Democrats

Cronyism, Democrats, Detroit, Rent Seeking, Republicans

Deep Pockets – Short Arms

by Corinthian Scales • June 18, 2014 • 1 Comment

Detroit’s planned 3.3-mile $137 million Woodward Avenue streetcar project faces a $12 million funding shortfall, and Michigan members of Congress warn the project could be in jeopardy unless the Transportation Department gives it more money.

A two-page letter to Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx obtained by The Detroit News on Tuesday warns that the project urgently needs additional grant money to proceed. But even without federal funds, officials of the so-called M-1 project says it would survive — but concede it might have to be scaled back.

Whoa! Has anyone looked at the top two names listed on the M-1 Rail Board of Directors? Click here. So, you mean to tell me that Roger Penske, or Dan Gilbert, both billionaires, can’t reach into their front pocket and pull out $6M each? YGBFKM. Better yet, if one looks a little further down the Board of Director names listed one will see Ilitch Holdings. How about giving a little back to the rest of us in the state, Mike and Marian? There you go. Penske, Gilbert, and Ilitch, can all pony up $3M each to cover the “shortfall”.

Funny how yet another .gov subsidized P3 project always has these budget “shortfalls,” isn’t it?

The May 1 letter, which has not previously been made public, discloses that Detroit applied for a supplemental $12.2 million grant from the Transportation Department’s TIGER grant program. The project received $25 million in federal funds from the program in January 2013.

“Without the requested $12.2 million TIGER grant, this important project will be delayed indefinitely, and we fear the resulting costs could make the project unaffordable,” said the letter signed by Sens. Carl Levin of Detroit, Debbie Stabenow of Lansing and Reps. Sander Levin of Royal Oak, John Dingell of Dearborn, John Conyers of Detroit and Gary Peters of Bloomfield Township. The lawmakers, all Democrats, urged Foxx to “award a TIGER grant to close the funding gap.”

Ah, all ~~Democrats~~ Socialists. I guess that is where the Ilitch’s paid their “fair share” already.

Subsidies in perpetuity! Get ready to keep paying up, Nerd voting suckers.

You Betcha!

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Democrats, Elections, Opinion, Philosophy

Tuesday’s TOTD

by Corinthian Scales • June 3, 2014 • 1 Comment

From Watergate, to Whitewater, to Benghazi… just *a victim* and inspiration to useful idiots.

You Betcha!

(11)Nuh Uh.

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All the Other Stuff, Conservative News, Democrats, Elections, Michigan

Depopulating The Upper Peninsula

by Jason • June 2, 2014 • 3 Comments

Under the new EPA rules that our congress (incl Dan Benishek) has ALLOWED to be developed, the probability of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula being vacated is elevated.

This is no hype.

The upper peninsula is served primarily by Coal fired electrical generation. Replacing that is cost prohibitive, and efforts to upgrade existing service has already begun, yet fails to meet the now even more stringent regulatory efforts by the Obama administration.

With even the cleanest combustion, the product is CO2 and water vapor. Both are greenhouse gasses, but one is being used as a lever by those who wish to get complete control over the population; where it lives, what it eats, and how it heals itself, etc..

The failure of Congress to remove funding for the EPA has allowed the poser in chief to continue ratcheting up the difficulty level for Americans to live without the threat of government shutting them down. This is not good policy, but rather a means to an end for an ideological presidency.

We have little time left. Start getting involved

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All the Other Stuff, Conservative News, Cronyism, Democrats, Detroit, Elections

We’re looking at a new level of cognitive dissonance coming from Lansing.

by KG One • June 1, 2014 • 2 Comments

A long time ago, I would be asked to accompany family members who wanted to go to the local Fretter or Highland whenever they wanted to buy any appliances/electronics (yes, I know that I’m dating myself here). They always had this question in mind, ‘How An Appliance Home Warranty Can Help Protect Your Budget?’ Part of it was because they knew that I had a vehicle big enough to bring home whatever they bought without much trouble. The other was that I could usually be counted on to hook it up after I brought it in.

One of the things I hated most about those experiences was dealing with the salesmen when actually making the purchase.

Even though my relatives were usually buying something listed in the newspaper ad so what we should be paying going out the door wasn’t a mystery, at the counter the salesman would always give them that sincere look and always ask them if they wanted to purchase additional items to go with what they were there to buy in the first place. Looking a little baffled at the salesman’s question and not appearing certain about how to answer, I’d step in at that point and tell them firmly, but politely, that I’ve hooked up enough TV’s, stereos, etc. to know what else I would need to get it to work and would’ve had it on the counter if we actually needed it. Being a little put off, but still undiscouraged, they turn to them again and ask about getting additional “warranty/insurance coverage” for their purchase. More often than not, it wasn’t any better than the manufacturer’s warranty. I strongly told them “no” for a second time.

At the time I didn’t know this, but they were using a technique called “upselling” which is a used for the benefit of the seller in additional to the actual sale of the item.

“Upselling” is also a technique being used by the Republican Leadership in Lansing to rationalize to the people they represent why they have abandoned their own stated principle of, ‘government practicing fiscal responsibility and allow individuals to keep more of the money they earn.’

{Continued below}

Cronyism, Democrats, Rent Seeking, Republicans

Taxpayers Take Another Swirl Around the Detoilet Bowl

by Corinthian Scales • May 30, 2014 • 1 Comment

Efficiency of government solutions? Howza ’bout a 22.9% ~~ROI~~ Return On Coercive Theft.

Then, there is this anathema.

Contractors said it was easy for costs to escalate. Often, the worst homes on the block were selected. Some needed expensive foundation repairs, lead and asbestos abatement and new plumbing and electrical systems. And many homes, especially in Boston Edison, are just big, adding to costs for roofing and other materials.

“Wherever we go in the city of Detroit, it has to be subsidized,” said Lisa Johanon, executive director of Central Detroit Christian Community Development Corp., a nonprofit that did two renovations. “It is costly, no doubt about it, but I think we have some stabilized neighborhoods.

“It’s just what it takes right now to get Detroit on its feet.”

Exit question: When did His Word become the words of a wealth redistributing commie? I must’ve missed that memo. Folks, it’s pretty basic. See HERE, and HERE.

A pox on their ☝ house.

You Betcha!

(16)Nuh Uh.

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Conservative News, Cronyism, Democrats, Elections, Michigan, Michigan Politics, Opinion, Philosophy, Republicans

Minimum Wage Insanity Passes GOP ‘Firewall’

by Jason • May 28, 2014 • 21 Comments

Sausage Grinding In All Its Glory. Minimum Wage Today, Higher Gas Taxes Tomorrow.

In a move reportedly designed to head off a ballot initiative, a higher minimum wage was passed and signed by Governor Rick Snyder.

Snyder yesterday signed ‘bipartisan’ legislation raising Michigan’s minimum wage by September to $8.15, and to $9.25 an hour by 2018, a move he said “will help hard-working residents without hindering the state’s improving economy.” SB 934 is now Public Act 138 of 2014.

Oh, and by the way; It should be noted that a majority of the House Republicans voted NO on this. (albeit a small one)

We support those voting no, including one of our Northern Michigan legislators who gets it. Greg MacMaster (R-105) says

Democrats, Elections, Michigan, Michigan Politics, Sports

Dems Freaked Out Over Peters

by Jason • May 28, 2014 • 4 Comments

If Democrats Were Happy With Gary Peters To Replace Carl Levin, Then ...

Shane Battier Photo Courtesy of NBA.COM

Sometimes you have to read between the lines.

Probably little known to team Gary Peters, is that Lon Johnson was looking for a trade. The Michigan Democrat Party seems to need a new power forward:

“.. “That was an amazing point in my career,” Battier said. “I was really nervous I was gonna be the reason we weren’t going to win a championship. I took it upon myself to say, ‘If we lose, it’s not going to be because I didn’t fight my ass off.’ I had to guard West, and he beat the hell out of me like he always does. But we somehow reinvented ourselves, and that was the birth of small ball.”

Battier is nearing retirement now, and he can no longer shoot, dribble, or defend like he once did. The Michigan Democratic Party recently called him to see if he might consider running to replace U.S. Senator Carl Levin, Battier said. He declined, but he’s closer to retirement than he is to the player who helped Miami unlock its identity. ..”

D’oh!

Rimshot!

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(9)Nuh Uh.

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Conservative News, Cronyism, Democrats, Detroit, Elections, Michigan, Michigan Politics, Opinion, Philosophy, Republicans

Detroit Bailout: Why the “Grand Bargain” is actually a Faustian Bargain.

by KG One • May 25, 2014 • 4 Comments

Not actually Gov. Rick Snyder

Like most Conservatives here, I was disappointed, but honestly not surprised in the least, by last weeks vote in the Michigan House on the “Grand Bargain”.

I say this because leading up to the vote, when my sources go dark, or when they do finally return my calls and begin to waffle, that is almost always an indication that things are going bad rather quickly.

I’m not going to mince words here. Aside from absolutely hating that misleading term “Grand Bargain”, I still can’t see why people in Lansing can’t/won’t do their homework on what is really going on here and why they are reticent on calling a bailout what it actually is: a bailout.

You’re probably asking yourselves; what causes people like that to lose their way?

Limited government and fiscal responsibility were once hallmarks of the Republican Party platform a long time ago.

Let’s take a look as to what happened, shall we?

{Continued after the fold}

Cronyism, Democrats, Rent Seeking, Republicans

Yep… Stick a Fork in it

by Corinthian Scales • May 24, 2014 • 0 Comments

Bolger, Bumstead, Callton, Cotter, Crawford, Daley, Denby, Forlini, Genetski, Glardon, Goike, Graves, Haines, Haveman, Heise, Jacobsen, Jenkins, Johnson, Kowall, Kurtz, LaFontaine, Lauwers, Leonard, Lori, Lund, Lyons, McBroom, McCready, Muxlow, Nesbitt, Outman, Pagel, Pettalia, Poleski, Price, Pscholka, Rogers, Shirkey, Somerville, Stamas, VerHeulen, Victory, Walsh, Yonker

You Betcha!

(20)Nuh Uh.

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Democrats, Detroit, Rent Seeking, Republicans

Snyder’s non-bailout Detoilet Bailout and Lansing Legislator Looter Scorecard

by Corinthian Scales • May 19, 2014 • 2 Comments

I have to hand it to the folks over at MCC, this is a great vote tracking device.

A bipartisan 10-bill package has been introduced in the Michigan House related to a proposed Detroit bailout. A link to the concise, objective, plain-English MichiganVotes.org descriptions of all 10 bills is here.

It’s worth noting that the grant (or bailout) bills do not require passage of the reform bills to become law. Also, nothing would prohibit a future Legislature from repealing the reform measures, although in practical terms this could get complicated given that a potential federal court bankruptcy settlement may be all wrapped together with the grant and reforms — if they are approved.

REST