IMPORTANT: Obama Delegate Information
Let’s unite, Friday.
Okay, I have just finished the delegate training seminar, and boy, was I awoken to what we REALLY need to do. We, the Obama delegates, are much more entangled with the Clinton delegates than I thought. This is not an Obama group caucusing, and Clinton group caucusing in separate areas arising with separate results for the state convention. This is a precinct caucus with Obama and Clinton groups going head to head trying to out vote the other for positioning delegates for the next convention. If we are not careful, we could end up stalemating our end and letting the Clinton group slide their choice right in, leaving Obama’s chances behind.
Now, here is the tough part. I know that many of you all are passionate about supporting Obama or furthering your own personal desires in this political arena. Herein lies the problem. I could be wrong, but I believe we are going to have more people wanting to be delegates for the state convention then we need. This could be a potential disaster if not carefully handled. Let me break the numbers down for you.
We have 26 delegates in all for our precinct — 17 Obama and 9 Clinton = 26. Out of this 26, we have to chose 2 primary delegates and 2 alternate delegates to go forward to the state convention. Depending on how strategically objective we are, we could end up with 2 Obama primary delegates (Good!); 1 Obama and 1 Clinton delegate (Okay); or 2 Clinton delegates and Obama left with just alternate positions (Bad!). We, being Obama delegates, have to do our best to make sure we out strategize the Clinton group, and vote in Obama delegates to the primary positions. Here are some scenarios:
Best scenario for us (Obama): Out of the 17 Obama delegates, 10 of us vote for one within our group to move forward, and 7 of us vote for a second to move forward. The Clinton group can’t get more than 7 of their own to vote for 1 person, and the two that we voted for, end up with the two primary slots. This is because majority wins — first highest got 10 votes, second highest is 7 and third and fourth (the alternate positions) are Clinton people.
Decent Scenario for us: Out of the 17 Obama delegates, 10 of us vote for one within our group to move forward, and 7 of us vote for a second to move forward. The Clinton group has a great strategy, and all 9 vote for 1 person. Since majority wins, the person (ours) that got 10 votes gets the first primary slot, the second slot goes to Clinton with 9 votes, and the third goes to our second vote with 7.
Bad for us: If we can’t stay objective and treat this as if it is for Obama getting the presidency, and not for our own political desires (which I personally understand is a strong variable in this situation), we may end up stalemating and voting for 5 different people all getting about 3-4 votes each to move forward to the next convention. This would allow the Clinton group to vote 4 for one, and 5 for another securing the two primary positions for Clinton. This would leave us with just the alternate positions, powerless unless a Clinton state delegate can’t make it.
Does that make any sense? I am trying my best at midnight with little sleep to make an extremely, complex subject simple and succinct. With all of this being said, we all need to, at best, meet up in person and hash all this out before the convention. The goal is to know which of us delegates we are going to vote for before even getting there. At the least, we need to utilize a forum, such as my website, to talk amongst ourselves and figure this out.
Cam Scott, one of our delegates, and I were discussing strategy after the delegate training session tonight, and we decided that Friday would probably be the best to meet up. I thought that would be great. That way we can take our time and discuss and share our ideas and stories as to why one may think himself/herself to be the one to move forward. To be upfront, I, as well as Cam, would like to be the one to move forward. So, as one can see, this may be a problem. As always, I will stay true to my word and be as objective as possible and not allow my personal desires to get in the way of an Obama victory.
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It is me, Justin, your delegate chair, and I obviously support the Friday meeting. I suggest it to be in the evening around 7pm or so.
I would love to move forward to the state convention as a delegate if you all believe in my competence. I strongly believe that my abilities to not only lead others, but in my ability to stay objective and rational at times that are the most challenging to do so will lend itself most advantageous to this process.
I believe what I bring to this arena is very rare in political situations, yet very conducive to Obama’s campaign message and core values. I appreciate the opportunity to serve not only precinct 480, but America’s democratic process in general. I hope to hear from all of you in this forum. Talk to you all soon.
Justin aka. [Cerebral]
Our goal here is to get Obama elected. I give all my support to Justin and Cam to move forward as you guys have done an outstanding job on our behalf thus far.
Friday is good for me. I`m an alternate, not interested in going to state. I`ll support you and Cam.
Hi Justin.. It’s me Ginger. I am not sure who Cam is so I am not sure how much work he has done. I personally have done somethings to prior to the March 4th election and something towards the campaign after. I would love to move forward as a delegate but am willing take do whats best for the campaign. I am not sure if I will be able to do a Friday meeting as I might be in Houston most of day and getting back in town on Friday evening. I am glad the you and Cam did the training. I thought it was very informative as well. I think that getting together on Friday with as many people from the primary and alterenates is a good idea as our delegates should go in knowing who we want to vote to move forward. Justin you will automatically have my support as I know that you are just as dedicated to the campaign as myself. Thank you for all the hard work that you have down. I hope that anyone that has not attended a training session do so this Thursday as this will be the last training session prior to the convention. Please email myself or Justin for details on signing up for the training. My email address is gynger . jackson @ gmail . com (please remove spaces from email)
Thanks for your support guys and thank you for utilizing this forum for discussion.
Justin
This is Cam Scott, and I wanted to share a little about why I would like to be a delegate to the state convention.
First of all I am an unmoveable supporter of Barack Obama and would like to ensure that our delegates both at the county and state conventions do everything we can to maintain and potentially expand Obama’s support.
Secondly, the state convention is where our state Democratic Party’s business is done, and I would like to bring my political experience to the table and help shape strategies for our party to have a comeback locally in Williamson County and statewide. I think that with the new voters and new energy that has been generated by this election, we have the potential to change the political landscape of our state, if we use this opportunity wisely.
To say a little about my experience, I served previosuly as Legislative Director for Texas Democratic Congressman Jim Turner, until he was put out of office by Tom Delay’s redistricting scheme. For the last 3 years I have served as a government relations director for the American Cancer Society and have seen firsthand how important it is for us to elect leaders who will address our nation’s health care problem.
Justin, thanks for your good work in organizing our precinct delegation and keeping everyone informed.
By the way, unfortunately it turns out that I would not be available to meet on Friday evening. I have a prior commitment at 7:00 I was hoping I could get out of, but I can’t. Still, if everyone else would like to meet Friday, please go ahead without me.
- Cam
Cam, since you are not available to meet on Friday, I would like to ask you a few questions if you are willing to answer them. This may help people decide who should move forward.
1. Why Barack Obama?
2. What is the desired political landscape you mentioned above?
3. What would you like to change about our health care system problem that you addressed above?
I am sorry about the personal inquiries, but since you brought them up, I am now curious as to what they are. You are obviously welcome to ask me any questions as well. Thank you.
Hey Justin,
This is Nicole, Just letting you know that I fully support you and Cam going on to State. You have done an excellent job as Chair Delegate and I can think of no other who can support us better. Let me know the details of the meeting Friday and I will do my very best to attend.
Thanks for all the hard work you have done.
Nicole
Justin,
Thanks goes out to you and Cam for all your hard work in composing and crafting the options available and the suggestions for meeting on Friday to coordinate before we meet Saturday. (BTW, I rec’d a phone call stating that registration starts at 8 am, not 8:30 Sat morning) I’m available to meet on Friday, just let me know where…hope it’s in RR. If we’re all close how about the Clay Madsen Center? Anyway, I’m will to give one for the team and vote for you and Cam, but I’ve forgotten who Cam is. Hopefully, I can reconnect on Friday and then I’ve have a better sense on who my vote is going to. I do have reservations and want to be reassured that you guys will vote all the way for Obama…no hard feelings I just need to be sure of my vote. This is very important to me!!
Anyway, let me know where to meeting Friday.
Dear Delegates and Alternates,
It looks like we have a location for the Friday meeting. This meeting will be for all alternates and delegates as we need everyone to show up for the strategizing. The gracious Yvette has lent her house to us, so that we may hash out our plan. The time has been set for 7 pm on Friday the 28th. Here is her address:
1013 King Cotton Lane
Round Rock, TX 78664
Google’s Map of Location: 1013 King Cotton Ln.
I would like everyone to know that the Clinton delegates have already gotten together to get their plans solidified. This should ignite a flame under our rears to us going for Friday. If you have any questions, please feel free to call me or email me.
Quick question… I see a lot of people saying that they will support Justin and Cam to move forward. How are you guys making your decisions to support delegates to move on to the state convention?
Ginger –
By the way, thanks for all that you have done for me. You have been more than helpful with all the contacting and daily support that you have not only given me, but Morganne the Obama representative as well. We all appreciate your dedication to this presidential campaign. I hope that we can continue with this kind of teamwork.
– Justin
Fellow Obama delegates,
I wanted to clarify the fact that if the Clinton delegates have their act together and vote as a block for one of their delegates (as we should expect them to do), it means we will only get to select one Obama delegate from our precinct to send to the state convention. You will have to decide who that should be on Friday night (as well as second and third place nominees to fill another possible delegate and/or alternate spots).
As I mentioned in a previous message, I unfortunately can’t be there Friday night to be a part of the discussions. I’m also working at a booth for a local county commissioner candidate from 8:30-10:00 at the convention during registration Saturday morning, so I won’t even be able to get together with you all until the convention starts.
Since I’m going to be out of the picture during the deliberations, I think it’s only fair that I step back from pursuing the state delegate spot.
I haven’t talked with the others who are interested, but based on my conversations with Justin so far, I think he deserves everyone’s consideration for the top spot. I noticed that he started serving the group from the time we got selected as delegates, even tracking down those who had inadvertently left early to make sure they didn’t lose their spots. And as far as I know, he and I were the only ones from our precinct to attend the Obama campaign’s county convention training earlier this week.
Just my thoughts.
- Cam
Cam - I attended the Saturday training session and have been actively involed in the campaign. There have been many things that I have and others have done behind the scenes. It’s a team effort here. I think the Obama team is doing a good job. I personally just want to do whats best for the Obama campaign.
Not if I have anything to do with it. Tomorrow, I will be contacting Clinton delegates to see if I can sway at least one of them our way. Wish me luck.
And thanks for all your support guys. It means a lot to me. And it is true, others have been to the training seminars as well. We have a team of dedicated delegates, all of which I am proud of. Thanks to you all.
– Justin
I also plan to attend Friday’s meeting and look forward to getting reaquainted with each of you. I will reserve my vote until than.
~R
This is just an update on me. I am going to have to severely limit my availability today, Thursday, March 27th, due to a lab practical exam in gross anatomy on Friday morning. I am having to memorize over a two hundred muscles and their origin and insertion, the entire central nervous system and its intricate parts as well as some of the major peripheral nerves. Unfortunately, I have allowed myself to get a little too behind in studying, so today I will need to bury myself in the books. I apologize before hand if I am not my usual communicative self. If you really need to get ahold of me for some reason, please call me.
I would also like to remind everyone of the time change for registration on Saturday. It has changed to 8:00 am. Just 30 minutes earlier. This is due to the expected turnout. I encourage you guys to continue utilizing my blog to speak to one another and/or ask each other questions. You can also contact Ginger, as she is an excellent source of information as well. Here email is gynger . jackson @ gmail . com.
Thank you for your support and consideration.
– Justin
As I read the blog and try to gather enough information for Saturday, It seems that Justin and Cam are the most prepared to make that move to the State Convention. I will not be able to make the Friday meeting but will be in attendance on Saturday.
Jsmith
Hello Everyone,
I would like to thank each and every delegate and alternate that showed up on Saturday for the work they did and for being there in support of Obama. As you know, it was quite a long day and there was not a minute that we were not trying to get a piece of information in regards to the nature of the process we were going through. This and we also spent an unbelievable amount of time trying to get our alternates changed to delegates as needed.
Justin did one heck of a good job in driving the issues to closure through out the day in preparation of “The Vote” that took place several hours after it should have.
Thanks to the alternates for sticking around, it became clear we were going to be there till late in the afternoon, which became late in the day ultimately. If the alternates that showed up had not shown, we would not have been able to walk away with one delegate and two alternates moving forward to the State Convention.
It was great working with each and everyone of you, I felt as though I not only got the opportunity to help in the delegate process to get Barrack as our nominee, but also made some good friends at the same time. I feel blessed.
Chuck Townsley
I would like to second that motion. Ha, ha. No really though, I would like to thank everyone as well. I think I am going to write an article about my entire experience with this political road I have attempted to travel. The good, bad and the ugly will be discussed.
Justin [Cerebral]