Comments on: Former Michigan Gov. Granholm to teach at Cal

By: John W

John W — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 01:39:08 +0000

Re: #7 “aside from the fact that she is a QUITTER who gave up on the people of her state for a super cushy job at UCB.” “…getting a pension…just another turncoat sleazy 1% double dipping pol.”

You say you’re in MA. So, as a current CA resident and former Michigan resident, let me bring you up to speed.

For the record, Michigan switched from defined-benefit pension to a defined-contribution (401k) retirement savings plan for state employees hired after March 1997, nearly two years before Granholm became a state employee as the newly elected Attorney General. As governor, she was paid $172k, but returned 6% of it during budget cuts.

Granholm’s family moved to CA when she was 4. She attended K-12 here and graduated from Cal. She also spent her early working years in CA before going to Harvard Law.

After law school, she clerked for a federal appeals court judge in the midwest, worked as an Assistant U.S. Attorney and county attorney in Michigan before being elected Attorney General and later serving two complete terms (maximum allowed) as governnor. That’s hardly being a “quitter.” You must be thinking of Alaska half-guv, Sarah Palin.

With her education and political resume, she could earn gazillions in the private sector or as a D.C. lobbyist after being termed out as governor. Instead, she decided to return to her home state and take a teaching job at her alma mater. How awful!

By: ezra abrams

ezra abrams — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 00:37:53 +0000

does Gov Granholm get a pension from the taxpayers of MI
and does she get paid by the taxpayers of CA now
aside from the fact that she is a
QUITTER
who gave up on the people of her state for a super cushy job at UCB,
if she is getting a pension and a salary she is just another turncoat sleazy 1% double dipping pol; we certainly have enough of those here in MA where I live

By: John W

John W — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 05:04:25 +0000

RR,

Got it. Well, in political terms, Michigan has been a very tough place to be governor in recent years, given the meltdown of the auto industry and downstate economy. She did get to serve a full 8 years, and I doubt anybody could have done better. But she definitely would have had a tough go of it running for a 3rd term, had that even been an option. We’ll see how her GOP successor, Rick Snyder, does. He seems like a moderate business pragmatist type. He worked for former moderate GOP governor Bill Milliken (best and longest-serving governor in state history), which speaks well of him. I’m sure the University of Michigan or Michigan State would love to have Granholm. But returning to northern CA and to Cal is far more appealing.

By: RR, Uninvited Columnist

RR, Uninvited Columnist — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 02:42:49 +0000

John W.: Meaning her career prospects in Michigan ain’t too good.

By: Tweets that mention Former Michigan Gov. Granholm to teach at Cal | Political Blotter -- Topsy.com

Tue, 25 Jan 2011 00:00:56 +0000

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Haas School, Josh Richman. Josh Richman said: Former #Michigan Gov. Jennifer @GovGranholm to teach at @Cal Berkeley: http://bit.ly/fRGgbz #atcal [...]

By: John W

John W — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 22:05:15 +0000

“She’s an exile.”

Meaning?????

By: RR, Uninvited Columnist

RR, Uninvited Columnist — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 21:12:44 +0000

She’s an exile.

By: John W

John W — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 20:02:35 +0000

Speaking as a Michigander, I’m pleased she will be joining the Cal faculty. She’ll be an excellent addition. While she’s at it, maybe she can tell policymakers here in CA how Michigan, a union state, managed to convert its retirement plans away from defined benefit to more sensible and sustainable defined contribution.