Quote:Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Tuesday she supported the “spirit” of efforts to defund the police in the wake of George Floyd’s death last month at the hands of Minneapolis police, a statement that her office later clarified did not indicate support for eliminating funding for law enforcement.

The conversation surrounding the “defund the police” movement is really about reprioritizing resources, the Democratic governor told The Root in a Tuesday interview broadcast on Instagram.

“The spirit as you just articulated is really just about reprioritizing and rebuilding communities, not just policing,” Whitmer said.

State budgets are overwhelmingly focused on law enforcement and criminal justice, the governor told the African-American-oriented online publication, but they should be focused on education, health care, skills training, public transit and “leveling the playing field,” she said.

“If you do all those other things, you don’t need all the money going to the police departments,” Whitmer said. “So yeah, the spirit of it, I do support that spirit.”

Whitmer added at the end of the 33-minute interview that “we’re not going to defund all the police but we’re going to make the investments in people. And that’s what this is all about.”

When asked Wednesday about the comments, Whitmer's spokeswoman Tiffany Brown said the governor does not mean law enforcement should be defunded.

"The governor believes we need greater investment in people and communities, which means leveling the playing field through better schools, transportation, and access to health care," Brown said. "That's why the governor has proposed real reforms in policing, and will continue to advance a policy agenda that promotes racial equity here in our state."

Whitmer's Tuesday comments brought swift condemnation from Michigan Republican Party Chairwoman Laura Cox, a former state House Appropriations Committee chairwoman who said the plan was in keeping with Whitmer’s line-item vetoes last year of millions of dollars for secondary road patrols in rural communities.

“Today’s statement by the governor is just another attempt to grab national headlines and attract Joe Biden’s attention in her quest for the vice presidential nomination,” Cox said in a statement. "While we need to ensure the proper steps are taken with our police departments to protect all citizens equally, we must never forget the important job that the men and women of law enforcement do to safeguard our communities.”

While the "defund the police" phrase literally means to eliminate or deny funding, supporters of the movement have argued that it really represents an effort to shift more funding into social programs to help minority and other groups.

Michigan is facing a $3.2 billion shortfall in its current budget and a $3 billion estimated hole for next year with no proposal from Whitmer on how to fill the void except to get a coronavirus subsidy from a divided Congress and the Trump White House. Republican legislative leaders have argued state government needs to make cuts to balance the budget, meaning there is little likelihood of any shift toward more social spending in the near future.

In the Tuesday interview, Whitmer also argued for other changes in policing, which she said was “ripe for reform.” Among those reforms were implicit bias and de-escalation training, an affirmative duty to intervene, mental health screenings and changes to qualified immunity.

“This blanket immunity gives people the sense that there are no repercussions for their actions,” said Whitmer. State officials also are granted qualified immunity.

The decade-long federal oversight of the Detroit Police Department forced reforms on the law enforcement agency that has resulted in a drop in deaths while in police custody, use-of-force incidents and lawsuits against the department. A U.S. Department of Justice investigation found a pattern of excessive force, civil rights abuses and a culture of covering up misconduct in the Detroit department after then-Mayor Dennis Archer requested the probe.

Whitmer’s comments come a few days after Attorney General Dana Nessel expressed support for “substantive structural change” to policing and said she was inspired by protesters. But she stopped short of supporting calls to defund law enforcement.

Nessel, a Democrat, former defense lawyer and Wayne County assistant prosecutor, said on Twitter that she had friends in law enforcement who have given their lives in defense of others. Change can be accomplished without vilifying police, she wrote.

“Calls to abolish police departments and destroy their funding sources are not the solution,” Nessel said.

Link

The stress must be getting to her. She looks more like Caitlyn Jenner every day.

(06-10-2020 05:34 PM)CrimsonPhantom Wrote:  The stress must be getting to her. She looks more like Caitlyn Jenner every day.

Spit out my coffee

So wait.. We must defund the police to rebuild the communities destroyed by riots that you refused to let the police do their job in.

Makes sense.

If they defund the police, then rebuild those buildings, the buildings will be empty because no sane business owner will open up in a lawless community.

(06-11-2020 07:55 AM)Eldonabe Wrote:  If they defund the police, then rebuild those buildings, the buildings will be empty because no sane business owner will open up in a lawless community.

Just a tad hyperbolic don't you think? Most of these things they're throwing about don't equate to having no police, and certainly not a community without laws.

(06-11-2020 08:34 AM)Redwingtom Wrote:  

(06-11-2020 07:55 AM)Eldonabe Wrote:  If they defund the police, then rebuild those buildings, the buildings will be empty because no sane business owner will open up in a lawless community.

Just a tad hyperbolic don't you think? Most of these things they're throwing about don't equate to having no police, and certainly not a community without laws.

Yes and no Tom. Defund the Police is a bit Hyperbolic too. It really means disarm the police, by taking away all the "stuff" they need to effectively do their job. Guns, batons, shields, mace, body protection etc....

So let me ask you a simple question.... if you are charged with protecting the citizens and businesses but you are basically given a uniform and maybe a pair of gloves and decent footwear, how are you going to defend and protect against people who know that and will arm themselves against you? Who in their right f-kin mind will sign up for that job - that is a death sentence? They will be stripped of everything they need to defend themselves, and they will be sitting ducks waiting to be slaughtered by the gangs and thugs who will just take what they want.

Maybe "Lawless" is not the correct word; there will be laws. But they will be street laws and regular citizens like myself (and I assume you are) will be in direct and immediate danger under those "laws".

She is such an idiot.

(06-11-2020 09:25 AM)Eldonabe Wrote:  

(06-11-2020 08:34 AM)Redwingtom Wrote:  

(06-11-2020 07:55 AM)Eldonabe Wrote:  If they defund the police, then rebuild those buildings, the buildings will be empty because no sane business owner will open up in a lawless community.

Just a tad hyperbolic don't you think? Most of these things they're throwing about don't equate to having no police, and certainly not a community without laws.

Yes and no Tom. Defund the Police is a bit Hyperbolic too. It really means disarm the police, by taking away all the "stuff" they need to effectively do their job. Guns, batons, shields, mace, body protection etc....

So let me ask you a simple question.... if you are charged with protecting the citizens and businesses but you are basically given a uniform and maybe a pair of gloves and decent footwear, how are you going to defend and protect against people who know that and will arm themselves against you? Who in their right f-kin mind will sign up for that job - that is a death sentence? They will be stripped of everything they need to defend themselves, and they will be sitting ducks waiting to be slaughtered by the gangs and thugs who will just take what they want.

Maybe "Lawless" is not the correct word; there will be laws. But they will be street laws and regular citizens like myself (and I assume you are) will be in direct and immediate danger under those "laws".

What "defund the police" actually means to the non-anarchists out there is just redefining what roles/tasks that we ask police officers to handle. By cutting the budgets of most social services to the bone while consistently increasing police budgets we've shifted more and more responsibilities onto the plates of the police that they are not trained to do. Police aren't trained with how to handle issues of homelessness, mental illness, drug addiction, etc. Police aren't social workers/councilors. No that doesn't mean send a social worker to an active armed robbery, but it does mean have the programs in place where you aren't asking heavily armed and under-trained police officers to handle situations that were never designed to be handled by the police.

Good. Defund all police in Michigan. The UP will be ok. Let the prog filth cities burn.

Good job halfwhitmer

Everyone in Michigan can take refuge in her gigantic bellybutton.

(06-11-2020 09:46 AM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  

(06-11-2020 09:25 AM)Eldonabe Wrote:  

(06-11-2020 08:34 AM)Redwingtom Wrote:  

(06-11-2020 07:55 AM)Eldonabe Wrote:  If they defund the police, then rebuild those buildings, the buildings will be empty because no sane business owner will open up in a lawless community.

Just a tad hyperbolic don't you think? Most of these things they're throwing about don't equate to having no police, and certainly not a community without laws.

Yes and no Tom. Defund the Police is a bit Hyperbolic too. It really means disarm the police, by taking away all the "stuff" they need to effectively do their job. Guns, batons, shields, mace, body protection etc....

So let me ask you a simple question.... if you are charged with protecting the citizens and businesses but you are basically given a uniform and maybe a pair of gloves and decent footwear, how are you going to defend and protect against people who know that and will arm themselves against you? Who in their right f-kin mind will sign up for that job - that is a death sentence? They will be stripped of everything they need to defend themselves, and they will be sitting ducks waiting to be slaughtered by the gangs and thugs who will just take what they want.

Maybe "Lawless" is not the correct word; there will be laws. But they will be street laws and regular citizens like myself (and I assume you are) will be in direct and immediate danger under those "laws".

What "defund the police" actually means to the non-anarchists out there is just redefining what roles/tasks that we ask police officers to handle. By cutting the budgets of most social services to the bone while consistently increasing police budgets we've shifted more and more responsibilities onto the plates of the police that they are not trained to do. Police aren't trained with how to handle issues of homelessness, mental illness, drug addiction, etc. Police aren't social workers/councilors. No that doesn't mean send a social worker to an active armed robbery, but it does mean have the programs in place where you aren't asking heavily armed and under-trained police officers to handle situations that were never designed to be handled by the police.

How many bloody programs to you need for homelessness, mental illness, and drug addiction? They are out there. You just can't force a person to properly utilize them. At some point it's up to the individual.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020...nt-protest

Now the writers union is trying to kick the police union out of the AFL-CIO.

Looking more and more like Trump will slide into a second term with relative ease. The Dem's base is split and all the pols are "telling" the Radicals they'll give them whatever they want to shut them up and alienating their moderates who aren't quite ready to overthrow these United States and rebuild it from scratch as a communist utopia.

(06-11-2020 09:25 AM)Eldonabe Wrote:  

(06-11-2020 08:34 AM)Redwingtom Wrote:  

(06-11-2020 07:55 AM)Eldonabe Wrote:  If they defund the police, then rebuild those buildings, the buildings will be empty because no sane business owner will open up in a lawless community.

Just a tad hyperbolic don't you think? Most of these things they're throwing about don't equate to having no police, and certainly not a community without laws.

Yes and no Tom. Defund the Police is a bit Hyperbolic too. It really means disarm the police, by taking away all the "stuff" they need to effectively do their job. Guns, batons, shields, mace, body protection etc....

So let me ask you a simple question.... if you are charged with protecting the citizens and businesses but you are basically given a uniform and maybe a pair of gloves and decent footwear, how are you going to defend and protect against people who know that and will arm themselves against you? Who in their right f-kin mind will sign up for that job - that is a death sentence? They will be stripped of everything they need to defend themselves, and they will be sitting ducks waiting to be slaughtered by the gangs and thugs who will just take what they want.

Maybe "Lawless" is not the correct word; there will be laws. But they will be street laws and regular citizens like myself (and I assume you are) will be in direct and immediate danger under those "laws".

I've not seen anything saying this at all. Especially not for Michigan. Granted, I've not read a lot on this yet as there's too many theories being thrown around currently.

To me, it's taking away responsibility for things they don't need to be responsible before unless it's a last resort.

(06-11-2020 10:54 AM)49RFootballNow Wrote:  Looking more and more like Trump will slide into a second term with relative ease. The Dem's base is split and all the pols are "telling" the Radicals they'll give them whatever they want to shut them up and alienating their moderates who aren't quite ready to overthrow these United States and rebuild it from scratch as a communist utopia.

By what metric? His approval rating is in the shitter and he's losing in every poll...and basically tied in the state of Texas. No, he's not going to lose Texas, but at this point, it's certainly not in the bank.

(06-11-2020 11:01 AM)Redwingtom Wrote:  

(06-11-2020 10:54 AM)49RFootballNow Wrote:  Looking more and more like Trump will slide into a second term with relative ease. The Dem's base is split and all the pols are "telling" the Radicals they'll give them whatever they want to shut them up and alienating their moderates who aren't quite ready to overthrow these United States and rebuild it from scratch as a communist utopia.

By what metric? His approval rating is in the shitter and he's losing in every poll...and basically tied in the state of Texas. No, he's not going to lose Texas, but at this point, it's certainly not in the bank.

2016, how did those polls work for you? Never learn.

They over sample dems to try to suppress conservative voters. They do the same by over sampling cities versus rural areas.

If I was called right now by one of these polls (and I nor anyone I associate with have ever received one of these calls) I wouldn't answer it, nor would most Trump voters.

(06-11-2020 11:02 AM)49RFootballNow Wrote:  

(06-11-2020 11:01 AM)Redwingtom Wrote:  

(06-11-2020 10:54 AM)49RFootballNow Wrote:  Looking more and more like Trump will slide into a second term with relative ease. The Dem's base is split and all the pols are "telling" the Radicals they'll give them whatever they want to shut them up and alienating their moderates who aren't quite ready to overthrow these United States and rebuild it from scratch as a communist utopia.

By what metric? His approval rating is in the shitter and he's losing in every poll...and basically tied in the state of Texas. No, he's not going to lose Texas, but at this point, it's certainly not in the bank.

2016, how did those polls work for you? Never learn.

Yes, we get that. but you said it's looking more and more like he will win with ease. I assume you have something to base that on other than feels.

(06-11-2020 08:34 AM)Redwingtom Wrote:  

(06-11-2020 07:55 AM)Eldonabe Wrote:  If they defund the police, then rebuild those buildings, the buildings will be empty because no sane business owner will open up in a lawless community.

Just a tad hyperbolic don't you think? Most of these things they're throwing about don't equate to having no police, and certainly not a community without laws.

so please tell me how rioters and looters are following the laws...

(06-11-2020 11:05 AM)Redwingtom Wrote:  

(06-11-2020 11:02 AM)49RFootballNow Wrote:  

(06-11-2020 11:01 AM)Redwingtom Wrote:  

(06-11-2020 10:54 AM)49RFootballNow Wrote:  Looking more and more like Trump will slide into a second term with relative ease. The Dem's base is split and all the pols are "telling" the Radicals they'll give them whatever they want to shut them up and alienating their moderates who aren't quite ready to overthrow these United States and rebuild it from scratch as a communist utopia.

By what metric? His approval rating is in the shitter and he's losing in every poll...and basically tied in the state of Texas. No, he's not going to lose Texas, but at this point, it's certainly not in the bank.

2016, how did those polls work for you? Never learn.

Yes, we get that. but you said it's looking more and more like he will win with ease. I assume you have something to base that on other than feels.

For me it would be his opponent, current actions nation wide of democrats, and a profound hope this country hasn't completely gone insane.

(06-11-2020 10:56 AM)Redwingtom Wrote:  

(06-11-2020 09:25 AM)Eldonabe Wrote:  

(06-11-2020 08:34 AM)Redwingtom Wrote:  

(06-11-2020 07:55 AM)Eldonabe Wrote:  If they defund the police, then rebuild those buildings, the buildings will be empty because no sane business owner will open up in a lawless community.

Just a tad hyperbolic don't you think? Most of these things they're throwing about don't equate to having no police, and certainly not a community without laws.

Yes and no Tom. Defund the Police is a bit Hyperbolic too. It really means disarm the police, by taking away all the "stuff" they need to effectively do their job. Guns, batons, shields, mace, body protection etc....

So let me ask you a simple question.... if you are charged with protecting the citizens and businesses but you are basically given a uniform and maybe a pair of gloves and decent footwear, how are you going to defend and protect against people who know that and will arm themselves against you? Who in their right f-kin mind will sign up for that job - that is a death sentence? They will be stripped of everything they need to defend themselves, and they will be sitting ducks waiting to be slaughtered by the gangs and thugs who will just take what they want.

Maybe "Lawless" is not the correct word; there will be laws. But they will be street laws and regular citizens like myself (and I assume you are) will be in direct and immediate danger under those "laws".

I've not seen anything saying this at all. Especially not for Michigan. Granted, I've not read a lot on this yet as there's too many theories being thrown around currently.

To me, it's taking away responsibility for things they don't need to be responsible before unless it's a last resort.

Last resort as in the social workers already been shot dead, the psychologist has been stabbed and the kidnapped wife has been bound, gagged and beaten? Then can we send in a Bobbie?