a:1:{s:15:"field_blog_body";a:1:{i:0;a:2:{s:5:"value";s:4569:"<div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 1.5;">With the dust still settling from the Republican State Convention, there is a lot of talk among the &ldquo;conservative&rdquo; base of the state party about what they will do in the November general election in regard to voting for the top of the GOP ticket.</span></span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: medium;">Even though Lieutenant Governor candidate Brian Calley and challenger Wes Nakagiri stood on stage with the Governor as a gesture of unity, Nakagiri walked away knowing that &ldquo;money&rdquo; and &ldquo;the machine&rdquo; always wins.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: medium;">Considering how many moneyed special interests played a part in Calley&rsquo;s landslide win, and the amount of money that was spent to assure Calley&rsquo;s win, Nakagiri was fighting a losing battle from the start. What other outcome could have been expected with Calley and company spending an estimated $5,000,000 in comparison to Nakagiri&rsquo;s $13,000.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: medium;">If you break down the numbers with Calley garnering 65% of the vote from 1,365 of the 2100 voting delegates, you can see that he spent $3,662 per delegate vote. Nakagiri on the other side received around 735 votes that worked out to $17 per delegate vote.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: medium;">The question now becomes what does the November election portend for the future of the Republican party in Michigan and for Governor Snyder and Terri Lynn Land at the voting booth?</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: medium;">There is no question the &ldquo;Tea Party/Liberty&rdquo; wing of the party is not going to go down without a fight. They have a bad taste lingering in their mouth about the tactics that were implemented by the influential big money interests of the party and the maneuvers of the state party to accomplish their orchestrated agenda.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: medium;">The final outcome will depend on what transpires between now and the general election in November. It will all hinge on what ultimately transpires in the Michigan legislature and the Governor&rsquo;s agenda leading up to the November general election. Until ten we will continue to see more of the Governor&rsquo;s &ldquo;positive, relentless, action&rdquo; that he so often touts.&nbsp;</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: medium;">Already various interest groups are jockeying to their controversial pieces of legislation passed knowing that arms can be twisted, and deals made before the term limited legislators are gone from Lansing.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: medium;">Among the legislation that could suddenly jump to the top of the House and Senate Calendars upon their return from summer break could well be the &ldquo;Elliot-Larsen Civil Rights Act&rdquo; to address the LGBT issues regarding discrimination, the reintroduction of the Michigan Obamacare Exchange, and an increase in taxes and/or fees to address road funding.&nbsp;<br />
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<div><span style="font-size: medium;">If these issues are fast tracked through by the Governor and passed, the &ldquo;Tea Party Wackos&rdquo;, as they are often referred to, may well stay away from the ballot booth, not vote for Governor, or even vote for Democrat Mark Schauer in November.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: medium;">In the end a significant wing of the Republican Party has been alienated and told that we want your vote but not your voice. The problem is, if you don&rsquo;t give them a voice you may very well not have their vote. But who cares Calley got on the ballot and it only cost around $5,000,000 or so!</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: medium;">There&rsquo;s always 2016 &ndash; Right?&nbsp;</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: medium;">Seems like we have heard that saying before!</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: medium;">Until election day it&rsquo;s a waiting game to see what happens as politicians ply their skills in the high stakes game that will ultimately impact all of us in many ways!</span></div>
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