OK mates; the world has seen the largest organized effort of the American people successfully launch an initiative to transform our nation. There is now a debate on the course of our ship of state and we have a choice whether we are going to help steer.
From my biased perspective, I summarize our choice as follows:
Either we fold the power and organized structure of the Obama campaign into a DNC effort intended to defeat Republicans ... or we maintain the grassroots organization as a bipartisan force with the intent of unifying America and finding solutions of common purpose.
THE AFA has a poll to try to prove our favored candidate is NOT prepared to be president. Please help show that he IS!! He is WAY behind in this poll!
This Jed Report video features Barack speaking three months ago:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jH2iufUU1f4
It seems Obama is pretty perceptive and I really approve of his light, truthful, humorous tone.
This article was written by a young person; I am an old person but I understand exactly what she says:
http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/1003/p09s01-coop.html
Insight from Uganda:
http://www.independent.co.ug/index.php/column/105-guest-column/240-too-much-promise-in-obama.html
The Michael Gerson article in the Washington Post, Obama's Panic, has some salient points:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/16/AR2008091602876.html?hpid=opinionsbox1
The recent "race to the bottom" ad campaign has frayed my vision of politics of the future but today's "Plan for Change" ad rings of a positive path to the high road:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONM7148cTyc
I have chewed on this Wall Street Journal article:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122141205580033209.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
Regarding the Palin Phenomenon, I especially agree that the Obama campaign needs to keep the gloves off Sarah Palin until she is better defined but I am troubled by the following summary quote:
"... I think the Democrats have a big problem because Sarah Palin is a concept, a lot like Obama was a concept, and Sarah Palin is the anti-Obama. So he's egalitarianism, collectivism, dependency on government, apologies for American power. And she's self-reliance, individualism, competitiveness, and really no apologies--in fact, proud of American exceptionalism."
There is a legend that the Emperor of Japan spoke words similar to those of the title of this blog when he was told that the attack on Pearl Harbor did not result in the destruction of the US fleet. That, in fact, none of the aircraft carriers were destroyed.
I think that a similar event could take place in Virginia and perhaps even specifically in Southwest Virginia with this election. It's obvious that the Obama campaign is taking us VERY seriously. Far more seriously than I've ever seen a national campaign in any Southern state I've lived in (and I've lived in NC, VA, TN and TX through several Presidential elections).
Everyone in SW Virginia needs to know that we have a paid campaign staffer mobilizing and organizing the campaign in every county. For Lee and Wise County, we look to Adam Malle. He's a remarkable guy, gregarious, smart and funny... and plenty savvy. He's working hard to get everyone on board and active in whatever capacity they are most inclined and able.
I encourage everyone to look him up on MBO or email him at awm16@hotmail.com.
He's already organized DNC Convention House Parties all over the two counties, so be sure to check with him and come to the one most convenient for you. We are also - nearly - ready to open the campaign headquarters in Big Stone Gap (just need to get the phone lines installed).
At UVA Wise, Adam organized a voter registration drive and there are plenty of other activities planned from manning the HQ to having tables/booths at other events as well as door to door canvassing, phone banking and a letter to the editor campaign starting asap and leading up to the election.
Get excited, make room on your calendar and contact Adam to get in on the action!
Wow, it's been over a month since I've been active on the site. But that doesn't mean I've not been active for the campaign.
We've been phonebanking locally, and had a voter registration booth at the local University Convocation this week. We're also - almost - ready to open the local campaign office (having trouble getting the phone company to hook up the phone lines correctly).
Still some stuff I've learned.
1) First thing to do is to seek out Obama supporters and get them involved as volunteers.
2) When you find them, find out what they are willing to do. Door to Door canvassing is what the campaign is emphasizing but if you have someone who adamantly won't do it - don't overlook giving them options like organizing a letter writing campaign to the local papers, phonebanking, manning the campaign headquarters, or helping at events (like a table at local festivals, fairs and voter registration).
3) If you live in a very "red" area, like I do... be sure to keep your voter registration efforts targeted to locations that likely Obama supporters would frequent, like Colleges/Universities (for us the local community college isn't a very good destination for all that it should be since most of the students there are benefitting from programs instituted by Democrats.. oh well).
4) In the process of identifying interested volunteers, be sure to create a network via email or phone tree so that they can all be notified of upcoming events, news, etc. as it's breaking.
5) Don't depend on the campaign to provide merchandise. A strong supporter will often purchase an order of buttons, yard signs, bumper stickers, etc. that you can either sell, give away or give in exchange for a donation to help with exposure and still keep generating new merchandise to offer.
6) Check with your local library about their inventory of Obama's books. Our local library had a long waiting list so we purchased several copies from half.com and donated them. Getting your friends and family to pass around their copies to other folks is highly effective too.
7) Wear Obama gear everywhere you can... it is a great facilitator (more so than a bumper sticker or yard sign) to get people to talk to you.
8) Be innovative... we have a local business who has given us permission to pain an Obama sign on the blank wall of their location! Everyone driving by will see it... and it will demonstrate a much greater level of enthusiasm than simply yard signs because of the time and effort involved.
9) Host events like yard sales, spaghetti suppers or a booth at a flea or farmer's market with all proceeds or profits going to the campaign effort.
10) Have phone bankers ask if the people they are calling are registered voters and if the person isn't, they can offer to stop by with a voter registration application. Obviously this works with local callers and is a great way to develop a relationship with the local voters as well as helping build the confidence of a phone banker to do door to door canvasing.
11) For those who can't or won't do phone banking or door to door canvasing - they can write letters to the editor as well as postcards to their neighbors. For $.28 the post office will sell postcards including the postage. Handrwriting a personal, specific to your area, message of support and encouragement can be another consideration for those who are still undecided. And it's another point of the personal aspect of his campaign that people will talk about.
Mostly we want to try to reach enough people so that at work one person might comment that they had someone visit their home over the weekend and others comment that they too heard from the local campaign by phone, mail, in person, etc. It helps people realize how important they are and how important this election is that such effort is being made to reach out to them particularly in areas that have not been considered 'battlegrounds' before.
What good is all the campaigning, debates and registering voters if our votes aren't going to count and/or can be manipulated?
Voting Machines Can Never Be Trusted, Says GOP Computer Security Expert
Velvet Revolution. Posted August 13, 2008.
In an interview from October, 2006, that has only now seen the light of day, Stephen Spoonamore, one of the world's leading experts in cyber crime and a self-described "life-long Republican" destroys Diebold's already non-existent credibility.
Spoonamore lays it out for anyone to see and understand. If you care about America and it's survival as a democratic republic, you'll watch this interview.
The interviews are on YouTube and are being carried by a new site created by Velvet Revolution, RoveCyberGate.com.
Read the whole article (5 pages and a video)
Gail Collins wrote a very good op-ed piece in the NYT (link below). It smartly lays out why Obama should be elected President. After reading the article, I posted the following comment:"Thank you for this sensible article. Obama supporters need to remember that he is not trying to lead a movement. Furthermore, lest we forget, he is a politician - a darned good one.Being a politician is neither good nor bad. It is what both Obama and McCain are. We Americans need to decide which of them will make the better President. Gail Collins’ excellently summarizes why I cast my lot with Obama.PS - I did not think that Obama flipped on financing. He never promised to unilaterally accept public financing. He can be faulted for not vigorously pursuing a deal with McCain."Here are some additional thoughts:This election is not about one issue. We are at war. Gas prices are at an all time high. Forty seven million Americans do not have health care insurance. Our economy is unhealthy.Americans need to think and vote with our heads and not solely with our hearts.Future Newsflash: If Obama becomes President, none of his big programs will get passed intact. Compromise is inevitable. This is part of what “reaching across the aisle” entails. Turning red states and blue states in the United States will be impossible if politicians reflexively hold the party line. Progress and greatness of the kind that Obama described will only be achieved through give and take. (Remember that none of Bill Clinton’s health care plan survived because he refused to compromise.)
Gail Collins op ed:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/10/opinion/10collins.html
This is the first time in my life that I've blogged....wow....how things change!! Today that's what I want to write about....Please note that I am not a writer but I am an artist, so please bare with any errors that I my make. Anyway, back to the subject.....I just completed a massive email to my 18year old son's friends about the need for them to volunteer in the democratic elections. I tried to explain how now is the time to get involved. I guess I have been involved by donate time and goods to social organizations to help out when I could, but this is my first true involvement in the political sector. Yes, I always vote, but not with the zest that I have for Sen. Obama....I have been accused of seeing life through rose colored glasses but ofcourse I don't look at that way. I see it as knowing that all people can make a difference. I truly believe that anyone can make changes and whatever you put out there will be given back to you. Karma, I suppose...I am a self proclaimed TREE HUGGER....LIBERAL....When did liberal get such a bad rap...anyway, for those of you who are standing in the sidelines, which I've done in the past, please join in and help us change our country and the world. Try on the rose glasses and see how wonderful it can be!!! Hope you have a wonderful day and remember it only takes one step to make a difference.
In the months and years that follow, with all that President Obama will go through, I doubt he will remember much at all about the Town Hall meeting at Bristol Tennessee. As many times as he's given that stump speech standing next to locally praised congressmen and senators, I wonder that he will remember it was the event he did with Congressman Boucher and Senatorial-hopeful (former governor) Mark Warner. Perhaps he will, it came on the heels among the very first of events after his capturing the nomination. For me, that's ok. It doesn't matter.
I'm not someone who scrapbooks or even has photo albums. A little over a year ago I had a housefire that destroyed what memorabilia I had of friends, family and my beloved dogs. Every trophy, ribbon and win photo from a pretty successful 15 years in dog shows was destroyed in a matter of hours. I don't grieve for that stuff - then again, had I not lost loved ones in the fire maybe I would.
In any case, I share all this because I have an Obama button collection. I took an old frame and covered it and began.. thus far, it is buttons I've come across in far and sundry places online - campaign stores, eBay.. so no memory associated except for the satisfaction of seeing it grow.
This past Thursday I was a Volunteer at the Town Hall Meeting in Bristol. The staff organizer - with my volunteering - placed me in the group that seated VIP guests. Why? Well I would guess but my bet is cause I have the look of a Hillary supporter. Middle aged, white and without my girlish figure.
It was a great day. I was gratified to see everyone that came to see him. I was thrilled at how supportive everyone was. I wish the day had not been so hot or tickets so desired however because I am pretty sure that he only spoke to the 'choir' live. The people in there were a determined bunch. Many waited FAR too long in the heat to get in because they got there early to help insure their seats.
At the beginning of that day, I was given a small card stock weight square maybe 5x5 inches. I pinned it on, it identified me as a Volunteer and above it showed the characteristic "CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE IN". I know many people would see that and think - ah, the Obama motto. He's change we can believe in. Well no, I put that on and realized that it identified ME as that change. We are the change we have been waiting for. That is WHY we can believe in it. How can we doubt ourselves? If we did would we have any reason to expect better of anyone else.
I'm glad that McCain wants to be a Leader We Can Believe In. Anyone who runs for President should uphold some ideals of a country. But I think it's clear - even in that motto - that McCain missed the point. The pundits want to believe it's about 'change', 'hope' and similar buzzwords. That we are inspired by sound bites.
I am sure that is the case for some people who watch this race on the periphery, only catching the occasional editorialized new commentary. But for those who hang on the words of Obama himself or McCain or even previously, Clinton - we know the difference is NOT rhetoric. It's empowerment.
I think Clinton may have figured out what Obama was offering but too late to effectively jump on that bandwagon. Early on however, she would use the collective "What we have to do" at the beginning of a sentence and then finish with how hard "I will work for you" or how "I will get it done". McCain - the tough Military guy - still wants to run this country like a General. Well I didn't enlist. I'm not much for blindly following orders. I appreciate the value it gives our military when people can, and I won't even debate that it is the best way to do it (not cause I think it is but because I probably don't know enough about it to really do the topic justice) - but our country is NOT an army. In fact, aggression has become too much our first and only tool in addressing our concerns internationally - at least as a FIRST response.
In any event, my 'badge' from the Town Hall meeting is now in my button collection. It's the poorest example of them being just a flimsy piece of something little more than paper. I know that there are likely 100,000 of them printed so it may also be the most common. But it is my proudest, it is associated with a first for me.. the first time I saw a President of the United States in the flesh. The fact that he came to my backyard is equally incredible to me.
Like I said, I'm not a scrapbooker or someone much for pictures...but I'd certainly encourage all of us to keep a bit of memorabilia regarding the campaign... yea, yea it might be worth something someday. Or, someday, you might get to sit down with Barack Obama and use it to remind him of the details of a campaign stop he made that has slipped him memory among all the other stops that preceded and succeeded it.
This reflection from politico touched me:
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0608/10858.html
It has seemed that the challenges would never end but we seem to be half way to the mountain top. Hope has been more than just waiting for something good to happen.
Many Obama supporters (inclusive) were outraged at Senator Clinton’s speech last night. Why didn’t she concede? If there was an ideal moment at which she could have endorsed/blessed Obama, last night was it.
After some sleep, though, and listening to some of the TV pundits, feelings of empathy (fueled personal euphoria and martinis), I am toying with another idea. What if Senator Clinton is taking extra time exactly because she is honoring her promise to enthusiastically support the Democratic nominee?
Think about it. Look at the reactions she was getting from the supporters while she was delivering her speech last night. What if she had unequivocally thrown her support to Obama? Perhaps, her devoted following would have turned on her. They may have thought, “How could she so easily change her allegiance to Obama? Didn’t she believe in her own cause? If she flips so easily, then maybe the Democratic Party isn’t for me.” It may be that what Senator Clinton is going through personally is what her followers are feeling as well – the Stages of Grief (for those of you who are unfamiliar with them, here they are (courtesy of Wikipedia):
1) Denial: "I feel fine. This can't be happening." <BR>2) Anger: "Why me? It's not fair! NO! NO! How can you accept this!" <BR>3) Bargaining: "I'll do anything, can't you stretch it out? A few more years." <BR>4) Depression: "I'm so sad, why bother with anything? What's the point?" <BR>5) Acceptance: "It's going to be OK. I can't fight it, I may as well prepare for it."
If last night she had gone to Step Five (out of expediency, or from listening to traditional pundits), she may have denied herself and her supporters the opportunity to sort things out. If the responses of pro-Hillary commenters at the NYT Caucus are a guide to the hearts and minds of her supporters, they are largely at Step Two. Senator Clinton may intellectually be at Step Five, but may emotionally be at Three or Four.
In taking the time to lead herself through the stages of grief, Clinton may also comprehend that, in order to place a Democrat in the White House, she needs to guide her constituency through the stages as well. She may have realized that doing the politically expedient/knee jerk reaction response (i.e., immediately throwing her response to Obama) would have been Democratic suicide for the fall.
Is she a political genius? Certainly, the fact that she lost the nomination is prime facie evidence that her acumen is not Einsteinian. On the other hand, if, by taking a few extra days (by Friday, if press reports are true), she is able to deliver her 18 million supporters to Obama, then she is one smart politico and psychologist.
I stumbled on this two part video of Tom Daschle stumping for Barack about a month ago. It sounds really authentic and is pretty inspirational.
part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8CHOd4gAV4
part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjxaRayOw18
Well, the RBC has spoken. To their credit, made a decision regarding both states and didn’t wimp out and defer decisions until the Democratic convention. Ickes and Flournoy released their pro-Clinton statement proclaiming victory in FL and reserving the right to challenge the MI decision. Did their statement serve as the official reaction of the Clinton campaign?
The true test will come in the next two days. What will Wolfson’s/the Clintons’ response be? Will Clinton concede after Tuesday’s results? Will she continue the fight to Minnesota?
Here are my thoughts. If she continues her fight for the nomination past June 6, she is essentially giving up any future political aspirations she may have. If she gives up her fight by this coming Friday and “plays nice” between now and the convention, Obama will offer her the VP slot.
Tomorrow is the DNC Rules Committee meeting. How Obama and Clinton handle the aftermath will be a true test of each one’s commitment to Party unity. (It is interesting to note that the Obama camp is discouraging demonstrations but Clinton’s is not.)
Neither campaign will totally get its way. FL and MI delegations will not get seated in their entirety, but they will be counted somehow.
If both camps accept the decision of the Committee, then the road to a party united behind a single nominee will be easier to forge. Hopefully, yesterday’s report from MSNBC (that a mutually acceptable compromise is in the works) is true.
If, however, one campaign disputes the ruling and rallies its constituency using inflammatory rhetoric, then rifts between the supporters of both candidates can only grow. What came out of the Clinton camp today is not encouraging (and contradicts the aforementioned MSNBC report). The ad put out by Count the Votes Cast (a pro-Clinton 527) also roils the Democratic waters.
Unity or not? The candidates better choose wisely.
What a difference vacation makes. Since Sunday, I've been at the Outer Banks of NC, doing a lot of sleeping, reading, and (way too much) eating. Renting a house at the shore is a tradition some friends, my wife, and I have maintained for over a decade.
Speaking of tradition, I have watched Senator Obama's campaign over the last two weeks and have been struck by the traditional approach it has taken since he has pivoted towards the general election.
I eagerly anticipated the response Obama would give in South Dakota to the comments made in Israel by Bush (and the subsequent coordinated add-on commentary by McCain). I envisioned another Philadelphia-like speech on his foreign policy. His actual reply was quite ordinary - a typical political response with requisite counter attacks against McCain. (The rest of his SD speech, followed by a discussion with two citizens of the state was awkward and uninspiring).
The Edwards endorsement was stirring and wonderful. However, why didn’t Obama follow the momentum of the moment with an Obama/Edwards tour of Kentucky? More generally, why did Obama spend so little time in KY and WV? Shouldn’t he have taken the time to connect with blue collar folks in both states, regardless of whether or not he stood a chance of winning their primaries? Instead, the Obama campaign resorted to traditional political strategies of neglecting states in which he was losing and focusing on those in which he was winning.
Finally, his speech in Iowa was good, but not up to the tear-inducing, inspirational levels of those he delivered previously. The rhetoric didn’t soar high enough to mitigate the lines caricaturing McCain as four more years of Bush. (This makes me cringe almost as much as when McCain typecasts Obama as inexperienced, naïve, or too liberal.)
It is difficult to break from tradition. Senator Obama’s run for the Presidency is in and of itself a departure from the past. Much of what he has done during the primary season is refreshingly different and groundbreaking. I hope that as his campaign retools for his (very likely) run for the Presidency that it maintains its (mostly) high road and doesn’t devolve into politics as usual.
And yes, I still strongly support Senator Obama.
