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    Politics Blog

    The home for Michigan's best political commentary

    • National Politics
    • State Politics
    • Local Politics
    • Newstoon
    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 17, 2013, 2:30 pm Local Politics, Politics, State Politics
    By Robert Smith Jr.
    comments

    The crisis man

    Bing was a businessman who played basketball – just right for the outsiders (and the insiders) that wanted a clean break from all that was Detroit politics.

    May 6, 2013, 12:00 pm Politics
    By Robert Smith Jr.
    comments

    Detroit's way out of desolation

    Kevin Orr should negotiate with Detroit unions.

    Apr 29, 2013, 2:30 pm National Politics
    By Robert Smith Jr.
    comments

    President Bush: True to his convictions

    We can agree with President Obama: Bush “is a good man.”

    Apr 18, 2013, 3:00 pm Local Politics, Politics, State Politics
    By Robert Smith Jr.
    comments

    Big Ed lessons for Detroit mayoral race

    McNamara helped many people in many so ways – and he was never indicted of any wrongdoing.

    Apr 15, 2013, 3:00 pm Local Politics
    By Robert Smith Jr.
    comments

    Barack Snyder's job bridge

    From Day One, Governor Snyder has been trying to build a bridge to Canada.

    Apr 11, 2013, 4:00 pm Local Politics, Politics, State Politics
    By Robert Smith Jr.
    comments

    Reason for Detroit to hope

    Dan Gilbert and his team are doing all the right things to help Detroit.

    Mar 29, 2013, 3:30 pm Politics
    By Robert Smith Jr.
    comments

    In Detroit crisis, Duggan rises

    Duggan has the most experience in problem solving. But he has to overcome the outsider label.

    Mar 25, 2013, 9:30 am Local Politics, Politics, State Politics
    By Robert Smith Jr.
    comments

    Detroit, city of fighters

    Is the appointment of an EM the end of a generation of Detroit fighers like Young, Kenyatta, and Watson?

    Mar 19, 2013, 3:52 pm Politics, State Politics
    By Robert Smith Jr.
    comments

    Detroit's level playing field

    Snyder calls him an emergency manager. An EM. The people of Detroit call it the TOM (take over man) and want him gone.

    • 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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