Wow! People talk about being "Fired Up and Ready to Go" at Obama rallies, but I must say I never imagined seeing what I just saw in Grand Rapids, in the heart of conservative West Michigan.

An endorsement from John Edwards.

I just came back from the Michigan Policy Summit, and boy am I excited! The summit included keynotes by Amy Goodman of Democracy NOW! and the legendary Jim Hightower.  Also, Jeffrey Feldman and Marcy Wheeler, who have Michigan ties, were also there (check out Feldman's liveblog).

In addition, breakout sessions were held dealing with issues surrounding the environment, healthcare, and education.

Precinct Delegate's bowling average, pastor's remarks called into question by opponents

KENTWOOD, MI (Don't-Want-To-Be-Associated-With-McCain Press) - Democratic Precinct Delegate Scott Urbanowski (D-Smartypants) told reporters that his experience - and love for man's best friend - will be key to saving Kentwood's Third Precinct from Complete and Utter Annihilation.

The Delegate made those remarks Friday after filing to run for a second term as Precinct Delegate. He had announced his intention to run for re-election last year.

I'll make this quick. I'm happy to report a victory for the health of citizens of the Great Lakes State.

The Michigan Senate has just passed a ban on smoking in the workplace!

The bill passed 25-12 and will be returned to the House for a concurrence vote, after which it will be presented to the Governor.

We are all inspired. We all have the power to inspire.

Eric, my professor for my Introduction to Leadership class, mentioned earlier in the semester that we would be doing a powerful activity in class that would help us get a better sense of the true meaning of leadership. The activity was delayed due to a couple of class cancellations (snow days, to be exact), but finally, near the end of the semester, Eric was able to set aside some class time for it.

What was the activity? What was my humble contribution? Come below the fold and find out - and then share your story!

Has it been four years already? Or, perhaps a more appropriate question would be, has it only been four years?

URBANOWSKI EDWARD C
April 29, 2004, age 81 of Kentwood, formerly of Taylor. Beloved husband of Christine. Loving father of Dan (Karen), Tom (Denise) and Sue (Todd) Statetzny. Dearest grandfather of Dereck, Scott, Monica, Ben, April and Morgan. Visitation Saturday 5-9 p.m. and Sunday 2-9 p.m. with Funeral service on Monday 10 a.m. at the Voran Funeral Home (Taylor Chapel), 23750 Goddard Road. Interment Woodmere Cemetery

Seeing that obituary in online or in the paper, one may notice the American flag icon, commemorating my grandfather's Army service in the Asia-Pacific Theater during World War II. Four years after his passing, let me share a little more about one of the hardest workers I've known.

I'm bitter. I am not from a small town; I am a suburbanite. Instead of guns, I cling to my words. Still, I am bitter.

And Barack Obama's right. I know I'm not the only one who's bitter. I'm bitter about a whole lot of things, and with the latest nonsense criticisms of Obama for speaking the truth, I feel it's time I got this off my chest.

I want to share a little bit of my background so you can have an idea of why it is I am bitter.

In honor of April Fool's Day, I'm pleased to present my latest compilation of late-night laughs courtesy of Daniel Kurtzman at About.com.

CONAN O'BRIEN

"Well, of course, this Sunday is Easter. Of course, Easter is that very, very holy day when Christians around the world honor a 2,000-year-old Jewish man who is not Larry King."

"Another political sex scandal in the New York area in the papers today. Unbelievable what's going on lately. This is the latest. A man who used to be the chauffeur for New Jersey's former governor, Jim McGreevey, is claiming that he used to have three-way sex with McGreevy and his wife. Yeah. True story. When asked about it, McGreevey said, 'That's a lie. I would never have had sex with my wife.'"

"Hillary Clinton, hard at work campaigning today. That's right. Today, Hillary Clinton said that the war would end up costing $1 trillion. Hillary wasn't talking about Iraq. She was talking about her war with Barack Obama."

Many more below the fold!

I thought I'd try to find out what issues are important to members of the Kos community 7 1/2 months before the election. Instead, I decided that maybe it was time for me to put things in some perspective.

Below the fold I have identified several issues which I think are very important - along with one non-issue that, let's just say, doesn't really affect the safety and welfare of the American populace and thus doesn't need that much attention.

So take a guess: which of these issues could I care less about?

"America's Finest News Source" has the very latest on the War for the White House, Iraq, Kim Jong Il, and the Queen, courtesy of YouTube.

Plenty more below the fold!

(cross-posted on Great Lakes, Great Times, Great Scott)

I made twelve new year's resolutions for 2008. Now, almost eight weeks into the year and 254 days from the Big Day, I wanted to reflect on those resolutions and what I'm doing to change our Party and our communities for the better. As you read about what I've done/am doing, I want you to think about what you have done and can do.

So join me below the fold for a 20-year-old's perspective as I continue the journey that is Scott Urbanowski's 2008.

Here's a screenshot of BarackObama.com I grabbed just a few moments ago:

I am pleased to inform you that I am running for President of the Michigan Federation of College Democrats.

For tonight.

Due to the fact that I am a student at Central Michigan University, and that I have classes which are scheduled to begin each Tuesday and Thursday at 9:30, 11, and 12:30, and that in my 12:30 class I have an exam (on Federal Income Taxation!), and that before attending my first class I generally like to practice good hygiene and consume nutritious breakfast food, I have decided that I am leaving Daily Kos for the night.

I'll be back around 1:30 or 2. See you then!

(NOTE: I wrote this last night before Edwards dropped out of the race.)

After a couple of games of Armchair Pundit, I now feel ready to play Armchair Strategist for the Obama campaign. (Disclaimer: I am 20.)

After a big victory in South Carolina, Barack Obama has the most delegates (63, vs. 48 for Hillary and 25 for Edwards). He also has a strong ground game in the February 5 states. But of course that's not enough.

In order to win big on Super Tuesday, Obama must:

(Actually, you must go below the fold. ;-) )

Most of us expected Barack Obama to win the South Carolina primary. But he didn't just win South Carolina; he flat out dominated.

I couldn't imagine Barack doubling Hillary's total. But CNN says he did; they peg the numbers at 55% for Obama, 27% for Hillary, and 18% for Edwards.

Now let's take a look at the exit polls.

(Cross-posted at Great Lakes, Great Times, Great Scott, Blue Chips, and the ICDP Dispatch)

• Hillary won an underwhelming 55% of the vote, while 40% voted Uncommitted. Hillary won 73 DNC delegates, while Uncommitted won 55. I call Hillary's win underwhelming because she was supposed to dominate this election.

(Cross-posted at Great Lakes, Great Times, Great Scott)

In terms of pledged delegates to the Democratic and Republican national conventions, Barack Obama still holds a thinner-than-Wheat-Thins lead of 25-24 over Clinton, with Edwards at 18. Romney has 24 delegates to 18 for Mike Huckabee, 10 for John McCain, 6 for Fred Thompson, 2 for Ron Paul, and 1 for Duncan Hunter. Again, a candidate must win a majority of the convention delegates to win the nomination. More on how delegates are selected later.

If nothing else, Hillary and McCain proved with this primary that they are top-notch contenders and are both very much in it. Big victory for Hillary? Yes. Setback for Obama? Yes. Fluke? We'll find out soon enough.