By Frank D. Russo
Originally published on the California Progress Report
It's a good thing, I suppose, that Robert Salladay's "blog," in the LA Times, Political Muscle, no longer has a place to post comments. If he did, by now he probably would have at least a few dozens posts from bloggers, perplexed and a bit miffed to put it mildy, by his piece yesterday, "Jobs for the Sickly," that mocked Democratic progressives and bloggers running this weekend to be delegates to the California State Democratic Central Committee.
The title of this piece is enough to start a fight. In the body, he goes on to say:
For both parties, the honor of delegate status normally attracts sallow depressives who enjoy debating meaningless bylaws more than, say, interacting with human beings. In politically manic places such as San Francisco, people actually campaign and spend money to get the awful job.
But this year, Democratic progressives are attempting to make inroads by beating out establishment types who are running. The progressives include a bunch of bloggers - lordy, help us - such as David Dayen from the Santa Monica area, who writes about the "first campaign speech of my life." [Emphasis added]
He concludes that this effort is futile because the California Democratic Party establishment is" too organized" to let a leftward shift in the party occur.
I know David Dayen, who goes by the handle D-Day and he must have communicated to Sallady, either through his own blog, email, or other old fashioned means because Salladay appended an "update" in the Times that says " Dday thinks I'm a bit cynical. OK, maybe a tad. But only about the dying party system!"
While I have a slightly different take than David has about the party, I think he would make a wonderful contribution to the dialogue that needs to take place. It would be good for the party if he gets elected as a delegate and good for him to get to know the inner workings of the party first hand and up close. This is not an endorsement of him or anyone else--but my hat is off to him and others who are running.
Let me just say that I have gotten to know Salladay a bit from when he was a "reporter" at the Times and have seen him a few times at press conferences and other events in the Capitol in his new persona as a "blogger." I like him and what he and others on this section of the paper write and find it invaluable in the "mainstream media" of this state that often does not provide much information for a state as large as California on state politics and issues. I read Political Muscle daily and get RSS feeds of it.
Having said all of that, and that we're all entitled to our opinions (I certainly have mine), I think Salladay is missing the boat on this one--on a number of levels.
First of all, I think the increased attention the Democratic Party is getting from bloggers and the blogosphere ("the net roots") and others (the "grassroots") is great for democracy with a big "D" and a small one. It is great to see the interest that new blood and those who have fallen away from the party are giving to the important work that this venerable (and sometimes venial) institution does and needs to do in the future. This is a sign of "life." It is a renewal. Without this, the California Democratic Party will not have "the horses" to go door to door, to get the vote out, and to reflect the values, richness, and diversity of this state.
Maybe I've watched too many Jimmy Stewart movies. I know that many who attend these conventions like to wear funny hats and to pass resolutions that don't have the force of law and that often end up gathering dust somewhere. But there is a lot more that goes on at these conventions--the sharing of information and ideas, being able to talk to elected officials who are there, and helping to build a consensus as to what the party stands for.
This is an election to the State Central Committee of the biggest party in the biggest state of the union. Many of these bloggers who I have become close friends with are excited about the upcoming 2008 Presidential primary election and the prospect that California's primary may be moved up so we can have a say in the nominee of our party. (I think moving the primary is a bad idea, but Ill deal with that later.) Although all of these bloggers are not young, as someone who has followed politics in this state since I was 14, it reminds me of a time when we collected "Dollars for Democrats" on the doorsteps of our neighbors instead of being cajoled into going to four figure "fundraisers." Remember what it was like to be young and excited about politics?
Secondly, let's remember Will Roger's famous quote: "I don't belong to an organized party, I'm a Democrat." Despite the opinions of some of the bloggers, apparently of Mr. Salladay, and also of others, I don't see the state party as a monolithic well guarded keep of an old castle. The party has been very accommodating and open and has encouraged folks to run for these positions. In the past, the rules about how to run and the procedures of the meetings were not readily available. Today, they are on the web. This is an open process.
This is not a hostile takeover. I know some of the bloggers have used the phrase "Crashing the Gate," but I gotta tell you, the party gate is open for those who want to join in and it's about time that this is happening. As Scoop Nisker used to say on the radio (KSAN in the 70's) "If you don't like the news, go out and make some of your own." At least they want in.
There is a little bit of "them" versus "us" in the way some look at this--with the notion of the "party establishment." And the day after the convention, the party officers and the Executive Committee (which has more than a hundred members itself) will be running the party in the day to day operations and many of the decisions that are made. But there's also the local groups of Democrats who can have quite a bit of impact. Ask Richard Pombo about how Jerry McNerney won. The Democratic Party belongs to all registered Democrats--and those who have that status as of the close of registration before the last election can come and participate.
Remember, Democrats are the party of Andrew Jackson, who had his mud booted common folk come into the White House when he was inaugurated in 1824, much to the disdain of the departing Whigs.
For those in the party establishment who fear having more folks elbowing in at the table, if they do feel displaced, there's an old Lyndon Johnson quote about J. Edgar Hoover: "It’s probably better to have him inside the tent pissing out, than outside the tent pissing in." If they are concerned about folks who are angry about the party or who think it isn't working as well as it should (including those who may not have all the facts about what was done in the last election cycle or appreciate the efforts made), I would advise that it is better to have them in the tent.
While I'm on a roll with some of my favorite quotes, there's one more--from Robert F. Kennedy--"Some men see things as they are and say why. I dream things that never were and say why not."
Why not? Why not this weekend?
For more information on how you can participate this weekend, go to the California Democratic Party site or the "Progressive Slate" site.
Remember--It's your party if you make it your own.
And if you're wondering what's going on, Mr. Jones (hat tip to the Rolling Stones), check out some of the many CDP Delegate Diaries on Calitics.