Michigan Votes Forum

email me anything. emails always have a return address which is traceable. i don't think you have the courage to email me. just like the way you don't have the courage to get a monicer to identify you. i did it. why can't you? because you are SCARED. please email those facts you say you posted. i'd like to read them myself. i've researched this issue extensively, and i haven't found ONE success story among all the states that have tried it. you obviously didn't look too thorougly into this subject, as you rely on strict emotion to guide you, not the facts and histories of the states that have tried it and failed to get any benefit from it. so PLEASE email those facts to me soonest. i can't wait to see what sort of information helps liberals form opinions. and be advised, your email WILL be posted here verbatim. that means EVERY WORD. i want all of michigan to see what sort of information helps liberals form opinions. i'm waiting...

troll's email too? or g-ma's? probably not. i was looking forward to emailing the troll to see how the 'troll's trawler' was getting along, and to see how many piss-ants he has floating in his bilge.

she's in a tough position... if she 'checks up' on cajun, and gets him sent to jail, like she's promised to a couple of times here, then, by default, she will have to be working for his early release. i can hear the chompers gnashing from here. just a little thought from the fly on the wall.

thanks for all the positive emails i've recieved so far. i didn't know i was so popular. i should run for office up here. but no... you guys aren't ready for THAT kind of conservatism.

get those emails. they are protected liberal secrets, never to be divulged. fear keeps that from happening. great fear. you want my email too? wanna send the 'gestapo' to 'check me out' too?

why can't your sources pinpoint the reason why michigan pays ten times more per inmate per day than texas? it CAN'T be because the guards are paid one tenth the salary. because they aren't. it CAN'T be because OUR guards are paid ten times the salary of those in texas, because they aren't. electricity costs are almost the same here and in texas. so that's not it. building costs are about the same. there is no difference in the cost of security in one place or the other. there are only so many guards in either state. they don't get paid more to guard more violent prisoners. so THAT'S not it. that leaves us with political greed. that also leaves us with governmental ineptitude. you won't admit to either of those two things, as that would make your liberal government look bad. so you keep on harping on overcrowding. crime rates are only controlled by criminals. recidivism rates are only controlled by criminals. per inmate per day rates are controlled by the governor, and she CAN lower them if she wants to. but she obviously doesn't want to. for the amount of money we spend today, we can send each and every one of them to a HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS, and feed them three good meals a day at HOOTERS. some of us are tired of hearing you whine about how little the inmate gets. anything he gets above food, water, and a place to sleep is too much. now, if the living for inmates is as sparce as you say it is, where is the rest of the money going? that should be easy to find out, but you don't even want to look. you just want to release inmates. after you release inmates, you want to persecute cajun and anyone else who disagrees with you or opposes your viewpoint. you work for freedom of the vile and work for the incarceration of the political opponent. sounds like a third world dictatorship to me.

What other sites?

It sounds like you have already educated FLY ON THE WALL. She sounds just like the rest of your egos.

I am starting to worry about your hatred and blaming orthers for things that supposilly happened in your life. PLEASE GET HELP....

i never see you post as g-ma on the OTHER thread on this topic. that would be HB 4263. i see sandi on there a lot. but not you. how about HB 6024? HB 5829? SB 587? SB 541? HB 4548? SB 378? HB 4253? SB 39? or is this thread your personal domain to sit and spout vitriol against those that oppose you? it must be, you haven't posted one verifiable word on any of those other sites that are looking to change what can be changed. some are positive, some are rediculous. none have even been read by you, much less posted on. now, as for the source 'the real cost of prisons' website, i'd say it has a serious leftist slant, not to mention a bad case of unavailable facts. it posts only opinions and innuendo, not verifiable facts. you must read it often. we pay more per prisoner than forty other states, and you don't care about changing that. all you care about is releasing prisoners. let's cut our expenses first, THEN, only if we have to, release inmates.

Now you know how I feel since I ONLY post under G-Ma, yet you all direct all your postings towards me as if I am the only one out here.

don't worry about me, g-ma. i'm responsible for my sanity and my safety. not the state of michigan. both are in good hands. nice try though. by the way, my mother is even as we speak taking the course to become a licensed concealed weapon carrier. i've already passed mine, and my permit came last month. i can't wait to go shopping with her to get her first concealed weapon. that should give you some idea about how seriously we take the idea that releasing inmates is the right thing to do. we are doing everything we can to prevent us from being a victim again. have a nice day. a fly on the wall.

you post under ANONYMOUS CITIZEN. you simply title some of your posts G-MA. now, let's see if you can work up the courage to actually let g-ma be your sign on name, that way, you become responsible for what is posted under that name, and no one else can post for you. it's easy. it only takes a few seconds, and the courage of your convictions. good luck.

she simply sits, listens, and gets the usual chatter from the 'usuals' at the cafe. we can't help it if most of us here are staunchly conservative. one or two of us are even libertarian. so far, we have converted about a dozen died-in-the-wool liberals, and the list grows longer. i think that if you really look at your reasons for wanting those inmates released, you'd reconsider, and come over to our side of the discussion. is that why you don't want to re-post any of your reasons? just a thought?

thanks again for posting my email address. thirty seven emails, all positive. not one discussing your side of the arguement. there are a few who are pretty critical of you and the troll, though. bet you didn't know that all you have to do is click on the little blue "crazycajun" on the top of the post and you will be automatically connected to me by email. my email address has been here as long as i have. you are welcome to use it. now, about those facts you lied about putting up.

g-ma. i really DON'T just sit and listen. i actively ask questions. i ALWAYS get answers. i may not like the answers that i get, but i always get them. kind of like this thread. why can't YOU give answers. padre and i have just finished looking back on three threads from beginning to end. we can't find anywhere you have posted your reasons for supporting this bill. we CAN find at least seventy five times you have been ASKED for those reasons. it's okay to say you just want your loved one out of jail. signed, the fly on the wall.

as long as we are playing the BLAME GAME... let's blame g-ma and company whenever any recently released inmate commits another crime. ANY other crime. i'm sure they promised their parole board that they would DEFINATELY NOT commit a single criminal act as long as they draw breath. let's blame g-ma and company each and every time another innocent person becomes a victim. it HAS to be a conspiracy, there ARE at least two people, acting in concert to perform a criminal act, and at least ONE of them has taken steps to ensure that a criminal act is committed. so, g-ma, the court of public opinion has already found you guilty of collusion in two deaths, and three robbery attempts. that's just what we know about from those in this room. i'm sure that there are others. you ARE taking steps that you KNOW, or SHOULD KNOW will lead to more crimes being committed. that should be enough for a lenghty conviction.

Contact you by E-Mail are you out of your mind, why would I set myself up for more of your verbal abuse. I have repeatly told you I only post under G-Ma, do you believe that? NO. I have a right to post my opinion here as you do. I also have a right to believe as I do without being blame for murder. You ask for info and references thier here, you just need to learn how to read. Why do I not post on these other sites, because I have a family and believe it or not a LIFE other than here.

Cajun For Governor!!!!!

blames you, grandmother. but i do know who does. not that i blame her, she DOES have a point. it's one thing to BELIEVE that inmates are all innocent and should be released, it's another to DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. remember, grandmother, you are going against the will of the vast majority, 63% of michiganders voted for truth in sentencing, according to the detroit free press. but they have been known to be wrong in the past. now, why don't you follow some of the OTHER threads on this site that CAN do something constructive about the parole situation you USED to have a problem with? also, why don't you EDUCATE those who can't get parole how your loved one did it? it's one thing to SAY IT'S IMPOSSIBLE, but a 'whole nuther' to attain parole. now, as for the woman who blames you for the killers of her grandparents being out on parole, i'm not sure i can help you with that. you need to explain your position to her directly. by the way, i don't think i was ever as rude, crude and socially unacceptable to you as you would like to believe. i think there are OTHERS who were. remember, I always post under CRAZYCAJUN. uber-liberal always posts under uber-liberal. the fly on the wall has yet to get a sign on name, and Father Manny doesn't post enough to get one, he only chimes in when things get PHILOSOPHICAL. now, as for the several attorneys and the politician or three, they usually post under anonymous citizen, as do all the other 'regulars' around here. there are also OTHERS who post anonymously, who aren't as nice as we are here, just to let you know. at least we aren't as nasty as 'our friend' the troll. he HAS been awfully silent lately, you must have whipped him good for lipping off. now, grandmother, i've asked you nicely for information on what the state can do to REALISTICALLY reduce the high cost of prisons, and i can tell you that REALISTICALLY, releasing inmates WON'T WORK. so, what OTHER ideas do you have? we're all ears.

campaign contributions get bigger than my tab at the internet cafe, i'll seriously consider running for office. so, let's scrape up that pocket change and send it to the "LET'S ELECT THE CRAZY GUY GOVERNOR" FUND. boy, i guess i gotta come up with a campaign slogan... let's see.... GOVERNMENT AS THE FOUNDING FATHERS INTENDED. howzzat?

Michigan House of Representatives overwhelmingly passes sentencing reform bills We have good news to report! On May 15, the Michigan House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed HB 5329, 5830, 5831 and 6015. These bills would help some people who are serving very harsh mandatory minimum drug sentences for offenses committed before March 1, 2003 (the date previous sentencing reforms went into effect). Families Against Mandatory Minimums (FAMM) and other advocates and groups have been working since 2003 to expand upon the ground-breaking sentencing reforms that made Michigan a national leader in “smart on crime” sentencing policies. Thanks to the unflagging support of FAMM members, we’ve cleared another hurdle in the legislative process that leads to fairer sentencing laws. In other heartening news, Governor Jennifer Granholm commuted the mandatory sentences of two FAMM members last week, Sally Smith and Ronald Seegar. To read more about Sally Smith, a long-time FAMM member, click here. Next steps Now FAMM’s legislative work moves to the Senate, where we will work hard to keep these reforms moving through the legislative process. FAMM will keep you informed about movement of the bills through ealerts, the FAMMGram, and our website, www.famm.org. Please take time to also thank your Michigan representative for supporting smart and fair sentencing laws! Explanation of the bills passed on May 15: HB 5829, sponsored by Rep. Bert Johnson (D-Detroit), affects individuals who are currently incarcerated. This is the main bill in the package. It includes language that: - Expands the 2003 early parole eligibility provisions for some individuals who are serving consecutive drug sentences for offenses that occurred before March 1, 2003. Sentences for conspiracy and for some substantive offenses committed before March 1, 2003, will be treated as concurrent (served together rather than one after another) for purposes of parole eligibility only (sentences do not change). Please check the bill for details and call Tom Burkert (information below) with questions. - Makes individuals serving life without parole for second drug offenses eligible for parole after serving 15 years. - Provides parole eligibility at half of the minimum sentence for each under-50 gram offense committed before March 1, 2003, that is in a string of consecutive drug sentences. - Provides parole eligibility at 17.5 years for individuals who committed over-650 gram offenses prior to March 1, 2003, and were sentenced to a term of years. - Provides earlier parole eligibility to some "650 lifers" with a prior low-level drug offense. HB 5830, sponsored by Rep. Mark Meadows (D-East Lansing): - Repeals the repeat drug offender law (this does not effect those whose offenses were committed prior to the effective date of the new law.) HB 5831, sponsored by Rep. Rick Jones (R-Grand Ledge): - Makes technical changes to the criminal code to make the probation language consistent with the 2003 reforms. HB 6015, sponsored by Rep. John Stakoe (R-Highland Township): - Allows prosecutors to charge individuals who commit repeat drug offenses as habitual felons under the same provisions used for other repeat offenses. (This does not affect those whose offenses occurred before the effective date of the new law.) PLEASE NOTE: These bills may change in the legislative process. We do not know how long it will take to finally win these reforms – the session ends on December 31, 2008, and action on the bills can happen at any time. We will need everyone's active support to ensure that the bills continue through this process. Remember – under the proposed reforms affecting individuals serving mandatory minimum drug sentences for offenses committed prior to March 1, 2003, the parole board will determine in each individual case the appropriate time for parole – just as they do now. These proposals do not change sentences, as that would be unconstitutional. You can find copies of the bills at www.michiganlegislature.org. If you need instructions finding the bills on the website, or would like a copy of the bills mailed to you or have questions, please contact Tom Burkert at tomburkert@famm.org or (517) 487-1261, Mon. – Fri., 9 AM to 5:30 PM. Tom can help you understand the bills, determine what to say in your call, and identify your own legislator. Please leave a message with your name and phone number, if you do not reach him immediately and he will call you back. Thanks again for your support! Please stay involved and look for more information from FAMM in the near future. Sincerely yours, The Michigan FAMM Team

Want to change mandatory sentencing laws? Here's how. The FAMM action center helps you communicate with your elected lawmakers in Congress (the federal level) and in your state. Elected lawmakers have the power to reform harsh mandatory sentencing laws, but they must have the support of you - their constituent - to do so. It's so easy to do! Just use the links below to look up your lawmakers and start building a relationship with them by responding to FAMM e-alerts, writing letters and making telephone calls about your concerns. When possible, a handwritten or typed letter is always best, but you can also use e-mail to get your point across. Fair and proportionate sentencing laws can be achieved if we work together to inform lawmakers. Take action today! http://capwiz.com/famm/home/ Please help educate your federal representative and senators about the need to repeal mandatory minimum sentencing laws.

him, g-ma? he hasn't abused you verbally or otherwise. it's usually ME abusing you. calling you on your lack of facts, putting up with your calling me TWISTED, and whatever other abuse you heap upon me. i take FULL responsibility. i like cajun's term, RUDE, CRUDE, AND SOCIALLY UNACCEPTABLE. you have been ALL of those, and then some. now, g-ma. i also stand behind the little lady that thinks that you should be held responsible whenever an inmate re-offends. it IS you that keeps telling us that they are little darlings who deserve to be among us. it IS YOU that supports a bill that gives carte blanche good time to anyone in jail, no matter the charge. it IS YOU that supports taking off up to 5 percent of EVERY INMATE'S TIME for simply sitting there and doing nothing. the bill you support mandates NOTHING but good time. it doesn't even specify what it takes to have good time taken away. i'm not even sure if it specifies whether good time can be taken away or not. it's about time you took some responsibility for your actions. the court of public opinion is watching. remember, your actions can have unintended consequences. if you are so heart-set on seeing them go free, why won't you stand behind them and be responsible WITH THEM when they re-offend? it's only fair.

Choice!

g-ma. you can TRY and convince me to 'forgive and forget' about those that killed my grandparents, but even the good padre has failed at that. i will not stand idly by and allow even more people to be victimized, and i don't see how you can either. you KNOW that half of those who get out for any reason re-offend within a year. but yet you STILL want to let THOUSANDS of inmates out early. why do you want to create so many new victims? why do you want to see so much suffering? why do you want to put people through that kind of misery? please explain that. signed, the fly on the wall.

"THE IDIOT'S CHOICE" has already been used in the past two elections. try again.

putts along catching and landing the piss-ant TROLL virtually at will you know the piss-ant TROLL it has multiple personalities a nut case a ditzy padre a fly speck on the wall an i-seen-the-light poli-goofus that brags about having killed people that's the piss-ant TROLL it may be many or just one or a couple but it always harasses always annoys never discusses real issues just makes a mess of things here at michiganvotes it's obseessed with my TROLL trawler brings it up all the while that's how you know the piss-ant TROLL it is the only one that takes the bait of my worthless posts and always is the only one to end up flopping around in the bilge of my piss-ant TROLL trawler even when i'm not actively fishing putt-putt-putt

ALSO: 5329 5830 5831 6015 On May 15, the Michigan House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed HB 5329, 5830, 5831 and 6015. These bills would help some people who are serving very harsh mandatory minimum drug sentences for offenses committed before March 1, 2003 (the date previous sentencing reforms went into effect

I do not take the blame for what has happen to any of you. I will not be victimized by any of you either. This bill lets non-violent, sickly, and elderly inmates EARN good time credits which will reduce their time in prison. What they do when they get out is out of my control. If there are good community- based programs to help them when they get out MOST will work towards becoming productive citizens. People with attitudes like yours will not help. Go out on CAPP'S site, The Pew report site, the Michigan Center site, they all confirm that to decrease prison cost we must decrease the inmate population. This bill does that in a responsible way. If you do not agree, what are your responsible solutions.

Good info Sandie. Thanks. Have a nice week it's suppose to get warmer. I hope...

???????What are you talking about????????

Scare of people like you? Yes. with your hatred and blaming others for what you say has happen to you, and you being armed, yes I am scare of you. Courage has nothing to do with not giving you my E-Mail address, that would be stupidity if I gave it to you.

In my opinion this thread has gotten ridiculous. If you support this bill than you must me G-Ma or her signing in as someone else or not signing in at all. If you don't support this bill than you must be crazycajun or him signing in as someone else or not signing in at all. The finger pointing and nit picking needs to stop. We are all adults on this site-at least I think we are so lets try to act the part. This site is about reading others opinions and posting ours,no one needs to explain to another user why or why not they support this bill. I also continue to see users try to argue and bash it out about things that have nothing to do will this bill. If you have concerns than you need to contact your legislator and address them. And above all....READ this entire bill to see what it covers. Again....This is only my opinion. P.S. I try to remember to sign in but have noticed that a couple of my post are from Anonymous Citizen!Shame on Sandie! EVERYONE have a wonderful day and a safe holiday weekend!

In my opinion this thread has gotten ridiculous. If you support this bill than you must me G-Ma or her signing in as someone else or not signing in at all. If you don't support this bill than you must be crazycajun or him signing in as someone else or not signing in at all. The finger pointing and nit picking needs to stop. We are all adults on this site-at least I think we are so lets try to act the part. This site is about reading others opinions and posting ours,no one needs to explain to another user why or why not they support this bill. I also continue to see users try to argue and bash it out about things that have nothing to do will this bill. If you have concerns than you need to contact your legislator and address them. And above all....READ this entire bill to see what it covers. Again....This is only my opinion. P.S. I try to remember to sign in but have noticed that a couple of my post are from Anonymous Citizen!Shame on Sandie! EVERYONE have a wonderful day and a safe holiday weekend!

I have really been enjoying these days outside with the grandchildren. So,when does your grandson come home?

Eight more days. We are planning a big cookout when he gets home so I really hope this weather gets better. You have a nice holiday too. And enjoy every minute you can with them grandkids. Life goes by to fast. Enjoy!!!

I have a handicap daughter who will turn 23 on Memorial Day and we have planned a hugh bbq to celebrate her life.So I too have been a weather watcher. I know you must be very excited as to the arrival of your grandson.I hope you all enjoy your cookout and his homecoming.I will continue to have your family in my daily prayers!

In my opinion this thread has gotten ridiculous. If you support this bill than you must me G-Ma or her signing in as someone else or not signing in at all. If you don't support this bill than you must be crazycajun or him signing in as someone else or not signing in at all. The finger pointing and nit picking needs to stop. We are all adults on this site-at least I think we are so lets try to act the part. This site is about reading others opinions and posting ours,no one needs to explain to another user why or why not they support this bill. I also continue to see users try to argue and bash it out about things that have nothing to do will this bill. If you have concerns than you need to contact your legislator and address them. And above all....READ this entire bill to see what it covers. Again....This is only my opinion. P.S. I try to remember to sign in but have noticed that a couple of my post are from Anonymous Citizen!Shame on Sandie! EVERYONE have a wonderful day and a safe holiday weekend!

thats why we didn't find any, but said we did