Question 1): How long can the war in Iran continue before it negatively impacts Republicans politically?
Answer 1): It’s already affecting Republicans, and in a very negative way. It’s highly unusual for the U.S. citizenry to oppose American entry into armed conflict at the outset –any opposition usually comes later. Not so this time. A hefty majority of Americans already oppose the USA’s attacks on Iran. With all the negative baggage the Michigan GOP (and nationally) is already carrying into the Nov. 3 general election on a whole host of issues, it can’t afford any extra burden such as another Mideast war, the ripple effect of which is likely to last a long time.
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Question 2): How far will Republican governor candidate Perry JOHNSON’s income tax elimination idea take him?
Answer 2): If it takes him to the Republican gubernatorial nomination, it would show how unmoored the GOP electorate is from common sense and mainstream public opinion. Doesn’t Johnson want to get rid of property taxes, too? Pretty soon there would be zero taxes on everything unless Johnson wants to raise the state sales tax to at least 12%, which will never happen. Maybe we should just forget about funding government and schools and infrastructure altogether. There’s a word for this — anarchy.
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Question 3): How much general electorate support does the Americans for Citizens Voting (ACV) petition drive lose when voters realize it would require them to prove their own citizenship to a local clerk with a Real ID, passport, and birth certificate/marriage certificate?
Answer 3): Quite a bit, but whether it will be enough to defeat the proposal is a good question. It will require massive education by the news media and some big money from key interest groups. Even then, polls show that a broad-section of voters strongly favor Voter ID and haven’t been interested in the fine print. If it should get on the ballot and be approved by the voters, this proposal would disenfranchise Republicans and Democrats alike, creating a potential quagmire with people trying to find old documents. For those who couldn’t, they may not be able to afford the new replacement document. Lawsuits would be filed, and it might not survive a court test.
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Question 4): Some gun-rights Republicans in the Michigan House of Representatives would like to put up on the voting board a bill that would allow gun owners to carry concealed firearms without a permit, a concept known among gun owners as “Constitutional Carry.” Would this be a good idea for the Michigan GOP?
Answer 4): House Republicans might decide to do it, but public opinion is not on their side and it would backfire badly. In the wake of the increase in mass shootings, particularly in schools, and the strong counter-effort to reform gun laws and provide more protection for the public and our children, this would be perceived as a step in the wrong direction. As noted above, Republicans are already carrying so much negative baggage into this year’s general election that they can’t afford any more.
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The war on Iran is a disaster for the GOP in mid-term elections:
(A) gasoline prices have increased by up to a dollar per gallon;
(B) both Israeli and U.S. declassified intelligence reports confirm the Iran fundamentalist Shia regime is nowhere close to collapsing – nor are there any confirmable reports of all Iranian enriched uranium stockpiles and facilities being eliminated;
(C) U.S. servicemen are dying in military operations;
(D) several hundred thousand Arab-Americans in Metro Detroit are having relatives bombed in Lebanon and elsewhere in the Middle East and firmly oppose U.S.-Israeli joint military and air operations;
(E) a Jewish-Israeli citizen interviewed correctly opined that the Iran war has two goals – delaying PM Netanyahu’s corruption trial and helping his unpopular and faltering extremist coalition in the polls ahead of October of 2026 Knesset elections.
Perry Johnson – the quality control guru – is yet another candidate making feeble tax reform arguments to be the next Dick Headlee. This man in 2022 had no quality control over invalid petition signatures which disqualified him by the Michigan Board of Canvassers.
Another gubernatorial candidate, Karla Wagner, in her latest Facebook posts, admits she has no idea whether she has enough signatures to file with then state to put her quixotic property tax reform measure on the ballot.
The only way that the GOP is going to have any chance at success in the mid-terms is to nominate John James as its candidate for governor, Kevin Kijewski for AG, and Monica Yatooma for Michigan of State. This will draw in significant percentages of moderate and conservative black, Polish-American and Arab-American voters. Former Michigan Assistant Secretary of State Stanley Grot, a former Polish immigrant, gave an impassioned speech to a GOP gathering in Macomb County last week endorsing Kijewski while AG opponent Doug Lloyd was in the audience.
Michigan Advance did a recent story on GOP SOS candidate Amanda Love recently in which was unflattering – and Tony Forlini is NOT a favorite of MAGA delegates. Yatooma is likely over the best candidate the GOP can field in November in the SOS race.
Delegates need to focus on who will have the best chance of beating the Democratic nominee – instead of voting for the candidate with the best positions. I am no fan of many of Rep. John James’ policies – but realize that he has the best shot at becoming the victor over any Dem nominee. The prospective candidacies of James and Duggan are likely to draw large amounts of Wayne County votes from Jocelyn Benson this fall.
Instead of supporting reasonably popular tax reform and ballot initiatives likely to pass – as the Dems did previously – GOP activists have put forth extremist policies that are likely to fail in November.
Sean Hannity aired his interview with Steve Witkoff on Wednesday, March 11th. The United States Special Envoy to the Middle East stated that the Iranian negotiators told the American team just before Epic Fury began that they possessed 460 kg of 60% enriched uranium, which had survived Midnight Hammer.
460 kg of 60% enriched uranium would produce 306 kg of 90% enriched (weapons grade) uranium after a week or so of centrifuging. Another week and the hexafluoride would be reduced to metal. 306 kg of 90% enriched uranium metal would be sufficient to produce 12 “Little Boy” scale bombs, each with 15 Kt yields, assuming a reasonable fission pit design. We know the Iranians developed several reasonably good pit designs at Parchin, circa 2005, before they cleared the site.
The Trump Administration will be asking the public just how comfortable we are with “Death To America” Iran having 12 compact, Hiroshima power level, nuclear weapons. It is doubtful that the Administration will end hostilities until the Iranians agree to surrender their enriched uranium.
That surrender will change the public perception of the war and knock the political wind out of the lying media, Democrat demagogues, globalist Libertarians, and vacillating RINO’s.
“As a veteran who deployed to combat 11 times and as a Gold Star husband who lost my beloved wife Shannon in a war manufactured by Israel, I cannot support sending the next generation off to fight and die in a war that serves no benefit to the American people nor justifies the cost to American lives.” – Joseph Kent, Director, National Counterterrorism Center, in letter of resignation to President Trump
Kent was a good Oregon Democrat until a few years ago, when he decided to run for Congress as a Republican. Perhaps his conversion has unwound.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed Special Envoy Witkoff’s statement about the Iranian 60% enriched uranium in two separate interviews, first with MS NOW on the 14th and then with CBS on the 15th.
Mr. Kent, like many Democrats in the IC, lies when the truth would serve him better.
Only 43% of Americans surveyed in a recent Politico poll support the attacks on Iran and only 24% of Democrats.
Republicans as a whole agree with Trump’s war against Iran with a 74% approval rating – which rises to 81% among self-described MAGA devotees.
Contrast that with the 93% approval rating of Jewish Israelis of the military actions taken against Iran.
By virtually all accounts the Iran War is in its final days:
(A) no regime change occurred in Iran – just as declassified CIA pre-war reports predicted;
(B) despite boasts of Israeli and U.S. officials of huge success in destroying Iran’s nuclear enrichment capabilities – very little is confirmed at this point;
(C) the Iran war is costing Israel $3 billion per week to prosecute – and Israel is now just commencing a ground invasion of south Lebanon which shall incur billions more.
US Rep. Lauren Boebert, Colorado Republican, rejected further war funding – saying many of her constituents were suffering and money needs to be spent at home helping Americans.
For Likud PM Bibi Netanyahu, it means going back to defending his corruption charges in trial proceedings…………………………………………….
“By virtually all accounts the Iran War is in its final days:”
The Iranians have a vote in this and they don’t seem to share your opinion.
4 Questions:I agree with Bill Ballenger and Leanne on the answers to all four questions
Interesting article, Bill.
QUESTION 1: I don’t know how long it can last, but the outcome is more important. Folks seem to think that Trump is an isolationist, or at least non-interventionist. Using the foreign policy types cited by Walter Russell Mead, they think he is Jeffersonian in his policy outlook when he is really Jacksonian. I suggest folks read Sohrab Ahmari’s column in the January 21, 2026 edition of UnHerd. That, I believe, gives one an accurate description of Trump’s attitudes in foreign policy. A successful outcome that eliminates an Iranian nuclear threat forever (or a reasonable facsimile of forever), wipes out their support for the likes of Hamas, Hezbollah and the Huthi pirates helps ensure American safety. It should bring peace (or at least the absence of out and out war) and expand opportunities for American business. Jacksonian and Hamiltonian, if you will. As for the opposition, some of that is reflexive. What he needs is a successful outcome that keeps Iran from cropping up regularly to be a collective pain in the world’s butt. And to make sure they don’t try and put a hit on him as they planned in 2024.
QUESTION 2: I wholeheartedly agree. He’s appealing to the tax cut fanatics and when his idea is held up to scrutiny, it will sink faster than RMS Titanic or the IJN Taiho.
QUESTION 3: I am not sure why the birth certificate thing is a serious problem. I had to get one and send a copy to the State before they would process my pension. A pension tax, if you will. But it did give me the opportunity to take the QLine to the Wayne County Clerk’s office (inbound was on time – outbound not so much). I may have even needed a copy when Congressman Esch nominated me to West Point. My brother – who was in Texas in the 1980s – needed one for some sort of job or college enrollment (that was 40 years ago and my memory is not THAT good). His driver’s license and DD-214 were not apparently good enough, so I used some annual leave to go to Herman Keifer and the Detroit Health Department. My sister needed one to get married here. I really don’t see the problem.
QUESTION 4: It will never get out of the Senate. If they are serious, they will sit down with some senators, or even the Senate leadership, and do some serious legislative logrolling, just like the old days. But if it is simple performance art, they won’t. It will die, they will complain about the leadership in both houses of the legislature and hope the folks who want constitutional carry don’t ask questions about vote trading.
Happy upcoming St. Patrick’s Day one and all!
The birth certificate issue is a problem. You may have found yours but as Bill implies, most people could not. Folks that have voted in election after election would be barred from voting.
How else will we get Haoxiang Gao out of the QVF?
NY Post reported yesterday Gao is still registered as an active voter here in the Peoples Republic of Michigan.
Maybe he can send in via mail an absentee ballot to the Ann Arbor City Clerk in the August of 2026 Democratic primary election.
Not true He was cancelled for citizenship January 14, 2025.
The New York Post article:
‘Illegal immigrants from Africa, India and China are voting in US elections — here’s how they’re doing it’
By Chadwick Moore – Published March 16, 2026, 2:33 p.m. ET
shows a photographic image of Haoxiang Gao’s Michigan QVF entry. The caption is:
“Voter information obtained The Post showed that Gao was still an active, registered voter in Michigan, a crucial swing state, despite having fled back to his home country of China. He remains wanted by US authorities.”
Below this, the article states:
“The Post found Gao is still registered as an active voter in Michigan.”
ANSWER 1) It will affect the GOP in a negative way until the gas price drops below $3.00 per gallon; the popularity of the GOP improves markedly if the gas price drops below $2.50 per gallon. The reaction to Iran may be unpopular, but it is vital to understand the reasoning behind the negative feelings. Filling up one week at $2.75 per gallon and the next week at $3.75 per gallon is grounds for a revolution–right here in the USA!!
ANSWER 2) Quite a bit further than is currently thought. His plan is to cut wasteful spending and eliminate unnecessary programs. Michigan government budgets have grown exponentially since the Grinch and her Trifecta went on a spending spree. When compared to the rate of inflation, the state budget has ballooned to the point of bursting. It’s all in the numbers and there are plenty of cuts to be made which will make an income tax unneeded. If this means no more $4,500 coffee makers, then so be it. They’ll just have to drink instant!!
ANSWER 3) None. All of the proposed paperwork requirements are for new voters, or those changing the municipality where they vote. Merely providing ID, as we do now, is not burdensome. However, I’ve yet to see what is planned to keep out-of-state students attending school in Michigan from voting in two states. What presently keeps them from registering at home and later in Michigan?
ANSWER 4) Great idea! But don’t look for wHitler to sign it. The more left-wing the regime, the more gun-grabbing goes on. Every major urban city (which resembles the Detroit Zoo if the animals aren’t fed on time), has strong gun control measures, meaning honest folks remain unarmed. Crime and murder skyrocket, so most major cities in the US resemble the Middle East. Look for this proposal to be brought forth in earnest when the GOP regains control of the Trifecta.
Love the Perry Johnson take, Bill. Keep up the great work.
Perry Johnson was only 10% behind John James in polling taken in James’ own Michigan 10th Congressional District.
WRT Question 3: You should mention the 19,000 fake Michigan driver’s licenses seized by CBP at O’Hare in 2020. They were part of the Chinese plot to get Droolin’ Joe his 81 million votes.
CBP Press Release:
‘Over 19K Fraudulent IDs Seized by CBP Officers in Chicago’
Release Date Mon, 07/27/2020
Droolin’ Joe’s 2020 margin in Michigan was 154,000, but how many Chinese shipments of fake Michigan driver’s licenses were not intercepted?
There is no evidence the Chicago ID seizures were in any way linked to illicit election activity or earmarked for such activity..
That is because the entire matter was buried by Droolin’ Joe’s FBI, which was devoting half their resources to persecuting J6 protesters.
You don’t find what you don’t look for.
How many years has it been, Mr. Racing Commissioner? I am enjoying your blog, and glad to see you still at it!
WRT Question 2: The IRS released their ‘Michigan Migration Data – 2022 to 2023’ yesterday. From 2022 to 2023 (latest period reported by the IRS), the Peoples Republic of Michigan lost a net 9,417 taxpayers and $ 956 million in total Adjusted Gross Income. We experienced the tenth greatest loss of AGI in the nation during this period.
……….and Perry Johnson’s proposal for a 12% sales tax is going to encourage business investment and consumer sales?
Perry Johnson is grandstanding just as much as Karla Wagner.
I am stunned that so many GOP conservatives are considering these inane tax reform proposals.
Richard Headlee has been the only activist that had advanced a successful tax reform initiative in Michigan that has stood the test of time and been respected across the political spectrum as an effective constitutional amendment.
There are nine states in the U.S. that do not have a state income tax: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. None have a 12% sales tax. Tennessee and Washington are the only income tax free states whose sales taxes approach 10%, and that is on a combined state + local basis. Their state sales taxes are in the 6.5% to 7% range.
The trick is to control runaway government spending. Florida has 2.3 times the population of Michigan, but their state government only spends 1.4 times what the Peoples Republic of Michigan spends. The Florida Free State has a 6% state sales tax and local taxes can raise that to 8%. They also do not steal your estate when you die.
Alaska has NO income tax NOR any sales tax.
In fact a large percentage of its real estate areas are not subject to property taxes. Plus there are exemptions for senior citizens and disabled veterans.
As for Florida, it has a large tourism base that provides a popular basis for its high sales tax rates. One of the key reasons Florida’s population had increased so rapidly since the 1970s was that many businesspersons and professionals from the Northeast and Midwest realized they could move to Florida and avoid significant state income tax burdens.
The Free State of Florida spends only 62.8% of our Peoples Republics’ spend, on a per capita basis. Our personal income tax accounts for about 29% of state revenue. Business taxes account for about 4% of state revenue.
Reduce Lansing spending to Florida’s level and there is no need for a personal income tax, nor any business taxes.