SOS Candidate Michelle McManus list hate group leaders endorsement

by: Philip.R.Moon

Wed Jun 23, 2010 at 10:27:17 AM EDT

UPDATE: Full e-mail text posted here

 X-Posted at YAF Watch, Daily Kos

 Republican State Senator and current Secretary of State Candidate Michelle McManus recently listed hate-group leader Kyle Bristow endorsement in an e-mail to supporters.

The e-mail, sent June 17th, covers issues such as McManus support for an Arizona-style anti-immigrant bill submitted by Republican State Kim Meltzer (who also has ties to Bristow) and her ‘perfect score’ on a Tea Party questionnaire.

The e-mail list a number of endorsements of various Republican Party officials. Kyle Bristow, former vice Chair for the 12th district, is listed third from the top on the list, after former State Senator Mat Dunakiss and Gerald Law, but above one state committee members and Wayne and Mackinac county chairmen.  Why should a former chair of a county district place above current county chairmen? The McManus campaign did not respond to an e-mail inquiry.

UPDATE: Republican Forum Now Invitation Only. What are Republican SoS Candidates Trying to Hide

by: bfealk

Sun Mar 15, 2009 at 19:45:23 PM EDT

I recently RSVP'd to this event showcasing the 3 Republican candidates for Secretary of State.  The initial inviation was to everyone to attend.  After I RSVP'd, the event became by invitaion only.    They won't even show who is attending to others who are coming.  Is that transparency?  Sounds like Dick Cheney and his energy meeting to me.

Shouldn't events like this be open to everyone in the state, since these people are running for statewide office?

Why do Republicans only want to talk to Republicans?  Don't they realize they will never win an election that way?  What are Michelle McManus, Anne Norland and Cameron Brown trying to hide?

GOP SoS Town Hall Monday, March 30th at Trott & Trott

by: bfealk

Sat Mar 14, 2009 at 14:08:55 PM EDT

Click here to RSVP

You are cordially invited…

Join the 9th, 12th & 14th Congressional District Republican Party organizations

at the

SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN
SHOWDOWN IN MOTOWN:

GOP Michigan Secretary of State Candidates Town Hall Forum
Master of Ceremonies:
Republican National Committeewoman Holly Hughes



Join Republicans from across Southeast Michigan as we come together to hear from GOP candidates running for Michigan Secretary of State in 2010. The candidates will take your questions during this live town hall panel discussion about how & who can win in 2010.

Senator Cameron Brown, Senator Michelle McManus & Clerk/Register Anne Norlander will attend this complimentary event. Snacks/goodies will be provided by the Executive Committees of the 9th, 12th & 14th Congressional District Republican Party organizations.

Event date: Monday, March 30th. Social hour/meet the candidates: 6:30 – 7:30 PM. Event starts at 7:30 PM. Event location: Trott Financial Center (former McCain-Palin ’08 Great Lakes Regional Headquarters), 31440 Northwestern Highway (between 13 Mile & Middlebelt Roads – east side of road), Farmington Hills. Bring your friends!

'Dumbfounded' Cox took money from Meijer while probe was ongoing

by: Eric B.

Sun May 18, 2008 at 13:50:19 PM EDT

Michelle McManus, R-Lake Leelenau, doesn't think local prosecutors should have a role in prosecuting campaign finance violations, because they're campaign finance law violations and not actually crimes (right, I know, just work with me here).  The Secretary of State should handle those, she said.  Here is how that kind of thing works out.

State Attorney General Michael Cox says he is "dumbfounded" by the secretary of state's handling of the Meijer Inc. election violations and Terri Lynn Land's office should have consulted him before signing an agreement.

Cox also said Land should have known her agreement with Meijer would form a "complete bar" to any criminal election charges against Meijer employees or those at outside firms working on its behalf.

Yes, dumbfounded like a fox.  Mike Cox, you see, took money from Meijer back in March.

TRAVERSE CITY -- Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox accepted $2,500 from Meijer Inc.'s political action committee in March, despite knowing he'd be asked to support a local criminal investigation of the retailer's actions in Acme Township.

The local prosecuting attorney is still working a perjury crime, so perhaps Cox will be asked to help out (Cox says the money is peanuts compared to the $5 million he's raised, which means he missed class the day they discussed conflicts of interest).

But, really, what's to add here.  These are the kinds of developments that just leave me depressed.  I didn't think in a million years that Meijer could possibly come out of this looking like something other than the chief villain, but that's before the company butted heads with the lazy incompetence and corruption of the state Republican Party.

Record-Eagle Rakes McManus, Land Over the Coals

by: PerfectStormer

Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 11:29:43 AM EDT

From the Record-Eagle's editorial page:

Rodgers said that under the state campaign finance act, only the secretary of state can seek a criminal investigation of possible violations. But given Land's longtime links to Meijer and her seeming laissez-faire attitude about the whole episode, it would be a wonder if she pushed to know more than she's been told.

For the record, Terri Land has received $9400 from Meijer employees and PACs since 2001, and Mike Cox has received over $16,000.

Every indication is that Land will send out a sternly-worded press release about the sanctity of the election process and then levy a paltry -- and given Meijer's colossal income, anything less than a few millions would be paltry -- fine.

At which time we'll all be shocked...shocked, I tell ya.

Michelle McManus doesn't get off easily, either:

Incredibly, that's also the attitude of state Sen. Michelle McManus, R-Lake Leelanau, who uttered one of those totally inane assertions that serve only to change the subject: "Campaign finance laws are about transparency, they are not about criminal action," she said. Right. Except when they are about criminal actions, of course. That's why state law, as weak as it is, allows the secretary of state to ask the attorney general to conduct criminal probes of suspected campaign law violations.

Go. Read the whole thing. The Record-Eagle's editorial staff is awesome, and the editorial is worth a read.

Campaign finance reform, politically speaking

by: Eric B.

Sun Apr 27, 2008 at 10:09:53 AM EDT

So, let's get this straight.  Michelle McManus, the 35th District's fast-driving Republican senator, doesn't want local prosecuting attornies to be able to prosecute violations of campaign finance law that apply to Meijer (leaving the job to partisan state officials ... in this case, from her own party), but she supports legislation to require an already-forming legal defense fund to disclose more information than currently required, in this case formed on behalf of a Democrat.

And, yet, we wonder why regular people loathe politics and think politicians are the lowest form of scum...

Michelle McManus Stands in the Way of Campaign Finance Enforcement

by: PerfectStormer

Tue Apr 22, 2008 at 11:02:05 AM EDT

Earlier this month as the Meijer-Acme scandal was winding its way through the courts, it hit a snag in 13th Circuit Court. Grand Traverse County Prosecutor Alan Schneider requested to subpoena documents from Meijer, in an attempt to determine whether Meijer's actions were felonious.

 The subpoenas were denied on the grounds that only the Secretary of State's office has the authority to refer campaign finance violations to the Attorney General's office.

Republican state reps Kevin Elsenheimer (R-Bellaire) and Howard Walker (R-Traverse City) have written legislation that would transfer jurisdiction of campaign finance violations from the Secretary of State's Office to county prosecutors.

 TC Record-Eagle:

The law instructs the secretary of state to pursue "soft action" to resolve violations through informal agreements that then become a barrier to tougher action, Robinson said. In addition, the secretary of state lacks authority to compel the production of documents and testimony, limiting her office's ability to fully investigate criminal violations.

McManus believes Michigan Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land should continue to be "the gatekeeper" for resolving campaign finance violations. Local prosecutors shouldn't have a role, she said.

Granholm bashes "uncommitted"...while not committing to Michigan

by: David Boyle

Mon Jan 14, 2008 at 19:39:27 PM EST

"She's committed to us. We are going to stand behind someone who stands behind us."

"Their choice is to be committed for uncommitted? Or to be committed to someone who has stood for us?"

, and DetNews, Clinton cruising over 'uncommitted' (which despite its title, queries

But will she capture a large enough percentage to avoid embarrassment Tuesday?

    Gov. Jennifer Granholm said this morning at a Clinton rally in Southfield that her candidate "is committed to Michigan."    
    "Her opponent in this state apparently is 'uncommitted,' which is not an opponent," Granholm told reporters after speaking to 100 Clinton supporters at the Westin Hotel. "That is why we are encouraging voters to get out and vote for Hillary Clinton. She is not uncommitted to Michigan, which the other candidates apparently are."    
    Clinton opted not to campaign in Michigan because she made a pledge to uphold the party primary calendar, which is tilted to early races in Iowa and New Hampshire.

   There are multiple truth problems with JG's words here, including the fact that, uh, Clinton pledged not to campaign in Michigan (as noted above)! so that Dennis Kucinich, whatever his other problems, is more committed to Michigan than Clinton, cf. George Bullard in DetNews, Re Michigan, at least Kucinich shows up.
    As well, like it or not, Gravel and Kucinich are opponents of Clinton, too, so JG is inaccurate by not mentioning them as opponents, mentioning only "uncommitted" as an opponent. (Cheap rhetorical trick?)
    Last but not least, Granholm (who USED to say that Michigan Liberal is her favorite blog--is that still true??--, so that she may read here frequently) may have borrowed the "committed/uncommitted" wordplay of yours truly on 1/9/08, "Ironically, then, if you are COMMITTED to change, you may have to vote UNCOMMITTED on 1/15." ...I wonder how much she might owe me for "copyright infringement"! No wonder the writers went on strike...

    Now what is really interesting, is Jennifer Granholm's lack of commitment to staying in Michigan herself and doing her job, instead of running off to D.C. with Hillary, if she wins, and then leaving the Michigan mess to her new "Chief Operating Officer" (!! "Michigan Incorporated"??), and to John Cherry, whose, to be blunt, "charisma issues" might prevent him from becoming governor in a normal election.
    See Tim Skubick, the "Off the Record" video of his JG interview on 10/12/07, at c. 13:45-15:45 on the video. (Check WKAR if the above link doesn't work) TS asks JG repeatedly if she will pledge not to leave Lansing, and JG refuses again and again to answer, talking about "speculation", dodging the issue, and leaving a deep suspicion about her own commitment to Michigan. (She does say that fixing Michigan should take longer than a year and a half, and that she doesn't want to go to D.C. ...o.k., then why can't she pledge to stay in Lansing? Whom does she think she's fooling??)

    Repeatedly refusing to pledge to stay on the job in her own state, throwing (or even subtly massaging...) the election for a pal who can give her a cushy slot in D.C., and taking millions of taxpayers dollars to do it, plus the voter list graft, plus holding the DNC-rulebreaking election even after 4 Dem candidates correctly avoided it, plus Michigan's collapse in general...how committed is politician Granholm to Michigan, or staying in Michigan, or anything? Can she be believed when she mocks "uncommitted" voters like the great John Conyers and says voting Hillary is better?
    Probably not. If you vote, vote "uncommitted"...and commit to doing something about Granholm's, Dingell's, Brewer's, Anuzis's, McManus's, and Bishop's noxious dedication to doing the wrong thing re the 1/15 primary, and so many other wrong things as well. Thanks for your commitment to Michigan and to Michigan rank-and-file Democrats!

Friday Coffee Talk/Open Thread

by: BZP

Fri Nov 16, 2007 at 07:29:23 AM EST

Happy Friday! Enjoy your morning cup-o-links...

• Freep: House Democrats target employers who hire illegal immigrants. "House Democrats want to make it a felony for employers to knowingly hire illegal or undocumented immigrants in Michigan. A four-bill package would require employers to verify documents for new hires under federal rules, such as driver's licenses, passports or Social Security cards." You can read the release here.
• Michelle McManus: Dems shut out state voters. The Chair of the Senate Campaign and Election Oversight Committee boldly takes responsibility for the failure of the presidential primary bill... by blaming Schauer and the Senate Dems.
• Skubick: Term limits reform fades. Apparently Bob LaBrant at the Chamber has been taking lessons from Sen. McManus.
• Ken Sikkema & Jeff Williams: Plug in new policy for future power. This op-ed is a bit technical (i.e., over my head), but it's encouraging to see the former Republican Senate Leader admit (1) that building more coal plants would harm the environment, and (2) we need to support renewable energy and energy efficiency efforts.
• Michigan Messenger: Granholm: Wind power can bring jobs. Speaking of renewable energy, the governor is really pushing this: "I am pledged to focus on this area as the biggest potential for growth," she told the crowd in Traverse City. "If we don't capitalize on this, shame on us."
• AP: Midwest governors to sign energy pact to cut use, build resources. "The Midwest can be either a big winner or the big loser in the energy and climate debate," Granholm said in a statement. "To win, we need strong regional innovation and collaboration, backed by strong and perhaps unprecedented federal actions and investment, to advance accelerated deployment of lucrative energy and climate technologies."

• AA News Editorial: U-M alumni playing larger role in diversity. "There are alumni who really feel very passionately about wanting to contribute to scholarships that can help certain individuals, whether it's minority students or women to go into science and engineering, or men to go into nursing,'' Steve Grafton, the association president.
• K-Zoo Gazette: After a year of combating homelessness, some progress. A nice update on the Kalamazoo County Affordable Housing Partnership's efforts to end homelessness in the area.
• Mark Maynard: Bill Ford on the future of transportation and how no one is at the wheel. Mark has a great summary of Bill Ford's speech at UM on Tuesday night about sustainability.
• Freep: UAW's new role: Shareholder. "What we are witnessing is the transformation from a confrontational way of working to one of collaboration, which is absolutely necessary," said David Cole, chairman of the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor.

• Stabenow: Michigan votes to sustain CHIP veto disappoint. Sen. Stabenow attempts to dispel some of the myths surrounding S-CHIP.
• BFM: It's presidential poll time in Michigan. Wizardkitten takes a look at the most recent EPIC/MRA poll. Hillary is crushing the other dems, while Rudy and Mitt duke it out on the republican side.
• BFM: An Embarrassment of Riches in MI-02. Let's see, we have two people willing to take on Pete "Turtle Power" Hoekstra in the 2nd, not to mention great candidates in the 7th and 9th districts. So, anyone care to take on Mike Rogers in the 8th? Anyone... Bueller?

• Great Lakes Blogger: Dioxin comes home to roost and other news. "Had the company come clean in the 70s and 80s, this problem would not be posing health risks to fisheaters and generating rotten PR for Dow today. But a consistent corporate strategy of delay and deny has simply postponed the day of reckoning."
• CNN: 4 nooses found in Central Michigan University classroom. "Michigan state Sen. Hansen Clark said he met with the university president to discuss how to handle the incident. He plans to make a statement Friday on whether the university will ask federal authorities to investigate the case."
• The Hub: Silver Bells in the City event lights up downtown, offers family activities and more. Here's your chance to bring the kiddies to Lansing to see the Capitol. The electric light parade kicks off at 6:10, followed by the tree lighting and fireworks (weather permitting).

Monday Coffee Talk/Open Thread

by: BZP

Mon Jul 16, 2007 at 07:06:35 AM EDT

• Wizardkitten: Take it, to the limit, one more time? Last week, Lt. Gov. Cherry predicted that lawmakers might try to push this budget agreement into October, creating a crisis as an excuse to explain away their votes. The story didn't get much play in the MSM, but Wizardkitten walks us through everything. Check it out.
• LSJ: Tax votes raise specter of recalls for lawmakers. Who's afraid of the big pig?
• LSJ: State employees: Under siege? An interesting topic, coming from the paper who posted their salaries online.
• BFM: Why Republicans Don't Work on Friday. Hoo-boy! Cordelia Lear: "Patterson, who is term limited by the way, is having a fund raiser. For only $150, supporters can join him, Mike Bishop, Jason Allen, Wayne Kuipers, Michelle McManus and more... at Senator Bruce Patterson's 6th Annual Shoot & Silent Auction on Friday, July 27, 2007." Sounds like that Mike Bishop is a busy man.
• Conservative Media: Insurance companies threaten to flee after being forced to finally pay their fair share. The Comm Guru takes a look at the insurance industry under the new MBT. He says it's hard to feel sorry for them becaue, "a recent study by Missouri's insurance commissioner from 1993-98 concludes that Michigan's auto insurance companies have been piling up huge record profits and excessive surplus funds."
• Conservative Media: 'Every picture tells a story don’t it'. The Guru takes a quick look at the Republicans' poor showing at the NAACP candidate forum last week. After what we saw with Katrina, I can't say I'm surprised, but it's pretty clear that the GOP has completely written off African American voters.
• Michigan for Edwards: Edwards Back in Michigan: Detroit with the NAACP. Philgoblue has video highlights of Edwards in Detroit for the NAACP Convention. Again, I don't necessarily consider myself an Edwards supporter, but Phil's been doing a great job of keeping tabs on his candidate from a Michigan perspective.
• Stone Soup Musings: Uninsured Americans Raise Medicare Costs. One more reason for why we need universal healthcare.
• Walberg Watch: Tim Walberg's Second Quarter Fundraising. Fitzy has numbers and analysis. I whipped up a similar post for Mike Rogers, which you can see here.

Did I forget anything? Drop your links in the comments section...

We're not in Cadillac anymore, Toto!

by: LiberalLucy

Thu May 17, 2007 at 08:17:05 AM EDT

Just yesterday, while the Senate Republicans were plundering Michigan's K-12 Educational Funding, otherwise known as Senate Bills 436 and 437, Sen. Michelle McManus (R- Lake Leelanau) let this beauty drop -

As I watch this body, it reminds me of a very familiar movie that I watched while I was a child. It was called "The Wizard of Oz." I'm sure you've heard of it. I'm sure you're familiar with it. As I watch everything that's been happening the last couple of months, I can't stop but to see some very familiar characters, characters in this room, characters in the executive branch, and certainly some characters in the House.

Now here in the Senate, we have the brains to pass a very reasonable package of spending reductions to balance this budget this particular year, not once but twice.

In the House they haven't always seen the right path to make the best decisions, but certainly their hearts are in the right place because they've wanted to vote for different particular items that the Governor has put forth.

Of course, then, there is the Governor. I won't characterize what particular character I think she could portray in "The Wizard of Oz," but I would only say that I would hope that she could find some courage in a decent amount of time to make the very tough decisions which need to be made for this state...

*emphasis added*

Did I mention that The Wicked Witch of the North McManus is the Republican Assistant Majority Leader?

Good people of the 35th Senate District, you have our sympathies.

McManus/Benzie schoolkids controversy hits the MSM

by: Hazen Pingree

Fri May 11, 2007 at 12:14:25 PM EDT

Officials and parents at a school in Benzie County found what they thought was a creative way to send their political message to Lansing: display it on the backs of fourth-graders.

Most of the nearly 30 fourth-graders on a recent field trip to the state capital marched into the House gallery wearing T-shirts that read "-$125," a statement opposing the proposed cuts in per-student state aid to school districts.

The incident continues to raise eyebrows in the students' home district, as well as in Lansing.

-snip-

The students' gesture garnered numerous entries on the popular political blog site Michiganliberal.com. (emphasis added)

But state Sen. Michelle McManus, R-Lake Leelanau, said the students were used as political tools. She heard about the protest messages when Jennifer Smeltzer, another Crystal Lake parent on the trip, called her office to complain before the group arrived in Lansing.

"She told me that young kids were being used to promote a political agenda,” McManus said. (emphasis added)

Oh, hell's bells! Get off it already, Senator!

SD35 Sen. McManus responds

by: Hazen Pingree

Wed May 09, 2007 at 20:43:31 PM EDT

Friends,

I am writing today to clear up some apparent misconceptions about an incident that took place last week when students from Crystal Lake Elementary in Benzonia visited the Capitol.

It came to my attention from a concerned parent that the fourth graders on the trip were being used as props in a political demonstration without the knowledge or consent of their parents. As the mother of a nine-year-old, I was appalled. Regardless of your political affiliation, using children to promote your political agenda is simply unacceptable.

I have heard it stated that I contacted the Capitol Tour Desk to ask that these students be banned from future visits to the Capitol. Not only is this accusation completely false, but it is utterly ridiculous as well. The Capitol is a public building that belongs to the people of Michigan. No school has ever been banned from visiting here.

As I see it, the children have been victimized enough, and I would not punish them further for the inappropriate actions of some of their adult chaperones. In fact, I hope these children will return to the Capitol in the near future so they can enjoy this beautiful and historic building without being used as pawns by well-meaning, but misdirected, adults.

As a legislator, it is my job to listen to people and to hear their complaints. While I understand the frustrations many are feeling with the budget process, actions like these are not a constructive way to address our state's problems. The line of communication between schools and elected officials needs to remain open and productive.

I hope this message serves to clear up any misconceptions about Thursday's events. As you know, my door is always open, and I welcome your feedback and questions. Please do not hesitate to contact me regarding this or any issue related to state government, and please feel free to share this message with anyone you encounter with questions about Thursday's incident.

Sincerely,
Michelle A. McManus
State Senator
35th District

(emphasis added)

It came to my attention from a concerned parent that the fourth graders on the trip were being used as props in a political demonstration without the knowledge or consent of their parents. As the mother of a nine-year-old, I was appalled. Regardless of your political affiliation, using children to promote your political agenda is simply unacceptable. (emphasis added)

McManus vs. Michigan's children: the cost of ideology

by: seaborn

Mon May 07, 2007 at 19:48:51 PM EDT

On the bus ride down, the parents on the trip - some Republicans, some Democrats and some independants - talked with the kids about Michigan's budget crisis, including the $125 per pupil cut that will be made if the Republicans don't cover their expenses in the next 24 days.  These cuts would cost the students of the Benzie County Central School District, which includes Crystal Lake Elementary, $246,285.

In response, the kids took part in a silent protest:

This was way, way too much for Michelle McManus.  In response, she allegedly called the Capitol Tour service and tried to have these 4th graders banned from the Capitol building.  That's right: a second term state senator responded to a silent protest not aimed at her but at the budget situation in general by trying to ban a group of 4th graders from ever visiting the site of their state government again!

What was it that Shakespeare said?  That's right: "Me thinks the lady doth protest too much."

While McManus has tried to lay the blame for her budgetary irresponsibility at the governor's feet (even while bragging about blowing an additional $600-700 million hole in the state's budget), her little incident on Thursday shows that not even Michelle McManus believes Michelle McManus's talking points. 

She shouldn't.

Better know an obstructionist: Sen. Michelle McManus (R-Lake Leelanau)

by: Hazen Pingree

Sun May 06, 2007 at 09:19:37 AM EDT