Thoughts on the third Granholm vs. DeVos debate

It is hard to adequately state my displeasure with these three debates fights that took place between Governor Granholm and her challenger, Dick DeVos. What a waste of time for the great people of the state of Michigan. Neither candidate did anything to solidify their positions on the economy, taxes, or education. While DeVos has done essentially nothing (in my eyes) as far as presenting a fact-based solid plan for Michigan's recovery you have to ask yourself a simple question in regard to Jennifer Granholm. Are you better off than you were four years ago?

You see, this is why voter apathy is so high these days. The negative campaigning and the mud-slinging debates make voters decide to not cast a vote at all rather than vote for one of the two major party candidates.

Granholm has the 8-9 point lead in the polls but is it because she has done such a good job or is it because DeVos has not done anything to garner our votes?

Read what the Detroit News and Detroit Free Press are saying about the debate.

Round 3 of the DeVos versus Granholm debate tonight

Governor Jennifer Granholm and her Republican challenger, Dick DeVos, square off tonight in the third and final (thankfully) debate. The first two debates have been an exhibition in good old mudslinging while not exactly swaying potential voters with their political rhetoric. Will either candidate present a detailed, fact-based plan for turning Michigan around? Judging by the previous debates and the heated war-of-words I would have to say - no.

I just wish that the two of them could set aside the rhetoric and provide the answers that Michigan voters are looking for. I don't care what Granholm has or has not done. I don't care what DeVos says needs to be changed in our state. I just want solutions, not more problems.

Here is my wishlist for tonight's debate:

• The number one issue in Michigan is the economy - I want specific plans from each candidate as to how they intend to turn Michigan's economy around for the long-term future.
• Taxes - how can DeVos throw out the SBT and keep necessary government services at their current levels? I think all of Michigan wants the answer to that, not just Jennifer Granholm.
• I want Governor Granholm to quit harping on the previous administration (John Engler) and blaming them for our current economic plight. If she would take ownership of our state's troubles and come up with a specific plan I think she could get back above a 50% approval rating and run away with the election.

Unfortunately, based upon the previous two debates I do not see any of the above three items being addressed with specifics.

Read what the Lansing State Journal is saying about Jennifer Granholm and Dick DeVos.

Watch the debate at 8pm tonight via the Detroit News' website.

Three truths turned up in the Granholm vs. DeVos debate

Well, you would have to sift through a lot of rhetoric and all too typical mud-slinging by both candidates last night to find some interesting points made by either candidate. This wasn't a debate, it was more like a schoolyard fistfight. It was exactly what I hoped it would not be. However, I was able to sort through the debate trash and find a few gems. Here they are:

1. Dick DeVos still lacks specifics for certain aspects of his plan to turn Michigan around. He wants to replace the Single Business Tax with a lesser and broader tax that will leave the state short about $1 billion. Granholm told him good luck finding $1 billion in the budget to cut and that more cuts in the budget will lead to necessary services for the young, old, and poor to be cut.
2. DeVos challenged Granholm on her claims when she first took office that in 1 and 1/2 years Michigan would be on the right track. Her 2006 State of the State address mentioned a 5 Year Plan for Michigan's economic recovery. The Lunchbucket Conservative Blog mentions a famous Ronald Reagan quote from a debate in 1980 - "Are you better off now than you were 4 years ago?"
3. Granholm was the better debater. She was calm, cool, and in control of the debate while appearing to keep DeVos on the run a little bit. Whether or not winning debates means winning the election in November remains to be seen.

Hopefully as these debates progress we will see more meat to significant issues and a plan of some kind from both candidates become clear. I think this debate was a kind of reconnaissance mission to scout out each other and see how they would react to certain issues.

For a few clips of the debate head over to WWMT Channel 3 for an almost 5 minute long video of some of the highlights of the debate.