DELEGATES - refuse to sign any document to expand the candidate pool!

[paineinthearse]

by email. I wholeheartedly agree with this letter.

=============

Subject: How We Can Win the Corner Office
Date: Thursday, February 23, 2006 9:13:20 AM

The recent actions of the putative leadership of the Massachusetts Democratic Party are quite disturbing. The challenge is to question their actions without the rancor which could jeopardize our efforts to produce progressive leadership in the corner office.

In order to provide an orderly process, through which an individual can be designated as the nominee of the party, the Democratic State Committee promulgated what are known as "rules". For the 2006 election cycle two persons have sought out the Democratic nomination for Governor and, up to this writing, both have followed those rules.

The candidates organized their supporters, attended the caucuses which were open to all enrolled Democrats, and later counted their votes. Individuals at the caucuses mainly sought election by their fellow Democrats as delegates for Mr. Reilly, Mr. Patrick or as uncommitted delegates. It appears that the vast majority of the delegates chose Mr. Patrick.

After the caucuses were complete it appears that some of the party elders were unhappy. For no possible reason other than the disappointment of the few they decided that other candidates should be added.

There actually was a process to add persons to the convention who had not chosen to present themselves to the Democrats who attended the caucuses. The person seeking to bypass the grass roots Democrats would have to obtain the signatures of 500 of the 3000 delegates elected to the convention.

But, there was a loophole. A loophole the size of a noose. Beyond the 3000 elected delegates there are several hundred ex officio delegates to the convention. If they could be included in the number of eligible signatures the odds of a late entry would improve. So, in a classic inside move, it was reinterpreted by the few in order to disregard the many.

It is my opinion the we should express our displeasure with the process by refusing to sign any document to expand the candidate pool and, redouble our efforts for our personal choice. Both men who played by the rules deserve this action. It is time that the "party fathers" realized that we are not their dependent children but rather their emancipated children. Although we can be found in the field of politics, the grass roots Democrats are not the sheep of the party, we are the shepherds.

Paul McDevitt
Elected Alternate, Great Barrington