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voting 
Tue Oct 26, 2010 at 20:46:29 PM EDT
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It's been a few days now since we began a conversation that addresses the issue of how frustrated some number of LBGT voters are with the Democratic Party this cycle; this because they find themselves either frustrated at the lack of progress on the civil rights issues that matter to them, or because they see both the Democratic and Republican Parties as unreliable partners in the struggle to assure equal rights for all.
In an effort to practice some actual journalism, I assembled a version of an online "focus group" at The Bilerico Project ("daily adventures in LBGTQ"), with the goal of gathering some opinions on this subject in the actual words of those frustrated voters.
Part One of this story focused on "stating the problem", and today we'll take on Part Two: in this environment, with Election Day staring us in the face, what is an LBGT voter to do?
As before, there are a variety of opinions, including a very informative comment I was able to obtain from a genuine Member of Congress, Patrick Murphy of Pennsylvania's 8th District, and that means until the very end you won't hear much from me, except to help "set the stage" for the comments that follow.
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Wed Oct 06, 2010 at 22:58:21 PM EDT
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It is about a week before early voting begins for a bunch of us around the country, and that means this may be one of the last times I have to convince you that, frustrated progressive or not, you better get your butt to a ballot box or a mail-in envelope this November, because it really does matter.
Now I could give you a bunch of "what ifs" to make my point, or I could remind you how we spent all summer watching oil gush into the Gulf, and how that came to be...but, instead, it's "Even More Current Event Day", and we're going to visit Hungary for a extremely real-world reminder of what can go wrong when the environmental cops are considered just too much of a burden by the environmental robbers-and if today's story doesn't scare you to death, I don't know what will.
It ain't Texas, but we will surely visit a Red River Valley...and you surely won't like what you're gonna see.
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Tue Oct 14, 2008 at 03:20:10 AM EDT
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(From the diaries! - promoted by Eric B.)
So, a federal judge finally rules on the side of the people. Check out this article from the Washington Post. According to Judge Stephen J. Murphy III of the U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of Michigan, The State violated federal law when it removed about 1,500 newly registered voters from its rolls this year after voter identification cards mailed to them were returned undelivered.
Those voters, along with any removed since 2006 on the same basis, must be returned to the rolls unless there was another reason to have questioned their eligibility What is even better is the our great Sec. of State was not available for comment: Murphy told the state to immediately stop the cancellations and remove any designation in poll books that would prevent the voters' ballots from being counted if they appear at the polls on Election Day and meet whatever further proof of identification would otherwise apply to them. Neither Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land nor a spokesperson could not be reached for comment following the ruling. We should all thank the ACLU for preempting a GOP move that was very effective in Ohio four years ago.
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Thu Jul 10, 2008 at 10:02:05 AM EDT
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Yesterday my family joined the ever-growing group of Michigan families who now face an uncertain economic future due to lay-offs in the auto industry.
My dad's employer, once part of The Big Three, offered their employees age 50 and over a puny buyout package, with the hopes that 300-400 people take them up on it. Whispers around the office led most to believe that if the buyouts weren't taken, they'd still most likely be without a job, and the measly benefits. So as of August 1st, my dad will stay in Michigan, unemployed, with a mortgage, bills, and a very uncertain future. His job, like so many others, is heading to Mexico.
The news broke my heart and my spirit, just as it has for thousands others.
Here's what worries me most - like many other laid off auto workers, my dad's in his late fifties, with a bad back, arthritis starting to set in, and a minimal college education in auto repair, no thanks to the GI Bill. He can send me email, watch the funny YouTube videos I send him, but that's about as far as his computer skills go. With a crummy economy, how does my dad compete with all the hungry, tech-savvy college graduates that don't have families to support?
This is not the American Dream, this is the Auto Industry Nightmare.
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Fri Jul 04, 2008 at 07:55:40 AM EDT
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(From the diaries. - promoted by ScottyUrb)
The Center for Progressive Leadership in Michigan is excited to announce a new addition to our family of leadership programs, the 2008 Voter Mobilization Training. The first of these nationwide trainings will be featured right here in Michigan, and we are asking you to be involved in making a difference in 2008! The CPL 2008 Voter Mobilization Trainings equip first-time and seasoned grassroots activists, organizers, and campaign staff with the skills they need to run successful campaigns, expand voter outreach, and build on progressive issues in 2008 and beyond. This interactive and engaging, two-day workshop led by highly-talented trainers with expertise in: field and electoral organizing, campaign management and voter outreach strategy. will take place on Saturday, July 12th and Sunday, July 13th from 8:30 am-5:30pm at the Oakland Center of Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan. The training website and registration are up, so check out more details on the training at www.progressiveleaders.org/mobilization. The agenda includes informative sessions on: Direct Voter Contact, Online Organizing Tools, Campaign Planning, and much more. It is a two-track program for intermediate and advanced participants, which means that a wide range of progressive activists from first-time volunteers to experienced leaders can participate in this statewide event. http://www.progressleaders.org/mobilization/details.htm
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Tue Apr 22, 2008 at 22:58:34 PM EDT
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Michiganders' right to vote is under attack. From the primary to Voter ID and Rogers Law, we citizens need to get involved to prevent any more damage to our constitutional rights.
The most recent challenge to Michigan’s enfranchisement finds its origins last year, when the Michigan Legislature debated moving Michigan’s presidential primary date up to January 15th rather than its original date in February, with tax payers foot the bill rather than the state party organizations. Both national political parties were outraged, pledging swift action to punish Michigan. Despite these threats and seeing the Democratic National Committee strip Florida’s delegates after it made the same change, the measure passed and was signed into law.
Almost as soon as the ink was dry on the new measure in Lansing, the Republican and Democratic parties reacted. The Republicans announced that Michigan would only be allowed to send half of its delegation to the Republican convention, limiting the voice Michigan had in choosing their nominee. The Democrats, however, went further. None of Michigan’s more than 150 delegates would be able to represent the Great Lakes State or have any vote at the Democratic convention in Denver.
The individual candidates even reacted to the change. The entire Democratic field refused to campaign in the state, robbing us of the millions of dollars that would have been pumped into the economy through ads and other means. Candidates even refused to have their names on the ballot, leaving Hilary Clinton and Dennis Kucinich as the only choices for Michigan voters.
The Democrats in Michigan now have no say in choosing their party’s candidate. The Republicans are in negotiations to try to restore their delegation, but nothing has happened yet. Michigan has almost been stripped of any meaningful contribution to the primary cycle.
This controversy is just the latest in a prolonged attack on the enfranchisement of citizens in Michigan. Many college students are already familiar with the infamous ‘Rogers Law’ that requires Michigan voters have the same address on their voter registration cards and their drivers licenses. Over the past several years, this law has stood as a major barrier to students voting at their college addresses. In East Lansing, this has prevented MSU from electing a student to the city council or affecting the community positively in a political way.
Recently, the State Supreme court overturned a previous ruling from former Attorney General Frank Kelly that prevented the 10- year old ‘Michigan Voter ID ‘law from going into effect. This law requires that voters present one of a few forms of state-issued ID in order to vote. However, low income citizens and the elderly, who have been voting for decades without these extra-stringent laws in place, may be adversely affected. Low income citizens may not be able to afford a new piece of ID or not have the ability to go through the layers of bureaucracy necessary to obtain one for free. The elderly may be in the same situation, or even if they have the means, may not be fully informed of the new processes.
Why are we seeing our voting rights be slowly stripped away from us? It’s not like we are in the best of situations as a state where we can afford to sit idly by. Our economy is in shambles, our healthcare system is almost completely defunct, and people are fleeing the state not by choice, but because their homes are being foreclosed on by banks at a phenomenal rate. People are concerned, and at the very time large-scale public involvement is needed the most, it is becoming harder and harder for it to happen.
I would say the majority of people reading this want to see change for a better America and a better Michigan. The question is: what are you doing to make this happen? Do you vote? Lobby? Write letters? Anything? How many people knew of the voter ID law before this column?
It all goes back to participation. The few who benefit from our woes are almost unopposed in exerting their influence on government. The apathy of the citizenry has gotten so great that they are even able to attack our fundamental rights without any major reaction.
This cannot continue. People need to stand up. Much as great men and women have in the past, so must we now rise, not to secure, but protect the right to vote. Write letters. Lobby. Do whatever it takes to make sure that your voice, that our voice is not wiped out.
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Thu Mar 13, 2008 at 00:06:44 AM EDT
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Can anyone look at what's going on with this MI/FL vs DNC debacle BEYOND how the outcome will favor/disadvantage their candidate of choice for a moment?
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Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 13:05:01 PM EST
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It's 2008, and the writing is on the wall-it's "vote or die" as we enter the "most critical election year in recent memory." Everywhere we turn, we are told to vote for a candidate that has made a litany of grandiose (or not so grandiose) proclamations and promises. We're told to fall behind a particular candidate--often chosen by the media before the people even get a voice--to bring about the ever elusive "change" that we all know is needed. Stale and poorly written "policies"-reducing lives to numbers--by candidates hand-picked from the elite who will never address the oppression that so many of us face in our daily struggles.
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Mon Nov 05, 2007 at 19:25:09 PM EST
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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...
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Wed Oct 10, 2007 at 17:51:15 PM EDT
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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. Have a great democratic/Democratic day!
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