Poly Ticks: Convention Madness

I've been avoiding doing a post about my "old flame" Polly Tiks. Yes, I was addicted to her big time. I've got a political party activist resume as long as my arm. I won't sing my litany, not as proud as I used to be, and because I have finally broken free. It took me at least four years to recover.

2010 marks the first year since 1978 I did not seek election as a delegate to attend Congressional and State DFL conventions. And thankfully, I am not going through withdrawal, in fact it feels good...to be free at last. Of late, I find politics so maddening, that sometimes I can't even watch the news. I'm not that unusual, not the first to break the obsession,. I know at least two others who were in as deep as me and recovered. But alas, poor souls, most stay active in this addiction their entire lives - never realizing a problem - being surrounded by so many obsessed...as to validate their madness.

I take a certain risk for relapse in hanging around those still suffering and imbibing - a bit, mostly just to see old friends and participate in a few interventions. I go to fundraisers, but rarely if ever to darn old monthly meetings any more. This year I did go to local conventions, the county and district. One gets elected at caucuses to attend these local convocations.

What follows is my perception of the 2010 county convention. The purpose mostly, is to elect a local board of directors, attempts at additions to the state platform, and electing delegates to the next level of conventions. There are two, Congressional; mostly to endorse a Congressperson, and State; mostly to party endorse US Senators (not until 2012) and folks to represent the party for State-wide office, Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, and Auditor. (this year)

It ain't all that funny...this addiction...never was, but now for different reasons. But just like all addictions, looking back on how mad it all was, one finds some humor if not cynicism. I left early at county, and came late to district convention. Unheard of in my past. I guess I have finally gotten the monkey off my back, livin' one day at a time.

Typical roles at a political convention. A reporter, a king/queen maker and an elected official. As politics is so confusing, all entering must wear a name tag with bus number, the reporter wears a symbolic name tag appropriate to his profession.

Hey! rub-a-dub, ho! rub-a-dub, three men in a tub,

And who do you think were there?

The butcher, the baker, the candlestick-maker,

And all of them gone to the fair. ~Nursery Rhyme

The party Treasurer for life gives a report while the Chairman looks on, appropriately an empty seat in between. Some think the Treasurer is less interested in money than gathering information for his vocation as an anthropologist.

Well you started out with nothing,

And you're proud that you're a self made man,

And your friends, they all come crawlin,

Slap you on the back and say,

Please.... Please.....

Well I don't know why I came here tonight,

I got the feeling that something ain't right,

I'm so scared in case I fall off my chair,

And I'm wondering how I'll get down the stairs, ~Stealers Wheel

The reporter takes his seat, coffee and snacks at the ready, then patiently waits for something interesting to happen.

A former Chairman and spouse. He wears a hat which is never removed and of which he is very proud. More often than not he has this look about him, like he sees things the rest of us do not. Here we can only assume that he tells a story of Goobernatorial candydate, Terrible Tommy who is out of range.

Laugh, Laugh, I thought I'd die

It seemed so funny to me, ~Beau Brummels

Strategy being discussted on the far side.

All men can see these tactics whereby I conquer, but what none can see is the strategy out of which victory is evolved. ~Sun Tzu

At a political convention, delegates and alternates must ink certify with one's signature in order to substantiate that one is a duly elected delegate bestowed with that distinction at the earlier precinct caucuses.
These two as children got on the wrong bus, not sure who made the mistake. She on the bus for attorneys, he on the bus for twenty-hour day delivery drivers. Funny are the ways of Providence bringing this unlikely couple who garden and entertain in a dining room bigger than a house. But that ain't all, they find common ground as members of a fast-draw western group, oh how I wish I could remember their aliases.

Political madness envelops a room full of people. Scary indeed.

“'But I don’t want to go among mad people,' Alice remarked.

'Oh, you can’t help that,' said the Cat. 'We’re all mad here. I’m mad. You’re mad.'

'How do you know I’m mad?' said Alice.

'You must be,” said the Cat. 'or you wouldn’t have come here.'” ~Lewis Carroll

Politics brings together, young and old, experienced and neophyte, male and female, gay and straight, white and brown. Here Chelly See, exempted from wearing a bus tag, still too young to be too confused, observes the back side of politics.

District Chairwoman, Green Eyed Lady directs.

Green eyed lady ocean lady

Child of nature friend of man ~ Sugarloaf

A smile confuses an approaching frown. ~Author Unknown

The Chairman takes command, flanked by Part-lament-aryan, Co-Chair-woman, and Secretary, Alright!

“When the chairman introduced the guest speaker as a former illegal alien, I got up from my chair and yelled, "What's the matter, no jobs on Mars?" When no one laughed, I was real embarrassed. I don't think people should make you feel that way.” ~Jack Handy

The Lowyer, moves a rule change for the greater body that will not affect the smaller body from which he belongs. A closer look from the Part-lament-aryan may have ruled the Lowyer out of order.

I was gambling in Havana

I took a little risk

Send lawyers, guns and money

Dad, get me out of this ~Warren Zevon

Terrible Tommy, self-described as "refleshingly honest" tells the truth.

The whole world is shaking now. Can't you feel it?

A new dawn is breaking now. Can't you see it?

I said see it, yeah, can't you see it?

Can't you see it, yeah, can't you see it?

I can see it, yeah.

Tell the truth. Tell me who's been fooling you

Tell the truth. Who's been fooling who?

Hear what I say, 'cause every word is true.

You know I wouldn't tell you no lies.

Your time's coming, gonna be soon, boy. ~Eric Clapton

To be or not to be? That is the question. The answer is 2B.

Seldom stumble, never crumble

Try to tumble, life's a rumble

Feel the stinging I've been given

Never ending, unrelenting

Heartbreak searing, always fearing

Never clearing persevering

Sail on, sail on, sailor

I work the seaways, the gale-swept seaways

Past shipwrecked daughters of wicked waters

Uninspired, drenched and tired

Wail on, wail on, sailor ~Brian Wilson

After a few political speeches, ones eyes begin to glaze over and politics takes on it's true form, just a little out of focus.

Finally on his own. This Rep cools any political hot air with a windmill atop his wigwam.

Glazed and dazed if not amazed.

Standing around, waiting for something to happen, it appears a Chauffeur awaits at an airport for the Reverend John.

His mother told him "Someday you will be a man,

And you will be the leader of a big old band.

Many people coming from miles around

To hear you play your music when the sun go down

Maybe someday your name will be in lights

Saying Johnny B. Goode tonight." ~Chuck Berry

Please.

I've tried so hard, hard to be patient

hoping you would stop this infactuation

but each time we are together

I'm so afraid of losing my mind forever

stop in the name of love before you break my heart

think it over, ooooh think it oh oh-ver ~ With apologies to the Surpremes

The End

And in the end

The love you take

Is equal to the love you make. ~Lennon/McCartney