Washblog

Do you remember Majid Al Bahajii, friendly Iraqi-American Obama delegate from Seattle whose story moved us all?

Here is an AP photo from the first day of the Dem convention in Denver, posted on Sulekha.com

Go Majid!

A girl has to have SOME fun. Above, 34th District Obama delegates Dinazina (moi) and Jody Rogers.

This year I had trouble deciding which Pride Parade contingent to march with (or mince with, considering the shoes I wore). Obama O8 had hundreds of marchers, and I like the King County Dems, but I decided to decorate Jim McDermott's contingent, with his okay. So as not to embarrass him with my fabulousness, I stayed a little behind the banner. Hey Jim, I bet you thought all those cheers were for you!

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This is what democracy looks like; The next step remains to be seen. Yesterday the City of Seattle held the first public forums on proposed City Jail sites made public last month. City Reps, PR reps, and reporters got an earful from residents of Highland Park, White Center, Riverview, High Point, Georgetown & South Park.

My neighbor Laura Drake set the tone for the evening with a FIERY DIATRIBE that drew noisy cheers, befitting her experience as an actress. SEE A 2-MINUTE VIDEO at West Seattle Blog. Thanks WSB!

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June 2, 2008: A hundred or so disgruntled HIghland Park neighbors assembled for Round Two of opposition to Seattle's proposal for a City Jail in either of two sites on the edge of our neighborhood. JAIL PROPOSAL COMMUNITY RESPONSE
Valient representatives from our County Council and Legislative District arrived ready to do battle with the city of Seattle.

More pictures and story below:

SHOWDOWN ON MAY 19th
About 70 Highland Park neighbors showed up at a community meeting, having heard tell of a new CITY JAIL planned on the gateway of their neighborhood.
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Highland Park is an unpretentious, obscure neighborhood in the southeast corner of West Seattle -- the OPPOSITE end of West Seattle from the upscale Admiral area where Mayor Nickels lives. Just on the other side of the city line is White Center, which is even LESS pretentious.

It is not without its charm to us residents, though. You may recall my previous diaries about last spring's HP Summit and HP Arts.

Highland Park Action Committee monthly meetings usually draw 5-10 core supporters and the occasional disgruntled resident who wants to gripe about neighborhood annoyances like graffiti and uprooted sidewalks.
But this was different!

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I anticipate a long line forming before the doors open at 11.

I heard this tidbit from "Charlie", who's been phonebanking to drum up support for Goveror Gregoire's reelection campaign:

Charlie said Hillary supporters are telling him NO support for Gregoire because she endorsed Obama. Presumably these are former supporters on the phonelist.

He told me these disgruntled Hillary supporters apparently consider Gregoire to have betrayed HIllary, because as a woman elected official she SHOULD've endorsed her.

I don't know how many told him this; I know when I'm phonebanking, just a few negative reactions squawking in my ear can put a big dent in my optimism.

Charlie thought it was evidence Hillary should be put on the ticket, to appease angry supporters. I think NOT, because her inclusion would negate much of Obama's message and upset the other (larger) half of the Democratic campaigners.

I think the Hillary supporters that the phonebanker spoke of are at that stage of loss that they want to see someone punished for Hillary's downfall; a solicitation for Gregoire would be a perfect opportunity to punish her. If that makes them feel vindicated, fine.

There must be far more voters in this state who would double their 2004 support for Gregoire because she DID take the chance of endorsing Obama. I would! Well...since zero doubled is still zero, I'd MORE than double my support.

At the rally pictured above, Chris Gregoire proved she was a dynamite speaker and campaigner. I shook the Governor's hand and thanked her for endorsing Obama. "You got it!" she said with a thumbs-up.

Above, some of the volunteers from Washington state at the Oregon City Obama office on April  26: myself in the red jacket. Larger photo HERE.

Oregon for Obama asked for support from neighboring states in preparation for their May 20 primary election. Many have been showing up, eager to make that state's primary the blowout victory for Obama that the Washington caucuses were in February.

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I want to go the National Convention as an Obama delegate, and I understand the competition to be elected state delegate is fierce. I'm determined.

I got a helpful email from the Obama campaign suggesting we make our own campaign webpage, as any candidate would do. So I did.

Vote for Dina Johnson, Obama Delegate

Please offer feedback! And if you're at the 34th LD caucus and later the 7th CD caucus, please vote for me!

I can't escape politics even in my dreams!

I AM NOT MAKING THIS UP.

Last night I had a bout of insomnia, and was up half the nite reading blogs. About 8am I finally dozed off, and I just woke up from a nightmare (or daymare)!

I was a delegate at the Democratic Convention (as I hope to be for real). The vote count had been interrupted. It was announced that it had been decided Hillary would be the nominee, and Obama the VP.

Rep. McDermott's Potato Fest is an annual fundraiser chosen to celebrate his Irish roots.

This year's award went to Arab-American travel counselor Rita Zawaideh, founder of the Arab-American Community Coalition, Arab Film Distribution and Salaam Cultural Museum - cross-cultural education their mission.

Above: Rita accepting her award.

On March 19th, the Fifth stinking rotten Anniversary of the Iraq Invasion, a small assortment of diehard Seattle antiwar insurgents endured hours of miserably cold rain to make yet another statement of solidarity. The protester above remains hopeful in spite of all, it seems.

Here's my report of the Fourth Anniversary Protest March last year. That was HUGE. What happened?

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"How sweet it is!" Craig Salins likes to chortle at such a moment. Let's give WASHINGTON PUBLIC CAMPAIGNS a well-deserved cheer: yesterday Governor Christine Gregoire (above, seated) signed legislation that thousands of citizen activists and several champions in the WA State legislature finally pushed through. It allows cities and counties to offer public funds for campaigns for local office.

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I just had an amicable long-distance phone chat with my aunt in Pennsylvania that left my head spinning! She's a big fan of Hillary and I'm an Edwards supporter in Seattle, now switched to Obama.

Background: My aunt is a longtime Democratic party activist in her 70s. She was on the staff of several Presidential campaigns. She's attended National Conventions, being a delegate in one.

She made several insistent points that I must share. I found myself dumbfounded by her point of view - am I naive?

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I'll be the first. Okay, I see now Gibney beat me .
My caucus was at Highland Park Elementary School:
Southern West Seattle neighborhood, near White Center. I'm a PCO and Precinct Chair of 34-1250.

In 04 the turnout in my precinct was 18, about average for all 8 precincts. That was considered an excellent turnout, compared to previous years.

Today 61 signed in - more than triple the 04 turnout. We ran out of signup sheets and people had to use the backs.

It was 55 at the other precinct in the room and THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE A PCO.