Some news reporters report news. Some report speculation. Some fuel speculation.
Tim Skubick falls into the later category. The Lansing news veteran has covered the Michigan Capitol since before the electric typewriter was invented. Politicians come and go. Other reporters come and go. Issues come and go. But one thing stays -- Tim Skubick's speculation machine.
A favorite Skubick ploy for creating speculation is to ask virtually every two-bit politician who comes to Lansing, "Are you running for governor?" Nearly every one says he or she is thinking about it because what politician above the level of county commissioner (and some at that level, too) hasn't thought about it.
Presto! Skubick has a "story" without having to do any real work.
An even better story machine this year has been speculation on whether Gov. Jennifer Granholm will take a job in the Obama administration, enabling Skubick to speculate, speculate, speculate about her chances.
When all the jobs in the cabinet were filled, there was still a judgeship to speculate about, as he did recently in the Lansing State Journal.
While speculating endlessly, Skubick blames Granholm for making him do it. He argues that she should just say yes she's interested in a job or no she isn't, as if that would really end his speculating. If she says she would be interested, then Skubick could speculate on why she was passed over for this or that job (whether or not she really was) or which job she might be interested in. If she says no, then Skubick can speculate whether she really was interested and was spurned by Obama.
Speculation never ends because it is based on nothing but thin air.
So now that New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson has bowed out of heading the Department of Commerce, expect the Skubick speculation machine to start up again.
But that's just speculation on my part.
Showing posts with label Jennifer Granholm. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jennifer Granholm. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Obama Labor Secretary Pick: Bonior Not Interested
Huffington Post has an update Wednesday (Dec. 3, 2008) on President-elect Obama's search for a Secretary of Labor.
Former U.S. Rep. Dave Bonior says he's not interested in the post because it's time for the next generation of leaders to take over.
But according to Huffington Post, which quotes the Wall Street Journal, Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm is being vetted for the post, along with two others -- labor organizer Mary Beth Maxwell and Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius.
Former U.S. Rep. Dave Bonior says he's not interested in the post because it's time for the next generation of leaders to take over.
But according to Huffington Post, which quotes the Wall Street Journal, Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm is being vetted for the post, along with two others -- labor organizer Mary Beth Maxwell and Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Is Archer In Line for Post in Obama Administration?
It was a bit of a surprise recently (Nov. 20, 208) when former Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer announced that he would not be running for governor in 2010. The former Michigan Supreme Court justice had told the news media months before that he was exploring a possible run after Gov. Jennifer Granholm leaves office due to term limits.
In declining to run, Archer cited his unwillingness to spend the necessary time away from his family in order to campaign, saying he basically would have to "marry" the state of Michigan.
That doesn't mean he has lost his taste for politics. Archer was a major and active supporter of President-elect Obama here in Michigan, spending time on the campaign and not just lending his name.
Could it be that some position is waiting for him in the Obama administration? At his news conference, Archer said he didn't expect that to happen. And most of the high-profile cabinet posts have been filled.
Granholm has been mentioned as a possible U.S. Supreme Court justice should a vacancy occur in the next four years, as is extremely likely. But Archer seems an equally plausible pick. Not only did Archer support Obama earlier than did Granholm (who was a backer of Sen. Hillary Clinton), but he served on Michigan's highest court. And he was once voted Michigan's most respected judge.
Archer also would do a fine job on the U.S. Civil Rights Commission, or any number of other posts.
So I'm betting we haven't heard the last of Dennis Archer as a public servant.
In declining to run, Archer cited his unwillingness to spend the necessary time away from his family in order to campaign, saying he basically would have to "marry" the state of Michigan.
That doesn't mean he has lost his taste for politics. Archer was a major and active supporter of President-elect Obama here in Michigan, spending time on the campaign and not just lending his name.
Could it be that some position is waiting for him in the Obama administration? At his news conference, Archer said he didn't expect that to happen. And most of the high-profile cabinet posts have been filled.
Granholm has been mentioned as a possible U.S. Supreme Court justice should a vacancy occur in the next four years, as is extremely likely. But Archer seems an equally plausible pick. Not only did Archer support Obama earlier than did Granholm (who was a backer of Sen. Hillary Clinton), but he served on Michigan's highest court. And he was once voted Michigan's most respected judge.
Archer also would do a fine job on the U.S. Civil Rights Commission, or any number of other posts.
So I'm betting we haven't heard the last of Dennis Archer as a public servant.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Granholm Plugs Livingston's 'Wall-to-Wall' Democrats on National TV!
Livingston County Dems showed Gov. Jennifer Granholm a little love Monday (Oct. 27, 2008) and she showed it right back -- on national television, no less.
The governor came to the headquarters of the Livingston County Democratic Party and the Barack Obama Campaign for Change in Brighton to kick off a canvass with just over one week to go until the Nov. 4 election. She fired up the canvassers crowded into the office with a vision of how an Obama administration's energy policy could bring jobs to Michigan. And the canvassers fired Granholm up with rousing applause.
Later, Granholm told the audience of MSNBC's "Rachel Maddow Show" why Obama has a double digit-lead in Michigan.
"We understand what is really important here," she said. "We are all about jobs. I just left a county, Livingston County, which is a fairly conservative county (by the way, they made sure they told me to say hello, they love you). It was a packed Democratic kick-off. They were wall to wall, and this county should never be up for grabs, or at least certainly we shouldn't have any Democratic House seats that are in play."
Granholm said the McCain pull-out from Michigan left the field open for negtative attack ads against Obama and "it's just not working."
As Granholm put it, George Bush pulled out of Michigan eight years ago by ignoring Michigan's auto industry and the nation's manufacturing sector. John McCain, she said, "keeps trotting out the same old policies" and that's not working either.
Guess the Livingston Dems made an impression on our great governor.
The governor came to the headquarters of the Livingston County Democratic Party and the Barack Obama Campaign for Change in Brighton to kick off a canvass with just over one week to go until the Nov. 4 election. She fired up the canvassers crowded into the office with a vision of how an Obama administration's energy policy could bring jobs to Michigan. And the canvassers fired Granholm up with rousing applause.
Later, Granholm told the audience of MSNBC's "Rachel Maddow Show" why Obama has a double digit-lead in Michigan.
"We understand what is really important here," she said. "We are all about jobs. I just left a county, Livingston County, which is a fairly conservative county (by the way, they made sure they told me to say hello, they love you). It was a packed Democratic kick-off. They were wall to wall, and this county should never be up for grabs, or at least certainly we shouldn't have any Democratic House seats that are in play."
Granholm said the McCain pull-out from Michigan left the field open for negtative attack ads against Obama and "it's just not working."
As Granholm put it, George Bush pulled out of Michigan eight years ago by ignoring Michigan's auto industry and the nation's manufacturing sector. John McCain, she said, "keeps trotting out the same old policies" and that's not working either.
Guess the Livingston Dems made an impression on our great governor.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Don't Insult Granholm!
People have said a lot of hurtful things about our Gov. Jennifer Granholm, but veteran Lansing political reporter Tim Skubick wrote one of the worst ones yet. He compared her to Sarah Palin.
Michigan Liberal has the story, including this quotation from Timmy:
"In this puff piece of a book, author Kaylene Johnson describes Palin as able to connect with people. She has a fierce tenacity and a strong religious faith, which includes quoting Bible verses. Palin is highly competitive, a tireless campaigner and has been questioned about having kids and being a high-ranking official at the same time.
"Now be honest, is that not Jennifer Granholm to a 'T'?"
Skubick was stll calling all women "Dear" the last time I talked to him, so it's not surprising that his comparison of two women with such extremely different political views would be so shallow.
But this business that Sarah Palin is such a groundbreaker for having children and a career at the same time really gets to me. Liberal women have been doing that for years, and suffering the sneers of conservatives all the while that we should stay home and take care of our kids so the "more qualified" men could have the jobs we were excelling at.
Sarah Palin and her ilk preach that same gospel to other conservatives, and then feel free themselves to follow the footsteps of liberal women wherever they themselves want to go. And they are cheered on by other conservatives. Phyllis Schlafly did the same thing.
Sarah Palin gets no bonus points for having kids and a job as far as I'm concerned. The hard work of breaking ground for women was done by others long ago, over the objections of women like Palin. And many women with children are working out of the limelight, without the salary and perks of a governor (including being paid per diem by the taxpayers to sleep in her own bed at night).
I can't imagine Palin having any empathy for those other working women, but I can imagine Granholm empathizing with those of us who have raised families while holding down a job. I can imagine Granhold pursuing policies that would help working women. I can't imagine Palin doing that, in my wildest dreams.
Michigan Liberal has the story, including this quotation from Timmy:
"In this puff piece of a book, author Kaylene Johnson describes Palin as able to connect with people. She has a fierce tenacity and a strong religious faith, which includes quoting Bible verses. Palin is highly competitive, a tireless campaigner and has been questioned about having kids and being a high-ranking official at the same time.
"Now be honest, is that not Jennifer Granholm to a 'T'?"
Skubick was stll calling all women "Dear" the last time I talked to him, so it's not surprising that his comparison of two women with such extremely different political views would be so shallow.
But this business that Sarah Palin is such a groundbreaker for having children and a career at the same time really gets to me. Liberal women have been doing that for years, and suffering the sneers of conservatives all the while that we should stay home and take care of our kids so the "more qualified" men could have the jobs we were excelling at.
Sarah Palin and her ilk preach that same gospel to other conservatives, and then feel free themselves to follow the footsteps of liberal women wherever they themselves want to go. And they are cheered on by other conservatives. Phyllis Schlafly did the same thing.
Sarah Palin gets no bonus points for having kids and a job as far as I'm concerned. The hard work of breaking ground for women was done by others long ago, over the objections of women like Palin. And many women with children are working out of the limelight, without the salary and perks of a governor (including being paid per diem by the taxpayers to sleep in her own bed at night).
I can't imagine Palin having any empathy for those other working women, but I can imagine Granholm empathizing with those of us who have raised families while holding down a job. I can imagine Granhold pursuing policies that would help working women. I can't imagine Palin doing that, in my wildest dreams.
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