Kickoff by Larry Yawn

The City of Charlotte rolled out the red carpet for Texas and other states tonight. Your delegates from SD5 met with the other 250+ delegates from Texas at the welcome reception and started our participation in the national convention in a great way. Texas has some outstanding delegates who have come here to participate in the nominating process and to bring back to Texas enthusiasm, winning strategies, and lots of campign buttons. Given the determination demostrated so far by the Texans in Charlotte, the stage is being set for Democrats to reset the political clock in Texas.

The first thing we have learned is that Issac is an equal opportunity employer. The rain showers from the storm that hit the gulf last week continue to roll into North Carolina. Hopefully, they will wind down before the Thursday night acceptance speech by President Obama.

Monday opens with a Labor Day Parade and Carolina Fest, a street celebration in downtown Charlotte. The Texas delegation meets at noon with a luncheon in downtown Charlotte. After that there are several caucuses and training sessions in the convention center and at other locations in Charlotte. The favorite of this UT grad is the reception hosted by the Texas Exes in Charlotte Association. Can you believe? UT Exes are everywhere. We will wind down the day with a final event which is being held at the Texas delegation hotel.

Excitement is building. Everyone is ready for a line up of speakers who know the difference between telling the truth and attempting to rewite history, who can deliver unscripted comments that are reality based, not bizzare, and, above all, who advocate for an America that offers opportunity without forgetting that help is some times needed. This convention, like this election, will offer a contrast. However important the convention is, it is only one step. In many respects, the convention is the kickoff. To move down the field we must use the events of the convention to shape elections back home, and that requires that each Democrat in SD5 take up the cause and actively work to elect local Democarts.