|
|
|
Pam Cahill is a California Congressional District 1 Delegate pledged to Hillary Clinton. The first-time delegate represents a area stretching from the wine country to the north coast. A retired school teacher, Cahill lives in Humbolt County. Her blog will provide a daily view from inside the California delegation.
California's breakfast featured John Kerry. It was good to see him again.
Hillary set up a meeting with her delegates for 1:15. I headed to the Convention Center. I thought I would try to listen in on the Senior caucus for a bit and get a free lunch in the process. As I was walking down the hall I saw the sign for Nancy Pelosi's book signing. I stopped, got in line and was able to get her to sign her book "Know Your Strength" for my daughters. As I boarded the escalator for the Sr. Caucus downstairs I noticed the long line to get into the Hillary event still one hour away. Of course I got in line.
That ended my lunch plans and introduced me to the nicest couple from Hawaii who had been for Hillary, but were now leaning toward Barack. We had some good discussions while we waited. We decided the V.P. would have been a waste of her talent and strength. Remaining in the Senate and perhaps becoming the leader in Harry Reed's position would give her the place to do her best work.
When we finally got to see and listen to her, she was stunning. She encouraged us to come together and support Obama and Biden. How could any of the important issues she has worked for be accomplished with a McCain win? This is not about any one person but about the best for our Country and our people. We must vote for the people of America so that they can have jobs again - green jobs, health care for all, and education that is affordable to all children. That means vote for Obama/Biden who stand for what Hillary has always stood for. What a gracious, mature and fabulous women. I bought a pin "Hillary supporters for Obama".
The evening was exhilarating! We nominated Barack Obama for our Presidential candidate. Voting commenced and as the votes added up and were about to go over the needed amount, New Mexico passed to Illinois who passed to New York and Hillary made a motion to nominate Obama by voice vote, which we did. What a great move by the Democratic Party!
Military generals and enlisted troops as well as wounded vets, including Cathy Duckworth spoke of how effective Barack Obama would be as Commander & Chief.
Bill Clinton threw his support to Obama with a rousing speech, and Joe Biden accepted our nomination for V.P. with his family. A great speech, a great man, a great family. He is the best choice I am convinced.
You would love the people here. Good night from Denver.
08/27/08
Today after breakfast, my husband was able to talk his way into two free tickets for the Emily's List party even though it was sold out. We had standing room only and after standing for an hour, I only had time to hear Hillary Clinton. Den stayed to hear Nancy Pelosi and Michelle Obama while I took off for the Pepsi Center.
I thought tonight I would look at some of the people I'm a delegate with or have talked to here.
I met John Garamendi in the Lobby. We talked about Eureka. He was looking forward to his speech at the Democrat of the Year Dinner on October 3.
Sitting next to me in the Pepsi Center was a friendly young woman named Erin from L.A. (Many of the 441 California Delegates are from L.A.) She attended Cornell for an undergraduate degree and is now working on a Masters in Art @ Cal Arts College. She has her own business as a freelance set and costume designer. Using the mail and internet, she can send her scale models and sketches from anywhere and so may move to a more beautiful area. I suggested Humboldt.
The guy on my right was interesting. A Political Science professor at Stanford, Jim Steyer taught Chelsea for 3 classes ("she was a great student"). He is also the CEO and founder of Common Sense Media.
A "consumer reports" of media, his business evaluates and grades children's media for parents, grandparents and teachers so that they can make educated choices for their children. His web site is www.commonsense.com
Hillary was awesome, the best speech she has ever given according to the Obama finance committee member I sat next to on the bus. She was so strong, confident and definitely for all of us to support Obama/Biden so that the 37 years that she has put into helping people will not go for naught.
Her goals and dreams of the betterment of the people of the U.S. will not be fulfilled by electing John McCain. I hope you all saw her speech and am anxious to discuss the issues with you when I get home. OBAMA & BIDEN in '09 ! Until tomorrow, good night.
8/26/08
Our day started out with a breakfast provided by the California Democratic Party. Thanks everyone. Nancy Pelosi was our speaker. She was great and encouraged unity to get a President who will not veto every bill that the Congress tries to pass.
In the afternoon I attended the Senior Caucus. One of the speakers was FDR's grandson, James Roosevelt. I learned that even more urgent is the need to elect Barack Obama and not McCain. McCain is for privatizing Social Security and getting rid of Medicare a terrible thing for families who rely on it to help with their elders. His health care plan is also a plan to make families buy their own with his $5,000 tax credit, but tax all health benefits given families by their jobs. All very bad ideas for seniors and families.
Obama wants to strengthen Social Security, improve Medicare and provide people with the same Health Insurance that Congress receives unless they choose to keep what they have.
The evening convention was inspiring, especially the speeches of Ted Kennedy and Michelle Obama. Tears for Ted who has gotten so many liberal policies through while working in many conservative congresses and is fighting the hardest fight in his life.
Tears of excitement and joy for the Obama family who is so optimistic and hopeful for change and improvement in the path our country will take in the near future. I loved the fact that Barack came on live from Kansas City to say thank you to Michelle and hi to his girls.
8/24/08
Wow! It was a long day. Thank goodness for Delta. We were able to sail up out of the fog and on to Salt Lake without a problem. After a 3 hour layover, I was off to Denver. On the ride to the hotel I met an actress from L.A. who was a front runner for Hillary during the campaign and a Hillary Delegate from Los Vegas. They were both sad and wanting the caucus system changed, but will still vote Democrat because of all we will lose if McCain wins.
The Sheraton is a nice place and only a few blocks from the Convention Center. I walked through their pedestrian friendly plaza street to the Center and enjoyed a great welcome party. It was put on by the Convention Host Committee "Friends of New Orleans." We ate gumbo, shrimp, craw fish bread, red beans and rice. The open bar produced a lot of good political discussions and dancing. The music from New Orleans was great.
8/19/08
This afternoon all Clinton Delegates took part in a phone conference with the Senator. She began by emphasizing that we must all unite our party so that we can win in November. She is 100% committed to electing Senator Barack Obama as President. She emphasized that everything she has worked so hard for needs to have a Democrat in the White House to have it come to fruition.
Senator Obama cannot win without us and Senator McCain in the White House would be a disaster for her goals and objectives that we all fought for so hard and passionately. She pointed out that Senator Obama has a lot more in common with those who voted for her than Senator McCain does and it is critical that we all work together to get him elected.
On the question of the Democratic Party Platform, she felt that she and her supporters were able to get a lot of what we wanted in the Platform. Some examples of her issues that are in the platform include:
-guaranteed affordable health care for every man, woman & child;
-women's issues such as freedom of choice and equal pay and opportunity;
-support and gratitude for our veterans with a new G.I. Bill to help them as it did in the '50's;
-strong enforcement for our trade deals;
-value of and support for scientists;
-value and support of families;
-voting rights "counting every vote act" support;
-support for public education - no vouchers.
She thanked us for our commitment, compassion and hard work and hopes we leave the convention energized with our main goal to defeat Senator McCain and the Republican Party.
