To think that statement would be made just a little over seven months ago when the state GOP had a monumental election day last November, when it regained the governor’s mansion, the state House, state Supreme Court, a majority in the party’s congressional delegation and retained the state Senate and the secretary of state and attorney general offices would have been preposterous.
But here we are in June and as Yogi Berra once said, “It’s Déjà vu all over again.”
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| Sen. Stabenow, with a sign describing her tenure in the Senate |
Michigan Republicans are faced with an all too familiar problem, they just cannot find a viable candidate for the United States Senate to run against two-term incumbent Sen. Debbie Stabenow.
If this were Sen. Carl Levin, I could understand. Levin has been elected six times to the Senate by the people of Michigan, is the current chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee and is the longest serving Senator in Michigan history. The Levin family is an institution in Michigan politics.
But c’mon, we’re talking about Debbie Stabenow.
Grandma Debbie.
Stabenow, who upset former Sen. Spencer Abraham in 2000 is about to complete her second term in the Senate and has accomplished nothing of note, besides being appointed chairwoman of the Agriculture Committee.
No major legislation authored or co-sponsored.
No watershed moments.
The biggest news she’s made in her time in the Senate is when her then-husband was caught in a prostitution sting in 2008.
Yet when trying to defeat her, Grandma Debbie turns the Michigan GOP into RepubliCANTS.
One by one, top potential recruits have bowed out of a race that could easily be won and help propel that GOP back into the majority in the United States Senate.
First it was former Attorney General Mike Cox, then former Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land. Then, the real blue chip recruit, former Gov. John Engler decided this race wasn’t for him. He was followed by the runner up in last year’s gubernatorial primary, former U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra of Holland in passing.
That’s coupled with U.S. Rep. Thad McCotter of Livonia, a relatively unknown on the national stage, pondering a possible presidential bid over an easily attainable Senate seat.
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| Looks an awful lot like Mr. Burns, doesn't he? |
Yup, President McCotter. That’ll be the day.
With all the top line candidates and now even the back benchers are passing, such as former Michigan GOP Chairman Saul Anuzis today’s news that radio personality Frank Beckmann has taken a pass.
Yeah, the voice of Michigan football, whose political expertise extends to hosting a call-in talk show on WJR was considered the best bet at this point for the party.
Is Big Al Muskavito not available? Alan Almond didn’t return any calls?
Somebody in this party needs to step up and take the bull by the horns so we don’t get another Jack Hoogendyk or Mike Bouchard as a Senatorial nominee.
Lt. Gov. Brian Calley, U.S. Reps. Candice Miller or Mike Rogers, former state Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop, I’m talking to you. Heck, I’d even take Jim Leyland or Brandon Inge at this point.
I’d hope for Gov. Rick Snyder, but he seems to be the only politician who doesn’t care about his electoral future, which obviously makes him the perfect candidate.
It is time for somebody to step or face conceding this state to the President Obama in 2012 and ultimately cost the national party the Senate majority and the White House.
