Per Bridge Michigan, this is Sunshine Week, which is meant to celebrate government openness and transparency. (Too bad we live in Michigan-my comment)
In Michigan, it’s more like Groundhog Day: Despite repeated promises, there are few signs lawmakers will advance legislation to end Michigan’s dubious distinction as one of only two states that exempt both the governor and Legislature from the Freedom of Information Act.
Gongwer News Service reported last week that Attorney General Dana Nessel denied public records requests for communications between two leaders of the failed prosecution of the Flint Water Crisis.
The excuse: Their “frank communication” “clearly outweighs a public interest in disclosure,” Gongwer reported.
The Department of Attorney General says the release of most emails and text message communications between the two leaders of the failed Flint water criminal prosecution would not serve the public interest.
Flint’s contamination is one of the most consequential events in a generation. During the depths of the crisis, former Gov. Rick Snyder voluntarily released thousands of emails from his administration.
Our current AG spent over $60 million prosecuting multiple criminal cases that never should have been filed, but she does not think it is in our best interest to be able to review emails and text messages about her failed prosecution.
Once again, AG Nessel gets my Onion of the Day.
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It’s official. The Republican Party no longer exists. It is now the Make America Great Again party. It must be true because it was Donald Junior who said on Friday the old Republican Party “no longer exists outside of the D.C. beltway…. The move that happened today…that’s the final blow. People have to understand that America First, the MAGA movement is the new Republican Party. That is conservatism today.”
Ronald Reagan would be a RINO in today’s MAGA/Republican party.
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Now that I have had a few days to process it, there are two things about the State of the Union speech last week that bother me. This leads to my Questions of the Day
Why did the Republicans not stand and cheer when Biden said to Putin “We will not walk away”? What message is this sending Putin?
What were the Republicans thinking when thy approved Katie Britt delivering her speech from her kitchen? In today’s day and age, a women’s place is not in the kitchen. As a U.S senator she is a member of a very exclusive club of 100 Americans. She has a very powerful position. Why put her in the kitchen? This is such a stereotype of sixty years ago.
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The fighting in Gaza continues and the possibilities of a cease fire seem remote. It is time the U.S., Great Britain, NATO, and others begin imposing their will on Netanyahu. We are well passed Israel defending themselves. They are now the aggressor and the invader. It makes no sense that we continue to support Israel financially and provide humanitarian aid to Gaza. It is time to put future aid to Israel on hold if Israel continues to be the aggressor and civilian deaths in Gaza continue to climb. There must be a better way.
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I was disappointed to read about the fight/melee that broke out between undefeated and number one South Carolina and the defending national champion LSU in the SEC women’s basketball championship yesterday. Per ESPN, South Carolina forward Kamilla Cardosa was one of six players ejected from the SEC championship game after she shoved LSU’s Flau’iae Johnson to the floor late in the fourth quarter of the Gamecocks’ 79-72 win.
Gamecocks guard MiLaysia Fulwiley had stolen the ball from Johnson, who wrapped her up and was called for an intentional foul. Johnson bumped South Carolina’s Ashlyn Watkins while heading to her bench, and then the 6-foot-7 Cardoso rushed in and pushed the 5-10 Johnson to the ground.
Aside from Cardoso, the other players ejected — all for leaving the bench area — were South Carolina’s Chloe Kitts, Tessa Johnson, and Sakima Walker, and LSU’s Aalyah Del Rosario and Janae Kent. LSU was left with only its starting five players after the disqualifications.
This could have a major impact on the upcoming NCAA tournament. The NCAA is reviewing the tapes and reports and has yet to determine what if any punishment will be handed out to the teams and the individual players. It is standard for a player to receive a one game suspension for an ejection. The next game for both teams is the first round of the NCAA tournament.
More to come on this story.
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Quote of the Day: “This is a risk-averse industry — I get it. But $200 million movies are also a risk, and it doesn’t always work out, but you take the risk anyway. And instead of making one $200 million movie, try making 20, $10 million movies.” Accepting his Oscar for best adapted screenplay for “American Fiction,” the writer-director Cord Jefferson gave a rousing plea for more investment in movies with modest budgets.
Orchid of the Day: Caitlin Clark. She showed this weekend that even when she is not hitting her three-point shot, she can beat you in so many other ways. In the game against Michigan on Saturday, she had a double-double in points and assists in the first half without hitting a three-point shot. In yesterday’s game against Nebraska, she had four points in the first half, but ended up with 34 for the game along with 12 assists.
Onion of the Day: A.G Nessel, one more time. See above story.
Question of the Day: See above story about the State of the Union speech.
Video of the Day:
Iowa vs. Michigan | Highlights | Big Ten Women’s Basketball | March 9, 2024 (youtube.com)
Michigan refuses to obey the open meetings act that 48 states adhere to. What to the Democratic and Republican parties have to hide? Discussions of the General Assembly, Governor and other state government offices are “out of bounds” for the public. Michigan Press Association every year gets some legislators on board but nothing happens. Without the public knowing the inner discussions of Michigan government, the people are living in a third world country!