Ralph Schmidt has suggested the a criteria in order of importance for electing our Obama Delegates to send to State and National. I’ve added some thoughts on what that might look like. What do you think?

 

1)    The delegate should have demonstrated his or her loyalty to the Obama Candidacy, meaning that the person has worked for, demonstrated some longevity of commitment, and etc.  It’s important to have established some outward signs of loyalty. This makes sense as a minimum criteria. But I believe we should be looking for the very best we can send to represent our community before the Nation.

2)    Has some experience at conventions, caucuses, political activity. On the surface this would be a good thing, someone who knows the process. And I’m glad this one is second, for it would seem that being new and inexperienced to the political process should not prevent the right candidate from being elected a delegate. If we were to follow the latter line of thinking to its natural conclusion—that political experience is a necessary ingredient for the position—then we’d be for John McSame for president. In fractal geometry, you have a concept that the elemental parts of a thing act a lot like that thing itself. For example, water molecules act a lot like oceans. In this way our might not our delegates represent the essence or the epitome of the campaign itself? where hope, commitment, courage and action outweigh experience and process every time?

 

3)    Shows some commitment to Obama’s values. To my way of thinking, the delegates we elect should groke what Barack Obama is all about; this may mean after having read his books, viewed his speeches at the web site, followed him through the debates, is fully on board with the concept and the ideals of the Obama campaign. I want a delegate who truly comprehends the potential for change an Obama candidacy will bring to our country. For example, I would want them to get what Barack himself means when he says his campaign is really all about each one of us; about building community at the local level; to bring about change from the bottom up; on social, political, and economic levels (and with a spiritual element I might add).

4)    You view them as effective.  Fearless, competent, courageous, confident, stands for change, on time, highly organized, friendly, has fun, gets things done, a people person, goes all the way, never gives up, fully committed to Obama, never gives an inch, negotiates from strength. Has it all together, on fire with the message, but knows he or she doesn’t know everything, or even much at all, level headed, cool, calm and collected. And that it’s okay to make mistakes, because the only ones who don’t are those who don’t do anything. These all a kind of test of character that might apply to number 3 above. J    

 

So it seems to me that each of us, as LD delegates who’ll elect these state/national Obama delegates, we have a responsibility to our community; to discover who each of the candidates really is, what they’re all about. So that we might choose the best among us to represent our community, it’ll take some time, and it’ll take some commitment on each of our parts at the caucus. And we’ll need to ask the right questions, give our best, be present, pay attention, and if something doesn’t seem right: speak up and make your voices heard. You’ll have a right to be there and yes we can make a difference this time.

 

So, these are some of my thoughts on electing our delegates. A penny for your own thoughts.

 

Best,

Mike George