California get out the vote: Every single vote matters

I swear to god, if you Californians let Prop 8 pass I am never visiting you again.

Get those Obama voters to the polls, and remind them that "NO" on Prop 8 protects marriage equality.

3,000,000 CALLS FOR OBAMA/BIDEN - YES WE CAN, YES WE MUST

Before you read any further, please start making the list of 10 or more people you are going to forward this post to.

I have just returned from Get Out the Vote (GOTV) Leadership Training at Obama Headquarters. The Obama/Biden campaign has given the responsibility of calling swing states voters to supporters in three solidly blue states (New York, Illinois, California) and Texas (large numbers, no hope of winning the state). New Yorkers are leading GOTV phone banking for Pennsylvania, Ohio, and North Carolina, and any other state where our work is needed as voter turnout numbers roll in on Election Day.

Tonight's message from the New York State campaign director can not be any clearer: people in our target states are trusting New Yorkers to make GOTV phone calls so that they can go door to door and be at the polls to ensure that every voter is allowed to vote and that every vote is counted.

New York State is responsible for making 3,000,000 - that is THREE MILLION - Get Out The Vote phone calls to voters in swing states between Saturday morning and when the polls close on Tuesday evening. We need your help.

From Sunday noon until they send me home on Tuesday, I will be part of the team staffing the Bowery Hotel phone bank, which will be responsible for making over 225,000 GOTV calls during that time. I am asking every one of you to join me for at least one three hour shift - or whatever you can manage - to help us make these calls, partial shifts are totally acceptable. Bowery hours will be: Sunday from noon to 8, Monday from 11-8, and Tuesday from 11 until we are no longer needed. If this location doesn't work for you, please show up at one that does. At the bottom of this post, I have attached a list of all the Manhattan and Brooklyn phone banks and their hours. If you want to know where I'll be working on Saturday, let me know and I'll forward the info tomorrow. You don't need to RSVP, just show up with a cell phone (and charger), and your passion. You can find the full New York State list of phone banks here.

DO NOT BELIEVE THE POLLS. The race is much closer than it looks. We do not have a choice - we must do everything we can from November 1-4 to make sure Obama wins this election.

I have sent this in email form to 100 people, and asked them to send it to 10 people, etc. If you do the same, 3,000,000 calls doesn't feel so daunting.

We have four days to make a difference. Period.

(Apologies for going AWOL, I've been a "Data Entry Captain" @ headquarters 2-3 days per week.)

MANHATTAN LOCATIONS

Uptown

Guastavino's
409 East Street
New York, NY 10027
Sun noon-9pm
Mon 10am-9pm
Election Day 9am-9pm

Alhambra Ballroom
2116 Adam Clayton Powell Blvd
New York, NY 10027
Sat 10am-6pm

Touch
240 52nd Street
New York, NY 10019
Sat 10am-9pm
Sun noon-9pm
Mon 10am-9pm
Election Day 9am-9pm

583 Park Avenue
583 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10065
Sat 10am-9pm

Downtown

The Bowery Hotel
335 Bowery
New York, NY 10012
Sun noon-8pm
Mon 11am-8pm
Election Day 11am-8pm

40/40 Club
6 W. 25th street
New York, NY 10010
Sat noon-6pm
Sun noon-9pm
Mon & Election Day 10am-9pm

Mansion
530 W. 28th Street
New York, NY 10001
Election Day 9am-9pm

Obama / Biden HQ
52 Broadway 5th Floor
New York, NY 10004
Sat 10am-9pm
Sun noon-9pm
Mon 10-9pm
Election Day 9-9pm

The Living Room
154 Ludlow St.
New York, NY 100
Sat 10am-5pm
Sun noon-5pm
Mon 10am-5pm
Election Day 9am-5pm

Teamsters Local
216 West 14th St.
btwn 7th and 8th Aves
New York, NY 10011
Sat 10am-9pm
Sun noon-9pm
Mon 10am-9pm
Election Day 9am-9pm

NYC Carpenters Union
395 Hudson
New York, NY 10014
Sat 10am-9pm
Sun noon-9pm
Mon & Election Day 9am-9pm

The Home of Virginia Davies
299 West 12th Street, Penthouse
New York, NY 10014
Sat 10am-9pm
Sun 12pm-8pm
Mon 10am-9pm
Election Day 9am-9pm

BROOKLYN LOCATIONS

Brooklyn Academy of Music
30 Lafayette Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11217
Sat 10am-3pm
Sun noon-9pm
Mon 10am-3pm
Election Day 9am-9pm

Brooklyn Masonic Temple
317 Clermont Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11205
Sat 10am-9pm
Sun noon-9pm
Mon 10am-9pm
Election Day 9am-9pm

Grand Prospect Hall
263 Prospect Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11215
Sat 10am-8pm
Sun noon-8pm
Mon 10am-8pm
Election Day 9am-8pm

Cafe Omar
1744 Nostrand Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11226
Sat 10am-9pm
Sun noon-9
Mon 10am-9pm
Election Day 9am-9pm

The Lab
1428 Fulton St
Brooklyn, NY 11216
Mon10-9
Election Day 9am-9pm

Cacin Hall
15 Rochester Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11233
Sat 10am-4pm
Sun noon-4pm
Mon 10am-9pm
Election Day 9am-9pm

Poly Lounge Cafe
530 Sutter Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11208
Sat 10am-9pm
Sun noon-9
Mon 4pm-9pm
Election Day 9am-9pm

3rd Ward
195 Morgan Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11237
Sat 10am-9pm
Sun noon-9pm
Mon 10am-9pm
Election Day 9am-9pm

Brooklyn Lyceum
227 4th Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11215
Mon 10am-7pm
Election Day 9am-6pm

Find your polling place and check your registration status at Google

It's the Help America Vote app! Except unlike the similarly named law, it actually does help people vote.

maps.google.com/vote is a great link to send around to everyone you know. Plug in your address and it tells you your polling location. It also provides additional election board information for your state (including phone numbers) and allows you to check your registration status.

We're Almost There! All Hands On Deck for the Final Push!

If you have an hour, or a day, or a weekend you could give between now and Tuesday, the Obama campaign needs you! Go to http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/statepages and click on your state to learn where your field office is and find out how you can help. It's fun, and it's not all knocking on doors--there are MANY different ways to pitch in.



Make Calls To Battleground States
This election is far from over, and we need to make One Million Calls into swing states this week. Join us at a phonebank and bring your friends--it's fun and easy. You don't have to talk to voters if you don't want to; you can also make calls to other Obama volunteers to help organize them.

Data Entry
Your local Obama for America office needs your help with daily data entry -- this is good for people who don't like talking on the phone. Grab your laptop and drop by the field office for as much or as little time as you have.

Can you travel?
These last days of the campaign are crucial. Volunteer your time in a battleground state or your state to make sure Barack Obama is our next President. This is probably the MOST helpful thing you can do. If you can't travel, do you know someone who can?

Got a car?
Help deliver get-out-the-vote materials in your area.

Neighbor to Neighbor
Set up your own phonebank and make calls from home or in a group with your friends.

Election Protection
Join Counsel for Change to make sure that every vote counts: http://my.barackobama.com/counselforchange

Join Mobile Obama
New Yorkers, text NY to 62262 (OBAMA) on your mobile phone to receive important updates and opportunities. (I assume this works for other states as well.)

Heart need lifting?

Best ad ever (in one poster's humble opinion). Forward to all and sundry. And get inspired.

Phone Banking for Obama - October 28 in NYC

You're invited to "Phone Banking for Obama with Darbi" on 28 October at 17:30.

Darbi says, "Come for an hour, come for the whole night! Can't make it? Please spread the word.".

Event: Phone Banking for Obama with Darbi
"Yes, We Can...Dial the Phone"
Host: Darbi Worley
Start Time: 28 October at 5:30 pm
End Time: 28 October at 9:00 pm
Where: Teamsters Hall, 216 West 14th St. between 7th/8th

To see more details and RSVP, go to the facebook invitation or, if you're not on Facebook, email darbiw (at) gmail (dot) com.

Talking to Conservatives, Part 3

Conservatives who are voting for Obama explain why:



Much, much more at http://www.conservativesforchange.com/.

Donate to El Tinklenberg

El Tinklenberg is the opponent of that batshit crazy "fool for Christ" McCarthy-in-pantyhose, Michelle Bachman. Seriously, she's got to go.

A duty to shame

My friend Lorraine titles her article "Want to do something constructive with your rage?" And yes, I do think it's constructive and necessary for members of civilized society to confront and and shame the racists, thugs, and irresponsible shit-stirrers who've been pouring out of the woodwork in such alarming numbers these past several weeks.

People like this operate in a bizarre, alternate-reality echo chamber where photoshopping fried chicken and watermelon onto a picture of Obama isn't racist and turning the county assessor's office into a GOP fundraising operation isn't illegal. They need to realize the rest of the world finds their actions and attitudes both dangerous and deplorable.

By the way, Karl Rove paid the San Bernadino Republicans a personal visit just last week. Coincidence, I'm sure.

...and if you need a break from decoding scribble....

Some of the best community organizers I know work at Urban Justice Center, a fantastic nonprofit organization that serves New York City's most vulnerable residents through a combination of direct legal service, systemic advocacy, community education and political organizing. A few of these fine individuals are hosting an Obama fundraiser in Brooklyn tomorrow night to support Get Out The Vote work on election day in swing states.

Last Call!

Help elect Barack Obama

Join us at Brooklyn Social for hope & cocktails

With music from Michael Arenella & His Dreamland Orchestra

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

335 Smith Street, Carroll Gardens Brooklyn 6-9pm

Support Election Day voter outreach in critical states

Donation $75
RSVP to jaflamingo@gmail.com

Donate at the door or online at http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gsh494

It’s a swing state thing…

Calling all Medievalists

Anyone who ever had to take a palaeography course can now put it to good use. The NYC Obama field office down at 52 Broadway has a stack of 30,000 voter registration cards from PA that need to be entered into their database. (Your local Obama field office probably has stacks of them too.) These will be used for get-out-the-vote and voter-assistance efforts on election day, and they need to be entered THIS WEEK.

Why are palaeographers helpful? Because some of these voters' handwriting is akin to Merovingian script, especially the 85 year olds who are registering to vote for the first time (those cards are sweet and make me smile). Turns out it's really helpful to have one person in the room who can help the other data entry volunteers when they can't decipher something.

The work is easy and you can do as much or as little as you have time for (I brought a big stack home and divided it among my friends). The field office is an inspiring place to be, full of fun, jokes, and camaraderie. And you don't have to talk to anyone on the phone.

Polls flip: Gays about to lose marriage rights in California

The supporters of Prop 8, which would write anti-gay discrimination into California's constitution, have outraised supporters of marriage equality by $10M, largely due to complacency among progressives who thought it couldn't pass.

The anti-equality groups' fundraising edge (combined with their superiority in the art of propaganda) has allowed them to run advertisements full of lies which have altered public opinion. As of this week, a majority of Californians polled support a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage and invalidate thousands of same-sex unions.

Worse, these numbers don't even take into account the Bradley effect.

A victory for Prop. 8 would be a nightmare come true for California and a dangerous precedent nationwide. With 3 weeks until the election, it basically comes down to money: the Prop 8 opponents need funds to catch up with Prop 8 supporters (and, one hopes, hire a better ad team).

Five things you can do to defeat Prop. 8
(From Equality For All, the group leading the fight against Prop. 8)

Talking to Conservatives, Part 2

Don't know how to talk to conservatives? Let leading conservative David Brooks do it for you. In a recent interview, Brooks shared personal anecdotes about why he is "dazzled" by Obama's intellect and social perception. He praised Obama's advisers as "by far the most impressive people in the Democratic party," singling out Joe Biden for special commendation. And in no uncertain terms, he condemned Palin's dangerous anti-intellectualism, calling her a "fatal cancer to the Republican party."

Obama has the great intellect. I was interviewing Obama a couple years ago, and I'm getting nowhere with the interview, it's late in the night, he's on the phone, walking off the Senate floor, he's cranky. Out of the blue I say, 'Ever read a guy named Reinhold Niebuhr?' And he says, 'Yeah.' So i say, 'What did Niebuhr mean to you?' For the next 20 minutes, he gave me a perfect description of Reinhold Niebuhr's thought, which is a very subtle thought process based on the idea that you have to use power while it corrupts you. And I was dazzled, I felt the tingle up my knee as Chris Matthews would say.

Read more...

Note: this will carry weight only with smart conservatives. When talking to populist idiots, try explaining that the entitlement programs McCain is so eager to cut actually include the ones they're on.

Give A Day

Our Time is Now -- Help on the Last 4 Days

Supporters like you can make a huge difference by taking a short trip to a key battleground state or making phone calls to undecided voters.

Will you commit right now to volunteer on one or more of the four crucial days leading up to Election Day?

Watch David Plouffe's strategy update below, then sign up by filling out this form.

Sunday afternoon phonebanking in NYC

How many people in your orbit have signed up to volunteer on the Obama website and are still waiting to hear how they can help? There are literally hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers who want to volunteer, and you can be the person who plugs them into the campaign.

Starting this weekend through election day, I am running Sunday afternoon phonebank at Obama Headquarters (52 Broadway at Exchange Place). This phonebank will connect the people who have not yet been contacted by the campaign with the full range of opportunities (calling and going to swing states, overall GOTV, voter protection, etc). Shifts are 12-3 and 3-6.

Mobilizing other volunteers is inspirational, low stress and critically important - one phonebanker shift=25+ volunteers deployed; our weekly Sunday goal is 30 phonebankers x 2 shifts=1500+volunteers deployed. You can sign up on the Obama website or you can email me directly, and I'll make sure we have a phone/seat for you.


UPDATE:

If the link above doesn't work, go to your "My Barack Obama" page (and if you don't have one, create one), and use the advanced search function to look for events 1 mile from zipcode 10004.

Meanwhile, in Anchorage, more than a thousand Obama supporters rally

From Mudflats:

Once again, there were duelling rallies here in Anchorage today. The McCain-Palin rally was held in the just-completed Denaina Convention Center in downtown Anchorage. The Obama rally was held outside, just a couple blocks away, at the Delaney Park Strip, also in downtown Anchorage.

One would think that the Republican rally celebrating the hometown girl, in her very very red state would have drawn a huge crowd, and that the Obama rally would be a few brave intrepid souls with a couple signs shivering by the side of the road. One would be wrong.

The Obama rally was all set up and running when I arrived - tents, face painting, t-shirt sales, voter registration, postcard writing to swing states, a huge stage and sound system. By 1:00, there were more than a thousand people milling around with signs, kids, dogs and huge smiles. This was definitely a feel-good place. Hundreds lined the roadside waving signs to appreciative honking motorists, and hundreds more milled around the tent area. Anchorage mayoral candidate and former legislator Eric Croft got up and spoke, so did Kat Pustay who’s heading up the Obama campaign in the state. Then came Ethan Berkowitz, Democratic candidate for the U.S. House seat currently held by Don Young. Ethan welcomed his “fellow revolutionaries”. The crowd went wild.

Mudflats then went to the McCain-Palin rally, pictured below.

More soul feeding, fundraising

Another plug for Dinners for Obama, the weekly Sunday dinner in Soho that feeds and fundraises (a minimum contribution of $150) in one breath. This week and next week are sold out, but there are still spaces available for the last two dinners. The menus and contact information are on the website. Or if you are really hungry tomorrow, you can email and beg to be on the waitlist for any last minute cancellations.

My bad, this was last night: Art for Obama

Continuing on the soul-feeding path:

I meant to post this last week. I both maxed out my contributions to a candidate for the first time in my life AND won the print I wanted. The event raised over $50,000. Thanks to all the artists for donating work, and a special thanks to Danielle, the friend who invited me, whose painting inspired a fierce bidding war. Then we went to dinner at Saul and had Baked Alaska for dessert. Now I'm ready to a day of voter registration.

BARACK ROCK on Tuesday 10/7 in Brooklyn (and/or register voters with Madonna)

Because we need to feed our souls as we walk the talk, I forward this along from multiple people. There's probably something in that line up for everyone. I don't know if there are still tickets available:

BARACK ROCK!

Tuesday, October 7th 7:30pm - 1am
Music Hall of Williamsburg 66 North 6th Street, Williamsburg, Brooklyn

It will likely sell out very quickly, so please buy your $40 tickets now. All proceeds go to the Obama/Biden campaign. Tickets are available at:

• Mercury Lounge Box Office (217 E. Houston Street - corner Avenue A & Houston),
• Music Hall of Williamsburg Box Office (Saturday only) (66 North 6th Street, Williamsburg),
• through Ticketmaster (http://www.ticketmaster.com/venue/1098) if you want to buy it online right now with a surcharge,
• and, at the door if the show is not already sold out.

Tuesday night is also Madonna's concert at Madison Square Garden - to help with voter registration meet at K Mart at 6 pm with a clipboard and blue pen. October 10 is the deadline for New York voter registration, so join us one last time.

Bilingual attorneys and law students needed for voter protection NATIONWIDE

I can't tell whether I'm more a) inspired by the breadth and depth of voter protection efforts nationwide, or b) completely depressed that voting rights are under siege enough to require endless numbers of efforts like this one below, this one, and this one.

Please share this information with any bilingual lawyers and law students in your networks.

From Lizz in NYC:

Bilingual Attorneys: Help Protect the Vote on Election Day!

Voting process can be an intimidating experience for Americans with limited English proficiency (LEP), who may face discrimination and disenfranchisement. LEP voters may be offered a provisional ballot when they are eligible to cast a regular ballot; may be asked to show photo identification that is not required; or may be denied their right to bring a friend into the polling booth to help them translate.

Help Monitor Polls on Election Day

Join the team of bilingual attorneys who will monitor the polls in battleground states. We are recruiting volunteers for target states in critical polling sites with substantial Asian, Latino or other populations with limited English proficiency: CO, FL, MI, MN, NM, NV, OH, OR, PA, VA, and WA.

To sign up to protect votes, please visit: www.barackobama.com/counselforchange, indicate which of these battleground states you want to work in, and your language skills. In the "NOTES" section, please include "AAPI Task Force" or "LTF" to identify that you are part of the Asian American Pacific Islander or Latino Task Forces' voter protection efforts.

Help us recruit!

Forward this email to your friends and colleagues who may be interested. Talk to all the lawyers and law students you know about getting involved! We need all attorneys to get involved, particularly bilingual attorneys.

To get more involved in a particular state or if you have any questions, please contact Sam Jammal at sjammal@gmail.com for the Latino Task Force, and Gloria Chan at gloria@democraticlawyers.org for the Asian American Pacific Islander Task Force.

Two Manhattan phonebanks

For everyone who has said to me "I want to phonebank but I don't know where to go," I share an email from the fearless NYC Obama phonebank coordinator, Rasmus:

There are now two phone-banks in Manhattan, you can either go to:

1: TEAMSTERS, 216 w, 14 street, M – F from 5 – 7 and 7 – 9 pm.

2: Obama HQ, 52 Broadway, 6 floor M – F, 12 – 2 pm, 2 – 4 pm, 5 – 7 pm, 7 – 9 , and Saturday and Sunday 12 – 3 pm, 3 – 6 pm.

This week [October 4-5], though, the weekend-phone bank will be at the TEAMSTERS, 216 w.14th Street.

You will be able to register for the phone banks at www.newyork.barackobama.com and my.barackobama.com

Hope to see you see you all again.

If you have any questions please write me an email (rmeyerf@ruc.dk) or
call me on 646 725 0946, or Claire Silberman, Deputy Volunteer
Coordinator, at newyork@barackobama.com

Tomorrow, I'm off to Philly for voter registration. I'll post information about on the ground opportunities and contacts when I return.