Notes from the MA Dem Convention in Lowell, 5/14

Today was the off-year state Democratic convention, held in Lowell. The off-year conventions are known as "issues conventions", meaning that the platform and charter are approved. There was supposedly actual business at hand (four amendments to the platform, and several changes to the charter), but these are mostly passed via pro-forma voice votes. Not exactly democratic-feeling.

But I gather that's not really the point of an off-year convention. It's the schmoozing and the speeches, both of which were quite useful and informative. (For instance, I hear that my state rep, Alice Wolf, is considering running for Jarret Barrios' Senate seat, as he's running for Middlesex County DA. She'll make a decision some months hence.)

I rode up this morning with former Cambridge City Council candidate and all-around good guy John Pitkin. While looking for the Affordable Housing "breakout meeting" (i.e. a rap session with experts and pols) held at Lowell High School, John and I stumbled upon the Health Care room, in which were sitting Mike Dukakis, State Rep State Senator Mark Montigny and John McDonough of Health Care for All. We were only there for the last part, but some good ideas -- and a lot of horror stories -- were thrown around. The frustration on this issue is palpable -- is there anything that makes people feel more like Sisyphus, pushing the rock to the top of the hill, only to see it roll down again? And yet, folks are still in there, plugging. And really, we've got an excellent chance this year to see some far-reaching legislation passed. (My bottom line is that improving health care is a political problem, even more than a policy problem. While the policy is always going to be complicated, the moral principle is simple: Everyone deserves to see a doctor when they're sick. If we hammer the moral principle, I think we win. Eyes on the prize.)

But really, the main attraction is the speeches. It really is a great wealth to have some political rockstars among our MA Dems: Teddy Kennedy, Ed Markey, and -- it must be said -- Deval Patrick.

TK's garrulous speaking style sometimes lacks focus. Well, today proved he's still got his fastball: this was a scorching speech that demolished the idea of a Republican mandate to enact policies that most people don't want. There was the old Democratic tendency toward the laundry list of issues (education, environment, health care), but it was framed by a fiery appeal to justice and compassion. The honorific "Liberal Lion" has never sounded so apt. Rowrrrr.

The gubernatorial candidates came next, and by the reaction of the crowd, I suspect that one got a good idea of where this thing is going the next twelve months to eighteen months.

Flashback to first thing this morning: As we drove in, the driveway to the Tsongas Center was a wall of signs, many for Patrick, Reilly certainly with his fair share ... and a mere handful for Sec. of State Bill Galvin. I wondered aloud, "What is the Bill Galvin magic? Where's the romance?"

Well, after hearing him speak ... I still haven't seen hide nor hair of Bill Galvin stardust. His stump speech, frankly, sounds like a small-market truck commercial. Paraphrasing:

To win, like the Patriots, we need teamwork. And teamwork means a great QB. We've got to get our state moving again. What happened to Massachusetts? We used to be a leader. We will be again with the right leadership. I know the problems of this state, and I know how to fix them.

Oh, thank goodness, it's all settled then! The response to Galvin's speech was as wooden as its conception and execution. Sorry to get all Simon Cowell on him, but he really needs a lot more City on the Hill, and tell us why he wants to be governor.

You want contrast? Next up was Deval Patrick.

This is straight from my scrawled notes: "BIG APPLAUSE. PARTIAL STANDING O. Enthusiasm!" If he has name recognition problems in the statewide polls right now, that sure wasn't evident in Lowell this morning. His signs were everywhere, and his people were very visible, wearing neon-chartreuse t-shirts. And despite his mildly adenoidal speaking voice (hey, I know people who can help him with that), Patrick commands the room. Today's speech had more fire than his appearances that we've covered -- a bit more withering sarcasm directed at Romney: The Governor bashes teachers, and says MCAS is all we need to fix schools. The Governor calls for the death penalty, but cuts local aid that pays for cops.

Patrick is also clearly running on his bio: he has lived the American dream because of opportunity afforded him in Massachusetts (i.e. his scholarship to Milton Academy). He has been both a corporate lawyer and a family lawyer; counseled a President in the Oval Office and then had trouble hailing a cab home.

He engaged in some slightly hokey call-and-response (on the phrase, "Yes We Can"); and ended with what I would call an artistic risk: an extended metaphor of his grandmother's rosebush, which, with care, grew tall even in an unfavorable environment; we must also tend our garden. In the moment they both worked -- although at the end, I was reminded, perhaps unfortunately, of Bernstein's Candide.

Bottom line: Patrick's got plenty of time to get that name recognition up. And for my money, he's absolutely got the highest ceiling of any of the declared candidates in the race -- including Romney.

Reilly was last, and I don't envy him for having to follow Patrick. He was greeted with warm but not fervent applause.

He seems to be positioning himself as the candidate of the acceptable, electable middle: We will not waste tax money, we will grow the economy and jobs. Especially striking was his emphasis on reaching out to independents -- that they need to be listened to, not lectured to. People who are struggling to send their kids to college, young people who are considering moving away because of the high cost of housing -- these folks used to be Democrats. These are our friends and neighbors.

Reilly's bottom line: "Pay attention to the middle, i.e. where I am." I think it's a valid approach, but it comes a bit short of presenting a vision of what you want government to do for people. There is a nugget of real compassion in Reilly's speech that could be expanded -- I hope he does so. If he finds his inner Bill Clinton, he could actually be a decent candidate.

I may have more later from my notes, but I'm going to hang it up for tonight.