Michigan

Constitutionalist Incumbent Bentivolio Still Putting Whup Azz on “El Gringo Bandito” David Trott

Bentivolio Still Maintains Double Digit Advantage In CD11 Race.

bandito-trottFrom a MIRS Tweet

Not surprised.

Trott would likely lose in the General to anyone nicer than Hanibal Lector anyhow.  But we’ll be watching.  The “El Gringo Bandito” Reference BTW, was just too good to pass up.

Perhaps you might just go and READ IT.

 

You Betcha! (17)Nuh Uh.(4)

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

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}

You Betcha! (7)Nuh Uh.(2)

Pure Memorial Day Weekend

Have we allowed policing powers on some issues to go too far?

Pure-TicketWhat says Memorial day in Michigan, more than an emptied beehive of police cruisers out to sting anyone they can?

Its the annual tradition of seat belt oppression on Michigan roads and highways.  With grants providing overtime and special enforcement zones, this weekend’s vacation fun should fatten the local coffers and library penal fund balances right up.  Most of our Michigan governments have been asked to accept such funding on behalf of their policing units, so as to enforce more rigorously, a regimen of protecting us from ourselves.

Sadly, the same legislature that allowed the return of helmet less motorcycling, has yet to reverse the 4th amendment violating features of seat belt enforcement. The original law, supposedly a non actionable civil infraction, now enshrines the means for abusive police action.

You Betcha! (14)Nuh Uh.(5)

AFP Mobilizes Grassroots to Oppose Detroit Bailout, Pension Deal

AFP Grassroots Gear Up to Fight Detroit Bailout Deal

horizontal-black_13 The Michigan chapter of Americans for Prosperity is launching an effort to contact 90,000 grassroots activists across Michigan and engage them in opposition to the latest iteration of the Detroit bailout deal

The group plans to spend significantly in order to hold state legislators accountable if they choose to support an appropriation of Michigan taxpayer dollars for this deal. Checkout StrongerDetroit.com for more information on the bailout and AFP’s grassroots efforts.  Scott Hagerstrom says:

“Detroit receives more of our hard-earned tax dollars than any other municipality in Michigan.  It should be clear to all of us that throwing more good money after bad can’t save Detroit from big-government policies that constrict private growth and rob taxpayers of wealth. Allowing the City of Detroit to sit on $3 billion in assets while pensioners see cuts is not acceptable. Lawmakers in Lansing need to know that 90,000 Michigan activists are watching closely as they consider appropriating more money to throw down the drain.”

And we agree.

Detroit tries to have its cake and eat OURS too, and our GOP legislators could very well sell us down that river.

Go get em AFP.

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

To Serve….

Again, I ask Why?

Attempts by the Kalamazoo Gazette to reach Wagner through his union, the Michigan State Police Troopers Association, were unsuccessful. Wagner has been placed on paid administrative leave pending an internal investigation by MSP that is ongoing.
MORE

See what happens when public sector union thugs start believing in their First Responders are Heroes™ crap.

officer-safety-pew-pew-pew-complete-powerclick on image to enbiggen.

H/t WRSA

You Betcha! (27)Nuh Uh.(0)

Payola Or Pretense?

Is The Traverse City School District Ignoring A Gift, Or Is That 'Gift' Completely Valueless?

What does the largest government body North of Clare do when it sees a case of vendor provided payoff to an employee?

It blesses the transaction.  <– yes, that is the punchline

As yet another example of misplaced priorities, and a misunderstanding of the roles they play, the Traverse City Area public School board trustees have approved a ‘settlement’ which involves a payment from the soon-to-retire superintendent Stephen Cousins, and a gift from one of the school’s vendors to make up the difference between the $25,000 owed to the school district by the superintendent and his $14,800 cash reimbursement component.

First a recap of the facts as we know them.

You Betcha! (16)Nuh Uh.(9)

Don’t Let The Door Hit You On The Way Out Carl

Senator Carl Levin's involvement In IRS Targeting Was Inappropriate And Repugnant

sencarllevin-jokerIts one thing for a US Representative, or US Senator to intervene on behalf of a constituent when government is running amuck, but its quite yet another when a powerful elected member uses the ‘running amuck’ government to stifle free speech.

Michigan Senator Carl Levin took it upon himself to challenge eligibility for non profit status of certain groups.  He SPECIFICALLY targeted 4 groups; each of which lean conservative and exercise their first amendment rights as protected by our constitution.  A Letter to the IRS by Mr Levin names the following groups response to a certain question to be reexamined:

You Betcha! (8)Nuh Uh.(0)

Moneybags

BuySeatMy wife asked me, “who is this guy?”

She was referring to the now frequent television commercials for fourth district congressional candidate Paul Mitchell. And if you have never heard of him before, its because he has not held political office that you might recognize.  Another bucket list brigade member, GOP primary candidate Paul Mitchell has already piled tons of cash into Michigan’s 4th congressional district race in an effort to present himself as a real contender.

Cable and broadcast buys for April and May have already exceeded a quarter of a million dollars, and sources have indicated he intends to whiz away his entire bank account to feel extra special if necessary.  And who cares if anyone knows who he is, or what he stands for?

Ah yes, the “what do you stand for?” question. That place where people look beyond the claims of a candidate being a conservative first, and actually predict what kind of legislator they might actually be.

And if the nape hair instincts kick in at the point where you realize a candidate has no record to examine, is blowing a wad of his own cash, and was the finance chair for the Michigan Republican Party, then you might be paying attention.

Oh yeah.. All that.

You Betcha! (22)Nuh Uh.(8)

Conyers NOT On Ballot

180px-John_Conyers_1977_Congressional_photoPolitics is always interesting.

Forever termed congressman John Conyers will not be on the ballot this year. Conyers has been in congress since 1965, (The picture at right from 1977.) and quite possibly will be gone after 2014.  From Fox news:

“Longtime Congressman John Conyers of Michigan doesn’t have enough signatures to appear on the Aug. 5 primary ballot, an elections official announced Tuesday.

Conyers’ nominating petitions were insufficient, Wayne County Clerk Kathy Garrett said in a statement.

It follows her report last week finding Conyers more than 400 signatures short of 1,000 needed. Garrett said Tuesday that he had 592 valid signatures after challenges.”

It comes as no surprise that Conyers’ signature counts included WAY too many that were not registered voters.

The REAL talent is in the Democrat party however.  Many were likely dead for decades as well.

You Betcha! (9)Nuh Uh.(0)