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Screw you, DNC. You stole my vote, so you get nothing from me.

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knitter4democracy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 03:05 PM
Original message
Screw you, DNC. You stole my vote, so you get nothing from me.
Yeah, I voted today in the worthless Michigan primary. I voted for Kucinich, mostly because I'm a liberal, he's a liberal, and he at least seems to give a crap about our state.

I know, I know, our dumbf*** party higher ups caused the whole thing. Yadda, yadda, yadda. At least the GOP came up with a better compromise and only took away half of our delegates. What did the DNC do? They kicked us while we were already down and took our votes away. I am a deliberately disenfranchised voter. The Democrats took away the power of my vote. The party that has lost due to election fraud, the party of the people, the party that keeps sending me crap asking for money--they took away my vote.

Michigan's in a depression and has been for the last few years. Our unemployment is higher than it was during the Great Depression. We have one of the highest foreclosure rates in the nation. We're hemorraghing population and will lose at least one House Rep the next time around, maybe two. And now we don't matter at all.

The Republicans seem to care more about us than the Dems. How's that for irony?! They had a debate here, have had fundraisers and rallies here, have had small meetings with real voters here, and have ads all over the place. Their campaign machinery is in place and running. Ours? We have none. The DNC doesn't care about Michigan. We're expendable.

We are going to lose Michigan in the GE. It used to be that, if you won Detroit, you won the state. With job and population losses, that might not be true anymore. The rest of the state is red. Kerry won four counties in Michigan last time. That's it. This time, four might not be enough.

Would someone like to explain to me how the hell I'm supposed to get people to vote for the Dem nominee?! Seriously--how am I supposed to explain to undecideds, independents, union members, moderate Republicans, and rank-and-file Dems why they should vote for our nominee. Our nominee didn't fight for Michigan when it counted, so why should we vote for that person? Our nominee didn't give two thoughts about throwing us to the dogs, so why should we give that person any money, any time, any help other than a vote?

I'm not giving a dime to the DNC again. I've never seen my precinct so dead as it was today, and I was only number 49 at 12:30. Normally they're in the triple digits by then. One hundred fifty voted Republican--this in a Dem precinct. We're so far in the hole behind the GOP for the GE because of this mess that we've probably already lost.

Michigan's dying. That's why our leadership (stupid morons that they are) played chicken and tried to get us moved up to count. We get only eighty cents on the dollar we send to Washington, and yet we're counted on to send our soldiers to Iraq. We're counted on to vote Dem by a party that doesn't give a shit about us. We're expected to roll over and thank everyone who's kicking us and spitting on us. As proud as most Michiganders are, I don't see it happening this year.

Thanks, DLC and Dr. Dean and Sen. Levin and Gov. Granholm. You just turned our state red.
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Flarney Donating Member (512 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 03:07 PM
Response to Original message
1. Isn't the state Dem party responsible for this? n/t
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redqueen Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 03:09 PM
Response to Reply #1
2. That's the impression I had.
:shrug:
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knitter4democracy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 03:19 PM
Response to Reply #1
4. They sure as hell didn't listen to us.
And I included them in the lists in the OP for a reason. Screw them, too.

Mark Brewer, MDP chair, went around to every county party and asked what they thought. Every county said don't do it. Everyone was agreed that we didn't want to play chicken with the DNC. They didn't listen, passed the law when most Michiganders didn't know what was going on, and we all got screwed.

The GOP took away half of the delegates. The DNC took away everything. Screw them for not coming up with a better compromise.
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madfloridian Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 03:12 PM
Response to Original message
3. Blame the state leaders, not the DNC. It was a power play...
to give an advantage to a candidate. The DNC warned them, begged them, gave them 30 days to fix it....then took the delegates.

The other 48 states count also, and no two states should grab power like that.
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knitter4democracy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 03:23 PM
Response to Reply #3
8. You think I don't? Of course I do. They're not getting my money, either.
When the DNC gave them thirty days to pass another law to fix it, our state congress was in battle over the state budget. When the Republicans realized that they were only losing half of their delegates but we were losing all of them, they wouldn't let the bill to fix it get out of committee, from what I hear. They knew that it would turn the state red to lose all of our votes in the primary.

I can't say I entirely blame the state higherups, though. Michigan has little power nationally except for every four years when they want our electoral votes. The rest of the time, we're ignored. We're dying here, and no one gives a crap. Their power grab was to get our state's problems in the national limelight, to get the candidates talking about how we're worse off now than we were in the Great Depression and have been for the last few years. Now, while we're down and bleeding, now is the time for party manuvering and strong stances and Iowa and New Hampshire to throw a fit and spit on us, too? Yeah, thanks.
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Justitia Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 03:25 PM
Response to Reply #8
9. Well, I'm in TX, so I don't think you're any more special than we are - sorry.
The same rules apply to us and we have way more Dem delegates than you.

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knitter4democracy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 03:31 PM
Response to Reply #9
13. Your unemployment numbers are better than ours.
I don't think we're better--I think we're worse. Now we're completely irrelevant to the national discourse, even less than usual. Wouldn't you be pissed off if your state Dems pulled this kind of crap that lost you your vote?
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Justitia Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 03:36 PM
Response to Reply #13
17. I'd be uber-pissed at my State Legislature, who did this to me, not the DNC.
But, once again, since I'm in TX, I'm usually pissed at my State Legislature anyway.

However, I would be especially pissed at any TX Dems who participated in our irrelevance, but again, not the DNC who is simply enforcing the same rules for everybody.

You should work to remove MI Dems that allowed it to come to this with their full cooperation.
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knitter4democracy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 03:39 PM
Response to Reply #17
19. Oh, I will, believe you me. The state higher-ups have lost our state.
Many of us are thoroughly disgusted with the state legislature, too. You should see our budget mess. Gah!

The DNC should've come up with a better compromise, though. It was in their power to make sure we weren't disenfranchised. In punishing our party leadership, they screwed us all. Hard not to be mad at them, too.
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mzmolly Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 04:15 PM
Response to Reply #13
36. In my state, we've never had much of a say.
:shrug:
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knitter4democracy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 04:17 PM
Response to Reply #36
39. And that's wrong.
This whole primary mess is screwed up. I don't think a national primary is feasible (cost too much money), but a rotating regional one makes more sense to me or a rotating group of representational states not all the way across the country would as well.
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midnight Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 04:22 PM
Response to Reply #13
42. If I understand this Michigan thing, it was a state legislature
promblem? What I don't understand was what had to be changed? I don't want to think the DNC being lead by the good doc. is the root of this or didn't try to help. What a mess. Hang in there Michigan-I love your blueberries,cherries, apples, and your beautiful people.
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knitter4democracy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 04:27 PM
Response to Reply #42
44. Our state legislature is a royal mess, that's for sure.
The bill had bipartisan support, though. Sen. Levin started it, from what I hear, and he convinced the Dem party leadership to buck the system. They convinced the MIGOP to go along with it, as they had the same reasons for moving up our primary--to get our economic problems finally in the national spotlight and to get our needs out there. We're dying up here, and it seems like no one gives a crap. So, anyway, the party chairs went around the state, and I know for a fact that the rank and file Dems told Mark Brewer, the party chair, not to do it. We were worried that we'd lose our votes. We were overruled. Dean told the state to change the law, but by then, our state legislature was in a huge fight over the budget. The RNC only stripped the state of half the delegates, so the Republicans had no incentive to change the law. The Dems didn't want to change the law, thinking they'd somehow still get delegates or win somehow or whatever they were smoking. Dean let the rules stand instead of coming up with a better compromise, and we got screwed.
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KoKo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 05:10 PM
Response to Reply #44
66. Look to the snake DINO's in your State Party...they are everywhere and Dr. Dean has done
his best but remember he's not popular with the "Powers that Be" who run his own Party. The DLC in cahoots with snake DINO's and Repugs is what is doing this stuff to all of us. Our Dem Party in most states is run by folks with long loyalty to "Status Quo" and "Business Interests," like "Chamber of Commerce" that runs everything in States these days.

I'm pissed...because my state isn't even having a Primary until May 5th...and we have a DINO DEM GOVERNOR whose been Elected TWICE...He hasn't worked to build the Dem Party he's been asleep at the wheel...doesn't even show up for Dem events and could care less about Dem Progressives or Activists trying to re-energize our party.

I can understand your anger. But share the blame with the DLC/Status Quo/Big Business. And when Dean is forced out of DNC and we get another BIG BUSINESS TYPE...then we can all be mad at the DNC.
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knitter4democracy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 05:17 PM
Response to Reply #66
71. Oh, I do share the anger. I'm pissed at the GOP, our leadership, all of them.
Dean could've come up with a better compromise but didn't. Our Dems came up with the idea and got the state GOP to go along with it (and the GOP introduced the bill, too) but then couldn't talk the GOP in reversing the decision when it became clear that the RNC wasn't hurting Michigan as much as the DNC.

As for DINOs, we have one that I would love to kick out--our state senator who bullies our county party leadership into doing whatever he wants and now is running for House Rep. Grrrrrr!
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madfloridian Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 03:26 PM
Response to Reply #8
10. Only 18 states were even targeted last time around in prez election.
At least Governor Dean and the DNC added two more diverse states early on, and tried to keep some of the importance for smaller states.

It is not all about MI and FL. It simply is not. All the states have problems.

You simply can not blame it all on the DNC.
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knitter4democracy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 03:34 PM
Response to Reply #10
15. Read the OP again, not just the title. I blame all of them.
The MDP isn't getting a dime from me ever again until they figure out how to fix this and apologize to us for losing our votes.
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philly_bob Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 04:36 PM
Response to Reply #3
45. Please explain "advantage to a candidate." Which candidate?
I didn't follow the debate over the decision by Michigan's Democratic Party bosses.

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knitter4democracy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 04:49 PM
Response to Reply #45
50. Hillary. All the MDP leadership has endorsed Hillary but for a small few.
Notice she's still on the ballot today, too.
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robbedvoter Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 05:01 PM
Response to Reply #50
56. So what? She gets no delegates out of it - how is this an advantage?????
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knitter4democracy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 05:02 PM
Response to Reply #56
57. Same as if Kucinich wins--keeps her going and gets her money.
Plus, Gov. Granholm says Hillary will fight on the floor to get our delegates seated. I'm not holding my breath.
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philly_bob Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 05:17 PM
Response to Reply #50
72. Thanks. I'll listen to any denials that HC was behind Michigan move ...
but "So what?" is not a denial.
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Strawman Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 03:21 PM
Response to Original message
5. I agree with alot of what you say. but unemployment isn't at Depression levels
I'm pretty sure it was over 40% in MI in 1932. It's about 7.5% now. But regardless, you're larger point is correct. It's still very bad. I believe the past few years have seen the highest sustained job losses in MI since the Great Depression.

I don't know if we'll lose MI in the GE, but this sure doesn't help.
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knitter4democracy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 03:29 PM
Response to Reply #5
12. You might be right--here's what I found.
According to studies coming out of UofM, it's worse.

Here's how bad official numbers are:
http://blog.laborlawcenter.com/2007/01/23/michigan-unemployment-news-2/

http://www.ns.umich.edu/htdocs/releases/story.php?id=1069

Then again, I don't trust official figures. People out of work too long aren't counted, people on unemployment too long and then booted off without a new job aren't counted. From what I'm seeing and hearing, it's far worse than the official numbers suggest.
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goldcanyonaz Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 03:35 PM
Response to Reply #12
16. Michigan is close to rolling up their sidewalks in regards to jobs.
They're fucked and really need to be heard, LOUD and CLEAR this primary season.
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Justitia Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 03:23 PM
Response to Original message
6. MI State Legislature is the responsible party, they knew the rules & violated them.
But, if you want to take aim at the DNC for what your state legislature did, who can stop you?
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knitter4democracy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 03:33 PM
Response to Reply #6
14. And who runs our state legislature?
The House is controlled by the Dems only by a narrow margin. The Senate is controlled by the GOP. Our Dem governor has hit a brick wall when it comes to our state budget and keeping this state from dying entirely. When the GOP figured out they got a better deal from the RNC, they torpedoed any chance of nullifying that law that had bipartisan support initially, not that any of the citizens of the state knew what was going on. We didn't know what they were up to until it was a done deal.
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Justitia Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 03:39 PM
Response to Reply #14
21. But that is completely different from blaming your national party.
Take a minute to really think through where the appropriate blame belongs.

I sympathize on your State Legislature, after all, I'm in TX.
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knitter4democracy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 03:40 PM
Response to Reply #21
23. Who had the real power in the situation, though?
It sure as hell wasn't Michigan.
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Justitia Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 03:42 PM
Response to Reply #23
25. The MI State Legislature who changed your primary in direct violation of the rules.
I'm sorry, but why should you get any more special treatment than the Dems in TX do, when we have significantly more delegates than you?

If anyone should count more, it's us by a long shot.
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knitter4democracy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 03:50 PM
Response to Reply #25
26. *sigh* Whatever. You don't get it.
This isn't about power or being more important to those of us regular Dems in Michigan. This is about us getting screwed. There were other possibilities, other compromises, but instead, they took away our votes, our voice. It's better to silence us entirely, I suppose, and throw our state to the dogs just so other states don't feel bad.
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Justitia Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 03:56 PM
Response to Reply #26
29. Oh I understand completely. I just don't think your state gets to break the rules while we abide by
them. Sorry.
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knitter4democracy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 04:01 PM
Response to Reply #29
32. I'm not happy they broke the rules. I think they're morons for even trying.
The rank and file Dems told the state party chair not to do it. We were totally ignored.

The Republicans did the exact same thing, and yet they're having a real primary today. Why are their votes more important than ours? Why did the RNC not disenfranchise them? They didn't want to lose us in the GE, that's why. The DNC was more concerned with sticking to rules and keeping other states happy than with winning the GE.
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Justitia Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 04:11 PM
Response to Reply #32
35. I have no idea on the RNC, they don't really care about their voters anyway.
Their party anoints a leader and the rest is just for show. Their primaries are nowhere near as wild and wooly as ours.

And if it reassures you at all, this has nothing to do with the General Election, there is no bearing on that as political parties are moot in the GE.

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knitter4democracy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 04:21 PM
Response to Reply #35
40. Their primaries are wild in Michigan.
In 2000, the governor, a Republican, promised the state to Bush. The Republicans voted for McCain, a huge embarrassment to the MIGOP higherups and our governor. It was hilarious.

It's not moot for the GE. Michiganders will remember that the Dem nominee didn't fight for them and then vote for the other guy. The GOP machinery is in place and raising funds and getting going. Ours is dead in the water. The Dem nominee will have to spend more money here and get here a whole lot more in order to convince voters that s/he wasn't trying to make us second-class citizens in the primary and really does care about Michigan. I don't see how that's going to happen as pissed off as everyone is.
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Justitia Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 04:44 PM
Response to Reply #40
48. I have more faith in MI Dems. I can't imagine they will vote Repub in the GE for primary spite.
No good MI Dem would pull a lever for the pukes because they were pissed about the primary 10 months earlier.

MI Dems will vote their lovely Democratic consciences, God Bless 'em.

And MI will remain reliably Dem, just like the last 4 General Elections.

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knitter4democracy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 04:48 PM
Response to Reply #48
49. We're not reliably Dem, though.
Kerry won four counties. That's it. That's with more grassroots working than I've ever seen, too.

The GOP has made a lot of inroads in union members, and we have fewer union members than ever. Most of the state is very conservative (think Michigan Militia and Reformed Church headquarters), so if Detroit doesn't get the vote out for the Dems and if the other three counties don't go blue, we'll lose.

I've phonebanked in Western Michigan, and I've gone door to door here, and I'm telling ya, there's a damn good chance we're going to lose.
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Justitia Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 04:51 PM
Response to Reply #49
51. No, no, no - seriously, you'll be fine. MI will pull it out and TX will thank you for it.
It's a rough day, I know, but when the chips are down, you're going blue :)
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knitter4democracy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 04:54 PM
Response to Reply #51
53. Will Texas? We'll need those electoral votes.
It's been a bad day, yes, but that doesn't change my assessment. I've been talking to people, getting out there, and heck, even my mom wanted to vote for Huckabee, for crying out loud, because she knew his name and her pastor told her to. *sigh* Michigan Dems in Detroit are saying the same thing on the Michigan forum board--we're probably going to go red.
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Justitia Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 04:58 PM
Response to Reply #53
54. Friend, our electoral votes have been lost since Carter - LOL.
I love the Dems in my state - they fight like cornered animals, but the repukes have done a number on our congressional districts.

Even though we have the 3rd highest number of US Dems, the 'pukes have gerrymandered away our pull in the GE.

We're working like hell around the clock to fix it and making good progress, but I'm not betting the whole farm anytime soon.
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knitter4democracy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 05:03 PM
Response to Reply #54
58. We're in a similar place--gerrymandering is getting to us, too.
Keep up the good fight! :)
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Justitia Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 05:06 PM
Response to Reply #58
60. You too - chin up! MI will be lovely blue, yet again in '08, no doubt.
And you will be very proud. :pals:
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Vincardog Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 05:09 PM
Response to Reply #32
62. Hey Knitter In TX the TDP is controlled by a bunch of GOP enabling king maker want to bes
When we progressives take over the TDP next year we will be glad to send some notes to you on how to fix a corrupt state party.
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knitter4democracy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 05:13 PM
Response to Reply #62
69. I'd sure appreciate any help in this.
I'd love to know how to kick them all out.
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Vincardog Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 05:22 PM
Response to Reply #69
77. Here is a hint. Organize your Progressive friends and allies. Get yourselves elected
to be your state's representatives. Then go to your convention with a PLAN to take your party back.
Cheers
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knitter4democracy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 05:30 PM
Response to Reply #77
78. I tried a ways back. My health went to hell, and then it got worse.
The county party powers-that-be have blocked us at every turn. They spied on our meetings, and while maintaining they were liberals, they've gone against party by-laws (been censured twice for it, not that it meant anything) and worked hard to keep us working for them but without power.
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Vincardog Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 05:46 PM
Response to Reply #78
82. That is why you need to organize outside the party. Then ambush the retards and take power before
they see it coming.
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knitter4democracy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 11:15 PM
Response to Reply #82
85. I think you're right.
They did it better one county over. I'll have to see if I can get something like that going here.
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goldcanyonaz Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 03:23 PM
Response to Original message
7. Michigan is the state that needed to be heard more than any other state. No jobs, foreclosures...
Edited on Tue Jan-15-08 03:24 PM by goldcanyonaz
this list goes on.

K&R!!
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Bread and Circus Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 03:29 PM
Response to Reply #7
11. Yes, something I can 100% agree on w/ a Clinton supporter...
Yes, Obama Edwards, the dem leaders, the state dem leaders, they all let us down and took our voice away.

It seems to me a 15 minute conference call could have fixed this.
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knitter4democracy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 03:37 PM
Response to Reply #11
18. That's what I don't get. How did this really happen?
If Edwards is really so about the people, then why didn't he fight for the people of Michigan? Our issues are his talking points right down the line. Why didn't he fight for us?

If Obama really is about uniting American again, why didn't he keep them from throwing us under the bus?

If Hillary really cares, then why did she let her supporters engineer this whole thing anyway? She obviously doesn't care about Michigan as much as she'll pretend to after all's said and done.

The GOP took away half of the delegates, but the DNC took away all of them. Why didn't we get that compromise instead?
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sandnsea Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 03:41 PM
Response to Reply #18
24. Who supported moving the primary?
Who endorsed who?

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knitter4democracy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 03:52 PM
Response to Reply #24
27. Levin started it this time, and the DLC joined in.
Granholm, our governor, has endorsed Hillary, along with most of our party leadership. Some think that's why this happened--Hillary's still on the ballot, and a big win, meaningless though it is, will help propel her to the nomination. Meanwhile, we all get screwed.
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sandnsea Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 04:09 PM
Response to Reply #27
34. It's too bad she isn't suffering for it n/t
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knitter4democracy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 04:16 PM
Response to Reply #34
37. Amen to that.
*sigh* I wish I could get everyone who did this to us in a room and smack them with clue-by-fours until they get it through their heads that they cost us the GE.
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Kucinich4America Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 04:17 PM
Response to Reply #27
38. On the other hand if Dennis wins, we all benefit.
Even if the delegates are never counted, at least the message will be sent that the DLC and the whore media do NOT choose our candidates, and that this is NOT a Hillary-Obama contest, but a 4 way race. (or 5 if Gravel is still around, which seems to be in dispute)
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knitter4democracy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 04:21 PM
Response to Reply #38
41. That's why we voted for him.
I sure hope he has a good showing today.
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robbedvoter Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 05:07 PM
Response to Reply #27
61. How would it propel her to the nomination - without any delegates???
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knitter4democracy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 05:18 PM
Response to Reply #61
73. Gov. Granholm says that the nominee will fight to seat our delegates.
I'm not holding my breath.
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MonkeyFunk Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 03:39 PM
Response to Original message
20. Have a goody bag!
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knitter4democracy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 03:40 PM
Response to Reply #20
22. Thanks for the smile through the tears.
:)
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Moochy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 05:12 PM
Response to Reply #20
68. When an empty monkey suit has nothing to say
it sends a goody bag. Care to put a link to the company you are stealing bandwidth from?

http://www.rosemarycompany.com
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Lydia Leftcoast Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 03:55 PM
Response to Original message
28. A good question is why the DNC thinks that primary dates should be set in stone
Edited on Tue Jan-15-08 04:03 PM by Lydia Leftcoast
Why were they so heavy-handed with both Michigan and Florida?

So what if someone has a primary before Super Tuesday?

Big hairy deal. After Congress has let the Bushboy get away with trashing the Constitution, all of a sudden the DNC is all into "party discipline"?

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Orangepeel Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 04:59 PM
Response to Reply #28
55. because the states might try to leapfrog over each other
Because of MI and Florida, Iowa and New Hampshire moved earlier than they had ever been before. If they hadn't clamped down hard, more states that wanted more power in choosing the nominee may have also moved earlier and then the "retail politics" idea of the small early states would have been moot.

Now, some would argue that would be a good thing. Many people want a national primary day. But, given that the DNC had decided in favor of keeping the early state system, being heavy handed was probably the only way to keep it.

Also, Michigan moved ahead of South Carolina and Nevada, which had applied to be new "early primary" states and were chosen largely because of their relatively heavy African American and Hispanic populations. Nevada also has a large number of unions (I don't know whether or not Michigan applied and was turned down. I know that Florida didn't bother to apply).

I sympathize with people who are upset because of the symbolism of losing their vote. From a practical point of view, it doesn't make any difference. I've never lived in a state where my primary vote made a damn bit of difference, including Florida in 2000 and 2004. That's the "retail politics" system. By the time it gets to me, there is only one person in the race. It will make a tangible difference to the small number of state party leaders might not get to go to Denver, but they are the only ones who deserve to have consequences.

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knitter4democracy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 05:05 PM
Response to Reply #55
59. I haven't heard if we applied or not.
Still, we don't have unions? We don't have African-American or Hispanic voters? Our state isn't dying a dramatic death? Yeah, just throw us under the bus. Then they'll turn around and ask us to hit the pavement for the nominee, hold house parties (where most can't give--no money left), and work like mad to make up for lost time. Whatever.
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Orangepeel Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 05:33 PM
Response to Reply #59
80. Florida not applying was the Florida State Party's fault
not the voters' fault. Regardless of whether or not Michigan applied, it wasn't your responsibility to do so. It isn't your fault, as an ordinary voter, that your state party fucked up. So, like I said, I sympathize.

Even though I'm a strong Edwards supporter, I recognize that he pulled out of Michigan for political reasons -- his whole underfunded campaign was predicated on doing well in Iowa, which is very possessive of it's special place. That's the reason Obama pulled out, too. (Clinton didn't pull out of Michigan and she finished third in Iowa. That's hardly the primary reason, but it didn't help).

That also sucks. But how much more does it suck, really, than somebody who has a primary in March? Their vote is entirely symbolic.

It sucks worse for the few dozen state party leaders who don't get to go have a good time in Denver. But, the process isn't set up democratically. If you had a vote, you would be voting for delegates to go to Denver and vote for a nominee. Ordinary voters don't get to go to Denver anyway.

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robbedvoter Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 05:11 PM
Response to Reply #55
67. Having all votes count - equally - should be paramount to any other consideration
Edited on Tue Jan-15-08 05:12 PM by robbedvoter
Leapfrog? The sacred Iowa and NH? yeah, have a national primary and have all primary votes be equal! What a retarded mess!
Why should most voters in a primary be rendered irrelevant anyway?
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Orangepeel Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 05:19 PM
Response to Reply #67
74. as I said, many people believe a national primary day would be better
I was explaining why they did it. They've chosen an early state system and that was the way to keep it. Whether or not it should be kept is another question.
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robbedvoter Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 08:31 PM
Response to Reply #74
84. And at what price? Disenfrancising voters from an entire state??????Sheesh!
Nothing is worth this!
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robbedvoter Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 05:09 PM
Response to Reply #28
63. BINGO! (from a Super Tuesday voter no less). Why is this demented schedule
more important than having every vote count? Equally? Sounds like something Katherine harris would say - too late! The deadline expired, you lose your vote"
It's assinine!
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Perry Logan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 03:58 PM
Response to Original message
30. If you withhold your money, you're just driving them further into the arms of the corporations.
Edited on Tue Jan-15-08 03:58 PM by Perry Logan
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knitter4democracy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 03:59 PM
Response to Reply #30
31. They're not there already?
I'm sick of party leadership (all of them--state on up) taking away my vote and then turning around with their hand out. Oh, they'll fight for my dime but not fight for my voice? Screw that.
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Bread and Circus Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 04:44 PM
Response to Reply #30
47. Of all the dumb things I've read on DU, this is one of the dumbest.
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Cha Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 04:04 PM
Response to Original message
33. I'm really Sorry that the power trippers lost yur
vote.. but it's not the DNC and Howard Dean's fault. There were rules that were set up and Michigan and Florida's Dems(?)chose to ignore them.

I'm going to send Dean some money now cause that man has been working on infra-structure for the Dem party since Feb 12,2005.
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knitter4democracy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 04:22 PM
Response to Reply #33
43. The GOP had the same rules, and yet their chair made a better compromise.
I'm a Dean fan, don't get me wrong, and his 50 State Solution is far better than anything anyone else has done. Still, he let us swing in the wind just to teach our leadership a lesson. Hard to be okay with that.
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Cha Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 04:37 PM
Response to Reply #43
46. I think it helps to really understand
what went on..maybe it's just not black and white like you're thinking..

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/1757
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knitter4democracy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 04:52 PM
Response to Reply #46
52. I've read that, and I have to respectfully disagree with Madfloridian.
At least on a couple points. He says that Michiganders did it--only our leadership did. I didn't even know about the bill to move up our primary date until after it had passed. I'd only heard that our leadership was thinking about it and asking our opinions (and everyone told Mark not to go through with it). So, the entire state was disenfranchised because of a few higherups. Yeah, that's fair.

I know the DLC is behind a lot of this, and I realize Dean was backed into a corner. Still, he didn't come up with a decent compromise. Intead, we were thrown to the dogs. Hard not to be pissed. Would you be okay with losing your vote?
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Cha Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 05:10 PM
Response to Reply #52
65. No, I wouldn't be okay with it
but I would certainly get to the bottom of why it happened and not blame Dean and the DNC who're doing a fanstastic job of building our Democracy back up from where the dlcers have dropped it.

What would have been a compromise that the rnc did? Who knows if they weren't in on it with the dinos?
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knitter4democracy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 05:20 PM
Response to Reply #65
75. They were. Mike Bishop, kep GOPer in the House, intro'd the bill.
Why would the Republicans vote to rescind the bill when it hurt us more than it hurt them? Without the compromise being fair to both parties, we got screwed.
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Cha Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 05:32 PM
Response to Reply #75
79. Well, there ya go..it's all a big scam
by the repukes and the dlc to get rid of the real Dems and that feigned outrage by the hillary supporters is not impressive.
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Reciprocity Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 05:09 PM
Response to Original message
64. Buy the very fact that you voted today says allot about you. Hang in there!
I'm another Texas democrat, sometimes I feel like a single blueberry in a sea of red sauce. However, I still haul my scrawny ass down to the fire station and vote, every chance I get. Bravo to you!
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CyberPieHole Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 05:15 PM
Response to Original message
70. Great post, knitter...I am sorry that your vote won't be counted...
I find it disgusting that people would blame the voters of Michigan. The problem should have been resolved. The punishment falls on the voters...the DNC should realize that. I hope the good people of Michigan will still go out and vote in the GE.

:kick: and recommend.
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knitter4democracy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 05:22 PM
Response to Reply #70
76. It's going to be damn hard to get votes.
Hard to convince people to vote for a nominee who didn't fight for them when it counted.
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CyberPieHole Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 05:38 PM
Response to Reply #76
81. I can imagine...and if Michigan voters opt out in the GE (and who can really blame them)...
it may give the election to a repig...something the DNC should have considered before punishing the voters.
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fujiyama Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 06:25 PM
Response to Original message
83. Good post
Edited on Tue Jan-15-08 06:36 PM by fujiyama
I'm disappointed and extremely pissed with all of them. They all screwed up here including the state reps/senators AND Dr. Dean. Yes, he shares some of the blame. I understand some punitive actions were necessary but not seating ANY delegates? Just plain excessive and pure stubbornness. They couldn't come up with a compromise? The RNC handled this much better. They stripped half the delegation.

As for incumbents in the state? I might not bother voting for any of them in '10.
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knitter4democracy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-15-08 11:16 PM
Response to Reply #83
86. I'm not voting for them, either.
Levin started this mess, from what I hear. He's crossed the line, in my opinion. We need to take over the party and fix it from within.
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