Style, Substance not exclusive

Style, substance not exclusive Style, substance not exclusive Wednesday, October 04, 2006 Republicans predictably criticized Democratic Gov. Jennifer Granholm for putting style over substance Monday, but Republican challenger Dick DeVos' first debate performance lacked both style and substance -- meaning the Grand Rapids multimillionaire missed an opportunity to close the sale with undecided voters. Admittedly, both candidates were often vague and, in Granholm's case, sometimes long-winded. She dominated the debate with a strategy that put DeVos -- and the Bush administration -- on the defensive. DeVos at times looked lost, mumbling that he was disappointed in the governor's attacks on his business investments and history. His primary knock against Granholm is that she isn't creating an atmosphere for economic growth in Michigan. He says he would. Her response was that the U.S. auto industry, poor enforcement of international trade rules and former Gov. John Engler's policies put into motion the state's economic woes. Michigan has the highest unemployment rate in the nation. Otherwise, Granholm scored points by offering more specifics about her economic recovery plan, twice referring voters to her campaign Web site early in the debate. She was also more specific about her plan to replace the state's Single Business Tax, which the Legislature slated for repeal at the end of 2007. The governor has been more forthcoming about how the state could replace the $1.9 billion. The GOP-controlled Legislature doesn't intend to unveil a plan until after the election; DeVos only says he wants a profit-based business tax replacement and additional budget cuts. Apparently, DeVos would cut business taxes by finding some yet-unidentified budget cuts. "I think we can preserve essential services, as we reduce government spending," he said. Other issues -- tax returns, bad investments in assisted care homes, grave errors by employees in state Corrections Department and Child Protective Services -- didn't reveal much about the candidates. No one purposely invests in an assisted care company with the knowledge that it abuses patients. The governor's response to the mistaken release of an inmate who went on to kill three people was to fire employees in the Department of Corrections. And the candidates' stands on hot-button topics such as abortion and stem cell research already are widely known. The first debate clearly shows that the governor and her challenger have significant philosophical differences to governance. DeVos adheres to the notion that lower taxes and less government will get Michigan moving again. Granholm's philosophy rests on investing in education, high-tech industries and, in the short term, infrastructure such as bridges and roads. And the governor was better Monday at articulating what she has set in motion. No surprise there. No one denies that Michigan's economy is in the dumps. That would make the governor's office prime plucking for a challenger capable of explaining an alternative path to voters. DeVos touted his business experience and promised to provide leadership -- both claims that voters have heard repeatedly in his eight months of television advertising. The soap salesman needs to offer more suds if he intends to persuade Michigan to change leadership. He gets another chance in Grand Rapids, his home turf, during the second debate on Tuesday. ©2006 Saginaw News © 2006 Michigan Live. All Rights Reserved. I knew the Michigan GOP and their supporters weren't the brightest light bulbs on the Christmas tree but their complaint proves it. For the GOP whining about the lack of substance is a joke, DeVos been running for govenor since last year yet he hasn't display a real plan that little turnaround plan he talked about was rip to shreds heavy with promises but light on substance even his buddy Timmy the Tool ripped him for not having a plan for replacing the SBT. Since going nasty back in mid-July the Amway Dick has blame Granholm for everything plants closing nevermind he built a plantin China and dump 200 million in the Chinese economy not here in Michigan. The DeVos team remind me of that person who sets a house on fire runs away then come back and says what happen? Most of the state problems traces back to bad policies from 12 years of John Engler and six years of bad policies of the Bush White House which Dick DeVos supports.