WOOD-TV: Could lower speeds spur gas efficiency?
With gas prices climbing, one Michigan lawmaker says its time to roll back the speed limit.
A Democrat from the east side of the state has introduced a resolution in the state house urging the federal government to enact a 55 mile per hour speed limit nationwide.
The government did just that in the 70's during the oil crisis setting a 55 mile per hour speed limit to conserve gas.
That went up to 65 miles per hour in the 80's, and was lifted altogether in the 90's allowing states to set their own limits.
So far there has been no vote on the resolution.
And they have a poll on the subject. Here's a screenshot:
The problem with this poll, and the 55 MPH speed limit resolution in particular, is that the slight mileage improvement that would result from a lowered speed limit will do nothing to change the price of gas. Not in a noticeable way. Sure, you may save a few bucks personally, and all of that savings will add up. But it's not going to do much to increase the supply of oil/gasoline.
The number I usually seem to hear about the mileage benefits of a 55 MPH speed limit is "up to 15%." So let's say, for the sake of argument, that it really is 15% instead of the 5-10% that "up to 15%" probably really means.
If you've got a vehicle that gets 30 MPG and you drive 12,000 miles a year, you will burn about 400 gallons of gas getting wherever it is that you go. Up your mileage by 15% and you'll be getting 34.5 MPG, saving yourself about 52 gallons of gas. At $4.00 a gallon, that's 208 dollars, or about $4 per week.
You aren't going to be buying many extra groceries each week for $4, and gas prices aren't going to shift much (if at all) because of a tiny decrease in demand.
Meanwhile, gas tax revenues will fall, as will the profit of gas stations and oil companies. This decreased revenue will actually give governments and gasoline suppliers an incentive to RAISE prices to make up for lost income.
Recall that when a county-wide initiative to conserve water in the Atlanta, GA area succeeded in lowering water usage by 30%, the country hiked water rates to make up for the lost revenue. If water usage goes back up, do you think the country will lower rates accordingly?
Here's a hidden cost to drivers: Driving 12,000 miles at 55 MPH takes about 218 hours. But if you drive 70 MPH, it only takes 171 hours. In other words, to save $4 each week, you'll need to spend 54 extra minutes driving each week. $4 for 54 minutes comes out to somewhere in the neighborhood of $4.40 per hour. Would you work for $4.40 per hour? Would you give up 54 minutes of family time or free time or sleep each week for $4?
The actual savings (and time cost) experienced by most drivers will be far less, as most people drive a large percentage of their miles on roads other than highways. So maybe you'll save $1.75 per week. Is that worth lowering the national speed limit?
Personally, I spent the past three tanks of gas driving 65 MPH on the highway instead of my normal 70. I'm shifting back up to 70 for the next three tanks and will see if I notice any difference in my mileage.
I encourage people to do some math before deciding to go forward with this. If someone feels strongly about driving 55, I have a suggestion for them: Drive 55. No one's stopping you.
Can I drive 55? Sure. Do I want to? I don't know for sure, but I doubt it.
Do I want to have to? Not a chance.
LANDMARK DECISION: Keep & Bear Arms: An Individual Right
Predictably, some are trying to claim a new right has been defined. It hasn't.
LOOKS LIKE LOUNGE DADDY has a new site going, focused on Libertarian politics.
Can't say that I'm a Libertarian party guy, but I certainly have libertarian views on a lot of things.
Go check it out.
WHY: Government Suppresses Major Public Health Report
A CDC study of environmental and health data in eight Great Lakes states has not been released as scheduled. The story is on Alternet, but still worth a look.
THIS FRIDAY: Robert Pedersen, Equal Parenting Bike Trek Cyclist and Co-Founder of "A Child's Right," will be interviewed on the radio show "The Message" with Richar Farr. More info at DaddyBlogger.com.
IN GREAT LAKES FOR ALL: Bush budget shortchanges Great Lakes
President Bush's recently unveiled 2009 budget shortchanges the Great Lakes, according to an AP report. The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition analyzed the budget proposal and concluded that the presidents request of about $300 million for Great Lakes programs was a reduction of over $50 million from what was appropriated for 2008. That means less money for sewage upgrades and the ongoing battle against invasive species.
But he also notes that a lot is probably going to change by the time the 2009 budget comes up for a vote.
ALLOCATED, NOT "SEATED": Michigan Democrats Allocate Delegates
The Michigan Democratic Party said Friday that Clinton will get 73 pledged delegates after winning 55 percent of the statewide vote.
Another 55 delegates will be uncommitted since 40 percent of the Democratic voters chose uncommitted. Because Barack Obama and John Edwards had taken their names off the ballot, many of their supporters voted for uncommitted.
The state also has 28 superdelegates, many of whom remain uncommitted, for a total of 156.
Allocating delegates isn't the same as seating delegates. Basically, the Michigan situation with the Democratic party is still a mess.
UPDATE: More here.
FEBRUARY 16: Senator Carl Levin Speaking on Iraq in Grand Rapids
Michigan Democratic Party Senator Carl Levin is scheduled to speak in Grand Rapids on February 16 on Iraq. His speech, which is titled "One Year After The Surge: Where Do We Stand? Where Do We Go From Here?," will provide attendees with Levin's "latest assessment of the situation in Iraq, the outlook, and the alternatives."
Levin is speaking to the Progressive Women's Alliance at Loosemore Auditorium on the Pew Grand Rapids Campus of Grand Valley State University. 1:00-2:00.
I may have to see if I can't make it to that.
EXIT POLLS: CNN has a good display of its exit polling data from yesterday's primary.
SARA JANE MOORE FREED:
Sara Jane Moore, who took a shot at President Ford in a 1975 assassination attempt, was released from prison Monday.
Moore, 77, had served about 30 years of a life sentence when she was released from the federal prison in Dublin, east of San Francisco, the Federal Bureau of Prisons said.
She was 40 feet away from Ford outside a hotel in San Francisco when she fired a shot at him on Sept. 22, 1975. As she raised her .38-caliber revolver, Oliver Sipple, a disabled former Marine standing next to her, pushed up her arm as the gun went off, and the bullet flew over Ford's head by several feet.
Moore basically appeared to be a complete lunatic who was convinced the Conservatives had declared war on the Liberals. At least there aren't any people like that around today.
UPDATE: I didn't realize that Sipple, the disable Marine who was credited with saving Ford's life, had been born in Detroit. He had been wounded in Vietnam in 1968 and suffered from a number of physical and psychological problems for the rest of his life. Shortly after the attempted assassination, Sipple was outed as a homosexual.
UPDATE 2: Much more here, including a public defender's assessment of Moore's reasoning:
"...Her conduct was sort of a shopping list: 'Take my son to school, shoot the president, pick up my son from school."
UPDATE 3: More at the Minneapolis-St. Paul Strib, including:
In recent interviews, Moore said she regretted her actions, saying she was blinded by her radical political views and convinced that the government had declared war on the left.
"I was functioning, I think, purely on adrenaline and not thinking clearly. I have often said that I had put blinders on and I was only listening to what I wanted to hear," she said a year ago in an interview with KGO-TV.
And this in the LA Times:
At the St. Francis, where Ford had come close to dying violently, visitors sometimes gaze up at a quarter-sized gouge on an exterior wall near the north entrance.
It's said to be the spot where Moore's bullet ricocheted -- a notion confirmed by a hotel employee who asked not to be identified.
"There hasn't been a reason to do anything with it," the employee said, acknowledging that tourists with a bent for American history sometimes stand on the sidewalk eyeing the spot, six feet or so above what is now a Bank of America automated teller machine.
SEEMS LIKE A NO-BRAINER, DOESN'T IT? Illegal immigrants can no longer get a Michigan driver's license
Michigan has been one of eight states to allow undocumented immigrants to get driver's licenses. Attorney general opinions are legally binding on state agencies and officers unless reversed by the courts.
It was not immediately known how soon the opinion may take effect or what it means for illegal immigrants with currently valid licenses.
Michigan law prohibits the secretary of state from issuing a driver's license to a nonresident. Cox, a Republican, said it would be inconsistent with federal law to regard an illegal immigrant as a permanent resident in Michigan.
This has been utterly ridiculous, and it's about time they reversed this. Full opinion here.
FINALLY: Michigan's jobless rate dips in November
All the way down to 7.4%. Down three-tenths and the first month-to-month drop since May.
The national rate held steady for the third straight month at 4.7%.
NOT TO BE BANNED: MI Senate snuffs out smoking ban in bars, restaurants
Efforts to ban smoking in Michigan bars, restaurants and other workplaces were snuffed out in the state Senate Tuesday.
Republicans who control the chamber sent smoking-ban legislation to a committee where bills traditionally go to die. In a rare move, Democrats tried to steer it to the Health Policy Committee instead because the panel's Republican chairman supports the ban.
"This says we have a do-nothing Senate whose leadership does not want to deal with the smoking issue," said Sen. Ray Basham, D-Taylor, a longtime smoking ban supporter.
From a philosophical standpoint, I don't normally agree with government-mandated bans on smoking in private locations, even when it's a private place open to the public. That being said, I am much more likely to have a positive experience in a place where smoking is not allowed.
I just think it should be up to the business owner.
STUPID ENVIRONMENTAL HEADLINE OF THE DAY: Mother Nature feels the pains of divorce
"A married household actually uses resources more efficiently than a divorced household," said Jianguo Liu, an ecologist at Michigan State University whose analysis of the environmental impact of divorce appears in this week's online edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
More households means more use of land, water and energy, three critical resources, Liu explained in a telephone interview.
Now, I'm in favor of traditional families and also in favor of protecting the environment, but to put up a news report on how divorce is bad for the environment is pretty silly.
UPDATE: Here are a couple of other environmental headlines today:
More than 10,000 jet into Bali for global warming conference
Why not a "Global Warming conferences help cause global warming?" headline.
And then there's Coalition sues Land Office over wind farms
What kind of coalition is suing? Why, an environmental coalition, of course.
About 100 West Michigan Army Reservists left Thursday morning for their mission in Iraq.
They're members of the 415th Civil Affairs Batallion out of Kalamazoo.
They're scheduled to be there for a year.
Meanwhile: Army prioritizing 37,000 GIs for first combat tours
Over 40% of the active duty (not Reserve or Guard) US Army has never deployed to either Iraq or Afghanistan.
TOMORROW: National Ammo Day. Buy 100 rounds per gun. Follow the link to GunPundit for more info.
LOUNGE DADDY: New Prez'08 poll: Clinton and Giuliani leading in Michigan
He writes
Isn't the primary just a few weeks away? Kidding.
Meanwhile, in Our Michigan: Court to delay primary decision
Early this evening (Friday, Nov. 16) Michigan Messenger reported that the Court of Appeals has found the primary election law unconstitutional. The state can now take an appeal to the State Supreme Court.
Go check out both for more info. Michigan is going to be a pivotal state in the 2008 election.
UNBELIEVABLE: Michigan's Oct. jobless rate hits 7.7%
The jobless rate is the state's highest in 15 years, two-tenths of a percentage point higher than September's rate, and it almost certainly guarantees that Michigan will continue to post the worst state unemployment rate in the nation.
The national unemployment rate held steady at 4.7%. Many economists consider the nation "fully employed" when the unemployment rate is below 5%.
Michigan was dead last in the nation last month with a 7.5% unemployment rate, and #49 (Mississippi) was more than a full percentage point ahead of us at 6.4% unemployment. That 1.1% gap was the largest in the nation.
Another thing to consider when looking at the national unemployment rate of 4.7%. That low rate includes Michigan. Without the boat anchor state slowing things down, the national average would be even lower.
I can't find a definitive source showing the info, but by taking the 2005 population numbers and doing a bit of simple math, I come up with at national unemployment rate of 4.59 without counting Michigan.
Something to be proud of, isn't it?
Hopefully, raising taxes will get businesses flocking in our direction so they can hire more employees.
GREAT LAKES FOR ALL: Hands off our water!
Tempers flared when the House subcommittee on water resources and environment began discussing a seemingly innocuous proposal to study US water use and availability. As reported in the Detroit Free Press, Michigan Representatives Candice Miller and Vern Ehlers vigorously opposed the legislation.
Ehlers said Michigan would probably "call up the militia and take up arms" over this. Seriously.
AT NERD FAMILY: Homeschooling Carnival: I am Thankful Edition.
It's the 98th installment of the link-rich weekly carnival. Michigan is a great homeschooling state, and the homeschooling community has a lot offer, both in our state and across the nation. Check it out.
For Veterans Day I'm reposting the motivational poster I created last year:
CONTROVERSY: Loser cries foul over candidate's cookies:
A former state representative believes voters Tuesday chose her for the City Council because of her stance against what she calls the "crash tax." Her opponent alleges subconscious campaigning had something to do with it.
Roger Haynes said he will file a complaint with the Kent County Clerk's office today about a box of cookies left at the polling place by Joanne Voorhees. He claims the gesture breached state law that prohibits campaigning within 100 feet of a polling place on Election Day.
Voorhees and her husband Harold have a tradition of bringing cookies to various functions and leaving some for poll workers. Neither their names nor any political issues appeared on the cookies or boxes.
I'm not sure about the legality of this, but it sure sounds like sour grapes. But don't offer Roger Haynes a cookie...
JUST GOT THIS RELEASE from the Community Media Center regarding the Wealthy Theatre's application for a Club liquor license: A Critical Moment For Wealthy Theatre:
Technically, we're requesting a "PWA" which is a permit to allow for change of use. The change of use would be the acquisition of a permanent liquor licenses on premises, known as a Club License.
As you may know, a "Club License" is a relatively restrictive type, issued by the state of Michigan to nonprofit organizations that have a membership base. It is used very successfully by a number of historic performance venues in the state, such as The Ark and Michigan Theatre (both in Ann Arbor).
However, there is a serious challenge to this PWA request: the Grand Rapids Police Department (Vice Unit) has denied the request and the head of the Vice Unit will be appearing, to formally object to our request. GRPD has not provided CMC with a formal explanation of... why they are denying this request. We only have second-hand details regarding one part of their objection: they do not feel it is safe for patrons to consume alcohol in a theatre with the lights dimmed.
We've also been told they would prefer Wealthy Theatre seek a "Class C" liquor license. However, our research into license types (which began in February, 2007) led us to discover a "Class C" license would effectively turn Wealthy Theatre into an open bar. City officials have confirmed we would be required to sell alcohol to everyone (21+) regardless of whether they were attending an event. This goes against our intentions for seeking a license, which was to provide a simple enhancement -- not to become a bar.
I've got to say that a Club License appears to be the right solution here and the GRPD's suggestion to apply instead for a standard Class C license doesn't seem to make any sense, particularly considering their position that a Club License would be hazardous in some way.
My guess is that there's more to this story, but unfortunately the hearing with the Grand Rapids Planning Commission is today at 1PM. Hopefully more info will be available afterwards and this will be resolved in a fair and sensible manner.
I get over to the Wealthy Theatre from time to time, and a glass of wine would be quite welcome at most of the events I attend.
For more information, including letters of support from many groups and businesses, see the post at CMC.
I HAVEN'T HEARD MUCH ABOUT TROUBLE WITH THE NEW REQUIREMENT TO SHOW PICTURE ID AT THE POLLS. This story seems to support the idea that it was largely trouble-free.
I believe that requiring a valid photo ID is an absolute requirement to maintain trust in our electoral process. Electronic voting machines are another worry, but the ID issue seems like a no-brainer.
I don't even like the option to sign an affidavit of identification if you don't have your ID with you, but it's better than nothing at this point.
FASTER, PLEASE: Michigan lawmakers continue move toward repealing services tax:
Republicans who hold the majority on the Senate Finance Committee voted to repeal the 6 percent sales tax on some services, which was passed in the early hours of Oct. 1 as the Legislature prevented a prolonged government shutdown at the scheduled start of a new fiscal year. The bill that would repeal the tax now goes to the full Senate for consideration.
The Senate already has voted to delay implementation of the new tax from Dec. 1 to Dec. 20. That would buy the Legislature more time to consider alternatives.
FIRST TUESDAY IN NOVEMBER: Election Day polls open until 8 p.m.
Here's a guide to What's on the ballot?
Perhaps the most interesting question: Will Hudsonville voters drop alcohol ban?
UPDATE: Last dry Michigan city goes wet: Hudsonville OKs alcohol sales
DEAL? Chrysler's local UAW leaders approve tentative contract:
Local union leaders voted overwhelmingly Monday to recommend approval of a tentative four-year agreement between the United Auto Workers and Chrysler LLC, paving the way for a vote by members, UAW President Ron Gettelfinger said.
The voice vote came after a four-hour meeting at which national bargaining committee members explained the deal to several hundred local leaders.
THE MICHIGAN DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY looks to be a bust: Democrats undercut Michigan's presidential primary
Five Democratic candidates have withdrawn from Michigan's Jan. 15 presidential primary, leaving what amounts to a beauty contest for front-runner Hillary Clinton and a handful of lesser-knowns.
Barack Obama, John Edwards and Bill Richardson filed paperwork Tuesday, the deadline to withdraw from the ballot, said Kelly Chesney, spokeswoman for the Michigan Secretary of State's office. Two other candidates, Joe Biden and Dennis Kucinich, said they also were bypassing the primary.
Although Michigan is a critical Midwest state in presidential voting, it violated Democratic National Committee rules by moving its primary earlier in the process. The candidates are honoring the DNC's wishes in skipping the contest.
Though I don't care for the decision to move up the primary, I don't see how pulling out helps anyone anywhere.
HERE'S A POLL in the Holland Sentinel about the tax increases in Michigan and here are the current results:
Seems that Hollander's aren't too pleased with the politicians. Go figure.
ANOTHER BOOST FOR THE MICHIGAN ECONOMY: Chrysler autoworkers begin strike
IT'S NOT THE BEST OF TIMES IN MICHIGAN, and the state's plight was noted by Mitt Romney yesterday in the GOP debate:
DEARBORN, Mich. -- Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has taken an early shot at Governor Jennifer Granholm during the GOP debate by criticizing her for raising taxes.
The former Massachusetts governor drew laughter when he said he was afraid Michigan's Democratic governor "was going to put a tax on this debate."
Romney says Michigan's economic struggles are personal for him and he will work to help the state out of its "one-state recession."
Ouch.
Romney's dad George was the governor of Michigan from 1963 to 1969.
SURRENDACRATS: Here are the Congressional representatives from Michigan who voted in favor of the arbitrary withdrawal deadline:
Conyers Jr., John - 14th
Dingell, John - 15th
Kildee, Dale - 5th
Kilpatrick, Carolyn - 13th
Levin, Sander - 12th
Stupak, Bart - 1st
See the full US list and commentary at Free Frank Warner.
MINISTER RONALD SMITH ON CHILDREN NEEDING BOTH PARENTS: Video at DaddyBlog.
I don't think anyone would argue that kids don't need their moms. That would be crazy. Right?
I'm not formally affiliate with DaddyBlog or any of the other pro-dad groups, but I definitely support the principles they stand for.
Don't forget that Robert Pedersen and Rob Mackenzie will be biking from Lansing to Washington, DC later this summer in support of equal parenting.
LANSING TO D.C. ON TWO WHEELS AND NO MOTOR: Here's an effort worth watching:
August 11th 2007 Robert Pedersen and Rob Mackenzie will start their over 600 mile bicycle trek from the Lansing Capitol to Washington, D.C.. This will be an intense multi-day bike trek through numerous states ending in Washington, D.C. where they will be greeted by thousands of people attending the national rally in Washington, D.C. on August the 18th.
It is simply amazing that two fathers are going to attempt this trip all in the name and support of shared parenting! They do this to protect a child's right to EQUAL time with BOTH fit parents! Many elected officials and supporters will see the riders off at the Lansing Capitol and thousands will greet them in Washington, D.C. www.dcrally2007.com
More background info here. There will be a website that allows us to watch their progress via real-time GPS, plus photos and more. If you feel strongly about this cause, you might want to consider volunteering.
They're also looking for sponsors.
SNOWING LIKE A BANSHEE: Is Al Gore in Michigan today to give a speech on the dangers of "global warming"? Because it's nasty cold snow here right now.
(And I was disappointed to learn that "snowing like a banshee" has already been used many times by many people...)
IN MICHIGAN, 'STRYKER' USUALLY REFERS TO THE MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY COMPANY, but in the military it refers to a rather new 8-wheeled light armored vehicle. After much fanfare and controversy, the Strykers were deployed to Iraq in late 2003 and some have been there ever since. They've performed very well, far better than most of the programs critics would have ever thought possible. Though not cheap and not able to meet all the requirements originally set out, they've been able to get the job done right.
Now, some lawmakers are proposing that some units in the Michigan National Guard get the vehicles. The only National Guard unit scheduled to get them is the 56th Brigade Combat Team in Pennsylvania, but this recent talk proposes to split another brigade between the Michigan and Indiana National Guards.
I'm in favor of it. For more info, see Murdoc Online.
THE 'MAVERICK' WILL BE IN THE AREA NEXT WEEK: McCain in Michigan!!
Sen. John McCain will be in Michigan on April 12 -13 speaking at some local GOP functions.
Get your tickets as soon as possible and go support your local GOP. Oh ya...and see the next President of the United States in person!!
Okay, so the site Michigan for McCain is possibly just a wee bit biased...
They also show that McCain came out on top in an online straw poll of Michigan Republican Bloggers over the weekend.
Anyway, see the post for some times and places if interested.
I actually had an invitation to sit in on a McCain conference call fund-raiser last week, but I had already made plans with the family to go see Homer Hickam.
OVER AT MURDOC, I have the speech that I think President Bush should give when he prepares to veto the emergency spending bill that Congress has decided needs an arbitrary deadline for troop withdrawal from Iraq. This deadline is basically a surrender and declaration of defeat and is unacceptable.
I realize that there are many differing opinions about the military campaign in Iraq and that emotions run high over it. But legislating defeat is not the answer.
WORSE THINGS COULD HAPPEN: Could Michigan be headed for a shut-down?
Governor Granholm says she wants to know by next week what programs might be affected if the state runs out of money in a few months and has to shut down.
The governor wants to fill this year's $900 million hole in the budget with a mix of cuts, accounting changes, and a two-percent service tax.
Senate Republicans say they don't want a tax increase and will focus on more cuts.
The governor's spokeswoman warns a shut-down is a real possibility unless something is done.
The last thing we need is a tax on services.
THIS IS GETTING OUT OF HAND: Michigan GOP wants major say in picking presidential winner
Michigan GOP Chairman Saul Anuzis on Wednesday sent out an e-mail to party and elected officials asking if they'd support moving to either Jan. 29, when Florida may hold its primary, or to Feb. 2, when South Carolina Republicans head to the polls.
Either date would be ahead of Feb. 5, when 20 or more states could weigh in with their presidential choices. Rules for both parties forbid more than a handful of states from going earlier, but party leaders in Michigan are considering moving up anyway.
A TAX INCREASE I MIGHT BE ABLE TO LIVE WITH: Gas tax increase weighed as option to improve Michigan roads.
Supporters of higher gasoline taxes, including the chamber, have suggested an increase of up to 3 cents per gallon per year over a three-year period, saying the potential 9-cent-per-gallon increase would help boost economic development in the state.
I can (maybe) buy this as it's a sales tax and those generally make more sense than, say, an increase in the state's income tax.
But don't lose sight of this:
Michigan sends more in federal gasoline taxes to Washington than it gets back. This year, it's getting just 91.5 cents of every dollar it sends to Washington, an amount that will rise to 92 cents in 2008 and 2009.
Bump that up a few more cents and maybe the state increase could be significantly smaller.
I'VE ALWAYS CONSIDERED MYSELF A BIT OF A 'MODERATE' REPUBLICAN, but no more.
Got the official images and links to work:
The quotes in the text they have for you turn "curly" when you look at them in a text editor, and they're causing trouble. Replace them with standard quotes and you'll be all set.
GOOD NEWS: Bill Approved to Reduce Trash Coming Into Michigan:
A US House subcommittee approved a bill to regulate imports of trash from Canada and other nations. The bill is sponsored by two Michigan congressmen- Democrat John Dingell and Republican Mike Rogers. It's a first step in limiting the dumping of waste in Michigan and other states.
The bill would give states more power to limit the shipment and dumping of imported municipal waste until the Environmental Protection Agency issues regulations.
A similar bill was approved by the House last year but failed to advance in the Senate. Michigan gets about 350 truckloads of Canadian trash a day, and about four million metric tons each year.
(No jokes about the governor, please...)
Mike Rogers is the Congressman whose Lansing office was vandalized recently.
GLENN REYNOLDS ON AL GORE'S REFUSAL to pledge that he will reduce his personal energy consumption to that of the average American within one year : That's the problem with moralistic, messianic crusading -- people expect you to live up to it.
I GUESS SOMETIMES DRASTIC MEASURES ARE REQUIRED: Anti-war protesters vandalize U.S. Rep. Rogers' office
Vandals splattered red paint on the front of lawmaker Mike Rogers' Lansing office Monday night and plastered a sign in the front window claiming the Brighton Republican has "blood on his hands" for the war in Iraq, which marked the fourth anniversary this week.
A "Support Our Troops" sign was defaced with red paint as well as the front door of the building on Michigan Avenue being glued shut.
So I guess it appears that these weren't "we support the troops but not the war" types, huh?
What cowards.
OUR MICHIGAN NOTED SOMETHING THAT I HAD KINDA WONDERED ABOUT:
Most Michigan homeowners have been getting a surprise increase in the taxable value of their home on the latest assessment.
I was curious because the assessed value of our home went up 0.68% (seems reasonable given the market) but the taxable value went up 3.69%.
In 2005, our assessed value went up 3.93% and our taxable value went up 3.29% These numbers are quite close, and I guess that's how I'd normally expect things to be. Why taxable value went up 5.4 times as much as assessed value, I have no idea.
OVER AT MURDOC, I note the arrival of what appears to be a great book: How to Raise an American: 1776 Fun and Easy Tools, Tips, and Activities to Help Your Child Love This Country by Myrna Blyth and Chriss Winston.
This looks like it could be an invaluable aid to parents, particularly those that homeschool.
Okay, okay. Invaluable to homeschool parents because it has a lot of tips for raising patriotic kids. Double Invaluable to public school parents because it has a lot of tips for counteracting the anti-patriotic things kids learn these days due to the benefits of socialization.
Go check it out.
I just answered a telephone survey. From the sounds of the guy on the other end, I wonder if my answers weren't what he was hoping for.
I said, among other things:
Murdoc in a nutshell, folks.
I HADN'T EVER HEARD OF THIS BEFORE: Gay Bar in Gay, Michigan. Our Michigan has more.
MICHIGAN IS A VERY FRIENDLY PLACE TO HOMESCHOOLERS. Germany is not: They Took Our Daughter:
ERLANGEN, Germany - In the Bavarian town of Erlangen, a girl is missing. She was taken from her parents in a SWAT-style police raid last month that some are calling an abduction.
She was taken because German officials consider her family to be dangerous.
Why are they considered dangerous? Because they pulled their 15-year-old out of public school and began homeschooling her. Homeschooling is a crime in Germany.
I point the story out not because I think Germany's law is wrong (though I do) but because I want to note what could happen here if we don't vigorously protect our freedom to educate our children as we see fit by supporting candidates and laws that give us the right to do so. Those who would take that right away must be opposed as strongly as we can.
OVER AT GREAT LAKES POLITICS: Governor Granholm, Gun Lake Tribe Enter into Gaming Compact.
On GLP:
The compact signed on Friday requires legislative approval. The Michigan Legislature, quite frankly, would have to be insane not to approve of this compact. Given the track record of some within the Michigan Senate, it's an unfortunate reality that wholesale stupidity may prevail on this issue.
High taxes lead businesses to flee the Wolverine State. What? I was just told yesterday that businesses should be in favor of higher taxes. Really.
The Governor wants to create a new corporate income tax as well as a new 2% excise tax on upwards of 100 business services.
I mean, what's not to be in favor of?
D.C. CIRCUIT STRIKES DOWN DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA GUN CONTROL LAW as a violation of the Second Amendment. This is huge.
Instapundit has more links here, here, and here.
Unsurprisingly, the Washington Post and New York Times seem to be getting some of the details quite wrong. Who would've guessed?
Remember last month's coverage of the January jobs report? I noted it at the time, pointing out the Job Growth Slows and Jobs growth was modest in January headlines and that stocks were struggling after the jobs report.
The big story was that 111,000 new jobs were added in January instead of the 150,000 that analyists had expected.
I noted that 111,000 isn't too shabby, and that revisions to the November and December numbers upped additions in those months by a total of 81,000. That revision, of course, much more than offset the shortfall in January.
But look what happened to that 111,000 number. It turned into 146,000 after the first of what will be two revisions. Also, the December total was upped by an additional 20,000.
So, at this point, it appears that the January number was 146,000 instead of 150,000 and that the November+December number was 422,000 instead of the 321,000 that had been reported in December. February, we see, added 97,000 instead of the 100,000 expected.
So, corrections to the November and December numbers (totalling 101,000 new jobs) offset the shortfall in January and February (totalling 7,000).
Employment numbers for each month are revised twice as more information becomes available and it studied more closely following the initial announcement. Bascially, I'm expecting next month to nudge both the January (final) and February (first revision) up over forecasts. I'm also expecting March numbers to miss expectations by a bit and we'll be hearing about how things continue to slow.
Also, the unemployment rate dropped to 4.5% and wages rose 0.4%, both very healthy numbers.
Noted for future reference:
Analysts expect the unemployment rate, which dropped to a six-year low of 4.6 percent last year, will creep up this year as economic growth slows. Some believe the jobless rate could climb to close to 5 percent by the end of this year. The economy expanded by 3.3 percent last year, the best showing in two years. Growth, however, is expected to ebb to around 2.7 percent for all of 2007.
UPDATE: Meanwhile, Michigan's unemployment rate is a whopping 6.9%. And that's an improvement!
December's rate, however, was revised from 7.1% to 7.2%. Only in Michigan can the number buck the trend to so completely. Who's running the Michigan economy? Matt Millen?
MichiganDemocrat.net is a fairly new site that's keeping an eye on the Democratic Party in Michigan, watching for the things we Michiganders should be worried about. Their latest is Comerica Checks Out, Illegal Immigrants Check In. Worth a look.
The front page, above the fold, of yesterday's Grand Rapids Press:
In the article:
Cedar Springs resident Steve Larsen, 43, considers the debate both a waste of time and a disservice to the troops.
Larsen, a former member of the Howell-based 1462nd Transportation Co., returned in February 2005 after 10 months of convoy duty in Iraq. He earned a Purple Heart when he was hit by shrapnel in his leg and groin in July 2004. Larsen retired after more than 21 years with the Guard.
Larsen believes the politicians against the war should have the courage to vote on more than non-binding resolutions. If they oppose the war, they should vote to stop funding it.
"I think this nonbinding resolution is cowardly," Larsen said. "This is sad. So many have put their lives on hold and put their lives on the line only to have certain politicians take advantage of it.
"I never hear anyone say, 'Let's win this thing.'"
Larsen, for one, calls criticism of the war more than irritating. He believes it makes it harder for soldiers to do their jobs.
"It does wear on you after a while. You are sending the right message to our enemy and the wrong message to our soldiers."
Amen.
While I do absolutely believe that it's possible to "support the troops but not the war", I also believe that very few who claim to do so actually support the troops. They simply lack the personal courage to admit that they believe their political beliefs overcome support for anyone or anything that is at odds with how they think things should be.
Remember, 22% of Americans personally hope the strategy in Iraq fails. For it to fail, of course, a lot of US troops will need to die. Many more Iraqi troops, and even more Iraqi civilians, will also have to die. But 22% of America thinks it's worth all those additional Americans and Iraqis dying if it means the failure of the plan.
But, as usual, don't question their patriotism or their support for the troops.
On Les Jones: "H.R. 1022: To reauthorize the assault weapons ban, and for other purposes"
Much was made, of course, about how "gun friendly" so many of the new moderate Democrats are. Of course, the new moderate Democrats aren't the ones running the party. For the most part, it's the same old Democrats in charge. They're calling the shots, and in most cases the newly-elected will vote along party lines.
No, I don't think the AWB will be back this time around. But if the Dems pick up more seats in 2008 and especially if they get the White House you can bet it will be a big issue for them.
Most people probably realize this and see these early efforts as laying the groundwork for the big push in 2009-2010. (via Instapundit)
MORE POLITICS: Mitt Romney, whose father was governor of Michigan from 1963 to 1969, will apparently announce his presidential bid in the state next week. Mitt Romney was governor of Massachusetts 2003-2007 but didn't run for re-election.
While governor of one of the most Liberal states in the Union, Romney was quite anti-gun. In fact, when the Federal assault weapons ban expired, he supported and signed into law a permanent such law in Massachusetts. Since putting out feelers for a Presidential run in 2008, however, he's suddenly all pro-gun again. Call me skeptical. (via War Liberal)
UPDATE: The Michigan Daily has a more on Romney's Facebook: Poking the next president
ARIZONA SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN HAS SET UP A MICHIGAN HEADQUARTERS IN GRAND RAPIDS. The exploratory committee is on Leonard Street.
McCain won the Michigan GOP primary in 2000.
UPDATE: I should note that Murdoc's vote can be bought. The price is simple and non-negotiable:
Simple, really.
SYSTEM DOWN: You have probably noticed the Blogads running from time to time for A Child's Right, a Michigan-based volunteer organization:
A Child’s Right advocates what current research, common sense, and public opinion demands: EQUAL parenting by BOTH fit parents. It is a Child’s Right to have EQUAL and substantial time with BOTH fit parents after a divorce. It is also a fit parent’s right to have EQUAL time with his/her children after a divorce without government interference.
It's pretty clear that, in virtually all cases, the biggest losers in divorce are kids. They're in for enough trouble without unfair legal maneuvers which keep one parent or the other from being as involved as they could be. A Child's Right works hard to make sure that these kids don't have things tougher than they need to be.
The group is an official sponsor of the upcoming documentary Support? System Down, which
explores the fundamental flaws in America’s Family Courts regarding the Divorce and Child Support System. The film explores the problems through over 38 interviews with both custodial and non-custodial parents and the attorneys, judges and county employees on both sides of the paradigm.
There are three trailers available on the web site, and Murdoc readers may find the second one, War is Hell -- Child Support Doesn't Have to Be, particularly interesting. It notes one of the many hardships that some in the military, particularly in the Guard and Reserves, are faced with when called to war. Check it out.
--cross-posted from Murdoc Online
IT'S OFFICIAL: Navy Names Newest Carrier After President Ford:
With flags around the nation still at half staff in memory of the late President Gerald R. Ford, Vice President Richard B. Cheney called today’s naming of the Navy’s newest aircraft carrier in Ford’s honor an even more fitting tribute because it looks to the future.
Speaking today at the Pentagon naming ceremony for the ship, Cheney joined Navy Secretary Donald C. Winter and other officials and servicemembers in naming the first of the new CVN-21 class of aircraft carrier the USS Gerald R. Ford.
The new class will replace the USS Enterprise and CVN-68 class carriers.
When USS Gerald R. Ford enters the Navy fleet in seven or eight years, it and its sister ships “will help ensure the sea power of the United States for the next half century,� the vice president said.
Winter described the capability the new carriers will bring to the fleet. “This fleet of the most technologically advanced aircraft carriers in the world will be the Navy’s premier forward asset for crisis response and principal platforms in providing early, decisive striking power in a major combat operation,� he told the audience.
The new carriers will be able to generate 25 percent more aircraft sorties than current carriers, generate three times the electricity, and include an improved, fully integrated warfare system and other new design technologies, he said.
Scouting principles a guiding light in Ford's life is a guest commentary by Kathy Longcore in the Grand Rapids Press. It notes the Scout Oath, and concludes
At his death the nation is recognizing Ford's spirit of fair play, his bipartisanship, his integrity and his willingness to make tough choices. It seems that he still is serving his country. The eulogies we've heard in three cities have reminded us that "family values" is more than a catchy term to grab votes. President Ford lived those values.
You don't have to have been a Boy Scout to have those values. But it helps.
Just back from paying our respects to Gerald R. Ford at the Ford Museum in downtown Grand Rapids. The line, of course, was long. We got in line at about 6:00 PM and left the museum just before 10:30. As we left, it appeared that the line was at least twice as long as it had been when we had joined it, and areas that we breezed through at nearly normal walking pace were at a standstill. Since it took us four and a half hours, I'd guess that folks getting in line now have a good nine hours, or probably even more, to go.
My wife and kids went downtown to watch the motorcade this afternoon. Though we've got no snow, it's not what you'd call 'warm' outside, particularly if you're standing still. Despite the chill, though, the crowd was large. My wife took the photo at right of the President's hearse turning into the Museum property. As you can see, the crowd was deep and hordes of Eagle Scouts lined the way.
Someone gave my wife a glass vase with flowers to place among the notes, banners, flags, and candles that have been accumulating around the museum's sign along Pearl Street, but they were unable to cross the street before they had to leave for a bit. So they stashed the flowers behind some bushes in front of a hotel across the street. More on the flowers later.
All this big media attention in little old Grand Rapids?After another chilly wait outside the museum itself, we got a few seconds in front of Ford's closed casket. My son, in his Boy Scout uniform, gave a smart Scout salute. Then we were on our way.
As we left, we had the opportunity to shake hands with Steve Ford, one of the President's sons. I was a bit surprised to see him there at 10:30 PM greeting folks in a line with no end in sight. As he shook my son's hand Ford mentioned to him how much his father loved Scouting and how he had earned Eagle. That was very kind.
After we left the museum building, I stopped to check out the collection of flowers, flags, signs, University of Michigan hats and banners, candles, and whatnot along Pearl Street. While I looked, my wife and daughter headed across the street to check for the vase they had stashed that afternoon. It was still there, so over it came and it now sits with the rest of the outpouring from the community for all to see. Who gave the vase to my wife? We don't know.
There's a lot of difference in opinion about Ford and his Presidency, particularly over the pardon for Richard Nixon. But I think it's becoming more clear each year that he inherited an almost impossible task and did a fine job of holding things together. That's better than really could have been expected of anyone in that office at that time, and we owe him a lot.
Though not a native Michigander, I'm proud to live in Gerald Ford's old Congressional district and I'm proud of the honor that West Michigan is showing it's most famous legislator and politician. Also, I'm proud of my family for braving the crowd twice today to pay a final bit of respect to a man who did good for America and was a friend to Scouting.
Finally, here's a shot from today of the 9-11 Scout Salute patch that my son earned in 2005 for participating in the all-day salute on the anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks. These are special Ford Council patches (compare them to the standard patches worn by the Eagle Scouts in the top picture) that can only be worn by those who take part in the sun-up to sun-down salute (in three or five minute intervals) each year. He's earned the patch four years running, but he hasn't got the 2006 patch onto his uniform yet. I had been bugging him to get the new one on, but, as it turns out, waiting was the right thing to do. The 2005 salute was performed outside the Ford Museum, so this patch was earned on this property and has now returned to help say farewell to a great American:
I noted the salute in 2004 with a pic of my son at attention, and now that I look I see that I also posted a pic in 2005, taken outside the Ford Museum on a sunny Sunday morning. Beside him in the 2005 pic is a fellow Scout who is now in the same Boy Scout patrol as my son. (Go DRAGONS!)
Did I mention that I'm proud of my family?
Cross-posted from Murdoc Online.
LOCAL NATIONAL GUARDSMEN RESPONDING TO FORD'S PASSING: a Department of Defense news release:
Like many Michigan National Guardsmen, Army Sgt. Mike Christian was awakened by a midnight phone call informing him of the passing of former President Gerald R. Ford.
Unlike other soldiers and airmen across the state, Christian’s job began almost immediately, for it was the task of his unit to supply the wiring, hardware and computer support to permit the deployment of more than 500 National Guard members to Grand Rapids.
Ford will be buried at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum here Jan. 3.
It's also worth noting this:
A resident of Charlotte, Christian will soon deploy overseas with the 177th Military Police Brigade. “I volunteered,� he said.
He has already deployed to Iraq for 14 months, from October 2004 to November 2005.
Bravo.
A NEW MICHIGAN POLITICS SITE, this one of the Conservative persuasion, is just starting up: MichiganDemocat.net. Don't be fooled by the name. This is their disclaimer:
We are not affiliated with, nor are we the opinion of, the Michigan Democrat Party. We are very thankful of that fact! Everything contained within our posts and our website is of our humble and wise opinion only
Keep an eye on them. We'll see what they're about as they get ramped up.
PICTURES OF GERALD FORD IN WW2 at Murdoc Online.
JUST NOTICED THIS FROM A FEW WEEKS BACK: Central Michigan University is more than doubling the size of its Center For Applied Research and Technology (CART), which is the home of the National Dendrimer and Nanotechnology Center:
The new space is currently about 60 percent occupied. Ideally, according to [Brent Case, director of technology business development at CMU], tenant companies will be involved in nano or biotechnology, looking to further develop and commercialize its product or demonstrated technology.
“We’ve had the most luck recruiting companies from out of state,� said Case, “because there’s a lower cost of doing business here compared to the east and west coasts. Companies might have headquarters elsewhere but a research arm in Mount Pleasant, and they don’t necessarily have to invest in equipment – they can utilize what’s here.� CMU administrators are “hoping for significant job growth,� he added.
Michigan a center in the nanotech sector? Could be...
THOUGH I'M CERTAINLY NO GREENIE, I fully support alternative sources of energy, particularly when they're home-grown and/or environmentally friendly. I mean, what's not to like?
So even though skeptical of wind-power being able to have a significant impact on the state's (and nation's) energy appetite, I'm glad to see Great Lakes Politics report that Wind Power Blows Through Michigan Legislature. What's great about this is that it's a tax credit for the production of wind power. This puts the burden on independent developers and rewards them if they're successful, rather than just throwing money into the project up front and all of us keeping our fingers crossed that it's cash well spent.
Also, Great Lake Politics points out some great maps of wind density for power generation along our state's Great Lake shorelines. Here's the 50m map:
Hmmm. Looks like the wind coming off of Lake Michigan is pretty strong. Guess we didn't need a map to know that, did we?
EVEN THOUGH THE OVERALL ECONOMY IS DOING MUCH BETTER, Michigan hasn't kept pace with most of the rest of nation's recovery. And even when many measures are looking good (or at least much better), there are still always those who suffer.
Case in point: Economy blamed as more kids rely on food stamps.
LEONARD YOUKER HAD JUST SERVED HIS USS NEVADA SHIPMATES BREAKFAST ON DECEMBER 7, 1941 when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor:
“My job was to transfer the ammunition to turret No. 3,� said Youker, now an 86-year old Stanton resident and a member of Lester J. Sitts Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 5065 in Sheridan. “We were supposed to load ammunition that day and didn’t have any. We couldn’t shoot back.
“We couldn’t go topside until we received the call it was secure from general quarters,� he said. “We were below deck about three hours.�
The article says that there are only about 30 Pearl Harbor survivors left in Michigan. If you know one of them, why not spend a bit of time asking them about it?
For more info on the USS Nevada's attempted run from the harbor during the attack, see my December 7th post from last year: "This is not a drill!"
DIG MICHIGAN NOTES THE NESTLE REQUEST to pump 70 million additional gallons of fresh water from Michigan sources. Dave's Blog notes:
Nestle Waters North America Inc. is gearing up for a major expansion of its Michigan water bottling business with a plan that targets some of the area's most treasured river systems.
While we should be allowed to utilize our natural resources, we should also be careful not to be idiots. But so often we are when natural resources (and money) are involved.
I'm not generally in favor of more taxes for anyone, but I can easily see how a reasonable tax or fee to withdraw this water would be a good move. Particularly if the money were required to be used for water-related conservation and restoration projects.
If it just goes into a general fund, all of sudden another group has a financial interest in being idiots with our natural resources. We have enough of that sort without paying to create more.
UPDATE: Dave also writes:
Jackson Citizen Patriot: obtuse?
According to this editorial's reasoning, opposing the commercialization and private ownership of water, the source of life, is just like opposing dancing, necking and inter-racial dating.
Maybe that's why the Jackson Citizen Patriot has not won many Pulitzers.
Heh.
IN MAY I WITNESSED THE IDIOTS IN THE WESTBORO BAPTIST CHURCH demonstrating outside the funeral for Rick Herrema of Hudsonville. Though they were jerks and everyone knew it, there were not altercations. A recent demonstration at another funeral didn't end so well. Watch the video at Stop the ACLU.
Though I have no sympathy for these idiots, I suspect that the cry of "all right we've got a broken window!" was one of triumph rather than fear. They want to be attacked. That's how the lawsuits will start.
Cross-posted to Murdoc Online.
SINCE ADMISSIONS POLICY IS ALWAYS A HOT-BUTTON ISSUE IN THE WOLVERINE STATE, I'll point out this post on Volokh Conspiracy about Liming Luo. She received a perfect 2,400 score on her SATs but Katherine Cohen, CEO and founder of IvyWise, a school-admissions consulting company, thinks she might have trouble getting into the school of her choice because she'll be competing against so many other Asians.
Gotta say that I find that pretty stupid.
David Bernstein writes:
Why should Ms. Luo be competing with "other Asian students in particular" as opposed to just "other students?" What does the fact that she's "Asian" have to do with anything? [I understand that this is just Ms. Cohen's opinion, but given that she's paid to read the minds of admissions officers, I think it's same to assume her view reflects their views.] Is there any other industry in the United States, other than higher education, where it would not be scandalous to suggest that one's opportunities will be limited because of one's "Asian" background?
Even for "diversity" fans, why is the category "Asian" relevant? What do Fillipinos, Hmong, Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, Indians, Pakistanis [note: coincidentally, I recently picked up a magazine for Indian-Americans, which had an article expressing concern that Indians and other South Asians were being denied admission to prestigious universities for fear the universities would be "too Asian"] and so on have in common? Not religion, not culture, not even "race." There is incredible diversity within the "Asian" population, and the idea that the various subgroups are fungible would be considered the height of Eurocentric arrogance, but for the fact that it's the folks who are most likely to accuse others of Eurocentric arrogance who are behind such ideas.
No kidding.
That a school-admissions consultant would take the position that Katherine Cohen takes is just plain baffling. (via Instapundit)
THIS COLUMN BY JILL READ ABOUT HER NEPHEW WHO WAS RECENTLY WOUNDED IN IRAQ RAN IN TODAY'S ADVANCE NEWSPAPER.
Just come home Tyler
The phone rang. It was a little after 6:15 a.m. on a Monday morning . It was my Dad's voice at the other end of the line. He usually calls a little later in the morning to wish me a good day. I knew something was wrong.
"Willy (my nickname), Tyler's been hit. He's hurt and it's life-threatening injuries. We don't know anything more." My Dad was crying. I started screaming. "What do we do?" I asked my Dad.
"Just pray," my Dad answered back.
It was my worst fear. It was my family's worst fear.
Continue reading "Jill Read's nephew wounded in Iraq" »
HERE'S A HANDY MAP OF HATE GROUPS IN MICHIGAN from the Southern Poverty Law Center. I'm not sure how they define "hate", though.
GRAND RAPIDS MAYOR George Heartwell is thinking of legally challenging the anti-affirmative action Proposition 2 that passed by a 58-42 margin. Though I don't know off the top of my head what the numbers in Grand Rapids were, that 16-point statewide spread is a pretty large gap to ignore.
UPDATE: A reader kindly emails this to MichiBlogger:
According to
http://www.electionmagic.com/results/mi/K41results/K4100113029.htmThe numbers for Kent County were 141378 vs 93499 or 60-40 which is better than State-wide.
Grand Rapids on the other hand was 29465 vs 34458 or 46-54 with 53% turnout and only 96% of those voting on the Proposition.
Precinct-wise the lowest support was 5%-95% and the highest support was 66%-34%, both in the 1st Ward.
Oddly enough the precinct with the 5-95 only had 28% turnout while the precinct with 66-34 had 73% turnout.
The lowest precinct turnout was 19.5% while the highest was 81%, again both were in the 1st Ward.
I nearly wrote that I suspected Grand Rapids, being in the western part of the state, likely supported the proposition even more strongly than the state as a whole, but I thought better of it. It looks like I was right to think again.
UPDATE 2: Whoa. I totally misread the email. I thought it PASSED 54-46 in GR. It didn't. It FAILED 46-54 as the reader wrote. Call me confused. In Wyoming, where I live, Prop 2 passed handily.
The fact that it didn't in GR obviously makes the move by the city's mayor a plausible one. I was not sure why he'd make that move in the face of such solid support for the prop in his constituency. The answer, of course, is that his constituency doesn't support it at all. The Mayor should feel free to challenge away.
Not that I particularly agree with him.
And many thanks to the reader who sent this in (and then corrected me). Great stuff!
I HAPPENED TO NOTICE Mayors blast Coast Guard today:
A group of mayors from 80 Great Lakes cities in the U.S. and Canada called on the Coast Guard Monday to drop plans for offshore weapons training on the lakes.
Rochester Mayor Robert Duffy declined to join the effort, instead offering his support of the Coast Guard plan to create 34 machine-gun ranges on the Great Lakes.
The Coast Guard released the proposal in August. The firing ranges would be designed for a weapon that can shoot 10 lead bullets a second. The agency has said it must train its crews to handle new, more powerful M240-B machine guns.
I hadn't heard of this plan before, but a quick google turned up a fair amount of zaniness. Here's a sample (all emphasis is mine):
CBC News in Canada:
Politicians representing Canadian cities bordering the Great Lakes have complained that they cannot participate in the public hearings, even though they are near some of the proposed firing ranges.
One site is within 40 kilometres of Kingston, Ont...
[Sarnia, Ont., Mayor Mike Bradley] said the new firing ranges are a huge backward step.
"They effectively have now made the Great Lakes a military zone," he said, adding that the Canada-U.S. border used to be the longest undefended border in the world, and that claim to fame is now a myth.
Then there's Reuters with Guns on U.S. Coast Guard vessels trigger protest:
"This is just boys with guns wanting to have fun on the Great Lakes," Bradley said. "Government agencies on both sides of the border are obtaining more money and, of more concern, more power by using the word 'terrorism' or the words 'homeland security."'...
Passing boats or planes could be endangered if bullets are fired into the air from pitching boats in the famously rough lake waters, [Jennifer Nalbone of the environmental group Great Lakes United] said. She suggested the Coast Guard could train on simulators.
A Coast Guard spokesman, Chief Robert Lanier, said seamen needed to train on the lakes to get the feel of firing from a moving vessel.
"We have done everything we can to make it as safe as possible," Lanier said, including having a safety officer on hand to halt the exercise if necessary and broadcasts on marine band radio for boaters to steer clear.
Great Lakes fishermen say few use their marine radios anymore -- mobile phones have a longer range -- but find it ironic that the agency they have relied on to rescue them could soon be a hidden danger.
As for training on simulators, I'm sure that the Coasties will get plenty of that, as well. But nothing replaces practicing with the real thing. Maybe, if the lead threatens to kill all the marine life in the Lakes, Ms. Nalbone could just watch television shows about fish instead of seeing real ones.
And it's pretty clear that Reuters doesn't support the plan. They seem to think that the Coast Guard will suddenly become a 'hidden danger' because they want to practice with the weapons they're going to use to do the unsavory parts of their job.
But the Gun Guys take the cake:
Using firearms is never safe, no matter what precautions are taken
Hmmm. That pretty much ends any chance of honest and meaningful discussion right there, doesn't it?
Now, is this a major reason to fight for laws against guns and gun violence? Not at all. There are plenty more persuasive reasons to fight for stronger gun laws, not least of which is that guns are, in fact, physically dangerous.
This is the sort of simpleton rhetoric that dooms the anti-gun crowd. Guns are, in fact, "physically dangerous"? I hear this quite a bit, but no one has explained to me yet what's dangerous about guns. (Yes, yes, a PERSON with a gun might be dangerous, but that's something else entirely...)
Really, go read the whole thing. It's amazing.
Anyway, I don't necessarily support all these firing ranges. I haven't thought about it until today. In fact, I guess I probably would have assumed that the Coast Guard had firing ranges all along. How are they supposed to do their jobs? With a nightstick? If it's with firearms of any sort, they need to practice on the waters of the big lakes.
Maybe the number of ranges or their locations can be negotiated. But the need for the Coast Guard to be able to train with its weapons should not be up for discussion.
UPDATE: I found some great maps of the proposed ranges (made using Chart Navigator) at Great-Lakes.org. I posted the Lake Michigan maps, and check out the site for the rest of ranges.
THE FILM THE GROUND TRUTH runs tonight at the Wealthy Theater in Grand Rapids. A discussion with local Iraqi war veterans will follow the screening.
The film looks to be pretty slanted, politically-speaking.
I just found out about this this afternoon, but he's thinking about attending if he can. Entry is just $5. Film starts at 6PM. It runs again tomorrow at 7PM, but there's no post-film discussion.
--cross-posted from Murdoc Online
UPDATE: The "Iraqi war veterans" turned out to be a representative from the Iraqi Veterans Against the War, a political activist group. I'll have more on the film and the post-screening discussion tomorrow.
ALPHECCA NOTES that the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence is looking to reinstitute the Assault Weapons Ban now that the Democrats are back in control of Congress. Brady Campaign president Paul Helmke acknowledges that "guns are a tricky issue", but that "the elections show there's nothing to be afraid of."
Jeff at Alphecca writes:
Actually, Helmke, but for 10,000 votes (Virginia and Montana,) the Republicans would still control the Senate. Those votes, and many more, could vanish in a NY Hillary Minute if Democrats continue to alienate the pro-gun-rights citizens.
Michigan scores a whopping D+ on the Brady Campaign's report card. Reading over what it takes to earn such a mark, I think we've got it about right. For instance, the District of Columbia earns a 'B'. Apparently, this is sort of like golf, where the lower score is the better score.
It doesn't seem likely to me that major anti-gun legislation is going to get very far. At least not in the next two years. If Democrats keep control in 2008, though, and especially if they also take control of the White House, you can bet that they'll be pushing hard.
Via Instapundit, who writes:
The question is, will the Democrats be dumb enough to listen to them [the Brady Campaign] given that the last time they did it cost them control of Congress for twelve years?
UPDATE: Alphecca also wrote about the Democratic victory and gun control on Friday. Go read.
I'm not one bit surprised at either the re-election of Granholm or that of Stabenow. I'd have liked to see one or the other go in the opposite direction, but 2006 certainly appears to have been an anti-Bush year and Republicans were just in a bad spot.
For my overall thoughts on what this Democratic surge to power in Washington means, see As my grandpa used to say: "Uff Da!" at Murdoc Online.
POLLS IN MICHIGAN CLOSE IN FIVE MINUTES and I'm about to turn on television news for the first time in several months. At work today, my prediction on the board gave Granholm a 51-47 win and Stabenow holding off Bouchard. I'd gladly be wrong on both counts. I also gave the Democrats an 11-seat gain in the US House of Representatives and a 4-seat gain in the Senate.
If the GOP loses big, though, I'm going to have trouble coming up with any tears. At least until I see Democrat policy in action.
I voted this morning before work. There was a decent line, but I was in and out in about 25 minutes.
Our precinct used paper ballots marked with a regular pen. The fill in the oval kind. They were then scanned and tabulated electronically. This is a good way to do it.
I did not have to show photo ID. That is a bad way to do it.
I'm more than a little concerned (okay...I'm terrified) of what the controversy surrounding electronic voting is going to do to American politics and government. But let's not get so focused on the new threat of vote stealing that we ignore the old threat of vote stealing.
In any case, be sure to vote today if you haven't already.
THE 'BUSH HATE' STRATEGY works with some folks, according to the headline story in today's GR Press:
When she filled out her absentee ballot, Marilyn Mennetti did something she has never done.
She voted straight Democratic.
The Grand Rapids real-estate agent describes herself as a political independent who has supported Democrats and Republicans. This year, she's mad at a politician who's not even on the ballot.
"The only way to stop George Bush is to put Democrats in the House and the Senate," Mennetti said. "I don't care if nothing happens in Washington."
I think it's unfortunate that a platform of "People don't hate Bush enough to not elect him so we're going to use what hate there is to not elect other people". But the biggest problem all along for Democrats has not been that Bush is so strong, but that his opponents are so weak.
You'll note that the voter quoted isn't voting straight Democrat because she believes the Democrats have a better plan. She's voting straight Democrat because she thinks it's the "only way to stop George Bush".
Unless I'm badly mistaken, the Democrats' 2008 campaign strategy isn't going to be "Look at this good candidate we have!", it's going to be "George Bush was awful, and the new Republican candidate is in Bush's party, so don't vote Republican."
It's the old "we know what you're against...but what are you for?" dilemma. Sad.
HERE IS A COMPREHENSIVE VOTER GUIDE for Michigan's statewide ballot proposals.
GERALD FORD has been hospitalized.
THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS front page highlights the arrest of three men that prosocuters say were plotting to destroy the Mackinac Bridge. The evidence released so far is not terribly convincing, but we'll see.
I have more at Murdoc Online.
THE FIRST NEXT-GENERATION NUCLEAR-POWERED AIRCRAFT CARRIER, referred to as "CVN-21", may be named after Gerald R. Ford:
Virginia Sen. John W. Warner, who is completing his final year as chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, sponsored an amendment to name the future carrier after the nation's 38th president. The amendment to the annual defense authorization bill won Senate approval on a voice vote.
It seems like a stretch to me, but who knows? The newest carrier in the fleet is the Ronald Reagan, and the next one will be the George H.W. Bush. Personally, I think the ship (which will really be designated CVN 78) should be named America. The previous USS America was sunk last year in weapons tests.
I DON'T THINK THIS WILL HELP: Father of Slain Marine Sues Church, Pastor
WaPo:
Attorneys for the father of a Marine whose funeral in Westminster, Md., was disrupted by members of a Kansas church who displayed signs proclaiming anti-gay statements filed a civil lawsuit in federal court in Greenbelt yesterday against the church and its pastor....The lawsuit accuses Phelps and his followers of defamation, invasion of privacy and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
While it's clear that the Westboro Baptist Church, headed by Fred Phelps, is a pack of lunatics, I have trouble believing that this lawsuit is going to be successful. And when it's dismissed or the judge rules against the Marine's father it's going to be perceived among some as a vindication for the group and a validation of their actions.
For pics of the Westboro bunch outside of a military funeral, and the Patriot Rider-organized screen, see Outside the funeral for Sgt. Rick Herrema of Hudsonville, MI
--cross-posted from Murdoc Online
SORT OF A MINUTEMAN PROJECT FOR LAZY FOLKS: Cameras To Put The Border On The Web
Stop the ACLU has the story. I guess it's sort of cool, but as the Border Patrol currently has been ordered take the Minuteman Project less than seriously, I wonder how much effect this would have even if it gets put into place.
THE LOCAL EDITO