Democracy For Missouri — Taking Back America... one election at a time.

In a well attended and highly charged meeting last night, Sean Spence won the endorsement of Columbia DFA in the race to fill Judy Baker's 25th District seat. There are three very excellent Democrats with progressive bona fides running, so the choice was difficult.
The voting was conducted by President Wayne Brekhus using IRV ballots, and after 3 minute speeches by Bob Pund, Mary Still and Sean,(and a bit of explanation on how instant runoff voting works), the balloting of the 47 present went most smoothly.

Our own Lily Tinker Fortel is currently out in Iran on a peace mission with Fellowship of Reconciliation...reaching out to ordinary Iranians in the name of peace. She is blogging her adventure here:
http://www.midmopeaceworks.org/lilyiniran.php
We are so proud and pleased that an active member of Columbia DFA is demonstrating such committment to Peace. Thank you Lily from all of us. We wish you and your mission well! We look forward to seeing back home in time to campaign with us to take back our Country, this summer.

Earth Day this year was beautiful and DFA was there!

More pics and story here!

A large crowd filled the Library Friends Room for the first of a series of candidate forums.

There are a lot of great Democrats running for offices up and down the ticket, making the Primary choice difficult.
More pics are in the Gallery. Thanks to Peg for these photos.
Rosenbaum the Tribune has a great article on the forum with a good analysis of the candidate positions:
http://archive.columbiatribune.com/2008/apr/20080410news009.asp
DfMO will be holding endorsement votes in general DFA meetings after each debate.
Wednesday May 7th at 7:00 PM, at the Union hall at 601 N Garth we will vote on the three great candidates for 25th District...Sean Spence, Mary Still and Bob Pund. Come on down! Help decide if we endorse anyone and who that might be.

I wrote this originally for the online version of the Missourian.

As I See it…
The Obama Delegate selection process, the trail to Denver and Victory in November

I am honored, humbled and blessed to have been elected one of two delegates for Barack Obama from the 9th Congressional District. How Delegates are elected and the Primary/caucus/convention process is a bit obscure and I will go into that later, but I will say that I very much look forward to our State Democratic Convention here in Columbia on May 10th , and to the National Democratic Convention in Denver August 25th thru 28th. In Denver, I will proudly cast the vote given me by 9th Congressional District Democrats, for Barack Obama.

My father, Karl Monroe was the Editor of the Collinsville (IL) Herald for over 40 years and wrote a column "As I See It" twice a week, for that paper. I was especially thrilled therefore when a reporter from the Missourian asked if I might write a piece for MyMissourian.com on the Obama delegate process as I have experienced it.

As I see it, there is a lot to the political process in Missouri, and nationally which, despite all the civics classes and news reports, remain a mystery to most of us. (More below the fold)

As reported in the Missourian,
http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2008/04/01/sociology-professor-lands-10000-kemper-award/
Our own Democracy for Missouri President, Wayne Brekhus has been recognized by the University for his excellence instructing and inspiring students at MU.
This award is very well deserved. Sometimes recognition does indeed fall to those who are deserving.
Congratulations Wayne!

Latest NBC/Wall Street Journal poll:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120657171729866843.html?mod=hpp_us_whats_news&loc=interstitialskip
Concludes that Hillary Clinton support among women fading, Clinton and Barack Obama now tied at 45% Nationally and Obama moving up from a decline after the Pastor controversy. It has Clinton being beaten by McCain and Obama beating McCain. All by small margins.
This is good news for Barack Obama, but polls assessing November contests at this point are ...um...pointless, in my opinion.

The three great Democratic Candidates who are running for State Rep in the 25th District in Columbia, Bob Pund, Mary Still and Sean Spence will present their case for State Representative and answer questions of the public in a DFA Forum in the Friends Room of the Daniel Boone Regional Library (Garth and Broadway in Columbia) at 6:30PM April 9th. Lets turn out and pick the very best of three excellent choices.

Over 1200 turned out on Sunday in Columbia to call for Peace in Iraq. It was the largest Peace March in Columbia since the days of Vietnam. Today...the actual anniversary of the illegal "pre-emptive" attack on Iraq, dozens of folks turned out again to protest on street corners in Columbia.

Here is a gallery of photos on the Democracy for Missouri website:
http://democracyformo.com/d/v/DfMotakingbackourcountryDemocratsunited_/1000+strong/
The Columbia Tribune has a nice article with audio/visual slideshow of the Sunday event:
http://archive.columbiatribune.com/2008/mar/20080317news001.asp
Democracy for Missouri is a member organization of the Columbia Peace Coalition which sponsored both events.

The DFA Training Academy which was such a hit here in Columbia last April, returns to Missouri this June, with new trainers and a focus on winning in November. Details and RSVP here:
http://dfalink.com/event.php?id=27009
Learn new skills and brush up on ones you have, because the Democrats need to be fully prepared as we go into the General Election season.

I am in such despair over what is going on in the Democratic Party, I am beginning to manifest symptoms of a full-blown dissociative disorder.

Three events are coming up this summer which will inform our campaigns to take back our State and Nation.
I have attended the last two National Conference on Media Reform conferences. It is fun in the extreme and I came away each time inspired and greatly informed on the issues of media, FCC reform, access to bandwidth, Net neutrality etc. Speakers include Bill Moyers, Van Jones, Amy Goodman and Robert McChesney.
http://www.freepress.net/conference/
Kansas City Democracy for America is hosting the DFA Campaign Training Academy this June. Brush up your campaign skills and acquire new ones at this weekend training in June. This very low cost event may be the best thing you do this year to take back Missouri.
http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=27009
Once known as Yearly Kos, the NetRoots Nation Convention in Austin Texas promises to be very good this year. The schedule is not yet finalized but you can count on Marcos to produce an amazing weekend:
http://www.yearlykosconvention.org/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fNKFmCqCTc

A dear friend and a Nader supporter writes:

I am disturbed to find you reserve your greatest scorn for me because of my support for Ralph Nader.
Bob why do you go so far out of your way to insult everyone and then have the arrogance to end your letters with "Peace".
You see, I do read your long letters to the end.
Maybe I should just delete them and keep my peace.

_________________

Dear Friend,

This is a great resource from KOMU:
http://www.komu.com/satellite/SatelliteRender/KOMU.com/e4346c77-c0a8-2f11-0149-4b4f524013be/590daf3f-80ce-0971-0032-3c0730e76c48
Lets get in touch with these folks to get a Progressive Democrat as our nominee.

Just when you thought things could not become more confused, pitched, mad and surreal, another bomb falls.

Just in case you were too caught up this past Sunday in the really important events surrounding the Oscars to note the latest bizarre twisting and turning on the road to the White House, Ralph Nader announced his candidacy for President.