Keep on keepin' on- even in snow showers

Here's the "Obamarama Knockouts" international staff team with Anna Burger, Secretary-General of SEIU and President of Change To Win labor federation. Anna came to give the staff here an update from around the country about all the amazing work being done in 25 states.

It is beyond exciting to think that many of these long standing deep-red states are now light blue or in the toss-up pile. Indiana definitely qualifies in that category- having voted Republican since 1964.

The latest polls show Obama up about 5 or 6 points in the state- whereas the NW region is up 30 points. It is up to us to bring every single voter out to early vote for Obama and open up time on election day to vote as many people as possible.

On the ground - we are triple visiting turf- walking the same streets and some folks are getting tired, some are coming down with colds with the change of weather, and others just getting quiet. I don't think there is any time for that. We are part of history every day we are out here playing a role in this election. I guess it's my job to now inspire my hard-working team to keep up the excitement and spirit of hope.

Oh, and snow showers are expected today. Though the low is 43 degrees. Does anyone want to explain that to me?

Imagine

I want you to imagine a town where Neo-Nazis pull guns on community organizers who are trying to provide rides to the polls for elderly and disabled citizens.

Imagine a city ripped apart by jobs going over seas, closed factories and mills, and where "economic crisis" is a not a new catch phrase.

Try to imagine a court house that turns away a 93-year-old World War II veteran from voting who showed up with a Veterans Affairs ID, because they didn't believe a black woman could be a vet, and thought she stole the card.

Think of a street where every other house is abandoned, boarded up, foreclosed, or run down.

Envision a shopping mall where young children sell candy bars outside-not for a sports team, boy scout troop, or youth group- but in order to raise money to help pay their grandma's bills.

Yet despite all of the rampant poverty, broken community, and voter disenfranchisement ongoing in Gary, Indiana there are also some other moments I'd like to leave in your memory.

Imagine an office where community organizers come to work day in and day out despite the racial slurs, violence, and history of oppression that their neighborhoods face.

A town where home care nurses, care givers, and younger family members go out of their way to get registration forms, absentee ballots, and voter information for the elderly and disabled.

Turn on the TV to see early voting sites overflowing with voters because they just can't wait until election day to cast their vote for the first candidate they've ever believed could actually bring beneficial change to their families.

Put together a team of 150+ people who at the sound of "Fired up?!" will automatically and enthusiastically reply "Ready to go!" and set off to do the most important job they've ever had set before them.

The dream team of organizers, union members, SEIU staff, and volunteers are truly defending the rights of voters who have for too long faced disenfranchisement in Gary, Hammond, and East Chicago.

I just thought you should think about it for a moment.

Survey Says...

Today is election day in Miami Beach for the city commission and mayor's seat. I was out there at 7am waving a sign for honestly my favorite candidate this season, Jonah Wolfson. I was out there at 7am not necessarily by choice, but because of work. I'm employed by a labor union--and before you jump to any conclusions you should probably let me ramble on a bit before you start spouting some idiotic predetermined view of unions and political races stemming from New York or Chicago or Pittsburgh back when your grandparents starting making their millions off the back of laborers.

Anyways, back to working the voters. I truly believe it is next to pointless to stand out on election day with signs and t-shirts and info cards on your chosen candidate. If, and I strongly emphasize IF people are actually taking the time to go vote, I assert that they already have an opinion on whom they will vote. If they don't, if there is any value left in our shabby democratic republic, I hope they are not counting how many signs are in front of their polling station to determine which candidate is more popular-- or who they can pay more to stand out there like an idiot for hours at a time.

But there I stood waving my sign like one of those trickster rental place guys (did you know that is copyrighted- yes those guys that flip and twist the signs for you to rent or buy some condo). Luckily I met a lawyer who thought as I did-- standing out here was pointless for the voters. So why on earth would you do it? "Because Matti asked me to and I like her." So yes the whole point is to bolster the candidates feelings as they nervouly await the results at the end of the night. We joked about how many people's minds we changed by standing out there, the low voter turnout, how we should take the opponents signs and hit voters with them so they vote for our candidates...I have his card. His kid is my age.

I'm at UM right now. I just finished a presentation for STAND-- A Fisher Island worker, Mariette, came and spoke to them about the discrimination she faces and the plan of action-- November 17 beach invasion!!! what's up. It will be fun. Hopefully they will enter the contest.

I hung out with Liza which was great. She is writing a thesis on STAND and the movement, which will be great for record keeping. I admire her so much, she really is one of the most academically thoughtful people I know, and sweet- a good listener, and an intelligence that will come from nowhere and knock the wind out of you. She will definitely go far.-- ugh it only reminds me though how badly I need to actually graduate. It's been a running joke now for far too long. I have one measly paper left to actually attain my degree. If I don't hurry up, my cousin will beat me at graduating! I've lost my chance for this fall so I need to just do it sometime by January, apply for graduation, and simply wait for it to come to me in May. It's depressing to even think about.

I can definitely spend time on campus to be motivated to do my paper though, it m akes me want to study in the library, read and write. I miss school.

I miss it, yet I'm so ready for the next step in my life. I've been feeling as if I've been in transition for well, since I "graduated" (walked May 06).

My opportunity to move to D.C. has come about a year earlier than I expected- but you know I'm not waiting around for that door to open again! I love D.C. the sights, the atmosphere, the people, the work, the mood, the politics, the metro, the weather, the suits, the fast pace. I see this move as a true step forward in my life and I look forward to reflecting more when