Earlier this week, I heard that Camp Obama were opening their headquarters in Phoenix. I work full time and have young children and a husband that works very erratic hours, so it's difficult for me to do much during the week; but I knew that I was going to be a part of History for Obama this year!
I talk politics with my neighbor on a daily basis, so I asked her if she wanted to go with me today to check out the AZ Home Base for Obama/Biden '08. She said "yes", and at 11:00 this morning, we were driving down I-10 to experience the buzz for ourselves!
It was about a 20 min drive and we found the place. There were so many cars lining the street, we had to park 2 blocks away and walk there! There were people all over, and serious phone banking was going on in the back room. The bin that held call sheets was just about EMPTY, they were bustling with activity all around us! I saw a young man who had just come from the phone-bank room. He looked to be around mid 20's to early 30's with long hair tied back in a ponytail, and his t-shirt read
"This is what a Feminist Looks Like"
I thought that was really cool. :-)
Now, neither my friend nor I have ever done this before. So, when we first walked in, we just stood there! A nice gal stepped forward and introduced herself and helped us feel a bit more comfortable. We said that we wanted to be a part of the support-effort for Obama and other AZ Dems, and she began to let us know what we could do. My neighbor does not work; she stays home and tends to her domain. I, on the other hand, work and have very limited free time in my schedule. She, with much more flexibility in her schedule, could do far more than I, but she wanted to do something together; so we decided to provide our names and phone numbers for special events and also agreed to become regular "walk-ins" for when I have a span of time open up.
When talking with Janice, the woman who greeted us, she also stated that there were Democratic offices closer to where we live and that our efforts may be better utilized at those places and then we could also be helping to affect change in our own District. We were intrigued and decided to pay that office a visit on our way home. We thanked Janice, met the field manager, Nathan, and politely asked if there was anything that we could take home with us: a bumper sticker, pin for our purse, poster, yard sign, etc. Amazingly, they said that all of the supplies that they'd had (and it was a LOT) has run out in the few days they've been open! (I can't remember, but I think the Grand Opening with Gov. Napolitano was on Wednesday...but it may have been Thursday) Never-the-less, I find it amazing that here, in ARIZONA, Camp Obama is such a hub of activity, energy, HOPE, and a real desire for CHANGE! We managed to receive an Obama'08 bumper sticker (they only had about 15-20 left!) and we happily left for the local office and check it out.
We found the place, and it TOO was just a-buzz with people on the phones, doing data entry with the phone-bank results, putting canvasing packets together! I estimate that there were about 30 people there! And we learned that there were 35 people who left at 8:30 this morning to pound pavement for the Dems! I thought that was a lot; though I've not been this involved in my life, so I could be off on that assumption. Many came and went while we were talking with a lovely woman named Grace. My friend and I discussed with Grace the predicament of wanting to do more than Saturday/Sunday phone work and I asked about the possibility of taking something home and working on it in piecemeal increments. She inquired about this and they agreed to allow us to stuff canvas packets. My friend agreed to stop by this Tuesday and pick up the stuff, and we will spend our time putting them together. My friend has to drop them off by Friday. We are Pumped about this!
We acquired Harry Mitchell yard signs (as they too were all out of Obama'08 supplies!) But, with our bumper stickers from earlier, we were happy to help out Harry and put them in our yards. Since we live across the street from each other, we're excited to bring some political awareness directly to our neighborhood. And, the trucker who lives down the street and listens to Druggy Limbaugh very loudly when washing his truck, could use a little injection of Liberalism! heh...
Anyway, I wanted to share this with y'all. I'm really excited about the possibility of turning Arizona BLUE! We stand a great chance of turning our State Legislature Democratic for the first time in Decades! And, we have a lot of Dems running down-ticket this year, which is really great. (In past years, the Cons ran unopposed in many races.) From a personal perspective, I feel so proud to have plugged into my local establishment to see how I can become more of the change that I wish to see.
I'm 2 weeks into my 38th year, and aside from going to watch the debate between Kerry and Bush in 2004, this is the first time I've gotten politically active. And I've got butterflies in my stomach over it! My friend and I are but small cogs in a gigantic wheel. We're worker ants within a colony. But by putting forth our extra hands, our minds, our energy and mutual desire for REAL change, we may be able to witness History this Fall by bringing forth the results we clearly desire.
I want to thank the DKos community as well; without the inspiration of others, I may never have done this today. It's a proud moment for me, so THANKS! :-)
