First off, video from Friday and Saturday at the convention has been posted by the California Democratic Party.  Check it out!

Meanwhile, we’re updating our First blog round-up with more links. Let us know if we’ve missed yours.

From California Progress Report

Award to Gavin Newsom at Convention: Mentor of the Year to the California Young Democrats

The California Democratic Party Convention Video on Demand is our site of the day

Jerry Brown’s Speech, the 2010 Governor’s Race, and Reflections on the California Democratic Convention

California Democratic Party Convention for 2008 Ends with No Endorsement in Migden-Leno Race–And a lot more

And here’s a great quote from Frank’s post:

The convention had an unusually high attendance of 2118 registered delegates, surpassed only by last year’s convention in San Diego where the major Democratic Presidential candidates, Clinton, Obama, Edwards, Dodd, and Richardson appeared.  […]

We’ll have more wrap up articles on the convention, which saw more bloggers and journalists writing on line credentialed as media than the traditional print, television, and radio journalists.

Bottom line: The party adopted a new platform, grassroots Democrats were pumped up for the year’s elections with enthusiasm to turn blue seats in red territory, have over $6 million in the bank and have had a very good first quarter in raising money (in contradistinction to the bankrupt California Republican Party) and are in a great position for the November Presidential Election.  (Emphasis added)

Migden-Leno Endorsement Fight May Overshadow Bill Clinton Speech at California Democratic Party Convention Today

John Garamendi’s Address to the California Democratic Convention

From Daily Kos:

leekfink: California Democratic Convention

hekebolos: This is what happens when bloggers write the Platform!

kid oakland: a report from the convention

dsharma23: Clinton’s Attempt to Strong-Arm CA Superdels

dday: Bill Clinton about to speak at the California Democratic Party convention

Ron Shepston for Congress: CA 42: Me, Bill Clinton & Obama

From MyDD:

Todd Beeton: CDP Convention: Bill Clinton

kid oakland: California Democratic Party Convention: San Jose

Todd Beeton: CDP Convention: Kamala Harris

From the Courage Campaign

“More and Better Democrats”: From the 2008 California Democratic Party Convention

From The Liberal OC:

From the Floor of the CA Dem Convention

CA Dem Convention Webcast

From Calitics:

Meet The Candidates: Charlie Brown and Russ Warner

Post-Convention Thoughts

Devine Musings on Senate District 3

Endorsements are now being considered

Bill Clinton speech

“Just Chill Out”

What a difference a DAY makes

Thoughts about last night, with pictures

Day 3 thoughts

2008 CDP Platform Final Report

SD-03: Going to the floor

Busby for CDP Chair?

Liveblogging SD-3 Regional Endorsement Meeting

McNerney an initial no-show/Newsom’s speech

Day 2 quick thoughts

Some more CDP photos

Migden’s meltdown

From Kid Oakland:

Sunday Morning at the California Democratic Party Convention

California Democratic Party Convention: San Jose

From d-day:

Debra Bowen Floor Speech

Liveblogging Convention Sunday

From Sweet Melissa:

Live from The Donkey Show: Nerd Wars

Live from The Donkey Show: Presidential Bitchfight

Live from The Donkey Show: Kamala and me

From The People’s Vanguard of Davis:

Photos from the Democratic Convention

Live From San Jose Democrats: A Party United

Who are the People in Orange Shirts?

Cabaldon wins Next Stage with 69% of Vote

Cabaldon’s Campaign Breakfast

Live From San Jose… The Vanguard Follows the 8th AD and More

From MOMocrats:

California Democratic Convention: Who Wants to Be Governor of California?

Go Read It: California Democratic Convention Thoughts and Photos

and it feels like hope

Future Governor of California San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom?

MOMocrats arrive at the California Democratic Convention

Where are the MOMocrats this Weekend?

And there are more photos at Flickr from Glennia of MOMocrats.

From Xiaolin Mama:

Phil Donohue and the “Body of War”

CA Democratic Convention Day 2

CA Democratic Convention: Asian Pacific Americans impacting the politcal landscape

Nancy Pelosi up close

Momocrats in da house

From SoCal Mom:

Conventional Wisdom

Do You Know the Way to San Jose?

From CityMama:

I’m at the California Democratic Convention this weekend

California Democratic Convention: some photos

From The Politics of Kethryvis:

Adjournment

Floor fights are rad

FLOOR FIGHT! FLOOR FIGHT!

The best unity statement of the whole convention

Bill speaks

Bowen learns from others

Obama supporter takes the stage

Support out in force

The fight is on

Less Security than the Airport

plugging

Proud to be a Democrat, pt. 2

Unity

The next generation

Interesting sights

And this may be my favorite quote from the convention…

I’ve also noticed you can really tell the Internet Media types from the rest of the media. We’re the ones with jeans, tshirts, and a much more casual air about us. We don’t need that little white “Internet Media” sticker on our credentials. We stand out anyways. But that’s not necessarily bad. It’s been interesting though. Sitting in the press area today, people kept asking me who I wrote for, what my blog was. I felt a bit uneasy telling them I write on my own blog on LiveJournal. Nothing wrong with it of course, but it did make me feel a bit like I don’t belong. But I do, and the CDP thinks I do. So that’s all that matters.

It takes a lot of voices to get a story out. I’m proud to be among them.  (Emphasis added)

From the California Majority Report:

BREAKING DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION: 289-742 Against Endorsing Migden

DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION: SF District Attorney Harris Urges Convention-goers to Unite Behind Obama

DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION: Leno Signature Gatherers Pushed Out of Convention Center Hotel

DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION: Leno, Migden, and Nation Supporters Duel at Convention

DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION: Let the Gubernatorial Pre-Primary Begin — Westly, Brown, and Newsom Rumblings

From Steve Sloan, SJSU Tech on a Mission:

End of the CA Demo Convention Day Two

Sunday morning at the CA demo convention

Reflections of a tech geek on the convention

End of the CA Demo Convention Day Two

From the California Democratic Convention Floor

Going to the Democratic convention

More photos at Flickr from Steve Sloan  along with coverage from his Twitter feed

From ImTedGreen:

I’m of two minds on President Clinton’s speech

State Senator Carole Migden and Assemblymember Mark Leno

A shout out to Bloggers Row at the CDP convention

The Write Wing

From The Watchtower:

Hospitality Suites at the CDP Convention-Why Bother?

From Mike’s Daily Lockup:

Live from San Jose

From Bang the Drum:

County Conventions Liveblogged on Twitter

From A Progressive Alamedan:

My Report on the California Democratic Convention

From Greg Dewar:

Blogger Coverage of the California Democratic Convention This Weekend

From Inland Valley Daily Bulletin:

Blog: California State Democratic Convention in San Jose – Day 2

Blog: California State Democratic Convention in San Jose – Day 3

From California High Speed Rail:

HSR at the Democratic Convention

From California Notes:

AD-08: Cabaldon’s endorsement being challenged.

Yamada remains confident as party endorsement goes to Cabaldon

Flickr pix from Randy Bayne

From Miss Wild Thing:

Democratic convention Calif style

Penny

Online Organizing Director

California Democratic Party

(The only live line in the room – promoted by Lucas O’Connor)

(Cross-posted on California Majority Report).

I’ll be liveblogging the SD-3 regional endorsement battle between Senator Carole Migden, Assemblymember Mark Leno, and former Assemblymember Joe Nation. Stay tuned! This should be fun, horrifying, or a fascinating drama depending on your perspective.

[Update by Lucas] Leno campaign is reporting more than 50 Leno supporter ballots are missing.  “Disenfranchisement” is running through the room.

5:41 — Sorry for the delay. I had connection issues. One of the moderators assured the crowd that “this is a fair and open process, and we will wait for all ballots to be counted.” Around 5:30 or so, Leno spoke followed by Migden. Both touted their records as one would expect. Said Leno, “Without choice, there is no accountability. Without accountability, there is no responsibility.” Meanwhile, Migden emphasized the gender imbalance in the Senate, concluding her speech with “I am a woman. I am a woman. And let me just say, I still am a woman.” Voting officially closed at 5:41, and they say results will be coming in 20 minutes or so.  

6:29 — Counting now. Attention Adam Borelli. You’re wanted in room. Currently 15-9 Migden ahead.

6:38 — Currently 46-27. About 270 in total.

6:47 — Some dispute over a vote by Migden’s folks. It would be a “fair and open process” if the moderators articulated into the microphone a little more! Seriously, I have no clue what that was about. Anyway, we’re up to 75-57. Migden still ahead.

7:05 — 128-97. Migden ahead.

7:13 — Vote is 149-115 with 2 for Nation, 2 without endorsement, 1 challenge against Leno, 1 questionable, and 2 unmarked. That leaves the unofficial but close enough for this famished soul tally at 55% Migden and 42% Leno. The next step: once the vote is finalized, Leno folks are going to try and gather enough signatures (300) of delegates to remove the endorsement from the consent calendar. If they succeed, the endorsement vote will happen during a general session with all delegates able to vote. The Leno folks have until 11 pm to gather the signatures. Obviously, the missing ballot issue earlier delayed this process a bit. I suspect this isn’t the last we’ve heard of that incident from the Leno campaign.

I have a question for the community reading this blog.  I’m a delegate in the CA 44th Assembly District.  I attended our last CA Democratic Convention and was disappointed in the lack of tangible things for me to do as a delegate.  With rare exception it seemed like one big party/get-together.

Are there some more experienced CA delegates that can offer either a) perspective or b) ideas on how to make it a worthwhile effort to attend?

The person who is on the E-Board for our district has done NOTHING to lead.  I would like to organize our AD to come together on one issue which we could push at the upcoming CA Democratic Convention – you know…make it a worthwhile activity to attend for all the 44 AD delegates.

Hope I can get some feedback here or at my email address – [email protected]

Regards,

Patrick Briggs,

Pasadena DFA Chapter Leader and 44 AD Delegate

(The only speech that I and a good chunk of the Calitics staff missed was the Edwards speech, so I thought I’d promote this. This was also the feeling I got in the hall. – promoted by dday)

I wrote this for today’s Beyond Chron, San Francisco’s Alternative Online Daily

This weekend, all the major Democratic presidential candidates attended the California Democratic Convention in San Diego to solicit support from the party faithful.  Although getting out of Iraq was top on the mind of party delegates, Hillary Clinton’s campaign had a surprising show of support – but she lost most of the crowd by refusing to apologize for initially supporting the War.  Barack Obama was treated like a rock star and gave a powerful speech, but despite being the only major candidate who opposed the War from the start failed to do what he should have done: hit a home run the way Howard Dean did in 2003.  John Edwards did not have much of a campaign presence at the convention until he spoke on Sunday morning, when many of the delegates had already left.  But for those who stuck around to hear Edwards speak, his concrete progressive proposals coupled with a passionate and eloquent message won many converts on the Convention floor – including possibly myself.

The political context behind this year’s convention was similar to the convention four years ago, which was held on the weekend before George Bush invaded Iraq.  Back then, delegates were angry at an imminent War based on lies, and furious at their party for rolling over without a fight.  John Kerry, the choice of the party establishment, was booed for having voted for the War – and John Edwards was likewise heckled.  Meanwhile, Howard Dean came out of nowhere to give a feisty and eloquent speech against the War that electrified delegates and catapulted him into the “movement” candidate of 2004. 

This year, the Convention was held immediately after Congress voted to withdraw from Iraq, and right before President Bush’s expected veto this week.  Party activists were nervous about whether their leaders in Congress will succumb to the President’s blackmail – and still angry at many Democrats for having supported the War in the first place.  A sizable number called for the impeachment of George Bush and Dick Cheney, meaning they did not have the patience for a party leadership that is nervous to take bold initiatives.

But Hillary did not get the John Kerry treatment at this convention, and her campaign had a surprising number of supporters.  For example, the LGBT caucus on Friday night felt like a Clinton campaign rally, despite her husband’s betrayal on gays in the military and same-sex marriage.  State Senator Christine Kehoe announced her support for Hillary at the caucus, because she has “supported the LGBT community throughout her whole public life,” and as President has promised to end Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.  I asked if Hillary would also work to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act that her husband signed – but Kehoe could only tell me that she would ask her that question the next day.

Clinton’s speech on the Convention floor was surprisingly well received, as female delegates wearing “Impeach Bush” stickers enthusiastically waved Hillary campaign signs.  She vowed to be “ready to lead” a country that is “ready for change,” and spoke passionately about universal health care – while acknowledging her prior failure to get it done.  She spoke about immigration reform, vowed to fix “everything wrong” with No Child Left Behind, and to follow California’s lead on energy independence.

But when the speech shifted to Iraq, Clinton lost most of the delegates and began to get scattered boos.  Hillary has said repeatedly that she would not have voted for the War if she knew what she knows today, but unlike John Edwards has refused to apologize or take any responsibility for her failure.  She criticized the Iraq War for being “one of the darkest blots of our history” and said that Bush had ignored military advisers, all the while saying nothing about her complicity in the matter.

While Hillary had a strong organized base at the Convention, Obama’s campaign had a more grassroots feel and his supporters were more enthusiastic.  He got a true rock-star welcome as he walked up to the Convention podium, as throngs of young people ran up behind him and stayed in the aisles during his speech.  “We have a cynicism where politics is a business and not a mission,” said Obama, as he criticized a “foreign policy based on bluster and bombast has led us to a war that should have never been authorized and should have never been waged.”

Obama vowed to “turn the page” on this era of cynicism – providing an interesting contrast with Clinton, who seemed to promise a return to the good old days of her husband’s administration.  Obama said he was proud to have opposed the Iraq War back when it was not popular, and he also credited the party activists for having opposed it then as well.  “We knew back then that this War was a mistake,” he said.

Referring to Congress’ passage of withdrawal legislation, Obama reminded the crowd that we were now “one signature away from ending the War.”  But while Hillary Clinton said that Bush will veto the legislation and so she would end the War on her first day as President, Obama said “if the President refuses to sign it, we will find the 16 votes that we need to end it without him.  We will get this done.  We will bring our troops home.”

Barack Obama is a passionate and charismatic speaker, and delegates who had never heard him before were impressed and enthusiastic.  But as someone who has heard him speak twice in the last two months, I did not feel that he offered much different this time.  His speech undoubtedly fired up the crowd and gained new converts to his campaign, but it did not serve as a catalyst for his campaign the way that Howard Dean’s speech did at the 2003 Convention.  While it helped his campaign, he’s still the insurgent candidate trying to take on the front-runner.

In fact, the largest criticism I heard from delegates afterwards was that Obama’s speech was big on inspiring rhetoric but small on substance.  While many were frustrated with Hillary Clinton and her refusal to apologize for Iraq, they argued that she provided more policy detail on other issues than Obama did.

By the end of Saturday, delegates had also heard speeches from various presidential candidates who have absolutely no chance of winning.  Mike Gravel said with a straight face that he was going to be a “most unusual President,” and lauded the California initiative process as a model for his national initiative process.  Chris Dodd gave a decent speech with substantive policy goals, but came off as too stiff and did not pick up traction.  And while Dennis Kucinich had some ideas that could steer the debate in a positive direction, his New Age talk was so over-the-top (“America is waiting for a President who is a healer”) that I felt high on marijuana just by listening to him.

John Edwards did not address the delegates until Sunday, because he was at the South Carolina Democratic Convention on Saturday – the only presidential candidate to attend both conventions on the same weekend.  With a campaign that has focused on poverty and workers’ rights, Edwards has picked up substantial support among labor unions.  But his campaign was invisible at the Convention until he showed up on Sunday, when many of the delegates had already left San Diego.

But those who heard him speak were impressed because he was more passionate and progressive than Hillary, and far more substantive than Obama.  Edwards was the only candidate besides Bill Richardson (who spoke later) to mention the genocide in Darfur, the only candidate to focus on the gap between rich and poor, the only to acknowledge the problem of race in America, and while everyone else talked about universal health care, Edwards was the only serious candidate to talk about single-payer.

“I voted for this War,” said Edwards, “and I was wrong.  I am speaking with every fiber of my being to get out of Iraq.”  Edwards spoke forcefully about the President’s threatened veto of the withdrawal legislation from Iraq, and urged Congress to not back down.  “If the President vetoes that bill,” he said, “it is George Bush who is not supporting the troops.  Congress needs to show strength and courage.”

Edwards spoke forcefully about poverty in America, and listed the most comprehensive economic justice agenda of any candidate – starting, he said, with a national living wage. “If you can join the Republican Party by signing a card,” said Edwards, “every worker should be able to join a union by signing a card.  We ought to ban the permanent replacement of scab workers.”

While Clinton and Obama both called for universal health care, said Edwards, “it’s not enough to say you’ll do it without creating a specific plan.”  He suggested requiring every employer to provide health care or else create a fund – and give Americans free choices on what health care system to get.  “And that may end up being single-payer,” he said.  Edwards said his plan will cost $90-120 billion a year, “and I can pay for it by getting rid of George Bush’s tax cut.”

As the front-runner, Hillary Clinton needed to not bleed support – and her mistakes at the Convention caused her to lose ground.  Barack Obama is her main challenger, and he needed to do another Howard Dean speech to catapult him into front-runner status and thus change the dynamics.  He may have inspired more people, but it did not shift the momentum for his campaign.  But John Edwards did a better job converting new supporters to his side, which is why he was the “winner” of this year’s California Democratic Convention.

As someone who has always opposed the War and want “Anybody But Hillary” to win the nomination, I came into this Convention about 90% for Obama and 10% for Edwards.  While I have not made a firm decision and my opinions may change between now and February 2008, I am now more likely to support John Edwards because he was both passionate and substantive.  Delegates who were still at the Convention felt the same way, as the Edwards campaign table ran out of stickers within minutes after his speech.

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