"That's Saul, folks!"Michigan Republican Party Blog

Granholm’s friends close to state contract

Granholm looks to line friends’ pockets

                                                                                                                                        

Lansing, MI – The Detroit Free Press today said, “A Farmington Hills advertising firm [Duffey Petrosky & Co.] with little experience in government promotion but long-standing ties to Gov. Jennifer Granholm is poised to land a $19.5-million contract to help pitch the state as a great place to do business.” 

“At a minimum, this does not pass the smell test.  At a maximum, it is the Governor using the taxpayer’s checkbook to pad her friends’ wallets.  This is clearly abuse of taxpayer money,” MRP Chairman Saulius “Saul” Anuzis said.  “I can think of a lot of ways $20 million could help small businesses in Michigan, starting with tax cuts. But the last thing employers in Michigan need is government-sponsored happy talk.”

Interesting Notes:

• Duffey Petrosky & Co. employees gave a minimum of $2,000 to the Granholm for Governor campaign in 2002

• DP & Co. gave more than $11,000 to the Granholm for Attorney General Campaign

• DP & Co. produced the ads last election where Granholm appeared opposing Proposal 1, so the Governor could personally plead with voters to allow the administration to open new casinos

• DP & Co. produced more than $15,000 worth of television ads for the Granholm for Governor campaign in 2002.

“The idea that Granholm is merely ‘acquainted’ with the partners of DP & Co., as implied by the Governor’s campaign spokesman Chris DeWitt is preposterous,” Anuzis continued.  “There is a long standing relationship that this company has with Granholm.  The Governor owes Michigan an explanation.” 

Land is Getting it Done; Brewer way off base

Mark Brewer got it wrong. What a surprise! In today’s edition of MIRS Capitol Newsletter, he lobs completely false attacks at Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land…and he uses a quote from Saul, taken out of context, to make it look as if Saul sides with him and not Land.

Unbelievable.

The whole flap is over the issue of a Detroit News report from the weekend about more than 100 dead people being recorded as having voted in municipal elections last fall. Brewer tries to claim this is Land’s fault because she hasn’t “cleaned up” the Qualified Voter File (the official statewide voter list).

The fact is Terri Lynn Land is doing everything that state and federal law allows her to do to clean the voter list, as well as taking every permitted action to ensure the integrity of Michigan’s elections. Last year she initiated a program to "scrub” QVF program from last year resulted in the "tagging" of about 130,000 voters by local clerks to start the clock to have them removed if they don't vote in the next 2 federal elections. Unfortunately, despite it being "free money" offered by Sec. Land, many of the state's largest jurisdictions (Detroit, Grand Rapids, Flint, Saginaw, Pontiac, Bay City and Lansing among them) didn't participate in the program.

What’s more, Land is constantly working to change the laws to allow her to do more to ensure the results of our elections will not ever be able to be called into question and at the same time streamline and speed up the actual voting process at the polls.

Mark Brewer couldn’t be more wrong about the job Land is doing. He couldn’t be more wrong about the Michigan Republican Party’s (and Saul’s personal) complete support of her. And he couldn’t be more wrong about the actual problem…which isn’t that these dead people are on the voter rolls, but that they are recorded as having voted. To me, that’s the big concern.

Everyone needs to keep in mind that elections in Michigan are run by the municipal election clerks. If Detroit had dead people voting, blame the Detroit election clerk…wait the voters did…she lost her re-election bid…

From the NRSC: Just How Liberal Is Debbie Stabenow?

Just How Liberal Is Debbie Stabenow?

 

Washington, D.C. — Today the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) issued the following statement after a review of Senator Debbie Stabenow’s (D-MI) voting record by the non-partisan National Journal determined that Senator Stabenow is one of the most liberal members of the Senate:

 

 “This report proves what Michiganders already know—that Debbie Stabenow is one of the most liberal Senators in the nation, and does not represent the views of the people of her home state,” said NRSC spokesman, Dan Ronayne.  “Debbie Stabenow walks in lock-step with John Kerry, Ted Kennedy, and Hillary Clinton, not with Michigan values.”

 

According to respected political publication National Journal, Debbie Stabenow’s liberal score for 2005 is 86.3, making her the ninth most liberal member of the Senate, outranking nationally known liberals such as New York Senators Hillary Clinton and Charles Schumer and on par with Massachusetts Senator John Kerry.

 

Year	Stabenow	Clinton	Schumer	Kennedy	Kerry
2005	86.3	79.8	77.8	96.7	86.7

(National Journal Website, www.nationaljournal.com, Accessed February 24, 2006)

 

And according to America’s oldest liberal organization, Americans for Democratic Action (ADA), Debbie Stabenow has higher liberal scores than Hillary Clinton and John Kerry, and is just as liberal as Ted Kennedy.

 

Year	Stabenow	Clinton	Kennedy	Kerry
2005	100	100	95	100
2004	100	95	100	25
2003	95	95	95	85
2002	95	95	100	85
2001	100	95	100	95
2000	90	--	90	90
1999	95	--	95	95
1998	100	--	95	95
1997	95	--	100	95
Average	96.67	96	96.67	95

(Congressional Quarterly Website, “Member Profiles: Debbie Stabenow, Hillary Clinton, Edward Kennedy, John Kerry,” www.cq.com, Accessed February 24, 2006)

 

PERHAPS THAT IS WHY STABENOW HAS RECEIVED SO

MUCH $UPPORT FROM DC-BASED LIBERAL INTEREST GROUPS

 

“Stabenow’s Greatest Financial Success Has Been Found Among Unions, Liberal Interests Groups And Trial Lawyers.” (Jon Pepper, “Bush Clobbers Gore In Raising Campaign Funds In Michigan,” The Detroit News, August 9, 2000)

 

Stabenow “Is Backed By A Number Of Liberal Interests.”  “Ms. Stabenow, 55, is backed by a number of liberal interests, including the pro-choice Emily’s List, and as a member of the House she received a 100 percent rating from NARAL for her pro-choice voting record.”  (Steve Miller, “Michigan Minister Eyes Senate Bid,” The Washington Times, September 5, 2005)

 

For Stabenow’s 2006 Campaign, “Controversial Feminist Money Machine” EMILY’s List “Expects To Pump Millions Of Dollars Into Michigan.”  “Emily’s List, the powerful and controversial feminist money machine, expects to pump millions of dollars into Michigan in a record-breaking effort to re-elect two of its biggest political stars – Gov. Jennifer Granholm and Sen. Debbie Stabenow.”  (Deb Price, “Women Pour Cash Into Michigan,” The Detroit News, November 21, 2005)

 

Ø      Through December 2005, Stabenow Had Received Over $250,000 In Special Interest Largesse From EMILY’s List.  According to EMILY’s List finance records on file with the Federal Election Commission, EMILY’s List directed or bundled $258,477 to Stabenow’s campaign through December 2005.  (Federal Election Commission Website, www.fec.gov, Accessed February 24, 2006)

 

In Stabenow’s 2000 Senate Campaign, EMILY’s List And Its Members Gave Her $1.4 Million, “Nearly One-Fifth Of Her Total.”  “In 2000, Emily’s List sent $1.4 million to Stabenow – nearly one-fifth of her total – and more than $600,000 to Granholm two years later.  This time, the group’s members are expected to open their purses even more generously, setting off an escalating spending war with Republicans who believe both first-termers can be knocked off.”  (Deb Price, “Women Pour Cash Into Michigan,” The Detroit News, November 21, 2005)

 

EMILY’s List Promises To Do “Whatever It Takes” To Get Debbie Stabenow Re-Elected.” “‘You are going to see every aspect of Emily’s List in Michigan – donations, campaign training, voter education,’ promises the group’s political director, Karen White.  ‘Emily’s List will do whatever it takes to see that Debbie Stabenow and Jennifer Granholm are re-elected.’”  (Deb Price, “Women Pour Cash Into Michigan,” The Detroit News, November 21, 2005)

 

Stabenow Is The Beneficiary Of Several Other Liberal Interest Groups:

 

Ø      Since 1996, Stabenow’s Campaign Committees Have Received $21,407 From The National Abortion And Reproductive Rights Action League (NARAL) Pro-Choice America PAC.  (Federal Election Commission Website, www.fec.gov, Accessed September 30, 2005)

 

Ø      Since 1996, Stabenow’s Campaign Committees Have Received $33,690 From The Ultra-Liberal Human Rights Campaign PAC.  (Federal Election Commission Website, www.fec.gov, Accessed September 30, 2005)

 

Ø      In 2000, The Radical Anti-Bush Organization MoveOn Contributed $31,649 To Stabenow’s Senate Campaign.  (Center For Responsive Politics Website, www.opensecrets.org, Accessed September 30, 2005)

Articles of Interest 2-28-06

We criss-crossed the Upper Peninsula today taking the Republican message to the streets.  One newspaper reporter asked me what the three most important issues were effecting the state of Michigan….I responded “jobs, jobs, jobs”!

State Representative Tom Casperson joined me for most of the day and we drove from Saulte St. Marie, to Newberry through Manistique, down to Escanaba, over to Iron Mountain and ended up in Houghton.  We took a short cut through Wisconsin!?!

We did a number of radio interviews, newspaper editorial board visits, and a few straight up interviews with reporters.  We stressed what a great job Representative Tom Casperson and Senator Jason Allen were doing representing the U.P. and made the case how much better things could be with a Governor Dick DeVos!

Funny thing, state Democrat Chair Mark Brewer was up here last week….he couldn’t stick to the issues and not “bend” the truth.  He blamed Dick DeVos for outsourcing jobs…not true, he accused Rep. Tom Casperson of wanting to close down the Newberry Prison…not true, and most shocking he said I was “heartless”…only a few people believe that and most of them are Democrats.  I was shocked…not really, I’m use to it J

Oh yeh, who is Debbie Stabenow???  It’s as if she doesn’t even exist?

We had a potluck lunch in Escanaba with Renee Ryan, Schoolcraft Chairman Dave Schoenow, Mayor Judi Schwalbach and a crew of over 20 good Republicans who came out to talk politics.

In Iron Mountain, 1^st  District Chair Patti Garrett organized a meet and greet at the local country club where we talked about our statewide races,  county party goals and the various opportunities that exist in the U.P.  Folks were clearly excited about our prospects and were looking forward to a great year ahead. As we were talking about our College Republicans, we found out local CR Alley Jacobs was one of attendees at CPAC.  They came from everywhere!!!

Frank and Carmen Murphy put on a wine and cheese party at their home for Houghton county activists.  A great turnout and the homemade brew was excellent!  However, it probably didn’t meet some DEQ or DNR standards for something???

Today we continue our U.P. tour with radio and newspaper interviews in  Houghton and Marquette, a trip to Northern Michigan University and meetings with local Republicans along the way.

Frank Egeler and I are off to meet County Chairman Frank Murphy for breakfast and then off we go on what I hope will be a day of good PR and party building.

PLEASE NOTE:

Citizens for Traditional Values is holding their 14^th Legislative Conference Wednesday, March 8 from 12:30 – 4:40pm.  For more information please check their website at:

http://www.ctvmichigan.org or call 517-321-1390.

CTV 14th Legislative Conference

ANNOUNCING: 14th Annual Legislative Briefing, March 8

Make plans now to join us for our 14th Annual Legislative Briefing.

Come meet state leaders . . . & more!

http://www.ctvmichigan.org/

Articles of Interest 2-27-06

It’s a chilly morning in Saulte Ste. Marie today.  It’s actually snowing up here…finally a white Christmas!

I had a chance to grab a bite to eat with Senator Bill Frist (R-Tenn) last evening on my way up here, as he came in early before his speech to the Detroit Economics Club today.  Senator Frist is serving as the Majority Leader in the United States Senate and is mentioned by many as a potential candidate for the Presidency of the United States.  This is a man who understands how to make things work, is committed to our core Republican priniciples and makes you feel good about the quality of public servants we have on our side.  I know some of our College Republicans will be getting a chance to see him later today.

The National Governors Association met this past weekend.  Talking on FOX News,  New Mexico's Democratic Governor, Bill Richardson shared how his state is prospering - they've got a budget surplus, they've lowered taxes, and as he stated "New Mexico is moving forward".  No doubt this was a common theme at the meeting....for every state except Jennifer Granholm's Michigan.   

That got me to thinking:   I'll bet our Governor feels pretty “left”-out and alone when she meets with her counterparts - 49 other Governors - all talking about how their states are moving forward.   

I am underway with my latest tour of the UP – an area that’s been hit pretty hard by the Granholm-Jobs Depression. But there is hope for a better direction  for Michigan! When Dick DeVos attends the Governor's meeting next year, he'll be able to report a better, brighter outlook for Michigan's future.

…Another Reason for Photo ID

Unbelievable...dead people voting in Michigan...it's clear we've got a problem, we have the technology, we have the resources...now we just need the will to do what is necessary to insure fair and honest elections...and we could make the process faster.

We have had various versions of what is referred to as "photo id" tossed back and forth in Michigan over the years.  For nearly a decade we have had a law in Michigan requiring voters to show a state-issued photo ID.  Problem is, that law was "set aside" by a highly suspect and partisan ruling from a Democrat attorney general back in 1997. Using drivers licenses or state issued id's as voter cards makes perfect sense, and disenfranchises no one.  It's the best and easiest way to insure "real, live people" vote. The only ones with reason to complain are the ones who have something to hide.

After the last Detroit's Mayors election, former Mayor Dennis Archer and candidate Freeman Hendrix joined the call for photo id's to help with the system. A national commission headed by former president Jimmy Carter and former secretary of state James Baker III have called for nationwide adoption of use of photo ID.

The overwhelming majority of folks have a drivers license, seniors get "free" state paid for id's, others could for about $5.00 cost get a state id....and the state could provide them at no cost to the citizens.  This would insure no one is "disenfranchised" in anyway.  There are federal funds that might even be available to help implement such a system.

As an added benefit, SOS Terri Lynn Land has suggested legislation to enact "electronic poll books" which would speed up the process at the polls.  Some variation of photo id's with electronic strips on the back could be used right now...i.e. our drivers license.

Please read this front page Detroit News article:

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060226/METRO/602260301

The Uppper Pennisula is such a treasure.  It frustrates me to realize how much better off we could be with better leadership.  As Michigan citizens are forced to leave Michigan for jobs, our children have to graduate from Michigan’s great colleges and universities and look elsewhere for work…I’m willing and ready to roll up my sleeves and help elect Republicans across this state! 

A special thank you to Senator Jason Allen and Representative Tom Casperson for all you do.  I hate to think what this region would be like without your leadership.  Hopefully we’ll all do our part to send you some help with a few new Republican State Representatives!

It's all about jobs!!!

LINCOLN DAY UPDATE

For a complete details (time, location, ticket price) please visit: http://www.migop.org/upcoming_events.asp

DATE	COUNTY	SPEAKER	VIP ATTENDEE'S
3/2/2006	Wayne-Down River	Hillsdale College Professor Dr. Mickey Craig	U.M. Regent David Brandon &  Judge Chris Murray
3/5/2006	Calhoun	Congressman Joe Schwarz	Dick DeVos
3/5/2006	Cheboygan	Keith Butler
3/10/2006	Livingston	Matthew Dowd
3/11/2006	Berrien	U.S. Senate candidates invited	Dick DeVos
3/16/2006	Kent
3/18/2006	Cass	Keith Butler
3/20/2006	Kalamazoo	Dick DeVos	Dick DeVos
3/21/2006	Monroe	AG Mike Cox
3/24/2006	Alger	Sen. Jason Allen & Rep. Tom Casperson
3/25/2006	Saginaw		Dick DeVos
3/28/2006	Isabella	Dick DeVos
3/31/2006	Genessee	AG Mike Cox
4/1/2006	St. Clair	Congresswoman Candice Miller
4/7/2006	Hillsdale	Keith Butler
4/20/2006	Mason	Keith Butler
4/21/2006	Branch
4/21/2006	Lake	Congressman Pete Hoekstra & State Rep. Geoff Hansen
4/21/2006	Gladwin	AG Mike Cox
4/27/2006	Sanilac
4/27/2006	Wayne 11
4/28/2006	Osceola
4/29/2006	Lapeer	U.S. Senate candidates invited
4/29/2006	St. Joseph
5/1/2006	Washtenaw	Dick DeVos
5/4/2006	Grand Traverse	Dick DeVos	Dick DeVos
5/5/2006	Lenawee
5/5/2006	Leelanau	Congressman Pete Hoekstra
5/11/2006	Antrim	Ketih Butler
5/12/2006	Charlevoix
5/13/2006	Van Buren	Betsy DeVos

Another Reason for Photo ID

Unbelievable...dead people voting in Michigan...it's clear we've got a problem, we have the technology, we have the resources...now we just need the will to do what is necessary to insure fair and honest elections...and we could make the process faster.

We have had various versions of what is referred to as "photo id" tossed back and forth in Michigan over the years.  For nearly a decade we have had a law in Michigan requiring voters to show a state-issued photo ID.  Problem is, that law was "set aside" by a highly suspect and partisan ruling from a Democrat attorney general back in 1997. Using drivers licenses or state issued id's as voter cards makes perfect sense, and disenfranchises no one.  It's the best and easiest way to insure "real, live people" vote. The only ones with reason to complain are the ones who have something to hide.

After the last Detroit's Mayors election, former Mayor Dennis Archer and candidate Freeman Hendrix joined the call for photo id's to help with the system. A national commission headed by former president Jimmy Carter and former secretary of state James Baker III have called for nationwide adoption of use of photo ID.

The overwhelming majority of folks have a drivers license, seniors get "free" state paid for id's, others could for about $5.00 cost get a state id....and the state could provide them at no cost to the citizens.  This would insure no one is "disenfranchised" in anyway.  There are federal funds that might even be available to help implement such a system.

As an added benefit, SOS Terri Lynn Land has suggested legislation to enact "electronic poll books" which would speed up the process at the polls.  Some variation of photo id's with electronic strips on the back could be used right now...i.e. our drivers license.

Please read this front page Detroit News article:

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060226/METRO/602260301

In Michigan, even dead vote

From Holland to Detroit, votes were cast by 132 dead people; Detroit's voting records are riddled with inaccuracies, casting doubt on elections' integrity

Lisa M. Collins / The Detroit News

February 26, 2006

DETROIT -- Fred Douglas Henley would have been 75 years old when the city of Detroit says he walked into a polling precinct and voted on Nov. 8. Henley, however, died the day before the election, and his voting address long has been vacant and boarded up.

Articles of Interest 2-26-06

I head out today for our U.P. tour just when this region of our state has been hit worse by the job loss situation under Governor Jennifer Granholm’s lack luster leadership.  The Governor’s inability or unwillingness to make the tough decision, fight for union and non-union jobs, direct her DEQ to allow job providers to build and expand in Michigan directly impacts the Upper Pennisula.

The Governor’s veto of the snowmobile trail bill last year directly hurt the citizens of the Upper Peninsula who depend on this $2 billion dollar a year industry.  Thanks to Senator Jason Allen and Representative Tom Casperson’s unwaivering commitment to our outdoorsmen, a compromise proposal was finally put together.           

Remember, Governor Granholm in her 2002 campaign promised to combine the DNR and DEQ and streamline  efforts.  Niether has happened.  Another promise made and never kept.

Whatever happen to the good ‘ol Engler days…. “promises made, promises kept”?

Congratulations to the Republican Michigander!!!

One of Michigan's best bloggers just completed a huge study of Michigan counties. His project has a political analysis of each and every county that you may find useful as we turn Michigan into a "red state".

Congratulations on a job well done and thanks for all you do for the cause!

http://republicanmichigander.blogspot.com/

I caught Dick DeVos’s new TV commercial twice in the Lansing market yesterday and a friend of mine who works at Chrysler saw it on Detroit TV….he said he thought it was “awesome”!

Reagan: A President's Day Reflection

The Basis of Reagan's Greatness

Memo To: American Historians
From: Jude Wanniski
Re: The Best of the Century

With the passing of Ronald Reagan, I was not surprised to learn that many of you have already decided that he really wasn’t a “great” President. A pleasant man he was, and popular because he was pleasant, but not to be ranked with the greats. You lived through the Reagan years, 1981-89, and probably concluded at the time that he was not up to the job. It will take historians another generation or two to get his presidency in objective perspective, I think, but when they do they should conclude that he was indeed a great president, probably the greatest of the 20th century.

http://www.wanniski.com/PrintPage.asp?TextID=4898

Great Article: Daughter of Islam

Daughter of Islam
An eloquent (and elegant) foe of Muslim fundamentalists.

BY NANCY DE WOLF SMITH
Saturday, February 25, 2006 12:01 a.m. EST

WASHINGTON--Yenny Wahid has a smile that could melt a Hershey bar at 100 yards. Her sunny disposition is all the more remarkable because Ms. Wahid is on what may be the world's most difficult mission right now: She's a prominent Muslim (and a woman at that) who speaks out against terror and the hijacking of her religion by ideologues who twist it to their own political ends.

http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110008016

Congratulations to Republican Michigander

One of Michigan's best bloggers just completed a huge study of Michigan counties. His project has a political analysis of each and every county that you may find useful as we turn Michigan into a "red state".

Congratulations on a job well done and thanks for all you do for the cause!

http://republicanmichigander.blogspot.com/

Illegal Immigrant Debate

Tenn. halts immigrant driving certificates

NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee stopped issuing driving certificates to illegal immigrants Friday after investigations found they were being shuttled from other states, using fake residency papers and sometimes bribing state workers to get the cards.

Safety Commissioner Jerry Nicely said the program was being suspended while authorities reassess it "to ensure we're doing what's best for Tennesseans."

"This program was a good idea in theory, but there have been issues with implementation," Nicely said.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-02-24-immigrant-drivers_x.htm?csp=34

Stabenow rated one of the most Liberal Senators

National Journal Vote Ratings: Senate Dems Up In '06

All out of 100;listed from most liberal to most conservative.