Oakland: March 2007

Oakland: March 2007
Arrived late. Parked illegally. Streets empty. Still. Only this magnificent voice, winding around the corners, echoing upside the skyscrapers. Goosebumps. This is History. I am a part of history. And everybody else knows it, too

Saturday, September 15, 2007

the polls v the big "O"

A message for Obama supporters. Maybe we need to reprioritize. Shut off our laptops, open our doors again, and talk real time about the big "O."

2 comments:

boatsie said...

Oh, those polls!

We read it time and time again; I recall writing it months ago at Kos and being slapped down big time. Where are all these Hillary supporters coming from? In these numbers? Consistently, in poll after poll. If I were leaning toward voting for Hillary and realized she has suddenly become the darling of MSM and of American voters, I’d frankly be flabbergasted.

And why isn’t the media, any relevant media, asking the questions about Hillary’s integrity and relevant experience and digging into the dredges of her cacmpaign chest? How come Bill is suddenly such an asset? Why isn’t the Paul trial, where just last week attorneys suggested that Mrs. Clinton should be called upon to testify, getting any ink?

Being an Obama supporter in this milieu is no easy task. We are constantly faced with media reports that misrepresent the reality we see and observe in real life at real time events across the United States. We watch speeches, listen to debates and then listen as pundits and ‘reporters’ take clear, concise, honest statements, stuff them into a pastry bag and wring, squeeze, pound, twist and toss in an array of artificial ingredients so that what eventually comes out of the designer tip, airbrushed and kroma jetted ... well, you get the picture.

It just doesn’t appear to me that any other candidate is getting this type and degree of specialized surgical resurfacing.

boatsie said...

As an Obama supporter, then, you start doing your research, finding those primary sources, fact checking, and laboring over a letter to the editor, an op ed, a blog entry or comment in an attempt to set the record straight.

Slap down. You are accused time and time again of playing dirty, of being a grossly misinformed starry eyed idol. Of sour grapes. LOOK at the polls, asshole. Your candidate don’t have a chance.

But I ‘m not looking at these polls anymore; and let me tell you why. Frankly I can’t believe anything anymore that comes from corporate America, be it election results, reports on pharmacology cures for heretofore nonexistent physical ailments, testimony of our Attorney General or Vice President, Congress’ official report on 911 or the justifications for financial shock and disaster democracy which our government has used in OUR NAME since Pinochet.

Here’s what I want in lieu of a poll. I want every American who supports Barack Obama to climb up onto the tops of their homes and draw an enormous "O" on their roof. If you live in an apartment building, you can put up "O = 20’ or O=150" ... whatever. Just tell it like it is. No embellishment. Pure fact.

You don’t have to start doing this tomorrow. This isn’t going to h happen overnight. In fact, I think we Obama supporters can start right where we live and then head out canvassing. Maybe we want to take along some ready-made highly visible ashesive (and removable) "O’s" and even offer to plunk ‘em up on people’s roofs to save them any risk. (We might have to actually have back up teams that come by later with large ladders)

Then let’s do some polling. From above it all. From well beyond the realm of neurolinguistics and talking points and viral messaging.

And let’s start flicking them the "O" ... start using universal sign language again. There’s no fucking with that.

But I think folks, I think, fellow Obama supporters, that we are basically going to have to surrender the war or words for a time. Not completely. But I just don’t think we’re winning here. I think it’s time we all got off our duffs, shut off our computer screens and start walking around in our neighborhoods, ringing doorbells, chatting at mailboxes, while we are waiting to pick up the kids at school or gossiping at dog parks.

Let’s start burning some CDs, printing out some speeches, handing out some bumper stickers and campaign literature and voter reg forms and get some fresh air. Start flashing those "O’s" and figuring out ways to get most every rooftop in our neighborhood united in the message that we’re all fired up and ready to go!

Give me an "O!"