Day Two of the California Democratic Party Convention

Although delegates heard fiery speeches today from four Democratic contenders for the 2008 race, the California Democratic Party's 2007 Convention celebrated one of its own... Nancy Pelosi, who started her political career by stuffing envelopes for Jerry Brown's first gubernatorial race. Five years later, she was elected to be chairman of the state party.

Nancy Pelosi returned to the California Democratic Party Convention today, but with a new title: Speaker of the House, second in succession for the presidency and the most powerful woman in the U.S. and perhaps the world.

Speaker Pelosi was greeted with a thunderous ovation as she took the podium, and the din rarely died down as she addressed her beloved California Democrats. Sandwiched on the speaking schedule between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, "our Nancy" radiated with characteristic wisdom, commitment, integrity and grace.

And while 2008 contenders Clinton and Obama stole the national headlines, Speaker Pelosi clearly stole the show today. California Democrats would have it no other way.

The Silver Lining of Shuttle Buses
A delegate's day begins, not with inspired speeches, but by navigating the logistics of getting to the convention center. Here in San Diego, the party arranged for dozens of shuttle buses to drive delegates, free of charge, to hotels that use union labor. An admirable goal, and certainly in keeping with Democratic party values... but nonetheless, neither easy nor quick.

My seatmate for the 7-mile, 30-minute drive this morning was California Assemblyman Joe Coto of San Jose, who is Chair of the Latino Legislature Caucus. Of course, I had no idea who he was when we struck up a fascinating and productive conversation about one of my pet issues, immigration policies. We've pledged to stay in contact to continue our brainstorming for answers.

I'll never again complain about long shuttle bus rides. They have their silver linings...

At the Speakers' Rostrum
Twenty-one speakers addressed the 2,000 delegates to the California Democratic Convention today. Among the speakers were House members Barbara Lee, Bob Filner and Susan Davis, all of California, as well as California Attorney General (and former governor) Jerry Brown, and five other elected state officials.

Oh... and did I mention Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Christopher Dodd and Dennis Kucinich?

I won't slice and dice their speeches in detail here tonight. I'll save that for next week, when I have more time to thoroughly review my notes and rewatch the videos. But I can't resist making a few quick observations...

First, California (finally) counts, and, judging by the first-class presentations and campaign presences today, California will cast a long and important shadow on the 2008 electoral process.

Second, the Democratic Party is unusually blessed with a plethora of riches for 2008. To the surprise of every delegate I spoke with, Clinton, Obama, Dodd and Kucinich all delivered truly extraordinary speeches today.

They unanimously and adamently condemned President Bush for the failed Iraq war, and all... yes, I said ALL... promised to end the war and bring U.S. troops home! They all pledged to bring healthcare coverage to every American. And they each passionately committed to a massive overhaul of our schools and to actively support teachers.

But as I said, I can't resist a few stray observations:

Hillary Clinton
Hillary Clinton looked tired, and her voice was raspy and hoarse. She's more attractive in person than I imagined from the horrid photos so often published of her. And Sen. Clinton speaks with a forceful confidence, and is a touching storyteller. At times, Senator Clinton held the room spellbound.

She received many ovations from the crowd, mainly for her new, stinging denunciations of the Iraq War and for her historically strong support of universal healthcare. There were issues she ignored (torture, habeas corpus, the Patriot Act), and on one issue, immigration, the crowd gave her ideas a cold shoulder.

One final note that may put me in hot water: Some of Hillary supporters were the most aggressive bunch here at the convention. Aggressive at arguing for their candidate. Aggressive at smothering delegates with stickers, pins and placards. Aggressive at insisting that Hillary is the only viable choice for all women voters.

At times, their aggression seemed to unwittingly overwhelm delegates, and not help their candidate.

Barack Obama
Barack Obama's uplifting speech soared with the varied cadence of a preacher. He launched into retelling (again) his personal history, followed by the usual platitudes... and I was afraid that he would stop there, as he's done too often before. But he didn't.

Obama delivered a superbly inspiring speech that brought the delegates to their feet time and time again. He spoke unvarnished truth to power on the Iraq War, on education, on price-gouging by Big Pharma, and on torture, habeas corpus, civil rights, womens' rights and the Republican compassion drought.

One disappointment about Senator Obama's speech was that he avoided all mention of immigration reform, which is a major California, and national, issue.

And I could be incorrect... I need to reexamine the text of his speech... but I believe that the senator may have subtly reneged on his earlier promise that all Americans would HAVE universal healthcare by the end of Obama's first term in the White House. More on that later...

Christopher Dodd and Dennis Kucinich
Both Senator Dodd and Rep. Kucinich knocked the proverbial socks off delegates with fabulously blistering speeches, full of heartfelt liberal sentiment, specific proposals, and scathing indictments of the Bush administration.

Sadly, about 80% of the media packed up and left when Obama finished his speech. The press, and therefore the public, never heard the other two men.

In particular, several delegates in my area commented that, to their utter surprise, the candidate who impressed them most was Sen. Dodd. He's deeply experienced, and exudes a unique dimension of presidential-like dignity. And Dodd cared enough to do extensive homework on California. He even spoke a smattering of Spanish in his introduction.

And take my word for it: Dennis Kucinich can orate with the very best. He mesmerized the end-of-the-day crowd with skills that would make a pentecostal pastor proud.

Rep. Kucinich's utopian ideas will always resonate with liberals of the Golden State... even if they know in their hearts that utopia will never materialize.

Tonight and Tomorrow
Tonight's gala banquet was held in honor of Nancy Pelosi, the first Californian to become Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.

And hospitality suites abound this evening... two ice cream socials, a dessert gala, a late night buffet with bar, and Dennis Kucinich is hosting a blues jam with organic strawberries dipped in sugar. (Get it? Red, white and blues... )

At the top of Sunday's agenda are speeches by 2008 contenders John Edwards and Bill Richardson, and by Congresswomen Maxine Waters and Hilda Solis, and San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, who was spotted hobnobbing on the convention floor today.

And in the convention's last hours on Sunday, April 29, resolutions that survived scrutiny by the central committee will be presented for delegate voting.

Rumor has it that at least one controversial resolution from the Progressive Caucus may be presented for delegate vote. Will it be curtailment of Iraq War funding or articles of executive impeachment? I'll know more tomorrow...

Until then, celebrate Nancy!

Related Reading
Final Day of the California Democratic Party Convention
Day One of the California Democratic Party Convention
Insider Reporting from the California Democratic Party Convention
Profile of Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House
Illegal Immigration Explained - Profits & Poverty, Social Security & Starvation