Liberal, Loud, and Proud

Blogger's Edition of 'Off the Record'

2008-12-29T17:39:00.003-05:00

Much apologies for posting this after the fact...

This past weekend I was honored to once again appear on Tim Skubick's 'Off the Record' with Eric B. also of MichiganLiberal and two bloggers from the Right.

We taped the episode a week in advance, so I completely forgot it aired on the 26th until I got admonished by my mother for not letting her know. :-)

If you're so inclined to watch, you can do so through WKAR's website, or download it as a podcast.

Enjoy and happy New Year!

When Government Makes Good Things Happen

2008-12-23T10:37:00.003-05:00

Before we all go off and celebrate, there's one final thing to add to the list.

The passing of House Bill 5046, the Restroom Access Bill. Otherwise known as the Bathroom Bill, the bill provides access to bathrooms in retail spaces, providing certain measures can be met by the establishment, to those of us with medical conditions.

The LSJ's John Schneider did a piece this morning about it here. I'd like to thank John personally for his advocacy on the issue.

A Christmas gift to those who gotta go when they gotta go ...
There were plenty of things state legislators should have done, but didn't do, in last week's lame-duck session.
But, in the words of Julielyn Gibbons - a Lansing woman who suffers from Crohn's disease - senators exhibited remarkable "common sense" in passing House Bill 5046, the restroom access bill.
In the wee hours of Friday morning, the bill was pronounced dead. According to Gibbons, a champion of the measure, it was resuscitated around 9 a.m.
Megan Brown, a spokeswoman for Gov. Jennifer Granholm, said Monday the governor intends to sign the bill into law.
And thus compassion and decency - as it applies to this one aspect of human existence, anyway - will be the law of the land.
Introduced as a bill by State Rep. Andy Meisner (D-Ferndale), the law will require retail establishments with employees only bathrooms to open them to people with illnesses that necessitate immediate access to toilets.
Those folks will carry written proof from their doctors, and present it in emergencies.
The law, which also protects retailers from liability, will take effect in 90 days.
It's meant to help people with Crohn's, ulcerative colitis, inflammatory bowel disease, pregnant women, etc.
Said Gibbons: "I think it's a real victory for those of us with medical conditions that kept us at home. It's another step forward for civil rights."
Last month I wrote about a woman with diabetes who suffered a humiliating accident after a clerk at Williams-Sonoma at the Eastwood Towne Center refused to let the woman use the store's bathroom.

A big thanks also to all of you who called and emailed on behalf of the issue, and to the Lansing-based Rossman Group, for their pro-bono work on the effort.

This is why those of us in politics keep doing what we do, because every so often, something good happens as a result.

Happy Holidays to you and yours!

Curiosity Abounds; or It's Your Turn to Speak Out

2008-12-17T11:49:00.004-05:00

Slump, depression, recession, whatever you call it, times are tough, no where more so than here in Michigan.

We all cut back, tighten the old belt, don't open our wallets quite as often or as wide as before. Sometimes that means cutting back at the grocery store, right now I'm guessing the pile under you Christmas tree will look a little slimmer than years past, as will mine.

But what I'm curious to know is - how has the downward trend in the economy affected the options that you make for yourself in health care?

Do you try to cut back on the number of doctor appointments? Are you trying to make your prescription medicines and nutritional supplements last longer? Have you stopped taking certain meds/supplements?

Has it changed the way you plan for your family, in regards to having children, or how you budget for meals/vacations/gifts/clothes/etc for your family and children?

Similarly, how has the economy affected your health care plan? Has your employer changed plans or stop providing health care?

All information shared will be kept strictly confidential, and you can either leave your responses as a comment, or you can email them directly to me - liberallucy[at]gmail[dot]com

For full-disclosure, my curiosity stems from a discussion I've been having with several fellow female political bloggers on how a poor economy affects healthcare options.

Thanks in advance for your participation!

Will there be any 'Merry' in Michigan's Christmas?

2008-12-16T11:33:00.002-05:00

It's a tough time to live in Michigan, even tougher if you're part of the middle-class, an autoworker, or related to one.

If you've been following along over at MichLib, you heard me share how this holiday is going to be a bit different for my family, as I'm sure it will millions others. Tightening the belt doesn't even begin to describe how many Michiganders are going to juggle a failing economy and the holiday.

With last week's bailout-killing vote by the U.S. Senate Republicans, I was more than mad, I was furious, and frustrated, and sad. I'm not sure what to expect, other than to pray that our entire state doesn't go belly up. I don't think I'm any different than most Michiganders right now. I do feel fortunate that I'm not trying to raise a young family in these tough times, because I simply do not know how I'd ever do it.

Looking past the initial impact of the vote, I took a stab in the dark trying to predict the fallout for Republicans in the coming months and years, particularly here in this state. Survey says: It can't be good.

Either way, I'm trying to find that cheer that usually just automatically comes with the season, but no surprise, this year is proving harder to find it than others.

Here's hoping tomorrow brings more hope, more joy, and more optimism, God knows we can use it.

Catching up on the Craziness

2008-12-09T11:07:00.002-05:00

Hello again. I've had a chance to take a break from the craziness of politics to rest, and hope you've had the same.

While I've been away, I've collected a smattering of fun/interesting/worthwhile links that I encourage you to check out and support with your voice, or even just a click or two.

Of course, I have to give credit to some of my favorite bloggers, Lex at 60 Second Blog and Christine at My Library Ideas for these great links and also encourage you to stop by and give them a read as well.

Help starving Cats (FreeKibbleKat.com)
Help starving dogs (FreeKibble.com)
Help starving people (UN World Food Program)
Save/Support your local museum (American Association of Museums)
Catch up on recipes and ideas from the family farm (Letters from a Hill Farm)

Also for this holiday season, things are going to be remarkably different at Casa del Lucy given our state's economy and the fact that I currently have 5 adult relatives unemployed, including my two parents. I imagine that my family is sadly like many others across the Great Lakes State.

Stay tuned as I share thoughts and opinions on what the holidays in Michigan mean to us, and probably most of the rest of the state.

Till then, happy Tuesday!

We Did It, Yes We Did!!!

2008-11-05T10:08:00.002-05:00

I'm bone tired, sleep-deprived, and can't remember a time I was so excited.

Obama wins

Prop 2 passes

Prop 1 passes

Progressives sweep the State House

Diane Hathaway unseats Cliff Taylor for State Supreme Court

Oakland County elects a Democratic Prosecutor, Treasurer

Amazing, amazing, just amazing.

To all of you out there who helped all of us make Proposal 2 a reality, thank you from the bottom of my heart!!

Twas the Night before the Election...

2008-11-03T20:53:00.002-05:00

It's been a busy place here in Lucy Land these past couple days, but it all boils down to tomorrow. It's both a relief and slightly terrifying at the same time.

Did we reach enough voters? Did we dispel the lies? Did we quiet the fear? Did we touch enough lives?

In my never-ending desire to do more and be more, the quiet answer comes from a far corner in my mind "hopefully" but based on the overall weariness and exhaustion that I physically feel, I know it is really a resounding 'yes'. And I have to be satisfied with that.

So on this election eve, I'm reminded of two seemingly separate but very connected things.
1) This blog is now 2 years (and almost a month) old.
2) Today would have been my grandmother's 93rd birthday.

So why, on the night before such an important day does this matter?

I started this blog way back in 2006 because I wanted to share forward-thinking ideas for our state, and more specifically the mid-Michigan area.

So if you haven't already figured it out - this blog is about how we become closer as a community, stronger as a state, and more invested as global players. You might hear a lot on elections, healthcare, education, the economy, and like any good liberal, I hug a tree or two. Regardless the topic, this blog is bigger than me or my dreams. It's about Michigan, and how we as a community realize our hopes and dreams into a reality for our great state.

In the two years between now and then, that hasn't changed. A lot of other things have changed, but it's still what I believe in and work towards every day.

My grandmother is a big reason why I work so hard each day for justice and rights for all of us. I miss her as much as I did when we first lost her to ALS over 4 years ago. She was a fighter, and each day as I start the day, I'm reminded of her, and all the adversity she over came to fight for others. She's also a big part of why I'm so passionate about Proposal 2 passing.

Like I've said before, I have so much invested in this fight tomorrow. It's so personal, it's so raw, and the very idea that people and an organized faith would work so hard and spend so much money to fight against giving hope to people who suffer as I do and as my grandmother did is at it's very nature offensive. Don't we all deserve at the very least a hope for a good quality of life?

Please, go out and vote, and vote Yes on Proposal 2.

Buy a Dram, Save a Lansing Farm

2008-10-30T07:37:00.004-04:00

There's nothing like coming together as a community to help a neighbor out to make you feel like you can really make a difference. Today is no exception.

There's a great story in this morning's LSJ and Detroit Free Press about a brother and sister in St. Johns that are literally struggling to save their family's mint farm from being foreclosed. It also happens to be the country's oldest mint farm.

ST. JOHNS - Jim Crosby's voice chokes with emotion when he talks about the oldest mint farm in the country, a 140-acre patch of fragrant green about 15 miles north of Lansing that's been in Crosby's family for four generations.

He and his sister Linette Crosby, who co-owns the property, are desperately trying to sell 70,000 bottles of farm-distilled peppermint and spearmint oil by Saturday.
If they don't raise $348,000 by then, their lender has the right to confiscate the oil and their farm equipment, effectively ending the family business.
"That oil is our hope," Jim Crosby said Wednesday. "In each bottle is all my hope, my dreams and my prayers."

We can do this, people! Please, stop by their website, and spare $5, $10, $35 or as much as you can give. I'm off to buy mine now! (due to high traffic, the website maybe a little slow, but patience, it's worth it!)

This is about as personal as it gets

2008-10-28T16:20:00.002-04:00

This is me and my mother, and really, this is about as personal as it gets.

Watch this, send it to every registered Michigan voter and tell them why YOU are voting on Proposal 2.

Brought together by pain and disease, moving forward toward hope

2008-10-27T13:49:00.005-04:00

Thanks to this campaign, I had the opportunity to meet another really great person who's working just as hard on this issue. Mitch is a freshman at MSU who has chronic hereditary pancreatitis. If it sounds painful, it's because it is. Mitch is someone who just like me, could personally benefit from embryonic stem cell research. Check out this great piece he did in his hometown paper, the Holland Sentinel.

I am constantly awed by the amazing people that I am blessed to meet along this journey. We're brought together by pain and suffering, and I think it's safe to say that we all feel lucky to be able to channel that through working towards something that could benefit so many of us. All we can do is pray that Michigan voters give us an opportunity to hope by passing Proposal 2.

More Good News on Prop 2 Abounds

I was invited to write a piece for RH Reality Check about why Michigan needs embryonic stem cell research. RH Reality Check is a nationally-recognized site for reproductive health issues (hence the "RH") with a large audience. I hope that my piece can be used to sway some more Michigan voters in favor of saying YES on Prop 2.

This weekend my column also ran in the Lansing State Journal, coming days after the LSJ endorsed the proposal, along with the Flint Journal, Ann Arbor News, Jackson Citizen Patriot, and many other media outlets. What great news!!!

Already Going to Vote Yes? Great, there's one more thing you can do!

If you're already planning on saying Yes on Prop 2, will send you a brief email to everyone you know in Michigan and share with them your personal story why you're voting Yes? Personal stories of hope and even pain are what can bring us together and defeat the messages of fear-mongering and deception that the opposition is banking on. Who knows, your email could be the difference between Prop 2 passing and not.

Please, say yes to Prop 2 and allow us all to have hope for cures and relief.

The Tubes are buzzing with Yes on Prop 2

2008-10-24T11:14:00.003-04:00

Eleven days to go. Just 11 short days until so much is decided both here in Michigan and across the country. The ads will stop, the yard signs will come down, and people like me who are working so hard on it can sleep and breathe again.

But there's still so much to do in those 11 short days, especially make sure we turn out the Yes vote on Proposal 2.

Here's Cure Michigan's latest ad, Clinics

These blogs are all proud to show their support for Prop 2, so please show them a little love and stop by to say hello -

The Trusty Getto (Ypsilanti)
Conservative Media (Livingston County)
60 Second Blog (Metro Detroit)
The Only Baggage You Can Bring (Metro Detroit)
West Michigan Rising (do I need to explain this?)
Blogging for Michigan (statewide)
MichiganLiberal (statewide)
The Enlightened Spartan (Go GREEN!)
Michigan Sports Center (Wolverines, the other white meat)
Got Detroit (In the 'D')

CureMichigan is also on Twitter, so be sure to follow them along as well.

Many thanks (again) to my family, who posted their first blog post ever yesterday at MichLib.

So please, keep spreading the word, passing the yard signs out, and of course - make sure to flip your ballot over on November 4th and vote YES on Proposal 2!

YouTube, Widgets, and Endorsements, Oh My!

2008-10-21T10:13:00.003-04:00

My family recently took to YouTube to talk about why they're supporting Proposal 2, and I'm thankful to them for speaking out!

Most of you have probably already seen Laura Jackson's ad on tv. We need to make sure that every Michigan voter has the chance to hear her story and understand why voting YES on Proposal 2 is so important. We can make this happen by donating to the campaign today.

Also, if you give to the campaign before midnight tonight, your gift will be doubled, thanks to a generous donor. Please give as much as you can today so we can keep these ads on the air. Perhaps you'd even be willing to give in honor or memory of someone you know whose live could be improved through the hope that embryonic stem cell research brings.

Are you a fellow blogger? You too can have this great blog widget located to the right to put on your blog to show your support of Prop 2, made by the good folks at Cure Michigan. Email me if you're interested.

And in the last bit of good news, I'm pleased as punch to see that the Lansing State Journal has endorsed Proposal 2, because they too recognize how much our state needs it.

Here's to you and yours and making it a day we can all be proud of!

My governor could kick your governor's butt...

2008-10-19T21:05:00.004-04:00

I'm a huge fan of Jennifer M. Granholm. I think she's an incredible role model for women like me who are political, and unlike certain other female governors *cough* Sarah Palin, *cough, cough,* she's smart, savvy, charismatic, and could trample you in a debate with a smile. That's not to mention how fabulous she looks. The woman's a complete package.

That being said, I've decided it's official - my governor could kick your governor's butt.

Today was the Detroit Free Press' 31st annual marathon. From one of their many stories on the event -

Starting anonymously with the 7,266 half marathoners was Gov. Jennifer Granholm, a rookie who ran with husband Dan Mulhern. She didn’t wear one of the shoelace tags that electronically records the start and finish time for each runner, but with a single security officer running alongside Granholm finished in 1:56:04, achieving her goal of breaking the two hour mark in her first long race (the same time as her husband, who did wear an electronic tag and waited to cross the lined with her after running a couple of minutes ahead during most of the event).

“I kept it real low-key because I was afraid I wouldn’t make it,” said Granholm, who wore blue running shorts, a black Barack Obama T-shirt and pearl earrings. “I didn’t want anyone to know I was here until I finished. It was a grueling experience, but because you’re out there with so many other people, and you’ve got the crowds cheering you on and clanging cowbells, it seems a lot shorter, like a 6-mile run.”

The Freep's sports editor had an entire blog post devoted to the subject and here's a great photo of the Lady Gov as she celebrates with First Gentleman Dan Mulhern.

Like I said - my governor could kick your governor's butt. Gosh knows she already took care of that pesky woman from Wasilla in Joe Biden's debate prep!

And now a word from Laura

2008-10-18T15:57:00.001-04:00

Say 'Yes' to Hope.

Say 'Yes' to Prop 2.

Prop 2 is all about Hope

2008-10-18T12:53:00.005-04:00

This has been a busy week for me as I continue to try and get the word out about the importance of Proposal 2, and why Michigan needs to vote 'Yes' on it.

I've been doing plenty of outreach to friends, family, and acquaintances. I've written my fair share of blog posts, I've spoken with multiple media outlets and helped participate in a couple press conferences on the topic as well.

But it's more than just a need to see something positive happen for our state. It's a very personal issue, and the more I meet people around the state who are working just as hard as I am, the more I am touched by not only their dedication, but how much this means to them as well.

As I've said before, my case of Crohn's Disease is significantly more severe than most. While I'm now technically in remission, there's not much more than can be done surgically should my disease flare up again.

That being said, I truthfully do not know that I could personally benefit from an advancement in the research and understanding of my disease should it happen as a result of the passage of Proposal 2 to allow embryonic stem cell research in Michigan.

But that's okay.

What's not okay is the idea that today, tomorrow, this next week somewhere in this state, someone else is going to get the news that will turn their world upside down just like mine was almost 15 years ago.

They'll go through the pain of the disease, the frustration of learning about a disease of which they had probably never heard of, the anguish of discovering there is no known cure, and that as far as the medical community goes treatment is just a giant guessing game. And that's just for those who will share my illness.

There will be others like Laura from Livonia, someone who never got sick, but broke her neck during cheerleading tryouts and now lives her life in a wheelchair, paralyzed from the neck down.

Yesterday the two of us did a press conference to announce the release of an ad for the Cure Michigan folks featuring her, and afterward her father was interviewed. I felt my heart break as I heard him say "All I want is my daughter to be able to give me a hug again."

Saying no to Proposal 2 is telling Laura's father that he can't have hope that one day his 19 year-old daughter will be able to wrap her arms around him and show him how much he means to her. Do you want to be that person to say no?

At the very least, Proposal 2 is about hope. It's about taking something that's being thrown away in the trash and turning it into hope. With times like these, and with people like Laura, her father, and the countless others that you know that live with a chronic illness or injury, can't we all use a little hope?

(Yes on Prop 2 yard signs are now available. Email Minda at Cure Michigan for yours today. Picture swiped from photo-genius WizardKitten over at Blogging for Michigan.)

Bill and I

2008-10-11T17:32:00.004-04:00

Last night at the Cure Michigan event in Oakland County with this guy, Gov. Jennifer Granholm, and many other wonderful folks all who came out to support Proposition 2 - a real cure for Michigan.
Kudos to the Cure Michigan team for a fabulous event, and to everyone who came out to support the event. Of course, a very special thank you to this man whom I so admire for his continuing efforts towards a very worthy and necessary cause. I'll post more pictures later.

My column in the Detroit News today on Prop 2

2008-10-08T11:33:00.004-04:00

Many thanks to Richard Burr of the Detroit News for running it, and to all of you who have been so supportive. I cannot say it enough - please vote YES for Prop 2, and get involved with the Stem Cell Truth Squad here.

Create hope for those with illnesses by allowing study of possible cures

Imagine this: A terrible accident. A horrific diagnosis. A lifetime sentence of needles, medicine or expensive medical equipment. Even worse, a terminal illness.

These are the terrifying possibilities that may affect a friend, neighbor, a loved one -- even you. Every one of us is touched by devastating illnesses and conditions such as juvenile diabetes, cancer, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injuries, Lou Gehrig's disease and auto-immune diseases.

For many of us, the best hope lies in stem cell research. But we need to explore all avenues of stem cell research -- from adult to embryonic stem cells.

That currently can't happen in Michigan, which is one of only five states that have the most severe restrictions on embryonic stem cell research. That's why it is important on Nov. 4 to approve Proposal 2.

My life took a gut-wrenching turn when I was 14 and diagnosed with Crohn's Disease, a little-understood illness that destroys the gastrointestinal system. There's no cure for it. The only treatment available to me is a regimen of regular surgeries and the steady removal of pieces of me.

Almost 15 years after my diagnosis, I'm missing entire portions of my body, including my colon and rectum. To stay alive and function, I spend $300 every month in ostomy supplies, among a long laundry list of needs that I'll live with for the rest of my life.

If I were to have children -- something I want -- I may pass this terrible disease down to them, and that's a choice that breaks my heart.

More than a million people across the nation have Crohn's. By engaging in all forms of stem cell research -- adult and embryonic -- researchers can better understand how to treat and hopefully cure patients suffering from diseases and injuries.

Unfortunately, this life-saving research can't be done in Michigan, which severely restricts embryonic stem cell research, one of the most promising areas of medical research. Under Michigan law, fertility clinics can throw away leftover unused embryos, but couples undergoing fertility treatments can't donate those embryos to researchers.

This is wrong. It shuts the door of hope to countless patients. It blocks researchers from doing work that can save lives.

Proposal 2 can change this situation.

Opponents say Proposal 2 opens the door to unregulated research. It won't. Proposal 2 is about joining the race for cures and treatments through ethical research that uses donated, leftover and unused embryos that would be thrown out anyway. It will allow couples to donate for research embryos that can't be used.

Medical researchers shouldn't be imprisoned or fined for working to save lives, and patients shouldn't be made to wait for cures and diseases because of an outdated law.

Proposal 2 will help patients, while at the same time strengthen Michigan's ban against cloning.

That's why I urge all citizens to vote "Yes" on Proposal 2 and open the door of hope for hundreds of thousands of patients in Michigan.

Julielyn Gibbons is a 28-year-old Lansing resident who has had Crohn's Disease since age 14.

Tuesday Mish-Mash

2008-10-07T16:50:00.000-04:00

Happy Tuesday to you and yours. (Sheesh, this is beginning to sound like my Tuesday Coffee Talk). It's probably because I've said it a few hundred times in the last couple years... :-)

But on to the serious stuff from 'The People that I like that Write' file.

Rochelle Riley, Detroit Free Press columnist and occasional NPR commentator has absolutely been on fire lately. I have to be honest, as far as a female perspective on the very real Sarah Palin problem, she's the one that I tend to agree with the most. From snarky bits like "Palin's run only setting women back' and 'Sarah Palin? Leave the race before you further hurt women' coupled with today's 'The Easy 18-Step Guide to Losing a Presidential Election' not only makes you shake your head, laugh, and savor the truth wrapped up in the bite. It's sooo good to be bad sometimes.

Andrew Heller is a columnist over at the Flint Journal that definitely doesn't get enough praise for his stuff. Today he brings up a very poignant, and some what humorous column - 'How come the Undecideds are Undecided?' which just happens to a question I've always asked myself. One of these days I'd like to ask one of these mysterious Undecideds exactly why it is they are so undecided about.

On to one of my pet issues - if you're not still not convinced why you should vote YES for Prop 2 next month for Cures for Michigan, perhaps you should check out my post on why the opposition are full of scares and that's about it.

That reminds me, with Halloween quickly approaching, you can put your progressive spirit on the right track with a Obama-riffic pumpkin from the folks at 'Yes We Carve!' and no, I'm not making that up.

If pumpkin carving isn't quite your thing, consider turning the kids out to be Trick or Treaters for Obama...and no, definitely not making that one up.

Have a great Tuesday!!

30 Days Out and Workin' Hard

2008-10-06T10:48:00.006-04:00

Hello again.

Life's been quite crazy, and yes, we've got a very big election here in 30 days. I hope you're registered or will be doing so today, since it's the last day you can.

Don't mistake my silence for non-participation, but very active participation, through work, volunteer efforts and of course, blogging.

Of very importance to me this election season is Proposition 2, which seeks to overturn the state ban on Stem Cell research in Michigan, led by the folks at Cure Michigan. I've been working hard on the issue, and as my regular readers know, it's something I've been advocating on behalf of for a very long time.

If you've been following along over at Michigan Liberal, then you probably caught my post from a couple weeks ago. I'm not going to make like a broken record and repeat myself, but I cannot stress how important it is for our state, both medically and financially that this passes. Please check out the proposal, sign up to stay informed and help out, and most importantly, vote YES on Prop 2 next month. p.s. They could really use your donation in voter education. Will you make a donation today?

Speaking of Prop 2, the Detroit News has accepted a column from me that will run sometime this week, and I'll be posting it here. Stay tuned.

Speaking of staying tuned, I'm on Twitter, check it out and follow along.

I've missed blogging, but like anything, sometimes you need to step away from it and get recharged and now it's good to be back. Expect to see more from me over the next coming weeks.

Until then, consider checking out some of the other blogs I'm reading, both political and not from various other fabulous female bloggers across the Mitten State.

The Only Baggage You Can Bring - "Where politics, pop culture, media and common sense meet and stop to have coffee and caramels. Politics-Feminism-Movies-Music-Television-Detroit-Michigan" (Samantha Grace and I like to trade blog posts, btw)

My Library Ideas - Funny, smart, snarky, and a wee peek into the lives of those mysterious academics with the sexy glasses.

The Body Chronic - Solitude, laughter, sanity and support amongst the pain and frustration of chronic illness and chronic pain.

See you back here soon!

Just Say No!

2008-06-18T10:30:00.005-04:00

It must be closing in on election day. I'm busier, the posts are less frequent, and I'm sleep-deprived (more so than usual). Oy!

Seriously though, I've got some exciting things coming up, including a guest blogger who will have a regular feature here on LLP and yes, in exchange, I'll be doing the same thing on her blog.

But while you wait with eager anticipation, I thought I'd share a couple things of interest...

Bob Alexander (new website is just about ready) is running against Crooked Congresscritter Mike Rogers in the 8th Congressional District. Huzzah!

Bob ran in 2004, and this time he's pulling out the big guns working with a winning firm out of D.C. Expect to hear more about Bob on the Tubes (i.e. this post over at BFM) and if you still need convincing Mike Rogers needs to go - stop by Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood.

I keep hearing rumors that Hilary supporters are actually considering voting for McCain vs. Barack Obama. Oy indeed!

If you or someone you know is actually considering voting for a Republican this fall, or if you just want a good laugh that will ring quite true, do yourself and them a favor by watching this and passing it along.

The Reason behind the Season

2008-05-22T01:58:00.004-04:00

Memorial Weekend = extra day to have fun, right? Sadly for many of us, that's all it is.

I admit, I've been looking forward to this weekend for a while now. An extra long weekend to grill, sleep in, head north, have fun with friends, whatever I want. It's an extra slice of heaven waiting for me on the calendar.

How easy it is to forget why it is we get that extra day off. Memorial Day is all about honoring those veterans who protected the very things we take for granted, those who paid the ultimate price and those who made it back with the physical and emotional scars.

Tonight a story on WILX helped put things back into perspective with a twist. The story was about homeless veterans here in Michigan, not only the challenges they face, but difficulties that exist for those trying to remedy the situation.

It's heartbreaking.

These men and women who give up years of their life to defend and protect the rest of us come back to society only to ill-treated, whether it be through medical care, psychological counseling, job placement, and financial assistance. It's wrong for any person, but it's only worse when it happens to any of our veterans.

The daughter of a Vietnam Veteran and granddaughter of two WWII Veterans, I've seen the pride in the eyes of a veteran to have served their country honorably, but I've also seen how combat forever affects the mind and soul. It's not uncommon for me to well up with tears at a sporting event as the National Anthem is played.

So enjoy your weekend and your extra day off. You probably deserve it. But just as with any holiday, take care to truly remember the reason behind the season. Take a moment to pause and reflect on those whose day it truly is and thank a veteran, not just on Monday, but on any day. We owe them more than we'll probably ever realize.

(Stay tuned as tomorrow I'll be featuring ways that you can help veterans locally, a story on how one veteran who wants to fight for you here in Michigan, and how our lawmakers are helping veterans all across the state.)

A real Public Servant announces his bid for office in Ingham Co.

2008-04-29T19:26:00.006-04:00

Like it or not, Ingham County is not immune to the nation-wide financial crisis caused by the 7 year mis-management of the Bush doctrine, but that doesn't mean we can't fix it.

I've always thought that government was supposed to be about making life better for others, but have regretted that it doesn't actually happen as much as it should. It's why men and women like you and I step up and decide to become public servants. It's not an easy life and for those who actually serve the people as opposed to powerful special interests, it can often be a thankless one.

So when a real public servant steps up, it's exciting news that deserves recognition. True, I've known and respected this particular public servant since I was in high school when we both came to Lansing to learn what it meant to serve the people, but he deserves it all the same.

Curtis Hertel Jr. is currently an Ingham County Commissioner serving East Lansing. He's a regular working guy, trying to make a good life for himself, his wife, and their two young kids and has seen how hard it can be for some.

That's why he's running for Register of Deeds of Ingham County.

“The role of Register of Deeds in Ingham County is absolutely critical to ensuring the accessibility and security of Ingham County property records,” Hertel said. “In the 21st Century, these two issues are even more important, and I believe that my long experience as a county commissioner makes me an ideal candidate to continue to deliver essential services to the residents of Ingham County.”

While the position may be a bit foreign to some, it makes sense to have someone you can trust to look out for the safety and security of your personal property records. But that's not all. Hertel is also looking to expand the technology in the office for better accessibility and to promote financial literacy to Ingham County residents like you and I, and who couldn't use a little extra knowledge on that subject?

If you're interested in helping out the campaign, check out his website, donate, volunteer, and I look forward to seeing you out there knocking a few doors!

The 'Auto Show' of Michigan Progressives

2008-04-23T02:16:00.003-04:00

Last year a couple friends convinced me to attend an all-day summit here at the Lansing Center of Michigan progressives. It sounded like a good idea, and I in turn, convinced a few others (including some bloggers) to join me.

We showed up, laptops and if we had them, business cards in tow. We had no idea quite what to expect other than Donna Brazile as the keynote speaker. We met hundreds of people, papered them all with info about MichiganLiberal and the miracles of the Intertubes.

I walked away highly impressed. Progressives from all walks of life and issues got together and set a progressive agenda for the state. It sounded good, but when I started seeing visible movement on that agenda in the coming months, I was really impressed.

The Michigan Policy Summit moved some serious mountains in it's first year. Now in it's second year, the possibility for even more incredible change is quite likely. With keynote speakers like national activists Jim Hightower and Amy Goodman, a large contingent of bloggers from the state's most prominent blogs (MichLib, BloggingforMichigan, and West MI Rising, just to name a few), my favorite local progressive bookstore - Everybody Reads LLC and some other truly impressive names from the state's progressive leaders I don't think anyone will be let down.

I'll be there again as well. This time I'll be working with the great Policy Summit team through my employer. We're cooking up something cool to bring folks through the Internet and I'm excited for the entire package.

If you can make it on Saturday May 10th, you should definitely come. I was attempting to describe it to someone unfamiliar with it and struggling for an apt descriptor. Suddenly the light bulb went on and in true Michigan fashion I explained that it was like the Auto Show of Michigan progressives. The more I thought about it, I agree with it even more.

So if you're free, and you can spare $30 for a day that could change the way you look at issues here in Michigan, stop on by and join us.

Change and Ethics in Blogging

2008-04-23T01:52:00.005-04:00

I'm blessed with a great job where I can give back to many of the issues that I feel strongly about, but it's caused a quandary when it comes to blogging.

There's a lot to be said for the need in ethics and integrity in politics and blogging. I've always prided myself on trying to maintain high standards of each and I credit that goal with my success as a political blogger.

I got involved in politics and blogging because most of my life has been spent fighting a chronic illness that has brought many policy issues to life. My illness has shaped not only who I am, but also my professional life.

I'm going to keep blogging about the issues that I feel strongly about here when it's appropriate, and that I'm going to always disclose my work affiliation if it's needed in addition to the permanent disclaimer at the bottom of this blog.

My work on some of the other blogs has been and will be more limited in part because of my career, part by personal reasons. This blogging thing is in my blood, it's a part of who I am, and no matter what I do, what I experience, I feel that Liberal Lucy will always there.

Since entering the world of Internet activism (circa 2001, which makes me practically ancient) so much has changed. It's been absolutely amazing to chronicle how the Internet has changed the face of politics by so many.

Here in Michigan, there's definitely been a blog boom, and our state, our political process has been all the more richer for it. I'm proud to be a small part of it, but even prouder to have had a role in introducing the political internet to so many. That "Aha! Moment" as I call it, when someone discovers this whole new world literally laying at their fingertips. A vehicle for their voice, a medium for a wanted message, a community of their own. It still gives me goosebumps.

For now, I feel as if I'm still supposed to be a part of that constant change, and I'm going to continue to do so. I'm human like the rest of us, and sometimes change can be difficult to accept, but like most things, we usually end up richer for it in the end. A fellow blogger and friend reminded me recently on her own blog that some of the hardest things to go through can end up being some of the best for each of us.

So there's been a lot of change, and there will surely be more to come. This electronic evolution is far from over, and the same goes for my role in it all, no matter the path.

We've come along way, baby

2008-04-23T01:17:00.004-04:00

Ten years. Some short, some long, some tired, some sad, some exciting. But it's been 10 years and I'm still here.

April of 1998 found me in one long hospitalization following 40-50 previous stays in the couple years before. My immune system practically gone, my veins shot from all the tests and IVs, my digestive tract resembling something you might see on Mars. My high school classmates thought me moved, sick with leukemia, or just - gone. My parents, my siblings, my doctors feared for my life. I thought I was terminally ill, but damnedably determined to graduate that year with the rest of my class, even if it took my dying breath.

I had just played guinea pig for the last time, trying out the latest chemical cocktail approved by the FDA, only to nearly die from an allergic reaction. It was official. The doctors were out of options, afraid of what would happen if I got any sicker.

The first time they spoke to me about ostomy surgery I cringed outwardly and inwardly. My own idea of what it was so horrid, so different, so opposite of what it really was. I knew that it was my only option, inside I knew I wouldn't get better without it but I couldn't handle the thought of living with it outside of the fact that it could keep me alive. Honestly I didn't care, I just wanted to graduate, and if that meant having a "temporary" ileostomy, then sign me up.

My coping mechanism was convincing myself that it would be reversed, and I'd go back to being "normal", which meant no ostomy. I suspect that I always knew that it'd never be the case, that I was just too sick, and that I was playing a zero-sum game with a horribly diseased colon and rectum. One of us was done, and it wasn't going to be me.

Obviously, that wasn't the case. I had the temporary loop ileostomy without having any organs removed. Follow that a year later with a partial (four and half feet of the six) removal of the colon two days before my birthday, and six months after that, the total procto-colectomy with the remaining colon and the rectum out.

After the inital surgery it took me literally years to be able to look at myself in the mirror, to accept that was who I was, and too many more years to embrace who I am. I'm still not completely over that hill yet, but without a doubt, there's a light at the end of the tunnel.

Ten years ago I would have barely recognized myself now.

All that I am has been greatly influenced by being an ileostomate these last ten years. I'm proud of who I am. I'm passionate, political, witty, geeky, funny, smart, loving, involved and many other things that make up who I am today.

Ten years has been a long time, a tough road, and while I'm still a bit surprised I've made it that far, I wouldn't change a thing, especially the fact that I live with an ostomy. It truly is a badge of honor.

Welcome Back

2008-04-23T01:09:00.004-04:00

Hello again. Remember me?

I say that only half-joking. I've been absent from blogging for a while due to a couple of issues, but just like most of my other absences, I believe I've come back richer for it. When I'm not blogging, I get very introspective, start thinking about issues in new and different ways than the norm. I like to think it makes these electronic musings all the better.

There's much to say, but I think it's best broken up. So read on to the next post or pick one that sounds interesting and as always, thanks for stopping by.

~LL

Losing Sight Amidst the Drama

2008-03-24T16:05:00.006-04:00

With the news out of Detroit this morning that Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and his former chief of staff Christine Beatty have been charged with a slew of felonies, I'm left wondering what to think.

I don't live in SE Michigan anymore, and even when I did, I never technically lived in the city of Detroit. But don't think I didn't care what happened in Detroit, and don't think that I still don't care what happens in Detroit.

I had the pleasure of working in downtown Detroit for well over a year and while I hated the rush-hour commute to my home in the suburbs, I loved working in the city. The sights, the smells, the tastes, the people, the noise, the entire experience that was Detroit was great. Even the unpleasant part was still an experience that shouldn't be missed.

Working there and visiting there for conferences, events, friends, and everything in between only furthered my love of the city. Say what you want, there are very few places like Detroit and I think all of us should experience Detroit at least once in our lives, because if nothing else, it's a part of Michigan, and a part of who we are as a people and a state.

For me, Detroit is a great underdog story, and there's nothing I love more than a good underdog to root for. It's the perfect candidate because while it lacks much now, you need only look back to what it was (pre-1967) and you see what it could be. There are so many people now moving back, and there's a lot of revitalizing going on, and so many more who are starting to look toward investing in the city, whether it be through a business or a home. There's just so much promise, and I'm tired of feeling that for every two steps the city takes forward, there's another three back.

It's exactly that kind of defeatist attitude that has caused so much of the flight and blight that has brought Detroit down. The city has made progress, a lot of it, but there's still so much to be made. Kwame Kilpatrick was a fresh voice for the city, and I think most of the state was relieved to see him be brought on when he first got elected. But now, well, now it's time to continue to put the city first. Regardless of these charges, they are a massive black eye on the city, and the entire Text-Gate episode has stolen the show from the real player, the city itself.

So let's get back to business, put the drama where it belongs, off to the side, and let's focus on moving the city of Detroit forward with the hope, dedication, and promise that it deserves because it's so much more than just one man and his legal troubles. When Detroit moves forward, Michigan moves forward, and we all benefit in the end.

Takes one to know oneself

2008-03-18T00:16:00.007-04:00

In all my years of living with a chronic illness, there's been several saving graces, and chiefly among them, I've never had to deal with the C-word.

If I hadn't had my colon removed eight years ago, my risk for developing colon cancer would have been five-times higher than most of the rest of you. Don't forget that colon cancer is the third most common form of cancer and the second deadliest of all the different types of cancer, so make sure you get that colonoscopy, because it's almost the most preventable of all the cancers. (Take it from a girl who's been through enough colonoscopies to keep her doctors fat and happy for the rest of their lives, they're not that bad.)

All that aside, because of some of the medicines I was on and complications/side effects of the disease, I'm now at an increased risk for other types of cancers like lymphoma and cervical/ovarian cancer. Go figure.

But I digress.

I've been following the blog of a fellow Michigander that despite having never met, I feel quite a bond with, and need to thank. Jodi Wilson was 26 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer last October. She's also a page designer over at the Detroit News and bravely decided to share her entire journey with us from start to what we all hope will be victorious finish. Her blog over at the paper is appropriately titled The Breast Monologues.

Jodi's been brutally honest with her readers, and for that I applaud her. It's not easy bearing your vulnerable side to the exhibitionist world we live in, especially when you're talking about losing various parts of your body that society still hasn't completely come to term with. Trust me, I know all about it.

Sometimes it's darn right hard for me to read her words, because flashbacks of my own days of pain and hospital stays and depression often rush back in a way that make my head spin and my heart race. I try to put a positive spin on it just to keep things balanced - remind myself how far I've come, how I've now had almost 4 years hospital-free. How long ago it all seems, and yet like it was just yesterday.

She recently opted to have a mastectomy and as expected, it brought an awful storm of memories back. My surgeon warned me for months that I'd be better off if I just decided to completely remove my then partial-colon and rectum and at the ripe age of 20, I couldn't even begin to imagine what life would be like physically un-whole. It didn't matter that I was in the hospital multiple times a month, or that I had a deeper relationship with my doctors and nurses on 6 North than I did with my best friends. I was 20 years old, and if I wasn't whole, what life could possibly exist for me out there in the big scary world?

Obviously logic wasn't part of my thinking, and those wiser than I knew that it was a decision I had to come to on my own. I was actually more worried about meeting Mr. Right, getting married and being loved by someone else than I was living, and looking back now, that terrifies me.

It took nearly spending Christmas in the hospital (I got a 24 hour reprieve) before I finally woke up. My then-boyfriend literally had to tell me that he'd still love me despite my missing organs before I was ready to sign on the dotted line and go under the knife. I think about it now and it breaks my heart.

Looking back now at the many scars that line my abdomen and various other parts of the body and what those scars represent in both physical and emotional pain and victory, it's amazing to think that I was that insecure person so long ago.

It's easy for me to go through my daily life and occasionally not really remember everything I've undergone. My scars and my ileostomy are my only real daily reminders. All of my other physical reminders like my weight, my fatigue, my daily pain from the chronic kidney stones, I've just grown used too. I don't like them, I try hard to remedy what's able to be remedied, particularly my weight as of late, but I just deal, because in the end, I'm alive when I probably shouldn't be.

But when I read a post of Jodi's and I'm thrown back into a different time of my life, a personal Mt. Everest that I'm still attempting to climb, and it terrifies me in a way that I need to experience every once in a while. It reminds me of what I've overcome, how much further I still have to go, and my duty to keep paying it forward to others. It's one of the reasons I still blog and despite working in a field that can get nastier than most, it's why I stay true to myself and others. Because in the end, it really does take one to know oneself.

Music to your ears (weekend edition)

2008-03-14T22:47:00.003-04:00

Music's always been an integral part of my life. I was raised in a church where music was the ultimate expression, studied music seriously and almost pursued a career in it until my Crohn's dictated otherwise. For me there's a song for every moment, emotion, and thought. The soundtrack of my life is as varied as it gets, encompassing everything from classical to rap to opera to electronic to instrumental to world.

That being the case, I love many artists but I have a Top 5 and right at the top is a group that mainstream society still hasn't quite caught on too, and why is anyone's guess, but consider tonight's sampling an intro to a group that could change the way you look at music.

Bela Fleck and the Flecktones might sound like a group that caters to kids, but I assure you it's anything but. Bela himself has literally revolutionized the way people think of the banjo and if you have heard of him, it's probably through his well-known jam sessions with the Dave Matthews Band. Joining him are brothers Victor Wooten and his brother Futureman. Victor is highly regarded as one of the world's best bassists, and Futureman is right up there as a percussionist, but he doesn't sit in front of his drum set, he wears around his shoulder, just like a guitar or a banjo. No joke. This guy has literally designed a one-of-a-kind instrument that allows him to do all the percussion standing up jamming with the rest of the group. Though 95% of the group's music is vocal-free, Futureman has contributed vocals for several tracks throughout the years. Jeff Coffin is recognized as a top performer and composer of the sax (all types) and most other woodwinds, including the flute and clarinet, among others.

While playing as a group, each also pursues solo careers and together they've revolutionized the way many, including myself look and think about the boundaries of music.

Below is perhaps one of their best known songs, A Moment So Close and I love this performance so much I own the video of this concert taped in 2005. Featured are Tuvan throat singer Kongar-ol Odnar, hailing from Mongolia where he's been trained to be able to hit three notes at once, something that just boggles the mind. The Flecktones are also joined with a kettle drum, bassoon, oboe, and that's Jeff Coffin on a soprano saxophone (that looks like a clarinet) and Sandip Burman, a tabla player from India. If it sounds like a strange group, it is, but once you listen and watch you'll be just amazed as I was.

The second selection tonight is from the same album, same group of performers, and this one is titled Hoedown, featuring some of Sandip Burman's amazing skills.

And we round out the selection with another from the album - Earth Jam. If you want to seem some truly amazing skills and some serious jamming, you won't want to miss this.

Here's hoping your weekend is as sweet as the melodies above!

Stem Cell film featured in E. Lansing Film Festival

2008-03-14T11:33:00.003-04:00

If you're in the Mid-Michigan area on Sunday and looking for something to do, stop by MSU's campus and take in a film or two. Specifically take in Life is for Living by U-M pre-med student Michael Rubyan.

The following information was sent out to her constituents by State Senator Gretchen Whitmer, one of the distinguished politicans interviewed in the 41 minute film -

EAST LANSING - Michael Rubyan, a pre-med student at the University of Michigan, was so moved by a class presentation about stem cell research that he decided to make a movie about it.
"Life is for the Living," a documentary film directed by Michael Rubyan, a junior majoring in film, will be featured at the East Lansing Film Festival on Sunday, March 16, 12 p.m., in Wells Hall on the Michigan State University campus in East Lansing.
The 60-minute film highlights the touching - both painful and hopeful - stories of six families struggling with incurable diseases and includes appearances by CBS's Mike Wallace, former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno, Gov. Jennifer Granholm, and others.
Rubyan produced the documentary to highlight the importance of moving forward on promising and potentially life-saving medical research.
"'Life is for the Living' was created to educate the public about the complex issues surrounding embryonic stem cell research," Rubyan said.
"The film seeks to explain the issue from four different perspectives - the people, the politics, the science and the hope."
The film presents the stories of six American families living with the painful realities of diseases such as juvenile diabetes, Parkinson's and spinal cord injury. It is set against the national debate over embryonic stem cell research and features three generations discussing their frustration with President Bush's restrictions and their hope that more funding for embryonic stem cell research will relieve suffering and perhaps even save lives.
"Life is for the Living" also explores the science behind stem cell research and the political debate taking place across the country, as well as here in Michigan. More than 15 political leaders were interviewed, including Reno; Granholm; Michigan U.S. Sen. Carl Levin; Dr. Sean Morrison, director of the UM Center for Stem Cell Biology; and Dr. David T. Scadden, co-director of the Harvard Stem Cell Institute.
View the trailer and learn more at www.lifeisfortheliving.org
For a complete list of films featured at the East Lansing Film Festival visit their site.

If you have the opportunity to check it out this film or any of the other 93 films at this record-setting film festival, between now and Thursday, March 20th, you should definitely a point of it!

I am Emily, and so are you

2008-02-29T16:29:00.003-05:00

I was doing research for a post that I'm working on and a friend sent me this link. I had heard about the fabled "I am Emily" speech, and you would think that by now I would be used to speeches like this from one of my heroes, but as I watched it the goosebumps came and my eyes welled up.

That's right. I am Emily, and so are you. Don't ever forget that.

Old Town Bridge to be renamed in honor of Robert Busby - this Sunday

2008-02-28T09:54:00.003-05:00

This Sunday at 10:30 a.m., Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero will preside at the Grand River bridge in Old Town when it will be formally renamed the Robert P. Busby Memorial Bridge.

The event is open to all as we pay tribute to the life and legacy of Robert Busby, "Mayor of Old Town". For more information, check out Old Town's website.

The hurt still lingers a year later...

2008-02-27T09:45:00.005-05:00

It's hard to believe it's already been a year since you left us. Your number is still in my phone, and I still can't bring myself to remove it.

The painting that we playfully argued over before I finally bought it has yet to be hung. I'm afraid that the moment it goes up, I'll forget the fun we had debating whose wall it would look better on. You could have outbid me and snatched it from right under my nose, but you were so excited at the prospect of me building a collection, I always knew you'd let me have it. It's a beautifully bold painting that we discussed over coffee at Portable Feast at the table near the staircase as Sharon darted back and forth nearby to her customers.

There are still so many memories, so vibrant, so full of life, just like you were, that linger. We knew each other less than a year, but you were ambassador, mayor, welcoming committee, and chief architect all rolled into one incredible, beautiful soul.

You saw a girl, who despite her bubbly demeanor and wide circle of friends, was looking for a community to call her own, to plant some roots, and find a home that was more than just four walls and roof. You took me in with your warm smile and contagious laugh, and you showed me exactly what community meant. It didn't matter that you didn't know too much about me, or my faults, you introduced me to others like we had been friends for the last five years.

You taught so many the true meaning of community, both on the physical and cerebral levels. You loved and gave of yourself without question to everyone, rich, poor, black, white, gay, straight. Your greatest gift was the example that you set, living every day to it's fullest without regrets and always remembering that in the end, we're all human and life is too short not to live like it's your last day on earth. Did you know something we didn't?

Even after you left, the community remains bonded together in grief, in celebration of our progress and growth, and deep friendships welded together that will withstand the test of time. We're there, and while you're not, your legacy remains, twisted in sorrow and love. We couldn't have made it without you, and no matter where we find ourselves in the future, I still miss you, friend.

(photo credit: Patrick T. Power)

The Chairman to host Lansing-based WGOP

2008-02-26T19:44:00.002-05:00

In case you missed my post over at MichiganLiberal, you maybe shocked to find out that a Lansing-based radio station has flushed it's journalistic ethics right down the toliet.

WJIM 1240 AM and it's morning show host, Michael Patrick Shiels has offered the host's chair to none other than MI Republican Party Chair Saul Anuzis himself. According to Anuzis' so-called blog (it's the Republican version, so no one's allowed to comment besides The Chairman himself) he'll be hosting the show which runs from 5:30 am to 10 a.m. tomorrow (Wednesday) morning. He also brags about his featured guests, Newt Gingrich and Karl Rove, and yes you read that correctly, the evil dark overlord of dirty republican tactics himself will be on. In my circles, we call that noise pollution.

Radio stations are licensed and regulated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) which are paid for with our tax dollars. As a wise commenter posted this thought -

Unless an elected official, there's no reason why publicly-owned airwaves should be used to the advantage of a single political party. Licensees should be serving the greater public good, not just a narrow band of consumers. It's not as if the publicly-owned airwaves aren't already overwhelmingly controlled by a single political ideology, but a single political party?
One might even think that a station's licensing should be evaluated for this kind of behavior.

They're right. It shouldn't matter if this was a Democratic party official or Republican like The Chairman. Public airwaves are just that, and last time I checked, we don't have to be force-fed any kind of propaganda.

If you'd like to protect Lansing's airwaves from blatant ethical and regulatory violations, file a complaint with the FCC here, and tell WJIM to stop their switch to WGOP here.

11,000 Words

2008-02-22T21:53:00.004-05:00

They say a picture is worth 1000 words, and despite this blogger's love of the spoken and written word, sometimes even words don't quite do it.

I think that's representative of life, often we require a song, a touch, a taste, something other than words to speak to us and to speak to others. My life the last two months is no different. I realize that my "writer's block" is not a writer's block at all. I've just been going the wrong way about expressing it.

In the end, the following collage only has to make sense to one person, so don't feel at a loss if you're confused. Enjoy the beauty, the talent, the story.

1. Takidani Train Station

2. Reduced

3. nominal help

4. Amber Glow

5. cleansed

6. Taking out the Trash

7. Day 230: sitting.waiting.wishing

8. Joy to the World

9. joy

10. The Feeling of Accomplishment

11. Anticipation

~Unfortunately this software doesn't allow for more than one photo to be posted, otherwise I would have just included them all..

Old Town Diner in the Spotlight

2008-02-08T00:29:00.000-05:00

Congrats to the Golden Harvest, a one-of-a-kind diner located on North Turner in Old Town. It recently was reviewed and featured by Absolute Michigan.

It's just one of several restaurants that I make a habit of sampling in Old Town. Golden Harvest is only open for breakfast or lunch and their breakfasts are not to be missed. It reminds me of the local diner where the old men congregate and talk shop and you watch your food cooked on the grill right in front of you, but there's a funky twist to the place that makes it all it's own. Last time I was in there I dined on some truly excellent eggs over easy with bacon, toast, and hash browns with some kickin' hot sauce as Beastie Boys played on the radio overhead.

So yes, the old men come and talk shop, but so do the college kids, the artists, the stay-at-home moms, and bloggers like me, looking for great food and a true Old Town experience.

Let the Live-blog Continue!

2008-01-28T22:30:00.000-05:00

Without ever really meaning to, I carved a little niche into the world of live-blogging. (And yes, it's okay to think that's an incredibly geeky niche, because it really is.)

I think it started with a Stabenow v. Bouchard debate way back in the days of the '06 Election Cycle when I thought it would be fun. It was fun, but it was also physically draining. Fingers flying a million miles trying to keep up with what's being said and all the while trying to stay somewhat grammatically correct, well let's just put it this way, I was never cut out to be a court reporter.

But live-blogging is a big part of who I am as a blogger and as an activist. Live-blogging from the Capitol during the Budget Crisis was incredibly physically draining, but I was on an emotional high, even when I would have been excited to watch paint dry I was so bored. To be on the sidelines of history, to experience the action, to feel the tension, to capture the decisiveness between the players, to be part of the cognizant Stockholm Syndrome that everyone eventually gave into, the whole thing was incredibly thrilling.

So Tuesday night I'll head back to what I know and a home away from home, the State House. Under the beautifully lit dome stalwart in the crisp air, I'll be live-blogging the Governor's State of the State address. It will probably be hot, stressful, cramped, and very close quarters with the rest of the press, but it will definitely be thrilling and another experience I won't ever forget. Join me next door at MichLib or peek through the curtains of BFM because I'll finally be joined by a fellow blogger and one of my mentors from way back in the day, Christine Barry from BFM. I'm excited for the message, anticipating the atmosphere and ready for this event to signal a new year and a new time in Michigan politics.

Now that the air has cleared...

2008-01-28T22:06:00.000-05:00

You might have noticed that there hasn't been much to notice here lately. I was blessed and cursed with a bleeding heart. I'm the type of blogger who finds it very difficult to manufacture posts that aren't born out of inspiration. When I'm good, I'm good, but when I'm not, I'm no where to be found.

For those of you hanging around the Michigan Lefty blogosphere as of late, there's been a lot of drama, ridiculousness, and all-around b.s. Not one to need any additional drama in my life, I stayed out of it. I had the excuse of settling into a new job and the continual job of dealing with my health. The few times when all the drama grew to a particularly egregious level and I attempted to broker peace, I only got burned in the process, so I strayed even farther away. In the process I learned a couple new life lessons for which I'm grateful but could have done without the accompanying mess. The whole episode left me burned out, uninspired, and I really wasn't able to blog. For me, blogging has always been from the heart and something that brought me joy, and while I could have thrown just anything up, that's not who I am, so I refrained.

To be honest, the whole process of live-blogging from the State House back in September/October left me quite burned out. I joke that it is 8 days or so of my life I'll never get back. The truth is the entire thing was an incredible lesson in politicking. To be embedded there, with a front seat ticket to it all, well, that is something that no amount of money can ever buy. I feel incredibly blessed to have been part of it. I'm also honored to have been the first blogger credentialed in the State Capitol.

While I was there I also was battling a huge kidney stone, something that I'm pleased to report has shrunken in size and in the amount of pain it causes thanks to a procedure, but now has been joined by a fellow stone, so it continues to keeps life interesting, which I have also learned to expect nothing but.

Since the Budget Crisis, I've started a new job and gained a new realization. I love my job. Honestly, how many people can say they truly love their job? I also realize I'm part of a very small part of the world that can say that, so not a day goes by that I'm not thankful for the opportunity to continue doing what I love but to also be making a difference while I do it.

With cautious optimism that I hope to say I'm back, and mean it. Perhaps the blogosphere is going through it's petulant adolescent stage, something that I remember going through myself and still amazed that my parents didn't disown me. I believe the concept is called Tough Love. Part of me misses the blogosphere of '06, before the drama, before the b.s., when we were a tight-knit small group of seemingly self-described revolutionaries. Of course, I think about how far it's all come, how many more people are engaged, how practically the entire political landscape of the state has been changed in some way or another by the Internet and I stare in awe. Hopefully we're past these annoying growing pains and on to our next incredible victory. And with that, I'm looking forward to getting back to the clickety-clack of this old keyboard, the worn leather of this old chair, and the experience that is progressive online politics in Michigan.

When Christmas really hits home

2007-12-26T21:32:00.000-05:00

Stories like this really have a way of hitting me right in the gut the minute I start reading it.

From the Jackson Citizen-Patriot:

A Chelsea family got a Christmas gift even Santa couldn't deliver -- Army Staff Sgt. Michael Montange back home after spending months in a Washington D.C. hospital and years overseas.
Montange, 28, who was nearly killed in an explosion in Iraq, is spending his first Christmas in 10 years in his hometown.

As he touched down at Jackson County Airport shortly after 1 p.m. Monday, he was greeted by family members and more than 20 local firefighters and other well-wishers.

"It feels really good to be back," Montange said while leaning back in a wheelchair covered in a fleece race car blanket. "I haven't made it home for a holiday in quite some time."

He'll be home for almost two weeks.
-snip-
On Aug. 22, Michael Montange, a member of the 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division, was 15 miles north of Baghdad when he was injured by an improvised explosive device. The projectile pierced his buttock and exited through his opposite hip.

His uncle said he "flat-lined" three or four times, underwent 38 surgeries and needed more than 170 units of blood.

He has lost about 40 percent of his intestines and will have to live the rest of his life with a colostomy bag, Mark Montange said.

"He is taking bets he will be walking by April," he said of his nephew.

This is his third time being wounded, family members said, but the soldier considers it his second. The first time, he said he just had a few pieces of metal stuck in him that he pulled out and forgot about by the next month.

Merry Christmas, Staff Sgt. Montage. Welcome home, and there's many of us pulling for you for a speedy recovery, and I'll be thinking of you as adjust to life as an ostomate.

My Mom Rocks

2007-11-29T09:29:00.000-05:00

Seems like a silly title for a blog post, huh? Perhaps, but we're not talking about just any mom here, we're talking about my mom who's championing the world of financial literacy right here in Michigan.

She's featured in today's Oakland Business Review talking about the greater need for financial literacy education in our schools. If you recall from past posts, she's the president of the Michigan Jump$tart Coalition, and director of Personal Finance for the Michigan Council on Economic Education.

My mom works hard for a lot of folks in our state who don't necessarily have a very loud voice here in Lansing, and for that I'm proud of her. A lot of who I am is because of how she and my dad raised me, and for that very reason, I hope that this apple hasn't fallen far from the tree. :-)

Universal Health Care in Mid-Michigan: It's happening

2007-11-27T23:27:00.000-05:00

Over the holiday weekend, I had the opportunity to sit with my parents and watch Michael Moore's film on the U.S. health care system (or lack thereof), 'Sicko'. It was my second time seeing it, and the first for my parents. It was a different experience watching it this time around because I got to gauge my parents reactions compared to what I felt my first time around. As the lone politico in the family, I'm always interested how I compare to them on various issues. While my entire family would definitely lay on the compassionate side of policy (read = moderate to progressive) they shy away from being "political".

My parents, like most others I've talked too, were shocked, horrified, and just plained upset after viewing the movie. They more or less said the same thing "Why don't we have universal health care?" Why indeed. The very thought of me going through the first 10 years of my life with Crohn's Disease without paying 25 different doctors and hospitals a month is hard to grasp for us, but it's a challenge we'd welcome in a heartbeat (pun intended). Thankfully, it looks like this area is making a change for the better.

I'm lucky to live in Ingham County, a place where our local government leaders clearly see the benefits of universal health care for residents as a means of cost prevention. Since instituting the Ingham Health Plan over nine years ago, Ingham has become a model for counties all over the state and country, because it works, and while it isn't quite perfect yet, it's getting there. You can be a part of the process by attending meeting coming up and providing your suggestions for improvement or just learning more about it. See this article in City Pulse for more information.

Universal health care is not something to fear, it's something to desire. It helps you, it helps me, and it helps everyone around us. The only people who have to fear getting sicko from a universal health care plan is the insurance and drug industries, and you're not really worried about their temperature rising a bit, are you?

Really Support our Troops

2007-11-24T22:24:00.000-05:00

There are lots of way to say we support the troops. We can write it on a blog, we can paint it on a sign, we can stick a yellow ribbon on our cars, we can vote the war-mongers out of office, and we can donate money. I'm not talking about writing a check to the Department of Defense and see it go to buy another $500 paperweight, but giving something to directly to our men and women who are serving abroad, giving up their lives for us.

I am pleased to support the efforts of several fellow bloggers that I call friends as they really support the troops through an effort called Blogging for Michigan Troop Care. The money that is raised goes directly to items needed by the Michigan troops stationed overseas. These are items that they have asked for and clearly need.

I made my donation last week, and now I am asking that you help this Troop Care project raise the remaining $804 that they need to raise their goal of $5000.

Be sure to stop by Blogging for Michigan, and this time, really support the troops through their Troop Care Project.

Giving Thanks

2007-11-22T11:03:00.000-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

I hope that today you will spend a part of it with your family or friends and that we all take time to reflect on all the things we have to give thanks for, whether it's the roof over our heads, our health, a job, our loved ones, our favorite four-legged friends, snow that's on the ground, living in a country where we are free from persecution, to our troops, and for our government, even if we don't always agree with them.

Find something to give thanks for today, and you'll have another reason to smile.

~Lucy

Before you judge...

2007-11-21T00:09:00.000-05:00

There's something that's been on my mind lately, and this blog seemed to be the perfect place to get it off my chest. I know it's something I've been guilty of, others certainly have, and there's even a chance you have been too - being a little too quick to judge.

Having a chronic illness, I some how seem to find and befriend others who also deal with health challenges on a regular basis, sometimes more so and quicker than others. Call it a sixth sense if you will. I'm sure that it's a common thread that runs throughout societies, because it's human nature to bond with those in similar circumstances.

Recently I was speaking with a friend who falls in this very category. While she doesn't have Crohn's Disease or a similar digestive illness, she does have an auto immune disease, just like my Crohn's. She was feeling frustrated because people around her were giving her flack for not being her usual energetic self while she experienced some health issues. She complained that because she didn't have a visible physical disability, people just wrote her off as lazy, even though she would have given all the riches in the world to be up and at 'em like she normally is. Boy, do I know that feeling.

For the most part, you can't see all the physical scars that my 35+ surgeries have left me with, and most days I'm glad for that. Some days, when others give me grief how much I am or am not doing, I wish you could. Not because I want you to feel sorry for me, on the contrary. I don't want anyone's pity. What I and thousands and perhaps millions others like me would appreciate is a little pause before you rush into judgment on what we are or are not capable of.

Since falling ill with Crohn's and being placed on steroid therapy, I've been on the overweight side of the scale. It's not something I'm proud of, and it's a battle I've constantly lived with since. Years and years of taking 60-120 mg of steroids a day would make even Twiggy look like the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man on her best day. While I haven't been on steroids in years, thank goodness, I still live with the nasty side effects, one of them being my residual weight. I go to the gym, I workout, I swim, I watch what I eat, and slowly, I'm winning that battle. But I also have to deal with my body, one that has been riddled with a ferocious disease and aged with the residual effects, and will continue to be so until the day I die.

It's hard to understand for most people on the sidelines, and I don't blame you. I've lived with this illness for over 13 years now, and I'm still figuring it out. I'm lucky that I've been in "technical remission" since 2001, meaning that my digestive tract no longer shows physical symptoms of the ulceration caused by Crohn's. That's a wonderful thing, and I thank God everyday for it. But as far as the rest of my body goes, it will never be the same.

I always fatigue much more than normal. Because I lack a colon, I require almost twice the normal amount of fluid each day to stay hydrated. If I don't get it just right, it only adds to my fatigue. Also because I have no colon, I also struggle with nutrient absorption, which can add to my fatigue problem, and has now lead to chronic kidney pain and stones. The rheumatoid arthritis that's been here since I was 16 causes constant pain in my hands, knees, ankles and hips. Because I have an ileostomy, I have to be sure that every time I eat, the food is small enough to pass through my now-narrowed small intestine and won't cause a blockage that could send me to the hospital. My ostomy also means that I'm monitoring my skin around the site to prevent serious infection, and that my very expensive ostomy products are never too far away. Thanks to some truly nasty reactions to the chemo and other serious perscription meds I've been on, the laundry list goes on and on. Despite this, most days I don't really notice anymore, because it's my life and thanks to some accommodations I've had to make, and it's better than the alternative, not being alive. It's also just become part of my daily routine to watch out, check for, and treat accordingly all of these symptoms. But for all anyone knows to look at me, I'm just an over-weight woman who won't work out enough.

The days on which I can make it to the gym, make it through a typical work day, or not wake-up feeling like I've been run over with a semi-truck are the really good days that I'm very thankful for, because I know how few and far between they can be. There's millions more like me who may deal with different diseases like Fibromyalgia, Lupus, muscular dystrophy, diabetes, depression, arthritis, and a myriad of other illnesses, but to you, whether you're a friend, a co-worker, a neighbor, or whomever, they're just lazy.

I've done it myself, judged others without thinking, without pausing, because it's just so easy to do, and frankly, it's easier than taking the time to think about what the real cause is. But the next time, in that brief flicker before you curse them under your breath, think a terrible thought, just stop, think and consider that there maybe more than meets the eye. Perhaps, one day, they might return the favor before judging you to be too old, too fat, too slow, too skinny, or just too darn lazy.

Congrats to the Lansing-built Cadillac CTS as 'Car of the Year'

2007-11-20T11:02:00.000-05:00

A hearty congratulations is in order to the proud workers of Lansing's GM Plant where they roll out the Cadillac CTS, which today will be named Motor Trend's 'Car of the Year'. From the LSJ -

The award, to be announced today, is significant because it shows Detroit-area automakers are back in the car business after years of focusing on sport utility vehicles and trucks, said magazine Editor-in-Chief Angus MacKenzie. The car's appearance, fit and finish, quality of materials and performance rival that of its German and Japanese competitors, MacKenzie said.
"There's really not a lot of difference at all between BMW, Mercedes and Cadillac," he said Monday.
"This is obviously a really great thing," said Kelley White, spokeswoman for the Lansing Grand River plant, which also makes the Cadillac STS sedan and SRX crossover vehicle.
"It means a lot to our team members."

Rightly so. It's a cause for Lansing, our state and our entire country to have more pride in our products, and more reason to hope that Michigan's automakers can successfully enter the Green Age of automotive production - producing more stylish, functional cars that are significantly less-harmful to the environment.

There maybe bad news all around us, and the doom and gloom from the economic forecasters seems almost inescapable, but this latest boost for both Lansing, our proud unions, and our state is one that should outshine all of that!

For Our Veterans

2007-11-12T10:21:00.000-05:00

(Originally posted 11/10/06, but after several requests from readers, I've decided to republish today.)

I always get a lump in my throat when I stand up to sing the Star Spangled Banner, but it often seems as if I'm the only one. The daughter and granddaughter of several of America's heroes, I believe that to have given all or a part of your life to our country and what it stands for is truly one of the most self-less acts, ever.

My dad is a Vietnam Veteran, and I will never know exactly what he suffered, or how wet a monsoon really is, or how terrifying the jungles appeared at night. I couldn't tell you what it's like to spend months and years knowing that it could all be over in a flash, sometimes only because you fly a different flag than the guy at the other end of the gun. I don't know what it's like to return to a country only a year or two older than when you left but be aged beyond words. But our heroes can - and those who serve even now, will return with their own age spots, both emotional and physical.

On this Veterans Day, I am sad to see how little respect our veterans have been given by the press, by our government, and by the people in general. Just with those who have lost their lives in the last 6 years, it seems as if we've swept our heroes under the rug of our daily lives. Now grown men and women have to be told to take their hat off while our anthem plays, and too many still don't know all the words to the Pledge of Allegiance. I'm tired of patriotism being played as a campaign card when it's fashionable, and forgotten when it matters most. Our vets are our heroes, those who stand among us with scars that will always linger, and too often, those who are left behind us as we go forward. These men and women deserve so much more than the societal breadcrumbs we throw them when the media spotlight needs a new poster boy or girl.

So how do we honor our veterans and fallen heroes? I think of my dad, and my grandfathers, and I know that the greatest form of respect we can give them is to never, ever forget - what they've given, what they endure to this day, and the battle that they face even now, on our own soil, through finances, education, and health care. Perhaps we all need to stand as a state and a country, remove our hats, and swallow the collective lump that should form in all of our throats. Wipe the tear that forms in the corner of our eye, and turn to salute our veterans, our heroes. Contrary to what many may think, they are what keeps us great, not the other way around.

Fantastic photos from Maine and my new job

2007-11-05T23:07:00.000-05:00

Happy Election Day!

This is just a teaser from the two photo albums you can view from my trip to Maine. The first has the bulk of the photos.

I was lucky to stand atop Cadillac Mountain twice, once to watch the sunset and another to see it rise. The clouds that were present for the sun's setting, were gone for the magnificent sunrise. Talk about a view I'll never forget! You can view the photo album of the sunrise.

While I was in Maine, I had some delicious seafood, saw some beautiful sights, breathed in the wonderful Atlantic air, stayed clear of politics and the Internet, and most importantly got rested up.

Part of my timing has to do with a small announcement that I'm pleased to share with you today. I have hung up my consulting hat and now am the Online Campaign Coordinator for Progress Michigan, a non-profit communications team that serves the entire progressive community. My first order of business is to put together an incredible website that I look forward to sharing with you and the rest of the state soon. You can visit our sister organization in Colorado, Progress Now and Progress Now Action, to get a bit of a preview.

I know you'll all be voting today, so I won't bother reminding you, but feel free to stop by MichLib and throw in your support for your favorite candidate or ballot issue at our special Election Day Coffee Talk. Have a happy Election Day!

Seen and heard from the most progressive part of the country...

2007-11-03T05:57:00.001-04:00

I kid you not. This shirt was for sale in one of the stores in Bar Harbor, ME. I saw it and just had to take a picture! The interesting part? While they had lots of t-shirts and magnets and the usual anti-Bush paraphenelia mixed with the usual tourist-y goodies, there wasn't an anti-Democrat, non-progressive item to be found. Ah, it seems as if this liberal has found a perfect vacation spot!! :-)

Loving Maine, hurricanes and all....

2007-11-03T05:54:00.001-04:00

It's beautiful! Well my trip to Maine has been a wonderful time, and what an experience it has been!

Acadia National Park is everything I thought it would be, I have about a hundred pictures to prove it! Leave it to Mother Nature to have fun switching up my travel plans though!

While I couch-surf here in Bath, Maine, we're hunkering down for Hurricane Noel. Bath is right on the coast, half-way between Portland and Camden in the Mid-Coast area. It's a gorgeous historic ship-building town and the beautiful house I'm on is right on the water.

Tonight, after the worst of the storm has passed, my couchsurfing friend and I will be attending the local Democratic Party Harvest Dinner, and I will be dining in style with local Democrats. Even better, my couchsurfing host works in state politics and there are many other very cool things we share in common. Who'da thunk it? :-)

The Hurricane is supposed to sweep up this afternoon and as it hits the colder weather, turn into a Nor'Easter, something which I've never experienced. I've been told to expect 6-8 inches of rain and winds from 60-80 mph. While it sounds scary, I just need it clear up by tomorrow so I can fly back without any major issues!

So while I hunker down, think of me and enjoy this picture taken with my cell phone from the top of Cadillac Mountain, at 6 a.m. yesterday as the sun rose. If you think this is good, wait till you see what I got with the camera!

Going Couch Surfing

2007-10-17T01:12:00.000-04:00

*Updated* (see below)

There's a new phenomena in travel and it's name is Couch Surfing, I kid you not.

You've probably guessed, but I work in the wonderful world of politics, and while I'm lucky to love how I eek out a living, some days a girl just needs to get away from it all.

I decided that a long weekend away from politics, the Internet, blogs, yes, even computers was just what the doctor ordered, so I decided to escape to coastal New England. I'm looking forward to the chilly weather, beautiful shore lines, lobster bakes, breath-taking national parks, lots of time by myself, a real escape from my normal everyday life.

I also love experiencing different cultures, history, and landscapes, while it isn't half a world away, New England is pretty different from our Great Lakes state.

No one ever got rich serving others, and I'm no exception. So when I travel, I have to do it on the frugal side. Anyone who's ever traveled knows that your accommodations can often be the most expensive part of the trip. Thankfully, CouchSurfing takes the cost out of traveling and puts a capital 'E' on Experience.

So what is this mysterious CouchSurfing? Well first, you should know why it exists -

"CouchSurfing seeks to internationally network people and places, create educational exchanges, raise collective consciousness, spread tolerance, and facilitate cultural understanding."

CouchSurfing was created specifically so that everyone can travel the world and partake in cultural exchange. Staying with your host(s) is also always free; it is contrary to the values of CouchSurfing and against our terms of use to charge someone to surf your couch. Many surfers like to bring their hosts gifts or treat them to a meal as a "Thank you," but this is not a requirement. There are infinite ways to reciprocate goodwill.

So there you go. Fun, exciting travel can be done on a budget. I've picked my hosts, they've agreed to host me, and away I'll go, nary a computer or politico in sight. Just me, my camera, my jacket, and a small suitcase. When I return, I promise I'll bring back a picture of me with a lobster, before and after it's been cooked. Mmmm!!!

Update: It's been suggested that I (sheepishly) mention that you can support LiberalLucy's Travel-on-a-Dime fund by supporting this blog. :-) It's not necessary, but very much appreciated. Any supporters between now and the end of the month will receive a postcard from my trip. :-)

Thank you!

The Mark

2007-10-16T02:45:00.000-04:00

I carry a lot of pain around. Some is physical, some emotional, and some an echo of pain that once was and now whose scars I bare.

Some is fresh and some lingers from decades past. Some festers, bubbling up during a drive, brushing teeth, or midst a laugh. Like a pin prick, it surprises when least expected, interrupting the most innocent of moments.

It's pain that spurs a reach for medicine, and ages past reality.

It's pain that has led me to the mark that my life is now built upon.

It can cause deep sorrow, regrets, anger, confusion, singularly or whirling together in a vortex that consumes you mind, body and soul.

But it's also pain that brings joy, thanksgiving, friendship, new life, and wisdom that lightens the path ahead.

For you see, pain leaves this unspeakable, indescribable mark on one's soul, only recognizable by another who also bares the very same. The dimensions may differ, but the mark is always the same.

Pain's mark has the uncanny ability to bring polar opposites together, forging an unbreakable bond that only leaves outsiders guessing. Like a spark in a dark cave, it is instantly noticeable, even if only on an unconscious level.

It's a survivors mark.

The point at which you pass the pain is often unremarkable. In many cases, it was just an attempt to fool the world around you that you could carry on, no matter the burden.

One day you wake up from a moment without pain and almost gasp because in fooling others, you were left the ultimate fool. Pain free, if only for a moment.

Like a match that quickly burns, it's the loss of pain that frightens as quickly as it brings joy. This cocoon of suffering that's consumed you for so long, might take leave, and in turn, the lessons, the moments endeared to you through that pain might also leave. Worse yet, in its absence, you might forget the beautiful source which borne that pain, leaving you the ultimate sinner. For what is life, if we don't learn from all its lessons?

But you see, the irony of it all is in the mark. The mark that will forever lay branded on the soul.

For it is the mark that will bring the very best in ourselves out. That same mark that will caution to painful dangers that lay ahead, and serve as a beacon for safe harbors.

It is a survivors mark, and with it, we live and we die all the more richer for it.

Holy Cow!

2007-10-16T02:38:00.000-04:00

Well I missed it by a couple days, but happy 1st Anniversary to this blog!

That's right kids, on October 13th, Liberal, Loud and Proud turned a whopping 1 years-old. I know, it's just a year, but in terms of blogging, it's a milestone worthy of pride.

So much has changed, so much hasn't, friends gone and new ones come, but I'll save the reflections for a time when I don't have so much churning in the old noggin.

Thanks for being here for this happy occasion!

Still Kickin'

2007-10-14T02:16:00.000-04:00

Well that kidney stone of mine didn't kill me, but I swear at times it sure felt like it was close to it.

So for now I'm making my way back to my regular hectic pace, but thanks to all of you who emailed and inquired.

Over the next several days I'll be back on my feet, and I'll expect to return to blogging both here and over at Michigan Liberal shortly.

Thanks again, and here's seeing you on the Tubes of the Internet again soon!

Making the Good News

2007-10-05T00:07:00.000-04:00

If you've been to MichLib much lately, you know I've had some serious concerns with the state of the media here in Lansing. While I don't have much to say about the Lansing State Journal as a paper, there are several fine individuals (unfortunately not in managerial roles) who are part of the LSJ team.

Let me also say this, while I have concerns about the media industry as a whole, I generally have a whole lot of respect for most of the journalists that I've come to know, both at the LSJ and particularly within the Capitol Press Corps. That's not an easy industry to work in, and it's clear that only the finest raise to the top.

That being said, I'd like to thank one journalist in particular. It's very easy to only focus on the negative, to report all the bad news, and goodness knows I do a good job of it on my own as a blogger. But when it's something other than the negative, boy is it refreshing to see.

Derek Wallbank writes the Capitol Journal blog for the LSJ. On Wednesday, Wallbank asked for some good news from his readers out of the Capitol to report. Seems as if I was the only one to respond (not sure if that's bad or good) and I offered thanks to the House who passed Rep. Andy Meisner's Restroom Access Bill. The bill would allow people like me who suffer from digestive diseases to have access, by way of a prescription, to those bathrooms in retail establishments normally reserved for employees only. There are measures built in for the security of both the business and the customer, and most everyone was on board with it.

Because I was the only one to respond, Wallbank was kind enough to make it the subject of his post. Obviously I'm pleased as punch that my email was featured, but I hope that he will consider making this Good News piece part of his regular bit, goodness know we could all use it!

Some Bright Ideas (and savings)

2007-10-01T23:16:00.000-04:00

Ladies and gents, start your engines, scooters, bike, or just lace up the ol' tennis shoes and start heading down to your Mid-Michigan Ace Hardware store.

No, this isn't a paid endorsement for the chain, and I'm not getting a discount on my next snow shovel, but it is an endorsement for a cleaner tomorrow, starting in your own home.

My house already has several Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFL) installed, and while Edison himself probably wouldn't recognize them, they are light years ahead in terms of keeping the Earth clean and your energy bill down.

As reported by a late article today in the Lansing State Journal -

A kickoff event for the "Change a Light, Change the World" campaign was held at Lansing City Hall this morning. Invited guests included Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero, East Lansing Mayor Sam Singh, Michigan Public Service Commission Member Monica Martinez and Lansing Board of Water & Light General Manager J. Peter Lark.

The Environmental Protection Agency says Energy Star-rated CFLs use 75 percent less energy than incandescent light bulbs and last six to 10 times longer. They save $30 or more in electricity costs over the bulb's life and prevent more than 400 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions.
As part of the national campaign sponsored by the EPA and the U.S. Department of Energy, CFLs will be on sale throughout October and November at area Ace Hardware stores for 99 cents each, $2 below the normal price.
There are participating Ace Hardware stores in Eaton Rapids, Grand Ledge, Holt, Laingsburg, Lansing, Mason and Okemos.

You can learn more about CFLs from Energy Star here. Check out this little factoid

If every American home replaced just one light bulb with an ENERGY STAR qualified bulb, we would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for a year, more than $600 million in annual energy costs, and prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of more than 800,000 cars.

So head on down, grab your new bulbs, and start lighting a brighter future today.

And we're back!

2007-10-01T10:50:00.000-04:00

Hello there, remember me?

Okay, so it' s only been about 2 weeks since my last post, and I find it quite appropriate that on this day that I return here, we also have a state budget...well, at least for another 34 days.

But it's progress, and here's hoping that this is just the start of much more progress to come.

So while I watch hopefully, albeit warily on the Capitol, I'm also going to be returning to state of the affairs of Mid-Michigan. There's more going on here than just a massive squabble over the state.

As for me, I'm going to do my best to keep up with the posting, but remember that massive kidney stone I mentioned over a month ago? Yep, it's still there. Hopefully it will be gone in the next week or so, but there's some complications that have come up since they first discovered that have made it impossible for them to take care of it. So if I miss a day or two, it means I'm most likely sequestered on the couch or in the bed waiting for the pain to subside. Thank you for your patience though!

Stay tuned, there's lots more to come!

Done In

2007-09-17T00:46:00.000-04:00

At least while the Battle to Save Michigan rages on.

Until it ends, I'll be over at MichLib by way of the Capitol Building keeping the commentary rolling and the perspective fresh.

Speaking of perspective, I just realized that since session started at 10:30 a.m. last Friday, I've done 18 posts about it all. While I'm not complaining, that's a heck of a lot writing/posting/background gathering to do in 3 short days. I don't think I've ever done 18 posts in a week!

Needless to say, my dwelling/bed has become little more than a staging area to get rested for the next long day of session, and my social life has been nil. Ah, the life of a political blogger! :-)

Since you're on the Tubes of the Internet anyways, stop by MichLib and say hi, it'd be nice to see a few familiar faces.

Michigan Republicans Behaving Badly (still)

2007-09-14T08:27:00.000-04:00

Remember Jackson resident/East Lansing attorney and the former chairman of the Michigan Federation of Young Republicans Michael A Flory? (See the original post here)

Yes, he's that fine upstanding citizen (and protege of State Party Chairman Saul Anuzis?) who was arrested in February in Cleveland, OH for charges of rape, kidnapping, aggravated burglary, gross sexual imposition and witness intimidation.

Well this is from this morning's AP -

A lawyer who formerly led a Michigan young Republicans organization was sentenced Thursday to five years in prison on a guilty plea to sexual battery stemming from allegations that he forced sex acts on a woman while both were at a convention last year.

According to the story, the other charges were dropped because Flory plead guilty. Although I'm not sure the MYRF knows about it, because Flory's welcome message is still present on their website, including this choice sentence -

As a statewide organization, we also provide a stimulating network of conservative young minds that enjoy the social aspects of politics.

Well that explains quite a bit, doesn't it?
But don't be thinking that this was just any random act of violence. According to court documents -

He was attending a Cleveland convention of young Republicans, ages 18 to 40, at the time of the crime in July 2006. The victim, 21 at the time, was intoxicated and became ill, and Flory took her back to her hotel and attacked her in her hotel room, said assistant county prosecutor Carol Skutnik.

That's right ladies and gents, hold on to your hope for the young Republicans of Michigan. Just because the leader's bad, doesn't necessarily mean they're all bad, right? Let's hope so!

The New Kids on the Block: Part 1

2007-09-12T00:11:00.001-04:00

As it's probably been apparent over the years, I love Mid-Michigan and my adopted home, Lansing.

Just as the rest of the state has suffered, Lansing's endured its fair share of bad news, depressing times leaving some residents with a glass is half-empty mindset, and understandably so.

Even though spring isn't exactly right around the corner, Mid-Michigan is starting to see some new signs of life, particularly within the media.

It wasn't until this past weekend at the Michigan Policy Summit that Capital Gains first made its debut. Owned by Issue Media Group, you might have seen some of CG's sister publications, like Model D in Detroit, Rapid Growth in Grand Rapids and MetroMode in Metro Detroit.

Capital Gains is unlike anything you've ever seen, focusing on the positive, highlighting the great things about our home, and what I think is a great hope for Mid-Michigan's future.

Stay tuned tomorrow as you discover the other latest and greatest new media here in Michigan. You're definitely going to like what you see.

A Simple Sunrise

2007-09-11T01:34:00.000-04:00

Something pleasant to wake up too on this Tuesday morning.

Where in Michigan do you best enjoy a simple sunrise of your own?

Miscellaneous Monday Mutterings

2007-09-09T22:40:00.000-04:00

First off, a happy Monday, Monday to you and yours, courtesy of the Mama's and Papa's.

Did you know that this week is the Eat Local Localvore Challenge? Join local bloggers Green Tuna and Mensch71 as we all participate.

In case you missed it, the Michigan Policy Summit was a great time and an incredible experience! There's quite a bit about it over at MichLib.

Are you a state employee worried about your job with the looming government shutdown thanks to Mike Bishop and his band of not-so merry Republicans? Be sure to stop by MichLib sometime after 10 a.m. today for some laughs and learn about a brand new contest designed just for you!

If you thought Mondays were particularly bad, let's hope it's not any worse than what the guys over from Office Space had to put up with -

But if you're looking for a new TV addiction this fall, be sure to check out one of my favorite comedies - The Office. Here's a teaser of the new season that starts in three weeks!

What not to do when you're an elected official

2007-09-07T03:44:00.000-04:00

Don't get in a fight, beat someone up, plead guilty, lie about pleading guilty, and then lie to the press. Especially when you're part of the largest student government in the country, and working for a group that I was proud to be a part of.

Don't go golfing when 10 million people are counting on you to fix the state, and state employees are counting on you not to shut down the government.

Don't hide in the closet. It's okay if you're gay, even if your friends and colleagues don't think so. Listen to your heart, remember that God made all of us and loves all of us the same, and for crying out loud, come out of the closet and get new friends. You'll save a bundle on therapy.

Don't drink and drive. Don't keep drinking and driving even after you've been caught and arrested once before. No, no, no - bad move.

Don't hurt children, and those that are too young to defend themselves. (Again with the don't hide in the closet)

What you can do:

Lead by example - it's the best way you can. And if you can't, step down and let someone else. Our schools, our state, our country are too precious not to have the best of the best in charge.

From the Non-Political but Amazing File

2007-09-06T12:25:00.000-04:00

Today is a sad day for music lovers across the globe. As both GreenTuna and Rich have mentioned, the great tenor Luciano Pavarotti has died. The world has lost one of it's musical gems, and people aren't stretching it when they called Pavarotti the next Enrico Caruso, because he was just that great.

If you head over to Pavarotti's website, you'll find this incredible quote from the Maestro himself -

I think a life spent in music is a life beautifully spent and this is what I have devoted my life to.

Amen.

While the aria Nessum Dorma was Pavarotti's best known song, here's my personal all-time favorite.

While hearts are breaking all across the world, people like this little guy give me hope that the message of music will continue on for centuries to come.

Local Treats that make you say Yum!

2007-09-04T22:04:00.000-04:00

As a local follow-up to yesterday's debut of the new MichLib feature - Make it Michigan, I thought I'd post some of the local farmers' markets, and encourage you to stop by.

From the fabulous MI Department of Agricultur e -

Allen Street Farmers' Market
Lansing, MI -- Ingham County
Phone: 517-485-7630
Type: Seasonal
Hours of Operation: Open May 25-Oct 26, 3:30-6:30pm; live music; accept EBT Bridge & Project FRESH

Lansing City Market
Lansing, MI -- Ingham County
Phone: 517-483-7460
Type: All year
Hours of Operation: Open All Year Tu Th Fri Sat 8am-6pm

Meridian Township Farmers' Market
Okemos, MI -- Ingham County
Phone: 517-853-4608
Type: Seasonal
Hours of Operation: Open July-Oct Wed 8am-5pm; May-Oct Sat 8am-2pm

Williamston Farmers' Market
Williamston, MI -- Ingham County
Phone: 517-655-2774
Type:
Hours of Operation: Open Jun-Oct; Thurs 2pm-dusk

If you're outside of Ingham County but still want to find tasty Michigan treats for half the price and all the while promote Michigan's economy, stop by this page from MDA.

Labor Day with the Lansing Lugnuts

2007-09-03T20:17:00.000-04:00

It's a beautiful night for a ball game.

Hope your holiday weekend was just as nice.

Tee Time = Pure Michigan

2007-09-01T23:28:00.000-04:00

Happy Labor Day Weekend!

You're just one over 10 million Michiganders who will enjoying this holiday, but the question is - what will you be doing?

Some of you have headed north, one last weekend at the cottage or the beach or camping in the beautiful forests.

Others are puttering around the house, readying the house for the impending fall.

You maybe one of the million or so also getting in one last tee time in before fall. No matter what your Labor Day plans, this Tee Time is for you, courtesy of Pure Michigan.

A Michigan Trailhead

2007-08-31T08:01:00.000-04:00

= Pure Michigan.

Don't you just love these videos?

Happy Friday, friends.

The Worst of the Worst: My Bad Boss Series

2007-08-30T04:11:00.001-04:00

From the files of the excellent folks at the official blog of the AFL-CIO, hear are some Michiganders "My Bad Boss" entries.

I can only hope that they don't sound that familiar.

Mr. Leader
Snow Days
120% Efficiency
The Euchre Player (you know that one's from MI!)
Management by Drugs
Bad Boss -- hmm sounds like KMart, Amway, Enron, etc. You decide!
Unfair to Senior Citizens

and of course the winner, who sounds like a truly despicable boss.

Got a terrible boss? Submit your story below in the comments, and to Working America, the organization working for you. Union benefits even if you don't have a union at your workplace. Check em out and join up!

While I'm fighting the Stone...

2007-08-28T03:59:00.000-04:00

I'll also be fighting for others, and I sure could use your help.

Tuesday morning at 10:30 I'll be testifying before the House Commerce Committee about the Restroom Access Bill, HB 5046, introduced by Rep. Andy Meisner, and co-sponsored by Mid-Michigan Representative Barb Byrum. The bill is designed to provide restroom access to people with eligible medical conditions where a public bathroom might not specifically be available, i.e. retail businesses.

Rep. Meisner introduced the original bill two years ago, spurred by a constituent with Crohn's Disease who would no longer shop outside of her home because of an incident where the retail establishment would not let her use their private bathroom resulting in a very embarrassing situation for her.

This is no joke. When you have a digestive disease such as Crohn's Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), etc, there are times where you need immediate access to a bathroom. Being denied it, especially as an adult, is incredibly humiliating and embarrassing. Certain aspects of your entire life are controlled due to your disease.

For instance, for the 10 years that my Crohn's was particularly bad, there were certain restaurants and stores that I refused to visit because they either did not have public bathrooms or they were less than hygienic to use, and that I knew should the sudden and terrible urge hit me, I would be left in a very undesirable situation. I know this to be the case of most others who suffer with these conditions.

These businesses lost out on my business, and in turn, the state lost out on much needed revenue in the form of sales tax. It was a losing situation for all parties involved.

For those of you thinking that it's just common sense for people to make their bathrooms available to someone with a medical condition like the ones described above, I'd agree with you. Unfortunately reality dictates that common sense is not always so common.

The bill works because it gives responsibilities to both the consumer and the business.

The customer provides the retail establishment with a copy of a statement on a prescription form that indicates the customer suffers from an eligible medical condition or utilizes an ostomy device, signed by a doctor.

Protections for the business include -

Two or more employees of the retail establishment are working at the time the customer requests use of the employee toilet facility.

and

The employee toilet facility is not located in an area where providing access would create an obvious health or safety risk to the customer or an obvious security risk to the retail establishment.

Many of us know someone who lives with either Crohn's Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, IBS, and/or lives with an ostomy. We also know probably know of the pain, the embarrassment, and trials they have been through to carry on with their lives. As you support them in their goal to live a productive life, also support them in their quest to be have the same privileges and rights you would want if you were in their shoes.

Take three minutes out of your day and ask your state representative to support HB 5046, the Restroom Access Bill. Make Michigan the supportive state we know it to be, in our communities, in our health, and in our commerce.

Gone Fishin' ...

2007-08-27T23:32:00.000-04:00

...for a kidney stone. No joke.

A trip to the local Urgent Care last night revealed the biggest kidney stone the doctor had ever seen lodge in my lil ol kidney. Actually, if you want to get technical, the body is only capable of passing a 4 mm stone. Mine is a whopping 3 cm. Fantastic, huh?

I spent most of the YearlyKos Convention trying to pass one that was nothing compared to this. For those of you who've had kidney stones, you know how bad they are. For those of you who haven't, imagine childbirth, or so I've been told by mothers who've had the stones.

Tomorrow I find out if it's going to get lasered to be blown up into smaller pieces that my body can handle, or if I have to have yet another surgery to have it removed.

So, I might be out for a couple days, but hopefully not.

The pain's terrible, the prospect of another medical procedure, much less a surgery is terrifying, and I'm reminded again of the realities of life with Crohn's Disease.

While my Crohn's is in remission, and there's no active disease within my body, the absence of my large intestine (colon) makes it very hard for my body to absorb nutrients and minerals, particularly calcium. For some reason, calcium has always been hard on my body since my ileostomy surgery 9 years ago. I've grown used to the calcium forming these stones in my kidneys several times a year and then my body trying to rid itself of them. Problem is, this is the first time the stones have been so big I can't physically pass them.

The problems my forever-weakened immune system now face are a serious kidney infection, and my blood count being too high and too low, all at the same time. If left unattended, this particular stone has the potential of causing permanent damage to my kidneys, and my body's not quite equipped to deal with that or a serious infection, after a previous infection years ago nearly killed me.

I'm not complaining, because I'm still alive. This is just another day in the life of a person who lives with a chronic illness and the frequent reminders of how precious the good days really are.

This maybe not what I have ordered, but it's another opportunity to learn to appreciate what you have and to continue to make a difference in the lives of others, because in the end, that's what life is really about.

Working Together

2007-08-25T22:38:00.000-04:00

With all the bad news about our economy, I'm amazed that more people aren't doing more to work together to get it back on track.

I've always been a big fan of leading by example, whether it's our leaders, our friends and family or ourselves. That being said...

Angela is a fellow Lansingite (is that what we're called?) who's made some very pretty baubles and selling them on her Etsy page. I'm always looking for pretty things, and the hardest decision I'm faced with is which one I start with, but at least I've narrowed it down to three.

There's this bracelet, followed by this one, and finally this necklace, of course listed in no particular order. :-)

So when you're in the market to buy something pretty for yourself or someone else, shop local, shop liberal/progressive, shop Lansing.

(While you're at, be sure to check out Angela's blog and think about becoming a regular reader there as well!)

Weekend Travels and a Must-Read Book

2007-08-24T10:45:00.000-04:00

Happy Friday.

I'm going to be spending the weekend packing in a lot of hours in the car, traveling to and fro.

Having a weakness for cheese, I'm excited that I'll be stopping by an excellent frommage factory and picking up some yummy for home.

Even though I'll be in the car, I won't be doing as much driving as I will be enjoying some delicious hours with a pile of books that I'm taking with me. Among those in my list and pertinent to you, the readers of this humble little blog is one read that is getting more fascinating by day.

Religion Gone Bad by Rev. Dr. Mel White is a fascinating look into the fundamental Christian movements war on gays and lesbians in America, led by James Dobson, Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell and Pat Buchanan.

White is well qualified to lead this discussion. He's an evangelical pastor who's worked at the highest levels of the fundamentalist movement for over 20 years with the likes of Robertson, Dobson, Falwell and others.

Among some of the more scarier revelations in the book (pun intended) -
In August 2004, Dobson used one of his Focus on the Family broadcasts to compare the ethics of embryonic stem-cell research to "Nazi medical experiments on prisoners." (pg 87)

In October 2005 - Dobson made it known that he had a private "conversations" with Karl Rove about Harriet Miers, the woman nominated by Bush to replace retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, and that during the conversation he was trusted with information ..."that I probably shouldn't know." The media had a field day. The Democrats and even some Republicans demanded to know why Dobson had more information about the president's nominee than they did. (pg. 88)

If things like that don't make you shudder, well, I'm not sure what would.

I've said time and time again, as a spiritual person I will never advocate to criticize anyone's personal beliefs. I am a very staunch supporter of a very clear separation between church and state, it's clear that the mainstays of the Republican Party have become anything but.

But back to my travels. There's several other lighter books on the list to be read, and a good time with friends and family.

Here's hoping you have an enjoyable weekend!

Color My World

2007-08-22T01:47:00.000-04:00

I got to admit, I think the Pure Michigan campaign is one of the cleverest ad campaigns the Michigan Economic Development Corporation has come up with yet.

Not only is it truly memorable, it's beautifully shot, written extremely well, and Michigan-native Tim Allen does a fantastic job narrating it. All in all, it can't be beat. Even the California ads with Paul Newman, Terri Hatcher, and Austrian native Ahh-nawld Schwartzenegger can't beat the gem that is the Pure Michigan campaign.

Never doubt the beauty and charm that is Pure Michigan.

Help Mid-Michigan's kids succeed in school

2007-08-21T07:31:00.000-04:00

It's no secret that many folks in Michigan, particularly in the Mid-Michigan area, have been hit hard by the state's economic problems. It's one thing for adults to suffer, but when it affects children, it just seems that much worse. Thank goodness we can all be a part of the solution.

The City Rescue Mission on Michigan Avenue in downtown Lansing is on its annual mission to make sure children from low-income families have what they need to return to school with its Backpack and Supplies Drive.

According to an article in today's LSJ, the drive is already off to a roaring start, but on a more depressing note, the number of children in need is also up.

With the Lansing School District canceling their annual drive, there's still a possibility that some children could go without.

If you would like to help out some children in need, drop off a brand new/gently used backpack full of new school supplies to City Rescue Mission, or call 485-0145 for further info.

It really does take an entire ~~village~~ city to raise a child. Be a part of the community and help out some kids in need.

Rest in Peace, Miles

2007-08-19T15:12:00.000-04:00

A couple months ago I highlighted the story of Miles Levin, the 18 year-old from Oakland County that was fighting a rare and often deadly form of cancer.

Since his story was told in the Detroit News, I've been following his fight and journey on CarePages, a great blogging tool made especially for those in hospital or fighting serious illnesses, something they didn't yet have when I was so sick.

About a month ago, doctors made it clear that Miles would not beat his cancer and while those of us following along knew the end was near, many of us still hoped for a miracle.

Each time as of late that I received an email notifying that Miles' page had been updated, a sense of dread loomed over. This morning it was confirmed, Miles passed away.

I can't imagine what his parents and sister must be going through, but I bet for him personally it is a relief and a blessing, or at least, that's how I would imagine it after my long experience with a serious illness and pain.

Often times when my body was racked with pain and the illness seemed to completely consume every part of my life, I prayed for an end to it all.

Sometimes that meant death, other times it meant a deep, unconscious sleep that lasted for months until my body could heal itself. I never quite tolerated painkillers very well, and my threshold for pain was so high, that often times I was just left to deal with it, despite the doctors and nurses best efforts.

Miles described his last couple weeks as full of pain, something that reminded me a lot of my pain, mind-numbing and all-consuming. While I don't believe that anyone really sets out to die, given his experience, his pain, and his revelations on life and dying with dignity, I believe that Miles was ready to move on from this earthly life to something better. Here are his words, courtesy of the Detroit News, on death and dying -

If my struggle with cancer galvanizes actions of goodness, I can rest assured that even if I succumb to the rogue cells I will leave behind a legacy of victory. Dying is not what scares me. It's dying and having had no impact.

Miles will be missed by many of us who never met him. The thousands and thousands of lives he touched through his blog, his interview with CNN's Anderson Cooper, his caregivers at Beaumont Hospital, and of course his friends and family can never quite be counted. His impact on all of us, guiding us how to live and die with dignity in a most uncontrollable situation will be forever felt.

Rest in peace Miles, God knows you've earned it.

Update: The Detroit News' Laura Berman has a touching memoriam to Levin here

Life's little moments

2007-08-18T00:34:00.000-04:00

Interesting thing life is, isn't it?

You sail around doing your thing, whether that's work or a hobby, or caring for someone, and then you get one of those little wake-up calls.

You know, those wake up calls, bad news from the doctor, shocking news from a friend, something in the news that really strikes you, etc. The ones that really just jar the core of your very being.

It's almost as if we enclose ourselves in our happy little worlds, set on auto-pilot, doing our thing, just like a bubble. But one poke at the balloon in just the right manner, and then wa-bam, you realize you're off on the shoulder watching everything zoom by, and you're still trying to recover your senses.

We get through it, we experience that situation, taking it in, almost being consumed as we attempt to get on with the rest of our day, and then sooner or later you find yourself back in the bubble set to auto-pilot.

Do we learn from it? Do we take something away that's now ingrained not only in our memory but also in our soul?

I think we have too, because that's how we survive and how we go on to live richer, fuller lives and learn how to cope through the future moments when life pulls out the rug under our feet. Otherwise, what's the point?

Friday Funny - Markos v. Stephen Colbert

2007-08-17T10:35:00.000-04:00

When it comes to politics and comedy, nothing says funny like Stephen Colbert.

Tie that in with my awesome experience at the YearlyKos Convention two weeks ago, and you've got yourself one heck of a package.

Markos Moulitsas is the founder of DailyKos, and not just a visionary but a real great guy to hang out with. Despite Bill O'Reilly's grandeur illusions about what DailyKos really is, it's a community of people, might like MichiganLiberal, who just care about their country and work together to make it a better place.

Today's funny is a clip from The Colbert Report with Markos as a guest. Watch and laugh along, especially towards the end.

Polish your Halo, if you please

2007-08-14T01:46:00.001-04:00

Take a look over to the right side of the page, and you might notice a new addition to LLP.

I've thought long and hard about giving folks an opportunity to donate or support this blog, while I hate asking people to give, the truth is, blogging is a very time-consuming activity.

Blogging at Liberal, Loud and Proud is always a wild ride. No matter the rhyme or reason behind my posts, each is published with a little bit of my soul embedded right into it.

While I can never put a price on my soul or the lives it touches, your contribution helps keep me going and provides the material means to keep the lights on and the Internet flowing. More importantly, it adds to the necessary dialog that our society needs to continue if we're going to keep moving up and out.

Come for the commentary, stay for the snark, join the discussion and enjoy the entire experience that is Liberal, Loud and Proud.

And to steal a line from WKAR/NPR/PBS, if this is something you enjoy reading each day, then please donate what you feel it's worth.

With deep thanks and heartfelt gratitude,

~Liberal Lucy

More dirt on the LSJ's fight against State Employees

2007-08-13T08:45:00.000-04:00

It wasn't bad enough for the Lansing State Journal to throw state employees under the proverbial bus by publishing their names and salaries in an online database.

Now they're trying to excuse it in their latest piece on the issue, and it's just disgusting. For the full scoop, hop over to my post on MichLib.

Here's a little additional info and commentary on the entire debate and what you may or may not have seen and heard -

City Pulse Opinionist and State Employee William Pettit penned a fantastically sharp piece for the July 25th publication that you won't want to miss.

The LSJ was founded in 1855 as the Lansing Republican, but later changed to The State Republican five years later. -- Ahh, so much makes sense now...

According to Wikipedia, the LSJ's circulation numbers were 71,945 morning and 91,175 Sunday. According to the Gannett website, the numbers are actually 71,386 morning and 89,020 Sunday. Assuming that neither of those numbers were taken before the state employee boycott, those number could be reduced by a thousand or two.

State Supreme Court Chief Justice Cliff Taylor actually had some harsh words for the paper. Republican Taylor lands a couple square on with his heavy hitting words. I know, I know, this maybe the first and only time I will compliment Cliff Taylor.

Stay tuned to LLP and MichLib for further development and news on this evolving story.

Nicknames = Pure Michigan

2007-08-11T07:24:00.000-04:00

Call it your 30 seconds of Michigan respite for the weekend. Sit back, watch it, enjoy, and then maybe even watch it again.

Perhaps you live in one of these great towns and cities?

As Tim Allen reminds us, it all starts here.

Happy Saturday, friends

More Voices Join the Chorus

2007-08-09T23:13:00.000-04:00

It never ceases to make my day when I learn of a couple new blogs on the block. Check 'em out, add them to your Bloglines, keep going back, you'll be glad you did.

The Audacity of Hoek: Another friend in the fight for Congress!

Exposing the hypocrisy, lies and rubberstamp legislative actions of Michigan's 2nd Congressional District Representative Pete Hoekstra

Hot damn, yet another fantastic Congressional District Watch Blog joining the fight! This blog's already on fire, make sure you stop by.

My Left Pinkie: This blog was a long time coming. From the spot o' blue amongst all that red on Michigan's west side, MLP was created by a good friend, Perfect Stormer, who gives this girl much too much credit -

LiberalLucy. If you're from Michigan, stop right there. You know who Lucy is--she needs no introduction. If you're not from Michigan...well, LiberalLucy is affectionately known as the Cruise Director of the Michigan lefty blogosphere, and for good reason. Watching that woman work her mojo is like lighting off fireworks indoors (yes, I stole this phrase from the New York Times review of the original Broadway production of Rent, but it fits Lucy too).

So glad you finally got your own fireworks going off there in Muskegon County!

The SuperSpade:

Black Thought at the Highest Level, the communications arm of Powerful Holdings, is a forum that presents critical, intellectual perspectives on the current issues. The goal of this space is to provide actionable commentary on social, political, and personal issues affecting the daily lives of individuals. We tie issues to people’s everyday decisions, so that they can then use these decision points and opportunities to create change. Since November 9, 2005, The SuperSpade has been energizing and mobilizing young people across the country, encouraging intellectual discourse on current events, as well as meaningful actions to help the community.

Need I say anymore? Brandon and I got to know each other at YearlyKos, and I know we can expect awesome things from him and the rest of the folks at SuperSpade in the near future.

You can find these and the rest of the Michigan lefty blogs on the right side of this page.

Speaking of Michigan's lefty blogs, have you heard all about them?

Back Yard = Pure Michigan

2007-08-09T20:52:00.001-04:00

No matter how many times I watch these, I get the goosebumps.

I just love my state.

Good News for Pure Michigan Fun

2007-08-09T08:49:00.000-04:00

There's nothing like a quick dip in the lake or pool to cool off in this hot summer heat. It's refreshing and relaxing and swimming is fantastic exercise.

Here in Mid-Michigan, you don't have any excuse not too.

From the LSJ -

Area health and environmental experts have deemed mid-Michigan lakes safe for swimming. A recent study by the Natural Resources Defense Council raised questions about bacterial contamination at ocean and fresh water beaches. No local swimming areas made the list.
Andy Bunnell, a health inspector for Ingham County who has conducted beach inspections, said the foam Zhus encountered likely was harmless. Probably nothing more than water stirring up or decaying organisms in the lake.
"If there are any problems with the water, it's not necessarily something you can touch, smell or taste," said Bunnell, adding that's why the health department requires testing of the county's four beaches once a week.
Bunnell said the water quality for swimming in Ingham County is "exceptional," attributing it to the lakes being somewhat isolated, which makes them less likely to experience severe storm water runoff.

This is in contrast to the high number of beaches and lakes across the country that are experiencing increased levels of contamination due to a variety of factors. Growing up the Metro Detroit area, it seems as if Metro Beach was closed more than it was opened.

For a state that prides itself on its lakes, rivers and streams, this is a serious threat to not just our ecological system, but also our tourism industry.

For instance, take a walk over to Michigan.org, home of those fantastic Pure Michigan commercials that send chills up my spine each time I hear one. Look at the number of destinations that are highlighted around water.

We need to take care of our environment, we need to protect our natural resources, and without a doubt, it can be done all the while growing and bolstering our state's economy. It's not rocket science, it's green and life science technology, all things Gov. Granholm and the Democrats have been working hard on.

So while you head down to one of Mid-Michigan's pristine beaches, or head north or west to enjoy our Great Lakes, remember Michigan, and think about how you can help make our Pure Michigan becoming a winning factor here in the state.

Help Old Town Win National Contest!

2007-08-07T09:56:00.000-04:00

It's no secret how much I love Old Town, the historic part of Lansing which has now found itself the bustling center of art and culture.

Thanks to local lefty talk radio show host Walt Sorg, I heard all about Old Town's latest efforts to continue to grow and develop in a national contest sponsored by Swedish Ikea.

By signing up to vote, you can ensure that Old Town wins this contest which will give 10 businesses in Old Town $5,000 in Ikea supplies each.

The businesses include:

Old Town Commercial Association
Portable Feast and Friends
Preuss Pets
The Head Room Salon
Gone 2 the Dogs
Vernadine's Soul Food
Pablo's Panaderia
The Sierra Club
Elderly Instruments
Such Video (who made the beautiful video)

Stop by and vote, and pass it on to your friends!

Bill Richardson Sighting @ YearlyKos

2007-08-04T13:42:00.000-04:00

It's amazing, I look up from where I'm sitting at YearlyKos and there's Bill Richardson, standing right there.

A man next to me exclaims, ''With all the media here, you'd think Lindsay Lohan was around.''

I thought to myself, this is how it should be, more attention paid to politics than the latest messed up child-actor....

Don't you agree?

Bloggers Paradise or Bust!

2007-07-31T23:13:00.000-04:00

It's that time of year again, time for Geek Fest 2007, otherwise known as YearlyKos 2007.

For those of you familiar with the largest lefty blog in the country, DailyKos, this might sound familiar. YKos is the national conference for progressive netroots activists just like yours truly. Needless to say, I can't wait!

While I'm there, I'll be taking part in various workshops, panels, and hobnobbing with some of the country's elite progressive politicians and netroots activists, including Gov. Howard Dean, DNC Chairman and all 8 of the Democratic Presidential Candidates.

Can't make it? Don't despair, CNN, C-Span, NPR, and the rest of the MSM will be there covering it all. Needless to say, in only it's second year, YearlyKos is becoming a place that's changing the face of Democratic politics in America.

I'm joining 10-15 other Michigan lefty bloggers that I know in the Windy City, and when all's said and done, I'm sure we'll be a part of the 2,000+ crowd.

That being said, don't think I won't be updating LLP while I'm there. There will be so much to share, so many opportunities awaiting everyone, that I'll be on the Tubes more often than not.

Despite all the frenzied chaos that's sure to be YKos, it's about keeping things in perspective. A good friend and fellow blogger Kid Oakland just posted this very touching piece over on DailyKos. That is what it's all about.

Local Talk Radio Moves Up and Left

2007-07-30T23:50:00.000-04:00

Several months ago, I mentioned the emergence of a local self-labeled liberal AM talk radio show host, Jack Ebling and his show "Ebling and You" here in the Lansing area.

Since it's launch last November, Ebling's show on 1320 WILS has been moving along quite nicely. The station's owner, MacDonald Broadcasting is rumored to be a little more to the right of the political spectrum, and that's not a far stretch given that the majority of the show's programming is syndicated conservative talk radio, Laura Ingram, Neil Boortz, and other names that pain this liberal to utter.

Since the start of July, a new "lefty" talk radio host has been added to the line up, and it's a welcome addition.

Walt Sorg, who's been a part of this community for over 40 years, hosts AM Lansin g on WILS from 6 - 9 a.m. Sorg's show has shown a surprisingly strong line-up these first four weeks of it's existence. I enjoy that Walt's show has a solid focus on the local issues that affect us.

Don't be fooled. Sorg's past experience in Communications with the Blanchard Administration hasn't left him too soft. I tuned in the other morning to hear Sorg go toe-to-toe with the Notorious Tim Walberg, supposed Congressman from the 7th District. For a full line-up, visit Sorg's blog each day.

Sorg doesn't preach his own opinions, rather he asks the tough questions and allows listeners to form their own views. It's nice switch to be treated like an intelligent listener, as opposed to most talk radio today that just preaches rhetoric.

With MacDonald Broadcasting undergoing a $1 Million + expansion with its towers making it one of the strongest AM stations in the state, Sorg and Ebling could make a huge dent on public airwaves. Best part is, there's an opportunity here for all of us to help out.

Broadcasting is only as good as it's hosts, and they can't stay on air without sponsorship. I imagine that advertising rates before the station's expansion will be quite competitive, after an inquiry directly to the station, I discovered that these reasonable rates will be grandfathered in as the station grows.

Let's face it, the Internet's not the only place to help shape the minds of millions. Just because the Conservatives have dominated the airwaves for so long doesn't mean that we can't be a part of the changing tide.

Whether it's listening, advertising, or both, consider investing in progressive radio here in Mid-Michigan. Don't you deserve your kind of radio?

Postcard from Paradise

2007-07-26T18:03:00.000-04:00

Dear Friend,

Summer is going great, the weather is beautiful, the lakes deep and clean, and the sunsets to kill for.

Wish you were here.

Love,

LL

Humor: The Best Medicine

2007-07-26T12:00:00.000-04:00

Living in the middle of Politics Central, Michigan, I know that there are days when we could all use a little more humor in our lives. I think too many folks here in Lansing take themselves too seriously, and that it's a trait not necessarily reserved just to those in government and politics.

Why does humor exist but to help us through this crazy thing called Life?

Wouldn't life be a little more tolerable if we all laughed a little more?

As a blogger, one of my more notable trademarks is my use of snark, or witty sarcastic humor. I find that the more frustrating moments of politics are usually best dealt with through snarkiness. I like to think of it as a healthy, humorous outlet for my frustration, and much physically safer than banging my head against a wall or shouting at the computer/TV/newspaper.

There's also plenty of well-documented health benefits to humor. For instance:


reduce stress lower blood pressure elevate mood boost immune system improve brain functioning	protect the heart connect you to others foster instant relaxation make you feel good.

and this is just to name a few from this fantastic resource.

If it's humor sources you're looking for, here's a good list to start with.

Michigan native, nationally-known comedian, and my former neighbor, John Heffron
One of the funniest TV shows on two continents - The Office, and check out the dry British version
Michigan funny lady and long time snarky blogger - Jamelah
Two of my most favorite recent blog posts deserving high snark awards at Honest Errors and WizardKitten.

So do yourself, your friends, your co-workers, and your body a favor - laugh a little more and enjoy yourself, life's too short!

Elaine's Legacy

2007-07-23T17:35:00.000-04:00

In April of 2004, I lost my hero to a tragic illness, ALS or Lou Gehrig's Disease.

Her name was Elaine, and despite being struck with a severe case of Rheumatoid Arthritis at the age of 16, she still went on to play field hockey, study biology at MSU, become one of the first female bacteriologists in Detroit, teach school, do homeless and prison ministry, help raise her sister's four boys, beat a nasty case of typhoid fever that left her hospitalized for an entire year, have three kids, eight grandkids, and one great-grandchild.

My grandmother was a self-described women's libber, and she met Grandpa when she tagged him out at third base on a family vacation in Canada. She didn't marry till she was in her 30's, and had her last child when she was 40.

My grandmother Elaine inspired so much in me. It probably won't surprise you to learn that it was because of her that I chose Rosie the Riveter as this blog's mascot. In my eyes, she is Rosie, fired up and ready to conquer it all.

She guessed she had ALS even before the doctors did. With her mind as sharp as a bell till the day she left us, she died a trapped prisoner in her own body at the age of 87.

When our family received the devastating news, I decided to write a tribute to her and give it to her before she died. Don't people deserve to hear how much we love them before they die instead?

Little did I know that I would have to have the most painful and excruciating surgery of all my 35 surgeries the day after she died. My only wish going into surgery was that while I was under the anesthetic, she'd be with me.

My family held off on her memorial service until the day after I'd been discharged, two weeks later. Despite having major abdominal surgery, still hooked up to tubes and devices and on major painkillers, I arrived at the memorial service in a wheelchair and a bright red dress, determined not to mourn, but to celebrate.

I gave that tribute that day at the memorial service to a packed sanctuary, hunched over in pain and anguish as I made my way to the pulpit and somehow fought back the tears as I proudly read off the memorial to a woman who I try to be like each and every day.

I'll never forget one of my last conversations with her while she still had the ability to talk. I told her she was my hero, that if I didn't have her in my life, I might not have made it through the last ten years of my life with such a debilitating case of Crohn's Disease. I knew that God put her in my life to be an example of what you can still do even with a crippling illness if you just put your mind to it. We both teared up, but nothing could have prepared me for what she said next.

You're my hero.

She said that I reminded her of the same things she reminded me of, and how important it was to die gracefully, still doing for others till the day she left this Earth.

That's precisely what she did, up until the day that she could no longer talk or move, and lay trapped in her bed, her eyes the only window to the person she was inside.

Even in her death, she did for others. She requested that her body be donated to science specifically so that scientists could study ALS and find a cure. A year or two later, we met some of the medical students at U of M who explained how important a gift this is to science and how much it means to them as doctors and researchers.

Throughout the entire journey, my family benefited greatly from the ALS of Michigan's services, from family counseling, to assistive devices that helped her breathe, or speak easier, to hospice planning, and bereavement counseling.

It is because of Elaine that my family participates in the ALS of Michigan's Walk n' Roll each year, a fundraiser to not only find a cure, but to provide assistance and support to families right here in Michigan who deal with this illness each and every day.

This year, I'm forming my own team to walk and roll in a 3 mile event right here in Lansing at Hawk Island Park on Saturday, September 29th.

It's a great event filled with friends, fun, food, good music, and of course, promoting a great cause and raising awareness and money to help those who also suffer.

Most of all, I'd be honored if you'd join my team.

Team Elaine's Legacy will continue to pass on Elaine's legacy, one of passion, dedication to others, and making the world a better place, one person at a time.

Perhaps you know someone who had ALS or is suffering with it right now. It can strike people as young as 30, and if you've read Mitch Albom's Tuesday's with Morrie, you know it can strike the elderly, like my grandmother.

You can join the team, come walk with us, bring the kids, the dog, or both, or if you can't make it but still want to help out, you can donate. We've got a team goal of $10,000, and we can't do it without your help.

You don't have to move mountains or scale large buildings to make a difference. Create your own legacy, be a hero to someone, pass it on.

Hijacked: MichLib Muggles Disappear at Midnight

2007-07-21T00:21:00.001-04:00

By Rita Skeeter, reporter for the Daily Prophet

In an event that has left Michigan police stunned, many of the Michigan Liberal Muggles have suddenly disappeared into thin air immediately after receiving ownership of the 7th and final book in the Harry Potter series.

Reported disappearances include LiberalLucy and LPackard from a well-known progressive bookstore, Everybody Reads in Lansing, and an unnamed female from Shiawassee County. Numerous other disappearances across the state are also suspected and are currently under investigation.

Both LiberalLucy and LPackard were reported eating Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans shortly before they vanished into thin air. Authorities are analyzing the candy to make sure that they didn't hail from the Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, a magical joke shop known for it's pranks and hi-jinxes.

Witness and local resident Arabella Figg, spoke with reporters shortly after the mysterious event

"I'm not sure what happened, it was all very sudden. There were several boys named Dick and Saul running around making noise and causing trouble before the girls disappeared, but I really doubt they had anything to do with it. They just kept throwing powder laundry detergent at people trying to cast spells, and even with the Dark Mark that appeared on each of their arms, it was just a lot of soap and hope that kept fizzling out."

An anonymous source close to the investigation report the authorities now believe that the books were actually portkeys. If found to be true, it would tie in with sightings of the missing Muggles running towards Platform 9 3/4's at their local train station.

Regardless of these recent developments, police hope that the missing Muggle Bloggers will be safely returned back to their rightful spots in front of their computers by Monday at 8am.

If you spot LiberalLucy, LPackard, or the unnamed female Muggle from Shiawassee County, you are asked to contact authorities immediately.

(Rita Skeeter is a writer for the Daily Prophet and fashion correspondent for Witches Weekly)

Video of the Week: Generation Chickenhawk

2007-07-19T23:06:00.000-04:00

That about says it all.

Apathetically Silent

2007-07-17T08:30:00.000-04:00

I had to write a memoriam last night for an 18 year-old.

I cried.
I felt sick to my stomach.
I got angry.

I told myself, there's nothing you can do, it's a war and you're only one person.

But I knew it wasn't true.

We must stop this war - but you've already heard that time and time again, haven't you?

I'm not the first person to write these words and feel these emotions, and I won't be the last.

The amount of apathy in this state and this country reeks from sea to shining sea. And so our men and women, our brothers and sisters, our sons and daughters remain fighting in an unjust war, dying an honorable death caused by dishonorable leaders.

For a moment, we cluck our tongues, we silently grieve for the maimed, the missing, and the dead, we shake our heads, and yet, for the most part we remain silent.

Is it because we feel so powerless, so helpless? Or is it too far away, a land to which most of us have never been, nor will ever go? Is it because time has inflated our apathy, our willingness to stand silent?

We're not shocked anymore when the evening news begins with the latest death count, and most of us barely notice when we pass a tree with a tattered yellow ribbon.

It's a war, but it's not about WMDs, or oil, or money, or even partisan bullshit.

It's a war on our hearts and our minds and the justice that has been muffled within them.

So while you grieve and get angry and shake your head in frustration, ask yourself one question before you move on with the rest of the day.

How many more memorials must be written for you to finally read between the lines?

Crash and Burn

2007-07-15T06:02:00.001-04:00

Fido Immortalized
Originally uploaded by wizardkitten

I like to pretend that I'm superhuman.

Actually, I just like to pretend that I'm healthy and that I really don't live with a chronic illness. But all it takes is a couple weeks of spinning my wheels in 14 different directions without a whole lot of rest for reality to smack me in the face.

Case in point: Now.

Between my trip to NY for the bike ride, and an intense week in D.C. where we were going from 8am to midnight nearly everyday (that doesn't account for social time, by the way), my birthday, and all the hustle and bustle that happens in between them, I've once again run myself ragged.

Logically, I understand that I generally need a solid 8 hours of sleep, and when it's particularly hot and humid, I need to stay low and drink plenty of fluids, and that too many days and nights without sleep and rest can only lead to one thing - crash and burn.

I've spoken before of the drive within me. It's a passionate, intense drive that I battle with day after day. In the fight of body vs. mind, the mind usually wins. As a result, my body suffers, and there's usually a day or two where I'm good for nothing more than lots of sleep and resting. This would be one of those days.

I realize that everyday I'm here is an added bonus, and that I should be taking care of myself. I may be pushing 30, but my body often feels twice that.

I also realize that everyday I'm here is an added bonus, and one more opportunity to do something worthwhile that needs to be done, to make an impact, to influence change. What's a little ache and pain when the results benefit many?

Somewhere, there's a balance between the two. Each day, I get a little better about dancing around it a little closer, and the periods of crash and burn lie farther and farther apart.

I measure my life not by ordinary standards, but by the change that I affect. I honestly account that for the sole reason I'm still alive when by all other standards, I should have been dead years ago.

So if one day my body wins over my mind, which at this rate it is sure to do, and that passionate drive within me is extinguished, does that mean my job is done?

It's a scary thought, one that my youth isn't quite prepared to deal with. So for now, I'll just go on pretending I'm superhuman, that is, until the next time I crash and burn.

Many thanks to an extraordinary blogger/photojournalist and good friend, Wizardkitten, for this photo.

You can change the world today

2007-07-13T01:07:00.000-04:00

You have the opportunity to help bring our soldiers home now.
Will you take it?

On Thursday night, the United States House of Representatives voted to end the war in Iraq responsibly and bring our troops home. Michigan Congressmen Ehlers, Upton, McCotter, Knollenberg, and Rogers all voted to continue the failed policy in Iraq and keep our nation on a path of endless war.

Americans Against Escalation in Iraq plans to hold those Congressmen accountable for their votes on Friday with a Press Conference and Rally as part of their Iraq Summer campaign.

The event will be held from 12:30-1:30 at the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing. Speakers will include Kevin Kelley and our own Bruce Fealk.

This event is yet another opportunity to help change how Michigan's Congresscritters treat the war in Iraq. You have a real opportunity to be a part of the force that changes the tide.

This campaign is effective. Eight Republican US Senators have recently changed their position on the war in Iraq. Five of them were targets of the Iraq Summer campaign.

Please do whatever it takes to make this rally.

Our troops are depending on us.

Watch. Think. Act.

2007-07-07T09:44:00.000-04:00

Guest post from Honest Errors

2007-07-06T08:51:00.000-04:00

A special thanks to a wonderful friend and a talented writer, Rich from the political/lit blog based right here in the Mid-Michigan area, Honest Errors.

How I Became Involved in Michigan Politics

My wife, son, and I moved here to Mid-Michigan at the end of July last year, 2006. Among the many great things we discovered about the area, we stumbled upon the wonderful Everybody Reads bookstore. On our first visit we went up to the counter to buy the books we had chosen. We noticed they had Impeach Bush yard signs available for a donation to the store. Being election season, we bought one and put it in our front yard.

Mind you, lest you think we were intentionally trying to provoke our neighbors, we had been living in the house well over a month before we put the Impeach Bush sign in our front yard. In that time, only one family in our immediate vicinity introduced themselves to us. (Welcome to suburban living.) So we thought who's going to care what sign we put out front? We don't know any of them or what they think. Besides, we were not the only people in Okemos with this sentiment; several other homes in the town displayed similar signs in their yards.

One week later the sign was missing. My wife and I thought, this is new. We'd never had this problem in Los Angeles or in Chicago. Especially the latter, where if you're a business owner and have a sign in your window for the "wrong" candidate, don't be surprised if you get a visit from a city inspector...

Anyway, I went back to Everybody Reads and bought another sign, telling the clerk that our other sign had been stolen. He said the Impeach Bush signs were rather popular that way. I put the new sign up in our yard.

Less than a week later, that sign was stolen. It was also at this time my wife and I noticed that signs bearing similar sentiments were defaced with spray paint. Okemos (like the rest of the country) was definitely a place with strong feelings both for and against Bush. But we also couldn't help but notice that signs for candidates, like Granholm, Devos, Rogers, were always untouched.

So, stubborn ass that I am, I went back to Everybody Reads and bought two signs. I figured I would save myself a trip when the third sign was eventually stolen.

I should note that I have never thought that a Bush Impeachment was a realistic expectation to have. Just? Yes. Likely to happen? Never. Why do I think so? Go read this book.

Not even three days later the third sign was stolen from our front yard overnight and replaced with a yard ornament featuring a cow with wings. Whoever was stealing our signs had a sense of humor.

At this point I was pissed. I had fantasies of jamming the fourth sign full of razor blades or attaching the metal frame to some wire and attach that to an outlet. The latter would reveal who the thief was when we saw his body splayed out on our lawn.

Instead, I decided that when I went out in the morning to get the paper, I would put the sign in the ground and in the evening I would take the sign up and put it in our garage. I repeated this for a number of weeks. At the same time, I decided that I had to take more direct action towards bringing about the change in government that I wanted. Michigan has a lot of problems, solvable ones. I also believe in put up or shut up. You have to act, not just complain.

I looked up who my Representative to Congress was and found out it was Mike Rogers, a Republican. This was new to me. I had never lived in a Republican-represented congressional district before.

(Wait, there was that one term that Republican Mike Flanagan served in Illinois' 5th district, but that was because Democrat Rostenkowski had been taken down for corruption. Flanagan was voted out the next term in favor of Democrat Rod Blagojevich, who is now Governor of Illinois. His House seat is now filled by Rahm Emmanuel.)

What to do about this? Sign up for the Marcinkowski campaign! Which is what I did and met some great people in both the campaign itself and the Democratic party. I took down the Impeach Bush sign and put up a Marcinkowski sign. No one stole the Marcinkowski sign. Unfortunately, Rogers won another term.

The day after the election, I took down the Marcinkowski sign and put up the Impeach Bush sign, just for the day to gloat a little at the Democrats take-back of the House.

A few weeks later I started blogging. I was inspired by the litblogs and political blogs I had read (and continue to read). I believe artists are no different than other citizens, and should be engaged with the world around them, including the political forces that shape so much of our daily lives: from the placement of roads, the quality of our schools, to the critical services provided by firemen and police officers, to the rights we constantly have to fight for in order to keep them. Through blogging I have become much more (happily) involved in progressive politics in Michigan, my new adopted home.

To the person(s) who repeatedly stole our Impeach Bush sign: It was extremely stupid and short-sighted of you. If you had just left us that first sign, I never would have continued giving money to support the cause of Impeaching President Bush, thereby strengthening that cause. And I probably never would have volunteered for the Marcinkowski campaign, which got me involved in the local Democratic party, too, which got me fired up to start a blog, which I continue to write to this day.

The 4th as seen from D.C.

2007-07-05T02:09:00.000-04:00

Nothing quite does it like fireworks on the Mall next to the Washington Monument.

Here's hoping your day was special as well.

The Other Female Candidate for President

2007-07-03T01:59:00.000-04:00

She hasn't officially registered yet, but it sounds like there's a good chance she might.

She's smart, well-rounded, deeply passionate about the environment, involved in women's issues, speaks 4 or 5 languages and I think she'd make an excellent president.

Did I mention she's only 8?

I'm hoping that you'll help me draft Lisa Simpson for President.

Just in case you're really wondering what's going on, I'm down in D.C. for the week as a fellow in the New Organizing Institutes Summer Campaign Boot Camp. There's 60 of us here from all over the country who are learning all about the online side of progressive political campaigns. We're being by taught by the masters from MoveOn, Blue State Digital, MyDD, the Clinton, Edwards and Obama Campaigns, and that's just to name a few.

After 8-9 hours a day learning, we've been instructed to design a presidential campaign for a Simpsons Show character. Doing all this from scratch, the group that receives the most people to enter their email accounts on our campaign website win. We're up against 7 other groups, and it's going to be a fierce battle.

She might be a little too young to run, but Lisa Simpson is my ticket to the top!

http://lisa2008.com

Guest Post by Mike at Republic of M

2007-07-02T09:40:00.000-04:00

A very humble thanks to Mike for his guest post and his accolades. If you haven't already made Republic of M part of your daily read, now's the time to fix that. Without further adieu...

If I was straight I would date Julielyn

A guest post by Mike at Republic of M

I am very much honored to have been asked to do this by uber blogger, and my friend, aka the www goddess, Liberal Lucy. Everyone should bow at this point. I know, I know, she hates accolades, but she so deserves it.

I hate to dwell, well not really, I actually thrive on it, but my boy friend always brings me to task on it, so I try not to. But I still can't help but go back to her guest post at Republic of M. If you didn't read it – then where the hell have you been? Well the link is above, so go read it, but make sure your ass comes back to read what I have to say. If you decide otherwise, then let me recap. Liberal Lucy: Allies of LGBTQ are very important. Our best friends are not only the ones who tell us that they stand beside us, but tell the world.

So, having said that, my partner and I attended the First Annual Michigan Blogger Picnic. We were both extremely apprehensive. He and I both were a little cautious because we didn't really know what to expect, or how we would be received. But everyone was extremely nice. We could not have anticipated a warmer welcome.

You might be thinking: Mike, why would you and your partner ever think that we, progressive thinking people would ever act in such a way?

Well progressive thinking people – some of your kind, or at least some who proclaim to be such, have let me and my people down. We support them with not only our donations, but our votes, only to see on one of the many cable news networks that we don't matter. You allow the opposing side to set the stage, with your LGBT allies the pie that's thrown in the progressive face. You allow them to set the tone of discussion, making us the bad guys, making us the issue. We both know there are far bigger issues. Issues that even their base put at the fore front, yet we always seem to be that punching bag in the religious right fitness center. We never seem to waver from you, yet we are the first "dead weight" to be cast over board when the religious right starts swinging. I know, I know, it sounds like a bad Sylvester Stallone Movie.

I realize that not all progressives are like this. And thank GOD, they aren't. And thank GOD for people like Liberal Lucy, and the rest of the Michigan Liberal crew.

Yes, a forward thinking progressive person would think that way. But many, who proclaim to be so, really are not. Its one of the problems we here in the LGBTQ community face all the time. People who say they are our friends and allies, yet when it comes down to standing their ground in our defense, run with their tail between their legs.

Liberal Lucy reminded me of how important allies are. And how she and the others from Michigan Liberal are not those back room friends. They are the best resource the LGBTQ community has. And I thank GOD, every day, for a friend like her, and the allies at Michigan Liberal.