Kanawha County Democratic Convention (4.00 / 2)

I went to the Kanawha County convention in Chesapeake.  The room was pretty crowded and I believe that all four districts filled their delegate slots.  One district (I think it was #2) had more than they needed.  The vote was to keep all of them and sort it out at the state convention.  

It was a little chaotic and confusing.  The sound system could have been better.  It was hard to hear the speakers.  The delegate process itself was confusing for many including myself so I'm still not sure if I have it right.  My district (#1) filled our delegate positions and then stopped.  I'm not sure how many are Obama supporters and how many Clinton supporters, or whether all of those delegates will show up at the state convention in June.  It seemed to me that it would have been better to have more than we needed.  

For the most part, people seemed enthusiastic and happy to be there.  There were a few on both sides who sounded suspicious of the other candidate's supporters.  Sen. Rockefeller and Gov. Manchin both spoke, reminding everyone that the important thing would be to elect a Democrat in November.  I think that viewpoint had the support of most of the people in the room.  I did overhear a couple of "Well I'll never vote for him--he didn't need to say what he did." but that was very much the minority.  I wasn't sure what they were referring to--perhaps the small town reference?  

Several candidates for state positions also spoke briefly.  Anne Barth gave a good upbeat speech and got a rousing response.  

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by: wvlinz @ Sat Apr 12, 2008 at 12:28:21 PM CDT

wvlinz -- thanks for the report! (4.00 / 1)

Kanawha County sure had the star-studded event. Then again, it makes sense as the folks you mentioned do live in the county so that's their county convention.

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by: Clem Guttata @ Sat Apr 12, 2008 at 14:46:20 PM CDT

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Kan County Convention (4.00 / 2)

The very first thing that happened seemed strange.  Was it set up in advance that Pat Maroney would chair the meeting or was Damron Bradshaw really ticked off?  I know he left and I think I saw him back later in the day.

As for Ann Barth, I'm not yet impressed.  I haven't and didn't hear anything substantial from her except "Change."  That's great but everybody is using that mantra this cycle.  Tell me what kind of change.  Thornton Cooper makes a big deal about being a Democrat longer than his two opponents combined (which caused Ms. Barth to, understandably, make a face and roll her eyes) and looks like a petulant idiot.  Unfortunately for me, he's the only candidate for WV2 that has given me any specifics whatsoever.

In conclusion, I would vote that next convention be held in a larger building where the caucuses can get away from each other a little and have a much better sound system.  Also, anyone wanting to contest the results of the Kan County convention could easily do so.  It was all voted on during a committee meeting that did not have enough members for a quorum and that fact was discussed before any voting occurred.  Just an interesting little fact.

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by: PDAWV @ Sun Apr 13, 2008 at 06:36:59 AM CDT

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eastern panhandle reports (4.00 / 1)

Here's some reports I've heard from around here in the Eastern Panhandle:

Morgan County had a crowd of about 50, estimated support being 70% Obama, 30% Hillary.

Berkeley County, had lots (don't have a count yet), with strong support for Obama. Of the 6 delegates per 4 districts plus eight alternates (24 + 8), all but something like 2 are declared Obama supporters.

Big turnout in Jefferson County, estimated at 150 people. I heard a crowd estimate of 3 to 1 Obama to Hillary supporters (e.g., very similar to the 70% / 30% in Morgan).

Any news from other corners of the state?

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by: Clem Guttata @ Sat Apr 12, 2008 at 16:02:15 PM CDT

Berkeley County (0.00 / 0)

50 of the 52 delegates elected were Obama supporters.
Of the 150 people there, I counted about six Clinton supporters.

When a man embarks upon a crime, he is morally guilty of any other crime which may spring from it. Sherlock Holmes.

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by: Carnacki @ Sat Apr 12, 2008 at 16:41:39 PM CDT

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Berkeley County report w/photos (0.00 / 0)

After dinner I'll write up a report.

When a man embarks upon a crime, he is morally guilty of any other crime which may spring from it. Sherlock Holmes.

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by: Carnacki @ Sat Apr 12, 2008 at 16:46:06 PM CDT

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Ohio County (4.00 / 2)

The Ohio County convention had about 80 or so people show up. I would estimate that 75% of those in attendance were Obama supporters.

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by: WV26003 @ Sat Apr 12, 2008 at 16:29:05 PM CDT

Greenbrier & Pocahontas (4.00 / 1)

Heavy turnout in Greenbrier and Pocahontas county.

100% of the elected delegates in Pocahontas are declared Obama supporters.

In Greenbrier, 15 Obama, 3 uncomitted delegates.

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by: Clem Guttata @ Sat Apr 12, 2008 at 19:34:06 PM CDT

Ohio County (4.00 / 1)

In Ohio County, of the 44 delegates, 40 are declared Obama supporters, 2 uncommitted, and 2 for Clinton.

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by: Clem Guttata @ Sat Apr 12, 2008 at 19:35:57 PM CDT

morgan county (4.00 / 1)

we had about 35-50 people in the room. i had an obama setup along with other, more local candidates -- tshirts, buttons, etc. No Hillary merch in sight. lots of interest and discussion about Obama.
I looked at Hillary's website and didn't see a single mention of the WV county conventions! What's up with that? The Obama website is actually where I first found out about our conventions!
Anyway, I got the feeling that we were about 70/30 Obama/Hillary. There were a few Hillary shirt-wearers in the room.
As far as the delegates: I know of at least 4 who are stong Obama. That's out of 10. I think the others fall somewhere between maybe Obama through those who just want a Democrat to strong Hillary! But you could definitely feel the Obama energy.


Beauty will save the world

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by: wvbibi @ Sat Apr 12, 2008 at 19:36:18 PM CDT

Mercer County (4.00 / 1)

Mercer County reports strong turnout. Thank you for the report "TJ"!

There were plenty of people there, lots of candidates for the positions.  I just wonder where they all are when we need people at the Democrat Club meetings.  I am also concerned with the comments I heard several people who attended make, "If my Democrat doesn't win, I'll either not vote or I'll vote Republican."  That is terribly disconcerting.

Senator Jay Rockefeller was there and made an excellent speech.  

Let's just hope that we come out of the state convention unified behind the DEMOCRAT nominee.

Indeed. Here's hoping.

I'm of the opinion once the campaign process starts scrutinizing McCain, it's going to be easy for voters to switch from their first choice Democrat to the nominee.

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by: Clem Guttata @ Sun Apr 13, 2008 at 05:47:59 AM CDT

I'm just happy... (4.00 / 2)

I'm just happy that I managed to avoid all of the television and newspaper shots. BTW, when the Wheeling Intelligencer reports that only 50 people showed up, that was 5 minutes before the convention began. The newspaper staff left early and more people filed in later on. The only candidates present that I noticed are current 3rd district Delegate Orphy Klempa, Ohio County Prosecutor Scott Smith, and Ohio County Assessor candidate Kathie Hoffmann. Does anyone know if Congressman Mollohan attended the Marion County convention?

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by: WV26003 @ Sun Apr 13, 2008 at 09:35:08 AM CDT

Delegate Hi-Jacking (0.00 / 0)

Interesting - the goings-on at the county conventions.  Polls show vast majority of WV voters support Hillary Clinton.  Yet a disproportionate number of delegates seem to be supporting Obama.  Hmmmm!  Doesn't anyone find it curious that there were so many paid Obama staff people at the conventions?  Don't you find it interesting that some delegates were actually pondering their eligibility to vote in WV?  Hmmmmmmmmmm?  We could possibly be in for a surprise when the chosen delegates are matched against the voter registrations records.  I'm totally surprised at Pocahontas County, for instance.  100% of the delegates are Obama supporters.  You can't tell me that 100% of the Poca. Co. voters are for Obama.  Sounds like a hi-jacking to me.  Or - must maybe, the Dem heads didn't do their homework on this convention business!  If so, shame on you!  I'm reminded of the sign on the store of the ole-time merchant:  "Go no further to get cheated."

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by: riseupwv @ Sun Apr 13, 2008 at 11:06:21 AM CDT

Re: Delegate Hi-Jacking (4.00 / 1)

riseupwv:

I agree that it is interesting to see how many Obama supporters got selected to go to the state convention.  It doesn't really matter, though.  They will have no say in how many  delegates go to the national convention.  There didn't seem to be any organizing in Kanawha County.  We needed to select 174 delegates from 4 magisterial districts.  Once everyone at the meeting who wasn't automatically a convention delegate by virtue of elected office signed up, we wound up with a few extra women in one district that we will sort out before the convention.  If there are more Obama delegates than Clinton delegates from Kanawha, it is only because more showed up.  Not by any organized effort.  Of course, if they were organizing in any way, they probably wouldn't have talked to me:  I was wearing my Kucinich for President t-shirt :)

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by: PDAWV @ Sun Apr 13, 2008 at 14:54:06 PM CDT

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Automatic Delegate Status? (0.00 / 0)

In Mercer County even the elected officials had to run and be selected to attend the convention.  That included all levels in attendance... members of the House of Delegates, County Commissioners, and Judges.

I am surprised that they were "automatically" appointed in Kanawha because the party rules do not guarantee anyone a seat at the convention.

In our convention we all agreed ahead of time that electing someone as a delegate because of who they supported was meaningless as Delegates other than the so called super delegates will be pledged to vote for a candidate based on the results of the Primary on May 13th. Of course there were those who wanted to know who our delegates supported for President before the votes were counted and it was agreed that this was totally unnecessary information.

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by: wvblueguy @ Sun Apr 13, 2008 at 20:16:51 PM CDT

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RE: Automatic Delegate Status? (4.00 / 1)

That's what they told us.  But then, if you want to talk about having a convention hi-jacked by someone, you can look to Kanawha.  I've done just a little digging and found that when Pat Maroney was nominated to be convention chair it was a complete surprise to the local county committee members.  (Come to think of it I think they said county exec committee officers were already going to the convention, not elected officials.)  Frankly I think the county exec committee is upset, angry and hurt that the Pat Maroney and Tom Vogel (Executive Director of the state party) took over the convention.

I also realized that the delegates from Kanawha County could be challenged if someone wanted.  The convention never voted on the delegates.  We voted on adopting the agenda, a convention chair, members of the three standing committees and adjournment.  I don't know if Mag Districts 1,3 and 4 actually voted on their slate of delegates, but dist. 2 didn't.  We voted as a district caucus to put off our problems until a half-an-hour before the convention, but not on the delegates themselves.  The convention never voted to approve delegates.

Additionally, Pat and Tom didn't leave the floor open for resolutions or any such nonsense.  They did open the floor to suggestions regarding the party platform, (which most people-including me- hadn't seen because they didn't have enough copies, but quickly started telling people to email those suggestions to the state party.  It seemed to me an indication that they really didn't want to hear it.  Also, Pat told everyone there and Tom Vogel nodded in agreement that anyone who hadn't seen the platform could get in online.  "It's there,"  they said.  But it's not.  I still haven't read the proposed party platform.  I'll be using the greater part of my day today just bugging the beejesus out of them.

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by: PDAWV @ Mon Apr 14, 2008 at 06:53:01 AM CDT

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riseupwv -- not sure what you're getting at (4.00 / 1)

Welcome to WVaBlue.

I'm not sure what you're getting at with your comments.

Who do you support for President? Did you go to a county convention to show support for them? It's pretty simple--more Obama supporters can answered that questions yes than Clinton supporters.

For a variety of reasons there are more committed Obama supporters in West Virginia than Clinton supporters who are to expend the effort to attend county and state Democratic party conventions. And, yes, Obama is investing money in building up the Democratic party in a way that Hillary has not been.

I don't think there's anything sinister about that at all.

It's a very exciting time to be part of the Democratic Party. The possibility of a meaningful Presidential primary is doing more for building our party than any other activity I can think of in recent history.

Obama, much like Dean four years ago, is tapping into an activist driven energy that has a different set of viewpoints and priorities than the long-time party establishment.

There's a transformation going on in the Democratic Party all across the country. The convention process this year is an example of grassroots energy "storming the gates" and becoming the new establishment.

In county after county reports say that more people showed up for the convention than any other party meeting ever held. That's a great sign of new activist energy and bodes well for the possibility of a Democrat winning the state's electoral votes in 2008.

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by: Clem Guttata @ Sun Apr 13, 2008 at 19:15:01 PM CDT

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