Michigan Politics

Michigan Political considerations.

80th District Special Election (2015), Cronyism, Michigan, Michigan Politics, Opinion, Philosophy, Republicans, Taxes

Michigan House Leadership Off-The-Rail Witch Hunt

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Speaker Kevin Cotter's antics in Lansing may reveal an underhanded effort to raise taxes.

kevin-cotterMichigan House speaker Kevin Cotter is turning out to be a real turd in the punch bowl.

Personal ‘Impropriety,’ and the lack of ‘qualifications’ are two very different things. Of course the State Constitution allows each house to determine the qualifications to occupy a seat as a representative.  It ALSO allows the house under certain circumstances to (remove) “expel” sitting representatives with a two thirds majority vote.

§ 16 Legislature; officers, rules of procedure, expulsion of members.

Sec. 16.

Each house, except as otherwise provided in this constitution, shall choose its own officers and determine the rules of its proceedings, but shall not adopt any rule that will prevent a majority of the members elected thereto and serving therein from discharging a committee from the further consideration of any measure. Each house shall be the sole judge of the qualifications, elections and returns of its members, and may, with the concurrence of two-thirds of all the members elected thereto and serving therein, expel a member. The reasons for such expulsion shall be entered in the journal, with the votes and names of the members voting upon the question. No member shall be expelled a second time for the same cause.

Qualifications, elections, returns, are all specific to the elections, and the follow up is the expulsion clause.

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

Guam Tips Over

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Irritating GOP 'operative' lands on the wrong side of the island.

ReaganPlaybookLennoxTeam Cruz has an issue with its vetting of campaign tools.

At least as far as the former GOP chair of Benzie County is concerned.  Adrian Poulisse, a Cruz supporter and local chair has written a memo of concern to Cruz headquarters, and cc’d to  Wendy Day (State Cruz chair) Pat Colbeck and Saul Anuzis, titled: “Dennis Lennox is no good for the Cruz Campaign” The memo starts with

“Dennis Lennox has been a divisive figure in Michigan Politics over the last half dozen years. He has been controversial since his time in college. He has manipulated his resume and has a history of malfeasance while serving as an elected official.”

And then points out a number of references to Lennox’s political activities.

Lennox has recently been given the job as a consultant to try to get the 9 delegates of Guam on-board the Cruz team.  The weight of this, even  on such a small island must certainly have its effect. Sometimes stupid decisions like stupid people, are a fact of life.

Poulisse made clear in the memo that it will serve as his letter of resignation if Lennox is considered “a must for the Ted Cruz team,” pointing out the likely resignation of others in the organization.

You Betcha! (23)Nuh Uh.(2)

Cronyism, Elections, Michigan, Michigan Politics, Opinion, Philosophy, Rent Seeking, Republicans, Taxes

MDOT Station Hosts Wild Party

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Perhaps we ask the MDOT why the May 5th question failed so badly.

MDOT-BloodThe Michigan Department Of Transportation continues to ‘effectively’ use transportation monies provided by the richest state citizenry in the nation.

But a “wild party?”  OK, maybe just because its usually accompanied by cookies and orange juice.  And yes, as some readers might suspect, I have the sarc switch on.  ‘Effective’ use of our taxpayer dollars might actually mean that we don’t have to face the crony machine kicking into full gear tomorrow. The Steudle led MDOT does indeed continue to spin its wheels and waste our resources in areas not reflected in their mission.

There is no question the good works provided by our blood letting missions will save lives, and continue to provide our hospitals with the perishable commodity that we all share.  Indeed we have need for those organizations who will accommodate blood drive efforts, and we hope those needs will be met.

However, it is neither the mission or responsibility of the Michigan Department of Transportation to manage,, aid, provide assistance, or promote such efforts.  Yet they think it is:

August 17, 2015 — The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) encourages state employees and the general public to give the gift of life by donating blood at the Ishpeming Transportation Service Center (TSC) Aug. 26.

The Upper Peninsula Regional Blood Center will have its mobile collection vehicle at the facility from noon to 2 p.m. The TSC is located at 100 S. Westwood Drive in Ishpeming.

“Making the decision to donate blood can save lives, it’s really just that simple,” said Harmony Michaud, the MDOT employee coordinating the event. “We sometimes take for granted that there will always be blood readily available in an emergency, but what if no one donated? It only takes 10 minutes to donate and it could help save a family member or friend – or someone else’s family member or friend. There are a lot of people who need long-term treatments and donated blood is their lifeline.”

Harmony’s paycheck is from the state (taxpayers),  not the UP Regional Blood Center.

Perhaps her time might be best spent filling out the warranty orders?

Policy Changes:

Making MDOT accountable.

What good are road warranties, if you won’t enforce the ones you have already?

Given that literally MILLIONS were wasted when it was recently reported that MDOT let road warranties expire without any action being taken, legislation should be implemented to hold those accountable. No one would tolerate an employee who simply walked off in million in Michigan Taxpayers money, so why should hiding under the guise of being an appointed official and not doing the job you were hired to do, be any different?

Exactly.

Some things are hard to change, yes?

Some folks expect action to fund more of the same to happen this week.

 

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80th District Special Election (2015), Michigan, Michigan Politics, Opinion, Philosophy

Repentance, Reconciliation, and Restoration

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Two apostles can teach us much about handling a current scandal.

For a little over a week now, we’ve been . . . treated . . . to a bit of a media circus revolving around a couple of tea party legislators in the Republican House Caucus in Lansing. Predictably, there has been much hand-wringing and calling for heads coming from key figures within the statewide republican establishment. Also predictably, there has been much hand-wringing and calling for heads from within the statewide tea party movement.

I say “also predictably” because many of the high profile tea partiers in this state have developed a habit of happily piling on any politicos from “our side” who screw up publicly. Given the way that these people are finding fault with every single republican POTUS candidate for 2016, I suspect that Jesus Christ himself could be on the ballot, and two out of every three tea partiers in Michigan would still figure out a reason to crucify him. Speaking of which . . .

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80th District Special Election (2015), All the Other Stuff, Conservative News, Michigan, Michigan Politics, Opinion, Philosophy, Republicans

Some Other Thoughts

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courser-gamratA little unique perspective can be very helpful.

I don’t think any of you need to be told what to think, but it is not hard to imagine that many (like myself), like to hear other well reasoned opinions about the more difficult topics of the day.  Occasionally, we might even have an epiphany.  So when Isabelle Terry wrote RightMi.com with the following:

There is a saying in Lansing: What happens in Lansing after 5 PM stays in Lansing.

It is a small suburb of Vegas in the debauchery sense.

Deals over taxpayer money suddenly turn to deals over acts of heterosexual sex, homosexual sex (likely more rampant than the heterosexual sex judging by the huge numbers of effeminate men romping around the MIGOP) and drugs use. The politicos are sluts in money, power, and physical highs.

Players play, secrets are kept.

That is… unless you are speaking the truth.

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80th District Special Election (2015), Michigan Politics

RESIGNATION?? IT’S NOT MY CALL.

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“I will praise the LORD while I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.

Do not trust in princes, In mortal man, in whom there is no salvation.” 

      MY KNEE JERK REACTION WAS TO JOIN THE CHORUS, DEMANDING COURSER AND GAMRAT RESIGN.

MY DEMANDING THAT TODD AND CINDY RESIGN WOULD BE SELF SERVING, an attempt to push the blame away from myself, and on to others, for trusting the wrong people. I accept my share of the blame, as I hope others will. I will not defend them,  I will Dust myself off, and prepare for the next battle.

    The only people who have the right to demand a RESIGNATION are first, their FAMILY, second their CONSTITUENTS, and POSSIBLY THEIR PEERS. (Their peers doing so would be in the case of many, extremely hypocritical, knowing the similar affairs of so many others over the last few years).  I am Praying for the Families, Praying for Healing, and moving forward.

   Some of the calls for resignation I believe come from the right place, although misguided. Others I suspect are SELF-SERVING, LOOK AT ME PLOYS, people attempting to prop themselves or their organizations up to fill the “Vacuum of Leadership” that they perceive this scandal leaves. I have no interest in hearing myself on the radio, or pushing out press releases with my opinion.  Let the enemy dance, giggle, and shout to the heavens “I told you so.”  This is not about “Cleaning up our mess”, the shame is on those who committed the acts, not those who misplaced their trust. Many of those who are trying to use this scandal as a springboard, had nothing to do with ever helping Cindy or Todd in the first place. Their self serving flagellation is no different than the oppositions attempt to lay blame on the Conservative movement.
I will pray for their Families, Pray for Healing, and Pray that they will eventually repent and seek forgiveness.

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Michigan, Michigan Politics

For All The Wrong Reasons

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Trump and the 16 dwarfs

Reposted from Redstate.com For permanence. ( I am again deviating from the ‘Michigan’ centric mission of this site for obvious reasons – JG)

The talking heads and putative conservative pundits have it very wrong.

A palpable fear of Donald Trump becoming the Republican nominee consumes the media from left to right. Fox host and debate moderator Megyn Kelly’s first question to Donald Trump “You’ve called women you don’t like fat pigs, dogs, slobs and disgusting animals. On your Twitter account, your Twitter account has several disparaging comments about women’s looks,…” might well have been asked by Candy Crowley, or nearly any other left wing operative determined to ruin a GOP debate.

Kelly wasted Trump’s – and our – time by advancing the theme that ‘Trump is too brash, and says things that are hurtful or boorish’. By focusing on his periodic extravagant statements, perhaps she felt the viewers would be persuaded to abandon Trump and his candidacy. ‘The Donald’ can indeed be brash and say things that are both hurtful and boorish, but with 10 candidates to evaluate and a two hour time limit, it just wasn’t a productive line of questioning.

Kelly and many other talking heads who profess conservatism seem to think that ‘brash and boorish’ is a fatal flaw in Trump’s candidacy. Civil discourse, in their opinion, is the only acceptable path to the Presidency of the United States. Trash talk, such as calling people “stupid,” “moron” or even “disgusting animals” does not elevate the campaign discourse to the level they seek.

Perhaps our self appointed media censors should reassess ‘The Donald’ in light of our current predicament.

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2015 MIGOP State Convention, 80th District Special Election (2015), Conservative News, Michigan, Michigan Politics, Opinion, Philosophy

The Cover-Up Is Always Worse

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Did Watergate teach you nothing? (Yet another case of not learning from history.)

I got wind of this via a phone call at around 07:41 this morning, while I was still getting my head screwed on straight (on my first actual day off in about three weeks), and quite frankly, I have no idea how to categorize this one. “Wrong-headed thinking” seems like a solid characterization, and I’m well-aware of the double entendre involved.

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Conservative News, Cronyism, Elections, Fees, Michigan, Michigan Politics, Opinion, Part Time Legislature, Proposal 15-1, Republicans, Taxes

Another tale of not learning from the lessons of history…

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For a so-called conservative, “Republican” Rick Snyder sure does have this thing for imposing a tax hike on Michigan Motorists (along with the aid of his BFF Sen. Arlan Meekhof).

He even thinks that his own story is proof positive that it can be done.

I just love it when Mr. “relentless positive action”, conveniently forgets to include several glaring details.

Oh well, those who fail to learn from the lessons of history…

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All the Other Stuff, Cronyism, Democrats, Elections, Liberty, Michigan, Michigan Politics, Opinion, Part Time Legislature, Republicans

Misrepresentation

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Is University Indoctrination Really a Qualification Required for Political Office?

Programming ConditioningSunday, the Detroit News ran a charming agitprop piece bemoaning the fact that 20% of Michigan’s legislators “lack a formal higher education degree, ….. raising the question of whether a college degree is a prerequisite for leadership and political office”. The snide implication of this stooge for the university left is that 20% of Michigan’s legislators are ignorami, but her devious political subtext is that 20% of Michigan’s legislators have missed the political indoctrination necessary to be good left wing robots.

May I remind you of MSU Professor William Penn’s 2013 creative writing class, as recounted by the great Walter Williams in Townhall two years ago:

MSU Professor William Penn

MSU Professor William Penn

William Penn, Michigan State University professor of creative writing, greeted his first day of class with an anti-Republican rant. Campus Reform, a project of the Arlington, Va.-based Leadership Institute, has a video featuring the professor telling his students that Republicans want to prevent “black people” from voting. He added that “this country still is full of closet racists” and described Republicans as “a bunch of dead white people — or dying white people”. To a student who had apparently displayed displeasure with those comments, Professor Penn barked, “You can frown if you want.” He gesticulated toward the student and added, “You look like you’re frowning. Are you frowning?” When the professor’s conduct was brought to the attention of campus authorities, MSU spokesman Kent Cassella said, “At MSU it is important the classroom environment is conducive to a free exchange of ideas and is respectful of the opinions of others.”

That mealy-mouthed response is typical of university administrators. Professor Penn was using his classroom to proselytize students. That is academic dishonesty and warrants serious disciplinary or dismissal proceedings. But that’s not likely. Professor Penn’s vision is probably shared by his colleagues, seeing as he was the recipient of MSU’s Distinguished Faculty Award in 2003.

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