Come one, Come all!

What: Young Democrats of Utah annual Legislative Caucus Lunch

Where: Spruce Room, East Capitol Building, Utah State Capitol

When: Friday, January 28th, noon

Why: Free food and a chance to meet the people that represent you!

Last Saturday, the Young Democrats of Utah met for their annual convention and My Republican Wife (MRW) wanted to participate in the festivities. Not missing an opportunity to have more slave labor for the convention, I welcomed her along for another helping hand.

So, we climb aboard the aforementioned “Cheney” and headed on down.

MRW would soon register and pick up her program.  Seeing Vice Presidential Candidate Crystal Young-Otterstrom (a personal friend) she soon set to work helping on her campaign. Despite being a registered Republican, she happily started snipping out the backings that would be used for buttons. Being new to this, MRW did not know that you didn’t have to be 100 percent accurate when cutting and promptly snipped her finger – she tongue in cheek claims that it is nearly a “nearly stitchable wound,” I dunno, you be the judge:

Regardless, she now has to admit that she has contributed blood, sweat (she had a bit of a fever at the time), and tears – no need to talk about that now.

As the convention continued, I was working the check-in table while MRW found herself inside listening to the keynote address from Senator Ben McAdams and the various candidates running for office. During this same time she somehow seated herself next to a Libertarian and a hard core Democrat, with a former Log-Cabin Republican seated behind her. Mind you, MRW had a great relationship with these people long before the convention ever started and will continue to do so long after, but it points to just how odd of a situation MRW has gotten herself into since meeting me.

Well, I had volunteered to count ballots and MRW wanted to come up just to see what it was like. Well, joke was on her, she soon got drafted by the Executive Director (someone else she has known ever since she met me), to assist with the count.  It is cute that she still hasn’t figured out that going beyond showing up means you actually have to do things.

So the count began. It was an extremely tight vote, and tensions were running high at times. This was exacerbated by the fact that, at one point, counts were off for a few races.

So MRW, in a room with a bunch of fired up liberals, is sitting back and counting votes. Clearly flustered at times, she didn’t miss the chance to yell at me when I pointed out that she misspoke during a section of the counting – heaven forbid I want to make sure things were clear!

Well we all did eventually emerge and announced the verified results.

MRW’s candidates didn’t win even though she (being a board member with the Young Republicans mind you) knew more about the people and politics behind the election that day; furthermore, her personal relationships with not only myself but people such as Crystal, meant that she had more legitimate concerns for the wellbeing of YDU than the majority of the people who showed up that day.

But I digress.

The convention eventually wrapped up, and just in time (I am told). She made it home just in time to catch America’s Newsroom HQ on Fox News.

*sigh* What a day.

As per usual, here is my upcoming article for the Young Democrats of Utah’s quartly newsletter. I hope you enjoy!

We as liberals have worked ourselves into a nice little funk. We see that Republicans win time and time again, and we suck our thumbs and say “woe is me.” But what have you ever really done to change this? Utah was once a Democratic state, with a blue governor and legislature to boot. Much has changed to cause this shift, but one factor we hate to admit is that, on the whole, we have accepted our lot in life politically.

The classic problem for the Democratic Party has been how to get people excited about any and everything and work towards that common good.

But why should you spend your time helping a candidate who may not vote the way you wish on a particular issue? Why should you join an organization that only concerned about some of your ideas but not others? Why should you spend your time, at all, working for something that, if successful, may not bear fruit immediately?

Put simply, you should because we live in Utah and, if you are reading this, you probably don’t like the things decisions that are made on your behalf on Capitol Hill.

It is frustrating, I know, to hear the drone from above. But we need to focus on the little things that add up. A friend of mine told a story about how a person came up to her and told her that they switched to reusable water bottles because of her – actions like that add up and, no, the effect may not seem obvious at first, but, often times, the smallest actions
make the biggest difference.

We are all in this together, and our resources need to be as solid and strong as possible. This can only be achieved through a unified, robust force. If you put in one hour a week towards something, it will make a difference; but if hundreds of people put in an hour, you have a movement.

The Young Democrats of Utah have the ability to be a unifier, if only because we don’t have one particular agenda to promote. Furthermore, we have proven it in the past with our extremely successful “18 votes” campaign. It is in this spirit that we are reactivating this youth voter drive, and we hope you choose to join us for a weekend or two to make
the difference.

Utah has some of the lowest voter turn out in the nation, this means that we have no place to go but up. Lets not kid ourselves, ten phone calls may equal one vote, but over time, that makes a big difference.

So join the Young Democrats of Utah for a night to make phone calls, for a weekend to walk door-to-door, for an afternoon to make lawn signs. Be as involved as you want to be, but be as committed as you think your ideals should be.

Inaugural Calvin L. Rampton Democratic Hall of Fame Award 

Now that the election is over, it is time for Democrats to unite behind our common goals…in other words:

That’s right, it is that time of the year when the Young Democrats of Utah hold their annual BBQ.  This year, we have teamed up with the Salt Lake County Democratic party to host a Unity BBQ that will bring all of the campaigns together under one big pavilion.

The BBQ will be at Sherwood Park from 2:00 to 4:00 PM. The food is free and the times shall be good.

Sherwood Park is located at 1500 West 400 South in Salt Lake (MAP).  To RSVP, visit the events Facebook page.

As is my tradition, I present to you my upcoming article, called Smart Ass,  for the Young Democrats of Utah’s newsletter…ENJOY!

—

It is that time of year again, you know the one, where the news media will rightfully report the shocking heat wave, rising gas prices, and (one can only hope) single shark attack that will mark the official start of sharkmageddon 2010.

I, for one, welcome the change of pace. Though I am still concerned about the size of Kim Kardashian’s butt and which common household item could kill me if applied to the ear – but that is neither here nor there; what is really important is that the news media will still report the issues that matter most.

Never mind the immigration debate or the environmental disasters taking place in Alaska and the Gulf Coast.  I know it is a bit of a downer to think about how instability in the Middle East may lead to higher energy prices or how domestic terrorism is on the rise. No, no, don’t burden me news media with issues that might actually affect me and my family.

Although, to be fair, I will admit that when news programs talk about these issues, they do a bang-up job of showing flashy graphics and yelling at people who have different view points from those approved by the network.  That does provide some level of entertainment but, come on, SHARKMAGEDDON!

Aw, who am I kidding – I don’t want to watch the news in the first place, TLC has a show about little people who bake cakes and were attacked by killer bees. Now that’s news!

I must admit that it was somewhat refreshing to go to a convention and not have to actually worry about hocking a campaign or idea. No, I could, for the first time in years, simply be a delegate and take in the entirety of the days events.

For those of you who did not attend, I can tell you that this was, by far, one of the largest conventions I have seen in years for Salt Lake County, and for good reason. There were no less than three major races up for grabs, and each campaign made it abundantly clear that they expected their supporters to show up in force.

The Young Democrats, too, had a strong showing, and I was impressed that nearly every candidate and lawmaker, from the state on down, took the time to wait and speak to our caucus. I counted at least 35 candidates lining up just to speak to our group. In the end the body chose to endorse Arlyn Bradshaw for County Council District 1, Sim Gill for District Attorney, and Rebecca Chavez-Houck for House District 24. Asside from Bradshaw, both Gill and Chavez-Houck made it out of convention with out much trouble.

And it turns out that that was the big story from the convention. The race between Bradshaw and Cal Noyce would span three votes and two hours – resulting in an eventual primary run that will take place on June 6th. Now, there is a whole blog post in and of itself about why this race will prove interesting and you can expect one coming soon.

The convention was abuzz about the impending decision delegates will have to make regarding House District 2. Both Claudia Wright and Jim Matheson were present, and both were pressing the flesh in an attempt to gain supporters. Wright at the Young Democrats meeting called those (such as myself) who say that she is unelectable “fearmongerers” and that conventioneers should not believe the hype.

I still think that Wright victory is wishful thinking and that I am not so much fearmongering as looking at reality, however I have invited Ashley Anderson, a staunch Wright supporter and political activist, to write on this blog why he feels Wright can win.

Finally, I would like to tell a nice story about Salt Lake County Mayor (and hopefully next Governor of Utah), Peter Corroon. I stepped outside to get some cool air, as tradition seems to be to never turn on the air conditioning at these events, when I spotted Mayor Corroon playing with his two young boys. Encouraging them to work off a little steam after a long day standing around boring adults, he tells them to run from one side of West High’s football field to the other. After returning, one of his children challenge him to another foot race. Sure enough, Mayor Corroon, in full suit and tie mind you, goes running across the field. Now, I am convinced that Corroon threw the race and let his son win (I know, right?), but I think it speaks volumes about his character.

Don’t forget that the Young Democrats of Utah’s annual convention is this Saturday from 2-5 PM at the University of Utah’s Saltair room located in the Student Union. Keynote speakers include Councilman Luke Garrott and Lauren Littlefield of Equality Utah.

Plus, I would appreciate your vote for Vice President.

Anyone under the age of 36 is considered a “Young Democrat,” so if you meet the criteria, please come join us!

Here is the Facebook Invite.

For the two of you who are Young Dems, read this blog, and don’t subscribe to the YDU email list – take note!

The Young Democrats are taking applications for various board positions for next year.  All positions, aside from national committeewoman, last for a year.  To apply, click here.

YDU JOB DESCRIPTIONS:

Vice President – - Assists President and Executive Director as needed – Fills role of President when he/she is unavailable – Works with Caucus Chairs in achieving the goals of each caucus – Keeps Caucus Chairs accountable for their goals and duties – Assists and provides coordination between YDU Board and the caucuses – Assists in setting the goals and carrying out action plans of YDU – Oversees production and works with President, Executive Director, Secretary, and Caucus Chairs to develop the YDU quarterly newsletter – Works with Secretary to develop copy for YDU quarterly newsletter

Secretary – - Keeps records and minutes of all meetings and functions of YDU – Emails meeting minutes to all board members within 48 hours of every meeting – Maintains and keeps current the contact list and database of all YDU members – Works with the Caucus Chairs to organize contact lists and maintain charters for each chapter – Responsible for all emails and correspondence to YDU members – Helps Vice President develop copy for newsletter – Maintains charter of YDU with YDA

Treasurer – - Maintains record of all donations and expenditures to YDU – Balances the budget and gives quarterly budget reports to Executive Board – Writes checks for YDU expenses – Works with Executive Director and President on fundraising efforts

Communications Director – - Develops all advertisements for YDU and YDU activities – Designs flyers, posters, and YDU literature – Maintains branding scheme while developing t-shirts, buttons, and other promotional goods – Oversees production of all promotional goods and advertisements – Develops, maintains, and keeps the YDU website current – Works with Secretary to develop press releases and other press related activities, including radio, television, and print media – Distributes all press materials to the media – Works with Executive Director to develop advertisements for YDU activities – Produces layout and production of YDU newsletter

National Committeewoman (Two Year)- – Represents YDU on a national level – Develops relationships with neighboring states and regions – Attends the Young Democrats of America national meetings – Reports on the progress of YDU – Gathers ideas from other states and implements them in Utah – Advocates for the growth of the Democratic Party within Utah – Build coalitions with neighboring states and regions to increase the effort of the Young Democrats.

Caucus Chairs (High School, College, and Young Professionals) – - Represents caucus members on YDU board – Acts as a liaison between YDU Board and local respective caucus chapters – Oversees outreach and recruitment strategies/efforts for the caucus – Assists local caucus chapters with recruitment and membership efforts – Reports to Executive Board of progress within local chapters. These positions will be elected at convention in caucus meetings, there is no need to apply for these positions.

If you do not see anything that interests you, or you are not qualified for these positions YDU still needs your help.
There are many ways to get involved with YDU, and we need your skills. To inquire about an appointed position or other ways to get involved call Justin at 801-824-4073 or come to one of our board meetings every Wednesday at 6:00 PM at State Democratic Headquarters.(board meetings are open to everyone, and all are welcome)

The following will appear in the Young Democrats quarterly newsletter just as soon as it is published, but I thought I would let you all get a sneak peak!

So there you are, minding your own business in, say, your works break room, when you overhear a conversation between two of your fellow coworkers and one of them says something that you know is just blatantly wrong…well, you don’t know if they are blatantly wrong, but by damn it sure sounds like they are!

But, oh no! You know that this guy is probably some liberally educated, latte drinking jerk who has probably taken a debate class or two – he is going to cream you for sure when you inevitably have to attack him what he is saying – after all, it is your First Amendment right to state your opinion even when no one asks for it!

Well never fear, I have compiled this short list of do’s and don’ts to ensure that you beat that snot nose every time.

Don’t:

Think about where the other side is coming from – everyone has the exact same background as you.

Do:

Shout as loudly as you possibly can – more observers will be able to hear what you have to say and, naturally, agree.

Don’t:

Concede a single point, even if mounds of evidence can prove you wrong – “facts” are just what people use when they don’t know the truth!

Do:

Bring into question the personal history of the person you are debating with, even if it has nothing to do with the issue at hand – If someone got a speeding ticket eight years ago, they clearly don’t have the moral fortitude to discuss any issue.

Don’t:

Allow your opponent to use this tactic on you – you were young and naïve, and it is absurd to bring up the past when discussing this issue.

Do:

Cite websites, chain email, and those who are paid to say things on television as legitimate sources – it is fact that the people who write and say things have no reason to lie.

Don’t:

Allow your opponent to cite so-called “legitimate” sources such as critically examined books and newspaper articles – Everyone knows that that is just elitist.

Do:

Try to compress your argument into overly simplistic issues – if it can’t fit on a bumper sticker, it probably isn’t short enough to prove your point.

Don’t:

Acknowledge that complex issues may require complex solutions, sometimes over many years – this is America, dammit! We get things done!

Do:

Blame some other group; preferably one that you already think are gross or taking your job – never acknowledge that your way of life may be part of the problem.

And finally…

Don’t:

Gain any sort of perspective or insight over the debate that just took place – continue to stay close minded and pity that pour soul that just lost the debate for thinking the way they do.