Ed Schultz interviews Sen. Carl Levin on the recently released Senate Armed Services Report and totally debunks Republicans who have been saying that the report is partisan.
Anyone from Michigan knows that the Levin name is pretty much gold in the Michigan Democratic Party. Carl Levin has been kicking ass as one of our U.S. Senators for 30 years, and his older brother, Sander "Sandy" Levin has been a U.S. Representative for as long as I can remember. In addition, various other related Levins have been members of the state Supreme Court, federal judges, and so forth. Sandy's son, Andy Levin, ran for State Senate in 2006 and lost by a hair.
Why am I mentioning this? Because a headline broke today that is sure to cause a whole lot of raised eyebrows throughout the MDP:
I've spent the last 18 hours trying to figure out how to verbalize the rage, the frustration, and the deep sadness I feel after the asinine vote by the Senate Republicans in Congress that killed the auto industry bailout. And then I saw this quote by Lt. Gov. Cherry that seemed pretty spot on -
"We are witnessing Congressional unraveling of the American Dream and the demolition of the very foundation of our national security. A few beltway insiders who are completely out of touch with the struggles of American families decided to settle old political scores at the expense of millions of jobs and our national economic security. While bankers get the keys to the Treasury our manufacturers get a one-way ticket to bankruptcy and American families are left unprotected."
Last time I checked, the United States included Michigan, although with the way we've been slapped and kicked around in DC, you wouldn't know it.
If only Congress were as sharp and cared as much about working families as we do, they'd realize what letting the Big Three fail really means: not being able to retire, not being able to have health care, not being able to put food on the table - not being able to enjoy even a hope of achieving the American Dream.
These aren't just "workers". Every time I hear this topic discussed on the airwaves, I wonder how many people truly understand that these "workers" are actually people like my dad, my aunt, my neighbor, your friend, even you. Do they get that there are actual people behind this very in-personal collective group term, also used to describe honeybees and ants??
We owe American workers, who had nothing to do with the onset of the economic crisis or the strategy of auto management, the benefits and pay they agreed to, and we owe it to them to fight for their jobs and well-being.
Do Senate Republicans know what it's like to lose a job for no reason other than credit markets seizing up? We bailed out the financial institutions that got us into this crisis with much less rancor than providing much less money in a LOAN, not a bailout, to one of our most important manufacturing industries.
And has Congress been to Michigan lately? Have they seen the job losses we've already suffered, and the pain workers have already faced as the Big Three restructure?
According to a "what are you doing" note on a GMail chat, the Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy needs just $3000 to meet the city's benchmark. Does anyone have $3000 to give? I don't and I'm not alone given the current economy but I can give an additional $30 today, within the hour, in fact. http://www.savetigerstadium.org
If 99 of you can join me with a $30 gift before 1:00 then the OTSC can hit this benchmark. Will you join me in this de facto $30 gang? Can you email five friends and ask them to make a $30 contribution? http://www.savetigerstadium.org
I firmly believe that if the OTSC clears this hurdle then Tiger Stadium will be saved for more baseball and more memories. The tax credit plan is real. The federal funds being secured by Senator Carl Levin are real. The city is asking for a few hundred thousand dollars right now and WE need to come up with less than $3000 to meet their goal. Can you spare $30...for Tiger Stadium? http://www.savetigerstadium.org
Senator Carl Levin with Bruce Hawley and his wife Jean in Sparta
The full story is over at West Michigan Rising, this is just the part that I saw.
Last weekend (yeah, 12 days ago ... hey, lay-off, I've been busy) the incredibly energetic Carl Levin made a swing out to West Michigan to support some great Democratic candidates for the Michigan State House of Representatives. Now, a few things were amazing about this trip.
First, how impressive is it that in the midst of his own reelection campaign, Senator Levin spent an entire Saturday supporting state-wide candidates. He didn't take a dime of the fundraising proceeds, just came out to support these Democrats working to improve our state from Lansing. Now that's just selfless and impressive -- Carl is thinking about all the ways he can work to improve Michigan and build a Democratic farm team. No one can ever say that Levin has forgotten Michigan or the Michigan Democratic Party.
Second, geez, Senator Levin must have gotten up around 6:30 am and probably made it home at about 10:00 pm and for most of that time he's got to be in full public mode which is exhausting.
Third, he pulled it off (kudos to the staff) and was on-time to everything.
(Mark's report on the fundraiser for Julie Rogers (District 61) in Oshtemo (Kalamazoo County) is at WMR....
Levin, then drove up highway-131 to downtown Grand Rapids for a fundraiser for Robert Dean (District 75). I was able to attend that reception, though I had a bunch of things to do that morning and was late. I got to hear the tail end of Levin's remarks -- on the Iraq War.
The fundraiser was well attended and the campaign was reportedly able to raise some good funds for the upcoming battle with the winner of the Republican primary (my prediction: Tietema). Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell introduced the Senator. Also in attendance were City Commissioners Rosalyn Bliss (and yes she was "chipper" (and I think David LaGrand was there, but my memory is fading), Kent County Commissioners Carol Hennessy and Paul Mayhue, and Kent County Democratic Party Chair Sue Levy (there were others, I'm sure I'm leaving out, but there's no way I can find my notes on this mess of a desk). I spent most of the time chatting with Rosalyn about the Jail Millage issue and the Green Grand Rapids initiative. We're blessed with a lot of great progressives in Grand Rapids and Rosalyn is one who can have a very bright future. I saw that Levin was leaving and shaking Rev. Dean's hand so I tried to get in to take a picture. By the time I whipped out my camera Dean was gone and Levin assumed I wanted a picture with him and me in it. So, sure, I thought and his staffer took the photo (below). I mentioned we had met a month ago at the bloggers meeting at the Michigan Policy Summit, praised Carl for taking time out of his busy schedule to support these candidates, and mentioned that I couldn't hold a candle to his work that day since I was only doing two events. He asked what the other one was and I replied, "I'm marching in the Sparta parade with Bruce Hawley who is a friend running for the State House in the 73rd district in northern Kent County." Well, the Senator says, "Sparta! We were thinking about hitting that parade on the way to Muskegon." I urged him to march with Bruce and told him that Hawley was a candidate worthy of strong Party support. I gave him Bruce's phone number and then, after Levin left (about 1:00 pm), quickly called Bruce and his campaign manager to let them know that Levin might soon be calling. I talked with Jeff Winston, who is fast becoming a well-respected campaign staffer, and then drove up to Sparta (passing lots of Raymond and Stelma for Sheriff signs on the country roads).
I parked at Bruce's church, and then walked to the staging area where I found 75 other folks waiting to march for Bruce Hawley, but no Carl Levin. Oh well, I thought, I tried. But just as I turned around from a conversation with his wife Jean, up walks the Senator. Now, Levin and Hawley don't agree on a few things, but Bruce is just a real nice guy, and it never popped into his head not play the gracious host and march right next to Carl Levin. Bruce introduced Senator Levin to his friends and lots of photos were taken (like the one above). It looked like it would rain on our parade, but that wasn't going to stop anyone from getting Bruce's message out to the people of Sparta. I'll talk about the parade in a post I hope to write tomorrow, but here's a another photo:
I did get a chance to talk with and listen in on conversations with Carl Levin. Again and again (with Elizabeth Edwards, Jennifer Granholm, Bart Stupak, Fred Miller, etc), it's always nice to see that these famous and powerful people are just regular folks when you get down to it. Carl, I, and an old friend of Bruce spent the time walking out of the staging area toward the start discussing the chances the Tigers have to make the playoffs.
About half-way through the parade, Carl had to leave to make the next reception in Muskegon. He told me he was leaving, we shook hands again, I thanked him, and I knew that this was another indication that Bruce was getting the recognition he deserves. Thanks again Senator Levin!
(Another report from the Lt. Governor on the last leg of his tour. Thanks, LG! - promoted by LiberalLucy)
We started out Saturday at the Grand Traverse County Democratic Governor's Breakfast in Traverse City. This is an annual event to kick off Saturday's National Cherry Festival activities. Paul Bare chaired the event this year and Diana Ketola, the County Party Chair, MC'd the breakfast. There was a great turnout this year, which may say something about Democratic energy in 2008. Local Democrats are focused, ready to go, and have fielded some great candidates. Andy Concannon is the Congressional candidate and local Democrats have a great State Rep candidate-Roman Grucz. Like Dan Scripps and the Rep seat to the west, Roman ran a close race last year and this year he is contesting for an open seat.
Senator Carl Levin was the morning's keynote speaker. He pumped the crowd up, and talked about the dramatic moment in the United States Senate last week when Senator Ted Kennedy returned to the Senate floor to cast the deciding vote to bring an end to the filibuster on the Medicaid appropriation. Democrats have struggled the past two years to muster the 60 votes to break filibusters on critical issues that advance the Democratic Agenda. For the most part, they have regularly fallen short, but not this time. With Ted Kennedy present, they broke the filibuster and went on to pass the Medicaid appropriation with a comfortable majority. This all shows you how legislators often hide behind procedural votes; but when you can't hide any longer and the light of day shines strong, justice can prevail.
After casting a 'yea' vote on Cloture on the Motion to Proceed (Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to H.R. 6304 -- Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978) I received an email from Senator Debbie Stabenow today. The subject:
"Filibuster-Proof Senate in 2008!"
After effectively killing the efforts of Senators Dodd and Feingold to filibuster the attempt to pass the bill giving President Bush the authority to continue his illegal wiretap program, and grant telecos retroactive immunity...Debbie Stabenow is happy to boast a 'filibuster-proof senate'?
It gets better. From the email:
"There are only four days left . . .
. . . before the end of this fundraising cycle. Democratic candidates around the country are pushing to raise as much as they can by June 30 because when they report their fundraising figures for the quarter, it will be used as a gauge of the strength of their candidacies.
Media outlets watch these numbers closely. The Republicans watch them even closer.
Click here to donate today!
Contribute using ActBlue
That's why your help today is so crucial. Never before have we had so many amazing Democratic candidates running for U.S. Senate all over the country. Because of these great candidates, we have a real chance in November to significantly increase our Democratic majority in the Senate.
It takes 60 votes in the Senate to overcome Republican filibusters of important legislation, like health care for children, ending the war in Iraq, fixing the housing market, and creating good-paying American jobs here at home. Republicans are blocking our every effort to get this country back on track. But all of that can change in November!!
But only with your help.
That's why I have set up a page on Act Blue, a federally-registered PAC that helps candidates raise money online. Since 2004, they have raised over $53 million for Democratic candidates across the country.
Do you think your auto insurance rates are too high? Shop around! It seems that every day we hear ads on the radio and TV where insurance companies are offering lower rates on insurance. It is called the free market.
He's got a point ... a couple of years back, I used to see Tee Vee commercials telling me that despite having poor credit, no collatoral to speak of, and even during a period when I was unemployed, that I could own my own home. And, as far as I can tell, that's worked out well for us. Yet, somehow, I just don't see State Farm picking up the ball and going home because they were told consumers can challenge their auto insurance rates.
Below the fold, we meet Bart Baron, another Republican who's thrown his tin foil hat into the ring.
I just got some news that is very good for our friends at Blogging for Michigan. Occasionally, lawmakers drop by and provide some insights into the things they're doing and what's on their minds. It's one of the great things, I think, about blogs like this and BFM, since it offers a way for elected officials to interact with constituents.
This morning, I'm told that Carl Levin his-own-self will post at BFM about his work ending credit abuses. When it goes up, we'll be sure to be linking to it here. I'm also told that Levin will do this again in the future, spreading the love around Michigan's progressive blogosphere and posting on this site.
Observer & Eccentric: High school freshman's blog makes a case against McCotter. The Congressional watch blog "Mad at Thad" got a nice profile in yesterday's paper.
WMR: Report from the Kent County Democratic Party March Meeting. Check out Phil's ridiculously detailed report. Wouldn't it be cool if more county parties started doing posts like this?
Media Mouse: Levin Tells Iraqis to Pay for Reconstruction. The Mouse has some criticisms about Sen. Levin's latest remarks about Iraq.
Freep: Mayor would attack text messages' authenticity. "There will be a lot of conversations about texts and the authenticity of all of it," he said Tuesday in a brief exchange with reporters. "So I'm looking forward to having that conversation at a later date."
Susan J. Demas: A recall worthy of ridicule. "I asked Drolet if he really believes Dillon spends every waking moment plotting to raise taxes again. 'It doesn't matter if I think he'll rape someone again,' he told me breezily. 'He has to be held accountable for the rape he did commit.'"
State Government/Legislation
Michigan Messenger: Anti-bullying forces to descend on Capitol to get Senate to pass bill. "Hundreds of educators, students and community members are expected to descend upon the State Capitol next week to demand the Senate pass a comprehensive bill aimed at stopping bullying in schools. The bill passed the state House a year ago, but has since languished in the Senate awaiting a hearing."
House Dems: House OKs $40 Million Expansion of No Worker Left Behind Program. "Under the leadership of State Representative Richard E. Hammel (D-Mt. Morris Township), the House today passed the governor's plan to expand Michigan's program to retrain thousands of displaced workers so they can land good-paying jobs available now in high-demand fields."
Jackson Cit-Pat: SmartZone bill clears big hurdle. Jackson could be eligible for a new SmartZone under a bill being pushed by Rep. Simpson and Sen. Schauer.
WOOD: Granholm Town Hall Meeting Video. Here's your chance to watch the Governor's town hall, in case you missed it (link via BFM).
Freep Editorial: Great Lakes states must protect every drop they can. "How long can Michigan and the other Great Lakes states afford to let such problems spiral out of control? Somewhere, a potential water disaster is lurking, much as a transportation disaster struck when a Minneapolis freeway bridge collapsed last August."
LSJ Editorial: Crumbling: Michigan needs investment in roads, not more gravel. "Businesses look at public infrastructure when deciding where to invest. If they see Michigan going backward, will it increase or decrease the chances new firms will land here?"
Environment, Energy & the Economy
Tri-Cities Biz Review: Alt-energy grows like a breeze, thanks to corporate purchasers. "Sustainability is finally becoming more than a buzzword, and morphing into a real business imperative. We salute the SC Johnsons and Steelcases, those corporations doing the right thing and proving the financial worth of alternative energy sources." You can read more stories on renewable energy in the Business Review publications here and here.
Flint Journal: UAW's Gettelfinger blasts American Axle in local speech. Give 'em hell, Ron! "We don't have a national health care program when every other country takes care of their citizens," Gettelfinger said. "We pay more and get less... But that's why we have 47 million uninsured Americans in this country."
WLNS: City Named as One of the Best to Live and Work. "Forbes magazine has named Jackson one of the best metropolitan areas to live and work." Yes, you read that correctly.
[con]serving Michigan: CDC Report Adds to Growing Evidence of State's Toxic Burden. "Under pressure from the public and from Congress, including U.S. Reps. John Dingell and Bart Stupak, both Michigan Democrats, the CDC finally released the report this last week. The recently leaked report finds that thirteen Michigan communities have elevated rates of infant mortality, cancer and other health problems."
Great Lakes Guy: X Doesn't Mark the Spot in MI. Sixty-four teams to date have entered the $10 million competition to see who can produce a market-ready automobile capable of 100 mpg. None are from Detroit, and only one is from Michigan (Ann Arbor).
Michigan Messenger: Metro Airport expansion plan doesn't fly with neighbors. "A planned expansion of Detroit Metropolitan Airport is threatening to uproot thousands of people and dozens of businesses, but local officials and residents are fighting back."
Odds & Ends
Phil Power: We must change bad attitudes. "What Michigan needs to realize is that the auto industry has transformed its manufacturing basis from a brawn-based to a brain-based model. It's no longer enough for a new hire to get to work more or less on time and not get into fights with his or her foreman."
Let me know if I forgot anything. Drop your links in the comments section...
BFM: Pete Hoekstra Is A Scaremonger. "If Pete Hoekstra wants to talk about terror, he should talk about the terror uninsured people feel in their hearts when they're faced with sudden illness, burdensome medical debt or premature death."
Dan Scripps: Intro @ WSCC Debate. Great speech by Dan at a debate for the 101st House district race.
Media Mouse: Ehlers, Levin, and Stabenow Evaluated on Support for the Middle Class. Carl got an "A," Debbie got an "A+" and Rep. Ehlers got an "F."
State Government/Legislation
LSJ Editorial: Prison costs: State's only choice is to spend less on imprisonment. "Michigan imprisons more people and spends more money doing it than its neighbors. That gives those states an edge, either via greater investments in other public services or the ability to hold down taxes."
Michigan Messenger: Film production incentive package is fast-tracked through the Legislature. "We have the opportunity to do something that will have an important effect on our economy," said Rep. Andy Meisner, D-Ferndale, one of the sponsors of the bipartisan, bicameral package of bills. "We can expect to see increased film production in the state this year."
Ann Arbor Business Review: Lenders: State licensing a good step for stability. "Barbara Banco of BANCO Mortgage Centre in Birmingham has been in the lending business for some 25 years, and believes the bills are long overdue, and that loan officer accountability is a long time coming."
AP: Michigan governor signs bill to create optional driver's licenses. "The legislation is aimed at meeting tougher identification rules required by the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative."
Freep Editorial: Region needs to move together on new plan for light rail. "In any case, for light rail on Woodward to succeed, the entire region must get behind the plan. Metro Detroit can't afford to let more infighting destroy another opportunity to start building a woefully needed regional mass transit system."
Environment, Energy & the Economy
WMR: Wind and Cow Chips -- The Key to West Michigan's Future?. "West Michigan can move from being an office furniture, pharmaceutical, and auto part manufacturing economy (while keeping as many of those jobs as possible) to being a life-sciences and alternative energy manufacturing economy if we're smart."
Bay City Times: State's first commercial windmill farm starts churning out power in Huron County. An accompanying BCT editorial urges Legislators to get on the stick and pass an RPS.
Dave Dempsey: Who owns the Great Lakes? "In Michigan the debate is particularly keen, and pending legislation could either divest significant portions of lakes and streams from public control to private, or put Michigan in the region's lead in reaffirming Great Lakes water belongs to us all."
Freep: Illegal tobacco sales cost Michigan millions. "Big-time profiteers and small-time cheaters are smuggling 7 million cartons of cigarettes into the state annually to evade Michigan's high cigarette taxes, costing the state about $140 million a year."
Odds & Ends
K-Zoo Gazette: Report says Great Lakes pollution harming our health. "The report suggests pollution in some areas is causing health problems, including cancer and premature births. The document was produced by scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention."
The Hub: Michigan filmmakers get the spotlight Sunday. Several nice profiles of Michigan filmmakers who will be featured at this week's East Lansing Film Festival (including one of my former professors).
Let me know if I forgot anything. Drop your links in the comments section...
The Oakland County Democratic Party Pasta Night to honor state representative Aldo Vagnozzi was a huge success. Senators Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow honored Aldo, as did many other elected officials from Oakland county. The hightlight of the evening though was Aldo himself. His speech was full of stories of his long career in politics and Aldo's unique brand of humor. Also started out by saying, "You're probably wondering how long I'm going to talk. As Elizabeth Taylor used to tell her husbands, 'I won't keep you long.'" Over 200 Democrats from across Oakland county came out to honor Aldo.
Thanks to everyone on the committee for putting together another rousing success for Oakland County Democrats. There was so much excitement in the room. Democrats can't wait to get to work to make sure we have a Democratic Congress and a new Democratic president inaugurated in January of 2009. We certainly can't afford a third Bush term with John McBush.
Carl Levin basically tells us that Michigan's delegates will count one way or the other. The best possibility is a primary by mail, but the questions is still where the money comes from. Why isn't anyone talking about James Carville's offer of $15 million?
When American citizens, activists, or policymakers point fingers at other countries about their human rights records, many people in those countries simply retort, check yourself. According to an e-mail from Sen. Levin's campaign for reelection, this is one big reason he voted in the Senate last week to explicitly ban certain types of torture and to require U.S. intelligence officials to follow guidelines in the US Army Field Manual.
Levin provides this example:
Late last year in meetings with senior Saudi government officials, Congressional staffers raised concerns about the case of the Saudi rape victim who faced six months in prison and two hundred lashes because she spoke out publicly.
The Saudi officials responded by simply saying, "Guantanamo" and "Abu Ghraib". As if to say, "Who are you to lecture us about due process and human rights?"
When I was in the US Army I was an infantry soldier, and occasionally we talked about the treatment of prisoners. One Lt. I served under in South Korea was extremely concerned that we knew the Geneva Convention rules about capturing and handling prisoners. In addition to avoiding war crimes charges, he seemed particularly interested in helping us avoid turning into the brutes and criminals we often describe our enemies as.
He argued that we must treat prisoners the way we expect them to treat us. It wasn't just the "golden rule" idea; the point was if we brutalize our enemies, we have no ground on which to stake a moral claim to being right or in justifying our own actions. Indeed, other countries will use us as an example to legitimize their own atrocities, as the Saudis in Levin's example appeared to do.
This was a lesson that former Secretary of State Colin Powell appears to have tried to put forward unsuccessfully while serving in the Bush administration.
It was a concept that even John McCain used to believe in... up until last week, that is, when he decided that he in fact supports torture. In fact, the closer we get to election time, the more John McCain seems to be abandoning his "straight talk express" in favor of serving as Bush's surrogate in the next presidential term.
It is a concept the Bush administration and indeed most right-wing pundits and ultra-right noisemakers never learned. A significant reason for that fact is that most of them never served in the military, and if they did the lessons my old Lt. tried to ingrain in us rolled off their backs like water off a duck.
I believe that Jack Lessenberry is closer to the truth than most Michigan Democrats would like to admit. Michigan's Democratic establishment is playing hardball and using brute force to prevent a fair fight in Michigan.
I don't think Senator Levin planned it that way at the outset, or that Levin, Granholm, Dingell, and Brewer had a "secret meeting" to decide their strategy.
These are all savvy politicians. They know what they want, and they know how to get it. They know that this is the most important election in decades. They know this is the biggest opportunity for Democrats in decades.
They know just as well as any of us does what the difference is between a caucus and no caucus in Michigan, and seating the delegates as they stand or not seating the delegates at all.
They know which candidate they support too. They have done the math and picked their pony. What they've ultimately chosen is good for them, but that's no good for Michigan or the Democratic Party.
You tell me which candidate you support, and I betcha I can tell you what you think about a caucus in Michigan. You tell me what you think about a caucus in Michigan, and I'll tell you which candidate you support.
This ain't rocketscience.
I promise, I will not be boycotting Clinton if she wins the election by the Michigan Margin. I'm a Democrat, and another Republican president could be the straw that breaks the camel's back.
But you can bet the farm that other folks will boycott! This has the makings of a true disaster for the Democrats. If Florida 2000 haunts us to this day, how are we gonna feel if the Clinton operation pulls off this ham-fisted delegate rob in Michigan, and it makes the difference between President Democrat and President McCain? They always say, "Democrats always manage to rescue defeat from the jaws of victory" ...
The only near-fair solution is a showdown in Michigan and Florida. So long as the Democratic establishment in Michigan is not boxing with gloves on in this election, why should the voters, why should I?
We should be demanding a caucus, and we'll only be getting a caucus when Democratic activists say, "Either we caucus or heads are gonna roll!"
(Only fair to discuss the other side of the argument - promoted by lpackard)
The following are key arguments that I believe support a Michigan Presidential Caucus.
ARGUMENTS:
(1) Michigan deserves to have clout in this election. So long as our delegates do not count, Michiganders do not have clout.
(2) Our 128 delegates could be decisive. The race for delegates is expected to be very close at the time of the convention, with both candidates near, but not at, a majority. Michigan could tip the balance.
(3) Michiganders deserve to see the primary candidates up close and hear the candidates debate the issues that matter in Michigan, like the health of the Great Lakes and the loss of manufacturing jobs. Michiganders will not have this opportunity if January's results stand.
(4) Michigan voters deserve to be able to choose between all of the candidates. Most of the candidates names were removed from Michigan's ballot, and "Uncommitted" won the "youth vote," the "black vote," and over 40% (200,000) of the overall votes.
(5) Michigan deserves to have our delegates seated at the Democratic National Convention. As it stands, the DNC will reject the delegates distributed at Michigan's January 15 Primary because Michigan advanced the date of our Primary in defiance of DNC rules. They will restore our delegation's voting credentials if and only if we hold a caucus.
(6) Whichever candidate wins the nomination, they must win Michigan to win the presidency. The opportunity to campaign in Michigan prior to the nominating convention would strengthen the nominee with Michigan voters.
"Michigan is going to make history next Tuesday," Sen Carl Levin said. "We're going to be the third state to be voting. Therefore we're early in the mix. We want to make sure Iowa and New Hampshire will not be allowed to keep their disproportionate impact on the process."
Michigan certainly has made history. Its Democratic party leaders have earned Michigan first prize as Jackass State of America while the rest of the clowns in the party infrastructure stand around like zombies and clap.
In election year that has already generated record interest on both sides of the aisle, Captain Ahab Levin has sold the soul of Michigan Democratic voters in pursuit of his White Whale Early Primary. Mark Brewer and the multi-talented Debbie Dingell, capitalizing on Levin's myopic madness, jumped on his poor judgement as the perfect opportunity to engineer Labor's Primary Dream: a nearly completely controlled and closed caucus where independents and non-labor Democratic interests are shut out of the process.
While Michigan voters still have the opportunity to participate in a festive, competitive, exciting and true Republican primary next week, there is no choice on the Democratic side. National news broadcasts are not even covering it. "Vote uncommitted if you don't love Hillary!" reasons your Senior Senator. Bravo, Carl Levin. What a victory for Michigan!
This isn't democracy. This is a sham organized by the same people who either can't see--or refuse to acknowledge--the distinct role they have played in accelerating Michigan's continuing demise.
Should Hillary win the Democratic nomination, it won't be because of Michigan, which now has the national influence of a eunuch in whorehouse. Even so, chagrined voters might think twice about voting for a Democratic nominee whose cabinet and/or staff would include any members of the Michigan Democratic Party who either actively or passively let this happen.
"Michigan Democrats: One party, one vote (except when Jim Barcia and Dennis Olshove are looking over their shoulders)."
Just the idea that Democrats in the Michigan Legislature take pride in bitching and moaning about the idea of requiring a picture ID to vote---while supporting, actively or tacitly, this ridiculous sham of a primary caucus, a grandiose mockery of the democratic process, is just one more example of the further degeneration of our/your government.
Has anyone in the Michigan Senate even bothered to raise a voice of concern? What is leadership doing, besides running for Congress? Promting false hope about free health care for everyone to increase voter turn-out? What a case of immoral, disingenuous, cynical snake oil.
This is really embarrassing and if you're not mad about it, well, you should be.
Carl Levin still supports George Bush's war. Just this Tuesday, the Senator voted with 20 other Democrats to continue funding the War in Iraq. This vote has seen surprisingly little coverage, particularly from this site. Well, no longer.
Carl Levin could be a leader of the anti-war movement. He is the chairman of the Armed Services Committee, giving him tremendous credentials on foreign affairs. Yet the Senator has been very conservative when it comes to ending the war. He spoke out against the surge, but despite its obvious failure in regards to the political benchmarks, Carl still votes for this war.
We in the netroots can no longer pretend that just because you have a 'D' by your name, you are infallible. It is necessary for us to go campaign against the Dick DeVoses of the world, but it is just as necessary to show Carl Levin what it means to be a true Michigan Liberal.
So call Senator Levin. Call him often. Tell him that he can not continue to support George Bush's war. You see, that is the benefit of a democracy. Not even a five-term Senator is immune from the people.
AP: Mich. Senate deals blow to smoking ban in bars, restaurants. "Republicans sent the smoking ban measure to a committee where many bills go to die. Democrats tried to steer it to the health policy committee instead because the committee's Republican chairman supports the ban." There's a word for this... Wizardkitten has more.
DetNews Op-Ed: Bar owner: Level the playing field, stop secondhand smoking deaths. "Do we favor smokers' preference to puff away in utmost convenience, or do we favor the health and economic prosperity of Michigan residents? The choice should be easy."
Energy, Environment and the Economy
Saginaw News: Governor, business leaders talk alternative energy. "The Democratic governor reiterated her hope the state will land future Hemlock Semiconductor Corp. growth beyond the $1 billion plans in the works in Thomas Township." The gov speaks with WNEM about alternative energy in this video; more on her blog.
AP: Under federal pressure, Dow submits dioxin cleanup plan. "The company said it submitted a "good-faith offer" Monday, the deadline set in October by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. EPA is pressing the chemical giant to move faster on cleanup of a 50-mile watershed extending from the plant to Lake Huron's Saginaw Bay."
Michigan Future: Health Plan of Michigan to move downtown. Motown is the place to be: "Health Plan of Michigan announced today that it will relocate its corporate headquarters and staff of 111 employees to downtown Detroit from Southfield."
AP: Auto Icon Announces Retirement. It looks like Bob Lutz will retire from GM shortly after the Volt hits the market.
Local, State, National Politics
Capitol Journal: None of the above. Derek wonders what would happen if "Uncommitted" were to win the Democratic presidential primary. "Clinton's campaign is like the University of Michigan football team. The Michigan Democratic Primary could be her Appalachian State."
Michigan Messenger: Blue Tiger Dems kick for more civic involvement. Kevin has a nice write-up on the Blue Tiger Dems, and what they've been up to this year.
AP: Potential Challengers Mull Run Against Levin. The Republicans' bench includes a guy that Levin mopped the floor with in 2002 (Andrew "Rocky" Raczkowski) and an extremely conservative State Rep with another name that's hard to pronounce (Jack Hoogendyk). I find this quote from Raczkowski quite amusing: "Some people jokingly say, 'well if you're running against Senator Levin, then you're a sacrificial lamb.' I ask them, if not I, then who?" I think he answered his own question.
Odds & Ends
Bay City Times: Students defend Gay-Straight Alliance club at Central High. It's frightening that people still think like this: "Bublitz told board members that the club is inappropriate and potentially harmful for students, and that in her research she has found that gay-straight alliances in general are encouraged to promote homosexuality, push for gay-friendly curricula and to develop relationships with adult homosexual groups."
Michigan Messenger: 200 protest lack of action in CMU noose case. "We are here to talk about prosecutorial misconduct," Grand Rapids radio host Robert S told the crowd. "When a prosecutor sees a clear crime and writes it off as a joke, there is a problem. If someone had painted a swastika, there would be a lot more people here."
Michigan Messenger: Southern Poverty Law Center Publishes Story About MSU YAF. You can read the full SPLC report here. As a Spartan grad, this is not the kind of attention I want my school to be getting.
Let me know if I forgot anything. Drop your links in the comments section...
