Saturday, October 14, 2006
PDWM forum available online
The Progressive Democrats of West Michigan recently hosted a forum with Doug Kalmbach and Brian Calley, candidates for the 87th state house seat, and Suzzette Royston who is challenging Patty Birkholz for a job in the State Senate. The forum is now available via the World Wide Web. The direct link is here. Or go to Google and click on "video" (at the top) and search using the name of any of the candidates. This is the entire hour-long forum with no edits so you'd better have a high speed connection before attempting to view this.
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This is an active bunch of progressive Democrats... It is a shame Barb Cicy and David Brinkert were so concerned about the illusion of holding POWER in the Barry County Democratic Party that the made these lovely people feel unwelcome and drove them away...go figure.
But what are they doing to change things in Barry County? The forum is a good start but as I recall hearing, the group was formed with the thought of building a block of power that could swamp the local party and sweep out the old fossils that are scared of change. I don't remember seeing any Progressive Dems on the list for precinct delegates and I haven't seen any hints that this plan is being carried out. I know the PDWM have had thin skin in the past (I saw the emails) about my concerns but I really want to be enlightened here and anyone with anything to offer is welcome to fill me in. The Barry County Democratic Party needs all the help it can get and to see a splinter group dividing local activists doesn't seem a good use of talent and energy.
What they are doing to change things in Barry County is forcing diversity of opinion from the rule of the "good ol' boy" network to some deeper thinking than we are used to. I didn't see any hesitation to publishing the other end of the spectrum and supporting the 911 rumor-mongering and the far righteous. All of these perspectives should be welcome, especially if they can resist the temptation to turn rational discussion into a personal pissing match.
Personally, I find the activity in Dem Hall interesting because it is an easy bike ride, but I would hardly characterize it as a group of "activists".
I'll take that back. In an atmosphere of mortuary science a body in motion represents activity.
Happy Halloween!
PolWatcher is absolutely correct. These willing people PDWM, should not have been driven from the party and some ARE precinct delegates. One recently hosted a fundraiser for the Governor that attracted over 60 people.
These people are political neophites, as are the leaders of the Barry County Democratic Party, but several times more active and have been bringing a progressive message to the voters of Barry County for close to two years.
The Barry County Democrats have fewer precinct delegates than in the past with the exception of the Rutland Old Guard and Hope Township. Being agressively inclusive is the role the Democratic Party should pursue.
It could be said that a 'splinter' is created when pieces are chipped of the main branch. One hopes that in time the PDWM will go beyond offering the citizens in the area with serious issues and move on to political reorganization of the Democratic Party, which is long overdue.
I heard from another little bird that we migratory types will soon be able to access the Hastings Banner online for the mere price of a subscription. While this will deny a local business the profit on my weekly dose of antidepressant, I am champing at the bit for this opportunity!
Sorry it does not belong to this subject:
Devos wears glasses?
That freaky little fibber, didn't have the guts to tell us he needs glasses to see!
Probably needs the blue pill too!
Is the lack of Mike Lewis name in the 2/3 page Democrat ad in the Reminder intentional, or just typical of the lack of attention to detail required for good leadership?
Perhaps he forgot to pay his dues? Is he being shunned?
It seems like most of the ideas the Dems are claiming to be theirs, like confusing millages, restructuring, ordinances to subsidize wetlands, etc. were discussed by Mike on this blog.
Serves him right for showing signs of life.
Now, maybe he will become a convert to Republicanism.
A bit too young to be a "good ol' boy".
I wonder if the "management" of Charlatan Park gets the Reminder. The coverage of the excellence of Bowens Mill adds to the dismay of the general public that such a huge County owned and paid for asset could be so grossly mismanaged. The list of attractive features, and the ability to show a continuous profit, must be a real embarrassment to the "Friends of Another Millage".
Funny, because the stat meter has showed that traffic remains surprisingly steady given that I haven't been updating as often as in the past- in fact is still is rising a bit though not as much as earlier this year when each month showed traffic doubling from the previous month.
Ellie, the Park issue is old, and going no where. The people have spoken and will continue to speak. We can't afford it in these times, it will go down again. The public access sites at our many County Lakes can be enjoyed by many, and they're free.
911 issue is the main cancer of this County. FDA says cure in sight, new drug authorized effective January 1st 2007. Stay tuned. Is ronnie neil the civilian Doctor on the Pennock Board yet?
I just read the editor opinion in the Banner today. I am very sorry Agit3 as to not knowing to what extent the 911 problem has become. I just passed the discussion about the 911 problem by believing it just a diversion from the Wymer drug case when it had become to hot for the site. My inattention is my mistake. I appologize.
For them to disrespect Dar the way Jacobs is claiming is reason to storm the meetings and shut them down. If what has been reported by Jacobs is even remotely correct, he (Neil) should be driven out and banished from any further employment by this county. He is not only failing to act in any type of professional manner, he is obviusly not educated enough to be in this position. How in the devil did he get in that position anyways? this unprofessionalism and lack of education is not something that he could have developed as of late so someone should have spotted it.
You started out great! Keep it going Jim, "Fire Boysen."
Jim: Boysen is a 911 Board Member, he splains nothing other than what 5 year olds do and hope you believe it, but most of all, doesn't care if you do or not! "We're autonomous, invincible, take a hike"! He is "experienced", he thinks, in the art of deception, arrogance (in your eye), intelligence (boy is that a stretch), experience, "I answer to no one", etc.
Get a group together and hit your Twp Board up, fill their Twp Hall. Thornapple Fire is really a local issue, until their conduct rises to criminal violations! Good luck!
After January 1st will be the time to have your forces/allies in line. All the wobbly dominoes are going to start falling. Be ready, they are going to be bombarded at every turn. No one believes a word out of their mouths now, wait til then! kneel, kneestrom, will all fall, can then join the car pool to their new Lansing jobs with the first one that fell.
Support our Sheriff. Show up at County Meetings, especially the last two for the lame ducks who learned the hard way that the PEOPLE RULE! They are sour grapes and trying to embarrass and ridicule those they call "Enemy," spelled "The People."
Actually, the County Board meets every second and fourth Tuesday of each month, so you could even show up this coming Tuesday. Then, November and December will offer four more opportunities.
The "Administrative & Internal Services Standing Committee" meets on the Monday before each Tuesday Board meeting. If you wanted to learn about where your tax dollars are going, this would be the time of year to pay attention.
That's a total of only ten meetings where "the people's voice" might be listened to. There are others.
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