I'm gonna make a change for once in my life. Its gonna feel real good, its gonna make a difference. Gonna make it right.
Change is a muthafucker, isn't it America?
It the craziest roller coaster ride I've ever been on. Move the hell over Kings Dominion. Change got you beat by a mile. The many ups and downs, twist and turns, dips and flips. Its dizzying as hell.
But boy, oh boy, when it happens, its a......
BFD!!!
As I watch a lot the priorities (notice I didn't say promises) get checked off President Obama's to fix list, I can't help but to think back to the days of the campaign.
Staffers, such as myself, volunteers, supporters, etc. went through quite a roller coaster ride. From the primaries to the general election. It was one high/low, twist/turn after the next. A lot of supporters thought they were the only ones on the ledge.
HA! (in my best Tweety voice).
Follow me below the fold.
You have no idea how many times Obama for America staffers had to be walked back off the ledge. We had to be each others support system. We probably could have stood to lay across Dr. Phil's couch for an hour or two.
The only people that remained even were, then, no drama Obama, Plouffe Daddy and the Ax. (Wonder if its a Chicago thing?)
President Obama always said he doesn't get too high, or too low. Its one of the remarkable qualities in our President. And seeing how it affects his decision making, its one that needs to be a standard bearer for every future President.
However, for all the hair pulling, for all the frustrations, eighteen hour days, sleepless nights, ridiculous caffeine, beer pong (first time I ever heard of this wonderful game), Palin, more beer pong, lies, even more beer pong, smears, and jeers, election night was one of the most euphoric feelings on my life.
I will never forget how tired I was after being up for 48 hours preparing for the big day and then running the election day GOTV for my turf in Indiana (anyone who's done a President election can tell you, no amount of training prepares you for the craziness of election day GOTV!).
Indiana's voting ended before most of the country. So joined my volunteers and other staffers at a watch party in downtown Indianapolis. And as those results were coming in, the weariness began leave my body. Virginia, Ohio? OMFG!!! I had never been so excited to see that kind of change.
And then the moment came. Keith Olbermann changed my life with music to my ears. I leaped up on a chair, threw my arms in the air and yelled "YES WE DID!!!" to the top of lungs.
Then I dialed my Auntie through all the noise of the crowd (because a week earlier she told me not to be too disappointed if he loses. And until she said that, the thought of losing never crossed my mind. Thanks Auntie for sending me back on the ledge :)
The first words she said to me were, "Congratulations, you did it!" Upon hearing those words a wave of emotion hit me like a tone of bricks and I just broke down in tears. I wept like a new born baby. I will never forget and will always be proud of the change I helped bring to America.
Barack Hussein Obama, the 44th President of the United States.
Well, imagine how it feels a year and a half later to see the very policies I discussed endlessly with potential voters come to fruition.
This is what change looks like America.
The Journey to the Historic Start Treaty.
Photo by Pete Souza, White House Photographer
Speeches, the new socialism!
President Barack Obama delivers his first major speech stating a commitment to seek the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons in front of thousands in Prague, Czech Republic, April 5, 2009. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
President Obama: "The reason I'm calling at 2:00 a.m. Dimitri is because Sarah told me Putin is trying to rear his ugly head again!"
President Barack Obama talks on the phone with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, in the Oval Office, June 30, 2009. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
Late night competence. Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!
President Barack Obama is briefed by, from left, NSC Chief of Staff Mark Lippert, Former U.S. Ambassador to Russia William J. Burns, Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications Ben Rhodes, NSC Senior Director for Russian Affairs Mike McFaul, and Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications Denis McDonough, in the Conference Room aboard Air Force One, during a flight to Moscow, Russia, July 5, 2009. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
President Obama: "Do they make you use 20 pens too Dimitri?"
President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev sign a preliminary agreement to reduce American and Russian nuclear arsenals after meetings at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, July 6, 2009. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)
President Medvedev: "Tell Wasilly to turn her moose radar to the west, that's usually were Putin rears."
President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev walk together, after dining with their wives at President Medvedev's dacha outside Moscow, Russia, July 6, 2009. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
Best SOS ever? I report, you decide. Damn right Hillraiser is the best!
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton confers with Special Assistant to the President Gary Samore, left, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York, N.Y., Sept. 23, 2009. President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev held a bilateral meeting at the Waldorf during the U.N. General Assembly. (Official White House photo by Pete Souza)
Looks like a woodshed moment.
President Barack Obama talks with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev during a brief pull-aside following the G-20 Summit Leaders working dinner at the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Pittsburgh, Pa., Sept. 24, 2009. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
He works on the weekends too!
President Barack Obama meets with, from left, NSC Senior Director for Russian Affairs Mike McFaul, Deputy National Security Advisor Tom Donilon, and National Security Advisor Gen. Jim Jones, before a phone call with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in the Oval Office, Oct. 24, 2009. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)
SOS Clinton: "Boys! Boys! Boys! Do I look like I bake cookies all day? Now lets get this treaty damn done!"
President Barack Obama talks with, from left, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Special Assistant to the President Gary Samore, NSC Spokesman Mike Hammer, NSC Senior Director for Russian Affairs Mike McFaul, and National Security Advisor Gen. Jim Jones, after a bilateral meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev at the Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore, Nov. 15, 2009. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
President Obama: "Listen, if you agree to verification, I promise to keep her away from the moose."
President Barack Obama talks with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on the phone in the Oval Office, before the two leaders issued a joint statement about their continued cooperation on the new START Treaty, Dec. 4, 2009. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)
-Tonight, you gotta leave that 9 to 5 up on the shelf, and just enjoy yourself.- No rest for the weary!
President Barack Obama meets with, from left, Special Assistant to the President Gary Samore, General Jim Jones, NSC Senior Director for Russian Affairs Mike McFaul, Deputy National Security Advisor Tom Donilon, and NSC Chief of Staff Denis McDonough, before talking to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on the phone in the Oval Office, Saturday, Dec. 12, 2009. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
Oh NOOOOO!!!! Feet-gate.
President Barack Obama smiles while talking with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on the phone in the Oval Office, Saturday, Dec. 12, 2009. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
It's official. Lugar has officially been converted into a mooslim, ken-yen sosherlyst.
President Barack Obama meets with, from left, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, Special Assistant to the President Gary Samore, Sen. Dick Lugar, R-Ind., and Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., regarding arms control and non-proliferation, in the Situation Room of the White House, Dec. 17, 2009. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
President Obama: "I brought the Vodka this time Dimitri. ;)"
President Barack Obama talks privately with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev following a formal bilateral meeting during the United Nations Climate Change Conference at the Bella Center in Copenhagen, Denmark, Dec. 18, 2009. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
Oh NOOOOOOO! Hand-gate :-/
President Barack Obama talks on the phone with Russian President Dmitri Medvedev in the Oval Office, Jan. 27, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
I swear, his feet just have no respect for the oval office. Next thing you know, he's gonna be walking on the President rug. Sheesh!
President Barack Obama has a foreign leader phone call with President Dmitry Medvedev of Russia in the Oval Office, Feb. 24, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
Mr. President, your ankles sent your pants in invitation to come on down!
President Barack Obama talks on the telephone in the Oval Office with Dmitri Medvedev, President of Russia, March 13, 2010.
(Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
President Obama: "Dimitri, I know Palin keeps peaking in your window. But I cannot add language to dismantle her in this treaty."
President Barack Obama talks on the phone with President Dmitry Medvedev of Russia in the Oval Office, March 26, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
President Barack Obama meets with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and advisors in the Oval Office, prior to making a statement on the START treaty, March 26, 2010. Attending are: Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, Admiral Mike Mullen, Deputy National Security Advisor Tom Donilon, Mike McFaul, Gary Samore, Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, and others. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
HBIC!
CHANGE!
President Barack Obama makes a statement on the START treaty in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House, March 26, 2010. He is joined by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, and Admiral Mike Mullen. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
Roll out the red carpet. America is back and ready to lead!
"Ka-Pow!" "Bam!" and "Pow."
President Barack Obama talks with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton following the expanded delegation bilateral meeting with President Dmitry Medvedev of Russia at Prague Castle in Prague, Czech Republic, April 8, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
A toast to humanity.
President Barack Obama, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, left, and Czech Republic President Vaclav Klaus, share a toast during a luncheon at Prague Castle in Prague Prague, Czech Republic, April 8, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)