Final Day of the California Democratic Party Convention

At most large conventions, attendees straggle in late and tired on that last morning. Such was the case for the 3,814 (!) attendees of the California 2007 Democratic Party Convention in San Diego.

Starbucks in hand, delegates waded through swarming Edwards supporters to find our regions on the massive main floor. We settled into our too-familiar seats and relaxed for what we secretly hoped would be a slow morning. On the platform, the 21 regional chairs were awarding Democrat of the Year for hardworking activists in their district. The chatter was easy... peaceful... comfortable...

Chairman Art Torres introduced the next speaker, who, he promised, would bring us out of our seats. Not humanly possible, most of us thought. But we were dead wrong.

Congresswoman Maxine Waters
Congresswoman Maxine Waters of Los Angeles delivered the speech of the convention... one that repeatedly brought the entire convention to its feet, screaming and clapping thunderously. Turns out we didn't need Starbucks to wake us up. A dose of the powerfully eloquent Maxine Waters is all one needs for total alertness.

Rep. Waters is the Chairwoman of the House "Out of Iraq" Caucus, and her scorching speech was devoted to the Iraq War, as well as to George Bush, Dick Cheney,Condi Rice, Alberto Gonzales, even Paul Wolfowitz and his World Bank girlfriend. It was red meat rhetoric for the wildly cheering liberal masses.

Rep. Waters did touch on other subjects, and notably referred to the No Child Left Behind Act as "a farce" that's "impossible to implement." But firebrand Waters left the crowd chanting the slogan of the California 2007 Democratic Convention:

Not another nickel.
Not another dime.
Not another soldier.
Not this time!

Former Sen. John Edwards
As I wrote yesterday, I won't slice and dice the 2008 candidates' speeches in detail just yet. I'll save that for later this week, when I have more time to thoroughly review my notes, and the California Democratic Party website uploads the speech videos. But I can't resist making a few quick observations...

John Edwards surprised me with his charisma and effectiveness at connecting intimately with the delegates.

He worked the convention floor brilliantly, pressing the flesh as he made an entrance worthy of a heavy-weight boxer, surrounded by exuberant, placard-waving supporters. To my memory, neither Hillary nor Obama set foot on the convention floor.

Edwards made a speech that touched both heart and mind. While his past speeches have often been long on emotional appeal and short on specifics, this address was full of fleshed-out proposals for universal healthcare for all, capping carbon dioxide emissions, developing alternative energy sources, a "college for everyone" program, and actively supporting equality and diversity in America.

The crowd roared with approval when Edwards announced that on his first day as President, he would close Guantanamo.

And in stark contrast to Sen. Clinton, John Edwards touchingly said that he was wrong in 2002 to vote for the Iraq War, and specifically apologized for his vote. The convention applauded his honesty and humility.

Problem was... his speech offered little to nothing on national security, foreign policy or achieving peace in the Middle East. I will address more later this week when I thoroughly parse the speeches.

But suffice to say, Edwards exceeded the other candidates in personally connecting with his audience. He touched many hearts, and persuaded many potential voters. His appeal certainly surpassed my expectations.

Gov. Bill Richardson
Where John Edwards sought to connect, Bill Richardson sought to educate and inform. And Richardson, too, exceeded expectations.

Gov. Bill Richardson's Latino mother was born in Mexico, and he was raised in a bilingual home, first in Mexico and then in Boston. And California is heavily, and proudly, influenced by Latino culture.

As a result, he was warmly welcomed akin to a native son of the Golden State. In particular, he understands the challenges of immigration reform, and was the only candidate to intelligently address the issue. Richardson gets it on immigration, and that's a winner here.

Bill Richardson amply proved that his experience on both foreign policy and domestic issues far exceeds that of all other 2008 Democratic candidates for the White House.

Richardson is the only 2008 candidate to have credible, workable plans to bring stability to the Middle East, to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq, to reform immigration laws and problems, to work concretely toward energy independence, and to repair ailing U.S. healthcare and education systems.

I have to confess... I never before grasped why national news organizations decry Richardson's supposed lack of charisma and crowd appeal. In many ways, Gov. Richardson may be the most comfortable and familiar to California Democrats of all the 2008 candidates.

I finally realized this past weekend: Bill Richardson's personal appeal is regional. He's a man of the American Southwest, just as John Kerry is of New England and President Jimmy Carter is of the South. And outside the southwest, Richardson's persona may seem more alien, less comfortable.

Bill Richardson persuaded many that he's the most qualified to be the Next U.S. President.

What's not known is whether he can persevere to overtake the glamour of Obama, the strength of Hillary or the warm intimacy of Edwards.

The Convention Concludes
Half-a-dozen other speakers orated... controversial Mayor Gavin Newsom of San Francisco, Congresswoman Hilda Solis, state Assemblymen, union leaders, San Diego officials. But once Bill Richardson finished mingling about an hour after his speech, most of the the convention crowd boarded shuttle buses and headed home.

Of the 100+ resolutions proposed by state party caucuses, 13 were being considered for the final California Democratic Party 2007 platform when I left in mid-afternoon.

Most dealt with national issues... reforming No Child Left Behind, exiting the Iraq War, investigating Bush and Cheney for illegalities, and the like. In a few weeks when I receive it, I'll write about the final platform initiatives.

The Experience of Being a Convention Delegate
I found the experience of being a convention delegate to be more rewarding and eye-opening than I ever imagined. And much more fun than anyone told me...

For the first time, I truly understood that the Democratic Party is hungry for people to participate... to voice their views... to take part in the process.

And to my astonishment, I found out that everyday citizens really do matter in the Democratic Party. And that our Democratic leaders are accessible and listening... to you and me, believe it or not.

I'm thrilled to have been a delegate to California's 2007 Democratic Party Convention.

I encourage everyone to take that first step: to contact your local or state Democratic Party organization, and ask how you can help. Remember, it takes all of us together to make a difference.

Related Reading
Insider Reporting from the California Democratic Party Convention
Day One of the California Democratic Party Convention
Day Two of the California Democratic Party Convention