Michigan Teaser...

As the sand in an hour glass of time...these are the days of politics.

Well I was a recipient of a mass forwarded email from the 1st District Chairman, Joel Westrom. This email is regarding the status of a possible joint Republican/Democrat Primary to be held on February 5. I do not have time to research or report on all of the details right now. I am waiting for my grandma, her sister and sister's husband. Basically, this is going to boil down whether or not the power of voting in the Primary will go to the people or the elitists on BOTH sides. This will be up to the elected people in Lansing. My grandma just got here, so I am signing off.

Will things in Michigan work for Mike Huckabee, will the people of Michigan, both Dems and Reps, feel included or disenfranchised, will the biggies on both sides choose our next President? Stay tuned for the next episode.

Mike Huckabee in Ottuma, Iowa

Hey, an article about Mike Huckabee that has more than one page!

Check this article out in the Ottuma Courier.

• OTTUMWA — Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee’s first visit to Ottumwa was something of a throwback campaign in some ways.
  
  There’s a lot of talk about the changes in Iowa campaigning by presidential candidates. About how living room chats are being pushed aside by rallies for thousands.
  Huckabee’s visit centered on a cluster of picnic tables in Central Park, with a cooler off to one side full of plastic ice cream cups for supporters. The scale fit Huckabee’s goal. He thinks there’s plenty of space for a candidate to break out of the Republican pack and into the national consciousness.

Some quotes from the picnic;

• “Americans expect people, when they get elected, to do something,” he said. “Americans aren’t stupid. We understand that there’s a complete dereliction of duty on the part of Congress.”
• Huckabee, a Baptist minister, sprinkled his speech with references perhaps more common to the pulpit than the campaign trail. He said he won’t avoid questions about his faith, but said he doesn’t expect it to play a major role in the campaign.
  “I think people just want to know you’re honest about your faith,” he said.
• Huckabee supports the fair tax plan. The plan eliminates the income tax, along with other taxes on revenues. That means it ends the capital gains tax and estate taxes.
  “It’s a ridiculous system we’ve got,” Huckabee said. He contrasted a federal audit with the criminal justice system, saying the burden of proof in the audit is on the accused.
  A national sales tax takes the place of the current system. Huckabee described it as a system simple enough “for a 7-year-old with a lemonade stand,” to understand.
  “You take all the taxes off productivity,” he said.

Click the link above to read the whole article.

Well I gotta go "Shake, Rattle and Roll" and God Bless From the Upper Peninsula in Michigan!

Two Goals - From Mike Huckabee

Email from Mike Huckabee:

Dear Friend,
I am busy campaigning in Iowa today but I wanted to reach out to you with an update on where things stand.

I spent yesterday in Davenport where I met hundreds of interested voters. Education, health care, border security, Iraq and out of control Washington spending are on the minds of voters here. Which isn't suprising, because wherever I go these are the issues people are talking about.

As I have said in previous emails our campaign is continuing to gain ground. Our online fundraising is picking up and our website traffic is building, especially in Iowa. Which is good news because the Iowa Straw Poll is only 18 days away and we still have a ways to go and very real goals we must meet as a campaign. Its my hope that you will once again help us.

1) By this Friday at midnight we need 1,000 online Vounteers to send emails to their friends, family members and co-workers encouraging them to join our campaign. You can do so by visiting the "Build Our Base" section of the website. The last time we set this goal over 2,000 of you participated. A great result and one we need to duplicate.

2) Make an immediate online contribution to our campaign of $15, $25, $35, $50, $70 or even $140. We must raise 400 contributions by Friday at midnight, so I hope you will take a moment now to make a contribution in support of our campaign. We will invest the contribution you make immediately into our grassroots field operations nationally.

Your support has helped fuel this campaign and your continued support is critical in the remaining 18 days before the Ames Straw Poll. If you have already made a contribution, now is the time to seriously consider making another. The amount you contribute isn't as important as your participation. Thank you!
With deep gratitude,

Huckabee: U.S. has 'sick care,' not health care

Sorry for the fact that the last couple posts have not been Huckabee related. Unless ya consider my attempt at "Rockabilly Poetry" to Mike Huckabee to be Huckabee related. I wonder how many of y'all recognized the songs I mentioned? No offense, but I prefer the vintage rock to anything modern, even country. Not that I don't like anything new, I do. Oh yes, back to Mike Huckabee.


Check out this article in the WCFcourier.com.

• DAVENPORT --- The U.S. health care system is too focused on curing illness and not enough on preventing it, Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee said in Davenport on Monday.
• Huckabee, the former governor of Arkansas, told about 60 people at the Adler Health Education Center that while universal coverage, the goal of all the Democratic presidential hopefuls, is laudable, the country ought to focus on lowering the cost of care.
• The U.S. spends about $2 trillion a year on health care, or 17 percent of its gross domestic product, Huckabee said, with most of it to treat chronic disease.
• "We don't have a health-care system. We have a sick-care system," he said.

Click here to read the rest of the article.

Mike Huckabee Responds to Iowa Democrat Party/Health Care Record in Arkansas

NEWS RELEASE

Huckabee Campaign Responds to Iowa Democratic Party Little Rock, AR – The Mike Huckabee presidential campaign issued the following
statement in response to comments by the Iowa Democratic Party about Huckabee’s record as Governor of Arkansas:

“Mike Huckabee has a proud record of dramatic innovations in health and health care during his tenure as Governor of Arkansas. In fact, he’s been consistently honored as the national leader in health innovation, including recognitions by the American Heart Association, the American Lung Association, the American Diabetes Association, and the American Association of Retired Persons,” said Iowa campaign spokesman Eric Woolson .

“Frankly, I find it ironic that the Iowa Democrat Party is lambasting Governor Huckabee’s record in Arkansas – especially given that this same record has, in fact, been lauded by Democrat Governor Tom Vilsack and Senator Tom Harkin, not to mention Bill Clinton,” said Woolson.

Woolson pointed out that Huckabee’s health achievements led to his being named one of the country’s five best governors by Time magazine, Public Official of the Year by Governing magazine, and receiving the National Excellence in Public Health Award from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials. Last year the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation held a special event to praise Arkansas as the only state to have reversed childhood obesity rates, he said.

“Given the Iowa Democratic Party’s irresponsible rhetoric on this issue, it’s critical that Iowans have a chance to look at the facts about Governor Huckabee’s impressive health care record in Arkansas ,” said Woolson.

n Governor Mike Huckabee created the ARKids First program which today covers almost 200,000 children who previously were uninsured, and has cut the rate of uninsured children by more than half.

n Governor Huckabee created ARHealth Net, an innovative program that provides basic benefits to small businesses that did not previously offer health insurance. The program is a partnership among the federal and state governments, small businesses, and their employees.

n Governor Huckabee led the effort that made Arkansas the first state in the country to require that the Body Mass Index of every school child be measured annually.

n He led the successful banning of vending machines from all elementary schools. Access to vending machines in junior and senior high schools has been reduced, and half the choices in the machines must meet certain health criteria.

n During Governor Huckabee’s tenure immunization rates improved dramatically. First Lady Janet Huckabee led this effort and visited all 91 health offices in the state. In 2003, the state was forced to provide a new “philosophical” exemption to its immunization law after a federal court declared the previous law unconstitutional. According to the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement’s 2006 Annual Report, this new exemption resulted in a “significant increase in the number of immunization exemptions requested, compared with the two previous years.” The increase in exemptions resulted from parents’ exercising their freedom of choice as the federal court mandated and was beyond the control of the Governor. He urged all parents to continue to immunize their children.

n Governor Huckabee created the Healthy Arkansas initiative to encourage Arkansans to stop smoking, eat healthier diets, and exercise more. As chairman of the National Governors Association, he chose health as his personal initiative issue and expanded Healthy Arkansas into the Healthy America initiative.

n He used radio addresses, speeches, news conferences, media interviews, and web sites to spread the Healthy Arkansas message. He developed local plans in all 75 counties.

n Governor Huckabee made smoking cessation tools available to all Medicaid recipients at no cost. He created an innovative program to get better disease management information to diabetics.

n Governor Huckabee led efforts to improve the health of state employees and made these programs a model for the private sector to implement. He eliminated co-pays and deductibles for state employees to have diagnostic procedures like mammograms, colonoscopies, and prostate cancer screening. He expanded state health plans to include medically-supervised weight loss. He made smoking cessation tools available at no cost. He offered state employees and their spouses a reduction in their health insurance premiums if they agreed not to smoke and took an online health assessment. He provided exercise breaks during the work day.

n He successfully led a 2000 ballot initiative that devotes all of Arkansas ’ tobacco settlement funds to improving Arkansans’ health. Arkansas is the only state that has used every single federal tobacco dollar for health programs and issues.

n He successfully led the fight in 2006 for passage of the Arkansas Clean Air Act, guaranteeing people smoke-free environment at work. Arkansas was the first state in the South to pass such a law.

Importance of Knowing about Bats and Rabies

WARNING: IF YOU HAVE RECENTLY ATE, ABOUT TO OR ARE EATING DO NOT READ!

2. Why should I learn about bats and rabies?

Most of the recent human rabies cases in the United States have been caused by rabies viruses from bats. Awareness of the facts about bats and rabies can help people protect themselves, their families, and their pets. This information may also help clear up misunderstandings about bats.
When people think about bats, they often imagine things that are not true. Bats are not blind. They are neither rodents nor birds. They will not suck your blood -- and most bats do not have rabies. Bats play key roles in ecosystems around the globe, from rain forests to deserts, especially by eating insects, including agricultural pests. The best protection we can offer these unique mammals is to learn more about their habits and recognize the value of living safely with them.

Well I had fun today. I saw that my cat, Bobbie, had a swollen lip. I figured she must have got bit by something or stung by a bee. Obviously I called the vet. Her receptionist scheduled an appointment.
Today was trash day. As I was taking the trash can from the side of house, I noticed a dead bat. So I put two and two together, thinking that maybe the bat bit her. Or scratched her. Yeah, bats have claws. I did not know this until I picked up the bat, hands protected by grocery bag, and saw his wings by his face and his claws were in defense position. And to the guys out there, no I will not apologize for assuming the bat was a he. And don't read anything into it either. I know biology. I know that there has to be girl bats also to make more bats. I just call ugly animals he and cute animals she.
I called the vet office back to let them know I found the bat. The receptionist told me to put it in the fridge, double bagged, and call animal control. Not the freezer, that kills any possible rabies results. I also let her know that the cat caught one a few days ago and whether I should take him out of the trash. She told me that I should. Well, I went outside and took all the trash out of the can and found maggots. I had quite a few "presents" from my cats in there that I had to throw out. Sorry, but I am not going to search through maggots to differentiate between decomposing chipmunks, mice and bats.
I got a hold of the animal control office. She told me that the vet should be able to take care of that. I told her that they told me to get a hold of her. She told me to take it to the animal shelter and she would find out from the state what to do and pick it up at the animal shelter. I went up to the animal shelter and one of the workers met me outside and said she couldn't keep it there. So, needless to say I still have it. Diet tip of the day; keep a bat in your fridge.
I was kinda scared to go to the vet. I was afraid she would lecture me about not keeping up with Bobbie's shots. Joe is updated though. He's always going to the vet for one thing or another. so he got updated when I took him in for something else. She was nice and didn't lecture me. She did show me something from the State of Michigan or CDC about what to do if a pet gets bit or possibly bit. Supposedly, if the pet is not updated on shots and the bat can not be produced the pet has to be put down. If the pet owner does not want that done they have to be kept inside for 6 months away from people and other animals that are not vaccinated. Then if no symptoms they are to get their shots.
She asked me if I got a hold of the animal control officer. I told her the situation. She told me to contact the officer again and make sure that the bat gets tested. If it tests positive I will have to rethink the situation.
There are a lot of things I did not know regarding bats. My vet told me that they are major carriers of rabies. I knew that people could catch rabies from bats, but I did not know about how serious it is.

IMPORTANT INFO FROM THE CDC

This is important to know, whether or not you have pets. Please click on the links.

Bats and Rabies

1. What is rabies and how do people get it?
   Why should I learn about bats and rabies?
2. How can I tell if a bat has rabies?
3. What should I do if I come in contact with a bat?
4. What should I do if my pet is exposed to a bat?
5. How can I keep bats out of my home?
6. Things to remember when "bat-proofing"
7. How can rabies be prevented?
8. Are bats beneficial?

Questions and Answers about Rabies and Bats and Summer Camps

Playing with My Sewing Machine

Since I am going to Iowa I will be busy sewing pajamas and an "I Like Mike" carry bag to take my stuff in. Also I am going to make hair ribbons or a headband. So I won't be able to blog as much.

After seeing Sunday's video of Mike Huckabee at the Surf Ballroom, it brought out my inner Rockabilly self.

Ya can't see from the pic, but for the pajamas, it is flannel with kitties on it. Granted no one will see me in my pajamas. I just think it would be fun to have a new pair to take with me. The second photo is the pattern I am using.

The red/white/blue material is felt. With my Rockabilly personality I decided to copy the old "I Like Ike" campaign ideas. I will be making a red travel bag that says "I Like Mike." It will say "I" on top, with a blue elephant in the center and "Like" sewn on him, "Mike" will be on the bottom. I will probably use the white felt and/or scraps I have for the lettering. If the campaign is reading this don't worry, I won't be making a "poodle skirt" that says "I Like Mike." Unless ya want me to :). Hey, an idea. Get women to go to senior homes in "I Like Mike" skirts and crinolines. I can just see heads shaking in Iowa now. Well, my regular readers no that I have a bit of smartallically personality. So, only take everything I say with a grain of salt.

I am not sure if I will make hair ribbons that have glitter saying "I Like Mike" and "Mike Huckabee." Or a headband saying "I Like Mike." I need input into which sounds less tacky, but fun at the same time. I can provide ribbons to anyone wanting some.

No I have not gotten the Elvis apron finished. Speaking of which, TV Land will be having an Elvis month all August. Elvis died on August 16, 1977 at his home, Graceland. This Summer will be the 30th anniversary of his passing.

Have no fear, I won't be completely gone. I will touch base to give a quicky newsworthy post once in a while. Or I can kill two birds with one stone and give video blogs while I am at the sewing machine. I have found some retro-political videos that I would like to share links with y'all. They aren't on YouTube so I can't actually post them.

They are relevant, due to the fact that "the more things change, the more they stay the same." The 1952 and '56 campaigns of television being the "new" political medium and the Internet/YouTube being the new political medium. Plus, I found the original "Obama Girl" from Stevenson's '52 campaign. No joke, the girl looks just like Gwen Stefani, blond piled up hair and all. I even found a Stevenson supporter who looks just like Hillary Clinton.

And of course, there is "Ike." His wide range of supporters, issues and "I Like Ike" campaign commercials reminds me of the Mike Huckabee supporters and "I Like Mike" vids. Except the taxi driver in the "I Like Ike" '56 commercial is leaning against a lamp post smoking a cigarette. I don't think we will see any "I Like Mike" vids with people smoking.

Ya would love to hear my sewing machine running. She doesn't sound like these new sewing machines with their click, click sissy sounds. Once my machine gets fired up, oh baby does she go. I have no fear using denim or upholstery. I listen to Rockabilly, Doo-Wop and Elvis when I sew. Listening to great music while sewing makes it even more fun! Vroom, Vroom!

Well gotta "Shake, Rattle and Roll" and God Bless from the Upper Peninsula in Michigan!

RAVE ON!!!!

HELLOoo BABY! Yeah this is the Michigan Redneck speaking. HaHaHaHa! Oh you sweet thing. Do I what? Will I what? Oh baby you know what I like. Mike Huckabee and Rockabilly music and capri slacks-cropped up!!!



As y'alls fave resident mid-century historian I thought I would bring this to y'alls attention. Check this video out of Mike Huckabee, standing in front of The Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake Iowa. That was where Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P "Big Bopper" Richardson performed their last concert during the Winter Dance Party Tour. They then went on to die in a plane crash that Don McLean called "The day that the music died," In the immortal song "American Pie".




On a side note, Waylon Jennings was a member of Buddy Holly's band. He won and lost a straw poll that kept him off the plane that fateful day of February 2, 1959. Instead, he took a bus that had no heat. In interviews, he felt some guilt 'til the day he died.
I hate to think of anyone dying. But if he had been on that plane instead of The Big Bopper or Ritchie Valens I don't think The Dukes of Hazard would have been as good. If either of the two guys had survived and sung "Just Some Good Ol' Boys" the song would never had been the same. Of course I am sad that anyone died on that plane.

In an attempt to butcher Don McLean's words, I have a song dedicated to Mike Huckabee.

• Hi-Hi Mr. American Pie
• I'll drive my Chevy to the Iowa levy
• I want to volunteer at the Straw Poll
• This good ol' girl won't be drinkin whiskey and rye
• Singing this'll be the day that I die

It looks like I will be going to the Straw Poll. I wish there was some way that I could be able to see the memorial outside of the Surf Ballroom. I would also love to see the memorial at that historical corn field, nearby. Wishful thinking. Well "Maybe Baby." Hey, it may not be Graceland, but what is?
Buddy Holly was a huge influence upon bands like The Beatles.












Well until August 11 I will "Rave On" about Mike Huckabee. There's nothing to "Think it Over," Mike Huckabee is the only one to support, in this otherwise "Fools Paradise." These fools he has to compete with ain't nothing but "White Lightinin'." Yeah they pack a punch when first tried but the hangover ain't gonna be pretty.
That's why ya need to support Mike in a "Heartbeat." That's why you need to keep him in your prayers "Everyday." "It's so Easy" and "It's the Truth Ruth." Our message to Mike should be "Someone Watching Over You." Like the preacher in the "Preacher and the Bear" Mike is going to see a miracle and win, as long as we all help him to not "Fade Away" out of the media.
Some say he has a "A Million to One" chance of winning at the Straw Poll. But I think with Rudy Giuliani not being there in his "Pink Petticoats" under a "Chantilly Lace" dress there is a chance. Plus John McCain won't be there to act like a "Little Girl" when he whines and cries.
I can't wait to go to Iowa! I will be arriving "Early in the Morning." "Oh Boy!" I will get to be part of history! I will take a "Fast Freight" to Iowa if I have to.
I know this much, I will "Cry Cry Cry" if Mike Huckabee doesn't have a good showing at the Straw Poll. If he decides to get out of the race early, depending on his showing, it will be "Raining in my Heart." "That'll be the Day" when I support someone else. My feelings toward the political process will be "It Doesn't Matter Anymore."
After I saw that short, but sweet, video I have gotten my creative juices flowing and put on my Buddy Holly and Big Bopper CDs. Now I have been recalling many Ritchie Valens songs, that I unfortunately haven't heard in ages since I do not have any of his records or CDs. I think I will go on Amazon.com to order a CD.
Seriously, if Mike Huckabee was to play stand bass wildly and jump on it I will get my grandma to give a contribution to his campaign. In fact anyone from Capitol Offense will do. George Jones asked over 20 years ago "Who's Gonna Fill Their Shoes?". I think it will be Capitol Offense.

So if anyone get out to the Straw Poll "Put on Your Cat Clothes" and pack you "Blue Suede Shoes." All you cats need to be there or be square.

I REALLY Want to go to Iowa!

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, expecting different results. That's what I was doing last night. I am trying to find bus tickets to get to the Straw Poll in Iowa. I was checking the online rates last night for going to Chicago and possibly carpool with someone, a Mike Huckabee supporter, to the Straw Poll. Or going to Ames or Des Moines and finding someone to pick me up there, to take me to wherever Mike Huckabee volunteers are supposed to meet. Well, I guess my OCD was kicking into overdrive. I kept looking at the same schedules repeatedly, only to come up with the same results. Who woulda thunk?

Greyhound has started to make taking the bus hip and cool. They even have frequent rider programs, hot seats starting at $12, even a traveling street basket-ball team. I just wish that I could find one of those "hot seat" cheap rates going to Chicago or Iowa.

I was looking at rates trying to find the cheapest possible result, over and over and over.... again. Trying to find the best schedule that would get me back home in time, so as not to take too much time off work, over and over and over... again.

If someone out there who is passing through Chicago to get to the Straw Poll could pick me up and take me I will help pay for gas. Or if someone would be willing to picking me up at the Ames or Des Moines bus station, please let me know. The bus going back from Ames leaves at 6:30am on Aug. 12. There is a bus going out of Des Moines at 11pm on August 11. For Chicago, I would have to be back in Chicago by 9am on the 12th. I will need to be back to work on Monday night. But I would like to be home as early as possible so I can get at least one decent day of sleep.

I know this is alot to ask of anyone. And I would be ever so grateful to anyone who could help. I still don't know for sure if I can get the time off. If I do go I would need to buy my tickets at least 14 days in advance.

Some of My Favorite Things (Raspberries and Joe)

One of my favorite things about Summer is that I have Raspberries in my backyard. This is my 5Th Summer picking berries. Since I have lived in my house I have been able to pick about 20 1lb cottage cheese cartons of berries, each year. I am not quite sure on the exact amount, because I eat them throughout the Summer, plus it depends on how the weather is during the season.
Whenever I pick berries that have been eaten by bugs or get moldy I throw them out by my fence and let new plants grow. In the past 4 years I have doubled my amount of plants. Some
of the seeds get into my yard, also. My goal is to have the whole back yard of nothing but raspberries. Hey, less lawn to mow.
That's the nice thing about living in the UP. Yards don't have to be prissy perfectly manicured. The first two Summers I was all fussing over my bushes. Now I have decided to let them grow naturally. At first I sprayed for bugs and used Miracle Grow. I decided not too use bug spray.
God already made natural "bug spray," they're called spiders. I have so much more respect for God and spiders, now that I have started growing stuff. But I still don't like them when they get in my house (Spiders, not God. I love having the Lord and Holy Spirit in my home). God made spiders to eat the bugs that would eat the berries. Anyways, the chemicals stunt the growth of the bushes and make them less full. If I let the spiders do their God given work I don't need bug spray, thus not needing Miracle Grow.
Not to sound like a big 'ol hippie-lippy, but, I would prefer not to use chemicals. The berries seem to taste better, now that I am not using any chemicals at all. Think about it, berries growing in the woods don't need chemicals and they do just fine. God watches over them, and He is the best gardener and landscaper. After all, He created them. God knew what He was doing when he created the land, climates and food that grow in the places He put them.
I think next Summer, or at least the Summer after that I will have enough berries to take to the Farmers market. Right now I can only pick enough for one half to a full carton a day. By the time I get enough to take up there the older ones get moldy. Unless I put them in the freezer. But I need to take fresh ones.
Through putting them in the freezer they can last me almost the entire year until the next picking season. Every Summer I make at least one or two annual sponge cakes with raspberry sauce and real whipped cream, the stuff in the cartons that I whip with a mixer, on top. I also like to make raspberry coffee and iced tea. When I make them I put the berries in the percolator basket with the grounds or tea-bags. Just because I am poor doesn't mean I can't spoil myself.



My cat Joe, also likes raspberries. When I first moved into my house he would follow me around when I picked berries. In fact he would pick berries himself. It was so cute. He would grab the stem, pull it to his level, put his mouth around a berry and eat it. I asked his vet if it was OK for him to eat raspberries. She said it was all right. Advice for any cat owner out there, she said cats can eat any fruit, except grapes. Grapes make them sick. Also, she said that if ya can get cats to eat berries that's good.
The next two Springs when I let him out after a Winter inside he would run to the bushes and sniff around for berries. He knew that there would be more raspberries. But now he has gotten spoiled. Now, after the berries have been picked and put in the fridge I will give him the berries as treats, plus I give them to him when I have friends over to show them how cute it is that he eats raspberries. So now he figures that he doesn't need to go to the work of picking them himself. When I pick them now I feed them to him by hand. I think he has figured that I put the better ones in the carton. So he tries to stick his nose in the carton, while I pick. He also likes strawberries and other fruits.