Hello, all! This is the first "official" blog on the BarackObama.com site from me, Jennifer Estroff. I'm a Community Health Educator, a Reproductive Health Contributor for Qvisory.org, and also the CD 4 Alternate Delegate for Obama from Washington State. In just a few short days, I will be flying out to my first Democratic National Convention...which is truly the most exciting and humbling opportunity I've ever had.
During my time to, in, and coming back from Denver, I will be adding my thoughts to this blog, and keeping the experience as close to home as I can for those of you who are not able to attend for thousands of reasons...from family emergencies to the constant, steady need to earn enough money to get by in this....I'm saying it....RECESSION!
Tonight, for instance, I have been trying to create business cards for the DNC trip, because I can't stand the thought of not networking and making the most of every possible connection with Democrats from across the country.
I'm also checking online for the Washington State Primary results....we've got some work to do in Kittitas County! Bring it on!
Alright, I'm off to bed. Birth control lesson, meetings with middle school instructors for a grant about media literacy and protecting our youth from harmful messages, letter-writing, and buying a camera....and then another class...working out....and organizing next week's schedule. Short day!
G'night, all!
I feel like a member of the "Obama Army". Standing at the ready - logging in every day to see what the campaign needs me to do next. I feel like it's my duty to help in any way I can. What a wonderful feeling - to be a part of something so important.
As far as politics are concerned, I've always felt as though voting in November was "doing my part". And I have done so for 12 years. However, that has been the extent of it. But this is different - so different...I can feel it.
Every time Obama speaks, I call my 9 year old in to join me on the couch...explaining things in terms she can understand. Telling her that in high school, she will learn about this election and I want her to experience it. It's so amazing to see a child that age "get it" and get excited about her own future.
I even see changes in my father - this has been the most earth shaking thing for me. My Dad has always been one of the good ole' boys - straight Republican Party voter. It is an unspoken rule in our family that politics are not discussed. Well, my dad stopped by the other day and I happened to be wearing my Obama 08 shirt....I got ready to hear it. He just smiled....he had nothing to say - I believe he knows the truth - Obama is our only hope. Normally, that would have caused a huge explosion - this time, it caused a genuine smile. WOW.....
We are all very lucky to not only be witnessing this historic event - but we have been made a huge part of it. I plan to continue doing my part....
I have this feeling in my chest....it's a mixture of pride, excitement, anxiety, and hope. It's the same feeling I felt in the weeks following September 11th and the destruction in New Orleans. The feeling I had watching common people come together to make their part of the world better. Rolling up sleeves and getting dirty to not only better their own life, but the lives of all Americans.
In the last few years, we have seen this happen after several tragedies...we have found heroes in construction workers, firefighters, police officers, and everyday people willing to put their lives on hold to rebuild their community and lift up their neighbors.
Here we are again - America is in the middle of a tragedy. One that has been tearing down the entire nation for a long time...and out of the ashes come new heroes - ready to roll up their sleeves and take on the biggest mess of them all - the Obama Nation. The community that needs rebuilding and lifting up is the entire country.
I did what I could to help when New Orleans cried out for help and I intend to do my part now - I want to be a part of this.... I am getting my 8 year old involved (she understands more than I did at that age!) and when my 3 year olds read about this election in their history books, I want to be able to tell them that I had a part in saving their country. That I cared enough about their quality of life to roll up my sleeves and get dirty...
Of course everyone knows that this election is historical in itself, but I beleive that the time has come for everyone to realize that Barack Obama is the nominee. Now of course I may seem a bit biased because I was for Barack Obama from the begining. But this election has taught me a valuable lesson and that is Barack is great under pressure and he really looks Presidential more than ever before. Now we know that this campaign has been through some ups and downs and none of it was caused by Obama but by outside sources such as the media and a process call "electionitis" (a long election). But through all of that Obama has come out with the strong hand. I remeber at the begining when surogates said that Obama would not get the African-American vote, but now the African Americans come out for Obama in percentage close to 100. And not only that but Barack is breaking the color barrier more than ever before. I also remeber when pundits said that Obama was too young and neive, but now John McCain is a little nervous in explaining his position on talking to our foreign eneimies. So basically we the Obama family have come a long way. And each day we get closer to the moment when Barack is sworn in the Oval office. We have been through tough times but we did it all for CHANGE! And when that change comes we can all say "Job Well Done!"
Gurgin described Clinton’s tactics as “pugnacious”. If it weren’t for MySpace listing this word, I never wouldn’t have known right away that pugnacious means: inclined to quarrel or fight readily; quarrelsome; belligerent; combative [Dictionary.com] .
Gurgin went on to stay that in the past [pugnacious] tactics were expected and effective in politics, going so far as to phrase it “Karl Rove” style. “But,” Gurgin elaborated, “in this particular campaign it’s working against her.”
Toward the end of the Q&A, Crowley asserted that Clinton has every right to approach Superdelegates with emphatic statements about her opponent being “unelectable” because of Rev. Wright – it’s all part and parcel of political strategy.
Gurgin dismissively agreed but quickly stated, “we have had very little of that kind of politics from the Obama campaign in private to Superdelegates saying, you know, she's a woman, and she's going to have all these problems with men, and so forth and so on. We just haven't had that kind of abrasive kind of conversation.”
Barack Obama already has fulfilled one campaign promise and he’s not even in the White House yet. Things have already CHANGED. The establishment, politics as usual, the winning strategies of the last 2 decades are not going to work anymore.
So this morning be proud, be resolved and stay positive because YES WE CAN….
…We Already Have.
So much to say after yesterday Texas County Conventions. I attended mine and will soon post a full blog comment...but this is what I sent my fellow local Texans and thought you might be in need of some RENEWED inspiration too..
Dear Texas Democrats:
We should all take 2 days. Take some well deserved rest for everyone, take a nice long shower and wash off the disappointments, lost opportunities, mistakes, and frustrations of March. Rest our weary eyes from computer reading and late nights. Rest our weary voices from phone calling, screaming to be heard, and talking with new friends. Rest our minds from holding in our frustrations and anger in the name of solidarity, from trying to wrap any logic around a complex system of democracy Texas-style, from feeding our paranoia both unfounded and confirmed. Watch this. http://www.youtube.com/user/AkinScribe5 Have good cry. I did.And it helped me remembered WHY I bothered to show up March 4th or yesterday. Why I decided to ANSWER my call... See you in APRIL. It is officially SPRING. Silly season CAN be over. The SPRING of DEMOCRATS United for Obama can BEGIN! ~ jensmiles
Denton County TX Precinct 216 Senate District 12. We sent 1 high school government teacher for OBAMA to State Convention as our Delegate. Small victories. Small victories.
For the most up-to-date TX Caucus results: http://www.burntorangereport.com/
ON MY BIRTHDAY FIVE YEARS AGO, I listened to President Bush give his "eve of war" address. ON THE DAY I WAS BORN, Watergate was the number one story in America ushering in an unfortunate era of disappointing, embarrassing, and divisive government.
No wonder I have always been cynical and jaded.
But now, Barack Obama has given me a reason to set aside my cynic, to set aside my fear of pointless arguments and cheap attacks, and to stop expecting anyone else to change our country but me. Me? Really? Yes - Me.
***** READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT MY FUNDRAISER LINK******
http://my.barackobama.com/page/outreach/view/main/birthdaywish
On this occasion of my birthday - March 17th - I am asking you for a DONATION to my own personal Obama fundraiser called "Birthday Wish".
THANK YOU.
HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY TO YOU.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!
~jensmiles
County Delegate
p.s. If you've received this before, forgive me. I'm trying to keep track of every one and who is one what listserves etc.
Walk-in volunteer to County Delegate in 15 hours
This is my story of March 4th, 2008 participating in the Democratic Primary Election Process. My only direct involvement in voting in the past had been to register people to vote. I’d never voted in a primary.
I have supported and believed in Obama’s message and leadership since 2005 after I read his book Dreams from My Father. I have been active online but so far too newbie to step out and fully volunteer. I never did find the courage to make phone calls. I never did email my Texas family and friends about the caucus and about Obama – too much fear of rejection.
The night before the Primary many of my email lists were nervous about not having enough volunteers and encouraging anyone willing to just show up and do what they could.
PRIMARY
So Tuesday morning, I took my time and got to my polling location around 9 am. There was a bit of confusion at first as to whether I was there as an official Obama supporter or a non-partisan voter volunteer. I figured I’d ask the Elections Judge first since if people can’t get in to vote in the first place, there’s no sense in discussing candidates.
The first hour was what I expected,: people too busy working to give me much direction and so I watched and listened and tried to jump in with a bottle of water, a piece of paper, or an extra pen. I think everyone expected there to be some slow-down where I could be given some sort of formal instructions or at least take lunch orders.
But that did not happen. The line to vote at 9 am was out the door, though it was a very small location. We worked quickly to get those outside in because it was unseasonably cold for Texas – 33 degrees and windy. Surely it would let up soon.
It never did. Around 2pm, the original Official volunteers were reaching their limits having signed in more voters in 7 hours than they’d ever seen in any election. With lines continually grumbling about the wait (but that’s nothing new), we were faced with reducing from 3 lines to 2 lines.
When I offered, my help was generously accepted. I signed what I had to sign and was trained ‘on-the-spot’ with a few patient voters as guinea pigs. From that time on I did not move from my seat, the line did not ebb and flow but simply grew longer (and louder).
By 7pm, Election Officials were trying to figure out where the line for voters ended and where the line to get into the caucus started. Caucus people were confused, cold, and frustrated . The primary voters were just frustrated and angry – well some were. The overwhelming silent majority were patient and polite – even managing smiles, a thank-you, or a kind jest about, ‘you’ve been here way too long haven’t you?’.
During this entire process, we are Elections Official representing no one but the County Democratic Party. We wear no buttons, no t-shirts, no stickers. We have no stack of campaign information sitting to our side. Not even a candidate-keychain attached to our keys and conveniently hanging out in plain view. And we even helped a few find their proper Republican voting location. The voting laws preceded all other concerns.
One fellow volunteer and I joked as time went on. She’d ask me if I wanted to know what time it was and I’d beg her NOT to tell me. I didn’t want to know how late it was getting. She’d ask, “do you want to know how long the line is now?” and I laugh and plug my ears. One can only look up names, say what you’re required to say, look up precincts, write down long series of numbers and then attempt to explain the concept of caucus in 30 seconds or less. (We were instructed to ask if they were interested in caucusing before we stamped their card.)
I’d elaborate on the complications and ‘public relations’ that our Elections Judge had to deal with but then my story would be even longer. God bless her, she did an incredible and legally accurate job!
While our polls closed at 7 pm, as they are supposed to, that only means that whoever is IN line at 7 pm to vote will get to vote – no matter how long it takes. It took two and a half more hours to go from 7 pm to the last voter in line (I even got to sign-in the last voter). By that point I was talking out loud to no one, cracking jokes only I laughed at and my eyes were literally blurring and crossing as I’d turn the pages to find names. I think I transposed the words Primary and Precinct and County and Caucus at least a hundred times.
CAUCUS
With my official duties over and a bit of clean-up, I was now free to return to my role as citizen and Obama supporter. I treaded hesitantly into the packed sanctuary (of the generous church who volunteered to be a polling place) where the Caucus had been attempting to organize for the last hour. I missed all the instruction and discussion done over the microphone, but I was able to text my husband (who’d been waiting since 7pm) to find our precinct line. Our Precinct for reasons unknown to me had volunteered to be the only precinct to go OUTSIDE to stand in line to sign the sheets – it was 45 degrees now with a wind-chill of 30 and muddy ground from the snow (yes snow March 3rd in Texas!) the night before. At least it wasn’t claustrophobic and probably saved us from having a call made to the Fire Marshall!
The phrase ‘chicken with his head cut off’ quite accurately described at least our one Precinct Captain (self-appointed) and some woman who appeared to be working with him to maintain “control” of the process. They were both Hillary supporters and wore pins to say so. I recognized him as the young man who had also come into our polling location at 6:30 pm and told our Elections Judge to give him the sign-in sheet for the caucus. She knew better, God love her, and he went sent back out to wait with everyone else. Intentional? Ignorant? Matters very little. I’m sure all of us made some sort of error in this experience. I can’t count the number of times I heard people joke, “I didn’t think Texas even had this many Democrats! Where have we all been hiding?”
Then the, what I call fire-and-brimstone, warnings began (as we continued to wait in line). “If you don’t stay to be a delegate your signature is useless and you’re wasting your time.” was from the woman ‘helping’ the one Precinct Captain. It was our good fortune that a high school government teacher was in our precinct and provided enough information to assure us mere-sheep of the facts. Your vote was not useless, we simply needed twice the number of delegates assigned to our precinct – half for delegates and half for alternates. I have since learned that you could also indicate you are interested in being a delegate but not have to stay for the official counting and mathematics. The doom-and-gloom warning is slightly accurate; I’ll use our precinct as a concrete example:
16 delegates up for grabs. Using the number of Obama signatures and the number of Clinton signatures and the mathematics of proportion (there was some issue of rounding down or rounding up), we have 11 delegates for Obama and 5 for Clinton. This “fear” comes in that 11 ACTUAL Obama supporters will not be still ‘around’ but there will be 7 Clinton supporters around – who could (I believe legally) be nominated as a delegate and ‘turn’ the Obama delegate into a Clinton delegate.
Fortunately it didn’t matter for our precinct we had 20 people (with two more volunteered as alternates in abstention). When I initially volunteered I was willing to be an alternate only – the present fatigue (and lack of food) going on 14 hours wasn’t making me feel called to endure a County Caucus. But when push came to shove we had only 10 delegates and everyone else hoping to be an alternate. We waited, then one woman reluctantly agreed as she looked at a friend in the group and said – “I’m a Republican! How did this happen?” And when no one was volunteering for the last delegate position, I too reluctantly agreed. Today had been incredibly educational, surely attending a County Caucus would be as well.
I think I must have asked 5 times over 20 minutes if they were absolutely SURE I could go now. As I drove home, I noticed the clock for the first time since 9:45 pm when I signed out as an election volunteer, it was now 12:30 am. I know the Precinct Captain and Secretary plus many other precinct groups were still there when I left. When I got home, it slowly dawned on me the amazing occurrences of the day. I had just gone from ‘mere’ citizen:
· who had early voted to avoid all the hassle
· to learning about the Texas Two-Step and only being concerned about childcare for the Caucus
· to being front and center, literally, processing voters as an official Elections Volunteer
· to becoming a delegate – an official, real, flesh and blood Obama delegate
I represent people – how’d that happen?
I represent people who kept their kids out until 10 pm because they knew caucusing was important. I represent people who have NEVER VOTED BEFORE in any election were inspired to both vote in a primary and learn what all this caucus stuff was about. I represent people who were mad as hell and hated the entire process but stuck around anyway because they believe in something and someone.
Until the County Caucus… onward Obama!
Jensmiles
Precinct 216 Obama Delegate, Denton County
Can anyone help me find a little courage? I have yet to sign up to make calls. I've supported Obama since 2005 and adamently believe in his need to be our next President. I know I "should" sign up to make calls ~ especially now, I live in Texas ~ but I'm very nervous about the prospect.
Do you get mean people? Do they attack you or engage you in debates? Do people REALLY change their mind or decide on a vote based on a phone call?
I guess I'm always so used to spammer calls, robocalls, and other solicitations that I just don't trust anyone coming over my phone lines and I'm afraid these people will feel the same - that I have NO business invading the sanctity of their homes with my politics.
I've read through the script and like it's not "pushy" approach and non attack approach. If someone says they're McCain through and through, I don't want to argue with them. That's not the gifts I've been given.
Any advice for a nervous newbie?
After watching the debate last night, my belief that Obama has the most difficult task in the debates, was again reaffirmed. He has the slipperiest slope, the narrowest high wire - pick your metaphor. MSNBC touched on it just a bit but not nearly far enough to the heart of the balancing act.
People always bring up the sadly true double-standard women face: a woman fights back and she’s an unfeminine b-word; a man fights back and he's strong, unflappable. But many gloss over the double-standard for a man.
A man must treat a woman like a lady or he is a prick. He cannot attack too harshly or he is seen as a bully. Have you noticed Obama pulling the chair out for her, standing when she gets up? I contend that she has gotten the first questions because of the very deeply rooted chivalrous traditions regarding men in women that many wish not to speak of ~ ladies first.
Now, agree or disagree to the previous point, Obama battles another layer to this balancing act. As a man of ethnic heritage, an African American, in order to maintain his integrity of his beliefs race is not a "card" he can play. Here is where MSNBC did catch on to a fascinating hypothetical.
Hillary ended with beaming pride over the opportunity to be the first female President. She stated that having her, a female, in the Oval Office would in fact bring about this "change" (not an accidental play on Obama's campaign themes) and a whole new world of what was possible and who could do what. She stated that “the rules would change” simply because she, as a female, would naturally navigate the Presidential world differently. Her implication was crystal clear - if a woman becomes President it is SO historically significant that a mere side effect will be inherent, dare I say genetic, change in Washington.
I spent some time on Obama's Senator website today reading through his voting record. I thought this was a feature of most Senator's websites. However, I went to Mrs. Clinton's New York Senator site and the most details I could find was either a list of all bills (taking me to another site) that doesn't state her vote or a list of all the bills she's sponsored or co-sponsored.
I guess I just assumed VOTING RECORD would be right out there, easy to find. I know you CAN find them through the US Senate Website but its a very cumbersome process to drill down through all the numbers/codes select a bill and then search for the particular name on each and every bill. I hope to spend some time on Mr. McCain's site to see if he offers any such obvious information.
Obama provides a nice table on his Senate site that lists the Vote No with a LINK to the Senate (to verify for those who doubt), a brief description of the bill or item, the resulting vote, and HIS VOTE Yea, Nea, or Not Voting.
It's all right there! Obama.com should link to his senator site when talking of his EXPERIENCE and RECORD!
Maybe him posting his voting record on his Senator site is an inexperienced, rookie error! :)
Insanity: Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.
Bush, Clinton, Bush, Clinton?!
Stop the Insanity! Obama 2008
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Dynasty: a sequence of rulers from the same family, stock, or group
Our founding father's fought and died to save us from Dynasty & Monarch
Support the Republic. Obama 2008.
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Note: I realize this does lean heavily on anti-Clinton and could be used by the McCain campaign as well. So far the only ideas I've got to combat that are rather negative and below the belt. I.e.
Old & White, Old & White, Old & White. Old & White?! Young & Diverse! Obama 2008.
But that seems a bit beneath Obama.
Any suggestions?
