Yes We Can!

Dear Fellow Supporters of President Obama,

It has been an honor and a privilege to work with you to re-elect our great President Barack Obama. Your passion and commitment have inspired me through each house party, phone bank, voter registration and canvass. The wonderful friendships I've made will last four more years and beyond.

With my best wishes, sincere thanks and warm affection,

Eileen

OFA Neighborhood Team Leader for Lake Nona and OC Democratic Precinct Woman

Walk and Chew Gum

This weekend Organizing for America is asking the neighborhood teams to show they can walk and chew gum at the same time. Translation: Knock on doors and make calls at the same campaign event. I have organized, hosted, or attended more than 60 OFA events since December 2011. Some have been phone banks; others, canvasses. This Saturday the Lake Nona/Lake Hart team will do both - sending some volunteers out to canvass the neighborhood while others stay at command headquarters to make calls to build support for President Obama's re-election. It will be a dry run for GOTV on Election Day. Can we do both? Yes, we can!

Zen and the Art of Canvassing

I had an out-of-body experience last Saturday while canvassing for President Obama. From a parallel universe, I watched my avatar walking around a desolate subdivision in the mid-day heat of Central Florida. Knocking on doors, leaving pamphlets, now and then talking to someone (supporters and not), my avatar doggedly covered her turf. We were a long way from the crowded streets and energy of Manhattan.

Now back to what passes for reality these days and the art of canvassing. After a refresher lesson on cutting turf, I am now creating maps and walk lists for the Lake Nona and Lake Hart team canvasses. We are doing our first canvass in Lake Hart on Saturday. There are lots of red dots on the maps; I am hoping for a strong turnout of volunteers. There are just five more weeks until Election Day on November 6th, with early voting beginning October 27th.

Four more years!

Do Not Read the Polls!

I sent a text to a potential volunteer for a canvass for President Obama this weekend. She responded that she could not take part because of a family obligation. She then expressed her happiness at the polls showing President Obama pulling ahead. Did she feel she was off the hook for volunteering because of the positive polls for the President? Given human nature, that was a real possibility.

A lot can happen before election day. We will not know how this turns out until all the polling places close on November 6th - if we are lucky. With all the new voting hurdles and resulting court cases, we could be facing a "Florida 2000".

Do not read the polls! Knock on doors! Make calls! Register voters! Get out the vote! Keep your eye on the prize! Four more years!

Cheerful Equanimity

I am trying to maintain a state of cheerful equanimity (think the Dalai Lama) as we head into the final weeks of the Presidential campaign. That is why I did not watch any of the Republican Convention. It is hard to be the calm center of my own existence when all I want to do is smash in Paul Ryan's face.

Our Sacred Trust

I had the privilege of hearing Beau Biden, Delaware Attorney General and son of Joe Biden, at the Orange County Democrats JJ dinner on Friday. When Biden's reserve company was called up a few years ago, he took a leave from his position as AG and deployed to Iraq with his company. Biden was especially passionate in speaking about our obligations to our returning troops. I want to share some of his comments.

Did you know that Paul Ryan's budget calls for a 17% reduction in funding for the Veterans Administration in year one? This is from a leader of the Republican Party that claims to be better on defense than the Democrats. Of course, the Republicans are happy to fund big weapons systems development. (I know, the Democrats do the same thing.) But what about our veterans? Earlier, Ryan had proposed privatizing the VA by giving veterans vouchers to buy health care services from private insurance companies and providers. Even the Republicans balked at that insensitive proposal.

You should keep in mind that the VA is widely recognized for success in improving the quality of care and managing costs. For example, the VA negotiates with the drug companies to get discounts on bulk purchases. The ability to negotiate discounts with drug companies was specifically excluded from the Part D Medicare drug benefit passed during W. Bush's administration with strong Republican support. The high costs of drugs is one reason Medicare is under financial pressure. Senior citizens have to cope with the dreaded donut hole, which is being closed under President Obama's health care reform act.

This is a longer post that usual, and my avatar is no where in sight. This is serious stuff, people. We have a sacred trust to take care of our veterans forever. President Obama understands this. Four more years!

Don't be fooled by first impressions!

Here is the Lake Nona team story I posted on Dashboard, the social networking tool of Organizing for America.

As you drive down Narcoossee Road through the Lake Nona community, you will see gated communities, an exclusive golf club, high-end apartments, and a scattering of shops and restaurants. At first glance, this may not look like a promising neighborhood for the re-election campaign of President Obama. Don't be put off by first impressions. There is a strong core of committed volunteers working to register voters, make calls, and knock on doors - whatever it takes to make sure we have the vision and leadership of Barack Obama in the White House for four more years. Many of the Lake Nona team members worked hard in the 2008 campaign. Now they are renewing their efforts for 2012. Please join a great group of your fellow President Obama supporters in Lake Nona. This will be an extremely close election. Every vote counts! Can we count on you to help us get out the vote for President Obama in November?