Hey, you're not Bob! I'm Bob.

Now all we need is for John Dingell to not run, and we will finally have some new blood in these ofices (at least they will know where they are at).

Alan,
The full article is NOT 218 words as you state... it is much longer. Therefore, your percentages are incorrect. Why did you post/comment incorrect information?

Second, you failed to mention in your comment that the author of this article also included a quote from Barack Obama that was longer than the Bobby Schostak quote. Obama's quote was praising Carl Levin. That to me balanced out the "republican point of view" as expressed by one person in the article.

Third, the author of this artlcle also included LINKS so the Patch reader could go to other sources to read more information about Carl Levin. Helpful for those wishing to read more. Posting your link was also valuable.

Personally, I did not "hunger" for more information....but was pleased to see the news story in Patch. I hope Patch covers future stories on the possible candidates to replace Carl Levin.

Jason, I found your Patch article to be just what I needed. Thank you.

Marcia: When I commented at 7:36 p.m. Thursday, the article ended with Bobby Schostak's quote. Three paragraphs were added later, I'm glad to see,

i still find it inappropriate to quote a state Republican chairman at all in this context -- and particularly before the president.

Mr. Schostak's 111 words now represent 30% of the total (371), while the five-term senator has 37 words (10%) in an article about him. Hardly balanced.

I appreciate your point about links to longer coverage, Marcia, and respectfully suggest this doesn't absolve Patch from the responsibility to present fair coverage on its site.

There's plenty of time to report on campaigns by members of each party to succeed Carl Levin. This first-day report doesn't seem to be an appropriate occasion to give the Republican state chair a platform.

Marcia....Are you saying size counts?
The other Bob

Alan,
Do you realize that you are accusing a Huffington Post owned web site of carrying water for the Republicans? That's pretty funny!!! ;)

Agree Jan, and Bob about time!

Scott, most states believe their senators to be well rounded and level headed, else they wouldn't have elected them. What surprises me is with so many level-headed politicians, how is it nearly impossible to get agreement on legislation? Not that I think more legislation is always a good thing, but how about a budget?

The belief that "ours" is better than "theirs" and despite the dysfunction of the whole "ours" is blameless, reminds me of opinions on school systems. Many are willing to say school systems in general need serious restructuring, but most believe "their" school system is OK.

I suppose that's what makes pride sinful.

@ Thomas Gagne, I think the political parties in combination with our campaign financing system bear most of the responsibility for the inaction and the extremism. Even if you are moderate and get elected somehow, come re-election time, the only way that the Party is going to support your re-election campaign is if you followed the party on specific votes fundraisers. If you didn't, the party will back a primary challenger and you're out the campaign money from the party. And if the incumbent is strong enough, the opposing party won't throw money away on an un-winable general election challenger (see Pete Hoekstra). Until we go to a public-funded election system, the money is the carrot that leads our lawmakers and the main driver of the strategies of the two parties and the moderates will be pushed out in primaries.

Sean, how about we go the opposite route? Let's lift the limit on donations, allow as much as you can from anywhere it may come, but just require disclosure? I would rather a candidate spend lest time raising money and more time honing their message and appealing to the middle for votes, than pandering to the extremists for constant and never-ending fund raising.

Another way might be to return to party conventions WITHOUT primaries. Primaries are expensive. Again, less time pandering, more time debating. The moderate, as Lincoln was, may have a better chance.

Rant as l may, least my words strike a moral cord. Something liberal Democrats have no clue of.

Lianne, I can't look at Joe's comments anymore without chuckling. His first post on the Patch: "Scarey when adults can't construct simple sentences. Then kids read the mistakes and carry on the "dumbing down of America"..... Joe's "pot calling the kettle black" is as rampant in his comments as they are in his spelling.

Thanks Czeck, no doubt with the misspelling. The irony.
shmoes
slang ( US ) a dull, stupid, or boring person

[from Yiddish shmok ]

Lianne Mathie, I am confused, the only sites that the patch closes are those that are bigoted and offensive to my knowledge. By the way its Shmo meaning a stupid or no nothing individual. To my knowledge Shmo is NOT a derivation of the yidishism "Shmuck" which refers to a non intelligent male body part used to describe what you feel about the target of your ire, and low opinion of. There is another synonym that does the same thing but this is not a lesson in Yiddish which has generously contributed to the American lexicon as other cultures have.

Here's a link Ron.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/schmoe
The comment that this person made that I was referring to is gone from this thread? Wacky things happen online and I don't recall exactly what it was,but given my response it's not surprising it's no longer available.

Ken,
I'll be curious to see your comments when Mitt Romney comes to Detroit as the EFM and turns the city around. At least Mitt is a proven leader! Not like the current guy in office that hasn't done anything but blame others, even if it was his idea!!!

Jay bird,
If Romney becomes EFM, you can bet your bippy the 67' riots will look like a childens tea party.

Everyone who holds a job is a darn worker! There isn't some special club for blue collar job holders to call themselves "workers." I want a representative who will stand up for every single job, not just unionized ones

I am with Al. the unions has what has killed our state, sending jobs elsewhere cause of the high costs of unions

I'm a worker and have been since I was 14. Levin never did anything for me but waste my tax dollars

Service? Please give us your definition of service.

Good points, Lee. This guy is a leftover from the days of Jimmy Carter, he should have been gone long ago. Term limits, anyone?

"Mr. Levin dug us all a big hole" - really, all by himself? I thought he was 1 of 535 voting members of the US Congress.

I disagree that his votes are without common sense. Your first example: In-person voter fraud is nearly non-existant, although admittedly diffiicult to count, so spending government money to put restrictions on something that doesn't need it would be fiscally irresponsible. I would say, on that vote, that he was doing his job protecting our tax dollars by making sure they're used wisely (that doesn't mean I endorse all of his taxing and spending votes).
http://www.snopes.com/politics/ballot/2012fraud.asp
http://blogs.wsj.com/numbersguy/counting-voter-fraud-1165/

You are free to dislike Senator Levin and his policies, but I think your criticism is a bit overboard. I think he's done a decent job of being moderate, voting in the interest of the middle class and US servicemen and servicewomen and should receive a cordial, albeit overdue, farewell.

You go Lee!

I was with you until I got to John Engler. Oh please. Make another choice.

Apart from all the real reasons I am so happy that Levin will depart from Washington is that I won't have to see that terrible comb over and those glasses falling off his face. All we need now is for his brother to be defeated.

Sigh... why do these political threads have to always devolve into idiocy and insults?

Personally speaking, I had the impression that Sen. Levin tried to do what he thought was best even if it didn't always tow the party line and even if I personally disagreed. Perhaps he is just masterful at managing his public persona/spin/image? I hope that the jockeying for who will ultimately vie for the seat in the next election cycle doesn't leave us all the worse for having to witness yet another round of eviscerations in the media.

It is disappointing that the political dialogue in our country has resorted to name-calling and curse words. It is really counterproductive and explains so much of the inaction in Washington.

One of the great things about forums is the ability to discover how articulate your fellow citizens are, and how they think. Even ignoring profanity, reading posts gives you a clue about author bias and logic. My take is very few people can actually discuss issues civilly, open mindedly, and logically. It's little wonder our representatives seem to struggle to do the same when their voters can't recognize it themselves.

Where do you come with 1000 3,4,5 star generals from Tim? The limit on generals is set by congress at 300 except during war or under special circumstances. We haven't had a 5 star general in over 50 years.

You can hate Levin, or any other politician all you want, but you can't make a claim that any single individual is totally responsible for all the ills of our government without being called out on it. There is more than enough blame to go around to all current and former members of government. It is not beneficial to lay blame and say that it is all the "other guys" fault without admitting that both parties are guilty. Until people start being accountable for their own vote, how do you think we can hold the government accountable?

So, based on your two posts, you only want young women? correct?

Lianne, I believe the Dog is implying that he would like to see another career politician retire. Senator Stabenow fits the description. Correct?

Hey Ron,
Theres plenty of posts that have been deleted since this first came online. Try not taking things out of text if you don't know what you're talking about.

Thanks

This post was to be in response to Char Kruse on stating that Unions killed our State-
Thank you

Unions have killed the "working spirit" in this country, which in turn has sent many jobs overseas. The whole attitude of more money, more benefits and more time off coupled with little concern to help employers offset these costs through higher productivity has permeated union mentality. Unions crippled the auto industry and the Postal Workers Union is likely to be next pushing their industry off the cliff as well.
Unions have made it near impossible to fire under-performing employees, dis-incentivize productivity, cutback effective work hours far below any international standard and extorted salaries and benefits from companies making them not competitive. Unions created a temporary underskilled/overpaid middle class in this country that with global competition will NEVER be seen again. At the turn of the 20th century, Unions made sense to overcome sweatshop labor but not in today's competitive world. My response to someone who says they can't live on $12 per hour; I totally agree, so one of two choices- go improve your skills in an area commanding a higher salary or do like folks do everywhere else in the world with lower skills and work 60-70 hours a week instead of effectively 32-35 in a union environment after MLK days, leave days, extended holidays, government holidays, sick time, vacation time, etc. is all factored in.

OK- lets start with the teachers union--part time work, full time pay and paid for with taxation-not private production or sales-
As far as get a better job-where? Canada? Europe? More Hi Tech, less work, less jobs--you need people that can actually "get their hands dirty" and work---not everything required for day to day living is a HI Tech job--These millionaires with tax shelters and loop holes have helped take this country down-It's a two way street.

The working/middle class did not take the jobs out of the country-the millionaires and owners did. Like I said-there is room for improvement on both sides--fair is fair.

well if you really believe that then follow the opportunity to the Cayman Islands for a better employment pasture

You don't believe it?

You have to be paid the wages that those millionaires and corporate CEO"s are first in order to even get to the Cayman Islands.....and of course you would need the time off for work in order to go there---even self funded insurance companies shelter the money in the Cayman Islands-what a crock!

Yes and it was great when the republican business owner cut his workers pay 10% the minute Right to Work for less went into effect. The owner is a millionaire.

Kidcat24, surely you're familiar with capitalism, aren't you?

kidcat
Seriously, go back to school, improve your skills, get a fabulous high-paying job and we wish you the best to becoming a millionaire or billionaire. But quit complaining like somone owes you something in the mean time. And right to work is exactly that with any worker having complete rights to either participate or not participate in a union. the only losers in this are those employed directly by the unions with salaries paid by your dues so they need to create more value for members to keep them as members. simple as that.

I never said anyone owed me anything. And never would I want to be a millionaire/billionaire. I love my middle class life, I know who my true friends are.

todd b- really, seriously? Turn the clock back and expect worker A to benefit from worker B paying dues to assure a safe, healthy, and decent living wage without abuse for free? The looser are the Union members giving "freebies" to the others at their cost and lets face it, Michigan is trying to break all the Unions-big movement, except the "sacred cow", teachers unions--and the "hierarchy of Michigan doesn't care because they are so well compensated and benefits are solid unlike the rest and many of them are protected-they sure do like those islands!

I thought people that go to school are snobs. That's what Santorum said.

Socialism. (def) Freedom to not work ---- while getting paid via income earned and taxed by someone else who believes in capitalism.

Yes let me tell my capable of working republican neighbor collecting disability Social Security that.

I don't see the old break your knee cap-but what I see is through the Unions, wage may be increased or workers protected from unfair labor practices-if the Union was not there, the wages could be substantially lowered hurting everyone. But when the union negotiates the wages-the person NOT paying the dues benefits when workers doing the exact same work on either side of them get the increase so does the non paying worker--it's a slippery slope. I wish our taxes was less, I wish non essential services had to be funded different- I wish taxpayers were listened to at all levels of government and I hope we can find our way out of this mess-spending needs to be controlled-we cant even get an accounting of all the "Lotto" money that the State retained... Also a country cannot survive being "service industry" or HI Tech only--- and neither can Michigan. Thats another downfall waiting to happen. I don't have all the answers-maybe none-but Unions have a place here. Sometimes workers don't have a choice due to threat by "employers" in an economically fragile time that if the union is there, they may not have a job so members feel in order to save their job, they leave the union because there is no place else to work. We need to find the balance and be fair.
We are no there yet.

$10 pay cut relative to what? For example, lets say some union agrees to cut wages $20 per hour on a $75 total labor cost per hour (factoring in real costs of direct wages, medical benefits, 401K matches or fixed benefit pensions, lost productivity to 30-45 days in vacation time, sick time, holiday, training time etc etc). In turn, assume the company can hire the same low-skill labor for $20 per hour overseas (total package), so they are $35 per hour ahead of the game even at the $20 concession when all costs are factored.
Message being, it is usually not the direct labor rate but all of the benefit baggage and legacy costs (especially fixed pension benefits) that is killing labor in this country. Perhaps unions should agree to 55-60 hour work weeks (I do that), simplified health care programs with higher co-pays and none of the ridiculous paid vacation days (Such as MLK day-give me abreak on that one).
Perhaps companies just may be willing to then agree to labor rates at $20+ per hour for basic skill jobs.

Yes, a slave wage isn't the only reason corporations sent jobs overseas. They don't want to be responsible for factories catching on fire. For workers being laid off, for healthcare. For nothing, except paying a slave wage.

Relative to $20 dollars an hour, with a $10 pay cut. And in case you didn't know union members pay several healthcare co-pays. Lost productivity? You might want to look at a chart on that. These corporations that sent jobs overseas became millionaires/billionaire first from the American worker.

Hey Boehner drinks on the job daily.

Hey Kidcat24: Did you happen to see what the bar bill was on the taxpayer paid jet that hauled Nancy Pelosi around when she was the Speaker? She racked up a $100,000 dollar bar tab in a year. One year! On the plane! Not total, but just the plane! Explain to me how someone racks up a $100,000 liquor tab on a plane that is supposed to ferry them back and forth from home to DC, as well as a few Congressional "business" trips? Splain that to me Kidcat before you go running smack on Congressman Boehner.

Well not sure if that would bode well with the republican I work with in our union job. That republican has called in 40 times since last September.

kidcat ----------- not about democrats, republicans, being right, left or middle. It is about finding solutions and not being part of the problem. and in your example, the person calling in 40 times since last September would not be making any money or having any benefits as these would all be deducted from the baseline salary when they don't work. furthermore,company should have right to fire based on (x) callins

Ok lets test that out on our teachers-salary-baseline 48-50 hours a week at the schools, on a time clock, 52 weeks a year-fair is fair and that union costs taxpayers direct in taxation-then, let them buy their time off and benefits. The problem with this is people will say this "sacred cow" is not up for scrutiny-but the others are, Next, the money the billionaire makes is much more so he doesn't care about affording time off or benefits or retirement-and you nailed it when you said let the base line be 48-50 hours of paid work per week-lets erode the family even more, stress the working class even more, let kids raise themselves because if dad wants a week off to enjoy family he has to work 60 hours a week..healthcare is and will continue to be out of control well into 2020-and taxes will never go down-- the govt, wants to break the unions, and wants more of your earned money-companies and the govt. allowed some to become millionaires with untouchable benefits the likes no one else can afford and on top of that these same people mismanaged money and hurt a class of working people. What makes that billionaire think he should make so much money off the workers? And that the worker is only worth so little in comparison? It's a debacle all way around and it needs to be better balanced.

Yes she should be fired. For some reason management won't do it.

I take exception to that--my husband is 73, Union and still working-no handouts for him- and he works hard-could never have retired at 45-are you kidding? Talk about living in Fantasy Land-
And we pay for benefits and will pay for health care when he retires as well-but the Union kept him working-and he works because the big guys take all the money and retire at 45 and 50. I am proud of him and his work ethics-he has never used even his allotted time off, and has never had anything handed or given to him that he didn't earn and unlike the wealthy, he has stood working for 8-12 hours a day everyday on cement floors---while the big bosses sat in cushy swivel leather chairs-drank coffee or water when they wanted-even went to the bathroom when they felt like it---
You should apologize for the insult.
I swear, some people live under rocks--

todd d
You know not of what you speak.

rephrased-- Thank you Senator Levin for collecting an $800,000 annual salary at the taxpayers expense while the rest of Washington is undewr a sequestor; not to mention now being in line to receive a mid six figure pension and health benefits for the rest of your life-- a benefit that the rest of us lowly taxpayers can only relish. As we pay see taxes withheld from our paycheck each week we will think of you and your colleagues and be glad to bend over and subsidize your lifestyle while you are vacationing in Tahiti or wherever. And oh yes, thanks so much for your service!

Todd, really, put the booze away, it's too early in the day.800,000 dollars????? Please post the link to that whopper. I really think the man's been there too long, but you have got to be drunk to think we are all that stupid.

Post the link Todd, that's what I asked for.I'm not stupid and I have never come across those stats. If you can't, then I will assume you're crying fire in a crowded theater.That's a simple request, no drama, just facts.

Yeah. Turns out they were trying to mitigate the damage on 501C3s exacted by Citizens United. Political Action Committees set up by the Teaba- ..er .. Teaparty would illegally get tax exempt status to air political TV ads and pour money into their favorite candidates' coffers.

Funny thing though ... the only group that actually did have their tax exempt status denied by these offices was a single liberal one. Conservative PACs enjoying the tax exempt status of organizations like the Humane Society and Big Brother Big Sister went from about 300 before the Citizens United ruling ... to over 3000 after the GOP Acvtivist Judge ruling.

So not only do teaba - ... er ... teapartiers have nothing to complain about ... the IRS was actually doing ME a favor.

My only disappointment is that now they'll probably have to stop this filtering.