Eighth Annual ERC Family Fun Picnic
July 18 in Patterson Park on the Lake
Eastside Republican Club picnic coordinator, Mike Hennigan, has announced the eighth annual Family Fun Picnic is set for Sunday, July 18, 2010, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Patterson Park on Lake St. Clair in Grosse Pointe Park.
Hennigan said that while the grilled hot dogs are provided at no cost, guests are asked to bring a dish to pass for approximately ten people.
 “We also welcome donations of soft drinks, iced tea and lemonade,” he said.
Hennigan added, “For the kids, there will be games supervised by our daughter, Bridget.”
John Chouinard, ERC chairman, asked, “What would be a Republican picnic -- in an election year -- without some candidates?”
He said that picnickers would not be disappointed, “There'll be a number of both elected officials and candidates in attendance.”
U.S. Congressman Pete Hoekstra, a Republican candidate for Michigan governor, has confirmed that he will attend.
The park's main features are its splash pad, shoreline boardwalk, playscape, fountain pool (for gazing only), tennis, golf putting greens, bocce ball, and acreage for hiking or playing.
Because Patterson Park is a private city park, the City of Grosse Pointe Park requires a guest list for admittance at the gate.
For that reason and so he can make plans, Hennigan said, “We respectfully request that those who plan to attend let us know by sending a note to my wife, Peggy Hennigan, giving your name(s) and the number of people in your party.”
The RSVP address is picnic@eastside-republican-club.org. Hennigan noted that those who would rather use the telephone may call 822-0281 to leave a voice mail message.
Continuing a tradition, the ERC will designate “honorary cooks” again this year. Hennigan observed, “People get a big kick out of this, but we're going to wait until the actual event to reveal the identity of the cooks!”
All Republicans are invited, and encouraged to bring their families and friends.
Brendan Walsh, School System Treasurer
Lauds New Public School Labor Agreement
 A bevy of GOP candidates and a presentation by Brendan Walsh, treasurer of the Grosse Pointe public school system, filled the ERC Forum, June 15 at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial in Grosse Pointe Farms.
Calling it a “landmark,” Walsh lauded the collective bargaining agreement recently negotiated with teachers that extends through June 2013.
He said, “The new agreement effectively ties employee compensation to the district's means to pay it.”
Meanwhile, critics of the agreement point out that instead of achieving immediate taxpayer and budget relief, many of the contract's efficiencies are postponed until its final year.
Also part of the Forum, chairman John Chouinard turned the podium over to each of four Republican candidates present who, in turn, made brief remarks. >>More Walsh at the ERC.
Supreme Court Justice Robert Young
Explains Battle to Replace the “Rule of Law”
“There is a war going on right here in our courts,” declared Michigan Supreme Court Justice Robert P. Young, Jr., speaking on May 18 to the Eastside Republican Club Forum at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial in Grosse Pointe Farms.
 Enemies of this rule of law, Justice Young said, are judges who take sides and actually make policy contrary to the express language of the statutes enacted by the people's representatives, the legislature.
“Empathy sounds good,” he said, but ultimately leads to what the Wall Street Journal called “the creation of novel rights.”
Justice Young, who is running for re-election to Michigan's highest court, is now one of a three-judge rule of law minority on the court, and labels the current majority on the Michigan Supreme Court as the “empathy” majority.
Justice Young asked, “Why would one's gender or skin color have anything to do with the legal merits of a case?”
“Should a judge ever decide in favor of a party because of who he is rather than on the legal merits of his case?” >>More Young.
Bouchard and Land Team
Headline Successful PAC Event
 By John Lundberg
Michigan gubernatorial candidate Mike Bouchard and running mate Terri Lynn Land proved they could pack a room at the Eastside Republican Club-PAC fundraiser at Sindbad's in Detroit on April 22.
The Oakland County Sheriff, along with Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land, who is running with Bouchard as his pick for lieutenant governor, were keynoters at the annual dinner hosted by the ERC-PAC.
Funds raised will be used to support local candidates in the November 2010 General Election, and Lita McKeehan, PAC chairman, was pleased by the enthusiastic turnout.
Bouchard spoke of the need of reducing the state's budget, especially when it came to revamping the education and prison systems. >>Learn more.
Media Insider John McCulloch
Offers Views on Current Events
“Talk radio is the big watchdog, right now,” said Detroit radio personality John McCulloch, talking to the March 16 ERC Forum at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial in Grosse Pointe Farms.
 McCulloch, frequently heard on news/talk radio WJR-760am, shared his insights into the broadcast industry, his views on current events, and an insider's perspective on bias in the media.
A looming danger faced by broadcasting may be coming from the federal government, he warned.
McCulloch said there is a threat of increased control over broadcast content through re-imposition of the so-called “fairness” doctrine under the new guise of diversity in broadcasting.
While operating under the now abandoned “fairness” controls, he noted, “Radio was basically a liberal playground.”
As he sees it, imposing content controls would extinguish today's freedom of expression and kill talk radio, while encouraging risk-free, low budget programs such as those on which callers share favorite recipes.
McCulloch explained other forces affecting local radio programming. He said it is “under attack” by the economic forces of business consolidation. >>More McCulloch.
Regent Richner Touts University of Michigan
 Academic and Financial Strength at Feb Forum
Andrew C. Richner, chairman of the University of Michigan Board of Regents and a Grosse Pointe Park Republican, detailed steps the public university has taken to increase efficiency and hold the line on tuition hikes at the ERC's February Forum.
“We put a lot of burden on the administration to find cost-savings instead of shifting all our cost increases to tuition hikes,” he reported.
Richner said university bragging points include academic standings comparable with other top-tier schools and a triple-A bond rating.
“We are more focused on our core mission, and getting out of businesses we shouldn't be in, such as operating a Flint public television broadcasting station,” he said. The station has been sold.
He noted that such actions have allowed U of M to keep tuition increases in check. Consequently, annual Michigan taxpayer support has declined from $360 to $325 million.
While holding the line on costs, the University has had success with its “Michigan Difference” fund raising campaign. To date, it has raised a record-setting $3.2 billion for the school from private sources, making it the largest fundraiser in the history of any U.S. public university. >>More about Richner and the Forum.
 Abraham Lincoln's Second Inaugural: March 1865
Learning that Frederick Douglass (R-MD) was being turned away from the inaugural ball at the White House, President Lincoln ordered that his friend be admitted. Welcoming him, the Great Emancipator said, “Here comes my friend Douglass.” Shaking his hand, Lincoln asked Douglass' opinion of the inaugural speech. “Mr. President,” Douglass answered, “that was a sacred effort.” >>NYT: White Houses Past.
Nolan Finley Sees Taxpayer Frustration
Strengthening New Grassroots Movement
Just as the U.S. economy struggles to show signs of life, frazzled taxpayers seem to have found a target for their frustration.
 Nolan Finley, editorial page editor and columnist for The Detroit News, told his ERC Forum audience on January 19, “I recently spent time in Cobo Hall and found the climate much more hopeful, much more upbeat.”
Yet Finley sees the political climate building toward a new storm of its own.
Speaking on the evening of Republican Scott Brown's election upset, Finley said, “Look what's happened in New Jersey and Virginia, and now in Massachusetts!”
“We'll spend the next few months studying where this movement is going,” Finley predicted, noting the groundswell of voter sentiment in favor of government restraint.
Finley noted, “Scott Brown's popularity in Massachusetts parallels what's happening nationally.” From his vantage point, voters think the majority in power is pushing them too far, they're frustrated, and not going to tolerate it any more.
He said voters are reacting, “We don't want this--we don't need a socialist health care system." >>More about Nolan Finley at the ERC.
Michigan Senate Majority Leader
 Mike Bishop Calls for Government Reform
Government reform, not higher taxes, is what Michigan needs now, according to Sen. Michael D. Bishop, Senate majority leader, speaking to the Eastside Republican Club Forum at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial on November 17.
For example, he said, “A change in our 'right to work' status would send a message to the rest of the U.S. that Michigan is ready to grow and change.”
As head of the Republican caucus, Bishop directs the agenda, and is spokesman for GOP legislative policies.
Bishop, who is stumping Michigan in his bid for the Republican nomination for Attorney General, said “We should consider a pilot program in limited zones." >>Read more about the November Forum.
The total U.S. public debt outstanding on February 2, 2010, was $12,360,943,989,345. The debt computes to more than $113,000 for each U.S. taxpayer. One year ago, the collective U.S. public debt was $10,667,963,268,393. >>U.S. national debt clock.
Michigan's Committeewoman Hughes
Playing National Role for Republicans
 Traveling, fund raising and encouraging grass roots workers are just some Republican national committeewoman duties, according to Holly Hughes, speaking September 15, 2009, to the Eastside Republican Club at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial.
Hughes, a Michigan RNC member since 2004, addressed the question, “What do I do?”
“My job is like a county or district chairman, except my responsibilities include the whole State,” she said.
In addition, as an RNC member she played a role in selecting the RNC chairman, currently Michael Steele, Maryland lieutenant governor from 2003 to 2007.
“Watch the November General Election results for signs of a turnaround, especially results in New Jersey and the Virginia gubernatorial election,” she said.
She was optimistic about future GOP gains. “We will win,” she predicted. “Obama is helping!” Regarding the national controversy over government-run health care, see recommended the RNC web site, Barack Obama Experiment.
On August 14, Steele announced appointment of Hughes as chairman of the Site Selection Committee.
The committee, comprised of two elected RNC members and one alternate from each region, will evaluate potential host cities for the 2012 Republican National Convention. >>More Holly Hughes Forum.
'I Will Be ACORN's Worst Nightmare'
Pledges Secretary of State Candidate McManus
Pledging to enforce State election laws in her June 16, 2009, remarks to the Eastside Republican Club, Senator Michelle McManus detailed her vision for the next Michigan Secretary of State.
 She spoke at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial as part of her campaign to win the nomination in next year's GOP primary. The State Senator called that agency the “ultimate public service.”
McManus declared that she has the credentials to run the Secretary of State branch of Michigan government, and, “I will build on the success of Candice Miller and Terri Lynn Land.”
Acknowledging current economic realities and the $215 annual Secretary of State budget, she flatly stated, “Government will be smaller.”
McManus said, “A strong Secretary of State is necessary to enforce the laws of the State of Michigan.”
“We'll serve as watchdog over community activists such as ACORN who want to manipulate elections,” she said. In that regard she promised, “I will be ACORN's worst nightmare.” >>More McManus at the ERC.
Thanks for visiting ERC on the web, now meet us at the G.P. War Memorial
|
View your sample ballot
