(Darn it Jim, I was looking for you and never found you! - promoted by Dean Barker)
What a great NH Democratic Party State Convention! Well-attended, well-organized, obviously well-planned, and great speeches.
My first State Convention was in 1966, at an old but beautiful hotel in Downtown Manchester. Democrats had the corner office at that time, but that was about it. Perhaps 200 people -- all VERY OLD from my point of view then! -- and polite in their applause and cheering, but not stand-up enthusiastic.
From then I attended the next 26 years of Conventions solid, but I've missed quite a few since then with work commitments mostly, and my most recent was in 2004. Compared to any and all, however, this one was the best.
My assessment: Ray Buckley was his usual effective self -- hitting the tone right on mark, and getting the cheering going. I enjoyed all the other speeches but I thought Carol Shea-Porter stood out just a bit (I'm a bit biased, she's so wonderful!) because she seemed to look right at us with unrehearsed comments -- though she probably had them all in mind by memory, it seemed so fresh. She didn't feel a need to raise her voice -- she just looked at us and talked "with," rather than "to" or "at" us. The others did excellent too, with each obviously having passion to help us win in November.
This was the very first time I heard Ann McLane Kuster speak, and I enjoyed her conversational tone. I don't have a choice in that race because I appreciated, as I always do, Katrina Swett. It was great to see Dick Swett again. He helped lay the groundwork for Democrats in the 1990s, and sometimes we forget that things weren't always so bright for us then and he, along with so many others like Rick Trombly who was sitting on the stage, helped get us to where we are today.
It was great to see Jeanne Shaheen, John Lynch, and Paul Hodes all mention marriage equality -- and the loud applause they earned by doing so. If there was ever a thought that passage of House Bill 436 would be detrimental to Democrats in November, 2010, I think we're seeing that fear dismissed day by day. Of course, this was a more partisan audience, but as I talk with Republicans and undeclared voters, I find they're more concerned about a dozen other matters -- many on which Democrats are leading.
It was also great to see people I hadn't seen for a few years. Conventions serve that purpose. And also fantastic to see so many dozens -- even hundreds of really young people. In years past it just didn't seem like we had so many of them, but perhaps since I was young(er) then I didn't notice it so much. That all bodes well for beyond 2010!
A nice job by all, and I assume a nice time by everyone. Thanks to everyone who worked for weeks and perhaps well past Midnight on Saturday morning putting it on.
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