History, politics, people of Oly WA

Category: washington democrats (Page 2 of 3)

Washington State Dems have a blog (2 years, 4 months, and one day later)

Ken Camp had a great idea, oh two freaking years ago. That the state party should use the web in a better way, including developing a blog, to expand their reach.

Chair Dwight Pelz’ reaction at the time was pretty stupid:

Invariably some comment will be posted there, and then attributed by someone as being from “an official State Party publication”. A scandal is then born.

Yeah, right, ok. Whatever Dwight.

Now, you’ll be happy to know that the state Dems are blogging.

I guess in the two intervening years, blogging has become a lot less scary to some folks.

Going to Denver on a coin toss

Probably the most interesting story I’ve heard this caucus/convention season was how Jim Cooper, one of our Thurston County delegates finally got to go to Denver.

On a coin toss.

Well, let’s back up. Jim was elected at the state convention is Spokane to one of the many spots that are alloted in Spokane. I’m not sure of the actual process, but Jim left Spokane assuming he was going to Denver, as long as he could get a plane ticket and a hotel room.

Well, someone screwed up counting.

Turns out that there are strict rules regarding the distribution of delegates between the men and the women, and there was one to many male delegates for Obama in the category of delegates that Jim was in.

So, how to settle this situation?

Coin Toss!

The following is a big long email (really long email) from the state Dem chair Dwight Pelz explaining the whole thing.

Here’s the boring part that lays the background (mostly what I said above, but what the hell, skip this if you want):

According to our current, still unofficial projects; here is the profile of delegates that Obama and Clinton will add in Spokane. Let me know if you disagree with these findings.

———————————————————-

Clinton will add 3 PLEO’s, 6 At-Large, and 1 Alternate.

Obama will add 7 PLEO’s, 11 At-Large, and 3 Alternates.

Clinton will add 4 men and 6 women.

Obama will add 9 men and 12 women.

Clinton will seek to include 1 LGBT delegate, I disabled delegate, and 3 Hispanic delegates

Obama will seek to add 1 LGBT delegate, and 1 Hispanic delegate

————————————————————

In fact, on Sunday, June 15th the Elections Committee added for Obama 10 men and 11 women. Over the past week Sharon Smith, who chaired the Obama Sub-Caucus in Spokane, has reviewed these numbers and concurred with the DNC findings.

As a result, we must now:

1. Elevate a female Obama alternate to delegate, and appoint a female Obama alternate.
2. Move one male Obama delegate to alternate.
3. Remove one male Obama alternate from the delegation.

Adjusting the Delegation to Meet the Requirements of the DNC

Jaxon, Sharon, and I have reviewed the result of the balloting by the Obama Sub-Caucus on June 15 at Spokane. Here are the relevant results of that balloting.

1. Elevate a female Obama alternate to delegate, and appoint a female Obama alternate.

The female Obama alternate chosen in Spokane was Didi Saluja. She would become a delegate.

The next highest vote-getting female candidate who was not elected delegate or alternate was Michelle Gonzalez. She would become an alternate.

2. Move one male Obama delegate to alternate.

Here is where it gets tricky. The last two male delegates chosen were tied in the balloting. They are Robert Stowers and Jim Cooper.

3. Remove one male Obama alternate from the delegation.

This is also tricky, because the last two male alternates chosen were also tied in the balloting. They are Harvey Brooks and Mori Rothman.

This means we will have to remove at least one alternate from our delegation, understanding that he has purchased a ticket to Denver and reserved a hotel room. We will continue to consider this person a valuable and welcomed member of our group, including provision of a four-day Guest Pass to the Pepsi Center.

How to Proceed

The 2008 Rules for Election of Delegates and Alernates at the Congressional District Caucuses address the matter of tie votes in choosing delegates and alternates:

1. Presidential preference sub-caucuses shall be conducted as follows:

(D) After nominations are completed, voting shall be by signed ballot with all positions filled, no duplications and distribution by gender in accordance with subsections F, G and H. that follow. Any candidate for Delegate who receives a majority of the valid ballots cast on the first ballot shall be eligible for election. If all of the available delegate positions have not been filled after the first ballot a second ballot shall be held between the next two highest voter getters, for each position remaining in the field (if there is one position remaining there will be two candidates, if there are two positions four candidates, three positions, six candidates.) Ties will be decided by lot.

After receiving notice from the DNC I contacted David McDonald, member of the DNC Rules Committee and State Party Parliamentarian, on how we might proceed. He conferred with Phil McNamara, Director of Party Affairs and Delegate Selection with the DNC, who confirmed it would be appropriate to break the ties in the male delegate and alternate positions by lot to allow us to finalize the delegation.

Ok, here’s the fun part:

Therefore, I have asked delegates David McDonald, Helen Howell, and Sima Sarrafan to join me as witnesses in the State Party office on Thursday, June 17, at 4:30 for a coin toss to determine which delegate shall become an alternate; and which alternate shall become an unofficial member of our Washington delegation.

Thank you for your patience on this matter, and for agreeing to serve in our delegation.

Sincerely,

Dwight Pelz
Chair, Washington State Democratic Party
Chair for Washington’s 2008 DNC Convention Delegation

Turns out that Jim won the toss, so he’s going to Denver as a delegate. The other guy, Robert Stower, if he is going, is an unofficial guest.

RE: Political Parties Reap What They Sow

You can’t pull at the edges of our electoral system and not expect the voters to react:

The Republicans and the Democrats are also complaining about Initiative 872.

Well, that is just two bad for these political parties. They are now reaping what they sowed. They took away the right of the people to vote in a truly democratic manner, and now they complain and whine about the alternative chosen by those self-same voters. There is a movement in King County to make all county elected positions non-partisan. Hopefully, this effort will succeed, and another voter initiative will drive the authoritarian political parties out the door. The parties started this battle, and now the voters need to finish it. The voters need to make every state office, from the governor to the legislature, legally and publicly non-partisan.

From everything I’ve heard, the state parties have decided to continue to challenge the Top Two primary. By nominating our own candidates, we’re supposed to be able to show damages when those candidates don’t make it to the general election ballot.

If the courts then do strike down the Top Two, putting back the Montana Primary, the Grange has said they’re going after a true non-partisan system.

Norm Dicks’ old field organizer endorses challenger

Interesting stuff, via email:

As ballots go out in the mail, Congressman Norm Dicks 2006 Field Organizer Endorses Democratic Challenger Paul Richmond

William Jamie Nixon, 2006 Field Organizer for the Dicks Campaign gave his support to Democratic Challenger Paul Richmond.

In a letter released today, Dicks former Field Organizer describes how he worked tirele ssly for the Dicks Campaign because he had wanted to hold the Bush administration accountable and end the Iraq War. He grew unsettled when none of these happened.

“The time for new leadership has come,” Nixon concludes. “Let us thank Norm for his service and give our vote to Paul Richmond. “

“Paul Richmond has the judgment we need now,” wrote Nixon. “Why would we settle for a candidate that continues to show an inability to heed the wishes of the people of his district, or one whose vision is simply outdated? Instead let us come together to select the candidate that will put the people’s needs first.”

“I couldn’t have been happier to work for Congressman Dicks during the 2006 election cycle,” Nixon wrote. “All of us on the campaign worked tirelessly to help Norm win one of his largest victories. I was filled with hope and pride as we gathered together on election night and realized that not only had Norm won re-election in a landslide, but the Democrats had won huge victories all over the country giving them control of the house and the senate. The Democrats, and Dicks with them, were given a mandate to end the war in Iraq, and hold the Bush Administration accountable for its actions. That hope and pride has been replaced with frustration that two years later neither has happened or appears likely to happen with representatives such as Congressman Dicks in office.”

Nixon states that Dicks has continued to ally himself with the leadership of his party on issues like impeachment and the Iraq War. He also takes issue with many of the incumbent’s votes. These include Dicks’ votes in favor of the updated FISA Bill granting retroactive immunity to telecoms and damaging the Fourth Amendment, Dicks vote on the PATRIOT Act, and Dicks support of the Homegrown Terrorism Act, which he describes as little more than “reawakening of McCarthyism.”

The letter:

Paul Richmond is the Right Candidate in the 6th District
By William Jamie Nixon, Field Organizer Norm Dicks for Congress, 2006

The time has come in Washington’s 6th Congressional District for new leadership. Congressman Dicks should be thanked for his many years of service to our community, however that thanks need not come in the form of our vote. The constituents of this district deserve a leader with the judgment and courage to stand up to the D.C. establishment and put our needs first.

I couldn’t have been happier to work for Congressman Dicks during the 2006 election cycle. Canvassing the 6th district put me face to face with the good people of our area, and seeing first hand their frustrations with the direction of the country made me even more motivated to help Norm get the job done. All of us on the campaign worked tirelessly to help Norm win one of his largest victories. I was filled with hope and pride as we gathered together on election night and realized that not only had Norm won re-election in a landslide, but the Democrats had won huge victories all over the country giving them control of the house and the senate. The Democrats, and Dicks with them, were given a mandate to end the war in Iraq, and hold the Bush Administration accountable for its actions. That hope and pride has been replaced with frustration that two years later neither has happened or appears likely to happen with representatives such as Congressman Dicks in office.

Dicks, while saying that he now wishes he hadn’t voted for the war, has been a tireless supporter of those who profit from it most. He has also continued to vote into law the blank checks President Bush has needed to continue the worst foreign policy blunder in our nation’s history. His judgment was poor then and it remains so today with his continued support of the Iraq catastrophe.

Paul Richmond is fully committed to ending the war in Iraq. He has pledged to vote to cut off funds for the war and to bring our men and women in uniform home as soon as is possible.

Norm has continued to align himself with the leadership of his party over the wishes of the people of his district on the issue of impeachment. When we canvassed on Norm’s behalf in 2006 the most talked about issues at the doors of the 6th district were Iraq and impeachment. He has been openly vocal in his opposition to impeachment hearings. When asked about impeachment by Mr. Richmond, Dicks replied “It’s not what Nancy Pelosi wants.” To which Mr. Richmond rightly responded, “but are you representing us to Nancy Pelosi, or do you represent her to us?”

Paul Richmond fully supports hearings into possible impeachable offenses committed by President Bush and Vice President Cheney. He will also act first and foremost for the people of our district and not just the Democratic leadership.

Dicks shows disturbing arrogance in his disregard of the democratic process. He has refused to debate his challengers during the primary. Why? The people of the 6th district deserve a debate on the issues so that they may make an informed choice. One is left to ponder just what Norm Dicks fears from standing side by side with candidates of good faith and having it out in the American tradition. Paul Richmond is ready to do just this, and Congressman Dicks is ducking him.

Recently Congressman Dicks voted in favor of the updated FISA bill which handed retro-active immunity to the telecomm companies that helped the current President ignore our 4th Amendment protections from unreasonable search and seizure. It seems that Congressman Dicks couldn’t care less about accountability or civil liberties. This vote along with his reprehensible vote on the Patriot Act and his support of the Homegrown Terrorism Act, which is little more than a reawakening of McCarthyism, show a continuing lack of judgment on Dicks’ part. Our most cherished freedoms seem of little concern t o our Congressman. It may be that he does in fact have the people’s needs in mind when he casts these votes, but if he refuses to debate challengers, hold town hall meetings, or even to respond to postings on his own blog before deleting them, how are we to know?

Paul Richmond supports holding those accountable who attempt to undermine the laws of our nation whether they are large corporations or not. Congressman Dicks should know that no one is above the law.

These issues and others have led me to throw my full support behind Paul Richmond.
Paul Richmond has the judgment we need now. Why would we settle for a candidate that continues to show an inability to heed the wishes of the people of his district, or one whose vision is simply outdated? Instead let us come together to select the candidate that will put the people’s needs first.

The time for new leadership has come. Let us thank Norm for his service and give our vote to Paul Richmond.

William Jamie Nixon
Field Organizer, 2006 Dicks Campaign

Campaign watchers and the Rossi and Gregoire campaigns

Rossi and the Republicans send a campaign watcher to Gregoire’s events. That by itself isn’t all that interesting. Thought it is when you realize that Rossi and the Republicans prevent a Democratic campaign watcher from getting into Rossi event.

From the comments of the original video, which for some reason doesn’t have any sound:

I don’t get it. Why was someone from the Democratic Party wanting to get in to a Rossi event with a video camera? I’m not sure I would have allowed you guys in either! Seems a bit suspicious to me.

And, in response:

It’s because Washington state Democrats, much like their counterparts all over this country, are hypocritical frauds. Do you think for one second that they would allow a Republican into a Gregoire event with a video camera? Of course not. Like their presidential candidate, they are complete phonies.

Well, rather, of course they would. Look at the first video again.

I wish the Democratic Party in Washington State was more like Chad Lupkes

I don’t think I’ve ever met Chad in person, but I feel his wake a lot down here in Olympia, and I’m pretty late in saying that I appreciate his efforts.

In a way I wish there were more people like Chad, but there already are hundreds of people in the state party that do what he does.

Washington Democratic Chairs
is a much better website than our state party website. Much more focussed on being creative and giving tools to citizens than doing whatever the state party website does.

Just an example, here you can find a shape file and a kmz file for precincts for most counties in Washington.

Congrats Jim Cooper, Obama national delegate from Thurston County

Jim Cooper, our man in Thurston County, is going to Denver:

Dear Friends,

Hello! I hope you are well.

I am writing you as a newly elected At Large National Delegate for Barack Obama! I was one of four males elected to represent Washington State for Senator Obama. It is an honor to join the 97 member Delegation to the Democratic National Convention. As an At-Large Delegate it is my job to represent the voice of Washington voters in Denver thus August as we pass progressive platforms & resolutions and confirm Barack Obama as the Democratic Nominee.

Without your support, kind words, and best wishes I could never have achieved this goal.

I plan to update my website, soon so you can see some pictures from the weekend. I will keep you posted about my experiences on this new and exciting journey.

Thank you again,

Jim

Also, history was made by Lewis County Democrats, with one of their’s is also heading to Denver.

Andrew on: His thoughts on the Top Two

If there was any question at all about how Andrew from Redmond feels about the Top Two primary, that’s all cleared up. The guy hates it.

And how.

Ok, so he writes a very long post about how the Top Two is very bad, so I’m just going to wade into this and see where I end up. It looks like we’ll just go rant for rant.

One of the problems with how the Top Two is rolling out is that the parties are asking local organizations to hold nominating conventions. I’ve said, and others as well, that these conventions are a tool to be used later when the parties move to have the Supreme Court reconsider their decision.

Andrew is much kinder to the state Dems intentions, saying rather they are “gamely fighting to ensure that there will be somebody carrying the party’s banner.” Oh, I’d say they’re creating an official record for the court that the Top Two hurts their freedom of association.

Later on, Andrew writes this:

Meanwhile, the 36th Legislative District has refused to even hold a nominating convention. The two Democrats running there are John Burbank and Reuven Carlyle. Its leaders, who aren’t giving their district’s precinct committee officers much credit, argue that having only PCOs pick the nominee isn’t democratic.

I enjoyed reading that local party leaders thought giving a decision over to PCOs would be undemocratic. Which, it really would be. If the 36th LD holds to the average of King County, their PCOs really weren’t elected in a Democratic fashion. Last time I checked, less than a third of the possible PCOs positions across the county were elected and less than 2 percent of all the positions available were contested. The rest of the PCOs now serving in the 36th and across King County are appointed.

I wish it weren’t this way, but handing a decision over to PCOs to decide is necessarily undemocratic because of the lack of participation in PCO elections.

There is a central question that I run into when I talk about this issue with folks who aren’t involved in party politics. They wonder why the state of Washington should pay for what party activists argue is a private party function.

Andrew:

The choice belongs to the people of our party. It’s too expensive to hold special caucuses in every jurisdiction every year. And they don’t attract the numbers that a presidential caucus does. That is why we really need the open primary.

The choice belongs to the people of the party, but we can’t pay for it. We need the state to pay for our private party function.

Well, I’ll agree, we don’t have enough money to pay for precinct caucuses every time we want to nominate someone. We also don’t have the volunteers. We do have enough money (collectively) to run campaigns, put televisions ads up and pay consultants.

What we don’t have the structure, resources or people to actually get people involved in our organization. We may sound grassroots, but we’re not. Very few people actually participated in our caucuses as compared to voter turnout in other elections, and we barely had the capacity for that.

I can see why people don’t like the open primary, or any system that gives too much control to parties in Washington. They don’t trust us because they aren’t part of us.

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