THIS is what democracy looks like

Via my good friend Abby Clark, a photo and video from the Michigan Capitol Building this morning. It’s already full of anti-Right to Work protesters by 9:30 a.m.

As Abby puts it, “This is a nightmare that should be getting national meda attention. Michigan is the birthplace of the American middle class as we know it and it’s facing an existential threat as retribution for Proposal 2 and the results of the November 6th elections.”

Video and photo after the jump.

You wanted a fight, Republicans? You have yourselves a fight!

Facing a Republican attack on collective bargaining rights and a full-court press to make Michigan a Right to Work For Less state, the Michigan AFL-CIO is hosting another Lobby Day at the State Capitol Building in Lansing tomorrow.

The Republicans have switched from the already-deceitful name “Right to Work” to “Freedom to Work”, presumably so that they can get the attention of tea party fanatics that worship anything with the word “freedom” or “patriot” associated with it (unless that loss of “freedom” comes in the form of an Emergency Manager for an African American community, of course.)

Details about the event and more after the jump.

Success doesn’t happen by accident As I mentioned last week, this past weekend was the 7th Annual RootsCamp un-conference, an event put on by the New Organizing Institute. This year’s event was bigger than ever with over 2,000 attendees and 250 sessions. I came away from this unique and energizing event impressed at the quality of progressive organizing in the […]

The time for ACTION is NOW!

Last week, I wrote about the new website TheAction.org, a new organizing tool to help pass President Obama’s second term agenda. This weekend marks the first Day of Action using this organizing tool. The activities are designed to ensure that Congress passes a repeal of the Bush tax cuts on the wealthiest 2% of Americans while preserving the middle class tax cuts that actually help stimulate our economy by keeping money in the hands of those who will immediately put it back into the economy.

Details on how you can get involved after the jump.

Now is not the time to rest The Michigan legislature holds its lame duck session starting today and continuing through December 20th. The Republicans who control both houses of our legislature are signaling that they intend to get a LOT done in over the next four weeks. Further efforts to destroy our labor unions, an egregious, overreaching “reform” (aka privatization) […]

We’re just getting started This weekend the New Organizing Institute is hosting its 7th annual RootsCamp, a conference — or rather “un-conference” as they call it — that brings together progressive organizers from around the country to network and share best practices as we move forward in achieving our collective goals. The event takes place Friday, November 30th through Saturday, […]

Get your tweet on

Here are the tweets of a few of my blogging friends. We’ll have some of Anne’s awesome graphic quotes along with periodic updates during the debate, as well.

I highly commend your attention to barackobama.com/debate for lots of debate extras.

Enjoy.

Updates will be after the jump.

Rekindling Democracy

This past Sunday, the group Metropolitan Organizing Strategy Enabling Strength (MOSES) held a rally titled “Fire of Faith: Rekindling Democracy” at the Greater Grace Temple in Detroit. MOSES is a group of faith communities from around the state that is working on social justice issues. They are an affiliate of the Gamaliel Foundation where President Barack Obama was a trainer and consultant for a time in Chicago and their approach to community organizing is very evident in the Obama For America (OFA) approach. (For more information about the Gamaliel approach, check out this post from just after the 2008 election: “I Want POWER and I Will Be Ruthless”.)

Sunday’s event involved nearly a dozen faith communities from around Michigan. Christian churches. Muslim mosques. Jewish synagogues. All were represented and all had a common goal of engaging their congregations in the democratic process. Young people from Crossing Boundaries, Building Bridges (CB3), a youth outreach effort by MOSES were well represented, as well.

Much more after the jump.

THIS is how you do it!

When I interviewed Michigan Supreme Court candidate and University of Michigan law professor Bridget Mary McCormack earlier this week, I told you that today was going to be a big day for her. And it is. In addition to receiving the coveted endorsement from Democracy for America, the McCormack campaign released a new online ad. But this isn’t just any ad. This ad was filmed with cast members from The West Wing and looks like an episode of the blockbuster show.

The ad talks about a national emergency that’s in progress: people are voting in the partisan section of the ballot but NOT in the non-partisan section where they judges are elected and the ballot initiatives are voted on. It also highlights the amazing background and work done by McCormack.

It’s a smart, funny, and very entertaining way to get the point across while endorsing a terrific candidate for the state Supreme Court. Watch it after the jump.

Progress for Michigan

Last night, the most effective progressive action group, Progress Michigan, held their September fundraiser at the Majestic Theater in Detroit. Supporting this essential organization is critical for maintaining a positive force for political action in the state of Michigan. The progressive community knows this and their leaders showed up to demonstrate that support both financially and in person.

Photos and report after the jump.

The next best thing to being there

Want to feel a little of what it was like to be at the Democratic National Convention during President Obama’s acceptance speech? Click through for two exclusive interactive panoramic images from the last night of the DNC and experience a bit of the excitement yourself!