Michigan
updated
4:13 p.m.
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[CROSS-POSTED FROM MICHIGAN YOUTH POLITICAL ALLIANCE ] Michiganians are stuck on automobiles in more than one way. Not only is our economy dependent upon the Big 3 automakers, we rely solely on automobiles to get around our state–and now it is taking its toll. A task force appointed by Governor Granholm recently released a report declaring that Michigan must double spending on roads an...
The Upper Hand - 4:13 p.m.
Paul Stevenson and Graham Teall, Co-Chairs with the support of The Michigan Democratic Women's Caucus, Tami Arreguin, Chair presents this Important Caucus MDP Convention Program: "The Supreme Challenge 2008," in 2 Parts: "Victims: The Human Face of Injustice" COMPELLING STORIES OF REAL PEOPLE AFFECTED BY THE DECISIONS OR THE MOST PARTISAN, UNFAIR AND DIVISIVE MICHIGAN SUPREME COURT JUSTIC...
West Michigan Rising - 3:51 p.m.
[CROSS-POSTED FROM MICHIGAN YOUTH POLITICAL ALLIANCE ] And it’s finally time for Detroit to start making some progress (or at least reverse the tumble downhill under Mayor Kilpatrick). Yesterday, Kilpatrick pleaded guilty to two felony counts of obstruction of justice and pleaded no contest to a felony count of assault on a police officer. As punishment, he must “pay restitutio...
The Upper Hand - 3:51 p.m.
With so many new voters in this election coming from college ranks, the issue of residency and where they are to vote is becoming a big issue. There is an article in the Chronicle of Higher Ed about the controversy in Virginia. You can find that article here . This makes me wonder what students in Michigan universities are being told, and how accurate the information is. Comments? ...
Isabella County Democrats - 3:08 p.m.
"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 vici...
Genesee County Young Democrats - 2:26 p.m.
The Michigan Democratic Party Convention is tomorrow -- Saturday, 6 September -- in Lansing. Registration begins at 7:30 am. You need to be a Precinct Delegate and MDP Party member, or have been a MDP member for at least 30 days to vote. However, all Democrats can attend. For Convention details, go to the MDP website for the Convention . The main order of business for the Convention will...
West Michigan Rising - 3:45 a.m. - 2 clicks 
(Part 4 in an 11-week economic plan to get Michigan moving again and get our people back to work) This past Monday we celebrated Labor Day. For many people, Labor Day marks the end of summer, or a chance to enjoy a three-day weekend. For politicians and the media, Labor Day is the semi-official start of the fall election campaign. But at its heart, Labor Day is a celebration of ...
West Michigan Rising - Thu 8:08 p.m. - 6 clicks
Fred Johnson, Democratic candidate for the 2nd Congressional District, will hold a fundraiser next Wednesday in East Grand Rapids. Details : Date: Wednesday September 10 Time: 5:30 - 7:30 pm Place: 439 Manhattan, East Grand Rapids Host: John Miller & Barb Keller Fred has been creating a stir on the coast, now is a chance to meet him person, share his enthusiasm, and help unseat Peter Hoekst...
West Michigan Rising - Thu 1:07 p.m. - 4 clicks
That was the theme Wednesday as nearly 50 supporters gathered to hear Sen. Debbie Stabenow, and support Rep. Robert Dean. The fundraiser at Bite, in downtown Grand Rapids, brought together a collection of activists, supporters, and even a few from across the aisle. In the room were former Mayor John Logie , City Commissioners Jim White , Walt Gutowski , as well as soon-to-be State Repres...
West Michigan Rising - Thu 11:50 a.m. - 4 clicks
Or so reports the New York Times . This removes one of the burdens facing West Michigan Democrats since we all know how the GOP loves to tar all Democrats with the problems of Detroit. ...
West Michigan Rising - Thu 9:07 a.m. - 7 clicks
After organizing against the Republican National Convention for over a year, the Grand Rapids group ACTIVATE has spent the last several days in the Twin Cities actively disrupting the convention. On Monday, the first day of the convention, the actions against the RNC greatly overshadowed the theatrics of the convention itself, demonstrating that the resistance [...]...
ACTIVATE: Grand Rapids SDS - Wed 8:11 p.m. - 11 clicks
One of the main reasons this website was built was to support local candidates -- the farm team that will eventually be our state-wide and even national leaders (remember, Barack Obama was a State Senator just a few years ago). One of the places where West Michigan Democrats need to do better is getting quality candidates to run for County Commission seats where they can gain experience ...
West Michigan Rising - Wed 6:07 p.m. - 12 clicks
After organizing against the Republican National Convention for over a year, Grand Rapids group ACTIVATE has spent the last several days in the Twin Cities actively disrupting the convention. On Monday, the first day of the convention, the actions against the RNC greatly overshadowed the theatrics of the convention itself, demonstrating that the resistance has been successful so far. ACTIVATE...
Media Mouse News - Wed 3:33 p.m. - 11 clicks
Today -- Wednesday, 3 September -- the Holland City Council has set their agenda (pdf) to vote on signing the carbon sequestration contract with Praxair, a first step in expansion of Holland Coal Plant. This effects everyone. The Press reports that air in Kent County is largely polluted from the massive Consumers Energy J.H. Campbell coal-fired power plant along Lake Michigan in ...
West Michigan Rising - Wed 10:40 a.m. - 10 clicks
Up in time for the Republican Convention -- there was one? Really, a brilliant ad that sums up the path to victory in a nutshell: Change vs. McSame. ...
West Michigan Rising - Wed 10:40 a.m. - 9 clicks
Scanning the Webs of the major corporate media this morning, one finds little or no reference to the thousands of U.S. citizens who have taken to the streets of Minneapolis and St. Paul to demand freedom and justice for all. The one snippet of protest coverage found in the Sept. 2 edition of The Grand Rapids Press provided unsubstantiated reports of police doing their...
Media Mouse News - Wed 7:11 a.m. - 11 clicks
From mlive: Obama’s official campaign stops were in Detroit and Monroe on Monday. The Democratic presidential candidate stayed Sunday night at an Ann Arbor hotel and then worked out at the fitness club the next morning for about an hour before heading out to Labor Day campaign stops elsewhere. His pit stop in Ann Arbor was kept very [...]...
University of Michigan College Democrats - Tue 10:10 p.m. - 14 clicks
Rockford, Michigan, 12 September: In a long anticipated move, Republican presidential nominee John McCain has dropped Alaskan governor Sarah Palin from the Old Party ticket. Immediately after McCain gave the rash, impulsive, poorly-researched nod to Palin, she came under fire for clearly not being in any way ready to be President of the United States and Commander-in-Chief. P...
West Michigan Rising - Tue 11:29 a.m. - 42 clicks
Some news articles on yesterday's rally in Battle Creek. Battle Creek Enquirer, Battle Creek Embraces Obama Kalamazoo Gazette, Barack Obama Draws a Crowd of 15,000 in Battle Creek Associated Press at MLive, Obama, Biden bring 'Change' tour to Michigan Detroit Free Press, Obama, Biden speak to middle class at rally 2.5 minute video highlights from The Free Press . ...
West Michigan Rising - Mon 5:48 a.m. - 12 clicks
Unfortunately, the Labor Day Parade in Grand Rapids was cancelled. Still, let's remember who created the weekend and built the middle class in America and let's move the gains American and European workers have gained over the last 100 years -- unionization rights, 40-hour work week, minimum wage, safety rules, etc -- and, in some form, let's move those to also be part of globalization. &nbs...
West Michigan Rising - Mon 5:48 a.m. - 12 clicks
Gotta get on the road early for this one, but the Justice Caucus is holding two seminars Saturday, at the State Convention. Seminar One: "Victims: The Human Face of Injustice" This will be a panel discussion of real people who have been affected by the radical decisions of Chief Justice Taylor and his partisan court. The panel is moderated by: State Representative Alma Wheeler ...
West Michigan Rising - Sun 10:24 p.m. - 14 clicks
This coming Wednesday, Sen. Debbie Stabenow will be joining friends and supporters of Rep. Robert Dean at a fundraiser downtown, at Bite Restaurant. 5:00 pm -- 7:00 pm 151 Ottawa Ave NW ( aka Waters Building ) Grand Rapids, MI Consider this an invite to come downtown and support part of the growing majority in the State House. Rep. Dean faces a strong challenge this year, and w...
West Michigan Rising - Sun 10:24 p.m. - 13 clicks
Maybe it came as a shock to some that the Labor Day Parade was canceled in Grand Rapids, but it shouldn't have. The lead sponsor (the UAW) said it was committing its resources to the fall election and would forgo the parade as a result. This is a clear recognition of the fact that the labor movement is at the breaking point in the U.S., and cannot take another Republican administration. The i...
Public Pulse - Sun 6:48 p.m. - 17 clicks
Snipe has either lost interest in politics or has taken the summer off. Since I'm starting to drive my wife crazy taking about politics again, the answer must be the latter. There are better things to do in the Michigan summer than whine about Republicans. Put another way, if you don't have anything better to do, you are too obsessed to qualify as even a junior pundit. Too much political naval...
Public Pulse - Sun 6:48 p.m. - 15 clicks
(Part 3 in an 11-week economic plan to get Michigan moving again and get our people back to work) Over the last two weeks we've focused on the importance of fundamentals and promoting Michigan's competitive advantages to get Michigan moving again. This week I'm highlighting the need for greater investment in tourism promotion as a key part of getting our economy back on track. While t...
West Michigan Rising - Sun 3:27 p.m. - 16 clicks
So there I am trolling through the Daily Show clips from Friday, and who shows up but CD-3 delegate Armand Robinson. Here. Given the antics, perhaps a dubious event, but fame is fame. ...
West Michigan Rising - Sun 3:27 p.m. - 15 clicks
A short drive down to Battle Creek looks like it might be in the offering. Obama/Biden speak the first time in Michigan on the West Side of the state. That's refreshing news, since I can remember when it was like pulling teeth to get national Democratic campaigns to pay attention over here. Now with the McCain ticket set, we can see the appeals taking shape to both the union ba...
West Michigan Rising - Sat 4:44 p.m. - 10 clicks
This week’s radio address honors Michigan’s workers in celebration of Labor Day. Have a pleasant and safe weekend! This is Governor Jennifer Granholm. This Labor Day, my family and I will join thousands of Michigan citizens who will run and walk across the Mackinac Bridge for the annual Bridge Walk event. We’ll be celebrating the importance [...]...
Governor Jennifer Granholm: The Conversation - Fri 4:28 p.m. - 16 clicks
Last night hundreds of citizens from all over Northern Michigan watched the Democratic National Convention at the historical State Theater in Traverse City. Without question, the event was an incredible experience. Local volunteers and democratic candidates helped decorate the theater with streamers and balloons. To top it off, the convention was broadcasted through a live feed devoid of pu...
West Michigan Rising - Aug 29 - 13 clicks
Mediamouse.org recently paid a visit to the three Grand Rapids-based TV stations--WOOD, WZZM, and WXMI--to look at the political file on what political ad spending has looked like since Hillary Clinton dropped out of the race in June. Here is the data from mid-June through late August: WXMI 17 McCain $109,425 Obama $95,470 WZZM 13 McCain $247,820 Obama $261,480 WXPS/WOTV/WOOD TV 8...
Media Mouse News - Aug 28 - 25 clicks
Several Grand Rapids residents delivered several pages of signed petitions on Wednesday to Congressman Vern Ehlers' office demanding that he support a House Resolution (H.J. Res. 79) that would overturn a ruling by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to allow media companies to control more media outlets. Last December, the FCC approved sweeping new changes to the United States' medi...
Media Mouse News - Aug 28 - 22 clicks
