Ben & Jerry's names new ice cream "Stephen Colbert's Americone Dream"

Yum!

Stephen Colbert may have no taste for the truth, but he does have a sweet tooth. Ben & Jerry's has named a new ice cream in honor of the comedian: "Stephen Colbert's Americone Dream."

It's vanilla ice cream with fudge-covered waffle cone pieces and caramel.

Announcing the new flavor Wednesday, Ben & Jerry's called it: "The sweet taste of liberty in your mouth."

{snip}

"I'm not afraid to say it. Dessert has a well-known liberal agenda," Colbert said in a statement. "What I hope to do with this ice cream is bring some balance back to the freezer case."

From Senator Chris Dodd: Restore Habeas Corpus!

Democatic Presidential Candidate and Lover of the Constitution Chris Dodd has launched a new website, Restore-Habeas.org. There you can become a 'citizen co-sponsor' of the Restoring the Constitution Act of 2007.

Today, I plan on re-introducing the Restoring the Constitution Act of 2007. The bill will restore Habeas Corpus protections to detainees, bar information acquired through torture from being introduced as evidence in trials, and limit presidential authority to interpret the meaning and application of the Geneva Conventions.

Become A Citizen Co-Sponsor:

Please take a moment to watch the video and read the text of the Restoring the Constitution Act of 2007, sign on as a citizen co-sponsor, and forward the bill to your personal networks. While you and I are acutely aware of the damage President Bush has done to our country's national reputation, too many of our family, friends and neighbors have no idea how far this Administration has gone.

On my grandmothers

Today is the sixth anniversary of the death of my maternal grandmother. She would have turned 90 last spring. Sunday the 11th would have been her wedding anniversary. What's more, her mother (my great-grandma) died on Valentine's Day one year, and less than a year later my great-grandfather died the following February 12th. So this is a tough week for my mom.

As the pain of her death has passed, I fear it may not be long before my paternal grandmother leaves us too.

On a Thursday night a couple weeks ago (I don't have classes on Friday) I went home to Kentwood for a three-day weekend. That Friday afternoon I went to my grandmother's condo because she had fallen and needed someone to help her up. (She has one of those CareLink buttons that someone can push for help when they fall. CareLink called my Dad, but he was the only person at his place, so he couldn't go; instead he called me.)

While I was at Grandma's, a sad truth dawned on me: She can't be with us forever. At some point, my grandmother whom I love so much will pass from this earth - as have my other three grandparents, and as we all will.

This past weekend I went home again. On Sunday, Dad and I decided to stop by grandma's to say goodbye and to tell her that I'd be home in three weeks. Lying in her bed, she took my hand and, in a frail tone, said "I love you." I responded, "I love you too." I recalled my mother telling me those were the words she used to finish what turned out to be her last conversation with her 'Daddy' nore than two decades ago.

On our way back to Mount Pleasant, Dad told me that it will be more of a blessing for her as well as for us when Grandma goes. For her, she will be happy in Heaven, free from worldly pain and suffering. For us, a burden will be lifted from our shoulders - especially my dad's - for we will no longer have to care for her; God will care for her as only He can.

This is quite hard for me. As I said before, Grandma is my last surviving grandparent. My maternal grandfather died two years before I was born, not even seventy years old. The death of his widow six years ago at age 84 was my first experience with the loss of a family member (other than pets). Then my paternal grandfather unexpectedly left us in April 2004 a few weeks after his 81st birthday.

Soon after 'Poppa' died, Grandma's health began to deteriorate (likely due to the emotion of losing a husband of 58 years). She needed help, and the man who helped her so much for so many years was suddenly gone. So my dad has had to fill in the past three years to help her. We had basically no choice but to take her to a nursing home, where she stayed for eight months.

Last week Grandma turned 83, having been nursing-home-free for two years. Incidentally, she was born on Ronald Reagan's 13th birthday, and Congressman Vern Ehlers was born on her tenth birthday.

For all I know, Grandma could be like Pope John Paul II: Just when people thought Pope John Paul was about to pass away, he stuck around for a couple more years. Something similar happened with columnist Art Buchwald, who was 'supposed' to have died last year but held on until last month. Or maybe Grandma's time is imminent. As far as I know, hospice care hasn't entered the picture yet.

When the time comes... whenever that is... I will surely let you know. Grandma has told me not to feel sad when she goes, because she will be back with Poppa in Heaven. My family and I will still need your thoughts and prayers, of course. In the meantime, my thoughts and prayers go out to all of you who have dealt with loss recently.

GOP Congressman chooses golf over doing his job

Just in case you ever had doubts as to which party is more committed to working to solve America's problems, along comes word from Indianapolis that one Republican congressman isn't exactly earning the $165,200 per year salary:

U.S. Rep. Dan Burton this morning apologized for missing 19 votes to play in a golf tournament in January.

{snip}

Burton missed votes to reduce college costs and cut oil industry tax breaks so he could play in the Palm Springs, Calif. golf tournament in January.

Burton also missed hearings on Iraq and North Korea to play in the event, which pairs top golfers with politicians and celebrities such as actor and director Clint Eastwood.

A review of House votes for the past decade shows the Indianapolis Republican has been absent every year votes coincided with the tournament: 2007, 2005, 2004, 2003 and 2001. This year in January, he missed a total of 20 out of 73 votes.

Funny how Republicans complain about waste in government. Do you think the people of Burton's district feel the $165,200 Burton gets per year is money well spent?

Anuzis Wins!

Ladies and gentlemen, I am proud to announce that...

SAULIUS ANUZIS HAS BEEN RE-ELECTED CHAIR OF THE MICHIGAN REPUBLICAN PARTY!!

But state GOP Chairman Saul Anuzis tried to dampen the competition between the candidates' supporters after he was re-elected to a second two-year term.(emphasis added)

Anuzis was endorsed by Michigan Liberal in a landslide.

Saul got a lot done in his first term:

- Unable to defeat a single Democratic incumbent in a state or federal election in 2006.

- Worst performance by a Republican candidate for Governor in 20 years, despite unlimited resources.

- Lost 6 seats in the Michigan House of Representatives to the Democrats, despite a Republican gerrymandered map.

- Lost 1 seat in the Michigan Senate to the Democrats despite a Republican gerrymandered map.

- Fewest Republicans and most Democrats in the Michigan Senate in 15 years.

- Lost control of Michigan House of Representatives to the Democrats, producing a Democratic Speaker for the first time in 12 years.

- Mailings to voters in Kent County helped Michigan Democrats send a second state representative to Lansing from Grand Rapids. Apparently Saul is even more effective at turning around Grand Rapids than Dick DeVos!

- Total Democratic sweep of all elected educational board seats for the first time in 20 years.

- Lost control of numerous county boards to Democrats.

- Endorsed Republican incumbent in 7th Congressional District defeated in primary.

- Urged the Republican National Committee to spend $1 million late on failed Senate campaign of Mike Bouchard rather than devote precious resources to defending Republican incumbents in Montana and Virgina, who in turn lost close races and swung control of the United States Senate to the Democrats!

Bits of Tid: February 10, 2007

633 days from the 2008 election! (BTW: I haven't received a reply to any of my posts in several weeks!! I feel lonely when no one replies!)

• I went to the Kent County Spring Democratic Convention today. Kinda light turnout; only 60- or so people, compared to the 200 or so people at the one in August (granted, that was just before the last election). The high point was getting a warm reception after discussing Eye On Ehlers. I posted a blurb about that on Daily Kos.
  
  
• The 2006 State of the State was Tuesday. As usual, another great speech by our Governor, as she did her best to outline the crisis Michigan faces, and how we can get out of it. I'm especially glad she discussed the importance of taxes, and how cutting them doesn't help the economy as much as some would have you think. If you didn't get a chance to see the address, read the transcript or watch the video.
  
  
• The Guv has proposed a 2% tax on services (excluding healthcare and education-related services). Look for my thoughts on that later.
  
  
• Barack Obama has officially joined the race. I like him. More thoughts on that later. Also, Mitt Romney came to town for the state GOP Convention. More on Mitt's flip-flops later.
  
  
• Congressman John Murtha (D-PA) - known for his strong opposition to the Iraq War - wants the Guantanamo prison closed.
  
  
• The head of the Michigan Young Republicans has been charged with rape. I donb't care who you are or which party you support... rape is absolutely inexcusable. Then again, he is innocent until proven guilty.

From the Governors Office: State Board and Commission Vacancies

I got this in an email from the Kent County Democratic Party. Perhaps you may be interested.

The Governor's office is looking for general public members to fill spots on thefollowing boards.

If you would like to play a role in the Governor’s administration, please submit your name to Joan Bowman at bowmanj@michigan.gov or call 517-881-2170.

In general public spots, the applicants should not have any professional affiliation with the industry they would be regulating as a member of the board.

• Elevator Safety – usually general public spot is held by a person who uses a wheelchair or other individual with a disability(note the use of “person first” language)
• Landscape Architects – 3 positions
• Barber Examiners – 3 positions
• State Carnival Amusement Safety Board – 1 position
• Board of Cosmetology – 2 positions
• Board of Plumbing – 1 position
• Interviews are being held this week for the new Athletic Trainer Board

Meanwhile, I'm still waiting to hear whom the Governor plans to appoint to the CMU Board of Trustees.

'Early Spring' my @$$, Punxsutawney Phil

Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow yesterday:

A new pair of hands pulled Punxsutawney Phil from his stump this year, so it was only fitting that the groundhog offered a new prediction.

Phil did not see his shadow on Friday, which, according to German folklore, means folks can expect an early spring instead of six more weeks of winter.

Since 1886, Phil has seen his shadow 96 times, hasn't seen it 15 times and there are no records for nine years, according to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club. The last time Phil failed to see his shadow was in 1999.

Early spring? Funny. Because that's not what the forecast says:

West Michigan is under a blizzard warning, Parts of US 131 are shut down, the roads in Allegan County are a mess, malls are closed, flights are being delayed or cancelled, and Central Montcalm Public Schools' Snowball Dance has been postponed. (Not that I care about CMPS, I just found it ironic that the Snowball Dance is off due to snow.

Bits of Tid: February 2, 2007

Happy February!

• The US Senate has passed a minimum wage increase!
• The Democratic National Committee (DNC) has launched an online series on Black History Month. Maya Angelou is the first to be profiled.
• Senator Carl Levin is featured on the website of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.
• The DSCC's House counterpart, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, will likely invest money toward beating Reps. Tim Walberg of southern Michigan and Joe Knollenberg of Oakland County.
• Al Gore, Nobel Laureate? He's been nominated. Actually, I wouldn't be surprised to see Bill Clinton get it (possibly jointly with George H.W. Bush), but if that ever happens, it likely won't be until Hillary's career is over.
• Al Franken is running for US Senate in 2008.
• The watchdog blog Eye on Ehlers - which I founded just before the New Year - has earned a mention in a page dedicated to Congressman Ehlers in the newly expanded GOP Watch section of the Michigan Democratic Party's website. I feel special.

Must-see VoteVets.org video

In this ad from VoteVets.org, Iraq War veterans - people who have actually been to Iraq and know firsthand what the situation is like - note that supporting the troops and opposing the escalation go hand in hand.



"If you support escalation, then you don't support the troops." How true.