Friday, August 28, 2015

Nolan Finley: Gamrat A "Cheat, Hypocrite, and Liar" After Livengood Blackmail Claims

Nolan Finley on "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart"

By Brandon Hall
(Email him at WestMiPolitics@Gmail.com)

Detroit News Editor Nolan Finley had harsh words for State Rep. Cindy Gamrat after her investigative team appeared to try and implicate Detroit News reporter Chad Livengood as the possible blackmailer of State Rep. Todd Courser.

"Gamrat; Cheat, hypocrite and now a liar." Finley said while tweeting a WMP article regarding the issue.

Gamrat; Cheat, hypocrite and now a liar. https://t.co/t9dFMCXXgm
— Nolan Finley (@NolanFinleyDN) August 27, 2015

Both MIRS and West Michigan Politics dismissed the possibility of Livengood or Courser as the blackmailer...

>>>Read more below:

Listen To WMP Discuss Courser/Gamrat Drama On "The Big Show" With Michael Patrick Shiels

Breaking: MIRS Reports Gamrat Has Identified Chad Livengood As Possible Blackmailer

Developing: Gamrat/Courser Report Shows RNC Race Used Taxpayer Resources

The Talented Mr. Courser

Breaking: Courser/Gamrat Staffer Had "Ashley Madison" Account

Blogger who supported Gamrat-Courser ended up chronicling their downfall

MLive: Courser+Gamrat: Evolution Of A Sex Scandal

WMP In Buzzfeed

WMP Featured On Fox 17 For Helping Break Courser/Gamrat Scandal

Read The House Resolution Sanctioning Courser/Gamrat Investigation

Courser And Gamrat Must Resign

RUDE: Cotter Tells Gamrat To Get Lost As Greimel Reads Her Apology To House Dems

Confirmed: Courser+Gamrat Met At Lansing Radisson For Dozens Of Sexual Trysts

Read Todd Courser's Full False Flag Email Uncensored (Warning: Explicit Content)

Breaking: Detroit News Confirms WMP's Courser Email Story, Reveals Affair With State Rep. Cindy Gamrat

False Flag? Sources: Courser Sent Controversial Email+House GOP Leadership Knows, No Longer Attends Caucus Meetings

Selweski: Strange tea party soap opera at the state Capitol

Detroit News: Recordings: State rep asked aide to hide relationship

Tea Partier who invented gay scandal about himself also smeared self as a child molester in flyer: blogger

Breaking: Courser Accused HIMSELF Of Child Molestation To Help Win 2014 State House Race

Mary Whiteford Leads Gamrat Replacement Buzz

WMP In Huffington Post

Breaking: Courser Claims Graham, Allard and Cline Spied On Him+Blackmailed Him, Won't Resign

__________________________________________________________

Brandon Hall is a lifelong political nerd from Grand Haven, and is the Managing Editor of West Michigan Politics.

>>>Email him at WestMiPolitics@Gmail.com

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Photo By Darlene Dowling Thompson

Shady: Nearly A Third Of Michigan Counties Face Lawsuits For Having More Registered Voters Than People

Berrien County Clerk Sharon Tyler

By Brandon Hall
(Email him at WestMiPolitics@Gmail.com)

Counties across Michigan are in the hot seat tonight, facing lawsuits for having more registered voters than people who reside in the county. Twenty four of Michigan's Eighty Three counties are on the list-that's nearly one third.

Michigan's twenty four counties are part of 141 nationwide identified by the Public Interest Legal Foundation.

According to the Washington Free Beacon:

"A public interest law firm is threatening to bring lawsuits against more than 100 counties across the United States that appear to have more registered voters than living residents.

The Public Interest Legal Foundation (PILF), a law firm dedicated to election integrity based in Indiana, recently sent statutory notice letters to election officials in 141 counties putting them on notice of their discoveries. The group says if action is not taken to correct the questionable voter rolls, they will bring lawsuits against every single county on the list."

Some of the Michigan counties include Berrien, Wayne, Saginaw, Mackinaw, and Antrim.

Bernd Krebs

Bernd Krebs is a Berrien County business owner and conservative activist. He is appalled by the controversy and has harsh words for Berrien County Clerk Sharon Tyler.

"There is NO excuse given today's technology and all the tools that a County Clerk has," Krebs said. "105% means that there is a 5% failure rate, something that in the private sector means immediate termination. There is simply NO excuse for this."

Krebs believes immediate action is required by Tyler and clerks statewide to avoid costly lawsuits:

"This problem needs to be addressed immediately," Krebs said. "All county clerks should adopt mindset(s) of "all hand on deck", and cease all of their private and political activities until this is fixed."

Tyler says this issue has been a priority since she took office in January 2013.

"This was an issue I ran for office on 2012 to resolve," Tyler said. "This is an issue my office has been working on and even hired additional staff."
Here are the 24 Michigan counties on the list along with, for reference, who won them in the 2012 Presidential election:

Leelanau County-109%, 2012: Romney by 900
Roscommon County-107% 2012 Romney by 500
Charlevoix County-107% 2012 Romney by 2,000
Otsego County-107% 2012 Romney by 2,400
Ontonagon County-107% 2012 Romney by 300
Antrim County-107% 2012 Romney by 3,000
Dickinson County-106% 2012 Romney by 2700
Emmet County-106% 2012 Romney by 3,000
Genesee County-105% 2012 Obama by 60,000
Iosco County-105% 2012 Romney by 650
Kalkaska County-105% 2012 Romney by 1,700
Berrien County-105% 2012 Romney by 5,000
Keweenaw County-104% 2012 Romney by 200
Benzie County-104% 2012 Romney by 300
Mackinac County-104% 2012 Romney by 600
Gladwin County-104% 2012 Romney by 900
Alcona County-103% 2012 Romney by 1,100
Gogebic County-103% 2012 Obama by 500
Cheboygan County-102% 2012 Romney by 1,100
Menominee County-102% 2012 Romney by 300
Montmorency County-101% 2012 Romney by 900
Saginaw County-101% 2012 Obama by 12,000
Midland County-101% 2012 Romney by 6,000
Wayne County-101% 2012 Obama by 387,000

__________________________________________________________

Brandon Hall is a lifelong political nerd from Grand Haven, and is the Managing Editor of West Michigan Politics.

>>>Email him at WestMiPolitics@Gmail.com

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Photo By Darlene Dowling Thompson

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

@ZachGorchow You care to elaborate on what you mean by this? 517-285-3344?
— MIRSnews.com (@MIRSnews) August 27, 2015

Developing: Gamrat/Courser Report Shows RNC Race Used Taxpayer Resources

By Brandon Hall
(Email him at WestMiPolitics@Gmail.com)

Sources tell WMP that the foundation of the Courser/Gamrat report compiled by the House Business Office is the use of taxpayer funded staff and other resources to campaign for State Rep. Cindy Gamrat's campaign to replace Ronna Romney McDaniel as Republican National Committeewoman.

Gamrat and Courser apparently used staff to make phone calls and emails in an "all hands on deck" approach to make sure Gamrat won the seat. She ended up losing to Kathy Berden. Mary Whiteford, who is now challenging her, finished second.

The report will be released Friday, or next Monday or Tuesday...

__________________________________________________________

Brandon Hall is a lifelong political nerd from Grand Haven, and is the Managing Editor of West Michigan Politics.

>>>Email him at WestMiPolitics@Gmail.com

Facebook

Twitter

Photo By Darlene Dowling Thompson

Breaking: MIRS Reports Gamrat Has Identified Chad Livengood As Possible Blackmailer

Chad Livengood

By Brandon Hall
(Email him at WestMiPolitics@Gmail.com)

Sources tell WMP that MIRS will reveal tonight that the alleged blackmailer identified by State Rep. Cindy Gamrat's private investigation team is Detroit News reporter Chad Livengood... Livengood, an extremely well respected reporter, blew the Gamrat/Courser drama wide open with his August 7 report.

MLive has identified the phone registration in the blackmail scheme, with "Todd Courser" listed as the name given. However, why would one register a phone he was going to use to blackmail himself? And then use one's own name?

It is very unlikely Livengood or Courser was involved with the blackmail in any way, more as the situation develops...

.@wmipolitics MIRS reports both names attached to "blackmailer" not accurate.
— MIRSnews.com (@MIRSnews) August 27, 2015

Here is part of the article:

"Attorney Andrew ABOOD, Gamrat's attorney, received an Aug. 17 private investigator report by Dalman Investigations, which used PDJ Services to run a search on the number.

The data that returned was a "C Livingood" connected to a prepaid AT&T phone connected to AT&T's default address on Preston Road in Dallas, Texas.

The name would seem to imply Detroit News reporter Chad LIVENGOOD, the author of the original story that broke the Courser/Gamrat scandal, but if that's the case, the name supplied to Dalman Investigations by PDJ was spelled incorrectly.

For anyone to insinuate any Detroit News reporter was behind the text is preposterous, said the newspaper's managing editor Gary MILES.

On Twitter, Livengood wrote he received a telephone call on the Friday morning his story broke from an unrecognizable man claiming to be the texter. The man shared with the reporter what, at that point, was previously unreleased information about the Courser-Gamrat matter.

On the Monday after, when Courser accused his former staff of being behind the threats, Livengood tweeted for this person to call him back.

To say Livengood could be the texter is "completely impossible," according to former Gamrat-Courser staffer Keith ALLARD, based on when the texts started and when Livengood started asking questions for his story.

"It makes absolutely zero sense. I can only think of one person who would want Todd gone, but not Cindy gone," he said, without elaborating further."

>>>Read more below:

Listen To WMP Discuss Courser/Gamrat Drama On "The Big Show" With Michael Patrick Shiels

Developing: Gamrat/Courser Report Shows RNC Race Used Taxpayer Resources

The Talented Mr. Courser

Breaking: Courser/Gamrat Staffer Had "Ashley Madison" Account

Blogger who supported Gamrat-Courser ended up chronicling their downfall

MLive: Courser+Gamrat: Evolution Of A Sex Scandal

WMP In Buzzfeed

WMP Featured On Fox 17 For Helping Break Courser/Gamrat Scandal

Read The House Resolution Sanctioning Courser/Gamrat Investigation

Courser And Gamrat Must Resign

RUDE: Cotter Tells Gamrat To Get Lost As Greimel Reads Her Apology To House Dems

Confirmed: Courser+Gamrat Met At Lansing Radisson For Dozens Of Sexual Trysts

Read Todd Courser's Full False Flag Email Uncensored (Warning: Explicit Content)

Breaking: Detroit News Confirms WMP's Courser Email Story, Reveals Affair With State Rep. Cindy Gamrat

False Flag? Sources: Courser Sent Controversial Email+House GOP Leadership Knows, No Longer Attends Caucus Meetings

Selweski: Strange tea party soap opera at the state Capitol

Detroit News: Recordings: State rep asked aide to hide relationship

Tea Partier who invented gay scandal about himself also smeared self as a child molester in flyer: blogger

Breaking: Courser Accused HIMSELF Of Child Molestation To Help Win 2014 State House Race

Mary Whiteford Leads Gamrat Replacement Buzz

WMP In Huffington Post

Breaking: Courser Claims Graham, Allard and Cline Spied On Him+Blackmailed Him, Won't Resign

__________________________________________________________

Brandon Hall is a lifelong political nerd from Grand Haven, and is the Managing Editor of West Michigan Politics.

>>>Email him at WestMiPolitics@Gmail.com

Facebook

Twitter

Photo By Darlene Dowling Thompson

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Romney Announces Sen. Rand Paul Will Be At Mackinac

By Brandon Hall
(Email him at WestMiPolitics@Gmail.com)

MIGOP Chair Ronna Romney McDaniel has announced Senator Rand Paul will appear at the Mackinac Republican Leadership Conference next month. Paul joins Jeb Bush, Ted Cruz, Scott Walker, John Kasich, and Carly Fiorina as 2016 contenders who will be on the island. Governor Snyder, Attorney General Schuette and many others will also attend.

"We are excited to announce that Senator Rand Paul will be joining us for the weekend!" Romney said in a statement. "Senator Paul has been an advocate for conservative issues, including paying down the federal debt, defending civil liberties, and reducing the size and reach of government. Senator Paul is a bright star in the Republican Party, and we are thrilled to announce his attendance."

Tickets for Mackinac are $125, and MIGOP officials expect a record crowd, so don't wait to get your tickets if you haven't already:

"As a reminder, the current registration price to attend the 2015 Michigan Republican Leadership Conference is $125. If you haven't confirmed your attendance, visit the Mackinac Republican Leadership Conference website today! On mackinac2015.com, you can find hotel information as well as FAQs regarding food, credentials, and dress code. We hope to see you there!"

__________________________________________________________

Brandon Hall is a lifelong political nerd from Grand Haven, and is the Managing Editor of West Michigan Politics.

>>>Email him at WestMiPolitics@Gmail.com

Facebook

Twitter

Photo By Darlene Dowling Thompson

Monday, August 24, 2015

Cotter Says "Troubling Evidence Of Misconduct" In Courser/Gamrat Drama (But Will Dems Back Expulsion?)

By Brandon Hall
(Email him at WestMiPolitics@Gmail.com)

After meeting with House Business Office leader Tim Bowlin for nearly two hours this morning, Speaker of the Michigan House Kevin Cotter released a statement saying there was "troubling evidence of misconduct" by State Representatives Todd Courser and Cindy Gamrat. Some sources also allege the two ;legislators could be charged criminally.

According to WOOD TV 8:

"Sources close to the case told 24 Hour News 8 on Sunday that criminal charges are being considered for both representatives, but statements from Bowlin and Cotter, R-Mt. Pleasant, did not mention that. However, in his afternoon statement, Cotter did indicate that he was looking into possible disciplinary action:

“I have received a draft report to review, and there is troubling evidence of misconduct. I am directing my legal counsel to review the preliminary findings for the purposes of any further disciplinary actions.”

The statement from Bowlin said that a report on the findings was being forwarded to outside counsel for review, which Bowlin said was typical practice “to protect the privacy and confidentiality of affected individuals and ensure compliance with Human Resources regulations.” He said the findings would be made public after the legal review was finished."

In a statement responding to the announcement of the report, Cindy Gamrat said:

"This job is a privilege and a duty and I owe it to the people in my life and in the 80th house district to review the report and study my options," Gamrat said. "I will talk it over with my family before making any decisions on what steps might be next. As of this time, I have not ruled out any options and I am still listening carefully to input from the people of the 80th district because they are, after all, who I serve in this position."

Todd Courser did not comment.

Some veteran political observers like Rick Albin believe that Courser and Gamrat may be expelled before the Mackinaw Republican Leadership Conference September 18...

However, If House Dems leader Tim Greimel can hold his caucus together and he demands an Attorney General (or special prosecutor) investigation into the Courser/Gamrat controversy that includes "what the Speaker and House leadership knew and when they knew it," Todd and Cindy won't be going anywhere anytime soon because Cotter needs Dems votes to expel.

Stay tuned...