Please read below to see my comments on their remarks.
-Erik On May 16, 2005, at 12:44 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
My old friend Dyna said,<snip> Peter led but did not win the race because he did a better job of packing the convention with his supporters. Peter will face a much more uphill battle in the upcoming elections, as voter's ask "Peter who" and higher turnout in R.T.'s strongest precincts will win reelection for him.<snip> I think Peter had more of the "never dream of missing a precinct caucus" core democrats. At least that was certainly true in my ward, the 8th. <snip>
Erik:
This was true surely also in Wards 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, and 12 too. RT had newcomers but their support for him was less intense. Many people I talked to about their support for Peter had stories of disappointment with the Mayor or his office. Others had stories about City offices failing them. They wanted change but are savvy enough to realize that you must have an alternative before you attack the status quo. Peter is a viable alternative.
And when we in the 8th were sent to the distance and the
heights, we did so with heads held high and clear memories.
<snip>
The reason that was given for singling out the 8th ward to move was that we had the largest
number of delegates seated. This means that the party chose to punish
those who turned out and those who registered and seated themselves in
a timely manner. We had the center spot on the convention floor.
Wouldn't it have made more sense to simply have those in the back move
on back farther up into the bleachers and expand the space for
everybody? The 8th Ward was seated in the bleachers last time, too.
What kind of a party will evolve from decisions that punish those
who show up in good numbers and those who show up on time?
<snip>
David Finke
Central Neighborhood
Erik:
I thought you got this treatment because you didn't endorse a Council Candidate and you don't have a current CouncilMember to represent you.
On May 16, 2005, at 2:56 PM, Emma Riese wrote:
I am a young first-timer, and I will be back. Not because the DFL has done *anything* to engage or inspire me, but because the DFL has influence, and I /have/ to engage with it, unless I want other people to make decisions about my health care, schooling, housing, police and transportation. I'm ticked off that involvement in these decisions requires me to spend my entire Saturday in a windowless room on uncomfortable bleachers, as well as hours tracking down basic information such as a candidate's phone number, attending boring and intimidating meetings, listening to cranky people moan about irrelevant things, on and on. In a democracy political involvement is a right, not a privilege for those with a high tolerance for boredom.
Erik:
You got to read the Sun Tzu and eat half my chocolate and you say you were bored!?
If the DFL really wants to engage young people, they should have a clear understandable process, not meet at 10 o'clock on a Saturday morning, have /affordable/ food available (I have 3 dollar bills to my name) and support inspiring candidates rather than dull insiders. (At this point both Peter and RT are included in the "dull insiders" category.)
Erik:
10:00 a.m. is s pretty good time to start, especially if we could complete our business in less than 8 hours. Re: "dull insiders" This seems to be an opinion of many young people. I personally think both RT and Peter are cutting edge progressives.
Next city convention I think we should have somebody designated to lead aerobic exercise and chanting when there's nothing else to do. Seeing people do the wave was the only interesting or valuable part of the whole experience.
Emma Riese (League of Pissed-Off Voters!) Seward
Erik:
This is such a great idea. The party should think of itself as a big party planning group and try to think of new ways to get the business done in a fair way but also in a fun way. Doing this might also make politics seem more engaging. We have to remember we are fighting for the votes of many disaffected citizens who don't usually go to the polls because they think their vote doesn't matter. Just look at how things have changed on the national scene since we went from the amiable buffoon, Bill Clinton to the folksy born-again, George Bush. Voting matters.
-- In cooperation,
Erik Riese Seward US@: A great place to live, work, learn, create and play.
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