Mackinac Conference- Pundits and Pollsters

Every other year the Republican Party in Michigan meets up at Mackinac Island to talk about policy and leadership. This year over 2000 Republicans came to this beautiful island to improve their communication skills, talk about the most important issues facing our state and nation today, and evaluate potential candidates for office. It is an exciting event, and I am lucky to be there.

One workshop that I went to was called "Pundits and Pollsters," and was a panel discussion focusing on what the data from recent surveys and polls is saying and how Republicans can take advantage of it. I know that some people who read this blog are not Republicans and might think that this is just a cynical process, but this is what a republic is about- the people communicate and people interpret the results and try to do what the people want.

And the results are actually favorable to Republicans- the people are mad and are not going to take it any more. The people want change, but are very upset about the change that they voted for last year. The people want bipartisanship, real leadership, and a government that will make things better for the future- and although President Obama campaigned on these and many Congressman talked about these, in reality what they have given voters is more of what they didn't want and given them a more bitter, partisan, opaque government that is piling up debt and throwing personal insults at its opponents.

The panel had several great speakers on it- Dave Doyle, Ari Fleischer, John Fund, Alex Gage, Anne Hathaway, Frank Luntz, and Steve Mitchell.

Ari Fleisher had a good line- he emphasized how Republicans can also be the party of change- the kind of change that voters really want.

Alex Gage advanced the theory that Republicans lost the 2008 elections because they didn't turn out to vote, not because voters rejected their ideology and agenda, and his best line was "the question facing America remains the same as always- what is the proper role of government in our society"- and he predicted that voters are going to reject the Democrat's answer to that question next election.

Alex also pointed out the very real threat to Republicans of redistricting and reapportionment- with the Democrats controlling the Census Bureau and the Justice Department and determined to politicize the process, there is a very real possibility that districts drawn at the state level could establish permanent seats for Democrats and that Republicans could lose seats at every level of government. That is why it is so important to be active and vote at every level of government- your state Representatives and Senators draw those lines on the map, and if they are Democrat, Republicans will lose out.

Anne Hathaway pointed out that now is an opportunity in the Republican party for true leaders to step up and begin to become more active. The American public does not want Republicans or Democrats, but true leaders, and if that is you, the Republican party wants you and wants you to be active.

Steve Mitchell runs a research firm and has recently done a lot of polling about the upcoming election here in Michigan. According to his research, the data is pointing towards a Cox vs Cherry matchup for Governor of Michigan, with Cox winning big. For Secretary of State, the projection is Bishop vs Whitmer, with Bishop winning.

Keep your eye on my blog all weekend for updates from this conference.