This is Thelma Meyer, photographed last fall just after she turned 93 years old by my wife Anne, one of Thelma’s many grandchildren. Thelma passed away last week after complications resulting from a hip-breaking fall. Thelma Meyer was one of the most inspiring liberals I have ever met. Thelma, or “Nana” as her kids, grandkids and great-grandkids called her, was […]

Last week in the middle of a huge blizzard, my wife and I had the distinct pleasure of attending the opening of the “Nano, Micro, Macro – A matter of scale” art show at the Duderstadt Center on the campus of the University of Michigan. This remarkable art show features work from three very different artists. There’s A. John Hart […]

Hoo boy. The GOP in Michigan has taken “lame” to a new level. Seriously, people, THIS is the best you can do??? If that’s the pinnacle of their marketing suave, the Dems in Michigan may be in better shape in the fall midterm elections than I thought. This isn’t even worthy of some high school kid with a video editing […]

I first read about this over at Bob Cesca’s Awesome Blog! Go! and was pretty stunned. Seems they held a Republican strategy meeting at which a 72-page presentation was given that laid out their electoral strategy for the remainder of the year until midterms. What tactics will they use? Fear of Democrats of course! Seems some doofus left a copy […]

Have you heard the one about how “most Americans are against health insurance reform (HIR)”. When you hear this endless repeated by Republicans and right-wing radio and television pundits, know this: THEY ARE LYING. The Republicans and anti-HIR forces have spent months demonizing this legislation to the point that they have effectively freaked people out about it. But when you […]

Republican hopeful Brian Rooney, a Tea Partier running for the nomination in MI-07, recently received an endorsement from Erick Erickson of RedState.com. Unlike most people who would flee from such an endorsement, Rooney says he is “proud” of it. “I am proud to have Erick’s endorsement,” said Iraq veteran Rooney. “RedState.com has become one of the most influential voices in […]

Thanks so much to all of the folks that read and voted for my short story “Two North” at Bookrix. I was notified yesterday that my story was in the top ten out of over 400 entries (I came in 7th.) This qualifies it to advance to the final round where it will be judged by a panel of folks […]

When you hear Republicans call health insurance reform “a trillion dollar hole in our nation’s budget”, know this: THEY ARE LYING This legislation is not only paid for, it doesn’t add one penny to our national debt and it will lower our deficit by $2 TRILLION over the next two decades. I’m just sayin’…

The next time you hear some Republican say that Democrats are using the budget reconciliation process to ram through health insurance reform and that is an unprecedented use of it that affects 1/6 of our economy, know this: THEY ARE LYING Not only have they used it for gigantic, party line votes themselves, the way it will be used for […]

President Obama will be making a statement today at 1:30 p.m. (Eastern) about the path he wishes to take forward on health insurance reform. I suspect that he will push for Democrats in Congress to pass all of the provisions possible using budget reconciliation. The things that can NOT be passed that way will have to be taken up as […]

A few days ago, I wrote a blog entry titled “Whither OFA?”. In it I talked a bit about OFA and where we’ve been over the past year. Looking forward, I thought some folks might be interested in learning how Organizing for America (OFA) is evolving and suggest that you consider taking another look. The executive summary is this: OFA […]