In 1991, the relatively young Democratic Leadership Council held it's annual convention in Cleveland, Ohio. The DLC was first formed in the mid 1980's, after a string of Democratic presidential losses had reduced the party to fractious interest groups, instead of a cohesive unit that once appealed to mainstream, middle class America. The once unstoppable party of the four-term elected Franklin Delano Roosevelt had become the single-state winning mess of Walter Mondale by 1984. Thus the DLC.
Back to 1991. The opening speaker for the event's main session was the little known Governor Bill Clinton of Arkansas. The closing speaker was a former tobacco farmer, in Senator Al Gore of Tennessee. The combination of these two men would make history in the following year, becoming the first Democratic ticket elected since 1976, and the first Democratic ticket re-elected since Franklin Roosevelt's fourth term in 1944.
The Democratic Leadership Council, led by founder and CEO Alvin From, President Bruce Reed (Clinton's domestic policy advisor in the '90's), and current chairman Gov. Tom Vilsack of Iowa, is
the core for new ideas, new initiatives, and bold proposals for reform within the Democratic Party, and it is with great delight that I attended this year's National Conversation in Denver. Could one of these speakers make history in 2008? I think the possibility is highly likely...
Saturday evening was the Welcoming Reception held on the 38th floor of the Grand Hyatt in downtown Denver. The star of this event was the view: one could see the Rocky Mountains and the city of Denver for miles. I met wonderful folks from around the country, and in particular:
--Donna Pence and John Rusche, both State Representatives from Idaho (yes, apparently ID has a few Democrats too);
--the instantly likeable AL State House Majority Leader Ken Guin;
--US Representatives Mark Udall and Diana DeGette both of Colorado, and Artur Davis of Alabama;
--DLC founder Al From;
--TIME magazine columnist and one of my favorite authors, Joe Klein (he wrote
Primary Colors which later became a film starring John Travolta and Billy Bob Thornton);
--Delaware Treasurer (and soon to be DE
Governor in 2008) Jack Markell, and who am I forgetting?........
--Oh yes, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin. Ya'll might remember him...
Sunday featured the "meat and potatoes" events: less glamour, more ideas. There were roughly 20 breakout seminars throughout the day featured at the "base" of the convention, the Hyatt Regency & Convention Center (not to be confused with the aforementioned Grand Hyatt - there are two Hyatt hotels within 3 blocks of each other in Denver's downtown....don't ask me why.) I attended sessions on winning the west, the early outlook for the '06 midterm elections, and what happened in CO in 2004 (in summary, one of the only states with a few positive outcomes for Democrats).
Monday was the general session, where they broke out the big guns. First let me address the highlights of the "
NOT likely 2008 presidential contenders."
US Senator Ken Salazar of Colorado continues to impress me: I would rank his speech the 3rd best of the convention. Though this is only his first term in the Senate (after 2 successful terms as Colorado Attorney General) he should be considered for the eventual nominee's VP slot; and in a few more years, the top spot. The same can be said for Governor Janet Napolitano of Arizona who spoke about illegal immigration better than anyone I have yet heard. Governor Jennifer Granholm of Michigan gave a brief, but impassioned speech about the need for fair trade. As 1 of probably only 4 or 5 other DLC New Democrats (out of the 400 in attendance) who is largely
opposed to free trade, I appreciated her boldness.
Others to speak were Governor Christine Gregoire of Washington, US Senator Tom Carper of Delaware, Congressman Mark Udall of Colorado, Al From, Colorado State House Speaker Andrew Romanoff, Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, and Will Marshall, President of the Progressive Policy Institute.
And now the (likely) contenders for 2008, that addressed the National Conversation....
-- Evan Bayh, US Senator from Indiana
While Bayh is telegenic and affable, with a strongly centrist record, and hailing from a solidly red state, I am still not terribly impressed with him. His speech while good, was largely generic about the need to reach out to middle class voters. He left the audience largely uninspired and didn't address any foreign policy matters (in fact surprisingly, almost
none of the speakers did, and this is where the DLC typically thrives most).
My $.02 = I like Bayh, and would support him for president, but (much like John Kerry in 2004) he doesn't ignite a fire within, and I think would be largely considered as the reasonable option to whichever right-winger the GOP throws up (as opposed to being an inspirational JFK-type).
-- Bill Richardson, Governor of New Mexico
It is hard to
not like Bill Richardson. Jovial, saavy, and coming from a toss-up state, Richardson was one of the very few speakers to talk foreign policy (he has a large background in it as UN Ambassador under Clinton), as well as the other hot button issue of illegal immigration. He's big (I'd guess 6'5), stocky, with a haircut similar to actor Benicio del Toro that all creates this larger-than-life persona.
My $.02 = Give this man the Vice President slot. He's perfect for it. Plus, I got my picture with him.
-- Tom Vilsack, Governor of Iowa & Chairman of the DLC
Going into this weekend, Vilsack was my #1 choice for the next President of the United States. He spoke to a gathering of the Wyoming Democratic Party back in March and had done a phenomenal job. And this weekend, his stature only grew in my eyes. He had the BEST speech of anyone at the convention. I think he was the most naturally intelligent person to address the general session, covering several domestic issues as well as foreign policy (even more specifically than Richardson). He just
exudes a presidential aura, and I think, while not quite as "folksy-charming" as John Edwards or Mark Warner, he has what it takes to make America proud again.
My $.02 = STILL the best candidate the Democrats could nominate. While I like the aforementioned Edwards, I'm sick of southerners being the only candidates we elect for president, as of late. Being born and raised in the midwest myself, it's time for someone from the center of America (both geographically and politically) to represent us. And since US Senator Barack Obama of Illinois has ruled himself out, the Governor of Iowa would be a wonderful choice. You know, Abe Lincoln, a midwesterner, wasn't such a bad president...
-- Hillary Clinton, US Senator of New York
Forget everything you've heard about Hillary Clinton from America's pundits. Bill O'Reilly, Chris Matthews, Sean Hannity, and everyone else......they're idiots. No, let me elaborate on that: they're f*cking idiots. And I'm guilty of buying into their bullshit too.
Next to Vilack, Hillary presented the best vision for America: one of optimism, hope, pragmatic progress, and tough-minded (yet diplomatic) internationalism. After Senator Clinton spoke, things were supposed to progress right into the next speaker. That didn't happen.
After a raucous and well-deserved standing ovation as she left the stage, hundreds of normally dignified New Democratic elected officials from around the country lost all semblance of composure, and approached her in hordes. I'd say about 200 people surrounded her. Including me. And you know what? Every single person who asked her for an autograph, or for a picture (I fell into this category), or approached her about an issue was happily obliged. And she smiled and laughed and visited with each person throughout this entire ordeal. There was no doubt who
owned this convention.
In fact when it was yours truly's turn, and I greeted her with a "Hello Senator, you even have fans in Wyoming!"; from the distinguished Senator from the state New York, I received a "Oh, I love Wyoming!" and a hug, followed by a photo. Now I've had many political experiences, including dozens of great ones in Boston at 2004's Democratic National Convention. But being hugged by the best First Lady since Eleanor Roosevelt... well, that tops them all.
My $.02 = Hillary Clinton is the real deal. And next to Gov. Tom Vilsack (and former North Carolina US Senator John Edwards), I'd now rank her among the top tier of Democratic candidates. I used to be a naysayer, partly because of the news media pundits, and partly because of my own preconceived notion that she is unelectable in a national election. But she's not. She just has to show America the same person she showed some 400 New Democrats in Denver, Colorado on July 24th, 2006, and she could become the United States of America's first woman president.
And to colleagues, readers, friends, and family who still doubt her, ask yourselves.... "Why?" If it's because of her horndog husband's faults, and that she stuck by him: isn't that what MORALITY and FORGIVENESS and FAMILY VALUES are all about? Or if it's because you're a fan of Bill O'Reilly or Don Imus or Joe Scarborough or Glenn Beck and they don't like her... just what the hell do they really know about her, that you DON'T (answer: not a damn thing)? Or if I still haven't got you to at least give her a second thought, ask yourself this: could she really be worse than George W. Bush, the most despised president since Richard Nixon? The answer to that is, NOBODY on God's green earth could be a worse president than this dumbshit. All I'm asking you to do, is to do what I did: listen to what she has to say for herself, ignore the TV pundits (who lower our nation's average IQ anyway) and come to your OWN conclusion.
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DemoGog's Final Thoughts =
I do have to mention my disappointment in the lack of an appearance by former Virginia Governor Mark Warner. This, after Warner appeared at a convention in Las Vegas put on by the ultra-left wing website "Daily Kos," and likeminded internet sites. For shame, Mr. Warner. The same can be said for John Edwards, though from what I read about Edwards in last week's issue of Newsweek, he's basically moved into Iowa for the impending 2008 caucuses (apparently it's paying off - in the newest poll he's leading in Iowa, even against Hillary). And John Kerry, Joe Biden, and Russ Feingold, I'm assuming, are all vying for the primary votes of the more liberal wing of the party.
But this National Conversation was a blast, and those that attended represent the true core of the Democratic Party and the true principles and ideals of the majority of Americans.
And Denver would be a great host city for the 2008 convention.
[If the two photos I attempted to post showed up, they were taken from NBC News. My own photos of the event will be up shortly....if I can figure out how to do so.]
