“the true revolutionary is guided by a great feeling of love…” che guevara
nick and i have been talking for days now about barack vs. the movement he leads. how it takes the right kind of person, that once in a generation figure who can reach out across all barriers into the roads of all walks of life. how in our little (bug huge) community in indiana, we have come together from all walks of life to end this campaign on may 6th.
today as i was heading up my new post as the first face of campaign headquarters, i sat with my co-first face and one of the local political heroes, estella. estella is pushing 80, african american, all kinds of wonderful, and a true public servant in her community (and she knows everyone). i don’t know that i possess the knowledge of words to describe my admiration for her. she speaks with a wisdom i can only hope to someday be able to share. when she speaks of her late husband, she says, “they just don’t make ‘em like that one”. so simple but so beautiful, those eight words speak volumes of her love for her husband, the wonderful life they shared, how much she misses him, and how much she looks forward to the day they reunite in the great wonder that lies beyond. those are certainly eight words i hope to say every single day to the lucky man who wins my heart. today she said, “i thank the lord every day for letting me live long enough to see something so beautiful as this campaign… white folks, black folks, young and old, all working together this way.” again, in those few words, estella summed it up. we, the people of this campaign, come from all walks of life, but we are guided by a great feeling of love and together we are marching toward a greater america, and taking our first steps toward a better world.
i know you want to think that sounds a little bit cheesy and a whole lot naïve and maybe even stupid, but if you stop and think about it, it’s the cynicism, acquired by years, decades, and centuries of talk without walk that make you think that way. and it doesn’t have to be that way. i really do believe that working together, the people of this country (and the world eventually) can make anything happen. every single day since i first joined this campaign, back in february, i have witnessed the greatness in this campaign, have seen that it is a place where things happen to and for people who want it badly enough. i have seen the great things that happen when folks from all walks of life find common ground and the terrible that happens when those same folks focus that energy on that which divides us. it’s a choice we make every single day when we wake up. some of us wake up every day and say a quick prayer, thanking the universe for the small and great wonders in our lives. others of us wake up every single day wondering who’s going to fuck us over today. and more of us live somewhere in the middle, where we go through phases of each, and wonder if it was our negativity that brought the terrible or the terrible things that made us negative and cynical.
fortunately, right now, right this very moment, there are hundreds of us who wake up every single day thanking our lucky stars for the beauty in our lives so we recognize the great feeling of love that guides us. hundreds of us are on the ground right now, in towns and cities across america, making phone calls, knocking on doors, feeding and hydrating and supplying the volunteers and offices for the barack obama campaign, and some of us even running those offices. some of us are paid, most of us are not, but all of us are guided by a great feeling of love and we are being led by the next president of the united states, working side-by-side because we all believe that we are the change we’ve been waiting for.
cross posted at daily kos
21 April 2008
18 April 2008
i had to think it over first
before i could really respond to the last round of debates. i left the debate (a big group of us met up at ivy tech to watch the debate and make calls during commercials and it was wonderful) feeling that barack had won. no question. hillary had to admit she was a liar on national television, barack stood strong in the face of questions he's going to have to answer at some point (b/c it's not like that douchebag sean hannity is ever going to stop whining about anything), and he was very adamant about defending himself, the movement he leads, and all of us who support him. i felt good about that because he stood strong in the face of an all out attack by abc.
but i'm also glad abc did what it did (niall stanage sums it up quite nicely over at the guardian, http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/niall_stanage/2008/04/the_dumbest_debate_in_america.html). abc and gibsonopolis (thank you, mr. colbert), in particular, did us all a favor by showing us exactly who is responsible for the mud slinging that's going on right now. that's it's the main stream media (msm) who perpetuates all the nonsense that keeps their ratings up and our focus off the things that matter. i mean, really, if we are all focused on tearing each other down over things like casual acquaintances, words taken out of context and mangled to destroy one's character, religion, guns, and everything else that divides us, we will keep voting for the candidates all the rich, white guys want in the white house. so they can keep exploiting us, squeezing the life from the middle class, forging imperialistic marches into oil-rich countries around the world, just to deepen the pockets of their greedy white friends.
but i'm also glad abc did what it did (niall stanage sums it up quite nicely over at the guardian, http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/niall_stanage/2008/04/the_dumbest_debate_in_america.html). abc and gibsonopolis (thank you, mr. colbert), in particular, did us all a favor by showing us exactly who is responsible for the mud slinging that's going on right now. that's it's the main stream media (msm) who perpetuates all the nonsense that keeps their ratings up and our focus off the things that matter. i mean, really, if we are all focused on tearing each other down over things like casual acquaintances, words taken out of context and mangled to destroy one's character, religion, guns, and everything else that divides us, we will keep voting for the candidates all the rich, white guys want in the white house. so they can keep exploiting us, squeezing the life from the middle class, forging imperialistic marches into oil-rich countries around the world, just to deepen the pockets of their greedy white friends.
so readers and fellow americans out there, let's just step back and say thank you to abc. you have finally shown the last man, woman, and child in doubt that it's you and your evil empire that fight to keep regular folks like us down in the trenches so that you can make more money. and a shout out to all you regular folks, like me, who are desperate for change, for a better country and a better world. let's all promise that we're going to stand up against those who fight to keep us down and get barack obama elected president.
i'm in indiana, fighting a battle on grounds of undecided voters. this is where the election can and will end. come join me, come join us. we've got the greatest group of grassroots folks on the ground with us and are armed for battle every day of the week. if we had a few more soldiers, we could cover more ground, and reach a few more of those undecideds who aren't really undecided, but need to know it's okay to vote for the young and inexperienced guy who talks about hope and believing in ourselves and tells us that we are the change we've been waiting for. these people want to talk, they want to hear why you're supporting barack obama, they want to know it's okay to vote for him. and all we need is a little more of you.
cross posted at daily koshow great the rewards can be
wow, camp clinton's political machine is sure showing its true colors, confirming its predictability, and proving that it's just too run down and out of touch to really give america what we want and need. and i can't help but wonder if some strategic someone or other, who has historical insight into politicians generally and the clintons more specifically, hasn't helped team obama give senator clinton just enough rope to hang herself while sitting back and watching as she hops into the noose.
the most daming thing to clinton is that we like barack. he's a good guy, a decent and genuine man who has taken the road less traveled in spite of the many adversities he's had to overcome. and he means what he says. i mean, in last night's debate, hillary admitted to the camera that she's a liar and acted as though it were no big deal (as though her husband's dishonesty didn't cost america years of better-spent time tangled up in perjury, lewinsky, and impeachment). with each passing day, her hypocrisy is brought into brighter light, and the sight of her foolishness is beginning to outweigh my urgency to seat a democrat in the white house.
she talks about change, in response to his movement for change. she says she wants things to change too, but then resorts to the very behavior senator obama rebukes as the old style politics that keep us from moving our country forward. but i get it. it's the only way she can win and because winning seems to mean more to hillary clinton than the will of america, she fights on and does so with the same viciousness she criticized back when she was on its receiving end. and i have no doubt it is going to backfire for her, because i have to believe that the american people are smarter than that, and i have to believe that americans are so fed up with the bullcrap in d.c. (and the frat-boy busy administration in particular), that we will see through all the mud being slung to find a bit of hope in the junior senator from illinois who inspires us to believe that yes we can!
and who knows. maybe in the end we will discover that no we couldn't. and maybe we won't. and maybe he won't be able to deliver the promises he is trying to make. but wouldn't you rather take a chance on the new guy who talks about hope, and leads americans to believe that we possess the power within ourselves to make our country great again? wouldn't it be better to give barack obama a chance than to elect someone we already know will disappoint us like all the other politicians before them? isn't it about time to try something new and someone new? someone i adore above all others once said to me, something along the lines of, "no risk, no reward" and i for one am taking the risk.
the most daming thing to clinton is that we like barack. he's a good guy, a decent and genuine man who has taken the road less traveled in spite of the many adversities he's had to overcome. and he means what he says. i mean, in last night's debate, hillary admitted to the camera that she's a liar and acted as though it were no big deal (as though her husband's dishonesty didn't cost america years of better-spent time tangled up in perjury, lewinsky, and impeachment). with each passing day, her hypocrisy is brought into brighter light, and the sight of her foolishness is beginning to outweigh my urgency to seat a democrat in the white house.
she talks about change, in response to his movement for change. she says she wants things to change too, but then resorts to the very behavior senator obama rebukes as the old style politics that keep us from moving our country forward. but i get it. it's the only way she can win and because winning seems to mean more to hillary clinton than the will of america, she fights on and does so with the same viciousness she criticized back when she was on its receiving end. and i have no doubt it is going to backfire for her, because i have to believe that the american people are smarter than that, and i have to believe that americans are so fed up with the bullcrap in d.c. (and the frat-boy busy administration in particular), that we will see through all the mud being slung to find a bit of hope in the junior senator from illinois who inspires us to believe that yes we can!
and who knows. maybe in the end we will discover that no we couldn't. and maybe we won't. and maybe he won't be able to deliver the promises he is trying to make. but wouldn't you rather take a chance on the new guy who talks about hope, and leads americans to believe that we possess the power within ourselves to make our country great again? wouldn't it be better to give barack obama a chance than to elect someone we already know will disappoint us like all the other politicians before them? isn't it about time to try something new and someone new? someone i adore above all others once said to me, something along the lines of, "no risk, no reward" and i for one am taking the risk.
14 April 2008
evansville heating up
oh goodness, i'm feeling the pressures of campaign life for the first time since i began this journey. i haven't slept in a week, the little ole township i've been assigned has 3,000 doors to knock and 10,000 phone calls to make in the next ten days (before we move into getting out the vote), and there aren't near enough of us (YET!) to make it happen. that being said, i'm recruiting like a mad woman to make sure we can get enough people in the door to hit the pavement and get on the horn. and with michelle coming into town this week for a town hall, the madness is astounding...
and on top of that, obama has found himself in the midst of a pickle fest. or maybe even strategized himself into a pickle revolving around religion - an issue that has been the downfall of the democratic party for the past couple of elections...
look, the GOP managed to win the last presidential election on the issue of gay marriage. people tell me that's an oversimplistic explanation for a presidential election mired in war, a dumb president, and a stiff and unrelatable john kerry. but when george bush can win a second term when more than half the country is fed up with his idiocy and not liking the direction of a war (a WAR!), there is clearly something else going on. gay marriage. the GOP is awesome when it comes to pointing out the failures of my own party and in manipulating their base into voting on issues that don't matter. but the thing that does matter that the dems are great at ignoring (for a lot of reasons that i believe revolve mostly around insecurity and fear in alienating an entire group of voters) is religion.
so the dems don't touch the issue. we skirt around it, talk about growing up going to church, pander to the religious leaders as well as we can, and then sit back and ignore the fact that our indifference to religion is what alienates church-going might-be democratic voters.
i'm no different. i'm not religious. i'm certainly spiritual and believe in something greater than me and i think i'm a good person who strives to treat others as i wish to be treated (sometimes i fail, but i am always trying). my biggest issue with organized religion is (and for a very long time has been) that i have found religious people to be some of the most intolerant people i have ever met. i think jesus christ, muhammed, moses, zoroaster, buddha, krishna were incredible leaders whose kindness, warmth, spiritual connection to the universe, and lessons remain inspirational to this day. i also believe that if people of all religions worked as hard to live their lives in the footsteps of their prophets (instead of competing with one another and cutting each other down), this world would be a place without war, poverty, hatred, genocide, orphans, segregation, and all the other things that bring each of us a great deal of strife in our daily lives and the lives of those we love, as well as those we don't even know all around the world. it is the hypocrisy of preaching tolerance while treating those who are different with intolerance that drives me from religion.
that being said, i am aware that religion is the foundation of our great country. i am aware that most people in this country are religious, and i am gaining a new respect and will even go so far as to express admiration for the familial connections within the religious community. even more than that, i appreciate that my party needs to embrace the religious community in this country. we all need to work together AS ONE if we are truly to make the changes in america that we need to make. the religious community is already organized and working toward the betterment of the world in its local, national, and international efforts to end poverty, extend healthcare, and improve the lives of people living in developing countries around the world. our party and, quite frankly, the whole world needs to embrace the good work done by people of faith all around the country and the world. i mean, really, we all have the same ultimate goals, don't we? we all want to live in a better, more inspired, more progressive world, right?
and maybe, just maybe, obama's latest "blunder" was actually a great move because it's really opening up a dialogue about religion, about how the dems have historically failed the religious, how faith helps us all make the world a better place, and ultimately, about how the clinton camp really is all about down and dirty same old politics. further, last night's compassion forum provided some real insight into where each of them stand when it comes to religion, faith, and tolerance. from where i sat, it seemed to me that one of the candidates spoke from their heart and responded to the questions asked while the other candidate politicked their way through the questions without ever really responding. it was a really great way to see which is a person and which is a politician. i know which i prefer...
and on top of that, obama has found himself in the midst of a pickle fest. or maybe even strategized himself into a pickle revolving around religion - an issue that has been the downfall of the democratic party for the past couple of elections...
look, the GOP managed to win the last presidential election on the issue of gay marriage. people tell me that's an oversimplistic explanation for a presidential election mired in war, a dumb president, and a stiff and unrelatable john kerry. but when george bush can win a second term when more than half the country is fed up with his idiocy and not liking the direction of a war (a WAR!), there is clearly something else going on. gay marriage. the GOP is awesome when it comes to pointing out the failures of my own party and in manipulating their base into voting on issues that don't matter. but the thing that does matter that the dems are great at ignoring (for a lot of reasons that i believe revolve mostly around insecurity and fear in alienating an entire group of voters) is religion.
so the dems don't touch the issue. we skirt around it, talk about growing up going to church, pander to the religious leaders as well as we can, and then sit back and ignore the fact that our indifference to religion is what alienates church-going might-be democratic voters.
i'm no different. i'm not religious. i'm certainly spiritual and believe in something greater than me and i think i'm a good person who strives to treat others as i wish to be treated (sometimes i fail, but i am always trying). my biggest issue with organized religion is (and for a very long time has been) that i have found religious people to be some of the most intolerant people i have ever met. i think jesus christ, muhammed, moses, zoroaster, buddha, krishna were incredible leaders whose kindness, warmth, spiritual connection to the universe, and lessons remain inspirational to this day. i also believe that if people of all religions worked as hard to live their lives in the footsteps of their prophets (instead of competing with one another and cutting each other down), this world would be a place without war, poverty, hatred, genocide, orphans, segregation, and all the other things that bring each of us a great deal of strife in our daily lives and the lives of those we love, as well as those we don't even know all around the world. it is the hypocrisy of preaching tolerance while treating those who are different with intolerance that drives me from religion.
that being said, i am aware that religion is the foundation of our great country. i am aware that most people in this country are religious, and i am gaining a new respect and will even go so far as to express admiration for the familial connections within the religious community. even more than that, i appreciate that my party needs to embrace the religious community in this country. we all need to work together AS ONE if we are truly to make the changes in america that we need to make. the religious community is already organized and working toward the betterment of the world in its local, national, and international efforts to end poverty, extend healthcare, and improve the lives of people living in developing countries around the world. our party and, quite frankly, the whole world needs to embrace the good work done by people of faith all around the country and the world. i mean, really, we all have the same ultimate goals, don't we? we all want to live in a better, more inspired, more progressive world, right?
and maybe, just maybe, obama's latest "blunder" was actually a great move because it's really opening up a dialogue about religion, about how the dems have historically failed the religious, how faith helps us all make the world a better place, and ultimately, about how the clinton camp really is all about down and dirty same old politics. further, last night's compassion forum provided some real insight into where each of them stand when it comes to religion, faith, and tolerance. from where i sat, it seemed to me that one of the candidates spoke from their heart and responded to the questions asked while the other candidate politicked their way through the questions without ever really responding. it was a really great way to see which is a person and which is a politician. i know which i prefer...
12 April 2008
my favorite campaign day so far
today was my favorite day of the campaign so far, with only one of the reasons being that i finally got to see barack. he stood ten yards in front of me, in a high-school gymnasium in columbus, indiana, and spoke with the energy, enthusiasm, and interactive style that i hoped he would. he was prepared for and responded (like, didn’t try to dodge anything) to the most random of questions, asked by the most random mix of people. he was more wonderful in person than even on the t.v. and i hope that every person in the world finds a way to stand in a room when that man is speaking.
i’m also falling in love with indiana. i really really like it here. i do keep reminding myself that i’m especially fortunate to be spending the season of rebirth in my home state. winter (it’s greatest flaw) is dying off with each fresh breath of spring. the magnolias and pear blossoms brightening the already charming city of columbus were truly beautiful. and it smelled so sweet and lovely. we drove past rolling hills of green and purple (yes, fer reals), watched a dark pink sunset beneath the threatening thunder clouds hanging overhead. and the best part about it was that i got to spend the day with someone who, like me, recognizes the beauty in life.
the f.o. (field organizer) i work directly with (i’m kinda his bitch) is this amazing guy whose talent for handling any situation is pretty unparalleled, especially for someone so young. we worked together in texas, liked each others’ styles and are finding that we make a good team here in indiana, i think. he’s a pain in my ass (of epic proportion), but he recognizes “the” line and doesn’t cross me. and i know he’d go to bat for me in one second flat for probably anything i asked, as i would for him.
our team in evansville is really starting to mesh too. i had a great time tonight catching up with the other f.o.’s and the regional director, while we cut turf and put together the canvas packs. it was fun. i really like my group, a lot. it’s an interesting cast of characters unfolding at the office, a crew that includes many locals (whose generosity, dedication, warmth and damn good cooking! is keeping the office running), a few of us out-of-staters for the long-term, and those who come in on the weekends.
as great as it all is, being back on the campaign means i have no idea what’s going on in the real world. i really don’t. i haven't seen keith or dan for more than two weeks now and i even missed last week's "meet the press" (though i will certainly be back on track with tim russert tomorrow morning). i really do feel like i'm in an alternate universe, hundreds of miles from home. the two weeks i’ve been gone already feel like two months (missing a boy does not make the time go any faster…), and i have no idea what’s happening in the world, my city, the politics outside of our office, or the lives of those i love. if y’all are reading this, i hope you know i love you, miss you and think of you often. i’m just crazed, juggling a million different things in a state of mayhem i can’t quite get under control, and i’m sorry i’m not more in touch.
i’ve had about four hours of sleep since i woke up yesterday morning and am looking at only just another 6 or 7 tonight, before another crazy day (we have a rally and our canvas kick-off (perhaps in the rain) tomorrow and it will be a day of madness and lots of coffee. but it will be a great day, full of energy, excitement, and hopefully not too many raindrops…
i’m also falling in love with indiana. i really really like it here. i do keep reminding myself that i’m especially fortunate to be spending the season of rebirth in my home state. winter (it’s greatest flaw) is dying off with each fresh breath of spring. the magnolias and pear blossoms brightening the already charming city of columbus were truly beautiful. and it smelled so sweet and lovely. we drove past rolling hills of green and purple (yes, fer reals), watched a dark pink sunset beneath the threatening thunder clouds hanging overhead. and the best part about it was that i got to spend the day with someone who, like me, recognizes the beauty in life.
the f.o. (field organizer) i work directly with (i’m kinda his bitch) is this amazing guy whose talent for handling any situation is pretty unparalleled, especially for someone so young. we worked together in texas, liked each others’ styles and are finding that we make a good team here in indiana, i think. he’s a pain in my ass (of epic proportion), but he recognizes “the” line and doesn’t cross me. and i know he’d go to bat for me in one second flat for probably anything i asked, as i would for him.
our team in evansville is really starting to mesh too. i had a great time tonight catching up with the other f.o.’s and the regional director, while we cut turf and put together the canvas packs. it was fun. i really like my group, a lot. it’s an interesting cast of characters unfolding at the office, a crew that includes many locals (whose generosity, dedication, warmth and damn good cooking! is keeping the office running), a few of us out-of-staters for the long-term, and those who come in on the weekends.
as great as it all is, being back on the campaign means i have no idea what’s going on in the real world. i really don’t. i haven't seen keith or dan for more than two weeks now and i even missed last week's "meet the press" (though i will certainly be back on track with tim russert tomorrow morning). i really do feel like i'm in an alternate universe, hundreds of miles from home. the two weeks i’ve been gone already feel like two months (missing a boy does not make the time go any faster…), and i have no idea what’s happening in the world, my city, the politics outside of our office, or the lives of those i love. if y’all are reading this, i hope you know i love you, miss you and think of you often. i’m just crazed, juggling a million different things in a state of mayhem i can’t quite get under control, and i’m sorry i’m not more in touch.
i’ve had about four hours of sleep since i woke up yesterday morning and am looking at only just another 6 or 7 tonight, before another crazy day (we have a rally and our canvas kick-off (perhaps in the rain) tomorrow and it will be a day of madness and lots of coffee. but it will be a great day, full of energy, excitement, and hopefully not too many raindrops…
08 April 2008
life inside headquarters
it's a marathon, not a sprint. a marathon, not a sprint. i have to keep reminding myself so i try harder to avoid my inclination to keep working so i can make it till the end. i mean, yesterday was essentially a 15 hour work day and the indiana primary is four weeks from today. oh boy...
it's because it's a lot of fun to be here, there's a lot of energy, the people of evansville who are volunteering for the campaign are wonderful, and there's a lot to be done. yeah, it's a lot of making calls, organizing volunteers, data entry, keeping the office in tip top shape (which, for me, includes regulating the recycling bins, digging trash out of the clearly labeled bins for plastic and aluminum and yelling at everyone who throws trash into them. i'm green, i can't help it, and i'm making sure everyone else is respectful of our conservation efforts :)). it's also a lot of canvassing, which, even though it doesn't sound all that glamorous, is one of my favorite campaign tasks. it's just a lot of fun, all the way around, even if it is as exhausting as anything.
oh and i got pulled over again today. no, i wasn't speeding or breaking any rules of the road - other than the fact that my darn tags are expired (STILL!). the police officer was incredibly nice and offered some suggestions to help me with my dilemma, and even wrote me a ticket to help me avoid getting towed if i got pulled over again (wasn't that so sweet of him?). as it turns out, indiana is similar to california in towing cars with expired registration. i also managed to make some headway with the california dmv by getting through to an obama supporter. yay!
so i fed ex'd (overnight for first am delivery) my registration renewal materials, along with an "obama '08" button directly to her attention at the dmv in sacramento. she said she'd process my paperwork as soon as she gets it and get it back to me as quickly as possible. either way, it's going to be at least five days to a week so please cross your fingers that i can avoid the police for a few more days...
it's because it's a lot of fun to be here, there's a lot of energy, the people of evansville who are volunteering for the campaign are wonderful, and there's a lot to be done. yeah, it's a lot of making calls, organizing volunteers, data entry, keeping the office in tip top shape (which, for me, includes regulating the recycling bins, digging trash out of the clearly labeled bins for plastic and aluminum and yelling at everyone who throws trash into them. i'm green, i can't help it, and i'm making sure everyone else is respectful of our conservation efforts :)). it's also a lot of canvassing, which, even though it doesn't sound all that glamorous, is one of my favorite campaign tasks. it's just a lot of fun, all the way around, even if it is as exhausting as anything.
oh and i got pulled over again today. no, i wasn't speeding or breaking any rules of the road - other than the fact that my darn tags are expired (STILL!). the police officer was incredibly nice and offered some suggestions to help me with my dilemma, and even wrote me a ticket to help me avoid getting towed if i got pulled over again (wasn't that so sweet of him?). as it turns out, indiana is similar to california in towing cars with expired registration. i also managed to make some headway with the california dmv by getting through to an obama supporter. yay!
so i fed ex'd (overnight for first am delivery) my registration renewal materials, along with an "obama '08" button directly to her attention at the dmv in sacramento. she said she'd process my paperwork as soon as she gets it and get it back to me as quickly as possible. either way, it's going to be at least five days to a week so please cross your fingers that i can avoid the police for a few more days...
07 April 2008
2,500 miles from home
i am officially back on the campaign trail and have set up camp in evansville, indiana, where the grassroots movement has been rocking for weeks. this is home for me. it's where i was born, where i spent the first several years of my life, and the place most of my family still calls home. it's great to be here, reconnecting with my roots, and working toward a greater america.
after a weekend of perhaps too much fun in chicago, i arrived at obama headquarters in evansville yesterday afternoon. i met the team, re-acquainted with my galveston group (those of us who made our way to indiana), and hit the ground running. it seems that we (we = team obama) have registered several thousand NEW voters, in evansville alone. in doing the data entry, i discovered dozens of new voters who were born in the 1930's, 40's and 50's, in addition to the youngsters who are only just old enough to participate.
my enthusiasm for obama has been jumping from the pages of my diary since i started this blog, but when i meet 70-year-old people who are inspired to participate in the american process for the first time in their lives, my own inspiration reaches new heights. seriously...
i was interviewed today by one of the local television stations (and will be on the news tonight - heh!) and the new voter registration was the topic of the day (because today is the deadline for hoosiers to register to vote). as it turns out, the clinton camp isn't even bothering with new voter registration, while team obama dropped off just under a thousand new forms this morning. i mean, really? to just accept the institutional vote without making an outreach effort? huh. i'm sure it has nothing to do with the absence of positive "strategy" in the clinton campaign.
speaking of the clinton campaign, i'm a wee out of the loop as i've been on the road for a week, but i did see that mark penn stepped down as that camp's chief strategist. i find it a little more than frustrating to watch the clinton campaign unraveling at the seams (as they have been since obama took iowa), while so many americans just sit back and ignore the obviously disastrous parallels between managing a campaign and managing a presidential administration. how can anyone honestly expect a candidate who cannot run a campaign to effectively run a country as complex as the united states of america? lemme make it simple, disastrous campaign = disastrous presidency...
and since i know you're all dying to know about my expired license plate tags, you should know that i officially dropped the ball. i didn't renew, i let it slip. oopsie. and the idiotic red tape (welcome to the california government) i'm climbing over, under, and around to resolve the mess is kinda unbelievable. fer reals...
and in case it isn't crystal clear, i'm having an absolute BLAST! in spite of the fact that i am missing (terribly) a boy who's fishing on the other side of the world.
after a weekend of perhaps too much fun in chicago, i arrived at obama headquarters in evansville yesterday afternoon. i met the team, re-acquainted with my galveston group (those of us who made our way to indiana), and hit the ground running. it seems that we (we = team obama) have registered several thousand NEW voters, in evansville alone. in doing the data entry, i discovered dozens of new voters who were born in the 1930's, 40's and 50's, in addition to the youngsters who are only just old enough to participate.
my enthusiasm for obama has been jumping from the pages of my diary since i started this blog, but when i meet 70-year-old people who are inspired to participate in the american process for the first time in their lives, my own inspiration reaches new heights. seriously...
i was interviewed today by one of the local television stations (and will be on the news tonight - heh!) and the new voter registration was the topic of the day (because today is the deadline for hoosiers to register to vote). as it turns out, the clinton camp isn't even bothering with new voter registration, while team obama dropped off just under a thousand new forms this morning. i mean, really? to just accept the institutional vote without making an outreach effort? huh. i'm sure it has nothing to do with the absence of positive "strategy" in the clinton campaign.
speaking of the clinton campaign, i'm a wee out of the loop as i've been on the road for a week, but i did see that mark penn stepped down as that camp's chief strategist. i find it a little more than frustrating to watch the clinton campaign unraveling at the seams (as they have been since obama took iowa), while so many americans just sit back and ignore the obviously disastrous parallels between managing a campaign and managing a presidential administration. how can anyone honestly expect a candidate who cannot run a campaign to effectively run a country as complex as the united states of america? lemme make it simple, disastrous campaign = disastrous presidency...
and since i know you're all dying to know about my expired license plate tags, you should know that i officially dropped the ball. i didn't renew, i let it slip. oopsie. and the idiotic red tape (welcome to the california government) i'm climbing over, under, and around to resolve the mess is kinda unbelievable. fer reals...
and in case it isn't crystal clear, i'm having an absolute BLAST! in spite of the fact that i am missing (terribly) a boy who's fishing on the other side of the world.
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