Recently, I was accused of gutter politics by Michigan state board of education candidate Sonjalita Hulbert for pointing out her history of supporting Black Lives Matter.
Hulbert posted a video response to my blog in which she suggested it is beyond the pale to hold a political candidate accountable to their on-the-record statements regarding pressing issues.
Step Right Up - The Greatest Show On Earth is about to begin!
Every two years, the factions of the Republican party get to have a little fun.
Don’t get me wrong, the democrats run the fun/ridiculous machine overtime. No matter what anyone tells you, those who hook their wagons to the Socialist lite democrat banner are already exhibiting what should be in the APA DSM manuals. The GOP has a few critical cases, but generally the differences are in the way we want to approach the argument.
However, there are still too many people who think that a life of crime ..er a life of service .. a political paycheck is the way to go. Perhaps the prestige of those ‘power’ positions, and maybe even the real reward of patronage while in and out of office can make such aspirations appealing.
It may seem that the time spent and asses people have to kiss to grab that golden ring would be far better spent with family, doing vacations, building a business, etc. I have run a couple of primary challenge campaigns to incumbents, but have no desire to be seated long term. Some folks do it to effect REAL reformative change however.
I suspect most politicians actually feel that they have a ‘mission’ as well when starting on such an adventure, but also having won a campaign against an incumbent in a primary, I have also experienced the pressure of acceptance. To the novice of political office, it is exceptionally easy to be sucked into the ‘best intentions’ paradigm.
A great deal of support on the floor of the GOP convention in Novi Michigan for challenger Nakagiri
“I appreciate your enthusiasm” Says Candace Miller as the 300 Nakagiri volunteers do the sign walk.
There were so many, that the next nomination was delayed a moment. (yeah THAT’s the ticket) Truthfully, the video camera work was a little sloppy because I was looking around trying to gauge how many Snyder/Calley supporters were sporting new trouser cookies. As we have known for a week however, signs unfortunately don’t equal votes.
It was just plain fun as a people watcher however. As a takeaway, we don’t have to think there are no folks actively seeking to better the party. We are NOT alone, nor are we done yet.
OK. I took a Day off to relax, unwind and Clean my car. Ignored FB and the News.
Forget the Mantra of the last 2 weeks of “Calley the Tea Party Ally”, forget the Rhetoric of “I oppose common core, despite stumping for it statewide, and pledging to be the tie breaking vote, Forget the sudden Anti Common Core conversion. Forget the PTL Support tactic of trying to inform the Tea Party, while keeping the General Press in the dark. Calley’s win is now a supposedly True blue endorsement of the establishment Policy pograms.
The reports are that the Tea Party lost at the Convention. Pure Bobby Schostak.
It cost Snyder/Calley a rumored $2.3 MILLION dollars to Identify and PURGE Conservative delegates from the Floor. Yet Wes still managed to get 1/3rd of the vote. Despite all the ID programs, Polls, robocalls, and County convention shenanigans. Rick Snyder Photo shoot during Wes’s Nomination, trying to block Floor access to the stage for his supporters, He still pulled 35%.
As usual, there is much to talk about as those of us who attend, rest up, decompress, etc. Snyder got his ‘conservative’ to run with again, the U of M regent race mixed it up a little differently than some might have expected, and there is a renewed impetus to get behind Terri Lynn Land.
A quick summary of my own thoughts
Snyder-Calley yuck ticket. Missed opportunity and a race to watch (shades of Romney; w/6 million sitting on hands) in disappointment.
Land moved to top of ticket and should stay away from embracing the homophile agenda or risk losing remaining conservatives.
Ruth Johnson is still THIS VOTER’s top of ticket.
U of M ticket construct may have made it possible for MiGOP to win Regent races as well as assist in higher ups (reverse coattails)
Some might ask me with a level of expected incredulity “did it work!?” To which there is only one answer. Yes of course it did. And I will pray again for the same guidance and outcome of what is part of His plan.
Father God above
We know that it is by your grace that man pursues what is right and just. We know that absent reliance of your word, there is only chaos and uncertainty.
As we choose from our brothers and sisters in this gathering, we ask that you guide us to make those choices so that we may better represent YOUR will on earth. Make our eyes discern more clearly truth from deceit. Let the hearts of our leaders know you. Let agents of deception fear the righteous, and keep the will of the righteous strong.
We humbly ask that the voices of the unborn are heard, that our disadvantaged are made self sufficient, that the nation founded through your strength, regains its path of prosperity and leadership of men through you and your son, our savior, Jesus Christ.
” Calley, who declined to be interviewed for this story, has never publicly opposed the governor on major policy decisions, but routinely says he is “the conservative voice” inside the Snyder administration. “
Consider this single paragraph for a moment.
The governor has Raised taxes on some, went behind the legislature’s back on the NITC, pushed hard for Obamacare in Michigan, pushes Common Core, hired several Democrats to key positions, bails out Detroit, pushes rail subsidies, and will likely sign on the dotted line when the Elliot Larsen Civil Rights act is presented for modification. Modified so that dangerous behavior is blessed not only with the ongoing media push, but with the unforgiving and ‘intolerant’ hammer of law on those who disagree with that behavior.
All of which begs the question: “When does your conservative voice matter Mr Calley?”