Betsy DeVos wants her old job back [MI Repub State Chair]

WOOD-TV ^ | 11-8-2002

[FourPeas]

(Grand Rapids, November 8, 2002, 11:30 a.m.) A familiar face in the Republican party wants her old job back. 24 Hour News 8 has learned Betsy DeVos will campaign for the Republican State Chair.

Two years ago DeVos resigned from the post after a falling out with Governor John Engler over school vouchers. But, now with a Democrat at the head of state government a spokesperson for DeVos says she feels her input is needed more than ever and is ready to lead the Republican Party again.

DeVos is expected to formally announce her candidacy sometime next week. The election takes place at the end of January. At this point the current Chairman Rusty Hills has not decided if he will run again.

[FourPeas]

Now that Engler is gone, DeVos is back.

[cebadams]

Is this a good thing?

[FourPeas]

Is this a good thing?

I think so. Frankly, the weak Republican leadership and the complete lack of a message from our gubernatorial nominee guaranteed the election of Governess Jinny Grandstand. My guess and hope is with Betsy DeVos back, the Republicans will again find their leadership and message.

[cebadams]

Wasn't she State Chair for a very long time before the fight with Engler? I seem to remember something back when Ronna Romney made a run for governor.

Also, I agree with you regarding the complete lack of message from Postumus. He had four years to find a message and stake out his positions and failed.

[Slyfox]

Yes, it is a good thing. Betsy is a true blue conservative.

[FourPeas]

Wasn't she State Chair for a very long time before the fight with Engler?

Yes, she was. See here.

[Grig]

"Betsy is a true blue conservative. "

Not only that, but she'll find 9 other true blue conservatives, who will each find 4 true blue conservatives of their own, and all of them will go and find a couple more each....

Oh wait, that's her husband's business. Never mind :)

[Redbob]

Hers was not a particularly illustrious career at the helm of the GOP in Michigan, was it?
The well-known politicians in Michigan are the likes of the Levin brothers, Bonior, Dingell, and assorted Dim governors.
The Michigan GOP seems better known for driving off anyone with ambition or a message; nor are the leaders particularly conservative.

[Slyfox]

Yes, it is the American way.

[Dan from Michigan]

I don't think we were that weak actually.

Look at what we did statewide outside the gov race and Carl Lenin(almost impossible to beat without 6 million bucks). We kept the Senate, increased our house majority, scored an upset in the AG race, and won the sec of state by 12 points, and won all marginal congressional seats.

Hills(who is resigning) did well for us, IMO, and I think DeVos will also do well(she was here in 1998). MIGOP is not the weaklings at RNC.

[Dan from Michigan]

DeVos was here from 96 to February 2000. We lost the house in 96(tie), took it back in 98 and kept it in 2000. In 98, Engler won reelection(as did Candice Miller as Sec of State, but we lost the AG) and we won big in a dem year nationwide.

Michigan's GOP has been strong since 94. Bonior is gone. The Levin brothers suck.(Sander's area is solid dem, Carl is just an institution) Assorted dem governors? All we had is Blanchard. Dingell is in a dem area as well. However, we have more GOP Congressmen now than dems. 9-6, (although TWO RINOS in Upton and Nick Smith).

Once you get out of Wayne County, Genesee County, Ann Arbor, and East Oakland County, and South Macomb things start to look up.