Thank You, Chairman Dean, for a National Party
The DNC will meet on January 21, 2009 to elect a new chairman, but we should all be very appreciative of the work that Chairman… Read More »Thank You, Chairman Dean, for a National Party
The DNC will meet on January 21, 2009 to elect a new chairman, but we should all be very appreciative of the work that Chairman… Read More »Thank You, Chairman Dean, for a National Party
San Diego — the Democratic National Committee Executive Committee and Association of State Democratic Chairs held their last meetings of the current officer term on December… Read More »DNC Committees Evaluate Election, Future
The Virginia Democratic Party Central Committee met in Charlottesville on December 6th for its quarterly meeting and marked our 2008 Victories — carrying Virginia for the… Read More »DPVA Central Committee Celebrates, Looks Ahead
I suppose that people smarter than me knew that Tom Perriello would beat Virgil Goode in the 5th Congressional District, but for me it was… Read More »Keep Tom Perriello our Congressman
The next quarterly meetings of the Democratic Party of Virginia Central and Steering Commitees will be held on December 5-6, 2008 at the Doubletree Hotel in Charlottesville. The Central Commitee and its officers are up for election in the Spring of 2009 and we will consider the processes for those elections. The Commitees will also consider a resolution on ten voting-related issues, including support for early voting and facilitating college student voter registration on their college communities, and a resolution supporting nonpartisan redistricting. Texts of the resolutions follow.
DPV_Voting_Resolutions_Dec_2008.pdf (67.8 KiB, 1,085 hits)
Democratic successes over the past four years, including Obama’s election, owe a lot to the DNC 50 State Strategy which placed 3-4 staff people per state to assist state Democratic parties. The program was scheduled to terminate on November 30, 2008 and apparently is doing so. The new DNC leadership may — and should — resume the program, but in the meantime, we are losing 183 experienced and knowledgeable field people. The DNC should keep these folks on staff until decisions about the future course of the program are made. Below is my letter to Chairman Dean.
Wow. Congratulations everyone – great day for Virginia and these United States. UPDATE: Check out President-Elect Obama’s web site —http://www.change.gov/. How cool is that? Also,… Read More »President-Elect Barack Obama
TUESDAY, November 4th, Polls open from 6 am to 7 pm. We are looking forward to a historic and potentially glorious election day, but with a record… Read More »Election Day – Vote Obama
Today’s Washington Post qoutes Sarah Palin as talking – yet again – about the “Real Virginia.” This is the same kind of Atwater/Rove/Wedge Issue/win elections by dividing people approach that Republicans try time and time again. Barack Obama is the only candidate who talks about what unites us more than what divides us and that is one reason why he should be our next President.
As we are all Americans, we are also all Virgnians. I grew up and live in Northern Virginia, but have lived in Charlottesville and Richmond and travelled to every corner of the Commonwealth. What unites us is far greater than what divides us, as the following Virgnia Pilot editorial said so wellRead More »One Virginia (for Obama)
Many people, including those living in Northern Virginia who will be out of the county at work for 11 hours on election day, can vote absentee, including voting “absentee in person” at the Courthouse or special locations. If you are eligible, you should vote now to make sure your vote counts. By the way, ALL absentee votes that are received by election day are counted. For more information check with the State Board of Elections website — important information is set forth below.Read More »Vote For Obama, Now
The Virginia Democratic Party’s State Central Committee will meet this Saturday, September 13, in Fredericksburg and will vote on whether to have a primary to nominate our statewide candidates in 2009.
UPDATE: DPVA votes to nominate statewide candidates in 2009 by primary. Also recognizes rural caucus, makes minor party plan revision, hears excellent speeches (especially by Governor Kaine), and enjoys Pig Roast.
Note – Both Democratic candidates for governor, Hon. Brian Moran and Hon. Criegh Deeds SUPPORT a primary.Read More »DPVa to Meet, Vote on 2009 Primary
We’ve now got a little button to add to your blog/site. Here’s the code to make it happen on your site. Just copy and paste:… Read More »The DemRulz Button
Last week, the Republican National Convention Rules Committee voted to reject a 2012 nomination process proposal which would have grouped primaries on three spaced dates in the… Read More »GOP Addresses Rules Issues
New VA DNC Members Leone & Crouse-Mays The DNC, including its newly elected officers, met briefly this morning. After four plus days of intense activity,… Read More »Democratic National Committee Meets
Barack Obama proved this week that he has the skills to unify the Democratic Party and present a vision for the country’s future. The convention… Read More »Democratic Convention Launches Obama – Biden
As its first (and thus far only) Official Actions, the Democratic National Convention yesterday adopted the Reports of the Credentials, Rules, and Platform Committees, without… Read More »Convention Adopts Committee Reports
For those of you in Denver with Purple — Alternate, Honored guest, special guest credentials. Special guests – let’s try to gather in section 334… Read More »Convention Seating
The Democratic National Convention Committee met today and unanimously approved the seating of all delegations and adopted 12 resolutions. The Committee voted to honor the… Read More »Unity Rules Credentials
The Democratic National Convention Rules Committee met this morning and unanimously adopted proposed Convention Rules and a resolution calling for the establishment of a Democratic Change Commission which will make recommendations regarding the 2012 Presidential nomination process, and address issues including timing, caucuses, and super delegates. [See next post.]
The proposed Convention Rules are similar to rules used in prior years. The Rules, and the agenda, which the Committee also adopted, provide for Reports from the Credentials, Rules, and Platform Committees on Monday night and nomination of the President and Vice President on Wednesday. (Obama’s acceptance speech is, of course, Thursday night.) Here are the Rules —
Denver. On the eve of the Democratic National Convention, both parties are looking ahead to the 2012 nomination process. Democrats this week will likely vote… Read More »On the Eve of 2008, Looking to 2012
The current DPVA resolutions process explained and justified.
At this year’s state convention, the Virginia Democratic Party (DPVA) adopted a broad-ranging platform setting forth the party’s views on a variety of issues – from support for early childhood education to restoring voting rights to former offenders. The Republican Party, near as I can tell, adopted a single resolution, supporting guns in state parks. (See References tab for these documents, and past DPVA platforms.) Although the DPVA has debated the value of resolutions over the years, the current process provides a balance that allows Democratic policy views to be heard, yet keeps our focus on electing Democrats to implement those policies.
Read More »A Party that Stands for Something – The DPVA Resolutions/Platform Process
Thanks to Voncille Hines, from Arlington, for providing this report, and thanks to all of the Virginia members of the Platform Committee.
DNC PLATFORM COMMITTEE ENDORSES DRAFT PLATFORM
In an effort to provide every American an opportunity to give their input in shaping the principles of the Democratic Party, Senator Barack Obama and the Democratic National Committee launched the “Listening to America” initiative. After months of preparation, the participation of more than 25,000 individuals in 1600 listening to America forums that took place in communities in all 50 states, including a national hearing held in Cleveland, Ohio, the 186-member Democratic Platform Committee convened in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on August 9, 2008, to deliberate on the draft document presented by the Platform Drafting Committee. An overview of each section of the platform was given by noted elected officials and prominent members of the Democratic Party, including Dr. Susan Rice, foreign policy advisor to Senator Obama. Over 120 amendments were submitted, several of which were withdrawn, or included in the chair’s amendments. At the end of the day-long meeting members voted to endorse the draft platform presented by the Platform Drafting Committee.Read More »Report from the Democratic National Convention Platform Committee
Last weekend the DNC National Platform Committee met in Pittsburgh and adopted the party’s draft platform. The pre-meeting draft is provided here. We will post… Read More »Democrats Unite on Draft National Platform
AP reports that the Clinton and Obama campaigns have agreed that Hillary’s name will be offered in nomination and presumably there will be a roll call vote at the convention. Story here. This has been described as a “traditional” way of proceeding, although it would be the first such roll call vote this century. Only Dennis Kucinich placed his name in nomination against John Kerry in 2004 and BIll Bradley did not have a roll call vote against Al Gore in 2000.
Nevertheless, the Obama and Clinton campaigns have decided that such a move will assist party unification and should yield positive results. Democrats (including me) have great respect for Senator Clinton and her campaign, and her nomination reflects that respect. Then it’s on to November, with Senator Clinton and her supporters, working to elect Barack Obama.
Here is the statement from the Obama campaign.
The Platform Committee will meet on August 9th – many of you participated in the 1200 Obama campaign platform meetings held around the country last month. Kudos to Maureen Markham and her team for the excellent “Platform Café” at Celias in Arlington (see similar Listening to America – Platform for Change results). Virginia’s Platform Committee members are invited to submit their comments on the meeting, and we will post them here.
Read More »Democratic National Convention Committees to Meet
I’m looking forward to attending the Democratic National Convention in Denver on August 25-28, and the first DNC meeting of the new term on August… Read More »Ready for Denver!
Welcom to DemRulz. This site will feature my regular reports from the Democratic National Committee, occasional news and comment regarding Virignia politics, and useful links… Read More »DemRulz Arrivz
The Virginia Democratic Party 2008 State Convention elected our Unity Team – Mame Reiley, Lionell Spruill, Doris Crouse-Mays, and Frank Leone – as Virginia’s representatives… Read More »Unity Team Elected!
The DNC RBC meeting I saw yesterday was one in which members and presenters strongly advocated their positions, but shared a commitment to Democratic Party ideals of participation, fairness, and party unity. Thus the Committee was able to reach compromises which implement those principles, resolve the outstanding disputes over seating of the Florida and Michigan delegations, and allow our presumptive nominee to focus on the issues that confront the American people. Specifically, the Committee voted to seat the full number of delegates from each state, each delegate with a half vote, and allocate the delegates generally according to primary percentage, with some adjustments for Michigan.Read More »DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee Does the Right Thing