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    Politics Blog

    The home for Michigan's best political commentary

    • National Politics
    • State Politics
    • Local Politics
    • Newstoon
    May 21, 2013, 3:30 pm National Politics | Politics

    Please help Oklahoma tornado victims

    By Mako Yamakura
    comments

    As the media departs, so does the national interest. This is the time in every disaster that many people require a different kind of help.

    May 21, 2013, 3:25 pm Politics
    052013_GradJobMarket_UFSCOLOR

    Cartoon: Graduation

    By Henry Payne
    comments
    May 21, 2013, 12:00 pm Local Politics, National Politics, Politics
    By Dawud Walid
    comments

    Obama, Jay-Z, and curbing the culture of violence

    If the First Family disassociated itself from a gangsta rapper, it would be a great start.

    May 21, 2013, 9:30 am National Politics, Politics
    By Frank Beckmann
    comments

    Senator blames global warming for tornado

    I wish I could get people like this senator to just read and consider the information as easily available as reading a Wiki page.

    May 21, 2013, 5:05 am Local Politics, National Politics, Politics
    By Henry Payne
    comments

    The Best of Obama: Extolling responsibility and family at Morehouse College

    Obama didn’t play the victim card. Instead, he spoke candidly to Morehead students about responsibility and the problem of fatherless homes.

    May 20, 2013, 5:53 pm National Politics, Politics
    By Robert Smith Jr.
    comments

    Individualism has gone

    Today an individual must be willing to do more for less and get less for the more they do.

    May 20, 2013, 2:35 pm National Politics, Politics
    By James Melton
    comments

    AP scandal: Rein in federal power - and posturing

    The best and quickest fix would be for Congress to act. The federal media shield bill deserves quick passage.

    May 20, 2013, 12:40 pm National Politics, Politics, State Politics
    By Henry Payne
    comments

    Scandals undermine Obama's vision

    The scandals are more than a distraction – they are a direct warning against implementing Obama’s Big Government vision.

    May 20, 2013, 9:30 am National Politics, Politics
    By Jason Vines
    comments

    Wisecracker: Me, Myself and IRS

    The IRS’s idea of ‘work with you’ is pummel you with phony requests. I know. I’ve had three inquiries from the IRS in six years.

    May 20, 2013, 5:05 am Politics
    By Dan Calabrese
    comments

    Hawaii junket: Too bad Detroit pension board members didn't use 'attendance justification tool kit'

    If you’re going to take a $20,000 trip to Hawaii on an insolvent city’s dime, you sure enough need to do a good job of justifying it. Considering the hot water in which four Detroit pension board members now find themselves with emergency manager Kevyn Orr. I’m guessing they failed to take advantage of the … Continue Reading →

    • Older Posts

    About the Politics Blog

    Henry Payne

    Welcome to The Detroit News Politics Blog, Michigan’s premier, 24-7 commentary forum.


    We offer lively opinion across the political spectrum from the state’s best writers and opinion personalities. Our writers include Bill Johnson and Kathy Hoekstra on the right; Dawud Walid and Dale Hansen on the left; Lynn Rivers, Maria Servold, Brittany Baldwin and Gary Wolfram in academia; Charlie Owens and Tom Watkins from Lansing’s political frontlines; wordsmiths like Dan Calabrese, Jeff Hadden and James Melton; the humor of ex-Chrysler exec Jason Vines – and many more. See the full list of contributors below.


    Edited by Detroit News columnist and award-winning political cartoonist Henry Payne, the Politics Blog sports original commentary ripped from the daily headlines. We welcome reader discussion in the Comments space after every article.

    Contributors

    • Katy Bachelder: Opinions Editor, Hillsdale Collegian
    • Brittany Baldwin: Program Manager for the George Washington Fellowship Program at Hillsdale College
    • Frank Beckmann: Detroit talk radio host
    • Eric Brown: Detroit talk radio host
    • Dan Calabrese: Editor, CainTV and freelance writer, Grand Rapids (Monday, Thursday)
    • James Dickson: Op-ed editor Detroit News
    • dream Hampton: Grosse Pointe book author, journalist, musician
    • Jeff Hadden: Ex-Detroit News editorial page (Tuesday)
    • Dale Hansen: Detroit free-lance writer
    • Kathy Hoekstra: Media relations chief for Job Creators Network, Midland writer and videographer
    • Ingrid Jacques: Detroit News deputy edit page editor
    • Bill Johnson: Award-winning Detroit writer, Detroit consultant (Monday)
    • Robert Laurie: St. Clair Shores free-lance writer (Wednesday)
    • James Melton: Detroit free-lance writer, ex-Crain's assistant managing editor
    • Steve Mitchell: Pollster, Mitchell Communications, Lansing
    • Chuck Moss: Ex-Michigan Appropriations chair
    • Charlie Owens: Lansing business consultant, writer
    • Henry Payne: Detroit News, columnist, editorial writer, cartoonist
    • Joshua Pugh: Lansing free-lance writer (Friday)
    • Lynn Rivers: Politics Professor, U-Michigan, ex-House member (Thursday)
    • Maria Servold: Assistant Director, Dow Journalism Program, Hillsdale College (Wednesday)
    • Robert Smith: Detroit free-lance writer
    • Jason Vines: ex-Chrysler and Ford Communications chief, business consultant (Monday)
    • Dawud Walid: Activist, writer, Council on American-Islamic Relations (Tuesday)
    • Tom Watkins: Lansing ex-Michigan Secretary of Education, business and education consultant
    • Gary Wolfram: Professor of Economics, Hillsdale College (Friday)
    • Mako Yamakura: Detroit free-lance editor and writer

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