Taking off the mask: It's Andy, the Gambler

by: Rayne

Wed Sep 23, 2009 at 08:40:40 AM EDT

 Here we are, yet again in another state budget mess, reading and hearing a lot more posturing from so-called leadership who've held their cards too close to their vest.

But there's been enough pussyfooting around; no more playing nicely, the gloves are coming off.

And so is the mask.

Stop kidding yourselves about Andy Dillon and who he really represents; look behind his mask.

* Andy has consistently failed to be a Democrat, because he's one in name only. He's the progeny of a Republican family, which in itself isn't proof of his ideology; heck, many of us have parents who identify as conservatives. But Andy's first run for office at local level was as a Republican; he changed his party affiliation in an apparent effort to beat a union-supported Republican.

What real Democrats are anti-union? Do leopards really change their spots?

* Andy doesn't show his work, which is both anti-democratic (little d) and anti-Democratic (big D). Key Democratic members of the state house can't say they've seen what Andy has agreed to with state senate majority leader Mike Bishop, and neither can the people of this state.

Democrats may keep things close to the cuff within the party ranks during negotiations, but this is ridiculous. Andy has wandered well away from Democratic ground.

* Andy isn't particularly disciplined. Back in the day, real leaders would corral the house into a room, close the windows, turn up the heat, serve only water and coffee until they all came out of the room with a negotiated budget. But Andy has had since February to produce, taken a lot of time this summer doing, well, what? and when an arbitrarily-created crunch time hits, we'll likely see lobbyists catering meals to slumber parties in a faux-effort to produce something they'll call a budget.

Sorry, can't call this Democratic or democratic leadership and discipline.

* Andy is all about Andy. The real reason we don't have anti-smoking legislation in this state -- which would save lives and reduce health care costs -- is that Andy is a smoker who doesn't want to give up those cigars he enjoys over cocktails. He also doesn't want to offend his monied friends with interests in food and beverage industries and casinos. (See also lack of leadership and discipline.)

Real Democrats are supposed to put the needs of the people and the needs of those who are most at risk ahead of their personal interests.

* Andy is a politician, not a policy making statesman. The grandstanding we're seeing right now is all about Andy's future prospects for the next level of political office to which he aspires, not about the people of Michigan, and certainly not about the long-term benefits to the people of this state. Real policy making would have begun immediately following the 2007 budget debacle and addressed the problem of transitioning from a 40-year-old state tax system based on a manufacturing economy to a tax system based on a knowledge economy, before allowing another frantic panic to happen again, a la 2007's state budget crisis.

Sure, there are politicians among Democrats, but we've just seen eight years of politicking at national level at the expense of the needs of the people and real progressive policy. Andy's simply providing more of the same here at state level.

* Andy is a gambler. We've all heard the stories about Andy's poker playing and his appreciation of casinos, at least one rumor about a flying ashtray and yet another about a stop at a casino this past weekend -- out of state, too, it's been whispered. But the real gambling is with the lives and welfare of the people of this state.

Real Democrats already know that state social workers' case loads have more than doubled over the past handful of years, and that deeper cuts will have a serious impact on the lives of the children they protect. Public safety is on the line as well, with steep cuts expected to hurt revenue sharing. Nor can employers looking to move to or stay in Michigan be assured of a well-educated workforce emerging from our high schools and colleges if deep cuts are made to education.

Andy's been willing to gamble with these chips, leaving them on the table the entire time.

Andy, the Gambler.

And not a Democrat.

Where's the budget agreement, Andy? Show us all exactly what kind of hand you're holding.