Greed, Eggs, and Ham

New Blog

2008-08-12T11:30:00.000-07:00

A new site has entered the blogosphere called East Michigan Blue. I will spend the majority of my time on the clock as a blogger with EMB. I will still post here occasionally when I have something out of left field I feel like sharing that doesn't necessarily fit the purpose of EMB. So hopefully it won't die because its my pet, but then again pets have short life spans.

Dark Knights

2008-07-22T14:05:00.001-07:00

Everyone's talking about the new Batman movie, The Dark Knight, but I'm not a fan of scary movies. I prefer the Black Knight...

Signs, Signs, Everywhere Yard Signs

2008-07-21T05:22:00.000-07:00

A certain former mayor has been putting up yard signs for a relatively unpopular candidate for State Representative throughout Saginaw. Since this blog is somewhat dedicated to the disgraceful memory of said former mayor, I decided to post this entry from what appears to be a blog entry on a site called wizznutzz, written by her son, basketball player Darvin Ham.

One, I brought my mother there for fresh air and powdered wombat bone so she can convalesce and get away from the pressure of her upcoming trial aka the "Burning Ma"am" Festival, for torching her 86 Benzo for insurance dimes. We hope to get the Judge Who Cried from the case of Anna Nicole Smith v. The Darkness trial. He seems a a fair man and would understand that just because my mom, Former Saginaw Mayor Wilmer Jones Ham, fled from police in a white pinto with her best friend Altamese Allen is not sign of guilt but of normal flight mechanism of scared animals. I know people want to turn my mom into power crazed "Lady Macbeth" but stubborn stains do not equal madness, even bacon stains. But Im no Rod Strickland. I knows a bum beef when I sees one. I am committing my times to hunting down the "real" firebugs: Cecil A. Collins Jr. and Handyman Jerry W. Wilkins. Hey JDubs, there aint nothing "Handy" about passing out drunk in the bosses backseat with a can of gas and a lit Newport. And then There are so many natural ways a ladys car can catch alight. Saginaw as u know has bad problem with Mexican possums and fire is only way to burn those buggers out when they take nest in your car. Plus have u seen what kind of Guy Fawkes pyrotechnics happen when a unattended hair iron is left on around a plastic salad bowl full of week-old Dudley's Salon Control Gel Activator????

No, Darvin, I have not.

Jib Jab, Starring Me!

2008-07-16T07:33:00.000-07:00

The fellas at jib jab are up to more shenanigans. Now you can customize videos. I made two of them:

Send a JibJab Sendables® eCard Today!

Education Still on Back Burner

2008-06-28T19:53:00.000-07:00

Instead of going out and enjoying the beginning of their weekends like normal people, legislators chose to stay in session late Friday night and early Saturday morning contemplating ways to cut more revenue from public schools. These late night cram sessions seem to be quite effective, almost like pulling an all-nighter in college the day before a test. You'd think they would have learned their lesson years ago.

To be fair, state universities SVSU, Delta, and CMU will still see 1% funding increases, but it falls 2% short of expectations and could lead to increased tuition once again for students.

Funding for K-12 is yet to be determined.

Republicans are reluctant to to get on board with the Governor's plan to establish 100 new high schools with the intent of having smaller class sizes and decreasing drop-out rates. It's further proof that Republicans don't consider public education a priority.

I guess the good news is that legislators are close to an agreement over a budget, so maybe they did learn something afterall.

Dems Take it to the House; Houses to be Demolished

2008-06-18T13:37:00.000-07:00

We all know about the housing crisis facing local communities in Michigan, so its good to know that some people are at least trying to do something about it...

The House Banking and Financial Services committee passed a package of bills yesterday that would require lenders to make sure loans benefitted borrowers.

According to MIRS, the pro-consumer bills "require loan agencies to assess whether the loan will be 'reasonably advantageous' to the borrower, mandates use of an automatic underwriting system, and prohibits falsifying or misrepresenting a borrower's credit history or income."

Area Representatives Andy Coulouris (D-Saginaw) and Jeff Mayes(D-Bay City), along with two other Democrats and one Republican, voted for the package, while 3 Republicans committee members did not support it.

Meanwhile, MLive reported yesterday that the city of Saginaw receive funds from the Michigan Housing Development Authority's Cities of Promise initiative to tear down an estimated 297 vacant homes. Last year 187 homes Saginaw homes were demolished.

Now if only we could figure out what to build to replace these vacant and demolished houses (instead of half-way houses and empty parking lots).

The Right Response to Obama in Detroit

2008-06-17T14:00:00.000-07:00

After watching the live stream of Obama's appearance in Detroit last night, I surfed (suffered?) through several of the the cable news network programs last night. Like a bystander of an auto accident, the lust of my eyes couldn't help but stop for a few moments on FOX News to see what they had to say about Gore endorsing Obama.

Sean Hannity and Karl Rove (has anyone noticed how bad Rove is on TV?) criticized Obama's decision to unveil Al in Michigan. They said that Gore doesn't play well in Michigan and that talking about environmental issues would backfire since Michigan depended so much on the auto industry.

Clearly, neither of these numbskulls knows anything about our state nor did they watch the entire event. Jennifer Granholm spent most of her time on stage talking about how Michiganians will transform the economy and lead the way in developing, researching, and producing alternative energy technology. They also don't realize that people in Michigan care about the environment. Spending time outdoors is the favorite past time of our residents, whether they are hunting, going to the beach, or whatever. We especially care about taking care of our great lakes, the best natural resource a state could ask for.

There was a clear theme to Obama's event last night, and, more importantly, it was the second key endorsement in Michigan to receive the national spotlight.

The Tridge Names Midland's 30 Most Influential

2008-06-11T11:27:00.000-07:00

The Tridge is a local publication based in Midland, Michigan that claims to be the "New Yorker of Mid-Michigan." Considering the conservative nature of the city and of the publication's creator, Michael Westendorf, it leans, not surprisingly, a bit to the right. However, the content is informative and the writing of the highest quality (and the slant isn't necessarily reflective of the opinions of all of its writers, as I know several of them personally). Covered topics include politics, music, culture, fiction, and poetry. They recently developed a list of The Midland 30, a list of "most influential people in, working, or from Midland, Michigan."

Included on this list are some of our favorite Repugs, including 3 of the top 5: State Representative John "Got Milk?" Moolenar, The disHonarable Bill Schuette, and every liberal's favorite whipping Boy Rubber Stamp Camp at #1. Throw in a couple of Dow Execs, random rich people, and Republican politicians, and you have a good (for nothin) list.

www.thetridge.com

Crossing Over

2008-06-11T08:04:00.000-07:00

I was once a Clinton supporter. I thought Bill Clinton was one of the best Presidents ever, despite his cheating ways, because of how well he communicated and the things he accomplished. I looked forward to the day when Hillary Clinton would make history by becoming the first female President in our history. Had Barack Obama not come along I probably would have voted for Hillary simply because she is a woman.

It doesn't feel good to know that people in this country will not vote for Hillary because she is a woman. Recent comments by Gloria Steinem were criticized, but she was mostly right about Hillary facing unfair criticism because she is a woman. However, that has nothing to do with Barack Obama. There are probably just as many people out there who will not vote for Obama because he is Black or because they think he is Muslim.

I've been pretty upset with things that were said about Obama during the primary season. I won't go into details now because it doesn't matter anymore, because nobody probably cares, and because it likely will seem divisive. I've always said that I would vote for Hillary if she won and nothing would change that.

I've been hearing a lot of talk about Hillary supporters crossing over to vote for McCain. One Democrat in particular serves as a constant reminder because he posts anti-Obama rhetoric on his facebook page, while at the same time holding a key role in a local activist's campaign for state level office. It simply doesn't make sense to me why he would do such a thing. When all is said and done, McCain is still a Republican and Obama is the Democrat. Come November, nobody is going to care who you supported in the primary, they will only care whether you voted for the Democrat or the Republican. Hopefully this is something we can all agree on.

Hillary Supporters in Shock and Awe

2008-06-10T16:54:00.001-07:00

Hillary Clinton’s memorable run for the Presidency was a failure, not simply because she lost, but because of the way she lost. The strategy used by the Clintons doomed the campaign from its inception. Bill’s lack of composure and Hillary’s inconsistent message meant that, even though Hillary was able to garner support from the usual suspects, she wasn’t able to expand her base of supporters. In fact, the number of supporters shrunk.

George W. Bush won an election in which more voters felt he was unqualified than qualified. Yet, he behaved as though he possessed a mandate, using faulty intelligence to lead us into an unjust war and keep us there indefinitely. Bush thought our military would simply depose the Iraqi capital and its leader, and Democratization would occur magically. Shock and Awe seemed cool at first, but we soon learned that long term vision and execution was much more critical to success. Clinton’s campaign strategy seems eerily similar to Bush’s war strategery in that it lacked those key components.

Hillary Clinton has been trying to convince the American public she is qualified to be President. She acted as though the Presidency was owed to her because her time as First Lady in the White House qualified her to be President. She even used a few white lies in her attempt to become President, like the time she allegedly came under sniper fire in Bosnia. Most of her activities as First Lady were largely ceremonial, yet she tried to use these to build credibility. The campaign assumed she would win New Hampshire, a few other key states, and topple Obama on Super Tuesday. The nomination would be hers for the taking. But things did not go as planned. She panicked and resorted to mudslinging typically reserved for general elections or anthropophagous Republicans. Her own version of Shock and Awe had failed, and her long term vision and execution was inferior to Obama’s. Like the war in Iraq, she lacked an exit strategy.

Thankfully, Clinton finally bent under peer pressure and took the high road by officially ending her candidacy last Saturday. For the Democratic Party’s sake, hopefully it was not too late. When all is said and done, a lesson can be learned from Hillary’s failed campaign. The next President of the United States must figure out a way to get out of Iraq. Barack Obama proved in the Democratic Primary that he had better character, stronger judgment, and the will to carry the next generation of Democrats into prosperity.

Clinton supporters have a choice: They can become hopeless McCain Democrats continuing the failed policies of the Bush Administration or join the coalition of hopeful progressives and Obama-cans in uniting our country and changing it for the better. We will welcome them with open hearts, open minds, and open arms.

Several Factors in Unpredictable Election Results

2008-06-09T08:30:00.001-07:00

A story from The State News today discussed the negative effect cell phone usage by younger voters will have on political polls. Anyone who has ever made phone calls for polling purposes, on a campaign or otherwise, can understand that most of the people with landlines are likely over 50 years old or at least have families that have settled into a permanent residence, though, even the traditional family is becoming more dependent upon cell phones.

On a related note, the number of people with "no solicit" signs on their front doors seems to be pretty high as well as the number of vacant houses. For whatever reason, people are hard to contact. While hitting doors in neighborhoods is probably the most effective campaign strategy, it isn't as efficient as mailing or calling. What makes the task of identifying voter preferences even more difficult is the fact that home foreclosures and depleted infrastructure, among other issues, are causing people to move out of their neighborhoods. Combine this with the increased cell phone usage and gathering data of any kind is increasingly difficult.

It's not all bad, though. Remember in 2000 when inaccurate exit polls led to Al Gore prematurely being named the winner of the Presidential election? It was a reminder that polling is not a perfect science. In the upcoming election, the public disapproval of the Bush Administration and the invigorating campaign of Barack Obama is likely to engage voters that have never participated before. Young people and African-American turnout are likely to be higher than ever before, which makes it even more difficult to predict using exit polling. In particular, this could apply to more impoverished areas like Detroit, Flint, and Saginaw that have very strong Democratic bases with traditionally low turnout. This will especially hold true if the campaign(s) have the guts to knock doors in areas that are typically considered unsafe.

The Obama campaign has proven that the 50 state strategy worked in the Democratic Primary, and it is likely to put states in play for the general election that normally have little chance of being Blue. But it isn't just a 50 state strategy-the Obama campaign very carefully used their resources to ensure they maximized delegates down to the congressional districts. If the Obama campaign can coordinate their efforts at the local level for the general election as well as they did in the primary, then they should receive overwhelming support in November. This will take time, careful planning, money, and flawless execution, but the result could be a landslide victory.

This is why I'm not worried about McCain turning Michigan Red. The overall trend in the state simply doesn't suggest that circumstances are right to flip the state, and the polling which suggests the race will be close is unlikely to be very predictable of the outcome.

Bringing it Home

2008-06-06T16:59:00.000-07:00

Sitting here in a thunderstorm with the road blocked by a fallen tree that was struck by lightening (with a downed powerline blocking one of the busiest streets in town), it dawned on me just how valuable simple things like the internet and cellular phones are and how much we take them for granted. They are wonderful inventions (thanks Al Gore) and they are only the tip of the iceberg.

We also take for granted things like...having a home to live in, having reliable transportation, having a few bucks to pick up a beverage from a gas station on an 80 degree day as a tornado whips by you.I was in a neigborhood that averages about 4 vacant houses for every block (basically one vacancy on each street corner).

One resident, who was complaining that he basically bought his house twice due to refinancing, said the biggest problem in the neigborhood was the excessive number of rentals; hardly anyone owned the house they lived in. When people don't own the property, they don't maintain it; and the people who own it don't live in it so they don't care enough to maintain it for them. The government sure as hell ain't doing anything about it.

The blame, according to this resident, should be placed on the banks. Banks should pick up the tab and people should get to keep their houses without having to make any back payments. It's an idea that might seem a bit radical, but it actually makes sense. That's why it's so important that people who serve in public office actually meet their constituents face to face by walking door to door.

Do you think Roger Kahn walks door to door? Probably not. Even if he did, he lives in a nice neighborhood and I heard that even his neighbors despise him.Housing issues and blight are such big issues this election cycle. It seems to have snuck up on us in the past year or so, but its been brewing for years. The banks continue to consolidate and houses sit unoccupied, and neigborhoods become blighted as crime overtakes them. Meanwhile, Republicans are ignoring it, but what we must remember is that they are also the cause of it.

The government isn't doing its job. Fat cats like Roger Kahn just sit in their fancy houses sipping on whatever beverage they essentially got for free because what they paid for them is given back to them in campaign contributions, while regular people suffer the consequences of predatory loans.

Sure, this resident was a little on the quirky side, but by talking to people like him you learn what average people really care about. They don't care about banning things that are already banned or taking vacations to Mackinac Island and calling it work. They just want to live a normal life, with a house they can call their own, a car to get around, and a few extra bucks to do whatever the hell they feel like doing (maybe take a real vacation to Mackinac).It's not too much to ask for the government to take care of the people that got them elected in the first place.

Obama Win Michigan? Yes He Can

2008-06-05T16:57:00.000-07:00

For those concerned about whether Obama can carry Michigan, please read ahead.

It's true that John McCain performed well in Michigan during both the 2000 and 2008 Republican primaries. He has attracted many Independent and Democratic crossover voters in a state with open primaries (and a non-existent Democratic primary this year).

It's also true that Hillary Clinton possesses quite a bit of union support in Michigan and that, in recent years, union members have begun voting for Republicans more often than they used to. It's also true that one of the key reasons why Americans do not have universal health care is because the Clinton Administration signed into law NAFTA, which pissed off labor unions by allowing jobs to more easily be outsourced to other countries. It's truly irrational for Clinton to have more union support than Obama.

Finally, it is true that Obama did not campaign in Michigan because he was not on the ballot, and that could potentially hurt him in November. However, I think it is unwise to assume that Obama will lose simply because the Great Lakes State is untested waters for his campaign. Obama has a very strong following in Michigan, and his strength as a candidate is underestimated.

The State of Michigan has been trending more and more Democratic for the past decade. John Engler left our state in shambles, and Granholm has been scrambling to try to pick up those pieces. Clearly, the legislature has not been as effective over the past two years as we had hoped, however, the result of this will likely be further Democratic gains in both chambers because Republicans are nothing more than obstructionists. Democrats will get two more years under Granholm to make some progress before the pendulum swings back the other way.

The public understands that John McCain and other Republicans will bring us more of the same. They understand that Republicans do not care about the issues facing Michigan, like the loss of manufacturing jobs, reduced revenue affecting public education, and lack of health care. Michigan, of all the states, needs hope the most, and Obama offers a positive and optimistic vision for the future.

In past elections, voters have had two choices who did not have distinct differences, and they were left choosing the lesser of two evils. But this year is different. Michigan voters will see the stark contrast between McCain and Obama, and they'll choose the new guy with the hope that he can deliver. Voters tend to vote in their best interests and for candidates that offer new possibilities, like Obama. I wouldn't be so worried about Obama's prospects at winning Michigan in November.

MEA Turns Back on Workers, Supports Republicans

2008-05-29T23:40:00.000-07:00

According to MIRS, the Michigan Education Association (MEA) is hosting a fundraiser for the House Republican Caucus on June 4th. As a member of the MEA, I am outraged by this news.

I've been an advocate of labor unions ever since I was aware of them. My mother (a single mother) raised me and my sisters on an income that was just enough to get by. Without unions, it would not have been enough. Because of the efforts of labor unions and of my mother, I was able to graduate from college and have endless possibilities for my future. I am thankful for these opportunities.

I sit on the bottom of the seniority list in my union and haven't had a chance to become active mainly because despite being in the union, I'm still only part-time and don't receive the same benefits, like healthcare, as full-time employees, which means I must work another part-time job on the weekends. However, I still pay union dues just like everyone else.

This conflict of interest was brought to my attention a few months ago when I received an email from our PAC requesting contributions. It was later explained that the PAC money is given to legislators in both parties. I understand this is the nature of lobbyists and interest groups, however, I refuse to give money to Republicans, even if indirectly, if I can help it. I'd rather donate my time helping on a campaign of my choice to defeat the same Republicans.

If you go to the MEA Web site and click on the Legislative & Political Information tab, the top story is about MEA's opposition to the Right to Work scam, an effort that will surely be pushed by Republican leaders in and out of state. According to the story, "MEA will be bringing you regular updates and facts about this dangerous initiative." The last update was November 29, 2007.

Since becoming part of a union, I've realized that with every benefit a worker receives from labor unions, that there can be a downside to being a member of the union. But I try not to let this discourage me from supporting unions. I recognize the importance of unions to ensure fair representation for workers in collective bargaining. I know that groups like MEA are essential to make sure legislators are appropriating money to public education.

I can honestly say that after reading the story on MIRS that I am not proud to be a member of the MEA. It's behavior like this that creates disgruntled union members, and that's when scams like Right to Work begin to seem appealing and labor unions crumble.

A Case for Repealing the 12th Amendment

2008-05-22T23:50:00.000-07:00

For all intents and purposes John McCain and Barack Obama have won their respective party's nomination and are now sorting through the various candidates for Vice President, perhaps the most irrelevent office in the American Political System.

Suppose, for a moment, that the 12th Amendement of the U.S. Constitution did not exist. According to Article Two, Section 1, Clause 3:

"The Person having the greatest Number of Votes Shall be the President...[i]n every Case, after the Choice of the President, the person having the greatest Number of Votes of the Electors shall be the Vice President."

In theory, the idea of giving the runner-up the duty of being second-in-command makes sense. However, the development of political parties, particularly the two party system, made the concept impractical due to the significant differences between the two parties (ie the Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans). Because of the 12th Amendment and the clusterfuck of a process known as the Electoral College, the current circumstances exist.

Imagine how different the last 8 years might have been without the 12th Amendment. Would it have been easier for Al Gore to concede knowing that his consolation prize was 8 more years of being Vice President? Clearly he was more qualified than any other human being on the face of the Earth to hold the position. Perhaps his role in the White House would have tempered the neo-conservative assault of our government.

The national media is now concerned with who McCain and Obama are considering for Vice Presidential candidates. We could avoid this whole mess by repealing the 12th Amendement. You want checks and balances? Try having the other party's leader looking over your shoulder 24/7. It's a refreshing prospect given the past two terms of corruption and inhumanity.

Throughout the general election, we will hear each campaign criticize the other candidate for their weaknesses; Obama is inexperienced and knows nothing about national security/McCain is a corpse and knows squat about the economy. They would complement each other perfectly, no matter who came out on top, and the VP could still hang out with Hillary and the rest of their buddies in the Senate.

They've both discussed having members of the opposition party in their cabinet so this is the perfect solution.

Meijer Leading the Charge on E85 and Biodiesel in Michigan

2008-05-15T12:23:00.000-07:00

I'm well-aware and admittedly upset by Meijer's efforts to recall elected officials in Acme Township in Grand Traverse County because they wouldn't let Meijer put a store in the township. And I also understand that Meijer has had to make some unfortunate changes in recent years due to the the infiltration of our communities by Super Wal-Marts.

However, I'm still a regular customer at the Kochville Township Meijer in Saginaw County mainly because of my hatred for the nearby "Wally World" and the limited selection at Kroger (I'm also aware of the claims that Kroger is "red," but I do have a Kroger card that I use on occassion so if anyone cares to speak about this issue go right ahead because I cannot find anything). But I digress...

Meijer recently remodeled their service station located on Tittabawassee Road. On a recent shopping trip, I noticed the sign listing the different types of fuels, which included E85. I was pleasantly surprised to see E85 listed because I was talking to my girlfriend's grandfather a few weeks ago about how there were a limited number of E85 stations for his his new Flex Fuel car he purchased.

Yesterday as I was driving by the service station once again, I noticed a bush blocking part of the sign listing the fuel types. As I peaked around it I realized that not only did they have E85, but they also sell biodiesel!

This is the first time I've seen or heard of biodiesel being sold. Granted, its more expensive than E85 or regular gasoline, but it's a pretty big deal. All I ever hear is ethanol, ethanol, ethanol, but according to biodiesel.org, there are plenty of biodiesel fueling stations in the region and the U.S. as a whole:

http://biodiesel.org/buyingbiodiesel/retailfuelingsites

Prior to Meijer opening 20 E85 stations, only 5 existed in Michigan. I've heard the arguments against ethanol...that it's increasing the supply of corn and raising the price...that they cannot afford to keep building and running ethanol plants...that it takes so much water or fuel to create ethanol that it isn't worth producing. Well, I'd still rather use ethanol than drill in our Great Lakes for oil, and the reason biodiesel is such a big deal is because I actually think it is more sustainable than ethanol since biodiesel is created from agricultural waste (not corn that is grown specifically for making ethanol). It's not as susceptible to the market as ethanol because its simply the leftovers, and, therfore, is a better investment.

McCain McCan't Beat Obama

2008-02-18T18:59:00.000-08:00

Let's assume that McCain is the Republican nominee for President (not a stretch at all) and Barack Obama somehow fights off the Clinton machine to capture the democratic nomination. I'd bet my mortgage, if I had one (not that having a mortgage is desireable these days) that Republicans will emphasize John McCain's national security expertise and claim Obama would be weak on such matters. All due respect to McCain's record of service, but fighting in a war and being captured during it might qualify you to be labeled a war hero, but it doesn't mean you know squat about national security. Granted, he has years of experience dealing with such matters in the Senate so he is probably more qualified to understand these matters than most candidates who run for office (it also gives him credibility on the issue of torture). However, the Obama campaign would be smart to point out that there really isn't a whole lot more to McCain, especially when you consider his biggest accomplishments to date have everything to do with helping Democrats pass legislation and nothing to do with helping the Republican cause.

Republicans will attempt to prove how McCain's position on the war is the most informed and most responsible position, and how Obama's lack of experience and knowledge will mean that he will withdraw troops immediately without any consideration of the ramifications. I think such an argument seriously underestimates Obama's intelligence and judgement. Keep in mind that Obama is the only viable candidate (Ron Paul does not count) against the war in Iraq from the beginning. His plan to withdraw troops is not even as aggressive as Hillary Clinton's, which shows he doesn't take these decisions lightly. Just because Obama was against the war from the beginning, does not mean he cannot make an important policy decision about the war that is responsible. In fact, I think it is probably safe to say that Obama (or any Democrat, for that matter) is more likely to show compassion for innocent Iraqui's potentially affected by such a withdrawal because he (we) care less about our own personal interests and more about the well-being of other people, regardless of which country they reside.

Even if Obama enters the Oval Office and suddenly realizes we cannot withdraw as soon as he anticipated, it doesn't mean he was wrong. And I don't think that being for the war from the BEGINNING or for the surge makes one more qualified to be in charge of the war NOW. I would argue (and so does Obama) that this campaign is about judgement. I would argue that anyone for the war (at any point in time) exercised poor judgment (I know thats a pretty strong blanket statement, but I stand by it). There is a fundamental difference between Obama and anyone else still in this race (including Clinton) and it is their fundamental and philosophical differences on the war. Perhaps the policy going forward won't be that significantly different if one candidate is elected over the over (Presidents and presidential candidates propose, not pass, legislation), but we need someone who will lead by questioning conventional wisdom. Fundamental opposition to the war is the only position that will allow us to repair the damage we've done because the position itself represents the vary reasons we should use war as a last resort. Obama was against the war, therefore, he has the best judgment to deal with these types of issues in the future.

It's not like that's the end of the story...we don't need any pre-emptive wars with Iran, Syria, etc...anytime soon, and Obama has expressed his willingness to speak personally with leaders of countries we consider enemies. Diplomacy may not be the answer to all of our problems, but until our leaders realize that it is the most important and most responsible way of dealing with foreign nations-to treat them with respect and as equals-then the United States will continue to be seen as dividers and conquerers.

Camp says against discrimination, but votes for discrimination

2007-11-09T09:01:00.000-08:00

Representative Dave Camp's website touts his vote to override President Bush's veto of the water bill, but it fails to mention that he voted "no" to end discrimination against gays, lesbians, and bisexuals in the workforce. It seems like a common sense bill and one that could easily justify a "yes" vote regardless of party affiliation or ideology, but Camp cleverly found a way to weasel his way out of it.

According to the Midland Daily News, three other Republican congress critters from Michigan voted for the bill, which would be the first federal ban of its kind. Camp's reasoning?

"Discrimination is wrong, pure and simple. However, the legal remedy should not create a special class of rights for individuals that becomes a dream-come-true for trial lawyers and a nightmare for employers. This bill provides unprecedented protection against discrimination based on 'perceived' sexual orientation, but fails to define the 'perceived' sexual orientation. The term 'perceived' does not appear in any other civil rights legislation, including those that protect race, color, religion, sex and national origin. This legislation, on that point alone, is fatally flawed."

Bollocks, Mr. Camp. How dare you claim to be against discrimination, and then fail to use your influence as a "representative" to prevent said discrimination from occurring.

Despite the fact that the bill does not cover transgender people, it is a major step forward for this country. If the Employment Non-Discrimination Act is passed by the Senate, it would likely fall victim to Bush's veto pen once again, at which point we can only hope Camp, 158 other Republicans, and 25 spineless Democrats will change their minds.

Saginaw Election Results

2007-11-07T10:43:00.000-08:00

Voters in the city of Saginaw filled five openings on the city council on Tuesday by electing Joyce Seals, Paul Virciglio, Daniel Fitzpatrick, Amos O'Neal, and Amanda Kitterman-Miller. Now the council members must decide which of the 9 members will become the new major of Saginaw.

Though Joyce Seals has not served on the council for the past 5 years, she is the most experienced as she previously spent 9 years on the council and she recieved the most votes. She also serves on the Executive Board for the Saginaw County Democratic Party and ran for State Representative in the 2006 Democratic Primary against Andy Coulouris and four other candidates. Among those undecided on who they will support for mayor are Greg Branch, Kitterman-Miller, O'Neal, and Larry Coulouris, Andy Coulouris' grandfather.

According to the Saginaw news, "Mayor Carol B. Cottrell and Mayor Pro Tem Wilmer Jones Ham McZee decided against seeking re-election." It's a sad day for me as my blog's name is somewhat inspired by Wilmer Jones Ham's controversial insurance fraud charge in which she allegedly set fire to her own car.

Retired school administrator William Scharffe, SVSU alumna Dennis Woods, and incumbent council member Willie Haynes fell short in their bids to sit on the council. Voter turnout was 14.3 percent.

Other area election news:

A three year tax renewal was approved by voters to fund STARS, the bussing system that covers the city and township. It will also allow the system to run until 8pm, an hour and a half later than before.

The Saginaw Township school bond failed, which would have given the Saginaw Township Community Schools $39.9 million.

Thanks to Saginaw News staff writers Justin Engel and Corey Mitchell for their coverage.

Spreading Hate at SVSU

2007-10-30T10:26:00.000-07:00

Yesterday a group of people allegedly from East Lansing came to the campus of Saginaw Valley State University to protest homosexuality and promote "God's Word." I have no further information, but will update as I find out more. Here are some pictures I was able to obtain from a friend...

Garn Lewis for State Representative

2007-10-09T13:56:00.000-07:00

Saginaw area progressive activist, Garnett Lewis, announced in August that she will run as a candidate in Michigan's 98th congressional district. Garn is a professor at Central Michigan University with 24 years of experience in higher education. Most recently she has served as President and co-founder of the Saginaw Area Democratic Club, a grassroots activist organization chartered by the Democratic Party. Garn's track record as a grassroots activist and experience in higher education make her a strong candidate. Today I added her to my list of organizations to the right of the page. Please visit her site at http://www.garnetlewis2008.com.

Rally Against Camp, For Children

2007-10-04T10:53:00.000-07:00

President Bush just vetoed health care for children. In only his fourth veto ever, he blocked health care coverage for millions of uninsured—and mostly poor—kids. Rallies are being organized across the state and the country to urge congressman to vote in favor of this bill to override Bush's veto. There is a rally today in Midland at 6pm in front of Republican Dave Camp's office. I can't attend because of work, but hopefully there will be a solid turnout.

Coulouris for Attorney General?

2007-09-19T10:34:00.000-07:00

Today as I opened my messages on facebook, I had an invitation to join a group called "Draft Andy Coulouris for Attorney General" in 2010. This seemed to come from left field, although it doesn't seem out of the realm of possibility considering his law experience and serving on the judiciary committee. However, it doesn't seem like a logical next step. One would assume that Andy's political career would progress through the state legislature, and, assuming that term limits don't change, that he would run for State Senate in 2010 since he will be going into his last term and Roger Kahn will be in need of an opponent. Keep in mind that this is all speculation and none of it is confirmed or denied by Coulouris, but its interesting to discuss nonetheless. If anything, its good publicity for Andy Coulouris.

Failing Our Students

2007-08-12T23:44:00.000-07:00

As a recent college graduate, I have sympathy for students and parents facing record tuition increases at some of Michigan's public universities. Even with some of the lowest college tuition rates during my academic career, I find myself buried in a debt that will seemingly never go away.

Two weeks ago I participated in a "protest" at Saginaw Valley State University to make the SVSU Board of Control aware that we do care, even if they can't themselves prevent the increase. Unfortunately the group of protesters wasn't even allowed to speak at the meeting. The Board didn't respect its constituents enough to at least let them speak...their time was too precious.

Meanwhile, they had no problem approving $25,000 in additional perks for SVSU full time employees in an effort to attract employees. The list of wasteful spending is probably quite long, but my point is that SVSU has concentrated too much in recent years on improving on the wrong things; often their image. They have successfully built a reputation as a small campus that values the student/instructor relationship and giving its students opportunities to be successful. SVSU's marketing strategy for its undergraduate programs has been superb and it has embraced the role of regional center for educational and economic growth.

When the SVSU budget cannot take a 12.9% tuition increase, shouldn't the focus be on cutting costs in other places? The President and other prominent figures are not taking pay cuts eventhough they could afford to live comfortably on tens of thousands of dollars less (in the case of the President, hundreds of thousands). When it comes time to set the budget, shouldn't legislators consider education to be a top priority? They obviously do not.

Though I am no longer a student, I still consider myself to be one. I value a publicly funded educational system because it is the only kind of educational system that is accessible to everyone. The "leaders" of our state are failing our universities, and the "leaders" of our universities are not responding appropriately to address these issues. Something must be done to stop the devaluation of our educational system.