Former Wolverine Riemersma runs with Carr's blessing for 2nd district seat
Former Wolverine and NFL star Jay Riemersma has announced his candidacy for Michigan's 2nd Congressional District (Holland, etc.) and, apparently, has the support for former Michigan coach Lloyd Carr.
Oh and this quotable from a GR Press article I found while Googling Riemersma made me elohel
Jay Riemersma launches official campaign for HouseWhat is an interesting twist, however, is what is included in his emailthatireceivedidunnohowboopolitics:
By PEG MCNICHOL
The Holland Sentinel
Last update Sep 14, 2009 @ 10:13 AM
Holland, MI - Former pro-football player Jay Riemersma wants U.S. Rep Pete Hoekstra's Washington, D.C., job.
He chose a downtown Holland street corner to announce his plans Monday morning, kicking off a day-long stumping effort in West Michigan.
Hoekstra's 2nd Congressional District job has drawn the interest of several hopefuls, including state Sen. Wayne Kuipers, R-Holland; former state representative Bill Huizinga of Zeeland, and Bill Cooper, a Spring Lake businessman.
Riemersma played for the Buffalo Bills and now works for the Family Research Council. He said he will fight against abortion, taxes and big government.
In his announcement Monday, Riemersma all but said "game on" while criticizing Kuipers and Huizinga for their affirmative votes for the Michigan Business Tax.
He promised to sign Americans for Tax Reform pledge Monday afternoon and told the crowd of nearly 100 gathered before him at the corner of Eighth Street and Central in Holland "I will never vote to raise your taxes."
There are a couple of additional important events this week for the campaign. Former University of Michigan football coach Lloyd Carr is visiting the district to campaign for me this Thursday in Holland and Grand Haven. I hope you can make it to one of these important events!Interesting to see Carr throwing in his hat for a former player. Disagree or Agree with the candidate's politics, it's a 'woot' to see another football player trying to follow in the footsteps of All-American Gerald R. Ford and make a place in Washington.
Oh and this quotable from a GR Press article I found while Googling Riemersma made me elohel
"The last thing we need right now is legislative experience," said Riemersma, 36.We beat Notre Dame. Woot.
September 14th, 2009 at 5:47 PM ^
...because Carr is (from what I remember) a pretty staunch Democrat and Riemersma is, uh... not. But I guess that's not too surprising. It's easier to cross the aisle for people who you know and have worked with and whatnot.
September 14th, 2009 at 5:50 PM ^
Carr is the one Democratic football coach on the planet. It made Bo angry, as Lloyd told the story about meeting Clinton after the national title.
September 14th, 2009 at 6:12 PM ^
No Democrat is ever going to get elected from the 2nd District (I grew up as a liberal in Holland, which was interesting...).
Carr probably realized that it's going to be either Riemersma or another guy with similar views, so he may as well support his homeboy.
September 14th, 2009 at 6:31 PM ^
Riemersma has been working for the ULTRA conservative Family Research Council.
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/09/14/former-nfl-player-to-ru…
Guy stands pretty far to the right on the political spectrum.
September 14th, 2009 at 7:33 PM ^
To everyone involved with this comment, cut the politics where it stands if you would. We don't need to provoke a debate.
September 15th, 2009 at 12:17 AM ^
I think the politics is very important, and think the comments are well placed. I've seen no one attack anyone here. Some people are 'into' politics, and some of us have notice that Carr seemed quite the Democrat. And the think-tank that Riemersma works for IS ultra-conservative. It makes it more interesting that he is endorsing him. But it doesn't surprise me considering how close many of these teammates (and coaches) must be to do so much battle together.
September 15th, 2009 at 11:57 PM ^
Agreed on it being civil thus far. That comment was more of a reminder not to get into a debate on politics. The subject is not welcome, as per MGoBoard's FAQ. So just a reminder.
September 14th, 2009 at 5:50 PM ^
yeah, fuck experience, who needs that?
September 14th, 2009 at 6:18 PM ^
The spring of Riemersma's senior year I'm at the CCRB playing bball. I am 6'5" and was always a pretty good leaper. So between games I'm putting down a few dunks, reverse, 360, etc.
Jay not to be outdone grabs a ball and barely dunks it. He then turns to me and says in his best beefcake voise, "try getting 280 pounds up that high".
In the next game he made it a point to guard me and he proceeded to basically beat the shit out of me. Whever I tried to post up downlow he would literally put his forearm into my back and shove to me the 3-point line. When I had the ball and tried to drive around him he would just basically shove me away from the basket.
Needless to say I became less of a Jay Riemersma fan that day. Good luck in the election beefcake.
September 14th, 2009 at 6:46 PM ^
That's not surprising he wouldn't be outdone considering he was also a two-time all-state basketball player (the same years as Chris Webber). He averaged 30 points and 14 rebounds a game his senior year.
September 14th, 2009 at 10:37 PM ^
Well that prick was outdone by an engineering student that was not all-state his senior year of HS.
September 14th, 2009 at 11:25 PM ^
So between games I'm putting down a few dunks, reverse, 360, etc.
I call bullshit.
September 15th, 2009 at 12:12 AM ^
I will try to leave political parties out of the discussion, but the behavior exhibited in that story shows exactly why, I believe, he is trying to get elected. I've listened to some of his stuff, and it's not anything I'd like Lloyd to get behind. On the other hand, I will not judge someone for trying to support a friend in political endeavors--whether they agree 100% with the candidate's platform or not. (I make a living at politics).
Good luck, voters of that district.
September 14th, 2009 at 6:37 PM ^
We had a good discussion on his candidacy last June.
http://mgoblog.com/content/jay-riemersma-run-congress
What I wrote then still holds.
September 14th, 2009 at 6:39 PM ^
sorry if it constitutes as a repost. everything i read said he "announced" today so i thought it post-worthy. not even my party.
September 14th, 2009 at 6:57 PM ^
I live in Holland and I will be voting against this little fella. He's from Zeeland and the only thing more conservative than that place is Utah. That seat is a guaranteed lock for the Republican candidate.
Maybe I'll go Thursday to his rally w/ an Obama shirt but only because I want to see Coach Carr.
September 14th, 2009 at 9:21 PM ^
Not positive, but I heard it's $100/person.
September 14th, 2009 at 7:09 PM ^
like this that have in only a few short hours pushed the most important diary of day (about donating bone marrow) off the front page. I hope this gets moved to the board and the bone marrow diary gets moved back to the front page. It would be great to get everyone from the MGOBLOG community to sign up for the national bone marrow donor list.
September 14th, 2009 at 8:29 PM ^
while i agree that bone marrow is a more important issue, your argument might be better suited at emailing brian with the suggestion of creating "diary stickies" or including the bone marrow post as part of a future main page entry. a former mott employee, i do not need to be reminded of the importance of such efforts. however, you do not at all need to go about rudely complaining about non-repeat posts that include a) the reemergence of lloyd carr from hibernation and b) former player news.
September 14th, 2009 at 8:12 PM ^
UMAA is to intellectual diversity what Saline is to racial diversity.
September 14th, 2009 at 9:05 PM ^
While you're mostly right, there are more Republicans on campus than you'd think. They just don't project it the way the liberal majority on campus does.
September 14th, 2009 at 9:23 PM ^
There aren't many liberals being raised in Zeeland, MI.
September 15th, 2009 at 12:59 AM ^
I happen to be a liberal and from Zeeland, although I wasn't raised that way and I wound up at the University of Michigan... go figure. The place is pretty insular, although Zeeland Schools did still have its fair share of teachers that didn't espouse conservatism.
Jay Riemersma was revered at the school, being its only successful pro athlete ever, although I don't know how his perception changed after he became the Zeeland East football coach, because that happened after I left. As the leader of the Chix, he compiled an impressive record of 1-26.
This isn't as funny to me as the idea of Lou Holtz running for Congress (can you imagine his ESPN-style coach speeches from the House floor?), but it is just as annoying. Seriously, having played football in front of lots of people does not provide a special qualification for Congress. Maybe he should go into business or something, because coaching didn't work out so well either.
September 15th, 2009 at 11:52 PM ^
what not to do while trying to influence recruits to attend your alma mater as a Congressman.
September 15th, 2009 at 7:51 AM ^
+1 for another Zeeland/UM grad. We had Jim Kaat, too!
September 14th, 2009 at 11:07 PM ^
Not true. There are plenty of well-off conservative kids from the suburbs.
September 14th, 2009 at 11:34 PM ^
Saline has Asians! And the Baker family (Chris, the Sparty who played for the Jets in the NFL)!
September 15th, 2009 at 1:23 AM ^
... Ann Coulter
September 15th, 2009 at 11:13 AM ^
WolverineEagle: Posting garbage on Rivals AND mgoblog
September 15th, 2009 at 9:56 AM ^
I'm certainly happy to see a Michigan Man try his hand at politics. If his politics are relatively moderate he should have a good shot...I am one of those who was overjoyed to see Peter Hoekstra vacate his seat, because he is a definite kook, and I don't think he has a chance of becoming governor.
I'll wait for the day when Jay can walk onto the House floor with a Michigan helmet on his head and tackle anyone who gets in his proverbial way!
September 15th, 2009 at 11:17 AM ^
Not trying to be political at all, but I know a Hoekstra and they are way more moderate than Jay. And the Hoekstras are not moderate.
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