RI Democrats could lose 4 superdelegates under proposed primary change
Rhode Island Democrats would lose 4 of their 9 superdelegates if the Democratic National Committee adopts the recommendation of its recently-adjourned Unity Reform Commission. If the DNC adopts the recommendation, the overall number of superdelegates would be reduced nationally by about 60 percent, said a DNC spokesperson who asked not to be identified by name. […]
Regunberg makes one more effort on superdelegates ahead of DNC decision
State Rep. Aaron Regunberg has been working since July to convince the Democratic Party to eliminate superdelegates from its presidential nominating process. When the DNC Unity Reform Commission meets for the fifth and final time on Friday and Saturday in Washington DC, we’ll see if he was successful. As a kind of final effort, he […]
RI House delegation doesn’t follow Pelosi’s lead on superdelegates
Superdelegates aren’t sacrosanct to the Democrats’ presidential nominating process, as evidenced by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi’s willingness to rail against their role yesterday at the Community College of Rhode Island (and Sunday on CNN). But that doesn’t mean every House Democrat will follow her lead and speak out against the process that gives state […]
Berniecrats feel vindicated by Brazile’s book
In December 2015 I wrote an article about why I believed Debbie Wasserman Schultz was impeding democracy. At that point the focus was on the debate schedule, The Sanders’ campaign Van access denial and other issues. Fast forward to November 2017, almost 2 years later, and all over the news are additional revelations about democracy […]
Paolino and Delorenzo don’t represent the future of the Democratic Party
On Sunday at the Portuguese Club in Cranston there was the “annual” Rhode Island Democratic Party Meeting. I put “annual” in quotes because in 2015 there was no meeting at all. The catalyst for the meeting was the very untimely death of National Committeeman Frank Montanaro. The committee members were gathered to elect their new […]
DNC Chairman Tom Perez to teach at Brown
Tom Perez, chairman of the Democratic National Committee and former labor secretary to President Barack Obama, is returning to Brown University, his alma mater, to teach a course this fall. “Today’s students at Brown will be tomorrow’s leaders,” Perez said in a statement from the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs, where he will […]
Joe McNamara explains DNC vote for Tom Perez over Keith Ellison
When Rep. Joe McNamara, chairman of the Rhode Island Democratic Party, was on his way to vote for the next chair of the Democratic National Committee in Atlanta on Saturday morning, he didn’t know who would emerge victorious – Minnesota Congressman Keith Ellison, his preferred candidate, or former Labor Secretary Tom Perez, the eventual winner. […]
RI Democratic Party endorses Keith Ellison for DNC chief
Congressman Keith Ellison should be the next chairman of the Democratic National Committee. At least that’s how Rhode Island’s four delegates will vote when the party meets next week to elect a new leader, according to a press release from the Rhode Island Democratic Party. “In the aftermath of this nation’s elections, it’s clear we […]
Young Democrats say the battle for the Democratic Party begins with Keith Ellison
“We are now in the era of Trump,” said Representative Keith Ellison in his video message, “That means it is go-time for all of us. Anybody who believes in a fair economy and social justice, anyone who believes politics should serve people, and that people should be in control of their own lives and their own destinies, you got to step up, and we really need your help.”
Life as a local Bernie delegate at the DNC
As it was for many Bernie Sanders delegates, last week’s Democratic National Convention was the first convention for me. I had an idea of what to expect, but I was less prepared for the dynamics associated with our underdog movement. Throughout the campaign, I followed Bernie far and wide. I believed in his positions on trade deals, […]
Protest the system, but support Clinton
One of the most frustrating events that I saw at the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday night was when Jill Stein joined Sanders delegates during their walkout protest of Clinton’s nomination with a Fox News crew in tow. I understand her motivation–to woo disillusioned Sanders supporters–but even more frustrating was Stein’s willingness to promote the walk-out on social […]
Obama makes powerful case for Hillary
On a night that began with vice presidential candidate Tim Kaine being nominated by acclamation, Democrats – and one high-profile Independent – squared off against Trump and built a solid affirmative case for a Hillary Clinton presidency. Aiming squarely at the image that Trump projected in his convention last week, Obama offered a scathing dissection. […]
RI delegation celebrates historic roll call vote
At the roll call vote in Philadelphia this evening, the Democratic National Convention formally nominated Hillary Rodham Clinton as their candidate for president. The votes of Rhode Island’s 32 delegates were announced by Speaker of the House Nick Mattielo, who, in the tradition of nominating speeches, took the opportunity to sing the praises of the […]
Roll call vote for Sanders anticipated at DNC
With Sanders organizers fanning out to all the convention hotels to collect delegate signatures supporting a roll-call vote, there was reaction from both the Clinton camp and among local delegates at their daily breakfast meeting this morning. “We anticipate there will be a roll call vote tomorrow night and that every vote will be counted,” […]
DNC Sunday: Tours, protests, preparations
With no committee sessions today, there was time to take a tour of historic Philadelphia organized for the media (called “Breakfast and B-roll”), cover a couple of the marches (March For Bernie and March for a Clean Energy Revolution, and explore the press spaces in the Pennsylvania Convention Center (where the delegates will hold caucuses […]
Wikileaks dump shows DNC had concerns about RI primary
Though the recent DNC email Wikileaks dump seems to show that high level DNC operatives work working for Clinton, in violation of party rules, RI Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea does not seem to have been involved.
Convention Reflection: A Rant About Democrats
Get ready for a rant. I managed to engage in far less blogging than I’d hoped to over the course of my four days in Charlotte. Here’s what I was left with: The convention had its moments, for sure: What I heard of Elizabeth Warren was very good, certainly by the standards of what you […]
Obama Delivers Compelling Case for Re-Election
CHARLOTTE, NC –– President Barack Obama, in a crisp, straight-forward speech at the Democratic National Convention last night, laid out the central choice embodied in his re-election campaign. “Over the next few years,” said the president, “big decisions will be made in Washington, on jobs and the economy; taxes and deficits; energy and education; war […]
RI Delegation Welcomes a First-Night Speaker
CHARLOTTE, NC –– The Rhode Island delegation was buzzing this morning over last night’s speeches and events at the Democratic National Convention, and they had a surprise visitor when Gov. Lincoln Chafee stopped by their breakfast. “We may have our differences back home,” Chafee told the delegates, “But here, we’re all united to support the […]
Progress Report: Grading Chafee’s Speech; Cicilline, Gemma and WPRO; Costly State House Seats; ‘On the Road’
The cable networks may have cut away from Linc Chafee’s speech at the DNC last night, but trust those of us who were streaming it on the internet: Rhode Island’s independent governor nailed it. He spoke about pride in country, love of the land, social responsibility and fiscal responsibility, and then said, “The values I […]
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