Inside Michigan Officially Falls On Its Side

Michigan Political subscription newsletter drives into the ditch.

On the left side.

Susan Demas has hardly ever pretended to be fair or balanced, much less a fan of conservative or GOP causes in the state. Her liberal bent was often on display in her distorted reporting style, so when Bill Ballenger sold the subscription based newsletter he founded in 1987 to her it seemed to many, that the end had come to his labor of love.

Demas’ statement upon taking the successful newsletter Inside Michigan Politics on its last ride was

“Inside Michigan Politics is the gold standard for political journalism in Michigan.  I look forward to ensuring that IMP continues its tradition of fair and non-partisan reporting and analysis. Most of all, I look forward to the opportunity of working with Bill, who has been a friend and mentor to me for many years.”

A friend indeed.

She fired him for having an opinion that was not in line with her view of the Flint Water crisis.

Demas-FB“Fair and non-partisan,” hardly begets the result of Ballenger’s openly opining that the Flint issue as Demas went into full-on liberal ‘activist mode’ defending the left’s narrative of the situation there.  Demas didn’t even have the decency to contact him directly as Ballenger found out from syndicated radio talk show host Steve Gruber.

Ballenger said he learned he had been canned after hearing Demas on a radio program. Moments later, syndicated radio talk show host Steve Gruber called Ballenger for comment on the dismissal.

“I haven’t had a chance to talk to Susan yet, so next thing I know the phone rang and it was you,” Ballenger told Gruber.

Nice.

On Facebook, Demas’ issued a press release outlining her reasons why Ballenger was released as a contributor.

“I have great respect for Bill Ballenger, who has continued to periodically contribute to Inside Michigan Politics after I bought the publication in 2013.

I let him stick around for giggles.

As you are aware, Bill’s comments Tuesday night on WKAR after the State of the State address regarding the seriousness of the Flint Water Crisis are indefensible. Bill had previously made public comments as a Flint resident and political analyst, but last night he was on “Off the Record” associated with IMP.

As you aware, his views were “indefensible.”

Surely if you don’t realize this, you must be afflicted with supreme ignorance dirty tea party clinger!  How DARE he have an opinion outside of my narrowly defined worldview!!

As I told Bill earlier Tuesday, he is entitled to his opinion, but not his own facts. And as the sole owner, editor and publisher of IMP, I alone speak for the publication and set its editorial direction.

.. and on my Dime!!

Flint is a public health catastrophe, as the meticulous research of Virginia Tech and Hurley Medical Center Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha clearly shows. I cannot have anyone associated with Inside Michigan Politics who minimizes the impact of this terrible public health disaster that will impact people’s lives for decades to come. I am truly sorry to everyone hurt by Bill’s comments at a time of already considerable anxiety and pain.

The world is coming to an end.  No where else on the planet do 23 kids (or some similar number) test high for elevated lead.

Oh and excuse me while I advocate for the murder of the unborn in my unbiased reporting.

So it is with a heavy heart that I am informing you that as of this morning, Bill Ballenger is not associated with Inside Michigan Politics in any way, shape or form.

Psst..  Susan, guess what?

You should probably start looking for work again.  When those subscriptions expire, few people will want to PAY for what they can get at the Daily KOS for free. So unless you are a trust fund Gen-Xer,  Well  ..

And folks who might doubt the direction of the newsletter, or whether it will be “fair and non partisan,” as she had claimed, should be confident in their assessment. Demas has already pursued the ‘all-things-positive’ spin through further editorial discretion on the press release comment section (shown on the right) as of Wednesday anyhow.

Folks who use Facebook, KNOW that as possible as a 100% precinct vote for Obama, is the likelihood that such a release will generate ZERO negative or ‘trolling’ comments.  The ‘clean’ thread shown here is undoubtedly highly edited.

In the end, the clock is ticking for what Ballenger built, as it succumbs to an ultimate ideological end.

And while this particular entry was being penned, it seems more than likely, Ballenger was more correct and properly analytical.  West Michigan Politics says:

A recent letter from Kettering University President Robert McMahan may back Ballenger’s contention.

Citing the scientific data, McMahan notes much of Flint has not had any problems with lead in the water: the amount hit by the scandal is around 2.5% at this time.

The letter by Kettering University gives quite a different perspective. than what is being parroted by the left and Demas.  It dispels the scope of the tragedy, and while maintaining the tragic nature of high lead levels in our children being unacceptable, offers a view that is not what is being reported, and now used as political fodder.

It can be found here.

Demas role as ‘publisher’ will soon (if not already) be seen no differently than one who simply runs a partisan blogging site.

And we all know there are never enough of those.

 

You Betcha! (16)Nuh Uh.(2)

  3 comments for “Inside Michigan Officially Falls On Its Side

  1. KG One
    January 25, 2016 at 12:01 pm

    I asked this question elsewhere and it begs asking here: Can anyone name exposes' that Ms. Demas wrote?

    Any scandals she has broken first-hand?

    Much like asking and of the d's to name any signature achievement of Hillary Clinton while she was either in the US Senate or as Sec. of State, I haven't been able to find anyone who can do the same for her (Demas) either.

    I don't know how big of a loan she took out to buy IMP (and to keep writing checks to Bill Ballenger, despite his
    "firing"), but I'm going to love to see her try and pay that back with little to no revenue coming in.

    You Betcha! (4)Nuh Uh.(0)
    • 10x25MM
      January 26, 2016 at 9:14 am

      It appears that Ms. Demas has been given her walking papers at MLive.com as a part of their 'reorganization':

      This Is Not Goodbye: Faithful readers may remember when my column temporarily ended for a few months in 2013.
      The good news is that's not happening now. The bad news is this is the last time my column will run in MLive — my home since 2008 — as part of its big restructuring.
      My columns will now run in The Huffington Post and other publications. And I invite you to follow me over at my new Facebook fan page and website, susanjdemas.com.

      A little transference, perhaps?

      You Betcha! (2)Nuh Uh.(0)
  2. Corinthian Scales
    January 25, 2016 at 9:51 pm

    It's fascinating to still see old paradigm, fire-breathing, retrograde cuckservatism is alive and well for now, however, its death-rattle is growing increasingly audible in Michigan. Seriously, what could be more pusillanimous than casting Demas, as a Party hack than jetsam obfuscation for a geriatric chatterbox only to shine light upon the occupants of an indistinguishably corrupt Party chaired by a remnant legacy of the Strangites?

    Patriots: http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/flint-water-crisis/2016/01/24/militia-flint-join-calls-justice-water-crisis/79271746/

    $mokescreen$: http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/michigan/flint-water-crisis/2016/01/25/flint-investigation/79288888/?fb_comment_id=953117498069654_953171401397597#f3a3cf0b8cc7ad6

    Remember, A-Team℠ & World-class™: https://youtu.be/F6u9KQLIsx4

    Factoid$: http://rightmi.com/old/www.rightmichigan.com/story/2013/3/18/195810/217.html

    The A-okay: http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2013/04/state_gives_flint_ok_t.html

    2B $hell game: http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2015/06/12/regional-water-vote/71088638/

    Baird$ repeating: http://rightmi.com/old/www.rightmichigan.com/story/2013/12/10/155630/39.html

    Legalese "first" responder$: http://rightmi.com/shocked-shocked-i-tell-ya/

    His $urrogate$: https://twitter.com/ChadLivengood/status/691652416111009792

    DeVo$ clan Common Core "Tough guy": https://twitter.com/ChadLivengood/status/691305803584815104

    It all just keeps piling and piling up around the Mitten's Team R majority.

    Furthermore, if Ballenger felt so confidant and comfortable about Demas, taking over IMP in October 2013, then what's the issue now? His leaving in 2016 anyway? Do your own mLive article search.

    It all should begin to register with thinking people like this "firing" Ballenger is little more than the wailings of, for, and about a wonkish Cuck problem, which has long outlived its existence subsisting on career politician circles, anyway.

    You Betcha! (0)Nuh Uh.(0)

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