Friends

So much for the plans of the Cookie Lady and Samuel Vorhees.  The Teapublican attempt to take out Bill Hirsch has failed.

Looks like the GOP Congressional Primary battle between Justin Amash, Bill Hardiman, and Steve Heacock got a bit nastier.

On a youtube video entitled "Heacock For Congress: They're stupid enough", a photo of Steve Heacock says the following text:
Hi, I'm Steve Heacock and even though it's a bad move for me and my family, I'm running for Congress in the Michigan 3rd. My experience in the health insurance industry, long history serving on bank boards, and as Mr. Van Andel's personal man servant is exactly the kind of experience we need in Washington. Now don't be fooled by my opponent's charges, just because I look like a used car salesman doesn't mean a thing. It's not that I like to smile, I just don't have any choice. Those botox injections froze my face this way. But that's ok, you can trust me just like all my bank buddies and my boys that have my back down at the Varnum Group. My record of leadership says is all. I'm personally responsible for everything that's been good for Grand Rapids since I graduated from high school. And I don't need to tell you that everything bad around here is the fault of my opponents. Mr. Hardiman, he's just been ineffective in the state senate ... and besides he's got that lazy look in his eyes. Mr. Overbeek, he's a veteran, what do they know about service. Mrs. Johnson, what, she's jogging around the district for votes, give me a break. Now Mr. Amash, he's my only real competition. But I'm not worried, who pays attention to Facebook. If we're real quite maybe the tea party won't notice the TV adds I'm about to unleash that will remind everyone how I single-handedly saved Grand Rapids over the last twenty years. I'm Steve Heacock and I'm positive you're all stupid enough to elect me as your next Congressman for the Michigan 3rd.

Nothing like a friendly GOP primary. Of course, who can forget Justin Amash's employment struggles at Varnum?
The poster is named CryerGastrap, and he is supposedly starting a site called Friends of Justin Amash. Is there any way to determine who the poster of the Heacock attack video would be?

My first thought that it was Mr. Tyler Gaastra, who has previous shown much love towards WMR in the past by calling us "pernicious statists". While serving as campaign adviser for Tea-Party Republican State House candidate Jordan Bush, Gaastra also maintains a role of cheerleader for various local tea-party causes, especially on Red County. Gaastra previously attacked Heacock in a post on June 11, 2010 claiming that Heacock "borrowed" from other Republican candidates' issue statements. Some of the language in the you tube post and in Mr. Gaastra's Red County post is similar. (Update 9:53pm: multipile sources tell me that it wasn't Gaastra-langauge revised accordingly-pb)

Given that Gaastra wasn't the poster, what posted the video? A leading suspect would be Ada Township Trustee John Westra. Westra responded on Gaastra's Red County post by stating (spelling errors kept to be a faithful originialist):

The plagiarism of content by the Heacock campaign is unforgivable.  Either the candidate knew about the content theft and is thereby guilty of it himself or he is so far dissengaged from his campaign, that it creates huge doubts about his competency as a leader.  After all, if you have this much of a hands-off leadership style and are such a poor judge of character, so as to appoint people to very important roles, who have ZERO ethics, are you really fit to lead in government?  I don't think so!

The LAST thing we need is another good-ol-boy, know-nothing politician who was elected because he was well connected.  We need principled leaders like Justin Amash and Bill Hardiman.

Withdrawl from the race is the only honorable choice for Steve Heacock at this point.  Failure to do so or to blame others for this blatant ethics violation would simply taint his record further!

The text at the youtube video reads:

Justin Amash is the best man for Congress in Michigan's 3rd District. He is running a transparent campaign for all to see on Facebook. Just today, it was revealed that Steve Heacock "stole" the ideas of others for his issue statements. We don't need someone that is either too lazy or dishonest serving us in Washington, DC, we have enough crooks there already. Everybody, let's vote for Justin and spread the work about what Heacock has done. Based on this alone Heacock should immediately withdraw from the race!

Send me any spoofs or other videos and ideas you have that call Steve and the others out. I'll be glad to post them here or on the other site I hope to start, Friends of Justin Amash.

Some of the text is very similar. Regardless of the poster, loves grows in the Old Party. While folks here are busy working on Democratic campaigns, it is always good to stop and enjoy the antics in the GOP.

Who knew that the corner of Breton and Burton could be so dangerous? Or maybe not. From the Grand Rapids Press:

GRAND RAPIDS -- Financial troubles caused by gambling losses allegedly led a Caledonia school board member and candidate for the Kent County Commission to claim he was carjacked and that a thief stole money he was to deposit from his job at Pizza Hut, police said.

Brad Engelberg, 31, called police Tuesday and told officers he was held up while stopped at a red light at the corner of Burton Street and Breton Avenue SE.

See the full story here:
http://www.mlive.com/news/gran...

Engelberg is a GOP candidate running against GOP Commissioner Bill Hirsch in the 10th District (Caledonia and Gaines Township). Probably won't be much of a primary now.  

This is pretty rich - Dillon makes his first big campaign ad, touting his record of passing the "Hire Michigan First" Law, and has AKPD, a Chicago firm, produce it.

When asked why the campaign didn't hire a Michigan firm, T.J. Bucholz, a spokesman for the Dillon campaign, said: "There are only a handful of companies that do this kind of work. I'm not aware of one in Michigan with that kind of caliber."

From The Detroit News: http://www.detnews.com/article...

Nothing against Chicago or anything, I love Chicago.  

I'm here at the fourth annual Michigan Summit in East Lansing. Activists and progressive types from all over Michigan are here to share ideas and perspectives. I'll be live-blogging through the day.

Karen DeMott, Michigan Summit Director, and David Holtz, Progress Michigan Executive Director

Lynn Johndahl, founder of the Summit, just received an award from the current organizers, Karen DeMott and David Holtz, of Progress Michigan.

Winning the Battle for Change
Moderator: Linda Teeter, Executive Director, Michigan Citizen Action

John Freeman, Michigan Director, Health Care for America Now!

History of defeats from Teddy Roosevelt through Clinton in 1994. Five critical elements, lessons learned, which made the difference in winning this time - 1) emphasis on field organizing, bottom up effort to build a nationwide coalition to apply pressure to legislators. 2) Needed to develop a message to frame the issue towards our position. 3) Raising money to be successful - given the resources the opposition will have. 4) Write the campaign plan 5) Hire the right staff

State Rep. Ellen Cogen-Lipton, Defining Michigan: The battle over stem cells

A law was on the Michigan books from 1978 which made it a crime to destroy embryos - which had the unintended consequence of preventing research on stem cells. Only four other states forbade this research, making it an economic development issue. In 2006, Michigan Citizens for Stem Cell Research and Cures was formed, to educate the public in advance of a ballot initiative. For two years, speakers travelled the state talking with any group which would listen. The next year, Cure Michigan was formed to fundraise and collect signatures. This group was able to respond quickly to ads put on by the opposition. Initiative passed in 2008. This October, Detroit will be hosting a conference on stem cell research, and businesses which had fled are coming back.

Beth Bingham, Director, Michigan Economic Recovery Office

How the Recovery Act is creating jobs in Michigan: The Recovery Act not only launched a recovery - it also launched the Tea Party. This changed the mission for the Recovery Office to talking about how the Act is actually helping people, as well as implementing the Act. The Office has had to tell the truth, to change the story. Going out to the public service workers who are serving needy seniors. Slate came around to see how the Recovery Act is working to provide jobs, infrastructure, and social safety net. But the final story got hijacked. Recovery Act has created 54,000 jobs, leveraged $11 Billion in  investment.

Jon Hoadley, Campaign Manager for One Kalamazoo

62% of Kalamazoo voters supported the Kalamazoo Equal Rights Ordinance. Ordinance had been passed by the City Commission twice. First lesson: campaign was the result of two years of planning by the Kalamazoo Alliance for Equality. Second, hiring good staff for the home stretch to keep the excitement building was critical.  Third, the opposition was going to use the politics of race and religion to put lies into the minds of voters. Finally, build your message, and stick to your message. If we get 30 to 45 seconds to impact voters, we are doing well. Don't spend that critical time responding to the negative message of the opposition. What is the core message? "Everyone deserves to be treated fairly and equally."

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Blueprint for Change

Moderator: Doug Pratt, Director of Communications, Michigan Education Association

Question: What is the current problem, and what is the solution for real change?

Charles Ballard, Professor of Economics, MSU: Reforming the State Budget to Provide a Better Michigan Future.

Public perception: "Taxes are incredibly high! And state government has hardly been cut at all." In fact, School Aid Fund revenues have fallen by 13% to 20%, depending on adjustment for inflation - General Fund revenues have fallen by 39% to 46%. Revenue sharing to local government down by half. Our revenue system is broken - state revenues have fallen far below the Headlee limit. Each element of revenue does not keep up with economy. Raise taxes on beer and wine, do away with marginal tax breaks.

Carla Walker-Miller, CEO, Walker-Miller Energy Services

Energy is the foundation of the entire economy. Energy problems can derail our plans for every sector of the economy. Wind turbines are solar are part of the green economy, but only a part - a painter using environmentally-friendly paint is greening his job. Things that are being done now, but will be done in a more efficient way, are part of the green economy. Incentives can be used by the state to change behavior - e.g. seat belts. Same thing can be used to change our behavior on energy.

Sam Singh, The New Economy Initiative: Transitioning to an Innovation-Based Economy

Most jobs are being created by small entrepreneurs. Most education aimed at finding a job in a company, rather than starting one. How do we build on our border with Canada? How do we leverage education spending for job creation?
K.P. Pelleran, State Director, Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Michigan (www.fightcrime.org)
Times are lean - we have research that shows (and folks in law enforcement know) that investments in quality pre-school save tax dollars down the road in law enforcement. Social functioning increases with quality pre-school, leads to fewer kids repeating grades, more graduating from high school, having higher paying jobs, owning their own homes. Breaking the cycle of child abuse and neglect is critical.

State Rep. Kate Segal: Michigan's Health Care Reform Challenge

In our state, if you mke more than 45% of the poverty level, you are not eligible for Medicaid coverage. The health insurance cost effect - we are paying about $1000 per family more in health care premiums to cover uninsured. The rules are being promulgated at the Federal level for the states to follow - how do we formulate the details at the state level? Is the information being provided clear? We have a ways to go, but need good people implementing it at the state level.

State Rep. Woodrow Stanley: The Elliot-Larson Civil Rights Act II

I sponsored legislation on hate crimes; met with a constituent about the issue, who claimed that government has a right to discriminate. When you start quoting your grandfather, you are getting old! "Common sense ain't common anymore" Elliot-Larson deals with discrimination in housing and employment; has protected classes, but does not include sexual orientation. Expanding this would create a better business climate. What whipped Arizona in line about the MLK holiday? MONEY! National organizations pulling their conventions.

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Van Jones
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Luke Canfora, State Director, Repower Michigan: The Future of Green Jobs in Michigan

Wind turbine - installation & maintenance; Smart grid; Weatherization; Efficient vehicles - up to 33,000 new auto jobs by 2015.
What do these things have in common? Manufacturing!

Dan Fingas, Michigan Laborers' Union: Green Jobs = Good Pay; The Weatherization Example

Insulation, windows and doors, caulking, HVAC. 20% on nation's energy is used in homes. In the next decade, potential for 0.5 million jobs in weatherization. What  is not happening now is creating a sustainable industry for years to come. 31 agencies in Michigan have authority of weatherization - lots of overlap and different standards. Need to green the current industry we have. Building contractor capacity. Need quality assurance standards statewide and nationwide.

Dana Sevakis, Michigan Coordinator, The Apollo Alliance: Retooling for the Green Economy

We need a full-scale change along the lines of the Apollo program, hence the name. $500 billion to be invested over ten years. Restore America's manufacturing leadership to lead the green economy. Michigan has lost 18% of our workforce in manufacturing over the last decade. The stimulus bill has put a down payment on green manufacturing. Europe and China are ahead in green energy.

Sarah Mullkoff, Michigan Campaign Coordinator, Clean Water Action: When Less is More; How Energy Conservation and Efficiency are Michigan Job Creators

Michigan's Energy legislation is still a mixed bag, in spite of renewable portfolio standards. We have a 1% rate of home efficiency improvement policy. Proposal for up to 2% for 2015. By 2019 would save up to $6 billion.

Cory Connolly, Student, MSU, Roosevelt Institute Campus Network

Public-Private partnership between career-tech centers and private industry to train secondary students in green technologies.

Valerie Bieberich, Student, UM, Roosevelt Institute Campus Network.

In 2008, United Solar Ovonics was looking for a site for a new factory. Fort Custer in Battle Creek. There were city tax abatements. We can attract green companies in the same way as we attract conventional manufacturing. City partnered with BC Unlimited, local business development firm.

Yesterday, the Teapublicans continued to nominate some largely unelectable candidates. The Country Club Establishment cannot hold. They tried to ride the tiger -- it looks like they're frequently getting eaten. And, this is good news.

The latest Washington Post poll shows broad public opposition to the Tea (really Whiskey) Party.

Do you have a favorable or unfavorable impression of the political movement known as the Tea Party? Do you feel that way strongly or somewhat?

Favorable Total: 36
 Strongly Favorable: 17
 Somewhat Faborable: 19
Unfavorable Total: 50
 Strongly Unfavorable: 25
 Somewhat Unfavorable: 24
No opinion: 14

Those numbers show a major dip in public opinion on the Tea Party. The last poll was in March and now favorables are down 5 and unfavorables are up 11.

So, the Teabaggers are powerful enough to often win Republican primaries -- Sharron Angle in Nevada and Nikki Haley in South Carolina -- but almost certainly not powerful enough to then push their candidates over the top in November general elections unless the seat is very safe Republican.

Here in Kent County it'll be interesting to see the outcomes of the Civil War in the Old Party: Amash v Heacock v Hardiman, Bush v Goei (huh), etc.

There's not a lot more than can be said about the incredible events that rolled through Kalamazoo this evening. It was inspiring.  And certainly from the perspective of GRPS a bit of envy-producing.  

The Superintendent was well focused.

The student speakers were absolutely charming?  And the President hit it hard. Good schools are not a product simply of good backgrounds, they arise from a community's commitment.  And as we're finding out in Grand Rapids, this sort of commitment is generated by leadership.

Here are a few of the better moments:
Now, together as a community, you've embraced the motto of this school district:  "Every child, every opportunity, every time."    Every time.  Every child, every opportunity, every time, because you believe, like I do, that every young person, every child -- regardless of what they look like, where they come from, how much money their parents have -- every child who walks through your schoolhouse doors deserves a quality education.  No exceptions.  

And I'm here tonight because I think that America has a lot to learn from Kalamazoo Central about what makes for a successful school in this new century.  You've got educators raising standards and then inspiring their students to meet them.  You've got community members who are stepping up as tutors and mentors and coaches.  You got parents who are taking an active interest in their child's education -- attending those teacher conferences, yes, turning off the TV once in a while, making sure homework gets done.

And this:

And when that happens, it's the easiest thing in the world to start looking around for somebody else to blame.  Your professor was too hard; your boss was a jerk; the coaches -- was playing favorites; your friend just didn't understand.  Your wife -- oh, no.  (Laughter.)  I'm just messing with Michelle right there.  (Laughter.)  That was all in fun.  (Laughter.)

No, but this is an easy habit to get into.  You see it every day in Washington -- every day -- folks calling each other names, making all sorts of accusations on television.  Everybody is always pointing a finger at somebody else.  You notice that?

Now, this community could have easily gone down that road.  This community could have made excuses -- well, our kids have fewer advantages, our schools have fewer resources -- how can we compete?  You could have spent years pointing fingers -- blaming parents, blaming teachers, blaming the principal, blaming the superintendent, blaming the President.  (Laughter and applause.)

But that's -- Class of 2010, I want you to pay attention on this because that's not what happened.  Instead, this community was honest with itself about where you were falling short.  You resolved to do better, push your kids harder, open their minds wider, expose them to all kinds of ideas and people and experiences.

 

Alice Corey was a very passionate, upbeat woman, a staunch supporter of our Party and of progressive causes. She was one of our Third District delegates to the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver. She died this week at 59.

From an email from the Ionia Democrats:

It is with great sorrow that I inform you that our friend Alice Corey passed away yesterday.  As most of you know she was a very active member of the Democratic Party, and a local leader in Obama's Campaign for Change. Aside from being a wonderful volunteer and a proud Democrat, she was an amazing woman with a generous heart and she will be greatly missed.

Here is her obituary, where you can leave a message of condolence.

It is sometimes said that it's not the length of one's life that matters, but its width and depth. While we are all saddened that her life wasn't longer, let's remember that her life was deep and wide.

May she rest in peace.

George Bush is still an idiot.

W was invited by the Economic Club of Grand Rapids (did they invite Hoover in 1934?) to speak.  Apparently he said that his greatest disappointment as president was "failing to push through Social Security reform." Really? Really? I understand W doesn't read newspapers, but imagine what would have happened had Bush and his Republicans forced folks to throw their money, unsecured, into those crooked Wall Street banks just two or three years before the stock market collapse and the Bush Recession?  Proof positive that Republicans cannot be trusted to hold power in this difficult economic situation (largely created by those same failed policies).

Repower America will be hosting a townhall the focus will be on efforts made by business and policy leaders here in Grand Rapids to make it the most sustainable midsized city in the country.

Come learn about the efforts of one city, taking responsibility for their carbon footprint and creating jobs by investing in renewable energy and sustainability.

Grand Rapids Renewable Energy and Sustainability Town hall
Sponsored by Repower America
June 8th, 2010
7:00-8:30pm
City Middle/High School - 1400 Fuller Ave. Grand Rapids, MI.
There is plenty of parking available and refreshments will be served. All are welcome.

Questions:
Zane Corriveau
Repower America - West Michigan Field Organizer
616-706-7904
corrive9@gmail.com

From left to right: 61st Rep. Larry DeShazor, 60th Rep. Robert Jones, 80th Rep. Tonya Schuitmaker, Mark Totten, Lorence Wenke

I'm finally getting around to posting about the 20th Senate Forum held at WMU's Fetzer Center last Thursday night. It was a very good event, with the questions from the audience well-chosen to bring out the similarities and differences between the candidates.

Obviously, all the candidates agree that jobs are the most important issue for us. I'm going to try to add some details about the differences in their answers as I get time to transcribe my recording. For now, listen to the video of the answer to the first question below the fold.

Answers to First Question at WMU 20th Senate Forum

In other 20th Senate news, Kalamazoo County Commissioner and former 20th Senate candidate John Taylor has endorsed Robert Jones in this race.

Democrats in Kalamazoo Memorial Day Parade

It was a great day and a great parade - and we just missed the rain!

Color Guard

Democrats on parade, Thom Myers out front with the flag

Sean McCann (60th House candidate) and Bob Jones (20th Senate candidate)

Women in black - mourning victims of war and occupation

Hot of the wires, Dave Hildenbrand releases his"impressive" list of endorsers:

Richard Root, Mayor, City of Kentwood
George Haga, Ada Township Supervisor
Fred Goldberg, Cascade Township Trustee
James Buck, Grandville Mayor
Frank Force, Grattan Township Supervisor
Dean Agee, Kent County Commissioner
Roger Morgan, Kent County Commissioner
Gary Rolls, Kent County Commissioner
Art Tanis, Kent County Commissioner
Ray VerWys, Kentwood Commissioner
Jeff Altoft, Lowell City Councilman
Maryalene LaPonsie, Lowell City Councilwoman
Jerry Hale, Lowell Township Supervisor
Carl Blough, Lowell Township Trustee
Mark Anderson, Lowell Township Trustee
Bill Thompson, Lowell Township Trustee
Allan Baird, Vergennes Township Trustee
Tim Wittenbach, Vergennes Township Supervisor
Mari Stone, Vergennes Township Clerk
Jean Hoffman, Vergennes Township Treasurer

It's hard to read this without noting who is missing -- just about everybody from Kentwood and Grand Rapids.  In short, any one who is actually associated with the challenges facing our cities.  

And only because this is so easy: Hildenbrand wants federal tax money to help rebuild our roads.  But to date the State Senate as refused to make the appropriations necessary to release this money.  For someone who wants to make Michigan a competitive state, the silence on this measure is deafening.

But hey, at least the farmers like him.

I will be at Kalamazoo Environmental Council meeting at this time - would love to have someone attend and write an article.

KALAMAZOO--Candidates for the 20th state Senate district seat will answer questions at a public forum Thursday, May 27, from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Fetzer Center at Western Michigan University.

The district includes all of Kalamazoo County, plus Paw Paw and Antwerp townships in Van Buren County. Incumbent Sen. Tom George is term-limited and seeking the Republican nomination for governor.

Democratic candidates in the 20th are state Rep. Robert Jones of Kalamazoo, and Mark Totten of Oshtemo Township, an assistant professor of law at Michigan State University. The Republicans are state Rep. Larry DeShazor of Portage, state Rep. Tonya Schuitmaker of Lawton, and former state Rep. Lorence Wenke of Comstock Township.

Gordon Evans, Morning Edition anchor for public radio WMUK will moderate the forum.

An identical forum held May 18 featured six Democratic and Republican candidates for the 60th and 61st state House seats. WMU's Office of Legislative Affairs sponsored both forums.

So we are heading into another political season, now past the filing deadline, and into the time of candidate forums and such. I will be reporting on that sort of thing, here in Kalamazoo County and throughout the Sixth CD. As always, we invite candidates, campaign managers, interested spectators to post diaries with their message & reflections on the issues and the process. I would particularly appreciate getting a few people across the Sixth in Allegan, Berrien, and Van Buren (at least) to step forward and agree to post, say, two articles a month from your counties.

A comment at a recent event made me realize that my role here might be subject to misunderstanding, and I thought I had better clarify.
First and foremost, I'm an activist within the Democratic Party. Looking around the political landscape some years ago, I saw that the best way I could help my country, state, and community was to do my bit at the local level to elect MORE Democrats, and BETTER Democrats.

So in my role here as an editor at West Michigan Rising, I do not consider myself primarily as a journalist. Certainly, I'm not an unbiased commentator, as (one would hope, although the hope is constantly disappointed) we should expect from mainstream reporters working for for-profit media.

I do hold myself to some journalistic standards, the main one being to write nothing which is not the truth, and not to report facts for which I do not have a reliable source.

Unlike a journalist, I will not always report something I happen to know, even if well-sourced, if it does not favor my side. I'll let the other side do that. I'm an activist.

However, from time to time, I will be critical of Democratic politicians and their policies, if in my judgment this will serve the broader, long-term interest of good government and/or the Democratic Party as a whole. If a candidate is in over their head, well, I'm going to point that out, so they can be aware at least that perception is out there, and they can take steps to improve - if possible. If that is painful to the individuals involved - I'm sorry. Also, in keeping with electing BETTER Democrats, I will be critical of candidates who compromise or ignore core Democratic values.

Finally, there is a tricky aspect to my writing about local politics while serving as Campaigns Chair for Kalamazo CDP, Vice-Chair of 6th District Committee, and Board member of the Justice Caucus. I will never, ever, write about anything I happen to learn in the course of advising a candidate or campaign, or in the official meetings of these bodies, unless the meetings are public, or in casual conversations with members, unless I ask to quote you. I had a lapse in this regard some time ago, in which I characterized a point of debate (without attribution) as a way of illustrating the point made above about criticizing fellow Democrats. I was called on it, and rightly so. Since then, I have set up this 'mental firewall' between my role as a member of various party bodies and my role as commentator here.

Yesterday's election results match perfectly with what I'm hearing from voters at the door in Kent County. Incumbents are in trouble.  In anything resembling a swing district, elected officials with ties to Lansing are likely to be sounding like Specter this coming election night. There certainly isn't any rage against Democrats in general. Indeed, nationally, with Murtha's PA-12 seat held, Democrats are now undefeated in the seven special US House elections since November 2008 (PA-12, NY-23, CA-10, NY-20, IL-14, MS-1, LA-6). Bet you hadn't heard that from herd media. Is the far-right more vocal this cycle? Yes, I've seen four yellow flags around GR. But, those were always Republican or Libertarian votes. Among most voters, Wall Street and the oil spill has soured folks on Libertarian dogma. In short, there is no coming Republican wave. Quality candidates, especially those that aren't "of Lansing," will win. Thus, I think our team is poised for some major wins in November.