Tag: michigan supreme court

First it starts off with the appropriate culling of hypocrisy as seen in the Diane Hathaway debacle.  Hathaway, of course was the recipient of the infamous sleeping judges ad, where in a lie, an actor was hired to 'represent' justice Taylor sleeping while on duty.  Hathaway won easily at that time as Michiganders were horrified to think that such a thing could happen on the Michigan Supreme Court.  Strangely, there was nary a peep THIS TIME from the folk calling foul in THAT election, but for a few "I don't cares" coming from the lefty side apologists.

Clifford Taylor wins the moral battle to be sure.

First off, any conservative who thinks that we should do anything else but vote for Pete Hoekstra, and Mitt Romney is off their nut.  There are absolutely differences between those two and their opponents.  The damage brought about by twelve years of Debbie Stabenow type thinking in the US Senate, and a mere three and a half years of Barack Obama as commander in chief is Awesome. And not in a good way. Their mindset and ideals are incompatible with a Republican form of government guaranteed by Article 4, Section 4 of our constitution.

Incompatible with a country ruled by law, not men.

Today's paper highlighted however, the unfortunate condition of our candidates vying for those positions of such importance; President, US Senator, and Michigan Supreme Court.

With the carefully placed articles in the local papers, we have a problem. Articles about how Romney is failing to Obama in 'key' states, and George Weeks inflating Pete Hoekstra's record so he could pop it like a balloon, to a Lessenberry column 'introducing' Bridget Mary McCormack's message to a state that doesn't know who she is:

"Nor is she a traditional candidate. Most Supreme Court nominees have been former senators, governors, or appellate and circuit court judges. McCormack is a popular law professor at the University of Michigan and director of the school's legal clinics.

"I have always been concerned with the legal profession's impact on real people," said McCormack, a young-looking 46-year-old who her law school dean described as having, besides an infectious grin, "an infectious commitment to her craft, a subtle, powerful mind (and), an astonishing work ethic." Not to mention, time management skills; she and her husband, White House senior counsel Steven Croley, have a commuter marriage and a "blended family" of four teenagers."

Not much of a soft sell eh?

Never mind the fact that the left is would up like a nine day clock in support of her candidacy. she is ALL Hollywood folks. In fact they have already put out a viral video where the former cast of an NBC show (West Wing) is actually referring to McCormack as "Hot". By golly! If that is the best qualification for the Michigan Supreme Court? Then rule-of-law be damned.  Stake out the local "Toddlers & Tiaras" competitions for the next generations of our top legal referees!

The GOP convention was this past weekend, and as several news agencies have reported, the anger with the GOP-majority Justices of the Michigan Supreme Court was palpable.  In a particularly detailed account, MIRS (subscription required) reported that the Justices "faced a frosty reception," although that characterization may be a bit of an understatement.  MIRS went on to report that if there had been more time before the convention, it is likely that Justices Markman and Zahra would have faced challenges to their seats, and that "some donors have asked for their money back from the Supreme Court race."  Former MRP executive director Greg McNeilly stated that he believes the Justices "made a political decision," and when asked what resources would be left for the GOP's Supreme Court candidates, McNeilly is quoted as responding "F--k them."  And this is just what was said publicly; "Most Republican powerbrokers didn't want to air their frustration publicly, but heated words privately, however, have been exchanged."

So is O'Brien fighting a grudge match?  Is this a "fight between unfriendly opponents?"

Republican Delegates recently received a letter from trial attorney Mike Rizik.  Mike Rizik has been a plaintiffs' personal injury lawyer and a 20-year member of the Michigan Trial Lawyers' Association.  The Michigan Trial Lawyers' Association, as you likely know, is Michigan's largest contributor to Democrat judicial candidates and the Democrat Party.

In particular, Young concisely and persuasively explains why the Court's decision was proper, even if conservatives may feel some disappointment that proposals that represent bad policy will make it to the ballot this November.  

The Patriot Act is a classic example of such a law.  And I do find myself chuckling just a little when an Amber Alert mentions a missing 14-year-old girl, last seen headed out of town with a 19-year-old man . . . yeah, you know what's probably really happening.  Also on this list are the various elements of sex offender registration.  Between Megan's Law, the Wetterling Act, and the Adam Walsh Act we have I don't know how many different ways to permanently screw up other people's lives over nothing, for no other reason than because we as a society lack the testicular fortitude to deal with bona fide sex offenders according to their crime.

An example in my mind is a high school kid here in Kentwood a couple of years back who streaked across the football field during the final home game of the season . . . not even out of high school, and an overreactive law has already thrown out the rest of his productive life.  (Back in my day, the only LEO involvement in such an incident would be to escort the student in question home and turn him over to the parents for disciplinary action.)  I mean seriously, in Michigan you can land on the sex offender registry for nothing more offensive than cussing in public, which is a real concern for a career sailor such as myself.

And then there are other shortfalls.