tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-745625607350497891.post6663331181140935122..comments2024-03-26T21:08:51.077-04:00Comments on All Life Is Local: Cincinnatus on Connecticut Avenue: I Was Wrong About SekouPeggy Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09062998960273261177noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-745625607350497891.post-73666109509779700232011-02-05T07:23:29.908-05:002011-02-05T07:23:29.908-05:00I agree. The DCDSC process is what we have. Woul...I agree. The DCDSC process is what we have. Would it have been better/different if Mayor Gray simply made a temporary appointment 9as Governors do in other places?). I don't know, but what I do know is that the DCDSC process was rigorous enough for viable candidates to demonstrate, through signature gathering and other metrics, their city wide support and viability for a full run in April.<br /><br />That said, some candidates dropped out, supposedly because of the process. Perhaps they realized they didn't have the support or infrastructure to meet the DCDSC threshold? Either way Mr. Biddle met the standards and subsequently was supported by other sitting councilmembers, ostensibly because everyone realizes that Vince Orange is a blowhard.<br /><br />You can watch the DC For Democracy forum from Thursday, February 3rd online. You will see that Orange's responses are incoherent as to any substantive policy or issue base. <br /><br />While there are a number of dedicated Washingtonians in this race, Mr. Biddle seems to embody the right balance between "knowing" the city yet being progressive and knowledgeable enough on important issues such as Education to be a fair and decent city wide representative on the Council.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-745625607350497891.post-63360291799492896632011-02-04T15:34:33.255-05:002011-02-04T15:34:33.255-05:00Kudos to you for looking beyond initial assumption...Kudos to you for looking beyond initial assumptions. I've done the same and have become favorably impressed with Sekou Biddle.<br /><br />I hope that you also take the time to check in with your Ward's 2 Committeemen and 2 Committeewomen on the DC Democratic State Committee and tell them your concerns and interests. It's a big group -- some 82 members that meets once a month. As you can imagine, a number of different kinds of experiences and interests are represented. Likewise, there are also different views re the role of the DC DSC. <br /><br />For example, some of us would like to see it more issue-oriented and have made suggestions to that end. <br /> <br />What do you think our role should be to be most effective in helping to bring about positive changes throughout DC, through the Democratic Party? <br /> <br />Talk with your Committeemen and Committee women; come to the monthly meetings. <br /><br />I will caution you to question reports that you read in the paper. Reporters, like anyone else, are subject to reporting events through different lenses if they feel slighted. Apparently, that's what happened WRT the report on the DC DSC voting process for the Interim position of DC At-Large Councilmember that Sekou Biddle won. The Post reported chaos. I felt like I must have been in a different place from that reporter. The room was crowded. A political process was taking place. Caucuses were held. (I was part of one of them.) People were trying to convince others to vote for their preferred candidate. I understand that one or more reporters tried to be present at one or more of the caucuses and was/were not permitted. Nothing surprising. <br /><br />I observed an energetic, expressive process in a very crowded room. Some people were strongly committed to their preferred candidate. Others were not. <br /><br />I found the voting process clearly explained, amazingly well run and transparent. I certainly observed NO chaos. And that's a tribute to the care, thought and planning which went into that voting process by the DC DSC as a whole and its Party Organization and Function Committee under the leadership of Ronnie Edwards. <br /><br />The one significant problem was the size of the room. Too small for all of the people who showed up.... though quite sufficient for 82 DC DSC members and the normal number of additional attenders. <br /><br />Now, whether this is a proper role for the DC DSC is an entirely different matter. For that, you'll have to take a look at the Home Rule Charter.<br /><br />Faith Wheeler<br />Ward 4 CommitteewomanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-745625607350497891.post-14979929868243804812011-02-04T12:42:29.746-05:002011-02-04T12:42:29.746-05:00Peter, this column was refreshing. Thank you.Peter, this column was refreshing. Thank you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-745625607350497891.post-75164319550228248812011-02-04T10:38:28.105-05:002011-02-04T10:38:28.105-05:00Thanks Peter for your post. How nice it is to see ...Thanks Peter for your post. How nice it is to see something so thoughtful and open-minded. Full disclosure: I've known Sekou since he was 12 years old and a classmate of my daughter at Deal, and have kept up with him and his family over the years. I'm not surprised to see how he's grown and where he is today - right where he ought to be. You can't imagine how heartwarming this is and how proud I am to live and vote here.Barbara Wolfsonnoreply@blogger.com