The Democratic State Convention will take place on Saturday, September 14, 2019. It is an issues and action agenda convention so the only likely votes will be voice votes on resolutions. There will also be policy breakout sessions following the adjournment of the plenary. Caucuses to elect delegates will be held in May and June and all Democrats are invited to attend. Consistent with state pre-registration law the party allows those who will be 16 by May 11th can pre-register as a Democrat and fully participate. Voters may register or switch parties right up until call to order, but previous prohibitions on public support for an opponent of a Democrat still apply. Find your local information here.
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For those who were at the platform convention two years ago, this was high theater at which the partiy’s luminaries stressed youth and progressivism. Unfortunately we’re stuck with a bunch of old pasty white guys like Bob DeLeo. An exciting progressive platform was adopted, which you can read here. Unfortunately, it’s completely at odds with what the party actually does, particularly in the House. If you don’t want to waste your time, curl up with a good book like “Listen Liberal,” which mentions the Blue State’s unwillingness to do anything truly progressive.
I could not agree more. The conventions are a dog and pony show, with no dog, and no pony….just the aftermath of the pony’s dinner.
You guys understand conventions need follow-up, right? If you don’t like the way your legislators are voting, contact them!
I did……got nowhere. In fact, they voted to cut my wages.
Last Straw for this guy, when Democrats vote to cut worker’s wages.
*Snort*. I can be bothered for money and have my opinions and ideas ignored equally well from home.
Caucuses aren’t generally fundraisers and many can’t be as they are held in public buildings. You definitely can’t be heard if you don’t participate.
Being “heard” by the current Massachusetts Democratic Party is like walking in circles at the “Free Speech Zone” of the 2004 national Boston Democratic convention. It might feel good and might be an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon. It accomplishes absolutely nothing, in part because nobody is paying any attention at all.
Political activity by an actual Democrat in Massachusetts in 2019 is an utter waste of time and energy. You might as well stand at the waterline of Crane’s Beach and spit in the wind.
OMG Tom, your comment won The Internets today.
You’re just playing into the hands of cynicism and status quo. If you don’t participate in the process then why should your representatives heed you? I know it’s frustrating when elected officials don’t adhere more closely to the party platform, but I have yet to hear a satisfactory answer to my question about what you would have us do given that the state committee and convention are not the Politburo.
@ Christopher”I have yet to hear a satisfactory answer to my question about what you would have us do given that the state committee and convention are not the Politburo.”
You and I have been going back and forth on this for years.
In my view, you set up a false dichotomy between what we have now and “the Politburo”. There MUST be a middle ground between those two extremes.
The Speaker has found a wide range of carrots and sticks to “encourage” legislators to support him. I reject the premise that there are no comparable tactics available to the Massachusetts Democratic Party.
I am convinced that if and when the Massachusetts Democratic Party actually wanted to, they could and would find ways to exert leverage.
Mayor Kevin White was notorious for doing things that advanced his agenda even though he knew full well that they would eventually be reversed by the Courts. His “little city hall” operation — complete with campaign handouts — comes to mind. He knew full well that the Courts would stop him from distributing campaign literature in them, and of course they did. By the time the order happened, the election was won.
The Massachusetts Democratic Party has to ACT like it cares about its values and priorities.
The fact remains that a majority of Massachusetts voters are MUCH more liberal than the “Democratic” legislature behaves. For as long as I can remember, the state organization has been adopting platforms — strongly supported at convention — that the organization’s candidates simply ignore.
I’m pretty sure that the organization owns the trademark and copyright for any use of “Democrat” or “Democratic” within Massachusetts. Has anybody investigated what rights the organization has to sue for improper use of its intellectual property?
I have spent a lifetime fighting cynicism, especially in politics. I am losing that battle. Accusing me of playing into the hands of cynicism while defending the status quo hurts, rather than helps, your case.
At the moment, I see a Democratic majority in the national House steadfastly refusing to do its obvious constitutional duty. I see a Democratic supermajority in the Massachusetts House steadfastly refusing to do even the bare minimum to sustain civilized society in Massachusetts — for DECADES.
THAT is what “plays into the hands of cynicism”. I’m just telling you what’s happening — not causing it.
AFAIK, there are no organizations using the party name who shouldn’t, but you are right about the DSC having the authority to regulate that. State law says that anybody can register by party and seek that party’s nomination. Some of the legislators you find most frustrating never ask for anything from the party so there’s really nothing we can withhold. The ultimate solution is to primary the worst offenders, but that has to come from the grassroots as the party’s job is to support the nominee the primary voters tell us to support. I reject the idea that we should try something that pushes the envelope of legality a la Kevin White in your example. That sounds like exactly one of the biggest problems about the Trump regime.
Since the party owns the trademark and brand, I wonder if it is able to bring infringement actions against any individual who the party determines is tarnishing the brand. This is commonplace in private industry, it is how companies maintain brand identity among multiple suppliers and franchisees.
The legislators I find most frustrating prominently describe themselves as “Democrats” and use the “D” or “Democratic” party identification in their public material. A restaurant owner who was selling schlock under the brand of “Wendy’s” or “Burger King” would quickly be squashed.
Surely maintaining some sort of brand identity is as important for a political party as for a fast-food franchise.
Pushing the envelope of legality has been a staple of effective political organizations for as long as there have been political organizations.
The issue with the Trump regime is the unwillingness of government to resist his flagrant illegality. Nancy Pelosi is looking more and more like the parent who can’t say “no” and is shocked — just SHOCKED — that their toddler behaves like a spoiled brat.
I’m pretty sure what you are suggesting would require a law change since again, any voter can register in the party of his/her choice and seek that party’s nomination.
Tom, you and I are in complete and total agreement on this matter. They want me to phone bank, canvas, donate, and shut up. When I speak up, they tell me that I need to see the whole picture, know that there is a give and take, realize that not everyone shares my views……and they tell that to a majority of us. This September 14th, I think I’ll organize my sock drawer.
You can always keep pressuring your own legislators. Of course there are more opinions than yours to consider, but you ARE a constituent to. If you want all your way all the time of course you are going to be disappointed. Ultimately, support a primary challenge, or even make that primary challenge yourself!
Jeffrey Roy has been the MA Rep for Franklin since 2012.
I’m curious about what specific positions Mr. Roy has taken that we disagree with. I’m also curious about who has challenged him in the three elections since 2012.
I want to believe this Tom, but the reality is this state voted 4-1 not to raise gas taxes and 3-1 not to reduce nursing staffing ratios. This is a state that has consistently opposed affordable housing being built in its communities, housing vouchers, or raising school funding. It opposes raising revenue for the T. Baker won a majority of registered Democrats in the last governors race.
Listen Liberal and Don’t Blame Me are two must reads that really go into the NIMBY reality of our blue electorate. Liberal when it doesn’t affect them, brutally conservative when it does. If they were liberal, they would easily vote in a liberal legislature and liberal governor. They don’t, they aren’t.