Around the World

To gain additional perspective on life, I'm embarking on a trip around the world. I'll be posting on this site along the way, starting in January.

Transition

Now that we've won the White House and have had our days of euphoria, let's look at what else happened lately: Our local candidates scored well but did not get elected here in this red county (we will win someday). My friends, Democrats Sam Bennett and Joanne Tosti-Vasey lost their challenges to incumbents. We lost Catherine Baker Knoll to cancer. We still have an economy in free fall. We're still stuck in Iraq. Millions go without healthcare here in the US. The world is still getting warmer.

There is much work to be done to win future races, to live up to the expectations CBK had for women in Government, and to solve the huge problems facing our society and our world.

For the moment, however, I have turned back to a book I've been working on - DEAR COACH: Letters Home from WW II. More about that in future posts.

record number of new Dems in Lancaster County PA

Thanks to intensive voter registration, support for Obama, and Republican dissatisfaction with their party, we've posted over 100,000 Democrats in once-red Lancaster County. It's now almost 1.7 to 1 instead of the old 3:1. This is where the action is - largest percentage growth of ANY county in PA. And, it will count in November. See www.lancasterdems.com for details. Also, if you're anywhere in the area, come to Lancaster for a big rally at 2 pm on Oct 4th - details on the website! We have the Republicans on the run.

McCain and Palin coming to town

BOTH will be in Lancaster on Tuesday - tickets required - through the R office, of course, don't want any tough, unrehearsed questions, do they? This is going to be a battleground.

OBAMA in Lancaster

On Thursday Obama pulled a historic crowd of 15,000 to Buchanan Park, next to F&M's campus. This very Repub area is changing fast.....

on the air

Here in the Lancaster Democratic Campaign Office with the Rick Smith Show live on WHYL960 AM! Rick and Don LeVasseur are talking with candidates Bruce Slater (PA-16), Jose Urdaneta (PA Senate 13), Daniel Stephenson (PA House 98) plus Greg Paulson and me. Live and lively words about our campaigns and the conventions, especially about the concerns of working people. At the convention, all the Democrats were talking about these issues - jobs, healthcare, taking care of our vets, education, but did you hear any of that from the Republicans? No.

Democratic Convention observations

This is a long post reflecting the Democratic Convention week and the trip home - would like to hear from others who experienced the week and/or AMTRAK travel!

Arrived home Monday night, 24 hours late, having missed a connection in Chicago. AMTRAK put me up at a hotel and I had time for lunch on Sunday with friends from my days in Illinois (in the 60s). Overall, the trip on AMTRAK pleased me - great people work for them, at least west of Harrisburg - and they make the old cars livable. Customer service folks did the best they could to keep me moving east! I do bring home an enhanced desire to fund AMTRAK! GO BIDEN.

Reflecting on the Convention itself, I observed the following:

1 - The leaders of the Democratic party impressed me with their commitment to issues, their passion to help others, and their ability to put their thoughts into words. Beyond that, the thousands of people there represented a diverse country and did so in what I call an interactively diverse way. Confident, articulate women and minorities showed their stuff at the podium every night.
2 - Outside the hall there was indeed a form of segregation - by event invitation - with bigwigs getting special attention in terms of parties, transportation flexibility, and access.
3 - In general there was an enormous display of good humor in crowds, lines, and downtime, and an overwhelmingly friendly welcome from the Colorado hosts. Heavy security was evident, especially for major venues, but it was generally unobtrusive. I saw mimimal protests; the only raucous group I saw interferring with a program was in the Unconventional Women forum when a few dozen women spoke out against Nancy Pelosi. She took on the issues they raised, and I think was masterful in taking charge, which is what she has to do in her day job!
4 - The extensive "other" convention had excellent programs and speakers on issues; in the first days I could attend but later it became impossible logistically. Many of the sessions emphasized the "greenness" of the convention and Denver itself. Riding the light rail system and seeing the bicycle arrangements was a daily reminder of how focused they were on environmental issues.
5 - A wide range of groups held events and influenced the platform, but in general the convention focused on the candidates and on defeating McCain. Hillary and Obama supporters rallied together.

Here today, gone tomorrow - by early Friday morning the press was gone as were the security details, the road blocks, the vendors - and the delegates and friends scattered to work on the election just weeks away. Quickly Denver turned to its "Taste of Colorado" festival. My train didn't leave till evening, so I spent some time researching for the book I'm writing called "Dear Coach, Letters Home from WW II"; I visited Wings Over the Mountain, a museum at Lowry Air Force Base to see in person the place where letters were written by Elizabethtown's Lt. Paul F. Leicht in November of 1942 to my father and his coach, Ira R. Herr.

home sweet station

Still in Chicago. . . train now 1 1/2 hour late leaving. AMTRAK really needs help getting trains on time, let alone adding to meet demand. Amtrak employees uniformly cheerful and helpful inspite of their frustrations and long hours. Wonder if I'll make the next connection tomorrow in Pittsburgh? I have 6 hours in between BUT am getting cautious is estimating arrival time. Perhaps I will bail out and rent a car for the last leg of the Denver to Elizabethtown journey.

No big political thoughts right now, just looking for a place to sleep and progress on the track. Have been on the way since Friday evening. . . what day is it?????

HELP needed on the track

Somebody bail out AMTRAK!!!! the people here are really trying but without support, mass transit is doomed and I may be riding the rails for days trying to get home from Denver! Thank goodness for the lounge and this terminal...and for friends in Chicago who hosted me for lunch.

The world in motion

As Gustav is whirling around ready to blast America, we are reminded of the incompetence of the Republican administration and the need to make sure we do not have more of the same. McCain and Palin would be even worse than more of the same. McCain's pick of Palin is blatantly opportunistic and shows that he has now no conscience left. He is letting Rovians tell him how to woo the right wing and is using a woman to do it rather than deal with it himself. How deceitful.

As for Democrats, we left Denver wound up and really to make change happen. I am eager to get home to work with everyone - the party and the new folks to make sure we bring the 16th home for the Democrats and thus for PA. We really can do it. I know it sounds impossible but let's not just strive to keep the margin down - let's take it away in every jurisdiction we can. I challenge us to WIN.

Meanwhile I'm in a hotel room in Chicago because the trains were so slow - but don't blame AMTRAK - those people really try to make the system work and they are extremely customer focused. However with the folks in power who dis mass transit AMTRAK doesn't have much of a chance. Let's change that with BIDEN! What a friend we have in Delaware!

Barack Obama hit a home run at the convention - and I was so proud to be a democrat. So many articulate, passionate speakers appeared before the crowds. I was especially impressed, of course, with the women/minorities who don't always get the chance to show their stuff. This time they did - and WOW were they good. I have lots of photos to share and a video of Hillary's talk with her Delegates before the vote. We can justly be proud of her too.
Lois

long trip home

Overnighting in Chicago due to train delay....will see friends tomorrow and hopefully catch the next ride to PA!

THE MORNING

Breakfast with Biden and the PA delegation . . . lots of photos to bring home for newPA16 website and Lancaster Dems....according to Biden we must and will win PA but it will take great effort from all of us. Really wound up to go home and pull the party and the Obama campaign together. . . will need all of us working to make sure we put our country on the right track. BIDEN is SO with us. And tonite - Barack....the Biden-Obama ticket has unified and electrified this convention!

WOW.....Democrats in 2008 together

Tuesday - anniversary of the right to vote for women - put Democratic women on the stage and were they ever great! Hillary's speech the greatest UNITY speech we've ever heard and the most articulate reason for all of us to vote for Obama. Her key - being in the primary for HER wasn't the real reason she hoped - people were in because they support the people she supports - those who need jobs, health care, security, peace, and A JUST SOCIETY.
After the convention closed for the night the PA-NY-NJ,FL delegations had a reception at the Invesco Center (scene for Thurs) - attended by the GOVS of NY, NJ, PA, and HILLARY, BILL, and CHELSEA. What a family of pro's.
Granholm, Napolitano, Boxer, LEDBETTER and the other strong women on the podium showed women leaders at their best - and they are proud to be feminists.
Today I meet with Hillary and all her delegates prior to the convening of the session today and the nomination process.
PS: Collecting buttons, t-shirts and other memorabililia for the LCDC auctions!
PSS: look for us just behind the CNN folks tonight. Hillary's comment about the Society of the Traveling Pantsuits was a riot. I'm in a green one tonite.
PSS: other great lines - Hillary commenting on how appropraite the Twin Cities are for the republicans since we have the twins Bush and McCain there. And The line from one of the others that McCain isn't a maverick - he's a sidekick.

watch for PA delegation

If you watch TV - most of the PA delegation is just behind the CNN set. Last night if you had looked over Anderson Cooper's left shoulder you might have seen Kathy Cozzone (Chester County Commissioner) and me just three rows behind the CNN set. We were between the CNN set and the stage - good seats. Part of the delegation is nearer Katie Couric. We are near between Michigan and Iowa and not far from Illinois. Don't know exactly which set I'll be closer to tonight. Berks county people, incuding Tom Hermann were in the first row this side of CNN. Occasionally we look back and wave!!!
What an adventure!

tuesday in denver

PA delegation wound up on union speakers this am plus McCaskill, but yesterday - wow...ted kennedy brought cheers and tears and Michelle won over many of us. Those of us who are Clinton delegates will get to cast a historic vote but the real news is that we must make sure everyone knows that McCain is a zero. That came through loud and clear at all the women's events I attended yesterday - like UNCONVENTIONAL WOMEN and EQUALITEA. Pelosi handled hecklers well and went on to talk for almost an hour - humor, serious talk, and just an impressive get-women-to-run message - hosted by White House Project, Women's Campaign Fund, etc. At Equalitea special tribute to Stephanie Tubbs Ross from her colleages and friends. Heard from Boxer and so many other great women. Saw lots of friends from activism and campaigning...catching the fever again. party coming together. Bill George this am driving every one to realize how important pennsylvania will be to the presidential election.

ps: why do the hecklers come here instead of going after the Republicans?

last minute details

Sorting through invitations to events in Denver... there's no way to go to everything, given official sessions are also scheduled. I want to know what's going on in those sessions, so I may miss a few parties. I'll pick up my press credentials on Sunday (missing their big party on Sat. nite) to report for my hometown paper - the Elizabethtown Chronicle - as well as attending as a delegate. The website is www.elizabethtownchronicle.com - my first story hit the front page - not bad for a rookie reporter.

Taking a long train trip - Etown to Pgh to Chicago to Denver sounded like a good idea at the time. We'll see.

Is anybody there?

Hello out there! Is anyone reading this? Do I have to say something truly outrageous to get comments?

Today I packed my Lancaster County for Obama buttons (horse and buggy version) for the convention in Denver, but it also occurred to me that I could probably sell a bunch of Hillary buttons as well. After all there are going to be at least two big celebrations - one when her name is put into the history books and one when the convention nominates Obama.

Anyone who wants to see what I am talking about (the buttons), go to www.lancasterdems.com .

advance information

Tonight on a conference call for her delegates, I did get some helpful advance info from Hillary Clinton and her staff. We now know that her name will be placed in nomination on Wednesday and there will be a roll call vote. That makes all this more exciting. I am willing to support Obama for President but I do very much want an opportunity to celebrate the significant accomplishment of Hillary Clinton.

And the announcements of receptions and lunches keep coming in. I wonder how it will be possible to get around Denver fast enough to attend even a portion of them.

I've declined the invitation from Emily's List because (a) it is very expensive, and (b) I still think that organization needs to reassess its tactics in light of its original mission. These days it does not give really "early" money and doesn't help those of us who take on the old boys in underdog races. Just because it's an uphill race is no reason to shy away from it. After all, isn't it important to defeat the right wing incumbents - shouldn't we target those like Joe Pitts who have absolutely awful voting records on all the issues that matter to us?

One day closer to Denver

I'm on a porch in Mt. Gretna (old fashioned resort in Central PA) relaxing for one more day before getting ready for the two day train trip to Denver. These days I get at least a dozen emails a day from the Hillary camps [there are many]; even Rendell appears to be looking forward to casting a vote for her at the convention. Somehow this makes the trip more exciting. Even if she isn't the nominee, this is historic, or should it be hirstoric? a celebration is what has been missing. There is no need to "get over it" rather we should celebrate her candidacy before moving on and we didn't get that chance yet. We will. That's what was wrong all along - we never got to celebrate the fact that a woman got so many votes for President! We have a long way to go, but Hillary pushed us far forward, much farther than we've ever been before.

On the road to Denver

I'm creating this blog to provide Herr Story - my view of the road to Denver and what happens there at the Democratic National Convention. I'm a Clinton Delegate elected in Pennsylvania's 16th CD. I've run for congress twice but never attended a national convention; tried to be a delegate for Dean in 2004, but PA is late in the season so that didn't work out! This year PA was a battleground and a victory for Hillary. I'm also new to blogging so this will be an adventure. I look forward to sharing news and views.