Hump Day links

by: Eric B.

Wed Feb 08, 2012 at 17:01:32 PM EST

Rumor on the street is that a certain white-haired legislator from West Michigan who hates homosexuals, when asked a question or two by a reporter, responded by inviting said reporter into the bathroom where he could get answers over a nice friendly pee. It would be irresponsible to speculate whether this House member -- and let's protect his identity and just refer to him as D. Agema ... no, better yet, Dave A. -- had something untoward on his mind in doing so. On the other hand, perhaps Peggy Noonan is a better authority on the properness of that.

Onward!

*--This morning, I got a press release from Progress Michigan tagging the Teabaggin' Surgeon for attending a $1,000 cigar and whiskey fund raiser in Washington. This afternoon, Angela Wittrock says Benishek has no plans to attend. Political has-been before the age of 30 Dennis Lennox says Benishek confirmed. My theory of what happened? Benishek planned to attend until his staff learned that Lennox was mixed up in it, or he planned to attend until his staff learned that the public might learn that Benishek would be seen at a fund raiser with Lennox. Then, they pulled the plug. The only lingering question is why anyone is pallin' around with Dennis Lennox.

*--Benevolent overlord Rick Michigan explains why he doesn't want to see Right-to-Work legislation. This sentence, "If you look at what’s gone on in the states, you have to ask the question, now what’s going to get done in Indiana for the next year or two?" is eminently reasonable, and mirrors stuff said last year by Democratic governors over Scott Walker's nonsense. James Hoffa mirrors our benevolent overlord's sentiments. Know why I continue to think recalling benevolent overlord Rick Michigan is not the thing to do? Because if you do, the odds are much better that you'll get someone who actually wants that fight than someone who doesn't.

*--The circus is coming to town ... or, rather, the clown car full of sad clowns that frighten rather than delight. Michigan's primary will be relevant only until three days after it takes place. As for the nominating race ... sorry, boys, when your last best hope to keep the nomination out of Willard Mitt "Mittens" Romney's hands is Rick Santorum, you may as well throw in the towel. By the way, I noted a week or so ago the Michigan Punditocracy started pretending like Rick Santorum was this year's Mike Huckabee, all moderate on the issue of economic justice. Anyone bother to take a look at his important work during the Terry Schiavo disgrace?

*--How on God's name did American exceptionalism become something Republicans hate?

*--The L. Brooks Patterson-promoted law intended to apply only once, to Oakland County this year, draws a judge skeptical that it was written only to apply to Oakland County this year.

*--Privatization of prisons held up by a law prohibiting paying people slave wages. Perhaps the problem here isn't the law. Perhaps the problem here is a business model that relies on slavery.

*--My state representative Kevin Cotter, who voted to continue a 40-year trend of reducing state support for its university system by voting in favor of last year's 15 percent cut in university appropriations, is concerned that MSU charging incoming students for health insurance might make higher education prohibitively expensive. Don't blame him for his cognitive dissonance. He's a young man, and no doubt means well.

*--Could we see the end of road commissions?

*--Jack Lessenberry on how Matty Maroun has done purchased his-own-self his very own state Senate. After all, no one will let him buy himself another bridge, what's he going to use all that money on? By the way, the Marouns finally got around to saying they'd comply with the court order for which the evil billionaire was jailed last month.