Datum and Delegate

Bernie Convention 2016 
(Delegate numbers have not been officially certified yet)
  Check here regularly to find news, views and information about the
Democratic National Convention - the start of the  NEW POLITICAL REVOLUTION 
- and all the stuff that goes on leading up to the 3 day big event in July.

DEM CONVENTION DATUM

July 25-28  Dem National Convention date
4765 - Delegates to the Dem Convention 
4051 - Pledged delegates  = 85%
713   - Superdelegates  = 15%
71 - Connecticut delegates = 1.51% of delegate body
16  - CT Super delegates = 22.5% of CT delegation
18,000 - Hotel rooms available within a 15 minute walk of the Wells Fargo Center
50,000 - Delegates, media and others expected to be in Philly for the Dem Convention

$84 million  - Total estimated cost of the Dem National Convention
$43.1 million - Dept of Justice funding in Philly for Dem Convention security
$49.9 - DOJ funding for RNC Convention in Cleveland
1 - Number of people with DWS initials who will chair the Convention
1948   - Last time the Dem Convention was in Philly
19,000 - approximate seating for Wells Fargo Center - Convention venue in Philly
123 - Number of luxury suites available....
1776 - Last time Philly was a host to a Revolution....

THE DNC MONEY ACCESS STATUS  - OPTIONS TO GO TO CONVENTION
$210,000 - amount you need to give or raise for the party committee for the election cycle...if you do.. you will be eligible for a "1776 Package" that includes two hotel rooms, DNC credentials, access to hospitality areas, skybox passes and eight tickets to DCCC events.


$1.25 million raised or $467,000 contributed gets you VIP credentials, photo opportunities, 20 VIP tickets to a welcome party, and finance committee meetings and roundtables with high-level officials. ...Thats the "Rittenhouse Square" level package.
                                    (2 options for those who don't make the delegate status)

Check out more Dem Convention info at 
https://demconvention.com/
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IT’S THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION….WHO SHOULD BE A DELEGATE?   (IMHO)
CT will have 26 (unofficial) Bernie delegates eligible to attend the Democratic Convention in July in Philly.  There might be dozens more individuals who are seeking that limited number of positions.  We’ll know May 2.
I hear from a lot of people who want to go  – That is fantastic.  It’s testimony to the commitment
of Team Bernie here in CT and the unyielding desire to continue to help make the effort work.   Most of the people I have talked with have never been a delegate .. of any kind ..  and never went to a National Convention.  On July 25-28 The National Democratic Party will hold its convention to select a Democratic nominee to run for POTUS.
It’s the Democratic Party process.. Party members (whether you agree with them or not) have set their rules. Bernie has opted to run as a Democrat and he is in and part of the system. We need to work that system to get it to work for Bernie.
Anyone who wants to be a delegate needs to search their soul (and wallet) to decide if they really WANT to do this and why.  We need to build and support a solid team of people who their purpose and expect to accomplish Bernie’s goals. We need a team of folks who campaigned hard for Bernie and still have a deep commitment to be a part of the TEAM, support Bernie’s program and be there.. on time, on message, on the ball and willing to put in a big pile of additional energy for 4 convention days. 
BTW.. we need you to make calls and visits to the remaining primary contest states too.
 The complicated, convoluted process of filling the small number of delegate slots is about to begin. Conflicts will arise. This will be a true test of how we all can work together, overcome obstacles, and accomplish a most difficult task.  We must build a great team of people who really should be in Philly to get the job done.  Bernie delegates need to be the ones most committed to Bernie’s agenda – without fail. The CT Primary outcome determines how many CT Delegates will represent Bernie at the Convention and delegates are the extension of the support for the candidate to fulfill HIS agenda. 
It’s Bernie’s program. Ultimately he decides who gets to be a delegate.  We – all of us – must work for Bernie and the plan and delegates must work even harder. The Convention is a critical piece in the start of the Revolution.  It needs to work and everyone needs to work together to bring success. 
Call me – contact me – ask questions
If I don’t have an answer.. I'll find it..
Facts and process cited here are as I currently understand them – do correct me if I missed the mark…
My opinions will not likely ever be corrected… or even be correct…

Leo Canty
unionleo@aol.com
All postings, comments, opinions here are made by Leo Canty and volunteers.
This is not an official part of Bernie 2016
Paid for by Leo Canty -
 We will refuse all billionaire donations and/or any buy out attempts
We will reject all solicitations to speak for fees in excess of $200K
Lots more info to come
 

_________________________
Bernie Convention 2016 
(Delegate numbers have not been officially certified yet)      
Check here regularly to find news, views and information
about the Democratic National Convention – and the start of the 
NEW POLITICAL REVOLUTION  - and all the stuff that goes on
leading up to the 3 day big event in July.
___________________________________________________
THE DISTRICT CAUCUS –
Selecting Delegates
The Pledged delegate delegation from CT representing Bernie Sanders at Convention should be 26 people.  17 of these people will be elected at 5 convention delegate caucuses to be held May 31 probably around 7pm at a single designated location in each congressional district.
Each of the 5 districts will have an assigned number of Bernie delegates to elect. Some will elect 3 some will elect 4.  Half of the delegates will be female, half male – on Caucus night the gender designation will be assigned so it matches diversity compliance.  The districts will know in advance how many people to elect and how many of each gender.
Caucus locations are set up a few days in advance of the caucus.  Candidates work to get their people out to the caucus wherever it is to vote for them.  Only registered Democrats may attend and vote at Caucus.   On average, there are in range of 140,000 democrats in each congressional district.. A good, lively, active caucus might have 250 democrats in the room…that rarely happens. There is no way to predict.. Any Caucus goer should dedicate the entire evening.. Uncontested caucuses go fast (an hour or 2) a big caucus with lots of candidates and multiple votes will take longer

AGENDA
- Voters arrive at Caucus
     ( early so they can check in – and verify that they are democrats  and live in the designated district..Bring ID)
-  At the appointed time doors are closed and the number of people in the room are counted
      (the basis for all voting)
-  A temporary chair opens the meeting and presides over the election of a permanent chair
-  The chair then gets a Secretary and maybe other Caucus officers elected/appointed and lines up
       ballot counters.
-  Once formalities are done the floor is opened up for nominations
-  When nominations are closed – People vote. 
-  Voting continues until the delegates are selected ( many variables on how single/multiple balloting will work)
         (quite often, candidates who know they do not have votes to win withdraw, making the balloting process
                                            easier for remaining candidates and attendees)
-  When the allotted number of official delegates are elected the Caucus ends – the Secretary records the official outcome and insures the information is sent to the Democratic State Central Committee

WHO CAN RUN FOR DELEGATE
Any registered Democrat can seek a delegate position.  They must fill out the application form and submit to CT Dems by May 2 to be eligible.  No nominations from the floor. 

WHO CAN WIN A DELEGATE SPOT
There is no way to describe the multitude of scenarios for winning a delegate spot. It is a complicated multi-dimensional process that has way more political substance over democratic form…Ultimately all delegates are approved or rejected by the Sanders campaign.   But, people who become delegates are most often very active campaigners who dedicated themselves on the campaign trail,  help to build a diverse slate, are connected by their integration with the campaign, turn out big numbers of caucus goers to vote for them (it is very hard to get folks to go to Caucus) … or many other variables. There is no hard and fast rule.
   26   Bernie delegates will be elected. 
   17   in Caucus on May 31 –
    9    elected at the delegation meeting –
         At-Large or as PLEOs on June 7.
    3 people will be chosen as alternates
Any democrat can attend and vote for delegates at Caucus.  Only delegates and candidates will attend June 7 meeting


AT-LARGE – PLEO
6 people will be elected at a meeting on June 7 as At-Large delegates. Numbers of delegates are allocated by state Primary vote totals for the candidates – Bernie will have 6 At Large Delegates
The pool of official delegates at the time – Caucus delegates and Super Delegates vote for the people to fill out the at-large component ( a much smaller – tighter process)
3 people will be elected as PLEO delegates – Party Leaders/Elected Officials.  Bernie will have 3 people in those spots.  Same as above they are elected June 7 by the pool of official delegates.

ALTERNATES
3 people will be chosen to act as At Large Alternates. They will be at convention standing by to take the place of and delegate who may not be able to attend and vote on the floor. Alternates are often not seated with the delegation as seats are always at premium.. we’ll see how it works in Philly.. It is a way to get in the door and do more witnessing of history as opposed to actively voting.
Alternates are chosen June 6 at the delegates meeting.
_________________________________________________           
This process is hardly a model of democracy.  But the makers of the rules designed it this way. It can’t be changed for this round. It can be changed moving forward..if we fight to change it..and the fight won’t be easy.  The design provides a lot of control.  The ones who get to drive don’t often want to hand over the steering wheel ..so there’s the conflict.  Democracy in its best form does not control outcomes.. In its weakest form it’s called Party Rules…
Good delegates know the rules of play and how to work them.  My #1 political rule is …Know how the system works…then work the system.  I have been to the last 4 conventions 3 times as a Delegate once as an Alternate.. I withdrew from my first delegate run – even though I had a good number of votes …but in 1992, the system door opened for me to be a Presidential Elector.  I voted for Bill Clinton in the Electoral College that year… Will never forget that moment…just a tad more meaningful to me than all the Convention fun…even though I hate the Electoral College system and work to abolish it…but learning up close how the system works helps provide insight even for re-working the system.
We need to know who is running – we need to start planning and working this system …for Bernie.. so we can help heat up the Revolution … in the Revolutionary City of Philadelphia
Call me – contact me – ask questions and if I don’t have an answer.. I need to have it – so I’ll find that answer
Facts and process cited here are as I currently understand them –
              do correct me if I missed the mark…
My opinions will not likely ever be corrected… or even correct…

Leo Canty
unionleo@aol.com
All postings, comments, opinions here are made by Leo Canty and volunteers.
This is not an official part of Bernie 2016
Paid for by Leo Canty -
 - All billionaire donations and/or buy out attempts will be rejected
 - All speaking fees in excess of $200K will be refused
                                Lots more info to come

                   Bernie Convention 2016

  Check here regularly to find news,views and information about the Democratic National Convention - and all the stuff that goes on leading up to the 3 day big event in July.

____________________________________________________________________

                UNOFFICIAL DELEGATE COUNT - (SUBJECT TO MINIMAL CHANGE)
Bernie's vote count from the CT Democratic Primary entitles us to representation by CT Delegates at the Democratic National Convention in July - here's what the team may look like -
                              (more info soon that may minimally change these numbers)
PLEDGED DELEGATES -
WILL VOTE FOR BERNIE AT CONVENTION AND SUPPORT OUR AGENDA
17    Delegates to be elected in each of 5 Congressional Districts
      To be elected in District Caucus meetings on May 31, 2016  (3 or 4 delegates per district)
  3    Delegates who are party leaders and elected officials
  6    Delegates elected At-Large apportioned by state final vote count
        The above 9 people are elected by the delegation on June 6, 2016
26  - Delegates get seated in the convention and get to vote on all issues

 3 Alternate Delegates - get to be seated if a delegate cannot attend the proceedings

WANT TO RUN FOR DELEGATE?
Anyone interested in applying to become a delegate should go to CTDEMS.ORG and fill out the delegate form by May 2 - That gets you in the game...then you must work to get elected.

WHAT ARE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING?
Probability of being a Delegate? - look at the numbers - if hundreds of Bernie supporters apply...that's wonderful.... 26 will be chosen to represent CT Bernie...that's it....that's how it works..

HOW MUCH IS CONVENTION? 3 or 4 nights in Philly
All convention costs are borne by the delegates.
- Hotel - $250-300 per night at designated hotel with CT Delegation (you can share rooms)
- Travel to Philly - Train - Air - Car/parking
- Meals (you can eat free at many food events sponsored by wall street and corporate hacks)
- Trinkets/souvenirs/touring the city/paid events
- Convention fees - none  (CT Dems may ask for a donation to help pay for some things)
$1500 is an easy starting point - if you want to be in the center of all the action

WHO ATTENDS CAUCUSES?
Only Democrats who live in your congressional district can attend a meeting in one location and select the number of delegates apportioned by the rules - Bernie gets 3 or 4 delegates in each of 5 districts.  Caucuses usually start around 7pm and can last many hours depending on the energy and campaigns of those seeking to become delegates.  If a slate is formed and everyone attending agrees with that slate - it's a much shorter meeting.

CAN ANYONE BE A DELEGATE?
Yes and no.. There is a very complicated determination process. Registered Democrats can apply and run in the districts or at-large.  The All-inclusive Democratic Party has a diversity plan that guarantes our entire delegation of 71 delegates will reflect the diversity of the state.  If the delegation fails to be truly representative, it can be rejected by the DNC.  So, for instance if 71 white guys all got elected to be delegates (will never happen) - the plan fails... and most of them would not be attending..

DIVERSITY GOALS
35/36 - The 71 member Delegation will be split as evenly as it can be by men and women
8  African Americans
8  Hispanic
5  LGBT

2  Asian American
1  Native American

In the mix should be youth, people with disabilities, seniors, union members etc
The Sanders campaign has a say in who can be delegates - some can be suggested or rejected by the campaign even if elected in Caucus - ultimately all members of Team Bernie are approved by Bernie 2016

Check out the delegate plan and the rules and requirements here....
http://ctdems.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/2016-Connecticut-Delegate-Selection-Plan-FINAL-04262016.pdf

IS THE DELEGATE SELECTION PROCESS THE SAME EVERYWHERE?
No..  there are no identical plans.. there are many ways states comply with DNC rules
CT has its own compliance path.
It is a multi dimensional selection process that significantly leaves real democracy on the shelf.  No one believes at all that the Nomination process is in any way a model for Democracy - and the Convention delegate selection process is just one more piece that proves it...We can change that...
But like any game - in any state - TO WIN - you must know the rules, the boundaries, have a personal strategy to succeed and then.... spend a good deal of energy organizing for your win and getting folks to vote for you....  Hit the easy button......
___________________________________________________________________
THIS IS YOUGE!
Bernie has and will continue to make history and turn the political system on its ear..It's about time!! The Convention is a very important event and process with YOUGE high potential to start a real political sea change for America AND become a great starting point for the political revolution we so need  - if we work it right.
Anyone wanting to be a part of this will need to work hard - make sacrifices - be committed to the cause - the team - the process and count on little sleep for 4 days...all for the rest of us who are not there.
We need a Bernie delegation prepared to fight and win...there will be resistance - believe me.. And you will witness even more of the ugly side of politics and democracy failures in the National Convention political sausage factory... It will be exciting. It will be historic. You will experience a lot and learn even more to arm yourself for the next phases of change...and it will be hard...We need a good solid dedicated BERNIE CT DELEGATE TEAM to work with all the other teams for a successful coutcome..
Are you ready?

Any questions - e-mail me 
Leo Canty

unionleo@aol.com
All postings, comments, opinions here are made by Leo Canty and volunteers. 
This is not an official part of Bernie 2016

Paid for by Leo Canty -
 We will refuse all billionaire buy out attempts and speaking fees in excess of $200K

Lots more info to come