The hope is the rebate and business incentives will spark a rush of springtime spending and jumpstart the nation's slowing economy, which many economists now fear is already in or near a recession.

"It could result in a pretty substantial lift in spending concentrated in the second half of the year," said Dana Johnson, chief economist for Comerica Inc.

That'd certainly be good news.  No looking a gift horse in the mouth.  Just as long as we remember that that's exactly what we've got here, though.  A gift.  The kind the federal government really shouldn't be giving out.  You'll probably get a tax rebate. I'll probably get a tax rebate.  But there are plenty of folks out there who don't pay a dime in taxes.  They will be getting a gift.  And guess who'll be paying for it... gotta love the redistribution of wealth.

That said, there are a few folks in Michigan who could legitimately use that rebate. Though there are ways the "stimulus" package could have been improved.  Back to The News:

"I'm grading it a 'C'," said David Sowerby, planning adviser for Loomis, Sayles & Co. L.P. Sowerby had given 'A' grades to three previous major stimulus packages created by President Bush. But because this latest effort is a one-time check and not a permanent tax cut, Sowerby and other economists are skeptical the rebates will provide a lasting boost to the economy.

"Historically, one-time events like rebates have less bang for the buck in fueling consumer spending compared to permanent tax cuts," Sowerby said.

Permanent tax cuts.  The next time anyone here talks to someone from out of state you'll have to ask what those are like.  It's been a while since we saw one here in Michigan.  Heck, we're going in the opposite direction.  

But that's OK.  We don't need jobs and brainpower and economic growth.  We have the Mayor of Detroit and his text message affair, firing of police officers, perjury and subsequent cover-up to keep us entertained while our jobs continue to evaporate. Bread and circuses.  Bread and freaking circuses.

No worries.  Open up the big top.  The Detroit Free Press, the newspaper that uncovered the text message scandal in the first place, seems to be working up the gumption to call for the Mayor to step down.  They got really close over the weekend but just haven't quite crested that hill.  

It all adds up to some difficult weeks and months ahead for Mayor Kilpatrick as he awaits the outcome of a criminal investigation and, very likely, a slew of new civil suits over past matters seen in the new light of this text-message scandal. In his church apology speech, Kilpatrick told Detroiters: "I would never quit on you. Ever. We've got a lot of work to do."

Yes, but how does the mayor think he's going to be able to get it done?

See what they're saying?  Without having to actually say it?  Creative, boys and girls.  That was creative.  Does that op-ed come with a playful elbow jab, a wink and a nod?  If you've got something to say just come out and say it.  You certainly didn't have a problem laying out the reasons the man should step aside:

Really, in any area meeting where he represents the city, all that needs to happen is for the mayor's cell phone or text pager to go off, and what are people going to think? Always a commanding presence, the mayor will now command the wrong kind of attention.

Speaking of elections, the mayor's problems likely make him more of a political liability than asset. The Democratic presidential candidate is unlikely to be zipping into Detroit to seek Kilpatrick's blessing. Consequently, that means the city's issues, which are in many ways the important issues facing urban America, get less of the national attention they need, and Detroit's clout is diminished.

OK, OK.  So the first reason there was better than the second.  I'm sure I don't HAVE to remind the Ivory Tower but I will anyways.  The Democrat presidential candidate is unlikely to be zipping into Detroit period.  He or she hasn't visited yet and doesn't have any dates on the calendar between now and November. Remember, Michigan is persona non-grata.  Heck, Hussein Obama's even got his people attempting to move the Great Lakes State into third world dictatorship territory by invalidating a legal election just because he doesn't like the results.  

Nothing says "I respect Michigan voters" like trying to invalidate legal, unchallenged, entirely accurate voting results.  

I think I liked it better when the man just ignored us.