Howdy, y'all. It's Friday! You survived another week. Your reward is the following Friday munchies:
Michigan Messenger:Frankenmuth the latest battleground in religious symbol debate. I never thought of Frankenmuth as a hotbed of conservative craziness, but Ed Brayton goes inside the latest front in the culture wars.
Liberal, Loud and Proud:A real Public Servant announces his bid for office in Ingham Co. With all the focus on Hillary McObama, it's easy for local races to get lost in the shuffle. LiberalLucy introduces us to a great candidate for Register of Deeds in Ingham County.
MI Biz Review:Palisades Nuclear Plant scores well on safety test. Well, that's a relief!
Detroit News:Detroit's Downtown Hoedown kicks off in Hart Plaza. Electronica, Motown and...country? Come on down to Hart Plaza and check it out!
The weekend starts in 5, 4, 3, 2...(and if you're joining us tomorrow for the Michigan Policy Summit, it promises to be a great weekend!)
Let’s not forget, in all the shit-flinging going both ways between Hillary and Barack supporters, that neither of the Democratic Party nominees believe anything as insane as Sen. McCain does.
It's very appropriate that today we welcome Gary Peters, the Democratic candidate for Michigan's 9th Congressional District, for a live chat here at Michigan Liberal. If you haven't heard the news, the Cook Report released its latest yesterday, shifting the 9th from "Likely Republican" to "Lean Republican." That means, as of now, things are going Peters' way in the race, and it's important to continue the necessary momentum to continue shifting it.
Although Knollenberg is a stronger incumbent than, say, Tim Walberg, Peters has some important things going for him. The first is the general shift in the district's demographics, making it an increasingly Democratic district. The second is represented by Peters' endorsement of the League of Conservation Voters, and the inclusion of Knollenberg on the LCV's Dirty Dozen. The LCV, you see, had to come up with a new list because in 2006, a number of its ranks were thinned through the election process, many based on active support from environmental groups. In this race, at this time when being Green is swiftly becoming synonymous with making green, that could prove decisive.
Peters will be with us from 12:30 until generally 1:30, and we start taking questions now from anyone who can't stick around. If, after getting to know him a little better, you feel so inclined, here's his Act Blue page.
I'm pleased to announce that 9th District Congressional candidate Gary Peters will be with us this Friday today for a live chat from 12:30-1:30 p.m. As is the custom for these things, I'll throw up a diary at noon to give people who maybe can't make it for that hour a chance to leave a question.
Update! ... The live chat diary will go live at noon so anyone who can't be present while Peters is with us has the opportunity to leave a question and read the answer later.
We all know that some of the best things come out of Michigan. It certainly is the case with Jeffrey Feldman, native of Michigan and one of the most highly-respected progressive bloggers on the Tubes of the Internets. Feldman got his start on DailyKos and My DD back before many of us had even heard of blogs. In 2005 he left to go solo and opened shop over at Frameshop where he's risen as the master of his craft - framing the debate.
He might have topped it all with the release of his second book out just this month and that's sure to knock the socks off everyone with Outright Barbarous: How the Violent Language of the Right Poisons American Democracy. Find out what all the buzz is about as you read the first chapter of the book available here, which includes this bit that I think we can all agree with -
Becoming a progressive framer begins with changing a set of habits with respect to how we receive and process information. Framers make a choice to stop being passive consumers of political debate and to start producing the debate themselves-to seek out the situations where politics happens and drive the debate.
Progressive framers must be willing to step into the shoes of the traditional media. Gone are the days of reading one daily newspaper to get information; framers must read dozens of sources each day, tracking political ideas and issues as they take shape across the broad landscape of media- driven contemporary politics.
Blogs are the central haunting ground for progressive framers because they offer a nexus between political organizations, mass media, and the chatter of popular culture.
There are many really interesting things about this Bloomfield native, and if you joined us last year at Yearly Kos in Chicago, you might remember Jeffrey who moderated the Presidential Candidate Panel with all (then) seven candidates. It's also where I first met him and discovered how truly great this guy is.
Tomorrow we're lucky enough to have Jeffrey join us at the Michigan Policy Summit in Lansing. We're even luckier that Jeffrey was gracious enough to have a chat with us beforehand, and not to worry, I ran the official "You know you're a Michigander if..." test. Answers below the fold!
Asian & Pacific Islander American Vote - Michigan is hosting a townhall on May 17, featuring presidential candidates addressing issues that impact the Asian American & Pacific Islander community. Local candidates & ballot issue campaigns have been invited to come and meet the community.
The townhall takes place on Saturday, May 17, 6:30pm EST, at Lear Auditorium, University Tech. & Learning Center, Lawrence Technological University, 21000 West Ten Mile Rd., Southfield, MI. Admission is free, and refreshments will be provided. All are welcome to attend.
APIAVote is a national nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that encourages and promotes civic participation of Asian Pacific Islander Americans in the electoral and public policy processes at the national, state and local levels. APIAVote envisions a society in which all Asian Pacific Islander Americans fully participate in and have access to the democratic process.
With the support of various national Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) organizations, we will be expecting 2000 community leaders, elected officials, voters, and students representing this diverse community from across the country to participate at the first National Presidential Town Hall hosted by our Asian American and Pacific Islander community.
Join us for this historic event and learn about the candidates before voting in the general election in November, 2008. Invitations to each campaign were received and we are working with the campaigns to schedule each candidate's appearance.
Conservative Media: Smoking ban passes Senate. The Comm Guru has more info on yesterday's big news out of the Senate.
Skubick: Banning Cells and Text Messaging. Skubick explains why he thinks a ban on cell phone use while driving won't happen anytime soon (remember, it took ten years to get to this point with the smoking ban).
House Dems: House Dems Blast Senate for Stalling on Ethics Reforms. "As state lawmakers, we should be held to the highest ethical standards," said Majority Floor Leader Steve Tobocman (D-Detroit). "The people of Michigan refuse to tolerate a culture of corruption. An overwhelming majority of the House respects our residents and responded over a year ago by strengthening our ethics policies. Its now time for the Senate to take action."
The Economy
BFM: United Solar Ovonic Announces Another Expansion. "Alternative energy is creating jobs, and Uni-Solar is living proof."
Local, State, National Politics
Michigan Messenger: Bonior Endorses Obama. Todd Spencer on yesterday's news from the former Edwards campaign manager and Michigan congressman.
DetNews: House approves $15B foreclosure aid. Speaking of CD07 and CD09, yesterday Walberg voted against a House bill to send states $15 billion to buy and fix up foreclosed properties; Knollenberg voted yes. The bill passed 239-188.
Let me know if I forgot anything. Drop your links in the comments section...
The Cook Political Report moves Michigan's two biggest races in favor of the two Democrats. The 7th District goes from "Lean Republican" to "Toss up," and the 9th goes from "Likely Republican" to "Lean Republican."
For Mark Schauer, this means the second bit of ratification in the last couple of days. It was Roll Call who most lately called the race a toss up. Without mentioning anything, this really represents a Schauer advantage, since it means moving things in his direction.
As such could be said for Gary Peters, challenging Joe Knollenberg in the 9th. The remarkable thing in the 9th is that Knollenberg enjoys a fund raising advantage over his opponent.
You can show Peters a little extra love tomorrow by showing up between noon and 1:30 p.m. to meet Peters in a live chat with MichLib's readers.
There's been word bouncing around the last few days of a imminent solution to the American Axle strike, which is something probably everyone wishes to see, and this strikes me as a very positive development in making that happen.
No deal had been reached between American Axle and the UAW as of Thursday afternoon, but American Axle spokeswoman Renee Rogers said talks were continuing.
"We are hopeful that GM's financial assistance to help fund the buyouts, retirement incentives and buy downs ... will facilitate an expedited resolution to the international UAW strike," Rogers said. "It's been costly and disruptive. A quick return to work will be a win-win-win for everybody."
American Axle said in a separate filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission that the aid from GM is contingent on a quick end to the strike.
"We believe the offer will help bridge the gap between American Axle and the UAW and that they will be able to reach a mutually satisfactory agreement in the near future," GM spokesman Dan Flores said.
The problem with contract negotiations is that usually only selective portions of them are carried out in the public eye, which makes judging a development like this a dicey proposition. It seems like a positive step to me, but behind closed doors it might be perceived as an insult that prolongs the strike another couple of weeks.
Camp Hillary is rejecting the new plan floated today by Michigan Dems that would seat the delegation by awarding 69 delegates to Hillary and 59 to Obama.
That was one of the Challenge result options in our proposal, too, although with no superdelegates.
But without the agreement, we're going for full Rules requirements, which would be based on the actual April 19th delegate attendance. Since Uncommitted showed up 2:1 (as much as 6:1 in some places), the Clinton delegates must be decreased -- not increased.
Happy Miserable Fricking Thursday, everybody! Yesterday I bought a watch at Meijer's and then managed to leave the stupid thing at the self-serve checkout when I left, and had to go all the way back. Today I had Four at Four all set to go when I accidentally deleted the stupid thing. Then I accidentally deleted all the saved email in my Gmail inbox, and I'm still working to reconstruct it all. Needless to say, it's been a comically miserable couple of days. Chew on the following, and use the comments to tell me your computing horror stories...
Lessenberry:Repellent Ruling. As usual, hammer meet nailhead. (h/t to the homesliciest homeslice in Homesliceland, JPowers155)
Detroit News:GM offers $200 million toward American Axle employee buyouts. Your daily reminder that American Axle is still on strike.
Det News:Detroit officer battles policy that forces pregnant cops to take unpaid leave. My jaw dropped when I read this. Pregnant DPD officers are forced to take unpaid leave. The mind boggles.
LSJ:GM strike stretching bank accounts, patience. Your daily reminder that 3500 workers at GM Delta Twp. Assembly are still on strike.
One final note: I'd like to thank the ever-capable and ever-fabulous joanb for pinch-hitting yesterday.
(Words to live by. Thanks for the diary! - promoted by JPowers155)
This is not a personal blog. But as the adage goes, the personal is political.
Michigan's Supreme Court has interpreted the marriage amendment to the state constitution as prohibiting employee health benefits being extended to same-sex partners. Fine.
The papers this morning are touting arrangements made by state universities with a work around that involves terms like "other qualified adult" and "other eligible individual." Gays and lesbians in Michigan are supposed to be grateful for the creativity of university legal teams. Statistically, there won't be a lot of people directly affected, so what does it matter?
Here's how it matters. Our state, this state, has unabashedly enshrined in law heterosexual privilege. Some readers may think that I just used a bit of radical jargon. Too bad.
Sen. Bruce Patterson, R-Canton Township, echoed some other Republicans, saying he once opposed a statewide smoking ban but had changed his mind because of a second report by the U.S. Suirgeon General that found second-hand smoke a public health hazard.
The vote was 25-12, by the way.
Update 2! ... Yes, of course, the best Bob Jones has to offer. From MIRS: "But Sen. Alan CROPSEY (R-DeWitt) called it an example of 'Big Nanny' government."
At its meeting on Wednesday night, May 8, the Executive Committee (of the MDP) made these decisions:
1. To file an appeal with the DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee proposing that all 157 automatic and pledged Michigan delegates be seated with a full vote and that the 128 pledged delegates be allocated 69 for Clinton and 59 for Obama. Joel Ferguson will join the appeal and withdraw his own appeal.
2. To reschedule the May 17 State Central meeting to June 14 to allow time for the delegate dispute to be resolved.
Thank you for your continued patience and support.
Mark Brewer
My comments - At least the Ferguson idea is dead. Here is what I wrote in a comment to a diary on dkos this morning:
I am an elected Michigan delegate (6th CD, male Uncommitted), and I have to say that Michigan Democrats are still divided about this issue. Many (like myself and Martha) fought the MDP over this. I told Mark Brewer to his face last October that this would be a disaster. I continued to oppose it, and to support a re-do, until last month, when it became clear that would not happen under any circumstances.
However, there are many other Michigan voters who think the results are fine, and mainly blame Obama et al. for pulling out. This is simply a reality, and until we have a resolution, it will continue to sap our energy. I've been out canvassing, doing voter ID in my neighborhood, and I hear about this issue again and again, when I'm trying to change the subject to the issues for the fall campaign.
So, Martha, I AM hearing how Michigan voters feel. And it's all mixed up, and we need to put this behind us. If that takes a compromise that is less than ideal from any point of view, so be it.
Below, I list the members of the RBC, along with what I have been able to find out about whether they support [O]bama or [C]linton. This may give us some idea of how the vote might go down at their meeting on May 31:
ABC News has learned that David Bonior, the campaign manager for the 2008 presidential race of Sen. John Edwards, D-NC, will endorse Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, today.
Draw your own conclusions about what this might mean for Obama and organized labor.
It's very appropriate that today we welcome Gary Peters, the Democratic candidate for Michigan's 9th Congressional District, for a live chat here at Michigan Liberal. If you haven't heard the news, the Cook Report released its latest yesterday, shifting the 9th from "Likely Republican" to "Lean Republican." That means, as of now, things are going Peters' way in the race, and it's important to continue the necessary momentum to continue shifting it.
