Blue Mass Group

Reality-based commentary on politics.

2009 Massachusetts Democratic Party Convention

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Upon arriving, I saw lots of people holding signs supporting Deval Patrick and Tim Murray, as well as signs for Attorney General Martha Coakley.  As I entered, I had an opportunity to interview two young activists, Lillian, age 8 and Ella, age six.  They were passing out stickers saying “I Support Paid Sick Days” and had two homemade signs.  They stopped at Dunkin Donuts on their way there and their mother asked if the person behind the counter had paid sick days, and the person responded that they didn’t.  Lillian was concerned that people at places like Dunkin Donuts might show up sick at work because they don’t have paid sick days, and then spread their colds with the people coming to Dunkin Donuts.  Ella was more concerned about children who wouldn’t be able to be with their mommies when people in the family were sick.


Support Paid Sick Days, originally uploaded by Aldon.

I stopped in for Welcome Breakfast with Congressman Mike Capuano.  I didn’t get a chance to meet the Congressman, but I did have a good discussion with some guests who are interested in the role of social media as it relates to political campaigns.  They promised to attend the afternoon workshop.

As I walked through the exhibit hall, I saw a table for Massachusetts NARAL and Massachusetts Common Cause.  I’ve worked with both of their Connecticut counterparts and was interested in seeing what they were up to.

As I set up in the press box looking down over the convention floor, staffers for Lt. Gov. Tim Murray stopped by to say hello.  They are passing out a thumbdrive with a video from the Lt. Governor to the delegates.  The video will be available later on Lt. Gov. Murray’s website.

The convention hall is starting to fill up, and I look forward to a great discussion, a great workshop after, and hopefully, some great opportunities to post about what is going on.

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  1. Thanks for front paging this.  I look forward to seeing other BMGers reports, especially since I have a slightly different perspective, being a resident of Connecticut.

    <

    p>Right now, Lt. Gov. Tim Murray is speaking.  He started off with a great shout out to all of us online:

    <

    p>”It is great to see you all on facebook, it is even greater to see you in person.”

    <

    p>He mentioned the thumbdrive he’s given out and encouraged people to go to his website and sign up.

    <

    p>As he talks about great things going on in Massachusetts, he mentioned bringing broadband to every community.

    <

    p>Everyone is making references to D-Day, and John Walsh referenced the anniversary of the death of RFK.

    <

    p>During the presentation of colors, they included a phone call into Baghdad.

    <

    p>What else are people hearing or seeing?

    • I missed the name of the guy from AFL-CIO that spoke, and didn’t get a lot of great quotes.  However, here are a few:

      <

      p>”Freeze the corporate tax, increase income tax, not sales tax”

      <

      p>”Let my union brothers and sisters pay higher income taxes because we’ve managed to negotiate higher salaries.”

      <

      p>”We’re about the least among us.”

      <

      p>”We’ve got to give them opportunities”

      <

      p>With that, we’ve now moved on to the platform portion.

      <

      p>John Walsh spoke about the using the Internet to get input into the platform drafting processed, and mentioned discussion on BMG.  He spoke about a future blog to continue the discussion about the platform.

      <

      p>Now, they are running through different planks of the platform.

        • This is what the State House News Service had to say about the speech by Bob Haynes, President of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, at the Convention:

          <

          p>”Consistent with his record, Robert Haynes delivered the stem-winder of the day, calling out his fellow Democrats for not doing enough to support labor-backed causes. The president of the Massachusetts chapter of the AFL-CIO called for the state to freeze its corporate tax rate, marked for reduction as part of a deal that allowed the massive corporate tax hike last year, and raise the income tax instead of the sales tax – the House and Senate have approved a 25 percent sales tax. “We don’t have a spending problem in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, we have a revenue problem,” Haynes said, drawing applause. Party chair John Walsh, back at the podium after Haynes’s speech, appeared impressed. “Bobby Haynes!” he said.”

          <

          p>The full State House News article can be viewed here: http://www.wickedlocal.com/bed…  

  2. We’re overflowing our assigned seats in the 4th Middlesex delegation, filled with enthusiasm for progressive Democratic ideals.  

  3. Key comments from Gov. Patrick’s speech

    <

    p>”Because Democratic values in the corner office give the Commonwealth a brighter future”

    <

    p>”Never say your poor, say your broke, because broke is temporary”

    <

    p>”Reforms First”

    <

    p>Quotes a Brockton High student who has volunteer to help special needs students:
    “We don’t need to be paid, this is our community”

    <

    p>Sums up his speech with “Let us keep faith with our values”

    <

    p>As he leaves the stage they play Heather Small’s song “Proud”

    <

    p>

    What have you done today to make you feel proud?
    So what have you done today to make you feel proud?
    ‘Cause you could be so many people
    Just make that break for freedom
    So what have you done today to make you feel proud?

      • But there’s no sound.  Is that because the stream doesn’t support sound, or am I doing something wrong?

        • Depending on when you connect, there have been some problems with both the audio and the video.  The sound SHOULD be there.  If you having problems, the best might be to IM to ahynes1 and I can try to fix it.

          <

          p>Thanks for adding this to the front page.

    • Eight amendments have been certified. One is to revert to the old platform  Talks about logistical challenges. Places first motion to adopt as presented, subject to further amendments.

      <

      p>Ten minutes of debate, to be split between debates.

      <

      p>Motion on the floor to strike and substitute the old platform.

    • Key issues that are presented are that the new platform has gone too far in search of brevity.  It doesn’t say enough about labor.  It doesn’t hold close enough to Democratic values.  Anyone, including Romney, it is suggested, could support the new platform.

    • Mostly talk about playing by the rules.  However, the petition to move to the old platform is also by the rules.

      <

      p>One person presents a motion to suspend the rules.  It is ruled out of order, and may be debated later.

      <

      p>Get into concerns about spending three, four or five hours debating the rules and amendments.

      • The rules were:

        1. Hold hearings
        2. Submit testimony
        3. Convert testimony into new platform
        4. Vote on new platform

        <

        p>Anybody who thinks rule #3 was followed hasn’t been paying attention.

  6. The amendment to revert back to the old platform seemed to my ears to be a pretty close vote.

    <

    p>John called it for the new platform. People chanted “roll call” very loudly and he called it out of order.

    <

    p>I have a video. Will try to post it now, but have to conserve batteries. I, for one, find it incredibly stifling — this should have been the extra careful vote. Could be the John Kerry speaking for twice the allotted time moment of this convention… except, the entire platform was at stake.  

    • It sounded as if the amendment to revert to the old platform narrowly failed based on the volume levels where I was sitting.

      <

      p>That said, it also sounded close enough that a roll call vote was definitely in order.  In addition, after hearing Attny Gen. Coakley spoke about fighting laryngitis, the idea of the voice vote disenfranchising people who cannot yell loudly is also disturbing.

      • I have no idea which side won. What is clear, though, was that a roll call was in order. It was pretty damn close. My video was indistinguishable to me. People can judge for themselves as soon as youtube processes it. I posted it as its own diary, as well. This was perhaps the most important vote of the day — it deserved careful examination.

        <

        p>…

        <

        p>Live: He had a show of hands on something that was much clearer. I’m sorry, but this does not fly with the precedent of the earlier vote. If this got a show of hands, the other  one should have to. Honestly, the other one would have still probably needed a roll call.

    • It’s going o take a few minutes for this to load, but here’s the vid. It will be working soon, so give it 5 mins or so if you’re reading this live. Youtube takes a few minutes to process.

      <

      p>

    • …someone should have been at the microphone prepared to call for a division.  Robert’s Rules states:

      <

      p>”When the vote is taken by voice or show of hands any member has a right to require a division of the assembly [25] by having the affirmative rise and then the negative, so that all may see how members vote. Either before or after a decision any member may call for, or demand, a count, and, if seconded, the chair must put the question on ordering a count. In organizations where it is desired to allow less than a majority vote to order a count or tellers, a special rule should be adopted specifying the necessary vote. Where no rule has been adopted a majority vote is required to order a count, or that the vote be taken by ballot or by yeas and nays (roll call).”

      <

      p>Robert’s Rules further explains:

      <

      p>”A Division of the Assembly may be called for, without obtaining the floor, at any time after the question has been put, even after the vote has been announced and another has the floor, provided the vote was taken viva voce, or by show of hands, and it is called for before another motion has been made. This call, or motion, is made by saying, “I call for a division,” or “I doubt the vote,” or simply by calling out, “Division.” It does not require a second, and cannot be debated, or amended, or have any other subsidiary motion applied to it. As soon as a division is called for, the chair proceeds again to take the vote, this time by having the affirmative rise, and then when they are seated having the negative rise. While any member has the right to insist upon a rising vote, or a division, where there is any question as to the vote being a true expression of the will of the assembly, the chair should not permit this privilege to be abused to the annoyance of the assembly, by members constantly demanding a division where there is a full vote and no question as to which side is in the majority. It requires a majority vote to order the vote to be counted, or to be taken by yeas and nays (roll call) or by ballot. These motions are incidental to the question that is pending or has just been pending, and cannot be debated. When different methods are suggested they are usually treated not as amendments, but like filling blanks, the vote being taken first on the one taking the most time. In practice the method of taking a vote is generally agreed upon without the formality of a vote.”

      <

      p>If no other motions have been made there might be still time to rectify this.

      • I was at the microphone to say “doubt the chair” which John had said last week in a conference call were the words required to re-examine a voice vote.

        <

        p>The sergeant-of-arms refused to let me use the microphone.

        • If that is what happened it’s completely improper.  The chair recognizes those wishing to speak or make points and motions, not the Sergeant-at-Arms.

          • I’ll reiterate that this convention was a clear improvement over past platform conventions, especially beforehand.  But, there remains a way to go.

        • Bring in a giant sign too.

          <

          p>+———-+
          | DOUBT |
          |   THE   |
          | CHAIR  |
          C———-3
                     /
              .  . /
                >/
                 

  7. Thanks everyone for comments and for viewing the stream (for those who managed to.)

    <

    p>I’m off to the electronic communications workshop where I hope to see a bunch of BMGers.

    <

    p>

    • We had a great vote later in the day against predatory gambling and slot machines.   You would have heard me speak and we could have said hello after many years!

      <

      p>Bob

      • I even streamed the gambling vote.  I thought the arguments against predatory gambling were very good.  Sorry I missed the chance to meet up with you.

        • I thought the arguments against predatory gambling were very good.  

          Unfortunately, arguments for a resort casino were not allowed.

          • If the resolution was specifically about slots, the chair might have determined that only those speaking in favor or against would be recognized with extraneous suggestions out of order.  I personally would not have ruled so narrowly, but I wasn’t the chair.

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