Michigan Politics

Michigan Political considerations.

Conservative News, Elections, Michigan Politics

AFP Michigan – 2014 Tax Day Rally Livonia Video

by  •  • 2 Comments

Okay, for those of you you didn’t have the chance to attend one of the rallies scheduled across Michigan, I’ve posted video below from Saturday’s AFP Tax Day Rally at Schoolcraft College in Livonia (H/T KG Two).

All in all, the video I saw was interesting and informative.

Congressman Bentivolio was there meeting with attendees as they arrived, unfortunately they didn’t have him speaking to the group as a whole during the event.

Michigan State Senator Patrick Colbeck was there and gave a short speech about himself, his term in office and some of the shenanigans various groups, whom I strongly suspect were affiliated with The Center for Michigan, pull on incoming legislators.

WJR Air Personality Frank Beckmann was next. What I personally found curious is how his style in front of a live audience is subtly (but definitely noticeably) different than when he is on the air. He really needs to adopt the latter when he is on ‘JR.

Next was Town Hall Contributor and WIBC Indy Air Personality Tony Katz. Cigar quips aside, I had enjoyed his portion more than Beckmann’s, especially with his take on direct taxation and its history. Nothing against rooting for the “hometown” guy, he was just more interactive with the audience (with apologies to Aretha Franklin).

Bill McMaster was also there meeting with those attending, but he didn’t speak before the group either.

{Continued below the fold}

READ MORE ►

You Betcha! (5)Nuh Uh.(0)

Conservative News, Elections, Michigan, Michigan Politics, Philosophy, Republicans

For the Record…

by  •  • 1 Comment

Why primary Benishek???...

 

For the Record…
Why primary Benishek?
Let us count the whys…
Dan Benishek on Government Reform 
The 4 R’s: Read It; Reduce It; Repeal It; Reform It
Dan thinks the three R’s are great for schools. But Congress need’s 4 R’s:
Read It. Dan actually thinks it’s crazy that this should even need to be said, but the biggest change you could make to Congress is to make them all read the bills they’re voting on. Washington’s biggest messes are coming from legislation no one has read.
Reduce It. We’re $13 trillion in the hole, and on the brink of a financial meltdown that will ruin the nation because Congress won’t stop spending. Dan will. It will be hard. It will take lots of sacrifice. But we can’t leave this debt for our kids to pay back.
Repeal It. The health care bill is a mess. It needs to be repealed, and replaced with real reforms to put patients–not bureaucrats–in charge of health care.
Reform It. Out with the career politicians. Out with the special interests. And in with the voices of taxpaying American citizens who agree that enough is enough.

READ MORE ►

You Betcha! (4)Nuh Uh.(0)

All the Other Stuff, Conservative News, Cronyism, Michigan, Michigan Politics, Opinion, Republicans

Ethics, Integrity, And Long Knives

by  •  • 6 Comments

wayne-afp009“He’s our hometown boy.” Said one of the executive committee members of a vote taken this last Thursday.

The vote, was one by the executive board of the Grand Traverse County Republican Party on whether to endorse State Senate Candidate Wayne Schmidt over Greg MacMaster in the 37th State Senate primary contest.  The vote to choose one candidate over another in partisan (GOP) races would normally be considered off the table except under extraordinary circumstances.  At least that is how it is designated in the by-laws of a number of other GOP county parties.

Questions must be asked.  Is it prudent or even a legitimate practice? Is it fair to the candidates?  Is it fair to the membership, and does it misrepresent the opinion of the party at-large?

READ MORE ►

You Betcha! (21)Nuh Uh.(4)

Elections, Michigan, Michigan Politics, Republicans

Its Official – Arcand Is On The Ballot For CD1!

by  •  • 1 Comment

Incumbent Dan Benishek has yet to turn in any signatures and has not yet filed.

10255365_1422616394659740_9023389005365349001_nAs of this writing, Alan Arcand is the only candidate for Michigan’s first Congressional District.

Turning in 1300 signature today (picture on right) at the the Secretary of State’s office this morning in Lansing,  the Iron River native has made his mark.  He is challenging Republican incumbent Dan Benishek in the August primary for the House seat in Michigan’s largest Congressional district. Arcand, an Air Force veteran and father of three young boys, cites Constitutional violations by both Congress and the administration as reasons for his campaign.

“Washington is definitely broken, and I’ve been fixing things all my life. It’s time for some serious repair of the federal government. We need to enforce the Constitution and regain control of the government to ensure the future and prosperity of our children.”

Arcand will be forming his campaign committee immediately upon his return to Iron River.

You Betcha! (16)Nuh Uh.(2)

All the Other Stuff, Michigan, Michigan Politics

AFP Major Tax Day Plans Across Michigan

by  •  • 6 Comments

Americans For Prosperity Engages For Tax Day Rallies In Michigan And Elsewhere

afp-LH_smallAmericans For Prosperity is not exactly bashful this tax season.

On Saturday April 12, AFP will be with activists to stage demonstrations across the country, and at a couple of places in Michigan.  In Livonia, AFP is holding a Tax Day Rally at the VisTaTech Center, Schoolcraft College from 11 AM  to 3PM The rally will feature speeches by Tony Katz, host of the radio talk show “Tony Katz Tonight” on 93.1 FM WIBC and contributor to Townhall.com; and Frank Beckmann, host of “The Frank Beckmann Show” on News/Talk 760 WJR and Detroit News weekly columnist.

Up North, In Gaylord, AFP will have a “Going After the Bucks” Tax Day Rally at Big Buck’s Brewery in Gaylord; 550 S. Wisconsin Ave Gaylord, MI 49735 to rally for our economic freedoms! If you register, AFP is buying lunch! You can register here! (we hear the food is really good) Time of the rally is 11:30 to 3pm

READ MORE ►

You Betcha! (6)Nuh Uh.(0)

All the Other Stuff, Detroit, Michigan, Michigan Politics

Self Service & Jerky Knees

by  •  • 3 Comments

Detroit City Council's New Knee-Jerk Licensing Requirements Out Of Line

cctv-cameraOne would think there is a point where even the most oppressive government knows when to say when.

I sell security cameras, and the related security recorders. There are few people who understand the advantages of having a properly set up security camera system than myself.  One light think I would always advocate on behalf of my profession. However, like other mandatory (kaf kaf- Obamacare) ‘solutions,’ forcing a business to buy those systems is just plain wrong.  The Detroit news reports that the Detroit city council is doing just that:

“The City Council on Tuesday unanimously voted to strengthen licensing requirements for self-service gas stations in the city and requires strategically placed indoor and outdoor digital surveillance cameras in the wake of a brutal beating on the city’s east side last week.”

“Licensing Requirements” are being used as an excuse to provide public policing tools (remember, police are there AFTER the events) on the back of the gas station owners.

READ MORE ►

You Betcha! (6)Nuh Uh.(0)

Cronyism, Detroit, Michigan Politics

Detroit City Airport to get Michigan Taxpayers “Bailout” Too

by  •  • 1 Comment

Detroit City Airport to get $28.5 Million Taxpayer Money in Revised Bankruptcy Plan Detroit City Airport Grave Yard

The fleecing of Michigan taxpayers money continues with revised bankruptcy plan. The $28.5 million earmarked in Detroit emergency manager Kevyn Orr’s revised restructuring plan would also set aside money for a study of the airport’s role in its east-side neighborhood.

The money would come from the city’s anticipated bankruptcy settlement and the total could go as high as $40 million according to some reports. The city’s general fund has subsidized the airport in recent years because its revenues “have fallen far short of expenses,” Orr’s plan says.

READ MORE ►

You Betcha! (4)Nuh Uh.(0)

Democrats, Detroit, Michigan, Michigan Politics, Opinion

When is a hate crime not really a hate crime.

by  •  • 5 Comments

Detroit, Michigan – During an unprecedented show of civic unity, community activist groups and civil rights organizations in conjunction with the Detroit Police Department made their strong presence known this weekend during a recent sweep apprehending all of the individuals involved in the brutal assault and robbery of a suburban motorist last week.

Taking part in this weekend’s events was civil rights activist Rev. Jesse Jackson along with his Rainbow-PUSH Coalition. “We are here to fight for the dignity and integrity of all Americans. No one should have to suffer for doing the right thing,” said Jackson after visiting the victim’s family at St. John’s Hospital.

Also taking part was the Rev. Al Sharption. Host of nationally syndicated “Keepin’it Real” and “Politics Nation” along with his National Action Network.  While watching the last of the assailants being taking away in a squad car, Sharpton said, “I cannot imagine how an upstanding, hardworking father of three, is beaten to within an inch of his life by thugs and hooligans simply for stopping and doing what any decent human being would do.”

READ MORE ►

You Betcha! (13)Nuh Uh.(0)

Michigan Politics

No, It’s NOT Under The Bridge

by  •  • 0 Comments

Clearly, there are interests who will misrepresent data to freak out lawmakers into knee-jerk reactionary positions..

So when we find out the flawed data provided by Jackson Hewitt that was probably the basis for a couple of fence sitters to get lazy and stupid, we don’t have to pretend it doesn’t matter.  Some great big We-Told-You-So’s are due. Perhaps next time low information legislators will look a little deeper into what it is they are exposing the state to.  Mackinac Center Legislative Analyst Jack McHugh says:

“It maMCC_Masthead_2xy be water over the dam, but one report on the potential impact to employers if Michigan did not adopt the Obamacare Medicaid expansion has been exposed as being essentially bunk due to flagrant misuse or misrepresentation of the data it cited.

This is worth noting because the claims from Jackson Hewitt were widely cited by Republican lawmakers here who supported the expansion, and probably tilted others into that camp. Its conclusion was that “employers may pay substantially higher federal tax penalties under the ACA (Affordable Care Act) in states that do not expand Medicaid.” Jackson Hewitt estimated Michigan employers would pay between $42 million and $63 million in penalties without the expansion.

But a further study revealed that to be untrue.

The study notes incomplete demographics and assumptions of static employer behavior in the examples legislators used in justifying their yes votes. No, this is not water under the bridge, but rather a “teachable moment” that will be willfully ignored by those who took the blue pill with regard to Obamacare.

Read the rest.

You Betcha! (6)Nuh Uh.(0)

Michigan, Michigan Politics, Republicans

The Reagan Rule Breaker

by  •  • 0 Comments

Here’s the deal people…I take a lot of grief from the establishment type Repubs for many things, and some from conservatives for not getting ‘on board’ with candidates that PRESENT themselves as conservatives…Reagan said that we “Shall NOT speak ill of another Republican”… Which Republican party was he referring to???…The one on paper, or the reality???

Conservatives need to realize that we need each other to win anything!!!…I have spent years trig to referee between Tea Party folks, GOP and blue collar Dem conservatives, and the C4L types…Being inflexible and unswerving to your own principles is admirable, but gets in the way when all the above can agree on 90% of any given issue or candidate…

What we all need to realize is that we are in dire need of conservative leadership, regardless of how one defines ‘conservative’…Let’s face it…even the liberals know a conservative when they see one!!!…So here is my Reagan rule breaker…

READ MORE ►

You Betcha! (9)Nuh Uh.(2)