Michigan Governor Race

PM_Mama00 · #1 07-29-2006, 10:29 AM

I don't really keep up with politics much, and really the only stuff I know is that Granholm has let the economy suck even more. I don't know much about that other guy. Can anyone gives me facts to help me figure out who I should vote for? Thanks!

No mudslinging
No arguing
Just pros and cons on each candidate

_Opi_ · #2 07-29-2006, 01:39 PM

She's up against Dick DeVos. The hot topic is going to the employment rate and the economy of Michigan.

Personally, I know she's getting alot of heat lately about those issues, but I would stick with her (and not only because she's Canadian). But then again, I can't vote so I'll be watching from the sidelines.

There was a rumour that she was thinking about running as a senator should Levin retire.

PM_Mama00 · #3 07-29-2006, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by _Opi_

She's up against Dick DeVos. The hot topic is going to the employment rate and the economy of Michigan.

Personally, I know she's getting alot of heat lately about those issues, but I would stick with her (and not only because she's Canadian). But then again, I can't vote so I'll be watching from the sidelines.

There was a rumour that she was thinking about running as a senator should Levin retire.

I wondered why her voice was so different. It kinda annoys me the way she talks.

purplewindex · #4 07-31-2006, 04:31 PM

I'm actually very worried that DeVos is going to win just because people are blaming Granholm for our economy. He's very for the privatization of schools, which would essentially make my mother's job obsolete as an elementary school secretary. I'm not sure if that would actually happen because I think you need the voter's approval for something like that, but it scares me to think about. I think Granholm is doing a fine job.

AGDee · #5 07-31-2006, 11:04 PM

Granholm inherited a huge mess from the previous governor. I don't think anybody could have done much with it. She is trying very hard to get other industries into Michigan and market Michigan as a high tech state rather than just a manufacturing state. She hasn't reversed as much as I hoped she would of what Engler did, but she is the lesser of two evils in my opinion.

DeVos is the son of the founder of Amway. From a bio on him:

In 1989, DeVos left Amway to start a new business venture, The Windquest Group, a multi-company management group involved in the manufacture and marketing of storage and space utilization products. When the DeVos family acquired the NBA's Orlando Magic basketball franchise in 1991, DeVos also became president and CEO of the team. He left both positions in January 1993 to rejoin Amway as its president, succeeding his father, Amway co-founder Rich DeVos.

In 2000, DeVos oversaw a corporate restructuring that created Alticor, the new parent company of predecessor Amway, as well as subsidiary companies Access Business Group, and Quixtar. Under DeVos, Alticor expanded operations to more than 50 countries and territories on six continents. Although sanctioned in a 1979 ruling, Amway has been investigated and cleared by the Federal Trade Commission for suspicion of pyramid scheme violations.

What irks me is.. why bother having a primary when there is only one candidate for each political party anyway? And, why do we only have one candidate for each political party? Seems like that defeats the purpose of primaries. Is this state really in such a mess that we can only find two people who are willing to be governor? Or, are the political parties so arrogant that they think they get to pick our candidates and only allowed one person from each party to run? I know it's typical for the incumbent governor to run in a primary with no opposition from his/her party, but why aren't the Republicans giving us a choice at all?

bluefish81 · #6 07-31-2006, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AGDee

What irks me is.. why bother having a primary when there is only one candidate for each political party anyway? And, why do we only have one candidate for each political party? Seems like that defeats the purpose of primaries. Is this state really in such a mess that we can only find two people who are willing to be governor? Or, are the political parties so arrogant that they think they get to pick our candidates and only allowed one person from each party to run? I know it's typical for the incumbent governor to run in a primary with no opposition from his/her party, but why aren't the Republicans giving us a choice at all?

I have to admit, I'm baffled by the need to have a primary if they're running unopposed. I could see in a way, no one running against Granholm for the Democrats. I agree, that it's strange there are no other Republican candidates. He's been running unopposed since around February.

xo_kathy · #7 08-01-2006, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PM_Mama00

the only stuff I know is that Granholm has let the economy suck even more.

I'm not in MI anymore, and I don't keep up 100% with things, but I'm relatively still informed. The economy sucking is not Granholm's fault. It has sucked for a long time. Economies in many of the areas of the country are sucking. And especially in a state like MI that gets most of it's money from building cars while more and more people are buying foreign, no one is going to turn the economy around in one term (or even 4 terms!).

PM_Mama - I'd suggest you go to each of their websites and check out their stances on things. Then try to pick other places (besides GC!

) where other Michiganders might be discussing things and go from there. Have you been to mlive.com?

jubilance1922 · #8 08-01-2006, 10:33 AM

I was just reading in the LSJ that DeVos wants to make Michigan the leader in ethanol, biomass and biofuel production.

The thought that came to mind was "Easier said that done...Politicians have no idea what they are talking about". I guess its just the chemist in me.

PM_Mama00 · #9 08-01-2006, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xo_kathy

I'm not in MI anymore, and I don't keep up 100% with things, but I'm relatively still informed. The economy sucking is not Granholm's fault. It has sucked for a long time. Economies in many of the areas of the country are sucking. And especially in a state like MI that gets most of it's money from building cars while more and more people are buying foreign, no one is going to turn the economy around in one term (or even 4 terms!).

PM_Mama - I'd suggest you go to each of their websites and check out their stances on things. Then try to pick other places (besides GC!

) where other Michiganders might be discussing things and go from there. Have you been to mlive.com?

I thought about going to their websites, but I wanted other people's opinions. Candidates say alot to get votes, but the public's opinion of each one is what stands out to me.

epsilon99 · #10 08-04-2006, 04:34 PM

My gripe with Granholm is that she said a lot of losers come out of U of M at the graduation ceremony the year after I left. I think she's a good governor though.

RU OX Alum · #11 08-11-2006, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PM_Mama00

I don't really keep up with politics much, and really the only stuff I know is that Granholm has let the economy suck even more. I don't know much about that other guy. Can anyone gives me facts to help me figure out who I should vote for? Thanks!

No mudslinging
No arguing
Just pros and cons on each candidate

My rule of thumb is to vote against whoever the incumbant is.

But that usually means I have to go out of my way to find out who the incumbant is, so if there is no one from my party (which there isn't, by the way) then I bite the bullet and search for the incumbant and vote against whoever that is.

AnchorAlum · #12 08-11-2006, 09:31 PM

I lived in Michigan for two years in the 90's, when Engler was Governor. In Troy. I enjoyed my time there - Michiganders are OK by me! Cider mill donuts RULE!

Michigan's economy is old America, one of the Big Three and the corollary industries that serve them. Some difficult choices are ahead whether the unions want to allow it or not. Outside forces are pushing the changes and it would be sad to see the state completely swept over by an inability to attract new industry. There's an educated work force and the absolute challenge is for the new economy to overtake what the UAW has created. I don't think that one previous governor, who I liked by the way, is solely responsible for a lagging economy.

By the way, Florida's economy is booming. But we don't have many unions, we are a right to work state, and we have a very business friendly low tax government. We're not the only one, either. The market is changing globally, and like it or not, we're not insular. That's just my 2 cents.