MI Dems: Did You Go to Convention Today?

For most Michigan Democrats, today was district and county convention day. The new party rules are weird--only precinct delegates elected earlier this month could vote today, but any paid-up party member can vote in next weekend's state convention--but it still was an interesting day.

Below the fold, my report on the 11th District Convention (western Wayne and western Oakland County)

If you went to convention, let us know what happened. Yes, we say "to convention". It's Canadian English that's leaked across the border, along with Tim Horton's and Hockey Night in Canada.

There was a good turnout--more than 110 delegates from Wayne and Oakland Counties--and the convention site, the party's coordinated campaign HQ, was filled to capacity.

Tony Trupiano, a local radio talk show host who's filled in several times for Ed Schultz, is our nominee for the U.S. House. He called the convention to order.

The highlight of the morning was an appearance by Governor Jennifer Granholm, who was wearing her Woodward Dream Cruise bowling shirt (hey, the Cruise is a Michigan thing). The governor was animated, and she really knows how to work a room. Her best lines were "we aren't in favor of the oil companies but those who put the gas in the tank" and, referring to both the Engler deficit and the Son of Amway, said, "compare what I inherited to what he inherited." What did the governor inherit? A $4 billion turd that the previous governor, John Engler (R-National Association of Manufacturers) and his wind-up toys the legislative GOP caucus laid in the state's nest.

Biggest surprise of the day? About 10 Lyndon LaRouche supporters were there as delegates. Crashing the gates? Not exactly. They tried to grab seats on the Platform Committee (they fell way short) and to get the convention to approve a long-winded resolution calling for a New Deal-style revitalization program for the auto industry (which also fell way short). The LaRouchies were young, and seemed genuinely surprised that the rest of us didn't recognize their superior wisdom.

Businesswoman Denise Ilitch, the eldest daughter of Mike Ilitch, the owner of the Tigers and Red Wings, put in an appearance. Denise was campaigning for the Democratic nomination for the University of Michigan's Board of Regents. Which brings me to one of the oddities of Michigan politics: members of the governing boards of our major state universities are nominated at state conventions).

Peter Eckstein, a retired U-M economics professor, did a great job promoting Julia Darlow for another U-M regent post (the party will nominate two candidates). I awarded him heavy snark points for comparing her to Harriet Miers. Both Darlow and Miers the first woman to head her state's bar association and trust me, there's no comparison.

Also on hand, a representative for Amos Williams, a decorated Vietnam veteran from Detroit who's running for attorney general (yes, the state convention nominates candidates for that office, too). In a classic Detroit-area-versus-outstate contest, he's up against Scott Bowen, a former judge from the Grand Rapids area and said to be the choice of Governor Granholm. Also at issue: reproductive rights. Bowen calls himself pro-life; Williams backs  choice and has made it an issue.

Our convention approved resolutions backing John Conyers's single-payer universal health care bill and the Wayne County Board of Commissioners' resolutions calling for a Middle East ceasefire and an end to racial profiling. It defeated a resolution calling for repeal of the motorcycle helmet law.

One final thing: Bill Clinton attended. Not in person, but in the form of a life-size cutout with a party hat. He turned 60 today.