Ahh Politics, I Weep for Thee (Part One)

I am going to delve into politics for a moment on this blog. Being such a polarizing issue at this time, I am inviting criticism, however I don't feel I can tell this story without giving you insight into my political leanings. If this is not your cup of tea, but would like to look in on me in the future, I recommend perusing this website until I return to my next nonpartisan update. (You can thank Tee-Plate for that.)

I would like to qualify the following story by telling you that I am a Lefty, as was my mother and father before me, as were their parents, and their parents before them. Cops, Journalists, Bar owners and Teachers. People with actual jobs, not the "Civilization of Middlemen" that the Internet has helped spawn.

I was brought up to be aware of the policies of the government under which I live, to be objective, and to be civic minded. I was also taught to be suspicious of leaders who put money and God before education and common sense. It would have saved me a lot of time if they could also brought me up to cook and balance a checkbook, but I digress...

We discussed politics at the dinner table quite a bit. My parents were both free spirited Hippies from the Summer of Love, who now found themselves saddled with jobs at which they had to be responsible, and as parents. Looking at them now in their '50s, you would barely recognize them as they were then in their lifestyles now. Liberal Conservatives would best describe them, although both words have now been so mutated as to become direct opposites.

Skipping ahead to adulthood, trying to be the good citizen, I have voted in every election, shown up for (almost) every jury summons, donate to my party, send wanted items to the specific soldiers I know serving overseas, donate blood regularly, and volunteer when and where I can. Living in beautiful Red State Colorado, and specifically Tancredo's District 6, I live in a fairly affluent community in harmony with my predominately older Evangelical and Mormon Republican neighbors. I could live in a superlefty part of town, but I choose central air, low crime and plentiful parking over community gardens, flash mobs and dilapidation.

I would like to think that I am either a local saint or a wussie liberal, depending on your individual perspective.

My personality does have it's share of quirks, which would explain why I have always been deeply attracted to conservative women (cashmere cardigans and stylish glasses, mmmm, that's my brand). Sorry, flower children. We can still be friends! :) I even married a staunch Catholic Republican, and it took me two years to draw her into my world view.

Which brings us to the story at hand: The 2008 Democratic National Convention.

Now in my mid 30's, when I heard that the Convention would be held locally, beyond being excited that my hometown would see some action, I felt that it was my civic duty to volunteer. As soon as they announced it, I jumped onto the Colorado democratic party website, and volunteered. A week passed, and I got an email from them telling me how excited we should all be, and at the end of the email, it asked me to click the link if I wanted to volunteer. I did, and went about my life.

Another week passed, and I got a further email from them, basically saying that if was interested in volunteering for the convention, I should attend the kickoff with the Democratic Chairman, Howard Dean, scheduled a week later. At this point, I was a little confused, as I had now twice volunteered exactly as they had asked. However, I decided to take the day off and go down to the event, thinking it would be fun to see the excitement when Dean and the local Dems came to speak.

That morning, I went downtown to the Democratic Party headquarters to pick up my ticket for the event. As I was in the HQ, I thought I should donate, and wrote them a check for $100. As I handed the kindly chap manning the HQ my check, he in turn handed me a little white card, saying that if I was interested in volunteering for the convention, I should fill out this card. I happily explained that I had already done so online, twice. He hesitated, then said that it would be better to fill in this card, as they might be having problems with their online submissions. Sighing, I complied, and headed off to the event.

You starting to see a theme here, people?

In part two of this piece, we will cover the actual event, groupies, subpoenas, more volunteer opportunities, and what I would like to coin 'casual incompetence' of my party fellows. The part of the story where I delve deep to find the humor, so I don't openly weep.