Tag: Ruth Johnson (page 3)

Conversely, when people do the right thing, they should be complimented.

This most definitely falls under the latter.

So what is it?

Some question has been raised as to why several Michigan daily newspapers have endorsed Jocelyn Benson (D) instead of the clearly better-qualified Ruth Johnson (R) for Secretary of State. The answer requires  an understanding of newspaper editorial boards, rather than an understanding of the candidates.

Most local newspapers are granted a high degree of autonomy by their corporate ownership,when it comes to editorial policy. Endorsements in a presidential or gubernatorial race might be dictated, but rarely an endorsement below that level.  Newsmen and editorial writers of local papers are generally"soft-left", fitting the characterization of mainstream media.

Elections featuring several offices pose a problem for that mindset.  The editorialists want to be seen (and see themselves!) as thoughtful and even-handed. They feel their influence in a community will be compromised if the public sees the local paper as overwhelmingly one-sided.  Thus it is required that a demonstration of thoughtful deliberation and "fairness" be reflected in the editorial page endorsements before every election.

And how does all of this translate itself for the 2010 election in Michigan?

We have news that Michigan Supreme Court Justice Robert Young has been added to the speakers list for the "Sovereignty Tea Party" Rally held on the Michigan Capitol steps Sunday October 10, 2010.

The Rally is to demonstrate support for the 10th amendment.  Organizers call out:

"Join your fellow Michigan patriots as we support our 10th Amendment Sovereignty rights against Unconstitutional Federal over reach such as ObamaCare, a prime example of national law that oversteps state jurisdiction and results in the loss of rights of Michigan's citizens!"

10th amendment violations by the federal government has been a major issue often noted by Tea Partiers.

To say that the 2010 Michigan Republican State Convention was "interesting" would be considered by many attendees as an understatement.  By all honest accounts, it was evident that the MIGOP party leadership expected that, in exchange for being allowed a few seats at the table, the Michigan Tea Party Alliance would be good little sheep on the convention floor and rubber stamp the decrees of the party officials.  Funny thing about that though, is that the MTPA members blindly answer to no one (certainly no one whose trustworthiness is considered suspect at best), and most assuredly do not simply do as they're told.  On the flip side of that coin, though, anyone who is of the opinion that the MTPA is going to take out their frustration on the GOP ticket is going to be thoroughly disabused of that notion come November.

Only eight weeks from today here in Michigan we will head to the polls and elect a new Governor and Lieutenant Governor, a new Secretary of State, a new Attorney General, an entirely new state House and Senate, members of the Michigan Supreme Court, members of boards of education and boards of regent and local office holders across the state.

Everything is on the table and up for grabs and the differences couldn't be bigger between Republicans and Democrats.

We've got a choice for governor between Rick Snyder and America's angriest mayor, Virg Bernero, a man whose platform seems to consist of three plank--shout louder than anyone else, do everything under the sun to empower Big Labor and set up a state-run bank (because state government seems to run everything else so well).

We've got a choice for Secretary of State between Ruth Johnson and Jocelyn Benson, a near carbon copy of Jennifer Granholm.  The only difference real between Benson and Granholm is that Benson is significantly more liberal.  

And then there's the choice for Attorney General between Bill Schuette and David Leyton, a county prosecutor in Flint where violent crime has skyrocketed on his watch.  David Leyton seemingly never saw a violent crime case he wouldn't plea bargain. Sure, maybe you plea bargain some first offenses to keep the courts from clogging up. But when you're the Prosecutor in the most violent city in the state -- a city on track for a record setting number of murders this year -- business as usual is not good enough.

Leyton has been such a failure that this past year community leaders in Flint have called for the National Guard to be deployed to curb the continuing violence.

Three choices.  Each of them no choice at all.

And with the Governor, the Senate and the Supreme Court handling redistricting that will go a long ways to determining control of the legislature for the next decade, the stakes this year couldn't be any greater.

But you know all of that.  The question for each of is is what are we going to do about it?

It's going to take our combined effort again this year to make sure Michigan turns the corner away from the Democrats' record shattering tax hikes, nation's worst unemployment rates and big-government liberalism.  

Pick a race.  Blog about it.  I'll pledge here and now to do that myself.  You can expect to see me here every single week between now and the election talking about the critical races facing each of us.  I hope you'll join me.

And then call one of the campaigns and get involved.

Let's show the Democrats-- who've given us more dangerous streets, higher unemployment, higher taxes and bigger government-- that enough is enough.

(Saul Anuzis is the Michigan Republican National Committeeman and the immediate past Chairman of the Michigan Republican Party.)

The Independence Caucus is not a political party, nor is it affiliated with any political party.  It is the anti-incumbent, non-affiliated group of concerned citizens devoted to electing candidates truly committed to constitutional loyalty and fiscal responsibility, regardless of party.  The goal is the election of such candidates to not less than 40% of the seats in the House and the Senate in 2010 . . . and in each following election year.  It is a not-for-profit organization of concerned citizens from all walks who recognize the responsibility to act now to protect future generations of this nation from the disastrous consequences of our unfathomable deficits and debts, and exists to teach us how to govern our country as citizens, and to provide the practical tools and resources to actually make it happen.

According to Google.com, the press release announcing, "Johnson Joins Push for "No-Reason" Absentee Voting," was removed from the Oakland County Clerk's website sometime after August, 10, 2010.  While users are currently unable to find the document on the official website, Google has saved a copy of the press release on their servers accessible by this link:

Google cached result

A simple Google search on "ruth johnson absentee voting press release" will bring up a link to the no longer existing press release.  Upon clicking on that link users will find that the page no longer exists at the Oakland County Clerk website.  If users click on the "Cached" link that follows the search result, however, users will be brought to a copy of the press release referenced above.  A pdf of the press release is also attached.

Delegates should ask Ruth why she asked her government employees to take the press release off of the government website mere days before the Republican State Convention.  Were any other press releases removed from the website?  What else is she hiding?