Five sleazy pieces

Why can't this be like Reddit where I can upvote this quote?

Because Mark Brewer hasn't done a thing to build local parties or recruit quality candidates, that's why.

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by: Buster Vainamoinen @ Thu Jul 26, 2012 at 18:22:20 PM UTC

Sometimes it's up to the local party clubs and organizations to do it themselves

If more local clubs could be like the Northville Democratic Club, we'd be in far better shape across Michigan.

Northville and Northville Township are traditionally bright-red, yet the NDC has more than 220 paid members. Per capita, we're by far the largest Democratic club in the state.

And the NDC has taken that next step and put up credible, qualified candidates for office. Just in the past nine months NDC members have stepped up to run for Wayne State Board of Governors (Sandra Hughes O'Brien), Northville Board of Education (Scott Craig), Northville Township Board of Trustees (Michael Nolta), Wayne County Commission (Susan Nichols and Jim Amar -- also President of the Community Dems covering Canton Township), the redrawn Oakland County Commission (Gwen Markham) and various judgeships.

Point is, we did all of it without MDP support. If tiny little Northville can do it, any community can.

"The two most common elements in the universe are hydrogen and stupidity." ~ Harlan Ellison

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by: helzapoppn @ Mon Jul 30, 2012 at 21:59:17 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

No they can't

You can't expect everyone to be exceptional. From an organizational standpoint, you have to expect people to not be, matter of fact.

Just to make clear what I'm talking about ... there is no reason why the 99th District shouldn't be competitive every single cycle.  Demographically speaking, in fact, it leans Democratic.  Yet, it isn't.  Why? Because every election cycle, no resources are put into making it a competitive district.  The Michigan Republican Party puts resources into it. The Democrats don't.  As a result, the local Republican Party knows how to win races. The Democrats are perpetually demoralized, disorganized, and incapable of finding someone to run because they're expected to literally do it all themselves.  It's a failure of the state party, which has been repeated all over the state.

Among the Trees

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by: Eric B. @ Tue Jul 31, 2012 at 14:45:11 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

More time and effort has been spent

trying to keep candidates from running for office, than trying to get candidates to run for office.

I'm not just talking about Brewer, but in general - it's a significant problem in the Party that needs to be addressed as soon as this election cycle is over.

Great Lakes, Great Times, Great Scott

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by: ScottyUrb @ Tue Jul 31, 2012 at 05:14:16 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

More time and effort has been spent

trying to keep candidates from running for office, than trying to get candidates to run for office.

I'm not just talking about Brewer, but in general - it's a significant problem in the Party that needs to be addressed as soon as this election cycle is over.

Great Lakes, Great Times, Great Scott

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by: ScottyUrb @ Tue Jul 31, 2012 at 05:14:18 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Do you have a better answer than Mark Brewer for 2013-14, Eric? Give us a name!

Has Mark Brewer been a good MDP Chair? If you count strictly by results in 2010, or by the debacle of the 2008 presidential primary, then no. Just remember...NO ONE ELSE SERIOUSLY WANTED THE JOB. After 2010 -- when Brewer was at a low point in terms of popularity and influence -- he ran essentially unopposed in 2011 (Ron Scott's ridiculous effort notwithstanding).

Jocelyn Benson could probably have won that fight in 2011 -- but chose not to try.

Similarly, Virg Bernero became our gubernatorial candidate in 2010 because John Cherry spent all of 2009 lining up endorsements and donations while leaning on potential opponents to not run...only to puss out in January 2010.

After that colossal display of cowardice, NOBODY BETTER wanted to run. Smart Democrats looked at the short calendar, Granholm's unpopularity and the surging Tea Party, and bailed. Virg didn't.

We now know just how much of a DINO Andy Dillon was -- his nomination would have been WORSE for Democrats statewide, because the base would have entirely bailed, and not one centrist or independent (outside of Tim Melton) would have defected from Snyder to Dillon. And, sadly, Alma Wheeler Smith couldn't gather enough signatures to make the primary ballot. What a contrast she might have made to Snyder -- perhaps enough to hold the base and inspire better turnout in Detroit -- but we'll never know.

2010 and 2011 are history. Complaining about what Bernero and Brewer did or didn't do back then isn't helping anybody -- UNLESS you also have a SOLUTION we can endorse for 2013 and 2014.

Eric Baerren for MDP Chair, perhaps? My personal first choice is Kevin Hrit, but if he doesn't want Brewer's job and you do, you have my vote.

"The two most common elements in the universe are hydrogen and stupidity." ~ Harlan Ellison

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by: helzapoppn @ Mon Jul 30, 2012 at 21:47:41 PM UTC

Replacements for Brewer are unlikely

From my vantage on the Rules committee back at the 1st Granholm election in 2002, and her disastrous choice of Hollowell for party chair -- Brewer shows up to our meeting with rules drafted for a new "Executive Chair" position.

I seem to remember a Grebner quote here along the lines of the one thing Brewer is good at: protecting his job.

I used to think Brewer was very knowledgeable about redistricting and election law, but the last 2 decades have proven me wrong. And don't get me started on the horrid waste of money on RMGN. It's more important to be good at running a state party and winning actual elections.

I agree that Kevin Hrit might be a good choice as to natural ability, but doesn't yet have the extensive network of contacts. He probably also needs a law degree these days, and/or having been elected to office himself.

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by: William Allen Simpson @ Tue Jul 31, 2012 at 00:47:02 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

It's something that would require a concerted grassroots effort

- one that would ensure that someone else has the support of rank-and-file Democrats who would actually attend the February 2013 Convention (and who come from a diverse range of counties and districts so as to enable them to win via the proportional method). That's just for starters.

It's certainly possible, but that is an effort that would need to begin as soon as November 6 is in the history books.

Great Lakes, Great Times, Great Scott

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by: ScottyUrb @ Tue Jul 31, 2012 at 05:22:06 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Does "Bobby" Schostak have those things?

Law degree...hardly.

Network of contacts...yes, if you consider only wealthy donors like himself and the electeds he schmoozed with over the years.

As I recall, the grass-roots-level Tea Partiers HATED the idea of elevating Schostak to MIGOP Chair.

Of course, the LEADERS of the various Tea Party organizations -- 100% of whom come from that group of wealthy donors and electeds -- were fine with promoting one of their own over retaining a veteran operative (going back to his days as a College Republican) like Saul Anuzis.

Saulius was a tactician and big on messaging and using social media; Schostak can make other multi-millionaires open their wallets. End of story.

"The two most common elements in the universe are hydrogen and stupidity." ~ Harlan Ellison

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by: helzapoppn @ Wed Aug 01, 2012 at 18:03:55 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I'm not a party member

So, it's not my job to fix the Democratic Party. Also, don't yell at me about pointing out that the state party is broken. That's shooting the messenger.

On the other hand, this is probably part of the problem ... the Michigan Democratic Party is so broken it can't even figure out how broken it is and what to do to fix it.

Among the Trees

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by: Eric B. @ Tue Jul 31, 2012 at 14:29:17 PM UTC

[ Parent ]