Kerry Lee's Blog

Ohio revisited

Kerry - Taking long deep tokes off the Hope Bong! — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 22:33:53 EDT

As you may already know, I was fortunate enough to be able to travel to Columbus, Ohio in March to help canvass prior to the crucial March 4th primaries. I had decided rather than watch disappointing numbers come in on primary night, I'd rather be there on the ground doing what I could to help Obama get every vote he could. As a mother of four and the sole supporter for a family of six, finances would not allow me to go. However, thanks to the kindness and dedication of several blog members and other local Obama supporters who donated frequent flyer miles and travel money, I was able to spend several days working hard in Ohio. A very kind lady named Joyce in Columbus offered me a place to stay and other kind volunteers helped get me to the SEIU Obama headquarters each day. This was all part of an effort the campaign called the One Million March for Change and the goal was to canvass One Million doors in Ohio over that weekend.

The first day I was there I stayed until 2 a.m. assembling canvassing packets and coded door hangers that listed the polling location for each specific neighborhood. Early the next morning I was back and headed out canvassing with two other Obama supporters. Jim was an older gentleman from Virginia that had driven up to Ohio with his wife. She was a driver which meant she was driving large groups of canvassers to different areas around the city. The other guy was young, a university student originally from Brazil. That weekend Ohio was definitely in the spotlight and news agencies including CNN, MSNBC, C-SPAN and many other outlets were on hand to interview and film the campaign's activities. As we walked out the door, a professional camera man asked if he could tag along with us as we canvassed. We agreed and he followed us in his car to a part of town I would learn later was called Victorian Village. Near the University, the houses were old brick Victorian storybook houses. Many had been split up into 5-10 separate apartments to accomodate students.

As we went door-to-door through the ice and snow, we all chatted amongst ourselves. We learned that the photographer's name was Chris and he represented CandidatePhotos.com, a website that posted unique, high-quality photographs from the candidate trail that other news organizations would often purchase for their publications or websites. He said that photos he was taking that day would not be up for a long time as he was so busy going from town to town covering the Clinton, McCain and Obama campaigns.

After an hour or two of shooting photos with us, he went off to take photos at another event in town and we finished up our assigned doors and headed back to headquarters. The three of us canvassers went our separate ways and I found two new people go back out canvassing with. I never really thought about the candidate photos guy again - until today. I was reflecting on the campaign and remembering my Ohio trip and thought, "Oh yeah, I should see if the site has any photos of us canvassing in Columbus. I went to www.candidatephotos.com and did a search for Ohio and lo and behold! I found three photos taken of us canvassing:

Canvassing in Ohio 1

Canvassing in Ohio 2

Canvassing in Ohio 3

Seeing these photos brought all the excitement back in a profound way. As the primary campaign draws to a close, it's amazing to think about all the people I have met and all the places I've traveled and experiences I've gotten that I wouldn't have had were it not for this campaign.

Thanks to all of you for your hard work and dedication and for being such a great community of hope and inspiration!

Kerry

The Big Red Bus to Portland!

Kerry - Taking long deep tokes off the Hope Bong! — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 11:34:48 EDT

I went to Oregon yesterday with a group of about 40 Obama volunteers from Seattle. We boarded a big red double-decker bus donated and driven by Mike Hale of Hale's Ales. We left Seattle early in the morning and had a great time while drawing a lot of attention driving down I-5 to Portland. People honked, waved and took our picture the whole way.

We were in luck with a beautiful sunny day and arrived just after 12, got a brief training and broke up into groups to register voters. Oregon has a closed primary so we were also updating voter registrations for Republicans and Independents who want to be able to vote for Barack on May 20th.

My group was sent to the area around the entrance of Whole Foods in the Pearl District. We met a lot of great people all through the day, most already registered to vote. We did have one crazy heckler shouting out extremist things about Obama but we ignored him and he went away.

In the end, I registered 8 people and our group registered 235 people!! Mike even registered someone while he was waiting for us with the bus - Yaay Mike, my new hero! :)

We all had dinner and hopped on the bus and headed back home tired but still FIRED UP! Mike gave us each a Hale's Ale for our efforts and we spent the ride back sharing stories of our day and arrived back in Seattle 12 hours after leaving knowing it was a day well spent!

Organizing for the 1st CD Caucus

Kerry - Taking long deep tokes off the Hope Bong! — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 14:16:36 EDT

On April 5, all or portions of 11 Legislative Districts - the 1st, 21st, 23rd, 32nd, 35th, 38th, 39th, 44th, 45th, 46th, and 48th, elected 240 delegates to the 1st CD caucus. Of those 240, 178 (or 74.2% are Obama delegates). From stories across the CD, we gained several (up to 5-6) delegates at the LDs as projected by the results of the precinct caucuses. At this point, it appears that we will elect 4 delegates (2 men and 2 women) to go to the National Convention, as well as one female alternate, to support Senator Obama.

Looking forward to May 17th, the chair of the 1st CD is Kent Hanson (425.337.4419). He is currently putting together his team to run the caucus, so we should expect to learn more about the specific rules and agenda later this week or early next week.

For communication with and among delegates, the Google group is http://groups.google.com/group/WA1stCDObamadelegates.

Volunteers – We are working on finding volunteers to help with the organization and running of the 1st CD caucus. Volunteers will be needed with setup, credentialing, cleanup, the tally committee, etc. These volunteers need not be delegates.

Food/Food Drive – Kerry Lee has volunteered to coordinate food for those attending the caucus (and perhaps the training sessions – see below) and lead a food drive for Northwest Harvest at the caucus. Her post on the delegate group on google gives more info on the food drive.

TRAINING SESSIONS

We are planning two training sessions - one in Poulsbo the weekend of May 3-4 and a larger training session in Edmonds on May 10-11. The location of these events are not set. What was agreed upon was that in each location we would have a training session - what to expect, how to organize, etc. In both cases, the training session would be followed by a meet and greet - but in the case of the Edmonds event, it is envisioned that a larger social gathering might occur.

Finally, please remember to contact the delegates in your area and give them the address to our Google group list http://groups.google.com/group/WA1stCDObamadelegates. We hope that every delegate joins.

One other general resource for posting information and events will be our group on the Obama website. When you contact delegates, please have them join the group. Here is the direct link

http://my.barackobama.com/page/group/Washington1stCDforObama

Choosing a Leader - by Catherine Crier

Kerry - Taking long deep tokes off the Hope Bong! — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 15:50:39 EDT

Choosing a Leader

by Catherine Crier

As a little girl, my hero was Atticus Finch, the fictional lawyer played by Gregory Peck in To Kill a Mockingbird. Most of you know the story. The soft-spoken attorney creates a furor in his small Southern town when he accepts representation of a black man charged with raping a local white woman. For Atticus, the decision is easy. Justice requires it.

That single act changes his children's lives forever. They experience a powerful loss of innocence as the community they love and trust is split by the ensuing tensions. For the first time, Scout and her brother Jem must confront prejudice, racism and the debilitating effects of poverty on the human psyche.

They watch their father refuse to rise to the bait as tempers flare. When Atticus is spit on by the father of the 'victim', he slowly pulls out his handkerchief and wipes his face, without stepping back or breaking his intense stare at the offender. The other man is the first to back away, spewing epithets. Jem is puzzled and somewhat humiliated by his own father's apparent pacifism.

Then one day, a rabid dog comes staggering down the family's street. The housekeeper, Cal, calls frantically for Atticus to come home. Speeding to the house, the lawyer and another man, rifle in hand, exit the vehicle. When it comes time to take the shot at the rapidly approaching, obviously deranged animal, the man thrusts the gun at Atticus. Jem is wide-eyed. This must be a mistake. He watches as his bespectacled father raises the weapon and dispatches the danger with a single shot. Seeing Jim's surprise, the other man responds, "Didn't you know your Daddy is the best shot in the county?"

As the community fractures, Atticus responds calmly with candor and reason. Jem and Scout learn just how much strength their father possesses when compared to the swagger and intimidation around him. He acknowledges the dignity of others despite disagreements and insists his children do the same. "If you just learn a single trick, Scout", he tells his daughter, "you'll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view, until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it." Atticus believes in inherent human goodness and in the power of America's system of laws to protect the maligned, yet there is no doubt he has the strength and will to defend his family and client if other options were foreclosed. Critically, he also believes in real justice, a concept that transcends the confines of our rules and courts.

During this contentious political season, we are called upon to judge the character of the candidates. Who should lead the nation, the fighter or the war hero? Who best wears their patriotism on their sleeve (or lapel)? Who can throw or take the biggest punch, swig the strongest shot, or bowl the highest game?

When the American Film Institute took a vote on the greatest American film hero of the last century, the winner was not Rambo, Rocky or a John Wayne cowboy. Instead it was Atticus Finch; gentle, bookish, moral, yet tough to his core. He never proclaimed his authority or postured for effect. He simply acted on his principles, with bravery and integrity, leaving no doubt who the real leader was. This might not be a bad model for the next occupant of the White House.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/catherine-crier/choosing-a-leader_b_97352.html

The Power of the ObamaNation

Kerry - Taking long deep tokes off the Hope Bong! — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 12:29:49 EDT

First Read - the blog by Chuck Todd and MSNBC writes today about us.
The Power of ObamaNation:

ObamaNation’s power: Curious of what the bitterness and anger could look like if Obama is somehow denied the Democratic nomination? Check out the reaction from the ObamaNation over Wednesday’s debate. To put it simply, ABC was under siege yesterday. This may only be a taste of how the ObamaNation would react to a Clinton nomination. If MoveOn is motivated to do a petition campaign against the media over a debate, imagine what Clinton delegates and undecided superdelegates would face this summer if there is doubt. And as the Politico’s Ben Smith pointed out yesterday, it’s also what the GOP would face in the general election, especially if Obama is nominee. The level of devotion among Obama's supporters rivals what Bush had with his flock in 2004. The left-wing blogosphere is MUCH more powerful than what you see on the right this cycle and it reminds us of the advantage Bush had in '04. While we all know about that so-called right-wing voice machine, don’t forget that there is now a left-wing noise machine (on the internet) as well. And it has found its voice.

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/04/18/915576.aspx

1st Congressional District Food Drive - Stop Hunger and Caucus for Barack Obama all in one!

Kerry - Taking long deep tokes off the Hope Bong! — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 13:32:01 EDT

I know that some of the LDs in the 1st CD did a food drive for Obama
in conjunction with their LD caucuses and I thought that we could
bring this idea forward to the CD caucus.

1st Congressional District Food Drive - Stop Hunger and Caucus for
Barack Obama all in one!

For all those that are Obama Delegates or Alternates in the 1st CD,
we will be providing boxes adorned with the Obama Logo for people to
make a non-perishable food donation.

These donations will be delivered to Northwest Harvest in boxes that
indicate that they have come from Obama Supporters who are stepping up
to their call for action.

Please bring a food donation with you to the Congressional District
Caucus on May 17, 2008 at 10:00 a.m.

If you are not in the 1st CD but would like to organize a similar
effort for your Congressional District caucus, please email the
address below to coordinate your efforts with us!

If you want to be more involved or assist in decorating boxes, please
email me directly at obamake...@gmail.com

Thanks!
Kerry Lee

SEATTLE OBAMA UNITY MARCH - SAT FEB 2nd

Kerry - Taking long deep tokes off the Hope Bong! — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 14:56:23 EST

PLEASE JOIN US FOR THE OBAMA UNITY MARCH!
Seattle, WA
Saturday, February 2, 2008

The OBAMA UNITY MARCH will have two starting locations, Occidental Park and the Seattle Center at the base of the Space Needle.

The two groups will begin marching at 11:00 a.m. and unify at the central location; Westlake Center.

There is no greater time than now for change!

* * * Pass the word along, and feel free to bring a friends and family * * *

Details:

Please arrive at either Occidental Park (S. to N.) or Seattle Center (N. to S.) between 10:00 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. People will then begin marching on the following routs.

Northern Route - .9 miles:
1.Start at 5th Ave N & Broad St (Seattle Center near Space Needle)
2.Head south on 5th Ave N toward John St - 0.1 mi
3.Turn left at 5th Ave - 0.7 mi
4.Turn right at Pine St - 328 ft
5.End at 401 Pine St (Westlake Park)

Southern Route 1.1 miles:
1.Start at S Main St & Occidental Ave S (Occidental Square, between
Information Kiosk and Totem Poles)
2.Head east on S Main St toward 2nd Ave S - 0.2 mi
3.Turn left at 4th Ave S - 0.9 mi
4.End at 401 Pine St (Westlake Park)

Once people have arrived at Westlake Center there will be speakers and an opportunity to show Seattle that we are FIRED UP & READY TO GO!

This will be the last opportunity to participate in any large OBAMA event prior to the Saturday, February 9, 2008 Caucus.

Please feel free to make and bring signs with you to this event. We will be having sign making and other organizing events between now and Saturday, February 2, 2008. If, you are interested in participating please send me and email and I will make sure that you are updated on the upcoming planning events for the OBAMA UNITY MARCH.

Please RSVP through one of the following:

Barack Obama Website:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/4vtgl

Myspace:
http://events.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=events.detail&eventID=402106.80312

Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=10713754174

My favorite Obama song

Kerry - Taking long deep tokes off the Hope Bong! — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 14:29:04 EST

http://youtube.com/watch?v=TSRJhN6HjvQ

Del Sol High School video

Kerry - Taking long deep tokes off the Hope Bong! — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 13:57:04 EST

Obama speaks in Nevada at Del Sol High School:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGO7FVtk8wQ

Barack responds to HRC on Meet the Press

Kerry - Taking long deep tokes off the Hope Bong! — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 13:54:26 EST

Barack Obama's campaign sent out the candidate's response to Hillary Clinton ... His remarks were made in a conference call this a.m. with reporters.

Obama: "This is fascinating to me. I mean I think what we saw this morning is why the American people are tired of Washington politicians and the games they play. But Senator Clinton made an unfortunate remark, an ill-advised remark, about King and Lyndon Johnson. I didn’t make the statement. I haven’t remarked on it, and she I think offended some folks who felt that somehow diminished King’s role in bringing about the Civil Rights Act.

"She is free to explain that, but the notion that somehow this is our doing is ludicrous. I have to point out that instead of telling the American people about her positive vision for America, Senator Clinton spent an hour talking about me and my record in a way that was flat out wrong.

"She suggested that I didn’t clearly and unambiguously oppose the war in Iraq when it is absolutely clear and anyone who has followed this knows that I did. I stood up against the war when she was voting for it, at a time when she didn’t read the intelligence reports or give diplomacy a chance. She belittled the most sweeping ethics reform since Watergate despite the fact that she stood on the sidelines during that negotiations on that bill.

"I have to say that she started this campaign saying that she wanted to make history and lately she has been spending a lot of time rewriting it. I know that in Washington it is acceptable to say or do anything it takes to get elected but I really don’t think that is the kind of politics that is good for our party and I don’t think it is good for our country and I think that the American people will reject it in this election."

The BAM!!

Kerry - Taking long deep tokes off the Hope Bong! — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 13:47:11 EST

If you read this...you just got Bammed!

By Cheerio Today at 12:46 am EST
I'm just copying this post from a cnn political ticker. It's a good story worth sharing...

THE BAM…!

Having caught "Obama fever" like so many others rallying in support of Barack, I experienced something yesterday at the Barack Obama Rally at the College of Charleston in Charleston, South Carolina which I felt was both spontaneous and inspirational.

As Barack worked the line following the close of his speech yesterday, there was a surge of people moving forward hoping to get close enough to shake Barack's hand. Since I was standing about 20 feet back from center stage in the crowd, I felt the crowd down front tighten as many of us stood on our toes, stretched our bodies forward while reaching out to Barack. I noticed that a six foot tall guy who was standing in front of me had stretched far enough above the crowd and shook hands with Barack. As the guy drew back his hand back I asked him, "You shook his hand didn't you?" Happily the guy said "Yes." I then said, "give me some of that" and the guy shook my hand with the same hand he had just clasped with Barack's. A woman friend of mine who was standing next to me saw me shake hands with the guy. I turned to her and said "He [the guy] just shook hands with Barack," to which she responded…"Hey, give it up." We then shook hands. She then turned to the person next to her and shook hands. This went on for at least five or six people.

I did not know the tall guy in front of me; he is white, I am black. But at the moment we shook hands, I felt some solidarity with this stranger, consummated by a handshake and signifying some unspoken agreement presumably about Barack Obama and Barack's core message of UNITY!

I call this hand-shake scenario The "BAM" because, descriptively, it takes a bit of Obama's name and it's the sound of a collision (in a positive sense).

THE BAM, pass it on at the next Barack Rally!

Seattle Obama HQ Ribbon Cutting

Kerry - Taking long deep tokes off the Hope Bong! — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 13:45:53 EST

I had a late night Friday night performing poetry at a theatre show and didn't get to bed until nearly 2 a.m. When I woke up, I was tired and the ankle I broke in 3 places a few years ago was so swollen and painful, I couldn't really walk on it. I debated with myself whether I could actually make it to the Obama office ribbon cutting here in Seattle where I have been volunteering every Saturday. I decided I had to and it would be worth it so I took a bunch of Advil, put on an ankle brace and my Obama t-shirt, wrangled up 3 of my 4 children and headed down to pioneer square on crutches.

Unfortunately, I forgot my camera so I don't have any of photo of the event but there were a lot of people taking pictures and videotaping the event. The place was packed with people and some of our elected officials were there including Congressman Adam Smith, who was an early supporter of Barack Obama. He spoke eloquently about the simple but hard work we needed to do to organize and get people out for our caucus on February 9th.

After the event, people milled about and I got a chance to meet some other Obama supporters. After things quieted down and everyone left, I did my regular volunteer shift from 12-2. They had me input information into a database on supporters in the Pullman area. It was exciting that I had to had 20 new names since the last update. This movement just keeps growing and growing! I also signed up to be a Precinct Chair and answered some phone calls.

Obama for Seattle!

Kerry - Taking long deep tokes off the Hope Bong! — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 17:33:22 EST

Our new Obama Seattle office is opened and I've signed up to work there every Saturday from 12-2pm. I went down last Saturday and made phone calls, calling 60 Colorado democrats looking for Obama supporters. I brought my 4 kids with me. They played foosball and had a good time. We finally got an Obama bumper sticker for our van and several yard signs.

We're going back down there Thursday night for the Iowa caucus watching party. I'm hoping for a big turnout so I can meet fellow Obama supporters and volunteers.

Hope

Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune--without the words,
And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.

I've heard it in the chillest land,
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.

- Emily Dickinson