In A Most Courageous Fashion, MI Sec State Benson Throws Her Staff Under The Bus In Patrick Lyoya Censorship Scandal

Joselyn Benson was all for censoring the driving record of Patrick Lyoya and other criminals to support the BLM movement.  But when called out on it she back-tracked quickly and suddenly was against it.

And now she's put the blame on her staff, of course.  

The Detroit Free Press: Michigan SOS signed off, then pushed back on driving records policy change, emails show

 Quite a display of Courage and taking responsibility after winning a Profile in Courage Award, there Secretary Benson.  I daresay that the standard's for granting that award are not near where they used to be.

Again she was all for withholding the information that Patrick Lyoya was on a revoked license when he was stopped and subsequently died while rsisting arrest and assaulting a police officer

She was all for the policy and agreed to it:  

Benson appeared to sign off on the initial statement, writing "This all makes sense to me." 

But when called out on the department's censorship and deciding to go full on BLM,  she then walked it back when criticized:

"I have no doubt that each step that was taken yesterday was done with the best intentions in mind with an eye towards doing the right things furthering truth, equity and justice," she wrote to staff.

Oh, so they hid his records for "Truth, equity and justice" did they? - No, one of these things is not like the others. with the misguided focus on "equity" leading to the censoring of the driving record and denying both truth and justice.

If she had any courage actually left in her profile, she'd take responsibility (for this and her many other improper acts) and resign.  But she doesn't she will not.

Benson, along with Gov Whitmer and AG Nessel have consistently put their personal politics and ideology far ahead of their duties to the people of this state.  They need to be voted out of office come November.

How To Make A Mockery Of What Was A Prestigous Award In One Easy Step

Courage used to mean something other than knowingly breaking and manipulating the laws you are elected to enforce and covering for your political party, but here we are:

The Detroit Free Press: Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson honored with JFK Profile in Courage award

Verily, Profiles in Courage aren't what they used to be. 

But Jocelyn Benson has won what used to be the prestigious Profiles in Courage award, apparently for her "courage".

Courage most notably her acts  referenced by her messing with election security and ballot verification, making verification of absentee ballots and signatures impossible in the State of Michigan, to thereby ensure victory for her party:

The Detroit News: Judge rules Benson's ballot signature verification guidance 'invalid'.

But wait, there's more acts of courage on her part that should be celebrated:

Courage by attempting an illegal infringement on the rights of Americans well beyond her powers and law:  Benson announces ban of open carry of a firearm at voting locations

Courage in attempting to hide progressive darling criminals' records from the public eye:   Michigan Secretary of State Goes Full-On Woke - Tries To Censor Info To Protect A Criminal

 Courage to commit campaign finance violations: Secretary of State Benson accused of campaign finance violations

And lest we forget, the courage to support treating Michigan citizens differently based on their race: Upholding Ending Affirmative Action Leads To The Tantrums Of The Clowns.

Such Courage.  Much Democrat backscratching.  Wow.

Michigan Secretary of State Goes Full-On Woke - Tries To Censor Info To Protect A Criminal

It's an election year, and there was an opportunity, after already messing with the rules and procedures of the 2020 election,  for our Democrat Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson to burnish her BLM progressive credentials. 

The death of Patrick Lyoya while resisting arrest and trying to taser a police officer gave her a great opportunity to do so.

She announced the Secretary of State would no longer release the driving records of those who were "victims of violence" and she placed Lyoya in that category.

In leftie world, that Orwellian double speak works for them.

Driving records are normally available to the public and the media.  For example, I often need to retrieve them for my clients for various issues.

Clearly there is indeed information on Loyo's record that make him look bad and perhaps help explain why he resisted arrest and fought with the officer - like 3 separate stolen vehicle misdemeanors (amazingly it took a socialist website to report this information!)- a pity he got slaps on the wrist for all of them, for if he had been in jail maybe he wouldn't have been out and about and able to resist arrest and attack a cop and thus would be alive today.

Details of those crimes might provide context as to how he was driving a vehicle with non-matching plates at the time he was pulled over, but that might not paint him as an innocent victim of police brutality as the progressives and media are trying to depict him, now would it?

So what does she do?

She announces the Secretary of State will censor and not release information claiming he was a "victim of violence".

She and the department made a public statement released on their website condemning his death and they wouldn;t release his record because "as being included as an irrelevant detail that wrongly suggests he is culpable for being shot ".

You can't make this up. 

The Detroit Free Press: State moves to block release of certain driver records, then reverses itself  - Note we learn in this article, only in passing, that the information the Secretary of State is trying to suppress is that Lyoya's license was revoked - information whcih may well explain his refusal to provide it and his attempt to flee and resist arrest.

The Detroit News:  Secretary of State Benson walks back statement on limiting access to driver records

Even the more progressive news agencies got up in arms about this censorship, considering they realized it could be applied to lots more situations.

The Detroit News: Editorial: Benson wrong to withhold shooting victim's vehicle and driving records

After the pushback she announced they would continue to release records.

This is what happens when you let progressives occupy and politicize the Secretary of State position.   Truth takes a backseat to the narrative, and they progressives will blatantly censor the truth to push their agenda.

Pitiful, Pompous, Pretentious, Powerless Pronouncement

Secretary of State Blinken made a rather pretentious pronouncement regarding the Taliban's interim government [from the Daily Caller]:

Yesterday, the Taliban named a new interim government. We are assessing the announcement, but despite professing that a new government would be inclusive, the announced list of names consists exclusively of individuals who are members of the Taliban or their close associates, and no women,” Blinken said.

“We are also concerned by the affiliations and track records of some of those individuals. We understand the Taliban has presented this as a caretaker cabinet. We will judge it, and them, by its actions,” he added.

Quick note - the Taliban does not give a rat's behind what Blinken says at this point.  Any leverage Blinked had over the Taliban ended when they took over the country and the Biden administration did the Biden Bugout Boogie. Verily, there are more wanted-list named terrorists in the government than women and that was entirely predictable to anyone not a part of the Biden adminsitration.

Expecting a 7th Century ideology to buy into woke post-modern ideology of "diversity, inclusion, and equity" is laughable if he actually believed they would we need a new Secretary of State pronto.  The Taliban does not want your DIE ideology of "diversity, inclusion, and equity", they want you and all non-believers to DIE.  Not much of a middle ground there.

Expecting the Taliban to have women in their government, when the Taliban at most are perhaps starting to grudgingly let women exit their homes fully burqa'd was an utter joke. The Taliban could care less than nothing for the US and European politicians pronouncements regarding diversity and women's rights.

This is the sort stupid soft power moral pronouncements that while sounding good among the bien pensants are backed by nothing and will be ignored accordingly, and will ultimately backfire.

On Wayne County And Our Secretary of State

Completely unexpectedly, Wayne County has more out of balance poll books than all other counties in the State of Michigan combined.

The Detroit News: Wayne Co. had more out-of-balance precincts than other 82 counties combined

Sadly behind a paywall, the highlights the rather serious defects in Wayne County's election process that, yes, can leave open opportunities for fraud. 

In other words a pool book mismatch means the number of voters issued a ballot and then number of ballots cast do not match.

But not to worry, we're told these are just,  per the AP,  "minor discrepancies".  More errors than all the other parts of the state combined is happily waved away and considered minor.

Meanwhile, our Democrat Secretary of State is refusing to appear before the state House Oversight Committee to answer questions regarding the election.

The Detroit News: Secretary of State Benson says she won't appear before House Oversight Committee

Obviously her refusal to appear does not mean she has anything to hide, at all.

Michigan Court Of Appeals Slaps Down Secretary Of State's Polling Place Carry Ban Appeal

That was quite an expedited denial of an appeal.

The Detroit Free Press: Michigan Court of Appeals denies Benson appeal, says open carry at polls is legal

It's pretty clear her edict banning carry at the polls was improper  and in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act and Michigan Law.

Not content to lose badly twice, AG Nasty Nessel and Secretary Benson are vowing to appeal this to the Michigan Supreme Court.

In short, who you vote for as a judge matters, as the panel here were all Republican justices, and yes, these days that matters.

About That Open Carry Ban At The Polls

The local police and sheriffs are not happy with Secretary of State Benson's edict on open carry at the polls.

The Detroit News Michigan police chiefs' leader: Open carry ban at polling places not based in law

The head of the group that represents 385 Michigan police chiefs warned Monday that officers won't be able to enforce Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson's ban on openly carrying firearms at polling places on Election Day because the edict is not based in law.

Well, they're right, because it's not based in law.

Arguably, the local Sheriffs and police can't legally enforce it even if they wanted to as that would likely violate Michigan's law on local preemption:

MCL 23.1102 Regulation of pistols, other firearms, pneumatic guns, or ammunition.

  A local unit of government shall not impose special taxation on, enact or enforce any ordinance or regulation pertaining to, or regulate in any other manner the ownership, registration, purchase, sale, transfer, transportation, or possession of pistols, other firearms, or pneumatic guns, ammunition for pistols or other firearms, or components of pistols or other firearms, except as otherwise provided by federal law or a law of this state.

See the issue - while it is not a local regulation, local units of government cannot enforce anything but state and federal laws regarding firearms, and the Sec State's edict is not a state or federal law.

Quite a conundrum for local law enforcement, neh?

 So of course the Attorney General then announced the Michigan State Police would enforce the ban if the locals will not:

 The Detroit News: Nessel: State police will enforce voting laws on Election Day if sheriffs won't

Nice of her to double down like that.

She's of course spinning this as a ban on voter intimidation, but there's been no incidents of open carriers intimidating voters as they go vote at the polls, and if such a thing actually happened, there are lots of existing laws to handle such incidents. 

This ban is simply a smack at likely Republican-leaning voters and a bit of extra-judicial gun control thrown in for good measure to appease her base and anger the Republican base.

This Can't Possibly Be Suppression Of Rural Republican Votes Now Can It?

WILX10:  Some voters are still waiting for absentee ballots

Interesting goings-on with voters who have applied for absentee ballots who happen to live in Eaton Rapids, MI  -  the goings-on being they'r=ve not received their ballots yet.

Apparently these applications were somehow not processed by the Secretary of State:

However, some voters in Eaton Rapids Township are still waiting on their ballot.

Eaton Rapids Township Clerk Robin Morgan told News 10 she’s not getting absentee ballot applications from the state’s website.

. . .

 The Michigan Secretary of State’s office said this was an isolated incident and it was fixed Wednesday and ballots are now being issued.

 Funny how that isolated incident preventing voters from getting their absentee ballots, just happened to effect a solidly Republican area of Michigan.  This has nothing to do with our Secretary of State happens to be a dyed-in-the wool Democrat and ourt Governor promising to deliver the state for Biden.

Clearly just a coincidence, neh?

Since Trump won Michigan by only 10,704  votes in 2016,  and there's over 36,000 registered but non-existed voters in Detroit alone, it won't take much Democrat chicanery to narrow that margin. 

Making isolated incidents that just happen to make it harder for predictably Republican areas to cast their ballots is an interesting move in that direction.

Michigan, while lacking a DMV more than makes up for it...

With the Secretary of State.

Think DMV but so much worse. Tons of people waiting, three people “working”.

Also now featuring the cloying smell of marijuana on some of the seething mass of humanity waiting to get served.

Quite a number getting their license renewed and all of them get the pitch to get an enhanced Real ID, which adds about 5 minutes plus to each transaction plus as they hem and haw and try to understand what it is because they didn’t read all the news about it over the past few years, nor the huge posters strewn around the Sec State office before they get called up. Even better people here for Real ID are not bringing required things like their passports thus slowing everything up.

Currently they’re at number 21, I’m number 68 and have been here for an hour already.

While the Secretary of State website offer appointments, none are available until February 19 and the same day appointments similarly were not available. In short, absolutely useless.

Much fun waiting will ensue.

Ok, they are handling about 9 people per hour. This isn’t just slow it’s insanely slow. Efficiency was ever a Sec State strong point but seriously it means each worker is processing about three people per hour which is a joke.

They really need one line for people who have simple transactions and know what the hell they’re doing.

They need a second one for idiots who want to socialize at the Sec State of all things because they don’t get out much, which while sad is making every transaction take forever.

Another line for Enhanced Real ID so all the morons that couldn’t figure out what docs they needed to bring can stand there.

Then they need one for idiots that have lost their drivers licenses or failed their prior written test.

Unfortunately that’s 4 lines and only three idiots working.

This will take a very long while.

They’re now up to number 33. That means all three now four workers handled all of 7 people total in the past hour. As yes, there’s now four people working and handling leads than two people for hour each. Real ID really seems to be slowing everyone down, combined with a level of stupidity on both sides of the counter that is amazing to observe.

I did manage to finally escape. It turned out that a lot of people in the 40-50 number series had given up any hope of being served and left. Finally got done what I came to do after 5pm and actual time spent with the worker to get it done was less than 10 minutes. Sheesh. Much too people-ly and inefficient to boot.

Getting A Drivers Licenses From The Secretary Of State

In all the excitement of Abby passing her test, I forgot to relate the customer service experience at the Secretary of State (think DMV to you non-Michiganians) when we went in to get her license.

First, the SOS office (an apt acronym) is rather Soviet in efficiency: You have to stand in a line in order to get in a line. Yes, really.

So we stood in line for quite awhile, just to get a number for our spot in the line to be served. Then we waited in line some more.

Time passed rather slowly and it was well over an hour and a half before we got to get her the license.

Interestingly, the Secretary of States office had a new smell throughout it that was new since we were last there when she got her learners permit and we got to enjoy it the whole time we waited there.

The skunky smell of marijuana absolutely pervaded the place.

Now that marijuana is legal in Michigan, people seem to have no problem stinking up the place.

You'd think now it was legal they'd buy some less malodorous stuff. Also, its kinda both gutsy and dumb to show up to get your license renewed absolutely reeking of weed, especially with no driving under the influence posters festtoned on the walls. Then again, it probably was hilarious for them to get their license photos taken while stoned, 'cause being stoned and driving go together just great, right?

There's been no time to develop an etiquette on legal marijuana usage in Michigan yet, and it shows.

But, one would think having the courtesy not to cause everyone around you to get a contact high, in a government office no less, from how much skunky scent you're giving off would be an easy one to figure out. I mean, if there was a cop outside when the users left pretty sure it would be an easy for the officer to follow his nose and end up giving them a driving under the influence charge the second they got behind the wheel.

Ah well, temporary paper license finally in hand with the real one to follow by mail, fresh cold air awaited outside.