Margie Omero, 02/22/12

Democratic pollster, president of Momentum Analysis

A Quinnipiac Poll released today shows men more likely to think the GOP candidates understand the problems and needs of women. Women, however, know better.

Dennis Van Roekel, 02/22/12

President of the National Education Association

The only way to turn around struggling schools is to work together -- by demanding concrete changes that make low student achievement totally unacceptable for any group of students.

Dave Helfert, 02/22/12

Professor of Political Communication, Johns Hopkins University

If Santorum beats Romney in his putative home state of Michigan, Santorum could embarrass and damage Romney enough to gain serious momentum into Super Tuesday.

Jared Bernstein, 02/22/12

Senior Fellow, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

Pretty much every discussion of tax reform these days ends with an agreement that we need to broaden the base and lower the rates. Well, the White House today will release the broad outlines of a plan to do just that on the corporate side of the federal tax code.

David Alexander Bullock, 02/22/12

Greater St. Matthew, Senior Teacher; President, NAACP - Highland Park; President, Rainbow PUSH Detroit Chapter

The death of Whitney Houston was tragic. She was young. She was talented. She was beautiful. She brought us joy. Her death forces us to confront and consider the powerful lessons taught by loss and death.

Craig Fahle, 02/20/12

Host, The Craig Fahle Show, Monday-Friday 10A-12N

Whether you count yourself as a member of Detroit's revival community or you are burnt out, disgusted and sitting on the sidelines, it's time for us to dig in and push ourselves to the next level.

David Murray, 02/22/12

Chicago based writer/editor

State-of-the-town speeches exploded during the housing boom, when mayors could describe the growth in the tax base and bask in the glow. After everything went to hell in 2008, mayors would probably have preferred to skip the speech.

Kevin McNamara, 02/22/12

Wayne County Commissioner for District 11

Government cannot endure without some form of trust among the elected officials and by the taxpayers who voted for them.

Dylan Ratigan, 02/22/12

Host, MSNBC's 'The Dylan Ratigan Show'; Author, 'Greedy Bastards'; Founder, Get Money Out Foundation

I've found myself more enthusiastic than I've been in years as I've shifted my attention from D.C./NYC to cities both burgeoning with ideas and struggling with the excruciating pain that Washington and New York have inflicted on them. What's become apparent to me is that the rate of change on this planet, due to technological, ecological, and financial mechanisms, is the highest it's ever been. That means that our rate of adaptation must also be high, that we must adapt our communities, companies, and selves to what is quickly becoming a new and different world. We must experiment, or die.

Ned Staebler, 02/17/12

Vice president for economic development, Wayne State University

Assuming they were rational and voted in their own self-interest, if companies were people, they'd vote overwhelmingly to re-elect Barack Obama. Of course, if they were people, who's to say that they'd be rational?

Matthew Bode, 02/17/12

Pastor

What do you do with a clergy person at a development meeting? Or when planning new street art projects? Or building a board for a new non-profit?

Marian Wright Edelman, 02/17/12

President, Children's Defense Fund

At one time, the Nations owned a home. But like so many other American families, their standard of living has declined over the past decade even though they are a two-parent working family.

Terry Blackhawk, 02/22/12

Founder and director, InsideOut Literary Arts Project

A snobberie, a soire, a sassy fashion gathering, a sip, a shop and a salute -- all of this, as well as a whole lot of poetry, will be going on Thursday, Feb. 23 in Rachel Lutz's remarkable Peacock Room in Detroit's Park Shelton Hotel.

Robert Reich, 02/17/12

Chancellor's Professor of Public Policy, University of California at Berkeley; Author, 'Aftershock'

Suddenly, manufacturing is back -- at least on the election trail. But don't be fooled. The real issue isn't how to get manufacturing back. It's how to get good jobs and good wages back. They aren't at all the same thing.