Jennifer M. Granholm was elected the 47th governor of the State of Michigan in November 2002. Since taking office, she has successfully resolved over $4 billion in budget deficits, trimming more from state government than any governor in Michigan’s history. A fiscal hawk, Granholm has worked to ensure that state government spends every penny efficiently, while aggressively pursuing her top priorities: growing Michigan’s economy and maintaining the state’s high quality of life.
Granholm has focused on improving Michigan’s economy through the most comprehensive plan in the country – her Jobs Today, Jobs Tomorrow plan. Her economic agenda includes creating thousands of jobs for Michigan workers this year by accelerating infrastructure projects, training unemployed workers for high-demand jobs, and by diversifying Michigan’s economy through the unprecedented $2 billion 21st Century Jobs for Michigan Fund. The fund was created to help diversify Michigan’s economy in key industries including the life sciences, alternative energy, advanced manufacturing, and homeland security and defense technology. Governor Granholm has also reduced the red tape businesses face when seeking permits from the state.
And she’s gotten results. Since taking office in 2003, Governor Granholm’s administration has helped to create and retain some 331,000 jobs. She has met face-to-face with businesses from across the country and around the world – and her leadership is paying off. Two trade missions to Japan have resulted in more than 1,000 new jobs and more than $200 million in new investment from Japanese companies.
Governor Granholm is going anywhere and doing anything to create jobs for Michigan workers, and direct action by her administration is convincing major corporations to create jobs and expand in Michigan. Keebler relocated its headquarters from Illinois to Battle Creek. Toyota is putting 400 people to work in York Township at its new Technical Center. And when manufacturing jobs left Greenville for Mexico, Governor Granholm stepped in and helped convince United Solar Ovonic to open a new manufacturing facility there.
Michigan was cited by Governing magazine (February 2005) as an outstanding leader in its Government Performance Project (GPP) report titled, "Grading the States 2005." The nationwide report card gives Michigan and the Granholm administration high marks in the areas of money, people, infrastructure, and information management. Only Virginia and Utah scored higher than Michigan.
Governor Granholm’s focus on families has meant extending affordable prescription drug coverage and health care coverage to more than 292,000 Michigan families. Granholm saved the state nearly $40 million in 2003 when she introduced the nation's first bulk-buying pool for prescription drugs; and then she extended those savings to citizens by introducing the MiRx Card, which provides discount prescription drugs to uninsured families. Since 2003, Granholm has also enrolled nearly 50,000 additional children for health insurance through the Healthy Kids and MiCHILD programs. In 2006, Governor Granholm signed into law legislation that increases Michigan’s minimum wage from $5.15 per hour to $6.95 per hour in October 2007, and up to $7.40 per hour in July 2008 – the first increase in Michigan’s minimum wage in nine years.
Despite tough fiscal times, Granholm has increased spending for Michigan’s public schools. In 2005, for the first time, classrooms in Michigan received record funding at levels promised by the previous administration. The first in her family to attend college, Granholm has championed universal access to higher education. She successfully challenged state universities to hold the line on tuition increases and has proposed a first-in-the-nation program that would award $4,000 to every Michigan student who completes two years of post-secondary education.
Granholm began her career in public service as a clerk for U.S. Judge Damon Keith on the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals. She considers Judge Keith a mentor to this day. In 1990, Granholm became a federal prosecutor in Detroit, where she maintained a 98 percent conviction rate. In 1994, Granholm was appointed Wayne County Corporation Counsel. She worked to reduce taxpayer-funded lawsuit payouts by 87 percent.
Elected Michigan’s first female Attorney General in 1998, Granholm continued her fight to protect Michigan’s citizens and consumers. She established the state’s first High Tech Crime Unit to prosecute Internet crimes. Following the September 11th attacks on the United States, Granholm led a multi-agency effort to ensure that Michigan laws could effectively be used to fight terrorism at the state level. In the wake of the attacks, she also cracked down on gas stations gouging consumers at the pump. As Attorney General, Granholm also started a successful statewide mentoring initiative.
Granholm was elected by the people of Michigan to serve as their first woman chief executive on November 6, 2002.
Born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Granholm is an honors graduate of both the University of California at Berkeley and Harvard Law School. She serves as Vice Chair of the Democratic Governors Association and Chair of the National Governor’s Association Health and Human Services Committee. She and her husband, Daniel G. Mulhern, have three children.(from Governor's page)
As we heard on Friday, House Speaker Andy Dillon told the world that he would be announcing his official run for governor today on Sunday with a state-wide tour with several stops around the state, including Saginaw.
Just a couple hours ago, MLive ran with a story that 'technical difficulties' prevented Mr. Dillon from holding his appearance in Saginaw. What technology?? Unless he had a laser show planned, technology never has a place in a campaign stop.
Not only that, but rumors from folks on the ground in the area are pretty conclusive that the only thing lacking was the actual supporters to provide the camera-ready backdrop for the media despite multiple attempts to shore up support by senior staff.
Even more interesting is who did meet with Dillon on an earlier date.
According to sources, Dillon met with an 'unknown entity' in Midland on Feb. 15th, the same day he was trying to meet with local Democratic party officials in Saginaw.
Given Dillon's conservative politics of the last 5 years, the odds are pretty good that he was having a close door meeting with the extreme-right minds of the Mackinac Center.
While it's pure speculation at this point, it's not too much of a stretch, particularly when you consider the politics of both parties, as well the lack of berating by the Center of Dillon as of late. Say what you will, but given Mackinac's love of beating up Democrats, they've been awfully quiet when it comes to the Speaker.
At the end of the day, the Mackinac Center maybe the best Dillon can get. After a long reign of vehemently anti-labor, anti-environmental, anti-stem cell, anti-everything progressive, Dillon is the Democratic proverbial wolf in sheep's clothing at best.
Perhaps the only 'technical difficulities' Dillon's campaign had in Saginaw was getting the Right folks out.
Yesterday, February 6, three Democratic candidates for statewide office appeared on a panel to discuss their candidacy and to answer questions from the audience. The event was sponsored by People of Diversity United for Equality (PODUE) and was held at the Brown Chapel AME in Ypsilanti. In attendance were Alma Wheeler-Smith -- candidate for governor, Jocelyn Benson -- candidate for Secretary of State, and Richard Bernstein -- candidate for Attorney General. The forum was moderated by Rep. Rebekah Warren -- with opening and closing remarks by House Speaker Pro Tempore Pam Byrnes, both candidates for State Senate.
From L-R, Rebekah Warren, Alma Wheeler-Smith, Jocelyn Benson, Richard Bernstein, Pam Byrnes, Pastor Jerry Hatter
(The question is just what has done John Freeman in ... Obama's Chicago gangland thug politics, or Andy Dillon's Good Hair of Creamy Centrism. - promoted by Eric B.)
Today in the Big Race:
In an email sent to supporters a little after 12:30, John Freeman made this statement:
Having consulted with my family and given it serious reflection, I've decided to end my campaign for governor of Michigan.
Given our state's economic woes and my obligations to both my family and job, it became clear that the amount of money required to run a viable campaign was out of reach.
For the many Michiganders who welcomed me into their homes and donated their time, energy and resources to this campaign, I will be forever grateful. For the family and friends who offered me their devotion, love, and support, I am fortunate to have people like you in my life. And for all those who dream of a better future for our state, the work continues.
I will work to build a better Michigan by continuing to strive for comprehensive health care reform, so that Michigan's businesses can compete around the world, working families can be freed from skyrocketing costs, and nobody will die or be forced out of their home simply because they can't pay their medical bills.
I will continue fight for progressive ideals, just as I always have, and fully expect to support the Democratic nominee for governor.
On a final note, Supporter, I ask that you continue to strive towards a better future. Robert Kennedy said that often in politics, there's a danger of feeling futile, like there's nothing you can do against the enormity of the problems we face. Yet, Kennedy said, "each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope. And crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls..."
Those ripples don't care if you're in elected office or just an everyday citizen; we all have the power to stand up for what we believe, and to create those ripples of hope. And eventually, those ripples will build up.
Together, if we all do our part, we can continue to make a wave.
(Choosing which great Democratic candidate to support will be a good 'problem' to have! - promoted by ScottyUrb)
Despite losing a great contender for the Democratic nod to become the next Governor of the State of Michigan, we've gained another.
State Senator Hansen Clarke (D-Detroit) has just filed papers to run for Governor. From his personal Facebook status:
Hansen Clarke filed papers at 2:31pm today in Lansing to run for the Office of Governor in the great State of Michigan.
As well, MIRS picked up on the story as well. Expect other media outlets to follow. The final confirmation came from Hansen's wife, Choi, who wrote:
Choi Palms-Cohen is extremely proud to announce that her husband, Sen. Hansen Clarke, has filed papers today to run for the Office of Governor of the great State of Michigan!
I think this is not just great for Senator Clarke, but also for Michigan. Hansen has been a long-time advocate of the little guy in Lansing, and, while others 'play the game' to get bills passed, he's stuck to his guns and refuses to do anything that violates his moral or ethical principles. Furthermore, I've never seen him turn away an idea without giving it proper consideration- given the status of our state's economy, a leader who is willing to listen and consider all options before making a decision is exactly what we need.
I personally worked with the Senator for two years in his office. Beforehand, I had worked in other government offices and for other candidates, and since have left to join the private sector. While some may think this makes me biased, I believe it gives me a lot of credibility in assessing his merits to attain to the highest office in the state. My assessment is that he is one of the most decent and honorable people I've met in my life, and a true example of a concerned citizen who broke into politics with a message that hasn't let that message be muddled by special interests or insider politics. I believe he will make a great Democratic candidate and a strong leader to take Michigan out of its Lost Decade and into a prosperous future.
UPDATE by ScottyUrb (3:52 PM): The one and only Todd Heywood at Michigan Messenger had a chance to meet with Clarke. That has more on Clarke as well as his thoughts as he begins his campaign.
As I mentioned in a Tweet, I've been behind in my reading. I read more periodicals than should be legal, but there you have it. Among those periodicals is The New Yorker. I was reading an October 21st article about President Obama's economic advisor Dr. Lawrence Summers, when the piece suddenly veered toward Michigan and right into downtown Ann Arbor. The piece described a visit Summers made to Michigan and a meeting with Governor Granholm and her top economic advisor, Ned Staebler. Yep, that Ned Staebler, the one who is currently having holiday parties, cocktail parties, birthday parties, baby naming parties, bar mitvah parties and First Communion parties where attendees come together to deposit their cash and check-filled envelopes in party boy Ned Staebler's wishing well. If Staebler happens to be shopping at Hiller's when you're in the store, move quickly to the nearest exit, as your shopping excursion could turn into a "party," and you will be expected to pay $200 to be in the same building with the 53rd District House representative wanna-be.
A2Politico, always one to pick up on the current trends, is having a party soon. Sometime after I figure out how to deposit your checks. I digress.
In The New Yorker piece, the author watches as Staebler describes to Dr. Summers an economic development loan program Michigan had just created to help old-line firms make the transition to new-economy industries, like solar-panel production and microchips, and the meeting turned into a plea to the Obama Administration to adopt the program as a federal plan.
"Ned Staebler, one of Granholm's top economic advisers, explained excitedly that the new assistance program for struggling companies had already approved its first loan even though he hadn't advertised the program....."
Pay close attention to the last part of that sentence: "even though he hadn't advertised the program....." because Lawrence Summers was listening.
The New Yorker author writes, [Summers], turned to Ned Staebler. Granholm seemed to hold her breath as Summers prepared to deliver his verdict on the new loan program. 'You said you hadn't really marketed your program at all, and you've been able to get a number of people who have been able to take advantage of it without marketing,' Summers told Staebler. 'One reaction was 'Isn't that terrific? There's this demand without marketing it.' But, he added, another way to look at it was that Staebler had started a program of loans in which only 'the people who are well connected and fortunate enough to know about them are able to take advantage of them.' Summers said that the Michigan program reminded him of a term used to criticize Asian countries during the financial crisis of the nineties: 'crony capitalism.'"
I smiled broadly when I read that. Who ever thought little old A2Politico would ever have anything in common with one of the 21st century's brainiest economists? Turns out we can both recognize crony capitalism when we see it. I've been writing about the Den of Crony Capitalism gubernatorial candidate Rick Snyder birthed here in Ann Arbor: Ann Arbor SPARK. Snyder has been criss-crossing the state telling folks that he wants to bring the SPARK model of economic development to Lansing. Maybe he can spread the Bubonic Plague while he's at it. Turns out Rick Snyder isn't the only crony capitalist with an Ann Arbor SPARK connection who wants to spread the crony capitalism model far and wide.
Republican Washtenaw County Commissioner Mark Ouimet, a member of the Executive Committee of Ann Arbor SPARK, and a wanna-be for Representative Pam Byrnes's 52nd District House seat, was recently quoted in the Manchester paper as saying that, "Here in Washtenaw County, our local chambers of commerce and the Ann Arbor SPARK do an amazing job of bringing together job providers, policy makers and local interest groups to insure that all are working together to promote our region and the opportunities that exist for business here. I've been honored to hold leadership positions at the chambers and SPARK and can attest to the important need for strong partnership from our legislators in Lansing. I intend to foster that partnership."
I read that and a cold grue ran through me. Typhoid Mark.
So what do you think I read today? Rick Snyder issued a press release that was a big old bitch slap of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), where Ned Staebler works as a VP, and gives away billions of our tax dollars as "incentives" for a living. Snyder is quoted in the press release as alleging that, "The MEDC has been mismanaged by the current administration....The use of tax incentives should include performance objectives, reportable results, and be transparent to citizens. The state currently gives out $6.3 billion more in tax credits, deductions and incentives than it takes in yearly in tax revenue - more than $30 billion a year in handouts that are supposed to be stimulating our economy. There is little transparency or accountability in what return the state is getting on those investments."
Before you fist bump Snyder for finally realizing that tax incentives need to be coupled with absolute transparency and iron clad accountability, remember that he instituted none of these nifty reforms while the CEO of Ann Arbor SPARK, the Washtenaw County economic development entity created in 2005 by the MEDC with Snyder as President. In fact, representatives from Ann Arbor SPARK said just a few days ago that they are not in the business of verifying the results of the economic development money they distribute. A SPARK official claimed to track the actual number of jobs created by the companies funded with our tax dollars would require hiring another employee, and Ann Arbor SPARK had no interest in doing that. The state of Michigan, the SPARK official said, was responsible for tracking those results. Turns out the "state" isn't doing a very good job of tracking much of anything where the billions of tax credits given out are concerned.
Snyder, the Born Again Economic Tough Love Candidate, says in his press release, "Economic development incentives should be used sparingly and measured against the actual number of targeted jobs created to make the data more reliable and less subjective. The results should be posted online for everyone to see."
I'd love to say something cheery like, "You GO, Girl!"
However, there's a political kicker. Snyder tells Michigan voters he's the man to get the MEDC whipped into shape because, "...Rick has led the MEDC and Michigan toward a healthy business climate before; he can do it again. He's done it on a local level with Ann Arbor SPARK. Because he's not a career politician, he has no special interests to pay back. He has one goal: creating jobs and reinventing the state of Michigan."
No special interests to pay back? What about all his SPARK cronies? The cronies he helped as CEO of SPARK are as numerous as the stars in the sky. When we see Snyder's campaign finance disclosure forms, I suspect we'll see that many of those cronies returned his favors. Sndyer claims he can make the MEDC more transparent because he made Ann Arbor SPARK more transparent. He claims he can measure the real number of jobs created through MEDC incentives because he set up a system to do that at Ann Arbor SPARK.
Snyder's December 17th press release proves that he has either lost touch with reality, has no memory of what went on when he was President of Ann Arbor SPARK, or is as duplicitous a politician as I've seen in a good long while.
One of President Obama's top economist advisors, Lawrence Summers, described the Governor of Michigan's top economic advisor, Ned Staebler, and the MEDC's "unadvertised" loan program that funnels loans to their friends, as "crony capitalism." For Gubernatorial candidate Rick Snyder to bitch slap the MEDC's administration for neglecting to track results, and for not instituting mechanisms to improve transparency is little more than a political girl fight complete with hair-pulling and lots of trash-talk.
Just a year ago, when Snyder was a small-town crony capitalist in Ann Arbor, he and his SPARK crew were nailed by auditors for over billing, conflicts of interest and accounting irregularities. Snyder signed off on annual reports that claim the creation of thousands of jobs when just a few hundred actual jobs had been created between 2006-2008. Snyder's legacy of secrecy, exaggerated claims of job creation (SPARK's 2008 990 tax form claims SPARK created over 2,000 jobs) is carried on by current SPARK staff.
Rick Snyder still sits on the Executive Committee of Ann Arbor SPARK.
That the MEDC needs some serious whipping into shape to eliminate cronyism and the boondoggle's waste of billions of tax dollars is a given. Rick Snyder may want us to believe he's the man for the job. He has proven, without a doubt, he's not up to the task because he couldn't do it on the local level.
Even His Family In The Netherlands Gets Health Care
by Dr. James McSaddle
Congressman Pete Hoekstra's town halls on health care show that he is the wrong choice for Governor of Michigan. Last week in Hudsonville, he vehemently exclaimed that he was against what is being considered in congress without offering ideas about what should be done about the rising cost and declining quality of health care. He didn't even entertain the idea of expanding coverage to the uninsured.
Michigan is one of the most economically distressed states, due in part to its rampant unemployment. For a number of reasons, our state has had perhaps the most difficult time thriving in a changing global economic climate. The Great Lakes State has seen a lot of suffering and now it is worse than it has ever been.
Pete Hoekstra is unfit to lead a state with these kinds of struggles. If he truly cared about the people of Michigan, he would fight for policies that could help those who are feeling the most pain.
Even the Netherlands, where Hoekstra was born, has some form of cost control and subsidized coverage; although it is not the best in Europe. It's possible that his mother received government-regulated medicine during his birth. Certainly Hoekstra’s immediate family back in the Netherlands benefits from so-called "socialized medicine" today.
Perhaps if Mr. Hoekstra wants to be governor, he will help the people of Michigan attain that which he and his family enjoy: The security of their health.
Fact: Barack Obama, who was born in Hawaii, is more American than Pete Hoeksta.
Hoekstra Is Bad Medicine For Michigan
Even His Family In The Netherlands Gets Health Care
Congressman Pete Hoekstra's town halls on health care show that he is the wrong choice for Governor of Michigan. Last week in Hudsonville, he vehemently exclaimed that he was against what is being considered in congress without offering ideas about what should be done about the rising cost and declining quality of health care. He didn't even entertain the idea of expanding coverage to the uninsured. Michigan is one of the most economically distressed states, due in part to its rampant unemployment. For a number of reasons, our state has had perhaps the most difficult time thriving in a changing global economic climate. The Great Lakes State has seen a lot of suffering and now it is worse than it has ever been. Pete Hoekstra is unfit to lead a state with these kinds of struggles. If he truly cared about the people of Michigan, he would fight for policies that could help those who are feeling the most pain. Even the Netherlands, where Hoekstra was born, has some form of cost control and subsidized coverage; although it is not the best in Europe. It's possible that his mother received government-regulated medicine during his birth. Certainly Hoekstra's immediate family back in the Netherlands benefits from so-called "socialized medicine" today. Perhaps if Mr. Hoekstra wants to be governor, he will help the people of Michigan attain that which he and his family enjoy: The security of their health.
Fact: Barack Obama, who was born in Hawaii, is more American than Pete Hoeksta.
Alaskan news are now confirming that former Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin is divorcing her husband because of previous reports of infidelity. So basically, she totally lied (again) to America during her press conference about her reason for resigning office.
AlaskaReport has learned this morning that Todd Palin and former Alaska governor Sarah Palin are to divorce. Multiple sources in Wasilla and Anchorage have confirmed the news. The Palins were noticeably not speaking to each other at last Sunday's resignation speech in Fairbanks. Sarah ditched Todd (MSNBc) right after the speech and left without him. Sarah removed her wedding ring a couple of weeks ago.
Sarah has recently purchased land in Montana and is considering moving the family there.
I don't typically offer humor in tragedy but, yes folks: adultery, divorce and teenage pregnancy brings down yet another morally superior family in "The Real America".
*Update: Well, it looks like the evil, liberal media actually fact-checked this story before running it. (Unlike certain bloggers who tried to go without coffee because it was Saturday.)
*Update #2: On the conservative front, birthers are still running wild on cable news and republicans are telling people that Obama's health care reform plan will kill their granny.
MichLib's Eric B. is point-on when he says this plan is “building a future based on making things worse for people.” A future constructed by winning a race to the bottom is no future at all. This is true not only of benefits for teachers, but for the economy in general. There are some who say that in order to compete for business, we’ve got to slash benefits, cut back on environmental protections, reduce wages, and scale back regulations. That’s an outdated way of thinking.
The number one thing businesses look for is a high quality-of-life -- that means world-class schools with great teachers, a 21st century infrastructure, pristine natural resources, and affordable high-quality healthcare. If we really want to transform Michigan, making sure we have a high quality of life is the way to do it. The Dillon plan will do nothing to make it happen.
In the small chance you've been off the Tubes of the Internets for the last 48 hours, chances are you've heard a whole lot of noise about how the Senate Republicans slashed the state's Higher Education budget yesterday, which included the Michigan's Promise, the $4000 scholarship for Michigan students, which 96,000 students in our state receive and depend on.
As a geek, I love the online organizing tools -- but as a citizen, this is a great way to send a message that we won't stand for breaking Michigan's promise.
Minutes before the vote on many of amendments that attempted to restore the Michigan Promise Scholarship, Lt. Gov. John CHERRY, who was presiding over the Senate was sending out messages on Twitter telling his followers to use an online tool to write local newspapers to stress why cutting the scholarship was wrong.
Not too long after I saw the tweets from the Lt. Governor, I clicked on one and was taken to the website from A Whole Lot of People Supporting Cherry, his exploration committee, asking me to make sure our state is 'Keeping Our Promises' by visiting an entire section of his website to take action on this one singular issue.
Now that might not seem to extraordinary, but if you visit the page, you're apt to be a little more impressed. The page includes a You-Tube video, a petition to sign directed at the Senate Republicans, a link to the Facebook group for the issue, a link to a tool that allows you to automatically send a letter-to-the-editor about this particular issue (with suggested text), a "tell-a-friend" tool, and lastly a link to the news page with all of Cherry's press releases. From an online organizing/get-out-the-vote (GOTV) perspective, that's pretty sweet.
To be fair, the Senate Democrats have done an impressive job of also using some of these very same online tools to keep folks informed and engaged through their website, blog and Twitter, and Facebook accounts, and have one of the most active and updated YouTube channels, with over 75 videos to date.
On top of all of that, Cherry started using a new online petition tool, http://act.ly, the Twitter Petition, that just launched within the last 72 hours, to also drive the subject.
Obviously the Obama campaign set the bar pretty high last year for similar online action, but this early in the 2010 game it's pretty impressive.
As someone who makes monthly student loan payments equivalent to what some pay for a mortgage, I appreciate the fight that the leadership of Cherry and the Senate Democrats are taking on with this issue. As a giant geek, I think it's great to see public officials really grabbing this online technology by the horns and using it for a very worthy cause.
On Thursday, Lt. Gov. John Cherry picked up another slew of endorsements from every county-wide elected official in Macomb County, just north of Detroit. While it's another notch on a growing list of endorsements that are coming in from around the state, well over a year before the actual election itself, the most impressive thing is that it came from Macomb County.
Some might not realize it, but Macomb is where the now famous phrase "Reagan Democrats" was coined. Since then, it's been the bellwether spot for the state. From the conservative National Review -
The locals have a history of picking winners on Election Day. Yet Macomb County is more than just another battleground in the Midwest--it's the iconic home of Reagan Democrats, the breed of voter whose defection to the GOP in the 1970s and 1980s signaled the end of liberalism's high tide and the emergence of conservatism as a national force.
Ever since, the county's white, middleclass residents have taken on a symbolism that far outweighs their numerical clout. Stories about voting behavior in Macomb County have become a quadrennial staple of political journalism, as reporters from everywhere beat a path to these suburbs just north of Detroit. An Irish television crew recently dropped in, to the amazement of absolutely nobody. These media pilgrims pay homage to a resilient piece of conventional wisdom. In Macomb County, more than Michigan's 17 electoral votes may be on the line. It might be said that the way Macomb County goes, so goes the nation.
The endorsements are the first for Cherry as an entire slate of county-wide officials in the Metro Detroit area, and even more notable because Sheriff Mark Hackle is counted among them. Hackel was also the top Macomb countywide vote getter last election -- the only countywide candidate on the ballot in Macomb County to win over 300,000 votes, so his endorsement carries some sway.
You might recall last December that Hackel announced his intent to run for governor to the Macomb Daily, causing a bit of a stir. Most insiders had chalked that up to pure interest but lacked real intent.
So as the Cherry bandwagon picks up steam and supporters, still with more than a year left, it will be more than interesting to see where this is headed, particularly given that there has been little to no news from the other rumored contenders, both declared and not.
Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard is entering the race to become Michigan's next governor. He joins a crowded field of Republican candidates as he makes his formal announcement at stops today in Clawson, East Lansing and Grand Rapids. Also running on the GOP side are Attorney General Mike Cox, Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land, U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra, state Sen. Tom George and Ann Arbor businessman Rick Snyder.
I'm pretty sure that this is the big suprise that our friends at Right Michigan has been drooling about ever since Bouchard lost to Stabenow two years ago. That said, he is in nice shape for a primary with some decent name recognition from that previous battle. Looking at the total list of Republican candidates, one can't help but wonder if the regional battles between the various candidates (Hoekstra versus Land and George in the west, and Snyder, Cox and Bouchard in the east) might be the real story until the campaigning starts in earnest in early 2010. I personally think that Cox might be the worst hurt by Bouchard's enterance, as he hails from the same voter rich suburbs of metro Detroit that Bouchard calls home.
It may only be May of 2009, but in the wonderful world of politics, it's never too early to talk election scuttlebutt!
On the Dem side, Lt. Gov. John Cherry continues to pick up steam. He's just announced that 17 Democratic County and District Chairs have endorsed him. If that sounds impressive, add that to the 14 others that previously endorsed, bring it to a whopping 31. Our great state only has 83 counties and 15 congressional districts, so one can only guess where he'll be by July or August!
The rumored possible/maybe (can we get any more vague?) run of Macomb County Sherrif Mark Hackel appears to be over, quite possibly even before it got started. For this, we go to our trusty Senior Capitol Correspondent and Off the Record host, Tim Skubick -
Macomb County Sheriff Mark Hackel is making noises that running for governor maybe ain't such a hot idea after all. Apparently in addition to his law enforcement chores, he is also a math major and the numbers don't add up on the democratic ledger.
Sure he is from vote rich Macomb County and anybody running for governor would love to have that as a base, and sure he has great name ID and voters like him, but his chances of wrestling the nomination from Lt. Gov. John Cherry are slim and none.
While Hackel has spent the last six months thinking about running, the aforementioned Mr. Cherry has actually been running and rather successfully as he methodically puts his machine together.And then, my personal favorite continual comedic fodder, the ever bumbling and grandiose Republicans...
And then there's my favorite source of continual comedic fodder, the bumbling and arrogant Republican field. Remember, the very same party whose own people published a white paper saying they didn't even have a bat's chance in hell of winning...
Just like all famous pilgrimages and annual migrations: the Swallows to Capistrano, the Monarch Butterfly to Transvolcanic Plateau in Mexico, Cubs Fans to openning day at Wrigley Field, the Tulip Tours to De Zwaan, Buddhists to Kapilavastu, Greeks to the Oracle at Delphi... Michigan GOP gubernatorial candidate Peter Hoekstra has made his trip to the Mackinac Center in Midland.
UPDATE: Hoekstra's Tuesday "Interview" of David Littmann on the Auto Crisis at the Mackinac Center during his day as policy pupil there now posted.
This morning Lt. Governor John Cherry launched his campaign website in his bid for the 2010 gubernatorial election. It's a gorgeous website, and has all the bells and whistles that have become the hallmark of a solid Democratic online presence. that started with Gov. Howard Dean in 2006.
Here's a bit from the site's inaugural post -
Our goal is to create a space online to not only learn about Lt. Governor Cherry, but also to hear your thoughts, ideas, and concerns. Let me know if you have any ideas or suggestions for how we could improve the site, or what you'd like to see on it. Right now, check out:
Multimedia: We have all kinds of cool multimedia (duh!) content here, from posters and stickers you can print to online widgets for your iGoogle page, Facebook, or MySpace profile (among other things!) We'll be updating this section all the time - and will even be featuring your content! We also have videos here, from testimonials about why people support John from all across Michigan to video of the Lt. Governor in action. You can even submit your own video here, and we'll feature it on the site!
Blog: We want to know what you think! I'll be posting here regularly, and you can expect to hear from a Whole Lot of Other bloggers too (interested? e-mail me). I want to read your comments; they're important to us! This campaign is about you, so comment any time!
Ways to stay in touch: I know, I know. You're never on Facebook. Right. Lt. Governor Cherry is all over the Internet, from Twitter (he was the first Lt. Governor in the country to join the service last June), to Facebook, to YouTube – even Flickr for photos!
About John: Did you know the Lt. Governor used to breed springer spaniels? Now you do! Learn more about our Lt. Governor here.
Get Involved: Learn how you can become one of A Whole Lot of People Supporting John Cherry!
Write a letter to the editor: Use our speakout tool to easily write your local newspaper – without even leaving our site!
I'm really excited to be moving forward, and look forward to your comments. What do YOU want to see here?
A Whole Lot of People Supporting John Cherry really does mean a a whole bunch of people, as seen here -
Congrats to the Cherry team for such a beautiful website, and we here at MichLib look forward to any other candidate websites, should they come forward!
U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Brighton, said Bush has received a bum rap from many citizens.
"He didn't get credit for being a nice guy a lot, but his tendencies are always to do that, I think," Rogers said. "He didn't get a chance to display it."
Well! I feel so much better about the past eight years, don't you? Who knew that being a nice guy magically canceled out defiling the United States Constitution, racking up a trillion-dollar deficit and starting a few wars?
Consider this Palinesque display of syntax and logic as a preview of what to expect if Mr. Rogers should become Michigan's next governor...
It seems as if the new year is off with a bang, particularly with the news this afternoon that Lt. Governor John Cherry has filed paperwork to form a committee quite aptly named 'A Whole Lot of People Supporting John Cherry'. Filing the paperwork is the first step in declaring a bid to run for office, but isn't quite the same thing.
But if these words from last week's Port Huron Times Herald are a reflection of the statewide support Cherry already has, then 2010 could be another year for celebration and hope.
Lt. Gov. John Cherry, who would have taken her place, served in the Legislature for 20 years and understands how things get done. Given the prospect of double-digit unemployment and a massive budget shortfall, Michigan needs nothing less than competence in high places.
Cherry could be a strong contender for the Democratic nomination in 2010. Potential rivals include Mark Hackel, the popular sheriff of Macomb County; George Perles, the former Michigan State University football coach; Robert Ficano, the Wayne County executive; and Don Williamson, the mayor of Flint.
The announcement has been highly anticipated by most insiders in Lansing and around the state.
While perhaps a little less visible than Governor Granholm during the last couple months, the LG has been hard at work, saving jobs, helping to create new ones, and as he often shares with us here on MichLib, protecting our natural resources.
If you'd like to be a part of a whole lot of people supporting John Cherry, you can join the Facebook group here.
