Michigan Caucus

Blue Calendar Highlights: Week of March 30

Sunday, March 30, 2008
Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice Meeting Featuring Nadia Tonova
Come to the ICPJ Annual Meeting featuring Nadia Tonova speaking about the Liberty and Justice All Campaign to protect due process rights for immigrants.
6:30 - King of King’s Lutheran Church, 2685 Packard Rd, Ann Arbor

Monday,  March 31, 2008
Peace Vigils at US Rep McCotter's Office
11:00 - Noon, 213 West Huron St, Milford Village, Michigan

Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Drinking Liberally (Detroit)
7:00 pm, Detroit Beer Company, 1529 Broadway Street, Detroit, Michigan

Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Workshop for the Committed
6:00 pm, Kent Ionia Labor Center @ 918 Benjamin NE, Grand Rapids, Michigan

Thursday, April 3, 2008
Allegan County Democratic Party Kennedy Reception Fund Raiser
7:00 pm, Valley Winery, 6130-122 Avenue, Fennville, Michigan
The at Fenn Guest Speaker is Eric Baerren from the Michigan Liberal.com.  Hors d'oeuvres, Cash Bar, Lots of great Democrats!

Friday, April 4, 2008
Martin Luther King, Jr.Assassinated
"Moses Code" at Madonna University
The Michigan premiere of the Moses Code at Madonna University at 7 pm.  Tickets are $10.00. More details: active1.livoniademocraticclub.org/documents/fliers/moses_code.pdf.

Saturday, April 5, 2008
MI Democratic Women's Caucus Annual Jefferson-Jackson Luncheon
11:30 - 1:30 pm, Cobo Conference Center, Detroit, Michigan
The Eleanor Roosevelt Award will be presented to the Honorable Teola Hunter—join in honoring this exceptional Democratic woman.  Your support is needed to make this a great luncheon.

Add your event to the Blue Calendar here, or
See the full calendar here.

Headlines We'd Like to See

McCain Labeled with the C-Word*

Leon Drolet: Leader of Recalls, Recalled

Detroit's Bling Ding-A-Ling

McCain: I was Brainwashed, No not in 'Nam

"Yeah, I Had Sex with Her, So?"

Prosecutor: Cheney Finally Charged with Shooting Friend in Face

AG Cox Sucker Punch

Mark Brewer: I Fucked Up

Reagan: Still Dead, Cure Unlikely

Cox: Manoogian Party is Urban Legend, No Really

*(Yeah, the headline in today's NYT with the "L-word" set us off on this whole thing).

Blue Calendar Highlights: Week of March 23

Sunday, March 23, 2008
Easter

Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Michigan United Diversity Summit
9:00am – 3:45pm
Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center, Lansing, Michigan
michiganunited.org

Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Safe Schools Lobby Day Rally
8:30 - 10:00 am
Come lobby your State Senator to pass Matt's Safe Schools Law! This legislation would require every school district in Michigan to have a comprehensive anti-bullying policy that would protect all students.

The "Anti-Christian" Civil Liberties Union
7:00 – 8:30pm
Women's City Club, 254 E. Fulton, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Presented by Ed Brayton, Co-founder, Michigan Citizens for Science Description Ed Brayton will be speaking on the religious right's constant demonization of the ACLU and anyone else who supports church/state separation.
Contact: Jennifer Beahan, info@cfimichigan.org, (616) 892-9300

Saturday, March 29, 2008
Quilts and Human Rights - Ugly Quilts
Part of the year long focus on human rights and social injustice-related issues includes lectures, workshops, films and artist demonstrations will be scheduled from January 15 to August 24, 2008. Workshop to make 'Ugly Quilts" is for the homeless. Explore the role that quiltmakers have played in raising awareness of human rights issues around the world and the power of textiles to communicate important ideas and information. Phone for more details (517) 355-2370.

Add your event to the Blue Calendar here, or
See the full calendar here.

Livingston County Dems Join the Blue Calendar!

Welcome aboard! The Michigan Caucus is happy to announce that the Livingston County Democratic Party (www.livcodemocrats.org) is now included in the Blue Calendar of Progressive and Democratic events in Michigan.

The Blue Calendar now combines over a dozen calendars, including the Ann Arbor Action Alliance, the New York Times listing of events for Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, DFL Progressive Caucus (Grand Rapids), Isabella County Democratic Party, Kalamazoo County Democratic Party, Livonia Democratic Club, Michigan State University Democrats, One United Michigan and the Progressive Training Calendar.

The Michigan Caucus editors never rest, adding about a dozen new events to the Blue Calendar every day. Thirty new events just today.

Add Your Event Here.

Blue Calendar Highlights: March 16

Sunday, March 16, 2008
Palm Sunday
Rock for Barack
5:00 - 8:00PM, The Livery, 190 Fifth Street, Benton Harbor, Michigan 49022.
Local bands, speakers from the national Obama '08 campaign in Chicago. Yard signs, bumper stickers and buttons available and sign up sheets so you can plug in to the Obama network. All ages welcome.

Monday, March 17, 2008
St. Patrick's Day
St Rep Steve Bieda Town Hall
6:30 - 8:30 PM, Warren Mott High School, 3131 E 12 Mile Rd, Warren, Michigan.
Meet epresentatives from the Michigan Education Trust (MET) and Michigan Education Savings Program (MESP) to discuss the various savings options available. A great opportunity for receive information about programs the State of Michigan offers to help families start saving for college.

Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Iraq Winter Solder
6:30 - 8:00 PM, Angell Hall Complex, Mason Hall Room 3463,
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor @ 735 S State Street, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Winter Solider film showing and firsthand reports from Washington D.C.'s Iraq Winter Soldier hearings. Hear from veterans Iraq, Gulf War, Vietnam, and WWII.

Thursday, March 20, 2008
Fast of Esther
Birthday of Prophet Muhammad

Friday, March 21, 2008
Good Friday
Festival of Lots

Saturday, March 21, 2008
Weekly Protest of US Occupation of Iraq
Noon - 1:00PM, Fort Street, between Northline and Eureka, Wyandotte, Michigan.

Michigan Caucus in National & International Headlines!

Latest national and international headlines featuring the Michigan Caucus!
Or, maybe not.

Rolling Stone: Michigan Caucus?
Michigan Caucus: Rolling Stone?

AP: DNC Now Wants Michigan Caucus
All we need is a price!

The Washington Independent:
Hold the Phone on That Michigan Caucus
We hold for no one, especially independents!

NewsLI:
Michigan Caucus Creates Mayhem for Republicans
Ha ha ha! All in a day's work.

Traverse City Business News:
Granholm Says Negotiations Needed; Mentions Michigan Caucus Possibility
You got our ear Jenny!

DailyIndia.com:
Levin calls for mail-in Michigan Caucus
Mail-in Michigan Caucus? Just send us the money Carl and we'll keep the jobs in the USA!

Blue Calendar Highlights: Week of March 9

Sunday, March 9, 2008
Daylight Savings TIme Begins
OCDP Pasta Night featuring State Rep Aldo Vagnozzi of Farmington Hills
6:30 pm. @ United Auto Workers Local 653, Walton Boulevard, Pontiac, Michigan, 48342.

Monday, March 10, 2008
Disability Advocates of Kent County Legislative Lunch On Transit
Noon @ LeGrave Church, 107 LeGrave SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503.
Meet with your Legislators to discuss the need for improved transit, take the time to ask the needed questions and get answers. Cost is $10 for lunch, scholarship available with a simple request by phone or in writing.  For more information, contact Sarah Jaworowicz at sarah.j@dakc.us or (616) 949-1100 ext. 235 or www.DAKC.us.

Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Gary Peters Fundraiser
5:30 - 7:30 pm @ Gallery at Clark Hill, Old Town Lansing, Michigan
Suggested donation: $125
Contact: Rebecca Bahar, (517) 290-2845

Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Why Do I Feel So Crazy? Women's Perspectives on Mental Health
7:00 pm @ Ann Arbor District Library, Malletts Creek Branch (Meeting Room),
3090 E. Eisenhower Pkwy., East of Stone School Rd., Ann Arbor

• A panel discussion on women’s emotional well-being in the context of our relationships, our racial and cultural backgrounds, our economic situations, and our health care options. Free, open to the public. Presented by the Women’s Center of Southeastern Michigan and the Ann Arbor District Library.

Saturday, March 15, 2008
5th Anniversary of the Iraq US War
Protest the War:

• Michigan Emergency Coalition Against the War and Injustice march starts at the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center, Woodward & Jefferson Avenue, Detroit, Michigan. Gather at noon. More information at noon. More information www.MECAWI.org or (313) 680-5508.
• ACTIVATE (Grand Rapids SDS) protest starts at Heartside Park, Ionia and Cherry, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 at noon. More at www.activategr.org or sds@activategr.org.
• See the Blue Calendar for even more events commemorating this infamous date.

Saturday, March 15-16, 2008

Camp Millie
Kalamazoo, Michigan

• Camp Millie is a two-day intensive training program designed to give you the tools for effective progressive political action in your community. Our faculty of experienced political organizers will share their gifts on subjects grass roots activists, campaign managers and candidates must know to succeed, including: Framing your issues and Message Development; Volunteer Recruitment; Democratic Party Structure and the Importance of the Precinct Delegate; Techniques and Strategies to Get-Out -The-Vote; Door-to-Door Canvassing; Phone Banking; Fundraising and Campaign Finance Law Compliance. Sessions will include practice exercises so you can hone your new skills. Your $35 tuition fee includes training materials and box lunches on Saturday and Sunday.
• http://www.justicecaucus.org/campmillie/index.htm

Add your event to the Blue Calendar here or see the full calendar here.

Mark Brewer: Playing Chicken with the DNC

Well, we gotta hand it to Mark Brewer, the top Michigan Democrat, his work has done more to dis­en­fran­chise Dem­o­crats than any Republiican "cager" ever could.

Starting with legitimate concerns over the perpetual first-in-the-nation mopnopolies in Iowa and New Hampshire, Brewer flouted the party rules -- set-up years in advance -- and gambled that the DNC wouldn't call his bluff if the Michigan Democrats moved its primary date. He lost and we lost but at least he proved he's no chicken...

Ironically, the heated race between Hillary Clinton and Barak Obama has suddenly made Michigan and Florida relevant again. So the talks are focusing less on how to do a "re-do" of the January vote and more on how to pay for it. Governor Jennifer Granholm estimates a new primary could cost upto $10,000,000 and has already said that the state won't pay for it. Instead, this Harvard trained lawyer suggests that someone host a "firehouse primary." With or without hoses?

(Ed. note: The Michigan Caucus believes that the race is already over for Clinton. Even if she won every race in the next few weeks by 12% or more, she'll still come up short on the delegate count. But, we're neutral and won't endorse any candidate - like somebody would actually care if we did).

We don't know what the solution is to the Iowa-New Hampshire delema -- although one of our editors suggested that the national parties adopt the same rules set-up by professional sports leagues when they conduct their drafts. The state with the worst economy or voter turn-out would get the chance to go first or could sell the date to another state party and a chance to have front-row seats for their delegation at the national convention.

Hell, now that's something the voters could understand.

Highlights from the Blue Calendar

Sunday, March 2, 2008
The Barack Obama campaign has 60 job openings at $8.00 an hour. Interviews from 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm at 600 W Lafayette, Detroit, Michigan. Any questions call Kermit at (248) 667-1264.

Monday, March 3, 2008
They won their court case. The Ferndale Peace Vigil is back in Ferndale from 4:45 pm - 5:45 pm at Woodward & 9 Mile in Ferndale, Michigan.

Friday, March 7, 2008
ALERT! VP Dick Cheney Stumping for Right-wing Congressman Tim Walberg (MI-7th) at the Home of Fred and Arlene Homann, Marshall, Michigan. Check with the Mark Schauer campaign for more information.

Saturday, March 8, 2008
Michigan Gay & Lesbian ComedyFest at the Dearborn Ford Community & Performing Arts Center. Two shows, 6:00 pm and 9:30 pm. See www.comedyfest.org for more information.

See more from the Blue Calendar here.