Bob Alexander motored into Brighton on Thursday (July 24, 2008), riding on what could be part of Michigan's future, if only we are smart enough to seize it.
Alexander, the Democratic candidate working to unseat 8th District Republican incumbent Mike Rogers, came to town in a brand new Chevy Malibu hybrid.
"It's an amazing car," said Alexander as he sat down to lunch at Bagels and Bites in Brighton.
Of course, any new car must be amazing compared to the 1995 Ford Escort with 240,000 miles Alexander has been driving.
Even allowing for the generation gap between cars, the hybrid car -- and the technological advances it represents -- is pretty amazing in terms of what it could do for our nation and our state.
And Alexander was quick to point that out in a speech to about three dozen supporters that focused on the promise of alternative energy.
Alexander promised to support Barack Obama's Clean Energy Future plan to invest $150 billion over the next 10 years to bring about a new generation of biofuels and infrastructure for handling them, speed up the production of plug-in hybrids and all electric cars, and develop commercial scale renewable energy production from solar, wind, and geothermal sources. He supported a coupon program to boost the purchase of more fuel-efficient cars.
These sorts of technologies and ideas could help create new, good paying jobs in Michigan, he said.
"Our country faces an energy crisis, and our planet faces an environmental crisis. I can think of no better place than Michigan, with its history of technological leadership and a world-class workforce, to be at the forefront of the American energy revolution," he said.
Alexander billed the event, which covereed several cities in the 8th District, as a "Road Trip for Change," change that he said is needed after seven and a half yeas of George Bush's policies, supported by Mike Rogers.
"We need a government that will help in stressful times such as these, not a government that is going to stand in our way. Mike Rogers and George Bush are standing in our way. They are not helping, but impeding the people of Michigan; impeding our talents and impeding our success," he said.
He singled out Rogers' votes against a new GI bill to help returning combat veterans, against raising the federal minimum wage, against extending unemployment compensation for another 16 years, against full funding for Medicare payments to doctors and hospitals, against expanding medical care for uninsured children, and against expanding health care for millions of uninsured Americans.
Alexander is making a persuasive case for getting rid of Rogers. He is running an impressive campaign on a shoe-string.
Imagine what he could do with a little help from you!
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