Went as a delegate to the Pierce County Convention

[Generic Other]

Over 1000 delegates attended which everyone claimed was more than attened the last state convention! Patty Murray, Norm Dicks, Christine Gregoire, Adam Smith, Ron Sims and others addressed the crowd. I was amazed at the resolutions. One question. Is this what the resolutions typically look like? I thought I was on DU! There are apparently some leftwing Dems in my city! Nice. A quick summary:

1. Repeal of Patriot Act.
2. Physical voter verified ballots.
3. Congress only one with Constitutional authority to declare war.
4. End military occupation of Iraq.
5. End doctrine of "pre-emption."
6. Enforce anti-trust laws.
7. Withdraw from Nafta.
8. Full Social security at 65.
9. Restore veteran benefits.
10. Cease research, development, and production of nuclear and space based weapons.
11. Reduce Defense budget.
12. Oppose Federal Marriage Amendment.
13. Ratify Kyoto Protocal.
14. Repeal Bush tax cuts for rich.
15. Expand county bus and rail.
16. Free public transportation (voted down).
17. Proxy voting for overseas active duty vets or those who are housebound.
18. Incentives to business that conserve energy, retrofit pollution prevention technologies, or get rid of toxins.
19. Create a Department of Peace. (also voted down).
20. Support Palestinian sovereignty.
21. Declare Guantanamo Bay detainees as POWS and follow Geneva Convention.
22. Protect basic human and civil rights of immigrants.
23. Affirmative Action.
24. Repeal Taft-Hartley.
25. Oppose dumping at Hanford.
26. Label genetically engineered food.
27. Funding for birth control and sex ed.
28. Medical marijuana.
29. Make no bid deals between government and business unlawful.
30. Encourage all candidates to answer a "positions questionaire."
31. Ban vehicular traffic on all Washington ocean beaches.
32. Eliminate payroll tax on those whose income is lower than a living wage and remove cap on social security taxes for higher incomes.
33. End capital punishment.

[MichaelHarris]

1. you guys

have it made. I live on the side of the state no one lives in. We just got roads like last week.

[Generic Other]

4. I was amazed at how left of center those resolutions were

They will no doubt be watered down to an unrecognizable mush when the folks from Tacoma meet up with the eastsiders. Some beautiful leftwing people live in this town!

[MichaelHarris]

5. Its those

Mercer peeps who are wacky right? Also I read about one of the islands being a clan haven. On the east side we have a few good liberals but there are more over in Moscow, Id. They have the old hippies. They rock.

[liarliartieonfire]

2. "I thought I was on DU!" LOL that's funny

Wow, did you ask others if they were DUers too??

I live in Pierce County also. I am SOOOO impressed with the politically savvy-ness of those that attended.

Lucky You, to have had delegate status..
Maybe you'll be given special access to the next Kerry visit to WA.
How exciting for you!

Sounds like you all have a lot to accomplish, but hey? it all starts with grassroots and then on to County, State and then D.C. levels.

Keep us updated. This is interesting.

Thanks for the post.
liarliartieonfire..Tacoma, Pierce County Dem

[Generic Other]

8. Well, I didn't get elected as delegate to state

I tried, but the other delegates were very accomplished and there were many candidates. I wouldn't have voted for me in that group! Very impressive level of participation in local and state politics. I was a political novice and sounded like a doofus when I spoke. Argh...

Still, all the politicians seemed genuinely impressed by the numbers. We filled the exhibition hall at the Dome.

[nofurylike]

3. o my! will you please take this to boston

on all our behalf?

on second thought, will you all just become our federal executive office cooperative?

here, run my country pleeeeeeeeaaase?!

thank you for posting the template we all so need, washington state!
it is a very hope-inspiring sign!


peace!

[Generic Other]

6. Federal Executive Office Cooperative?

I think you are referring to the new cabinet post: Secretary of Peace. That one got voted down. Even we aren't that liberal.


I am thinking we should have demanded a Pompatus of Love instead.

I fear by the time vox populi gets to Boston, the words will have been edited, polished and spitshined so much it will sound as tame and insipid as toast. Hope not. :)

[nofurylike]

7. well, you gave us a taste of possibilities!!

mmmmmh! dreamy!!

thank you!

:)

[Jamesm9164]

9. Which district are you in?

I too was a delegate and I am pleased to see another DU member. I am in the 25th and was proud as hell that the district had the "Bush Lied" signs. Get out the vote - success this fall will depend on folks getting other folks out to vote.

[Generic Other]

10. I'm in the 27th! I didn't see the Bush lied signs!

Wasn't that a huge turnout? I was impressed by all my fellow Democrats. I missed your signs. :(

[Jamesm9164]

16. Signs

We were seated behind the 27th. They weren't my signs, but I could of burst a button when I saw them. If you know anyone in the 25th, let them know we need a big Democratic turnout to defend the seats of Morrell and Kastama and hopefully knock off McDonald. We still do not know of any Republican opponets but rumors as usual are swirling. Keep up the good fight.

[progressivebydesign]

18. I think I'm in the 26th.. Gig Harbor.

I was a delegate that wasn't able to attend.. but was assured they had a ton going this time! The Caucus thing was my first experience in all this. Next time, I'll make the County convention. Sorry I missed it.

[cmf]

11. Went to the Kitsap convention

I could only stay through 4 of the platform amendments, I didn't make it to the resolutions. Although from the ones I saw being passed around for signatures, similar issues were being addressed. We're probably a lot less organized than you all were. It took us about an hour and a half to just get through 4 platform amendments - there were 28 total. I'm sure that they were there until late in the night. All in all, it was a great experience. I wish I could have stayed longer.

[Mrs. Overall]

14. I was at the Kitsap Convention, too!

I was a Kucinich Delegate from the 23rd L. District. It was such a powerful afternoon! Many of the platform amendments were much more progressive than I had expected, but like you, I had to leave early (by 4pm) and there was still a great deal of work left to do.
I tend to think of Kitsap as being conservative, so it was refreshing to see such a variety of people who are ready for change and willing to do the work to get there.

[fleetus]

15. Kitsap is overall Democrat

In the 2000 election,the results were

Al Gore D 50302
George Bush R 46427
Nadar G 4607

So we've still got a majority. Nothing like King county, but better than most of those eastern counties.

I noticed the Kucinich folks were out in force. Nice work! I was a Dean alternate turned deligate.

[Liberal Gramma]

12. Convention News from the Tacoma News Tribune

According to today's News Tribune, 1500 people attended the Democratic County Convention, three times the usual attendance. 400 attended the Republican County Convention, where such weighty issues as "resolving to define marriage as between a man and a woman" and "setting the Bible as the standard for higher education" were discussed.

[Generic Other]

13. My, my our GOP neighbors were certainly busy little bees

"setting the Bible as the standard for higher education."

Does that mean one of the more pompous local pastors is going to call my dean again? Ugh. Thanks for the warning.

[woofless]

17. Whatcom County,

Our platform planks looked much like yours. I was encouraged that the marijuana plank read (paraphrase) Decriminalize possesion of marijuana and reduce criminal sentences for drug violations. Very Cool. I was unable to stay for the voting of resolutions as SO had a panic attack and had to get her out of there, so do not know how they fared.

Woof