My report from the ODP convention

[OhioBlue]

It wasn't what I had expected. I thought we would vote on the "add-on delegates", but the Executive committee did that prior to our convention. BSB has a recap: http://www.buckeyestateblog.com/redfern_appoints_his_delegates#comment
It appears that the 2 are uncommitted but in the comments, a poster says that one is for Obama.

Chris Redfern, Joyce Beatty, Ray Miller, Sherrod Brown, Lee Fisher, Rich Cordray, Judge Peter Sikora, Judge Russo and Gov. Strickland spoke.

Redfern: He thanked everyone for their hard work in '06 and urged everyone to work hard and donate in '08. He mentioned all the State-wide office holders (except Dann). Sherrod Brown and Jennifer Brunner (who wasn't there b/c she had to leave to go to the Kennedy Library to accept her award) got the loudest applause.

Ray Miller: He invoked past suffrage and civil rights leaders and mentioned how proud they must be to see our current 2 candidates. He stressed how important it is to pick up at least 4 seats in the State Senate.

Joyce Beatty: She is a really, really great orator. She said how proud she is as an African American and a Woman of our 2 candidates. She introduced Sherrod Brown. She mentioned how earlier, at the Women's Caucus luncheon, she sat next to Emily Brown (Sherrod's mom) from Richland County. She said that Emily had said how she didn't know why Sherrod didn't use his full name. Joyce introduced Senator Sherrod Campbell Brown.

Sherrod explained how "Sherrod Brown" was his ballot name, and the name people recognized. "Sherrod" is for his mother's grandfather and "Campbell" is his mother's family name. He described it in a way that was very endearing and respectful toward his mother.

He talked about his time as a Freshman Senator. He said that as a member of the Health, Education, Labor and Pension committee, he was invited to Senator and Chairman Ted Kennedy's house for a dinner. He sat there with the other 10 or so Dem members and as he looked to his right, it was Ted Kennedy, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and Bernie Sanders. He mentioned to Sen. Sanders, "How is it that we are at this table?". He said he should have said, "We are having dinner with the next President of the United States".

He mentioned how incoming Senators get to pick their desks and how Senators sometimes carve their name into desks like teenagers with a sweetheart tree. He found one that had the name of a Dem Senator from the 30's that introduced a 6 hour workday that people found so radical that it allowed FDR to get the 8 hour workday. It also had the names of Al Gore Sr. and Bobby Kennedy. He wasn't sure if it was RFK or JFK b/c it just said "Kennedy" and didn't have a first name or a State. So, he asked Sen. Ted Kennedy to look at the carving. Sen. Kennedy told our Sherrod, "You have Bobby's desk. I have Jack's."

I wish I could convey to you the appreciation for History and emotion that the Senator tells his story's with.

He did say that he hoped for an end to the Presidential Primary soon, but remained uncommitted and complementary to both candidates.

We then voted on electors for the electoral college. It was a very informal and unorganized process. The 16th elected Mike Todd from Medina County. I don't remember the others except Vic Wilson from the 2nd.

Cordray spoke, then Fisher who introduced Judges Sikora and Russo. It is very important that we get these 2 elected. As Judge Sikora said the Ohio Supreme Court is now in the hands of one party. And, they vote 70+% of the time with their campaign contributors (big business).

Strickland was the last speaker. His oratory skills are MUCH improved from when he first started the '06 campaign. His delivery was great. He stressed the importance of gaining seats in the Ohio House and Senate. He talked about how it is important for the Dems to clean up their own house, unlike Republicans. (Obviously about Marc Dann). He stressed that he is committed to delivering Ohio for the Dem candidate no matter who that is.

Overall, it was a really good experience. I was disappointed that we didn't get to contribute more, but in the big picture, electing "electors" is pretty important.

[WCGreen]

1. I heard Sikora received more than a few rounds of applause.

If true, that is good as the Supreme Court needs to be highlighted.

[OhioBlue]

2. Absolutely!! The crowd was very excited about

Judge Sikora. He had a great delivery - some humor and some harsh reality about how the all Republican Supreme Court does not serve the interests of the consumer, the laborer or Ohioans in general.

I agree - the SC race needs attention. I think it was Lee Fisher that stressed this point.

Edit to add:
Are you working on his campaign again? Our County chair spoke with the Judge and Mark for a minute after the convention - I missed them as I was trying to get signatures on the "Road to Blue" book (Our ladies group is going to use it to raise money at a silent auction)

[WCGreen]

5. I'm his treasurer this time around so I am not involved as I have

been in the past. But I've known Peter for years and I have always held him in High Regard.

[Kukesa]

3. Thanks for the report, Blue.

Nice to learn that Strickland spoke about cleaning house.

I also liked your story about Sherrod Brown having RFK's desk. I'd heard that once before, but I liked the way you presented it.

Do you think Brown could be Obama's VP choice? It would be great to have two good liberals in the White House!

[OhioBlue]

4. Thanks K

I honestly have no idea about Sherrod Brown and the VP short list. Just a wild guess - but I would bet that his name has been tossed around in their brain storming sessions.

I did see a speech that Connie Shultz gave in Missouri a few months ago on C-Span. At the time she was a vocal Hillary supporter, I'm sure she still is, but I did notice a few of her columns defended Obama during the Wright ordeal.

anyway... someone in the audience asked Connie about Sherrod and the VP slot. Connie said that Sherrod LOVED being a Senator and wanted to continue his service in that office. It is probably what they all say until asked... but she did say it with some conviction.

I'm glad you liked the story. Here is another that Connie told in that speech.

Incoming Freshmen Senators often have to preside over the Senate. A lot of times it will be when there is a lot of house keeping stuff to do. Sherrod had told Connie that he was a little bit nervous about Presiding for the first time. He said that he was given the advice to not screw up and whatever he did, don't write while at the President of the Senate's desk or Senator Byrd would be furious and would let him know. I guess it is one of his big pet peeves.

Connie sat in the balcony to watch Sherrod the first time he Presided. She said he had all of the procedure stuff right but she noticed that about half way through Sherrod wrote a note. She thought, "oh no, he's gonna hear about that from Senator Byrd, what in the world was he thinking..."

After the session, Connie told Sherrod he had done a great job, but said, what in the world did you write? He showed her the note and it read, "I can't believe I'm really sitting here". (or something close to that)

[Kukesa]

6. And thanks for ANOTHER nice story. n/t

[BillORightsMan]

7. Thanks for the recap! Excellent!

Sounds like it was a lot of speechifying (which usually leaves me bored to tears) but your recap was GREAT!
Sherrod and Connie are great and when Howard Metzenbaum passed a few months ago I wrote Sherrod, telling him I hope he can be Ohio's next Great Liberal Senator in the mold of Metzenbaum (who took NO CHIT and had a sharp wit to boot). Remember when we had Howie and Glenn as Senators? Seems like another life ago...

Regarding the OH Supremes, It's gonna take Sikora and a few more elections to purge the Federalists now occupying those seats. (I was so disappointed when Bill O'Neill didn't get elected - much of the 2004 miscount evidence has now been destroyed and the Dann stuff derails much of this investigation and the GOPhers once again will successfully run out the statute of limitations, but i digress).

I thought there would have been more involvement, like a formal swearing-in of the Convention delegates or something more formal, plus allowing those present to vote on the at-large delegates. All more reason to RUN for your local PRECINCT CENTRAL COMMITTEE! It's easy do to! Just go door-to-door to your precinct's Dems (the party GIVES YOU The List) and say "hello". Chances are, these people don't even KNOW who their PRECINCT CAPTAIN IS!In many areas of the state there are openings on the Central Committee; you just have to LIVE in one of 'em!

WATCH THIS SPACE for the next Dem Centcom elections dates!

Great recap OhioBlue!
:applause: :applause: :applause:

I'll see you at the Dems X-Mas party in December!

imbillorightsmanandiapprovethismessage
:patriot: