"Moral courage is a rarer commodity than bravery in battle or great intelligence. Yet it is the one essential, vital quality of those who seek to change a world which yields most painfully to change."
Robert F. Kennedy said this in a speech in Capetown, South Africa, June 6, 1966. Today is the 40th anniversary of his assassination.
I was 17 when RFK was killed. I was snoozing away in the room I shared with three of my four brothers. We always slept with the radio on -- couldn't get to sleep without the Beatles or Doors or Motown. The windows were open and, if it was quiet, could hear the surf breaking on Daytona Beach a half-block away. But it wasn't quiet. The radio was on and lulled us to sleep and the next thing I remember was waking up to a news report. Robert Kennedy had been shot in L.A. Another Kennedy shot! Didn't seem real but I was awake. I got up and walked to my parents' room. "They shot Kennedy," I muttered. My mother mumbled and went back to sleep. My father said something about Kennedy getting shot a long time ago. "Bobby Kennedy," I said. "In California." My father looked at me like I was nuts. "Go back to bed," he said.
They both had to work the next day -- my father at NASA and my mother as a hospital nurse. It was tough to support nine kids, even in those pre-inflation times of 35 cents/gallon gas and four loaves of bread for a dollar.
In the bright light of a Florida June morning, my parents were distressed. JFK's assassination had devastated them. This was shocking, but not on that same level. They both were moving away from the Democratic Party and into the hands of Nixon and, later, Reagan. It had mattered to them in 1960-63 that JFK was the first Irish-Catholic president. He was a war hero, too, and had solid anti-commie credentials. Bobby, though, was a radical. He was soft on Vietnam and hippies and civil rights agitators.
At school, the day before the nuns released us into the summer, we went to mass to pray for Bobby's recovery, which seemed very unlikely. Most of us were in a funk. But at least one of my classmates noted that Kennedy was a "N----- Lover" and would probably die and never be president. He voiced what others thought. This was the South, after all. Our high school was located between white and black neighborhoods. Black kids south of the school went to Campbell, the all-black high school. After the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., two months earlier, this part of town erupted in riots. White homeowners north of the school sat up all night, guns at the ready. At least that's what the newspapers said a few days later. I don't doubt it.
Another Kennedy was dead. King was dead. Lots of Florida boys were destined to die in Vietnam.
Things were falling apart. And it was going to get worse.
Friday, June 06, 2008
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
WYO GOP doesn't buy climate change
Anyone who doubts the differences between Wyoming Republicans and Democrats only need look at a few planks in their respective platforms.
The AP reported that a plank adopted at the state Republican Convention in Rock Springs last Saturday opposes any new laws or regulations related to the "hypothesis of man-made climate change."
Contrast that with the following planks that came out of the platform committee at the May 23-24 Democratic Party convention in Jackson (there may be some revisions to the wording, as contentious Democrats discussed and amended the platform ad nauseum at the convention).
In "The Environment" section under "Confronting Climate Change:"
1. Wyoming Democrats believe that our country must address climate change by working with others at local, state, national, and global levels to reduce greenhouse gases.
2. We call for development of alternative, renewable energy resources, including solar and wind power, through federal and state incentives.
3. We insist that government policy work to increase energy-use efficiency throughout our economy, including raising the fuel efficiency of the nation’s vehicles.
The Democrats have moved way beyond the hypothesis of global warming to cold, hard facts. That approach is supported by most of the climatologists in the known universe.
At their convention, Republicans also decided to oppose a federal designation of any Wyoming stream as a Wild and Scenic River. This is in response to the efforts in Teton County to declare the Snake as a Wild and Scenic River, providing it special protections under federal law. I believe a plank to that effect was added to the platform (I have to keep better notes). If not, it should have been.
The AP reported that a plank adopted at the state Republican Convention in Rock Springs last Saturday opposes any new laws or regulations related to the "hypothesis of man-made climate change."
Contrast that with the following planks that came out of the platform committee at the May 23-24 Democratic Party convention in Jackson (there may be some revisions to the wording, as contentious Democrats discussed and amended the platform ad nauseum at the convention).
In "The Environment" section under "Confronting Climate Change:"
1. Wyoming Democrats believe that our country must address climate change by working with others at local, state, national, and global levels to reduce greenhouse gases.
2. We call for development of alternative, renewable energy resources, including solar and wind power, through federal and state incentives.
3. We insist that government policy work to increase energy-use efficiency throughout our economy, including raising the fuel efficiency of the nation’s vehicles.
The Democrats have moved way beyond the hypothesis of global warming to cold, hard facts. That approach is supported by most of the climatologists in the known universe.
At their convention, Republicans also decided to oppose a federal designation of any Wyoming stream as a Wild and Scenic River. This is in response to the efforts in Teton County to declare the Snake as a Wild and Scenic River, providing it special protections under federal law. I believe a plank to that effect was added to the platform (I have to keep better notes). If not, it should have been.
Walk blocks with Democrat Nick Carter
Nicole Novotny, secretary for the Laramie County Democrats, sends notice that U.S. Senate Candidate Nick Carter is looking for volunteers to help him walk door-to-door in Cheyenne this weekend, June 7-8. Carter is running against Republican John Barrasso for a U.S. Senate seat (first, he has to win the Aug. 19 primary). Volunteer times for Saturday are flexible and volunteers walking on Sunday have been asked to meet at the Lions Park amphitheater at 9 a.m. Carter will host a barbeque on Sunday to thank volunteers who helped out. To volunteer, please contact Kyle at 307-640-1028 or you e-mail nick@nickforsenate.com.
Thoughts on the final "Super Tuesday"
On Tuesday, Wyoming super-delegate Cynthia Nunley pledged her support to Sen. Hillary Clinton. Nunley was the last of the state's six Democratic Party super-dee's to commit. The other five had already come out for Sen. Barack Obama.
This makes the final delegate count for Wyoming 12-6, Obama.
Also on Tuesday, Obama clinched enough delegates and super-dees to become the party's presumptive nominee. He won Montana handily, and logged enough votes in South Dakota to claim some of those delegates.
I watched all the speeches last night. Obama looked and sounded presidential in the St. Paul, Minn., convention center. Crowd was estimated at 17,000 inside the building and 15,000 outside. Those are the same numbers we'll see when the Republican party gathers for its convention in September. There will be 17,000 Repubs inside, trying to work themselves into a lather for McBush. Outside will be 15,000 protesters, already worked into an anti-McBush lather. Could be a combustible mix.
Clinton spoke to a large appreciative crowd. She didn't concede, however. That will probably come soon.
McBush spoke before a group of semi-awake bystanders in what looked like a high school gym in Kenner, Louisiana. He called for "the right kind of change," which includes more war on the Iraqis and the U.S. middle class. He contended that he was the candidate for change and not Obama. McCain says that he wants to revamp the entire government so that it's leaner and meaner and more accountable to the American people. Of all things, he brought up Hurricane Katrina as an example of how bloated government fails its people.
Here's a news bulletin for McCain: Bloated government didn't fail New Orleans. It was government in the hands of Bush-appointed, government-hating flunkies. If you remember, government in the form of the U.S. Coast Guard performed heroically. In Iraq and Afghanistan, government in the form of the U.S. military does its job every day, despite the odds. And the most successful program in U.S. Government history, Social Security, provides a safety net for millions of Americans. Ironically, it's one of those "bloated" programs that the Republicans want to dismantle.
Remember that McCain voted with Bush 95 percent of the time during the past year. It's tough to distance yourself from someone you hold so close.
I eagerly await the first Obama-McCain debate.
This makes the final delegate count for Wyoming 12-6, Obama.
Also on Tuesday, Obama clinched enough delegates and super-dees to become the party's presumptive nominee. He won Montana handily, and logged enough votes in South Dakota to claim some of those delegates.
I watched all the speeches last night. Obama looked and sounded presidential in the St. Paul, Minn., convention center. Crowd was estimated at 17,000 inside the building and 15,000 outside. Those are the same numbers we'll see when the Republican party gathers for its convention in September. There will be 17,000 Repubs inside, trying to work themselves into a lather for McBush. Outside will be 15,000 protesters, already worked into an anti-McBush lather. Could be a combustible mix.
Clinton spoke to a large appreciative crowd. She didn't concede, however. That will probably come soon.
McBush spoke before a group of semi-awake bystanders in what looked like a high school gym in Kenner, Louisiana. He called for "the right kind of change," which includes more war on the Iraqis and the U.S. middle class. He contended that he was the candidate for change and not Obama. McCain says that he wants to revamp the entire government so that it's leaner and meaner and more accountable to the American people. Of all things, he brought up Hurricane Katrina as an example of how bloated government fails its people.
Here's a news bulletin for McCain: Bloated government didn't fail New Orleans. It was government in the hands of Bush-appointed, government-hating flunkies. If you remember, government in the form of the U.S. Coast Guard performed heroically. In Iraq and Afghanistan, government in the form of the U.S. military does its job every day, despite the odds. And the most successful program in U.S. Government history, Social Security, provides a safety net for millions of Americans. Ironically, it's one of those "bloated" programs that the Republicans want to dismantle.
Remember that McCain voted with Bush 95 percent of the time during the past year. It's tough to distance yourself from someone you hold so close.
I eagerly await the first Obama-McCain debate.
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
Closing in on the prize
By the time polls in Montana at 8 p.m., Barack Obama will have enough delegates to call himself the Democratic Party nominee for president. Montana's votes for Obama will put the icing on the cake.
Keep your eyes on the blogs (see below).
John McBush McCain has a big speech planned from Louisiana (just beginning on the TV tubes). Says McCain: "I will bring the right (wing) kind of change."
Barack Obama has an even bigger speech planned in the Twin Cities convention hall where the Repubs will make a mockery of politics this summer.
Stay tuned....
Keep your eyes on the blogs (see below).
John McBush McCain has a big speech planned from Louisiana (just beginning on the TV tubes). Says McCain: "I will bring the right (wing) kind of change."
Barack Obama has an even bigger speech planned in the Twin Cities convention hall where the Repubs will make a mockery of politics this summer.
Stay tuned....
Look to SD and MT blogs for June 3 results
We prepare for the last two contests of the primary/caucus season in neighboring South Dakota and Montana. While the usual MSM outlets will be gearing up to cover the results Tuesday evening, many of us will be looking to blogs for results mixed with first-person dispatches from the trenches (and some wise-ass commentary).
I was dismayed to learn that Ed Kemmick is giving up the City Lights blog he writes for the Billings Gazette. And Matt Singer at Left in the West out of Missoula has fried his hard drive during the feverish run-up to June 3. He's still blogging, courtesy of the local library and his wife's computer, but that can be frustrating for a blogger just itching to get his/her hands on his/her own keyboard.
LITW remains the go-to blog for politics. 4&20 Blackbirds, too. As the polls close tomorrow evening, check out those two purveyors of prog news in Montana.
I have to admit that I haven't paid sufficient attention to South Dakota blogs. I'm a new fan of Madville Times. Great place to read about stops in Madison and other S.D. locales by Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and their surrogates. Photos, too.
Another S.D. source is Badlands Blue, the blog of the S.D. Democratic Party. Great political coverage and links.
Daily Kos, of course, covers national politics like a big blue blanket. The search engines tease out DK posts by state and many end up on Lefty Blogs. Go to the site and click on your favorite state on the left sidebar.
I was dismayed to learn that Ed Kemmick is giving up the City Lights blog he writes for the Billings Gazette. And Matt Singer at Left in the West out of Missoula has fried his hard drive during the feverish run-up to June 3. He's still blogging, courtesy of the local library and his wife's computer, but that can be frustrating for a blogger just itching to get his/her hands on his/her own keyboard.
LITW remains the go-to blog for politics. 4&20 Blackbirds, too. As the polls close tomorrow evening, check out those two purveyors of prog news in Montana.
I have to admit that I haven't paid sufficient attention to South Dakota blogs. I'm a new fan of Madville Times. Great place to read about stops in Madison and other S.D. locales by Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and their surrogates. Photos, too.
Another S.D. source is Badlands Blue, the blog of the S.D. Democratic Party. Great political coverage and links.
Daily Kos, of course, covers national politics like a big blue blanket. The search engines tease out DK posts by state and many end up on Lefty Blogs. Go to the site and click on your favorite state on the left sidebar.
Sunday, June 01, 2008
Hardly any politics during mountain trek
Spent the weekend camping with the family in Rocky Mountain National Park (view from the campground above). The first real weekend of summer weather. The sky blue, creeks full, and most of the trails free of snow. I barely thought about the big DNC meeting on Saturday where the fate of the Florida and Michigan delegates were being decided. I got my answer when we dropped out of the mountains into Estes Park this afternoon and saw the Sunday headlines: "Delegate count decided; rancor remains." The lede said that the Clinton camp is unhappy with the one delegate-half vote decision, as well as elimination of up to four delegates. The Clintonites, apparently, are prepared to take the fight all the way to the streets of the Mile High City. I haven't scanned the blogs since Friday, so I look forward to staying up until the wee hours to catch up.
My first thought: good thing they reached a decision. Second thought: bad thing they reached a decision. Nobody seems happy, although the Obama people seem semi-O.K. with it. So, now we await the decisions of the voters in South Dakota and Montana, who likely will side with Obama. But will probably not provide an end to this long march.
Who won Puerto Rico? Bet it was Hillary.
One more thing. For our camping trip, we left the minivan at home and jammed everything into Chris's Saturn Ion. We don't backpack anymore (bad knees!), surviving the weekend on granola and cooking on a stove so tiny it can fit in the palm of your hand. We're not "roughing it" campers, either, just a step up from that. We're car campers, which means that we assemble everything in the basement that looks like camping gear, throw it into the car and take off. No TVs or electronic devices except for the cellphone that my wife needs for work. This plan works well when you're using the minivan which also has a car-top carrier we can use for overflow.
We don't have the luxury of space in the car. We can put a small cooler or a box of food in the back seat with the kid and dog. The rest has to go in the trunk. I had to do triage as we hauled stuff from the house. Yes to the sleeping bag, yes to the roll-up ground pad, no to the gigantic inflatable mattress, no to the camp chair with the cup holder. Yes to the battery-powered lantern, no to the propane lantern and propane canisters and extra mantles. A hue and cry went out every time a tough decision was made. "Dad -- I need that huge air mattress." Says I: "Then the dog has to stay home." Pouting ensued. My wife usually likes to bring about 50 pillows but I requested a two-pillow limit. Fine, she said, I'll use yours. Which she did.
We wanted to prove that a family can go camping without the minivan or the SUV. The family can, but it's a pain in the ass. We saved money on gas, as the Saturn gets 35 mpg on the highway to less than 20 for our Dodge Caravan. We can send the savings the the Democratic Party candidates and causes of our choice. Less fuel used, less carbon in the atmosphere. And we can feel superior to all the SUVs and Hummers on the road. We can feel vastly superior to the RV users, as they are driving the dinosaurs of the open road.
But most of what I felt this weekend was gratitude for national parks and outdoor spaces. And for family. The jury's still out on the dog....
My first thought: good thing they reached a decision. Second thought: bad thing they reached a decision. Nobody seems happy, although the Obama people seem semi-O.K. with it. So, now we await the decisions of the voters in South Dakota and Montana, who likely will side with Obama. But will probably not provide an end to this long march.
Who won Puerto Rico? Bet it was Hillary.
One more thing. For our camping trip, we left the minivan at home and jammed everything into Chris's Saturn Ion. We don't backpack anymore (bad knees!), surviving the weekend on granola and cooking on a stove so tiny it can fit in the palm of your hand. We're not "roughing it" campers, either, just a step up from that. We're car campers, which means that we assemble everything in the basement that looks like camping gear, throw it into the car and take off. No TVs or electronic devices except for the cellphone that my wife needs for work. This plan works well when you're using the minivan which also has a car-top carrier we can use for overflow.
We don't have the luxury of space in the car. We can put a small cooler or a box of food in the back seat with the kid and dog. The rest has to go in the trunk. I had to do triage as we hauled stuff from the house. Yes to the sleeping bag, yes to the roll-up ground pad, no to the gigantic inflatable mattress, no to the camp chair with the cup holder. Yes to the battery-powered lantern, no to the propane lantern and propane canisters and extra mantles. A hue and cry went out every time a tough decision was made. "Dad -- I need that huge air mattress." Says I: "Then the dog has to stay home." Pouting ensued. My wife usually likes to bring about 50 pillows but I requested a two-pillow limit. Fine, she said, I'll use yours. Which she did.
We wanted to prove that a family can go camping without the minivan or the SUV. The family can, but it's a pain in the ass. We saved money on gas, as the Saturn gets 35 mpg on the highway to less than 20 for our Dodge Caravan. We can send the savings the the Democratic Party candidates and causes of our choice. Less fuel used, less carbon in the atmosphere. And we can feel superior to all the SUVs and Hummers on the road. We can feel vastly superior to the RV users, as they are driving the dinosaurs of the open road.
But most of what I felt this weekend was gratitude for national parks and outdoor spaces. And for family. The jury's still out on the dog....
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Progblog-o-rama set for Denver convention
The Democratic National Convention Committee announced this yesterday:
In 2004, the DNCC credentialed about 30 blogs to cover the Convention in Boston - the first Convention to credential bloggers. Recently, the DNCC announced that 55 blogs focused on state and local politics were selected to be members of the DemConvention State Blogger Corps. Altogether, the DNCC will credential more than 120 blogs for the Convention and many more individuals will blog the Convention via credentials issued through the U.S. Congressional Press Galleries.The complete list of blogs credentialed to date can be found at www.DemConvention.com/credentialed-blogs.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
More Wyoming super-delegates for Obama
The Casper Star-Tribune and the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle both carried stories today that Sen. Barack Obama had picked up his fifth super-delegate from the state. Nancy Drummond, vice chair of the state party, announced Tuesday that she'll throw her support behind Obama.
On Monday, I posted news that three super-delegates had announced publicly their support for Obama. I'm not sure whom I missed. It's either Rep. Patrick Goggles or State Committeewoman Cynthia Nunley. I'll check this out and get back to you tomorrow with all the names. If it is five supers that have declared for Obama, that gives him a 12-5 delegate advantage over Sen. Hillary Clinton.
What will the last three state contests bring? More Obama delegates. Will Florida and Michigan get half-votes for their delegates, as rumored by the media today?
Every delegate counts....
On Monday, I posted news that three super-delegates had announced publicly their support for Obama. I'm not sure whom I missed. It's either Rep. Patrick Goggles or State Committeewoman Cynthia Nunley. I'll check this out and get back to you tomorrow with all the names. If it is five supers that have declared for Obama, that gives him a 12-5 delegate advantage over Sen. Hillary Clinton.
What will the last three state contests bring? More Obama delegates. Will Florida and Michigan get half-votes for their delegates, as rumored by the media today?
Every delegate counts....
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
What is your favorite Sen. Enzi moment?
Last night, the Laramie County Democrats grilled U.S. Senate candidate Chris Rothfuss about energy, health care, and his strategy for defeating Republican incumbent Mike Enzi.
Rothfuss said that Enzi had spent his time in the Senate "just saying yes to George Bush" and the asked: "What is your favorite Sen. Enzi moment? I can't think of any."
Well, some of us Dems do have some favorable Sen. Enzi moments. That's the problem. He's a smart, likable guy with a responsive D.C. staff who shows up at events, everything from the state fair to book festivals. He buys and reads books!
But he's one of them. He votes with the Bushies almost 100 percent of the time. He supports the Iraq War, refuses to support Sen. Webb's "21st Century G.I. Bill," says that Social Security is "an entitlement program," and says that our broken health care system can be solved with free-market solutions.
"He works hard but not effectively," said Rothfuss. He emphasizes that this is "a winnable election for the Democrats." His specialty as a chemical engineer is energy, which is a big plus in the era of $4-per-gallon gas, alternative fuels, and a raging debate over coal gasification. "I've had hands-on experience with the types of energy development Wyoming will be involved in."
Wyoming is the leading exporter of energy to the rest of the U.S., he said, "but when we're in D.C., we sit back and let California and Texas tell us what to do. Wyoming needs a strong voice on energy. This is how I see the delineation between me and Sen. Enzi."
More about Rothfuss vs. Enzi in future posts.
Rothfuss said that Enzi had spent his time in the Senate "just saying yes to George Bush" and the asked: "What is your favorite Sen. Enzi moment? I can't think of any."
Well, some of us Dems do have some favorable Sen. Enzi moments. That's the problem. He's a smart, likable guy with a responsive D.C. staff who shows up at events, everything from the state fair to book festivals. He buys and reads books!
But he's one of them. He votes with the Bushies almost 100 percent of the time. He supports the Iraq War, refuses to support Sen. Webb's "21st Century G.I. Bill," says that Social Security is "an entitlement program," and says that our broken health care system can be solved with free-market solutions.
"He works hard but not effectively," said Rothfuss. He emphasizes that this is "a winnable election for the Democrats." His specialty as a chemical engineer is energy, which is a big plus in the era of $4-per-gallon gas, alternative fuels, and a raging debate over coal gasification. "I've had hands-on experience with the types of energy development Wyoming will be involved in."
Wyoming is the leading exporter of energy to the rest of the U.S., he said, "but when we're in D.C., we sit back and let California and Texas tell us what to do. Wyoming needs a strong voice on energy. This is how I see the delineation between me and Sen. Enzi."
More about Rothfuss vs. Enzi in future posts.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Trying to make sense of delegate count
While I was in Jackson over the weekend, I was diligent in tracking the votes for delegates to the national convention. I documented the results in a May 24 on-site post.
Along the way, there was some confusion as to who -- and what -- we were voting for.
Convention chair Debbie Hammonds led us through two sets of delegate votes. The first was fairly clear-cut, as we elected the district and at-large delegates. Those who wanted to run for a spot to Denver had to register in advance. Many lobbied delegates in creative ways. Sara Burlingame from Cheyenne made large campaign buttons featuring her and her very cute (and very bald) baby boy. At her behest, and because she's a fine poet and bread maker, I wore one of those buttons throughout the proceedings.
Other district candidates distributed pens (Willie Neal of Teton County), candy (again, Willie Neal), postcards (Marcia Kunstel, Teton County), pseudo-prescription forms (Jason Bloomberg, M.D., Laramie County), and color flyers on the flip side of Obama placards (Rev. Rodney McDowell, Laramie County).
The most effective pitch came from four Obama supporters from Albany County. Lorraine Saulino-Klein, Rey Fuentes, Jacquelyn Bridgeman, and Mike Massie pooled resources and bought an ad featuring all of their smiling faces in the convention program. They also worked the crowds at the Friday reception and during the convention. Fuentes and Saulino-Klein mailed letters to each delegate several weeks before the convention.
All four earned slots to DenDemCon08. Pretty good marketing, I'd say. It helps that Massie is a well-known and respected senator from the county. And their slate represented a real ethnic and experiential cross-section of Democrats in the county.
But Massie almost didn't make the cut. There was some confusion after lunch as we voted for the rest of the delegates. We Obama supporters had a large slate of at-large candidates to pick two delegates and one alternate. Clinton supporters had a pretty large field to choose their one delegate in this category. Then came the much smaller slates for Party Leader Elected Officials (PLEO). Sen. Mike Massie's name wasn't on the list, which startled the Albany County delegation. The very tall senator went to the podium for an appeal. The Obama slate was quickly amended and Massie was chosen as the PLEO.
The confusion came with the Unpledged Add-On candidate. Only one name was projected on the screen: Rep. Patrick Goggles. Some of the Clinton delegates wondered aloud how Goggles could be a candidate when his name wasn't on the Fremont County delegate list. They were more concerned that Goggles wasn't "uncommitted" but, in reality, a stealth Obama delegate. Some of them brought their concerns to the convention chair and to John Millin, who nominated Goggles. Not sure what transpired, as I was trying to decide among the gazillion names on the Obama at-large list.
Goggles won, making him the sixth super-delegate in the Wyoming delegation to Denver.
My count now shows Obama with 7 delegates and Clinton with 5. So far, three super-delegates have pledged for Obama: John Millin, state central committee chair; Pete Jorgensen, national committeeman; and Gov. Dave Freudenthal. That makes it 10-5, Obama. You can add a "strong maybe" to the list for Patrick Goggles. Cynthia Nunley, the state's national committeewoman, is uncommitted, as is Nancy Drummond, the vice chair for the state central committee. If they all come over to Obama, that will make it it 13-5. Good numbers.
Thanks for your patience with this political arcana. Seems as if politics is made up of such stuff. Stepping-stones to more exciting times, such as the future moment when Sen. Obama accepts the Democratic Party nomination in Denver.
To view some convention photos, go to my web site and click on WyoDemCon08 under "Slideshows" on sidebar.
Along the way, there was some confusion as to who -- and what -- we were voting for.
Convention chair Debbie Hammonds led us through two sets of delegate votes. The first was fairly clear-cut, as we elected the district and at-large delegates. Those who wanted to run for a spot to Denver had to register in advance. Many lobbied delegates in creative ways. Sara Burlingame from Cheyenne made large campaign buttons featuring her and her very cute (and very bald) baby boy. At her behest, and because she's a fine poet and bread maker, I wore one of those buttons throughout the proceedings.
Other district candidates distributed pens (Willie Neal of Teton County), candy (again, Willie Neal), postcards (Marcia Kunstel, Teton County), pseudo-prescription forms (Jason Bloomberg, M.D., Laramie County), and color flyers on the flip side of Obama placards (Rev. Rodney McDowell, Laramie County).
The most effective pitch came from four Obama supporters from Albany County. Lorraine Saulino-Klein, Rey Fuentes, Jacquelyn Bridgeman, and Mike Massie pooled resources and bought an ad featuring all of their smiling faces in the convention program. They also worked the crowds at the Friday reception and during the convention. Fuentes and Saulino-Klein mailed letters to each delegate several weeks before the convention.
All four earned slots to DenDemCon08. Pretty good marketing, I'd say. It helps that Massie is a well-known and respected senator from the county. And their slate represented a real ethnic and experiential cross-section of Democrats in the county.
But Massie almost didn't make the cut. There was some confusion after lunch as we voted for the rest of the delegates. We Obama supporters had a large slate of at-large candidates to pick two delegates and one alternate. Clinton supporters had a pretty large field to choose their one delegate in this category. Then came the much smaller slates for Party Leader Elected Officials (PLEO). Sen. Mike Massie's name wasn't on the list, which startled the Albany County delegation. The very tall senator went to the podium for an appeal. The Obama slate was quickly amended and Massie was chosen as the PLEO.
The confusion came with the Unpledged Add-On candidate. Only one name was projected on the screen: Rep. Patrick Goggles. Some of the Clinton delegates wondered aloud how Goggles could be a candidate when his name wasn't on the Fremont County delegate list. They were more concerned that Goggles wasn't "uncommitted" but, in reality, a stealth Obama delegate. Some of them brought their concerns to the convention chair and to John Millin, who nominated Goggles. Not sure what transpired, as I was trying to decide among the gazillion names on the Obama at-large list.
Goggles won, making him the sixth super-delegate in the Wyoming delegation to Denver.
My count now shows Obama with 7 delegates and Clinton with 5. So far, three super-delegates have pledged for Obama: John Millin, state central committee chair; Pete Jorgensen, national committeeman; and Gov. Dave Freudenthal. That makes it 10-5, Obama. You can add a "strong maybe" to the list for Patrick Goggles. Cynthia Nunley, the state's national committeewoman, is uncommitted, as is Nancy Drummond, the vice chair for the state central committee. If they all come over to Obama, that will make it it 13-5. Good numbers.
Thanks for your patience with this political arcana. Seems as if politics is made up of such stuff. Stepping-stones to more exciting times, such as the future moment when Sen. Obama accepts the Democratic Party nomination in Denver.
To view some convention photos, go to my web site and click on WyoDemCon08 under "Slideshows" on sidebar.
Happy Memorial Day, Mr. President
While Pres. Bush is mouthing platitudes at Arlington National Cemetery, and receiving leather jackets from misguided bikers, the New York Times is telling it like it is:
President Bush opposes a new G.I. Bill of Rights. He worries that if the traditional path to college for service members since World War II is improved and expanded for the post-9/11 generation, too many people will take it.
He is wrong, but at least he is consistent. Having saddled the military with a botched, unwinnable war, having squandered soldiers’ lives and failed them in so many ways, the commander in chief now resists giving the troops a chance at better futures out of uniform. He does this on the ground that the bill is too generous and may discourage re-enlistment, further weakening the military he has done so much to break.
So lavish with other people’s sacrifices, so reckless in pouring the national treasure into the sandy pit of Iraq, Mr. Bush remains as cheap as ever when it comes to helping people at home.
Broyles: "America, we have a problem"
As a writer, screenwriter (Apollo 13) and editor for almost 40 years, William Broyles, Jr., knows a good metaphor when he sees one.During a speech May 24 at the Democratic State Convention in Jackson, Broyles (shown above at podium) talked about shovels and war. When he had finished his year in Vietnam and was "ready to get on that freedom bird and go home," his Marine Corps sergeant intervened. Lt. Broyles had checked out a shovel and hadn’t returned it. He didn’t have one, but the sergeant insisted: no shovel, no freedom bird. So Broyles bought a shovel on the black market and turned it in. He flew home, carrying with him a lesson in accountability.
"That’s the kind of attitude we used to have," he said. These days, during the Bush Administration’s endless war in Iraq, "we shovel all of our money to a few large corporations" which are also pals of Bush and Cheney. "We worked hard for that money. I take it personally."
Broyles, an Obama delegate to the convention from Teton County, moved the luncheon crowd with the story of his son, David. He moved himself, too, stopping several times as he choked back tears. David graduated from the University of Texas "and enlisted with a great deal of idealism," serving as a pararescue jumper with the U.S. Air Force. He’s the fourth generation of Broyles’ men to serve in combat.
"With each tour in Iraq, he grew to hate the war – for the men in his unit and all the others," he said.
At home, Broyles couldn’t answer the phone when it rang. When he heard about another batch of young Americans blown up by a roadside bomb, he thought of his son.
"There better be a good reason when you go to war," said Broyles. "If you abuse their trust, you create a hole in their soul and the soul of America."
American military men and women are returning home in droves with amputated limbs and traumatic brain injury and mental health problems. Broyles said that a thousand attempt suicide each month.
David’s new mission is to help wounded veterans. He swam the Strait of Gibraltar in 2006 with Army officer Rush Vann, a feat documented in the new film, "Swim," which will be screened this summer at the Jackson Hole Film Festival. Their goal was to raise money and awareness for disabled veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. According to the JHFF web site, they were only "the 16th and 17th Americans to record a successful crossing. Fewer Americans have accomplished their challenge than have climbed Mount Everest." [See a clip of "Swim" at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTABAKB6i38]
So, while some families sacrifice much during wartime, others don’t.
"I take it personally when I see George Bush, who dodged Vietnam, and Dick Cheney, who dodged the draft, talk about sacrifice," Broyles said. He reeled off a list of Republican "warriors" who never served in the military (Rush Limbaugh) to those who have military-age sons with better things to do (Mitt Romney and his five sons). He takes it personally when Bush and John McCain think that sacrifice is giving tax cuts to the rich, many of whom are making a bundle as war profiteers. He takes it personally when he hears about military coffins coming back from the war, some ending up cremated at pet cemeteries. He takes it personally when he sees George Bush "giving up golf to support the troops." [Note to readers: Dubya has ended his golf hiatus, causing many of us to wonder if the war is over and "mission accomplished."]
Broyles wants the U.S. to withdraw now from Iraq. "We can’t solve this – the Iraqis have to solve it," he said. "We withdraw now or five years from now – we’ll have the same result."
He injected some history from the Vietnam War. Richard Nixon campaigned in 1968 with a plan to end the Vietnam War. Once elected, he changed his mind. "25,000 to 30,000 names on The Wall were written by Richard Nixon," Broyles said, adding that another million or so Vietnamese also died. The main reason give by U.S. strategists for the war was to stop the takeover of Southeast Asia by communists – China and the U.S.S.R. Four years after the end of the war in April 1975, a united communist Vietnam went to war with communist neighbor China. Less than 15 years after the end of the Vietnam War, the Soviet Union collapsed. "Vietnam is now one of the strongest countries in Asia," Broyles noted. It didn’t happen overnight, but both the U.S. and Vietnam were stronger when the war ended.
"The longest love affair of my life is with the U.S. Marine Corps," said Broyles, a lifelong Democrat. "One thing I learned in Vietnam – never ever leave anyone behind. It’s a Marine Corps value. It’s an American value."
The goal for the Democrats in the 2008 election, he said, is to "leave nobody behind," no matter their race or gender or economic circumstances. "We’re going to take everyone with us – and a lot of Republicans, too."
Broyles bio:
Bill Broyles grew up in Baytown, Texas, where he worked in the oil fields to pay his way through Rice University. He was a Marshall Scholar at Oxford University, worked in the civil rights movement, and then served in Vietnam as a Marine Corps infantry lieutenant.
As a journalist, he was founding editor of the very lively Texas Monthly and, from 1982-84, was editor-in-chief of Newsweek.
He has published his work in The New York Times, Atlantic, Esquire, and The Economist, among many others. He wrote the book Brothers in Arms about his Vietnam experience, and was the co-creator of the Emmy Award-winning TV series China Beach. He wrote the original screenplay for the movie Cast Away and the screenplay for Jarhead. He has co-authored six other screenplays, including Apollo 13, Unfaithful, The Polar Express and Flags of Our Fathers. He was nominated for an Academy Award for the screenplay for Apollo 13. He is married to Andrea, a well-known artist. They live in Wilson, Wyoming, and they have five children: David, Susannah, Katie, James and Bettina.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Friday at the Democratic State Convention
I'm going to have to sharpen my live-blogging skills before the Democratic National Convention in Denver. I prefer to keep track of events the old-fashioned way -- by writing in my journal. And then I transfer those notes to MS Word or the blog. There's something about taking notes that activates some part of my brain and helps with creativity. Live-blogging takes an incredible amount of attention because you have to compose at the same time. I used to be pretty good at that when I was a newspaper reporter, but when I moved to fiction writing, my process changed. I've also added a few decades, which figures into the equation somehow.
So I've been taking notes and making observations during the past two days at the Democratic State Convention here in Jackson. I have some entries in my journal to share and there will be more over the next few days, especially when I get back to Cheyenne and download my photos. I have a great post planned for Memorial Day. Jackson's Bill Broyles delivered the luncheon speech yesterday during the convention. He's a Marine Corps veteran of Vietnam, a lifelong Democrat, and a writer of books and screenplays. His speech was a knockout and, on a Memorial Day during wartime, I'll do my best to deliver it via blog.
Meanwhile, here's a journal entry I put together Friday night....
Dems will meet in Jackson if the Good Lord is willin' and the creeks don't rise.
Don't know about the will of the Lord -- I'll leave that to the Rapture Right. But the creeks did rise, tornadoes spun from black skies, blizzards obscured I-80, and -- according to some unnamed sources -- frogs fell from the heavens.
Still, we all managed to gather across the (Snake) River in Jackson for the Wyoming Democratic Convention.
I don't have a head count, but to judge by the hordes crowding the buffet tables Feriday evening, I'd say that most of the delgates and alternates arrived safely. Some even brought their little kids and babies (family values!). Sara Burlingame from Laramie County brought five-month-old Atticus. The mother-son duop were featured on a campaign button seeking votes as an Obama delegate to the August national convention (she was voted in -- see previous post).
The Dems were in a jolly mood -- and not just from the mass quantities of Snake River Lager. This is a big year for Democrats. We have two great candidates running for president. We have become mightily pissed off during the past eight years of Bush and part-time Jackson resident Dick Cheney. We’ve been working hard for a Dem victory in 2008 and a return to sanity. We also have great candidates running for the U.S. House and Senate, and for the State Legislature.
A truly great time to be a Democrat in Wyoming. This phrase was uttered innumerable times during the course of the convention.
And then there was the free food and beer.
Gary Trauner was at the reception, swarmed by delegates and alternates from Crook County in the northeast corner to Uinta County in the southwest – and everyone in between. In 2006, Gary did well in my corner of the state (southeast) and his corner, the northwest, land of the Tetons and Jackson Hole. He captured the cities but fell short in rural counties, and plans a more concentrated effort this time. So, when I saw him talking to the Big Horn County delegates from Lovell and Manderson, I grew hopeful. You can do it!
Other candidates at the reception included Nick Carter and Keith Goodenough, candidates for U.S. Senate. A number of current, former, and future state legislators were on hand.
Governor Dave Freudenthal and First Lady Nancy were some of the last Dems at the reception. Even after the food ran out, they still were encircled. Gov Dave is a Bill Clinton-style pol (although an Obama supporter) with the ability to stay at any political event until the last hand is shook and the last person is schmoozed (can that be a verb?).
After the reception, and down on the pool deck, Wyoming for Obama Director Chris Farrell briefed us on Saturday’s proceedings. We were charged to be at the Ice Arena/Conference Center early to hang signs and get primed for the day. As Chris briefed, rain sluiced off the Snow King roof onto our fatigued heads. Even this baptism by Teton County rain couldn’t ease my tired bones. So, my wife Chris and I were early to bed Friday night.
Next post: Saturday at the convention
So I've been taking notes and making observations during the past two days at the Democratic State Convention here in Jackson. I have some entries in my journal to share and there will be more over the next few days, especially when I get back to Cheyenne and download my photos. I have a great post planned for Memorial Day. Jackson's Bill Broyles delivered the luncheon speech yesterday during the convention. He's a Marine Corps veteran of Vietnam, a lifelong Democrat, and a writer of books and screenplays. His speech was a knockout and, on a Memorial Day during wartime, I'll do my best to deliver it via blog.
Meanwhile, here's a journal entry I put together Friday night....
Dems will meet in Jackson if the Good Lord is willin' and the creeks don't rise.
Don't know about the will of the Lord -- I'll leave that to the Rapture Right. But the creeks did rise, tornadoes spun from black skies, blizzards obscured I-80, and -- according to some unnamed sources -- frogs fell from the heavens.
Still, we all managed to gather across the (Snake) River in Jackson for the Wyoming Democratic Convention.
I don't have a head count, but to judge by the hordes crowding the buffet tables Feriday evening, I'd say that most of the delgates and alternates arrived safely. Some even brought their little kids and babies (family values!). Sara Burlingame from Laramie County brought five-month-old Atticus. The mother-son duop were featured on a campaign button seeking votes as an Obama delegate to the August national convention (she was voted in -- see previous post).
The Dems were in a jolly mood -- and not just from the mass quantities of Snake River Lager. This is a big year for Democrats. We have two great candidates running for president. We have become mightily pissed off during the past eight years of Bush and part-time Jackson resident Dick Cheney. We’ve been working hard for a Dem victory in 2008 and a return to sanity. We also have great candidates running for the U.S. House and Senate, and for the State Legislature.
A truly great time to be a Democrat in Wyoming. This phrase was uttered innumerable times during the course of the convention.
And then there was the free food and beer.
Gary Trauner was at the reception, swarmed by delegates and alternates from Crook County in the northeast corner to Uinta County in the southwest – and everyone in between. In 2006, Gary did well in my corner of the state (southeast) and his corner, the northwest, land of the Tetons and Jackson Hole. He captured the cities but fell short in rural counties, and plans a more concentrated effort this time. So, when I saw him talking to the Big Horn County delegates from Lovell and Manderson, I grew hopeful. You can do it!
Other candidates at the reception included Nick Carter and Keith Goodenough, candidates for U.S. Senate. A number of current, former, and future state legislators were on hand.
Governor Dave Freudenthal and First Lady Nancy were some of the last Dems at the reception. Even after the food ran out, they still were encircled. Gov Dave is a Bill Clinton-style pol (although an Obama supporter) with the ability to stay at any political event until the last hand is shook and the last person is schmoozed (can that be a verb?).
After the reception, and down on the pool deck, Wyoming for Obama Director Chris Farrell briefed us on Saturday’s proceedings. We were charged to be at the Ice Arena/Conference Center early to hang signs and get primed for the day. As Chris briefed, rain sluiced off the Snow King roof onto our fatigued heads. Even this baptism by Teton County rain couldn’t ease my tired bones. So, my wife Chris and I were early to bed Friday night.
Next post: Saturday at the convention
Saturday, May 24, 2008
WyoDems select national delegates
First, the news....
Here are the names of the Wyoming Democrats elected to go to the national convention in Denver Aug. 25-28:
Obama district-level delegates are Sara Burlingame, Laramie County; Jacquelyn Bridgeman, Albany County; Rey Fuentes, Albany County; and Willie Neal, Teton County. Obama alternates are Mike Bell, Laramie County; Jean Jorgensen, Teton County; and Michelle Sullivan, Sheridan County.
Clinton district-level delegates are Jason Bloomberg, Laramie County; Kathy Karpan, Laramie County; and Ann Robinson, Natrona County. Alternate is Dave Lerner, Laramie County.
Obama at-large delegates are Lorraine Saulino-Klein, Albany County; and Layha Spoonhunter, Fremont County. Alternate is Marcia Kunstel, Teton County.
Clinton at-large delegate is Shirley Davis, Natrona County.
Obama Party Leader Elected Officials (PLEO) delegate is Mike Massie, Albany County.
Clinton PLEO is Mary Hales, Natrona County.
The gavel rang down on the convention at 5:45 p.m. at the Ice Arena. In a hurry to move on to the evening's events. More WyoDemCon08 blogging during the next two days....
Here are the names of the Wyoming Democrats elected to go to the national convention in Denver Aug. 25-28:
Obama district-level delegates are Sara Burlingame, Laramie County; Jacquelyn Bridgeman, Albany County; Rey Fuentes, Albany County; and Willie Neal, Teton County. Obama alternates are Mike Bell, Laramie County; Jean Jorgensen, Teton County; and Michelle Sullivan, Sheridan County.
Clinton district-level delegates are Jason Bloomberg, Laramie County; Kathy Karpan, Laramie County; and Ann Robinson, Natrona County. Alternate is Dave Lerner, Laramie County.
Obama at-large delegates are Lorraine Saulino-Klein, Albany County; and Layha Spoonhunter, Fremont County. Alternate is Marcia Kunstel, Teton County.
Clinton at-large delegate is Shirley Davis, Natrona County.
Obama Party Leader Elected Officials (PLEO) delegate is Mike Massie, Albany County.
Clinton PLEO is Mary Hales, Natrona County.
The gavel rang down on the convention at 5:45 p.m. at the Ice Arena. In a hurry to move on to the evening's events. More WyoDemCon08 blogging during the next two days....
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Great idea: debates in all 23 Wyo. counties
Cynthia Lummis, a Republican U.S. House candidate from Laramie County, wants to debate her Repub opponents in all 23 Wyoming counties before the Aug. 19 primary election. This comes from a story in today’s Casper Star-Tribune.
She would go toe-to-toe against the other three announced candidates: Mark Gordon, a Sheridan County rancher; Bill Winney of Bondurant; and Dr. Michael Holland of Green River.
Said Lummis:
Very funny. "Heighten awareness of Republican issues" in a state where Repub voters outnumber Dems two-to-one and control the State Legislature and four of five elected offices.
If she clinches the primary, I hope that Ms. Lummis will also agree to debate Gary Trauner, the probable Democratic Party candidate for Barbara Cubin’s old U.S. House seat. Maybe those debates could raise issues that are important to ALL Wyomingites.
She would go toe-to-toe against the other three announced candidates: Mark Gordon, a Sheridan County rancher; Bill Winney of Bondurant; and Dr. Michael Holland of Green River.
Said Lummis:
"We want to heighten awareness of Republican issues and Republican races... All the attention lately has been on the Democratic presidential race, and we want to shift the emphasis, at least here in Wyoming, to another very competitive race, which is the Republican U.S. House race."
Very funny. "Heighten awareness of Republican issues" in a state where Repub voters outnumber Dems two-to-one and control the State Legislature and four of five elected offices.
If she clinches the primary, I hope that Ms. Lummis will also agree to debate Gary Trauner, the probable Democratic Party candidate for Barbara Cubin’s old U.S. House seat. Maybe those debates could raise issues that are important to ALL Wyomingites.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Political mail rolling in
The political mail is elbowing the bills out of my mailbox. That's fine by me. Today I received campaign letters from The Committee to Elect Nick Carter for U.S. Senate. Carter is running against Dr. John Barrasso and I plan on voting for the Gillette Democrat.
But Keith Goodenough of Casper also wants the Barrasso seat. He calls himself a "Democratic party-builder since 1984, the first year I placed my name on the ballot as a Wyoming Democrat." Back in those dark days, they'd run you out of town if they knew your Liberal leanings. These days, it's a little bit safer in Cheyenne and maybe even in Casper, although Goodenough notes that "Natrona County is not a hotbed of liberalism." And it's the place where Dick Cheney grew up and went to high school. Goodenough writes an e-mail newsletter that it informative and quirky, not necessarily in that order.
Carter and Goodenough and some others will face off in the August primary.
Tim Kingston sent a letter asking for my support as an Obama delegate to the national convention. He's past-chairman of the Laramie County Democrats and has been the state platform chair for the past twelve years. I admire anyone who takes on the platform chores.
Other Obama delegates seeking my support for the big bash in Denver include my state representative, Lori Millin, and current county chairman Mike Bell. Cynthia Nunley asked for my vote in her re-election at national committeewoman for Wyoming. Laramie's Chris Rothfuss, who's running against our other Republican U.S. Senator, Mike Enzi, sent me an e-mail seeking support and a contribution. And Tony Reyes wants my support in his run for House District No. 9, although I'm in a different district. Maybe I'll have to move before August.
But Keith Goodenough of Casper also wants the Barrasso seat. He calls himself a "Democratic party-builder since 1984, the first year I placed my name on the ballot as a Wyoming Democrat." Back in those dark days, they'd run you out of town if they knew your Liberal leanings. These days, it's a little bit safer in Cheyenne and maybe even in Casper, although Goodenough notes that "Natrona County is not a hotbed of liberalism." And it's the place where Dick Cheney grew up and went to high school. Goodenough writes an e-mail newsletter that it informative and quirky, not necessarily in that order.
Carter and Goodenough and some others will face off in the August primary.
Tim Kingston sent a letter asking for my support as an Obama delegate to the national convention. He's past-chairman of the Laramie County Democrats and has been the state platform chair for the past twelve years. I admire anyone who takes on the platform chores.
Other Obama delegates seeking my support for the big bash in Denver include my state representative, Lori Millin, and current county chairman Mike Bell. Cynthia Nunley asked for my vote in her re-election at national committeewoman for Wyoming. Laramie's Chris Rothfuss, who's running against our other Republican U.S. Senator, Mike Enzi, sent me an e-mail seeking support and a contribution. And Tony Reyes wants my support in his run for House District No. 9, although I'm in a different district. Maybe I'll have to move before August.
In the West, crowds gather for Obama
Everyone in Wyoming turned out to see Sen. Barack Obama today...Just kidding. This photo shows the crowd along the banks of the Willamette River in Portland, Ore., on Sunday. Somewhere between 75,000 and 80,000 people turned out for the rally in advance of the May 20 primary. Sen. Obama was in Montana today, campaigning for the state's June 3 primary. He also was adopted into the Crow Nation.
County Dems set May 30 press conference
The Laramie County Democrats will host a press conference for county Democrats who have declared they will seek public office. The event will take place at 117 W. 17th St. in Cheyenne on Friday, May 30, beginning at 11:30 a.m.
May 30 comes at the tail end of the registration period. Here's some info from the Wyoming Democratic Party web site:
LarCoDems Chairman Mike Bell stated that, "This is a great year for Democrats to seek public office. We hope to give candidates an opportunity to meet with the media and the public to kick off their campaigns with enthusiasm.”
The Laramie County Democratic Party office at 117 W. 17th St. also serves as the Cheyenne branch of the Wyoming Democratic Party headquarters.
FMI: Nicole Novotny, LarCoDems secretary, 307-514-4685.
May 30 comes at the tail end of the registration period. Here's some info from the Wyoming Democratic Party web site:
Candidates for for any county, state or federal office must file between May 18, 2006 and June 2, 2006. Candidates for county offices file their statement of candidacy at the local county clerk's office. Candidates for
state legislature, statewide office, and federal office must file during this period with the Secretary of State. To comply with federal law, candidates for federal office may also need to file statements of candidacy and campaign finance reports with the Federal Election Commission and the Secretary of the Senate. For help with the filing process, please contact the state party office at 800-729-3367.
LarCoDems Chairman Mike Bell stated that, "This is a great year for Democrats to seek public office. We hope to give candidates an opportunity to meet with the media and the public to kick off their campaigns with enthusiasm.”
The Laramie County Democratic Party office at 117 W. 17th St. also serves as the Cheyenne branch of the Wyoming Democratic Party headquarters.
FMI: Nicole Novotny, LarCoDems secretary, 307-514-4685.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Obama delegates get campaign briefing
This evening, Chris Farrell dropped into a local gathering of Obama delegates and briefed us on our role in the upcoming Wyoming Democrats state convention. To sum up: attend the convention and cast your vote for Sen. Barack Obama.
The tally of confirmed delegates, thus far, is 189 for Obama and 121 for Clinton. In Laramie County, we are sending 34 for Obama and 21 for Clinton. We have the largest slate of delegates in Wyoming. The second largest is Natrona County with 42 total delegates, split evenly between the two remaining candidates.
At the meeting, Farrell handed out call sheets of Obama delegates, and we volunteered to make calls to encourage their attendance in Jackson. I volunteered to make calls to Torrington, Sundance, Hulett, Riverton, Arapahoe, Glenrock, Douglas, Saratoga and Rawlins. These will be friendly voices at the other end, unlike some of the curt and sometimes hostile voices we encountered when making calls leading up the March 8 Wyoming primary and the recent primary in Pennsylvania (still calls to make in Montana). All of us are hoping that a late-spring blizzard does not disrupt the delegate flow to Teton County.
As I mentioned in an earlier post, the action gets underway Friday at 6 p.m. with a reception. This will be followed by an 8 p.m. reception in Rafferty's Bar at Snow King to boost the campaign of Kathryn Sessions for national committeewoman. The business of the convention gets going at 8 a.m. on Saturday.
Before arriving in Wyoming, Farrell was the regional director for the Obama campaign in northeastern Indiana. He'll be in the state through the convention and then it's off to somewhere else.
If you need info about "Wyoming for Obama," call Farrell at 319-371-8180. Or go to the web site at my.barackobama.com/page/content/wyhome
The tally of confirmed delegates, thus far, is 189 for Obama and 121 for Clinton. In Laramie County, we are sending 34 for Obama and 21 for Clinton. We have the largest slate of delegates in Wyoming. The second largest is Natrona County with 42 total delegates, split evenly between the two remaining candidates.
At the meeting, Farrell handed out call sheets of Obama delegates, and we volunteered to make calls to encourage their attendance in Jackson. I volunteered to make calls to Torrington, Sundance, Hulett, Riverton, Arapahoe, Glenrock, Douglas, Saratoga and Rawlins. These will be friendly voices at the other end, unlike some of the curt and sometimes hostile voices we encountered when making calls leading up the March 8 Wyoming primary and the recent primary in Pennsylvania (still calls to make in Montana). All of us are hoping that a late-spring blizzard does not disrupt the delegate flow to Teton County.
As I mentioned in an earlier post, the action gets underway Friday at 6 p.m. with a reception. This will be followed by an 8 p.m. reception in Rafferty's Bar at Snow King to boost the campaign of Kathryn Sessions for national committeewoman. The business of the convention gets going at 8 a.m. on Saturday.
Before arriving in Wyoming, Farrell was the regional director for the Obama campaign in northeastern Indiana. He'll be in the state through the convention and then it's off to somewhere else.
If you need info about "Wyoming for Obama," call Farrell at 319-371-8180. Or go to the web site at my.barackobama.com/page/content/wyhome
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Why Obama is our guy in the West
Great article by Matthew Frank posted May 15 in the newly redesigned New West: "Why Obama is Winning the West: Western Democratic leaders give glimpses into why they -- and people in Colorado, Utah, Idaho and Wyoming -- have chosen Obama as their guy." Don't forget to linger over the many comments (pro, con and puzzling) at the end. Go to http://www.newwest.net/topic/article/why_has_obama_won_over_westerners/C37/L37/#comments
WyoDemCon08 opens May 23 in Jackson
The countdown begins for the Wyoming Democrats' state convention in Jackson May 23-24.
Actually, the countdown began March 8 at all 23 county caucuses when delegates were chosen. Laramie County has 55 delegates, split among Sen. Obama and Sen. Clinton. The presidential preference vote determined the split. On March 8, 941 votes were cast for Obama, 588 for Clinton. I'm an Obama delegate. There's a batch of alternates for each candidate, although I'm not sure how many. My wife Chris is a Clinton alternate.
Activities in Jackson will begin Friday at 9 a.m. with candidate training. Because it's 430 miles from Cheyenne to Jackson, anyone involved in these meetings will have to depart on Thursday. Unless they have their own corporate jet -- we'll leave that to the Republicans. Most of us won't be able to take off until Thursday after work or Friday morning. The opening reception is at 6 p.m. Friday. The fun really begins on Saturday morning, with registration starting at 8 a.m. and the proceedings at 9 a.m.
There's a lot riding on this gathering of Democrats in the nation's least populous state. We will choose 18 delegates and four alternates to the national convention. Some of those spots are already spoken for. The WyoDems use a "two-tiered delegate selection process." You can read the details at http://www.wyomingdemocrats.com/ht/d/sp/i/1015876/pid/1015876. I'm not in the running for a spot because I'm going to DenDemCon08 as a blogger and maker of ridiculous abbreviations.
This afternoon, Chris Farrell of the Obama campaign is going to brief us on our roles at the state gathering. Sen. Obama's organizers have been very active in the state all year. Gov. Dave Freudenthat cited those skills as one of the main reasons he became an Obama supporter. I've seen the names of those organizers who staffed "Wyoming for Obama" involved in the campaigns in Montana, Colorado and other Western states.
See you in Jackson. And then on to Denver.
Actually, the countdown began March 8 at all 23 county caucuses when delegates were chosen. Laramie County has 55 delegates, split among Sen. Obama and Sen. Clinton. The presidential preference vote determined the split. On March 8, 941 votes were cast for Obama, 588 for Clinton. I'm an Obama delegate. There's a batch of alternates for each candidate, although I'm not sure how many. My wife Chris is a Clinton alternate.
Activities in Jackson will begin Friday at 9 a.m. with candidate training. Because it's 430 miles from Cheyenne to Jackson, anyone involved in these meetings will have to depart on Thursday. Unless they have their own corporate jet -- we'll leave that to the Republicans. Most of us won't be able to take off until Thursday after work or Friday morning. The opening reception is at 6 p.m. Friday. The fun really begins on Saturday morning, with registration starting at 8 a.m. and the proceedings at 9 a.m.
There's a lot riding on this gathering of Democrats in the nation's least populous state. We will choose 18 delegates and four alternates to the national convention. Some of those spots are already spoken for. The WyoDems use a "two-tiered delegate selection process." You can read the details at http://www.wyomingdemocrats.com/ht/d/sp/i/1015876/pid/1015876. I'm not in the running for a spot because I'm going to DenDemCon08 as a blogger and maker of ridiculous abbreviations.
This afternoon, Chris Farrell of the Obama campaign is going to brief us on our roles at the state gathering. Sen. Obama's organizers have been very active in the state all year. Gov. Dave Freudenthat cited those skills as one of the main reasons he became an Obama supporter. I've seen the names of those organizers who staffed "Wyoming for Obama" involved in the campaigns in Montana, Colorado and other Western states.
See you in Jackson. And then on to Denver.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Writing workshop with an antiwar slant
Here’s yet another summer writing workshop, this one with an antiwar slant. This invitation comes from Kevin Bowen, director of the William Joiner Center for the Study of War and Social Consequences, for its 21st annual summer writing workshop June 16-26. Excerpted from the Poets Against War web site:
As we face current world conflicts -- and our own personal writing journeys -- we have a powerful tradition to build on. Our workshop faculty have produced some of the most significant literature to emerge from the Vietnam experience as well as other areas afflicted by war. These
include poets/veterans Bruce Weigl and novelist Larry Heinemann; non-fiction writer Lady Borton (who has lived for 35 years in Vietnam); poet Fred Marchant was discharged from the U.S. Marine Corps as an conscientious objector;
poet/translator Martha Collins, who has been teaching a translation class, which has focused on works in Vietnamese. Novelist Demetria Martinez once faced a potential 25 years in prison for writing about Americans aiding Central American refugees. Poet MacDara Woods brings a perspective to teaching shaped by his experiences of living through "the troubles" in Ireland. One of the high points of the writing workshop is always a visit by Vietnamese writers -- their participation in Martha's class, and in panels. Bruce Weigl, Lady Borton and myself also work on translations as part of the Center's commitment to build bridges with our former "enemies." Last year we had a first-ever panel of veterans of the Gulf War and the Iraq War, moderated by Vietnam veteran Larry Heinemann. As for the 2008 workshop, we very much anticipate participation by poet Afaa Michael Weaver.
The William Joiner Center and our annual workshop are both a hub and a sanctuary for writers coming from all over the
world: people who have fought in wars, protested wars; and all who have survived to bear witness. This letter is an invitation for you to consider being part of the workshop community in 2008. First let me stress that students write about a variety of topics. We do not in any way wish to limit what anyone writes: We are open to the surprises that writing produces, and how that helps us to grow as individuals who, as the late Grace Paley always said, can be "useful" in a troubled world.
To apply, send a letter of interest (the sooner the better) with a writing sample. Include an indication of what genre you wish to work in. Address applications and inquiries about the workshop to T. Michael Sullivan, William Joiner Center, University of Massachusetts. Boston, 100 Morrissey Blvd. Boston, MA 02125-3393. You can contact him at Michael.Sullivan@umb.edu or at 617-287-5850. Last summer we managed, as always, to keep costs relatively low: $400 for two weeks, $220 for one week.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)