Granholm's Grand Illusion

When it comes to creating a growing, vibrant, prosperous economy, former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm and your friendly government know best. Really.

Never mind that Michigan became the nation's economic basket case during her eight years in charge, which mercifully ended in January of this year.

In this morning's the Wall Street Journal, William McGurn reviews the book this dangerously delusional woman has recently published (bolds are mine):

Once in a generation, a politician gives us failure and misunderstanding so colossal that his or her bad example rises to the level of public service.

To this elite few belongs Jennifer Granholm.

In the Michigan she governed for eight long years, the roll call of despair is not in dispute. On her watch, the state's ranking in per capita GDP plummeted to 41st place from 24th, Detroit's population shriveled to its lowest level since 1910, and Michigan earned the dubious distinction of being the only state to suffer a net out-migration this past decade.

… With this kind of record, most politicos might take refuge in prudence. Not Ms. Granholm. Today she is running around the nation selling a book and a message. The book is called “A Governor's Story: The Fight for Jobs and America's Economic Future.” Her message—that Granholm's Michigan shows the way forward—has been taken seriously in all the places you might expect: the New York Times and Comedy Central's “The Daily Show.”

… (in) her most infamous prediction … in 2006 she assured the people of Michigan this: “In five years, you're going to be blown away by the strength and diversity of Michigan's transformed economy.”

… Michiganders are still waiting.

… A year and a half before Americans learned about Solyndra, Gov. Granholm stood next to Flint businessman Richard Short at a press conference and declared that the $9.1 million in state tax credits that her government had awarded his renewable energy company would mean 765 jobs. The next day, Mr. Short was arrested.

Turns out Ms. Granholm's people had not known that their champion of green jobs was a convicted felon out on parole. …

In the end, Ms. Granholm's argument is simply a form of the same economic narcissism that animates people who never lose the charming faith that they know best how to spend other people's money.

… Yes, indeed. If you liked Gov. Granholm's Michigan, you'll love President Obama's America.

Ms. Granholm loves her Wolverine State handiwork so much that … wait for it (links added by me) … “She and her husband have moved to Berkeley, where they are both teaching.”