Carl Levin Retiring

**p69rrh51** · March-10-13, 12:36 PM

Originally Posted by Hermod

That is very often a meaningless comparison.

Cold weather "lose" payroll taxes paid to the feds by their workers. Warm weather states "gain" social security checks and medicare benefits paid by the older retirees living there. Coastal states with Navy bases "gain" from the money spent at the expense of non-coastal states. Climate dictates which states have large Army and Air 'Force installations so they "gain" at the expense of stats without.

We do have the longest coastline of the lower 48 states here in MI and we sit in the middle of one of the most strategically important waterways in the world. Also one choke point that could cripple the world's economy is just a few hundred feet off Mariner's Park and its pretty much undefended. With Michigan's location all climate and "coastal" analogies are not applicable.

**noise** · March-08-13, 11:02 AM

"Dingleberry" and "Granmole". How very creative and witty.

**Honky Tonk** · March-08-13, 11:12 AM

Crow anyone?

**Gistok** · March-08-13, 11:17 AM

Originally Posted by fanniemae

This jerk cannot leave fast enough. What a fossil. What did he ever do for Michigan? Now it is time for Dingelberry and senile Conyers to go too. One can hope.

Anyone familiar with the city of Detroit... would realize that both Levin and Dingell were responsible for the funding of the massive million square foot plus VA Hospital in Midtown Detroit.... which will likely get a LOT of use in the future from veterans of the Iraqi and Afghan wars...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8711072...n/photostream/

As for Conyers... I'm still trying to figure out what he's ever done...

**DetroitPlanner** · March-08-13, 11:36 AM

Originally Posted by Gistok

As for Conyers... I'm still trying to figure out what he's ever done...

He has kept Monica out of the dating pool. That's a plus!

I am surprised that there are so many of you ripping on Levin. He lives in Detroit and is a former councilman. He has consistently put policy over politics. I wish we had more people in politics like him.

**Bham1982** · March-08-13, 11:29 AM

Levin is a good guy. Modest, hardworking, cerebral, and earned respect from both political parties. He'll be missed.

**Thruster315** · March-08-13, 12:13 PM

Originally Posted by fanniemae

This jerk cannot leave fast enough. What a fossil. What did he ever do for Michigan? Now it is time for Dingelberry and senile Conyers to go too. One can hope.

Whenever I hear or see people not address politician's by their real names and resort to insipid name calling, it just degrades their argument. I'm all for discussing the shortcomings or failings of politicians but at least have the decency, intelligence, and maturity to address them by their real names.

Start an intelligent discussion with some measure of intelligence. Sheesh.

**Hypestyles** · March-08-13, 01:33 PM

Hansen Clarke might as well make a run for it since he was pushed out of the House race with the district-smooshing.

It will be interesting to see what Lon Johnson's new leadership of the state Dems manages to cultivate.

On the GOP side, I wonder will Mike Bouchard try to make a go for it, and will the state GOP consider uplifting a minority candidate at all.

**Honky Tonk** · March-08-13, 02:22 PM

Originally Posted by Hypestyles

Hansen Clarke might as well make a run for it since he was pushed out of the House race with the district-smooshing.

It will be interesting to see what Lon Johnson's new leadership of the state Dems manages to cultivate.
On the GOP side, I wonder will Mike Bouchard try to make a go for it, and will the state GOP consider uplifting a minority candidate at all.

I'd feel better with Hanson then with the other current choices.

**9606 Prest** · March-08-13, 07:24 PM

Mr. Levin has been an excellent senator, he will be missed when he retires in two years! He gets a A+ for his years of service!

**jackie5275** · March-08-13, 10:06 PM

Originally Posted by Hypestyles

Hansen Clarke might as well make a run for it since he was pushed out of the House race with the district-smooshing.

Hansen Clarke is my guy any day!!

**ddaydetroit** · March-08-13, 03:30 PM

I have nothing but respect for this man after the first gulf war the company I was working for was bidding on a job in Kuwait against companies from other parts of the world and he personally wrote and visited the Emir of Kuwait and told him it was mainly the USA that removed the Iraqis from Kuwait he helped us get the job and it kept a few hundred of us employed for a few years in Macomb county

**webband1** · March-08-13, 03:37 PM

Lots of whispering about Gary Peters and Gretchen Whitmer on the Dem side, for both the Senate and the Governor. If Peters jumps, it probably opens up a seat for Hansen Clarke to get back into the House.

**kenp** · March-08-13, 05:08 PM

Ray, that was your best post ever. Thank You!!!!!

**Ray1936** · March-08-13, 05:15 PM

Originally Posted by kenp

Ray, that was your best post ever. Thank You!!!!!

Well, as one poster noted, I should have used a

along with it, because it was halfway tongue-in-cheek. But the post sure stirred up a little stuff, didn't it???

**Detroitej72** · March-09-13, 11:34 PM

Originally Posted by Ray1936

Well, as one poster noted, I should have used a

along with it, because it was halfway tongue-in-cheek. But the post sure stirred up a little stuff, didn't it???

Hey Ray, want to consider running for Levin's seat???

**kenp** · March-08-13, 05:17 PM

dumb shits got their panties all in a bunch

**Ray1936** · March-08-13, 08:01 PM

Well, the pension is what I paid in to for 29 years. This was in lieu of social security. So I am not eligible for social security or medicare. It's about an even swap. But that was the contract I entered into, and I upheld my end of it.

The C of D has not paid into the P&F pension fund for a couple of years now, so none of your tax money is going to me. Thanks to assets of about four billion dollars, it is self sustaining and currently 102% fully funded.

As to being a cranky old fart, you're absolutely right. I earned that right, also.

**Gistok** · March-09-13, 02:55 AM

Funny... Ray1936 has been here for many years... and he's not ignorant about the leanings of the political spectrum of parties... he could teach a thing or two to some of you youngsters. He may be an old fart... but I don't remember him being cranky??

**Brian1979** · March-09-13, 10:05 AM

Good riddance, even though I don't live in Michigan I love it that he is leaving.

**Ray1936** · March-09-13, 11:24 AM

Wife says I can be cranky, Gistock.....but thanks for the plug!

**gnome** · March-09-13, 11:43 AM

Ray is the man. Has forgotten more than most of you will ever know. And he happens to be totally correct. Levin calls himself a bleeding heart, his biggest fans call him a bleeding heart liberal. Carl Levin is and always has been a bleeding heart liberal.

dont be messing with Ray for telling the truth, it shows how little you know.

**Cliffy** · March-09-13, 12:32 PM

Originally Posted by gnome

Ray is the man. Has forgotten more than most of you will ever know. And he happens to be totally correct. Levin calls himself a bleeding heart, his biggest fans call him a bleeding heart liberal. Carl Levin is and always has been a bleeding heart liberal.

dont be messing with Ray for telling the truth, it shows how little you know.

Nobody working for the government and getting a pension and health insurance should be pro-republican. Its the equivalent of slicing your own throat.

**DetroitPlanner** · March-09-13, 11:07 PM

Carl was the driving force behind the federal funding for Woodward Light Rail, Campus Martius, and the Riverwalk. What is the probability of the next senator being so pro-Detroit, or pro Metro Detroit for that matter?

**softailrider** · March-10-13, 08:28 AM

Originally Posted by DetroitPlanner

Carl was the driving force behind the federal funding for Woodward Light Rail, Campus Martius, and the Riverwalk. What is the probability of the next senator being so pro-Detroit, or pro Metro Detroit for that matter?

So, I agree he was the driving force for a lot of things but the city is still a 75% disaster zone that lost half it's population while he kept getting reelected along with Dingel and Conyers.