DUMP NAFTA!

NAFTA foes hope Dems' words turn into action ( C )

GOOD MORNING FLINT!

BY Terry Bankert 3/25/08
http://attorneybankert.com/
You are invited to join me at Face Book http://www.facebook.com/people/Terry_Bankert/645845362 ___________________________
Full article at http://goodmorningflint.blogspot.com/
SUMMARY ON Flint Talk http://flinttalk.com/viewtopic.php?p=26508#26508
_____

When the nation gets a cold Flint MI USA get phenomena. If NAFTA hurt your working men and women a little it devastated us. So we have a right to complain. Now I understand macro economics but trade policy should be challenged and open to modification at all times. To cry protectionism now simply will fuel a debate and resulting in reasonable modification to or elimination of NAFTA which has devastated the working men and women of this country. I guess I have an opinion.[trb)

TAPS FOR NAFTA

Is the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) dying? Both Hillary Clinton or Barrack Obama have made campaign promises to “renegotiate” the 14-year-old trade agreement that generally has resulted in a boom for U.S. trucking and railroad interests.(T)

ANOTHER STAIN ON BILLS RECORD

Since NAFTA was adopted in 1994 under the first Clinton administration, it basically created open trade, free of duties and tariffs, among the U.S. Mexico and Canada. But both Democratic candidates have sounded a protectionist tone during their campaign, threatening to renegotiate NAFTA and other free trade agreements to make them more favorable on labor and environmental grounds.(T)

NAFTA INTENDED TO KILL ORGANIZED LABOR IN THE USA

Sen. Bernie Sanders believes the country is ready to join his fight to overhaul American trade policy. He wants to believeBarrack Obama and Hillary Clinton are too.©)

A LIBERAL VIEWPOINT (FINALLY WE CAN BE SEEN IN PUBLIC AGAIN)

Sanders, a liberal Vermont independent who caucuses with Democrats, is a leader in the growing group of lawmakers who blame expanded trade for lost manufacturing jobs and stagnant wages for American workers. The campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination would appear to promise them a crowning achievement: Both Obama and Clinton say they'll renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement and push for a more worker-friendly trade model if elected.©)

A POLICY THAT FORCED LOWER WAGES ON YOUR FAMILY!

Opponents of NAFTA take a starker position.Thea M. Lee is policy director for the AFL-CIO, which opposes NAFTA and lobbies against other free trade agreements as unfair to U.S. workers and corporations unless they include provisions that require signatory countries to raise labor and environmental standards. Lee argues one of the main upshots of the deal has been to "force workers into more direct competition with each other, while assuring them fewer rights and protections." The Economic Policy Institute, a left-leaning research organization, says in a policy paper on NAFTA that the deal's trade agenda has served to widen U.S. trade deficits and has indirectly pushed some U.S. workers into lower-paying jobs. (w)

WE ARE AT ECONOMIC WAR WITH THE COUNTRIES THAT HAVE OIL OR CHEAP LABOR.

But many in the "fair trade" crowd aren't celebrating yet, and free-traders, particularly among Democrats, don't look worried. They have heard this before, and many of them doubt Obama or Clinton would make good on their tough talk.©)

WE HAVE TO MAKE THEM SERIOUS

"I don't know if they're really serious about going back and redoing NAFTA," said Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), the House majority leader. Hoyer supports increased trade, as does Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.), the House Democratic Caucus chairman. Emanuel notes that both Clinton and Obama backed a recent trade deal with Peru. "That's all I have to say," he said.©)

What is NAFTA?(W) NAFTA is a trilateral free trade deal that came into force in January 1994, signed by Democratic President Bill Clinton. The central thrust of the agreement is to eliminate the vast majority of tariffs on products traded among the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The terms of the agreement called for these tariffs to be phased out gradually, and the final aspects of the deal weren't fully implemented until January 1, 2008. The deal swept away export tariffs in several industries: agriculture has been a major focus, but tariffs have also been reduced on items like textiles and automobiles. NAFTA also implemented intellectual-property protections, established dispute-resolution mechanisms, and put into place regional labor and environmental safeguards, though some critics now lobby for stronger measures on this front. (W)

NEEDED: A NAFTA MAKE OVER

"I don't know if they're really serious about going back and redoing NAFTA," said Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), the House majority leader. Hoyer supports increased trade, as does Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.), the House Democratic Caucus chairman. Emanuel notes that both Clinton and Obama backed a recent trade deal with Peru. "That's all I have to say," he said.©)

WHY ARE WE BUYING CHINESE JUNK PRODUCTS? ARE YOU AN ECONOMIC TRAITOR TO SHOP IN A DOLLAR STORE?

Sanders seems cautiously optimistic at best. "It doesn't take a PhD in economics to see when you go shopping the only products you can afford are made in China," he said. "The American people know it, and I hope our candidates learn it."©)

Some of his allies are more hopeful: "The winner, Hillary or Barrack, will come to Congress [as president] with a different trade policy," said Sen.©)Sherrod Brown (D- Ohio). "They'll follow through." A winning issue?©)

Brown, Sanders and other Senate and House candidates ran on trade reform in their winning 2006 campaigns. Clinton and Obama began to pound the issue in the run-up to Ohio's March 4 presidential primary. They denounced "job-killing" trade deals and promised to crack down on companies that ship factory work overseas, drawing cheers in a state where dwindling manufacturing employment and soaring foreclosure rates have ratcheted up voters' anxieties.©)

VOTERS THINK THESE TRADE DEALS HAVE COST AMERICA ITS JOBS

Exit polls showed 4 of 5 voters in Ohio's Democratic primary believe trade deals with other countries take jobs from their state. The numbers figure to look similar in Pennsylvania, which is one state east of Ohio in the Rust Belt and holds its primary April 22. Nationwide, a Wall Street Journal poll last fall found 6 in 10 Republicans say trade deals have been bad for the U.S. economy.©)

Before the Ohio primary, which Clinton won by 10 percentage points, each Democrat accused the other of saying one thing on trade but meaning another. Those criticisms persist.©)

SOME ECONOMISTS DISAGREE

A paper from three prominent trade experts, C. Parr Rosson, III, C. Ford Runge, and Kirby S. Moulton, notes that the idea of trade blocs is relatively new in North America, but argues that similar arrangements elsewhere in the world have shown consistent gains when viewed from a long-term perspective. The report outlines different forms of "preferential trading arrangements," from free trade deals like NAFTA to more limited customs unions and economic unions, which have been successful in parts of Europe. The report notes that preferential trading arrangements can actually divert trade in the short term -- and can cause labor-market disruptions that are painful to some workers -- but also "can be expected to have major long-term benefits." (w)

SIDE DEALS WITH CANADA

Clinton's campaign cites news reports that Obama's top economic adviser met with Canadian officials to reassure them over not wanting to change NAFTA. Obama's campaign says Clinton advocated for NAFTA when her husband, then- President Bill Clinton, was pushing the deal through Congress. Each candidate denies the other's charge.©)

Both Clinton and Obama voted for a trade deal with Oman in 2006. They both supported the Peru agreement last year, though they missed the Senate's vote to approve it while campaigning. Both voted against the signature trade deal of the Bush administration, the Central American Free Trade Agreement.©)

THE RUSTIES SHOULD NOT BLAME THE NAFTEES

Experts disagree on how trade has affected the nation. Liberal economists, for example, blame NAFTA alone for the loss of tens of thousands of Ohio jobs. More conservative economists say Ohio's increased exports due to trade agreements have created more than enough jobs to make up for those lost to outsourcing. A wealth of data suggest the deepest sources of Rust Belt decline are a lack of educated residents and marketable ideas.©)

'A stark difference' Analysts expect trade to factor heavily in swing manufacturing states such as Ohio, Pennsylvania and Michigan this fall. The differences will be clear: Sen. John McCain of Arizona, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee, has a pro-trade voting record. He extolled its benefits during the Ohio primary campaign.©)

MC CAIN: LET THEM EAT CAKE

"There will be a stark difference" on trade in the general election, said Scott Paul, director of the Alliance for American Manufacturing, which supports revamping trade deals to benefit domestic workers. "John McCain has made it clear that he is philosophically disinclined to do anything on this issue."©)

MC CAIN: I’M STUPID ON ECONOMIC POLICY, REMEMBER 911....PLEASE!

McCain has acknowledged in the past that he knows less about economics than he does about national security and foreign policy, and Democrats have seized on such remarks to argue that the Republican is a novice on bread-and-butter issues that voters care about most.(a)

BOYCOTT ANYTHING MADE IN CHINA

Still, Paul said this week he hasn't heard the detail he'd like from Obama or Clinton on how they would change America's trading relationship with China, which ranked as the chief concern among those who attended a series of trade "town halls" his group had in the past six months. Asked if he believes either Democrat would fundamentally alter trade policy, Paul said, "It's too early to tell."©)

The Democrats' rhetoric has jarred some trade proponents. But for the most part, it hasn't worried them.©)

A GRAIN OF SALT OR ECONOMIC REVOLUTION?

"There obviously has been a lot of rhetoric and discussion on the campaign trail," said Christopher Wenk, the senior director for international policy of the pro-trade U.S. Chamber of Commerce. "You talk to anybody in Washington; I think there are concerns there about what's being said. But many of us, myself included, are taking this with a grain of salt. ... Bashing NAFTA plays well with Ohio voters."©)

FREE MARKETS OR EXPLOITATION

Decades of bipartisan consensus on free trade are "under pressure" in Washington, said Peter Orszag, a former Clinton administration adviser who now directs the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office. Economic uncertainty, he said, is causing many voters to consider "throwing sand in the wheels of markets."©)

"My experience suggests," he continued, "when perceptions shift, policy proposals are not far behind."©)

NO TO NAFTA...NO TO NAFTA....NO TO NAFTA!!!!

Posted here by Terry Bankert ... http://attorneybankert.com/
Join my political party of preference, http://www.michigandems.com/join.html

--- WHERE DID THIS STUFF COME FROM---

©) The Chicago Tribune http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-trade25mar25,0,3452426.story
(TRB) Comments of Terry Bankert and BLOCK headlines http://attorneybankert.com/
(T) The Truth About Trade http://www.truthabouttrade.org/content/view/11349/54/ (A) Associated press http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iNxTApa2sQRu0Xx99P3jt2bEXw7gD8VKAI080
(W) The Washington Post http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/24/AR2008032401562.html
(g) The Gazette http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/letters/story.html?id=82f25aee-d8e7-4235-8491-6f5b762e81f4

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DEMOCRATS STOP THIS GAME!

SUPER DELEGATES, IN A COMIC SOAP OPERA

MORNING FLINT! Early edition

BY Terry Bankert 3/24/08
http://attorneybankert.com/
You are invited to join me at Face Book http://www.facebook.com/people/Terry_Bankert/645845362 ___________________________
Full article at http://goodmorningflint.blogspot.com/
SUMMARY ON Flint Talk http://flinttalk.com/viewtopic.php?p=26445#26445 _____

THE PLOT THICKENS Readers of a certain age might remember the hit American television show Dynasty. It was originally conceived of as a rival to Dallas, with all those Texan oilmen types, but fast established itself as the most lavish and ludicrous of soap operas. The plot operated around Blake (John Forsythe), his wife Krystle (Linda Evans) and his former bride Alexis (Joan Collins) and others who constituted the rival Carrington and Colby families. [t]

SPELLBINDING GREAT ENTERTAINMENT BUT NO WAY TO PICK A PRESIDENT!

It had Americans under its spell in the mid 1980s, but the combination of ever more insane storylines and endless pay disputes among its performers undermined it. Eventually the plug was pulled in 1989 with a cliffhanger tale in which the stars were imperilled but viewers never found out what happened to them. [t]

DENVER THEN AND NOW

Dynasty was set in Denver, Colorado. By appropriate coincidence, the Democratic national convention will occur in the same city in late August. [t]

The party is now under intense pressure to forge a solution that backers of both Senator Clinton and Barack Obama see as fair. "The real danger is a 1968 convention for the Democrats, where people felt cheated," says Ronald Rapoport, a political scientist at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Va., alluding to one of recent history's most divisive and damaging conventions. [c]

OUR GRANDCHILDREN WILL NOT BELIEVE THIS STORY

It is already evident that the contest between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton will match anything created by fiction. Yet as the next few weeks will demonstrate, their competition will soon make Dynasty look like gritty social realism.[t]

FIRE ON THE HORIZON

This is a battle destined to become both extremely close and exceptionally combustible. It is hard to believe that Democrats will benefit from it. [t]

DO THE MATH.

Pledges (common democrats) plus Supers (elite Democrats) =nominee. The situation today is as follows. It takes 2,025 delegates to secure a majority and with it victory. About 80 per cent of these Democratic stalwarts will be chosen by voters through primaries and caucuses (“pledged delegates”), the remaining 20 per cent are party leaders of various sorts (“super delegates”). [t]

COMMON DEMOCRATS WANT OBAMA,...SO FAR.

As of now, Mr Obama has won 1,414 pledged delegates to Mrs Clinton’s 1,246, which looks like an imposing lead. [t] In the states that chose their representatives by primaries (open ballots, much like local or general elections here), though, they are almost even. Mr Obama has a clear lead because of his success in caucuses (formal meetings in which the turnout is far lower than primaries and dominated by the most dedicated activists), which are arguably less legitimate indications of general support.[t]

MICHIGAN AND FLORIDA ARE HELPING CLINTON,....NOT

Furthermore, two big states – Florida and Michigan – held primaries (in which Mrs Clinton did best) but have been barred from participating in the convention because they held them earlier than they had been instructed.[t]

With Obama's nearly insurmountable lead in pledged delegates, a revote in Florida and Michigan – or a recognition of the January results – was viewed as Clinton's best chance to narrow the gap and persuade superdelegates of a popular mandate for her candidacy.[c]

THIS IS CLEAR AS MUD

If this all sounds murky, it is about to become much, much worse. There are still a number of ballots to be held. The first is in Pennsylvania, which Mrs Clinton must, and probably will, win. Her rival then has a decent chance to hit back in North Carolina on May 6, where a large proportion of the electorate are African-Americans. Most of the remaining states (Indiana, West Virginia, Oregon, Kentucky, Puerto Rico, Montana and South Dakota) are likely to be inclined towards Mrs Clinton. [t]

Theoretically, there are two forums where the dispute could be resolved: inside the Democratic Party, first in the Credentials Committee and ultimately at the Convention; or in the courts.[f]

WILL IT BE DOOR #1, #2 OR #3?

Such an outcome would result in three intriguing consequences.[t]

#1 MICHIGAN AND FLORIDA MESSED THIS UP

The first is that there could almost be a tie over the number of pledged delegates. Mr Obama, thanks to the proportional representation rules his party uses, will probably have the greatest number in straightforward terms, but will be behind among those secured in primaries, rather than caucuses. Mrs Clinton would also be able to assert that, if the votes cast in Florida and Michigan were included, then she would be the stronger. In that case she would have finished more impressively than her opponent. [t]

#2 THE SUPERS HAVE A MORAL OBLIGATION TO DECIDE FOR US, THE RACE IS NOT OVER UNTIL THE xxx LADY SINGS.

Secondly, the nomination will have to be settled by the super delegates. There are almost 800 of these and more than 300 have still to state their position. Not that it would matter if they had done so, because super delegates are allowed to change their minds right up until the official count at the convention. That being so, even if either Mr Obama or Mrs Clinton were to calculate that they were in second place when the very last primary had been completed in early June, they would have no good reason to abandon their campaigns. [t]

Why not hang on and see if events were to turn up another version of the Reverend Jeremiah Wright, the pastor who has embarrassed Senator Obama recently, or produce an issue that could be exploited? In a further quirk, the convention is being held later than usual because the Democrats decided that it would “maximise momentum” to defer it. [t]

Mark Penn, her chief strategist, says the campaign will look beyond hard numbers in making its case to the some 300 superdelegates, or party leaders, who remain uncommitted. "It's not a question of a cut and dried calculation at this point," he told reporters on a conference call Friday. The campaign hopes superdelegates will also consider "who they believe can win the general election" and who is better "for the good of the country and the good of the party." [c]

But the Clintons won’t be muzzled and are fighting for their political lives. They obviously don’t care if their vicious attempt to win their nomination battle may end up costing the party the war.[N]

#3 VERY LITTLE TIME TO CLEAN THE MESS UP BEFORE THE ELECTION IN NOVEMBER.

Which means, thirdly, that it may be a convention like no other in recent decades. These occasions are normally totally controlled by the presumptive nominee and orchestrated to suit him (or her). They decide who will make the big speeches, impose the policies to be adopted, and the delegates confirm a vice-presidential selection that the candidate has announced to the world a while earlier. The convention is thus simply a vast rally. [t]

FIFTY DELEGATES MAY DECIDE WHO THE NOMINEE IS

That cannot occur if it is uncertain who the champion will be. The party itself will have to run the convention in close, if tense, consultation with the two contenders. The policy details will become a proxy for the fight between the Clinton and Obama camps. No vice-presidential name can be put forward until the top of the ticket is determined. It is entirely possible that the nomination will be awarded on the basis of a margin of as few as 50 delegates, or fewer, out of more than 4,000 present. [t]

THOSE ELITE ENTITLED SUPER DELEGATES MAY DECIDE,PRIVATELY

The super delegates might overrule the pledged delegates, as they are entitled to, attracting intense controversy. [t]

HILLARY MAY BE LOSING THE SUPER DELEGATES SHE HAS SPENT A LIFE TIME CULTIVATING. HERE’S WHY.

The Hillary and Bill Clinton scorched-earth strategy of laying waste to Obama, or his supporters like Bill Richardson, is going to backfire among those in the only constituency who can put Hillary in the saddle. The super delegates.[N]

These people are professional politicians, officials and operatives who are horrified that the Clintons et Co. are producing negative soundbytes which will become fodder for the McCain side come the real contest in the fall. But this should come as no surprise .[N]

AFTER CONVENTION 8 WEEKS TO ELECTION

A bitterly divided party would then have about two months to bind its wounds before polling day in November.[t]

THE REPUBLICANS WILL LAUGH ALL THE WAY TO THE BANK, AGAIN.

Meanwhile, a few days later, the Republican convention will open in Minneapolis, a model of love, peace and unity compared with the Democratic showdown. [t]

MCAIN A BUSH SUPPORTING WAR MONGERING ,ECONOMY DEVASTOR, HAS BEEN, COULD WIN BECAUSE OF WHAT THE DEMOCRATS DO THEMSELVES

In one of the more crackpot Dynasty plotlines, Blake and Alexis end up running against each other for public office (the post of Governor of Colorado) but their expensive feud serves only to allow another candidate to emerge triumphant. John McCain has reason to hope that Mr Obama and Mrs Clinton are poised to do exactly the same, to his advantage. [t]

That leaves Democrats without delegates for the August national convention, the prospect of disillusioned voters — and an opening for Arizona Sen. John McCain, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee, in a state that has not gone Republican since 1988.[h]

"It's not breaking my heart," said Kent County GOP Chairman Dave Dishaw. "From a John McCain perspective, obviously I'm very excited that they can't get their act together."[h] Jeff Williams, a senior vice president with Public Sector Consultants in Lansing, said it would be premature to assume all this chaos means the GOP will win Michigan. He believes the advantage still is with the Democrats.[h] But he agrees McCain's image as a political maverick could help him win independents. His chances improve each week and month the Democrats fail to find a candidate, he believes.[h]

WOULD A REAL NON CANDIDATE LEADER STEP FORWARD, BUILD A COALITION AND GET THIS RIGHT....OUR FUTURE DEPENDS ON IT...AL GORE WHERE THE HADIES ARE YOU?

Meanwhile, party leaders in Florida and Michigan are adamant that their delegations be seated according to the popular vote. "I am deeply disappointed," Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm said in a statement after talks collapsed for a state-run, privately funded primary on June 3. "Now that the Legislature has decided not to act, we will turn our attention to other options." [c]

A ROUGH END GAME WILL BACK FIRE AND GIVE OBAMA THE NOMINATION

Short of a Hail Mary Pass, the Clintons are digging themselves an early, and permanent, party grave. More super delegates are going to follow Richardson’s lead even if Hillary pulls off Pennsylvania on April 22.[N]

National polls, after a rough week for Obama, have them tied and he is gaining again at her expense. But Obama has 730,000 more votes and 131 more super delegates than her and has it bagged even if she wins everything else in huge numbers.[N]

BUT WITH THIS DAMAGE CAN WE WIN THE GENERAL ELECTION

Posted here by Terry Bankert ... http://attorneybankert.com/

Join my political party of preference, http://www.michigandems.com/join.html

—WHERE DID THIS STUFF COME FROM---

[t] The Timesonline http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/tim_hames/article3607493.ece?openComment=true

[TRB] Comments of Terry Bankert and CAP headline unattributed. http://attorneybankert.com/

[F] The Fox Network http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,340792,00.html

[c] The Christian Science Monitor http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0324/p03s03-uspo.html [h] Houston Chronicle.com http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/nation/5639458.html

[n] The National Post http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/francis/archive/2008/03/23/mccain-s-preachers-scary-too.aspx

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FLINT CITIZENS DEMAND DEMOCRATS REVOTE BY CAUCUSES!

FLINT CITIZENS CALL FOR STATE WIDE DEMOCRATIC PARTY CAUCUSES!

See http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Flintcitizen/message/1489
________
GOOD MORNING FLINT!
BY Terry Bankert 3/23/08
http://attorneybankert.com/
You are invited to join me at Face Book http://www.facebook.com/people/Terry_Bankert/645845362 ___________________________
Full article at http://goodmorningflint.blogspot.com/
SUMMARY ON Flint Talk http://flinttalk.com/viewtopic.php?p=26413#26413
_____
Revolt of Michigan’s Common Democrats![trb] DNC Rules Chair says Michigan; Hold caucuses.[D2] for the common democrat.[trb]

Roosevelt encouraged Michigan to return to its original plan, adopted before the Jan. 15 primary was set. Party caucuses had been planned for Feb. 9, and Roosevelt suggested the party could hold caucuses sometime in May or June. "The Michigan party knows how to run an alternative process," he said. [d2]

I am for the little (d) common Democrat. Its time we show up, stand up and speak up. What is needed is a demonstration of support for the proposition that Michigan must hold a caucus to re franchise Michigan at the National Democratic Convention. Forward this article to all of your democratic friends.[trb]

James Roosevelt Jr., a Massachusetts health-care executive is co-chair of the DNC's rules committee. [D2]

CALL TO ACTION FOR PRECINCT DELEGATES TO TAKE OVER THE MICHIGAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY!

The current non-leadership of the Michigan Democratic party wants to broker a Democratic Convention by leveraging its superdelegate vote.[trb]

The last thing they want is for the common democrat to assert its democratic voice at a caucus. Jesse Jackson taught the non-leaders currently in control of the Michigan Democratic party that they lose control if too many regular democrats get involved in the process. [trb]

This is about power, control and the maintenance of special privilege of the super delegates and their employees that currently run the Michigan Democratic Party. [trb]

The States precinct delegates should rise up and take over the Michigan Democratic party. Where is Sam Riddle when you need him?[trb]

THE CANDIDATES SHOULD FOLLOW US!

Who cares what the candidates think. This is our party and the Michigan leadership has screwed up and disenfranchised 500,000 voters. We need to throwout ( hold accountable) our leadership and gerterdone ASAP![trb]

Even if the candidates could agree, there were serious questions about whether party officials could conduct caucuses. In 2004, about 163,000 people voted at about 250 Democratic caucus sites. Party officials estimate that 2008 caucuses -- amid the closest nomination fight in recent history -- could attract as many as 2 million voters, requiring 1,000 or more caucus sites. [d2]

State Democratic Party postpones district conventions [D]did you know this?[trb]

Dems look at divvying up delegates Candidates nix mail-in or caucus voting, so attention turns to a negotiated division.[d2]

WHO IS THIS PANEL?

The panel of four influential Democrats who proposed the do-over primary conferred again Friday afternoon, searching for an alternative that would be acceptable to the state and national parties, and Obama and Clinton. [d2]

WE MUST HOLD OUR LEADERSHIP ACCOUNTABLE TO REGAIN THE TRUST OF MICHIGAN VOTERS

Acknowledging that Michigan's delegate selection mess is unlikely to be resolved in the coming week, the state Democratic Party decided to postpone its congressional district conventions. [d]

A process of elimination is leaving Michigan Democratic leaders with a series of unappetizing choices: accept a negotiated split of the state's convention delegates, hope a nominee emerges who can lift the national party's ban on Michigan, or pursue a divisive, long-shot fight for the state's place in Denver[d2]

15 district gatherings, at which more than half of the Democratic delegates are elected to the Democratic National Convention in August, had been slated for March 29. [d]

Without a new election, Michigan could follow the path of Florida, which like Michigan held an unauthorized January primary and drew the delegate equivalent of the death penalty. Officials in Florida are working to strike a deal with the campaigns and the national party that would seat its delegates on a formula based only partially on the results of the state's Jan. 29 contest. [d2]

"Caucuses necessarily exclude too many people," said Clinton spokesman Phil Singer. Obama has consistently out-performed Clinton in caucus states[d2]

The state party's executive committee late Friday postponed the conventions until April 19. [d]

It remains to be seen whether the delegate picture will be any clearer by then. The national party stripped Michigan of its delegates because its Jan. 15 primary was held three weeks earlier than party rules allowed. [d]

An effort to have a do-over primary died in the Legislature earlier this week. On Friday, the Obama and Clinton campaigns ruled out two other options: a mail-in vote and a party caucus. [d]

That leaves as the only choices for seating delegates: Accepting a negotiated split of delegates; hoping a candidate emerges who will lift the party's ban on the seating of the delegates; or pursuing a long-shot appeal of party rules. [d]

Michigan is supposed to have 156 delegates to the national convention. Of that total, 83 are to be elected at congressional district conventions. Another 45 are picked at the State Party Central Committee meeting on May 17. The other 28 are uncommitted superdelegate, including elected officials and state and national party officials. [d]

WHO TOLD MARK BREWER TO VIOLATE THE RULES OF THE DNC THAT DISENFRANCHISED 500,000 MICHIGAN DEMOCRATS?

Levin and others have argued that New Hampshire and other states also changed the dates of their contests, violating party rules, and should have been punished as well. Michigan set its Jan. 15 contest only after New Hampshire's top election official announced in August that his state would move up. [D2]

With efforts to set up a June 3 state-run primary dead in Lansing, aides to presidential candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton on Friday ruled out two likely alternatives: a mail-in primary or caucuses run by the Michigan Democratic Party. Even with approval from the candidates, either plan would face steep logistical hurdles. And there were few ideas beyond those two for how the state could hold a nomination contest that would bring it back within the national party's rules. [d2]

COMMON DEMOCRATS MUST FORCE THE MICHIGAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND ITS SUPER (duper) DELEGATES TO FOLLOW THE SUGGESTION , RULES,ORDERS,OF THE DNC, DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE

Roosevelt encouraged Michigan to return to its original plan, adopted before the Jan. 15 primary was set. Party caucuses had been planned for Feb. 9, and Roosevelt suggested the party could hold caucuses sometime in May or June. "The Michigan party knows how to run an alternative process," he said. [d2]

THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN MUST STEP FORWARD TO STRAIGHTEN THIS MESS UP AND REGAIN VOTER CONFIDENCE.

As always I am available to help.[trb]

Posted here by Terry Bankert ...
http://attorneybankert.com/
Join my political party of preference,
http://www.michigandems.com/join.html

—where did this stuff come from---
[d] Detroitnews.com http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080322/POLITICS01/803220419/1361
[d2] Detroitnews.com http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080322/POLITICS01/803220320
[trb] Coments of Terry Bankert to nclude CAP headlines http://attorneybankert.com/

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