Polling the AG's Race

by: nirmal

Mon Oct 09, 2006 at 14:08:32 PM EDT

Internal MDP poll shows Williams beating Cox!

by: BZP

Wed Oct 04, 2006 at 15:25:18 PM EDT

LANSING- In a recent poll conducted for the Michigan Democratic Party by Lauer Research, results show that Amos Williams, the Democratic nominee for Attorney General, leads incumbent Republican Attorney General Mike Cox by a margin of 41% to 37% with 2% for minor party candidates and 20% undecided.

According to Lauer Research, “The poll contains encouraging results for the Williams campaign as voters learn more about both candidates. In the poll’s final trial heat, after voters were read descriptions of each candidate, Williams opens up a wide lead of 44% to 33% over Cox, which underscores the potential of Williams’ candidacy and the lack of upside appeal for the Cox campaign.”

“This poll shows clearly that people all across Michigan are rejecting Mike Cox and responding to Amos Williams’ candidacy,” Michigan Democratic Party Chair Mark Brewer said. “The final polling numbers show that the more voters learn about Williams and Cox, the more they prefer Williams.”

"This poll confirms what I am hearing as I campaign across the state,” Amos Williams said. “Voters in Michigan want a change. They think that Mike Cox needs to be fired. "

Mike Cox: Does DeVos Have Another Candidate for Attorney General?

by: NurseEye

Wed Oct 04, 2006 at 14:08:42 PM EDT

Who is this previously obscure third-party candidate for Attorney General and where does he get the money to launch an ad campaign in the Detroit market in early October?  His website has a bio.  Turns out he is a partner at the Grand Rapids law firm of Warner Norcross & Judd LLP.

Warner Norcross & Judd LLP serves as legal counsel to Amway.  See the numerous Google links demonstrating the Amway/Warner Norcross connection.  When Amway is threatened, Warner Norcross sues.

It was also Warner Norcross & Judd LLP that prepared the incomplete "financial disclosure" for Dick DeVos earlier this year.

Is Dick DeVos abandoning the Republican candidate for Attorney General, Mike Cox?  Is Bill Hall quietly being supported by the Grand Rapids establishment, including Amway and the DeVos Family?

I bet the Adulterer General is getting nervous.

GO AMOS WILLIAMS IN 2006!

AG Staff Continues to Disappear

by: williamsman

Wed Sep 27, 2006 at 20:35:33 PM EDT

Silent on still another mysterious disappearance from his front office, Mike Cox dips into Wayne County to hire a builder/developer, Michael J. Garavaglia, as Director of Legislative Affairs. There is nothing to indicate that Michael has the experience to serve as Director of Legislative Affairs, but as all ARDS fans know Cox does not let lack of qualifications get in the way of giving someone a job on the public payroll. Besides, while Mr. Garavaglia is not listed in the membership directory for the State Bar of Michigan as being an attorney neither at last check was Cox’s Deputy Stuart Sandler the undercover investigator. Even though he is not a lawyer, Mr. Garavaglia does appear to have some significant legal experience as he had a lead role in the federal copyright infringement case of VanBrouck and Associates v. Darmik, INC. and Dario Tomei (329 F.Supp.2d 924).

Since ARDS is a very cheap production, it could not afford a link to the subscription only copy of the opinion in  VanBrouck v. Darmik . However, according to Judge Gadola’s fourteen page opinion Mr. Garavaglia, acting as an agent for Dario Tomei , procured a set of architectural drawings for free which were worth $24,952 and that Mr. Garavaglia’s principal was found to have profited by $156,548.46 through  Mr. Garavaglia’s actions.

As followers of ARDS know there is usually more than one ironic twist in each episode and that is certainly the case with Mr. Garavaglia. In addition to going to work in the chief law enforcement office in the state, despite having been implicated in copyright infringement which is a violation of federal law, there is an even more ironic aspect of Mr. Garavaglia employment for the states number 2 Republican, behind SoS Land. Mr. Garavaglia makes his political contributions to Democrats like Nancy Skinner and Kevin Kelly!

So how long will it be before Mr. Garavaglia joins the long list of the disappeared from the Department of Attorney General? Tune into the next episode of “As the Revolving Door Spins” and find out.

And how long will the Legislature put up with this insult? Little Mike is giving his Speaker the finger by designating a Legislative Director who apparently knows nothing other than using other people's work product. Clearly the spat between Craig and Mikey continues.

Poll round up

by: Jon K

Wed Sep 20, 2006 at 10:59:06 AM EDT

Strategic Vision (R), 1200 Likely voters - phone (w/ trendlines)
Granholm: 47 (48)
DeVos: 46 (43)

Stabenow: 51 (49)
Bouchard: 44 (42)

I don't like any of the strategic vision polls because they don't ask their questions in the right order.  First they ask job approval, then they ask about a series of issues (and then the vote questions):

11. Would you like to see the United States Supreme Court overturn the Roe v. Wade decision that makes abortions legal in the United States?

12. Do you expect another terrorist attack within the United States in the next six months?

13. Do you favor granting amnesty to illegal immigrants currently in the United States?

14. Do you favor building a wall along the southern border of the United States to prevent illegal immigration?

15. Do you favor immediate withdrawal of all United States armed forces from Iraq within six months?

SurveyUSA, 749 likely voters - IVR (w/ trendlines)

Granholm: 47 (47)
DeVos: 47 (47)

Stabenow: 54 (51)
Bouchard: 41 (42)

Cox: 49
Williams: 41

Prop 2 (MCRI)
Yes: 13
No: 13
Undecided: 14
Unfamliiar: 60

It's amazing so few people have heard about MCRI, this one is going to come down to how people feel when they see it in the booth, wording and placement are everything.

Graceland: Open Letter to Attorney General Mike Cox

by: MichiganCaucus

Thu Aug 31, 2006 at 17:13:13 PM EDT

Honorable Mike Cox
Michigan Attorney General
G. Mennen Williams Building, 7th Floor
525 West Ottawa Street
P.O. Box 30212
Lansing, Michigan 48909
miag@michigan.gov

Re: Your Promises on the Graceland Fruit Case

Dear Mr. Cox,

Last year, the Department of Environmental Quality asked your office to authorize felony pollution warrants against Graceland Fruit, its owner Donald Nugent and Graceland’s waste hauler for dumping thousands of gallons of caustic blueberry waste into a remote gravel pit in Honor, Michigan. The resulting contamination leached into the ground, killing a once vibrant stream.

(For our readers: you can find out more about this case by clicking on this link for the initial news story or this link to read the editorial from the Traverse City Record Eagle).

When the news broke that you were not going to approve the warrants, your office promised that the resulting pollution would still be cleaned-up and the responsible parties would pay “substantial penalties;” emphasizing that no one would get away “scot-free.” But, its been a full year since you denied the warrants (on August 30, 2005), four years since the dumping was discovered and even longer since the dumping occured. Apparently the case still isn't settled, the gravel pit still polluted, the stream is still dead and the Michigan Treasury hasn't been made richer.

UAW VP Jimmy Settles and the AG Race

by: emptywheel

Tue Aug 29, 2006 at 11:28:30 AM EDT

Jimmy Settles, the Vice President of UAW, was the king-maker in the AG race, not Kwame. And he did it much earlier than news reports described.

Hey Matt, how long that Bowen ad gonna run?

by: David Boyle

Tue Aug 29, 2006 at 01:39:59 AM EDT

  :D :P

Mary Waters Stops Short of Backing Ticket?

by: emptywheel

Mon Aug 28, 2006 at 10:35:04 AM EDT

But it appears that Waters--who just a week ago accused Kwame of secretly supporting Mike Cox--won't publicly back the ticket. She is cited in the Free Press as saying,

Waters wasn't quite as confident, predicting that Gov. Jennifer Granholm would receive universal support from the party faithful, "but members will pick and choose the rest of the ticket."

Amos Williams beats Geoffrey Fieger

by: David Boyle

Sun Aug 27, 2006 at 23:54:12 PM EDT

  I thought he was running for AG. What happened?

Williams Accepts

by: Harris

Sun Aug 27, 2006 at 12:48:54 PM EDT

I want to thank a very young campaign staff.  ... a very

and then there are all of you... Michigan Democrats

I am Amos Williams.  I do not believe in letting the opposition define me. 

I am a DEMOCRAT. 

I am a Liberal [lays down the gaunlet]

I am a United States citizen,

And I am a son of Michigan

(More below the jump...)

Bowen speaks

by: Harris

Sun Aug 27, 2006 at 12:32:44 PM EDT

"I propose we welcome a Vietnam veteran and a heck of campaigner, our next attorney general, Amos Williams!"

Pounding music, everyone clapping. 

Rules suspended.  Unanimous ballot cast.  We're all excited.

Ingham goes for Williams

by: matt

Sun Aug 27, 2006 at 12:30:14 PM EDT

We're Voting, yeah it doesn't look good.

by: Harris

Sun Aug 27, 2006 at 12:29:25 PM EDT

Kent County was the only to go Bowen's way, and not that solid, there, what with our strong UAW contingency. 

No time to get all too gloomy. 
This is at least a matter of honor.  What was honorably begun, must also be fairly finished.  And no doubt Bowen is gone.

Crowd Goes Wild. Amos Williams takes the platform.

by: Harris

Sun Aug 27, 2006 at 12:03:43 PM EDT

Bowen supporter in back.  Holding signs.  Quiet/

Williams steps forward

This floor fight shows democrats are fractured and weak.  Doesn't show that at all, we are engaged, and ready to fight. 

-- not a very good speaker, says neighb or

AW:
The next vote is to get ikey out of that office. 

said with determination.  Nice.  Short.

Any other nominations? Nope.  We break for caucus. 

Amos Comes to the Stand

by: Harris

Sun Aug 27, 2006 at 12:00:26 PM EDT

Everyone on the feet (except yours truly) shouting.  Bowen mixes with Amos.  Parades and signs all around.  At last, we ARE ready to rumble. 

Great rock and roll politics

"This will  make the news tonite goes the word. " comments voices in back of me.

Dave Bonior on the stage.  Man, do we love him.  big cheer.

recites Williams' background.  "There's no side on whose side he will be on.  He'll be on the side of justice." 

"Bye-bye Cox, bye-bye!"

"his hope will give us hope as well!"  another cheer line.

Nomination formally provided -- ok, missed the name. 

It's Rock and Roll at Nominations

by: Harris

Sun Aug 27, 2006 at 11:54:14 AM EDT

you better believe, the call "are you ready to rumble?!"

Bowen is in nomination, and on the platform.

Here it is:

I'm standing here because I believe in the democratic process.

We need a new attorney general.  Mike Cox has got to go.

shouts... "Cox has got to go."

15 months I've been on this campaign...

Repeats,

Cox has got to go."

Other notes:
I think I liked his Caucus speech better.  More about the issues that matter, the failure to file law suits and the like.

Universe?

by: severance10

Thu Aug 24, 2006 at 09:21:36 AM EDT

Dave Seman, spokesperson for Mr. Williams, had a different take.

"We've been campaigning for a different universe," he said.

What does that mean? Which universe is the Williams camp campaigning for?

Poll Results for AG race show Bowen ahead of Amos

by: mazingblueliberal

Wed Aug 23, 2006 at 19:41:09 PM EDT

Respondents were asked: if the election for Michigan Attorney General were held today, and the candidates were Michael Cox and M. Scott Bowen, would you vote for?

  46% Mike Cox
  42% M. Scott Bowen
  12% Undecided

Respondents were asked: if the election for Michigan Attorney General were held today, and the candidates were Amos Williams and Michael Cox, would you vote for?

  52% Michael Cox
  35% Amos Williams
  13% Undecided

All poll results carry a margin of error of +/- 4.0%.

I can't help but feel that this has to speak volumes for what Bowen brings to the ticket in comparison to Amos.
Link to Poll Results

Counting the Votes in the AG Race

by: emptywheel

Tue Aug 22, 2006 at 13:47:21 PM EDT

But based on a second-hand source, his supporters appear to be twisting some arms to get out bodies. Apparently, at least one County Chair (in a smallish county) received a call from a union supporting Bowen, requesting bodies with the understanding the union would return the consideration in the future.