Organizing for America | Sam Graham-Felsen's Blog: Roadtrippin' For Obama

Roadtrippin' For Obama

By Sam Graham-Felsen - Mar 19th, 2007 at 6:34 pm EDT

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Hi Everyone--

I'm Sam Graham-Felsen. Today's my first as a member of the Obama For America team. I'll be blogging regularly about the people who are making this one of the most exciting and unprecedented campaigns in history: you guys.

Here's a recent example of the kind of grassroots-generated action that Barack's inspiring across the country. Jennifer M. Dillard of Columbus, Ohio:

My kids are on Spring Break and we are off to Alabama to visit my husband’s family. Since we’ll be out of town and unable to participate in the Honk for Obama Visibility event on the 24th, I thought we could show our solidarity and publicize Obama by decorating our car for the trip!

We’ll be driving through Southern Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee and Alabama. My husband’s parents live in the country and we’ll have to travel some back roads of Alabama to get to the house. What a great way to show our support for Barack Obama and get his name out there!

This is the kind of creative, bottom-up participation that's been the lifeblood of this campaign:

If you're also roadtrippin' for Obama, let us know. If you've decked out your car, bike, or other mode of transportation to spread the word about Barack, we'd love to hear your stories and see your pictures. If you haven't already done so, set up a blog and join the community. You're the ones who can truly take this campaign to another level.

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Fun times .... | Report to Admin

By Deana Mar 19th 2007 at 6:51 pm EDT

What an awesome, creative, and fun idea for a road trip.

Thankfully Jennifer’s car didn’t also say "honk if you're for Obama" or something to that affect, as methinks that would cause accidents everywhere she drove. From the interstates and highways through the small country roads there’d be a massive wave of beeping horns throughout her entire trip. In other words: Obamamania has hit everywhere, and seemingly growing by the day.

Happy days are here again.

Awesome! | Report to Admin

By Fulch Mar 19th 2007 at 7:08 pm EDT

Congrats to Jennifer. Does everybody know about the Honk for Obama event this weekend that Jennifer mentions?

Honk For Obama | Report to Admin

By Fulch Mar 19th 2007 at 7:18 pm EDT

The Honk for Obama event is going on this Saturday, March 24th from 11:00am-1:00pm. It originated in Gahanna, Ohio (located near Columbus). It will consist of Obama supporters displaying Obama '08 signs and banners to increase the visibility of our favorite candidate. Other groups nationwide are joining us. Are you interested in joining us or creating an event near you? Check out the Gahanna for Obama page for more details?

Link

Log of the Ardent | Report to Admin

By Strong Heart Mar 19th 2007 at 7:27 pm EDT

Week five of the voyage of change. The fleet grows, I watched the Johnston out of Massachusetts sail into port. They had a problem with no docking signs. Some of their Crew dressed as meter maids and threw the signs into the water, they docked. The Admiral is back with the fleet and decided to stay in Port Persevere for food, rest and friendship. I row in circles outside the port waiting for the fleet to set sail, my oars Liberty and Equality never tire. I point to the Admiral when ships pass by. I seen the Mile High out of Colorado, it towed a dingy, an exact match of my boat it had Todd written on the stern. I yelled thanks, I don’t think he heard me. A ship passed by and someone threw a bottle overboard. It held a message from the Scarlett Hill it said Hi, I waved, I don’t think she seen me. I can’t wait until I can join the fleet but I will follow the Admiral no matter what the outcome.
Godspeed America!!!

Re: Log of the Ardent | Report to Admin

By Deana Mar 19th 2007 at 8:09 pm EDT

Strongheart ~

Your comments, for some strange reason, made me think of O' Captain! My Captain! (the Walt Whitman poem).

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Re: All aboard! | Report to Admin

By Obama-logue Mar 19th 2007 at 7:57 pm EDT

Yes, a big welcome, Sam, from Arizona! Love the barack-mobile!! Puts my lonely bumper sticker to shame! :)

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Re: All aboard! | Report to Admin

By Deana Mar 20th 2007 at 9:20 am EDT

Yes! .... Well said, Sandra.

WooHoo! | Report to Admin

By Jeff Nibert, pledged delegate from Pleasanton, California Mar 19th 2007 at 8:35 pm EDT

My first post on the Obama Blog! I was in Oakland on Saturday at the rally. What a fun and thrilling moment!

You go, Sam!

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Great Idea | Report to Admin

By M. York Mar 19th 2007 at 9:35 pm EDT

It is great to see such creative ideas promoting our favorite candidate. If there are more people out there like you, come 2008 Obama should have no problem securing the presidency.

Let's Work Together | Report to Admin

By Mike Barako - Precinct #195150091A Captain - CA CD 29 - PasadenaForObama.org - Freethinkers & Friends For Obama Mar 21st 2007 at 9:40 am EDT

Let's Work Together | Report to Admin Reply
By Mike Barako - PasadenaForObama.org / Barako2020.org Yesterday at 3:25 pm EDT
Keeping Blogs on Topic
By Bryan K. Long - Mar 20th, 2007 at 2:07 pm EDT
Also listed in: *Group Administrators* for Obama - Collaboration Group

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(What is this?) As a relatively early member of My.BarackObama.com, it has been exciting, but often frustrating to see its rapid growth. The ability to set up specific interest groups is wonderful, or at least could be wonderful. Unfortunately, we are seeing a lack of self-discipline with regard to member posts. The problem is most obvious in subject-related groups: if you take a look at the Blog for "Global Warming Must be Dealt With", the few posts on climate change are submerged in a flood of unrelated messages "broadcast" to a wide number of groups. Anyone interested in the designated topic quickly will get bored wading through the irrelevant messages.
I think this is a problem for geographic groups too. What's the purpose of joining a local or state group if the group blog is going to be dominated by people who have joined every possible group just so they can get heard by everyone?
Now, I've been told that the answer to this is administrative approval of membership, blog posts or messages to a group. That's fine for small groups, perhaps, but creates a large administrative burden for larger groups.
Does anyone have any good strategies to promote self-censorship?

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Contact the big offenders | Report to Admin Reply
By CBC Today at 2:14 pm EDT
You make an excellent point. The one solution that comes to mind off the top of my head is to email the main offenders and politely ask them to e.g. post to the Global Warming blog ONLY if their topic is global warming.

I think people do this because they're not thinking of the consequences and once it's pointed out to them I would expect they would comply.

Thanks. And good luck.
Re: Contact the big offenders | Report to Admin Reply
By Bryan K. Long 42 minutes ago
Yes, I think you are right.

We Are Learning Together | Report to Admin Reply
By Mike Barako - PasadenaForObama.org / Barako2020.org 5 seconds ago
A group for 'Group Administrators' to share and compare strategies and ideas for organization, fundraising, mobilization, give feedback, and anything else helpful. Share your great ideas so Obama Supporters across the nation can succeed at get out the word and getting in the money! Intended for group administrators, but open to anyone with helpful ideas. *Please Note* This group and its blog and email are not intended for the general dissemination of news items, poll results, "rants", or suggestions about the website,but rather for information and questions relating directly to group administrating, helpful campaign experiences, or useful information.

The Big Bad Audacious Bike Ride Across Oklahoma | Report to Admin

By Paul Tay Mar 21st 2007 at 9:54 pm EDT

After the OKC rally, Santa road-tripped from OKC to Tulsa on Route 66 with this sign on the front of his bike: PIMP AMERICA VOTE OBAMA. Sign on the back: WILL SING NAKED 4 $1.

Of course, Santa caused a HUGE stir in every small town he rolled through. Stopped twice by the Highway Patrol and once by Bristow Police.

In Chandler, a newslady came out to take pictures and write the story. She asked Santa if there was an entourage following. Santa says, "Yep. The Highway Patrol!"

In Bristow, some cute underaged girls played a hoax on Barney Fife and gang, at Santa's expense. They called in a 911 to report Santa exposing himself in front of the local car dealership!

After Barney Fife frisked Santa for guns, drugs, and possibly an elongated rubbery device which might construed as sexual device, and NONE were found, EVERYONE had a good laugh and Santa was on his way.

It turned out the only thing Santa exposed was a big stupid smile at the girls.

BTW, Bristow, Oklahoma is the site of the trial of Judge Donald R. Thompson in the case of the Penis Pump Gone WILD! Boy howdy, good thing, Bristow PD didn't make Santa unzip his undershirt to find a BRA!

DON'T ask. Man, if they had found that, Santa might be spending some time in the pokey, and doing a whole lotta explaining to the jury on why he was wearing a BRA on a bike ride.

DON'T even ASK! Actually, the bra is the perfect way to keep ice for cooling off when getting hot and sweaty. Remember Kramer's man-bra? Yep. Santa did!

Santa finally made it into Tulsa at 2300. 130 miles and 17 hours on the road, including the cop stops!

This roadtrip was just a short test. Beginning in July, Santa will REALLY roadtrip to ALL Obama rallies. The Big Bad Audacious Bike Ride Across America!

Roll'n for Obama '08 | Report to Admin

By Tony H. Mar 21st 2007 at 10:11 pm EDT

Jennifer,

Your creative idea is great!

My family and I are looking forward to painting our car for our annual Easter Road Trip. The youngsters have a few catchy slogans, ie "In Obama We Trust". We're hoping others will join in this national highway "Roll'n for Obama'08" grassroot idea.

Keep it Roll'n for Obama'08...

Great support | Report to Admin

By Shane Oct 17th 2008 at 7:08 pm EDT (Updated Oct 17th 2008 at 7:08 pm EDT)

Its people like this that are helping turn the election