So-called "Michigan Dems": They don't speak for me

AP's Ken Thomas wrote yesterday that "Michigan Democrats Want Explanation From DNC on New Hampshire Primary."

Um, no they don't.

Only these particular Dems cited in the article want an explanation, and they're not going to like it when they get it.

Personally, I'm entirely clear about the need for party discipline; it obviously worked for our opponents for decades. Our party clearly lacks it, and they need to get spanked for it.

And I'm personally clear about the fact that two little states in terms of combined population do not having a real impact on the outcome of the candidate selection process. Much of the decision-making is done before the primary or caucuses are held; in Michigan in 2004, there was a critical mass of support behind Kerry, either insinuated by union leaders or outright by elected Democratic officials, so that no other candidate had a chance by the date of the primary. There was a lot of backroom discussion in smoke-filled rooms that excluded rank-and-file Dems here, and I ran into it headlong while stumping for Dean. Michigan's selection of candidate was already over even before the NH and IA primary/caucus.

Take a good look at the positions each of these so-called "Michigan Dems" took in 2004, before the Michigan primary; they'd already thrown behind the guy who would eventually win both the NH and IA primary/caucus, would eventually win the candidacy, and lose the presidential race.

So why all this stupid, distracting noise-making by the so-called "Michigan Dems"? Good question.

As far as I can tell, it only serves the opposition party's interest. I wonder when these same folks that so many media outlets allow to speak for grassroots and base Dems will realize they were bent over and used by the opposition with their very own primary? Not only can they not change the date of the primary without courting the Michigan Republican Party to do so, they have spent all this time, energy, focus on a useless pissing match that could have been aimed instead at ensuring a safe, secure and accurate vote.

Michigan went for Kerry in 2004, no matter that NH and IA had already done so. It came down to non-primary election in November in OHIO that the race was lost for Dems, and it likely would have turned out this way no matter the Democratic candidate, no matter when the Michigan primary or caucus was held.

I say to those so-called "Michigan Dems": Keep your eyes on the prize. Shut up, refocus and WIN.

Freaky Friday

I've finally gotten around to starting a blog under my real name; it's not much, still needs a far better template and better graphics, but it's a place to call home for now.

Anyhow...what a way to start a Friday morning. I rolled over to shut off my radio alarm clock only to hear that Al Gore and the IPC had been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. How groovy is that?

Just in time, too, that the rest of the globe has begun to awaken to the import of Gore's message. The loss of polar ice pack must surely mean a correlating reduction in polar life that depended upon that pack for habitat and sustenance.

What about you? How'd you start your Friday?