Of course, if we're talking Democratic leadership we'd be remiss not to mention the headlines coming out of the Governor's first Michigan "home" over in Wayne County.  Because they care.  Jennifer Granholm and John Cherry care.  Really. Promise.

The Ivory Tower reports, though, that City Democrats and the bureaucrats they've appointed haven't had the stones to make any significant change in a police department that was cited, right or wrong, in 2003 for some pretty nasty violations.

...The legal agreements city officials signed in 2003 with the U.S. Department of Justice's civil rights division over questionable shootings of civilians, illegal dragnet arrests and inhumane treatment of prisoners, have remained unfulfilled for six years with no end in sight.

"Where we are is unsatisfactory," Detroit Deputy Mayor Saul Green said last week. "Mayor Bing recognizes that and we're not going to accept it."

Since signing the so-called consent decrees in 2003, only 73 of the 203 provisions -- 36% -- have been met, according to the last review, released in February. The next report is due this week and little improvement is expected.

And isn't that encouraging.  So much for the importance of "social justice," eh?

Meanwhile, an Associated Press headline out of Saginaw, Michigan proclaims "Michigan food banks struggle to feed hungry children."  Not because folks aren't making donations and not because doors are being closed.  Because there are suddenly a lot more hungry children in a state with an unemployment rate approaching 20 percent.  

An economy in collapse, the state's largest police department (in a 100% Dem city) from the Governor's 'home town' in violation of 64 percent of federal justice provisions and kids going hungry.  

Something tells me we won't see that on any of his campaign billboards but as of July 13, 2009, that is undeniably and unavoidably John Cherry's Michigan.  And January 2011 can't get here soon enough.