Michigan Populist Blog

There was a time that newspapers were purposefully partisan.  People chose their newspaper based on their political leanings, like one might chosoe Fox News or MSNBC for their T.V. news today.  I can only assume that newspaper endorsements that occur today are left over from that bygone era.  These days it seems like bad form to claim to be objective and then endorse any politician.  I guess I’m not alone in that opinion.  Yesterday, MLive endorsed our controversial Attorney General Bill Schuette.  That was enough to send their readers into a conniption fit.  Here are a few of my favorite comments against MLive’s endorsement.

Tyler wrote “Media shouldn’t be endorsing anyone.  Any respectable mass media outlet is supposed to be politically impartial.”

Dan wrote “Mlive’s credibility is in question with this revelation.” 

Meeko wrote “Yet again what a shame.  Mlive . . . should stick to bringing us the news. Just pathetic.”

Donna wrote “‘Over the next four years, we hope to see Schuette’s priorities more in line with those of Michigan’s general population. We would advise him to follow his own words and receive instead of broadcast.’ The editorial board can write that claptrap and still endorse Schuette?”

Matt wrote “Why doesn’t MLive just come out as being partisan? Most people know this is the case.”

Jake says “This is why I only read the comments (not your articles) for entertainment.”

Matt says “Dear MLive: The moment you post YOUR editorial board’s endorsements as an article, it becomes YOUR endorsement, regardless of how you try to spin it. Also, just because something is long-standing or traditional doesn’t make it right. Every time you post an editorial board endorsement, you get major backlash from almost every commenter. Perhaps you should take a moment and actually listen and pay attention to your readers–they don’t want you publishing the editorial boards endorsements, so perhaps it’s time to stop this practice.”

MLive responded to several of these complaints stating “Editorial board opinion pieces and endorsements are a long-standing component of journalism.”  There are a lot of longstanding traditions that should be killed off.  Newspaper endorsements should be at the top of the list.

Note: Several other papers across the state released their endorsements and they were met with similar ire from their readers.  Kudos to smaller papers like the Traverse City Record Eagle who did not endorse either candidate, and the Cadillac News who does not endorse any candidates.

Moolenaar speaking with a Chamber of Commerce supporter.

Republican John Moolenaar is acting like a congressman even before he finds out if will become one.  That’s right, he is already putting special interest before his constituents.  Moolenaar had agreed to debate Dr. Jeff Holmes at Alma College on Monday, October 20th.  Both men are running for the right to represent the 4th District in the U.S. House of Representatives.  The Holmes campaign expected hundreds of people to show up to the event.  A week before the debate was to occur, Moolenaar got an offer he couldn’t refuse.  He was invited to meet with a handful of Chamber of Commerce members in Cadillac.  So Moolenar contacted Alma college last Tuesday to cancel.  Holmes was left to attend the debate alone.

Dr. Holmes’ supporters greet John Moolenaar.

Supporters of the Holmes campaign greeted Moolenaar in Cadillac holding sings reading “We Demand a Debate” and “Public Discourse=Democracy.”  One person asked Moolenaar why he was afraid to debate.  Moolenaar only said he wasn’t afraid and walked into the meeting where a half dozen people awaited his arrival.  If Moolenaar is not afraid to debate, then he must be afraid to tell the Chamber of Commerce no.  For that reason, and many more, he will probably fit right into a dysfunctional Congress should he win the seat on November 4th.  The constituents on the other hand, will be the ones who will lose.

Public school teachers have taken a shellacking these past four years.  This fall a handful of educators are looking to turn the tables and unseat some of Michigan’s worst legislators. At least eleven teachers, or retired teachers, ran in the primary, and at least nine won the right to be on the general election ballot in November.  Although all six are running as Democrats, they have some pretty diverse views.  One thing they have in common though is that they will all be champions for public school children at the Capitol.  If you consider yourself a champion for public schools yourself, read up on these candidates and choose one to help by donating your time or money. Just click on the candidate’s name for more information.

Lynn Mason is running for the State House of Representatives in 86th District.  Lynn is running against Lisa Pothumus Lyons, who we crowed as Michigan’s least ethical legislator.  Lyons chairs the House Education Committee despite calling teachers “Hogs” who need to be “slaughtered.”  Even one of her former teachers called her out for her poor behavior.  Mason brings experience as a teacher, an apple farmer, and a county commissioner.  Surprisingly, she has out-raised the well connected career politician Posthumus Lyons.  Mason and her supporters have also knocked on over 20,000 doors.  This is the most important race in the House in 2014.

Dawn Levy is running for State Senate in the 24th District.  The seat is held by Senator Rick Jones.  Thankfully, Jones is being shown the door due to term limits.  His most memorable moment came when he compared Lansing public relations executive Kelly Rossman-McKinney to a hooker for working with people in both parties.  Levy is not likely to launch such attacks as she has spent her life helping people rather than tearing them down.  She has spent more than two decades as a teacher and as a volunteer paramedic.  She also is a strong proponent of the second amendment and was the former President of the Michigan United Conservation Clubs.  That should play well in the 24th Senate district that is home to a lot of sportsmen and sportswomen.  Levy would bring a strong female voice to a Senate that has far too few women and is losing Senate Majority Leader Gretchen Whitmer to term limits.

Mark Balcolm is running for the State House of Representatives in the 100th district.  He
is trying to upset the two term incumbent Jon Bumstead.  Bumstead called cutting funding to schools while cutting taxes on businesses, some of which were already making record profits, “hard choices.”  Balcom is probably the most fiscally conservative of the group of educators running in 2014.  In fact, it wasn’t long ago that Balcom was a Republican.  He is also a pro-life candidate which should help him out in the rural 100th district.  Balcolm currently teaches instrumental music in Hesperia.  If Balcom were elected, he would like to get people in Lansing working together again to solve our issues with funding for schools and roads.  He would also would like to work with businesses to grow the economy.

Ron Mindykowski is running for the State Senate in the 31st District.  The Bay City native, and 29 year teaching veteran, hopes to defeat Senator Mike Green.  Green authored a bill that would expanded concealed carrying into schools.  Governor Snyder vetoed it because it would not allow schools to opt out if they felt it was in the best interest of their students’ safety.  If voters elect Mindykowski, he plans to restore funding to public schools and cut taxes on middle class families.  He would restore common sense to the 31st District.

Robert Kennedy is running for the State House in the 106th District.  Kennedy is the dean of the group with his 38 years of classroom experience.  He also served in the Michigan Army National Guard.  Kennedy is running against incumbent Peter Pettalia.  Pettalia made news when he and two other GOP Representatives had their picture taken with a women’s fashion magazine and Pettalia remarked “don’t say we don’t understand women.” Kennedy is pretty much the complete opposite of Pettalia.  If elected, Kennedy plans to fight for marriage equality and the protection of reproductive rights for women.  Where Pettalia buckled and voted to cut school funding in his first term in the legislature, Kennedy would fight to restore school funding in his first term if elected.

Bette Pierman is running for the State Senate in the 21st District.  Bette is a retired teacher and has also volunteered for several worthy causes.  Pierman is running against John Proos who has been serving in either the State Senate or the House since 2005.  Proos, a political science major, has spent most of his adult life in politics.  He said in an interview that he has no problem taking money out of the school aid fund to balance the general fund budget.  Pierman would better represent the people of the 21st District because she is more like them.  She told M-Live “I know what it is like to struggle to make ends meet. I know what it is like to be unemployed. I know first-hand what it is like to experience age discrimination while searching for a job.”  She also knows how important education is and has made it clear that she would put students first, unlike John Proos.

Tom Stobie is running for the State House in the 101st District.  Stobie has a great deal of experience in education having served as a teacher, coach, principal, and superintendent.  He also served in the Navy during the Vietnam War.  If elected, Stobie plans to be an advocate for kids, veterans, small businesses, and he plans to fight to protect our environment.  Stobie is running against incumbent business owner Ray Franz.  Franz called nuclear energy “environmentally sound” and authored a law to ban offshore wind turbines.  It’s clear if you care about our future, namely our children and our environment, Stobie is the best choice for the 101st district.

Fred Sprague is running for the State Senate in the 33rd District.  Sprague served as a science teacher, a coach, and as a guidance counselor before he retired.  Sprague plans to focus his energy on education, economic development, and protecting the environment.  Sprague is running against incumbent Judy Emmons.  Believe it or not, Emmons was a school board president yet voted for the emergency manager bill and for the pension tax.  She was the target of an unsuccessful recall in 2011.  Hopefully residents of the 33rd District will penalize Emmons for turning her back on public school children and send Sprague to Lansing instead.

Cyndi Peltonen is running for State Senate in the 13th District.  Peltonen spent over a decade in the classroom.  Peltonon lists the environment, education, infrastructure, jobs, LGBTQ equality, and women’s issues as her top priorities if elected.  She is running against Marty Knollenberg who is currently serving in the State House.  Knollenberg was the original sponsor of Michigan’s right-to-work (for less) law.  He also authored a law that prevents teachers from getting raises based on experience (steps) when they are working without a contract.  This law creates a situation where the employer actually benefits from not settling a contract.  Knollenberg is one of the most anti-worker legislators in Lansing.  He doesn’t deserve a promotion to the State Senate.  Voters in the 13th District would be wise to choose Peltonen instead.

Note: This post is being updated as I hear of additional candidates.  Robert Kennedy, Bette Pierman, Tom Stobie, Fred Sprague, and Cyndi Peltonen did not appear in the original posting.

It appears that beating Democrats to a pulp in the State House over the past four years just isn’t enough for some conservatives.  Republican/Tea Party candidate Todd Courser, 82nd District, went on Off the Record last week and criticized Republican Speaker of the House Jase Bolger.  He didn’t criticize him for his central role in the ethical scandal that has become known as “Bolgergate.”  Instead, he criticized him for working too much (read at all) with Democrats!

English: Seal of the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Courser told the panel he believes Republicans should follow the so called “Hastert Rule.”  The Hastert Rule requires that a majority of the majority be in favor of a bill before it can even be brought up for a vote!  This unwritten rule was put into effect in 2004 by U.S. Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert.  The rule further limits the power of the minority party.  In fact, one could say it almost eliminates the need for the minority party.  The implementation of the Hastert Rule in congress has coincided with both hyperpartisianship and near paralyzation.  It should also be noted that the approval rating for Congress is only at 9%, the lowest on record.

So far Courser has only won the Republican Primary.  Although, he seems pretty confident about winning the November general election noting “it kind of changes the State House when there is the three of us coming in,” referring to fellow Tea Party primary winners Lee Chatfield and Aaron Miller.  It’s hard to believe that a moderate state like Michigan could be pulled even further to the right.  However, if Democrats don’t get control of something in December, these three Tea Partiers will make sure that Michigan is run more like Congress.  That will only add inefficiency to insult.