I Proudly Accept

I am proud to accept the endorsement of my long time friend, TheBoomCamel. I would like to start off by saying that this journey will be a great one to take and I would like no other than the Camel at my side during this trek. It is also a great symbol of different thoughts and ideologies coming together for a common goal, and that goal is change.

It would probably be good to outline a few of my goals for this campaign. First I would like to say that the city needs change. The same old guard has been "ruling" over this city for almost 20 years. I use to the word "ruling" because our present leadership has not been serving the city. To serve this city these folks need to heed the words of it's citizens. The citizens of this city are the life blood to our elected officials. They cannot and will not exist without us. As the city has fallen more and more into decline we have begun to finger point. Yet where that finger needs to be pointed is at ourselves. We are the people whom have continued to reward our officials with term after term. I was always taught, that the definition of insanity is, all things being equal, doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result. It seems as if that is what the voters of this city have been practicing. It is time to stand up and say that the "olde guard" is no longer working, that the "olde guard" is no longer representing the city to it's fullest. I encourage all registered voters to get out and exercise their right to vote and anyone not registered, please get out there and flex your voting muscle.

One of my first agendas would be to practice monetary responsibility. We need to eliminate any and all unneeded, outdated programs to make sure that the really needed programs are maintained and even bolstered. One example is our police department. In the past two years this city has seem violent crimes almost double in frequency and crimes involving guns just climb off the charts. We need to see, and let our police know that we stand behind them 100% by giving them more funds to combat the ever growing issues. Hire at least a dozen more police, put more police officers on the ground, pounding those streets and letting people see that police presence. We need to educate our youth on the ills that can come from this lifestyle and the possible consequences from moving down this road. Our fire department needs to be streamlined, and all citizens assured that when these services needed, they do not have to worry.

This is just a brief outline from where I will be coming from on this voyage. Please check back often for more news and views from this ever evolving campaign.

Keep fighting the good fight folks.

Commish ShrekZilla

Commissioner Zilla

Shrekzilla wrote in an earlier column his interest to run for office. It has been a dream of ours for years to hold office. I also agree with him that the time is now. This is kind of my official backing of my boy and my pledge of support. I can't help him as much as I would like, considering that I now live in a whole different city. I will do what I can. We have a year or so until the next City commissioner race so we have plenty of time to pound the pavement and do all the research that we need to do.

Just agree to do it Shrek!! If he does we will use this blog to document the run. I found a cool link to get you started(and any other aspiring politician).

Click here...you know you want to!!

Let's do this Sh...got to watch that language.

NJP 4 LIFE!!

It's Raining Posts

Very nice...the blog is heating up again. I just read my man Zilla's post and I have to agree that the Chappelle show in Detroit, while fun, was definitely hampered by some fools in the crowd. It actually got a lot of play over on the davechappelle.com boards. So much so they made it a sticky...Click here to read what went down

It was good night and Dave schooled those idiots along the way..."Diamonds kill Africans."


You guys know me, and when the politics start up so goeth the Camel. It is really hard to say how things are going to go in the Michigan Governor's race. I don't think either candidate themselves have been too negative, but goddamn have the people that want them to win. The democratic commercials have definitely been harsher, but the republican ones are definitely starting to go that route. That is to be expected though in any campaign. You just cannot control people outside your circle. Ever since Congress changed campaign finance the fringe groups have gone nuts, but that is a whole other piece that I don't want to get into now.

The only critique that I have so far of any candidate' personal commercials is that Gov. Granholm seems to think she is running against GWB instead of DeVos. It is probably a good strategy, but eventually she will have to talk herself up and show she has a positive message and direction for the state. Actually if the two candidates keep to the personal tone I have seen so far it will be a refreshing change. We know that won't happen though.

Also Shrekman...If you want to see DeVos's plan, just check his website. I haven't read it yet, but it might have the answers that you are looking for.

NJP 4 LIFE!!

Chappelle and the Govna.....

I would like to say that I am sorry about the lull in the activity lately. Just been busy, you all know how that works. But here you go anyway, gotta make up for lost time.

On the day of August 18 TheBoomCamel, PeelBerry and myself made a pilgrimage to the Fox Theatre in Detroit to see one of our heros, Dave Chappelle. As I expected Dave was on-point. He was smart, insightful an funny. Yet something that I was hoping wouldn't happen did, the crowd ruined the show. Not to the point that I would say that I wasted my money, but just to the point that I think that I was cheated out of the glory which was Chappelle. I went into this show not waning to hear about anything from eithe the Comedy Central program or any of his movies. I just wanted to hear his stand up. Pure and simple, something that I have never heard before. That is what I asked and people decided to act the fool anf ruin it. I really can't get into i right now, it is much to upsetting. But I will still say that Dave is the man and I thank him for doing the best he could.

Now on to the heating up race for the "govna's" position in this state. I like to think of myself as being able to rather objective, so please try and bear with me. I have seen serveral DeVoss commercials as of late and I think they all have the same theme. This theme is one of change, eliminating the single bussiness tax and creating jobs. All of these sound like good goals, but my problem is that there is no plan to make all of these things happen. The single business tax is already being repealed through the state congress, and he has not drawn out any other plan to help out the state. Me being a voter would like to hear what the plan is. And I havent seen it. I also think that the whole SBT thing has had its thunder stolen. He doesnt have to repeal it any more. I think that both canidates have to draw out there entire plans better. Also, one of DeVoss's complaints is that Granholm is constantly negative. I to be honest, the only negative ads that I have seen have come from the DeVoss camp. And I have found this to be fact.


Well folks I am out of here.....

ShrekZilla

Two New Features

I have added a new feature to the sidebar of this amazing blog. It is called The NJP CHAT ZONE. If one of The NJP are on you can chat with us with the hand new window. I am going to teach the other NJP-ites how to log in so that you never know who you are going to get if that green light is on. Us NJP members can use it to chat with whatever NJP-ite is logged in at the time. Enjoy that shit.

I found that cool little deal by surfing random blogs. It also gave me another idea. Every week I am going to post a Best of Blogger feature where I talk about some cool as blogs that I come across. I think its going to be real fun to explore that Blogger Jungle.

I'm out...

Two Posts in one day!!!

NJP 4 LIFE!!!

Blog runs cold...

Yikes! I just looked and see that there have been no posts in over two weeks. My bad. Fuck...sometimes you just lose the focus. It is not that there is nothing to say. I got Chicago comments, Chappelle comments, UFC comments, Fantasy Football comments, Bowling comments and many, many current affairs comments on my mind. Sometimes it is just hard to sit and write. Especially when there is so much. Maybe I need a checklist. Who knows. I will do better, I promise.

One more thing for the road for my man and fellow contributor, Shrekzilla...Post a link to that Mel Shit if it is really that hilarious. I want to see.

Until next time...

NJP 4 LIFE!!!

All I Ask.....

I just want to say that I think this debate is great to be had, especially between a couple of freinds such as me and TheBoomCamel.

I smell what your cooking brother. And I do agree with most of it. I know, from first hand experience, that the job market in this state is in the toilet and somehing needs to be done. Obviously the elemination of any tax will create jobs. But also how many of those folks are not just content with the size of there company now? They pour no more money into the company and just pocket the rest. I do think however that most bussiness owners will want to expand and become more efficient and effective, thus being more profitable.

All I am asking for is a plan. A plan that will explain what will be done in the future. I do understand that politics is a "what have you done for me lately" kind of bussiness. I still think that you need to look a little more than just 6 inches in front of your face (that is what football is all about). It is easy right now for these folks to say that we have a year and a half to cross that bridge when we come to it.

The point is that we need a plan. Don't just say we will do this and fix it later. Just think a little bit before we act. Seems pretty simple to me.

I think that this will also kick off my campaign for any office in the upcoming year. Whether it be local, state or even national I think that I need to do something. I am just tired of the same old chatter in all the houses of out goverrning bodies. I would like to think of myself as a right-democrat and a left-republican. I believe that the moderation of our political beliefes is in everyone's best interest. I would like to recruit TheBoomCamel as my right-hand man during this whole thing. While we often disagree, we always know that the best way is somewhere in the middle.

Stay with us folks...


ShrekZilla

A risk worth taking?

I just got done reading my man Shrek's post about election time and saw his blurb about the Single Business tax here in Michigan. While he is completely right to be worried about where this money comes from, I have to wonder if the trade off might be worth it down the line.

Many businesses see this tax as oppressive and anti-growth. Many also attribute Michigan's inability to score new business to this tax. This may or may not be true, but the perception is real. You also have the fact that as far as creating new jobs goes, Michigan just sucks. Think of the potential boon for the state if businesses knew this is a place they can come and have no business tax burden. Think of the money that would be freed up for capital investments and job creation. I personally think that would be a job magnet.

Businesses don't pay taxes, people do.

Shrek...search your feelings, you know it to be true. If I open up a shop that sells cool ass buttons for $5 and it blows up to become a big time business I would then get hit with the SBT. Do you think that I am just going to grin and take that hit to my bottom line? No. I start selling buttons for $5.25. Business is just the conduit that the common man's hard earned money goes to the states(and the federal). Studies have shown that 22% of the price of goods in America(not just Michigan) goes towards business paying all the different taxes they have. Who knows how much of that 22% is going to the state, but the fact remains that business taxes get paid by us.

Quarter of the General Fund

I agree that the initial loss of tax revenue will probably be a big deal. Change is hard, but considering the dismal track record that Michigan has right now in creating jobs and attracting business, it might be necessary. One positive that could come out of this is that our legislators may be forced to show fiscal restraint. I know it is hard already, but things only get better when you make right decisions, not easy ones. Maybe they can raise the sales tax .5%-1%. As a taxpayer I would eat that if I knew the elimination of the SBT was bringing new jobs and a better financial future to the state. Raise the gas tax 1%...maybe not. The point is that there are ways to work with this. Let's hope this canceling of the SBT has the intended effect, and that Michigan can start to turn around again.

Don't forget...anything a legislature can do, they can undo. I can't see things getting much worse than they already are.

Election Time

Well folks it is that time again. The time when our community, state and country officials are selected. Here in this part of the wonderful state of Michigan we just had a our primary election. These elections will set the tables for the true battles to come this November.

A race of interest around here is the battle for seat of the 7th U.S. Congressional District. The incumbant was Joe Schwarz, a first term moderate-Republican from Battle Creek, against Tim Walberg from Tippen, Michigan in Jackson county. Walberg is a very,very far-right Republican whom plays to the religious right's strengths, i.e. gay marriage and abortion. The 7th district is a very large area reaching all the way from parts of Branch and Hillsdale counties to Washtenaw and Lenawee counties. Some problems in this area are the lack of jobs. Much like the rest of Michigan, this area is having a real hard time both creating and maintaining quality job, which is what Rep. Schwarz said was his goal. Apparently the voters thought otherwise. Putting social issues such as gay marriage and abortion rights to the forefront. This is where the problem, at least as I see it, starts. In my interactions with the great people of this area, we are not the hard-core right-wingers. We are closer to the middle, wanting a moderate government that preserves the peoples rights and maintains a stable economy. Yet apparently those masses didn't get out and vote. The "Moral Minority" is, unfortunatly, much more vocal and active than the more moderate majority. Just have to wait and see what we get in November when Mr. Walberg goes up against Sharon Renier, a democrat organic farmer from Jackson.

Something else that happened today was both houses in the state legislature voting to repeal the state's Singal Business Tax by the end of 2007, two years prior to when it was schedualed to end. This tax is one which taxes business not on profits, but on all earnings. This tax is responsible for nearly one-quarter of the states revenue for the General Fund, about $2.0 billion. What does the General Fund do? Oh, it only operates the State Police, the Legislature itself and several other services vital to the proper, safe and efficiant working of the state. My big problem with this is that there is no plan for the replacment of thise money, which I believe is quite important to all of us. When a repulican member from the legislature named Fulton Sheen was asked where the money would come from his respnse was this, "Bussiness doesnt pay taxes, people do." Take from that what ever you would like.


More to come......

ShrekZilla

A Retraction...

I am regrettably pulling the Aug 19 date for the Bashathon, but for good reason.

IT'S A CELEBRATION, BITCHES!!!

Myself, Peel and Shrekman are going to see the man himself, Dave Chappelle. August 18th will be a night to remember.

BYAHHH!!!!

Chi-Town Baby!!!

I would like to start out by apologizing for my absence from our voice on the web. So for that I am very sorry.


Well folks, the entire trip got off to a rather slow start. NJPMan, PeelBerry and myself came together around 8 pm but just sat around for about 2 hours before beginning our journey. We just got caught up in one of all of our favorite past times, video games. But once on the road we were gone and in Chicago in what I believe was just a couple hours. (PeelBerry put the pedal to the metal and got us there in good time.)

Once in the city of wind we made it to Nate's place, where we would be spending the next two nites. We chatted for a little bit and finally made our ways to bed, getting ready ready for tomorrows big game with the Chicago Cubs pitted against the best team in the NL, the New York Metropolitans a.k.a. Mets. We had to get up early to get something good to eat before hopping on the "E.L." to the north side, and one of only 3 remaining old school stadiums, Wrigley Field. Upon arriving I felt something. Not quite sure what it was but it was kinda like this feeling of aahhh. What else could I be feeling. I was about to walk into a stadium that has existed longer than anyone person I know. It is a place where so many greats have entered, played and milled about. Great like Ruth, DiMaggio, Rose and Mantle. Some of the greatest American heros known in the world of sports and American baseball. The multitudes of people whom have traveled through these gates. Needless to say, it was just a little humbling.

As we found our seats they were pretty much perpendicular to the first base line, in the upper decl behind home plate. As far I could tell, there isnt a bad seat in the house. I sure do think that we all had one hell of a time being at one of the last great meccas to American sport.

I'll have some more on he trip tomorrow.

ShrekZilla.....out