Senator Bennet better appreciate my being here – my wife is flying back after 3 days out of town and I'm here instead of going to the airport.
6:50 – Probably about 40 people here for I think 10 precincts. We are presently in the school auditorium waiting for the group speeches. I think these are a waste of time as everyone here is here because they support one of the candidates. But hey, democracy isn't efficient. There's a Bennet & Romanoff table at the back. Both have literature but the Bennet table has some kind of cookie/cracker (not sure what it's called but coffee shops tend to have them).
6:53 – Talked to Rollie Heath for a couple of minutes. He's a really nice guy. We had a friendly disagreement about was the Amazon & software sales tax bills the best thing ever or a pending disaster for small business.
7:02 – About to start and have mic problems. Want to feel young – go to a caucus. I'm 54 and I'm at the young end here.
7:09 – Read a speech from the Boulder County Democratic Chair – standard let's get it done. Read another speech from someone else about volunteers.
7:11 – Please donate money. This is a legit request – contribute something. I suggest $20.00.
7:12 – Rollie Heath for Michael Bennet: First talking about how critical this election is because a Republican majority in the legislature would make us all shudder in horror at the bills they would pass. Next talking about the devastating effect the 3 initiatives would have on Colorado (they would). Starting off saying both candidates are awesome – the best of the best (again true). Talking about Michael's focus on education and healthcare. Repeats again that he is here for Michael and has nothing negative to say about Andrew. That was it – nothing to differentiate Michael from Andrew.
7:18 – Someone (didn't catch the name) starts off with both are good candidates. Then in to the differences. First that Andrew is not taking PAC money which is an "act of great political courage" (or stupidity). Freudian slip!!! She said "Michael would do a great… I mean Andrew…) Second, that Andrew knows how to work effectively as a legislator. I think she did a good job of calling out the differences in a way that works well for everyone here.
7:20 – Someone speaking for Jared Polis. She's talking up a great party at her house to meet Jared. Talking up Jared's efforts to create the 5 schools for low income schools.
7:22 – Why do some people not understand turning off cell phones at events like this.
7:24 – Reading of the rules (short form).
7:30 – Headed over to the precinct meeting – Go mighty 161!
7:33 – Everyone is introducing themselves. This part is fun, especially how each person describes where they live.
7:38 – Discussing how we are going to select delegates (ie by preference for Senator).
7:44 – Straw poll – 9 for Bennet, 4 for Romanoff, and 3 undecided.
7:45 – Speeches for both candidates. Polite strong speeches for each.
7:50 – Got a speech from someone unhappy with Bennet and Obama for taking PAC money and not delivering on single payer. I replied back that in my interviews with Michael he has been adamant and emotional about his efforts to do what is best for the country on financial issues. Closed with Molly Ivins quote about "if you can't drink their booze…" Everyone loved that.
7:53 – A couple of additional speeches for Bennet. One bringing up the advantage of seniority.
7:59 – We now have someone going off on a rant about the feds killing wolves. Not sure what that has to do with anything here. He's gotten no real response from either Senators' office (according to him) – just generic form response not speaking to the topic at hand.
8:01 – The vote – 9 Bennet, 4 Romanoff, 4 undecided. So delegates will be 2, 1, & 1.
8:10 – I'm going to County!!! There were 2 of us that really wanted to go and 2 that sort-of wanted to go so that's how we got 2 delegates and 2 alternates.
8:20 – Someone introducing a platform planks about getting the "real truth" on 9/11. Rather than pointing out that they're in cloud cuckoo land, I left.
