Obama table in Madison: October 6 Edition

[zulchzulu]

It was an unusually warm autumn day with lots of people from all over the globe walking along and choosing from all kinds of locally grown, baked, crafted and political flavors. The Obama table is one feature to many at what the New York Times mentioned "The Dane County Farmers' Market in Wisconsin is now recognized as the largest in the nation, and is still growing."

The night before the tabling, I made sure the weekly war scorecard was updated and very visible.

Here's this week's sad news:

Weekly War Scorecard

Cost of Iraq Occupation:
(running total):
$457,566,210,570

American Deaths:
3,812

American Wounded:
28,009

Iraqi Body Count:
74,694 (Min) 81,399 (Max)

As of October 6, 2007 at 12:00AM

Sources:
www.iraqbodycount.net
www.defenselink.mil
www.antiwar.com/casualties
www.costofwar.com



The day always starts off with a steady stream of people interested in seeing what was going on at the Obama table this week. The buzz of Barack Obama coming to Madison and now in a much bigger venue was a source of a lot of people showing up to want to know more. It is going to be a fantastic event! I hope to have video to post about it once it's done. Here's the recent info on the event:


https://donate.barackobama.com/page/contribute/C2Cmadison?source=eventcenter



There always seems to be a line for the most part these days. That's how it was once everything was set up and the sign was hoisted. Quite a few people were from out of town and from states like California, Ohio, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, South Carolina, Maine, Massachusetts as well as Iowa, Illinois and Missouri. As always, people from around the World (Britain, Yugoslavia, Japan, Australia) stop by as well. All were either looking for information on how to sign up, had already signed up online and were participating in events in their hometown or wanted to collect a button. We have stopped just giving butttons to people. They need to sign up or be convincing enough as solid supporters. That's why we have so few buttons left. :hi:

"I used to like her, but now I like him more."

Those were the words of at least a few dozen people who stopped by to sign up or just wanted a bumpersticker and other information on the campaign to take along with them. There is no way to avoid what people think about the frontrunner at the moment. They walk up and it's practically the first words they say.

One woman from St. Louis visiting Madison to attend a wedding walked up to me and just started talking about how she can't believe the polls. She knew no one who was for the frontrunner at the moment and was worried. I told her that from a historic standpoint, the "assumed frontrunner" is in nearly all cases someone that implodes as the election primary season approaches. She practically cried as I gave her a bumpersticker and a secretly stashed button. I also told her there was an Obama headquarters in St. Louis and she would get that info when she signs up to get info on the campaign. She was elated!

"I really liked what he said about the flag pin."

Those were also the words of many people who stopped by to sign up or just wanted a bumpersticker and other information on the campaign to take along with them. A few people were on the fence on Obama UNTIL he talked about that non-issue.

In case you missed this, here is what Barack Obama said:

"My attitude is that I'm less concerned about what you're wearing on your lapel than what's in your heart. You show your patriotism by how you treat your fellow Americans, especially those who serve. You show your patriotism by being true to our values and ideals. That's what we have to lead with is our values and our ideals."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071004/ap_on_el_pr/obama_no_flag_pin

I would gladly like to see any grandstanding politician try to take a hit at Obama with their flag pin, which is probably made in China. They would get their buttocks handed back to them.



People who come up to the table to talk issues and want to find out more include people from all races and ages. It's not just "young people". What has been interesting and is evident in the sign up sheets that women of all ages are particularly interested in Obama's candidacy...and in a majority of instances, they mention how much they can't stand the frontrunner at the moment.

Like any event where you are out in the public, there were a few people that stuck out as oddballs and loners.

One guy walked by and muttered "he's a muslim" before running off like a cowardly cake eater.

Another guy said that nothing matters anyone and handed us a cartoon where he said it tells the future. The tagline of the wackatoodle cartoon was "we all die in the end". Oh, OK... :crazy:

Another guy started screaming at we need to end to war now. He was screaming so loudly that a Farmers Market official came up to him and asked him to leave. He walked away yelling and disappeared into the now sweaty crowd.

There was a guy who came up and started talking to me and appeared a little down on his luck. He said he was homeless and stopping by Madison on his way to the West coast by hopping a train later in the day. I told him it was the 50th anniversary of Kerouac's "On The Road" and he chuckled as he pulled out a dog-eared copy in his backpack.

He said he had been in the first Gulf War and wanted to check out the numbers on the Weekly War Scorecard. He started crying. I gave him a bottle of water.

He then started in on a 10-minute story about how his buddies are also homeless and divorced, how he had been in New Orleans working for a while for Habitat for Humanity, how he wanted to possibly join back in the military if things don't work out out West and how he liked Obama because he was against the war.

I gave him some money ($5) and walked him over to a nearby coffee stand I go to on a usual basis and got him an iced coffee. I wished him well and thought how lucky I was as I walked back to the table, aptly being taken care of by a couple others.

There were a few people who stopped by the table or more accurately, stood nearby the table staring and then saying they were just "listening".



That's right. We had some new volunteers handing out balloons to mesmerized kids of parents with Obama stickers on them. The kids were so darn cute and the parents, who in most cases, signed up and had a bumpersticker to apply to the family vehicle with them.

There are two more outdoor Farmers Market events left. Once the last one happens, I'll have a mini-documentary of the last eight months to share. From there, it goes indoors and over to Iowa.

More coming soon on the Obama visit as well...

[illinoisprogressive]

1. The pics make me think I'm there. thanks.

Once we move I may come by and help out! lol.
seriously, I think you have one of the best support for Obama things going. A booth on the capital and letting people know the truth from all the spin and garbage being peddled.
And meeting so many people. I remember people kept coming up to the booth that day I was there. So many are curious and want to know more. Obama has sparked so much interest.
I though it sweet to help that homeless vet out. I hope the best for him.
I am going to so miss your reports after 2 weeks. What an amazing summer you've had.

[zulchzulu]

2. I'm so glad you stopped by that day

I was so cool to see someone in real life that is otherwise pixels on a screen. I hope you can make the Obama visit and will see about getting some kind of way for you to get front and center.

:thumbsup:

[madrchsod]

3. we made it as far as janesville yesterday

but did`t have enough time to get to madison...we wanted to go to the "harvest fest" on other end of the street, oh well maybe next year!

you are doing a great job for obama.

[zulchzulu]

7. Make sure to stop by in the next couple weekends

...if you can... the Farmers market is a blast as well.

:thumbsup:

[murielm99]

4. Do you ever have anyone come up to your table

and go negative on you about any issue, or anything to do with your candidate?

An Energy Fair is held annually in our county. I did not table for the Democrats at this year's Energy Fair. They had plenty of volunteers. But I did table for two years in succession before this year.

Last year, we had a guy who came up to yell about abortion every time there was a new shift of volunteers at the table. Eventually I told the guy that nobody was going to change his or her mind based on his arguments and shouting. He had said his piece, so he needed to go away.

[zulchzulu]

6. Oh yeah...

Over the months, there have been a few wackos that we basically told them to move along when there was a chance between the rants.

I didn't mention that someone who has a table near us (Palestinian rights) which I completely agree with and would like to see better policies on come by and was apparently off his meds or something. He told me that Osama bin Laden is better than any of the candidates running.

I just told him I was surprised he would stoop that low and informed him that he woud probably be beheaded by bin Laden if that asshole had a chance since he was Jewish. He had told me earlier about how hard it was being Jewish and watching Israel doing what it does to Palestinians. I will probably not have anything more than common pleasant conversation with him in the future. He showed his cards. He wanted me to help on a documentary and I've decided he's an ass.

What I don't write about are some of the usual Republicans that walk by the table with an odd stare. You just stare back. It scares them.

[Colobo]

5. Thanks for your efforts, zuch!

I truly admire you and wait for your reports every Sunday! :)

[zulchzulu]

8. Thanks for reading!

It's Monday and I can't wait until next Saturday already. It should be a big crowd of volunteers with tons of balloons with the upcoming rally next Monday.

It should be a little cooler too with autumn supposedly about to really kick in.

[JNelson6563]

9. Very exciting!

You must really come away from these Farmer's Market days with a great energy. Such interaction is invigorating IMO.

Loved the pics. Touching story about the Vet, poor soul. Thank you for your kindness to him.

Lots of positive energy in these reports of yours. :applause:

Julie

[zulchzulu]

10. I've met several homeless Gulf War vets there in the past months

Many of them have been sick with lung problems and were very bitter about how they have been treated by the VA. It's just going to get worse with this war and its government throwaways...

Otherwise, yes, it is very positive...but people like the vet mentioned seem to haunt me for a lot longer...

[zulchzulu]

11. I saw 8 Obama bumper stickers on cars during a lunchtime drive

There were 3 cars including mine practically next to each other at an intersection. Nothing like seeing that!