Congressional District Conventions Thread

4th CD in Mt. Pleasant (4.00 / 3)

just wanted to report that the uncommitted were two to one on the Clinton Caucus.

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by: HowlnAround @ Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 17:46:44 PM UTC

More 4th District (3.00 / 4)

Well attended for a 4th district gathering!  I'd almost forgotten how many friends I'd made as chair.  It was great to see so many today!  13 of our 14 counties were represented and that's great!

I was in the Uncommitted caucus.  We gathered according to county and Joe Weir, chair of Midland Co. Dems, had his computer all set up to figure the vote apportionment.  That went pretty smoothly except a few people who didn't fully understand how come there were two sets of numbers.  Some of those who've been around a long time patiently explained it and it was all good.  

I was very happy Mary Bacon and Bob Ciaffone won the delegate slots, they've worked very hard for the Obama campaign.  I'm always a bit partial to my fellow footsoldiers, what can I say?  ;-)

The last bit of good news is a couple of the male candidates who also ran.  One, Tom Duvall, was a young college student.  He had a hand out citing all of his efforts on behalf of the Obama campaign, I was impressed.  The other candidate, David Ready, is a high school teacher here in Traverse city (teaches Governement class).  I've seen him at events and since I started membership efforts some 5 years ago he's been a member faithfully every year.  He didn't really expect to win, mostly just wanted to take part in the process.  I think he was surprised at how many votes he got.

Our caucus ended before the Clinton caucus, MUCH to my surprise!  They elected 3 delegates and an alternate:  Bob Donoghue (4th dist. chair), Diana Ketola (state central delegate & chair of Grand Traverse Co.), a guy from Shiawassee, but for the life of me I cannot remember his name!  Real nice guy.  Ruth Averill of Saginaw is the alternate.  She's a long time activist and has run for office.

I cannot speak for the Clinton caucus (other than the results) but the main convention and the uncommitted caucus went well and was a pretty positive experience.  

Julie

   

To prepare for when your life flashes before your eyes, make sure it's fun to watch.

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by: JNelson @ Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 00:32:22 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

So your uncommitted delegates (4.00 / 1)

were Obama supporters then. I misunderstood the first comment to mean that some Clinton supporters were elected.

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

 - Ralph Waldo Emerson

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by: michmark @ Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 03:08:32 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Mea Culpa (2.00 / 2)

Yes, uncommitted was totally dominated by Obama supporters.  If there was a Clinton supporter among the crowd they didn't say a word about it.

Julie

To prepare for when your life flashes before your eyes, make sure it's fun to watch.

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by: JNelson @ Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 11:22:33 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Just got back from the 9th CD convention in Pontiac... (4.00 / 4)

I've come to 2 conclusions:

1. The old chestnut about "I'm not a member of an organized political party, I'm a Democrat" has never held truer than today.

2. Whoever appointed the guy who acted as chair of the Uncommitted caucus should be tarred and feathered, along with the chair. The guy did a horrible job IMHO. I won't go into detail on that unless someone wants details, but let's just say that I could've chaired the caucus better than this guy, and I don't even know Roberts' Rules of Order!

The 9th had 6 delegates: 3 for Clinton (2 male, 1 female) and 3 for Uncommitted (2 female, 1 male). Clinton also received the single alternate.

I have no idea who won on the Clinton side. On the Uncommitted side, it was state rep Aldo Vagnozi (yay!), Doris Toney (one of the heads of Michiganders for Obama) and Cathy Martin (I think), who was one of the UAW-endorsed candidates. Denise Littlejohn, who I was rooting for, came in a tight third on the female side (I believe the final tally was 36 for Toney, 32 for Martin and 31 for Littlejohn).

I should also note that the 9th turnout was also about 4:1 for Uncommitted over Clinton (around 120 to 33, I believe)--and it was pretty clear that the vast majority of the Uncommitted folks were Obama supporters (including all 3 of the Uncommitted delegates).

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by: Brainwrap @ Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 18:11:27 PM UTC

9th CD (4.00 / 2)

One of the male Clinton delegates is Brandon Hynes. He worked on the Clinton and Peters campaign, so that was pretty much a no-brainer. I will try to post the list of 9th delegates tonight.

Nothing is easier than solving a problem on the back of the poor. People who don't have lobbyists or clout.

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by: yvette248 @ Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 22:32:10 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Brandon and I were in Ohio together (4.00 / 2)

Congratulations, Brandon!

Hillary speaks for me.

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by: XavierLA @ Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 22:38:02 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

::curtsies gracefully:: (4.00 / 3)

thanks ;)

In the 11th, the delegates selected:

Clinton
Brandon Hynes
Dave Curson
Carol Larkin
Tom Kerr (alternate)

Uncommitted
Michael Siegrist
Marian Novak

Now we just have to make sure they actually seat us!

www.dianslavens.com

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by: BrandonHynes @ Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 02:58:16 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

I hope you like good beer, Brandon (4.00 / 3)

Denver is one of the best cities in the U.S. for craft-brewed beer. The mayor owns the Wynkoop Brewery, one of the largest brewpubs in the U.S. and the city hosts the annual Great American Beer Festival, the world's biggest. You can easily misspend an evening the licensed establishments in the Lower Downtown district near the ballpark.

A government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always count on the support of Paul.

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by: Hy Dudgeon @ Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 16:11:40 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Definitely news you can use... (4.00 / 1)

Among the Trees

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by: Eric B. @ Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 16:37:57 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Brandon + beer = parents keep your children at home! (4.00 / 1)

I love him dearly, but an intoxicated brandon should only be seen by people 18 and over!

Too much fun!!

Nothing is easier than solving a problem on the back of the poor. People who don't have lobbyists or clout.

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by: yvette248 @ Mon Apr 21, 2008 at 02:30:15 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

9th details (4.00 / 3)

Since Brainwrap is too tactful to say, the Free Press took the liberty of providing details:

Calls for Democratic unity Saturday morning in Pontiac went largely unheeded as shouting matches broke out as Democrats from Oakland County's 9th Congressional District convened to pick delegates to the party's national convention this summer in Denver.

In Pontiac on Saturday, the Clinton caucus picked its delegates in 15 minutes without controversy. But it took about two hours to pick the three uncommitted delegates as more than 100 Obama supporters sparred with mostly union-backed delegates.

Nothing is easier than solving a problem on the back of the poor. People who don't have lobbyists or clout.

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by: yvette248 @ Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 13:51:20 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Thanks, but it wasn't so much tact as exhaustion... (4.00 / 1)

I was mostly just tired from shlepping my butt up to Pontiac early in the morning and sitting through this silliness for 3 hours :)

The biggest issue was this:

In the end, Toney and Martin were elected as delegates, but not before Martin and another union-backed candidate tried to claim two delegate slots by running as a slate, instead of as individuals. A second Obama delegate candidate lost out by one vote.

They really screwed this one up--they made a big deal beforehand about how each of the candidates was running as an individual slate ("slate of one"). Then , they had us vote on 3-4 of the candidates before announcing that the two UAW people were running together--and continued with the vote, which (rightly) pissed off many people. This led to the shouting match as the chairman, who was clearly in the wrong, kept refusing to split the candidates up. At one point there was even one woman who started down the "different set of rules for blacks..." route (since I believe both of the UAW candidates were white). Finally the chair relented and we had to start over from scratch.

Quite a mess.

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by: Brainwrap @ Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 16:47:28 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

2nd District (4.00 / 2)

Both uncommitted delegates were Obama supporters. They were Second District Chair Joe Zainea(Ottawa County) and former Muskegon Mayor Rillastine Wilkens. The Michiganders for Obama endorsed candidates came in close seconds.

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

 - Ralph Waldo Emerson

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by: michmark @ Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 18:34:11 PM UTC

105 voters (4.00 / 3)

57 in the Clinton caucus and 48 in the uncommitted caucus.

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

 - Ralph Waldo Emerson

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by: michmark @ Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 18:36:41 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Rillastine Wilkins is (4.00 / 3)

the former mayor of Muskegon Heights.  And a great democrat.  Congrats to her!

Walk a mile in the other guy's shoes. That way, you're a mile away from him; plus, you have his shoes.

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by: lakeshoremmm @ Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 19:57:16 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Thanks for the correction (4.00 / 2)

She was unable to attend but had a group of very persuasive backers that sold many of us(including myself) that she was a very good candidate.

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

 - Ralph Waldo Emerson

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by: michmark @ Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 20:26:12 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

8th CD in Lansing (4.00 / 3)

I attended the 8th District Convention at UAW Local 6000 (my own!) this morning.  Saw quite a cast of characters there:  all 8th CD legislators were there (all fron Ingham County), tons of union folks, several Ingham County Commissioners, some judges, MSU Trustee Joel Ferguson (the scourge of the Michigan State Police), a handful of city council members, and MichLib's own ProgressiveFemale, plus several others.  Most present (about 2/3rds I'd guess) were from Ingham County, even though only about 45% of the district population lives there.  We had 1 Male Uncommitted delegate, 1 Female Uncommitted delegate, 2 Male Clinton delegates, 2 Female Clinton delegates, and 1 Clinton alternate.  Both of the folks chosen to be uncommitted delegates said they would stick by Obama until he released them; however there was some grumbling that they were really for Hillary.  Those selected were:

8th CD Uncommitted --
Griffin Rivers (Chairman of the Ingham County Democratic Party)
Irene McDonnell-Cahill (a Lansing City employee who's with the Teamsters)

8th CD Clinton --
Virgil Bernero (Mayor of Lansing)
Mark Meadows (State Representative from East Lansing)
Phil Reid (from northern Oakland County)
Chong-Anna Canfora
Nadine Nosal

I don't know which male was the Clinton alternate, and I think both of the females were from Ingham County.

"I never did give anybody hell. I just told the truth and they thought it was hell." -- Harry S Truman

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by: Butch Snider @ Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 18:42:45 PM UTC

Yaaaayyyy!!! (4.00 / 4)

Phil won!!!!  Way to go, Phil!!!!!!!!

Nothing is easier than solving a problem on the back of the poor. People who don't have lobbyists or clout.

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by: yvette248 @ Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 20:46:37 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

totally thinking the same thing! (4.00 / 2)

I'm glad he won!  Mayor Bernero, as well.. he's been with Hillary since the beginning, and his daughter's an awesome organizer with Students for Hillary at Michigan.

Hillary speaks for me.

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by: XavierLA @ Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 22:28:15 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

A couple more things... (4.00 / 2)

A little bit of humor:  When the convention rose for the Pledge of Allegiance, we were told to face the front left corner of the room.  There was no flag there however, just East Lansing City Council Member Nathan Triplett!  A friend leaned over to me and said we were pledging to his flag lapel pin!

In addition to the above 8th CD convention attendees, I also spotted "Michigan's Newest Democrat", former GOP State Rep. Paul DeWeese!  Don't know why exactly he was there, but a little birdie told me he's strongly considering running for the same State Senate seat, this time as a Dem.  Sh-yeah, right.  If there's one thing Ingham County has plenty of, it's loyal Dem politicians; I can't see a flipper like him having a chance in hell at the nomination.

"I never did give anybody hell. I just told the truth and they thought it was hell." -- Harry S Truman

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by: Butch Snider @ Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 01:38:17 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Well, maybe Barack SHOULD start wearing a pin! (nt) (4.00 / 2)

Great Lakes, Great Times, Great Scott

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by: ScottyUrb @ Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 07:40:20 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

DeWeese (4.00 / 2)

I have heard the same thing....DeWeese and Meadows are both going to run against eachother for State Senate in the 23rd district...when Senator Whitmer runs for AG in 2010.  Not sure how true it is....but there is that rumor going around....

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by: ProgressiveFemale @ Mon Apr 21, 2008 at 14:14:14 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Correction to 8th District Election Results (4.00 / 1)

Mark Meadows was not elected as a Clinton Male Delegate, and also wasn't on the list of candidates to be elected as a Clinton Delegate.

Nadine Nosal was elected Clinton Female Alternate.

Anna Strong was elected Clinton Female Delegate along with Chong-Anna Canfora.

It was very exciting for me and it was a great honor to have the support of the Michigan Clinton team and the Unity Slate support.

Phil Reid

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by: pwreid @ Sun Apr 27, 2008 at 00:17:07 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Thanks for the correction, Phil! (n/t) (0.00 / 0)

"I never did give anybody hell. I just told the truth and they thought it was hell." -- Harry S Truman

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by: Butch Snider @ Tue Apr 29, 2008 at 00:38:34 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Scotty (4.00 / 1)

Sorry we didn't meet, I have no idea what you look like.  Interesting caucus -- they're going to have to work on the rules.  The counting was chaotic and subject to all sorts of "problems."  Not that it changed the outcome, but it was relatively easy to vote twice and I know some people that were skipped on the second ballot.  Again, though it wouldn't have changed the clear win by Robinson who is a long-time activist Democrat -- the Third should be proud to have him represent us in Denver.

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

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by: philgoblue @ Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 20:57:10 PM UTC

I think you were hovering over me (4.00 / 2)

as we were beginning the redo of the second ballot.

I voted for you, but I should've told everyone as I withdrew that I supported you!

Still, I too am proud of both Armand and Alice!

Great Lakes, Great Times, Great Scott

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by: ScottyUrb @ Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 01:16:18 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Why the redo? (0.00 / 0)

We voted county by county and everything went smoothly. I ended up tallying votes and I don't see how someone could vote twice.

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

 - Ralph Waldo Emerson

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by: michmark @ Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 03:13:27 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

6th CD (4.00 / 2)

in the 6th we had 93 people in the Uncommitted caucus and 31 in the Clinton caucus.

the delegates for the 6th CD are as follows:

Uncommitted
Mark Miller, from Kalamazoo County
Marletta Seats, Co-Chair of the Berrien CDP
(no alternates)

Clinton
Mamie Yarbrough - Berrien County
Nancy Crowell - Kalamazoo County
Marcus Robinson - Berrien County
alternate:  Cathy LaPointe - Cass County

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by: kalamacreek @ Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 21:22:55 PM UTC

Way to go Mark! (4.00 / 4)

Also known as memiller on MichLib!

Great Lakes, Great Times, Great Scott

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by: ScottyUrb @ Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 01:17:49 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Bravo Mark!! (3.00 / 4)

:-)

To prepare for when your life flashes before your eyes, make sure it's fun to watch.

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by: JNelson @ Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 01:39:28 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Part of what I just posted to the 6th Yahoo Group: (4.00 / 5)

I would like to thank those 6th District Democrats who took the time to show up this morning in Galien, especially those who voted in the Uncommitted caucus for a delegate candidate supporting Barack Obama - whether you voted for me or not.

I am honored to serve as one of your delegates to the 2008 Democratic National Convention. Other than supporting Obama, I made two specific promises. I will be taking pictures and video from the floor, and putting together a `delegates-eye-view' report of the convention, which I will be happy to present to any county party meeting this fall that would like to hear it. Secondly, I will be live-blogging the convention from the floor, assuming facilities allow, or at any rate posting frequent intra-day blog updates at West Michigan Rising:

http://www.westmichiganrising.com

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by: memiller @ Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 02:36:24 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

We would love to have your make a presentation (4.00 / 2)

In Manistee County. Congratulations Mark.

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

 - Ralph Waldo Emerson

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by: michmark @ Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 03:15:20 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

15 (4.00 / 4)

I'm not sure the numbers for Hillary/Uncommitted caucus. In the uncommitted, there were around 80 Washtenaw, 50 Wayne, and 8 Monroe.

The Uncommitted delegates were Derrick Jackson, Christina Montague and (I think, but I had to leave before hand) Lynn Schwartz.

Only heard secondhand the Hillary delegates: Jim Pederson and Ronnie Peterson are the only two I remember, and I wouldn't quote me on the Ronnie Peterson part.

There were a small number of people in the uncommitted caucus who seemed to be Hillary supporters--a number of the Monroe folks. Or at least who wanted to send people who DIDN'T express who they'd support in Denver. It took a number of ballots, but they did not succeed (Derrick, Christina, and Lynn have all been working for OBama for a while).

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by: emptywheel @ Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 02:16:32 AM UTC

Thanks empytwheel (4.00 / 2)

And great job as our speaker at the Manistee Dems Don Jennings Award Dinner Tonight.

Does anyone think that any Clinton supporters were elected in the uncommitted caucuses?

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

 - Ralph Waldo Emerson

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by: michmark @ Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 03:19:26 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Clinton Uncommitteds? (4.00 / 1)

Detroit News says so...

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by: memiller @ Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 04:15:00 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

The Michiganders for Obama candidates (4.00 / 1)

did not win in the 2nd but other Obama supporters did.

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

 - Ralph Waldo Emerson

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by: michmark @ Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 12:41:19 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Interesting (0.00 / 0)

but the brief article reading I had seemed to suggest that the labor unions were responsible for filling some of those seats, and that doesn't imply Clinton delegates at all...unless the article said yes, for sure.

I bet the conflict, when it occurred had more to do with Obama people who were an unknown quality to the local party organization. Just from reading through the diary, many of the Obama folks were already active in their local party and I know in the 4th, had active support from the unions.

I think the areas of contested uncommitteds might have been driven by new people whom the old guard didn't trust or felt deserved a trip to Denver.

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by: Nazgul35 @ Mon Apr 21, 2008 at 15:34:07 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Union uncommitteds? (4.00 / 1)

While some UAW leadership may have been for Clinton, its hard to believe that the rank and file fell into line on this. Plus, I know some high ranking SEIU people who are very pro Obama, so the "Union = Hillary" comment should be clarified.

Nothing is easier than solving a problem on the back of the poor. People who don't have lobbyists or clout.

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by: yvette248 @ Mon Apr 21, 2008 at 17:04:02 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I'm afraid so. (4.00 / 1)

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by: Cole6015 @ Mon Apr 21, 2008 at 03:53:43 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

15th uncommitted race (4.00 / 1)

The 15th managed to defeat the Monroe County Chair, Denise Brooks, but as a Party Leader/Elected Official (PLEO), she has 2 more bites of the apple.  So it won't be a surprise for her to show up later, given a slot by the state central committee.

The surprise is that she gave Kucinich $600 in 2004, and $240 in 2008.  She would only say she was a "true uncommitted" candidate.

The real problem is that the Michiganders for Obama didn't follow party rules.  All the delegates are from Washtenaw, and there's little diversity.  The 15th District chair (now an official Clinton delegate) was very clear in his declaration that the diversity rules would be enforced.  The state party has the right to overturn the results.

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by: William Allen Simpson @ Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 15:55:58 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Though it would be very easy (4.00 / 2)

To then fight that on the basis that the Uncommitted support in 15 came overwhelmingly from Washtenaw.

If they want to even out the delegation, they can skim the Clinton delegates from Washtenaw. I forget whether there was one or two...

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by: emptywheel @ Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 20:39:32 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Diversity is a goal not a rule. (2.00 / 3)

Everyone was encouraged to have African-American, GLBT, disability, youth, Hispanic, Arab-American etc. representation, but not required by any rule.

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by: Cole6015 @ Mon Apr 21, 2008 at 03:50:03 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Apparently, Cole6015 hasn't actually read the rules (2.00 / 2)

Here's a big reason that pseudonymous comments bug me.  There's no real opportunity for establishing reputation.  Cole6015 makes blanket assertions without any evidence.

I've previously posted links to the rules.  Here are some of the relevant sections that you should read, although by no means all of them.  The use of "must" and "shall" are legalisms that mean "required"!

Rule 5. Non-Discrimination

Rule 6. Affirmative Action

Rule 7. Inclusion Programs

Rule 8.E.  "... In all cases, affirmative action and fair reflection guidelines must be met and the Democratic Chair of each such state shall make the certifications required by  subsection 8.D."

Rule 9.B.2.

Rule 9.C.2.

Rule 10.

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by: William Allen Simpson @ Tue Apr 22, 2008 at 13:18:00 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

12th District (4.00 / 2)

Uncommitted (a/k/a Obama supporters) far outnumbered Clinton supporters.  From what I understand on the Clinton side, they weren't even going to vote.  Everything was determined ahead of time -- 2 male, 1 female, 1 alternate.

On the Uncommitted side, the Unity slate won -- Rory Gamble, Jennifer Miller and Nancy Quarles.  They had a number of endorsements -- UAW, SEIU, etc.  It was pretty uneventful unless there was stuff going on behind the scenes that I wasn't aware of.  The vast majority of those who had applied withdrew their names or weren't present.  As far as I'm concerned, if you can't even bother to show up, why put your name in.  None of the no shows received any votes (except one vote for David Bonior), and they shouldn't have, in my opinion.

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by: SharonRB @ Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 13:42:27 PM UTC

12th unity slate probably not Obama (4.00 / 1)

Generally, you'll find the the "unity" slates were all predetermined in the proverbial smoke-filled rooms.

In this case, 2 have no giving history.  But a Nancy Quarles (consultant, Advantage Consulting Group, 18131 Magnolia Ave, Southfield, MI) contributed $2,000 to Edwards (Q3/2007).

In the 15th, one the the winners was not present, as her mother was ill.

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by: William Allen Simpson @ Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 15:37:43 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

remember, the conventions were postponed (4.00 / 2)

and some folks may have had previously scheduled events/vacations/business, etc.

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

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by: philgoblue @ Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 20:10:43 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I can certainly understand extenuating circumstances (4.00 / 2)

such as a sick mother.  I just went through that with my mother for three months before she passed away two weeks ago.  I would say in the 12th at least a quarter of the people who had applied were absent.

All three people on the unity slate are strongly in Obama's camp now, wherever they may have been earlier in the primary season when we had more candidates.

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by: SharonRB @ Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 20:41:11 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Dear SharonRB ... (4.00 / 5)

... Please accept my sincere and deepest sympathy for you regarding the loss of your mother.  It will not be easy but, with time and support, you learn how to enjoy life again.

Yours truly


"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." - George Orwell

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by: CFCLFM @ Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 21:23:32 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Thanks (4.00 / 3)

I'm doing okay and trying to get back to normal.  There are definitely rough moments like when I told you and others at the covention yesterday, but for the most part I'm holding up okay.

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by: SharonRB @ Mon Apr 21, 2008 at 00:34:29 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

My deepest sympathies as well. (4.00 / 5)

:(

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by: Brainwrap @ Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 21:37:45 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Thanks for your thoughts, Brainwrap (4.00 / 2)

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by: SharonRB @ Mon Apr 21, 2008 at 00:35:04 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Is giving history the only baramoter you (4.00 / 1)

use to predict canidate ID?

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by: LivinginMichigan @ Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 20:49:46 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Congratulations Jennifer! (4.00 / 1)

Wife of State Rep. Fred Miller and a great Democrat!

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

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by: philgoblue @ Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 20:09:57 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Yes, Jennifer is great (4.00 / 2)

I was really happy for her.

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by: SharonRB @ Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 20:41:52 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Yaaay, Nancy! (4.00 / 1)

Nancy is a tremendous political asset to our community. I'm glad she won.

Nothing is easier than solving a problem on the back of the poor. People who don't have lobbyists or clout.

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by: yvette248 @ Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 22:20:03 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

11th District (4.00 / 2)

Registrations ran almost 2-to-1 in favor of uncommitted, but that was deceptive: the uncommitted had a good representation of organized labor (including UAW head Ron Gettelfinger and his wife).

Mike Siegrist, one of the Michiganders for Obama candidates narrowly won on the second ballot (Mrs. Dudgeon and I are glad we showed up; our 2.2 proportional votes were more than Mike's majority). The female slot went to Marion Novak, a Teamsters member and an Obama supporter.

The Clinton caucus wrapped up much earlier than ours, and apparently had agreed on a unity slate before the convention. Two of the 3 seats went to Carol Larkin, 11th District chair, and Brandon Hynes. I don't have the names of the third Clinton delegate or the alternate.

Among those on hand: Speaker Andy Dillon, State Senator Glenn Anderson, State Rep Mark Corriveau, and Circuit Judge Chris Dingell (wearing a sporty tie with gavels on it).

A government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always count on the support of Paul.

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by: Hy Dudgeon @ Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 15:37:46 PM UTC

11th posted last night (above) (4.00 / 1)

Clinton
Brandon Hynes
Dave Curson
Carol Larkin
Tom Kerr (alternate)

Uncommitted
Michael Siegrist
Marian Novak

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by: William Allen Simpson @ Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 16:04:22 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Thanks, William (4.00 / 1)

That will teach me to post before my first cup of coffee on a Sunday morning.

A government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always count on the support of Paul.

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by: Hy Dudgeon @ Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 16:08:26 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Gettelfinger (4.00 / 2)

Can you tell us how Gettelfinger voted? Since most of the Hillary as Uncommitted people seem to have had ties to UAW or AFSCME, I wonder if he tipped his hand at all?

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by: emptywheel @ Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 20:42:04 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Summary (4.00 / 3)

Winners from here and other sources, those endorsed by Michiganders for Obama, other Obama, ? don't know who they are for, and missing information (please add below):

District 1
Miles Baker O
Abby Dart MfO

District 2
Rillastine Wilkins O
Joseph Zainea O

District 3
Armand Robinson ?
Alice Corey MfO

District 4
Mary Bacon MfO
Robert Ciaffone MfO

District 5
Floyd Clack MfO
Geraldean Hall MfO

District 6
Mark Miller MfO
Marletta Seats MfO

District 7
?

District 8
Irene McDonnell-Cahill ?
Griffin Rivers ?

District 9
Catherine Martin ?
Doris Toney MfO
Aldo Vagnozzi ?

District 10
Rose Marie Fessler MfO

District 11
Marian Novak O
Michael  Siegrist MfO

District 12
Rory Gamble ?
Jennifer Miller ?
Nancy Quarles ?

District 13
?

District 14
?

District 15
Derrick Jackson MfO
Christina Montague MfO
Lynne Schwartz MfO

---

by: memiller @ Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 22:29:46 PM UTC

8th District (4.00 / 2)

FWIW, Griffin Rivers and Irene McDonnell-Cahill were both "Unity" candidates.

"I never did give anybody hell. I just told the truth and they thought it was hell." -- Harry S Truman

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by: Butch Snider @ Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 23:46:34 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

But that doesn't tell us what candidate they are supporting - (4.00 / 1)

does it?

Or does that mean they are really uncommitted until their union makes up its mind who it can extract the most concessions from?

(That is a serious question, although it sounds rhetorical. I  don't know what 'Unity' really means, above is just a guess on my part. Frankly, 'Unity' sounds like some kind of joke. What happened to the 'Truth, Justice, and the American Way' slate?)

---

by: memiller @ Mon Apr 21, 2008 at 00:24:29 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Lest I be misunderstood, (4.00 / 2)

let me hasten to add that I have no problem with an organization such as a union getting all their members to sign up as party members, getting them to turn out and elect delegates that will support their positions. That's all part of the game, and perfectly fair.

And if they think calling their slate the 'Ponies for Everyone' slate will learn them  a few more votes, that is their right. I am simply describing the effect of such language on me. To call a slate 'Unity' where there is manifestly no unity, is risible.

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by: memiller @ Mon Apr 21, 2008 at 00:29:49 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

There has been a "Unity Slate" at every congressional district and state Michigan Democratic Convention for as long as I can remember. (4.00 / 1)

They may even use the term at county conventions.

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by: Cole6015 @ Mon Apr 21, 2008 at 03:41:21 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Well then, (4.00 / 1)

you should be in an admirable position to kindly explain to me what it means, and what the use of the term is intended to convey?

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by: memiller @ Mon Apr 21, 2008 at 03:51:41 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Unions, party leaders and their partners horse trade. (0.00 / 0)

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by: Cole6015 @ Wed Apr 23, 2008 at 00:54:51 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

All 8th CD Uncommitted delegate candidates stated their support for Obama (4.00 / 1)

in response to a point-blank question from an Ingham County person, who wanted to know who they were supporting.  

Fwiw, I didn't see or hear the phrase "Unity candidate" in the Uncommitted caucus.  

I'm from Livingston County & tallied votes for Shiawassee County in the Uncommitted caucus, so maybe this came up in another county's discussions?

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by: kelster @ Mon Apr 21, 2008 at 14:27:26 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

All three people elected for Uncommitted in the 12th (4.00 / 2)

are supporting Obama.

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by: SharonRB @ Mon Apr 21, 2008 at 00:30:14 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Great - thanks. (4.00 / 1)

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by: memiller @ Mon Apr 21, 2008 at 00:51:41 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

We won't see the official list for another 10 days or so ... appeals can be filed within 14 days of the caucuses. (0.00 / 0)

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by: Cole6015 @ Wed Apr 23, 2008 at 00:58:14 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

7th District (0.00 / 0)

Uncommitted delegates:
Leonard Smigielski
Fran Sibly

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by: Hildy Johnson @ Mon Apr 21, 2008 at 14:48:17 PM UTC