CA State Convention

I went to the California State Democratic convention as a delegate for the first time this past weekend. It was a fascinating kaleidoscope of speeches, events, issues, meet and greets, caucuses and votes. There are a myriad of booths for various causes, groups and candidates. I went with a colleague, Government Professor Amy Pritchett, and 12 students from our Young Democrats club. Three of them were official Convention Delegates too. Our Central Committee delegation was also there.

Upon arrival Friday my most interesting session was with the Progressive Caucus. It was a massive gathering of perhaps 1,500 people. Progressives are definitely in the driver's seat in the party these days, at least at the state convention level. There were many reports. I joined and paid the $10 so I could vote for Karen Bernal in the election for chair. The caucus took so long I wasn't able to attend the CTA or Labor Caucuses. Amy went to CTA for both of us.

Saturday was packed. The morning session featured speeches by prominent people such as Labor Secretary Hilda Solis, Sen. Barbara Boxer, Gubernatorial Candidate San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom and Attorney General and possible gubernatorial candidate Jerry Brown. Newsom gave a very polished speech. Brown spoke extemporaneously and was impressive. The guy has still got it. He clearly sees how seemingly disparate items are all part of an integrated whole.

I'd paid $60 to go to the leadership lunch. Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, Assembly Speaker Karen Bass and Congressional Delegation Chair Zoe Lofgren were the headline speakers over chicken and pasta. The eight people at my table were most interesting to talk to. They were all veteran activists. One was a former mayor of Palo Alto, where Stanford University is located. These folks had a great deal of interesting experience.

After lunch was our regional election meeting. Only three of 21 state regions were having contested elections for Regional Director. Our region 11 was one of those. It was fairly contentious between some of their supporters. The challenger Paul Scott outpolled the incumbent Bob Conaway 40-29.

Saturday afternoon featured the treat of hearing some more interesting speakers. among these was a joint appearance by a nephew of Harvey Milk, also gay, and Harvey's campaign manager. But the big splash was Nancy Pelosi. She is the prime Republican target these days, but of course was received warmly at this event. She extolled the achievements so far of the Congress and Obama administration, such as equal pay for women, children's health, banning torture, passing the stimulus and budget and getting ready to focus on energy, health and education. Having one of the state's own as Speaker of the House is unprecedented. Many delegates I talked to marvelled about living to see the amazing sight of a woman Speaker and black President. After Pelosi's speech I and a couple of our YD's hustled into a line to get the Speaker's autograph on our copies of her book "Know Your Power: A Message to America's Daughters" that had been included in our materials. She was most gracious to me when my turn came up, spending a bit more time than she needed to in exchanging pleasantries. The glowering secret service types flanking her behind the table did not seem to be having much of a fun day at all.

Next it was on to the old Governor's Mansion for a tour and a meet and greet with Jerry Brown. After dinner in Old Twon with some friends it was back to the Convention Center to drop in at the Hospitality Suites. The Raoul Wallenbeerg Jewish Democratic Club had great ice cream sundaes. Gavin Newsom and Darrell Steinberg showed up to shake hands and schmooze. Amy and I got our picture taken with Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell. He mentioned he had gotten the 55% budget requirement for community colleges passed.

We didn't go to the dinner for outgoing state chair Art Torres, which cost $125. Our Young Dems earned their floor passes by putting John Burton for State Chair signs on every seat in the hall.

Sunday opened with a few more speakers before getting down to business. The star of these was former National Chair Howard Dean. This brilliant fellow was certainly instrumental in the Democrats' tremendous electoral successes in 2006 and 2008. His organizing acumen and "50-state strategy" was certainly vindicated by the congressional, presidential and state government results across the country. Listening to his intellect was an invigorating experience.

The Convention ended with voting on endorsements for the California ballot propositions for the May 19 election, and the platform planks. The Propositions are part of the budget settlement that ended an 8-month deadlock in the legislature. Because of the state's idiotic requirement of a 2/3 vote to pass a budget, a handful of Republicans can hold everything up. The two sides finally made a settlement that needed voter approval for provisions of the final package. Party leaders such as Sen. Steinberg argued strongly for endorsement of all six Props, 1 A-F. Some activists argued against. The majority of delegates voted in favor of all six, but since a 60% vote was required for endorsement only three overcame that threshold and secured party endorsement. They were 1B, 1C and 1F. 1A, 1D and 1E fell short. This is because the mostly liberal activists who make up the convention do not like to compromise and felt the settlement was not good enough. I supported the leadership on the grounds that if we scuttled the deal there is no guarantee the GOP legislators will be willing to compromise again. There is every reason to expect them to dig in their heels, provoke a crisis until the money runs out, and then watch Governor Schwarzenegger mandate draconian cuts unilaterally in the absence of a budget. That is just what the Republicans would love to see. Then next year the party could try to pass an initiative to get rid of the 2/3 requirement. I tried to get the debate coordinator to see that this argument was made to the floor, but she brushed me off. "We have it covered." Uh huh. Then 1A went down. Now it will be up primarily to CTA to appeal to the voters to pass the Props anyway.

Finally, the platform items. Every recommended resolution was passd, though some only after debate. The most prominent were to oppose an open primary system, and in favor of a moratorium on the death penalty, the repeal of Prop 8 that denied same-sex marriage, an oil severance tax used to support higher education, requiring only a majority legislative vote to pass a budget, single payer health coverage, and a call for impeachment investigations of "Judge Jay Bybee and Others for Their Role in Allowing Torture as Part of 'Enhanced Interrogation.'"

All in all the Democratic Convention was a fascinating spectacle and experience. I talked to several old timers who said it was a far cry from the old days when a few party insiders pretty much controlled everything. The rank and file majority is much more driving the bus these days, they all seemed to agree. It's not that hard to attend. Those interested in the process ought to give it a try in their states if they get a chance.