Also, there is the centrist issue where one must reach a goal by increments rather than trying to bite the whole off at once.

It's all game theory.

http://hallofrecord.blogspot.com/2010/08/michigan-primary-election-results-you.html

Without a political track record, it is difficult to assess Rick Snyder's ability to bring economic sense to Michigan's chaos... but his proposals seem reasonable when compared with Bernero's wildly left-wing approaches.

Conservatives would do well to concentrate on the legislature where budgets and laws can be changed.  Synder may not be the perfect package, but your choice is to allow corruption to rule.

Stacey Mathis is nice enough... I met her at a tea party gathering in Westland... however, I don't believe her candidacy is viable.

So, 2014 rolls around and Michigan's economy is worse off than it is now. Dems would then have the opportunity to say "Look at where the big business GOP governer has gotten you!" and win in a landslide.

A third-party candidate--even a libertarian already on the ballot--doesn't have a chance. Zero.

You've got to think about the bigger picture and put aside differences (imo).

I do have friends who are moderate republicans and who have felt disenfranchised by the vocal far-right of the party. I know many republicans who also share the view that the GOP should be (and can be) more diverse.

I'm old enough to have voted for Reagan. Twice.
Yes, I've moved to the left more since that time...but I would also argue that Reagan (like Snyder) captured a lot of moderate dem voters and independents. In other words, Reagan wasn't as far to the right as he's now being painted today. I remember him being skewered on the right for litany of things (attending an FDR dinner...raising taxes...saving medicare). Ronnie crossed the aisle when he had to and worked with everyone and anyone. He was pragmatic that way.

In order for someone to lead, people need to be willing to follow.  Well, we're all done following the wishy-washy, spineless whimps who try to hold themselves up as our leaders.

On Tuesday, the Conservative voters in Michigan spoke loud and clear.  They rejected the 'old guard' hand-picked elite and went in the opposite direction.

Funny thing about Snyder, he was only "CEO" of Gateway for a few months during 2006 (Interim CEO, actually) and during his tenure on the Board of Directors Gateway's share price plummeted from the mid-80's per share, to less than $2.  Not what I would call, something to brag about.

As far as being a "tough nerd", Snyder is no nerd - he is an f-ing lawyer for God's sake.  My take on the primary, is that by appealing to liberal organizations and Democrats, Snyder was able to exploit the split GOP ticket to his advantage.

The Demonrats know they have an uphill battle to gain the Governor's seat, so they conspired (IMHO) to subvert the election using Snyder as bait.  We are now faced with a Soviet-style "choice" between two candidates who aren't all that different from one another.

Cox, Bouchard, and Hoekstra may have all had their deficiencies, but they are all decidedly more conservative than Snyder.

Bernero of course, is a complete non-starter.  He's nothing more than a male, angry version of Granholm (I received literally dozens of emails from the MEA pimping Bernero if that tells you anything).

My wife and I have been "hanging on" here in the Michigan, with the expectation that we might wind-up with someone halfway decent in Lansing come November.  With this development however, I'm seriously considering taking my tech-skills to a much more business and taxpayer friendly State.