Blogging For Michigan - Recent Comments

Rather than re-diary

Nazgul35 — Thu, 22 May 2008 19:07:12 GMT

here's my diary from MichLib as a post...

For crying out loud...is this thing on?!

Once again the state House is going to vote on the partial-birth abortion bill, and the Democratic caucus that controls it is going to let it happen.

My whole complaint about the Democrats on this issue is that they are not being strategic about this issue.

This policy of triangulation is a proven failure (see Democratic Party circa 1990-2004) and will only reinforce the very negative attitudes we have worked so very hard to shed from the Democratic label.

I am not surprised, when you understand that the bulk of the people working in Lansing only know what it is like to be in the minority and get their cues about governing as a majority from the Republicans...

So I guess it isn't surprising that the brain trust down in Lansing thinks the way to keep their majority is to be Republican-lite.
Nazgul35 :: Again Speaker Dillon?
But it is time to stop wandering around in a fog, resorting to your one-trick pony strategy of caving to the Republicans every time that make life difficult for you...

There's a word for that, and trust me...it is on the mind of every single voter you think you are fooling by bringing this bill forward in this manner.

Keep it up and you won't have to worry too much longer, you will be able to use your much more experienced skills of being in the minority sooner than you think.

Voters appreciate one thing...people who stand up for their values.

So what is the problem with the voters re: Democrats?

They not only don't know what our values are, they don't think we have any when we cave at every turn rather than fight it out tooth and nail...

How do you do this?

You control the frigging agenda...that's what the whole point of being the majority is for...it's written down in books and stuff...read up!

Controlling the agenda means you can control the conditions under which this bill will be brought forward...in other words, you can control the amendment process.

If you are real smart, you will fold a whole bunch of amendments into the rules vote so that they become automatic when the rules are approved...this will force two things:

1) If the Republicans object, they will have to vote down the rules and explain to the public why

2) If it passes, you just amended a whole butt load of bills that your members won't have to debate and will force the Senate to deal with.

What kind of amendments?

Any kind of amendment that highlights the hypocrisy of the Republican position of being pro-life.

Clearly, a major component of a woman's decision to choose to have an abortion is due to economic circumstances...Democrats should added amendments that seek to reduce these problems...

It will highlight Democrat's policies vis a vie economic populism (a dimension of the debate where we win) and the Republican's won't go for it...forcing them to explain that if they in fact are so interested in life, why won't they vote for things that makes it easier for a woman to carry a baby to term and be able to raise it afterwards?

Not good enough Democrats...not by half!

It takes about five seconds to come up with a list of amendments that would short circuit the Republicans' plan to bring this forward while giving the Democrats in conservative districts a win-win...

Use.Your.Brains!

Just a partial list off the top of my head...

1) Funding for under-insured non-insured prenatal care
2) Guaranteeing health care for all children in Michigan
3) Flex time legislation
4) Pre-K spending increases
5) Education spending increases
6) Day care funding/tax breaks
7) College tuition wavers for teenage mothers

etc...

Hell it might even make Michigan attractive to young families who would want to move here and businesses seeking a state with the proper level of investment in its people and infrastructure...

There's a reason people live in San Fransisco...because it isn't Detroit.

Hard on former smokers too

Kathy — Thu, 22 May 2008 17:21:51 GMT

I haven't smoked in decades, but I still find myself craving one every so often if I'm in a roomful of smokers.

They wouldn't dare sustain the veto

Kathy — Thu, 22 May 2008 17:18:58 GMT

They'd have more to worry about come November than those 20 seats that are in jeopardy.

(Sorry for stepping on your toes with the post above, DJ. I was working on that while you were posting this.)

I'm proof:).

djtyg — Thu, 22 May 2008 15:38:40 GMT

I want to quit smoking. Everytime I quit I start back up again because the rest of my family has their cigarettes right on the coffee table. It's too easy to grab one.

Where is the evidence?

djtyg — Thu, 22 May 2008 15:36:41 GMT

Where is it, Matt? I want evidence!

Speaking of hurting progressives...

djtyg — Thu, 22 May 2008 15:35:41 GMT

It's YOU that's dragging the name of liberal bloggers through the mud due to nothing more than a conspiracy theory. Everyday you backtrack, trying to cover your mistakes and overreacting. First you said that BFM doesn't deserve the credentials. MichLib came to our defense and said otherwise. On YOUR blog, no less! Then you implied that our receiving of credentials was a conspiracy brought about by Wizardkitten because she had a job with the Governor. Then it turns out she didn't. She just blogs on a different blog ran by the MDP. But that theory died when it was discovered that (gasp) there were front pagers on MichLib that worked with the powers that be in our states capital as well!

You have no EVIDENCE of anything you're claiming about Michigan. None.

I don't know if there's stuff going on in New Jersey. I don't know why BlueJersey didn't get credentials. I don't live there. If you want to investigate them, feel free. But for Michigan, cough up some evidence before you start smearing Democrats!

pro-fetus?

Nazgul35 — Thu, 22 May 2008 15:14:17 GMT

pro-embryo?

As Michmark points out below (and as I tried to point out to a poster over at Mich Lib), we need to expose this hypocrisy whenever the opportunity presents itself.

Clearly, a major cause of abortions are the fact that a woman who finds herself pregnant is forced to make a decision based upon economic circumstances.

Removing these constraints would make it less likely the decision would be in favor of an abortion.

Therefore, every time the Republicans being up abortion, Democrats MUST use that opportunity to ram it down there throat by initially agreeing in part, explaining why outlawing won't remove the causes and suggesting how we can reduce the number of abortions and show that the Republicans are blocking every single one of these policies...

Then point out to the public that the Republicans are not in fact pro-life, but anti-sex.

And almost everyone likes sex....

>:>

Still doesn't address

Nazgul35 — Thu, 22 May 2008 15:08:00 GMT

the apparent conflict between your stated comment that you tried to contact her then printed the rumor...

As Christine points out above, your actual blog post says

UPDATE: I'm told Carrigan actually works for the Governor. I'll email her to find out.

Can't you just admit you jumped the gun here?

I have stated throughout the discussion here and at DKos that it is important to not lose sight of the fact that in some states, there may in fact be concern...but it looks to me that you saw something going on in one state and decided to look around for more.

Your initial evidence for suggesting Michigan was suspect was based on faulty information due to the fact that you are not a frequent blogger at these two sites, or you would have known that BfM has been just as critical of the Democrats in this state as Mich Lib...I should know, I am one of those who screams loudest...at both sites.

Your secondary evidence was also faulty because, as it has been pointed out to you, both sites have frontpagers who work in the party, and truth be told, there are more posters from the establishment at Mich Lib than there are here.

At this point I would suggests to you that your larger point about the need for transparency is correct (which again, Christine attempted to add to by actually posting BfM's application) but your evidence to suggest that there is a smoking gun here in Michigan is lacking...to put it nicely.