As I've noted previously: a core competence of a party chair should be to make sure his state's delegates are seated at the national convention every 4 years. It takes serious incompetence not to be able to assure this.
(Maybe the MDP can eventually bully a nominee into seating the Michigan delegates, but first, that's unethical, and second: it's hardly guaranteed, is it? Why walk along a cliff edge?)
Brewer, any time he wants, can assure delegate seating by agreeing to a delegate-selection event on February 5 or after. (Caucus or primary) Is someone with a gun preventing him?
Discussion on this site has mentioned that Brewer has a Secret Plan to hold a caucus, and the rest is just kabuki or other perfomance art. "Fine", if it actually happens. I'll believe it when I see it.
He wasn't successful with Geoffrey Fieger for Governor, or capturing the state senate in 2006, or many other things: "o.k." But if he can't even assure his party's own delegates are seated, he should be replaced as soon as possible.
I mean, can you as a loyal Michigan Dem really afford to have your primary vote count for nothing, zero, when your party chairman could easily have assured otherwise?
If I'm missing something and somebody overturned the ma$$ive grafting of public property (voter lists) to go to the 2 big political partie$, tell me. Otherwise, it really needs to be challenged, and a federal venue exists for that--thank goodness.
Gordon Trowbridge of DetNews says the MDP executive committee meeting will be by telephone!! tonight, Tuesday: see his Clock ticking on primary fix,
...The state Democratic Party's executive committee will meet Tuesday night by conference call to finalize the decision to participate in the Jan. 15 contest. Primary supporters believe they have the votes on the committee to go forward, though there are likely to be some among the 80 or so committee members who argue to opt out of the primary, especially if the House fails to add the missing candidate names.
Oh, a little private meeting, huh? And not on the regular Wednesday? Looks like somebody wants to cut out live, personal opinion and presence at that meeting. Bad idea.
What you can do about it...is somewhat up to you. It certainly includes contacting the MDP,
, to complain that it will be a closed-to-the-public meeting (OR to demand the meeting be delayed and opened to the public), and to ask for a February 9 caucus (or February 5th-or-later primary--if you're a huge primary fan) that will prevent the DNC from rejecting Michigan delegates. And whatever else you want: it's your opinion and right to voice it. --Just as rank-and-file Mich Dems are finding their voice and organizing an implementation challenge against the MDP's rulebreaking, and, I believe, unethical, manipulation of the delegate selection process.
Do you really want Debbie Dingell and Mark Brewer and Carl Levin--working in collusion with Saul Anuzis and Mike Bishop, by the way--to risk throwing away your vote completely, in a DNC-rulebreaking primary (or January caucus) that also risks not getting ballots to our overseas soldiers on time? Forgive me, but I certainly hope you don't want that.
Thank you for your efforts in keeping Michigan Democrats democratic. They are deeply appreciated.
Michigan's Jan. 15 primary ballot will include just half the Democratic candidates for president. The state Senate on Tuesday refused to take up legislation that would have restored the names of four Democratic presidential candidates to the ballot who withdrew earlier from the primary. Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop, R-Rochester, blamed Democrats for not being on the same page with each other. ... Bishop said some of the Democratic candidates threatened to sue if their names were restored to the ballot. [HA HA HA!!!] Republicans said election clerks couldn't afford to delay any further waiting for legislators to act or lawsuits to be settled. ...
When we last checked in with Cliff Taylor and his merry band of judicial misfits, they were busying themselves applying legal principles over who can sue and under what conditions as though they came off the a la carte menu. This week, they popped up to enable corruption so shameless that it brought tears to the spectral eyes of history's great ward heelers and political pit bosses, looking on from whatever slice of the afterlife is set aside for those so evil Satan could reasonably expect them to engineer a coup if condemned to Hell. In a 4-3 vote, the state Supreme Court reinstated the mid-January presidential primary, which not only set an early date for the state's presidential primary, but also appropriated money from the state's general fund to do it. In an act of overt political graft, the state's taxpayers will cover this private process to the tune of $10 million, at a time when Secretary of State branches are closing, and police officers, firefighters and school teachers face the prospects of layoff. ... Taxpayers [--] well, naturally, they get stuck with the check. As such, this represents a $10 million donation on behalf of the residents of Michigan to the campaign coffers of Clinton and Romney. This is worth remembering the next time some of the princip[al] architects of this mess[,] most of them Republicans[,] start complaining about government waste of taxpayer dollars. For everyone but the party faithful who are true believers of the eventual winners, the state's taxpayers get the very nice privilege of paying $10 million for the right to say that we almost went first.
Amen!
It's not over yet, though: there're the options of implementation challenges, federal court challenges, and of course, your right to demand your MDP not participate in this primary and disenfranchise you by DNC rules which prohibit a January primary/caucus. Feel free to contact your MDP at 517-371-5410, and also to suggest to Mark Grebner (Practical Political Consulting, Inc. # 517-351-8274 may work) and others that you'd appreciate a federal court challenge to the state-o.k.'d thievery which picks your pocket to enrich others.
Unless you're into being a doormat and having your pocket picked (when you could stop it!), of course...
Whether you make claims in federal court re takings, substantive and/or procedural due process, equal protection, 1st and 8th amendment stuff re making it a misdemeanor for journalists/folks to discuss the voter lists, ...not to mention equities/issues like
1) the county clerks saying they can't get out the absentee ballots on time (disenfranchising our SOLDIERS IN IRAQ, for cripes' sake),
2) the fact that the Democratic vote will be disenfranchised as a whole with a 1/15 primary (since it violates DNC rules and the delegates won't even be counted at the national convention...and there are few candidates on the ballot as well)--and don't forget the implementation challenge to be filed against the MDP for the MDP disenfranchising Michigan Dems!--,
3) the waste of public money on such a primary (as Speaker Andy Dillon has mentioned),
4) the interest in settled, fair decisions and procedures, not rush jobs like the State of Michigan is shoving down people's throats;
or other claims entirely: there may very likely be some powerful way or ways to challenge any arbitrary, capricious, and/or just plain stupid Michigan state government or court decisions recently made. So I hope you challenge, as soon as possible.
Even if you're not successful in the end (God forbid), you will at least have educated the public further about the extent to which their government is willing to steal from them, play with their votes (including soldiers' votes from abroad) and silence/criminalize free speech (again, the misdemeanor about discussing voter lists). So, it's more than worth the shot, any way one looks at it.
Moreover, you will be giving a great Thanksgiving present to the public by doing so, since someone should be protecting the people of Michigan from thievery, disenfranchisement, and bullying by a shady governmental apparatus. And people will give you thanks for doing it. I know I will.
Godspeed! We know you can do it! And have a great Thanksgiving, everybody!!
I'm too tired to write much, but maybe somebody else can add to this. This is written for people who are already familiar with the issues in the case; if you're not, you can find various documents on this site that will bring you up to speed.
Your Michigan Democratic Party leaders, your servants in the democratic/Democratic process, are meeting Wednesday 11/7 at 7 p.m., and will likely decide there whether your 2008 presidential vote will mean anything. Or not. Even if you liked the "message" that an early, rulebreaking primary sent out; at this point, only a rule-following caucus on February 5 or after (e.g., Feb. 9) is assured of leading the DNC to count the delegates at the national convention. And I wouldn't count on the "Michigan is too big, they'll have to seat us no matter what" illusion; sometimes the bigger you are, the harder you f... If you want to be enfranchised and have your vote count in 2008, just demand that the MDP hold a February caucus so that you won't be treated as a nobody. Meeting and contact info:
Meeting location (MDP headquarters): 606 Townsend, Lansing, MI 48933
MDP phone: (517) 371-5410
MDP e-mail(s): jwarman@michigandems.com, Joanne Warman, MDP Receptionist (and/or jmoon@michigandems.com, Jason Moon, MDP Communications Director ...you can just put both in the "to" box)
Hey, they might even have to listen to you if you show up in person, see the MDP rules here (unless they got secretly changed or something):
...ARTICLE 2. POLICY
A. Fundamental Principles
1. All public meetings at all levels of the Democratic Party in Michigan shall be open to all members of the Democratic Party regardless of actual or perceived race, color, creed, sex, age, national origin, economic status, religion, ethnic identity, ancestry,marital status, sexual orientation, physical appearance or disability. ...
3. The time and place for all public meetings of the Democratic Party on all levels shall be publicized fully and in such a manner as to assure timely notice to all interested persons. Such meetings must be held in places accessible to all Party members and large enough to accommodate all interested persons. ...
9. Votes shall not be taken by secret ballot at any meeting of the Democratic Party in Michigan at any level. ...
It's YOUR Party. Do you want your vote to count, and the right to vote for all the 2008 candidates; or do you want some "beauty contest" that even Hillary said doesn't matter, and with most of the major candidates absent? Your Party, your choice. Let your voice be heard!!
(And don't forget the lawsuit against the 1/15 primary by Mark Grebner due to the parties hogging election info, see the estimable Eric B. in State sued over presidential primary; nor forget state Dem rep Martin Griffin's attempt to undo the early primary, see here,
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."
)
Go Michigan democracy! Go Michigan Democrats! (And vote tomorrow...thanks!)
UPDATED: also recall that, cf. philgoblue's diary, On the Primary Crisis: What's Next, Kent County Democrats are demanding to be enfranchised with a Feb. caucus, and cf. sndowty's diary Washtenaw Dems Resolution on Jan. 15th Primary to similar effect re Washtenaw Dems, etc. If MDP leadership insists on ignoring the people, they could find their own seats jeopardized at the next election...
FURTHER updated: looks like meeting may be *Closed to Public!!! !!*, see comments below. (Why should your Flawless Leaders ever listen to you anyway?) However, you can always
1) stand outside the meeting with a sign (or would they have you arrested),
2) express your displeasure with a closed meeting of a supposedly "democratic" organization...either by phone, or e-mail, or on this blog, etc.,
3) anything else you can think of, to fight your own disenfranchisement!!!
MO further updated: a comment below sez that the meeting's now open, so that the ol' title "MDP *CLOSED-TO-PUBLIC* meeting on 11/7; demand a Feb. caucus & enfranchisement (FURTHER updated)" may be superseded, hopefully...
Political leaders of both parties are pushing for the state Legislature to place the names of four Democratic presidential candidates back on the Jan. 15 primary ballot, trying to undo the damage to Michigan's political clout when the candidates removed their names from consideration this week. Democratic National Committee member Debbie Dingell and state GOP Chairman Saul Anuzis both support the idea; Anuzis said today the Republican leaders of both chambers of the Legislature are on board. ... "We have to be prepared to play hardball," said Dingell, the wife of U.S. Rep John Dingell, D-Dearborn, and a prime mover in the bid to challenge Iowa and New Hampshire. ...
That's just what Michigan's image needs: a white woman (person) who married into power, forcing an African American (Obama) and a Latino (Richardson), plus some others, to be forced to do something they don't want to do. And cuddling up with "Super Saul" Anuzis to do it. Now isn't that special.
Wasn't involuntary servitude abolished a long time ago??
...Why hasn't Debbie Dingell resigned from her position at the DNC, or been forcibly removed from it? She isn't happy there. And she clearly has no respect for the DNC, or maybe for anyone else either, maybe. (Except for her husband or General Motors--hard to tell the difference between them--, and Hillary, who could advance Debbie's career.)
Yes, involuntary servitude got abolished a long time ago (that "Civil War" thing), but not everyone has noticed, I guess...
Michigan Democrats are not currently going to have their delegates counted at the national convention, due to the MDP willingly breaking the rules despite warnings from the DNC.
Therefore, Obama or Edwards or Richardson or Biden or (tried to withdraw, but too late?) Kucinich may not deserve your anger for following the DNC rules, but rather, the MDP deserves that anger for NOT following the rules; since the MDP can enfranchise you and get your vote counted any time you want, but they have refused to do so, so far.
That is, they can hold a February caucus, Feb. 5 or later (say, Feb. 9), and stay within the scope of the rules. And get the delegates counted. (Unless they enrage the DNC in some other way) Or they can refuse to do it, and keep you disenfranchised.
Would you like to be enfranchised? and do something positive, rather than seething with negative feelings and feeling powerless? Just contact the MDP, and ask that they immediately enfranchise you by holding a February caucus. MDP phone number: 517-371-5410. MDP Communications Director Jason Moon e-mail: jmoon@mi-democrats.com.
Two of three leading Democratic presidential nominees have removed their names from the Jan. 15 Michigan presidential primary. U.S. Sen. Barack Obama and former Sen. John Edwards both filed paperwork to have their names withdrawn minutes ago with the Michigan Secretary of State's office. New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson sent a letter yesterday, also asking to be taken off the list. Today is the deadline for candidates to have their names removed. Michigan Democrats were under pressure from the national party to disavow the state's recent move to push the primary ahead of both the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary in violation of party rules. The big question now is whether Sen. Hillary Clinton, the frontrunner among Democrats, will join the others and remove her name from the ballot. It wasn't immediately clear whether Michigan Democrats would now switch to their original plan to hold a caucus on Feb. 9. ...
Indeed. (And see my own 9/10/07 Daily Kos diary Barack, John, Hill: take your names off Fla./Mich. ballots!; not that that makes me a prophet, but...) If Mark Brewer can't change the plan and have a February 9 caucus, perhaps he should consider resigning from office. He messed up seriously by caving in and supporting the rulebreaking early primary plan that defied the whole DNC and Howard Dean. (See my earlier diaries on this) How does he look now? And how do John and Debbie Dingell look? And, I must say, Jennifer Granholm and Andy Dillon, who were seduced by Mike Bishop into defying their own party's National Committee primary schedule? I hope this all teaches the MDP a serious lesson; part of which is that they have done a terrible, terrible job for the Democrats, and the people, of Michigan. (Including wasting time on the early primary nonsense, rather than getting ready for the budget battle with the Republicans...) Thanks to Barack, John, and Bill for upholding the integrity of the DNC primary process.
(Note: as I'm completing this, I see the story's been frontpaged, http://michiganliber... . My commentary is something I want put up, though, so here we are.)
Looks like our friend Mike Bishop (and enablers such as Granholm and Dingell) are racking up points; see Freep, Michigan Dems commit to early primary,
"The Michigan Democratic Party formally endorsed the state's move to a Jan. 15 presidential primary late today even as two of the party's presidential candidates signed pledges not to campaign here. The party released a statement announcing its intention to participate in the early primary and award presidential delegates according to votes cast that day rather than in a party caucus that had been set for Feb. 9. ..."
"Michigan Democratic Party Statement on January 15th Primary
"The leadership of the Michigan Democratic Party today announced their intention to comply with the new state law establishing a January 15, 2008 Presidential primary, and to select their delegates to the Democratic National Convention on that day."
[How about complying with DNC policy?]
"Michigan Democrats are taking this step in direct response to the New Hampshire Secretary of State's statement of intent on August 9th, supported by the Democratic leadership of New Hampshire, to hold the New Hampshire primary before January 19, 2008, in direct violation of the DNC Rules that state that New Hampshire's delegates cannot be selected at a primary held earlier than January 22, 2008."
[Oh those dirty New Hamsters! Violating a deadline by 3 days, so that we can now violate our OWN deadline by...21 days? (1/15 instead of 2/5)
...Gee, I guess two wrongs make a right after all, huh Mark!! Talk about contrived excuses.....]
"Michigan Democrats believe that no state should enjoy a privileged position every four years in selecting our party's presidential nominee. ...
[But Mich has just thrust itself into such a position! The 1st primary after New Hamp!]"
By contrast, see this 8/22/07 MDP release (wonder how soon it'll take to be erased), at http://www.michigand... ,
"Brewer Statement on Senate Republicans Passing Primary Bill
...Mark Brewer released the following statement regarding the Michigan Senate Republicans decision to pass a presidential primary bill.
"It's unfortunate that the Senate Republicans passed this presidential primary bill today. The Michigan Democratic Party continues to oppose this bill and we applaud all the Democrats in the State Senate for unanimously voting against it. We look forward to having our caucus plan approved at the DNC's Rules and Bylaws Committee meeting this Saturday in Washington, DC."
Well! How the leopard has changed his spots. Mm mm mm.
---Now when Pennsylvania moves its primary to Halloween (say), we'll have no grounds to complain...
Today I submitted my question to the CNN/Youtube Democratic Presidential debate:
Sen. Carl Levin, Gov. Jennifer Granholm and Sen. Stabenow along with all of the Democratic Members of the Michigan Congressional Delegation have joined together in calling on the Democratic presidential candidates to take a stand on the American Manufacturing Initiative (AMI). Show your support for Sen. Levin, Gov. Granholm and Sen. Stabenow by joining them in signing the open letter.
...on Facebook! Thanks to the advice of many people from the Michlib community, I have joined Facebook. We have also created a Michigan Democratic Party Facebook group. By joining Facebook, the Michigan Democratic Party is continuing our outreach efforts to Democrats across the state.
Our discussion of the 2008 elections continues today with our focus shifting to the reelection of U.S. Senator Carl Levin, to our challenge of Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Cliff Taylor, and our efforts to keep the majority in the State House. Watch my video below and tell me what you think:
National GOP leaders such as Karl Rove recognize that Michigan Congressmen Joe Knollenberg and Tim Walberg are vulnerable.
Watch my latest Youtube video about these races:
Please visit http://www.michigand... and watch my first podcast. In the video, I answer questions submitted by party members and Progressive activists. Tell me what you think...
(from Mark Brewer, chair of the Michigan Democratic Party - promoted by lpackard)
Hello Progressive Democrats-
We had a tremendous 2006 election up and down the ballot and progressive bloggers played a very important role in our victories. Whether it was fact checking the mainstream media, organizing protests, informing voters with the issues, getting out the vote, helping give everyday Democrats a voice, breaking important stories or labeling Dick DeVos the “Amway Guy”, the MDP wouldn’t have had the successes it did without all of your hard work and dedication.
So we need to build on our 2006 successes for 2008, when we are working to:
As previously posted, we are in the middle of the 30 day public comment period for our DSP. Please read it over and educate yourself on the caucus process so that you can inform other Democrats on how they can fully participate in our caucus and play a role in electing the next President of the United States. With Internet voting an option once again we will rely heavily on you, the online community, to help us get out the caucus vote.
While we don't have a blog (neither does Saul btw), the MDP is working to be on the cutting edge of online activism. We are proud to be the first state party in the nation to host a Bloggers Caucus at our State Conventions. Our voter file is available to activists online. We were the first state party to offer Internet voting for a presidential caucus in 2004 and the only state party so far to offer online voting in 2008. We are working hard to improve our online presence everyday and I'm excited to announce that a MDP video podcast is coming soon. We are asking the blogging community will help us with suggestions and advice for all of our online operations.
