[Mpls] Partial response to Bruaers points

[David Brauer]

Haven't had a chance to say this during this discussion, but I will now - I
respect Earl's deep and long involvement in the party, despite our
disagreement. I do not take lightly his concerns, especially in light of his
service to the city and the DFL.

I'm glad we're discussing this openly on the List - it's a nice bit of irony
since it was List members who organized the push for the city-year change.

To briefly recap, I wrote:

> "My proposal is to hold the precinct caucuses and ward
> conventions the same day, in the same place. Let the candidates address
> precinct delegates en mass like they have done at ward conventions"

Earl responded:

> David this is where we most distinctly disagree.  Having a caucus and an
> endorsement the same day is tantamount to having a primary in which voters
> instead of having the ability to go to the polls to cast a vote are
required
> to participate in a meeting and then if they really want their vote to
> count, sit around for the mechanism of a convention.  <snip by DB> The
> endorsement is determined by ability to turn out bodies, not by engaging
in
> debate or the discussion of issues. I am a democrat and believe in the DFL
> party's endorsement process, because it enabled me to become a credible
> candidate when I was a 24 year nobody.  I ran against two other contenders
> and needed to visit with the delegates in my ward on a one on one basis
> during my campaign for the endorsement.

I think Earl's concern is legitimate but not a major worry. Let me imagine
the future 24-year-old Earl Doppelganger running for council in Ward 14.

Prior to the caucuses, Earl D. would work the ward's delegate list from the
previous year's presidential race - just like now. Those people are still
the most likely to show up.

Earl D. would also probably want to work non-delegate presidential-year
attendees - good DFLers who may not have wanted or been able to be delegates
in the presidential year.

So far, Earl D. is working a slightly larger pool but in the same
"deliberative" way that past candidates have.

Then comes the rest of the world. That can be daunting. But practically,
Earl D. will be resourceful, working friends, neighbors and people with
similar concerns to his. He will do it in the same persuasive way he worked
on delegates.

In effect, he will be a party recruiting tool - those he finds may be some
fly-by-nighters, but almost certainly Democrats (I mean, they still have to
prove their party mettle at the caucus/ward convention.)

It will be more pre-convention work than before. However, Earl D. is also be
identifying a bigger activist base earlier, good for a primary run. He will
work in a grassroots way, and more quickly lay the foundation for a
successful primary run.

All delegates, old and new, show up at the precinct caucuses. As I've
suggested, the precinct caucuses will be a merely a round of pro-forma
self-nominations before the ward convention - just as the current group
self-nominates from the presidential year.

The ward/precinct conventions retain their deliberative style, for good and
ill. Attendees still get the speeches, the lit, talk to their neighbors,
watch the candidates prove themselves under pressure, ask questions from the
convention floor, etc.

It remains a true participatory act, much richer in its way than voting -
and much richer than the past setup for its freshness and openness.

David Brauer
Kingfield