Slog - Comments on Tomorrow's Legislative District Caucus http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/tomorrows_legislative_district_caucus A couple of us here at Slog have been trying to figure out how to get a plank onto the Washington State Democrats' 2008 platform. Our idea was a plank that would make the caucus process more accessible next time around. I was actually angling for maximum reform, and calling for a changeover to a regular primary. But with the the top-two primary complicating that into oblivion, there's always the idea of adding a mail-in component to the caucus process. Having been told (incorrectly it turns out) at our respective precincts that the precinct caucus was not the place to... Copyright 2008 Fri, 04 Apr 2008 17:13:49 -0800 Sun, 06 Apr 2008 01:39:53 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by Will in Seattle Nifty!

Only one problem, Josh.

You can only do platform planks next week - at the King County Convention, at West Seattle High, www.kcdems.org for more info.

(there is no truth to the rumor on Wikipedia that I'm part of the credentials committee there, even if you'll see me there)

But, you can talk about it at the LD caucus tomorrow morning - and remember, many Delegates may not show up, and we need Alternates in many cases to at least sign in for their candidate, be it Obama (yeah!) or Clinton (ironic clapping).

No irony was used in this post, unless you count the fourth para in brackets ...

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/tomorrows_legislative_district_caucus#c990590 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/tomorrows_legislative_district_caucus#c990590 2008 Fri, 04 Apr 2008 17:39:01 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle by the way, the actual platform draft is at www.kcdems.org/platform if you want to see it.

And, unlike Fnarf, I actually asked the Pierce County Exec - in public - about ST 2.1 ...

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/tomorrows_legislative_district_caucus#c990601 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/tomorrows_legislative_district_caucus#c990601 2008 Fri, 04 Apr 2008 17:47:07 -0800 Comment by Fnarf You are a complete tit, Will. Wikipedia. Right.

]]> Fnarf http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/tomorrows_legislative_district_caucus#c990609 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/tomorrows_legislative_district_caucus#c990609 2008 Fri, 04 Apr 2008 18:02:07 -0800 Comment by bob I thought we couldn't have a full on primary that matters without running afoul of the DNC's rules on moving elections forward?

]]> bob http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/tomorrows_legislative_district_caucus#c990618 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/tomorrows_legislative_district_caucus#c990618 2008 Fri, 04 Apr 2008 18:30:08 -0800 Comment by unPC yes we should have a primary.

the recent court decision does not screw that up: the state demo party would adopt rules saying that the top DEMOCRATS in the primary would get delegates allocated according to the votes for DEMOCRATS.

but good luck getting a plank passed for a primary from party activists who love the caucus system.

]]> unPC http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/tomorrows_legislative_district_caucus#c990621 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/tomorrows_legislative_district_caucus#c990621 2008 Fri, 04 Apr 2008 18:32:39 -0800 Comment by Phoebe completely off topic but completely adorable:
bronx highschool students on obama -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9IldaegAB0

]]> Phoebe http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/tomorrows_legislative_district_caucus#c990639 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/tomorrows_legislative_district_caucus#c990639 2008 Fri, 04 Apr 2008 19:06:25 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle You're welcome, Fnarf. I'll tell the superdelegates you said hi.

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/tomorrows_legislative_district_caucus#c990656 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/tomorrows_legislative_district_caucus#c990656 2008 Fri, 04 Apr 2008 19:46:24 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle Sorry, the platform link is here.

Note that any delegate or seated alternate at the LD caucus can vote on and amend platform items at the King County Convention at West Seattle High School next Sunday. Because turnout at the County level - where no delegates are elected - is lower, so if you're an alternate, you will probably get seated and able to vote on the platform issues.

There's a playground next door, a refreshments room, and any Democrat can attend, even if they can't vote, including teens.

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/tomorrows_legislative_district_caucus#c990660 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/tomorrows_legislative_district_caucus#c990660 2008 Fri, 04 Apr 2008 19:55:01 -0800 Comment by Dr_Awesome A playground? With Monkeybars? Hell, count me in!

]]> Dr_Awesome http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/tomorrows_legislative_district_caucus#c990679 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/tomorrows_legislative_district_caucus#c990679 2008 Fri, 04 Apr 2008 21:36:16 -0800 Comment by ivan In the 34th, we'll be collecting all platform planks, thanking those who submit them, and passing them on to the King County Platform Committee.

]]> ivan http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/tomorrows_legislative_district_caucus#c990684 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/tomorrows_legislative_district_caucus#c990684 2008 Fri, 04 Apr 2008 21:50:10 -0800 Comment by Fnarf I'm an alternate, but I can't imagine sitting through a platform discussion or vote. It's the document that no one ever pays any attention to, even at the national level.

]]> Fnarf http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/tomorrows_legislative_district_caucus#c990692 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/tomorrows_legislative_district_caucus#c990692 2008 Fri, 04 Apr 2008 22:17:28 -0800 Comment by Big Sven Having been on the State Platform committee in MN, I can attest to the fact that Fnarf is, as usual, correct. Nobody gives a fuck about Democratic Platforms except (a) Republicans trolling for ways to demonize Democrats and (b) Platform Committees.

Utter. Waste. Of. Time.

Almost as big of a waste of time as County Conventions. Speaking of which, see you there next week, Swill in Seattle.

]]> Big Sven http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/tomorrows_legislative_district_caucus#c990712 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/tomorrows_legislative_district_caucus#c990712 2008 Fri, 04 Apr 2008 23:42:40 -0800 Comment by Big Sven Any SLOGers going to the LD5 convention at Pacific Cascade in the 'Quah? Jessica?

I'll be there supporting Clinton, of course.

]]> Big Sven http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/tomorrows_legislative_district_caucus#c990713 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/tomorrows_legislative_district_caucus#c990713 2008 Fri, 04 Apr 2008 23:46:26 -0800 Comment by Gomez So, basically, participatory democracy is impossibly convoluted. Thanks for the reminder.

]]> Gomez http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/tomorrows_legislative_district_caucus#c990715 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/tomorrows_legislative_district_caucus#c990715 2008 Fri, 04 Apr 2008 23:59:40 -0800 Comment by Fnarf No, Gomez. The parts that are convoluted aren't important. The important parts are when our elected representative perform the job they are chosen to do. You know: representative democracy. That part's easy, if you can fill in a bubble.

]]> Fnarf http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/tomorrows_legislative_district_caucus#c990730 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/tomorrows_legislative_district_caucus#c990730 2008 Sat, 05 Apr 2008 07:57:40 -0800 Comment by Wisepunk I'm going through this shit right now. A long line of people, mostly 60 something hill supporters, who just have to change the wording to their tastes. The chair asks for items to be flagged, and they start the speech. The chair reminds people that this isn't the place to give speeches, just to flag items for later. The next person in line starts the process all over again. Lather rinse repeat. Fuck. Why won't Hillary supporters listen to the fucking rules?

On another note, thanks to the hillites for slapping all the hard to remove stickers to the floors of inglemoor high school. I'm sure the unpaid clean up crew is going to enjoy pulling them up. The Obama people put up signs with painters tape

]]> Wisepunk http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/tomorrows_legislative_district_caucus#c990823 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/tomorrows_legislative_district_caucus#c990823 2008 Sat, 05 Apr 2008 13:27:32 -0800 Comment by Big Sven Wisepunk@16:

What? What wording? Of what document? What speech?

The only speeches supporters are supposed to be giving are in sub-caucus, for delegates. Clinton supporters to Clinton supporters, Obama supporters to Obama supporters. Your district chair must be a skidmark.

]]> Big Sven http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/tomorrows_legislative_district_caucus#c990897 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/tomorrows_legislative_district_caucus#c990897 2008 Sat, 05 Apr 2008 16:56:36 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle I for one am glad the 43rd decided not to do platform/resolutions at the Caucus - we spent so many hours doing Candidate speeches my arms are tired from holding up the signs ...

See you at the King County Convention (website is kcdems.net if you need the time and/or maps - or the nifty online draft platform resolutions you might want to do amendments for (or vote up/down) there). Remember, you don't have to be a delegate or alternate, just a Dem, to participate in the County Convention - but only delegates and seated alternates (which should be almost all of them) can vote. If you were elected at the precinct caucus last month.

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/tomorrows_legislative_district_caucus#c991004 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/tomorrows_legislative_district_caucus#c991004 2008 Sun, 06 Apr 2008 01:39:53 -0800