michigan - get out and vote for granholm!

I don't write much about politics here, although I follow it closely and with some passion.  In case there are any undecided Michigan voters reading this, I feel it is my civic duty to provide some info on the Michigan gubernatorial race between incumbent Jennifer Granholm and her Republican challenger, Dick DeVos.

Dick DeVos scares me.  His strongly religious and ultra-conservative support/activism scare me.  His rabidly pro-business agenda scares me, in no small part because it threatens the environment.

In a vignette of the race, Grist provided insight into some of the anti-environmental organizations and initiatives supported by DeVos. It quoted a Sierra Club rep, who said "Almost nowhere else do you see a more striking contrast between a stellar, hard-won environmental record and an anti-environmental agenda."

You can read DeVos's environment plan yourself (PDF).  It is 7 pages (with big pictures) that, like most of his "plans," are full of platitudes and generalities and lack specifics.  In contrast, you can read about Granholm's past accomplishments and environmentally-related press releases.  Granholm is endorsed by the Sierra Club, Michigan League of Conservation Voters, and Clean Water Action. A coalition of environmentalists is campaigning for Granholm.

At Wikipedia, you can read a summary of the race. You'll notice a few tidbits about DeVos:

• Many of DeVos' critics, including some conservatives, propose that his leadership of highly controversial Alticor, the parent company of Amway and Quixtar, the world's largest multi-level marketing organization, should disqualify him from holding public office at all.
• He supports the teaching of intelligent design in science classes.
• In an interview, DeVos said he would be thrilled if Roe vs. Wade was overturned.

Also at Wikipedia, you can read about Amway/Alticor's heavy Republican leanings, and more ominously,  the DeVos preoccupation with the dominionist political movement (scroll down a bit); the DeVos foundation is one of the single largest donators to specifically dominionist political groups in the U.S. (Dominionism is a trend in Protestant Christian evangelicalism and fundamentalism that seeks to establish specific political policies based on religious beliefs -- read more here).

CREEPY!  How about his theoretical strength, as a businessman?  The Michigan Liberal sums up some key points on how DeVos has actually failed at business and quit other elected positons:

• When Dick DeVos became President of Amway, in 1993, Amway reported estimated retail sales of $4.5 billion.  By 2002, sales had mushroomed by $0.00 to stay flat at $4.5 billion.  Adjusted for inflation, sales at Alticor/Amway while the company was led by Dick DeVos actually fell by 19%.
• In 1990, DeVos was elected to the State Board of Education. He left two years into an eight-year term when he had missed about a fifth of the meetings and responsibilities at Amway demanded his attention.
• In 1996, then-Gov. John Engler appointed DeVos to the Grand Valley State University Board of Control. DeVos resigned four years later after missing 16 of 27 meetings. Business and his 2000 school voucher campaign were keeping him away.

This man should not hold political office.  He's not qualified and his ambitious plans are doggedly focused on jobs with few details on how he would carry out any of his initiatives.  Granholm has struggled with a crisis in the auto industry and a contentious Republican legislature.  I think she could have been more effective, but she is head and shoulders better than DeVos, who would be ruinous for Michigan.  Vote for Jennifer Granholm on November 7.

Speaking of heads, for a biting, humorous, but informative look at DeVos, visit The Disembodied Head of Dick DeVos.

UPDATE: As John pointed out in the comments, the domain devosforpresident.com has been purchased by Dick DeVos.  Here is the Whois entry. [Runs screaming from room]

Comments

[John]

That's a pretty good roundup of Devos. :) I think the only thing you missed is adding in your last section that Devos has already registered a "Devos for president" website. Probably hopes to use Michigan to springboard him into the White House.

[The Disembodied Head of Dick Devos]

Whoops! I guess I accidentally hit CTRL-COPY-ALT-POST or something and ended up with your post on my blog.

[Sandy]

No worries about me voting for DeVos (I think I'd sooner run naked through my small town), but I'd be interested in hearing your take on that DNR funding proposal - and mourning doves! have you written about them yet?

[Nuthatch]

First, Prop 3, hunting Mourning Doves. I'm voting NO, to ban Mourning Dove hunting. I am very pro hunting, and so I know a lot of hunters. We regularly discuss the appalling number of waterfowl hunters in southern Michigan who basically "sky blast" and shoot anything. I have heard stories, from hunters, about other hunters shooting egrets, cormorants, mergansers, and grebes. When confronted, they say they made a mistake (hmm, didn't experienced hunter George W. Bush, offer the same excuse?) Whether out of ignorance or malice, a disturbingly high proportion of hunters in southern Michigan have difficulty identifying waterfowl.

I am extremely experienced with birds, and I sometimes mistake other species for Mourning Doves such as American Kestrels, robins, meadowlarks, and similarly shaped birds that have similar silhouettes or flight styles. I think there is too much opportunity for other birds to be injured or killed, and for Mourning Doves to be injured and not retrieved. Secondarily, there is no ban on lead shot, which can have bad effects on birds and wildlife even in upland areas where doves will be hunted. Hunters, you need to make sure your fellow hunters are better educated and please, hunt more deer!

On Prop 1, which will protect conservation-earmarked funds from being used for other purposes, I'm voting YES. Although funds have been redirected only once before, in these lean economic times there is bound to be more pressure to do so again, especially if someone gets into office that values jobs over conservation and the environment. I think we've come full circle here!

[Sandy]

Thank you! That was something I never would have thought about concerning the mourning dove hunt. I'm mildly pro-hunting, but have been absolutely appalled by the recent ads (on the radio in Ann Arbor, anyway) implying that if hunting doves is banned, then ALL hunting will be next to go, and all medical research that uses animals that could save your life (but how many of these 'sportsman' support stem cell research, hm?)...ah well, the "symbol of peace" argument isn't terribly convincing either.

[Nuthatch]

Well, if saying that banning dove hunting is the start of banning all hunting, then we can say that allowing dove hunting is the start of allowing hunting all birds. I mean, please, what a stupid argument. And while I think doves are pretty sweet birds, that doesn't factor into my decision, as an ecologist. Both arguments deal with emotions versus facts. Bah!

[Gander Gardener]

Agreed, a terrific round-up. I'll just add that while voting for Granholm is an absolute must, I also hope that anybody who can will also volunteer some time to help make phone calls, or drive voters to polls. Every little bit counts -- these are the things that will shore up the election, for Granholm and the rest of the Democratic ticket.

Here's a list of numbers, so you can find your local office: http://www.michigandems.com/fieldoffices.html