Michigan Mining Just Got a Little Harder

by: gauchiste

Wed Aug 04, 2010 at 13:34:27 PM EDT

Well, no more.

In a 4-2 decision (Justice Weaver recused herself), the majority overturned nearly 80 years of precedent and eliminated the "very serious consequences" rule.  The court held that the old rule enabled a landowner's mining interest to trump all other public interest considerations.  

Kyser v Kasson Twp, No. 136680 (Mich. July 15, 2010)
 

New Hope for Battle Against Asian Carp

by: gauchiste

Thu Feb 04, 2010 at 16:13:14 PM EST

A good idea is a good idea, right?

PS: I know a couple of the attorneys who will be involved in the newly minted Shoreline Caucus, and, well, let's just say, Chicago does not know who they're f*@king with.

Ten Michigan House lawmakers will soon be filing papers asking the U.S. Supreme Court to help states in the Great Lakes basin protect the natural resource from the spread of Asian carp.

Last week, the Supreme Court denied Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox's request for a preliminary injunction to force the state of Illinois and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to close the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal to keep the Asian carp from invading the Great Lakes. This week, state Rep. Arlan Meekhof created the Michigan House Shoreline Caucus with Reps. Kevin Elsenheimer, Wayne Schmidt, John Proos, Tonya Schuitmaker, Goeff Hansen, Joe Haveman, Phil Pavlov, Bob Genetski and Sharon Tyler to submit an amicus curiae brief to the court in support of Cox's lawsuit to block the carp.

"To ignore the serious threat that the Asian carp poses would be irresponsible," said Hansen. "We can not stand by and allow these dangerous species to destroy the entire Great Lakes ecosystem, and with it, Michigan's economy."

"We commend the Attorney General's fight to stop the Asian carp and the concerned lawmakers of the Shoreline Caucus will continue to aid that effort, which includes submitting our supporting arguments to the Supreme Court."

Asian carp have been found within eight miles of Lake Michigan, having passed the electrical barrier designed to stop them in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, and traces of their DNA have been discovered within the lake. The Asian carp species are voracious feeders that would oust native fish and wildlife from the habitat, becoming a dominant species in the Great Lakes. One of the two species can jump up to 10 feet out of the water when startled by boats, leading to well-documented injuries to boaters hit by fish weighing up to 70 pounds.

The Shoreline Caucus has retained John Bursch, an experienced Supreme Court practitioner and chair of the Appellate Practice Group at Warner Norcross & Judd LLP, to file its amicus brief with the Supreme Court.

"It is impossible to underestimate the importance of solving this problem," Bursch said, noting that the London Times recently identified Asian carp-not recession-as the biggest threat to America's economy. "We intend to use our amicus brief to demonstrate to the court the magnitude of the crisis and the need for quick intervention." Devin Schindler, an associate professor of constitutional law at Thomas M. Cooley Law School, will be assisting Bursch on the brief.

Fred Johnson Face Off

by: gauchiste

Wed Jan 20, 2010 at 09:25:52 AM EST

Fred Johnson, a former marine, knows what he's getting into.  This is a great chance for Fred to get a first shot at mixing it up with his competition.  

The forum is being held on Tuesday, February 9, at 7:00 pm, at the Howard Miller Library, 14 S. Church St., Zeeland.  We strongly urge all supporters to attend.

This is a public meeting, in a public place. Fred's campaign says they've been assured by the organizers that they are welcome, that they will receive fair, civil treatment, and that they want to hear from Fred.  

We must show the same respect and civility.  But, let's show up, and show that Ottawa's not as red as they might think!!  

Re-charge your video phones -- this should be an interesting night!

Time to Deliver

by: gauchiste

Mon Oct 19, 2009 at 20:40:26 PM EDT

After months of negotiations, the health reform debate is about to move to the full Congress for the first time. With the insurance industry lobby pulling out all the stops to derail progress, we need everyone who supports reform to weigh in.

President Obama will be joining a call party and then speaking directly to all the other events that evening via an exclusive live webcast, sharing the latest info on the fight for reform and our campaign for change.

Their goal is to set a new record for phone calls placed to Congress (or committed to) in a single day. An ambitious plan? It depends on you.

PHONE BANKS CLOSEST TO WMR:

Tuesday, October 20 6:00 PM
GVSU Allendale Campus (Allendale, MI) - Kirkhoff Center
Contact:  616-514-8111
Please bring your charged cell phone.

Tuesday, October 20 6:00 PM
Ottawa County Democratic Office (Holland, MI)
Contact:  616-510-0053
Please bring your charged cell phone

Tuesday, October 20 7:00 PM
Riverhouse Club Room at Bridgewater Place (Grand Rapids, MI)
Contact:  616-827-7374
Please bring your charged cell phone  

Hoekstra Town Hall at Rocket Centre in Muskegon Monday Night

by: gauchiste

Sat Oct 03, 2009 at 12:14:49 PM EDT

He needs to hear from the supporters of President Obama's plan for health care for all Americans, as well as a viable public option, so he can report back to Washington what we all know:  that the majority of America supports health care reform.  The tea-baggers aren't the majority of America!

THE TOWNHALL STARTS AT 7:00; PLEASE BE THERE AT LEAST 1/2 HOUR BEFOREHAND TO INSURE HEALTH CARE SUPPORTERS GET A SEAT!

Bring a (small) sign.  Bring a camera.  Bear witness and stand up for health care reform.

If not now, when?

Muskegon Debate Musings

by: gauchiste

Thu Oct 09, 2008 at 12:04:13 PM EDT

JOHNSON V. HOEKSTRA:  First up were Republican incumbent Pete Hoekstra and Democratic hopeful Fred Johnson, both battling for the 2nd congressional district (Benzie, Manistee, Wexford, Mason, Lake, Oceana, Newaygo, Muskegon, Ottawa, northern Allegan and the northwest Kent).  The audience was lively; the moderator was inundated with questions from the audience for these two, and kept saying so.  He managed to pick questions representative of the whole, which dealt with issues from the bailout to health care to Iraq.

Pete Hoekstra defended his "yes" vote on the 2nd round of the bailout bill (he had voted "no" the first time).  He claimed that the billions of dollars in add-ons to the 2nd bill were the fault of Speaker Pelosi and Leader Reid, who made this bill even more expensive to the American taxpayer in an effort to make it more palatable to their fellow [evil, partisan] Democrats.

Fred Johnson countered by saying that he would have voted "yes" the first time, when the bill was billions cheaper, in a show of bi-partisan leadership when American needed it most, rather than waiting for the wind to change.  

Pete spoke about the tax monies that flow to Washington from Michigan, and his successes in "getting that money back" - he did not use the word "earmarks", probably because the McCain campaign has made it a profanity.  In fact, he did not mention McCain or Bush at all.  But he implied that Fred Johnson's high-and-mighty ideas aren't accomplished in Washington, but right back here in the district by its own residents, thereby painting himself as a straw man - a mere conduit through which federal money flows -  and not a real representative of the people.

Fred Johnson's words hit home the hardest when he spoke about the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, making sure to stress his boots-on-the-ground experience in the Marine Corps.

Fred brought the message of the Obama Campaign to the 2nd District:  that change is needed and it is on the way.  He summed up by saying that the problems we face at home and abroad were not days or weeks in the making; it has taken years (at least 16 years, Rep. Hoekstra's career) to get us where we are today.

Conclusion:  Pete Hoekstra was ineffectual; he wasn't in his element, and he knew it.  I've seen him speak to the Chamber of Commerce crowd, where he was quite a bit more dynamic.  At the very least, he has discovered during the course of this campaign that Fred Johnson is not to be taken lightly. Fred is determined, eloquent, hard-working and dedicated to his beliefs.  He has a good resume.  Voters will be able to draw parallels between him and the Democratic presidential nominee this election cycle - a big advantage to an unknown.  

Pete is entrenched in Washington politics and has big money supporters.  However, he now knows that he's not bulletproof.  

Valentine vs Hughes after the flip!

MUSKEGON FAMILIES FOR CHANGE

by: gauchiste

Mon Sep 29, 2008 at 08:57:53 AM EDT

WHEN:   Saturday, October 4, 2008

WHERE:  Obama Headquarters
3355 Merriam Street, Muskegon Heights
231-737-8254 --  muskegon4obama@gmail.com

BRING:  Everybody! From Grandpa Louie to Baby Huey! Walkers, wheelchairs, strollers, baby packs welcome!

AT 10:00 AM: WE GO DOOR TO DOOR
Meet at Obama Headquarters.  After training, we hit the streets with Obama walking lists, knocking on doors, handing out literature, and telling everybody why it's important to get out and vote Democratic on November 4th!  

Get the kids involved!  If they're too young or shy to talk, let them hand out the fliers.

Those who can't go door-to-door will phone bank from headquarters.   We have 10 land lines and 17 cell phone lines just for you!

AT 2:00 PM: WE EAT
Food by Greek Tony Moulatsiotis - OUR TREAT!
Meet back at Obama Headquarters for a FREE PICNIC on the front lawn.  
We supply the food - you supply the appetite!
Bring frisbees, softballs, other lawn games for the kids

Dissention in the Ranks, Muskegon-Style

by: gauchiste

Thu Jul 03, 2008 at 12:49:57 PM EDT

The author is Jay Jurkas, brother of George Jurkas, our recently retired County Sheriff.  Jay is also a cop and a well-known local Dem who is mighty pissed about the budgetary woes here in Muskegon.  So pissed, in fact, that he has recruited the referenced candidates to primary those he considers as DINOs on the County Board.

http://muskegontaxdollars.info/

Jurkas' wrath does not extend to much-beloved County Treasurer Tony Moulatsiotis, who has indicated more than once that the County isn't as broke as it claims to be.

Open Left and the Boomer Generation

by: gauchiste

Wed Jun 04, 2008 at 12:12:31 PM EDT

Then, from Open Left's comment section: "We are on the cusp of a truly multi-cultural leadership structure, and the end of the boomer hold on every strand of influence."

And: "And the young people recognize that the baby boomers are one of the most self indulgent groups of people to walk the planet and have absolutely screwed this place the last 30 years."  

Ahem.  

I won't burden the fine readers of this fine site with all that us Boomers have done collectively and I have done individually to further the Democratic agenda.  

Suffice it to say that, in the spirit of party unity, we should not write off an entire generation.

And in that spirit, my response to the Boomer-haters of my Party is: Bite me, you ungrateful little pukes.  You wouldn't know a struggle if it bit you on the ass.

Ahh, I feel better already.