The online Dome Magazine has a nice tribute to former governor Bill Milliken, whose 90th birthday is approaching.
Milliken was a gentleman, yet a stern, effective politician. His brand of Republican centrism and bipartisanship is long gone from Lansing, but Dome has several pieces that not only pay tribute to Milliken but also urge today’s GOP to heed his style and success.
(By the way: A source pointed out to me the other day that Milliken is the only ex-governor over the past four decades who stayed in Michigan after leaving office.)
Those who contributed columns about Millken are: Craig Ruff, Bob Berg, Lana Pollack, Jack Lessenberry, Dave Dempsey and Paul Welday.
Welday, the former Oakland County Republican party chair and chief of staff to former congressman Joe Knollenberg, sees a substantial link between Milliken’s style and the political workings of Gov. Rick Snyder.
In part, Welday wrote:
“In addition to a non-ideological approach to governing that is neither ‘mushy moderate’ nor ‘crazy conservative,’ Gov. Snyder is impacting the Republican Party by the tenor and tone of his style of leadership. Much like Bill Milliken — and to his credit — Gov. Snyder does not feel the need to score political points to move his agenda forward. When Gov. Snyder says it doesn’t matter who gets the credit for success, he means it. And that’s good politics.
“Gov. Snyder is changing the way Lansing works through a Millikenesqe style and approach to personal politics not seen in the Michigan Republican Party in recent years. This method of leadership is consistent with private sector management styles practiced by the most effective business gurus – and Michigan has always appreciated great CEOs.
“While the Michigan GOP of 2012 is a long way from the Republican Party built by Gov. William Milliken, there are some lessons to be learned.
“If we are willing to look past the very real policy differences that separate Republicans then from Republicans now, we might just find some very real human elements to the art of politics at which Bill Milliken could show us a thing or two. Rick Snyder has learned that lesson, and all Michigan Republicans as well could benefit by emulating Bill Milliken in that regard.”
Well said.
You can read much more here.
