Yes, it’s the arfs of August, hot and sticky and the world is asleep. The Michigan primary election is history and November seems a long way away. Capitol workmen are frenetically shoring up the building’s basement while the legislature is away for the summer. No important politics, right? Well, maybe a little: BOTH major party […]
Stunning Result in Michigan’s 1st CD GOP Primary Dissected
How did Michigan’s proud 1st Congressional District — home of defiant Yoopers and self-reliant Trolls — produce two major party nominees this year who have only tenuous connections to their respective peninsulas? How did Lt. Gen. (ret.) Jack Bergman of Watersmeet, a complete political unknown at the start of the year who had spent four […]
Recall, Expulsion and Impeachment: Michigan’s Thermonuclear Options
Incumbent officeholders at the state and federal levels are rarely defeated in Michigan, but there are other ways to get rid of politicians whom the citizenry decides for various reasons they don’t like. It’s important to note, though, that they hardly ever happen. At the local level, incumbents are often defeated. In this year’s Aug. […]
Who Will Win Michigan’s Key Aug. 2 State House Primary Races?
With less than a week to go before the Aug. 2 primary, what’s likely to happen in key races for the state House of Representatives, Democrat and Republican, in districts that are open (because of term limits) or where incumbents might be imperiled? Here’s a breakdown: 2nd State House: Former Rep. Bettie Cook Scott in […]
Legislature’s Detroit Schools Bailout Could Be Destroyed by Misguided Lawsuit
A little-noticed lawsuit has been filed in the state Court of Claims challenging the constitutionality of the $617 million financial rescue and restructuring plan for Detroit’s beleaguered public schools, and the plaintiffs appear to have a strong chance to be successful. Amazingly, those plaintiffs include the elected Detroit school board members, the Keep the Vote/No […]
C-Sections in the Jungle? McCain Knocks off Bush in Michigan in 2000? Joe Schwarz Tells All!
Few Michigan politicians in the past half-century have had a more varied, productive life than former state Senator/Congressman John J.H. “Joe” Schwarz (R-Battle Creek), an otolaryngologist whose career in public service was almost an anti-climax to all that had gone before. Schwarz submitted himself to an hour and half-long videotaped interview on July 8 for […]
How & When Did Michigan’s Top Lobbyists Get Started?
Thomas J. Cleary was 32 years old, married with six kids to feed, and out of a job through no fault of his own. Prowling the empty halls of the Hollister Bldg. on Allegan Street in downtown Lansing, he wondered, “How did I wind up here? Can I turn things around?” He did, and here’s […]
Odds on 2016’s Big Political Decisions in Michigan
A lot of races, many candidates, a few polls, tons of speculation — but what are the ODDS on what will happen in coming days, weeks and months in Campaign 2016, particularly as it relates to Michigan? Here is The Ballenger Report’s morning line: Odds Hillary Clinton will win Democratic Presidential Nomination: 1-10 Odds on […]
Will 2016 Be a Big Democratic Year in Michigan?
Some political observers think so. Republicans are in charge of everything in state government, they say, and if anything’s wrong and if you think the “country” is on the “wrong track,” well, the GOP must be to blame, right? So, take it out on Republicans at the polls. Is that really how voters are thinking? […]
Another Bill Ballenger? Yes! In Fact, Four …
… starting in 1833, when the first William Sylvester Ballenger was born in Wayne County, Indiana, just west of Richmond. His son, my grandfather, was born Dec. 5, 1866, the year after the Civil War ended. This WSB arrived in Flint, Michigan, in 1888 as a stenographer/bookkeeper for the old Flint Wagon Works (a buggy […]