Do Not Get Complacent

From a Politico.com article about the Obama infomercial tonight:

"This is, after all, a campaign scarred by its surprise loss in the New Hampshire primary after polls had shown double-digit leads."

Pray without ceasing. Then make calls or knock on doors. Please.

"Back Away From the Candy Machine"

I was walking my dog tonight and realized I feel frustrated by my interactions with him sometimes. I snap at him, when I know that my wife, a dog trainer, would say "Leave it" in a way that was authoritative without being mean, and he would obey. I don't know how to do that.

I realized tonight that the problem isn't my sharp tone. It lies further back than that. He was pulling on his lead to smell something. I tugged his lead slightly and said, "Leave it". Almost tentatively. I was being nice and hoping he'd obey. That's like asking your young child to obey you- which, needless to say, doesn't work. So the problem is not that I snap at him the second time. It's my tone and manner the first time that needs to change. If I say it like I mean it the first time, I may not have to say it a second time. (In theory, anyway. I'm new at this dog ownership thing. I'll have to see how it goes.)

This reminded me of the candy machine analogy. Years ago someone told me that once we're standing in front of the candy machine, the battle's already lost. We have to create a life and spirituality that meets our needs completely enough that we don't end up staring at a Snickers bar trying not to buy one. I'm not sure how that applies to some of the current challenges in my life, but I suspect there could be some revelations if I pay attention.

Life in an Alternate Universe

The events of the past couple weeks would make a great opening for a science fiction story. First a major newspaper (the Chicago Tribune), which has never endorsed a Democratic candidate for president, does so. Shortly after that a highly respected national Republican political and military figure (Colin Powell) endorses the same candidate. Then - even more unbelievable - a small town, conservative newspaper in a semi-rural Midwestern community follows suit. That's right - in the Election 2008 edition of Believe It or Not, the Pantagraph endorsed Barack Obama for president today.

Apparently, I'm living in an alternate reality (also called John McCain's nightmare).

I'd be OK if I'm wrong in my doom saying about Barack's chances. And while I'm still in the I'll-believe-it-when-I-see-it club, I am looking into the possibility of attending the Inauguration in January. (A few days ago my wife told me I have election-related bipolar disorder. She was only half kidding, and she was more than half right.)

What's next - a landslide victory? (We've moved into the realm of fairy tales now.) Keep the faith - more will be revealed, as people in recovery say.

The Definition of Insanity

And so it begins....

"Voting Machine Problems Surface in West Virginia
At least three voters have reported that voting machines used in West Virginia refuse to accept a vote for Obama and switched it to McCain. The poll worker said to touch the screen more lightly. He or she might as well have said: "Stand on your left foot and insert your right index finger into your nose while touching the screen with your left pinky." If the software doesn't work, touching the screen differently is not likely to make any difference. Problems like this (the wrong box being checked after someon touches the screen) are easy to detect. What is impossible to detect is a machine that displays the vote as the voter intended but counts it for a different candidate internally.

Fortunately, paper ballots are making a comeback. About 59% of the nation's voters will use paper ballots that will be optically scanned, comparable to college entrance tests. An additional 33% will use electronic voting machines. In principle, there is nothing wrong with electronic voting machines provided that they use open-source code that anyone can inspect, there is a way for the voter to determine that the correct software is running on the machine, and there is a paper ballot printed out that can be deposited in the ballot box to be used for recounts if need be. Voting machines that do not have a voter verified paper audit trail need to be taken out of service immediately. For a rundown of what equipment is used in which states see VerifiedVoting.org."

The info above has been verified by the Charleston Gazette in West Virginia.

The only question is why so many Democrats think we have a snowball's chance to win this. Perhaps the answer lies in the definition of insanity - doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.

Indiana, etc

I spent yesterday knocking on doors in Lafayette, Indiana. The campaign has asked that folks not blog about the experience until after the election (understandably) so all I'll say is that we had a couple good conversations with folks who were undecided, and because I went with a friend, I had fun. Even if you think you can't do it, you can. They tell you how to start conversations, and it felt great to be out there working. I still feel unhopeful, but my stepbrother sent me a pic of the rally in St. Louis, which did my heart good.

Something approximating news

In case you could use a laugh (who couldn't right now?).
http://www.comedycentral.com/videos/index.jhtml?videoId=187343

Reality, so to speak.

I have a headache today and since I sort-of not-really occasionally believe in mind/body stuff, I've given some thought as to why my head hurts. I think I've been thinking too much. Or holding too many contradictory thoughts at the same time. (Let's be real - I also need to get more sleep.)

I have a philosophical dilemma. Coming from a background working in the counseling field, I know that perception is reality. I don't want to dismiss Republican's beliefs - if I do, I'm being closed-minded and hateful, which I don't want to be. I like to think that Democrats are more open-minded. How does that fit with the absolute knowledge that we're right about wanting Obama to be elected?

I've been trying to reconcile - or at least understand - how both Republicans and Democrats can have their truths - their realities - and yet Republicans are wrong. Just as we think many people who vote Republican are deluded, many Republicans think that about Democrats. How can we both be right - all the while knowing in my soul that the Republican platform as I understand it is just plain wrong. I don't have an answer (other than get 8 hours of sleep and think about it in the morning).

I do know I'm continuing to take the next actions - I'm heading to Indiana this weekend to knock on doors for Obama, even though I hate doing it and I don't believe he's going to win. (Just received an email from the Obama camp pointing out that Gore was 10 points ahead in the polls at this point too. My point exactly.) I do know that telling myself he's not going to win is a feeble attempt to make myself feel less pain on November 5th. It'll hurt less if I don't believe it will happen, right? Probably not. It's gonna suck whether I let myself feel hope or not. From a mindfulness be-here-now perspective I should just allow myself to hope in this moment and deal with the results when they come in. I'm not sure I can.

I was telling people to pray without ceasing:I said I don't care what you pray to, I don't even care if you don't believe - pray anyway. But I've changed my mind. Don't pray. Go make phone calls and knock on doors - we have no time to spare and we need all the votes we can get.

Election Haiku - 3rd (quickie) edition

Five companies own

all the media. We hear

only what they want.

*

Will the votes they cast

inside the booth match the words

they speak before then?

Election Haiku, 2nd Ed.

Our expectations

Of our leaders sink lower.

How low can they go?

*

Best country ever.

For rich people, that is. Not

So much for others.

*

Female candidate

Winks and won’t answer questions

And this is progress?

*

If the worst happens

Find joy as you are able;

Hang on for dear life.

*

Civil war, world wars

Our country survived them. Now

McCain may kill it.

Who's Responsible?

I've been thinking about responsibility, and realizing how responsible I feel for fixing the world. Boss has bad communication skills? My job to teach (read: fix) him. Friend allowing her baby to watch TV? A voice in my head (or my gut) says it's my job to tell her that research shows children under 2 shouldn't watch TV. At all. Ever. Wife's organization screwing their employees? For some reason there's a part of me that believes it's my job to call the exec director and explain. Because if they realize how their actions are affecting the employees, of course they'll change it. Someone just needs to tell them. (I won't, of course.)

There are so many problems that accompany feeling that kind of constant fix-the-world responsibility. It takes a tremendous amount of energy, for one thing. Even reminding myself that it's not my job to fix those things is an energy drain.

The second is the arrogance. Feeling responsible for everything and everyone (at least for me) implies incredible egotism, because it means I think I know what people should do.

And there's the codependent piece, which is all tied up with the arrogance. As one of the stories in the AA Big Book says: "I was always able to see the flaw in every person, every situation. And I was always glad to point it out, because I knew you wanted perfection, just as I did." Ouch.

Next on the list: It's what my mother does. No matter what I say or do, she finds the negative in it. It's difficult to be around, not only for me.

Which brings up another piece. In my belief that it's my job to fix the world (and that everyone should agree with me), I have alienated tons of people. I've thought and acted judgmentally towards friends, and lost several that way. I've also caused myself difficulties in work situations - I've made myself very unpopular with bosses (or even the larger organization) because I was always pointing out what was wrong.

I've been trying to apply mindfulness - in fits and starts - as I'm starting to be aware of my distorted thinking. I've been trying to remind myself that all I have to do - in fact, all that it's appropriate for me to do - is listen. Just listen.

The other thing on my mind is that I ran over a cat today (for the first time ever). I was sad about something while driving home and then had no time to react when it darted in front of my car. It was horrible. I came home crying. I let myself cry, because it is sad. I also have to remind myself that this is the cycle of life. Everything dies, and there can be no life without death. That doesn't make it less sad though, and it means that grieving is part of life - which I hate. There was nothing more I could do - other than be more careful about driving when I'm emotional. I don't think that would have changed the outcome, however. So I'm sad. And just trying to let that be. I'm not responsible for changing that, either.