Ive been overwhelmed with other actions and health concerns but watch this space for my write up of my experiences as a delegate to the TX Democratic Convention. (And a pic of yours truly the one and only littlefire with the lovely Sen. Wendy Davis!!!!! squee
So, I promised Id write it up and here goes. Its a bit stream of consciousness but well ya know....
Texas Democratic Convention was held the 27th and 28th of June at the convention center in Dallas, a city i have an enormous fondness for (shh dont tell anyone since Im originally from Houston and its apparently a sin to like Dallas if one is from Houston) so I was looking forward to it. I attended my county convention in tiny Trinity County in East Texas, we elected 4 delegates including our county chair and her husband (despite having 9 votes which tells you how bad turn out is) but one broke her foot and had to beg off so we ended up sending three.
Kids and I arrived in Dallas on the 26th, having opted to stay in Mesquite (for 99 a night instead of the 169.99 the Omni was charging) and met with some of my What Happens in Texas friends for a meetup at Klyde Warren park, had dinner with an old friend and settled in for the night.
Friday I dropped the kids off with the oh so gracious V who had generously offered to watch them, battled traffic (apparently its no better in Dallas than Houston) and arrived at the convention center in time for checkin at 9 am, received my lovely yellow delegate placard and a surprisingly nice canvas bag.
I attended the Environmental Democrats caucus, heard Mayor Parker of Houston speak, heard from Land Commissioner nominee Cook and Steve Brown, dem nominee for RR Commissioner. Both have VERY good, solid ideas, real policy solutions for real issues facing Texas such as drought and fracking.
I got good info from the Anti Death Penalty folks, which was nice, missed pro choice caucus due to getting lost and then it being so crowded i couldnt even get in.
Womens Caucus was HUGE. Everyone spoke, Wendy, Leticia, Senfronia Thompson, Sameena Karmally, David Alameel , everyone. Rather than a small room as in previous years, this year Womens caucus got the main floor of the convention due to its massive size (yay texas women and supportive men!)
I attended my SD caucus wherein we elected committee members for the various committees, I was not one. Paid 10$ for beef and broccoli (damn convention center food prices).
First Plenary session was speeches. I was picked from the crowd to be in the bleachers, as part of an attempt to present a diverse enthusiastic group across from the media folks which was a BLAST. And cheered and yelled and waved signs and generally had a grand time until i finally left after the last speech... at 1030pm.
Day 2 was parliamentary hell lol. Lots of challenges because we are not lock step repubs but diverse big tent dems. The party platform and resolutions are out there but the TLDR version is we resolved to fund education, lower testing, raise the minimum wage, support full equality including marriage equality, denounce reparative therapy, support decriminalization of marijuana, and fund the humanitarian crisis at the border while still calling for Comprehensive Immigration Reform. I left after seven hours. (Democracy is exhausting yall). I was also interviewed by a reported from KERA about womens issues. That can be found here http://keranews.org/...(direct)|utmccn
(direct)|utmcmd=(none)&_utmv=-&_utmk=107424770 (Samantha from Trinity County is me, I said way more than that but ...reporters, whatre ya gonna do)
Annnd, here are pics of me with Steve Brown and the incomparable Wendy Davis