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Gaffer Variety:

Dumbocratic Disarray! V059:

By Willie Gaffer:

September 25, 2006:

Following up on my struggle with the Republicrumb Secretary of State for Michigan I thought about helping her opponent in the November election. As I had pointed out, a person who would empower people like the assistant SOS, Mary Bonner, should not have the power to do so. SOS Land has no right to occupy any high office in the great state of Michigan, let alone a position with that much power to do mischief.

I decided I could offer the record of my experiences for use in her opponent’s campaign. To do that I began looking for her opponent. That should have been easy, but it was not. I could not find one at first. So, I began looking for the website of the Michigan Dumbocratic Party. That also should have been easy, but it was not. When I entered the phrase “Michigan Democratic Party” in Ask Jeeves I thought the link would pop right up. I was wrong. I finally found a link to an advertising firm which had a link to the Dumbocrats.

I checked their site and found no reference to any candidate for Michigan’s SOS position. Huh? I did find a place that said contact us or some such. So I did. I filled out their form and submitted it. I told them I had trouble finding their site and I could find no one who is opposing Land. I asked them to give me information about their candidate for SOS. I finished by remarking, “It’s no wonder you people have trouble getting elected.” That was rude, I know, but I had just spent more than an hour trying to find these fools. I felt rude. I waited for a response and I waited, and I waited. After five days I got this.

Bill,

            Thank you for your e-mail. You can reach the Carmella Sabugh campaign at sabaughforsos@yahoo.com

Mark Brewer

Chair

Michigan Democratic Party

606 Townsend

Lansing, MI 48933

(517) 371-5410

(517) 371-2056 (fax)

That’s it! After all of that struggle, all they gave me was a Yahoo email address. I concluded this opponent has no website and is using a free email service. I was pretty tired of the whole crap bag by then, but I made one more attempt to communicate. I sent this email to Carmella Sabugh.

Dear sabaughforsos:

Do you have a website?

How can I find out about you?

Are you serious about opposing Land or are you out on a lark?

I'd like to know:

Bill Steinman:

That was sent on September 8 and on September 13 I got this reply.

----- Original Message -----

From: Carmella Sabaugh

To: William E. Steinman

Sent: Tuesday, September 12, 2006 3:50 PM

Subject: Re: Who are you?

Mr Steinman,

Thank you for your interest in the campaign.  Our campaign website is now up and running and you can find out more information about Carmella and the campaign at http://www.sabaughforsos.com.

This woman was planning to oppose an entrenched bureaucrat with all of the power of the SOS at her command. Yet, she just managed to get her website up 7 weeks before the election. In addition, I have seen her on television exactly one time. Really? Oh boy! When does the campaign start?

I got around to checking out the website on September 16, 2006. What I found was what I expected. It was the usual rah, rah stuff. She has nice positions on everything of import. Here is her faithful to the party statement:

"I will stand with Governor Jennifer Granholm, Lieutenant Governor John Cherry, Attorney General candidate Amos Williams, US Senator Debbie Stabenow and the ticket you assembled today that is going to win in November because it has the right plan and the right people to lead Michigan."

(Carmella Sabaugh 8-26-2006).

Here are her alleged positions:

"I agree with Republican Lieutenant Governor candidate Ruth Johnson that Terri Lynn Land has failed to hold the voting equipment corporations accountable. If elected, I will be on the side of the voters and not the voting equipment corporations." - Carmella Sabaugh

No Reason Absentee Voting:

I support no reason absentee voting! No one has to give a reason to pay taxes by mail. No one should have to give a reason to vote by mail.

Playing Politics with the Office:

As the state's chief elections officer, Terri Lynn Land served as co-chair of the Bush/Cheney campaign committee. I pledge NOT to serve on any campaign committee while serving as Michigan's chief elections official and I will NOT let Michigan become another Florida or Ohio.

Same Day Voter Registration:

We need same day voter registration! Currently, a person must register to vote 30 days before an election. But many people don't start thinking about elections until 10 days before. When I'm elected, I will fight so that when citizens WANT to vote, citizens GET to vote! Other states have same day registration. We can do it in Michigan!

Petition Signature Fraud:

Terri Lynn Land's silence in the face of petition signature fraud is justice denied! You may not have deep pockets to pay pricey election lawyers to fight issues like this. But you do have me. As secretary of state I will actively investigate credible evidence of petition signature fraud!

Showing Photo ID to Vote:

I will vigorously oppose Republican efforts to disenfranchise voters at the state and federal level! You don't need to show photo ID for the right to free speech. You don't need to show photo ID to be free of search and seizure. You don't need to show photo ID to have a right to an attorney. Citizens should not have to show photo ID to exercise their constitutional right to vote!

Motor Voter Registration:

I propose enhanced Motor Voter Registration! When a person applies for a Michigan driver’s license or Michigan ID card, they should be automatically registered to vote, unless they decline. That would increase the number of registered voters and put more power in the hands of ordinary people.

So what would you expect? Can we believe it? Will it matter? I’ll address these questions next time.
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