Is the GOP gunning for Michigan? If so, why?

[ColbertWatcher]

The teevee is telling me that every elected official from Michigan is to blame for the failure of the Big Three automakers.

The governor (Jennifer Granholm, a Democrat), the Senators (Debbie Stabenow and Carl Levin, both Democrats) and the representatives (12th dist rep Sander Levin; 13th dist rep Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick; and 14th dist rep John Conyers; all Democrats) are all to blame for the American auto industry's need for a bailout.

Why is the GOP-controlled media suddenly pushing the idea that all Michigan Detroit politicians are bad? Is the next step to demand that every Michigan Detroit politician be replaced?

Gee, and if all those politicians are replaced, who would the GOP recommend to take their place?

Also, aren't the automakers responsible for some of the mistakes? If so, will they also be replaced, too? And if they are, what will replace them?

Is the GOP hoping for Detroit to be wiped clean in the same manner that New Orleans was?

Where does Michigan, its manufacturing industries and the unions fit in the GOP's latest "rebranding?"

[Faygo Kid]

1. Michigan is blue, and will stay blue. No worries. Except for those of us who Go Green.

Naturally.

[sarcasmo]

2. Don't worry, word is ex Michigan State coach George Perless is running as a Democrat.

[Wiley50]

4. and the Michigan Militia will protect the gun stores n/t

[ColbertWatcher]

6. So, they'll be declaring war on Ohio soon!? n/t

[TahitiNut]

13. No. MSU would open a two-front war .. on South Bend and Ann Arbor.

The Buckeyes would be collateral damage at worst - at an away game. :dunce:

[Demeter]

3. Well, Dingell and Levin Certainly Deserve Blame

They pandered to Detroit's Big Three something chronic. That's why miles/gallon did not improve, in fact got worse, since 1973 first Oil Shock. Dingell and Levin had their backs.

Those two have other flaws, of course. Both are way past retirement age, but don't get challenged in the primaries. The lack of challengers may have something to do with the fact that the GOP dominated the state legislature until term limits started cleaning out the House and Senate! Suddenly, term limits seemed like a BAD IDEA. So up-and-coming Democrats were scarce to be found. One, Lynn Rivers, was annihilated by Dingell in a redistricting runoff. Come back Lynn! We need you! It was ugly, frankly.

The others came into the picture too recently, or were slotted in roles that had little to do with autos.

But mostly, it's the fault of the CEOs and other top management, who decided to keep on doing the smae old thing long after everyone else, like the Japanese, had adjusted. The CEOs gave away the small, efficient car market back when Volkswagen started moving in, and they didn't compete. Then Japan, followed by Korea, continued to eat out the underbelly of the industry, while the Big Three bought Volvo, Jaguar, and other luxury Europeans, and ran them into the ground mostly.

It's been Devolution in real time.

As a daughter of the Motor City, I can attest that at least for the last 50 years the rest of the state (which was predominantly redneck GOP) has slandered Detroit, starved it, belittled it, and tried to reduce it to nothing. This was a very stupid move, given that cities are the engines of the state economy, providing income, jobs and infrastructure for the rest of the people. It's been ugly. But now that ugliness has infected the entirety of Michigan, and Go Blue is not just a U of M battle cry.

[Romulox]

12. Who pandered to AIG, out of curisousity? nt

[Demeter]

14. I Don't Know For Sure, But It Looks a Lot Like Wall St. and the BFEE

since they seem to be carrying the water for them....

[blue_onyx]

5. If they are, their not doing a good job.

Michigan's problems started under Republican Governor John Engler (1990-2002) and a state Congress controlled by Republicans (House and Senate). The Democrats won back control of the state House in 2006. We also have more Republican US Representatives (9-6) which will change this year after Knollengberg and Walberg leave. Jennifer Granholm didn't start her tenure as Governor until 2003, several years after our economy started going down. It was during the 90s, when Michigan was doing well, that our state should have diversified the economy away from the auto industry. Instead, all John Engler did was try to win cheap political points by cutting taxes which he did so without cutting spending. This reckless tax cutting led our state into a budget mess, which Granholm had to clean up last year.

If anyone is to blame for Michigan's problems, it's the Republicans. I don't know how they will win Michigan over with their tax cuts for the rich, no matter how harmful it is to vital services, policies. I know their strategy for winning back Michigan's executive branch will be to simply blaming Granholm. This, however, didn't work in 2006 and I don't think it will work in 2010. Republicans will have to put forth some ideas if they want to win. I think their "rebranding" strategy on the federal level is to hope Democrats screw up so they can run as the anti-Democrats because the national GOP doesn't have any ideas either.

[ColbertWatcher]

7. "If anyone is to blame for Michigan's problems, it's the Republicans."

While I agree with you (your explanation is logical) I don't see that being as obvious to other what with the GOP controlling the media.

Hell, isn't Limpballs telling his followers that the coming Depression is Obama's fault!?

I expect the GOP to see a "disaster opportunity" in Detroit and I fear for then city.

[notadmblnd]

8. Detroit will never elect a republican mayor.

It just won't happen.

[blue_onyx]

9. Yes, the GOP do have control of media

but that's why we need good candidates who can make the case against Republicans. Gov. Granholm was able to beat back this nonsense of the Michigan GOP blaming her for the economic problems. She was a great candidate (and Governor) and was able to prevent a far rightwinger from becoming our Governor. I wish Granholm could run again in 2010 because I think she would win again. As of now we don't have a standout choice for Governor...well, unless she does leave for the Obama administration because then our Lt. Governor would become the incumbent (and I'm a little iffy on him).

Yes, the right has started calling it the "Obama recession." I'm not sure how that works since he isn't even in office. I don't think this strategy will work. Most people are not that stupid. This is simply working their loyal base into more of a frenzy.

In Detroit, the GOP will have an almost impossible challenge if they want to win in that city. Even many suburbs directly around the city are pretty strongly Democratic. What makes winning in the Detroit area even more difficult is that during bad economic times, people usually support Democrats. So if Republicans are going to try to use the bad economy to win people over, they have quite the up-hill battle ahead of them.

[marmar]

10. Michigan got bluer on Nov. 4.....even longtime "safe" Repugs like Joe Knollenberg got shown the door

n/t

[Romulox]

11. Why? Because we are on the floor dying, and Henry Waxman is slobbering over our bodies?

Because new style "progressives" are vehemently anti-labor?

Because a multi-trillion bailout of Wall Street was cheered here on DU, but the whining hasn't stopped about any possibility of help for the Rust Belt?