Farmington/ Farmington Hills Democratic Club

For a synchronized flush ...

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 21:53:50 -0400

Reagan has his highways. Lincoln has his memorial. Washington has the capital, and a state, too. But President George W. Bush may soon be the sole president to have a memorial named after him that you can contribute to from the bathroom.

From the Department of Damned-With-Faint-Praise, a group going by the regal-sounding name of the Presidential Memorial Commission of San Francisco is planning to ask voters here to change the name of a prize-winning water-treatment plant on the shoreline to the George W. Bush Sewage Plant.

The plan - hatched, naturally, in a bar - would place a vote on the November ballot to provide "an appropriate honor for a truly unique president."

Supporters say that they have plenty of signatures to qualify the initiative and that the renaming would fit in a long and proud American tradition of poking political figures in the eye.

"Most politicians tend to be narcissistic and egomaniacs," said Brian McConnell, an organizer who regularly suits up as Uncle Sam to solicit signatures. "So it is important for satirists to help define their history rather than letting them define their own history."

Not surprisingly, those Republicans in a city that voted 83 percent Democratic in 2004 are not thrilled with the idea. Howard Epstein, chairman of the ever-outnumbered San Francisco Republican Party, called the initiative "an abuse of process."

"You got a bunch of guys drunk who came up with an idea," Epstein said, "and want to put on the ballot as a big joke without regard to the city's governance or cost."

The renaming would take effect on Jan. 20, when a new president is sworn in. And regardless of the measure's outcome, supporters plan to commemorate the inaugural with a "synchronized flush" of hundreds of thousands of toilets that would send a flood of water toward the plant, now named the Oceanside Water Pollution Control Plant.

"It's a way of doing something physical that's mentally freeing," said Stacey Reineccius, 45, a supporter of the plan. "It's a weird thing, but it's true."

Mukaseys nomination to be attorney general.

Sat, 10 Nov 2007 14:50:00 -0500

I thought you might be interested knowing about my reasons for voting against the confirmation of Judge Michael Mukasey to be the next attorney general. The Senate voted yesterday to confirm Judge Mukasey by a vote of 53 to 40.

The Constitution gives the president the authority to appoint individuals to lead the various executive agencies. It also imposes the duty on the United States Senate to give its advice and consent to these nominations.

In October, I asked Judge Mukasey a straightforward question: Would you consider it inhumane to secure a detainee onto a flat surface and slowly pour water directly onto the detainees face or onto a towel covering the detainees face in a manner that induced a perception by the detainee that he was drowning? That question to Judge Mukasey should have prompted a simple answer of yes. But, the Judge said that, while the tactic is repugnant to him, he cannot say it is inhumane without evaluating the facts and circumstances.

Judge Mukaseys ambiguous response is more than deeply troubling. It sends a message that the abuses of detainees in U.S. custody may not have been categorically wrong, but that such acts might have been justified by the circumstances. The legality of mock drowning, or waterboarding, does not depend on the circumstances. It is illegal. Waterboarding clearly runs afoul of three federal statutes, the 1994 anti-torture statute, the Military Commissions Act, and the Detainee Treatment Act. It is also inconsistent with our obligations under Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions.

I have devoted significant time looking into the issue of detainee abuse and considering what is appropriate when it comes to the treatment of detainees in U.S. custody. Rebuilding the international respect for America that all of us desire requires a definitive commitment to treating all people, even our enemies, in a manner consistent with both our laws and basic human rights.

Judge Mukaseys nomination comes at a critical time when America is faced with serious challenges both at home and abroad. We are at war in Iraq and Afghanistan and are engaged in a long-term struggle against al Qaida and other extremists. Military might alone will not be enough for us to win these fights. Strengthening Americas security requires us to harness the power of our ideals and values and lead a global effort to confront these threats. When we project moral hypocrisy or suggest that our commitment to our fundamental values depends on the circumstances, we lose the support of the world in our common efforts against common enemies, thereby compromising our own security.

Purposeful ambiguity about coercive interrogation techniques, such as waterboarding, is at the center of Judge Mukaseys confirmation, just as it is at the center of how we are viewed in the world. That ambiguity is untenable and unacceptable in the person who, if confirmed, will symbolize Americas concept of justice before the world. For these reasons, I opposed Judge Mukaseys nomination to be attorney general.

My full statement regarding the confirmation of Judge Mukasey to be attorney general can be found on my website at http://levin.senate.gov/newsroom/release.cfm?id=287140

Sincerely,
Carl Levin
Delete Reply Forward Spam Move...
Previous | Next | Back to Messages

Stabenow Statement on the Nomination of Michael Mukasey

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 08:00:00 -0500

At a time when the Justice Department is suffering from poor morale and our treatment of detainees has sullied our reputation overseas, we need an Attorney General who speaks with independent, moral clarity.

Unfortunately, Judge Mukaseys answers to questions put forward to him by members of the Judiciary Committee were evasive, overly legalistic and nearly identical to White House policy. In other words, I believe that Judge Mukasey will simply give us more of the same at the Justice Department and that is why I am opposing his nomination.U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow

Casualty Notice September 26, 2007

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 15:30:00 -0400

Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today ordered United States flags throughout the state of Michigan and on Michigan waters lowered for one day on Wednesday, September 26, 2007, in honor of Army Specialist Todd A. Motley, of Clare, who died September 14 while on active duty in Iraq. Flags should return to full-staff on Thursday, September 27.

Specialist Motley, age 23, died in Baghdad, Iraq, from wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle during combat operations. He was assigned to the 6th Squadron, 9th U.S. Cavalry, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

Casualty Notice September 7, 2007

Wed, 05 Sep 2007 16:00:00 -0400

Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today ordered United States flags throughout the state of Michigan and on Michigan waters lowered for one day on Friday, September 7, 2007, in honor of Army Sergeant First Class Daniel E. Scheibner, of Muskegon, who died August 30 while on active duty in Iraq. Flags should return to full-staff on Saturday, September 8.

Sgt. Scheibner, age 40, died in Al Noor, Iraq, from wounds sustained when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 12th Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Striker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Washington.

Casualty Notice September 5, 2007

Tue, 04 Sep 2007 19:00:00 -0400

Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today ordered United States flags throughout the state of Michigan and on Michigan waters lowered for one day on Wednesday, September 5, 2007, in honor of Army Sergeant James S. Collins Jr., of Rochester Hills, who died August 28 while on active duty in Iraq. Flags should return to full-staff on Thursday, September 6.

Sgt. Collins, age 35, died in Kirkuk, Iraq, from wounds suffered during combat operations. He was assigned to the 303rd Military Police Company (Combat Support), U.S. Army Reserve, Jackson.

Casualty Notice August 23, 2007

Thu, 23 Aug 2007 17:40:00 -0400

Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today ordered United States flags throughout the state of Michigan and on Michigan waters lowered for one day on Monday, August 27, 2007, in honor of Army 1st Lieutenant Jonathan W. Edds, of White Pigeon, who died August 17 while on active duty in Iraq. Flags should return to full-staff on Tuesday, August 28.

1st Lt. Edds, age 24, died in Baghdad, Iraq, from wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his vehicle using an improvised explosive device and small arms fire. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning, Georgia.

Casualty Notice August 22, 2007

Wed, 22 Aug 2007 17:20:00 -0400

Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today ordered United States flags throughout the state of Michigan and on Michigan waters lowered for one day on Friday, August 24, 2007, in honor of Army Chief Warrant Officer Christopher C. Johnson, of Grandville, who died August 14 while on active duty in Iraq. Flags should return to full-staff on Saturday, August 25.

Officer Johnson, age 31, died in Al Taqqadum, Iraq, from injuries suffered when his helicopter crashed. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 52nd Aviation Regiment, Task Force 49, Fort Wainwright, Alaska.

Casualty Notice Aug 8, 2007

Wed, 08 Aug 2007 13:40:00 -0400

Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today ordered United States flags throughout the state of Michigan and on Michigan waters lowered for one day on Friday, August 10, 2007, in honor of Army Private First Class Charles T. Heinlein Jr., of Hemlock, who died July 31 while on active duty in Iraq. Flags should return to full-staff on Saturday, August 11.

Pfc. Heinlein, age 23, died in Baghdad, Iraq, from wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team), Fort Lewis, Washington.

Oakland County Programs

Sun, 01 Jul 2007 08:00:00 -0400

Oakland County programs
The Farmington Observer July 1, 2007

I would like to report to you on a few programs and outreach efforts that the Oakland County Commission has passed and organized, to help our residents deal with some of the pressing issues they face today.

In these difficult economic times, Oakland County is working to give its residents better access to affordable prescription drugs, better access to affordable dentistry and is working to help folks keep their homes through foreclosure prevention, counseling and education efforts. Unfortunately, too many still dont know about what is available.