Wednesday, March 26, 2008

My First Political Defeat


I have joined the ranks of the great Ronald Reagan who lost the Republican presidential nomination a couple of times before actually being elected. Last night Yours Truly was nominated to attend the county convention and Yours Truly did not win the vote.

For those of you who have forgotten how fun politics in Utah can be, we have precinct caucuses to elect delegates. These delegates then are supposed to represent our interests when they vote at state and county conventions for who actually goes on the general ballots.

I find these caucuses very enjoyable for many reasons. Mainly, it is always nice to leave the home and have hub in charge of bedtime. Also, I enjoy anything political. And lastly, it's fun to see all the political animals that are hiding in your neighborhoods.

But back to me losing. I hadn't planned on running for a spot since it does seem like many more aggressive male animals attend the caucus for that purpose and I don't want to deny them their prize. But a nice neighbor man nominated me and it's not very patriotic to decline. Then a bunch of other people got nominated or nominated themselves (which I find funny ). Then it was time to vote.
I just don't know where I went wrong. Maybe I should have come with my posse and had my votes ahead of time as did our new precinct chair. Or maybe I should have been better prepared with my 1 minute 'get to know you' speech in which I forgot everything I learned in my Public Speaking 101 class I took at BYU. It might have been my personal appearance. I hadn't bathed in awhile. No, actually I was heading to aerobics immediately following the meeting and was dressed like a gym rat as opposed to the polo-shirted and khaki-pantsed men who were my opponents. Perhaps it was because I had been offered the very exciting role as treasurer/secretary and therefore the crowd didn't want to overwhelm me with responsibility (joke--as you do absolutely nothing in that role. Of which I am not complaining) But whatever the reasons, I did not win.

I cried myself to sleep last night, cursed the system for not allowing me time to create a darling slogan and buttons to pass around, and started thinking of conspiracy theories that involved men feeling inferior to an intelligent woman who wears coordinating Reebok yoga pants and shoes to caucus meetings. But today I am over it. I can vote for whomever I want come the primaries and the general election and not feel guilty if it's not what my precinct wanted. I can also attend the conventions as a volunteer as I have in the past. And like the great Reagan before me, I shall rise again. Only hopefully it won't be to become the treasurer/secretary for the third time.
(This does remind me of when I would make my cousin Steph play elections with me and I always told her to call me Ronald Megan. I was a very fun child)

11 comments:

hOLLIANN said...

ohh...this blog posting was worth the wait Ronald Megan. Very funny. At least you have representation at the caucus meeting. We just have vote in the most popular neighbor that has no opinion, unless it is that of his wife. I am still not over it. What a bunch of buffoons! The saddest part for us is that we are the highest voting precinct in Utah County. Imagine, the highest and the dumbest...

LC said...

Vote for Ronald Megan--that is hilarious! I made BD read it.
I'd have voted for you. Aren't there enought khaki pants in politics? Let's get some yoga pants and reeboks in there--those are the real do-ers.

DKAZ said...

Wow, most girls just want to be called Ariel or Belle. Ronald Megan is awesome!

Yes, I thought about having a tag line once, but I didn't think Debbie Does Phoenix would really send the right message. I would've loved seeing you last night..."A vote for Megan is a vote for no candy at the check-out stands, blah, blah, blah."

I would've voted for you, but then I've seen you handle some pretty difficult situations in the past. You handled those unruly Seniors at the registration counter with authority and integrity. I definitely think you could take that phone call at 3 am. "Registration office, this is Ronald Megan".

Rhonda Can't Help You said...

I'm so sad I wasn't there to run your campaign. I DID win Senior Class Secretary, you know...

cold cocoa said...

Your first, and definitely not your last, political defeat. You have it all wrong, y'know. You have to have a 10-year plan. But what do I know- I didn't even consider going to the caucus. And what kind of a word is that?

Diana said...

ronald megan??? i didn't realize the political obsession went so far. . .

TisforTonya said...

Ronald Megan cracked me up... and you SO would have had my vote - based solely on the comfort wear. Always vote for the person who looks comfy in their skin is what I say :) Hmmm... maybe I'd better re-think that come November :) Let's try Always vote for the person who looks like they're ready to tackle any situation involving spin bikes!

Sherie Christensen said...

Meg. Your family will be in town to recognize your parents on the very day you would have been required to be a delegate. People could just sense you had somewhere important to be. I'm sure you'll win next time.

Sherie Christensen said...

I meant more important to be. Also, at least you weren't like the poor chap in our caucus who was nominated for everything except secretary / treasurer and lost every time -- the last time after a tie breaker. I thought his wife was going to cry. I thought I might cry for him. It was a blight on an otherwise pleasant meeting.

Reg said...

Meg, your blog is great, but I'm absolutely stunned to learn about your dislike for country music. You are from Payson right? I mean, not just now, but born and raised? Maybe the real reason you lost is kind of obvious. And wasn't that a pre-qualification for marrying into the family in the first place?

Holli also claims to not like country , but then she makes slide shows with Alan Jackson, and when she calls me from her car it's always country in the background.

hOLLIANN said...

Don't worry Megan, I will hook him back up to the leash...and regarding the radio in the car...it is broken - on a country station. Go figure.