Eclectablog readers are informed voters. There are plenty of reasons to support the work we do here at Eclectablog. But one of the best reasons I can think of is this: We work for you. And our work helps you take action that makes a difference in Michigan. It’s especially important in an election year when we stand poised to […]

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of Hobby Lobby today in a narrow 5-4 decision that allows the owners of for-profit corporations to deny health insurance coverage for some types of contraceptives for their employees. The decision cements in place the idea that corporations are people entitled to Constitutionally-protected rights like free speech. As it turns out, Michigan Attorney […]

Corporatism is alive and well in state governments across the USA The Guardian newspaper has a blockbuster piece out today that shows how the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), has turned to working through state Attorneys General to stop any efforts by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. The Guardian has learned that the American Legislative […]

Earlier this week the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Environmental Protection Agency’s rulemaking regarding pollutants from coal-fired power plants. The ruling allows the EPA to put tighter controls on the plants to prevent pollution in one state from having negative impacts on the health and safety of residents of another state. Michigan Attorney General was one of […]

After mounting what can only be called a lackluster and embarrassing defense of Michigan’s bigoted ban on same-sex marriage last month, Attorney General Bill Schuette was handed a stunning defeat as the federal judge overseeing the case struck down the ban as unconstitutional. Schuette then appealed the ruling and asked for the appeals court to meet “en banc” to rule […]

Seriously, this is getting ridiculous MIRS has a damning report out this week about further examples of pay-to-play politics in the Snyder administration. According to their reporting, the Dickinson Wright law firm received a $225,000 contract with the state in July of 2013. The contract was signed by Attorney General Bill Schuette and former state Treasurer Andy Dillon. A week […]

Ken Cuccinelli, former Attorney General of Virginia, has a national reputation for outrageous extremism which he paints himself with as a “morality” suit of clothing. Here in Michigan, our current AG, Bill Schuette, is equally extreme but seems not garner quite so much attention. But the similarities are there. Cuccinelli fought to overturn Obamacare in the courts and lost – […]

Peters, Totten: Hit your opponents on Obamacare

If you are watching basketball and the play is constantly at one end of the court, you have a pretty good guess who’s winning, right? (HINT: not the team that’s spending all its time defending). The same thing goes for hockey, soccer, football…and communications.

When Chris interviewed me when I started writing here he asked about the mistakes I see progressive communicators make, and I answered that playing defense instead of offense is one of the biggest ones. I see too many candidates and advocates spend their time defending against attacks, trying to justify to the public why their views aren’t wrong, rather than going on the offense against their opponents and forcing them to explain the ways they are out of touch with American values.

Hallelujah! Photo by Anne C. Savage, special to Eclectablog The nearly 300 same-sex couples who were married last Saturday in Michigan will have their marriages recognized by the federal government. The Snyder administration has said that they will NOT recognize them or give the couples the benefits afforded heterosexual married couples even though they believe the marriages are legal. The […]

She and her husband found insurance for just $227/month. What are you waiting for? 2014 enrollment ends March 31. Dawn Erina is frustrated with all the lies she’s heard about the Affordable Care Act (ACA). That’s because she knows first-hand what a difference having affordable health insurance can make in someone’s life. Her husband, Leonard, lost his job last year. […]

We shall know you by the company that you keep As Michigan Attorney General and 2018 gubernatorial candidate Bill Schuette continues his crusade to deny gay and lesbian couples their civil rights and equality under state law, he finds himself with interesting company. It turns out the white nationalist Kyle Bristow has filed an amicus brief (pdf) in support of […]