Live, from the State Central Committee meeting...

i'll let LoErna cover the actual meeting more properly, since i just happened to be in Portland on personal business and went to the SCC meeting to observe. but i do want to say this: we have a lot of passionate Dems in this state. people are not participating in this party because their parents were Dems and so they are; they are Dems because the believe in what this great party -- the party of Jefferson and now, by default, the true party of Lincoln -- stands for. a lot of the stuff that happens with so-called divisiveness is simply the inability of diverse Demos to not give a damn. we do, and we just so often find it impossible to let go. to not strive for our beliefs.

good leadership is vital then, people who can guide those people past their squabbles and to a place where they can find common ground. good leaders do not quash differences or try to cover over disagreements. good democratic leaders find ways to let the diversity feed ideas and energy while gaining accord on platforms, policies, etc. it's a tough thing to do, which is why the Republican leadership in both Oregon and DC prefer to rule dictatorally. democracy is the real hard work, and for all their imperfections, the DPO's leadership is willing to do that hard work.

i will continue to fight for the right of Democrats to be a total mess on the issues. our party is big and strong enough to include people like Dan and JJ, both of whom are "wrong" on the 2nd Amendment, as well as those like me who get that one "correct." we can include militarists like John Murtha and peaceniks (ok, again me) who see violence as an admission of failure. as long as we agree to disagree and develop processes to work out those differences so we can win elections and sway legislation, we will be fine. we've seen the results when a party crushes dissent and forces a single voice (the Mouth of Sauron, for those of you who know your Tolkien) -- it's a road to corruption and dissolution. let's not fear our differences; let's use them to create a great, democratic state and country.