Organizing for America | Why I Support Barack Obama: Back Together

Here we go, folks! | Report to Admin

By IA for Obama ☮ Jun 3rd 2008 at 3:34 pm EDT

So happy to share this day with you. We've fought for it, and it's happening!

A little Barack to inspire (from his commencement address from Northwestern, where I taught, 6/16/06):

The first lesson of growing up:
The world doesn't just revolve around you. There's a lot of talk in this country about the federal deficit. But I think we should talk more about our empathy deficit - the ability to put ourselves in someone else's shoes; to see the world through those who are different from us - the child who's hungry, the laid-off steelworker, the immigrant woman cleaning your dorm room.

As you go on in life, cultivating this quality of empathy will become harder, not easier. There's no community service requirement in the real world; no one forcing you to care. You'll be free to live in neighborhoods with people who are exactly like yourself, and send your kids to the same schools, and narrow your concerns to what's going in your own little circle.

Not only that - we live in a culture that discourages empathy. A culture that too often tells us our principle goal in life is to be rich, thin, young, famous, safe, and entertained. A culture where those in power too often encourage these selfish impulses.

They will tell you that the Americans who sleep in the streets and beg for food got there because they're all lazy or weak of spirit. That the inner-city children who are trapped in dilapidated schools can't learn and won't learn and so we should just give up on them entirely. That the innocent people being slaughtered and expelled from their homes half a world away are somebody else's problem to take care of.

I hope you don't listen to this. I hope you choose to broaden, and not contract, your ambit of concern. Not because you have an obligation to those who are less fortunate, although you do have that obligation. Not because you have a debt to all of those who helped you get to where you are, although you do have that debt.

It's because you have an obligation to yourself. Because our individual salvation depends on collective salvation. And because it's only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you will realize your true potential - and become full-grown.

Hi everyone | Report to Admin

By Barath Jun 3rd 2008 at 7:29 pm EDT

It's been 5 months, and I'm glad to be back with you all.

(Nancy: you might send out an email to the usual crew reminding of this special blog for us old timers...I almost forgot about it...)

Re: Hi everyone | Report to Admin

By Nancy M. Jun 3rd 2008 at 7:40 pm EDT

Thanks for the suggestion, Barath. I just sent out a reminder message.

Whirlwind | Report to Admin

By MarkkraM Jun 3rd 2008 at 7:42 pm EDT

WoW what a whirl wind this has been. Amazing the energy our Candidate has shown. I am just gleaming that I was "right".
So many people have kidded me for awhile now, but are coming around saying, "looks like your guy is going to win", HE WON!! oh yeah onto November then 1-20-2009 only 231 days to go.

Re: Whirlwind | Report to Admin

By Barath Jun 3rd 2008 at 7:45 pm EDT

It's amazing that this is the exact midpoint of the campaign - 5 months of voting are done and there's another 5 months of campaigning until the general election.

Re: Whirlwind | Report to Admin

By MarkkraM Jun 3rd 2008 at 10:48 pm EDT

cool observation...
Not planned, just coincidental!
Carl Rove, puke, sry....
said Iowa would be an offensive fight for Obama
and..
Colorado, Nevada, ARizona...
Defensive....
Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania
...
Calling McCain offensive...
NH, MI, PA
Defensive....
OH, FL, MO
Called these states for Obama ARkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, with Florida and Maryland too.
SAYS Obama will keep an eye on ...
VA, NH, and FL
I got Iowa, Illinois and Michigan in my plans....

Re: Whirlwind | Report to Admin

By Joy IA Jun 3rd 2008 at 8:25 pm EDT

Whirlwind is right...5 months ago this evening all of us Iowans were at our caucus sites, counting attendees, handing out chocolates (I had 6 pounds to keep supporters happy and bribe others!) ;-), recounting when those from other camps weren't viable....then finally the announcement of delegates! I cried at that moment, I cried again at HyVee Hall when Barack gave his speech and I most certainly will shed another tear or two tonight...

I have butterflies in my stomach just like I did 5 months ago!!! WOW...we're on our way to the General, my friends, yes we are!

Happy to share this glorious night with everyone here--hat tip once again to Nancy for this blog!!

Re: Whirlwind | Report to Admin

By Nancy M. Jun 3rd 2008 at 9:35 pm EDT

I can't believe it's been 5 nights since that night in Iowa!

Thanks | Report to Admin

By ◎Desert Dove Dan◎ Jun 3rd 2008 at 8:41 pm EDT

for hosting the blog party Nancy. I have to run out for a little while but I'll be back. I hope we can all be online when Barack starts his speech. It looks like it will be one of those nights that I have the TV going and 2 computers online at the same time. I've done that a few times (like Iowa caucus night.)

Anyway, I'll see you all in a little while.

Re: Thanks | Report to Admin

By TCP (Tim Prudhel) Jun 3rd 2008 at 9:13 pm EDT

Yes, thanks very much to Nancy!

I was beginning to wonder if this day would ever come! All the time, all the work, all the frustrations and all the exhilaration…it’s almost too good to be true. We’ve finally made it happen and we’ve done it together.

Thanks so much to all the old-timers!

How we made it? | Report to Admin

By MarkkraM Jun 4th 2008 at 9:45 am EDT

Link

We won South Dakota! | Report to Admin

By IA for Obama ☮ Jun 3rd 2008 at 9:15 pm EDT

That's what the main thread says: Link . WOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOO!

Re: We won South Dakota! | Report to Admin

By IA for Obama ☮ Jun 3rd 2008 at 9:24 pm EDT

The link still works, but it's been taken off the main blog. Maybe the projection was premature.

Re: We won South Dakota! | Report to Admin

By Joy IA Jun 3rd 2008 at 9:24 pm EDT

MSNBC just called it for HRC..... huh?????

Re: We won South Dakota! | Report to Admin

By TCP (Tim Prudhel) Jun 3rd 2008 at 9:26 pm EDT

CNN called it for Hillary too.

Re: We won South Dakota! | Report to Admin

By Nancy M. Jun 3rd 2008 at 9:32 pm EDT

I'm confused, too!

Re: We won South Dakota! | Report to Admin

By Don Hussein Obama Jun 3rd 2008 at 9:49 pm EDT

Nothing to be confused about... the 23 superdelegate endorsements before mean that Obama doesn't need to win SD. Even losing, his proportional share (probably 6 or 7 delegates) is enough to put him over the top. He didn't need to wait until Montana.

Re: We won South Dakota! | Report to Admin

By IA for Obama ☮ Jun 3rd 2008 at 9:58 pm EDT

The confusion was that the blog specifically said that CNN called South Dakota for Obama; the headline of the blog was We Win South Dakota. That appears not to be the case, and the thread has been removed, though if you click the link I posted above it should still take you there.

But, Oh yes oh yes oh yes WE WON THE NOMINATION! The only one confused about that seems to be HRC and Terry McAuliffe, according to the bit I just heard Olbermann say!

Re: We won South Dakota! | Report to Admin

By Don Hussein Obama Jun 3rd 2008 at 10:05 pm EDT

Ms Maeven:

Sorry... I missed that. Had to work late at Fort Bliss, didn't even get home until 7:15 MT.

By then SD was clearly projected for Shrillary. I didn't realize THAT was the confusion. Thanks for cluing me in.

Clintons on stage | Report to Admin

By Nancy M. Jun 3rd 2008 at 9:34 pm EDT

Wow. What happens now?