Talking Michigan Politics

Gay bashing at military funerals and free speech, a radical center/third party movement in 2012 and China as an issue in the 3rd Congressional race on this week's Talking Michigan Politics podcast with Jeff Cranson and Ed Golder.

How China makes its way into Michigan politics, gay bashing by a state official and a new national poll that finds Bill Clinton growing in popularity, on this week's Talking Michigan Politics podcast

Press editors Jeff Cranson and Ed Golder talk about the Tea Party and Christine O'Donnell, Rick Snyder and Virg Bernero agreeing to a debate, the 3rd Congressional race and Don't Ask Don't Tell on this week's Talking Michigan Politics podcast.

On a special edition of Talking Michigan Politics, Grand Rapids Press Political Editor Jeff sits down with Brian Wesbury, chief economist for First Trust Advisors in Wheaton, Ill., frequent guest on CNBC and Fox News, and a contributor to the Wall Street Journal's editorial page. Wesbury keynoted the lunch program at the West Michigan Policy Forum in Grand Rapids on Thursday.

A disciple of Milton Friedman, Wesbury's stage show echoes the themes of his 2009 book, "It's Not as Bad as You Think: Why Capitalism Trumps Fear and the Economy Will Thrive." Wesbury offers an upbeat assessment of the U.S. economy and shares his views on the "Black Swan Theory," and events that make us rethink conventional wisdom.

He blames government behavior for the crash -- low interest rates allowed unqualified people to buy homes, then the government over-reacted with bailouts and stimulus. He says the over-reaction caused "economic hypochondria."

Press editors Jeff Cranson and Ed Golder talk about Tea Party victories, Rick Snyder-Virg Bernero sharing town hall time and government worker health insurance paying for abortions on this week's Talking Michigan Politics podcast.

New numbers and a widening gap in the race for governor, a study showing Republican primary turnout surging while it declines for Democrats and the anniversary of President Ford's pardon of Richard Nixon on this week's Talking Michigan Politics with Press editors Jeff Cranson and Ed Golder.

This week on the Talking Michigan Politics podcast, Press editors Jeff Cranson and Ed Golder ruminate on November races, Democratic control of the Michigan Supreme Court, growing misconceptions about the president and manufacturing's resurgence in Southern states.

On this week's Talking Michigan Politics podcast, Press editors Jeff Cranson and Ed Golder talk about Michigan Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Weaver's stunning decision to resign; Rick Snyder's running mate pick and libertarian billionaire Koch brothers and their role in the Tea Party movement.

Tea partiers facing off in court, exploring a path to victory for Virg Bernero, and the mosque proposed two blocks from Ground Zero on this week's Talking Michigan Politics podcast with Jeff Cranson and Ed Golder.

Will the real Tea Party please stand up? Despite claims there is no organized Tea Party, per se, a group of people involved in "the movement" have enlisted the state's foremost elections law gunslinger to challenge the organization they say filed fake Tea Party candidates to dilute the GOP vote in November.

How does Bernero close a 19-point gap by Nov. 2? A poll telegraphed on last week's podcast indeed became public Thursday and showed GOP gubernatorial candidate Rick Snyder with an early and commanding lead. Most pundits expect many of the independents who helped Snyder win the GOP nomination to stay with him in November. Talk also focuses on running mates and names being floated on both sides ahead of the conventions at the end of the month.

An Islamic center two blocks from Ground Zero. An intellectual case can be made for allowing the center, but many are conflicted. How this benediction from George Washington applies today: "May the children of the stock of Abraham, who dwell in this land, continue to merit and enjoy the good will of the other inhabitants, while every one shall sit in safety under his own vine and fig tree and there shall be none to make him afraid."

Conversation starters:

• Ed on why AAA is worried that dogs in cars can kill.

• Jeff on people who turn on the water and just let it run. Author Peter Annin makes the case in Great Lakes Water Wars that others in the country and the world think we take water for granted in this part of the country. Then again, it's no wonder when water costs about .03 cents a gallon in Grand Rapids.

Running mates for Rick Snyder and Virg Bernero and Grand Rapids says no to backyard chickens on this week's Talking Michigan Politics podcast with Press editors Jeff Cranson and Ed Golder.

1. The running mate sweepstakes. Lots of names on both sides. And GOP candidate Rick Snyder, either has a number of fans of the Washington Post's "The Fix" column , or his campaign staff is working overtime to pump up their results in the column's unscientific daily poll.

Meanwhile, the debate about debates has begun in earnest with Democratic candidate Virg Bernero calling for at least eight.

As expected, Snyder had the out-of-the-gate lead in the first poll.

2. Should tax cuts stay or go? Debate over continuing Bush tax cuts.

3. City commissioners chicken out. In a surprise move Tuesday, Grand Rapids city commissioners killed an ordinance that would have allowed residents to raise chickens in their backyards. People currently harboring the birds have until Oct. 1 to find new homes.