Absolute Michigan » Elections

November 2011 Michigan Event Calendar

Absolute Michigan — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 13:35:20 +0000

Here's a bunch Michigan festivals & events for the month of November. As usual, there's no way to get them all, so please add links and information about the one's we've missed (or reviews of ones we have here) in the comments below.

November Fast Facts

The Leonids meteor shower reaches its peak around November 17
November's birthstone is the yellow topaz.
Its birth flower is the chrysanthemum.
November 10th is the birthday of the United States Marine Corps
November 11th is Veterans Day
Americans celebrate Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday of November.
The day after Thanksgiving in the USA, a famous day for shopping, known as "Black Friday."
Monday immediately following Thanksgiving Day in the USA is know as Cyber Monday

- November, Wikipedia

In 1863, Abraham Lincoln, proclaimed the last Thursday of November to be a National Day of Thanksgiving(pdf).

November Quotes

"All in November's soaking mist
We stand and prune the naked tree,
While all our love and interest
Seem quenched in the blue-nosed misery."
- Ruth Pitter

"November always seemed to me the Norway of the year."
- Emily Dickinson

"So dull and dark are the November days.
The lazy mist high up the evening curled,
And now the morn quite hides in smoke and haze;
The place we occupy seems all the world."
- John Clare, November

"November's sky is chill and drear,
November's leaf is red and sear."
- Sir Walter Scott

"The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down
Of the big lake they call Gitche Gumee
Superior, they say, never gives up her dead
When the gales of November come early."
- Gordon Lightfoot, "The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald"

Things to Do, Places to Go

Also see Pure Michigan's November 2011 Event Calendar!

Through November 21
Northern Michigan C. S. Lewis Festival - Traverse City
The Northern Michigan C. S. Lewis Festival welcomes you to our annual month-long celebration. Events take place during late October and November in the Petoskey area on Little Traverse Bay, including music & theater performances, school & library programs, scholarly lectures, community discussion groups, and more.

November 3 -13
Grand Rapids Restaurant Week - Grand Rapids
Over 50 GR restaurants will feature a three-course menu for a fixed price of $25 in addition to their regular menu and some are offering 2 for $25!

November 5
Iceman Cometh Challenge - Traverse City
Nearly 4000 cyclists from the United States and Canada converge on Traverse City for the Iceman Cometh – a 27-mile point-to-point mountain bike race from Kalkaska to Traverse City through the Pere Marquette State Forest.

November 5 & 6 or November 12 & 13
Toast the Season Wine Tour - Leelanau Peninsula
The annual Toast the Season wine trail tour features a special wine & food pairing and a holiday gift bag featuring local food at each of the 19 Leelanau Peninsula member wineries.

November 5 – 6
First Frost Arts and Fine Crafts Festival - Flint
Enjoy a glass blowing demonstration, view & bid on decorated holiday tree or wreath and explore artwork in wood, fiber, clay and more from more than 50 juried artists.

November 9 -17
East Lansing Film Festival - East Lansing
The East Lansing Film Festival (ELFF) is the largest and most diverse film festival in Michigan to screen independent and foreign feature, documentary, short and students films from around the world. The Lake Michigan Film Competition (LMFC) will be held during the festival. This competition gives cash awards to the filmmakers whose film was at least one quarter filmed, produced, or financed in the states that border Lake Michigan.

November 10
Annual Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial Service - Whitefish Point
The service includes reflections, music, and the Call to the Last Watch Ceremony in which the ship's bell is run 29 times for each crewman who went down with this famous vessel plus a 30th ring for all who have lost their lives on the Great Lakes.

November 10 – 12
Michigan Festival of Sacred Music - Kalamazoo
The Michigan Festival of Sacred Music offers events which represent diverse religious traditions, promoting mutual respect and understanding through sharing the music treasured by these traditions.

November 12
Wagbo Farm Cider Making Demo - East Jordan
Join the Martha Wagbo Farm and Education Center for their free monthly potluck program! Potluck lunch starts at 12pm. Bring a dish to pass if you want, but it's not mandatory. Wagbo provides drinks and table service. The presentation begins at 1 pm. Homebrewers Keith Kintigh and Jason Stephens will provide an introduction to the art of making "hard" cider. Discussion will include history of cider making, the role of apple varieties, and the importance of yeast choice. Free and open to the public.

November 12 - 20
Christmas Tree Galleria - Caspian
Head to the Iron County Historical Museum Complex in Caspian for a display of over 50 trees with rural, ethnic and international themes.

November 14 - 22
Annual Children's Film Festival - Saugatuck
Artful, educational, funny, thought-provoking films for young audiences (made by both adult and young filmmakers). Public screenings are on November 19.

November 15 - 30
Deer Hunting (Regular Firearm Season)
If you think this isn't a major event, then you probably live south of Clare.

November 17 - 19
Grand Rapids Wine, Beer & Food Festival - Grand Rapids
An annual pre-holiday event! Now in its fourth year, this festival has established itself as Michigan's premier event for the celebration and tasting of the finest foods, wines, beers and spirits. From the connoisseur who lives and breathes for the finer things in life to the novice looking for an introduction to the world of food and spirits, the International Wine & Food Festival will deliver a grand experience that is sure to please every palette.Absolute Michigan has FOUR tickets to give away for to someone on our email list - click to sign up and get much more information!

November 17 – 27
Festival of Trees - Muskegon
Designers & artists present beautifully decorated holiday trees and wreaths at the Muskegon Museum of Art. Also included are a holiday movie festival.

November 18
Silver Bells in the City - Lansing
Silver Bells in the City attracts 120,000 attendees annually and features an Electric Light Parade followed by the lighting of Michigan's official Christmas tree and a firework show (weather permitting) over the State Capitol. The evening is also filled with free family entertainment including free admission to Lansing's cultural institutions, horse-drawn wagon rides on Washington Square, and performances by more than 50 local arts and cultural institutions throughout downtown Lansing.

November 18 - 27
Christmas WonderFest - Detroit
Glittering buildings, busy sidewalks, brisk air, dazzling gift displays and decadent treats are highlights of a bustling Christmas season in the city. In November 2011, the city’s central plaza Campus Martius Park will debut Christmas WonderFest, a highly anticipated indoor/outdoor festival and return to the legacy of Detroit Christmas Past. WonderFest, modeled upon traditional European Christmas Markets, will kick off the holiday season in grand style with an International Marketplace, seasonal food & drink, Carousel and Ferris Wheel spins, and Holiday Tree-Lighting.

November 19
Kalamazoo Russian Festival - Kalamazoo
Celebrate the partnership between Kalamazoo, Michigan and Pushkin, Russia at this years Kalamazoo Russian Festival; a unique Russian cultural event in the Midwest.

November 19 - December 31
Battle Creek International Festival of Lights - Battle Creek
The six-week holiday lighting extravaganza in greater Battle Creek, Michigan, features over one million sparkling lights, special events, lighting displays, and entertainment.

November 24 - Thanksgiving Day
Detroit's Thanksgiving Day Parade - Detroit
The theme for the 2011 America's Thanksgiving Parade is "So Much To Believe In". The parade down Woodward Avenue is one of the nation's oldest and most celebrated parades. They start at 9:20 a.m. on Woodward Avenue and Mack and end at Woodward Avenue and Congress in downtown Detroit before hundreds of thousands of parade-goers, in person and on WDIV Local 4.

November 25
Fantasy of Lights - Howell
Parade & Town Activities in Historic Howell, Michigan

November 26 - December 18
Santa's Village - Chesaning
Experience Santa's Village - North Pole USA.Young and old alike will enjoy a visit to the enchanged village. Nestled snugly at the North Pole (aka, Saginaw County Fairgrounds, Chesaning, Michigan), Santa's Village embodies the spirit and excitement of the holiday season. North Pole Express Engine 1225 arrives at Santa's Village at 11 am and 5 pm daily while the Village is open. View the steam engine made famous in the movie Polar Express.

November 25 - December 30
Christmas at Crossroads Holiday Magic - Flint
This holiday fantasyland features thousands of sparkling lights and Michigan's most spectacular moving light display, the Huckleberry Railroad. The entire village is aglow with colored lights and more lights decorate the railroad's locomotive, coaches and trackside displays. Costumed villagers prepare for the holiday season in the village's homes and shops, the Colwell Opera House presents live entertainment and Santa Claus talks with the children. See model trains, craft demonstrations, holiday music and unique shopping opportunities delight all ages.

November 26
Great Macaroni & Cheese Bake-Off - Old Mission Peninsula
The Wineries of Old Mission Peninsula will host local restaurants who have turned the classic comfort food, Macaroni and Cheese, into culinary marvels! This rich and creamy fare is paired with wines from Old Mission - Rieslings, Pinot Grigios, Chardonnays and more. Taste what our local Chefs have come up with this year!

Share this:

Michigan Election Resources & the 2010 Election

farlane — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 13:47:02 +0000

In one week Michigan goes to the polls to elect a governor and other officials. We've stuffed the ballot box with information and links to help you make your decisions. One decision that should be easy to make is to get out and vote on Tuesday, November 2nd!

Sometimes you have to lead trump, and the best site for Michigan election information is publius.org. The site is fantastic resource. If you go there and enter your name as it appears on your voter registration, you can see your actual ballot! Ballots have links to the candidate's web site, information about the ballot measures, the salary the candidates will receive if elected and their campaign finance reports! You can even see the location of your polling place and even what machine you'll be voting on and how it works.

The Secretary of State's Election page has a lot of information as well including lobbyist disclosures. Another resource to track the influence of lobbyists and campaign contributions is the Michigan Campaign Finance Network (MCFN). You can get the details on candidate and party spending from MCFN, and their overview notes:

Competition for control of the Michigan House of Representatives is nearly dead-even in campaign finance terms. However, in the contest for control of the Michigan Senate, Republicans have raised twice as much money as Democrats, they've already spent 60 percent more money than Democrats, they have twice as much cash on hand as Democrats, and party support favors Republicans by a wide margin.

...The RGA Michigan PAC, a creation of the Republican Governors Association, has given the Michigan Republican Party $4,036,000 since August 31st, which has, in turn, been spent as independent expenditures supporting Republicans and opposing Democrats. The Michigan RGA PAC has taken in $8.4 million this year, a record for a Michigan PAC, and it reports a cash balance of $1.3 million. The political parties are not required to file any form of balance sheet, so it is impossible to determine what sort of cash reserves the MRP has.

The Center for Michigan has been delivering excellent coverage of Election 2010 including their guide to the race to become Michigan's Governor. You can watch the only debate between Democratic candidate Virg Bernaro and Republican candidate Rick Snyder there or at MIvote.org. Billed as your video guide to the election, MIVote brings solid information to the table about the issues and they also offer a chance for ordinary folks to upload their video thoughts on the election.

mLive's Politics & Elections section is a solid resource and the Freep and Detroit News have their sections as well. You will also want to tune into Michigan Radio's 2010 Election coverage for stories and a look at Proposal 1 asking if the Michigan Constitution should be revamped. Proponents cite our restrictive term limits, tax structure, school funding and the large number of units of local government. Those opposed list re-opening issues already decided by voters, the cost of a constitutional convention and the uncertain climate that such a convention would create for schools and job providers.

The blogs tend to be more partisan, but they also tend to provide livelier reading. On the left side of the aisle, there's MichiganLiberal.com, Blogging for Michigan and the Michigan Senate Democrats blog. On the right, the Michigan Republican Party blog, Right Michigan and Republican Michigander. Somewhere in the middle is my personal favorite, Jack Lessenberry.

We'll close with the recent Gubernatorial Candidate Forum on Michigan's Economic and Environmental Future with Virg Bernero and Rick Snyder presented by the Michigan LCV Education Fund, Detroit Free Press, Michigan Radio and ConservAmerica. It's about 1/2 hour and well worth your time. If there's anything we missed or something you have to say about the 2010 elections, post them in the comments!

Share this:

Post-election withdrawal Wednesday

farlane — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 14:45:09 +0000

Voting is a family affair by Eye See 360

Election 2008 is more or less in the books and while we don't have complete results, we can hit the high points before politics slides off the front page and those elected get down to the very difficult challenges that await them.

CNN reports that Michigan went overwhelmingly for Barack Obama (57% - 41%). They have a nice map of the nation's results as well. The Freep notes that despite historically long lines, weather and general good cheer seemed to carry the day. In other national races, incumbents in Michigan generally carried the day from Sen. Carl Levin (D) on down. Two exceptions were Democrats Mark Schauer and Gary Peters wresting control from Republican incumbents.

The two ballot proposals also carried the day, with Proposal 1 (medical marijuana) passing by a wide margin and Proposal 2 (stem cell research) passing 53%-48%:

"This is a great night for the state of Michigan," said Sean Morrison, director of the University of Michigan Center for Stem Cell Biology and a vocal supporter of the proposal... "I can tell you this: We'll be meeting within the next week ... to expand our embryonic research program. We expect in the short-term millions of new dollars of grants to come from the federal government and private foundations to support the expanded research."

The Detroit News has a complete list of state results. One notable change was the first ever defeat of an incumbent Chief Justice of the Supreme Court as Diane Hathaway unseated Chief Justice Clifford Taylor.

Thoughts? Comments? Cool blog posts, photos or videos? Share them below!

Share this:

The Week for November 3-9

Absolute Michigan — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 17:32:21 +0000

Autumn Leaves by cedarkayak

Welcome to 'The Week' for November 3-9. This is where we will be posting comments such as news items, interesting blog posts, cool video and media, coming events, new web sites added to Absolute Michigan and other items of note.

We invite you to do the same!

Tomorrow, November 4th, is election day and we encourage everyone able to vote to get out and exercise your right to do so. Last week we published Electionpalooza Tuesday: The 2008 Election in Michigan and invite you to revisit this post and get informed about the issues and the candidates.

The weather this week looks great with temps in most areas of the state expected to reach into the 60's making it a great time to get outside and enjoy autumn. Looking at this week's events we see that the C.S.Lewis Festival in Petoskey runs from November 3 - 25. It is a four weekend festival celebrating the life and work of C. S. Lewis through collaborations by the arts, education, and faith communities. The Kalamazoo Russian Festival happens on November 6 - 8. Celebrate the partnership between Kalamazoo, Michigan and Pushkin, Russia at this years Kalamazoo Russian Festival; a unique Russian cultural event in the Midwest.

Although not happening this week we feel we should give advance notice of the Annual Fitzgerald Memorial Service in Paradise on November 10.

The Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum will present the 13th annual Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial Service at 7 pm on Monday, November 10, 2008, at the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum, Whitefish Point, Michigan. The public is invited to attend. The service includes reflections, music, and the Call to the Last Watch Ceremony in which the ship's bell is run 29 times for each crewman who went down with this famous vessel â€“ plus a 30th ring for all who have lost their lives on the Great Lakes.

Share this:

Are we there yet Monday?

farlane — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 16:28:20 +0000

expressionism by powerbooktrance

If you're anything like me, you're more than ready for tomorrow and an end to the arduous Election 2008 cycle. Here's a few things that can help you pass the time.

mLive notes that a record number of voters (over 5 million) are expected to vote tomorrow in Michigan. That number would be 70% of a record 7.47 million Michigan residents are registered to vote. They advise you to be patient and offer some tips including tips for those taking kids to the polls, a look at some election day tricks and a nifty voter guide that will let you check out your ballot. They also have a cool "Election Day Dos and Don'ts" article (click for the graphic).

From the Detroit News interactive dealy-jig comparing Obama & McCain I learned that Barack Obama owns a set of red boxing gloves autographed by Muhammad Ali and that John McCain's pet collection includes two dogs, two turtles, a cat, a ferret, three parakeets and 13 saltwater fish. The News also reports that the latest Detroit News-WXYZ poll has Obama up 50-38 over McCain in Michigan (with 10% undecided). The same poll shows 18-term incumbent Carl Levin (OK, maybe not that many) cruising over challenger Jack Hoogendyk. Real Clear Politics has more polls from Michigan.

The Freep says that Election Day will be warm & sunny. They have a really nice video looking at how folks around the state feel about the issues surrounding the election. Check it out.

How about you - how will you pass the time, what are you thinking about and will you vote? Let us know in the comments and click below for much more coverage of Election 2008!

Share this:

Electionpalooza Tuesday: The 2008 Election in Michigan

farlane — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 14:00:21 +0000

Guardian Building Flag by paulhitz

Election Day (November 4, 2008) is just a week away. That means that today is probably a good day to focus on the election and how to get informed about the issues and the candidates. We also invite you to post your comments and thoughts about the candidates and issues below. One caveat: please do not post attacks or bile - we all know that Barack Obama is BFFs with terrorists and John McCain only has about 8 seconds to live. What we'd like to hear is why you are voting FOR a candidate or measure or what issues you're most concerned with.

The Freep notes that Michigan is one of just 19 states that doesn't allow early voting. Exceptions are only made for those over 60 or who will be absent. They say (and we agree) that "The opportunity to vote early is a blessing for people who don't always know how their schedule will end up on any given day. Among the 31 states that now allow early voting, some even make it particularly easy by setting up poll locations in storefronts and other convenient spots."

Since you can't vote early (and you shouldn't vote often a la Chicago) we hope you can vote informed. Far and away the best site for Michigan voting is publius.org. Just go there, enter your name as it appears on your voter registration and you can see your actual ballot! Ballots have links to the candidate's web site and information about the ballot measures. You can even see the location of your polling place and even what machine you'll be voting on and how it works (mine is a Diebold Accu Vote ... darnitall). If you don't show up, they give you links to contact your local clerk - a good thing to check sooner rather than later! They also have a place where you can send eLection eCards to your friends and family to encourage them to vote.

A news item that we somehow missed was Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land's announcement last week that 7.47 million Michigan residents have registered to vote - a record voter registration of nearly 98 percent of the voting age population! They remind you that voter ID is required - all the details at michigan.gov/vote where you can get all kinds of information including a list of all 688 candidates running for state office.

In addition to candidates, Michigan voters have two statewide proposals to consider. Ballotpedia's 2008 Michigan Ballot Measures page explains that Proposal 1: The Michigan Coalition for Compassionate Care Initiative would allow the medical use of marijuana for seriously ill patients. Proposal 2: The Stem Cell Initiative (or CureMichigan) would allow the donation of embryos produced in fertility clinics that would otherwise be discarded and would allow researchers to create embryonic stem cell cultures to study disease. It would also allow government funding of stem-cell research and human cloning would continue to be illegal. Both pages list arguments and organizations pro and con and it's really a great resource.

Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry has interviewed people for and against the measures and it'd be worth your time to listen to the views of Senator Tom George (against Prop 1), Diane Byrum of the Michigan Coalition for Compassionate Care (for Prop 1), David Doyle of Michigan Citizens Against Unrestricted Science and Experimentation and Dr. Sean Morrison of the University of Michigan Center for Stem Cell Biology (for Prop 2). You can also read what Jack thinks about Proposal 1 and Proposal 2.

Voting is Patriotic (Michigan) by farlane

OK, so 98% of you are registered to vote - how many will make it to the polls? The Detroit News notes that while every four years we face 'the most important election ever', that may actually be the case this year.

"We've got two wars, and the economy is dying," said William Rustem, president of Lansing's Public Sector Consultants and a former aide to Republican Gov. William Milliken. "The enormity of the issues is something we haven't faced."

Even when Ronald Reagan was staring down the Russians at the end of the Cold War, Rustem says, no one was watching the daily numbers on Wall Street and talking about the Great Depression, or debating the need to retool the entire energy sector to avoid climatic disaster.

Finally, I thought this article on How to Pick a President was one of the best things I've read about the voting process this year. Please share things you've read or heard in the comments.

And oh yeah: Vote.

Share this:

Meet the Candidates in Michigan

farlane — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 10:28:52 +0000

Student Introduction of Candidate by farlane

The Center for Michigan says Don't just sit there! Meet the candidates!:

Concerned Michigan residents and community leaders have every opportunity to get familiar with the new wave of leaders headed to the Michigan House of Representatives next January.

The Center for Michigan's 'Great Debates' partnership with Detroit Public Television is underway. Click here to watch the first three debates in metro Detroit races. More debates will be posted next week.

Click through for their statewide list candidate meetings & forums. Add a comment there (or here) if you know of one they missed!

Share this:

John McCain & Michigan

farlane — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 16:43:57 +0000

Sarah Palin Addresses Michigan, photo by b24chicago

Last Friday, Republican Presidential candidate John McCain made his first major visit to Michigan. In McCain Makes a Run at Michigan, A Wavering Democratic Stronghold, the Wall Street Journal observes that Michigan could be critical in November:

If John McCain becomes the nation's 44th president, it may be thanks to Michigan -- a prize the Republicans think they can claim for the first time in nearly 20 years. On Friday, Sen. McCain and his running mate, Sarah Palin, arrived in this auto-plant town in Detroit's suburbs to begin their final election sprint.

...in the crucial Detroit area (where about half of Michigan's votes will be cast) some results foreshadow trouble for the Democrats. Most important: A Detroit Free Press poll in late August showed some 30% of area voters saying that they're open to switching preferences before November -- a significantly higher figure than normal. The vast majority of these wavering voters are white, polling experts say, making the state's racial politics particularly important.

The Detroit News reports that with an estimated 10,000 attendees, McCain's rally at Freedom Hill in Sterling Heighs dwarfed any previous appearance. They also have a panorama of the John McCain rally at Freedom Hill by Anne Savage that you'll want to check out. You can get some pics from McCain's visit right here on Flickr and also in this gallery at the Detroit News.

There's a video of McCain at the rally from brkcmo93 below, and another of VP Sarah Palin speaking. You can also see a video from the rally at the Freep.

You can also check out Barack Obama & Michigan from Absolute Michigan and leave your comments and/or more links below!

Share this:

The Week for July 21-27, 2008

farlane — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 13:34:11 +0000

Fun on Pleasant Lake by MWOOD19

Welcome to The Week on Absolute Michigan. Summer is in full swing around the state and candidates in Michigan primaries are trying to chicken dinner their way to an August 6th victory.

Our July Michigan Event Calendar says that events folks can check out this weekend include the Michigan Brewers Guild Summer Beer Festival (Ypsilanti - man would I love to go to this!), Art On The Rocks in Marquette, the Hoxeyville Music Festival, and the Yale Bologna Festival. Bologna Festival?? Early next week, the Traverse City Film Festival begins as well.

< The Week for July 14-20, 2008 | The Week for July 28 - August 3, 2008 >

Share this:

Barack Obama & Michigan

farlane — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 13:21:14 +0000

Gore, Obama and Granholm by wizardkitten

As the editor, I try pretty hard to keep the tone on Absolute Michigan as non-partisan as possible.

When I read Obama Reaches Out to Michigan Voters in the Washington Independent, I realized that as a result, we probably side-step a lot of significant news ... and also some vital discussion for the future of this state. You should check the article out, as it pretty plainly outlines the challenge the next President (Democrat, Republican or otherwise) will face in revitalizing Michigan and other old-line industrial states.

The focus of the candidate's 2 day visit was mainly on the economy and education. Obama's speech at Kettering University in Flint addressed the severe economic plight of the region and proposed education and investment in new technologies as the pathway to renewed prosperity. In Detroit, Obama received the endorsement of Al Gore. This was a surprise to (as Newsweek noted) exactly no one. What was (to the writer) mildly interesting was the choice of Michigan as the location (something that has been questioned by others in the media). From Newsweek (which includes video of Gore's slightly less than electric speech):

Obama is obsessed with Michigan because, unlike Florida, it's a must-win state--and winning there is hardly a sure thing at this point. In Tropicana country, Obama currently trails McCain by an average of 8.3 points. That's a difficult hill to climb, which is why Obama campaign manager David Plouffe has designed his boss's electoral strategy around losing Florida (like John Kerry) in November. The problem is, Obama can't afford to drop Michigan's 17 electoral votes (which Kerry won) as well. Recent Michigan polls are rare, but the three taken since May 19 show McCain with an average lead of 1.6 percent.

The Detroit Free Press had a cool 360 degree panorama from the Joe Louis Arena. For more pictures, check out wizardkitten's Barack Obama Detroit Joe Louis 6/16/08 slideshow (set) and you might also enjoy this Obama slideshow for Monday & Tuesday (Jun 16 & 17, 2008) which is mostly photos from his visit to Flint and Detroit.

We'll close with a video from the rally at the Joe, and also a link to the Michigan Republican Party's YouTube production attacking Obama for slighting Michigan:

Also check out John McCain & Michigan and leave your comments or updates below!

Share this:

The Week for June 16-22, 2008

farlane — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 14:20:44 +0000

tahquamenon falls by ercy

In his SE Michigan 2008 Strawberry season field report, Ann Arbor blogger Edward Vielmetti says that strawberries are ready to pick. In addition to continuing storms and flooding, the presumptive Presidential nominees are setting their eyes on Michigan with Barack Obama in Flint and Detroit today and John McCain reportedly deciding on a suburban Oakland County location as the Michigan campaign HQ. With a recent poll by Rasmussen Reports finding 45% of Michigan respondents favoring Obama with 42% for John McCain, it's safe to say that we'll see much more of them in the months to come.

Our Michigan June Event Calendar says that events on tap for this weekend include the Straits Area Car Show in St. Ignace, the Dearborn Arab International Festival and the International Freedom Festival in Detroit (which features a massive fireworks display).

Ercy also posted a short Tahquamenon Falls video that does a good job of showing the second biggest waterfall east of the Mississippi. You can read about and see more of the Tahquamenon Falls from Michigan in Pictures (be sure to check out Sunday Study: Upper Tahquamenon Falls).

< The Week for June 9-15, 2008

Share this:

Photo Friday: Eyes Wide Open by radiospike photography

farlane — Fri, 23 May 2008 15:39:12 +0000

This is one of a number of great photos of the Detroit Red Wings (slideshow) that Spike has for your viewing pleasure - a perfect way to warm up for the 2008 Stanley Cup vs the Pittsburgh Penguins.

You can tell from this set - and others like Detroit Pistons and Barack Obama - that Spike really excels in portrait photography. He has all kinds of shots that you can dive into in his favorites and also at radiospike.com.

Go Wings!!!

Share this:

Get to Know Your Michigan Government

Jules — Fri, 19 Jan 2007 15:06:00 +0000

Michigan's State Capitol by Apocaplops

It's a new year and a new session of Michigan government that features new legislators and a change in the balance of power in Lansing. While one thing - our state's economic challenges - has not changed, there's always an opportunity to change the low participation in state government by Michigan's citizens. The best place to start is with you: get involved, let your legislators hear from you and make your investment in Michigan (your tax dollars) count.

Keeping Michigan great starts with you.

Our government is elected by, paid for, and serves us. It takes the people to dictate how the government is run. It starts on election day by voting for those you think best represent your interests. It continues with each of us communicating our agenda to our public servants, the elected officials. Face it, if they don't hear from us, how are they going to work for us??

All next week, we'll be reviewing the various branches of government and their websites. Stay tuned, and get involved. It's your government.

Absolute Michigan's Michigan Government Series

Your State, Your Michigan Government: The Executive Office

Your State, Your Michigan Government: The State House

Your State, Your Michigan Government: The State Senate

Your State, Your Michigan Government: The Courts

Share this:

New Tim Skubick book on Granholm/DeVos campaign

farlane — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 13:17:29 +0000

Veteran Michigan political analyst George Weeks has a review of the new book by "See Dick and Jen Run" by Tim Skubick. The book will be available November 30 from University of Michigan Press and Petoskey Publishing and offers insider stories from the campaign between Gov. Jennifer Granholm and Dick DeVos. Weeks notes that a campaign that cost a record $50 million is dissected by a book that "sets its own publishing record for post-election speed". Weeks' column also includes some fun facts about the campaign like:

As for television, an analysis in Great Lakes states released last week said paid political advertising occupied more than 2.5 times as much of a typical 30-minute local newscast as did election news coverage in the month before Election Day.

Read Quickie book recaps race for governor by George Weeks in the Traverse City Record-Eagle and/or learn more about See Dick & Jen Run at University of Michigan Press and check out Tim's Off the Record program on WKAR.

Mr. Skubick is apparently able to generate some buzz, so you can...

Hear more about the Skubick's thoughts on the campaign in this article in the Midland Daily News "When an audience member asked why some of the polls were "way off" in predicting winners, Skubick said one reason is that people lie to pollsters. 'I think we just poll way too much'"
Get some reaction to the book and Skubick from progressives at Michigan Liberal "Skubick really knows Lansing and has a lot of great insights into the political process, but he and his colleagues put so much emphasis on the "process" of politics that I think they lose touch with what these issues actually mean to people."
Check out a brief bit in the Saginaw News "How would you like to wake up one day after the election and have spent $35 million -- and have lost?" (might not be all that bad if you had a whole lot more where that came from)
And (for the pathologically political) learn who Skubick thinks has their eye on a run for Governor in 2010.

Share this:

Under Fire: Michigan Republican Party Chair Saul Anuzis

farlane — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 13:15:02 +0000

"After you get whacked, you need a clear change in leadership. You need a fresh look. You need that at the national level and you need that at the state level."
-U.S. Rep. Peter Hoekstra in the Grand Rapids Press

Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenbery interviews Michigan Republican chairman Saul Anuzis about the "anti-Republican tsunami" and his thoughts on the Republican Party's future in Michigan. In Lessenberry's essay Party Man, he suggests that although being party chair is often like being the manager of a bad baseball team (you tend to get fired), Anuzis is the kind of person that Republicans need to attract to win in Michigan.

In the face of calls for a change of leadership (which began even before the Nov 7 election) Anuzis has launched a campaign to retain his seat and tried to paint the effort to depose him as a John McCain led power play.

In the Michigan blogosphere, Republican Michigander endorses Anuzis (and says he likes Saul's MI GOP blog) while across the aisle at Michigan Liberal, they say "Bring us the head of Saul Anuzis."

Share this:

2006 Michigan Election Results

farlane — Wed, 08 Nov 2006 15:58:28 +0000

A whole slew of links, articles, audio & video below!

Governor Granholm by LiberalLucy
NOTE: We looked for a photo
for Dick DeVos. If you have
one to share, let us know!

A great place to start is Michigan Elections 2006 from CNN. The first thing that jumped out for me in the races for national seats is that every one of the 15 US House of Representative incumbents and incumbent Sen. Stabenow all won re-election. So much for a titanic swell of change there.

A second item of interest was the 56%-42% margin of victory for Governor Granholm over Dick DeVos, higher than almost any poll had predicted. At the CNN site, you can view the Michigan results by county. Much is being made of the Governor's strong performance in Wayne county, but of equal interest is the fact that the entire Upper Peninsula went for Granholm. Any thoughts as to what happened there?

The Detroit Free Press quotes pollster J. Ann Selzer, who suggests that a major problem for the DeVos' campaign was that they barely topped Granholm in western Michigan and "In a way, they pitted men against women, southeastern Michigan against the rest of the state, and unions against nonunion households. Jennifer Granholm won with big majorities with every group she was supposed to. And she earned votes from groups that were supposed to oppose her." In the Detroit News, pollster Ed Sarpolus suggests that "The Republicans decided to introduce DeVos, not define him." Also check out the Detroit News interactive voting map & state results.

Also check out Governor Granholm's acceptance speech and the concession speech by Dick DeVos.

Change was really seen in the State House where Democrats turned the tables to pick up a six seat majority. The Senate will stay in Republican hands, after late returns showed former Rep. John Pappageorge defeating Andy Levin in Royal Oak, and Rep. Roger Kahn narrowly besting Rep. Carl Williams in Saginaw.

Proposal 1 Conservation Fund (81%/19%)
Proposal 2 Affirmative Action (58%/42%)
Proposal 3 Dove Hunting (32%/68%)
Proposal 4 Eminent Domain (80%/20%)
Proposal 5 School Funding (38%/62%)

If you have any links to add to news stories, blogs or other coverage, please post them in the comments!

Share this:

Publius.org … Your Michigan Election & Voter Information HQ

farlane — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 15:01:07 +0000

We have featured the Publius Voter Information Center before, but with the election just around the corner, we have to highlight this amazing website that aggregates data supplied by Michigan's county clerks and the Michigan Bureau of Elections to produce a one-stop, information portal for Michigan voters.
Publius.org turns 10 this year. Project director Vince Keenan says that while the major races like the Governor's race and big proposals like Proposal 2 garner the lion's share of the media coverage, "That's only a fraction of what's on the ballot. There are a lot of guides that can get you to your State Reps, but PUBLIUS gets you to your Village Presidents. Hundreds of Michigan voters send us information and links every year. PUBLIUS is truly a community effort."

At Publius.org you can:

view your local sample ballot with links to campaign websites and candidate campaign finance information
confirm voter registration
identify polling locations (with maps)
view new voting machine instructions
download absentee ballot requests
find out what you need to bring to the polls

This is a non-profit, non-partisan web site that gives you just the facts and shows you the ballot you will be looking at in the voting booth. We can't stress enough: check this site out!

Also see: Inside a voting booth at Michigan.gov.

Share this:

Granholm vs. DeVos: 2006 Michigan Governor Debates

farlane — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 16:11:11 +0000

Well, our article about the Michigan Gubernatorial Debates became a HUGE hotbed for posts about the race between Democratic Gov. Jennifer Granholm and Republican challenger Dick DeVos. We received so many comments and views that we had to lock posting of new comments there and continue them here. Sorry about that, but with a week to go before the election, we had to make a move to protect the bottom line!

Share this:

Proposal 2 sounds like a really bad idea

farlane — Fri, 27 Oct 2006 12:33:27 +0000

Both Democratic Governor Granholm and Republican challenger Dick DeVos have voiced opposition to Proposal 2. Now former Republican Gov. William Milliken has also come out with an editorial in opposition to the measure that would end affirmative action:

In just a few weeks, the voters of Michigan will be facing an important choice that will define whether our state continues to build on the strengths of its diversity or closes the door on continued gender and racial progress. Such progress is a key to economic and social prosperity in the twenty-first century.

Proposal 2 on the November 7 ballot is a divisive and reckless proposal placed on Michigan's ballot by outsiders led by Ward Connerly, a California millionaire and businessman. It is a dangerous attempt to turn back the clock to a time when there were few opportunities for women and minorities in the state. It must be defeated.

If passed, Proposal 2 will eliminate or challenge many of the initiatives that make us proud of our state and the commitment to diversity that it has demonstrated.

Read the rest of Gov. Milliken's editorial in the TC Record-Eagle.

One United Michigan (the opposition group) lists hundreds of organizations in opposition. Here's a link to the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative web site. I have to point out that I searched and searched and could not find ONE organization on their site endorsing the measure.

Share this:

Republicans & Democrats focus on Michigan Women Voters

farlane — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 13:54:36 +0000

Sentinel by Andrew McFarlane

AP writer Kathy Barks Hoffman says that if you're a woman who hasn't made up your mind about whether to vote for Dick DeVos or Jennifer Granholm, you can expect to be targeted by both campaigns in the final days before the election.

Pollster Ed Sarpolus of Lansing-based EPIC-MRA says that female voters are more open to campaign messages in the closing days of the election because they typically make up their minds late and are less likely to vote along party lines than male voters.
Read Undecided women being wooed in final weeks of governor's race at the TC Record-Eagle and also see Women voters key to race for governor - Most prefer Granholm, but some say it's time for change from WZZM TV-13. You may also want to check out the Michigan League of Women Voters web site as well.

Share this:

On Partisanship in Michigan: Excerpt from William G. Milliken, Michigan’s Passionate Moderate

farlane — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 14:50:39 +0000

Absolute Michigan is very fortunate to have an excerpt from William G. Milliken: Michigan's Passionate Moderate, a new book by Dave Dempsey from University of Michigan Press. Transcending partisanship is a major theme of the book and was also a distinguishing feature of Governor Milliken's time in office. We offer this essay in hopes that it will spark some thought and discussion in the part of our readers in bridging the wide gaps we seem to have today in Michigan.

Not long after William G. Milliken's 1982 retirement, a political scientist said, 'The moderate views of partisans and independents alike stem largely from the pragmatic posture that seems to characterize Michigan voters. The great majority of Republicans, Democrats and Independents manifest medium or strongly positive feelings toward both liberals and conservatives, and classify themselves as moderate or middle-of-the-road in their issue orientation.'

Richard Headlee's surprising showings in both the Republican primary and the relatively narrow defeat by James J. Blanchard in the 1980 general election suggested a rightward turn in the electorate not unlike that of the nation's electorate in the 1980 election that carried Ronald Reagan to the Presidency. Blanchard was re-elected in 1986 against a weak opponent. But Blanchard's 1990 defeat, although also narrow, catapulted the conservative, tax-cutting John Engler into power and shifted both the tone and the content of statewide policies and politics for years to come. Engler's dramatic and successful cutoff of state general assistance payments to able-bodied males in 1991 was not something Milliken would have done, out of his concern for urban populations and the poor, and was something Blanchard could not do, for fear of alienating Detroit Mayor Young and African-Americans. Engler popularized business and personal tax cuts, undercut environmental protections and business regulation, and pushed public funding for charter schools, positions that Milliken never espoused.

An equally great difference was that of tone. During the Blanchard and Engler years, Lansing political discourse, like that of the nation, coarsened. Engler in particular ridiculed opponents. Capitol correspondent Tim Skubick said in his memoir that he regretted not being present when Milliken and his wife 'got in the Lincoln for the last tie on Inauguration Day 1983. Guys who were there tell me there wasn't a dry eye despite the bitter cold and the even more chilling feeling that a civil era of Michigan politics was walking out the door - never to return in the same way.'

Trying to place Milliken within the history of the Michigan and national Republican Party requires recognition that the moderate and progressive wings of the Party were vibrant from the 1940s through the 1970s. Milliken was just one of a class of moderate to liberal Northeastern and Midwestern GOP governors that included Nelson Rockefeller of New York, whom Milliken supported for President in 1964, Robert Ray of Illinois, William Scranton and Richard Thornburgh of Pennsylvania, and Richard Ogilvie and James Thompson of Illinois. These men combined the traditional Republican friendliness to business with the championing of an activist government as an instrument of economic opportunity, civil rights, and conservation. But when they passed from the political scene, increasingly conservative Republicans replaced them.

In her book It's My Party Too, former New Jersey Republican Governor and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency chief Christine Todd Whitman said:

When I came of age as a Republican [she was born in 1946], the party was much more accommodating to a range of opinions within its ranks from the far right to the moderate middle. It's hard to believe today, but there were even those who proudly called themselves liberal Republicans. The various wings of the party certainly had their irritations with each other, but they nevertheless made room for one another. I was taught by my parents - staunch Republicans both - that this expansive, encompassing reach was one of the GOP's great strengths. My father referred to the party as 'the big umbrella.'

In 2006, few would characterize the Michigan or national Republican Party as a big umbrella, let alone a big tent. Instead, Party leaders have either intuited or claimed a mandate from an increasingly conservative populace that they believe wants a smaller government in the economic sphere and reduced taxes, but favors an expansive government in the policing of domestic security and the promotion of morality. The emphasis on eliminating abortion is often linked by conservatives to the Party's moral origins more than 150 years ago in seeking to abolish slavery. That position indeed seems to command an increasing share of public support, but abortion is a more complex issue that involves balancing rights and personal beliefs. And many of the moral realms within which today's Republicans seek an expansive government role lend themselves even less to black-and-white judgments. Some - such as domestic surveillance of dissidents whom conservatives consider disloyal in the age of terrorism - are deeply at odds with the Party's professed goal of defending individual freedom.

Perhaps most damaging to the state and nation in the long run is the bitter division that has resulted from the Party's admittedly successful exploitation of racial, gender, and security fears. A similar division resulted in the nation's only large-scale civil war and cost more than 500,000 lives in a fundamental test of the Founders' ideals. It was, of course, the first Republican President, Lincoln, who presided over that war but sought a reunified nation whose wounds would be quickly healed. 'Moderates have an indispensable role to play: We must bring the Republican Party, and American politics generally, back toward the productive center,' Whitman said in her book. She exhorted her moderate cohort to articulate 'a division that is true to the historic principles of our party and our nation, not one that is tied to an extremist agenda.'

William Milliken, for 22 years in state elective office, shunned the extremes and sought to govern from the center. In his final State of the Stage message to the Legislature on January 14, 1982, he quoted Judge Learned Hand: 'The temper which does not press a partisan advantage to its bitter end, which can understand and respect the other side, which feels a unity between all citizens - which recognizes their common fate and their common aspirations; in a word, which has faith in the sacredness of the individual - this is what we have striven for.' Of all these qualities, perhaps the one that ran deepest in Milliken was the ability to 'understand and respect the other side.' He saw adversaries and opponents, but no enemies. Too many politicians of both major parties, but especially of the Republican, see enemies in abundance.

To this, Milliken never could or would adapt. Even in the 2004 campaign season, one of the most poisonous in American history, he offered a perspective that, coming from another politician, might have sounded naive or disingenuous - and not credible. In an interview for the magazine Michigan History, he said, "I've always felt that good government is good politics. It certainly has resulted in progress in this state - not only in my time but in other administrations as well. When people realize a public official is trying to do an honest and open job, they tend to remember that at election time. Good government is a precursor to a successful political career.

And it's just as valid today. It's a key to maintaining the public's trust and respect for public officials. When that is lost - our democracy is weakened. Right now there is widespread feeling that too many politicians are pandering to special interests and are self-serving. The net effect of that is disengagement on the part of citizens. That's borne out by the fact that voter turnout is appallingly low"

Share this:

Detroit Tiger Manager Jim Leyland … for Governor?

farlane — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 17:23:35 +0000

Leyland Interview. by loridz

Jack Lessenberry has a column in the Metro Times that suggests with tongue only partially in cheek that a fan's sign of ‚ÄúLeyland for Governor‚Äù might have made more sense than most of this year's political ads.

Here‚Äôs why. The day after the pennant, there was a story in The Windsor Star (a vastly improved newspaper over the last year or so, by the way) in which manager Jim Leyland said: ‚ÄúI knew we had good players. We didn‚Äôt have a good team.‚Äù

That‚Äôs what he did: He made the Detroit Tigers a team, who worked together for a common goal. They all had egos and individual goals and things they wanted to accomplish. But they put the team first, because he led them to see that was for the good of everybody. Late this summer, for whatever reason, they started screwing up. But when the playoffs began, and it all really counted, suddenly they were a team again.

That‚Äôs exactly what we need as a state and a society.

Michigan ‚Äî and Detroit ‚Äî needs leaders who will tell us the truth about what shape we are really in, and make the majority of us want to get involved in working together to try to reinvent our economy. We need to invest in the future and make things better ‚Äî for us, but more especially, for our children and those who will come later. That‚Äôs one of the oldest of all American traditions: wanting life to be better for our kids.

Read Vote Leyland for governor in The Metro Times.

While we're at it, here's a couple links for more about Jim Leyland:

Jim Leyland in the Baseball Reference Bullpen
Jim Leyland in the Baseball Library
Jim Leyland at Wikipedia (it says something about our culture that his page is 5 times the length of former Michigan Governor William Milliken - can some Milliken scholar get over there and fix that??)

Also check out this ESPN article on Dave Dunbrowski's hiring of Leyland as manager:

That passion that Jim Leyland has had throughout his career is back within him to manage," Dombrowski said. "The decision to name one of the top managers in the game of baseball in recent time, to bring him back to this organization, is a very big day for our franchise."

Yeah, I think you were right about that, Dave.

Share this:

Michigan Governor Race: Who Won the Debates?

farlane — Tue, 17 Oct 2006 15:06:13 +0000

The three debates are in the books, they've generated a lot of discussion (though maybe no real answers). We thought we'd give you links to a few sites that analyzed last night's third and final Gubernatorial Debate and then let you sound off.

Absolute Michigan's Granholm vs. DeVos: 2006 Michigan Governor Debates (recap of the three debates, links to video archive of each debate, lots and lots of comments)
Granholm, DeVos duel over economy (LSJ)
Truths behind the debate claims (Freep) Granholm: DeVos is "investing in the voucher movement in seven other states" and said he planned to pursue vouchers in Michigan again after voters defeated them in 2000. Also see What the voters said.
Highlights from Michigan's 3rd gubernatorial debate (Detroit News) DeVos: "Forty-nine other states all operate under the same trade agreements. ... They've been adding jobs." Also check out The Debate: How the Pros rate it.
How about some blogs? Try the Michigan Conservative Dossier (DeVos), Liberal, Loud & Proud (Granholm), MI GOP Blog (DeVos), Michigan Liberal (Granholm) ... anyone see a pattern here?
Had to add Brian Dickerson's Gubernatorial Debates: The Abridged Version

Your Turn: Who Won?

We are asking you to post ONE POST with ONLY the following:

Who (in your opinion) won the three debates?
What is your #1 question still unanswered?
Did the debates change your mind at all?

If you post more than one comment in this thread, we'll delete one, so consider your answer before posting! If you want to post more thoughts, feel free to go over to this page!

Share this:

Jennifer Granholm & Dick DeVos Speak at Detroit Athletic Club

farlane — Fri, 13 Oct 2006 12:58:52 +0000

WZMM TV-13 has online video of the speeches of candidate Dick DeVos and Governor Jennifer Granholm before the Detroit Athletic Club.

You can listen to Governor Granholm's speech and Dick DeVos's speech. You'll also want to read assessments of the speeches by the Detroit News and the Detroit Free Press.

Might as well let the bloggers have there say. Speaking on behalf of the Republicans, here's MI GOP Chair Saul Anzuzis who says "The Governor gave us more of the same‚Ä¶and Dick pounded home why this Governor has provided the state with failed leadership and management has put Michigan at risk." Speaking for Democrats, here's Michigan Liberal's LiberalLucy: "I think she rocked him out, again. She had a plan, had proof her job well-done, and he had griping."

Share this:

Granholm vs. DeVos: 2006 Michigan Governor Debates

farlane — Wed, 11 Oct 2006 15:55:15 +0000

Click to read a whole lot more coverage and lots of comments about the debates between Republican challenger Dick DeVos and Democratic Governor Jennifer Granholm.

The Freep reports that Michigan's Gubernatorial candidates will debate three times in October. Also check out this Detroit News article that delves into details from the 10-page debate agreement like podium heights, what has to be in the dressing rooms and backdrop colors. 10 pages??

Monday, October 2 (8-9 PM)
Monday's debate will be broadcast on WKAR-TV (MSU). The format will be "free-wheeling question and answer session". It will be available live to all Michigan public television stations, on WJBK-TV (FOX Channel 2) and available to other Fox stations.

UPDATE OCTOBER 3RD: It certainly was "free-wheeling" with (in the words of the Freep) charges and countercharges about the honesty of their TV ads, international trade, taxes, abortion, his tax returns and her ability to bring jobs to Michigan. Their "What the Voters Said" feature seems to suggest, however, that few minds were changed by the debate, something borne out in the comments below and also in this Detroit News article about the debate. Want to see what others are saying? How about a Google blog search for "Granholm Devos Debate"?
If you missed it, you can watch the first debate on the WKAR-TV web site.

Debate 2006 at the WOOD TV 8 studios
Photo by Beth and Christian
Part of a Debate 2006 Set!

Tuesday, October 10 (8-9 PM)
The second debate will be broadcast by WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids and WDIV-TV (Local 4) from WOOD-TV's studio and will be available to NBC affiliates. It is billed as a more structured and traditional debate. UPDATE: The debate will air at the original time of 8 PM! (Freep story)

UPDATE OCTOBER 11TH Those who weren't tuned into Tigers/A's Game 1 saw a more structured meeting between the two major candidates for Governor that was nonetheless hostile. Republican Dick DeVos opened with "I learned a few things in the first debate. What happened was I saw the governor of the state of Michigan look straight into the camera and lie to the people of Michigan" while the Democratic Governor countered later with "We need a governor who stands up to President Bush and not one who writes him a seven-figure campaign check". (Detroit News)

There were some items of interest including DeVos's off-the-cuff proposal to eliminate the personal property tax (which brings in $1.5 billion in revenue) and his claim of support for Michigan's abortion laws as they stand. (Detroit Free Press)

You can decide for yourself who won (if you had other things to do) and watch the archive of the Second Michigan Gubernatorial Debate at WOOD-TV. You might also want to try a search of blog articles about the 2nd Debate. Post your comments below!

Monday, October 16 (8-9 PM)
The final debate was held at at WXYZ-TV (Channel 7) in Southfield will include questions from a studio audience of undecided, independent voters in a town hall format. You can view the archived video of the 3rd Michigan Governor Debate at WXYZ-TV / Detroit Now.

Share this:

Michigan Governor’s Debate #2 Tomorrow!

farlane — Mon, 09 Oct 2006 14:03:19 +0000

Just a quick note, check this post for all the details on the 2nd Gubernatorial Debate between Republican Challenger Dick DeVos and Democratic Governor Jennifer Granholm! The debate takes place at 8 PM on Tuesday, October 10th and the link above has a lot of info for the next two and the first debate (with a bunch of reader comments).

Share this:

Recap of First Granholm/DeVos Debate

farlane — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 14:31:11 +0000

Well, Google seems to have fixated upon our "Granholm vs. DeVos: Michigan Governor Debate Schedule" as the page for debate info and a bunch of folks have left comments, so we decided to add our links to debate recap articles and blogs there!

There's also a link to a video rebroadcast of the debate!

Share this:

Michigan Politicians Courting Young Voters … for Good Reason

farlane — Thu, 28 Sep 2006 13:59:55 +0000

Politicians Turn to Web to Attract Young Voters from WLNS is a video report on a new trend in the 2006 Michigan elections: candidates turning to youth networking sites like Facebook to connect with young voters. Candidates with Facebook profiles include Jennifer Granholm and Dick DeVos, Debbie Stabenow and Mike Bouchard. The video includes interviews with college students like Jon Erickson about their thoughts: "I think it was kind of useful, because we waste a lot of time on Facebook to have some of it be constructive as far as looking at the election."

Young voters -- a wild card in 2006 U.S. elections at Young Voter Strategies from Reuters looks at the same trend and says nationwide survey released this month showed young Americans prefer Democrats to Republicans by a 21-point margin, up from 19% in April. Ed Goeas, a Republican pollster who analyzed the survey taken by the nonpartisan Young Voter Strategies said if young voters turn out in November in the same numbers as in the 2002 mid-term elections, they could give Democrats a 1.8 percentage point advantage, enough to sway any of several razor-tight races this year.

Finally, just because, here's the campaign web site (on MySpace) of Lauren Spencer, a 19 year-old candidate for the MSU Board of Trustees. I found it at this very comprehensive page listing Michigan candidate web sites.

Update @ 3:45 PM: I was just emailed a link to Microtargeting with MySpace from Direct Democracy that says youth-heavy online hangout MySpace.com is launching a voter-registration drive to engage its members in civics and links in turn to a Washington Post article about microtargeting:

There is no sexier topic in politics these days than "microtargeting." That's the new science (some say dark art) by which candidates use the latest data-mining technology to vacuum every last scrap of information about voters, then churn out custom-tailored messages designed to herd their supporters to the polls.

All of these articles say (to me) that our political process is becoming an ever-more specific science that is less about the policies of candidates and more about finding voters who will support the policies of candidates.

Share this:

Michigan Books: Michigan’s Economic Future by Charles Ballard

farlane — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 13:04:39 +0000

Jack Lessenberry interviews MSU Economics professor Charles Ballard about his new book Michigan's Economic Future. Ballard says that manufacturing is destined to be a smaller part of Michigan's economy and says that the state needs to focus more on cutting edge industrial research. Jack asks "If Dick DeVos or Jennifer Granholm asks you what the driving force of Michigan's education policy should be, what would you tell them? Ballard responds "I'd tell them 'Education, education, education'. He goes on to say that if increasing education spending (and likely taxes) is political suicide, then we're dead already.

In his accompanying essay, Jack writes:

...Most of all, the economist says, "we need a new set of attitudes -- creative, highly skilled, flexible and entrepreneurial." The situation is far from hopeless. We have a vibrant higher-tech manufacturing sector. We have an industrial work force, much of which is capable of being retrained and retolled.

Professor Ballard feels strongly that, "If we can make the transition to a new mindset, we really can achieve a vibrant economic future for Michigan." But if that is to happen, it‚Äôs clear that we do need to think outside the box. Charles Ballard‚Äôs eminently sensible suggestions violate the dogmas of both our fossilized political parties.

Democrats are not going to like some of his suggestions about public employee pensions and health benefits. Republicans will be shocked by his suggestions about taxes. But it all makes sense.

Click for more on Michigan's Economic Future by Charles Ballard and published by MSU Press.

Also see Spartan Podcast's interview with Charles Ballard.

Share this:

Election 2006: Michigan Gubernatorial Web Site Fight

farlane — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 13:27:31 +0000

The Detroit Free Press has a feature on the campaign web sites of Governor Granholm and challenger Dick DeVos that you may want to check out.

TV advertising is still the name of the game for communication in the gubernatorial race. Do the campaigns think they can forsake the tube and go entirely the Web route? No way. But campaign Web sites ... can do things television can't. And the campaigns know it.

Read On the trail, on the Web in the Freep and visit GranholmforGov.com and DeVosforGovernor.com.

The traffic ranking service Alexa finds that Dick DeVos has the more popular web site. While we're at it, we might as well have a Google Fight between Granholm & DeVos. Granholm takes that one. I guess for the tie-breaker we'll invite our readers to post their favorite candidate (or at least their favorite candidate web site).

Share this: