First of all, who are we talking about, anyway? Is it Admiral Michael S. Rogers, the holdover director of the National Security Agency since 2014? Is it U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers of Alabama? Or is it Mike Rogers, the former seven-term Congressman from Michigan’s 8th CD. In this case, it’s the last-named Mike Rogers, a […]
Kivela Death Brings Back Memories of Dennis Dutko
The suicide death of state Rep. John Kivela (D-Marquette) on Tuesday (May 9) is eerily similar to the sad story of state Rep. Dennis Dutko (D-Warren), who took his own life 27 years ago. After years as a Republican volunteer, Dutko switched parties and was first elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in 1974, […]
This is the Week That Already Is
A lot going on in the last 48 hours, some of it good (depending on your point of view), some of it very bad — and nothing having anything to do with activity in the legislative or executive branches of state government: — Apparently no good deed goes unpunished, at least any you received in […]
MSU’s IPPSR Forum Not Friendly to Trump
A May 1 symposium sponsored by Michigan State University’s Institute for Public Policy & Social Research (IPPSR) presented a somewhat moderate take on the current state of U.S. politics, even if it was decidedly cool towards President Donald Trump. The Kellogg Center discussion was entitled “The First 100 Days of the Administration.” Featured were neoconservative […]
2017 Kentucky Derby: Who Will Win the 143rd Run for the Roses?
(Posted April 27) This year’s Kentucky Derby — the 143rd — will once again be telecast and simulcast in Michigan, this year on Saturday, May 6. Post time will be about 6:34 p.m. For the 22nd straight year, legally you can bet on it at either of Michigan’s two remaining pari-mutuel tracks, Hazel Park Raceway […]
Recall Flint Mayor Weaver? Hard To Do!
A Genesee Co. judge has ruled that a recall effort against embattled Flint Mayor Karen Weaver can go forward, but petitioners will find they have a much harder task ahead of them than they did in efforts to recall former mayors Woodrow Stanley and Don Williamson. The reason: The state Legislature and Gov. Rick Snyder […]
Puzzling Flint Water ‘Deal’ Faces One More Obstacle
The President proposes, the Congress disposes. The Governor proposes, the Legislature disposes. And, in the case of the never-ending ‘Flint Water Crisis,’ the mayor proposes, the city council disposes. But the news media doesn’t seem to realize that. In their coverage of Flint Mayor Karen Weaver’s stunning announcement April 18 that her administration has reversed […]
Michigan’s Top Three Elected Officials are Nation’s Most Unpopular
Michigan’s Governor and two U.S. Senators are collectively the most unpopular trio in the country, according to a new survey conducted by Morning Consult, a weekly online polling firm. Gov. Rick Snyder finished 46th of 49 governors in popularity, with one governor (in North Carolina) not evaluated because he took the job just two months […]
Carl Levin to Harry Reid: “I Told You So!”
Everything former U.S. Senator Carl Levin (D-MI) warned against in 2013 has come to pass. Majority Republicans in the U.S. Senate have indeed changed their chamber’s rules to break a Democratic filibuster against the nomination by President Donald Trump of Neil Gorsuch. Gorsuch was confirmed by a simple majority, 54-45 with one absent Senator, this […]
Michigan Scores High in “Pivot Counties” That Voted for Both Obama and Trump
Michigan was among the top states in the nation in our number of “pivot” counties — those that voted for Barack Obama twice (in 2008 and 2012) and Donald Trump once, last fall. Twelve counties in Michigan (out of a total of 83) were “pivot” counties, tying us with Illinois for fifth-most in the country. […]