Michigan

There’s A Pick Up

Michigan's 2021-22 Congressional Delegation might look decidedly different.

This is one of many videos circulating after Congressman Elissa Slotkin announced that she would support impeachment.

It hardly shows the overall sense of what is going on in the 8th congressional district, but it does reveal that the Democrats do not care that they are committing political suicide.  That is an interesting take-away from all of this.

The hatred for Donald Trump from the left is all consuming and irrational.  It allows them to ignore the illegalities of their own players, and pretend that the legitimate actions of our commander in chief somehow have earned removal from office.

Trump Derangement Syndrome is real.  It will surely guarantee that he is reelected as well as carry Trump supporting republicans into office once again.

There will be more of this.  And there isn’t a legislator in our nation (like Slotkin) who can say after the fact that they were not at least warned.

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And just who is reaching into your pocket THIS time?

Whose hand is in YOUR wallet?

A few days ago, I tipped everyone off about a Michigan Republican(?) who felt that your money wasn’t your money.

Well, after reviewing the journals from this week, this shemp had some help placing this bill on the floor to be voted upon.

You’ll be disappointed at his accomplices.

{Click below for more details}

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Punished Enough?

Perhaps a little perspective is in order.

I ran against Larry Inman in 2016.

Not because he and I disagreed greatly in principle, or that he was far left (he is most certainly not), but mostly because I didn’t trust his instincts with people. This may have led to some of his recent problems, and perhaps how easily he can get roped into bad decision making or votes by those with other agendas.

But Larry is not a BAD guy, or evil, or anything that many of those who rise to higher office become.  He just trusts too many of those who make a living off of dealing with, or taking advantage of an overly benevolent government.

The rent seekers find players they can successfully manipulate, and there are plenty enough within both political ranks in Michigan alone to fill Cobo hall. But on the fringes of those, are the strategists who work to find the chinks in the armor of political rivals.  Willing to ruin the life of a person for political gain is easy for far too many on either side.

I would guarantee that Larry was in some-way victimized by those who have been trying to flip his Northern District and reverse polarity in the State house.  He might have also been confused on how to solicit contributions (100% legal) for the over-moneyed process that is politics in Michigan.

But larry Inman is no criminal.  And apparently, the first round of court battles he has been engaged in says as much.

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Donald Trump In Battle Creek

President Trump will be hosting a “Merry Christmas rally” in Battle Creek on December 18th, and you are invited!

Michigan is in play once again.  The Democrats are imploding, and Trump has higher favorables in all demographics.

Event Details:

Date: Wednesday, December 18th

Location: Kellogg Arena, 1 McCamly Square, Battle Creek, MI

Time: Doors open at 3 pm
Event begins 7 pm

Get Your Free Tickets Now

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Taxupalozza 2020

Coming when you least expect it!

So, what do you get when you add a ton of special interest groups who feel that they are even more entitled to your money than you are (and their hopes that you’re not paying any attention to them whatsoever)?

You get the makings for a very interesting (series?) of elections in 2020…that’s what!

{More below the fold}

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Happy Thanksgiving.

By the President of the United States of America. a Proclamation.

Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor—and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me “to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.”

Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be—That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks—for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation—for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his Providence which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war—for the great degree of tranquillity, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed—for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted—for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.

and also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions—to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually—to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed—to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord—To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the encrease of science among them and us—and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand at the City of New-York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.

George Washington

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Maybe Bat Guano?

Mike Shirkey forgot to use the dollar sign for his 's'

It is what it is.

Mike Shirkey, Michigan’s Republican Senate leader said what he felt at the time, but forgot that triggered people trigger.  Obviously his position is one of institutional respect, and the branches of our governmental authority must work together for the benefit of Michigan.  But straight out calling the governor and her Democrat counter parts a bad name?  Heaven forbid we continue our word oppression of the overly sensitive progressive.

It started earlier this month with Shirkey’s spokeswoman saying the governor “has proven herself untrustworthy” following a series of public events where Whitmer supported an organization — and then vetoed their state funding in her budget standoff with Shirkey and the GOP.

Then Shirkey spouted off in a speech before a group of College Republicans at Hillsdale College, reportedly painting Whitmer and her fellow Democrats as being “on the batshit crazy spectrum,” The Hillsdale Collegian student newspaper reported Thursday.

Oh crap, now he did it.

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ICYMI Tlaib Ethics Issues

Did Rashida Tlaib convert campaign funds for personal use?

Did you know you can be paid to be a candidate?

Rashida (MOFO) Tlaib, former Michigan Sate Representative from the 13th district and now congress critter sensua de-luxe was on the payroll of her own campaign.  As if she was a staffer, the guttural grandstander received wages to be a candidate.

And it was completely legit.   To a point.  As explained in a fairly recent ethics probe candidates need to eat too:

The Federal Election Commission (“FEC”) explained that “payment of a salary to a candidate is not a prohibited personal use as defined under Commission regulations since, but for the candidacy, the candidate would be paid a salary in exchange for services rendered to an employer.” See Using Contributions to Pay Salaries to Candidates, 67 Fed. Reg. 76961, 76971-73 (Dec. 13, 2002). In reaching this conclusion, the FEC explained: “[B]ecause many candidates must forego salary in order to conduct the business of the campaign, a candidate who is dependent on an income is put at a severe disadvantage compared to an incumbent who is free to campaign at all times without any reduction in compensation or to an affluent challenger, who can afford to campaign without receiving any compensation.” Id. at 76971. Put differently, “candidates without significant resources might not be able to forgo salary payments in order to run for Federal office.”

Thus a social worker who couldn’t work her regular job was introduced to an overflowing campaign kitty.

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Remember Them

This is a day of memoriam, not of celebration . . . “happy” does not EVER apply.

I originally published this article back on the previous version of this site, eight years ago, and thought it overdue for a republish. My source material at the time was an interoffice email, circa 1998, from a shipmate (with whom I’m still in touch), whose letter I’d still had in my digital files, but have since lost. At least to me, the original author is unknown.

As the graphic below illustrates, a mere seven percent of the total American population have ever served in military forces of the United States. (I remember reading somewhere that only 1% of the total American population is currently serving.) To make this number a tad more practical, if you were to door-knock any random twenty houses in your neighborhood, statistically only one of those households would contain someone who’s active duty, a reservist, a guardsman, a retiree, or other veteran.

On a day dedicated to national memoriam, we do well to properly remember those who’ve served, even if we cannot personally name even one of them.

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Just Arrived

Vintage 2016

Gift bottles for all my favorite #DTS sufferers.

I’ve heard there was a version for Hillary supporters, but I would have to think they only wanted sour grapes.  No thanks!

2016 was sweet, and red.   Hoping the 2020 Vintage is just the same!

Have a great weekend!

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