Long Time Gone

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.