Bill Ballenger the self-assessed number one political pundit in Lansing writes a weekly blog, The Ballenger Report, that I subscribe to. Ballenger is a conservative who prides himself in reporting the facts and the truth. In this week’s blog, The Ballenger Report had a question-and-answer session with former Republican Congressman from Birmingham, Michigan, David Trott.
I found the first question and answer very enlightening and discouraging as it relates to the current state of politics in our congress. It is not about serving the public and your constituents. It is about headcount and keeping your party in control to serve the desires of party leadership. The link to the full article follows the answer to the first question. It is worth the time to read.
TBR Question 1): Mr. Trott, you were a successful lawyer and businessman before you ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in 2014. You were then elected for two terms in the old 11th District and seemed to be on a path to a productive career in Congress. Then, suddenly, you aborted your political career and bowed out of politics after 2018. Why?
Trott Answer 1): After I won (re-election) in 2016, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy told me my re-elect in 2018 would be a 20 million dollar race and as a result I should spend all of my time over the next two years raising money. He told me not to worry about my committee work of legislating. Instead, just raise money. I decided that was not how I wanted to spend two years of my life (Editor’s note: the 2018 race in the neighboring 8th CD between incumbent Republican Mike Bishop and Democratic challenger Elissa Slotkin DID turn out to be a $20 million dollar-plus race, which Slotkin won. In fact, it was the most expensive race in the country that year. That’s what Trott avoided in his own district by not seeking re-election).
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It is Day 14 since Matt Gaetz and his band of merryman decided to oust Speaker Kevin McCarthy from the House. Jim Jordan appears primed to eventually win the Speaker position, but it is not guaranteed. As Jordan is finding out quickly, it is one thing to be a representative from a district in Ohio. It is another thing to be the prime candidate for the Speaker of the House. Jordan’s record is now under immense scrutiny on a national level. Everything he does or says will be on national news. Things he hasn’t done or not accomplished will be under a microscope. He will no longer be ignored and discounted. He says he will be able to lead the party and create unity, but we all know that will only happen as long as the former president agrees with what he is doing or until Jordan crosses the former president. Then he will be left hanging in the wind, like so many others who have crossed the former president.
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Now that the Lions are tied for the best record in the NFL, I am reading things that have not been written since I was six years old. Just six weeks ago we were hoping the Lions would win the NFC Central. Now the pundits are talking about them obtaining the No. 1 seed in the NFC as indicated in this quote. “Collectively, the group (defensive backs) needs to be better if the Lions want to secure the No. 1 seed in the NFC.” Who would have thought this was possible one year ago?
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Just so you know, I am not on the Lions bandwagon yet, but I was looking on-line at the possibility of purchasing tickets to ride the “wagon” following yesterday’s win at Tampa Bay. It was an impressive win.
There are two series of downs that have really impressed me. In the closing quarter against Carolina, the Lions ran nearly eight minutes off the clock to ice the game with a strong running game. In the closing quarter against Tampa Bay, the Lions also ran nearly eight minutes off the clock, this time with precision passing by Jared Goff and clutch receiving by a host of receivers. In previous years, it was rare for the Lions to run that much time off the clock to secure a victory. To do it two games in a row in two different ways has got my attention.
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Following Michigan’s overwhelming win against Indiana on Saturday in which Michigan scored 52 unanswered points after Indiana took a 7-0 lead late in the first quarter Michigan’s linebacker Michael Barret had this to say. “We’re in the business of kicking (butt), and business is booming,”
It will probably end up on The Ohio State’s and Penn State’s locker room the week they prepare for Michigan, but I thought it was a great quote, so it gets my Quote of the Day
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Quote of the Day: See above from U of M Linebacker Michael Barret
Orchid of the Day: The Detroit Lions
Onion of the Day: Oregon Coach Dan Lanning, whose three failed fourth-down attempts backfired, said he has only himself to blame for their three-point loss to rival Washington. Dan, you should always take the points!!!!!!!!!!
Question of the Day: A good friend told me he would take MSU and 70 points for this week’s game at East Lansing. Should I take the bet?
Video/Image of the Day: Amon-Ra St. Brown’s 27- yard TD against Tampa Bay. Watch the block by Craig Reynolds to allow St. Brown to turn the corner and score.