June 7th, 2008

I love democracy, and there’s nothing like an arena filled with Democrats ready to have a convention.

We’re mere minutes away from the 2008 MA Democratic Convention here in the Paul F. Tsongas Arena in beautiful, revitalized Lowell, MA. The delegate events last night were great, and John Kerry fired up a crowd at a delegate breakfast event next to the river just under an hour ago.

We’ll have John Kerry’s full speech ready for viewing by Monday, but in the meantime, I’ll be updating with sights and sounds today.

update (10:05 am): The concourse around the rim of the arena is now packed with delegates making their way between the exhibitor tables, tables of people working for health care for all, Young Democrats, couple people running for local office (sheriff, for example), unions, and many others (including a Hillary for President table that was reserved months ago). I walk around with my John Kerry flair (far less than 15 pieces, though), get smiles from folks who notice … lots of folks working for great causes.

More to come …

update (10:35 am): Now we’re in the early part of the speaking program. We’ve moved through the Treasurer, and now we’re up to Congresswoman Niki Tsongas. Of course, at this early stage, you still have a lot of people walking around and talking (nice round of applause for Tsongas’s mention of Ted Kennedy). One problem with my standing on the concourse: because I’m wearing credentials on a lanyard that don’t look like delegate credentials, everyone seems to assume I’m an authority of some kind. So they stop and ask me all kinds of questions, some of which I actually know the answer to. Hey, glad to help …

One note on unity: every mention of Barack Obama gets big applause in this state the voted for Hillary Clinton, while the Clinton buttons are flying off the shelf.

update (11:00): Governor Patrick talking now, just after his Lt. Gov Tim Murray. Gov Patrick takes the stage to a standing ovation, a very warm welcome. He thanks Ted Kennedy and gives his strong support to John Kerry … thanks, Governor! I’ll just point out that I have a “D” Patrick button mixed in with my John Kerry flair.

update (12:15pm): The good Senator is being introduced right now by a special guest … RFK Jr. Ted Kennedy is, of course, not here as he recuperates from his surgery in North Carolina, so his nephew is on the stage and doing the honors. John Kerry should be taking the stage momentarily … and he takes the stage, to big applause and LOADS of signs, a sea of “John Kerry” on blue.

John Kerry raising the roof! Pledged to work against the racism and sexism that has been so apparent during this historic primary … Calls out against “Exxon greed and Enron corruption” … deserved praise for organized labor as the source of our labor rights, to a big ovation … “fight to give workers the right to strike and organize … we’re going to pass the Employee Free Choice Act in the Senate” …

“Democratic Party stands for health care for all Americans, or we don’t stand for anything at all” … when President Obama signs the bill that finally gives health care for all, “he’ll give that pen that signed that bill to America’s greatest champion for health care, Senator Ted Kennedy.”

“Patriotism belongs to those Americans that tell the truth and protect the Constitution” … “you don’t support the troops if you deny veteran’s health care” … “when veterans come home, you don’t just send them your thanks, you send them to college” with the new GI Bill that just passed the Senate …

“I’ve criss-crossed this state hundreds of times, and I’m always inspired and motivated by your stories” …

“Brave patriots should never die because of the stubborn pride or deception of mere politicians, that must end” … “what is right for us as Democrats, is also the right way to win” … “my country right or wrong, when it’s right, keep it right, when it’s wrong, make it right” …

And the voting begins …

final update: And John Kerry wins the endorsement of the MA Democratic Party! Thanks everyone, we’ll see you out on the trail!