On the Road to Philly

Dear readers,

For the next few weeks I will be writing about becoming a Bernie Sanders delegate and my trip to the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia at the end of July. As you may know from my previous blog, I was chosen as an elected delegate in the election held locally on May 1st, but as the third woman in the line, which per Party rules, alternates between male and female candidates, I was out in the cold on Election Day when Bernie and Hillary were neck and neck in my Congressional District, California's CD 2, stretching from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Oregon border. I even had a nice handout made up which explained why you should vote for me.

Me campaigning on May 1st

So then I applied for the other two delegate types, Party Leader and Elected Officials (or PLEO) and At-Large. When our State Executive Board met and the names of who had been chosen for those slots, my name was on that list either. I was hugely disappointed. My good friends, Mayme and Ruth, the first two women were going and I was not. I decided to just hang on to the money I had set aside for the Convention (not inconsiderable, since the hotels jack up the room rates more than three times the regular prices for these events), and plan a fun trip somewhere later.

Then this happened: Two days ago, I get an email from Party asking if I was registering at the Convention hotel. I replied, "I wish, but I am not a delegate, unless you know something I don't."  Well, guess what. She did. "Yes," came the reply back. You are on the list."

Still not believing this, I checked with the Democratic National Committee (DNC) liaison to our State Party and the answer was the same. "You are on the list." Later I found out that at least one person on the original list is no longer on it. Why I don't know. I still keep hoping it's not all a big mistake.

I have now registered at the Very Expensive Hotel (VEH) and purchased the Very Expensive Airplane Tickets (VEAT) and have signed up on every list-serve for Bernie delegates, and some for all Califonria delegates. In the end, we are all Democrats and committed to beating He-Who_Shall_Not-Be-Named (HWSNBN) in November. At least most of us are, and that's a story for another installment.

MWPAC members and speakers from NARAL and PP

For now, good news from the Supreme Court, which just struck down the odious Texas laws that had shuttered most abortion providers in the state because they did not meet some arbitrary and irrelevant standards set up to thwart a women's right to choose. An unexpected 5-3 decision. Three local delegates joined the Marin Women's Political Action Committee (MWPAC) last evening to celebrate.

We ate very unremarkable food, but the mood was hopeful, and gave us that warm united feeling.

Next time: What to eat on the road to Philly!

Me with one Hillary and one Bernie delegate

Recount!

In a close race, sometimes the one on the short end of the stick asks for a recount. This can be a costly and time-consuming tactic that can delay the outcome from being certified for days, weeks, even months.  If the recount is in a primary election, imagine the chaos ensuing as the November General election day rolls around without knowing which two people will be facing off. Campaigning is either at a standstill or continues as if the primary has not happened.

This is the situation today as California Assembly Speaker John Perez has announced that he is requesting a recount in the Controller's race, usually a sleeper of a campaign, that has attracted attention because of the mere 481 votes separating Perez from State Board of Equalization member Betty Yee in a race in which 4 million votes were cast.

Betty Yee making a fiery speech about the Democratic process at the Cal. Dem. State Convention

Because of California's top two open primary system, put into place just two years ago, these two Democrats are vying for a chance to face off against Republican Ashley Swearingin, Mayor of Fresno.

Many observers feel that Yee has a better chance of besting Swearingin in the General than does Perez, for a number of reasons; she's a popular Bay Area politician whose current seat encompasses the entire north coast from San Francisco to the Oregon border, a notably liberal area, while Perez represents a very small District in Southern California.
 This recount however is a selective recount, counting only those votes in the Counties and the precincts where Perez did well.  It's the law, he has that right, but it ain't right.

He also has the money to pay for the recount. Betty Yee has called foul, and is now weighing her options should he pick up enough undercounted votes in southern California (and Lake County) to pull ahead.

Isn't it only basic fairness to count all the votes, if you really want to know the true count?