ED and Brett Discussion Blog

[Gene Clem]

Many people are not aware that we have another of our members running for congress in the 6th congressional district.  He is Mel Valkner.

Mel needs help with his campaign.  His web site is www.thecommanman.org  You can go there to send a donation or sign up to help with campaign activities.

Mel is one of the original Kalamazoo Tea Party folks and was, in fact, the first Treasurer.  He decided early on that he would sacrifice his time and treasure to help right the ship of state.  He is a worthy candidate and can really use your help in his campaign, so please contribute and/or volunteer at his web page.

[albaby]

I see the SWMI Tea Party is now recommending candidates. I thought the TP would publish bios and other information and thought enough of their members to feel they could make the decision based on facts. A vote for Valkner is a vote for Cooney, just as a vote for Ross Perot was a vote for Clinton and against Bush 1.

We don't need another party to tell us how to think. Just give us the facts if you think we are capable of making our own decisions.

[albaby]

I'd like to see his poll source too! Is he lieing to us already.
susan said:

At this point in time, it is TOO LATE to put up a StateWide UNKNOWN for voting. You may not want Upton, but you will get the Democrat by this this. May I remind you of what Tea Party split did with Bouchard? Also his flyer says 67% polling shows people will vote for a 3rd party, I call him out to show the exact polling data he used.

[albaby]

Amen Diane. I have to wonder which party these Valkner supporters really represent.

Diane Konneck said:

Now that was unrepresentativelike! I was at that meeting at Cass County, Mr. Valkner and I cannot disagree with any of the things you said. I think you are a good man and would be a wonderful representative for the people. I have complained for years on end about how far we have gotten away from what our founding fathers intended, BUT. I put about as much faith in some COLLEGE study about politics as I do in our lame-stream news media, or in our current Congress. I put my faith in what I have lived through in my own experiences and that tells me one thing only, 3rd party just does not do much of anything other than be a spoiler for what I consider the "better guys". In your talking points you state you would repeal the 16th and 17th amendments..never in a gazillion years will you ever get the US Senate to repeal the 17th! You also speak of applying huge tariffs on imports to replace what would go away with repealing the 16th amendment but make no mention whatsoever of what conflicts would arise with existing trade agreements and treaties. Seems to me there would be some pretty huge court battles ahead over that one, speaking of which you also make no mention of that "other" branch of government. the Supreme Court. How will they react when court cases reach them concerning, among other things,the COMMERCE CLAUSE, when you take back State's rights? (we had the civil war over state's rights and that is when we lost them) All of what you say sounds really good to the ears of those who are hungry for a return to our roots, but to actually make them happen? Highly doubtful.

[Ed R]

Hmmm! Thinking for ourselves ... I like that concept. Let's argue the ideas and let people vote however they wish.

[Diane Konneck]

Yesterday I was at the Niles GOP headquarters and got to bend the ear of Representative Upton for quite a few minutes. He reaffirmed to me his committment to signing the Tea Party pledge that Dr Scott Davis asked him to sign. I would like to point out that Rep. Upton has a record of voting WITH the Republican party 93% of the time, not with Democrats 75% of the time as stated by someone else who posted here.( Let's stick to facts please.) Here is a troubling fact that I have with Mr. Valkner, he and the party he is with are for COMPLETELY closing all US military bases around the world and bringing them all home here. As the spouse of a retired Army officer and having worked for the Dept of the Army myself, I find this more than troubling. It is beyond foolish to think in this volatile world we would have no rapid deployment troops any place else on the globe to uphold treaties, to aid our allies, to fend off trouble until it is on our soil! If you believe in our Constitution you have to believe that the one main duty of the Federal Government is to provide for the Common Defense and to make treaties! To me that is the largest role the Feds have! To suggest that those factors mean nothing is extremely troubling coming from a candidate for a Federal Office! One cannot "cherry-pick" the Constitution. You believe in the entire document or you don't. As for making excuses, no I made no excuses I only point out what I see as logical FACTS.

Ed R said:

Hmmm! Thinking for ourselves ... I like that concept. Let's argue the ideas and let people vote however they wish.

[albaby]

And maybe helped elect the worse of the two evils? Brett Pepper said:

Mel....Thanks for your sacrafice for our country...If your anything like me you hear the Country calling and your heeding the call. I thank you for that and your courage and sacrafice is to be commended.Your views on the monetary system are spot on and echo the intent of the founders. Lets show Upton that career politicans are about to feel what it's like to have to worry about loosing your job and finding a new one. I'm assuming you support auditing the Federal Reserve? I've been a supporter of H.R.1207 and believe that Ron Paul is the only member of Congress that is a TRUE statesman. I believe the issuing of currency and credit must be returned to "WE THE PEOPLE" at least this way we can have a debate on the currency instead of an out of control Federal Reserve printing money out of thin air and lending that money to the Government and central bankers at near zero percent interest and then loan it back to us for a higher interest rate!...It's criminal. Bernie Madoff would be proud!

You got my vote Mel! I'll sleep better at night knowing I voted my concious and not the lesser of two evils!

In Liberty...

[Todd White]

He and the party he is with are for COMPLETELY closing all US military bases around the world and bringing them all home here. As the spouse of a retired Army officer and having worked for the Dept of the Army myself, I find this more than troubling.So it states in the Constitution that we are to police the world? Learn something new everyday! Some wild ideas out there amongst this Tea Party group. Think there needs to be a Constitution 101 class mandated in this Country!
He reaffirmed to me his committment to signing the Tea Party pledge that Dr Scott Davis asked him to sign.
So Mr. Upton has miraculously changed his views that he has had for the last 2 decades? You still have not learned that career politicians will tell you anything to get elected? Sigh!
Fool me once shame on you...Fool me twice...

[Diane Konneck]

So I suppose you prefer fighting on our soil as opposed to other places.. be very careful what you wish for..93% voting with the most conservative party is a bad thing? get back to me if you help to put Cooney into office! And by the way, Kalamazoo area is very much in play, Valkner CAN put Cooney in office!

Todd White said:

He and the party he is with are for COMPLETELY closing all US military bases around the world and bringing them all home here. As the spouse of a retired Army officer and having worked for the Dept of the Army myself, I find this more than troubling.So it states in the Constitution that we are to police the world? Learn something new everyday!
Some wild ideas out there amongst this Tea Party group. Think there needs to be a Constitution 101 class mandated in this Country!
He reaffirmed to me his committment to signing the Tea Party pledge that Dr Scott Davis asked him to sign.
So Mr. Upton has miraculously changed his views that he has had for the last 2 decades? You still have not learned that career politicians will tell you anything to get elected? Sigh!

[Todd White]

You vote for a continued Empire that's about to crumble like Rome did.

I'll vote for a shot at a restored Constitutional Republic.

[Brett Pepper]

I would like to ask these so called "conservatives" how they think we can support 800 millitary bases worldwide, two wars, war on terror, war on drugs, department of homeland security...etc, etc, etc. We are currently spending 1 trillion dollars per year funding our global empire. It's time to come home and concentrate on a strong national defense with a non-interventionalist policy. We are broke and can no longer afford to police the world....wake up to that fact or we will never have fiscal responsibility. You simply can't say your a fiscal conservative and support this millitary industrial complex.

[Ed R]

Mr. Pepper,

Have you served your country in the United States Military? I ask this question because I believe you have a right to speak your mind on such subjects whether you did or you didn't, however after listening to your arguments for voting for Mel Valkner it is clear to me that you are dogmatic where you stand on getting Mel Valkner votes and will use any words, true or not, to get your guy votes. I am beginning to question which side you are really on.

[Ed R]

Diane,

You are logical and practical.