Elisberg Industries
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Products
    • Books
    • Movies
  • About Elisberg Industries
    • Our Corporate Board
    • Information Overstock
    • Elisberg Industries Entertainment Information
    • Elisberg Statistical Center of American Research
    • Consultancy Service
  • Contact
    • How to Find Us
  • Kudos
  • Good Things to Know
    • The BOB Page
    • Sites You Might Actually Like
Decent Quality Since 1847

Button Up

8/29/2016

0 Comments

 
Okay, I've made it out of the homestead, and the elves have happily ensconced themselves there as if they own the place instead of being temporary, albeit welcome squatters.  And as it turns out, I do have some time -- fine, a lot of time -- at the International Terminal of LAX, and a WiFi connection, so I figured I'd wile some of it away with a tale.  Ostensibly it's about a button, but it's really to show how little the Clinton campaign is worried about winning California.

As I mentioned earlier this morning, I'm on my way to the IFA tech trade show.  And it's not only in Europe, but Germany.  And not only Germany, but Berlin.  So, I've been a bit wary about the reaction there -- of all places -- to the fact that someone like Donald Trump is one of two candidates running for President of the United States.  With this outlandish, at times ghastly, intolerant, racist, bullying tactics that have lead to violence.  I've even spent some time figuring out what my response should be if, or perhaps better, when I'm asked about it by some aghast Germans, or anyone there.  What I've come up with is, "No, no, Donald Trump is not supported by America, he was nominated by the far right conservative Republican Party.  Pretty much the rest of America is appalled by him, and right now he's losing by 8-10 points in the polls."

I figured that was a good start, but I also figured that there would still be a lot of people who would see those Americans at the show and not even bother to ask.  But walk by, equally aghast.  So, I needed something for that, as well as to create a shortcut for those who do decide to start a conversation.  And so, for that, I decided I'd go on the Hillary for America website and buy a button to wear.  "I'm With Her" should get the point across.  I actually ended up buy two buttons, so I could switch to created some variety.  Or maybe someone else in the group would want to borrow one.  So, I ordered an "I'm With Her" and "Clinton/Kaine" button.  And I waited.

And waited.  A month had passed, and I was leaving in a few days.  So, I called up to ask if there was anything about the shipment.  Oh, yes, I was told, the buttons just came in, and you'll get yours next week.  Alas, no good, I'll be leaving before that.  So, I was out of luck.

(Question. How in the world could they be out of buttons?  This isn't like a seasonal thing where you check your stock every once in a while.  It's a presidential campaign with a four-month lifespan.  Okay, buttons aren't the most important thing in the campaign. Buttons are out there in the world, and they have bumper stickers and all's fine.)

Except I wouldn't have my buttons for Berlin.  What to do?  And this is where that larger point kicks in.

Aha, I thought, I'll call a local Hillary for California office. Surely they'll have buttons there.  There are about three offices in Los Angeles -- but none have a phone number listed!  And searching the web, I couldn't find a phone number in any news stories.  There was a Facebook page, so I left a question there.  And waited.  A few days passed with no answer, so I gave up and tried something else.

The Democratic Party of Los Angeles, yes, that's where to look!  And they actually even have a phone number.  So, I called.  What they don't have are buttons.  (How could the Democratic Party of Los Angeles not have Clinton for President buttons??  Well, okay, so they don't...)  But at least I could get a phone number to Clinton for California office, and that would be resolved.  But -- no, they don't have a phone number for any of the local Clinton campaign offices.  So, yes, you know the question now:  how in the WORLD can the local Democratic Party in Los Angeles not have a phone number for any of the Hillary Clinton offices in Los Angeles??  But, they don't.  So be it.

I had one last option.  Don't rely on the telephone.  The closet Clinton campaign office to me is near the Los Angeles Airport in Westchester.  It's not that bad a drive, about 25 minutes.  I could head over there and hope for the best.  Surely, though, they would have campaign buttons.

I hope you've figured out by this point that I really did want a Clinton button to wear in Berlin.  I don't usually wear political buttons.  Or buttons of any kind.  But I really want to wear one there.  I don't even expect to wear it when I get back.  (Though who knows?)

So, I got down to Westchester, found the Clinton campaign office, and went in.  It was a pretty big space, lots of desks, and paper and posters everywhere.  And two people.  One girl was on her laptop, the other guy was wandering around.  In fairness, this was around 12:45 PM, so I suspect some people were out to lunch.

Anyway, I explained my mournful story and asked if they had any buttons.  And...well, no, they really didn't.  They should be getting some in soon, but none there other.  Except for those.  He pointed to a fishbowl full of buttons.  They weren't great, they were a lot larger than something I'd like to wear, and they didn't even say "Clinton" on them.  Just a small-ish full-length picture of here and some odd touchy-feeling slogans.  

It was clear that I was disappointed by this, but at least it was better than nothing.  Not much, but a little.  But -- to the guy's great credit, he said "Wait a minute."  And he went searching through his backpack and...and he found one of his own Clinton campaign buttons which he gave me!!  That's a good guy.  No charge, when I offered to pay.  He'd be getting more in soon.  And take some of those other buttons, too, if you want.

I did, in case others in the group wanted to wear one, as I said.  But mainly...I had mine real one!!

Picture

​And so, I will wear my "Clinton-Kaine" button as I wander around Berlin.  And if anyone asks me how could America possibly support...Donald Trump??? -- I'll just point to my beloved button and say that, no, America does not.  The far-right Republican Party does.  Not America.  He's losing by 8-10 points.


Which brings us back to the larger point.

I am absolutely certain that in Battleground States, in even the tiniest nook, there is no problem in the world finding a Clinton for President button.  Or finding a nearby Clinton for President campaign office.  Or finding a phone number for reading the Clinton for President office.  Or finding a packed room of people scurrying around a Clinton for President office.  But in Los Angeles, California -- the second largest city in the United States -- finding a button...finding a phone number a campaign office...was one of the more challenging adventures I've been on for a while.

Because I don't think the Clinton campaign is really very concerned about carrying the state...
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Picture
    Elisberg Industries gets a commission if you click here before shopping on Amazon.
    Picture
    Follow @relisberg

    Author

    Robert J. Elisberg is a political commentator, screenwriter, novelist, tech writer and also some other things that I just tend to keep forgetting. 

    Elisberg is a two-time recipient of the Lucille Ball Award for comedy screenwriting. He's written for film, TV, the stage, and two best-selling novels, is a regular columnist for the Writers Guild of America and was for
    the Huffington Post.  Among his other writing, he has a long-time column on technology (which he sometimes understands), and co-wrote a book on world travel.  As a lyricist, he is a member of ASCAP, and has contributed to numerous publications.



    Picture
           Feedspot Badge of Honor

    Archives

    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013

    Categories

    All
    Animals
    Audio
    Audio Land
    Books
    Business
    Chicago
    Consumer Product
    Education
    Email Interview
    Entertainment
    Environment
    Fine Art
    Food
    From The Management
    Health
    History
    Huffery
    Humor
    International
    Internet
    Journalism
    Law
    Los Angeles
    Media
    Morning News Round Up
    Movies
    Music
    Musical
    Personal
    Photograph
    Piano Puzzler
    Politics
    Popular Culture
    Profiles
    Quote Of The Day
    Radio
    Religion
    Restaurants
    Science
    Sports
    Technology
    Tech Tip
    Theater
    The Writers Workbench
    Tidbits
    Travel
    Tv
    Twitter
    Video
    Videology
    Well Worth Reading
    Words-o-wisdom
    Writing

    RSS Feed

© Copyright Robert J. Elisberg 2023
Contact Us    About EI    Chicago Cubs
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Products
    • Books
    • Movies
  • About Elisberg Industries
    • Our Corporate Board
    • Information Overstock
    • Elisberg Industries Entertainment Information
    • Elisberg Statistical Center of American Research
    • Consultancy Service
  • Contact
    • How to Find Us
  • Kudos
  • Good Things to Know
    • The BOB Page
    • Sites You Might Actually Like