Eagles Over the Kennebec

So, that?  Was a learning experience.  I can understand why some younger voters are frustrated by the system, and according to yesterday's narrative, the Democrats are the good guys.

I (and thousands of my fellow delegates) sat in a cramped space that Steve characterized as "steerage" for hours, listening to some folks speak sensibly, while other folk blathered, and one guy had a screaming argument with the chair of the convention.  Why he wasn't evicted, I don't know.  Perhaps the convention had failed to appoint a sergeant-at-arms, or the facility's bouncer was busy elsewhere.

Despite truly awe-inspiring levels of incompetence and general confusion, the convention did manage to get some work done.  You'll have perhaps seen in media that the Maine Democrats have "abolished" their super-delegates,  which is kinda yes and kinda no.  For one thing, the super-delegate system remains in place for this election, as the majority of the convention could see no benefit to changing horses in mid-stream.  The new system, which does not abolish super-delegates, but requires them to cast their votes in accordance with the will of the popular vote, will not go into effect until the next presidential election, in 2020.

Two of Maine's five super-delegates, in the spirit of this resolution, have said that they will vote the will of the convention. The other three remain committed to Mrs. Clinton, though Mr. Sanders won the popular vote in the state of Maine handily.

The people trying to sell the super-delegate system as a Good Thing took a Very Strange Path, IMHO.  They kept telling the members of the convention that the super-delegates were the check on the popular vote.  They are  political insiders with experience gained by years of being in the biz, and it is their job to be sure that the election goes "properly" -- which I gather to mean "by the numbers" -- thus they are apparently a force to prevent the nomination of a Democratic Donald Trump.  This was a bizarre strategy, given the tenor of the convention as a whole, and the presence of Very Many people who are just so very tired of establishment politics.

Mr. Barney Frank spoke for Mrs. Clinton, and he spoke well.  Sadly, he was heckled by boors, and again! the convention felt the lack of a sergeant-at-arms.  Mr. Frank's purpose was clearly to persuade supporters of Mr. Sanders to vote for Mrs. Clinton when she secures the nomination, and once again his reason for knowing that Mrs. Clinton would win the nomination was "numbers."  Which leads one to ask, "If this is Only a Numbers Game, why the freaking hell are we going through these shenanigans?" -- but that could be Just Me.

Apparently, the convention also gained a delegate for Mr. Sanders from Mrs. Clinton's side.  Maine will be sending 19 delegates in support of Mr. Sanders to the national convention; and 11 in support of Mrs. Clinton.

There was other work to be done -- a list of amendments to the party platform was tabled earlier in the day and was picked up again in the evening session.  I, however, had collapsed into a quivering heap of jelly long, long before 7 pm, so the amendments had to make do without me.

So, as I said, a learning experience.  I will, I think, be joining the new Progressive Party when it is formed because, my ghod, the present system is. . .archaic and opaque, at best.

And now I am going to follow the advice of a trio of Very Wise Cats, and take a nap.

Today's blog post brought to you by Bruce Springsteen, "Keep Your Eye on the Prize."  Here's your link.

So, one doctor visit, numerous phone calls, and two reviews later! The insurance will graciously allow Steve to have a diagnostic echocardiogram. Damned big of the insurance company, says I, and we’re having that done tomorrow morning early, before the mail can deliver yet another form letter, this one saying that they’ve changed their mind.

In other news, it’s damp and chilly; the zombies in charge of the Maine state government are set to pass a budget that will defund Headstart, slash MediCare funding, and gut prescription drug assistance for the elderly. The zombies will of course be making massive donations from their own bank accounts to those private sector organizations that already serve these communities, so that those in need of education and health care will not unduly suffer.

*cue laugh track*

In the broader apocalypse, Yet Another Idiot Republican is sponsoring Yet Another Idiot Idea — this one an amendment to the United State’s Census Bureau’s budget, forbidding the agency from conducting the American Community Survey, calling it “an unconstitutional breach of privacy.” A link to the data generated by this same survey can be found on YAIR’s website, because the data generated by the American Community Survey is an important tool for businesses that are trying to determine if a particular community is a good match for their business.

The stupid — the meanness — it is too much, and I am weary.

*Deep breath*

*Another deep breath*

Pursuant to our conversation of a couple days ago, it turns out that what people read really does influence them in real life. Who knew, right? Here’s the article.

Also, Teh Intertubes, which has fostered in us all a fevered need for instant gratification, is forcing some writers to write more in order to maintain their standard of living. Here’s the article. I’m not sure exactly where the one novel a year measure comes from, myself. It was said to me when I first started publishing, ‘way back in the Paleolithic, that “one novel a year was a career, but three novels a year was a living.”

And, ending on a high note, here, the Maine Marriage Equality movement got a nice boost in funding.

That’s all I have, so I’m going to go brood, now.

No, wait — I’m not.

I’m going to go finish writing a short story.