October 10, 2022
Hello Everybody,
In my previous letter on June 9th I said:
What will I DO to help steer the midterms toward the Democrats and progressives? Not sure yet. One thought is to take the train to Georgia and do canvassing for Stacy Abrams and Rafael Warnock. (And patronize the many vegan restaurants in the Atlanta area).
I did not take the train but I have been here in Atlanta since September 28th and plan to stay through the election.
I have been canvassing for Stacey and the representatives of the campaign appreciate my contribution. I've walked 4 different neighborhoods of 40-70 addresses each. I ring doorbells and, if someone answers, I say:
I'm with the Stacey Abrams campaign and have some literature for you. Do you support Stacey? It is important to vote early starting the week of October 17th. Would you like a yard sign? And I hope you also support Raphael Warnock for Senate.I am finding it fascinating to see the great variety of responses. Many people are not home (so I just leave literature) but there are many who are open to a short conversation. I enjoy getting a glimpse into their lives. Such a variety of socioeconomic and educational backgrounds! I spoke with a 95 year old man who had several stories to tell. And an 88 year old grandfather and his very astute granddaughter. Mostly black people and they do accept old-white-guy me perhaps because I am campaigning for Stacey.
Today two people were a little hostile. I asked one if he supported Stacey and he replied 'None of your business. Goodbye'. Another did not like that I left the literature on his doorknob. He accosted me and gave it back and said 'F*ck Stacey Adams [sic]'.
I enjoy having this canvassing job. Tanya has rightly said that 'Smart Dogs Need Jobs'.
FYI - Here's an excellent interview with Stacey on MSNBC on September 15th.
I am enjoying being a 'roustabout' and 'vagabond' and free. I'm neither homeless nor poor. I was able to come and volunteer here for a few reasons. I have the health and wealth to make it possible, I don't have a job (aside from a bit of remote work), and I have neither children nor parents to look after. And I have a partner who is independent and allowed me to go. So I'm here and have so far had some adventures.
A week ago I took a day trip to Rome, Georgia. Rome is a larger city in the 14th congressional district whose representative is Marjorie Taylor Greene. I happened across the campaign office of her Democrat challenger, Marcus Flowers. I made a donation and chatted with a person there. I ended up helping put together 40 yard signs for Stacey's campaign. And had some interesting chats with other people there. I felt like I had helped.
Yesterday I went to church - at the Ebenezer Baptist church where Martin Luther King Jr. was the pastor. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock is still the senior pastor there and he officiated the service. What a guy! SO articulate and clear. Very impressive and inspirational. The church has a very technically savvy crew to produce the weekly service and make it available for all on YouTube and Facebook. Here's the YouTube link if you wish to see it. The whole is very much worth watching but you can skip ahead to 1:12:45 where he switches to a different role and encourages people to vote early. He also greets a journalist (Eugene Daniels) who was two rows behind me! I'm the gray haired one in the blueish jacket.
Tomorrow I take a break from canvassing because I bought a ticket to the first game in the National League Division Series between the Atlanta Braves (last year's World Series Champion) and the Philadelphia Phillies (in 2008 I canvassed for Obama in Philadelphia at the same time as the Phillies won the World Series!). Here's a prose poem I wrote around that time: On The Bus For Obama and a YouTube video of the rabid Phillies fans celebrating their team.
On Wednesday I am heading to Savannah to tour that town a bit and be present near the one debate on Friday between Raphael Warnock and Herschel Walker. You have likely heard on the news about the Walker kerfuffle/scandal - his paying for an abortion 10 years ago. One woman I spoke with today while canvassing wondered whether Herschel would even show up at the debate. He is so so out-classed by Warnock. She said she was sad for Herschel's campaign manager to be surprised by this and try and manage it all.
On Thursday the January 6th committee resumes their hearings. I will be watching with rapt attention! I hope there are more than just one more. They are the BEST THING ON TV!
Traveling around Atlanta has been rather easy. There are many useful apps on the phone that make navigation simple. It is quite different from when I was first a vagabond and roustabout - when I traveled for 9 months in 1984/5!
I first rented a 2014 BMW i-3 electric car and next a 2019 Nissan Leaf. They both have served me well.
Jon
A few fun pictures to share:
