GOP told to ignore Detroit at its peril

[Omaha Steve]

FULL story: http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20060825-121835-6166r.htm

GOP told to ignore Detroit at its peril

By Charles Hurt
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
August 25, 2006

DETROIT -- Republicans here say that their national party's dismissive attitude toward the Big Three automakers could doom the party's hopes of capturing the governor's mansion and Senate seat in a large blue state this November.
Republicans in Congress have belittled Detroit's woes in recent weeks, and President Bush has been less than sympathetic to their plight, saying that they should focus on building more "relevant" vehicles.
But no slight has been more insulting here than the much-delayed meeting between Mr. Bush and the heads of Detroit's automakers to discuss U.S. trade policies and domestic issues such as health care costs, expensive pensions and other obligations to the federally protected autoworker unions.
"The administration is wrong on this issue," said Republican Dick DeVos, a longtime Bush supporter who has a good shot at unseating Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm, who was a superstar among Democrats just two years ago. Since the summer, polls have shown the two swapping leads by a handful of points.
"The president needs to meet with the Big Three, and it must happen soon," Mr. DeVos told reporters this week. "29,000 people in Michigan lost jobs last month."
The state's unemployment rate is at 7 percent, which has given Republicans unusual openings in a state dominated by Democrats. It's been 18 years since a Republican won Michigan in a presidential election.
"I think that these are both very, very good opportunities," Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman said yesterday while touring the state. "There is no governor that is in more trouble than Jennifer Granholm. The state has bled jobs under her watch, and people want change."

[Deja Q]

1. They were building relevant vehicles. Because our system encourages

consumption.

Has Jennifer been pro-globalization? Other Dems who aren't in power should take note of Repubs who are and use the same argument, while they themselves not being pro-globalization.

If jobs are to remain in the US, of course. It's up to the economists if they want the US economy to be put to rights, which wouldn't hurt the global economy and only help our own.

[stuartrida]

2. The DeVos family gives more money to Bush Inc. than any other family

in America.

Dick DeVos is just saying this shit to try and get elected.

[skipos]

4. You beat me to it.

Are you from MI?

[MichiganVote]

7. And people really need to know that.

[madrchsod]

3. this shit really pisses me off.....

i`m so god dam sick of everyone ripping on the auto industry. i`d better shut up....

[bluestateguy]

5. Granholm is already bouncing back

Latest poll has her up 7. Her ads are on the air now. Bill Clinton did a rally for her last week and her numbers have only gone up since.

Dick DeVos is George Bush and George Bush is Dick DeVos.

[OzarkDem]

6. GOP has bled Michigan, as they have Ohio

Funny, they're not blaming Ohio's bad economy on Taft, though.

[MichiganVote]

8. Granholm has done more to buy down Mi debt than the entire

US Congress and * admin. has done with the national debt. That's someone to throw out of office?

[OzarkDem]

12. Sounds like she's doing a good job

The GOP works overtime to screw over Dem governors, mayors, etc. Recall the rolling blackouts they used against Grey Davis in California?

[MichiganVote]

14. Yeah they really did a number on Davis. But he left himself vulnerable

Granholm has been rather tepid on some issues but in a state that is as hard hit economically as Michigan AND that has been ess entially run by the auto industry---what the hell can people expect?

Devos has done nothing in his life but work for his father's company. How does that translate into experience in managing a high government office? I just can't see it, esp. in light of his views on school vouchers, religion, and so on.

edit/typo

[bronxiteforever]

9. The state controls the economy?

auto workers out of work was not caused by the state of Michigan and everyone knows it. Major industries don't suffer demise in this country by state measures. this is another example of incompetent national economic policy along with a stupid energy plan and bad health care policies. Shrub could careless about automotive industry as long as oil companies make money.

[Demeter]

10. I Hope DeVos DOES Get Bush To Detroit

because then they will both go down in flames, and take the rest of the GOP with them. If Cheney comes too, we might see a Velvet Revolution!

[MichiganVote]

11. The Devos Scamway formula for success----in other countries....

"But its aggressive expansion in recent years into such markets as China, India and Russia has flipped those figures around: Now $4 out of every $5 of the company's revenue comes from foreign countries."

"DeVos took charge of Amway's international division in 1984, when 5 percent to 10 percent of business was done overseas."

"DeVos was president of Alticor/Amway from 1993 until 2002, during which time the company eliminated around 1,400 U.S. jobs - including about 1,000 in Michigan - so it could restructure and move into the global marketplace."

"To be honest, in the United States, it (Alticor's business) has been flat to down, but around the world, especially in China, it's been phenomenally good the last few years," says Ben Rudolph, a marketing professor at Grand Valley State University."

"Alticor, which still is owned by the DeVos and Van Andel families, reported revenues of $6.4 billion in fiscal 2005. About $5 billion came from outside the U.S."

More....
http://www.centredaily.com/mld/centredaily/business/15200980.htm

[BeatleBoot]

13. Ken Mehlman's Right

"I think that these are both very, very good opportunities," Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman said yesterday while touring the state. "There is no governor that is in more trouble than Jennifer Granholm. The state has bled jobs under her watch, and people want change."


The people of Michigan DO want change.

They want Bush out of the White House.

Bush/Cheney and the GOP have done enough to this country, let alone Michigan.

Bush and the Republicans are total disasters.

[samsingh]

15. they're ignored Detroit for so long anyway.