(A Bible salesman who says, "To Hell with them." - promoted by Eric B.)
Congressional candidate "Top Kill" Tim Walberg has taken over $57,000 from Big Oil and other dirty energy companies while voting time and again to hand out tax breaks to BP and Big Oil.
Our lawmakers shouldn't be subsidizing BP and Big Oil but they should be protecting our Great Lakes. Yet Walberg is on record supporting oil drilling in the Great Lakes. Michigan shouldn't be a place where we need "junk shots" and "top kills" to plug giant oil spills.
With the effects of the Enbridge oil spill into the Kalamazoo River still being felt, we know that breaking our dependence on Big Oil is key to keeping our waterways safe. Now, as Tim Walberg says he wants to represent Michigan in Congress - again - we think it's time he broke his dependence on oil, too. Sign our petition telling Tim "Top Kill" Walberg to shut down Big Oil's pipeline of influence today!
We're tired of seeing people like Tim Walberg take money from Big Oil and then vote for huge tax breaks for those same companies while blocking incentives for clean, job-creating energy like wind and solar.
Those of you who read this (if anyone actually does), or know me, know that I’m interested in the small business and entrepreneurial community in Michigan. I want our state to be a place that’s friendly to innovate and grow in. You also know that I’m staunchly progressive in my social issues – and I think that that progressivism creates a friendly place for companies who are forward thinking to move to.
So, I’ve been asked a few times already — “Well then why don’t you support Rick Snyder?” The reason? He’s absolutely the wrong choice to fix/move Michigan forward.
Snyder’s backwards looking social views like this will literally drive businesses who care about equative rights for their employees from the state of Michigan. Preventing jobs from coming to the state with backwards policy is no better than shipping jobs to China, which he already did.
I can’t support a man who has proven he doesn’t support fairness for those who aren’t straight, doesn’t support a woman’s right to control the decisions about her own body, only favors “limited” stem cell research, and has a history of shipping jobs out of the USA. He may be “better” than the rest of the GOP choices, but he is still a poor choice for the best interests of *everyone* in this state.
I support Virg Bernero because of his experience at keeping his city’s budget balanced, bringing jobs to his city, and his unequivocal support of the social issues that I (and believe me, many others in my age group and beyond) care about. Michigan doesn’t need a cold-blooded CEO with ambivalence towards social issues. Michigan needs a warm-blooded, hearty, and energetic leader who will toe the line with the Legislature to balance our budget while making this state a place that EVERYONE (not just sections of people) feels comfortable living in.
Michigan Republican Attorney General Michael Cox is running in the Michigan GOP primary for Governor.
What's his storyline?
"I'm a Marine."
The fact is that U.S. Marine Corps has changed a lot since Cox was a short timer, one enlistment, non-rate, brawling leatherneck. The question is now; does Mike Cox have the character and core values of today's Marine? This analysis takes a look at Marine Corps Values and Mike Cox, his history, background and personal potential as Michigan's next "Marine" governor.
OK, Private. Shit-hot and square? Chinese field day time.
Dump ruck, junk on bunk. Urah?
In other words... Mr. Cox, if that's the premise; let's explore what that might mean, for you, your campaign, and for the citizens of Michigan.
OK, first off, this is a very strange situation, so please bear with me. More importantly, please *rec this diary up*; we need as much exposure as possible, as quickly as possible.
Michigan's 8th District has been "represented" (if you can call it that) by a Republican named Mike Rogers since 2000, when he won a squeaker of a race by just 111 votes to fill the U.S. House seat vacated by Debbie Stabenow when she was elected to the U.S. Senate.
You might be thinking that, given the closeness of the race, that MI-08 should be a district that the Dems could take back if they put their minds to it. Unfortunately, up until now, that hasn't happened. He won 68/31 in 2002, 61/37 in 2004, 55/43 in 2006 and 56/40 in 2008.
The closest anyone has gotten to him was Jim Marcinkowski in 2006, a former CIA agent and Naval Operations Specialist--and that was in an extremely Dem-friendly year (Marcinkowski, a former Republican, actually ran for Congress mostly because he was furious about the outing of Valerie Plame, who was a friend of his from his CIA days).
(While MichiganLiberal.com does not officially endorse candidates, our readers are more than welcome to advocate for whomever they wish. (And really, did you think anyone here is voting for Michelle McManus?) - promoted by PerfectStormer)
On May 20, 2008, NBC's Andrea Mitchell warned that then-Senator Barack Obama would have to “figure out a way to get a fair vote” because of the potential for “Katherine Harris-type” Secretaries of State to tamper with election results. That remark, virtually unthinkable before 2000, epitomizes the cloud of suspicion that has hung over every hotly contested election race ever since.
The “Katherine Harris effect,” refers to the former Florida Secretary of State who, amid great controversy and hanging chads, certified disputed election results that declared George W. Bush the winner of Florida and the presidency. Harris’s decision to certify the election results while also serving as the co-chair of the Florida Bush/Cheney Presidential campaign shattered voters’ faith in the integrity of the democratic process. It also invited the broader suspicion that Secretaries of State, the chief elections official in most states, work behind the scenes to ensure that their political party gains power and wins elections by hook or crook.
If our democracy is to stand, voters must have confidence that elections are an accurate reflection of the will of the voters. You would think it would go without saying that the Secretary of State, who oversees statewide recounts and certifies election results, must operate their office in a nonpartisan manner. They should not co-chair any campaigns or endorse any candidates in elections over which they serve as the final certifier of results. Whether elected as a Democrat or Republican, Secretaries must make decisions based on state and federal law and constitutional principles, not partisan gain.
In the years following the 2000 election, a handful of states have enacted legislation requiring that their Secretary of State remain neutral in all state and federal races. A Louisiana law specifically “prohibits a Secretary from being involved in any political race except his own.” I guess it would surprise no one that Michigan is not one of those states. That's why, I was taken by surprise when Jocelyn Benson, the Michigan Democratic Party’s endorsed candidate for Secretary of State, pledged last week to take an oath to operate the office in a neutral and nonpartisan fashion. And called upon other candidates for the office to do the same.
{{{{{crickets....}}}}}
That stunning silence from the other declared candidates should really tell you all you need to know. It's one thing for candidates who are long shots and underdogs to make campaign-style promises in a desperate attempt to gain attention. It's another thing entirely when the frontrunner - who's been a virtual shoo-in from day one - makes the promise. When you do the right thing simply because its right, then that says something about your character. When nobody, but nobody else steps up to show the same moral leadership and sense of conviction, well, that says something about their character also.
Michigan citizens deserve to have full confidence that their elections are clean, honest and fair. Ensuring that the next Secretary of State takes an “Oath of Nonpartisanship” is a direct way to reach that goal.
My name is CeCe Grant and I unabashedly endorse Jocelyn Benson for Michigan Secretary of State.
Crazy is as crazy does, and when conservatives start churning out policy ideas rife with unabashed insanity, we want to put the spotlight right on them.
Today we're starting with state Rep. Kim Meltzer (R - Arizona, er, Macomb Twp.) who wants Michigan to enact immigration legislation similar to Arizona's controversial "illegal alien witch hunt" bill.
Meltzer inspired us to launch a new feature we're calling Far Right TV. Now, every time an extreme conservative does something zany, hypocritical, or downright delusional, we'll make them the subject of our webisode and make sure everyone gets a chance to watch the crazy unfold.
Now we all know that crazy doesn't follow a calendar, so we'll be creating more webisodes as often as right-wingers do something worthy of a spotlight. Watch our first installment as we learn how to spot the illegal aliens Meltzer insists are a problem in Michigan.
Think of Right Wing TV as the place where we road test the policies the right proposes, challenge their "facts" and push back against fear-mongering, ignorance and lies.
Yesterday, there was some exciting news in the world of Bart "Mr. Coathanger" Stupak, as local county commissioner and former schoolteacher Connie Saltonstall announced that she's going to challenge Stupak in the Democratic primary based on his anti-choice/anti-HCR stance:
WASHINGTON - Michigan's Bart Stupak, a Democratic congressman who could help bring down health care reform over an abortion provision, is getting a primary challenge this year.
Connie Saltonstall of Charlevoix said today she plans to run against Stupak for the Democratic nomination of Michigan's First Congressional District, citing Stupak's efforts to stop health care reform if it doesn't ban use of government money for abortions. Stupak, a former state trooper from Menominee, has held the seat since 1993.
...
"I believe that he has a right to his personal, religious views, but to deprive his constituents of needed health care reform because of those views is reprehensible," Saltonstall said in a statement.
Last August, a health care protest rally staged in front of the offices of MI-07 Representative Mark Schauer brought out Jackson County Commissioner Phil Duckham with a swastika sign. You can read more about that in my Huffington Post article. This Thursday, another such rally is scheduled.
So the question is: Will Phil Duckham stage a repeat performance?
A counter protest due to begin a 3:30 pm is planned and, if you have a chance to go, it might be worth a trip. If you take photos of any particularly "interesting" signs or activities, feel free to email me and I will be sure they get published prominently.
The official statement for the counter protest:
Dear Friend-
We urgently need your help. This Thursday, the Michigan Republican Party is planning to hold a health care protest outside Congressman Schauer's district office at 4:30pm. The GOP invitation says, "We need your help to stop Mark Schauer and the liberals from a radical government takeover of health care!"
During a similar protest last August, pro-health care reform activists outnumbered Tea Party protesters by a 4-to-1 margin, and we need your help to do it again. You can watch a video of Mark speaking at last summer's health care rally here.
If you agree with Mark that we need to fix our broken health care system, hold the big health insurance companies accountable, eliminate the prescription drug donut hole, and cut health care costs for working families, then you can show your support by attending a Rally for Health Care Reform this Thursday. Here are the details:
WHAT: Rally for Health Care Reform
WHERE: U.S Rep. Mark Schauer's District Office
800 W Ganson, Jackson, MI 49202
WHEN: Thursday, March 11, 3:30pm
WHY: To send a message that working Michigan families are ready to fight for health care reform
We're in the homestretch of a 62-year battle to fix our broken health care system. Mark is ready to get the job done, but the Party of No and their deep-pocketed friends are willing to do whatever it takes to defend the status quo for another 62 years. We can't let them get away with it.
Come show your support for health care reform and Mark Schauer this Thursday - and don't forget to tell your friends!
"We have outsourced a substantial portion of our manufacturing operations to countries in Asia..."
The far right already has its Tea Party. Now, it's got a Mad Hatter.
Because you'd have to be mad, right, to think that what Michigan needs is a corporate CEO. Because those CEOs have done a lot for the country, and for Michigan, right?
Wrong.
Now it's clear that Rick Snyder isn't a "tough nerd" but another fat cat bonus baby. In fact, he's so far from the realm of reason that he thinks we won't notice that he, like Dick DeVos before him, sent thousands of Michigan jobs overseas.
You'd have to be a Mad Hatter to think that what Michigan's hard-working families want is to wave goodbye to more jobs, so big business can benefit.
Organizing for America (OFA) is the organization that grew out of the Obama Campaign for Change (also known as Obama for America or OFA 1.0.) Right now they are currently engaged in holding Strategy Session around the country to give folks an overview of where we've been in the last year (including the things they did right and the things they did wrong) and where they are headed in the coming year.
This is a big year, particularly in Michigan because the party that controls Congress after November will have the most to say about the upcoming redistricting that happens following the 2010 census. Democrats received a huge setback ten years ago when the Republicans controlled both houses in Congress as well as the Michigan Supreme court.
In addition to midterm elections we also have the fight for health insurance reform along with climate change/green energy legislation, financial sector, and education reform ahead of us.
I attended one of these strategy briefings a bit over a week ago in Ann Arbor where over 100 people came to listen and learn. You can read more about that HERE and read more about other events that have taken place HERE.
I encourage you to find one near you in the coming weeks. You'll find a full schedule after the jump.
Here's the official OFA blurb on these events:
Join Organizing for America for a 2010 Strategy Briefing in your area. The Strategy Briefings are a chance to talk with OFA staff and other volunteers in your area about our legislative and electoral plan for 2010. As an organization, we have come a long way in the past year. We have lessons to learn from the budget pledge drive, health insurance reform, and the Massachusetts Senate Race. Now is the time to bring those lessons together and look forward to 2010. There are countless opportunities to create change in the coming year and we have an important role to play in making that happen. As a team, we will talk about how to be involved in creating change in our country, both legislatively and electorally. We will talk through national strategy and discuss together what that means for our local community.
Yesterday, February 6, three Democratic candidates for statewide office appeared on a panel to discuss their candidacy and to answer questions from the audience. The event was sponsored by People of Diversity United for Equality (PODUE) and was held at the Brown Chapel AME in Ypsilanti. In attendance were Alma Wheeler-Smith -- candidate for governor, Jocelyn Benson -- candidate for Secretary of State, and Richard Bernstein -- candidate for Attorney General. The forum was moderated by Rep. Rebekah Warren -- with opening and closing remarks by House Speaker Pro Tempore Pam Byrnes, both candidates for State Senate.
From L-R, Rebekah Warren, Alma Wheeler-Smith, Jocelyn Benson, Richard Bernstein, Pam Byrnes, Pastor Jerry Hatter
Okay, not the entire newspaper. But Heritage Newspapers employee Terry Jacoby anyway.
Stu Dowty is the chair of the Washtenaw County Democratic Party. Since his election to that position in 2009, he has done a terrific job of leading the Dems. In answering a series of questionnaire questions sent to him by Mr. Jacoby, Stu demonstrates his extensive knowledge of both the "lay of the land" for Democrats in Washtenaw County as well as the facts and figures of health care and the position our country was in a year ago vs. today.
Last night, MI-07 Representative Mark Schauer spoke to the 2010 annual membership meeting of the Western Washtenaw Dems. During his conversation, he came out firmly in favor of a reconciliation path to passing health insurance reform legislation and was outspoken about the atrocious decision by the Supreme Court of the US (SCOTUS) to allow nearly unlimited corporate funding of political campaigns.
We need to push a bill, maybe taking the Senate bill and modifying it, and put into it all the components that can be passed under reconciliation. The long and short of that is that it doesn't take 60 votes. It takes 51. That's actually what our democracy is about. Anybody that complains about that, I'm going to give it to 'em and say it's not 60 votes that's a majority, 51 votes is a majority.
As to timing, the discussion was relatively brief and consistent with prior discussions - Iowa/NH/SC/Nevada can go after Feb. 1, every other state goes after March 1, the rules should encourage regional clusters by offering incentives such as bonus delegates, the RBC will address enforcement procedures and sanctions, and the DNC will try to coordinate timing with the RNC rules committee. The RNC coordination process is ongoing.
This column has been written about already here, but Jack Lessenberry completely misses the point in faulting Governor Granholm for signing a bad budget to prevent a government shutdown. The only thing worse than a bad budget would be a complete shutdown of Michigan government.
Think of the consequences -- and imagine what people like Lessenberry would be saying had the Governor refused to sign a budget and let the state shut down, in the ultimate Halloween nightmare. No Medicaid reimbursement. No inspections of Michigan agriculture. No pay for tens of thousands of state employees, who count on a regular paycheck to take care of their bills and families. Doing more damage to Michigan's credit rating. Adding uncertainty for businesses looking to locate here or that do business with the state. Limited state police protection (just imagine if something awful were to happen as a result).
Does Lessenberry really think these were viable options for the Governor? There's wide-spread agreement that we need to make long-term changes to the way Michigan does business. Lessenberry inaccurately states that the Governor "didn't make the faintest effort to move this state to a graduated income tax." However, just this March the Governor floated a graduated income tax to replace the Senate Republican-designed MBT surcharge - an idea Lessenberry wrote about at the time and supported!
Lessenberry's missing the point. Andy Dillon and Mike Bishop spawned this terrible budget, and left the Governor and the people of Michigan with no options with their eleventh hour nonsense. Lessenberry quotes Dillon as calling this year's budget "child's play" - with the damage they've done to our state already, we can only be thankful for one sane leader in Lansing... Jennifer Granholm.
He is right about one thing, though. Citizens should get vocal about this year's budget, and should contact their legislators (particularly obstinate Senate Republicans) to demand a budget that protects Michigan's future.
It's far past time to stand up and fight - and to place the blame squarely where it belongs, on Bishop and Dillon's "deal".
I know this was a few weeks ago, but I thought it should still be posted on here.
October 9-12, 2009. Over 100 Michiganders from Sault Ste. Marie to Kalamazoo joined together with the Michigan Democratic Party's LGBT & Allies Caucus for a ten hour bus ride to make the journey to fight for LGBTQ Rights in the Nation's Capital at the 2009 National Equality March. Many of those on the trip were students from around the state participating in a national event for the first time. Representatives from the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Eastern Michigan University, Grand Valley State University, Lansing Community College, Lake Superior State, Western Michigan University, Central Michigan University and Washtenaw Community College as well as members of PFLAG came together to experience a trip of a lifetime!
After the long bus ride we finally arrived at our destination and everyone was able to have a free day to explore the sights and sounds of D.C. Many took time to visit the many national museums and memorials, while others participated in one LGBTQ focused events throughout the day. Adam Taylor of Kalamazoo and Will Calhoun of Mount Pleasant watched on as the LGBTQ community honored the service of the U.S. military (especially those who cannot be open about being LGBT under the U.S. policy "Don't Ask, Don't Tell") by having a wreath placed at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers' at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA. Cody Hebden of Lansing and Derrick Chamberlain of Midland/Sault Ste. Marie attended a workshop on Civil Disobedience, which was put on by Soulforce, which is a foundation that promotes "freedom for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people from religious and political oppression through the practice of relentless nonviolent resistance" (www.soulforce.org). As the day turned into night, many Michiganders explored the nightlife of our nation's capital, especially in the District of Columbia's gay district known as DuPont Circle.
Sunday October 11, National Coming Out Day, was the big day and the main reason why we traveled over 500 miles to march for our rights as Americans, LGBTQ Americans! The National Equality March had an estimated 100,000 to 200,000 Americans marching for the rights of the LGBTQ community. The March started at McPherson Square with a fired up crowd anxious for equality, then proceeded past the White House and ended at the West Steps of the United States Capital Building where the National Equality Rally. The march itself was so rich in spirit and energy with people from all ages, races, religions, genders and sexual orientations waving rainbow flags, chanting "Gay Rights are Civil Rights" and same-sex couples expressing their love for each other by holding hands.
After the 2.3 mile March, the National Equality Rally began at the U.S. Capital. Speakers ranged from Politicians such as Utah's openly homosexual state Senator Scott McCoy to Hollywood star Cynthia Nixon to movement leader Cleve Jones. One of the largest crowd pleasers was bisexual international superstar Lady Gaga, who stated "It isn't equal when it is sometimes." Also present were Milk screen writer and Oscar winner Dustin Lance Black fired up the crowd by saying "that we are fighting for full equality, from sea to sea, and not equality in some places and not others, and not equality in some distant future!"
Not everyone however was so excited about the March. Congressman Barney Frank, from Massachusetts said that the National Equality Marchers would only be "putting pressure on the grass" and suggested we keep the battle at home. Well, I believe that this March was not a waste of time. For many of the Michiganders this was not only their first march, but their first involvement in the LGBTQ movement. . Not only was this an emotional release but this March has inspired so many to take the fight back home, and we need equality in Michigan! We need to spread the message to every Michigander, "GAY RIGHTS ARE CIVIL RIGHTS." We should have the right to marry, adopt, not be fired from are jobs for being LGBTQ and simply live our lives happily without fear of harassment. It is time for Michiganders and all Americans to be treated equal ALL THE TIME, NOT JUST SOME TIMES!
(Much better than the rally to honor the energy feedstock that allowed the sun to never set on the British Empire taking place in Lansing today. - promoted by Eric B.)
This morning, the Midwestern Governors' Association begins a two-day Jobs and Energy Summit in Detroit.
If the future of American manufacturing lies in green industries, the Michigan governor's pursuit of jobs offers a cautionary tale.
I truly hope that something comes out of the MGA meeting, and I appreciate the Governor's ongoing efforts to bring clean energy jobs to Michigan. (Heaven knows we need 'em.)
Realistically, though, she can't do it all by herself.
A company considering a move to our state would be understandably put off by Lansing's non-stop infighting, our chronic unemployment, a crumbling infrastructure, and the low literacy level of our workforce.
Organizing for America (OFA) is the organization that grew out of the Obama Campaign for Change (also known as Obama for America or OFA 1.0.) Right now they are currently engaged in holding Strategy Session around the country to give folks an overview of where we've been in the last year (including the things they did right and the things they did wrong) and where they are headed in the coming year.
Last night, MI-07 Representative Mark Schauer spoke to the 2010 annual membership meeting of the 
