Michigan Politics

Michigan Political considerations.

Elections, Michigan, Michigan Politics, Opinion, Philosophy, Proposal 15-1, Republicans

Ghosts Of Speakers Past

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Former speaker comments from the political graveyard of deleted PR Pieces.

Yeah, the interwebs are forever.

Then Speaker Jase Bolger had something to say about fixing the roads.  Going to the taxpayers to fund or cover for the malfeasance of our MDOT and legislative road committees was not the top priority of the sometime Snyder enabler Jase Bolger, right?

Given the lame duck performance resulted in nothing positive for Michigan’s burdened taxpayers, it’s not surprising that their ONE opportunity to solve a real problem was passed along for the taxpayer to share in the blame.  A bad package with the promise of pain for the (even with the renewed EITC) poor, and particularly the middle class once again. (Yes, shameless populism – sue me)

Indeed, this is one of the few times we had no disagreement with the speaker.

He was on the mark.

 

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Democrats, Elections, Michigan, Michigan Politics, Philosophy

Stabenow To Visit Ideological Homeland

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Michigan's favorite Meat Puppet Hits the communist travel circuit.

castro-stabenowMichigan’s Senator Debbie Stabenow going to hang out with Fidel.

From the not-so-very-surprised department, a lifting of the ban on travel to Cuba has its first eager traveler from the peoples Republic of Michigan.  From Politico (H/T Weasel Zippers) We find the (now) senior US Senator from Michigan is joining a celebratory junket to the land of the 1956 Chevrolet:

This weekend, the first congressional delegation will visit Cuba since Obama’s December diplomatic shift. The visit to Cuba will be led by Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), who also flew to Cuba last month to bring back freed prisoner Alan Gross.

Leahy will take five other Democrats with him: Sens. Dick Durbin of Illinois, Debbie Stabenow of Michigan and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island; and Reps. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland and Peter Welch of Vermont.

“We have all been to Cuba before, and we strongly support the president’s new direction for our policy toward Cuba. We are going this time to discuss our expectations, and the Cubans’ expectations, for the normalization of relations,” Leahy said on Friday morning.

In other news even JFK has rolled in his grave.

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Conservative News, Cronyism, Michigan, Michigan Politics, Opinion, Rent Seeking

A Letter To Amazon

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An open letter to Amazon.com Owner Jeff Bezos on the Main Street Tyranny tax.

Regulars have seen the attempts here to correct the misinformation about the main street fairness act.

Michigan lawmakers were snookered by Kowall and Verheulen into passing their tyranny in the lame duck; a time when there would seem to be no voter backlash.  We call that cowardice, and reprehensible.   This morning I penned (typed) a letter to Jeff Bezos, owner of Amazon.com:

Jeff,

I am an online retailer.  I have been fighting the mainstreet fairness taxes for several years now.  Recently, Michigan legislators in a lame-duck session voted to address nexus issues in the state in an attempt to collect use taxes from out of state vendors such as Amazon and other drop shippers.

Clearly you have been arguing that the commerce clause is the remedy to what the states are trying, and frankly you are right.  Quill v North Dakota settled the matter, and if there was EVER a reason for Article 1, Section 8, Clause 3, this is it.  The states cannot use tariffs or taxes to discourage (or encourage) trade with other states.  It is one of the enumerated powers of the congress, and the states have little business attempting to work around it.

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Michigan, Michigan Politics, Opinion, Philosophy, Republicans

In His Own Words

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Dave Agema gives an explanation of the recent attacks.

Dave-bannerReceived this last night.

Given the snowball of uninformed public opinion driven by an active ‘smear Dave’ campaign, its only reasonable that he have at least ONE public outlet beside his own in which to defend his honor and integrity. Unfortunately, Jonathan Gruber is more right than he knew; There are some folks willing to believe anything in print, especially if it has the ability to destroy good things or people.  Dave Writes:

Dear Jason,

The truth is held from you. I felt compelled to deliver the truth behind the uproar.

Dave Agema RNC Committeeman
The Truth Is Not Told Once Again

Once again I find the same people making false statements concerning a repost of an article I got from Col West’s ( former congressman) news letter as my words and opinion. I make no accusation that I agree with the statements supporting the author he posted. I do support Col West’s commentary concerning the authors article and not the content of the article itself. I respect the former congressman and fellow military officer highly and regard his opinions since he grew up in the inner city as a black man who has personal experience. I think his observations are noteworthy and he is certainly not a racist nor am I for reposting his opinions.

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Conservative News, Cronyism, Democrats, Elections, Michigan, Michigan Politics, Opinion, Philosophy, Proposal 15-1, Rent Seeking, Republicans

I think that it is time to begin filling out a scorecard before May 5th.

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Otherwise known as “What's good for thee, but not for me (con’t).

Breaking from the republican kakistocracy’s latest rope-a-dope on the Grassroots (aka Dave Agema’s “controversial comments” brouhaha), it is important to note that Governor’s Snyder’s plot to raise the Michigan Sales Tax 16.7% is beginning to pick up a few supporters.

On the plus side; So is the opposition.

And what interesting bedfellows are beginning to appear.

{Continued below}

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Michigan, Michigan Politics

OPEN LETTER TO REINCE PRIEBUS AND THE RNC

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Reince Priebus

The people behind the most recent attacks on Dave Agema are agenda driven, progressive leaning, Fifth columnists. We are at a crossroads in America as Persecution of Faith and people of Principle is a daily part of our Lives. The radical homosexual agenda is the spear point being used to destroy good men of character who dare to take a stand, speak out, and espouse principles.  The current attacks calling Dave Agema a racist are no accident, nothing is more toxic in our current culture than Racism, it is the Logical Weapon of the moment, based on the current issues and struggles facing America.

   I am a lifelong republican, I proudly voted for Ronald Reagan, and have cast a straight ticket ballot my entire life until 2014.  As I watch people of faith continually shunted to the side, Taken for granted, and publicly Ostracized, I can no longer NOT stand for Faith and Values FIRST! I will stand with Dave Agema, even if it costs me any and all political capital I may have.  A third party is not the option I want to see, but it will be the only option left, if CHRISTian Constitutional Conservatives are thrown to the Jackals yet again.  There is an awakening occurring in this once great nation.

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Michigan Politics

General Boykin’s lament

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...or why strong leaders rarely waste time/propose useless legislation (unless the consultant advises 'its best')

Not many would argue the fact that ‘our side’ has been unable to field not to mention ‘elect’ the number of solid fiscally conservative/no nonsense legislators that we desire here in Michigan in any quantity that is near acceptable. Few others would agree that we have effectively measured the performance of those who did rise to acceptance or insist that a public stance be taken on legislation before or after their votes.

Recently, two “Tea Party”(for lack of a better description) backed legislators have introduced themselves and their #1 legislative priorities to us through their “Contract for Liberty” or “legislative framework to restore liberty”.

Really?

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Conservative News, Michigan, Michigan Politics, Philosophy

Lt. General William G Boykin At The Tea Party Powwow

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Retired Special Ops General Speaks to conservatives in annual forum

The 2015 Powwow has ended, and even with threatening weather and bad roads and a misplaced tone of indignation, it went well.

The reality on the ground is that along with the Patriot voices radio hitting 5000+ listeners to the live stream of the event, we had nearly 400 on hand attending or participating in some way.  Some good folks were on hand (I will have photos out at some point) and some good information sharing to be had.

Boykin3For me, the highlight of Saturday’s activity was the speech by Lt. General William G Boykin which was as entertaining as it was inspirational.  An outstanding orator, he spoke on his service, the sacrifices made around him, and his thoughts on where we are as a nation.

The video is a little over an hour, but is well worth every single minute.  Forgive the weak camera work.  It was hard to keep up with it while thoroughly enjoying the presentation at the same time.

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Conservative News, Cronyism, Michigan, Michigan Politics, Opinion, Philosophy, Rent Seeking, Republicans

Puppy Training

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Why the Mackinac Center decided to weigh in this way is somewhat of a mystery, but we learned from them ...

Mr Lehman, (with whom I have had little argument in the past) premises a decision made to be based on politics, though policy is really their game.

Gratuitous picture of Dave Agema to 'prove' he is not an insensitive Racist

Gratuitous picture of Dave Agema with ‘black’ tea folk

He makes a brief statement, which essentially claims that fact, and then implies clearly that (We cancelled our sponsorship of the Pow wow because we don’t like Dave Agema) “The reason the Mackinac Center withdrew from the event was Mr. Agema’s prominent role there” And stopping there. Fair enough.  Its not my money, resources, or political ties to the Snyder administration that is going to stop them.

OK, taking a page from the book of Mackinac, I figured it would be appropriate to deal with disagreements in policy or politics in the way they have previously suggested.  For this exercise, I have located two articles from the Mackinac Center.

The first article was written by a guy who once worked for MCPP, and now spends his time stalking a particular retired Air Force Captain hoping to find SOMETHING that can be used to further defame the many time honored veteran.   Ken Braun during his time at the Mackinac Center wrote:  (I have made critical edits to update)

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