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If You Want an Election and Not a Coronation You Must Act Today - Monday Morning Edition

by: philgoblue

Mon Nov 26, 2007 at 02:05:06 AM EST


Things are moving fast since the Republicans on the Supreme Court overruled both the Circuit Court and the Appeals Court and stated the Republican Senate Leader Bishop's 15 January "primary" bill was constitutional. Now there is word that House Speaker Andy Dillon (D-Redford) may have changed his mind and might be preparing to vote on House Bill 4507 that will force Edwards (and Obama, Biden and Richardson) back on the ballot but still leave us with no campaign, no candidates, no delegates, and no Michigan issues being addressed since the date will continue to be in violation of the rules of the Democratic National Committee.

There is still time to stop the 15 January "primary" and have a caucus on 9 February that John Edwards wants to campaign for and believes he can win.

But we need you to do the following things right now.

philgoblue :: If You Want an Election and Not a Coronation You Must Act Today - Monday Morning Edition
1. Contact your Michigan State Representative

Tell them you don't want candidates forced onto a meaningless ballot, but instead you want a real delegate-selecting caucus.

To find your House Representative: http://house.michigan.gov/find_a_rep.asp

Also email the Democratic Caucus leadership in the House:
House Speaker Andy Dillon: andydillon@house.mi.gov
Speaker Prom Tem Michael Sak: speakerprotemsak@house.mi.gov
and
Martin Griffin who put forward anti-15 January Primary legislation (Bill 5353): martingriffin@house.mi.gov
If you're represented by a Republican, contact the nearest Democrats as well as the leadership.

Ask them:

Please, publicly and vocally oppose and vote NO on any bill that gives Michigan a 15 January Primary. I don't want such a "primary" that gives Michigan no voice, no campaigns, no candidate visits, no delegates, and one candidate. Such a one-candidate and no delegate primary endangers Michigan Democrats in future elections, splits our Party, angers voters, and leads to unenthusiastic activists. Finally, an unsanctioned "primary" leads to a chaotic situation where future primary calendar reform will fail since it weakens the DNC referee.

Specifically, this week, vote no on HB 4507 and its Immediate Effect.

And encourage the MDP Executive Committee to set a caucus for 9 February as sanctioned by the DNC.

Since this bill may be brought up in the morning, call Speaker Dillon now at: (517) 373-0857 or (888) REP-DILLON.

2. Contact the Michigan Democratic Party and ask them to go back to a 9 February DNC-sanctioned caucus date so that Michigan Democrats can have candidates, campaigns, delegates and a voice.

Call the MDP: (517) 371-5410
Email the MDP: midemparty@michigandems.com

A sample email:

I want Chairman Brewer to opt-out of the 15 January beauty contest and go to a DNC-sanctioned primary where candidates will campaign, Michigan Democrats can vote for who they want to vote for, and our votes can actually choose delegates to the National Convention.

I want a DNC-sanctioned caucus on or after 5 February so there can be campaigning in Michigan, so the candidates will address Michigan issues, so that all the candidates will be on the ballot, so that we'll be choosing delegates and not having a mere beauty contest, and so that the DNC will be in a position of power to enforce primary calendar reforms for 2012. And I want it now, since we're losing valuable time when the candidates could be coming to Michigan this month.

Sincerely,
Name
Phone Number
Email address
MDP Party ID

If that is too long, just say

"I'm against the 15 January primary/beauty contest and for a DNC-sanctioned 9 February Caucus."

Chairman Brewer is listening so keep the calls and emails coming. The Free Press reported:

...in a statement Thursday, [Brewer] asserted that "many local Democratic parties and thousands of grassroots activists want a caucus" and that it's his job to listen to them as well as elected Democratic leaders who favor an open primary.
And it is interesting that Chairman Brewer has made no public pronouncements on the primary/caucus date issue for over a week.

3. Join us in our Implementation Challenge before the MDP and DNC.
We believe the possible move by the MDP to select delegates at a 15 January primary violates Party rules and we have recourse to prevent the implementation of a 15 January primary with the MDP and the DNC. Basically, the 15 January primary prevents us from voting for the candidates of our choice (a violation of 20.C.1.b of the Delegates Selection Rules) and weakens the influence of Michigan Democrats at the National Convention since 1/2 of our delegates will be stripped if the MDP violates DNC rules (a violation of 20.C.1.a of the Delegates Selection Rules).
We are organizing an Implementation Challenge today and Tuesday and will submit it on Wednesday.

We need 15 Michigan Democrats to sign up to join us and sign a challenge.

If you are in Michigan and are a Democrat and would be willing to sign a statement in opposition to the MDP taking part in the 15 January "Primary", email us at: giveusavoice2008@gmail.com and we'll pass on all the information to you. We have just two days to get this out so contact us RIGHT NOW and we'll send you a copy of the challenge to sign, notarize and return.

This is a non-partisan effort.  While I'm for Edwards, we already have several Obama supporters on board and even a few Hillary supporters.  We want to have this be about our rights as Michigan Democrats to vote for the candidate of our choice and have that vote mean something by actually selecting delegates.  So, we want diversity in candidate-support and geography.

4. And if you still want to do more to protect your right to vote, contact the House members who have co-sponsored Martin Griffin's anti-15 January Bill and encourage them to stick with their support and vote against an 15 January Primary bill including:

Martin Griffin (D-Jackson) martingriffin@house.mi.gov
Marc Corriveau (D-20, Wayne County) marccorriveau@house.mi.gov
Barb Byrum (D-67, Ingham County) barbbyrum@house.mi.gov
Mary Valentine (D-91, Muskegon County) maryvalentine@house.mi.gov
Kate Ebli (D-56, Monroe County) KateEbli@house.mi.gov
Ed Clemente (D-14, Wayne County) edclemente@house.mi.gov
Terry Brown (D-48, Huron and Tuscola Counties) terrybrown@house.mi.gov
Mark Meadows (D-69, Ingham County) markmeadows@house.mi.gov
Paul Condino (D-35, Oakland County) paulcondino@house.mi.gov
Steven Lindberg (D-109, Alger, Luce and Marquette Counties) stevenlindberg@house.mi.gov
Marie Donigan (D-26, Oakland County) mariedonigan@house.mi.gov
Mike Simpson (D-65, Eaton, Jackson and Lenawee Counties) mikesimpson@house.mi.gov
Bert Johnson (D-5, Wayne County) bertjohnson@house.mi.gov
Coleman Young Jr. (D-4, Wayne County) colemanayoungii@house.mi.gov
Richard LeBlanc (D-18, Wayne County) richardleblanc@house.mi.gov
Doug Bennett (D-92, Muskegon County) dougbennett@house.mi.gov
Fred Miller (D-31, Macomb County) fredmiller@house.mi.gov
Steve Tobocman (D-12, Wayne County) stevetobocman@house.mi.gov
Robert Dean (D-75, Kent County) robertdean@house.mi.gov

A quick email address list to copy and paste: martingriffin@house.mi.gov; marccorriveau@house.mi.gov; barbbyrum@house.mi.gov; maryvalentine@house.mi.gov; KateEbli@house.mi.gov; edclemente@house.mi.gov; terrybrown@house.mi.gov; markmeadows@house.mi.gov; paulcondino@house.mi.gov; stevenlindberg@house.mi.gov; mariedonigan@house.mi.gov; mikesimpson@house.mi.gov; bertjohnson@house.mi.gov; colemanayoungii@house.mi.gov; richardleblanc@house.mi.gov; dougbennett@house.mi.gov; fredmiller@house.mi.gov; stevetobocman@house.mi.gov; robertdean@house.mi.gov

More information: A month ago, on 24 October, State Representative Martin Griffin (D-Jackson, District 64) but forward a bill -- House Bill 5353 -- in the Michigan House to scrap the 15 January "primary."

Mlive's report of the Griffin bill:

State Rep. Martin Griffin, D-Jackson, is pushing legislation that would effectively cancel the state's 2008 presidential primary.He says the state can't afford a $10 million primary that no longer makes Michigan relevant in the Democratic process. ..."In these tough economic times, taxpayers can ill afford to bear the cost of a presidential primary," he said. "The benefit to holding the primary is lost."

Griffin's bill has been co-sponsored by 19 out of 58 House Democrats as of 25 October.

And you can email DNC Chairman Howard Dean and tell him to strongly encourage the MDP to adhere to the rules and have a DNC-sanctioned 9 February caucus: deanh@dnc.org

Thanks.

For more information on why the 15 January Primary is a terrible idea for Michigan Democrats, see the "For a 9 February Caucus" Facebook Group and this MichiganLiberal diary.

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Michigan Already Is In Violation of Federal Voting Laws (4.00 / 2)
On November 24, Michigan House Speaker Andy Dillon, a Democrat, said he expects to bring HB 4507 up for a vote in the Michigan House on Monday, November 26.....

The bill passed the Senate on November 8, but not with the required two-thirds to take effect immediately. If the bill passes the House with two-thirds on November 26, then it will return to the Senate for another vote. In the meantime, Michigan presidential primary ballots are still not being printed. When they are printed, the state will be in violation of a federal law that requires overseas absentee ballots to be mailed in time for those overseas voters to return their ballots in time to be counted.

Ballot Access, 25 November: http://www.ballot-ac...

Democrats, get out of this Bishop-Saul-Ladd-Cox Republican effort.  Opt out of the Republican plan, hold a caucus and then beat the Republicans on how they wasted taxpayer money and took the right to vote away from our brave fighting men and women overseas.

West Michigan Rising: The Progressive Blog for Our (future) Left Coast


My Email to Howard Dean (4.00 / 1)
Chairman Dean,

Please make a public statement today in opposition to Michigan's DNC-breaking 15 January primary.

Please remind Mark Brewer, the MDP Executive Committee and the Democratic caucuses in the state House and Senate that a 15 January primary is in violation of the DNC Delegate Selection Plan (Rule 20.c.1.a and b).

The mass of Democrats in Michigan want a DNC-sanctioned 9 February caucus with candidate visits, campaigns, delegates, and a voice for Michigan.

PS: I heard you at YearlyKos at the Democracy Bond-holders gathering and you were great on voting rights.  Please stick up for our right to vote for the candidate of our choice in a caucus that actually selects delegates.

You can email Dr. Dean too, maybe he can talk some sense into our "leaders."

deanh@dnc.org

West Michigan Rising: The Progressive Blog for Our (future) Left Coast


Republicans have gone to caucus (4.00 / 1)
I didn't start listening until 3:30, so I don't know what happened before then.  Just talking on the floor.  Republicans went into caucus around 3:50 pm.

West Michigan Rising: The Progressive Blog for Our (future) Left Coast

Be Mark Brewer's Ally (4.00 / 1)
From Arbinder at The Atlantic: http://marcambinder....

The Michigan Democratic Party's executive committee meets tomorrow night, and the votes are there for Jan. 15. But the state party's executive director, Mark Brewer, is going to throw up road blocks -- he really wants a caucus -- but he is fast running out of allies.

By the way, he adds:

The DNC won't budge: Michigan will not be allocated any delegates.

thanks to nirmal.

West Michigan Rising: The Progressive Blog for Our (future) Left Coast


That's interesting. (4.00 / 1)
Because I heard Mark speak last weekend and he didn't sound pro-caucus at all. But it wouldn't really surprise me if he was.

The end of the human race will be that it will eventually die of civilization.

 - Ralph Waldo Emerson


[ Parent ]
The Michigan Democratic Party Executive Committee (4.00 / 1)
Board

Chair: Mark Brewer
First Vice Chair: Tina Abbott
Second Vice Chair: Lupe Ramos-Montigny (Kent County)
Third Vice Chair: Ismael Ahmed
Secretary: Rosa Holliday
Treasurer: Dianne Byrum

DNC Committee Members
Tina Abbott
Lu Battaglieri
Elizabeth Bunn
Carolyn Cheeks-Kilpatrick
John Cherry Jr.
Eric Coleman
Debbie Dingell
Joel Ferguson
Robert Ficano
Jennifer Granholm
Kwame Kilpatrick
Joyce Lalonde
Jeffrey Radjewski
Virgie Rollins
Richard Shoemaker
Debbie Stabenow
Michael Tardiff
Richard wiener
Lauren Wolfe

Officers at Large
Gerald Acker
Massoud Al-Awamleh
Tami Arreguln
Kay Beard
Dan Bennett
Ray Beydoun
Rick Blocker
Sharon Bommarito
Denise Cadreau
Sean Carlson
Raymond Cheeks
Nick Ciaramitaro
Ben Cloetens

Gotta run, more later.
If you know these folks, let them know what you think.

I'm working off letter head that's been faxed, so there may be some misspellings based on unclear letters.

West Michigan Rising: The Progressive Blog for Our (future) Left Coast


more MDP Central Committee Members (4.00 / 1)
Danny Craif
Pam Faris
Ricky Flynn
Al Garrett
Cathy Garrett
Ying Gee
Matthew Gillard
Barry Goodman
Sigrid Grace
Mel Grieshaber
David Hecker
Walt Hersig
Tim Hughes
Brandon Hynes
Kathleen Johnston-Calati
Faia Khan
Michael Lee
Richard Long
Patrick kMcCarty
Jay McMurran
Nancy Melke
Kevin Moore
Linda Myers
Dia Pearce
Todd Regis
Elva Revilla
Joan Robinson-Cheeks
Taleb Salhab
Iris Salters
Henry Sanchez
Mark Schauer
Martha Scott
James Settles
Larry Simmons
Basil Simon
Paul Stevenson
Kathleen Straus
Ramesh Vorma
Lisa Webb-Sharpe

Michigan Democratic State Central Committee
Hart-Kennedy House
606 Townsend
Lansing, MI 48933
517-371-5410
fax 517-371-2056
midemparty@michigandems.com
www.michigandems.com

West Michigan Rising: The Progressive Blog for Our (future) Left Coast


[ Parent ]
It Appears Republicans and Forces of Coronation Don't Have the Votes (4.00 / 1)
AP Reports at 5:44 pm: http://www.wlns.com/...

Though the plan was to push through HB 4507 (15 January Primary Bill) during a 1:30 pm session, the vote was delayed, likely because there aren't the votes for the Bill and there is at least no majority in the Democratic House Caucus for the bill:

No vote was taken during this afternoon.

But lawmakers remained in session and could take up the measure at any time.

So, continue to call and email your state reps (I talked personally with one today and emailed about 20) and Speaker Dillon, the MDP, and your Senator (since if the House passes the bill it still has to pass an Immediate Effect vote in the Senate -- it failed on that vote last week).


West Michigan Rising: The Progressive Blog for Our (future) Left Coast


House passes bill--sorta (4.00 / 2)
  See AP via DetNews, Votes still needed Tuesday to restore 4 Democrats to ballot,

  The state House on Monday voted to restore to the ballot the names of four Democratic presidential candidates who withdrew earlier from Michigan's Jan. 15 primary, but fell short on a vote putting the bill into effect in time for the election. [HAWWWWW!!]
  The Senate and House could try again Tuesday to give the bill immediate effect, but some labor groups that support candidate John Edwards are trying to block the move. ...
  Before passing the bill 63-35, the House changed it to address a part of the presidential primary law that lower courts had found unconstitutional but that had passed muster with the Michigan Supreme Court.
  The law now requires all voters to tell an election clerk whether they want a Democratic and Republican ballot, information that was supposed to go only to the state GOP and Democratic parties. The bill would let anyone see which voters selected Republican or Democratic ballots, potentially opening the door to criticism about voter privacy. [Does this address all Grebner's concerns, or most of them?]...
  DNC member Debbie Dingell, a party activist who has been pushing for the Jan. 15 date that makes Michigan the second presidential primary after New Hampshire, said Monday evening that she's optimistic lawmakers on Tuesday will vote to put the bill into effect in time for the election.
  "The leadership of the party is continuing efforts to make sure voters in January have a chance to vote for all of the candidates," [yeah, except soldiers abroad; not to mention candidates who don't WANT to be on a DNC-rule-violative ballot] she said. "There's still an opportunity to make Michigan the equivalent of Iowa and New Hampshire in January." ...

  Gotta love "immediate effect".


Freep version; MDP meet when? (4.00 / 1)
  See Dawson Creak (...) at the Freep, House votes to put 4 Dems back on ballot: Senate must still approve changes,

  ...But even with the Jan. 15 date and a full slate of candidates it remains unclear how much of an impression the Michigan primary will have on the national campaigns.
  Representatives for Obama and Edwards did not respond Monday to requests for comment on the pending vote in the state House. At the Democratic National Committee, a spokesman declined comment, and said none would be forthcoming unless and until the Michigan Democratic Party changed its official nominating plan that calls for a party caucus on Feb. 9.
  Debbie Dingell, who with U.S. Sen. Carl Levin pushed hard for the early primary, said the state executive committee is expected to vote this eveningtues to endorse the primary.
  Dingell said she doesn't know how candidates will respond to the new rules in Michigan. But they should "make it hard to ignore us," she said."

  It's hard to ignore massive rule violation, yah.
  ...see "thisevening tues" above? The Freep spelling error aside: are the MDP secretly planning to meet tonight or Tuesday instead of Wednesday? Lack of notice to rank-and-file Dems, anyone??


[ Parent ]
The MDP can change what they wish (4.00 / 2)
it must be approved by the DNC

[ Parent ]
Sounds Dead to me (4.00 / 2)
It's failed immediate effect in both chambers.  Give it up Debbie.  The majority of Democrats don't want an DNC-breaking beauty pagaent.

Mark, save us!

West Michigan Rising: The Progressive Blog for Our (future) Left Coast


[ Parent ]
Contact Your Senator (4.00 / 1)
and ask them to vote (again) NAY on the Immediate Effect for HB 4507.

A reminder of the votes on on the Immediate Effect for HB 4507 on 8 November:

Nays--13
Anderson
Clark-Coleman
Olshove
Scott
Barcia
Gleason
Prusi
Switalski
Basham
Jacobs
Schauer
Whitmer
Brater

Excused--2

Hunter
Thomas

Not Voting--2
Cherry
Clarke

West Michigan Rising: The Progressive Blog for Our (future) Left Coast


[ Parent ]
Emails for Senators Who Voted NAY on Immediate Effect (4.00 / 1)
Glenn Anderson (District 6, Wayne County): senGAnderson@senate.mi.gov

Jim Barcia (District 31, Thumb area): via website http://www.senate.mi...

Ray Basham (District 8, Wayne County): via website http://www.senate.mi...

Liz Brater (District 18, Washtenaw County): via website http://www.senate.mi...

Irma Clark-Coleman (District 3, Wayne County): via website http://www.senate.mi...

John Gleason (District 27, Genesee County): via website http://www.senate.mi...

Gilda Jacobs (District 14, Oakland County): via website http://www.senate.mi...

Dennis Olshove (District 9, Macomb County): sendolshove@senate.michigan.gov

Mike Prusi (District 38, Central and Western UP): via website http://www.senate.mi...

Mark Schauer (District 19, Jackson and Calhoun Counties): via website http://www.senate.mi...

Marth Scott (District 2, Wayne County): via website http://www.senate.mi...

Mickey Switalski (District 10, Macomb County): via website http://www.senate.mi...

Gretchen Whitmer (District 23, Ingham County): via website http://www.senate.mi...

Tell them to stick with their previous vote of NAY on Immediate Effect of HB 4507 so that we can have a caucus with candidates, campaigns and delegates.



West Michigan Rising: The Progressive Blog for Our (future) Left Coast


[ Parent ]

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