[JGatti]

Our state has been in a funk, no doubt about it. People are leaving in droves, unemployment is up. Everyone knows what's going on. But watching people point to Grandholm makes me wonder. Is she really to blame for this? I'm not a supporter on any level. In fact she kind of gets on my nerves. But I don't like to blame people unless I truly feel they are at fault. I brought up something during a conversation when I was working. Someone said this complete collapse was 100% her fault. I thought this was a little silly considering she has no control over gas prices skyrocketing and the housing market to collapse.
Way back when she won office I used to listen to talk radio often. I remember the day after she won and was bragging about what she was going to do, I was listening to a radio talk show. They were not supporters nor where they anti Grandholm. But I clearly remember them saying she has no idea how big of a mess she is going to have to clean up after Engler. I've brought this up often to people and of course they poo poo it. But if you think about it we have been on a slide for what seems like a very long time. What are your memories 10 years ago? Of course things were better, but I remember hearing a lot of Engler bashers back then as well. Now there seem's to be a new group that hates Grandholm. Kind of sad to see someone get knocked when it may or may not be her fault. Now Kwame? Oh man 100% clearly hands down no room for defense him and the other idiots running the cities fault.
Anyway if you feel she is, I'd like to see your reasons. If you think she is not. Defend the positive things she has done.

[MI-IRISH]

Michigans problem isn't one party or the other parties fault,it's all their faults shared.Granhlom has good and bad points,like Engler,again both from different parties,again both parties fault.Wether at a local,state or federal level.I personally root for granholm because that mole thing on her face is hot,yep bottle of chocolate sauce a 12 of pabst and look out baby

[Cliffie]

The only people I've heard lay all the blame at Granholm's door are clueless. Engler was an unscrupulous dinkweed who made one horrible, but wildly popular, decision after another and left a terrific mess to clean up. Granholm's made heroic efforts not only to do that but to bring new business into the state. It's even starting to work. It's just that even Clark Kent, elected to be our governor and working to save Michigan, can only do so much with the Big Three circling the drain and the whole PLANET in a financial meltdown. I think she's in the same role the captain of the Titanic got slotted into by people who have no idea what it means to captain a sinking ship. People judge and point fingers without realizing how much either of them do to keep the dang thing afloat.

Honestly, we shouldn't be doing as well as we are. But we are, and she's part of the reason, much as she rubs me the wrong way sometimes.

[snoopygirlmi]

Granholm is the governor of Michigan. Ultimately, she is the chief decision maker in the state. She has the power to call up the Guard, if they are needed - and declare areas "emergency areas" for the purposes of getting Federal funding and help with disaster areas. She can veto legislation (unless the legislature over-rides the veto) and people look to her as our leader for leadership. Plus, she represents our state at the National Governor's conventions and overseas trade missions.

There's enough blame to go around for both parties because neither wants to make the hard choices necessary to get us out of this mess. And you see how they get slammed if they propose anything outside of the status quo. Remember a couple of years ago when they shut down the government because they couldn't get enough votes for a tax increase?

Part of it is that Granholm doesn't have the political skills to negotiate and work with her own people and part of it is that there are fundamental differences between the R's and the D's and they've got to keep their supporters happy.

There are also structural things that need to be done to help move Michigan along (i.e. stop being so dependent on the manufacturing sector), but there's this attitude that what's worked in the past will work again - and that's not true - and a lot of people don't want to believe it.

I blame Granholm because she's just a bad leader and I disagree with most of her policies. I'm still waiting to see all those "green jobs" -that are just around the corner - and I'm not convinced that "cool cities" is going to help either.

In St. Clair Shores, they used their cool city money to put up new lights. A lot of people would have been happier if the street that they lived on got repaired instead. Also, if she has the most powerful job in our government, then she has to take the blame for things that happened on her watch - or the credit.

Honestly, I can't think of one good thing that's come out of her government. Maybe something will come to me later, but then again, maybe not.

Then, again, I wasn't keen on how the R's had control of everything 10 years ago either.

[YAZ]

Originally Posted by MI-IRISH

Michigans problem isn't one party or the other parties fault,it's all their faults shared.Granhlom has good and bad points,like Engler,again both from different parties,again both parties fault.Wether at a local,state or federal level.I personally root for granholm because that mole thing on her face is hot,yep bottle of chocolate sauce a 12 of pabst and look out baby

[YAZ]

Yeah, that "Cool City" campaign was pure genius.

Meanwhile, corporations were pullin' up anchors and gettin' the hell out of Michigan's tax & spend mindset.

Ya know, out here in AZ we get bombarded with Michigan vacation commercials, yet we all know that every single state recreation area is falling apart. Rickety docks, poor roads, and dilapidated facilities.

Soon there will be more deer than people in the Great Lake Stae.

[zthatzmanz28]

I do not give her 100% BLAME for the collapse. I do give her 100% blame for failing to stop or redirect the hemorrhaging.

Going to universities and asking graduates to PLEASE STAY in Michigan and NOT leave..

What is that all about?

Stay for what?

The wind turbine thing is passive smoke.

I understand that both democraps and republickins fight her on everything because she lacks DIPLOMACY and TACT??

I believe even Engler or Blanchard would have found a way to reduce the trauma somehow someway..

Jenny Granmole has been a spectator watching the ship (people) leave port all the while yelling, COME BACK!! PLEASE STAY!!" with no real employment plan or direction other than I WILL GET BETTER..

Everything gets better, some day sooner or later...

[tjay]

Originally Posted by YAZ

Ya know, out here in AZ we get bombarded with Michigan vacation commercials, yet we all know that every single state recreation area is falling apart. Rickety docks, poor roads, and dilapidated facilities.

Soon there will be more deer than people in the Great Lake Stae.

what the........? do you have a link showing the actual statistics to these 'dilapidated' facilities/state parks? don't you think that's stretching it a little? don't come to michigan because there isn't brand new docks at the state parks

forget nature! i came for the docks!

[tjay]

you can't blame one person for anything. that's ridiculous.

[JGatti]

Originally Posted by tjay

what the........? do you have a link showing the actual statistics to these 'dilapidated' facilities/state parks? don't you think that's stretching it a little? don't come to michigan because there isn't brand new docks at the state parks

forget nature! i came for the docks!

I spend a lot of time around Michigan during the summer. As much and often as I can. I have no idea what he is talking about. In my area they are building state of the art bridges for new bike paths. That may be a city thing, or county I'm not sure. But our parks to my knowledge still shine and continue to be a bright spot in our state.

Also if I was not clear enough I do not blame Grandholm 100% I do agree she should have done more to stop the flow out of the state. I always wondered why with so many farmers here in Michigan and GM, FORD and Chrysler right here in OUR backyard, how is it we are not leading the way for production of E85? I read an article that said the Governor in Indian I think it was stuck a deal with GM regarding E85 facilities, and everyone in the town got some kind of discount buying a car that uses E85 or something like that. I don't recall all the facts. But found it a bit disturbing none the less.