Tag: Colleen O'Brien

First off, any conservative who thinks that we should do anything else but vote for Pete Hoekstra, and Mitt Romney is off their nut.  There are absolutely differences between those two and their opponents.  The damage brought about by twelve years of Debbie Stabenow type thinking in the US Senate, and a mere three and a half years of Barack Obama as commander in chief is Awesome. And not in a good way. Their mindset and ideals are incompatible with a Republican form of government guaranteed by Article 4, Section 4 of our constitution.

Incompatible with a country ruled by law, not men.

Today's paper highlighted however, the unfortunate condition of our candidates vying for those positions of such importance; President, US Senator, and Michigan Supreme Court.

With the carefully placed articles in the local papers, we have a problem. Articles about how Romney is failing to Obama in 'key' states, and George Weeks inflating Pete Hoekstra's record so he could pop it like a balloon, to a Lessenberry column 'introducing' Bridget Mary McCormack's message to a state that doesn't know who she is:

"Nor is she a traditional candidate. Most Supreme Court nominees have been former senators, governors, or appellate and circuit court judges. McCormack is a popular law professor at the University of Michigan and director of the school's legal clinics.

"I have always been concerned with the legal profession's impact on real people," said McCormack, a young-looking 46-year-old who her law school dean described as having, besides an infectious grin, "an infectious commitment to her craft, a subtle, powerful mind (and), an astonishing work ethic." Not to mention, time management skills; she and her husband, White House senior counsel Steven Croley, have a commuter marriage and a "blended family" of four teenagers."

Not much of a soft sell eh?

Never mind the fact that the left is would up like a nine day clock in support of her candidacy. she is ALL Hollywood folks. In fact they have already put out a viral video where the former cast of an NBC show (West Wing) is actually referring to McCormack as "Hot". By golly! If that is the best qualification for the Michigan Supreme Court? Then rule-of-law be damned.  Stake out the local "Toddlers & Tiaras" competitions for the next generations of our top legal referees!

The result of Saturday's Michigan Republican convention was very conservative, and very consistent with tea party and traditional values that have been notably lacking in recent years.  Add to this a solid backing (almost purposefully noticeable) of candidate Kerry Bentivolio in the 11th district, and it should be clear that some folks are starting to pay attention to the grassroots.  And those grassroots are now becoming more fully vested in the party, and changing from within.

The slate?

Michigan Supreme Court Justice:
Stephen J Markman - Incumbent
Brian Zahra - partial term incumbent
Colleen O'Brien - new nomination

State Board of Education
Todd Courser - New
Melanie Kurdys - New

MSU Trustee
Melanie Foster - Incumbent
Jeff Sakwa - New

U of M Regent
Dr. Rob Steele - New
Dan Horning - New

Wayne State University Board of Governors
Michael J. Busuito
Satish B. Jasti

The Michigan Supreme Court pick was an interesting one for a number of reasons.  We have seen much of the criticism of either O'Brien or Markey on RightMichigan.com, and frankly it was undeserved.  Both candidates represented a conservative rule of law perspective and the nomination of Colleen O'Brien should not disappoint anyone.  I tried to refrain from affecting the discussion and was particularly neutral and trying to look at qualifications and overall perspective.

I carried that neutrality into the convention and had no reason to specifically support either candidate, and was not worried about the outcome other than a bit of a nasty back and forth with passed out literature left in the seats for attendees.  There were good people I knew supporting either candidate.  After listening to both candidates in caucus, re-looking at notes, talking to friends who supported either candidate, reviewing caseload, history, etc., my decision to support a single candidate started to develop.  I even spent 20-25 minutes speaking with justice Stephen Markman.

Saturday Morning found me leaning Jane Markey.

So is O'Brien fighting a grudge match?  Is this a "fight between unfriendly opponents?"

Republican Delegates recently received a letter from trial attorney Mike Rizik.  Mike Rizik has been a plaintiffs' personal injury lawyer and a 20-year member of the Michigan Trial Lawyers' Association.  The Michigan Trial Lawyers' Association, as you likely know, is Michigan's largest contributor to Democrat judicial candidates and the Democrat Party.

Who says a Friday news dump doesn't get much attention?

And now, because of the actions of the Board of State Canvassers, we have a situation that may involve another Friday news dump . . . on a weekend when both of this state's major political parties have other things to do.

If you are not yet old enough to run for Congress, well, draw near.  I'll tell you about the tumultuous summer of 2005.  And I'll tell you why that matters to Rule-of-Law Michigan Republicans in 2012.