Talking Michigan Politics

Five candidates for governor of Michigan, one Democrat and four Republicans, squared off Friday afternoon in a congenial forum at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids. The Michigan Press Association sponsored the event, and it was the first time most of the candidates appeared on the same stage.

In this week's edition of the Talking Michigan Politics podcast, Press editors Jeff Cranson and Ed Golder discuss: President Obama's first State of the Union address. The reaction during the speech did not seem clearly partisan, but the post-game remarks mostly split along party lines with many Republicans first pointing out the length.

In this week's edition of the Talking Michigan Politics podcast recorded at Rocky's, Press editors Jeff Cranson and Ed Golder discuss:

1. What does the Massachusetts Senate race mean to the remaining 2010 races? And is it a referendum on health care reform? Scott Brown won because his message moved independents, who will control many election to come and will continue to swing, demonstrating an impatience with office holders who don't get anything done.

2. The race for governor and speculation on other state and local races. Do Tuesday's results signal anything in the governor's race? Could it possibly have an impact on the primary? Will any of the GOP candidates for governor jump on a Senate Republican plan put forward Tuesday to cut the pay and require higher health-care contributions from all public employees, including teachers and legislators? Is taking pay and benefits away a race to the bottom, or is it a reasonable proposal in light of givebacks in pay and benefits among private sector employees?

Also, state Sen. Gretchen Whitmer, believed to be a favorite for the Democratic nod for attorney general, stunned supporters today in announcing she's out, even after raising more than $200,000. Some will wonder about the timing and whether she made her decision based on the Massachusetts results, but she makes a good case that it was a decision made based on family commitments.

3. The U.S. Supreme Court's refusal to grant an injunction to keep Asian carp out of the Great Lakes. It's a win for the Obama Administration and officials in Illinois, but at what cost? The other Great Lakes states all supported the injunction.

Conversation starters:

Ed on the latest United Van Linesmigration study. For the fourth year in a row, Michigan is the biggest loser in the country.

Jeff on Republcian Secretary of State Paul Scott's platform against transgender driver's license changes and whether this is really an issue in Michigan.

In this week's edition of the Talking Michigan Politics podcast, Press editors Jeff Cranson and Ed Golder discuss:

The race for governor: Anticipation builds over a Denise Ilitch candidacy when Kent County Democrats announced she would attend a party event Wednesday night, also featuring Gov. Jennifer Granholm.

ilitch.jpgDenise IlitchThe Associated Press reported that President Obama made an appearance at a meeting Ilitch was having with officials at the White House.

Meanwhile, Oakland County Executive and GOP honcho L. Brooks Patterson told reporters Republicans had hoped Lt. Gov. John Cherry would remain in the governor's race.

Fishy politics: Michigan Attorney General and Republican candidate for governor Mike Cox turned up the heat on the state of Illinois and the Obama administration Wednesday to stop the invasive species known as Asian carp from reaching the Great Lakes, if it's not too late already. He launched a Web site where people can sign a petition urging the Obama administration to close locks that allow entry to Lake Michigan. Officials in most other Great Lakes states support his efforts.

Tea party momentum: New York Times columnist David Brooks cites polls showing the tea party movement is now more popular than either major party and contends it will become a movement akin to that of hippies opposing the Vietnam War and other establishment causes in the 1960s. Will the movement factor in 2010 races?

Conversation starters:

• Ed on women in the workplace and an Economist editorial trumpeting their gains while acknowledging the challenges ahead.

• Jeff on Whole Foods Republicans and an observation that while the anti-tax Club 4 Growth created a stir in an ad targeting Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean as a “latte-drinking, sushi-eating, Volvo-driving, New York Times-reading” liberal, one conservative scholar writes it is time to cultivate “Whole Food Republicans.”

In this week's Talking Michigan Politics podcast Press editors Jeff Cranson and Ed Golder discuss the race for governor, developments in the Grand Rapids-based 29th Senate District race, and a change in leadership on the Kent County Board.

How the attempt to blow up NWA Flight 253 en route to Detroit became an issue in the race for Michigan governor. Republican candidate and U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra cites the incident in a fundraising letter, and fellow Republican candidate Rick Snyder takes him on. Also, the Hoekstra campaign today sent reporters a copy of a Rasmussen poll, previously mentioned here and released Dec. 19, that showed him as the favorite among GOP contenders measured head-to-head against Lt. Gov. John Cherry, currently the leading Democratic candidate.

Is Virg Bernero serious about Michigan governor's race? Will Pete Hoekstra's bailout vote come back to haunt him? Plus health care reform, Race to the Top legislation and brain drain