Victory

Written by: Leslie Lockwood on Nov 11, 2006 10:46 AM EST

Linked to groups: Democracy for Riverside

Dear friends and family,

It all started for me when I showed up one Wednesday evening at Back to the Grind, our local coffee/internet cafe.  Downstairs there were lots of folks talking about Howard Dean's presidential campaign.  I stayed after the meeting to help form Riverside's Dean for America Steering Committee, and my life has not been the same since.
     Lots of bake sales, much money raised, even more conversations with anyone who would listen about the new direction our country needs to take.
     Several new friends.  Getting rousted by the cops for holding Dean signs up over the local freeway overpass.
     One presidential campaign derailed by the mass media.  Sucking up and working for Kerry.  Traveling to Phoenix with Marilyn to work the November 4th election.  Listening to the radio on the long drive home that night.  Finally, long lines and freezing weather in Ohio.  Ken Blackwell, secretary of state in Ohio, helps Dubya steal the election.
     The next sad night, listening to Howard on a conference call at Marci and James’, telling us to take the next day off, then get back to work.  Telling us how to do it.  Overcome the culture of failure gripping the Democratic Party.  Denise figuring it out - we need to organize at the local precinct level.  Mark Takano telling us to be delegates to the State Democratic Convention.
     One American maverick elected Democratic National Committee chair, making DNC chair into a household word.
     Attending the California Democratic Conventions with my Deaniac friends.  More Democracy for America (DFA) meetings.  Denise and Marci helping to revamp the fledgling Democrats of Greater Riverside (DGR).
     Learning precinct organization.  Saturdays walking Marci and James’ precinct.  Coffee and bagels, and then hitting the sidewalk for Andy Melendrez for Riverside's Ward 2 City Council seat.  Another Saturday morning, Marc teaching folks precinct organization at my house.
     An unexpected landslide victory for Andy, directly attributable to the work of DFA and DGR.  Impressing the heck out of the previously existing Riverside Democratic Party people.  Alienating the existing Riverside County Central Committee members.  Tearing our hair out over the existing Democratic Party structure.  Watching DGR members Sheila and Mickey get elected to the County Central Committee.
     A card from my son Nathan, 10,  at dinnertime yesterday.  "Mom:  Here's what you've worked for and it might happen - Dems 90%, Republicans 5%, Undecided 5%."

     A Democratic Victory nationwide today.
     We've worked so long and so hard.  And so have new progressive Democrats all over the country.  Finally, we have the beginnings of a sea change for America.  Hard to believe after all this time its finally coming true.  This is only the beginning.
     Now, let’s get back to work.

America Lives,
Leslie

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