MBT, Granholm and the Detroit News as the Republicans Judge Dredd

The Detroit News, the propaganda arm of the Michigan RWNM, printed an editorial yesterday entitled:
"Use tax plan to make state more competitive"
and subtitled:
"Governor seeks to maximize revenue rather than attract jobs"

The opening run on statement reads:
"W e'll withhold judgment on the business tax restructuring that Gov. Jennifer Granholm is set to unveil this morning until we see all of the details, but the method for crafting the plan was flawed, and that leaves us pessimistic that it will accomplish its mission."

Boy, they sure did withhold judgement, didn't they? They waited until the first comma. The rest of the editorial is spent re-hashing the talking points of the Republican party. They wanted a net tax CUT, because, you know, the state and the schools and the services are flush with cash. Who needs to pay for education when businesses can make bigger profits?

Anyhow, I'm greatly amused that a credible news organization would contradict itself within the first sentence. They've clearly passed judgement on it already. If they were withholding judgement they wouldn't have launched this attack before the plan was made public. What they withheld was the piece by piece assassination attempt of the tax bill before it hits the floor. But ya gotta give them credit for having the balls to contradict themselves within the very first sentence of the editorial.

Here's the link.

In today's editorial, they mildly praise Granholm's tax plan. The big issues they seem to have are 1. again, not a tax cut 2. it "doesn't make Michigan stand out against other states." and 3. they find the Governors definition of "assets" to be too broad.

I'm not a policy wonk, but follow me here for a second:

1. Does anyone really think that Michigan is in a position to cut taxes? This isn't the go-go 90's with the Ford Taurus as the number one vehicle in America or the tech boom. The state isn't flush with cash. When they say tax cut it sounds like they mean tax shift. It seems that if you cut taxes you have to cut spending. If you cut spending you cut services and probably education. If you cut education, the community will have to make it up. Same thing with services like police, fire, security. Am I right?

2. DOESN'T MAKE MICHIGAN STAND OUT???? That's what a business tax is supposed to do? Huh. I never knew.

3. I can't comment on the definition of "assets" as I have absolutely zero background in business ownership and tax responsibilities. But based on their other two beefs, i question the legitimacy of their complaint.

Here's the link.

Hope everyone had a great holiday.

Hello, and welcome

I noticed a modest increase in traffic. And coincedently all of my posts have appeared on Lefty Blogs all at once.
I thank you for the attention and hope you enjoy or agree with the silly things i shout from atop my tiny soapbox. Typically I post once, sometimes twice a week. It's less breaking news oriented and more "I have something to say!" to steal a line from Jerri Blank.
Comments and suggestions are always appreciated, and you can email me at anytime at shipofgold@gmail.com

Again, thanks and welcome. Have a wonderful holiday and I hope to see you soon.

Enjoy this lovely video from the band Muse (who are phenomenal):

Robocalling Editorial

On Sunday in the Detroit Free Press there was an editorial regarding regulating the annoying practice of Robo-calling.
Although I agree whole heartedly that the practice needs to be regulated if not eliminated, the tone of the editorial misrepresented the true nature of the Robocalls as we have known them this year, and ignores entirely the mass coordinated plan on behalf of the RNC in another attempt at voter suppression.

From the editorial:
"Maybe the most annoying aspect of the campaigns that just ended was the proliferation of "robo-calling" -- automated messages on behalf of political candidates or causes that kept phones ringing and answering machines filled throughout the fall."

and one paragraph later:
"The calls, often featuring celebrities or political leaders, are more annoying than effective, and, for elderly people who are most likely to have only land-line phones, they can be a physical imposition." (emphasis mine)

So, what we have here is failure to communicate. First of all there is no mention that this was almost entirely a Republican undertaking. Have been subjected to, or have had friends subjected to the mass robocall effort, the only Democratic "robocall" i ever received was recorded by Debbie Stabenow and it highlighted her success as a Senator. It was only one call and it was the middle of the afternoon on a Saturday.
The other nine individual messages that were left multiple times were entirely anti-Granholm. Some were vulgar, some stated who was paying for them (who are you "Michigan Working Familes"? I still want answers), some just left the smear where it lay. They were highly inaccurate to the point of, at times, outright lies. I never received one from a purported "celebrity" and the only politician who seemed to be directly involved was Debbie Stabenow who started her call with "Hello, this is Senator Debbie Stabenow.". The other phone calls I recieved were live people helping with the get out the vote effort (although that could use a little more coordination as well).
Not that my phone number is the alpha and the omega of robo-targets. I heard rumors of a James Dobson one on behalf of DeVos for the GOTV effort.
Although I support the idea that there should be an effort made to limit or end robo-calling, it would have been nice to have someone actually do some research and make a stronger case for it. Although their reasoning is valid it seems as though the skipped right over the obvious reason, to not allow political candidates or their surrogates smear and slander their opponents without their being any recourse, or without even having to acknowledge that they were behind these dirty tricks.

One last attempt to save us from ourselves...

Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action, Integration and Immigrant Rights and Fight for Equality by Any Means Necessary have filed a lawsuit to overturn Proposal 2.
Good.
I'm glad people seem to think we live in a society where racism and sexism no longer exist and apparently think there's equality in the school system, enough to justify the overturning of affirmative action, but the practical reality is that we aren't there yet as a country and as a state. Especially in the business climate we find ourselves in in this state.
Lets work on moving forward instead of trying to drag this state into the past. I was SHOCKED at the margin in which prop 2 was passed. Truly. As my previous half assed post proves. But it's time to move forward.
In other election news, it looks as though Papageorge has narrowly defeated Andy Levin. Which, honestly isn't my race, and I shouldn't judge someone based on a last name, but I like Sander and Carl Levin a lot and had a lot of hope for Andy. It seemed like, in theory, he'd be a good candidate in six years to knock off Stabenows writ of habeus corpus hatin' ass.
Speaking of Stabenow. Glad she won cuz she's wearing our jersey. But. We will watch her closely. I think she betrayed our country by voting with the republicans on that. I will be, and hope others will be vigilant in their observation of Stabenow from here until 2012. The countdown isn't on yet, but her voting record, her speeches and her actions will be closely monitored. I have no patience for people who are so willing to throw our freedoms away for their own personal elections.

Granholm wins, minorities lose?

I'll revise this if I prove to be wrong, but with something like 53% of precincts reporting, it looks like we'll be ending Affirmitive Action as we know it.
Stupid.
Stupid stupid stupid.
Honestly, the one ballot initiative that was supported by the KKK, that we let go through.
I'm three shades of pissed.
I'm glad Granholm won and would have been devestated had she not. Same with Stabenow, but I'm voting against her in 2012.
But AFFRIMITIVE ACTION? Come ON.

More later.

VOTE!

This is absolutely essential. You must vote. I honestly don't care who you're backing. You can think DeVos is Jesus and David Blaine combined. All that I really care about is that the voice of Michigan is heard.

I voted this morning. If you have any doubts or fears about the voting process, I assure you its painless.
You do not need a valid ID.
You do not need a voter registration card.
All you need is to be registered in you district, and if a question arises, a bill with you name and address on it is helpful.

You can make a difference. Just one vote makes a difference. One vote multiplied by 1,000 like minded people can make a difference. You count as part of a movement bigger than yourself. It may seem impossible to you, but I promise you, THIS is what our soldiers are really meant to protect. Our ability to determine the course of our future. US. Your average citizen. We get to determine the fate of our country. This is how we keep a level head.

Vote. It counts, I promise.

More on Tomorrow.

Here's a handy guide to the proposals on the ballot tomorrow courtesy of Media Mouse.
Proposal Guide

If you're voting for the first time or the first time in a long time, the state of Michigan provides you with all the information you need including where to go and if you're still registered. It also provides a map to your polling station, and you can print out a sample ballot.
Voter Information

kosposted.

The storm before the calm.

We're in it.
This is where the desperate throw caution to the wind and make one final flayling pitch to the public in hopes that whatever is said now can somehow make up for ten months of utter ineptitude on the campaign trail.
I was bombarded with robocalls this weekend. I'm fed up with documenting them. "Here's what you may not know about Jennifer Granholm..." YAWN. If you haven't scored your knock-out blow yet Richy Dick, then you've got no knockout blow to get.
With polls showing Granholm with solid leads, I'm hopeful that tomorrow will be the beginning of the end.
And I don't mean just for this race. I mean for DeVos and all of the power that the christian fundamentalists have been able to purchase since 1994. The Republo-Jesus-can movement has been a cancerous growth in the bowels of our political system and it's making it septic. The rancid odor you've been smelling on politicians the last few cycles have eminated from the Ralph Reed, Pat Robertson, RichardHelenDickBetsy DeVos, and the giant souless machine that they've built.
The only way to clean out that infection is with a good Democratic enema.
Democrats take note: Bill Maher guides the way. It's completely worth the effort, trust me.
I will be back, maybe today, definantly tomorrow, so stay tuned.
Here's a video from the band "Sound Team" called "Your Eyes Are Liars".

More Lame Robocalls

More from the sleazy Dick Devos crew.

First on Welfare:

"Jennifer Granholm supports unlimited welfare checks for able bodied adults for life. Michigan is struggling, we all know that. But we need a Governor that is tough enough to put limits on welfare and say to able bodied adults times up. We all belive in compassion, but Jennifer Granholm is letting Michigan become the great handout state. Michigan can't afford the welfare giveaways of Jennifer Granholm. Vote for change on Tuesday November 7th."
Link


Second on "Gun Grabbin'":

"Here's a fact. Jennifer Granholm was given an "F" rating by the National Rifle Association in 2002. Now Granholm says you should trust her. Did you know Granholm's the one who put Proposal three on the ballot? She did and now our rights are being threatened. Jennifer Granholm cannot be trusted. Take the time to vote and remember when you vote November 7th Granholm is a gun grabber."
Link

Notice something that's missing from the last few? What happened to the "Michigan Working Families"?
I don't know how much they think this will help Limp Dick DeVos. It's an appeal to the base, sure, but with Prop 3 already on the ballot, and welfare being such a small portion of the overall political atmosphere right now I don't know how this helps. Nothing in these scream action. Nothing outrageous. Just this...flaccid message.
I guess I just expected more gay marriage, or stem cell, or tax and spend. You know, hatred, bigotry and fear, Republicans political Viagra. But, this? I guess it's good that it's so benign for our side, but man, it's barely worth commenting on. Hey, it's daddy's money and he can spend it anyway he likes, and I'm glad that this is how he's plowing into the final weekend on such a generically feeble message.

crossposted at Dailykos for mass consumption