The Republican governor told reporters Wednesday he still hopes the GOP-led House and Senate will approve moving forward on a new bridge between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario. But he's also pursuing other options.

Message to Gov Snydholm... It's the numbers, stupid.

Cross-posted at  The Western Right,  Right Michigan, and Red Racing Horses.

Michigan will see a number of interesting congressional races in 2012.

Michigan will lose a congressional seat, going from 15 to 14.  Redistricting changed the congressional map, particularly in eastern Michigan.

All the talk of a dead Tea Party, weakened Republican party, conservative sitting on their hands, etc...  One only has to look as far as a finger-in-the-wind wielding Roy Schmidt.  Schmidt, following the in-trade expectations of crushing defeat of legislators on the left has realigned his loyalties.  Michigan GOP chair Bobby Schostak says:"

"Representative Roy Schmidt is the latest casualty of the Democratic Party's extreme agenda of politics ahead people, and I applaud Rep. Schmidt for choosing to put his convictions and constituents first by joining the Republican Party. Michigan's economic comeback has just begun and there is still a lot of work to be done. But, make no mistake, the parties could not be any different - Republicans continue to offer serious solutions to defend Michigan's turnaround while Democrats hope to return Michigan to the days of broken budgets, big deficits and failed policies that will derail Michigan's comeback."

He will be facing Democrat Matt Mojzak for the 76th state house seat.

Been here before?

Gary Glenn today announced over 27,000 signatures collected. State law requires U.S. Senate candidates to gather a minimum of 15,000 valid signatures to qualify for the ballot, the highest requirement in the nation, and 100 signatures from at least half of the state's 15 congressional districts.  Glenn far exceeded both requirements, submitting signatures from all 83 counties in the state and more than 500 signatures from all 15 districts.

But it was not as much as the gun to the head method employed by labor for Debbie Stabenow's 30,000 signatures.  Ones that still may include a few from voters of a posthumous state.

And Glenn's goal, buttressed by the truly grass roots Mi4CS effort has not only been met but has apparently exceeded the signature counts of each of the other opponents.  Some of whom had to pay for signature gathering.  Hoekstra stopped at 22,000 a month ago, Durant, yesterday, with 24,407, Hekman and Konetchy both today with 19,323, and 15,500 respectively.  Konetchy for his part, is likely to be now crossing both sets of fingers and toes.

Yet it is all quite Impressive.

The argument can now begin on the philosophical strengths of each candidate.  The requirements alone are a test of will and ability to pursue the office.

Someone says its time to dump Upton:

"In 1986, Upton primaried a sitting Republican by running to that man's left.  He has been running to the left field foul line ever since.  Now it's time to return the favor."

The fallout on this from Weeper Boehners' House?  61% of the voting Republicans voted with the socialist Democrats.  Bachmann did not vote.  How did our reps do?  

Those who appropriately voted 'NO': Amash, Huizenga, Upton, Walberg.  Thank you.

Now, the Big Government Corporate Welfare vote: Benishek, Camp, McCotter, Miller, Rogers.

Yes... Benishek, Camp, McCotter, Miller, and Rogers outed themselves again voting along with the unanimous Michigan Democrat vote.

And yes I did the 'project' thing.

There are a number of reasons I am doing it. Apparently however, leadership is trying to hit on a couple of local conservatives and pressure me out of the contest. Yes, there are different ways to do things, and one of those is to cut off support to someone who might be seen as sympathetic to this type of primary campaign.  they would punish those in races where state help might be needed in the general. Hold money back and use it like a knife held to the throat of a friend.  Throw a tantrum and threaten losses in multiple races based on a misplaced sense of loyalty to a guy who "does everything we want."

And then pretend its somehow my fault.  Sad. But it's on them.

You guys can do as you please.  I have been a team player. But I know which team I am on. I have been involved in the local, state, and national Republican scene, and helped to ensure that in 2010 we took the majorities in the places that mattered.  Our team was composed of a great number of grassroots concerned citizens.  I was a member and only one of those great many patriots that returned Michigan to a level of sanity that was impossible under the prior administration.  Each of us worked in the manner we each saw fit, and some of us quite effective.

But none of it was done to see additional picking of winners, or to see the continued stealing from Michigan HOME HEALTH CARE AIDES, or continuing oppression on business owners or small farmers, or the negligence in the failure to pass Right To Work in Michigan.  And at least one more independent voice of reason is needed.

And I need neither permission, nor a place in line to provide a very different vision of how the job should be done, or whom should represent our district.  We can work together after I win the seat, but it will be a whole lot easier if leadership doesn't shoot itself in the foot by throwing accusations (you know who you are) to friends whom I have purposefully left out of the discussions prior to making the decision to run.

An apology is in order to those whom have been accused of recruiting me by those who fail to understand what I represent.