Is Longevity All that Matters?

You can tell when a politican has no accomplishments to run on. That's when they talk about where they were born.

So it is with Carol Griffith, Republican incumbent for Livingston County Commissioner from District 7. The pitch in the campaign literature she mailed to voters says "A lifetime resident. A lifetime of leaderhsip in Livingston County!" That's it. Nothing about what that leadership amounted to, just the fact that she's never lived any place else.

How persuasive can that be considering that Livingston County likes to brag about being the fastest growing county in the state, meaning that lots of people have moved here from someplace else as opposed to living here their entire lives? Griffith apparently thinks these people are lesser human beings.

On top of that, she's made plenty of money selling homes to those carpetbaggers who have dared to move into her home county. But now she thinks they're good enough to vote for her, but not good enough to serve themselves.

What does Griffith's "I've never lived anywhere else so I deserve to be elected" pitch mean for people like Griffith's fellow commissioners Maggie Jones or Jim Mantey, who are not native to the county? Guess they don't deserve to be on the county commission either.

Anybody who has moved into this county in the last 20 years is bound to find Griffith's pitch insulting. And there's a ton of those folks out there. Democrat Kelly Raskauskas should be able to capitalize on the resentment that Griffith's insulting campaign mailing will engender.

Enderle: No Spill Baby Spill in Our Great Lakes

Lance Enderle, the Democratic nominee for the 8th Congressional District, is making it clear how he differs from Republican Mike Rogers. Enderle isn't about to let the Great Lakes be ruined by Big Oil.

Check out his first youtube ad on Mike Rogers, the big oily.

Newest Michigan Justice Joining Dems Friday Night!

The newest member of the Michigan Supreme Court will join Livingston County Democrats at their Campaign Countdown 2010 on Friday (Sept. 24, 2010).

Justice Alton T. Davis, appointed to the high court in August by Gov. Jennifer Granholm, will speak at the event at Barnstormers Banquet Center, Whitmore Lake. Davis is running for a full-term on the court in the November election.

Also speaking will be Judge Denise Langford Morris. She is opposing Robert Young, a current justice who has been rated the worst justice on Michigan's high court.

Both Davis and Morris run on the non-partisan portion of the ballot. Voters who opt for a straight-party ticket will not vote for the judges unless they flip the ballot over and vote the non-partisan area.

David Leyton, the Democratic nominee for Attorney General, also will speak at the event.

The event also is a great time to hear Lance Enderle, the 8th Congressional District nominee running against Republican Mike Rogers, as well as Democratic candidates for state Senate, state House, and Livingston County Commission.

Campaign Countdown will run from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Suggested donation is $25 per person. Tickets are available at the door. Call (810) 229-4212 or email livcodems@sbcuc.net for more information.

Tweets | Peace Week

Tweets Peace Week: "Do you know what astonished me most in the world? The inability of force to create anything. In the long run the sword is always beaten by the spirit. -Napoleon #peace"

Snyder 'Proud' of Gateway Record'

Republican Rick Snyder says he's "proud" of his record at Gateway Computers. Take a look at the latest ad from the Michigan Democratic Party on what that record really is.

You can view it here.

Yet another reason to come Saturday (Sept. 18, 2010) to an organizational meeting for Virg Bernero for Governor. We'll meet at 10 a.m. at party headquarters, 10321 Grand River Road, Suite 600, Brighton, MI 48116, and hear from Deputy Campaign Manager Farhad Bhatti, and then head out to do some canvassing for Bernero.

Bernero Tells WHMI: Tough People Don't Run from a Challenge

Virg Bernero is standing up to his Republican opponent over his refusal to hold public debates.

In an interview with WHMI on Tuesday (Sept. 14, 2010), Bernero says if Rick Snyder is so tough, he should stop running away from an agreement to hold debates. "Tough people don't run from a challenge," Bernero said.

"If he's not careful, he's going to get a nickname of 'Bubble Boy,'" Bernero said, referring to Snyder's isolation from the electorate.

Bernero also contrasted himself with Snyder. As mayor of Lansing, Bernero said he balanced five straight budgets, brought jobs to Lansing, and led by cutting his own pay and benefits and giving up his city car. In contrast, Bernero said, Snyder shipped jobs to China while at Gateway, with the company eventually being sold to Chinese owners.

Bernero was sharp and smooth during the interview. No wonder Chicken Rick is running from him.

Sign Up for Campaign Countdown 2010!

Join other Democrats at Barnstormers Banquet Center on Friday, Sept. 24, for our Campaign Countdown 2010!

All statewide Democratic candidates -- from gubernatorial nominee Virg Bernero and his running mate Brenda Lawrence on down the ticket -- have been invited to tell us about their campaigns for November.

This is a great chance to hear from our local candidates, too -- State Senate candidate Chuck Fellows, state House candidates Jim Delcamp and Garry Post, and county commission candidates Thomas Bell of Oceola Township, Dane Morris of Hartland Township, David Berry of Conway Township, Keith Tianen of Putname Township, Kelly Raskauskas of Genoa Township, Amir Baghdadchi of Hamburg Township, and Barry McBride of Green Oak Township.

The event, at 9411 E. M-36, Whitmore Lake, will run from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and includes free appetizers and a cash bar. Suggested donation is just $25 per person. Proceeds benefit our local candidates.

Reserve by sending a check made out to Livingston County Democrats to 10321 Grand River Road, Suite 600, Brighton, MI 48116. Or pay at the door (checks only, no cash). Call (810) 229-4212 or email livcodems@sbcuc.net for more information.

So Is This How He'll Govern--By Ultimatum?

Republican Rick Snyder is starting to show his true colors -- rather than an outsider who will bring reforms to state government, he promises more of the same hyper-partisan gridlock.

Snyder recently called off negotiations on setting up gubernatorial debates with Democratic gubernatorial nominee Virg Bernero. Snyder wanted to call all the shots -- only three debates instead of the eight around the state that Bernero wanted, all in October, etc., etc. When Bernero opened a discussion on the moderators, Snyder walked away.

His way or the highway. Remind you of anybody? How about John Engler, Snyder's old boss? That sort of arrogant inflexibility is not what we need in Lansing. We need bipartisan cooperation to get things done, not high-handed ultimatums from CEOs who think they are the only elected official in the state whose opinion matters.

Snyder, of course, doesn't want debates because he doesn't do well in them and Bernero does. And Snyder doesn't want to tell the public what he really stands for -- shipping jobs to China while collecting $14 million in stock options for himself.

Volunteer for Bernero for Governor!

The Virg Bernero for Goveror campaign will begin organizing in Livingston County and next week is your chance to learn how you can be involved.

An organizational meeting for volunteers is set for Saturday, Sept. 18, at 10 a.m. at Livingston County Democratic Party headquarters, 10321 Grand River Road, Suite 600, Brighton, MI.

Farhan Bhatti, deputy campaign manager for the Bernero campaign, will be on hand to talk about the campaign and train volunteers. No experience is necessary. We will teach you what you need to know in order to carry Virg's message to voters.

Virg has a plan for making Michigan work again. Come out and learn how you can be involved.

Call (810) 229-4212 or email livcodems@sbcuc.net for more information.

Friday Funnies

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