It’s time for all of you who support Democrats, but are not registered as Democrats, to think of changing your party registration.
There are many good reasons to register as a Democrat. Registering as a Democrat makes a statement about your beliefs. Addtionally, it allows you to take part in the governance of the Democratic Party. The reason to register NOW is that it will allow you to take part in the caucuses in February and possibly to be a delegate to the Democratic Convention. Under the Party Charter, if you are a registered Democrat as of the last day of December, you are eligible to take part in your local caucus to elect delegates to the Convention.
Many BMG readers took part in caucuses for the first time in February of 2010. Others might have done so, but didn’t know the importance of being a registered Democrat prior to the December 31 deadline.
In 2011 the Convention will be in Lowell. It will be an an Action Agenda convention. In 2012 we will have a nominating convention for U. S. Senate. In my experience, folks have a much better chance to be elected as delegates for a nominating convention if they have attended an “off-year” convention.
Since it is a “snow day” for some, tell a story about a convention that you attended – maybe your first. What was your most interesting convention? I attend conventions for many reasons: party governance, support of candidates, training (either attending sessions or leading them), meeting Democrats from across the state. And fun.
If you are looking to be a delegate in 2012, it helps to participate in a 2011 caucus, even if you cannot attend the convention in Lowell.
Lowell is always the location in an “issues convention” year. đŸ˜› I assume it’s due to lack of space for the more-heavily attended nominating convention.
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p>Ah well, at least I don’t have to travel this year!
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p>Favorite convention story…hmm. My “first” convention was as a peace activist, at an issues convention in Lowell. We brought around petitions to put language in the platform against, if I recall, the Iraq war (and maybe also against the USA PATRIOT Act?). It passed with flying colors. Then, subsequently, it appeared, the Democratic party LOST the platform change. đŸ˜› That was my first encounter with the official Dem party.
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p>After that, of course, I started blogging, got involved in the 2006 nominating convention for Patrick, was not able to get elected as a delegate (I was in a very well attended ward at the time) but got some Patrick delegates into other wards in Lowell. So I attended as “media” was treated like a king. đŸ˜€
Tsongas does not have the space for nominating convention, primarily in the form of trailers for all the candidates.
At least you get a convention in your neighborhood once in a while. There’s nowhere in SE Mass that can handle one.
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p>My first convention was the year after the disastrous O’Brien-Birmingham marathon in Tsongas arena. A quiet issues convention that didn’t amount to much, though I did meet a girlfriend of two years there, which was good.
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p>My most outstanding convention memory isn’t a great one. It was 2006 and they began calling the roll, and I needed to use the facilities badly. However, I didn’t through all this rigmarole in order to not vote for my candidates, so I waited, and waited, and waited (my town was the last in the senate district). I was proud of my vote, though people may have wondered why I didn’t stand up to declare it. After the vote, relief (even though as usual I didn’t vote for the ultimate winner).
Convention is a time for getting together with other people who care about politics. When I was first on the DSC and trying to get people in the Sendate district to come together, I recall sending out an invitation that said, “Can you think of a better way to spend a summer Saturday than in the company of other Demovrats?”
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p>And for me that is what convention is all about: the comanpy of other Democrats. Of course we have responsibilties: amending the Charter, endorsing candidates, determining ballot access, establishing the platform and the action agenda. We have the opportunity to share knowledge.
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p>A friend was facing cancer last year. Her physician wanted her to start treatment before the convention. She said know and tried to get the physician to understand that for her the Convention was like Chrstmas holidays to others.
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p>They do tend to blend in some. Can someone help me out here? Are my memories correct? Especially not sure why nothing is omcing to mind for 2000. I was quite active by then.
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p>2010 Worcester: Grossman vs. Murphy; Glodis, Lake, Bump.
2009 Springfield: Platform convention. A lot of discussion about the very general platform. John Walsh’s first platform convetnion as Chair.
2008 Lowell: John Kerry versus Ed O’Reilly
2007 Amherst: Resolutions were the big thing that year. I was walking Jamie Eldridge around since he was running for Congress.
2006 Worcester: Patrick versus Reilly. Would Gabrielli get his 15%?
2005 Lowell: Patrick wows the delegates. Chairiman Dean spoke. Much consternation over Charter Amendments.
2004 Amherst: Very brief formal session. Lot’s of educational opportunities. People were very ehnthusiastic.
2003 Lowell: The big thing that year was the “score card” proposal for the Action Agenda.
2002 Worcester: The LONG concention. O’Brien, Birmiingham, Tolman, Reich, Grossman. The “deal.”
2001 Springfield: Preview of the gubernatorial candidates for the next year.
2000 I keep drawing a blank. I’m thinking Worcester?
1999 Springfield: A little know Governo by the name of Hoawrd Dean was one of the speakers. The big event of the day was a straw poll on the Presidential race.
1998 Worcester: My first gubernatorial convention as a DSC member. Harshbarger got the endorsement. Warren Tolman’s video “I’m a Tolman” was the hit of the day.
1997 Salem: Joe Kennedy was running for Governor. I don’t remember too much else.
1996 Worcester: We endorsed John Kerry. NOt much else is coming to mind.
1995 Amherst: My first time with my “new” district. I was campaigning for DSC. Many stayed overnight in the dorms.
1994 Worcester: Roosevelt/Massie were endorsed. Augies Grace for the endorsement but did not win the nomination.
1993 Worcester: I’m pretty sure that this was a fall convention?
1992 Worcester: In my area the big thing was that we had recently learned that our Republican rep was not running for re-election.
1991 Worcester: This is just a guess. Not much is coming to mind.
1990 Springfield; THe police strike. I’m not remembering much more.
1989 Boston: This was at the Boston Arena. Obviously a platform convention.
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p>It was fun trying to remember these.
I should have proofed better. A little known Governor.
I’m pretty sure was the first Lowell convention. Ted Kennedy was renominated. The other thing I remember about 2002 was that farce of a Treasurer vote where a rising vote was taken, not by district tellers, but from the stage. Each of the four candidates was conveniently recorded as having received 25% of the vote.
I’m thinking you’re right. Was that the year that a quorum was questioned and we ended abruptly in the middle of discussing resolutions?
I think that might have been my college graduation weekend. I think the quorum question during resolutions has come up a few times, most recently this year.
i plan to be at the next 60
In Massachusetts the democratic party is the party of “same old same old.”
Word is going to come out that Governor Patrick is anti-union. Pay attention to your numbers SEIU.
Carpetbagger Timmy in 2014? Bring it on. Charlie Baker will win this one.
and you think he’s going to beat tim murray?
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p>With Tim Murray running for Governor Central Mass. will flip again and the margins are going to be huge
MillburyMan (aka billxi) is not someone worth responding to.