Monday’s political round-up

July 11, 2005

Today’s installment of campaign-related news items that wouldn’t generate a post of their own, but may be of interest to political observers:

* Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm (D) is considered a key GOP target in 2006 and has enjoyed lukewarm poll support of late, but in a new statewide survey, Granholm’s support appears be rebounding nicely. The governor’s job approval and favorability ratings remain above 50 percent, nearly unchanged since March, and in a head-to-head match-up against her likely Republican opponent, Amway Corp.’s Dick DeVos, Granholm enjoys a sizable 51-33 lead.

* Though Tennessee Republicans have had trouble recruiting a top-tier candidate to take on Gov. Phil Bredesen (D) next year, they think they may have finally found a winner: former senator and current TV actor Fred Thompson. Bush recently tapped Thompson to lead the confirmation process for a new Supreme Court justice, renewing speculation about the Law & Order star’s interest in politics. GOP Chairman Bob Davis Jr. confirmed there has been talk about Thompson running for governor, but there’s been no comment from Thompson or his aides. (One wonders if he’d be willing to take the pay cut…)

* Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.) looked and sounded like a presidential candidate over the weekend, campaigning in New Hampshire for the first time. Bayh acknowledged that he’ll be coming back again (and again). “Is it early? There’s no doubt about that,” Bayh told reporters. “That’s the nature of the process. In order to do it and do it well, you have to start early.”

* Former FBI whistle-blower Coleen Rowley (D) made her congressional campaign official last week, announcing that she will take on two-term GOP Rep. John Kline in Minnesota’s 2nd District. Rowley admitted to previously having been a Republican — even voting for Bush in 2000 — but has shifted her party allegiance. “What changed is not me, but the whole Republican Party has changed,” she said.

* In a disturbing twist on the celebrities-in-politics trend, Ted Nugent said he’s “getting real close” to launching a gubernatorial campaign in Michigan. He even summarized his platform: “To show you how radical I am, I want carjackers dead. I want rapists dead. I want burglars dead. I want child molesters dead. I want the bad guys dead. No court case. No parole. No early release. I want ’em dead. Get a gun and when they attack you, shoot ’em.” (via Taegan Goddard)

What are Nugent’s views on drugs and overly loud music?

  • and when they attack you, shoot ’em

    Look, as crazy as it sounds, this last bit needs to get taken up by more Democrats. When anti-gun Rosie was making an anti-gun speech at the million-mom march, she had armed bodyguards. Apparently, police aren’t enough for her.

    Bottom line is, the anti-gun angle just isn’t supported by statistics, and there isn’t any liberal point to it. We can’t have guns? What happened to having different ideas, but the right to do both? Isn’t there a rational middle between “let’s all have assault weapons� and “all guns are bad�? Why do Dems have to get beaten up on this issue?

  • N.Wells – Feel free to correct me if I’m wrong on this.

    I think that Nugent sounds like a nut, but I’m pretty sure that he has been in the anti-drug crowd for most of his career, unusual considering the generation of rockers that he came from. This is from stuff that I have read in the past and could be total BS but I might give him the benefit of the doubt on this one.

    As far as overly loud music I have the hearing loss to prove that I was at a couple of his concerts when I was a youngster.

  • Damn….loved the governor’s stats….expecially Ohio. Carpetbagger knows I’m a fanatic on this one, the republican party has all but imploded in Ohio over a workers comp scandal. Gov Taft…19% approve!!!! Gotta love that.

    Yes this guy is the great-grandson of the former president and a Ohio political dynasty.

  • Eadie, we should know by now that guns in this country has become almost completely about emotion and almost nothing about rationality. Look at Florida’s recently enacted “shoot first, ask questions later” law. I fear that, with Nugent’s name recognition and the media’s — and public’s, for that matter — infatuation with entertainment celebrities, he could create havoc in both Michigan politics but also for those of us throughout America who believe in middle ground, rational policy-making processes.

    The only good news is that Nugent will likely run as a Republican (he is a huge Bush supporter), and in Michigan’s blue collar communities this won’t likely breed success at the top of the electoral ticket; and his views are EXTREME, across the board on any and every issue, and unlikely to gain wide acceptance even when pushed by a “celebrity.”

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