I found this article in the Grosse Pointe News, May 25th 1944 and thought it somewhat interesting. Roosevelt “embodied all the necessary qualification and moreover who had a real chance of winning” as opined by the then two time loser CP presidential candidate Earl Browder. FDR had at that point, quite adequately proven himself  acceptable to those who would decimate one man’s success, to reward another’s abject failure in order to achieve equality.

Strangely, as the article talks of the kiss of death (being endorsed by CPUSA), it appears it had not been so terribly bad for our current occupier, going into 2008.

Oh right, back then the papers would have actually reported (as this one did) a communist connection or endorsement to a presidential candidate.

Illegal scheme continued despite law explicitly stating providers are not government employees

MIDLAND — Michigan’s 60,000 home health care aides should no longer have so-called union dues skimmed from their subsidy checks as a result of an informal but binding opinion letter issued today by Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette. The opinion was issued in response to a request by Rep. Paul Opsommer, R-DeWitt, six weeks after Gov. Rick Snyder signed legislation ending the stealth unionization. The Service Employees International Union has taken some $30 million from the state’s most vulnerable residents over the last six years, including more than $680,000 since the scheme was outlawed.

“This episode demonstrates how government-sector unions often act in ways that benefit themselves at the cost of taxpayers and their shanghaied members,” said Mackinac Center Legal Foundation Director Patrick J. Wright. “The independent contractors and family members who provide aid to the developmentally disabled were never government employees and should not have been paying dues in the first place.”

The SEIU was able to skim the so-called “dues” under a scheme that was concocted during the administration of Gov. Jennifer Granholm. An interlocal agreement between the Department of Community Health and the Tri-County Aging Consortium allowed for the creation of the Michigan Quality Community Care Council, which served as the shell employer for people who are actually self-employed independent contractors or, overwhelmingly, family members caring for loved ones.

Senate Bill 1018, now Public Act 76 of 2012, made it explicit that home health aides are not public employees. An early version of  legislation to end this practice was introduced  by Rep. Opsommer.

Despite the clear language of the new law, the dues skim had continued. Michigan Capitol Confidential recently reported that the MQC3, the so-called public employer, was receiving no government funds but did receive operating expenses from the SEIU. CapCon also reported that the MQC3 is being operated out of its director’s basement. The director is currently limited to working three hours a week because she is receiving unemployment insurance.

Wright cautioned that the SEIU is trying to pass a constitutional amendment to allow the union to once again designate home health care providers as government employees and revive its lucrative revenue stream through coerced dues.

WASHINGTON – Today, Crossroads Grassroots Policy Strategies (Crossroads GPS) announced a new issue ad that will run for three weeks on TV in Michigan to frame the debate on jobs, the economy, taxes and government debt.

The new ad, “Basketball,” will air in Michigan for a total buy of $680,000 starting on Wednesday, May 23.  The spot, which can be viewed here, details the Obama Administration’s poor results on fixing the troubled economy, cutting the debt, keeping taxes low and other key issues.  A high resolution download of the ad is available upon request.

The ad is the second in a $25 million issue advocacy initiative in Michigan as well as in Colorado, Iowa, Florida, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

“This ad drives home the impact President Obama’s policies are having on American families and why those policies need to be changed,” said Steven Law, president of Crossroads GPS. “We want there to be a serious debate on the real issues people are facing in this country, and this ad expresses the human element of that debate.”

The ad urges citizens to support the “New Majority Agenda.”  For more information about the six major policy initiatives detailed in the plan, visit www.newmajorityagenda.org.

Since President Obama took office in January 2009, the national debt has increased by more than $5 trillion, 45% more people are on food stamps, gas prices have doubled, and job growth is anemic, leaving record numbers of Americans to simply give up looking for work and leave the workforce. Obama and his advisors promised that his economic “stimulus” legislation would prevent the unemployment rate from rising above 8%, but it has been above 8% for every month of Obama’s presidency since February 2009, and the real unemployment rate is considered much higher by economists, due to the large number of discouraged workers who have left the workforce since Obama took office.

Crossroads GPS is a policy and grassroots advocacy organization that is committed to educating, equipping and mobilizing millions of American citizens to take action on the critical economic and legislative issues that will shape our nation’s future in the years ahead.

Governor Snyder signs expansion of online learning options

LANSING— The following is a statement from Brian and Heidi Kevelin, board members of the National Coalition for Public School Options – Michigan Chapter, praising the signing of Senate Bill 619, legislation expanding educational opportunities for students and choices for parents, by Governor Rick Snyder.

“Throughout the debate over expanding online charter public schools in Michigan, all parents have asked for was the option to pursue the kind of learning best for their own children.  Unfortunately, waiting lists, enrollment caps and student lotteries put that out of reach for thousands of families.  Today, with the Governor’s signature, Senate Bill 619 delivers quality options for learning to moms, dads and students across our state.  This is very exciting, and we are extremely grateful to the Governor and to lawmakers in the Senate and House who have stood with parents.”

Love you mom.  Forever.

MIDLAND — Former Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Cliff Taylor and charter public school entrepreneur J.C. Huizenga have joined the Mackinac Center for Public Policy’s Board of Directors, President Joseph G. Lehman announced today.

“The Mackinac Center is proud to add these two accomplished leaders to our governing board,” Lehman said.

Taylor, a former Navy officer, served on the state Supreme Court from 1997 to 2008 and the Michigan Court of Appeals from 1992 to 1997.

“Cliff’s legal and judicial expertise will better enable us to defend the people against government overreach,” Lehman said.

Taylor said he looks forward to serving on the board and is excited about the potential of the Mackinac Center Legal Foundation.

“Having a public interest law firm at the Mackinac Center increases its effectiveness, and I will provide whatever insight and guidance I can when needed,” Taylor said.

Huizenga is founder and chairman of the National Heritage Academies, which he started in 1995. NHA operates more than 70 charter public schools in nine states. He also owns several manufacturing enterprises that employ more than 6,000 people.

“J.C. has a career-long commitment to one Mackinac Center core goal: educational freedom for all,” Lehman said.

Huizenga also founded PrepNet, a group of three college preparatory charter high schools in Michigan that educates more than 800 students.

“The Mackinac Center has been a faithful defender of the traditional founding values that have made this nation great,” Huizenga said. “I look forward to participating more actively in the future direction of such a dynamic organization.”

Taylor and Huizenga will attend their first board meeting on Monday.

MICHIGAN House Bill 4769 and Senate Bill 701

THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012
8:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Mackinac Room
Anderson House Office Building
124 North Capitol Avenue, 5th Floor
Lansing, MI

We must Act Now to re-affirm, as public policy, the primacy of the US Constitution to ensure that no US citizen or resident is denied – as a result of the application of foreign law – the liberties, rights, and privileges guaranteed by our Constitution.

Speakers:

• Rep. Dave Agema (R- Dist. 74) & Sen. Roger Kahn (R – Dist. 32) – Legislation Sponsors
• Richard Thompson, President & Chief Counsel -Thomas More Law Center
• William Wagner, Professor of Constitutional Law
• Christopher Holton, Vice-President – Center for Security Policy
• Manda Zand Ervin, Founder & President – Alliance of Iranian Women

All attendees-are asked to make appointments with their state lawmakers beginning at 11:00 am to urge passage of this vital legislation.

To schedule your legislative appointment call: 517-373-0135

Space is limited and this event is only open to those with a confirmed reservation.

RSVP with name, phone number, and email address to: alacrally@aol.com

After screwing up the first 10 or so, it wasn’t long before I got the hang of it, and was producing semi-pro quality pieces worthy of display.  Enough fortunately, to be able to pass a few to the biggest supporters before going into full electioneering mode.

As we are cat people, (three in the house) I had figured it would be funny to place a button on our black cat ‘Liberty’ and use for fun discussion. Figuring we could say “see even the cats support the candidate!”

After attending (and working for an hour at the VFW breakfast) the first pancake outing, we headed over to the station 9 firehouse in East Bay township.  After going through a veritable ‘murderers row’ of politicians who had volunteered for the event, my small posse was ready to sit down for the second meal of the morning.  It was probably good that I had eaten very lightly at the first.

The food in both places, very good.

Fully a third of the attendees, and probably 80% of the working crew at the station nine affair were politicians seeking office, and I was not as uncomfortable as I thought I might be sporting obvious campaign buttons and identifying items in the popular community event.

Along with nearly every politico in the county, a couple of the notables, County commissioner Rob Hentschel and Jason Allen were there, with the latter and his entire family in attendance.

At one point talking to Jason’s father and commissioner Hentschel, I brought out the picture above, and explained “You have NO IDEA how hard it is to settle the cat down long enough to pin the button on .. ” and then noting Jason’s daughter looking on showed her the picture saying “See Kitties LIKE to wear buttons!”  then quickly corrected myself to her realizing that impressionable minds and this type of humor might not be a great mix. hehe.

Jason?  You might to watch that for a while.  )

Anyhow, it was good to get out and see the community with these two events.  I will be looking to be at more of them so I can meet more of the folks in our county.