Call For The Dead

Here's the report from the trenches here in Columbus, OH. I'm tired as all get out (the vote).  My wife and I drove out from New Jersey yesterday, slept in a moldy fleabag of an excuse for an inn. Got up godawful early, ate the wrong breakfast, didn't drink enough bad coffee and then hightailed it to the volunteer center where several very nice people pointed us to the phone banks. (BTW,  I'm from NJ, you don't have to be nice to me, just tell me what needs doing and get out of the way. But I do appreciate the decorum.) 12 hours later, we're done for the evening. We had a great day and we're happy, positive, and energized despite the lack of sleep.

Thanks for encouraging us to get our butts out here. Great phonebanking anecdote below the fold.

Real GOTV phone conversation:

hyperstation Hi, I'm a volunteer for the Kerry/Edwards campaign in Ohio, is, um anyone from the B___ family there? Gosh I've got about seven names here for this number.

Ms. B Yes, this is Ms. B.

hyperstation Hi Ms. B. I'm calling to urge you and the other B.'s to go to the polls Tuesday and vote for John Kerry for president as you know--

Ms. B. Oh, you don't have to urge me. We're all voting for Kerry. (starts laughing) And one of us just passed this week and we made sure he voted for Kerry absentee ballot. (laughs harder) And you know what? When Clinton was running my husband died and we made sure he voted absentee ballot for Clinton.

hyperstation (stunned silence) Well, I don't know what to say. Senator Kerry thanks you all for your support.

Ms. B. You don't have to say anything. We're going to win.

hyperstation Yes we are. We're going to win. You have a great weekend.

That was my funniest conversation of the day, but I talked to many, many people, most of who were energized, supportive and ready to send W back to Texas in legirons.

We're back into the streets tomorrow. Thank the legislature for daylight savings and the extra hour we get tonight. Or wait, do we still get that in Ohio?

p.s. We found a much better place to sleep.  Great people and lots of help from all over--Seattle, Indiana, DC, Massachusetts and more.

•  That's dedication

  Hats off to Ms. B and the rest of her crazy-ass (in a good way) family.

  by BaltimoreDem on Sat Oct 30, 2004 at 07:01:13 PM PDT

•  One of the reasons

  I voted early was just in case something happened to me, at least the vote would be cast!

  Buth this family is even more creative!

  by Freudian Slipper on Sat Oct 30, 2004 at 07:06:49 PM PDT

•  Best laugh of the night, friend.

  Thanks for your effort there.  Did Ms. B really say that, though?  No, don't tell me any differently -- it was too funny to ruin.

  by Larry Bailey on Sat Oct 30, 2004 at 07:15:03 PM PDT

  •  Yes, she really said that

    but in fairness, I don't think she was implying that she filled out any voting posthumously.  Though she/they might have been aware they were not going to make it through election day.

    by hyperstation on Sun Oct 31, 2004 at 05:44:53 AM PDT

•  Gives new meaning to Día de los Muertos

  Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead is celebrated in Mexico and in a large area of Southern California, around Halloween for several days.  This is a new, but greatly appreciated dimension, to the celebration! Viva Dia de Kerry!  

  by maggiemae on Sat Oct 30, 2004 at 07:21:15 PM PDT

•  Back to back, Belly to belly

  Well, we don't give a damn
  Cause we done dead already
  Back to back, belly to belly
  At the zombie jamboree!

  Hell, LBJ wouldn't have been vice president, nor Kennedy president, if a few dead folks hadn'f voted in South Texas...

  But dammit, we never tried to stop Republicans from voting!

  by perro amarillo on Sat Oct 30, 2004 at 07:45:09 PM PDT

•  Great job and story

  I can see it showing up in freeperville already.

  "Told you they were voting for dead relatives.  We need to get Ashcroft on this now!"

  by The Free Man on Sat Oct 30, 2004 at 09:18:04 PM PDT