ICDP:Dispatch

Michigan Senate and the Friday Night (Environmental) Massacre

2008-07-01T11:59:00.005-04:00

This just arrived from the Sierra Club of Michigan. The Repubs seem bent on wrecking the environment just as they wrecked Michigan’s economy under Engler. If you live in Senator Cropsey’s district (which includes Isabella County), let him know this is making Michigan a laughing stock in this era of environmental crisis.

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For more than a year, a bi-partisan group of lawmakers in the House worked to develop legislation to dramatically change energy policy in Michigan. Some elements of the package were good, some were bad. But on balance, most agreed that the House bills would move Michigan forward by requiring investment in the cheapest forms of energy.

The House package wasn’t perfect, but it was a step in the right direction. The bills contained a modest 1% Energy Efficiency savings standard per year, and a requirement that utilities provide 10% renewable energy by 2015 (a combined standard of 15.85% by 2015). Taken together, these policies would provide Michigan with affordable energy and take the first critical steps toward addressing global warming, while creating good-paying jobs.

Although Senate Republicans talk about clean energy and protecting ratepayers, their votes on Friday told a far different story. During the late night Massacre, they rammed through a completely irrelevant package of energy bills, which includes expensive and polluting coal as a renewable resource (no kidding!) and eliminated anything that could be construed as clean energy.

Under the Senate energy bills, Michigan will get more coal-fired power plants, skyrocketing energy costs, more pollution, more global warming, and few (if any) new jobs. Their combined standard for renewable energy and energy efficiency is 7% (Michigan already has almost 5%!) In short, the Senate energy bills are a joke. Whats even more appalling is that no one asked them to change the House bills!

The House bills passed their version of the energy bills with strong bi-partisan support and had the blessing of virtually every major interest group. There was no reason for the Senate to muck up the package. If they can’t improve the House bills, they should pass them intact, so that Michigan doesn’t end up a national laughing stock.

Its time to let Senate Republicans know that they should lead, follow or get out of the way. Please send an email Senator Cropsey letting him know he got it wrong and needs to try again!

His contact information is:

senacropsey@senate.michigan.gov,

phone: 866-305-2133

fax: (517) 373-8661

Old-Fashioned Democratic Fourth of July Picnic By The River

2008-06-25T13:29:00.002-04:00

Here's an alternative to a long gas burning trip out of town this Fourth of July. Join fellow Dems for a good old fashioned picnic by the river. Here's the invite:

ISABELLA COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY
4TH OF JULY PICNIC



WHO:   YOU, your family, your friends,
   Anyone interested in joining us for food and fun

WHAT:   Isabella County Democratic Party Picnic/Fundraiser

WHERE:  Toni Sessoms’ Farm on Littlefield Road
   Directions attached

WHEN:  Friday, July 4th, 2008
   3:00 p.m. until ???
   Rain or shine

COST:   $5/person; $10/family suggested donation

WE WILL PROVIDE: Drinking water
   Plates, eating utensils, cups, napkins
   Badminton, volleyball
   Horse Shoes
   The Washer game
   The Coldwater River to play in
   A bonfire after dark

BRING:   A covered dish to pass
   Your favorite beverage
   Chairs
   Toys, floatie things to play in the river
   Sunscreen, hat
   Towels
   Warm clothes if you plan on staying after dark


DIRECTIONS TO THE FARM ON LITTLEFIELD ROAD

FROM MT. PLEASANT

Travel West on M-20 (also named High Street and Remus Road) to Winn
Road
Turn Right (North) onto Winn Road
Travel 2 miles on Winn Road
Turn Left (West) onto River Road
Travel 2 miles on River Road
Turn Right (North) onto Littlefield Road
Travel 7/10ths of a mile on Littlefield Road; you will go up a hill
and see red barns on the left
After the red barns on left, go to 2nd telephone pole
Turn Left onto two track near 2nd telephone pole

FROM THE WEST

Travel East on M-20 to Littlefield Road
Turn Left (North) onto Littlefield Road
Turn Right (East) onto Pickard Road
Very soon after the little bridge, turn Left (North) back onto
Littlefield Road
Travel on Littlefield Road
Go straight through the intersection with River Road
After intersection with River Road, travel 7/10ths of a mile;
Travel up a hill and see red barns on the left
After the red barns on left, go to 2nd telephone pole
Turn Left onto two track near 2nd telephone pole

FROM THE SOUTH

Travel North on Mission Street in Mt. Pleasant
Turn Left (West) onto M-20 (also called High Street and Remus Road)
Continue West on M-20 for about 7 miles to Winn Road
Turn Right (North) onto Winn Road
Travel 2 miles on Winn Road
Turn Left (West) onto River Road
Travel 2 miles on River Road
Turn Right (North) onto Littlefield Road
Travel 7/10ths of a mile on Littlefield Road; you will go up a hill
and see red barns on the left
After the red barns on left, go to 2nd telephone pole
Turn Left onto two track near 2nd telephone pole

FROM THE NORTH

Travel South on Mission Street in Mt. Pleasant
Turn Right (West) onto M-20 (also called High Street and Remus Road)
Continue West on M-20 for about 7 miles to Winn Road
Turn Right (North) onto Winn Road
Travel 2 miles on Winn Road
Turn Left (West) onto River Road
Travel 2 miles on River Road
Turn Right (North) onto Littlefield Road
Travel 7/10ths of a mile on Littlefield Road; you will go up a hill
and see red barns on the left
After the red barns on left, go to 2nd telephone pole
Turn Left onto two track near 2nd telephone pole

Here's to our nominee, Barack Obama!

2008-06-03T23:04:00.005-04:00

From my inbox:

It's been a long journey, and we should all pause to thank Hillary Clinton, who made history in this campaign. Our party and our country are better off because of her.

I want to make sure you understand what's ahead of us. Earlier tonight, John McCain outlined a vision of America that's very different from ours -- a vision that continues the disastrous policies of George W. Bush.

But this is our moment. This is our time. Our time to turn the page on the policies of the past and bring new energy and new ideas to the challenges we face. Our time to offer a new direction for the country we love.

It's going to take hard work, but thanks to you and millions of other donors and volunteers, no one has ever been more prepared for such a challenge.

Thank you for everything you've done to get us here. Let's keep making history.

On this night, Tuesday, the 3rd of June, 2008, my heart swells with pride for our party, for our country, and for our world.

Tonight, Senator Barack Obama has clinched the Democratic nomination for President of the United States.

Few can say they have lived as well-rounded and influential life as Barack Obama. The multiracial Obama, whose father hails from Kenya and whose mother was from Kansas, was born in Hawaii and spent time in Indonesia while growing up.

He left law school to work as a community organizer in Chicago to help deal with the needs of troubled neighborhoods. He eventually finished his law school work after having become the first African-American to edit the Harvard Law Review.

He spent eight years in the Illinois Senate before winning election to the US Senate in 2004. In both roles, he has established a track record of success in getting things done and advancing progressive causes.

And now, here we are, in the late spring of 2008. 793 years after the Magna Carta loosened a king's grip on England, 232 years after rebel patriots declared themselves free from the bonds of tyranny, 141 years after the abolition of slavery in this 'Land of the Free,' this party offers this nation - the land of the free, the home of the brave - the chance of a generation.

A chance to elect a real leader. A leader of impeccable character and integrity. A leader of high intelligence.

Someone ready to take on the role of leading all 300 million of us. To be a role model for school children everywhere - living proof that you can be whatever it is you want to be, if only you dedicate yourself. Living proof to all that obstacles are not impossible to overcome.

Early on, I must admit, I was skeptical. He was one of my top picks right from the get-go - along with Edwards and Richardson (I think I would have backed Wes Clark had he run) - but I was not convinced the 40-something junior senator from Illinois was ready for the toughest job in the world, at one of the most critical times in American history.

Winter turned into spring, spring to summer. I paid attention to what our field of candidates - diverse in race, personal background, experience, and policy ideas - had to say about why they were the one for which America has longed.

Wouldn't you know it, that young man - the youngest in the pack - kept convincing me time and time again that not only was he ready for the enormous burden of the Presidency, but that no one else running was quite as ready as him. And so I gave him my support.

And now, here we are. Five months after the Iowa Caucuses, five months before the general election, this primary season has finally come to an end.

We now know that the son of a Kenyan father and a Kansan mother will be the nominee of the Democratic Party - the Party of Jefferson and Jackson, the party of FDR, JFK, and LBJ, and the Party of Nobel winners Wilson, Carter, and Gore - to hold the office once held by Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Lincoln, U.S. Grant, TR, Silent Cal, FDR, Truman, and Ike.

As our nominee, Obama has made history. If elected, he will make even more history.

Far more important, he will work to make the future better for all of us.

So together, let's make it happen.

The Deference Difference - McClellan Revelations Bring Back Personal White House Memories

2008-05-29T09:08:00.004-04:00

Watching the press flap about the latest revelations from former White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan, reminds me of my own humble days in the White House Press Room many years ago and the huge difference in deference of the national press between then and now.

In my very first 4 p.m. briefing at the famous press room I was taken aback when White House Press Secretary Ron Zeigler came out of the door to the left of podium and no sooner had he gotten to the microphone when Herb Kaplow, the ABC correspondent blurted out. " And what kind of lies do you have for us today, Ron?"

I was just a student journalist at the University of Maryland doing an internship that included covering the White House and Capital Hill for a group of Midwestern newspapers. But Kaplow's opening remark along with the smirk on Zeigler's face when he heard it left a lasting impression about the relationship between the press and the White House. Of course, not all of the dozens of regulars who peopled those 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. White House press briefings shared the same disdain that Kaplow did with the farce that preceded the impeachment of President Nixon.

Everyone knew that Zeigler, a former Disney publicist, was just a mouthpiece and that he was just the front man for an administration in freefall. What surprises me now is that anyone is surprised about the McClellan revelations that the Bush administration has been lying through its teeth.

What is disgusting from my perspective is the incredible deference the national press is still showing to the Bush administration despite the fact that we all know the Bush administration lied us into the war. The latest charade from Dan Bartlett that it wasn't lies, but faulty intelligence that caused Bush problems, is simply another lie.

The Downing Street Memo seems to be long forgotten by the members of the national press. We wrote about it shortly after it appeared in a British newspaper in a May 29, 2005 post we titled Another Way To Remember on Memorial Day. It gives me no great pleasure to realize how right I was about the Bush administration three years ago. Of course, John Conyers and many other braver Americans continually challenged the administration but our national press ignored those early signs of treason because in some circles it was unthinkable that a president of the United States would lie us into a disastrous war.

It was also unthinkable many years ago that a White House would try to cover up a break-in at an opponents political office at the Watergate. But the press then was different from the press today. Not many newspapers were owned by huge media conglomerates whose primary motivation was making huge chucks of money so they could buy up more media outlets. The Washington Post, the New York Times and many other large regional newspapers actually did investigative journalism and did not rely on the nonsense that came out of the daily press feedings that passes for news today.

The press has failed us and that is why many blogs have more creditability than major media outlets.

I was dismayed today to hear CBS, NBC and MSNBC wondering about the motivation of Scott McClellan and why he was writing a book that pointed out the Bush administration lied us into war. That's an incredibly inane question when we should really be questioning why the mainstream media even bothers to think the Bush administration might be telling the truth about anything.

There are no Herb Kaplows today in the mainstream media and we are much worse off for it.

History is Being Made In Isabella County Too

2008-05-16T08:22:00.002-04:00

The news from Grand Rapids on Wednesday and the enthusiasm of Michigan Democrats for the evolving drama of the national race has overshadowed another exciting story that bodes well for our local Democratic Party with historical implications here.

In the county where John Engler was born, a county where Republicans have controlled the corridors of the county office building, the Democratic Party in Isabella County is posed to pull a major upset by fielding the largest and strongest field of local candidates in county history.

After more than three months of hard work of encouraging and recruiting some of the best and brightest people in Isabella County to step forward, the ICDP is proud to announce a field a ten candidates to take on Republican incumbents. Many of those Republican incumbents have NEVER faced a Democratic challenger before.

But it doesn't stop there. The Democratic Party is also fielding an almost full slate of candidates to take on the Republican machine that has controlled politics in the Mt. Pleasant suburbs. Union Township, the conservative suburban area that surrounds the city, is about to see some new faces along with a few older ones convinced that their local government needs to return power to the people, not the local wealthy interests. We will also be making a major effort to increase the slim majority on the Board of County Commissioners.

The ICDP will be introducing its local candidates to the public in a fun and unique event with music and song and humor on June 24 at the historic restored downtown Broadway Theater.
Fun, energy and enthusiasm is coming back to local Democratic politics in Isabella County.

Isabella County politics will never be the same again.

History is Being Made

2008-05-14T23:57:00.008-04:00

History is being made. Something possibly we have not seen since the Kennedy race! It was fulfilling and gratifying to see Mr. Edwards give a passionate speech to an overwhelming crowd in Grand Rapids, Michigan! This was an inspirational event, to take down the walls as he put it. And as Democrats in Michigan we have to realize how revealing and great this media attention is for our state.

But, how do we deal with it as Democrats in regards to the harsh convictions of the race issue in politics? Practically, despite what the media says, it is irrelevant. This was shown in Grand Rapids, Michigan and beyond. All of us as Democrats have to look past the media twist on what is happening. Beyond Reverend Wright, beyond the categorization that this is a presidential contest based on chauvinism or race. It has nothing to do with it! Today was a day in which we unified as Democrats and pulled together to decide who has the best plan.

Change is going to occur. It might not happen immediately, it might not include an economic stimulus package. But it will be a change that will be better for us, the average citizen. And as our own county pulls together with supreme leadership to influence new candidates, we rise above that wall that Edwards referred to.

Andrew Thibodeau ICDP Political Advisor and Candidate for Isabella County Clerk

I Was There as Edwards endorsed Obama

2008-05-14T22:34:00.001-04:00

Wow! People talk about being "Fired Up and Ready to Go" at Obama rallies, but I must say I never imagined seeing what I just saw in Grand Rapids, in the heart of conservative West Michigan.

An endorsement from John Edwards.

I arrived at Van Andel Arena (named for a conservative cofounder of Amway) around 5:15. The line to get in moved quite rapidly, probably because there were plenty of metal detectors to keep people moving in at an efficient pace. I sat in the upper level of the arena, but I was closer to the stage than many people there. Besides, given who we knew was going to be there, I wasn’t complaining.

A disabled veteran led us in the Pledge of Allegiance. The crowd cheered as they saw the young man in crutches approach the podium. After that, someone from the field office had everyone get out their cell phones and text 'MI' to 62262 to stay involved with the campaign.

A little while later we saw the "Yes We Can" video by will.i.am. A little later, The Wave.

I reflected on the people there. They were diverse in race, age, and surely walk of life. I saw middle-aged white men. I saw black women. I saw kids - plenty of kids! Many of whom won’t be old enough to vote this November. Still, they were witnessing history. Sure, school was out for the day. But these kids were getting a hands-on education, just as I did when I saw Al Gore at Calder Plaza in October 2000.

Around 6:35, a worker at the Lear factory in Walker - which will be closing in a few months - spoke about his struggles to get by as the cost of living increased but his paycheck didn’t.

He had the honor of introducing the man who would be President.

At 6:38 PM, Barack Obama - one of the smartest and most beloved people in modern politics - stepped up to the podium.

He started by telling us he had a treat. And a treat it was as he introduced a young man who has dedicated his life to tackling the many issues ordinary Americans face.

Once Barack uttered the words "John Edwards," the place went nuts. We all knew what Edwards’s presence there meant. I was hopping up and down like I’ve never done at any political function in my 20 ½ years. Hell, I’m not sure I’ve ever been so excited at a sporting event!

Edwards spoke of the major themes of his campaign: Poverty, social justice, healthcare, and of course making the two Americas one. "The Democratic voters of America have made their decision," he added, "and so have I."

In his remarks, Obama made the solemn promise that Edwards would find in President Obama a fierce comrade in the fight against poverty. He then touched on what he has discussed throughout his campaign, including the many important issues we face in this country and the importance of changing the way Washington operates.

There seems to be general agreement that Senator Obama will be our Democratic nominee. He pointed out that both Edwards and, yes, Hillary all stood for a much-needed change in Washington. On more than one occasion, Obama called out McCain as someone who simply offers more of the same. Obama, speaking in a conservative region of battleground Michigan, was in full general-election mode.

At one point during the speech, we got a glimpse of what kind of human being we'll have as our President if this man is elected.

At one point, Barack saw that someone in the crowd had fainted. He interrupted his spiel for a moment to alert the EMTs that someone had fainted. He then took his bottle of water and asked people to send it back to the person who had fainted.

I'm not sure many politicians would interrupt their own speech to do that - much less give up their bottle of water.

When the speech was done, the crowd dispersed, and I made my way to the car. As I got in the car, I looked in the mirror and asked myself: "Did I really just see Edwards endorse Obama?"

Oh, yes, I did.

And I hope that you too have the privilege of being there to see and hear Barack Obama bring out your emotions and move you to action.

Lazy Journalism Could Help Defeat Library Millage

2008-05-05T06:40:00.003-04:00

Here we go again.

In today's Morning Scum, their best reporter, does a lousy job of telling the public what is going on. Come on, Mark Ranzenberger, follow the money. Didn't you learn anything in journalism school?

Mark's story this morning makes it sound as if some citizen movement has arisen to fight taxes. The headline of the story even makes it sound like there was some big rally somewhere where hordes of local citizens rose up in arms to defeat the library millage.

So where was this rally, Mark? How many people were there? Tell us the truth. There was no rally, was there, Mark? This is not a citizen movement at all, is it Mark?

All you are doing with this story, Mark, is reporting what people are saying. That's really lazy journalism. The moneyed interests in our community have controlled local politics in the same way they have done it nationally. They complain that they are paying too much in taxes and crush the projects that are needed by those who have the least.

So tell us, Mark, who is this Todd Lawrence Oliveiri, who is pretending to be a champion of the people? Is he some downtrodden poor soul suffering under the crushing high taxes caused by our local library?

Or is he a 48 year-old Republican who lives at 805 Canal St. in a comfortable neighborhood on the west side of town close to the CMU campus?

And where is all of the money coming from to pay for a political consultant and the high-priced campaign being launched to kill our local library?

Don't you remember, Mark, that the role of a real journalist is to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable?

You are letting the comfortable get away with not just a pack of lies about our library, but you are comforting the comfortable.

Get off your lazy butt and get over to the courthouse and do some journalism, Mark. Follow the money. Or do we have to do it ourselves?

Local Newspaper Kowtows to Big Local Advertisers

2008-05-04T23:01:00.002-04:00

The Morning Scum, our poor excuse for a local newspaper has done it again.

This time they've written a wishy-washy editorial about the library millage coming up on Tuesday. Instead of taking a stand on an issue, which is what editorials used to do before the only motivation for a newspaper was to make a profit, the Morning Sun asks readers to weigh the issues.

Is the editorial for the library millage or against it? Can't really tell from the editorial, but then all those stores that are flying the vote no on the millage signs are owned by rich local Republican advertisers.

Does the newspaper care about the people of this community or what? The Morning Sun is typical of chain newspapers that suck as much money out of a community as they can and send it to corporate headquarters in some other state so they can buy up any competitors.

There used to be other newspapers in our area that didn't kowtow to advertisers, but they've all been bought up now except for the Shepherd Argus that is owned by a Democrat and they don't have that much circulation.

The local news coverage in the Morning Sun is minimal meetings-type coverage of our local governments and most of our local townships get no coverage at all. Remember the good old days of journalism when the role of the press was to hold local officials accountable?

Forget about it. If it doesn't happen at a local government meeting then the public doesn't get to know about it in Isabella County because our local monopoly newspaper doesn't cover it.

When I went to Journalism School I learned that the role of journalists was to find out what is really going on in your community and the only way you could do that was to find out more than just what happened at meetings. I worked at some real newspapers that did exactly that and I really miss journalism that cared more about the people than about their advertisers.

Rich People Don't Use Library -- Want to Kill It

2008-05-04T22:47:00.002-04:00

All over Mt. Pleasant Isabella County's richest property owners are putting up signs to kill a property tax millage with red colored Vote No To New Taxes signs. All along Pickard Street in front of Republican owned stores the vote no to the library millage signs on the county's highest traffic thoroughfare.

Library users are a mix of civic minded people and poorer folks who can't afford to buy a book or magazine whenever they want to. Of course, the LaBelle's and Fabiano's of our county don't need to send their kids to the local library if they need to cite encyclopedia sources in their reports, they can just buy their own encyclopedias.

Of course, a property tax is a progressive one that makes the rich pay their fair share. If they own millions of dollars worth of property, then they pay more to fund the library than those with a more modest home. So naturally they get behind an effort to kill the millage for the library.

Of course, the library millage is not a new tax, it's just a renewal of a library millage with a little additional to add a new addition to the library. That doesn't matter -- Isabella County's richest property owners don't give a damn that a vibrant library is an essential tool for the families in Isabella County who have the least.

They've got theirs and they want to keep it. In fact, they want more tax cuts for the rich. The rich could kill the library millage this time with all that advertising, but they don't care. Isabella County's poorest people are not their problem.

Republican Mt. Pleasant City Clerk Cops a Plea -- Gets Off Easy After Stealing From Taxpayers

2008-05-03T06:57:00.003-04:00

Long time Mt. Pleasant City Clerk Robert J. Flynn will only have to spend ten days in jail for embezzling money in a clever scheme involving city cemetery plots.

By most accounts the 60-year-old Flynn had been a likable friendly man, but the Friday sentencing before Judge Mark Duthie revealed another side of the man who had plead guilty more than a month ago. When asked what he did with the money he said he just spent it. The judge didn't press him for a further explanation.

For violating the public trust, Flynn was sentenced to 8 months, but will only serve 10 days in jail. His sentence began on Friday as he was taken away from the courtroom and he is expected to get out of jail next weekend. He will be required to do 2500 hours of public service and will be on a tether for five months. He will also be required to pay $31,000 in restitution to the city that includes a $6,500 reimbursement for a city ordered audit after irregularities were uncovered in the cemetery account. Flynn was at first suspended from his job and then allowed to officially retire.

The scene of Friday's sentencing at the Isabella County Courthouse was an emotional one as family, friends and former co-workers watched the proceedings. Flynn and some of his former colleagues were in tears as the judge pronounced his sentence. Rumors had it that the former city clerk was hoping for a lenient sentence since it was a first time offense.

Prominent local Democratic attorney Gordon Bloehm, who defended the former city clerk had negotiated the plea bargain for Flynn but judges can accept or reject a plea bargain after reading a pre-sentencing investigation report and hearing testimony from those affected by the crime.

Bloehm asked Judge Duthie if Flynn could wait to begin his sentence on Monday because he had friends in town, but the judge ordered him taken away after an assistant prosecutor said a delay would be inappropriate.

The long time city clerk was a familiar face on election day in Mount Pleasant as he dashed between the city polling places for the seven Mt. Pleasant precincts. He oversaw the introduction of the city's new voting machines that counts punch card ballots that are read by an electronic counter. Flynn knew most election workers by first name and dashed between polls with lunch money and last minute absentee ballots that needed counting. Flynn had paid city election workers in cash for the $6 per meal lunch money. But city officials have informed election workers they will no longer get cash lunch money. It will be added to the wages that are paid by check several weeks after an election.

Flynn's sentencing raises questions about what is an appropriate punishment for public officials who violate the public trust. Did his lenient sentencing send a message that public officials can expect a handslap if they steal from the taxpayers? Will Mt. Pleasant citizens lose faith in local government or will they see the Flynn case as just an aberration?

Clinton Gas Plan Bad For Michigan: Granholm Please Note

2008-04-29T15:49:00.006-04:00

Jennifer Granholm who has been doing a fairly good job of working hard to stimulate job growth and diversification of Michigan's economy might have to rethink her support of Hillary Clinton as result of her new proposal on gas prices.

Clinton is proposing a tax cut that makes her sound like a Republican. But even worse, cutting the federal gasoline tax would also cut billions of dollars out of road construction projects at a time when Gov. Granholm has been accelerating road projects to create more Michigan jobs.

Apparently, Clinton needs a few more votes and she will do anything to get them including helping to destroy Michigan jobs.

Obama is right on about this one. We need a real national energy program, not another quick fix. At a time when GM is announcing thousands of more Michigan layoffs, the last thing we need is a Republican style proposal from a Democrat.

Rich Republicans Could Kill Part of Isabella County's Economic Future

2008-04-27T08:23:00.008-04:00

When the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe recently purchased the Mt. Pleasant Holiday Inn, it was surprising, but perhaps understandable that tribal officials decided to stop paying the lodging tax that funds our local tourism promotion.

The tribe has been spending millions of dollars to promote the Soaring Eagle Casino that attracts tens of thousands of tourists to come to Isabella County every day. Most are day-trippers that come by the carload and bus load and spend money here, not just at the casino. Other businesses like restaurants, gas stations, golf courses and specialty shops all benefit from the promotion of tourism. Although some visitors come here to only visit the casino, many other casino visitors spend money in our local establishments.

National studies and studies by the Michigan State University, in fact, show that for every dollar a community spends on promoting tourism, it comes back to the community many times over. The only disagreement is how large that multiplier really is. The lowest figures we've seen are a $2.28 return for every tourism promotion dollar spent, but some studies indicate it is many times that when all factors are considered including the multiplier effect on a local economy when new money is brought into a community.

But here in Isabella County, we now have a prominent Republican family, the LaBelles, telling Isabella County they too are opting out of paying the lodging tax that funds the Mt. Pleasant Convention and Visitors Bureau. Since we are talking about hundreds of thousands of dollars of lost revenues from the Holiday Inn and now the LaBelle-owned Comfort Inn and Fairfield Inn, what we are talking about is killing the Mt. Pleasant Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Perhaps, the second-generation LaBelles are not as astute as their dad and forgot that only tourists pay for that lodging tax and not them. Perhaps their accountants are looking at declining revenues because the LaBelles now have formidable competition locally, or perhaps they are simply like many other Republican business people -- they don't care about what happens to their local community. All they care about is how much money they get to take home.

A simple solution for short-sighted folks who don't understand they are part of a community is to make the lodging tax mandatory. Do you suppose that hotel owners in Frankenmuth and Mackinaw City want to destroy their local tourism promotion agencies?

Do you suppose economic development officials there think it is a bad idea to promote an industry that brings in millions of dollars to their community?

I can imagine next that the LaBelles will want to opt out of the fees that finance our 911 service and taxes that pay for police and fire protection.

Isabella County has a bright future if we all wake up to the fact that tourism can play a significant role in our economic development and rather than cutting our efforts to promote it, we should be working together to make it more effective.

Blame The Founding Fathers For Michigan-Florida Mess

2008-04-26T09:04:00.002-04:00

The finger pointing is getting tiresome.

Democrats who don't have a clue are blaming the Michigan Democratic Party and then there is Debbie Dingel, Mark Brewer, Governor Granholm and, of course, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama all trying to make sense out of a system created by our founding fathers.

The truth is those founding fathers remarkably created a democracy at a time when monarchs ruled, but it was an imperfect democracy. It has been up to future generations to amend that democracy with the times to make it work and we have now reached a time that challenges us all to take our shot at making it a more perfect democracy.

Those founding fathers didn't imagine that women could vote for the nation's leader, much less become one. A mixed race president would be unbelievable to Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. Fortunately, we've made some progress with this imperfect democracy, but it is now clear we need a complete overhaul of both the nominating process and how we vote for president. The electoral college is a ridiculous waste of time and money. So is the nominating process. But change doesn't come unless things get really bad and the time is here.

Our Michigan Democratic leaders wanted to bring attention to our flawed democracy, but could not have imagined the end results of those efforts. They have succeeded beyond their imaginations because we are seeing history in the making.

So let's make history. Our history. We are the new founders. Let us create that more perfect union and let us encourage Mark, Debbie, Jennifer and Howard to help us do what we can't do ourselves. Find a solution that works better for our times. We will help them get it implemented.

What we have now isn't working. We all know that. I know what I am doing to fix what needs fixing about the Democratic Party and politics where I live, but if all YOU are doing is complaining about this imperfect system instead of doing something about it, I am sympathetic with all the complaints and blaming, but still wonder if more of us got REALLY involved we could do more.

Progressives joining forces makes me very hopeful. That's one of the reasons I am looking forward to the Michigan Policy Summit. We are all working on fixing this mess the founding fathers handed over to us. This could be the year for the great changes we now know we need.

Blame it all on the founding fathers, but let's all get to work. This is our year. This is our country. This is our mess to fix.

Mid-Michigan Progressives Heading to Lansing Summit on Saturday May 10

2008-04-24T16:40:00.003-04:00

Can you imagine what might happen if ordinary people working on progressive issues all got together from all over Michigan and came up with an agenda for change and shared ideas to make our state one that cares more about people than corporations?

Join our caravan of progressive friends heading to the Michigan Policy Summit on Saturday, May 10 and find out.

Organizers of the event are making the second annual event even better than the first with the addition of two national progressive heroes, Amy Goodman and Jim Hightower.

Since the ICDP managed to get Amy on the air beamed out to the 60,000 households in Clare, Gratiot and Isabella Counties some 16 months ago, Goodman's Democracy Now TV show is the lone voice of reason in our media wasteland. While it is nice to have Amy and co-host Juan Gonzales beamed Monday through Friday live from New York on Channel 3, getting to see her live and in person just an hour away is something else. She will be the morning keynote speaker.

Amy inspired us to develop our own progressive TV show, Democracy Matters that appears every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday on MAC3-TV in our 3-county area and now in some other Michigan counties. Our 12th show currently airing features Central Michigan University Political Scientist Sterling Johnson and local feminist activist Linda Mason discussing the presidential race. ICDP-TV will also be bringing a camera along to capture some highlights of the annual event.

At lunch time at the May 10 progressive talkfest, Jim Hightower, the iconic Texas maverick whose books are among those featured at the free library at our ICDP Mount Pleasant office will have a few nasty words to say about the corporate SOB's who think they own our country.

This once a year opportunity to get together with activist mavericks from around the state joined by folks from education, labor, the environmental movement, and politicians who give a damn should be one of the most delightful events you have ever been to. The first one was great, this second one should be better.

Those who need a ride or can give a ride please call John Barker at 989-400-6454. You can expect to leave our area in the 7 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. time frame to get there in time.

Registration which includes lunch is just $30 and is easily done online by clicking on the headline above or right here.

Remind Our Democratic Leaders We Care About Clean Water in Mid-Michigan

2008-04-24T10:57:00.010-04:00

Just how important are our rivers and lakes to you? Can you do something simple right now to save some of our area's greatest water resources? Yes, you can.

Earth Day doesn't need to be the only day we think about the environment especially when we are facing some major public policy decisions that affect our region of the state.

Right now our friends in Midland and Saginaw Counties need our help by signing a simple online petition that will be presented to our Governor and our two US Senators asking for their support to clean up the mess created by the Dow Chemical Company.

It will just take a few seconds to lend your voice to the online petition and if you want to read more about it before you sign, please take the time. Click on the headline above or right here to add your voice to make sure that Dow Chemical is forced to do the right thing.

Dow Chemical at first denied they caused the problem, then claimed it wasn't as bad as we "tree-huggers" claimed and now that it has been proven that Dow pollution is among the worst in America they want to minimize the cost to the company. They have lost the court battles, but they still hope to win at the negotiation table with officials who are our friends.

Taxpayers should not have to pay for the mess Dow created. Our Democratic leaders need to stand up to Dow and we need to remind them why we elected them.

Just do it.

Clinton's 'Bitter Politics' Likely to Backfire

2008-04-13T12:20:00.005-04:00

Barack is right about being bitter. He has represented my feelings all along. I think Hillary is using the Karl Rove mentality against her own party. She is the one that is always harping on the things Barack says. I think he is correct--ask the people who are losing their jobs and their unemployment has run out. That's hundreds of thousands of people. They are indeed bitter. Ask the people about the war, they are indeed bitter. Ask them about wasting money on the war and putting our children and grandchildren in debt for years. Yes, they are indeed bitter. Ask them about the crimes of the Bush years. Yes, they are indeed bitter. Why doesn't Hillary get that?

Hillary's poorly managed campaign staff is struggling and seems to need to go negative using Karl Rovian tactics. But when Hillary brings attention to Barack's problems, the media directs all the attention to him again--so her team of advisors doesn't seem to get it -- that they are just giving Barack another opportunity to show his finesse.

I know as a person, I can't control the thoughts, actions or expressions of people I associate with. When Hillary says she just wouldn't go to that church if someone like Barack's pastor was there or would walk out if he talked like that--that shows me she is closed minded and isn't interested to hear others views.

She is a good politician, but seems to be missing an opportunity to run as a woman. Is that because she is afraid to address feminism or is it because she has sold out--where are the speeches about equal pay for equal work, the speeches about quality day care for working mothers, the list is long. Has she become just one of the good old boys?

Barack has already given his race speech. So where's the gender speech from Hillary? Seems her campaign staff believes bitter politics gets more votes, but that can backfire too, because many of us women support Barack without consideration for his race or gender. He's an incredibly intelligent candidate with a better vision for our country. Hillary is good, but Barack is simply better.

Not All Men Who Oppose Clinton Are Sexist Pigs, But Clinton Supporters Should Do the Math

2008-04-13T08:20:00.003-04:00

GeneG and the references to the Cleveland Plains Dealer article in the previous post raised some good points about some sexist pundits and how they treat a female candidate, but I have to wonder just how much the comments have to do with the author's own slights in the past.

It's obvious that many career women and perhaps the Cleveland writer have strong emotions and harsh feelings about how they may have been treated in the past including being passed over for promotions, etc. It's perfectly understandable that some women feel a special bond when they feel that Hillary is also being slighted and unfairly attacked.

But not all of the men who feel Obama is the better 0f the two candidates are male chauvinist pigs. GeneG glibly suggests that only women can multi-task and I happen to think that is a sexist remark. As a father of two 30-something daughters, I am pleased they and their friends have not had to fight as hard to get ahead as their mothers. Yes, sexism in America is not dead yet and it would be nice to see a good woman in the White House, but it is highly unlikely right now.

The male candidate in this race quite simply has run a masterful campaign. The female candidate's campaign is desperate and has been poorly run. The Obama campaign has had its setbacks, but it has come back. The race speech was a stunning and perhaps historic accomplishment alone. The fund raising and voter targeting of the Obama campaign have been superb. He didn't have to loan his campaign money.

But it all comes down to the math. The rules as they stand now, assuming they won't be broken to make Hillary our candidate, are a tally of delegates. The Obama campaign has mastered the rules so well and the math too that despite Clinton's popular vote lead in Texas, Obama still walked away with more delegates in Texas. On a level playing field where everyone knows the rules AND abides by them Obama will take the nomination.

But don't take my word for it. Do the math yourself using the CNN delegate counter tool for the next ten states and let me know if you can come up with a logical scenario where Clinton can get the required 2024 delegates to take the nomination away from Obama. Here is the link to the CNN delegate counter. Just slide the little bar to how you think the vote might come out for each remaining state contest and see what delegate tally you get. Try different scenarios.

Sorry, Clinton supporters. It really is over even if Hillary takes Pennsylvania and North Carolina. All Obama has to do is stay close and Hillary doesn't have a chance. Unless we break the rules.

Any Hillary supporters want to break the rules to take the nomination away from an erudite mixed race candidate who has inspired millions of young people to rejoin the party ranks?

Come on guys, lighten up!

2008-04-11T13:01:00.004-04:00

I know this blog is leaning heavily toward Obama, but I have worked too long for the rights of women to put up with idea that he is the answer to all our problems. Give me a person who can multi-task!

Think about checking this article written by Connie Schultz in the Cleveland Plain Dealer entitled, "Men, it's not your place to tell Clinton to quit the race," in April 6, 2008 issue.

I cannot believe the level of misogyny present among the pundits in this race against Clinton. I have wondered just what woman could run and not raise the hackles of these same men. When did you hear the clothing, voice, haircuts among other things criticized in male candidates? One pundit suggested the other day she only became senator in NY because of her association with Bill. There are a number of women in the Senate now who were elected on their own, including her.

Now mind you I am sure that they will be after Obama on another whole list of things if he is candidate.

GeneG.

Obama Meetup

2008-04-10T18:58:00.003-04:00

There will be an “Obama Meetup” on Monday, April 21, 7:00pm, in the Isabella County Building. It will take place in room#225.

Although the pundits are sure that Pennsylvania will be the determining factor in choosing the Democratic candidate, if we have learned anything from this election cycle it would be to expect surprises. Whether or not you are already an Obama supporter (which I am), it might be interesting for you to attend to find out why your friends and neighbors are already in his camp. I hope to see you there.

Senator: Budget likely to be finished by July 1

2008-03-29T14:59:00.003-04:00

This is worth a sigh of relief following last year's intense budget battle:

The Senate finished a productive week in Lansing, finishing 7 of 8 budget bills. While the spotlight has been on the Mayor of Detroit and the Presidential Campaign, Michigan legislators have been quietly doing our jobs. In March, we moved the budget bills through subcommittees, full Appropriations committees, and finally through the full Senate this week. We reached consensus on most budgets. Even when we did have disagreements, particularly on the K-12 School Aid Budget and the Community Health Budget, we kept the debate on the issues and not on a partisan or personal basis.

...

We are on target to finish our budget ahead of time this year, well before July 1st. You may recall that we didn’t finish last year until November, and the Government actually shut down for a few hours in October before we could reach any agreements. The constant bickering, the all-night sessions, the dueling press conferences are all so last year.

There is a new spirit of cooperation and mutual respect between the parties and the chambers this year. It’s like when you finally have the big fight in the schoolyard, the antagonists bloody each other up and then become friends.

It is kind of like that in the Michigan Legislature. Once you’ve gone through an ordeal like last year’s battle, you know whom you can trust and you also gain respect and understanding of where colleagues are coming from. Even when you disagree, you find a way to argue without losing your temper. You concentrate reaching a conclusion, not fighting for its own sake.

Alan Cropsey was in my class last Monday. He agreed that lawmakers will probably be done with the budget around the Fourth of July.

George Bush– A Funny Kind of Christian

2008-03-23T14:12:00.004-04:00

On this most Christian of holidays, it seems appropriate to have a message from a Vicar in England who writes about George Bush’s version of Christianity. You can find the article here,

Take note: if you prefer to spend your Easter thinking about Easter eggs, white lilies, the Easter bunny (all, by the way, symbols of the goddess of fertility, Eoster), this is not the article for you.

If, on the other hand, you are concerned about a president who has no problem with removing the wall of separation between church and state and using religion for political ends, or being the first (and hopefully the last) American president to tout the benefits of torture, then you might find the good Vicar’s comparison of water-boarding and the crucifixion to be most fitting.

Peace.

ICDP's Tim Caldwell featured in CM Life article for Vietnam memoirs

2008-03-19T18:23:00.003-04:00

Our own Tim Caldwell - who posts as JT here on the Dispatch - was featured in an article in Central Michigan Life today.

"We live in a society that demands disclosure: This is mine," said Caldwell, a music professor and Vietnam veteran.

Caldwell's book "The Chaplain's Assistant: God, Country, and Vietnam," tells of things that happened to him, other soldiers and things that never really happened during the war.

"That's how I make sense of the world - through writing," Caldwell said.

John Barker is also quoted in the article. I hope to get a copy of the book soon!

The White House is the “White House” For a Reason

2008-03-18T18:58:00.005-04:00

Ever since our government started the white house it has been “White.” Does this eliminate officers of color, or ideas of color? Challenge yourself to see this next election. The White House has always been run by white men. Some historically strong leaders and diplomatic fighters who fought for the common good. It did not matter if they were either Republicans or Democrats. But never have we had so much color in an election, than what we see today.

It’s been a long time since our candidates have dumped millions into a campaign that in the long run will educate and motivate voters, unify all Americans, and challenge the ideals of racism and shovinism. But Americans need to understand that the mainstream media does not care about all that. They don't care about a change or supporting ideas that can help America. All they care about is controversy and viewer ship. You know the "Ballot Bowl" mentality.

But, the Obama Campaign has done their best to avoid the issue of race. Because of ruthless media control over this election, we find Obama addressing the issue like he did today in Philadelphia, I am sure against his own will.

Should that be what his possible nomination pivots on? Should we let the ignorant conservative radio talk shows blast this issue out on our airways? Blasting Obama about his relationship with his church pastor? The answer is no. But I need not explain the reasons why. All you had to do was listen to his speech today and how he handled it. It could not have been explained so eloquently.

The question is, are Americans going to try new colors or not? Being part of America (one of the most wonderful democracies in the world) it is possible to make a color change. But let's make that choice to change the White House without the question of the racial divide. Let's focus on the issues of slain service men and women trapped in an immoral war. The need for health care systems that reach out to everyone in need. The need to repair the degradation of our constitution that this current administration has brought us. Lets not let the White House just be a symbol of nepotism, patriarchy, and white power. The White House is the "White House" for a reason. But today that reason is in question. Finally it is. We need to embrace this opportunity to unify Americans of all colors. And yes, something is in the air! That is the element of change. A color change that is!

Andrew Thibodeau
Political Advisor for the ICDP

Isabella County Dems Vote for Do-Over

2008-03-07T07:37:00.002-05:00

At their regular monthly meeting on Thursday, members of the Isabella County Democratic Party voted in favor of a resolution asking state and national party leaders to hold either a caucus or primary to select Michigan's delegation to the national party convention in August in order to restore party unity.

After a lively discussion at the Isabella County Office Building, the resolution approved by a majority voice vote of those local party members in attendance at the March meeting read in its entirety:

In the interests of fairness and of not changing the rules of the game during the process of selecting the Democratic Presidential nominee,

AND

In support of party unity that will be indispensable for waging the November 2008 Presidential election campaign,

The Isabella County Democratic Party hereby resolves that national and state Democratic Party leaders should work together to devise and implement either caucuses or a primary for the purpose of selecting Michigan's delegates to the 2008 national convention.

The vote on the resolution came after a prolonged discussion of the dilemma the Michigan Democratic Party finds itself in after a confusing January 15 state primary that now has national party leaders refusing to seat a disputed Michigan delegation in August.

Isabella County Dems will be hosting the Fourth Congressional District Convention on March 29 and local party members wondered whether the effort later in the month would still be going ahead and have any meaning at all. The district conventions are part of the process to select which individual party members will actually get to attend the convention in Denver.

"Is this going to a supercilious exercise?" County Commissioner Chairman David Ling wondered about the March 29 event. Ling, the county's highest local elected Democratic official, got his answer from others in the room when it was clear that noone really knew as the drama about Michigan and Florida continues to unfold.

The ICDP meets on the first Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. in Room 225 at the Isabella County Office Building in downtown Mount Pleasant.