Breaking: Biden, Richardson, Edwards and Obama take their names off Michigan ballot

[SharonRB]

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/10/09/four-dems-withdraw-from-michigan-primary/

The plan to get the candidates pay more attention to us worked really well, didn't it? I sure hope we go back to the original caucus plan. This stinks.

[jmp]

1. Michigan should ban any Democrat from the general election ballot ...

Who doesn't participate in the party primary. Simple and straight forward.

[skipos]

2. I disagree with individual states saying " ME ME ME!"

It's not the way to do this. If we have a problem with the Iowa, NH and SC set up (which I do) we need to fix it nationally, not just try to cut in line.

[cyclezealot]

4. The one who is saying me, me , me is

New Hampshire. Always has been.

[skipos]

5. But is the solution for every state to try to move their primary earlier?

That battle would never end. I would think we can come to a national solution.

[cyclezealot]

6. So far, New Hampshire has been the only winner.

some of us don't agree with that and resent the fact. New Hampshire has it's own priorities and they are likely not in sink with the mid west. Had Michigan and Florida not made a stink , it never would change. Probably still won't . Since Michigan is and has been an unimportant player in the selection process, what have we to loose. We can stay home and work on our state legislative seats.

[Oakland]

7. I agree with that.

Not on the primary ballot, can't be on the general ballot.
I don't plan to vote for any of them anyway. They are all
a waste. Obama can't stop bashing autos. Hillary NAFTA/CAFTA
support the war, and bomb Iran. And Edwards talking tough and
running scared. Pfft to all of them.

[TahitiNut]

3. So, it's Clinton, Dodd, Kucinich, and Gravel.

So much for self-determination. :shrug:

Heaven forbid that the people of Michigan not obey the national party.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

8. "Why bother voting in the primary?"

If there's some interesting issue on the ballot, other than Prez (and maybe a bunch of judges I never heard of), then I might drag my butt to the poll.

Otherwise, I'll stay home. This one is in the bag for HRC. Not that it matters, if the delegates have no voice in the convention.

Or maybe if I do drag my butt to the poll, I'll just write in Al Gore.

Bottom line, it looks like the MI primary is a useless gesture.

But, I'll vote in Nov 08, holding my nose no doubt.

[jmp]

12. Why bother? To make a point.

If Michigan has record breaking turnout ... the result will matter whether the DNC wants it to or not. 2 million+ Democrats will be hard for the party and the media to ignore.

Go ahead and vote for Gore. :)

[PassingFair]

13. I'm writing in Gore. IF we can't get him on the ballot.

SCREW this PLOY!

We should go back to the open caucus system.

[SharonRB]

14. Hey, you

Nice to see you the other night. If the rest of the state feels the way we did in that room Thursday night, I think we'll go back to the caucus. This is one time I disagree with Jen. I know she and Carl and Debbie Dingell want the primary, but it makes us look like idiots and it's time to admit they made a mistake.

If we stick with the primary, as dumb an idea as it is, and Gore announces and we don't have enough signatures, I'm writing him in. If he issues his Shermanesque statement, I'll vote for Dodd.

[PassingFair]

15. Good to see you, too!

This is not the first time I have disagreed with "Jen"!

But I USUALLY agree with Y-O-U, as I do now!

[SharonRB]

16. I see you're up late tonight, too.

I think I'm going to call it a night, though. Let's talk soon. And don't forget to make a reservation for the Phil Hart Dinner if you plan to go. You can find info at http://www.ocdp.org.

[PassingFair]

17. I just got back from that poker fundraiser for Laura.....

she did really well tonight.

Apparently she IS going to lunch tomorrow.......

I will check out your link. Talk you you soon....

[SharonRB]

18. She never called me with details

So I guess I'm not going. I just haven't had time to call her. I'm glad she did well last night.

[maddogesq]

9. As always, the real solution is overlooked.

Like the budget, the real solution here is not covered in the MSM: A national primary.

End of problem.

Maybe I need to run for something, as I see easy fixes to situations that get overlooked by the masses.

Sheesh. I guess I will do like I did in 2000 and go make mischief over at the Grand Oil Party.

BWAHAHAHAHA

[riverdale]

10. We see that solution over here in Lansing too.

A national primary, all on the same day. Forget this crap of only people living in Iowa deciding whom the rest of us get to vote for in November.
Then .. on election day, count the VOTES of each person in the USA. The one who gets the most VOTES, WINS. Does that blow your mind or what??

[TahitiNut]

11. It's not about the voters (or enfranchisement); it's about the candidates and logistics.

The candidates want a low cost venue with easily analyzed demographics. They don't want to have the early primaries with "unmanagable" electorates. It's about money. It's about control.

In the primaries, voters are the functional equivalent of lab rats.

:shrug: