Joe Biden

Vice President Joe Biden swooped into Detroit yesterday for some political fundraising, and of course, a chili dog at Lafayette Coney Island.

The Obama administration today announced more than $34 million in grants to keep 160 police officers on the streets in Michigan. The funding will provide 100 percent the salary and benefits for the officers for three years.
From a White House press release, Vice President Joe Biden had this to say about the awards:

The plan has been laid-out, governors throughout the region have signed-on to it and the money is now available. All that needs to happen now is a political engine to move the Midwest Regional Rail Initiative forward. And even though he might be new to Washington, D.C., U.S. Rep. Mark Schauer might be one of the engineers that helps make high speed rail in Michigan — long talked about but never adequately funded — a reality.

Seeking to boost vehicle sales and help the environment at the same time, Vice President Joe Biden announced that the federal government will give $300 million in grants to local governments to replace their existing vehicle fleets with newer and more fuel-efficient cars and trucks.

Cash-strapped and facing 12-percent unemployment, Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm said she is more than happy to accept any federal stimulus money that other states may turn down. “Michigan would like to be first in line,” Granholm wrote in a letter to Vice President Biden, who is in charge of implementing the recovery package.
In recent weeks, [...]

Now that the McCain campaign has pulled out of Michigan, the state Republican Party is desperate to keep the money flowing in so they can continue to spend on state and local races. Michigan GOP Chairman Saul Anuzis sent out an email Tuesday pointing to one recent poll that looked relatively favorable for them and [...]

A mix of young urban folks give mixed reviews on both candidates over mixed drinks

As I said last week, there is only one possible measure of who “wins” these “debates,” and that is by how they changed public perceptions and swung voters to their side. And like it or not, most voters do not make that decision based on analysis of substantive arguments but on subjective perceptions.

Don’t feel like heading to a veep debate house party? Can’t get away from your desk to share the fun?
Join others here at Michigan Messenger for live chat during the debate! Scream not into the void at Palin’s babbling nonanswers or Biden’s toothy gaffes — scream here instead!

No one knows what to expect from Sarah Palin in tonight’s vice presidential debate. That is, if she even shows. After a week of intensive, post-Couric cramming at one of the many McCain compounds, there’s no telling what we’ll see.