  Ray Member Username: Ray Post Number: 736 Registered: 06-2004 Posted From: 69.209.182.243 |
I needed to do online business with several states today including Michigan. I found most states had helpful, well organized sites that were particularly friendly to business users. Michigan's was a convoluted mess, full of fluff and nonsense, that took me considerably longer to navigate and get what I needed. That's when it me: The Michigan site -- an important public and business development resource -- is on its face a cynical campaign ad for Granholm. Its as small data point, but so telling of the clownish nonsense that hobbles our poor state year after year. Here are all the other states sites: Michigan http://www.michigan.gov/ North Carolina http://www.ncgov.com/ Delaware http://www.delaware.gov/ California http://www.ca.gov/state/portal /myca_homepage.jsp Texas http://www.state.tx.us/ Florida http://www.myflorida.com/ (note a little foolery on the welcome page, but then click "resident, business, visitor" buttons and it's a powerful, no bullshit taxonomy to get work done. One can (sort of) understand our govenor's self-adulation on the homepage. But then you go into "economic development" and its another campaign ad, with the information for business crammed off to the side. I especially love placing the left-wing and utterly demagogic " Petition Against Higher Gas Prices" on the state's Business Development Page. What delicious irony! (Message edited by ray on July 23, 2006) | ||
Focusonthed Member Username: Focusonthed Post Number: 382 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 24.192.25.47 |
This just in: conservatives get panties in bunch, hijack DetroitYes. | ||
Warriorfan Member Username: Warriorfan Post Number: 463 Registered: 08-2005 Posted From: 68.43.81.191 |
After viewing the michigan.gov website, then viewing the websites of the other states, I am forced to agree with you. I noticed on the other states' official websites, their governor is mentioned only once, usually off to the right in a small banner. Granhom is mentioned no less than SEVEN times on the michigan.gov webpage. And all the mentions are touting her "accomplishments." Notice the "spotlight" section (which is front and center on the webpage) is COMPLETELY about Granholm. The Newswire is also completely about Granholm. Even the "First Gentlemen" has a link. | ||
Ray Member Username: Ray Post Number: 737 Registered: 06-2004 Posted From: 69.209.182.243 |
Fcusnthed, I appreciate the importance of not misuing the forum, and your vigilence in pointing out that my thread is admittedly at the edge of appropriate topics. In response, however, let me say that city can no more be seperated from the state than they can from Wayne county. In particular, the central issues facing the city are economic, and these are inexorably connected to state governement. I believe that the policies of the state have been a human and economic castrophe for its residents, most especially the people living in Detroit, and I think at a minimum the state and its leadership deserve our closest scrutiny. One final point: state politics is relevant to Detroit because in fact the 4.5 million residents of metropolitan Detroit exert great, if not nearly complete, control over the state. (Message edited by ray on July 23, 2006) | ||
Angry_dad Member Username: Angry_dad Post Number: 83 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 71.227.48.51 |
Sure can't tell it's an election year from the State of Granholm site. I wonder how much she pays for that public service anouncement page? | ||
Focusonthed Member Username: Focusonthed Post Number: 385 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 24.192.25.47 |
It was a joke  I agree, it does seem more personal than the other states, but I'm not sure how that relates to some of the larger issues we have in the state. It is a bit in bad taste to the degree it exists here, but she is allowed to put her name on State news, IMO. | ||
Lmichigan Member Username: Lmichigan Post Number: 4025 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 67.185.217.114 |
Yeah, like DeVos wouldn't have his faced plastered all over the site if he wins. He'll post daily bible verses, and link you to his families Alticor site to pick and choose your favorite products. lol | ||
Quinn Member Username: Quinn Post Number: 780 Registered: 01-2005 Posted From: 69.242.213.101 |
Lmichigan...too right! | ||
Warriorfan Member Username: Warriorfan Post Number: 464 Registered: 08-2005 Posted From: 68.43.81.191 |
My two favorite links, one was the "Granholm Signs Legislation to Help Keep Michigan Safe" link. Hey, who doesn't like a vague reference to safety? Thanks for protecting me Jenny! The second was "Governor's Talk Early And Talk Often Program Now A Model For Other States." Don't pat yourself on the back too hard Jenny, you might hurt yourself! And upon reading the article, I discovered that "model for other states" actually means that it will be included in some type of audio conference for people from around the country. | ||
Rjk Member Username: Rjk Post Number: 418 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.41.145.5 |
It's good to be the King, or in this case the Queen. Now if only she could find a way to manipulate the unemployment numbers. | ||
Gmich99 Member Username: Gmich99 Post Number: 128 Registered: 11-2005 Posted From: 24.208.231.212 |
OMG Bush Hijacked the White House webpage. http://www.whitehouse.gov/ | ||
Scottr Member Username: Scottr Post Number: 2 Registered: 07-2006 Posted From: 68.188.189.29 |
Gmich99: that would be the equivilant of http://www.michigan.gov/gov/ - the official home page of the governor. The White House, being the president's home, would be expected to have a page with the presidents name plastered all over it. However, go to http://www.us.gov/ and you find nothing about Bush. Regardless of who is in office, I feel this is at best a questionable use of state resources. I wouldn't have any problem with this info being on the governors home page, since accountability is definitely needed. But plastering it to that extent on the state home page is an advertisement in my eyes. There are a million othere state services that belong on there before that. I wouldn't even mind a small section dedicated to news from the governors office, but the amount shown now, overshadowing everything else, is ridiculous. | ||
Kilgore_south Member Username: Kilgore_south Post Number: 125 Registered: 05-2005 Posted From: 24.176.20.117 |
As a Granholm fan, it does strike me as a bit tasteless but I gotta agree with Lmichigan - Dick DeVos, the ultimate Amway huckster, would also have his mug all over that site. Hell, he'd probably rename Michigan 'Alticor.' | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 2480 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 4.229.72.247 |
Lets keep this thread civil, we don't want all those political zealot trolls coming over from Non-Detroit Issues. | ||
Mikeg Member Username: Mikeg Post Number: 156 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 69.136.155.244 |
Until I read the press release, I thought maybe the "Governor's Talk Early And Talk Often Program" was referring to Granholm's preferred style of governing. I have to admit, she is great with a microphone. | ||
Detroitej72 Member Username: Detroitej72 Post Number: 107 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 66.184.3.44 |
This Just in... DeVos has said once elected he will take control of DetroitYES and turn it into AmwayYES! | ||
Hamtramck_steve Member Username: Hamtramck_steve Post Number: 3096 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.73.199.215 |
Holy shit, people, I'm out of state and away from this forum for a week, and I come back to find you all still pretty stupid. I don't suppose anybody here recalls what Michigan.gov looked like before Granholm got elected? Apparently not, because you all are acting like Jenny's broke some new ground. Here's a news tip for you...before Jenny, Engler had his name and face plastered all over the site, too. To help you visualize it, everywhere you see "Granholm" substitute "Engler". | ||
Kilgore_south Member Username: Kilgore_south Post Number: 130 Registered: 05-2005 Posted From: 24.176.20.117 |
Detroitej - read a little further down on that AmwayYES! press release. Lowell will be terminated and his position filled by Mr. Xiang Wu of Weiyang, China. | ||
Detroitej72 Member Username: Detroitej72 Post Number: 108 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 66.184.3.44 |
LoL, Yeh, forgot to read the fine print Kilgore. | ||
Warriorfan Member Username: Warriorfan Post Number: 465 Registered: 08-2005 Posted From: 68.43.81.191 |
Using the Internet Archive site, you can view the Michigan.gov webpage as it appeared in late 2001, when Engler was governor. And no, he didn't plaster his name all over the webpage like Granholm did. See for yourself: Oct 14, 2001 http://web.archive.org/web/200 11014212259/http://www.michiga n.gov/ November 12, 2001: http://web.archive.org/web/200 11112015313/http://www.michiga n.gov/ Looking through several archived versions, I never found more than TWO references to the Governor at any time, far less than the SEVEN on the current michigan.gov webpage. | ||
Hamtramck_steve Member Username: Hamtramck_steve Post Number: 3099 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.73.199.215 |
After looking at before and after, the only difference is the redesign put the press releases on the front page. Engler's press releases read the same way, with him and his administration taking the credit for good weather, plentiful harvests and the bull market. His weren't linked the same way Jenny's are. Oh, and she has her picture in the corner. So, if you consider that "hijacking", my claim of stupidity still stands. | ||
Detroitplanner Member Username: Detroitplanner Post Number: 43 Registered: 04-2006 Posted From: 63.85.13.248 |
Keep in mind that the current website was put-together under the Engler adminstration. The current Gov has not sunk a lot of money into re-developing the website as she has more important issues to deal with. If its a mess, then you know who to blame. All politicos like to mark their territory as much as possible. Engler was all over the website in his days. | ||
Warriorfan Member Username: Warriorfan Post Number: 466 Registered: 08-2005 Posted From: 68.43.81.191 |
Wow, you guys are really stretching it now. Even when I presented you with a link to the old michigan.gov website, your bias towards Granholm still won't allow you to see it. I tell you what, look at one of the archived pages from 2001 or 2002 and then look at today's michigan.gov webpage and tell me they "look the same." They aren't even close. To suggest that Engler designed the website and Granhom hasn't touched it in four years and that the "blame" should be placed on Engler is utterly insane. And to claim that state govt hasn't touched the website because Granholm "has better things to do", care to explain your first-hand knowledge of the governor's operations and/or knowledge of the state's website development? You are talking out of your ass and you know it. Pucker up for Jenny some more, you guys are as bad as Karl with his love for Bush. (Message edited by warriorfan on July 24, 2006) | ||
Hamtramck_steve Member Username: Hamtramck_steve Post Number: 3102 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.73.199.215 |
I'm not puckering up to Jenny or anybody else, only to truth in advertising. I also would appreciate if you clearly distinguish between my comments and those of other people, instead of lumping us all together. You gave us two links from October and November, 2001, and you made mention of looking at "several" archived versions. From this, we are to conclude that you have exhaustively surveyed the state's website over the last ten-plus years? I am giving you direct testimony that Engler's name played as prominent a role as you criticize Jenny for. Her prominence is new, suggesting that it's a campaign ploy. Are you daft to think that Engler didn't do the same thing in reelection years? In the last gubernatorial election year, Engler replaced his name in almost every press release with Dick Posthumous's name. It went from "Governor John Engler was pleased to announce..." to "Lieutenant Governor Dick Posthumous was pleased to announce..." Besides, do you really need to stretch that far to find something to criticize Jenny about? I certainly hope not. She's not the best governor Michigan has had by a long shot, to put it extremely mildly. | ||
Bob Member Username: Bob Post Number: 1067 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.42.98.224 |
DeVos will also make it a requirement that all residents of the State of Michigan have to sell Amway or Quixtar. | ||
Detroitplanner Member Username: Detroitplanner Post Number: 44 Registered: 04-2006 Posted From: 63.85.13.248 |
please Warriorfan, do not put words in my mouth. I am critical of the governor, and I was critial of the other one as well. | ||
Lmichigan Member Username: Lmichigan Post Number: 4028 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 71.197.28.123 |
Bob, I heard he also plans to change the name of our great state from "State of Michigan" to "Alticor® Presents the State of Michigan." | ||
Ray Member Username: Ray Post Number: 743 Registered: 06-2004 Posted From: 69.209.182.243 |
Thank you for the interesting comments to my post. It is nitpicking to blast Graholm for this one little thing, but it does fuel my sense of dread that she is more style than substance. I suppose if you're a Democrat, you're likely to see the issue as trivial and if you're a Republican you're likely to latch onto it as ammunition. | ||
Livernoisyard Member Username: Livernoisyard Post Number: 1152 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 69.242.223.42 |
Why not see if DeVos would be as conceited as Granholm on that website in a few months? Make a screen capture for use later as part of a before & after show-and-tell. | ||
Hamtramck_steve Member Username: Hamtramck_steve Post Number: 3105 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.73.199.215 |
Ray, what if you are neither a Democrat nor Republican? What then should I make of the issue? | ||
Commodore64 Member Username: Commodore64 Post Number: 222 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 71.65.11.254 |
Its the Michigan way.. Your name has to be in lights EVERYWHERE!! When I worked for the County, Robert Ficano's name was on EVERYTHING. You name it, stationary, internal websites, pens/pencils.. He also had his face plastered everywhere too, like he is some kind of king. I hope that we can vote out the Executive and most of the Commission. What a joke! | ||
Ron Member Username: Ron Post Number: 239 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 66.174.93.98 |
No Bob, he won't make everyone sell Amway, he'll just buy all state supplies from ScAmway. That way he'll sell his "250 points" of ScAmway products every month so he can get his kick-back from all of his "Independent Business Owners" selling underneath him. | ||
Lmichigan Member Username: Lmichigan Post Number: 4031 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 71.197.28.123 |
It's hardly a "Michigan thing." Don't fool yourself. It's a political thing. Name recognition plays a huge part in politics, and politicians love to slap their name on anything and everything they can get their hands on (i.e. billboards, yard signs, websites, bumper stickers, banners...) | ||
Scottr Member Username: Scottr Post Number: 3 Registered: 07-2006 Posted From: 68.188.189.29 |
The current website was not launched until granholms administration in approx november 2004 http://web.archive.org/web/200 41123083931/www.michigan.gov/ note that even in the old website, when granholm was in office, it usually contained two releases that mention her name. http://web.archive.org/web/200 40718075920/www.michigan.gov/ not to say that it always did: http://web.archive.org/web/200 40923193906/www.michigan.gov/ to be fair, the page did contain references to engler, but it wasn't nearly to the extent of granholms, it usually only mentioned him once. here's one of the worst, but most contained only one reference, if any at all. http://web.archive.org/web/200 20524103847/www.michigan.gov/ don't believe me? just change the date. i found that when englers name is mentioned, it was usually something fairly important, or related to the site itself. granholm's comments seemed to be every press release they could think of to make her sound good. i'm not too fond of either of them, and in fact i plan on voting for granholm, so it isn't that i am out to make one look bad. and i am sure devos, should he win, will have his name all over that page as well. | ||
Mama_jackson Member Username: Mama_jackson Post Number: 1 Registered: 06-2006 Posted From: 152.163.100.8 |
Maybe the other states mentioned have governors that are not up for election this year? If it isn't their election year, it would not be fair to compare them. Might not the other states shamelessly promote their governor for re-election during the election season? | ||
Rhymeswithrawk Member Username: Rhymeswithrawk Post Number: 4 Registered: 11-2005 Posted From: 12.34.51.2 |
Never visited the site when Engler was governor? His ugly mug was all over it, too. I also remember them adding a special link about the Engler triplets. |
