I know better than to go drinking on Sundays, but it's just been one of those weeks, and I figured I'd grab a few beers, no big deal, and then head hone and get some real work done.
Of course, the reason I don't drink on Sundays is because that's when Satan likes to go hang out at my favorite bar - and to be real honest with you, lately Satan's getting to be a real drag to hang out with once he gets drinking.
I mean, it's depressing: he's always talking about how he gets blamed for the economy, even though he claims he has no control over Wall Street, and atheism is a bit of a sore subject - and he's forever complaining about how all his best customers have been outsourcing more and more work to Varsavarti.
But if you think all that's a drag to have to deal with...you should hear him complain about Republican Presidential Politics.
We have seen some amazing days in Egypt, and it's provided a better lesson than anyone could have ever wanted for how taking action, against long odds, can really get something done.
A secret police mechanism has been pushed aside, an Army has chosen not to attack The People, and a President who was backed by the "full faith and credit" of the US Government on Friday was being told by that same US Government on Tuesday that it's time to go.
The People, in fact, spoke so loudly that Mr. Mubarak has informed Egyptians that he's going to "pursue corruption", which, if taken literally, could eventually look like a puppy chasing its own tail.
The People, however, are unhappy with his answer, and they're speaking even louder yet...even to the point of being willing to take beatings, gunfire, and, believe it or not...camel charges...to make their voices heard.
And that got me to thinking about Social Security.
You know, we are facing the potential for a great big Social Security fight for pretty much the entire term of the 112th Congress-and it seems to me that a series of great big "Cairo-style" marches might be the way to make our voices heard, so that this Congress understands that great big benefit cuts are something that we will not tolerate.
In a recent article by the Detroit Republican Examiner, at examiner.com, he openly admits that racism influences his right wing views. He also continues with a call for "rioting" and "blood shed" if Republicans don't get their way in November.
We have already seen some impressive efforts in this campaign season to do a bit of résumé padding, particularly as it regards things military; so far Illinois' Mark Kirk has managed to turn himself into a kind of camouflage Austin Powers, while Connecticut's Richard Blumenthal's trying to catch up with some "Vietnam" service of his own that no one else in the theater of operations exactly knew about.
But now, in the race for Alabama Governor, we may have seen something that takes us to a whole new level of "inflation": the Republican candidate is running an ad that not only suggests that he served in Vietnam...it seems to imply that he actually died there, and has now come back to save the State.
Which is some serious irony indeed, considering that the candidate is actually a medical doctor.
And with that, let me introduce you to the either living...or undead...Dr. Robert J. Bentley.
(The ENDA vote's probably coming up this week or next. Time to lean on your Congresscritters... - promoted by PerfectStormer)
It wasn’t but a couple of days ago that we had a conversation about The Fear and the emails that are used to spread it, and I figured with that out of the way we had dealt with the topic, and that we’d move on to new things.
Well, we would be moving on, Gentle Reader, if it wasn’t for the fact that an email came in today that was so ugly, so disturbing, and so indicative of what we are about to see as the battle over the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) begins to heat up (ENDA being possibly the next “big contentious thing” that this Administration hopes to accomplish), that I had to interrupt my story schedule to bring it to your attention.
Mike Cox gave his ideas of how to solve the state's economic problems. Guess what? He wants to cut taxes. How original. And how does he want to balance out the revenue loss. Cutting health and pension benefits of state workers and teachers.
Cox: Cut taxes for all businesses, residents By Karen Smith OBSERVER STAFF WRITER
The state should not pick and choose which industries it gives tax breaks to but cut taxes for all businesses to help turn the economy around, Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox told about 130 business leaders in Livonia Friday.
Cox, who's formed a committee to explore a run for governor next year, said cutting the new $2.6 billion Michigan Business Tax in half and repealing the $700 million increase in personal income taxes signed into law in 2007 are two things the state can do right away to encourage job growth.
“Let's tell businesses this is the place to come,” Cox said at a breakfast meeting of the Livonia Chamber of Commerce.
Let me enumerate the McCain policy offerings: Here's the problem when you advocate less government except for defense, oil and gas exploration and to "shake things up in Washington."
Today was probably the biggest day in the 2008 Democratic Presidential Race. The Delegates from the State of Michigan and Florida will be seated in full, with each delegate having a half vote. I believe that this was the best possible to way bring Michigan and Florida to Denver. This decision was hard for everyone on both sides, but this is now in the past, and together we must unify for the good of the Democratic Party and for the good of America. As a son of a Rural Blue Collar Middle Class Family, we cannot afford to have another Republican in the White House. No matter if Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama takes it home, I will stand behind the winner 100%! I encourage all people no matter who wins this to support the Democratic Nominee. America and Michigan cannot afford to have four more years of the Republican Agenda running this nation. With the rising costs of gas prices, college, and healthcare, a missed manage war, the threat of our natural resources disappearing, and equal rights for all people, it is time for a Democratic to move into 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, no matter if that person is younger or older, male or female, black or white, an old timer or a new comer. A DEMOCRAT MUST WIN THE PRESIDENCY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, IF WE WANT TO MOVE AMERICA IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. Our Time Is Now My Friends, and with another four years of the Republican Machine, we mind as well go to hell in a hand basket. SUPPORT THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE, WHOM EVER IT SHALL BE!!
I was thinking: when we messed up the primary situation in the state, the RNC cut Michigan's delegation in half. Why don't we just cut Michigan's votes in half and still seat the delegates? We would send the full number of people, but our delegates (pledged and/or super; I'm not concerned with that at this point) but each vote would only 'count' as half a vote. The DNC already uses this system for Americans who live overseas: they hold primaries and nominate delegates (I believe around 14 or 18) who attend the convention but each of their votes counts for half, leaving a total of 9 delegates votes for the Big Count.
It would be interesting to see this plan seriously discussed.
Senate Obstructionist Leader Mike Bishop (R-Hair Gel) has revealed his playbook. He wants to be Michigan's own Newt Gingrich. Just like Newt shutdown the federal government in 1995, Mike Bishop appears ready to do the same in Michigan.
The Detroit News reports that Bishop met with Gingrich this past weekend and likes what he hears. After Gingrich spoke, Bishop commented:
"He's talking my game," whispered Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop near the end of the talk. Bishop intended to meet privately with Gingrich later today.
Let's hope that the so-called Democratic Speaker of the House, Andy Dillon, finally realizes that his "good friend" Mike Bishop is no friend.
(Some food for thought - promoted by Hazen Pingree)
During the first six months of 2007, the Michigan Senate under the "leadership" of Mike Bishop worked a total of 66 session days and about 120 total hours, averaging barely more than 90 minutes of work per session day.
At Mike Bishop's $105,650 annual salary, that means that he was paid more than $440.50 per hour for the Senate's work in the first six months of this year. This does not include additional payments to Bishop for his "expense allowance".
$440.50 per hour. That's working out pretty well for Mike Bishop, but how's that working out for you?
The latest effort from Senate Obstructionist Leader Mike Bishop (R-Tanning Salon) to block action on moving Michigan forward involves his demanding that Governor Jennifer Granholm rescind a scheduled pay increase for state employees and exact an additional $300 million in "consessions" from state employees.
State workers are feeling picked on and stressed out, said Ann Lantzy, a secretary in the Attorney General's Office.
"I'm sorry the state is in such terrible condition, but we are not the ones that did it," said Lantzy, a Lansing resident who has worked for the state for 32 years. "I don't see the Legislature giving up a whole lot."
Mike Cox's secretary is right. The Legislature isn't giving up a whole lot. In fact, they're not giving up anything (unlike Granholm).
Take Mike Bishop, for example. He became a member of the Michigan Legislature in 1999. His salary at the time, according to the State Officers Compensation Commission, was $55,054 per year. But now, just 8 years later, Bishop's salary as Senate Majority Leader is $105,650.
That's an increase in pay of $50,596, or 92%!!! -- more than 12% per year!!!
How many state employees have received a similar increase in the last 8 years?
Mike Bishop's hypocrisy. You're paying for it, Michigan taxpayers. Are you getting your money's worth from Mike Bishop?
(Nolan Finley is a hack. Nice work. - promoted by nirmal)
Looks like Nolan Finley made a major error in the misguided Sunday column he wrote on Governor Jennifer Granholm's leadership on the state budget.
In Eric B.'s excellent diary posted earlier today, he linked to a Detroit News column written by Nolan Finley that included the following quote:
"Why doesn't she take control of these negotiations?" asks Dillon, and then answered, "Because she doesn't have leadership instincts."
Eric B. was wise to question the validity of the quote because now the Detroit News appears to have changed the column, and instead of attributing the quote to Speaker Andy Dillon, the quote is now attributed to Senate Obstructionist Leader Mike Bishop (R-Tanning Salon):
"Why doesn't she take control of these negotiations?" asks Bishop, and then answered, "Because she doesn't have leadership instincts."
How could this have happened? When filing his column, Nolan Finley typed "Dillon" when he really meant "Bishop"?
His hatred for Democrats is so great, he subconsciously typed "Dillon" but actually believed he typed "Bishop"?
And this guy is supposed to be qualified to be an editor?
While the Detroit News may try and cover-up the error by changing the on-line version of the story, they can't alter the hundredes of thousands of print versions of the column that was distributed with today's Sunday Detroit Free Press.
And the changed version of the story at the Detroit News website includes no note about the correction--no apology.
Why is the Detroit News trying to hide Nolan Finley's incompetence?
Right-wing senators holding a narrow Republican majority thus continue to operate under the delusion that there was no referendum during last fall's election on the core issue of de-funding Michigan -- an election that saw an arch-conservative guru of tax cuts soundly defeated by Gov. Jennifer Granholm, the former House Republican majority tossed out on its collective ear, and the GOP's edge in the Senate reduced to a scant few seats.
This past election was no mandate from the body politic to scrap the Single Business Tax without a full replacement. This was not an affirmation of cutting the sinews of state government. This was not an endorsement of "no new taxes now or anytime for anything."
Sometimes the truth hurts. And as items like this begin to reveal what Mike Bishop and his Senate Obstructionist Caucus are all about, they are in for some pain.
Since the U.S.'s invasion into Iraq and Afghanistan, many Michiganders, like many Americans, lives have changed. So many lives lost in a fight that is viewed by most of the country and world as unjust. So many families shattered, so many bright futures tragically cut short.
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.
The Man, the Mercenary
Ted Roelof of the Grand Rapids Press has an extensive look into the reclusive Prince and a life built on ultra-conservative tenets and money.
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.
Randy Marklewitz, my township supervisor, was recently indited for operating a meth lab on his rural estate, about four miles away. Last week he asked for a leave of absence from his position as a supervisor, and the board replaced him with one of the few truly "moderate" Republicans I know, Roger Van Volkenberg (personal friend).
What has been fun is watching the Republican power structure here in Wayland Township struggle with maintaining support for Randy, saying he is a "good guy" [as far as a meth dealer can be] and has always done a good job "representing our township"!
Willard "Mitt" Romney (R-Taxachusetts) was born and raised in Michigan. His daddy, George Romney (R-American Motors), was once the Governor of Michigan.
Like his daddy, Mitt wants to be the Republican nominee for President of the United States in 2008. In 1968, Daddy Romney's presidential campaign went down in flames after he claimed that he was "brainwashed" by American Generals into supporting the Vietnam War while touring Southeast Asia three years earlier.
It's going to be interesting to see if his son claims to have been brainwashed back in 1994 when Mitt sounded like a liberal forcefully supporting abortion rights and distancing himself from the patron saint of right-wing Republicans, Ronald Reagan:
So was Mitt Romney (R-Taxachusetts) brainwashed back in 1994 when he was trying to run to the left of Ted Kennedy or is he really a liberal from Michigan that Michigan liberals can support?
The Romney for President effort in Michigan is headed up by none other than House Minority Leader Craig DeRoche. It's not yet clear what's going to be more difficult task for the deposed House speaker: (1) trying to explain away Romney's liberal past; or (2) explaining to Republicans how he mangaged to lose the Michigan House while the Republicans hung on to control the Michigan Senate and didn't lose a single congressional seat in Michigan in 2006.
