Notes from the Washington Caucus

The remote Puget Sound island where I live joined the great Aught Eight election excitement Saturday, the Democratic caucus bringing out so many citizens that cars lined the roads around the high school for a mile.

I can report out that the Maxwelton Valley sector of South Whidbey Island is sending 9 Obama and 3 Clinton delegates to the County convention. We were just one small subset of the biggest turnout ever seen here, just like everywhere else that caucuses and primaries are being held. Cross-island, Obama won in 13 of 14 precincts. And a grand, exhilarating, intense, joyful time was had by all.

I was for John Edwards and his populist agenda, but with that possibility gone, I rejoice in the passion that's like nothing I've seen since bullets ended the 60's. I've heard every criticism of Obama and his policies and I say, Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead, straight into 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

He's getting votes no one thought he could pull in -- he can get the Executive Branch back for Democrats and may even have coattails strong enough to carry a healthy margin of Dems into Congress.

Then we stay on them like flypaper -- no more excuses for failure.

We insist that the concerns of the voters who did this must take precedence over the corporations who did not fund or produce this victory -- we did. Citizens. With our small checks. With our votes. With our intensity.

The power moves are in play, not so behind-the-scenes as might be desired, with reports whipping around the internet of pressure on Obama to stand down so the Party can avoid a civil war.

I have a better idea. Obama holds onto his rightful, voter-bestowed place at the top of the ticket and chooses as his Vice Presidential candidate Governor Christine Gregoire. (Could we then stop the canard that all non-Clinton voters are misogynists?) Gregoire is smart, tough, and proven -- going back to her leading states' Attorney Generals in the national fight against the tobacco companies -- and winning. She's running a state. Her ethics are impeccable, she speaks well, she's primed and ready -- she's perfect.

Obama/Gregoire 08. I'm looking for a downside and I can't find it. Are we living in interesting times or what?

Comments

[steveshapiro]

Chris Gregoire has an impressive record as AG and governor of Washington. I particularly appreciate the leading role she played in the suits against Big Tobacco.

The main problem I see with an Obama/Gregoire ticket is the lack of obvious foreign policy experience. While I trust Obama to assemble (and listen to) an awesome foreign policy team, the voters in the general election may be more comfortable with someone like Wes Clark as the VP.

I have no idea if Clark is interested in the position or if Obama would be willing to select him. I just wanted to make the point that while Obama has the intelligence, attitude, style, and willingness to repair some of the damage the Bush administration has done to our world standing, he does not have much actual experience in that area.

[Hemiboso]

Excellent post, Ann. My candidate leanings exactly mirror yours: originally Edwards/now Obama.
I have great respect for Hilary, but am afraid that Republicans have the same visceral reaction to her that Democrats have to Bush, and if she were to become president the gridlock and polarization we've experienced for years on end would continue with a vengeance.
Obama, on the other hand, is a master of inclusiveness and collaboration. I think it's very telling that when Katie Couric asked Obama what book other than The Bible he would take to the White House with him he chose Team of Rivals, the Pulitzer prize winning biography that focuses on Lincoln's political genius facing powerful adversaries in a time of war.
Come to think of it, Obama is often compared to Kennedy, but I think a closer comparison would be to Lincoln: as Bill Moyers has rightfully said, we are in the midst of Civil War II, and we certainly need a Lincolnesque figure to help us negotiate--if not survive--these perilous times! Obama is my choice for that historic role.

[lizrich151]

I love your enthusiasm but I don't think a careful examination of Obama's positions justify such unbounded optimism. Still it's refreshing. Obama is not progressive enough for me and I find his foreign policy advisers alarming. BUT, if he wins, I will be happy to vote for him. I just think Hillary would get more done and boy, do we need a lot done. Washington is a dirty place and Hillary knows all too well how to play in the dirt. But in the end, I'm for any Democrat who'se breathing.

[NorthLight]

The Obama problem is that he is the most liberal Senator of all of them. The electorate has not yet noticed this, because of the all the excitement (and Kennedy drama). But, this will be a problem in the general election. O is farther left than Kerry and that was part of Kerrys problem. O needs a centrist as his 2nd on the ticket. Gregoire hasn't enough national recognition to really help. The voters who are excited are "in the bag"; O needs to catch those who are not excited and put them in his bag.

[carolehart]

I'm so glad you've come on board. We need a Washington outsider with a new gestalt. He is it. And his unarticulated but underlying spirtituality tells me that he's guided by the greater good.
Omitake Oyasin!

Carole Hart

[Grenadier]

Hello, Ann! Great to see your post. I had mixed feelings this morning when I voted in the Virginia primary this morning, since Edwards' name was still on our electronic ballot. I paused there, but decided not to spend my vote on my favored candidate. The problem I'm having is that the recent vicious almost Republican-like Hillary-bashing by the media is getting much worse than I ever expected, and this divisiveness is going to cost us. I don't know that Obama can withstand the Swift-boat tactics that are sure to be unleased by a former POW-turned-warmonger, so I placed my vote (for Obama) with very mixed feelings. I'm wondering, is Obama's naivete about everything from his kumbaya approach to the pharmaceutical industry to his much less-than-effective (and certainly far less than the detailed one Edwards proposed) health care "plan" just naive, or a true tactic? I'm still wondering...

[CarnegieHill]

Whatever happens, I'm loving the excitement. And, if ill, I'd definitely want a transfusion from Ann.