Tag: U of M Regent

In the same week that Detroit announced its bankruptcy, a state board unanimously approved plans for a new hockey arena for the Red Wings -- a decision that has raised a few eyebrows among critics.

The new arena will be funded in part with $284 million in tax dollars.

"You've got this city that can't even afford to keep streetlights on, that's talking about selling off its art museum, and here they're talking about giving anywhere between $150 million and $300 million to the Red Wings for a new arena," said "Field of Schemes" author Neil DeMause.

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder and others defended against criticism that the $650 million project should be financed entirely with private money because the city currently can't provide basic services and retirees are facing cuts in their pensions.

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Because bankruptcy was avoided in Detoilet by taxpayer subsidized Comerica Park, and Ford Field.  Yessirree.  Southeast Michigan, and Lansing Nerdpublicans sure do have their priorities in order.  This all reminds me of the expression, like putting a diamond on a goat's ass.

"I know damn well that it really bothers my white brethren that a black family is occupying the White House," he says in the commercial.

TV commercials for Fieger's Southfield firm have kept him in Metro Detroiters' minds even when he's been otherwise out of the spotlight.

But one former partner, Vernon "Ven" Johnson, said he had enough of Fieger's "irrational, intimidating and aggressive behavior" and formally resigned from the firm by email May 13, 2011.

Johnson alleged professional misconduct, violation of state business law and other behavior caused him to quit his association with the controversial Fieger.

"The combination of intolerable behavior, broken promises and false representations, the mistreatment of clients, ethically questionable edicts, the loss of experienced trial attorneys, the failure to provide corporate books, records and accounts, as well as other actions ... resulted in a deterioration of the business and compelled (my) resignation," Johnson wrote in the complaint.

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C'mon Vern .. birds of a feather, dude.

We're told by the same people that wrote about Romney's dog 56 times that this whole Obama eating dogs story is trivial and an unserious distraction from the issues of the day. But it's not trivial. Bill takes a look at this President's history and points out just how different he is from ordinary America.

Obama was introduced by Ilitch as a "champion for Detroit when we needed one."

Some of the well-known guests were former Gov. Jim Blanchard, Southfield attorney Geoffrey Fieger, former Tiger great Willie Horton and ESPN commentator and University of Michigan basketball star Jalen Rose, according to the pooled report.

The room the guests were in included a grand piano, a sweeping staircase leading to an overlook and tables filled with gold-rimmed dishes, Waterford crystal and centerpieces of purple hydrangeas and peonies.

Dinner included lamb, risotto, asparagus and sweet potatoes.

No pizza with pupperoni, Denise?  

Dr. Rob Steele, a cardiologist and popular Republican announced yesterday that he would seek the U of M regent position.  From a press release yesterday:

Ann Arbor - Dr. Rob Steele announced today that he is running for the University of Michigan Board of Regents. He will seek to be nominated at the 2012 Michigan Republican Party Convention.

"As a fourth generation Wolverine, I am deeply committed to the continued success of one of the world's finest institutions for research and higher learning. I am extremely concerned with the affordability and access to the University for the best and brightest students from the State of Michigan. Keeping these students in the State for their education is the first step in keeping Michigan's intellectual capital at home; a step that is critical in securing the state's competitiveness in the future. The University of Michigan's total budget is over $5.5 billion, with more than half of that coming from federal research grants and the University Health System. It is time that the Board of Regents have at least one member of the board who has personal experience with research and medicine," said Dr. Steele.

Dr. Robert Steele grew up in Greenville Michigan. He was educated at the University of Michigan, graduating from Inteflex, the 6-year integrated pre-medical/medical program with his bachelor's degree (High Honors) in 1978, and his medical degree in 1981. Dr. Steele served as a clinical assistant professor of medicine at UM Medical School for more than 20 years.

In 2010, Steele was the GOP nominee against John Dingell. He held Dingell to his lowest percentage of vote in his 55-year career in Congress.

A founding shareholder of Michigan Heart P.C., he served many years on the Board of Directors and chaired the Finance Committee of the practice that grew to include over 30 physicians, and 300 employees with seven permanent and two satellite offices in five counties.  In 2011, Saint Joseph Mercy Health System acquired Michigan Heart P.C. Dr. Steele continues in the full-time practice of cardiology. He has previously served on the Board of Directors of a large non-profit managed care organization, and multiple community non-profits, as well as various medical staff, and physician
organization committees.

Dr. Steele and his wife, Phyllis Boniface MD, a psychiatrist with a busy practice specializing in psycho-pharmacology, have four children, including a son and a daughter who have graduated from college. They have one daughter in college and one attending public school in Ann Arbor.