Come Heller high water …
- Being disgusted by politicians is hardly new for me. But my opinion of the people who purport to represent us reached a new low in Michigan this month as I watched the lame duck Republican legislature and our Republican governor give a giant middle finger to voters by watering down laws that you and I created and passed and limiting the power of the leaders we elected. I’ve never witnessed anything more anti-American in my life. Republicans should be ashamed of themselves but, of course, they won’t be. They think they know best and the rest of us are just idiots who should just meekly obey. Thing is, we generally do.
Elections have consequences, and we’re the ones who gave these people the reins the past 10 years. And we’re the ones not stopping them. Mencken is said to have said: “Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard.” Hard to disagree. - Speaking of giant fingers, the state gave Flint one this week by creating a new job for Chief Medical Executive Eden Wells just days after a Genesee County judge ordered her to stand trial for involuntary manslaughter in Flint’s water crisis. Flint, if you had any doubt how much contempt state government holds you in, doubt no longer. I’m wearing out the word “outrageous” but this truly was. Again, the GOP doesn’t care. They know best, and you little Flint people should just stop whining about that silly water thing. Peasants.
- Also part of the ridiculous lame-duck flurry was the House passing a bill giving A-F letter grades to schools, which is stupid (what else would we expect from the House?) Rich districts will get great grades, poor districts will get worse ones, and then politicians will jump all over the poor districts to “reform” them. Honest to gosh, I don’t see why anyone puts up with being a teacher these days. Hey, maybe we should grade state government. See how they like it.
- Is there some kind of never-ending super virus going around? I have had the same violent head cold since before Thanksgiving. Me! The guy who never gets sick! Please tell me you have it, too, or I’m going to start feeling … mortal.
- The only good thing to come from this cold is it’s convinced me to get a flu shot. If a cold can be this bad then I sure as heck don’t want the flu. Illnesses these days seem a lot like the weather – much more extreme than they used to be.
- Michael Cohen deserved what he got. But I do feel bad for his kids. They’re adults but it still can’t be easy listening to your dad confess to major crimes. I hope the media leave them alone. Of course, they won’t.
- About the only thing that smells better than a real Christmas tree is coffee. Both would be on my list of Best Fives Smells, along with baking bread, onions and garlic sautéing and lake breeze.
- I’m surprised anyone who lives around here was surprised by GM’s announcement of plants closing, layoffs and buyouts. This is what the auto industry is: boom, bust, retool, hire a bunch, fire a bunch, rinse and repeat. The problem with Michigan is our economy is built upon their sand. We’ve diversified but not enough. Michigan will be a great state again when the auto companies get a cold and we as a state don’t get the flu because we have an economy in which autos are just a part. We remain a long, long way away from that moment.
- I’ve seen the same creepy ads on numerous news websites. They’re the ones on the sidebar that say “sponsored by Taboola” that pretend to be a trashy news story that says a celebrity “lives with his partner in this gorgeous mansion.” Pre-internet, you’d never have seen news organizations accepting that kind of trash. I miss standards.
- I get why the HopCat brewpubs are renaming their Crack Fries. But I’ll bet that’s what customers always call them, anyway. They haven’t announced a new name so I will humbly submit “Irresistifries.” (Hey, I’m not deaf. I hear you scoffing. Let’s hear yours then.)
- My Christmas favorites in no particular order: Song: Elvis’s “Blue Christmas;” Movie: “Christmas Story” (I was the kid whose mom overdressed him so much I couldn’t get up if I fell down); Tree: Scotch pine; Cookie: Gingerbread (c’mon, is there any other?); Moment: Christmas Eve, after everyone’s gone to bed, I sit and stare at the tree lights, intentionally fuzzing my vision so the colors elongate. It’s weird, I know); Feeling: Watching the kids, even though they’re all in college now, open their gifts; Breakfast: Mom’s egg and potato casserole.
- By the way, if you’re looking for a fun game to play at the holidays, I recommend Telestrations. It’s basically the old telephone game with a Pictionary twist. In our house, at least, it’s always good for a laugh because no one can draw for beans.
- Pot smoking may be legal in Michigan now but I bet the stigma doesn’t change.
- “We are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmas time.” – Laura Ingalls Wilder.
The GOP has been giving the finger ever since Obama was elected.
Obama’s election sent the GOP into a downward spiral and the party has become one of hate and cynicism.
I used to lean heavily republican in my younger years, as I age I have begun to see how the GOP dupes those who do not pay attention and meekly follow those in power no matter how corrupt and wrong they are.
I am now sixty three and I tend to lean more democratic as after all these years I can finally see that the democratic party is all for the people and the GOP party is all for themselves and screw everyone else.
Newt Gingrich introduced scorched earth politics and they’ve gone further and further with it every generation.
Two things: 1) This, then, is the legacy the Republican Party wants to leave. Not only to disregard the results of an election, but to change the rules as they walk out the door. 2) Favorite moment, walking out of Midnight Mass on a crisp night, with snow just beginning to fall.
Someday these changes will come back to bite them. Then listen to them howl.
Another column of yours that hits the the sweet spot of the bat!
Christmastime is always full of childhood memories. The best for me was when I was small and living with my grandma and grandpa. The fond memories of my children on Christmas Eve, and Christmas morning when they got me up at 4 a.m. Pounding on the floor of their upstairs bedrooms. Making popcorn balls, the kids decorating cookies loading them with frosting enough to spike sugar highs into the atmosphere. Oh the aromas of Christmas is spectacular! Merry Christmas to you and yours, Andrew.
Would you be willing to share the recipe for mom’s potato and egg casserole?
Wait for it…..
“We are not a Democracy! We are a Republic!”
Here it comes–“Democratic Republic.”
But it doesn ‘t say that in the Pledge of Allegiance, remember?
Fred, You get an “A” for not sleeping through Civics class. Of course it is really much more complicated. The United States might be labeled a constitutional federal representative democracy. But, when we simplify it, both “Republic” and “Democracy” each work.
As an aside, I recently had a student argue that the Pledge itself might be unconstitutional. Why? Because the words added in the 1950s “under god” could be viewed as an attempt to establish a religion.
I didn’t forget that the last time we had this discussion you were arguing that America is a Republic, not a Democracy, because it says so in The Pledge. Perhaps I missed your sarcasm at the time as you now acknowledge that Democracy does fit.
The Pledge itself is not unconstitutional, but the U.S. Supreme Court did rule it both unconstitutional to require citizens to recite it and to reprimand them for not doing so. Otherwise it is not a law, so there is nothing to be struck down on those grounds. As you know, it was merely a traditional practice that was once forced on students in public (Tax payer funded) schools and that is where it crossed the line to becoming unconstitutional.
I don’t understand how the following is some form of tyranny in the eyes of Democrats.
1. Bill passes state house
2. Bill passes state senate
3. Bill is signed into law by governor
Is it “tyranny” if Democrats don’t like the new law? How does this adherence to normal law passage amount to these hyperbolic claims from Democrats? Will it also by “tyranny” every time Grandholm 2.0 signs a bill into law?
So do you agree that what the voters passed should be overturned by some sore loosers? I asked you this I another post which you didn’t responded to.
Maybe our next effort should be to change the constitution(s) (State and Federal) to prevent the legislature to meet after the November elections. Just do away with the “Lame Duck” sessions. Might stop a lot of this partisan BS.
When I attempted to contact Governor Snyder about these changes, his contact email on Michigan.gov was closed since mid November “due to transition”. So they can continue to change previously voted on and passed bills, change the job description on people voted into office to do those jobs, but we as citizens do not have the right to contact them through normal government channels. As I said earlier, this is now their legacy.
No. The next step is simply to file constitutional challenges and let the courts do their jobs. Unconstitutional laws get blocked and reversed all the time. No need to change the constitution when it’s already on our side. Dispell that notion from your collective heads.
The point you right-wingers are missing is that the GOP wouldn’t be doing this if they hadn’t lost so badly in November. The voters did not ask for this from either party. They are either doing it out of vengence or out of demand from those who fill their coffers. Does that sound American to you?
To clarify, the second paragraph was not aimed at Oldugly..
Thank you Fred.
What are Eden Wells’ convictions?
In America convictions come AFTER the trial. Andy said that Eden Wells has been ordered to stand trial. Geddit?
C’mon. You’re part of the “law and order” party, aren’t you? Would you hire someone who is only facing trial for robbery to fix your roof? Don’t be a hypocrite.
What difference at this point does it make?!?!
That’s a cop-out response. Try again, W.D. You are the one who asked what his convictions are.
Who are the local politicians who supported the lame duck acts? We need exact names
not “republicans”. Were there any true Republicans who voted against it?
Probably not. I really don’t think any Democrats voted for any of it. If they did correct me please.
I, too, love the smell of roasted coffee. But coffee that is being roasted? Not so much. We have a roaster across the alley from us at my workplace in Escanaba. The smell is quite unpleasant.
The despicable ones have been passing laws this way for years before the most recent elections. Voters banned the emergency manager law – they made a new one. Any laws they knew wouldn’t hold up were enacted with “budgetary “ implications so that they couldn’t be replaced. Any law that could be exposed by transparency was implemented on “emergency” terms instead of the normal waiting period.
I am mildly surprised that Mr. Snyder has signed some of these bills, that he goes along with the Republican poops. That dopey Line Five tunnel was Snyder’s idea. Of course he signed that. But, the business about delaying minimum wage increases until 2030? Other dumb-dumb state Republican laws?
Turns out Snyder is just as dumb as the rest of the Michigan Republicans. Snyder is dead, politically. To heck with him, forever.
I have this idea about Snyder: He knows he has no future in regular politics, because of his awful Flint water actions. So…
Now he may be trying to act all right-wing, rather than rational. And… That might get him large right-wing speaking fees, plus comment spots on Fox News and such.
Rick Snyder, you have disappointed us, mightily!
The word”Republic” is originally found in the Constitution. That document that the Democrats do not like.
Why do they not like the Constitution? It is not a living changeable document. It is designed to keep the FEDERAL government in check. You can only change it by 2/3 of the states voting to add an amendment to it or to repeal a bad amendment (prohibition).
As to the Republicans changing the recently passed anti-gerrymandering act. They definitely should not do such a thing. I have a very faint hope that Gov. Snyder will not sign that travesty of a change.
Then again, if the Democrats were in charge and tried to do the same thing I seriously doubt if the Democrats would be complaining about the changes.
There is not an easy cheap answer to line 5. Maybe the Democrats will try to stop the project.
Then after a couple of years resurrect it as an ideal democrat solution.
Jim, enough of the “dems don’t like the Constitution” nonsense. Stop spouting nonsense or off the site you go. Have a legit gripe, fine. But b.s. isn’t allowed.
Are opposing opinions not allowed? If someone makes valid points contrary to the Democrat line, they get banned?
Sounds very cowardly to me.
Abner, you turn out to be a twit. Anybody who knows this web site knows better than to agree with Jimmie the Third. What is your simple-minded point about Democrats not liking the constitution? Snore! Wrong and boring to read. Maybe, come up with something original or interesting, or maybe just go away.
Proof that many persons agree with the concept that Democrats don’t like the US Constitution.
https://www.detroitnews.com/story/opinion/2018/11/14/democrats-hate-our-constitutional-system/1990150002/
Yet more proof
https://nypost.com/2018/10/08/democrats-latest-excuse-blame-the-constitution/
Opinion pieces are proof?
You aren’t fooling anyone, W.D.
PARTIAL SHUTDOWN OF HEAVEN. PROOF THAT GOD IS A REPUBLICAN
In sympathy with President Stormcloudface’s partial Christmas shutdown of the US government, the Lord has instituted a partial shutdown of Heaven. Guardian Angels will be on furlough until further notice. Saint Peter still will be on duty at the Pearly Gates, but the angels who open the gates will be off duty. The caravan of souls seeking entry will need to camp out, outside of Heaven until such time as Heaven goes back into full operation.
The Christmas Star will not be illuminated this year. Wise Men will not be admitted to Christendom. Shepherds, though, should benefit from the new Agriculture Bill.
Matt, Thank you for the chuckle.