Granholm and Kwame

It's official: The Detroit City Council has asked Gov. Jennifer Granholm to remove Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick from office - which will be difficult politically, given how much weight Kilpatrick has had in the past with her.

Now, this is but one example, but I think it's the best. Rewind with me to summer/early fall of 2006...

Granholm is to head a four-pronged ticket against a strong GOP slate, headed by Dick DeVos, who leads her in the polls. Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land looks strong, though Attorney General Mike Cox, fresh off a sex scandal in his private life, seems vulnerable.

In Granholm's corner is Lt. Gov. John Cherry, who is headed for another slot on the ticket. Minority Floor Leader Mary Waters of Detroit is the sole Secretary of State candidate, and the AG race on the Dems' side is down to Scott Bowen and Amos Williams, with Bowen widely seen as the stronger candidate.

Kilpatrick, mind you, hates Waters. You know how there are Kwame people and anti-Kwame people in Detroit, with almost no one in between? Waters is an anti-Kwame person, and he doesn't want anything to do with a ticket including her. And he says so.

So here's what happens: Granholm, in a nod to Kwame, dumps Waters (who would have lost to Land anyway) and, at the last minute, brings in Macomb County Clerk Carmella Sabaugh. Because the Dems value balance, and there is an unwritten rule that one African-American be in the four-person slate (and they just booted that person), Williams (who is black) is pushed over Bowen (who isn't).

So now, to pacify Kwame and his backers in Detroit, and to ensure he doesn't do some fool thing and endorse DeVos or stay neutral, Granholm has effectively given up her shot at taking over the AG's office by replacing a credible candidate with one who didn't really have a handle on what the job entails.

Fast forward to November, as Sabaugh and Williams are crushed by Land and Cox, while Granholm and Cherry cruise.

That's the kind of swing Kwame carries. And Granholm is being asked to get rid of him.

Comments

[BJA]

It would be ridiculous for the Governor to remove the Mayor of Detroit. Detroiter's elected Kilpatrick, thus it should be their responsibility to keep or remove him.

The Governor is an outsider and action by her would be severely resented by the residents of Detroit.

[ma]

It's time someone did something to show Mr. Kilpatrick he is going to be held accountable for his actions. That he doesn't get a free ride because of familial ties, skin color, or the backing of the dumb Governor we have. He has to be shown by the people, even if his wife is dumb enough to forgive his cheating behind, that we won't stand for misuse of power and office. Michigan has enough problems without this rogue Mayor acting as if he's Governor of Michigan. Granholm needs to put aside her personal and political affection for him and do what a REAL Governor would do. Take him out of office NOW!!!