You know how Republicans are supposed to be against tax hikes? Well, not anymore. At least not on seniors and poor people.
On Daily Kos they're talkingrecalls in Wisconsin. Perhaps we should consider a recall or two in Michigan - or at least organaize a campaign to recall someone, even if it comes nowhere near getting on the ballot. One benefit of the low turnout in 2010 is that the threshold for recalls is lower. It would only take 19,895 signatures to force Dave Hildenbrand to face a recall. Recall drives must start at least six months after a lawmaker's term begins, so we could start gathering signatures on or after July 1. If we campaign to get a recall on the ballot, we can at least use it as anm opportunity to educate voters.
Be sure to follow the the Michigan, My Michigan group on Daily Kos! Let me know if you'd like to be added as a member of the group.
Happy news: I have been elected to three things in the past ten days! Earlier this month I was elected to the Kent County Democratic Executive Committee, filling one of a few vacancies. Last weekend at Cobo Hall, I was also elected as a member of the Michigan 3rd District Democratic Executive Committee. Then on Thursday, Dad and I were elected as Council 4362's two delegates to the Michigan Knights of Columbus State Convention in May. Delegates from our council are usually the current Grand Knight (currently myself) and a past Grand Knight (Dad was Grand Knight in 1999-2000). Dad was previously a delegate to the 2000 and 2003 conventions.
What a difference 17 days makes. On February 2, nearly every school in West Michigan was closed, as were most businesses, due to one of the biggest blizzards to hit the area in many decades. Now, there's almost no snow on our deck and very little on the ground. I hear Mother Nature is going to do something about that tomorrow.
Well, I did it again. For the third time, I wrote resolutions that were adopted at the Kent County Democratic Convention and forwarded to the Michigan Democratoic Party Resolutions Committee.
What's likely going to happen is that the State Resolutions Committee will include them in the packet of resolutions we will adopt en masse at the State Convention in two weeks (though with some changes, including "be it resolved that the Michigan Democratic Party...")
The other resolutions we adopted have to do with the building of a new bridge between Detroit and Windsor; an "America Needs Jobs" resolution introduced by someone in the AFL-CIO; forming an MDP "precinct delegates caucus;" the Michigan Occupational Health and Safety Act (guess what Republicans want to do with that); opposing making Michigan a "right" to work (for less) state; and corporate personhood.
Enjoy!
RESOLUTION CELEBRATING PRESIDENT OBAMA’S HISTORIC ACHIEVEMENTS AND SUPPORTING HIS VISION FOR AMERICA
WHEREAS, founded by Thomas Jefferson, the Democratic Party envisions an America in which all people enjoy the rights to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness;”
WHEREAS, in his first two years in office, President Barack Obama has led the United States with character, courage, and competence during an extraordinary time in our nation’s history;
WHEREAS, President Obama and the Democratic-controlled 111th Congress worked together to pass an unusually high number of wide-ranging bills into law, including but not limited to: the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act; the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act; the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act; the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act; the Credit Card Accountability, Reform, and Disclosure Act; the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr., Hate Crimes Prevention Act; the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act; the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act; the ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ Repeal Act; the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act; and the Food Safety Modernization Act;
WHEREAS, other accomplishments have included, but are not limited to, an end to the combat mission in Iraq, expanded protections for the environment, renewal of the START Treaty with Russia, reform of the student financial aid system, and increased transparency and decreased waste and fraud in the federal government;
WHEREAS, 2010 saw more private-sector jobs created in one year than during the entire presidency of George W. Bush;
WHEREAS, in 2009 President Obama received the Nobel Peace Prize, an award bestowed upon only three other US Presidents since its inception 110 years ago;
WHEREAS, in his 2011 State of the Union Address, titled “Winning the Future,” President Obama laid out a visionary agenda that seeks to address the challenges that remain, including keeping America on the road to recovery, reducing America’s dependence on foreign energy, improving education, and strengthening America’s relations with other nations.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Kent County Democratic Party congratulates President Obama on the historic achievements of his first two years as President;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Kent County Democratic Party opposes any and all attempts to do away with these historic achievements; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Kent County Democratic Party reaffirms its support for President Obama and his efforts to achieve Jefferson’s vision of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
RESOLUTION HONORING JENNIFER GRANHOLM, JOHN CHERRY, AND THEIR ADMINISTRATION FOR THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS AND SERVICE TO THE STATE OF MICHIGAN
WHEREAS, Jennifer Granholm served the people of Michigan with distinction during her years as Governor, Attorney General, County Corporation Council, and clerk for Judge Damon Keith;
WHEREAS, John Cherry served the people of Michigan with distinction during his time as Lieutenant Governor, State Senator, State Representative, and aide to State Sen. Gary Corbin;
WHEREAS, the Granholm-Cherry Administration led Michigan through some of the most trying times Michigan has seen, marked by massive unemployment and structural budget deficits;
WHEREAS, the Granholm-Cherry Administration’s focus on diversifying Michigan’s economy has yielded growth for the clean energy, healthcare, tourism, and film sectors, among many others;
WHEREAS, the Granholm-Cherry Administration helped to create or save more than 650,000 jobs thanks to such efforts as the 21st Century Jobs Fund, No Worker Left Behind, and numerous trips overseas to encourage companies to invest in Michigan;
WHEREAS, the Granholm-Cherry Administration’s focus on education, including a law signed in 2006 that raised high school standards, has yielded an increase in the popularity of Advanced Placement courses in high schools, record university and college enrollment, increased scores on standardized tests, and a lower high school dropout rate;
WHEREAS, despite the enormous budgetary challenges facing state government, no person was removed from Michigan’s ‘safety net;’
WHEREAS, at the time she left office, Michigan’s unemployment rate was dropping three times as fast as the national unemployment rate;
WHEREAS, 80% of the goals Governor Granholm laid out in her State of the State addresses were achieved, despite the fact that throughout her governorship, Republicans controlled the State Senate and, in her first term, the State House of Representatives;
WHEREAS, the State of Michigan received a number of accolades for these efforts, including: Being named one of the best managed states in the nation (Governing Magazine); an increase in Michigan’s ranking as a business friendly state, from 27th in 2003 to 17th in 2010 (Tax Foundation), and being named one of the top three states for business expansions (Site Selection Magazine);
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Kent County Democratic Party wishes to thank Jennifer M. Granholm, John D. Cherry, Jr., and members of their administration for all they did for the people of the state of Michigan for the past eight years, while wishing them the best in their future endeavors.
WZZM reports that former Kent County Commissioner Paul Mayhue will enter the race to succeed retiring Rep. Vern Ehlers.
Mayhue says he is entering the race because he is concerned about jobs and said that as a community we have seen "NAFTA give us the SHAFTA. Mayhue says he is concerned with government giving tax breaks to companies exporting jobs to other countries.
"Business and Labor need to come together on this issue," Mayhue said in a press release. "The American taxpayer is paying for jobs to be taken away from us all."
Also running on the Democratic side is attorney Patrick Miles, Jr.
Right-wing Republican Justin Amash- who announced his run before Ehlers said he would retire - will face competition in the Republican primary from State Sen. Bill Hardiman and former Commissioner Steven Heacock.
Kent County - which is not entirely, but mostly, in the 3rd District and which also makes up the lion's share of the 3rd - went for Obama by 1,573 votes. McCain barely won the district; each got 49%. So this just might be more competitive than most people will acknowledge!
Phil on West Michigan Rising recently discussed a Hire Local First policy for Kent County, which the three new Democratic members of the County Commission are proposing for the county.
The Grand Rapids Press reports that Kent County Commission Chair Roger Morgan has responded to the request by Democratic Commissioners Keith Courtade, Peter Hickey, and Bob Synk to form a subcommittee to look into establishing the policy. Not surprisingly, Morgan is not interested in change.
They got their reply last week from Morgan, who said he was not inclined to review 35 years of purchasing principles as practiced by the county.
While Morgan does try to make a case for keeping the status quo, more striking is his attack on the commissioners themselves for being first-termers.
Morgan, a Rockford Republican who was elected to the board in 2000, concluded by reminding the trio they are rookies on the board, having been elected last fall.
So, rather than take action to help our economy and the people who are suffering because of it, Roger Morgan would rather attack his colleagues for having been elected only once.
Rush Limbaugh, Newt Gingrich, George W. Bush, Roger Morgan - there sure are a lot of Republicans reminding me why I'm a Democrat!
2008 has offered all of us plenty of ups and downs. I have grown in so many ways. My successes have inspired me to keep going; my disappointments kept me focused on what is most important. Through it all, 2008 has offered many memories which I will cherish for years to come.
I feel that I owe you all a look back at my year, so I want to take this opportunity to discuss what 2008 has been like for me, and to wish you all peace and, yes, prosperity in 2009.
A year ago, I set out on an improbable mission. Concerned that the Michigan Federation of College Democrats was not being nearly as effective as it ought to be, I ran for President of MFCD. I knew my odds would be long, but I also knew that doing nothing would have been a major mistake on my part. I want to thank those of you who supported me in that endeavor.
"Shoot for the moon," someone once said. "Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars." While I did not win the MFCD contest, I did get appointed Officer-at-Large of MFCD, where I used my online expertise to help promote MFCD events such as the 'Make It Happen' statewide bus tour and the Campaign Invasion for now-Congressman-elect Gary Peters. (Not to make you jealous, but I had Peters as a professor in the spring!) I would say that MFCD is in better shape now than it was a year ago, although I do plan on working to make it stronger in 2009 (in what capacity? I am not sure at this point).
But more than that, I was appointed to the College Democrats of America's National Council! And when applications for appointed positions in CDA came out in September, I jumped on the chance to apply to be CDA's New Media Director. While I applied to be New Media Director, instead I got to be Deputy National Communications Director! It was quite a bit of work before the election, though not as much now. Still, I do have some ideas on how to move CDA forward for the rest of my term (which lasts until August).
A year ago I intended to run for Democratic National Convention Delegate. I opted not to for various reasons (yes, the primary debacle was one reason, but there were plenty of other reasons beyond that). Still, I was active with local Dems both in GR/Kentwood and in Mt. Pleasant. I helped to coordinate the Kent County Democrats and Obama campaign's participation in the July 4 Parade here in Kentwood. Approximately thirty people showed up to walk in our contingent. Meanwhile, the McCain campaign's contingent was also packed, as they had... oh, wait, there was no McCain contingent even though West Michigan is known for being Republican! (Incidentally, Obama became the first Democratic Presidential candidate to win Kentwood since it became a city in 1967!)
The parade was followed a month later by the primary election, where, for the second straight time, I was on the ballot for Precinct Delegate. While in 2006 I was one of three candidates for three Precinct Delegate spots, this year I was one of three candidates for just two spots. As I found out the day after the election, one candidate received 34 votes, another garnered 29... and I earned 30 votes! That's right, I won by one vote! So let Al Gore, Al Franken, and myself be your proof that voting really does matter!
Anyway, like many of you, I put in my time at the my local campaign office throughout the fall - in my case, entering data and making GOTV calls. But as an intern for the Campaign for Change, I was responsible for the Michigan for Obama page on MySpace. I wrote blog posts, posted bulletins, approved friend adds, and responded to messages. It was neat to be able to reach out to so many people across our state (and country!) during such a key campaign season!
And I will not soon forget the emotions that ran through my head on October 21. That was my 21st birthday, and it was also the day I cast my first-ever vote (absentee) in a Presidential election. What an awesome feeling of power I felt when I filled in the oval next to Barack Obama's and Joe Biden's names!
And then, November 4. A day that, while bright and unseasonably warm literally in Mount Pleasant, was even more so figuratively. And the magic of that night was so profound, you'd think Houdini or Disney was involved! There was nothing quite like leading the countdown to 11PM at the Brass Cafe and then proposing my first toast - to one of the most transformational figures modern America has seen, our nation's 44th President!
In non-political news, in September I got a new job here at Central Michigan University! Instead of working at the dining commons (ugh), I now work at the Towers Computer Lounge! The TCL is a computer lab, coffee shop, and gaming center all in one room in my residence hall complex! Also, this past spring I signed a minor in leadership. CMU is the only college in the Great Lakes State to offer a minor in leadership. Elsewhere in the family, in June my cousin graduated summa cum laude from Gibraltar's Carlson High School as one of three co-valedictorians! She has since entered Wayne State, where she is majoring in biomedical physics.
So what does 2009 hold for me? Of course, none of us know for certain; after all, life takes many strange twists and turns, and great opportunities arise all the time! Overall I intend to work to build communication and cohesion in the Democratic Party to make it more effective for years to come. President-elect Obama has done so much to bring so many people into the process, many of whom had never been involved before. Making sure these people stay involved in American civic life well beyond the election will be a top priority for me. (I will discuss this further in the coming days.)
This spring I plan to go on an Alternative Spring Break related to state park preservation. Also, I am going to be captain of Team Carey/Kulhavi Combating Cancer for Relay for Life 2009 at CMU (Carey and Kulhavi being two of CMU's residence halls; I live in Kulhavi).
If there is one thing Barack Obama has reminded me, it's that every single one of us has the power to change our world and the people around it. "We are the ones we've been waiting for," implored our 44th President. "We are the change that we seek." Neither we nor Obama can do everything by ourselves, but what a wonderful thought it is to know that we each have the power to touch each other's lives and to change them for the better!
So, to all of you who read what I had to say this year, who recommended my diaries and comments, shared your own opinions, and who once again made me feel welcome here at Daily Kos, I thank you for touching my life this year and in years past. This one's for you!
The Kent County Democrats and the Obama campaign participated in Kentwood's Fourth of July parade this morning. I had hoped for a good turnout, but as often happens with Obama events, things turned out better than expected.
In fact, we had about 30 people there! I would tell you how many people were in the McCain contingent at the parade, but McCain's campaign didn't even show up! Keep in mind, Bush won Kentwood 56-43% in 2004.
We decorated my family's UAW-made Taurus for the occasion: I didn't get the best pictures of the car, but the signs on this side of the car said "Liberty and Justice for All" and "Vote Democratic." the signs on the other side read "Security, Prosperity, Community" (a quick and catchy slogan I thought of last night) and "Vote Democratic." Here are just some of the 30 people there: As I saw that the parade was getting going, I asked everyone: "Are you ready? Are you fired up? Are you ready to go? Are you ready to show everyone that Kentwood is Obama Country?"
"Yes!"
Moments later, we began our 2.7-mile journey. Every couple of minutes we would engage the crowd in a cheer. "Yes We Can!" "We Want Change!" "O-ba-ma!" As one might expect in West Michigan, we did get the occasional less-than-positive response - a few people said "Go McCain!" and we did get a thumbs-down or two - but far more people cheered. Mom told me that of all the political participants in the parade, we were the only ones who garnered cheers.
It was an exciting morning here in Kentwood. If people in this suburb in conservative West Michigan can get enthusiastic about Obama, politics in West Michigan will continue to shift to the left, costing Republicans key support in this part of one of the nation's biggest battleground states.
633 days from the 2008 election! (BTW: I haven't received a reply to any of my posts in several weeks!! I feel lonely when no one replies!)
I went to the Kent County Spring Democratic Convention today. Kinda light turnout; only 60- or so people, compared to the 200 or so people at the one in August (granted, that was just before the last election). The high point was getting a warm reception after discussing Eye On Ehlers. I posted a blurb about that on Daily Kos.
The 2006 State of the State was Tuesday. As usual, another great speech by our Governor, as she did her best to outline the crisis Michigan faces, and how we can get out of it. I'm especially glad she discussed the importance of taxes, and how cutting them doesn't help the economy as much as some would have you think. If you didn't get a chance to see the address, read the transcript or watch the video.
The Guv has proposed a 2% tax on services (excluding healthcare and education-related services). Look for my thoughts on that later.
Barack Obama has officially joined the race. I like him. More thoughts on that later. Also, Mitt Romney came to town for the state GOP Convention. More on Mitt's flip-flops later.
The head of the Michigan Young Republicans has been charged with rape. I donb't care who you are or which party you support... rape is absolutely inexcusable. Then again, he is innocent until proven guilty.
