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We know we get storms in Michigan, but utility companies act surprised every time we do. – Shutterstock Shutterstock We know we get storms in Michigan, but utility companies act surprised every time we do. For the 93,000 or so Michigan households that have reportedly been without power going on five days as of Monday morning, utility companies DTE Energy and Consumers Energy have a message: we see you, we hear you, and we will do nothing to prevent this from happening again, at least anytime soon.
If that seems overly negative, well, how else are we supposed to feel at this point?
More than 730,000 Michigan homes lost power during Wednesday’s massive ice storm, far more than any other Midwest state. At least one person died: Paw Paw firefighter Ethan Quillen, 28, was electrocuted to death on Wednesday by a downed wire reportedly owned by Consumers Energy.
In a Thursday statement, DTE Energy blamed the outages on “the worst ice event that we have experienced in the past 50 years.”
“The combination of snow, freezing rain and wind has caused branches and trees to fall, pulling down DTE power lines,” the company said. “The heavy weight of ice buildup — comparable to that of a baby grand piano — has also caused power lines to fall, for a total of nearly 4,000 downed power lines.”
Of course, everyone in southeast Michigan knows that far less than a baby grand piano can take down our energy grid. In fact, around here, massive power outages have long felt like a feature, not a bug.
84, dry and breezy down here just like climatologists and weather scientists have been warning about for years! We need rain but the good news is no wildfires, so far. 👏 I hate ice storms. They’re right up there with tornadoes and cat6 hurricanes (coming soon) 😡 in my book.
On student loan forgiveness, conservative justices skeptical of Biden plan
Conservative Supreme Court justices on Tuesday seemed highly skeptical that President Biden has authority from Congress to provide more than $400 billion in student loan forgiveness to tens of millions of borrowers as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
During more than three hours of argument about one of the president’s most sweeping and expensive domestic initiatives, conservatives led by Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. questioned how what Roberts repeatedly called a “half-trillion dollar” program could be implemented without more direct involvement from Congress, which controls the purse of federal spending.
“We take very seriously the idea of separation of powers and that power should be divided to prevent its abuse,” Roberts said, adding that “this is a case that presents extraordinarily serious, important issues about the role of Congress and about the role that we should exercise in scrutinizing that.”
The justices on the right — six of the court’s nine members — seemed unsatisfied with assertions from their liberal colleagues and U.S. Solicitor General Elizabeth B. Prelogar that blocking the program would actually thwart the will of Congress, which in 2003 provided authority for the secretary of education to “waive or modify” student loan provisions in times of emergency.
Liberal Justice Elena Kagan said Congress could not have been clearer about its intentions in the Higher Education Relief Opportunities for Students Act. “We deal with congressional statutes every day that are really confusing,” Kagan said. “This one is not.”
But the conservative justices asked a barrage of questions about the ability of the executive branch to make sweeping change without specific congressional authorization — the “major questions doctrine.” By the end of the day, the administration’s best hope seemed to be that the court might find that none of the plaintiffs in the two cases had legal standing to make the challenge.
Such a finding would mean the court would not decide the merits of the issue. Conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett had skeptical questions for lawyers representing six Republican-led states in one case, and two borrowers who did not receive the relief they wanted in the other. But it would require only five justices to find standing in one of the cases for a challenge to proceed.
Prelogar found little support among the conservatives for her contention that the administration was properly exercising the authority Congress had already bestowed.
Said Roberts: “I think most casual observers would say if you’re going to give up that much amount of money, if you’re going to affect the obligations of that many Americans on a subject that’s of great controversy, they would think that’s something for Congress to act on.”
Justice Sonia Sotomayor agreed that the law empowers the education secretary to make sure borrowers were not worse off, in the terms the law uses, because of an emergency.
“The evidence is clear that many” borrowers will default, Sotomayor told Nebraska Solicitor General James A. Campbell, who argued for the states. “Their financial situation will be even worse because once you default, the hardship on you is exponentially greater. You can’t get credit. You’re going to pay higher prices for things. They are going to continue to suffer from this pandemic in a way that the general population doesn’t. And what you’re saying is, now we’re going to give judges the right to decide how much aid to give them.”
But the tax breaks for craprate america roll on, They get funneled to swiss bank accounts or the Caymans but thats OK. But we can take care of the next Gen thats been screwed over by the greed of the banksters.
I am really, really sick and tired of the MICC parasite and the stupids, and they are STUPID, who run it. Now, look at Israel. Its idiotic voters just elected a FRightwingNUT crook for the 3rd time. Plus, the only way Netanyaboob could form the required coalition to govern was adding a pot load of religious fruitcakes. The Israeli equivalent to Christian Evangelicals. We know what a nasty, dangerous mess they are. And if you don’t think these yahoos aren’t itching to drop a few nukes on Iran, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Jordan, Egypt, etc. 🤬🤬🤬💩💩💩
BREAKING: Israeli minister of finance Bezalel Smotrich: “The Palestinian village of Hawara should be wiped out of the earth. The Israeli government needs to do it and not private citizens” https://t.co/0yvEl6Q2We
Thanks Ain’t. Man, I would have a field day verbally with this joke of a female if I ran into her on a street. That water bottle she has? I would ask if that’s vodka or moonshine cos she sure babbles like it is.
Batshit crazy 🤪 isnt even close to describing her, I wonder what DNA came toegether to produce this POS, theirs a few others that shouldnt reproduce either
Lawmakers voted 95-68 to scrap Great Prayer Day, a religious holiday observed since the 17th century.
The cancellation will provide an additional three billion kroner (£355m; $427m) to be used on the defence budget, the government says.
But there has been opposition from opposition politicians, trade unions and religious figures.
At the start of the month, some 50,000 protesters gathered outside parliament in Copenhagen to protest the plan.
“Stop the thief,” Karsten Honge, a member of the Socialist People’s Party, said during a parliamentary debate on Tuesday, according to the Associated Press.
“The government is ordering people to work one day more.”
However, there was not enough opposition in parliament to call a referendum.
Despite the opposition, Denmark’s government coalition said the extra money was needed to raise the defence budget to Nato’s target of 2% of GDP by 2030, instead of 2033 as previously planned.
This change of plan was due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the government said.
People in Denmark currently have up to 11 public holidays.
“I don’t think it’s a problem to have to work an extra day,” Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said in January.
Source:BBC
Our idiot GQP may use this approach in order to claw back money.
Its an MIC classic to scare the masses. Other than Nukes the Russian oligarchy has decimated the Russian military thru their greed. You could call their Army expendable with the casualties they’ve suffered. What a waste….
Aint Supposed to Die A Natural Death
Lol. I remember the days in elementary school and JHS when we had hide under your desk drills.
🚨NEWS: NY @GovKathyHochul just killed rail safety rules passed by her Dem legislature, echoing rail lobbyists’ argument & setting a blueprint for other governors to veto the same rules.
BREAKING: Multiple train cars have derailed in Florida. One car is reportedly carrying 30,000 gallons of propane, and crews are using infrared cameras to monitor the propane tank. pic.twitter.com/jyyeJcYRaT
As noted from last night, Chicago mayor’s race was held and the top two finishers (thus far) are Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson. This is a classic center to center right vs center left runoff.
Capitol Fax blog got a response from the Illinois Teachers Union about the runoff:
Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT) President Dan Montgomery issued this statement today following Chicago’s mayoral election results.
“Brandon Johnson made history today as the first public school teacher and union organizer to run for mayor of the third largest city in the United States. I am so proud of our IFT brother and Cook County commissioner for running an inspiring campaign centered on progressive values and what our students, workers, and communities need to thrive.
“In five weeks, Chicagoans will make history too by electing a teacher and committed labor leader to the city’s highest office. The IFT is excited and proud to support Brandon in the runoff. He is the only candidate who has led multi-racial coalitions to defend neighborhood schools from privatization, reduce high-stakes standardized testing, and expand access to state funding. Brandon understands that every student – regardless of their race, income, or zip code – deserves a fully resourced, high-quality education, from PreK-16.
“Paul Vallas would be a disaster for public education, union workers, and Chicago residents. During Vallas’ tenure at CPS, he oversaw what would become a model for conservative education policy around the nation, which includes increased standardized testing and the privatization of public schools through charters and magnets. As CEO of the Philadelphia and New Orleans school districts, he decimated public education.
“Chicagoans now have a responsibility on April 4 to ensure that our city continues to move forward, not become governed by right-wing extremists. The choice is clear – progress and prosperity under Brandon Johnson or another devastating and divisive Bruce Rauner-like term under Paul Vallas.
“While Brandon Johnson inspires hope, Paul Vallas feeds into Chicagoans’ worst fears. Our city cannot afford another Bruce Rauner.
“Congratulations to Brandon Johnson and his team for running this successful campaign. And thank you to our members who worked to help Brandon in this historic race. We know they will redouble their efforts in the runoff to ensure Chicago elects Brandon Johnson, the transformative leader our city needs and deserves.”
The results of last night’s Chicago mayor election were stunning: former Chicago Teachers Union organizer Brandon Johnson advanced to an April runoff against neoliberal architect Paul Vallas — pitting working-class power against austerity. https://t.co/9yqDY2fHv9
Breaking: Special counsel report calls deputy gangs a 'cancer' inside the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department following a historic series of investigative hearings in 2022.
The report found alleged active deputy gangs in at least four stations.https://t.co/FIVIwf5aua
On the first day of Women’s History Month, let us just be clear: trans women are women.
Trans leaders like Marsha P. Johnson and Miss Major Griffin-Gracy should be honored as women activists this month just as much as white suffragettes like Elizabeth Cady Stanton. pic.twitter.com/BaJPFaMWH4
— Working Families Party 🐺 (@WorkingFamilies) March 2, 2023
I’ve been near the Marsha P Johnson Community place in Brooklyn. She pulled the wagon for a lot in the trans community.
There’s a 2017 documentary about Marcia. I saw it in a small screening with the director answering questions. Worth a look.
The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson is a 2017 American documentary film directed by David France. It chronicles Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, prominent figures in gay liberation and transgender rights movement in New York City from the 1960s to the 1990s and co-founders of Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries. The film centers on activist Victoria Cruz’s investigation into Johnson’s death in 1992, which was initially ruled a suicide by police despite suspicious circumstances.
I read an excellent and very informative autobiographical series written by a gal who trans from male to female. She is mixed race, American, very highly educated and a successful writer/journalist. She worked in the sex trade to finance her transition. She is an activist. I wish I could recall her name!! She spent a lot of her life in Hawaii, and now is based in NYC. I went back to my electronic library returns but couldn’t track her down! Da##! 🤬🤬
Lori Lightfoot became the first Chicago mayor in more than three decades to lose a reelection bid, failing to reach the runoff in a volatile race that became a referendum on her handling of crime — an enormous issue beguiling big-city mayors everywhere.
Lightfoot, a first-term Democrat and the first openly gay person and Black woman to serve as mayor, came in third behind Paul Vallas, a former Chicago-schools executive, and Brandon Johnson, a Cook County commissioner. Besieged on all sides, Lightfoot fell behind one candidate who ran decidedly to her right (Vallas) and another who campaigned far to her left (Johnson). To most political observers, this wasn’t much of a surprise — polls consistently showed that Lightfoot’s future was in doubt — but the outcome still served as a shock to a city that, for a 30-year stretch, only had two mayors.
The nonpartisan race attracted national attention, because it offered the rarest of political tableaux: an incumbent mayor struggling for survival. After a commanding election victory four years ago on a platform of political and police reform, Lightfoot was forced to govern through crises that would break any executive — a deadly pandemic and a long summer of social unrest. Homicide rates spiked in Chicago as residents, overwhelmingly, began to worry about crime more than any other pressing issue. And Lightfoot, a former prosecutor who had never held elected office before, stumbled repeatedly as she strained to hold together the coalitions that had made her mayor in the first place.
Lightfoot alienated just about every ideological faction in Chicago. The city’s second Black mayor, Lightfoot battled Johnson, a proud progressive, for support in Chicago’s pivotal African American neighborhoods. Left-leaning organizations and local leaders viewed Lightfoot with increasing skepticism, portraying her as a pro-police neoliberal like her predecessor, Rahm Emanuel. She managed to feud, almost equally, with two influential unions that hold starkly different political views: the Chicago Teachers Union, which is left-wing and backed Johnson, and the city’s police union, the Fraternal Order of Police, which is headed by a proud Donald Trump supporter.
The Fraternal Order of Police enthusiastically backed Vallas, who ran on a tough-on-crime platform that propelled him into the runoff. A former Chicago-schools chief, he courted moderates and conservatives in a bid to rally voters disenchanted with Lightfoot over her failure to dramatically curb violent crime. His strategy paid off. After prior campaigns for mayor fizzled, Vallas is now well-positioned for the April 4 runoff — a candidate with an ideological profile not much different from that of Emanuel or his predecessor, Richard M. Daley.
At the same time, progressives are optimistic that they can, at last, vault one of their own into city hall. Johnson will hope to consolidate the city’s Black voters and marshal an anti-Vallas coalition heading into the April 4 runoff. Vallas finished well ahead of the rest of the field, but Johnson has a chance to win over supporters of both Lightfoot and Jesús “Chuy” García, a progressive congressman who finished fourth. Businessman Willie Wilson’s supporters could very well be in play for both candidates.
Chicagoans will decide between two candidates with remarkably different visions for the city. Vallas is a booster of police and big business who has clashed with the constellation of advocacy groups and unions that make up Chicago’s large left flank. Lightfoot, to little avail, savaged him as a Republican in Democrat’s clothing, but his message clearly resonated with a segment of an electorate weary of homicide rates not seen since the 1990s.
Johnson, meanwhile, stumped on reopening mental-health clinics, offering alternatives to traditional policing, and hiking taxes on corporations. If elected, he would join the growing ranks of big-city progressive mayors, including Michelle Wu of Boston and Karen Bass of Los Angeles, and potentially serve as a foil to the moderate in New York, Eric Adams. Bass’s own victory may offer Johnson’s supporters some hope. Last year, despite an aggressive, well-funded challenge from former Republican Rick Caruso, Bass triumphed, convincing a largely Democratic city to stick with a candidate who hugged the left lane. Johnson, of course, is not Bass — he has never served in Congress, and he isn’t nearly as well-known — and Vallas is not Caruso, the extraordinarily wealthy developer of the Grove. In a city that has seen enormous upheaval in the last few years, the Chicago mayoral runoff promises, at minimum, to be an incredibly charged affair.
Lightfoot did not do her homework before running for Mayor. She had no experience whatsoever with the history of political machines and corruption that Chicago is known for. It was a very dumb decision on her part. She got lucky (if you could call it that) winning when she did. Johnson knows what he’s up against. If the progressives rally behind him, he’ll beat the Rahm/GOPuke clone.
I would be surprised if Johnson pulls this off. The wealthy and over 65 crowd came out to vote for Vallas and they will push the crime crime crime issue, especially as the Chief of the Chicago Police just handed in his two week notice, and a police officer was killed yesterday.
The former Secretary of State, Jesse White, just endorsed Vallas. This is a big get because as Capitol Fax blog points out (quoting a report from the Sun-Times):
Newly-retired Jesse White, the first African-American elected as Illinois Secretary of State, is endorsing Paul Vallas, giving Vallas a leg up in his quest to claim the 20% share of the Black vote he needs to win the April 4 mayoral runoff against Brandon Johnson. […]
An African American elected official, who asked to remain anonymous, predicted White’s endorsement would have a domino effect on other establishment Black elected officials and, more importantly, on older, more conservative Black voters.
“It’s a huge first step toward Paul galvanizing support he needs desperately in the Black community,” the politician said.
“Jesse White is loved throughout the entire state. Senior citizens listen to him. The seniors who stuck with Lori Lightfoot or went with Willie Wilson are gonna start gravitating toward Paul because of his message on public safety, his expertise on budgeting and their fear that Brandon Johnson would defund the police and impose a head tax, a hotel tax a commuter tax — whatever tax. The city can’t take it.”
It’s true, Jesse White was one of the few pols who was re-elected repeatedly because he improved services for drivers and libraries. Jesse White is also African-American.
Well, it will depend on whose voters come out. Hopefully, it will be a honest election as Chitown is right up there with NYC in the history of dirty political tricks.
Today Pritzker was asked about endorsements, and so far, he’s keeping his powder dry. It’s a fine line to walk politically. If he endorses Johnson, Johnson will have a decent shot. I don’t expect he will endorse him. However, I expect that any endorsement for either candidate will be at the last minute.
wpDiscuz
Happy Hump Day! March is arriving today as a lamb in Central IL.
A lion here in the Hudson Valley. About 5 inches Monday night until Tuesday. Biggest snowfall of this extremely warm winter.
I think snow is on its way here for Friday. But 62 and not too windy today, feels like spring!
mid 40s and snow is melting, but waitng to see what Friday brings
I finally got back on line after 5 days with out power, because of the ice storm. Started Weds.the 22, ended Mon. 27.
https://www.metrotimes.com/news/dte-and-consumers-energy-keep-blaming-the-weather-for-michigans-power-outages-from-winter-ice-or-summer-wind-32483952VIEWS & OPINIONS
DTE and Consumers Energy keep blaming the weather for Michigan’s power outages
What if the problem is them?
By Lee DeVito on Mon, Feb 27, 2023 at 12:13 pm
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84, dry and breezy down here just like climatologists and weather scientists have been warning about for years! We need rain but the good news is no wildfires, so far. 👏 I hate ice storms. They’re right up there with tornadoes and cat6 hurricanes (coming soon) 😡 in my book.
Are they using the Texas power grid model?
We’re with one of the best power companies in this state. They’re publicly owned and honest (oxymoron).
Ouch!!!!
On student loan forgiveness, conservative justices skeptical of Biden plan
This is the best explanation I’ve seen about the arguments that WaPo article only glosses over.
But the tax breaks for craprate america roll on, They get funneled to swiss bank accounts or the Caymans but thats OK. But we can take care of the next Gen thats been screwed over by the greed of the banksters.
More PR for the DoD budget. Sigh.
Department of Defense, my wrinkled arse! It’s the Constantly-Itching-For-War Department!💩
I am really, really sick and tired of the MICC parasite and the stupids, and they are STUPID, who run it. Now, look at Israel. Its idiotic voters just elected a FRightwingNUT crook for the 3rd time. Plus, the only way Netanyaboob could form the required coalition to govern was adding a pot load of religious fruitcakes. The Israeli equivalent to Christian Evangelicals. We know what a nasty, dangerous mess they are. And if you don’t think these yahoos aren’t itching to drop a few nukes on Iran, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Jordan, Egypt, etc. 🤬🤬🤬💩💩💩
I’m still suprised that some religeous wacko group hasnt exploaded a small nuke in the middle east somewhere. Money can buy anything…
Wow. It would be illegal to make such a statement in the US about Israel. We aren’t even allowed to call them an apartheid state. What a P-O-S.
This is precisely what I mean about the Israeli Religious Evangelical aholes in my above comment. Bunch of 2-legged 💩 just like here!😡🤮
Thanks Ain’t. Man, I would have a field day verbally with this joke of a female if I ran into her on a street. That water bottle she has? I would ask if that’s vodka or moonshine cos she sure babbles like it is.
Where she’s from, it’s probably moonshine. Lol.
Well its not the “good stuff” as her supply was probably laced with anti freeze or something.
This ###### female loudmouth showboatin’ yahoo insults all of sensible humanity. Include the imbeciles who voted for her!
Batshit crazy 🤪 isnt even close to describing her, I wonder what DNA came toegether to produce this POS, theirs a few others that shouldnt reproduce either
+270! 🙂
Problem is she’s partly responsible for “white nationalism” i want safety from…
Denmark? Really? Can’t see that as being helpful in the next election.
NATO member and I think I read somewhere that NATO is now asking all members to support activities wherever possible against Russia.
“The Russkies are coming; the Russkies are coming!” We got that crap going full bore again!
Source:BBC
Our idiot GQP may use this approach in order to claw back money.
The GQP would start with MLK day, then Labor Day as neither serves their purpose.
Its an MIC classic to scare the masses. Other than Nukes the Russian oligarchy has decimated the Russian military thru their greed. You could call their Army expendable with the casualties they’ve suffered. What a waste….
Lol. I remember the days in elementary school and JHS when we had hide under your desk drills.
yea -i remember that too
WOW!!!
Between Hochul and Adams, NY Dem executives leave a lot to be desired. The legislature is pretty good now though.
Her track record will keep her out of the POTUS running, I think.
She sounds just like a Cuomo clone.
Not quite. But his ilk are now her ilk.
Manatee County….figures. At least, that’s not near me.
If the R’s were in control, they would just issue the subpeona. Bernie’s trying to play by the arcane rules.
As noted from last night, Chicago mayor’s race was held and the top two finishers (thus far) are Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson. This is a classic center to center right vs center left runoff.
Capitol Fax blog got a response from the Illinois Teachers Union about the runoff:
Vallas is a Rahm leftover, if I’m not mistaken.
Vallas sounds just like a GOPuke. The charter school support would lose my vote alone.
Johnson will have to get the youth vote out to edge out his opponent.
T and R x 3, Ms. Benny!! ☮️🙂👍 Hope your healing is continuing in a positive way.
I’ve been near the Marsha P Johnson Community place in Brooklyn. She pulled the wagon for a lot in the trans community.
One of the best trans statements I ever saw/read was a movie called “Boys Don’t Cry.” Incredible!
There’s a 2017 documentary about Marcia. I saw it in a small screening with the director answering questions. Worth a look.
I’ll check that out during Pride Month.
I read an excellent and very informative autobiographical series written by a gal who trans from male to female. She is mixed race, American, very highly educated and a successful writer/journalist. She worked in the sex trade to finance her transition. She is an activist. I wish I could recall her name!! She spent a lot of her life in Hawaii, and now is based in NYC. I went back to my electronic library returns but couldn’t track her down! Da##! 🤬🤬
Ross Barkan
How Lori Lightfoot Lost Chicago
Lightfoot did not do her homework before running for Mayor. She had no experience whatsoever with the history of political machines and corruption that Chicago is known for. It was a very dumb decision on her part. She got lucky (if you could call it that) winning when she did. Johnson knows what he’s up against. If the progressives rally behind him, he’ll beat the Rahm/GOPuke clone.
I would be surprised if Johnson pulls this off. The wealthy and over 65 crowd came out to vote for Vallas and they will push the crime crime crime issue, especially as the Chief of the Chicago Police just handed in his two week notice, and a police officer was killed yesterday.
The former Secretary of State, Jesse White, just endorsed Vallas. This is a big get because as Capitol Fax blog points out (quoting a report from the Sun-Times):
It’s true, Jesse White was one of the few pols who was re-elected repeatedly because he improved services for drivers and libraries. Jesse White is also African-American.
Well, it will depend on whose voters come out. Hopefully, it will be a honest election as Chitown is right up there with NYC in the history of dirty political tricks.
Today Pritzker was asked about endorsements, and so far, he’s keeping his powder dry. It’s a fine line to walk politically. If he endorses Johnson, Johnson will have a decent shot. I don’t expect he will endorse him. However, I expect that any endorsement for either candidate will be at the last minute.