florida bound - first day

it's so lonely without rae!!! but ariel & i are handling it! we're speeding down 95, going thru maryland to virginia, and now we're in the middle of north carolina! we're collecting huge numbers of positive responses to the truck, including hand claps, fists in the air, thumbs up, and folks hanging out windows cheering and shouting! very, very few negatives and only 1 fuck you from an angry white man! we stopped in richmond for espresso & spoke with several folks, including a man who was a former felon who was forbidden to vote in this state of virginia. he spoke about bush & the lies he told to take us to war; he talked about the state of the economy & how rich people have benefitted from this administration; he talked about how he was forbidden to vote but that he is not forbidden to talk with folks about getting them out to vote, which he is committed to. i felt his great hope, tinged with such great saddness and we set off, more determined than ever to get out every possible vote for this election.
as we head to yet another swing state, i think about the folks in new york, connecticut & other non-swing but democratic states & think about the work we have to do there - whether kerry is in like flynn, we still need this election to be the MOST ever votes cast in this country - we have to make a HUGE, resounding statement in 24 days so let's get off our butts, take to the streets, talk w/the undecided & the non-voting democrats - forget about the straight white fundies males who are supporting bush - no time for them - focus on the undecided, etc. and we will take back our government! peace & love, sam