What happened at the Caucus (a rookie’s perspective)
Totally ignorant of what I’m doing and motivated to get a feel for local politics, I attended my first gubernatorial caucus. It was strange.
Here’s the deal:
A bunch of nerdy people you live around get together in a pseudo formal meeting to nominate each other to organize each other, decide on issues they want to represent, and do a relatively meaningless vote for governor. My attitude isn’t as negative as it sounds. I’ve just got a cold right now.
First of all, show up on time. I showed up 15 minutes late, sneakily slid up next to the angry butch Kathy Bates lady that was registering people and she looked at me like I grabbed her boob and forced me to stand up and walk around the table in front of everybody to register.
Also, if you are ignorant like me, I would suggest touching up on your parliamentary law. That’s the whole… I nominate Cliff, and Carla 2nds that nomination, and Woody motions for discussion, and Norm 2nds that, and Rebecca motions to end discussion and everybody seconds that and on and on. Those who knew the rules were highly respected, those who didn’t provoked many whispers and stink faces. I found this to be the most annoying element of the meeting… or at least it caused most of the annoyances.
So the chairman running the meeting runs through all the nominations of people to do jobs to organize each other. That part is pretty easy and it seems like the only qualification you need to do any of the jobs is the ability to raise your hand.
After all that was done, they announced the highly anticipated results of the straw poll. It was extremely anti-climatic and I don’t remember the results. A glamourous looking gay couple left after the results were announced.
The best part of my caucus was resolution time. Apparently there are some active campers in the community that have filled out some forms to make some issues official. A resolution is presented… deaf old meanies make the presenter stand up in front of everybody and speak loudly… and then everybody debates. There was a bunch of really stupid semantic and rules arguments during this time which was totally aggravating and it made me realize how annoying the law is.
Our 5 resolutions were about a statewide public health care option, public transportation, sex ed in 7-12 grade, rank choice voting, and public funding for a new vikings stadium. Of course the vikings stadium resolution was the most highly argued in the group including a passionate and loud 5 minute braveheart speech from Tony the angry electrician.
To be honest, I enjoyed the caucus, but was relieved when it was over. I imagine it’s like the renaissance fair… it sounds like it might be fun, you go there and see a bunch of weirdos acting weird… and then when it’s over, your glad to get out of there, but you had a pretty good time. I raised my hand to become a delegate and I head the next meeting is supposed to be better. I’ll let you know.
