Leeja Miller thinks 'Unions Will Save America.'

I told my readers yesterday "I might revisit the SAG-AFTRA strike" today. I'm turning to Leeja Miller for that with her video Unions Will Save America.

Unions will save America. Or at least they might. Let's talk about the WGA SAG-AFTRA strike against the AMPTP, the history of union organizing, the history of union busting, and the current growing labor movement in America. Could it be the answer to all our problems??

This expanded from being a strikeupdate to a history of unionization in advance of Labor Day. It's also a call to action with Miller including the following in the video description.

Here's a script for when you call them:
"Hi! My name is ________ and I live in _____________. I am a constituent of [insert your Congressperson's name] and I am calling to discuss the Protecting the Right to Organize or PRO Act. That's H.R. 20/S.567. I want to indicate my strong support for the passage of this bill and for an increase in labor organizing protection, and I would like to know their stance on the issue.
[insert back and forth about your Congressperson's stance]
Once again I am strongly in favor of the PRO Act and I urge [insert your Congressperson's name] to vote to pass the act. Thank you."

Her link to contact your representative is broken, so here's one that works. Also, here's a link to contact your senator. I'm not worried about either my Representative (Rashida Tlaib, a founding member of The Squad) or my Senators (Gary Peters or Debbie Stabenow) voting for the PRO Act should it reach the House or Senate floor, but pressure on the members of the relevant committee would be helpful. Here's a link to the members page for the Committee on Education and the Workforce. Good luck!

I still plan on resuming my awards show coverage In the meantime, stay tuned for a double celebration of National Roller Coaster Day and National Rum Day tomorrow.

Senator Debbie Stabenow of Michigan announces retirement, will not run in 2024

While Kevin "Pickled Tongue" McCarthy is experiencing another "Groundhog Day," other important news stories are happening, including here in Michigan. WOOD-TV reported Sen. Stabenow: It’s the right time to ‘pass the torch’.


Yes, the speculation about who will succeed Stabenow will be intense over the next two years, but I think it's premature for me to indulge in it today. Still, I look forward to and expect it will be fun. I hope my readers will enjoy it as much as I will.

WOOD-TV uploaded the full interview as 'Pass the torch': Sen. Stabenow will not seek reelection in 2024.

After announcing Thursday morning that she will not seek reelection, U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow said serving Michigan has been “the honor of my life.”

I can't help but note that Senator Stabenow touted her accomplishments in the three largest sectors of Michigan's economy, manufacturing, especially of automobiles, tourism, albeit indirectly through protecting the Great Lakes, and agriculture — especially agriculture. Here's to two more years of her serving Michigan and the country and thanks to her for all she's done and will still do.

That's it for today's bonus post. Stay tuned.

Whitmer vs. Schuette for Governor and Stabenow vs. James for Senate as turnout shattered records

It's time to return to a topic I have been neglecting here since I mentioned Gretchen Whitmer running for Governor in Record numbers of women running for office on International Women's Day — elections for office in Michigan.  Yes, I have been looking at proposals on the state ballot, but no candidates.  That changed today because yesterday was the primary election, which chose nominees for the Democrats, Republicans, and Libertarians, who achieved major party status in Michigan and participated in the primary for the first time since I moved here.

WXYZ reported on the outcome, beginning with Bill Schuette wins Republican nomination for Michigan governor, AP reports.

Former Democratic legislative leader Gretchen Whitmer and Republican state Attorney General Bill Schuette won the nominations for Michigan governor on Tuesday, besting five other candidates who were also vying to succeed term-limited GOP Gov. Rick Snyder.

I expected this result, as I could see he was preparing to run for governor this year all the way back in 2012.  I also saw that Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley would struggle because he was associated with Governor Rick Snyder and the Flint water Crisis, hurting his candidacy.  As a result, Schuette won handily, while Calley won only three counties, including a majority in Ionia County, which he calls home.  The situation worked out exactly as I thought it would, which was good for Schuette.

WXYZ also reported Gretchen Whitmer wins Democratic nomination for Michigan governor.


I wrote in March that I was planning on voting for Whitmer in the primary.  I did and she won.  Yay!

Whitmer faced tougher opposition than Schuette, but ended up winning every county.  MLive showed her main opponent Abdul El-Sayed giving an emotional concession speech, urging support for Whitmer.


I'm glad to see El-Sayed being a team player for the Democrats.  I'm looking forward to seeing more of him in Michigan politics and government in the future.

As for the Libertarians, Bill Gelineau beat John Tatar to win the nomination for Governor.

Follow over the jump for the rest of the results.

Sander Levin to retire, likely leaving Fred Upton as dean of Michigan's Congressional delegation

Conyers isn't the only member of Michigan's Congressional delegation to announce his retirement.  Stay tuned for news about another U.S. Representative leaving under more ordinary circumstances.

That's how I finished Conyers resigns, setting up scramble for his seat.  It's time to me to pass along this video from Wochit News: U.S. Representative Levin To Step Down.

On Saturday, U.S. Representative Sander Levin of Michigan said he would not run for reelection next year. He is stepping down after more than three decades in Congress. The 86-year-old Democrat is a member of the House of Representatives’ powerful Ways and Means committee. The committee deals with tax and economic policies as well as spending on programs such as Social Security and unemployment. In a statement acknowledging his decision to step down, House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi praised Levin. Pelosi said, “Since his days as a student activist, Congressman Levin has been a fearless and dedicated voice for justice and progress."

Levin does not plan to be idle in retirement.  The Detroit Free Press reported that he plans to "join the University of Michigan’s Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, where he will continue to work on issues that have engrossed him in Congress, such as health care and trade issues."

The Free Press also noted the effect Levin's retirement will have on Michigan's Congressional delegation.

His departure from Congress at the end of 2018 is just the latest departure of veteran Michigan representatives, many of whom held powerful positions as the chairs of key committees, including U.S. Reps. John Dingell, D-Dearborn, Dave Camp, R-Midland, Candice Miller, R-Harrison Township, Dale Kildee, D-Flint and Mike Rogers, R-Brighton. When they left Congress over the last six years, they had a combined length of service of 141 years and significant clout in the halls of the nation's Capitol.

In the last three election cycles, eight of Michigan’s 14 members of Congress have retired. If U.S. Rep. John Conyers, D-Detroit, resigns from office or decides not to run for reelection in 2018 because of a sexual harassment scandal, only U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, would remain from Michigan's stable of veterans with more than 10 years of experience in Congress.

It looks like Upton will remain in the U.S. House of Representatives, as he has decided not to run for U.S. Senate, a possibility I mentioned in Whew! Kid Rock is not running for U.S. Senate.  WOOD-TV reported on that announcement in Upton seeks re-election in House, no Senate run.

After speculation of a possible run for U.S. Senate, Rep. Fred Upton announced he will not be seeking the nomination.

First Kid Rock, now Fred Upton.  If I were Debbie Stabenow, I'd be breathing a lot easier.

Enough of the Senate contest.  The Free Press also speculated on who might replace Levin.

But now, it's time to turn the reins over to the next generation. Names that have popped up as possible successors to Levin include his son Andy Levin, a Bloomfield Township Democrat and president of Levin Energy, which deals with clean energy initiatives, and state Sen. Steve Bieda, D-Warren.

This is a contest I actually will have to vote in, as Levin is my Representative.  I have a long time before I have to decide, as the primary election isn't until August, but I'm not enthused about either possible candidate mentioned above.  Fortunately, Daily Kos lists two more.

Oakland County Treasurer Andy Meisner also acknowledged he was considering, though he said he didn't have a timeline for when he'd decide. Businessman Kevin Howley, who lost a 2012 race for Oakland County executive 57-43, said he was looking at who else runs before deciding.

I like those two more than the previous two, as I know both of them.  Between the two, I'd vote for Meisner.  He has the nickname of "The Gentleman Assassin" -- he can kill while smiling and being polite.  I like that.  Just the same,  I'm hoping that Jim Townsend, who used to be my State Representative, declares his candidacy.  He's someone I could support enthusiastically.

Kid Rock for Senate?

Kevin Robbins of Hometown U.S.A. and I had this enchange in the comments to Entertainers and sports organizations condemn Charlottesville violence and trademark infringement.

[Kevin:] I trust Senator Stabenow will chew up and spit out little bits of Kid Rock next year. The Republican primary, presuming there is one, should be a show for the ages.

[Me:] Me, too. Thanks for mentioning that. I really have been neglecting a big story in my own backyard. I'll have to remedy that in the near future.

It turns out I have been ignoring this story for longer than I thought.  Nearly six months ago, Stephen Colbert observed If 'President Trump' Is Hard To Say, Try 'Senator Kid Rock'.

Kid Rock is running for Senate in Michigan, and there's only one man standing in his way.

LOL!  Unfortunately for Kid Rock, his primary opponent won't be the fictional Shrieking Joe.  They're the very real Bloomfield Hills businesswoman Lena Epstein, who was Michigan co-chair for Trump, and retired Michigan Supreme Court Justice Bob Young.  In addition, businessman and Iraq War veteran John James of Farmington Hills has formed an exploratory committee, as The Detroit News reported.  Follow over the jump for my analysis of that field.