In perhaps the stupidest election-year partisan attack ever, the Democratic Governor of Michigan, Jennifer Granholm, was criticized last month for ordering flags flown at half-staff to honor American soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. While this may seem absurd to... um... everyone with a brain, apparently there exists a small number of flag-fetishists in Michigan who believe it "cheapens the gesture" if the flag is lowered to half-staff for insignificant nobodies like the men and women who are making the ultimate sacrifice for this country.

Perhaps sensing a unique opportunity to pander to the semi-retarded troop-hater vote, Granholm's opponent in the 2006 campaign, Dick DeVos (R-Amway), joined in the partisan attack against Granholm and said through a campaign aide that he would reverse the flag-lowering policy, because "lowering the flag has typically been reserved for heads of state." Isn't that special. Apparently DeVos feels so strongly about "supporting the troops" that he'll gladly slap them in the face if he thinks it'll score him some cheap political points.

And if it doesn't score him some cheap political points? Well, he's not too proud to flip-flop.

Facing an outcry from patriotic Americans from across the state, DeVos felt it necessary to "clarify" his position. In a letter to the Detroit Free Press, he said that flying the flag at half-mast "is the least we can do to honor those who have given their lives for the sake of our freedom."

Way to go... Dick.
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/top10/247

Hahaha...as I laugh I still find it hard to believe that this is even possible.

DeVos is very laughable as a candidate for many reasons, in my opinion. For example, he has taken credit for "restoring Grand Rapids", even though he really doesn't deserve any credit. Even his father publically acknowledged this. This article goes into more detail:

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a...605050333/1007

But I should also mention that Grand Rapids isn't exactly "restored" to the extent this article would have you believe. Grand Rapids is the only place where I've seen the plagues of homeless people using public property as their bathroom. Though not all parts of Grand Rapids are bad.

DeVos's real problems, though are his stances on the issues. He has the same problem as many republicans these days: no fiscal responsibility of any sort, and no idea how the economy works. His plan is basically to cut loads of taxes, then increase spending like crazy. He is planning on cutting many taxes on businesses and the upper class, but he will also increase funding to schools, environment protection, funding for alternative fueling (he wants Michigan to lead the way!), medicaid, and other programs. I certainly hope he has a magic pair of pants where he can reach into the pocket and find an unlimited supply of cash.

More likely DeVos will simply not have the money to make good on any of his promises. George Bush is able to fund the projects he wants to work on because he is able to take out loans to supplement the income from taxes. Bush's idea is that pumping more money into the economy will pay off in the end. However, DeVos will not have that option because the republicans in the state's Congress have passed laws preventing Michigan from going into debt. So DeVos's plans are simply not going to work.

Additionally, DeVos opposes same-sex marriage which indicates his disconcern for the welfare of the people, and his website deceptively claims that he's the only candidate for governor who opposes late-term abortion, even though Granholm opposes it in all cases unless the mother's life is in danger.

It is really a shame that DeVos will probably win the election due to his ability to pay for countless campaign ads. The republicans could put someone far better than this forward.