This may be one of the strangest tales I have ever brought to the table, Gentle Reader, and yet one of the most fundamental in describing the birth of our Bill of Rights...and most especially the Fourth Amendment.
As many of you know, the new FISA compromise may or may not allow warrantless wiretapping of American citizens on a wholesale scale.
Something you may not know is that a similar debate raged in England (centered around the right of Government to seize the papers of whomever they chose, and use the papers as evidence against those persons) during the reign of King George III—or that it involved scandalous sexual behavior, Benjamin Franklin, the 18th Century version of blogging, and two men who decided to take on the corruption of the Crown...and won.
And because of all that, we have a Fourth Amendment today.
Ready for a tale of liberty and ribaldry? Then let’s plunge right in, shall we?
(Cross-posted from the AFL-CIO
Now Blog. The ad will air on markets in Michigan and other states.)
Today the AFL-CIO launched the Union Veterans Council, bringing together veterans and members of military families to hold our leaders accountable on the issues that matter most.
The launch of the Union Veterans Council will help mobilize the more than 2.1 million union members who
are veterans to get involved in the 2008 elections and fight for the health and education benefits they deserve. These veterans will speak out to advocate policies like a fully funded Veterans Affairs (VA) and the recently passed 21st Century GI Bill.
The Internet has opened the elections across the country to more democratic involvement of average people. Fundraising, candidate vetting, organizing, and holding candidates and the media accountable have been the benefits.
Sites like Fire Dog Lake and DailyKos have worked on the national level to raise the level of dialogue, and Michigan Liberal has put the state government in focus.
However, one area that needs work is the coverage of local races. Outside Detroit and a few other major cities, a lot of other races haven't received much of the coverage they deserve. Given that these races cover important local issues and often serve as the beginning of many political careers, these races should not be overlooked.
Races in question include a few statewide races (Education Boards), County Commissions and other county level races, smaller municipality races, and local school, community college, and other boards and commissions.
Coverage of these races is usually limited to newspaper questionnaires, which usually limit responses, and the League of Women Voters election guides. These provide some quick reference, but don't come near the quality that can be had with the advancement of the internet.
One example of coverage that can work is Media Mouse and their coverage of the Grand Rapids School Board election in March. They covered candidate forum, giving transcripts of answers.
Candidate forums are usually some of the few times that the public has a chance to meet the candidates running for office and to ask questions. With the advancement of consumer video, and free hosting on YouTube, video coverage of the events and questions should be possible, giving voters time to review the questions asked.
What Can be Done to Improve Coverage
A few proposals here can help Michigan Liberal serve as a place to find information on local candidates.
1. A list of races by county, with links to relevant campaign information.
This will involve a level on internet sophistication. I'd suggest a map of Michigan, where people could click on their county and receive information about the upcoming races, and links to information about the races on candidates. Text links could also be provided.
Information could include media coverage, candidates’ answers to third party (e.g. League of Women Voter) questionnaires, candidate websites, as well as content created by bloggers covering the races.
2. Partnering with local blogs/bloggers to enhance coverage
Local bloggers will be the boots on the ground in local coverage. While local media often breezes over responses, when armed with video cameras, sound recordings, and their own notes, local bloggers could give better coverage to inform voters of local races.
3. More Video/audio availability
With YouTube, posting candidate forums is free and accessible to anyone who wants it. This can allow voters to here the candidates rather than read quick summaries in newspapers and voter guides.
4. Increase participation in candidate forums
Candidates’ forums often, though not always, offer the public a chance to ask questions. This can be done in person, or through moderation, where questions are submited in advance.
Voters might be unavailable to attend the events to ask questions, due to jobs, family, or other reasons. Blogs can serve as a place they can propose questions for the forums, which can be asked for them by a participant in the forum.
5. Encourage more media coverage of local races
More blog attention on local races can be used to encourage local media to do more coverage. Encouraging readers to write local media with letters to the editors and calling for more coverage can inform more people about local races.
6. Encourage liberal Candidates for office
A lot of the local offices serve as the starting point for careers. Some people serving on our school boards and county commisions will be our next State Representative, State Senator, or Congressman. Offering support for candidates that will give starts to more politicians who hold the public over other interests. This can encourage them to rely on grassroots campaigning through their careers.
Michigan Liberal should seek to be a place to foster local coverage by providing local bloggers a larger audience to share local race information, as well as working with other local bloggers to make more coverage.
Any more suggestions or ideas? Feel free to submit in the comments section.
This 2008 election cycle has had many twists and turns. One thing I'm finding funny and sad at the same time is the number of people crossing party lines, at the behest of their favorite radio talk show host, to vote for the status quo.
Ever since the Barack Obama train began to pick up steam, the mainstream press, the Washington establishment, and the conservative radio talk show circuit has been trying to knock the guy off his perch and insert Hillary Clinton in his place.
One week ago today, the latest media shot at Obama took place when ABC anchor Charles Gibson and former Bill Clinton press secretary turned-media pundit, George Stephanopoulos, took Obama to task on a number of issues that many voters had already kicked into oblivion.
Is it a coincidence that this happened just seven days before the Pennsylvania primary - a primary that the establishment candidate, Hillary Clinton, needs to win to stay alive in the race?
The establishment wants the status-quo. The establishment owns and runs the media. The establishment owns and runs the lobbies and thinktanks that populate the D.C. cesspool. The establishment also owns the presidential candidates who have the calloused knees, chapped lips, and vaseline scorchmarks from their years of "paying" their dues inside the Washington Beltway.
Those are the candidates who make it to the ballot in November. Barack Obama hasn't been in Washington long enough yet. Hillary Clinton and John McCain sold their souls there a long time ago.
The syndicated talk show circuit is part of this machine. They have been blasting Obama for months. When it became clear that Obama wasn't going to go away without a fight, those talk hosts began to encourage their listeners to cross party lines and vote for Clinton. Their reasoning is that she will be easier to beat come November.
They may be right. However, I think the the reasoning goes deeper. The establishment doesn't want to take any chances. They want their Washington Howdy Doody's, McCain and Clinton, to square off for the White House. They do not want an upstart like Obama coming in, with all his youth and first time voters, to mess up the status quo.
Here is a recent message from the king pin of the conservative talkers, direct from his website:
Ladies and gentlemen, as Operation Chaos and soldiers prepare to deploy in less than 24 hours, the Drive-By Media is doing everything it can to suggest that these new Republican registrants in Pennsylvania are registering because they love Obama. The Politico has a story today about the surge in Democrat voter registration from Republicans, and their number is that 62% of the switchers -- 62% of you Republicans who are switching registration to the Democrat Party for the Pennsylvania primary -- are going to Obama. This is the theme now, and we will see how this plays out tomorrow. Of course, the bottom line here is that Operation Chaos does not have a chosen candidate. Operation Chaos has as a simple, single mission to keep the campaign going; to keep chaos reigning supreme, to keep the Democrats continuing to conduct their war with each other on all fronts.
The funny thing about all of this is that these dolts who are voting for Hillary Clinton really think they are doing their country a favor. When in reality, they are doing just the opposite. They are doing exactly what the establishment wants - pitting two bootlicking, salad tossing, circle-jerking Washington status-quo puppets against each other in the fall.
Good news! Republicans across the country are abandoning the Republican Party in order to vote Democrat!
Hopefully people can read this news story just for its entertainment value without starting another round of non-productive candidate trashing (I'm officially done with the Obama-bashing.... at least until the next time he does something stupid :-). To be fair, there are pros and cons on both sides in this story that I've made sure to include. But two things really stood out to me:
1. People are voting en masse because for the first time in decades THEIR VOTES MATTER. (Yet another strong reason to kick Iowa & NH out of the vetting process.)
2. Republicans are voting for Hillary and Obama for two very different reasons.
Clinton-Obama race spurs party switches
"The bottom line is, this is the first Oregon presidential primary I have ever voted in my life that actually could matter, and I am not going to pass up that chance just because I am registered with the wrong party," said the 45-year-old Buckingham. "I want to make sure whoever gets in there, it is someone I can live with."
Many voters say they have made the switch to grab the chance to have.... Some renegade conservatives, though, will admit to switching in order to drag out the Democratic primary as long as possible in the hope of bruising both candidates along the way.
'We don't know a stinking thing about him'
Talk radio hostess Victoria Taft, a familiar Republican voice in the Democratic-leaning Pacific Northwest, said that even in her wildest dreams, she never imagined urging her listeners to vote for Clinton. But these days, Taft is firmly on the New York senator's bandwagon, along with national conservative talk radio heavyweights like Rush Limbaugh and Laura Ingraham.
"I almost can't say this without choking, but I'm going to vote for Hillary Clinton," Whisler said. "Just on the basis of finding out more about each candidate."
None of the major candidates reflects her views on immigration policy, Whisler said. Still, in November, she said she'll "hold my nose," and vote for McCain.
Link to the full story here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23898341/
Okay.... I hate to be the one to say I told you so, but......
In spite of the many, many posts by some here that Michigan "didn't matter" in the primary elections, Michigan (and Florida) is on THE FRONT PAGE of The Wall Street Journal.
In a primary season full of odd twists, consider this one: Florida and Michigan, which currently don't have a single vote at the Democrats' August convention, could determine who is elected president.
With the Democratic nomination essentially deadlocked after this week's Super Tuesday primaries, and no clear resolution imminent in a series of smaller contests this weekend, party attention is turning to the unusual situation of the two big states.
The story goes on to say how risky (i.e. "stupid") the idea is to continue excluding two of the most powerful swing states over "rules" that are no longer in the party's interest and could hurt either democratic nominee this coming November.
But the alternative of sticking with the status quo and excluding the two states is equally risky. Michigan is a reliable Democratic state with big African-American and union populations. Florida is a toss-up state that the Democrats hope to win this year. "It's in the party's interest, if they want to win in November, to stop this thing," says American University political scientist James Thurber.
It also appears that (like I've been saying all along) not only the DNC but both candidates have assured Michigan that their candidates would be seated this summer. Analysts agree that sticking with the status quo would be political suicide.
Both state parties said they were assured by the campaigns that the delegations would be seated when it became clear who the nominee was. Sen. Clinton would almost certainly argue for including the delegations on grounds they are important states to the party.
Sen. Obama then would be in the uncomfortable position of seeking to disenfranchise them. "If it gets that far, then Obama has to look Michigan and Florida in the eye and say, 'I don't want you in my convention.'
Okay, now that I've had a little fun..... more seriously now. It is par for the course for people to have a multitude of opinions, especially on a blog. But those opinions have to be recognized as just that: Opinions. Stating for a fact that you know something - without the understanding about politics to go with it - is not the best way to have an informed electorate.
The people who ARE knowledgeable about national elections have been saying all along that Michigan will be seated in this summer's convention. Even common sense would tell you that a candidate cannot be elected the President of 48 states.
Exactly how this thing is going to play out, no one knows for sure. I for one am hoping for a Clinton/Obama ticket!
Jon is interviewing David Gergen right now on the Daily Show. He is totally trashing the Democrats for being stupid enough not to campaign Michigan and Florida - two of the states Democrats absolutely NEED to win the election (along with Ohio and Pennsylvania).
His quote:
"On the scale of 1 to stupid, how stupid is Dems not campaigning in Michigan and Florida?"
Gergen's response: "I don't know. Sometimes Democrats eat their own."
Leave me alone Brain and Phil, this is Jon Stewart's quote, not mine.
Ok, I'm almost afraid to post this here due to the heat of public opinion regarding our primary problems.
Yet, according to Debbie Dingell, it was all worth it. Could she be right?
"That was what it was all about," General Motors Corp. executive Dingell said of why she and other political leaders in the state pushed Michigan's primary up early despite the $10 million price tag, plenty of angry Democratic voters and threats of serious repercussions from the national parties.
"Everybody loves to bash the domestic auto industry," said Dingell, who is the wife of U.S. Rep. John Dingell, D-Dearborn. "But they come here and can see the technology, and then suddenly they see that the domestic manufacturers are making better products than anybody else. That is what happened."
The shift to Michigan also brought a shift in candidates' messages. While the war in Iraq was at the forefront in earlier primaries, Republican candidates wooing Michigan were forced to shift their focus to job losses, manufacturing and the state's unique-in-the-nation recession.
Many have endorsed the new primary date with the rational that “Michigan’s issues” were on display in the national sphere, and that the media and candidates would have to start addressing the issues that are important to Michigan voters rather than just those important to New Hampshire and Iowa. The question is: did this really come to fruition? Did the candidates, Republican or Democrat, address real Michigan issues, or just give the same superficial stump speeches that would work in any state? CNN, Fox News, and every other media outlet have been hammering Michigan for having the highest unemployment rate in the country, citing the legacy of the auto industry contractions of the past decade or so. And what happens after they mention the Big Three? Commercial break before the next story. The same goes for the candidates who campaigned here. John McCain and Mitt Romney got into a tussle over Romney’s desire to bring auto jobs back and McCain’s view that we need to create new jobs. Beyond that, silence. The rest of their speeches were simply modified stump speeches, the same things they said in South Carolina and New Hampshire. Great Lakes protection? Urban sprawl? Education reform? Health care? Mortgage crisis? Where are these issues in the debates? Michigan, with its gorgeous environment threatened by urban expansion and falling lake levels, some of its schools among the worst in the nation, millions of uninsured, and thousands upon thousands who have already or are in danger of losing their homes, is more diverse than car company jobs. It will take a lot more than a snap primary to force candidates to address these controversial yet vital issues here.
Did you vote today? If so, how did it go? How many people were there? Were there any problems/surprises or overheard conversations at the polling station? Let us know what is going on across the state this election day.
In Royal Oak
I voted for Hillary Clinton at 9 a.m. today. There were about 3 people voting when I got there. They did check my id, and I requested a Democratic ballot. I was Democratic ballot #24, and there were 40 republican ballots before mine.
That concerns me so early in the morning because although Precinct 16 does tilt republican, I don't think its typically by that much of a margin. I really hope Dems come out to vote today!
Okay kiddies. Enough barking at each other. Here is some raw meat that we can use to attack the opposition. Seems like Uncle Karl (aka The Brain) decided to way in on the democratic candidates. CNN is quoting him calling Obama "lazy".
"Mr. Obama has failed to rise to leadership on a single major issue in the Senate," Rove writes in a Wall Street Journal Op-Ed. "In the Illinois legislature, he had a habit of ducking major issues, voting 'present' on bills important to many Democratic interest groups, like abortion-rights and gun-control advocates.
And in a rare move, Rove praises Clinton for her "humanizing" moments on the campaign trail, and calls Obama just "as calculating" as the New York Democrat.
Hi, folks. Here are today's grumps, gripes and jokes about the presidential race:
In Michigan, Sen. Carl Levin is asking state Democrats to vote "uncommitted" in Tuesday's primary, which, as a good little Dem I'll probably do. But I'm not happy about it. I feel disenfranchised, like many in the state, in what is, I think, a crucial election. But, as Levin pointed out in a Detroit Free Press article: "... despite the national party's threats to the contrary, Michigan's 156 delegates will be seated at the Democratic National Convention in August. He said seating those delegates would open the door for states to challenge and change the national party rules that require Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada to hold the earliest primaries." So hold your nose and do what you must, Dems -- commit to uncommitted. Or to Hillary, I guess. (Speaking of which, has more ever been made of one little mist-up? Behold, the power of a woman's tears! Could you blame her for thinking, "Jeez, that worked GREAT! If I'd known emotions were so handy, I'd have developed more of them years ago!"?)
Congratulations to Hillary Clinton for winning New Hampshire. But there is much more at stake to this horse race than the skim surface of the campaign mechanics the mainstream media tells.
Though Hillary Clinton won New Hampshire, her back door dealings have already seem to have secured her a position in the White House, barely trying.
Just like the general election where the electoral college is the only vote that matters, the primaries have a similar system that parallels the electoral college in process. It's call the delegates and superdelegates.
Here's an explanation of what they are and how they're selected. They aren't voted for at all:
Clinton's campaign co-chair is Terri McAuliffe, who works and is very influential in the DNC. He was able to lock some of the DNC for Hillary anyways. What is your opinion of this?
HappyElectionDay! Having just returned refreshed and relax from Maine, I'm looking forward to making my opinion count in today's Lansing City elections. I hope you'll be doing the same where ever you are in our great state.
While you're at it, here's your daily dose of MichLib goodness. Either fill up before you hit the voting booth, or just after, but just don't forget to vote!
Here's to a little Green in your life -
The Conversation: The Gov has an interesting piece about the Power of Wind. For once, I'm pleased to say we're not talking about Mike Bishop (R-Hair Gel) or the budget. Praise Progress!
Great Lakes Blogger: Dave Dempsey's got some commentary on the Governor's renewable energy push.
West Michigan Politics: Barry County has a serious issue to decide today, the future of their parks. Check out.
The AP: This time green has nothing to do with money, progressive environmental issues, or anything that helps the state. If nothing else, the unfortunate, and clearly not the brightest guy had Fate slap in him in the face at the most ironic place, Grass Lake. I'll let you figure out the rest.
Good news from the labor front -
The AP: Ford is continuing to invest in our workers and our state, and this state and everyone in it are coming out on top. A hearty congrats to them.
Far Left Field: There's a free showing of Michael Moore's 'Sicko' and its showings are situated around GM workers shift schedules.
The interesting, the humorous, the thought-provoking -
The AP: Detroit's gotten a big hand in cleaning up and revitalizing from Wayne State University, and you'll be just amazed at what they are doing.
Michigan Messenger: Kevin Shopshire has a great piece on partisan radio hack, Frank Beckmann and his very bruised ego. Poor, poor Frank. Get yourself a made-in-China Amway hanky, Frank and go cry on that.
Christine Barry: Christine gives us all a good reason to take thirty seconds out of our to Think Different. Consider it time good spent.
Liberal, Loud and Proud: Only in one of the country's bluest states will you find this little goody that I'm guessing many a MichLibber would gladly buy.
Go off and have yourself a wonderful day. While you're at it, feel free to give your favorite candidate, ballot issue, or other important voting issue on last voice of support below.
(A great opportunity to participate in the political process. - promoted by JPowers155)
The Michigan Election Policy Coalition is seeking volunteers to protect our right to vote. This week they are in dire need of poll watchers in Democratic districts to ensure that NO ONE GETS TURNED AWAY AT THE POLLS. Even though this isn't a heavy election season, a strong turnout now will set Republicans on alert that THEY WILL BE WATCHED next year.
Governor Granholm's response that Michigan issues needed to play a larger role in choosing the Democratic nominee are valid, but she fails to recognize that Senator Edwards has been responding to Michigan issues for his entire campaign.
Senator Edwards has dedicated his campaign to providing the most comprehensive and the most practical plans for helping Michigan.
Senator Edwards is a strong ally of labor, which has a very strong presence in the state of Michigan. He is ready and willing to stand up to any challenges to keep jobs in Michigan and make sure that companies that take jobs from Michigan and send them to China will not be rewarded by the federal government.
Edwards has laid out the most comprehensive plan for health care, which will leave NO ONE behind. He admits that his plan will be expensive (though it will cost less each year than the war in Iraq), but he is willing to make cuts in other areas to guarantee that all of Michigan's citizens have health care. Elizabeth Edwards likes to challenge the other Democrats in the field to provide equally effective health care plans, by asking voters to question the other candidates about health care. When asked how many people will still be uninsured if your plan goes into effect, John is the only candidate that can respond with a confident: "Zero"
Environmental Concerns are also at the fore-front of Senator Edwards campaign. He was the first major candidate to release a realistic plan for the environment and it remains the most comprehensive of all of the candidates. Michigan's environmental needs have always been addressed by the Edwards campaign.
...the list could go on and on.
At the end of the day, which candidate was (and still is) talking about Michigan's issues before the state primary was changed?
Only...John Edwards
John doesn't need to campaign in Michigan to make Michigan issues stand out, because his campaign has always embodied Michigan's needs and with David Bonior at the helm, that isn't soon to change!
(More great work from our bloggers in West Michigan - promoted by LiberalLucy)
It has been brought to the attention of DemocraticEdge.com that the Tormala for Mayor Campaign is using the the "Union Bug" or(label) in a manner that does not conform with union policy. We have been informed by a local union official that "the printer MUST be a unionized shop and that the 'label' is applied to all work that the union shop produces."
This is interesting in that the three (3) largest unions in G.R. have supported financially the Tormala campaign. I find it very curious as to how they feel about the falsification of their identity symbol being used, with their money, not using a union printer, and then telling them how much the campaign and candidate are supporting those who work in Grand Rapids Unions?
I am curious as to how the leaders of the Fire, Police and Grand Rapids Employees Union feel about having their personal contributions [which is a healthy sum] to the campaign feel about this?
What I am really interested in though is, how do those members of local
unions that have volunteered, supported and even personally contributed to the Tormala Campaign feel about this abuse of a trademark that signifies the very meaning of what the Union stands for?
UPDATE - NEW EVIDENCE: Check out the Allied Label Union website, you will see that KB Signs is NOT listed as an Allied Label union shop!
It's February 2007, and everyone wants to talk to me...
At least, everyone who's running for president. While I certainly feel special, I'm not sure if all this talk is a boost for the election or a bullet to the foot.
Truth be told, I'm a little worried for our candidates. Check any blog, semi-political website, and now even some magazines, and Bill, Obama, Hillary, Mitt, John and that other John all want to have a conversation with you. Gee, I'm sure we all feel special, but I can't help but wonder. The confetti is barely swept up and the ballots have just been shredded, and already the gate's sprung open and they're off again. Anyone else feel like we barely had time to catch our breath?
