Ah, we're so friendly in the north. Look at that, Red Lion Templin's Hotel welcoming the Idaho Democratic Party to their friendly neck of the north Idaho woods. How can you beat that?? It certainly warmed the cockles of my heart....
I just love state committee meetings. I love seeing old friends and meeting new people from places in Idaho that are as foreign to me as, well, as foreign lands and places. But when we're all in the same room together, it's like the manifestation of a whole party, one state united in common values, with other people who place a high value on democracy, and, more importantly, on people.
And, as usual, it was inspired. Our new Executive Director, John Foster, has already carved out his niche, including who he is and the direction in which he wants to lead the party. Taking his cue from the DNC, he sees clearly the much needed effort to unite all of Idaho at the grassroots level, in order to see good, old-fashioned Democratic values, Idaho values, once more take center stage in this state. He has spoken to many of us so many times it seems like he has been around for years, rather than months.
And of course, Stephanie Astorquia, our Treasurer, who is the only person I've ever met that can make money spending and accumulation make some sort of sense to me. I am in awe of her as can be seen in her impressive accounting skills and ability which leave me, big-mouth me, utterly speechless. At least once a week I give thanks for having her as our treasurer....
Always a ray of sunshine, and a person who allows no negativity to come near her, Shelley Landry, our north Idaho fieldworker, displayed her usual organizational skills and warmly greeted all of us who miss her whenever she is in the great unknown regions of District 1. Without her, I'm not sure that there could even be a united north Idaho Democratic Party.... And with Shelley, we're Democrats, we can make this work....
Chuck Oxley seemed to have a heads up on everything being said, took many photos, including the above one which he so kindly emailed to me before I even made it back to Bonners Ferry, and I'm sure he'll have plenty for us to read in his News Updates.
So many other familiar faces from around the state, including the tireless southern fieldworker, Randy Johnson, the other county chairs that work so hard for the IDP, the delightful and so very hard-working House Minority Leader, Wendy Jaquet, and I know I'm forgetting others after a long but wonderful day in Post Falls (still north Idaho but almost 2 hrs. from home).
Our illustrious leader, Richard Stallings, that very kind man with a tremendous sense of political acumen and a wonderful touch of dry wit and humor, always seems to find just the right things to say. I only wish that he could visit all the counties on a regular basis because he obviously has so much leadership to impart and share in a state so geographically divided.
And of course it is always a delight to see Larry Grant, who should be Congressman Larry Grant, which may be a wish fulfilled next year. How wonderful for DNC speaker, Parag Mehta, to thank Larry, and to say what I and others said after the last election, that even though he didn't win, he made Republicans spend so much money here that the money they lost in other states made them lose Republican seats! (Well, I didn't know about losing Republican seats because of that money but I know it was due to Larry Grant and Jerry Brady that Republicans took lots of money from elsewhere and spent it in Idaho; indeed, they even sent VP Cheney to Coeur d'Alene, ID. Now when was the last time someone that high up in the US gov. came to north Idaho????) So thank you Parag for bringing that statistic up. You go, Larry!
And I was delighted to see our Party VP, Jeanne Buell, one of the most compassionate people I know who also has the political heart strong enough to push the DNC to give us such wonderful people like Parag Mehta to speak. Jeanne provides so much soul to this party, as well as organizational skills with great foresight (thanks so much for the notecards....) that I always know I'll learn some important political and humanistic skill whenever we have the chance to meet.
Finally, I want to thank the DNC for sending us Parag Mehta. He may not be the VP like Cheney, but Cheney, if he had a mind and/or a heart, could learn loads from Parag. He entered the room and took the floor with the energy of Howard Dean, the political astuteness of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and the charisma of Bobby Kennedy. I loved what he said, his presentation, his humor, his intelligence, and "the plan." I've knocked on enough doors to know that the DNC 50 state strategy can work. My only disappointment is that he couldn't have spoke on Saturday when the attendance would have been much greater. As I told him, if the DNC doesn't give more energy to north Idaho, then not only will they lose north Idaho votes, but western Montana and eastern Washington votes as well. I'm sure Parag heard me...
Well, I must get up early in the morning for another political day of delight in north Idaho. Which reminds me, if not for the tremendous efforts of Bev Moss, Kootenai County Chair, Shelley Landry, Tamara Poelstra and others of whom I do not know, then this wonderful opportunity to have a state committe meeting in north Idaho would never have occurred. So a giant HURRAH for Bev and the Kootenai Democrats! And for all of you Kootenai Democrats and precinct captains who did not attend, well, you missed out on a great and inspirational opportunity.
After another state committee meeting, what can I say but IdahoRocks! You go, my blue Idaho!
