Shannon Miller - Campaign Intern (Go Alexi!)

So as many of you may or may not know, I am an intern for Alexander “Alexi” Giannoulias’ campaign for President Obama’s former U.S. Senate seat.

I decided in October to start volunteering because I was starting to go crazy just sitting around at home (or at Mike’s) all day, looking for jobs that weren’t really there and I decided that since I wasn’t working for pay, I might as well be working to gain some experience that could hopefully make me an even better candidate than I already think that I am and thought that campaign experience would be the most helpful if I want to make it to Washington. My dad asked me why I didn’t decide to work on a more local campaign like Cook County Board President since I could probably get a job out of it after the election, but as much as I may joke about being a future warlord or despot, Cook County (and the same for the State of Illinois) is way too corrupt for me to deal with and their employees are way too incompetent for me to work with and if I can’t work in international politics just yet, then I might as well work in national. And although this may been a little flaky, but I decided on Alexi because I saw some pictures of him at a charity poker game and he seemed more personable than the other candidates (I can’t help it, but I can usually tell right away whether someone is a good person and if I’ll like them – even if it is based on a photo or just by the company they keep).

I have to admit that I’m really enjoying myself on the campaign. Pretty much everyone on the campaign is really nice and cool, including Alexi himself and his mom is seriously like one of the sweetest ladies ever. I have actually learned a lot about political campaigns and fundraising, things that should come in handy if I ever have to go into fundraising or decide to work for another campaign. I also have learned how to be an internet stalker: I can learn a lot about people on the internet – a lot more than people probably know or like. It’s slightly creepy when you think about it actually, but I like to think that it’s going towards a great cause. I was also forced to (slightly) get over my completely irrational fear of calling strangers on the phone (I can’t help that I’m more comfortable face-to-face or through technology) when I had to phone bank and call people and ask for their support.

I have to be completely honest and say that I was a little scared for a little while. Alexi said during an event that a lot of negative things were going to be said about him in the run-up to the Primary and he wasn’t kidding. The local media was fawning over one of his opponents, David Hoffman, and so did the national media once it hopped onto the race after the whole Massachusetts fiasco. I will admit that there are questions about Alexi and his candidacy but I wouldn’t be supporting him like I am if I didn’t think he would do a great job. But yet there was all of this seemingly negative press was out nonstop in the last few days about how he was crooked and a monster and part of the “Chicago Machine” and I did get a little concerned – mostly because even though I didn’t have a plan for if he in fact didn’t win.

But even though the day of the Primary was crazy – and that night was even crazier with people practically throwing themselves at his feet – he did win the Primary and so now I am back to doing my donor research for the finance department because the fight against Mark Kirk (the Republican nominee) is going to be a bitch. I hope through all of this that I end up getting hired by the campaign because I could certainly use the money (so I don’t end up going “Fight Club” on Sallie Mae) because I am paying for transit and other incidentals out of a pocket that isn’t really there but I really do appreciate this experience and learning all that I have learned. The road to November is going to be a long journey but at least it’s one I’m looking forward to.

The Democratic Party is Full of Pussies

Yeah I said it and I’ll say it again: the Democratic Party is full of pussies.

I want there to be a public option in the health care bill and it increasingly seems like their won’t. Why not? Because the majority of the Democratic Party is being hijacked by conservatives (meaning both a few of their own members – the “Blue Dogs” – and the members of Republican Party, who is still trying to steady itself over loosing control of Congress and the White House within a matter of 2 years). Pretty much ever poll I see or hear says that the majority of the American people want a public option – especially one that doesn’t add to the federal deficit – and I thought this was the type of government where the people got what the people wanted, not one where we are told what is good for us. Now it is true that the majority of Americans – nee all people – are stupid, but I would think that if we could unite and elect a President, we could unite and get some damn health insurance.

The options they are discussing aren’t right. People 50 and over buying/opting into Medicare (or whatever the current proposal is) isn’t going to help me. Neither is some cop-out about buying insurance because THAT ASSUMES I HAVE A JOB AND MONEY FOR HEALTH INSURANCE TO BEGIN WITH! Why am I so adamant about this? Because I have over $800 in emergency room bills from when I got sick over the summer with strep throat and walking pneumonia – and that involved unnecessary tests (like the $100 pregnancy test they did even though I told them repeatedly I was on the Pill then and just had my period), terrible service (the tech taking my blood stabbed me several times, switched arms, and then stabbed me some more before finding blood) and absolutely no follow though on the swine flu test they administered or anything else. In addition, they prescribed the $100+ antibiotics instead of the $30 version even though they knew I didn’t have insurance (luckily the pharmacist at Walgreens told us about it and had it changed). Oh, and I was told by DHS that they only way I could get covered by Medicare is if I was pregnant. This is why the healthcare industry in general needs to be revamped and why I need something that will cover me, someone who isn’t usually sick but would like something for just in case.

I can’t believe I’m about to say this, but that is something I liked about the previous administration. When Bush Cheney wanted something, it got done. They made up weapons of mass destruction and led the country (and many allies) into two separate wars for crying out loud! They got whatever they wanted all due to closing ranks and telling their members how to vote for the most part and I really wish the Democratic Party would find their balls and do the same.