Okay, now that I've got your attention.
That title is not wholly true, but what follows is important enough to use that stupid trick to get your attention.
This is a diary by kid oakland...yep this is me...using the userid of my friend and colleague Matt Lockshin (aka emetbloom and the founder of the blog SayNotoPombo) on a one time basis.
Why am I using Matt's userid? Well, because I posted a diary last night at 10PM and for some reason the system won't let me post a diary tonight until well after folks will have gone to bed. And, you know what, we don't have time to waste.
Why is what I have to say relevant and timely?
Read below to find out...
As I was driving to work today Matt Lockshin and I were talking about what I was doing for GOTV this weekend and on election day.
I said. "Well, so far I know that on Saturday I'm going to Tracy California to work with Martha Gamez to help defeat Richard Pombo. And on Tuesday I'm working here in the East Bay with you." (Matt is running a local campaign here in Oakland and is a veteran GOTV activist.)
Matt said to me. "Okay, let me get this straight, you're going to just drive out to Tracy without telling anyone or inviting anyone. And then you're going to work with me on Tuesday using the same m.o.?"
"Yep." I replied. "That's what I was planning to do."
"Are you an idiot?" Matt asked.
"I don't think so." I replied.
"Okay, Paul" Matt said, {that's my real name}, "let me tell you something, you should write a diary on dailykos and invite people to join you. They could meet up with you in Oakland and carpool to Tracy, and on election day, a whole bunch of you could meet up with us and canvass in Oakland. Even if you got five people to help here in Oakland on election day, that would make a huge difference to us."
"Paul," Matt went on, "People know you are friendly guy and like to do GOTV. People know about how cool Martha Gamez is through that diary you wrote about her and would like to meet her and help Jerry...and I bet there are one or two people who might want to canvass with us in Oakland on election day. Maybe some people, even, who were just waiting for an invitation to help out."
"Really?" I asked. "That seems like a good idea. Why haven't I thought of that before?"
Matt then paused and used the good-natured banter we often do, "Because you're an idiot."
We both laughed.
So, if this utterly weird diary situation hasn't freaked you out...and yeah, it is a little weird, I'll admit...and if you live in the East Bay or near enough to get here and would like to join me on Saturday or Tuesday, please consider joining me, uh, kid oakland, for some GOTV.
Email me at: kidoakland"at"comcast"dot"net.
(Yes, that's the email for me, kid oakland, you can look it up. Plus I will revert to my usual screen name in the comments below.)
On Saturday, I'd like to meet at a common point in Oakland and carpool or caravan to Tracy together. On Tuesday we'll meet early enough in the morning to work with people going to work. Or you can join us and do a second shift in the afternoon and going into the evening.
I'm not expecting that a zillion people will reply, but I am sincere. I think Matt has a good point. In fact, I thought he had a good enough point to make sure I posted this tonight before half of the East Bay went to bed and using this crazy stunt to get around some computer glitch that prevented me from posting under my screen name.
I'm working tommorrow, but I will be in the thread here tonight and will check my email when I get home and respond to everyone with details of the meet up points and time for Saturday and Tuesday.
I am doing this GOTV regardless and would love to have some fellow kossacks to join if you are interested. It's my hope that folks who might not otherwise have gone out will consider it now that you've been invited. That would be so cool.
And, yes, Matt was totally right to call me on this. What was I thinking not inviting anyone?
Well, I am inviting you now.
Would you like to join me doing GOTV on Saturday or Tuesday?