Tag Archives | Michigan Democratic Party

ACTION: Michigan Democrats & progressive groups get ready for the Republican lame duck session

By on November 27, 2012 in Events, Labor, unions

Now is not the time to rest

The Michigan legislature holds its lame duck session starting today and continuing through December 20th. The Republicans who control both houses of our legislature are signaling that they intend to get a LOT done in over the next four weeks. Further efforts to destroy our labor unions, an egregious, overreaching “reform” (aka privatization) of our public school system and further battles in their incessant War on Women all appear to be on the docket.

The Michigan Democratic Party along with the Michigan AFL-CIO are holding strategy/informational sessions this evening and tomorrow evening around the state and, if you have the time, it is imperative that you attend.…


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Ruben Marquez secures enough signatures to get on the ballot to challenge Tim Walberg in MI-07

By on May 17, 2012 in MI-07

Let’s roll!

As I have reported before, Jackson County Democratic Party Chair Ruben Marquez has entered the race to challenge Tim “The Original Tea Partier” Walberg in Michigan’s 7th Congressional District.

Marquez announced after Republican Joe Schwarz declined to run as a Democrat. This gave him less than two weeks to secure the required 1,000 petitions signatures to get on the ballot for the August primary.

He was successful.


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Scenes from the 2012 Michigan Democratic Party Endorsement Convention (LIVEBLOG)

By on March 10, 2012 in Michigan Democratic Party

Here a pol, there a pol, everywhere a pol pol(itician)

I’m at the 2012 Michigan Democratic Party Endorsement Convention at the Cobo Center in Detroit where the MDP will choose a host of candidates to appear on the 2012 ballot.

Here are some scenes from the event.

The vendors area doing a brisk business:

Congressman Gary Peters: for the newly-drawn 14th Congressional District.

The Protect Our Jobs table:

Lance Enderle, candidate for Congress in the 8th Congressional District:

Karla Swift, president of the Michigan AFL-CIO giving training on the Protect Our Jobs ballot initiation petition drive:

Shelia Johnson, Bridget Mary McCormack, and Connie Marie Kelley, “The Three Supremes”, a slate of Owen running for the Michigan Supreme Court and endorsed by both the Labor Caucus and Justice Caucus, speaking to the Justice Caucus audience:

Candidate for Congress in the 14th Congressional District and Mayor of Southfield, Brenda Lawrence:

Some scuttlebutt heard during the day:

  • Moderate Republican Joe Schwarz is being recruited to run as a Democrat to against Congressman Tim Walberg in the 7th Congressional District (again).

    • …


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Pete Hoekstra airs offensive, racist ad during Super Bowl XLVI – UPDATED

By on February 5, 2012 in Michigan Democratic Party

Who thought THAT was a good idea?

[NOTE: I have posted updates to this ongoing story HERE.]

“Twitter Pete” Hoekstra, the man who wasn’t even smart enough to buy his own domain during his run for Governor of Michigan, ran an ad during this year’s Super Bowl that was so blatantly racist and offensive to Asians that even GOP consultants are flinching.

The portrayal of a young Asian woman speaking broken English in a Super Bowl ad being run by U.S. Senate candidate Pete Hoekstra against Michigan incumbent Debbie Stabenow is bringing charges of racial insensitivity.

GOP consultant Nick De Leeuw flat-out scolded the Holland Republican for the ad.

…


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Michigan Dems can vote in both primary and caucus this year

By on February 4, 2012 in Michigan Democratic Party

Fighting back against Republican dirty tricks

In early January, I broke the news that Michigan Democratic Party Chair Mark Brewer would be asking the state committee to bypass enforcing rules against Democrats voting in both the Democratic caucus and in the primary.

I have spoken with Michigan Democratic Chair Mark Brewer to ensure that this information is correct. He told me (and this is breaking news) that he will be proposing that the Michigan Democratic Party leadership vote to either not enforce or to waive the rule saying that Democrats may not vote in both the February primary and the May caucus.…

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UPDATED: More on the Michigan Democratic Primary vs. Caucus + MDP Chair to propose rule change

By on January 10, 2012 in Michigan Democratic Party

Yesterday, I had a guest post from Mark Miller called Michigan Presidential Primary Follies”. In it, Mark describes how the Michigan Republicans basically forced a Democratic candidate (Barack Obama) to appear on the February primary ballot as a way of making it look like Dems shared blame for the expenses incurred by having a primary instead of a caucus. The Dems asked the Republicans not to do this but were rebuffed.

The Michigan Democratic Party had decided on a state-wide caucus, to be held on the morning of May 5, long before the Republicans in the state legislature figured out what they were going to do.…

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Recall of Wisc Gov Scott Walker gathers 300,000+ signatures in 12 days

By on November 29, 2011 in Michigan Democratic Party

It’s amazing what can happen when a state-level Democratic Party joins up with grassroots activists to recall overstepping Republicans. United Wisconsin and the Democratic Party of Wisconsin announced yesterday that they have gathered over 300,000 signatures to recall Scott Walker in just 12 days. They need a total of 540,206 valid signatures by January and their goal is 750,000.

Meanwhile, back in Michigan, what is the Michigan Democratic Party doing? Promoting a new website and 30-minute ad to go after Mitt Romney.

Does anybody but me find it astonishing that this is how the MDP is spending its time at the moment?…


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Michigan Democratic Party’s “Engage Michigan” conference engages Dems’ ears – and not much else

By on November 14, 2011 in Michigan Democratic Party

This past Saturday, the Michigan Democratic Party held their “Engage Michigan” conference. It was billed as a “chance to have your say as we discuss everyone’s ideas for forging a stronger, more prosperous future for Michigan.”

It was anything but.

Let me start this off by saying I did not want to write this entry. I wanted to write an entry talking about how delighted I am that the MDP has finally gotten their groove back and their mojo working and is ready to move forward with implementing a new approach based on feedback from Democrats across the state. It’s well-known that I have been down on the state party leadership and their apparent lack of interest in and promotion of grassroots-level activism that is currently motivating most Democrats in our state and, indeed, across the country.…


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Occupy the Michigan Democratic Party!

By on November 7, 2011 in Michigan Democratic Party

Next Saturday, the Michigan Democratic Party (MDP) is having its first-ever Fall Issues Convention. It is called Engage Michigan and is being chaired by former Secretary of State candidate Jocelyn Benson.

Here’s a bit about what is being envisioned, from Chair Benson:


What intrigued me most was when the conversations turned to the people in the room: what could we do better to engage our families and colleagues in fighting for a better Michigan?

What solutions could we offer to fix the short and long-term problems in our neighborhoods, cities and state?

How can we better frame these solutions when we talk to others or write letters or post blogs – in a way that inspires and motivates others to get involved?

…


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BREAKING! Michigan Democratic Party finally gets involved in recalls – Wahoo! Oh. Wait.

By on October 4, 2011 in Michigan Democratic Party

Yup. I got an email today telling me that the Michigan Democratic Party is finally getting involved in various recalls around the state and asking me for money to help with the effort.

Which recalls?

The ones against Democrats.

Fellow Democrats:

Last week, the Michigan Republican Party and its Tea Party allies succeeded in the first steps to recall Democratic State Representatives Jim Townsend (Royal Oak), Lisa Brown (West Bloomfield), and Brandon Dillon (Grand Rapids). The recall language approved was based on their votes AGAINST massive tax breaks for corporations at the expense of schools and seniors and the dictatorial Emergency Financial Manager legislation.

…


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