Michael goes to caucus...

I caucused for the Republicans this morning and I had a great time. My PCO didn't show, and neither did anyone else from my South Seattle precinct. So I elected myself Delegate to the next level, voted for Rick Santorum in the straw poll, and then, heavy lifting over, it was Party-party.

The spread was fabulous: a extra-large platter of pretzels on every other table. No drinks but there were generously-placed middle school-height drinking fountains outside in the spacious hallways.

(The reason, I'm told, there was no one else showed-up from my South Seattle precinct, was that the Republicans who live in my neighborhood were all at synagogue of a Saturday morning).

It was held in a Skyway middle school lunchroom and I found myself sat down with Goldy from The Stranger, and a table mostly full of Ron Paul supporters.

Goldy (David Goldstein) was reporting the affair if you could call it that (he wouldn't call it reporting) for paper, and we were both doing a little mischief with the Santorum votes, but otherwise we engaged everyone we could (Goldy, taking notes, like the not-a-reporter that he insists he is).

The joke around our table was, of you're under 50 in this room, you're for Ron Paul. Anecdotally, seemed to be a lot of them. I met 2 folks for Gingrich, a handful of Romneys, and a few Santorums, were wiping up the rear. (couldn't resist, sorry).

We were clear about who we were and what we believed, and we were engaged and had a lto of fun doing it.

I started talking with this Vietnam vet, retired Boeing engineer guy who immediately called Obama a liar. I touched his shoulder and asked him to refrain from the L-word in our discussion. I said, "I wouldn't use that word to refer to any of your candidates- and hey, that's a risky boundary to set for a politician- especially, since your candidate is Newt Gingrich." He kind of agreed. He was a little non-plussed at someone engaging him, touching him like that. I thnk I provoked him, in a good way. So many conservatives never get off the right-wing media ranch. They don't meet the left. They're left to extrapolate from the demonized versions of us set by Republican partisans, talk radio and Fox News. (Of course I have and would call Republicans liars, but I didn't want to get lynched in that crowd, and it was a bad way to start a face-on.

The Paulites were a different breed, however. The GOP establishment hates them and no wonder- the ones I talked to today do not consider themselves Republicans. Period. Everyone of them, admitted, in their hearts of heart that a 3rd Party movement was in the offing, maybe, mayber not 2012, but sometime. If I were a Republican with any sense of the long-haul, I'd be nervous- especially after the mishegoss of this year's absurd national primary process.

It was fun, also, hanging with Goldy at this: Party officials all know him and seem to  like him. Several asked to be photographed with him.

All in all it was a great democratic exercise- and a rare one for such as me who rarely steps out of the bubble I live in. I signed an oath not to caucus for the Democrats in April, and I take that seriously, and I won't. 

(You may have noticed that I haven't participated on BlatherWatch much since my partner Stephanie died last month. You won't see me in in the foreseeable future but for here and there. I've got some things to sort out, some different writing to do at the moment. Please understand; Rachelle and crew are doing a great job of taking over- please hang in and keep sending us tips via the Email Me button. bests Michael).

 

Comments

[sparky]

Cool beans. I wish I could have tagged along. I had the same experience a couple of weeks ago when I attended the town hall of one of my reps. My Rep. and I were the only Dems in the room, and I wouldnt really even call my Rep. a Democrat. I had the opportunity to at least temporarily dispel some of the notions these people had about schools in general, and teachers in particular. I was friendly and open and one told me afterwards that I was "brave" to come to the meeting. I asked her "why"..and she sort of wandered off mumbling..
What happened in the midnight hour in the legislature last night was appalling...

[Puget Sound Blathers]

Michael,
You're old man would have been proud of your return to the Republican Fold... :)

Did you drive over there sporting a bumper-sticker that says:

'Dori Is TO a Boy's Name!'

I've heard rumors that you got one on the back of your car...

Glad to see you out and about a bit. Take care.

[bald bob]

If more people would participate in such things, there would be more Republicans. That's a political science FACT.

[RQ]

Please understand; Rachelle and crew are doing a great job of taking over- please hang in and keep sending us tips...

How about following up on the recent posts to the old "Jessica Partners With Dori" story? Curious minds want to know about local radio.

[KS]

Good effort, Michael. I understood that a number of Ron Paul supporters were unhappy about being turned away due to limited capacity yesterday in a number of locations in both Eastern Washington and locally.

A third party movement could become a reality after the 2012 presidential election if it goes as many predict it might. The Senate and House races are under the radar.

There are others besides Ron Paul supporters that would be there with a third party; Jon Huntsman for one has already said that he is open to that and predicted it. The Republican nominees for president and the seeming lack of support by the party is on shaky ground. However, there was a big turnout in this state for the GOP caucuses. It's too early to tell what that all means though, except that those who attended in general are dissatisfied with the Federal Government as it is and want a change.

[sparky]

I listened to a long discussion on the radio yesterday about this, between a liberal and a conservative. Both agreed that at this time, the incredible amounts of money flowing into the Republicans and the Democrats pockets (thanks to the Citizens United ruling) will prevent a third party from gaining a foothold that would have any impact at all. You are deluding yourself if you think politicians on either side of the aisle care about the average citizen being happy with what they do. The will and desires of the corporation is everything. If you want to have a voice again, whether in the traditional parties or an independent third party, then both sides need to work together to get Citizens United overturned so we can go back to the days when someone was elected based on his or her ideas, rather than which corporation pays for their entry into office.

[Rachelle]

We are doing our research, RQ, on the sudden disappearance of Jessica from Dori's (a girl's name)show. Did Dori have a hand in her not being with the company anymore? Or is she leaving to spend more time with her family?
Our sources are being a little tight lipped, so we are figuring out ways to loosen those lips. Stay tuned.

[KS]

I am for having the Citizens United ruling overturned, but not unless McCain-Feingold is overturned at the same time. "Electioneering has become a total travesty.

[DC]

Watching the Washington Huskies basketball game was a better chose for me, than wasting a half a day driving 15 miles to be with REPUKELCONS!