Calling all Michiganders

ScottyB

Diamond Member
Jan 28, 2002
6,677
1
0
1) Are you glad Engler is leaving?
2) What do you think of him?
3) Who are you rooting for?


1) Yes, yes I am.
2) He is a selfish moron, who give our money to his friends. I hate him!
3) I am leaning towards David Bonior.
 

bmacd

Lifer
Jan 15, 2001
10,869
1
0
*answers telephone*

I don't follow politics. I wish i could get into them/get motivated to want to understand them. I'm not really sure what he's done/what he hasn't done. I won't be voting for governor, but will be voting for Circuit Court judge this coming election.

-=bmacd=-
 

Cuda1447

Lifer
Jul 26, 2002
11,757
0
71
My little sister had her picture taken with him at a dunkin donuts.... the shop has closed now. :( DAMN ENGLER I LOVED THOSE DONUTS!!!!
 

Electrode

Diamond Member
May 4, 2001
6,063
2
81
1. Not necissarily.
2. He does his job. Not the best, but still better than Bush.
3. Jennifer Granholm of course
 

NesuD

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
4,999
106
106
1) No not really but I voted for term limits so that is how it has to be.

2)I think he did a lot to ease everyones state tax burden and make our state more attractive to new businesses. Unlike Jim Blancard whos only strategy for balancing the state budget was tax, tax, and tax some more.

3)Still undecided. I was really giving serious thought to either Dave Bonior or Jennifer Granholm until I found out that all three of the dem candidates told an audience at some function that they were favorably inclined towards the idea of reparations for the descendents of former slaves. Bet you can guess the predominate racial makeup of that audience. I may be forced to vote republican again this November in light of that little fact. I was profoundly disappointed when i found out Bonior had said those things as i had judged him as a man who wasn't afraid to say the things he really believed regardless of whether it was popular or not. This episode makes me doubt that about him now. If he honestly believes that which i doubt then i cannot support him despite of whatever else he may stand for. The idea of reparations is in my opinion divisive and wrong headed and will do nothing but widen the rift between the races.
 

Mani

Diamond Member
Aug 9, 2001
4,808
1
0
1. On the whole, yes.
2. He did some good stuff, some bad.
3. Bonior
 

tcsenter

Lifer
Sep 7, 2001
18,338
253
126
1) Are you glad Engler is leaving?
I think 12 years is enough for any politician, term limits are a good thing.
2) What do you think of him?
I've never met the man. I can't claim to agree with everything his administration has done, but then perfect agreement is an unreasonable expectation. I would like to have seen a stronger position by the administration on protecting water quality on the Great Lakes and inland lakes, rivers, and streams, and some effort to discourage the development of our wetlands. Michigan is an outdoor activity haven - boating, hunting, fishing, and camping - which brings billions into the state and those resources need to be protected. This was partially a legislative issue, the legislature created the Department of Natural Resources and largely defines its role.

In fact, Lt. Governor Dick Posthumus, who is running as the Republican gubernatorial candidate, is decidedly stronger on the environment and natural resources than Engler while essentially sharing Engler's economic vision. Posthumus broke ranks with the Republican Party on a number of environmental issues.

But, you can't argue with success. During Engler's tenure, he inherited a burdensome state deficit, a failing "rust belt" economy, unemployment rates far higher than the national average (19% when Engler took office), a welfare system rampant with abuse, a decreasing state population that was fleeing to better economic opportunities in other states, a technology and IT base that made Michigan among the most technologically repressed states in the country, a workforce that was unable to meet the challenges of a changing industry, among a host of other problems.

All of these problems are substantially improved and many completely reversed, due in no small part to Engler's Administration. From consistently ranking near the bottom among Midwest States in a number of categories during the 70's and 80's, Michigan has risen to consistently rank among the top 10 states in a number of categories and unequivocally leads the nation in a few:

#1 in job growth from 1991-1997
#1 in new manufacturing jobs
#1 in per capita income growth (from 1989 - 1999)
#1 in New Facilities and Expansions three years in a row (Site Selection Magazine)
#1 in Tax Cuts - 31 separate tax cuts totaling $15 billion
#4 in exports to foreign nations
#4 in high tech employment (up from nearly last when Engler took office)

Engler frequently faced-off with an obstructionist legislature, largely made-up of the same folks who gave us these problems (Blanchard's camp who is riddled with fiscally negligent tax-and-spend Democrats), to gain support for his proposals and changes. The people of Michigan handed both the House of Representative and the Senate to Republicans in the mid-1990's.
3) Who are you rooting for?
Not Bonior and not Granholm. Both are from the same camp who gave us all the problems of the 70's and 80's mentioned above. Bonior can only be described as an ardent socialist, being a member of the Democratic Socialists of America.
 

UberDave

Platinum Member
Apr 9, 2002
2,360
0
0
i'm glad he's leaving....but it seems like he did a decent job i guess. There's always room for change :)
 

1. Yes
2. I'm not really sure. I think he's a hard worker, but that doesn't always mean he's a good governor.
3. Granholm
 

Vadatajs

Diamond Member
Aug 28, 2001
3,475
0
0
1) YES
2)In the short time I've been here I've found him to be a complete dick (forcing Universities to increase tuition in order to recieve aid)
3)Grandholm.
 

iamme

Lifer
Jul 21, 2001
21,059
3
0
I'm not a big politics guy.....as said above, I just hope the new person does a good job :)