Yep, that's it. After everything that has happened the last few weeks, I've decided I can no longer be a volunteer for Barack Obama.
I've heard what he has been saying, I've looked at what he's proposing to do, and I've seen what is happening in the polls. And it's absolutely clear that my days as a volunteer are over for good.
It's time to make an even bigger commitment.
Since early 2007, I've been writing here about Barack Obama from my perspective as a supporter and volunteer, speaking for myself, not for the campaign in an official capacity.
I've enjoyed writing about my view of the field campaign, and about Obama's speeches and message. And I've enjoyed reading and responding to your comments (at least most of the time). But you won't be reading my comments and diaries for the next 90 days.
Because I'm joining the field staff. And since my job will be organizing, not blogging, I'll leave it to our official online representatives to speak here for the campaign.
I'll still come here to get the news and commentary. But I won't be putting my own 2 cents worth in for awhile - really, I won't have much time to anyway.
This is an opportunity I can't pass up: to be part of the biggest, strongest, smartest, most creative and most grassroots-oriented field campaign every put together for a Presidential candidate. It is truly a visionary effort, one that will be analyzed and held up as an example for years to come. It represents what we've been demanding from Democratic politics, using technology to maximize civic engagement toward progressive policy goals. If it works as well as I hope it will, we'll see a lot of blue on election night. Even better, we will have trained a new generation of organizers in all 50 states and built a movement to support the big policy changes we need.
And there is so much at stake. We have to win. We have to beat McCain. The outcome of this election will affect the lives and well-being of millions of Americans, and countless more around the globe. So I'm going all in with the most valuable thing I have: my time.
Losing my TU status will be a very small price to pay.
I'll be back here after the election. In the meantime I will be doing everything I can to get Barack Obama elected. I know I can make a difference. And so can you. Here they are, one last time, your action links:
Donate to the Obama campaign.
Take Action.
Support the Obamajority.
Join Kossacks for Obama.
UPDATE: Wow. Thank you all for the incredibly kind words and good wishes. This is a lovely bon voyage. I wish I had time to respond and thank each of you personally, but I gotta get to work!
Disclaimer:This is my last post from my perspective as a volunteer for the Barack Obama campaign in California. As with everything I have previously written here about Obama, I speak for myself and not for the campaign in any way. The campaign has no input on my diaries - the ideas, and all the words in them, are my own.