If I owe you bet money, it will be in the mail tomorrow.
This will be the final post here without invitation. If you would like to continue reading this blog, you must send petition to do so via the Wordpress platform provided or via the email tipline.
Alright, keeping this short because frankly, blogging isn’t my priority right now. As much as I love my readers, I’ve got to get through the next 28 hours. Sore throat, runny nose, tired feet, et. al.
Thankfully, I’ve got time zones on my side so I will start working tomorrow before sunrise and end long after the state of Ohio is called. Today was all about getting out the vote.
Our office tops the state of Ohio in everything - calls, doors, swayed voters. Seriously, impressed to be with the big dogs. Made 1,311 calls today, all American Girl - All The Time. (ha)
Ready for tomorrow. We’re going to kick ass!
Total calls from American Girl since arrival = 6,171
The fourth on my list of seven reasons I’m voting McCain are the incredibly genuine, hard-working, positive people I’ve met since becoming active in this campaign. I always expected I would met great people, but nothing like this.
Colleen O’Kane has been volunteering for the McCain campaign all year. She is a full-time volunteer and has cancelled all but one calls, quit her jobs (yes, plural) and drives over 60 miles one-way to work in a McCain office dialing phones, training other volunteers, and doing whatever is needed. This girl works. I mean work the way I like - friendly, serious, smart, and fast as hell. Colleen is the #1 volunteer in the nation for the campaign. She holds every record to be had and couldn’t be more devoted, all the while serving as president of her College Republicans. She wrote this blog post for FOXNews about the Palin selection, and wrote this piece for her college newspaper. She even served as a alternate delegate to the Republican National Convention this year. Hanging out with energetic Colleen makes me hopeful for the future.
I met Yvonne at a coffee shop off the downtown square in Chillicothe, Ohio where she was working the counter. Bought a latte and chatted with her. She was brewing a fresh pot of coffee for Sarah Palin herself and three pots of hot cocoa for Palin’s staff prior to the afternoon rally. Yvonne has seen all four candidates come through her downtown square (a really cute town) several times. She said that only the McCain campaign buys stuff from the local shops downtown. They buy food, drinks, gifts and more from the shop owners and it’s this reputation in town that makes these guys eagerly await the McCain campaign’s arrival. The Obama campaign comes with all their own food and stuff and no local shop owner has received any business from anyone in the Obama campaign. Yvonne wasn’t complaining as much as being matter of fact that she will make a pot of coffee for anyone who orders it, anytime. But it’s the McCain/Palin people who earn her respect and the other shop owners in Chillicothe.
This could go on and on. Stephanie from New Jersey. Lauren from California. The whole troop from Maryland.
I’ve seen dozens of Obama supporters show their asses, and treat me in a way I’d never treat them or anyone else. I know I’m playing for the right team.
Tired of the negative campaign ads and learning a new negative thing about Barack Obama every day? You’re not alone.
If ABC, CBS, NBC, MSNBC, CNN, FNC, NYT, AP, Reuters and most every other news organization would do their jobs, all this junk would already be out there. This time, we can all thank the San Francisco Chronicle for not questioning Barack Obama on his statements about “bankrupt the coal industry” in January 2008.
Obama’s going to sack them with some environmental “green” fee of some sort. I listened to it twice, but I’m too tired from positive campaigning all day to provide a proper synopsis. But I would like to know, why is it that Barack Obama talks trash about people in San Fran? That’s the same place he said Pennsylvanians “bitterly cling to their guns and religion.” Dang, he sure does like to talk behind people’s backs.
House Minority Leader John Boehner - After two years of dealing with Nancy Pelosi, I proclaim him The Single Most Patient Man in Congress
Nothing but calls today. I’ve graduated to three phones and can light them up like a Christmas tree. Great responses from undecideds. I’ve learned to rifle through my brain and determine what works and what leads to more questions. Made 1,242 calls today, a personal record and only 160 from the all-time record this election.
House Minority Leader John Boehner came in this afternoon to talk to us all (over 100 volunteers). I think Boehner has an awesome personality. He did a bus tour for his re-election this weekend and called Barack Obama a “chicken sh*t” for voting present over a 190 times. He mentioned this today, “There’s a red button, a green button and a white button. You only press the white button when you refuse to take a stand,” said Boehner. What I loved about the situation, was that he was campaigning in a college town and made the comment campaigning in a college bar. When his press secretary was asked about the comment she said, “Yes, Congressman Boehner just called Barack Obama a chicken sh*t for voting present.” I respect his honesty. I’ve worked with many politicians over the years and I truly appreciate someone who as wicked-policy-smart as Boehner and just calls it as he sees it.
Had two favorite calls today, one was a (very) elderly man who I had to talk very loud with. He had already voted in early voting for McCain and then in closing he said, “What’s your name? Oprah? Thank you Oprah.” Dang, that cracked me up.
Other favorite call today was with “Pat” and “Neal” who are 90% on McCain. Lifelong Democrats, they don’t like Obama but these creatures of habit just won’t lock into a decision yet. They were fun to chat with and I enjoyed our conversation. When we closed, they were 99% McCain and asked me to say a prayer for them to get to 100%. They were fun, so fun and friendly by the time we hung up, it would have been OK with me if they were still 90%.
Total calls from American Girl since arrival = 4,860
If you read my blog, you know I’ve been critical of George W. Bush. However, neither you or I can determine the level of threat radical Islam terrorism is to our country. I follow CAIR (the Islam lobby), the military, and Al Jezeera, and I still won’t profess to be anything other than a novice on this threat.
As someone who was in New York City three weeks after September 11, 2001, I can still recall the smell of the city. I remember the kindness in strangers and the typical business handshakes turning to hugs.
9/11 and the ensuing War on Terror will define the presidency of George W. Bush. I don’t profess to have all the answers, but I want the terrorists stopped before they kill us again. In the past 7 years, we haven’t had an attack from these vile people in our country. For that I’m thankful.
I believe John McCain’s boldness for supporting the surge in Iraq and his military experience coupled with his understanding the threat of radical Islam is a serious plus for him, and another reason he has earned my vote. John McCain has bucked Bush time-and-time again on this issue and others (e.g. ethanol, bank nationalization) and I appreciate him putting “country first.”
A person’s character - how they deal with good times and bad - is very important to me. There’s something to be said for every action you make and every word you say can take you one step closer to God or one step closer to the devil. It’s a lifetime of decisions that build a character. I don’t always make the right decision, but it’s this creed I live by.
Who I surround myself with, the people I care for, the way I manage my time, and the way I spend my money are all decisions made to create a better life and build character.
It’s this boldness and strength of character I respect in John McCain. Sure, any MSLSD watcher can recite McCain’s mistakes just as I can, but it’s the tenacity to build a positive character that leads me to respect him.
Presidential elections are a choice between two people. They’re not deity. Not to be worshiped, just people. When I compare the two character choices I have Tuesday, it’s McCain’s character I admire. He’s always been proud of his country, and unlike Michelle Obama, he didnt’ experience his first proud moment in 2008.
If you’ve never seen the video from McCain’s POW days, click here.
I had an awesome day at homebase today. Curly and American Dude came with, and we joined more volunteers than I’ve ever seen. There were enough road walkers to do neighborhood canvases of over 5,000 houses and enough people to make calls to make our center the most productive in the state.
In the afternoon, we (and other volunteer centers) all stopped work for 20 minutes to accept a conference call from Governor Palin. She told us, “It’s my honor and privilege to talk to you guys. I’m doing four rallies today, and I promise John and I aren’t going to let you down.” Palin was full of energy while she talked from a cell phone on a bus in Florida. After sharing a few specific campaign goals, she closed with “I promise you, it’s all going to be worth it. God bless you.” It was really cool for those volunteers who’ve never heard her speak uninterrupted for the first time. It was easy to see how her call excited and fueled them to keep working.
Many new volunteers came in from other states today. Loved talking to people from California, New Jersey, Tennessee, and Delaware. They all come in on their own dime and work like their lives depend on it.
My calls today were really positive. I helped a few undecideds and met others like one lady who’s been wearing her McCain t-shirt to bed every night since October 1st. She refuses to wash it until Nov. 5th. She promised me she takes a bath every night before bed, but she really thinks wash time needs to come soon.
Saturday nights are always full of a few men who say things like “you sound cute” or “looking for a date, honey?” This is my second Saturday night on the phones, and these beer slammers crack me up.
But today’s phone time was all about “Jennifer’s” Mom. I called to speak with “Jennifer” today and her Mom told me she doesn’t talk on the phone. I told her who I was and with, then prepared to thank her for her time and let her go. However, when I told her who I was with she stopped and said that she was taking “Jen” to vote for the first time. She explained that Jen is an adult with cerebral palsy and although it’s important for her to keep up with all available “licenses of citizenship” afforded to her, Jen has never voted before. When Jen saw Trig Palin on TV for the first time, she told her Mom “I want to vote for Trig’s Mom.”
The calm and sincerity in this woman’s voice, and the words she said about Jen made me tear-up (something I just don’t do in public full of strangers - especially while I’m on a mission). Jen’s Mom went onto tell me that she couldn’t imagine her life without Jen. And knowing what it would mean for Jen to “leave the house” that day and cast her ballot for Trig’s Mom, was something they had been planning for weeks.
See, Jen’s Mom couldn’t “imagine life without Jen in it.” She’s taken care of Jen her whole life and wouldn’t trade it for anything. Jen’s Mom said she wished every mother could know the joy of caring for Jen. Through the whole conversation I cried. Writing about it now, I’m tearing-up. Jen’s Mom was so calm, clear-spoken, intelligent, and loving. I spent more time with her than other calls. I listened to her talk briefly about abortion and euthanasia and that really what people needed more of was compassion in this world.
Thanks to Jen and her Mom for a great day. I’ll look for them at the polls Tuesday and feel joyful for Jen to do what she has been planning to for weeks.
Made 1,019 calls today on three phones, but no other call touched me like Jen’s Mom.
Total calls from American Girl since arrival =3,618
Got this into the tipline from a RGR reader whose kids skipped all the houses with Obama signs in their trick-or-treating last night. Even kids don’t want Obamacandy! (Read the note under the photo.)
In a rather non-surprising move, the Obamanation campaign has ditched three major newspapers from the campaign’s transportation. The Washington Times, New York Post, and Dallas Morning News - all major city dailies - were kicked off the Obama (skinky) plane, buses, et.al. today.
Ironically, these three newspapers endorsed Senator McCain and Governor Palin and not “The One.”
Add to this the background investigation and public smearing of Joe (plumber) Wurzelbacher, the interview and advertising boycott of WFTV-channel 9 in Orlando, and now this. So it’s very obvious to me that in an Obama administration, those with dissenting opinions are penalized. I may have to move my blog again after the election and even make attendance by invitation-only. Make no mistake, I’m considering my safety and the safety of those I love.
Punishing dissenting opinion and penalizing first amendment rights is very un-American.
Read The Washington Times reporting of the dismissal of them and others from the Obama campaign.
