Open letter to the Michigan Democratic Party

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said “The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn.” For last several years Michigan Democrats have not seen the creation of plush and healthy forest.

Mark Brewer has been the chair of the Michigan Democratic Party for the last 18 years. His ability to win elections in Michigan has been at best unimpressive.  While it is important that Mark Brewer has been able to deliver all of Michigan's electoral votes in the last four presidential contests, he is not been able to deliver meaningful victories in state government elections.

During the last decade Jennifer Granholm (former Michigan Gov.) was able to win her 2 bids for Governor.

Unfortunately, her party was not able to take full control of the state legislature during her tenure in office. The only real majority that Democrats had in the state legislature at the time was a short-lived 4 year, when Democrats had control of the Michigan House of Representatives.

With the way politics are in Michigan unless a governor has control of both chambers the state legislature, it is next to impossible to move your policy or political agenda forward.  Things are even worse if your party is not in control of the much politicized Michigan Supreme Court.  

In 2012, Michigan Democratic Party nominated three very highly qualified women to run for the Michigan Supreme Court. This was a year where Republicans all over the country were busy trying to place more restrictions on women. Unfortunately, on election night only one of those three candidates was successfully elected to the state's highest court.

With Mark Brewer in charge this has become a trained they have all too familiar. In years where the Democrats should be able to run the board they don't.  Mark has been unable to create a sustainable path of victory for Michigan Democrats.

Sometimes change is necessary in order to achieve the kind of results that you are looking for.

 When former Gov. Howard Dean took over as the head of the Democratic National Committee he   implemented the new strategy with at the time was coined as his “50 state strategy.”  His new idea was a complete success, when in 2006 Democrats being able to win control of Congress. Then again in 2008 Democrats won the White House and Congress. It was simply icing on the cake when a few months later Democrats had a filibuster proof majority in the U.S. Senate.

After the 2010 election Chairman Tim Kane stepped down from leadership after Democrats suffered a blow in the house and much smaller majority in the Senate. With new leadership and Congressman Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida Democrats were able to pull out a major win for President Obama in 2012.

It is safe to say that if that change did not happen in leadership inside the DNC it would be much more difficult for President Obama to be reelected with over 300 electoral votes.

Just like any job if you are not producing your asked to step down.  We have not seen the kind victories by Mark Brewer to justify his continued leadership of state party.

That is what is needed is the Michigan Democratic Party new leadership that can potentially lead to the election day victories for Democrats.  Politics is just like sports in that no matter who you are or what you've done the only thing that matters on at the end is that win and loss column.

If we expect to be able to pass the kind of agenda that is needed for the future growth of the Michigan is don't require that we take bold action to elect new leadership for our party.

“A real leader faces the music, even when he doesn't like the tune.” Anon 

Church and state

There has been a lot of discussion, the last few days about the separation between church and state. More specifically, about having prayer in public schools.

People should understand that there is a reason for separation. Nobody wants a politician or a bureaucrat telling them what Church that they can goto. We have to remember that prior to the founding of this country the Europeans had many wars over religion . We don't need to make that mistake.

While we mourn for the many babies that lost there lives, we should remember that much more innocent blood we'll be spilled once we begin to ask the government to promote one religion over the others.

Republicans Hearts are Made of Stone

A couple of years ago I called them Michigan Senate majority leader Mike Bishop coldhearted because he supported delaying unemployment benefits for needy working families and anything being Michigan promise scholarship for many deserving college students. Unfortunately, Republicans in the state legislature parts are made of stone because they have passed destructive legislation that would make George Bush say "damm". Earlier this month I spoke about how Gov. Rick Snyder and his wacko far right conservative allies in the state legislature passed legislation which strips the cities and school districts of their right to determine their own financial future. Now hear news that next year taxes are going up on those who have less in our society. Seniors will face increased taxes on their pensions also are unemployed or underemployed or face tax increases and those who make the most in our society will receive tax cuts. On May 14, 2011 the Detroit news reported that because of the improving economic situation in Michigan the House and Senate fiscal agencies report that the state see up to $700 million in additional revenue this year. But they also warn that because of the business tax cuts passed by the state legislature it would not make up a possible 1.8 billion dollar hole that would be in our state budget by 2012.

The Republican Party has signaled that they are the party rich and powerful and well-connected. Their budget reflects thet. Republicans have just about passed a budget that cut millions of much-needed dollars away from higher education would result in higher tuition and fee rates at just about every public university in the state. Which would make it almost impossible for possibly thousands of high school graduates to attend college this fall. They also passed major cuts in K-12 funding in which more public school districts will have to cut more teachers with the result in bigger class sizes with will diminish the education that thousands of school-age children will receive in the fall. Many special academic programs like advanced placement will have to be eliminated in order to try and bring the budget into balance. Many districts are even looking at eliminating many afterschool programs such as athletics, cheerleading and music programs.

But it's not just education that will feel the pain in some way every citizen of the state will feel the pain of these destructive far right policies. The governor has signaled that he plans to close over 20 state police stations. This will mean less police protection and more criminals getting away with their crimes. Our children, seniors and businesses we affected by streets that will now be less safe. Republicans plan to cut revenue sharing which will have a disastrous effect on municipalities across Michigan. The city of Detroit is already facing a $200 million budget deficit. With revenue cuts that are on the way that deficit will likely balloon to three or $400 million if not worse. This means that cities across Michigan will cut local police, fire, EMS services. Public parks in our communities will likely be sold to the highest bidder from our children will have less safe areas to play in.

Recently we've heard news that the crime, Detroit 187 has been canceled by ABC. This is because Gov. Snyder and his infinite wisdom decided that Michigan did not need any film tax credit which is stated in place would've helped to create hundreds if not thousands of jobs here in Michigan.

As I stated before Gov. Snyder promised voters in Michigan that he would create more jobs instead of keeping that promise he and his party have placed their hearts from cold stone. The lining the pockets of their rich friends and making life even more difficult for those who already having a difficult time. So it is fair for me to say that the GOP heart is nothing but a lifeless stone.

My Mistake

A few months ago I should've told this girl who are known for 13 years that I liked her. I finally got around to it in March of this year. By Christmas of last year she had gotten back with her boyfriend for high school. I am writing this note to all those shy guys out there, most of us are really going guys. We may not be athletes or the smartest folks the world but we do understand how difficult it is to attract the attention of women. I want to let you know that sometimes you are going to have to take a leap of faith when it comes to that special someone. Now of course you have to really be sure is that someone is really special to you. If they are U. cannot be scared or live in fear of what their reaction might be. If you wait too long you may lose your chance you just never know how many chances you are going to get. Some guys have plenty of ladies chasing after them there is no reason for them to fear rejection. As a shy guy you have to ask yourself the following question is the person that you're interested in worth the pain of rejection? If the answer is yes then you need to take a leap of faith. Don't have any regrets because you may have been too scared to take a risk. Especially, is that risk is a worthy one. Is that special someone is really special to you then maybe it's time to let them know.

Running Scared

Running scared is the lesson of the day for the GOP. On Thursday, May 5, 2011 Reuters reported that House Republicans were planning to back off their postal two genetically change the way Medicare and Medicaid works. They plan originally called for phasing out the program over time and replacing it with a program where future retirees would have to purchase a private plane. It seems as though Republicans are smarter than I thought. When you mess or even think about messing with Medicare or Medicaid the American people are going to come down on you like white on rice.

I don't understand why so hard for the GOP to get it. Republicans over the years has made multiple attempts to dismount Medicare, Medicaid, and during the Bush administration Social Security. They still think that completely eradicating these programs is good for the country. A better idea for the country is cutting government subsidies to oil companies. But when you are the party of the rich and big business you seem to want to do these things. The Reuters article pointed out that the Medicare and Medicaid proposal would never make it through the democratic controlled Senate and could be a potentially politically potent weapon for Democrats to use against Republicans in the 2012 election. Talk about stating the obvious, if I were a Democratic strategist I would tell the party that they should take the issue of Medicare and Medicaid and use it as a bat to knock the crap out of Republicans in the 2012 election.

The good news for Democrats is that they have already started according to the same article Democrats have been running ads pointing out that while the GOP opposes more taxes oil and gas industry they are more than ready to write major overhauls to Medicare and Medicaid. They are even referring to the GOP as the "gas and oil party." To me that sounds like a very good description of group of people who would rather eliminate taxes for an industry that is making record profits then protect those institutions that actually help people who are in need of dollars to pay for their prescription drugs and other medical needs.

As these last few weeks have demonstrated there is too much at risk for the American people not to keep the Republican Party in check. Left to their own devices as they have said they are more than willing to eliminate Medicare, Medicaid, and even Social Security. They are more than willing to cut other social programs which are critical to the revitalization of the American economy. Such popular programs like unemployment insurance, community block grants and funding for higher education. The GOP would rather give more tax cuts and other benefits to their friends on Wall Street and their masters from the oil and gas industry.

GOP So Far In 2011

We all know that the election of 2010 was not a very good day for Democrats. At the federal level Democrats lost control of the House of Representatives and the numbers in the Senate was severely reduced. Here in Michigan, Republican Rick Snyder a businessman from Ann Arbor was as the governor of Michigan. Also in Michigan Republicans clean house, Republicans took control of the Michigan House of Representatives and further increase their majority in the state Senate. Not to mention placings to justices on the Michigan Supreme Court turning the court back into Republican hands.

But now the consequences of that election are being felt far and wide throughout Michigan and the rest of the country. In Michigan Gov. Snyder and his far right conservative allies in the state legislature has passed budgets that want to tax pensions, increased taxes on low income workers and cut taxes for businesses in the wealthy in Michigan. In April Gov. Snyder signed into law an emergency financial manager law that gives unchecked authority to a state appointed bureaucrat that strip cities and school districts of the right to determine their own financial future. These state appointed bureaucrats which the governor calls "financial managers"had the authority to walk into cities that are facing budget deficits, and be able to make decisions about those cities budgets and these "financial managers" even have the authority to fire legally elected city officials.

In Washington DC House Republicans have voted to repeal the long overdue healthcare reform legislation signed by Pres. Obama. Republicans in Washington has even introduce legislation that would completely destroy and eradicate Medicare and Medicaid. They continued to work on legislation that would strip planned parenthood of all of its federal dollars of which they use to help women. I for one do not believe that this is what the American people voted for. The American people since 2008-very clear that our priority is getting the economy back on track. Since the beginning of the year no Republican in Michigan or in Washington have passed one piece of legitimate legislation that would create more jobs in America.

Republicans have made it very clear that they are more interested in rolling back laws of which president Obama signed into law which help prevent a repeat of the 2008 financial industry collapse. Republicans are more interested in eliminating all taxes for the wealthy and cutting much-needed programs that actually help create jobs such as funding for college education and other job training programs. These are the same old Republican policies of which they have been trying to pass for years. It is very true that elections have consequences that there is a big difference between consequences and outright war on the middle class. As soon as Republicans took office they declare war on every program of which the American people have seen it we want to keep. Republicans need to stop pretending like they represent the average American. We already know Republicans represent the average wealthy CEO.

Bellyaching from House Republicans

You know during the summer people like to do all sorts of things like go to the beach, play baseball it is have the time. Here Detroit it's raining today so instead of engaging in some fun summer activities I decided just to watch a little TV. So since I wanted to know what was going on the world of politics right now I turn to one of my favorite channels c-span. And I decided to watch the US House of Representatives. Now for the last two hours I have heard Republican after Republican come up and complain about the president's healthcare legislation. Now if we all remember during the Clinton administration President Clinton understood thin needed to be reformed. But because of the special-interest that control the Republican Party and some Democrats who were scared of a little political heat defeated Bill Clinton's efforts to reform healthcare. I say no more we need to reform healthcare now. The Republicans are not offering any realistic alternatives that are continuing to call healthcare reform socialize medicine, government run healthcare.

Now how did all of this bellyaching from House Republicans get started? Well the answer comes from a press conference that Michael Steele the chairman of the Republican national committee hailed yesterday. He basically called on all Republicans to attack president Obama on his healthcare plan and the stimulus legislation that was passed earlier this year. So the Republicans tagline is where are the jobs. Well I have an answer last ask former president George W. Bush. We lost some 3 million jobs during his last year in office. Because of his policies America was led into the worst recession since the Great Depression. Some economists are saying that we will possibly be out of recession by the end of this year. That's because president Obama began putting in the correct policies that will get this country back on track. But instead of Republicans working with the president and the Democratic majority in Congress they have decided to become the party of no. That's because Republicans continue to care more about the status quo and the rich, big business and special interests over regular everyday Americans.

And I think sometimes that Republicans forget that much of the economic turmoil that we're seeing now comes from the exact policies that they put in place when they had control of Congress and the White House. It is inaccurate to blame president Obama and congressional Democrats for current conditions when Republicans were the exact cause of the current conditions that we are seeing in this country. Instead of wanting to reform healthcare which we know will help drive down the deficit Republicans want to continue seeing more than 40 million Americans without health coverage even more Americans without adequate coverage. Republicans want to continue to spend billions and billions of dollars on healthcare while Americans continue to get sicker and sicker. I healthcare system is the laughingstock of the world it is a shame that the richest country on the face of the planet had taped his poor health care system. I know people in Detroit who has cancer, epilepsy, diabetes and many other debilitating diseases that if they were able to go see a doctor they could feel much better. Republicans think of themselves and their rich buddies instead of everyday Americans. That's why the American people put them on of office and elected a president and a Congress that eventually going to do the job. No more waiting reform healthcare now.

Cobo Deal

Dear Councilwoman Alberta Tinsley-Talabi,


I recently received a copy of your spring 2009 community update. Any delay cow five specific reasons why you could not support the proposed transfer of the Cobo exhibition center to a regional authority. I would like to address these five stars that you laid out because I disagree with all of the reasons the layout. In your first reason you claim that the parking revenues from the Cobo would have a negative impact on the Council's ability to deal with the city's budget deficit. First off the reason why we're still in the budget deficit is because the Council continues to spend money that we don't have. Instead of making the tough choices such as eliminating departments at combining departments which would make city government more efficient the Council continues to allow business to go on as usual. Secondly, money from a parking structure is not a good way to stabilize the city budget. Creating a better economic environment in the city for small-business tax cuts and property tax cuts would create a better economic environment in Detroit so that small businesses can grow. This will be a better way to permanently address the city's budget deficit.

In your second reason why you could not support the deal you question the government structure that the Cobo would go to. In many other cities across this country, exhibition centers such as the one we have in Detroit I not only by one city they are in the hands of a regional authority or some sort of nonprofit organization. This specific argument that you may a similar to one previous mayors transferred management of the Detroit Institute of arts, the Detroit zoo and other similar venues around Detroit. The fact is the city of Detroit is not have them signs to continue to operate these venues. If I were to go to New York today it will be the same story the city of New York would go bankrupt if they try to own every museum that is their. Your third reason that you provide it claim he that there was no timeline I thought was the weakest excuse of all of them. We are no timeline if you were to get this money and the deals happen the time I would be by the in 2011 or 2012 auto show.

The fourth reason you provide it state that you could not support any deal that did not include at least a minimum of 30% geographical preference for Detroit residents and businesses. I would think that if anyone was going to run the Cobo they would want the experience of much if not all of the current staff that work there. Councilwoman let's just be honest some people may get laid off some of them probably will deserve it. I have all the times that I have gone to Cobo for different events there have always been at least one person that has not had any very nice attitude. Or some of the prices they charge are completely unfair. It's just like on the buses a number of the drivers have rotten attitudes. Especially when you ask them why they're late coming to your stop or they get mad at you if you tell them where you need to go. And your final reason you claim that you would not know the full impact of the transfer on city employees. Councilwoman for some reason many Council members believe that government is supposed to be all to everyone. This thinking is outdated, the city of Detroit cannot employ every single person in this here. We should be focusing our efforts on creating an environment where business can grow. We should also be encouraging citizens to go back to school to get retrained so that when the economy starts to turn around they would be able to find good paying jobs. The days of working in a factory and then retiring has ended. People must look at other industries if they want to make a living for themselves. A large part of that is going back to school and getting some sort of certification or degree.

Councilwoman I do not write this letter out of disrespect I write it as a concerned citizen who believes that are city is on the wrong path. Out of all of the other Council members you are one of the few that has my respect. You conduct yourself type of grace and dignity that one would expect from a public official. For that I thank you. I just disagree with your vote to kill the Cobo deal. I hope that you will reconsider your position.

Sincerely,
Donald L. Stuckey II
Precinct Delegate
D-Detroit,MI

We need Smart talk

You know there's been a lot of buzz about the field of candidates for this year's Detroit city Council election. In all honesty I have seen very little difference from past election cycles. The field of candidates still have no idea of what they're talking about. It boggles my mind because many of these folks have worked has graduated from very good schools and have worked in industries for good number of years. Yet they still do not know how city government works. Take for example former Fox 2 Detroit news reporter Charles Pugh who was interviewed on May 3, 2009 on the PBS talk show American black journal. He spoke about how is Council was to be placed in the district they should have more control over city services in their area. It is very difficult for a legislator to have specific control over what type of city services take place in your specific area. Even a congressman or a US senator would have very much trouble trying to convince the military to open or close a base in their state or community. But as part of the lawmaking body of the city you can legislate how most city services are conducted. It's just like what the Congress of the United States does, if they want access to row build and their legislation is passed through both houses and signed into law by the president then you can best believe that is going to happen. The city Council has the same authority, the only thing that they need to do is pass an ordinance saying what is going to happen with a certain city services.

With the fact that many of these candidates for city Council not understanding how city government works many of them don't even have on what they would do if they got elected. Now has to admit I'm person who looks for actual policy proposals, and other words what are you going to do about the issues facing Detroit. Now in my quest for information I ran across a piece of campaign literature from Lawanda Harrison who is running for city Council. I some time to read through her website and she talks about her background and has had some very general statements about jobs and a variety of other issues. The problem is that she had no specific ideas about what she would do to bring jobs in Detroit. And it continues to please me scratching my head and wondering why would you run for office and not know what you want to do when you get there? Certainly if it was me running for office and someone asked me a hey Donald would are you going to do to bring jobs into Detroit? Well my response would be maybe we should think about cutting local income, property, and small business taxes so that businesses will be attracted to move into Detroit. Secondly, work with our partners in the state and federal government to get our workers into training and education programs so that Detroit will have a highly skilled workforce. Now I'm a college student and I came up with that all by myself. Candidate should not be afraid to offer specific policy ideas while they're out campaigning. I can tell you from experience it works. In 2008 now state representative Fred Durhal Jr. D-Detroit offer specific policy ideas. He talked about them on the campaign trail now he's in a position to try and get them past through the state legislature.

Now my goal is not to set up and badmouth candidates who are running for city Council. I'm simply asking that you give the voters specific ideas on what it is that you want to do to address some of Detroit's toughest issues such as public safety, and job creation. We don't need candidates telling us what the problem is we have but to look at our pocketbooks and the evening news and understand clearly what is going on in our city. Now I'm going to be fair I'm going to post this same article on my blog page and if any candidate for Detroit city Council would like to respond I'll be more than happy to read your comments. That will be an excellent time to tell me exactly what it is you would like to see done in this city. All are welcome to post their comments. My blog is Don’ Views Go to dlstucke.blogspot.com.

More than protests

You know I find myself getting into pointless debates with extremist activists. It's almost like talking to a brick wall. It is always over the same thing which is better trying to force the government to change through citizen protest and violence or actually changing the government from the inside out. Now for my purposes I am going to change the word citizen protest to community organizing and completely remove the word violence. The only thing that violent needs to is unnecessary bloodshed. Now I have no beef with community organizers, and other activists is just that if we think that the only way to change things is through community organizing we would not see effective change. If we examine recent history will find that the most effective community organizing strategies have been developed that were part of a much bigger plan to effect change. Example in 2005 many organizations throughout the country were trying to force the federal government and state governments to pass increases in minimum wage. In Michigan Democratic attempts to get this done increasingly met defeat in the state legislature. But because of the strong movement in the progressive community which was put together by political strategists, politicians, leaders of civic organizations and many community leaders the governor of Michigan was able to sign a minimum wage increase into law. If it did not happen that way is very likely that an amendment to the state constitution would've been added saying that minimum wage was to be increased anyway. This successful campaign took place because it had to key components one there was a strong push in the community to there was a very clear policy goal in place. This is the best way to affect change.

Unfortunately, this strategy that we know works is not something that many extremist racist activists do not want to use. This digest of their strategy talk about how much the government is corrupt complained and didn't take no action. Now some of these activists may think the best way is to educate the community. Educating the community is very important but if it does not follow action day you are just throwing rocks against the wall. In the 1960s Dr. King led a very successful effort to pass civil rights legislation in the United States. Dr. King had a very clear goal and he clearly understood what desired outcome he was looking for. This is why he was successful. Extreme racist activists do not have the same thinking in my. The only thing they do is complain. Understanding politics is the best way to be able to change policy. President Obama when he was running for president understood this. He understood that people in America want a new direction this is why he was successful over other more season Democrats and over and he Republican who had more than 20 years in Congress and was a former naval officer. Detroit city Council is a poster child for what happens when you do not have clear policy goals and good strategic community involvement. More than 40 years the Detroit city Council has set back and allow Mayor after Mayor to do whatever they want without stopping them. The only thing the Council has been able to do is continue to call other people races and complain about how the mayor is doing this that and the other. Now with all of the lawyers that work for the Detroit city Council in the season political advisers that many of these council members employ you would think that they would have or would give themselves the tools to hold administrations in check. Unfortunately that has not been the case. This is why many in the rest of the state of Michigan look at the Detroit city Council as a joke. And it is a well-deserved label.

Now extremist racist activists I talk a lot about how the American justice system is corrupt and is designed to keep the black man in jail. This is a good point to rally the community or around. What they have offered no solutions on how to fix it. I have I say at one of the first things that can be done is to reform the public defender system so that they have the necessary resources to properly to see and their clients. Many extremist racist activists complained that most of the wealth in this country is in the hands of the rich, the white, and the powerful. Yet these same critics has offered no solutions on how to fix it. I have, I have said one of the first things that we can do at least in Michigan is one making sure that every school district is receiving the same number of dollars are student that other schools are being given. To, reforming the way institutions of higher education in Michigan use taxpayer dollars so that we can be sure people are not being priced out of a college education. These two simple reforms would help to bridge the gap between the haves and have-nots. But we have seen no policy recommendations from any of these activists. The most successful community activists and community organizers are the ones who have been able to advocate in the community and in front of policymakers. If we look at history some of the most successful military campaigns have been when the one group of people have been able to get behind or inside of their enemies lines and destroy them from the inside out. That is the way that you are going to see the most effective change in the least amount of time. Complaining about the government is going to do no one any good if you do not have a effective plan by which to accomplish your goal. Now as much complaining that I have her many of these extremist activist have openly admitted that they have not voted. The most effective tool that any citizen in this country has to effect change in their community is by exercising their constitutional right to cast a vote in every single election that is hailed in their community. In my opinion you cannot complain if you do not vote. Now I would like to discuss one more example of where clear policy goals and strategic community organizing has produced legislative victories. In 2008 a friend of mine who ran for state representative in Detroit had been lobbying for Detroit city Council for a number of years to move to a greater portfolio. He sat on the Council President Green task force. Not only did he lobbied the council he worked with many community activists and organizations to get his local community involved. Because of his efforts the Council rejected renewing a trash incinerator contract that they have had for more than 20 years and also the city of Detroit began a new curbside cycling program for 30,000 housing units in the city. These are some very significant victories they were not done just by protest, citizen uprisings in other extreme activities. They were accomplish through a combination of direct policy oriented lobbying and strategic community organizing.

Now I have heard of no significant victories that have come through violent protest and community uprisings. The race riots that occurred in Detroit only resulted in the National Guard having to come in and a city's image being completely destroy. Back in 2006 many of these extremist believed that they will be a new round of riots because the voting rights act required action by Congress for its renewal. What they did know was that during a time when Republicans controlled the house and senate voting rights act would renew with large bipartisan support. 98 Senators in 2006 voted to renew the voting rights act. Even today smart intelligent attorneys are defending the voting rights act before the United States Supreme Court. This cannot happen if the only strategy was to protest outside of the court hall. So I leave my extremist friends with this if you really want change there is a proven that it to get it. You may find that you're both will be accomplished much quicker.

Big talk from a crazy conservative

You know usually I can deal with the far right conservative idiots on you tude but there is this one video that I saw today that I just had to respond to. She calls herself LatinaFreedomFighter. She's part of the crazy conservatives that have managed to find their way onto you tude. One of the first things he talked about was the recent Supreme Court nomination that president Obama made all Tuesday. She first made the comment that in 2003 Democrats unfairly blocked the nomination of Miguel Estrada to the US circuit Court of Appeals. After taking a look at his background this gentleman had no prior experience serving on the bench at the local state or federal level. I think it would put someone on the court especially at the federal level they should have experience being a judge. After 28 months this gentleman saw the light and withdrew his own name from consideration. She then went on a tirade about how Obama's appointees for the Supreme Court was not a good decision, why don't we talk about why the judge Sonia Sotomayor is a very good choice for the Supreme Court. Number one the judge Sotomayor would be the first Hispanic woman to serve on the US Supreme Court. She would only be the third minority to hold that office. Reason two she has graduated from some of the finest law schools in the country see attended both the Yale and Princeton University. Number three she has served in almost every legal capacity that a lawyer could serve in. She was a New York assistant Dist. Atty., she was a trial judge, she served as a corporate attorney, she served as a district federal judge and she is currently a US circuit Court of Appeals Judge. Basically she has more judicial experience of any currently serving Supreme Court Justice at the time of their appointment. There's very little that you can call on with that much experience. Number four the crazy conservatives in this video question on number of the rulings that the judge Sotomayor made during her time on the court. Well let's talk about the one for more famous rulings in debt the 1994 baseball strike. She has consistently issued rulings and discrimination and protect a woman's right to choose. President Obama has demonstrated his commitment to change in this country by appointing a judge that will continue the fight for progressive change in America.
In the same video this crazy conservative question why Obama was spending so much money right now? Well first of all let's understand one thing, it was Pres. George W. Bush then layette United States into an ungodly war and gave billions away to the top 1% of Americans because he thought they needed more tax cuts. Since Obama has gotten off he had provided billions of dollars to expand higher education, funding for road projects, funding for new school construction, funding for early childhood education, and tons of other priorities that the Bush administration failed to take action on. It was not for the Bush administration we very likely would not have seen the devastation from this recession that we have. I president Obama is not stopping there he is finally getting Congress to act on healthcare reform and energy policy reform. And while this crazy conservatives refer to the auto industry as “union infested”I take a large offense to that the unions in this country have fought to make equal pay and healthcare and fair labor practices available to all. Instead of a attacking unions we should be thanking them and we should be working with them to get Congress to pass the info employee free choice act. And now this crazy woman even refers to president Obama as a “political virgin”I have a message to you put some tape over your mouth you crazy nutcase far right extremist conservative. And when it comes to Obama's foreign-policy I have every confidence that Obama is going to would have for is needed to protect this country and our allies. Instead of alienating ourselves from the rest of the world he is trying to reengage the United States and the matters of the world and rebuild our moral standing. So to all the conservatives out there you need to go somewhere sit down and shat up.

Time to get rid of the idiots

Now that the special election is over Detroit can move on to its main election business and decide who was going to run the city for the next four years. Now one good thing did happen, Detroit voters approved a new charter revision commission. This commission will be given the responsibility of fixing the city charter so that it will actually work. One of the biggest things that need to be fixed is the city Council. Right now you have a bunch of clowns are trying to make decisions about the lives of more than 900,000 people. If I heard Barbara Rose-Collins and Monica Conyers I would be very fearful of my future. They are the problem but when people are in their 40s 50s and 60s that they act no better than two and three-year-old little kids. If you watched some of my recent video on YouTube you would see why. With all the problems that are facing you would think that these folks would want to stop acting like idiots. Detroit has double digit unemployment, there is a stack of foreclosed properties in Detroit, and there is$ 200 to $300 million budget deficit. These are issues that are city Council needs to be looking at, not consistently acting like numbskulls at the counsel table.

Now despite what your political affiliations are there is no reason for elected officials to act like they have no home training. I can remember the many video I've seen with Monica Conyers calling people names and arguing at the counsel table. It makes no sense at all this woman even got into an argument with an eighth grader. In my opinion the eighth-grader should have her job and Conyers should be back in eighth grade. Barbara Rose-Collins these to go check herself into a retirement home because when you start singing Onward Christian soldier while TV cameras are in the room and when you decide to comes to meeting with a Tierra and a big yellow dress then it is time for you to retire. The city Council cannot boast one thing they've done to help the people of Detroit out in the last four years. Life in Detroit has not gotten any better is not in a significant job growth or crime reduction in the last four years. We have had major magazines call Detroit one of the worst cities in America. And with the type of leadership in place there not all that wrong.

I graduated from high school in 2003, after checking Facebook I have found that many of my high school friends have moved out of Detroit. And with good reason if you have gotten your college degree why should you have to stay in the city where the leaders are idiots and the schools suck. I had a friend that got her degree in engineering from the University of Michigan she moved out and left for Virginia. One of my friends and my graduating class that attended my high school got her associate's degree from a community college she moved out to a suburb of Chicago. Another friend who played in the marching band with me got his degree and moved to Orlando, Florida. I am thinking about following suit, if there is going to continue to be numbskull in the city then I am not going to raise a family here. While other cities across the country are investing in green job and finding new ways to attract young people Detroit is still stuck in the past. The team wouldn't have the same old dumb argument that have dominated politics in the city for generations. And now we're starting to pay dearly for it. I hope the voters of Detroit will get a clue and clear out the entire Detroit city Council.

Bad move

Well today's been made official stupidity knows no bounds when it comes to politics. In the great state of Illinois also known as the land of Lincoln Democratic governor Rod Blagojevich who is under federal investigation for trying to sell the Senate seat of President-elect Obama. Now today he is made of very gutsy gets stupid move. He has appointed former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris to fill Barack Obama's Senate seat. One would ask why with this idiot do this, you would think he would do the smart thing but other embattled Governors or mayors would do and that is to resign from his office. Now this Roland Burris himself is a very respectable person. He was the first African-American in Illinois to hold a statewide office. Why would he disgraced himself by accepting the nomination from a governor who has clearly lost the confidence of the people of his state. He may have done it for peer lead political reasons but he has just destroyed any remaining of his political career. He actually said earlier in December that the governor should step down. Yet he is accepting a nomination for you the U.S. Senate from them.

What concerns me about this appointment is the fact that Roland Burris claims that he has no relation to what is going on with Gov. Blagojevich. But why would he accept a nomination from him. This not only brings into question his integrity but also his judgment and leadership. If he were to get into the Senate I don't believe he would have any type of ability to get things done for the people of Illinois. It is very clear to see how big the head of Blagojevich is. He is doing this to try and save himself, he is thinking more about himself than the integrity of the office of which he holds. The first thing that Blagojevich is rescinded the appointment and then he still resign his office. He is doing such a disservice to our democracy by find a hold on to office which he is going to qualify to be. This is the same issue that people in Detroit had to deal with this year. We had a mayor that refuse to accept the fact that he had done wrong. For months people in Detroit had to put up with his mess. Gov. Blagojevich should follow the example of the former New York governor and immediately resign.

First of all I believe that the Democrats in the Illinois legislature failed to pass legislation that would allow for a special election. The governor has given Republicans in the Illinois more ammunition to use against Democrats in future elections. He is doing a great disservice to his state and for his party. For the sake of decency and the integrity of our party and the people of his state he needs to leave office right now. The people of this country have just elected an agent of change. Gov. you do not represent what the people of Illinois and of the United States have voted for it is time to step aside.

All could be lost

It will be a great day when Obama takes the oath of office. After 8 years of oil wars, lies, and policies the benefit the rich it will be a great day. We must not become complacent, we steel must fight to make sure that every vote is counted. We must also make sure that every person who is 18 or over will go and vote. The time for talk has ended and action must be taken now. Change will not come if we sat and do nothing, it will come when people get up a do something like Rosa Parks when she did not get up.

Obama is not the only race we should look at. People must keep in mind that the president is only one part of our government . We have to have a Congress that reflexes the change that we need in the U.S. Republicans in the Congress have stop many good pieces of legislation like the Children’s health insurance program. A law that would have give 10 million kids health insurance. Bush vetoed this good bill and house Republicans would not override the veto. In the Senate Republicans would not allow a final vote on legislation that would tax the profits on oil companies, like Exxon Mobil who made $64.7 billion in three months. We need to have members in congress who also believe in change.

DNC Day 2

Last night convention was better in the fact that the speakers went on the attack a lot more. Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) said in his speech “John McCain calls himself a maverick but he votes with Bush 90% of the time that is not a maverick that is a side kick.” This is the type of language that democrats should be using on John Bush McCain. Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) in the same speech “They cut taxes for the must of us and past the pain to the lest of us. They give huge subsidies to Oil companies and they ask for four more years, how about four more months.” This show me democrats are doing a better job of framing there massage.

Gov. Brian Schweitzer (D-MT) gave democrats some red meat that is well done to eat last night. He said “John McCain voted 25 times against renewable and alternative energy.” Also “ John McCain has taken more than a million dollars in campaign contributions from the gas and industry.” These fact can be used in ads and talking points by left 527 groups. This a go was to get the word out.

Gov. Ted Strickland (D-OH) “John McCain has no problem hitting the snooze button on the economy because he’s never been apart of the middle class. And I would like to say to him Sen. John McCain it’s time for your wake-up call. This step up rhetoric is what is need to fight McCain with. They need to do more of the same.

DNC Day 1

The goal for Democrats for the convention is to go after McCain hard. They did some of that tonight. They need to step it up a lot more, you have to call McCain and his fair right Republican friends. Pelosi could have done a better job of this. I would have called out house Republicans for not voting the override the children’s health insurance program. The Republicans are going after Obama hard so Democrats need to do the same. What is good is how Democrats are going after Hispanic voters. This group can give you states like Nevada and New Mexico. Also Democrats did a ok job addressing weakness in Obama’ support, but have a working white family speak. They need to do more of this to help move polls in state like Ohio and Iowa.

The ture issue the economy

There has been a lot of talk on the economy in the last few months. It is the some story six months of job loss, income is down and cost of food, gas, etc. is up. Most of us feel this everyday. John McCain and his Republican friends is trying to sell us the same old story.

For some reason Republicans think that the some old cut, cut and cut more taxes for big business will help the average person pay for high living cost that people are facing every day. The fact is McCain is playing the same game Bush has been playing for the last seven and a half years. His plan would give tax cuts to Exxon mobile a company that made over $100 billion dollars in the first 3 months of this year. To me this sounds like Bush. If you make that much money you do not need a tax cut.

There are many thing that John McCain has not talked about like for me is the cost of college. I have talked before how Democrats have tried to help college students. Obama would give student a chances to earn $4,000 every year by doing community service work. This is a good idea. McCain has no plan the help college students pay for school. Believe me I have been looking.

Obama has a good tax plan, His plan would cut tax for families that make less that $250,000 a year. This means my mom would see more money in her pocket. Also under his plan my mom would get help to pay for the mortgages and the cost of fuel. This plan would be good for her because she is working on a second degree and I am work on my first degree. McCain’s plan would just say go luck.

John McCain has no plans to help fix America’s ageing infuscate. Obama will invest billons in to projects that will send many people back to work. This is what the U.S. needs a new direction.

Pointless attacks

Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr. will be in Detroit in the next two weeks. The last time he was hear he spoke at the freedom fund dinner. Many in the news has tried to use him to make Barack Obama look bad. Now I think that Rev. Wright has said some things that I do not agree with. There are better ways of making a point that saying “God dam Americana.” But it dose not mean that he is not telling the true on some issue. The fact is that the U.S. has a long history of oppression of its people. Rev. Wright just did not commutate this in a way that would have to some effect but would have come off more respectful. I would like to see Rev. Wright find new way of make his point that will sound better and will not turn people away.

The right is trying to use Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright to make Barack Obama look bad. This is only thing that has a chances of sticking. The right has tried many issue to discrete Obama. They pointed out that Obama dose not ware a U.S. flag pen on his suit. The reason they pointed this out is they tried to say that Barack is unpatriotic. I am sure you can see how absurd this is. The next thing the right tried on Obama is the fact that his middle name is “Hussein.” They said that Obama had a Muslim heritage and that he had ties to terrorists. ExposeObama.com an extremist group sent e-mails saying thing like "President Barack Hussein Obama ... the scariest four words in the English language!" This old tacked the right tried to uses for years. In the 1964 election the right said the Kennedy would govern to the U.S. have the pope would tell him to. Then the People of the U.S. did not believe that crap.

The right knows they can no win in a policy debate. The only thing they can do is engage in pointless attacks. The right can tell us why after five years why we are steel in Iraq. They can now tell us they are going to fix the U.S. healthcare. The right has no plan to help student pay for college. They know the LGBT issue will not give team a victory this year. I believe that the right know they are wrong.

Democrats looking out for the college student

Democrats are looking out for the college student. Everyone knows what the problem is. One college by the time I have kids that are ready to go the college that will have to pay more that $100,000 to go to school. Many working class families and work poor families are going to lose the change to work there way out of poverty. We all know that someone who has a college degree will have a better change of living a good middle class life. That will be less likely to get involved in crime and that will help keep to U.S. economy strong. During the six year that Bush had the congress he did little to help the college student. Bush tried to cut americorps program that give money to student for school if that did so many hours of volunteer work. I as sure you are thinking how can go to sleep at night.

Over the last year and a half Democrats have been working hard to help college student. On 1/17/07 Democrats in the U.S. house passed the The College Student Relief Act of 2007. This law would cut interest rates in half for undergraduate students with subsidized student loans -- those most in financial need -- over the next five years at no new cost to taxpayers. Also it would increasing efficiency in the student loan programs and redirecting all savings directly back into the hands of students. Democrats got Bush to sign The College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007. This law will Cut interest rates in half on subsidized student loans over the next four years, increase the maximum Pell Grant scholarship to $5400 over the next five years, Expanding eligibility through needs analysis to include and serve more students with financial need, provid upfront tuition assistance to qualified undergraduate students who commit to teaching in public schools, and provide Historically Black Colleges and Universities with $510 million over five years. This was last year.

This year Dems in the house passed the College Opportunity and Affordability Act. This bill would Encourage colleges to rein in price increases and provide consumers with helpful information, it would Restore integrity and accountability to the student loan programs, Simplify the federal student aid application process and make text more cheaper. Also Democrats got Bush to sign Ensuring Continued Access to Student Loans Act of 2008 this will Reduce borrowers’ reliance on costlier private college loans and encourage responsible borrowing, Give parent borrowers more time to begin paying off their federal PLUS college loans, and help struggling families pay for college. Democrats have been busy doing what I need for the college student Bush with his party in control of congress did not do this much for students.

. Everyone knows what the problem is. One college by the time I have kids that are ready to go the college that will have to pay more that $100,000 to go to school. Many working class families and work poor families are going to lose the change to work there way out of poverty. We all know that someone who has a college degree will have a better change of living a good middle class life. That will be less likely to get involved in crime and that will help keep to U.S. economy strong. During the six year that Bush had the congress he did little to help the college student. Bush tried to cut americorps program that give money to student for school if that did so many hours of volunteer work. I as sure you are thinking how can go to sleep at night.

Over the last year and a half Democrats have been working hard to help college student. On 1/17/07 Democrats in the U.S. house passed the The College Student Relief Act of 2007. This law would cut interest rates in half for undergraduate students with subsidized student loans -- those most in financial need -- over the next five years at no new cost to taxpayers. Also it would increasing efficiency in the student loan programs and redirecting all savings directly back into the hands of students. Democrats got Bush to sign The College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007. This law will Cut interest rates in half on subsidized student loans over the next four years, increase the maximum Pell Grant scholarship to $5400 over the next five years, Expanding eligibility through needs analysis to include and serve more students with financial need, provid upfront tuition assistance to qualified undergraduate students who commit to teaching in public schools, and provide Historically Black Colleges and Universities with $510 million over five years. This was last year.

This year Dems in the house passed the College Opportunity and Affordability Act. This bill would Encourage colleges to rein in price increases and provide consumers with helpful information, it would Restore integrity and accountability to the student loan programs, Simplify the federal student aid application process and make text more cheaper. Also Democrats got Bush to sign Ensuring Continued Access to Student Loans Act of 2008 this will Reduce borrowers’ reliance on costlier private college loans and encourage responsible borrowing, Give parent borrowers more time to begin paying off their federal PLUS college loans, and help struggling families pay for college. Democrats have been busy doing what I need for the college student Bush with his party in control of congress did not do this much for students.

some info came from-http://edlabor.house.gov/micro/loansact.shtml