An interesting development occurred today as Ford announced it is pausing the development of its battery plant near Marshall, Michigan. The announcement during the middle of a UAW strike is surprising. Especially, after the UAW announced on Friday, it would not be striking at any additional Ford plants since the UAW believes the talks with Ford are progressing favorably. With all the hurdles Ford had to straddle in getting approval for the project and in getting favorable tax advantages from the state, it is going to be interesting to see how this plays out.
Ford has not indicated why the project has been paused. Thus, expect lots of speculation in the coming days from pundits of the auto industry.
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On September 20, the Michigan Supreme Court denied AG Nessel’s second appeal to the court in her politically motivated criminal prosecution of former DHS Director, Nick Lyon and others in the Flint Water Crisis. I have been following this case for nearly 8 years and I have been strongly against this criminal prosecution because it was a civil case and had no business in a criminal court. This case was settled between the State and the plaintiffs from Flint for nearly $650 million more than three years ago. In the meantime, AG Nessel has spent over $60 million of taxpayer money, pursuing a criminal case that had no legal basis. People should not be prosecuted for decisions made in the normal course of one’s job. The precedent this case would have created if it was allowed would have been mind boggling.
My thoughts go out to Nick Lyon and his family. Nick has been a pillar of strength during this entire process.
I also want to thank two-time former DHS director, Jim Haveman, who has provided 44 updates, countless media editorials, and interviews over the course of the prosecution. Jim didn’t need to do this as he retired before the Flint Water Crisis ever happened. Jim’s unwavering support for Nick and the employees of DHS has been inspirational to me.
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Propublica continues its ongoing investigation into the questionable practices and judgement of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. Here are excerpts from its recent report.
On Jan. 25, 2018, dozens of private jets descended on Palm Springs International Airport. Some of the richest people in the country were arriving for the annual winter donor summit of the Koch network, the political organization founded by libertarian billionaires Charles and David Koch. A long weekend of strategizing, relaxation in the California sun and high-dollar fundraising lay ahead.
Just after 6 p.m., a Gulfstream G200 jet touched down on the tarmac. One of the Koch network’s most powerful allies was on board: Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.
During the summit, the justice went to a private dinner for the network’s donors. Thomas has attended Koch donor events at least twice over the years, according to interviews with three former network employees and one major donor. The justice was brought in to speak, staffers said, in the hopes that such access would encourage donors to continue giving.
That puts Thomas in the extraordinary position of having served as a fundraising draw for a network that has brought cases before the Supreme Court, including one of the most closely watched of the upcoming term.
Thomas never reported the 2018 flight to Palm Springs on his annual financial disclosure form, an apparent violation of federal law requiring justices to report most gifts. A Koch network spokesperson said the network did not pay for the private jet. Since Thomas didn’t disclose it, it’s not clear who did pay.
The code of conduct for the federal judiciary lays out rules designed to preserve judges’ impartiality and independence, which it calls “indispensable to justice in our society.” The code specifically prohibits both political activity and participation in fundraising. Judges are advised, for instance, not to “associate themselves” with any group “publicly identified with controversial legal, social, or political positions.”
But the code of conduct only applies to the lower courts. At the Supreme Court, justices decide what’s appropriate for themselves.
“I can’t imagine — it takes my breath away, frankly — that he would go to a Koch network event for donors,” said John E. Jones III, a retired federal judge appointed by President George W. Bush. Jones said that if he had gone to a Koch summit as a district court judge, “I’d have gotten a letter that would’ve commenced a disciplinary proceeding.”
“What you’re seeing is a slow creep toward unethical behavior. Do it if you can get away with it,” Jones said.
Lord only knows what conflict of interest barriers his wife, Ginny, has crossed as it relates Thomas’s role on SCOTUS.
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In all my years around baseball, I never thought I would ever see what happened in last night’s ESPN Sunday Baseball game. ESPN mic’d up Dodger’s shortstop Miguel Rojas for the game with the understanding the TV announcers would talk to Rojas during the game. While Rojas and the announcers were talking, a ground ball was hit to Rojas and he made a routine play while he apologized to the announcers for having to stop talking while he was fielding the ground ball and throwing the runner out at first. See my Quote of the Day and Video of the Day.
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Quote of the Day: “Sorry, guys. I need to make this play real quick.” Miguel Rojas making a play for the Dodgers while at the same time, giving an interview to the ESPN announcers during live play.
Orchid of the Day: Miguel Rojas. See above story.
Onion of the Day: The Michigan High School Athletic Association. The All Star Diner in Howell is helping sponsor the varsity football team. Sponsors are necessary because high schools do not cover the full cost of providing high school sports. Thus, coaches must raise funds to supplement their programs. The All Star Diner became a sponsor and wanted to do something special for the team so it offered free breakfast for members of the team on Saturday’s following a Friday night victory. The MHSAA got word of this and has threatened to take disciplinary action against the school unless the diner was reimbursed for the cost of the meals they provided. The diner has been reimbursed and per the MHSAA the case is closed.
The All Star Diner now offers free breakfast on Saturday following every game, win or lose. The MHSAA is becoming a mini-NCAA and that is not a compliment.
Question of the Day: Why are the Lions playing their second game on Thursday Night Football in 22 days? They also have another Thursday game on Thanksgiving.
Video/Image of the Day: