"No More Excuses"

Saturday at the convention was another long day. I'm not even sure what time the convention was adjourned because I left with many others to attend an Obama party at about 10:30 pm, and the proceedings hadn't wrapped up at that time. Almost everyone had departed the floor by that time, as the last agenda items drew to a close.

Saturday's official events consisted of numerous speeches by various state senators and party officials, as well as the reading and approval of a vast number of committee reports – credentials, rules, resolutions, platform, nominations, etc. Some of the reports took hours to read, and most were approved as submitted.

The most divisive issue presented had to do with the Texas Two Step. There was an attempt by a fairly large group of delegates to push through a resolution that would have recommended eliminating the apportionment of delegates to the Convention by both primary and caucus participation. That resolution proposed maintaining the caucuses but only as an organizing tool, with delegate numbers apportioned by primary participation.

This proposal was opposed by the majority, which instead preferred to let the commission that has been appointed to study the matter do its work. The initial up or down voice vote on a motion to table the resolution was contested, so a roll call vote was taken. The motion to table – which was in effect a vote against the resolution – won by roughly 5,000 votes. It wasn’t even close. The Texas Two Step thus lives on, awaiting recommendations and further action by the appointed committee, the SDEC and state legislators.

One person of note throughout this event was Kirk Watson who served as Convention Chair. My first real awareness of Kirk came when he was needlessly humiliated by Chris Mathews on Hardball back in March. If that is also your only impression of Kirk and his capability, let me assure you that this is one sharp guy. He handled the convention and its issues with competence, fairness and expeditious grace. I left very impressed with him and the job he had done.

Other impressions – there was a coming together of sorts between the Obama and Clinton camps. For many Hillary supporters hearing Chelsea and then part of Hillary’s Saturday concessions speech was very difficult. Mourning was visible. Yet, most people seemed to move beyond their sadness and begin to embrace the task that lies ahead. It will take some time, but I think we’ll be united in the fall.

Which leads me to perhaps the most significant words I heard all weekend- “No More Excuses.” Those words weren’t uttered from the floor of the convention, but in a loud bar filled with Obama enthusiasts. They came from an African-American woman from Ft. Worth who was responding to a question asked among a small group of revelers to describe why she first came to support Barack Obama. She said she loved Barack but wasn’t opposed to Hillary, and that as an African-American and a woman what she internalized and has passed on to her four children is that there are no more excuses. No one can any longer use their gender or race as an excuse for not shooting for the stars.

So, “No More Excuses” for any of us.

The Winners!

The Sd-12 Obama National Delegate winners were Kathleen Thompson and Mike Brown. Or so it seems. There is a question that Mike's notarized application was not received by the State, though he said that he has copies of his notarized application and proof of delivery.

Let's hope so, as Mike is a great guy and a worthy representative.

Caucus Issues

A group of people from around the state left this afternoon's general sesssion to testify before a committee regarding precinct caucus and county/senate district convention problems and perspectives.

Almost everyone experienced one kind of problem or another, most at the precinct level experiencing significant facility and organizational problems. Most people seem to embrace the caucus system, though most also recommend changes.

Among the suggestions are moving the day the caucus is held (for example, on the Saturday following the election rather than on the evening of the election), or changing the way delegates are allocated. Some would want to do away with caucuses alltogether, though it seems that most would like to keep it and advocate canges, better planning, better facilities, etc.

Is Everybody Happy???

I guess so. Well, maybe.

First, just the facts. Friday was a grueling day at the convention, a day that didn’t end until past 1 am for most delegates.

Our 2 pm SD12 caucus meeting began with promotions from alternate to delegate, 16 on the Clinton side and 14 on the Obama side. That took about two hours to accomplish, though should have taken maybe 30 minutes. Then, once seated we chose a Chair to preside over the remainder of our meeting.

Our next tasks, all to be accomplished by 5 pm, were to choose committee representatives for this convention from among SD 12, platform, nominations, rules, regulations, credentials, etc., plus our SDEC male and female representatives (State Democratic Executive Committee) plus our presidential elector, and then also our respective Obama and Clinton national delegates.

By the time 5 pm rolled around we had barely started. We recessed for the first general convention session about 5:45, with the plan of returning after the general session to finish our business.

The general session was great, but long. We heard Boyd Richie, Kirk Watson, Rick Noriega, Chelsea Clinton, the entire Texas State House of Representatives, Tom Kaine and many others. The tone for the session was set during the invocation, which was a supposed prayer of invocation that droned on like someone was reading a platform committee report rather than inviting our Creator’s presence. My opinion, anyway. Entirely unnecessary.

Then, finally, around 11:00 pm we worked our way back to our SD12 breakout caucus meeting, we elected our representatives and adjourned around 1:10 am.

The good news. Healing. Unity, or the beginnings of it. AND, Kathleen Thompson was elected National Female Delegate from SD12!!

I only had time for the facts in this post, but I’ll follow later with some commentary and details on today’s activities.

Off to the next session.

Getting Started

So far, our time has been filled mostly been parties and exhibits and social events.

Thursday night everyone circulated through a series of parties, big and small. As my friend John Larson and I watched a group of people dance, I felt like I was back in high school, huddled among the masses watching a few people dance and have fun - or seem to.

We spent most of our time at a Mid-Cities Democrats party at a place called Six Lounge. The turnout was good, and there were a few local Tarrant County political candidates there to greet and get to know.

Today, Friday, we all registered and got our credentials, which really didn't take as long as we thought it would. Maybe 45 minutes tops. Since then we've been meeting and greeting other delegates and alternates, and walking the exhibits. I've included a few pictures to give you the flavor.

The real business starts soon, as we gather at 2pm for our first SD12 pre-meeting meeting. Nothing but fun?

Marshall Hobbs and Forgiveness

Yesterday wasn't a fun day for a lot of Delegates in SD12. Our delegation leader sent out a letter that at face value presented an officially-approved slate of candidates for both national delegate and all of the various committee positions that many in our delegation are competing for. Eight people were seemingly endorsed, leaving scores of others feeling left out or even stabbed in the back.

Many angry emails and phone calls ensued.

Our delegation leader, Marshall Hobbs, sent out a retraction yesterday. He said that he simply made a mistake, and that he did not intend for his letter to seem like an official endorsement. He was just sharing some information and helping out some friends.

I had the chance to sit down and talk with Marshall - and others - about this a few minutes ago, and I believe him. He feels just horrible about what happened.

So, forgiveness is in order. A mistake was made. He retracted it and apologized for it. Time to forgive and move on.

Arriving in Austin

I know Austin well. Two of my kids as well as my gorgeous one year old granddaughter all live here. My son went to school here and never left, then my daughter followed him here from Illinois. I know this city, and I'm here often.
Somehow, today Austin seems different.
As I approached the Hilton I realized that this was not the normal business convention crowd. I realized, as I couldn't even get near the Hotel entrance, and as large groups of people poured out of vehicles that seemed incapable of holding them, that there are a lot of people here who may have never stayed at a hotel like this. And for me, that makes it all the more special.
This is a celebration! Women who were born before suffrage voted for a woman who came within a heartbeat of winning the nomination. African-Americans born in the Jim Crow south, people who witnessed the very worst that human prejudice has to offer, have seen their most fervent dreams become reality. Sparing catastrophe, an African-AMERICAN man will be the next president of the United States. And, we will all have been a part of making it happen.
Good times!
I'll take some pictures as the day progresses, and will post them later.

On Our way To Austin

I'm leaving this morning (Thursday, June 5) for Austin and the 2008 Texas Democratic Convention. About 7,000 delegates plus thousands of alternates, media wonks and others are set to converge on Austin for what many of us hope will be more celebration than battle.
With Barack now the "Presumptive Nominee", we're hoping that we can begin to come together as a party united around our candidate. The stakes are too high to remain split, and half of the Democratic party isn't going to beat anyone in November.
I'll be blogging through the Convention, so stay tuned.
There's not a whole lot happening today. Parties, mostly. The real business begins on Friday, with issue caucuses in the morning and early afternoon, then Sentate District meetings later afternoon. Those SD meetings are where National Delegates, committee representatives and other party leaders will be elected, and are not without controversy of their own.
More to come.