Open Discussion – Midwest U.S.

10 Comments

1. 

   karichisholm on November 15, 2005 at 5:07 am

   Lots is happening in the Midwest. Be sure to head over to LeftyBlogs.com for a state-by-state live update on all the local progressive blogs.

   • 

     Street Kid on November 28, 2005 at 7:29 pm

     Gotta check that one out when I have more time on a public terminal.  Thanks!

   • 

     Street Kid on November 28, 2005 at 7:45 pm

     Got booted off terminal, clicked around and it let me back on!  Another hour!  (Have to remember how I did that one!!)

   • 

     Indianadem on December 15, 2005 at 4:43 pm

     Thanks for the link. It reminded me to check the state news again. I found a tidbit worth sending to the IN 9th District Chair.

2. 

   Street Kid on November 28, 2005 at 8:09 pm

   OMFG!!!!!!!!

   Diary re:  Mike Rogers (R-MI 8th) campaign contributions tomorrow or the day after!!!!!!!

3. 

   Street Kid on November 28, 2005 at 8:12 pm

   Another ? Booman:  Is there a limit to the number of diaries a person can post per day?  Might be able to pull off a fast one tonite!!

4. 

   Street Kid on November 29, 2005 at 8:57 pm

   At the state level:

   According to data collected by the state, lobbyists have spent $6,518.91 on meals for state Rep. Joe Hune, R-Hamburg Township, and $5,899.94 on Rep. Chris Ward, R-Brighton Township.

   local paper

   fired off following LTE:

   “As reported by the Brighton Argus, the following amounts were spent on meals:  $6,518.91  for state Rep. Joe Hune, R-Hamburg Township, and $5,899.94 on Rep. Chris Ward, R-Brighton Township. (Total for both $12,418.85)  It is necessary to remind both that the monthly Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payment is $579.00 per month.  (Multiplied by twelve gives a total of $6948.00 per year.)  So, in addition to their generous salaries and benefits, both feel justified dining lavishly ($5470.85 more than the amount some of their constituents live on).  In addition, Ward implies that the concerns of constituents carry more weight.  Right!”

   Wanted to post it on Michigan Liberal, but am having difficulty logging on!  So, I figured this is the best that I can do!!

5. 

   Marc in KS on December 11, 2005 at 10:37 am

   (Posted in an Open Thread on dKos; thought it more relevant here.)

   The other day there was a story in the Lawrence Journal-World (registration required, but free) about a group calling itself the “Kansas Traditional Republican Majority.”  They propose to “try to steer the GOP away from ‘the politics of hate and intolerance’ and toward a more moderate agenda.”

   We will no longer concede the good Republican name to extremist Republicans who push a narrow social agenda but lack any real solutions to the problems facing Kansas….The extreme elements that influence our party today have lost sight of fundamental Republican principles…. Instead, they are choosing litmus tests on candidates and members, expanded government, deficit spending and social policies that divide Americans.

   Now, snarks about “good Republican name” aside, this is a good thing, I think; it shows a remarkable grasp of the reality-based community, considering it’s coming from a Republican.  There still seem to be a few “Goldwater” conservatives out there, and they’re not happy about the direction of the contemporary R party has taken.

   The current crop of Republican crazies in charge have gone so far as to describe this splinter group as

   a liberal front group for Democrats who want to pretend they are Republicans so they can hoodwink the voters into electing candidates who will talk Republican before the election and vote Democrat once in office….

   (Would that it were so!)
   I’m hoping this will set up some serious primary battles that will generally scar all the Republican candidates.  I hold little hope that things will get nasty enough that people will start electing democrats, but it is an interesting development.  

   Shallenburger, the [current] state GOP chairman, said he would prefer if the group hadn’t formed.
       “It isn’t necessarily helpful” he said.
       He said he was concerned the warring groups would get so angry at each other before the August primary they would have trouble making up to defeat Democrats in November.

   Tee hee.

   For those of us who have been shaking our heads and wondering “what happened to the conservatives?” this may be a portent: maybe they’re not dead, and there are actually Republicans left who can think and are open to debating policy issues.

   I don’t know that Kansas has ever been a bellwether state for national trends, but it is a staunchly Republican state, and to see this sort of division and infighting suggests that the Radical Right’s (the theocratic right’s) hold on Kansas is nearing an end.  This latest round of Jesus-in-the-science-classroom has gotten people motivated.  The group has pledged to remove four of the BoE that voted for the supernatural clause in the state science standards.

   The new group is also targeting

   a number of what [former state senator Buhler] called “radical” groups that were active in campaigning in the last Republican Party primary.

       Two of those he mentioned were the Kansas Club for Growth, which worked to defeat legislators who voted for tax increases, and the Kansas chapter of Americans for Prosperity, which supports a budget and tax limit amendment.”

   God, anything to kill the Club for “Growth.”  I think they’re going down.

   Maybe one day even Kansans will realize that taxes are not inherently evil; that taxes are actually something you can use to get things like roads and schools and other social services.

6. 

   NorthDakotaDemocrat on December 16, 2005 at 2:29 am

   Thanks for the leftyblogs link. Looks like there’s more happening in my state than I had realized.

7. 

   dabobbo on December 20, 2005 at 11:16 pm

   I think I’ll have to call Sen Stabenow’s office again tomorrow to remind her she should filibuster the ANWR
   provision…
   I’m somewhat curious as to why the money Joe Knollenberg, R-MI has received from DeLay’s ARMPac hasn’t been made more widely known.
   If you know any right wingers cryin’ about the war on Christmas, tell ’em to come to Christmas, MI where its Christmas all year round and STFU.
   Hope all is well with all.