SAN JOSE -- Presidential contender U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich helped California Democrats kick off their annual convention Friday with a fiery address to a cheering crowd eager for a lift.
"We are the party of the people!," Kucinich, D-Ohio, roared, literally bouncing up and down with excitement, and the crowd roared back.
Kucinich promised that as president he would go to the United Nations with "a whole new approach for peace" -- putting U.N. peacekeepers into Iraq and bringing U.S. troops home.
"Don't let any Democratic candidate tell you that we're stuck," he urged the crowd in a dig at his rivals for the party's nomination. "It was wrong to go in and it's wrong to stay in."
But his rivals didn't hear him -- most of them remain in Iowa, waging their last-minute battles before that state's influential caucuses Monday night. Kucinich is the only candidate who will be addressing the California Democratic Party convention this weekend. The Rev. Al Sharpton's address, also scheduled for Friday night, was scrapped after he was delayed due to bad weather back east.
Even without much attention from the presidential candidates, and even with the still-fresh memory of the drubbing Democrats took in last October's gubernatorial recall, party leaders and delegates strove Friday to be optimistic and forward-looking.
"Are we unhappy we lost the recall? Absolutely," party chairman Art Torres told reporters at an opening press conference. "Has it destroyed the spirit of the party? Absolutely not."
Democrats remain focused on delivering the state unto the Democratic presidential nominee this November, Torres said, and this weekend's conference is "really (U.S. Sen.) Barbara Boxer's convention because she is our No. 1 priority in 2004."
Boxer has no opponent in the March 2 Democratic primary, but several Republicans are vying for the right to challenge her in November.
In Sacramento, Torres said, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's personal movie-star appeal remains intact but doesn't necessarily extend to his policies. Democrats have room to be a "loyal opposition," he said, working with the governor on some issues but standing up for their own core constituencies on others.
That theme was repeated throughout the afternoon's caucuses. Addressing the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Caucus, state Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi said "there's a whole encyclopedia of issues out there that we need to address as Democrats," from the war in Iraq to Schwarzenegger's proposed cuts to health care.
Democrats must be "not the radical, crazy opposition," he said, but rather one that lays out values and policies meeting the needs of all Californians. "We will moderate the radical trend that has been put in place in the governor's office."
A short while later, U.S. Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-San Jose, told the same caucus to build on the party's scars: "We have had the learning experience of the recall."
Elsewhere among the caucuses, Joan Blades -- founder of Berkeley-based online political organizing powerhouse MoveOn.org -- told the Computer/Internet Caucus that groups such as her own are still learning just how far they can flex their grassroots clout. "We're still learning, we keep on learning more things about what we can do as we move forward," she said, adding the Internet's interactivity brings a new dimension to politics, a way to "revitalize the 'small-d democratic' dialogue."
This weekend's dialogue isn't just about 2004, but about 2006 as well. Stickers, buttons and other paraphernalia touting the planned gubernatorial runs of Attorney General Bill Lockyer, state Treasurer Phil Angelides and state Controller Steve Westly abound. There are even some stickers touting state Sen. Jackie Speier, D-San Mateo, as a 2006 candidate for lieutenant governor, and Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown for Attorney General.
About 75 young supporters of perennial fringe candidate Lyndon LaRouche staged a chanting, singing, clapping sit-in outside the California Young Democrats and California College Democrats caucus.
Later, about twice as many Kucinich supporters -- one clad as Uncle Sam, another wearing a Lady Liberty tiara, many singing old standards like "This Land is Your Land" and "We Shall Overcome" -- formed a throng outside to welcome their candidate.
Among the high points expected today at the convention will be an addresses by Boxer; House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco; the ousted Davis, and all of the Democratic statewide elected officials.
Contact Josh Richman at jrichman@angnewspapers.com .