Sunday, November 23, 2008

Friends Make a Difference

We won! Is there anything sweeter than winning? Yes, winning big. And, indeed, how proud I am that Pennsylvania went by 10 points for Obama, even though Franklin County kept the same percentage of votes. Well our hard work resulted in many many more Democrats turning out but many, many more Republicans turned out too. It was fun to have some good conversations with people in my area about why I was supporting Obama. It's the first time I've really engaged with folks around here about politics. They were all civil exchanges.

A dear friend and education reformer Deborah Meier, came in from NYC to help on the campaign and right after she left, we welcomed friends from Sweden. They arrived so they could stand in Times Square on election night and feel the love.The Europeans really wanted the Bush era to end and a new era to begin in relations with the USA. Let's hope it really happens.

We had a great week with them in DC. We saw an amazing retrospective glass exhibit at the Renwick Gallery of the work of Lino Tagliapietra. Everyone should make an effort to see it. You will be dazzled by his feats of magic with glass.

And finally I want to hail my former co-workers who pulled together a little reunion at the Glen Echo Irish Inn in Maryland. What a wonderful, funny, smart and idealistic crew. It makes me feel good to see them doing well by doing good.

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Is Anyone Wondering Where I am????

I'm deep in Organizing land and with the help of amazing and willing volunteers we'll up the vote for Obama in Franklin County. Will we win Franklin County? Probably not. BUT our effort may prove that every vote counts and happily more and more Democrats, union members, environmentalists and others want their votes to count. When this great movement pauses after election day I'll go back to art and politics will have to take a back seat.