Speechless in Seattle

It was a weekend full of listening, talking, and meeting friends old and new. And drinking LOTS of coffee. When the votes were tallied, coffee beat wine by a 4 to 1 margin.

FRIDAY
Bright and early Friday morning (well, not so bright at 5 am) my friend Shelley and I left White Salmon, bound for Seattle via Vancouver's new Salmon Creek Park and Ride. We left the Subaru there and Roz slowed down long enough in her Prius to pick us up for the rest of the drive to the Washington Democratic Party State Convention. We arrived in time to catch most of the first workshops. I started my weekend off with the ever entertaining Dwight Pelz, our Party Chair, speak about protecting the middle class. During the lunch break, I met up with the LD14 gang to plan some LD-wide events this summer. And refueled with a double Americano to get me through the afternoon.

The options for the afternoon workshops were difficult, but I felt I chose well as I listened to former Clinton speech writer and Deputy Domestic Policy Advisor Eric Liu's "Tending the Garden of Democracy" session. He even gave away copies of his two short books, The True Patriot and The Gardens of Democracy- A New American Story of Citizenship, the Economy, and the Role of Government, both coauthored with Nick Hanauer.

There was a welcome reception, where we got to be welcomed, and took a photo op.

We also had the opportunity to buy $8 glasses of wine that probably cost that much retail for a bottle. So I ensured my good health for the busy Saturday ahead by having one and done. Yes, I drank water at the Gala Banquet. We were entertained by short speeches from Sen. Maria Cantwell and Jay Inslee before Newark Mayor Cory Booker took the stage. He did not stop talking for almost an hour. His appearance had caused some controversy, but the room was full nonetheless, and he was quite the story teller. I would have liked him even better if he'd finished up in 45 minutes. I had a nice bottle of merlot waiting for me in my room. Just kidding...sort of...

At Conventions and State Committee Meetings, the Hospitality Suites are usually great for meeting people after hours. Shelley and I got to the Presidential Suite on the 47th floor of the Westin where Inslee for Governor was. There were so many people in there we had to work hard to get over to the windows so we could take in the spectacular view. The noise level was high, and the line long, so we left. I stopped a few floors down at the Pridemore for Auditor, a little less crowded but by then the early rise time caught up with me and I headed to bed down on the 16th floor of the North Tower. The Westin has two towers, the floors are round. It's like the Jetson's apartment building. Without the flying cars. I missed all the excited of the 'storm troopers', a platoon of hotel security guys who shut down the socializing at 11:30 pm. Poor teetotaler George Fearing was threatened with being blacklisted from the Westin if they got one more call about his suite. And his was a fairly quiet one!

SATURDAY
After the Congressional Breakfast at 7:30 am, it was time for business. Our seats were way in back so photography wasn't optimal. See what I mean? Our delegation is so small, we were combined with Cowlitz, Lewis, Pacific, Skamania nd Wahkiakum Counties in our little section in the very rear.

We had more speeches: King County Executive Dow Constantine, Keynote address by Congressman Peter DeFazio (D-OR). I got to march in the parade escorting Maria Cantwell to the stage for her speech (you can't see me in pictures, there are signs in my face, but I guarantee you, I was there-got the T-shirt to prove it!). We met her backstage beforehand. Very cool. Ann got to march in the Inslee escort parade, complete with drum corps. Nominations went well, all the people in contested races that I was rooting for won theirs. We had a very awkward CD 3 Sub-caucus, where our only filed candidate won his nomination 38-37 within the caucus. At the full convention, the vote was a lopsided NO nomination. But that's another story. The platform and resolution adoptions went along fairly smoothly, and we were back at the hotel a little after 6, thereby missing happy hour. I spent the evening with my merry band of Klickitat Delegates in the hotel bar and grill, and two short stops in the South Tower before getting to bed about midnight. Had to make sure George didn't get blacklisted, and sing Happy Birthday to Tandy before retiring for the night.

SUNDAY
Everyone left Sat night and Sunday morning except LD State Committee folk, National Delegate candidates, and already elected National Delegates (including moi). The Party Leader delegates (PLEOs) were elected in the morning session. I checked out of the Westin after a leisurely morning with coffee and my computer, wandered over in time for the break, then spent the afternoon listening to several hundred 1 minute speeches. Am I ever glad that the only speech I had to give on my pathway to National Delegate was at the Congressional District Caucus on May 20th! How LUCKY was I! The last delegates were chosen, votes tallied...and the WA National Delegation was formed. We got our pictures taken, did a big group photo, and left with some instructions. We headed out of Seattle well after 7 pm, stopped for some food and coffee in Tacoma, and arrived in Vancouver after midnight. I was lucky to find a nice bed to crash into at my new delegate friend Liz's house. There was no way I could drive another 80 minutes.

MONDAY
Good thing I went home with Liz...my car battery was dead when they dropped me at the Park & Ride. That would NOT have been good at 1230 am.

For more GOOD pictures, see the WA Dems Facebook Page.