Grand Finale: "No Second Chances"
This week has gone by in a whirlwind. There have been breakfast meetings, luncheons, caucus meetings, receptions, parties and speaker forums sponsored by many different groups as well as individual politicians. It has been a blast!
The Democratic National Convention has been an overwhelming success. We are once again united as one to serve the interest of many. Our leaders have shown themselves to be some of the most articulate, hardworking, well-organized and dedicated people in the world. I’m growing confident that in a few short months, I will once again be able to trust my government to fight for me.
I say once again because “they” have dropped the ball. They let services for our children and elderly be taken away. They let the safety and quality of our food be compromised. They let the price of gasoline escalate and threaten our economic security. They let the quality of our schools plummet and the cost of higher education soar out of reach for the average American.
Wait a minute. There is no “they.” Only me and we! No one should know that better. I am one of the 100 delegates who represented you, progressive Marylanders, this past week. I got to sit in a world-class stadium with 80,000 other Americans and listen to the next president of the United States tell us to take back our country! I experienced first-hand that golden moment in the afterglow of Barack’s acceptance speech when the air was fresh, the sky above us clear, confetti poured down, and spirits soared. It was as if we were all in a snow globe!
I now feel in my heart what I’ve always known in my head; America is our treasure! She embodies the hopes and dreams not only of us but of the entire world! We have only 65 days to ensure that we get her back! It becomes clearer and clearer every day that Barack Obama is the leader to get us where we need to go. Marylanders, we have worked very hard to support our candidate. We now must work even harder.
Mike and I have left Denver. We arrive in St. Louis to visit our daughter at college before returning to Maryland, and the campaign trail. As our shuttle-bus driver takes us to our rental car, he summarizes it all. Reacting to the personalized “Obama ‘08” button I am wearing he volunteers: “We’ve got to bring out every single voter to win in November. There are no second chances here!”
-- Cheryl Miller
Carmen Amedori, 52, is a resident of Westminster and was a state delegate representing Carroll County from 1998 to 2004, when she was appointed by then-Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. to serve on the Maryland Parole Commission. A native of Baltimore and graduate of Villa Julie College, Amedori worked as a paralegal and journalist while raising two daughters, before entering the world of politics. She was one of the few elected officials in Maryland who supported John McCain when he ran for president in 2000, and was an alternate delegate at that year's convention. Her backing has not wavered, and this year, Amedori is the Western Maryland regional director for McCain. She has also been cleared to be a surrogate — meaning she has the blessing to speak on McCain’s behalf when called upon.
Cheryl Miller, 55, and her husband, Michael, coordinate the Volunteers for Obama office in Anne Arundel County. She is an Annapolis resident and mother of two who runs a home-based event planning business. Despite studying political science at Lycoming College in Pennsylvania, Miller was not particularly involved in politics until this year. She was invited to a fund-raiser last fall, and soon found herself immersed in the Obama campaign, working phone banks and traveling to Ohio and Pennsylvania to door-knock. This will be her first convention.
Comments
"We've got to bring out every single voter to win in November. There are no second chances."
Here my story: Wanting to not fear, "living the America dream".
I'm 38, a single mother of two sons (18 & 13). I'm a home owner and have my own business. My 18 year old son will be starting college in January. I pay health insurance out of pocket. I'm not eligible for reduce or free lunch for my 13 year old son.I'm over the income bracket by a few dollars. I have to pay $3.00 a day or pack lunch. Should I go on?
I, we need our Government to fight for health care and education for our children. We need our Government to help,not penalize, middle class America. We should not have to fear the tax season in 2009 and worry how to pay for college at the same time. We should not accept packing lunch for my child because Government regulations on the school lunch programs are terrible. Feeding our kids processed, high in salt, high in sugar garbage. For those who disagree with me about the school lunches; go to any school in the inner cities where almost 100% of the lunches are free for the students. This picture is bigger than my story. "Are we our brothers' keeper". Without
Obama and all the Democrats across this country, we will face some difficult times.
Cheryl, I agree with you. America is our treasure.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 31, 2008 5:55 PM