OK, it's just not sinking in... After so many months of being obsessed with the campaign

[hisownpetard]

and volunteering for Obama in every way I could, I watched the results on TV on Tues. night
and, like much of the world, was overjoyed. Elated!! Thrilled!!!

And then I would think, "OK, so what's next? Registering more voters? Knocking on more doors?
Calling voters in swing states? What?"

And then I would have to tell myself that the election process was over. He made it! He did it - we won.

And still, today, it hasn't quite sunk in that there's nothing more to do to get Obama elected.

I'm thinking that there must be hundreds and thousands of people who've poured their hearts
into his candidacy in ways much more comprehensive than the little I've done, who now are standing
around in disbelief that this part of the journey is over. How wonderful, how rewarding!

So I'm posting this to ask: in what way and towards what goal should we apply the energy and drive that we devoted to the campaign
(now that we WON!!) in order to continue to help?

Suggestions much appreciated.

[NMDemDist2]

1. you're now a community organizer

so what does your community need? a garden? a park? better schools? better transit?

[Alter Ego]

2. I automatically typed in the Rasmussen website address

at 9:30 this morning, then remembered...oh, yeah--we won. :woowoo:

And I'm sure my fingers will start to twitch involuntarily around 1pm...when Gallup comes out.

[sandnsea]

3. Recycle the campaign signs

I just saw a dit on the local news and remembered that we were told people to bring signs in for recycling. I need to make sure the program has been implemented and that it gets put in the paper. And then there's Thanksgiving and Christmas and it is going to be an extra joyous season, regardless of not having any money to spend.

[hisownpetard]

19. I'm keeping mine forever!

[sandnsea]

21. Well me too

But some people aren't quite as zealous! Not to mention, there are many lesser candidates that have signs that need recycling.

[goddess40]

4. I just came from our temporary headquarters

Cleaned out the windows, brought home my personal stuff and put a big thank you sign in the window.
It's real, there was no cloud hanging over my head as I walked around the office like there was four years ago and even though it's cloudy outside here it feels like the sun is shining.

[Miss Chybil]

5. I think after Jan 20th you will have much to do. He will need a lot of support

for the changes he will be making. And, I agree with the first reply to your post. Thanks for all you've done to help change the world!

[RichGirl]

6. You're not alone....

http://www.theonion.com/content/video/obama_win_causes_obsessive

[hisownpetard]

7. OMG - that's me!!!

Thanks for the link. Don't know how I missed that one, but it really is hilarious!!


:hi: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[gratefultobelib]

14. What a hoot!! Thank you so much!!

[hisownpetard]

15. I copied the link, but when I tried to send it to people, the response was "Not Found."

Any idea why?

[sniffa]

18. Bwahahaha

:rofl:

That was great.

[Waiting For Everyman]

8. We'll need to "sell" the changes in policy just the same.

Be "up on" them and explain them to friends, family, neighbors, coworkers. All of America in general will have to re-tool its thinking, and Repubs are resistent to admitting the failure of the past policies. They haven't understood that yet, and the RW media continue to lie about it and promote the same thing. Also, the lies about Obama will not stop and will need debunking all the time. So I think that kind of personal and media advocacy, which we did during the campaign, will need to be ongoing.

I understand how you feel though - it does seem like we're in the eye of a hurricane right now, doesn't it? This win a lot to grasp.

I have a hunch that Obama will keep using his email lists for whatever comes up.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

9. Exactly my thoughts

The Right Wing may be down and out but Limbaugh, Hannity, et. al are still with us and we still have people like Lott and McConnell who are going to do their best to continue with their rampant smearing and obstructionism in their attempts to paralyze Obama/Biden from getting anything meaningful done (especially in the Senate) and they will undoubtedly enlist and still receive plenty of assistance from the corporate media whom will unabashedly continue to "whore" for them.

As blessed as we are to have Obama as President-elect, he will continue to need our support and involvement in order to help advance the agenda that won our hearts and minds and he said as much in his victory speech.

This is the "end of the beginning" NOT "the end".

Or to paraphrase Obi-Wan Kenobi (Star Wars), we've just taken our first step into a much bigger world.......

[demnan]

10. Winter is coming

and food banks are low. Joblessness is on the rise and families are in need. Christmas is coming for the poor. There is much to do in the community.

[Dangerously Amused]

11. The Obama campaign

...said that he/they will be in contact to address this very issue in the days to come, so I am waiting for further direction. Right now I think they are all taking a well-deserved rest, but I look forward to hearing more.

It is sort of unreal, isn't it?

:hi:

[hisownpetard]

17. Happily awaiting word.

And thanks for that amazing photo. Beautiful!!

[livetohike]

12. Whatever Obama asks of us, I am going to do

Unlike Bush, he will ask for participation from all of us.

[hisownpetard]

16. I hope so!

[AspenRose]

13. The 50 state strategy is still in effect

I'm ready to see AZ and WV turn blue. That'll take a lot of work. Raising up good progressive candidates at the roots.

And MD is not as "blue" as we would like to think. Western MD is as red as they come.

[Cha]

20. I'm with you petard! It's been such a long

journey and the fact that we actually won the GE is going to sink in by increments. I'm much better today than yesterday, for instance:)

But, of course, our work has just begun.

[hisownpetard]

26. And I'm happy you were here for the journey. Thanks!

:pals:

[TheCoxwain]

22. I started a thread on this .... I think those of us who did not have a cathartic moment

(I am in that group) arent letting ourselves go ... ( My wife cried BIG TIME ...and I was almost emotionless in comparison )


we are too scarred by the past 8 years .. we arent letting our guards down ....

[hisownpetard]

27. Can you post the link to your thread, please?

[TheCoxwain]

31. Here you go

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=7788592&mesg_id=7788592

[grantcart]

23. anybody who thinks that they have their brain around this is only fooling themselves

It is going to take 9 months to really understand what happened. Its not just a racial/political paradigm shift Obama wants to change the way that people approach solving problems.

[hisownpetard]

28. A welcome change and something I'll bet we're all willing to work on, gc!

And thanks for all the great posts you've made that have helped sustain us
through this long period of tentative joy!

[Cha]

30. That's exactly what I said to my son

yesterday on the phone. I haven't wrapped my brain around this yet.

9 months, eh! Total gestation period.

[OnionPatch]

24. This is a great question.

The next main topic of our local Dem club meeting is basically going to be "What Now?"

Clearly the right isn't going to let up with their propaganda now that Obama has won. In fact, they will fight to spread their disinformation even harder. So I feel we have plenty of work to do just fighting their lies. Obama will need widespread support for progressive policies.

[hisownpetard]

29. Definitely. And with the wisdom prevalent in their campaign, I'm sure they will

come out pretty soon with something that will harness all that good energy
and give us our new directives/direction.

[wildflower]

25. Donate to Al Franken's recount!

www.alfranken.com