From Emy Thurber, Regional Director, Region 5

We had a very successful regional meeting on October 6, where we talked about the 2008 platform as well as other party business.  Christine Pelosi was there as part of the CDP "listening tour" as she helps to build the 2008 platform.

Christine said that the platform is a statement of our traditional values but must also deal with new ideas and new realities.  She noted how the state party had changed over the 31 years she has been involved, growing from a body of elected officials and their appointees to a strong grassroots organization.  Elected officials must of necessity be pragmatic, but we also need the passion of the activists to help move our politicians forward.

The platform is a consensus document, but it can influence the national and other state parties as well as our candidates.  An example is that the CDP platform was the first to talk about racial profiling, now a consensus value of Democrats across the nation, and was also the first platform to promote alternative energy which made its way into John Kerry's campaign and platform.

As a member of the DNC, Christine has told the presidential candidates that if they maintain that U.S. troops will be in Iraq for 10 years, there will be a party revolt.  We cannot defend an endless way in Iraq.  The only acceptable way for us to be there is as part of the UN or an international force.  She fears that the GOP may become more anti-war than the Dems and urges all of us to communicate our concerns about Iraq to the candidates. 

In response to a question, she said that we should not condemn anyone for political speech (referring to the recent resolution passed in the Senate). "You can cure bad speech with good speech; if you cut people off, where does it stop?"  She added that talking like a Republican, acting like a Republican still won't make them like us!  Christine said that two important criteria for picking a presidential candidate are who has the judgment to handle international crises and who do you want to be the face of your country.

Christine has written a book entitled "Bootcamp" and is giving workshops on the essentials of campaign planning and how to win elections.  I'm sure the book is available on-line.

J.B. Tengco, our regional political director, spoke about new party software that will be available for voter contact.  It will be distributed through central committees.  The CDP is also preparing a volunteer management system which will help us keep in touch with volunteers between elections. He talked about political training sessions which are being conducted around the state.  The times and sites are available on the CDP website -- www.cadem.org.  The CDP is trying to start the 2008 process earlier and help build infrastructure before elections.  JB indicated that the Republicans are ahead of us in infrastructure building. 

He stressed that those who want to run as delegates to the DNC convention must file an application by April 2, 2008.  The form to run as a District Level delegate will be available beginning January 15, 2008 at www.cadem.org/Delegate08. 

Several platform ideas were proposed at the meeting which the body endorsed, including one supporting a split roll for Prop 13 which would allow business but not homeowner taxes to rise and one calling for all U.S. combat troops to be out of Iraq by January 2009.  All of those will be forwarded to the CDP.

If any Democrat, delegate or not, wants to suggest platform ideas, please email them to cali4us@cadem.org.  The more grassroots input, the better!  Remember you can view the 2006 platform on the CDP website. 

Thanks to all the Democrats who turned up for the platform hearing!

 

Comments

[BobK]

I just signed the petition sent out by Cadem. The one that's supposed to be delivered to the Governator and my congressman. It was titled "Do the Right Thing"

Here's what I added as a comment:
Heh - the subject (title) of this message is "Do the Right Thing". I'd have worded it: Do the CORRECT Thing! Or maybe "Proper Thing", but not "Right Thing". We've already had twelve years of seeing the "Right" thing done and this nation can't stand much more of the Right Thing treatment.