Michigan Policy Summit Open Thread

Sighting! (4.00 / 2)

Pam Jackson, awesome candidate for SD 15 in Oakland County. I met her at a training a few months ago, and let's just say it was love at first sight.

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by: PerfectStormer @ Sat May 16, 2009 at 07:57:22 AM CDT

More sightings: (4.00 / 2)

farleftfield, terrybankert and Allison Rockey of BFM, John and Debbie Dingell...

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by: PerfectStormer @ Sat May 16, 2009 at 08:13:28 AM CDT

More sightings... (4.00 / 2)

I've seen spontoni lurking around.  Supposedly, NathanTriplett is around here somewhere. 

Do stupid people know they are stupid?

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by: JPowers155 @ Sat May 16, 2009 at 08:26:09 AM CDT

John Dingell: (4.00 / 3)

This is the first time I've had a chance to see John Dingell speak. He's pretty sprightly for being 82 years young!

Paraphrasing:

We have the right, the privilege and the opportunity of extending healthcare to all Americans. We have the responsibility to see that all Americans are adequately housed. We have the opportunity to address two issues: climate change and and energy conservation. We have the opportunity to lead the country in new technology and new ways of living. The healthcare proposal we're working on will make sure we can take care of everyone. The American people want it, have to have it, the economy desperately needs it, and it's going to happen, so all interested parties better get a seat at the table. An American car carries $750 worth of steel and $1600 worth of health care. Don't listen to people who tell you we can't afford it, listen to those who tell you we can't not afford it.

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by: PerfectStormer @ Sat May 16, 2009 at 08:38:16 AM CDT

What a great opportunity! (4.00 / 3)

I hope that I'm as spry and vibrant at 82 as Congressman Dingell.

The downfall of the middle class?  I'll give you a few hints.

Four letters.   Eight years.

Do stupid people know they are stupid?

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by: JPowers155 @ Sat May 16, 2009 at 08:42:24 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

More sightings: (4.00 / 1)

RicoThomasRico, memiller...

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by: PerfectStormer @ Sat May 16, 2009 at 08:49:47 AM CDT

Let the snarking commence... (4.00 / 1)

I happen to like economists, especially witty ones like Dean Baker.  But leading an early morning session on a Saturday with an economist?  I'm seeing a whole lot of semi-conscious progressive types looking desparate for coffee.

Do stupid people know they are stupid?

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by: JPowers155 @ Sat May 16, 2009 at 09:08:22 AM CDT

Dean Baker: (4.00 / 1)

Biographical goodness: Codirector of the Center for Economic and Policy Research. Author of Plunder and Blunder: The Rise and Fall of the Bubble Economy and The Conservative Nanny State.

Paraphrased remarks: How did we get here? We had an $8 trillion housing bubble. If your job is to be an economist, you should've seen this coming. People borrowed against the value of their home to buy frivolous things, but wages didn't keep pace with inflation, so sometimes it was a necessity. The dollar became overinflated, the trade deficit ballooned and the bubble got bigger and bigger. How could the regulatory agencies not have caught this? The regulatory agencies didn't do their jobs; this was a preventable disaster. People were "out to lunch." People should have been fired over this.

Where are we? We're in a serious downturn that's worse than most people recognize. I don't see a scenario where we don't hit 10% unemployment. Best case scenario is that we stop hemorrhaging jobs by the end of the year, especially unless we enact another stimulus. The financial industry got into problems and we couldn't give them money fast enough. If I sound like I don't like banks, it's because I don't. It's time for foreclosure reform; makes more sense than creating an empty house.

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by: PerfectStormer @ Sat May 16, 2009 at 09:11:25 AM CDT

Michigan Leadership Panel (4.00 / 1)

Featuring moderator master of ceremonies provocateur Charles Pugh, along with:

Genesee County Treasurer Dan Kildee, chair of Genesee County Land Bank
Dave Ivers of the Metro Detroit AFL CIO
Jeff Howard of SEIU Health Care Michigan
Jamie Scripps, asst. deputy director at DLEG

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by: PerfectStormer @ Sat May 16, 2009 at 09:39:59 AM CDT

Snarks, Round II (4.00 / 1)

Love the panelists.  Tres important, illustrious peeps.  But the format?  Zzzzzzzzzz.... and it's about 55 degrees in this room so it's not the mid-morning naptime that's calling me.  I'd love to chat one-on-one with almost everyone up there.  (Best inadvertent funny of the morning was our "provacateur" trying to figure out what color Jamie Scripps suit is.  For the record, it's salmon.  But in guy world, it's reddish.)

Do stupid people know they are stupid?

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by: JPowers155 @ Sat May 16, 2009 at 10:01:31 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Yeah... (4.00 / 1)

For next year, note to self: don't sit under the air conditioning vent. Brrrr.

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by: PerfectStormer @ Sat May 16, 2009 at 10:03:18 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Did they put the blogger box under the AC vent? n/t (4.00 / 2)

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by: rich @ Sat May 16, 2009 at 10:40:21 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Yes. (4.00 / 1)

There is a row of large AC vents on the ceiling, and the bloggers' boxes are right underneath one.

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by: PerfectStormer @ Sat May 16, 2009 at 10:46:33 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

LOL (4.00 / 2)

Typical. They're trying to literally freeze you guys out. ;)

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by: rich @ Sat May 16, 2009 at 11:37:05 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Surprise!! (0.00 / 0)

John Conyers is here too!

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by: PerfectStormer @ Sat May 16, 2009 at 10:11:17 AM CDT

Conyers (4.00 / 1)

Gotta love John Conyers!!

"The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which." George Orwell - Animal Farm

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by: leftfielder @ Sat May 16, 2009 at 10:16:21 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

John Conyers: (0.00 / 0)

He was in the White House yesterday and Obama asked him for his opinion on who should be nominated to SCOTUS. Conyers says categorically that it should be a Hispanic female.

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by: PerfectStormer @ Sat May 16, 2009 at 10:19:57 AM CDT

Conyers re: Guantanamo... (0.00 / 0)

"SHUT IT DOWN."

There are places in Michigan that can take the 241 people who may be dangerous criminals.  

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by: PerfectStormer @ Sat May 16, 2009 at 10:21:27 AM CDT

Conyers originally endorsed JMG for SCOTUS (0.00 / 0)

but withdrew his endorsement when she wrote a letter praising a US Attorney candidate that is derelict in his duty.

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by: PerfectStormer @ Sat May 16, 2009 at 10:24:24 AM CDT

Happy B-Day... (4.00 / 1)

... to Congressman Conyers, very sweet.

Good to see not everyone is a "Macie" in the blogger box there.  Of course Lynx is the way to go.

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by: Hector Solon @ Sat May 16, 2009 at 10:29:20 AM CDT

Speaking of birthdays... (4.00 / 2)

I just got back from a morning out fishing with my son to celebrate his 7th.  Caught a nice-sized crappie.

Anyway, have fun with the rest of the day down in Cobo to the rest of you.

Among the Trees

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by: Eric B. @ Sat May 16, 2009 at 11:38:28 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Happy Birthday Sam! (4.00 / 1)

<3 from your Blogger Aunties and Uncles.  (Stormy wanted to buy you a sparkle pony but I stopped him.  You'll thank me later.)

Do stupid people know they are stupid?

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by: JPowers155 @ Sat May 16, 2009 at 11:52:08 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Every child wants a sparkle pony. (4.00 / 1)

Mean Auntie Julie! You shouldn't deprive your favorite blognephew of his sparkle pony!

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by: PerfectStormer @ Sat May 16, 2009 at 11:54:40 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

would help if somebody could sing (4.00 / 1)

About as lame as they come.  I've heard birthday parties for five year olds with better singing.

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by: Harris @ Sat May 16, 2009 at 13:28:11 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

We're living blogging the LGBT session... (4.00 / 1)

over at Rainbow Mittens.  Come on over and chime in via the comments section. 

Do stupid people know they are stupid?

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by: JPowers155 @ Sat May 16, 2009 at 14:49:40 PM CDT