Day 2 at the Democratic National Convention was uplifting and motivational. It started over breakfast at the Blake Hotel with my fellow California delegates. We heard from Senator Dianne Feinstein about Senate Democratic priorities and about the need to re-elect our President.
After our scrumptious meal, I walked over to the convention center to attend the Youth Council, which started off with an amazing video about where the phrase 'Fired Up? Ready to Go!' came from. By the end of it, all 100-plus attendees were on their feet, cheering and excited for whomever the next speaker would come next. Little did we know that Dr. Jill Biden, Second Lady of the United States, was on her way! When Dr. Biden arrived, the crowd erupted in cheers. Once she got to the podium, she talked about being an educator-- she currently teaches full time at a Virginia community college-- and about the very real need to invest in our education system.
Afterwards I had the opportunity to attend a reception for the Democratic Municipal Officials, hearing from Mayors, City Councilmembers and others whose communities have elected them to represent our Democratic values on the local level. It was great to connect with my fellow Marin County delegates, sitting together, cheering together, laughing together and on occasion, even crying together.
Of course the crowning moment of the day was after I got to the Time Warner Arena. Elizabeth Warren (who can count me among her greatest fans!) wowed the entire crowd. A progressive fighter, Massachusetts' next Senator told America the truth- that our economy is best off when the middle class is strong, when we invest in education, and when we hold financial firms accountable for their effect on regular Americans.
And if Warren was nothing short of remarkable, Bill Clinton can only be described as extraordinary. I had the chance to see President Clinton only the day before at the Arkansas Democratic Party event, but last night he was in his element. He responded to each of the Republican Party convention claims and mistatements about President Obama's record. He motivated the crowd. And perhaps, most important of all, he conveyed our values as progressives, as Democrats, and as Barack Obama's supporters, to TV viewers across the country! Now, it's time to roll up our sleeves and attend a couple of caucus meetings ahead of the speech we've all been waiting for...
