That doesn't reflect my experience, Rig. In the caucuses I have attended, there were plenty of my neighbors there, which include lunch box toters, college students, Microsoft employees, a minister or two (non-fundamentalist), grade school teachers (my precinct caucus was held in the lunchroom of the Lowell School, two blocks from where I live), a couple of bookstore owners, and, all-in-all, a pretty fair cross-section of the people who live in this neighborhood. No one was at all shy about speaking their mind, nor was anyone the least intimidated by any college professors or attorneys they encountered.

A couple of officials from Washington Democrats convened the meeting, then retired while we took it from there. And the meetings are held on a Saturday, starting at 1:00 in the afternoon. Since you have to choose some time, that would probably be the most convenient for the most people.

No, what I have seen in such neighborhood caucus meetings is either grass-roots democracy in action, or a damned good imitation.

I attended the caucus in 2004, and found that when I spoke, people listened. And others had plenty to say, to which we all listened. I spoke pretty strongly in favor of Kucinich, and as a result, the Kucinich group nominated me to be sent as a delegate to the regional convention, but in my wheelchair, I don't travel very well these days, so I declined with thanks. But the young woman who was elected in my place shared my views and was quite outspoken herself.

I wish I had gone to this last one. Had I been there, I would have been able to find out who the Kucinich supporters were going to go with, since he had withdrawn. I have heard that the place was jam-packed, and when I asked, I was informed that had anyone tried anything untoward with that crowd, they would have been dope-slapped until dizzy.

I know that crowd. They weren't about to let anyone cram someone down their throats that they didn't want. They may have preferred a different candidate, but they wouldn't accept anyone unless they deemed then "acceptable."

How many of you have actually attended a caucus meeting!??

Don Firth