Clinton in, 4 Dems out of Mich. primary

[Lone_Star_Dem]

Source: AP

LANSING, Mich. - Four Democratic candidates have withdrawn from Michigan's Jan. 15 presidential primary, leaving what amounts to a beauty contest for front-runner Hillary Rodham Clinton and a handful of lesser-knowns.

Barack Obama, John Edwards and Bill Richardson filed paperwork Tuesday, the deadline to withdraw from the ballot, said Kelly Chesney, spokeswoman for the Michigan Secretary of State's office. A fourth candidate, Joe Biden, said in a statement that he was bypassing Michigan's primary.

Although Michigan is a critical Midwest state in presidential voting, it violated Democratic National Committee rules in moving its primary earlier in the process. The candidates are honoring the DNC's wishes in skipping the contest.

Clinton broke with the leading candidates, with her campaign issuing a statement saying the New York senator will remain on the ballot.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071009/ap_on_el_pr/michigan_primary

[itsrobert]

1. Than Howard Dean has no choice but to make her ineligible

for the Democratic Party nominee. If she refuses to honor the DNC she needs to run an independent or republican campaign.

[William769]

3. She doen't have to do anything as long as she does not capmaign in Mich.

[movonne]

38. Hillary and her group of thugs do not want Dean running the DNC

because Dean wants progressives and hillary don't ... this is a battle between the DLC and the DNC...

[William769]

41. I don't want him running the DNC either. Am I also a thug?

[PassingFair]

58. Since you ask...

Yes.

[Cha]

65. Why? Because Dean would do

such a good job and get all 50 states working with a strong Democratic base?

[Tarc]

72. No, just woefully naive

Dean fought tooth and nail against the asinine, loser strategy of dumping money on a few "strategic" battlegrounds and ignoring the rest. The 50 state strategy paid huge dividends in 2006; without it, we (NH) would not have been able to cast off both Republican House members last year.

[OzarkDem]

82. Mary Matalin's husband's strategy

didn't work to well, at least not for Dems anyway.

[ProudDad]

76. Well, since you ask

in light of your posts...

Yes...

[OzarkDem]

You're in the minority

and a very small minority at that.

What is it you so dislike about Dean?

[OzarkDem]

80. That appears to be the case

While I haven't decided on a primary candidate yet, this certainly brings Clinton down several pegs IMHO.

I thought Clinton wanted broad support within the party, but this makes it appear she is 100% DLC, especially if she is defying Dean.

[Progressive Friend]

52. I agree, 100%

[rinsd]

55. Ummm she is honoring the pledge to the DNC.

By not campaigning or spending money in FL or MI.

This is why Hillary wins, even when you have something on her you feel the need to embellish and lie about it to the point where you lost what you had her on in the 1st place.

[OzarkDem]

83. Trying to have it both ways

by ignoring the rule and carving out an exception for herself doesn't bode well for her as a candidate. I can't imagine she would govern very well using those kinds of tactics. Maybe the GOP is right, she would be a very divisive candidate.

[robinlynne]

62. That would rock!

[William769]

2. And saying screw you voters.

Well when you campaign is all about washed up, I guess it doesn't make a difference.

[waiting for hope]

5. Does it makes a difference

if she will not abide by the DNC rules? Rules that Michigan and Florida had agreed too? Maybe the system needs to be revamped, but not just months shy of the first primary vote. That's chaos, and the last thing this party needs right now.

[Tyler Durden]

4. FUCK THIS STUPID "WHO GOES FIRST" BULLSHIT.

This reads like gradeschool GARBAGE. I don't care if they hold the primaries NEXT WEEK, just STOP THE STUPID BULLSHIT.

[OzarkDem]

84. I trust Howard Dean

he's sticking to the rules for a reason. Since he has nothing to gain and a whole lot of headaches trying to restore order from chaos, its highly unlikely he has anything to gain from sticking to the rules.

Thank you, Dr. Dean. I shudder to think what our party would have morphed into if Terry Mac were still in charge. Just another wing of the GOP.

[Tyler Durden]

6. I've changed my mind: this is perfect.

WRITE IN AL GORE.

[SharonRB]

7. That's my plan at this point.

I'm sure not voting for Hillary, just because her name is on the ballot.

[RiverStone]

45. By leaving her name on the ballot, is Hillary slapping Dean and the DNC?...n/t

[robinlynne]

63. yes.

[IndianaGreen]

64. Hillary is slapping those idiots in the DNC that are punishing voters to protect IA & NH

and their obsessive-compulsive desire to be first in order to have a bigger impact on the Presidential race than their puny states deserve.

I hope Hillary doesn't do what she did in Florida and pull her name out at the last minute.

[Tarc]

74. Some people around here are beyond hopeless

The reason why we have small states at the beginning is to give lesser-known candidates a chance, the ones who don't have all the slick campaign backers and huge war chests. It takes a hell of a lot less time and money to travel here in NH and meet voters and get grassroots organizations going. Smaller television markets also mean it takes less money to buy air time.

You think if the likes of Michigan or New York or Florida were first in the nation primaries, that Bill Clinton would've had a snowball's chance in hell in `92?

[JNelson6563]

40. That's what this Michigander is doing.

:toast:

[SharonRB]

54. Of course you are!

Actually, if he's definitely not running, I think I'll vote for Dodd. He's become my second choice, and this helps cement it.

[Purveyor]

47. Fuck the DNC. This Michigander will be writing in Al Gore, also!

Further, I can't wait for them to solicit a monetary contribution.

[sandyj999]

79. I am in Michigan and I will be writing in Al Gore.

This is a snub to my state for a stupid reason of "who goes first". I believe this may backfire on all of them.

[pinto]

8. I still hold to my lonely pet proposal:

A three tiered primary season, for states that choose to hold a primary or caucus, based on a roughly 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 grouping of states according to electoral votes.

Small electoral states first. - 2 months

Middle electoral states next. - 2 months

Big electoral states last. - 2 months

Convention, national campaign.

Election.

[napi21]

9. Obama, Edwards & Richardson pull out of Mi. primary

Source: MSNBC Breaking news!

Obama, Edwards & Richardson taking their names off the ballot in Michigan primary! Has something to do with them saying they won't campaign there because of the primary battle over the to early for Iowa spat.

Read more: MSNBC TV

---

What's wrong with these guys????

[DS1]

10. Taking their BALLots and going home?

[Greeby]

11. Paging the Kucinich campaign

Get your asses over there pronto, your chances just shot up big time

[napi21]

12. Here's the link to the story.

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071009/NEWS06/71009031/1048/SPORTS

Sorry for where the link wa from. I didn't realize it until I had posted it.

[RaleighNCDUer]

22. You have a problem with the Detroit Free Press? nt

[BrotherBuzz]

36. Detroit Free Press is in no way connected to the Freepers

It's a good link in my opinion

[cyclezealot]

15. Real nice

the DNC is not going to recognize the Mich and Fla delegation. There will be two unrepresentated states in Denver . And I thought Dean was progressive.

[sabbat hunter]

17. they broke the rules

set down at the last DNC. they knew the consequences. of course they could also change from a primary format to a caucus and keep their delegates.

[cyclezealot]

19. NOt so , say MI Dems. NH

broke the rules first , to maintain their priviliged position.
$$

as one of the four “pre-window” states, announced we would abide by the
DNC calendar, unless New Hampshire or another state decided to ignore
the rule establishing that sequence and that calendar.
On August 9, New Hampshire’s Secretary of State, with the
support of the state’s Democrats, indicated that he was going to hold the
New Hampshire primary before January 19, 2008, a clear violation of the
DNC rules. This announcement was made at a joint public ceremony and
in partnership with South Carolina Republicans who had announced that
they would hold their GOP primary on January 19.
One of New Hampshire’s purposes was to push the New
Hampshire primary ahead of the Nevada caucus which the DNC’s rule had
scheduled for January 19. New Hampshire’s transparent action reflected
its determination to maintain its privileged position of going immediately
after Iowa, despite the DNC calendar.
Those of us who fought hard to loosen the stranglehold of New
Hampshire on the process saw you stand by silently.

http://www.michigandems.com/Levin-Dingell%20Letter.pdf

[RaleighNCDUer]

20. What stranglehold?

This whole fracas is the DLC fighting with the DNC, regardless of the effects on the party. They're happy to see the party go down in flames so long as their candidate comes out on top.

[yewberry]

21. Wrong. NH didn't "break the rules first."

NH hasn't set a new primary date. They're still scheduled for 1/22.

[madfloridian]

23. NH did not break the rules first or yet.

They have not notified the DNC of a change. Michigan butted.

[sabbat hunter]

24. too bad

NH didnt change the date of their primary.

[cyclezealot]

28. Regardless of whose lying

The situation seems to be a standoff and many Dem's are sick of NH Dems thinking they are special and get to choose the country's nominees. Some pundits are now saying the primaries will be over with South Carolina. Much of the country is sick of that situation. The state leadership of both states are adamant and it will harm the Dem. nominee in those respective states.

[sabbat hunter]

37. that is why

we must adopt the delaware or california plan. primary/caucuses would be spread over 4 days, one in feb, one in march, in april and the last in may. states vote in order of population from high to low.

[yewberry]

39. There's no question about who's lying.

The time for this is NOT in the middle of a primary. It hurts the party and the candidates, not to mention pissing off every Dem voter in every state that *is* abiding by the rules.

[madfloridian]

75. There is no question of who is lying.

NH did not cause this. Greed did.

[NovaNardis]

25. So you're saying that...

Michigan Dems weren't at fault at all, and New Hampshire made them do it?

Please. This is all insanity, and it needs to be stopped. It has nothing to do with Dean being progressive or not. Michigan broke the rules, moving before NH and Iowa. Your reasoning is rationalization to the extreme.

Personally, I think it's a load that Iowa and New Hampshire govern the race, basically. There should be a national day to caucus/primary. But, if any two states are going to be the ones in front, I'm glad it's Iowa and New Hampshire.

But Kudos to Obama/Edwards/Richardson. Taking a stand to stop the craziness that is overtaking us. I know they probably did it for strategic reasons, but it will still have an impact. (Though I'd have to think strongly labor Edwards would have a shot in Mich.)

[movonne]

42. Dean is progressive, the DLC is not...he is doing his job...

[MilesColtrane]

49. What's progressive about Michigan and Florida Democrats trying to increase their...

...influence in the primaries at the expense of Democratic voters in other states?

It's a grab for power, you should be used to seeing that after almost 7 years of Bush.

What's progressive about making an agreement then breaking it?

[Devlzown]

13. I just saw that and I'm not too happy.

Hillary really doesn't need any help, you know.:grr:

[madfloridian]

14. Same as Florida story....MIchigan broke the rules and thumbed noses.

Next they will have to sue the DNC and Dean for something. They moved ahead of New Hampshire, knowing they would lose delegates.

Just saw an article today where Dingell and Levin are blaming the DNC for all of it.

Deja vu all over again Florida and Michigan style.

[cyclezealot]

16. Likely will make it somewhat easier for the Repukes to

take those states come November,too.

[NovaNardis]

26. What?!?!?

That doesn't make any sense. How will Michigan not having deleagates at the Dem Convention make it easier for the GOP to take it in November? Granholm and Stabenow both won easy in 2006, despite GOP contentions that the races were contested. DeVos had a chance at the governor's mansion, but even an inept Granholm was able to hold on. Michigan is firmly blue.

Florida you could make a case for, but that's already a red-purple state anyway. And it will lean even more Democratic if the Republicans keep up this Latino bashing. And methinks the state would lock for Dodd, who would normalize relations with Cuba. Obviously our sanctions haven't gotten rid of Castro, so we have to try something new with our backyard island.

[cyclezealot]

29. Ignoring a state will make points. ?

With the job losses being falsely blamed on Granholm, Republicans will not be ignoring Michigan.

[cyclezealot]

32. MI GOP chair thinks so.

Michigan Republican Party Chairman Saul Anuzis said the decision by the Democrats just opens Michigan to more campaigning by Republicans hoping to win the state and its electoral votes.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071009/ap_on_el_pr/michigan_primary
& ( So how do Demo's make up for lost ground.How ironic ,Repukes debate in Dearborn today. ?)

Republican Presidential candidates telling Michiganders what they would do to make things better in a state challenged by unemployment, home foreclosures and uncertain futures.

For the second time in less than a month, Republicans will have the state all to themselves while Democrats keep promises to stay out.

Today's 4 p.m. debate at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center in Dearborn offers Republican candidates their first chance to speak directly to Michiganders from a Michigan stage -- cable channel CNBC will show the debate live, and MSNBC will rebroadcast it at 9 p.m.Some Democratic Party officials say it won't matter, that there's plenty of time for the eventual nominee to explain his or her positions. Republicans, on the other hand, almost can't believe their rivals have, for now, ceded the field in a state with 17 electoral votes

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071009/NEWS07/710090339

[cyclezealot]

33. delete

[Bitwit1234]

18. That's just not very smart.

[itsrobert]

27. Howard Dean is going to make Clinton ineligible

That's what he should do. If she does not abide by DNC, she needs to seek another party.

[lovuian]

30. Oh now that makes super sense

I love that idea ...

[rinsd]

56. "Howard Dean is going to make Clinton ineligible" Why would he do that?

Clinton will not be campaigning or spending money in FL or MI abiding by her pledge to the early states and the rules set by the DNC.

[Froward69]

61. Hear Hear!!!

:applause: :applause:

[onenote]

85. and what else should howard do. Throw Jennifer Granholm out of the party?

After all, as Gov she signed the legislation setting the Mich primary date.

Good grief things are silly around here these days. (Silly being a nice way of saying stupid).

[MilesColtrane]

46. The Michigan Demorcatic party is violating the primary schedule that it agreed to.

It's simply a matter of Michigan Dems wanting an advantage over Democrats in other states in influencing who will be the candidate in the general election.

If this goes unchecked, you will have other states moving up and ahead, until we're all voting for candidates 18-24 months before the general election.

This is going to be a wild convention.

[IndianaGreen]

66. The primary schedule sucks big time for it kept IA and NH first in nation

Deanbots announced with great pride the wonderful "compromise" which turned out to be the present idiotic schedule. That was no compromise! They kept Iowa and New Hampshire first, giving them a disproportionate influence on the process. What's their record anyway? What LOSER did Iowa give us the last time? This is what the Deanbots are defending! They don't care about the disenfranchised voters in Michigan and Florida (with lots of electoral votes in November), all they cared about was blind obedience to their stupid schedule!

[madfloridian]

51. Taking names off the ballot? I dont think they are doing that in Florida.

I think they are just not actually campaigning here, but the electoral votes still count?

I don't think they are taking them off the ballot.

[WarhammerTwo]

31. What I don't understand....

...is why can't we streamline and refine the primary process.

There are 50 states, right?

Why not have 10 primary elections over the course of 5 days?

A Primary week. Monday through Friday. With 10 states voting each day, no candidate can be determined the winner (or even a front-runner) until the end of the week, unlike now where whoever wins Iowa pretty much wraps up the nomination. That way the race stays nice and even and fair with no one really building momentum. Plus, no state can really complain because they all have a pretty good shot of affecting the outcome. I mean, if the whole nation can vote on one day in November, how hard would it be to get 10 states to vote on one day during Primary Week? And maybe to make it easier, one week will be the Democratic Primary and the following week can be the GOP's. And that order alternates each year. Like Dems go first on even years, GOP on odd years. I think this would be a great way of leveling the playing field and getting rid of all the BS.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

35. Same reason we can't have public financing

It just makes too much sense.

[ananda]

34. HC is obviously DLC.. not DNC!

nt

[dbackjon]

43. Screw New Hampshire

I am sick and tired of their "me first" whining Bull shit. They are destroying the party with their paettiness.

I would hope that here on DU we would be intelligent enough to see that what the DNC/Dean/New Hampshire is doing is not good for our party, but I guess not.

[cyclezealot]

44. These rules affect the GOP selection process too.

How come they are still playing in Mich and Fla. McCain today said, he can't believe the Dems are letting the GOP get out their message in Mich all to themselves.

[cali]

77. I love NH going first

and no I don't live there. I like the system as it now is; it gives unknown and poorly funded candidates a chance, and it's not all about TV ads. I'm really glad they added Nev. and SC. And FL and MI should not have agreed to a primary schedule and then thrown a hissy fit.

[MadMichDem]

48. The Mich Senate voted this in along straight party lines

All Repugs Yes
Democrats No

And I'll be penciling in Al Gore.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

50. Thanks for mentioning that

It's good to know that they weren't involved in this scheming.

[madfloridian]

71. And the Democratic Governor signed the bill.

with great flourish.

[onenote]

86. I call BS. Got a link? Cause I have a link that says you're wrong.

Either come up with a link or stand accused of making stuff up.

according to this article, the bill setting the primary date passed the state senate unanimously, passed the House with more Democratic support than repub support. And it was signed into law by Democratic governor.

http://www.michiganliberal.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=9864

[still_one]

53. If it really bothers anyone, the best statement you can make is write in Al Gore /nt

[adadem]

57. I'm glad Brewer stood up to the DNC

Every year NH & Iowa set the stage. By the time it gets to the other states we're holding our nose to vote in the primary.

It's not right and it's not Democratic that those two states always go first.

I don't care if they put 50 pieces of paper in a hat to pick who goes first but the current way is garbage.

Carl Levin tried to effect change and I'm glad Brewer and the Fl Dems stood up.

So, I'll write in Al Gore. Now it won't matter if he dosen't jump into the race.

I can finally vote without holding my nose.

[IndianaGreen]

67. I agree with you! Instead of rotating regional primaries, we got this crap again!

Iowa will give us the same crap they gave us four years ago, and we are left with a fait accompli as the MSM crowns the Iowa winner as the all-but-certain nominee.

[madfloridian]

69. So you are advocating not needing a national party.

And you are advocating breaking the rules since we do have one.

I get it.

[adadem]

59. Dodd stays in MI primary

So if Gore announces he will not run then at least I can cast a vote.

[Froward69]

60. She doesn't even adhear to our party rules.

Arrogant, shameful, pathetic. UNDEMOCRAT-IC

[madfloridian]

68. Here's why they could not get off the ballot in Florida.

But could in Michigan.

Because they can't get off ballot in Florida unless they drop out of the race.

But in Florida, presidential candidates can't take their names off the ballot unless they drop out of the race altogether. So voters will still get to pick a favorite out of the eight-person Democratic field when they go to the polls.

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/breaking_news/story/265954.html

Dean today said "This is a fight among politicians."

Seems he's right.

[madfloridian]

70. I love all the f**k the DNC threads on DU

It is really quite amazing.

Governor Dean and the DNC follow the rules voted on by the members, and a Democratic forum says f**k them.

Amazing thing.

And Florida plans it all here with the GOP since 2006 in March. And they deliberately and on purpose break the rules just like Michigan deliberately and on purpose did.

"Nobody realized it, but the storm began gathering in late March 2006. New Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio, a Miami Republican, visited Washington-based Florida reporters and touted a plan to boost Florida's influence in picking presidential nominees by moving the primary earlier than March.

"With all due respect to New Hampshire and Iowa, nowhere are you going to be on a national stage like Florida," Rubio said at the time. "You're going to get questions about Israel, Latin America, immigration. It's the old South, it's Latin, it's Midwestern, it's rural and urban."

Rubio already had Democrats on board.

"Florida Democrats are all for it," Mark Bubriski, spokesman for the Florida Democratic Party, said at the time."

And at DU it is f**k the DNC.

[madfloridian]

73. McAuliffe threatened MI in 04. Was he condemned?

Primary problem

"Expletives were flying. The head of the Democratic National Committee was having it out with Sen. Carl Levin because Michigan wanted to crash the rarefied club of early presidential primary states.

Move your primary too early, Terry McAuliffe warned, and Michigan will lose half its delegates to the 2004 Democratic convention.

"The closest they'll get to Boston will be watching it on television," McAuliffe vowed. "I will not let you break this entire nominating process for one state. The rules are the rules."

Did you know Terry and Carl Levin made a deal? If Levin backed off, Terry would form a commission. He did that. These rules are the result of the commission.

The deal between McAuliffe and Levin

"The panel, which carried the unwieldy name of Commission on Presidential Nomination Timing and Scheduling, made two sets of recommendations, one dealing with the opening phase of the nominating calendar and the other with the later phases.

The commission came into existence as part of a bargain between former DNC chairman Terence R. McAuliffe and Sen. Carl M. Levin (D-Mich.). Levin has long agitated against what he calls the privileged position of Iowa and New Hampshire, which hold the first caucus and first primary every four years. During the 2004 presidential campaign cycle, McAuliffe bought peace with Levin by promising to appoint a commission after the election if the senator would agree not to try to blow up the calendar for that year.

..."The commission's final recommendation was a classic compromise. Seeking to avoid angering Iowa and New Hampshire voters, the panel reaffirmed Iowa's status as the first state to hold a caucus and New Hampshire's as the first to hold a primary. Seeking to mollify the critics of those two states, the commission proposed inserting one or two caucuses between Iowa and New Hampshire in mid-January 2008 and then adding one or two primaries shortly after the Granite State's primary. No other states would be authorized to hold contests before Feb. 5, 2008."

Ironic a little, isn't it? Rules made by a committee formed by a deal with Levin are causing MI to say FU to Dean.

Strange world.

[pokercat999]

78. At any large meeting of Democrats

OK, everybody get in a circle........ OK now, ready.... aim..... fire!

[Vinca]

81. Rules, rules, rules. The end result, no matter how it shakes out,

is a bunch of pissed off Democrats who may not go to the polls in the general election. Now . . . who's ready to lose Michigan and Florida?

[Vidar]

87. I'm from Michigan & I agree with Howard Dean & the DNC.

However I may change my registration from independent to democratic, just for the pleasure of voting for Kucinich at least once.