Time for MIGOP to step up

The Michigan Republican Party is having a crisis of confidence and needs somebody to step up and take the reins.

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.”

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.

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.

Grantland: Day One

Sports and pop culture.

If I had to make a rough estimate, I would say that about 98 percent of all aspiring writers consider themselves experts in those two subjects. Hell, both those topics are in the flag of this blog.

Every writer tries to blend both of them and Bill Simmons has been the best at that, being the biggest attraction at ESPN.com for the past decade.

Wednesday, Simmons began his quest for a utopian website blending sports and pop culture with Grantland.com.

Weiner must resign...

If Jim Tressell knew when to go, then so should Anthony Weiner.

After months and months of dealing with his lies, Ohio State finally got fed up when the news of an incredibly incriminating Sports Illustrated piece was about to be released and forced Tressell to resign last Monday.

Not only Tressell fell (or was forced) onto his sword, but news broke last night that starting QB Terrelle Pryor, one of five Ohio State starters facing a five-game suspension for the 2011 season for their role in the “Tat Five” scandal, announced he was leaving Ohio State immediately.

On the other hand, we have Congressman Anthony Weiner. The seven-term Democrat from New York has admitted that he has been engaging in various degrees of sexting and phone sex relationships with random women he met on the internet.

Snyder delivering early on promise of bipartisanship

(NOTE: This article originally appeared in the November 15, 2010 edition of Central Mochigan Life.)

Gov.-elect Rick Snyder talked the talk, now he is starting to walk the walk.

During his campaign for governor, Snyder, a political novice, promised to bring bipartisanship back to Lansing to get Michigan back on track.

So far, he is off to a great start.

Mark Kirk deserves to beat seated, immediately

Sen. Roland Burris, D-Ill., is a fraud.

There is no two ways about it, the man should no longer be serving in the United States Senate.

In early 2009, Burris was appointed to serve in the interim basis before a special election could be held to fill the remainder of the Senate term that became vacant when Barack Obama resigned after being elected president.

The special election was held last on November 2 along side the regularly scheduled election for a full 6-year Senate term.

Republicans should take advantage of opportunity; will not get another soon

(NOTE: This article originally appeared in the November 5, 2010 edition of Central Michigan Life.)

A second chance.

That was the common theme among victorious Republicans on Tuesday night.

It first came from Senator-elect Marco Rubio, R-Fla., who said in his victory speech the Republican wave across the country that catapulted the GOP into the majority in the U.S. House, cut the Democratic majority in the U.S. Senate in half, and saw numerous gubernatorial and statewide races go for the GOP was “not an embrace of the Republican Party but a second chance.”

It is a chance that must not be squandered because, as demonstrated by Tuesday night, the American voting public can be very unforgiving at the polls.

Students saw what happens when smart meets crazy during Westboro Baptist Church event

(NOTE: This article originally appeared in the November 3, 2010 edition of Central Michigan Life.)

There is an old expression that goes something like, “Never argue with an idiot because they’ll take you down to their level and then beat you with their experience.”

Shirley Phelps-Roper is many things. She is a hateful, spiteful, mean-spirited angry bigot whose words and actions are a disgrace to anybody who calls themselves a Christian or professes a love for Jesus Christ.

But she is no idiot.

Voters should consider the ballot before heading to the polls

(NOTE: This article originally appeared in the October 29, 2010 edition of Central Michigan Life.)

The question of whether it is a responsibility to vote is the basis of any basic political science class.

The debate hinges on whether it is better for the electorate of this country to be comprised of the greatest numbers possible or a smaller, yet more informed public?

To me, this has never been a question.

I grew up in a household where you voted. There was no question, no apathy, you just voted.

Michigan Promise scholarship should not be guaranteed by candidates who can not deliver

(NOTE: This article originally appeared in the October 8, 2010 edition of Central Michigan Life.)

Politicians really must think college students are dumb.

That is my only answer as to why Michigan’s politicians keep telling college students that they will bring back the Michigan Promise scholarship.

The Michigan Promise is gone and much like ‘N Sync, never coming back.

Gary Bettman is a damn nitwit

Picking on Gary Bettman is like picking the short fat kid in elementary.

Its easy. Everybody does it and there's plenty of material to use.

In this instance, its his absolute retardedness in scheduling the season opener of the Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks.

Don't get me wrong, as Red Wings fan, I despise the Blackhawks immensely.

But the defending Stanley Cup Champions who have great young stars such as Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews deserve more respect.