It seems that many of those who are regular guests of this space are committed to a worldview based on some degree of reason and rationality.
That’s a handy thing if the “Covert Alarm Locator Apparatus” in your Isaac Daniel® Compass Global 1000 GPS sneakers should happen to fail and you need to find your way back to where the rest of us are; sadly, not all voters are equipped with such a helpful worldview.
Luckily for them, there are lots of conservative “mouth organs” ready to fill the “information gap”.
They send out lots of emails every day, spreading their Word, and as a public service I receive several of them; this to help keep track of just what’s out there, exactly.
If you ever wondered why otherwise normal people believe some of the craziest things about “Obama’s Secret Death Care And National Virgin Sacrifice Program”, have a look at some of the things I get every single day, and it might all make a bit more sense.
LANGUAGE WARNING: Today’s story is uncharacteristically blunt, and from this moment forward we will be using lots of inappropriate language in making our points.
It is by now fairly well known that Rahm Emanuel, President Obama’s White House Chief of Staff, had a bit of a blow-up with liberals who were ready to start running ads against “blue dog” Democrats who were working very hard to shut down the health care reform effort.
Now we’re not gonna get in the middle of that argument today; instead, since we’re finally getting a chance to talk, I figured me and Rahm could get a few other things out of the way that have been on everyone’s mind for the past year or so.
My former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers stopped by the offices of the Livingston Press & Argus in Howell, Mich. yesterday to throw some poop on health care reform. Not only did he throw poop, he told several bald-faced lies including this one:
He said a government-appointed panel's conclusion that women need fewer mammograms at certain ages would be incorporated in the bills.
Rogers, himself a cancer survivor, said the government shouldn't dictate who has access to mammograms.
"I said, 'Oh, my gosh. They just sentenced to death 36,000 American women.'"
So it’s the day of the big speech, Mr. President, and we got trouble with a capital “T” right here in Health Care City.
What are you gonna do? Do we follow the traditional Democratic Party legislative process of passing...something...at any cost, assuming the entire time that the Left and the Netroots will “go along with the program”, or is there a risk that the calculus doesn’t work as well today as it did in 1994 and 1996?
Well, lucky for you, I’m a fake consultant, and I know a few things about your “target market”, so before you answer that question...we need to talk.
While Republicans appear to be running rampant with burning torches and pitchforks chanting "Slash and Burn!" through the state's budget, it might be worth their while to pay careful attention to a recent poll released last week.
Cut early childhood development and education funding and consider yourself on the chopping block.
From Monday's subscription-only MIRS-
Three-quarters of voters say it is personally important to them to protect early childhood development and education from funding cuts, with 44 percent saying it is extremely important to them and 31 percent saying very important. At least six out of 10 voters across demographic and political subgroups say it is extremely or very important to protect early childhood development and education from funding cuts.
A majority of voters say they would cast their vote depending on a candidate's position on this issue. Fifty-four percent of voters say they would be more likely to vote for a candidate who came out in favor of maintaining funding for early childhood development and education, 31 percent were much more likely; 10 percent less likely; 32 percent no difference. Additionally, 54 percent of voters say they would be less likely to vote for a candidate who came out in favor of reducing funding for early childhood development and education, 38 percent were much less likely, 15 percent more likely and 26 percent no difference.
Of course this comes on the heels of last week's axing of the Michigan Promise Grant by the Senate Republicans, but only a handful of the caucus are facing re-election. The rest are termed out, allowing them to show their true colors, i.e. kids be damned, or something to that effect.
So while they keep the slash and burn mentality, the rest of us are left repeatedly hearing news like this alternative high school that's being forced to close, providing a much-needed second chance for teens.
The Legislature is out for the summer recess, but between this poll and the findings of the Cherry Report in '04, you'd think that sooner or later that the Republicans would wise up when it comes to cutting off funding for education. That is, if they ever hope to gain power or seats again.
In the small chance you've been off the Tubes of the Internets for the last 48 hours, chances are you've heard a whole lot of noise about how the Senate Republicans slashed the state's Higher Education budget yesterday, which included the Michigan's Promise, the $4000 scholarship for Michigan students, which 96,000 students in our state receive and depend on.
As a geek, I love the online organizing tools -- but as a citizen, this is a great way to send a message that we won't stand for breaking Michigan's promise.
Minutes before the vote on many of amendments that attempted to restore the Michigan Promise Scholarship, Lt. Gov. John CHERRY, who was presiding over the Senate was sending out messages on Twitter telling his followers to use an online tool to write local newspapers to stress why cutting the scholarship was wrong.
Not too long after I saw the tweets from the Lt. Governor, I clicked on one and was taken to the website from A Whole Lot of People Supporting Cherry, his exploration committee, asking me to make sure our state is 'Keeping Our Promises' by visiting an entire section of his website to take action on this one singular issue.
Now that might not seem to extraordinary, but if you visit the page, you're apt to be a little more impressed. The page includes a You-Tube video, a petition to sign directed at the Senate Republicans, a link to the Facebook group for the issue, a link to a tool that allows you to automatically send a letter-to-the-editor about this particular issue (with suggested text), a "tell-a-friend" tool, and lastly a link to the news page with all of Cherry's press releases. From an online organizing/get-out-the-vote (GOTV) perspective, that's pretty sweet.
To be fair, the Senate Democrats have done an impressive job of also using some of these very same online tools to keep folks informed and engaged through their website, blog and Twitter, and Facebook accounts, and have one of the most active and updated YouTube channels, with over 75 videos to date.
On top of all of that, Cherry started using a new online petition tool, http://act.ly, the Twitter Petition, that just launched within the last 72 hours, to also drive the subject.
Obviously the Obama campaign set the bar pretty high last year for similar online action, but this early in the 2010 game it's pretty impressive.
As someone who makes monthly student loan payments equivalent to what some pay for a mortgage, I appreciate the fight that the leadership of Cherry and the Senate Democrats are taking on with this issue. As a giant geek, I think it's great to see public officials really grabbing this online technology by the horns and using it for a very worthy cause.
This is a parody of a Republican strategy session on how to defeat President Obama's health care reform legislation. It seems pretty spot on to me. What do you think?
Apparently a Republican-written white paper spelling out their demise over the next couple years wasn't bad enough, but the snowball just keeps rolling down the hill, and growing in size.
WXYZ TV (Channel 7 out of Detroit) just released the results of a poll about potential gubernatorial candidates, and continues to reinforce what Democrats, Republicans, and the public all know - Republicans are weak, really weak.
Among Democrats, in an open-ended question without hearing the list of Democratic candidates, if the primary election were held today, the leading candidate would be Lieutenant Governor John Cherry, who is polling at 9%. The second most popular candidate is US Senator Debbie Stabenow, who polls at 5%, followed by Governor Jennifer Granholm at 3%. However, Governor Granholm is term-limited, and cannot run again.
This is great news for Cherry, as Stabenow has already announced that she is not running in the 2010 gubernatorial race, giving Cherry the definitive lead. He also does better than anyone of any of the announced or even remotely likely Democratic candidates for Governor, and is either winning or within the margin of error with all the Republicans he's matched up with.
And what about those Republicans, you ask? Well, besides duking it out amongst themselves with very little flair or notability, there's also some telling items, namely that Rick Snyder, who may be seen as some as the dark horse in the race, didn't even garner enough points to pull a single percentage point.
Again with the usual caveat - it's only May of 2009. There's a lot of time between now and November of 2010, but it's doubtful that the Republicans can make up that much ground with their entire field between now and then.
That being said, none of the Democratic candidates should be resting on their laurels, nor should their supporters, but the poll certainly is encouraging.
Encouraging and interesting news comes to the state courtesy of a new white-paper from an interesting group of Republican strategists - the GOP just can't win in 2010. The article from MIRS (subscription only) is quite revealing. For instance -
A new white paper by MDJ&R Strategy Consultants takes a look at why the GOP went from controlling the governor's mansion and both houses of the Legislature before the last redistricting in 2000 to having a Democratic governor and House today. Their study of election data trends predicts neither will change hands in the 2010 election and Republicans will drop to a 20-18 majority in the Senate.
"The numbers aren't there to be successful in 2010," said Dennis DARNOI, former chief of staff for Senate Majority Leader Mike BISHOP(R-Rochester). "It's clear that the message the top-of-the-ticket candidates have been using isn't resonating. It hasn't been successful for six years."
Darnoi said the GOP has lost suburban and independent voters, particularly from the five biggest counties -- Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Kent and Grand Traverse. Only 32 percent of Michigan voters identify as Republicans, even though 40 percent say they're conservative. Republicans need an 83-county strategy, he said.
Hmm, an 83-county strategy, eh? Sounds a little familiar, kind of like a 50-state strategy implemented by the Democratic National Party in 2008? You betcha! (wink)
So if you’re like me, you have been wondering just exactly what all this “tea party” stuff is about. There’s going to be some sort of protest, that we know; but beyond that the whole thing seems a little...vague.
Alternatively, it’s possible that you were unaware that “tea party” has recently become a word reborn in conservative political circles.
Well, whether you knew it or not, April 15th was indeed a day of protest, with citizens gathering for what were reported to be a series of grassroots events across the nation that was intended to invoke the spirit of the Boston Tea Party.
In an effort to find out exactly what is motivating these folks, and to find out what they are trying to accomplish, I took my handy recorder and captured a conversation with a “tea bag” protester.
We will review that conversation, and we will follow it up with a few thoughts about how this group of voters might impact electoral politics going forward.
Does every protest by right-wingers involve the Boston Tea Party?
Apparently, because of their lack of imagination it does. They are at it again, and on tax day on April 15 they are planning another "Tea Party" to protest "wasteful government spending at the state and national levels." Apparently, they have even gone as far as to mail tea bags to political leaders.
They pulled a similar stunt in February that I called "Music and Meander." They inflated the numbers of people who attended the event, and then attacked me because I underestimated the people who attended. I corrected my numbers, but they stuck with their inflated numbers.
But while they were hammering me on numbers, they inconveniently failed to explain what the Boston Tea Party has to do with the protest. The Boston Tea Party was staged to protest the Tea Act of 1773, and it was part of the discontent brought about by the Stamp Act of 1765. The Colonists were protesting "Taxation without Representation."
Will somebody please explains to me how this is Taxation without Representation? The American people spoke loud and clear in November, and the people they want representing them are representing them.
Perhaps instead of tea bags and signs displaying what they are told to write, they should bring a text book.
One of the organizers of the misguided "protest" in Lansing is rightwing extremist Howell Public School Board member and founding member of the defunct anti-gay hate group called LOVE - (Livingston Organization for Values in Education) Wendy Day. She was quoted in a recent edition of the Livingston County Daily Press & Argus as saying she hopes the President is listening.
"This is a grassroots effort, much like the Boston Tea Party, of standing up against the oppression of big government and out-of-control spending," she said.
What she needs to do is audit a history class at Howell High School, or better yet, attend one of Mark Oglesby's government classes.
The Lansing people are all atwitter because Samuel Wurzelbacher - AKA "Joe the Plumber" - is going to appear. You will recall that he gained instant celebrity status after a chance encounter with President Obama and asked him a question during a campaign stop in Toledo. After that, the McCain camp trotted him out at campaign stops and shopped him as the everyman Joe the Plumber.
It turns out he wasn't a plumber and his name wasn't even Joe. We know President Obama will be good for the country, but he has been especially good for Sam the digital converter box promoter. He has been unqualified for every job he has held since October 12, 2008. and I can't understand why anyone but his family and friends care about what he has to say, but they are calling his appearance a "big get."
The Associated Press today is reporting that the top Republicans in Michigan are delaying the spending of Stimulus Package money while they form a "special appropriations committee" to study how best to spend it for a few months.
Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop of Rochester said he wants the effort to be bipartisan and include members of the Democrat-led state House. But some Democrats were cautious about the plan, worried about potential gridlock over stimulus spending.
It seems reasonable, right? Seems prudent. But this is nothing but an insidious way to ensure the failure the Republican leadership (aka, "Rush Limbaugh") has called prayed for. Want proof? Follow me after the fold.
With the entire state seemingly up in arms after last week's flipping of the bird by the Republican U.S. Senate, the fallout got me thinking about what lies ahead for the coming electoral cycle.
Never before have I seen such a complete and total unified reaction from Democrats, independents, media, and even Republicans on one singular state issue. Sure there were a couple exceptions, like those being fed the GOP talking points like mother's milk, but as we so quickly learn in politics, rational logic doesn't necessarily have to apply to all of us.
With the news this morning that Pete 'Turtlegate' Hoekstra won't seek re-election in two years in the 2nd Congressional District and is still mulling a run for governor (how many years has he been mulling that?) and Markos' thoughts on the subject, it got me thinking.
How might the ramifications of the Senate Republican vote play out electorally for our state over the next two years?
There aren't any major elections for another two years, but a vote this large that affects essentially an entire state is not likely to be forgotten anytime soon. And the case was cut and dried, so there's no mistaking precisely who the perpetrators are.
Will we see local Republican candidates run against the actions of their congressional party members, or will we see them delicately two-stepping their way through a messy minefield? How are Republican gubernatorial candidates going to handle it without jumping party ship?
Update: You can view the dirty mailer in question here, and then compare it to this very official mailing from the Peterman campaign here.
Things worth noting: card size is the same, font is the same, stamps are both from the same type of roll, basic layout is the same, even the postmark is from the same location.
Coincidence? Perhaps, but I've learned to be highly skeptical of oh-so-convenient coincidences this close to the election. So if someone you know lives in the 39th district, take the extra 2 minutes to call or email them up, and make sure they see this. Is this really someone they want representing them in Lansing?
Update 2: It has been confirmed from Oakland County officials that there is no such organization as the Oakland County Reproductive Rights Action League. Shame on the Oakland County Republicans and the Peterman campaign for trying trick and deceive voters!
*****
I'm spending my weekend down in Oakland County, getting out the vote for Democratic House candidate Lisa Brown, who's in a fierce battle for the open seat in the 39th District (Wolverine Lake, Commerce Twp., West Bloomfield Twp.) Lisa is a real up-and-coming star for the Dems. She's received the endorsement of the UAW, Michigan Equality, Triangle Foundation, Sierra Club, MI Deputy Sheriffs Association, Michigan State AFL-CIO, and Planned Parenthood, just to name a few.
Her opponent, Amy Peterman, is a former attorney who works with a couple of bozo's you might have heard of. They are also the very same bozos that have a way of obstructing almost every piece of helpful legislation that comes their way. That's right, your infamous Senate Republicans!!
Peterman is endorsed by Mike Cox, L. Brooks Patterson, Michelle McManus, John Pappageorge, Arlan Meekhoff, Laura Toy, Joe Knollenberg, and the like. She's obviously already following in their footsteps because the dirty tricks have already begun.
Besides claiming to be the "right to life" candidate, a mailing recently went out to the district claiming that Peterman was endorsed by the Oakland County Reproductive Rights Action League. Problem is, after hours of searching the Tubes of the Internets and teh Googles, including the Secretary of State's website, there's not one trace of any such "Oakland County Reproductive Rights Action League" and the figments of Peterman's mind do not count.
Over a week ago, one of Peterman's family members showed up at Lisa Brown's campaign office and just started literally screaming and hollering about the campaign, disrupting the office and obviously shaking campaign volunteers up.
And yet, it gets even worse. Peterman's primary opponent, David Wolkinson, reported that his supporters got robocalls from him as early as 4 and 5am before the primary election. Not only is that illegal, it's also the fastest way to turning your supporters against you. Very conveniently, none of this is really provable, but what is fact is there's a clear record of dirty tricks being played, and all for the benefit of Amy Peterman in her desperate attempt to be the next state representative from the 39th District.
So while it's just the same old bag of dirty Republican tricks, every day folks from all walks of life are down in Commerce Township phonebanking and knocking doors for Lisa Brown. Let's fight for real democracy, the fair way, and get Lisa Brown elected. God knows we don't need one more Republican obstructionist in Lansing who doesn't like to play fair.
Lisa Brown and the Commerce Township Campaign for Change office is located at 4088 Haggerty Road (corner of Haggerty and Richardson) in Commerce Township. Come on down and tell them that LL sent you. :-)
When last we met, Gentle Reader, we were talking about more or less $150,000 in clothing and beauty services that had been purchased mostly for Sarah Palin’s use by the Republican National Committee.
Since then, we have learned that John McCain himself once tried to outlaw the very type of contribution that led to this situation, we’ve heard McCain’s campaign offer a very non-maverick-y denial...and we’ve learned that the highest paid member of the McCain campaign staff—the person who presumably has the magic touch needed to turn this thing around—will be working her magic with a makeup brush.
As we discussed yesterday, I think I could have dressed Palin for 1/3 of what the RNC paid. Yesterday we “purchased” five of the outfits I think she needs...and with half the shopping done, we’re $670 over budget.
Can she be dressed for a mere $43,000? Let’s see if we can pull it off...
So you’re the Governor of a State...but the next thing you know, you’re running for Vice President. The boss says you gotta bling up the ol’ Governor clothes—and the next thing you know, you’re having to explain how you can be the common “hockey mom” from Wasilla and how you can be clothed in more than enough money to buy Joe The Plumber’s house...both at the same time.
In the interests of telling the story fairly, I decided to conduct my own online shopping experiment.
Let’s head over to Saks and Neiman’s...and Bergdorf and Goodman’s to boot...and let’s just find out exactly what you would need to spend to look fabulous—and what you should probably be avoiding if you really want to project that whole “woman of the people” kind of thing.
That’s right folks, today, we play “Joe The Personal Shopper” for Sarah Palin.
Securing the votes in Congress to pass real immigration solutions into law isn’t going to be easy. The next President – no matter who wins – will need to lead his own party first to get it done.
This article was originally posted on Mediamouse.org, a left/progressive news website from Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Randy Gray, a racist activist from Michigan and a member of the Knight's Party of the Ku Klux Klan, has been elected as a Republican Precinct Delegate in the city of Midland, Michigan. According election results from the August 5 primary election in Midland, Gray was one of three candidates elected in a race in which three positions had to be filled.
According to Randy Gray, all he had to do was put his name on the ballot; there was no need for campaigning. Indeed, according to a document distributed by the Michigan Republican Party about Precinct Delegates, the process is pretty simple. Candidates declare their candidacy with their County, City, or Township Clerk and following a review of their "Affidavit of Identity," their name appears on the ballot. Once they are elected, the parties are notified. The only qualifications are that the person is at least 18 years old and lives in the precinct.
The Michigan Republican Party defines the position as:
"A Precinct Delegate is an elected representative to the local political party from the precinct. Every precinct has at least one Republican Delegate, and some have more. The local party determines the number of delegates based on the number of Republican votes in that precinct in the previous election."
The same document says that precinct delegates have the primary responsibility of attending all County Conventions during their two-year term. Additionally, there are often other duties such as distributing yard signs, literature drops, get-out-the-vote phone calling, and absentee voter programs.
While it is unlikely that anyone in the Republican Party knows of Gray's affiliation with the Ku Klux Klan, a simple Internet search shows a post on the white supremacist website Stormfront.org in which Gray announces his victory. Additional searches quickly turn up a local newspaper article in which he admits to being a member of the Klan.
Aside from his work with the Knight's Party of the Ku Klux Klan, Gray has been active in other white supremacist causes. He has spoken at a national Ku Klux Klan gathering and at a racist rally held in the summer of 2007 in Kalamazoo with other white supremacists. Gray has actively used public access television to promote white supremacist messages. In Midland, he has aired the show "This is the Klan" on public access, as well as the program "Yahweh's Truth" which is hosted by the Michigan-based Christian Identity pastor James Wickstrom. Christian Identity is a religion that is practiced by a significant portion of the racist right. Gray also runs a white supremacist website called WNN News.
Gray is purported to be shown below in his Klan robes in a grainy photo from a racist website that is critical of the Knight's Party of the Ku Klux Klan:
While it would be wrong to conclude that simply because Gray was able to get elected as a Republican Precinct Delegate that the Republicans are sympathetic to his racist views, Gray's election is important because he is a racist. It is important to be aware of such individuals--however much they may seem to be on the fringe--as they often make inroads when people are not paying attention, as seen in Gray's election and in his earlier role as a coordinator for the Ron Paul campaign.
Wed, 09/17 5:15pm
Monument Park (corner of Fulton and Division)
Our schools are crumbling, many of us can't afford healthcare, our homes are being foreclosed, food costs are rising... yet the illegal occupation of Iraq continues to receive an almost unlimited amount of government funding.
When McCain and Palin speak at GRCC, let's protest to demand an immediate end to the Iraq War (no time tables, no contractors, and no "residual forces") and the prioritizing of human needs over war.
Everyday it is becoming more apparent. The Republican Party is full of self-hating Americans. Can't-Do Conservatives is what I call them. If the lipstick fits, you conservatives gotta wear it. Then look in the mirror to see what you've become.
The Issues
National health care: Can't-Do Conservatives say it can't be done successfully in the U.S., while every democracy in Europe provides care for its citizens without becoming a Socialist outpost. Why do the Can't-Dos think so little of our American ability and ingenuity?
Government Spending: Can't-Do Conservatives complain loudly about government spending but, at the same time, have no problem spending $720 million American dollars A DAY illegally occupying Iraq, which had no role in the 9/11 attack, had no weapons of mass destruction, and had no other sin other than having the third largest oil reserves stewing under its land.
Budget Deficits: Can't-Do Conservatives complain about government spending but have no qualms about giving massive tax cuts to their Can't-Do Cronies, the rich, the super rich, and the power elite. Everyone else gets the occasional rebate check, but this, too, it put on the National Credit Card for future generations to pay. Can't meet our national priorities? We can if we eliminate the tax cuts for the Cronies of Can't-Dos.
Education: Can't-Do Conservatives don't seem to think Americans should fully fund schools. They diss teachers; they disdain university professors. They preach support for education, but expound against smart people. Basically, Can't-Do Conservatives support educated people, but only if they are taught their rigid ideology. Truth and an educated populace are like Kryptonite to Can't-Do Conservatives and their hold on power.
Community Organizing: The Can't-Do Conservatives disrespect and chide community organizers. If you organize, volunteer, and support community organizations, this means you! These Can't-Do Conservatives think you're a sucker or a chump if you work within your community for the following:
The United Way
The Red Cross
Planned Parenthood
American Foundation for the Blind
The League of Women Voters
Michigan Arts Council
United Negro College Fund
The Sierra Club
Citizens for Better Care
March of Dimes
American Civil Liberties Union
Make A Wish Foundation
Peace Education Center
Capital Area Literacy Coalition
UNICEF
Amnesty International
NAACP
American Cancer Society
Humane Society
Old Newsboys' Goodfellow Fund
Reading is Fundamental
PTA
Little League Baseball
Rotary
OXFAM
Michigan Environmental Council
...and the list goes on and on.
Half of the time with community organizing, we are trying to fix problems that Can't-Do Conservatives have created and perpetuated. If the lipstick fits...you gotta wear it.
Can't-Do Conservative Standard Bearers
The current standard bearers for Can't-Do Conservatives are John McCain and Sarah Palin. They clearly and proudly have carried this mantle since accepting their political party nomination. It's obvious, too, that they have a chorus of support from the arch-conservative pundits on radio and television, as well as from stalwarts throughout the Republican Party.
If you're part of this conservative, Republican crowd, get your lipstick because, undeniably, you gotta wear it.
-- Rico Thomas Rico
[This was cross posted from www.ricothomasrico.blogspot.com.]
My former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers stopped by the offices of the Livingston Press & Argus in Howell, Mich. yesterday 
