Long Time Gone

I think it's kind of obnoxious to have more than one personal electronic device at once, but since my campaign phone is still working, it makes sense to use it, even though my personal cell still works.

So I'm at the Good Karma Cafe, detoxing mentally and physically from my Ohio campaign experience with some good, clean, healthy food and a pleasant atmosphere. I like Philly, and have found a place to live on a month-to-month basis next door to an old friend, which makes the transition that much easier. I have a job lead in mind, which I will pursue tomorrow, and I'm also applying for jobs in DC. That's the plan for now; if I run out of money before I find a job, I suppose I'll head back to California to at least drop my car off and come up with a Plan B. The East Coast is definitely where the jobs are, though, so I'm leaning in this direction, def. Other than that, I'm getting my head screwed on again, gaining my bearings, and looking for a good yoga class, as usual. Hugs and love to everyone--

Where we lay our scene. It has been more than three months since I've blogged, owing to a prohibitively busy schedule and the campaign's "no blogging" policy. I'm sitting at a "Caribou Coffee" in Avon, Ohio, enjoying the rather abrupt holiday atmosphere. The last time I luxuriated at a coffee place was mid-summer, without a reindeer or tinsel in sight. I appreciate the fact that it's not a Starbuck's, but at the same time bemoan the telltale signs of a coffee franchise. Emerging from the campaign feels like being deposited by a time machine into new circumstances and surroundings, like the steam escaping a pressure-cooker and a vise grip being relaxed. I feel like I've hit culture shock in a new county, and am slowly re-gaining my bearings. I can hardly identify with three-dimensional space, after having spent interminable days and weeks perched at my desk, in front of a computer screen, looking up only to greet visitors or field questi...

Dear Editor, I support the day workers who congregate along El Camino Real daily, looking for odd jobs from passersby. And I support undocumented workers who risk their lives, take on the possibility of never seeing their families again, and risk exploitation for the possibility of a better life here in California. They are not here to feed off our system--they work their fingers to the bone with two or three jobs and send most of the money back home. It's not that we need to stem the flow of immigrants, necessarily; we need to find a way to legitimize their presence here. Yes, the cost of their healthcare is an issue, but we need fundamental reform of that system anyway. Unemployment is low, so they're not taking our jobs. Racism has always been a factor toward new immigrant populations. I'm glad to hear the day worker center is expanding its programs. Let's take this opportunity to welcome new Americans into our fold, as was done for all of our families when the...

Madonna's face is looking increasingly the same over the years; rumor has it she has oxygen facials daily and has had other "work done." As these procedures become more affordable, will our faces eventually become frozen in time?

With all the descriptions that meterologists use to talk about climate, one would think they'd have a term for "yellow-colored air due to nearby forest fires." At least that's what I thought of today when I looked outside and the first word that came to mind about the day was "yellow," and the fact that there are about 800 forest fires state-wide.

It's annoying that even after Hilary Clinton conceded the nomination (sort of), the pundits spend half their time talking about the Senator and her husband and who will mend the damage they've caused the party with their millions of dollars of debt. Someone pointed out that Bill probably wants his legacy to be as the best two-term Democratic president of modern political history, and that he probably feels threatened by Barack Obama, the young, charismatic upstart who is a bit like the similarly-talented Bill when he first ran for president. I also think that Bill blows up at the media so often because he's venting the frustration he felt at eight years of [perceived] mistreated by the media. Whether he was treated unfairly or not is a different story, but I do think he feels slighted by several events, including the Republican Congressional landslide that made it difficult to get any of his stuff passed. I think he's a very bitter, complicated, and smart man.

Ralph Nader went off the deep end today when addressing the racial dynamics of Barack's presidential bid. His racial discourse sounds about 30 years old, as he used phrases like "white guilt" and reduced Barack's value as a human to the color of his skin. My new favorite New York Times reporter, Bob Herbert, managed to skewer Nader with language that didn't sound remotely one-sided, the way pundit-ese can sound. Chris Matthews invited Herbert and Joan somebody, managing editor of Salon or Slate, which I keep confusing, to discuss Nader's gaffe. Maybe that's why they brought it up, since "gaffe" appears to be the buzzword of this news cycle, thanks to John McCain's advisor's remark about how another 9/11-like attack would help McCain's candidacy.

While we're on the subject (I've been volunteering/working with the Obama campaign since March and have heard about little else for some time), I know I've changed a lot in the months I've been away, and it's hard to find a writer's voice again. Plus a lot of this stuff is personal and still shifting around inside, so this is a bit of forced writing, for now, at the behest of friends and family who remind me that this period of my life is particularly worth recording. At the moment I'm thinking of Jiles, the African-American guy with the Irish name who said that when he's angry, he's a black man, but the rest of the time he's African-American. A native Indianan, he volunteered in our Indianapolis office.

It's been months since I've posted and I can't think of anything to say. It's a cliché, but I'm out of inspiration. There are too many experiences to digest, I think, and some perspective is needed before I can process much of what has happened. I am reading about the Dust Bowl, however, which is interesting since it's more of a man-made environmental disaster than I realized. The Great Depression sounds rather nasty, too. No wonder my dad won't eat stewed tomatoes, 70 years later! I'm curious as to the effect Dust Bowl refugees to Southern California may or may not have had on the conservative political climate there. I've just returned from South Dakota and do miss the silence. The lack of electro-magnetic energy is deafening, almost; at least noticeably absent. Felt a bit like a campground, as our housing was on the edge of town, with nothing but big sky and an even bigger landscape dominating. The weather, too, was always an event. Thund...

I used to think that succumbing to bitterness was the logical response to certain events, and that furthermore, I was justified in being bitter. As they say, though, you can be happy or you can be right. I'm not choosing between those options today, but I think it's time to let go of a bit of the "I've been wronged and therefore I'm justified being however angry or bitter I care to be." While I may be justified, being bitter makes me lose twice, and I can't afford to lose any more.

My right-hand man (well, literally more than figuratively), Cameron, seated to my right in our office at headquarters, exemplifies the amusing phenomenon of trying to spell over a telephone. People like customer service representatives are used to this and generally have specific words, i.e. "'A' as in apple," etc, to make sure they are understood. Those of us without such an occupation, however, are often left to improvise. I can identify with Cameron's imaginative way of coming up with words on the spot--many of his words sound like SAT vocabulary words or describe various objects around the office, "'I' as in intern," etc.

I've encountered a number of apologetic Jewish folks who can't join us for volunteering this weekend b/of Passover. I don't think there's a need to apologize. In fact, we have enough Jewish supporters that we put Passover on our calendar as a reminder.

"We are ONE people, and our time for change has come!" This is what I wanted to say to the hordes of angry and aggressive Hillary supporters at the rally outside the Constitution Center last night, that we are one people, and there's no need to be so bratty about it. Although I'm going to say something terribly bratty, and that is that she has certainly cornered the angry, overweight, white, middle-aged woman vote.

Philadelphians are serious about their dogs. So serious that an afternoon spent in Rittenhouse Square almost feels like an amateur dog show, because of the number and variety of breeds.

Campaign paraphernalia is becoming more visible; most Obama buttons but a couple of Hillary signs and stickers as well. I walked past a table today on Walnut Street full of Obama flyers and candy, accompanied by a smiling guy on a guitar and another volunteer. The United Postal Service Union recently endorsed Obama and Unite Here is sending out many of its members to do canvassing this week. There's also a "Bikers for Obama" contingent headed our way for some door-knocking. Wonders never cease!

Boilermakers for Obama Women for Obama Brian for Obama Armenians for Obama An "Obama-que" BBQ event The "O-Train" Obama buttons in Hebrew and Arabic Veterans for Obama Students for Obama Got Hope? Amman, Jordan for Obama Expats for Obama French Speakers for Obama SEIU for Obama

A possible stipend has opened up in Oregon, which might take me there instead of Indiana...stay tuned...

I'm likely heading to neighboring state Kentucky after Indiana, and hopefully South Dakota after that. It depends on how long Hillary remains in the race, which she's vowed to do until the Denver convention. The campaign views Indiana as the next "battleground" state. Oregon is also key and a friend from Mills is working there with the campaign. I spoke with a guy from the United Auto Workers union who said they're re-considering their endorsement of Hillary and many are now Obama supporters. He said that NAFTA was devastating for them and objects Hillary's support of it. Another union guy from the first union to endorse Barack (remember the casino workers in Nevada?) said that 9/10th of their members also support Barack and a number of them are canvassing for Barack this week. This same guy said they'll be recruiting people coming off the Obama campaign in the fall... It is expected that Barack will carry Philadelphia, which he'll need in order ...

Samantha Bee and the "Senior Black Correspondant" from "The Daily Show" were at headquarters this week, filming a segment to be shown April 22nd. I wandered into one of the segments and may be in the segment! Stephen Colbert will be here this week and I would LOVE to meet him!

I've fallen in with a nice group of staffers at HQ who are working to bring as many volunteers into Philadelphia from other states as possible to canvass on the weekends and do phonebanking and other office stuff during the week. My role is to answer emails from volunteers, assign them to particular offices around Philly (some of which are still in the somewhat hairy process of being set up and staffed) on certain dates with specific organizers. All of us participate in making phone calls to identified willing volunteers. Most of them are from NY and DC, but some are traveling from California, Texas, and other locales. A group of 35 from Palo Alto, CA will be arriving shortly. There are two Japanese guys in the office who don't speak English and I'm not quite sure why they're here (other than to help Barack get elected as best they can). Some Canadians arrived to help and were sent to the "smoking hotel," which is a Holiday Inn of some sort that still all...

There are so many interesting dogs and dog owners here in Philly out at all hours that I may start asking them if I can photograph them for an informal blog album.

My first experience with unions! This Obama movement is really opening my eyes. I'm meeting people from all walks of life. This is an exciting time to be campaigning. I've been talking with a union member about their involvement in the campaign. They were the first union to endorse Obama; they're casino workers and food service people and stuff.

It's funny how campaign folk refer to time in terms of states, not dates. Someone has been with the campaign "since New Hampshire," for example, not "since January." Someone else is heading home "after Indiana" rather than "in mid-May." My time frame (and geographical plans) have shifted as well; I've cancelled the housing-resistant Puerto Rico and decided to follow the campaign directly to Indianapolis after the PA primary, and from then hopefully on to Kentucky, if Mrs. Clinton continues with her scorched-earth policy. Onward!

If anyone is interested in more information about this movement, google "Chanology" or look up "anonymous" on youtube. It only gets stranger. There was even a demonstration by "Anonymous" in Mountain View, CA, as well as around the world.

No, not really; the extended title is mine but the [self-explanatory] blog is not. Pay close attention to the title of each post if it's confusing at first: FAIL blog

The Good Karma Cafe I wish I could take this cafe back to California. It's my "post-campaign-headquarters" headquarters for free wifi, great atmosphere, and some unwinding before walking a short block back to my guest home.

There is a steady stream of carbohydrates coming into the fourth floor of 1500 Sansom Street, donated by well-meaning supporters of the Barack Obama campaign. Unfortunately, this results in a steady stream of visits by me to the refreshments table to observe, select, and consume said carbs. I have never seen so many Philadelphia soft pretzels at once, nor had any that were remotely as delicious. Yesterday the carb consumption was scrumptiously interrupted by Moroccan chicken and couscous, and today we had vegetarian chili in between the parade of chips, soft pretzels, bagels, donuts, donut holes, cakes, cookies, popcorn, and assorted other treats of which the American Cancer Society would certainly not approve. I'm not sure whether I feel more like the kid in "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" who eats too much or the daughter from "Vacation" who eats herself sick from a scrumptious buffet. Oh dear. Hopefully lugging my laptop nine blocks across and seven do...

I'm referring to the bizarre amalgam of subway/bus/trolley/streetcar that is the Philadelphia public transport system. I have never seen such deserted subway stations. I half expected Patrick Swayze from "Ghost" to show up or Keanu Reeves from "The Matrix" in their respective subway station scenes. I guess it's a reflection of Philadelphia itself that public transport is relatively underused, or perhaps it's my having become accustomed to the madness of New York and Boston that makes it seem ghost-town-like. The street-level trolleys are kind of cute and do seem relatively popular. I ventured out to "West Philly" the other night for dinner and a drink with friends. It was a surprisingly beautiful neighborhood with grand houses that at one time housed the wealthy but are now divided among paycheck-to-paycheck young adult tenants.

An odd blend of Obama supporters and death-wish driving styles characterizes the Philadelphia taxi population.

The poor, black and the white, wealthy. Where is John Edwards to further expound on this stark division? Actually, it's not that simple but there is a world of difference between the ritzy colonial homes in Center City and the sizable African-American population that dominates public transport and neighborhoods farther out in the city.

Must it? Yes, as I just purchased my bus ticket from Boston to Philly for March 31, staying until the day after the primary, April 23rd. Adventures aplenty. Must look for yoga studios in William Penn's metropolis!

Another day, another sex scandal takes down a powerful man. It just goes to show that people who are overly moralistic are almost always hiding something.

I'm firming up my plans to be in Philadelphia from March 30 to April 24 to campaign for Obama. I'm finalizing housing plans with a wonderful woman who has offered a bedroom in her home near Obama HQ, which is ideal since I won't be renting a car. I've also applied to volunteer at the Denver convention, as well as to housesit in Cambridge, MA during July. We'll see; perhaps something is taking shape.

When Senator Clinton said that all Barack Obama has to offer is "a speech from 2002," she probably hadn't read this story. It's from a teacher in Appalachia. If we do not elect Obama, this is what we will lose [excerpts]: I would love to give you a personal view of how Obama has already changed my life and lives around me. I teach high school students in the foothills of Appalachia...the foothills of poverty. I have primarily white poor as well as black and Hispanic and mixed race in my classes. 50% live in poverty. Obama has offered my students inspiration to be something more than they thought they could be. And they are eating it up!!!! It's the first time many have ever cared about politics and I have had students tell me that their parents have never voted and have always been angry at politicians. But they are voting this time. But to have 2 whole class periods (my class periods are 90 minuets long) where the students are asking questions faster than I...

Today I learned that the entire town of Oxford, Ohio has been canvassed by our efforts as well as presumably most or all of the 14,000 Miami University students here. In Cincinnati, 61,000 households or individuals were canvassed on one day by Obama volunteers. Our goal is one million doors knocked on/voters contacted before Tuesday, a record that has never been set. People are still travelling from out of state to Texas and Ohio. Our three Chicago visitors left today after canvassing efforts in Hamilton, their Prius windows scrawled with "Obama" in soap. I had a rude awakening to the realities of rural America today. Much of Hamilton is flat, gray, miserable, depressed, poor in ways we do not have in California, and dusty. Food choices are almost entirely limited to fast food. I had my first all-Taco Bell lunch and still feel undernourished and sick. Thank heavens for the yummy club panini sandwich at the non-Starbucks coffee place downtown Oxford. Our first canvass...

I'm on some campaign email lists from Pennsylvania, Ohio, California, and Texas, and here are a few excerpts, from March 1: "I'm a Pittsburgher living in Austin for a couple of months, and I thought you'd all be interested to hear a bit of what is happening with Obama here in Texas with the Texas Primary pending on Tuesday. Obviously, he's speaking here often now, but it's really hard to get in because the tix go so fast. Tix to his speeches are so precious that Craigs List Austin is actually crammed with scalpers selling tix to his FREE speeches with starting bids between $25 and $50. I've never seen anything like it." AND [from SF list]: "I know you've heard it before on this list from those headed out to Texas, but I wanted to make one final plea: Texas needs our signs! And yes, there's still time: I am headed out to Clarendon, Texas tomorrow night (where I am the out-of-state Precinct Captain), and the Obama staffer on the ground i...

Last night, three people arrived to stay at Lisa's house, making our motley crew of Obamans five. Three animals, too. The three Chicagoans went to Hamilton today, while I stayed in Oxford and canvassed for three hours with a very sweet political science professor who said he hadn't campaigned for anyone since RFK.

I'm taking a break from what feels like throwing Obama flyers all around town (and what is actually walking to specific homes in specific neighborhoods to talk with people but finding most not at home). I'm even talking to people at Starbuck's, people on the street, and construction workers about Obama. Pretty exciting. Apparently, a bunch of people will be descending on Oxford this weekend, so the house where I'm staying is probably going to get crowded, with three Chicagoans arriving tonight. I'm pretty tired, but took my first shower, which is chill-inducing, even indoors. The weather isn't too bad; some [melting] snow on the ground. I confess I ate at Taco Bell today; it was cheap, convenient, and flavorless. Fired up and ready to go!

This morning began to the anthem of my cell phone's alarm ring and the barest hint of daylight glowing through the gauzy white curtains in my bedroom. Not sun, mind you, but whatever Ohio skies consider to be the indicator of morning. We're meeting at 10:30am somewhere here in Oxford, a town so small there's no chance I'll get lost. Another memory from yesterday about the Obama movement is when I finally found an outlet for my laptop at Chicago O'Hare, I managed to drop it, and the guy next to me made small talk. He says he thinks that Obama is so liked by the people that if he's elected president, Congress will not have the power to oppose him. This guy is from Lake Placid, had been skiing in Vail, and talked about how he'd been involved in politics for decades. The girl who had been sitting in his chair earlier told me that she liked my Obama bumper sticker, and while she is not a Democrat, will be voting for him because she "hates Hillary" a...

I sat down for lunch at O'Hare airport with two guys and got one of them into Obama! And one of them informally offered me a job in Boston. But it's in food service :-(. An interesting day. I was trying to draw a guy from Kentucky into a conversation about Obama (heaven forbid I begin to remind myself of a door-to-door religion salesperson), only to learn he's voting for Huckabee! Shocking. But, he wants to go into business and earn a lot of money, so I supposed Huckabee would be his man. And I hear, too, that Huckabee is charismatic, knows his stuff, and can work a room. Sort of like a cherubic Reagan. Sort of. I'm here at Miami University (not in Florida) in Oxford (not in England), Ohio, in a beautiful house with a nice young woman who's offered to put me up through Wednesday. I felt very grown-up as I rented a car for the first time by myself, and wandered through the dark night around Cincinatti and through several small towns onto a two-lane highway u...

Bad news from the financial front: I'm having a hard time making ends meet; students loans coming due soon that are not deferable that I cannot pay for. Disability no longer pays enough to cover the basics, and I am starting to panic. I cannot find a job despite my best efforts. Suggestions?

I wasn't actually on sabbatical; rather, I took my opinionated opinions to facebook, where it's easier to interact with friends and make new acquaintances (and play too much "Scrabulous:). Lots of fun, but this blog is a labor of love, and I have no intention of abandoning it. Stay tuned.