We win?!?

Florida and Michigan are seeking to move their way up the primary schedule, and Michigan Democrats are not caving to pressure from party leaders.

I frequently don't have much nice to say about Carl Levin, but he's right on target with his strong support of this plan. The primary system is completely broken; the idea that two rural states are capable of shaping the entire tone of the debate is reprehensible. A new method of choosing the candidates is badly needed, one which is even more democratic.

The national parties are threatening to reduce the number of delegates at the national conventions. Should this happen, Michigan has a very potent weapon in its arsenal - it can change its election law to recognize the state primary winner as the state's candidate for President, not the winner of the national convention.

This is obviously is an extreme step; however, it is no more extreme than trying to silence the voice of the people of Michigan and Florida by denying them representation at the national convention. Should the national party attempt to deny Michigan a voice in the national conventions, then Michigan should act to deny the national conventions a voice in who gets on the Michigan ballots.

Dems not budging on early primary
Detroit Free Press

Top Michigan Democrats vowed Saturday to forge ahead with plans for a Jan. 15 presidential primary, despite announcements from two of the party's top candidates that they would skip the state because the date violates national party rules.

The names of all Democratic candidates will be on the Jan. 15 ballot, Gov. Jennifer Granholm said in a statement Saturday, and "we hope every candidate will campaign here."

U.S. Sens. Barack Obama of Illinois, Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards announced Saturday that they would not campaign in states other than Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Nevada with nominating contests before Feb. 5.

They joined New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, and U.S. Sens. Joe Biden of Delaware and Chris Dodd of Connecticut, who made similar pledges Friday in response to the Legislature's approval Thursday of the Jan. 15 date and an earlier decision by Florida to hold its primary Jan. 29.

Debbie Dingell, who with U.S. Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., has led efforts to challenge the position of such traditionally early states as Iowa and New Hampshire, said Saturday that the state party's commitment to the January date is irrevocable.

"Categorically, we are not going to back down," said Dingell, wife of U.S. Rep. John Dingell, D-Dearborn.

"We are firm in our resolve. (The candidates) can choose to campaign here or not, but their names are going to be on the ballot."