West Michigan Rising - Recent Comments

Edwards

ppwiii — Fri, 16 May 2008 12:01:30 GMT

I agree he would help the ticket but why not try something new. Put your team together right after the convention and announce here is my cabinet or part of my cabinet. Richardson for VP, Edwards for AG, Holbrook/Biden for State, Webb for Defense, Clark for National Security etc. Then have all of them campaign. I do not recall anyone doing that.

Edwards for VP is fine if needed but we need one nasty SOB bulldog for AG. I know Edwards does not come off that way but he made millions in the courtroom so he can't be a pansy in litigation.

Y'know how...

memiller — Fri, 16 May 2008 03:52:03 GMT

on all those police procedural shows on TeeVee they'll zoom in on a fuzzy surveillance tape, and click a button, and it all becomes crystal clear, with 10x resolution?

Yeah, right.

Obama's Email on Wednesday Night

philgoblue — Fri, 16 May 2008 03:43:33 GMT

Friend --
I have some very exciting news.
My good friend John Edwards is endorsing our campaign and joining our movement for change.
We're here in Grand Rapids, Michigan -- and if you receive this message in time, you can probably turn on your TV and be part of the moment.
I'm deeply honored by John's support. He is a true leader who dedicated his career to improving the lives of ordinary Americans.
John ran a strong, principled campaign for president, focusing on a number of important issues where we share common ground -- universal health care, bringing our troops home from Iraq, and eliminating poverty in America.
The way he ran his campaign was also important. He ran in a way that reflected our shared conviction that we need to fundamentally change politics.
Like our campaign, John's campaign never accepted donations from Washington lobbyists or special interest PACs.
Let's welcome John Edwards to the campaign with an outpouring of the kind of grassroots support that is bringing our political process back to the people.
Make a donation of whatever you can afford now, and if you choose, include your own note to Senator Edwards. I'll make sure he gets them:
https://donate.barackobama.com...
Thank you for all that you're doing,
Barack

The Endorsement Statement by the Steelworkers

philgoblue — Fri, 16 May 2008 03:41:57 GMT

When the presidential primary contests began last year, our Union felt strongly that because of Senator John Edwards's deep commitment to working people and because of our shared beliefs, he deserved our strong endorsement. His belief that unfair trade policies must be changed, his commitment to pass the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) to restore workers' rights to freely choose workplace representation, and his proposal for universal health care were widely shared by our members.
Today, by virtue of a unanimous vote of our International Executive Board, we find ourselves once again in agreement with Senator Edwards, this time with his decision last evening to endorse Senator Barack Obama. And thus today, the United Steelworkers enthusiastically endorses Senator Barack Obama to be the next President of the United States.
Senator Obama's call for a significant change of direction amounts to far more than a compelling rallying cry. It is buttressed by his record of consistent support for workers, by his call for sweeping changes to our health care system, by his unflinching support for Employee Free Choice, and by his insistence that America's trade policies must, first and foremost, serve the interests of America's working families....

the goal is victory

philgoblue — Fri, 16 May 2008 02:09:49 GMT

And I'm starting to think that Edwards might be the best VP choice out there -- helps out Obama in most important demographic he's missing, gives two young, fresh faces, and I think their message mixed together is a sure fire winner. Then Edwards can be given charge of anti-poverty and NOLA recovery programs.

see the three suits standing in the front row

philgoblue — Fri, 16 May 2008 02:07:51 GMT

of the VIP area on the right. THen you see a woman sitting next to them. That's County Commissioner Carol Hennessy and then you can see me on a chair talking to her and Commish Brandon Dillon and Mark's fellow delegate Armand Robinson (you can see his gray hair right below my face).

Conservative Black Alliance

ppwiii — Thu, 15 May 2008 21:52:06 GMT

Very interesting comments. I had never thought of it as an alliance or conspiracy. I hate to even put it this way but I saw it as minority elites who were not willing to acknowledge the true nature of the problems in the schools, like the severe lack of discipline, so were unable to solve the problems. In fact they are making the problems worse. Despite the obvious they think they can just morph GRPS into EGRPS, Forest Hills or Rockford by putting up a few new buildings and opening specialty schools. Now we just have the same problems in new buildings. The new schools look like Forest Hills on the outside but don't perform that way.

The conservatives don't send their kids to school in GRPS any more so their interest is harder to put your finger on. I think the DeVos interest is to use the GRPS as an experiment for their privitization efforts and war on unions. They get GRPS to cooperate by throwing money at it. It is more like a dysfunctional marriage than an alliance. You have two sides trying to figure out how to take advantage of one another for their own selfish reasons.

Edwards For AG

ppwiii — Thu, 15 May 2008 21:30:12 GMT

I don't want Edwards talents wasted at VP. Gov. Richardson would make a good VP based on his experience. I want Edwards for AG with Wanted Posters in his office for the War Criminals from the Bush Administration and a clear mandate to fully investigate what went on for the last 8 years.

This is politics of the worst kind

legaleagle — Thu, 15 May 2008 21:17:10 GMT

If the Michigan Supreme Court removes him from the bench it will be a travesty.

Did Phil ever tell you the story of how we talked our

greee — Thu, 15 May 2008 20:05:25 GMT

way into last years Jeff-Jac dinner? Armed with a laptop and no tickets . . . .

The Obama Campaign...

rich — Thu, 15 May 2008 19:44:29 GMT

made it very easy for us bloggers to get press credentials. I half expected that when I showed up to claim them that I would have been turned away. But no! They let me in. The rally was a blast.

I second what phil said about their staff and the Van Andel staff in their professionalism.

Mediamouse.org Coverage

velo — Thu, 15 May 2008 19:09:38 GMT

Here's the Mediamouse.org take on the rally, focusing a bit more on the substance of what was said:

http://www.mediamouse.org/feat...

Servaas Story in the GR Press

philgoblue — Thu, 15 May 2008 18:55:56 GMT

ROCKFORD -- Rockford District Judge Steven Servaas displayed "sick humor" toward female co-workers, and his office essentially "remains vacant today," according to a much-anticipated ruling on the long-time jurist's conduct.
The scathing report by the "special master" who oversaw Servaas' misconduct hearing six weeks ago means the judge likely will face sanctions, possibly including removal from the bench.
"Judge Servaas' sexual doodles and sexual communication compromised the integrity of the 63rd District Court," retired Berrien County Judge Casper Grathwohl wrote in the 11-page report.
"The doodles demeaned his female staff. His clerks laughed because he was the judge. But it was sick humor. They also laughed because they did not want to incur his displeasure."
Grathwohl also agreed with allegations by Judicial Tenure Commission Director Paul Fischer that Servaas vacated his office when he moved outside the northern court's boundaries in 2005, from a Cannon Township home to one in Ada Township.
"The office remains vacant today," Grathwohl wrote. "There is no authority to support Judge Servaas' contention that his return to the 1st Division in February 2008 reinstates his judgeship."...

http://www.mlive.com/grandrapi...

Suddenly, Smolenski's race for reelection sure looks better.

no one can

philgoblue — Thu, 15 May 2008 18:40:43 GMT

not even the poobaah.

Benefit #2 of Edwards' Endorsement

philgoblue — Thu, 15 May 2008 18:40:04 GMT

The Carpenters already went to Obama along with all CTW, but the Mine Workers haven't, I wonder if they're next.

UAW?

According to the SOS Servaas

greee — Thu, 15 May 2008 18:05:00 GMT

has filed to run as an incumbent. He is unopposed. The could get very interesting.

Can't do everything.

memiller — Thu, 15 May 2008 17:14:07 GMT

I was supposed to be handing out flyers for the upcoming Justice Caucus Camp Millie events in GR & Kalamazoo, but there was too much to do, and no time to find someone else to do that part.

We need to pick a time when nothing else is going on (Ha!) and just get together in GR, which is as central as you can get for our group. You can do lots of organizing over the net, but FTF is still better for brainstorming.

Just heard the Steel Workers endorsed Obama n/t

greee — Thu, 15 May 2008 17:05:14 GMT

I would love, love, LOVE to see an Obama/Edwards ticket.

LisainManistee — Thu, 15 May 2008 16:57:42 GMT

And I think your republican friends are right, they'd be an unbeatable ticket.