It’s real. It happened. We did it.
Month: November 2008
is Election Day. I’m doing what I can in Lynchburg, Virginia, and don’t expect I’ll be online until we all know how it turned out (it will not be a late night). Interested in NoVA coverage? Check out Blueweeds. Virginia coverage? Vivian Paige (who will be sitting in the fancy chairs at NPR). National coverage? TalkingPointsMemo.
I’d really like to hear about your voting experience in comments. I won’t be around to see it right away, but I bet other readers will find it interesting.
See you on the other side. We’re gonna do this, people. We really are.
My own experience in this world causes me to reject the opening of Andrew Sullivan’s endorsement of Obama, but I am foursquare behind much that follows, especially his closing:
I had almost given up hope, and he helped restore it. That is what is stirring out there; and although you are welcome to mock me for it, I remain unashamed. As someone once said, in the unlikely story of America, there is never anything false about hope. Obama, moreover, seems to bring out the best in people, and the calmest, and the sanest. He seems to me to have a blend of Midwestern good sense, an intuitive understanding of the developing world that is as much our future now as theirs’, an analyst’s mind and a poet’s tongue. He is human. He is flawed. He will make mistakes. His passivity and ambiguity are sometimes weaknesses as well as strengths.
But there is something about his rise that is also supremely American, a reminder of why so many of us love this country so passionately and are filled with such grief at what has been done to it and in its name. I endorse Barack Obama because I will not give up on America, because I believe in America, and in her constitution and decency and character and strength.
I had hoped, at some point in these closing campaign days, to write up and explain my transition from Obama-skeptic and Hillary-voter in the primary to a full and genuine supporter of Barack Obama. But here we are, and I need to get on the road so I can go put in some final hours for the Obama campaign. Actions will have to substitute for words, at the moment. I’m okay with that.
Surely I am not the only one who wants to prod and taunt the fear mongers? The Obama’s a Scary! Black!! Muslim!!! Socialist!!!! crowd have been so ridiculous on their face that it’s never really moved me to engage them. It’s like arguing with a moon-landing conspiracy theorist. The only value in engaging with them is going to be entertainment value. But it’s kind of mean spirited, so you really ought not to.  So I’ll just allow myself this 1990 effort from Public Enemy (putting aside more tempting tracks from Paris or X-Clan):
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrHHAZFPmMY[/youtube]
Some of you may remember the context of this video. Virginia Beach, 1989. Tis a long way between there and here.
This from the ACDC, and I hope that if you’re on the edge about volunteering today or tomorrow, that you’ll decide to come to NoVA. Running up the numbers in NoVA will make a difference:
GOTV in YOUR neighborhood!
Where
ACDC Office – 2009 14th St. N., Suite 612, Arlington, VAWhen
Nov 03Â Â 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Nov 03Â Â Â 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Nov 03Â Â Â 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm[and]
When
Nov 04Â Â Â 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Nov 04Â Â 11:30 am – 2:00 pm
Nov 04Â Â Â 3:30 pm – 6:00 pmPlease come out and talk to your neighbors about why you’re voting for Barack Obama. Bring your friends, bring your family, and join others in your area to knock on doors.
[ . . . ]
Polling Place Signs Go Up
Where
CountywideWhen
November 03, 2008Joint Campaign visibility event. For more information contact JC chairs; Jody Olson at jody_olson@hotmail.com, Madi Green at yellowdog22207@yahoo.com or Jay Fisette at jay@fisette.org
[This would be a good thing to do if you’ve only got a couple of hours this evening.]
Also, if you can, please consider this (remember, the average age of the pollworkers is approximately 103. You wouldn’t want them to go hungry, would you? :)):
Donations of food and water for Democratic poll workers
Where:
2607 Washington Blvd
When:
Throughout the day, Monday November 3
We are seeking volunteers to provide a variety of food, water and juice for campaign workers on Election Day, November 4, 2008. We desperately need fruit (suggestions: apples, bananas, pears, and plums), granola bars, breakfast bars all flavors; bottles of water; juice boxes, diet and regular coke, napkins and a variety of sandwiches. The number of volunteers we are trying to provide assistance is approximately 400.
These supplies will be distributed to Election Day volunteers, many of whom are working 13-hour days without break.
If you can help, please deliver items by Monday, November 3, to Gillian Burgess’s at 2607 Washington Blvd, Arlington. VA 22201. If no one is at home please put items in the backyard on the porch.
Contact for this effort is Helen Mathis and she can be reached at 202-422-7817 or at the Obama Arlington County office 703-528-8588 or at mathis2001@earthlink.net
Finally, after all is said and done, there’s the Arlington victory party:
Victory Party
Where
Bailey’s Pub & Grille 4238 Wilson Blvd, Ballston Common Mall,. Arlington, VA 22203When
Nov 04Â Â starts after 7:00 pm
The Arlington Young Democrats, the Arlington County Democratic Committee and the Joint Campaign are teaming up to host the must-attend party of the year – the Election Night Celebration Party!Join us at Bailey’s in Ballston (in the Ballston Common Mall), where we have reserved two large rooms to accommodate what looks to be an impressive turnout of local Democrats! We will watch returns come in on the many TV’s, as well as hear from local elected officials and party leaders. This will be a very historic night – so come out and celebrate with a night to remember!
Wear your favorite Obama garb and come excited!
Our reserved rooms at Bailey’s are smoke-free for this event. The celebration starts after the polls close at 7:00PM.
I won’t be there, unfortunately (and I’d really like to make up for the last time I spend a Presidential election cycle night with the ACDC – 2000), but I’m sure it will be fun.
The polls open at 6am tomorrow, here. My day will start well before that, and who knows when it will end. If you’re still interested in polling, the very best place to go is FiveThirtyEight.com. The best poll aggregator out there this cycle, it’ll have more than you ever wanted to know. If you want to play with the various scenarios yourself, this is an easy map to do that with.
(And a public thank you to all of you who have been volunteering, and especially to those that were canvassing. This story reminded me of the times I’ve gone canvassing in rural Pennsylvania and West Virginia – some of those driveways can be long and scary walks.)
The Obamalleycat turned out to be a success, last night. This is checkpoint #1, in Georgetown.  Fellow on the right just rode across the US on that bike (with the flag and Obama poster).