In 8 days, most of us will cast our New Jersey ballots. I remember how it felt to wake up the day after the election in 2000 and 2004. The only thing that made me feel better was that I could say, "Hey, I did what I could."
For me, this meant doing more than casting a ballot. It meant getting involved. There was a sick feeling in my stomach three weeks after the election in '04 when I opened my Verizon Wireless bill and saw all those calls I made to voters in Iowa. I still remember some of those calls: middle class Americans: teachers, store managers, construction workers, all telling me they were doing what they could to campaign, to talk to their friends, to spread the word.
As bad as it felt last time to lose, I know this time, I can help win. Some of the current Pennsylvania Call for Change campaigns are great--you can even help people report that they need a ride to the polls. Not only can I help people choose Obama-Biden, I can help them cast their ballot.
It's a good feeling. And the clock is ticking...
Back in college, I worked as a telephone fundraiser for a non-profit organization. I was good at my job, and I liked the work. Four years ago I worked phones for John Kerry. As if the morning after the election wasn't painful enough, I had the extra sock in the stomach when I opened my cell bill and remembered all the calls I had made. This summer, I had considered signing up to make calls for Obama, but I couldn't stand the thought of opening a bill after another lost election.
And then I remembered how much worse I would feel had I not done everything I could to help create change.
I sat for an hour the other night and made calls for Obama. I called women voters in Pennsylvania. Once again, I felt like I was a part of something important. I didn't change any minds, but I did make some people feel good about their choice of Obama, made them feel a little more connected to something larger than themselves.
Isn't that what change is about--the shift from "What is in it for me?" to "What is in it for the nation?"
Log on, sign in, and make a few calls. Make ten. Fifteen is better, but start with ten. Choose a telephone campaign you believe in, that you feel connected to. Read through the script completely. Practice out loud a few times. Smile when you speak--it comes through on the other end. Be gracious. And listen.
Good luck. I'm calling for change.
Last weekend we made the drive to Scranton to see Bill and Hillary and Joe and Jill Biden. Lovely scenery through the Poconos, and about 7,000 people showed up. We waited in a long line along the Lackawanna River for over an hour to get into the indoor recreation complex where the rally was held.
Many people from different backgrounds, different walks of life were there: senior citizens, Hillary supporters, Biden fans, veterans, Catholics...such a diverse group all there for one thing: change. People were selling t-shirts and campaign buttons (and other things--one creative guy was selling men's red briefs with white trim that said "No more Bush" on the front. The gentleman behind us bought a pair for $15). Dozens of volunteers wandered around with clipboards to register everyone and remind us all of the security rules (no liquids brought inside, electronics on so they could make sure they were working).
When we finally got inside, rally signs were handed out to the VIP section ahead of us (firefighters and FTA teachers' union, I believe), but we got a few passed back to the rest of us. Lots of "Hillary Sent Me" buttons, too. Handpainted signs endorsed Biden and reminded us that Scranton supports Obama. A giant flag hung on one side.
The heat overcame a few people, despite the air conditioning. We were packed in tightly trying to see. We had a good spot next to the stage. Jill Biden spoke first, and then Bill took the stage. Hillary spoke next and introduced Joe Biden. The crowd was excited throughout and were really charged up.
I highly recommend attending a rally if you can.
So I'm watching CNBC and what do I see? Oil is up to 111.00 a barrel. What the hell? Are we that dumb as a society that we get a little scared of the stocks falling so we go and invest in something that is NATURAL to our planet. I don't understand how anyone can charge for oil, or for a lot of things for that matter. It's made by the earth....no one else made it!
But yet, we run scared, powerless, and with less gas in our tanks and dough in our pockets. Get a backbone America, get a backbone!
What is it that allows us to become powerless? Perhaps you got fired or were laid off from a job you spent many years at? Maybe you have been ingrained that having power, strength, pride are "bad" things and that you should be giving and selfless. Maybe you have been told that you are a loser and that you'll never amount to anything. Or is it the fact when you look at your wallet or purse there are more gas and toll receipts than money.
Regardless, it's time to start being strong. I've heard that a person can have power. That is true. But what a person has more is strength. A strong person can make a difference. Strong people tear down barriers, lift powerless people up, enable others to do great things. When you gather many strong minds, strong people, you create a powerful force to be reckon with. That, my friends is where power comes from. From many.
Published in June of this year is Irwin Tang's Gook: John McCain's Racism and Why It Matters.
I urge anyone and everyone to order it, buy it, read it; do anything to get it on the NYT Bestsellers List.
I happended to notice this week that Barnes and Noble's website continues to list the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth's The Obama Nation, (under the pen of Jerome Corsi -- research him in the event you are not familiar with his 'curriculum vitae'), its latest smear supplement since the 2004 slam of John Kerry, Unfit For Command, as a "this hour's top sellers."
Very fishy, to my lights. Statistical push on the part of the right with a handful of insiders buying large numbers of the book? B&N's own manipulation?
Unfit made it on the NY Times Bestseller List in 2004, just in time to begin to erode Kerry's popularity and nuke the lead he held over the incumbent W during October.
This cannot be allowed to occur again, at least not with our own positive message also getting out by virtue of large numbers of us ordering/buying/requesting from our libraries not only the many positive books on and by BHO, but as well this important book on the real McRude.
Tang's video on his book, Gook: John McCain's Racism and Why It Matters, below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6iqLcidbhg
Link to Gook on bn.com for ISBN, title, author, etc:
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/results.asp?WRD=gook
7/19/08 -
Yesterday's New York Daily News ran an op-ed piece written by lifelong staunch conservative Republican activist and economist, Larry Hunter PhD, wherein he stated that he was backing Senator Barack Obama for President and why. The very title of Dr. Hunter's op-ed is some of the loveliest prose I've read, "I'm a Lifelong Conservative Activist and I'm Backing Barack Obama."
To sample a small bit (link to full Daily News op-ed is below), "The answer is simple: Unjustified war and unconstitutional abridgment of individual rights vs. ill-conceived tax and economic policies - this is the difference between venial and mortal sins."
http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2008/07/16/2008-07-16_im_a_lifelong_conservative_activist_and_.html
Later on thay day, Dr. Hunter appeared on Countdown With Keith Olbermann and stated that he felt compelled to write the op-ed to effect a coming-out as a conservative Republican for Obama, as many of his conservative colleagues feel likewise but for personal reasons, have not done so as yet.
Dr. Hunter has posted his interview with Keith Olbermann on youtube. It's great... Enjoy and BARACK THE VOTE!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=tC-dVYK-Cwo
During a segment of yesterday evening's Countdown With Keith Olbermann Dana Milbank, political journalist for the Washington Post and frequent guest of Keith's, had this to say as to the reason for the news anchors of the three major network outlets having accompanied Senator Obama on his visit to Europe and the Middle East:
"The press may or may not have a bias in favor of Obama. It definitely has a bias in favor of being with the frontrunner at a particular moment in time. There's a perception, right or wrong, right now in the media that Obama is in a very solid position. So the network anchors believe they are heading overseas with the next President."
The Kansas City Star reporter, Ross Bolano, had a slightly different take in his recent piece re same:
"As if there were any doubt before now, the three major television networks -- ABC, CBS & NBC -- are showing their total bias in favor of Barack Obama by announcing that all three of their anchor people will be with Obama on his upcoming trip to the Middle East."
"Charlie Gibson, Katie Couric and Brian Williams are all slated to cover Obama’s trip first hand and interview the Democratic candidate while there."
"Contrast this with the coverage given to Republican candidate John McCain on his recent travels to the region. There certainly wasn’t much fanfare from the big three then."
*BARACK THE VOTE*BARACK THE VOTE*BARACK THE VOTE*BARACK THE VOTE*
In order for more organization and coolaboration, I created a networking site for our group, Jersey Shore for Obama (jerseyshoreobama.ning.com). However, I didn't realize how fast it would grow in the last week. Now, our group site encompasses Central NJ and South NJ and is starting to get a few people from North NJ. In just one week, we have been able to expand to 52 members and counting. We have had our first face to face meeting and we have started to organize future meetings and events. The collaboration and organization that we have been able to put together is amazing.
If you'd like to join our community, join in the discussions and events, visit jerseyshoreobama.ning.com.
the Gore endorsement is treaming live on Barackobama.com.
also on CNN, ABCNews
Our Candidate and future leader of our great nation has emered. Now let's get on to November and finish the job. There is still much to do until then. Come on Democrats let's unite behind our Candidate and start the hard work ahead to change and bring back this great nation. All peoples of all religions, of all colors, of all backgrounds, of all economic means, OF ALL THE PEOPLE.
The time is now and the time is right for our nation. Barack is that right person to start the repair and healing of our great nation.
Donate what you can and keep it strong into the November election. We must not get weak and think because Barack is the nominee that the work is done. The hard part is still ahead.
God Bless Barack and the work he needs and will do, and God Bless America as we proceed ahead.
You know this Democratic nomination process has been great and challenging to say the least. There have been many opinions on all sides as to what and who would be the best. Well I believe our candidate has proven that. But let me say one thing that disturbs me greatly and that is the many, so called, Democrats that say if Barack wins the nomination that they will not support him and vice versa if Hillery wins the nomination they will not support her. What the hell is wrong with all you people. This is much bigger than one person. This is a movement for which both candidates have been fighting for all this time. Yes I sure believe that Barack is the one best to get this country together. And yes I believe that Hillery is on a mission of self preservation and win at all costs. But, she also has the will of change in her heart. Now I am not sticking up for her but boy you all need to ask yourselves this one thing; "if your Democratic candidate, no matter who it is, wins and you are not happy, would you not vote at all or would you vote for a Republican McCain? Are you kidding me or what? It is the process, ideas, ideals, change from the past, business as usual lately and a true change in all for the people. That is what we have been fighting for all this time on both sides of the campaign.
So I say to all of you. Get your priorities in order. Forget white-black-male-female and all that other garbage. We need and want change for all and that sure is not with John McCain and the Republican Party. It is with our party, the Democratic one. Many have gone before us and have fought and died for us to have the right of voting. Do not be consumed with any sort of principal "BULL S--t". Democrats all the way no matter what. Don't you think Barack Obama would do the same thing. If you think otherwise then I must question your true person.
Enoght said. Act in the right way. Be an American of change just like Barack is and do your duty for all.
Dan
