Thursday, February 07, 2008

Time for Change

Last Tuesday was probably one of the most exhilarating nights I have ever experienced, second only to the night Paul Wellstone was elected Senator in Minnesota.

Over the years the crowds at our precinct caucuses have been up and down according to candidates or issues.

In 2004 we had good size crowds for John Kerry,John Edwards and Howard Dean about 500 or 600 in my district

But this year because we have two very strong candidates,that supporters feel passionate about, over 2500 overwhelmed our school.
People were parking blocks away from the school and hundreds were standing outside in the cold waiting to get through the doors.

While I registered people at our Precinct caucuses, a 92 year old woman, wearing a Hillary button signed in and cast her ballot.
She then sat down and joined the meeting, while many of the younger people voted and rushed out the door.
I wish I would have had time to talk to her. I have been curious, wondering how long she stood in line, outside in the cold and inside in the hall.
Her daughter sat there too, smiling proudly at her.

Another young woman with an Obama sticker on, voted and then rushed home to her children so her husband could come back.

My first caucus was in 1970, it was 2 years after Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy had been assassinated and I felt it was time to quit mourning and get back to work.
I have had many rewards for my work, helping to elect good people is one of them.

Last Tuesday because of the tremendous crowds at our caucuses, people were turned away or couldn't find parking spots.

Because of that, it is time for the legislature, to make choosing our President open to everyone who wants to participate.
It is time for Minnesota to return to a Presidential Primary system.

They have four years to do it.

7 comments:

Riot Kitty said...

That sucks about people being turned away. Good for you for voting! I wish our primary weren't so late in the year, when everything will already be decided.

Green tea said...

Well Kitty, that ain't necessarily
so..They are neck and neck..maybe you will be the decider.
Though which ever way it goes I wish it would be decided soon so we can start raising money and running against The Republicans.
We need some competence back in our Government.

fineartist said...

I hear ya GG, we have got to put a democrat in office!

I'm just so tired of watching the Republicans wash our country down the toilet.

xx

Unknown said...

Regardless of any party affiliation, it is sad when one cannot cast their vote. I find it a thrill...like a little kid! :)

Jessica said...

I agree. I don't like the caucus system. (And I giggle a little bit every time I hear the word.)

Green tea said...

Arteest:
You are so right..we have to win this one.
If not I am going to drown myself in vanilla vodka.

Michael:
It saddens me that I have g sons that chose to go play hockey and G daughters
hat didn't even know caucuses were going on.
Makes me wonder if they even care.

Jessica,...LOL :D I love you..

Mary said...

I have to admit that I didn't go because I knew that crowds where going to be huge, I didn't have a babysitter, and just didn't want to be mixed in the crowd.

When I picked up Kiran, I was talking to my SIL and both said that we should have primary that makes it easier to vote and the voting is open all day not just for a few hours in the evening.

Mary