Genesee County Young Democrats

This Aggression Will Not Stand, Man

2009-06-19T02:40:00.006-04:00

On June 18, 2009, a day that will live in infamy, Rush Limbaugh, the self-appointed King of the Republican Party, suddenly and deliberately attacked the peaceful city of Flint, MI.

To be clear, Rush Limbaugh slamming Flint doesn't really surprise me considering his absolute disdain for average Americans who make less than several million dollars a year. Needless to say, his comments got me wondering about where someone like Rush comes from. Afterall, someone who has all the answers to life must have had a rough time crawling up by his bootstraps; otherwise, how could he possibly lecture a city like Flint that has suffered misfortune after misfortune? According to his wikipedia page, he has been more fortunate than you might think:

"His family is filled with a number of lawyers including his grandfather, father and his brother David . His uncle, Stephen N. Limbaugh, Sr. is a Ronald Reagan appointed federal judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri and his cousin, Stephen N. Limbaugh, Jr., is currently a judge in the same court, appointed by George W. Bush . Rush Limbaugh, Sr., Limbaugh's grandfather, was a Missouri prosecutor, judge, special commissioner and served on Missouri's state House of Representatives from 1930 to 1932."

Apparently, if you're not in a position to appoint one of his family members to a judicial appointment, Rush doesn't seem to care about you; for everyone else, he simply lacks all human compassion.

Then again, why wouldn't he care about all those rich and powerful elites surrounding him? Without his wealthy and powerful friends and family, he would be a huge LOSER. Currently, he controls a radio show that makes millions of dollars from lying, exaggerating, distorting, and hate-mongering.

Not too shabby for a guy who flunked out of college - even his modern dance class. Not too shabby for a guy who has been divorced three times. Not too shabby for a guy who was a drug addict.

You know, Rush certainly likes to criticize people like us for being a drain on society and feasting upon taxpayer money. Yet, without all of those wealthy and powerful friends and family members, he would be just another prison inmate convicted of drug offenses without a penny to his name. And we the taxpayers would have to pay for him. Yet, Rush seems to have little conception regarding the hypocritical life he leads. Instead, he makes money attacking people for trying to re-build their shattered neighborhoods after an economic catastrophe - the foundation of which was laid during his friends' administrations (both Reagan and H.W. Bush). Well, Rush, King of the Republican Party, you've succeeded at alienating Americans yet again. Congratulations.

Friends of Flint, don't let people like Rush get under your skin. They are afraid of the ability and desire of people to be significant regardless of the position they were born into. People like Rush have spent their entire lives bullying others and relying on their "birth right" to lead them to success. When these people hear stories of hard working Americans rebuilding a city that an entire Nation has written off, these people feel ashamed of their own insignificant and pathetic lives. He is not a person to be angry with, he is a person to pity. Just know that there is one thing Rush won't be successful at - he will not disillusion friends of Flint nor prevent its inevitable rebirth because there are too many of us who dare to be great and for that we should be thankful.

- Keith

Save Hurley Hospital!!!

2009-06-12T13:33:00.005-04:00

On August 4th, please vote to approve the Hurley Hospital mileage request, and take a stand to protect your access to emergency healthcare and expert medical services. With rising unemployment, high rates of foreclosure, and decreasing healthcare benefits, Hurley has been financially crippled. As a result, Hurley has engaged in budget cuts from their executives all the way down to their staff. However, these cuts are not enough, and Hurley’s continued viability is questionable. All Hurley is asking from the community is that we pay on average an additional $1-$2 per week to protect one of our local hospitals. Why should we support Hurley?

1) Hurley is one of the largest employers in Flint. Genesee County has already lost enough jobs. We cannot afford to lose another key employer.

2) Hurley specializes in pediatric medicine and neo-natal care. These two specialties are sorely lacking at Genesys and McLaren.

3) Hurley fulfills a vital role in reducing strain on the other Genesee County hospitals. Without Hurley, the other hospitals would be badly cramped, thus, reducing their services as well. Therefore, this is not just a Flint issue, but a mid-Michigan issue as well.

4) Hurley provides medical care to two-thirds of Genesee County’s uninsured. Where will these people go without Hurley? As the proportion of Michiganders with health care coverage declines, institutes like Hurley become more important in creating a much-needed option. This good will should be rewarded to prevent illness in the region, restore efficiency of Michigan workers who fall ill, and lower mortality amongst at-risk citizens like infants and seniors.

5) Hurley is part of the effort to revitalize Flint and Genesee County. Hurley is part of Flint’s core downtown redevelopment effort. Facilities at Hurley provide important training opportunities for students specializing in nursing who attend one of Flint’s fine secondary education institutions. Also, a plan is currently underway to bring a medical school to Flint, which would require a strong Hurley to meet the needs of students attending the program. This plan brings additional tax revenue into the city, which may eventually fund this mileage by itself.

While it may be easy for some in Genesee County to dismiss Flint, this is a short-sighted and narcissistic view. This view dismisses Flint’s standing as the central city of Genesee County. Those who subscribe to this ignorance risk watching their own medical care decline because the decline of Hurley will send shock waves throughout the mid-Michigan medical infrastructure. In addition, those who believe that their property values are safe from a declining Flint fail to realize the converse – their property values could rise with a revitalized Flint. All citizens of Genesee County will prosper together from a new, stronger Flint. Therefore, on August 4th, please remember to vote for the future of Flint – please remember to vote for your own economic and medical stability.

- Keith

GCYD Endorses Lt. Governor John Cherry for Governor

2009-04-27T19:49:00.004-04:00

The Genesee County Young Democrats are honored to make an early endorsement in the 2010 Michigan gubernatorial race. It is our privilege to endorse Lt. Governor John D. Cherry, Jr., a citizen of Genesee County and an incredibly talented public servant!

Lt. Governor Cherry has worked to make college affordable to all Michigan residents through his efforts as Chairman of the Commission on Higher Education & Economic Growth . Also, he has advocated against a culture of corporate irresponsibility and Washington political stunts aimed at the destruction of the American automakers, while passionately supporting the right of employees to organize. In addition, the Lt. Governor has been a zealous advocate for the preservation of Michigan natural resources. Finally, Cherry brings a long career of experience and expertize in Lansing that will continue to serve this State well. For these reasons, the GCYD is proud to join a whole lot of democrats who have endorsed Lt. Governor Cherry, including our own Genesee County Democratic Party.

Congratulations for earning our endorsement as well as the respect and admiration of Genesee County.

GCYD Endorses Flint Mayoral Candidates

2009-04-27T19:18:00.007-04:00

The Genesee County Young Democrats are proud to announce our endorsements of Brenda Clack and Dayne Walling in the Flint mayoral primary. Flint has been devoid of responsible leadership at the highest offices of municipal governance for a long time. Flint’s leadership has failed to act with the professional dedication, intelligence, and talent necessary for Flint to take advantage of many opportunities and attempt recovery. Luckily, Flint has been able to depend upon the entrepreneurial zeal and civic dedication of private citizens and county officials. Yet, municipal officials have only hampered this private action and inhibited the ability of good people to make grand contributions. These failures and unprofessional conduct must end today. Therefore, “change” is not only a trendy political slogan, but a necessary means to the inevitable rebirth of the great city of Flint.

These two candidates offer unique qualities that have the potential to pull Flint into the future. Brenda Clack offers experience and professionalism, which are qualities that have sorely been lacking in City Hall. Mrs. Clack has a strong history in Flint politics. She has demonstrated her credibility as a citizen of Flint and as a Democrat. Dayne Walling offers an exciting vision with change at its core. In addition, Mr. Walling has demonstrated his own brand of professionalism and experience focusing on urban planning and redevelopment. Both candidates have the potential to be amazing in City Hall. Both bring the possibility of a transformation in municipal government that is necessary in order to support the incredible amounts of redevelopment in downtown Flint.

For the foregoing reasons, the GCYD is happy to congratulate both candidates in earning our endorsement.

Kickoff Fundraiser a Success!!!

2009-03-30T15:04:00.012-04:00

Thank you everybody for making the Changing the Community by Changing Lives Scholarship Fund kickoff at Luigi's Pizzeria a success!!! The GCYD, in conjunction with the Blue Tiger Democrats, almost tripled the funds raised thus far. Thanks to all of our speakers, guests, and volunteers who stopped by on Saturday for believing in the youth of Genesee County and playing a role in reinvigorating the community. The GCYD would also like to express our gratitude to those who have sponsored the scholarship fund. Here's a list of our sponsors so far:

Founding Sponsors:
Senator Deborah Cherry
Representative Rick Hammel
former-Representative Ted Hammon

Gold Sponsors: $200
Ms. Ethel Bailey
Lt. Governor John Cherry
Mrs. Pam Farris
Mr. Keith Flynn
Congressman Dale Kildee

Silver Sponsors: $100
Mr. John Daniel Cherry
Mrs. Catherine Frederick
Ms. Janice Hoffman
Mr. Paul Hoffman
Mr. Kyle McCree
Chairman Jack Minore, Genesee County Democratic Party
Mrs. Patsy Lou Williamson

Bronze Sponsors: $50
Mrs. Jocelyn Benson
Ms. Lauren Wolfe

If you would like to join our effort and contribute, send checks to the following address:

Michigan Blue Tiger Democrats

4116 Orme Cir.

Clio, MI 48420

(Please make checks out to "Michigan Blue Tiger Democrats"

and memo "Scholarship Fund")

If you have any further questions, call Keith Flynn at 810-625-0741.

Once again, thank you.

Here are some pictures:

Changing the Community by Changing Lives Scholarship Fund

2009-03-23T19:28:00.011-04:00

“We have an obligation and a responsibility to be investing in our students and our schools. We must make sure that people who have the grades, the desire and the will, but not the money, can still get the best education possible.”

~ President Barack Obama

The Genesee County Young Democrats (GCYD) are working with Blue Tiger Democrats, the charitable wing of the Michigan Democratic Party, to fund the Changing the Community by Changing Lives Scholarship Fund (CCCL), an endowed scholarship to provide disadvantaged, but talented high school seniors in Genesee County the opportunity to start college.

We Michiganders know how to live through difficult times. We have seen them before and we will see them again. However, how can we ever repair our community if talented students are unable to get the education that they have been working towards for twelve years?

Our children are told from kindergarten till they graduate that if they work hard enough they will get ahead. This is simply not always the case.

Over 20,000 Genesee County students are enrolled in the free lunch program. If these students do not have lunch money, how can we expect them to have money for college tuition? By the time they pay back all their student loans, now with higher interest rates, they are too poor to be anywhere but behind. That’s unfair and it jeopardizes the American Dream.

One in six Genesee County students dropped out of school in 2007. Rather than risk the financial burden of a college education, many students opt out in order to supplement their family income with their own earnings. At a time of economic crisis, this threat to the national resource of knowledge is only increasing, and something must be done now.

Help the GCYD raise funds to support local scholars make it to college by joining us for our kickoff event at Luigi’s Pizzeria on Saturday, March 28th from 1pm-4pm. General attendance is $25 at the door for pizza and salad bar. $6.75 covers costs for the event; the rest goes toward the scholarship fund. Additional donations are welcome. Contributions are non-deductible.

Luigi’s Pizzeria

2132 Davison Rd.

Flint, MI

If you need directions or have any questions call (810) 625-0741.

The GCYD would like to thank the following sponsors for all of their support thus far:

Founding Sponsors:

Senator Deborah Cherry

Representative Rick Hammel

former-Representative Ted Hammon

Gold Sponsors:

Lt. Governor John Cherry

Mrs. Pam Farris

Mr. Keith Flynn

Congressman Dale Kildee

Silver Sponsors:

Chairman Jack Minore, Genesee County Democratic Party

Mrs. Catherine Frederick.

House Republicans Attempt to Obstruck Obama Stimulus Plan

2009-02-04T23:49:00.009-05:00

Republicans should be careful before accusing Democrats of pork barrel politics.
Bridge to Nowhere anyone???

This week, House Republicans publicized a list of “wasteful” spending in the bill, which ironically includes dollars for flood protection infrastructure on the Mississippi River (see for yourself, here’s the list).

Apparently, House Republicans are ignorant over the warped consistency of the party blamed for the devastation left after Hurricane Katrina opposing the upgrade of our Nation’s safety infrastructure. Hypocritically, the House Republicans go on to attack spending for eco-friendly military vehicles, funds for the FBI, and the new Department of Homeland Security headquarters (apparently, DHS must be working out of a closet at the local YMCA for the last six years). Yet, the very same week our President is blasted by Republicans for being weak on defense, the hawks are no where to be found when it’s time to put money where their mouths are.

That’s not all. House Republicans also consider the proposed $850 million increase in funding for Amtrak a complete waste. At a time when this Nation is held hostage by the oil and financial industries, Republicans are making a stand against low-cost, affordable, and clean public transportation expansion. The list of deplorable waste continues as House Republicans oppose firefighters, people who hate lead poisoning, green buildings, youth activities, and community colleges.

House Republicans fail to see the BIG PICTURE. This proposed spending represents four major areas that have historically driven the American economy: 1) transportation, 2) energy, 3) education, and 4) military. Instead of seeing investment opportunities that can translate into economic growth/jobs, they have labeled these four areas “waste” and “pork.” They seem to ignore their incessant love of real pork like horse trails or the famous “Bridge to Nowhere.” While Republicans ran Congress, pork rose through the roof. Yet, when America needs to invest in dilapidated infrastructure, growth areas like those mentioned above, and even national security, the House Republibrats are throwing a temper tantrum. America needs strong leaders who are able to see past their short-term pork bellies, and start coming up with long-term solutions. Hopefully, House Republicans will get the message next election cycle.

- Keith Flynn

Joy Comes in the Morning

2009-01-14T19:22:00.007-05:00

Recently, I had the opportunity to hear from one of the bright progressive minds in Michigan, Prof. Jocelyn Benson of WSU, during a forum on Election Reform. I won't get into to many details of the discussion, but something has stuck with me since that meeting. In spite of all of the bad news and dreary projections for the future of our state:

THERE ARE STILL GREAT PEOPLE DOING GREAT THINGS IN MICHIGAN!

I sometimes feel like we should have periodic public service announcements that Michigan is still open for business. Michigan's entrepreneurs are still developing the technologies that will drive the world in the twenty-first century. Bright minds like Prof. Benson and countless others are drawing up ways for us to rethink and reform the way we do our business as a state.

Although times are tough, and will probably get tougher before we turn the proverbial corner, we will survive and indeed thrive. All of us have work to do, causes to champion, and change to advocate for. If we all pitch in and use our collective brilliance we will overcome our individual challenges.

Scripture tells us that the sorrow may last for the night but joy comes in the morning.

-Kyle McCree

The Barbs of Hate, Jealousy, and Elitism

2008-12-14T20:09:00.011-05:00

Last week, we witnessed a cynical effort by southern Republicans to kill the United Auto Workers, bankrupt the American Automotive industry, and crush states like Michigan. They cover up their disdain for unions and American industry by disingenuously claiming fiscal responsibility, while their cohorts preach elitism, jealousy, and divisive hatred for their fellow Americans during a time of crisis. Make no mistake about this crisis, the actions of those turncoats in the Senate are not fiscally conservative – they are fiscally stupid.

Our capitalist economy has shifted from a manufacturing based economy to a service based consumer economy. We were told by Reaganites that life would be better if we were all re-trained to be white collar employees. We were told by the Clintonites and Bushites to spend, spend, spend during a time of crisis. We did just that. Now, southern Republicans who have supported this shift in the American economy for decades claim that our economy is best served by Americans earning less disposable cash and having less job security. How can a consumer-based economy survive when no one has any money to consume?

If fiscal conservatism is guiding their decision to vote against the bailout, why was the Senate fine with lending $700,000,000,000.00 to the financial sector without preconditions even though they have been leaking like the Titanic? This economic excuse is just cover for the real motivation: union-busting and foreign protectionism.

The opponents of Michigan and the American middle class blame the UAW. Yet, the UAW has demonstrated a commitment to make concessions: VEBAS, an unprecedented two-tier system, the end of the job bank, and a decrease in future wages. For the turncoats in the Senate, none of these steps were good enough, and so they threw a temper tantrum. As for the difference between foreign and American wages, they are roughly the same. The huge $70 figure I keep seeing is based on the legacy pensions GM has to cover as promised, which are being taken over by the UAW as a concession. In reality, they make little more per hour than the average American employee at a Toyota. Yet, Senators this week were calling for these Americans to cut their wages in half. See how you survive when you lose half of your wages. See how you pay your mortgage after losing half. See how you pay for college loans after losing half. Join us in the real world.

These attempts at union-busting amount to regionalism, with southern Republicans advocating for foreign protectionism, while attacking a return to fair trade deals. These self-serving turncoats are lining their pockets while taking our country to the brink of an economic depression. Not only is this irresponsible and petty, but it is heartless as well. Labor unions are not the problem here; instead, we should blame the political corruption and poor leadership of our elected officials for making this crisis even worse.

Let’s not treat this situation as a failure or as a convenient segue into pushing political ideology. Instead, this is a momentous opportunity to decide the Nation we want to live in fifty years from now. We will miss this moment in our history if we continue to let the barbs of jealousy and elitism come between us and our future. We need to be rational and forward thinking. At the same time, we have to help our fellow citizens who are in need as we prepare to brave the huge chasm that has formed between us and our inevitable date with destiny. This touches the supplier, the dealership, the restaurant owner, the retailer, and even the banker; it is blind, irresponsible foolishness to believe Michigan will be the only state affected, and now is not the time to test that hypothesis.

The Marines never leave a soldier behind. This concept is as American as apple pie, and has been applicable whether we were braving British musket fire, taking Normandy Beach, or finding our way out of the Great Depression. This concept is just as applicable here today. So, as we move into the future, let's allow our past to guide our way as we face yet another potential crisis and establish a new American identity – let’s not leave the Midwest behind.

Keith

The Big Three, or the Big Two?

2008-11-22T13:04:00.013-05:00

Have some MI pride: if the auto industry collapses, Detroit will die. While liberal Californian commentators argue that “Detroit must die,” I am sure they wouldn't be so direct if I wrote a column that San Francisco must die. I am tired of taking the brunt of the nation's recessions, while being criticized or ignored for it. Michigan's long-sitting Congressmen are openly attacked by Nancy Pelosi and her "Coasters." These Coasters then attack our hard working Michigan employees as being greedy and lazy. Even Mitt Romney, son of Michigan Governor Romney, dismissed Michigan and blamed those who were responsible for building the arsenal of democracy. Congressmen, try telling the seventy year old retiree who now has carpal tunnel syndrome from working in the shop that she was just too lazy and greedy to expect her retirement. Our industries are allowed to fail without condolences, but with massive applause.

Now, I will be the first person to admit that these CEOs were stupid for taking separate private planes to the same city and the same meeting. Yet, our Congressmen reminded me of angry children who just wanted to get back at the kid on the playground who has all the toys. Our Senators seemed content to sit back and watch it all happen; after all, they won’t be near Ground Zero here in the Midwest when things get chaotic. They will be content down south, to the east, and to the west ruminating about how great their states are doing, while ignoring this national security issue . It is about time that Michigan tell the rest of the Nation that enough is enough, we won’t be the Nation’s crutch like usual.

Cramer may be a little eccentric in the clip above, but boy does he summarize the importance of this bailout and hit the nail on the head. The financial sector is only half the problem here. The problem is systemic and has been slowly gathering momentum since the late 1970’s. American wages have been either stagnate or declining since, while every other cost has been rising. This problem should not be revelation for most rational human beings, but the majority of economists have been ignoring this problem in favor of promoting the trickle-down theory. This is what happens when intellectuals sell out.

Since the end of WWII, the capitalist economy has been based around consumerism, which requires a strong middle class with the resources to spend, spend, and spend. Yet, as mentioned above, wealth has concentrated and the middle class has shrunk. So who picks up the tab necessary to keep this economy circulating? For the last three decades, we have been acting on a binge, spoiled by credit to keep the bubble from exploding. However, our national economic policy has continued this slow pace toward chaos through deregulation, unfair trade agreements, and the destruction of safety net programs designed to stabilize the country after the Great Depression. Let’s not be partisan, this was the general direction even under democratic leadership.

While I am not saying we should move backwards, I also realize the days of trickle-down are over. The concept is antithetical to consumerism. We want as many people as possible to have disposable cash, decent jobs, and low costs. This sounds like a difficult objective, and it is to the point of being practically impossible. But there is some clarity: the assumption that a small group of concentrated wealth will share that wealth in a capitalist economy has been forever tarnished.

The last thing this country needs is 3 million more unemployed, millions of failed pensions plans for the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation to pick up, the failure of support industries, the fail of small businesses, and the huge numbers of uninsured that will all result from the collapse of the American auto industry. The market will handle it you say? No, they won’t because no one has disposable cash on hand to start up new companies that are more efficient than the current companies. Bankruptcy? I think everyone is misunderstanding bankruptcy. GM will not cease to exist. However, it might as well. Who will buy cars from a bankrupt company that will not honor its past service and parts guarantees?

Bankruptcy mostly impacts employees. GM can void its union agreements. All those pension benefits are still guaranteed by the United States government through the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation. Yet, there is no way they will be able to live up to those pension agreements. Health care? Gone too. Many will lose jobs working at insurance companies. What about the wages we need to maintain a consumer economy? Definitely gone. Oh, and heavy layoffs is the last thing our economy needs to jump start after the financial crisis. Bankruptcy also voids other contracts forcing the burden on small suppliers. If they tank, the Big Three tank.

Next, stop bad-mouthing the UAW. They cut the salaries of their new-hires by half. They picked up millions of pensions and health insurance costs. They have been cooperating with layoff after layoff. Everyone deserves the right to be compensated for their work. Last time I checked, that's the goal of capitalism. Just because the rest of middle class American has collapsed does not mean the last bastion of the middle class should collapse as well. Again, how does that help our consumer based economy??? I'm not saying we should remove all blame from the shoulders of the UAW, but there are deeper problems at work here that are diminishing GM sales.

GM is a company that has lobbied against the future. They have done everything to prevent the natural progression of history and technology. It was only a matter of time until the rest of the world moved on without them. That being said, this is not a company that is unsalvageable. This is a company that needs a new direction that Congress should prepare to give it one like they did during WWII.

Unfortunately, we won't be getting a bailout for middle class working American under this Congress full of Coasters with their economic blinders on. Hopefully, Obama can wrestle these ego-centric and narrow minded senators into making the right choice.

Keith

So, What Now?

2008-11-10T23:26:00.004-05:00

Now that Barack Obama has won election, what happens now?

1) There is an economy to fix!!! As of today, President-elect Obama was negotiating a economic stimulus package centered around a middle class tax cut. For all of you Republicans out there, yes, you did read that right. In addition, watch out for the beginning of an Iraq troop withdrawal with the first month in order to bring the federal budget under control.

2) Executive Orders to be overturned. News was leaked upon Obama's arrival at the White House today that Guantanamo may be one of the first executive order on the chopping block. In addition, be on the look out for stem cell research, especially considering Michigan's passage of Proposal 2.

3) Employee Free Choice Act. Many experts in labor relations never thought this day would come, but the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) may be on its way back to Congress. The AFL-CIO has made the EFCA its number one legislative priority and a Democratic victory significantly increases the liklihood of passage without fear of presidential veto. The EFCA legalizes the certification of bargaining representatives by authorization card, thus, removing employer interference in the election process. In addition, the EFCA forces parties to arbitrate over their first contract negotiations if they fail to reach agreement, and imposes monetary damages for breach of labor law.

4) Healing old wounds. We have been left with ghastly partisan battle scars. This old battleline is an antique in such turbulent times. The War on Terror will no longer wait. The stock market will not wait. Our technological decline will not wait. Already, President Elect Obama is beginning to extend the olive branch to the Republican Party. By playing nice with Joe Lieberman, Obama demonstrates his willingness to work with the otherside of the aisle.

5) Transparency and a new age of presidential communication. Check out the President-elect's new transition website for the public. New technology is opening up our government. Did you know that there is a handbook to ease the transition of federal elected officials? It's like the Federal Government for Dummies. In today's digital age you can communicate with the executive branch and follow the daily news of your president all in one convenient website location. Prepare for a digital fireside chat published to one central website.

Those seems to be the five big themes to look forward to in an Obama transition to the White House. Sounds about right so far. Post your comments.

Keith

A Letter to Conservative America

2008-11-03T06:18:00.003-05:00

Dear Mr./Mrs. Conservative McCain Supporter,

Let me start by saying how much I hate to see grown men and women throw temper tantrums. With many conservatives already throwing in the towel before election day, I am getting to see this more frequently. First off McCain supporters, YOU HAVEN’T LOST YET!!! Second off, why do you have to act like children when your candidate loses?

Democrats have experienced many losses over the last thirty years. At one point, conservatives actually had many convinced that we were unpatriotic (btw, they are still trying to get this one to stick). I myself worked many hours during the 2004 presidential cycle and routinely took quite a few shots from the conservatives who lived in my house at college. When John Kerry lost, I thought I would never hear the end of the bragging, the celebration, and the condescending remarks. But I never wavered. I congratulated them, said my peace, and moved on.

Yet, we are already witnessing conservatives refuse children candy on Halloween. The hostility and animosity is tangible. You conservatives seem outraged that you are behind in the polls. You seem outraged that for once, in the last thirty years, this country could see Democratic control over the House, the Senate, and the White House. Well tough. Move on like I did.

At first blush, the lady in this video could appear to be on the fringe of you McCain supporters. From my experience so far, she is not. Check out the number of angry conservatives fuming at the mouth at McCain/Palin rallies. Check out the number of Republicans tearing apart their own ship and playing the blame game within their own party. AGAIN, YOU HAVEN’T LOST YET!!! Even conservatives I have met in person are bitter and angry.

One lady who I met this weekend is a devout Christian who cannot believe the country is going to elect someone who can separate church from state. Yet, just a few sentences later she became angry that under Obama’s tax plan, her family would have to pay additional taxes since they make over $250,000 a year. She was outraged that Americans would vote for someone who would force her family to pay for “poor people” and those who are “too lazy” to provide for themselves. I looked at her and asked where her Christian values were now. Christianity preaches to give to your neighbor and provide for the weak and the sick. Her response was to get up from the table, start yelling, and leave. She took her ball and went home.

Conservatives, I recount this story and mention the Halloween story because these shallow temper tantrums over a disguised self-interest demean our national discourse. You can support both personal responsibility and helping your neighbor, demand less government while realizing some is needed, and believe in your own morality without thrusting it upon the entire country. That doesn't make you a communist, socialist, or whatever you want to call it. That makes you rational. If you keep framing our Nation's politics as a do or die fight to the bitter end between ideologies, then our nation will stagnate and suffer. Here are four basic rules to remember if we are to pull ourselves out of our problems and restore our great nation with dignity and honor:

YOU DO NOT HAVE A MONOPOLY ON PIOUTY.

YOU DO NOT HAVE CONTROL OVER WHAT IT MEANS TO BE PATRIOTIC.

YOU DO NOT HAVE SOLE OWNERSHIP OF THIS COUNTRY.

NO LONGER CAN WE AS INDIVIDUALS CONSIDER OURSELVES SHIPS COMPLETELY UNTO THEMSELVES BECAUSE EVERYONE'S FATE IS INTERCONNECTED BOTH NATIONALLY AND GLOBALLY.

Whoever becomes President on Tuesday should receive our full support. That was always the classic line during the Bush years. I personally gave Bush a chance and he disappointed. For you conservatives to be behaving like children before YOU HAVE EVEN LOST astounds me. If you make an assertion, don’t be surprised if some asks you to rationalize it. If you pull a stunt to try and hurt someone from our side of the fence, don’t be surprised if your face is all over the news. And if you rely on cheap theatrics and games to attack people like Obama, don't be surprised if the public considers you nothing more than children. We all can be better than that, but we must try.

Remember folks, we have the most serious economic threat since the Great Depression to fix. We have a ballooning national budget to conquer, two wars to wage, rising costs to surmount, new energy technology to research, sick to heal, and entitlement programs to fund. Now is not the time to be childish and trivial. Now is the time to act as those of the Greatest Generation; now is the time to help.

Sincerely,

Keith

On Sarah Palin

2008-09-15T17:05:00.003-04:00

John McCain’s selection of Sarah Palin as his running mate got me thinking. More accurately, the overwhelmingly positive response she’s gotten from the conservative base has got me wondering what’s going on over there.

See, Sarah Palin’s resume, as we all know, is pretty thin. Being mayor of a small town in Alaska and then governor of Alaska for a little less than two years does not, one would think, qualify a person for the second-highest office in the United States of America, and yet she’s been received as (I’m not kidding) the second coming of Ronald Regan and, for those slightly more history-inclined, Margaret Thatcher, this according to The Telegraph (UK).

Why? Margaret Thatcher was a Member of Parliament for around twenty years before she became Prime Minister, and Reagan was governor of California for eight years, which, I would certainly contend, is roughly the equivalent of running a second-tier advanced, industrial democracy. Italy, maybe.

Anyway, I decided I wanted to get a better grip on Sarah Palin’s resume, so I did some looking.

Let me first say that I will be the last person to say that pure “experience” is the only qualifier for high office in this country, as a true-blue Barack Obama supporter I couldn’t be so bold. No, there’s more to it than that. There always has been. Lincoln, after all, was a never-heard-of-him Congressman and State Legislator before he became the greatest President of them all. And I also don’t really intend to suggest that simply governing a lot of people by itself counts as experience; I think Kwame Kilpatrick has shown us that, if nothing else.

But with all that said, we can learn a thing or two from statistics. Follow me, if you will, on a journey of discovery. A journey not unlike that of Captain Willard, going up the river in search of Colonel Kurtz in Apocalypse Now. What, my friends, has Sarah Palin actually done?

I guess we’ll start in Wasilla. She was first elected to the City Council there in 1992 being reelected in 1995 but only serving one year of her second term, running for Mayor in 1996. She won and served two terms, losing her seat in 2002 because of term limits. All this, and most of the rest, from Wikipedia by the way. As much as that might mean to some that this is just another Liberal hatchet job, I don’t think it’s possible to revise things like the mayoral duties or population of the City of Wasilla enough to turn a qualified candidate into an unqualified one.

With that said, I’m now going to quote Wikipedia’s entry on mayoral duties in the City of Wasilla, which is attributed to this Washington Post article:

The duties of Wasilla's mayor are more circumscribed than those of many other mayors in the United States. The mayor of Wasilla supervises the police department, which was created three years before Palin took office, the public works department, the parks and recreation department, a planning office, a library and a small history museum. Firefighting and schools are handled by the Matanuska-Susitna Borough [county] government, and the state government handles social services and environmental regulation, such as storm water management for building projects. Palin described her duties as mayor to the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman newspaper: "It's not rocket science. It's $6 million and 53 employees."

I would call that statement, made (I would hope) before she knew she was going to be running for Vice President, an honest assessment of her job by a small town mayor. Just how small is Wasilla? According to the 2000 Census, it has a population of 5,469. For comparison’s sake, the municipality in Genesee County that is closest population-wise (using figures from the 2000 Census from here on) is the City of Davison, at 5,536. In fact, of the twenty eight units of local government in Genesee County measured by the US Census Bureau (cities, townships and charter townships) no less than twenty two of them have more people than Wasilla. Humble Gaines Township had almost exactly 1,000 more people in 2000 than Wasilla did. To put it another way, if Wasilla city were picked up and dropped in Genesee County, Michigan it would only be the twenty third largest local government in the whole county.

But of course, it’s unfair of me (and possibly sexist, I’m sure) to put Alaska in the context of Michigan. After all, there are no less than three counties in Michigan (Macomb at 788,149, Oakland at 1,214,361 and Wayne at 2,061,162, and Kent and Genesee are in the ballpark) that have more people than Alaska (683,487) has in the whole state.

Alaska is, after all, sort of a different animal. It’s not what you might call a “normal” state, with a diversified economy and traditional infrastructure. Alaska is primarily a source of raw materials (oil, natural gas, fish, timber, snow, etc.) and, historically like most places on the periphery of an empire, is home to a large military population. They import the vast majority of their food and manufactured goods from the rest of the country. It very much lives up to its nickname, “The Last Frontier.”

What does that mean for Sarah Palin as governor? In my opinion, she largely hasn’t really been dealing with the sorts of problems that the country generally deals with. Surely, the governor of Alaska faces challenges that many other governors do not and I assure you that I’m not trying to minimize them, but Alaska has nothing resembling a large urban area of the kind familiar to most of the rest of the country. Only the Anchorage metro area, with around 360,000 people, comes close, and that’s still around 80,000 fewer people than even the Flint metro area.

Again, I’m not saying that being governor of Alaska is not necessarily enough qualification for being put first in line to the Presidency. But the simple fact of the matter is that Sarah Palin has not been doing the job very long, not even two years. Frankly, I can’t really see how being mayor of a small town and then governor of a state that bears only superficial resemblance to any other state in the union could qualify a person for the second highest office in America.

Which leads to my conclusion, it doesn’t matter. It just doesn’t matter.

Allow me to explain: according the most recent polls, found here, President Bush’s approval rating is somewhere between 28 and 34%, even though most in the field (including a lot of conservatives) are generally coming to regard his Presidency as a failure. Who are these ~31% of us? They’re the reason the Palin bounce happened. They’re the reason it just doesn’t matter that she’s not qualified in any real sense to run the country. The GOP machine, in my humble opinion, could have pushed any arch-conservative, 40-something, moderately attractive woman out onto the stage in St. Paul and talked itself into believing that she was not only qualified for the job, but that all of the strikes against her were in fact strong pluses. Small town mayor? Small town values! Short career? Washington outsider! Governor of the 47th most populous state in the union for less than two years? Executive experience! Pentecostal conservative with unmarried-yet-pregnant daughter? Family values!

Really?

Really!

It’s not Sarah Palin. It has almost nothing to do with her. It’s the groupthink that pervades the GOP establishment that made this monster. I can’t say it enough: John McCain could have picked a two-term commissioner from some county in West Texas and after one good speech at the convention she, too, would have been the next Reagan or Thatcher as far as the base was concerned.

My hope now is that this won’t last, but frankly I’m getting worried. I’m concerned that the traction she’s getting among the “White Working Class” (which is as we know code for the nightmare combination of [1] low-to-middle income blue collar workers who usually vote Democratic but just really aren’t sure they can vote for a black man and [2] those really, really angry women who were Hillary Clinton supporters) is not going to let up, that they really are buying her story as a rough-hewn, huntin’, fishin’, steel worker marryin’ hockey mom in the way that the Democrats were hoping they’d buy Barack Obama’s story of a boy with an absentee father, raised by good, God-fearing, salt-of-the-Earth grandparents who made his own way in life and has devoted it to helping raise others up. They might have had a better chance with a white man who didn’t have the same middle name as some former Arab dictators we know.

But that didn’t help John Edwards much, I suppose. Lucky for the Democrats.

In any case, only time will tell. It could be that this bump is merely the natural side effect of a female Veep candidate and completely to be expected. Maybe all those Hillary ladies will realize how much they’ve been pandered to, and maybe all of those blue collar whites in Michigan and Ohio and Pennsylvania will realize how little the governor of a state that pays you to live there really understands what it’s like to be poor in their dead-broke, job-losing hometowns.

At the very least, I think we’re going to learn a lot about race and gender attitudes in this country in the next couple of months. Probably in the ugliest way possible.

~Will

Revival of a Property Requirement to Vote in November???!!!!!!

2008-09-11T01:59:00.010-04:00

The picture to the right is of Macomb County Republican Party Chairman, James Carabelli. In an interview with Michigan Messenger yesterday, Chairman Carabelli revealed the GOP's plan for Flint: they plan on using a list of foreclosed addresses at the polls in November in an attempt to challenge and disqualify Americans from voting in urban areas based on residency. Of course, urban areas are heavily democratic and are suffering the most in this Bush economy promoting the richest Americans at the expense of your homes. How is this possible? This should come as no surprise considering the steady increase of reform to mandate voters provide poll officials with identification. Just a few months ago, there was a concern about out-of-state students even being refused the opportunity to receive a state photo id.

What ever happened to the protections of voters from discrimination based on wealth, privilege, and education status? The Supreme Court has stood against such profiling since the Reconstruction and the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments. The concept of this country is simple: every citizen regardless of race or gender gets to vote. Here's an interesting statistic from Michigan Messenger: "More than 60 percent of all sub-prime loans — the most likely kind of loan to go into default — were made to African-Americans in Michigan, according to a report issued last year by the state’s Department of Labor and Economic Growth."

How can Republicans argue that this is fair and legal? This tactic amounts to blatant discrimination against voters just because they've lost their house, live in a certain city, or represent a minority group. Whose fault is it that foreclosures have spiked to this degree; partially a Republican administration that opened up Pandora's Box and institutionalized predatory lending costing Americans their homes, economic security, and now their votes.

Now in order to vote, we can be subjected to a Republican financial report concerning mortgage difficulties. Next election, I wonder if I will have to bring a credit report with me to vote. I'm sure that this invasion of privacy will turn many away at the polls. Many of these people have been through gut wrenching trauma and would rather not relive all of it in front of a school gymnasium full of voters.

This tactic conforms with Secretary of State, Terri Lynn Land's, recent adminsitrative decision to enforce the new voting id law to require additional forms of identification at the polls if identity is still questionable upon presentation of a state granted photo id. Another huge coincidence: Secretary Land publishes ads in the Macomb County Republican Party's newsletter on a regular basis.

Let's hold Republicans accountable for actions that defy American patriotism and fly in the face of American Democracy. Sign this petition to tell the Republicans that enough is enough, we will not lose our right to vote.

- Keith

Calling All Community Organizers - - Help Support MI Students

2008-09-05T15:10:00.006-04:00

"About one in every six high-schoolers in Genesee County did not graduate in four years, according to 2007 data released . . . by the state of Michigan."

Recently, the Michigan Education Association (MEA) took a tour of Traverse City, home to an 84% high school graduation rate, roughly the same as Genesee County. Students are dropping out at increasing rates. This State is facing a vicious cycle relying on higher education and training to bring employers to Michigan and cure an economy that's been suffering for decades. Yet, how can the State count on highly educated Michigan workers when Michigan high schools are having so many problems even graduating students?

To use an Obama term, there is hope. However, hope will not magically appear as a result of government action; instead, hope is going to have to come from us. Community organizing is getting a bad rep at the Republican convention. With one hand, Republicans enjoyed patting community organizers for picking up the slack left by the federal government in dealing with the crisis in New Orleans. With the other hand, former NY Mayor, Rudy Guiliani, and Republican VP nominee, Sarah Palin, stated that community organizers do not serve as important of a role as elected officials. Here in Michigan, we should obviously disagree.

After decades of state and federal government action, Michigan still suffers from a languishing economy and educational disappointment. Government cannot fix everything. Only we the people can fix our problems with education. Here's four ways we can get involved . . .

First, those who work hard and believe in the community should have the right to scholarship funds so that tomorrow's future leaders receive the education they need. No child should ever question the trade-off between pursuing their educational goals and the realities of high interest student loans. Community organizers can assist in the creation of scholarships to support young scholars.

Second, we have to take personal accountability for Michigan's future and realize that our own progress effects Michigan. Community organizers focus dedication and talent, reminding young people in the community that there is always hope and a place where they can positively use their skills and talents.

Third, students need mentoring to put life in prospective. Community organizers fulfill this important function quite well.

Fourth, students need support at home, however, welfare programs have proven to be an inadequate solution as these programs take parents out of the home, provide slight compensation, and nurture an environment of dependence not conducive to educational ambition. It takes a community to raise a child and neighborhood organizations need to take responsibility in providing support.

I refuse to say that government has no role in all of this. Government must fulfill a support role. However, our elected leaders should not take community organizers for granted and assume their own superiority because a government run by people that arrogant has no other choice but to oppress and fail.

-Keith

The Truth About Misogynist McCain and His Wannabe Hillary

2008-09-03T03:04:00.009-04:00

DISCLAIMER: Unlike Barack Obama, I disagree about the Republican VP Sarah Palin’s family not being a “critiquable” portion of this election. Anyone running for Vice President, who brings up the issue of their five kids and their “family values,” as if the other candidates lack those values, should realize that their family’s status is in question.

How dare you John McCain!!! As a man, I am enraged at your chauvinist, misogynistic pick for VP. What, did you think people just wanted any woman to be your VP? You picked the weakest woman in your party and definitely in any party, let alone America. You decided to sell yourself to the lowest common denominator: the religious right who believe in the antiquated, deplorable notion that women are merely “baby makers.”

At least, if the Republican publicity can be considered emphasis of Mrs. Palin’s most important skill for being chosen, then it must be the fact that she had five kids. That’s all Republicans seem interested in. So where will Mrs. Palin be at 3am when the Pentagon has an emergency? She will probably be too busy consoling a brood of crying children. Honestly, I don't know what the number of a person's children has to do with running this country.

I can just imagine the campaign geniuses managing McCain’s [hereinafter referred to as McBush] campaign, “all we need is a girl, that way all the Hillary voters will get us elected in November!!!” After the “Hillary Democrats Supporting McCain” ad, and the constant lame attempts to associate himself with Clinton, McCain is obviously pandering

Then it must be Mrs. Palin’s experience running the horribly complicated government of Alaska. God knows there are so many people to appease there. It’s almost like representing Chicago as a US Senator with 5x the population of Alaska or running a health care program for underprivileged people in the south-side of Chicago fresh out of college or like being a state senator (what were you just a mayor before Governor?) or like running a national Presidential campaign with over a $100 million budget. Woops. After all, Mrs. Palin was hired after only three short conversations with Mr. “Experience” John McBush. As a public servant, her only real experience has been raising taxes on her constituents. More taxes??? Wow, that’s real reform. And let’s not forget the family values that instructed her decision to discharge Public Safety Commissioner Walter Monegan in retaliation for his failure to fire her brother-in-law, a decision for which she is under investigation by the Alaskan Congress. :o

Then there’s the question of “family values.” The Republican Party prides itself on this concept. Yet, the Republican VP’s daughter is pregnant at 17???!!!!! I personally do not find this morally inexcusable, but for the religious fundamentalist Republican Party to dismiss this headline seems a tad hypocritical. And her husband has been convicted of DUI!!!! Awkward . . . Last time I checked, this was the Party that has argued for sexually active couples to be responsible through abstinence and for a tough crack down on criminals like those who are convicted of drinking and driving. For example, many Republicans don’t believe in birth control. I suppose that those values apply to everyone else, right?

Well they may apply to McCain as he at least seems to be confused on the issue of whether Viagra should be covered by healthcare insurance, as opposed to birth control. BTW, I really enjoyed McBush’s incredibly rude commentary during her introductory speech, “Take your time, you’ve got all day.” He looked so uncomfortable with a woman on the stage with him. I guess he should considering the affair that broke up his previous marriage with his disabled former-wife.

McBush is a man who does not support equal pay for equal pay (at least not apparently). But of course, I am supposed to forget that fact since he picked a female VP. I guess that makes him a feminist right??? He’s whatever you want him to be!!! He has picked a VP who does not support choice to have children or even get married if you’re “those people.” But at least she has five kids and a husband who is a champion snow mobile racer. Did I mention. she’s a beauty pageant contestant!!! LOL, even the RNC Vice-Chair couldn’t get Mrs. Palin’s name right!!! “Mrs. Pawlenty . . .” McBush even has the gull and audacity to make fun of Chelsea Clinton because she doesn’t meet his criteria of attractive. I thought Senator Clinton was your “friend.”

Who could be that disrespectful besides someone who can give the fake message that their party represents morality after they have allowed greed to control our nation, war to dominate our headlines, women to become second class citizens (equal pay for equal work?), and diversity to become our greatest enemy. I don’t remember religion preaching any of that, yet, that’s what they claim makes them “right.”

There is no correct answer to what the American family should be, but I’m pretty sure the American family was suppose to have the opportunity for success, the availability of education, a steady roof to live under, protected rights under the Constitution, and a world of peace surrounding with support of a global community.

Hillary Clinton pushed the role for women in politics forward several decades by being more than reproductive capacity or a “hockey-mom.” She didn’t have to be. She was both a mother and a national influence. She raised her daughter to become an educated young woman with a responsible head on her shoulders promising the same investment to the American public as her mother did. Hillary is, and will always be, a boundary expander who had great dreams for America and never gave up hope. A tireless warrior for universal healthcare, a fighting public servant, a gracious competitor, and a loving wife of Bill and mother to Chelsea, Hillary Clinton represents one of the best of the Democratic Party as well as America. The mere gender of a person does not constitute their character, so remember these words, real accomplishment depends on our ability to be more than pawns, but to dare greatly on our own. Remember . . .

“It is not the critic who counts: not the [wo]man who points out how the strong [wo]man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the [wo]man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends h[erself] for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if [she] fails, at least [she] fails while daring greatly, so that h[er] place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.”
~Theodore Roosevelt

-Keith

Biden VP Choice is Great for Genesee County

2008-08-23T08:52:00.005-04:00

If you have been asleep for the past nine hours you are just waking up to this news:

Much will be written on Sen. Biden's foreign policy and national security credentials and how we can help the ticket with certain voting blocs. That really is only important to the national leaders of the party and the campaign.

Here in Genesee County, we are interested in how adding Sen. Biden to the Obama Campaign for Change will help our communities and how he will help us bring around those undecided voters who will ultimately decide this election.

First, Sen. Biden has a personal story that hopefully none of us will ever have to endure but that we can all empathize with. After winning his first of six terms in the Senate at the freakishly young age of 29 (He turned the constitutional minimum age of 30 prior to being sworn in) his bright personal story took a tragic detour. While driving with his family they were in a car accident. Senator Biden's young bride and his infant daughter were unfortunately killed. His two young sons were seriously injured.

Facing a new career in the Senate and an unspeakable family tragedy, then Senator-elect Biden gave careful thought to not entering into the Senate. He eventually did what many people here have done which is, he put his family first. He stayed with his sons in the hospital so much that he was actually sworn in as a US Senator at the hospital with his recovering sons. Facing a new challenge as a single dad of two sons, grieving the loss of his wife and daughter, and a brand new Senator he began a balancing act that many single parents here in Genesee County can relate too. Unlike most Senators who buy residences in DC, he stayed in Delaware to raise his young sons and took a ninety minute Amtrak train into the capital twice a day. This is a practice he has done for the past 36 years.

I detail his story to demonstrate that Sen. Biden has a life story that will resonate with the voters in Flint, Flushing, Burton, Grand Blanc, and every other community in our County. His life story is backed up by a voting record protecting women & children, being a great friend of labor, and a champion for civil rights.

I would hope that Senator Biden will have an opportunity to come to area and share his message of change and his track record of fighting for working class communities like Genesee County. In the mean time, we all need to head down to the Campaign for Change HQ in Flint at Fifth Ave. & Saginaw St. and share his and Sen. Obama's message for them.

Kwame Should Not be Given a Hearing

2008-08-13T12:50:00.005-04:00

CHECK OUT THIS VIDEO AND READ THIS ARTICLE FROM THE DETROIT FREE PRESS

Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's position in Detroit may be decided by Governor Granholm in a quasi-judicial hearing. This means that the Mayor would be given the opportunity to appear in person before the Governor along with his counsel and opposing counsel in order to informally discuss the merits of discharging the Mayor. However, there are some constitutional questions that arise from this possibility as some believe that there should be no hearing and that the Governor should just make a decision based on the briefs of the parties. This supposedly ignores Kilpatrick's due process rights under the 5th and 14th Amendments of the US Constitution, "No State shall deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law . . . ."

In Cleveland Board of Education v. Loudermill, the Supreme Court held that due process requires an oral or written notification of the charges against the employee, an explanation of the evidence against the employee, and an opportunity to respond. 470 U.S. 532 (1985). An individual is only entitled to procedural due process, however, if he was deprived of a protected property or liberty interest. Clements v. Airport Auth., 69 F.3d 321, 331 (9th Cir. 1995). The Mayor is an elected official who has no reason to hold a property interest in his position as the position routinely changes hands by election.

In fact, state law specifically grants Governor Granholm a right to remove an elected city official, "when the governor is satisfied from sufficient evidence submitted to the governor that the officer has been guilty of official misconduct, wilful neglect of duty, extortion, or habitual drunkenness, or has been convicted of being drunk, or whenever it appears by a certified copy of the judgment of a court of record of this state that a city officer, after the officer's election or appointment, has been convicted of a felony." M.C.L.A. 168.327. No hearing is required, only service of the charges and evidence against the elected official. M.C.L.A. 168.327.

Therefore, a hearing is not legally required. In terms of policy considerations, allowing this matter to be tried in a quasi-judicial hearing would only rub salt over the fresh wounds the City of Detroit has already suffered. The Governor's power to accept Kwame's compliance in exchange for dismissal of the criminal complaints is questionable. This ordeal will probably still proceed through the courts including eventual appeals. Why would we want yet another hearing at the tax payers' expense when one is not even required? Fairness can be achieved through the release of the Governor's opinion that demonstrates a keen understanding of the issues presented in the parties' briefs. Issuance of a written opinion by the Governor is not even necessary under state statute. In fact, this merely extends Loudermill to cover the Mayor even though he has no property interest in the job. Therefore, this is a fair compromise that can allow Detroit and all of Michigan to move forward past this blemish one way or another.

-Keith

Candidate Forum was a Success!!!

2008-08-03T23:30:00.006-04:00

On July 30th, the GCYD and Alpha Phi Alpha (Theta Tau Chapter) sponsored a Democratic Party candidate forum for the 34th and 51rst State House races. The forum was held at the University Center at UM-Flint. For the 34th district, Eleazar Barzart, Richard Dicks Jr., Chris Del Morone, and Woodrow Stanley were present; for the 51rst, Michael J. Thorp and Harold Ward. The 34^th district is Flint and the 51rst is Grand Blanc, Fenton, Linden, Atlas Twp, Argentine, and Mundy Twp.

The event went really well. Please remember to vote in the primary this Tuesday, August 5^th.

Here’s video from the introductions:

Here's video of the question and answer portion:

Here is video of the closing remarks:

Thanks to the candidates, the audience, and our co-sponsor.

- Keith

Detroit's Kwame Duo

2008-07-29T21:35:00.013-04:00

Unless you have been living under a rock on the ocean floor for the past six years, it has been almost impossible for a resident of Michigan to not learn about the allegations, accusations, and well just plain acts of foolishness, which have been levied against the Mayor of Detroit, Kwame Kilpatrick. Some of them have never been substantiated while others have been blasted on the front page of the newspapers and have led to Mayor Kilpatrick being charged with eight felony counts.

This crisis has serious implications for the Mayor and his family, his former Chief of Staff, the residents and the City of Detroit, and the entire State of Michigan for whom Detroit will be either the engine or the caboose.

However on July 29, 2008 the heat began to lift off the Mayor. If the
Mayor escapes his current scandals with Houdini like ease, this date will be
cited as the turning point.

What happened you say, well THE DETROIT PISTONS SIGNED KWAME BROWN!

Follow me here. Since the 2001 Mayor's Race, Kwame Kilpatrick has cast a literal and metaphorical shadow over Detroit politics. Friend and foe alike knew who he was to the point that other than official statements and news reports he became known just as "Kwame". Friends referred to him by just his first name as a way of distinguishing him from his Congresswoman mother. Foes omitted his surname as a sign of disregard and disrespect for the Mayor. Around Detroit and indeed Michigan, people would say, "Kwame did this...” "Did you hear what Kwame...".

However, beginning in November, people will have to specify which Kwame they are referring to. Detroit's new Kwame duo have more in common than the same first name:

2001

Both burst on to the stage in 2001: Kilpatrick winning the Mayor's race and Brown as the #1 overall pick in the NBA.

Youth

Both were relatively very young when they became household names: 31 for Kilpatrick, Brown 19

Record Setting Youth

Kilpatrick was the youngest Mayor in Detroit history, Brown the first High School Player selected with the #1 overall pick in the NBA draft.

Famous Pedigree

Kilpatrick hails from a famous Detroit political and succeeded his mother in the Michigan House of Representatives. Brown was the first draft pick by former Wizards General Manager and His Airness Michael Jordan.

There are however a few differences between the Detroit Kwame Duo:

Size

Brown is a typical NBA athlete with a tall sleek build checking in at 6'11" and 270 lbs. Kilpatrick has the build of a former football player, which he is, and checks in at around 6'4" and a kind 300+ lbs.

Hands

Brown's major weakness is his poor use of his hands. His inability to catch passes in the post and to be able to move the ball have hampered his development over seven seasons in the NBA. Kilpatrick though has allegedly shown himself to be skilled at using his hands, at least according to Wayne County Sheriff's Detective Brian White.

Which one of Detroit's Kwame Duo rebounds and reclaims some of their former prestige? Brown, Kilpatrick, Both or Neither? Post in the comments.

-Kyle M.

Young Dems Talking to Candidates

2008-07-27T22:58:00.004-04:00

Let Your Voice Be Heard!

We have seen unprecedented involvement by young voters in the Democratic Primaries all across America this year. We want to keep the momentum going by having a Voters Forum with candidates answering our questions and talking about the issues that are important to us. Too often politicians have ignored young/first-time voters and we don't always feel like we are a part of the process. What a great way to keep young people involved in the process by having the candidates talk directly to us.

The Young Voters Forum will focus on the Democratic Primary Candidates in the 34th State House District (Flint) and the 51st State House District (Grand Blanc, Fenton, Linden). These are two important and competitive races for open House seats in Genesee County. The people who win the August 5th Primaries will stand in the General Election in November and we need the put forth the candidates who will best advocate for higher education, job training, affordable health care, and all of the other issues that are important to our demographic.

It will be held at UM-Flint in the Michigan Rooms on Wed. 7/30 from 6-8pm. The Event is being co-sponsored by the Genesee County Young Democrats and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

Please invite your friends and family and come out and hear from and talk to the candidates.

-Kyle M.

Happy Fourth of July!!! You've Lost Another Digital Right!!!

2008-07-04T01:28:00.009-04:00

It's the Fourth of July and once again our rights as Americans are being trampled by the federal courts. The evil corporation VIACOM is currently suing Google in a copyright action. This latest egregious privacy intrusion is in the form of a record of every view on Youtube, including all the videos ever removed from the site and information on every video ever hosted. Yes, Google keeps this information as well, despite the notice of privacy that this information will never be used outside of its own statistical purposes. U.S. District Judge Louis L. Stanton is forcing Google to turn over a list of all the viewers of all the videos on Youtube. The viewers will be identified by their login names and IP addresses.

Do the terms "overly broad" come to mind? According to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, discovery requests may be refused if the request is overly broad, unduly burdensome, or "unreasonably cumulative or duplicative, or can be obtained from some other source that is more convenient, less burdensome, or less expensive." Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(2). VIACOM is asking Google to turn over around 12 TB of information. According to the article on CNN, this could fill about 12 million books.

How is this not unduly burdensome, especially considering that VIACOM only wants the information to show statistics that individuals are viewing their copyrighted videos? That's all they have to prove. Why didn't the court merely order those statistics to be released as opposed to all of our information? Also, they could have released the information without identifying information attached. Asking Google to turn over these records is sloppy jurisprudence that ignores the agreement between Youtube and its viewers, ignores modern technology, ignores the Constitution, ignores civil procedure, and engages in lop-sided, biased, legal acrobatics to promote corporate America at the expense of our rights.

Judge Stanton argues that any injury to privacy is speculative. However, did we not engage in behavior in accordance with Youtube being private domain for viewing? Does this not infringe upon those rights under agreement? True, there is a need to fight copyright violations according to U.S. law (that's a whole other issue), but as established in the paragraph above, there is no need to release this much information to protect VIACOM. Once this information is released, who will get a hold of this information and who will ask for it in future discovery requests with the public being on trial?

The Judge gives us his word that the court will carefully monitor the use of this information, which suggests the government plans on playing guardian for 12 TBs of private information. The government is forcing private parties to turn over private information to be protected by the government. Also, isn't it "speculative" to assume that the court/government will be able to comply with this pledge and isn't the privacy of innocent American citizens important enough to warrant more than their promise to be good little boys? After all, what happens to these records when the case has been closed? Here, there are millions of innocent Americans who can be potentially revealed to the public, other private entities like VIACOM, or even the government. Judge Stanton, we are going to need a little bit more than your word.

This is just another step to shred the Constitution. There are concepts such as freedom of speech. How are we free to speak if speech is constantly monitored? There are concepts such as the right to privacy. How can we have a right to privacy when our day to day thoughts and belief, as symbolized by our viewership, are open to random third parties. The internet is becoming the predominant mechanism for private speech, often times communicating political beliefs. Through technology, anachronistic judges such as Judge Stanton have constrained our freedoms and now these concepts are becoming meaningless. In the future we are heading towards, no one in this country will feel free to voice an opinion unless it is cleaned up, sanitized, and edited to appease public notions of appropriate speech. Speech will no longer be about creativity, originality, or communication of an opposition view. Speech will be about shutting, watching your P's and Q's, and avoiding controversy. Our controversial forefathers would be terribly afraid of these times and so should we on this Fourth of July.

If you want to voice your opinion to Judge Stanton, here is his contact information:

Daniel Patrick Moynihan
United States Courthouse
500 Pearl St., Room 2250
New York, NY 10007

Courtroom: 21C
Chambers Phone: (212) 805-0252

Deputy Phone:
(212) 805-0123.

I plan on sending this blog post to Judge Stanton in the form of a letter on Monday, but please feel free to call as well. We may be from Michigan, but Judge Stanton's decision applies to all Americans.

- Keith

Help the GCYD Support Education in Genesee County

2008-06-28T17:43:00.005-04:00

The Genesee County Young Democrats are working with Blue Tiger Democrats to help provide disadvantaged high school seniors in Genesee County the opportunity to start college. We are currently in the process of fundraising to provide an endowed scholarship based on merit and need. We plan to work with the Community Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to planning scholarship funds. However, we need $10,000 to begin working with them. In total, we need $50,000 in order for the interest to provide a $5,000 scholarship on an annual basis for all of our lifetimes.

These children are told from kindergarten till they graduate that if they work hard enough they will get ahead. This is simply not always the case. By the time they pay back all their student loans, now with higher interest rates, they are too poor to be anywhere but behind. That’s unfair and it jeopardizes the American Dream.

Granted, we can’t fix these problems by ourselves even after we fund a scholarship fund, but at least we can even the playing field for folks who work hard without the rewards they deserve. Just maybe we can make a positive contribution to this community and inspire others to act as well. Help us make this a reality.

We could really use your help in taking us to the next step. If you are just as passionate about the future of Michigan, then help us meet these goals by sending financial contributions to:

Blue Tiger Democrats

4116 Orme Cir.

Clio, MI 48420

(Please make checks out to "Blue Tiger Democrats" and memo "Scholarship Fund")

We can use any help you can provide. Thank you.

- Keith

Why Does the Law Change When the Shoe is On the Other Foot

2008-06-17T20:30:00.008-04:00

According to U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, the President of the United States should be granted more privacy than the average American citizen. In a recent District Court ruling, the White House Office of Administration does not have to turn over missing emails in a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. FOIA is based on the concept that information should not be hidden from citizens in a mature Democracy in order to prevent corruption. We employ bureaucrats, politicians, and other public officials and that creates the same right to accountability our employers expect from us. Yet, this Judge seems to ignore the purpose of FOIA and seems to only consider the rights of our "employees" to hide potentially devastating information from us.

Most Americans are constantly under surveillance including our emails. Here is a list of all the ways our employers, big companies, and our hypocritical government snoop around:

1) even though we can't monitor our employees' emails (Office of Administration), our employers can legally monitor our email accounts - even more ironic, the government is already looking into tapping email accounts, so your employer is not the only bad guy;

2) googling – yes, they keep records and the executive branch even wanted access to
these records a few years back;

3) buying books at Amazon.com - isn’t it odd how they always know what books you are
interested in;

4) renting books at the library - thank you Patriot Act;

5) talking on cellphones - the NSA is watching because of the executive branch;

6) sitting at a stop light equipped with video technology – Big Brother anyone???; and

7) friending on Facebook – that’s right, Facebook knows where you live, who you have that crush on, and that one night things got crazy at the bar.

Our privacy does not seem to be that important to big business, the government, or, most importantly, the courts. Yet, big business is deregulated and the executive branch is protected from the very same privacy intrusions you experience everyday.

So what makes these bureaucrats and Presidential yes-men different from other Americans? National security? There are nine exemptions under FOIA that protect security related classified information, so that stuff is already protected.

According to the Judge, the Office of Administration does not have “substantial independent authority.” What does that mean???

That phrase is not even in FOIA. In fact, the agencies included are defined as, “any executive department, military department, Government corporation, Government controlled corporation, or other establishment in the executive branch of the Government (including the Executive Office of the President), or any independent regulatory agency.”

Well, at least “independent” is in there, but from this definition FOIA includes more than just agencies with “substantial independent authority.” It includes “any executive department.”

So, what is the real reason their privacy is more important? They have so much to hide and so much power and money to hide it all with. This ruling further restricts the rights of Americans to keep our eyes on those who we employ. The mere fact that the Judge does not know how to read statutes should not protect President Bush from covering up millions of missing emails that just happened to disappear. This is our government, not theirs, and we have a right to know what they are hiding from us. I look forward to seeing this case appealed.

- Keith

We Young Dems, We Getting Smarter ;)

2008-06-11T19:12:00.010-04:00

This post might be a little late, but I am still excited about the DFA Academy that was held last weekend in Lansing, MI. For those who don't know, Democracy for America is the remnants of the Howard Dean campaign. The DFA is sorta similar to MoveOn.org as it supplements the Democratic Party by providing services the mainstream Party has been unable to administer. One of those services is training.

DFA training is like bootcamp for campaign managers covering the skills and structure necessary to run a professional operation. Over the weekend we covered fundraising, field planning, volunteer management, message formulation, and internet capabilities. Oh, and did I mention we got to meet Jim Dean, Howard Dean's brother and Chairman of the DFA? Well . . . we did, so there.

In case you ever wondered, Jim Dean does have a lot of people call him Jimmy Dean or James Dean. Who would've guessed?

It was a good experience and something that Democrats forget to do. I don't even want to start counting the number of mistakes I made during my first couple of attempts at field organizing. And boy, did the instructors ever remind me of them. :( I wish someone would have given me an opportunity like this during the '04 race. I can't speak for our President and Vice-President, but they seemed to enjoy themselves and they were excited to start showing off their new ideas. Nice job DFA!!!

If you are want to approach politics as a career or you are currently running a campaign, please enroll in a DFA Academy or the DFA free Night Classes program.

To see pictures go here.

Thank you Rico Thomas Rico, our new featured blogger, for taking the pics!!!

-Keith