Mares Hirchert (I know her real first name but won't tell) supports peace. And is proud of it.
The Livingston Press and Argus spotlighted Mares in a story in editions for Monday (January 5, 2009).
Mares has been waging her Pinwheels for Peace effort in support of a Palestinian kindergarten for months, taking many pictures in Livingston County Democratic Party offices with visiting dignitaries to build support for preventing the destruction of the school.
In recent days, Mares has been emailing the media and public officials urging them to try to halt Israel's offensive in Gaza. Israel's aerial bombardment, followed by its ground assault, has so-far killed more than 400 Palestinians, far more than the four people killed in Israel by Hamas rockets.
American media have for the most part ignored the context of the situation -- neglecting to mention Israel's blockade of the Gaza strip which has left the residents -- including innocent women and children -- there starving and without power for months.
The comments to the Press and Argus article are interesting. While most praise Mares for her dedication to peace, some are attacking her. We consider ourselves a peace-loving nation, but if anybody stands up for peace, they are attacked.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Sunday, January 4, 2009
One More Sign of Democratic Leanings in Livingston
As we look back at 2008 and political events in Livingston County, people usually focus on how well President-elect Barack Obama did in our county -- almost 43 percent of the vote compared to John Kerry's 36 percent four years earlier.
There were other important signs of an increaasingly moderate lean in this part of Michigan -- Proposals 1 and 2, dealing with medical marijuana and embryonic stem cell research -- both won the county.
The Livingston Press and Argus wraps up these events as part of its 2008 look-back at political highlights in a storyfor editions of Sunday (January 4, 2009).
The piece does a good job of covering the year's political scene, but one sign of Livingston County's increasing moderation that I would add is this:
Livingston County voted for Diane Hathaway for Michigan Supreme Court and against Republican Cliff Taylor.
Michigan Supreme Court races are supposed to be non-partisan, but Taylor was an extremely partisan Republican, the spouse of former Gov. John Engler's legal counsel and a long-time political operative. Under his reign, the Michigan high court skewed far to the right, issuing rulings that not only trampled on the rights of average citizens but bordered on the cruel.
Plus, he was so contemptuous of the rights of litigants that he fell asleep during the arguments of a case involving a fire that killed six children.
Livingston County said "No!" to another term for Cliff Taylor and voted for Hathaway, who had been nominated by the Michigan Democratic Party.
Livingston County Democrats worked hard to persuade voters that Taylor had to go. The party had three events related to the race, including a visit by Hathaway herself at a "Flip the Ballot" barbeque. We talked to everyone who came into our office about the need to replace Taylor. We handed out her signs and carried her literature door-to-door.
So by the time the "sleeping judge" ads rolled around, people in Livingston County were already well-educated about the need to get rid of Taylor.
It's one of the things Livingston Dems are proudest of from the 2008 election cycle.
There were other important signs of an increaasingly moderate lean in this part of Michigan -- Proposals 1 and 2, dealing with medical marijuana and embryonic stem cell research -- both won the county.
The Livingston Press and Argus wraps up these events as part of its 2008 look-back at political highlights in a storyfor editions of Sunday (January 4, 2009).
The piece does a good job of covering the year's political scene, but one sign of Livingston County's increasing moderation that I would add is this:
Livingston County voted for Diane Hathaway for Michigan Supreme Court and against Republican Cliff Taylor.
Michigan Supreme Court races are supposed to be non-partisan, but Taylor was an extremely partisan Republican, the spouse of former Gov. John Engler's legal counsel and a long-time political operative. Under his reign, the Michigan high court skewed far to the right, issuing rulings that not only trampled on the rights of average citizens but bordered on the cruel.
Plus, he was so contemptuous of the rights of litigants that he fell asleep during the arguments of a case involving a fire that killed six children.
Livingston County said "No!" to another term for Cliff Taylor and voted for Hathaway, who had been nominated by the Michigan Democratic Party.
Livingston County Democrats worked hard to persuade voters that Taylor had to go. The party had three events related to the race, including a visit by Hathaway herself at a "Flip the Ballot" barbeque. We talked to everyone who came into our office about the need to replace Taylor. We handed out her signs and carried her literature door-to-door.
So by the time the "sleeping judge" ads rolled around, people in Livingston County were already well-educated about the need to get rid of Taylor.
It's one of the things Livingston Dems are proudest of from the 2008 election cycle.
Warm-Weather Bowls Feeling Chill from Midwest Economic Woes
Just a few weeks ago, people outside Michigan and other industrial states were asking why the federal government didn't just let the American auto industry fail. They are dinosaurs, whose failure was inevitable and who cares.
But now it's college football bowl season and all those non-industrial states are hoping the sons and daughters of those over-paid autoworkers will come south to cheer their university footbeall teams on to victory. And drop a few thousand dollars into the southern economies in the process.
And all of a sudden, the businesses in the tourism states are starting to figure out why a strong industrial economy should matter to them. The lesson is being learned through the teaching aid of empty seats in football stadiums, empty beds in hotel rooms, and empty chairs in restaurants.
In Orlando, where Michigan State University appeared in the Capital One Bowl, the Orlando Sentinal reports the game was far from a sell-out -- only 60,000 seats filled in a 65,438-seat stadium. And hotel occupancy was down 23 percent.
Michigan State had nearly 1,000 unsold tickets from its allotment, the cost of which were deducted from the team's payout. Wisconsin also failed to sell its allotment for the Champs Sports Bowl, which was also played in Orlando.
And the newspaper also reported only 25,205 people went to the St. Petersburg Bowl, that a "smaller-than-usual crowd" was expected for the Orange Bowl.
Elsewhere in Florida, the Miami Herald reported tickets for the Orange Bowl game, which featured Cincinnai, were selling for as little as $10.
And the New Orleans Times-Picayune admits that the Sugar Bowl also had sluggish ticket sales. The attendance officially was listed at 71,872, short of last year's near-capacity crowd of nearly 75,000.
So what does 4,000 fewer fans mean? A lot in terms of empty hotel rooms and restaurant tables.
The same was true in the Southwest, where Phoenix-area merchants are bemoaning the slow sales for the Fiesta Bowl featuring Ohio State. The Arizona Republic quoted an Ohio travel agent as saying demand was "terrible" for bowl packages to the Phoenix area for the game. In response, Phoenix-area hotels were cutting prices.
Yes, times are tough all over. When you make your living by soaking up extra dollars from the paychecks of people who actually make things, you can't expect to do well if they're all laid off.
What goes around, comes around.
But now it's college football bowl season and all those non-industrial states are hoping the sons and daughters of those over-paid autoworkers will come south to cheer their university footbeall teams on to victory. And drop a few thousand dollars into the southern economies in the process.
And all of a sudden, the businesses in the tourism states are starting to figure out why a strong industrial economy should matter to them. The lesson is being learned through the teaching aid of empty seats in football stadiums, empty beds in hotel rooms, and empty chairs in restaurants.
In Orlando, where Michigan State University appeared in the Capital One Bowl, the Orlando Sentinal reports the game was far from a sell-out -- only 60,000 seats filled in a 65,438-seat stadium. And hotel occupancy was down 23 percent.
Michigan State had nearly 1,000 unsold tickets from its allotment, the cost of which were deducted from the team's payout. Wisconsin also failed to sell its allotment for the Champs Sports Bowl, which was also played in Orlando.
And the newspaper also reported only 25,205 people went to the St. Petersburg Bowl, that a "smaller-than-usual crowd" was expected for the Orange Bowl.
Elsewhere in Florida, the Miami Herald reported tickets for the Orange Bowl game, which featured Cincinnai, were selling for as little as $10.
And the New Orleans Times-Picayune admits that the Sugar Bowl also had sluggish ticket sales. The attendance officially was listed at 71,872, short of last year's near-capacity crowd of nearly 75,000.
So what does 4,000 fewer fans mean? A lot in terms of empty hotel rooms and restaurant tables.
The same was true in the Southwest, where Phoenix-area merchants are bemoaning the slow sales for the Fiesta Bowl featuring Ohio State. The Arizona Republic quoted an Ohio travel agent as saying demand was "terrible" for bowl packages to the Phoenix area for the game. In response, Phoenix-area hotels were cutting prices.
Yes, times are tough all over. When you make your living by soaking up extra dollars from the paychecks of people who actually make things, you can't expect to do well if they're all laid off.
What goes around, comes around.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Human Rights-E-Mail Sec. Condoleezza Rice!
Secretary Condoleezza Rice:
Amnesty International USA is deeply concerned about the escalation of human rights abuses following the series of Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip that began on December 27th. Since the beginning of the offensive, some 390 Palestinians have been killed, including scores of unarmed civilians, including some 62 women and children. Some 1,900 Palestinians have also been injured.Amnesty International is also concerned about the rocket fire by armed Palestinian groups including Hamas. These attacks are against international law and have killed four Israelis and injured scores more. But Amnesty International USA is particularly dismayed at the lopsided response by the US government to the recent violence and its lackadaisical efforts to ameliorate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Amnesty International, as indeed other human rights and humanitarian organizations, is concerned about attacks directed at or resulting in harm to unarmed civilians. We expect the US government to share this concern for all unarmed civilians, be they Israeli or Palestinians, who are caught in this conflict, and we urge the US government to spare no effort to pressure all sides in the conflict to immediately cease indiscriminate or disproportionate attacks which cause civilians fatalities and casualties. Without diminishing the responsibility of Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups for indiscriminate and deliberate attacks on Israeli civilians, the US government must not ignore Israel’s disproportionate response and the longstanding policies which have brought the Gaza Strip to the brink of humanitarian disaster. While Israel has the right and the duty to protect its citizens, it must do so in accordance with international human rights and humanitarian law. International law takes security concerns into consideration and allows states to use reasonable means to confront legitimate threats. However, operations must be strictly necessary, proportionate and make every effort to discriminate between combatant and civilian. The least intrusive means must be selected to confront the threat. In its latest bombing campaign, Israel is completely failing to meet these requirements under international law. The Gaza Strip is one of the most densely populated areas in the world. The attacks also come at a time when the civilian population already faces a daily struggle for survival. According to reports authored by Amnesty International, UN aid agencies, OXFAM, CARE, and several other organizations, the humanitarian crisis is at an all-time high level and is now worse that it has ever been since the 1967 Israeli military occupation. Rising unemployment, crippling prices of food and basic supplies, and inadequate medical facilities have created a man-made disaster. According to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, "The civilian population, the fabric of Gaza, the future of the peace process, stability in the region, and goodwill among people throughout the world: all are trapped between the irresponsibility displayed in the indiscriminate rocket attacks by Hamas militants and At present there is an urgent need for access to humanitarian aid, food and essential supplies – as both aid agencies and residents of Gaza have long ago run out of provision reserves due to the Israeli blockade which has so restricted the flow of goods into Gaza for months. The quantities which the Israeli army has allowed into Gaza in recent days are nowhere near what is necessary to meet the basic needs of the population of 1.5 million. AIUSA is further concerned that weaponry and military equipment supplied to Israel by the US (or developed with US military assistance) have also been used in the recent Israeli strikes against densely populated civilian residential areas of Gaza, resulting in scores of unarmed civilians fatalities and hundreds of casualties, in violation of US law. The U.S. Arms Export Control Act of 1976 requires governments that receive weapons from the United States use them only for legitimate self-defense. The U.S. government can play an important role in ending this crisis by strongly condemning unlawful attacks by both Hamas and Israel which indiscriminately and/or disproportionately kill and injure civilians.The U.S. must also take an active role in reversing the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza by exerting pressure on Israel to open the crossings into Gaza to allow adequate quantities of humanitarian aid into the strip – including food, water, medicine and fuel. Humanitarian and human rights workers as well as media must be allowed to enter to aid in the recovery and to serve as neutral, third party observers. Israel must also grant the wounded access to hospitals in Israel and to Palestinian hospitals in East Jerusalem and the rest of the West Bank. The United States should also take steps to insist that the Egyptian authorities open Egyptian hospitals to those in need of medical care which is not available in Gaza and ask that Egypt guarantees that its border guards do not resort to excessive use of force against those fleeing the bombing. Hamas must also ensure that its security forces and militias do not, under any circumstances, hinder or prevent the passage of the wounded or others patients trying to leave Gaza. Finally, it is vital that the United States suspend the transfer of weapons to Israel immediately and conduct an investigation into whether U.S. weapons were used to commit human rights abuses. Thank you for your consideration of the above concerns and recommendations.SincerelyMares Hirchert2641 Sun Terrace DriveHartland, MI 48353-2943
Amnesty International USA is deeply concerned about the escalation of human rights abuses following the series of Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip that began on December 27th. Since the beginning of the offensive, some 390 Palestinians have been killed, including scores of unarmed civilians, including some 62 women and children. Some 1,900 Palestinians have also been injured.Amnesty International is also concerned about the rocket fire by armed Palestinian groups including Hamas. These attacks are against international law and have killed four Israelis and injured scores more. But Amnesty International USA is particularly dismayed at the lopsided response by the US government to the recent violence and its lackadaisical efforts to ameliorate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Amnesty International, as indeed other human rights and humanitarian organizations, is concerned about attacks directed at or resulting in harm to unarmed civilians. We expect the US government to share this concern for all unarmed civilians, be they Israeli or Palestinians, who are caught in this conflict, and we urge the US government to spare no effort to pressure all sides in the conflict to immediately cease indiscriminate or disproportionate attacks which cause civilians fatalities and casualties. Without diminishing the responsibility of Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups for indiscriminate and deliberate attacks on Israeli civilians, the US government must not ignore Israel’s disproportionate response and the longstanding policies which have brought the Gaza Strip to the brink of humanitarian disaster. While Israel has the right and the duty to protect its citizens, it must do so in accordance with international human rights and humanitarian law. International law takes security concerns into consideration and allows states to use reasonable means to confront legitimate threats. However, operations must be strictly necessary, proportionate and make every effort to discriminate between combatant and civilian. The least intrusive means must be selected to confront the threat. In its latest bombing campaign, Israel is completely failing to meet these requirements under international law. The Gaza Strip is one of the most densely populated areas in the world. The attacks also come at a time when the civilian population already faces a daily struggle for survival. According to reports authored by Amnesty International, UN aid agencies, OXFAM, CARE, and several other organizations, the humanitarian crisis is at an all-time high level and is now worse that it has ever been since the 1967 Israeli military occupation. Rising unemployment, crippling prices of food and basic supplies, and inadequate medical facilities have created a man-made disaster. According to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, "The civilian population, the fabric of Gaza, the future of the peace process, stability in the region, and goodwill among people throughout the world: all are trapped between the irresponsibility displayed in the indiscriminate rocket attacks by Hamas militants and At present there is an urgent need for access to humanitarian aid, food and essential supplies – as both aid agencies and residents of Gaza have long ago run out of provision reserves due to the Israeli blockade which has so restricted the flow of goods into Gaza for months. The quantities which the Israeli army has allowed into Gaza in recent days are nowhere near what is necessary to meet the basic needs of the population of 1.5 million. AIUSA is further concerned that weaponry and military equipment supplied to Israel by the US (or developed with US military assistance) have also been used in the recent Israeli strikes against densely populated civilian residential areas of Gaza, resulting in scores of unarmed civilians fatalities and hundreds of casualties, in violation of US law. The U.S. Arms Export Control Act of 1976 requires governments that receive weapons from the United States use them only for legitimate self-defense. The U.S. government can play an important role in ending this crisis by strongly condemning unlawful attacks by both Hamas and Israel which indiscriminately and/or disproportionately kill and injure civilians.The U.S. must also take an active role in reversing the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza by exerting pressure on Israel to open the crossings into Gaza to allow adequate quantities of humanitarian aid into the strip – including food, water, medicine and fuel. Humanitarian and human rights workers as well as media must be allowed to enter to aid in the recovery and to serve as neutral, third party observers. Israel must also grant the wounded access to hospitals in Israel and to Palestinian hospitals in East Jerusalem and the rest of the West Bank. The United States should also take steps to insist that the Egyptian authorities open Egyptian hospitals to those in need of medical care which is not available in Gaza and ask that Egypt guarantees that its border guards do not resort to excessive use of force against those fleeing the bombing. Hamas must also ensure that its security forces and militias do not, under any circumstances, hinder or prevent the passage of the wounded or others patients trying to leave Gaza. Finally, it is vital that the United States suspend the transfer of weapons to Israel immediately and conduct an investigation into whether U.S. weapons were used to commit human rights abuses. Thank you for your consideration of the above concerns and recommendations.SincerelyMares Hirchert2641 Sun Terrace DriveHartland, MI 48353-2943
Rogers Blames Detroit for Auto Loan Failure
Mike "I'll fight for Michigan jobs" Rogers is blaming Detroit automakers for the failure of a loan to the auto industry.
That's right. The same Rogers who won re-election to Michigan's 8th Congressional District seat by promising to fight for Michigan jobs. This fighter-for-jobs is not blaming the Republicans in the U.S. Senate who threatened a filibuster against the $25 billion loan package that General Motors and Chrysler said they needed to stay afloat.
No, Rogers is blaming his own fellow Michiganders.
In a story on the area's 2008 economy in the Livingston Press and Argus for Saturday (January 2, 2009), Rogers is quoted as saying about the Congressional hearings on the matter:
"'The Big Three showed up here with a lot of pomp and arrogance and circumstance,' said U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Brighton. 'It almost cost us the deal.'"
Those were the hearings in which auto industry CEOs were subjected to much tougher scrutiny than were financial industry CEOs, who took their bailout funds and then went to spas in California, gave bonuses to executives, and stopped making loans.
What exactly does Rogers mean that the auto CEOs "almost cost us the deal"? There was no deal from Congress because Rogers' fellow Republicans in the Senate killed it. Lame duck George Bush had to limp in at the last minute and make a loan from the bank bailout appropriated earlier.
And what exactly was Rogers doing to make the deal happen anyway? He had to be forced to take a position on the loan in the first place, lamely claiming that he didn't know the details when constituents began calling for his position.
Michigan residents have enough Republicans from other states blaming us for suffering the effects of the recession. We don't need our own congressman picking on us, too.
That's right. The same Rogers who won re-election to Michigan's 8th Congressional District seat by promising to fight for Michigan jobs. This fighter-for-jobs is not blaming the Republicans in the U.S. Senate who threatened a filibuster against the $25 billion loan package that General Motors and Chrysler said they needed to stay afloat.
No, Rogers is blaming his own fellow Michiganders.
In a story on the area's 2008 economy in the Livingston Press and Argus for Saturday (January 2, 2009), Rogers is quoted as saying about the Congressional hearings on the matter:
"'The Big Three showed up here with a lot of pomp and arrogance and circumstance,' said U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Brighton. 'It almost cost us the deal.'"
Those were the hearings in which auto industry CEOs were subjected to much tougher scrutiny than were financial industry CEOs, who took their bailout funds and then went to spas in California, gave bonuses to executives, and stopped making loans.
What exactly does Rogers mean that the auto CEOs "almost cost us the deal"? There was no deal from Congress because Rogers' fellow Republicans in the Senate killed it. Lame duck George Bush had to limp in at the last minute and make a loan from the bank bailout appropriated earlier.
And what exactly was Rogers doing to make the deal happen anyway? He had to be forced to take a position on the loan in the first place, lamely claiming that he didn't know the details when constituents began calling for his position.
Michigan residents have enough Republicans from other states blaming us for suffering the effects of the recession. We don't need our own congressman picking on us, too.
Boycott Alabama Plan Works--Utah Beats Alabama
My scheme to pull for Utah against Alabama in the Sugar Bowl was a smashing success.
The Utes took all the sweetness out of the bowl game for Alabama by creaming them Friday (January 2, 2009). The game was over before Nick Saban got his earphones tuned to the right frequency. And I didn't even have to paint my face red and white to help out the Utes.
I certainly hope Sen. Richard Shelby was there to watch the Crimson Tide get rolled back.
After all the unnecessary angst he caused the families of autoworkers last month with his opposition to a loan to the audo industry, Shelby deserves to have a little rain fall on his parade.
The Utes took all the sweetness out of the bowl game for Alabama by creaming them Friday (January 2, 2009). The game was over before Nick Saban got his earphones tuned to the right frequency. And I didn't even have to paint my face red and white to help out the Utes.
I certainly hope Sen. Richard Shelby was there to watch the Crimson Tide get rolled back.
After all the unnecessary angst he caused the families of autoworkers last month with his opposition to a loan to the audo industry, Shelby deserves to have a little rain fall on his parade.
Friday, January 2, 2009
They Can't Stop Talking About Health Care
The discussion on health care that the Obama Transition Team called for around the country has started a conversation that is continuing long after the meetings themselves ended.
My email box has been the recipient of numerous emails from people who couldn't make any of the events in Livingston County, Michigan, but who still wanted to share their stories and concerns.
From a lawyer came a comment about medical malpractice and how to prevent it. He noted that hospitals where doctors are employees, malpractice is much less frequent.
"With physicians being employees, there is far better organization and business and quality decisions can be better made and enforced," he noted.
A woman who has been laid off twice this year learned her coverage will run out on February 19 and that it would cost her $1,0005 a month for her family to pay for it herself. "Needless to say unemployment benefits will not even begin to cover a thousand dollars a month. So I think we will be joining the ranks of the uninsured.
Anything President Obama can do will be an improvement over this," she wrote.
Another woman wrote that the quality of care too often is sacrificed for profit as insurance company rules aimed at cutting costs handicap doctors. And she worried that doctors over-prescribe medications because of kickbacks they receive from pharmaceutical companies.
What has been interesting about the emails is that these came not from activists but from people whose names I don't recognize and who felt very strongly about the issue. They wanted to contribute their two-cents but for one reason or another they couldn't make the meeting.
Clearly, the Obama Transition Team tapped in to something very emotional, very important, for millions of Americans.
We need to help them answer people's prayers.
My email box has been the recipient of numerous emails from people who couldn't make any of the events in Livingston County, Michigan, but who still wanted to share their stories and concerns.
From a lawyer came a comment about medical malpractice and how to prevent it. He noted that hospitals where doctors are employees, malpractice is much less frequent.
"With physicians being employees, there is far better organization and business and quality decisions can be better made and enforced," he noted.
A woman who has been laid off twice this year learned her coverage will run out on February 19 and that it would cost her $1,0005 a month for her family to pay for it herself. "Needless to say unemployment benefits will not even begin to cover a thousand dollars a month. So I think we will be joining the ranks of the uninsured.
Anything President Obama can do will be an improvement over this," she wrote.
Another woman wrote that the quality of care too often is sacrificed for profit as insurance company rules aimed at cutting costs handicap doctors. And she worried that doctors over-prescribe medications because of kickbacks they receive from pharmaceutical companies.
What has been interesting about the emails is that these came not from activists but from people whose names I don't recognize and who felt very strongly about the issue. They wanted to contribute their two-cents but for one reason or another they couldn't make the meeting.
Clearly, the Obama Transition Team tapped in to something very emotional, very important, for millions of Americans.
We need to help them answer people's prayers.
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