Richardson Meet Up Day a Mixed Bag

Yesterday was the grassroots organized Bill Richardson Meet-up Day. Richardson supporters -- Ken Camp and Emmett O'Connell of America for Richardson -- organized "meet-ups" around the nation to, well, organize. To help the excitement of a Richardson campaign grow and create a sense of community.

The Albuquerque Journal mentioned the meet-up.

O'Connell helped establish Tuesday as a Richardson "meet-up day" for the computer-centered groups to host small community meetings promoting Richardson's bid.

O'Connell and fellow blogger Ken Camp will have their meet-up at Mud Bay Coffee in Olympia, Wash. O'Connell said he expected that two dozen or so other Richardson meet-ups will be taking place in other states, and he's hoping they'll become a monthly happening.

"We're stereotyped as people in pajamas who sit around and blog endlessly about politics," Camp said. But, he added, "The goal is to spur people into action to support a particular candidate or cause. It will be face-to-face, and we've encouraged our friends to reach out to their local Democratic parties."

No comment on whether I blog in my pajamas or not.

A major organizing tool for the day was Zanby.com, where people from around the nation have been making Colorado for Bill Richardson and New York for Bill Richardson groups since as early as June of 2006. There are currently 61 such groups at the site.

Heath Haussamen wrote of the different responses around the nation to the Meet-Up day.

In Boston, more than 100 people turned out at an event organized by Jeff Gulko, a former Richardson staffer in the U.S. Department of Energy. In Minneapolis, Minn., a group also had high turnout.

But in Olympia Washington, despite an article in the local newspaper promoting the event, only four people showed, said organizer Ken Camp.

Over at America for Richardson, you can read about the success of the Minnesota Meet Up.

Haussamen also wrote about a conference call that Richardson gave to supporters, which I also listened in on. He started with a brief speech, talking about why he should be President, and what his supporters could do to help.

The major themes on the conference call were that he is experienced, but an underdog who would be using a positive, grass-roots campaign. He also spent time discussing global warming, and, of course, his experience. "A lot of candidates talk about doing it," Richardson said, "we've actually done it." He also came out strongly against the war in Iraq, with little wiggle room.

The Q&A session was marred by one ranting questioner, who was yelling into the phone. I couldn't understand much of what he said, but Heath Haussamen has a little better hearing (or a better phone connection) than me:

And, just as I was able to get my hands on the phone number and code to listen in on the conference call, so was a man from Nevada who doesn't want Richardson to be elected president.

The man didn't identify himself by name, but claimed he was a military veteran and said Richardson "stole my dog tags."

I have no idea what that was about. I thought he said something about cockfighting, but if he is from Nevada, I'm guessing that's not true.

So the first Bill Richardson Meet-Up day has come and passed. The next is scheduled for March 6, go to America for Richardson for more details, or for New Mexicans, Liberal Truth Sayer has created the New Mexico for Richardson blog.