Hoekstra -- "A Bush Sled Dog" by E. Paxson, Saugatuck MI

We have an opportunity in the next election on Nov. 7th to bring positive change to Michigan and to the nation. It is now glaringly evident that the corruption in the Republican party is so wide and so deep that even hip boots of denial won't keep our feet dry any longer. Here in the 2nd district, we have a chance to replace incumbent Republican Pete Hoekstra with Democrat Kimon Kotos. Who, you ask? Kimon- (that rhymes with "women" Kotos.) Born in Flint to parents of Greek heritage, Kimon now lives in Muskegon and has been a voice for the working people of this area for several years. Kimon Kotos is a man with integrity - NOT a Bush sled-dog and friend of wealthy special interests, like Mr. Hoekstra. Here are a few facts that you may want to consider when you go the polls. Compare and decide whom you want to see representing you and your family during these challenging times ahead.
Kimon Kotos is endorsed by the AFL-CIO, UAW and Friends of Labor. He supports the development of renewable energy, sustainable agriculture and fair trade.
Hoekstra voted to send your jobs overseas when he voted for NAFTA, CAFTA, and WTO. He voted against raising the minimum wage, against tariffs on foreign steel, and did nothing to stop the bleeding away of jobs at Delphi, Dana Brunswick, Electrolux, Johnson Controls, Hart-Cooley, Pfizer and Sappi. He voted for cuts in Medicare, a flawed prescription drug plan, an underfunded Veterans Health Care, and he supports privatized medical accounts.
Kimon Kotos supports Single-payer Universal Health Care, a better, Affordable Prescription Drug Plan, increase Veterans Health Care Benefits and Public Health Programs.
Hoekstra has voted Bush-Dog all the way, including: voted to increase the National Debt, voted in favor of tax cuts for the wealthiest, for tax breaks for Big Oil, and supports drilling in the Arctic. He also underfunded the "No Child Left Behind Act", cut student loans by 13 billion dollars and supports vouchers for private schools that leave poor children with substandard education.
Kimon Kotos supports fully funded public education, increases in Pell grants and tuition assistance, and support for arts, music and technical training. He is passionate about developing alternative energy and reducing dependence on foreign oil.
Mr. Hoekstra, as Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, has mislead the American people about WMDs, term limits and the real facts about the Iraq war. Like a sled-dog, he has dutifully towed the Bush Sled of Deceit, Lies and Subterfuge, while we suffer the consequences. He has failed to uphold the principles of our Constitution by helping the Bush Administration breach our civil liberties with domestic spying, illegal wiretapping, absence of a right to trial, and undermining our very livelihood by supporting special interests. I have e-mailed and written to him on many issues over the last few years and he always tows the Bush sled.
We have a clear choice on Nov. 7th. Do we want to allow a corrupt Republican government to continue running amok with no checks and balances? That's what Hoekstra would like you to do.
Kimon Kotos is a man with integrity and no ties to the corrupt Bush Administration. I urge everyone to give him a chance to bring positive change to the 2nd district in Michigan. Kimon will be debating Mr. Hoekstra at the Holland City Hall on October 23rd at 7 p.m. This is a great opportunity to compare the candidates and decide who you want to represent you in Washington. For more information you can call the Democratic Headquarters at 616-393-0511. The choice is yours.

E. Paxson
Saugatuck, MI

MI02 Kotos for Congress Press Release

Subject: Pete Hoekstra has violated the public trust and his oath of office “To protect and defend the Constitution”


In a statement released today by the Kotos for Congress campaign, Kimon Kotos has charged that the Chairman of the House Select Committee on Intelligence, Pete Hoekstra, (R-MI) has repeatedly violated his oath of office. “In having published a committee report on the nuclear capabilities of Iran last month that contained numerous false and misleading statements, Pete Hoekstra has violated the public trust.” Kotos said.

Kimon Kotos is the Democratic challenger for the U S House from the 2nd district of Michigan. In making the charge against Hoekstra, Kotos points to a letter sent to the White House and Chairman Hoekstra by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief, Mohammed ElBaredei. ElBaredei called the report by Hoekstra’s committee “outrageous and dishonest”.

Among the committee's assertions is that Iran is producing weapons-grade uranium at its facility in the town of Natanz. The IAEA called that "incorrect," noting that weapons-grade uranium is enriched to a level of 90 percent or more. Iran has enriched uranium to only 3.5 percent under IAEA monitoring. This level of enrichment is no where near the level needed to produce nuclear weapons grade uranium.

“This is exactly how we got into Iraq” said Kotos “The Bush administration aided by his rubber stamps in Congress, including Hoekstra, misrepresented the threat posed by Iraq in the buildup to the invasion and occupation of Iraq”. “Now the administration is beating the drums of War once again and once again they are misrepresenting the facts and the threat to try and gain some political advantage in the upcoming elections.” “By using his powerful position on The House Committee Hoekstra has violated the public trust”.

“If Pete Hoekstra cannot tell the truth to the American people and his constituents here in West Michigan then he needs to be removed from the Congress and on Nov. 7th that’s what we intend to do.”

Kimon Kotos

Kotos for Congress

Pete Hoekstra -- Out Of Touch

by Pokerbear, Sunday August 20, 2006

Hoekstra refuses to hold Bush accountable for his continuous
abuses of power.

See: http://theheartlandprogressive.blogspot.com/2006/08/pete-hoekstra-out-of-touch.html

Hoekstra Doesn't Have a Clue

8/19/2006 2:28:19 PM by Tunis Schouten, Zeeland, MI

Once again congressman Pete Hoekstra has demonstrated that he doesn't have a clue.
His latest negative quote concerning the adverse ruling of a federal judge in Detroit concerning the NSA wiretapping of American citizens without a warrant shows once more that he has no idea how the American system of government is supposed to work. For your benefit Pete (as it's apparent that you must have flunked Civics 101) the function of the congress is to pass the laws, the judiciary is to rule on the constitutionality of laws, and the executive (President) is to ensure that the laws are enforced. If the executive fails to enforce the laws it's up to the Congress to make him accountable. There is NOTHING in the Constitution that states it is to be suspended in times of conflict.

As a further demonstration of his ineptitude, congressman Hoekstra, as chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, has consistently failed in his responsibility to hold the executive accountable for any failures to enforce or obey the law. Under Pete's leadership, and that of his predecessor Peter (CIA) Goss, the Intelligence Committee has become an oxymoron.

Pete also fails to see the direct connection between his support for free trade agreements (NAFTA, CAFTA) and the loss of many well paying jobs in his district. This is just another example of his failure to represent the interests of the citizens of his district. Instead he tries to pass the blame for all the free trade economic problems he has helped to create onto our hard working governor.

Pete has had 12 years in congress to learn how the government of the United States is supposed to work, and he still doesn't get it. I am doubtful that another 2 years of the same will do him, or the district, any good. It's time to outsource Pete.

Tunis Schouten

KOTOS KICKS OFF 2006 CAMPAIGN

--Second time the charm in the Second?
--Campaign to focus on economic development

Muskegon, June 6, 2006: Kimon Kotos (D-Muskegon) announces his candidacy for the Second Congressional District. Kotos also ran for the seat in 2004.

Key Issues:
*
* Return to fiscal sanity from the reckless deficits strangling Michigan jobs

* Safeguard our elderly

* Promote Michigan manufacturing

* Build a diverse sustainable economic future through high -value agriculture, tourism, and workforce development and education.

--------------------------
Muskegon Chronicle
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
By Steve Gunn, Chronicle Staff Writer

Opponent sees Hoekstra as vulnerable

For a candidate who captured only about 30 percent of the vote two years ago, Kimon Kotos sounded remarkably confident Tuesday as he formally announced his candidacy for Congress in Michigan's 2nd District.

And his confidence was buoyed by the presence of Michigan Democratic Party Chairman Mark Brewer, who introduced Kotos to a partisan crowd and predicted success for the local candidate.

But now comes the hard part, as Kotos again tries to unseat popular U.S. Rep. Peter Hoekstra, R-Holland, in a decidedly Republican district. Two years ago, Hoekstra blasted Kotos, 225,343 to 94,040.

At a press conference Tuesday at Muskegon's Terrace Plaza, Kotos made his strategy clear. He plans to tie Hoekstra to the unpopular policies of President George W. Bush and the Republican-controlled Congress, then hope voters decide it's time for a change.

"Over the past six years, George Bush and his accomplice Peter Hoekstra have ruined this country," said Kotos, addressing a room full of enthusiastic Democratic supporters. "They have engaged in reckless spending, sustained long-term debt, and put ourselves in disrespect around the world.

"We need to turn this thing around."

Kotos, 53, is still a relative newcomer to West Michigan politics. A Flint native who spent much of his adult life in California, he moved to Muskegon County several years ago after marrying a woman from the area.

Now a resident of North Muskegon, Kotos decided to fill an empty spot on the Democratic ticket and challenge Hoekstra in 2004. His campaign drew little attention or financial support, but Kotos continued to work, even after his defeat, to familiarize himself with local issues and build a base of support.

Now, with Bush and congressional Republicans drawing low approval ratings, he thinks voters may turn to Democrats for change. And he thinks he may benefit from that, despite the 2nd Congressional District's Republican leanings.

He said there are lots of reasons to replace Hoekstra.

Kotos attacked the veteran congressman for violating his pledge to serve a maximum of six terms in the House. Hoekstra is currently finishing his seventh term.

He attacked Hoekstra for defending the president's controversial domestic spying program, which attempts to intercept communications between people in the U.S. and suspected terrorists abroad.

He also suggested that Hoekstra, a powerful member of the House leadership, has failed to use his position to bring substantial federal dollars home to the district.

"I'm not running against George Bush. But Pete has been a major ally of Bush, and he has to take responsibility for that," Kotos said. "His voting record is at stake."

Meanwhile, Brewer blasted Hoekstra, claiming he's done a poor job of managing the nation's intelligence community as chairman of the House Intelligence Committee.

Hoekstra, contacted this morning, defended his record.

He pointed out many programs in Muskegon County that have been funded with federal dollars he helped secure, including the new Coast Guard helicopter station at the county airport, the runway expansion project at the airport, the cleanup effort in Little Black Creek and the downtown redevelopment project in Muskegon.

Hoekstra, chairman of the powerful House Intelligence Committee, pointed out the president's domestic spying program, which is designed to identify terrorists and their allies within the U.S., was developed with the support of many Democrats, including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.

And Hoekstra defended his efforts to rebuild the nation's intelligence community in the wake of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

"One thing we've been able to do is move the process forward to rebuild the intelligence community," Hoekstra said. "It's still not where it needs to be. Rebuilding something that was gutted under the Clinton administration will take some time."

Hoekstra said Kotos' liberal views favoring abortion and gay marriage are out of step with West Michigan, and he predicted his opponents' attack strategy will fail with voters.

"The Democrats are finding out right now that a campaign agenda that just blasts Republicans and the president without offering any alternatives is not going to fly," Hoekstra said.

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