Democrats Meet in Phoenix
Posted by Josh McConaha on December 3, 2005 at 03:28 PM
As most of you know, this weekend was the DNC's Fall Meeting. After being rescheduled because of Hurricane Katrina, Democrats from across the country were able to get together in Phoenix, AZ to continue working for 2006, 2008 and beyond. Joe Rospars, the Internet Director here at the DNC, went to Phoenix to help make the event more accessible to the millions of Democrats who couldn't make it. After all, this your Party, and those in Phoenix are there fighting to make this country better for all of us.
As people find free time between the various meetings and sessions, Joe's been grabbing them and asking them to write a bit about their experience. We've archived everything sent to us here, so you can easily browse through all of it. The message below, from Debbie Marquez of Colorado, came to us last night after she spoke to the Hispanic Caucus for the first time.
Debbie Marquez is a DNC Committeewoman from Colorado and the first Latina elected from Colorado. She lives in Edwards, Colorado (in the mountains, near Vail, in Eagle County) where she owns a very successful Mexican restaurant with her Sister. She is a long time Democratic activists and has an 8 year old daughter who she plans to bring along to the 2008 DNC convention.
I was very nervous at the podium, speaking to a mic, in front of the room, for the first time at the DNC Hispanic Caucus. I was here to propose the resolution. Reading from a document full of "Wherases and Therefores".Trying to summarize so I can quickly get to the "Be It Resolved".
I remembered to breathe. My voice didn't crack. I paused when I needed to. And the silence was ok. No one yelled and said 'Come on - get with it.!' In fact the pause that seemed much too long to me was in retrospect only a few seconds. I did it! I presented, they voted and the Democrats are going to oppose the Colorado Anti-Immigration Initiative. I accomplished my goal. Si Se Puede!
I felt it was most appropriate that we passed this today - the anniversary of Rosa Parks refusing to give up her seat in Montgomery, Alabama. So today I asked and received support of the party of civil rights and human rights - the party of the people. The party of my people. Our people. The Democrats whose leader, Howard Dean is known for doing what's right, not just what's popular. Today just might be a magical day for activism.
Then our Caucus went further than I expected or prayed for. They created a task force to formalize a plan to create and raise money to nip the Colorado initiative before it spreadslike a plague to the rest of the country. Here I was, new DNC member, not only getting a resolution passed, but inspiring my caucus. A caucus that is full of experts who have probably won more elections than I will ever vote in!
I get some "congrats" and "good jobs" as I leave. (Did they not detect my nerves?!) Now we need to pass the resolution at the executive committee level. A member of the caucus from the executive committee takes me - the new kid on the block - to the big meeting room. A meeting that begins in ten minutes. How many copies will we need? Do I have time to run to get the doc on my computer? Are there any legal - or rules - hurdles that haven't been considered? These are the thoughts going through my mind as we walk into the meeting room.
We find a DNC staff person stapling copies of the resolution! "They have it done!" goes through my mind. Whew! I relax and think that maybe we'll get this passed.
Governor Dean, who has been saying at almost every group he spoke to that we can't be fooled by these type of bills that are put on the ballots to divide the party. I think it was he who also says something like "This kind of legislation has the fingerprints of Tom Tancredo all over it." He calls for a vote, the resolution passes. Unanimous again!
I high-five to the executive members who presented the resolution. I am feeling real good that I made the decision to bring this to the DNC this week. (Even though some said to wait until the April meeting. What? And miss 5 months of campaigning? Miss the Colorado caucuses?)
Tomorrow we present to the full membership. I think it will be like presenting to Congress since there are about the same number of people on the DNC. I'm a little nervous about tomorrow. But I remind myself that today I accomplished the Jean Yancey motto that I strive to live by. She always said, "Ladies, let's go out and make a difference." I add, "Because, It's the Right thing to do!"
Comments (16) «
Thanx for sharing your success story, Debbie. It's great to meet the people, as in "We the People", that are the government.
"Ladies, let's go out and make a difference." I add, "Because, It's the Right thing to do!"
Thank YOU for doing it now! So kewl that you didn't hesitate.
A little off topic, but I just got back from Steve Young's headquarters in the CA-48 after several hours of literature drops. There doesn't seem to be a Democratic organization that takes responsibility for special elections. Everyone just passes the buck and leaves candidates on their own.
Are special elections an assigned responsibility of either the DNC or DCCC or DSCC?
All well and good. Let's go out and--wait a minute...
We are all hopeful of the 2006 elections and returning government to the Democtrats in the House and Senate, where we can really get down and do some work. However. Wasn't that supposed to happen when Gore was elected in 2000? I, myself, know anyone that suggests that an election can be stolen would, in this country, land of milk an honey, be labeled a lunatic. Well, few thought the Civil War in this country would happen. And furthermore, nobody anticipated WW1 and it's awsome loss of human life. Everyone thought that WW11 could be avoided, and when it did happen, nobody anticipated the genocide of the Jews. Nobody imagined it. And, skipping forward, I remember Watergate unfolding. The worst-case scenario was, unfortunately, only hinted at well after the defeat of George McGovern, but the worst-case scenario was clearly evident for all who cared to see. But we are an optonistic people. I, in my political infancy knew Nixon's administration was poisoned and that his victory in 1972 could only prolong a dying agony. Certainly GHW Bush knew everything about Iran-Contra there is to know--when it was happening. He and his good friend Manuel Norieaga should be rotting in a Florida prison--oh, wait, that's where El Presidente is now! The leap of faith is much, much smaller now over the likelihood elections in this country have been stolen. Again and again. We are passengers on a ship of fools of our own design.
Good luck tomorrow Debbie. It always feels great after challenging yourself for a good cause.
I have just sent this to Gov. Dean, Sen. Kerry, Florida Dems e-mail, and have started sending it to every organization I belong to! That's on top of the seven letters I have ready for Monday's mail!
Any comments?
Is there any discussion about forming a viable third party? Bring together enough of these splintter parties to form one, even if we only won a few House seats, and a couple of Senate seats, enough to seen as a swing group? A two party system, isn't suffcient to provide the needed checks and balances! Our situation today is proof!
We worked for John Kerry, because we knew him. Not personally, but as constituents in need. The Democratic Party, particularly the 'inner circle' the DEC, are very hostile to OUTSIDERS! We were actually called that at a meet-up for the DFA, after the election! There was no Kick-off party in our county or the four nearest ones. We drove 80 miles one-way to get to one! When they, the Dem.'s want money they know our address & e-mail, but when there's a meeting or convention, we never get informed.
The Lieberman's, Ben Nelson's, and Dixie Dem.s are just getting to be too much to take!
Dean's answer about the DEC, not being willing to work with grassroots people was, "do it on your own". So we're suppose to donate our money to them, do the work on the ground and NOT get any support in return from the party? Do I look that stupid?
We have written, e-mailed, and made phone calls to the National and State DNC, over the last year and a half and NEVER received a single reply except more form letters and e-mails for money!
I'm about to become part of the disenfranchised majority in this country, that doesn't vote, basically because I just don't have a party or canidate to vote for!
Thank-you, an answer would be appreciated!
Andie, Andrea Gudat, PO Box 308 115 Beecher Sprg. Rd., Welaka, FL. 32193
Hello, all.
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This online survey will approximately take 15-20 minutes to complete. After collecting the data, I will draw to pick up 50 respondents among those who complete this survey and each will be given $ 10 gift card. Your experience will be very useful in understanding how politically interested online users are using online news and the consequent effects on traditional news.
Would you please spend some time to fill out this survey ?
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=594061481532
(please click on the address, OR if not working, copy it into the URL address)
You can withdraw the survey at any time you want. All responses will be kept confidential and only be used for academic purposes. This survey has been reviewed and approved by the SIUC Human Subject Committee. So, there are no questions that may identify personal information.
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CO's proposition isn't "anti-immigration", it's anti-illegal immigration. There's a big difference, and one wonders why the Democratic Party would want to be the party for those who are forbidden by law from remaining here.
And, comparing the fight for civil rights to the fight for rights for illegal aliens is more than a bit unseemly.
But, hey, all those millions of illegal aliens rob Mexico of the citizens they need for reform, enrich Mexico's oligarchy and allow them to forestall reforms, enrich those corrupt corporations that contribute to the GOP, drive down wages for America's own low-wage workers most of whom are Dems and Of Color, and bust unions.
According to the Democratic Party, those are good things.
Illegal immigration is a losing issue for the Democrats, every election the right uses abortion, guns, gay rights against us why don't you people use the stem cell issue to win an election the moderates are who sways elections. Buck
Welaka, FL Dem:
Your DFA group would be welcome up here in North Florida! Our DEC meetings are open to all democrats. As a former Dean for American grassroots campaign leader, we would love to have Democracy for America active up here - we are in the reddest area of Florida! So come on up to Duval County anytime and attend our meetings and events. Gov. Dean is correct that if you can't get what you need from your local party, go out and form a club that let's you do what you want - and need - to do as a democrat . . . just don't rewrite the platform to sound like a republican! But DFA is definitely welcome in North Florida!
I am curious as to what the "DEC" is supposed to denote ! Never heard that reference before.
If I understand your complaint correctly, you are annoyed at no local meet-up?
I believe that the meetups in the past, also asked if you wanted to Host one yourself. You aren't able to fnd a local restaurant or spot where you can have a meetup yourself? That's what those other people all did. I attended them in Starbucks and Restaurants. I think once you give your address to the Meetup icon, it goes out that way.
Someone on here once said "Be The Change".
We will never win if we don't get smart as bad as Carl Rove is he does find the issues to win. Buck
Response to NorthFLDem: We had meet-ups going for Kerry, in Palatka, and the DEC got involved, changed the dates and times and agenda's, and they died! Basically the DFA meetings in Daytona went the same way. I wrote to Dean about it, and the DFA, and never got an answer!
You've obviously never tried to do it on your own! We did. We spent our own money, made up flyers, and hand-outs (balloons, flags, candy, all with a msg. attached) and marched in a parade. Our county DEC didn't have road signs out didn't have a phone bank, it was really sad. How are two people without a list of Dems, phone lists, going to cover a whole county? We were getting hammered with daily Pro-Bush glossy colored flyer's in the mail, full of lies (like Kerry would end Pre-K) or was anti-enviromental!
In 04' at every county fair the Repugs had a well layed out booth, with items for sale, and give-aways. Most counties around here didn't even have a Dem Booth, and if they did John Kerry's name was nowhere to be seen!
To PamB: Obviously your in the DEC, and part of the problem. My comment was We're (meaning democratic citizens not part of, or welcome in the DNC & DEC's inner-circle) are constantly being asked by mail and e-mail to donate to the party, (some of which, I'm sure filters down to local DEC, and goes to pay for the conventions, ads, bumper stickers ect). Yet, we're not invited to participate in the party, except when you need volunteers to do the 'dirty' grassroots type work! Things like canvansing, phone banking, ect. ya know the things the DEC wouldn't soil their hands with!
No,I'm not concerned about the meet-ups anymore, if any even still exist! What I want is a political party that is open and welcoming to all. That works together, is well organized year round, where the people who do the work, go to the conventions, and when you write to or e-mail you get an answer!
I fully intend to be the change, I'm planning on working very hard to get the rest of the Progressives, who feel left out of your 'private' party to form a third party of ur own.
To fellow Democrats...how about opposing ILLEGAL immigration and the fact that it is a major factor in the rush to the bottom for many American citizens especially unskilled labor?
we need to look out first for American citizen workers and then legal immigrants....but not illegal immigrants.
When I hear comments that favor illegal immigration, I'm convinced that the Democratic Party will never again be the party of the people and the American worker.
It will always be a party without a coherent mission, without a consistent policy that offers those millions of American workers that are getting screwed everyday by the 21st century corporate robber barons some degree of hope.
They are looking for a party that looks out for them, and what is the Democratic party looking out for but far left issues like gay marriage, abortion, gun control, no more ten commandments, etc. What Democrats need are someone like Rove who understands how to win elections instead of screaming about surrender in Iraq (even if out of context). The country is depending on it.
If you read alot of the responses you will see why the people lose hope, we never get a answer because we do not agree we your policies on ILLEGALS, gays, guns. Start talking about strm cells instead of abortion use your heads, many of us are tired of losing because no one cares about us. Buck
Right now the Democrat Party needs to get highly organized for congressional elections in 06. More importantly, the Democrat Party needs to get organized for the presidential election 08.
The Democrat that gets the nomination needs to have a vison to run in 2008. That person needs to articulate the issues. Do not be like Gore and Kerry and not talk about the issues. The issues are simple the economy, education, and healthcare.
Right now, the keys to victory are getting organized in each state. Ensure that every democrat knows what the platform issues are important. Have a theme that is tied into the issues. Get those issues into the media and they should be the weaknesses to the Republican Party. For example, for the past five years education has been cut.
Also, the Democrat Party needs to quit courting the same voter blocs that have failed for the past two presidential elections. New voter blocs that the Democrat Party needs to start listening to now is the Autism voter bloc. There were 10 Million voters that were tied to Autism. Yet more that 60% voted republican! The Democrat Party needs to listen to that voter bloc better. Where was the gay and lesbian voter bloc in 2004 in Ohio when the election was on the line? Most importantly, start being more available to your voters.
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