Saginaw News dropping nonpartisan pretense?

by: Nazgul35

Mon Jun 22, 2009 at 12:42:38 PM EDT

We expect this from Republicans.

But the local Saginaw News never called to ask the Chair, Greg Dietrich, what was going on. If they had, they would have learned 1) The flag was displayed for Cinco de Mayo celebrations which includes a parade which runs right past the front of the county office and 2) the county does not have the proper lighting to display the American flag at night, but the flag is located inside the office.

So why did they Saginaw News run this photo without first confirming the background of the story and preventing themselves from being embarrassed?

I can't understand why local newspapers are going out of business...

More of Senator Kahn's Antics

by: Petrolcide

Fri Jun 19, 2009 at 09:04:42 AM EDT

A 72-year-old state senator filed a complaint Thursday accusing Saginaw Township Republican Sen. Roger Kahn of accosting and physically intimidating her as the two argued about budget cuts in an elevator at the state Capitol.

http://www.mlive.com/news/sagi...

There are so many directions to go with the this Roger Kahn story. I thought about starting with a reference to elevator music or Aerosmith's "Love in an Elevator." I considered posting the classic video of fictional character Darth Vioxx protesting Roger Kahn. I even momentarily thought about fueling the rumor that Kahn is a raging alcoholic by suggesting Kahn's actions could be proof of such. I even toyed with some kind of bull-fighting concept since Kahn allegedly "charged at [Senator Clark-Coleman] like a bull."

But let's be serious. Senator Kahn's behavior is intolerable. I won't go into detail about Kahn's distant past, but I received two emails in the past 24 hours about him. First, he opposed an amendment to ban Canadian trash, and now this? File this incident in the folder marked "public officials too unstable for office" right next to John McCain and Dick Cheney. A person shouldn't behave like this in public, especially when they're job is to serve the public.

Give this man the boot!

East Michigan Blue

by: Nazgul35

Thu Jun 18, 2009 at 23:09:39 PM EDT

Several factors led to a less than stellar performance for EMB. The most important was me trying to figure out SoapBlox and the rss situation. I believe I now have this fixed. Therefore, diaries for EMB should start being picked up by other sites with LeftyBlogs.

This will help considerably in building a community here.

I am also available to spend more time on the blog...but will need help. So we are looking for individuals who want to blog about Eastern Michigan politics. I will be working to advertise EMB and our other state blogs through various left wing organizations and meetings.

Hopefully this will drive readership.

But the most important factor will be writing diaries about local politics that are thoughtful and interesting. This is something i hope we achieve here and add our names to the various high profile and high performance blogs in Michigan.

Lennox threatens lawsuit to stop Genesee County water pipeline

by: Kathy

Mon Jun 08, 2009 at 16:21:45 PM EDT

Remember stalker Dennis Lennox? He put away his video camera to run for Cheboygan County Drain Commissioner last year, and only months after winning that election, he announced he's running for the 105th District seat in the House of Representatives. It's pretty difficult to run without a record to fall back on (stalking doesn't count), so Dennis had to drum up an "issue" to add to his resume.  

Cheboygan County, Michigan, is threatening to go to court to stop Genesee County's proposed water pipeline to Lake Huron.

Cheboygan County Drain Commissioner Dennis G. Lennox II said today that the new pipeline would be dangerous to Lake Huron's future.

"This sets a dangerous precedent if Genesee County (is granted a withdrawal permit)," Lennox said. "I don't think any of us want to see pipelines opening up all over Michigan."

Lennox is so opposed to the water withdrawal permit that he's prepared to file a lawsuit to stop the county. Genesee County Drain Commissioner Jeff Wright called Lennox's actions political grandstanding.

"Mr. Lennox is a political opportunist. His rhetoric does not match the facts," Wright said. "This is no more than a stunt to get his name in the paper."

Facts? Lennox claims the Genesee County proposal is "a direct affront to the landmark Great Lakes Compact ... to protect the water resources in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin."

Wright schooled Lennox on the water compact and explained that it's "designed to keep water from being diverted from the Great Lakes watershed." And, "What we use is 100 percent recycled and put back into the Great Lakes." This site supports Wright's statement, and so does Hugh McDiarmid Jr., a spokesman with the Michigan Environmental Council.

"I can't imagine a municipal water supply would have an adverse impact on a water resource as big as (Lake Huron)," McDiarmid said.

Genesee County currently gets its water from Lake Huron via the Detroit water authority, so there would be zero or minimal difference in the amount of water drawn from the lake.

Everyone I've talked to in the Flint area is in favor of the pipeline because rates have risen more than 100% since 2001. If a new pipeline isn't built, then a 30-year agreement will have to be signed with Detroit and we'll be stuck.  

A new pipeline would cost between $300-400 million, but according to Wright, if Genesee County doesn't build a new water pipeline, Detroit's water authority will, at a cost of $700 million. Guess who gets to pay for that? Flint and Genesee County area residents.

The local pipeline would be built without increasing taxes, although water rates would go up. Wright said water rates would go up less than if the Detroit pipeline is built.

Wright said officials also have applied for federal stimulus money, which would help alleviate the costs for residents.

Wright said the local job market also would get a boost, as 500 to 700 jobs would be created to build the pipeline.

To recap, Dennis Lennox needs to advance his political career if he hopes to win the 105th District seat, so he's threatening to stop Genesee County from building a pipeline based on his belief that it's "a direct affront to the landmark Great Lakes Compact." The Compact prevents most diversions of Great Lakes water out of the region, however, Genesee County isn't sending water out of the region. They simply want to take water from Lake Huron north of the Detroit water system, which also takes water from Lake Huron. Genesee County will not be bottling the water and shipping it out of state, and they won't be building a pipeline to send it to Arizona or Nevada. The water is staying in Michigan.

Whatever happens, Lennox gets what he wants - his name in the paper. It's the residents of Genesee County who stand to lose.

Introducing Affordable Transportation

by: Petrolcide

Wed May 27, 2009 at 15:13:13 PM EDT

We all know the airline industry is struggling, with news of increasing baggage fees and charging for amenities that used to be given for free. Often the most expensive part of a trip is the cost to travel to and from the destination. I know that flying is more about luxury than the public transit we've discussed in the past, but there are people who use it to commute for work purposes. With that, comes news that JetAmerica will offer flights at midsized airports in cities such as Lansing as low as $9 per flight.

The Lansing, South Bend, Melbourne and Toledo airports are subsidizing JetAmerica with $1.4 million in grants in its first year, along with about $867,000 in waived airport fees and $1.1 million in marketing and advertising assistance.

South Bend, Toledo and Melbourne received their grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Small Community Air Service Development Program, which has awarded $104 million to 223 recipients since 2002 in an effort to restore lost service and bring air fares down.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30...

Hopefully all of those people flying out of Lansing have booked a return flight.

Work For Universal Single Payer Healthcare now

by: graceandpeace

Sun May 24, 2009 at 18:56:08 PM EDT

Project SALUTE Coming to Owosso

by: graceandpeace

Sat May 23, 2009 at 16:15:53 PM EDT

Change We Can Believe In... And the Beat Goes On

by: Maryscott O'Connor

Wed May 13, 2009 at 19:02:24 PM EDT

A front page contributor on My Left Wing named Konopelli used this picture in a post the race baiting going on in right wing talk radio right now -- specifically, on Rush "Douchebag of the Decade" Limbaugh's right wing hatefest:

The people in that picture...

Talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face.

Dick Cheney STFU!

by: Nazgul35

Wed May 13, 2009 at 09:32:11 AM EDT

Newsflash bedwetters...it doesn't matter if it works (it doesn't)...it is a war crime!

We shot people for doing this to our soldiers after WWII!

Hey, now there's a good idea...if you would get upset if someone did it to our soldiers, then perhaps we shouldn't be doing it to anyone either?

Crazy...huh?

Here's the thing, full all you pro-torture nutcases out there.

One: do you have the balls to go through the procedure yourself? Not the BS Disneyland version where you have paramedics and a martini waiting for you just in case...I mean that you come into the room and I'll let you out when I feel like it...

Yeah, I didn't think so candyass...

Second: You're cowards. You are so afraid of your own shadows that you are willing to do anything to protect yourselves...including bringing this great country down to your craven level of existence.

You think these things work because you know deep down in your hearts you'd start spilling if they showed you the room...so I guess we know how important you really are to this country's defense...

Not very.

Sorry, I'm not afraid, so I'll keep my morals and my rights thank you.

Universal Single Payer Health Care Needs Your Help

by: graceandpeace

Sun May 10, 2009 at 19:36:55 PM EDT

Democratic Progressives Host Single Payer Health Care Town Hall

by: graceandpeace

Sun May 10, 2009 at 20:07:31 PM EDT

Flint, Saginaw make Forbes' Bottom Five

by: Petrolcide

Tue May 05, 2009 at 13:10:27 PM EDT

http://realestate.yahoo.com/pr...

I was right! What a shocker!

In fact...

Eleven of the bottom 16 regions on our list are in two states, Ohio and Michigan. In fact, the Wolverine State alone accounts for bottom four cities: Jackson, Michigan, Detroit, Saginaw and Flint.

Implementation of "Urban Spruce" Could Combat affects of Urban Sprawl

by: Petrolcide

Wed Apr 22, 2009 at 16:36:36 PM EDT

I Went To The TEA Affair, The Usual Suspects Were There

by: graceandpeace

Fri Apr 17, 2009 at 10:01:42 AM EDT

Michigan's Wolverine Line considered for High Speed Rail

by: Nazgul35

Thu Apr 16, 2009 at 16:49:04 PM EDT

Considering that it takes over six hours to make the run (if no freight trains get in your way) this could help revitalize the economics of that transit corridor for Michigan.

Not including the jobs this could mean for Michigan in building this rail system.

It is also a much greener alternative to flying or driving.

The new train could reach speeds of 150 mphs, with a dedicated rail line (no more freight delays) and fewer stops long the way. This could conceivably cut down the transit time from Pontiac to Chicago from the 6 hours and 28 minutes to roughly two hours...

Let's hope that the Chicago Hub Network gets the go ahead. This state needs it!