Killips drops out of race

I hope... (0.00 / 0)

it wasn't the moustache thing.  Scott seems like a very nice guy.  Hopefully we hear more from him in the near future.

---

by: northernlib @ Fri Jan 25, 2008 at 09:20:41 AM CST

No... (0.00 / 0)

I was looking forward to doing stuff with Scott, as well as the other candidates in the Second, to generate the kind of buzz I think is necessary if we want to even have a ghost's chance of beating Hoekstra.

Among the Trees

---

by: Eric B. @ Fri Jan 25, 2008 at 09:23:16 AM CST

[ Parent ]

::sigh:: (0.00 / 0)

You could've waited for Scott or someone from the campaign to say something, Eric. Scott deserves better than that.

And as for northernlib...really classy. Thanks.

---

by: PerfectStormer @ Fri Jan 25, 2008 at 10:18:02 AM CST

No offense (0.00 / 0)

Oh, I meant no offense.  I was just interjecting some humor in an unfortunately unclassy way.  I apologize if I offended Scott or any of his supporters including you, Stormy.  Scott does seem like a very nice guy and a great candidate to run for office.

Eric was only notifying us of a story already published in the mainstream media.

---

by: northernlib @ Fri Jan 25, 2008 at 10:23:18 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Well... (4.00 / 3)

Having this hit the front page of MichLib without any input from anyone connected to the campaign is probably my fault. When Scott made the decision last week, he called me personally to let me know (because that's just the kind of guy he is), and at that time I should've offered to throw something up here with a little more tact than a blurb from WLNS.

As for the mustache comment, I'll get over it. I just don't find Scott's situation (I won't plaster details of his personal life all over the front page without his permission, but suffice to say his life has taken a turn for the sucktastic) particularly amusing, and I'm really not looking forward to making the decision as to whether I prefer 2 more years of Pete Hoekstra or the possibility of Fred Johnson actually being in Congress.

---

by: PerfectStormer @ Fri Jan 25, 2008 at 10:32:00 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Giving Pete a Fight (4.00 / 1)

At the risk of being told to stick it, I'm still pondering your abject hatred of Fred Johnson.  I've met him and heard him speak.  He's heartfelt and articulate and he's got lots of friends in the African American community.  It's true that he's an overly cautious newcomer who has a waffling problem, but he's certainly not an "asshole" (your word).  No chance of winning?  So what? You like Kotos' chances?

I had hopes for Killips and was looking forward to hearing him on the issues.  Too bad.  But unless you're planning to run for this seat, don't disparage the Dem who has the balls to do so.

Wow: "balls" and "asshole" in the same post.  I must be courting a ban....

Walk a mile in the other guy's shoes. That way, you're a mile away from him; plus, you have his shoes.

---

by: lakeshoremmm @ Fri Jan 25, 2008 at 12:52:41 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Ha... (0.00 / 0)

First of all, I'm not old enough to run for Congress. Second of all, this is west Michigan, where the KKK and the Christian Coalition are alive and well. A gay candidate would be laughed off the stage. So I thought I'd do something to help somebody I believed in. I was young and stupid, I guess, as I actually expected people at a site like MichiganLiberal to be supportive, or at least not outwardly hostile. Instead, the Killips campaign got repeatedly kicked in the teeth, even as Scott himself is at home physically suffering.

No matter. You and Black Earl and northernlib can have your blog. I'll be at BFM if anybody needs me.

Rich: Thanks for trying.

---

by: PerfectStormer @ Fri Jan 25, 2008 at 13:51:29 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Scott has been working on an announcement (3.73 / 11)

and we have been waiting for him to finish it so that his decision to drop out of the race would be in his own words and his own way.

Basically here's the deal. Scott (like me) was politically activated by his dealings with our national health care system.

Scott has a rare form of Muscular Dystrophy and I have non-Hodgkin's lymphoma... So we've both spent more time in the health care system than most people ever have to and we've seen first-hand the difference between the treatment that those that have good insurance get and the treatment that those that don't have insurance receive.

Scott and I both have excellent health insurance and we got everything we needed, while watching our fellow patients go without and in many cases die because of that... and that's just not right.

Scott's doctors had found a course of treatment that had worked for him and his condition had been stable for quite awhile and was basically living just like everyone else.

So Scott being Scott, had decided it wasn't right that he was able to get better just because he had good insurance and others in his position that didn't have insurance were just left to rot and die. As a result, he decided to run for Congress since no one else was saying what really needed to be said or doing what really needed to be done when it comes to our nation's health care system.

Unfortunately, Scott's health has recently taken a drastic and sudden turn for the worse over the last month and the former course of treatment is no longer working. Scott's mobility is now severely limited and he physically can no longer be on the campaign trail, work or even move about his house easily. Mentally he's got to focus on his health and his family, because his family always comes first for him.

Scott has been working on his announcement, but he's having a hard time and it's taking him awhile because he isn't able to stay up for very long and even moving about his house is physically draining for him.

Scott has never been a quitter and he held off on his decision until all of his test results came back and there was simply no other option for him but to pull out.

All I have to say about this is that the party leaders of our District and the other candidates knew exactly why Scott would not be continuing with his campaign and if they'd have had even an ounce of human compassion they'd have allowed him to announce this himself. There was no rush and it has only been about a week since he informed them of his decision and his reason to drop out of the race.

Way to go.

I hope your proud of yourselves, whoever you are.

I have come to the conclusion that politics are too serious a matter to be left to the politicians. Charles De Gaulle (1890 - 1970)

---

by: LisainManistee @ Fri Jan 25, 2008 at 12:24:20 PM CST

I got an idea. (1.00 / 7)

If you don't want people to talk about your departure until you are ready to discuss it, DO NOT TELL ANYONE.

Makes sense to me.  

"Win if you can, lose is you must, but ALWAYS cheat!" -- Jesse Ventura

"Whether you like it or not, learn to love it, because its the best thing going. Wooooo!" -- Ric Flair

---

by: Black Earl @ Fri Jan 25, 2008 at 12:29:27 PM CST

[ Parent ]

And once again I am reminded why I no longer (4.00 / 4)

visit Michigan Liberal everyday.

Thanks Black Earl. I almost forgot.


I have come to the conclusion that politics are too serious a matter to be left to the politicians. Charles De Gaulle (1890 - 1970)

---

by: LisainManistee @ Fri Jan 25, 2008 at 13:02:27 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Warning (3.57 / 7)

There was absolutely no reason to downrate LisainManistee's comment, a comment that was well-written, thoughtful, and highly informative and wasn't negative towards anyone. Between your downrating and your "lighten up jerky" comment above (and your countless other useless comments on this site), consider this your warning.

---

by: rich @ Fri Jan 25, 2008 at 13:07:43 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Insurance (4.00 / 6)

I agree Lisa. I just got back from the Dr.'s office today where I was given 3 sets of xrays for a friggin sinus inflammation!

If it wasn't for BCBS, I know I would've been given a script and rushed out of the office in 7 minutes.

---

by: yvette248 @ Fri Jan 25, 2008 at 14:19:54 PM CST

[ Parent ]

At one point my prescriptions alone (4.00 / 5)

were nearly $11,000 per week. Most of which were experimental and most insurance policies wouldn't have have covered at all.

Health care costs are just insane.  

I have come to the conclusion that politics are too serious a matter to be left to the politicians. Charles De Gaulle (1890 - 1970)

---

by: LisainManistee @ Fri Jan 25, 2008 at 15:31:23 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Here's what I don't understand... (4.00 / 4)

Why is it that I can't post a simple announcement that a candidate has dropped out of a race without people getting angry?

But, there you have it.

People are angry that I posted a link to a media announcement that this had taken place, people are angry over the anger, and I've got people mouthing off to the site's assistant editor.

Folks, this is my last "Knock this stupid shit off" announcement.  If need be, I'll go as far as shutting down comments until people can properly align themselves to some basic standards of civility.

Among the Trees

---

by: Eric B. @ Fri Jan 25, 2008 at 14:09:58 PM CST

look at the chronology (0.00 / 2)

all stemmed from misplaced anger at you linking to a published media report.  Like i said previously, ban me if you want but i am gonna call em like i see em and I stand by everything i typed in this thread.

I can believe anyone would take it as a personal attack on someone by posting to a newspaper report and a tv report.  

The naivete on display here is amusing at best and distressing at worst.

"Win if you can, lose is you must, but ALWAYS cheat!" -- Jesse Ventura

"Whether you like it or not, learn to love it, because its the best thing going. Wooooo!" -- Ric Flair

---

by: Black Earl @ Fri Jan 25, 2008 at 14:17:24 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Here's something else I hated to do... (4.00 / 4)

Sorry, but you just got the bounce.

Hated to do it.  Hate to ban anyone, and your comments frequently amuse me.

On the other hand, I closed down comments to this thread yesterday while I was at a playdate for my son, which means incivility here on this site intruded into my real-world life, which offends me to no end.

Among the Trees

---

by: Eric B. @ Sat Jan 26, 2008 at 08:09:05 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Golly. (0.00 / 0)

What a silly little dust-up we have going here.  Scott's very sick and we're all sorry and he's out of the race and now everybody knows why and that's too bad and we still need to get Pete outa his seat and Fred Johnson's not such an asshole and neither is Black Earl and oh...bye Stormy... and wouldn't it be great if we could get a real race going in MI-02, yeah, it sure would.  Maybe next cycle.

That about sums it up from my end. Go Dems.

Walk a mile in the other guy's shoes. That way, you're a mile away from him; plus, you have his shoes.

---

by: lakeshoremmm @ Sat Jan 26, 2008 at 15:11:48 PM CST

[ Parent ]

As a Michigan Liberal donor (0.00 / 0)

What a bunch of shit.  Black Earl, one of the more campaign insightful posters gets bounce for nothing.

This is censorship, plain and simple, from an apparent hypocrit who himself just today railed about a corporation trying to block someone elses freedom of speech.  Let's go to the tape:

There are two likely outcomes to this ... that there was some erroneous reporting, and Moore's attorneys decided to throw everything plus the kitchen sink in hopes of negotiating their way down to what they really want.  However, I'm told that Tuesday's deadline came and went, and neither the Michigan Messenger nor its D.C. attorneys has since heard from Moore's attorneys, which raises the ugly possibility that the real goal in threatening the site was not to correct the public record, but to chill free speech (this is outcome number two).

We'll see, I guess, because it's still pretty early in the game to start throwing around charges that Sovereign Deed has violated Michigan Messenger's First Amendment rights.  Still, the thing is worth watching for a couple of reasons, and the longer it takes for the company to show its cards, the more you have to start thinking that the company was hoping to bully Michigan Messenger into silence.

The first is that this would be the most significant threat to free speech involving an Internet outlet in the state of Michigan.  

A corporation limmiting free speech, a terrible thing.  Read your own posts about corpoarte censorship, MichiganLiberal.com, llc.

Pot, say hello to our friend kettle.

And as a three year donor (back when Matt was around), I'll keep my few buscks.  I guess sattelite radio is the ONLY REAL forum for uncensored speech.

---

by: LivinginMichigan @ Sun Jan 27, 2008 at 18:18:45 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Disappointing (4.00 / 5)

This is disappointing. I understand your anger and frustration. No one likes to see someone banned. As far as censorship is concerned, that is not the case. Black Earl has not been censored. He's free to start his own blog.

As someone who has been around here for three years then you're familiar with the Editorial Policy.

Behave Yourself

Personal attacks and insults, pure stupidity, and unsubstantiated rumor presented as fact are not allowed. Those comments are often troll-rated by the community until they disappear.

Insightful? Black Earl might have had a few insights here and there. But pure stupidity, attacks, insults, not to mention all the rumor-mongering about a particular candidate for Congress, far outweighed the few insights. He was troll-rated repeatedly. We received lots of complaints from lots of people about him. He was warned. And he gave us the finger.

Banning people sucks. But we need a certain level of decorum if we're to make this site useful to people, a site people want to continue to read, engage with others, and work to organize to get our issues heard and our solutions implemented.

---

by: rich @ Sun Jan 27, 2008 at 20:36:24 PM CST

[ Parent ]

This was the hardest decision I've made... (4.00 / 1)

I don't like banning anyone, and Black Earl was one of my favorite users.  Like, of all time.  Yes, indeed, this was not something I ever wanted to do.

On the other hand, there are times when your personal feelings have to take a backseat.  I can't permit one user's conduct to soak up so much of my time that it impacts the other things I'm trying to do with the site ... or, you know, my personal life.

Among the Trees

---

by: Eric B. @ Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 00:47:20 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Thank You (4.00 / 5)

I don't post here very often but I read it every day and my husband Butch Snider posts here faithfully.  In respect to the accusations of the so-called censorship...ITS NOT censorship...If it were censorship, he would have erased the comments. Just remembers is HIS blog and he has the right to set the rules and standards.  We abide by his policies. It is a simple as that.  This blog is extremely useful and a wonderful source for voicing our issues--believe it or not, but you would be surprised on how many people I have directed to keep watch on this site for emerging ideas and issues who work at the legislature that I have contact with on a daily basis---and...later, they have come back to thank me...so please....lets keep it professional...innovative...respectful...and a big thank you to all the bloggers who make this site what it is today!!!  

Today impossible...tomorrow possible...changing America one black belt at a time.

---

by: ladytaekwondo7 @ Sun Jan 27, 2008 at 21:35:22 PM CST

and thanks to you, too... (4.00 / 4)

for being part of this community.  I would not have survived live blogging the budget without you and Butch.  Your insights, comments and encouragement kept me and the other folks going through the endless days and nights.

Today, I stood up at a meeting of progressive, pro-choice activists here in the Lansing area and talked about how they should get involved and I told them to come to MichLib.  I explained that it's a bit wild and wooly some days but that people here want change and that they would be welcome.

I hope that I was right. 

Do stupid people know they are stupid?

---

by: JPowers155 @ Sun Jan 27, 2008 at 21:56:53 PM CST

[ Parent ]