Eastside Republican Club

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#0000BF" TEXT="#F7F7FF" bgproperties="fixed" background="044005a0exvipq.gif"> <div> <B>Eastside Republican Club</B></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="erc_meeting_dates.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Events"><U><B>Events</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="eastside_republican_review_summary.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="ERC Review"><U><B>ERC Review</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="michigan_s_13th_district.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Congressional District News"><U><B>Congressional District News</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="civic___governmental_links.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links"><U><B>Links</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="erc_officers.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="About Us"><U><B>About Us</B></U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="link_to_michigan_gop.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Michigan Republicans"><U><B><IMG SRC="05358580.gif" border=0 width="88" height="88" ALT="Michigan GOP" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> <div> The ERC serves Detroit's near eastside communities, including Grosse Pointe, Michigan, hosting informative <A HREF="erc_meeting_dates.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Events"><U>speakers</U></A>. Read about<A HREF="republican_history.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Early History of Detroit Republicans"><U> early Republicans</U></A> in Detroit! Local and State civic/governmental <A HREF="civic___governmental_links.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links"><U>links</U></A>.</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="erc_meeting_dates.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Events"><U><I><B>Future Events</B></I></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.theblackgop.com/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.theblackgop.com/"><U><I><B>Republicans for Black Empowerment</B></I></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="erc_meeting_dates.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Events"><U><B><IMG SRC="81b871f0.gif" border=0 width="135" height="31" ALT=">>Events" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="10" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="174" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#FFFF80 > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 72 WIDTH="152"><div> <I><B>Go Paperless!</B></I></div> <div> To receive meeting reminders via e-mail instead of a postcard, <A HREF="mailto:jhacklem@eastside-republican-club.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:"><U>send us a note</U></A>, subject: “Paperless.”</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="560" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 4203 WIDTH="560"><bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="mcmanus.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Michelle McManus"><U><B><IMG SRC="189197ec0.jpg" border=0 width="151" height="236" ALT="Michelle McManus" ALIGN="RIGHT" HSPACE="8" VSPACE="4"></B></U></A><B>Candidate for Secretary of State</B></div> <div> <B>Comes to ERC Forum June 16</B></div> <div> Senator Michelle McManus of Lake Leelanau, candidate for Michigan Secretary of State, will address the ERC Forum at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, June 16.</div> <div> “We invite the public to hear Senator McManus' perspective on Michigan government and her vision for the Secretary of State's office,” said John Chouinard, Eastside Republican club chairman.</div> <div> The ERC's June forum will be held at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial in Grosse Pointe Farms. Chouinard also announced that light refreshments would be available before the meeting.</div> <div> Launching her bid for the Secretary of State nomination, McManus announced, “The grassroots of our party are responding to the energy I would bring to the ticket, the conservative direction in which I would lead the party, and the tough leadership I would bring to the Secretary of State's office.”</div> <div> Senator McManus, a lifelong resident of northern Michigan graduated from Traverse City public schools and earned her B.S. in political science from Central Michigan University. >><A HREF="mcmanus.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Michelle McManus"><U><I>More McManus at the ERC</I></U></A>.<A HREF="logan177.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sam Logan"><U><IMG SRC="188f65830.jpg" border=0 width="101" height="131" ALT="Publisher Sam Logan" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="8" VSPACE="4"></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="logan177.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sam Logan"><U></U></A><B>Sam Logan Speaks Plainly</B></div> <div> <B>About Detroit And New Leadership</B></div> <div> Detroit corruption, racism, and hope were not off limits for Samuel Logan, publisher of the <I>Michigan Chronicle</I>, who addressed the ERC Forum at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial May 19.</div> <div> Reflecting on voter changes in Detroit government he said, “City corruption may be a thing of the past.” But he was cautious to emphasize the word “may.”</div> <div> Logan, showing his confidence in the future of the City, said, “The election of Dave Bing brings new hope and optimism to Detroit.”</div> <div> He offered this advice to Mayor Bing, “Be bold, competent, above reproach, and reverse the downward spiral.”</div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="10" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="234" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" ALIGN="RIGHT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#FFFF80 > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 516 WIDTH="212"><div> <I><B>New Tradition for 7th Annual</B></I></div> <div> <I><B>Eastside Republican Picnic</B></I></div> <div> Eastside Republican Club picnic coordinator, Mike Hennigan, has announced launch of a new tradition for the seventh annual ERC Summer Picnic planned for Patterson Park on Lake St. Clair in Grosse Pointe Park on Sunday, July 19, 2009, from 1 to 4 p.m.</div> <div> “We are starting a new tradition of asking the 'politically involved' to act as honorary cooks,” he said.</div> <div> Hennigan said this year's honorary cooks would be John Stempfle and Ed Joseph, who will begin cooking hot dogs about 1 p.m.</div> <div> He said the grilled hot dogs will be provided by the Club. Guests, however, are asked to bring either a picnic dish to share, or soft drinks. No alcoholic beverages, please.</div> <div> Regarding a second change, Hennigan said, “There will not be a magician.”</div> <div> The park's main features are its splash pad, shoreline boardwalk, playscape, fountain pool (for gazing only), tennis, golf and acreage for hiking and playing.</div> <div> Because Patterson Park is a private city park, the City of Grosse Pointe Park requires a guest list for admittance at the gate.</div> <div> For that reason, Hennigan said, “We respectfully request that those who plan to attend leave a voice mail with Peggy Hennigan, 822-0281, giving your name(s) and the number of people in your party.”</div> <div> All Republicans are invited, and encouraged to bring their families and friends.</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> He commented, on the charges of corruption in the government -- from the former mayor and city council to other areas, including the School Board. “No books, no soap or paper towels, but millions of dollars of waste and thievery,” he said.</div> <div> The publisher announced, “If you say it, you're racist, but I can say that Detroiters are playing the race card about Cobo.”</div> <div> Detroit's City Council he dubbed the “Comical Council”, and said that without the support of other counties, there would be no DIA, Detroit Zoo, or Detroit Public Library. He added, the City Council is also playing the name game, and blaming people who elected them.</div> <div> He acknowledged that corruption is rampant, with the Federal investigators “getting closer and closer to some of the thieves.” The same people want more and more money, yet there's very little talk by the School Board about real education. >><A HREF="logan177.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sam Logan"><U><I>Learn more here</I></U></A><I>.</I><A HREF="land176.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Land in Detroit"><U><B><IMG SRC="185a64980.jpg" border=0 width="100" height="152" ALT="Terri Lynn Land speaks to PAC" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="6" VSPACE="4"></B></U></A></div> <div> <B>Secretary of State Land</B></div> <div> <B>Announces Bid for Governor</B></div> <div> By John Minnis</div> <div> Terri Lynn Land hopes to do for all of state government what she has done for the Secretary of State -- and that's saying something.</div> <div> Land announced her candidacy for governor at the Eastside Republican Club Political Action Committee fundraiser April 30 in Detroit at Sindbad's at the River.</div> <div> “I look forward to working with you to get Michigan moving forward,” Land said. “If she (Gov. Jennifer Granholm) would have done what we did, we would be in better shape.”</div> <div> As Secretary of State, Land has chalked an impressive list of accomplishments.</div> <div> In listing a number of them -- measures that reduced cost and increased quality of service -- Land made her case for running for governor in 2010. >><A HREF="land176.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Land in Detroit"><U><I>More Land at PAC</I></U></A>.<A HREF="http://teapartyday.com/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://teapartyday.com/"><U></U></A></div> <div> <B>21</B><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>st</B></FONT><B> Century Boston Tea Party</B></div> <div> <B>A Smashing Success in the Pointes</B></div> <div> Billed as the “Second American Tea Party,” participation in the local April 15 Federal tax protest rally was a smashing success according to local organizers.</div> <div> The two-hour event, held along Jefferson at the War Memorial parking lot, drew over 2,000 participants by offering motorists a drive-through option.</div> <div> In addition to those who chose to park, supporters were also able to drop off a dollar from their car in exchange for a tea bag, envelope and postage stamp.</div> <div> Volunteers then deposited the envelope in “Ye Old Boston Tea Box” for consolidation and sending to our representative in Washington, D.C. >><A HREF="http://teapartyday.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://teapartyday.com"><U><I>Learn more here</I></U></A><I>.</I></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="10" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="234" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" ALIGN="RIGHT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#FFFF80 > <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 286 WIDTH="212"><div> <I><B>Historically Significant</B></I></div> <div> <I><B>Experiences of Black Americans</B></I></div> <div> Courtesy of <A HREF="http://joshuastrail.org/index.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://joshuastrail.org/index.html"><U>Joshua's Trail</U></A>, here is just one of 25 historical points of interest to Black Americans.</div> <div> Frederick Douglass, the noted 19th century abolitionist, wrote this about the Democratic Party:<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><IMG SRC="14b542590.jpg" border=0 width="66" height="89" ALT="Frederick Douglass 1817-1895" ALIGN="RIGHT" HSPACE="3" VSPACE="1"></FONT></div> <div> Sir, it is evident that there is in this country a purely slavery party -- a party which exists for no other earthly purpose than to promote the interests of slavery…. For the present, the best representative of the slavery party in politics is the Democratic party.</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> >><A HREF="http://joshuastrail.org/history.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://joshuastrail.org/history.htm"><U><I>Read all 25 points of interest</I></U></A>.</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> Although no formal speeches had been planned, those who were on hand did receive words of encouragement from WJR-AM radio personality Paul W. Smith, himself a Grosse Pointe resident.</div> <div> Using the acronym TEA'd, derived from “Taxed Enough Already,” the national movement was launched by the American Family Association because of the tax burden today's runaway federal government deficit spending imposes on future generations of Americans.</div> <div> Rallies were held in more than 3,000 locations nationwide. Local volunteer organizer was Terry Davis of the Farms.</div> <div> Tom McCleary, Eastside Republican vice chairman, said, “Although our organization hasn't taken a formal position on this initiative, it is certainly in keeping with our principles of fiscal responsibility.”</div> <div> <B>Tips Pay Off in Battle Against Cr</B><B>ime</B></div> <div> <B>Says Crime Stoppers' Founder John Broad</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="forum175.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="John Broad"><U><B><IMG SRC="184a64980.jpg" border=0 width="100" height="152" ALT="John Broad, president of Crime Stoppers" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="4" VSPACE="2"></B></U></A></FONT></div> <div> “Crime Stoppers is the largest crime-fighting organization in the world, now working in 22 countries," said John Broad, president of Crime Stoppers of Michigan, in remarks to the March 17, 2009, ERC Forum at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial.</div> <div> Broad, a resident of Grosse Pointe Farms, said the nonprofit takes advantage of every available resource to solicit tips and offer rewards for information.</div> <div> Generating several thousand tips each year, Crime Stoppers pays tens of thousands of dollars to tipsters annually.</div> <div> Pointing to the value of tips, Broad told the Forum, "You can usually count on from three to four tips per investigation, and one of them is usually enough to get the investigation moving forward."</div> <div> A key component of the program is its guarantee of anonymity to tipsters who might otherwise be reluctant to get involved due to a fear of retaliation. >><A HREF="forum175.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="John Broad"><U><I>More Crime Stoppers here</I></U></A>.</div> <div> <B>The U.S. National Debt</B></div> <div> The outstanding U.S. public debt on March 4, 2009, was $10,948,344,040,055.24. Each citizen's share of this debt is $35,807.75. One year ago, the collective U.S. public debt was $9,379,543,966,478.07.<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="forum174.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Daniel Howes"><U><IMG SRC="181f6eb10.jpg" border=0 width="110" height="177" ALT="Daniel Howes, Detroit News >>Read more." ALIGN="RIGHT" HSPACE="8" VSPACE="6"></U></A></FONT></div> <div> <B>Detroit News Business Writer</B></div> <div> <B>Gives Auto Update to February Forum</B></div> <div> Daniel Howes, business columnist and associate business editor of <I>The Detroit News</I>, addressed the February ERC Forum at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial.</div> <div> The day's big news was the unfolding rescue plan proposed to assist two U.S. automakers, General Motors and Chrysler.</div> <div> “This President is going to have to weigh the possibility of an auto bankruptcy,” he said, reporting that in addition to the December Federal rescue assistance, they now request $21.6 billion more to stave off bankruptcy.</div> <div> Because the auto market has collapsed further since the first loans in December, the President faces a dilemma--either push to authorize more bailouts to keep the two solvent, or let them file for bankruptcy.</div> <div> He said the auto business is going through some very scary times. For example, he noted that if the current proposal were enacted, it would mean that General Motors alone has received $30 billion from the U.S. government in just four months.</div> <div> Making a tough business climate even worse, Howes said that the interagency task force announced by the President would ensure this becomes a “very political” situation. >><A HREF="forum174.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Daniel Howes"><U><I>More Howes here</I></U></A>.<A HREF="http://www.tngop.org/contribute/incentive/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.tngop.org/contribute/incentiv"><U><IMG SRC="182313510.jpg" border=0 width="275" height="81" ALT=">>Click to order the 'honk' bumper sticker" ALIGN="RIGHT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <div> <B>Tennessee</B><B> GOP Offer</B><B>s Novel</B><B> St</B><B>icker</B></div> <div> The Tennessee Republican Party has introduced a creative bumper sticker (pictured, right) protesting a “bailout-mad Congress's headlong rush into fiscal madness.” The stickers may be ordered using a secure online form. >><A HREF="http://www.tngop.org/contribute/incentive/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.tngop.org/contribute/incentiv"><U><I>Order the "Honk if you're paying my mortgage" bumper sticker</I></U></A>.</div> <div> <B>Radio and Newspaper Owner</B></div> <div> <B>Talks to ERC About Media Clout</B></div> <div> Local entrepreneur Robert G. Liggett, Jr., of Grosse Pointe Shores talked about media bias and its role in the outcome of the November 2008 General Election on January 20 at the<A HREF="forum173.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Robert Liggett"><U><B><IMG SRC="17ef64ab0.jpg" border=0 width="100" height="171" ALT="Robert G. Liggett, Jr. >>Read more." ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="8" VSPACE="6"></B></U></A> Grosse Pointe War Memorial.</div> <div> “What has happened to us?” asked the Grosse Pointe Shores entrepreneur addressing the audience at the ERC Forum.</div> <div> Answering his own question, Liggett noted that John McCain was a decent man. “We had a good shot, but when the media start working on you and pulling you apart this can happen!”</div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="10" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="234" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" ALIGN="RIGHT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#FFFF80 > <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER BGCOLOR=#FFFF80 HEIGHT= 177 WIDTH="212"><div> <I><B>ERC Team Selected</B></I></div> <div> <I><B>At 2009 Annual Meeting</B></I></div> <div> Members of the Eastside Republican Club elected officers and directors at the club's January 20, 2009, annual meeting.</div> <div> Elected for 2009 were John Chouinard, chairman, Thomas R. McCleary, Jr., vice chairman, Jenny Nolan, treasurer, and Linda R. Solterisch, secretary.</div> <div> Directors elected were Dan Grano, Mary Treder Lang, and Rosalie Wattrick. >><A HREF="erc_officers.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="About Us"><U><I>See the new Board</I></U></A><I>.</I></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> Liggett is owner of the <I>Grosse Pointe News,</I> Big Boy Restaurants International, LLC, and radio broadcast outlets in the Port Huron area.</div> <div> “The media are gleeful,” he said. “They stacked the cards against the GOP and the conservative cause, and we were unable to sell our ideas.”</div> <div> Pointing to media bias, he observed, “Imagine wanting to serve as U.S. Treasury Secretary, but not paying your income taxes!” If this were a Republican administration, he said the press would “put you through the wringer.” >><A HREF="forum173.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Robert Liggett"><U><I>Read more.</I></U></A><A HREF="forum167.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sen. Mike Bishop"><U><B><IMG SRC="17d678a80.jpg" border=0 width="120" height="168" ALT="Senator Mike Bishop at November Forum >>More Bishop" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="4" VSPACE="2"></B></U></A></div> <div> <B>Top State Senate Leader</B></div> <div> <B>Reflects on 2008 General Election</B></div> <div> “I know many of you are suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder,” said Senator Michael D. Bishop, Michigan Republican majority leader, speaking to the Eastside Republican Club Forum just two weeks after the 2008 General Election.</div> <div> He told the November 18 Forum, “I've been asked whether all of this discourages me from wanting to serve in public office -- my answer is absolutely not!”</div> <div> Dr. Julie Corbett, ERC chairman, introduced the lifelong Rochester resident who is in his final term representing Michigan's 12th Senate district (northern Oakland).</div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="10" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="234" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" ALIGN="RIGHT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#FFFF80 > <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 98 WIDTH="212"><div> <I><B>Who said it?</B></I><I><B> <A NAME="who_said_it"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></I></div> <div> "Government is not reason; it is not eloquence; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master."</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <I><B>>></B></I><A HREF="civic___governmental_links_who_said_it__1_1_1_1.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links"><U><I><B>Find out</B></I></U></A><I><B>!</B></I></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> Looking at State legislative races throughout the United States, Senator Bishop explained, “Democrats picked up just 10 State Senate seats out of 1,971, and 94 State House seats out of 5,411.”</div> <div> “Fortunately for our State, we still have a balance of power, given the Republican majority in our State Senate,” he said.</div> <div> Following the 2006 election, Bishop was nominated by his caucus, and chosen by his peers as Senate majority leader. As head of the Republican caucus, Bishop has directed the agenda, and is spokesman for GOP legislative policies. >><A HREF="forum167.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sen. Mike Bishop"><U><I>More Bishop</I></U></A>.</div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="112" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM HEIGHT= 148 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="179064870.jpg" border=0 width="100" height="135" ALT="Edward J. Gubics -- U.S. Congress, 13th District" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM HEIGHT= 139 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="17b6647e0.jpg" border=0 width="100" height="126" ALT="Mary Treder Lang -- State Representative, 1st District" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM HEIGHT= 135 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="1791647a0.jpg" border=0 width="100" height="122" ALT="Eric M. Turin -- County Commissioner, 1st District" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <B>ERC Candidates' Forum</B></div> <div> <B>Held at GP War Memorial</B></div> <div> The Eastside Republican Club conducted an October 21 candidates' forum at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial.</div> <div> Thomas R. McCleary, Jr., vice chairman of the Club, moderated. “As an added attraction, we also invited all five of the nonpartisan School Board candidates to address the Forum,” he said.</div> <div> McCleary noted, “This is only the second election where School Board candidates will be on the November ballot, making it a great opportunity to find out the qualifications of the candidates who have not had the publicity their position deserves.”</div> <div> A total of 10 candidates participated, including four candidates in the nonpartisan Grosse Pointe public school board contest. They are competing for two school board positions.</div> <div> The Eastside Republican Club Forum is held on the third Tuesday of every month from September through June at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial. >><A HREF="gop_forum.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Candidates Forum"><U><I>Read all about it</I></U></A>.</div> <div> <B>Political 527 Data an 'Open Secret'</B></div> <div> Details about tax-exempt 527 organizations engaging in political activity through unlimited soft money are now available through <A HREF="http://www.opensecrets.org/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.opensecrets.org/"><U>OpenSecrets.org</U></A>, the web site of the Center for Responsive Politics. >><A HREF="http://www.opensecrets.org/527s/527cmtes.asp" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.opensecrets.org/527s/527cmtes"><U><I>See money raised by top fifty 527 groups</I></U></A><I>.</I></div> <div> <B>Ballenger Reveals </B><B>Early Michigan Polling Results</B></div> <div> Latest results place John McCain ahead of Barack Obama, 46% to 43%, in the Michigan poll released today and commissioned by <A HREF="http://www.insidemichiganpolitics.com/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.insidemichiganpolitics.com/"><U><I>Inside Michigan Politics</I></U></A>.<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="ballenger_forum.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Bill Ballenger"><U><B><IMG SRC="173b64990.jpg" border=0 width="100" height="153" ALT="Bill Ballenger >>Read more" ALIGN="RIGHT" HSPACE="4" VSPACE="2"></B></U></A></FONT></div> <div> The encouraging news for McCain supporters came from Michigan political expert Bill Ballenger, speaking to a packed house at the Eastside Republican Club Forum September 23, 2008, in the Grosse Pointe War Memorial.</div> <div> “You here tonight are the first to hear this!” he said.</div> <div> Ballenger reported that the figures are the result of the poll commissioned by <I>Inside Michigan Politics</I> and conducted from September 15-20. “Michigan is back in the forefront as a pivotal battleground state,” he said.</div> <div> Even more revealing, he said is that his polling data show, “McCain's popularity in Michigan is running ahead of his party's base.” Ballenger asserted that if this trend holds, it bodes well for all GOP candidates up and down the ballot.</div> <div> He noted that if this popularity carries through to the election, a 'coattail effect' would benefit local Republican candidates such as Mary Treder Lang in her race for Michigan State Representative. >><A HREF="ballenger_forum.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Bill Ballenger"><U><I>More Ballenger on 2008 election</I></U></A>.<B> <A NAME="eastside_gop_headquarters"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <I><B>Thanks for visiting ERC on the web, now </B></I><A HREF="erc_meeting_dates.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Events"><U><I><B>meet us</B></I></U></A><I><B> at the G.P. War Memorial</B></I></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="mailto:jhacklem@eastside-republican-club.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:"><U><I><B>Let's have your feedback</B></I></U></A></FONT>                            <IMG SRC="2fd52280.gif" border=0 width="82" height="40" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>