Link to my photos from the convention this weekend

[SharonRB]

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/sharonrb2/album?.dir=/80c3re2&.src=ph&.tok=phk5MaFBnviQ2sUV

What a great weekend it was. And we wound up with a fabulous, winning ticket. Sorry some of the photos are kind of blurry -- everyone moved around so much, it was hard to get clear shots sometimes and the lighting was pretty bad in the room.

[knitter4democracy]

1. I thought about going to the Blogger caucus.

I went to the Justice Caucus instead. That was a good one, too. I got to shake Sen. Stabenow's hand and tell her that she'd been my state rep when I was a kid and that I'd played Equations against her younger son. You should've seen the look of horror on her face! :D Yes, we are that old. *sigh* Still, good times. :)

[SharonRB]

2. Sorry we didn't get to meet.

Were you at Stabenow's reception yesterday, too?

Today was great once we got to the AG nomination. I really felt like I was at a convention then. It was my first one, but won't be my last.

[knitter4democracy]

6. Me too! I thought about putting K4D on my nametag.

;)

It did get really cool there on the floor, didn't it? There were only four of us still there from Calhoun County, so all of our votes really mattered. I had to leave early, but that was one impressive rally and vote, wasn't it?

I am worried for Granholm, though. The guy running the Precinct Captain meeting didn't seem to know what he was talking about. She's in trouble amongst the Dems in our area, and he told us not to spend any time on the Dems at all. Excuse me? So, what, we win the Independents but lose the base? I don't think so. He also said that DeVos didn't have a grassroots group like us--and everyone around me all looked around and wondered if he really was that stupid. Of course they have grassroots people! They might not be knocking on doors, but that's because they've got them in the churches and calling into talk radio all the time. He's nuts! I hope that doesn't mean she'll lose, though.

[SharonRB]

8. Oh, boy, sounds like you need a new precinct captain

Of course you need to energize the base and get them out supporting Jennifer and spreading the word. You can't just assume they'll vote for her. It's not that clearcut to some people.

You may need to take the ball and run with it. If you haven't already, go to her Web site and volunteer. Call to find out what kind of help they may need in your area. It is absolutely essential that she get re-elected. DeVos is not even an option. People need to start realizing what he'll do to this state, and it wouldn't be pretty or fun.

[knitter4democracy]

14. It was the state coordinated campaign guy saying that.

When I called our county office today, the internish kind of guy (he's young and working for our state senator, so he might not be an intern, but anyway) told me flat-out that they're not working for the top of the ticket. He also said that I'm the first precinct captain to contact them (for our whole county?!) and was wondering if I would take over the precincts near me as well (um, mine is big enough to deal with, so why aren't they calling all the precinct delegates they worked so hard to get to run for the office?!). He then asked me if I'd work for the local campaigns, too, if just by handing out flyers for local candidates.

I'm not too happy with our state senator and a couple of his local candidates right now, so he also asked me if I would be working for or against him. I told him that campaigning is not about whom I individually vote for or don't vote for--it's about getting out the Dem vote. I will keep my issues private, of course, but he was worried. Interesting.

He agreed that I should phone bank the Dems in the precinct, if just to get more volunteers for door knocking. If they say they're not interested and not for Granholm, then I can work on them for that. *sigh* This is going to be harder than I had thought.

[SharonRB]

15. Oops -- that's what I get for reading too quickly.

So you're the precinct captain? Sorry! Sounds like they had the wrong guy doing the training.

[livvy]

3. Nice photos! Big pics warning....

I downloaded a few of them, and worked on them a bit to lighten them up. What do you think of these two?

[SharonRB]

4. I lightened a bunch of them in the album, too

I like the one of Nancy and Debbie talking.

:hi:

[noonwitch]

5. It is so cool that there are so many prominent female dems in MI!

Jennifer Granholm, Debbie Stabenow, Carolyn Cheeks-Kilpatrick, and so the list goes on.

It makes me proud of Michigan. We even have some prominent women in the MI GOP, too, even if they are not my favorites. I have no problems with Terri Lynn Land, for example, she seems pretty neutral at this point. Then again, so was Candace Miller when she was SOS.

[knitter4democracy]

7. We rock, don't we?

:D

This is a great state for people of all kinds to be involved politically. Debbie didn't use to be that good, but she's come a long way since she was my state rep. It was a good thing to see.

[SharonRB]

9. I agree. that we have some great women

currently in office and running as challengers -- Nancy, for example. She really rocked the house in her allotted two minutes on Sunday.

I also agree about Terri Lynn -- I don't have any real issues with her, but I'd love to see Carmella take over. That's one race I'm not so sure we have a chance with, but we'll see. I don't think most people realize how important the Secretary of State is and what they really do. The validity of our elections is in their hands and there's nothing more important than that.

[maddogesq]

10. Aldo, the dancin' fool!

Wait 'til I see him. The razzing will be endless. Damn, I am so sorry I wasn't there.

[SharonRB]

11. Aw, don't give him a hard time

He's a good dancer. He told me he came in third in a dance contest a couple of years ago. What a wonderful man -- I'm glad I've had an opportunity to get to know him.

[maddogesq]

12. He didn't torture you with the Liz Taylor joke, did he?

Like I should talk. See, Aldo and I compete The Great Groaner award.

Seriously, you are correct. He is da' man. He is the spark of change in western Oaklasnd County. He's Aldo!

[SharonRB]

13. You know, I keep hearing about this famous Liz Taylor

joke, but I've never heard him tell it.

[alpizzy]

16. Hi, SharonRB

I sat in front of you at the Blogger's Caucus.
So good to meet a fellow DUer. And I was really
pleased with the turnout and enthusiasm at
that caucus.

Thanks for sharing the photos. It was a great weekend...
my feet are still recovering!

[SharonRB]

17. Nice meeting you on Saturday!

It definitely was a great weekend. Hope to see you again sometime.

[alpizzy]

18. Yes....

I'll keep my eyes open for you!