Helvig's Helvitorials

McCain NOT this Veteran's Candidate

The following is a letter from my father regarding Senator John McCain's lack of care, concern and assistance for an Air Force Veteran dealing with America's Veterans' Administration. I don't know about the rest of the Veteran's in this country, but John McCain is not this Veteran's candidate.

I am a United States Air Force Viet Nam Vet that suffered a service connected back injury due to a fall while servicing an airplane in July of 1966. This injury damaged, nerve roots and permanently crushed the left gluteal muscle. After hospitalization and extensive physical therapy I was able to continue my service to my country and served in Viet Nam in 1967. I continued to suffer from chronic lower back pain, but the warm SE Asia climate helped diminish the pain. In early 1968 I left the Air Force and entered the private sector.

One month after discharge I was at a Veterans Hospital suffering from sever back pain. The environment toward returning Viet Nam military by the people at the VA was spiteful to say the least. I was x-rayed and then with no examination asked by a doctor if I could touch my toes. Since after a few painful minutes of bending down I was able to accomplish this he informed me that if I could do that I could not have a bad back, then he summarily sent packing as he walked away. I was so infuriated I walked out of the hospital

Without pulling up or reviewing any military medical records the VA due to this visit claimed that my injury was not service connected. This started a 40 year battle that still goes on to this day.

In January of 1984 the pain in my lower back was different and my right leg went dead. No movement and I suffered drop foot. The VA in Seattle tried to diagnose the condition and at first recommended surgery, but after six months the leg recovered 85% and the prognosis was that the siadic nerve coming from the lumbar section was compressed. Also at this time the condition was determined to be service connected and a new VA ID Card was issued reflecting this change.   

However no compensation was provided. The lower back has remained a chronic problem from 1966 to this date.

In late 2004 the pain in my lower back changed again with sharp shooting pains radiating down through my thighs buckling my legs and causing me to fall. I went back to the VA in Seattle where they did an immediate MRI and then prescribed Physical Therapy. The condition continued to deteriorate causing both legs to weaken with pain and limit my ability to walk or function. I did not and to this day have not been seen by a VA doctor with the exception of a doctor at the VA in Fayetteville, Arkansas in 2006 when the pain got so bad I could barely walk and I required an injection into my right hip. This relieved the pain in the hip only.

During these several months we moved from Washington state to Gilbert, AZ, while remaining in communication with the VA and trying to receive treatment. This has remained to no avail.

With total frustration I contacted the office of  Senator John Mc Cain in the Phoenix office and talked to a Mr. Tom Mc Camma. Tom after reading the history of this condition and the years of failing to get any medical help from the VA committed his office to assist me in any way they could. I was asked to come to the office where I talked to Tom on this matter and we established a strategy.

However last Fall I had another letter and several more documents that I was sending to the VA and wanted to send Tom copies. I called Tom to inform him that this was my intention and that he didn't have to do anything with them except to file them if he wanted. However Tom informed me that he didn't want them at all and I needed to be aware that they were in the middle of an election campaign and were to busy to assist me. When I reminded him he only needed to file them he sharply stated that I needed to be aware of the fact that the VA has a 400,000 back log of Vet's needing one thing or another and I shouldn't expect them to be able to help me.

I was sharply taken back by this statement and replied that a backlog of that magnitude was disgraceful and didn't happen over night and maybe the Senator should have been on top of this problem as he claimed to be one of us. Point blank I informed Tom Mc Camma that If John Mc Cain had been doing his job in the Senate and spending more time fixing the VA to insure proper and expedient receipt of medical treatment and education assistance that the veterans wouldn't be part of a 400,000 back log and being denied their benefits. I further informed Mr. Mc Camma that it could not be a funding issue as Senator Mc Cain like many others voted billions of dollars to criminals invading our country, so they can have free unearned medical and education benefits.

How ironic that those that served, suffered and died are denied earned benefits while those breaking the laws and costing our economy billions of dollars get a free ride. Like Hillary Clinton, John Mc Cain hasn't done the job we have been paying him for over the past several years and now he wants us to elect him to a higher post. Not on my watch! John Mc Cain is not one of US!

My back condition deteriorated to the point where it required major surgery and I could no longer put it off so in October of 2007 my L-4 and L-5 vertebrae were fused bringing L-4 back into place and the nerve canal was opened as well to relieve the nerve compression. This has provided some relief and allowed me to function better than before the surgery, however I will have major life long restrictions that affect my life and that of my family.

Breaking News - Fox News overrun by Drama Queens

Breaking News – Fox News overrun by Drama Queens

Is it just me or are we all getting pretty tired of FNC’s abuse of “Breaking News” and “News Alerts”? It amazes me that you can’t watch one day’s worth of programming on America’s “fair and balanced” network without being assaulted by these false overtures. The producers at the FNC must think we are the dumbest viewers in the history of television news.

The recent fires in Southern California provided almost every anchor on Fox with the opportunity to over-dramatize the events of the day. I’ve never seen so many “Breaking News” reports on one story in my life. And it wasn’t as if they were actually reporting on something that hadn’t been covered all day long or even a significant change to what had already been reported. Everything was just “breaking”.

In order for news to be breaking, it is supposed to interrupt the regularly scheduled programming. That is why breaking news used to always be preceded with phrases like, “We interrupt your regularly scheduled program to bring you this special report”. Likewise, breaking news was always followed by the announcement, “We now return you to your regularly scheduled program.”

Hannity & Colmes are pretty much tied with Greta for being the worst when it comes to “News Alerts”. They flash that notice on the screen and start telling us all about some trivial story Shepard Smith “broke” six to seven hours earlier that same day. What is so alerting about a story that has been covered by every other anchor on your network?

When it comes to being overly dramatic, you can’t help but love Shepard Smith and Geraldo Rivera. However, the top Drama Queen of them all has to be John Gibson.

How is it possible to open your show with “Breaking News”? How do you head into a commercial break by saying, “When we come back, we’ll have Breaking News on today’s top story”? How do you have breaking news in the beginning, middle and end of a news program? How is anything “Brittney” breaking? Do they not understand the simple concept of “Breaking”?

As if all this weren’t bad enough, the FNC has become the king of speculation TV. When your interview includes questions like, “What do you think she meant by…” or “What is going through his mind right now…” you are no longer reporting, you are speculating. What could a retired Jersey trooper possibly know about a carjacker in California? If he’s not a psychic, he’s just another spectator and his input is nothing but conjecture.

Now, I don’t get CNN and I wouldn’t watch MSNBC if you paid me. For all I know, they may be just as bad as my beloved Fox. However, if someone doesn’t step up and do something about the over-dramatization of network news, I am going to have to turn off my TV and rely solely on the Internet for my daily news.

What is it going to take to bring some integrity to the cable news networks? Maybe we should get Bill O’Reilly to lead a boycott against all network news until they get their act together, quit speculating and stop abusing the once sacred “Breaking News”.

Governor's Abuse of Flag Code confuses flag owners

Unpublished -

The American Flag is a perpetual symbol of independence, freedom and liberty. It is a declaration of the sovereignty of the United States. Old Glory flies high atop her pole as the ultimate icon of truth, justice and democracy. Our flag is a standing reminder that our nation is a republic, which broke away from the grip of tyranny, in order to form a more perfect union.

The American Flag soars over our federal buildings and welcomes us to our national monuments. It lines the streets of our cities and leads the way in our parades. Our flag flies proudly at our job sites, our schools and our places of worship. Our National Ensign sways in the wind aboard our naval vessels and greets us at the gates of our military posts.

The American Flag personifies the patriotism of our elected officials and our government employees. It is a reminder of the commitment and dedication of our nation's police officers and fire fighters. The Stars and Stripes also represents the honor, courage and sacrifice of every American who has served in our armed forces and it drapes the coffins of those who have given the ultimate sacrifice.

Our flag is all of this and much more. It is many things to many people. However, one thing the American Flag was never meant to be is the symbol of a state mandated protest against war. Unfortunately, that is exactly what is happening right here in Michigan.

Governor Granholm has abused her authority by using the American Flag to stir up animosity toward the Bush Administration's management of the war in Iraq. Ordering the flag to be lowered to half-staff every time a service member from Michigan is killed in combat is not authorized by the U.S. Flag Code and yet, that is exactly what she has done. Can you imagine this being national policy? The flag would be at half-staff every day for ten years, just because of the war in Iraq.

The Governor has confused a great number of Michiganders regarding the historical purpose of our National Ensign and has bewildered the state's flag owners with her half-staff protest. On any given day, you can drive down the city streets of any Michigan town and find some flags at full-staff and others at half-staff. Sometimes, these opposing posts will be on adjacent properties. The spirit of the flag has been severely darkened and the significance of lowering the flag to half-staff has been profoundly diminished by this deviation from protocol.

While it is acceptable for individuals to lower their personal flags because of the loss of a loved one, it is inappropriate for the governor to abuse the power of her office in this way. The U.S. Flag Code does not grant her the authority to disparage the American Flag under the guise of honoring our fallen service members. If the policy were meant to be used this way, every flag in the country would stay at half-staff every day. In fact, it would take 95 years just to honor those who died on Iwo Jima, thus eliminating the significance of lowering the flag.

If you have not done so recently, I would ask you to read the U.S. Flag Code. Be sure to look up the half-staff requirements and a governor's authority in subparagraph (m). While you are there, read the segment on Memorial Day. Even on the national holiday for honoring our fallen heroes, the flag is to be lowered to half-staff only until noon, then briskly raised back to the top of it's pole.

Governor Granholm's policy may appear to serve an honorable purpose, but after reading the U.S. Flag Code, one cannot help but question her motives. If Michigan cannot convince her to retract this policy, Michiganders should at least stop participating in her protest. We should all disregard her calls to lower our flags and instead abide by the federal policy. As for me, I have not and will not lower my American Flag at the command of a pretentious and seditious Canadian.

Former illegal aliens now serving in Congress

Unpublished - Former illegal aliens now serving in Congress

"Former illegal aliens now serving in U.S. Congress" will be the headline in just a few short years if America grants citizenship to these international trespassers. Offering a path to citizenship for illegal aliens will have significant consequences for the future of leadership and government in America. If citizenship is granted to these one-time fugitives, they will have not only the right to vote, but the power to run for political office. They will also be eligible to serve in law enforcement, serve as judges and even work with classified material. They will have the same rights as every other naturalized citizen in this country, in spite of their criminal background.

While the best answer is simply securing the border and enforcing existing laws, the current proposal does include a number of positive steps toward solving America's immigration problems. However, the portion granting a path to citizenship for the 12+ million illegal aliens already living in the United States is unacceptable. Rewarding criminal behavior with citizenship cannot be an option for a number of good reasons.

Giving illegal aliens a path to citizenship would mean giving them the key to changing the political balance in America. Those who failed to respect our sovereignty and our laws will become a strong lobby on the political scene. Look at what they have managed to accomplish without having a legal voice. Our felons lose their right to vote, but these criminals will be given a free pass to the polls. There is no way that anyone who came to America illegally should ever be granted the right to vote, nor should ever be allowed to run for and/or hold public office.

Giving illegal aliens a path to citizenship would also mean giving them preferential treatment over legal immigrants. Illegal aliens should never be given any consideration or receive any entitlement which is not given to legal immigrants. They should not be allowed to do anything that legal immigrants are not allowed to do. Showing such favoritism is not fair to those who abide by the law and will not be good for the social climate of this country.

While many Americans believe that all illegal aliens need to be deported, the practicality of such an operation may be less than realistic. In order to achieve true reform, there may have to be some compromises. If we are stuck with these 12+ million people, the least we can do is treat them according to the status they have placed themselves in. The worst case scenario should include a long and arduous path to legal residency, with no chance of ever obtaining citizenship.

There are huge differences between being a legal resident and being a naturalized citizen. Residents do not have the right to vote like citizens. Residents cannot run for public office like citizens. Residents do not have the right to apply for all of the same government funded programs as citizens. Legal residents are treated with the respect due a welcomed guest, but they are not allowed to work or serve in any position which could compromise our national security.

If we have to allow any of these people to stay in America, let's have them apply for these new visas. Let's run finger print analysis and DNA analysis as part of their background checks. Let's prosecute those who are suspected of crimes and let's deport those who have returned to America after being previously deported. Let's require the tamper-proof identification cards for employment, schooling and other services and let's prosecute any employer or organization who bypasses these identification requirements.

Once those who are eligible to stay have received their new visa, we should treat them the same as we would any other legal resident. Let's hold them accountable to the same laws as our guests from Europe, Asia and the rest of the world. The only difference between these visa holders and other legal immigrants would be that the former illegals will never be eligible to apply for naturalization.

A poem for Rosie O'Donnell

Unpublished - A poem for Rosie O'Donnell

Rosie O'Donnell and Joy Behar too; Spewing dissent to the fans of The View

Theories and conspiracies all day long; Compared to the facts, they're usually wrong

One seems crazy, the other just nuts; Blaming all on Bush, 'cause they hate his guts

"Impeach him!" they shout, "Arrest Cheney too"; Drawing support from the fans of The View

"This war is illegal, too many are dead!"; Their eyes glare crazy, their faces burn red

Meanwhile, sitting patiently, there on the right; Our sweet young Elisabeth, oh what a sight

With child and glowing, a mother to be; Her eyes wide open, truth does she see

Day in and day out, she takes it all in; As left hooks and jabs land on her chin

Until one day she could take it no more; Our sweet young Elisabeth let out a roar

Back off Rosie, it's time for some facts; We've had enough of your left-wing attacks

Our President is okay and Cheney is too; They know way more, than you or the shrew

Our troops are not terrorists, they're good guys and gals; You need to quit listening to your loony pals

Get your facts straight or keep your hole shut; Think with your head instead of your butt

Depart from The View and get a real life; Get off the stage, go home to your wife

Have some more Koolaide or a Baby Ruth; Please leave the news to those who know truth

McCain plus Kennedy equals McCainedy

Unpublished - McCain plus Kennedy equals McCainedy

    When the going gets tough, McCain and Kennedy offer amnesty?

    Apparently, the McCainedy philosophy is, “If you can’t deport them, you might as well appease them”. Since there are so many illegal aliens here and it would be impossible to round ‘em all up and ship ‘em all home, we might as well offer them amnesty. After all, what’s the harm in giving 12 million criminals an easy path to citizenship?

    For starters, let’s apply the McCainedy philosophy to other aspects of American law enforcement. Since there are so many traffic violators we should just let everyone drive the way they want. Since there are so many people smuggling and using illegal substances, we should just legalize all drugs. Since there is so much gang violence in our cities we should just quit policing our communities. After all, what’s the harm in any of this?

    Wouldn’t this be a better country if we had no immigration laws and no consequences for breaking those laws? Wouldn’t this be a more peaceful country if we just let everyone do whatever they want? Wouldn’t this be a more powerful nation if we offered an easy path to citizenship for people who enter America illegally, then march against our government, demanding equal rights?  Well, NO!

    Turning the McCainedy philosophy into law would set a terrible precedent and could have a devastating affect on our entire judicial system. It could also cause significant damage to the political process in America.

    What in the world was John McCain thinking when he climbed into bed with Ted Kennedy on this one? He obviously can’t perform simple arithmetic. 1: Conservatives have been adamantly against offering amnesty to illegals. 2: Liberals have been fervently for offering amnesty to illegals. 3: With citizenship comes the right to vote. Add it all up and you realize that these new citizens will support the liberals and possess the power to end conservative leadership in American government.

    If John McCain wants to resolve America’s problems with appeasement instead of enforcement, he needs to resign from the Senate. If he wants to hand our government over to the liberals, he should get out of the GOP and join his brothers on the left. If he wants to exercise his McCainedy philosophy, he should do so by taking it with him to the other side. After all, I don’t see any harm in that!

The US of IA

Unpublished - The US of IA - by Alan Helvig

Our elected officials in Washington are not listening to the voice of the American people. We have been begging them for years to do something about the illegal immigration problem in this country. We have called for secure borders and improved conditions for our border guards. We have requested tougher laws and stiffer penalties for American business owners who hire illegal aliens. Most of all, we have demanded over and over again that there is to be absolutely "NO AMNESTY" for these international trespassers.

A few hours ago, a team of U.S. Senators gave a bi-partisan press release to tell the citizens and every other legal resident of this country that they have heard our voice and they could care less about what we have been saying. These Senators and our illustrious President have reached an agreement to propose legislation which will, first and foremost, grant amnesty to approximately 12 million people who have attacked the sovereignty of the United States of America. This is absolutely unacceptable and it is time for us to turn up the volume on our voice.

This proposed legislation is a slap in the face of every immigrant who has ever stood in line on Ellis Island. It is a kick in the shin of every American who has had the courage to undergo the naturalization process and has raised their hand with honor as they took the oath of allegiance to become a citizen of this great nation. It is a punch in the gut of every red blooded American who has ever exercised their right to free speech to tell this government that illegal immigration is a huge problem that needs to be resolved without offering amnesty!

If we allow our government to pass this proposal into law, we will no longer be the United States of America. From that day forward we will become known as the United States of Illegal Aliens. What is the purpose of being a nation of laws if we are going to let the lawbreakers dictate national policy? What country in the world is going to respect us if they know that we will always cave to the pressure of those who protest the loudest? Who is going to pay to reimburse all of the naturalized citizens for all of the hard work and money they dedicated to legally becoming citizens?

We the people of the United States of America have the power to uphold the sovereignty of this great nation. We the people of the United States of America have the power to demand the protection of our lands against foreign invasion. We the people of the United States of America have the power to replace every elected official who votes to give amnesty to illegal aliens. It is time for We the People to exercise our power.

O'Reilly: Winner in SC GOP Debate

Unpublished - O'Reilly: Winner in SC GOP Debate by Alan Helvig

    If nothing else, last night's so-called GOP Presidential Candidate Debate showed the country why there are first tier candidates and second tier candidates in the race for the White House. Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani clearly came out on top, while Jim Gilmore and Tommy Thompson left everyone wondering why they were even there.

    Even though the event was predominantly a sound bite contest, there were still winners and losers. The FNC Poll results would have you believe that the biggest winner was Ron Paul, as he raked in 25% of the text votes after last night's show. In this case, looks are definitely deceiving. The majority of his votes were obviously not from the GOP's conservative base. He undoubtedly struck a cord with the liberal viewers and Bush haters who appreciated his anti-war position. Rep. Paul has had his 15 minutes of fame and will now fade off into the land of VH1's one hit wonders.

    The biggest loser had to be John McCain. His star seems to shine much brighter when he is on his own than it does when he is in the ring with contenders. Although he delivered a couple of good jabs here and there, he still looked like Rocky after Apollo Creed got done with him in their first fight. McCain appears to be following a version of the Howard Dean path to self destruction. It should not be long before he is replaced in the top tier by Fred Thompson.

    The true winner last night was Bill O'Reilly. He must have been proud as both Chris Wallace and Wendell Goler made it clear that the debate stage was a "No Spin Zone". When the question asked was not answered, they went back to the candidate and gave him a second chance to respond. This proved fatal for the likes of Tommy Thompson, who floundered when asked what programs he would cut from the federal budget. 

    While it is certain that some will take advantage of the poll results, it is clear that this scale was not calibrated. For starters, most seniors, who make up the majority of primary voters, don't send text messages. To be fair, this probably hurt McCain the most, as he received less than 5% of the votes. Next, Dems were allowed to text in their votes, essentially taking weight away from the candidates they fear the most and giving it to the candidate they fear the least. The smart candidates will simply walk away from this poll and stay focused on the challenges they face in key states.

    After last night, it would seem the second tier candidates are going to stay in the second tier. In fact, Tancredo, Gilmore, Brownback and Tommy T are probably already finished. Although last night's sound bite contest was fun to watch, I can't wait for the toilet to flush and for all of the second tier candidates to go down. Then and only then will we be able to enjoy a real debate. Unfortunately, I think we'll have to wait until after the Iowa Straw Poll to hear that swishing sound.

John Kerry's Worst Enemy

Unpublished - John Kerry's Worst Enemy by Alan Helvig

   Senator John Kerry wanted to be President of the United States of America? He wanted to be the Commander-in-Chief of the most powerful armed force in the world? He wanted to be the most influential leader on the entire planet? John Kerry couldn't lead a pack of cub scouts on a camping trip!

   Kerry lacked leadership qualities as an officer in the United States Navy; he lacks leadership qualities as a U.S. Senator; and he totally lacks the leadership qualities required to be the President of the United States. Leadership requires courage; leadership requires tact; leadership requires respect; and most importantly, leadership requires integrity. Unfortunately, John Kerry does not meet the minimum requirements to be a positive, effective leader.

   In addition to his shortcomings, Kerry has too many enemies to be an effective leader. His enemies include the likes of conservative talk show hosts like Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity, but they are not the worst of his enemies. His enemies include the likes of influential leaders in the Republican Party such as Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, Vice President Dick Cheney and President George W. Bush, but they are not the worst of his enemies.

   John Kerry's worst enemy is that gaping hole located directly below the nose on his face. There must be a blown fuse or a lose connection somewhere on that long journey from his liberal brain to his big mouth. Kerry couldn't overcome his worst enemy during the Viet Nam war; he couldn't overcome his worst enemy during the 2004 presidential campaign; and he can't overcome his worst enemy today.

   Kerry's recent derogatory comments regarding the brave men and women who are fighting and dying in Iraq were reprehensible at best. Following his unthinkable attack on America's finest, Kerry refused to accept responsibility for his misgivings and apologize to those whom he has verbally assaulted. Once again, Kerry's worst enemy has defeated him.

   There is however, good news in all of this. Those brave men and women in uniform could honestly care less about what Senator Kerry thinks of them or says about them. They are lean, mean fighting machines and they will not be weakened by the ramblings of a whining, left-wing, war protestor who does not appreciate them. Their character is too strong to be brought down by those lacking moral fiber. They stand united in the face of such stupidity and will not be demoralized by those who do not sincerely and publicly support them in their mission.

  So, my salute goes out to every man and woman in the U.S. Armed Forces, who didn't hear what Kerry said, didn't care about what Kerry said, or simply wasn't affected by what Kerry said. You can rest assured that this accounts for close to 100% of our military. And the command sounded, "Present arms!"

Censored in Holland

Unpublished - Submitted to the Holland Sentinel on September 13, 2006 and rejected by the publisher, Peter Esser, due to the implied endorsement of a political candidate

   Are you better off than you were 4-6 years ago? Are your finances better off than they were 4-6 years ago? Are your friends better off than they were 4-6 years ago? Is it time for a change in the Governor's mansion? Is it time for a change in the U.S. Senate? You make the call.

   The housing market here in Western Michigan has taken a serious blow. Due to Michigan's failing economy and faltering job situation, we are in what is known as a "buyer's market". Does that mean home buyers can get whatever they want at a great price? No! That just means we have a lot of houses on the market and a lot of upset and even depressed sellers.

   As the active inventories reach new highs and the average 'days on market' continue to rise, Michigan's economy continues to decline. Michigan is taking the lead in a number of economic and demographic studies across this nation. Unfortunately, the categories in which we are leading are negative and the impact on local real estate sales is damaging.

   According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Michigan's incomes have fallen 12% since 1999, earning our state the ominous distinction of 'Worst decline in the country'. For the first time in history, Michigan's household income fell below the national average. Is that why mortgage lenders are reaching record numbers in foreclosures?

   Since January of 2001, Michigan has recorded a net loss of close to 200,000 jobs. We are the only state in the country to lose jobs for three years in a row over the past three years. From 2000-2005, Michigan led the charge among the seven Great Lakes states in manufacturing job losses with nearly 218,000 lost manufacturing jobs. How many of your friends 'had to' sell their home due to losing their jobs? How many of them 'had to' move out of state to find employment?

   Analysts predict Michigan's unemployment rate for 2006 will average out at 6.7%, while the national average will hold at 4.7%. Among these figures include Michigan's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for July of 2006 at 7%. Some of Michigan's major cities reported unemployment rates above 10% for the month of July. Why does Michigan continue to suffer, while the rest of the nation is either recovering or stable? Could it be a lack of effective leadership from Governor Granholm?

   Did you know that Senators Debbie Stabenow and Carl Levin have effectively killed the bill that would have provided affordable health insurance plans for Michigan’s small business owners? SB 1955 was designed to help thousands of Michiganders without health insurance. Levin and Stabenow had the Michigan lobby pretty much believing they were supportive of Small Business Health Care Bill 1955. Unfortunately for many, they torpedoed the legislation. 

   When you get a chance, ask a small store owner how they are doing when it comes to health insurance. Ask a contractor how expensive their health coverage is. Ask a real estate agent what they have to go through to get health insurance. Ask any small business owner about their costs for prescription drugs. The answers should have you asking Stabenow and Levin, "Why?"

   I don't know about you, but I am tired of hearing empty promises and seeing substandard results from our leaders in Lansing and Washington. Will Michigan home owners continue to suffer if we don't get some new leadership in Lansing? Will small business owners continue to struggle if we don't get some new leadership in the U.S. Senate? You make the call. Once you make the call, encourage your friends and neighbors to vote for a better Michigan on November 7th.