Tag: Fake Tea Party

Perhaps it is by design.

One thing of particular interest to bloggers and out-of-mainstream writers is the legislative effort to curb access to information and the ability to report by 'just anyone'.  It had popped up a couple of years ago when a Michigan legislator, State senator Bruce Patterson (perhaps twirling his handlebar mustache a little too tight) had the idea of 'licensing journalists'.

"Introduced by Sen. Bruce Patterson (R) on May 11, 2010, to create a government "Board of Michigan Registered Reporters" to pass on the qualifications under criteria established in the bill for an individual who seeks to use the title "Michigan Registered Reporter." An individual who writes or creates news stories, commentaries or editorials for a newspaper, online news outlet or radio or TV broadcaster, and who wants to use this title, would have to pay a $10 fee, and have either a journalism degree, at least three years experience as a reporter, submit writing samples, present evidence of awards or recognitions, present a letter of recognition from a reporter who is "registered," etc."

In fairness, it should be noted he was 'cool' with non credentialed types using the title 'reporter'.

However, other efforts to control information are still surfacing as Michigan legislators are attempting to limit the flow of information to the public in a way that allows only CERTAIN reporters access to public records. :

"The bill considers a journalist to be "an employee of a radio or television station licensed by the Federal Communications Commission" or "an employee of a newspaper."

If it were only these efforts?

Jason Bauer, the former Oakland County Democratic Party operative who was busted for his role in last summer's failed attempt to qualify a slate of tea party candidates for the Michigan ballot, pleaded no contest this morning to five felonies related to the scheme.

Bauer, 31, of Waterford entered the plea of nolo contendere (which is not an admission of guilt but is treated as a conviction under Michigan law) to all of the charges for his role in what became known as "the fake tea party," an elaborate effort to siphon votes away from Republicans in the 2010 election by running a slate of candidates under the tea party banner.

The fake Tea Party has filed an application for leave to appeal with the Michigan Supreme Court, asking that court to overturn the Michigan Court of Appeals, a panel of which voted unanimously that the FTP should not be on the November ballot. With the much publicized departure of E. Weaver and the elevation of Alton Davis, this will be the first rule-of-law test for the newly constituted Supreme Court.

Often we will find ourselves with opposing viewpoints from the Ivory Tower.  There is a point I guess, when things become more than obvious, and "bad" can be called what it is.   Apparently today we are allies:

If voters' faith has already been shaken by the corruption we've seen in southeast Michigan and the inability of public officials around the state to work together to solve our problems, this Tea Party nonsense rattles it further.

And how desperate do Michigan Democrats look by trying to pull this off? It's almost an admission that the party's candidates need something other than merit to win this fall.

The editorial is correct in questioning who planned, financed etc..  

The lawyer, Michael Hodge, is expected to be challenging the 2-2 decision by the board of canvassers tomorrow.  Who might he present as willing to stand for the party?  Will Mark Steffek show up? What of Jason Bauer, who now bears the tire tracks of Michigan Democrats on his back? Benson and Brewer, and McGuinness, Democrats who have effectively "blanket partied" that fourth stooge at the OCDP sure as heck won't, but will be there in spirit.. to be sure.

All I can say is I wouldn't want to be the dog waiting to be kicked when the Oakland County Chair gets home.  

According to the Detroit News, the Oakland County Democrat Party will:

"review its protocols after reports that a top staffer appears to be among the operatives behind the effort to get Tea Party candidates registered in Michigan.

County party Chairman Mike McGuinness said operations director Jason Bauer may have crossed the line when he notarized many of the affidavits filed by 23 candidates trying to get on the November ballot as members of the newly formed Tea Party."

He crossed the line.. the line on the side of the road.  Then he was hit by the bus McGuinness is driving, then backing up.

Embrace it..  

Now some of you might think that coming up with new Green Party candidates to fill the ticket might be the appropriate response.  I know that the temptation to tit-for-tat gerrymandering of people's leftist tendencies is great, but we don't operate that way..  The Green Party will do that all by themselves just fine.  We don't need to slip into the same deceptive methods that only bring us to their level.

I am not sure who said it first, but to be sure we have seen that imagery can be used to evoke emotion, tell a story, provide an answer, or even compel some to action.  A thousand words of comfort, hope, or wisdom that are sometimes contained in even the most simple graphical representation.  Its why logos are created, market tested, trademarked, and sometimes at great expense protected from those who would damage the brand that relies on such imagery to convey its value.

The Gadsden flag, showing a coiled up snake ready to strike those who would trespass on our rights, hangs on my wall, over my desk, in a place so conspicuous, that customers who enter my office, leave with no doubts as to who I am.  My story is told.