Eclectablog

Last Day - First quarter fundraising drive

2012-01-29T08:11:00.000-05:00

I want to thank everyone who has contributed to the fundraising drive this week. As I have said to most of you, I will do everything I can to earn your donation.

There are two things I plan to use the donations for in the coming year. First, I will be purchasing electronic subscriptions to the Detroit News, the Detroit Free Press and the New York Times as well as increasing my monthly contribution to Michigan Public Radio. Why should I do this when their content is online for free? Because good reporting must be paid for and supported financially. You wouldn't just walk into your local store, pick up a newspaper and walk out again without paying. But that's essentially what we do when we read online content that we aren't paying for.

Since these four media outlets are the ones I turn to most for news and information, I need to be supporting that and so, too, will YOU through your donations.

Second, I will be purchasing a wireless card for my Mac that will allow me to access the internet when there is no wireless network available. Being able to access the internet during liveblogging (or other) situations will mean a better, more rich live reporting experience. In fact, if any of you have advice on this hardware, shoot me an email

Thank you once again to everyone who has already contributed. If you haven't yet made a donation and value what you read at Eclectablog and the service I provide, you can help me continue to do so by making a donation here:

If you would prefer to send a check, shoot me an email (link is right under my logo at the top left of the page) and I can give you my mailing address as I have done for several others.

I'm also looking for advertisers for February and beyond. Ads start at $65. If you are thinking of making a donation in that range or can pool your donation with others, YOU can be an advertiser on Eclectablog. It's a new model I'm trying out and I think it can work.

In addition, if you are involved with a progressive organization that is looking for a way to put your message in front of progressive readers, particularly those in the Midwest, advertising on Eclectablog is a very affordable way to be seen and a great way to spend some of your media/marketing dollars.

Contact me at the contact link below my logo for details.

One more thing: if you can't afford to make a donation, please consider sharing the good word about Eclectablog. Tell your friends about it. Follow me on Twitter and suggest it to your friends. Like my Eclectablog Facebook page and share it with your friends. The more traffic I get, the more successful we will be in spreading the word.

Thanks so much to everyone who has contributed so far and for your continued support of this website.

- Chris

More photos, video and interactive content from President Obama's visit to Ann Arbor

2012-01-28T11:26:00.002-05:00

Picture this

My wife has put up an amazing multi-media post from yesterday's visit to Ann Arbor, Michigan at her blog Politics in Pictures.

If you were there, you can look for yourself in a fully interactive panoramic image (you can even make it go fullscreen and zoom in and out!) If you don't see yourself, you can also look for your face in this amazing widescreen image:

Click image for much larger version.

There is also some video and LOTS of still images.

I highly commend your attention to her terrific post. It's amazing and not something you'll find anywhere else.

P.S. Want to know why President Obama is emphasizing higher education at the moment? According to Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum, it's because he wants to brainwash as many college students as possible:

"It's no wonder President Obama wants every kid to go college," Santorum said Wednesday in Florida, according to CBS News. "The indoctrination that occurs in American universities is one of the keys to the left holding and maintaining power in America. And it is indoctrination. If it was the other way around, the ACLU would be out there making sure there wasn't one penny of government dollars going to colleges and universities, right?"

H/T Meteor Blades at Daily Kos.

Day 6 - First quarter fundraising drive

2012-01-28T09:52:00.002-05:00

It's sorta like NPR, only different

Hi, folks. I'm winding down my first fundraising drive here at Eclectablog. The response has been excellent and very gratifying.

The new media landscape these days makes it very difficult to earn a living doing what I do. Journalists are not being hired and most online content is free. There are really no existing models for monetizing a blog unless you are a HUGE blog and can generate significant ad revenue. I'm working on that but, well, it takes time.

So, if you value what you read here, if you think what I'm doing is worthy of your support, please consider dropping a small (or large!) donation in the Eclectablog Tip Jar™. Even small donations are appreciated.

Think about it: where else would you get the comprehensive coverage of President Obama's visit to Ann Arbor like you got here yesterday? Photos, video, quotes, photos, links to relevant news stories, a full transcript, more photos. It takes an enormous amount of effort to put this all together.

What is that worth to you? You can let me know here:

I'm also looking for advertisers for February and beyond. Ads start at $65. If you are thinking of making a donation in that range or can pool your donation with others, YOU can be an advertiser on Eclectablog. It's a new model I'm trying out and I think it can work.

In addition, if you are involved with a progressive organization that is looking for a way to put your message in front of progressive readers, particularly those in the Midwest, advertising on Eclectablog is a very affordable way to be seen and a great way to spend some of your media/marketing dollars.

Contact me at the contact link below my logo for details.

One more thing: if you can't afford to make a donation, please consider sharing the good word about Eclectablog. Tell your friends about it. Follow me on Twitter and suggest it to your friends. Like my Eclectablog Facebook page and share it with your friends. The more traffic I get, the more successful we will be in spreading the word.

Thanks so much to everyone who has contributed so far and for your continued support of this website.

- Chris

Today's Moment of Derp - "I don't know how you regulate common, everyday things such as driving while impaired"

2012-01-27T20:35:00.000-05:00

Ummm...what?

Former Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox on legalizing marijuana:

Former Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox admitted Friday he smoked pot when he was in high school during the 1970s. But during a symposium on the impact of marijuana reform, Cox stressed there are practical problems in legalizing marijuana, and that's why he wouldn't support changes some activists in Michigan are seeking.

"I am not for it mostly because I don't know how you regulate common, everyday things such as driving while impaired," said Cox, a Republican. "If it becomes legal, I don't think I'll ever use it again. That being said, philosophically I am not against it. They haven't come up with a good way to regulate in the workplace or driving to measure it and deal with it."

Imagine if there were liquids you could drink, liquids you could go down to the grocery store to buy and then drink, that could impair you in some way. Impair your judgement and your coordination. Imagine trying to regulate liquids like that. How the heck would you even do that???

This has been your Friday evening Moment of Derp™. You're welcome

Highland Park schools get their Emergency Manager after all

2012-01-27T15:36:00.000-05:00

Not like we didn't see it coming or anything...

As predicted, Highland Park schools have been assigned an Emergency Manager

LANSING – Gov. Rick Snyder on Friday confirmed an emergency manager in Highland Park Schools and appointed certified public accountant Jack Martin to take over the troubled district.

Martin’s appointment is effective Monday. The move was not unexpected after a review team recently recommended appointment of an emergency manager, citing the growth in the school district’s deficit to $11.3 million, among other factors.

Martin, founder and chairman of Martin, Arrington, Desai & Meyers PC, is the former chief financial officer for the U.S. Department of Education.

I'm too tired of reporting this stuff to have anything to say at this point.

Le sigh...

President Obama's spokesman calls out Republicans directly on their obstructionism

2012-01-27T13:41:00.001-05:00

Today, on their way from Michigan to Andrews Air Force Base, Press Secretary Jay Carney held a press gaggle. In it, he specifically laid the blame for obstructionism at the feet of Republicans; House Republicans in particular.

Question: Some Democrats sometimes get upset when he refers to the obstructionist Congress, and they feel that he’s lumping them in with Republicans, and I’m wondering if he’s going to make a distinction --

MR. CARNEY: I certainly don’t think you’ve heard that kind of concern expressed by Democrats in any -- in recent memory. I think we’ve made pretty clear, because the facts are incontestable, that the unfortunate obstructionism the country has encountered in passing common-sense, mainstream measures to get the economy going, in passing a balanced approach to deficit reduction and long-term control of our debt, have been Republicans exclusively.

So let me be clear: The obstacles that we face, the obstructionism we face in Congress have been thrown up by Republicans, unfortunately, and House Republicans in particular. I mean, we saw at the very end of December with the back-and-forth over extending the payroll tax cut for two months. What happened then has been the case on too many occasions, where a section of the House Republican caucus has been causing a lot of problems when it comes to getting common-sense, mainstream measures passed that could help the economy and boost job creation.

Can I just say that I love this new calling of bullshit on Republicans directly and without equivocation? That right there, kids, is how you win elections.

LIVEBLOG: President Obama in Ann Arbor - January 27, 2012

2012-01-27T07:47:00.048-05:00

Being a battleground state has its privileges

If the internet gods shine their benevolent faces on us today, I'll be posting live updates from President Obama's speech in Ann Arbor, Michigan this morning. During his last Michigan stop at the University of Michigan spring commencement, there were so many people uploading to their Facebook pages that I was unable to get my email, much less liveblog. Today's event should be a bit less congested but there are no guarantees.

As I said in my fundraiser post earlier, Anne and I are trying out some new technology today that will allow her to post her high quality photos just a minute or two after she takes them. Again, not my crappy iPhone photos, but her high quality, professional photos moments after that are captured. I'll be posting some here and will give you a link to her others. You'll be seeing them here before any other media outlet if the internet cooperates.

Apparently, Governor Rick Snyder won't be here today because he "couldn't make it work". I guess that beats him showing up and poking his finger at the President like the odious Jan Brewer in Arizona.

In his speech today, President Obama will be "expanding on his State of the Union proposals to keep college affordable and within reach for all Americans" according to the White House media office. I will post a transcript when it becomes available.

The New York Times has some details about President Obama's plan to overhaul college financial aid in this country to make college more affordable and available to all students:

President Obama is proposing a financial aid overhaul that for the first time would tie colleges’ eligibility for campus-based aid programs — Perkins loans, work-study jobs and supplemental grants for low-income students — to the institutions’ success in improving affordability and value for students, administration officials said.

Under the plan, which the president is expected to outline on Friday morning in a speech at the University of Michigan, the amount available for Perkins loans would grow to $8 billion, from the current $1 billion. The president also wants to create a $1 billion grant competition, along the lines of the Race for the Top program for elementary and secondary education, to reward states that take action to keep college costs down, and a separate $55 million competition for individual colleges to increase their value and efficiency.

The administration also wants to give families clearer information about costs and quality, by requiring colleges and universities to offer a “shopping sheet” that makes it easier to compare financial aid packages and — for the first time — compiling post-graduate earning and employment information to give students a better sense of what awaits them.

You will be able to listen to the speech live on Michigan Radio stations around the state or at their website.

Oh, by the way, President Obama is outpolling both Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney in Michigan. Big time.

President Barack Obama heads to an event in Ann Arbor today holding a clear lead in the state over the two Republicans with the best chance to block his re-election in November.

Two months ago, Obama trailed Michigan-born former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in the Free Press/WXYZ-TV poll, 46%-41%. Now, the Democratic president leads Romney in the state, 48%-40% in a poll of 600 voters taken Saturday through Wednesday. [...]

Obama holds an even larger margin in a head-to-head with Gingrich in Michigan, 51%-38%.

7:45 - En route. AnnArbor.com reporting thousands already in line and slowly being allowed into the Glick Fieldhouse. Thank goodness for media parking.

Massive back-ups on north and south-bound US-23 being reported on the radio.

8:25 - Inside the Fieldhouse. Just saw Jenny Balay and Muriel Kaier, OFA Team Leaders from An Arbor and Brighton. They will meet the president today. Also in the crowd: Senator Carl Levin, State Rep. Rebekah Warren and her husband, Washtenaw County Commission Chair Conan Smith.

Here is a bit of video from the line outside waiting to get in:

8:44 - As promised, here are a couple of Anne's photos from her live photoblog:

NOTE: All images by Anne C. Savage (w/watermark) or Chris Savage (no watermark.) Please do NOT use without permission.

Senator Carl Levin:

Inside:

Many more photos, video + complete transcript of the President's remarks after the jump.

Here is what the ticket to get in looks like:

The Pledge of Allegiance has been said and the National Anthem has been sung. Now the student body president is welcoming guests to the campus.

The student body president: "I stand here as a graduate of the Detroit Public School System".

US Congressman Hansen Clark with Detroit media host Reginald Lane:

US Senator Debbie Stabenow:

The President of the United States:

"If there is anyone who can show the country how to bring manufacturing back to America, it's Michigan...When manufacturing does well, the entire economy does well."

"For the first time, college debt is higher than credit card debt."

What we’re doing is, today we’re going to launch a Race to the Top for college affordability. We’re telling the states, if you can find new ways to bring down the cost of college and make it easier for more students to graduate, we’ll help you do it. We will give you additional federal support if you are doing a good job of making sure that all of you aren’t loaded up with debt when you graduate from college.

"Last year, 40 states cut their investments in higher education."

"Tell Congress to pass the middle class tax cut without drama and without delay."

"We've got a different idea of America, a more generous America."

Wait, Congressman David Rutledge is a liveblogger, too?! LOL

That's it kids, we have a lid. Time for a beer.

Like what you see at Eclectablog? You can thank me by tossing a few coins into my tip jar. More info HERE.

Transcript of President Obama's remarks:

Hello, Michigan! (Applause.) Oh, it is good to be back in Ann Arbor. (Applause.)

Thank you, Christina, for that introduction. I also want to thank your president, Mary Sue Coleman. (Applause.) The mayor of Ann Arbor, John Hieftje, is here. (Applause.) My outstanding Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, is in the house. (Applause.) We have some outstanding members of Congress who are here as well, who are representing you each and every day. Give them a round of applause -- come on. (Applause.)

AUDIENCE MEMBER: I love you, President Obama!

THE PRESIDENT: I love you back. (Applause.)

So in terms of -- boy, we've got all kinds of members of Congress here, so -- (laughter.)

Where's Denard? (Applause.) Denard Robinson is in the house. (Applause.) I hear you're coming back, man. (Applause.) That is a good deal for Michigan. (Applause.)

AUDIENCE MEMBER: Denard Robinson in 2012! (Laughter.)

THE PRESIDENT: Oh, oh, come on. They're trying to draft you for President. (Laughter.) He's got to graduate before he runs for President. (Laughter.) There's an age limit. (Laughter.)

Well, it is wonderful to be here. I want to thank all of you for coming out this morning. I know for folks in college, this is still really early. I remember those days. It is good home -- good to be in the home of the Sugar Bowl champion Wolverines. (Applause.) And with Denard Robinson coming back, this will be a team to be reckoned with. I understand your basketball team is pretty good this year, too. (Applause.) All right -- go, Blue! (Applause.) It's always good to start with a easy applause line. (Laughter.)

But the reason I'm here today -- in addition to meeting Denard Robinson -- (laughter) -- is to talk with all of you about what most of you do here every day -- and that is to think about how you can gain the skills and the training you need to succeed in this 21st century economy. And this is going to be one of the most important issues that not just you face, but this entire country faces: How can we make sure that everybody is getting the kind of education they need to personally succeed but also to build up this nation -- because in this economy, there is no greater predictor of individual success than a good education.

Today, the unemployment rate for Americans with a college degree or more is about half the national average. Their incomes are twice as high as those who don’t have a high school diploma. College is the single most important investment you can make in your future. And I'm proud that all of you are making that investment. (Applause.)

And the degree you earn from Michigan will be the best tool you have to achieve that basic American promise -- the idea that if you work hard, if you are applying yourself, if you are doing the right thing, you can do well enough to raise a family and own a home and send your own kids to college, put away a little for retirement, create products or services -- be part of something that is adding value to this country and maybe changing the world. That's what you're striving for. That's what the American Dream is all about.

And how we keep that promise alive is the defining issue of our time. I don’t want to be in a country where we only are looking at success for a small group of people. We want a country where everybody has a chance. (Applause.) Where everybody has a chance. We don't want to become a country where a shrinking number of Americans do really well while a growing number barely get by. That’s not the future we want. Not the future I want for you, it's not the future I want for my daughters. I want this to be a big, bold, generous country where everybody gets a fair shot, everybody is doing their fair share, everybody is playing by the same set of rules. That’s the America I know. That’s the American I want to keep. That's the future within our reach. (Applause.)

Now, in the State of the Union on Tuesday, I laid out a blueprint that gets us there. Blueprint -- it's blue. (Laughter and applause.) That's no coincidence. I planned it that way, Michigan. (Laughter.) A blueprint for an economy that’s built to last.

It’s an economy built on new American manufacturing -- because Michigan is all about making stuff. (Applause.) If there's anybody in America who can teach us how to bring back manufacturing, it is the great state of Michigan. (Applause.)

On the day I took office, with the help of folks like Debbie Stabenow, your senator, and Carl Levin and -- (applause) -- John Conyers -- the American auto industry was on the verge of collapse. And some politicians were willing to let it just die. We said no. We believe in the workers of this state. (Applause.) I believe in American ingenuity. We placed our bets on the American auto industry, and today, the American auto industry is back. Jobs are coming back -- (applause) -- 160,000 jobs.

And to bring back even more jobs, I want this Congress to stop rewarding companies that are shipping jobs and profits overseas, start rewarding companies who are hiring here and investing here and creating good jobs here in Michigan and here in the United States of America. (Applause.)

So our first step is rebuilding American manufacturing. And by the way, not all the jobs that have gone overseas are going to come back. We have to be realistic. And technology means that a larger and larger portion of you will work in the service sector as engineers and computer scientists. (Applause.) There you go. We got the engineering school -- there you go. (Applause.) And entrepreneurs. So there’s going to be a lot of activity in the service sector. But part of my argument, part of the argument of Michigan’s congressional delegation is that when manufacturing does well, then the entire economy does well.

The service sector does well if manufacturing is doing well, so we’ve got to make sure that America isn’t just buying stuff, but we’re also selling stuff -- all around the world, products stamped with those three proud words: Made In America. (Applause.)

An economy built to last is also one where we control our energy needs. We don't let foreign countries control our energy supplies. Right now, America is producing more of our own oil than we were eight years ago. That's good news. (Applause.) As a percentage, we’re actually importing less than any time in the last 16 years.

But -- I think young people especially understand this -- no matter how much oil we produce, we’ve only got 2 percent of the world’s oil reserves. And that means we’ve got to focus on clean, renewable energy. (Applause.) We’ve got to have a strategy that, yes, is producing our own oil and natural gas. But we’ve also got to develop wind and solar and biofuels. (Applause.)

And that is good for our economy. It creates jobs. But it’s also good for our environment. (Applause.) It also makes sure that this planet is sustainable. That’s part of the future that you deserve.

We've subsidized oil companies for a century. That’s long enough. Congress needs to stop giving taxpayer dollars to an oil industry that’s never been more profitable, and double down on a clean energy future that’s never been more promising. (Applause.)

I don’t want to cede the wind or the solar or the battery industry to China or Germany because we were too timid, we didn’t have the imagination to make the same commitment here. And I want those jobs created here in the United States of America. And I also want us to think about energy efficiency, making sure -- we’ve already doubled fuel efficiency standards on cars. Part of Detroit coming back is creating more fuel-efficient cars here in Michigan -- (applause) -- and more fuel-efficient trucks. And we’ve got to revamp our buildings to make them more fuel-efficient.

And we -- if we are focused on this, we can control our energy future. That’s part of creating an America that’s built to last.

And we’ve got to have an economy in which every American has access to a world-class higher education, the kind you are getting right here at the University of Michigan. (Applause.)

My grandfather got the chance to go to college because this country decided that every returning veteran of World War II should be able to afford it. My mother was able to raise two kids by herself because she was able to get grants and work her way through school. I am only standing here today because scholarships and student loans gave me a shot at a decent education. Michelle and I can still remember how long it took us to pay back our student loans. (Laughter.)

AUDIENCE MEMBER: Tell the First Lady we wish her happy birthday!

     THE PRESIDENT: I will tell Michelle you said happy birthday. (Applause.)

     But I just want all of you to understand, your President and your First Lady were in your shoes not that long ago. (Laughter.) We didn’t come from wealthy families. The only reason that we were able to achieve what we were able to achieve was because we got a great education. That’s the only reason. (Applause.) And we could not have done that unless we lived in a country that made a commitment to opening up opportunity to all people. (Applause.)

     The point is, this country has always made a commitment to put a good education within the reach of all who are willing to work for it, and that’s part of what helped to create this economic miracle and build the largest middle class in history.
And this precedes even college. I mean, we were -- we helped to begin the movement in industrialized countries to create public schools, public high schools, understanding that as people are moving from an agricultural sector to an industrial sector, they were going to need training.

Now we've moved to an information age, a digitalized age, a global economy. We've got to make that same commitment today. (Applause.)

Now, we still have, by far, the best network of colleges and universities in the world. Nobody else comes close. Nobody else comes close. (Applause.) But the challenge is it's getting tougher and tougher to afford it. Since most of you were born, tuition and fees have more than doubled. That forces students like you to take out more loans and rack up more debt.

In 2010, graduates who took out loans left college owing an average of $24,000. That's an average. Are you waving because you owe $24,000 or -- (laughter.)

Student loan debt has now surpassed credit card debt for the first time ever. Think about that. That’s inexcusable. In the coming decade, 60 percent of new jobs will require more than a high school diploma. Higher education is not a luxury. It's an economic imperative that every family in America should be able to afford. And when I say higher education, I don't just mean four-year colleges and universities; I also mean our community colleges and providing lifelong learning for workers who may need to retrain for jobs when the economy shifts. All those things cost money, and it's harder and harder to afford. (Applause.)

So we've got to do something to help families be able to afford -- and students to be able to afford -- this higher education. We've all got a responsibility here.

Thanks to the hard work of Secretary Duncan, my administration is increasing federal student aid so more students can afford college. (Applause.) And one of the things I'm proudest of, with the help of all these members of Congress, we won a tough fight to stop handing out tens of billions of dollars in taxpayer subsidies to banks that issue student loans and shift that money to where it should go, directly to the students and to the families who need it. (Applause.)

Tens of billions of dollars that were going to subsidies for banks are now going to students in the form of more grants and lower rates on loans. We’ve capped student loan payments so that nearly 1.6 million students -- including a bunch of you -- are only going to have to pay 10 percent of your monthly income towards your loans once you graduate -- 10 percent of your monthly income. (Applause.)

So that’s what we’ve been doing. Now Congress has to do more. Congress needs to do more. They need to stop the interest rates on student loans from doubling this July. That's what’s scheduled to happen if Congress doesn't act. That would not be good for you. (Laughter.) So you should let your members of Congress know: Don't do that. Don't do it. Don't do it.

They need to extend the tuition tax credit that we’ve put in place that’s saving some of you and millions of folks all across the country thousands of dollars. And Congress needs to give more young people the chance to earn their way through college by doubling the number of work-study jobs in the next five years. (Applause.)

So the administration has a job to do. Congress has a job to do. But it’s not just enough to increase student aid, and you can imagine why. Look, we can’t just keep on subsidizing skyrocketing tuition. If tuition is going up faster than inflation, faster than even health care is going up, no matter how much we subsidize it, sooner or later, we’re going to run out of money. And that means that others have to do their part. Colleges and universities need to do their part to keep costs down as well. (Applause.)

Recently, I spoke with a group of college presidents who’ve done just that. Here at Michigan, you’ve done a lot to find savings in your budget. We know this is possible. So from now on, I’m telling Congress we should steer federal campus-based aid to those colleges that keep tuition affordable, provide good value, serve their students well. (Applause.) We are putting colleges on notice -- you can’t keep -- you can't assume that you’ll just jack up tuition every single year. If you can’t stop tuition from going up, then the funding you get from taxpayers each year will go down. We should push colleges to do better. We should hold them accountable if they don’t. (Applause.)

Now, states also have to do their part. I was talking to your president -- and this is true all across the country -- states have to do their part by making higher education a higher priority in their budgets. (Applause.) Last year, over 40 states cut their higher education spending -- 40 states cut their higher education budget. And we know that these state budget cuts have been the largest factor in tuition increases at public colleges over the past decade.

So we’re challenging states: Take responsibility as well on this issue. (Applause.) What we’re doing is, today we’re going to launch a Race to the Top for college affordability. We’re telling the states, if you can find new ways to bring down the cost of college and make it easier for more students to graduate, we’ll help you do it. We will give you additional federal support if you are doing a good job of making sure that all of you aren’t loaded up with debt when you graduate from college. (Applause.)
And, finally, today I’m also calling for a new report card for colleges. Parents like getting report cards. I know you guys may not always look forward to it. (Laughter.) But we parents, we like to know what you’re doing. From now on, parents and students deserve to know how a college is doing -- how affordable is it, how well are its students doing? We want you to know how well a car stacks up before you buy it. You should know how well a college stacks up.

     We call this -- one of the things that we’re doing at the Consumer Finance Protection Board that I just set up with Richard Cordray -- (applause) -- is to make sure that young people understand the financing of colleges. He calls it, “Know Before You Owe.” (Laughter.) Know before you owe. So we want to push more information out so consumers can make good choices, so you as consumers of higher education understand what it is that you’re getting.

     The bottom line is that an economy built to last demands we keep doing everything we can to bring down the cost of college. That goes along with strengthening American manufacturing. It means we keep on investing in American energy. It means we double down on the clean energy that’s creating jobs across this state and guaranteeing your generation a better future. (Applause.)

     And you know what else it means? It means that we renew the American values of fair play and shared responsibility. (Applause.) Shared responsibility.

I talked about this at the State of the Union. We’ve got to make sure that as we’re paying for the investments of the future that everybody is doing their part, that we’re looking out for middle-class families and not just those at the top. The first thing that means is making sure taxes don’t go up on 160 million working Americans at the end of next month. (Applause.) People can’t afford to lose $40 out of every paycheck. Not right now. Students who are working certainly can’t afford it.

Your voices encouraged and ultimately convinced Congress to extend the payroll tax cut for two months. Now we’ve got to extend it for the whole year. I need your help to get it done again. Tell them to pass this tax cut, without drama, without delay. (Applause.) Get it done. It’s good for the economy. (Applause.)

     AUDIENCE MEMBER: Four more years!

     THE PRESIDENT: Okay. (Laughter and applause.)

Now, in the longer run, we’re also going to have to reduce our deficit. We’ve got to invest in our future and we’ve got to reduce our deficit. And to do both, we’ve got to make some choices. Let me give you some examples.

Right now, we’re scheduled to spend nearly $1 trillion more on what was intended to be a temporary tax cut for the wealthiest 2 percent of Americans.

AUDIENCE MEMBER: That's not fair.

THE PRESIDENT: That's not fair. A quarter of all millionaires pay lower tax rates than millions of middle-class households.

AUDIENCE: Booo --

THE PRESIDENT: Not fair. Warren Buffett pays a lower tax rate than his secretary. I know because she was at the State of the Union. She told me. (Laughter.) Is that fair?

AUDIENCE: No!

THE PRESIDENT: Does it make sense to you?

AUDIENCE: No!

THE PRESIDENT: Do we want to keep these tax cuts for folks like me who don’t need them? Or do we want to invest in the things that will help us in the long term -- like student loans and grants -- (applause) -- and a strong military -- (applause) -- and care for our veterans -- (applause) -- and basic research? (Applause.)

Those are the choices we've got to make. We can't do everything. We can't reduce our deficit and make the investments we need at the same time, and keep tax breaks for folks who don't need them and weren't even asking for them -- well, some of them were asking for them. I wasn't asking for them. (Laughter.) We've got to choose.

When it comes to paying our fair share, I believe we should follow the Buffett Rule: If you make more than $1 million a year -- and I hope a lot of you do after you graduate -- (laughter) -- then you should pay a tax rate of at least 30 percent. (Applause.) On the other hand, if you decide to go into a less lucrative profession, if you decide to become a teacher -- and we need teachers -- (applause) -- if you decide to go into public service, if you decide to go into a helping profession -- (applause) -- if you make less than $250,000 a year -- which 98 percent of Americans do -- then your taxes shouldn’t go up. (Applause.)

This is part of the idea of shared responsibility. I know a lot of folks have been running around calling this class warfare. I think asking a billionaire to pay at least as much as his secretary in taxes is just common sense. (Applause.) Yesterday, Bill Gates said he doesn't think people like him are paying enough in taxes. I promise you, Warren Buffett is doing fine, Bill Gates is doing fine, I’m doing fine.

AUDIENCE MEMBER: Koch Brothers.

THE PRESIDENT: They're definitely doing fine. (Laughter.)

We don't need more tax breaks. There are a lot of families out there who are struggling, who’ve seen their wages stall, and the cost of everything from a college education to groceries and food have gone up. You’re the ones who need that. You’re the ones who need help. And we can't do both.

There have been some who have been saying, well, the only reason you’re saying that is because you're trying to stir people up, make them envious of the rich. People don't envy the rich. When people talk about me paying my fair share of taxes, or Bill Gates or Warren Buffett paying their fair share, the reason that they're talking about it is because they understand that when I get a tax break that I don't need, that the country can't afford, then one of two things are going to happen: Either the deficit will go up and ultimately you guys are going to have to pay for it, or alternatively, somebody else is going to foot the bill -- some senior who suddenly has to pay more for their Medicare, or some veteran who's not getting the help that they need readjusting after they have defended this country, or some student who’s suddenly having to pay higher interest rates on their student loans.

We do not begrudge wealth in this country. I want everybody here to do well. We aspire to financial success. But we also understand that we’re not successful just by ourselves. We’re successful because somebody started the University of Michigan. (Applause.) We’re successful because somebody made an investment in all the federal research labs that created the Internet. We’re successful because we have an outstanding military -- that costs money. We’re successful because somebody built roads and bridges and laid broadband lines. And these things didn’t just happen on their own.

     And if we all understand that we’ve got to pay for this stuff, it makes sense for those of us who've done best to do our fair share. And to try to pass off that bill onto somebody else, that’s not right. That’s not who we are. (Applause.) That’s not what my grandparents' generation worked hard to pass down. That’s not what your grandparents and your great-grandparents worked hard to pass down. We’ve got a different idea of America, a more generous America. (Applause.)

     Everybody here is only here because somebody somewhere down the road decided we’re going to think not just about ourselves, but about the future. We’ve got responsibilities, yes, to ourselves but also to each other. And now it’s our turn to be responsible. Now it’s our turn to leave an America that’s built to last. And I know we can do it. We’ve done it before and I know we can do it again because of you.

When I meet young people all across this country, with energy and drive and vision, despite the fact that you’ve come of age during a difficult, tumultuous time in this world, it gives me hope. You inspire me. You’re here at Michigan because you believe in your future. You’re working hard. You’re putting in long hours -- hopefully some at the library. (Laughter.) Some of you are balancing a job at the same time. You know that doing big things isn’t always easy, but you’re not giving up.

     You’ve got the whole world before you. And you embody that sense of possibility that is quintessentially American. We do not shrink from challenges. We stand up to them. And we don’t leave people behind; we make sure everybody comes along with us on this journey that we’re on. (Applause.)

     That’s the spirit right now that we need, Michigan. (Applause.) Here in America, we don’t give up. We look out for each other. We make sure everybody has a chance to get ahead. And if we work in common purpose, with common resolve, we can build an economy that gives everybody a fair shot. And we will remind the world just why it is that the United States of America is the greatest nation on Earth. (Applause.)

     Thank you, everybody. God bless you. God bless the United States of America. Thank you. (Applause.)

Day 5 - First quarter fundraising drive

2012-01-27T06:21:00.000-05:00

Why should you donate? Let me count the ways reasons.

It's a big day today. My wife and I are up early, getting ready to head over to cover President Obama's speech in Ann Arbor.

We'll be trying out some new technology today that will allow us to have Anne's high-quality photos online within minutes of her capturing the image. I'm not talking about quick uploads of iPhone photos. I'm talking about the high-quality photos my readers have come to expect. If everything goes well on the inaugural run today, you'll be seeing photos of President Obama online before any other news outlet. Period.

And that is today's Reason To Drop a Few Bucks in Eclectablog's Tip Jar™:

I'm also looking for advertisers for February and beyond. Ads start at $65. If you are thinking of making a donation in that range or can pool your donation with others, YOU can be an advertiser on Eclectablog. It's a new model I'm trying out and I think it can work.

Also, if you are involved with a progressive organization that is looking for a way to put your message in front of progressive readers, particularly those in the Midwest, advertising on Eclectablog is a very affordable way to be seen.

Contact me at the contact link below my logo for details.

Thanks so much to everyone who has contributed so far and for your continued support of this website.

- Chris

Detroit News wants a piece of the Emergency Manager action, I guess

2012-01-26T18:29:00.002-05:00

Now tell me something I didn't know

The Detroit News ran a rather absurd article today titled "Michigan EM statute is strictest in nation".

No, dudes, the Michigan Emergency Manager statute is the ONLY ONE in the nation. Really, get your facts straight.

The article is nothing more than a fluffy regurgitation of a handful of things I've been writing about here for months.

One of main the segments talks about Indiana's legislation wending its way through their legislature. I wrote about that five days ago.

I honestly have no idea what the point of this article was. It presents no new information and has a title that is totally absurd.

Today's media can be so disappointing sometimes...

Michigan is 175 years old today! Why we fight for this beautiful state.

2012-01-26T12:42:00.002-05:00

Happy Birfday!

Today is Michigan's 175th birthday. As a proud, lifelong Michigander, I am so happy to wish my beautiful state a glorious happy birthday. It's because this state is so beautiful, has so much spirit and is full of so many amazing people that I and so many others will never give up the fight against the powers that would harm our precious home.

My wife has a most-excellent photoblog up with some of her amazing photos of our state.

Click photo for more amazing images of Michigan

From her blog post:

My husband, Chris, and I met in an unconventional way and at the time we lived 500 miles apart. I was in St. Louis, Missouri and he was in Michigan. While we were dating we would travel back and forth to each other's state. We were pretty lucky then; a roundtrip ticket from St. Louis to Michigan was only $80! When I came to Michigan for my visits, Chris would take me to places that really highlighted how beautiful Michigan is. I've always said that he wooed me with Michigan. Eventually he proposed to me on the shores of Lake Michigan and were married on those same shores a year later.

We live in a small village outside of Ann Arbor, Michigan. It is said that you have to live in this town for more than 30 years to even be considered a true resident. I really hope that's not the same for the state of Michigan. I've lived here for only 9 years but I consider it my home and always will.

I have a zillion photos of Michigan, so in honor of it's 175th anniversary of statehood I wanted to share a few with you. I had to narrow it down so I chose a few landscape images taken mostly in the last year and a half. Enjoy.

Click through. You won't be disappointed.

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Thousands in line by 8 a.m. in January for tickets to see Obama in Ann Arbor

2012-01-26T10:28:00.007-05:00

Barackstar Obama

It's January in Michigan which means brrrrrr! That didn't stop thousands of people from being in line by 8 a.m. this morning, hoping to score one of the 3,000 tickets that were being given out starting at 9 a.m. What rock concert was it? Not a rock concert but truly a rock star: tomorrow morning President Obama will speak at the University of Michigan.

You can see some photos of folks in line at AnnArbor.com.

My friend Bob M. emailed me a few times about it:

8:06 a.m. - Any chance you can influence the Obama folks to change the venue. There are probably 10k students freezing in line for the 3k available tickets that are going to be mighty mad if they don't get to see him. Many spent all night in the cold and are 1st time voters.

8:13 a.m. - Line now wraps down Fletcher around Madison to State and past the Union.

10:04 a.m. - OK, just got a ticket that allows me to go inside to get a ticket for the event. See you there!

You need a ticket to get a ticket! Think the president isn't still wildly popular? Think again.

My wife Anne C. Savage and I have media passes so we will be covering the event and will have a full report with photos tomorrow afternoon. If the bandwidth isn't completely trashed like it was when he spoke at the University of Michigan commencement ceremony last year, I may try to do some liveblogging as well.

One of the things Anne will be doing is taking photos of people in the crowd for a second photomosaic of President Obama. (You can see the first one HERE.) So, if you are in the crowd, smile big because you might just become a freckle on the president's face!

UPDATE: Not unsurprisingly, all 3,000 tickets are now gone.

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Day 4 - First quarter fundraising drive

2012-01-26T06:58:00.000-05:00

Now you're making me blush

First, a big thanks to everyone who has made a donation this week. The support is so very much appreciated.

In addition to the financial donations I have been getting, I have received so truly touching emails and comments. I got one yesterday that I would like to share with you.

I've been reading your blog for about a year now. You totally rock!! I would love to donate but my credit card is maxed-out (surprise! surprise!) and my husband doesn't feel safe making such transactions on the internet. I really don't either. Anyway, I would really like to help you out and send SOMETHING. I guarantee it won't be much--No 5 million dollar check like Gringrich got--but I'd like to chip in a few bucks. Please send the address and I'll send a check via the wonderful "snail mail." I do whatever I can to support the US post office.
Please oh please keep doing the wonderful work you are doing. I live over on the west side of the state in a little podunk town where most people are more concerned with "American Idol" or other ridiculous reality shows than what is going on in their own state. Their own lives! Their own futures! The media doesn't adequately cover what's going on so I really look to you. I'm glad I heard about your blog on TRMS [The Rachel Maddow Show] and "The Ed Show." Thanks ever so much!

That's the kind of thing that keeps me writing.

If you'd like to support what I do here, if you find it valuable to get information you can get nowhere else (like my story this morning on water contamination issues in Pontiac under a privatized company), you can do so by dropping a few dollars in my tip jar:

Another option is to run an ad on Eclectablog. If you are part of a progressive group or a business looking for exposure to a progressive audience, ads start at $65 only per month. The Dan del Zoppo ad was a gift from Dan's son. Maybe you and some of your friends want to pool your donations and take out a banner ad for your favorite group or organization. It doesn't have to be an ad, either. Put up a favorite quote or saying. Use your imagination.

If you are interested in running an ad, use the email link under my logo to request more information about advertising on Eclectablog.

Once again, thank you so much to all of you for your continued support.

EXCLUSIVE: The cost of privatization - Pontiac has water contamination issues under United Water

2012-01-26T06:49:00.006-05:00

This past year, the Emergency Manager of Pontiac at the time, Michael Stampfler signed a five-year contract with United Water to run their water and wastewater treatment systems. The move was said to save Pontiac an astonishing $2.8 million per year.

I broke a story that made national news about the fact that, by hiring United Water, Stampfler had hired a company facing a multiple felony counts by the U.S. Justice Department for violations of the federal Clean Water Act.

United Water Services Inc., the former contract operator of the Gary Sanitary District wastewater treatment works in Gary, Ind., and two of its employees, were charged today with conspiracy and felony violations of the Clean Water Act in a 26-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury, the Justice Department announced today.

United Water Services Inc., and employees Dwain L. Bowie, and Gregory A. Ciaccio, have been charged with manipulating daily wastewater sampling methods by turning up disinfectant treatment levels shortly before sampling, then turning them down shortly after sampling.

~SNIP~

According to the indictment, the defendants conspired to tamper with E. coli monitoring methods by turning up levels of disinfectant dosing prior to E. coli sampling. The indictment states that the defendants would avoid taking E. coli samples until disinfectants had reached elevated levels, which in turn were expected to lead to reduced E. coli levels. Immediately after sampling, the indictment alleges, the defendants turned down disinfectant levels, thus reducing the amount of treatment chemicals they used.

~SNIP~

The case was investigated by the Northern District of Indiana Environmental Crimes Task Force, including agents from the Criminal Investigation Division of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the FBI and the Indiana State Police. The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Indiana and the Justice Department’s Environmental Crimes Section.

In November 2011, current Emergency Manager Lou Schimmel fired some key Public Works employees and United Water took over operations completely.

Well, it turns out that there is trouble in paradise. In their effort to cut costs to the bone at the expense of public employees, residents last week have been reporting issues with the quality of their water. Daily Kos commenter "ChemBob" dropped this comment on one of my posts at the site:

United Water has taken over operation of our water and wastewater treatment here in Pontiac. Happened in July. We have an emergency manager, naturally.

Never had a problem here before (been in house about 1.3 years now), but during the past week or slightly more, we and the neighbors have had rusty brown tap water three separate days. We've all called United, multiple times. We saw a truck at the fire hydrant once, but the rusty water was back two days later. We ask for a call back to let us know what they are doing, but they never return our calls.

This is the beauty of privatization: they really aren't responsible to the people, their customers, anymore, and I doubt the emergency manager could care any less.

I inquired further and what ChemBob shared with me as well as United Water's rather shocking response is after the jump.

[W]e never had a problem before (granted we've only lived in Pontiac for about 1.3 years).

The first indication of a problem, on Jan 17 I believe, was a tub full of bath water that, apparently, came out clear and then turned brown while [my wife] was bathing. This sounds to me like ferrous iron oxidizing to ferric iron when exposed to the oxygen in the atmosphere and precipitating. My first thought (paranoia) was that there might be an expensive repair needed in the line to our house. Michele called our next-door neighbor and spoke with her. She ran her tub full of water and the same thing happened. The neighbor then called United Water, who apparently sent a truck out to purge the fire hydrant on the corner. Why this would help, I don't know.

The water seemed fine until the 19th, at which time it did the same thing only with a lighter rust color. I called United Water, had several calls ahead of me, left a message notifying them of the problem and asking them to call back and let me know what they would do to correct it. Naturally they never called back. We again called the neighbor, who again had the same problem. Turns out that the day before (I think it was the day before) she had spoken with our neighbor across the street who had apparently noticed the water problem some time before us and had been boiling her drinking water; I don't know if the second neighbor had notified United, but it seems likely that she did. The first neighbor also called United Water on the 19th, possibly also on the 18th. As far as we can tell, they've done nothing to respond to our concerns, including no return phone calls. Michele's bath yesterday (I'm a shower guy, didn't notice) was apparently grey-colored water with black flecks in it.

I haven't been in touch with any others in the neighborhood to determine whether they have called United. We are in the [redacted] block of Cherokee Road in the historic Seminole Hills district of Pontiac. I mention this both because this is one of the nicest neighborhoods in Pontiac (probably with the highest property taxes, but I don't know that for certain) and because many of us have steam boilers and radiators for our heating. This sort of contamination in the incoming water is not just a health issue (although it can be a serious one), but can be very damaging to the boilers, causing sediment accumulation that can result in improper operation and potential failure of the systems.

As you probably already know, United has been cited for violations in other locations with regard to falsifying water treatment results, etc. It certainly seems to me that the emergency manager and City of Pontiac should have taken that into careful consideration before contracting United. They should at least have an independent person or company to monitor their performance.

Drinking water quality was one of the things we have always taken for granted in this country. Our towns and cities always had the health and well-being of their citizens as a priority. Apparently the only thing that matters for the emergency managers is the bottom line and the people can be damned.

I contacted United Water to ask them (a) what the source of the contamination is and (b) why residents' calls to them were not being returned. Here is the answer I received:

Thank you for passing this information along to us Chris. We polled our utility field and office staffs and cannot find any record of a report of this issue over the past several weeks. We certainly want to get to the bottom of this as soon as possible but do not know where to begin. If we can get any contact information from the party raising this issue, we will be happy to follow up and investigate the matter yet today. They can email us at UWPontiacWater@unitedwater.com or call at 248-335-6399. Again, thank you for bringing this to our attention.

In other words, United Water does not appear to maintain records when complaints about contamination of the drinking water of their residents are received. No call logs. No record. Nobody knows nuthin'. That's public service on a budget, clear and simple.

Pontiac seems to be in the bulls eye in terms of mismanagement by an Emergency Manager. Recently, U.S. Congressman Gary Peters stepped in to help save the city millions in federal grant funds that Schimmel essentially gave away.

When Stampfler privatized Pontiac's water & wastewater treatment to United Water, many questioned how on earth there could by $2.8 million per year in money to be saved. I suggested that hiring a company facing a serious 26-count federal indictment might be the reason.

It now appears that the cost-cutting move is beginning to have a serious and worrisome impact on the residents of Pontiac.

If you or anyone you know lives in Pontiac and are having issues with water quality, please contact me using the email link under my logo. This is a potential public safety and health issue and I will be following it closely.

UPDATE: This is an update from ChemBob at Daily Kos:

United Water told our neighbor when she called in that no one was doing any work on the water in the area. She was told that they would send someone out to flush out the fire hydrants. That is what we observed about an hour later or so. There was no work going on that we saw prior to that.

Some folks are saying that this is simply the flushing of hydrants, totally normal. If that's the case, why didn't United Water let the residents know as happens pretty much everywhere else? (I have personally gotten these notices.) Also, too, why did they tell ChemBob's neighbor that they weren't flushing hydrants in the area? It seems very clear to me that customer service is something they have cut to save money. So much for Governor Snyder's call for better "customer service" by the government for Michigan residents.

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Michigan Republican has solution to Michigan's financial crisis: cut the state income tax

2012-01-25T20:35:00.004-05:00

Out of touch and out to lunch

Republican state Senator Jack Brandenburg has an idea with what to do with the budget surplus created by taxing seniors' pensions, cutting funding to cities and stripping $1 billion from schools: lower Michigan's income tax.

I'm not kidding.

A proposal at the state Capitol would cut the Michigan income tax rate to 3.9 percent over the next five years. Right now the rate is 4.35 percent.

Republican state Senator Jack Brandenburg sponsored the measure. He said people in Michigan were promised the reduction during messy budget and tax deals made in 2007. Brandenburg said he told his Republican colleagues about his plan earlier this month.

He said an estimated $450 million budget surplus convinced him it’s a good time to propose the rollback.

He has potential support from the Senate Majority Leader:

Republican Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville cautiously supports the proposal, but he said he’s hesitant to spend money that could be added to the state’s rainy day savings fund.

So let's review: Michigan's schools are failing all over the state. In the Upper Peninsula. In the Lower Peninsula. In urban cities. In rural villages. In white communities. In black communities. Everywhere.

The impacts of the $1 billion that Republicans took from schools in their budget last year and gave to corporations haven't even hit yet. In 2012, the epidemic of failing schools will hit and it will hit HARD.

On top of that many of our older, manufacturing-based cities are going bankrupt. Their tax bases have been destroyed and they are dying. The impacts of the loss of revenue sharing that the Republicans included in their budget last year haven't even hit yet. In 2012, the epidemic of failing cities will hit and it will hit HARD.

If you are a retiree under the age of 60 with a pension, you will face the double whammy of a new tax on your pension plus the loss of part of the Homestead Property Tax Credit thanks to the Republican budget passed last year. The impacts of these tax hits have not even hit yet and, when they hit, they will hit HARD.

All around the state we have financial crises happening right before our eyes, on the pages of our newspapers and in our evening newscasts.

And the Republicans want to cut taxes.

And if they don't, they want to put the money into a the Rainy Day Fund.

How out of touch do you have to be to not realize we are in the middle of a statewide crisis right now?

How absolutely out of touch do you have to be to realize that right now, in our state, in Michigan, it is raining?

And it is raining HARD.

Some thoughts on President Obama's State of the Union Address

2012-01-25T12:28:00.004-05:00

I can haz inspiration?

The classic response we hear from Obama-haters after he gives any speech is, "Yeah, he gives a great speech but..." And, surely, last night was a great speech. It was more than a great speech, it was an inspirational speech. Never before has a national politician spoken so openly and plainly about the unfairness in our economic system. This speech went beyond populism; it asked us to engage our brains and look at things from a common sense standpoint.

Which, of course, why Obama-haters (a) didn't hear the same speech as the rest of us and (b) didn't understand the concepts President Obama was talking about.

In order for a concept to become firmly lodged in the national dialog, it needs to be repeated over and over again. The discussion about fairness in our economic system began in earnest with the Occupy movement. You couldn't listen to the State of the Union address last night without hearing resounding echoes of the Occupy message: that the system is rigged for the super-wealthy at the expense of the middle and lower classes. For that, we owe them a big debt of gratitude.

Now President Obama has taken up the charge and is repeating this message at every opportunity. In interviews. On the campaign trail. And last night during his State of the Union address.

When it comes to the deficit, we've already agreed to more than $2 trillion in cuts and savings. But we need to do more, and that means making choices. Right now, we're poised to spend nearly $1 trillion more on what was supposed to be a temporary tax break for the wealthiest 2 percent of Americans. Right now, because of loopholes and shelters in the tax code, a quarter of all millionaires pay lower tax rates than millions of middle-class households. Right now, Warren Buffett pays a lower tax rate than his secretary.

Do we want to keep these tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans? Or do we want to keep our investments in everything else - like education and medical research; a strong military and care for our veterans? Because if we're serious about paying down our debt, we can't do both.

The American people know what the right choice is. So do I. As I told the Speaker this summer, I'm prepared to make more reforms that rein in the long term costs of Medicare and Medicaid, and strengthen Social Security, so long as those programs remain a guarantee of security for seniors.

But in return, we need to change our tax code so that people like me, and an awful lot of Members of Congress, pay our fair share of taxes. Tax reform should follow the Buffett rule: If you make more than $1 million a year, you should not pay less than 30 percent in taxes. And my Republican friend Tom Coburn is right: Washington should stop subsidizing millionaires. In fact, if you're earning a million dollars a year, you shouldn't get special tax subsidies or deductions. On the other hand, if you make under $250,000 a year, like 98 percent of American families, your taxes shouldn't go up. You're the ones struggling with rising costs and stagnant wages. You're the ones who need relief.

Now, you can call this class warfare all you want. But asking a billionaire to pay at least as much as his secretary in taxes? Most Americans would call that common sense.

We don't begrudge financial success in this country. We admire it. When Americans talk about folks like me paying my fair share of taxes, it's not because they envy the rich. It's because they understand that when I get tax breaks I don't need and the country can't afford, it either adds to the deficit, or somebody else has to make up the difference - like a senior on a fixed income; or a student trying to get through school; or a family trying to make ends meet. That's not right. Americans know it's not right. They know that this generation's success is only possible because past generations felt a responsibility to each other, and to their country's future, and they know our way of life will only endure if we feel that same sense of shared responsibility. That's how we'll reduce our deficit. That's an America built to last.

I recognize that people watching tonight have differing views about taxes and debt; energy and health care. But no matter what party they belong to, I bet most Americans are thinking the same thing right now: Nothing will get done this year, or next year, or maybe even the year after that, because Washington is broken.

Can you blame them for feeling a little cynical?

The greatest blow to confidence in our economy last year didn't come from events beyond our control. It came from a debate in Washington over whether the United States would pay its bills or not. Who benefited from that fiasco?

I've talked tonight about the deficit of trust between Main Street and Wall Street. But the divide between this city and the rest of the country is at least as bad - and it seems to get worse every year.

Some of this has to do with the corrosive influence of money in politics. So together, let's take some steps to fix that. Send me a bill that bans insider trading by Members of Congress, and I will sign it tomorrow. Let's limit any elected official from owning stocks in industries they impact. Let's make sure people who bundle campaign contributions for Congress can't lobby Congress, and vice versa - an idea that has bipartisan support, at least outside of Washington.

I realized last night that I have become rather cynical without really realizing it, something that bothers me. While I listened to President Obama, instead of my normal response ("Wow, this is a REALLY great speech!"), my response was, "Yeah, yeah. This is a really great speech. But I have yet to hear anything that the Republicans will support or that House Speaker John Boehner will even allow to come to a vote or that Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell won't filibuster."

It would be easy to just shrug and move on, accepting that Republicans will do whatever they can to defeat the president, even if it harms the country and goes against the greater good of the country.

But, it didn't take long for his inspirational words to work their magic on me again. After a while, I got fired up. I got ready to go. I became inspired to do whatever I can to get Barack Obama reelected, to fill the House of Representatives with good, progressive Democrats, to make sure we hold onto the Senate and improve our numbers there and, most importantly for me these days as a Michigander, to turn around our own state and make it blue once again.

Yeah, yeah, it was a great speech but what will we do with it? What will YOU do with it? What we should do with it is let it inspire us to help with the effort. I know I will and I hope you will, too.

You can get started RIGHT HERE.

Oh, and one final thing: what the hell is wrong with a great speech? When did that become a bad thing? Sheesh.

Photos by Anne C. Savage. Please do not use without permission.

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Day 3 - First quarter fundraising drive

2012-01-25T07:01:00.002-05:00

Wait, you don't get paid for this?

The tip jar was pretty quiet yesterday but I am very thankful to those of you that have contributed so far.

It surprises people that I don't get much income from my blogging. As I was walking up to the Capitol building last week with my wife Anne C. Savage and co-blogger at Blogging for Michigan, Christine Barry, we ran into the reporting crew from AnnArbor.com. Reporter Ryan Stanton asked me, in essence, how much of my income comes from my blog. He was surprised to learn that it's almost nothing.

Another thing I hear a lot is "I don't know how you do it" and "Where do you find time to put up 4, 5, 6 posts a day?" and "I don't know when you sleep".

Obviously this is a labor of love for me. One day I do hope it can pay my bills and I can do it full time. Until then, I will keep doing what I am doing and part of that is that I've decided not to run annoying third party ads. This means you won't have to see obnoxious flashing gifs or scantily-clad girls on my sidebar or across the top of my site. If I run ads they will be for progressive causes or for local businesses that support progressive writing.

If you'd like to support the work I do, you can do so using the PayPal link below (for a secure, safe internet transaction using a credit card.) If you'd rather send a check, email me for details.

Another option is to run an ad on Eclectablog. If you are part of a progressive group or a business looking for exposure to a progressive audience, ads start at $65 only per month. The Dan del Zoppo ad was a gift from Dan's son. Maybe you and some of your friends want to pool your donations and take out a banner ad for your favorite group or organization. It doesn't have to be an ad, either. Put up a favorite quote or saying. Use your imagination.

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Because you took the time to read this, have a couple of videos from one of my favorite bands, Sonia Dada:

While you were sleeping, President Obama authorized a daring hostage rescue

2012-01-25T06:10:00.003-05:00

Chewing gum AND walking. A refreshing president.

While you were sleeping and after giving an incredibly inspiring State of the State address, President Obama was busy overseeing/authorizing an daring hostage rescue of an American in Somalia and a Danish national.

U.S. special operations forces have rescued a kidnapped American aid worker and her Danish colleague in Somalia, the White House and officials with the aid organization said Wednesday. During the raid, all nine captors were killed.

Jessica Buchanan, 32, and Poul Hagen Thisted, 60, were abducted by a group of armed men in the Somali town of Galkayo in late October. Both worked for the de-mining unit of the Danish Refugee Council, which provides shelter, protection, food and other assistance for thousands of displaced Somalians in Mogadishu. They were in Galkayo to monitor humanitarian aid activities, the council said.

Buchanan and Thisted were rescued early Wednesday local time (Tuesday evening in Washington), the Refugee Council said. The U.S. Africa Command, based in Stuttgart, Germany, said special operations forces received information about where the captives were located, then confirmed their presence and staged the attack.

Here's the official statement from the president:

On Monday, I authorized an operation to rescue Jessica Buchanan, an American citizen who was kidnapped and held against her will for three months in Somalia. Thanks to the extraordinary courage and capabilities of our Special Operations Forces, yesterday Jessica Buchanan was rescued and she is on her way home. As Commander-in-Chief, I could not be prouder of the troops who carried out this mission, and the dedicated professionals who supported their efforts.

Jessica Buchanan was selflessly serving her fellow human beings when she was taken hostage by criminals and pirates who showed no regard for her health and well-being. Last night I spoke with Jessica Buchanan’s father and told him that all Americans have Jessica in our thoughts and prayers, and give thanks that she will soon be reunited with her family. The United States will not tolerate the abduction of our people, and will spare no effort to secure the safety of our citizens and to bring their captors to justice. This is yet another message to the world that the United States of America will stand strongly against any threats to our people.

Multitasking at its finest. Wait for the Republicans to attack the president for this in three ... two ... one ...

UPDATE: Two things. First, apparently President Obama didn't actually authorize the hostage rescue while you were sleeping. He did it two days ago (maybe you were sleeping then, too, I dunno ; ) That said, I find it incredible that he delivered the amazing speech he gave last night, all the while knowing this was going on without anyone knowing about it. That's beyond walking and chewing gum simultaneously.

Also, and this is pretty damn cool, the the team of Navy SEALS that pulled it off were the same team who killed Osama bin Laden.

The hostage rescue was carried out by the same SEAL unit behind the operation in Pakistan last May that killed bin Laden, two U.S. officials said on condition of anonymity to discuss the operation. It was not clear if any members participated in both operations. The unit is the Naval Special Warfare Development Group, also known as SEAL Team 6.

One official said that the team parachuted into the area before moving on foot to the target. The raid happened near the Somali town of Adado.

New intelligence emerged last week that Buchanan's health was "deteriorating rapidly," so Obama directed his security team to develop a rescue plan, according to a senior administration official who was not authorized to speak publicly. A Danish Refugee Council official, Mary Ann Olsen, said that Buchanan was "not that ill" but needed medicine.

Boy, talk about padding your resume! Brave warriors, all of them. Our country is in their debt.

When will the latest racist reference to Obama be the last? - Republican calls him a "tar baby"

2012-01-24T20:23:00.007-05:00

What. The. Hell.

Are you like me? Every time you hear some troglodyte Republican politician use a blatantly offensive racist comment about President Obama, do you think to yourself, "That's just an anomaly. That won't happen again."?

When some moron fowarded an email depicting President Obama as an African witch doctor, did you think, "Aw, geez. That'll be the last we see of that."?

When some cretin Republican California mayor sent out a cartoon with a picture of watermelons growing on the White House lawn, did you think, "That will never happen again."?

Well, who knows, maybe the latest incident, U.S. Congressman Doug Lamborn calling the President a "tar baby" will be the last.

Even if some people say, ‘Well the Republicans should have done this or they should have done that,’ they will hold the President responsible. Now, I don’t even want to have to be associated with him. It’s like touching a tar baby and you get it, you’re stuck, and you’re a part of the problem now and you can’t get away. I don’t want that to happen to us, but if it does or not, he’ll still get, properly so, the blame because his policies for four years will have failed the American people.

He has since said he won't attend the president's State of the Union address tonight.

Yeah, maybe this will be the last time a man without enough intelligence to be a floor sweeper, much less a powerful government position, says something so obviously and offensively racist; so absolutely disgusting.

God help us, I doubt it is. Maybe this is what the tea partyers meant by "taking our country BACK".

Image credit: Rep. Doug Lamborn official website

John Boehner: President Obama is "pathetic" and "un-American"

2012-01-24T15:23:00.002-05:00

If you can't say anything nice, don't say ANYTHING

Remember that whole "you must support the president" thing we used to hear incessantly during the Bush administration? Bumper stickers demanding we "support the president"?

Then what the hell is THIS?

House Speaker John Boehner Tuesday forcefully denounced the Democrats' campaign theme that they are for the middle class and Republicans are for the wealthy – saying the politics the president is running on are "almost un-American."

"This is a president who said I'm not going to be a divider, I'm going to be a uniter, and running on the politics of division and envy is – to me it's almost un-American," said Boehner.

Yesterday, Boehner weighed in on a State of the Union speech that hasn't even been given yet:

"It sounds to me like the same old policies that we've seen: more spending, higher taxes more regulation – the same policies that haven't helped our economy; they've made it worse," Boehner said on "Fox News Sunday."

"If that's what the president is going to talk about Tuesday night, I think it's pathetic."

Pathetic? That's what psychologists call ~~"transference"~~ "projection".

Pathetic indeed.

Mitt Romney's "Michigan Problem"

2012-01-24T10:03:00.010-05:00

Regrets, I've had a few...

Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney has a problem. A Michigan Problem. It's not just that he penned an op-ed for the New York Times calling for the bankruptcy of our domestic vehicle manufacturers. It's not just that he then doubled down on that statement in one of the presidential debates. It's not just that, as former Michigan governor Jennifer Granholm put it, if he had been president in 2009, our state would be far worse off than it is now (and it ain't in very good shape at the moment as it is.)

No, it's also because just last December, he mocked the technology behind latest piece of awesomeness to come out of Detroit: the Ford Fusion.

What's the Ford Fusion? Just the car that won Autoweek's Best in Show vehicle at the Detroit International Auto Show a couple of weeks ago. It's a plug-in hybrid electric car and it is beautiful.

What did Romney say about the technology that led to the creation of the plug-in hybrid electric car? THIS:

Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney was born in Detroit, but critics say he's turned his back on the industry that has long-defined the Motor City.

The latest example, they say, occurred last night when a caller on a Boston-area talk radio program asked Romney how he would describe the Chevrolet Volt.

"The Chevrolet Volt? Let's see. An idea whose time has not come," Romney said, chuckling.

To quote former GOP contender Rick Perry: Oops.

The impetus for the design and manufacture of these new hyper fuel-efficient vehicles are federal mileage standards that have been heavily promoted by the Obama administration. These cars also will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, another target for the Obama adminstration. Not missing an opportunity to kick Detroit once again, Romney has vowed to repeal these environmental standards, standards that are spurring innovation and the current success of our domestic auto companies, if he is elected.

The EPA wants to be able to get in and grab more power and basically try and move the whole economy away from oil, gas, coal, nuclear and push it into the renewables. Look, we all like the renewables. But renewables alone are not going to power this economy. And yeah, I would, among other things, I would get the EPA out of its effort to manage carbon dioxide emissions from automobiles and trucks. Look, that was not a pollutant within the meaning of the legislation that authorized the EPA. It is of all the agencies in Washington, it is the one most being used by this President to try and hold down, crush and insert the federal government into the life of the private sector.

The Sierra Club released a statement this week that says, in part:

"Right now, thousands of Michiganders are at work building fuel-efficient cars that are helping the American auto industry stay competitive, keeping the air we breathe cleaner, and getting families further on a tank of gas," said Tony Cani, National Political Director for the Sierra Club. "By rejecting the standards that have given the industry a boost, Mitt Romney is ignoring the needs of his home state and embracing the reckless agenda of the most extreme elements of his party. The people of Michigan deserve to know where Romney stands, and it is not on their side."

For someone who claims to be such a savvy businessman, Mitt Romney sure acts like his crystal ball is broken.

I'm sure Michigan voters will reward him handsomely when the time comes.

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Day 2 - First quarter fundraising drive

2012-01-24T06:55:00.006-05:00

Indispensable!

Hi, it's me again. I got up early so I could bring you a new story about Highland Park schools and the letter our Governor sent to parents in that school district. The letter was clearly aimed at riling them up and encouraging them to demand their elected officials willingly step aside to let the state come in and run their affairs.

Want to know how the Detroit Free Press reported that? With the headline "Highland Park Schools in jeopardy of closing, governor says in letter". No mention of the fact that the Highland Park School board has already put in place a deficit elimination plan. No mention of the fact that they'd like to manage their own affairs, thank you very much.

That's why you come here, I suspect. So that you can get a different side of the story, one you won't find elsewhere. It's why Rachel Maddow called Eclectablog "The indispensable Michigan politics source". It's why Jonathan Mahler of the New York Times Magazine called it "an indispensable blog on the Michigan political scene". It's why Laura Flanders described it as "invaluable".

If you find Eclectablog invaluable, I'm asking for your support. You won't find flashing gif ads here. You won't find ads for sexy Russian singles or losing weight FAST!. If you find ads here, they will be for progressive groups or local businesses.

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Governor Snyder sends letter to Highland Park school parents: BE AFRAID!

2012-01-24T06:39:00.003-05:00

Warning, Warning! Danger, Will Robinson!

Michigan Governor Rick Snyder took the unprecedented step of sending a personal letter (pdf) to the parents of the Highland Park school system.

Dear Parent,
As a parent of a Highland Park School District (HPS) student, you are probably aware of the dire financial situation that exists in HPS. Over the past few weeks, together with the Departments of Treasury and Education and a review team, we have been attempting to work with your local school officials to address this situation.

There is absolutely no question that the finances of HPS have reached a crisis stage. During the 2010-11 school year, HPS was $3 million over budget. Again this year, HPS fail to make its budget. On January 13, the district was unable to make its payroll for teachers and staff. In order to keep the schools open, the state forwarded an emergency advance totaling $188,000.

Recognizing the crisis, I authorized an independent financial review team to examine the school district's finances. Since the release of the findings of this review team, projections show that HPS is in jeopardy of closing next month without immediate action.

Unfortunately, the district has appealed these findings and delayed efforts of the state to help fix these financial problems. We are not confident that the district can finish the school year without further state intervention and additional assistance. I am concerned about the welfare of the students at HPS and their educational opportunities. I am not willing to take a chance with your children. They are our number one priority.

One of Michigan's most pressing responsibilities is ensuring that students have every opportunity to learn and succeed. I am committed to doing just that.

Students in HPS need to know that their community is behind them, that the state is committed to actively helping them learn, and parents can be excited about their future.

Please contact my office with any questions directly at 517-335-7858. I welcome and desire your involvement and feedback.

Sincerely,
Rick Snyder
Governor

Highland Park officials are indeed fighting back. They believe the state has made things more difficult for them and is not helping at all.

"The district does have a plan to alleviate the crisis — it's called a Deficit Elimination Plan and it gives us targets to accomplish over a four-year period," said Randy Lane, financial director for the district. He testified before state treasury officials and members of an independent review team, which determined a financial emergency exists at HPS.

"An emergency manager is not needed in Highland Park Schools," Lane testified. "We have a competent staff that reflects the community that can solve problems."

Lane said the state has been well aware of financial problems in the district dating to 2007, and district officials have reduced the budget by 48 percent since 2009.

But over the last year, Lane said the state chose to use "a heavy hand" with the district, pulling money back when enrollment came in lower than projected, denying a request to defer state aid to avoid cash shortages and losing federal dollars. Those actions created some of the district's cash shortfalls, he argued.

"But no matter how hard we tried, the state decided not to work with us," Lane said.

Governor Snyder's letter is, in fact, a rather large load of hypocrisy. His claims that the school children of Michigan are his top priority are belied by the $1 billion in cuts to statewide school funding in his current budget, used to pay for a massive tax break for businesses. It's one thing to be pro-business and have that be your top priority. It's entirely another thing to lie about it.

School officials are justifiably outraged at Snyder's letter.

District officials said the letter sends a deceptive message and could be taken as a warning to parents to get out of the district.

“If you were a parent this would be intended to scare you,” said Highland Park School Board Secretary Robert Davis. “This is unprecedented communication with the parents. Why wouldn’t you notify district officials?” [...]

Some parents said the letter did cause them to panic.

Snyder's letter has one purpose: to get the parents of the Highland Park School District to tell school officials to back down and let the state come in to run their affairs. This situation is not primarily the result of mismanagement, it is the result of the fact that HPS student population has plummeted from around 3,000 to just over 1,000 in the past six years. Every student lost is money to the district lost and that is why they are struggling. Governor Snyder's answer is to shove the elected officials aside to come in and run things their own way which will surely include outsourcing everything not nailed down and eviscerating the collective bargaining agreements of teachers and other school staff.

Can someone please alert the tea party? I think we have a Nanny State clean up in aisle two.

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Another Michigan city faces an Emergency Manager: Taylor

2012-01-23T19:23:00.001-05:00

Here comes aNOTHER one, just like the OTHER one

Another Michigan city staring down the barrel of an Emergency Manager: Taylor, Michigan.

TAYLOR — The audit presentation to the City Council by Plante Moran painted some grim financial realities Saturday morning.

A general fund deficit of $1.7 million was discussed, which the audit found of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2011.

An even bigger topic was a letter from the State Treasurer office the city received Thursday issuing a 30 day period to devise a financial plan to reduce the deficit.

If a “realistic financial plan” isn’t presented to the state by then, the state will move toward placing an Emergency Financial Manager in the city.

The audit also found that the city took in $51 million in revenue, but spent $56.

Taylor isn't a mostly-African American city. It is 78.9% white. I'm sure the unions are going to be made to pay the price here, just like with all the other cities in their position because who better to pay the price for the situation than the most-vulnerable and powerless groups that didn't have anything to do with causing the emergency in the first place?

Lt. Gov. Brian Calley fights not to let his principles get in the way of doing the right thing

2012-01-23T14:56:00.001-05:00

Wait. He said WHAT???!

Michigan Lt. Governor Brian Calley has a most amazing quote up on the front page of MIRS News' website today:

Every once in a while you have to rise above principle and do the right thing.

- Lt. Gov. Brian CALLEY in talking about his support for legislation requiring insurance companies include autism treatment in its policies, despite opposition from business groups.

This reminds me of U.S. House Speaker John Boehner during the fight to preserve the middle class tax cuts:

Sometimes it’s hard to do the right thing...

It’s not always easy to do the right thing...

[W]hy not do the right thing for the American people, even though it’s not exactly what we want?

Today's Republicans: struggling to do the right thing for their state and their country. Because it's just so hard and sometimes your danged principles get in the way.

Michigan Republicans succeed in creating major Democratic primary battle in MI-14

2012-01-23T12:31:00.004-05:00

What's say you and him and her fight?

When Michigan Republicans redistricted our state this past year, they intentionally created a major battle ground in Michigan's 14th Congressional District which makes up much of the metropolitan Detroit area.

As was already announced, Hansen Clark who currently represents the 13th District and Gary Peters, Representative from MI-09 will be contending for the Democratic nomination in the newly-drawn 14th.

Now enter Southfield mayor Brenda Lawrence, running mate of Lansing mayor Virg Bernero his his failed 2010 gubernatorial bid.

Southfield Mayor Brenda Lawrence will run in the new 14th Congressional District, jumping into a race that already has two incumbent Democratic congressmen.

Lawrence told The Detroit News she made the decision because she believes Michigan needs a progressive woman's voice in the U.S. House.
"I have decided to run," she said Friday, adding she'll make a formal announcement of her candidacy Feb. 1.

Lawrence, who was elected in 2001 as the first African-American and female mayor of Southfield, will face off in the August Democratic primary against U.S. Reps. Gary Peters of Bloomfield Township and Hansen Clarke of Detroit.

"I'm the only one who lives in the district," she said. "Women traditionally are counted out when they are in competition with men. I'm extremely passionate about this. … I know I'll have to work twice as hard, and I'll do that."

Lawrence is certainly a compelling candidate. However, both Hansen and Peters have proven to be good legislators, as well, both representing their constituents and Michigan residents commendably.

It's an unfortunate turn of events for Michigan Democrats, to be sure. Having three solid candidates running for one position is, however, exactly what the Republicans had in mind.

Mission accomplished.