The Command T.O.C.

More on the Michigan Democratic Primary

More bad news on the Michigan primary. We cannot figure out what to do but one thing is for sure. The only way these delegates should be seated is if we have a complete redo of the primary. The quickest way for the DNC to ensure I (and others I am sure) vote for John McCain is to seat the delegates as a result of the last "primary".

The entire debacle is the result of a stupid decision made by the Michigan Democratic Party early on in this primary. Here is what I have to say about that:

Michigan Democrats Now Want to Vote.. Again...

I think it is very insightful into how Hillary Clinton would govern when you look at what is going on with Florida and Michigan (My home state). She agreed to the party rules stating that if Michigan violated the party mandate on when to hold the primary, their delegates would not count and they would not campaign there. It is a very simple agreement.

Yet now Hillary needs those delegates to win. Since she needs them she has completely turned and is now saying "it would be only fair to let them be seated". Two problems with this:

First, she knows that her name was on the Michigan ballot and Barack's was not. Therefore, confused Democrats either did not go to the polls knowing, being told their vote did not count, or went there and saw only one name on the ballot they recognized. Further, in Michigan, write ins do not count so if you wanted a snow ball's chance in hell of Obama to be elected you had to vote "uncommitted". I wonder just how many people knew this rule? It was well advertised but in all the areas where the average person may not see it.

So, she is pulling a "hanging chad" out of her hat showing that she is absolutely no different than George Bush. She has the "red phone" ad to scare people, she is running as a "war" candidate and now she is showing, like Bush, if you cannot win the election, just try to steal it.

One thing I can assure Hillary of and that is that if I want another George Bush, I hate to tell her, but John McCain would be my man. Hillary is telling the voters that there are three very important things in this election: experience, who can "answer the phone" (BTW, wasn't Bill "on the phone" at 3:00am or so when Monica was... ah... never mind), and who can you trust.

Again, if those are the three biggest issues, it is John McCain all the way. She does not hold a candle to him in foreign affairs/defense, certainly he would be better at answering the call, and given what is going on in Michigan, there is no way I could ever trust her.

Hillary has killed the Democratic party's chances to win a Presidency. Like cyanide put into Kool-aid, Hillary has assured that everyone will go down if she goes down.

Michigan Primary: VOTE UNCOMMITTED.. DO NOT WRITE IN A CANDIDATE!

Due to the actions of the Democrat party in Michigan, we have been relegated to a sideshow in this election. But, that does not mean you should give up. You will NOT see Barack Obama's name on the ballot for party rules reasons. Please DO NOT WRITE HIS NAME IN. You MUST VOTE UNCOMMITTED. The following You tube video explains this. It is presented by the Mob Boss Mark Brewer, the Democrat Party Chair.

Right to Work in Michigan

Another silly diary which touts that passing "right to work" in Michigan is not good for the state. At Blogging for Michigan, "Wizardkitten" says of right to work:

"Michigan while pursuing legislation that would lower the quality of life for Michigan workers"

How is right to work going to lower the quality of life for a bunch of out of work "workers"? How can quality of life get much lower? This is an argument based on a fantasy world. I hate to break the news to "wizardkitten" but as long as Michigan remains a union stronghold not business in their right mind will relocate to Michigan (except for high tech which doesn't employ out of work UAW workers anyway).

They are either going to allow Michigan to fall apart and get to over 10% unemployment or they are going to compete in the "real world". The real world has moved beyond union thug tactics and allows individuals to decide whether they want to join one or not.

So, the choices are simple. Continue to put people on the unemployment line in Michigan or begin moving forward and make it a right to work state. I am not saying right to work solves all problems but it is a major move to begin moving forward.

It is Official.. The Michigan Democratic Party is Nuts

I have heard it all now as I read the "blast" emails coming to me from the Michigan Democratic Party. This is a state which has been devastated by policies of the past and a state where no business will come establish themselves for fear of the militant workforce (mostly around Detroit).

Today, I get an email from the Democratic party urging me to help them stop a movement to make Michigan a "right to work" state. Let's start first with how silly that sounds. You are basically telling me that you do not want me to have the right to choose where I work and under what conditions. You want me to have to put my career in the hands of some, generally corrupt, union boss from Detroit? You want me to have to go to a middleman at work every time I want to have a reasonable business conversation with my boss? You want me to have to work in a organization built on seniority rather than merit? Sure sounds like a Communist organization to me. Oh, and do not forget, you want me to have to pay dues.. for what?

Having said that, let us look at the economics of it. Michigan has been ravaged. Yes, you can argue "should" workers in a plant make $70 per hour fully burdened but the fact of the matter is that they do not. Therefore the right to work states in the South are taking jobs like crazy. The interesting thing is that most Detroit jobs are not being lost to China or Mexico. They are being lost to Ohio, Indiana, Tennessee, Alabama and South Carolina. America is still the leading auto manufacturer it is just that Detroit is NOT.

And what is the new idea from the MDP and the unions? More of the same. All I can say is that I hope the MDP is in Detroit to turn the lights out when the last person leaves.

Senator Stebenow (D-MI) Supports The Housing Welfare Bill

I wrote a while ago about the bail out of the "sub-prime" mortgages so I will not go through that again. In this posting I discussed the long term implications of doing this and how it will encourage people to take inordinate risks in the future. Why? Because in the long run the risk is not there; the Government will bail them out with welfare.

Senator Stebenow (D-MI; Website, News) "rises in support" of the bail out. This is welfare for the fairly wealthy, or those who should be wealthy.

What do I mean by that? Well, many who are in this situation are in it because they took huge risk and bought homes they should not have purchased and then used the equity to do other stupid things. I can tell you in the State of Michigan, a lot of people did this with the full expectation that housing was the next "internet stock" and it could never go down. But, alas, as the internet bubble and the tulip bubble and all other bubbles in between, mean reversion takes over and the correction has begun. Are we going to intervene every time someone takes a risk and the risk does not pan out? What about gamblers? What about those who rent and their rent goes up?

Michigan - The Case of The Disappearing Economy and State

I live in Michigan. I love Michigan. It has beautiful cost lines, incredible areas for outdoor sports and, if you are willing to "cross the bridge" and go to the Upper Peninsula (The "U.P.)" you will see some of the most virgin land in the Country. Totally untouched by human hands.

But there is another side; a very troubling and problematic side and that is the economy. Shall I say it is dead? Well, maybe not but it is in intensive care and on life support. There are many reasons for this, which I will discuss, but suffice it to say we have problems. How will we get out of them is the question and it seems the political parties are twisted in how they feel they should help Michigan.

Michigan Has Worst Month in December for Home State Troops

Documented on the Michigan Liberal Site, December was a horrible month for troops from the State of Michigan.

Bring them home!

Endorsement for Governor of Michigan: Jennifer Granholm

I highly endorse Governor Granholm for reelection to be the Governor of Michigan. She has established a clear 5 point plan for moving Michigan forward which encompasses jobs, healthcare, public safety, education and the environment. I believe she is moving forward on all fronts and just last week in Benton Harbor she outlined the work being done to grow (not just retain) jobs in the Benton Harbor area and highlighted both American Axle and Toyota bringing jobs to Michigan.

Yes, the American auto companies are reeling in pain right now but that is hardly her issue. She is on the path to diversify Michigan's economy from automotive while taking advantage of the automotive skills we have and showing that value to the new winners, companies like Toyota.

Her competitor on the other hand has a history of moving jobs overseas and building a company which is basically a pyramid scheme to help very wealthy people get even more wealthy while the average "worker" in Amway actually buys more than they sell. I met Dick Devos at a football game (he had bought hundreds of tickets to our local high school football game and was handing them out at the game) and I just felt like he was another "slick" Republican. A wolf in sheep's clothing.

I will continue to support Governor Granholm as I believe in her ability to think through issues and solve them. I look forward to her success.