So much to report, no time for anything except fragments. Here's a few:
Summer weather in October.
Canvassing is fun. Continually surprised at the number of people who are really, really committed to being undecided.
People in Ohio are usually polite even if they think you are crazy and have McCain signs on their lawn.
I'm working in an office of 22-year-olds. Picture a college dorm with campaign stuff.
The subplot of this campaign is the dearth of lawn signs. You know, those signs saying "Obama/Biden" that people put in their yards. McCain camp has tons of 'em and is giving them out like water. We don't. This makes Democrats mad. Turns out lawn signs have little to do with election success; Ohio was blanketed with Kerry signs in 2004. But people still really like them.
The coolest house I canvassed yesterday presented the following scene: Dad out front mowing the lawn while smoking a cigar. Jerked his thumb towards the backyard and said without removing cigar to go around to the backyard where I was greeted with the sight of his wife and daughter sunbathing and drinking margueritas. The mom was an Obama supporter and the daughter undecided. I told her to listen to her mother, who very obviously knows what's up in every way. I sort of wanted to be adopted by this family.
Oh! And calling 91 strangers in a row. I called during the day on Friday, from a list of people over 70 who were likely to be home. I got just a few grumpsters, a lot of undecideds, and a couple seriously sweet old ladies who were hesitating to vote for Obama because of his stance on abortion. I was able to let them know that the number of abortions increased under this current Republican administration, and that McCain isn't even a pro-life candidate (he just wants to let the states decide). And that Obama's health care and economic policies have the best shot of a) preventing unwanted pregnancies through realistic education and available birth control and b) giving young women who do find themselves pregnant encouragement and economic support to help them raise a child.
But enough about policy. Next time I'll tell you about the Schnitzel House. (it's already my favorite tradition here at the office)
4 comments:
Schnitzel? As in baby cow? Is there a vegan schnitzel? If you haven't yet, check out the Sunday NY Times magazine--it's devoted to food issues. As in locatarianism/flexitarianism etc. You probably know all this, but some of it was news to me.
There IS vegetarian Schnitzel! And Schnitzel everything, at the Schnitzel house in Parma. No veal though, it's mostly chicken, turkey, and mystery meat far as I can tell. Thank you so much for the NY Times mag tip!!
i love the very idea of mystery schnitzel. if i ever pen a clue-style murder mystery, the mildly pretentious leftenant will be named m. schnitzel.
keep it up, sully. you almost make me want to phone up retired people i don't know.
thanks huntsman. I think you could be very compelling on the phone.
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