Being a Democrat in these Trump days is not easy, as every day brings fresh stories of conquest and looting.
Yet, despite this, 4,000 hard upper lip partisans appeared in Anaheim over the weekend, hoping for comfort, inspiration and future victory.
When the mouse ear pilgrims placed the outside sidewalk outside, the party was loyal and met a long block from Disneyland, engaged in their own escape and magical thinking.
“Joy is an act of resistance,” party party chair Rusty Hicks proposed game-wise at the beer and wine reception.
That’s certainly one way to deal with it.
But the weekend getaway wasn’t all hand-wound and liquid refreshes.
There were workshops above, caucus meetings above, caucus meetings above, speakers after speakers, wielding various iterations of the words “fight” and “resistance”, dropping enough F-bombs to suppress decoration and suppression.
President Trump – the devil himself, ridden by people in the hall as an assortment of “punks,” “orange oligarchs,” small bullies, “those sitting in the White House,” and unprintable epiThets.
“My fellow Golden Democrats, we are Pat Brown and the incomparable Nancy Pelosi FDR and JFK parties,” said the less matured Sen. Adam Schiff. “We won’t surrender. We won’t admit it. California won’t cower. Not now. To the bully, you can go yourself.”
The path from political exile, which many Democrats seem to feel, is richly paved with four letter words.
Two people in hand for the party’s 2028 presidential outlook. (One other of them – Gov. Gavin Newsom felt it was best to lose favour and stay away from many of his fellow California Democrats.)
Caffeine-filled New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, who has a 25-hour filibuster fame, summoned the glory of the past, urging Democrats to return to the party’s grounding principles and fight from there.
“We are here for those who stood up when they were told to sit. We are here for those who spoke when they were told to be silent. We are here for those who marched in front of fire and dogs.” “We are here for those who are facing an outrageous obstacle and who still say they will unite and overcome.”
Tim Waltz, the party’s 2024 vice presidential candidate and weekend keynote speaker, was on hand after spurting from his morning appearance in South Carolina. He made the most thorough and substantive statements.
He starts with a simple approval, thanks to his 2024 running mate, Kamala Harris. (She also left the convention, pondering her political future. The sole presence of the former vice president was the most notable three-minute video for its monotonous production and Harris’ passionless delivery.)
In contrast, Waltz happily tore Trump apart, saying his only animated impulses were corruption and greed. He pointed to the calm and heartfelt spirit that the president and his allies showed during California’s horrifying January fire.
“They played games, responsible games and gave false information about incredibly tragic situations,” the Minnesota governor said. “They didn’t have the firefighter’s back. They didn’t hustle to get the help you needed.
In line with the lethal spirit of the weekend, Waltz blasted Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bull” and chuckled Congressional Republicans as “Merry Band of Dips.”
But many of his 30-minute speeches were devoted to flaying their own parties “like a deer… like a terrible headlight.”
“There’s an appetite there in this country to govern with courage and ability, not fear it, make mistakes about things, show that you don’t have to question who you really are and who the Democrats are.”
“Are you going to a cocktail party with someone who is very rich and then passes the law that benefits them?” he demanded. “[Or] Do you remove your butt and make sure our children get a good education? ”
Still, to all the curses and sw walking and intense, there was an unsettling atmosphere permeating the glassy convention center. This is a party that needs repairs and is recognized by many, from convention floors to hospitality suites.
Alex Desch, the first-time representative of San Jose, said his younger peer, “shocked by Trump’s election” – was particularly enthusiastic about change. They just don’t agree, he said.
In fact, it appeared that Anaheim offers as many prescriptions as representatives. (Over 3,500 according to official count.)
Anita Skari, 75, is a retired Sacramento lawyer who attended the third or fourth convention, suggesting that the party should return to basics by speaking explicitly – she says nothing about the fan, focusing on people’s notebooks.
“It’s the economy,” she said. “It focuses on the lives people live.”
Gary Bolsos said Democrats need to stop making fun of their message and stop harping to the president.
“Trump is bad” There’s a lot going on,” the 74-year-old retired software engineer said he rode the train from Arroyo Grande for eight hours to attend his first convention.
“What we’re doing is that there are a lot of band-aid solutions to the problems that day,” Bolsos said. “We’re not thinking about it in the long term.”
However, neither expressed much confidence in their party.
“I’m looking forward to it,” Skari said. “I’m not optimistic.”
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