Tag: Mackinac

You have seen her on the Harley biking around the state before, and now Michigan Secretary of State Ruth Johnson is Kayaking across the Mackinac straits in an effort to promote the Online ExpressSOS.COM site and online services provided by the Secretary of State.  The trip, a Seven-mile voyage across the straits in 18-foot kayak is expected to take 3 hours. A potentially cool venture with the backdrop of the Mighty Mac, she will be starting her trek at roughly 4pm.

Weather permitting, TOMORROW Ruth will kayak from the Mackinac Island State Harbor to the Mackinaw City - Straits State Harbor.

The online services are designed to provide greater efficiencies and make use of the increasingly technological possibilities and advantages. Ruth says:

"Our staff levels are 25 percent below what they were a decade ago so it's critical to promote online services. The more people we have online means fewer people in line, reducing wait times at our branch offices."

She's using her personal boat, a kayak that can be paddled, pedaled, and is also outfitted with a sail that features ExpressSOS.com. Decals on the boat highlight organ donation, the Pure Michigan license plate, the state Recreation Passport and Ruth's initiative on behalf of active military and our veterans, OPERATION: Our Troops Count.

Updates on Ruth's progress across the Straits will be posted on Twitter at www.twitter.com/michsos using the hashtag #Kayakinac and Facebook at www.facebook.com/michigansos.

"It's been an amazing conference," said Michigan Republican Party Chairman Bobby Schostak. "The enthusiasm from our grassroots and from our elected officials is outstanding, and our attendees experienced it first-hand."

"This conference will pay huge dividends for our state and our country," Schostak said. "We will work with our leaders and our grassroots to continue to reinvent Michigan."

This year's conference incorporated numerous events, including addresses and appearances by Michigan Governor Rick Snyder, South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, Texas Governor Rick Perry, Congressmen Thad McCotter, and Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus.

Besides Snyder, Michigan's Republican leadership on the island included Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley, Secretary of State Ruth Johnson, Attorney General Bill Schuette, House Speaker Jase Bolger, Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville, and Congressmen Dave Camp, Candice Miller, Dan Benishek, Fred Upton, Tim Walberg, Bill Huizenga, and Justin Amash.

Many elected officials participated in panel discussions focused on making Michigan a job-growth engine.

"Republican activists had an outstanding conversation and we will continue the discussion throughout the upcoming year.  Our relentless positive action continues to drive success for all Michigan families."
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In the last two weeks, I have had at least 5 separate invitations to participate in conference activities. Each of them more tempting than the last.  Maybe next time.  And as it turned out, the business needed my presence Friday, and today the funeral for a friend's father. And overall, my significant other who has suffered well through the miscellany of political activities that keep us apart too often, seems to be happy.

The Lord does indeed work in many mysterious ways.

One of those ways is how we move the debate here.

As noted a couple of days ago, there was a concern I penned about Michelle Bachmann endorsing Pete Hoekstra, who would not go on record supporting right to work.  As expected there was a bit of noise going on in the background throughout the state party and establishment types.   As expected it was picked up in a national piece the following day.

Strategic National (Yob) who is managing Hoekstra's campaign likely had not planned for the "Tea Party" blast advertisement to come out a day early, as the "official" endorsement was to come out the next day.  It did. the "Tea Party" email blast by the way, is from merely another group who likely believes in most Tea Party values, yet is willing to capitalize on the theme as much as it is there to advance it.

This site for example will take advertising from nearly anyone who doesn't violate core principles.  I get it.

First.. to back it up..

My last post mentioned the Ardesta Money grab in which Rick Snyder as said "they just fill out the MEDC paperwork like anyone else", while claiming to be somewhat hands off.  Of course, as a matter of record:

Veteran Investor Rick Snyder a Principal of Michigan-Based Fund

Governor Jennifer M. Granholm and Michigan Economic Development Corporation President and CEO James C. Epolito today announced Michigan Strategic Fund board approval of an investment of up to $7.5 million through the Michigan 21st Century Investment Fund in the new Ardesta Ventures I, LP venture capital fund. The fund will focus on investments in nanotechnology, life sciences and alternative energy technology companies based in the Midwest.

It seems a stretch that he was hands off in any manner.  Money is a motivator to be sure.  And as the news piles up on the failures of the MEDC to prove any valuable effect to the state, its future becomes a little cloudier.

I've been following the recent conversation here about the straw poll on Mackinac Island I'm not sure I understand how people can be upset about Rick Snyder bringing volunteers to the island.  I'm a MSU Republican who heard from several campaigns that were trying to recruit me to come to the island and offered to pay for my lodging and other expenses in exchange for voting for them.  A friend of mine sent me exactly what Cox's campaign was going to pay for which you can clearly see here.  I also picked up this letter from Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land asking for contributions to a fund that was paying for volunteers to go up to the island.  I'm sure that voting for Bouchard was a part of their requirements.  So it's clear that Rick wasn't the only candidate paying for volunteers to attend.

And as to the video, the person who was interviewed actually did an interview with Michigan Public Radio Network that explained exactly why he was supporting Rick - because of his background in business - on the island and he posted this response.

http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/michigan/news.newsmain/article/0/0/1559408/Michigan.News/Michigan. GOP.Looks.to.2010

By the way, It'll be interesting to see if Right Michigan moves something that shows Cox and Bouchard were trying to buy the poll too to the front page or if they're only trying to go after Rick's campaign.  From my perspective, Rick's campaign did nothing differently than the other campaigns other than recruit more supporters and run a more effective operation.

Read these materials from the other campaigns, and decide for yourself if the pots are calling the kettle black.

Click here to download the letter Mike Cox sent out to his supporters. Click Here to download the letter Terri Lynn Land sent out to her supporters. View them as images beneath the cut.