The Best Ten O’clock Drama on TV (Sorry Jay, you and Conan come in Second.)

The Kwame Kilpatrick Show and The Sam Riddle Show are two of the best ten o’clock dramas on TV.  I enjoy the speculation and the intrigue.  What’s that you say?  That’s the News!  I thought that was a reality show!

Well in Kilpatrick’s situation maybe a reality show is not a bad idea.  Everyone I run into thinks that he has this stash of money but I think that he needs time to make some money.  I think that he is more interesting than Rod Blagojevich and a Kwame Kilpatrick show would be a cross between The Apprentice and Jersey Shore (The G Remix).

So will Kwame go to jail or will he come up with the money to stay out of jail?  Will Sam Riddle avoid Jail on the new charge of secretly seeing his ex-girlfriend?  Can Powerhouse Attorney Jeffery Feiger help?  We will find out on the next episode of “As Detroit Turns.”

Here is a look at some of the Michigan Gubernatorial Candidates for the 2010 Election and my early predictions.

Democratic Party

Announced

Virg Bernero, Mayor of Lansing – I think the Mayor of Lansing can put on a formidable campaign

Alma Wheeler Smith, member of the Michigan House of Representatives – I do not know this person.  I need to do more research.

Formally exploring

Andy Dillon, Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives – I do not know this person.  I need to do more research.

Potential

Jim Barcia, former United States Congressman and current member of the Michigan Senate – I do not know this person.  I need to do more research.

Dan Kildee, former Genesee County Treasurer – I do not know this person.  I need to do more research.

Daniel Mulhern, Michigan’s First Gentleman – I am glad he is known as Michigan’s First Gentleman and not the First Dude.

George Perles, former Michigan State University head football coach – I do not know this person but I do not think that the voters of Michigan will elect the MSU Football Coach

Debbie Stabenow, United States Senator – Stands a good chance.  May have to defend Senate voting record against opponents that did not have to make tough votes in Congress.

Don Williamson, Former Mayor of Flint – I do not know this person.  I need to do more research.

Withdrew

Robert Bowman, former Michigan treasurer (ended exploratory bid on 02-15-2010)

John Cherry, Lieutenant Governor (Ended exploratory bid on 01-05-2010)

John Freeman, former member of the Michigan House of Representatives (Ended bid on 01-11-2010)

Hansen Clarke, member of the Michigan Senate (Ended bid on 01-15-2010)

Declined

Dennis Archer, Former Detroit Mayor ruled out a gubernatorial run on November 20, 2008.

David Bonior, former United States Congressman from Michigan

Joe Dumars, Detroit Pistons President of Basketball Operations

Robert A. Ficano, Wayne County Executive

Mark Hackel, Macomb County Sheriff

Denise Ilitch, University of Michigan Regent

Bart Stupak, United States Congressman

It would seem that the Michigan Democratic Party does not have a clear candidate to run for Governor.  My early favorites are Robert A. Ficano, Wayne County Executive

Mark Hackel, Macomb County Sheriff both who have declined to run and Senator Debbie Stabenow who has not entered the race yet.  There is one other that was my favorite to run list but you have to look at another blog for that name.  (I look forward to your argument after you read that.)

Republican Party

Announced

Mike Bouchard, Oakland County Sheriff – Stands a good chance.

Mike Cox, Michigan Attorney General – The front-runner so far (The Kwame Connection wont hurt him.)

Tom George, Michigan State Senator – I do not know this person.  I need to do more research.

Peter Hoekstra, U.S. Congressman – Will have to defend some very tough positions

David R. Kniffen, entrepreneur and inventor – I do not know this person.  I need to do more research.

Timothy Rujan, Huron County Commissioner – I do not know this person.  I need to do more research.

Rick Snyder, businessman – Has a good chance opposing Mike Cox.  So far campaign does not say which party he is in.  This could confuse voters that are not paying attention.

Withdrew

Terri Lynn Land, Michigan Secretary of State. She is running for Lieutenant Governor as Mike Bouchard‘s running mate

Potential

Candice Miller, Member of Congress – Has a chance at splitting the Republican vote.  May need to sign on as Lt Gov Candidate.

Ted Nugent, entertainer – Uncle Ted stands no chance.  (Thank for seeing me off before I went to Iraq.)

Joe Schwarz, Former Republican Member of Congress, 2002 Republican Candidate for Governor

Declined

Dick DeVos, 2006 Republican Nominee

L. Brooks Patterson, Oakland County Executive

Dave Brandon, Domino Pizza CEO

Obviously, I believe that there are more viable Republican candidates than Democratic candidates.  And ultimately I believe that Michigan is headed for having a Republican Governor.  You need to do your part to research the candidates and vote your preference.  This state depends on it.  (See the other blog about a brief history of Michigan v Federal Administrations.

Also there are usually two launch pads to become Governor of a state.  Being Lt Governor and being State’s Attorney General.  So who do you think will be the next Governor of the Great State of Michigan?

Kwame screwed up!!!

Former Detroit Mayor Kwame M. Kilpatrick (who Detroiters affectionately refer to by first name,) screwed up.  That may sound like a no-brainer but he really did.  So let’s take a look at how the transgressions of a youthful Mayor has bitten him in the ass.

Kilpatrick’s mother is an elected official and his father has worked for very powerful and influential political leaders. Kwame was groomed for greatness.  His success as Floor Leader in the Michigan House of Representatives, led to a successful bid to become the Mayor of Detroit.  Here is where the problem starts.  I recall a statement from a local media outlet in 2001 saying that Kwame Kilpatrick will be a colossal success… or a colossal failure as Mayor of Detroit.  Well we know how that turned out but I’ll continue on.

Rumors of an alleged party at the Manoogian mansion plagued his first term.  This is the root of all later issues with the Kilpatrick Administration.  An exotic dancer named Tamera Green was rumored to have danced at that party and later turned up dead.  Kilpatrick’s local and state support started to dwindle.  The media that was once in his corner started investigating other aspects of the Kilpatrick Administration.  At every turn it appeared that Detroit was dealing with a corrupt Mayor.  Finally Kilpatrick was ousted from office for lying about an improper relationship with his Chief of Staff.  Ok we know all of this but what do we now know?

As I said earlier this was a youthful Mayor.  He and I are the same age and when elected for Mayor he was 31-years old.  Better decisions needed to have been made on whether or not to have strippers at the Manoogian mansion, (if that event took place at all,) but if so, I understand.  Many Detroiters at that time believed the party happened and found it amusing and forgivable considering Kwame’s youthfulness (I’m talking about the time before Tamera Greens Murder.)   So with the above being said where would we be in local politics if this Manoogian party scandal never took place.

The Kilpatrick administration would have governed as it did, he would have still angered rivals but would have not had this “Thing” hanging over his head. He would have made deals, however shady or legit that they may have been, like every one of his predecessors.  He would have brushed off his critics as being racist or for tageting him with an anti-Detroit agenda.  This would have been endering to Detroiters and with the amount of progress that Detroit was making under the Kilpatrick administration, these actions would have made him popular with the Southeast Michigan voter.

In this tumultuous year for the Michigan Democratic party, who other than Kwame Malak Kilpartick could have challenged Attorney General Mike Cox for the big seat in Lansing?  No one!  My understanding is that Michigan can be divided into third for the voting block.  The Upper Peninsula, Western Michigan and Eastern Michigan, with Eastern Michigan being an overwhelming block of voters over the other two.  Yes I am saying that 2010 could have been the year for a face off between Mike Cox and Kwame Kilpatrick for Governor of the state of Michigan.  But do you know what happened…

KWAME SCREWED UP!