Bits of Tid: October 18, 2010

• First, let us bid a sad farewell to Robert B. Jones. The State Representative and nominee for Senate District 20 died Sunday morning at 66.
  
  Many people are conditioned to think that ALL politicians are the problem, or that they are ALL out of touch. I think this comes from the bad-news-first/if-it-bleeds-it­-leads culture evident in so much of the media (though not conveyed in this piece by Rick, thankfully!), as well as by people's own closed-mindedness.
  
  The reality is, most people in public office are decent people who are passionate, yet civil. Among them was Robert Jones.
  
  Thank you, sir. You have helped open opportunity for many people; may you be welcomed in Heaven with open arms!
  
  
• Robert Creamer lists Nine Reasons Why Democrats Will Keep Control of the House.
  
  
• Not to brag, but I've signed up for FOUR Get-Out-the-Vote Shifts in the days leading up to the election.
  
  
• Okay, does Senate nominee Joe Miller (R-AK) not think the First Amendment applies to journalists? Or does he just want to punish those who want to use their First Amendment rights against him? Either way, it's hard to argue that he supports freedom.
  
  
• This is the 12th general election (i.e. Presidential or gubernatorial election) in which Ruth Johnson has appeared on the ballot. This is the fifth office she has sought in that time, having been elected to the County Commission for ten years, State House for six years, and Oakland County Clerk since 2005, while losing as Dick DeVos's running mate in 2006 in the middle of her first four-year term as Clerk (she's now in the middle of her second). Career politician? Nah, of course not!
  
  
• Then there's Bill Schuette, who served six years in Congress, a couple years in the Engler administration, eight years as a state senator, and six years as a judge. Career politician? Nah, of course not!