Sunday Evening, 24 Aug, 2008:
While attending the Democrat National Convention as an Obama delegate, I was blogging for the Santa Rosa Press Democrat. Here is a link to my first blog post:
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20080825/NEWS/808250393
Friday Morning, Aug 28, 2008:
While attending the Democrat National Convention as an Obama delegate, I was blogging for the Santa Rosa Press Democrat. Here is a link to my sixth blog post:
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20080828/NEWS/808280239
Wednesday Evening, Aug 28, 2008:
While attending the Democrat National Convention as an Obama delegate, I was blogging for the Santa Rosa Press Democrat. Here is a link to my fifth blog post:
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20080827/NEWS/808270215
Wednesday Morning, Aug 28, 2008:
While attending the Democrat National Convention as an Obama delegate, I was blogging for the Santa Rosa Press Democrat. Here is a link to my fourth blog post:
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20080827/NEWS/808270245
Tuesday Morning, Aug 26, 2008:
While attending the Democrat National Convention as an Obama delegate, I was blogging for the Santa Rosa Press Democrat. Here is a link to my third blog post:
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20080826/NEWS/808260270
Monday Morning, Aug 25, 2008:
While attending the Democrat National Convention as an Obama delegate, I was blogging for the Santa Rosa Press Democrat. Here is a link to my second blog post:
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20080825/NEWS/10250
WCCO has an interview from Denver with David Gilbert-Pederson, a Convention delegate from Minnesota. David is the youngest delegate at the Convention. You can watch the video interview here.
DENVER (WCCO) ― With 4400 delegates at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, there's a range of faces and ages. The oldest is from Virginia and he is 90 years young. The youngest of all the delegates in the country, is only 17-years-old, and he's from the great state of Minnesota.While he is still a teenager, he's no political newcomer. David Gilbert-Pederson started working inside campaigns when he was 12. He was making posters, stuffing envelopes and, as he says, standing there and looking cute for cameras.The home-schooled south Minneapolis kid also feels the calling."Whatever decisions adult politicians make will effect my generation and generations to come. And I feel like it's my duty and responsibility to elect leaders that will make it a world I want to inhabit and that I would want my children and my grandchildren to inhabit," David said.David stays in political touch with his cell phone and online. It's been an important new tool in this political campaign directly targeting the all-important youth vote."Senator Obama's coming and his campaign is coming directly to us in our medians -- Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, text messaging," he said. "If I see it on Facebook, cause that's where I'm at anyway, I'm like, ooh this is a cool event. Look, these seven of my friends said they were going to come. I feel like it's a cool thing to do now."From the floor of the Democratic National Convention to casting a ballot, it's a truly memorable year for David."It'll be a great experience to be able to check off those boxes in November," he said.David will turn 18-years-old in October just in time to vote. And according to people at the DNC, he's quite a celebrity in Denver with lots of media wanting to meet the title holder.
Eagle County Democratic Convention Kick-Off Party
An Invitation to Send Debbie to Denver
Wednesday, August 20, 2008 - 5:30 – 7:00pm
Fiesta's Café & Cantina Edwards Plaza, 57 Edwards Access Road, Edwards, CO 81632 970-926-2121 (map)
Hosted by the Marquez Sisters, Beth Runyon, Beth Reilly and Others
Please join friends, family, delegates, Democrats and well wishers as we send Eagle County's own DNC Committeewoman Debbie Marquez to Denver.
The evening will include food and drink.
Opportunity for all Eagle County Democrats that are planning to attend the convention festivities in Denver a chance to meet, mingle and collaborate on their Denver plans.
Sign-up to attend or host convention watch parties throughout the county when Senator Obama accepts the party's nomination on Thursday, August 28th at Mile High/Invesco.
Help launch the Eagle County service day drive to gather food items for the local Salvation Army food bank.
Meet the local field organizers for the federal campaigns and maybe a candidate or two.
Get your Obama yard signs, bumper stickers and buttons.
Buy some nifty peace sign and Obama jewelry donated by the Runyons.
Pick-up a schedule of all of the fun events surrounding the convention – you can also view the huge list of events at the SquareState.Net Google calendar, the Denver Convention Host Committee and at DemConWatch web page. There are so many events, not one list has everything.
Even though it may not look like it or feel like it, you are making progress.
Continue working towards progress instead of perfection.
Nothing or no no one is perfect.
Just keep taking steps.
Keep making those phone calls.
Continue following your plan.
Remain focused on your goal.
Do what you have to do right now to get to the next level.
Complete every task.
Keep every promise and commitment.
Don't look back.
Let no one weaken your walk of faith and determination.
Remain teachable.
Place yourself in a blessing position by associating with people on-the-grow.
Talk with teachers.
Walk with winners.
Climb with champions.
Study successful people.
Something great is about to happen for you!
Start giving thanks right now before you can even see the outward manisfestation of your prayers and desires.
Everything you do from this day forward will take you further away or closer to your potential for successful living.
-by Dr. Jewel Diamond Taylor, Motivational Speaker & Author
This is a wonderful story from an incredible and amazing friend. I am one of those she speaks about that is involved in politics for the first time in my life. Ann is a truly delightful person whom I am proud and honored to call my friend! I will forever be grateful for this campaign for many reasons but one of the most important reasons is meeting and getting to know my dear friend, Ann. The following is written by Ann and posted with her permission.
I am a senior citizen (82years old) living at Pine Run Retirement Community in Doylestown, PA. I am also a Democratic Committeeperson in this voting district. My election as Delegate to the Democratic National Convention thrilled not only my Democratic constituents here but my Republican fellow retirees, as well.
Before I tell you about my political history, I would like to tell you a funny story about a convention in days of yore. I grew up in Wilmington, Delaware and in 1936, my Dad got four tickets to the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, PA. There was one problem since my Dad wanted to take himself, my mother, my sister (8) and me(10 years old). But he also wanted to take my cousin (11) who lived with us. A dilemma! My sister and I had been in a play not too long before and we were little Quaker girls. Aha!!
They dressed my sister and me in our little Quaker outfits and we all went to the convention in Philadelphia, “The Quaker City”. They thought we were part of the show and all five of us got in on the four tickets!!!!!
Shift now 72 years later to 2008 where I am getting ready to go to the Democratic National Convention in Denver, CO on my own as an elected Delegate (8th Congressional district PA) committed to Barack Obama.
worked hard to sustain and grow them. My first vote was for Harry S, Truman in 1948 and I haven’t missed a vote since.
I have been for Senator Obama since it seems like forever. I have been politically active my ENTIRE LIFE (I was wearing Roosevelt buttons in first grade) always working for the Democratic candidate I thought was best for the job and doing what I could to help. But this man, Barack Obama, has captured my heart and my mind. His speech to the 2004 Democratic Convention lit something special in my soul and I began to follow him in his political journey. I have had the pleasure of hearing him speak in person twice and that is awesome. I have done and will continue to do whatever I am able to do to further his candidacy for President of the United States and insure his election. What a marvelous opportunity it will be to elect Barack Obama as our President.
I have been extremely impressed with the Obama for President campaign. It is like none other I have experienced. I marvel at the ways in which the campaign brings people together. Matching donations have introduced me to people in various parts of the country and has given me the ability to communicate with them and get to know them and their dreams for an Obama presidency. We have people working in our Obama HQ who have never been moved to work for any candidate and they are working their hearts out. And the young people!! It is so beautiful to see them captivated by the Obama candidacy and becoming politically active. We have been a long time waiting for this generation to take charge of their government and their destiny. It is wonderful to see them organizing, canvassing, phoning with all of their passion.
Barack Obama believes that change comes from the bottom up and his campaign shows that belief in everything they do, even little things.
I’M FIRED UP AND READY TO GO!!!!!!!
Ann Hadfield
Delegate to the Democratic National Convention
8th Congressional District PA
Just came across this impressive interview with David Munir Nabti, whom Democrats Abroad elected as one of our Obama delegates at the March caucus in Brussels for the Europe, Middle-East and Africa region.
David is one of 22 voting delegates that Democrats Abroad will be sending to the Democratic Convention later this month in Denver.
We made a good choice!
Although David is one of our youngest delegates (he's 29), he gives excellent responsesin this interview with the Los Angeles Times.
I was particularly interested in what he said about their wonderful Obama Bridge Photo shoot.
You can see the photo on our Flikr site, along with a pix of David: http://www.flickr.com/photos/23556339@N05/page3/
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/babylonbeyond/2008/07/lebanon-intervi.htmlEXCERPT:David Munir Nabti says he realizes he's just a small link in a big chain. Nonetheless, the Lebanese American political activist says he believes that his alternative voice as a U.S. citizen living overseas will eventually reach policymakers back home.Despite moving to Lebanon in 2004 to bond with his roots and work in the development field, Nabti never really lost his connection with the U.S. It is in California, where he grew up and later studied political science.So last year, with a small group of like-minded people, he decided to start the Lebanon chapter of Democrats Abroad, which is the official overseas branch of the U.S. Democratic Party with members in 164 countries.A big supporter of Sen. Barack Obama for president, Nabti wanted to encourage Lebanese Americans and U.S. nationals residing in Lebanon to vote in the upcoming presidential race.His group has begun to carry out voter registration drives in to engage Lebanese who hold U.S. citizenship but do not feel particularly connected with their second country.But Nabti thinks that he has a bigger role to play. He hopes to bring a “new perspective, and a crucial voice” to the U.S. political process during this tumultuous time in the Middle East.In March, he was the first American from the Arab world to become a delegate to the committee for the Democrats Abroad Europe-Middle East-Africa region. He will participate at the end of August in the Democratic National Convention in Denver, where he will get the chance to interact with fellow Democratic activists.Nabti recently sat down with the Los Angeles Times to talk about his organization and his hopes for a better U.S. foreign policy in the region. LAT: What was one interesting activity that the Lebanon Chapter of Democrats Abroad conducted?DMN: We participated in the “Yes, We Span” event, which recalls Obama’s “Yes We Can” slogan. The idea was to take pictures of supporters of Obama in front of famous bridges around the world. Dozens of countries participated. We decided to take photos in front of the Sowfar bridge [close to the eastern Lebanese border with Syria] because ironically that bridge was destroyed by Israeli fighter planes, which were largely subsidized by the U.S., and the bridge is being built with U.S. tax-paid dollars.... So American citizens paid to destroy the bridge and are paying to rebuild it.
NEWS FROM THE FLORIDA DEMOCRATIC PARTY
DNC Rules & Bylaws Comm. Allows Extension of At-Large Delegate Selection Process
TALLAHASSEE - The application period for Democrats interested in running for one of Florida's 16 at-large pledged delegates, 10 pledged PLEO delegates and 2 at-large pledged alternates for Senator Barack Obama has been extended to maximize participation at this summer's national convention.
To qualify, interested Democrats must have been registered voters in Florida as of December 31, 2007 (the closing date for voting in the January 29 primary).
Last month's DNC Rules & Bylaws Committee decision to reinstate the Florida delegation offered Presidential candidates the opportunity to extend the delegate selection process, but today's announcement doesn't affect the dozens of delegates elected at district level meetings held across the state of Florida.
The Obama campaign has opted to extend the PLEO, at-large and at-large alternate delegate selection process, but the current district-level delegates pledged to Obama will remain. Delegates pledged to other candidates are not affected by this. Also, Democrats who applied previously for PLEO and At-Large slots do not need to re-apply to be considered.
"Extending the application period will ensure everyone who wants to apply has the opportunity to do so and that Florida has a convention delegation that reflects the diversity of the statewide, grassroots movement that will carry us to victory in November," said Josh Earnest, spokesman for the Obama campaign.
Applications must be filed with the Florida Democratic Party by tomorrow (June 12th) at 5:00 PM. Information is available at http://www.fladems.com/2008dnc. The district-level delegates will meet on June 14 to vote on the Obama PLEO, at-large delegates and at-large alternates.
Here's a great delegate assignment tool that I've found useful over the last few months.
http://www.slate.com/id/2185278/
You can see the impact of adding FL & MI, plus see if it takes 800% of 1200% of the PR vote to put Clinton over the top.
The Wall Street Journal's Weekend Edition has an article about the process of becoming a delegate to the National Convention. It is a complicated process and seems to be different in each state but June Kronholzof of the WSJ does a good job providing a snapshot of some of the process and what people are doing to get to Denver.
Wait, did I mention that I am in the article? I don't think I did. I am featured throughout the article and it includes a photo that my talented wife took of me and Brita Decker making buttons at a watch party.
You can pick it up at the newsstands this weekend or view it here:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121158203883518495.html
Speaking of delegates, if you are a delegate or if you are running to be one there is an indispensable tool for you on the internet that Suzi LeVine a national delegate from Washington State created:
http://www.obamadelegates.org/
It was a Washington State centric tool but now encompasses all of the states and regions.
I'm a delegate to the state convention! I attended my Democratic Party precinct 223 convention in Houston and was elected a delegate to the Senate District 13 convention. There, I was elected a delegate to the Texas State Democratic Party Convention in Austin starting June 6th. In each case, I am pledged to Obama, and very proud of it.
Barack Obama is only 62 delegates away from securing the nomination for U.S. President. Obama's won a majority of pledged delegates, and now has won 31 delegates in Oregon; 14 delegates in Kentucky; plus an endorsement from superdelegate Congressman Joe Courtney of Connecticut. The Math
3,253 Total Pledged Delegates 1,627 Pledged Delegates needed for majority 2,026 Total delegates needed for nomination Pledged delegate projections from last night:
(Read More here).
Carole
In our pursuit of protection of the minority from the tyranny of the majority , we have wrestled with the inequities of the Electoral College ( negating a majority popular vote ) , the two seats / state in the Senate that can sometimes frustrate popular will, and the delegate fiasco we are currently experiencing ( which honestly should not be happening -- the Democratic Party should be mortified over this development ).
The simplest thing that occurs to me might actually circumvent a lot of these problems while preserving minority protections as they are expressed in the voting habits of the populace.
Why not institute a party statute , and eventually a constitutional amendment that awards delegate selections and electoral college votes not on the basis of total population, but rather on the basis of VOTING population in the previous major election years?
It would preserve the notion of popular VOTE being dominant, while also giving a measure of anti-bully protection to the smaller states ( and delegations ). In essence, you could bulk up as much as you wished.
Imagine the levels of voter participation we would finally begin to experience in this country. There would be incentive to vote for all factions. It would TRULY make their vote meaningful, even if their candidate lost. Are we ever embarrassed that the supposed bastion of democracy in this world exhibits the lowest voter turnout of all ?
It wouldn't hurt to make voting a 2-day, weekend holiday process as well ( as in many European countries ). God knows we could do without another questionable national holiday in favor of a voting one.
It is my hope that those responsible for this site and information dissemination in the campaign would respectfully forward these ideas directly to Barack Obama for immediate consideration.
Finis / Andrew Tipton
