A Million Medical Marijuana Patient Letters To Obama?

[t-pain]

very interesting wild bill. thanks for that.

 

better watch out my glands might get damaged.

[Wild Bill]

Damaging my growth hormones might help. All of my growth seems to be horizontal nowadays.

[Restorium2]

Why I think Mark Schauer should be our next Governor

 

01 Feb, 2014

 

 

 

Mark Schauer and Rick Thompson, January 2014

Mark Schauer and Rick Thompson, January 2014. Photo/Eric Gunnels

 

by Rick Thompson

 

January 31, 2014

 

FLINT- Last night, before speeding to metro Detroit to broadcast the 185th episode of the Planet Green Trees Internet radio show, several colleagues and I attended a fundraiser to benefit the gubernatorial campaign of Mark Schauer.

 

The event was held in downtown Flint. Schauer is a Democrat, and Flint typically votes to support the Dems, but even I was surprised to see the number of people that crammed themselves into the White Horse Tavern. Standing Room Only. Senator Jim Ananich didn’t sit down once; Flint’s Mayor, Dayne Walling, didn’t get a chair while I was there, either. “It took me ten minutes to find a parking spot,” said 3rd Coast Compassion Center’s Jamie Lowell. “I had to park two blocks away at a coney island restaurant.”

 

Both the Mayor and the Senator took time out to speak to myself and fellow attendee Eric Gunnels, himself a Trustee in Genesee County’s Thetford Township. The Senator and I are well known to each other but it was the first time I’d met the Mayor. Both men were approachable and open, although time and circumstance prevented us from deep conversation.

 

When Schauer arrived he shook hands for a few minutes before being introduced to the crowd by Doug Norton. Norton had a bit of difficulty controlling crowd noise in the cramped quarters, but when Mark took the stage everyone fell silent- except for the cheering.

 

The event was co-sponsored by the Michigan Education Authority; Schauer gave them praise and asked how many current and retired teachers there were in the room. A raucous round of applause and whistles erupted. Schauer recognized the other event sponsor, the Citizens Against Government Overreach, which created another round of hoots and clapping.

 

Then Schauer got down to business.

 

Jamie Lowell at Hash Bash 2012

Jamie Lowell at Hash Bash 2012

 

“I am a card-carrying and dues-paying union member,” he told the crowd. Stories of his father, a Grand Blanc teacher who commuted every day from Howell and still managed to arrive an hour before school began to ensure his laboratories were ready for the students, and other members of the teaching profession were liberally sprinkled into the oratory. Each tale was genuine.

 

Schauer talked about Snyder. “One-term nerd!” was shouted by the crowd at the candidate, and he just smiled. While citing the failings of the Snyder administration- taxes on retirees, $500 + per pupil school funding lost, tax breaks to corporations- Schauer refused to attack the man himself. He kept focus on the issues, even when it may have pleased the crowd to hear him call the Governor a liar.

 

Every politician can shake hands and play to the crowd. Some can even fake integrity. I got the impression that Schauer wasn’t faking. Lowell and Gunnels agreed.

 

A conversation I had with a friend this morning convinced me that Schauer is the real deal.

 

Several years ago, Ci Ci Taylor was working with then-US House Representative Mark Schauer. “When the pipeline burst in Battle Creek, Governor Granholm only flew over it in a helicopter. He actually put a HazMat suit on and picked up the dead animals,” Taylor said. ”He really cares about the people.”

 

Ci Ci Taylor at Detroit's Global Marijuana Freedom March

Ci Ci Taylor at Detroit’s Global Marijuana Freedom March

 

A roll-up-the-sleeves guy who gets involved. I like it. Add to the mix that he’s been a Michigan Representative, a Senator, and served in the Congress. If I remember correctly, this nerdy guy’s first public office was… the top office in the state.

 

Taylor said one more thing that made me think. “You know why he came out of retirement?” she asked.

 

“He went to the right to work rally, and got maced by Michigan State Police officers.” That rally made national news as the police shut down the Capitol Building and used mounted troops to control the attendees. Some were maced; some were forcibly removed from the premises. Schauer wasn’t in office then, he was a private citizen expressing his opinion at the house of government. I can relate to that.

 

 

“The police officers told him that he was not allowed to stand where he was,” Taylor related. “So he asked where the line was and they looked at each other and maced him.”

 

A man, attempting to comply with police orders, gets hosed with mace anyway? That’s a familiar story. Even if these third-hand tales are stretched a little, the impression of integrity I had when I shook the man’s hand has been reinforced in my mind.

 

This is the kind of guy we need running Michigan right now. He’s familiar with lawmaking at every level of government; he’s vocal about social causes in his private life; the system has shown to him the flaws that need fixing. Unseating a sitting governor is hard to do, but this year we might have a candidate that can get the job done.

[t-pain]

so Mark Schauer worse on medical marijuana than rick snyder?

[Restorium2]

so Mark Schauer worse on medical marijuana than rick snyder?

The best thing you can do in the next few YEARS for Medical Marijuana in Michigan would be to replace Snyder/Schuette. Everything else you could possibly do takes a back seat to this. This is big. This is your chance. Don't blow it.

[t-pain]

i'm just asking for Schauer's policy on marijuana resto.

 

just because hes a democrat doesnt automatically mean hes for marijuana. what is it? 37% of democrats still want prohibition?

 

i really do hope hes better. and obviously i'm not voting for snyder. but i would like to know his current views on the subject and what his policy will be.

[Restorium2]

i'm just asking for Schauer's policy on marijuana resto.

 

just because hes a democrat doesnt automatically mean hes for marijuana. what is it? 37% of democrats still want prohibition?

 

i really do hope hes better. and obviously i'm not voting for snyder. but i would like to know his current views on the subject and what his policy will be.

It means Schuette is GONE. You know this T. Why so stubborn on this? What do you know that would make you hedge with Schuette? I'm all ears....

[Restorium2]

We need to start organizing for the voter guide.

Definitely.

 

Here's an example of a vulnerable candidate that needs to go. He's on the ropes right now because he made his wife a pile of cash using his position. It's on the national news. We can easily topple this guy and put someone better in his place.

https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/mike_rogers/400342

 

Agema needs to go also.

[booberry43]

I had Mr Schauer (Mark's father) for high school chemistry class, but I don't know anything about Mark. His comments about mj are disappointing, but Schuette/Snyder have to go.......

[Thai1]

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Edited March 19, 2014 by Thai1

[t-pain]

He made that comment in 2010 and since then public opinion has swayed quite a bit I wonder what his comments would be today?

 

never responded to my email. maybe you could try calling his office? i dont like using phones.

Edited March 18, 2014 by t-pain

[Thai1]

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Edited March 19, 2014 by Thai1