Democratic Party party

Posted on:: April 27th, 2004

Quite an action-packed day yesterday. I did two keynotes, at two separate events. After the second one, I went back to the first event, a gathering of about 125 people who run libraries and museums, because I’m trying to write some stuff about metadata and taxonomies. I learned, for example, that one well-known art museum has had to create over 300 new Dewey Decimal categories for illustrated manuscripts … and one for astrology.

Afterwards, I went to a cocktail party put on by the hosts of the second event. It was quite the power party. I got to chat for five minutes with Terry McAuliffe, the chair of the Democratic National Committee. I tried to say that the Net can be do things for campaigns other than raise money … for example, bring in a portion of the population that is feeling a tad alienated in part because of the relentless money ‘n’ marketing focus of the campaign. MacAuliffe agreed, and then went on to re-express my point in terms of using the Net to raise money. But, what the heck, it was 5 minutes at a cocktail party where everyone was elbowing for a chance to talk with The Chairman, so I’m grateful for the opportunity to make a ding if not a dent.

I then got to say about two sentences to Tom Daschle. after he spoke to the assembled group, thanking the people there who have done real work for the progressive movement. Sen. Daschle had just made a heartfelt thank-you statement, yet I found myself impressed that I was listening to a person who could express himself in untortured English. Yikes. FWIW, he seemed more sincere in person than on TV, but, then, if the reverse were true, you’d have some type of personality disorder, wouldn’t you? Look, I liked him in person, ok? That’s all I’m trying to say.

I spent a little more time (i.e., a minute or two) with Senator Patty Murray from Washington. We talked about the possibility of using the Internet for more than fund raising. It felt like an actual conversation. She put on no airs and seemed to lack the protective, hey-how-are-ya bubble that surround so many professional politicans.

And then I talked with Senator Stabenow from Michigan. Like Senator Murray, she seemed like an actual person, humbled by sitting in the Senate. I liked her a lot. A real lot. Because we had a little more time, I also urged her not to legislate the Internet without understanding what it is. No Senatorial preachiness to her at all. Just Net preachiness on my part. What an ass I am. But what a treat to get to talk with her.

Here’s the photographic evidence that I’m not a total liar, at least in this particular entry:

Sens. Tom Daschle and Patty Murray