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Nov. 6, 2009

Dearest Party Leaders,

My name is Chairman Benjamin John “BJ” Chiszar of the Miami-Dade Democratic Party and it is with great sadness that I write to you all to expose what I consider to be the final straw in my dealing with the leadership at FDP headquarters. I have had nothing but problems and frustration in dealing with our “parent” organization and enough is enough is enough. I am not going anywhere and I will continue to lead the Miami-Dade DEC to victory (we have won 23 out 29 local races this year). We are active on the issues that we as Democrats say we believe in (healthcare, equality, assault weapons ban, right to vote, the environment, etc) and we are growing our DEC rapidly (over 150 new applicants- up 62% in my first year). I do not require the FDP for anything! The MD-DEC would be better served if they would simply leave us alone. Let them coddle up to corrupt big donors (like the crook Mr. Rothstein, whom FDP returned $200,000 to) and then continue to waste the money, without supporting DECs, as section 7 and 9 of the FDP Charter demand!

On yesterday, November 5th, I received a rude and threatening phone call from the FDP Director of Party Affairs, Milli Smith who claimed that the DNC had contacted the FDP to complain about me. The way Ms. Smith spoke to me as if she was some supreme authority figure over the MD-DEC was inappropriate and I let her know it. I yelled at her in response to her wording and tone, and told her that she was not to call me and threaten me ever again and if there was a problem with DNC, they should put it in writing for my review and then hung up in her face. Unfortunately for Milli, it turns out that she was lying, got caught and then tried to play the victim as if I was mean to her. The DNC told me that they DID NOT contact FDP to complain about me and Southern US Political Director, my friend Nate Jenkins (from Orlando) even went so far as to say that it was “completely inappropriate for Milli Smith to call me and say there was a complaint”. What had occurred was that I, as the youngest Chair of a large county in the US had placed a call and left a message to speak with our National leader Gov. Tim Kaine on Wednesday. I left my name and number and that was it. I didn’t specify the reason for my call, so Nate Jenkins called FDP to see if my call to DC had something with the Judicial Committee issue from this summer (which I will get late in this letter). My call did not have anything to do with FDP. Ms. Smith also claimed that our DEC Treasurer called to complain about me twice yesterday, which I found out to be a lie as well, according to my Treasurer Paul Barthole. He says called because Milli never sent a certificate for the Haitian-American Democratic Club, which is part of her job. Now where does Ms. Smith get off taking liberty with the facts and saying the DNC and DEC Treasurer “complained” about me? Why doKaren Thurman and Scott Arceneaux, who knew exactly what was going on, because I copied them on ALL the emails, allow this non-sense? Because it deals with BJ in Miami-Dade, that’s why! I highly doubt any of you are subjected to this tyranny!

First of all, allow me to give you some background information that will help you understand my frustration with FDP. The Karen Thurman croniesDID NOT win election at our Organizational Meeting. Knowing that I do not like Karen and her team in Tallahassee (based on 2008 personal experience, when I was an employee of DNC and FDP), my victory was greeted with utter panic and disdain. Karen Thurman, FDP staff and their gadfly do nothing friends in Miami-Dade have tried their darnedest to be divisive and disruptive from day one. I have no doubt that their failures to impact our DEC operation boils their blood. In the spring, the FDP and Karen’s MD-DEC cronies tried to undo my free and fair election of December 3rd, by complaining about past Chair and current State Committeeman Bret Berlin and his conduct before and during the election. After failing to comply with their own bylaws and having to re-schedule the hearing, the FULL Judicial council met and exonerated both Bret Berlin and also Chairman Mitch Caesar (Broward) from any wrongdoing concerning the organizational meetings. They made some recommendations, one of which we had done 2 months before the hearing. Another was to send the ballots from December 3rd which had never been in my possession and the third was to “bring our DEC bylaws into compliance with FDP”. I asked both verbally and in writing at least 10 times for someone to please tell us EXACTLY what is wrong with our bylaws and we will change them. I spoke to Vice Chair Diane Glasser, who told me that was a reasonable request and that FDP should assist. This never happened, yet the FDP wanted to try me later for not following their broad general recommendation. It should be noted that FDP was updating their own bylaws this year and makes zero sense to tell a DEC to fix our bylaws while FDP is fixing their own. These are the folks in charge of this Party!

Another bit of information for background purposes pertain to rude and intimidating calls from FDP staff. The first rude call I received from Milli Smith came on April 1, while I was down at the election department to get confirmation that a candidate was NOT a registered Democrat (Myron Rosner). It just so happens that Ms. Smith was calling about this same candidate. Three of her DEC friends (Thomas Pinder, John Julien, & Carline Paul) had supposedly (according to Milli) called FDP to complain that I was telling them they had support our Democrat, Mayor Ray Marin (who happened to be one of our only Puerto Rican electeds in the entire State) in North Miami Beach. Now I did not invent the loyalty oath or make her friends sign it, they did so on their own, knowing full well what it says and means. Milli Smith ordered me to “let them support whomever they want, because FDP didn’t want them on Haitian-American radio saying bad things about the Party”. So I was told to let them violate the loyalty oath that we all signed by an FDP official. On the same call, Milli claimed that another friend of hers (Elizabeth Judd) had called to say that I was doing “nothing to help DEC member Eddie Lewis in his council bid in Miami Shores”. The only problem is that it is completely false! We (DEC and myself as an individual) had been doing everything you can imagine (door knocking, phone calling, providing walk-lists & call-lists, emails and even did a GOTV mailer) to help him and he is still very appreciative of the DEC’s efforts to this day. So once again, Milli’s friends and Milli Smith take liberty with the facts to suit their own agenda of opposing me. Ms. Judd’s true intentions were later revealed. She wanted the DEC to assist her friend in North Miami in a race featuring 5 Democrats! We offered them all the same assistance as any good DEC would. To add icing on the cake, on the same April 1st call, she claimed that one of the DFA gadflies, Sam Feldman said “BJ won’t give me VAN access”. This is also false; Sam was one of the first DEC members to get VAN access (3/23/09) for his PRECINCT. He demanded the entire city of Miami Beach and of course I said no way! This is a perfect segue to what FDP tried to do to me this summer.

Mr. Feldman and DFA decided to endorse a Republican over the Florida League of Cities President, and Liberal Democrat Michael Blynn in North Miami. They did so knowingly and in fact didn’t even invite the Democrat to their “candidate screening”. Now DFA can do whatever it wants, but Milli’s friend Sam Feldman violated the loyalty oath and took a paid position with the Republican. Hmmm…I would find out later that the Republican’s daughter had been employed by DFA during 2008 and when the Republican made a run-off, Sam had her switch to Democrat to prevent the DEC from assisting the Real Democrat. DCCA Chair Alison Morano was made aware of this, as was Vice Chair Diane Glasser and Milli Smith. This exposure was an embarrassment for DFA and Sam. This incident was the catalyst for these gadflies filing a fraudulent complaint against me with FDP.

The first complaint was about Union bugs and that the DEC used a designer bug, instead of printer bug. The DEC has been using the same guy for 9 years and I never examined with a magnifying glass what the tiny bug said. Not to mention that nowhere in our State or Local bylaws does it say I have to use any Union bug. I will have you all know that the DEC relationship with organized labor has never been stronger as I am known all over South Florida as “Union guy”. The second complaint was from the UM Democrats who were encouraged by Sam (who signed complaint because none of the others were from DEC) saying that I wouldn’t give them VAN access for free. What they forgot to mention is that these rich little snobs refused to assist our Cuban-American Female Democrat, Commissioner Maria Anderson in Coral Gables (she lost the UM precinct) and said they weren’t interested in local politics or joining the DEC. Once again nowhere in our State or Local bylaws does it say that I have to give inactive and unsupportive Non-DEC members from a College Democrats Chapter VAN access. The third complaint was from perennial gadfly and Karen Thurman crony, Barbara Walters claiming a litany of procedural silliness that she couldn’t back up. This was proven at FDP hearing AND DEC hearing which both found no grounds to remove me. I save the best for last, the fourth complaint was from a Club President in Dade who had no idea about the complaint process, made false accusations that he later withdrew and told me “he was put to this by someone from the FDP staff”. Let me say that again, the FDP staff told one of my Club Presidents to make a false complaint against me in the hopes I would resign. If that does not disturb you, then I question your loyalty to truth and justice.

Now let’s review the despicable August 29th Judicial Council hearing in Miami Lakes. This Kangaroo Court set up by Karen Thurman, who appointed a SUBCOMMITTEE with one my enemies Millie Herrera, a gadfly who lost to a complete unknown civil rights activist in the election for State Committeewoman and still cries herself to sleep every night about it. This hearing was in violation of FDP bylaws! First of all, section 5.5.2 says the Judicial Council hears APPEALS, an appeal would indicate that it came before the DEC first. That did not happen and everyone at FDP knew it. Section 5.5.2 also clearly says that the appeals must be a result of a FDP bylaws violation. Not a single one of the four complaints met this criterion, unless you consider Ms. Walters non-sensical complaint bylaw related. You as Party leaders should also be aware that Section 5.5.4 of FDP bylaws says that a complainant has 30 days from date of the incident to file a complaint in writing by certified mail. Not a single one of the complaints was filed within that time frame. This was easily noticed by looking at the date they were filed (all within 3 days of each other and signed by the same people) and the dates of the alleged incidents.FDP knew that they were all filed way after the 30 days time limit passed. This was brought up at the beginning of the hearing and Vice Chair Rhett Bullard, while having the deer in headlights look on his face, let the Kangaroo Court proceed. My attorney also pointed out at the beginning of the hearing that Section 5.5.6 of FDP bylaws clearly states that when a DEC or DEC officer is brought up on charges and Karen Thurman appoints a subcommittee instead of the full Judicial Committee, the Chair (Rhett Bullard) SHALL enlarge the subcommittee to include fellow DEC Chairs from within 100 miles of the county where accused is from. This did not happen and after being informed that the hearing was violating these 3 FDP bylaws pertaining specifically to Judicial Council, Vice Chair Bullard proceeded. After wasting all of our time, there decision was to send it back to DEC officers and let them decide. This was as backwards as you can possibly get. So the FDP appointed my fellow officers to be a grievance committee, which I believe to be inappropriate. It didn’t matter because they found the complaints non-sensical and denied them all!

Again. Let’s return to yesterday, I got a call late in the day from the NEW Executive Director, Scott Arceneaux. This was my first time ever speaking with the gentleman and after simple hello-how are you, I asked him why his staff had lied twice in one day about receiving complaints about me, got caught and he allows such a thing to occur. He then told me not to be mean to his staff, when I reminded him who started this business. Mr. Arceneaux then proceeded to rudely insult me and tell me to shut up. As you can imagine, I let him have it and put him in his place real quick. I will not be spoken to by these scumbags like that! I can only assume that you wouldn’t either!

Today I am calling for resignation and/or removal of Karen Thurman and her senior Staff (especially Scott & Millie). Given that many of you are friends with these people, I expect some blind loyalty to the status quo. This is unacceptable behavior from leaders of the most important State in the Union. I believe there is a direct correlation to this pathetic excuse for leadership and our losing big in 2010! You can prevent that from happening! All you need to do is ask some simple questions. If you do that you will find that everything I have laid out for you is true. I wake up every day with the people of Florida and especially our 4 million+ Democrats on my mind and in my heart. Thank you for your time!

BJ Chiszar (305-491-0713)

Tallahassee, FL: August 25, 2009: Democrat gubernatorial candidate Michael E. Arth filed a set of grievances and proposals to the Rules Committee and Judicial Council of the Florida Democratic Party (FDP) today. The four page list of grievances, titled “The Democratic Party is Not Being Democratic,” include complaints regarding Arth being frozen out by the party leadership, the party’s breaking of neutrality in violation of democratic principles, and the PDP’s blatant support of another candidate long before the primary election, even while enforcing non-endorsement laws on their Democratic Executive Committees. The grievance also lists various proposed changes that would make the Democratic Party democratic. To go directly to Miami Herald's Blog where the grievance has been posted along with numerous comments go here:
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2009/08/democrat-bashes-undemocratic-democratic-party.html
OR KEEP READING HERE:   Read More »

Kenneth Quinnell has dispensed the obligatory awards from the Democratic National Convention.

I won the award I manage to always win: best self-promotion. In this case I was chatting up this wonderful site to the kings and queens of the series of tubes.

However, I managed to get a few new awards: hardest working blogger and most sober blogger.

So I'm honored, as always :)

While the Republicans are dominating the airwaves with their convention this week, I thought it might be good to re-post a reminder of the good times last week. -Ray

Last night was a blast! Sheryl Crow and Stevie Wonder we're great, as were speeches by New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, Virginia Governor Tim Kaine, and former VP Al Gore. The personal testimonies given by individuals from across the country was the highlight of the evening pre-Obama. Of course, Obama did a fantastic job once he took the podium, delivering a smart, witty, and uplifting speech. He divided his speech between going after McCain and talking about his own ideas perfectly. Here are some photos from yesterday:

Invesco Field's imposing edifice


Mile High started really filling up late in the afternoon, more than 3 hours before Obama's speech.


The speaking area where Sheryl Crow and Stevie Wonder performed, speakers spoke, and Obama delivered his acceptance speech.


Here I am. I look happy (and I was), but I had been sweating my cajones off for the previous couple of hours.


Obama arrives! The crowd goes absolutely wild.

After one really awesome week, I'm headed back home to the Sunshine State. As you can imagine, I'm totally exhausted and wiped out from going to bed late, getting up early, networking, and walking everywhere in the searing western sun.

A few quick, closing thoughts:

- The people of Denver couldn't have been more gracious, helpful, and courteous to all of us.

- The only major issue here was both transportation (buses ran far too infrequently), and later on, security. After we were let out of the stadium, the Secret Service changed all the exits and thoroughly confused the crap out of everyone. It took me and several Florida bloggers over an hour to get back to our car.

- Florida bloggers rock. Florida brought more bloggers than any other state, and we by far provided the most comprehensive coverage. Also, I think Florida bloggers managed to consume more alcohol than any other state.

- The netroots is a force to be reckoned with. As the traditional media lay off staff and continue to lose influence, bloggers are taking their place. Campaigns and political movements ignore blogs at their peril.

- Barack Obama will probably be our next President. While Democrats always have the possibility of screwing up a potentially good election (see 1988), I think their chances are pretty high of winning this time around.

I've managed to scrounge up a pass to Invesco Field tonight to watch Barack Obama accept the Democratic Nomination for President on the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr's "I Have a Dream" speech. There is a lot of progress still needing to be made on the racial front, but I have no doubt MLK would be really proud of our country right now if he were still alive.

I'll probably be in the nosebleed section, but I don't care. I'm really happy to be a part of this historic moment in American history and indeed the history of the world.

I'm bringing my camera along with me, but not my laptop, as that would require me bringing along my backpack. Security is extraordinarily tight for obvious reasons. So I'll be posting these pictures later in the evening or early tomorrow morning.

Shameless Plug: If you haven't already, take a minute and sign Progress Florida's petition urging the Moffitt Cancer Center to stop their horrible practice of hiring tobacco lobbyists to represent them in Tallahassee.

Check out this latest photo of some Florida bloggers with Markos Moulitsas (kos), and Congerssional candidate Joe Garcia.

Top (left to right): Kenneth Quinnell, Markos Moulitsas, Joe Garcia
Bottom (left to right): Susan Smith, Ray Seaman

by RW Spisak Jr.  I have heard presentations by labor leaders who spoke of the economic maelstrom encompassing the folks still clinging to what's left of the middle class. The AFL-CIO has come to understand that they cannot support the important changes necessary to this economy by investing in the political system just between now and November.

   Richard Trumpka, AFL-CIO Secretary Treasurer was asked what will you do, when the democrats you supported don't actually vote the way they promised.  Without hesitancy he responded saying we'll be withholding money. He then stopped and corrected himself, saying we won't be withholding money, we'll still be spending money, but we're going to spend it on people whose agenda is that of working families. We have to stay in the fight, no matter who is president. If Senator Obama is elected we will continue advocating for the working men and women of America. Trumpka added, in the past we used to pack up the whole operation after the election, those days are gone, there is too much left to do.

    Suddenly the elephant in the democratic rumpus room surfaced. He was asked by the moderator, what about your members who have trouble, voting for an African American? He replied without hesitation or uncertainty, "Without exception I will tell them, they will have to put that behind them.  It is up to us to face racism head-on. When someone says they are not ready for an African American president,   We tell them, WE ARE, our communities are, our economy is and our nation is ready to support Senator Barak Obama. If you support your families you shouldn't have any problem supporting him either. Voting for Barak Obama will be the best  thing you can do for your family this November". The more they know about him, the more they will embrace him. Wrapping up the Raising All Boats conference Senator Amy Bouchar reminded us, when anyone asks why they should vote for Senator Barak Obama over Senator John McCain, she said its simple, look at their voting records. Senator Obama has voted for working people all the way and Senator McCain has stood with the large corporations all down the line. She said in closing, " people who live in seven houses, shouldn't throw stones."

    Later at the BIG TENT the new media technology nerve center of the Democratic Convention I heard Leo Gerard, International President, United Steelworkers discuss the impact of globalism on American  Workers and their families. He reminded us, that the cheap prices in  WalMart mask some very high hidden costs. The amount of jobs we have lost just during the Bush years will continue to wreak it's devastation and have long term repercussions, far beyond the horrendous job loss numbers. He reminded us, that we must be aware that globalism and the Free Traders are not working for American jobs and that any future trade pact must include labor rights and environmental details. He said any Free-trader who insists that "Buy American" is a bad idea, doesn't understand that American manufacturing jobs are a national security issue.

    The Free Traders with their multinational tax-breaks and privatized extra-national tax-free profits have not brought us what they promised. Policies that prioritize war and occupation at the expense of infrastructure, healthcare and education are not where America should be investing it's capital.



    *BIG TENT has once again offered the New Media Community more than just wifi and an electric outlet, they have provided a common ground for a community of writers producers and presenters to share insight and information.

I visited the Florida delegation this morning at their morning breakfast. There's always some kind of internal politicking going on (would it be a true FDP gathering without it?) However, everyone is clearly very excited about the rest of the convention and the campaign ahead.

This morning brought inevitable conversation about last night's primary. Discussion centered around Alan Grayson's surprisingly large win over '06 candidate Charlie Stuart in the 8th Congressional District. There was also discussion of various precinct captain races (I mentioned this was an FDP gathering, right?)

Last night was pretty exciting. In addition to watching some high quality oratory from Brian Schweitzer and Hillary Clinton, I also attended a gathering hosted by the Florida, New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey delegations. Hillary AND Bill showed up in addition to Governors Rendell, Corzine, and Patterson. I had the privilege of shaking the former President's hand (briefly) - and yes, I do plan on washing it again.

Bumped. - Ray

Here at the big tent covering a panel put together by Common Cause and the Center for Independent Media. Here are the panelists:

Heather Smith, Rock the Vote
Gene Karpinski, League of Conservation Voters
Mark Lloyd, VP for Strategic Initiatives at the Center for Civil Rights
David Bennahum, founder of Center for Independent Media.

Karpinski: The current problem of "balance" in the media is not new. The news coverage over tobacco over the last 50 years is similar to the current coverage of global warming, all sides are mentioned despite the fact one side was clearly wrong.

It takes a strong effort on the part of an organization to get the media to pay attention to a particular issue. LCV pressured the mainstream media to ask the candidates more global warming questions, and we're successful during the Democratic primaries earlier in the year.

Lloyd: The media has not progressed that much since the 60s in terms of covering minority issues. The conversation and public debate over civil rights is either in one extreme (framed in the 1960s) or the other (we're in a post-racial era.) The media therefore don't cover issues of discrimination much at all.

The other problem is the media focuses on a "conflict frame."

Smith: The media has told everyone that youth are disengaged, apathetic and don't vote. Of course, this is very demoralizing to youth. The media then reports/laments the lack of a youth vote. They create a vicious cycle.

The AP runs a headline "Youth Vote A Bust" after 2004, despite it was one the largest increases in youth turnout.

Rock the Vote tries to empower young people (they send out their own reporters) to use social networks and new media to get their message out, apart from the traditional media.

Barack Obama did not create the youth movement. The youth movement has been building over time.

Bennahum: Started Center for Independent Media because due to new Internet tools, we could be the media. Tried to merge the speed of the blogs with journalistic standards. CIM treats "balance" differently: you have to come to a conclusion in your reports.

Newspapers claim they are losing readership because of technology, it's instead because they are putting out a bad product. The rise of the blogosphere at the expense of traditional media demonstrates this.

Audience Question: Why isn't the media covering the youth vote?

Smith: The media hasn't kept up with youth trends in terms of how they get their information. The media also doesn't cover issues relating to youth in any kind of substantial way.

Audience Question: How do we prevent ageism in the media?

Lloyd: It's important to work with existing groups to make sure young people understand the contributions of their elders.

Audience Question: How can we get the media to recognize the fact that it is hard for youth to vote in certain areas?

Smith: The voter registration system has been set up to keep people from voting. When the registration system is easiest, the higher the voter turnout. It's important to lobby for legislative change in this area.

 

And that's a wrap!

  Senator Kennedy spoke powerful and prophetic words as he concluded his remarks in a standing room only coliseum last night. He prepared the way for a new generation of party leadership with character, fresh vision and renewed  hope.

    "The work begins anew, hope rises again, and the dream lives on!" Senator Kennedy's words connected in a direct line from the promises of the New Deal to the party's multi-decade struggle for a better life for all Americans. His words reached back to the promise of Jack Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson who both strove those many decades ago to fight poverty, and do the often arduous work  of improving opportunities for all Americans. He called upon the new generation of democratic leadership to make the promise of a fair deal, available to every American child. 

Video Clips from Monday

    What better embodiment of that American dream than the keynote speaker Mrs. Michelle Obama.  She grew up the daughter of a working class family who slept in the same room as her big brother on the South-side of Chicago. After a heart felt introduction by her big brother, Michelle told us about her childhood, her mother and father. She spoke of her father's hard work and dreams for his children. She spoke about her introduction to a young man with an unusual name and an excellent legal education. She discovered he was a person like herself, also drawn to community work.

    They had both chosen not big expense accounts and prestigious commercial law, but community work. They chose community. You could  not help but be moved by the character of a young woman, who with more than ample opportunity to rise above her family and her neighborhood, who instead turned her face toward a commitment to community. Michelle came to love a young lawyer who like her, sought out an opportunity to serve a working class neighborhood.

    Michelle and Barak brought character, education and heart  to their working life. They chose work not in a glamorous steel tower, but in the nitty gritty, of the neighborhood. No one could have expected her to return to her neighborhood, roll up her sleeves and give her life and her heart to Southside Chicago.

    I hope America deserves a woman the caliber of Michelle Obama. I know America will benefit from her grace and character.

 Video Clips from Monday

I'm chillin' right now with some of our friends from the Florida Progressive Coalition blog, who have been feverishly covering this convention.

Today was indeed "Figure It Out" day, with me and everyone else getting their bearings here in the Mile-High City.

We've all been watching the night's festivities here at the Big Tent. Did you see Ted Kennedy's surprise appearance and speech? It was really quite moving.

We're watching Michelle Obama now. If you haven't already, turn on your TV. It's looking like another great speech.

Tomorrow brings more events and opportunities. See you then!

The following is the gist of the Green Policies at the State-Level panel:

Reform starts at the state-level. It's often impossible to deliver federal reform without states first implementing specific reforms first.

Regional energy partnerships are the next step and are already being talked about.

Colorado began to implement more renewable energy polcies once Dems took over their legislature in 2004, and when Democrat Bill Ritter was elected governor in 2006.

We talked a little bit about Florida and the situation there with new solar and nuclear plants slated for construction. We also discussed briefly the offshore drilling issue.

Any major change in energy policy will require sacrifice from the American people, and we'll need political leaders willing to risk their short-term reputation for long term, comprehensive gains.

I was a bit disappointed by the previous two panels (not much to really blog about), but it looks like the next panel I'll be trying to liveblog sounds really promising.

The Green Disconnect: Why the states are so far ahead of DC

Does the political climate in Washington DC reflect the rest of the nation when it comes to fighting global warming? We discuss how states like California, Kansas, and Colorado are moving forward with green policies even as DC remains dominated by a polluter-friendly agenda.

Florida certainly has a unique opportunity to remake the emerging landscape of the green economy, so seeing what other states are doing despite Washington's numerous roadblocks sounds interesting.

Took a few shots of the big tent. I haven't gotten a good street-shot yet, but as you can partially see from the first photo, the street is a bit of a dangerous place to be right now :)

The view from the top of the stairs


The Google retreat at the front of the tent on the first floor.


This is behind the Google retreat - blogger central! Personally, I think they didn't use too much light to simulate the cozy basement most bloggers blog from, lol!


I'll be posting all of my photos from the convention on Progress Florida's Flickr photostream.

Also, I'm sitting next to some lead bloggers from Raising Kaine, the leading Virginia progressive Blog. RK pioneered the use of the blogosphere at the state level - they're fantastic.

I'm also sitting here with folks from West Virginia Blue and Political Betting (A UK site covering both politics here in the states and the UK.)


Noon Update: It looks the chargers are failing here at the big tent. So I'll be shutting down for now to conserve battery power. I'll see if I can post some thoughts on the panels later.

I arrived yesterday afternoon at DIA, which is essentially built out in Kansas.

After getting settled in, I went over to the big tent for a look. Wow! It's quite impressive and is truly home to us geeky netroots types. The first floor is the blogging area with plush couches and free wifi. The second floor is where the program will take place. I'll have some pictures up before the end of the day.

I stumbled into Matt Stoller, Markos Moulitsas and most of the Dkos front pagers, Samantha Power, George Stephanopolous and Dick Durbin. This week promises to be pretty exciting.

With all that said, Denver is in a bit of a state of anarchy at this point. Traffic is terrible, people are everywhere, and security is sprinkled throughout the city. Watching the Arapahoe County Bomb Squad pass by with their large cylindrical bomb-exploding thingy was simply the cherry on the cake.

Today seems to be "Figure It Out" day, where everyone from delegates, to volunteers, bloggers, media, and even protesters try and find their way around and establish themselves.

Depending on how things work out here, I'll be live blogging either "Your Tube & the Power of Video Citizen Journalism" and/or "Tapping the Creative Community: The Power of Voter Generated Media"

"Either your inside or your not!"
"They're so cynical!"
" I just want to know why there shouldn't be a vote!"

Talking with delegates enroute to Denver.

by Rick Spisak

Sitting next to a DNC SUPER delegate from North Carolina, who has been very active in democratic party  politics since the Viet Nam War. Unsolicited he offered this, "the thing that bothers me about the blogosphere is that they are HOT! They are interested and motivated but they are cynical. I see them involved at a white hot fervor and then they drop out! I've been trying to get them out, get them involved and have them come to party events and meet people. But many of them aren't comfortable meeting people. I just wish they weren't so damn cynical. Either your inside or your not, and If your inside, then you are the enemy!"

Waiting in Fort Worth, where American Airlines, had us change gates five times, we started talking about the convention with a Massachusetts Hillary delegate. I asked her if she thought a vote for Hillary would be a good idea or would it be divisive as some suggest? She looked at me with a look that said, I've made this speech before.
"I want someone to explain to me why we are having a Convention if not to establish by a VOTE who is the democratic candidate for the 2008 election. We voted for our nominee for as long as I've been going to conventions. I've been coming since 1960. I want someone to explain to me why there shouldn't be a vote. And then if she loses, then she loses."

I said "there are those who believe we should use the whole convention as a celebration of unity and not have a divisive vote for competitors." Then why are we even having a convention if not to select our candidate?" She shot right back.  more