Originally, Dave Agema was going to nominate Jane Markey who was holding as a 20 point underdog to the SC Chief Justice endorsed candidate Colleen O'Brien.  Then something came up.  Agema still a supporter was replaced by Tea Party activist Trucker Randy Bishop.  Bishop, with less than a half hour to go before the nomination decided he would not be making the nomination speech.  Again, this was not a changing of support, but something significant enough to torpedo what was expected by Markey to be an effective speech and endorsement of the appellate judge to the high court nomination.

I asked, and was honored to make the nomination.  But even prior to that, had another hurdle facing the nomination 5 minutes prior to going on stage.  the stage manager had yet another person's name on the list of nominees and said "no way." She was "NOT going to change the name of the nominating person again".  I had to explain that I was the person going on stage, and that they can use whatever name they wanted.  She relented, and though responding as if she had been threatened, the show went on.

I made that nomination, using notes scribbled in 3 minutes on a piece of paper found backstage.  The MiGOP for its part was accommodating to the process, and as someone standing on stage it was hard to not feel a changed sense of inclusivity.  I found myself championing a candidate only hours earlier discovered as the better of the two available.

As noted, Colleen O'Brien prevailed in that contest, and Jane Markey's efforts, though seeing a surge, did not see it come soon enough tightening up by only a few points.  Under funded, and facing highly organized opposition it was a nomination not meant to be. Speaking with the Wiz on the floor afterward, we both agreed that many if not most of the voters probably do not know why they are voting in a particular way on these judicial races.  That most of the results do arrive from political means. (Wiz, please correct me if I read you wrong)

The State Board of Education was an interesting race where the arguments were well met, and politics met its match with desired policy.

As it turned out, Nancy Danhof, an eight year Republican incumbent on the Michigan board of education, was targeted by conservatives because of her support of the common core state standards.  the CCSS is seen as a top down federal control of education by our schools.  Both Courser and Kurdys oppose common core and support school choice that gives parents the option to match their children's needs to schools that will meet them.  Courser in particular unique as a home schooling parent who brings a perspective not currently on the board.

MSU Trustee candidates Jeff Sakwa and Melanie Foster easily won nominations with an implied alliance of sorts.  Anne Norlander, a qualified candidate as well, found herself facing a pretty well established base of support for the competition.

Dr. Rob Steele and Dan Horning easily won the U of M Regent nominations.  This in spite of two other fine candidates, Carol Ann Fausone, and Charles William Kauffman, who had great background and perspective as well.  Fausone, a decorated veteran, and Kauffman arguing the case of technology drain from  U of M.

It should be noted that the theme of Michigan students priority, as well as constitution education were arguments made by the winners in these two university nomination contests.

There was no competition nor arguments for the nomination to Wayne State.

The convention also had a vote on some of the referendums. The ones in bold were brought up for a vote by delegates. Proposal 1, affirming PA4, and 2 and 4 on whether we Republicans as a party oppose those initiatives.

Proposal 1: Referendum on the state's Emergency Manager Act. - About 92% support.
Proposal 2: Proposal to amend the MI Constitution to increase power of public unions and increase our taxes by a minimum $1.2 Billion  - 99% supporting a fight.
Proposal 3: Proposal to amend the MI Constitution to increase the price of electricity throughout the state by mandating that 25% of our electricity be provided by clean renewable energy sources by 2025.  - Oh yeah.. never mind, it wasn't brought up.
Proposal 4: Proposal to amend the MI Constitution and force home health care workers to pay union dues  - 99% supporting a fight
Proposal 5: Proposal to amend the MI Constitution to require two-third of legislature to pass a tax increase.  - Not brought up as well
Proposal 6: Proposal to require a vote by citizens before funds can be expended on any international crossing. - No stand on this either.

But the slate should be seen as the foundation for better governance going forward.

It should be noted, proposals 2 and 4 will be get out the vote vehicles for Democrats this year.  Pete and Mitt will have to work a bit harder, or even some of these great folks will not be spared a fight at the polls.  Its always been hard to counter the unreasoning stranglehold of liberalism, but conservatives in the flavor of Reaganism have done it before.

In the end those conservatives, grassroots, and frankly anyone in Michigan will be well represented by those selected by the delegation on Saturday.  The make up of the convening crowd was markedly different than at some other times in the past, in that it was more accepting of the new (old) ideas more closely aligned with traditional Republicanism, and conservative ideals.