As I have written about recently, particularly in my piece The connection between Michigan’s EFM power grab, Rep. Fred Upton and Big Oil/Gas, my biggest concern about the use of Emergency Financial Managers (EFMs), particularly in areas where there are abundant natural (and other) resources to be exploited, is that they represent prime opportunities for businesses and corporations to use […]

Looks like the Frank Luntz focus groups showed that old people don’t want coupons for health insurance. They want something easy to understand, reliable and non-risky. Apparently, the Republicans finally got a clue. Senior Republicans conceded Wednesday that a deal is unlikely on a contentious plan to overhaul Medicare and offered to open budget talks with the White House by […]

Here kitty, kitty, kitty. Time to brush your teeth. UPDATED: Did you notice the flavor of the toothpaste? “Poultry”. Mmmmmmm… I’m just sayin’…

This should be fun. Al Pscholka is begging to be interviewed by Rachel Maddow. The west Michigan lawmaker who sponsored emergency financial manager legislation that has been repeatedly pilloried by MSNBC host Rachel Maddow — especially for the way it has been applied in Benton Harbor — is asking Maddow to allow him to make a live appearance on her […]

You’ve probably notices some changes to the blog this week. I apologize for the ads. However, I work very hard to make this site a good one and I’m trying to make a tiny bit of income from it in the process. I have had a complaint about a Trojan virus activating when someone loaded the page, probably due to […]

Presented with the conundrum of whether or not to show Osama bin Laden’s death photos, the administration is telegraphing loudly and obviously the fact that they are “in discussions” and not sure it’s the right thing to do. For two days now, administration spokespersons have said, in one form or another, that they are considering releasing photos but are weighing […]

As I reported yesterday, the Benton Harbor City Commission passed a resolution, declaring the takeover of their city by Emergency Financial Manager Joseph L. Harris to be unconstitutional. Joe Harris doesn’t give a damn. He’s going to rescind their resolution. Benton Harbor Emergency Manager Joseph Harris tells [WSJM] that he plans to issue an order rescinding this week’s city commission […]

In case you thought President Obama wasn’t engaged or playing an active role in the killing of Osama bin Laden, check out this photo by White House photographer Pete Souza: Check out President Obama’s and Hillary Clinton’s faces. I can’t even imagine how tense that room must have been. I’m just sayin’…

Yesterday, by a vote of 6 to 2, the Benton Harbor City Commission and Mayor declared the appointment of Joseph Harris as the Emergency Financial Manager and his subsequent stripping of the Commission’s ability to govern the City unconstitutional. Whereas, The City of Benton Harbor declares the appointment of an Emergency Manager a violation of Article I §1, which states […]

On the heels of the start of the recall effort against Rep. Al Pscholka, I have learned that eight additional state Representatives in Michigan are now being targeted for recall. These Republicans are being targeted because they won narrow victories in November 2010 and most are in traditionally blue (Democratic) districts (like Mark Ouimet in the 52nd District, i.e. MY […]

This Saturday, May 7, 2011, is the Blossomtime Grand Floral Parade. As I previously reported, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder will be the “Grand Marshal” of the parade. I have also learned that Representative Al Pscholka, the father of Michigan’s odious Emergency Financial Manager Law, will also be in the parade. The appearance of both of these men in the parade […]