There was no campaigning here in Michigan, no TV ads, absolutely nothing. We were completely shunned by the major players. Kucinich, who meant to remove his name from the ballot but failed to do so in time, made an appearance in Detroit but that was it.

And why were we shunned? Because Clinton, Obama and Edwards were falling in line behind the DNC's decision to slap us down for the impertinence of holding such an early primary. Because everyone knows Iowa and N. Hampshire get to go first.

And the slap down was that our primary wouldn't count.

I know most people here probably know that Obama wasn't on the ballot, and that there was no campaign, but I'm seeing a few other comments to the effect of, "Well, they voted". Yeah, like some third world country votes: "Here folks, we've decided the vote won't count and you've only got one viable choice, but go ahead and vote your hearts out!"

Yes, hold a do-over in both states in May or June. I'm an Obama supporter, and the demographics in Florida and Michigan may favor Clinton, but fair is fair.

Democracy is too important to either exclude 2 states or include the incredibly dubious results from the earlier votes. Re-doing primaries in both states is a no-brainer compromise. Dr. Dean, please get on it.

(Pardon me if someone else has already caught this; don't have time to read through the comments today.)

Joan, you write:

But I have to wonder, what's worse for Democrats: A protracted battle that results in a near-tie, with superdelegates carrying the day in Denver (leaving plenty of cash to fight McCain but one camp or the other furious), or a party whose coffers are maybe depleted (though I can't imagine that), but whose supporters know that democracy, though expensive, prevailed.

I'm not sure I can answer that question, but my gut tells me it's the latter: a cash-poor party whose candidate emerged victorious after being tested in all 50 states.

Do you really mean that this is the "worse" choice? You seem to be arguing that it is the "best" choice. And as a Michigan voter, I would agree! Please enfranchise me!

I am not for anyone in the race as of yet, but NO there should be NO revoting at all. The main reason why is this: If someone is running for that position, they should ALREADY know if their name is on the list of choices. How can someone want to be in the White House running our country and NOT know if his/her name is on the ballet? That in of itself makes me a little worried about that person running our country. If he/she can not make sure that their name is on a simple ballet for the voters to vote on, than how can anyone trust they will know whats going on in our country and the rest of the world? No revotes for any state at ALL period, on this. It is up to each of them to make sure that THEIR name is on the ballet list for voting, not the public. If he/she can not make sure that everything is correct on a ballet BEFORE it gets to the public, they should not be able to go back and have a "redue" of it later. I really don't care who wins or looses, they all worry to much about power anyways, and not the lower/middle income families that they should care about anyways. They have millions of dollars to spend, he/she can have one person go ahead of time to check to see that everything is correct on the ballets and make sure that their "person" is on it. If its not, then it can be corrected BEFORE the public gets to vote. Did "he" not do this to just try and get a re-due out of it for the "just in case" type thing? They all should stand up and say we messed up its no ones fault but ours, we will make sure this does not happen again by sending people to double check the voter forms to make sure that ALL names are on it.

Should Michigan and Florida re-vote? I do not know about Florida(Dangling ChadLand),but I do not think the citizens of Michigan should re-vote.They voted with the choices that the DRC presented them with and the DRC, unhappy with the result ,now uses the jingoistically tired mantra "party unity" to call for a do over?! No way!! I think that the DRC deserves the ugly delegate seating drama that could very well happen at the Convention.The GOP doesn't escape criticism;they took half of Michigan's delegates .As a Green Party member,this whole comedic take on two-party "democracy" shows exactly why a third party is needed.Something both Donkey and Elephant are afraid of!!

PLZ READ ALL OF THIS AND IF YOU HAVE THE GUTS IT TAKES THIS NEEDS TO BE SHOWN TO THE PUBLIC. I WANTED TO PUT IT IN THE NEWSPAPER SO EVERYONE WOULD KNOW WHO AND WHAT THEY WERE VOTING FOR. I KNOW I DO NOT WANT ANY PART OF HIM OR OPRAH.

This is very scary!!! Please forward to everyone you know. We can't let this man become our next president!!!!!!

Obama mentioned his church during his appearance with Oprah. It's the Trinity Church of Christ. I found this interesting.

Obama's church:

Please read and go to this church's website and read what is written there. I checked the church website and what I found is very alarming.

Barack Obama is a member of this church and is running for President of the U.S. If you look at the first page of their website, you will learn that this congregation has a non-negotiable commitment to Africa. No where is AMERICA even mentioned. Notice too, what color you will need to be if you should want to joinMuslimupbringing. Obama's church... B-L-A-C-K!!! Doesn't look like his choice of religion has improved much over his former Muslim upbringing.....................

Are you aware that Obama's middle name is Hussein? Strip away his nice looks, the big smile and smooth talk and what do you get? Certainly a racist, as plainly defined by the stated position of his church! And possibly a covert worshiper of the Muslim faith, even today. This guy desires to rule over America while his loyalty is totally vested in a Black Africa!

I cannot believe this has not been all over the TV and newspapers. This is why it is so important to pass this message along to all of our family & friends. To think that Obama has even the slightest chance in the run for the presidency, is really scary.

Click on the link below:

This is the web page for the church Barack Obama belongs to:

CLICK: www.tucc.org/about.htm

PLZ CLICK ON THE ABOVE LIKK AND THIS WILL SHOCK YOU AND ANYONE WHO READS IT. IF YOU CAN PLZ PRINT THIS SO OUR AMERICANS KNOW WHAT KIND OF PERSON OBAMA REALLY IS.

SINCERELY,

ROSE