Day 3 of the convention

Wow, it’s Thursday already. Actually, it was Thursday before I left the convention center last night, but who’s keeping track and certainly who needs sleep???  The week has gone so quickly.  There has been so much excitement. So many people around in the streets, some for and some against but all part of the process as well ,and part of a system that will allow them to protest and complain about the system all the while the police are protecting them on their route, so they are safe during their protest.  It has been amazing.

I’m still floating from last night’s speeches but I need to get up to get my credential and get over to the Woman’s Caucus.  I walk down to the Blake Hotel and there are a LOT of empty seats.  I’m telling you, if I didn’t have to get my credential, i certainly would have skipped breakfast.  About my credential, I wanted to see if my pal Doug could hook me up again.  He said that he’s try but he didn’t seem as optimistic as the day before.  He did indicate that the color for the tags are the same on the floor and in the alternate’s area, so he said I could just try. I told him that I’m a bit of a stickler for the rules but we’ll see what happens.  I preceded to text the woman who gave me the credential the day before, just to have her keep me on her mind.

Mind you, they have the President of the United States arriving today, I don’t think the credential of an alternate delegate from Westchester, California is top priority. Oh well, I will go upon my way.  I’m going to the woman’s caucus and then going to have lunch with my delegate friend Diane and then see if my credential change comes in.

Off I walk to the convention center. Security is very tight, metal detectors, bag searches and no liquids or umbrellas allowed.  They have an amazing line up of speakers but – did I mention that I’m tired? –  This certainly an empowering session with all these exceptional woman doing amazing things and want to inspire excellence in our day to day as well as, they want you to run for office!! We need more woman in office.  President Obama has appointed and hired fantastic woman since he took office. He has fought for our issues.  A great example is Lilly Ledbetter. She was adorable and humble.  She was clear that we can’t go back on woman’s rights and while she lost her fight with the Supreme court, it was President Obama who signed her case into law. She said that he didn’t see it as a stranger’s case, he made it personal, imagining his mother and down the road, his own daughters. He knew it isn’t right for a woman to be paid less for doing the same work, so he did something about it. There was a whole line up of amazing woman but the main reason for the security was that we were introduced to  Jill Biden and Michelle Obama.

Jill did a great job introducing Michelle and Michelle talked about Jill and how exceptional she is in her teaching and her roll as the VP’s wife AND that there was nothing second about her – (They were introduced as the first and second ladies of the US.)  Michelle talked about the work we have cut out for us and we have to get out, get the issues heard and get people to VOTE.  If each of us just has 5 people vote that normally wouldn’t, that number can make the difference.  She pointed out that even though the President won Florida, it was only by about 140,000 votes and if you break that down into districts it was only about  35 votes per district.  She hoped that would bring it home that every vote counts and for each of us to get more people to vote.

Hard to tell but that is Jill Biden and Michelle Obama

Lilly Ledbetter talking with Congresswoman, Debbie Wasserman Schultz from Florida’s 20th district. (I don’t know the young girl they are talk with)

 

After this session, I meet Diane for lunch and then I return to my room and hope for the best on my credential.