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By saul anuzis Posted in 2012 Presidential Campaign | Michigan Republicans | Presidential Primary | Republicans — Comments (0) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »

231 Days until Election Day

MORNING UPDATE:

Our Michigan delegation presented our “Victory Plan” to the national McCain campaign in conjunction with the RNC yesterday. Michigan is a swing state that will play a key role in this fall’s election. We are ready to help elect our next President…John McCain.

In other action, the RNC Rules Committee passed the Ohio Plan, taking the first step towards changing the rules for the 2012 presidential process. Next step the full RNC meeting in August and then, on to the convention.

I opposed the Ohio Plan and will support amendments at the RNC meeting to a) eliminate the IA, NH, NV & SC “first in the nation” preference and b) eliminate 19 other states pre-determined timing advantage over MI under all circumstances. Additionally, the Ohio Plan almost assures that we would have to use a “convention” rather than a primary to select our nominee…a mixed blessing giving conservatives a stronger voice in the process.

I think the current system, with an amendment moving the timetable back to a start date in March, which maximizes our flexibility and protects state rights to chose their own timetable, is a better deal for Michigan Republicans than the Ohio plan. Damn those Buckeyes!

It saddens me to inform you that long time Republican activist Ed Wysinski passed away the afternoon of April 1st. More information about Ed’s funeral is below.

THE REST OF THE STORY:

The California GOP Chair shared the following, which echoes many of my concerns:
The RNC’s Rules Committee has reported out a proposal for reforming the presidential nominating schedule for 2012. The “Ohio Plan” sets up a calendar for states to hold their primaries that puts four states first (Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada), followed by a window for 19 small states to vote next. Lastly, the remaining states would vote regionally in three groups, with those three groups rotating in order every four years.

The net effect of the Ohio plan is that large states like California will never be among the first states voting. Under the plan, at least 23 states will always have voted before California’s regional primary window.

Here is Congressional Quarterly’s description of the Ohio Plan:

• Ohio Plan: Promoted by Ohio Republican leader Bennett… the Ohio Plan would create a pod of small-population states that would be permitted to vote first in every presidential election year. It differs from the Delaware Plan in that the Ohio Plan’s three other pods would be based on region and not scaled according to state size. These groupings — one of states in the Eastern and Midwestern United States, one encompassing the South and other covering the West — would have roughly similar allocations of electoral votes, and would rotate their order in the nominating process every four years. (emphasis added)

The RNC Rules Committee plan is only a recommendation. The Republican National Convention’s rules committee will next determine what is referred to the floor of the national convention for adoption. The national convention has the final word, and may choose a different route. Small states have a disproportionate vote on the RNC and convention rules committees, where each state is represented equally, compared to the full convention which is more proportional by population.

As the California state chairman, I cannot support a primary system that does not give California a fair opportunity to be among the first states voting in future presidential elections, at least on a rotating basis. Unless amended, under the Ohio plan California will never vote before at least 23 other states have cast ballots. Given that any change in California’s primary date must be approved by the state legislature, I can’t see why our state would embrace a plan where we are permanently in the bottom half of the batting order.

-I want to share with you a note Ed’s wife Kay sent around to many about Ed and funeral arrangements:

My son James and I are sad to tell you that Ed died this afternoon at Eaton Community Hospice in Charlotte , MI . He suffered a massive stoke on Thursday night, just an hour after our good-night conversation from the hospital. He was in a complete coma as a result and suffered no pain in his final days. Many of you know that Ed had several health issues not the least of which was Multiple Sclerosis. Ed had suffered much for the past three years and we are sad but happy that he has been called home.

There will be a memorial visitation at Holihan-Atkin Funeral Home, 406 N Bridge St, Grand Ledge, MI 48837 517-627-2531 on FRIDAY, April 4, 2008 from 3-8 pm with a rosary at 7pm. The funeral will be held at St. Michael Church, 345 Edwards Street, Grand Ledge, 517-627-8493 at 11am on SATURDAY April 5 with a visitation in the church at 10 am.

Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers. Most of you know Ed’s sense of humor and great wit so you’ll appreciate that he decided to leave us on April Fool’s Day as his final joke.

For complete post go to: http://migop.blogs.com/blog/2008/04/articles-of-i-1.html

Saulius "Saul" Anuzis
Chairman
Michigan Republican Party