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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Visionaraies:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Normally, I avoid partisan politics, but it
occurred to me that a brief report on the convention might be in order.
Perhaps Representative Trail would give a review of the Republican
Convention.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>My comments are brief. If you have any
specific questions, let me know.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Shirley</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">John and I returned last evening
from the State Democrats’ Convention.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>It was a wonderful experience.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>There was the opportunity to greet old friends with whom we share a bond
developed through years of working together.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Beyond that, there were scores of
delegates we met for the first time.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Over one hundred delegates attending competed for the opportunity to
represent Idaho Democrats at the National Convention in <?xml:namespace prefix =
st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Denver</st1:place></st1:City>.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Eighteen individuals had the opportunity
to be elected at the convention, and an additional five were in the
superdelegate category.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>These
included the state party chair and vice-chair; the national committee woman and
national committee man; and Richard Stallings.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Richard Stallings is a former state
party chair who was recommended by party chair Keith Roark and confirmed by
delegates.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">We’re very proud of the
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Latah</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">County</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> delegates who were
selected by the delegation.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Richard
Hill presented an impressive resume.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Included in the list are:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>computational neuroscientist researching neuronal signaling within the
brain for insights into memory and learning mechanisms; President of the
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType> of
<st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Idaho Chapter</st1:PlaceName></st1:place> of the
National Society of Black Engineers; and working during off-hours with kids,
demonstrating how robots work.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">We were also pleased that Latah’s
Darrin Brunstead was selected as an alternate delegate.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He will attend the convention and sit
with the delegation when regular delegates need to leave the floor.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>During the convention, Darrin campaigned
to end the war in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">Iraq</st1:country-region></st1:place>, and to end the “don’t ask,
don’t tell” policy for gays and lesbians serving in the military.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">The <st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Clinton</st1:place></st1:City> delegates
enthusiastically represented Hillary, but expressed their readiness to give
their full support to the Obama campaign.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P></DIV></BODY></HTML>