Tuesday is Michigan's Republican primary, in which state residents of any party affiliation can vote, and the shenanigans going on may have a serious impact on the Republicans' nomination for president.
Many Democrats are planning to vote for Santorum because they believe a match up between him and Obama would deliver a sure win to the Dems in November. Others refuse to play this game, fearing the possibility of a Santorum win in the presidency.
A statement on the Michigan Democratic party website says that it is Republicans who have invited Democrats to vote in the February 28 primary, noting that GOP Senators Rick Jones and Arlan Meekhof extended the invitation yesterday, and offering this video clip as proof.
The post has MDP Chair Mark Brewer asserting, "Democrats who accept this invitation will still be able to vote in our May 5th caucuses...If Democratic crossover votes affect the results on February 28th, Republicans will have no one but themselves to blame."
The official position of the Michigan Democratic Party, however, seems to have been that Dems should not vote in the GOP primary. The Kalamazoo County Democratic Party (KCDP) is mum on this, like the other county parties in the state. Nevertheless, many people here have been talking to each other about doing the deed. KCDP is planning a Presidential Primary Watch Potluck Tuesday night, and some people will likely arrive fresh from 'the other side.'
Joe DiSano, long-time veteran of Michigan politics, blatantly encouraged Democrats to vote for Santorum in an editorial last week in order to "embarrass" Romney.
Former Governor John Engler, a Republican, said on ABC's This Week with George Stephanopoulos that the UAW is encouraging its members to vote for Santorum, too. Both he and current Governor Rick Snyder are backing Romney.
Then there's the Rick Santorum for President Campaign. It sent a robo call to Michigan Democrats on Monday morning asking them to vote for Santorum because Romney was in favor of bailing out Wall Street Bankers, but not the auto industry.
In the afternoon the Red, White and Blue Fund, the Superpac supporting Santorum, pointed out Romney's flip flop on abortion.
A lot of money is being spent here. Romney and Restore our Future have spent $3.2 million while Santorum and the Red White and Blue Fund have spent $1.1 million.
Romney came to Kalamazoo last Friday and Santorum will visit on Monday night.
Despite all of these efforts, the election is likely to pull only a small number of voters to the polls. Kalamazoo County Clerk Tim Snow expects only a 20 to 30 percent turnout in this county that has a huge Republican population and a big pro-life contingent.
The primary process has me baffled. Is it really working as it was intended?
Olga Bonfiglio is a citizen journalist in Kalamazoo. If you'd like to report in from the campaigns in your area, please contact us at www.offthebus.org.
99.9% precincts reporting
| Candidate | Votes | Pct. | Del. |
|---|---|---|---|
 Romney |
409,899 | 41.1% | 15 |
 Santorum |
377,521 | 37.9% | 15 |
 Paul |
115,712 | 11.6% | |
 Gingrich |
65,016 | 6.5% | |
 Others |
29,024 | 2.9% |
100% precincts reporting
| Candidate | Votes | Pct. | Del. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Romney |
216,805 | 47.3% | 29 |
| Santorum |
122,088 | 26.6% | |
| Gingrich |
74,110 | 16.2% | |
| Paul |
38,753 | 8.4% | |
| Others |
6,875 | 1.5% |
Why?
This is the country that voted for a Bush second term...
I hope for enough sanity to overcome the craziness, but the record is not encouraging....
So, if Democrats and independents want those delegates to go to Santorum, why shouldn't they be able to vote that way?
The practical matter is, the closer the primary race, the more GOP money it will consume, and the more Americans will have a chance to evaluate what they stand for. All good for Democrats.
There is no down side, because Republican money will NOT allow Santorum to win, guaranteed.
Depends on which candidate wins.
If it's yours it works just fine.
If its the other guy's it ain't workin right
Now I'm going to talk about a separate but related message. In California, Secretary of State Debra Bowen has removed two candidates, Stephen Durham and Peta Lindsay, from the Peace and Freedom Party primary ballot. Sign this petition (http://signon.org/sign/bowen-list-all-candidates?source=c.url&r_by=1324879) to tell her to reverse her decision and list all candidates. For more information, see one of these two websites: socialism.com uniteleft.com
2) The hypocrisy of Abu Graihb
3) The hypocrisy of the "Lewinsky" scandal
4) The hypocrisy of "we have to pass the bill before we can see what's in it"
.....the list goes on !
Liberals are nothing, if NOT hypocritical, so why wouldnt they vote in an election where they don't belong ?
The only point you seem to make successfully is that the American Educational system is in deep trouble.
Cuz that's Newt Gingrich's territory and he defends it like a pit bull.
2) It's not about torture, it's about using it to score political points ! Obama has had several similar scandals....NO one seems to have noticed
3) As for the Lewinsky scandal ....the man should have resigned plain and simple...I mean cigar's in the White House.....C'MON MAN !!
As for your reference to the American Educational system I would ask you to look above at Liberal Demida.....I mean her mother must be so proud !
BUT.....they did teach me......"what the meaning of the word IS"....is !
I Rest MY Case