This is my second diary but I've become a regular reader of Daily Kos. There is alot of clutter to sometimes read through if you are trying to get more information out in a day but sometimes you find those gems that brings out good points. The one I will now try and articulate is one I haven't seen enough of on DailyKos lately and I feel people need to remember.
No matter what you think Obama needs to do, please at least remember or at least be inspired to try and articulate his latest message in his stump if you feel inclined to. I know there are many other better writers then me. I only wish they wrote about stuff I was interested in reading about more.
Another point I argue at the end here is the importance of more then just donating or reading views you agree with here. Action is needed. The easiest I can attest to is at least making phone calls. More of us seriously need to do this. It is something easily done at home thanks to Obama's website. Id love more recced articled explaining the strategies and a how-to on this for people to get more excited about at least making calls.
Times a wasting
And like Joe, who was my personal pick and am glad to see him aboard. (by the way I imagine we have yet to see the best of him) I can be long winded so bare with me.
In my opinion Obama is being more aggressive in his stump speeches. If not enough well he is handing out more condensed, refined and simpler talking points that we should be adopting when we talk about this campaign in the remaining 54 days or so left. Pointing out Palin's flaws are fine but I feel that I find less diaries tying her and McCains critiques in contrast to the positive thing Obama is doing. Also not enough talking about good Obama or Biden stump speeches that we should be reading about as often as we can from now until November. It's not all about what McCain and Palin lack. If anything it is all about what Obama and Biden will be providing for us in their administration.
For instance I started my following of this campaign straight through Obama's website but in the past few weeks recently been following it more through this site. In the ongoing blog updates on Obama's site people there kept referencing articles links from this site which I found to appease my liberal pallet more. However since the Palin pick I can barely find recommends on people breaking down Obama's current talking point. It may be a repeat but some of this stuff is very important to new readers who may be viewing this site from now until election day for more information on Obama. Not all Independents and Republicans want to read an orgy of McCain and Palin bashing. Yes I may enjoy it as a liberal but I honestly enjoy reading what positives we can make out of what Obama is currently doing more. Or on dissecting his issues and debating the strengths against McCain's in comparison.
Like this Education Diary. It may be redundant and boring to some at this point but for many others who started reading the site here its important. Especially with less then two months to go
I know that last one may be too dry for the average person then lets focus on what Obama is saying now then. Like his Concord NH clip. I don't know about you but that fired me up! While I enjoy reading maybe 3 of 20 different peoples opinion about how poorly Sara Palin did I would love to add reading another person insight to contrast Obama position. I loved how he repeats his confidence of debating foreign policy against McCain. This is coming a day after and in part as an indirect response to Palin's interview I feel. And you say thats not tough? Where are the supporters pointing out the contrast of this?
More substantive, which I wish Dailykos posted at the beginning of the day instead of around midnight PST his Dover NH speech clip Not to try and sound careless but there was no articulation on how spot on Obama is. I want more digging into the facts and talking points we get from this speech broken down in an article or dairy.
Now as a disclaimer I understand the yearning for Obama to even get more aggressive. That he should not count his campaign solely on facts and not giving people more image and not get too bent on reacting to the McCain campaign. There are a lot of suggestions on how he should run his campaign. What I feel were lacking though is the core issue. We should be getting better suggestions on how everyone can help him get elected. I feel like its a soap opera sometimes hearing people suggesting what people should and should not say also. Lets make sure we focus our thoughts toward the end of this campaign in a pragmatic way. Lord knows we all know here this is about getting the pragmatic candidate in the office.
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Personally this point in time reminds me of what I read about the time Obama was going against Blair Hull in his senate race. Like Hull, Palin's dirt is finally catching up with the main stream media. For their hearts and our counties conscious, I only hope that they continue to be objective and not be afraid to. They still keep this "tight horse race" narrative (i understand why for their ratings) which may be true to some extent in polling, but kudos to the swing state polling and analysis I read here which shows that we still have a good leg on Obama's side. In his senate race though he was caught in a similiar time. Supporters were freaking out badly about him doing something.
Obama barely had enough money to flesh out ads until the end of that race if you remember the facts. Everyone was impatient but his true supporters kept vigilant in carrying out his message (remind you of what I'm trying to get at?). Lo and behold toward the last month of that campaign the genius of Obama and Axelrods ad campaign hit HARD and strong. A point we have yet to get to for this campaign. You honestly believe these two can't deliver when we get more closer to crunch time? Stop panicking and do something instead!
Now there are some subtle differences in that race and the current one here. The opponents obviously are much tougher now. A stronger distraction that even Hull with his wealth didn't touch is apparent. It's so obvious that I get sick in seeing panic leaked from even "true" supporters here. Media is slowly covering it from what I gather so I believe and hope there is enough journalist willing to cover the true story for our counties sake.
Another difference is funding. Obama was dirt poor in that campaign but he has a record-breaking budget now. Correct me if I'm wrong, or even also post the figures, but Obama has been tight on his monthly budget still so far and he has alot of money to dish out in the last month. That is what makes his 50-state strategy in my simple thought process seem feasible as far as ad wars go.
Everyone is freaking out lately it seems because right now it is still just mostly a one sided war. Unless your not paying attention then McCain is slowly losing that war too now even on CNN at times. (not enough still but I hope they cover the honest lies more) I'm glad McCain and his top notch campaign managers think by outright lying in their ads they will be able to force the narrative to their credit with real independents and informed republicans. We have seen recently real good dairies from republicans out there and I hope they keep getting added to the rec list so they know they're not alone.
This election is real to me. The importance is so strong that the only thing I fear is supporters of Obama feeding into the fear and losing focus. There is really no more time for that. We need to continue donating when you can afford it, especially in this last month into October, and especially start contacting more voters one person at a time.
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Everyone has a story and here is mine briefly. I am guardian of my 5year old nephew and 23mo old niece (2yrs old on the 23rd!). Im 24 and I work for the city of LA. My sister is in rehab for drug addiction but she is doing well. The past 3 months have been a struggle as their guardian. I get help from my mother, who is on SSI for a mild case of skizophrenia.
Then I have my grandmother who raised me at family kitchen dinners talking politics with a liberal view along with my uncles. She was a social worker in LA for 30 years, her dad a farmer from Minnesota who was part of a socialist group. I never grew up with an impression being labled a liberal is bad. It's not all the same as a socialist because my grandmother raised me explaining her differences in views from her dad. She is half indian and white. Myself half black and white with a similar background as Obama. I missed the CA primary which I regret since Obama lost that. Yet my grandmother, 86 and terminal cancer, bedridden and all, took her walker and went to go vote. I'll tell you what, that got me off my ass more then anything else because I have never been more politically involved until what she inspired me to do. Sorry Barack, but I must say I starting hearing his message thanks to my grandma. Although he does inspire me enough that I feel we all must do what we can to help him win. Even more so now.
Let me tell you my situation is hard... enough that Ill admit I don't see myself canvassing but I will make more phone calls. I'm not complaining or asking for handouts for my own situation. Yet I hope there are people out there with their own struggles and care about this election as much as me when they think about the future of their children... or their family members children. This election is real and if McCain wins my situation will feel much more harder because I know my country will not be there as much to help me worry less about my nephew and nieces future.
From education, health care, to guaruntee SSI doesn't get privatized for people like my mother who really need it. Not to get much further in details on my personal life but I've already made the decision that I can't raise my sisters kids long term if she isn't ready to have them back in 6 months. Its too difficult as is and I want to finish college. When the dreadful day my grandmother passes in the hopeful late future I am the trustee to her will. With no disrespect to my mother, I've felt like the youngest son to my grandmother in a lot of ways. She is the backbone to my disciplinary attitude. Although my mother is the most caring person I know and the way she helps me in this current situation with the kids has made me realize how much I took for granted. Especially in regards with my mothers help in raising me. Two women that mean a lot to me in my life.
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I remember when it was crunch time in the primary before the IN/PA votes, boy was that exciting. I am sure glad Obama invested hard in PA back then. I was tip toeing on the idea of making calls and then happily so the Obama campaigned snared me into making on a promise I made. They asked people to make pledges and of course I happened to be one quoted for my pledge of 20 calls. So I did them then after. Haven't done calls again after but as with my job I find talking to people politely and getting my point across easy so I plan to help out more at some point before this general election is done... For those people that casually read like I do for the most part Obama makes it very easy to call people, including now neighbors which swing staters should do. Adding that local twist in your conversaton is a very convincing aspet. The Obama campaign is no fool for adding this feature. I haven't done many calls yet, but even here in LA we got a new office opened by me in the venice area at which had a HUGE turnout at its opening. I plan to go there to do calls and at home before were done here these next two months.
So if you want to see Obama win lets talk about him more here please. Not just here either. You need to be willing to do more then just donate and use your biggest tool, communicating to just 20 or so undecided independents or republicans that just need a voice to talk their doubts out to. If a couple thousand more of Obama's supporters reached out to 2 dozen or so people from now until the election I guaruntee we would get a couple thousand more votes. If you have a busy personal life or struggle like mine I still will not buy any argument that starting a few phone calls from now until election day is hard or you cant find any time for it. Its not hard, read the script and make a call now. Or canvass, donate, or promise to yourself that you will try.
P.S. I dont think this dairy got recced either but I have it bookmarked and referenced. Expert polling analysis. Would someone kindly post a link to any updates from this professor post convention, I would greatly appreciate it because I liked the information on this diary.