Friday Coffee Talk

by: BZP

Fri Mar 21, 2008 at 07:16:09 AM EDT

Happy Friday! Enjoy your cup-o-links...

• Observer & Eccentric: High school freshman's blog makes a case against McCotter. The Congressional watch blog "Mad at Thad" got a nice profile in yesterday's paper.
• WMR: Report from the Kent County Democratic Party March Meeting. Check out Phil's ridiculously detailed report. Wouldn't it be cool if more county parties started doing posts like this?
• Media Mouse: Levin Tells Iraqis to Pay for Reconstruction. The Mouse has some criticisms about Sen. Levin's latest remarks about Iraq.
• Freep: Mayor would attack text messages' authenticity. "There will be a lot of conversations about texts and the authenticity of all of it," he said Tuesday in a brief exchange with reporters. "So I'm looking forward to having that conversation at a later date."
• Susan J. Demas: A recall worthy of ridicule. "I asked Drolet if he really believes Dillon spends every waking moment plotting to raise taxes again. 'It doesn't matter if I think he'll rape someone again,' he told me breezily. 'He has to be held accountable for the rape he did commit.'"

• Michigan Messenger: Anti-bullying forces to descend on Capitol to get Senate to pass bill. "Hundreds of educators, students and community members are expected to descend upon the State Capitol next week to demand the Senate pass a comprehensive bill aimed at stopping bullying in schools. The bill passed the state House a year ago, but has since languished in the Senate awaiting a hearing."
• House Dems: House OKs $40 Million Expansion of No Worker Left Behind Program. "Under the leadership of State Representative Richard E. Hammel (D-Mt. Morris Township), the House today passed the governor's plan to expand Michigan's program to retrain thousands of displaced workers so they can land good-paying jobs available now in high-demand fields."
• Jackson Cit-Pat: SmartZone bill clears big hurdle. Jackson could be eligible for a new SmartZone under a bill being pushed by Rep. Simpson and Sen. Schauer.
• WOOD: Granholm Town Hall Meeting Video. Here's your chance to watch the Governor's town hall, in case you missed it (link via BFM).
• Freep Editorial: Great Lakes states must protect every drop they can. "How long can Michigan and the other Great Lakes states afford to let such problems spiral out of control? Somewhere, a potential water disaster is lurking, much as a transportation disaster struck when a Minneapolis freeway bridge collapsed last August."
• LSJ Editorial: Crumbling: Michigan needs investment in roads, not more gravel. "Businesses look at public infrastructure when deciding where to invest. If they see Michigan going backward, will it increase or decrease the chances new firms will land here?"

• Tri-Cities Biz Review: Alt-energy grows like a breeze, thanks to corporate purchasers. "Sustainability is finally becoming more than a buzzword, and morphing into a real business imperative. We salute the SC Johnsons and Steelcases, those corporations doing the right thing and proving the financial worth of alternative energy sources." You can read more stories on renewable energy in the Business Review publications here and here.
• Flint Journal: UAW's Gettelfinger blasts American Axle in local speech. Give 'em hell, Ron! "We don't have a national health care program when every other country takes care of their citizens," Gettelfinger said. "We pay more and get less... But that's why we have 47 million uninsured Americans in this country."
• WLNS: City Named as One of the Best to Live and Work. "Forbes magazine has named Jackson one of the best metropolitan areas to live and work." Yes, you read that correctly.
• [con]serving Michigan: CDC Report Adds to Growing Evidence of State's Toxic Burden. "Under pressure from the public and from Congress, including U.S. Reps. John Dingell and Bart Stupak, both Michigan Democrats, the CDC finally released the report this last week. The recently leaked report finds that thirteen Michigan communities have elevated rates of infant mortality, cancer and other health problems."
• Great Lakes Guy: X Doesn't Mark the Spot in MI. Sixty-four teams to date have entered the $10 million competition to see who can produce a market-ready automobile capable of 100 mpg. None are from Detroit, and only one is from Michigan (Ann Arbor).
• Michigan Messenger: Metro Airport expansion plan doesn't fly with neighbors. "A planned expansion of Detroit Metropolitan Airport is threatening to uproot thousands of people and dozens of businesses, but local officials and residents are fighting back."

• Phil Power: We must change bad attitudes. "What Michigan needs to realize is that the auto industry has transformed its manufacturing basis from a brawn-based to a brain-based model. It's no longer enough for a new hire to get to work more or less on time and not get into fights with his or her foreman."