The State of Michigan is in a weird state

A collection of stories about Detroit, Flint and the jaw-dropping stuff happening in these two cities.

Click through for the Full Monty.

By ‘Bill of Rights’ they mean the 2nd and 10th amendments One of the most ridiculous arguments made during the debate about background checks was, “Why pass new laws? Criminals won’t follow them anyway. Stick to legislating against those who actually listen — like gays and women.” This isn’t an argument against a particular law — it’s an argument against […]

Bonnie Duncan deserves your support

Last week, Alex Showerman from Democracy for America did a guest post about DFA’s scholarship program to the Netroots Nation conference every year.

Many esteemed activists have received scholarships over the years and I typically promote the candidacy of one or two of them. This year I’m asking you to give one of your votes to Bonnie Duncan, a former Michigander now living in Vermont and running a health food store. Why? Click through to find out.

Reclaiming Abraham Lincoln’s progressive legacy from today’s Republican Party

Next Saturday from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., the Lapeer County Democratic Party will have their annual Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser. Anne and I have been invited to speak to the attendees and we’re both really looking forward to it. In addition, Anne has assembled a 30-minute slideshow of some of her best photos, a “greatest hits” album, if you will, that we’ll be showing for at least part of the time.

Details and printable flyer after the jump.

I had a terrific conversation with Tony Trupiano last week on Night Shift with Tony Trupiano talking about the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, the State Policy Network and Lee Fang’s terrific article on the corporate front groups that are shaping our public policy and laws.

You can listen to it after the jump.

If you can’t win on your own ideas, steal someone else’s

Michigan Republicans have made it patently clear that they have no intention of letting Democrats score any legislative victories whatsoever. In the recent House appropriations legislation debates, for example, Democrats introduced over 70 amendments and every single one of them was shot down by the House Republicans. But even Republicans don’t think that EVERY idea that Democrats have is a bad one. It’s just not something they want the rest of Michigan to believe. So, in order to deny Democrats any legislative victories in the current session, Republicans have begun using an approach that I haven’t heard of before: introducing legislation that is identical to a bill that was introduced by a Democrat and then supporting that one instead.