Cross posted from BFM

Wow!  That was nuts!

I never thought I'd spend $1,000 in one trip, on candy, dvd movies, and games.

More stuff, if you jump ..

Cross-posted from Blogging For Michigan

Another day, another $1700-ish!  We are now up to over $2700!

BFM wants to send a special thanks out to DKos and VetVoice, who have sent some donations our way.  We also want to send some love out to GM Truck & Bus, where the folks are really rocking Troop Care!  And of course, thanks to all the rest of you who have donated.

For those of you who are just joining us, Troop Care is our effort to bring a little comfort to Michigan troops who are serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Here's how it works:

1. We beg you for money.  Seriously.  We're not proud.
   

2. You give us money, because you hate to see us beg. 
   

3. We get a big shopping list from anysoldier.com.
   

4. We shop, pack, and ship to our troops.
   

5. Our troops get a little happiness for the holidays.

Cross-posted at BFM

Hooyah!  We've got 14 Michigan units asking for support through AnySoldier.com, and BFM & friends are committed to sending a care package to each one of them.  We're looking for about $350 for each unit.

What do the troops need?

Here's a note from a medic from the UP:

Hello back in The Great USA, we are a section of medical personnel supporting the mission in Iraq. We are required to be on duty on varying shifts and sometimes on duty 24 hours a day. This does not allow much time for acquiring simple pleasures such as snack items, and other niceties to bring a little pleasure into an otherwise stressful situation.

There's more ..

It started small, and eventually made it's way to a Kos diary, where a handful of people picked it up.  Then Paddy over at Cliff Schechter's place picked it up, and a Kos front pager took it from there.  And Bruce Fealk has worked his magic with the msm as well.

And now we have a nationwide event:

Good work Bruce!

Michigan Congressman Joe Knollenberg has some harsh words for citizen-activists:

"You're anti-American .. you're against the country."

"You're blinded by your hatred of this country!"

"Go away we don't want you here.  You're not a citizen, you're a political activist!"

"You are for everything that is wrong in this country.  You want our soldiers to lose in Iraq, you want Toyota to beat GM, if we followed your approach, Michigan would be in the tank."

Okay, okay.  To be fair, it wasn't Joe Knollenberg who said this, but his Chief of Staff, Trent Wisecup.  But, Wisecup made it clear that he speaks for the Congressman:

"I'm speaking for Joe because I'm his Chief of Staff and he doesn't dignify you by talking to you."

Don't believe me?  Through the miracle of youtube, you can watch the video over the jump ...

Maybe you have seen this diary, by Michigan blogger Liberal Lucy, in which Lucy details the events surrounding the Senate censorship of Blogging For Michigan.  In case you haven't been following this on this Michigan blogs, here are the latest posts:

On Blogging For Michigan

• Mike Bishop's Chief Of Staff Let's One Slip -- BFM & DK blogger DJTYG points out that Propaganda Minister Matt Miner accidentally told the truth about the real reason for the censorship
• Bishop Accuses BFM Of Crime -- It was bad enough when the Republican Senator said that BFM is 'non-informational', but did he have to accuse us of a crime too???

As you know, I was a candidate for Chair of the 4th District Congressional Committee.  That election was decided yesterday at the convention.

I would like to thank my supporters and once again congratulate Bob Donoghue on his victory.  Bob conducted himself with true class during this election, and I hope that all of our counties will now unite behind him and the rest of our committee.

I would also like to recognize the conduct of the participants in the caucus election.  People treated each other with respect, and the nomination and election processes were open and fair.  Our county chairs were allowed to openly discuss their concerns about how the Unity Slate was created.  I am proud of this process and would like to now share three ideas on how to further add to the integrity of our district elections.

When I launched my campaign on January 30, I shared with you my purpose in running for Chair of the 4th District Congressional Committee:  to win the congressional election in 2008.  This purpose has shaped my vision for the committee and plan for the district. 

The information I am presenting here is an outline for that plan.  Specifics of each item will be available at the convention.

Fundraising:

*Develop a vehicle for Internet donations. 

*Cultivate a diversified range of donors who can provide different amounts at different times.

*Develop new events that will generate funds and publicity

*Study the feasibility of direct mail and telephone fundraising

*Encourage small, recurring donations, similar to Democracy Bonds

On January 30, I announced my candidacy for Chair of the 4th District Congressional Committee.  Since then I have had the pleasure of talking with many of you about my plan for the district.  I have also learned a great deal about your hopes and goals for the committee.  Because I cannot possibly speak to everyone before the caucus, I would like to take a moment to address some of the more common questions here.  

My slate is the Victory Slate ... a name which reflects my intentions for the 2008 congressional election.  I have not filled the entire slate, because I do not believe it is proper for me to choose the representation for our entire district.  I trust the people of the 4th district to elect their preferred vice chairs and delegates, and I will work with anyone who is elected.  

Fellow Democrats,

I am pleased to announce that I am running for chair of the 4th District Congressional Committee.  I am doing this because I believe that the 4th District Democrats can win the next congressional election.  I am asking for your support, your vote, and your counsel.

Before I go on, I would like to recognize our current chair, Julie Nelson.  Michigan’s 4th district is one of the largest in the nation.  It spans from mid to northern Michigan, and includes 14 counties, each with unique challenges and needs.  Julie has served this district for the past 2 years; her time and efforts have earned our appreciation.

This is an important position, and I would like you to know exactly who you are voting for:

You remember Lee Iaccoca, of Chrysler bailout fame?

He’s stumping for Devos now, and it ain’t pretty.

John Truscott said “the campaign decided to feature him because 'everybody here knows him as the greatest turnaround expert in Michigan'.”

At first, I couldn’t figure this out. Iacocca supported Kerry in 2004. And he’s a self made man. Why would he be supporting a whiny little weasel like DeVos?

And then it hit me … Iacocca and DeVos have a few things in common:

What Won't Dick Do?

And why not?

Everyone who reads my blog probably knows by now that GOP Gubernatorial candidate Dick DeVos has refused the Democrats’ call for him to make his tax returns public.

Governor Engler did it. Governor Granholm did it. Lieutenant Governor Dick Posthumous did it. But GOP Gubernatorial candidate dick DeVos refuses.

I thought Dick DeVos wanted to be in the company of Michigan Governors. Why wouldn’t he release his tax return?

Is it because ...

I have compiled this reference material in preparation for a series of blog entries about the Owosso Fire Department and the Owosso Department of Public Safety.  I am seeking comment, corrections, etc.  I am interested in both sides of this story, but the City of Owosso always gets the last word in the media and at the council meetings.  I am trying to give the firefighters a greater voice.  As such, I would especially like to hear from anyone who is a firefighter, or who shares the concerns of the Owosso firefighters.

While I admit that I have a soft spot for labor, the City's actions just do not make sense to me.  In matters of fire safety, does one believe 18 men who are trained to be firefighters, or 1 man who is trained to be a police officer?

Summary: Dispute between the Owosso firefighters and the City of Owosso over the way the Fire Department is organized and managed.