This map is how Democrats can get to as many as 12 seats in Michigan out of only 14.
Steps:
A) Challenge VRA and make it only for compact districts, thus meaning only one is needed in Detroit (this is the way I interpret the VRA anyway)
B) Gain the trifecta
C) Implement this map
This is the map:
1st (black + Upper Peninsula): Dan Benishek (R) vs. Gary McDowell? (D)
McDowell would have a much better shot in a non-wave year and a slightly bluer district. I stole SaoMagnifico's idea of giving Muskegon to the 1st and making it go down the West rather than the East coast. The district is D+1.5, but more ancestrally Dem than that, so I'd say it'd Tilt D, especially against a Tea Party-backed freshman with no political experience when Obama should be winning the district even if he narrowly loses the election. For land contiguity, if needed, a small strip can be drawn.
2nd (green): Bill Huizenga (R)
Huizenga now has a much safer R+12. It's basically all new territory except for Ottawa County, but Huizenga, if he gets through the primary, should cruise all decade long.
4th (red): Dave Camp (R) vs. ?
Dave Camp has a fight on his hands here. His seniority would probably make it Tilt R, but the PVI is exactly zero, so this is a perfect toss-up, especially since it has ancestrally D areas (Saginaw, the Coast) and R areas (Midland, other rural areas). If Jim Barcia represented Saginaw at some point, he could run here as well. This is the result of going West with the 1st district rather than East, as otherwise you eat up the swingy areas on the lakeshore.
5th (yellow): Open
All the Genesee Co. politicians who are running for Dale Kildee's seat still live here. It's D+5.5, so the Republicans shouldn't have much of a chance despite three rural red counties being in the district. Flint and Bay City are all that a Democrat needs.
6th (teal): Fred Upton (R) vs. A Legit Candidate, Hopefully (D)
Upton loses some Republican area and gains an ugly finger into Grand Rapids. Justin Amash is happy about that, but Upton probably isn't. This district has lots of ancestral and downballot R voters, and Upton has seniority and a moderate reputation, but this could be a Jim Leach situation where a non-controversial longtime incumbent loses due to the lean of their district. It's now D+4.5, a level very few politicians can hold for the Republicans. But if anyone in Michigan can, it's Upton. Toss-Up.
3rd (purple): Justin Amash (R) vs. Tim Walberg (R)
It's really a shame this district isn't more moderate, because a race to the right between "I Don't Like Voting on Bills" Justin Amash and Birther Tim Walberg would be the easiest way to get a Blue Dog pickup ever. Sadly, this district is R+8, out of reach anywhere but the Upper South. Swingy Ionia County and most of inner city Grand Rapids are given to other districts in this second and final GOP vote sink.
7th (gray): Open (D)
This district starts in the East with Detroit suburbs like Romulus, Canton, Westland, and Inkster. It then takes in college town Adrian, swingy (and birthplace of the GOP) Jackson, and a bunch of rural areas that lean Republican for a D+4 Lean to Likely Dem district perfect for a suburban Dem (or one from Jackson). A district like this is also a good place for a statewide run to begin, as there are minorities (Inkster), medium sized towns (Jackson, Adrian), suburbs, and rural areas contained, and the district reflects the state as a whole (D+4 vs. about D+3).
8th (periwinkle): Mike Rogers (R) vs. Gretchen Whitmer? (D)
Rogers doesn't stand much of a chance here. Half of uber-conservative Livingston County is excised, along with super red Northern Oakland. In its place we get swingy Eaton, swingy Calhoun, swingy Shiawassee, and a few precincts in Genessee. It's a safe D+5 and another good place for a statewide run to begin.
10th (beige): Hansen Clarke? (D) or Macomb County Dem vs. Candice Miller? (R)
This VRA district is eliminated due to population loss in the Detroit area. Inner-city Detroit anchors the Democratic areas, which also include Eastpointe and Roseville. The conservative Grosse Pointes and rural areas in the North and some other swingy suburbs make up the rest of this district, which is D+5. Miller's most likely gone, and it's a Lean Dem district.
9th (light blue): Gary Peters (D)
Peters keeps his district, and in fact, it's very similar to his old one. He should hold it until a run for Senate after Levin's retirement in 2014 (at least that's what I'm assuming at this point). Auburn Hills, Pontiac, and Berkeley are excised, and Novi, Southfield, and Oak Park are added, along with White Lake Township (a very red area). This district is D+4.5.
11th (light green): Open (D)
Despite looking similar to the old 11th, it literally doesn't contain a single precinct the old one did. But Thad McCotter will be our next president, so it doesn't matter anyway. Starting in Pontiac and Auburn Hills, which Gary Peters so generously gave up, it takes in ruby red Northern Oakland and Macomb (exurbs), the eastern quarter of Livingston (more exurbs), and then very very blue Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti. This is an extremely polarized district, but this D+6 district should keep it polarized with an advantage for Team Blue.
14th (puke): John Conyers (D) vs. Hansen Clarke? (D)
This is a VRA district, and it's not compact either. However, it is over 50% Black VAP, so it does the job. It then takes in suburbs and exurbs, reaching into as red territory as it can (W. Oakland). And in case you worried, it's D+18.
13th (pink): John Dingell (D)
The 13th is eliminated, so Dingell gets its number. It looks pretty similar to his old district, gaining more inner suburbs and some of Detroit. D+7; he won't really need to campaign much.
So there you are! 9-2-3, and 12-2 in a good year!