I went and volunteered at the Obama rally in Indy and now I feel worse....

[honkydonkey]

I showed up downtown around 6am. It was rather cold, probably in the mid to high 30's. My mother and I were assigned to keep the lines moving and prepare people for the metal detectors. You know how when you go to a large event that you are bound to see a few assholes who kind of sour the experience? My mother and I helped move 35 thousand plus people through to the mall area and not once did I encounter anyone who left a bad taste in my mouth. Even with my mom and I instructing them to stay behind the yellow lines, turn on all their electronics, etc.. Not one dirty look or roll of the eyes. It went so smoothly that I was shocked. I met so many people from all over. People from all walks of life, races, etc. It was a beautiful experience for me because I felt like we were all united. There was no black, white, poor, rich, etc.. None of that. I have always been a Barack supporter but after the experience I had at the Indy rally, I feel that my heart is invested in this election as well. Why do I feel bad? I guess that I am so scared that the republicans are going to steal this election and I won't know what to do with myself. I just remember thinking to myself, WHAT IS NOT TO LIKE ABOUT THIS MAN? And how can united all of these people be a bad thing? What the hell are these other people thinking? I can't even talk to my childhood friend because she has been swept away by Palin and the lies that have been planted in her brain by her church, etc. This election is turning into a real life changer for me. I'm to the point now that if Barack Obama doesn't win this I'm considering leaving the state of Kentucky and planting myself in the bluest state I can find, maybe even leave the country all together (of course, I have to unload my farm first). I don't think I can live in the middle of the people who put McCain/Pain in office. It would be too stressful. I know Barack is ahead in all the polls and that things look really good for him. I've seen where the GOP rats are jumping ship already but I'm still worried because of the last two elections. I mean, who isn't paranoid after that?
How are you all dealing with the stress of the upcoming election? Xanax take me away!!!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. My dear honkydonkey...

Calm yourself...

I hear you for sure...I have those voices too, from time to time.

Obama is winning, and in huge numbers.

We aren't going to lose!

Trust him to do it, to know how to do it...

:hug:


Edit for spelling

[shrdlu]

2. Got any bourbon around?

Apply liberally and get a good sleep...

[dhpgetsit]

3. Cheer up!

There are SO many people who have their hearts in this the way you do! This is like nothing I have aver experienced!

Savor it! I really feel the worst part is behind us.

:headbang:

Oh, and thanks for helping out at the rally!

:yourock:

[honkydonkey]

5. Thanks for the responses guys!

I know that I'm a glass half empty person but I'm trying hard to be positive. It's just hard because every time I leave my home all I see is miles and miles of McCain/Palin signs. It makes it harder to see the full picture. It was refreshing to head up to Indy. I used to live there and now I remember why I liked it so much. For every McCain supporter there were five Obama supporters. It was wonderful.
Anyway, I'll try to keep smiling and I think I'll take the whiskey advice. I have a bottle of Jamesons that is calling my name. lol. But I think I'll save it for November 4th.

[illuminaughty]

32. I too am very nervous about the steal

I had some pretty horrible experiences in 2004 and they don't leave my head easily. Just remember there is so much more momentum and a true following backing this candidate. The world is behind him.

And about the Jameson. If I were Sarah Palin I'd say that I used to bring back a bottle of Jameson from Ireland. But, the truth is, (as we later found out about Palin) I've only been to the duty free shop in Shannon on my way home from London. But I did always bring back the Jameson. Oh, the good old days when I could get the hell out of the country. Cheers and cheer up!:toast: :)

[Indiana_Dem]

4. I feel your sentiments exactly.

I just came home from work. I was working with 3 I've been working on all year. Two of them are leaning to Barack. One of the two is a newbie 21 year-old who has never paid attention to politics until I registered her to vote for Barack. She hasn't voted YET. She plans on going on Friday because she says she is too busy until then. The other one told me tonight that her husband doesn't want her to vote because all she would be doing is voting in one of the lesser evils and his friend told him Obama was the antichrist. She says she thinks she will vote anyway but not tell him she voted. I encouraged her to register for the first time since she was 18 and now she is 34 and hasn't voted since. Another is totally undecided but is definitely going to vote. This one comes from a Christian Republican home and says she likes and dislikes different things about each and just can't decide.

OMG I feel like I'm going to pull my hair out!

If I could pass some of my Xanax over to you I would. But I'm afraid I may need all of it before the election is over!

[honkydonkey]

11. HA! I have my own.

I can't imagine how any democrat doesn't have a bottle lying around after eight years of this crap.

And I'm coming in contact with these "undecided" people as well. I want to smack them. Did you see the skit on Jon Stewart where Samantha B and that other guy are interviewing the undecided people? If not, you should look it up. I feel exactly like that. If these people haven't figured out what they are doing yet, I feel they are either stupid or holding some kind of prejudice that they can't communicate without being embarrassed. I'm sorry if that sounds harsh but I get so sick of it.

And my sister in law told the whole family at my father in laws birthday party that Obama was the antichrist. Needless to say, I promptly left the event and informed the family that if I ever heard that crap again that my children would never go back to their house. I'm happy to announce that the "moran" has shut up about her beliefs. UGH! And there are still people around me talking about how Obama is a muslim terrorist and that his birth certificate is fake. What does it take to prove to these people that it's a bunch of crap? I believe they are grasping at these lame excuses because they can't just say what they are really thinking which is....Barack Obama is half black and they are scared of black people. That's it.

OK, going to get my xanax now. ha ha!

[Zookeeper]

6. I've been feeling worried, too. After the Rethugs stealing...

the election in 2000 and 2004, I certainly can't relax.

Let's just hope Obama's margin stays large enough that the Rethuglicons are overwhelmed.

[napi21]

7. I always look at things and determine what makes sense. I hear all the

lies and attacks, and I see all the people who have fallen in love with old Sarah, and when I start toget concerned, I look at the # of people who flock to ALL of Barack's appearances, even to Biden's. Think about this.

The media brags when McNuts has 4,000 people attend a rally.

Barack draws 40,000 people in a red State.

McNuts has $12,000,000 left to spend and even if you consider the RNC dumping in their money, he MIGHT have a total of $35,000,000.

Barack has $68,000,000 and is still getting donations.

ALL the media is predicting an Obama landslide.

McNuts is pulling ads from a lot of States.

SOMEBODY associated with the McNuts campaign makes a major mistake every day...sometimes more than one!

Quite a few prominent Pubs are jumping ship and supporting Obama.

ADAIK, the only Dem that jumped to McNuts is Indy Joe, and he wasn't a real Dem to begin with!


Read each of those facts, and then ask yourself, "What makes sense?" McNuts is losing, and he knows it! We didn't see or hear any of these positives during the Gore or Kerry campaigns.

You then realize that the Pubs have LOST THIS YEAR!!!!

[lonestarnot]

8. It's going to be ok! And if they steal it, if you can't fight, just take some more and get under

your bed, because it is not going to be pretty.

[fourvahl]

9. you just have to believe

I think its important to be realistic too. Its ok to be a bit worried. We all are.

You know what worries me too? What is going to happen after Barrack is elected? You know there are lots of hate groups out there. Will some of them try and assassinate him? Will there be riots?

Barrack Obama said once that it is the things you can't predict that surprise you.
How bad will it get?

He's done a wonderful job of uniting people. I see his rallies on TV and the people in the background and its just awesome. All colors of people standing side by side and not in segments. All ages, all races.

Not everyone will be as happy as we will be.

[dhpgetsit]

17. Yes, that edgy feeling is really driving people this time.

We are going to keep the momentum building right through the finish!

Aren't we?

[grannylib]

10. He won't lose...and if they try to steal it again, he's not gonna roll

over. Not this year. Not this time. No freakin' way.
I share your feelings, but I'm trying to remain optimistic! I'm volunteering all day at the local field office on Election Day; you're doing the right thing by being involved and working to MAKE OUR DREAM HAPPEN!

It'll be OK...it has to be!
:hug:

[Lifelong Protester]

12. FIrst, I thank you and your Mom for working this rally

second, we all feel that way, as we have gotten this close and been burned before, but WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE BURNED THIS TIME! Take it from an 'oldster' who lived through '68, Watergate, and even remembers Kennedy being elected, this time is DIFFERENT because the diversity of the support is the strength we OWN, and we ARE the people, and we will prevail.

Have a shot though, and get some sleep!

[smoogatz]

13. I'm stressed, too.

But you'll feel better if you decide, now, what you're going to do if the election's stolen. We're organizing here; just thinking about how to do our bit locally if things go south.

[honkydonkey]

14. If McCain steals this one...

I think every democrat should call in sick the next day and head to Washington in mass. SHUT DOWN THE COUNTRY!

[fourvahl]

18. yea but...

What if the McCrazies do it if Obama wins? Thats what worries me.

[honkydonkey]

20. I doubt they will.

They are all scared of "big" cities like Washington. They'll be in their basements clutching their guns and praying that God comes back to kill off all the anti-Americans.

[alittlelark]

15. I'm not worried. If they try to steal it I and 10 or so MILLION friends

will NOT let it happen.


McCain is almost as unpopular as b*sh. Failin is plummeting in the polls whenever she speaks.


They would be stooooopid to try to steal this one. Army brigades or not.

[alfredo]

16. Don't leave Ky, we need committed Dems to stand their ground.

I've planted myself in the Bluegrass region, and I will stay and fight the good fight, pausing every now and then for some Ramsey's pot roast, green beans, and mashed potatoes. A roasted veggie sandwich would be good too.

[honkydonkey]

21. I'm in the bluegrass region as well...

Northern Ky between Cincy and Louisville. What neck of the woods are you in? And what is Ramsey's pot roast? I love me a good pot roast. ha ha.

[alfredo]

26. I'm in Lexington. Ramsey's is a small restaurant near Woodland Park on

the corner of High and Woodland. They also have one out Tates Creek rd and one near Military Pike. They make a mean assed Hot Brown too. The fried banana peppers are worth trying. There's a lot of good eatin' in town.

Closer to Sadieville or Dry Ridge?

[honkydonkey]

28. We are located....

on the Ohio River right in the middle between Cincy and Louisville. We're in the boonies here. Lex is nice. I have cousins living there going to college.
I'll have to try that restaurant the next time I'm in town. Sounds killer!

[alfredo]

39. Oh OK. I got confused and thought you said Cincy and Lexington.

Mid way is near Carrolton. Beautiful country.

[EmeraldCityGrl]

19. Great Post. You won't have to move because Obama is going to win :)

[Withywindle]

22. Thanks for your work!

:patriot:

I've done canvassing and I know on a smaller scale how you feel. When I think of the elderly lady who'd had two strokes and was mostly blind but was up on politics and got very emotional when she talked about voting for Obama, and blessed me repeatedly when I took down her name and address for a ride to the polls, or the guy who told us he was 42 and had never voted before but was going to vote for Obama because he was so touched by him (he'd had a rough life, he said, done some time, but was on the right track now)...

It's not even for me. It's for all those millions of other hearts out there, taking hesitant steps towards believing and finally daring to embrace hope...I CANNOT STAND thought of seeing any of them broken.

[bertman]

23. Good work, honkydonkey. You'll be fine. Just keep telling everyone VOTE EARLY.

[greyghost]

24. The only way they can steal it is if we don't show up.

[Hissyspit]

25. Everyone... Censored Version:

[Subdivisions]

27. 'People from all walks of life, races, etc...'

I was a part of that crowd on the way in to Reunion Arena in Dallas some months ago. And you're right, it was a diverse crowd of all colors and we were all happy to be there and talked to each other and laughed for several blocks through downtown Dallas from the parking lot to the arena. I felt good being there and seeing such unity.

[honkydonkey]

29. It's a unique experience...

It was so uplifting! I want to feel it again and often!

[lebkuchen]

30. It's a relief living in another country and watching RW antics from a distance

If any of the crap, the blatant racism, that is taking place in the US now were in Germany, there would be massive protests, especially in Berlin. Germany does not want a return to its fascistic past.

I have nothing but respect for those Americans who are choosing to stay in the US and fight for the preservation of the Constitution, especially now that it's in its last throes. I love reading the threads of posters who are getting personally involved in the effort, as I can only write letters and send $.

I appreciate your involvement.

[eugeneliberal]

31. Had to talk my better half down tonight over this

She also feels invested emotionally (who among sane people isn't?) and she is worrying herself sick that the election will be stolen, an October surpise will turn the election, or some other unlikely event will rob us. I just reminded her that although it seems like the nightmare has been constant and has lasted forever, an awful lot has changed. Gore ran a pretty weak campaign in 2000--choosing to distance himself from a scandal-ridden, but popular middle-of-the-road (some say conservative) democratic president. That hindered his ability to simply assume the moderate vote and he (in my opinion) had to run even more to the center (Joe Lieberman as VP is proof of that). Once Gore made that decision, the door was left open for Nader to make inroads to the progressive side of the party. Still, Gore won, but it was way too close and Bush simply took the election--I give the repugs no credit for a sophisticated or even very well organized theft. They simply shocked everyone with audacity.
I went on to remind her of just how disappointed we and many others were with Kerry's campaign. I still can't figure out why he insisted on not attacking Bush's record during the Democratic convention! Then he took a vacation. Still, he barely lost, and even that is very much in doubt because that election I do give the Repigs credit for being organized and a bit more sophisticated in their cheating.
Finally, I pointed out that Obama has run a far, far superior campaign. He has more resources of every kind than McCain, (which wasn't true for Gore or Kerry). He has a bigger lead closer to the election than either of them had. We can't be surprised or shocked into inaction this time, we've seen brazen behavior and even expect it now. We won control in the house and senate, and more important in this election, we took control of more state election positions.
It was a long talk, but she felt better (so did I!). It isn't won yet, but it sure isn't time for fear and despair either. History does repeat, but history includes the nation pulling itself out of McCarthyism, the depression, the era of robber barrons, slavery, and a lot of other periods where hope must have been hard to hold onto.
Buck up, Obama has our back.

[marions ghost]

33. good points eugeneliberal

One obvious additional point (so obvious you may think it goes without saying)...since 2004 so many MORE Americans HATE FEAR AND LOATHE anyone associated with the failed Boooosh Residency and its economic exploitation. The Bushites are in disarray at the moment (but will morph into something else to be feared I'm sure). The hate & fear mongers are still spewing, but fewer are buying. They're flailing like a wounded dragon.

Still we must be prepared if they work a theft again. It's a very real concern. Everyone should consider what would be your plan of action. We cannot all move to Canada, they don't want us.

We are going to have to stay here and fight if we are denied the chance to clean up this country--beginning with electing Obama. We have to stand up for our basic rights or we deserve Rethuglican rule.

That said, I feel confident that Obama will win. But there will be much work to be done after that. It will not be time to relax and take it easy. The other side will be making it as hard as possible and looking for ways to yank it back.

This is the challenge of our lifetime. Everyone will be stronger if we don't shrink from it.

[barbtries]

36. lovely post

you make a lot of sense.

i think my biggest fear is that it won't be over on november 4. it'll drag on and on and the fucking suspense will kill me. we all know that by rights it should be over and very decisively on november 4. obama's gonna win! but what do rights mean to the right? nada. they have a lot of experience and plenty of boots on the ground so to speak to muck it up for a period of time i just don't want to go through.

so i'm hoping for a landslide that just can't be questioned. and i do think it's quite possible that that is what we'll see.

[FlyingSquirrel]

34. We're twice bitten, thrice shy baby... but

I have to say that when I cast my ballot in WA on Thursday, I actually did not feel any of the anxiety that I did when voting for Kerry. I just felt good. Relaxed. I think that all the dirty tricks in the world will not be enough to stop this one. (That one?) lol

What I'm more worried about is AFTERWARDS. I'm sure Biden can handle the job, but I want Barack. If he is assassinated it will be worse than JFK. Our country needs him and I am deathly afraid of what will happen after he wins.

[barbtries]

35. well i don't know that it's

because of the election worries and/or the economic meltdown, but my blood pressure is out of control. i'm coping by getting up and going to work every day, and today i'm volunteering for the obama campaign. oh, yeah and i voted, and that made me feel very good.

[babydollhead]

37. Xanax, for me, has paybacks.

If I take a half of one, to relieve anxiety for one reason or another, I have to pay by having that same anxiety, the next day, for no reason at all. I have decided that from now until the election I have HOPE and I feel good about that for the first time in 8 years. I don't feel like "we are so fucked" every second of every day as the sheeple around me never want to talk about it, and when I am around friends and we begin to talk, we were always making contingency plans. I love not knowing. It's much better then whatever I'll feel if they steal this one. Also, there is a happy vision I keep in my mind's eye, and that is a promise, I will be dancing in the streets when Obama brings it home! Also, the stupid and angry are far outnumbered by the hopeful and the peaceful and the clever, ingenious, people we are as a country, as a world citizen, as a steward of the time on earth to pass down, unflinchingly, a better tomorrow for our children. It will be so good not to be embarrassed of our President.

[honkydonkey]

40. Many will be dancing in the streets..

I've got some left over fireworks that will be set off for everyone in the area to see. hee hee. My evil side wants to scream SUCK IT as loud as I can but I'll be good. lol.

[ellie]

38. Tell me about it

I swing between hope and despair. I was convinced, in 2004, that no one in his right mind would vote to re-elect fucking w. And while I believe the vote was tampered with here in Ohio, enough dumb asses voted for that prick for them to steal it. For people to be that clueless and mean is really beyond my ability to comprehend. I have no faith in the public and for that reason, I am not going to count on them. I have even practiced writing and saying President McCain. It takes the sting out once you do it a couple of times.

[tilsammans]

41. Excellent post. Hang in there . . .

(Love your "Potentate" flag, BTW!)

I know what it's like to be a Dem in a Rethug area. I live in "blue" NJ, but most of the signs I see locally are for McCain't/Failin. I have to think that the Obama supporters aren't showing it for fear of vandalism and/or their kids getting beaten up, etc.

Even though the prospects for a win look good, I feel the same way you do. I don't trust those slime bastards at all. And even if Barack and Joe win, they'll have a tough row to hoe. We all will. It won't be easy.

Many thanks to you and your mom for all you've done on behalf of the campaign!

:dem:

[rvablue]

42. Honkydonkey, really, really curious why you have the Ohio flag with Russian lettering on it...

interesting choice for someone from Kentucky?????????

[honkydonkey]

46. It's the "obama" flag...

There are a crazy radio talk show host that said that Obama was a dictator because he had his own flag made. Little did he know, it was the Ohio flag. I found it very funny....

[bagimin]

43. This is not going to be close..

feel better? little bit?

[arthritisR_US]

44. your sentiments are well placed. n/t

[HughBeaumont]

45. This isn't the paper-slim Bewsh "selections" we're dealing with.

Theft is the only realm of the possibility of a McCain win at this point. You know it. I know it. They know it. Barack Obama has actually increased his lead in more than a few polls 10 days away. 8 to 10 points ahead in many battleground states doesn't turn into a switcheroo for McClown unless there's treachery afoot. More than enough people are going to be vigilant and filming their votes to make sure nothing evil happens.

McClown would be horrible enough . . . we cannot have even the remote possibility of a President Sarah Palin. We can't.