No Delegates From Michigan

A commentator from a local business journal in Michigan wrote a column called "O Hunter, where art thou?"

His idea was: where was Hunter Thompson's outrage upon the decision that because Michigan held its primary ahead of its previous date in years past, it was punished by having its delegates taken away from the convention. Florida suffered the same punishment because it moved the date ahead on its primary, too.

In answer: I was outraged! Our state needs all the help it can get to retain whatever dignity is has left. Our economy sucks. We have the second highest unemployment rate in the nation. The second highest rate of foreclosed homes in the nation. And then there's Detroit - in general, and even on a good day. The city is a blight on the national landscape being led by a mayor who is being brought down by text messages. Forget about it.

So what's the answer? In Primary season I'm sure it seemed like a good idea to push ahead the date on our primary, get us a little publicity - after all, we're a heavily unionized state; what a great opportunity for the Democratic contenders to come and shake some hands - raise the "Michigan awareness" in the eyes of the nation.

So what happens? The Democratic National Committee spanks our state and takes away our delegates. Why? I mean, really - why? Who was it hurting to hold our primary ahead of our regular schedule?

Because we suddenly had no delegates representing the Democratic party in Michigan our primary became all but pointless. In order to vote for Hillary one had to vote for "undeclared." How stupid is that?

And, like a couple of whining children who took their ball home, the two main candidates (at the time) couldn't dignify Michigan with a token visit somewhere - anywhere in the state just to say they'd been there.

In my opinion that said it all for me: The two front-runners acted like a couple of children who did not make the least effort to find a connection with those who would eventually vote for them in the Presidential election. Additionally it showed me the DNC's true colors. They're whining infants who can't see the big picture.

I lost respect for both Hillary and Obama, and I'm a registered Democrat. Besides I don't want either of them anyway: He speaks eloquently about swimming but has never been in the water, and I don't trust Hillory. She leaves that acidic, coppery taste in my mouth and get this bad feeling that she and Bill would leave Washington in an eventual state of perpetual litigation and personal scandal.

I'm voting for McCain. Let's not forget Huckabee is from Arkansas and he has a history with the Clintons - it's Arkansas after all. I know McCain's "From Washington" but enough of his own party hate him to make what he has to offer attractive to me.

Plus, McCain came to Michigan when he didn't have to.

Michigan needs all the help it can get. Taking away our delegates, and thus the purpose of our primary was not only a stab in the back to a tried-and-true Blue state but it was embarrassing as a voter - why was I - were we all - making the democratic effort to vote when it wouldn't count anyway? Because we wanted to exercise our right to vote, dammit!

I'm outraged that the DNC took away my vote. Took away our primary. Is barring our delegates from the convention. What can I do? I can vote for McCain this time.

The Big Event