It appears that my series on Mike Bishop and the Senate Republicans here at Blogging For Michigan has caused quite the nationwide stir.
Good.
It's about time that people started paying attention to the fact that Mike Bishop and the Senate Republicans are blocking progress for the citizens of Michigan. The Republican Party in this state has obstructed my Governor, Jennifer Granholm, at every turn during her time in office, and I want the whole nation to know about it. They are currently dragging their feet on fixing the budget crisis that faces Michigan, and that has been my focus for most of this year, both at this site and at my own blog.
I started this series on July 24th- it's the "Senate Republican Statement of the Day". I decided to do this after reading the Senate Journals and listening to these guys get up day after day and say the most outrageous things... and I felt it was time to give them a little more publicity.
Apparently Mike Bishop has taken offense to a post I did on Bruce Patterson, and decided to shut off access to this site for the Michigan Senate. Senate Republicans are trying to claim that this is the work of a Senate employee because, according to MIRS- "the blog updated after session and it coincides with what the Senate's doing."
Yes. Just as soon as you guys put this on the web, and the stories hit the papers/journals, I am on it. I am just that quick.
I found it very interesting that you would single out this blog and try to keep us from speaking out, especially right when the Senate Democrats are going to start a series of posts here. Other people are finding that interesting as well.
Let's address the post that Bishop/Miner is referring to. If you look at that post on Patterson, you will see that it was made the day after he said the things that he said.
you bet there's more...
The audio came from the Senate Republican web site. The text came from the Senate Journals of 8/1. The rest of any text came from the Michigan news site Gongwer, with a link to the Detroit News thrown in as well.
This is not the work of a Senate employee. This is me. And only me.
And I am really, really good about sourcing my material.
Here are a few more-
Sen. Republican SOD 7/25 - Ron Jelink
Sen. Republican SOD 7/26 - Nancy Cassis
Sen. Republican SOD 7/28 - Mike Bishop
Sen. Republican SOD 7/30 - Matt Marsden
And various other posts calling out not only the Senate Republicans, but the House Democrats as well. Not a huge fan of Andy Dillon at this point.
You will find all posts are referenced using materials available on the Internet, so, that really shoots your "employee" theory down, doesn't it? This is the work of a concerned citizen who loves her state.
Now I find that Mike Bishop and the Republicans are now trying to deny myself and Blogging For Michigan our right to report on their activities by denying the members of the Senate the right to view that material, and the very voices of the citizens that they serve, that appear on our website. And they say this is the reason why-
Here is your Senate Republican Statement of the Day for 8/3- from MIRS-
Miner said the site is "all about the political agenda of the Senate Dems" and that the site is politically motivated.
No, I am "all about the political agenda of the Senate Dems", and of my Governor Jennifer Granholm, because they reflect my values and ideals for this state. The site is whatever our members want it to be, they are free to write on any topic as long as it is of a progressive nature.
I love the Senate Dems. I am thrilled that they are here. They are fighting for the citizens of Michigan. And I intend to keep posting on all of this, regardless of what Mike Bishop and the Republicans do.
But Blogging For Michigan is so much more. We intend to highlight the good things that are happening in this state as well. As Christine has pointed out there are many things going on here that the Senate Republicans conveniently overlook. We are not your average political blog.
And as far as myself- I don't work for anyone except Blogging For Michigan. I am currently looking for a job. Need anyone? I would love to be a photographer. I have absolutely zero political ambitions or even the desire for fame- I have found I don't like it much- I just care about my state enough to do something about it in the form of writing.
I love Michigan, and I want to see it get beyond the Big Republican Stall and start to move forward again.
That's why I'm here. That's why I do the things I do.
Any questions? Feel free to ask.