Reports from a Convention Virgin

April 26, 2009

First of all, Maven would like to thank Brian Leubitz of one of Maven’s favorite California Politics blogs, Calitics, and a long time friend of this blog for getting Maven connected in order to get a press pass. Maven would also like to thank Matt Lockshin at California Democratic Party and California Blogs United. It was a very cool experience. Maven apologizes neglecting any other person who was a part of getting the Marin Maven on the list. Many hearty thanks.

It is done. Maven is no longer a convention virgin.

On with the show.

Overall the speeches at this convention reminds Maven, that while our household is registered Decline-to-State, we vote Democratic. As someone who has been to Republican events, they never talk about the poor (unless they are blaming them for the ruination of the country), the working poor, the environment, comprehensive immigration reform (unless if by comprehensive you mean comprehensive system of raids and border walls), and social and economic justice (unless you mean social and economic justice for CEOs). I just feel better when I in a room full of Democrats and a little bit disturbed and sad when I listen to republicans.

Hilda Solis

Saturday’s general session had Art Torres as the emcee introducing the speakers. Art called the first speaker, the Mayor of Sacramento, Kevin Johnson as a rising star of the California Democratic Party. What really blew me away was Hilda Solis, Barack Obama’s Secretary of Labor. She is the complete anti-Elaine Chao. After eight years of Elaine “Labor can talk to me but I will just put my fingers in ears and sing, lalalala” Chao, it was so refereshing to have a Labor Secretary who actually care about those who labor. Solis, of course, got the best applause when she talked about universal health care.

In the first months of Obama’s presidency, Maven has heard a lot of criticism that would suggest that Obama really hasn’t brought the change he promised. Solis one of the many reasons I disagree with that. A Labor Secretary who talks about addressing the plight of our agricultural and domestic workers as well as all of us who work for a living? If that ain’t change I do not know what is.

Maven did not get an agenda for this event, but you could often tell who was going to be a speaker by the phalanx of supporters who were weaving their way to the stage with signs in the air.

There were signs for John Garamendi, Barbara Boxer, and Gavin Newsom (and for Jerry Brown but by the time he came on I was upstairs for a Boxer Q&A which was postponed at the last minute for his speech). All three of these politicians made themselves available for the bloggers. Maven will blog about these three later.

It was during her speech, that Boxer formally announced that she would be running for her Senate seat in 2010.

Yesterday, I solidified my opposition to Proposition 1A-1F. More on that later. Maven left last night before today’s debate over the propositions. I really could only afford to do one day. Our State Senator, Mark Leno supports the propositions along with the leadership. There is a grassroots movement forming against it. They argue persuasively that if 1A passes nothing will happen for 2 years anyway, but we will be devastating to education and other programs that are needed when Californians need help most. Republicans like to diminish badly needed programs in our state by calling them liberal “pet projects” because they want to shut them down. They want to change the constitution to so it will be unable to do necessary work for our state.

1A-1F are full of false promises and unholy bargains with the Republican party who have never dealt in good faith. The only answer is to vote out more republicans across the state to achieve the 70% majority until we can change the 2/3 vote requirement. I will blog more about this later.

The 2010 Gubnatorial race is dominated by former California Governor Jerry Brown and San Francisco Mayor, Gavin Newsom. Maven will write more about this later.

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