Tom George is So Creepy.

Yesterday in the State of the State, Gov. Granholm spoke to the true nature of being a citizen: investing in human capital. Investing in our quality of life. Investing in our fellow man. You can't put a price on the quality of our beautiful state, no matter how appealing that extra $100 may sound to put toward a Kelly Clarkson concert ticket. Nirmal has the transcript. Cat points to the best part. LiberalLucy brings out the heart. So I'm left with talking about the... republicans.

After the DY-NO-MITE address from the diva herself, what titan would the Republicans pull out to attack such a magnificant, uplifting, and timely speech? No, not Tim Skubick, though I'm sure he'll give it the ol' college try this Friday. It's TOM GEORGE M.D., R-Kalamazoo.

Tom George is so creepy. From the big eyes, to the placard-reading voice, to the homospiciou-- nah, I won't go there. CREE-PY.


I mean, like, really. No, really. Like, no.

Tom George asserts us the Republicans have the "best plan" to replace the Single Business Tax. You know, that tax they unnecessarily aborted? Good thing you have a saucy M.D. after your name, Senator -- if those dirty "public" Universities get their funds cut, we won't have many students going through the U of M for the same end.

But now that people decide that having a police force and good universities is a good thing now we're ready to offer the "best plan" for Michigan! You sure are ready to "act now," eh Georgie? Because, he says, the Republicans are ready to "act now" -- just like they were ready to "act now" to blow $2 BILLION dollars into our state budget all in the name of glory glory 2006 Gubernatorial candidate Dick DeVos.

And, rest assured, the Republicans are ready to cut "unnecessary government spending." Even as Gov. Granholm is operating with 30% less revenue than Gov. Engler in 1999. I hope the Republicans will "ACT NOW," cut taxes, and alter the "Welcome to Michigan: The Great Lakes State" signs with "Welcome to Michigan: Everything Under $1, or Your Money Back! Watch for the Potholes!"

But what really made it so magical was the brilliant peace of political posturing that is: "[Senate Republicans will work in] the spirit of cooperation and partnership." Yeah. Call me "Debbie Downer" but I'll beieve that as soon as my boyfriend and I can rent out Tom George's house as our own personal gay Bed & Breakfast. Partnership? Cooperation? Of course. I guess miracles can happen: after all, gay prostitute and crystal meth enthusiast Rev. Ted Haggard was "cured" of his homosexuality after 3 weeks of rehab. So why can't Republicans turn the other cheek?

No way, Jose. I'm not buying what you're selling. You made your bed with 50% cotton 50% polyester sheets, now lie in it. Invest in our citizens, or invest in your bottom line. Invest in our education, or get that tax credit to send your three darling children to the best private schools money can buy. Invest in 21st century technologies, invest in our roads, invest in our boys in blue and red, or get the hell out.

We don't need any naysayers with your fork-tongued double speak on "cooperation" or "partnership." You wanted to blow $2billion in the state budget, you wanted to cut government, you wanted to cut services, and you got it. No more. Gravy train's over. So take your grossly green-screened scarlet red background and your cuecards to somewhere where people will lick it up like a box of krispy cremes.

It's time to fix the mess you started. It's a new day and a new Michigan. We're going to tighten our belts and pull through. Time for "Senate Republicans" to do the same, or wait for the swift kick in the butt come 2008.

Excuses for My Absence

Since my biggest fans keep telling me that the tumbleweeds are breezing through MI Amore!, I thought I would inform everyone: yes, I am still alive. Being a full-time student/full-time employee/full-time stressin' mess really kills the internal willpower to have a daily bloggin' partay.

But I'm back, and ready to rock the world with my (arguably... very arguably) insightful commentary. Because Lansing is still the most awesome place on the planet.

I don't have a doctor's note for my absence, but I do have sincere apologies. I'm not going anywhere: Michigan needs me!

A slight rant. Well, not so slight.

This came from a comment I posted on Michigan Liberal. While it may be aimed at one person, I mean it to all local analysts for this state, and most papers. This is Michigan. We are Michiganians. Report. Opine. Discuss. And for the love of all that is holy I implore you to take a closer -- and more objective and nuanced -- look:


Look.

Plain and simple: Tim Skubick has a powerful voice as far as Michigan politics is concerned. I hate to admit it, but it's true. Who else got to really cover the MI Gov race? Who else was able to write a book about it?

Tim Skubick.

And he does no justice to the political and policy issues that affect Michiganians. Instead of reporting on the stalling tactics of the MI-GOP, he will write an editorial on why his "Did you murder Ricky Holland?" comment to the Governor was apropos. Instead of talking about filling the gap in the budget to the SBT, he'd rather take pot-shots against Michigan Liberal on MIRS.

He does a disservice to the people of Michigan, and betrays the (self-appointed) position that he represents.

You have NO idea how discouraging it is as a 16-18 year old Michiganian to have your only editorial content on Michigan politics to be represented by Tim Skubick.

You have NO idea how it is to be a member of the LGBT community when all Skubick can do is bash Granholm, even when Proposal 2 (2004) is affecting people just like me.

You have NO idea how it is to have a grandmother in the decaying east side neighborhood of Lansing -- when Tim Skubick sits in an ivory tower of downtown Lansing and a comfy home in Okemos -- while he brings on "business leaders" to talk with, and agree with, their positions that increasing tax revenue is a horrendous idea, while cutting the budget (police, fire, education) is implicitly a better alternative.

I don't care if he's a clown, or a caricature to us on the left. Tim Skubick betrays the people for whom he corresponds. He can talk all he wants about how deplorable it is to turn politics into a horserace... he still manages to only talk about it in terms of a horserace. The ballots were barely cast in '06 when Skubick decided to talk about candidates for 2010.

It's not about being unable to accept criticism. It's about telling a political "analyst" (and I mean that in the greatest shadow of the term) to stop jerking with people's lives and start talking about the lives that these policies represent.

Granholm -- to me -- has always represented the underdog. Even as a successful, savvy politician, she has stayed true to the people of Michigan. It comes with some sacrifice. The news isn't always rosy. But it's a damn world away from the ivory tower of people like Tim Skubick who make a living off of fear, sensationalism, and the corny books that he deigns to pen for a quick buck on the backs of born and bred Michiganians who hope and hold out for something better.

In these tough times, critique is warranted. His bullshit masqueraded as "analysis" is not. So he can crawl back into the hole from whence he came -- I really don't care. Get him off my LSJ, get him off my local TV, and get someone who is passionate about making a change. About building Michigan. About understanding Michigan. And not just about the day-to-day bull that is vomited across the Capitol floor.

That is what I want. And as it stands, Tim Skubick is in no way a part of that vision. He is no better than a leech who sucks off whatever news item that may make him relevant. There need be no carpetbaggers in Michigan -- whether you were born here or not. Be a part of the solution, or stand at the sidelines, booing and hissing like the Tim Skubicks of the world. It does nobody one iota of good.

I've spoken my peace and I stand by it. I stand by Michigan. I stand by my hometown. I don't stand with the transient representatives that we choose to elect. And the Skubicks of the world better damn well remember that.

Granholm almost at another touchdown: possible score of 300 jobs!

Not a done deal yet, but hopefully contracts like these can undo the foundation of spin from the MI-GOP about that "single state recession" nonsense.

From the Detroit Free Press:

In addition, Gov. Jennifer Granholm laid a hard-sell pitch on Tesla founder and CEO Martin Eberhard last week to also put a $100-million, 300-employee Tesla manufacturing plant in Michigan -- a factory earlier reported to be headed for Arizona, North Carolina or California.

It would be a serious boon to the Michigan economy, and also be a nice bonus for alternative energies -- one of the four cornerstones to the 21st Century Jobs Fund.

Tesla Motors was formed in 2003 by Eberhard, 46, a Silicon Valley entrepreneur who sold the digital book company NuvoMedia for $187 million, and by his partner Marc Tarpenning. Last year, they began selling their first product, the $100,000 Tesla Roadster, which is powered by lithium-ion batteries and boasts a range of 250 miles per charge.

[...]

Tesla's U.S. manufacturing plant and the Rochester Hills engineering center would be focused chiefly on the company's next-generation electric vehicle, a sedan that Eberhard hopes will cost around $50,000 and sell about 10 times the volume of the roadster.

If this goes through it will be a huge touchdown for team Michigan. And it might keep pushing the Big 3 toward that little thing called an electric (or a plug-in hybrid) car.

You go, JG! Let's hope Tesla comes over to the Great Lakes State!

Oh, man. Man o' Man.

Interesting comment to my earlier Skubick diary cross-posted on Michigan Liberal. The Senior Capitol Correspondent in context. I won't even cross-quote it here, but it deserves a look.

Boy, am I restraining myself.

I guess it's not quite so "Off the Record," neh? ;)

I can't even HANDLE this! Ha!

So not Michigan or politically-related, but I just have to share this with the universe because it is too hilarious for words.

Paula Abdul loves to slur through half of her words on American Idol, but a couple of days ago she was completely blitzed on not one -- but two interviews.

Hopefully this can give everyone a good laugh before all of the impending political challenges ahead both in Michigan and across the nation.



If you want to watch the other interview, look no further than here.

Sound Off! Sunday: Kylie Minogue

Since Sunday is a day of rest, I'll just offer a bit of fun.



Kylie Minogue singing "On A Night Like This" for her Body Language tour.

That woman can put on a show. It's one thing to listen to Kylie; it's another to watch a performance. If you're into pop at all, get a Kylie DVD, and stat.