highwayscribery's (humble) pitch for district delegate

It's been a such a long time since government listened that it can be something of a shock when a political entity responds to your complaint instead of slapping you down.

When millions marched against the pending war in Iraq, President Bush did not see it as something he needed to heed, rather as one of democracy's niceties where, "people get to express their opinions."

There was no link between the people, the opinion, or anything he felt obligated to do and the formula has pretty much held true in every other governmental endeavor over the past eight years.

The Obama campaign has concocted a strange alchemy whereby individuals in a mass movement somehow feel that movement responds to them.

You donate $10 through barackobama.com and in a few days you're part of $40 million wave that somehow could not have happened without that $10.

There's a responsiveness there almost as admirable as the candidate himself.

Yesterday, highwayscribery bitch-blogged about the campaign dramatically shortening its delegate lists in California to the exclusion of the newcomers it has so openly courted.

Three hours later, a letter from Obama campaign manager David Plouffe appeared in the e-mail queue remarking on the "extraordinary outpouring of grassroots support" in the state.

It went on to say that in recognition of said enthusiasm, the campaign had asked the California Democratic Party to allow the participation of "all persons" who filed to be a district delegate.

ALL PERSONS.

"We are confident that delegates elected from this pool will reflect the Senator's commitment to a diverse and unified delegation at the National Convention," Plouffe wrote.

And of course it will, because ALL PERSONS will be given at least shot, which is somewhat the purpose of the whole Obama thing.

As if that weren't enough, Hope Aguilar, an organizer in Los Angeles, wrote highwayscribery shortly thereafter:

"Dear [scribe],

Your blog post hurt to read. It is so sad we were being forced into living a non-trusting life because of people like Hillary. It's horrible. So the campaign opened up that list again! You're back on!!! Write a kick-ass speech. I know you're a great writer. So, you are being given an opportunity to wow them in one minute. Congrats."

It's a response that exceeded what was hoped for.

highwayscribery could sit around and daydream that the Obama campaign was stunned by his post and the airtight logic it contained, and promptly reversed course. But that's not as much fun as the realization that the scribe is not alone in voicing his opinion and that the Obama grass-roots approach is more than election-time palaver.

And that's because entertaining the first version (the amazing scribe's post) would be good for highwayscribery's ego and the second (scribe's not alone) version, good for Obama, and hence, for the country.

It may seem strange that a candidate for district delegate should pitch the virtues of someone other than himself, but you're reading this on a blog and are free to scroll downward and draw the conclusions about highwayscribery your readings reveal.

Obama is the issue here, and the scribe will make him the issue in Denver. For as long as it takes and until the job is done.

the scribe hopes that those of you attending the 30th Congressional District caucus on Sunday will listen to his pitch and come shake hands and chat afterward.