Three weeks ago, I met with a therapist for the first time in my life. I'm a very happy guy -- great family, great job, great girlfriend, tons of Facebook friends -- no problems that a glass of scotch couldn't fix. But ever since the beginning of September, I've gone 100% batshit crazy. Why? Because come next year, John McCain and Sarah Palin might be running this country. I can't concentrate at work. I can't hold a normal conversation about anything besides politics. At night, I'm afraid to go to sleep because I know that Sarah Palin is waiting for me in Dreamland, like Freddy Krueger but dumber and more evil.
I was hoping the therapist would listen to me lay out this situation, nod sagely, and hand me a bucket full of pills with a creepy name like "Uplift" or "Happiness 4000." But what he told me, surprisingly, was "Get more involved."
"Haven't you been listening, you dumb shit?" I thought as I smiled and asked him to elaborate. But what he said made sense: by getting more involved, I'd spend more time talking with like-minded, highly capable people. I'd feel like I was helping Obama directly. And I'd have less time to be furious at Steve Schmidt.
So I got more involved. I made phone calls to voters in my hometown in Pennsylvania. I donated. I signed up to canvass in Nevada. I set up a fundraising page on Obama's website with two friends. We set an ambitious goal of $10,000. After two weeks of bugging and pleading with our friends, family, co-workers, and bosses, we had raised $26,000.
But as satisfying as all those things are, I'm still crazy. And the more I think about it, the more I think that everyone should be crazy. Consider all the meaningless shit that we become obsessed about -- ex-girlfriends, neighbors' dogs, celebrities' vaginas -- and now think about this: a 72-year old liar with anger problems might become the most powerful person in the world. And if he dies, he'd be replaced by a babbling, evolution-doubting, Supreme-Court-case-not-knowing woman whose knowledge about the world comes from a 3-week cram session. This deserves one month of your obsession.
Think about how proud you would be to have Barack Obama as your President. How proud you'd be that you're an American. If John McCain wins after what we've been through these last eight years, we'd be telling the entire world that we're perfectly content with being hated and ridiculed. We'd be Pam Anderson who dumps Tommy Lee, complains about wanting to find a nice guy, and starts dating Kid Rock.
The contrast between Obama and McCain could not be greater. This is like choosing between an orgasm and a punch in the throat. The fact this is a close race is a terrifying outrage, and every single person should be doing everything they can about it. Stop clicking refresh on Mark Halperin's The Page. Go knock on some doors. Make some phone calls. Make a donation. Recruit your friends. You only have to do it for a month. This shit makes a difference, and with the country in such a bad way, the stakes could not be higher. If you aren't going crazy, there's something wrong with you.
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For me, Obama/Bide
I don't lose sleep over it because I know that on November 5th, regardless of who won the election, the sun will rise, and I'll have to get up and get ready for work.
I'll have a stressful but rewarding day as an engineer, and when I get home, I'll see my lovely wife and daughters like always.
I'll kick back in my recliner for a little while to talk to my family, and when I sit down, our four tiny poodles will jump up in my lap and take their accustomed places on me and the chair. Then our cat will jump up there last, right on my chest, and head but me on the chin, demanding love.
We'll eat supper, and I'll prepare for bed and go to sleep again.
The next morning, it all starts over.
THAT IS REALITY.
Whether Obama or McCain is the president-
I suspect yours will be somewhat the same. Sure you might be disappoint
Don't let the outcome of a friggin political election rob you of your joy, or how you operate in this world.
That's my $0.02
Have faith.....
In what kind of universe could you believe the lies about Obama? His taking the second largest cut from Fannie Mae, second only to the oversight chairman the wonderful Chris Dodd? Lies and Balderdash I say. Part of the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy
I fear what kind of police state this will become. It is already bad enough. At the very moment the Bush Administra
Be careful Daniel Chun. The Bush Administra
We must elect the community organing, Planned Parenthood supporting
This is what my friend wrote:
Several times a day, say out loud and think to yourself 'President Obama' and when you do - imagine it being true, right now, and feeling all the great feelings that go with such a powerful, positive thought.
It dawned on me that I was getting caught in the fear of Republican
When I first thought of this I realized that some, me included, would react, 'well just thinking about it - won't do it. What we need is action - so, say it!'
Saying what we wish to empower aligns us with what we want.
Saying and imagining 'President Obama' is more likely to inspire actions that will create this wonderful outcome. When we're feeling good, instead of afraid, resigned or helpless, we will get a lot more done.
The decision to send this email came to me last night after deciding to practice thismyself
It is much more exciting to follow the American election, where a really excellent candidate is leading.
I don't know what makes me sicker....
How disingenou
November 4th can't get here fast enough. All of us need our sanity back!
There are different reasons for this:
I recognize the "racism" in your country that was visible in mine
I see the possibilit
Please USA make the right choice, the world is connected and your choice will have an affect on me in Pretoria, South Africa
www.ifthew
Obama is here for us. There is a plan that has sprung from the mistakes of the past. Our candidates are wise and strong and full of humanity. We are opposed, of course, by the worst dregs of our culture. This is the only way this could happen.
The rest is up to us. This is a matter of survival for what the founding fathers- perhaps the greatest group of individual
This is it folks. We are being tested. We have been granted a huge gift, but we must pay as much of a price as Obama and the rest of the ones who have stood up to tyranny, ignorance and hate.
A turning point can never be easy to navigate. It just can't. We will pay the price. Why? Because we all know that this is the time. We are all together, feeling the same thing, doing what it takes, standing up to be counted with our brothers and sisters.
ACK.... can't we hold the election today??? PLEASE????