Campaign for Barack Obama

I just returned from a week in Montreal where I was attending the International Coach Federation Global Conference (I am a professional life & business coach). At the conference I had the chance to speak to many people from around the world as 43 (I saw the irony as well) countries were represented by over 1,400 coaches who were in attendance. Aside from the insightful and educational coaching related experiences I had during the week the other thing that kept coming up in conversations was how excited people were about Barack. On many occasions, people (from Europe, Asia & North America) were telling me that they felt the US was back on the right track and we should be proud having elected him President. Additionally, many Canadians told me that even though they were having their own elections during the same period; people were more excited about what was happening in the United States.

During some downtime at the conference I went for a walk thru the old section of Montreal (which is very French), and passed a gift shop that had amongst all of its Canadian & Quebec inspired products for sale, the t-shirt in the photo caught my eye the most.

Greeting from Montreal. While walking the streets of Old Montreal today, I saw a great t-shirt. It said “One World, One People, One Leader – United We Stand – Obama”, with a picture of Barack.

Its nice to see again the rest of the world looking at the USA for leadership and with excitement.

I took a picture of it but forgot my cable to download. I’ll post it when I get back next week.

but I posted a link to photos in another thread showing Barack backstage on election night. Don’t know if any of you saw my post or not so, I thought I’d share with you the link

Barack Obama is far from Merlin in King Arthurs Court. There is no way that he is going to wave his magic wand and make all right and just in the world. There are heavy duty challenges worldwide, and not just the old standbys of poverty, starvation, wars, and global warming – but also an economic crisis that gives revitalizes the old phrase “When America Sneezes, The World Catches A Cold.”

As supporters of Barack Obama we need to be diligent in our efforts to support and defend our President daily. Simple things, like doing all we can to conserve eneergy and reduce our dependence on foeign oil as he has often called up us to do, but acting for and explaining to, those people who did vote for Barack Obama so that we can demonstrate that he is their President too, and we are more than willing to welcome them to Our American Dream.

The “tax increase for the very wealthy” is sure to become a hot button issue in the coming months and years. The tax roll backs offered by the Bush administration do not expire until 2010 – of course both sides have the potential to get their knickers in a twist over the expediency of the promise to let those roll backs expire. (I wonder how many people know that GWBush put an expiration clause in those tax breaks?)

The Automotive “bailout” or “loan program” is another hot button issue. After years of putting their eggs in one basket Detroit has fumbled greatly while Honda, Toyota, and Subaru are making smaller, more fuel efficient cars in the United States that people are buying. Volkswagen is even building a new assembly plant in Chatanooga. Do we help Detroit or let market conditions prevail? Do we put conditions on the loans to that jobs stay in the US (versus ramping up production in Hermilliso Mexico)?

And what of healthcare and family services for our veterans. Surely we cannot ask them to sacrifice more than they already have.

The campaign starts today, and continues tomorrow, and next week, and next month, and next year.

We need to be ready to head the call of our President, continue to educate ourselves on the crises and solutions facing our Nation, and be prepared to defend Barack Obama at a moments notice.

Yes We Can!

WOW, the election is over and Barack is now the President-elect of the United States of America! We, and the millions of other (non-43 Things)people across the country who campaigned for Barack deserve a giant “Atta-Person” (or an atta-boy or atta-girl, if you prefer).

The political campaign is over. Barack has a huge job ahead of him and it’s going to take everyone in the country, WORKING TOGETHER, to make it happen. It will take a lot of leadership on his part to get us all pointed in the same direction. It will take a lot of EFFORT and “CAMPAIGNING” on the part of each of us help him do that.

So, the “social” campaign now begins. I will make an effort, every day, to try to heal the divisions that separate us as citizens and will work to make us, once again, a united American people.

Would you like to join me?

I have completed my most important task for the day. I cast my vote for Barack and all the other good candidates for office.

The rest of my day will be spent making Get Out The Vote calls followed by a VICTORY PARTY this evening!

I have signed up for canvassing at 7:30 AM for four hours and then again, at 4:00 PM for four hours. Then, I’m grabbing that bottle of “champers” out of the fridge, and going to one of the big victory parties.

There will be dancing in the streets here. It’s going to be pandemonium. I can’t imagine what it’s going to be like.

I’ve been doing Get Out The Vote calls most of the day and it is so nice to talk to supporters—people who are actually glad to hear from us. For some reason, the Barack supporters who have already voted seen particularly pleased with themselves, with life, and with my calls.

YES, WE CAN!

While making Get Out the Vote calls in Ohio this morning, it was my good fortune to talk briefly with a 79 year old man from Cleveland. His name had an Italian spelling and he spoke with a bit of an accent. There was no doubt in his mind that Barack Obama was the greatest thing to happen to this country EVER! CERTAINLY he was going to vote! He was going to the polls EARLY and told me exactly where he had to go to vote. He wasn’t going to take any family or friends with him because “They don’t live around here but they were CERTAINLY GOING TO VOTE FOR OBAMA, TOO!”

He thanked ME for calling HIM and hoped I would convince a lot of other folks to get out there and VOTE FOR OBAMA! By the time I hung up from talking to him, he had managed to get me totally PUMPED! If we had recruited him as a volunteer at the beginning of the campaign by now he would have convinced McCain to vote for Obama!

It’s amazing how one person can be so influential. I will remember him for a long time and I hope I am able to pass on to others the enthusiasm he gave me!

This time, it will be Manchester. I’ll take pictures this time too!