Below is a write-up in the Oakland Press on yesterday's Tea Party Protest in Gary Peter's neighborhood. As I was not present I can't vouch for the correctness on number of participants. It was interesting to me that the writer did not pick up on the fact that the Party organized the Tea Party and not one of the many grassroots groups. But I voiced my opinion on that in my previous post. Please take the time to read the comments at the end of this article because that gives us a much better idea where we are at as of right now. Seems to me we have a lot of work to do, a lot of going door-to-door (organized by grassroots groups). We'll never be able to deal with hard core progressives, but we need to educate all the independent voters that really don't have a clue. I understand to some degree why some folks are like that, jobs, kids, problems in general keeps them from getting involved or interested in government policies.
By DAVE PHILLIPS
Of The Oakland Press
Going door-to-door in the neighborhood of U.S. Rep. Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Township, organizers said a group of about 60 people handed out information and protested Peters’ stance on multiple issues Saturday morning.
Organized by Glenn Clark, chairman of the 9th congressional district for the Republican Party, the event also featured a speech from former state Rep. Jack Hoogendyk.
You can finish reading this article here: http://tinyurl.com/yh359gu
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Friday, January 29, 2010
POLITICAL PARTY (MACHINE) VS TEA PARTY
There was a Tea Party/Healthcare Protest planned for this weekend in Troy. I've received e-mails about this from many different sources and saw it advertised on Facebook. I've seen many RSVPs of patriots planning to attend. Outside of cold temperatures, it was tempting, but then I decided I could do other activities and stay warm and not further aggrevate my knee. Later I received more notices, now from local officials such as county and district chairmen as well as another official. Initially there were no complete details about the rally, just a destination where to meet and park. A phone call was scheduled to call in to get more instructions. Finally I found out the patriots were to hang around my liberal congressman's neighborhood within 2 miles, and drop off flyers in same area. Sounds like fun and exciting? I thought so, at first.
As the evening wore on, I received additional mail, from freedom loving friends, but that were not too fond of this type of rally. One comment was "Are we stooping so low now and act like the dems do?" This person was not comfortable with this arrangement. But what really got my attention was the next email. The big question there was: Who is running the tea parties? Who started the tea parties? Of course, it was We the People. Tea Parties have always been grassroots and started by one of our many patriot friends. So what are suddenly party officials doing organizing our tea parties? They not only organized, but went a step further than we ordinarily do and want to invade a politicians private neighborhood and possibly family. This is not what we do, or is it?
These are some of the words sent to me:
"Is it just me, or do you feel like the republican party has just hired their version of acorn... without paying us????
The TEA PARTIES belong to US... (Just like the GOVERNMENT DOES!!)... and I, for one, am NOT going to be used as a patsy for the republican party!! I will support INDIVIDUAL CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICANS (or any other party!!)... but NOT the party machine!!!"
My answer to her was that I have long been against the party machine, especially here in Oakland County. The old gang needs to understand that this time the people will vote for their vetted candidate and not for the one they (the party) endorse, because that is what I have been observing for a while now, and I don't like it. The party machine can break a good candidate and let a lousy one win the election. This is not what we are aiming for right now. After reading Going Rogue I now understand just how damaging the party can be. The Tea Parties are ours - for now.
As the evening wore on, I received additional mail, from freedom loving friends, but that were not too fond of this type of rally. One comment was "Are we stooping so low now and act like the dems do?" This person was not comfortable with this arrangement. But what really got my attention was the next email. The big question there was: Who is running the tea parties? Who started the tea parties? Of course, it was We the People. Tea Parties have always been grassroots and started by one of our many patriot friends. So what are suddenly party officials doing organizing our tea parties? They not only organized, but went a step further than we ordinarily do and want to invade a politicians private neighborhood and possibly family. This is not what we do, or is it?
These are some of the words sent to me:
"Is it just me, or do you feel like the republican party has just hired their version of acorn... without paying us????
The TEA PARTIES belong to US... (Just like the GOVERNMENT DOES!!)... and I, for one, am NOT going to be used as a patsy for the republican party!! I will support INDIVIDUAL CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICANS (or any other party!!)... but NOT the party machine!!!"
My answer to her was that I have long been against the party machine, especially here in Oakland County. The old gang needs to understand that this time the people will vote for their vetted candidate and not for the one they (the party) endorse, because that is what I have been observing for a while now, and I don't like it. The party machine can break a good candidate and let a lousy one win the election. This is not what we are aiming for right now. After reading Going Rogue I now understand just how damaging the party can be. The Tea Parties are ours - for now.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
TEA PARTYERS CALL FOR REVOLUTION IN HELL
This article in the Detroit News depicts the sentiment of many here in Michigan. We are not all democrats in this State, or if we are, not all democrats support what this administration or this State government is doing - mainly not listening to its people.
Valerie Olander / The Detroit News
Hell --The sign outside the Dam Site Inn, a tavern in the Putnam Township hamlet known for its fiery name, claims "Americans are going to Hell" tonight to watch President Obama's State of the Union address.
An Iced Tea Party begins at 7 p.m. to celebrate what a Hartland Township organizer called a "Cold day in Hell" victory last week in Massachusetts, when Republican Scott Brown won a Senate seat held by Democrats for 57 years. Afterward, the tea-partyers will listen to the State of the Union address.
Notice of the event went out via e-mail, blogs and social networking sites, such as Facebook.
Inn owner Jim Mills expects the bar to fill up fast . Mills will be serving drinks and dinner, no political punditry, he said.
The man behind the Iced Tea Party idea is Wes Nakagiri, who was so angered by the federal health care debate in mid-December, he went door-to-door and polled about 150 neighbors, 70 percent of whom were against it, he said.
"I just felt the need to do more than vote. I'm really concerned about the direction of this country," Nakagiri said.
Last summer, he jumped aboard the Tea Party Express, a conservative national movement named after the 1773 Boston Tea Party, to protest high taxes and marched on Washington D.C. on Sept. 12, 2009.
His Web site, RetakeOurGov.com, is under construction, but other social networking sites are booming and spreading the word about tonight's event as well as another planned next Wednesday outside the Capitol Building in Lansing at the same time as Gov. Jennifer Granholm's State of the State address.
The "State of the Citizen" address has been planned by the Michigan Taxpayers Alliance (MTA) to tell how failed policies have impacted Michigan families. All lawmakers have been invited to attend. MTA's president, Leon Drolet, said he has not received any RSVPs yet but seats will be available for each and every state lawmaker.
"I think the politicians need to take a break from listening to each other. Instead they need to listen to (the people)," said Drolet, a former state and county lawmaker from Macomb County.
About 2,000 people signed up through MTA to attend the address, he said. Another group, No Broken Promises, has been encouraging its 2,000 student members to come through blogs and its Facebook page. The group represents those upset about the elimination of the Michigan Promise scholarships in the state budget.
Common Sense in Government, another organization, has 795 members on its Facebook page who have been encouraged to attend.
"It's the citizens on the Internet deciding on their own what value to put on this and whether to be part of it and choosing to pass that along to their friends. It's very organic in nature," Drolet said.
Mark Brewer, chairman of the Michigan Democratic Party, said he had not heard of either event but questioned Drolet's involvement after his questionable activity involved petition signatures in a recall effort against Rep. Andy Dillon, D-Redford.
"People should be aware of who they associate themselves with, when attending something like this," he said.
Nicole Ellison, assistant professor of Telecommunication, Information Studies and Media at Michigan State University, said social media sites have empowered those who have traditionally remained silent by connecting those with like-minded views.
Today's grassroots movement, or revolution as some conservative bloggers have called it, is emerging from cyber villages. Critics say its divisive.
Wendy Day, a Howell School Board member serves as president of Common Sense in Government, said the movement is about accountability and transparency in government and has been brewing for some time.
"It's not just about Barack Obama," Day said.
"If you're unhappy with him, you can wait four years and vote him out. It's more ingrained than that. People feel their voices are not being heard," she said
From The Detroit News: http://www.detnews.com/article/20100127/POLITICS02/1270340/1022/Tea-Partyers-call-for-revolution-in-Hell#ixzz0domjWoHr
Valerie Olander / The Detroit News
Hell --The sign outside the Dam Site Inn, a tavern in the Putnam Township hamlet known for its fiery name, claims "Americans are going to Hell" tonight to watch President Obama's State of the Union address.
An Iced Tea Party begins at 7 p.m. to celebrate what a Hartland Township organizer called a "Cold day in Hell" victory last week in Massachusetts, when Republican Scott Brown won a Senate seat held by Democrats for 57 years. Afterward, the tea-partyers will listen to the State of the Union address.
Notice of the event went out via e-mail, blogs and social networking sites, such as Facebook.
Inn owner Jim Mills expects the bar to fill up fast . Mills will be serving drinks and dinner, no political punditry, he said.
The man behind the Iced Tea Party idea is Wes Nakagiri, who was so angered by the federal health care debate in mid-December, he went door-to-door and polled about 150 neighbors, 70 percent of whom were against it, he said.
"I just felt the need to do more than vote. I'm really concerned about the direction of this country," Nakagiri said.
Last summer, he jumped aboard the Tea Party Express, a conservative national movement named after the 1773 Boston Tea Party, to protest high taxes and marched on Washington D.C. on Sept. 12, 2009.
His Web site, RetakeOurGov.com, is under construction, but other social networking sites are booming and spreading the word about tonight's event as well as another planned next Wednesday outside the Capitol Building in Lansing at the same time as Gov. Jennifer Granholm's State of the State address.
The "State of the Citizen" address has been planned by the Michigan Taxpayers Alliance (MTA) to tell how failed policies have impacted Michigan families. All lawmakers have been invited to attend. MTA's president, Leon Drolet, said he has not received any RSVPs yet but seats will be available for each and every state lawmaker.
"I think the politicians need to take a break from listening to each other. Instead they need to listen to (the people)," said Drolet, a former state and county lawmaker from Macomb County.
About 2,000 people signed up through MTA to attend the address, he said. Another group, No Broken Promises, has been encouraging its 2,000 student members to come through blogs and its Facebook page. The group represents those upset about the elimination of the Michigan Promise scholarships in the state budget.
Common Sense in Government, another organization, has 795 members on its Facebook page who have been encouraged to attend.
"It's the citizens on the Internet deciding on their own what value to put on this and whether to be part of it and choosing to pass that along to their friends. It's very organic in nature," Drolet said.
Mark Brewer, chairman of the Michigan Democratic Party, said he had not heard of either event but questioned Drolet's involvement after his questionable activity involved petition signatures in a recall effort against Rep. Andy Dillon, D-Redford.
"People should be aware of who they associate themselves with, when attending something like this," he said.
Nicole Ellison, assistant professor of Telecommunication, Information Studies and Media at Michigan State University, said social media sites have empowered those who have traditionally remained silent by connecting those with like-minded views.
Today's grassroots movement, or revolution as some conservative bloggers have called it, is emerging from cyber villages. Critics say its divisive.
Wendy Day, a Howell School Board member serves as president of Common Sense in Government, said the movement is about accountability and transparency in government and has been brewing for some time.
"It's not just about Barack Obama," Day said.
"If you're unhappy with him, you can wait four years and vote him out. It's more ingrained than that. People feel their voices are not being heard," she said
From The Detroit News: http://www.detnews.com/article/20100127/POLITICS02/1270340/1022/Tea-Partyers-call-for-revolution-in-Hell#ixzz0domjWoHr
Friday, January 22, 2010
TEA PARTY CANDIDATE - ROBERT PALMER - 31ST DISTRICT SENATE
The Republican Party is hopefully starting to get it that we need to bring back true conservative values based on the Constitution in order to preserve the structure of this nation. Tea Party Candidates will work with those values.
The very recent victory of Senator Brown is just another indication that the current administration and the democratic Michigan politicians were headed to far left.
In Michigan I see more and more Tea Party candidates running for State House and Senate seats as well as for the US congressional level.
One of several candidates comes to mind. That is Robert Palmer, who is running for the 31st State Senate seat. Robert teaches the Constitution and is an every day citizen that got fed up with the breath taking turn in the wrong direction. As a result he decided he can do better. He just filed his papers and is ready to start campaigning. Here are some of his views:
Far too many candidates are touting their political background and their personal abilities, based upon their close ties to a political Party of choice. This "good ole' boy" attitude has destroyed the true political process at every level from the City Council to the White House. While Parties are needed to join together those who have similar ideals the parties must be secondary to the needs of each District, State and the Nation as a whole.
This country must return to a policy that generates professions rather than just 'jobs' and that recognizes the rights and responsibilities of each and every citizen as well as the rights of the States. Only when our Michigan citizens enjoy stable professions with above standard pay will our children be able to safely and surely move into the future.
In order for Michigan to return to a viable and credible economy and to regain rights to those State Powers granted by both the United States Constitution and the Michigan State Constitution there must be a return to the political philosophy of this Countries founders. Free market enterprise with a minimum of Governmental interference as well as a reduction in the size and scope of both State and Federal Government.
You can find out more about Robert on his website http://www.palmer4senate.com/ . Robert can also be found on Facebook at http://tinyurl.com/yhgp4g6 and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/robertbaycity .
The very recent victory of Senator Brown is just another indication that the current administration and the democratic Michigan politicians were headed to far left.
In Michigan I see more and more Tea Party candidates running for State House and Senate seats as well as for the US congressional level.
One of several candidates comes to mind. That is Robert Palmer, who is running for the 31st State Senate seat. Robert teaches the Constitution and is an every day citizen that got fed up with the breath taking turn in the wrong direction. As a result he decided he can do better. He just filed his papers and is ready to start campaigning. Here are some of his views:
Far too many candidates are touting their political background and their personal abilities, based upon their close ties to a political Party of choice. This "good ole' boy" attitude has destroyed the true political process at every level from the City Council to the White House. While Parties are needed to join together those who have similar ideals the parties must be secondary to the needs of each District, State and the Nation as a whole.
This country must return to a policy that generates professions rather than just 'jobs' and that recognizes the rights and responsibilities of each and every citizen as well as the rights of the States. Only when our Michigan citizens enjoy stable professions with above standard pay will our children be able to safely and surely move into the future.
In order for Michigan to return to a viable and credible economy and to regain rights to those State Powers granted by both the United States Constitution and the Michigan State Constitution there must be a return to the political philosophy of this Countries founders. Free market enterprise with a minimum of Governmental interference as well as a reduction in the size and scope of both State and Federal Government.
You can find out more about Robert on his website http://www.palmer4senate.com/ . Robert can also be found on Facebook at http://tinyurl.com/yhgp4g6 and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/robertbaycity .
Thursday, January 21, 2010
GARY PETERS IS FEELING THE HEAT
From: GaryPeters@petersforcongress.com
To: ........... (I removed the name for privacy reasons)
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 2010 13:19:42 -0500
Subject: Massachusetts
Dear Steve,
Complacency is not an option.
Anyone who thought that we wouldn't have to work hard to be successful this election year learned a lesson from watching Democrats lose the Senate seat held for almost half a century by the late Senator Ted Kennedy.
Emboldened by what they did in Massachusetts, the right-wing extremists are now targeting me. They’re hoping to catch us asleep at the switch so they can bring back the same failed policies that got us into this economic crisis to begin with.
Let’s take nothing for granted this year. Please contribute $10, $25, or more to provide the resources we need to fight back against the special-interests and continue the great progress we’ve made for Michigan’s middle class families.
Michigan families are understandably anxious about the economic mess that we inherited. I hear the stories of people across Oakland County every day who are struggling to find a job, pay the mortgage, and afford health care for their families.
Even though our economic problems can’t be fixed in a year, we’ve made progress and will make even more in the weeks and months ahead. Now is not the time to turn the clock back to the same failed policies that have cost us millions of jobs as my opponents would do.
We cannot take anything for granted. Please contribute $10, $25, or more to show that my grassroots support in Oakland County and beyond is stronger than ever.
As you know, I am the first Democrat to represent this district since 1893. Now, after what happened in Massachusetts, the special interests are pouring money into helping the Republicans defeat me in November. I need your help to gather the resources now to make sure no attack goes unanswered and we can contact each and every voter this year.
It is time to kick things into high gear so we can keep working to get our Michigan and our country back on the right track. I’m ready if you are.
Thank you,
Gary
P.S. The extremists on the right are targeting me this year. I’m taking nothing for granted and, after what happened in Massachusetts, I’m hoping that you won’t either. Please contribute $10, $25, or more to provide the resources we need to fight back and continue making progress for Michigan. Then, spread the word on Facebook!
To: ........... (I removed the name for privacy reasons)
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 2010 13:19:42 -0500
Subject: Massachusetts
Dear Steve,
Complacency is not an option.
Anyone who thought that we wouldn't have to work hard to be successful this election year learned a lesson from watching Democrats lose the Senate seat held for almost half a century by the late Senator Ted Kennedy.
Emboldened by what they did in Massachusetts, the right-wing extremists are now targeting me. They’re hoping to catch us asleep at the switch so they can bring back the same failed policies that got us into this economic crisis to begin with.
Let’s take nothing for granted this year. Please contribute $10, $25, or more to provide the resources we need to fight back against the special-interests and continue the great progress we’ve made for Michigan’s middle class families.
Michigan families are understandably anxious about the economic mess that we inherited. I hear the stories of people across Oakland County every day who are struggling to find a job, pay the mortgage, and afford health care for their families.
Even though our economic problems can’t be fixed in a year, we’ve made progress and will make even more in the weeks and months ahead. Now is not the time to turn the clock back to the same failed policies that have cost us millions of jobs as my opponents would do.
We cannot take anything for granted. Please contribute $10, $25, or more to show that my grassroots support in Oakland County and beyond is stronger than ever.
As you know, I am the first Democrat to represent this district since 1893. Now, after what happened in Massachusetts, the special interests are pouring money into helping the Republicans defeat me in November. I need your help to gather the resources now to make sure no attack goes unanswered and we can contact each and every voter this year.
It is time to kick things into high gear so we can keep working to get our Michigan and our country back on the right track. I’m ready if you are.
Thank you,
Gary
P.S. The extremists on the right are targeting me this year. I’m taking nothing for granted and, after what happened in Massachusetts, I’m hoping that you won’t either. Please contribute $10, $25, or more to provide the resources we need to fight back and continue making progress for Michigan. Then, spread the word on Facebook!
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
FROM SEA TO SHINING SEA - LIBERALS BEWARE.....
H/T Bill Zankich January 20 at 3:07am Reply
To all who uphold liberal ideology and seek a socialist America beware; The bitterness in your rhetoric over Browns uncontested and unanimous victory in Massachusetts is deafening and betrays the darkness of your intent. Prepare yourselves because we will only celebrate the victory of this battle for a short time, as we ultimately aim to win the war that liberalism has waged upon this great nation far too long.
Your vitriolic responses bring to mind the gnashing of teeth of ravenous wolves starving to devour and yet unable to accomplish their insidious goal. As I have stated in the past, your ideology is nothing more than a cancer to this country, and anyone who continues in folly to cling so dearly to the machinations of destruction is equally part of the disease, and will share equally in the fruits of this endeavor.
Make no mistake, we aim to weed liberalism from our government and we will not stop until our goal is accomplished. You woke the sleeping lion, we do not slumber any longer, and now you will reap your just reward. Please continue your venomous rhetoric, it adds fuel to the fire in our bellies that drives us forward in the battle to regain our republic and restore our nation! You have been warned. Continue to undermine our Constitution and sovereign liberties at your own peril. As God is our witness freedom will once again ring from sea to shining sea.
To all who uphold liberal ideology and seek a socialist America beware; The bitterness in your rhetoric over Browns uncontested and unanimous victory in Massachusetts is deafening and betrays the darkness of your intent. Prepare yourselves because we will only celebrate the victory of this battle for a short time, as we ultimately aim to win the war that liberalism has waged upon this great nation far too long.
Your vitriolic responses bring to mind the gnashing of teeth of ravenous wolves starving to devour and yet unable to accomplish their insidious goal. As I have stated in the past, your ideology is nothing more than a cancer to this country, and anyone who continues in folly to cling so dearly to the machinations of destruction is equally part of the disease, and will share equally in the fruits of this endeavor.
Make no mistake, we aim to weed liberalism from our government and we will not stop until our goal is accomplished. You woke the sleeping lion, we do not slumber any longer, and now you will reap your just reward. Please continue your venomous rhetoric, it adds fuel to the fire in our bellies that drives us forward in the battle to regain our republic and restore our nation! You have been warned. Continue to undermine our Constitution and sovereign liberties at your own peril. As God is our witness freedom will once again ring from sea to shining sea.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Candidate Rocky Raczkowski at GOP forum: I'm hoping to 'wipe the snot out of Gary Peters'
I went to the Oakland County Candidate forum last Thursday. It was a potluck event that turned out great. The attendance was very good. Three candidates spoke and there was questions and answers afterwards. Here is a good article on this by Michigan Live: http://tinyurl.com/yhvt2s2
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
THIS IS MICHIGAN'S BIGGEST PROBLEM
Mayor from Lansing to announce his bid for Governor? This guy would be worse than Granholm.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
GET INVOLVED - BECOME A PRECINCT DELEGATE
This video is from Wagthedog2010.com and explains why getting involved on the precinct level will help us turn this country around.
Friday, January 8, 2010
THE POSSIBLE DEMOCRATS RUNNING FOR MI GOVERNOR
Here is an interesting article by one of my favorite bloggers "A Conservative Teacher" about the possible dem candidates for Michigan governor.
http://aconservativeteacher.blogspot.com/2010/01/democratic-nominee-for-governor-of.html
http://aconservativeteacher.blogspot.com/2010/01/democratic-nominee-for-governor-of.html
Sunday, January 3, 2010
MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY BANS "OBAMA" PHRASES FROM THE QUEEN'S ENGLISH
DETROIT — In its annual effort to protect the Queen's English, a Michigan university is insisting that "shovel ready" be buried, "tweet" be tossed and all "czars" be banished.
Lake Superior State University shamed those and several other words and phrases Thursday when it released its 2009 List of Words to Be Banished from the Queen's English for Mis-use, Over-use and General Uselessness.
It insists that "shovel ready," incessantly invoked by the Obama administration to sell its $787 billion federal stimulus bill, dug its own grave. It forced its way into speeches and out of the mouths of the president and too many other politicians in past months.
"Stick a shovel in it. It's done," seethed Joe Grimm of Bloomfield Hills, Mich., in his nomination to the university's Word Banishment Committee. Grimm is a visiting journalist at Michigan State University and a former recruiter and editor at the Detroit Free Press.
The exact age of the phrase isn't known, but it had been a quiet favorite of economic development types for at least a decade — a fondness that led a utility company in upstate New York to secure the shovelready.com Web site in the late 1990s.
"Shovel ready" became a clarion call for the White House during the past year as shorthand for the kind of taxpayer-funded work projects that had been through the design and permitting process and were ready to launch.
Still, its vigor waned from verbal wear and tear in recent months. It didn't help that some of the projects weren't quite ready for a shovel, the literal or figurative kind.
"When something dies, it, too, is 'shovel ready' for burial and so I get confused about the meaning," wrote Jerry Redington of Keosauqua, Iowa. "I would suggest that we just say that the project is ready to implement."
The phrase was joined in dialectical death on the Michigan school's 35th banned words list by, among others, "transparent/transparency," "czar," "sexting," "tweet," "teachable moment" and "app." App — as in the iPhone's "there's an app for that" ad referring to the device's various applications — was preceded in death by "killer app," which was banished in 2002.
Many other terms related to the federal stimulus — or the failing economy that inspired it — have been thrown into the semantic scrap heap for 2010, including "stimulus" (the more blunt "bailout" bit the dust last year), "toxic assets" and "too big to fail." Apparently, failure was an option.
"Shovel ready" is survived by many other scrutinized phrases, including "death panel," "low-hanging fruit" and "door-buster," and none should assume immortality. The Word Banishment Committee doesn't shy away from executing its duties.
Mourners of fallen phrases can take heart. Those previously banished don't necessarily remain in the lexiconical hereafter. There is still life left, deserved or not, for "24/7" (which made the list in 2000), "it is what it is" (2008), "happy camper" (1993), "LOL" (2004) and "state of the art" (1993
If you can think of more, please feel free to add.
Hat Tip to "Conservative Lady"
Lake Superior State University shamed those and several other words and phrases Thursday when it released its 2009 List of Words to Be Banished from the Queen's English for Mis-use, Over-use and General Uselessness.
It insists that "shovel ready," incessantly invoked by the Obama administration to sell its $787 billion federal stimulus bill, dug its own grave. It forced its way into speeches and out of the mouths of the president and too many other politicians in past months.
"Stick a shovel in it. It's done," seethed Joe Grimm of Bloomfield Hills, Mich., in his nomination to the university's Word Banishment Committee. Grimm is a visiting journalist at Michigan State University and a former recruiter and editor at the Detroit Free Press.
The exact age of the phrase isn't known, but it had been a quiet favorite of economic development types for at least a decade — a fondness that led a utility company in upstate New York to secure the shovelready.com Web site in the late 1990s.
"Shovel ready" became a clarion call for the White House during the past year as shorthand for the kind of taxpayer-funded work projects that had been through the design and permitting process and were ready to launch.
Still, its vigor waned from verbal wear and tear in recent months. It didn't help that some of the projects weren't quite ready for a shovel, the literal or figurative kind.
"When something dies, it, too, is 'shovel ready' for burial and so I get confused about the meaning," wrote Jerry Redington of Keosauqua, Iowa. "I would suggest that we just say that the project is ready to implement."
The phrase was joined in dialectical death on the Michigan school's 35th banned words list by, among others, "transparent/transparency," "czar," "sexting," "tweet," "teachable moment" and "app." App — as in the iPhone's "there's an app for that" ad referring to the device's various applications — was preceded in death by "killer app," which was banished in 2002.
Many other terms related to the federal stimulus — or the failing economy that inspired it — have been thrown into the semantic scrap heap for 2010, including "stimulus" (the more blunt "bailout" bit the dust last year), "toxic assets" and "too big to fail." Apparently, failure was an option.
"Shovel ready" is survived by many other scrutinized phrases, including "death panel," "low-hanging fruit" and "door-buster," and none should assume immortality. The Word Banishment Committee doesn't shy away from executing its duties.
Mourners of fallen phrases can take heart. Those previously banished don't necessarily remain in the lexiconical hereafter. There is still life left, deserved or not, for "24/7" (which made the list in 2000), "it is what it is" (2008), "happy camper" (1993), "LOL" (2004) and "state of the art" (1993
If you can think of more, please feel free to add.
Hat Tip to "Conservative Lady"
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