Greetings from Asheville, North Carolina!

I put a little $ in the kitty for you, Al.

I just added $50.00 to the kitty.  This site has contributed significantly to my mental health during this historic election.  I am learning to pay attention to forces set in motion and not to worry about the outcome.  Consequently, I'm really enjoying this election season.  Plus, I feel that this is one way that I can participate now and then.

Cornerstone Restaurant

 

Order the fried Rainbow Trout. Wonderful stuff, and very reasonable.

I know I'm really late to the party, but I've finally made the plunge. I probably won't be saying much after this post, but I'm liking the water here already!

If this blog is your style, it really is a special find.  Al's analysis is second to none and the comments section is a full of additional insights and sanity.  Welcome.

 Us fieldhands are glad you are here. Today was the last day to register to vote in NV.

We could use volunteers for GOTV starting Oct. 17th. Early voting in NV! Vegas, Reno, come on to NV!

I hope you enjoy Asheville, Al. It's become increasingly progressive, and Heath Shuler (D-11) is a just one step in the right direction. If you're looking for a good meal go to Tupelo Honey.

Well, Al, you will probably enjoy stellar weather in Ashville.  I only stopped in that city for a couple of hours some years ago, but from what I hear it is a very progressive city--but east coast "San Francisco" might be stretching it.

I am sure you will find the nightlife and the cuisine amendable.

Raleigh/Durham. the capital, is another great area that you might check out during your time in the North Carolina.   There is a town close to there called Zebulon where I have a friend that sells cypress trees that are grafted from 'witches brooms'--genetic deformities that  display wicked growth habits.

Really, I find it somewhat amazing that the grass roots and Obama have put the state in play.

Slowly chipping away at the South, waking the people up from the obsequious, slave mentality that has been a plight on the region since forever.   Nice.

By the time you hit Florida in late October the weather here will be perfect:  days that are warm enough to swim, and nights that are cool enough to camp out.  Sleeping (illegally) on the beach is always the best--it much better view with the best prices around.

On a serious note: the I-4 corridor, Jacksonville, Broward, and the Bay Area (Tampa/St.Pete) are going to make it happen for Obama.   Also, Gainseville, with the University of Florida (where I dropped out of grad school), and Tallahassee with Florida State University are among the more blue areas of this beloved, idiomatic state.

You know the challenges of Miami-Dade with the formidable Cuban-American community, of course.  However, something tells me that Obama's chances in this area are interesting.  With your Spanish language skills, I am sure you will find interesting stories coming out of the south east corner of the state.

The south west area--Naples, Ft. Myers, Bradenton, and Sarasota--are pretty damn red because this is where wealthy old elephants come to die.

 

Dare I suggest that Obama doesn't really need more money from us Fieldhands?  I'm not complacent in the least in terms of needing to win this thing big to prevent them from stealing it, but another coupla thousand here and there isn't going to make or break it for Obama.  Actual work from us is what's gonna get it done.

So, it seems to me that any money we might be considering donating to Obama now might be better spent here at the Field.  Every little bit makes a big difference here.  Just a thought as we move into the home stretch.

reporting, Al. I am happy to put a little into the cup since I never made it during the first round.

The Field is so on-point and in touch. Let's go for it!

 

In the meantime, the McCain campaign goes to the trouble of announcing that Swiftboat '08 is about to commence. First up - surprise! - Sunshine Sarah holding forth about William Ayers. Ads to follow this week.

Of course the announcement - mystifying to some - is just Steve Schmidt 101: an invitation to the media to begin reporting on the Swiftboating as news, thereby giving oxygen to their attacks. Worked very well with the "celebrity" ad series, so once more to the well.

The world has dramatically changed since the summer doldrums, however. The economy has spontaneously combusted and Sarah Palin has scared the bejeesus out of many. Character assaults are a harder sell when Rome is in flames.

I really want the Obama campaign to aggressively not take the bait and to continue to hammer McCain-Palin on putting country last. I like the idea of taking ownership of the nation's concerns as a dramatic and diminishing counter-statement to petty partisan pitbull snarls. Most presidential.

Look forward to the first NC dispatch, Al. And thanks again for a genuinely meaningful contribution to Campaign '08. 

Today was the last day to register voters. I registered 27 people today,11 yesterday, 8 the day before, will go back out in a few minutes to get a couple more before midnight. Nevada is so going to go blue this year. Imagine thousands of us doing the same thing day in and day out for the last few months.

Al, Enjoy North Carolina, looking forward to your reporting from the newest state turning blue.

Bonkers, I was pondering balancing money for both causes too and it occurred to me it doesn't have to be only one.  That Obama's donor base of 3 million is so vast one can send a small amount of $5 or so to him and the more substantial amount to the Field for now.  Al, will need to keep us posted on his needs for this trip.  I believe someone raised the question the first round that it wasn't going to be enough.  

Just wanted to thank you for all the info you've shared and also to say that I donated a little money. It's not a lot, but it'll keep your stomach full for a couple days. Keep up the great work!

re: the on-going stupidity of the McCain campaign: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1008/14283.html

I personally can't wait for Tuesday's debate!  Gonna be yummy.

And, fyi, the piece on AOL about Palin-the-Pitbull's "Palling Around With Terrorists" crack had the usual poll attached.  That hard-core GOP readership at AOL did NOT think her attack was justified and thought the McCain/Palin ticket going on the attack would hurt them, overall.  At least as of this afternoon.  Sorry I can't ad link for that too - my desktop computer hates AOL for some reason.

Al, I'll be chipping in a few more coin asap.  Glad it doesn't have to go toward speeding tickets - or bail - yet.....

Hey everybody. I live in Atlanta but am at Kanuga, near Hendersonville, NC on annual the retreat for my (very liberal) episcopal church. We don't have tv or wireless, but I found some coverage for my bberry.imagine my sheer joy at reading this post! Asheville is 30 minutes away. Six other active obama volunteers-just that I know- are here on the retreat, along with the pres of the ga young dems.I hated to miss the end of registering in ga but was already committed to come here. the rest of my neighborhood team was busy today in atlantaand we met our neighborhood registratiom goal a few weeks ago. Actually, our field organizers went to michigan. I wonder if they'll be back to atlanta since mccain's leaving mi. At any rate, the retreat is at 10:45 tomorrow. I carpooled so don't know if I can be in asheville at noon but certainly hope so. I am good for a contribution when I'm back to a computer.

Not more than 2 days ago I was thinking that Asheville would be a fantastic place for Mr. O to visit. Glad you're there too, Al - try some fresh NC apple cider if you come across it.

There are progressive towns and progressive people in the South, they're just spread a lot further apart than in New England. Savannah, Pensacola, and Tallahassee could all be ripe with swing voters this time arouind.

Today at the county fair in Rome, GA, we could see the McCain booth from the Obama booth. Can't really say there was more activity at theirs than ours. We registered several new voters today, got many folks who wanted more info on Obama, but were decidedly anti-McCain. One volunteer, JoAnn, has registered 400 newbies this year just in Rome. I think we might see Georgia tightening a bit more...

Was me. Can't wait to the reporting from tonight and tomorrow. I still have hope for Georgia too. Maybe you should mosey on down there next, al. Registration ends monday but early voting is ongoing.

No brilliant analysis here (I leave that to Al) and I've never been to NC, so I'm just sharing this from a DKos diary--LOL!

Sarah Palin Debate Flow Chart

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/10/3/43222/8057/718/618653

 

Spent the day in North Vegas going door to door.  One new registration, one good talk with an undecided, plenty of encouragement of supporters and a renewed belief that for many being "undecided" is something of a lifestyle choice.  They, dare I say it, "cling" to their undecidedness.  The best I've been able to do with some of them is plant some iota of doubt about McCain - Palin has been VERY useful in that regard - the undecideds seem quite unimpressed with her.  And door to door you definitely see the dark side of this election (one woman just yelled through the door "I'm a felon, and I hate n****rs...").

But the reality that gives hope is there is a steady flood of volunteers out here, a motivated and organized staff, and you see the math - I was one of hundreds or thousands walking the streets and making calls to Nevada today, and you multiply those small victories acroos the state, and, if ground game matters, then this state might be ours.

OT but I think it's worth mentioning because I haven't seen it on the blogosphere.

Brian Williams was on Letterman Friday night (Thursday night?) and to me the segment turned into one of the best ads for Obama especially for low info voters. They were discussing the vp debate and I think their conversation could have closed the deal for some undecideds.   Letterman:  We're in such a mess now.  Do we really want a beginner?   Brian:  It's 9/11 and the president is still in the air and the vp is in the bunker commanding things on the ground....

Letterman totally went off on Palin's 'Say it ain't so Joe' quip.  Said she probably didn't even know the connection to the 1918 Black Sox.  There's more.  The video is about 10 minutes, it's funny and as an Obama supporter I know you'll all love it.  You betcha.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mgWw4wIn-g

I certainly hope the Obama folks have gotten the Letterman memo.  Ever since McShame stood him up and lied to him, Letterman has been on a tear with witty, BITING one-liners. 

 

New poll by Star Tribute of Minneapolis-Obama up by 18 pts., 55-37

http://www.startribune.com/politics/state/30470234.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQ...

Obama 55 McCain 37

http://www.startribune.com/politics/state/30470234.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUr

Did you check in at the office on Civic Center & Lake Mead this morning? Are you coming back tomorrow?

 

[On the road again after getting thrown out of a country last week :-)]

Listened to a show called This American Life on XM Public Radio today about the bailout. Dont mean to hijack this thread but got rare chance at WiFi after 1000 miles, and feel this is waaay too important not to pass along, no matter what the thread.

thisamericanlife.org will publish its Saturday, Oct 4 show/podcast on Monday, the 6th, for one week. Also, they say, available for free via iTunes on something called Planet Money. [Haven’t checked this out, therefore ??]

This show (think was an amalgam of three shows) described the bailout issues.

I cannot urge you enough to listen to this hour, and to make sure everyone you love and honor hears it as well.

Describes the following in clear, simple examples in terms you will grasp readily. By far the clearest and most accurate definitions I have heard yet.

1--definition of commercial paper and threat it represents now

2--definition of credit default swaps and threat it represents now

3--who is responsible for it (the credit crunch)

4--the dire nature of the threat

5--alternative approach to saving the globe’s bacon

You will then know more than 99.99% of all financial editors in the country. The podcast is initially alarming, then calming, so drop any panic nonsense. This is essential listening. IF you can find the entire hour (10/4/08 show) next week.

Get to the end. You will hear about a tip passed along from an insider to the process about language inserted into the Senate, House, and final version ALREADY signed into law by Bush that “artfully” and “subtlety” presents an alternative “at the Treasury Secretary’s discretion” to the Paulson solution. In other words, Obama’s escape hatch. Did someone from his team do this?

I haven’t had a chance to review the 420-page final bill. IF -- if -- this is true, then someone worked their magic in the final days of the bill to allow the ‘Swedish solution’ that 3/4 of the top economists in the world favor and that punish the CEOs. [Sweden used this method in 1992 to return from bankruptcy.]

IF -- if -- this is true, then someone worked their magic in the final days of the bill to give the next President of the US the tool to fix this problem.

Warning: Again, I am taking the word of the program anchors at www.thisamericanlife.org. I have not read the 420-page final bill, and will not have the opportunity for another four weeks.

Meantime, I was blown away. So blown away I missed that I was out of gas.That, combined with having to go to the bathroom, was a painful moment in the car-car.

 

Bruce Springsteen for voter registration in Philly, the City of Brotherly Love. 50 thousand are there. Tomorrow in Columbus, Ohio.

Here he speaks and sings for Obama, "The Rising"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B61C2Pl23oo

 Then this is a Must Read!

"As you knock on Nevada's doors, give hope"

I wrote the comment about Letterman.... 

Very, very nice Minnesota polls.

 

Gotta admit, I'll be glad when this election is over and I'm watching President Obama's first press conference.

Bill R:  Are you the Bill from Oregon?

 

http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/23316912/makebelieve_maverick/print

The guy was and is a creep.

amk

Hi Al, finally my small $ donation. Not much but what I can afford as of now.

Yesterday, I went out canvassing in South Fulton county, Georgia.  We met supporters, did some persuasion, and registered some new voters in their homes.  Up until now, I have  been primarily engaged in Voter Registration in public places. This was a new and refreshing experience for me.  I haven't done door-to-door canvassing in decades.  Our Obama field organizer tells us that Fulton County was number one in the nation in new voter registrations in September and South Fulton is number one in Fulton County, so...

Quietly, we are making a difference.  The deadline for VR is midnight Monday.  I am preparing to go out again today.  Attikus, Helen, and all other Georgia Field-hands; thanks for the great work you guys are doing.

Maybe we'll get a "surprise" visit from the Senator ourselves.

 

Mikell Hagood

Yup, yup! My 87-year-old mother in law in Denver CO! Doncha know that she's logged onto MyBO, gotten a list, and makes calls!  Then she calls my hubby (her only child) after every 10 calls or so to "report"!

Gosh darn it, I betcha she's makin' a difference with all of those patriotic amuricuns in that state; because, also, because she's makin' phone calls, doncha know!

 

waterprise2 AKA Pam

Liberal with a Capital L!

 

and a really good morning, huh?  Athough there was a Palin Convention bounce, there is no Palin Debate bounce (other than possibly for Obama!)  I read somewhere on a blog that Palin could be considered the equivalent of a political Viagra to McCain. hee hee.

@Alexa - I will listen to that - it sounds very interesting (as does your travels in general). Can you reveal yourself when this is all over?

@Cheryl - I saw that clip of B. Williams with Letterman the other day.  It really was great.  How ironic is it that we need the comedians to shine the light of truth on this election.

@Bill R - I will admit I was the CL on Minnesota.  I know it's not the same Minnesota that I left 20 years ago as it has a lot more suburban Republicans and then my sister who lives there made me so damn nervous about all the non-stop McCain ads.  However, this new poll is reassuring.  It still is the state with excellent schools and the highest percentage of high school graduates AND the state with the highest number of eligible residents registered to vote.  So even though Palin sounds like most of them, and Minnesota hasn't seen anything but McCain for 2 months now, it appears they are making an educated and informed decision and telling her and her Maverick Buddy that they don't want her anywhere near DC.   I guess this year the SoS is expecting that 90% of all residents over 18 will vote in Minnesota! What voter turnout are you guys expecting in Oregon?  I know it's equal to or better than Minnesota in part due to the mail-in ballots.

@Georgia Field Hands - how exciting for your Fulton County to be #1 in registrations!! Last weekend I was out in Fulton County getting a small number of those registered and entered into the Obama database before mailing them off.  I'm still thinking Georgia might be the big surprise of the election.   McCain has NOTHING for field action happening.

 

LOL - tell your Mother-in-law thanks from all of us Fieldhands! Gosh darn, we might win this thing. Also.

Barack will be starting new ads on Monday counteracting McCain smear ads that won't even start until after Tuesday! Those lame ads will try to link Obama to Rezco and Ayers! Geez!

O's ads will paint McPalin as "erratic in a crisis" and trying to change the subject from the economy!

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1008/14283.html

Wink, wink!

That's jujitsu fer ya; also, martial arts also.

waterprise2 AKA Pam

Liberal with a Capital L!

 

waterprise2 AKA Pam
Liberal with a Capital L!
 

Palin Misquotes Albright: "Place In Hell Reserved For Women Who Don't Support Other Women"

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/05/palin-misquotes-albright_n_131967.html

Keep at it, Al.  Your reports are great, and the inspiring comments from readers continue to fire me up and keep me going.  I'm a co-facilitator at the last Camp Obama in L.A. this weekend (today is day 2 of 2), and it's great to read everything here after a long day training and motivating others to join in the fray.

Agoram, that Rolling Stone article consists of info that I had become aware of, but it is nonetheless savage in bringing McCain's erratic, bad instincts to the forefront.

Really, only the most willfully ignorant true believers can promote the notion of McCain as 'the maverick'.   This is simply insane.

More, McCain's biography makes it more clear why the theme of 'the father' featured so prominantly during the convention.  McCain is inscribed in patriarchy in a very big, pathological way.

Today I am going out canvassing Orlando for Obama, and I am looking forward to it.   The McCain house of cards is coming down; the mask is coming off, and the tragedy of the long delusional American day-dream is becoming the new narrative.

As the folk in Mississippi used to say: you can put shit on a stick, dip it in batter and deep fry it, but it is still just shit on a stick.   All McLame has at this moment are low-information, delusional dead-enders.   We want to discuss serious issues that US folk face and they keep putting the shit on the stick in our face.

 

 

Obama Unleashes Wave of Mailers Attacking McCain's Health Plan

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/10/new_obama_mailers_continue_ass.php#comments

The 'maverick' has been and still is a prick.

The friggin' (no g's here) media seems to have built his mavericky bs out of thin air and are now allowing the Plain palin to assume that meme.

amk

Hi Christi! - We got sent to the Valley View office - but I'm hoping make it back and I've made a note to myself to contact you first - just a note here in comments? (You can reach me at jh2336 at mac dot com)

We have to head back early - we brought the whole family since my wife wanted to get a taste of things on the ground here too - the kids have some things to do and we need to head out after breakfast.  Just glad it wasn't too hot yesterday!

My relatives came from Georgia back before they changed the spelling of our name - maybe we have some folks in common?

Ok, I know that we are well past the vp debates, but I have to say it--the winking gimmick was way, way lame.  You know that it had to have been choreographed and planned out way in advance.  What were these 'mavericks' thinking?--that this would be part of a game-changing dynamic?  Incredible.   To me this shows the contempt for the general US public that these folks have.  They thought that Palin would make Joe look foolish and that the winking would somehow endear the US public to Palin and the floundering, moribund campaign.

The 'say it ain't so Joe' line, given her asking Biden if she could call him Joe at the beginning, was inept too. 

Now Palin is claiming that Obama consorts with 'terrorists'.  Really, this makes me angry as hell, as it points up all the simey tactics of the rightwing these past seven years.  That they try to smear as 'unAmerican' anyone that is critical of the nation's poilicies, this shit really gets me angry.

I had questions about Palin in the past, but she really has gone down in the gutter with the terrorist shit.  Really, I have nothing but contempt for this person.  She's too cute for school--the type that is cynical and savage.

Cindy, John, and Sarah deserve one another.  Watching their campaign implode on the weight of the vast layers of contradictions and phoney PR is almost as enjoyable to watch as seeing Obama and his family--truely decent human beings--make it to the white house.

Back home in Mississippi, I would like to be a fly on the wall of the small town coffee shops, listening to the contortions of logic and delusion being spewed with respect to why McLame is a better choice than Obama.  Alas, you can see why I couldn't make a life for myself in the state that I grew up in--why I had to come back to the state of my birth, Florida.

With the ascendence of Barack Obama and a revived populist politics in the nation, with the neoliberal economy in ruins, to quote John Cougar Melloncamp, with reguard to future generations in today's red states:  "maybe they'll have a better understanding".

Anyway--enough of my venting.  Now is the time to convey decency and positve, healthy nature of the Obama campaign to my fellow Floridians.   Palin's lameness simply gives my efforts today more powerful impetus.

The rightwing and the Republicans have absolutely no ideas with respect to getting our country on a more sane track.   Absolutely nothing at all--just more tax cuts for the wealthy and hugely profitable corporations that crap all over the people.

FYI - Don't know where you're headed next, but unlike TN KY and NC, VA does enforce its speed limits - and then some.

 

On the interstates in VA - look around - you'll notice the locals are doing the speed limit.  There's a lesson there.

Thanks Melissa for posting those flyers about healthcare - IMO those are VERY well done.  Living in Illinois I don't get anything from either camp so those are great to see.

amk - I just finished reading that LONG story about McCain.  Wow. I hate to admit that I was a huge fan of him in 2000. I want to believe that he would have been a better president than Bush back then but maybe not.  I remember meeting him before he ran for president and having him autograph his book as a Christmas present for my Dad.  He was at a bookstore here in Chicago and I remember he seemed irritated about something (I thought it might have been because they were running late) and  that he was really short and had tiny, tiny hands.  Sorry, but you remember those things if the person is autographing a book for you...

If we are lucky enough to get Obama as our next President, they need to seriously consider two things: 1 - a basic IQ test for VP and POTUS candidates and 2 - an age limit.  Otherwise, in the age of television, we could end up with another two mavericky people who think they are qualified.

Both Gloria Berger and Candy Crowley agreed that such mocking affected the McCain campaign.

Ed Henry, typically thinking with his di..k, said many people on the campaign trail were getting offended by Fey. Of course stoopid, you were covering McCain campaign, what else you expected from that mob, you 'moran' ?

The typical MCP attitude would explain all the upswing (ughhh..)in that stupid CNN worm during the veep debate. Sheesh...

Thank God women hate her.

amk

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1008/14285.html

This form the AP:

"WASHINGTON (AP) - By claiming that Democrat Barack Obama is "palling around with terrorists" and doesn't see the U.S. like other Americans, vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin targeted key goals for a faltering campaign.

And though she may have scored a political hit each time, her attack was unsubstantiated and carried a racially tinged subtext that John McCain himself may come to regret."

 

It follows the story about McCans discussion iwth the editorial board of the Des Moines Register:

"McCain turns irritable, sarcastic in interview

By MIKE GLOVER –October 1st

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Republican presidential candidate John McCain, once renowned for his jocular sessions with journalists, appeared irritable and at times sarcastic in an interview in which he defended running mate Sarah Palin's experience and campaign ads critical of rival Barack Obama."

A little more balance at least - and I particularly like the first one here.

It seems like the MSM is wanting talking about Ayers now that Pailin mentioned it.  Which is odd because the story has already been dismissed.