Thaddeus McCotter Resigns

Rep. Thaddeus McCotter of Michigan is resigning from Congress.

Read his statement announcing his immediate resignation.

For Immediate Release
July 6, 2012

McCotter: "Strike Another Match, Go Start Anew"
Cites the totality of this past 'nightmarish' month and a half's effect on his family

LIVONIA, MI - Today, U.S. Representative Thaddeus McCotter made the following statement:

"Today I have resigned from the office of United States Representative for Michigan's 11th Congressional District.

After nearly 26 years in elected office, this past nightmarish month and a half have, for the first time, severed the necessary harmony between the needs of my constituency and of my family. As this harmony is required to serve, its absence requires I leave.

The recent event's totality of calumnies, indignities and deceits have weighed most heavily upon my family. Thus, acutely aware one cannot rebuild their hearth of home amongst the ruins of their U.S. House office, for the sake of my loved ones I must "strike another match, go start anew" by embracing the promotion back from public servant to sovereign citizen.

I do not leave for an existing job and face diminishing prospects (and am both unwilling and ill-suited to lobby), my priorities are twofold: find gainful employment to help provide for my family; and continue to assist, in any way they see fit, the Michigan Attorney General's earnest and thorough investigation, which I requested, into the 2012 petition filing.

While our family takes this step into the rest of our lives, we do so with the ultimate confidence in our country's future. True, as at other times in the life of our nation, we live in an Age of Extremes that prizes intensity over sanity; rhetoric over reality; and destruction over creation. But this too shall pass, thanks to the infinite, inspired wisdom of the sovereign people who, with God's continued blessings, will again affirm for the generations American Exceptionalism.

Truly, it is a challenging and fortunate time to live in our blessed sanctuary of liberty.

In closing, to The People of Michigan's 11th Congressional District, I can but say this: Thank you for the privilege of having worked for you."

~ Thaddeus G. McCotter


Please note the Washington D.C., Milford and Livonia will offices will continue to operate under the direction of the Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. Staff will still be available to serve the needs of the citizens of the 11th Congressional District for any constituent needs.

Finally, Mr. McCotter reaffirms his previous commitment to not conduct any interviews until the findings of the Michigan Attorney General's thorough and earnest investigation have been made public. As a private citizen, Mr. McCotter will reserve comments until this time.

####

I completely missed all that was going on with McCotter.

I've been preoccupied with Summerfest and the 4th of July holiday and this nightmarish heat wave.

Losing McCotter is very unfortunate.

Hopefully, he'll find a forum that will permit him to continue to share his unique conservative voice.

Andrew Breitbart R.I.P.

IN MEMORIAM: ANDREW BREITBART (1969-2012)

With a terrible feeling of pain and loss we announce the passing of Andrew Breitbart.

Andrew passed away unexpectedly from natural causes shortly after midnight this morning in Los Angeles.

We have lost a husband, a father, a son, a brother, a dear friend, a patriot and a happy warrior.

Andrew lived boldly, so that we more timid souls would dare to live freely and fully, and fight for the fragile liberty he showed us how to love.

Andrew recently wrote a new conclusion to his book, Righteous Indignation:

I love my job. I love fighting for what I believe in. I love having fun while doing it. I love reporting stories that the Complex refuses to report. I love fighting back, I love finding allies, and—famously—I enjoy making enemies.

Three years ago, I was mostly a behind-the-scenes guy who linked to stuff on a very popular website. I always wondered what it would be like to enter the public realm to fight for what I believe in. I’ve lost friends, perhaps dozens. But I’ve gained hundreds, thousands—who knows?—of allies. At the end of the day, I can look at myself in the mirror, and I sleep very well at night.

Andrew is at rest, yet the happy warrior lives on, in each of us.

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THE DRUDGE REPORT

DEAR READER: In the first decade of the DRUDGEREPORT Andrew Breitbart was a constant source of energy, passion and commitment. We shared a love of headlines, a love of the news, an excitement about what's happening. I don't think there was a single day during that time when we did not flash each other or laugh with each other, or challenge each other. I still see him in my mind's eye in Venice Beach, the sunny day I met him. He was in his mid 20's. It was all there. He had a wonderful, loving family and we all feel great sadness for them today... MDRUDGE

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JONAH GOLDBERG: "ONE OF THE MOST FEARLESS PEOPLE I EVER KNEW"


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GREG GUTFELD REACTS TO ANDREW'S DEATH



ANDREW

I met Andrew Breitbart in 2005 when I was asked to write for the Huffingtpon Post. He was running the show. Everyone who knew him - left and right - said he was brilliant, eccentric, one of a kind. I instantly fell in love with the guy. To this day, i've never met anyone as fearless. He was my first guest on Redeye, a show I got largely because he told people about me. He became a cheerleader for my work, but more important, a dear close friend I could confide in, about anything. My wife called him the wizard, for he could conjure up anything at any time with limitless energy.

He's the only person I know who operated without a safety net. He always knew things would turn out the way they were supposed to - so he didn't worry about money or, i guess, his health, too much.

He was the spiritual leader of the modern conservative, libertarian cause. He was immersed in pop culture and wished to drag the right into the modern world - knowing this is how America speaks to the world. He was the heart of the matter. The fighter. Losing him is like a fiery planet going dark.

My heart felt condolences go out to Susie and the kids.

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REP. THADDEUS McCOTTER ON THE HOUSE FLOOR: MOURNING THE LOSS OF ANDREW BREITBART



Transcript

REP. THADDEUS McCOTTER: I rise to observe the loss of my friend, Andrew Breitbart, at the age of 43.

In endeavoring to eulogize anyone, there is truly no more eloquent testament than their family. And to his wife, Susie, and their four beautiful children, our prayers, our thoughts, and our acts are with you.

Professionally, in Andrew's prodigious genius that was his life's work, he tirelessly fought the good fight. And in the end, gave his all with every fiber of his soul to serve his fellow human beings and his country.

Numbed with shock and loss at the word of his passing, and in reflecting upon the pleasure of his company, which I and so many others shared, I do find that I'm at a loss for words, and will instead rely upon those of the poet, Rupert Brooke.

Now, God be thanked Who has matched us with His hour,
And caught our youth, and wakened us from sleeping,
With sure hand, clear eye, and sharpened power,
To turn, as swimmers into cleanness leaping,
Glad from a world grown old and cold and weary,
Leave the sick hearts that honor could not move,
And the half-men, and their dirty songs and dreary,
And all the little emptiness of love!

Oh! we, who have known shame, we have found release there,
Where there is no ill, no grief, but sleep has mending,
Naught broken save this body, lost but breath;
Nothing to shake the laughing heart's long peace there
But only agony, and that has ending;
And the worst friend and enemy is but Death.

Goodbye and God bless brother Andrew.

You are loved and mourned and ever remembered. You never wasted a day of our finite time called life.

_________________

Personally, I'm devastated.

Prayers for Andrew's family, friends, and colleagues.

Rest in Peace, Andrew.
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ANDREW BREITBART'S TWITTER PAGE

Thaddeus McCotter: SOTU Response

Rep. Thaddeus McCotter responds to the State Of The Union:

“Tragically for the American people, in our unfolding globalized century the President remains wedded to a failed “Great Society” government: specifically, Washington elites dictating who gets someone else’s money. For the sake of our country’s economy and security, this President must learn that the great American tradition isn’t redistributionism; the great American tradition is exceptionalism. The sooner he does – or is relieved of the burden of governing – the sooner the American people will build a 21st Century of unprecedented liberty, prosperity and security.”

McCotter gets it.

More:

Obama's Speech: Reaction

Great reaction to Obama's speech from Thaddeus McCotter:

Case closed: The most powerful special interest is big government, and President Obama is its lobbyist.

More from McCotter:

"Stimulus: The Summer Rerun": more taxes, spending, deficits & debt = Bigger Government & failed politics of the past.

Obama is a tool. No doubt about it.

I like John Batchelor's take.

Reads like a threat. RT @pwire: "You should pass it. I intend to take that message to every corner of the country."

From Bill Schulz, this is funny:

Seriously, Obama? Another 20 minutes of this? #ImMissingAccessHollywood

Mark Levin nails it:

This isn't the American Job's Act, this is the Save Obama's Job Act.

Stephen Hayes sums it up well:

This speech would not be necessary if President Obama's economic policies had succeeded.

Exactly.

Thaddeus McCotter: Iowa State Fair Soapbox

Republican presidential candidate Rep. Thaddeus McCotter is impressing people in Iowa.

For example, Michael Barone tweets:

McCotter at State Fair impressive re recapitalization of banks. I was wrong to say whimsical candidate; he's serious.

Of course, McCotter is impressive. People need to get to know him and his ideas. They need to hear what he has to say. He deserves the attention of the media and should be counted among the field of Republican presidential candidates.

Here's video of McCotter speaking at the Iowa State Fair:

Thaddeus McCotter and Republican Debate

The Republican presidential debate tonight from the Iowa State Fair won't include presidential candidate Rep. Thaddeus McCotter.

FOX News refused to allow McCotter to participate.

That's not keeping McCotter from taking part.

He'll be live streaming his responses to the debate questions.

Des Moines IA – Tonight from the Iowa State Fair WHO Crystal Studio, U.S Representative and Presidential candidate Thaddeus McCotter will live-stream his responses to tonight GOP debate. Responses will be streaming on McCotter2012.com website and McCotter 2012 Facebook page.

TIME: 9 pm ET, (8PM CT, 6 PM, PT)

LOCATION: Iowa State Fair WHO Crystal Studio

Representative McCotter will also answer, in real time, questions submitted by voters and supporters via Facebook and Twitter. Links to both streaming sites are below.

http://mccotter2012.com/

http://on.fb.me/q9i1HP

It's unfortunate that FOX News is preventing its audience from having the opportunity to hear McCotter's responses.

Kudos to McCotter for utilizing social sites as an avenue to participate in tonight's debate.
_______________

Here's video of McCotter's remarks today in Sioux City, Iowa:

Thaddeus McCotter and Dennis Miller

Here's audio of Thaddeus McCotter on Dennis Miller's show, August 2nd:

Thaddeus McCotter on Debt Deal

Presidential candidate Thaddeus McCotter talked to John Batchelor about the debt ceiling deal.

He explains his "yes" vote for the bill.

Thaddeus McCotter: Obama's Speech

Presidential candidate Thaddeus McCotter was tweeting his reaction to Obama's address to the nation last night.

President glosses over his historic spending binge; plugs phony cuts; pushes more taxes & spending; & plays class warfare card.

President invokes Ronald Reagan 2 prop up straw man argument; & ignores Chief Executive's role in signing Congressional spending into law.

Waiting 4 President 2 refuse contributions from wealthy, corporations, hedge fund managers & others not "paying their fair share."

President has a posture not a plan. Refuses to accept that in 2010 the electorate voted for LESS & LIMITED government.

Let us also remember those rigid ideologues who jammed Obamacare on the American public without its consent.

Cut, cap and balance, like everyone else has to do who can only spend what they make - unlike govt. that can spend what it takes and prints.

Every dollar in higher taxes is another step further from limited government & economic recovery.

Obama's speech wasn't presidential. It was political. When is Obama going to assume the role of the president and lead?

I would love to see a debate between McCotter and Obama.

McCotter would crush Obama.

Ames Straw Poll

From Glenn Reynolds at Instapundit:

TIME FOR ANOTHER THRILLING INSTA-POLL: So, Sarah Palin and Rick Perry aren’t included in the Ames straw poll, but you can vote on the complete field, plus them, right here. And discuss alternatives in the comments.

Cast your vote.

Feel what it's like to have the influence of being an Iowa voter.

I cast my vote for Thaddeus McCotter.

Thaddeus McCotter: Budget - Cut, Cap, Balance

Presidential candidate Thaddeus McCotter weighed in on the budget impasse.

He supports the "cut, cap and balance" approach.

That approach entails "not [voting] to raise the debt ceiling unless Congress votes to drastically cut spending, [imposing] a cap on future spending, and [approving] a balanced budget amendment."

Video.

McCotter Stuns Political Insiders

Here's a funny piece about the 2012 presidential election, from David Epstein, The Washington Fancy:

Congressman Thaddeus McCotter’s (R-MI) announcement that he would be joining the GOP presidential race stunned insiders in Washington, mostly because no one had ever heard of him before.

The Congressman from Michigan has not made many headlines in Washington thus far, and was mostly known for performing in the band ‘The Second Amendments.”

Reporters, fundraisers, lobbyists and other Congressmen were all surprised at the existence of Rep. McCotter. “There is seriously a guy here named Thaddeus? How did I not know that?” asked GOP Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA). “Didn’t that guy die in the 19th century?” Cantor added, apparently confusing Rep. McCotter with Thaddeus Stevens, a powerful Republican Congressman from the 1850s and ‘60s known for his support of the Civil War and Reconstruction.

The total ignorance of his existence extended to the Democrat’s side of the isle. “I really thought a guy named Thaddeus would be from Alabama, or maybe Mississippi. But he’s from Michigan, you say?” was the response of Senator John Kerry (D-MA).

Traditionally, having almost no name recognition would be a hindrance to any nascent presidential campaign. However, a poll conducted by The Washington Fancy in Iowa found one registered Republican voter who had heard of Rep. McCotter, which is greater than the number that had heard of Gov. Jon Huntsman.

Political insiders - source of endless humor.

Thaddeus McCotter 2012

Over the weekend, Thaddeus McCotter announced his run for the presidency.

If the election were held today, and the race was between McCotter and Obama, I would vote for McCotter in less than a heartbeat.

I would like to see him win the nomination. He certainly would make a terrific vice presidential nominee.

In any event, I think McCotter will play a significant role in shaping the Republican candidates' dialogue. That's a good thing.

Moreover, the Leftist media will have to contend with McCotter's discussion of substantive issues rather than dwelling on their unfair characterizations of Mitt Romney the Ken doll or Michele Bachmann the flake or Newt Gingrich the serial groom.

The Republicans' chances in 2012 took a giant leap forward with McCotter's decision to run.

Visit his campaign website.

Thaddeus McCotter, Led Zeppelin, Democrats, and Government Shutdown

Rep. Thaddeus McCotter brings Led Zeppelin into the discussion of the Democrats' government shutdown.

"The Song Remains the Same."

This is great. McCotter succinctly explains what the Democrats are doing and what the Republicans want to do.

Must-watch video, via Breitbart.



Transcript

REP. THADDEUS McCOTTER: I'd like to start, Mr. Speaker, by thanking my Democratic colleagues this morning for disabusing me of an affliction.

When I woke up, I found that I had a hankering to listen to Led Zeppelin, and I couldn't figure out why. This has happened before, usually when I leave the TV on at night and they run one of them Rolling Stones, '70s, 'buy it now before it's more expensive or in the dustbin' ads.

So, I was walking over here and I'm like, 'Wow, is it because there's been a communication breakdown between the parties?'

It's possible. It's possible.

I said, 'Is it because one of the nice senators is wearing a cashmere sweater?'

It's possible.

But no, it was sitting here today that I realized why I wanted to listen to the melodious strains of Page and Plant, Jones and John Bonham. It's because for the Democratic Party the song remains the same.

Once again, seniors and children wake to the hysterical, frightening visage of specters of gloom and doom - Democrats.

Once again, we are regaled with the Democrats' entitlement reform plan. It is called 'Do nothing, spend everything, go bankrupt, benefits - bye-bye.'

We continue to see a party that does not understand you cannot lift an economy when it is crushed beneath the weight of big government.

We continue to see a party ideologically zealous in spending your tax dollars on Planned Parenthood to the point where they would shutdown the federal government to do it.

And we continue to hear the fundamental crux of the issue of a potential government shutdown:

The Democratic Party will shut down the government so they can spend more of your money. The Republican Party is committed to keeping the government open and spending less of your money.

In fairness, it is not just Led Zeppelin they remind me of, because the reason we stand here today on the precipice of a government shutdown is because they did not do their work when they had total control of the United States Congress last year. They could not even pass a budget, let alone finish these appropriations which we are still dealing with well into April, let alone lay out a coherent strategy to do so when the parties changed power in this House.

No, the song remains the same, but the American people recognize the song and dance. They will not be fooled. They know that the major change that we see before us today in the fight over government spending is a very simple one, and a very simple choice.

It is the difference between bankruptcy and solvency. And the Republican Party stands for solvency and for liberty.

Extremely well said.

Govdelivery

About those unsolicited e-mails people received from the White House--

They were sent by a firm hired by the Obama White House, Govdelivery.

FOX News reports:

The White House hired a private communications company based in Minnesota to distribute mass e-mails, helping to shed light on how some recipients received e-mails in support of President Obama's health care plan without signing up for them, FOX News has learned.

The company, Govdelivery, describes itself as the world's leading provider of government-to-citizen communication solutions and says its e-mail service provides a fully-automated on-demand public communication system.

It is still unknown how much taxpayer money the White House provides to Govdelivery for its services.

...The revelation comes after the White House acknowledged this week that people were receiving unsolicited e-mails from the administration about health care reform and suggested the problem was with third-party groups that placed the recipients' names on the distribution list.

Republicans quickly pounced on the news.

"This is yet another ominous chapter in the administration's rabid campaign to jam its radical health care scheme onto an unwilling public by any means necessary," Rep. Thaddeus McCotter of Michigan said in a statement.

Govdelivery sent hundreds of e-mails from senior adviser David Axelrod asking supporters to help rebut criticism of Obama's health care plan circulating on the Internet. It also sent e-mails highlighting Obama's speech to the Muslim world in Cairo and the announcement of Sonia Sotomayor as a Supreme Court nominee.

Several FOX News viewers complained they received these e-mails even though they had never requested any communication from the White House.

...Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., has sent a letter to the White House asking for the "full truth" behind the Axelrod e-mails and expressing concern that "political e-mail address lists were used for official purposes."

Chris Hansen, a staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union told FOX News that if the White House used the private firm, it's the same as if it had sent the e-mails.

The White House insists that Govdelivery aggregates nothing and plays no role in the formation of its e-mail list; it is merely an end-product e-mail distributor.

Govdelivery does extensive work with a bevy of federal, state, and local agencies, including 11 Cabinet-level departments such as Defense, State, and Justice. Among the tasks Govdelivery performs are FBI internal e-mails and external regional crime alerts, and FEMA hurricane or other natural disaster alerts.

In fact, before Jan. 1, Govdelivery handled 85 percent of mass e-mail deliveries for federal agencies.

...Earlier this week, Govdelivery's president, Scott Burns, declined to comment to FOX News on whether the White House had used his firm to send out the Axelrod e-mails.

So Govdelivery sent out the Axelrod message.

That doesn't remove responsibility from the White House for being behind the unsolicited e-mails.

Political e-mail address lists were used for official purposes by the Obama White House.

How much taxpayer money is being used to fund Obama's political operations?

McCotter: "Her Name Was Neda"

Rep. Thaddeus G. McCotter (R-MI) delivered a dramatic speech from the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives.

It's a wake-up call to Obama and all those who believe that history should be repeated by acting like the disastrous Jimmy Carter.



Transcript

Her Name Was Neda: A Generational Chance for Freedom

Her name was Neda. In Farsi, it means “the voice.” True to her name, she loved music; sought freedom; and she’s dead - shot down in the streets by the Iranian regime’s state sanctioned murderers. She must not have died in vain.

Today, Iranians and Americans face a generational chance for freedom - one that ensures a rogue regime’s implosion prevents a nuclear confrontation.

Regrettably, our president’s “post-American” foreign policy presumes talk can thaw the murderous mullahs’ hearts and attain a “grand bargain” for peace in our time; consequently, while Iranians demanded their freedom from a barbarous regime, the president vapidly opined: “It is up to Iranians to make decisions about who Iran’s leaders will be… We respect Iranian sovereignty.”

Then, as the crisis escalated, the president optimistically noted:

“You’ve seen in Iran some initial reaction from the supreme leader that indicates he understands the Iranian people have deep concerns about the election… And my hope is - is that the Iranian people will make the right steps in order for them to be able to express their voices, to express their aspirations.”

Tragically, the supreme leader’s deep concern drove him to step on the throats of pro-democracy demonstrators, like Neda.

Next, on June 20th, the president stated, “The universal rights to assembly and free speech must be respected, and the United States stands with all who seek to exercise those rights.” It was painfully evident just how far behind them he stood: “The last thing that I want to do is to have the United States be a foil for those forces inside Iran who would love nothing better than to make this an argument about the United States.”

With these contradictory statements of support and appeasement, the president returned to square one: “The Iranian people will ultimately judge the actions of their own government. If the Iranian government seeks the respect of the international community, it must respect the dignity of its own people and govern through consent, not coercion.”

In truth, the Iranian people have already judged the regime and found it wonting. The supreme leader, his cleric cronies and their puppet government have never respected the dignity of the Iranian people or governed through consent. This is why the regime stole the election and shoots peaceful, pro-democracy demonstrators. Implying otherwise mocks the Iranians risking and losing their lives for liberty.

As for the claim that American “meddling” in support of the demonstrators plays into the mullahs’ hands, the Iranian regime will claim this regardless, for as our president noted, “That’s what they do.”

Yet, what matters is not what the regime says about America, but what the demonstrators think about America. Presently, brave Iranians watch as our president still holds an open hand to the regime that opened fire on them…that opened fire on Neda. This is the passive, disastrous policy of Jimmy Carter that led to the rise of this rogue regime; not the courageous policy of Ronald Reagan that led to the demise of an evil empire.

The surest, safest termination of Iran’s nuclear weapons program and support of terrorism is to hasten this fanatical tyranny’s collapse by supporting its people’s liberty. Taking its rightful place amongst the community of free nations, a democratic Iran will necessarily realize and reverse the insanity of this terrorist regime’s homicidal obsession with nuclear weapons. Thus, for their liberty and our security, the United States and the world must do everything in our power to further the Iranian demonstrators’ sacred claim to freedom. We know Neda did.

Further, in the grand strategy of our War for Freedom over terrorism, how we aid pro-democracy Iranians’ will remind the world who we are - we are Americans: the revolutionary children of freedom who have lived and died defending our liberty and extending it to the enslaved and oppressed. We will do no less today in support of our Iranian brothers and sisters.

Today, Neda’s voice calls to our consciences and warns that the fate of Iranians’ liberty is entwined with the fate of Americans’ security. We must not miss this generational chance for freedom - again one that ensures a rogue regime’s implosion prevents a nuclear confrontation; and that Neda and all liberty’s martyrs shall not have died in vain. As Americans, we must seize this moment and help Iranians seize their freedom.

That’s what we do.

"Neda" video here.

Rep. Thaddeus McCotter on Red Eye

U.S. Rep. Thaddeus McCotter from Michigan is a very entertaining Republican.