Western States

Rachel Binah
Mendocino, California

Driving into Chicago from the airport, the bus driver pointed out the Sheraton Hotel. "That's where your President will stay." He said. "Our President", I corrected him. "Oh, I've never voted for a president.", he bragged. What a fool. I feel so passionately that voting is the most important thing a citizen can do

At first I found it hard to believe that the Democratic National Committee chose Chicago for its l996 convention. I imagined TV reruns for weeks of l968 brawls between protesters and police. And its true that some of that old footage has been seen. But on Sunday, now State Senator Tom Hayden hosted a concert along with others of the" Chicago Seven" that was part of the official agenda of the party. I was very moved by the music and the speakers. Mendocino's own Bonnie Raitt, Crosby Stills and Nash, the cast of "Hair" along with Bella Abzug, Norman Mailer, Studs Turkell, Jesse Jackson.. Flash backs and hot flashes -- an intergenerational experience.....

On Tuesday of the convention, Al Gore addressed the California delegation. I managed to have a word with him about repealing the timber salvage rider to the 1996 budget. It allows timber companies to cut down so-called dead or dying trees in the national forest without environmental review. Unfortunately, the definition of dead and dying trees in this rider applies to all trees that may some day die or be diseased. The administration agrees that it needs to be overturned before all the trees in our national forests are cut down, but they've had difficulty with the Republican Congress. I also urged Gore to get the President to issue the ocean protection executive order....

Agar Jaicks
San Francisco, California

The 1968 convention was a clearly defined political objective on the part of the California delegation. We had lost our leader, Robert Kennedy. We had not made a decision as to which candidate to support for the nomination, and for most of us the singular issue of importance was the bombing of North Viet Nam.

The late Congressman Phillip Burton lead the debate supporting a proposition ending the war in Viet Nam. The opposition to the resolution was headed by a leading Congressman from Louisiana. That debate was the first national debate covered by television to stop the bombing. We lost the debate, but in retrospect we really won the battle, because from that point forward, the nation knew that 40% of the country's majority party was opposed to the war in Viet Nam. This in essence support the demonstrators in the street.

The issues of the 1968 convention were understood by all, and in comparing it to today's 1996 convention the defining issues are far more obscure, but every bit as important. Today, we're really deciding what our leadership must do to assure that we take into the 21st century a role for centralized government. We cannot turn over to dispersed state governments the right set standards for clean air, quality education, health care, and the civil rights of our oppressed citizens.

Mary Ellen Early
Sherman Oaks, CA

After partying late into the night, we must pick up our credentials each morning. Credentials must be picked up by 11:00 each day, or they are forfeited. After all, lots of other Democrats are at the same hotel, lusting after that magic pass to the convention floor!

A delegation breakfast and briefing is scheduled early each day, and speakers at each breakfast helps the crowd get pumped up and enthusiastic about the work at hand. The California breakfast is well-covered by the media, and a large platform is set up in the back for video cameras and other electronic equipment. Delegates find the press swarming like locusts, seeking reactions and impressions of every last detail.

Monday night after the the Convention I attended a party at Navy Pier where our ubiquitous Vice President, Al Gore, was scheduled to speak. I brought my brother Bill along as a guest, and he was happy to shake the Mr. Gore's hand while I snapped a picture.

I'd better get to the convention hall soon. The California alternates are fomenting a rebellion, and they covet our floor credentials. It seems that a number of delegates never showed to pick up their credentials, but not enough alternates were moved up to replace them. No one can tell us where the unclaimed credentials went.

Tonight we are going to nominate a president. While it is the primary process that makes the decision, it is still exciting to participate in this exercise in democracy. After an invigorating convention, we will all return to our home states, ready to work for the Democratic team.

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