National speaker/activist and founder of Green for All Van Jones speaks with me at the Big Tent at the Denver DNC (with Emptywheel chiming/directing in the background).
For those of us that were lucky enough to be at Netroots Nation last month, we were treated to hearing Van Jones speak. Jones who is a champion of fighting social inequality and environmental destruction is arguably one of the best speakers I've heard in the recent past, and joining me on the Van Jones bandwagon is our own PerfectStormer who can also testify to his greatness.
Van was kind enough to speak with me about Michigan Senate Republicans fool-hardy plan for 8 new coal plants in Michigan, how we turn Detroit around AND protect our environmental future, and why Al Gore is so very right. And now that I'm no longer fighting YouTube for hours on end to upload videos, you can watch it here. :-)
A few weeks ago at the Griffin Policy Forum on climate change and the state's economy, Jon Allan of Consumers Energy called the moment we live in a "transformational" one. Coming out the back end of it, the way we live will be completely different than how it is today.
This is part of an e-mail I got from Doug Kelley, one of the co-leaders of the Michigan Draft Gore movement:
"With an increasing possibility that NO candidate will win the nomination on the first ballot (in the Democratic National Convention in Denver in August), the possibility of the delegates turning to Gore may also be increasing. Gore supporters here in Michigan will be well advised to vote on the "Uncommitted" line, on the January 15 Democratic primary ballot. In each Congressional District in which 15% or more of voters vote "Uncommitted," one or more uncommitted delegates will be chosen (in the Spring) to go to the Dem National Convention. So . . . all is NOT lost, from a Draft Gore point of view!"
Even if you're not a Gore supporter, if your candidate is one of those not on the ballot, you can vote "uncommitted" to help get as many uncommitted delegates at the convention as possible (if our delegates even get seated) to help keep [fill in the blank] from getting Michigan's votes on the first ballot.
Now I don't know whether to vote for Dodd or Uncommitted!
LSJ: Record 'em: Senate censorship on votes makes mockery of accountability. Mike Bishop, Mr. Censorship.
Oakland Press: Michigan shouldn't need bathroom bill, but it does. This should make LibearalLucy happy: "The bill appears to be reasonable and considers both customer and business concerns. While in some respects we don't need another "bill" on the books, it probably wouldn't hurt to have this one."
AP: State Reps Agree... 70 with No Helmet is Cool. Sorry, but this is dumb.
DFP: Voters may decide on lifting stem cell ban. "Paperwork creating the Stem Cell Research Ballot Question Committee was filed last week with the Secretary of State. But the director of an affiliated organization said Thursday no decision has been made about whether to mount what would almost certainly become a multimillion-dollar campaign to overturn the state?s ban on research involving the destruction of human embryos."
Rep. Bart Stupack: We Need A Food Safety System Capable of Combating Dangerous Food Imports. "Now more than ever, our country?s federal food safety system needs to be strong enough to protect the public health, our national security, and our economy."
Michigan's Economy
AA Biz Review: U-M VP: Universities belong in economic development. "U-M played a prominent, public role in the attraction of Google Inc. and Aerrnova Aerospace S.A. to Ann Arbor, Forrest said. But universities need the support of the state to maintain efforts to stay involved in local economies."
AA Biz Review: Process Innovators: NanoBio Corp. Here's a perfect example of a university project spinning off into a successful business: "NanoBio spun out of the University of Michigan in 2000. The technology initially was developed at the university, where it received funding from the U.S. Department of Defense's Defense Advanced Research Programs Agency."
Michigan Future: UM publishes important breast cancer discovery. "The University of Michigan this week announced that its researchers played a key role in identifying a gene linked to breast cancer. The gene was discovered based on the work of a multi-center international study." In related news, an Ann Arbor-based company just received a "multimillion-dollar grant from the National Cancer Institute to foster the development of a cancer profiling database as a tool for biopharmaceutical R&D."
Earlier tonight I published a very extensive diary over at Daily Kos outlining everything the Draft Gore movement has been up to - and boy, let me tell you, there was a lot of outlining to do. The absolute highest priority right now, however, is gathering the 12,396 valid signatures to get Gore on the Michigan primary ballot should he choose to run.
Happy Hump Day! Lots of links this morning... enjoy!
Legislation/Budget
AP: Michigan governor signs law setting Jan. 15 presidential primary. The Governor did the right thing. Heck, even the folks in New Hampshire have come to the realization that our primary system is broken.
AP: Senate approves changes aimed at saving school health costs. "Republicans hoped the measure, one of their key cost-saving proposals, would break the stalemate over higher taxes and prompt a response from Democrats who control the House. The GOP wants any tax increase proposal to originate in the House. The state faces a potential government shutdown if a deal is not reached." The countdown to chaos continues.
K-Zoo Gazette: State work program gets good response. No Worker Left Behind is a hit. That's right... the same program Senate Republicans tried to cut funding for just two weeks ago.
Muskegon Chronicle: Threats are a sorry substitute for governance. "Here in Michigan, our state faces a tsunami of fiscal hurt should the funding pool on which our state government operates be drained any further. Our universities, schools, cities, public safety and health care services would all be at risk if legislators who live in the real world and serve real people don't ignore the belligerent bluster of ideologues like Drolet and the government-haters."
Ann Arbor News: Schools start off year with less money. "District cuts include limiting bus service, privatizing services, cutting teaching positions and increasing or instituting pay-to-play fees for athletics." Sorry kids, but this is what happens when Republicans refuse to raise the revenue that is necessary to fund education.
D-News: School's back: Readin' and writin' and belt-tightenin'. A similar article from the News. Here's what UM economist Paul Courant has to say: "The ability to fund education is crucial to the state's future to the extent that the economic problems hinder our ability to produce a work force that can compete in the global economy." Got that? Poorly funded schools = slower economic recovery. It's a simple equation.
Ann Arbor News: Paying tuition a battle EMU students to pay 8% more this semester. "It's difficult to put anything back into the economy when you graduate, because you're so focused on paying off your loans." Thanks for the hike, Mike!
Environment/Energy
Among the Trees: Sequestration a load of hoo-hah? Does sequestering carbon underground amount to simply sweeping the problem under the carpet? Eric's not the only one who thinks so.
Bay City Times: Environmental Film Festival highlights problems on Great Lakes while seeking ideas to solve them. This sounds like a really cool idea: "The films should focus on the Great Lakes region and address what people can do to help the environment. It can be a documentary, a cartoon, even a music video, as long as it gets the message across. Films, in DVD format, are due Dec. 15 and will be judged by a panel of local community leaders."
DEQ: Michigan Air Quality. There's an Ozone alert for Grand Rapids and Ludington today. The DEQ says to "Make clean air choices. Defer using gas-powered engines. Walk, bike, carpool or use mass transit if possible. Link errands into one trip. Conserve energy."
Great Lakes Guy: Ohio Gov. Strickland Unveils "Advanced" Energy Strategy. "Ohio Governor Ted Strickland earlier this week unveiled an 8-point strategic initiative to diversify his state's energy portfolio with renewable power, generate tens of thousands of jobs, and modernize Ohio's economy for the 21st century." Gee, wouldn't it be nice if we could get this done here in Michigan? Sen. Barcia's RPS legislation is still languishing in the Michigan Senate.
The Detroit News/WXYZ-TV poll includes these findings with Gore in the mix. Al Gore - 36%. Hillary Clinton - 32%. Barack Obama - 16%. John Edwards - 8%. When Gore was excluded from the choices, the results were Hillary Clinton - 45%. Barack Obama - 26%. John Edwards - 16%. http://www.dailykos....
When I watched former Vice President Gore on Larry King, it seemed as if he didn't truly believe that the 'real people' on the street were really telling the truth when they said, every single one, of them: please run.
Enthusiasm is building for former Vice-President Al Gore to enter the race for the Democratic Presidential nomination, and there was plenty of that enthusiasm at a panel discussion of Gore's latest book - "Assault on Reason" - on Thursday put together by mid-Michigan draft Al Gore proponents at Schuler Books in Okemos.
The panel, consisting of Beryl Schwartz, editor and publisher of the Lansing City Pulse; Tracy Dobson, a professor at Michigan State University's Fisheries and Wildlife Department; and Doug Kelley, the retired director of Extension and Continuing Education at the University of Michigan in Flint.
The panel had differing opinions on latest book. Schwartz said he was disappointed the book had no new ideas from Gore, but he said it served as a good reference for all of Gore's previous positions and good ideas.
"This book, to a large extent represents, both what is good and bad about Al Gore," he said. "He is brilliant, but as a campaigner he is a little wooden."
Kelley disagreed with that assessment, and he said Gore's positions are what the former U.S. Senator and Vice-President are passionate about.
"I found this a very passionate book," he said. "He says George Bush violated the law - not that that he just lied to people - that he violated the law for the past six years."
Dobson said there were good and bad things in the book, but she really enjoyed Gore's take on the history of democracy and communications in the United States.
"TV has done more to damage our democracy than anything else," she said. "Political debate has been diluted down to 30 second advocacy spots."
The talk naturally drifted away from the book to politics and other subjects, and the panelists also talked about their personal experiences with Gore. Schwartz said he first met Gore in the early `80s when Gore was a Senator and Schwartz was a reporter for Scripps Howard News Service in Washington, D.C. Schwartz was offered a job as publisher of the Knoxville News Sentential in Gore's home state, and shortly after that he accepted the job got a call from "Al' - a former reporter himself - inviting him to lunch.
"We had a lot to talk about," he said "He has a great sense of humor."
Schwartz said even then he was developing a respect for Gore, but that respect was cemented when Gore appeared at a journalism panel celebrating the newspaper's 100th anniversary that Gore had to fly to from a conference in Bermuda and back just to be there because he had made a promise to Schwartz to attend.
"I think there are a lot of people from liberals to conservatives who wish he was president today," he said. "We would be better off today, but this book will not get him there."
Kelley, very active in the Washtenaw Democratic Party, said he saw Gore at all six of his Michigan appearances, and he was one of the 1,000 presenters Gore personally trained last year in Nashville to present the slide show based on Gore's Academy Award winning documentary "An Inconvenient Truth." Kelley said he saw a man that was far from wooden and lacking in emotions, and he saw a man who cared about people and was at ease with people from al walks of life.
Kelley has one of the largest collections of Democratic Presidential campaign memorabilia in a garage-like structure at his Ann Arbor home he calls the "archive" that he welcomes people to visit. Kelley once worked as an aide to late Democratic U. S. Senator Phil Hart, and he compares Gore favorably to Hart. Hart was a former Lieutenant Governor of Michigan, and he served in the Senate from 1959 until his untimely death in office in 1976. The Senator Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C. is named for him.
"He (Hart) was as close to a saint as a politician can get," Kelley said. "Al Gore has some of those same qualities."
Bob Alexander, a former Democratic candidate for U.S. Congress in the 8th Congressional District, is one of the organizers of the mid-Michigan Draft Al Gore movement. The group meets every month at 7 p.m. at the Gone Wired Cafe, 2021 E. Michigan Ave. in Lansing.
For more information contract Alexander at Alexjuliea@aol.com.
For those of us who voted in the 2004 Michigan Democratic Party Presidential Caucus, it was an exciting time. For the first time we could vote on the internet for our favored candidate and for me, it made the election process all the more interesting and interactive.
As much as the netroots community likes to complain about the prehistoric nature of the MDP, you just might be surprised to learn that Michigan was the very first state to do this internet voting. Even more impressive, we're the only state (at this point) that's going to do it again in 2008.
Here's a question - how many of you had dial-up service in 2004 versus your broadband connection today? Probably a lot of you. Despite that, a whopping 28% of the 160,000 Caucus voters in voted online. When you consider how Internet has been growing in leaps and bounds, imagine how that number will skyrocket.
As it stands now, the MDP already proposed several changes to the Delegate Selection Plan, all designed to make it a little easier for all of us to better participate. After looking it over, here's some points of particular interest:
Internet voting will be open for 7 days, as opposed to 30 days in '04
Voters will be able to vote in any voting location within their county. Go where it's closest.
You can take your utility bill, drivers license, or your MI Identification card as proof of identification. I think this is a great idea, it makes it more accessible to everyone, since we don't all have a Drivers License.
Choice of voting by mail, internet or in person.
Of course, if this is something we want to be available again next year, we need to let the MDP know. Right now, they are taking public comment on the Caucus Draft Selection Plan. Between now and April 28th, you can view the Plan online and then email the MDP with your comments.
While you're checking out the plan, you can also learn a little more about being a delegate, how delegates are selected, how the Convention process works, and the burning question - what's the date of the Caucus (Feb. 9th, 2008 as it stands now, but of course, that could change...)
Either way, it's your state, and your voice - make it heard!
Ok so for those of you who have not heard, or have forgotten, or really don't care, here I am again plugging the Downriver Teen Democratic Organization's free viewing of 'An Inconvenient Truth' this Friday, March 30.
Immediately following the film will be a talk back session with area environmental leaders including environmental activist and State Representative, Kathleen Law (D-Gibraltar).
Swing on by the DTDO Headquarters located at 21919 Telegraph, in Brownstown (between King and West on the east side of the street across from the new 'spot', Moose MacGreggors) at 7:00pm. Working to inform the community the DTDO are presenting this event with State Representatives Barb Farrah and Kathleen Law who have signed on as sponsors.
Note that the event is free but donations are suggested. No outside food or drink will be allowed to be smuggled in yet deliciously delightful organic refreshments that are good for your body and soul will be available for purchase.
For more information you can contact Me (Chris) at chris@downriverteendems.com, (734) 934-9452 or visit www.downriverteendems.com.
On Friday, March 30 at 7:00 PM the Downriver Teen Democratic Organization will be hosting a FREE viewing of Al Gore's oscar winning film, "An Inconvenient Truth." The event will take place at the DTDO Headquarters located at 21919 Telegraph, Brownstown, 48183.
Directly following the film will be a question and answer session with area environmental leaders. Being assisted by State Rep Kathleen Law, the group is seeking to inform the public in a non political way about the global warming crisis.
The DTDO request no outside food or drinks, and that all guests make a donation to the group to continue events like this.
Organic refreshments will be available for purchase, and free tips to save the environment will be given.
We hope to see you and your carpools saving energy on the 30th!
For more information please visit www.downriverteendems.com or email Chris at: chris@downriverteendems.com.
(See below for Michigan related stuff! - promoted by Eric B.)
Congratulations to Al Gore and Davis Guggenheim for winning the Oscar for the BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE at the 79th annual Academy Awards.
This may not be Michigan Specific, but I believe that it is important enough to be included on MichLib.
Republicans hate Al Gore for two very convenient reasons.
1) He beat George W. Bush in the Presidential race of 2000.
2) After decades of stifling Gore's warnings about the dangers of CO2 on our planet, Al Gore created his film, an Inconvenient Truth which opened the eyes of Americans and citizens of the world to the fragility of our earth, our environment, and our gluttonous ways.After his years in the Senate and the White House, Gore ended up getting the last word.Congratulations to Al Gore, An Inconvenient Truth, and to the people of the world for allowing the truth to not only come out, but to be recognized as the masterpiece that it is.
Denial has been the benchmark of conservatives and the conservative media for decades.Al Gore forced the truth to surface, and has given voice to the scientists of the world who were previously muted or labeled as alarmists by NeoCons and The US Chamber of Commerce (a.k.a. The Republican Party).
Al Gore has already accomplished so much, but he is not done yet.There is a movement to encourage him to accomplish even more.The Draft Gore 2008 movement seeks to encourage Al Gore to run for, and win (again) the presidency of the United States.Find out more about the Draft Gore campaign at http://www.algore.org.
See below for Michigan-related developments--Eric B.
From today's Free Press, a story about Michiganders carrying the message of Al Gore's movie, Inconvenient Truth, to local audiences.
Gore has personally trained 1,000 disciples. Part cheerleaders, part angels of gloom, they are fanning across the country with copies of his climate change slide show (330 slides) and the goal of getting their audience roused enough to demand action from their leaders.
Speakers are encouraged to customize their presentations, adding slides or discussing facts about the effects of global warming in their own states.
In Michigan, those talking points could include predictions that by 2100, summer here will feel like summers now in Mississippi and that the levels of lakes Michigan and Huron could drop by 5 feet.
In October 2005 Al Gore graced Ann Arbor with a slide show preview of his movie. The information is staggering. By 2100 the Great Lakes will have receded by several feet and ocean shorelines will encroach inland by much, much more.
Think Katrina was bad? Imagine how many people will be displaced along the coast of Florida, never to be able to return home.
In order to intelligently debate this topic we need to educate ourselves. Gore's movie and local sessions from trained volunteers can help do that.
The article contains dates and locations for presentations across the state.
Wednesday, 6:30 p.m., 305 Brooks Hall, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant
Thursday, 7 p.m., Inland Seas Education Association, 100 Dame St., Suttons Bay
March 1, 1 p.m., Children's Home of Detroit, 900 Cook Road, Grosse Pointe Woods
March 3, 9 a.m., St. Philip Lutheran Church, 1790 Fort St., Trenton
March 6, 6 p.m., Arab American National Museum, 13624 Michigan Ave., Dearborn
March 10, 2 p.m., Brighton Education Center, 125 S. Church St., Brighton
On another local note, Gore's science advisor for his training sessions is retired UM geology professor Henry Pollack.
A big thank you to Al Gore for his hard work and vision on the topic. And, an even bigger thank you to the volunteers.
Mark your calendar, today, for a session near you.
According to the Detroit Free Press, Michigan Democrats overwhelmingly prefer Hillary Clinton.
Almost a year before the state's parties hold primaries or caucuses, Clinton is the clear choice of Michigan Democrats with a nearly 30-point lead over her nearest rival, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, a Detroit Free Press-Local 4 Michigan Poll conducted last week shows. The New York senator and former first lady got strong support crossing racial lines, income levels, geographical boundaries and age.
At this point, I think that these results reflect on name recognition more than anything else. To candidates, the real value of polling this early is in defining the media narrative and fundraising.
The head-to-head polls were conducted by Selzer and Company. They sampled 675 voters from Jan 28 to 31, and claim a margin of error of 3.8 percent. In their simulation of a Democratic primary vote, they sampled 273 voters from Jan 28 to 31, and claim a margin of error of 5.9 percent.
(With Al Gore's nomination for a Nobel Peace Prize, this really should be an interesting race. Even if he doesn't decide to run, it's great to see Michigan's citizens involved here at home in the democracy process. - promoted by LiberalLucy)
I attended a meeting in Birmingham Monday night, and they have filed with the FEC to form this group already (I'll have to check on the exact name, but it's something like "Volunteers to Draft Al Gore to Run for President in 2008"). There will be three groups in various parts of the state -- Detroit metro, Ann Arbor and Lansing. We will meet once a month (on a Sunday afternoon) with all three groups and then most likely the individual groups will also meet separately. We will rotate the location of the meetings. The next one is scheduled for Sunday, February 18 from approx. 2-5 p.m. in Ann Arbor. I will post details once I see if there is any interest, but I believe it will be held at the Ann Arbor Library at 5th and William St. If anyone wants to carpool from the metro area, please let me know.
First, most of the candidates mentioned as potential 2008 Democratic Party standard-bearers are fine public servants. Most have served their country with distinction, are honorable, knowledgeable and would, in the minds of many Americans, be far better equipped to exercise the duties and prerogatives of Chief Magistrate compared to our 43rd President when he entered that High Office in 2001.
With that in mind, one prospective Democratic nominee for President stands best-positioned to win the General Election and, by doing so, help restore integrity to our government and secure America’s place in the world as a champion of our democratic ideals.
