What a Difference a Year Makes
by Tom Shields
March 19, 2010
Just a year ago, the pundits had the Republican Party on the verge of extinction. Time Magazine said, “Republicans have the desperate aura of an endangered species,” and speculated that they could sink to the level of a third party in a two-party system.
John Cherry looked [...]

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Daddy-Daughter Dance
by Tim Skubick
March 12, 2010
This is a tale of four fathers with daughters.
Let’s start with Bob Bowman.
For two full terms he worked as state treasurer for Gov. Jim Blanchard. “I’ve always been interested in being governor,” Bowman confessed after he left state government.
But the interest remained unexplored until Lt. Gov. John Cherry dropped out [...]

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Hangover Politics
by John Lindstrom
Gongwer News Service
January 22, 2010
Okay, everyone take a deep breath. We are just three weeks into 2010 and political actions and portents have already uncorked a heady brew that could leave the state and nation seriously hung over as they lurch into the elections that are still 10 months away.
Even in an [...]

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Bowman to Face GOP Brushback
by Tim Skubick
January 22, 2010
Bob Bowman backers will quickly dismiss it as a cheap shot. But if the former state treasurer under former Democratic Governor Jim Blanchard decides to run for his old boss’s job, his opponents will jump on it as proof positive that Bowman is “not one of us.” [...]

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Dillon’s Dual Role Put to Test
by Tim Skubick
January 15, 2010
Mike speaks: “I know you want to increase revenue, Andy, but if I let you do that, it will help you win the Democratic nomination for governor, and my party wants no part of that. So, will I compromise with you on this package? Sorry old [...]

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Unimaginable Tip Was Right
by Tim Skubick
January 8, 2010
The last time John Cherry was interviewed was just before the holidays. He had just released his campaign manager, and other reports had him realigning his fundraising team. In a smart move, the campaign made him available to appear on camera to debunk the notion that his campaign [...]

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Politics after Cherry
by Gongwer News Service
January 8, 2010
For all his angels on the head of a pin, Thomas Aquinas is not easy to simplify, but he did speak of knowing by faith and knowing by reason.
On Monday, January 4, Michigan Democrats knew both by reason and faith that Lt. Governor John Cherry Jr. would be [...]

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Put Up or Shut Up
by Tim Skubick
January 1, 2010
’Tis the season to forget about politics….except, of course, in this town, where it’s politics 24-7-365. Hence, even though Lt. Gov. John Cherry is home for the holidays — he’s adamant about taking some time and a few pounds off — his political family is busy nonetheless.
For [...]

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Pick Your Conventional Wisdom
by Tim Skubick
December 11, 2009
Popular wisdom is often unpopular and often wrong, but what the hey. The popular wisdom is Andy Dillon can’t beat John Cherry for the Democratic nomination for governor.
Here’s why the Dillonites reject that notion: (1) Cherry has only 20-percent support in the polls, which means he doesn’t even [...]

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Virg for Governor?
by Tim Skubick
December 4, 2009
If the political press corps were given a secret vote to install the mayor of Lansing as a Democratic candidate for governor, betya the vote would be an overwhelming yes. That’s not necessarily because Virg Bernero would make the best governor, but he’d certainly be the most fun to [...]

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