Michigan Politics

Michigan Political considerations.

Michigan Politics

Lorence Wenke: Not Libertarian

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Back in May, Lorence Wenke switched from Republican to Libertarian.  He claims that this move was based in principle, not political convenience.  So how well do his views line up with libertarianism?

Citing GOP opposition to gay rights, state Senate candidate Lorence Wenke leaves Republican Party
State Senate hopeful Lorence Wenke says he plans to help build Libertarian Party
Libertarian Lorence Wenke talks split from GOP, minimum wage during Kalamazoo Gazette Editorial Board interview
Election 2014: Libertarian Party looks to make waves in Kalamazoo County after long dormancy

Wenke said he would support expanding the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to include protections for LGBT citizens, adding that if no one else introduced the bill, he would do so.

Anti-discrimination laws violate freedom of association, and there is a long libertarian tradition opposing them.

How about the basic free market position of opposing the minimum wage?

Wenke, the owner of Wenke Greenhouses in Comstock Township, said he would have voted yes on the minimum wage increase.

He said the increase will have a significant impact on the payroll businesses, but added that he believes the working poor of the community deserve the raise.

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Michigan Politics

Michigan 56th District Race Mystery Mailers

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Anonymous mailers flood mailboxes in Michigan's 56th state house district.

Bain-card3Randy Bain was pleasantly surprised that someone supports him in his bid for the Michigan House of representatives..

When mailers arrived at his home not just once, but TWICE, he wondered who might it be that would be sending out the cards describing Democrats and Republicans as having no discernible differences.  Who was it saying “Al Bain isn’t a party robot!” in two separate mailings?

Bain-card1Did we mention R. Al Bain is a candidate for the 56th District house seat as a (Constitution party) US Taxpayer?

Bain says that he knows of other Republicans who have received the postcards, yet his neighbors who are Democrats, have not. This could feed the speculation that Democrats are subtly assisting 3rd party candidates who have a strong possibility of drawing votes from Republicans to give THEIR candidates a better shot. This is not out of the question, as we have seen THAT before.

Interestingly, there is no disclaimer, a part 47 campaign finance violation.  The return address could be any number of businesses in the tower address. There are a number of election contributions from that address over the years, but nothing that would indicate a pattern of contributions or big money.   Bain says:Bain-card2

“I googled the address it’s a 12 story office tower in Southfield I called a number and the girl said her company had the whole 12th floor they are a automotive marketing and research firm. There are several businesses in that tower.“

Candidate Bain is already planning his victory speech.

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Conservative News, Michigan Politics

They ARE watching us…

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Hey, not bad, I'm finally going to be published!!!

Deposed today in one of many lawsuits v. Kalkaska County Sheriff’s Department…

Submitted and marked “Exhibit 1” by counsel for the defense…

The Regional Police State…

“Do you have issues with the Sheriff’s Department?”

Answer: “Yes, several.”

Interesting day, defense counsel was squirming by the end of the interview…

All I can say for now is be willing to stand behind what you post here and elsewhere…

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Michigan Politics

Bullying

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Michigan can learn a lesson from the new schoolyard bully; The homosexual activist who gains power.

One has to wonder about the mental defect in those who support a change to the Elliot Larsen Civil Rights Act when looking at the evidence before us.

There is little that is protected more than the right to free speech, and by extension the right to proselytize, preach, minister or practice one’s faith as shown in this nation’s constitution. There is a reason it was numeral UNO insofar as clarifying amendments go.

The mayor of Houston is off the hook tyrannical, and should not only be removed from office but sanctioned for attempting to subvert the constitution and abuse her elected position of trust. There MUST be consequences for such actions, or we will continue to see more of it.

And Michigan is under the threat of the same type of abuse, as behavioral quantification is used to qualify ‘protected’ classes of people. Any legislator who opens up the door further to this type of terrorism on individual, business owners or (as we see in Houston) our spiritual leaders, needs to be run out on a rail.

We’re laying the track right now.

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Michigan Politics

Attack Ad On Republican Candidate Draws Sharp Rebuke

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The first complaint about an attack ad by Michigan Democrats against 104th Candidate Larry Inman comes from where?

coffiaA political attack television ad aired in the 104th district (which covers Grand Traverse County in its entirety)  is drawing an immediate call for its removal. Not from candidate Inman, but by his opponent.

An advertisement that suggests Republican Larry Inman is out of touch, voted for tuition increases as a university trustee, supports higher taxes, and is guilty by association with those who voted to raise property and pension taxes is under fire by the person who would benefit from such ads. Betsy Coffia, a Democrat who has sworn off PAC money and these types of ads says “We have committed to running a positive campaign, and we consider negative ads to be part of the problem, instead of part of the solution.”

Coffia then goes on to ask supporters to call the Democrat state party directly and ask them to remove the ads.

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Michigan Politics

Freep Editorial Board Endorses ‘Slow Progressivism’

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Seeing little difference, the Ivory Tower goes with the 'devil they know'

happy-snyderThe Detroit Free Press has joined liberal Bill Milliken in endorsing a continuation of Rick Snyder’s governorship.

Admitting that it prefers the more effective measures of sliding towards progressive goals, it endorsed Rick Snyder over Mark Schauer. The Ivory Tower editorial board suggests that it doesn’t think that Schauer can accomplish its wishes.

Schauer says he’ll shape state government according to the progressive values the Free Press Editorial Board believes are embedded in Michigan’s DNA — expansion of civil rights, protections for workers, environmental stewardship, plus investment in schools, roads and the social safety net.

But only one candidate could bring his agenda into practical, achievable focus. And so by the narrowest of margins, with keen reservations, the Free Press endorses RICK SNYDER for a second, four-year term as Michigan’s governor.

Of course when they say “his agenda,” they mean the governor’s.

However, for those of us who question the anti transparency veto, higher gas taxes, ‘cool cities’, trains, [Granholm agenda item[ NITC,  welfare expansion, growing the Michigan budget, Elliot Larsen signalling to special right pro-homosexual groups, bailouts to progressive bastions, and failure to fully defend Michiganians’ right to keep and bear arms? We see little difference.

We know they do too.

 

 

 

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Michigan Politics

Michigan State House Races

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Cross-posted at The Western Right, Right Michigan, and Red Racing Horses.

All 110 seats in the Michigan House of Representatives will be up for election in November. Republicans currently hold a 59-51 majority, following a 63-47 majority after 2010. There are 40 open seats, 21 held by Republicans and 19 held by democrats.  There are 30 open due to term-limits and 10 just seeking another office.

Republicans gained one new seat (73) and one existing seat (39) due to redistricting, but also lost one existing seat (55) in 2012.  They also lost five incumbents (52, 71, 84, 91, 110), not counting party-switcher Roy Schmidt (76).  They could have won several more seats with a more effective redistricting plan.

Democrats want to take back the state house, but face a difficult playing field.  Of the Republican-held open seats, only 56 and 61 are competitive.  They will try to defeat some Republican incumbents, but it is not clear how they will beat incumbents this year that they couldn’t defeat in 2012.

Meanwhile, Republicans will seek to gain seats.  The best opportunity is the open 84, which was lost due to scandal in 2012.  There are two lean dem open seats (21, 62) that may be competitive.  Republicans will also try to defeat several incumbents who picked up seats in 2012 (25, 71, 91).

State house fundraising is analyzed in the following articles.

Michigan State House Fundraising

Michigan Post-primary Fundraising Reports

Michigan Pre-general Fundraising Reports

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Michigan Politics

Michigan Pre-General Fundraising Reports

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The deadline for pre-general campaign finance reports for the Michigan state legislature was October 24.  The following details the total amount raised in competitive general elections, and cash on hand (COH) in competitive general elections.  Ratings for the races are included.

Governor (Lean R)
R: Rick Snyder 12.5M (1.8M COH)
D: Mark Schauer (1.4M COH)

Lieutenant Governor:
R: Brian Calley 401K (30K COH)
D: Lisa Brown waiver

Attorney General (Lean R)
R: Bill Schuette 3.7M (1.1M COH)
D: Mark Totten 671K (105K COH)

Secretary of State (Likely R)
R: Ruth Johnson 895K (44K COH)
D: Godfrey Dillard  121K (50K COH)

Supreme Court (Likely R/Lean D)
R: Brian Zahra 909K (306K COH)
R: James Robert Redford  393K (153K COH)
D: Richard Bernstein 2.1M (885K COH)
D: William Murphy  246K (124K COH)

Supreme Court (partial term) Safe R
R: David Viviano 855K (296K COH)
D: Deborah Thomas  121K (50K COH)

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Michigan Politics

Free And Open Markets OR Enforcement Of Contract?

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How should the press release by Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette be taken?

Bill-SchuetteOne would think that a member of the party supporting ‘free and open markets’ would be inclined to liberate those same markets.

Yet recently and not for the first time, the Michigan Attorney General’s office has investigated, and prosecuted privately-held businesses for responding to demand and availability in ways they felt were necessary.  Using taxpayer dollars, the AG’s office obtained a $500,000 settlement from a provider of propane, because that business raised its prices.

Though some of the investigation had legitimate reason to happen (established deals were not being honored), the underlying premise that the AG’s office presents is one that seemingly panders to the “its just not fair” crowd. When Schuette says :

“I’m happy we can put money back into the wallets of hard-working families who paid steep prices to heat their homes last winter while already trying to make ends meet.”

He is not saying he is “happy to provide enforcement of contract”

THAT is a problem.  Its not the job of the Michigan Attorney General to make sure pricing is fair.  Its not the Job of the Office of the Attorney General to ensure people can afford their utilities or everyday needs. Its definitely not Bill Schuette’s job to “put money back into the wallets” of those he deems to have been victimized by a brutally cold winter, or those who must provide the resources to deal with it.

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Conservative News, Cronyism, Elections, Michigan Politics

Governor Snyder’s “Gay Advocate” Puppeteer Wants Your Help

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A Snyder Cronyism

URGENT HELP NEEDED: An internal poll of the Michigan Femdom Fund has shown that Governor Snyder is up 100% to 0% over his challenger Mark Schauer. This “internal” poll must have only included “pegging” their staff members for these results? A Femdom Fund Logo

But this November the stakes are too high and we need your help. Please consider making a donation today of $20, $35, $50 or whatever you can generously afford to help us assure that Gov. Snyder is re-elected as to advance the Common Core, Gay Marriage and other progressive issues that Gov. Snyder will support.

For those low information voters and party loyalist I have compiled a list of bullet points, headlines and search phrases as to make it harder for those types to justify to themselves how they cast their votes!

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