Susan J. Demas: Michigan GOP state convention shows why National Committeeman Dave Agema isn't going anywhere

"Make no mistake about it - [the] crazy racist, homophobic and xenophobic National Committeeman has tremendous power in the Michigan GOP. ... If [Dave] Agema were to run for reelection to his post, he would win." -- Republican consultant Joe Munem after attending the Feb. 20-21 Michigan GOP state convention

Dave Agema was elected to his post almost three years ago.

Since then, he's unleashed a string of eye-popping homophobic comments (gays want free health care because they're all dying of AIDS). He's insulted Muslims many times ("Have you ever seen a Muslim do anything that contributes positively to the American way of life?")

Most recently, Agema shared on Facebook (his favorite medium) an article on African-American crime that appeared in a white supremacist magazine, as conservative MLive columnist Ken Braun pointed out (Agema called it "very enlightening.")

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Susan J. Demas: Even before Ferguson, libertarians led fight against police militarization

"Images & reports out of #Ferguson are frightening. Is this a war zone or a US city? Gov't escalates tensions w/military equipment & tactics." -- U.S. Rep. Justin Amash (R-Cascade Twp.) on Twitter

There's still a lot we don't know about Ferguson.

After police officer Darren Wilson allegedly killed Michael Brown on Aug. 9, the St. Louis suburb has been rocked by protests, with 11 journalists arrested just for doing their jobs.

Information about the case has trickled out, but there are conflicting reports and a lot of unanswered questions.

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Susan J. Demas: Why such anger over migrant children coming to Michigan?

The children haven't even arrived in the slumberous town of Vassar, Mich., but protestors already have broken out the AR-15s to welcome them.

"We don't have no say. (President Barack) Obama's gotta go," was the explanation given by Scott Freeman, a Vassar pizza parlor owner.

At another protest, Tom Ratcliffe donned a surgical mask to ward off germs from the children (who, once again, had not arrived).

"I'm allergic to bullshit," Ratcliffe declared to MLive.

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