The Most important Day of Your Life....
Paulie Brading
is the day after the November 2008 election.
The Democratic Party of Oregon issued press credentials for me to cover the the Oregon Democratic Summitt for BlueOregon which ended at 12:30 PM this afternoon. When I finally slipped the press credentials over my head to dangle on a Democratic Blue string around my neck along with my Jackson County Democratic Chair credentials it was after a private meeting Senator Wyden held with the 36 Democratic Chairs and Vice Chairs and other invited guests. Since the Democratic Summitt was day-by-day reported of by Jenni Greenleaf Simonis and the big "O's" Jeff Mapes, my observations will be more of a report to you as a participant observer. I donned my Jimmy Olsen hat determined to attempt to become a citizen journalist. It wasn't as easy as I'd imagined it would be.
There were at least 30 members of the Oregon Legislature in attendance and certainly campaigning was very much in the mix, buttons and bumper stickers, enthusiatic staffers galore. It was a time for sincere self congratulatulation after long and tedious sessions under the thumb of the Republicans for so many years. No longer did participants hear about plans for when and if the Democrats ever took power; this time stomps, cheers and whistles rang through out the Great Hall jammed with 400 Democrats from every corner of the state whenever a state senator took the mic to celebrate.
Observing Merkley and Novick politely circling one another the entire weekend was endlessly entertaining like two hunters quietly moving toward the same prey, each accutely aware of each other, yet feighning indifference as they crept toward the prize. The same dynamics were played between Brown and Walker and Kroger and Macpherson. An interesting tidbit, Kroger lost to Macpherson in the beery straw poll party by just 3 votes. Folks, we may be looking at a very tough race between two stellar AG candidates with decidedly different experiences and styles.
Other observations; Larry Craig is the gift that just keeps on giving as is George W Bush as they both stumble bumble toward the end of their terms. Many speakers humorously referred to them both during their remarks. The Western Road to the White House was explained in great detail as well as New Jersey becoming the next Ohio; the state to watch to win the 2008 presidential election.
An undercurrent between the County Chairs surfaced during the private meeting with Senator Wyden. A few single issue (impeachment) Democratics in the room forgot they represent all views within their organizations, not just the ones they personally agree with. The follow up small group discussions mirrored the national discussion on impeachment. Political caluculations on the subject continued through out the weekend with most agreeing with Senator Wyden's thoughtful comments about the process he outlined toward winning back the White House in 2008.
For those of us who sit in our jammies writing blogs, commenting, posting and interacting over the internet the words of Parag Methta, were by far the most effective from any speaker from the DNC during the Summitt. Parag is the Director of Training for the DNC. After his energetic presentation about the White House as the #1 goal for the DNC and how to achieve that he paused. With real frustration in his voice he talked about how voters fired the Republicans in 2006, now we are on the road to hiring Democrats in 2008. He said, "If you are still sitting in your basement or office blogging it's time to stop! Go take a shower and storm the castles of the Democratic Party, stop writing to a small circle of folks and come inside."
His stark words spoke to me because I can avoid nearly any activity by reading political blogs and some how rationalize I am helping the cause of progressives. Eighteen months ago I left the sucking blue screen and went to work. I wrote in the first sentence, the most important day of your life is the day after the election. Senator Wyden made that statement. Think about it. Remember how you felt in 2000 and 2004? How will we feel if we have not done all that we can to elect Democrats to end the war, deliver health care to the poor and reclaim our civil liberties?
On a side note, Parag also ticked off a list of the least to most effective ways to deliver one single Democratic vote. The least effective is sign waving, then direct mailing, third, phone calling to the most effective, door-to-door!
My husband who enjoyed two glorious days of fly fishing on Fall River mumbled something about how well yellow humpy's attract rainbows while he drove us home to Medford. I thought about what I might write to all of you.
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Oct 8, '07
Anoint a front runner before the primaries, point out how all the Republican candidates suck, bash George Bush, don't challenge the pundit class, hope that the Democratic leadership grows a spine and choose which cigars to smoke in the back room.
There is no way Oregon is going to play any role in the Western Road to the White House except to provide money to an obscene cash cow for the television networks.
I'm I cynical? Yes. The Democrats won in 2006 because the voters wanted to END THE WAR. They have done nothing.
John 11:35
8:25 a.m.
Oct 8, '07
The Democrats have public opinion on their side. The "do-something" outcry is precisely what the Republicans want; Dems bashing and pummellng one another instead of working to elect more Dems. The way to beat Republicans is to elect more Democrats. Trashing the party is just another way to ensure Republican dominance. We have to get rid of the Oregon Republican Senator.This is the time to build the party, not tear it down.
Oct 8, '07
With all due respect, the November 2008 election is NOT the "most important day of my life." Barring some unforeseen and highly unlikely event I plan to vote for the Democratic candidate for President. But the world will not end if the nation elects another Republican - this isn't Germany 1932 quite yet.
12:47 p.m.
Oct 8, '07
UPO, she said the day "after" the election -- when all the politicking is done & we have to get on with the business of actually doing the work of change. no matter who the president is, who runs Congress or the Oregon Leg, whether Gordo suckers enough people or not -- on the day after the election, we begin the real work of post-Bush recovery.
12:53 p.m.
Oct 8, '07
we should not downplay the importance of blogging. blogging alone won't win an election, but we have learned what a valuable tool it is -- and we are still learning how to use it even better. sometimes it's presenting issues and facts the MSM ignores. sometimes it's to keep each other on-issue, fired-up and well-informed. blogs can mobilize as well as inform. most people who'll eventually canvass or phone bank are unlikely to be as geek-bloggy as a lot of us, so when they show up to do their one or two evenings of volunteer work, what we have learned via the blogs can be passed along.
and for some people, blogging may be what they do best. i know i'm not very good person-to-person; i do ok with canvassing because i have my script and my Canvass Person personna; i hate phone banking and avoid as much as possible. but i feel i can write pretty well, so that's where the bulk of my energy goes. Parag Methta knows that the Dems' ascendancy owes as much to the blogosphere as any other part of the political process.
1:05 p.m.
Oct 8, '07
Please, give the credit for Summit reporting to whom it belongs: Jenni Simonis, who did a great job liveblogging the event on Blog for Oregon.
Thanks, Jenni!
1:07 p.m.
Oct 8, '07
Please, give the credit for Summit reporting to whom it belongs: Jenni Simonis, who did a great job liveblogging the event on Blog for Oregon.
Thanks, Jenni!
1:57 p.m.
Oct 8, '07
"The way to beat Republicans is to elect more Democrats."
I believe the way to fix our problems--because Republicans won't and apparently current Democrats feel they can't--is to elect BETTER Democrats. More Liebermans and Millers are not the answer.
Oct 8, '07
I agree Joe....BETTER Democrats! NOT Progressives! Progressives are Liberals running away from the "L" word. The fact they grew ashamed to be liberals is enough for me to never vote for that bunch of loose knit pierced and tatooed rabble.
Instead vote for solid MAINSTREAM moderate Democrats and we will strengthen out party's position over the next 20 years.
NOW THAT is progressive agenda!!!
Oct 8, '07
True enough!
3:54 p.m.
Oct 8, '07
Jenny, I edited the post. Thanks!
TJ -- who is "Miller"?
4:39 p.m.
Oct 8, '07
Electing Dems for the sake of electing Dems solves nothing, as TJ underscored very nicely. Just to add to what he said... I think the vast majority of us would take Senator Sanders (not a Dem) over Senator Lieberman (sorta Dem) any day of the week.
Pdxskip, progressives were progressives before they were liberals. Nobody is running away from anything and unmarked black Russian helicopters aren't flying over the Dakotas...
6:32 p.m.
Oct 8, '07
Kari, TJ can correct me if I am wrong, but I believe he was referring to Zell "Pistols at Dawn" Miller who, though no longer in the Senate, is a prime example of shiv wielding DINO and a horrible excuse for a legislator.
7:43 p.m.
Oct 8, '07
It was lots of fun to blog the event. I'll be writing up another on my thoughts on the weekend. But I'm on vacation and taking some time away from the computer. ; )
It would be great if at future such events we could have an area set up for a few people to be blogging - where there's a place to plug in for power and a table to sit at. I plan on blogging at the convention next year, even though I know it's going to cost me $10/day for internet (unless they change their policy at the hotel - it's what I paid last time.
Oct 8, '07
This is the time to build the party, not tear it down.
What some people call tearing down the party others see as excising defects and diagnosing illness.
BETTER Democrats! NOT Progressives! Progressives are Liberals running away from the "L" word. The fact they grew ashamed to be liberals is enough for me to never vote for that bunch of loose knit pierced and tatooed rabble.
The word "liberal" has been used and abused so much as to become virtually meaningless. PDXskip: What is your definition? Progressive suggests making progress in the human condition.
From an unpierced progressive free of tattoos who abhors rabbles.
9:29 p.m.
Oct 8, '07
Yeah, I meant Zell, thanks Mitch.
The attitude of the current Democrats was neatly encapsulated by Rahm Emanuel on Bill Maher a couple weeks ago. Paraphrasing, he said the way to end the war was to put a Democrat in the White House. Not to like, you know, refuse to fund the war further without withdrawal timelines, send back vetoed bills, or force the Republicans to actually filibuster. But to put Hillary in the White House, apparently.
Someone needs to take the national Democrats to the woodshed. What they're (not) doing is a disgrace. I will support anyone who pledges and shows the moxie to change the culture in Washington--Democrat or not. I think Democrats obviously offer the best opportunity to turn the country around, but just having the D by your name clearly isn't enough.
10:41 p.m.
Oct 8, '07
Zell Miller. Duh. Thanks.
8:37 a.m.
Oct 10, '07
It would be great if at future such events we could have an area set up for a few people to be blogging - where there's a place to plug in for power and a table to sit at.
Yes, YES!
I spent hours sitting on the floor in the Grand Hall--up against a wall so my laptop could be plugged in.
If there's a suggestion box for the DPO for next time, let's make sure Jenni's makes it in there.
11:57 a.m.
Oct 10, '07
Jenni and Carla,
Suggestion noted. I will make sure this gets to the DPO. However, since that's two years away and who knows who will be doing the planning then, please remind the DPO prior to the '09 Summit that space is needed for bloggers!
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