A Floundering Michigan Diary

No links.  No documentation.  But I really MUST report what I heard, today.

When I turned on the TV next to my desk, my silly husband had left the channel tuned to MSNBC.  Thus, in spite of all my protestations, that's what appeared on my set.  And a good thing, because else I would not be able to share with you what I learned.

One of the Daily Twits was on a live phone call with a radio station in Detroit.   She was speaking with a woman whose name was, I believe, Mildred Gaddis.  The caller was reporting on the state of things in Michigan regarding the seating of their delegates.

She said the following things:

1.  No one should say that Barack Obama will have trouble with working class Michigan voters.  They are flocking to see and hear him and he is generating a lot of excitment over his Green Jobs proposals.  It's John McCain who should be worried.

2.  Michigan voters are not blaming the Democratic Party for not being seated at the Convention.  They are, however, mighty angry at their State officials for breaking in line.  They believe that rules are rules.

3.  They know that Hillary Clinton agreed to take her name off the ballot and then reneged on her commitment.  They respect Obama for keeping his word to the Party and doing as he said he would.

4.  Suggesting, as the Clinton Campaign is, that the Democrats will lose Michigan if they are not seated is just another attempt to re-write the rules.

All though I am paraphrasing, this radio DJ from a major station in Detroit, may well be a better measure of the success of McAuliff and Wolfson in driving the message than anything else we have heard from the National Media.

Don't be seduced by the idea that whatever the Rules Committe decides will cripple any candidate or effect the support for Barack Obama.  Michigan voters are smart.

Howard Dean just announced a joint fund raiser with Obama and Clinton.  Hmmmm.  

•  Trivial, I know, but

  I wanted to share the view of Michigan voters with you, as reported by the DJ.  I found it an emotional boost.

  by Granny Doc on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:04:00 PM PDT

  •  Hear hear for emotional boosts! Keep your radio

    on!

    by Ptown boy in NC on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:05:03 PM PDT

  •  Did you see the town hall today

    It was very interesting.  Made me feel like there are big problems for McCain.

    by Shhs on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:08:29 PM PDT

  •  This isn't trivial Granny Doc, it speaks

    to the unashamed spin by the Clinton campaign concerning Michigan. I'm glad to hear what someone actually from there has to say.

    by Patricia Bruner on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:09:52 PM PDT

    •  Oh, I agree.

      I was just being a little self-effacing.  <g>

      by Granny Doc on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:10:38 PM PDT

  •  Radio host = Mildred Gaddis n/t

    by Woodwards Friend on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:14:19 PM PDT

    •  Thank you so much.

      I just changed it.  If it's any consolation I can't keep my kids names straight, either.  <g>

      by Granny Doc on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:16:06 PM PDT

      •  No problem

        happy to help :)

        by Woodwards Friend on Wed May 14, 2008 at 02:19:28 PM PDT

  •  Added standard tags.

    by Jacques on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:38:47 PM PDT

    •  I thought I was improving

      at that little chore.  Not so much, I guess.  Many thanks.

      by Granny Doc on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:40:22 PM PDT

  •  I'm from Michigan and agree 100% with the caller.

    I blame Democrats in the state legislature, I blame Gov. Granholm, I blame Carl Levin, I blame the Michigan Democratic Party for completely ignoring the entreaties of myself and other Democrats to ignore the primary and hold the already-approved Feb. 9 presidential caucus...

    Speaking of Levin, that bastard is looking pretty worthless to me. He helped steal my caucus vote, and he won't stop giving George W. Bush every dollar he wants to fund this occupation... He might as well be a Republican.  I'd rather be blaming a Republican for continuing to fund the occupation. I doubt I'll ever vote for him again, even at that price.

    by John Poet on Wed May 14, 2008 at 03:44:31 PM PDT

•  Thanks Granny for some local knowlege...

  What is the Detroit Radio call sign? I can get it on I-tunes radio.

  by David Kroning on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:05:08 PM PDT

  •  I do not remember.

    I really wish I could but it was only on the TV screen for a bout 10 seconds.

    by Granny Doc on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:06:47 PM PDT

  •  WCHB -1200 AM

    This is one of the original black owned radio stations in Detroit. Ms Gaddis is well respected in the community and is at the forefront of the recall campaign against the mayor of the city.

    by unionboy on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:45:37 PM PDT

    •  Very cool info.

      Thanks for filling in the details.  I really did just catch a bit of the TV program on which she appeared.

      by Granny Doc on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:48:12 PM PDT

•  The Democratic White House Victory Fund

  Just reported on MSNBC - hmmm, indeed.

  And yay! for Michigan voters!

  by bumblebums on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:05:42 PM PDT

•  I hear people saying

  that all the time.  I live here, and we all knew that and understood it before the primary what happened and that it wouldn't count.  I get so pissed off when people who aren't from here, say that Michiganders won't vote for the dems in November because of the primary.  We aren't stupid.  

  by Snickers77 on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:06:04 PM PDT

  •  You aren't stupid?

    Don't tell that to Lou Dobbs who cannot fathom why anybody in Michigan or Florida would vote for a Democrat after they have been run roughshod by the DNC, doncha' know.  And he's on television so it must be true.

    by Gangster Octopus on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:10:54 PM PDT

  •  Thank you!

    I live in Michigan too. Everyone that I know understood going into this primary that our delegates would not be seated because we line jumped.  No one that I speak to is  upset-  not at the national party in general or the candidates- not even Clinton.  

    As a mother- I just don't like to reward bad behavior and that's how I feel about my state right now. We were bad, now we must be put in time out.

    by bigred39 on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:21:19 PM PDT

  •  I'm sick of all the outlanders opining about

    "what should happen" with the Michigan delegation and primary or caucus or redo...  Far as I'm concerned, its been between Michigan and the Democratic National Committee-- and not anyone else's goddam business-- up until the point that the state party "punted" the issue.

    I'd like to see every Michigan Democratic officeholder or party official who gave any support to using this bastard primary for delegate selection swept out of office.  That goes for Carl Levin and everyone else on down to state committee members.

    by John Poet on Wed May 14, 2008 at 03:50:08 PM PDT

    •  I agree with you

      on this...

      I'd like to see every Michigan Democratic officeholder or party official who gave any support to using this bastard primary for delegate selection swept out of office.  That goes for Carl Levin and everyone else on down to state committee members.

      by Snickers77 on Wed May 14, 2008 at 04:28:01 PM PDT

•  I never thought

  Michigan voters were as dumb as Clinton seems to think they are, or at least wants us to believe.

  Now, Florida voters... (snark)

  by droogie6655321 on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:06:07 PM PDT

  •  Sigh

    I'd argue with you about Florida being dumb but well...

    by discocarp on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:13:05 PM PDT

    •  Easy target, I know...

      by droogie6655321 on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:14:42 PM PDT

      •  Welcome to Floriduh

        Feel free to vote while you visit - its not like we count them anyway.

        by discocarp on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:15:27 PM PDT

        •  Come for the mice,

          Stay for the recount.

          Geez, it's like shooting a barrel while you're actually inside a barrel.

          by droogie6655321 on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:16:24 PM PDT

          •  lol

            But at least I can wear my flip flops, even here at work! :)

            by discocarp on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:18:04 PM PDT

•  Barack can and will carry Michigan. The economy

  is especially depressed im MI and there is a strong anti-war majority in the state which bodes well for Obama.

  by Russ Jarmusch on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:06:27 PM PDT

  •  Yup. Poblano's projections

    are consistently showing BHO doing better in MI vs. McCain, compared to Clinton.

    by psycho liberal on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:07:46 PM PDT

•  Rumor says MI/FL will be definitively decided on

  5/31 when the Rules Committee meets.  Since it's pretty much understand that Obama is the nominee, they'll probably just slap them on the wrist.  Despite polls pegging McCain with a slight lead, I can't see Michigan voting for him this year.

  As for the joint fundraiser, details are on Mark Halperin's blog.

  by unertl on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:07:31 PM PDT

•  More info please

  Howard Dean just announced a joint fund raiser with Obama and Clinton.  Hmmmm.

  Details? Link?

  by discocarp on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:08:35 PM PDT

  •  Yeah!

    That's big! More more more!

    by leftilicious on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:09:12 PM PDT

  •  Just reported on CNN

    by Granny Doc on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:09:56 PM PDT

  •  Here's the official statement

    http://thepage.time.com/...

    by discocarp on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:10:23 PM PDT

    •  You are much faster than I.

      Thanks. I'll move the link up if I may.

      by Granny Doc on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:11:28 PM PDT

      •  Absolutely :) -nt-

        by discocarp on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:12:00 PM PDT

    •  Hmmm...

      It says Hillary signed the agreement. I think we know what she thinks of signed party agreements.

      by Gangster Octopus on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:12:46 PM PDT

    •  For all the crap that is thrown at Dean, he

      has done a remarkable job. Look at the 50 State strategy and now the beginning of the reconciliation between the two campaigns. We as Dems should be very proud of our party's leader!

      by Russ Jarmusch on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:17:39 PM PDT

•  I'm from MI and DO NOT WANT THEM SEATED

  plus in my home town tonight we are getting a big endorsement

  who will it be?

  a MI Dem

  or Edwards, son of a millworker

  (in case you had not heard)

  by jhpdb on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:08:57 PM PDT

  •  BILL CLINTON!!

    by billysumday on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:10:51 PM PDT

  •  not Debbie Dingle, is it?

    I have no idea why I feel such antipathy for that woman, but she pisses me off every time she opens her mouth.

    by Granny Doc on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:13:17 PM PDT

    •  Debbie was behind the move

      to push the date ahead. I'm still seething at her!
      I live/work in Ann Arbor where we would totally agree with all your points (on the radio). I do worry about the western part of the state which is very conservative and will quite probably go for McCain. One never knows about the U.P. = a little less predictable.

      by moose67 on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:18:41 PM PDT

•  didn't she marry

  Marion Berry?

  by seesdifferent on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:16:49 PM PDT

  •  Didn't WHO marry Berry?

    by Granny Doc on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:17:52 PM PDT

    •  she was Dingle-Berry n/t

      by seesdifferent on Wed May 14, 2008 at 07:38:14 PM PDT

•  The truth(as usual) will set you free...

  or at least set your mind to rest.  I am sad about the voters in MI and FL, but the rules are the rules.  I will question my party allegience if they (the DNC) change the rules now...again. Hillary's folks need to call an exorcist, someone's head is spinning!

  by gdwtch52 on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:20:33 PM PDT

•  Randi said

  Randi was talking to someone who called in from Detroit and she told him that the moving up of our primary was the work of the Clinton camp.  She said it was the Republicans in Florida that did it to her state, but she repeated it several times in her phone call from the Detroit caller that it was the Clintons who worked to move up our primary date.

  On another note as someone mentioned above about a super endorsement in Michigan today, I also heard it could be Edward's, but another suggested it could be Jim Webb.  Both stories were picked up here in the DailyKos

  by shayes on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:23:30 PM PDT

  •  that's pretty much BS

    While the people behind it are by and large Clinton supporters now, the campaign had nothing to do with it. This has been a stick in the craw of Carl Levin (who has NOT endorsed anyone) for years.  He's the primary (no pun intended) mover behind this. Clinton's campaign director mcauliffe said the same things as Howard Dean has said while he was DNC director.

    by dougymi on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:33:59 PM PDT

•  I have no doubt MI will go Dem

  it might go more heavily Dem than usual if the VP candidate is someone who speaks to economic equity issues, like an Edwards or a Webb or someone who addresses those issues.

  This election is going to be about the economy.  It would be nice to have a ticket that fully addresses that, as well as addresses responsibility in the war.

  There is no perfect VP candidate.  But damn, there are sure a lot of very good possibilities.

  by teacherken on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:29:15 PM PDT

  •  I'm not eager to lose Webb

    but he would fill so many slots on the ticket.

    by Granny Doc on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:35:45 PM PDT

•  One thing to look for in the signed agreement...

  when it's made public -

  does it include a statement about a certain allocation of funds raised to go toward paying off a specific candidate's campaign debt?

  IMHO, this is a Dean/DNC palliative backdoor offered to Clinton as an exit strategy. It allows Obama to help raise funds to assist retiring Clinton's debt without alienating Obama supporters who are adamantly against direct assistance to the Clinton campaign.

  Note the FEC rules mandate that if a joint fundraiser is intended to garner funds for campaign debt, the written agreement must state this:

  8. Joint Fundraising Notice

  General Rule

  In addition to any notice required under "Disclaimer Notices on Communications" and "Solicitation Notices," participants must include a joint fundraising notice with every solicitation for contributions. The notice must contain the following information:

  • The names of all participants, regardless of whether they are registered political committees or unregistered organizations;

  • The allocation formula;

  • A statement informing contributors that they may designate contributions for a particular participant; and

  • A statement that the allocation formula may change if any contributor makes a contribution that exceeds the amount he or she may lawfully give to any participant. 102.17(c)(2)(i).

  Special Situations

  In two situations, participants must include additional information in the joint fundraising notice:

  • If a participant is engaging in the joint fundraiser to pay off outstanding debts, the notice must state that the allocation formula may change if the participant receives enough funds to pay its debts. (emphasis mine)

  • If, under State law, any unregistered participant is permitted to receive contributions prohibited under the Act, the notice must say that such contributions will be given only to participants that may legally accept them. 102.17(c)(2)(ii).

  by exmearden on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:29:46 PM PDT

  •  link to FEC rules, my oops...

    Appendix B

    by exmearden on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:31:21 PM PDT

  •  You shoould diary all this separately as it

    answers questions arising on other threads

    by DWKING on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:32:50 PM PDT

    •  Yes. Do. n/t

      by Granny Doc on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:36:43 PM PDT

      •  Wish I could - at work right now.

        And before I diary it, I'd prefer to see a copy of the actual agreement.

        The signed agreement has not been posted to the DNC site, nor to the FEC site yet.

        So I'm shoveling pure speculation right now. But the timing of this announcement (directly after Clinton's final chance at a big landslide primary victory, but too late to make a difference) seems mighty suspicious.

        Obama signed the agreement weeks ago. Why is Clinton signing right now, unless it allows for an allocation specifically to her overarching debt?

        by exmearden on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:46:02 PM PDT

•  I think McCain has a lot to worry about in

  Michigan. He had a hard time even getting the Republicans excited in their primary and people are really concerned about the economy here.

  Everyone I talk to blames our state leadership for what happened with the primary, not the national party or the candidates.

  by a girl in MI on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:36:22 PM PDT

•  Granny: No Flounder in Michigan

  Trout, Bluegills, some neat-o Bass and Perch,
  no FLOUNDER.

  Otherwise, aces on the diary.

  We don't need Hillary to speak for us.

  .

  by slowheels on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:45:14 PM PDT

  •  Just a shy New England Gal

    who remembers Flounder the size of kids pools.

    by Granny Doc on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:50:11 PM PDT