Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Hey, If You're Still Reading This...
Since the convention, I have had several people ask me if I would continue to post here, and I have considered it, but am not sure I can make the commitment that keeping up a regular blog requires. Before the convention, I posted somewhat sporadically at www.democraticdiva.com. I am posting more regularly now, so if you're interested, check it out. You can also read the posts of some other great women as well. And, thanks for coming along on this ride with me!
Monday, September 1, 2008
Get Your Convention Stuff Here
Hey, I am raffling off some of my convention stuff to benefit the District 15 Democrats, of which I am chair. Contact me (see my profile) if you want a ticket(s) - $3 or 2/$5. Raffle closes Thursday September 11th.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Top Ten Reasons You Know Your Presidential Bid Is In Trouble
10. Your lead in your home state keeps shrinking.
9. Your opponent draws over 75,000 people to his nomination acceptance speech.
8. Great sound bytes like this: McCain may pay $100 for his loafers, but we'll pay for his flip flops (Bill Richardson).
7. Or this: I want a President who cares more about Barney Smith that Smith Barney (Barney Smith - average American).
6. You think the word maverick means sidekick.
5. The best you could come up with for your convention spin is: Mile High, Inch Deep (let's talk about the real issues facing Americans, ok).
4. You have so much experience that your running mate doesn't really need any.
3. You make fun of your opponent's "celebrity" status and then choose a beauty queen as your running mate.
2. Your choice for VP comes from your everyone-else-said-no list.
1. You pick your running mate because you think the American voters are so stupid they will vote for a ticket just because there's a woman on it, even though your Administration will be nothing but an affront to women.
9. Your opponent draws over 75,000 people to his nomination acceptance speech.
8. Great sound bytes like this: McCain may pay $100 for his loafers, but we'll pay for his flip flops (Bill Richardson).
7. Or this: I want a President who cares more about Barney Smith that Smith Barney (Barney Smith - average American).
6. You think the word maverick means sidekick.
5. The best you could come up with for your convention spin is: Mile High, Inch Deep (let's talk about the real issues facing Americans, ok).
4. You have so much experience that your running mate doesn't really need any.
3. You make fun of your opponent's "celebrity" status and then choose a beauty queen as your running mate.
2. Your choice for VP comes from your everyone-else-said-no list.
1. You pick your running mate because you think the American voters are so stupid they will vote for a ticket just because there's a woman on it, even though your Administration will be nothing but an affront to women.
And the Winner Is
Your life would not be complete if I did not show you this:
While it looks like Obama-on-a-stick, it is actually a planter. The artist is actually selling them, filled with a peace lily.
While it looks like Obama-on-a-stick, it is actually a planter. The artist is actually selling them, filled with a peace lily.
The Way Things Were Meant To Be
I can't help but think that everything in this hard fought campaign between Hillary and Barack turned out exactly the way it was supposed to. This convention was scheduled a long time ago, before anyone knew who the nominee would be, before anyone knew what would happen in the primaries. But how cool is it that these two candidates gave the speeches which were the highlights of the convention on the anniversaries of 2 momentous occasions? Hillary, the first woman to ever win a Presidential primary, a woman who fights for women's rights around the globe, spoke Tuesday night, the 88th anniversary of women's suffrage. And Barack, who many have compared to civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr., and who has stirred hope in so many Americans, accepted the nomination for President on the 45th anniversay of King's I Have a Dream address. That wasn't planned, it just worked out that way.
When Obama lost the New Hampshire primary, he gave the Yes We Can speech to his supporters. Artist will.i.am made this music video of the speech. You may have already seen it, but it's worth another watch, or 20. If you haven't already seen it, you will be sorry if you don't. And then you will want to watch it 20 more times, too.
When Obama lost the New Hampshire primary, he gave the Yes We Can speech to his supporters. Artist will.i.am made this music video of the speech. You may have already seen it, but it's worth another watch, or 20. If you haven't already seen it, you will be sorry if you don't. And then you will want to watch it 20 more times, too.
The Roll Call Vote
We cast our ballots for the nominee at breakfast on Wednesday morning. At this point, Clinton delegates knew we were meeting with her at 1:00, and were expecting to be released, but we hadn't yet. Not all of the Clinton delegates voted for her - Arizona's votes ended up 27 - 40 for Obama.
The meeting was supposed to be just for delegates, but they ended up not even checking. I couldn’t believe how many people were there. It was this big convention hall completely packed full of people standing. When she finally got in, she said, “if I knew I had this many delegates, well…” (It was a joke.) In case you thought the the PUMA's were just an invention of the right wing media to make it look like Democrats don't back Obama, I can attest that they are real, we saw them there. They talked throughout the meeting, and one thing I overheard is that she didn't really mean any of the things she was saying, that she was forced to say them. I don't know about them, but the woman I supported during this campaign would not let anyone force her to do anything she didn't want to do. They left the room chanting McCain. I guess they didn't listen very closely to Hillary's speech on Tuesday.
The meeting was supposed to be just for delegates, but they ended up not even checking. I couldn’t believe how many people were there. It was this big convention hall completely packed full of people standing. When she finally got in, she said, “if I knew I had this many delegates, well…” (It was a joke.) In case you thought the the PUMA's were just an invention of the right wing media to make it look like Democrats don't back Obama, I can attest that they are real, we saw them there. They talked throughout the meeting, and one thing I overheard is that she didn't really mean any of the things she was saying, that she was forced to say them. I don't know about them, but the woman I supported during this campaign would not let anyone force her to do anything she didn't want to do. They left the room chanting McCain. I guess they didn't listen very closely to Hillary's speech on Tuesday.
Anyway, she told us we were released, and told us we should vote how we wanted to vote, but that she had cast her vote for Barack Obama. We had already voted, as has most delegations, I believe, so we weren't sure what would happen - were they going to have us recast our votes?
We got to the Pepsi Center right as the roll call vote began. It is a very cool process, the delegation chair of each state says something about their state and then how the votes are cast. It goes through alphabetically. Ted has the rundown of each state in his live blogging, but I will just tell you where it got interesting. California passed. They have a lot of votes, and David Schapira told me they probably wanted to be the state that put Obama over the top. California went for Clinton in the primary, but oh well. (BTW someone told me Barbara Boxer was really mad that CA passed.) Then Illinois passed, and using the same logic, it would make sense that they wanted to put him over top. Then New Mexico yielded to Illinois. I hadn't been keeping a tally of the votes, but thought that was kind of quick.
Illinois, however yielded to New York. Then I saw all of the secret service and Hillary in the middle of them walking towards New York. The crowd went crazy. Either, New York was going to announce that all of their 282 votes were for Obama and that would put him over the top, or something else. The delegation chair turned it over to Clinton, and she asked for a suspension of the rules and for Obama to be nominated by acclamation.
It was absolutely poetic, and for me as a Clinton delegate, absolutely the best way this could have ended. I think this was really the highlight of the convention for me.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
I'm So Tired!
I have so much to say about today, it was an amazing day!! But I'm so tired. I will try to post in the morning before breakfast. All I will say right now, is it was a great day. Oh, wait, I may have already said that. I hope you were able to catch some of the coverage of the floor vote. I am happy to say that the Democratic Party, for the first time in the history of this country, has nominated a black man for President of the United States.
I have, like, less than 2 seconds on 12 News tonight (last night?). I am not a techie and don't know how to get the video in here, but you can see it here - find the video Criticism aside, Bill Clinton gives Obama forceful backing.
Oh, and I heard a rumor that two members of our delegation, who do not want to be shown up (you know, with the proposal and all on Monday), will get married tomorrow during the goings on at Invesco Field. Because I heard the speeches tomorrow will be pretty boring anyway.
Edit: By today, I actually meant Wednesday, and tomorrow means Thursday, even though this is posted on Thursday. I am still up, so it is still Wednesday. I definately need to go to bed now.
I have, like, less than 2 seconds on 12 News tonight (last night?). I am not a techie and don't know how to get the video in here, but you can see it here - find the video Criticism aside, Bill Clinton gives Obama forceful backing.
Oh, and I heard a rumor that two members of our delegation, who do not want to be shown up (you know, with the proposal and all on Monday), will get married tomorrow during the goings on at Invesco Field. Because I heard the speeches tomorrow will be pretty boring anyway.
Edit: By today, I actually meant Wednesday, and tomorrow means Thursday, even though this is posted on Thursday. I am still up, so it is still Wednesday. I definately need to go to bed now.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
I Know, He Had to Eat a Lot of Words
Say what you want about Terry McAuliffe, but I really like the guy. He addressed us at the Arizona breakfast this morning. (BTW we are being fed really well. Monday breakfast was sponsored by APS, Tuesday by Pfizer, and today by SRP - thanks for the great food, corporate sponsors.)
McAuliffe told us that the latest poll shows McCain up by only 5 points in AZ. He also talked about us losing in 2000 and 2004 because the Republicans wanted to win more than we did. Every day after the 2000 election, while the recounts were going on, there were protestors outside the VP's house on Massachusetts Ave. with signs calling Gore a sore loser. There were no Democrats out there to counter that. In 2004 there is no way we should have let the Republicans do to Kerry's service record - a man who twice voluteered to go to Vietnam - what they did when Bush used his family connections to sit it out in the National Guard.
There is a rule that you don't go negative during the other political party's convention, but that rule has been broken this year. The stuff we are going to see in this race will make the Swift Boat ads look like PSA's.
We have to want it more. This is what touched me the most about McAliffe's remarks: he said we have to want it more because we need to be fighting for the people out there who don't get a breakfast like we are enjoying. Our worst day is better than the best day for those struggling to get by. They are counting on us to fight for them.
McAuliffe told us that the latest poll shows McCain up by only 5 points in AZ. He also talked about us losing in 2000 and 2004 because the Republicans wanted to win more than we did. Every day after the 2000 election, while the recounts were going on, there were protestors outside the VP's house on Massachusetts Ave. with signs calling Gore a sore loser. There were no Democrats out there to counter that. In 2004 there is no way we should have let the Republicans do to Kerry's service record - a man who twice voluteered to go to Vietnam - what they did when Bush used his family connections to sit it out in the National Guard.
There is a rule that you don't go negative during the other political party's convention, but that rule has been broken this year. The stuff we are going to see in this race will make the Swift Boat ads look like PSA's.
We have to want it more. This is what touched me the most about McAliffe's remarks: he said we have to want it more because we need to be fighting for the people out there who don't get a breakfast like we are enjoying. Our worst day is better than the best day for those struggling to get by. They are counting on us to fight for them.
Hilarious
If you haven't checked out Ted's live blogging from the convention floor, I highly recommend it. Very funny. He also has profiles of several delegates posted.
Look Who Else Showed Up
Future First Lady Michelle Obama and George McGovern (also right behind us!). Don't know who the other guy is.
Live From the Convention Floor...
I will be calling in to the Jeff Farias show on KPHX 1480 AM at 5:00 p.m. Wednesday. If you're not in Phoenix, you can stream it here.
Hillary's Night
Well, being from Arizona, it was also Janet's night, but the highlight for me was obviously Hillary.
Janet was great. She talked about the unsuccessful runs at the Presidency that Arizonans have had - Barry Goldwater, Mo Udall, Bruce Babbitt - and said that's one tradition she hopes we keep. She is pretty confident that Arizona can go for Obama. I'm not someone who always pays attention to all of the polls, but a recent one shows McCain up by only 6 points in AZ.
Lilly Ledbetter of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2007 (you can read more about her case here) was also on the agenda. She was an amazing speaker and received a standing ovation.
My favorite quote of the evening (except for Hillary's entire speech) was Governor Deval Patrick of Massachusetts who said Democrats don't deserve to win just because Republicans deserve to lose.
And Brian Schwietzer, Governor of Montana, was highly entertaining.
I just loved Hillary's speech. Yes, it made me cry. If you did not like Hillary on the campaign trail, all you need to do is watch this speech and you will understand the inspiration she is to so many Americans. It was just so good, and I think what so many people needed to hear from her. I really don't have any more words for it.
After the speech, I was interviewed by a newspaper reporter from the Netherlands (he just randomly stopped me). If I can find the article, I will share it. I, along with a couple other Clinton delegates from AZ, also talked to KFYI (550 AM, Phoenix), so I am guessing they will use clips of the interviews on their news coverage of the convention. It seemed like most reporters were looking for Hillary delegates who either a) said they wouldn't support Obama, or b) said the speech pushed them off the fence towards supporting Obama. The thing is, everyone I know who is a Clinton delegate or supporter is a Democrat. The one thing we Democrats are united in is that America can't afford a McCain White House. I don't know anyone who needed Hillary's speech tonight to push them off the fence and support Obama.
Janet was great. She talked about the unsuccessful runs at the Presidency that Arizonans have had - Barry Goldwater, Mo Udall, Bruce Babbitt - and said that's one tradition she hopes we keep. She is pretty confident that Arizona can go for Obama. I'm not someone who always pays attention to all of the polls, but a recent one shows McCain up by only 6 points in AZ.
Lilly Ledbetter of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2007 (you can read more about her case here) was also on the agenda. She was an amazing speaker and received a standing ovation.
My favorite quote of the evening (except for Hillary's entire speech) was Governor Deval Patrick of Massachusetts who said Democrats don't deserve to win just because Republicans deserve to lose.
And Brian Schwietzer, Governor of Montana, was highly entertaining.
I just loved Hillary's speech. Yes, it made me cry. If you did not like Hillary on the campaign trail, all you need to do is watch this speech and you will understand the inspiration she is to so many Americans. It was just so good, and I think what so many people needed to hear from her. I really don't have any more words for it.
After the speech, I was interviewed by a newspaper reporter from the Netherlands (he just randomly stopped me). If I can find the article, I will share it. I, along with a couple other Clinton delegates from AZ, also talked to KFYI (550 AM, Phoenix), so I am guessing they will use clips of the interviews on their news coverage of the convention. It seemed like most reporters were looking for Hillary delegates who either a) said they wouldn't support Obama, or b) said the speech pushed them off the fence towards supporting Obama. The thing is, everyone I know who is a Clinton delegate or supporter is a Democrat. The one thing we Democrats are united in is that America can't afford a McCain White House. I don't know anyone who needed Hillary's speech tonight to push them off the fence and support Obama.
Emerge
Emerge is what really started this whole foray into politics for me. Well, foray makes it sound a little temporary, but I don't think I can ever get out now. Anyway most of you that know me know about Emerge, but please indulge this explanation for those readers that are not familiar.
Emerge is a political training program for Democratic women who want to run for office. It began in the Bay Area in California in 2003, was successfully replicated in Arizona in 2004, and is now Emerge America, with affiliates in 7 states.
Why Democrats? Well, duh. If we want more women in office, we want the RIGHT ones.
Why women? I believe that we will never reach our full potential as a nation until women participate equally at all levels of government. The barriers for women running for office are much greater than for men. Emerge is about the new girls' network, helping women to overcome those barriers and have the confidence they need to take that leap and run.
I was a part of the inaugural class of Emerge Arizona in 2004.
There are several Emerge women that are here as delegates, so Emerge America hosted a lunch today. It was a nice little break in all of the convention activities and a chance to connect with some awesome women from around the country who are doing amazing things.
Emerge is a political training program for Democratic women who want to run for office. It began in the Bay Area in California in 2003, was successfully replicated in Arizona in 2004, and is now Emerge America, with affiliates in 7 states.
Why Democrats? Well, duh. If we want more women in office, we want the RIGHT ones.
Why women? I believe that we will never reach our full potential as a nation until women participate equally at all levels of government. The barriers for women running for office are much greater than for men. Emerge is about the new girls' network, helping women to overcome those barriers and have the confidence they need to take that leap and run.
I was a part of the inaugural class of Emerge Arizona in 2004.
There are several Emerge women that are here as delegates, so Emerge America hosted a lunch today. It was a nice little break in all of the convention activities and a chance to connect with some awesome women from around the country who are doing amazing things.
Women's Caucus
Tuesday I attended the Women's Caucus. I missed a lot of it because I'm still trying to navigate. Donna Brazile, mentioned earlier, spoke. Donna is a superdelegate who commentates for CNN and kept quiet about who she was supporting for President. I didn't hear her, but Dana told me she spoke about signing the petition to make sure that Hillary Clinton's name is placed into nomination. She said (paraphrasing because I wasn't there, and remember I don't do quotes so well anyway) she did it for Shirley Chisolm, she did it for Stephanie Tubbs-Jones (who was a Clinton supporter), and she did it for the unity of the party.
I think there are a lot of Obama supporters who just don't get how allowing a floor vote for Clinton will help with party unity, but as a Clinton delegate, it makes perfect sense. A lot of people just need to be able to vote for the person they were elected to vote for, and not feel like they are being silenced. I hope that makes sense. It is not whining, it is not about catharsis, or whatever else the pundits are saying.
I think there are a lot of Obama supporters who just don't get how allowing a floor vote for Clinton will help with party unity, but as a Clinton delegate, it makes perfect sense. A lot of people just need to be able to vote for the person they were elected to vote for, and not feel like they are being silenced. I hope that makes sense. It is not whining, it is not about catharsis, or whatever else the pundits are saying.
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