The Black(water) Prince of Darkness

by: kelster

Wed Aug 05, 2009 at 08:53:39 AM EDT

Michigan businesses just can't get a break.  Long-term economic slump, shrinking markets, rising health care costs...

... and for Xe (The Company Formerly Known As Blackwater), a 70-page suit filed in federal court alleging murder, weapons smuggling, destruction of evidence and lots of other ugly stuff during Erik Prince's time as CEO.  Depsite stepping down from the CEO spot earlier this year, Prince remains "chair and sole owner of the network of companies operating under the Xe umbrella."

Daily Kos has more on the story.

Amway Guy's brother-in-law: Mercs today, mercs tomorrow!

by: Eric B.

Tue May 20, 2008 at 10:49:19 AM EDT

The free market gone mad:

The same free market principles, he said, allow Blackwater -- using ex-military personnel under a leaner command structure -- to quickly mount rescue missions for stranded soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan -- or to complete tasks such as delivering Christmas baskets.

It is remarkable, to me, that a reporter from a major daily newspaper would so uncritically write this shit.  Anyway, why do we need heavily armed mercenaries to deliver Christmas baskets, and why is our government giving away Christmas baskets and who are they going to?  I mean, please tell me that Blackwater isn't using federal tax dollars to give Christmas baskets to Muslims (I've seen Prince referred to as a born-again Christian, so you'd hope that our tax dollars aren't subsidizing his missionary work).

Pete Hoekstra's desire for endless war - Religious crusade or war profiteering?

by: Michigan Girl

Tue Nov 13, 2007 at 12:22:12 PM EST

I've been asking myself a question for quite awhile, "What drives Pete Hoekstra's desire for eternal war?

Is it possible that the infinite statements from Pete Hoekstra (Lying Dutchman MI-02) like this:

"Our nation faces a serious and ongoing threat from radical, militant jihadists. I fear that some believe that by pushing a date certain for withdrawal

"As the radical Islamists themselves have made clear, it will not, and we need to from Iraq we will somehow make the radical jihadist threat just go away.remain engaged to counter this threat."

might have something to do with this little fact:

Before the run-up to the Iraq War the lying Dutchman hadn't received campaign contributions from the Defense industry. However, starting in 2003 that all changed.

In fact, Hoekstra's list of campaign contributors changed a LOT...

Bush, Amway and Blackwater - A series you won't want to miss.

by: LiberalLucy

Mon Oct 29, 2007 at 13:00:00 PM EDT

One of Michigan's own sons has been pulling together a series that not only will you not want to miss, you could also argue that as a voting population, we cannot afford to miss. 

DHinMI, a political insider who now lives and works in Washington D.C., has written a thoroughly researched and well written series called 'Bush Authoritarianism: Blackwater + Amway = GOP' over on DailyKos. 

There's a reason so much attention has been paid the DeVos/Amway and Prince/Blackwater conglomerate both here in Michigan and nationally. Partisanship aside, it's a fascinating study in the power of seemingly limitless wealth and what happens when that wealth conjoins with a strict religious-based agenda, the power of a military for hire, and direct access to one of the most powerful government officials in the entire world. Some might say it's the making of conspiracy theorists, others might remind you there's a reason conspiracy theories exist.

Regardless of where you are in your beliefs, I highly suggest you check out the series listed chronically below.

Part 1   Part 2   Part 3   Part 4
 

Wednesday Coffee Talk/Open Thread

by: BZP

Wed Oct 03, 2007 at 07:02:08 AM EDT

Happy Hump Day, everyone! Enjoy your morning cup-o-links...

• Capitol Journal: And so it begins... Recalls! Derek shares his thoughts about the whole recall situation. Over on Michigan Messenger, Todd Heywood takes a look at Leon Drolet's ties to YAF.
• BFM: Granholm defends Medicaid. The state still needs to figure out how to handle those $435 million in cuts, and the Gov says cuts to Medicaid are off limits. Also, be sure to check out this post, where Wizardkitten ponders Andy Dillon's future in politics.
• DFP: Service tax repeal is plotted. Screw quality of life... just don't hike our taxes!
• WLNS: Reaction to State Budget Deal. More crocodile tears from Rep. Rick Jones and Paul Opsommer.
• LSJ: Lansing mayor says lawmakers 'got the job done'. Here's Virg: "A significant amount of our city income tax revenue comes from state employees. Our downtown business community would have been seriously impacted. And the long-term consequences for our city budget would have been severe to say the least. And though (state legislators) have been roundly and justifiably criticized, .... in the end, they got the job done."

• Michigan.org: MEDC Supports BMT Aerospace Expansion in Fraser. "The bonds, issued by the Michigan Strategic Fund chaired by Epolito, will be used to finance acquisition of a 56,638-square-foot existing manufacturing plant, acquisition and installation of machinery and equipment and renovation of the facility at 18559 Malyn Road. The project will be owned and operated by the company for the manufacture of gears and gearbox assemblies, primarily for the aerospace industry."
• Michigan Messenger: Mayor Kilpatrick announces Detroit's economic clout. "While Detroit?s downtown corridor has seen remarkable investment and revitalization, the challenge for Mayor Kilpatrick is to somehow replicate downtown?s redevelopment in Detroit neighborhoods. The Detroit DrillDown report will help Mayor Kilpatrick make the case to businesses that investing in Detroit?s neighborhoods makes economic sense."
• Ann Arbor News: High-tech auto research center dedicated in Ann Arbor. "We believe this will be the most significant economic driver in the next several decades," said Scott McCormick, president of the Connected Vehicle Trade Association. He said the center's goals are the make "smarter cars, smarter roads and create Michigan jobs."
• WNEM: New GM-UAW Contract Could Mean More Work In Mid-Mich. "The new Flint engine plant would be able to build roughly 1,200 four- and six-cylinder engines daily, a figure that could save and even create some moderate job growth to the tune of 600 to 800 jobs."
• Michigan Future: Xanadu Plan proposes new casino. Hey, I'm all for revitalizing Detroit, but are more casinos the answer? "The plan is to bring new wealth to the city of Detroit. It involves a new casino on top of an expanded Cobo Hall and revitalizing the area around Detroit City Airport."

Michigan's Extreme-Right Mega-Millonaire Mercenary

by: LiberalLucy

Sun Apr 29, 2007 at 10:33:49 AM EDT

For one Michigan man, the War of Bush/Cheney/Haliburton Oil was his golden ticket to massive wealth and an extraordinary level of influence and menacing power. Meet Erik Prince, born and raised in Holland, Michigan, and one of the country's most dangerous men.

Prince, son of Holland industrialist Edgar Prince and an ex-Navy SEAL, tapped his inherited wealth in 1996 to found a little-noticed North Carolina security firm that would become Blackwater USA. 

Family connections helped. As brother to former Michigan GOP chairwoman Betsy DeVos and brother-in-law to her husband, 2006 GOP gubernatorial candidate Dick DeVos, Prince had access to Capitol Hill power brokers.

But his business plan did not crystallize until the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

With the U.S. decision to go to war in Afghanistan and Iraq, a changing military looked to the private sector to complete a variety of missions.

Blackwater was in prime position to capitalize.