Albert Howard files to run as an Independent against Ann Arbor Mayor John Hieftje
Albert Howard, a conservative Republican, will challenge Democratic Mayor John Hieftje as an Independent in the November general election.
City Clerk Jackie Beaudry confirmed on Monday that Howard turned in 350 signatures and will appear on the ballot now.
He needed 50 signatures per ward, which he met, Beaudry said.
Albert Howard and his children gathering petition signatures in downtown Ann Arbor.
Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com
Howard, who is Hieftje's only challenger this year, tried to file in May to run for mayor as a Republican. He was disqualified after he failed to turn in enough valid signatures.
Howard and his wife, Ingrid, work together as pastors at Ann Arbor Different Church, where Howard is known for making prophecies.
A lifelong Ann Arbor resident and 1984 graduate of Huron High School, Howard waged a campaign for president of the United States in 2008, believing he was instructed by the "Angel of the Lord" to run against Hillary Clinton.
He later waged a campaign for the Ann Arbor school board last year but pulled only 3.5 percent of the vote.
Hieftje has been mayor since 2000. He was last re-elected in November 2010, pulling 82 percent of the vote compared with Independent challenger Steve Bean's 17.6 percent.
He also fended off Democratic challenger Patricia Lesko in the August 2010 primary with 83.9 percent of the vote compared with Lesko's 15.6 percent.
Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529. You also can follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's email newsletters.
Comments
Huron74
Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 7:32 p.m.
Sounds like a lot of you don't like your candidate choices any more, eh Ann Arborians? Tough luck. You voted in Tom Weider's VINE charter amendment back in the 90's which in effect killed off political competition and made AA a Chicago/East Berlin one-party town. Our council is now controlled by members who are out of touch, arrogant, and self absorbed; who don't care much about other views than their own because..well, why should they? They run unopposed or with only token opposition from fringe Dems like Lesko or unorganized independents like Rev. Howard. This is system Weider designed, that we voted in, and whose candidates we elect and re-elect hasn't served us very well has it?. All the complaining about issues, taxes, poor candidate choices etc. are just meaningless distractions until we fix the system itself IMHO. Wouldn't it be nice to have a council member who needs your vote to win and not just expects to win cause he/she is a Dem and the Dem landslide will sweep them into office? Or one that will return your calls and emails?
Huron74
Thu, Jul 19, 2012 : 4:43 a.m.
All through the 1980's Ann Arbor Democrats were frustrated by Republicans, Libertarians, Greens, and The Human Rights Party running against them and splitting the vote and often causing their candidate to lose. Some local Democratic Party insiders saw that they could harness Ann Arbor voters increasing preference for Democrats in state and national elections for their own advantage by ending separate voting for city offices in April and adding local elections for mayor and city council to the November election ballot. Local Democrats lead by Tom Weider launched a proposal to make this change by amending the city charter. As a snappy campaign slogan it was touted as the Voting In November is Easy! = ViNE charter amendment. SECTION 13.2. A regular City election shall be held on April 5, 1993, on November 2, 1993 and in succeeding years on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November of each year. (Amended by election of November 3, 1992) [Charter of the City of Ann Arbor] To make a long story short VINE worked as anticipated. After VINE passed the Republicans have faded away to small remnant and the minor parties are gone. On the other hand though it has also allowed a small cabal of Democratic Party insiders to utterly dominate the local election process. Most Democrats run in the primary and then run unopposed for election and re-election. And in my opinion this how we got were we are today where council members and the mayor look at the general public as a necessary evil to be placated and patronized as needed. If you are interested in greater detail you'll have to find some way to get access to the archives of the defunct Ann Arbor News for that time period.
Bryan Ellinger
Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 10:42 p.m.
What is the VINE amendment? Google and AA Council meeting-minutes (aadl.org) searches don't yield any results.
Middle America
Tue, Jul 17, 2012 : 9:53 p.m.
"Financier and African American blogger Albert Howard is the creator of Operation "King of Islam" which seeks to ban the quran and all mosques in North America, Europe and Canada." - http://alberthoward.wordpress.com/ Religious intolerance at its finest, brought to you by "Prophet" Albert Howard.
Roadman
Tue, Jul 17, 2012 : 6:47 p.m.
Ummmm ........let's see. Steve Bean (Independent) got 17.6%, Patricia Lesko (Democrat) 15.6%, Todd Plourde (Libertarian) 14.7%, Marcia Higgins(Republican) 24.6%. Albert Howard is far more intelligent and likeable than Marcia Higgins. He will at least obtain 25%.
bedrog
Tue, Jul 17, 2012 : 10:39 p.m.
given the number of people on this thread that seem fans ( or at least excessively tolerant )of delusional types in public spheres ( or at least critical and 'thumbs downy" of those of us who've had a bellyfull of their narcissism ) , you may well be right... .for once..
Hmm
Tue, Jul 17, 2012 : 6:42 p.m.
Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Elmer Fudd, Porky Pig...
Madeleine Borthwick
Tue, Jul 17, 2012 : 3:19 p.m.
Amen, Reverend!! count on my vote. Hieftje needs to go.
Albert Howard
Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 8:59 a.m.
@MadeleineBorthwick "Amen...Hieftje needs to go." I concur.
demistify
Tue, Jul 17, 2012 : 2:55 p.m.
The level of political discourse in Ann Arbor is disheartening. The number of deleted comments bears witness to that. Albert Howard has every bit as much right to run for Mayor as did Pat Lesko and Steve Bean. Democracy means respecting the legitimacy of candidates one does not agree with. (I did not vote for Lesko or Bean, and I will not vote for Howard). Religious intolerance is particularly ugly in politics. I don't agree with Albert's theology, but that does not disqualify him from running for office. Incidentally, I wonder how many of the Albert bashers cheered the election of a religious fundamentalist in Egypt.
bedrog
Tue, Jul 17, 2012 : 4:38 p.m.
Friend demistify...while we are usually joined at the hip on key local issues a mild demurral on yours: Yes, howard has a 'right to run'..but free speech ( a concept much abused by some common enemies of ours, as i know you agree) does allow others to call him ,or any public figure, out for patent foolishness without remotely getting near the line of intolerability and mendacity and defamation of our synagogue harassing buddies. They like to ( wrongly) refer to their prattling as "speaking truth to power'...i prefer my own ( and aaron sorkins )term: "speaking truth to stupid".
Middle America
Tue, Jul 17, 2012 : 12:26 p.m.
6/27/2012 at 2:34 PM: Albert Howard said this on an article on annarbor.com: "The City of Ann Arbor must never support Planned Parenthood financially." Looks like he has been so swept up by ignorance that he doesn't realize that Planned Parenthood provides medical assitance for women AND men who cannot afford medical care - Planned Parenthood is not an abortion factory, Albert. Don't worry though, keep rambling on and on about Israel and absolutely zero issues that affect the city of Ann Arbor. Theocracy over community, ignorance over common sense.
Middle America
Tue, Jul 17, 2012 : 12:30 p.m.
Let's all join Albert and say "NO!" to the poor and "YES!" to ignorance!
Albert Howard
Tue, Jul 17, 2012 : 12:15 p.m.
Jack Eaton's Controversy with Albert Howard (Article) http://annarborchronicle.com/2012/06/27/2012-democratic-primary-ward-1/ Mike Henry brought up an issue that Jack Eaton had raised with a Facebook post. The Facebook post in question was this: While attending the Juneteeth celebration at Wheeler Park, I saw "Democratic" candidate Eric Sturgis sign Republican/Independent candidate Albert Howard's Nominating petition. Makes you wonder. My response: I was honored that Eric Sturgis and Carol Kuhnke signed my nominating petitions on 6/16. God has given me favor across party lines. This is a great example of stepping out of the comfort zone. We need each other.
Bryan Ellinger
Tue, Jul 17, 2012 : 11:16 p.m.
Albert is conspicuously silent on the quran question. Ha.
Middle America
Tue, Jul 17, 2012 : 12:50 p.m.
Do you really support banning the Quran, Albert?
Middle America
Tue, Jul 17, 2012 : 12:42 p.m.
Albert, when you win (just kidding) please get me a job at city hall. I will huff paint all day for like three weeks. At that point, I will probably agree with you on a lot of stuff and we will finally come together!
Middle America
Tue, Jul 17, 2012 : 11:02 a.m.
Ann Arbor operates on a weak mayor system. You are upset with the wrong public official.
Middle America
Tue, Jul 17, 2012 : 10:52 a.m.
I took a nap this afternoon and when I woke up, the "Angel of the Lord" was in my kitchen. I said "hey, what are you doing, Angel?!" He said, "I am just making some tacos. You should run against Hillary Clinton and be the second person to get a recount in New Hampshire! It will be totally sweet!" I was like "Sounds good, dude."
Basic Bob
Tue, Jul 17, 2012 : 8:56 a.m.
Vote for Hieftje if you support the government implanting RFID chips into babies.
Middle America
Tue, Jul 17, 2012 : 11:05 a.m.
I want to make a comment similar to your comment, Basic Bob, but it will be deleted. WWJD?
say it plain
Tue, Jul 17, 2012 : 5:21 a.m.
I'm really going to be torn on this one! I voted for Bean over Hieftje last election, and felt fine about that. (I couldn't vote for Lesko over Hieftje in the primary though)... Here, I would feel like given that there is no real chance that Howard would win, I might want to send my vote his way as a message of discontent with the current mayor, and of approval for certain aspects of Howard's message, such as they are. And what harm could Howard do, really, if somehow the angels delivered him victory?! Don't we have a city governance structure that would prevent it, 'weak' mayor model and all? I am just so very itchy to vote for an *opponent* and not just fail to check off a box for mayor! I don't ever vote straight-ticket even if I check off D after D after D; it seems like relinquishing (faux?) freedom to me...
Middle America
Tue, Jul 17, 2012 : 4:39 a.m.
If he is instructed by the "Angel of the Lord", maybe we should just cut out the middle man and write in "Angel of the Lord" on the ballot.
Somargie
Tue, Jul 17, 2012 : 3:40 a.m.
Is the circus in town or is this AA's version of the Westboro Church group members trying to elect their prophecy insight leader by disguising him as an independent instead of the insane conservative who's been instructed by the "Angel of the Lord" once again.
pluto77
Tue, Jul 17, 2012 : 2:35 a.m.
He'll do just fine. Anyone but another lefty wierd beard on a recumbent bike.
Middle America
Tue, Jul 17, 2012 : 4:40 a.m.
A "lefty wierd [sic] beard on a recumbent bike" is probably still better than someone who claims to talk to angels.
Topher
Tue, Jul 17, 2012 : 2:27 a.m.
It was the "Angel of the Lord" that instructed him to run. This is disturbing - it wasn't the Lord himself. I can't vote for someone who doesn't have a direct line to god. I mean, if he had said that the Lord instructed him, that would be completely different. But who is this Angel? How do I know that I can trust this Angel? What if the Angel is misrepresenting god's wishes? I guess I'm just not willing to have a repeat of Paradise Lost. Sorry Mr. Howard.
Halter
Tue, Jul 17, 2012 : 1:22 a.m.
IN a year in which I am not voting for one single current incumbent on the City Council, I am thrilled beyond words to have someone to vote for instead of Hieftje...and I think there will be a lot of other voters that feel the same way....even a candidate that might not be what one fully hopes for is better than the alternative -- another election in which our inept Council members are re-elected once agin by an apathetic city...
A2newbie
Mon, Jul 16, 2012 : 11:43 p.m.
There aren't term limits for mayor in this town?? Good grief. This place needs someone with a sense of reality.
DJBudSonic
Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 3:16 a.m.
Seriously...how about getting that on the ballot. Maybe I should ask the council at the next meeting if anyone will sponsor a resolution to set mayoral term limits. It would be worth it to see if Hieftje's scowl could get any bigger!
Major
Tue, Jul 17, 2012 : 2:21 p.m.
Then it wouldn't be Ann Arbor!
Irwin Daniels
Mon, Jul 16, 2012 : 11:38 p.m.
I would love to vote for anyone other than Hieftje, however when reading the article above: "He was disqualified after he failed to turn in enough valid signatures." Super big yikes! We do not now or ever need a "cheat" from the get go - we already have more problems then we need. What we need is someone who maybe might be honest? Oh yeah I forgot this is politics.
Bryan Ellinger
Mon, Jul 16, 2012 : 10:38 p.m.
Is it just me, or would it not be interesting to see Howard's tax returns for the past ten years? His church appears to only exist in his imagination. Is he claiming tax-exempt status?
Bryan Ellinger
Mon, Jul 23, 2012 : 10:31 p.m.
Painting me with that brush doesn't make it true, bedrog. You may be the expert on middle-eastern religion and all, but you're wrong about me. Mine is an equal-opportunity contempt. All religion is toxic, period. Which brings us back to my original comment about Albert Howard's religion (not yours) and his possible tax-exempt status.
bedrog
Thu, Jul 19, 2012 : 10:11 a.m.
Bryan: on rereading your last post i am now inclined to include you with those i combat since you singlemindedly focus on Israel as the ultimate imperialist "fairy tale delusional" entity while utterly ignoring the infinitely greater history - territorially, brutality -wise and longevity-wise --of such stuff in the islamic world. . Congrats on making the cut to our local hatecult. Enjoy the likes of those depicted on the FEH site. They'll adore you since they're pretty long in the tooth and dropping rapidly per a recent blog by their leader cited elsewhere on this thread.
bedrog
Thu, Jul 19, 2012 : 9:05 a.m.
Bryan:i don't disagree with the notion of religion as "fairy tale'... But again not all fairy tales are equally nasty and the folks i combat persist in demonizing one of the ones that is far less toxic ( especially locally, where --newsflash--middle east foreign policy is not determined-- while cheerleading for those that are the most toxic...and doing it in the same arch "pseudo scholarly" way you are doing. Since i'm the real deal on the scholarship of middle east religion front ( 35 years of teaching this stuff at 2 major universities and lots of time " in country" , patent foolishness on those matters doesn't get suffered glady by me in an age of rampant brutal antisemitism ( check out news reports on the latest jihadist stunt in Bulgaria as of yeaterday!)... and since i'm too old to fight Taliban, Hamas, al qaeda etc on the ground i've gotta make do with the "lite ' versions around here ( and i don't include you in their number ...yet ( or babblin bill either) ...but feel free to keep talkin!. as to albert , that's a silly side show to the general stupidification of american political life in an age of FOX and a runaway internet.
Bryan Ellinger
Tue, Jul 17, 2012 : 11:12 p.m.
Your condescension is understandable, bedrog. You're on the defensive. Got it. My censored comment somehow conveyed an antisemitic tone when, in fact, it was anti-theist. Theists are free to believe in fairy tales. However, they are not free from criticism, nor disrespect. A strongly held belief in absurdity deserves ridicule. Think about how you'd react to a dude with a thick old book -- the word of Zeus (Jerry Springer Version) -- that claimed your home and family for his own purposes. The guy also has with him a gang of thugs ready to extract from you your possesions, and Zeus commanded him to put down roots there. Uh huh. There is abundant evidence that policies based in theology are prejudiced and destructive. Howard seems to value superstition over facts. He can keep his despot's angels to himself and his poor, undeserving children. There is a write-in line on the ballot for mayor, no? My vote may go to Jane Lumm. She seems to be good at keeping the tooth fairy out of her work on the council.
bedrog
Tue, Jul 17, 2012 : 5:12 p.m.
Bill: I'm quite sure Bryan is not a professional academic ( a student, maybe) ...I am though ( albeit retired) , and in the area ( middle east , comparative religion related) you obsessively persist on misappropriating and misusing ( although i'm sure the sumerians, gilgamesh, utnapishtim and humbaba would be delighted at your flattering view that they are at the root of everything in the world). Why i bother to respond to you : ( to repeat: I'm retired, and its amusing); and also see the last line of my comment to my friend " demistify's " last post.
Bill Wilson
Tue, Jul 17, 2012 : 2:09 p.m.
I think what Bryan is pointing out is that every story in the Bible is a reworked story that originated with the Sumerarian and Akkakian peoples. The story of Moses, you mention, is a rework of the tale of the Akkadian king Sargon. We know, from both carbon-14 dating and the study of linguistics that Sumerian and Akkadian cultures predate the Bible and the Koran by thousands of years. Most anyone can Google Gilgamest to read the original version of Noah's Ark. As such, academics, which I suspect Bryan of being, are simply pointing out the origins of your faith. He makes his mistake in the name-calling. There is no need for this. For you to calling others 'delusional' as you do demonstrates the same methodology as Bryan, and undermines your entire argument. The gentleman running for mayor is entitled to his own beliefs.
northside
Tue, Jul 17, 2012 : 12:59 p.m.
How does someone support a family of 8 by leading a church that has no members? Those tax returns would be mighty interesting and set some new standards for creativity.
bedrog
Tue, Jul 17, 2012 : 10:02 a.m.
Let me try to clarify for you bryan since you seem an earnest young fellow, albeit a tad glib ( with your earlier Moses= antisemites comment) : yes, all religions and zealous ideological passions are based on some level of " delusion " ( or "faith" , if one prefers) beyond the readily observable. But not all such extra-rational beliefs are toxic and aggressively harmful to others. some are merely neutral and even beneficial to psychological well being. The "bandwagon' i'm on is quite simply the desire to pariah-ize those who pushily shove their toxic /harmful/anti-factual notions on others. and to maybe inject some "stones' and minimal common -sense into hyper -relativists ( like "northside" and maybe you) who can't seem to tell tell the difference between any strongly held beliefs , good , bad, or neutral. Got it??? Good!
Bryan Ellinger
Tue, Jul 17, 2012 : 12:54 a.m.
It isn't clear to me what bandwagon you're on, bedrog. Any belief in the supernatural is delusional. Any belief in divine selection for superiority is evil. Maybe you're familiar with the Frank Zappa song Dumb All Over? That's what the band is playing on my wagon. This candidate has beliefs that defy reason (he "listens" to angels), and his actions in office would be founded on those beliefs. It's good that he hasn't got a chance at winning the election. It's unfortunate that he isn't a decent alternative to our current mayor, who we can do without.
bedrog
Mon, Jul 16, 2012 : 11:23 p.m.
so wait...are you getting on the bandwagon with me in recognizing delusional behavior??
Sam
Mon, Jul 16, 2012 : 10:37 p.m.
Better to have a crazy man with ethics than a normal unethical person as mayor of the city. At least with the ethical person you know where you stand, with the unethical person you are constantly looking over your shoulder for the invisible knife.
Albert Howard
Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 11:16 p.m.
@Sam you have point. Unique articulation.
Bryan Ellinger
Mon, Jul 16, 2012 : 10:48 p.m.
Nope. There's nothing ethical about putting the city's business in the "hands" of an imaginary despot. Why can't we get a fun, yet rational opponent to run against Hieftje?
shipdog7
Mon, Jul 16, 2012 : 10:09 p.m.
You would have a much better chance of winning if you change your name to Albert Pujols.
NoMoreMrZero
Mon, Jul 16, 2012 : 10:23 p.m.
Great Job Ann Arbor.com and even better job of openness and inclusiveness by those who have commented. What was the point of the comments in your article Mr. Stanton? Where you trying to show highlight the fact that the candidate has a belief system that is beyond the relam of even the great enlightement here in Ann Arbor. Perhaps even worse the man has the audacity to run as an independent even though of all things he is a conservative republican. To think that 350 citizens actually signed his petition. Didnt realize there were that many people who could think outside the democrat box. Maybe thats the cause of your scorn
AAProgressive
Mon, Jul 16, 2012 : 9:53 p.m.
This guy is a joke. Just look at his website and you can see this.
Middle America
Tue, Jul 17, 2012 : 4:38 a.m.
He isn't just a joke, he is mentally unstable.
DonBee
Mon, Jul 16, 2012 : 9:13 p.m.
I wish him luck, in a presidential election year with a heavy Democratic leaning on the Presidential election, most Ann Arbor voters will choose to vote straight ticket. He gets neither the Republican or Democratic straight ticket voters. Too bad that option is on the ballet. Many good third party candidates might do better if it was not.
No.War
Mon, Jul 16, 2012 : 9:11 p.m.
Last year, AnnArbor.com reported that "He lists his occupation as chauffeur, pastor and family and stakes the claim of having the first pro-Israel transportation service. He also is the creator of Operation King of Islam, which seeks to ban the Quran and all mosques in the U.S., Canada and Europe. " What action would Mayor Howard take towards the ongoing Palestinian rights vigils on the sidewalks of Ann Arbor?
bedrog
Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 8:54 p.m.
northside: sorry you are so bored with a needed expose of some of the worst people in town ...and even sorrier that you seem to equate exposing bigotry ( with ample documentation in the bigots own words and deeds) with bigotry itself. There was a term for this around the time of the Russian revolution. Hint: two words: first word "useful".. second word begins with 'i'.
bedrog
Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 9:09 a.m.
roadman: assuming Bill wants to actually learn something ( instead of perpetually and incorrectly"Sumerian-izing" everything ) you might want to get your " insider' factoids straight on at least the name of the group you cite so he can google it.... I'll let you do that work yourself since you seem to have so much time on your hands ( as do i, being retired...although you claim not to be). The goals you cite of the group are basically correct ...and have been quite easy to achieve , especially locally, since it is patently "fringe (and already' marginal ') characters that are being rebutted. ( moderator: please note i did NOT say 'sociopathic' or 'psychotic' narcissists) e.g. Check out H.H.s latest self obsessed blog : "deir yassin remembered blog". the poor guy's neighbors are now massing against his degradation of their property values...and he's so abandoned any pretense of being a "progressive' ( which he never was, unless Hamas is also given that label!) that he's trying to run as a republican state convention delegate. as the kids say. "LOL" and Bill: when you can get Hamas, al qaida and all the other antisemites in the middle east ( to say nothing of the ann arbor krew) to sign off on the " land payment for playing nice" thing , be in touch...i'll pass it on to the correct parties. In the meantime enjoy gilgameshing.
Roadman
Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 2:29 a.m.
@Bill Wilson: "You seem to be associated with some type of group..............." That group is the pro-Israel Scholars for a MIddle East Peace, which has a significant presence at U-M. Their website has indicated that one of the goals of members is to have "responders" try to detect and rebut those who have publically espoused pro-Palestinian views and marginalize them. They seek to prevent the boycott of Israeli goods movement from going mainstream in America by characterizing those who support the movement as fringe activists.
Bill Wilson
Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 1:22 a.m.
Bedrog, Perhaps you best re-read my post. In mine, and may others here, your opinion is not embraced by the general public. You seem to be associated with some type of group... I really do not care. The point is: the victims. some one-million palestinian's, who did not take up arms against either side, have been denied payment for their land. Surely, you undestand that.
bedrog
Tue, Jul 17, 2012 : 3:24 p.m.
Bill: sooo...on " planetbill " those who oppose terrorist apologists are no different than terrorists and their apologists ??? and as to the "no support' comment: gee, the fact that every attempt of those you cheerlead for to implement their nonsensical "boycotts" has failed miserably ,locally especially, suggests quite otherwise. even their loopy leader is now under fire from his neighbors per his latest self-pitying blog ' ( 'deir yassin remebered blog"). You are in very appropriate company on the fact/morality front .. enjoy each other, (since noone else seems to..) got it!!
Bill Wilson
Tue, Jul 17, 2012 : 12:44 p.m.
Actually Bedrog, You've demonstrated that you're no different to those that oppose you than they are, hence the reason you find yourself with no support. When war did break out, there were nearly a million palestinian refugees driven from their lands who did not take up arms against either side. These people have been denied their right of return under Resolution 194 for many years now. It's these people protestors refer to. The truth is, Israel had no intention of paying, and orchestrates mini-wars in order to run out the clock on these peoples rights. It's the victims.... not the terrorists, that we have sympathy for, and will prevail for.
demistify
Tue, Jul 17, 2012 : 1:12 a.m.
I am sure Pastor Albert Howard disapproves of harassing a house of worship during its services (your so-called "vigil"). So does Daoud Walid, Michigan Director of the Council for American-Islamic Relations. Perhaps you can explain to us the logic of assailing an American congregation as a way to complain about the existence of a country thousands of miles away. That doctrine flourished in Germany some 70 years ago. Today, if you attempted your "vigiling" in Germany it would land you a stiff prison sentence.
bedrog
Mon, Jul 16, 2012 : 11:20 p.m.
Bryan...thanks for yours...our webmaster will try to enlarge your photo for the FEH site , a group you are clearly in sympathy with. Given that a charter member of theirs just died i'm sure fresh ---and young--blood is welcome by them.
bedrog
Mon, Jul 16, 2012 : 11:17 p.m.
Bill : as always nice to hear from you. Yep ..it's true.., i DO clearly do hold myself to higher standards ( both ethical and intellectual) than jihadists and their apologists locally or elsewhere, but there is still a minimum level of decency/ accuracy they should ( but don't ) exhibit , and they should be held accountable for that....although some of the muddled comments here don't seem to 'get ' that minimal fact.. And i'm sure that while you think your " pay em off" "solution speaks directly to jihadist ideology/ "grievances", they've ( from Hamas to al qaida) never themselves suggested any such thing ... Do you have some inner voice too that tells you this stuff?? .. but keep on keepin on...(counting down to your 'sumerian' riff"...10....9. 8.....)
Bill Wilson
Mon, Jul 16, 2012 : 10:42 p.m.
@ Bryan, Ther's no need to call names. It's just basic human rights: if you own property, no one should be able to take it from you without compensation. That's all.
Bill Wilson
Mon, Jul 16, 2012 : 10:40 p.m.
Northside is quite right. As an aside, the entire disagreement could easily be settled: Israel should pay the Palestinian for the land they've taken, as they promised to do in at the U.N. in 1947. That would settle the entire matter. This is basic human rights: if you take someone's property, you should pay them for it. Bedrog would expect this himself, yet has a higher standard for himself than others of a different race.
northside
Mon, Jul 16, 2012 : 10:01 p.m.
Are the two of you going to have this same argument, 1000 times over, regardless of what the article is about? @ No.War: Howard has zero chance of becoming Ann Arbor's mayor. And if he does, that's a clear sign the world is ending in 2012. @ Bedrog: How often are you going to post that link? That site is as extremist and offensive as the protests that it attacks.
bedrog
Mon, Jul 16, 2012 : 9:54 p.m.
http://www.hvcn.org/info/feh/ you mean these "vigilers" , "no war" ( nice pics of you by the way..esp on the "more photos "page. Im sure as mayor he' and you would get along just fine , as you all and howard seem sort of from the same mold ( the 'voices in your head" thing as opposed to real information in a real world).
Brad
Mon, Jul 16, 2012 : 8:54 p.m.
So he runs "Ann Arbor Different Church" and Ann Arbor claims to "do it up different"? It's a sign from the Flying Spaghetti Monster!
bedrog
Mon, Jul 16, 2012 : 8:50 p.m.
With the seeming demise ( or beaming up to a spacecraft!) of the local Green party ( too whackily extreme for even the national -level of that fine organization, which seems to have moderated itself since the last election) Howard can appeal to that fringe ( which also seemed to believe it communicated with unseen spirits)... and maybe garner the 1% its congressional candidate got on the several occasions she ran .
ContreMilice
Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 7:11 p.m.
I beg to differ with anyone who characterizes the FEH website at http://www.hvcn.org/info/feh/ as "extremist." Au contraire, this site is one of the only bold and outspoken voices locally that exposes and denounces the fanatics who have been besieging an Ann Arbor synagogue for almost a decade now. As such, the website in question is a loud, but very moderate voice of reason and witty intelligence. And, those of us who oppose the nefarious actions of the so-called "vigilers" (vigilantes is more like it) and their supporters would gladly stop commenting about the subject if these extremists who harass synagogue worshippers would take their hate-driven signs and take a long one-way hike outta here. And, those who keep bringing up the "pay for peace' plan, are they ready to compensate the Native Americans for the land they occupy? And further, for 64 years, almost every Arab country and even the Palestinian Authority have purposely kept Palestinian Arab refugees in squalorous camps just so they can exploit them as a political lucre and pawns in their propaganda battle to de-legitimize the State of Israel decades after refugees in Israel and many other countries have been resettled and integrated into local populations.
Dog Guy
Mon, Jul 16, 2012 : 8:30 p.m.
I don't vote for incumbents; Rev. Howard will have my vote.
SEC Fan
Tue, Jul 17, 2012 : 9:34 p.m.
ABSOLUTELY!!!! I've said for many many years if we could get everyone to vote against the incumbent for a few election cycles, they'd start working for us again instead of themselves. I applaud you, sir.
Albert Howard
Tue, Jul 17, 2012 : 8:28 p.m.
@DogGuy appreciate your support @Halter be encouraged
Middle America
Tue, Jul 17, 2012 : 5:08 a.m.
A personal rule like that is irrational. You should just stop voting all together.
Halter
Tue, Jul 17, 2012 : 1:25 a.m.
I 100% agree with this and I think so will a LOT of other voters....this entire Council needs to be cleared out top to bottom
bedrog
Mon, Jul 16, 2012 : 10:04 p.m.
gee ,that's a GREAT criterion.
MyOpinion
Mon, Jul 16, 2012 : 8:27 p.m.
Yikes. And yet, he'll probably end up with a higher proportion of votes than P. Lesko did in her run against Hieftje.
Top Cat
Mon, Jul 16, 2012 : 8:13 p.m.
I don't think Mr. Howard is very good at "making prophecies". I'll make the prophecy that he is going to finish third in a two man race.
sigdiamond
Mon, Jul 16, 2012 : 8:09 p.m.
"A lifelong Ann Arbor resident and 1984 graduate of Huron High School, Howard waged a campaign for president of the United States in 2008, believing he was instructed by the "Angel of the Lord" to run against Hillary Clinton." This guy sounds right up the alley of most of the people who post on this site. If this guy's also outraged about Zingerman's sandwich prices, pubic art, and parking structures, he's got the annarbor.com vote locked up.
Madeleine Borthwick
Tue, Jul 17, 2012 : 3:20 p.m.
er....PUBIC art?
Brad
Mon, Jul 16, 2012 : 9:34 p.m.
Yep, they can build a parking structure. Open a parking structure? Not so much. Vote Hieftje for more of the same!
Brad
Mon, Jul 16, 2012 : 8:49 p.m.
And for those thinking that improperly skimming money for public art and building overpriced parking structures are the way to go, you can vote for the mayor again.
djm12652
Mon, Jul 16, 2012 : 8:06 p.m.
Count me in Pastor Howard! Although I'm not sure why Ryan needed to include a blurb about hizzoner Hieftje ...it doesn't relate to Candidate Howard...oh wait...brown nosing?
Albert Howard
Tue, Jul 17, 2012 : 8:19 p.m.
@djm12652 thx. @northside god bless u
northside
Tue, Jul 17, 2012 : 12:55 p.m.
Considering that Howard is the fringiest of fringe candidates, annarbor.com was downright kind to run any article on him. They were also kind to mention only one of his many irrational statements, as there are plenty easily found online.
Middle America
Tue, Jul 17, 2012 : 6:33 a.m.
People who think like you do when it comes to local politics are way more of a problem than Hieftje could ever be.