The word of the day for February 4, 2008 is "caucus" — noun — : a closed meeting of a group of persons belonging to the same political party or faction usually to select candidates or to decide on policy; also : a group of people united to promote an agreed-upon cause.
OK, I missed Groundhog's Day. I do have an excuse; I drove most of the way from Wichita to Omaha and on Sunday I drove all the way back. This is normally a six-hour drive, but the weather seemed determined to agree with the superstition. We had fog until the sun came up Saturday, and on Sunday, snow most of the way from Omaha to Kansas City. Fortunately, both Bubbles and Lloyd behaved themselves and we had a nice visit with Claudia.
She had been to a seminar on how to caucus Saturday morning. The Democratic Party is to have the first presidential caucus there in dunamany years. She is all excited at the task of putting a sign in her yard giving the precinct number, time and place for her neighbors to join her in caucus to elect delegates to the Democratic Convention. We attend the caucus years ago when they held one in Wichita. It was exciting, and they elected Lloyd and me as alternate delegates to the region-wide convention. I do wish, though, that the US would not electioneer for such a long time. So many candidates let the jobs to which they are already elected take second place to the position they hope to achieve that hardly anyone is left to do any serious work.
Our quote for the day is from Lewis Carroll [Charles Lutwidge Dodgson] (1832–1898), British author, mathematician, clergyman. Alice in Wonderland:
"What is a Caucus-race?" said Alice...
First [the Dodo] marked out a race-course, in a sort of circle ("the exact
shape doesn't matter." it said), and then all the party were placed along the
course, here and there. There was no "One, two, three, and away!", but
they began running when they liked, and left off when they liked, so that it
was not easy to know when the race was over. However, when they had
been running half an hour or so, and were quite dry again, the Dodo suddenly
called out "The race is over!", and they all crowded round it, panting, and
asking "But who has won?"
;^) Jan
3 comments:
I'm new to your journal hon....Words are something I'm rather fond of these days and couldn't resist checking out your journal. Thanks for the smile! The quote is quite appropriate for the presidential running (winks)..(Hugs) Indigo
You wrote;
'So many candidates let the jobs to which they are already elected take second place to the position they hope to achieve that hardly anyone is left to do any serious work.'
Hmm...I agree with you there Jan. Its a long time out of action.
Hugs
Jeanie xxxx
As I do not live in US you might understand that the word caucus is not really one that I have used !! As we are getting an almost blow by blow account of your political race and teh word caucus of comes out in almost every sentence. I believe tomorrow is a biggish day. I don't think I would like our race for our No.10 to go on for as long.... I think it is three or four weeks...and in my mind usually 2 or 3 weeks to long !! Happy voting !! love sybil xx
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