Change of venue

If there is anything I have learned from the world of campaigns so far, it's that there is a theme of constant and sudden movement. For candidates that means adjusting to the issues as they change focus in the media and amongst voters. For me, it has meant moving to Grassroots Campaigns' national office in Boston, MA.

So, as of today I am headed there to work on any number of exciting aspects of the campaign... from helping to develop the Get Out the Vote campaign, to working in the Finance Department. It should be very interesting to see how this change will develop my understanding of an election-time office.

I am sad to to leave New Haven and the good people who are there. I know they will be great without me there, because they are scrappy and rock stars. They are the reason I have hope in this election.

So, let's see what's new in Kerry's hometown. Who knows? Maybe there will be a sighting?

How Yale fits in.

I have been getting to know Yale in the past weeks. Not well, mind you, but indirectly. In a way you might get to know a friend of a friend.

We have had Yalies working in out office, and I have started to recognize the facade of Yale buildings as I drive along chapel Street and Whalley Avenue. I have met several of the university's professors through canvassing.

I was recently reading from a biography of John Kerry. It was written by staff members from the Boston Globe. They apparently know the man well, from his time of public service in the state of Massachusetts. I imagine they know him fairy well for his policies, but apparently they have been getting to know his fellow classmates and friends over the years as well.

I read the chapter on his life at Yale, probably because I was most interested in the time of life in which Kerry would be my peer.

There may be nothing terribly significant about this chapter of Kerry's life, except that it set up a great deal of what is in the news today.

First, George W. Bush was at Yale at the same time. One of Kerry's friends recalls the two meeting and debating the busing system in place to integrate schools. Kerry officially denies any recollection of the meeting, but it would be an interesting point of history if it did happen.

Kerry was in constant debater. It seems that he spent most of early life looking for, and going deep into debates. It seems that Kerry would incessantly fight over each side of an issue, for weeks at a time, before settling on an opinion. It seemed to me to be mirrored in his recent acceptance speech, when he recognized the fact that there were great complexities to the issues facing our country, and that they deserved time of thoughtful decision-making, instead of stalwart and unyielding opinion.

Kerry was a member of a secret society called the Skull and Bones. It seems that this group was a fraternity of 15 men who were selected by the previous upperclassmen for their potential for success in their future. It was thorough this group that he would be persuaded to go to Vietnam. One of his fellow Bonesmen's father told Kerry and his friends that they were needed in a place like Vietnam. Kerry followed his brethren into the service, later on after graduating. There he met and served with a different kind of fraternal order.

Kerry went to Yale in the footsteps of his own father, and had always dreamed of the place. He was constantly raving about the university, apparently to the dismay of his roommates and classmates. At the time, Yale was making radical changes, turning itself into a gothic mecca of enlightened persons. It was apparently being transformed to a place where students would feel a sense of privilege.

To this day, it still has that aura, and it has a much more interesting one for me, with the knowledge that this was the place where this year's two candidates once studied.

If you are interested in reading for yourself, the book is called John F. Kerry by Michael Kranish, Brian C. Mooney, & Nina J. Easton

New Haven - Selected Stories

I am so happy that I have found 20 minutes in my day to have the chance to write again. There has been a great deal of things that I have been thinking about, and I decided that I would spend some time on the very significant people that I have met in New Haven this past Friday and yesterday.

I was in a part of New Haven with really wonderful homes. The kind of homes you see in children's books, when they want you to see how nice life can be when you grow up. The neighborhood is around Chapel Street, if you are farmiliar with the area, and happens to be home to Senator Joseph Lieberman. For those of you who are new to Connecticut or politics in general, Lieberman has been a Sneator from Connecticut for many years, and was the Vice Presidential candidate when Al Gore ran for President in the last election.

Everyone I met was telling me about the fact that Joe lived in the neighborhood. "Oh, you know who lives here, right?" they would say, with a "you better know" tone.

I acknowledged that I had heard the rumor, but it wasn't until I came upon Wendy's home that I actually found out where he lived.

"Usually he isn't home. But you'll know when he is, if there is a police car by the curb."

She took me out to the sidewalk to point me in the right direction. As she turned to look up the street, sure enough, there was a New Haven squad car, waiting patiently for nothing to happen.

She got really excited. "Oh, you have to go! You have to see if he'll answer the door."

Wendy and her daughter escorted me up the street. Her daughter told me about her dog knew the neighborhood as well as her mom. "If you would take her for a walk, and say 'It's time to go.' She would walk you home."

They waited under the warm light of the street lamp, while I approached the Lieberman home. I felt like there were two or three red laser beams pointed at my back as I crossed the street. Somehow, though, the large DNC with emblazoned American flag would keep me safe... right?

There was no great climax to this tale, unfortunately. It was after sunset on a Friday night, and the very orthodox family was observing their sabbath. So, I did not get to meet Joe, and as it turns out, he wouldn't have been able to donate money, as orthodox Jews do not participate in money transactions on their sabbath. So, perhaps it was just as well.

I did get to see his signature hairline through his dining room window, as I returned to an equally disappointed Wendy and her daughter.

The real gem in this story is Wendy and her daughter. Not only did they walk me to Lieberman's house, but afterwards they called their neighbors for me, in order to inform them of my impending knock on their door. Usually this happens when folks want to warn their neighbors. This time, Wendy helped me to find her neighbor, Elisabeth... who probably wouldn't have answered her door that late.

So Elisabeth and Wendy and her daughter told me all about the neighborhood. Who was a democrat. Who would be willing to give to the campaign. What they wanted to do to the sole family brave enough to post out a Bush/Cheney sign on their screen door.

They knew the entire neighborhood, and it dumbfounded me, as I thought to myself, "Am I living in the right decade?" People still know their neighbors like this?

It was a phenomenal display of community. Not only were they friends with all of their immediate neighbors, but they had stories about the families on, not the next street, but one more over. Wendy was even telling me about a childhood friend of hers, that I needed to meet if I was ever in Michigan. Outstanding!

It was refreshing to meet the neighbors, and the neighborhood through them. To be assured that there is still such thing as strong community, and that it does matter in America.

By the way, Wendy's daughter just earned her white belt, and therefore the two had nothing to fear from me, even though it was getting dark. (Although, as she told me, she could never hurt me - it wasn't the purpose of her training.)

...

Monday I returned to the same New Haven neighborhood. This time I was looking to talk with folks I wasn't able to reach during Friday's visit. It is a rare but nice opportunity... to return to one's previous turf.

I was excited about what new neighbors I would meet, and if they would live up to Wendy and Elisabth's billing.

The most wonderful story to come from the day happened a little after 7:30 pm. There was a quaint, simple home among the pristine yards and ornate soffits of the neighbors, and when I knocked on the door, I was greeted by a fragile looking woman, wearing an apron.

She answered the door nervously stating, "Oh, this is not a good time to ring my bell."

I immediately noticed that she was probably fixing dinner, and most likely living on a fixed income. So I told her what I was doing and asked her if she was willing to donate, expecting that I would likely be told that it was too much to ask or that the medical bills wouldn't allow that.

Instead she invited me in (normally a practice we don't do), and I reluctantly stepped inside the door jamb. She went for her check book, and shouted at me, "How do I make this out?"

In answering, my voice did not reach her, and she nagged, "What was that? Just come in here."

Once again, I reluctantly obeyed, standing in her kitchen, helping her to write out her donation.

While there I took note of a rather striking photograph on the wall. I asked her, "Who took this photograph?"

The scene was a small European city, where a waiter was removing two, white cloth covered tables. He balanced them under each arm, and his silhouette resembled the sweeping wings of a dove. An older man sat on the steps of the cafe. His face was propped up by his left arm. His hand was cupping his cheek like a vase. His face told a story of meditation.

I asked her again, "Who's photograph is this?" as she handed to me her check.

I could see my question had upset her.

"My son," she replied. "He passed away in February."

My heart sank. How could I be asking this woman to inconvenience her life any more? I probably took a perfectly normal night and turned it into a nuisance, and now... now, I was causing painful memories.

I told her that I was sorry to hear that, and that I thought the photograph was beautiful.

She seemed delighted with my interest. She started to tell me about how her younger son was going to have another print of it made, but it would only be done by a professional... in a darkroom. Someone with experience. She wouldn't trust it to any photo lab or amateur.

I told her that I would certainly pay for a print of it. what happened next I never would have expected.

She sat me down and showed me the funeral program for her son, the one who had taken the photograph. Her other son had put together the booklet, as he is a creative writer. She handed me a copy and asked me to read it and keep it. It was very touching.

I gave her my information and she told me that she would not forget me and that she thought her son would be happy with the work I was doing. She also told me that she would not forget my interest in the print, and would get me one.

It still floors me. I was very genuine in my reaction to the photograph and the thought of having a print of it, after hearing her son's story... from her... well, it is really an astounding story of the power of people in our lives, and I felt very privileged that I was not only witness to it, but a part of it.

So, New Haven... you have a newfound place in my life. Your people have shown me that compassion in a community is not an anomaly, even in New England.

The Electoral College

So, after some discussions and thought, I have concluded that the electoral college has been strangling modern politics.

The New York Times has a nice interactive graphic to give a visual depiction of the electoral college as it is relevant to this year's election.

NPR's Fresh Air had a a discussion about the electoral college, even before the 2000 election. And it features a good debate about it's value (or lack thereof)

The fact that we don't have a direct election and a national standard for the one office for which we all vote is something I will never understand.

We say ever vote counts, but if you are a Democrat living in texas or a Republican living in California, the simple fact is that your vote doesn't count. You can vote twice and each of those states are still going to have every electoral vote go for Kerry and bush, respectively.

I understand why the system was created. There's the federal system and the more practical reason that at the time of the constitution there were no computers, no mass media, and no technology that would allow for it.

but this is a different time. We do have a mass media now, and the simple fact is that with a popular vote, presidential candidates would have to talk to the entire nation, not just the states that are declared to be battleground states.

For those that argue that the electoral college allows for smaller states to be important, well what about Wyoming or Idaho? When was the last time you heard of a Presidential visit there? And why should we be thinking about our President playing to this state or that? shouldn't our President be able to speak to all of our country's issues. After all, it is the only position that represents all of us. Not just Ohio, Florida, Pennsylvania, etc.

And if that wasn't enough, here's something I just learned...
What happens in the event of a tie? Let's just say it turns out to be 269-269 come Nov. 3rd (and it still is after a bunch of recounts). What happens?

Well, if you said that the vote goes to the House of Representatives, you are right!

BUT, you probably are thinking it takes a majority vote to choose our next president. That's where you would be wrong.

If the vote goes to the House, each state gets one vote, not each congressperson. So, let's say Michigan's voters tally up a majority of votes for John Kerry, but their is a national tie in the Electoral College. Well, the majority of Congress people in Michigan are Republican, so when the state gets to vote in the House, it would vote For George W. Bush. Thus, despite the people of Michigan declaring John Kerry to be their majority candidate, George W. Bush would take Michigan's vote. The same thing would be true in the Dakotas, where one each state's one congressperson is a Democrat, but the states will likely go for Bush.

Crazy stuff huh? Seems like a popular vote might not be so bad after all.

Yet the plain fact is that the people who make the system and are set to be able to change it, are also elected by it. And thus the desire to not bite the hand that feeds. (Plus the Republicans and democrats don't want to see higher voter turnout or a popular vote as it threatens their stranglehold on politics and the two-party system).

One of the other hard things here is that there would need to be a constitutional amendment for the change to take place, and that requires a 23 majority in Congress, as well as ratification by the states. Not likely.

So, the best bet right now, to move closer to a truly representative system, is by proportional voting. Nebraska and Maine both can have their electoral votes split depending on the votes of the populous. Each will have the overall majority decide the winner of the first two electoral votes, and the the popular vote of each congressional district to decide the remaining. At least then, a republican in New York, or a Democrat in Texas would have the opportunity to have their vote count towards at least one electoral vote for their candidate.

Well, it's all a bit unnerving and I think I have spoken enough about it. The bottom line is that politicians are probably not going to change this one. It is going to take an organized group of people to push this to the national scene.

Making up minds

I met a woman the other day who said to me that she was not voting for John Kerry and the reason was that she didn't like Teresa Heinz-Kerry. Her statement was that "he should keep her on a shorter leash." Apparently she "didn't know her place."

Another woman told me that she wouldn't vote for a Democrat because "she had dated men like Bill Clinton." Apparently this woman dates married men.

Isn't it amazing what people use to judge for whom they will or will not vote? What happened to a candidates stance on issues, or their party's platform?

Botox and speech impediments have outweighed a person's ability to set foreign policy or surround him/herself with a good cabinet.

I, for one, am blaming reality television.

This country has a new fondness for invading people's lives and passing judgment based on sweeping generalization.

Interestingly enough we have invited this invasive nature on ourselves. We beg for cameras to be placed in our lives. People clamor for a spot in line for auditions. Worst of all... we watch the shows, adding to their audience size and advertising profits.

So, what are we saying? Are we superficial at all levels of society? Is there no aspect of one's life for which we will not pass judgment?

Random Acts of Kindness

Some of the nicest moments from this job so far have come from the people who recognize that canvassing is not easy.

It really feels good when we're walking down the street and people throw us a thumbs up or shout a "go get 'em!" It happens more often than I thought it would, and even Republicans seem to have a general sense of well-wishing for the type of work we are doing.

The best is when we meet people who offer us a drink of water, or better yet a bottle of water to take with us. I've also been offered snacks. It's interesting to note those people who are quick to offer something.

One kid was a permanent resident, but not a citizen. He was from Brazil, and I went to his house twice, because the first time there wasn't an adult home. Each time his primary interest was to offer me water. He didn't even really knew who I was, but he wanted me to feel welcome.

So, it's been nice to see that some folks are still willing to treat each other like humans.

It is more often the case that I knock on someone's door and they open it just enough to put their head out. It's really rather odd because it seems like they can't open it any larger or else they are afraid that they might just be sucked out of their home or something. I purposefully stand back from the door, so as not too come off as imposing. I will only approach the door if someone approaches me.

The best is when people come out of their home to stand with you on their front porch. At least I know they are not artificially afraid of my presence and it is a huge gesture in a world afraid of revealing too much about ourselves.

One of the best times was when a gentleman sat me down next to him on his steps and we talked for 5 or 10 minutes about what was happening in this election, the world, and how he has reacted to it. The whole conversation was great, but the action of inviting me to share his front stoop was the most impressive.

Shaking hands, coming outside for a moment, and offering up a drink of water - it is these things that I really value from the people I meet.

Protests - Are they working?

Yesterday we started talking about protests in the car ride to our neighborhood. Considering that I was with a group of activist youth, I was surprised at what was said.

The subject came up as we were thinking about the best ways to run a campaign. It was said that protesting was a self-serving act and that it ultimately did no good. That there was no need for protesting in this day in age, because people and governments do not respond to protests.

At first, this took me aback. Who were these folks? They seemed to be very driven and socially aware, yet they were not in favor of protesting. What happened to the stereotype of activists being peace-loving, hippyish protestors, who chained themselves to oil company headquarters or conducted sit-ins? Was civil disobedience dying amongst our youth?

I was reminded of the Saved by the Bell episode where Zack and the gang fight off the oil company who wanted to convert Bayside into an oil field. My favorite part is when Zack pulled out the oil can in the middle of the oil company’s pitch for a news, improved Bayside, and sprayed oil all over the model, simulating the effects of the oil spill. Good times.

So, it turned out that these folks had some good ideas about alternatives for protesting. The one example they sighted that I thought was interesting was a group of college students whose tuition was raised, apparently unfairly and unexpectedly by the college. Instead of protesting or marching, they had 3/4 of the student body to delay their tuition payments for the first 3 months of school. They effectively caused the school to take loans and lose money in that time, making the school pays more to run the school, and offset the cost of the tuition hike.

Another example cited was a group of school kids who decided to pool their money to fight a large-scale corporation who was aiming at winning cafeteria contracts in their school. The informed students were unhappy about the company’s practices and choices for their meals. So, the students made their own lunches, with their pooled resources and gave lunches away for free. The action worked, making the company pull out of the school, as there was no profit.

Now, I am not sure if these stories are true or if they are merely fabrications, but it does pose the more interesting question – are protests an effective tool still today?

I went to a protest against the war in Iraq back in the day, before we invaded. It was an interesting event, because it certainly didn’t fit the bill for what I pictured a protest to be. There were tons of speakers, lots of random yelling, people performing street acts, people sleeping, etc. There seemed to be a real lack of overall unity or organization. Most people knew why we were there, but there didn’t seem to be much else going on to keep people together.

So, I think there may be some validity to the argument that protests aren’t doing as much as targeted, organized efforts to attack the money side of a cause. It certainly takes more thought, organization, and passionate individuals, but it seems to me to be more effective.

Still, the idealist in me wants to believe that protests and marches are an important way for us to voice our opinions.

As Heard While Canvassing

Here's a list of things that I heard while canvassing that I thought were worth sharing. I'll keep adding to this list as I go.

"... I am against AIDS." - An undecided woman describing her thoughts on the issues. I am thinking, "Who is in favor of AIDs?"

"So, who am I voting for again?" - a woman to whom I gave a voter registration card

"I think they're all lu-lus." - a woman I couldn't convince to vote

"I'm all set." - an unlimited number of Republicans that I have met

A contributor is on the phone while myself and my trainer wait. We overhear her say to the caller, "I have to go. I have two democrats in the living room. (pause) No, they're young and attractive."

"Save the environment. Transplant a bush back to Texas." - as shouted by a contributor as he passed by on his bicycle

"Go balloons, go balloons! Go balloons! I don't see anything happening. Go balloons! Go balloons! Go balloons! Standby confetti. Keep coming, balloons. More balloons. Bring it- balloons, balloons, balloons! We want balloons, tons of them. Bring them down. Let them all come. No confetti. No confetti yet. No confetti. All right, go balloons, go balloons. We need more balloons. All balloons! All balloons! Keep going! Come on, guys, lets move it. Jesus! We need more balloons. I want all balloons to go, goddammit. Go confetti. Go confetti. More confetti. I want more balloons. What's happening to the balloons? We need more balloons. We need all of them coming down. Go balloons- balloons? What's happening balloons? There's not enough coming down! All balloons, what the hell! There's nothing falling! What the fuck are you guys doing up there? We want more balloons coming down, more balloons. More balloons. More balloons'... - DNC Convention Director Don Mischer, live on CNN directly after John Kerry's nomination speech. Hear it here!