The Loudest Cricket

As mayors, Virg Bernero of Lansing and Brenda Lawrence of Southfield have wrestled daily with the aftershocks of population loss, plummeting property values and revenue sharing cuts. Now, as the Democratic candidates for governor and lieutenant governor, it’s up to them to put those issues front and center in the gubernatorial campaign, forcing an overdue [...]

It’s no surprise that the Democrats would try a dirty trick like creating a fake Tea Party to appear on the November ballot.  Nor is it a surprise that the UAW was involved.  The unions have a long history of voter intimidation and they know that the voters are very unhappy with auto bailouts and [...]

The Freep hates the fact that we’re a democratic republic.  They want to take power away from the people and put it in the hands of the politicians.  In Michigan, judges are elected by the people, not appointed by the governor.  This allows greater independence of the three branches of our state government.
In 2008, a [...]

What’s the usual turnout for primaries, 10-15%?  So, no, 70% of the 15% of the eligible voters is not “an unambiguous vote of confidence for public transit” in southeast Michigan.  In fact, it’s very ambiguous.  Most, if not all, the tax renewals passed, as did this one.  This wasn’t a mandate on public transportation, it [...]

The Freep calls for civility in the governor’s race.  Two questions.  Why start now?  And how long until the Freep starts slinging mud at Snyder?  Seeing as they already started attacking the nerd in this very op-ed, not long.

When Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick packs up her Washington office in January, it will mark the end of an era in Detroit politics — and a decrease in congressional clout for Michigan.
Clout?  What clout?  Michigan has been a donor state, sending more money to Washington than it gets back, for as long as I [...]

The anti-incumbent/anti-establishment train ran through Michigan in yesterday’s primary.  Kwame’s mom lost her bid for a ninth term, but the big surprise was the two finalists for governor.  Democrats chose Lansing mayor Virg Bernero instead of State House speaker Andy Dillon, while Republican picked self-described nerd Rick Snyder over four long-time politicians – US Rep [...]

The Freep is already laying the groundwork to endorse the Democratic nominee for Michigan’s governor:
But it’s also clear that some of the candidates still cling to unrealistic schemes for navigating Michigan’s way to long-term solvency.  Only state Sen. Tom George, for example, seems to understand that the tax cuts proposed by Attorney General Mike Cox [...]

I’m guessing that the unions know Michigan’s next governor will be whoever wins the Republican primary, so they’re putting their support behind dark horse Democrat Virg Bernero, mayor of Lansing.  But why spend so much money, upwards of $2.5 million, on someone who has no chance of winning?  Not too bright.

The problem with any attempt at campaign finance reform is that the money will always find a way to flow to the candidates.  Liberals lamented the Supreme Court’s decision to shoot down provisions of the McCain-Feingold law, but what effect did it really have?  Corporations, organization, and unions were still able to give money and [...]