Good News for Michigan - Drolet Fails Again

by: kpominville

Fri Jun 20, 2008 at 23:21:32 PM EDT

This is good news for Democracy and for the rule of law. The far right wing fringe in Michigan failed to get enough signatures for their frivolous recall petition for House Speaker Andy Dillon. Their attempt to disrupt the state legislature would have been harmful to Michigan, especially at a time when we need constructve progress, not chaos from some angry extremists who don't understand how taxes or economies operate.

Drolet and ilk, such as far-right radical Grover "drown government in a bathtub" Norquist, are a group of anti-tax zealots who offer only criticism and negativity and present no solutions of their own to the many problems faced by the citizens of Michigan.

All they have to offer is exactly the kind of minimalist, ineffective government we saw respond to Katrina.

They have a very narrow, ideological view of taxation that is not based in reality or pragmatism. They obviously do not have the best interest of the citizens of the state at heart because they offer no constructive solutions to any of the real problems we face, such as record layoffs and foreclosures.

 On the other hand, Andy Dillon has been instrumental in the bill earlier this year which created 29,000 new jobs by investing in Michigan and brought the movie industry to Michigan by offering the best incentives in the nation.

What people like Drolet and Norquist do not understand is that taxes are merely the mechanism by which government generates revenue and that governments are non-profit, so if they really wanted to lower taxes they would offer meaningful ways to lower costs so we can cut spending and thereby legitimately and responsibly lower taxes.

The sad, inescapable truth is that Leon Drolet is more interested in pushing a failed ideology than in helping the citizens of Michigan.

from the Sarcastic Cynic

Redford Fire Chief: My name was forged

by: Eric B.

Thu May 29, 2008 at 10:08:11 AM EDT

Leon Drolet sent out one of his now-classic Dispatches from the Trench yesterday or the day before (I stopped paying much attention), claiming that he was working hard to get the Secretary of State's office to recognize 500 of the phony signatures thrown out by the elections division.  Looks like 500 won't be good enough:

One of the names on their petition is Les Wedge, of Redford, who is also the city’s fire chief.

But Wedge claims he’s never signed the petition and he’s furious his name appears on it because he supports Dillon.

“The whole idea that I would even sign this petition is preposterous,” said Wedge.

I assume this means it's only a matter of time before the name "Leslie Wedge" shows up on the Oregon Petition.

Is that the sound of an angry mob gathering?

by: Eric B.

Thu May 08, 2008 at 01:36:56 AM EDT

Update! ... the echo chamber's first real reverberations, below the fold!

I got an e-mail from Leon Drolet this afternoon, wondering how I planned to spin Andy Dillon's vacation to Mexico this week.  Drolet was clearly exorcised at this because he pointed out that the Capital Outlay Budget was rejected by ONE VOTE (if it'd been italicized, bolded, and underlined, Drolet would have hit for the cycle).  Leon's latest dispatch from the trenches also included several words and phrases in all caps, leading me to believe that perhaps a shack in the north woods and a crayon scrawled manifesto may not be too far off in his future.

I don't plan to spin Dillon's vacation to Mexico, because it's a really stupid issue to raise.  What's more, the people -- well, the chief antagonists, not necessarily the dimmer bulbs in this sordid story (we'll get to these good folks in a minute) -- objecting the most strenuously to his vacation know that it's stupid and why it's stupid.  I'm sure that the only reason Leon bothered to contact me in the first place is to help keep the phony outrage pumped up, assuming I'd go to lengths to defend the trip after having regularly taken shots at Senate Republicans for having knocked off all of last July with the state budget deadline looming.  Apples and oranges, or, if you're more Tee Vee inclined, Will and Carlton.

What I will note, however, is something else. 

Mr. Smith fails to go to Washington

by: Eric B.

Tue May 06, 2008 at 10:03:21 AM EDT

(Hat tip ... Soylent Green in comments!)

This could be another insidious smear launched by the Detroit News against Leon Drolet, but apparently recall campaigns targeting elected officials in other counties is too much work.

Drolet said other commitments, particularly his work with the Michigan Taxpayer's Alliance and a recall effort directed at House Speaker Andy Dillon, do not afford him time to run a re-election campaign.

The obvious rebuttal to this is that if he stopped meddling in other people's affairs, he'd have plenty of time ... then again, it's easy to suspect that Leon's primary motivations are not his own constituents, but enraging the constituents of others.

Or, perhaps he's reading some of his own press clippings too hard... 

Out-of-district elected official fails to ignite in-county grassroots rebellion

by: Eric B.

Mon May 05, 2008 at 08:12:02 AM EDT

Not overlooked as a hilarious sidenote to the otherwise powerfully silly recall campaign against Andy Dillon is the fact that Leon Drolet is the spokesman for what he calls a grassroots taxpayers' rebellion in a county that he doesn't live in. Missing, however, is a reminder that if Drolet really wanted to go grassroots, the opportunity was open to him ... but that he declined.

The recall campaign targeting state Rep. Steve Bieda has flopped, with organizers conceding that they were never able to put together a serious effort to oust the Warren Democrat.

As chairman of the tax policy committee, Bieda should have made a tempting target.  But, no, and you have to wonder if that lack of serious effort had more to do with the fact that Steve Bieda is, you know, term limited and that Andy Dillon is, you know, Speaker of the House.

Drolet, who smeared state employees, says others muddying recall

by: Eric B.

Fri May 02, 2008 at 13:16:40 PM EDT

This is rich:

Leon Drolet, a former Republican state lawmaker and current Macomb County commissioner who helped organize the recall effort against Dillon, said recall opponents are trying to muddy up an uncomplicated issue.

"This is about citizens getting upset about a tax increase," Drolet said. "It turns out that raising taxes in the middle of a recession isn't a very good idea."

That would be the same Leon Drolet who approvingly spread a link to this video, in which Dillon supporter and Redford Township supervisor Miles Handy is attacked as corrupt.  Dog penises, which you might otherwise think wouldn't have anything to do with a recall election over a taxation vote, are brought into it.  Here is Leon again doing that.  Here is Leon making an issue out of an ex-con helping the anti-recall campaign.  Here is Leon accusing Dillon employees of working on behalf of their boss on state dime.

Put the Monkey Behind Bars

by: JPowers155

Thu May 01, 2008 at 22:38:36 PM EDT

Leon Drolet, once a promising lawmaker, seems headed for a life of rule breaking, law bending and even *gasp* hard time.  It seems that Leon forgot one of those rules about how a Political Action Committee (PAC) can't accept contributions from corporations.  Guess what Leon did?

From MichiganMessenger,

... the Michigan Taxpayers Alliance Foundation gave $11,000 to the Michigan Liberty Club, a political action committee (PAC) controlled by Drolet, on November 20, 2007.

-- snip --

The problem, says Rich Robinson, executive director of the Michigan Campaign Finance Network, is that the Michigan Taxpayer Alliance Foundation is listed as a corporation in Michigan said, "That makes its contribution to a PAC illegal."

Leon's no stranger to breaking the rules.  As recently as last fall, the Pig Man (now Recall Monkey) forgot to get a permit for his porcine pal Mr. Perks.  The local cops had to haul Mr. Perks away to the pokey.  Leon, of course, claimed that Mr. Perks was committing an act of civil disobedience by remaining in front of the Capitol building.

Not content to meander Lansing with his band of merry YAFers, Leon's latest trick seems to be trying to hoodwink folks into signing a recall petition against Speaker of the House Andy Dillon.  

So Leon has to lie to get people to sign a petition.  He only raised $5 in Andy Dillon's district to pay for his recall vendetta instead relying on out of state and outstate funding from rightwing checkbooks.  He routinely breaks the rules and claims that it's "civil disobedience".

Someone put this monkey behind bars before he becomes (more of) a public nuisance.

Michigan Messenger: Dillon Recall campaign donations violate state law, expert says

by: lapojoynt

Thu May 01, 2008 at 17:44:37 PM EDT

Dillon Recall campaign donations violate state law, expert says

Thanks much to Fellow reporter Todd Heywood for busting hump on this story today!

We will be publishing screenshots of documents later.

I'm sure we will have more on this in the near future.  Stay tuned!

Recall monkey multimedia fun

by: Eric B.

Thu May 01, 2008 at 17:37:20 PM EDT

These audio clips basically speak for themselves. 

Be the judge for yourselves, but in the last two I heard that signing this petition would prevent the gas taxes from being increased.  The first one ... well, it's just pretty disgraceful, people from Highland Park brought to Redford and given paid-for hotel rooms to gather signatures.

Meanwhile, you can download segments from "Magic" Frank Beckmann's show this morning with Andy Dillon and Leon Drolet ... here. 

Recall monkeys to file 11,000 signatures

by: Eric B.

Thu May 01, 2008 at 13:00:14 PM EDT

Via the Freep:

The campaign to recall state House Speaker Andy Dillon, D-Redford Township, will submit more than 11,000 signatures to the Secretary of State today, setting in motion a process that could lead to a recall election Aug. 5.

Leon Drolet, of the Michigan Taxpayers Alliance and one of the organizers of the Dillon recall, said the campaign collected about 16,000 signatures but plans to submit only those which have been verified. If state elections officials determine the group has collected the signatures of 8,724 registered voters from Dillon’s district an election would be scheduled.

No mention, naturally, of Mark Brewer's press conference yesterday in which audio evidence of petition gathering fraud was revealed.

Affidavits: Bums paid to forge signatures in Dillon recall

by: Eric B.

Thu May 01, 2008 at 10:20:42 AM EDT

Private investigators working undercover on behalf of Andy Dillon, say that the recall monkeys of Leon Drolet drove into Detroit and paid bums and crackheads to forge petition signatures.  Using rented vehicles and coordinating through a temporary worker agency, recall petition circulators did things like go to homeless shelters (Third and Martin Luther King), according to the document.

In addition, investigators say petitions were hung from the doors in Dillon's district using commercial advertising companies ... the same kind of people who might otherwise hang fliers for pizza delivery specials.  Recallers were also assisted by someone driving a truck with a Wisconsin license plate, according to the affidavits.

According to one affidavit, a petition circulator expressed concerns that tactics used on behalf of the recall team were clearly wrong.

"All they have to do is get a picture," Rose said, "and they will know it wasn't done right."

The comment was in regards to witnesses required for the petitions, witnesses the undercover operative said, were paid a premium price for their services ($15 a pop). 

The undercover investigator who alleged these things had previously told "Rose" that she was not a resident of the district, even though she was gathering signatures ... which is against the law.  "Rose" agreed that the woman should not change her address to a community inside the district, because it might affect the woman's supposed personal legal proceedings.

All in all, investigators say that they observed recall petition circulators picked up from locations in Detroit, Highland Park, and Farmington, and taken to the 17th District.  They also say they have physical evidence -- photographs and audio tapes -- to back up their assertions.

Once I get some time cleared up, I'll see if I can upload the entire document.

Update! ... Here's a quick snippet of what's inside:

Leon is sad ... and I can see why

by: Eric B.

Tue Apr 29, 2008 at 11:30:00 AM EDT

Meet Leslie Rose.  I first met Leslie while poring over Tim Walberg's campaign contribution records from last quarter.  Leslie's name stuck out for two reasons ... Leslie gave $1,000, which I understood to be the cover charge for the big Cheney hoo-hah back in March, and Leslie lives on South Ocean Boulevard in South Palm Beach in Florida.

South Ocean Boulevard in South Palm Beach is one of those places where the hugely wealthy go when they tire of the rest of us.  There's a Kennedy compound on one end (it was tied to an alleged rape back in the late 80s, matter of fact), and the other is tied off by the town of Lantana and a beachfront string of condos for wealthy retirees.  In short, you must have money -- a lot of it -- to even drive down South Palm Beach's one street, or the ever-present South Palm Beach police will escort you to the edge of town like you're a panhandling hobo.

Walberg isn't the only Republican Rose has given money to.  Leslie has given $1,000 to Joe Knollenberg, for instance, and also money to the likes of Fred Thompson, Mitt Romney, John Sununu, and Michelle Bachmann (Walberg's co-conspirator in the Dim Bulb Caucus).

And, Leslie is a $1,000 contributor to Leon Drolet's army of recall monkeys.

Phil Power column: Lobbyists cite partisan motivation to Dillon recall

by: Eric B.

Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 19:50:26 PM EDT

Money paragraph from Phil Power's latest:

Two long-term Lansing lobbyists, who wouldn't go on the record, told me big GOP money is behind the effort, "because it will be a big feather in their hat if they knock off the Democratic speaker of the House." They also mention House Minority Leader Craig DeRoche, R-Novi, although he denies being involved.

The column's headline is "No reason for this recall attempt."  Obviously, there is a reason for it, just -- according to a couple of lobbyists speaking on background only -- a reason that benefits a very narrow group of people to the detriment of the public as a whole.

Love letter from Leon

by: Eric B.

Wed Apr 16, 2008 at 21:54:03 PM EDT

Quick, we're talking about recalls related to last year's tax vote.  Who wrote this?

We merely faced a bumbling ass who disrespects citizens rights and abuses his position.

No, it wasn't Robert Dean talking about salaried Macomb County Commissioner Leon Drolet, his army of recall monkies, and their failed campaign.  It was Leon his-own-self, talking about Redford Township Supervisor Miles Handy in his latest dispatch from the frontlines of legislative districts in which he doesn't live but whose representative he's trying to recall anyway.  Leon compares Handy to Bull Connor several times, and finally says, "Yeah, no, they're not really comparable."

Thug life, Godwin's Law, and the recall of Andy Dillon

by: Eric B.

Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 11:13:14 AM EDT

Yesterday on Right Michigan:

When it was all said and done mom and pop job providers were socked with a new "Michigan Business Tax" complete with a 22% surcharge.  On top of a spike in the income tax.  Because, apparently, when it rains tax hikes it has to pour.

Well, we knew that Nick wasn't much into research.  Apparently, he's not much of a fan of history, especially recent history.  Most of the rest of us remember the Michigan Business Tax as a replacement for the Single Business Tax, and not actually a tax hike.  I mean, I know in the bizarre mind of Leon Drolet, promising to replace revenue while repealing one tax and eventually figuring out how to do it is a tax hike, but most of the rest of us understand that to be deeply silly.

But, Nick's misadventure with recent history is part of his broader campaign to a) complain about the income tax hike, and b) complain about Andy Dillon defending himself against a recall election that would be held just two months before a general election.  Mind you, these are the same people constantly complaining about government waste, demanding a redundant election purely for the purposes of humiliating a public official and intimidating others.

Friday Coffee Talk

by: BZP

Fri Mar 21, 2008 at 07:16:09 AM EDT

Happy Friday! Enjoy your cup-o-links...

• 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.'"

• 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?"

• 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."

• 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."

The (in)Competent Captain

by: mr. willis

Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 17:23:57 PM EDT

What do they think I'm going to do, tackle somebody?

I was sort of daring them to arrest me.

Friday Coffee Talk

by: BZP

Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 07:30:59 AM EST

Happy Friday everyone. Enjoy your cup-o-links...

• Capitol Journal: No do-overs. Derek says not to hold your breath when it comes to holding a second Democratic primary/caucus.
• GR Press: Tracking donations to the candidates. Obama pulled in more money in 2007 in Kent and Ottawa Counties than Romney and Huckabee combined! (h/t Hazen)
• Capitol Journal: Walberg backs McCain. Come on, Tim. We all know you're an Alan Keyes man at heart.
• Michigan Messenger: Recall against Donigan derailed. Another setback for "two-bit punk Leon Drolet."
• Tim Skubick: Miller takes look at '10 bid. Tom discusses a potential gubernatorial run for Candice Miller.
• DetNews: Mayor signed deal to hush up texting. More bad news for Kwame.

• AP: Granholm budget proposal less contentious than in past years. Boy, let's hope so. Kathy Barks Hoffman has more on the details of the Governor's FY 2009 budget.
• BFM: "Best budget that I've issued since I've been governor." Cathleen dissects the budget.
• Freep Editorial: Balanced, lean and realistic. "Granholm has put together a rational budget that still shows many signs of scrimping but appears to be structurally sound. In sum, it is essentially unchanged from the current year's budget at $9.8 billion for the general fund. The school aid fund is up slightly."
• DetNews Editorial: Michigan needs modern driver licenses. In a shocking development, the Detroit News is supporting the plan being offered by Senate Republicans.

• WWJ: Rust Belt No More? Michigan Is Becoming Increasingly Innovative, Researchers Say. Good news for Michigan: "Innovative economic activity in Michigan increased 2.8 percent from the middle of 2006 to the middle of 2007, according to a new 'innovation index' developed by scholars at the University of Michigan-Dearborn School of Management."
• Oakland Biz Review: Volt battery efforts roll ahead. "The Volt I think has also another mission, which is to get the technology leadership back to GM and back in this country in some sense," Patil said. "As a production plug-in hybrid vehicle it's going to be breaking a lot of new ground. It is creating a lot of excitement."
• Great Lakes Guy: The Power of Money. The Great Lakes Guy takes a look at the initiatives to support renewable energy announced in the State of the State addresses from governors in Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin.
• AP: Delta, NWA inching closer to deal, says person briefed on talks. The companies want to combine so they can create one giant, lumbering, inefficient airline.
• AP: Great Lakes advocates not pleased with Bush's spending plan. "According to the group's analysis, the president requested $297.6 million for Great Lakes programs, down from $353.76 million appropriated for this year."
• Lansing City Pulse: Granholm and the environment. "There's room for improvement, but in comparison with the destruction that [former Gov. John] Engler wrought, she's stellar."

• GR Press: Amway warns e-mail about charity is a scam. When it comes to Amway, it's hard to tell which scams are real and which ones are fake.
• Media Mouse: Military Recruiting Numbers Released for Michigan and the Nation. This doesn't sound good: "Of those recruited in Michigan in 2007, only a little over 69% had high school dimplomas. Additionally, only ~45% of recruits from Michigan were what the military terms 'high quality.'"
• BFM: Important Figures In Michigan Black History (Part 1). DJ highlights notable African Americans from Michigan in honor of Black History Month.

Friday Coffee Talk

by: BZP

Fri Feb 01, 2008 at 07:25:56 AM EST

Happy Groundhog Day Eve. Be safe on the roads out there, folks... lots of schools closed this morning. Enjoy your cup-o-links...

• Crain's: Governor impresses business leaders. "The type of economic development incentives she presented really are right on," said Richard Blouse president and CEO of the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce. "It's very much in line with what we need to have in our tool kit to bring those companies here."
• Observer & Eccentric: DeRoche recall just a distraction, legislator says. "I think the voters of the Novi and South Lyon area know I was fighting for them. I hope they see it for the political stunt that it is." This man has no concept of irony.
• Observer & Eccentric: Corriveau's 2007 voting record spotless. Congrats to Corriveau for never missing a vote in 2007. As for the Republican Minority Leader? "House Republican Leader Craig DeRoche (R-Novi) was recently listed as one of the most absent voters in the Michigan Legislature for 2007."
• Lessenberry Interview: Paul Condino. "State Representative Paul Condino of Southfield chairs the state house Judiciary Committee. And he thinks people who make a mistake as children deserve a second look when they are adults. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry spoke with him."
• Tim Melton: Promise Zones can help push kids into college. "The Kalamazoo experience suggests that once the promise of higher education is extended to every family living within the boundaries of a community, property values will experience a significant increase. By establishing a Promise Zone, a community will be able to use that positive impact on property values to partially finance the scholarship promise."
• Freep: Granholm: universities should dip into endowments before hiking tuition. Is anyone else concerned with the fact that we keep shifting the burden of funding public universities onto the schools themselves?
• DetNews: Granholm: Reform prisons. "Asked how she intends to save the $200 million on budget cuts and reforms she proposed in her State of the State address this week, Granholm said: 'Corrections is a big piece. Are there people in the system who can be released in a cost-effective and safe way? Yes there are.'" The full Q&A is here.
• WILX: Bullying On The Rise In Schools. Too bad there isn't a bill in the legislature to help stop bullying. Oh, wait... there is. That's right, Mike Bishop put "Matt's Safe School Law" in the circular filing cabinet back in March of 2007.
• FARLEFTFIELD: Mike Cox Attacks Workers. The Left Fielder comments on Mike Cox's latest effort to attack state workers by blocking payroll deductions that support union-backed candidates.

• Jackson Cit-Pat: Signs point to heated 7th District contest. Schauer is breaking fundraising records while Tim Walberg begs the radical Club for Growth to bail him out. Go Mark, Go!
• Walberg Watch: Walberg's 4Q Fundraising. "Walberg, a freshman congressman from Tipton, reported raising about $151,000 during the same span and ended the period with about $438,000 in his account." Schauer out-raised him by $200k! Walberg's days are numbered.
• Freep: Granholm likes a Clinton-Obama ticket. "I would love to see her ask him to run as her vice president," Granholm, a supporter of Clinton's candidacy told the Free Press editorial board. "And if he gets it, I would hope that he would do the same."
• WLNS: Lawmaker Speaks Out About Recall Effort. There's a similar article in the LSJ, and Simpson's quote is priceless: "I will fight this to the bitter end because we are not going to allow outsiders and a little two-bit punk like Leon Drolet to come into our district and try to take control and try to convince people ... that they need to get rid of their state representative," Simpson said.
• Skoop's Blog: Governor to Stay Put. Skoob discusses the rumors of Granholm leaving for a post in a Hillary Clinton administration, which seems increasingly less likely.

• AA Biz Review Op-Ed: U-M projects enhance area. "The institution is a major economic driver for the region in obvious ways - like student enrollment - and in subtler fashions, such as through the multitude of research products that yield spinout companies and private hiring."
• AA Biz Review: State still divided over Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance bills. "I'd like them to address risk pools and insurer of last resort as mechanisms to make insurance affordable," said [State Sen. Tom] George. "Should we have one, the other, both, neither? The committee needs to make a judgment on that."
• BFM: Today is National Earned Income Tax Credit Day in Michigan. Yesterday was National EITC Day. Wizardkitten has more.

• BFM: Progressive Michigan Job Bank Launched. Looking to hire talented workers? Need a new gig? Check out Progress Michigan's new Job Bank.

The Recall Grinch who's trying to Steal the Nicest Legislator in all of Lansing

by: LiberalLucy

Thu Jan 31, 2008 at 12:45:27 PM EST

It's a pretty appropriate title for what happened late morning in Oakland County. Recall lanaguage was approved by an Oakland County Board for State Representative Aldo Vagnozzi, a Democratic member from Farmington Hills. 

Aldo, as everyone affectionately knows him, is one of the best-loved legislators in all of Lansing by Democrats and Republicans alike. But still, the Recall Grinch/aka The Pig Man/aka Leon Drolet, an ultra-conservative extremist funded with out-of-state monies, would like nothing more than to send the dear man packing, simply because he voted to save Michigan during the great Budget Crisis of 2007. 

Some people truly know no shame.  Stay tuned as we bring you information on how you can help Aldo. 

(Rep. Vagnozzi is pictured above greeting friends as he escorts Gov. Granholm into the State House during Tuesday's State of the State.)