some will muddy the waters and insist that it's about accounting or oversight or budgets or taxes or whatever their particular grudge/issue, but [...]
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    Posted: November 04, 2007, 9:19am EST

  • Pass the budget, not the buck - Part 2

    Number of comments: 12
    State Rep. Brian Calley’s most recent column in the Hastings Banner is another reminder of what’s wrong in Lansing.

    I was told by former Banner Editor David T. Young that when he was approached by newly-annointed State Representative Brian Calley about running a column that Calley assured the Banner, [...]
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    Posted: September 27, 2007, 3:26pm EDT
    by Pol Watcher

  • Pass the budget, not the buck

    Number of comments: 31
    President Harry Truman is known for the sign he placed atop his desk in the Oval Office, reminding everyone that "The Buck Stops Here." If only the politicians in Lansing were as willing to take responsibility...

    An October 1 deadline draws near. By that date the Michigan House [...]
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    Posted: September 16, 2007, 10:31pm EDT
    by Pol Watcher

  • Nine Won One more time...

    Number of comments: 94
    When I wrote my last post to this blog a little over a month ago, I guessed that the blaring news headlines of a new rock solid set of charges against our much-maligned Barry County 911 director would likely vaporize into little more than the newest chapter of the long [...]
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    Posted: July 14, 2007, 12:12pm EDT
    by Pol Watcher

  • Humpty Dumpty fell off the wall

    Number of comments: 134
    If you live in Barry County or if you've been reading this blog, chances are you know a little bit about the controversy over our County 911 Director, Charlie Nystrom. Nystrom has been charged with wrong doing in the past but nothing has ever seemed to stick. Today, [...]
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    Posted: June 01, 2007, 9:03pm EDT
    by Pol Watcher

  • Death by Diet Coke?

    Number of comments: 10
    I was going to send this link via email to a circle of friends and family, knowing most of them would probably ignore it among the mass of jokes and cute pictures and "male enhancement" emails clogging up their in boxes and then I realized that I should reward [...]
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    Posted: May 28, 2007, 9:42am EDT
    by Pol Watcher

  • The bad idea that won't die

    Number of comments: 9
    While a noble band of local folks have been waging a grass-roots campaign to try to stop a Super Wal-Mart from being constructed just outside the Hastings city limits, Hastings City and Rutland Township officials have been quietly negotiating a deal with the giant retailer. Citizens: Prepare thyselves for Wal-Mart’s [...]
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    Posted: May 13, 2007, 7:17pm EDT
    by Pol Watcher

  • Tax cutting the trees down

    Number of comments: 12
    I'm sure many people didn't give much though to a recent story about the city of Grand Rapids being forced to cut down dozens of ash trees due to the spread of the invasive pest, the Emerald Ash Borer but I think it's something you should [...]
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    Posted: May 01, 2007, 9:25pm EDT
    by Pol Watcher

  • Building a better blog

    Number of comments: 5
    I’ve been delighted that County Board of Commissioners Chairman Mike Callton decided to get into the blogging game with the “Barry Home Companion” blog in order to add another voice to serious cyberspace political and social commentary about Barry County and West Michigan. Dr. Callton, with a nod to Goldilocks [...]
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    Posted: April 29, 2007, 8:06pm EDT
    by Pol Watcher

  • Tim's tantrum: Is Walberg worried?

    Number of comments: 3
    Poor Congressman Tim Walberg (R-Tipton) is starting to show the strains of being a radical right winger whose record of over-heated rhetoric and crass campaigning is catching up with him. It seems the Battle Creek Enquirer's Assistant Local Editor Susan Demas has offended poor Timmy by actually reporting [...]
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    Posted: April 20, 2007, 8:03pm EDT
    by Pol Watcher

  • DARE to think different

    Number of comments: 16
    "If you build it, they will come."


    That over-quoted line from “Field of Dreams” accurately predicts what virtually always happens when we build new jails and new prisons. Yes, we’ve got a lot of everything in this wonderful country, and a lot of places to put ’em in. All [...]
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    Posted: April 17, 2007, 6:45pm EDT
    by Pol Watcher

  • Breaking: Falling prices land on house, kill 5

    Number of comments: 10
    “Those who ignore history are condemned to repeat it.”
    — Georges Santayana

    The news broke last month that Wal-Mart plans to build a supercenter near the corner of Green Street and Cook Road, just outside the City of Hastings. Never mind that Wal-Mart already has a huge [...]
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    Posted: April 08, 2007, 7:42pm EDT
    by Pol Watcher

  • The fingerprints of Vern Ehlers?

    Number of comments: 16
    Ever since the scandal broke regarding the firing of eight U.S. Attorneys and the fact was revealed that one of those eight was Margaret Chiara, the U.S. Attorney for the Grand Rapids district for the last five years. I've been wondering what her role was in all of this. There [...]
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    Posted: April 06, 2007, 6:13pm EDT
    by Pol Watcher

  • New links added

    Number of comments: 31
    Just a reminder that I've added some new links under that section on the ride side of the front page. Included in the new additions are a link to Barry County Board of Commissioners Chairperson Mike Callton's Barry Home Companion as well as a link to the blog for [...]
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    Posted: March 27, 2007, 10:02pm EDT
    by Pol Watcher

  • Reasonably under control

    Number of comments: 18
    Recently, Congressman Tim Walberg (R-Tipton) compared war-torn Iraq favorably to the American cities of Detroit and Harvey, Illinois.

    “…talking to our troops as well as some of the officers who have returned, they indicate to me that 80 to 85% … of the country (Iraq) is reasonably under control [...]
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    Posted: March 26, 2007, 8:41pm EDT
    by Pol Watcher

  • A hypocrite of Biblical proportions

    Number of comments: 7
    “He who is exalted shall be humbled. He who is humble shall be exalted.”
    — Jesus Christ, from the book of Matthew in the Gospels


    According to a recent press release, Pastor Rus Sarver is retiring at Grace Brethren Church in Hastings. Is this time for real? Sarver has [...]
     | Rate | Archive
    Posted: March 25, 2007, 6:28pm EDT
    by Pol Watcher

  • Go Blue! No, really... just go...

    Number of comments: 27
    I read with some interest the news articles this past week about Lansing’s planned cutbacks in state police trooper levels in several places, including one position in Hastings. It seems the budget crisis really is getting serious when they start laying off cops since public safety ranks right up there [...]
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    Posted: March 19, 2007, 8:10pm EDT
    by Pol Watcher

  • Balancing Michigan's budget- a better idea?

    Number of comments: 8
    It isn’t that often when the Detroit Free Press and the Hastings Banner (in the form of an editorial from J-Ad Graphics Vice President Fred Jacobs) editorially do the same thing, but it happened, I swear, earlier this month.

    The Free Press, in response to breaking news that super [...]
     | Rate | Archive
    Posted: March 11, 2007, 6:50pm EDT
    by Pol Watcher

  • Christian Curtis cares only for #1

    Number of comments: 28
    “Jesus loves me, but He can’t stand you.”
    — The Austin Lounge Lizards

    A story last weekend in the Grand Rapids Press sports pages on local boy and former big leaguer Chad Curtis is yet another example of those who use their so-called Christian faith to hammer their opponents [...]
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    Posted: March 02, 2007, 8:40pm EST
    by Pol Watcher

  • A Year in the Life

    Number of comments: 20
    One year ago, on February 24, 2006, I started this blog with a short post. The idea, like all of them, had begun as a tiny nagging voice in the back of my head that grew louder and louder until I could no longer ignore it.

    For anyone who [...]
     | Rate | Archive
    Posted: February 23, 2007, 8:15pm EST
    by Pol Watcher

  • The blog in your own eye

    Number of comments: 35
    In case you weren't already aware, the recent WOOD TV 9 broadcast probably alerted you to the presence of Save Our Saxons, a web site dedicated to exposing some dirty laundry concerning the Hastings Public School system. Unfortunately, instead of tackling the actual issues at hand, the channel 8 [...]
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    Posted: February 13, 2007, 10:03pm EST
    by Pol Watcher

  • Saul of Farces

    Number of comments: 47
    Michigan Republican Party Chairman Saul Anuzis seems to understand what makes for good comedy- saying something with a straight face that is so obviously not true that no one could possibly believe it. Last week on Michigan Public Radio he was quoted as saying that the Democrats have no [...]
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    Posted: February 02, 2007, 6:33pm EST
    by Pol Watcher

  • Park and wreck the bored

    Number of comments: 131
    I believe the time has come to fire all but one of the members of the Barry County Parks and Recreation Commission.

    The reasons are straightforward — Nine of these ten “public servants” have been astonishingly derelict in their duties over the past year, particularly in the last six [...]
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    Posted: January 21, 2007, 11:39am EST
    by Pol Watcher

  • Fear or freedom?

    Number of comments: 66
    About 70 years ago the world was taught the lesson of what can happen when a charismatic figure skillfully manipulates ordinary people’s fears, ignorance, hatred and greed and creates a mob of willing accomplices to evil, murderous acts. But have we learned? There are far too many people in West [...]
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    Posted: January 08, 2007, 7:32pm EST
    by Pol Watcher

  • The Invisible Michael Brown?

    Number of comments: 50
    A more than plausible argument could be made that the most invisible man in Barry County government over the last dozen years has been Administrator Michael Brown.

    Ever since Brown was hired as a sort of “Whiz Kid” in his mid-twenties during the mid-1990s, he’s been forced to take [...]
     | Rate | Archive
    Posted: December 21, 2006, 5:41pm EST
    by Pol Watcher
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