Wednesday, November 08, 2006

What Can't $40 Million Buy?

The governorship of Michigan! Incumbent Gov. Jennifer Granholm won reelection last night over her opponent Dick DeVos. Congratulations to Granholm, Stabenow and the numerous other Democrats who won. (The final tally isn't in yet, but it looks like Granholm won by about 14% over DeVos who spent $35 million of his own money on the election.)

I stayed up very late last night watching election returns so I'm on automatic pilot this morning, but I wanted to make a couple of comments about the election. First, DeVos based most of his campaign on Michigan's dismal economy, blaming it entirely on Granholm and insisting we were in a single state recession. Voters didn't buy that argument and could see for themselves what was happening across the nation. In fact, CNN reported that the economy nearly tied Iraq as the reason voters across the country came out to vote.

Michigan voters don't live in a bubble. We all have family and friends in other states struggling just like we are to hold onto the American Dream. So, in spite of all the ads and robocalls, we knew who was really to blame for our economy - Bush and his fellow Republicans.

Finally, I think the fact that the DeVos family is one of the largest contributors to the Republican Party turned voters off. From abortion and stem cells to welfare and the minimum wage, DeVos was in lockstep with Bush and the GOP. Yesterday's election showed what Americans think about Bush and his party - and Michigan showed DeVos what we think about him.

It's too bad he didn't spend his $35 million on something that would have really helped the citizens of Michigan instead of all those robocalls and commercials.

10 comments:

Mensch71 said...

What his money DID buy was the realization that our state is more polarized than I thought. And that the religious zealots are not exclusively living on the west side of the state. Lots of info for the next round...

Jackson said...

Great job! Granholm won by a landslide and it goes to show that money can't buy elections.

Eric said...

There is only one reaction to that headline -- Yeee-ouch.

Anonymous said...

Amen!!!

Lew Scannon said...

Hopefully this shifty eyed weasel face will take the hint and get back to real work, running his daddy's glorified pyramid scheme.

abi said...

Careful, Kathy. When your husband sees that big, indelible smile on your face, he may thing you've been up to no good. ;-)

Kathy said...

Mensch71, you're right. I was not happy to see Prop 2 win, and it appears that our divisions in this state are not just racial. Class and gender divisions seem to be playing out too.

Timbercake, thanks for the comment.

Lew, have you noticed all the Amway commercials that have been on the air? Even though he lost the election, DeVos gained some new advertising for his company. He has to recoup his losses somehow!

Abi, my husband is relieved Granholm won in more ways than one. There would have been no living with me had DeVos won!

Anonymous said...

"It's too bad he didn't spend his $35 million on something that would have really helped the citizens of Michigan instead of all those robocalls and commercials."

That's a cheap shot. The DeVos family has contributed much to charitable organizations. To say any large outlay of cash could be put to better use is true of all of us. The $2200 I spent last year indulging a flat-panel plasma hang-on-the-wall 47" television could have been put to more noble use as well.

As for the rest about DeVos and state republicans in general, I'll be posting my thoughts on the sordid affair at Everyone takes their turn soon.

Motor City Liberal Returns said...

Man I guess Amway Dick sr will make son work off the 40 million dollars of his money junior wasted. I mean dude wasn't even close in the final out come I thought that 40 mil could buy at least 47% but he had to push it just to make it in the 40s. I listen to his speech Tuesday night even in that he's vague but I'll tell you guys this I'm for one is glad the election is over so I can watch local tv without seeing 3 Amway Dick ads on my tv. And tune into 100.3 and enjoy Christmas music without hearing any lame ass ad.

Kathy said...

Thomas, my comment wasn't a cheap shot, it was sincere. I think the amount of money spent on campaigns has become obscene - and I'd like to see it reformed.