At the County Convention

As I mentioned last week I was a delegate to the local County DFL Convention. (DFL is the Democrat-Farmer-Labor Party- the Democratic Party of Minnesota.) That was held on Saturday at one of the local high schools. All together there were about 550 delegates from the precinct caucuses held back in February. There could have been as many as 900+ but obviously some decided that a semi-sunny Saturday was more tempting.

For me it was a lot of fun. Many years ago I was involved in some campaigning for the Democratic primary in Pennsylvania when Milton Shapp was running. I have always been a political junkie (and a political science major). But for years I stayed out of politics. (More on that later.) Well, this year I decided to get back in. So, with no further introduction, here are some of my reflections on the Olmsted County Minnesota DFL convention....

• There is nothing like grass roots politics. Absolutely nothing. It is politics in its rawest form, American-style. A county convention is just one step above the foundational level- the precinct caucus. Last week when I was writing about the Big Race, Greg commented that democracy is supposed to be effective, not necessarily efficient. Well, that's the grass roots.


• The excitement in the place was palpable and contagious. You have to know a little of the local history (which I am just learning) to realize why. For years and years many of the local elections were just a glorified 1-party race- Republican. It was at times impossible to even get people to agree to run from the DFL. It was a DFL-wasteland. But no more. A Democrat is the US Representative. State house Representatives are mostly Democrats for the first time in decades and decades. No wonder everyone was excited. This was the largest DFL County Convention in our county's history.


• It was interesting being campaigned with. There are two Democrats running for the endorsement to run against Norm Coleman our Republican US Senator. Coleman was elected six years ago after the amazing and incumbent Paul Wellstone died in a plane crash. It is a BIG thing to try to regain that seat. The two candidates running are former TV comedian and writer Al Franken and a college professor named Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer. (His supporters and posters simply refer to him as "Jack.") I find myself undecided at this point. So, I walked around the cafeteria to the different candidates' tables and asked the basic question... "Why should I support your candidate?" (I even had a chance to ask Franken himself. No real answer given since I didn't expect one.) Once I asked the question I became a "target" of politicking. I can't imagine what the Superdelegates are going through.


• I was struck though by the passionate supporters of some of the candidates. It was actually a little scary. I could have sworn I saw myself from 40 years ago running around with passion and grandiosity, hope and self-righteousness. My candidate and my way were the way. Some candidates inspire that kind of passion more than others. Is such passion wrong? No. It may be quite healthy until it begins to judge the other candidate's supporters as less committed, less patriotic, less radical, or whatever the particular view may be.


• Which brings me to Hillary's supporters at the convention. They were particularly loud and trying to be as obvious as possible. I couldn't quite figure out why since that race for delegates here in Minnesota was decided long ago (two months now.)


• One of the realizations I had though about myself was that for many years I have been on a cynical sideline. The events from 1968 - 1974 (end of Watergate) left me with what I would have called a "realistic" view of politics. In reality it was a cynical one born from shattered dreams, an awareness of my own- and others- self-righteousness and divisive approaches to politics. There was also a fatalism that said, even though the system "worked" at least on some levels and Nixon was brought down, the toll was too great. Idealism doesn't work. It will always lose.
  
  Perhaps that's true. It may always lose. But for the first time in the past generation I have the feeling that perhaps, just perhaps, there is still reason to be involved in a deeper way. I have always voted. I have supported candidates but I have left things stay short of excitement. I remember feeling good when Bill Clinton was elected. I was overjoyed when we in Wisconsin elected Russ Feingold. I was looking forward to having a chance to vote for Wellstone. But I was constantly being gnawed by the cynicism.


• Well, perhaps it is time for my generation's self-centered grandiosity and self-righteous entitlement to step aside. Above everything else I was impressed, truly impressed by the young people at the convention. Some will be just barely 18 in time to vote. But there they were campaigning, talking, being out front.
  
  Well, maybe I shouldn't step aside and ignore it. I am willing to get out there and work with them. I am willing to once again believe that there is possibility. More than ever I am proud of what we can do as Americans when we work together. This campaign will not be an easy one no matter which Democrat finally gets the nomination. Lies, negative campaigns, name-calling- we ain't seen nothin' yet.
  
  But maybe, just maybe, we can step a little higher than that. Raise the lowest common denominator to one that respects the political differences and seeks instead to live who we can truly be.
  
  WOW! Wouldn't that be even more exciting?