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Northern Michigan boat launch request fuels controversy for Whitmer

Bucky

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The owner of a Northern Michigan dock company says Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's husband wanted his boat placed in the water before the Memorial Day weekend as Whitmer urged residents not to rush to the region.

No longer visible to the public, Facebook posts from NorthShore Dock LLC and its owner, Tad Dowker, focused on what Dowker said was a request last week by Whitmer's husband, Marc Mallory. The posts have drawn the attention of Republican state lawmakers, who said the Democratic governor's family may not be following her guidance for the rest of the state.

"This morning, I was out working when the office called me, there was a gentleman on hold who wanted his boat in the water before the weekend," Dowker posted. "Being Memorial weekend and the fact that we started working three weeks late means there is no chance this is going to happen."

"Well our office personnel had explained this to the man and he replied, 'I am the husband to the governor, will this make a difference?'"

Whitmer and Mallory, who reside in Lansing, own a property in the Elk Rapids area with a taxable value of about $175,000, according to county records. Zillow estimates the property could currently sell for more than $437,000.

NorthShore Dock LLC posted a second statement about the situation on its page Saturday after Dowker apparently removed his own. The company said Dowker's post had gone "viral" and employees didn't have time to deal with resulting media requests.

Purported request for boat launch fuels controversy for Whitmer

What Gretchen Whitmer is soon realizing is that her power is not without limits.
 
I don't get it. The guy asked that his boat be put in the water. I'd guess that he called the boatyard every Memorial Day weekend with the same request. I use calendar holidays as reminders myself.
Have I missed something?

there's been a lot of dark money groups fueling outrage in my state, because they want to replace Whitmer with a Republican.
 
I don't get it. The guy asked that his boat be put in the water. I'd guess that he called the boatyard every Memorial Day weekend with the same request. I use calendar holidays as reminders myself.
Have I missed something?

Yes, you completely missed it.

No boat owner has their boat put in the ester for the intention of NOT using it - just to watch crude build up on the bottom. He had the boat put in the water to use it, while at the same the governor was telling people not to travel during the weekend and even banned traveling to their vacation second home - exactly as her husband did.

This another of endless stories of self-declared dictators like that Democratic governor declaring themselves exempt from their own edicts. After all, total power dictators don't have to follow any rules or laws. It also means her husband doesn't believe a word she says about covid-19. Who would better know she's a pathological liar than her own husband?
 
Yes, you completely missed it.

No boat owner has their boat put in the ester for the intention of NOT using it - just to watch crude build up on the bottom. He had the boat put in the water to use it, while at the same the governor was telling people not to travel during the weekend and even banned traveling people's second home - exactly as her husband did.

This another of endless stories of self-declared dictators like that Democratic governor declaring themselves exempt from their own edicts. After all, total power dictators don't have to follow any rules or laws. It also means her husband doesn't believe a word she says about covid-19. Who would better know she's a pathological liar than her own husband?

He didn't go to the boat, did he? Lots of people have their boats put in and taken out by the calendar. And that lake must be in gawd-awful condition if crud build-up is a consideration like you say. A boat in the salt chuck constantly might need to be cleaned once a year but in a lake?
This is nothing. A guy calls the boatyard to get his put put in and next some rightists is beaking off about power without limits. Slow news/outrage day, I guess.

Edit- despite what you say, there's nothing in the report saying Mallory went to their summer home. Did you make that up?
There is this though... "The statement said Mallory was respectful and understanding when the company couldn't schedule the installation early."
 
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Yes, you completely missed it.

No boat owner has their boat put in the ester for the intention of NOT using it...

Actually, a lot of people do things well ahead of time, I know I like to. I'm totally serious, they even have a word for it: Preparation.
 
He didn't go to the boat, did he? Lots of people have their boats put in and taken out by the calendar. And that lake must be in gawd-awful condition if crud build-up is a consideration like you say. A boat in the salt chuck constantly might need to be cleaned once a year but in a lake?
This is nothing. A guy calls the boatyard to get his put put in and next some rightists is beaking off about power without limits. Slow news/outrage day, I guess.

Just some bad cases of TDS.

When a cult's dear leader suggests injecting disinfectant, you either realize it's time to say Sayonara, or you're in too deep to get out on your own.
 
Actually, a lot of people do things well ahead of time, I know I like to. I'm totally serious, they even have a word for it: Preparation.

A lot of people do things by the calendar too and use holidays as reminders. Boat in on Memorial Day, boat lifted out on Hallowe'en.
 
There was photos of a bunch of cars at their holiday house.
 
There was photos of a bunch of cars at their holiday house.

Not on my tablet. I've looked at that report twice and there's no such pic.
 
Actually, a lot of people do things well ahead of time, I know I like to. I'm totally serious, they even have a word for it: Preparation.

Nope, that isn't want this was about. The boat was in a winter storage facility for boats. It is not where their boat is docked. It was to put the boat in the water at the storage facility in the water to move to their own dock. They are not going to allow people to totally jam up their own limited dock just to have the boat floating in the water at their dock, nor could every boat there even do so.

NO ONE has their boat removed from a boat storage rack or indoor storage facility if they aren't going to use it - plus storage facilities won't allow their limited dock space tied up that way. I suppose with him telling the facility order to defy the shutdown order because he is the husband of the governor also might be interpreted as a threat if the facility owner doesn't allow the governor to have free docking - which then meant her husband outright committed a crime.

Removing a boat from storage also means you are going to MOVE THE BOAT because you CAN NOT just leave it in the water there. That company BUILDS docks. They store boats indoors. They do not rent dock space. Or are you claiming they were just to put it in the water and let it drift off out into the lake? That'd get them ticketed and the boat would be impounded as a navigation hazard.

Everyone knows what happened here. Like millions and millions other people, her husband, if not her too, was going to defy her orders by being traveling to their lake house and boating - all which the governor had banned.

Why not admit her husband was acting like a normal person rather than the ridiculous excuses detached from reality. A 3 day beautiful weekend. He was going boating after all winter - and not follow some crazy claim that he'd infect others or get infected by driving his car and boating on a lake.

You don't have a boat launched by someone else who then just let's it drift off. But that is what you are claiming.
 
A lot of people do things by the calendar too and use holidays as reminders. Boat in on Memorial Day, boat lifted out on Hallowe'en.

Continue the story. They put the boat in the water, the owner nor anyone else for the boat there. Now what? Just watch the boat drift off into the lake? You SERIOUSLY claim that is that he does every year - just tell them put his boat out on the lake and let it drift around until he happens to get there in days or weeks? He wouldn't even have any way to get to his boat floating unattended somewhere on the lake. That is VERY illegal, actually - and would be extra stupid.
 
I don't get it. The guy asked that his boat be put in the water. I'd guess that he called the boatyard every Memorial Day weekend with the same request. I use calendar holidays as reminders myself.
Have I missed something?

1. He tried to use his stroke as the gov's ol' man to get special treatment.

2. Motorboatin' is banned in Michigan, by order of the governer.

3. The governer's lockdown order restricts travel between properties.

4. The rules are for the little people.
 
Continue the story. They put the boat in the water, the owner nor anyone else for the boat there. Now what? Just watch the boat drift off into the lake? You SERIOUSLY claim that is that he does every year - just tell them put his boat out on the lake and let it drift around until he happens to get there in days or weeks? He wouldn't even have any way to get to his boat floating unattended somewhere on the lake. That is VERY illegal, actually - and would be extra stupid.

Gee. I never thought of that.
It's too bad boatyards in the US don't have docks to tie boats up to like they do here.

Wait a minute- you were joking, right?
 
The boat owners will not sail with the MSS Detroit submarine lurking off the marina.
 
Gee. I never thought of that.
It's too bad boatyards in the US don't have docks to tie boats up to like they do here.

Wait a minute- you were joking, right?

Dumb message. Most boat storage facilities have a dock to TEMPORARILY tie off to. That company does. That location is not a dock rental company.
 
Continue the story. They put the boat in the water, the owner nor anyone else for the boat there. Now what? Just watch the boat drift off into the lake? You SERIOUSLY claim that is that he does every year - just tell them put his boat out on the lake and let it drift around until he happens to get there in days or weeks? He wouldn't even have any way to get to his boat floating unattended somewhere on the lake. That is VERY illegal, actually - and would be extra stupid.

The guys in the boatyard motor the boat from the drop in space his his assigned slip and tie it up. Its all part of the job of putting a boat in the water. If you have the money they will service the boat, paint the underside and do any work needed so you just show up and motor away.

Dumb message. Most boat storage facilities have a dock to TEMPORARILY tie off to. That company does. That location is not a dock rental company.

Then they would have an arrangement to move it to where it is kept when it is in the water. You just need money.

A lot of people do things by the calendar too and use holidays as reminders. Boat in on Memorial Day, boat lifted out on Hallowe'en.

That is SOP for boating on the Great Lakes.
 
The guys in the boatyard motor the boat from the drop in space his his assigned slip and tie it up. Its all part of the job of putting a boat in the water. If you have the money they will service the boat, paint the underside and do any work needed so you just show up and motor away.



Then they would have an arrangement to move it to where it is kept when it is in the water. You just need money.



That is SOP for boating on the Great Lakes.

Moving it in violation of orders? "Boat moving" isn't on the governor's approved jobs list, is it?
 
Moving it in violation of orders? "Boat moving" isn't on the governor's approved jobs list, is it?

WHUT? :lol:

The boat yard isn't doing anything illegal.The GOP is desperate to manufacture outrage about Michigan Gov Witmer.
 
It's good to be married to the all-power absolute monarch queen.

Since she refuses to allow the legislature to vote on it, why don't they just eliminate the legislature rather than paying them and their staff for nothing since they are absolutely irrelevant anyway?
 
WHUT? :lol:

The boat yard isn't doing anything illegal.The GOP is desperate to manufacture outrage about Michigan Gov Witmer.

Nothing in the governor's order allows boat moving companies to operate - nor was that stated by the governor's defense anyway.
 
Nothing in the governor's order allows boat moving companies to operate - nor was that stated by the governor's defense anyway.

03 April 2020,

Editor's note: Since the publication of this story, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's office has clarified that jet skis, motorboats or other comparable watercraft are prohibited. Read the latest story here.

Boating and kayaking are allowed under Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's stay-at-home order, officials with the governor's office said Friday, overruling a state police lieutenant's earlier statement that launching watercraft was barred under the governor's edict.

Boating allowed in Michigan, Whitmer's office clarifies


Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is working with six other Midwest governors to coordinate the reopening of their respective economies.

Michigan officials will collaborate with Ohio, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky on easing coronavirus restrictions as conditions allow.

The Associated Press reported governors in the Northeast and along the West Coast entered similar agreements on releasing coronavirus restrictions.

Whitmer and her counterparts in the six Midwest states released the following joint statement on Thursday announcing the effort:

"We are doing everything we can to protect the people of our states and slow the spread of COVID-19, and we are eager to work together to mitigate the economic crisis this virus has caused in our region. Here in the Midwest, we are bound by our commitment to our people and the community. We recognize that our economies are all reliant on each other, and we must work together to safely reopen them so hardworking people can get back to work and businesses can get back on their feet.
 
Notice how every Democrat avoids any mention of this aspect:

"This morning, I was out working when the office called me, there was a gentleman on hold who wanted his boat in the water before the weekend," Dowker posted. "Being Memorial weekend and the fact that we started working three weeks late means there is no chance this is going to happen."

"Well our office personnel had explained this to the man and he replied, 'I am the husband to the governor, will this make a difference?'"

Claiming he should be able to cut in front of a 3 week waiting line because he's the husband of the all-powerful governor who could order the storage facility outlawed from operation, ie a true shakedown by the husband of a known tyrant.

Do YOU think he should be able to cut in front of everyone in lines because he's married to the governor? Governor Whitmer certain has no problem with his doing so.
 
Notice how every Democrat avoids any mention of this aspect:

"This morning, I was out working when the office called me, there was a gentleman on hold who wanted his boat in the water before the weekend," Dowker posted. "Being Memorial weekend and the fact that we started working three weeks late means there is no chance this is going to happen."

"Well our office personnel had explained this to the man and he replied, 'I am the husband to the governor, will this make a difference?'"

Claiming he should be able to cut in front of a 3 week waiting line because he's the husband of the all-powerful governor who could order the storage facility outlawed from operation, ie a true shakedown by the husband of a known tyrant.

Do YOU think he should be able to cut in front of everyone in lines because he's married to the governor? Governor Whitmer certain has no problem with his doing so.

Money always talks at marinas. It's the nature of the business.
 
I don't get it. The guy asked that his boat be put in the water. I'd guess that he called the boatyard every Memorial Day weekend with the same request. I use calendar holidays as reminders myself.
Have I missed something?

Yea, you missed something. Let me give you an example. While others in Chicago can’t get a haircut, the mayor does. While gyms are locked down the NYC mayor goes to his gym. While infected patients are placed back in nursing homes, the PA Health Secretary removes her mother to a hotel. While the Michigan governor has shut down restrictions, her husband wants his boat. I believe the marina told him no.
To be fair to the governor, it’s not confirmed it was the governor husband.
 
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