West Michigan Politics

sociopath

2010-03-26T21:53:00.005-05:00

sociopath |ˈsōsēōˌpaθ|
noun
a person with a personality disorder manifesting itself in extreme antisocial attitudes and behavior and a lack of conscience.

It seems to me that the definition when applied to political discourse may very well be a descriptor of the many disgruntled partisans on the right. After the new health insurance reform law was signed this week by President Obama an increase of extreme antisocial attitudes and behavior by opposition party members, and followers was noted.
In defense of their rhetoric instilling fear, and hate among the conservative flock leaders of the GOP have let it once again be known that any resemblance to the truth that the media may point out will be met with dissemination of facts, and derision for having simply stated the truth. The "lame stream media" as rejected vice presidential contender, and drop out Alaskan governor Sarah Palin accused just yesterday in a speech for soon to be ousted from office Senator John McCain was a "ginned up controversy". Surely she had no information in which to base this remark on. Information is only chatter by those that oppose her quest for power. Even if she were aware of the 10 year old little girl in the back of a car being run off the road it simply could not have to do with the bumper sticker on the rear of the car. It couldn't possibly because "our incitement to violence is simply a metaphore for voting". We vote the bastards out!
Well someone just voted with the front end of their SUV.

The lack of conscience?
Maybe it has to do with blaming the messenger for making it sound as bad as it really is.

A Teabagger In the Crowd!

2009-08-02T12:55:00.003-05:00

It amazes me how real life can play out years or decades ahead of time in the movies. It was only a year and a half ago that I watched the film A Face in the Crowd for the first time. A classic movie directed by Elia Kazan, who you may remember also directed many other socially relevant films such as On the Waterfront, and East of Eden.
The film takes place in the 1950's during the heyday of radio, and the beginnings of television. Its main focus was a character named Lonesome Rhodes as played by a youngish Andy Griffith. Griffith was absolutely captivating in this film, and if you get the chance to see it you will never be able to watch his series The Andy Griffith Show again without instinctively recoiling at his saccharine voice. The character Rhodes is a found star living among the captives at a small town jail who likes to dispense advise, and grassroots wisdom, while plucking a guitar. Lonesome likes the limelight, and power that comes from the attention his populist screeds on television, and radio bring. He gins up hatred, and anger in a way I find comparable to the way the modern GOP does today.

It was during last years election that I first saw similarity between this "found star" Rhodes, and the Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin. She too, (just like ol' Lonesome) can muster mobs of people and raise anger toward made up boogie men, and fake issues using an amazingly sweet voice. People like Sarah, and Lonesome Rhodes often do get the attention they seek, but in real life, as in the film they too find themselves washed up when former allies turn on them. I do not believe it will be long before the cooler heads in the GOP begin to reel in their crazy activist counterparts, and give them a map to the door. If they ever plan to make a run at 2012 in a serious way, they will need to be able to point to level headed leadership in order to woo a majority of voters.

If they are not able to do so, we may be seeing the real end of the GOP as we ever knew them. History shows again, and again how mob mentality eventually leads to the path of destruction. Generally the destruction of those behind the curtains pulling the strings.
Make no mistake, it IS the GOP pulling the strings, and pushing a mob mentality this weekend. For every congress person the GOP sends people to scream at, and shout down at town hall meetings this month, they are loosing many voters that came to hear about the health care plan they want and need badly. This time voters will not blame the Democrats for the destruction of health care reform, as the evidence is clear that Republicans are the party of NO!

Thoughts that Cross my mind

2009-07-02T18:36:00.009-05:00

It struck me that the people I hear who use every single cool day in the summer to sarcastically ask "where's that Global Warming" (never mind that any 3rd grader should be able to tell you Global Warming refers to average global temperatures and not any one day or year in any one region) are also the same ones who complain that the stimulus hasn't helped because we are still losing jobs (never mind that the stimulus may in fact have kept tens or potentially hundreds of thousands of people from being unemployed which would have added to those numbers even more) and that it has cost too much were also the same ones who said repealing the Bush tax cuts would be a "job killer" while ignoring the bloating deficit. These same simple-minded people are also the same ones who blast the Governor for "not doing anything" while cheerleading the G.O.P. to stonewall her every effort and ignore that she's been right from the beginning about what was wrong with the Michigan economy and prevented her from doing anything about it.

These people remind me of our illustrious Attorney General Mike Cox. So fevered in his desire to win the love of the state's right wingers in his bid to be Governor that he talks out of both sides of his mouth when trying to attack that favorite Republican target, Blue Cross Blue Shield. Cox will try to argue one minute that Blue Cross needs to do more to cover the uninsured:

"Let us not forget the mission of Blue Cross is to put people over profits and not profits over people."

But then the next week Cox will turn around and try to knee cap Blue Cross' ability to do that very mission. Just as Blue Cross reports mammoth losses, Cox is trying to follow the GOP playbook of starving the beast in order to drown it in the bath tub. Blue Cross announced losses of $144.9 million in 2008 ("losses in the individual market... could exceed $1 billion by 2011") and plans to eliminate 1,000 jobs yet Cox is fighting the plans of the 'insurer of last resort' to stay solvent. It's obvious what he's doing yet media reports neglect to mention that he seems to want it both ways. He pretends to like Blue Cross' effort to insure the poor yet he does everything he can to prevent them from doing that. While private health care costs sky rocket, Republicans like Cox use BCBS's own mission statement as a cudgel to beat it to death by blocking any possible rate increases, saying it would hurt the poor people Blue Cross is in existence to serve (who would be hurt even more if Blue Cross were killed or privatized as Republican allies like the Mackinac Center have long wished).

For years, Republicans have dreamed of doing away with Blue Cross- just look at how much furor the notion of a "public option" has gotten in the national debate as it goes against everything the modern hyper-capitalists believe in (unregulated markets, a government that competes with the private sector or does what the private sector is unwilling or unable to do). Then look back here at Michigan and ask yourself if these people are really worried that any health care reform which includes the public option won't work... or that it will.

Peter the Tweeter is at it again!

2009-06-18T19:38:00.006-05:00

Apparently fearing that the Iranian election dissent has taken America's eyes off the unbearable tragedies of being a Republican our favorite torture loving extremist decided to make a post in his twitter account.

Photo Courtesy Crooks and Liars

Follow as Logan Murphy, nails it when he points to the best part of this absurd statement:

The comments afterward!

Personal favorite?

michstjame: @petehoekstra Laughed so hard at your tweet water came out my nose. Now I know what waterboarding feels like. #GOPfail

This of course made me laugh until I realized that this idiot could be our Governor soon.
Nahhh! that would kinda be like.....

Serf and turf

2009-06-10T20:40:00.005-05:00

Yesterday I was driving by the Barry County Friend of the Court and noticed that the county was getting free landscape work courtesy of an inmate at the county jail. Well, free if you ignore the cost to the taxpayer to keep someone in the county jail and to drive them to a work site and to pay someone to keep an eye on them so they don't escape.

I know that often the tattooed arms that restrain the pets at the local shelter which get photographed and printed in the local paper belong to jail inmates who do jobs to help pay for their 3 squares and a bed at Sheriff Leaf's B&B. So it didn't seem unusual in any way to see one of trimming the lawn. In fact, it was nice to know some guy wasn't getting paid 3 times my hourly wage to enjoy the fresh air and sunshine while I toil away inside an office not quite enjoying the stale air and flourescent lighting.

Various citizens of Hastings were out walking the streets on a nice day. I noticed a few women strolling along a sidewalk not far from the inmate doing some weed whacking. I wondered how they felt looking over to realize a convict was standing not too far from them, without any apparent cuffs, leg irons, shackles or other implement to impede his movement that I could see. Even that didn't seem too odd given that this was at perhaps the busiest corner in the county, despite not seeing any armed guard or other presence to prevent an incident, since chances are this guy would like to hurry up and serve his time so he get out and perform the same menial task for at least minimum wage (if he's lucky enough to find employment, but that's another story I suppose). Maybe I've seen too many films but I half expected the Sheriff to be chewing on a toothpick or match, hand on his revolver or cradling a shotgun while keeping a watchful eye on his ward, but if any one was keeping an eye on the inmate while he performed his duties I didn't notice. I drove off without giving it any more thought.

Then today I drove by that same spot and what I saw did seem a bit off to me- enough to remember what I'd seen, and nearly forgotten, from the day before. The same jail inmate in his orange jumpsuit was in nearly the same spot behind the Barry County Friend of the Court building in downtown Hastings. This time instead of doing the yard work he was performing another task, a surprising one, at least as I saw it. This time the orange-adorned inmate was buffing a shine onto a nice looking black Chrysler (a 300, I believe).

Now, I have no way of knowing just from driving by and seeing this fleeting image whether the car in question is a county vehicle or privately owned but I didn't see any department insignia that would lead me to believe this car was official government property and I guess I didn't think a nicer car such as this would be used as a county vehicle- then again I still don't get why the Sheriff's Department has to drive gas guzzling SUVs while the state cops and city boys still seem to be able to fit their gear in a car just fine.

Is it just me or does anyone else see a different between making jail inmates do some yard work and having them shine a car, especially if the car isn't county property? If someone in the county might order him to clean their car would they then also ask to get their shoes shined? What is the limit of what these inmates are forced to do? Does any one care or does this fall into the common attitude that we don't care how prisoners are treated as long as we feel someone is "bring tough" on them?

Blogger's note: I though about waiting on this since I know local law enforcement is a bit pre-occupied tonight (my condolences to those affected) but I figured if I waited I'd just forget about it or put it off and it would be another month before I posted something.

Hoekstra knew of torture...Admits it!

2009-04-23T18:48:00.008-05:00

"It was not necessary to release details of the enhanced interrogation techniques, because members of Congress from both parties have been fully aware of them since the program began in 2002."

If it is true as Congressman Hoekstra admits in his editorial yesterday in the Wall Street Journal that he knew about, and even condoned torture in his position as ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, we as his constituents should call for his immediate resignation.

in his own words:

"Members of Congress calling for an investigation of the enhanced interrogation program should remember that such an investigation can't be a selective review of information, or solely focus on the lawyers who wrote the memos, or the low-level employees who carried out this program.".

In his editorial he uses the same "everybody was doing it" excuse that my own parents would not accept from me as a child, and an end justifies the means excuse that reminds me of Nixonian days. What others knew, and when they knew it is a matter for investigators, and constituents of other congressional districts. But we cannot sit idly by when our own representative admits to allowing our nation to commit illegal actions.

Of tea bags and d-bags

2009-04-19T08:38:00.007-05:00

So, the Republican Party has suddenly once again found its voice when it comes to deficits and bailouts to large industries. Despite years of being in power where they increased deficits, taking the nation from surpluses that could have secured Social Security and Medicare to deficits that were given mostly to the richest among us, and were in fact still power when the government handed out the largest of the bailouts that are they now so vociferously opposed to (it was fine when it was Wall Street but when Main Street started getting help they finally got up in arms about it), now we have to hear the sanctimonious blathering of the un-useful idiots who are now so enamored with the Constitution despite having spent 8 years dumping on it.

Now, thanks to the endless cheer leading at Fox News and other right wing propaganda outlets, the so-called 'Tea Party' movement has loudly begun to protest problems that were created by the party they support. Oh, I know their press releases said the events were bi-partisan but looking at the lists of speakers at local rallies one can't help but notice the list of prominent 'celebrity' wingnuts (like "Joe the Plummer" whose major claim to fame was lying about his income in a staged public ambush against the Democratic presidential candidate), right wing party hacks and even announced candidates for office such as Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox who 's making a bid for governor. It's not exactly a bi-partisan movement when your most prominent advocates are Michelle Malkin, Glenn Beck and Neil Cavuto.

According to their web site:

The Tea Party effort is just a small piece of a much larger movement aimed at restoring the basic free-market principles our country was built on. The Constitution, for the most part, is being ignored by our current government and we intend on working together to correct the problem.

The Tea Party effort is a grassroots, collaborative volunteer organization made up of every day American citizens from across the country. We take pride in the fact that we've built a 50 state network of leaders and activists using nothing more than the internet, a few websites and a burning desire to restore freedom.

Interesting stuff. Funny, how many times have we heard the protest is against bailouts and yet the "current government" isn't the one that handed that AIG and others billions in taxpayer money. Funny that the current administration has actually done much more to ensure any money is used for its intended purpose and with oversight. It was the Republican administration and its media lapdogs that demanded the money immediately and with no accountability. I give some Republicans credit for having originally opposed the bailout but too many of them were the ones demanding no public oversight and that the money be handed out in the middle of the night like gambling debts paid to a bookie in a back alley. The biggest problem here is that the Republicans seem to oppose government programs for the wrong reason. Once upon a time even most Republicans believed in regulated capitalism but now all we hear is "SOCIALISM" every time the government tries to do what it should and needs to be doing to restore order in the markets and security to our financial system.

The Republican party's financial benefactors have spent so much time and money "educating" its grassroots that all government is bad, that all regulation is flawed and any social safety net is immoral that too many have swallowed the party line and now hold an economic viewpoint that seems much closer to Mussolini's Italy than to Reagan's America.

More disturbing, the groups fomenting these public demonstrations keep using code words such as "revolt" and "revolution." A Congresswoman has even taken to calling for "an armed revolution." Recent news reports speak of how people are buying guns and ammo in large numbers. These add up to disturbing trends that could lead down dangerous paths. We have already seen too many instances of people making threats of violence. It all seems like the 1990s again when the right wing rhetoric pumped up such "every day citizens" as Timothy McVeigh and Eric Rudolph to oppose government in a way that was much more than simple protest. The level of rhetoric is quickly ratcheting up and the paranoid hostility seems misplaced when many of the "government actions" these people oppose were ones originally enacted during the past adminstration.

So, let's dial down the heated rhetoric and realize that the right wing lost the election and that the way to ensure being out of power for even longer is to embrace the nuttiest loons in the party and on it's fringes. The GOP is on the verge of becoming a regional party, isolated in the deep south. A recent survey showed the majority of Americans outside the deep south, including a majority of Republicans, outside of the deep south holding favorable opinions of such "liberal" icons as San Francisco and France yet listening to prominent Republicans you'd think they were despised by most Americans and certainly most Republicans. Most Americans support the current administration's efforts to re-enact regulation that prevented the type of calamity seen in the stock market over the last few months. Just as Republican opposition to the attempts by Franklin Roosevelt to repair the damage created by the GOP which helped fuel the Great Depression left them in the minority for years (one of the most vocal critics being Michigan's own Father Coughlin), the current right wing's exuberant opposition to common sense and mainstream plans to fix years of fiscal "reforms" that dismantled consumer and worker protection and that promoted endless mergers and consolidation which turned our economy into a perilous house of cards could just make it harder for them to win in November... even if it helps them win in August.

With a gubernatorial campaign and a dismal economy, the candidates for office in the Republican Party will fall all over themselves to see who can most strongly embrace right wing anger over having been kicked out of power and doing so might just help them win in the primary, but chances are it could actually hurt their chances to win in November. The Republican Party seems virtually assured of owning the Michigan Governor's Mansion unless they decide to dump those chances in the harbor. Will restraint win out? Given the nature of the GOP base over the last few years, I think the tea leaves suggest it's not likely.

Don't forget to turn out the lights...

2009-03-29T19:06:00.005-05:00

Bye the way...Don't come in on monday either!
More unfortunate news as Wayland Chevy closes in Wayland. Tempers apparently ran high and there were a couple of scuffles.
Video from a WWMT report captured one of these scuffles.

It drives home the real cost of this terrible economy, as people loose their livelihoods, and families are effected. From what little I gleaned from this report, and others on the net, the company decided to not give notice of the closure until the day the doors would be shut. If true, such actions may very well be deserving of a knuckle sandwich being delivered in my opinion. As heartbreaking as it is to the owners and their families, that their businesses are being forced shut, they must remember the people working for them that put their hearts and souls into that company as well.

CARS Act...Cash For Clunkers!

2009-03-24T17:56:00.007-05:00

I was considering a post on the outlook for new fuel efficient auto's and new business' that are interested in making them here in Michigan. But rather than running through some hopefuls that may or may not designate this state for their American home I thought we could put that off until another day. Instead let's take a look at

Rep. Betty Sutton's (OH) Consumer Assistance to Recycle and Save (CARS) Act

While I am sure everyone knows what I am talking about when I mention the CARS Act, please give me a moment in case you have been out of town for awhile.

The CARS act proposes to give consumers up to $5,000 for an old clunker trade in on an auto that is built in the United States that gets at least 27 mpg.
This proposal has many advantages to people living in the state of Michigan.

First and foremost it would help the economy as people who take advantage of the measure buy new cars. A similar measure in Germany caused a new car sales surge of 21 percent.

Secondly it helps the environment when people buy autos with more efficient motors. I still see some eighties land yachts floating around our highways, and this may be enough money to benefit those that otherwise cannot afford more practical means of getting to, and from work.

Third it makes us more independent from foreign sources of oil. Something that all sides of the political spectrum can agree is in our best interest.

A taste for cheap political stunts

2009-03-21T12:45:00.005-05:00

One of the rumored contestants in the reality show political sweepstakes to be Michigan's Next Top Governor is the CEO of Domino's Pizza, David Brandon. Now, if you're like me, when you heard that you said "who?" Maybe you know Tom Monihan, the wingnut billionaire who founded Domino's and is using his fortune to create an ultra-conservative Catholic law school and city/cult compound in Florida. You may also know Mike Ilitch, founder of Little Caesar's and owner of the world champion Red Wings (who look capable of repeating) and the hoping to not stink as bad as last year Detroit Tigers (good luck on that without serious pitching help). Both of those last guys would at least be close to household names in Michigan if they chose to run, but Brandon is a relative unknown to most people.

Dana Houle knows about Brandon:

"You probably wouldn't realize that he's a rightwing Republican who in 2006 chaired the gubernatorial campaign of Amway heir and rightwing loon Dick DeVos and in 2008 bundled donations for Mitt Romney and was a major donor to John McCain.
You might not know that in 2006 Brandon seriously considered running against Democratic Senator Debbie Stabenow..."
Or...

"that last year Brandon was the second highest paid CEO in Michigan, or that he is often paid in the range of $20 million per year."

That's a lot of money for a guy who's company isn't even doing that well. Well, thanks to a high profile advertising campaign that has suddenly appeared on the TV airwaves, people are getting to know David Brandon who is now shamelessly touting "Domino’s Big Taste Bailout" with high-profile spots aired during mega-ratings blockbuster "American Idol."

According to a press release:

"Dave Brandon, CEO of Domino’s Pizza is taking to the streets for the launch of "Domino’s Big Taste Bailout" promotion. The TV commercials will premiere today during Fox’s American Idol. Brandon will be guiding us from Capitol Hill via Wall Street to Main Street, with an offer to deliver three or more medium, one topping pizzas or oven baked sandwiches for just $5 each to American consumers.
In an on-line continuation of the promotion, Domino’s consumers can actually win a Super Big Taste Bailout. Consumers are encouraged to visit Dominos.com to nominate a friend in need of a bailout. Two winners, as well as their nominating friends, will receive a year’s worth of Domino’s Pizza products with the prize delivered directly to their door by CEO Dave Brandon himself. Leading up to the first delivery, a countdown can be viewed on Dominos.com indicating when the delivery will take place. When the delivery takes place, the site will change to show Brandon’s location as he arrives at the winner’s house."

So, are these ads meant to advertise the offer (which gets a single mention in the press release) or the name of the CEO (which appears four times in the space of seven sentences) who is suddenly a "pizza populist" who is spreading economic goodwill in the form of affordable slabs of bleached flour topped with tomato sauce, cheese, etc.? And does this remind anyone else of the last time we had a gubernatorial campaign and suddenly the company of a candidate started to use it's ad money to assist the campaign in a way that played footsy with potential campaign finance violations?

If you've already forgotten, Brandon's buddy Dick Devos tried this with the Amway company who's horrible reputation as a reputed pyramid scheme was dragging down his campaign and was becoming the target of more and more attacks from the Democratic Party. Amway, who many life-long Michigan citizens could never recall having advertised on TV, suddenly brought out a huge waves of ads in a campaign called "I Am Amway" which were meant to show the company in a positive light and meant to help DeVos' poor personal approval numbers. It didn't help. Then again, I'm sure people like their cheap pizza more than the low cost laundry soap their co-worker keeps nagging them to buy. The difference here is that Amway and Devos were already unpopular and the candidate, mired in a losing campaign, tried this as a last ditch effort. This time around, Brandon is merely trying to raise his Q rating so Michigan voters in the GOP primary will have heard of the CEO when he runs.

Any way you slice it, it's obvious Brandon is using company money to build up his name recognition in order to bolster his upcoming campaign. Will Michigan voters buy it? Myself, I just find it humorous that a right wing Republican is talking up a bailout as if it's a good thing. Maybe those ads might not work as well as Brandon would like them to, especially since the base of the Republican Party likes the idea of bailouts about as much as most people like their pizza with anchovies.

Found in the local paper

2009-03-17T08:42:00.004-05:00

Found in the Thursday, March 12, 2009 edition of The Hastings Banner:

"...there was an editor in Barry County who sometimes freely published his opinions about individuals."

..."he had a way of stating what he meant. He did not criticize to be mean-spirited. He had the conviction that a newspaper should be free to criticize officers and persons, if public interested seemed to demand that course."

The quotes come from former Hastings Banner M.L. Cook circa 1940 speaking of Orno Strong who was editor at the Nashville News apparently sometime in the 1890s. They appear in the "From Time to Time" history column without much information. I find it ironic those words were printed in the paper that fired their editor for espousing a personal opinion on his own blog with quotes fully attributed under his name, the blog even carrying a disclaimer that the writings were his own personal opinion.

I think one reason we see the trouble that newspapers are in is because so many of them took personal criticism as something to be avoided, firm stances alienate advertisers and readers. I can remember having a discussion with David T. Young, the former editor of the Banner, when I was considering starting this blog. The way I saw it, blogs were returning to the roots of the American newspaper. Blogs are all about opinion and point of view.

While many look down their noses even to this day, I think we've seen the American public voting with their wallets as newspapers whither on the vine and blogs enjoy increasing respectability and visibility. When I've been (often rightly) criticized for my own failings and shortcoming, I always tell the critics that they are free to start their own blog.

We are no longer help captive by the rich men who buy ink by the barrel. In fact, if this site cost me a dime I'd never have been able or willing to start it. You are free to publish your own unedited opinion without charge or much technical skill and I welcome you to do so. And sure, some may abuse that privilege, you may even think I've done so but how many newspapers have ignored their duty? How many newspapers, as well as TV news outlets, led the way into a misguided war in Iraq? How many stood by while the last administration ran up the debt and dismantled the protections that could have stopped or impeded the "economic tsunami" that now threatens us? How many newspapers are still allowing viewpoints they agree with through the filter of the editors pen without question while stopping others from accessing the precious space of the editorial pages? How many times does a trusted friend or political ally get to have their say, while potentially violating campaign finance laws and standards of ethics, while others are censored and silenced?

You can't ignore that often this blog and others like it have been places for vigorous discussions that couldn't take place in newspapers which often censor opinions the publisher disagrees with, while allowing its owner to stand high on his soapbox spouting off his own personal opinion. The thing is, you probably don't have the personal fortune to start your newspaper if you don't like the one you have. But you can start your own blog....

On the Virge

2009-02-24T18:01:00.007-05:00

There always seems to a seminal moment in the career of many leaders. An instance where clarity of voice welds with singularity of purpose. The most recent of these has culminated in an overwhelming response from the net roots. Captured forever on the blogosphere in this video.

Mayor Bernero seems to be just the kind of person that is able to share how big 3 employees are building the future of our nation, and not just our state. Not to mention fight for the common worker in a system that has for the last decade been tilted for the large corporations. A voice that will not be shouted down by the Rush Limbaugh talking points of an obviously partisan commentator in the conservative media.
To simply point this out to no end would be sufficient for most. But as I type these words I wonder what could be the future for this man. Where he will be led to further the goals of an increasingly (and necessarily so) progressive nation.
In a state that has been been placed upon the back burner in the minds of many, it is my hope that there are a few others that may consider that we may be on the Virge of a great comeback.

2010 Governor's race heats up in Feb. 2009

2009-02-22T08:33:00.005-05:00

Despite it only being February of 2009, the eyes of politicos are all cast on fall of 2010 when Michigan elects a new Governor to replace term-limited Jennifer Granholm. A mushrooming field of entrants have declared or are testing the waters, almost a year and a half before the August 3, 2010 primary. With the state political conventions taking place this weekend, we are sure to see the race heat up even more.

The Free Press has a short article discussing the race and the impact of the weekend conventions on shaping the race:

"I don't think these party conventions are a huge deal," said Lansing political consultant Robert Kolt. "But when you're at this point, these are the people you need to help launch a campaign."

So, who's running and who's thinking about running and who's trying to get their name out there to get some free publicity? Wikipedia offers this field of candidates and prospects testing the waters for possible bids:

Democratic Party

Lieutenant Governor John D. Cherry
State House Speaker Andy Dillon
Wayne County Executive Robert A. Ficano
Genesee County Treasurer Dan Kildee
Congressman Bart Stupak
former Speaker of the House Curtis Hertel
former Flint Mayor Don Williamson* (who just resigned under threat of recall)

*So far, only Williamson has formally declared his candidacy.
Also said to be considering a run are former Michigan State University football head coach George Perles (who must be like 1,000 years old) and Macomb County Sheriff Mark Hackel (who? a county sheriff for Governor? what's next, dog catcher?). Former Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer ruled out a gubernatorial run on November 20, 2008 despite decent polling last summer showing him outperforming the Lt. Governor in hypothetical match ups with DeVos and Land.

Without Archer, the Democrats seem to lack a 'superstar' with name recognition across the state. So far, the field is uninspiring to Democrats I talk to, with many alarmed that the milquetoast Cherry could even be considered a "front runner." It almost makes you wonder if outside those term-limited politicians who have nothing to lose, the rest of the Democratic Party has decided it's just not their year and are basically ceding it to the GOP.

Republican Party

Early reports had 2006 gubernatorial loser Dick DeVos trying to elbow any competition out of the race. But when the defeated DeVos decided not to get his billionaire butt bounced by the "overpaid" and unwashed masses a 2nd time, the race opened up for the GOP. Having effectively stonewalled the Governor's agenda for 8 years and blamed her for the economic mess and endless budget battles, the GOP looks ripe to pick off the seat.

With lust in his heart, Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox was the first candidate to join the whole affair when he let his eyes wander to the Governor's mansion, forming an exploratory campaign last fall. Also officially in the mix is Michigan Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land. Other candidates might include:

State Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop
Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard
Domino's Pizza CEO David Brandon
Congressman Peter Hoekstra (said to be speaking at the Barry Co. Lincoln Day dinner)
State Senator Wayne Kuipers
Congresswoman Candice Miller
Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson
State Senator Tom George

Also among those being discussed: Congressman Mike Rogers announced that he would not be running. National Review is trying to find a job for former Massachusetts governor and 2008 Presidential candidate Mitt Romney and is floating his name, despite Romney not even living in the state. Washed up rocker Ted Nugent has said that he has been looking into a possible run in 2010- just as he threatens to do every four years before chickening out every time. Personally, I think "The Nuge" is just trying to (Great White) 'Buffalo' his gullible fans into thinking he's politically relevant and earning some free publicity for his next reality show. The Republican race seems stacked with contenders and it should be an epic battle, with lots of early drop outs and likely a very hard fought contest leaving lots of scars and bruises, something the Democrats must be counting on if they have any chance to retain the Governor's mansion.

The coming days and weeks will likely shirt the landscape even more as we find out who's in and who's out. Chances are that the party faithful will find some things to like and a lot not to like about the current crop of candidates.

Prosecutors propose prolonged punishment

2009-01-24T09:35:00.004-05:00

According to this story in the Muskegon Chronicle, West Michigan prosecutors are coming out of the woodwork to loudly oppose Governor Granholm's proposal to release thousands of non-violent offenders from state prisons, saving the state $262 million dollars in 6 years:

Gov. Jennifer Granholm and legislative leaders asked the Council of State Governments to review Michigan's criminal justice system and recommend cost savings. Those savings could be realized by reducing Michigan's prison population from nearly 48,500 inmates down to around 43,500, the report said.

Suggested legislation endorsed by key Republican and Democratic lawmakers would require the release of inmates who have served 120 percent of their minimum sentence, unless the parole board determines they pose a "very high risk" of committing new crimes.

The new law would not apply to current inmates nor to felons serving a maximum term of life for offenses including murder, rape, kidnapping, armed robbery or carjacking.

In other words, the worst offenders would stay behind bars where they should be and only a small amount (5,000 out of 48,500) would be eligible for early release. Mostly, the prosecutors just want to sound tough so they win their next election and don't really seem to mind that Michigan is once again facing a budget shortfall that could wipe out the types of programs that are built to actually prevent crime. In fact, the plan actually beefs up those programs. According to the Freep article on the study:

Also included in the group’s potential remedies are beefed-up law enforcement and crime lab capabilities, and increased training and job placement for offenders and disconnected young people.

So, now we get the hysterical prison industrial complex saying that the "early" release (even though they will have served 120% of the minimum sentence) of these prisoners will jeopardize public safety and those same people will offer no remedies in fixing the state budget or the economy other than casting blame at the people who have in fact been making the tough decisions. The answer to public safety isn't to lock everyone up. The answer to patching yet another budget hole isn't passing tax cuts and building more prisons. The answer isn't to listen to a bunch of politicians who can make a name for themselves by sounding tough and taking the easy path to popularity. We need adults who can quit grandstanding and picking on society's bogeyman to pad their resumés and win reelection.

This all reminds me of a quote from the quotable H.L. Mencken:

"The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary."

All-inclusive invocation

2009-01-12T21:17:00.008-05:00

I just talked to someone tonight who still had their Christmas tree up and since this is my first post of the new year I guess I can't make fun of the Hastings Banner for still having it's Seasons Greetings header up on their web site. I didn't even realize their web site was up and running! So, here all of this time I could have been link blogging to the paper of record for Barry County and I didn't realize it. According to the Banner, it's seems the first order of business of the new Barry County Board wasn't to deal with public health and safety, it was to tend to their spiritual needs.

Having an invocation at future meetings was part of the discussion during the reorganizational session. Newly elected County Commissioner Mike Bremer brought up the subject, asking board members whether they wanted to have an invocation at future meetings. Bremer read a sample invocation to the board. Callton said to include an invocation during a meeting does not require a vote by the commissioners. Callton said he will include an invocation, after the pledge of allegiance, on the next meeting agenda and will give Bremer the opportunity to give the invocation.

Perhaps, Mr. Bremer's request to say grace before meetings was sincere but I seem to remember the last time that sticky wicket reared it's ugly head, a former commissioner threw it out at a meeting in the midst of a political campaign to try to separate himself from an opponent he was trying to paint as too liberal. When this stuff comes up, even if it's brought up in a sincere, humble and tolerant way, it almost always gets used eventually by those who simply need a cheap and easy way to gain re-election. Let's hope this isn't the case no matter what the intent.

This year is full of challenges in West Michigan and across the country. Let's not get distracted by fights over who's invisible friend is stronger than who's when there is more serious work to attend to.

2008- Leftovers (part 1)

2008-12-28T15:13:00.011-05:00

I think going forward it would do us well to take a look back at things left unsaid, and those little items that made mention but were lost in posts that may have been on a different subject at the time.
A perfect example of loosing the forest through the trees is the sudden loss of interest in what plagued our state at the beginning of the primary season. Disenfranchisement of voters through a system that allows that a few select states will always be allowed to kill candidacies before other states may have a say. I think this antiquated system must go, and I have to chuckle at those Republicans that mocked the Democrats during this years primary for what can only be described as inter party turmoil. The GOP base must realize that McCain held advantages through this system that led to his nomination. Only now after the General Election are conservatives beginning to say that they were forced to back a candidate they would not allow to speak for them previously, and since.

Primary post-mortem

"While the country and the Republican candidates talked about the state's issues (which was the intent of those in the state who forced the change), the Democratic candidates were nowhere to be found. What followed was an absurd one-sided discussion which mostly focused on the same George Bush voodoo economics that hasn't worked and never will- and certainly not the cure for what ails us."

As for the Democrats, I fear that Pol's comment may very well explain how the recent conversation dealing with bridge loans to automakers was easily hijacked by GOP talking points meant to blame the workers in the UAW for the folly of executives in the auto industry. Without the firm footing of knowledge brought on by a vigorous primary campaign in Michigan, the Democrats gave conservatives the upper hand when trying to explain the difficulties we are having here, and what caused them.

The subject comes up again, while discussing the popularity numbers for our Governor.

Not as unpopular as they would have you believe

"I'd say that all in all this isn't bad news for Granholm who has taken the brunt of round after round of budget battles with belligerent opponents who can't accept defeat at the ballot box as a sign that the public is not with them in their quest to restrict investments in state infrastructure and education, as well as getting the blame for the economic downturn which was caused by the failure of the Big 3 to nurse itself away from production lines raking in vast profits making gas-guzzling SUVs before the price of oil rose and dried up their profits, leading to massive job layoffs in a state already hit with the effects of trade deals without sufficient worker and environmental protections to level the playing field."

A prediction could have been made at this moment that Republicans were not going to fare well in the coming general. Consistently being shown as the party of obstruction will have an effect on it's popularity.

Lights Out

A chance to discuss the Obama plan to rebuild infrastructure. Something the Granholm administration has pushed for the state for some time. It is clear to me that this will be something that will not be on the back burner in months to come. It is a great chance to help ourselves build our way to a better tomorrow. I am hoping that while much of this infrastructure re-building is done through works projects, that there will also be something in it for the companies that they may help grow and adapt to what will likely be one based on green technology. Let's face it, if I am to ever get my electric car I hope to be able to utilize the power grid in such a way as not to overtax it, and wouldn't want Pol to have to endure another three day weekend without power:

"I'm taking my chances with this post since many of you regular readers might be among those without power, but for those with some juice feel free to share your story about how you made it through the weekend. Enjoy your weather-related 3 day weekend... and give some sort of thanks to the crews working 'round the clock to get everything back up and running even as you wish they could do it even faster."

Another on the list of things to do is a suggestion by Pol that I hardly believe would bother either party, or the electorate as a whole in Barry County:

That's Debatable- Sheriff's edition

"While it makes sense for the Republican Party to host their own primary debates, I still would prefer to see the debates sponsored by the local media and/or a consortium of local civic organizations especially when it comes to the general election- at least when we manage to get a slate on candidates running on both sides of the political fence. "

Such a move would likely save some party money needed in the battle for election, but also free up the possibility of third parties to be more of a factor in coming local elections. Cries of bias will always be around, but they will not have as much weight if outside forces were to gain control of the agenda during debates.

This brings to close the first part of our feast, but stay tuned as the meat, and potatoes are yet to come.

Union Busting!

2008-12-14T17:40:00.008-05:00

Thom Hartman is one of those people that can cut through the bull like a laser through butter. He was on Countdown recently to discuss the GOP's opposition to helping the Big3 automakers. As has been proven this has nothing to do with the amount of money asked for, or the viability of these corporations. It is purely revenge for the unions backing the Democrats in past elections, coupled with their vile hatred for organized labor.

Via Crooks and Liars (video cafe):

We have gone, when Reagan came into office we were the largest exporter of manufactured goods and the largest importer of raw materials on the planet. And the largest creditor. More people owed us money than anybody else in the world. Now just twenty eight years later we're the largest importer of finished goods, manufactured goods, exporter of raw materials which is kind of the definition of a third world nation and we're the most in debt of any country in the world. This is the absolute consequence of Reaganomics.

Making bail

2008-12-06T10:31:00.008-05:00

The news since Election Day has been mostly filled with talk of the next administration which is akin to following the pre-season in sports. Well, as many Michigan residents may know the Lions went an undefeated 4-0 in pre-season and have yet to win any games in the regular season (0-12 as of now). For that reason, I've pretty much been ignoring most news lately.

The other big story has been the proposed "bailout" of the "Big 3" sort of-U.S. based automakers. Sadly, the manner in which the issue is discussed is the same old sensationalism and sponsor-based propaganda. I'm pretty sick of politics because I'm tired of the same arguments from the same people. And here we go again, more Monday morning businessmen telling the Big 3 how they should be run which becomes a sort of sick comedy when it's a Senator who has helped run up the debt and the deficit. It's even funnier when it's a newspaper editor or publisher in a dying industry that is losing jobs faster than Detroit telling us how to run the national economy. Except it's not funny when people are losing jobs and homes and health care.

Now, Congress acts as if it's not responsible for the dire straights of the automakers when they approved tax breaks for people to buy large SUVs for their small businesses when a smaller vehicle would have done the job, failed to pass stringent fuel-economy standards or instituted some sort of price controls to keep gasoline prices at a rate which would allow alternative energy to compete or done away with the tax breaks for "Big Oil" which allowed them a competitive advantage. It's also obvious how much our reckless trade deals have other countries sell their products on our shores while sending the profits to their overseas headquarters.

While it's true the automakers contributed to the mess, it seems odd to hear them get blamed for what is American business 101: maximize short-term profit and to hell with everything else. We now live in a country where many seem to equate regulated capitalism with socialism so it seems funny to hear those same advocates of unregulated markets turn around and blame the Big 3 for doing what was in their shareholders best and most immediate interest- a central tenet of capitalism! I find it odd that a culture that celebrates money above all else suddenly wants to wag it's finger at an industry that pretty much followed those rules.

Of course, to hear some people tell it, the real villains are the money-grubbing workers who wanted to be paid well for back-breaking labor which most people won't subject themselves to.
In their warped world-view the UAW is to blame for all of this. Let me say this clearly: the job of the union is to advocate for the employees. When they negotiate wages and benefits they are out to maximize what their members receive. It is the job of the corporate representative to negotiate with the best interest of the company in mind. The CEOs signed off on every single deal. If they thought wages or benefits were too generous it is up to the CEOs to not sign the deals, period. In fact, since Reagan's election in 1980 unions have been under seige and on the decline, yet almost 30 years later they are still a convenient whipping-boy of the corporations and the media who would like to ignore all the free trade agreements and other deals which created the mess we're in.

But let's get to one of the biggest unspoken and underlying reasons for the mess we're in: other countries can make products cheaper because health care costs are killing American companies and crippling their ability to hire new workers even in good times. The idiot's answer is to gut the benefits. Everyone else can clearly understand that if we took away the need for companies to supply health benefits then they'd be free of that burden and workers would no longer fear leaving their jobs because of the fear of losing health care benefits.

In fact, I maintain one of the biggest strangleholds currently on the entrepreneurial spirit in this country is people scared to start their own business because they risk having to go without health care. Imagine if health care was guaranteed how many new businesses could be developed? Some workers aren't even allowed to work over 35 hours because the company would then be forced to label them as full time and pay benefits which means lots of people might have jobs but nobody can pay their bills and they don't have health care when they get sick (they go to the emergency room which costs more which we still end up paying for which forces health care costs up even higher).

The good news is that this is being discussed. The bad news is that the discussion is still controlled by the same people who's economic solutions are akin to a medieval doctor who's cure just might kill the patient sooner than the disease. It just reminds me: what's the opposite of a bailout? Drowning...

Governor to Obama Cabinet?

2008-11-06T08:36:00.006-05:00

MLive carries an AP story speculating on Governor Granholm's future:

Granholm has made attracting wind turbine manufacturers and alternative energy suppliers a key part of her administration's economic development strategy. Now, some are speculating that could mean Obama might be interested in asking ask her to lead the federal Department of Energy.

The Canadian-born governor says she's ready to work with Obama as governor until her term expires in 2010, but hasn't ruled out leaving for Washington. She's also been mentioned as a possible U.S. Supreme Court justice if an opening arose.

Granholm is term-limited and this would be a perfect opportunity to find her next job and set up a successor. I've been saying for a while to anyone who would listen that Granholm would make a great Secretary of Energy given her focus on and knowledge of energy issues and how those issues affect the domestic auto industry. This would also give a successor a head start on a win in 2010 and help Democrats retain the governor's mansion (although a repeat run from DeVos would practically ensure that anyway).

EARTHQUAKE

2008-11-06T08:22:00.007-05:00

This is what a landslide looks like....

Michigan 2004:

Michigan 2008:

Hat tip to Eclectablog

Election Day Night

2008-11-04T21:30:00.005-05:00

WOOD TV is reporting they exit poll showing Proposal 1 and 2 both passing by a wide margin, also Obama winning huge in Michigan. 7th House district, the only competitive West Michigan national race is tight with Schauer looking to take the seat- hasn't been called yet but how can Walberg overcome such huge Dem margins? Levin, of course, romps to victory. Supreme Court justice Taylor going down in defeat?

Still waiting for local totals... looks like Yarger and Calley win?

The Detroit Free Press is keeping track of all of the State House races here.

Election day resources

2008-11-03T20:28:00.004-05:00

Well, here we go!

During the day tommorow you may want to check in with electoral-vote.com, they have comprehensive coverage of polling results. Or if you are a numbers freak I highly recommend fivethirtyeight.com. They will make you wish you payed more attention in math class, but also make it fun with updates, and blog posts that always have something interesting.

For the evening a couple of things:

First, I recommend that you be prepared for the evening with a scorecard. The best that I have seen so far is the one-page downloaded crib sheet .pdf from Kos. I recommend you download it somewhere with a color printer as it will be much easier to decipher. For those of you so inclined the comprehensive Election Guide has much more to offer.
Secondly, when the polls close locally, the results by precinct will be available on .pdf format here at barrycounty.org.

Oh yeah! You may want to VOTE!

Proposal 2

2008-10-26T13:59:00.004-05:00

PROPOSAL 08-2
A PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE STATE CONSTITUTION TO ADDRESS HUMAN
EMBRYO AND HUMAN EMBRYONIC STEM CELL RESEARCH IN MICHIGAN

The proposed constitutional amendment would:

• Expand use of human embryos for any research permitted under federal law subject to the following limits: the embryos --
-- are created for fertility treatment purposes;
-- are not suitable for implantation or are in excess of clinical needs;
-- would be discarded unless used for research;
-- were donated by the person seeking fertility treatment.
• Provide that stem cells cannot be taken from human embryos more than 14 days after cell division begins.
• Prohibit any person from selling or purchasing human embryos for stem cell research.
• Prohibit state and local laws that prevent, restrict or discourage stem cell research, future therapies and cures.

Should this proposal be adopted?

Yes!

The easiest way to explain this vote is compassion versus ignorance. Compassion means allowing scientific research to take place that can lead to new discoveries. A no vote, cast out of ignorance means you will let your personal religious beliefs trump the good of all society. The Catholic church hierarchy and Right to Life lobbyists are fighting this issue on religious and moral grounds which might make sense if these embryos were not already being destroyed. If the "no" voters really had any conviction they would have their own proposal on the ballot to outlaw fertility treatments and in vitro fertilization. Allowing this research shows we are a society of reason, science and compassion. There simply is no reason to vote no unless you think a frozen embryo on the way to a garbage can has more right to 'its" life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness than someone suffering from a curable disease that won't be saved because the Puritans, witch-hunters and forces of moral purity have allowed their unfounded fears to take precedence over reason, compassion and science yet again.

Bogeyman arguments and superstition have been used to squash science for centuries (anyone remember the black helicopter crowd opposing flouride in drinking water not too long ago?). Fortunately, over time most of these absurdities find their way into the dustbin of history, another example of our ignorant past. Basing your vote against such a well thought out proposal, on the plots of science fiction novels is silly. The thought of not using these embryos that are already being discarded to save human lives is ridiculous and certainly not a "pro-life" position, it's also not a pro-science position or even a pro-economy position. Michigan has the potential to continue to press its investment in life sciences to build an economy for the 21st century and this proposal is one more step in that direction. We would be allowing scientists the ability to recycle materials for the possible betterment of mankind.

There simply is not argument to not vote YES on proposal 2- it's a matter of compassion.

Proposal 1

2008-10-26T13:55:00.005-05:00

PROPOSAL 08-1
A LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVE TO PERMIT THE USE AND CULTIVATION OF
MARIJUANA FOR SPECIFIED MEDICAL CONDITIONS

The proposed law would:

• Permit physician approved use of marijuana by registered patients with debilitating medical conditions including cancer, glaucoma, HIV, AIDS, hepatitis C, MS and other conditions as may be approved by the Department of Community Health.
• Permit registered individuals to grow limited amounts of marijuana for qualifying patients in an enclosed, locked facility.
• Require Department of Community Health to establish an identification card system for patients qualified to use marijuana and individuals qualified to grow marijuana.
• Permit registered and unregistered patients and primary caregivers to assert medical reasons for using marijuana as a defense to any prosecution involving marijuana.

Should this proposal be adopted?

YES

Marijuana benefits seriously-ill and terminally-ill patients in that it provides pain relief and appetite enhancement. Any arguments about a slippery slope are nothing more than scare tactics that have nothing to do with the proposal as it stands. Many people have died in the state of Michigan without the ability to gain benefit from a drug that has proven to be of help in ensuring pain, and nausea relief. Allowing someone to die in any form of discomfort that is preventable, is nothing short of cruel. Marijuana gives doctors the ability help their patients terminal, or not and standing in the way are outdated, and cruel federal and state laws that turn a blind eye to the suffering of many citizens.

DDA should ante up with facts

2008-10-14T18:24:00.003-05:00

When the Hastings City Council decided they wanted to tear down the old library building, citizen outrage forced them to reconsider the fate of the library which also once housed the local post office. Now, the beautiful and historic brick building that some wanted to be a parking lot (in a town filled with empty parking lots and available retail space) may be sold to an unknown consortium who turned in their bid well past the deadline, beating out the county which had made repeated requests to negotiate purchase of the building and was rebuffed by the city time and again. Many feel the late bid was made on behalf of one of the losing bidders in an attempt to get around the request for proposal (RFP) and the city's own rules.

The county wanted to have room for future expansion and felt the old library building which is right across the street from the courthouse would serve the purpose well. In addition, the city had an opportunity to ensure that any future growth of the county offices would be enriching the city's downtown. More workers downtown means more sales for local merchants even if the property is officially off the tax rolls. For some reason it seems the DDA or the city council did not want the county to purchase the property. Some feel this is the latest attempt by the DDA to grow at the expense of what is good for all of Hastings. In fact, it has now come to light that the DDA isn't passing along money from millages that should be going to services for the elderly, public safety and historic preservation. Many believe the fact that the property wouldn't enrich the DDA if it was purchased by the county is the main reason the county's attempts to purchase the old library were ignored.

Some important questions need to be answered by the Hastings City Council members and the DDA:
• Has the DDA become a beast too large to control, demanding ever-more tax money and choking off important services to the public such as infrastructure spending and important services? • Did the DDA turn down the lucrative offer from the county just so a losing bidder could slip in a winning bid well past the deadline after some insider informed them of what it would take to outbid the county? • Did the DDA violate it's own rules in awarding the bid to Encore whose bid was not only seriously late but also laughably vague- especially when part of the rules stated that the project would be awarded based on the creativity of the proposal? • Did members of the DDA tamper with the process? • Did members of the DDA have any communication with people from Encore or other bidders that could have resulted in a tainted and unfair bidding process which violated not only the spirit of the RFP but the letter of it as well?

It sure seems the answer to most of those question is a resounding YES to anyone watching the process. This highly questionable act happened right out in the open and so far there hasn't been much noise about it yet from the public. The original attempt to bulldoze the building was stopped by local citizens, This must also surely be rejected by an even more vocal public. The next meeting of the city council would be the perfect opportunity for opponents of the bungled bidding process to attempt to stop this injustice.

When the city council next meets, citizens of Hastings should be ready again to tell their elected officials that they are wrong, that the process was rigged and that someone smells in Hastings. The DDA is seriously out of control, attempting to become an independent government free from oversight, capturing valuable tax revenue and spending it on frills while the city infrastructure outside the DDA crumbles. Citizens with decaying curbs and gutters have serious reservations that the DDA has over-stepped it's bounds one too many times, that some people are power hungry and that the beast known as the DDA is choking off the oxygen to the rest of the city.

Many feel that the Encore proposal is really just a backdoor for the Gilmore Group, known for high end restaurants in West Michigan. This speculation increased when the secret plan hinted that it would require a large number of parking space for a business that would employ few full time employees. Many also worry that Hastings would gain a restaurant and perhaps lose 1-2 of it's existing restaurants. Should the DDA be trying to attract businesses that compete with existing business owners or should they be trying to find new ventures that would complement what we already have? For a town of modest means, Hastings has more than enough fine dining opportunities. What Hastings needs is more workers downtown to fill those restaurants during the lunch hours and more families in the city that can afford to frequent those places for dinner.

And now, out comes word that a city official accidentally slipped during a private conversation last week. A source told me that this public person talked as if Encore was one and the same as Gilmore. Perhaps it was a slip of the tongue and perhaps it was a Fruedian slip- a "tell" in the parlance of the poker tables. It's time for citizens to ask questions, to call their bluff.

It is not about equality...It's about ME!

2008-10-11T18:05:00.005-05:00

Sitting inside tonight nursing a cold. It seems it always comes on like this during the last really nice weekend of the year.
Anyway I have a box of tissues next to me, and a half a pot of hot tea on the stove. I am thankful that my disease did not afflict me during the work week. I did come down with a scratchy throat on Friday afternoon, but was able to make it through till the end of the day. I will have to judge tomorrow night whether or not to go to work on Monday.
Luckily for me (or rather planned) I have enough sick days to be able to take it off if I need to. I know a lot of people who seem to always have theirs used up this time of year, and have to take it on the chin (wallet) when the flu and cold season arrives. I cannot say for sure but many of those that seem to have used up all of their sick days by now always seem to be the ones that can ill afford to have days lost. I recognize that may be a rude judgment on my part, and am always willing to evidence to the contrary, but it just seems that way in my eyes.
Perhaps it is because they have a family, and must use these allowed days in order to take care of a sick loved one. There are a lot of married w/children in my place of work, and quite a few are women. Not that women are always the parent of choice to stay home in such a situation, but recognizing the uneven pay scale they are likely to be the better of two options. Not always, but one would have to be a ostrich to not see the evidence of such a choice.
But I digress, as this is about me, and my needs.
To be honest I see a case where fair pay for women really enters into why "I" have a cold. If the responsibility were to fall on the other parent once in a while I could see where the likelihood of my coming down with what can only be called as the black death (I'm confident) as often, would be lessened. It may very well be the effects of the putrid flavored elixir I downed a half hour ago, but it seems to me that if the family coffee can had a little more even funding for such occasions, parents would not have to choose to go to work when they are sick themselves. Hence being trapped with the grouchy Agnosticrat who curses the air he breathes every time a co-worker sneezes would not have be an option.
So please when the option comes up...if there is ever a re-introduction of the fair pay for women act...think of me (sitting here now, thinking of going nuclear with the NyQuil, and planning on jotting down my final wishes on a lightly lotioned, half used piece of tissue) and push your legislator to pass it. If this is not enough, please feel free to give your adress so that I might send you the other half of my tissue.

Obama's October Surprise!

2008-10-08T17:21:00.000-05:00

The following is a review I wrote about the first presidential debate between McCain and Obama. I withheld it in order to contrast my opinion on the outcome of that debate to the second one that took place last night. I have changed nothing since wrote it.

As someone who is often called angry, I appreciate it when others are called out on not being angry enough. It occurs to me that many of those that feel as though during last Friday's debate Senator Obama seemed cold, and disconnected to the average persons pain have not realized that there is a difference in Obama's debate style, and the substance of his agenda. While it is sometimes necessary to resort to indignant speech in order to make a point to ones adversaries, it does not altogether win the hearts and minds of those you wish to join your cause. Most that would wish for such a thing are already in your camp. I try to watch these things with a keen eye for moments of opportunity to attack an opponent, I can clearly say there were times I saw opportunity for Obama on Friday night, and as a skillful politician I am quite sure Obama did also.
Anyone that assumes from the debate last Friday that Obama is disconnected from the pain of the average person, needs to merely take a look at his platform to see that this is not the case. Growing our economy (once again) from the bottom up as the United States did in order to free ourselves from our last great depression is the cornerstone of Obama's plan. While he may not have claimed during the debate to "feel the pain" of the average worker, or muttered emotional post traumatic claims of love for them, average people still can get the message he cares.
As pundits claim that there were no angry assertions, and knockout punches thrown from Obama during the debate, they can hardly say the same for his opponent. Scowls, and and nervous cackles were employed by McCain as emotional counterpoint to Obama's use of clearheaded debate on policy. To McCain's detriment he came across as the angry old guy. Likely if these same angry responses came from Obama he would have appeared as an enraged young black man after an old and defenseless American hero. I say this not as excuse, but simply as truth. Nevertheless it is merely a personal talking point, and likely the least of what Obama may have been thinking.
As a politico I enjoy a heated discussion as much as anyone that finds themselves reading my words on this blog. We are politico's. We are, whether we will admit it or not, creatures interested in, and products of, the partisan politics that have permeated the airwaves, and bandwidth of our nation for the last decade. For anyone to have read a political blog, listened to a heated screed on the radio, or rifled through the Sunday paper for the comments section, to say otherwise would be a bold faced lie. The same is true for the members of the press that indulge themselves in judgment of candidates based on ratings share, and affirmation of personal political views as they have been doing all week.
At the end of last weeks debate it was far clearer to me that Obama's debate style is not one that will garner the admiration of politicos like us. It never has been.
During the previous debates there were calls for Obama to give a knockout punch. A perplexed contingent of political junkies posted time, and time again on liberal, as well as conservative blogs, that he must bloody his opponent in order to win the nomination of his party. That in order to prove he has a acceptable style of leadership he must be willing to mire himself in the the day to day filth of political battle.
We were wrong, and he proved it.
Is this affirmation of a return to a less contemptible approach to leadership?
Maybe. To be sure it has awakened many who do not respect our lust for partisan blood letting. At the very least it seemed to throw off the timing of McCain who surely came to a debate looking for a fight.
For now it seems as though our talking point for "more respectable campaigning" seems to have been hijacked by someone who may have the intent to follow through with it.
Obama may have disappointed those like us, that wanted to see a brawl. We tuned in to see a real political fight, and found ourselves listening to one man give clear respectful answers, while the other seemed to sulk and spin.

A precipitous withdrawl?

2008-10-02T18:56:00.006-05:00

Today it was announced that John McCain is pulling his ads and campaign staff from Michigan and canceling a campaign event planned for next week in Plymouth, essentially giving up hope of winning the state's 17 electoral votes. Until recently many people saw Michigan as an important swing state where McCain had a chance to play offense, given his 2 primary victories in 2000 and 2008, and force the Democratic candidate to defend a "blue" state that John Kerry won in 2004. Both campaigns have blanketed the state's airwaves and made repeated campaign appearances. Obama especially seems to have focused heavily on the state, coming here to receive the important endorsement of John Edwards and then returning to get the endorsement of Al Gore.

According to Five Thirty Eight, the polling average in Michigan is Obama +4.9. New polls have shown Obama with a double digit lead, increasing what had been a fairly consistent lead, except for the bounce McCain received with the announcement of his VP selection and the GOP convention. With the economy coming into play as the major campaign issue, McCain had no chance to win in the state most affected by the failed philosophy of trickle down economics which supports tax cuts for the wealthy and falling wages for workers along with the disastrous effects of globalization which promotes trading high paying American jobs for cheap products made overseas.

Obviously, many Tuesday morning quarterbacks will wonder what nominating Mitt Romney might have done for the campaign campaign. However, I think it's safe to say Romney wouldn't have guaranteed a McCain win in Michigan and certainly wouldn't have garnered the enthusiasm among the right wing base of the Republican Party like the Palin pick was designed to do. However, he may have been able to handle the media and campaign independently of McCain who has been forced to stick close to Palin, thus reducing in half the number of campaign stops the ticket can make in swing states.

Schwarz switches for Schauer

2008-09-30T18:41:00.005-05:00

The AP is reporting that Former Congressman Joe Schwarz has decided to endorse Democratic State Senator Mark Schauer over Republican Tim Walberg who defeated Schwarz for the 7th Congressional seat 2 years ago in the GOP primary.

Schwarz told The Associated Press on Tuesday that he decided to endorse Schauer over Republican Rep. Tim Walberg because the anti-tax Club for Growth began running ads critical of Schauer.

The Club for Growth injected more than $1 million into the 2006 primary, helping Walberg defeat Schwarz, then a first-term congressman.
(snip)

Schwarz says he couldn't remain neutral in the race once the group got involved. He says it's "the straw that broke the camel's back."

Dueling partisan polling shows leads for both candidates while external polling has shown Schauer closing the distance in what has generally been considered a strong pick-up opportunity for Democrats looking to increase their majority in the U.S. Congress.

A debate between Schauer and Walberg is set for October 7.

Local Lipstick Pork

2008-09-16T04:00:00.004-05:00

While watching Governor Palin squirm her way through the part of the ABC interview dealing with the amount of earmarks she helped bring to her local village while mayor, I came upon the thought that this in itself may open eyes of local politicians on the effect that requests for federal funds may have on their political future.

It has always amazed me that voters would decry the existence of federal earmarks on one hand, and pat local politicians on the back with the other for coming up with matching funds, and outright give always from the nations coffers.

While we have had our attention misdirected on players in our nations capitol, homegrown artful dodgers, and Fagin's have their way with the change in our pockets.
Some are admirable, and well grounded goals, but I have yet to see a beautification project, or river walk help put food on the table, or help pay a laid off autoworkers medical expenses. It is merely putting lipstick on the problems we have as a community. Dressing up a locality in new logo's, and garnishing our sidewalks with brick walkways may well give the impression of affluence to corporate investors, but the hard sell comes when prospective employers see blocks with empty houses, announced school closures, and multiple pages of foreclosure notices in our local paper.
The sickness does not evolve from the proper idea that government can, and should help those in need. It comes from the idea that everyone else is getting a piece of the action, and if we don't ask for giveaways we will get nothing and lose our place in line. Two wrongs, don't make it right.
In tough times such as these we as citizens need to prioritize what may be needed, and what is merely a bump, and grab from the pockets of our citizens. The last time I looked, health care costs, mortgage scandals, and the economy were the biggest issues on the minds of voters. We have two wars to pay for, and the well being of people caught in disasters on our minds. Bridges to nowhere, over priced hockey rinks, and the mating habits of crabs need to be put on the back burner. We need to realize that every penny asked for from the federal government is going on a giant credit card given to us by foreign interests.
Those that would run up the tally, need to be admonished for not having the nations best interest in mind. Change is needed in the White House, but in order for it to be effective it must begin in our local governments houses.

Undecided idiots or Independent patriots?

2008-09-14T16:00:00.000-05:00

A long while ago I posted on my own blog evidence of the visceral hatred I have for those that cannot decide the most important issues of their lifetime. In that post I pointed out that the mushy middle may very well be the catalyst for the problems that we find ourselves in today. Indecision or lack of knowledge on any given issue by any of these rail sitters merely puts more pressure on government officials who are charged with doing the bidding of their constituents.
This becomes more apparent when looked at through the prism of this years election.

I forgot about this until I recently had a discussion with a friend who told me he was thinking about voting for Obama, until McCain picked Palin as a running mate. He does not like McCain, but thinks Palin is the answer. He thinks Obama may be a muslim, and does not seem to care about policy.
He has voted in every major election.
He is afraid we will be attacked again.

On the other hand I work with a gentleman that had until the last eight years regarded politics as something other people pay attention to. He didn't vote until eight years ago.
I have noticed when traveling through his work station that he was listening to the news on his satellite radio. Without question this is a full turnaround from those years ago, when he would be more involved with trivia questions on an oldies music station, than the speeches of both the Democratic, and Republican presidential nominee.
He voted Republican in the last two elections.
He is worried about the economy.

-Agnosticrat

I can understand Agnosticrat's anger with so-called undecided voters but yet I find myself sympathizing with them, sometimes it would be nice to not feel so invested in whether one side wins an idealogical debate. I don't agree with the media fascination with them since I often wonder how many of them really vote. I also wonder how many of them vote based on anything more than an infantile "gut" reaction about who would be a good beer drinking pal or who's church attendance is most likely to inspire "morality" despite numerous examples of horribly crooked scoundrels who fooled a nation into seeing them as folksy and pious.

What scares me more aren't the people who may be seriously conflicted about which political party best represents them (for instance, a person who opposes the drug war but doesn't like the Republican theological wing, someone who is bothered by the idea that Democrats seemingly prefer Government solutions to private ones, or the person who wants government to help out people who need it in times of crisis but think life begins at conception and that abortion is murder) but it's the people who walk into the voting booth having no idea of who they support and end up just flipping a switch.

The fact that some people feel compelled to vote even when they seem to have no over-riding interest in the issues involved or a deep passion for who should win, makes me wonder why they don't just stay home. I don't care for the get out the vote messages that insist everyone HAS to go vote or the men who died at Normandy will have given their lives for naught. Some people just don't have a grasp of the issues or care much for what happens and therefore should be perfectly entitled to just "sit it out" if that is what they choose.

- Pol Watcher

Well that is kind of a pop answer isn't it?
Vote because someone died for you to have the ability to.

It really turns into a beast when you place lives as the cost of war as reason for anything. After all any responsibility we have as citizens, can and to some degree has been, sold through this kind of ultra-patriotism. From buying war bonds during previous wars, to joining the peace corps in the sixties, and voting. At some point the fact that people died for this right sounds like less of an ideology, than it does a slogan. Even the most ardent of patriots must admit that through over use, the phrase may have lost some of it's meaning. None the less it has till now shown itself to be a less than stellar call to action in getting the people to the polls

The answer in this case may not be brandishing the lives of those that fought so hard in the past, but must be (in my opinion) showing the voter that they are on the front lines in their own fight. That their own actions now, (rather than someone else's actions then) are the real meaning of patriotism. That they must fight for this democracy with ballots, and information every bit as hard as our forefathers did with muskets, and tanks.

In the early eighties there was a movement among minority activists to tell children that education was a legal right, but that they must demand it from the people in charge of teaching them. It taught the fact that they were being denied the right of an education through a system that seemed to expect apathy from both students, and parents alike.
It was successful.

Get out the vote, as far as I can see uses this to some extent in order to get people at the polling place, but with nothing more than a cursory knowledge of the facts concerning the candidates, (gathered most likely from television talking points), you will end up with at least one of the examples I pointed to before. Growing the will to learn more in depth what each candidate stands for, is the only way to beat the expectation of apathy from the system.

That expectation is that voters will be turned off when discussing anything more than lipstick on pigs, and who may be a secret Muslim. All of this in concert with those that would rather instill fears of a fixed system. That they all are crooks, and it is better to vote for the lesser of two evils, has got to have an effect on anyone may want to have more of a stake in the affairs of government, but have the idea that simply asking how, when, and where to get involved, may lead to derision.

Today I saw a talking head on television say that political forums in which each candidate answers questions separately is boring, and that voters can't wait until the melee brought on by the debates. It made me sick to my stomach to think there was someone that may have tuned in to one of the forums to hear what the candidates would have to say, but chose instead to watch a re-run on television, or almost anything but watch and listen to serious questions being put to the candidates.

-Agnosticrat

I'm glad you brought up education, because I think the one thing I can point to most responsible for the failures of our elected leaders is the failure of our educational institutions. Simply, the American people have lost all capacity to have a rational debate based on a thorough understanding of history, rhetoric and philosophy of government. We have a mass media that has replaced culture, we have pop trivia which has replaced a thoughtful understanding of complex issues. Our political debates are sound byte shout-fests made to grab attention and ratings.

The most important thing I ever learned in school was a college course in which we discussed fallacious arguments. The ability to see through a bullshit argument that relies of absurd reduction, straw man tactics or other cheap debate stunts is something every single citizen of our democracy must have. Too many people fall for the emotional line of argument Agnosticrat mentions in which people base their vote on the worship practices (or lack thereof) of the candidate. How many people stupidly fall for a small snippet of dialogue chopped completely out of context to make it sound like someone said something they didn't say (this elementary school tactic is a favorite of simple minds)?

The American educational system is too often devoted to producing good workers for our factories instead of good citizens for our democracy. I happen to think if we concentrated on producing a citizenry capable of free thinking and rational discourse we'd not only have the democracy we desire but our economy would benefit as well.

As much as the founding generation freed this nation from the tyranny of a brutal monarch with muskets, it was also the product of the Enlightenment and the power of the pen in the hands of an educated class that respected the right of people to be capable of rational thought and to come to the right conclusions, to stay engaged in the ongoing argument that is the constantly evolving idea of the United Stated of America. Every ballot cast is another musket aimed at the heart of the forces of tyranny that potentially would tear asunder this nation conceived in liberty. However, an uninformed voter is just shooting wildly into the crowd while it takes some thought and consideration to aim the vote in the right direction.

- Pol Watcher

In 100 words or less...

2008-09-13T09:35:00.004-05:00

The Michigan Supreme Court defied the will of the people. Justices Taylor, Corrigan and Young agreed with the Court of Appeals while Justices Markman, Cavanaugh and Weaver said the the proposal was too complex to distill into 100 words or less. The disgusting decision ignores that complex issues are constantly distilled into short summaries, from history class (The Civil War was primarily a war over the right to own slaves but also one of state rights versus centralized federal government) to literature (Romeo and Juliet is the tale of two star-crossed lovers from warring families who engage in a doomed romance).

By the way, just for the fun of it I made the above paragraph exactly 100 words. Because of the Court of Appeals decision to create an absurd rational (which could in theory be used to strike down any ballot proposal in the future) to overturn the will of 415,000 valid signatures from Michigan voters partly based on the law of a completely different state, we now have to hold our breath and wait for the glorious Constitutional Convention we've been promised would come and save us from ourselves.

The Con Con (a double con, so to speak) will be made up of the very people who would have been negatively affected by the Reform Michigan Government Now initiative, just as the courts who struck it down were as well, so it would take a real dunce to expect real reform. What we will likely get is a couple of bones thrown out to keep the wolves at bay and the assembled brain trust will go back to their day jobs, continuing to ruin state government and put up road blocks in the way of progress in Michigan.

The politicians and special interests will manage to kick the can a little farther down the road, but the people of this state and this nation are slowly waking up to the destruction done to our democracy by the wealthy elite. Michigan government is dominated by the Mackinac Center's ruling class and the Michigan Chamber of Commerce which screws its own small business members by supporting policies that help China and Wal-Mart while destroying Main Street and small towns. The Republican Party will continue it's quest to dismantle any form of social safety net, public education, sensible health care reform that doesn't line the pockets of insurance companies and will continue to blame the Democrats for it.

The 70% of people of voters who said they would approve the Reform Michigan Government Now proposal should do well to remember exactly who stood in the way of letting them vote on this and understand why they did it. History has proven that when the people want change, the ruling class will do whatever it takes to stop them. It says something that the Michigan Chamber of Commerce fought so hard to prevent a series of reforms which had NOTHING to do with "small business" or economic policies. It says something that the corporate-owned media of Michigan relentlessly repeated Saul Anuzis' lies and spin. It says something that the powers-that-be could not let a reform effort backed by nearly half a million voters even get to the ballot. It says something, and it doesn't even take 100 words- Michigan voters are demanding change the politicians and power brokers who stand in their way will soon face their wrath.

One last note to the media: From now on, will you follow the same standard with every other reform proposal and allege that you know who wrote and funded it even when you don't? Will you dismiss any ballot measure because it comes from somewhere other than exactly down the middle of the road? Will you actively work to destroy any ballot measure than either side of the political spectrum alleges will favor the other?

False fact checking and biased balance

2008-09-10T19:27:00.005-05:00

Obviously, I started this blog because I felt like the major news media was letting down the American people. I couldn't begin to chronicle the exhaustive list of abuses but one central theme I notice that seems to strike me as particularly disturbing is the notion that the truth must always lie between two opposing points of view. What may be seen as true in Buddhism ("the middle road is the path to enlightenment") doesn't necessarily always hold water in our political dialogue.

Take your average political TV show. You always have the "liberal" and the "conservative" to discuss the issues of the day. But first, is that what you really have? You see, often the so-called liberal is usually some slightly left-of-center person who is often called a strategist or is perhaps a newspaper columnist who's professional credo demands he at least attempt to be fair to both sides (not that this always applies- see Kristol, Bill or Will, George). The conservative is often a member of the far right wing who is backed by some institution with some patriotic name featuring the word "enterprise" or "heritage" where they have been taught the proper talking points. Often the moderator will discuss some hot button "issue" that the cable news people are obsessing about for a day that will be nearly forgotten tomorrow. The questioner throws the topic out to both sides and tries to get the sparks to fly and often the guests, who usually are there to sell their newest book, are all too willing to take their time on TV to raise their "brand awareness" and gain points with their side with a few quips or barbs directed at the other side. In the end, the viewer learns nothing about any policy proposals or issues, but is only aware that both sides tend to obscure their policies with rose petals and horse manure. In the end, the host usually declares they will continue the discussion some other day, declaring that both people have made their points, etc. What has been accomplished other than to convince people that if these people represent politics, then they should want no part of it?

Then, you have the journalist who pretends to want to help you figure out who is lying and who is telling the truth in a political debate. After a politician has given a speech or released a statement, the reporter calls on an "expert" to help enlighten the audience as to the veracity of the politician's words. Sadly, the experts are often not really much more than just another reporter who certainly doesn't wish to call out someone in power as having lied and then face the wrath of their supporters. While journalists love to sell their profession as being a legion of Woodward and Bernsteins, the truth is they more like a pack of sheep cowering in fear that an editor would receive an angry call or email about a piece they submitted, or worse yet an advertiser who is threatening to pull their account because they've been upset. What you often end up with is a sort of nimble soft shoe routine where the "fact checker" tap dances around the question of whether the politician was lying or not and may suggest that something was "untruthful" but in the end declaring that both sides fudge the truth (offered without evidence). Once again, the news consumer is left thinking both sides are of a kind of the truth must lay in the middle.

When one side is clearly lying and the other side is not, who will speak up and say so? In recent days, we've seen many news stories seeming to debunk a politician's claims yet in the end they always like to muddy the waters and pretend as if both sides do it exactly equally. This false equivalence is meant to dampen criticism that the media is being overly harsh on one side or the other and to reduce angry calls and letters that could cost a journalist their job. Often though, this criticism is simply a charade designed to play into a deliberate campaign where lies go unpunished, where truth no longer means anything and average people are left with nothing to do but vote based not on policies and issues but on wedges and code words.

This false debate debases our politics, but more importantly it's ruining our country.

A Democrat Can Win in Barry County

2008-08-30T20:12:00.010-05:00

The history of government in Barry County is riddled with incompetence. All one has to do, is read back issues of the local newspaper for the last few years to see a pattern of government mismanagement, and malfeasance. These incidents seem to have one thing in common:

"Republicans"

An inbred local culture of politicians that do nothing better with our tax dollars than fight for who gets to live on the taxpayers dime first. Many without a clue as to how to perform their jobs effectively. From arguments against the old boy network in the not too distant past, to recent allegations against the former director of 911 last year, Charlton Park, gun rights battles in the streets of Hastings, and allegations of sexism in city hall.

The mismanagement of our area mirrors what has been happening at the state level, and in Washington, D.C. . Corporate lobbyists, and incompetent partisans placed in bureaucratic jobs fulfilling agendas that in no way mirror the wants, and needs of constituents. These people are so busy scratching each others backs, they seem to have forgotten their intended duties. Many seem to believe that their singular duty is getting elected.

Now please don't lump me in with the pessimists. I will not call for throwing all of the bums out here. Such rhetoric has only helped divide our nation, rather than mobilize voters to help complete the change that is needed.
Besides, there are no competitive parties that have ponied up alternatives in this county.

No Independent party members,
No Greens,
No Libertarians,
and most sadly of all, no Democrats.

Much has been made of whether or not a Democrat can win in Barry County. I think this is the wrong question. I'd ask why won't decent Democrats run in Barry County. I think the answer is that the local party has been a complete and utter failure, and that they fear the voters wouldn't listen anyway. There's also been a deliberate misinformation campaign that suggests Democrats have never won and can never win in the future. This is bull.

National polls have hinted for some time at a solid Democratic majority in Washington next January. Democrats could potentially take the State Senate and be in control in Lansing. And yet the local Democratic Party has failed to take advantage of this potential landslide and get warm bodies to fill up empty ballot slots. Not one Democrat ran for County Commission.

While many still walk around with the cartoon image of the 1960s Democratic Party in their minds, the truth is that the radical party in this country is the Republican Party. The Republican party is an echo chamber full of many supposed civil servants who have perfected the art of "group think". Positions filled (from cabinet positions all the way down to secretarial duties at local levels), have been done in such a way that only those that could pass the most stringent of purity tests need apply. Even here on these very web pages, many candidates are called out for being RINO (Republican in name only) candidates, and mocked for not putting party above principal, and contributing time, and money to sell agendas they may not completely agree with. The Republican party's "big tent" seems to shrink aggressively with every election cycle. Many would have attempted to throw their own presidential nominee to the curb, had he not towed the line in choosing his "politically acceptable" (god forbid) replacement if something should happen.

The Democratic Party since the defeat of Jimmy Carter has been moving closer and closer to the middle, in fact Carter himself was a centrist who defeated the more liberal Teddy Kennedy. While many swallowed the Rush Limbaugh hype about President Clinton, Clinton was an avowed centrist who favored market solutions over governments. He enacted welfare reforms, and other measures that were more akin to the traditional Republican platform than the Democratic Party's. All the while leading his party into a more progressive position.

Despite the fact that many Democrats wanted to see a hard leftward swing after 7 years of George W. Bush's far right governance, Barack Obama won his party's nomination with talk of conciliation and compromise. Now, the country stands poised to elect a Democratic Congress and Senate and Obama's prospects in November look decent. His promise of more responsive government is rooted in the idea that the president needs to take council from all sides of the political spectrum, in contrast to that of our present administration which asks for reverberation rather than option.

We have already seen the effects brought on by one party's incestuous government control. We've seen already the effects of smaller, meaner government, having too much power, in Washington, and right here in Barry County. We have seen the loss of employers, as well as that of job security here. Everyone is feeling the pinch of the economic disaster that was bred in Washington D.C.. Make no mistake, many of the Republicans in this county have fully supported the president, and his administrations actions that have lead to the problems we are facing.

Change can happen here, as well as in the nations capitol.

A Democrat Can Win in Barry County.

But in order for this to happen, we need more competent Democrats to run in Barry county, and give the voters a reason to believe that they can make a difference.
Democrats need to fight the battle for the people here, in order to ensure that they can do the same in the capitol. Republicans built their following from the bottom up, and the Democrats need to do the same. Democratic candidates cannot afford to be the fall back vote, or the angry protest vote, they must be the only logical vote. For this to happen there needs to be a ballot full of Democrats.

Why I love conventions

2008-08-27T06:34:00.004-05:00

As a kid one of my reasons for becoming interested in politics was the quadrennial national conventions. As someone who loves language and its ability to move people, the lofty speeches that called out to our ideals was something I found awesomely inspiring. Every four years at least one person finds a way to tap into something deeper than the usual, stale monologues reciting party platform planks like menu items in a restaurant where every dish is red meat. And, like the Olympics, we watch because of the possibility that someone will catch fire, someone who's name wasn't well known on the national stage who immediately becomes a household word. The chance that a person will seemingly come out of nowhere and prove themselves worthy of attention makes it thrilling to watch because you want to say that you were there at that moment their spark caught fire.

Four years ago Barack Obama spoke to a nation and gave voice to a swelling number of people who felt that the President had failed in the days after 9/11. That, beside the bull horn speech, Bush never asked Americans to sacrifice and come together, in fact Bush's words increasingly divided as he used a national tragedy for political gain (when my staunchly Republican friends ask me why it is, as they see it, that Democrats "hate" Bush that is the reason I give- I remember watching the horrible events on September 11, 2001 and waiting for order from the President to conserve energy and other measures so that we could quit foreign oil but I was asked to go shopping). Despite speaking to a party that was craving more red meat and looking for someone to take on the hard right wing that had dominated the government, Obama called to the nation's shared ideals and showed himself to be someone capable of leading a nation through troubled times. It's easy for people to dismiss it as "just a speech," but it was more than that, it was a leader revealing himself live on the national stage when most people hadn't even heard of him. You can argue whether he's got the right policies and judgment but you can't argue that in one speech he revealed himself to be capable of the leadership it takes to move a nation.

While words can be used to deceive, they can also enlighten and inspire. I look to these political conventions for someone willing to boldly tell the truth and for someone willing to give the people a voice, someone willing to lead us from our self-absorption and ask us to work for a higher calling. Shallow patriotism, hollow platitudes and empty rhetoric won't cut it. Who will find the words to remind us of our shared fate and how we can either stand together or fall alone? The nation's greatest presidents are usually considered that because they found such words. That is why I watch...

The party is started!

2008-08-25T20:07:00.003-05:00

Photo courtesy of Democratic party.

You can make a lot of claims right now, but slow news week is not one of them!

BarbinMD is Liveblogging the convention at dailykos.

I will try to link to some Michigan sites that are also taking a shot at liveblogging at the convention, but bandwidth seems to be lacking today. Wonder why?

Parade politics provokes applause

2008-08-24T09:23:00.006-05:00

Watching the annual Hastings Summerfest parade was just a bit more interesting this year for watchers of politics and the pols who use such events to campaign. Considering that Barry County has so few contested races after the August primary election (this year it seems even less than usual), I often forget such events are normally a good place for a politician to reach large crowds of people prior to the November election. Most of the time the politicians who show up seem to do it more out of public relations than a need to truly campaign and pick up extra votes since they're unopposed or might as well be. This year's parade had the expected local politicians handing out candy and campaign literature, including our State Representative, the two major party candidates for county Drain Commissioner, the Democratic candidate running against Vern Ehlers for the U.S. House seat and a surprise...

As usual, the parade kicked off with the American Legion color guard. The crowd of families and on-lookers seated in lawn chairs and on the sidewalks and curbs rose to greet the flag and gave an enthusiastic ovation. Just as the clapping had started to die down another round of marchers in military gear received some applause. Then the parade began in earnest with the Hastings High School marching band, which also received some polite applause- I half wondered if it was partly due to rampant rumors that due to a band director's schedule conflict and budget cuts which eliminated a second director position, that the band would be unable to attend the parade. Many other floats and marchers drifted by, my mind wandering more to mundane things like why there always seem to be such long stretches in between parade entries and how hot the people marching must get, a worry mostly focused on some of the older participants and those like the Society for Creative Anachronism crowd that rode in full medieval dress, including one in a suit of armor. Not to mention the smell of food provided a distraction from the lunch-time event.

Mostly, I watched for a couple friends riding in the parade and a niece that would be part of the procession. Many people in the crowd sat quietly the rest of the time, usually only broken when they shouted at someone they knew on a float or to attract the attention of the people throwing candy and Mardi Gras beads to the crowd of on-lookers. Now, the parade had settled into a routine of local churches, civic groups, charities and businesses along with local politicians. The only bits of applause coming for those entrants which were somehow connected to military or patriotic themes.

I brightened up a little when I saw the brave and foolhardy souls campaigning for a Democratic Presidential candidate in Barry County- one doesn't usually see much campaigning for President in these parts outside an occasional bumper sticker, lawn sign or letter to the editor but there was something like 5-10 people marching in support of Barack Obama. I'd heard a contingent would be there to march for Obama so that wasn't a surprise. What surprised me was how the crowd reacted. Normally, when local politicians campaign at such events they are greeted with a sort of polite indifference, most of the litter left after the parade seems to be the cheap photocopied flyers handed by local politicians. Unless a politician is a well-liked, local good old boy, most people tend to see the stumping politicians the way one always sees flies hovering around the rear ends of animals in the summer.

At least half of the crowd, it seemed to me, began to applaud the Obama campaign folks walking by. I even looked around to make sure it wasn't some trick being played on my ears or to see if there was another parade entrant sparking the applause. The crowd's greeting for the local Obama campaign was warm and enthusiastic and was matched perhaps only by the greeting given the stars and stripes at the beginning of the parade.

Now, I know some will read this and pretend as if I'm arguing for an Obama win in Barry County or in the electoral college based on a smattering of applause, though I think it does mean he has a better shot than the chattering class punditry would have you believe (it is obvious to me that the corporate media types need a close election to keep ratings high as elections have become a huge money-maker for the media in an age where people are turning away from traditional media outlets and network TV ratings continue to slide- there's a reason why, despite battleground state polling indicating Obama ahead the media relies more on national polling to show a "tied" race despite Presidential elections being decided in the Electoral College).

The fact that half the people on the street applauded the appearance of the Obama supporters has to be considered a sign of optimism for those who grumble that Democrats seemingly can't win here. I wonder also if that applause wasn't just a "show of hands" from those planning to vote for the candidate being represented but also a sign of approval for the fact that they are bothering at all. Despite being Republican territory in a state very friendly to McCain's previous national campaign, no one bothered to represent the McCain campaign, which also means I couldn't gauge the audience reaction, to compare and contrast.

What I'm actually trying to say is how impressed I am overall in Obama's shoot-the-moon 50-state strategy which has abandoned the often failed Ohio-Pennsylvania-Florida strategy that gave the White House to the GOP from 2000 to the present. Obama has invested a considerable amount of money and effort in new voter registration and opening field offices in remote locations in state which Democrats have failed to contest for a generation. In other words, as someone who follows campaign strategy like some study historical battle tactics, I'm impressed by Obama's embrace and understanding of reaching out to people who have long been ignored by traditional campaigns. And no wonder the media is thoroughly unimpressed- while traditional Presidential campaigns have basically been an air war fought in the millions of dollars of prime time TV advertising, Obama has turned his campaign into a modern Special Ops style campaign which is choosing its targets wisely instead of just going for Shock and Awe and getting outspent by the better financed and more well organized Republican attack machine.

From text messaging to YouTube videos, the Obama campaign is embracing all the tools of the 21st century to reach voters directly instead of allowing the gate keepers with the big media conglomerates to continue to dominate our political discourse. Part of the Republican domination of the last 20 years was built on their strength in direct mail campaigning, one of Bush advisor Karl Rove's claims to fame. Now we see the next phase and it's fascinating to see it play out on a local level.

The fact the Obama campaign has a field organizer in Barry County, not to mention at least one splinter group taking off their local chunk of geography to concentrate on, and that Obama's campaign has increased enthusiasm among people to bother organizing what has been seen for too long as a hopeless effort in Barry County, means that this campaign has already scored a victory for anyone who is troubled by the one-party domination of the area. It helps too that in some ways, the domination of the GOP in Barry County has been over-hyped. A perfect example being in the 2006 Governor's race when Jennifer Granholm took 13 of 26 precincts in Barry County and lost the county by less than 800 votes to almost-local boy Dick DeVos. While it will still be a tough fight, especially if Senator McCain picks almost-local boy Mitt Romney to join the ticket in the VP slot, the fact that the Obama campaign is shaking up status quo politics and conventional wisdom, bringing the fight to Barry County makes me applaud. They may not win, but at least they're fighting....

Calley, Not Nanny Enough

2008-08-17T09:30:00.012-05:00

One of governments jobs involves protecting the welfare of its citizens. This includes making laws that deal with lurking dangers that may not be apparent to all.
In a move that many conservatives would consider furthering the "nanny state", this week Michigan representative Brian Calley (R) introduced legislation that would keep Michigan establishments from selling energy drinks to underage children.

According to the article at the Ionia Sentinal Standard web site:

"those younger than 17 would be prohibited from purchasing energy drinks with a caffeine content exceeding 71 milligrams per one 12-ounce serving, as well as containing taurine and glucuronolactone."

In an effort to bolster his opinion that such legislation falls into the mainstream, he points to the fact that children are already prohibited from purchasing music, movies and video games, and that his intent is put the decision in the hands of parents as to whether or not their children should be allowed to have access to what many say may be dangerous substances, especially when overly used by developing children.

To be against protective legislation such as this would be against everything that I believe to be true. Government must be able to protect it's citizens from harm, and government has to be a firewall between its citizens looking for safe products that enhance their lives, and corporations who's inherent goal is to make money.
Yet somehow I am apprehensive about the goal in this case. Mr. Calley claims that his intent is "to give more control to area parents, who can make choices for their developing children". The implication in such a sentence (that parents have no control over the buying habits of their children) gives me pause. While claiming control issues for parents on one hand , and writing state legislation that places said control, (and the repercussions of infringement) in the hands of the clerk at the quickie mart, in the other... seems to be a bit disingenuous.
If we find that these drinks have a detrimental effect on the people for who they are intended, and they contain large amounts of drugs that neither you, or I know the effects of, should we not consider more stringent legislation? They are either safe for use, or not. Until this can be determined, maybe these drinks should be under the control of the FDA, clearly labeled as dangerous, or outlawed all together. Pushing the myth that parents have no control over their children's buying habits, sidesteps the point that these drinks may be dangerous.
As I have said, (and as Rep. Calley apparently believes) government must help protect it's citizens. If in fact these drinks are that dangerous, any legislation regarding them, should do much more than merely allow the government to supersede parenting choices.

Primary results

2008-08-05T20:34:00.007-05:00

Some surprising and not-so surprising results coming in. Leaf and Evans look to have comfortable leads (Sheriff's race a blowout). Drain commissioner race between Yarger and Englerth as expected. Jarvis and Smith neck and neck for Clerk post. Commissioner races: Lyons beats Ferris, Stolselberg wins, Bremer on top with 3 out of 4 precincts reporting, Houtman winning with 4 out of 5 reporting, and according to WWMT VanNortwick beat himself by 15 votes?!

UPDATE! According to WXMI: Jarvis takes out Smith, Evans wins, Leaf demolishes Sarver, Burghdoff wins, Yarger edges out Englerth. County board winners: Bremer, Houtman, Lyons, Gibson, Stolsenberg and VanNortwick.

UPDATE 2: Complete Barry County results can be found here. Warning: results are in PDF document- it's only 108 KB file though, so even dial up users should be able to access without a long wait.

Contempt

2008-08-04T17:21:00.001-05:00

|kənˈtem(p)t|
noun
the feeling that a person or a thing is beneath consideration, worthless, or deserving scorn : he showed his contempt for his job by doing it very badly.
• disregard for something that should be taken into account : this action displays an arrogant contempt for the wishes of the majority.

John McCain holds that Barrack Obama is deserving scorn. His attack ads this week are full of anger. Pushing the idea that Senator Obama is arrogant is the new "weapons of mass destruction" argument of the Republican party, as they muddle their way through a lackluster campaign.

Lather, rinse, and repeat as needed.

Much like during the build up to the Iraqi war, bad intelligence is dissembled along with fear rhetoric, in order to build an illegitimate argument. All the while, so called legitimate news outlets (in chorus) repeat these assertions, showing once again that news agencies are less interested in presenting facts, than joining in with the kind of "group think" that led us into war with a nation that was a less than adequate threat.

All of this is should be considered politics, as normal. Not merely reserved for those on the top of a political ticket, this strategy of hand slights has oozed itself downward into seemingly mundane ballot races. Even those that many would consider immune from gotcha politics.
Setup's, and name calling are used in such a way as to bait undecided voters into their unsavory arguments. If straight forward issues are easy enough to wade through for the voters, mirror flashes, and puffs of smoke are employed with seeming ease in order to remedy already formed decisions on clear cut choices.
Suddenly the subject of law enforcement is quickly changed from questions of previous performance, and crime rates, to highly contentious subjects involving gun rights. Forced to the forefront, in a confrontational manner, for political gain, not because there was an overwhelming need for people to strap on a deadly weapon for self defense, but because the non-issue issue could be employed as a means of showing contempt for the opposing candidate.

Blowback

The missing part in all of this is the reaction by the citizens that are being prodded, and harassed, through the claims, and actions of the attacking candidates. While it has been proven these tactics work in the short term, without a continuous stream of valid attacks they tend to fizzle out.
Tomorrow we may well know if the short quick actions taken by Sheriff Dar's camp were effective. So late in the game it may have had it's intended effect.
Though, I doubt it.
There has been enough time for the citizens in this county to see how their quiet, if not murder free, environment has been made fun of for political gain. Seemingly parallel in action, the attacks on Senator Obama using a suddenly vibrant electorate in order to paint him as a "rock star" may miss the mark, and rile the anger of said electorate.

As well it should

For some time now, here on this blog, and others, the mocking of an apathetic electorate has been great sport. On the streets of the nation, excuses for not taking up ones civil duty are myriad.

"Why should I care?, They are all crooks!"
"I am voting for the "lesser of two evils"

are but a couple of phrases used, in the call to non-action. I hear them more, and more as this election grows tired.

Tired, not because people have a choice that has a modicum of difference in platforms. To the contrary platforms have never been so different in intent. Tired because voters are being used as pawns in games of gotcha politics, and Voters themselves are being held in contempt by politicians.

Pol Watcher's Primary Picks

2008-08-03T17:20:00.005-05:00

Here are my picks for the contested races in Barry County in the Tuesday, August 5, 2008 primary...

Barry County Board of Commissioners
Note: District 1 (the city of Hastings) and District 5 (Maple Grove, Castleton and Assyria Townships) have no challengers so the board will retain incumbents Don Nevins and Mike Callton. With two retirements and one commissioner seeking the Drain Commissioner post we know the board will see some turnover even without any incumbents going down. Surprisingly, given that in the last few years we've had some hot button issues on the county level including the Charlton Park millages, the County 9-1-1 charges and counter-suits and the TOST ordinance, most of these races have been low key, almost dull. Compared to the county-wide races, I don't see a similar level of spending or discussion of key issues. Outside of the open seats, it's looks like a good year to be an incumbent.

District 2 (Thornapple and part of Irving Township)- The retirement of James French has paved the way for a field of four challengers. This is a tough choice but I'd have to go with Mike Bremer. His long history of service and involvement with youth recreation make him a good choice. There's no doubt in my mind he's ready to do the job and will represent his constituents well.

District 3 (Hope and Rutland Twp.)- Joe Lyons is challenging incumbent Keith Ferris. I like Ferris' willingness to speak his mind and take tough stands. He's not afraid to lead. In fact, if Ferris wanted the job he could probably be chair- I have no doubt he'd be a solid one. Lyons hasn't given me much of a reason to dump Ferris who's been a very able commissioner and should get another term on the board. I give Lyons credit for running an honorable campaign, and maybe he thinks that enough people know him and will support him but I'd have liked to seen a little more as far as want he wants to do if elected, or even a reason why he's running.

District 4 (Carlton, part of Hastings Charter and Irving Townships)- Incumbent "Hoot" Gibson looked like a promising newcomer four years ago. Sadly, for four years Gibson has gone with the flow, told people what they wanted to hear and generally just soaked up taxpayer money to pay his salary and many per diems while ignoring his many promises from the previous campaign. Denise Straley hasn't run a great campaign but she represents a chance to ditch dead weight and make a politician pay for not fulfilling the promises of their campign rhetoric. Straley also earns high marks for being vocal in supporting the Drug Court.

District 6- (Yankee Springs and part of Orangeville Township)- Commissioner Mark Englerth is stepping aside to run for County Drain Commissioner. Four years ago Englerth ran a tireless campaign to take out incumbent Claire Tripp. Tripp is trying to get her odd job back and needs to be Craig Stolsenberg to do so. Stolsenberg is supported by Englerth who hopefully showed him what it took to defeat Tripp. Englerth doesn't always play well with others and had his trouble being one of 8 commissioners. Meanwhile, Tripp was always a reliable member of the "insiders" who represents the same old politics voters have rejected in the past. The voters of Yankee Springs and Orangeville need to keep Tripp off the board and pick Stolsenberg.

District 7 (Assyria, Baltimore, and Johnstown Townships)- Voters chose wisely four years when they picked Jeff VanNortwick over incumbent Tom Wing. Voters chose wisely again when Wing's supporters tried to single out VanNortwick and attempted to have him recalled for his support of the TOST ordinance. Mike Boles is simply yet another attempt by the same small group to enact political revenge. Voters should once again make the right choice and re-elect VanNortwick.

District 8 (Prairieville, Barry and part of Orangeville Township)- Wayne Adams is retiring and three seek his spot on the board. One, Mark Robinson, already dropped out for "personal" reasons. Issues have surfaced with candidate Robert Houtman who once got into hot water while working in Kalamazoo. The issue resurfaced too close to election time for a full airing of what happened, but it has left many wanting to avoid it coming up after the election is already over and distracting the board from dealing with new issues. Many people I've talked to are reluctantly supporting Jim Alden due to what they see at Houtman's "baggage."

This race is a good example of why I think the debate formula is flawed as it lumped all 8 county board races into one debate and didn't allow for any great back and forth between candidates in individual races or debate of issues specific to any particular race. Next time I hope we can see debates actually take place in the districts for those seats which should spur greater attendance and a more in-depth discussion of the local issues affecting each race.

Barry County Clerk - Incumbent Clerk Debbie Smith is under fire for the recent embezzlement of funds that took place within her office. Two of her employees were stealing money and her office procedures didn't catch the crime. I've never been a fan of Smith and as far as I'm concerned this is the last straw. However, with two challengers in the race we should see the vote split amongst those who agree that Smith's time as clerk should be over. Mark Whitney has ran a good campaign, spent lots of money and seems like a nice man. Whitney, however, is just simply not qualified to do the job and his campaign literature almost admits as much. Whitney might be an acceptable choice when compared to Smith, but voters have a much better choice in Pam Jarvis. Jarvis is experience, professional and fully capable of taking over the job on her first day in the office. Voters should choose Pam Jarvis to be our next County Clerk.

Barry County Drain Commissioner - For some reason the field is crowded with 7 candidates. Perhaps it's the economy. Perhaps it's that for the first time in a long time a Barry County official stepped aside with first appointing a successor. First, let's admit that Kevin Allerding has spent lots of money and campaigned hard but shows absolutely zero qualifications for the job. Jan Kelly seems to be popular in the Nashville area but given that his campaign has mostly consisted of people trumpeting his support from Right to Life (which might have something to due with his church affiliation I'm told), but unless the Drain Commissioners' job is to protect fetuses I'm not sure that means anything. Mark Doster might be qualified but pretty much admitted he's simply a kamikaze candidate aimed at taking down Mark Englerth. Englerth has spent tons of money in his campaign, maybe that money would have been put to better use paying his overdue tax bills. Englerth seems to feel inconvenienced that people, okay Doster, have brought up his delinquent taxes but this was also an issue four years ago and the problem seem to be getting worse. Even more, he's not even the most qualified person in the race. Dennis McKelvey seems very qualified but I haven't noticed any real campaign from him. In the Republican field, Russ Yarger seems to be the best choice if you are looking for experience and knowledge of the position and also looking for someone who can win. Yarger has ran a campaign to win and also has the backing of the current Drain Commissioner, Tom Doyle. In a crowded field there's a real chance someone unqualified could slip through, let's hope voters make solid choice. I think the best shot for voters looking for competence is Russ Yarger in the Republican primary.

You might be thinking I forgot Rosemary Anger. Anger chose to run as a Democrat, perhaps a wise choice given how crowded the GOP primary is and how much the candidates were wiling to spend. Anger is supremely qualified, smart and it would be nice to see a Democrat in a county-wide office for the first time in decades it seems. If one of the lesser candidates gets past voters on the Republican ticket, Anger could be the last chance in November. I'd like to the see the losing GOP candidates back Anger and help her raise money if it means stopping someone who can't do or doesn't deserve the job.

Barry County Prosecutor - Current prosecutor Tom Evans is a very nice guy. He's dedicated to the community and is involved in local causes. His wife is a very personable and friendly woman who has likely helped Evans get where he is. However, I just don't think Evans is a good prosecutor. I said as much four years ago when I decided Julie Nakfoor-Pratt was the choice for voters. However, some saw Pratt as protecting the insider's club and voters gave her the boot. I felt Evans wasn't able to make his case in the campaign and probably wouldn't do much better in court. I think I was proven right, though I'm not gloating about it. Evans went public with sensational charges against 9-1-1 Director Nystrom but seemingly couldn't back them up. Nystrom got a nice retirement gift from taxpayers and even gave back... a suit charging the prosecutor, the sheriff and the local newspaper publisher with a conspiracy to destroy his career. Frankly, Evans seems to me the one that blew it most, going in front of the media with accusations he didn't even seem to know the definition, much less that he could prove. A prosecutor shouldn't go with charges he can't make stick and he sure as hell shouldn't try cases in the media (something which got a former prosecutor in hot water, part of the reason he stepped down and Pratt took over). I don't feel like I'm entirely sold on challenger Kerri Selleck, but given Evans' rather weak record I think voters should give Selleck a chance to prove what she can do.

Barry County Sheriff - It took me a while to decide on this one. On the one hand I feel like Jerry Sarver is often too opposed to making information public, a problem that lead to some of the issues surrounding Barry County 9-1-1. On the other hand, incumbent Sheriff Dar Leaf is simply too cozy with the radical elements that use his support to further their fringe causes. Leaf has also not been a strong enough manager at the local animal shelter and we've seen a recent tragedy involving the deaths of many animals because of a refusal to allow volunteers to work in the shelter due to the presence of jail inmates and an absence of any leadership that would be able to continue the inmate work program and also allow volunteer workers. After the recent political stunt where advocates of limitless gun rights brandished their arms in downtown Hastings, making a circus in order to try to humiliate the Chief of Police in the waning days of a political campaign, I've come to the conclusion that Jerry Sarver should be the next Sheriff of Barry County. Sarver's three degrees (including a Master's in Public Administration) place him head and shoulders above Leaf as far as qualifications, and the fact that he didn't take the bait during the recent Pistol Parade through the downtown streets of Hastings (which, obviously was done with the blessing of Leaf since people heavily involved in his campaign were leading the charge) means he has the temperament to keep his cool when the heat is on.

UofM Wins Solar Race Again

2008-07-25T23:19:00.007-05:00

The beginning of an article on the website UM Solar reads:

The University of Michigan Solar Car Team has crossed the finish line for the 2008 North American Solar Challenge after traveling nearly 2400 miles from Plano, Texas to Calgary, Alberta. The team finished ten hours ahead of its nearest competitors to bring back Michigan's fifth National Championship in nine races.

While some would have us waste time drilling, and spilling in hopes of being independent from foreign energy source, and destroying our environment, they should be working to see that we keep these wonderful minds in the state to help us in the transition to alternative fuel sources.

The only unanswered question on the minds of many in the state of Michigan is how much faster the car could have been had it been painted a more traditional racing color.

Paying taxes is patriotic

2008-07-24T20:27:00.009-05:00

The need

With troops in foreign lands, and an economy in shambles, it seems to me the least patriotic thing someone could do is not pay their taxes. Complaining about tax rates, is as much a national past time as watching baseball, or eating hot dogs. But this nations need for capitol as we defend ourselves from both physical, and commercial warfare has never been more apparent. Some may complain that a majority of tax dollars may go to an unjust occupation in Iraq, and use this as an excuse to skim from their obligations. Others fight for different levels of taxation in search for what they claim to be fair. These arguments should be fought in the nations capitol, not in foreign tax shelters.

Turning the tide

The Senate's Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, chaired by (our own senator) Carl Levin, held a hearing Thursday on tax haven banks and U.S. tax compliance. The committee has produced a report on its six-month-long investigation.

In reviewing a variety of case histories, the investigation found that from at least 2000 to 2007, LGT and UBS employed banking practices that facilitated tax evasion by their U.S. clients, including assisting clients to open accounts in the names of offshore entities; advising clients on complex offshore structures to hide ownership of assets; using client code names; and disguising asset transfers into and from accounts."Senator Levin estimated offshore banks deprived the US Government of $US100 billion ($102 billion) a year in taxes. The report says US clients hold about 19,000 accounts at UBS in Switzerland with an estimated $US18-$US20 billion in assets not declared to tax authorities.

Using simple math it is clear to see that Senator Levin's target is not Ma, and Pa Sixpack hiding little Timmy's lawn mowing income from the mean ol' IRS man. The use of code names, in complex structures, implies that this is not a simple mess up on the 1040 form that many working people may struggle with every year, but a blatant disregard for the same laws every red blooded American citizen must follow.

Local impact

What is untold, is the amount of money that the state of Michigan, and others in equal need are loosing through these unpatriotic actions.
People with the means to pay are depriving their own states of the ability to pay for much needed services, and obligations. Bridge, and road repair, power lines that are past due for overhaul, better care for returning guard veterans, and workers retraining programs must now be taken care of with borrowed money, or put off to some elusive "time horizon".

We must pay our dues, while arguing their use in the ballot box.

Regardless of ones point of view on unjust wars, and levels of taxation, the money continues to be spent by our federal government. Every dollar withheld from U.S. coffers will be borrowed from outside sources. This will leave a larger debt for future generations, and a weakening U.S. economy.

What may begin as civil disobedience, will end in generational warfare.

That's debatable-County Clerk & Register of Deeds

2008-07-24T18:00:00.003-05:00

As I type this, the debate for Barry County Register of Deeds and County Clerk is getting underway at the Barry County Commission on Aging in Hastings. I dropped the ball on providing a place for discussion of the last two debates so here it is.

(Fair warning: Any comments on 9-1-1 or guns will be deleted!)

Introducing agnosticrat

2008-07-24T17:40:00.005-05:00

In case you haven't noticed, this is now officially a group blog. I've asked agnosticrat to come on board and provide his unique and caustic commentary to issues that affect West Michigan. I was at a point where it was either ask for help or call it a day. I found myself at a point where I couldn't check in often enough to watch comments to ensure a relatively civil discourse or to post often enough to keep the trolls from dominating the conversation. From my discussions with agnosticrat and his comments here, as well as his too-infrequent posts on his own blog, I thought he could help me out in this regard. You've been warned...

Bullet points (or: Annie, Get Your Gun)

2008-07-23T18:36:00.004-05:00

Merriam-Webster Dictionary:

brandish
Pronunciation: bran-dish
Function: transitive verb
Etymology: Middle English braundisshen, from Anglo-French brandiss-, stem of brandir, from brant, braund sword, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English brand
Date: 14th century

1 : to shake or wave (as a weapon) menacingly
2 : to exhibit in an ostentatious or aggressive manner

Wikipedia:

Open carry is legal in Michigan, although some people think that it is socially unacceptable without good reason (security/police officers, hunting, etc.), and choosing to do so in populated areas may result in being charged with disturbing the peace or even brandishing.

• Supporters of Barry County Sheriff Dar Leaf are taking shots at Hastings Police Chief Jerry Sarver, a candidate for sheriff in the August primary. Sarver is seen by gun lovers as being insufficiently "pro gun." Sarver is drawing fire for his alleged opposition to "open carry," the legal right to openly carry your sidearm on your person in a public place. They no doubt feel emboldened by the recent Supreme Court decision striking down a ban on handguns in Washington D.C. but mainly they feel like their support got current Sheriff Dar Leaf elected. Leaf's opponent in that election was the then-current Sheriff, Steve DeBoer, who was being attacked for sometimes denying concealed carry permits). I think Leaf's victory had more to do with former Sheriff DeBoer's drunken meeting with a mailbox while driving home from Grand Rapids and the attempted cover-up of the incident. Regardless, Leaf has long courted the extreme elements among the pro-gun crowd and counts himself among them.

• Sarver defended himself in a July 17, 2008 letter to the Hastings Banner in which Sarver relates his understanding of Michigan law concerning the open carrying of handguns and an incident in which a man was threatening to walk through a local grocery store openly displaying his firearm. The man in question backed down, perhaps deciding his Second Amendment rights could wait until election season to be exercised.

• And now that we are in the final throws of the primary campaign, Leaf's supporters have arraigned a political stunt, firing off these press releases:

http://www.usacarry.com/

In response to the Police Chief of Hastings, Chief Sarver, law-abiding citizens will be walking down Main Street in Hastings open carrying. Chief Sarver in response to a letter to the editor responded by saying it was brandishing, a misdemeanor. He failed to say that the Michigan Attorney General’s office wrote him telling him that open carry is not against the law. We are asking anyone who is interested in furthering their Second Amendment rights to join us on Thursday, July 24th at 4 PM. We will be meeting at Richie's Coffee Shop (146 W. State Street, Hastings, MI 49058).

An attorney that supports your right to keep and bear arms will be joining us.

It is important to note that this is a peaceful demonstration of our constitutional rights and everyone must be on their best behavior. All well mannered, law-abiding citizens are welcome to join us. Please RSVP if you can. Please do not dress like a paramilitary organization. Wear ordinary clothing that fits in well with the general public.

If you have any questions you can contact me at dstevens@iserv.net

David Stevens
Barry County Citizens for Second Amendment and Firearm Rights (B-SAFR)

http://www.ask4direct.com/news/wbch

CITIZENS WHO SUPPORT THE SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS WILL WALK DOWN STATE STREET IN HASTINGS THURSDAY OPENLY CARRYING A WEAPON TO PEACEFULLY DEMONSTRATE WHAT THEY SAY IS THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO OPEN CARRY. DAVID STEVENS, REPRESENTING BARRY COUNTY CITIZENS FOR SECOND AMENDMENT AND FIREARM RIGHTS, SAID LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS INTERESTED IN FURTHERING SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS CAN JOIN THEM AT RITCHIE'S COFFEE SHOP IN DOWNTOWN HASTINGS ON JULY 24 AT 4 P.M.

• Personally, instead of Richie's Coffee Shop at 4 p.m. I thought they'd have gone for Ponderosa at High Noon. I guess the plan is to draw a crowd, fired up with coffee and shoot on down to the Hastings City Hall so they can ceremonially display their Second Amendment rights and get out of Dodge, believing they've helped support the Sheriff's re-election bid by embarrassing Sarver. They likely think they've cornered Sarver into saying he'd arrest anyone brandishing their weapon. Either Sarver ignores the event and they get to say he backed down or he arrests anyone he believes is brandishing and they make a stink, take it to court and make political hay out of it.

• One has to wonder what a circus event clogging the city streets at the beginning of rush hour will do to win votes for Dar Leaf, who already has the support of 99.99% of gun enthusiasts who feel no restriction should infringe on their obsession with defending themselves from things that go bump in the night and fictional TV burglars. One also has to wonder what will stop people from trying to dilute the purpose of the event, perhaps even bringing along their own props and making a mockery of the event. Will people with squirt guns and toy weapons be barred from walking the streets of Hastings during this period? We've seen with the WTO protests and anti-war rallies that 100,000 people can march peacefully but it only takes one useful idiot to make the event backfire.

• There are all sorts of ways this could backfire, including revealing Leaf to be out of step with public opinion and costing him votes. One could even see this as a sign of panic in the Leaf campaign, a signal that they aren't confident they can win this on the merits and need a last ditch effort to cripple Sarver's campaign. Some might even wonder if the planners of this event are operating with a full clip or are they just shooting from the hip?

• Will Sarver's opponents shoot themselves in the foot and give him the ammunition he needs to win August 5 or will they hit their target? I guess we wait until the smoke clears...

How to win votes and influence elections

2008-07-21T19:41:00.003-05:00

As we hit two weeks to go before Primary election day, I figure it might be my final chance to give some last minute advice to those brave and/or fool-hardy souls who have chosen to run for public office. I see too many people who throw their hat in the ring but seem unable or unwilling to do what it takes to win, so here's some free advice based on seeing where people get it right and where they go wrong...

I think one of the biggest mistakes people make when they run for local office is never telling people where they stand on actual issues. It's not enough to say in your campaign materials that you are trustworthy or that you're a nice person, what church you attend, that you have 2.5 children and a yellow lab, etc. Too often people spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars running for local offices but never seem to give people a reason for voters to take time out of their day before or after work to cast their lone ballot. Campaigning is a form of advertising and the first thing you do when you try to sell something to someone is tell them why they can't live without the product (which, if you're running for office, is YOU). Give concrete examples of how and why you'd do a good job. Voters need information and too often campaigns spend lots of money without telling voters anything besides where a candidate graduated, what they look like and other generic and meaningless factoids.

The flip side of convincing people to vote FOR you is convincing people that they also need to vote against the other person, not because they're bad but because you'd do that much better of a job. "Negative" campaigning gets a bad rap but it works because it's how you tell people that the other person is not as good as you. Many politicians get it wrong and give negative campaigning its bad reputation because their attacks aren't substantial and on message- they are mean-spirited and personal where they should be about issues and drawing a contrast between choices. I find too many candidates seem to do either too little or too much negative campaigning- too many don't understand the subtle difference between highlighting areas of difference and just being nasty. As a voter I need information that gives me a reason to vote for you and not stay at home, but a campaigns that gets too bitter and personal can keep people at home (which can be an intentional strategy used by politicians who know the other person is a stronger candidate). If I think the other candidate is also an acceptable choice then maybe voting isn't that important and I can just get home and fix dinner for the family and mow the lawn instead of choosing which little circle to fill in with a number 2 pencil.

I'm also surprised by how many people are willing to spend a bunch of money to buy campaign signs, send mailers, put their ego and pride on the line and then suddenly seem to get cold feet when the going gets tough. Elections can get expensive (why do you think so many politicians are people that already have money?) and if you're facing a tough opponent you can find yourself writing check after check to keep up. Too many times people jump in a race because it seems fun and exciting when people are telling you that should run, but then start to chicken out when they realize how tough it is. If people see you aren't willing to invest your own money and time on a race, they'll be less willing to help you out when the going gets tough.

Media lays an egg inreporting on reform effort

2008-07-06T18:22:00.006-05:00

It's said that space abhors a vacuum and so, it seems, does the media.

When word finally got out that a grassroots group had a petition drive in motion that would reform Michigan government the media was caught by surprise. The group was quietly gathering the 370,000+ signatures it would need to get the effort to amend the state constitution on the November ballot, but no one told the power brokers in Lansing. Alarm bells went off and soon political reporters and bloggers were hunting for every shred of information they could get about Reform Michigan Government Now. Sadly, they got a lot of it wrong.

In their effort to fill space in their newspapers the reporters often turned to uninformed idiots who were willing to pretend they knew what they were talking about. In that reporting was also an elitist element that sounded angry that the grassroots effort hadn't consulted the power brokers and influence peddlers in Lansing. Surely, this group was a secret front for some known lobbying group, the Lansing insider class decided. And all the rest of their reporting has been spent trying to prove their initial belief. Instead of trying to find the truth, the media decided it knew the truth and would fit the story around that supposition.

In the days and weeks that followed the initial news leak, many established Michigan pundits and politicos weighed in. Early on, State Democratic Party Chairman Mark Brewer commented positively on many of the reforms in the package and thus the media decided he must be behind the effort. When it came out that many of the members of the unsuccessful Unicameral Michigan campaign to "Fire the Senate" were behind Reform Michigan Government Now and that paid petition circulators were being used (sadly, you almost can't get a petition drive on the ballot if you don't have money to pay professionals to do the collecting- only one such effort was ever successful in Michigan), the media demanded to know who was funding the drive. In the absence of correct information, it was floated that John Stryker was bankrolling the effort. When Stryker issued a firm denial we get yet more speculation and no real information. The media's obsession with the money seems to have blinded it from doing it's job and asking the only important question- is it any good for Michigan? Should it pass?

It's the media obsession with Brewer and Stryker which is so "striking" to me and gets to the heart of why these reforms are so necessary. In their attempts to find a way to attack the reform movement, they wish to 'kill the messenger' and they can't really do that with a group of ordinary citizens other than to incorrectly label group treasurer Harland Nye as a chicken farmer (he's a retired band director). The group of political outsiders has played their cards close to the vest which seems to be an affront to the sort of insider-class culture in Lansing. Despite employing the public relations firm of former state House speaker Dianne Byrum, the group is attacked for not being more establishment such as when Jack Lessenberry writes that:

They just might have been able to pull this off if they had gotten together with a few reasonable Republicans, like Joe Schwarz and Kalamazoo County Administrator Don Gilmer, and come up with something truly bipartisan. Instead, to give themselves cover, they put up as their official treasurer an 80-year-old retired high school band director who says he is a Republican. Give me a break.

So, is Lessenberry saying Mr. Nye is NOT a Republican or that he's not reasonable? Is he saying it's bad that the group lies but only because they didn't tell a different lie, one that him and his reporter buddies are used to hearing? Give US a break, Jack. If you don't think the effort is bipartisan, please tell me what's in the plan that makes it partisan. Instead we get more garbage like this:

But the proposal reveals its naked partisanship in its intention to eliminate two state supreme court justices.

So, it's nakedly partisan to preserve a majority of Governor Engler-appointed judges on the bench? It's partisan to take a non-partisan method for eliminating the two most inexperienced members of the bench? Lessenberry's arguments show exactly how much the media is contorting itself to find reasons to oppose these common sense proposals which make up a rather cohesive set of reforms that could never be enacted in our poisoned partisan atmosphere in Lansing. Yet some of the people who make a living speaking out against are now mad that the proposals aren't more blatantly partisan. In fact, Lessenberry decries that the proposal doesn't target the most independent member of the state Supreme Court (the court which was recently ranked worst in the nation in judicial partisanship by the way). Huh?

In a town where partisan politics is everything, Lansing can't help but turn an anti-partisan/non-partisan effort into something which can only be seen through the filter of which party it helps or hurts. What's funny is that in none of these efforts do we hear any good reasons why one side might be advantaged. We do suddenly hear how partisan our non-partisan justices are though which should come as a surprise to anyone who thought they were voting for judges and not political parties.

Which brings me back to the effort by some to paint this as a secret scheme by Mark Brewer to control state government. First, the state Democratic Party is poised to have its best November in a long time. With a toxic Republican brand and a charismatic figure on the top of the ticket who threatens to boost turnout in the state, Democrats in Michigan have to be swooning at their prospects this fall. Yet we are to believe that instead of trying to turn out the vote in November, Brewer has been busy crafting and organizing an effort that would take redistricting away from his own party? We are also supposed to believe that Brewer is secretly behind a plan that includes proposals floated or supported by people such as Terry Lynn Land (no-reason absentee voting), Glenn Steil Jr. (reducing number of state legislators), and Chief Justice Clifford Taylor (reducing number of judges), among others?

In their rush to judgment and then to be jury and executioner, the media has conveniently forgotten many of the proposals were originally proposed by members of the Republican Party and seem to exclusively focus on the ones that do not benefit the Republican Party machine while skimming over the rest (some of which, like losing the power of redistricting which has helped deliver State Senate control to the GOP despite getting less votes state-wide, actually hurt Democrats but the reporting never seems to mention that aspect). State Republican Party chair Saul Anuzis has attacked Reform Michigan Government Now's ballot drive with his standard line of attributing anything he doesn't like as coming from trial lawyers and liberals but Mr. Anuzis and the media have been pretty scant on what in the proposal would advantage Democrats. Other than the coincidental fact that the two most inexperienced Supreme Court justices are "Republicans" despite their constant past efforts to pretend they were non-partisan. Apparently it's bad that the effort is so partisan except when it should have been even more partisan. Yes, they think you're that stupid that you can't see through their shifting reasons for attacking the grassroots effort.

What's sad is that most average citizens in Michigan realize state government is badly broken and want it to get fixed but feel powerless to do anything about it. After too many years of divisive wrangling over budget issues and taxes, Lansing has proven it can't take on the toughest of issues. What is needed is for someone, anyone to step up the plate and deliver a set of much-needed reforms that would help reduce the partisan atmosphere and help voice the disgust of the people at what is happening in Lansing. Instead, we get the media trying to kill the messengers. We get the partisan spin of Saul Anuzis reported as truth. We get lies about the honest people in Barry County who've given years of their lives in trying to make Michigan state government actually work for the people. We get a defense of the status quo. We get more of the same.

Today, the group is expected to drop well more than the required number of signatures, with plenty of cushion to ensure that the effort gets on the ballot in November, into the hands of the Secretary of State. The special interests have already lined up against this, the influence peddlers have been honing their attacks. All I ask is that the people quit listening to the media trying to tell them they're too stupid to understand the proposal and look into it themselves. The media shouldn't waste it's time telling you WHAT to think about it but instead telling you what it actually would do. If they can't do that simple task then they are part of the problem too.

In fact, not only are they trying to tell you what to think about the proposals instead of giving you the information to think for yourself, the media has gotten many of their facts wrong. If you can't trust them to give you the basic facts about Reform Michigan Government Now, then how can you trust them when they try to tell you it's a bad idea? That's something even a chicken farmer could understand.

That's Debatable- Prosecutor Edition

2008-06-26T17:25:00.002-05:00

Barry County prosecutor Tom Evans will square off against primary challenger Kerri Selleck tonight (June 26) at 7 p.m. at the Barry County Commission on Aging. The debate will be moderated by attorney David Makled.

That's Debatable- Sheriff's edition

2008-06-19T07:00:00.004-05:00

Based on the comments on this blog and from what I'm hearing, the Barry County Sheriff's race may be the "big one" this primary season in Barry County. The candidates will be debating tonight at the Barry County Commission on Aging building on Woodlawn Avenue in Hastings at 7 p.m. Fred Jacobs, publisher of the Hastings Banner, will moderate. I just learned I can't make it so I doubt I'll be posting a recap of it (if I can or if I can tune it in on local radio I'll edit this post later to reflect that). Feel free to post your own reviews in the comments, though let's try to keep this race on the level of who will do the best job and stay away from the "your momma wears combats boots" rhetoric, shall we?

On a related note, I'm glad to see the GOP chair decided to step back from moderating the upcoming primary debates. We saw last election cycle how dangerous it can be when a party chair intervenes in a debate in what was generally seen as an underhanded way set up to aid one particular candidate. I'm also glad that the local Republican Party finally stepped up and decided to quit whining about how the Democratic Party handled the debates and host their own, especially seeing as how it didn't make sense that in a one-party system it was the OTHER party that was actually doing a better job of letting the public know who was running and what they stood for. While it makes sense for the Republican Party to host their own primary debates, I still would prefer to see the debates sponsored by the local media and/or a consortium of local civic organizations especially when it comes to the general election- at least when we manage to get a slate on candidates running on both sides of the political fence.

Lights Out

2008-06-09T08:41:00.005-05:00

Wow. The entire city of Hastings is without power and estimates seem to be getting pushed back as to when it gets restored – yesterday, I kept hearing maybe Wednesday while today I'm hearing it might be Thursday. Makes me wonder where all those people I saw driving around town were headed since it was after morning rush hour when I drove through town Monday morning- up to Grand Rapids to buy generators perhaps?

One has to wonder how many people spent much of Friday's check on groceries sometime during the weekend, only to have a lack of power and 90+ degree temperatures turn the food into worthless mush. Luckily, my in-laws have a generator and some extra room in their refrigerator and freezer or I'd have been throwing out a good chunk of the $100+ I spent on staples this weekend without money to replace it.

The weird thing was that I was without power most of the weekend (we're on Great Lakes Energy out here at the Pol Watcher Compound- sometimes it seems as if every stiff breeze knocks out our power, if only for a few minutes), it seemed to get restored from Saturday's storms just in time for the wave of Sunday storms. I thought power had been restored around dinner time Sunday night but it lasted only for a brief minute or two before going back off until sometime after midnight. Hastings seemed to be in clear and was fine for a few hours after the storm passed Sunday afternoon before the lights went out.

I'm taking my chances with this post since many of you regular readers might be among those without power, but for those with some juice feel free to share your story about how you made it through the weekend. Enjoy your weather-related 3 day weekend... and give some sort of thanks to the crews working 'round the clock to get everything back up and running even as you wish they could do it even faster.

P.S. For the political junkies, I should be getting around to doing some kind of round-up of local elections as time allows sometime in the very near future. A Clash of the Titans going to head to head for Sheriff, the entire county running for Drain Commissioner, not one single Democrat filing for county-wide office – it's almost too much to put together.

Vander Roested

2008-05-29T17:14:00.012-05:00

I'm not sure what to say about this...

News Release

I am requesting to have my name withdrawn from the 63rd House Seat, for which I served from 1998-2002. I do this reluctantly and sadly, because I believe I could have been a good State Legislator for the 63rd District if I was elected. My focus was to be a part of the solution in helping to turn Michigan's economy around, and making a better life for each of us and our families.

To correct statements made regarding an incident from the past, I have never pled guilty nor ever been charged with the charges that have been "alluded to" by the media. My only sin was stopping to ask someone for the correct time while on my way to a meeting at the Capital. With my window half open, I mistakenly made a joke about "how inflation probably affects all business ventures." It was suggested I meet at a nearby park; I instead drove in the opposite direction towards the Capital. I was never charged with, nor pled guilty to the charges that have been raised against me. I only wish people could've known all of the facts.

When my campaign opponent and the media found out about the fact that I had been stopped by an entrapment situation, the word spread and claims were made that I was charged with solicitation, which is not true. Inaccuracies hurt people more than anyone can realize. I've learned that the people who speak out the loudest against a circumstance in someone else's life are generally the ones with the most to hide themselves.

I have a terrific family, a wonderful wife whom I love more than life itself, and beautiful children and grandchildren. I don't want any of them hurt by this situation. So, with a heavy heart, I have decided to withdraw from running for the 63rd House Seat. I was looking forward to meeting with people, discussing the issues and giving voters a choice of representation.

I would like to serve in the future in whatever way I can to give back to the community and help create a better life for others. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Jerry Vander Roest
2689 N. 37th Street
Galesburg, MI 49053

OK, so maybe I do have a few things to add ; )
So, you ask someone the time (apparently Vander Roest's car is without a clock and he has no working cell phone and doesn't wear a watch) with your window halfway down (how's that for unnecessary detail- one way to tell someone is lying to you is that they give too many details that don't really add anything to the story). We don't know what the other person (he/she?) said (though we have to imply it involved a price for a service of some sort- probably a hot dog vendor or something) and Vander Roest responds with a harmless joke about rising prices (see, he really does care about how energy prices affect your life) and the person responds to the joke by inviting him to a park (I'm sure it was a beautiful day out and he wanted someone to play with and Vander Roest's display of humor gave the unknown person walking the street the idea that he might be a playful guy but maybe Vander Roest has a medical condition like a debilitating wide stance that leaves him unable to engage in overly-physical activities at the park and he was running late anyway). So, Vander Roest does the honorable thing and drives the opposite way. So, what exactly is the problem here? Damn liberal media....

Vander Roest was the guy who ran against Lorence Wenke using the fact that Wenke was one of only 3 Republicans to oppose putting discrimination against gays on the ballot in order to enshrine homophobia in the state constitution. Wenke edged out Vander Roest in a squeaker, winning by less than 100 votes. The weird thing is that some people allege that Vander Roest lost that race because of allegations leaking out right before the election that he had solicited a prostitute. Wenke is term limited and so Vander Roest was running again for the open seat he had once held. So, was Vander Roest responding to those old allegations or to something new? None of the new coverage I've seen has touched this part of it. Either way, methinks he doth protest too much.

Vander Roest's exit from the race leaves Marshall Republican Calhoun County Commissioner Jase Bolger unopposed against Vicksburg Democrat Phyllis Smith for the State House of Representatives seat for the 63rd District in the Nov. 4 general election.

Once More To The Point

2008-04-27T10:45:00.004-05:00

So, Brian Calley was once again interviewed on WOOD-TV's political news show, To The Point. Rick Albin and Republican State Rep. Calley discussed Michigan's response to the foreclosure crisis with Democratic State Rep. Steve Tobocman.

Nice to see some common sense in our politics and so for once I'll refrain from giving my cynical take and simply applaud all involved for doing the right thing to stop some of the bleeding. (Also, Blogger's autosave seems to be slowing my computer down, keeping me from wanting to type a lengthier piece.)

Not as unpopular as they would have you believe

2008-04-14T21:16:00.015-05:00

According to the newest Epic MRA poll of Michigan voters, Barack Obama leads John McCain. The more interesting bit of news is how much better he matches up against McCain than Hillary Clinton would.

Obama, the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination, leads McCain 43 percent to 41 percent, according to the survey by Lansing polling firm EPIC-MRA. Obama's lead is well within the poll's error margin of 4 percentage points, however. McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, holds a 46-37 edge over Clinton.

Obama's numbers look even better when you realize he has yet to fully campaign in the state while McCain has done so twice. It's reasonable to assume his numbers could come up by campaigning here just as they have in virtually every state during the primary season.

So much for the notion that Michigan voters would hold it against him that he followed the rules in the state's primary. The Clinton campaign has waged a bitter fight for the state's delegates which many felt could potentially alienate Obama from voters, thus denying him a fairly reliable large midwestern state. Clinton has tried to use her "win" here in an effort to sway remaining primary voters and Democratic Party superdelegates by creating a mythical narrative that only she can win the big swing states many see as key to an electoral victory in November. Not only was the argument wrong because it ignores many other small states that could tip the scales which Obama has ran well in, but now it's clear that it is also incorrect to assume her "win" meant anything more than it's easy to win a beauty contest when you're the only one vying for the crown.

In other polling data, even though it's being spun as bad news, Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm is not nearly as unpopular as the state's media wants to think she is. 45% hold a favorable view of the term-limited Governor, while just over 50% viewed her unfavorably (the President's unfavorable ratings are 10 points higher).

I'd say that all in all this isn't bad news for Granholm who has taken the brunt of round after round of budget battles with belligerent opponents who can't accept defeat at the ballot box as a sign that the public is not with them in their quest to restrict investments in state infrastructure and education, as well as getting the blame for the economic downturn which was caused by the failure of the Big 3 to nurse itself away from production lines raking in vast profits making gas-guzzling SUVs before the price of oil rose and dried up their profits, leading to massive job layoffs in a state already hit with the effects of trade deals without sufficient worker and environmental protections to level the playing field.

If the state's Republicans want to talk about the "unpopular" Governor then we should help them remember how few Americans still trust or support the President's failed policies and inept leadership and remind your fellow citizens that the Republican Party thinks that what we really need is more of the same.

Going back to Calley

2008-04-09T17:07:00.006-05:00

For those of you who don't know, State Rep. Brian Calley sat in the "hot seat" with WOOD TV8's political reporter Rick Albin on last week's "To The Point." The main focus is Calley's "Kwame Bill" which would seek to make responsible sitting public officials, once they have been convicted of a crime, of any liability incurred by that municipality because of the official's wrong doing. I can't embed the video, so if you missed it and want to check it you have to click the link here.

Seek the truth, but not from a liar

2008-03-25T17:32:00.005-05:00

If you’re a regular reader of West Michigan Politics (and given my infrequent postings of late, there’s still a surprising number of you), there’s a good chance you’ve read one of the many messages from a certain Seeker of Truth in the comments. This “truthseeker” often leaves off-topic comments in various posts that repeatedly charge Barry County Sheriff Dar Leaf or his staff members of various charges ranging from the silly to the somewhat serious.

As many regular readers also know, “truthseeker” has always been a vocal defender (if not the actual person, something that many people who know him have suggested- I will leave that to readers to decide) of the former County 911 Director, Charlie Nystrom, who was recently forced to retire prematurely after being caught handing out “bonus” payments for overtime to select employees despite there being no evidence that was made public that those payments were authorized or deserved. Nystrom was first charged in a very high profile way by the Barry County Prosecutor, Tom Evans. The charges then went to the Sheriff’s Department where they disappeared for an overly-long period of time, then were sent back to the prosecutor who hasn’t been heard from on the topic since. Since then, truthseeker has spammed local political blogs with endless counter charges that at least deserve to be dealt with, since merely deleting the comments or even continuing to ignore them would only increase the chance of less-informed people thinking there’s validity to them.

Recently, I directly asked 2 members of the Barry County Board of Commissioners about the charges made in this blog and Dave Young’s Compulsory News blog regarding supposed corruption or malfeasance in the Sheriff’s Department. Neither of the commissioners I spoke with was even aware of the allegations. So, I will ask you this simple question: How are we supposed to take these charges seriously when the people making them have not even brought them up to those charged with oversight of the county government? Why have these charges been made repeatedly and local bloggers bullied, when the charges aren't credible enough to merit someone getting them on the public record?

I STILL have yet to see ONE letter to the editor of the local paper or hear of any ONE person standing up at a public meeting to air these grievances. I'd even settle for a yard sign or some kook with a billboard strapped to his car in a parade, but yet we have nothing. How can we take these charges seriously when the people pushing them refuse to do so on the record? From what I can see, this is nothing but another attempt to confuse the issues, spread the blame, or otherwise change the subject from the corruption that was entrenched in the County 911 system and is hopefully in the process of being remedied.

While I’ve stated publicly that I am greatly bothered by the Prosecutor’s silence (especially considering how vocal he was when making the original allegations) in the matter of former County 911 Director Charlie Nystrom’s alleged “embezzelment,” (once again, I’ll repeat that when a prosecutor goes public with a charge, he should damn well have the evidence to make the case and he should also most certinaly know the definition of the charges he’s making) but it doesn’t mean that Nystrom and his sock puppets will guilt me into joining their crusade to take down the Sheriff in their plot for revenge. In fact, I think Sheriff Leaf has done a decent job, considering my original reservations about his candidacy, and I think this campaign against him is part of a vendetta which is revenge for his part in helping to end the inglorious reign of Nystrom, which might be helped out by certain elements also harboring animosity over his ousting of the previous Sheriff in a bitter campaign. It is also convenient that these charges arise as we near a political season in which Leaf will again be on the ballot. In the past that I did not support the election of the County Prosecutor and Sheriff, yet somehow those with an ax to grind like to try to lump me into being a supporter or defender of them. It's a nice guilt-by-association tactic which truthseeker has become known for.

I’ll also add this last little bit of obviousness for anyone who still doesn’t get it: I started this blog because I had opinions about news and politics that I felt weren’t being aired. I am not a journalist or a news organization. I’m one person with a point of view. The beauty of the internet is that blogs are free. If you don't like what I write, feel free to start your own. You're still free to air your opinion here, but if you continue to spam the comments with the same old stuff we've heard before or outrageous allegations that you wouldn't make at a public meeting or in a letter to the editor, then I will feel free to delete the comments.

I'm sure we've now now all talked, read and thought a lot more about this than is necessary or warranted. Frankly, it's a personal vendetta and most people are DONE with it, those that aren't seem to have an obvious horse in the race and their comments should be taken with a huge boulder of salt. So, we hope to return to more pressing issues soon. It's not like there hasn't been anything in the news to talk about...

Mock Election

2008-02-25T19:18:00.006-05:00

As most of you know, the states of Michigan and Florida were stripped of their presidential primary delegates when both states broke national party rules and scheduled primary elections before they were allowed to do so. I don't know how or why it is that some people still fail to realize that this mess will only be sorted out once the party has a nominee. Michigan and Florida will not be allowed to decide the nominee for the party, despite news reports that seek to fan the flames of controversy where there isn't even a spark of outrage amongst the actual electorate who realized a long time ago that the Michigan and Florida primaries were a sham whose results can not contribute to deciding a winner. The matter will be resolved when a candidate gains enough outstanding delegates, wins the nomination and orders the delegate of Michigan and Florida to be re-instated only when it no longer matters in a ceremonial gesture of goodwill. Anyone who says otherwise is a liar or a fool.

I personally know way too many Democratic Party members who declined to participate in the mock election for it to stand. In many cases people didn't vote because their preferred candidate had removed their name from the ballot in support of DNC rules. All the candidates agreed not to campaign here at the request of the DNC, making it nothing more than a beauty contest. Simply put, an election in which many of the major candidates names are not even the ballot and none of them campaign here fails the test of being a legitimate election. All the campaigns knew the ground rules and agreed to them.

It sure seems that many of the people who don't seem to get this are the state party officials who created this mess by playing a game of chicken with the Democratic National Committee which refused to blink. Despite repeated assurances that Michigan's delegates from the primary would not count and despite the fact that Michigan voters went to the polls understanding they were likely only casting a "beauty contest" ballot, some still want to create turmoil and gain an unfair advantage for their candidate. In many cases, the state party officials are even threatening that Michigan's voters will somehow be "disenfranchised" by the DNC and may not vote for the Democratic nominee in November. I hate to get all technical here, but that's poppycock.

If Michigan voters were disenfranchised, it was by their own state legislature and Governor who clearly and knowingly broke national party rules when scheduling the primary and ignored repeated DNC warnings that doing so would mean having the state stripped of all its delegates at the national convention. Now, this may have been too harsh a penalty, but it was known ahead of time. Michigan officials had plenty of chances to do what other states have done and have a ceremonial primary with no delegates at stake and then hold a later caucus with binding results.

The ironic thing in all of this is that with the contest still yet to be decided, Michigan could even have moved back its primary and been the major player it sought to be by violating DNC rules and kicking off this fight. Instead of a meaningful contest all we got was a mock election, and Michigan lawmakers and party officials have no one to blame but themselves.

West Michigan blogging community expands

2008-02-21T18:13:00.004-05:00

While I was out, it appears a new West Michigan political blog has formed. It looks a bit familiar but it should provide some interesting commentary and a place for West Michigan's growing progressive community to congregate. Head on over and check out their nice, long assortment of worthwhile links while I try to unthaw my fingers and get back to blogging.

So, anything happen while I was AWOL?

Free speech- unless you make a profit?

2008-01-22T19:05:00.000-05:00

A little while ago a story made the news that a Michigan mother whose son had been killed in the Iraq war realized her son's name was among the 3,000 listed on a t-shirt which said "Bush Lied." The flap made headlines when Vicki Dickinson enlisted politicians to line up and kick sand at the maker of the shirt containing the name of her son and 2,999 other dead soldiers and propose yet another piece of feel-good legislation which will surely get overturned in the courts.

Sadly, but not unexpectedly, politicians rushed in to save the day and trampled over the Constitution to get to the side of the grieving mother. Even more sad was that one of those was State Senator Mark Schauer who obviously is trying to prove that he's no liberal and that he can restrict free speech as good as any Republican. As you may know Schauer has announced he is taking on radical right wing nut Tim Walberg who sits in the U.S. House of Representatives after beating moderate Republican Joe Schwarz in the GOP primary with lots of money from out-of-district special interest right wing groups like Club for Growth. Schauer is a well-liked moderate Democrat who has built his career on community and constituent service who would be an obvious improvement over the radical idealogue he seeks to replace.

Schauer has co-sponsored a bill which would make it illegal to make a profit using someone's name or image without their permission.

"No one should be allowed to make a buck by exploiting the name and image of someone else, particularly someone who has fought and died for this country," Schauer said in a statement released by his office.
"This measure will prevent greedy profiteers from taking advantage of people and protect the identities and reputations of private citizens."

Obviously, one feels for ALL the mothers who've lost their sons and daughters in a war most Americans think was a mistake, but this bill is so obviously and deeply flawed that it should never even be considered by the legislature. However, if our current political system one has to wonder if even one politician will be willing to stand up and do what's right and vote this thing down if it makes it to a vote.

I was reminded of this controversy when reading the letter column of a national magazine which, in its year end issue, had published the names and photos of American soldiers who died in Iraq in 2007. There was no anti-war message or "exploitation" but one could reasonably argue that publishing those photos would have violated the law proposed by Schauer and others. After all, when someone paid for that magazine, doesn't that mean they profited from the publication of the names and photos? Or does the proposed bill only apply to those who oppose the war?

This bill would open a can of legal worms that I almost can't even wrap my head around: would news broadcasts be forbidden from naming the soldiers who've been killed in the war until they get permission to do so? Obviously, this would even extend far beyond just the debate over the war as many works of journalism, art and literature are based on using people's name or likenesses. Often, it's often simply impossible to get permission from everyone pictured in a news story, a documentary film or even a t-shirt. One can imagine numerous examples where the participants would obviously be unwilling to give permission even though the now-outlawed activity might serve a vital interest. I for one would argue that political expression is a vital interest and the impact of the anti-war shirt would be muted considerable if it didn't contain the names of the REAL people that died in a war that someone believes was started because "Bush Lied."

While many people see nothing more than a grieving mother, I think there's more to it. Sadly, this seems like just a back door way for someone to silence opposition to the war in which their child gave his life. The mother almost admits as much when she says:

"I support my son, and I don't worry about whether I support the war. I support my son, and I support the troops. My son would be upset with this man."

"Supporting the troops" has become both a meaningless catch phrase (often used by those who extend their tours of duty but don't see to it they have body armor or adequate health care) as well as a bludgeon with which to crush opposition of the war- all criticism of the Pentagon, the generals, the Commander in Chief, etc. can be said to "hurt the troops." If the war goes badly because it was a dumb war to begin with, or because it was poorly executed, or because the intent was to sow destruction and chaos to destabilize a region in order to maintain control of it's natural resources, no one can ever point this out because one will "demoralize" the troops. One has to wonder how the troops face the bullets and bombs of the enemy if they can't even tolerate a Congressional debate- obviously, it's not the troops who fear the debate but the politicians and war profiteers who fear losing the debate and resort to cheap straw man or bait and switch rhetorical tactics to prop up the unpopular war. How sad that so many can't see through the cheap theatrics used to stifle this important debate.

Lawmakers should quit trying to score cheap political points by caving in on the rights these soldiers are said to be protecting. I worry that Schauer's support of this bill is just yet another sign that too many Democratic politicians are willing to sell out the core principles of the party to curry favor with supposed "moderates." Too bad the mythical moderates are too often turned off by Democrats who pander on important issues instead of standing up for what they believe in and the base of the party is left without anyone to carry their message and the political debate once again drifts further to the right. After all, why should voters send Mark Schauer to Washington if he's going to try to strip us of our right to free speech and to political dissent? We already have Tim Walberg to do that.

Primary post-mortem

2008-01-16T21:10:00.000-05:00

It sure was nice to see that Barry County Commissioner Jeff VanNortwick survived the recall attempt. As many of you surely know VanNortwick was singled out for voting for the TOST ordinance requested by the local health department despite being but one of seven commissioners to vote for it. As many of you also know, VanNortwick beat local Farm Bureau member Tom Wing by a handful of votes and has been a vocal critic of industrial farm pollution. It doesn't take a genius to see why VanNortwick faced recall while the other 7 commissioners who approved TOST got a pass. Many saw his narrow victory over Wing in the GOP primary as evidence of his political weakness yet VanNortwick managed to beat down the recall effort by focusing his energy on a positive grassroots effort that emphasized connecting with neighbors, relatives and friends, going door to door and practicing old fashioned retail politics. It didn't hurt his efforts that the recall campaign never offered anything besides criticism of TOST- one vote- to try to subvert the electoral process and the voters of Baltimore, Johnstown and Assyria Townships soundly rejected it.

While many people see serial recall-instigator George Hubka as the biggest loser in the failed recall effort, I would have to say that Barry County Democratic Party Chair Barb Cichy has a claim to that title in that at least at one time she had the respect of many people who now question her recent actions. Cichy, once a vocal critic of the failures and cronyism of the Southwest Barry Sewer Authority, seemed to be hell-bent on taking out a protector of the environment who happened to be on the ballot with an (R) next to his name. The Democratic Party should offer up a legitimate candidate and support them instead of trying assist this Quixotic effort. The party's political capital and energy would be better spent building up instead of tearing down. Cichy was also an opponent of the Charlton Park millage which was certainly at least understandable, but her free and easy way with numbers and facts in that campaign and the recall effort are not, and neither is her aligning herself and her party with some of Barry County's most suspect characters in the process. It doesn't further the interests of the party or the citizens of Barry County.

###

The big winner in the Michigan primary Tuesday night was Mitt Romney, whose mostly self-financed campaign had done well in early states but except for a shallow victory in Wyoming had yet to notch a win that would impress the Beltway insiders. Romney, son of 3-term Michigan Governor George Romney, had the name and the cash to make a stand in Michigan and pulled out a rather decisive victory over John McCain who had taken the state in 2000 and supposedly had momentum which now seems all but lost as they head to South Carolina which derailed McCain's 2000 effort and could do so once again. The nail in McCain's coffin in Michigan was more than likely his blunt and cold assessment of lost manufacturing jobs while Romney pandered and promised the moon, in the eyes of many in the media at least.

Meanwhile, the big loser at the state level was the Democratic Party and the voters. Because of Michigan's decision to move up in the schedule, the state was penalized by the national parties. While the Republican National Committee chose to make Michigan pay by taking away half its delegates, the Democratic National Committee meted out a harsher sentence and stripped the state of all its delegates and threatened candidates with punishment is they campaigned here which resulted in 2 of the 3 Democratic contenders removing their names from the ballot and thus not even making it an interesting diversion. While the country and the Republican candidates talked about the state's issues (which was the intent of those in the state who forced the change), the Democratic candidates were nowhere to be found. What followed was an absurd one-sided discussion which mostly focused on the same George Bush voodoo economics that hasn't worked and never will- and certainly not the cure for what ails us. The argument went mostly unchallenged in the political debate played out via news reports, commercials, etc.

If the national Democratic Party thinks it only punished Mark Brewer and Debbie Dingell then they're simply wrong. Even if they think they only hurt the Democratic activists in the state who might not get the best hotel rooms in Denver for the national convention, they're mistaken. The DNC's overzealous punishment has hurt the party's chances to hold on to Michigan and hurt the country by giving the Republican Party nearly a week of exclusive access to the airwaves and the public consciousness. Then again, Michigan voters probably had less exposure to the recent attempts to drag down the Democratic debate in South Carolina so perhaps the Democrats weren't hurt here so bad after all.

My primary concern

2007-12-31T09:32:00.001-05:00

So last time I discussed issues regarding the coming Presidential primary on the Republican side of the ticket and promised to look at the Democratic ballot. However, the race on the Democratic side just isn’t as interesting as the chaotic free-for-all on the Republican side (which seems a reversal in how the 2 parties normally operate). Frankly, the Michigan Democratic Presidential primary ballot looks like swiss cheese as it’s missing 2 or the top 3 contenders for the nomination who needed to vow to Iowans that their votes were more important than yours lest the oh-so-serious voters of Iowa hold it against them and stop their campaigns. For too long, the premier position of the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primaries have ensured that our Presidential campaigns are focused heavily on promises of ever-greater subsidies for corn farmers in Iowa and anti-tax pledges to the wealthy elite in the Granite State and not enough on rust belt concerns like the loss of manufacturing jobs.

As the overwhelming favorite, Senator Hillary Clinton didn’t have as much to lose as the campaigns of Barack Obama and John Edwards and so her campaign chose to remain on the ballot in Michigan while her top 2 competitors asked to have their names removed. In any case, the Michigan Democratic primary results are pretty much nothing more than a beauty contest with no real binding results. In remains to be seen how much the media decides the results are worth (my guess is that it depends on what they've already decided the story will be and whether Michigan's results play into that narrative). It’s a shame seeing as how Edwards’ heavy union support and Obama’s obvious appeal to the many black voters in the Detroit area and independent voters in the “middle” of the state could both be seen as paths to winning the state’s delegates and could have propelled either or both onto the national ticket and helped make Michigan a true player in the march to decide the national party’s nominees.

If you think I sound like I’m less than enthused about Clinton’s candidacy it’s not because I’m against her gaining the nomination, it’s more that I’m traditionally for the most populist candidate as well as usually rooting for the underdog (the two go hand in hand in modern American politics, for reasons I address below), and against the media coronation that seemed to be taking place earlier in the year. Clinton could only be a step up from the blundering and corrupt fool we have in the Oval Office right now- except that the media obsession and irrational hatred of the Clintons lingers. I would have concern that this could prove to be a distraction from governing as it was when President Clinton was launching attacks against al Qaeda in response to their growing threat but all the media wanted to talk about was the missile in the President’s pants. Conveniently, they imitated the right wing’s cries of “wag the dog” but then after September 11, 2001 wailed that Clinton hadn't done enough. I digress, but only to show how the media creates a narrative that isn’t necessarily true but becomes truth through repetition, a lie told often enough...

We’ve seen the media create an “inevitable” campaign (on the Democratic side with Hillary, on the Republican side first with McCain, then Giuliani, then Thomspon, then Romney and now back to McCain- anything to stop Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee who’s embrace of theocracy isn’t as disturbing to the media as his economic populism is) only to jump on some minor issue to beat up the leader with and create a horse race because more ratings and more money can be earned from a hotly-contested battle. It’s a long-standing theory of mine that the media will ALWAYS try to create a contest even where there is none because the closer the race, the more advertising money the campaigns will spend with the TV networks and thus they make more money. They also do their best to ensure the “marquee match ups” the same way boxing promoters maneuver their fighters into fights with the biggest purse (in boxing this is done by having your fighter beat up lots of losers to falsely inflate their record to seem more impressive- in politics it's often achieved by raising lots of money as early as possible in the race). It is this quest for the biggest, most expensive battle that has the media trying to coronate Hillary Clinton and only “select” Republican candidates with ties to the Wall Street financiers who helped George W. Bush swamp John McCain in 2000. McCain was best known for his stance in trying to get big money out of the political process- an issue he mostly ignores now.

Another disgusting aspect of this is that the media will often push out voices that don’t align with their profit-making motive. Witness the media silence regarding the fact that Iowa is, despite their best efforts, a tight 3-way race where the John Edwards stands a serious chance of winning or at least finishing in a tight cluster with the other 2 front runners. Edwards has run the most populist campaign in recent memory and speaks out strong and loudly against entrenched corporate interests which threaten to overwhelm our democracy if left unchecked (if it’s not already too late). Edwards was on the ticket in 2004 and has spent a fair amount of time campaigning in Iowa and yet the media treats him as an also ran- it is fair to argue that because of those factors he’s not treated seriously because despite these advantages he’s still in a dead heat but that would require ignoring the obvious appeal of the former First Lady and Senator from New York is running against perhaps the most charismatic Democratic politician since Senator Clinton’s husband left office. The media black out of Edwards is no doubt because the main message of his campaign is that big money (you know, the people who buy ads on network television) has too much power while the citizens don’t have enough. The last thing the traditional media wants to see is a citizenry in control of the political system- no more deregulation, stronger worker protections, FAIR trade, etc. In other words, they cover politics while looking out for their bottom line. Frankly, the mainstream corporate media has become an obstacle in the fight for the citizens of this country to take their democracy back and their coverage of politics proves it.

Despite all the crying and gnashing of teeth at Fox News that Democrats are “too scared” to debate on their network (in fact, it was not the party bosses but the Democratic activists who forced the move as they have cataloged far too many examples of Fox News’ obvious bias in their reporting, including time after time placing a Democrat “D” next to the name of a disgraced Republican, that the network is run by Republican political operatives, most of its pundits are paid by right wing think tanks and is known to have been the first network to wrongly call the 2000 election for candidate Bush) and that this is a sign they only cater to their own base, the network has announced that they will exclude Republican candidate Ron Paul from their New Hampshire debate. Paul recently set the record for one-day on-line campaign fund raising for a presidential candidate. However, Paul’s campaign is outside the parameters the media wants to see and thus they do everything they can to shut out his voice. I strongly disagree with many of Paul’s positions but I would strongly advocate for these positions to be openly debated instead of being shut out completely. Paul has polled consistently better than many of the media darling such as Fred Thompson in the state of New Hampshire and yet Paul is excluded and ignored.

We’ve seen this before when the debate system set up by the 2 major parties shut out 2rd party voices such as Ralph Nader who once again was a loud voice opposed to media deregulation and consolidation and of the influence of corporate America over our political system and the resulting erosion of our freedoms and our rights. The media pretends polls are what matters when polls often only are a reflection of what the media is reporting. It’s a vicious circle in which the media gets to create the winners and losers by what they report and what they exclude and often the winners are the ones that, unsurprisingly, have the positions most in line with the CEOs and shareholders of the giant media conglomerates. Everywhere I go, people are angry and upset at how broken the system is and yet the media does everything it can to ensure that the winners are the ones who most guarantee the least amount of change. I think we’re past the time in American politics where anything short of millions of people of streets can effect much change, and we saw before the idiotic invasion of Iraq that our corporate media will even do its best to ignore and dismiss that.

So, in other words, it doesn’t matter who actually wins or loses in Iowa or even New Hampshire, let alone Michigan. What matters most is what a small group who attend each other’s cocktail parties in the upscale suburbs of Washington D.C., the “chattering class” if you will, decide. They will set up the expectations and they will decide how well the candidates performed against their false expectations and they will control the debates and manufacture a win for their side. No matter what, We The People lose.

For years, people in the other 48 states have decried the influence of two small, mostly white states in our political process which helps to further restrict the national debate by controlling which candidates are even seen as viable in a national election. The time has come to break the system and I applaud those in Michigan who stood up and did their best despite the fact that it backfired and now Michigan and Florida voters have lost the ability to fully participate in the system. Since we never really got a say in the process until it was mostly decided we really haven’t lost much, if anything.

I’d like to think in the next four years we’ll have figured out a better process- though we seem headed for a series of randomly selected, alternating regional primaries which may or may not be an improvement. However, given the fact that the entrenched interests are making serious money off the system as it exists now, the only way things change is if they change in a way that makes the Presidential election an even bigger revenue stream for the big media powers.

There is a slight outside chance that the people can have an influence larger than the media and select candidates willing to step up, listen to the people, lead, and change the corrupt system in place. WE can be the fly in the ointment. It is that small hope that keeps me pressing on. In 2004, the compressed primary season paved the way for a surprise showing for both John Kerry and John Edwards in Iowa (fueled by a desperate Gephardt campaign attacking Howard Dean which helped create the opening- something which could well happen in the GOP field this time, most likely for John McCain as Romney and Huckabee slug it out) that propelled them onto the national ticket. With an even more compressed selection process in place this time, I fear the possibilities are even greater than an early win will prove to be decisive and that only one or two states will get any real say (fueled by the media insistence that any other candidates step down only serves to speed us toward the general election which equals money for the big media companies). There’s a slim chance that an “outsider” candidate could win big early and use the condensed schedule to propel themselves to a surprising victory, but I wouldn’t bet on that happening. In fact, that's my primary concern...

Gee! Oh, Primary...

2007-12-16T11:07:00.000-05:00

After a ridiculous year long pre-season that is mostly a fund-raising tour where lobbyists and media conglomerates are allowed to shape the race in advance, the Presidential primary election is finally close at hand. I really doubt most people besides political junkies have followed the race in any way other than hearing the jokes on late night talk shows or a few key moments where media coverage was so saturated over some meaningless non-event which was blown into a major gaffe (most of the above focused on the media's obsession with appearance and inability to deal with substance). So for the most part, the candidates remain a mystery to the majority of American voters and yet in just a month or two this thing could well be over.

Since Michigan has moved up the date of its primary the race may not be over when the show comes to town, but the field will likely have already significantly shifted by then. I have tried to take a look at how the contest might appear when Michigan voters get to have their say in just a couple of weeks. Since the Michigan Democratic primary will be mostly meaningless because the National Democratic Committee thinks Iowa and New Hampshire voters should have a special status conferred upon their ballots that voters in Michigan and elsewhere don't deserve, I have decided to look only for now at the Republican field and what the race will look like Michigan holds it's primary (though I hope to tackle the Democratic field in a future post):

First, the calendar:

JANUARY 2008
* January 3: Iowa (caucuses)
* January 5: Wyoming (GOP caucuses)
* January 8: New Hampshire (primary)
* January 15: Michigan
* January 19: Nevada (precinct caucuses), South Carolina (R primary)
* January 26: South Carolina (D primary)
* January 29: Florida

FEBRUARY 2008
* February 1: Maine (R)
* February 5: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado (caucuses), Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho (D), Illinois, Kansas (D), Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico (D), New York, North Dakota (caucuses), Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah
* February 9: Louisiana, Kansas (R)
* February 10: Maine (D caucuses)
* February 12: District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia
* February 19: Hawaii (D), Washington, Wisconsin

MARCH 2008
* March 4: Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont
* March 8: Wyoming (D)
* March 11: Mississippi

APRIL 2008
* April 22: Pennsylvania

MAY 2008
* May 6: Indiana, North Carolina
* May 13: Nebraska (primary), West Virginia
* May 20: Kentucky, Oregon
* May 27: Idaho (R)

JUNE 2008
* June 3: Montana, New Mexico (R), South Dakota

AUGUST 2008
* August 25-28: Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado

SEPTEMBER 2008
* September 1-4: Republican National Convention in Minneapolis-St.

January 3
Iowa- this seems to be coming down to a contest between Mike Huckabee and Mitt Romney. Romney has the advantage of having spent a billion dollars here and planning for this contest for years with many visits to the state. Huckabee has the advantage of a campaign surging at just the right time which is mostly based on his appeal to the most fundamentalist of white Christian voters in the GOP primary which had yet to find a candidate they liked. The most fun thing to watch is how the establishment Republicans in the chattering class are attacking Huckabee in the media, hoping to cut off his campaign at the knees before it gains traction. The Wall Street Republicans have seen none of their preferred candidates taking hold and there's no doubt their ideal candidate would be Romney and Giuliani so that a Romney defeat of Huckabee in Iowa is crucial. But the evangelical voters who make up a large chunk of the base activists in the GOP have found no other candidate to their liking until finding Huckabee acceptable thanks in no small part to his past as a Baptist preacher and his support for putting people who are HIV+ in concentration camps. Expect Huckabee and Romney to finish 1 and 2 with the big surprise who ends up in 3rd- that person then gets to declare themselves the real winner and play the media expectation game. If Huckabee doesn't win Iowa expect the media to declare his candidacy dead or at least mortally wounded. After Iowa it's quite possible Fred Thomspon finally makes official what everyone knew the day after he announced- he never really wanted to be in this thing other than to appease his ego.

January 5
Wyoming- will this really matter? If it does, for some reason I think it becomes mostly a campaign based on national name recognition, money and momentum from Iowa which would seem to help Romney unless he gets 3rd or worse in Iowa. Giuliani as a well known name with money could finish strong. But I'd also expect that the western voters in Wyoming would give a boost to either a strong libertarian like Ron Paul or a deeply fundamentalist candidate like Huckabee. Perhaps because Arizona is in the west and McCain still appeals to a certain independent voter (though it's a caucus which does help to discourage independents from voting) I could see him finishing in the top 3 as well. Still, I doubt the media pays much attention to Wyoming and I wonder whether the candidates are (though a dark horse candidate like Ron Paul usually has to try to win in the contests the top tier consider worthless so he could likely be building a strong grass roots effort and shock the establishment with a win which would come just in time for New Hampshire, a state a libertarian could actually win and rocket into contender status).

January 8
New Hampshire- In 2000 the maverick John McCain smashed George W. Bush in New Hampshire and dazzled the media with a no-nonsense yet charming style. That McCain has long since disappeared as he's spent most of the last 8 years sucking up the evangelical right wing voters who killed his campaign last time which might have alienated him from the more socially moderate fiscal conservatives in N.H. Romney has a regional advantage he hopes will propel him to a victory (or at least 2nd place). Have no doubt that the anti-tax independents in New Hampshire will make a great showing for libertarian Ron Paul who will finish in the top 3 if not score a major upset of 2nd or even 1st. If Huckabee didn't win Iowa and doesn't come in 1st or 2nd in N.H. expect his candidacy to be declared over my the media pundits. After New Hampshire expect the race to boil down to Romney, McCain, Paul and Rudy Giuliani who will be bunkered down in Florida waiting to take on the ones still standing (see below). Romney and McCain have the most to lose in New Hampshire and if either one finishes third here they're toast.

January 15
Michigan- One would expect Mitt Romney, son of former Governor George Romney, to do well in Michigan. However, Mitt's dad was a Republican back before the party became dominated by theocrats who would impose a belief test on the office of President, or dog catcher for that matter. Expect John McCain to once again do well in Michigan though it may not be as big as when he broke down John Engler's infamous fire well erected to protect George W. Bush in 2000. I still think Romney has the home town boy advantage and McCain will still do well but the big winner in Michigan will be Ron Paul. Paul's libertarianism seems to be gaining him a lot of support and his campaign has been the only one I've even seen physical evidence of.

January 19
Nevada- Given the extreme anti-immigration rhetoric that the average Republican primary voter demands to hear from the candidates and that only John McCain has really done well to not walk too far out on that ledge, expect McCain who's from neighboring Arizona to do well. Other than that, I haven't a clue other than I'd expect the nationally-well known candidates like Romney and Giuliani's name and money advantages to play well here. Either way the news will probably be obscured by whoever wins South Carolina which also votes on the 19th.

South Carolina- South Carolina has recently been the "fire wall" in the Republican primary. Because of it's size and position in the race, as well as how it reflects the white, right wing and Christianist nature of the Republican base, the state is yet again poised to be a "decider" this time just as it did in 2000 when it dashed McCain's hopes of winning the nomination. I would expect a Baptist preacher like Huckabee to do great here is he is still hanging around and could even make him a front runner if he makes the top 3 in New Hampshire and continues the momentum. However, with a host of other races in big states coming soon after S.C., the state may not have the final say especially with Giuliani waiting in the wings to see who emerges from a brutal early primary season.

January 29
Florida- apparently Giuliani has decided to sit out the early contests and hopes that a big win in Florida will jump start his campaign after the early contests have knocked out most of the also-rans. Most people expect the race to be all but over by this point but I see a good chance that this thing is still confused and Florida could confuse it even more. Since Florida's Democratic primary is an meaningless as Michigan's, you have to wonder if the vote could see an influx of independents and Democrats who help push one campaign over the top. Perhaps the elderly Florida rejuvenate the campaign of the elder statesman John McCain.

In short, this thing is going to be wild and may drag out longer than the Republican establishment would prefer (though it should be over February 5 when a mass of states vote on the same day, including California and enough other states that someone could near the number of delegates needed for victory and begin the calls for the other candidates to drop out). Right now the knives are out against Huckabee who's surging in Iowa but is seen as too evangelical and too liberal on economic issues for the true power brokers in the GOP (listen to what the ivy league pundits on the right like George Will, Charles Krauthammer and others are saying- they truly fear a Huckabee nomination), the financial elite would prefer Romney or Giuliani or even McCain. Expect Huckabee to get "Deaned" in Iowa as every little gaffe and anything short of 1st place will be declared by the media as the end of his campaign- if I were Huckabee I'd avoid an enthusiastic speech in the event of not winning a resounding victory in Iowa. The real test is how much power the theocratic wing of the party has versus the moneyed elite and whether the contest between the two wings turns into something that breaks the party in half and possibly even helps contribute to a third party run (which Ron Paul seems most capable of, unless the candidacy of a Romney or Giuliani fuels a run from a Christian fundamentalist candidate or a win by Huckabee causes Wall Street Republicvans to beg New York Mayor Bloomberg into the contest). Since Reagan, the Republicans have mostly held together a majority coalition but the fault lines have been emerging. In the end, the GOP can hold together if they are united in a trying to avoid a humiliating defeat at the hands of their most hated political enemy- Hillary Clinton.

An important thing to consider is how much the shifting Democratic field shapes the Republican race. The more Hillary Clinton's campaign loses the media-created aura of inevitability the more Republican voters are likely to sense that they don't need to hold their nose and cast their lot with someone "who can beat Hillary" yet isn't tough enough on immigration, taxes, abortion, guns, gays, etc. (Giuliani, I'm looking at you- you too, Romney). However, if Clinton ends up doing well in Iowa it could unite the GOP in their long-running irrational fear of anything associated with the Clinton name.

Another interesting of the aspect of the race to watch is that as much as John McCain seems to be irrelevant now, the fact remains that he has been relatively unscathed by the back and forth attacks of the current front runners (especially between Romney and Huckabee in Iowa which is starting to resemble how Dick Gephart's attacks on Howard Dean took out Dean and let Edwards and Kerry emerge as the front runners after surprising finishes in Iowa in 2004) and could emerge with enough delegates to win the nomination should no one else ever emerge as a true front runner. As much as the GOP has flirted with everyone in the field at various points, McCain could emerge as the standard bearer should no one else grab with enough momentum or delegates to win it outright.

By biggest fear, is that the advanced calendar of this primary election will mean that the race has been decided by the time most people even realize it's time to make a decision. So, hopefully this is a wake up call that this election process is like the tiny pebble at the top of the hill, soon about to become an unstoppable avalanche. The campaign process is broken and needs to be fixed but we can only make our voices heard when he actually show up and vote. Do your homework, research the issues and candidates' records, look past the rhetoric and the rumor and make an informed decision.

State of confusion

2007-12-02T16:54:00.000-05:00

Saturday was an interesting news day for Michigan. First, the state legislature, once again acting at the last minute, finally got a bill passed and signed into law both repealing the sales tax on some services 7 hours after it took effect and replacing the lost revenue with a bump in the new Michigan Business Tax. The AP has the story complete with ridiculous headline (once again pushing the false notion the service tax was widely disliked by the public):

The service tax will be replaced by a 21.99 percent surcharge on the taxes businesses will already pay under the new Michigan Business Tax, which takes effect Jan. 1. The surcharge would be eliminated in 2017 if certain economic conditions are met. Many small businesses don't pay the MBT and won't have to pay the surcharge.

At least the bill got a good number of votes from both sides, passing 66-42 in the House and 33-4 in the Senate even if a solution should have come sooner than after the brand new tax had just come into effect, leaving too many businesses in a state of confusion as to whether they would be responsible for collecting the new service sales tax and once again hurting the state's image.

Also, the Democratic National Committee decided to strip Michigan of its delegates due to an effort by Michigan and a select group of states trying to finally strip Iowa and New Hampshire of their undeserved and overpowering influence in the presidential nomination process.

Michigan, with 156 delegates, has scheduled a Jan. 15 primary. Democratic Party rules prohibit states other than Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina from holding nominating contests before Feb. 5.

Despite what I think was a noble effort for a worthy cause, it can only hurt Michigan's influence as it is now totally irrelevant irrelevant as not only will it lose its delegates but most of the major players on the Democratic ticket have asked to have their names removed from the ballot and have promised not to campaign, thus accomplishing the complete opposite of the goal to make Michigan more important in the selection of the 2008 presidential nomination process. The presidential primary has become a joke with states jockeying for better position, leaving the schedule up in the air so long and moving the schedule so far ahead that most people will just be starting to pay attention to the race only to find it already decided with an eternal general election to follow that will leave the country despising both major party candidates once again.

No means no park

2007-11-04T09:19:00.000-05:00

When Barry County voters go to the polls Tuesday, November 6, 2007, they will be faced with a simple question: Should Charlton Park remain open?

Now, some will muddy the waters and insist that it's about accounting or oversight or budgets or taxes or whatever their particular grudge/issue, but those people are still concerned about the "sins of the father" rather than what faces us now. They obsess about what went wrong in the past, aren't contributing to fixing the problems now, and have no vision of the future.

You see, it's very simple: no matter what you think about what went on at the park before or what will happen in the future, all that stuff is irrelevant when you go to vote Tuesday. If you vote "no" then the park closes and it doesn't matter how much you are for the park while being against the who, how and when of everything to do with the park. You aren't voting "no" to protest the failures of the past, you're voting to close a valuable asset that hasn't been used to its potential in the past but is on the road to get there NOW thanks to the hard work and dedication of many volunteers. With no other means of remaining open, a "no" vote would assure the end of a unique treasure that is finally on the road to being what many of us think it could be.

The "no" voters seem intent, willing, and able to deny the vast change in the direction of the park in the last year. Of course, the park isn't "fixed" yet, but the "no" voters haven't helped by sitting at the sidelines and throwing rotten tomatoes. If you can't see that the park added events, improved the way it operates, and extended a hand to the volunteers and event organizers who had been shunted aside in the past, then you aren't paying attention. We also can't let our anger at what's gone wrong before blind us to what is going right now. I have seen first hand the hard work and dedication that has gone into correcting the course of the park and I feel those efforts deserve support. A small minority have tried to make the perfect the enemy of the good and point out how things aren't where they should be, but I see a group who's only had a year and has made a lot of progress which shows no signs of letting up as long as voters continue their support.

Last year, a "no" vote was needed to upend the corrupt structure of the Parks and Rec board, but the time has come to recognize that the only way to move forward and to continue to fix and improve the Park is to vote yes. Now, with a new board in place and a renewed commitment to the park, $10-$20 is a small price to pay to allow the continued operation and future improvement of the park.

Of course you may not agree with every decision made in the operation or improvement of the park, but voting "no" doesn't help that. Voting "no" simply closes the park and removes the hope that one day it can be a self-funded educational tool and tourist attraction. If you want to improve the park or change it's direction you can join the Parks Board, volunteer at the park, run for County Board, or you can keep lobbing rotten tomatoes at those doing the job, but the only message a "no" votes sends is to close Charlton Park. Let's send a different message- that we care about the future while we seek to preserve and educate about the past. Let's show that we appreciate the diligent and determined efforts of countless volunteers who are committed to improving and maintaining the park. Say "yes" to Charlton Park.

Remember to vote on Tuesday, November 6.

Pass the budget, not the buck - Part 2

2007-09-27T14:26:00.000-05:00

State Rep. Brian Calley’s most recent column in the Hastings Banner is another reminder of what’s wrong in Lansing.

I was told by former Banner Editor David T. Young that when he was approached by newly-annointed State Representative Brian Calley about running a column that Calley assured the Banner, which previously had refused to run columns and articles from politicians because they too often were campaign propaganda, that the column would be non-partisan and stick to informing readers of what was happening in Lansing. At first, Calley stuck to his promise, but like everything else he says, that vow was issued with forked tongue and slowly but surely we see the real politician poking out from behind the gleaming white teeth and the humble, aw shucks prose of the supposedly simple man sent into the lion’s den who reports back weekly on how awful and partisan the process is- and by some coincidence it’s always the Democrats’ fault.

Calley’s newest column proceeds to convince us that the horrible state budget stalemate is the fault of House Democrats and the Democratic Governor as he compares the state budget negotiations to going out to eat with your wife and watching another married couple argue. As usual, he’s got it all wrong as he hides behind his supposedly bipartisan persona while he sticks to the party line, he says one thing but then does another.

Citing the fact that not ALL Democrats are voting for the proposed tax increases to fix an almost $2 billion structural hole in the budget, mostly caused by massive and continued tax cutting in the 90s (and then obviously made worse by the cyclical downturn in fortunes of the “Big 3” US automakers and not due to the phantom menace of high taxes since Michigan ranks in the middle of tax burden and at the very top for reliance on auto manufacturing), our State Representative informs us that the Republicans are merely innocent bystanders unable to help along the process and held victim to the bickering Democrats who don’t agree on a solution. This is not the whole truth and nothing but the truth and Calley knows it, he just doesn’t expect or want YOU to know it.

I won’t disagree with everything Calley says, but much of it is partisan spin with just enough truth to convince those not following along at home. While it’s true House Democrats haven’t supported the Governor the entire way (thank goodness one political party still believes in allowing it’s members to dissent and actually represent their constituents as opposed to
enforcing solid party discipline and marching in “lock step”... or is that goose step), the real problem is that at every turn the State Senate which is controlled by the Republican Party has refused any measure that would close the budget hole and pushed the crisis to the brink in a game of chicken. Remember that despite getting less votes across the state in the combined Senate races, the GOP ended up with control because of redistricting much like a President can gain the White House despite losing a popular vote (and yes, this is the way the system works and I use it only to point out that more voters elected to give control of the state economy to Democrats and that the state GOP should understand this in regards to their negotiating position). Senate Leader Bishop has stubbornly refused any tax increase despite the Republican Party not having enough votes to do anything but be a road block to any real compromise, Bishop has continually and doggedly done everything to stand in the way of any real solution, instead offering only meager cuts in spending to departments that have already faced year after year of cuts of increases less than that of the rate of inflation- a defacto cut by any measure.

Also remember that it is a Republican former state legislator who has threatened and organized a well-funded and coordinated recall campaign for anyone in Lansing who dares to vote with the people and patch up the gaping budget hole with the increases in revenue that will end this yearly madness of last minute budget stop gap measures and quick fixes once and for all. This recall threat and the obvious stance of the Republicans which is to try to force Democrats to push through a tax increase with ZERO support from them (an impossible task given the GOP control of the Senate) has forced 8 Democratic members of the House to refuse to vote either way without some measure of bipartisan support, but yet there is NO Republican willing to cross party lines to vote for a tax increase and so we still have no deal less than a week away from a government shutdown. Democrats rightfully smell the GOP trying to shirk their responsibility to deal with the mess and know they are going to be left holding the bag. Why should the Democrats act like the responsible adults who get stuck cleaning up the mess just so the GOP can use it as a bludgeon against them in the next election?

And so now some are calling for half measures to move the goalposts and put off the big decisions for another day- something which the Governor has said she will not allow. While some in Lansing are trying to do the right thing and face up to their responsibility, our State Rep. Brian Calley takes the tough stand and declares his support for.... more of the same. How disappointing and yet how predictable, and the whole reason we're in this mess.

In his tenure in Lansing, Calley has become a pro of coming to town and donning some “dungarees” and fresh-out-of-the-box sneaker and walking among us common folk, shaking hands & kissing babies and telling us what we want to hear. He writes his weekly column as if he were Jimmy Stewart, aghast at the awful partisianship in Lansing while he votes straight party line and does everything he can to ingratiate himself to leadership to further his attempts to move up the ladder and take the next step to State Senate. If you hate career
politicians then you might want to know that Calley has said to confidants that he never wishes to go back into banking and has made it known his eyes are on the prize- a cushy seat in the State Senate which is surely no more than another stop along to bigger and better things and many more years making a nice living from the government his philosophy constantly demeans and diminishes.

Where Calley’s dishonesty becomes most apparent is his lack of acknowledgement of the role the state GOP has played in all of this. Even IF House Democrats ALL voted for a tax increase would Senate Majority Leader Bishop allow ANY Republicans in the Senate to vote with Democrats and pass a tax increase? If you think so I've got a bridge across the Straights of Mackinac to sell you. Democrats only control 2/3rds of the process and without ANY Republicans willing to muster the fortitude and political courage to pass the solution the people of Michigan understand is needed then NOTHING gets done. So, instead of blaming the Governor and the House Democrats, maybe Calley should have used the time he took to write his partisan screed this week and called up Mr. Bishop and told him to quit standing in the way of a solution.

As long as the Republicans in Lansing are in the majority in the Senate they can effectively block any budget deal so to blame Democrats for the lack of a deal is not wrong, it’s a blatant lie and I’m calling Calley out on it. Instead of blaming the people who’ve proposed as REAL solution to our problem how about Mr. Calley remember all his talk of bipartianship and
actually follow his own suggestion. Instead of offering partisan spin, Mr. Calley should offer the cold hard truth to his constituents even if it hurts his obvious career ambitions. All of us get up and go to work and do our jobs without complaining, maybe it’s time for our highly paid “welfare cases” in Lansing do the same... or maybe next time they come to us asking for our votes we’ll tell them they’ve taken enough of our money and done too little to earn another paycheck. Maybe instead of whining about how mean-spirited and partisan everything in Lansing is, our State Rep. should stand up and cross party lines and do what’s right.

Brian Calley comes to town and says he’s for your local domestic violence shelter, more funding of mental health treatment, and whatever else he thinks you want to hear but then he goes to Lansing and votes party line in favor of a rabid right wing agenda of tax cutting government down to the size it can be drowned in a bath tub until our schools are failing and bridges are falling down. I wouldn’t mind Mr. Calley being such an anti-tax idealogue, I just wish he wouldn’t lie about it. I also wish he and his cohorts would do their ONLY constitutionally-mandated job and PASS A BUDGET instead of putting it off for another day. When it comes to fixing the budget mess, there's no better time than right NOW!

Pass the budget, not the buck

2007-09-16T21:31:00.000-05:00

President Harry Truman is known for the sign he placed atop his desk in the Oval Office, reminding everyone that "The Buck Stops Here." If only the politicians in Lansing were as willing to take responsibility...

An October 1 deadline draws near. By that date the Michigan House and Senate will have needed to pass the state budget with the signature of the Governor or the state faces a government shut down. The Attorney General has decreed that absolutely no money can be spent without a balanced budget signed into law. As of now the state is almost $2 billion short of making ends meet. Lansing, so far, has yet to deal with the situation and mostly what we've seen so far has been grandstanding and theatre, more of the same.

The Republican-controlled Senate has time and time again insisted that the state's budget should be balanced through spending cuts and have rejected several plans and compromises to deal with the budget shortfall through revenue increases. A last desperate measure by Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop to pass the buck and make the voters decide was foiled last week, and so here we are, right where we were so many months ago when I last commented on the situation. Frankly, I'd put off saying anything else, assuming that the "paid professionals" in Lansing would finally come to some resolution. Especially since the best solution has been sitting on the table for quite some time.

In a previous post here, I called for the legislature to roll back a small portion of the Engler income tax cuts for at least a temporary period of time. Since then many others have come out in favor of the same method for putting our state budget back in the black. Other plans have been floated but none is as elegant or as easily wiped away, should more prosperous times return. Raising the sales tax or adding a new service tax were both equally flawed solutions and harder to do away with.

Though, to be honest I doubt any tax increase will be temporary. Michigan's financial situation is not just a product of "lean times" or a temporary manufacturing downturn as much as it is a product of continued and excessive rounds of revenue cuts as part of a deliberate "starve the beast" mentality among right wing conservatives in the state and the result of the lust for globalization among the country's rich elite who lobby Congress for trade deals that cut the American worker off at the knees and move production to foreign countries, robbing us of our ability to pay our mortgages or our taxes.

Michigan's attempts to to transform itself from an auto manufacturing state to whatever comes next won't be quick or easy, but it also cannot be done without an investment in education and infrastructure. Both have been slowly rotting away as the people have been sold the snake oil of lower taxes and smaller government which come at "no cost" much like those "no interest" and "no money down" home loans. Those little tax refund checks sure feel good but they don't last. Meanwhile, the state is failing to educate it's workforce and it's citizens while the roads and schools crumble. It's time to quit passing the buck and deal with the mess we've created.

Some would say that it's foolish to expect that common sense will rule and that people will see how the "feel good now" tax cuts of the past created this mess and that it's time to own up to our collective responsibilities. Then again, outside of a small and timid group of corporate puppets and timid bureaucrats in Lansing, most people I talk to seem to understand the need to own up to our responsibility to properly fund schools, roads, health care, etc. But yet, the interest groups are already threatening to recall politicians who vote for tax increases, and timid politicians who cling to their cushy jobs and look to take the next step up the ladder of sucking on the public teat are feeling the heat. So, it's fair to ask if we expect politicians to make the tough and correct choices, isn't it time for the voters to do so as well?

For too long citizens have returned to office the very politicians who traded the milk cow of American industry for the magic beans of a Flat Earth. We've voted the guys who offered prosperity without cost and glory without sacrifice. I have no doubt that whatever form the final budget takes in Lansing, there will have to be some form of increased revenue (even the Senate conceded as much when it offered only a meager package of cuts which fall far short of the $2 billion needed). When the time comes, there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth as anti-tax, anti-government special interests threaten recall and primary challenges. We can only hope that our elected representatives belly up and do what's right. But when our time comes will we support the ones who were responsible and wise or will we once again support the short term solutions and the easy answers?

I ask the lawmakers in Lansing to do what's right and pass the budget, then I ask for the voters of Michigan to support them when they show courage and make them accountable if and when they pass the buck.

Nine Won One more time...

2007-07-14T11:12:00.000-05:00

When I wrote my last post to this blog a little over a month ago, I guessed that the blaring news headlines of a new rock solid set of charges against our much-maligned Barry County 911 director would likely vaporize into little more than the newest chapter of the long saga of The Wall of Blue - the system that Mr. Nystrom has used time and time again to attack his accusers and shield himself from the prying eyes of the public. Last year I wrote my first post on Director Nystrom's ability to avoid punishment for his many misdeeds and here we are today with some still not realizing that the very illegal or unethical payments Mr. Nystrom is accused of making to his dispatchers is part of that Wall. How ironic is it that the very people we are supposed to call when we are being robbed are the ones who are picking our pockets?

Very simply for those who still can't grasp the basic facts in this case: Why would anyone rat out the guy who's been giving them taxpayer money that they hadn't earned and weren't entitled to receive? How many of those people would go public, knowing that not only would they likely have to pay that money back but that they'd also have to answer why they took it in the first place? Why did those payments take place in a manner not exactly legal or ethical when there would have been almost no objection from any quarter had they been necessary and well-earned?

That Nystrom's defenders have no answers for any of those questions leaves me convinced that the taxpayers of Barry County just got screwed again. It's in many ways similar to the way Scooter Libby obstructed justice by lying before a Grand Jury in the CIA leak case and then got his sentence commuted by the very forces his lies were helping to protect- how do you prosecute a case when all the witnesses are willing to lie and their lies are condoned by the people in power that they are protecting?

I find it almost surreal that most of Nystrom's defenders have used the line that he personally didn't benefit from the misuse of public funds- as if stealing from someone is OK as you long as you don't keep the money. Is it much of a stretch to understand that those payments are obviously part of his system of favors and punishment that the director has used to keep his Wall intact? While there is no doubt many incorrect allegations have been hurled at the director, it's also true that men and women of reason have to be able to separate unrelated arguments, and the truth or falsehood of the most recent allegations have nothing to do with past incidents, investigations and cover-ups.

The real problem here is that the public has been robbed not just once, but twice. First, Nystrom took money (correct me if I'm wrong, but I've seen very few people argue- even Nystrom himself- against the actual charges but instead they choose to dismiss it as just being nice to public employees who worked hard to keep us safe which has nothing to do with Nystrom's guilt or innocence but makes a neat way to deflect attacks without really mustering a real defense) which was not his to spend on dubious overtime expenses which had no reason to exist "off the books" other than to serve as hush money and to protect his personal fiefdom. Second, Nystrom has received a generous payoff which is his own hush fund, given to him by his long-time enablers on the County 911 Board- the very people who should have discovered the misappropriation of public money and DONE SOMETHING about it! This smacks of yet another corrupt crony Christmas gift which seems to be a proud tradition in local politics. I'm not sure what is more offensive- the bribe to go away quietly or the fact that so many prominent figures are forcing us to eat this turd and tell us how good it tastes!

That the voters have been let down by their elected leaders is the real story. Once again, instead of doing what was right, Nystrom and the 911 Board have failed in their duty to wisely use taxpayer money for the greater good. Nystrom's payments to dispatchers could have been done through legal and ethical means, but they weren't and he should have to face consequences for those actions instead of receiving an early retirement gift and a loud and boisterous defense from his pack of enablers who hide behind talking point as if they were members of the Bush administration- how many more times do we have to hear any complain about our County 911 system countered by the old saw that "we have the best system in the state." Talking points work best when they confuse the issue and distract people from the real matter.

Finally, it seems like we've been most let down by a County Prosecutor who I warned was not up to the job from what I saw in the election campaign. Prosecutor Evans led with his chin and got sent to the mat. Whatever his motives or reason for going public with the case when he chose, it now appears obvious he wasn't ready to press charges. He now seems to be hinting he and the Sheriff will not sign off on the deal, which has been called a golden parachute in the local paper's editorial. I have no sympathy for Prosecutors who choose to try their case in public- it's one of the reasons voters sent a previous prosecutor packing. Evan's opponent likely lost because she was seen as too close to the corrupt system voters were already tired of. But if Evans is unable to effectively manage a case of public corruption then what good is he? Perhaps the biggest lesson from all this is that sometimes people just aren't up the job and that being incompetent is perhaps just as bad or even worse than being corrupt.

If voters want to take their anger out on anyone over this, how about the 911 Board which has always defended Nystrom, instead of doing their job to protect the public from waste, fraud, corruption and abuse? I'd suggest starting with Nystrom's loudest defender, Hastings Township Supervisor Jim Brown. This Brownie is not doing a "heckuva job" since he's loudly trying to tell us what a good deal we got. The only way it would be a good deal is if Brown himself resigned or if the sensible voters of Hastings Township started making some noise about their elected official's involvement in defending the misuse of public funds. I know there's a remedy for when elected officials shirk their responsibility to the public, do you recall? Hastings Township voters are in a unique position to have their voices heard on this issue and they should let Jim Brown know his days of defending the misuse of their money are over.

And should anyone still be confused- acquittal, or lack of prosecution, does not equal innocence. Since OJ Simpson never got convicted does that mean he didn't kill two people? Ken Lay never served a day in prison but he's still known as the guy who defrauded Enron investors. The people who see the lack of prosecution as evidence of innocence need to understand that there is no connection between the two, except that it's one more sign the Wall of Blue is still holding strong.

Humpty Dumpty fell off the wall

2007-06-01T20:03:00.000-05:00

If you live in Barry County or if you've been reading this blog, chances are you know a little bit about the controversy over our County 911 Director, Charlie Nystrom. Nystrom has been charged with wrong doing in the past but nothing has ever seemed to stick. Today, Nystrom was placed on one week of administrative leave due to Prosecutor Tom Evans alleging Nystrom gave several 911 employees overtime pay which they were not entitled to to the tune of tens of thousands of dollars of taxpayer money.

In previous instances, Nystrom has been accused of much but there was always a lack of solid proof, a "blue wall" of defenders and a feeling that the accusations from some were nothing more than a combination of personality conflicts, sour grapes and small town politics. However, if the allegations presented by Evans and Sheriff Dar Leaf turn out to be true, Nystrom's critics will finally be vindicated.

In the past Nystrom has personally tried to defend himself on this blog and the Barry Home Companion in the guise of "Truthseeker," often by accusing me of being part of the local paper which has been a fierce and unrelenting critic of Nystrom, even after he was cleared of other allegations in a probe by the Michigan State Police. Nystrom used the investigation's result as a way to portray himself as the victim of a witch hunt conducted by the paper and this blog.

However, the State Police probe was discounted by many in the community due to Nystrom's close ties to many State Police, including former post commander and current 911 Board Chair Ron Neil. In fact, when the 911 board allowed Nystrom's lawyer access to his office, it conveniently was Neil who was allowed to escort him. It's amazing to me that no one else on the board saw the potential for mischief and forced someone more impartial to take part in the visit. I can't help but wonder if once again the wall surrounding Nystrom will protect him and keep the truth from coming out.

Despite the media coverage I can't help but feel like I've seen this film before. The allegations once again sound grave but Evans has yet to press any charges and hints he may not, despite his calling this a case of "embezzlement." At this point, despite having gone public with the inflammatory charge, the investigation has only interviewed a mere 2 of 11 dispatchers. Eyewitness accounts from today's meeting has said that Evans and Leaf were less than convincing in their presentations. Could it be that once again critics of Nystrom have gone public with their allegations without enough evidence to convict?

I'd like to think that this time the people responsible for defending their claims will have the weight of evidence on their side. And this time, I'm hoping that those who've spent so much time defending Nystrom finally decide to do right by the citizens of this county, who deserve to have their public officials be watch dogs in the use of tax dollars, not using it to pay off their buddies and buy their silence. The most recent allegations against Nystrom could be the final crack in the Wall of Blue or All the King's Men just might find a way to fix their boss and return to business as usual.

Death by Diet Coke?

2007-05-28T08:42:00.001-05:00

I was going to send this link via email to a circle of friends and family, knowing most of them would probably ignore it among the mass of jokes and cute pictures and "male enhancement" emails clogging up their in boxes and then I realized that I should reward the regular readers of this site awaiting a new post.

Anyway, I hate to join the latest health scare panic as I usually find that the stories don't hold up to their initial promise, but this latest disturbing health study seems part of a pattern to me...

Caution: Some soft drinks may seriously harm your health
Expert links additive to cell damage
By Martin Hickman, Consumer Affairs Correspondent
Published: 27 May 2007

A new health scare erupted over soft drinks last night amid evidence they may cause serious cell damage. Research from a British university suggests a common preservative found in drinks such as Fanta and Pepsi Max has the ability to switch off vital parts of DNA.

The problem - more usually associated with ageing and alcohol abuse - can eventually lead to cirrhosis of the liver and degenerative diseases such as Parkinson's.

(snip)

Sodium benzoate has already been the subject of concern about cancer because when mixed with the additive vitamin C in soft drinks, it causes benzene, a carcinogenic substance. A Food Standards Agency survey of benzene in drinks last year found high levels in four brands which were removed from sale.

Now, an expert in ageing at Sheffield University, who has been working on sodium benzoate since publishing a research paper in 1999, has decided to speak out about another danger. Professor Peter Piper, a professor of molecular biology and biotechnology, tested the impact of sodium benzoate on living yeast cells in his laboratory. What he found alarmed him: the benzoate was damaging an important area of DNA in the "power station" of cells known as the mitochondria.

The FDA has become a joke and whether it's Chinese food unfit for animal or human consumption or killer pharmaceuticals released without proper testing (at the same time they tell you that you can't get them from Canada because it might not be safe or that if you smoke pot you are a dangerous criminal who will end up stupid and forgetful).

Maybe it's time to write your Congressman or one of your two Senators:

The FDA normally inspects about 1 percent of all food and food ingredients at U.S. borders. It does tests on about half of 1 percent.

And official vigilance has been going down — for two reasons.

First, food imports have increased dramatically, from $45 billion in 2003 to $64 billion three years later.

Second, the "food" part of the FDA has been getting smaller.

After all, if you're not testing for it, it's easy to say there's no problem since it hasn't been caught. I'm sick of poisonous products being pumped out for corporate profit without regard to the many lives affected. Our current system has failed to protect the public and it's because we've handed the keys to our country over to people who only care about their own bottom line and have managed to gut the FDA's power to properly inspect our food and drug supply:

Earlier this year, lead-contaminated multivitamins showed up on the shelves of U.S. retailers. And this spring, vitamin A from China contaminated with dangerous bacteria nearly ended up in European baby food.
It's bound to happen more often. Hubbard says the agency is overwhelmed by the rising tide of imports.

"When I came to the FDA in the 1970s, the food program was almost half of the FDA's budget. Today, it's only a quarter," Hubbard says.

Experts say the FDA has about 650 food inspectors to cover 60,000 domestic food producers and 418 ports of entry.

The agency plans to close nearly half of its 13 food-testing labs.

Yes, it seems as if they want to make the companies themselves responsible for their own testing. The reason we have an FDA is because we know what happens when companies are in charge of overseeing the safety of their own products without government "interference" and "over regulation." Anyone remember the Ford Pinto's exploding gas tank?

In the 1970s Ralph Nader warned of and tried to do something about the fact that airlines needed to strengthen their cockpit doors as a means to help defend against plane hijackings, a warning which went unheeded due to the airlines' insistence that such a regulation would be burdensome to the industry. Anyone care to "connect the dots" there? If our government would have insisted on public safety maybe the public wouldn't have had to write a $15 billion check after 9/11? Also, we likely wouldn't have started a bogus invasion of a foreign country, leading to a bloody and costly occupation.

We now a see a pattern of a political philosophy that sees government as the problem when in fact, in the case of food and drug safety, it's the lack of government that is a problem. Without rigid regulations, stiff inspections and serious penalties for failure to meet a proper standard, we will continue to have to take our lives into our own hands when we sit down at our dinner table or when we pop a pill.

The bad idea that won't die

2007-05-13T18:17:00.000-05:00

While a noble band of local folks have been waging a grass-roots campaign to try to stop a Super Wal-Mart from being constructed just outside the Hastings city limits, Hastings City and Rutland Township officials have been quietly negotiating a deal with the giant retailer. Citizens: Prepare thyselves for Wal-Mart’s presence near the corner of Green Street and Cook Road in Rutland Township. Back-room politics appear to be winning yet another battle in hyper capitalism’s war on the unwary working middle class.

Forget the fact that a horde of local citizens cheered when the Rutland Township Planning Commission voted unanimously in March against recommending Wal-Mart’s request for mixed use zoning to accommodate the project. Forget the fact the Rutland Township Board last month voted 4-3 in the face of public opposition to have another traffic study done, effectively delaying Wal-Mart’s request to get started on a "super" shopping center. Forget what you heard about the Super Wal-Mart plan being dead. Like a movie monster, this bad idea just keeps getting up again in order to continue scaring the villagers...

The crucial argument against Super Wal-Mart’s location selection has been the nature of Green Street, residential, too narrow and too close to a hospital that needs quick ingress and egress for emergency vehicles. The secondary argument against the world’s largest retailer is its awful habit of ruining small communities by sucking the life out of downtowns, forcing taxpayers to widen roads and provide infrastructure as a result of Wal-Mart’s mere presence and the retail giant’s penchant for locating just outside the city limits and in the adjacent township to avoid paying higher city taxes (in Hastings the levy is 16.2 mills, in Rutland, it’s one measly mill).

Several city and township officials, through private negotiations, apparently have cut off the traffic argument at the pass with a novel idea: Closing Green Street just to the west of Pennock Hospital and Fish Hatchery Park, thereby countering claims Green is too narrow and the hospital can’t absorb increase in traffic. Meanwhile, it seems people then could get to Wal-Mart from Cook Road and the portion of Green that runs from Cook east from the M-37/M-43 traffic light that was necessitated by the current existing Wal-Mart and paid for by taxpayer dollars.

I’ve always said one of the most important functions of government is to solve problems, and a few city and township officials seem to feel they’ve done just that. They’ve found a way to avoid potential costly litigation at the hands of the second richest company in the world, second only to Exxon/Mobil. And they didn’t get that way by just being the benevolent smily-face falling prices public relations fantasy baloney they’ve fed us for so long. They’ve gotten where they are by bullying backwoods rube governments with little courage and not enough knowledge or money to stand up to them. They’ve climbed to the top on the backs of poor Third World workers who ultimately are doing what many Americans used to do, only much cheaper and under conditions more foul than the sweatshops of late 19th Century America in the era of robber barons. They’ve used cut-throat tactics to sell their products for less and eliminate competition, which is supposed to be the cornerstone of the free market enterprise system.

But it seems too many consumers examine only what’s right in front of them, the low price, while ignoring the man behind the curtain who hopes someday to be the only seller left standing so he can name whatever price he wishes. Some letter writers to the local newspaper call this process “progress” for Hastings and Barry County. I call it a giant step back into the early 20th century before Theodore Roosevelt and the Progressive Era put a stop to it.

So city and township officials seem to have found a way to let Wal-Mart in the back door. And they’ll probably tell us they were forced to, they couldn’t legally stop the world’s largest retailer. At the risk of invoking Godwin's Law, I sentence Jim Carr, Jeff Mansfield and a few other sellouts to study the story of the Munich Conference in 1938, when British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain gave away the Sudetenland to Adolf Hitler, declaring “Peace in Our Time.”

And I challenge the many people who live here to engage in a serious boycott of ever buying anything at Wal-Mart. If your local elected officials won’t stand up for you, you’re going to have to resort to the only weapon you have left: “Vote with your pocketbook.”

And I challenge the readers of this blog to call up their local representatives and let them know that if they don't support local businesses and citizens, maybe those businesses and citizens won't support them when they run for re-election. Don't let Barry County join the race to the bottom we like to call "globalization." Don't let back door deals override the will of the people. And don't let the politicians forget that they can get "downsized" when they don't defend the working class that pays their salaries and votes them in or out of office.

And for any politician or citizen who wants to do the right thing and fight Wal-Mart, please click go to Wal-Mart Watch's BattleMart page.

Tax cutting the trees down

2007-05-01T20:25:00.000-05:00

I'm sure many people didn't give much though to a recent story about the city of Grand Rapids being forced to cut down dozens of ash trees due to the spread of the invasive pest, the Emerald Ash Borer but I think it's something you should pay attention to. Millions of trees are being killed by this pest but efforts to contain its spread were cut:

In April 2003, the state cut down more than 15,000 trees in Wyoming as a part of a federally-funded eradication effort. But over the last two years, the feds cut funding for the program and by the time trees in Cascade Township were found with it last June, the state had already decided to concentrate their efforts on other parts of Michigan. That means local municipalities and property owners are on their own.

"They've left basically this side of the state to deal with the problem," said Public Works Director Patrick Bush.

I'm sure some people will dismiss this as not a major news story but imagine streets lined with large, stately trees that the city of Grand Rapids is now going to have to replace:

Heartwell said the city's 7,000 ash trees are at risk because of the invasive species of beetle whose larvae feed on the inner bark of ash trees, disrupting the tree's ability to transport water and nutrients.

"This is significant," Heartwell said. "It's going to change the face of Grand Rapids."

Last fall, the city unveiled a plan to replace all the city's ash trees over the next 10 years. The plan is expected to cost between $7 million and $12 million.

Imagine the quality of life in those neighborhoods that will be lost, the higher heating and cooling bills due to the loss of shade and windbreak. These seem like silly concerns because our society often dismisses things that no one is able to package and sell in a sound byte. But also add up the tax dollars that need to be spent to deal with the problem and the loss of home value in the neighborhoods defined by streets lined with beautiful trees. Federal and state government should have been managing the crisis before it got out of hand but instead they passed it off to overwhelmed local officials and homeowners. Now communities all over are dealing with the problem and who knows how much money it will cost in the long run because government didn't wisely allocate its resources and people weren't willing to support the programs needed to avoid this problem.

And why couldn't we have just spent the money to deal with the problem in the first place? Because some people would cry about tax dollars being "wasted fighting bugs." I think they're just greedy, the same kind of greed that says a person with mental or physical problems should be forced to go out and earn a living instead of getting a "handout." The starve the beast and drown government in the bathtub crowd doesn't care about those that can't help themselves. They don't want to pay for mental institutions or welfare agencies, food stamps or Head Start. They don't mind taxes for roads, mostly torn up by the big trucks that take merchandise from one rich man's warehouse to another. They don't mind taxes to pay for big stadiums where they have luxury boxes. And they don't mind paying taxes for airports where they can fly their private planes. But taxes to fight bugs are a sign of bloated bureaucracy and if only we'd "trim the fat" we'd balance the state budget and everything would be fine.

Once again, I remind you of Howard Wolpe's famous words: "Read my lips, raise YOUR taxes." Feel good tax cuts are passed by politicians which mostly benefit the wealthiest Americans but then spend whatever it takes on a war without end or even a reason. We pass the burden down to the people least able to deal with it while the rich and powerful party away. They always cry "class warfare" whenever anyone brings up the widening imbalance between rich and poor in America and usually they manage to force people to back down. But change is coming...

The poor are finally waking to the fact that as they are told their kids' schools may have to shut early, luxury yacht owners can't find a slip for their million dollar toys. While people grumble yet pay their dues to the federal government, the rich hide behind tax shelters and then try to convince you they're being over-burdened. Well, that's too bad for them because I thought we "are all hurting" yet the rich are making more and more money every year while our services are being cut.

Sadly, most people don't seem to get it. I guess it's easier to blame the guy who's in between jobs or to shift the burden to the single mom who left her abusive boyfriend and now has to support her and her kid. Maybe it takes a little intelligence to think in the long term instead of seeking immediate gratification. Maybe it's asking to much for people to see the forest for the trees.

We've been seriously ignoring our long-term problems while relying on short term thinking and feel good solutions to complex issues. We can continue to ignore the warning signs: the dead trees, the potholes in the road, the closed school buildings and the workers headed out of state or we can understand that the paid lobbyists have bought our government and are going to keep squeezing as much money out of it as they can. Meanwhile, you wonder why they're closing schools and hospitals. But don't worry, this is just a story about a couple of dead trees...

Building a better blog

2007-04-29T19:06:00.000-05:00

I’ve been delighted that County Board of Commissioners Chairman Mike Callton decided to get into the blogging game with the “Barry Home Companion” blog in order to add another voice to serious cyberspace political and social commentary about Barry County and West Michigan. Dr. Callton, with a nod to Goldilocks and maybe Fox News, has billed his forum as “not too liberal, not too conservative, but just right,” but the Barry Home Companion has fallen victim, as many other blogs have, including this one at times, to the scourge of anonymity and its use as a way to hurl mud at political opponents, particularly the use of sexual innuendo to slime a public official. There’s absolutely nothing anonymous in the featured postings clearly identified as to who their authors are: Callton himself, State Rep. Brian Calley, Commissioner Jeff VanNortwick and Chuck Reid, a County Commission watchdog, all have written opinion pieces, giving the blog variety, a different approach than my lone wolf style and one that I enjoy reading.

However, comments in reaction to postings sometimes have gotten out of hand, just like they did too often on West Michigan Politics a while back. Buoyed by their anonymity, some people have made outrageous, questionable and personal attacks on public figures. I suppose this too often is a big risk when setting up and running a blog that invites everyone to the table to speak their minds.

Because of the nefarious nature of certain anonymous claims on this blog in bygone days, I changed my policy by not allowing anyone to post simply as “anonymous.” My compromise was that comment contributors must consistently use a handle in order to be able to post. And since I'm limited by the tools Blogspot and Google offer for free, I felt this was the best decision. Granted, those sending comments still don’t have to identify themselves by their real names, but with a particular handle, it becomes a lot easier to have back and forth debate and some people eventually give themselves away under their pseudonyms of choice. It's also easier for people to gauge how they line up with an author's point of view through repeated exposure to their signed blog posts and it works as a check against people saying things they might otherwise say if they were one of a number of comments listed as "anonymous."

I hereby ask Dr. Callton, customarily a reasonable man, to eliminate all anonymous commentary on his blog, to use his authority to block scurrilous charges and suggestions from these secret snipers who don’t have the guts to join the cyber discussion with at least a nom de plume of some kind so that others may judge their record of posts and encourage a responsible and civil discussion. I think automatically turning away anonymous commentary will cut down on the more outrageous tabloid-style attacks we have to endure in our laudable never-ending efforts for political discourse outside the usual channels. It won't end it, but those now more rare out of bounds comments can be deleted by the moderator. I have even cut out an offending comment and re-pasted the rest of the author's post when I felt they'd crossed a line but the rest of the comment was worthy of discussion.

I also believe Commission Callton should set a higher standard simply because he's a public official. He already got in some hot water for having the blog linked to an official government web site which he has since rectified. But by having his name on the blog and because of his status as a public official, his opponents or those trying to damage his reputation or the power of his blog can use these gutter tactics against him by attaching him to the attacks. I think it's in his own best interest to clamp down a bit but not so much as to completely stifle discussion and dissent. Some will cry censorship but that rare minority is likely to be the one most willing to use anonymous attacks for character assassination.

When I started my blog, it was my intention to have debate, discourse and discussion about political issues crucial to people who live in Barry County and West Michigan, issues that might not be seriously discussed in traditional media formats because of fear of reprisal. I developed West Michigan Politics as a haven for that discussion. It may not be the perfect forum but I've done my best to live up to my own high standards. I admit to being a flawed person, an amateur political commentator who has made mistakes in my judgment and my grammar and not always lived up to my own intent and potential. My intention is not to promote the sleazy, slimy and salacious, it is, rather to promote a truly open, honest and illuminating discussion that the traditional media dare not offer. It is with humility and respect that I beseech Dr. Callton to do the same.

Tim's tantrum: Is Walberg worried?

2007-04-20T19:03:00.000-05:00

Poor Congressman Tim Walberg (R-Tipton) is starting to show the strains of being a radical right winger whose record of over-heated rhetoric and crass campaigning is catching up with him. It seems the Battle Creek Enquirer's Assistant Local Editor Susan Demas has offended poor Timmy by actually reporting the truth, that former Congressman Joe Schwarz is hanging around Battle Creek and leaving open the possibility for a rematch against Walberg, who defeated Schwarz in the last primary election mostly with slash and burn attack ads against "liberal" Joe Schwarz paid for with dough from anti-tax zealots but then narrowly beat out a weak Democratic candidate with zero money and little or no support from the party. Timmy's response to the horrible truth was to cut the reporter from their media spam list...

"I took you off the (media) list," his spokesman, Matt Lahr, informed me this month, "because the congressman has decided he will no longer talk to you."

Demas' response is both devastating and hilarious:

It's not personal. It's just a bad public relations move, typical of a staff composed of 20-something "Jesus Camp" counselors who almost managed to lose the general election to Sharon Renier, a chicken farmer with $1.03 in the bank.
They're not ready for primetime.

Walberg is the Congressional equivalent to those Pat Robertson Law School grads stinking it up in the Justice Department courtesy of soon-to-be outgoing Attorney General Alberto "What did I know and when did I know it" Gonzalez.

DARE to think different

2007-04-17T17:45:00.000-05:00

"If you build it, they will come."

That over-quoted line from “Field of Dreams” accurately predicts what virtually always happens when we build new jails and new prisons. Yes, we’ve got a lot of everything in this wonderful country, and a lot of places to put ’em in. All you have to do is look at the statistics that show the United States, ironically known as the land of the free, has more people per capita behind bars than in any other industrialized nation in the world. More than Russia, more than South Africa, more than all those countries with dictatorships we love to trash as hating freedom.

We should keep this in mind when we look at the notion that Barry County needs a new jail, which I don’t doubt since the old one isn't worth repairing for the price it would take. I just find it sad we’re among the many in this country that must build bigger and more spacious lock-up facilities out of fear of overcrowding. If we build it, they will come and fill it up. For the record, I support somehow finding a way to construct a new Barry County Jail in a new and more appropriate location. It doesn’t make a lot of economic or social sense to have the sheriff’s department and jail smack dab on one of the best commercial locations in Barry County, on Hastings' West State Street across from McDonald’s and virtually next door to Pennock Hospital and a senior citizens’ complex.

I’d like to see the county find a way to sell that parcel to a commercial buyer for top dollar and move to a better location. A lot of people are mentioning the soon to be vacant First Presbyterian Church, within walking distance for deputies and prisoners to appear in court, thereby saving money in the energy department. There could be other locations, but this does seem to have some good arguments in its favor.

Then I’d propose the Barry County Board of Commissioners cut the excessive emergency 911 millage, which will come up for renewal next year, from one mill to one-half to six-tenths of a mill and use the difference to help fund a jail over, say about 20 years. If that isn't enough money to do the job by itself, then ask for a small amount from the people in the form of a millage to make up that difference.

The current 911 millage is a good example of one program getting more money than it needs or deserves while others are starving. Officials at 911 have crowed loudly and proudly often they’ve not used all of that one mill and they bought state of the art equipment that arguably is more than a bit over the top for a sparsely populated and poor, rural county. In other words, director Charlie Nystrom and his legions are pleased they have bought a brand new Mercedes-Benz with all the options when a slightly used, bare bones Ford or a Chevy would do perfectly well. So let’s take some of that taxpayer money back, maybe four-tenths of a mill, put it to work with the profits from the sale of the current location's real estate, and maybe try to add the money the county gets from the delinquent tax fund every year to fund a needed (unfortunately) new jail in a more sensible location.

Then I’d like to challenge all judges and cops in this county to think long and hard about just who we want sitting in these jails and prisons and use some common sense, which has been sorely lacking in these United States of America for too long and has made us the world’s crime capital. Taking things a little further, I think (and polls show Americans agree) it’s past time for legislators to summon a little courage and repeal many of the stupid drug and victimless crime laws that have put too many people behind bars who are not threats to society, but mostly to themselves and maybe their livers. Jails and especially prisons are tailor-made for people whose behavior threatens the safety and well being of society, not for people who smoke marijuana or hire the services of a woman practicing the world’s oldest profession. We tried a long time ago to outlaw alcohol but it only helped create more criminals, so why don't we get the same message when it comes to fighting other behavior where the war against it causes more damage and wrecks more lives than the thing being fought?

Crime fighting has become big business, with a lot of drug warriors, homeland security personnel and the prison industrial complex sucking furiously on the public teat and making a living by exploiting our irrational fears, fueled by sensationalist television news and entertainment programs. Yes, lawmakers and police are raking in big bucks and shiny medals for their war on drugs over the last quarter of a century. In the meantime, their war seems to be going about as well as the one in Iraq. Civil rights are violated, property stolen, people killed, and for what? So cops can get a shiny D.A.R.E. car with a cool paint job so they can play superhero? Guess who pays for it? You, and our society.

Our jails are filled with people who could be useful and productive members of society, instead they become a drag on the economy. We take away their right to vote and ability to find good work then wonder why we can't put them back out into the public successfully all or even most of the time. We fail to take this problem seriously at our peril. We need more than "the way we've always done it." We need to think different: Imagine what our society might be like if we would bother putting one half of the money we spend to imprison people towards treatment or other investments to improve their chances of working within society and not against it. Quit letting fear rule the debate. We need a new jail, but new means more than the physical material to build it. That will take some guts and some imagination.

Breaking: Falling prices land on house, kill 5

2007-04-08T18:42:00.000-05:00

“Those who ignore history are condemned to repeat it.”
— Georges Santayana

The news broke last month that Wal-Mart plans to build a supercenter near the corner of Green Street and Cook Road, just outside the City of Hastings. Never mind that Wal-Mart already has a huge store in Rutland Township that hasn't been around very long, but I guess it’s not enough for the board of directors at Wal-Mart, they’ve got to have a store that will offer people everything in the world of goods and services, from groceries to haircuts, to lawn implements to lamp shades and all or most of it made in China. It feels like nothing is ever enough for these guys, they want to rule the world. And I hope we’re not dumb enough to do our part to let ’em do it. Wal-Mart made a pitch last month for rezoning to the Rutland Township Planning Commission and was rebuffed by a unanimous vote in a packed house full of people mostly opposed to the project. But those who opposed the project only won Round One, and this 800-pound gorilla will be back with a bigger team of lawyers and more threats Wednesday night when the Rutland Township Board will take up the issue in the spacious digs at The Barry Expo Center.

Meanwhile, the debate is raging, with most people opposed explaining that Green Street is mostly residential and too narrow to handle the traffic especially considering it's already a congested road at peak times of day and is the only route for ambulances to take to Pennock Hospital where any delay because of traffic can lead to death. Some people are arguing a bigger Wal-Mart would be bad for local business but that doesn't sway the ones who would rather pay a little less for a product without regard to the steeper social and economic costs to society which we have seen before in periods of American history where corporations began taking too much power and squashing their competition. Some of us are arguing that we need to remind ourselves of the lessons from those mistakes in history and see that unabated corporate greed has a way of coming back to hurt the people who never profited from its success in the first place.

For those who have forgotten about what happened in the United States 100 years ago, the Progressive Era was born at the beginning of the 20th century in response to the excesses of the Gilded Age, the Industrial Revolution, laden with “robber barons” such as J.P. Morgan, Cornelius Vanderbilt, Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller, who made millions of dollars by screwing the poor masses glad to have jobs with meager pay and lousy hours.

The progressives included “muckrakers” like Upton Sinclair, whose book “The Jungle” exposed the awful things that were allowed to go into our food; Ida Tarbell, who a critical history of Standard Oil, and even politicians such as Robert LaFollette of Wisconsin, who came up with a lot of the political reform ideas later captured by Franklin D. Roosevelt as part of the New Deal which helped fuel the period in history that made America the champion of liberty, prosperity and generosity around the world.

These reformers had their greatest champion in arguably one of our greatest presidents, Theodore Roosevelt, a Republican, who did a lot more than just talk about doing something to stop the abuses of the super wealthy and hyper capitalism. It was T.R. who stopped the merger mania that had been occurring so frequently in early 1900s with his trust-busting activity and
he halted Big Oil’s march toward monopoly. The most important thing Teddy did was call out and defeat the likes of Standard Oil, which had designs on monopoly and status more powerful than the federal government through cut-throat tactics, simply because they could.

Under the still highly touted principles of an unregulated free market system, Standard Oil, because it had become so rich and powerful, could afford to sell petroleum products at ridiculously low prices that eventually could eliminate all competition. When the mission had been accomplished, Standard would be the only company left standing and it could set prices for as much as it pleased.

When you use cut-throat tactics to sell your goods and services for less, when you treat your employees like indentured servants, when you collect all the goods you sell from foreign countries that exploit their workers and pay them a fraction of what the U.S. used to pay ours, when you put a tremendous tax burden on the citizens where you locate because they must pick up the tab for roads, sewer, water and traffic lights that your presence requires, when you deliberately locate just outside city limits to avoid paying higher tax rates than neighboring citizens must pay, when you create schemes in which your employees must seek health care paid for by the public in order to shirk the cost of doing business in a fair society, you are just like the robber barons Theodore Roosevelt fought against so long ago. Citizens have a right to stand up and ask their government to be a fair referee. It's long past time we reminded government of it's duty and it's purpose.

There are plenty of shallow and uncomplicated people, too many of them, who only look closely at the low prices offered at Wal-Mart. They don’t understand they’re selling their souls to the devil, and they don’t want to be told about it. They’ll tell you they shop at Wal-Mart simply because the prices are cheaper and in these hard times, you’ve got to save money. But they don’t want to be presented with the big picture, the inconvenient truth such as I have only scratched the surface of here. I only wish these people, too many of them, would revisit history from 100 years ago and then look long and hard at the real price they pay for lower prices at Wal-Mart. There's a price to be paid for ignoring history and it's one that our children and grandchildren will likely pay. But that's just my 2¢...

The fingerprints of Vern Ehlers?

2007-04-06T17:13:00.000-05:00

Ever since the scandal broke regarding the firing of eight U.S. Attorneys and the fact was revealed that one of those eight was Margaret Chiara, the U.S. Attorney for the Grand Rapids district for the last five years. I've been wondering what her role was in all of this. There hasn't been a lot of chatter regarding why she was fired and Chiara was, on the surface, someone you'd think the Bush team would have had no problem keeping in her post. From the Kalamazoo Gazette:

Chiara was appointed to the post by President George W. Bush in 2001, filling the role as the government's chief law enforcer for the Western District of Michigan, which spans 49 counties, from the Indiana border to the Upper Peninsula. The former policy director at the Michigan Supreme Court, Chiara has led a varied career that had her studying to be a Catholic nun, a teacher on two continents and then a private practice attorney and county prosecutor in Cass County.

So, given that Bush appointed her, she had a solid resume and she had even studied to be a nun, I think it's safe to say we certainly know that Chiara wasn't exactly a liberal extremist. She also seems to have been damn good as a U.S. Attorney. More from the Gazette:

U.S. District Judge Robert Holmes Bell:
"I was shocked to learn that her resignation had been requested. She's clearly part of a larger pattern.''

In previous Justice Department firings, officials cited poor performance among the U.S. attorneys. However, most had positive job reviews and had run into political trouble over such issues as the death penalty and immigration, according to a recent Washington Post report.

Bell said Chiara is one of the best U.S. attorneys he has observed during 20 years on the federal bench. He said Chiara did nothing that should have prompted her firing.

Typically, most Republican stalwarts have followed the AM right wing radio command that this is nothing but a Democratic Party witch hunt. As usual it gets chalked up to "criminalizing politics" which is really a nice cover for widescale corruption and a political patronage system that rivals anything cooked up by the mafia. We can always expect the Republican Party to entrench in a scandal and protect its own even when felonies have obviously been committed. G. Gordon Liddy and Oliver North can be forgiven for jeopardizing the sanctity of our democracy (when Liddy and others broke in to Democratic Party headquarters on behalf of President Richard Nixon) or even our national security (when North was a player in giving U.S. arms to IRAN, cutting deals with the terrorist organization Hezbollah and illegally funding right wing militias in Nicaragua).

However, even some prominent Republicans have slowly been peeling away from the party line spin and have called for Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez to step down for his role in the firings and his impotent and mangled response when the story broke which included lying the Congress. Gonzalez is expected to testify next week and the talk has been that many expect Gonzalez to quit before then (since he's liable to only make things worse by lying under oath yet again). Just today U.S. Congressman Vern Ehlers (R-Grand Rapids) has called for the Attorney General to resign:

Republican Congressman Vern Ehlers of Grand Rapids says he thinks U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales should step down.

[snip]

Gonzales is under fire from the Democratically-controlled Congress for the recent firing of eight U.S. attorneys, including one from West Michigan.

Ehlers won't comment on the merits of the firings but says he disapproves of the way Gonzales carried them out.

Ehlers is quoted here:

"Since he's such a close, personal friend, he's hurt the President by what he's doing, he should have the politeness to offer his resignation. I don't know if he has or not and the President is still holding it, who knows. But I think he's damaged himself and the President through his actions."

So, either Ehlers knows how much this scandal is eroding whatever scant support his party now holds or he knows something else.

I'm guessing the Republicans in Grand Rapids--like Ehlers--have a much better idea than we do what the politics were behind Chiara's firing.

But it's also worth mentioning that, at least according to Rove's PowerPoint presentation, Vern Ehlers is thinking of retiring in 08. Not something that was generally known here in MI. But there you have it. Retiring GOP Rep getting fed up with the GOP shenanigans?

Or is it that Vern knows his fingerprints are all over Chiara's firing? Chances are decent that Ehlers was doing some leg work on behalf of Pete Secchia or some other West Michigan Mafioso player and made some calls to quash an investigation, which is the underlying reason in every case of a fired U.S. Attorney so far. We already know Senator Pete Domenici and Representative Heather Wilson were guilty of the same thing. Chiara's been one of the last remaining mysteries but given Ehler's recent willingness to throw his party's Attorney General overboard, I think we should be asking ourselves why such a consistent party line Republican has found to will to buck the system. Is it because he's finding independence in his pending retirement, is he merely playing to the hometown crowd and backing a fellow Grand Rapids Republican to win some votes for his next run or is trying to stop an investigation before it finds his fingerprints on the knife in Margaret Chiara's back?

The irony would be, that if this turns out to be true, that Ehlers was just named to chair the U.S. House Administration Committee, a nondescript name for something which used to be called the House Oversight Committee which tried to make sure that ethics violations committed by members of Congress were dealt with, something the Republicans in the Congress haven't wanted to do given that Ehlers was named to the position when the current chair, Republican Bob Ney of Ohio, was the third Republican to step down for taking bribes in the Jack Abramoff scandal.

Surely, Ehlers is smart enough to know that whether or not he does plan on retiring, any whiff of scandal could put this seat in play for the Democrats and that perhaps the best thing to do is to try to throw the Attorney General overboard and hope that ends the willingness of the media to dig any deeper into this. I think somebody needs to do some digging and I also think it's time to dust for fingerprints...

New links added

2007-03-27T21:02:00.000-05:00

Just a reminder that I've added some new links under that section on the ride side of the front page. Included in the new additions are a link to Barry County Board of Commissioners Chairperson Mike Callton's Barry Home Companion as well as a link to the blog for the Marshall Chronicle newspaper. For those of you who haven't bothered checking out the links now is a good time to do so. I try to add something every couple of months and clean out the dead branches when possible, so if you find a link to a site that no longer exists please let me know about it. You can feel free to use the comment section for this post as an "open thread" where you can talk about whatever you want, especially things you feel I'm not properly covering (though I'd appreciate instead of asking me to do it, you would simply tell us what YOU think about it) or you can always just tell others what goodies you've found by clicking on those links to prove that you actually read this...

Reasonably under control

2007-03-26T19:41:00.000-05:00

Recently, Congressman Tim Walberg (R-Tipton) compared war-torn Iraq favorably to the American cities of Detroit and Harvey, Illinois.

“…talking to our troops as well as some of the officers who have returned, they indicate to me that 80 to 85% … of the country (Iraq) is reasonably under control at least as well as Detroit…"

Despite having his foot caught in his mouth and his head firmly planted inside his rectum, Walberg continued:

"in many places it’s as safe and cared for as Detroit or Harvey, IL or some other places that have trouble with armed violence that takes place on occasion.”

Instead of apologizing for being a callous jackass and a drooling idiot, Walberg dug deeper. Speaking at the Jackson County Republican Party Lincoln Day dinner (note the occasion for its irony), he further insisted:

"No apology is necessary… I have no reason to…There was nothing racist about it… I meant it as a compliment to people in Detroit and Chicago."

Now, if Congressman Walberg truly meant no harm by his assinine oral diarrhea then why not simply back down? Hell, why not say that he meant if you ignore Baghdad and other major cities and take into account only the Green Zone where the US military has its largest presence and the Kurdish areas as well as the areas where no one lives then... oh, I can't even try to pretend he has a point here because it's such a silly and idiotic argument. The simple and obvious answer is that he's a racist jackass. The longer answer is that the modern Republican Party is no longer the party of Lincoln but instead the party of Buchanan (as in Pat) and the party of Duke (as in David) and has won many an election by playing to racism in white voters.

According to what I have found, the death rate in Iraq just for US forces is roughly 40% more than the murder rate in Detroit. Over 3,000 American troops have died in combat since the war began. Best estimates peg the Iraqi death total at something close to 60,000 with estimates varying wildly including some in excess of 100,000 but none significantly lower than the estimate I've chosen to use. In 2003 there were 366 murders reported in Detroit. The population of Iraq is roughly 27 times that of Detroit. Even then, the Detroit murder rate doesn't even come close to the number of people killed in this pathetic war Congressman Walberg is trying to cheerlead. Sorry, Congressman, but your math sucks, so does your position on the war and so does your less than subtle race-baiting.

Even Fox News had to report this when former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld tried to spin the chaos and bloodshed in Iraq as something akin to an American city with a large population of blacks (wow, it's practically like a Republican talking point!):

a New York Times op-ed by two Brookings Institution researchers, Adriana Lins de Albuquerque and Michael O’Hanlon, claims that Baghdad’s murder rate is among the highest in the world. Supposedly Baghdad’s annualized murder rate from April to October this year ranged from an incredible 100 to 185 per 100,000 people -- a number, they pointed out, that averaged several times greater than the rate in Washington, D.C.

And while studies many report lower figures, chances are those were created by statistical sleight of hand and separating deaths into different types and thus reducing the real number of murders in Iraq. So, once you weed out the propaganda from the US military, it's obvious to anyone with half a brain that Congressman Walberg is full of it and should just apologize or at least spare us any more excuses of what he meant by his idiotic comparison of a Michigan city to a war zone.

The war in Iraq is a disastrous nightmare and most Iraqis live in daily fear of car bombings, kidnappings, and the everyday terror that Tim Walberg would be scared shitless to truly see up close. Tim Walberg's term can't come to an end soon enough. Hopefully this time the moderate voices in the Republican Party will step up and do the right thing and send this idiot back to Tipton or, failing that, the Democrats draft a worthy and capable candidate to defeat a man who compares American cities to countries in the midst of a Neo Con-created Civil War.

Simply put, Tim Walberg is a stupid, lying sack of crap... Hey, I meant that as a compliment!

A hypocrite of Biblical proportions

2007-03-25T17:28:00.000-05:00

“He who is exalted shall be humbled. He who is humble shall be exalted.”
— Jesus Christ, from the book of Matthew in the Gospels

According to a recent press release, Pastor Rus Sarver is retiring at Grace Brethren Church in Hastings. Is this time for real? Sarver has been trying to step down for a long time, so long he has been referred to as “Pastor Emeritus” at the church for quite a spell. It appears the wily old minister has a difficult time giving up on his grip on power over his flock which he sometimes seems to think extends far out into the community at large. Why should I care, you may ask? What’s a retiring small town pastor got to do with a political blog on the world wide web that should be focused on much more important matters? Let me explain...

Rus Sarver has been a very public player in Hastings and Barry County for a long time. He’s been the unofficial president of the local chapter of Flat Earth Society, publicly speaking derisively of evolution as “monkey talk.” He was the founder of the “Let’s Perfect the Family” movement that went virtually nowhere. He’s been this area’s greatest promoter of Saul of Tarsus, AKA the Apostle Paul, through his monthly sermons disguised as letters to the editor in the Hastings Banner. He also has had the quaint custom of placing a small advertisement in the Reminder, the local shopping guide, every week, quoting passages from the Scriptures and providing the service of interpreting them for the reader, according to his own theological views.

Rus Sarver is well thought of in many circles in the area, so beloved that a few years ago he was presented with the coveted Book of Golden Deeds Award, which meant he got to be the grand marshal of the Hastings Summerfest Parade. Though he certainly can be affable and grandfatherly when he is encountered, he also shows telltale signs of being the stern old fuddy-duddy who is out of touch with modern reality, he has been guilty of deliberate deceit, he has been all too guilty of a “my way or no way” attitude and he has been demonstrated to be a hypocrite of Biblical proportions.

From where I’ve been sitting, Rus Sarver is a prime example of the Pharisees and teachers whom Jesus warned about in the Bible.

Sarver’s sermons in the Banner rarely have offered a point of view except that he has the answers to all problems and is the master interpreter of what Scriptures tell us. About 80 to 90 percent of his quotes have been from biblical books of Galatians, Phillippians, Romans, Corinthians, Thessalonians and the like, all of which were letters written by the former Saul of Tarsus, who had been magically transformed into the Apostle Paul. Only occasionally has Rus slipped in something from Matthew, Mark, Luke or John, also known as the Gospels. The Gospels quote Jesus Christ, not Saul of Tarsus. So Pastor Rus seems to be less of a follower of Jesus (a Christian), and more of a disciple of the writings of the Apostle Paul who actually never met Christ and, in fact, spent his time before his conversion trying to eliminate the cult of Christ.

Then there was the question about leading the charge for the movement known as “Let’s Perfect the Family.” Pastor Rus reportedly did not show up at his granddaughter’s wedding, citing a conference he decided to attend instead. I’m almost entirely certain his granddaughter somehow had offended him because she did not follow his stern instructions on how to lead her life reportedly because she "lived in sin" before her wedding. How can anyone teach us how to “perfect the family” and then not show up for his granddaughter’s most important day of her life, regardless of the reason?

Then there was the affair of the deliberate deception. Banner Editor David T. Young told me in a recent conversation about the soon-to-retire pastor that a few years ago, while Rus was getting his monthly “letter” into the newspaper, a couple of letters arrived on the editor’s desk that looked and sounded suspiciously a lot like the missives of the good pastor. Both were purported to be written by inmates at the county jail, who had found the Lord, but there some unmistakable handprints from Sarver. The inmates made use of key words such as “agape” and “right-wise-ness,” both of which Young said he had never seen nor heard written nor uttered by anyone else. The letters were typewritten in the same manner Sarver has sent his monthly sermons to the Banner. The only difference was that the signatures at the bottom, hand written and barely legible, were of these inmates. Young said he merely put the phony letters aside without printing them.

One has to wonder about the integrity of a minister who writes phony letters to the newspaper advancing his point of view and then has some poor schmuck in jail sign them so he can get his letters in the paper more than just once a month. It was deliberate deception, and I’m sure it happens more than we care to admit, but when a man of the cloth is the perpetrator, what are we to think? Sure the offense may seem minor when considered as a simple act of trying to "spread the word" but when one thinks of it as a willing manipulation of "true believers" you have to wonder how many more things like this he engaged in that haven't been discovered?

The integrity and hypocrisy of Ted Haggard was called into question when it was learned he was playing footsie with a male prostitute while leading the change against homosexuality in the great state of Colorado. The integrity and hypocrisy of Jimmy Swaggart was questioned when he was caught red-handed with a prostitute and then cried crocodile tears on national television. Rush Limbaugh demonized drug users on his radio show, but avoided being prosecuted for his own illegal possession and purchase of prescription pain killers and then got caught carrying illegal Viagra coming back from a sex tourist vacation. Jim Bakker preached about sin on the PTL Club on national TV and then got busted for fleecing his flock. Newt Gingrich railed against the decline in morals in America, yet he was having an extramarital affair while going after President Bill Clinton for a blow job in the Oval Office. Former Education Secretary Bill Bennett even wrote a book “the Death of Outrage,” about America’s declining morals, and then was outed for being a huge gambling addict.

The list goes on, and I maintain Pastor Sarver belongs on it. I don’t think his motivation has been money like so many of the others. I think it’s been a power trip, the need to dominate, to tell others how to live righteous (right-wise).

Sarver’s son has been the Hastings police chief for nearly two decades and rumor has it he’s about to retire. Jerry Sarver seems to have been a reasonably adept chief, but I’ve been told the acorn didn’t fall far from the tree in terms of attitude and lust for power and control. Both Sarvers will go out with the band playing but Christians who take the words of Jesus Christ seriously should examine them again and take a good hard look at whether all along we’ve been exalting Pharisees.

One last thing: I've thought long and hard about whether I wanted to write this since I'm often criticized for being nasty and overly-personal on this blog but finally I decided that what I've written here needed to be said. And to quote the late comedian Bill Hicks, if you're a Christian and you don't like what I've said, "then forgive me."

Go Blue! No, really... just go...

2007-03-19T19:10:00.000-05:00

I read with some interest the news articles this past week about Lansing’s planned cutbacks in state police trooper levels in several places, including one position in Hastings. It seems the budget crisis really is getting serious when they start laying off cops since public safety ranks right up there with "supporting the troops" in the rankings of political third rails. Yet I’m not certain Hastings and Barry County will be such big losers if state troopers are reduced, or for that matter, eliminated.

Hastings is one of the more unusual communities its size in this state because it has a city police department, a county sheriff’s department and a state police post, all headquartered in a city with a population barely over 7,000. I haven’t done my math, but it would seem to me that Hastings has a very high ratio of cops to citizens. And I repeat, I’m not sold on the idea it’s necessary for effective protection of Barry County residents. I’m not sure Hastings and Barry County are safer than other similar-sized communities in Michigan. Let the State Police go where they are needed and let the local cops do the law enforcement work they should be doing instead of setting speed traps and cruising around looking to bust people for drug use so the department can score some free money for flashy cars and new gear.

The wedding between Hastings and Barry County and the Michigan State Police has been a rocky one at best over these past 30 years. In days gone by, the western part of Barry County, specifically Gun Lake, was covered entirely by Michigan State Police from the Wayland post. Somehow, in the mid-1970s, somebody got the notion that Hastings needed its own post. Led by later Barry County Commissioner Ethel Boze, the dream came true. Wayland didn’t do a particularly bad job. In fact, its detective, Sgt. Robert Golm, was regarded as one of the best, and it was Golm who did the bulk of the gumshoe work in high profile cases, and he was pretty good at it. Regardless, eventually Hastings was “blessed” with a state police “team” and then later its own post.

My feeling has been that at best the state police have represented an overrated appendage to law enforcement in these parts. At worst, their presence has brought an added element of bullying and intimidation to local law enforcement. I’ve heard plenty of nasty stories and seen plenty of examples about state cops being arrogant and all-powerful in their attitudes rather than presenting themselves as servants and protectors of the public.

And don’t get me started on the leadership we’ve had to endure over the years. Though we’ve also had to put up with the arrogance and control freak displays of the likes of failed State Rep. Gary Newell, Greg Kruisenga and Ron Neil, control freaks all. Does anyone else remember the infamous photo in the Hastings Banner of a state police cruiser parked in a “no parking” spot in front of the Courts and Law building? If that isn’t arrogance, I don’t know what is. I remember Banner Editor David T. Young telling me he would have never published the photo if the state police had been more cooperative and less arrogant. Young said he first would have called Commander Kruisenga and warned him not to let his troopers do something like that again. Yeah, he would have just given him a warning. I was also told of more than a few stories about state cops harassing Dave Brinkert because he had the audacity to run for state representative against their former commander Gary Newell in 2004.

Let’s not forget the warnings of our friend “Ag3,” who has pointed out state police cronies such as Neil, Newell, Steve DeBoer and Charlie Nystrom consistently have covered each others’ backsides. Nystrom, a notorious bully at the 911 dispatch center, has managed to alienate just about every woman who has worked for him. Though he may not be guilty of any criminal wrongdoing, if he was a department head or supervisor just about anywhere else, he would have been dismissed a long time ago for ineffective leadership and very simply being a lousy boss. Neil and state police sycophants such as Lani Forbes, Don Boysen, Jim Carr and Jim Brown have managed to keep their buddy employed and their excuses for his behavior are endless. But their “Wall of Blue” in protecting the colors is not good public policy.

I admit I was somewhat surprised a couple of years ago when it was announced which three state police posts would be eliminated. I was almost sure Hastings was going to get the ax because it seemed to me to be the least needed post in Michigan. But I didn’t take into account that the Hastings former commander that year was our state representative.

Some day, after this state suffers more budget crises, the Michigan State Police post in Hastings finally will be eliminated. I won’t shed any tears. State police in this town and this county have been a lot like the director of emergency management — a horrible waste of taxpayers’ money under the guise of keeping us safe. We spend far too much money on public safety in this country, mostly because we’ve been conned into thinking Big Brother will protect us against the Islamic terrorist menace that hardly knows Hastings or Barry County exist. We incarcerate more people per capita than any other country in the world, even more than Russia and South Africa. And are we any safer than any other country?

When it comes to cutting the state budget, as far as I’m concerned, let the state police post in Hastings go, quit wasting money on busting potheads and start formulating public safety policies based on reason rather than fear. It’s up to us to slay a sacred cow: call or write State Representative Brian Calley and call or write State Senator Patty Birkholz

and let them know that if they are serious about cutting the state budget before raising any more revenue, we've got a good place for them to start...

Balancing Michigan's budget- a better idea?

2007-03-11T17:50:00.000-05:00

It isn’t that often when the Detroit Free Press and the Hastings Banner (in the form of an editorial from J-Ad Graphics Vice President Fred Jacobs) editorially do the same thing, but it happened, I swear, earlier this month.

The Free Press, in response to breaking news that super bank Comerica, sponsor of the Detroit Tigers’ ballfield with the same name, is packing its bags and taking its corporate headquarters to Dallas (even though the actual number of jobs lost isn't as large as many of the plant closings that have come before the move itself is symbolic that Michigan is in dire straights- perhaps because the job cuts are finally gnawing at the upper crust who've previously actually benefited during the economic downturn). The newspaper used the development to send an editorial message to Gov. Jennifer Granholm and the State Legislature that Michigan is in serious trouble and something needs to be done. The Freep seemed to be saying something like “If this doesn’t get your attention, we don’t know what will!”

Jacobs has been saying these same kinds of things for quite some time now, jabbing at State Senator Patty Birkholz for introducing “feel-good,” but meaningless legislation to change the state bird and require the Pledge of Allegiance in public school classrooms. He’s been railing against deadlocked and near do-nothing Lansing for quite some time now, saying serious problems need serious problem-solving efforts instead.

While both Jacobs and the Free Press are correct in admonishing our legislators and Granholm, there is one crucial ingredient they’re missing — offering possible solutions to the economic crisis themselves. Those who point out Michigan is in deep economic shit only have a keen grasp of the obvious.

Of course Jacobs and many Republicans privately are dragging out and dusting off that old supply-side mantra from the Reagan years — “tax cuts for business and yet more tax cuts for business.” They hold that the way to stimulate Michigan’s stale economy is to make it cheaper and easier for job providers to do business. Then eventually, as business perks up, the huddled poor and masses of workers will reap the benefits from the trickle down effect. But we’ve been down this road time and time again, not just with Reagan 25 years ago, but as far back as 1930 with Herbert Hoover, who believed in and practiced funneling government money and support from the top (who just happened to be his rich campaign supporters) and then hoping it somehow and eventually makes it to the bottom. As the country was cheerfully singing “Happy Days Are Here Again” and hearing slogans such as “Prosperity Is Just Around the Corner,” things got even worse and the infamous Great Depression followed the infamous stock market crash of Oct. 29, 1929.

In more modern times, Reagan took a modified approach to Hoover’s with the Laffer Curve, the policy of supply-side economics. Many believed Reagan oversaw a great economic boom, but actually he and George Herbert Walker Bush in 12 years built the greatest budget deficit in U.S. history — that is until Bush’s clueless and dangerous son assumed power.

It just amazes me that so many from the GOP keep chanting that tax cut mantra today. George W. Bush has been hailed for engineering several tax cuts in his first few years in office, and the result (surprise!) has been a terrific increase in wealth for the top 1% of U.S. wage earners and a decrease, factored for inflation, in wages for middle-income people.

But we’re told Michigan is in a one-state recession, which has more than a grain of truth because of our heavy reliance on the auto industry (who've made some piss poor decisions over the last few years like banking on cheap oil and a continued thirst for SUVs) and manufacturing (which was killed as a viable sector of the economy when several free trade agreements were signed into law). With the global economy and continuing move away from manufacturing to lower paying service jobs, we’ll feel the hurt more than just about anybody else.

Jacobs and the Freep are not alone in wanting lower taxes. Judging by State Rep. Brian Calley’s special town hall meeting on property taxes late last month, just about everybody who bothered to show up (and here we have to take a pinch of salt since the demographic most likely to show up at this was the anti-tax crowd which was exactly what happened, much to Calley's chagrin since he took a beating from the crowd he thought would be on his side) thinks state government is fat and rich and can afford to make more cuts to balance its budget. Calley himself claimed state government has grown its budget by $3 billion over the last four years, despite the cutbacks claim.

But it’s basic arithmetic to understand that when you take in less revenue, you have less money to spend on services you provide. The question then becomes either cut the “fat” or raise more revenue. But where’s the “fat?” I’m tired of cutting state services to people. I think the purpose of government is to provide us with essential services we can’t afford to buy ourselves. Each of us can’t afford a cop, a teacher or a fireman, so we all make a contribution to hire such needed people. Governor Granholm has cut spending every year she's been in office and we've seen Republicans in charge in the state for over a decade- why didn't they cut the fat when they had the chance?

Close to home, Barry County has felt the pain of a $75,000 "trimming thee fat" cut to Green Gables domestic violence shelter. We want the state to cut expenses, but not the ones that affect us. Somewhere else are people who will cry foul when their program is eliminated or support is severely reduced. So it’s either cut programs or raise taxes to balance the budget. I'm tired of kicking mentally ill people into the streets where they become homeless and often end up in prison. I'm tired of telling the poor to fend for themselves while giving fat cat business big tax breaks. I'm tired of telling women getting knocked around by their spouses that there's no where to go. I'm tired of telling kids that college is only for the rich or those willing to gamble on being able to pay off their massive student loans. I'm tired of making people with cancer put out coffee cans to collect spare change to pay for chemotherapy because in the richest nation of earth, which already spends more on health care than any other country, they cannot have access to the medicine they need to live! I'm tired of pretending that if only Michigan were a little more like Mississippi our economy will grow into... well, last I checked they weren't very high up on any lists except number of people in poverty.

Unlike the Freep and Fred Jacobs, I actually have a couple of suggestions:
I once again propose and urge State Representative Brian Calley to support eliminating the Michigan State Senate (I ask all the people scared of this proposal: If they're so damn vital to good governance why haven't they done anything to solve this crisis?!), thereby saving at least $50 million a year and not reducing any essential services; that the Senate building and its contents be sold; that the state income tax be raised from 3.9 percent back to its old level of 4.6%; that all non-violent “criminals” such as marijuana users and sellers be released from costly prisons and re-sentenced to community service (which could also serve a two-fold purpose of working towards public works project to improve the state while also perhaps getting jobs and getting back on the tax rolls and help us get out of this mess instead of rotting in jail and eating up valuable tax revenue that should be spent elsewhere), and eliminating lifetime health care and retirement for all legislators should be enacted (which Calley is already on record as supporting- so let's see him convince his colleagues to do it).

These suggestions actually would only be a part of the total solution, but I challenge others to come up with ideas on how to save money without hurting essential services for the people. It is my firm belief, to borrow the phrase from the late Hubert Humphrey, that what I propose would do little if any harm to citizens, restore state government solvency and perhaps jump start the economy once again.

What I propose, as opposed to the Neo-Laffer crowd, is not to help the corporate CEO buy a new yacht, but help ordinary citizens cope with a tough situation and meet primary obligations and responsibilities which has a much more immediate and direct impact on the local and state economy (as opposed to letting a billionaire invest in a Chinese factory to make goods to be sold at Wal-Mart for instance). Oh, and it might also trickle up to the guys who own the businesses so maybe they can get their yacht after all- AFTER the working men and women of Michigan are able to pay their bills and have affordable and decent health care.

Go ahead and attack these ideas but, as Ford Motor Company used to say, if you do then present a better idea.

Christian Curtis cares only for #1

2007-03-02T20:40:00.000-05:00

“Jesus loves me, but He can’t stand you.”
— The Austin Lounge Lizards

A story last weekend in the Grand Rapids Press sports pages on local boy and former big leaguer Chad Curtis is yet another example of those who use their so-called Christian faith to hammer their opponents and expose their own selfishness.

In a story that should be regarded as astonishing because it appeared in print, some rehashing was made of Curtis’ public criticism in 1999 of New York Yankee teammate and shortstop Derek Jeter for fraternizing with the enemy during a brawl with the Seattle Mariners. It seems that Jeter and then-Mariner superstar Alex Rodriguez were friends and took a brawl during a game as an opportunity to chat amicably rather than engage in a barbaric practice that’s outside the rules of baseball yet mostly condoned by MLB and cheered on by the fans and sports casters. Curtis apparently questioned Jeter’s manhood and loyalty for not joining the fracas. I guess someone should ask Curtis: "Who Would Jesus Hit?"

Curtis, who grew up in Middleville and now lives in the Caledonia area, apparently believes that in order to be a true athlete you must treat your enemy with scorn, derision or downright hostility, that you certainly shouldn’t treat the opposition with respect. I'm sure many reading this will think I'm making some wild leap of logic but I think it’s that kind of Neanderthal thinking that continues to get the United States into dumb and costly wars like in Iraq and Vietnam. It's a symptom of a culture and society that thinks being "number 1" is the goal no matter how you get there. It's also shows that often someone can give lip service to practicing Christianity without actually understanding what Jesus was trying to teach.

However, the non-story published in the GR Press Sunday simply once again pointed to Curtis’ character, or lack thereof. Chad Curtis always has been a selfish, spoiled child, and because he’s a big-time Major Leaguer, he gets respect he doesn’t deserve.

Curtis, while he was playing for the California Angels back in the early 1990s, once came to an elementary classroom at Thornapple Kellogg in Middleville to tell the kiddies all about how being a good Christian has a lot to do with being a success. Not long afterward, the Angels traded him, with the manager commenting he rarely, if ever, had seen a player more selfish than Curtis.

By the time Curtis finally gave up his baseball career, he had played for seven teams in 10 years. He was swapped around an awful lot, and I heard not very many teams were willing to put up with his behavior. In one case, it was reported that he got into a altercation with a teammate, leading to his being asked to pack his bags yet again. Not exactly what I would call a good, Christian role model for the kiddies.

After he retired, he came back to this area with his riches and he bought a horse ranch near Alto and after earning a bachelor’s degree, he landed an elementary teaching position at Caledonia. He became close friends with now discredited former Superintendent Wes VanDenburg, who attempted to engineer the hiring of Curtis as head varsity baseball coach, even though the Caledonia High School Fighting Scots had done pretty well of late.

Curtis eventually landed the job, though VanDenburg got the ax after it was determined the school chief had played fast and loose with his credit card and expense accounts. When he was arrested, Curtis posted bail.

In one of the more bizarre school board meetings anyone will ever see, VanDenburg, just before he was canned, showed school board members a video of Curtis hitting a World Series game-winning homer for the Yankees. So what’s that got to do with education?

We live in a society that worships athletes far more than what they deserve and pay them far more than what they deserve. It’s gotten so bad that we even listen to their advice rather than more worthy or knowledgeable people, and we even elect them to positions they don’t deserve because of their celebrity status.

And in more recent years we’ve been subjected to their selfish and public pronouncements that “God loves me so much he makes the outcome of my career and contests be in my favor.” A few examples:

Remember that big girl who played for Jerry Falwell’s Liberty University a couple of years ago, who said during an NCAA tournament press conference that the Lord was on her team’s side and they would win it all? Falwell and company were squashed big time in their next ballgame.
Remember Tigers’ pitcher Frank Tanana, after shutting out the Toronto Blue Jays in a playoff game in 1987, saying on TV, “I’d like to thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for this moment?” Tanana’s career didn’t go places after that.
Remember the New York Giants and Buffalo Bills players on each sideline praying as the Bills’ kicker was set to kick the winning field goal in the Super Bowl? Apparently, God was a Giants fan.
Remember Monte Clark’s infamous prayer in the Lions’ 1983 playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers, when Eddy Murray missed a 41-yard field goal that would have won it. Must be God loves Frisco, but He can’t stand Clark.

But once again, after reading the GR Press article, I wondered why this was news. It seems A. Rod and Jeter are no longer best of friends, which prompted some ace sports reporter to dredge up an incident from more than seven years earlier. Maybe this story would have been more appropriate on the cover of “People,” or better yet, the National Inquirer. Or maybe it really was appropriate in the pages of the Grand Rapids Press, a newspaper that should really be printed on toilet paper so it can serve it's proper function: taking care of #2.

West Michigan Politics

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