Barack Obama to his entire staff of paid and volunteers:
“This has been the best presidential election in the history of American Democracy.”
I’ve seen it in action. I’ve been a part of it. I concur.
Eric Garcetti to the staff of the Obama HQ on Motor Ave:
“Rare are the times in life that you get to be a part of history.”
Amen.
Here are the hard numbers:
Nationwide it was requested that phone banks make 1.5 million calls into the battlegrounds.
California made 1.439 million calls.
2.1 calls were made in total.
Resulting in 1 MILLION volunteers canvassing the streets on election day to GET OUT THE VOTE.
Holy crap. History indeed.
What started with a frustrated Allen wanting to be a part of something he believed in by attending the opening of that office months ago has ended with today. How many calls have I made? I can’t even begin to count.
How many callers have I shepherded through their calls? Hundreds. How many times have people mistaken me for someone who has actual control over the work that they are doing beyond stapling? More times than I wish to count. How many egos have been bruised and battered and beat up? Including mine? 6. Okay, more like 6,000.
I am tired. My feet hurt. I’ve met some of the best people I will ever know. I have met some of the worst. I have fundamentally disagreed with some (like putting a self-described brain tumor recoverer who doesn’t make saliva and can’t speak for long periods of time in charge of a phone bank….) I have been shown the light on others.
I’ve probably been more petulant than I should have for my own good.
I’ve learned that if you work in an office there are two things I can say to you: 1. I’m sorry. And 2. I suggest offing yourself before going back to that job. (vote first, of course)
I’ve learned that, despite my abject dislike for many people, I am fairly gregarious and do best when I am in a position to teach or edify. Go figure.
I’ve also learned the hardest way that I can not, under any circumstances, suffer empty egos. By this I mean: If you know from whence you speak, it doesn’t matter if you are fluid, soft spoken or authoritative; I will follow you at your word. But if you speak on things with authority and it turns out to be that you are full of blue smoke and piffle, then I have no time for you. Ever. And I wouldn’t blink to hear that you had been run over by slow moving Zamboni. Seriously. As Michael O’Donoghue once wrote, “I would kick you in the cunt if I didn’t think it would ruin the shine on my shoes.” Never have truer words been spoken than about some of the crazed, power hungry, ego driven wannabes that end up volunteering for an election. Which is weird. Since we are all volunteers. (And the O’Donoghue quote goes for men OR women in this case).
I’ve also learned that I prefer the company of the bawdy and loud to the smarmy and snarky. Which is odd because I’ve often admired the likes of William F. Buckley though I don’t agree with the politics. Trust me. The left has a ton of those, too. (Like the ass who wouldn’t count volunteers because “I like to be in charge of things…..”)
That’s it.
I would document the entire affair but I probably should have created a day to day journal. I just didn’t.
There were laughs.
There were tears.
Many of them, mine.
It’s all over.
See you on the other side.
Allen
Deputy Field Officer
Phone Bank co-ordinator/trainer
Barack Obama for America.
