Obama wins big in south seattle caucus

We just got back from the comfortable Democratic confines of the comfortably Democratic precinct caucus in the comfortable confines of our comfortably Democratic Seattle neighborhood in our comfortably Democratic Legislative district.

Held in a elementary school, there were easily over 500 souls + small children in a little  ol' neighborhood precinct accustomed to dozens.

We were happy to see our comfortably Democratic neighbors, ex-KIRO talker, blogger David Goldstein and 710KIRO News and Program Coordinator/PSA Director Stephanie Furer, who assists PD Rod Arquette. (photo left: Stephanie's the one with the hair).
(We tried to sweet talk Ms Furer into giving us a little Eastlake dish, but she turned into a Sphinx, flipped her hair in that funny little way she has, and "accidentally" tromped on our be-Birkenstocked toe sending us yelping over to huddle with a group of environmentalists who'd set up a tent in a corner).

 

Seeing that we were amidst a probably overwhelming sea of Obamanians, we caucused with the hugely minority Hillary Clinton clan in a classroom full of our neighbors.

With one exceptionally female exception, we were a reserved clutch of white men, sticking to the edge of the room looking at our shoes (in our case, sandals) trying to pretend we mattered, but not wanting anyone to think we thought we did.

Turned out: we didn't. We coulda stood in bed. There weren't enough Hillarys to seat a single delegate from our little corner of Seattle heaven.

But from our perspective from so many years as None of The Above voters, we couldn't get too het up over the probable choice of the room... or the precinct, or Seattle.

It's being reported that Obama is sweeping the state. Check here for Goldy's updating postings at Huffington Post.

(photo at right: Curtis, who, with his Mom and his t-shirt, helped whip Hillary Clinton's butt in Seattle today).

It was a win/win race for us and the rest of the Democrats.

We loved that no one in the building was beaten, and robbed of their wallets as has happened in the thuggish Republican caucuses around the nation, today.

(Let's face it Republicans aren't as nice as we are, it's a matter of values).

Comments

[sparky]

Same at my caucus...a huge crowd, 80% for Obama, 20% for Hillary. I let someone else be a district delegate this time because there were lots and lots of very passionate and eager young people who are ready to go!

[PugetSound]

sparky
did you see any young people coming out strong for hillary?
what happens to all that enthusiastic Obama support if they get jobbed at the convention by the Super Delegates. shades of 68?

[joanie]

Don't you know anything, putsie. Can't you figure anything out for yourself? Anything at all?

I figured it would be Obama. Not sure I'm happy. Do you feel really comfortable about it all, Sparky? Was there much discussion or were there enough Clinton people to even have a discussion at your caucus?

[Lukobe]

It was Obamamania at Marshall School on Ravenna next to I-5. First count in my precinct was something like 55 for Obama, 9 (including me) for Undecided, and 8 for Clinton. If the "please change your vote" spiels hadn't worked Clinton would have been shut out!

I wish there was another choice, "None of the Above"..if there was one for those I'd have stuck with it. As it was, I changed my vote after the spiels...

I still think this is a bit of a ridiculous process. At the very least each precinct needs its own room. QUITE disorganized.

Now, what I want to know is, why is Huckabee doing so well in Washington? Great to see Paul only a few % points behind Huck and McCain, but why is Huck SO CLOSE to McCain in the results? Yikes!

[joanie]

Few minds change at caucuses but at least people get to speak their minds and other people listen. And the people who care about politics are influential in picking candidates. I like that. I don't like caucuses but I agree that it probably gets better candidates...At my caucusing site, we do get our own rooms.

Also, I like Paul, lukobe. I like him a lot. As a teacher I know we have a very Christian electorate here. They aren't out there demonstrating their Christianity but they are definitely here.

[joanie]

BTW, my site is a church. I don't think schools will open classrooms for caucusing. I wouldn't want my classroom opened. Too much good stuff in there. Sorry.

Michael, did they open classrooms at your caucus site?

[sparky]

First of all, I think the caucus process sucks.

Big time.

why cant we just vote on a piece of paper and have it counted and be done with it? There are way too many people who are left out because of age, disabilities, and those having to work or have nobody to take care of their kids.

I did not see any younger people for Hillary. Young families, college students, a couple of hippies with rastafarian hair, and many elderly people were for Obama. The Hillary supporters were all the same age..around their late 50's--the Boomers. In our group, the son of one of the attendees had printed out Obama stickers for us to wear..she ran out quickly.
I went with the idea of possibly sticking with Edwards but there was nobody else there wanting to do that, so i decided to go with Obama. I think he is the only one who can get people to listen on BOTH sides, as there is a very organized hate machine against Hillary before she has even been elected. I am afraid with Hillary it would be 4 more years of partisan name calling, swiftboating, and nothing would get done. Rush Limbaugh said he was sending money to her campaign because he believed in "keeping her in so WE can win." Make her Attorney General, put her on the Supreme Court, use her talents somewhere. But I dont want a War President in the White House (mcCain) any more. And i dont believe the Republicans who said they refuse to vote for McCain. Hillary is so polarizing that Im afraid they would come out in droves to vote against her.

As for Huckabee winning? When I first moved to Snohomish county, Pat Robertson was running for President and he took Snohomish County by a landslide. There are thousands of Washingtonians who attend mega churches ( Google Casey Treat) and I know they put out a concerted effort to get people in their churches and neighborhoods to the caucuses today.

[joanie]

Thanks for the narrative. I agree with you pretty much about caucuses and I'm not unhappy with the decision to choose Obama. I've been so wracked by indecision. I just don't agree with the notion that Republicans will vote for McCain.

Somehow, I don't believe they want more war. I know I've said it too many times and this will be the last: they'll stay home rather than vote for more war. Even Republicans have had enough war. I really believe that. It is a scare tactic and I'm not falling for it.

It looks to me like we won't have to deal with it one way or the other.

Putsie, super delegates will go for Obama. They're not stupid. Hillary will lose them. I wasn't born yesterday. Were you?

[joanie]

I'm going to wish hard that Obama's health care plan starts to look a little more like Hillary's however.

Funny. I really, really didn't like Bill after his first four years. But, I like Hillary. I am sorry for her. She's the down-to-earth scrappy smart one. He and right-wing women-hating talk radio destroyed her.

[PugetSound]

Sparky
I appreciate the insightful comments. It is really indicative of what I hear from younger people and how they view the Boomer generation. I'm 46 so I qualify for being in the tail end of the Boomer generation. The 20 something professional types I work with view Obama as being part of them and Hillary as someone from another generation with huge negatives. They are tired of the James Carville or Dick Morris types from the left or the right. They tell me they want to put someone in who is smart, articulate, and willing to work across the aisle. Little things like Obama acknowleging the importance of Reagan to history as a change agent and then getting the almost 'reflexive' jab by Edwards.
Could it be that Hillary's best chance was 2004?
It's early yet.

[sparky]

Joanie, both Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell are superdelegates ( all governors and members of congress are automatically, plus a few influential rich people) and they are supporting Hillary, as is Norm Dicks. Christine Gregoire is supporting Obama. I have not heard about the others.

just FYI, Puts, not many democrats like James Carville. There is no love lost between the DLC ( I call them the Dem, Loser Committee) and the DNC headed by Dean. One of my other concerns about Hillary is that she is very much DLC and Howard will be replaced if she wins. The DLC have lost us the elections the last two times--and they are the ones who have caved over and over to Bush. I believe strongly in Dean's 50 state strategy as the only way true change will take place.

[joanie]

The others are previous presidents like Gore, Carter and even Bill himself. Governors, retired congressional leaders . . . there's a lot of them out there.

But, the ones who represent people - including our own - are likely to represent us just like Boxer is going to do. To do otherwise could be political suicide. Doesn't take a brain surgeon to figure that out.

I'll be surprised if Murray and Cantwell support Hillary. Pledges - like promises - can be broken at any time.

It was Bill who made the DLC the force that it is. With luck, it may fade into the sunset once again. It is very conservative and moved the party to the right.

[abob]

Everybody needs to calm da f_ck down. Washington is a blue state. There aint a dime's worth of difference between Obama and Hllary on policy issues. Our state will vote for the Democratic Party nominee in the general election; no matter what.

[joanie]

C'mon putsie. Obama's tip of the hat to Reagan was pure politics and smart politics. You think he was praising Reagan? He was using Reagan. Guess it worked on you.

Gotta charm those Bush-disenchanted Republicans. Lick their backsides anyway you can. Obama is one smart guy when it comes to political moves.

Now that the die has been cast in WA state and the decision has been made, I'll freely give him his due.

[Nevets]

"willing to work across the aisle"

Sounds good. But how come with the Libs in control of both houses the two candidates can't seem to get any of what they promise to do as President done now by working across the aisle. Hillary has been there 7 years and still no universal health care. Obama has been there 2 years and still there is genocide in Darfur. Just campaign words, like Kerry's plan to get out of Iraq in 2004. What plan?

I think the Libs are so blinded by thier hate for Bush they would vote for Mickey Mouse if he were to win the Democratic Nomination. What losers.

[Loozertarian]

"Putsie, super delegates will go for Obama. They're not stupid. Hillary will lose them." I don't quite understand this quote. (Perhaps I wandered into the discussion too late and am missing an important contextual detail behind it.)

I'm pleased that some libs here respect Ron Paul. I do as well. He's my kind of Republican.

[joanie]

Steven, you might be right. Not only the Dems but a lot of Republicans too. Which means you are going to be the loser. Big time. Congratulations.

I think Hillary should actually end it and graciously hand the baton over to Obama. It would be healing; it would cast a very deserved and complimentary light on her; and I think she would be handed the Senator's seat from New York for as long as she wanted it.

[Lukobe]

Joanie, both Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell are superdelegates ( all governors and members of congress are automatically, plus a few influential rich people)

Love that last bit. The Democratic Party's so very democratic.... :)

On the one hand, the parties are private organizations and have every right to decide how their nominees will be selected. On the other hand, a lot of this seems fundamentally undemocratic to me. Perhaps the undemocratic part is automatic ballot access for the majors! Make them go out and get signatures just like the Libertarians, Greens, and others have to.....

[Jose]

At our precint in Eastern Snohomish county it was 100% for Obama and 0% for Clinton. Again the caucuses were crowded at the Marysville location for all precints of the 39th legislative district. Nevertheles, this was my first caucus and I walked away as a delegate. Overall, there was a lot of people in attendance and a lot of enthusiasm regarding this election.

[joanie]

loozer: ...Puget, I have no idea how the superdelegate situation should be handled. I can only hope that by convention time, the votes of the superdelegates will be in proportions similar to those of the regular delegates.

Still confused about the context?

[Nevets]

Here is a List of the Democrat Super Delegates if anyone is interested. Suprised not to see Bill on it.

[joanie]

I won't disagree with you, lukobe. I've been ranting about the politics of the party for years. Ever since the dissing of Hong Tran by Dwight Pelz.

I love repeating this. I would love to be the cause of chronic mental anguish for Pelz.

No, we don't have a very democratic process in this country. It is tilted to the elite. So, what do we do about it?

[joanie]

I think that's an incomplete list, steven. There's at least 4000 super delegates. At least that's the number I've heard. And I know I read that Bill is one of them already. I'll try to find the article.

[Loozertarian]

In answer to your question, J, yes I am still confused. (Maybe it's the beer; I'm working on a six-pack of Mirror Pond Pale Ale right now.)

[Loozertarian]

There are just under 800 Democratic superdelegates. They make up about twenty percent of the total. And Bubba is definitely one of them.

[joanie]

Sorry. There are 4000 delegates and 40% are super delegates. I bookmarked an article from January and it says Bill is one of them.

[joanie]

What's your source, loozer?

[Nevets]

Joanie, how could I be a loser, unless you are saying that no matter who the Libs nominate and if that person wins it is a no win situation for anyone.

No, I'm a winner Joanie no matter which way the election goes. I might not like the policies of the next President, but hey, I am an American first and thats what counts. Party loyalty is down at the bottom of my priorities. My wallet might be a little lighter, but I survived 20 plus years on military pay. I think I can manage a leaner budget for 4 years. Can you?

[Loozertarian]

Wikipedia has the complete list. It also mentions which horse each of the declared supers (as yet a small percentage of the total) is backing.

[joanie]

Well, loozer, I suggest you go back and read if it matters. Sounds like you're befuddled and dithered in keeping with the thread.

[Nevets]

I said i was surprised he was not on the list, like Obama, and Hillary are not on it either. If you do the math Joanie from your article it says there are 850 super delegates out of the 4049 delegates. 850 divided by 4049 equals 20 percent.

[joanie]

Now, Steven, you're sounding a lot like someone else I know...

If you're a winner just by being an American, how is it that you can call other Americans "losers?"

Your rationale seems a bit selective.

[Loozertarian]

I give up. After 56 years, Femalespeak is still a foreign language to me.

And I'll thank you to leave my fuddle out of this.

[Loozertarian]

Of course Hillary and Obama are on the list! Every member of Congress is on the list.

[joanie]

Hey, I did something you rarely do. I gave you the link.

I don't understand that either. It says that super delegates have more power - does that mean they have more than one vote? Perhaps the 850 people actually have 40% of the voting power. Loozer, you know how this works? Guess I'll try Wiki and see if it clarifies.

[Nevets]

Because they have their priorities mixed up and think party first, God second, then country. Or in other words, Losers. There are 776 super delegates not counting those from Michigan and Florida and make up 19% of the delegates who will nominate the Democrat to lose in the next Presidential election.

Well, if Obama can hope, I can too.

[joanie]

Wiki agrees with your numbers, Steven, putting the super delegate count at about 1/5 or 20% of the delegate count. I think somebody did some "new math" for that article. :)

[joanie]

Ah, you majored in selective reasoning, didn't you, major-general?

[joanie]

I wish cowpot would come back. Loozer and cowpot are interesting. Between the two of them, some interesting conversations might arise again.

[Nevets]

I think the current number of Super Delegates (including Michigan and Florida) is 796 but it can fluctuate either way and only those that show up to the Convention can pledge their vote.

[Nevets]

He probably found his life again Joanie. Don't worry, he'll misplace it again, that I'm sure of.

[blathering michael]

America is not ready to elect a woman president. A woman who's tough enough is labeled a bitch. It'll be a while before men will elect someone who represents what they hate the most about their mothers. Unfortunately women have bought into this too. It's a sexist nation; political correctness doesn't seem to apply to women.

[Nevets]

Good show on the history channel now about the little ice age and the medieval warming period.

[Loozertarian]

"Cowpot"??? Is that his actual handle or your term of endearment for him?

[Loozertarian]

Personally, I'd be deeee-lighted to vote for a woman for president. Just not this particular one. (At least if I can help it. I may have no other choice in November, however, and if that's the case I will man up and do the right thing.)

[abob]

Show me somebody who thinks America will elect a black man; and I'll show you somebody who has never driven cross country.

[mark]

at my caucus it was the same: 3-2 delegates majority for Obama, though the voting was 12 O, 8 C and 2 undecided after the first tally. I was one of the undecided, and after a half hour of stump speeches, threw my lot in with Barack, as did the other undecided. Funny thing was after all this, volunteers for delegates went unanswered, so I stepped up - should be some fun.

This pretty much sums it up for me, FUP and all...

[Loozertarian]

Baloney. Stay north of the Mason-Dixon on that road trip and you'll find plenty of white folks who are ready to take the plunge.

That having been said, I would (sadly) venture that Sen. Obama has the most nervous Secret Service detail of all the candidates. I pray almost every night that he remains safe.

[Loozertarian]

Woops! Let me clarify. My last post was in response to Abob, not Mark.

[joanie]

And, loozer, it won't be an "islamofascist" that does it.

Michael, I do think Hillary has too much corporate influence as part of her baggage. Truly, that was the problem for me. Regular people are hurting and corporations are hurting them. That's why I thought Edwards would do better. He just didn't have the money. And media was not promoting him.

Don't you think media was a lot easier on Obama? That was a topic on talk radio today. Just like the media liked Bush better than Gore, it likes Obama better than Clinton. Apparently, she doesn't court media. She's a bit aloof and sometimes hostile. Guess they showed her who's who. Why are Americans so dependent on being told what to think?

Yes, I think people will vote in droves for Obama. A-boob, you have the seriously challenging problem of being permanently rooted in the fifties.