Redstate

Nice address. I believe Jordan has diplomatic immunity.

I'm not a big fan of targeting people at their homes, but then, Jordan has made it semi-public with his fundraisers and publicized D.C. parties.

And it's Hillary's home away from home away from home.

I ran into a Michigan buddy of mine out here yesterday. Boy is he pumped about DeVos. Granholm's campaign buzz has gone the way of Michigan manufacturing jobs.

they are using her comment and the clock in some ads .. that would be good red meat for a 527.

Fade in

Job Clock ticking

Start Grantham's voice over from 2004

Fade her in making the statement

Fade to black

Bring in the words "We couldn't agree more, Jen"

then:

Send Jennifer Grantham a message with your vote in November

I'm an undecided Michigan voter, and I'm just wondering: what exactly has Granholm done to lose jobs? How has the job loss during her term compare with the job loss under Engler? As a comparative percentage of the entire country?

http://www.michlmi.org/LMI/lmadata/laus/2005/misa76-06.htm

Uhhh, not so much with that.  Engler came into office with an unemployment rating of 8.3% and hit a low of 3.2% (below the national average) in Feb 2000, ultimately ending with 6.2% when Granholm took over.  It's currently at 6.8% and has been consistently higher than the national average for as long as Granholm has been running the show.  

Shame on me.

It's not so much what has Granholm done to lose jobs (although there are some problems), it's what she hasn't done.  She hasn't shown an ounce of leadership in making the state more economically competative or attractive to businesses.  In fact, she has used rhetoric which suggests a certain level of hostility towards business in general; see the Delphi closings for examples of that.

And, of course, the imminent mimimum wage hike will do little to help lower labor costs (which are significantly higher in Michigan than most other states) which harms the employability of Michiganders.

An Indianapolis Star columnist compared the two governors' reaction after Delphi made its bankruptcy announcement last October. This column got passed around a lot, solidifying Granholm's image as an ineffectual handwringer:

Gov. Mitch Daniels sensed an opportunity five days before Michigan-based Delphi Corp. declared bankruptcy.

Delphi CEO Steve Miller wrapped up a lengthy telephone conversation with the governor by saying "very complimentary things about the company's Indiana facilities, particularly Kokomo," Daniels recalled.

The governor talked with Kokomo Mayor Matt McKillip and they set in motion a strategy to position Indiana as ready and willing to work with Delphi though the bankruptcy.

"There's still going to be a large thing called Delphi Corp.," Daniels told me. "Let's make the case that Kokomo is the natural home of at least as much and maybe more of it as it has been historically."

Compared to Granholm:

The approach stands in stark contrast to Michigan, where about 15,000 people work for Delphi. Gov. Jennifer Granholm issued a statement Sunday that noted "globalization is ravaging Michigan's economic base."

The Democrat also said, "I am angry that this action occurs one day after headlines blared that Delphi employees were being asked to accept brutal, Draconian pay cuts while upper management is being offered golden parachutes."

Granholm has not asked the state's economic development team to take any action, a spokeswoman said. "We're in a holding pattern until we see what develops," said spokeswoman Heidi Hansen.

so hartless, they will cry

Sorry about my wording about the job losses under Engler. I just meant to ask about the employment rate but you answered my question anyway.

What do you think about the 21st Century Job Fund? In my naive opinion it seems like a good idea because in the rapidly globalizing economy we can't depend on manufacturing jobs that could be done overseas for cheaper. Sure, it's extra government expenditure that could go towards tax cuts, but it's also equally possible that we need a catalyst for the sort of economic transition that will bring jobs to the state in the future. A couple years ago I worked at a company that was founded and supported with Michigan Tech Corridor funds, so I have to say that I may be a little biased towards this kind of program.

The Delphi thing is a pretty strong indictment. I'm going to do a little bit more research about it. Thanks.

As much as the jobs and high taxes concern me, I've got to say that I'd have a real problem voting for DeVos, mostly because I don't trust him. Amway's business practices have come under fire so many times that I can't help but believe that there's some truth to the arguments.