Tag: Bouchard

Had a chance a few days ago to play a little catch-up with former longtime Michigan Republican Party Chairman Saul Anuzis.

Saul's been doing some pretty awesome work across the Country these last few months, from sitting on a new RNC committee that's looking at the Presidential Primary process to working with Newt Gingrich to making pretty regular appearances on the cable news talkers.  

So what's his take on Terri Lynn Land's decision to drop out of the Primary field?  On John Cherry's chances of winning the Governor's office?  Of President Obama's first six months in office?  You can learn the answers to these and many more questions by clicking the little "play" arrows on the videos below...

Late yesterday, through the miracle of technology, I had a chance to catch up with the Congressman while he was in the District of Columbia.

RightMichigan: Congressman, thanks for making the time.  I know your schedule is crazy right now!

Congressman Hoekstra: Glad to join you and the community here at Right Michigan.

I am in DC trying to fight off the Democrat's Cap and Tax bill so that Michiganders and the manufacturing industry don't get hammered more by anti-growth leadership.  Democrats announced that (Friday) they will attempt to pass a massive Cap and Tax program to fight global warming and in the meantime are willing to pass the costs onto consumers via higher energy prices.

RM: Thanks for fighting that fight.  Wish you had a little more support from the rest of the Michigan delegation, but that's a different discussion.  Big campaign news broken in Grand Rapids today.  

What is your reaction to Secretary Land's decision to abandon her own campaign and instead back Mike Bouchard?

CPH: I know that when I announced I was retiring from Congress, I took some time with my family so that we could decide together what was best for us and our future in Michigan. I am sure Secretary Land did the same.  Since I announced my candidacy back in March I have been focused on charging ahead, getting out and around the state and conducting a conversation about turning around Michigan.  That remains my focus.  I am very happy with my decision.  I can't speak for her, but I imagine the Secretary feels the same way today.

RM: How do you think this affects the electoral playing field?

CPH: People in our state are worried about their jobs, families and this economy - and so I haven't heard a whole lot of clamoring for my insight on party politics or my ability as a pundit to predict the field.  But since you asked Nick, my thoughts on it are pretty straightforward: I have always figured that the field would likely dwindle down by the time August 2010 rolled around and that the best candidate will emerge.  My opinion hasn't changed. I'm not sure Terri's decision does anything beyond confirming that the field will shrink some before we get to the primary, and the voters will decide who is best-equipped for the job.  

RM: Many are now speculating that Land would become Bouchard's running mate should he win the nomination.  Have you put any thought into who might join you on a Hoekstra ticket?

CPH: Just like I have done during my 16 years serving west Michigan, I'm focused on hearing from the people around the state and being the kind of leader that they need.  If I do that well and set a strong example of servant leadership I intend to provide, I think like-minded people will gravitate to my campaign and we will build a strong team from the bottom up.  There are a tremendous amount of talented people out there who share my passion for this state and I look forward to working with as many of them as possible going forward.  We can cross that bridge later.

RM: What would you say to win voters, especially west Michigan voters who might have supported a Land campaign and now might be seriously considering following their candidate to the Bouchard camp?

CPH: I don't think voters look at our crisis of leadership in Michigan as regional. I am in the race because I have a passion for West Michigan, Northern Michigan, Southeast Michigan, Central Michigan and the Upper Peninsula.  I understand that the people losing jobs in west Michigan and the businesses closing in west Michigan have something in common with the people of the rest of state: they are all struggling and starved for leadership.  

I think Michigan's future starts with all of us, and I am prepared to lead as we tackle our biggest challenges.  No other person in this race has 15 years as an executive in the private sector and 16 years served in public office.  I think that balance gives me an edge.  

RM: Congressman, thanks again!

Invited to the Kent County Republican Committee's Grand Rapids headquarters by a press advisory that promised a long expected official announcement about Land's intentions regarding the 2010 gubernatorial race, media outlets from across west Michigan had their cameras rolling as she continued.

She didn't deliver what they were anticipating.  There are things Michigan needs, she said.  Legislative experience.  Administrative experience. Leadership experience.  She'd found in someone else a candidate who represented, in her estimation, the best hope to turn the state around.  And then she introduced him.  

Taking the press pool by surprise, Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard emerged from a back room alongside his wife and joined the Secretary of State at the podium.  

"We're both worried that our kids will be forced to leave Michigan to find jobs," Land continued.  And she believes Bouchard is the man to end that trend.

And yes, This one was a real endorsement.

Standing side by side it didn't take long for WOOD TV 8's Rick Albin to ask the next logical question... "Where will you look for a Lieutenant Governor?"

Bouchard explained that geography is less important in an eventual running mate than skill and ability and then may have tipped his hand a bit.  "One (candidate) who would be and should be on anyone's short list is standing here," Bouchard said, nodding at Land.  

The Secretary smiled... knowingly?  Not seeking the Party's gubernatorial nomination, perhaps, but very clearly not out of the Governor's race.

Bouchard becomes one of the most prominent voices in Michigan to advocate some pretty serious changes to the way things are being done in Lansing, from being open to "tweaking" Proposal A to openly advocating a part-time legislature.

Just a few of the highlights include-

RightMichigan: Thoughts on the new State Police Headquarters?

Sheriff Bouchard: "What good is a state of the art building if you can't inhabit that building with the men and women who are there to protect you?"  ... "They should have put (the project) on hold years ago, frankly."

RM: The Americans for Tax Reform "No New Taxes Pledge?"

Sheriff Bouchard: "Clearly one of the first things you have to do is learn to live within your means... in fact, I was the first gubernatorial candidate to sign the taxpayer protection pledge."

RM: First specific thing you'd do, day one as Governor?

Sheriff Bouchard: "Stop the bleeding.  I'll freeze all non-essential spending and begin to go through immediately where we can cut spending..."

RM: Should we tweak proposal A?

Sheriff Bouchard: "I think you have to constantly, in government or the private sector, look at what you're doing and make sure you're competitive." ... "In anything you have to constantly go back and reexamine it and make sure it's meeting your goals." ... "I'd be willing to look at a whole new tax and regulatory process."

RM: On the idea of a part-time legislature...

Sheriff Bouchard: "Based on what I'm seeing in Lansing and how broke Lansing is I'd be calling for a part-time legislature." ... "One of the fixes I'd suggest is that we go to a part-time legislature."

And much, much more...

Mike Bouchard, Oakland County Sheriff, will launch his campaign for Governor by traveling the state to discuss Michigan's future with families, students and people from all walks of life in southeast Michigan, Lansing and Grand Rapids.  He'll meet with them to address their concerns and anxieties as well as preview his ideas and solutions for fixing Michigan as Governor.

Michigan Republicans now in have in Mike Bouchard a successful (many times over) conservative candidate from voter-rich Oakland County, in Mike Cox a candidate who proved in 2002 he was able to knock off a Democrat in a position that hadn't elected a Republican in a half-century and in Terri Lynn Land the highest vote getter in the state.

Democrats have John Cherry.

Event details for his tour are below the fold...