It was an exciting night at the Prince William Country Fairground. I got there early enought to be close enough to the stage to see his comfortable smile in spite of the hardships of travel and the loss of his grandmother!
Barack Obama's Final 2008 Campaign Rally in Manassas, VirginiaNov 3, 2008 November 03, 2008 C-SPAN Senator Barack Obama spoke at a campaign rally at Prince William County Fairgrounds in Manassas, Virginia.
Obama Campaigns in the Final Stretch - washingtonpost.com
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/gallery/2008/11/04/GA2008110401199.html
There were 70-100,000 of us. We all shouted that we were "fired up" and "ready to go."
"I'm feeling kind of fired up. I'm feeling like I'm ready to go," Obama told nearly 100,000 people gathered for his final rally Monday night in Virginia.
"At this defining moment in history, Virginia, you can give this country the change it needs," Obama said to voters in a state that hasn't voted for a Democratic presidential nominee in 44 years.The Illinois senator's final day of campaigning was bittersweet: he was mourning the loss of his grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, who helped raise him but died of cancer Sunday night and never got to see the results of the historic election.
"At this defining moment in history, Virginia, you can give this country the change it needs," Obama said to voters in a state that hasn't voted for a Democratic presidential nominee in 44 years.
The Illinois senator's final day of campaigning was bittersweet: he was mourning the loss of his grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, who helped raise him but died of cancer Sunday night and never got to see the results of the historic election.
Thanks for reading this blog. I got in late last night and didn't get a lot of sleep, but it's time for me to head back to Virginia and get out the vote. I hope that some of our paths will cross at victory celebrations and on the mall in Washington for the inauguration.
Sincerely,
Henry M
Regarding the swiftboat type documentary about Barack Obama that Hannity and Colmes of FOX news is going to air this Sunday, October 12th, I think that It's pure unadulterated bull pucky, let alone reckless and dangerous. Getting people all worked up to hate a man who many find to be refreshing and genuine person, is wrong on so many levels. Resorting to this level of attack on this man of character absolutely repulses me. I guess the lesson that Sarah Palin and John McCain learned from stirring up hatred amoung the crowds didn't register with Hannity and Colmes. It appears they wish to keep stiring up hatred and fright amoung the people just to get votes for McCain. Well, hate material won't work with me and a lot of other people ... Senator Obama is a very good man, husband and father and a true American. Their continual portraying of Senator Obama tells me they have lost touch with reality.
I would like to share my story as a community organizer this past weekend. The last time I went out to knock doors in Northern Virginia, I was dispatched to a neighborhood that was hard to crack. Even though I did not register anybody on that day, I felt that I had still played a role in giving an “Obama/Biden Touch.” By talking to my neighbors and having distributed enough literature on Barack’s plan for American, I felt that touch was good enough. It was good public relations.
Taking into account that this was the last weekend prior to the registration deadline, I had to knock doors. As usual, I arrived to a packed office of beaming, unpaid and willing Obama/Biden supporters. After receiving the basics, I teamed up with a team of two other women who were fired up and ready to go. Since I had an appointment later that evening, I turned down a kind offer by the two ladies, that we ride in the same car; I wanted the flexibility to leave at a convenient time.
We parked our cars and were ready to roll the sleeves. This time around, the ground on the neighborhood was soft, hopeful and inspiring! There were more Obama/Biden supporters! On seeing my Obama T-shirt, two of McCain/Palin supporters did not want anything to do with me. The doors were quickly closed! Two were open minded to listen to me. Their reason for supporting McCain: “I am in the Military.” My response: I kindly request you to conduct further research on McCain’s record with the veterans! After our discussions, one said to me: “As a republican, I may actually vote for Obama because of the need for checks and balances, transparency and accountability. Republicans have been in office for eight years!” I agreed and used the same message for my talking point with other undecided voters.
After firing up and being fired up by my neighbors (yes, many admired the fact that I was in action knocking doors), I returned to my car and found a note from the two ladies that I had just met at the office: We are heading back to the office after a successful operation! I enjoyed canvassing so much time that I did not realize that time had gone that fast! Here I was initially thinking that I would be the first to head back to the office. Most importantly, the two members of the Obama family were kind enough to let me know that they had gone back to the office. Obama/Biden family is kind and generous.
My canvassing did not stop with the neighborhoods. On my way, I stopped in a bus stop and asked if everyone was registered to vote. One person signed up! Finally, it was time to head back to the office and what do I meet: a beehive of Obama/Biden army of community organizers fired up and ready to knock those doors on the evening shift.
Please donate:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/outreach/view/main/ObamaDamu
Side Note: If McCain brings up the experience issue, Barack should respond as Bill Clinton did during his years: If experience means deregulation, I do need that kind of poor judgment experience that will send us to a recession. If experience means poor judgment in sending us to war that should not have started in the first place, NO BUT NO THANKS! I do not want that kind of experience that will lead us to NOWHERE.
Fellow community organizers, let us stay focused by knocking those doors, talking to friends and making phone calls as if we are 20 points down. No distractions.
Quick Quip: Why is everyone surprised by Sarah's personal attack on Barack? I would urge you to listen to her convention speech and be renewed to volunteer.
The Register for Change Bus Tour kicked off on July 17th in Crawford, Texas. It will register voters nationwide on its way to Denver for the Convention in August. Registering new voters plays a huge role in our strategy to elect Barack President—and getting new people involved has always been at the heart of Barack’s message of change.
Come out and meet fellow Obama supporters—and check out the Register for Change Bus! For more information, visit the Register for Change site.
Register for Change North Carolina stops: 9:00 a.m. -- 10:00 a.m.— Raleigh, North Carolina Democratic Party Headquarters, 220 Hillsborough Street 12 noon – 1:15 p.m.—Greensboro, Governmental Plaza, Greene Street (between West Market and Washington) 3:30 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.--Charlotte, Margery Thompson Professional Development Center, 428 West Blvd.
See you there--FIRED UP in Raleigh, Greensboro and Charlotte!
We must get out in our communities by foot (if possible), by phone and by mail to make sure our neighbors are registed to vote and after they register make sure they understand the information on their Voter Registration Cards. So many people do not know what that the information on their Voter Registration cards is vital. It is a same that we are not taught these things in school. However no time to cry about what is not a reality. It is time to make correcitons, connect and in some cases reconnect to our communities.
We have two Obama Fellows working in our area:
Euphemmie Dalton College Park and East Point....euphemmie@hotmail.com
Francine Scott Clayton County....fran.scott@comcast.net
Please contact them and let them know what you can do and when. The most important mission is to get people who are not registed to vote to register. Then educate them to use their priviledge wisely.
Fired Up and out there!
Hadayai
(404) 608-8649
My girlfriend & I just got home from registering voters who were standing in line for the premiere showing of "The Dark Knight." (Thanks to fellow volunteer, Melanie Shouse, for suggesting this great idea!)
What a great opportunity for reaching out to brand new voters!! About a third of the voter registration cards we collected tonight were from people born in 1990 -- young adults new to the democratic process, but FIRED UP and ready to vote for change! Other cards were from college students who are registered where their parents live, but wanted to make sure they could vote here -- in person -- this November. They usually don't bother to vote, some said, but this time they know it counts.
Above all, people seemed grateful that we were there. Getting registered was on their minds, but they weren't sure where to go. Over and over people thanked us for being there, or said simply, "Yep -- already registered. Go Obama!"
I know the theaters are going to be packed all weekend, and it works really well to catch movie-goers while they wait in line for seats (some of our new voters had been in line for 4 hours or more). I definitely plan to go back out there tomorrow evening, and I invite others to join me. We need all the voters we can get here in St. Louis to help turn Missouri BLUE in November!!
(If you'd like to join me at the Moolah Theatre & Lounge on Lindell Blvd. tomorrow night, I'll be there from 5 to 6 pm, in advance of the 6:05 pm showing. There is also a 9:05 showing that will surely attract a big crowd -- I hope someone can take that shift as well! I'll create an event where you can RSVP on this website.)
Fired up in St. Louis,
Jen G.
I love the fact that this endorsement was done in Detroit where Obama followed Michigan's primary rules by taking his name off the ballot; that Detroit is the seat of the U.S. auto industry, an industry that is way behind the curve on manufacturing vehicles with high mpg and low on hybrids and electrical cars; that Al's endorsement raises up the "fierce urgency of now" that is our global environmental crisis; that Mr. Gore's endorsement leaves no doubt that even though he was in the Clinton white house, he did not endorse Mrs. Clinton before the primary campaign ended. Indeed, if I were to have any criticism of Al Gore's endorsement it would be his timing. Had his endorsement come during the time of the Ohio or Pennsylvania primaries, it could have put a stop to the negative campaign run by Hillary and saved Senator Obama from having to spend so much of his campaign time defending the smears directed towards him.But Mr. Gore, better late than never! If you are as fired up as the rest of us volunteers, you are ready to work like hell to ensure Obama's victory in November. And thank you, too, for all the work and enormous awareness building you have done on behalf of the environment. Libby Klitsch
Volunteer Communications Coordinator, San Francisco CD8
Just watched Al Gore's endorsement of Barack Obama. I was really moved by the endorsement and Obama's speech! I am so fired up right now! Barack Obama is such an inspirational speaker! I know that together we can all accomplish great things for this country!
YES WE CAN!
COME ON!!! let's not slow down with BARACK OBAMA support NOW!!! Speed things up, go to rally's and groups and everything! Let's get fired up!!!! Ready to go!!!! and get this man to the WHITE HOUSE!!!! COME ON NOW LETS COME TOGETHER NOW!!!!!! I'm tired of fighting and arguing AGAINST McCain let's start UNITING AND CAMPAIGNING FOR OBAMA!! LET'S GO!!! STEP IT UP!!!! I"LL STILL BE SEVENTEEN on NOV. the 4th!! I CAN'T EVEN VOTE!!! AND THE ONE'S WHO CAN ARE SLOWING DOWN AND FIGHTING?!?!?!! NO PEOPLE WE GOTTA GET THIS DONE NOW!!!! TIME WAITS FOR NO ONE!!!! Quick Question....WHAT ARE YOU DOING ON THE COMPUTER!!! GET SOME VOTERS REGISTERED!!! LET'S DO IT!!! IT'S GO TIME!!!
UNITE that's Barack's Messege!!! YOU LIKE BARACK - LET'S GET HIM ELECTED!!!!!!!! QUIT FIGHTING AND LET'S GET VOTES!!!!! GET FIRED UP CUZ WE CAN'T HOLD UP NOW!! IT'S TIME TO SHOW THE WORLD WHAT POLITICS REALLY ARE!!! I'M OBVIOUSLY FIRED UP...ARE YOU!!!!! SMILE and BE GLAD YOU CAN VOTE!! I can't and YOU are the one who's losing the drive!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
FIRED UP!!! - Your Turn!!
Barack was sharing his story and it felt like mine and probably like yours too. Sometimes the smallest of encouragement can get you over those obstacles that may at first seem insurmountable. And like in Obama’s case, this boost of energy may be delivered in the smallest of packages from the least expected source. Remember that ever one has a voice and deserves to be heard, at least once. Change comes when we listen even the least amongst us.
3S – Strength
Standing there all dripping wet
The morning was trying and I wasn’t ready yet
Right before me stood 20 waiting anxiously
Eager to hear my enthusiastic delivery
Nice old lady behind shouted “fired up, ready to go!
Got the room started and was stealing the show
Then I too joined in and my spirits grew like the rest
How fired up I was and ready to go to give of my best
This is my song of inspiration, thanks to Barack Obama and his story of the little old lady who fired him up and made him ready to go at a time when he was low.
Sing with me Fired Up and Ready to go
3S – Song
Shout it out loudly “fired up!”, “ready to go!”
One voice can change a room, a village, a state you know
Nations will soon listen expectantly
Get “fired up!”, “ready to go!” and the world too will be
I just read a post from a new blogger and I was reminded of the journey we have been on. I felt inspired to watch the original Fired Up Ready to Go video again and it was a good thing for me:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyJ72iZ3tW4
Turn back now i warn you.
If you are not so sucked into PC rhetoric than read on. Its going to be a bumpy ride from here.
CNN.com has a headline entitled, "Obama's legitimacy on the line in South Carolina." The article is mostly about South Carolina and how Barrack will only win because the population of democrats are black. It may be true that the majority of Democrats are black in South Carolina. However in this crucial moment when undecided voters are looking for information CNN and other agencies are in bed with the Hildabeast who's spewing her lies and true feelings about minorities. It is the Clinton's Gestapo tactics (do what I say or die i.e.: Mr. Ron Brown), that makes me pray to God for Obama's family's safety (Hilary WILL do anything to win, smear lies, cry, kill).
We had a new organizing meeting in Old Town Pasadena, California today, with lots of new volunteers who are FIRED UP. We are going to keep meeting each week, to make phone calls and discuss tactics, and be READY TO GO. Someone walked by in an Obama shirt too, great omen. I wore my new 'Deadheads for Obama shirt' (which are sold out, sorry).
This is a blog that I posted on my Myspace page (www.myspace.com/blakbushe) Enjoy!
Quitters!!!! Current mood: Confident So Obamakins how are you feeling today? Are you feeling a little down? Have the Texas/Ohio blues got you on the ropes? Well it time to Get Up! What is wrong with you people? I think cuz you won 11 in a row you got a little cocky. You forgot who we were running against. You forgot that these people are tricky. So you let your guard down and then when the Tuesday night tide turned you look like you got washed away with it. People, it's time for you to get back up on that surf board and ride! I haven't blogged about my trip to Ohio, but I'm so glad I went even if we didn't win the state. It was worth every moment. I will post that very soon. In the mean time remember that Sen. Obama wasn't even supposed to go this far. He wasn't even supposed to be close in Texas or Ohio. The real deal people, is that we are in the same place today as we were on Monday and that is AHEAD in the delegate count. So turn those frowns upside down and get back in the game!Listen, as you all know I am Sporty Spice so I have seen it all in this game. I watched the Red Sox sweep the Yankees, break the Curse of the Babe and go on to win the World Series! I just watched the Giants wreck the Patriotsperfect season virtually coming out of nowhere to take them down! According to the sporty talking heads it never should have happened. I even watched a young Doug Flutie throw the Hail Mary to win it for Boston College when they said it would Never be done! (Yes I'm using my outdoor voice right now) So Don't Give Up people! Shake it off and get back out there for your candidate. Keep busting the myths and lies they are telling about the Senator. Start doing your research and know what you are talking about when asked. Get up and don't let the status quo bamboozle you once again. Don't let your fear and apathy get the best of you. Get Up! Don't let the Clinton campaign bite the Obama style without being called on it. Last night at her speech the audience was yelling "Yes She Will." That's a little to close to "Yes We Can", but the operative word was missing from that chant and that's "We." Sen. Obama is challenging the people of the country to take control of it and claim our power. There is a lot of power in the word "We". It's bigger than "Me" or "I". Think about it. This race is not over yet. We are about to start the 4th quarter, and I have seen plenty of games come down to the buzzer. So don't bench your star point guard just because he threw up an air ball or fire your coach because the team lost one or even two. No! You go back in the locker room, look at the tapes, study the other team, admit and fix your mistakes, then come back out on the court Fired Up and Ready to Go! Now is not the time to quit. Now is the time to Rise!
Well today my Obama buttons came. I will wear them tommorrow as I watch the Primaries. I will hopefully start making calls tomorrow. I really want to contribute to this campaign. I would like to see Obama sweep again, which would pretty much lock up his nomination. Just keep saying Yes We Can!
I'm fired up because I finally get to make my vote today. After the donations, the events, the talking...it all comes down to me being able to put my official vote on the ballot.
It's very exciting for me...and I've never been this excited about politics. As I've mentioned in previous posts, I've always voted Republican. How can you be excited about ANY Republican? I just voted them because they matched my fiscal views and there were no Democrats to whom I could envision paying my tax money. However, Barack Obama has convinced me, and I've made the leap!
Come on Virginia, let's make it happen, a landslide victory! If this republican will vote Obama, I know thousands of others will.
If you haven't seen this already, you need to. FIRED UP, READY TO GO!
