Tamir said: Then why were so many local DFLers who supported presidential candidates other than Kerry, especially Kucinich supporters kept from being delegates? Why are there so many progressives, or people who want change within the DFL, unable to get their concerns addressed?
Me: Tamir, you are generalizing here without proof. Who are these people you speak of? Were you at every precinct caucus in 2004 to see people being excluded? I know that my precinct caucus in Whittier was HUGE. I got chills just seeing all the new faces that showed up to be part of the process. I for one having been a delegate since 1994 decided that I would not try to be one last year so that a new person getting involved in the process would have the chance to participate. I know many of them were Deaniacs and Kuchinich supporters. I know many of the delegates elected in the 6th ward last year were new to party politics. What I heard from many of the so-called DFL insiders was that there was a new young group of DFL activists has shifted the balance of power within the DFL. I know the legislative district conventions reflected that new activist flavor. In fact, the report I got from a staunch old DFLer yesterday about the State DFL committee meeting was that the old guard was outnumbered by the young new activists and it showed in the vote over budget line items. All of that aside, the city races are still non-partisan. No one is prevented from being on the ballot that wants to run for local office. You just have to convince the voters that they should support you over the other candidates. This is where party endorsement becomes important. Many voters allow the party activists to do the homework for them. If a candidate gets the DFL or other party endorsement there are voters that will vote for that candidate just because of that endorsement. It isn't a certified check to election though. Robert Lilligren won the last election without DFL endorsement. For the first time this year the DFL will elect the delegate base that endorses council, PB and the mayoral race the year of the election. That means those who are truly interested in local races can be the delegates that endorse as opposed to the delegates elected during the presidential races. We may see a whole different group of people emerge for these delegate seats than we did for the presidential races at least in the DFL. As David Brauer said it's a watch and see kind of thing. The other major political parties in Mpls. did not change their by-laws to elect delegates the year of the local race. They will hold conventions to endorse local candidates using the delegates elected during the presidential race. Barb Lickness Whittier ===== "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." -- Margaret Mead REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[email protected] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
