A snapshot from a first-time caucuser in CO

[treehuggnlibrul]

We live in a small town in Colorado, and the night was crisp, but clear. Weather would not be a factor in this area, and I wondered what the turnout would be. I picked up my 71-year-old mother-in-law, and we headed for my daughters' elementary school, neither of us sure what to expect. We arrived about 6:20, found our precinct tables in the small lunchroom, and checked in.

A 70-year-old woman named Sam was going through the paperwork, so I helped look up voter numbers and we scrambled for pens. People began to stream in. One of my neighbors arrived and said that in 2006, there were six caucusers total. We looked around. The lunchroom was packed. 20 tables held 15 people each, and people were standing against the walls, pressed together. There was an energy in the room that was tangible. "Looks like we better get cozy," said Sam. We ran out of check-in forms. A reporter estimated 400-500 people.

Once the meeting was called to order and rules were read, someone stood up on a lunch table and spoke for Obama. Another spoke for Hillary. Everyone cheered both candidates. And then... we were off. We quickly selected a chair and secretary. Our chair called for Clinton supporters to raise their hands. 9 hands went up. He called for Obama supporters. 37 hands went up. 2 hands for uncommitted. None for Gravel. He tallied the votes, determined the threshold for delegates, then gave everyone another chance, to see if anyone had changed their mind. People were given an opportunity to talk about their candidate. This time, one uncommitted switched to Obama, and an Obama hand went to Clinton, and one remained uncommitted. Delegates were tallied. 3 for Obama. 1 for Clinton.

The noise in the room was amazing. Applause, cheers, impromptu stump speeches. THIS is was what democracy looked like. There was no animosity. No bickering about hairstyles, or he-said-she-said, or worries about snubs or name calling. There was NO division here. We were united dems, standing up for our candidates. Here was a room full of mostly whites, mixed in gender and age, who were standing with deep pride and conviction for a woman candidate, and an African American candidate.

At that point, each group separated to select who would be the delegates and alternate delegates. With that decided, we called for any resolutions to be sent to the county for the party platform. Four were proposed, and all passed unanimously: Impeach and call * and Cheney up on criminal charges for FISa, for torture; repeal NCLB; call for an immediate withdrawal of US troops from Iraq; call for a single payer health care system. Applause, uh-huhs, and oh-yeahs. It was about time our voices be heard.

By 8:30, an hour-and-a-half later, our precinct was adjourned. Several were still going as we walked out the door. It was a good night.

ETA: Just heard on the news that in 2004, there were 15,000 dem caucus-goers; last night, 118,000.

[AlinPA]

1. Things are happening. There is a change going on.

[yellerpup]

2. Thanks for the snapshot of your caucus.

Inspiring story and very well told. K&R! Welcome to DU!

[momophile]

3. that is what democracy looks like

thanks for sharing. it's about the same as what I went through in my CO town last night. great buzz in the air and I was on the verge of tears all night.