Here is a brief excerpt from Senator Obama's book The Audacity of Hope regarding a meeting he had with Senator Byrd: "So few people read the Constitution to day," Senator Byrd said, pulling out a copy from his breast pocket. "I've always said, this document and the Holy Bible, they've been all the guidance I need." Before I left, he insisted that his secretary bring in a set of his Senate histories for me to have. As he slowly set the beautifully bound books on the table and searched for a pen, I told him how remarkable it was that he had found the time to write. "Oh, I have been very fortunate," he said, nodding to himself. "Much to be thankful for. There's not much I wouldn't do over." Suddenly he paused and looked squarely into my eyes. "I only have one regret, you know. The foolishness of youth... " We sat there for a moment, considering the gap of years and experience between us. "We all have regrets, Senator," I said finally. "We just ask that in the end, God's grace shines upon us." He studied my face for a moment, the nodded with the slightest of smiles and flipped open the cover of one of the books. "God's grace. Yes indeed. Let me sign these for you then, " he said, and taking one hand to steady the other, he slowly scratched his name on the gift. Thank you Senator Byrd.
For those of you that have not had a chance to read Senator Obama's book, The Audacity of Hope, I strongly recommend it.
I am just now beginning to understand some of the language of "politics" and what these "politicians" are actually saying. Let me offer up a few of my favorite phrases, with my translations of what these politicians are actually trying to say with their veiled statements
"He has not been vetted" - translation - "He has not 'paid his dues' like the good ol' boys. (girls)"
"He is an elitist"- translation - "He is an uppity ..."
"That guy CAN NOT get elected" - translation - "Can't you all see that he is BLACK?"
I can understand if this was all coming from the other side (Republicans), but ALL of these statements have come from our democratic opponent. Who needs Carl Rove.
Yes We Can - change politics and Washington
If you have not heard Bobby Kennedy's "Mindless Menace of Violence" speech, it can be heard here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8vm6AsZw40&feature=related
It can also be downloaded from iTunes.
It is the speech given by RFK on April 5 - the day after the assassination - in Cleveland.
His first words "It is not a day for politics." Still appropriate in many ways. I trust the judgement of Senator Obama to be in Indiana on this day. I am looking forward to hearing his message.
Today Senator Clinton compared herself to Rocky Balboa.
Senator Clinton, I (trained) with Rocky Balboa: I knew Rocky Balboa; Rocky Balboa was a friend of mine. Senator Clinton, you're no Rocky Balboa
(Thanks to Lloyd Bentsen)
After the dust settled from Tuesday's primary and caucus, I know many folks, myself and family included, were wondering "what next". Well we are just as "Fired Up in Frisco" as ever, and here are some things we have done, and are planning to do:
1) Wednesday I donated $10 to each of my MYBO friends that had already set up a fundraising page. I asked them to "Pay the Energy Forward"
2) My wife and I are attending the Obama Volunteer appreciation event in Addison this evening. It should be fun.
3) I sent Jimmy Carter (an unpledged "superdelegate") an email asking him to endorse Senator Obama. I am a long time admirer of the work President Carter has done - in fact our son's name is Carter!
4) Our entire "Team Wester" group (precincts 87, 146, and 118) have been in touch and are planning a get-together
5) My family is going to continue to help call - Wyoming, Mississippi, and Pennsylvania.
Just some ideas -
Yes, We Can!
From my perspective - Precinct captain (87) and Convention Chair (87) - I thought the process was awesome, invigorating, and exciting!
We had three different caucuses (87, 146, and 118) at our polling location, Wester Middle School in Frisco. I would guess that all told, there were over 600 people at our location. All things considered, the evening was fairly orderly, while maintaining an air or excitement. We did have to move locations, and were able to thanks to the helpfulness of the school principal and custodian. We first were scheduled to meet in the band room, but were able to move into the cafeteria, which was still crowded!
After moving to the cafeteria, we were able to, without much consternation of fussing, select the temporary convention chairs and get the packets from the election judge. Each caucus ran fairly smoothly, and people, generally, were understanding as we worked through the proceedings. We did have many volunteers (from both camps) at the site. The Obama volunteers were especially helpful since most of them had been through the training. A special tip of the hat to Rand Huguely, who really kept our site organized and energized all day/ night.
Most of the caucuses were finished by around 10:30 or so. Rand was elected convention chair of precinct 146, the largest of the three at our site. I think they had over 300 people that attended the caucus. I believe the final delegate count was 17 for Obama and 4 for Clinton. I was elected convention chair in my precinct, 87, which was the smallest of the three. We had 100 people caucus, and the final delegate count was 5 for Obama and 2 for Clinto. I do not know who was elected convention chair in precinct 118, but I believe the final count there was 8 for Obama and 6 for Clinton.
All in all it was an unbelievable day, a day, frankly, I did not think I would ever see in Collin County, TX! I was very happy and thankful that I had the chance to meet so many great people and see this process in action. I am also very grateful that my 17 year old son had the chance to witness this as well!
Thank you! Yes, We Can
It is 10:15 am on Tuesday, March 4. I have just returned from my first shift at our precinct (87) In Collin County, TX ... and let me tell you I am FIRED UP and READY TO GO!... and a little cold, too!
Voter turnout - especially on the Democratic side has been great! I have met my fellow precinct captains, and their teams which has been uplifting. We have been able to explain the Texas Two Step to many voters - many Obama supporters so far this morning.
With only two voting stations for the Democratic primary (four for the Republicans - based on last election voting) lines have been long for folks wishing to cast their ballot for a Democrat. We are anticipating that tonight will be a zoo! But it all is very exciting.
Please, keep calling, canvassing, offering rides, talking to neighbors, and make sure we GOTV.
Well, I am heading back out - more later!
OK, hang with me on this one.
Last night our family was watching "Lost". During a commercial break, an Obama for President commercial (actually a very good one) came on. I made the comment that I thought it was interesting that they chose to air a commercial during "Lost" - that it must have something to do with the demographics they were targeting.
Carter, my 17 year old son, responded immediately "Yes, Obama's demographics - EVERYONE!"
How accurate - and wonderful!
Work hard this weekend - call - attend events - get ready to vote (if you have not done so already) and caucus on Tuesday.
My wife voted today - long lines in Collin County!
What an unbelievable experience the last couple of days have been. My son, Carter, and I had the opportunity to volunteer at the Obama rally in Dallas. Tuesday night we (along with a couple of hundred other volunteers) got to meet the Obama advanced team for Dallas. What a bright, energetic group of young people! Carter and I ended up helping to set up the barricades on the floor of the Reunion Arena Tuesday night.
Wednesday, we arrived bright and early (7:00 am) at the volunteer meeting location and were issued our "official" volunteer credentials. We ended up on the "inside team" that worked as a combination crowd control/ usher.
After our section was filled, we had the chance to sit in the "volunteer" section - a great experience as well. I have to say our section had to be the most vocal, fun, boisterous section in the arena! We were very fortunate.
A couple of diminutive, older, African-American women were on one side of us, and a young Hispanic couple on the other. We were on our feet the whole pre-rally festival - through every song, every speech, etc.
When Barack entered it was electric. I noticed the two Africa-American ladies next to us were sitting down - when most of the rest of the arena was on their feet screaming... then I noticed why... they were weeping... then I joined them... and I am sure we were not alone... all of us for our own reasons... all of us tears of joy.
You can see some pictures of us, and the crowd at the rally here:
http://gallery.mac.com/carterleefloyd#100060&view=mosaic&sel=0
What an exciting day!
My epiphany - I was trying to put my finger on exactly what made me so happy about attending the training, and the fabulous turnout. It was more than just the excitement of the Obama campaign, although there was indeed much of that.
I finally put my finger on it today. For the first time in a LONG time we (my family) were at an establishment in Frisco (or Plano, or anywhere else in North Texas) and instead of LOOKING pretty much the same (white, middle age, 2.5 kids) as everyone in the place, we THOUGHT pretty much the same as everyone else in the place!
Believe me when I say, it is a lot more fun being around "like minded" people than "like looking" people!
Thank you all that were there - I felt like I just made 400 new friends!
My son is a Junior at Centennial High School, in Frisco, TX. He writes for the school newspaper, The Titan Times. This is his column that will appear in the weeks paper:
How do you argue with hope?
You can’t.
Barack Obama is the only candidate on the 2008 presidential election ballot capable of bringing the country together in order to achieve progress.
Obama’s support spans the gaps of generations, racial divides and party lines. Even in an ever-growing city of conservatives, I have talked with people who support Obama and plan on giving him their votes in the November election.
I am a Democrat in a city of Republicans and a liberal in a conservative state. I am a blue dot in a sea of red, and I am unable to comprehend how candidates pledge to continue the policy of the current president while he barely maintains an approval rating of around thirty percent. Here is why I support Senator Obama.
Obama plans to remove troops from a war which has cost America nearly half-a-trillion dollars, resulting in the deaths of over 655,000. As an opponent of the war from the beginning, Obama plans to end it, stating, “The best way to protect our security and to pressure Iraq’s leaders to resolve their civil war is to immediately begin to remove our combat troops. Not in six months or one year from now.” Obama’s plan involves pulling out one to two combat brigades per month for 16 months.
Obama plans to restore the economy of America by providing tax relief to the working and middle classes of America, stating, “We are all in this together… we all have a stake in each other’s success because the more Americans prosper, the more America prospers.”
Obama plans to reform education and the No Child Left Behind Act. With more students in the US dropping out of high school than in any other industrialized nation, Obama will try to reverse this statistic. He also will try to stop the growing trend of teachers “teaching to the test” and increase support for students and parents.
Obama also plans to bring ethics back to Washington, stating, “I am in this race to tell the corporate lobbyists that their days of setting the agenda in Washington are over. I have done more than any other candidate in this race to take on lobbyists- and won. They have not funded my campaign, they will not get a job in my White House and they will not drown out the voices of the American people when I am president.”
Obama is an inspiration. He has had more than 650,000 supporters donate to his campaign, and more than being a respected candidate, he is one who is loved.
Obama continues to inspire, because when he speaks, nothing is read from a teleprompter or from his notes, it’s from his heart. It’s the honesty and hope that Obama brings to the campaign that separates him from other politicians. It’s the way he says, “Yes, we can!” and you can believe it. It’s the way that he not only talks about hope, but also evokes it. Obama continues to inspire, because his platform is not the platform of lobbyists in Washington, or the platform of an advisor from a seemingly polarized political atmosphere.
Obama continues to inspire because he continues to stand behind what he thinks are the best choices for the United States of America. Obama continues to inspire, because he is the best choice for the United States of America.
Needless to say, I am very proud of my son, Carter!
So finally my vote (in the words of my 17 year old son, Carter, we are small blue dots in a sea of red) might actually count for something!
Jamie (my wife) , Carter, and I went to a Barack Obama precinct captain training last night. We got a call from a volunteer, had some emails and thought "what the heck" It was at 7:00 pm at a local restaurant. We got there about 10 minutes before 7, and circled the parking lot trying to find a space. Cars were lined up doing the same thing. When we finally parked and walked up, we were told that the restaurant was already "shoulder to shoulder" and that they were going to do the training in shifts. By 7:05 there were people lined up clear down the street.
Long story short, I would say about 400 people came out last night (Sunday) to take part in this grass roots training for precinct captains. It was a training!!! - not even a chance to see Obama. Our county is (according to many sources) one of the most Republican counties in the country! Everyone was very excited - they asked how many people this was their first time volunteering for a campaign - I would say about 70% of the people raised their hand!
The crowd looked exactly as Obama described America in his 2004 DNC speech.... black.. white .. Asian ....Latino... men... women... young... old... RED (yes, many Republicans in the audience!)...The Obama Dallas rally is Wednesday - I am getting Carter out of school and going - unfortunately Jamie is in Florida working and will miss it.
Yes, we can!
