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Election 2012

Friday, December 28, 2012

Will Right-to-Work Law Lead to Recall of Gov. Snyder?

A political expert said Michigan could be “ground zero for a recall vote” against Snyder in 2013.

Could the sudden passage of the highly controversial right-to-work legislation lead to Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder's name appearing on a statewide ballot for something other than his re-election campaign? One political expert thinks it's possible. Joshua Spivak, a senior fellow at Wagner College’s Hugh L. Carey Institute for Government Reform, told Politico that Michigan could be “ground zero for a recall vote” against Snyder in 2013. “There doesn’t seem to be a specific goal of going after state legislatures or state governors in any significant way, though that might change in Michigan because of right-to-work (legislation),” Spivak said in the Politico story.  Local recall elections, such as the one voters recently approved against Troy …

Steve Losey

4:24 pm on Sunday, January 13, 2013

Like I said Lee. Dream the dream. Good luck to you, god help us all.   more ›

Monday, November 12, 2012

L. Brooks Patterson Looks Ahead: 'The County is Changing'

The Oakland County executive proved he's a stand-up guy during an Election Night appearance in Royal Oak.

As Democrats celebrated election victories Tuesday in Michigan and across the country, the mood at the Emagine Royal Oak theater complex, where more than 200 Oakland County Republicans gathered, was a mixed bag. That is, until L. Brooks Patterson, 73, changed the energy of room.  “He gave some remarks and then he told us he had a surprise for us – and then he stood up on his own,” said former Royal Oak Mayor Dennis Cowan. “Everyone burst into applause.”  Patterson, elected to his sixth term as Oakland County Executive on Nov. 6, was injured in a crash in August that left him hospitalized at McLaren Oakland Hospital in Pontiac for five weeks after suffering almost a dozen broken bones. He returned to work in October using a wheelchair and …

Haulin T Male

3:29 am on Sunday, November 25, 2012

Erin, I guess they found out,they tried that new math, and lost, As far as telling any one who you voted for, just torpedoes all the effort to vote in privacy, jthall, all you did was wasted your vote. my ballot did not ask why are you voting this way........ oh well   more ›

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Updated: Bentivolio Wins 11th Congressional Race

Taj conceded the race Wednesday morning.

Some results are still trickling in, but Democrat Syed Taj conceded the race for Michigan's 11th Congressional District to Republican Kerry Bentivolio Wednesday morning.  "It goes without saying that I am disappointed in last night's results. However, I am not disappointed in the campaign that we have ran in the 11th. We faced a tough map and in spite of this disadvantage worked our district hard and left nothing on the table," Taj said in a statement. Bentivolio spoke to a group of supporters just before midnight Tuesday at his election party at the Sheraton in Novi, thanking them for their support. "We're going to go to Washington, and we're going to represent the 11th District like it's never been represented before," he said. As of …

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ConcernedParent

2:33 pm on Thursday, November 8, 2012

It's worth stating that Dr Taj did extraordinarily well considering the demographic of the district and the fliers that were mailed claiming his affiliation with Marxists. Crazy.   more ›

Michigan Election 2012: Stabenow Captures Senate Seat

Five of the six statewide ballot proposals were defeated, according to early results.

Voters throughout Michigan chose Barack Obama over Mitt Romney for president, according to early results, and voted no on at least five of the six state proposals. Michiganders also chose incumbent Democrat Debbie Stabenow over Republican challenger Pete Hoekstra for Senate, according to early results. Voter turnout was reported to be high across the state. In 2008, 66.2 percent of Michigan's registered voters cast ballots, the highest number since 1968 when voter turnout was 66.8 percent. On Tuesday, many precincts were still taking ballots well after 8 p.m. to accommodate voters. 1:32 AM: U.S. Rep. John Dingell claimed victory and a record-breaking 30th term in Congress. 12:46 AM: Results are trickling in. Dexter Patch reports Gretchen …

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Brad Jensen

11:49 am on Tuesday, November 20, 2012

The unions were not entirely blameless. However, to say "the unions killed Hostess" and then somehow blaming that on Obama and/or Obamacare is disingenuous. You did not address how management squandered the millions of investment dollars and union concessions, you did not address the 6 CEOs since 2004 or the pillaging of millions of dollars for raises and golden parachutes for the upper …   more ›

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Bouchard's Opponent Makes Dream Cruise Helicopter Lawsuit a Campaign Issue

Challenger Jane Boudreau said the incident is endemic of a bigger problem that voters should consider on Nov. 6.

A civil lawsuit filed against Oakland County Sheriff and Birmingham resident Michael Bouchard for actions taken by department helicopter pilot Bill Christensen to disperse a crowd during the Woodward Dream Cruise is now the focus of his challenger's campaign just two days before the vote. Democrat Jane Boudreau issued a series of press releases over the weekend to publicize the lawsuit and spark her campaign to unseat the incumbent Republican. The complaint, filed Friday before Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Rae Lee Chabot, alleges that the pilot acted under Bouchard's orders when he flew below the allowable height by the FAA to disperse a crowd during the Woodward Dream Cruise on Aug. 18. Terry McIninch, the plaintiff, claims the …

KB

8:50 am on Monday, November 5, 2012

This is not about party affiliation, it's about common sense. Jane is a committed, life-long law enforcement official. It's too bad you're a sucker for a talking-head politician, Mike.   more ›

Monday, October 22, 2012

More than 11,000 Absentee Ballots Issued in Troy – So Far

City Clerk Aileen Bittner said they are predicting the largest overall voter turnout in the city's history for the Nov. 6 election.

If you are planning to vote by absentee ballot, you are not alone. With just over two weeks to go before the Nov. 6 general election, more than 11,000 Troy residents have requested absentee voter ballots as of Friday afternoon, according to City Clerk Aileen Bittner. Of the 11,284 absentee ballots issued, "2,925 of those have been returned," Bittner said in an email to Patch. "Typically with a large ballot, we don’t see many returns right away as it takes a little longer for voters to make their choices on so many races and issues." Bittner said the city usually receives about 15,000 absentee ballots – about 35 percent of the overall number of ballots received – in an average presidential election, though they are expecting a larger …

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Jen Anesi

11:09 pm on Monday, October 22, 2012

I know, isn't he?? Pretty sure he's about 2 years old now, ha. Bet he's still cute as a button!   more ›

Thursday, October 18, 2012

State Proposal Asks Voters if 'Michigan Quality Home Care Council' Should be Established

Proposal 4 would also affirm limited collective bargaining rights for about 42,000 home health care workers.

Michigan's Proposal 4 on the Nov. 6 ballot pertains to home health care and the collective bargaining rights for thousands of workers. The proposal calls for the establishment of a "Michigan Quality Home Care Council" in the state constitution and would affirm limited collective bargaining rights for about 42,000 home health care workers. Those workers are hired and fired by the elderly or disabled participants of the Medicaid-funded Home Help Services Program, and are paid by the Michigan Department of Community Health, the Michigan Citizens Research Council states. The council would be the so-called public employer of home health care aides while the participants of the Home Health Care program would still have the right to choose, hire…

Cheryl Loukinen

2:41 pm on Sunday, November 4, 2012

I am a home caregiver for an elderly women, been with her for 4 years. I have been fingerprinted for every job in this field. I am votiong NO. This will not do anything for me but take money out of my pocket for union dues. The family I work for is in a Mi choice voucher program through the AAA 1-B, where I am paid more and not in a union. This will not benefit anyone except the Union.   more ›

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Obama-Romney Presidential Debate: Who Won?

Barack Obama and Mitt Romney debated for the second time Tuesday night. How do you think they did? Let us know by voting in the poll and leaving a comment.

The third of four debates heading up to the Nov. 6 presidential election was held Tuesday night, broadcast live from Hofstra University. In their second meeting of campaign season, President Barack Obama and Republican contender Gov. Mitt Romney went head to head on issues of foreign and domestic policy in a town hall format. Who do you think won the debate? Weigh in on our poll alongside other Michigan Patch readers, and tell us in the comments why you think Obama or Romney came out on top. There is one remaining presidential and vice-presidential debates are set for the following dates: There were two prior presidential and vice presidential debates.

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Scot Beaton

3:24 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012

................................... http://www.salon.com/2012/10/30/mitt_romney_the_hollow_man/ Mitt Romney, the hollow man -- Romney likens hurricane relief to cleaning up "rubbish and paper products" from a football field. Is he joking? By Joan Walsh ................................... http://www.realchange.org/romney.htm Mitt Romney's Skeleton Closet: Scandals, Quotes, and Character…   more ›

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Election: Oakland County Clerk

Democrat Lisa Brown and Republican Bill Bullard Jr.—are running for Oakland County Clerk. The voter guide is provided by the League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization.

There are two candidates for Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds in the Nov. 6 election. Republican Bill Bullard Jr. and Democrat Lisa Brown are running for the office. Attached to this article is a PDF copy of the voter guide for the Oakland County Clerk provided by the League of Women Voters. The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization encouraging the informed and active participation of citizens in government. The League never supports or opposes a candidate or political party. It influences public policy through education and advocacy, according to its website. To become a member of the League of Women Voters, click here. To contribute to the League of Women Voters, click here.

Lianne Mathie

9:43 am on Thursday, October 25, 2012

Joe, It's a blog period. It's a advertisement for services.World class, hardly.Some people believe TMZ is news. Bullard spent over 100.000 dollars redoing his office in 2010 at taxpayers expense.So I am in no way inclined to be swayed by your Henny Penny rant about what Brown said, it didn't cost tax payers money.   more ›

Friday, October 12, 2012

Election: Oakland County Prosecuting Attorney

Three candidates—a Democrat, a Republican and a Libertarian—are running for the Oakland County Prosecuting Attorney. The voter guide is provided by the League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization.

There are three candidates for Oakland County Prosecuting Attorney in the Nov. 6 election. Republican Mike Bishop, Democrat Jessica R. Cooper and Libertarian Steven Afton are running for the office. Attached to this article is a PDF copy of the voter guide for the Oakland County Prosecuting Attorney provided by the League of Women Voters. The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization encouraging the informed and active participation of citizens in government. The League never supports or opposes a candidate or political party. It influences public policy through education and advocacy, according to its website. To become a member of the League of Women Voters, click here. To contribute to the League of Women Voters, …

Suijuris

10:17 pm on Friday, November 2, 2012

Steve Afton for Prosecutor. He says it like it is: Non-prosecution of vice-offenses (victimless crimes), non-obstruction of jury nullification, and ending civil forfeiture actions. Power in the people.   more ›

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