In this thread, Dmesg gives mad props to his girlfriend

[Recursion]

She lurks here but (to my knowledge, at least) has never posted.

She has extreme social anxiety and gets very, very nervous speaking in public.

The Obama campaign called her up and asked if she would fly to OH to help canvas. She explained her problems. They said that the worst that can happen is that she tries and can't manage to knock on the door, and that they'd love to have her give it a shot.

She's already knocked on a dozen houses and converted two undeclared voters. She also met some Huckabee people who agreed to look at his positions if Huckabee does not get the nod.

I just wanted to say I'm extremely proud of her.

Dmesg approves this message...

[TomInTib]

1. Good for her.

Who knows? Maybe this experience will help her turn the corner on her anxiety issues.

[Recursion]

2. Well, whether it does or not, I'll still think she hung the moon

But yeah, I'm just unspeakably proud of her and I think this might be a turning point for her.

[demmiblue]

3. Good for her!

And good on you!

:toast:

[Maddy McCall]

4. You rock, dmesg's girlfriend!!

I went through some anxiety issues after an abusive marriage. I went back to college after my son was born, and next thing I know, I'm asked to be the chair of my university's scholar's bowl team. Getting out there, speaking, answering questions, leading...all helped to pull me out of the shell that was around me. I still have some problems from the PTSD, but nothing like where I was before I found my place in the world.

Enough about me! I hope that what you are doing shows you that you are a good, respectable, valuable human. You are out there talking to people, and obviously doing a super job as you are convincing people to support your candidate. I'll keep you in my thoughts and hope that the good work you are doing on behalf of Obama benefits YOU in many ways.

:hug:

:yourock:

[yardwork]

7. Maddy, you rock, too! This is what I love about DU.

:hug:

[Maddy McCall]

9. Thank you so much.

Tears in my eyes.

:loveya:

:hug:

[Recursion]

11. You definitely do rock, and I agree this is why DU rocks

Massive DU hugz all round
:hug:

[casus belli]

14. I don't always agree with your positions, but no one can say you don't have a big heart. n/t

[Maddy McCall]

23. Thanks very much.

:hug:

[yardwork]

17. Mine too!

:hug:

[Recursion]

8. I certainly agree that she rocks

But I didn't need someone else to tell me that, obviously :)

[Maddy McCall]

10. Tell her that...

Maddy in Mississippi is pullin' for her!

:)

[Recursion]

15. Which part of the state are you from?

If the primaries are still going on I intend to canvas in my hometown up in Oktibbeha County

But I'll make sure she sees the thread. It makes me sad that such a wonderful and loving woman has gotten so little positive reinforcement of what she has done before and this is the kind of thing she loves to see.

[Maddy McCall]

22. I'm way down here in South Mississippi.

Wish you were going to be closer...I'd meet you for some coffee and conversation.

[Recursion]

26. I have a good friend from D'Iberville

(Or at least, she was from D'Iberville, before * abandoned that city to the hurricane. I haven't been back to the coast since Katrina; I hear D'Iberville and Pass Christian really don't exist anymore :( )

She used to say that I'm a Yankee because I'm from north of I-10 :)

[whatchamacallit]

16. Wow Maddy, good for you

You've obviously come a long way, cuz as far as I can tell, you seem to have no problem kicking my ass up and down this board. ;-)

[Maddy McCall]

24. LOL.

Oops. Sorry 'bout that. :rofl:

:hug:

[whatchamacallit]

30. I (mostly) deserve it

:P

[mzmolly]

5. I'm proud of her right along with you Dmesg. What she's doing is not only good for America,

but as a form of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_behavioral_therapy">CBT for people with social anxiety, it's good for her!

I have a slight bit of issue with social anxiety myself. Most people wouldn't know it, however as I never shut up when in a social situation and I thrust myself into them regardless, LOL.

[yardwork]

6. That is wonderful!

That's the kind of thing I am observing about Obama's campaign. It's amazing how it is empowering and motivating people to support a Democrat.

[Recursion]

20. I loved their attitude

We can't afford to turn people away. Come to OH. If you can't canvas, call. If you can't call, work in the office. Whatever you're facing, there's something you can do, and doing that is the start of realizing the other things you can do.

[casus belli]

12. Way to go! Keep up the great work! n/t

[NC_Nurse]

13. Excellent. It's very hard to get up the nerve to call people too.

I had a hard time getting started, but it ended up being really easy and
I'm so glad I did it. :)

They give you everything you need right on the Obama website: the names and numbers, a script, responses to different
situations...it's a breeze!

They really need people these next few days to make calls for the Ohio and Texas primaries. If you have very little time or
can't get out - you can do it easily from home with a computer and a phone and a few free minutes. A phone-banking
expert here said that even if you just discover a disconnected number or someone that doesn't want to be called again, it saves the
$10 each time to streamline their list. :-)

[KLee]

18. WAY TO GO!!!

[Lisa0825]

19. Good for her!!!

I remember being terrified the first time I was asked to speak in favor of Dean. I applaud her for making the effort and pushing the limits of her comfort zone.

On top of doing a good thing for the country, I hope she will also find that it has helped her break down that fear in general as well.

Tell her I said :yourock:

[SaveOurDemocracy]

21. Awesome ... good for her!

I join you in celebrating her accomplishment! :toast:

[Adelante]

25. Bless her heart

:)

[Avalux]

27. Good for her!

Thanks for sharing your story and tell your girlfriend she should be very proud of herself too; what she did today wasn't easy if she has trouble speaking in public. :hi:

[Recursion]

28. Well, "trouble speaking in public" doesn't begin to go there

I won't tell her story for her, but it really is full-blown PTSD, and given the shit she's been through, whatever survival mechanism she needs is more than fine with me. She's helped me more than I could express in a lifetime with my Iraq PTSD; I only hope that over decades of helping her I could begin to do as much for her.

[Avalux]

29. She's a lucky woman -

you are very devoted to her and it shows. Take good care of each other. :hug:

[Recursion]

32. I'm the lucky one

She hung the moon, really.

[NanBo]

31. I am so very impressed

with your girlfriend--what amazing courage!
And she's very lucky to have such an appreciative partner--Huge Grats to you both!!

[IndyOp]

33. You GO girl! I wish that everyone would step back a moment and appreciate

the fact that empowering ourselves by participating in these campaigns - Obama or Clinton - is, perhaps, THE most important part of this experience.

:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:

[Recursion]

34. I was an Edwards supporter; she brought me to Obama

Her point was that it's not about them, it's about us. We have a chance, if we work our asses off, to take our country back. Any of our three candidates can help us do that; she gravitated towards Obama because he's the most explicit in his trust of us.

[IndyOp]

35. She and I are definitely on the same wavelength --

I keep telling the people I talk to that I am voting for them to be President -- I am voting for you and your girlfriend and Maddy and everyone at DU -- and I think the best way to get us all elected is to check the box next to Obama's name.

:hi: