After three days of blogging on nothing but the Texas Democratic Party convention and all it entailed, I think it is time to say my last on this particular topic.

Convention is a time every two years when activists and party regulars can get together and, for lack of a better cliche, “recharge our batteries,” in antipication of the election cycle.

This year’s convention, with farewells to parting statesmen Gonzalo Barrientos and Pete Laney was truly one for the history books. In spite of a contentiuous race for State Chair, to quote (really paraphrase) a line oft-repeated by fellow blogger Charles Kuffner, it’s OK “as long as we’re all friends in the end.”

I think, in the end, that’s what we did.

I thought one of the best ways to do an overall convention recap was by “thumbs up/thumbs down,’ so here goes (more final thoughts & thank-yous follow):

Up: Blogger “media access” at the ‘06 convention was more than we ever could have hoped or dreamed. Not only did we have the same access as the MSM, but there was a true “blogger’s ally,” and convention floor wi-fi access. A great big thanks to Amber Moon & Hector Nieto, the TDP’s media folks, for making sure we were not only considered but also treated like the press that we are.

Down: The whole vote on a permanent convention chairman on Friday night. Bob at Stoutdemblog summed the whole thing up best, in my view. I’ve always respected Slagle, but also respect those who don’t like the man or think it is time for someone new, or whatever. But, his opponent’s issues (mainly, plank-by-plank voting on the platform) were largely some that could not clearly be dealt with under the current party rules anyway. As a result, an hour was wasted on what was already a foregone conclusion, which took time away from those who were on the speaking agenda because, by the time we got to some of those folks (Bell) on Friday night, some people who wanted to hear them speak had already left the convention due to the schedule slowdown as a result of the guy running against Slagle. It’s the democratic way to have elections, but this was more of an issue over rules than one candidate versus another.

Up: Stoutdemblog’s convention coverage. Bill of Stoutdemblog has been around the party a while and seen a number of party battles. His blogging showed that insight. In addition, he stayed until the last man standing and blogged until almost 10 p.m. Saturday.

Down: The treatment of TDP Chair candidate Lakesha Rogers & her supporters. Regardless of the beliefs and positions an individual holds, or the movements and groups they are involved in, they deserve to be respected as anyone else does. It is understandable that Rogers’ candidacy suffered tremendously because of her affiliation with the LaRouche movement, since that movement is pretty much regardes as the “wingnuts” of our party. However, Democrats should not be in the business of ‘booing’ platform speakers, regardless of the beliefs they espouse or the movements they follow. Rogers herself was a dynamic speaker and should be commended for making her run. I also recall, during first-round balloting, at least two people reporting race totals refered to Rogers as “the other one,” or “that other one” while all other candidates were refered to by name. That was tacky, probably done deliberately, and was so ’sans classe’ it’s not even funny.

Up: Permanent Convention Chair Bob Slagle (I wasn’t in the hall at that point but believe he was the one responsible for this) for stepping in and reminding people that’s not the right way to behave [in reference to the above].

Down: Mainstream Media coverage (for the most part) of the convention. Overall, I believe Dems got less ink than Republicans did last weekend. Of course, we weren’t as hateful, and nothing sells papers like sex and hate.

Up: AP writer Angela K. Brown’s convention coverage. Being the only AP writer assigned to cover the convention had to be tough work [note to AP: send more reporters to BOTH conventions, there is a lot to cover], but Brown pulled through with flying colors even though she had to do the job of (in my humble opinion as a former MSM-er myself) at least two reporters. I found her final convention story especially well-balanced. And, given that she was probably under tremendous deadline pressure to file something so every AP paper in the state could get it, she did a great job. Also, the Statesman’s W. Gardner Shelby (unmissible in the pressroom with his head of dark red hair) not only covered the convention, but blogged it as well at Postcards from the Trail. Watching him work the phones in the convention room reminded me of my days in newsrooms, too; how well you work the phones is the sign of an excellent reporter.

Up: Chet Edwards’ speech, to wit: “When they attack us, we have an obligation to counter punch, to hit back—immediately—with the truth!” and “We’re the party that truly cares for the dignity of every individual.” Enough said.

Up: Nick Lampson. First of all, the guy is just downright personable. Second, he brought what seemed like his entire campaign staff (all of whom, including Mike Milaise, are Texans to the core) to the Blogger’s Caucus at Flying Saucer. Third, he, as did Barbara Radnofsky, gave tremendous credi and thanks to the Netroots for our work and support.

Up: Jim Mattox. He seemed to be popping up constantly in a lot of bloggers’ reports from the floor, not to mention that he gave the intro for David Van Os. Glad to see Mattox back playing a more active and vocal role in the party.

Up: David Van Os. The huge packet his staff handed out to the media shows this man is out putting the pedal to the medal, wearing out some shoe leater, and as many other cliches as I can think of about someone working very hard. He’s proven that a 254-county strategy is important for statewide candidates because of at least one thing (if nothing else): earned media. He’s received numerous write-ups in many papers for his barnstorming across Texas and the packet given to the media shows that, when you work to earn it, you can earn ‘earned’ media.

Up: Pete Laney. Nine words sum up one of the many reasons he gets a big thumbs up: Former Speaker Of The House At The Blogger’s Caucus.

Up: Sen. Leticia van de Putte: Sending one of your staffers into the press pit with a typewritten version of your remarks was a very kind thing to do. Kudos also to Chris Bell and Barbara Radnofsky who either had their remarks online or provided copies to the media.

State Rep. Dora Olivo. For this quote: “They must be blind or deaf…The Democratic Party is just like America. It welcomes people. It doesn’t send them away or treat them like trash.”

Up: All the bloggers and candidates who attended the Blogger’s Caucus (partial list here, it leaves off Kuff and possibly a couple others).

and…finally:

Up: All Texas Bloggers. Amid the debate on the relevance of our party, we proved our relevance to our party.

Actually, I think I have pretty much summed everything left in the “thumbs up/down” section. I do want to say a final thanks to Amber & Hector and the TDP who were awesome, and the MSM, to “tolerate” us being granted “equal access.” I  hope we weren’t too loud (well, I hope I wasn’t too loud) in the media room.

And, last but not least, to Anna of Annatopia, the 2006 TDP Convention Host Blogger who worked her behind off getting things done and getting the Flying Saucer Ready. In 2004, our hosts were Greg and Kuff in Houston.

On that note, check out this post of Kuff’s from 2004 that “rounds up” convention blogging activities. Then check out this photo of the Bloggers of the Bloggers’ Caucus from last convention. Keep in mind this photo included not only the convention bloggers (btw, there was no “liveblogging,” and everyone in that photo comprised the entire attendance of the Blogger’s Caucus). Now, check out this photo from this year’s caucus. I count 13 bloggers in this bunch, and there were more at the convention and at the caucus than were around just at the moment this was taken. Then, check out this “metablog” and note how many of us there are both at and away from the convention. Are we relevant? Hey, there’s a state rep blogger in this picture. Have we grown?

Yes:

2004: 0 bloggers as credentialed media; 6 bloggers at bloggers caucus (representing six blogs); one candidate as a speaker and a couple of other folks whose reason for participation in 2004 escapes me.

2006: 20 bloggers as credentialed media; at least 25 bloggers (thinking of those whom I personally met, including both bloggers of North Texas Liberal, Stace from Dos Centavos, etc., etc.) at the convention; more than a dozen candidates, a former Texas House Speaker, congressmen, and many more (well over 300) people in attendence at this year’s caucus.
Finally, a special thanks to Greg and Kuff, and Byron LaMasters (formerly of Burnt Orange Report) who put the first Bloggers’ Caucus together back in 2004, which was attended by me, and former blogger Sara from Roman Candles.