The Washington State PCO training and Annual "Crab Feed" rally was last night in Lacey, WA.
PICTURES HERE
Howard Dean gave a pep talk to 300 PCOs, after a terrific 4-hour training session on "Talking American" by Prof. Domke of UW. (High point: treated to a video clip of Phil Donahue ripping Bill O'Reilly a new one on Bill's own show.) That deserves a diary of its own. Later, Dean rallied the 1000 or so attendees of the Crab Feed--biggest turnout ever.
I was determined to earn some photo-ops with Dean & others, so I whipped up a crustcean-themed headpiece with loads o' sparkles the day before....It worked. I graciously accepted many compliments, spoke with many of the electeds, and got pictures with some, including Governor Gregoire and Jim McDermott. A few approached ME to gush over the Crab Queen outfit, like Jean Godden of the Seattle City Council. Tip: This is how I make myself memorable to people who meet thousands.
More below:
I DID get a picture with Howard Dean! I had to aggressively elbow my way through the mad crowd eager to touch his hand or the hem of his garment, and get a photo. I don't think I was the only happily married 50-something woman whose pulse was pounding. I asked if he remembered me: "Bellydancers for Democracy"? "Yes, yes!" he laughed. Look! He's holding my hand. Wow.
Just about every WA DEM VIP was speaking: our new chair Dwight Peltz, Governor Gregoire, Jim Mcdermott, and all of the other WA reps, plus 2 candidates, Darcy Burner & one from Eastern WA, trying to unseat Repubs. I love the pictures of the Dem congressmen backing up Darcy.
I also ran into my 34th District Reps Joe McDermott & Eileen Cody, Seattle City Council members, LD chairs, etc.
WAIT, WAS SOMEONE MISSING?
I saw Maria Cantwell campaign signs and Maria Cantwell T-shirts; Dean, Peltz, McDermott and Gregoire energetically talked up Cantwell, urging her re-election, reminding us of her courageous battle with oil monsters in Alaska--but Maria herself was not present!
Hmmm...She was invited, but must've been too busy to attend this event and speak to a thousand hard-core Dem activists from all over the state. Maybe she washes her hair on Monday nights, or was enjoying a well-deserved holiday, Presidents' Day. Or an important meeting ran overtime, unfortunately...
I'll add there was a hearty serving of red-meat antiwar rhetoric from McDermott and Peltz, a war the U.S. should "NEVER HAVE STARTED," to roars of approval from the crowd. That could've been embarrassing for Senator "No Regrets"--had she decided to attend. Cantwell, on the rare occasions she acknowledges that a bloody occupation in Iraq is ongoing, still believes it's for their own good, apparently, democracy and all that, you know. As for the U.S. troops, hey, thanks for sacrificing your time, sweat, blood tears, limbs, short-term memory, whatever, for the same.
In others words, similar to the Republican spin. Many of the natives in my neck of the woods are restless and even threatening to mutiny.
REPUB-LITE DEMS
At the PCO training, one man asked Dean: what do we do about people like my Dem senator (he meant his LD senator, I believe) who does not act on core Democratic principles. Dean smiled a bit nervously; he did not want to mention any names ("certainly not Lieberman") but he said: "My job is to get Democrats elected. I don't pick the Democrats; that's your job. That's what elections are for, that's what primaries are for."
IRAQ
Another question for Dean was his position on the war. Dean described this proposal: A "redeployment" (sounds better than "withdrawl") which was a compromise between "bring em all home today and "stay the course". All Reserve and National Guard units would return home immediately, "because they don't belong there". The regular forces would be rearranged or relocated or have a different mission...I'm sorry I don't remember the details...I'm not much good on miltary lingo...please help me out, someone who was there.
HEALTH CARE:
If I heard right: McDermott last night promised to introduce a proposal for a single-payer health plan, to more roars of approval. That surprised me, after I'd overheard his less-than-optimistic response to such a proposal shortly before.
Last week I attended a House Party fundraiser in West Seattle for McDermott. Surprisingly, only 10 people attended, including our district Chair. McD was there for about an hour and a half. He was very frank in his discussion of current events and updates about his legal battle, and took questions.
What other politician of his stature makes himself this available to constituents for less than a sizeable donation? I paid the minumum suggested donation, $35, and wished I could do more.
Before his talk began, one attendee bent his ear for twenty minutes or so with his issue, a single-payer health care plan in the USA (socialized medicine like Canada and UK, proposed by Kucinich, I think.) and how it would work. Some people could opt out if they wished, although everyone would pay into it. From what I could overhear, McD was not encouraging about the likelihood of selling such a plan to the heartland, although "I could sell anything in this district."
I told McDermott my idea to organize a performing artists' benefit for his legal defense fund. He suggested a theater in Seattle which had said he could use it anytime. I have contacted this theater, and am continuing with plans; more later about that.