just another vet

One More Weekend Texans

It occurred to me this morning that we have been going pretty much nonstop here in Texas for three weeks now. Every day has been filled with answering phones, greeting new volunteers, setting up events, training precinct captains and going to rallies. There have been countless house parties thrown, meet-ups held and connections made. And it's all happened because of the awesome effort put forth by the staff and volunteers.

Campaigns are strange creatures. They can wear you out and lift you up at the same time. Everyone, from the candidate to the volunteers has this slightly dazed look about them. March 4th has become an event horizon, drawing in more and more resources yet giving not the slightest clue what lays beyond. The campaign is reaching a fevered pitch.

The staffers are working the phones at an almost frantic pace, getting a hold of every single precinct captain, making sure they are contacting every voter they possibly can. The volunteers are pouring in, making phone calls from the offices or heading out to knock on doors and work the polling sites. And having now seen a glimpse into the inner circle, I can say that they too are working nonstop to ensure a victory, actually 4 victories, in as many days.

Personally, this has been a life-changing experience. A little bit of my faith in humanity has been restored by the tremendous outpouring of support and the amazing coming together of so many different people behind a common cause. I have stood amongst 18,000 fellow citizens and cheered the language of unity, celebrated the audacity of hope, and prayed for change. I have spoke with so many people who had lost all faith in government only to have it restored by a notion that we are all Americans, that we are all in it together and that we can fix the problems facing our nation. And I have been reminded that even though times can get tough, that it can look as if there is no future, if we really believe in ourselves we can overcome anything.

I don't know what happens from here, but I do hope that at least some of the goodwill that has sprung from this campaign and the surrounding social movement survives. As I stood in the Fort Worth Convention Center last night I took a moment to look around the entire place, to witness the people who had come together there and what I saw was awe-inspiring. Thousands of people standing and cheering, laughing and at times even crying, because they all want the same thing; a better America. What I experienced in that room was what our politics is supposed to be like. We are supposed to stand united in defense of our rights and in support of each other.

That's why all this is so exciting, because it finally feels right. People are beginning to remember what it means to be proud of our democratic institutions, people want to vote, are going out and getting their friends and family excited about voting. This is the real deal people, and we better seize it with all our might and hang on to it before it slips away because our country can't handle much more abuse and neglect. This is the moment, this is the time we as citizens speak in one voice and demand that our government work for us, that our politicians remember they are servants of the public, and that we all finally look each other in the eye and see ourselves looking back. Because we are one people, brothers and sisters, each with a stake in the survival of this nation. Our freedom from tyranny comes from our shared belief that the ideas enshrined in the Constitution are worth fighting, and even dying, for. We are only as free as we fight to be.

This isn't about Senator Obama anymore. He is but the vehicle, we are the drivers. And I believe he understands that. We are demanding more from our government, and in return more will be demanded of us. This battle is only just beginning, but already the powers that be are gearing up for a fight. Know that the attacks will only grow more vicious, the lies more insane, but we cannot be dissuaded, we cannot be lead astray. Now is our time to lead this nation, to set it on the right course. And it's going to mean staying active after November 4th, because the next president can't do it alone. We have to put people in Congress who will support this movement, and we have to hold them accountable. We have to take it upon ourselves to get educated on the issues and then share that information with those around us. We have to be the true foundation of government, both providing and restraining it's power. This is our duty as citizens, this is our birthright.

I implore you to get active this weekend. Cancel your plans and work for change. Go by your nearest field office and volunteer for door to door canvassing. If you live in a state not voting March 4th, please do some phone banking. We need everyone's help right now. This is the weekend that can put it away, but it will only happen if every one of us does our part.

This is your campaign now. This is our campaign now.

Posted by monkey at February 29, 2008 12:43 PM