Nevada Caucus- Losing Big, but Winning Bigger

[asdjrocky]

We met up, in the Arden Fair Mall parking lot to head to Nevada, and Zak, our Sacramento One Corps Captain had done a crack job of alerting the media. We found we had all three local stations, representing the big three networks, there, as well as a reporter from our local RW radio station, KFBK.

Zak handled the interviews, as he always has, with great diplomacy, and a strict adherence to the facts. Part of our group was also the Sacramento Democratic Party Chair, and President of the local IBEW, Greg Larkins, a big Edwards supporter.


Zak talks to the media, while Matt snaps a picture


Greg Larkins, talks up John Edwards to a reporter

After the final interview, four in all, we were on our way. Zak in the drivers street, Matt, another buddy and long time Edwards Supporter riding shotgun, and me, Dan, and Greg in back. All of us happy to be on our way, buoyed by our beliefs in a better life for the poor and middle class, and ready to take the fight to Nevada.

The conversation, as it always is, with this group of fellows, was good, smart and filled with information.
The Reno office was humming when we arrived, busy as I’d ever seen it, with every signal phone being utilized, and people on the sofa –yes that sofa I love- in the chairs and on the floor, calling. Calling and calling.


Phone banking in reno

Liam sat at a small desk, entering data into his laptop, sunglasses on, and bearded. He brought to mind a 70’s privet eye. Carter was moving, always moving, sending people out to canvas or to phone bank at a satellite location. Many of staff from Iowa was there, and it was great to see them all. Kayt from Iowa was in the parking lot, talking on a cell phone. Doug was in the office hitting the phones as well as Dwight. And one of my favorite all time guys, in his 26th day of volunteering for John Edwards, or own Irish hero, Eric. It was great to see them all.

But there was little time for reminiscing, and pleasantries, there was a lot of work left to do and they sent me out, along with Dan to hit the Reno streets. I was left in a clean, and mostly new, middle class neighborhood, with streets named for the Native American tribes and their heroes. I always find taking the name of the conquered, a strange habit that nether honors the defeated, or is a fitting memorial to the agony we caused these great nations. But I promised myself I’d keep the editorializing here to a minimum, so that’s all I’ll say on that matter.

On Sitting Bull Ln. was a woman who would caucus, but had no intention of telling me who she would caucus for. I told her I respected that, and then asked the question again. Same answer. Another wonderful character, on Cochise Way told me she’s “had it with this caucus shit” as she closed the door, in my face. You know, a little part of me agreed. One fellow on Sioux Circle told me he didn’t have time to caucus, and wasn’t all that interested, I bite my tongue instead of asking him why he was home in the middle of the day if he had so little free time.

I was just rounding Indian Rock Way, when I ran into a Hillary staffer who was also canvassing, we talked a bit, he was friendly enough, and a swell dresser. It was on door 34 when I hit my first, and only, engager. She was a wonderful woman, who had not yet made a decision, and she was full of questions. In my head, angles were singing, and light surrounded her, and anyone that has ever canvassed, knows what I mean. We talked for a good ten minutes there on her front porch. The Nevada sun came out, and those tiny birds that I had heard before in Reno scattered from the bushes to greet the bright afternoon. When we said goodbye she promised me she would stand for Edwards at the caucus the next morning.

Shortly after that, Andy, a staffer I had met for the first time that day, picked me up and we were back to the office. We had a good hour of day light, so a group of us, led by Yannick, our intrepid volunteer, went out for a little honk and wave at a very busy intersection. I always find these great fun, and every honk or wave, feels like ten votes won for your guy. We were there about 20 minutes when some Kucinich supporters arrived with some terrific homemade signs, and we happily shared our corners with them. After a few moments, Kathy one of the Edwards Supporters pointed out to me, that one of the Kucinich signs was missing an “i” and we pointed it out to them. Then there was a brief discussion of weather or not people would notice the missing “i”. In the end, the Kucinich Supporters decided it didn’t matter. Have I ever mentioned that there’s nothing like on the ground politics? Well, there’s nothing like on the ground politics.

Back again at the office, it was phone banking until eight pm, and then the fun part, the caucus practice. We had several candidates to choose from, and our office had thirty, yes I said thirty caucus goers. There were four candidates, Snickers, Butterfinger, Twix, and another, that everyone knew was unviable. I went with Snickers, and we took the caucus with half of the caucus goers in the end. It was a good fight, and I saw being on the winning team as a good and welcomed omen.

Boy, was I ever wrong.

The morning of the caucus was organized mayhem. We were assigned our precincts, we were told the rules, again, and we were, after collecting our caucus materials, on our way. I could not be happier with my caucus mates, Carter drove, with Beth, and here’s my name drop, the Deputy Political Director for Nevada, riding up front and Eric, my honorary Irish nephew, and future Senator from the state of Califorina, riding in the back with me.

We were all excited nervous and very, very optimistic. Looking back, if I squint just right, and blur my vision a bit, we might have looked like Custer’s happy band of raiders, riding in to face the Battle of Little Bighorn.

Eric and I had three precincts in the music room of an elementary school, and Beth, had the biggest crowd in the cafeteria. Since two of the three precincts in the music room were expected to be no bigger than a few people, I took those on my side of the room, and Eric took the bigger group on his side of the room.

Before I go any further here, I want to just say that the Precinct Captain, Kathleen was heads and shoulders above what I saw in Iowa. This was her first time she did this job, and you would have never known it by watching her organization. With the help of her husband Scott, and their three daughters, the entire process was interesting, informative and almost fun. She was careful to explain everything, and always made sure we all understood, before she moved on to the next step.


Kathleen explains the Caucus Cards


Natual Born Democrats
Milana Madeline Shannon


Scott calls in the Caucus results, as Robert, a lumber mill worker, looks on.

My turn out was much bigger than expected. I had 11 for one precinct, two undecided, yes we talked for a bit, 3 Obama and 1 Hillary and 5 firmly in the Edwards camp. The people that were undecided, were a lumber mill worker named Robert, who had recently had his hours cut to 20 a week, but had to keep the job for his benefits, and his wife Glinda. I talked with Robert about Johns stimulus package for the economy and offered him one of John Edwards 80 page plans for America, and like a good voter, he sat down and began reading. Glinda wanted to know Edwards position on abortion, and once I assured her he was fully pro choice, she was in the Edwards camp. A few minutes before the voting started, I’m proud to say Robert came up, with book in hand, and ask for an Edwards sticker.

My first group broke like this,
Edwards 7
Obama 3
Hillary 1
One delegate awarded to Edwards.

The second group was fun. Four people total, two firmly Hillary, and two firm for Edwards. And all of them were the nicest people. This was where I found out how we decide ties, with a special pack of Caucus Cards.


The deck is shuffled


Jack for Hillary, and a six for Edwards

Edwards 2
Hillary 2
Obama 0
With a cut of the cards, 1 delegate is awarded to Hillary.

Once everything was packed up, cleaned up, and ready to go we were on our way. The post Caucus celebration was at Great Basin Brewing Co. and by the time we arrived, we knew it had been called for Hillary. There were many people there from all campaigns. I had some great fun arguing with a couple of Ron Paul Nuts outside, and I talked a bit with a reporter from the Daily Sparks Tribune. It was great to have some time to say good bye to the people who wouldn’t be following the campaign out to California, and to make some plans with the ones that would be making the trek.

I’m not going to put on a happy face. I felt sucker punched with the finish, and the only thing that makes it better is that I know we go on from here. I believe the battle is not over, and I know I have another fight in me. As do all of us. The ride home was up beat, some wounded, but unrelenting warriors, making plans for California. We talked baseball, and movies, and baseball movies. We talked about the phone banking, and the tabling to come. We talked about hope not being exclusive to one candidate.

So, yeah. We lost big. Nevada, and the voters smoked us. But while we lost big, we won bigger. We won lifelong friends, and allies, who would continue the fight with us. We made enduring connections with people and organizations that would from now on, play big parts in our lives. And we won, the realizations of shared ideals and a new-shared agenda that we would press forward. It was an agenda of the people. All, of the people.

It might be a crazy fucking idea, but I believe this is about much more than John Edwards. As he tells us, his family will be fine, no matter the outcome. It’s about more than who is President, and who is not. It’s about the people, and that’s why he is still pushing the fight. It’s about having our say, no matter what. It’s all wrapped up in saying no to them, and yes to us, the people. It’s about us not lying down and taking it, about taking our fight to the Convention and having our voices heard. And it’s about time.

Will I support John Edwards to the end, no matter what? Of course. But the cause goes far beyond John, and it a cause that touches all of us, everywhere in America. If we don’t stand up now, make some noise, then, we may never stand again.

So I’ll ask? Will you stand with us, no matter what? Will you stand with the people? Or will you side with the moneyed interests? The celebrities? The hyped, media created candidates?

Choose. Do it now. And know your choice matters now more than ever. Is anyone tired? Anyone want to go home yet? If no is your answer, then keep working, I don’t have time to pat you on the back.

If yes is your answer, then get the hell out of our way.


Just before we head back home
Matt, Zak, Greg, Me, and Dan