Mon 1 Aug 2005
We’ve come a long way Baby
Well gang, this is it. Nothing left to do but hang on and see where we land. It’s been one hell of a ride. We’ve had it all…intrigue, scandal and fashion faux pas all right here in this little corner of Ohio….who knew??
Back in the olden days (so many months ago) there was just my beloved, a few republicans, lurkers and Miss Ann Driscoll pushing this little red wagon online and the ever faithful Warren County democratic crew on the ground fighting the good fight with Major Hackett. Without a minute to spare the DNC, DFA and the rest of the blogesphere jumped on board and the cavalry came barreling in. Thank God!
It wasn’t that long ago when Chris came home from that forum introducing candidates in the Primary and told me there was someone I had to see, this guy had real potential. Being the loving wife I am I quickly informed him he was out of his damn mind. Then I met Paul Hackett.
For those of you jumping in the lake mid stream I have to tell you it has been fascinating to watch this campaign and Mr. Hackett evolve. As our opponent would say: “Imagine a caterpillar blossoming into a butterfly…Soaring into democracy….” [Sorry yall, that shit just tickles me to death] Seriously, gone is the man uncomfortable in a crowd that downplayed his role as a Marine. (I must admit, I kinda liked Paul Hackett and the Funky Bunch.) The Paul Hackett of today is more refined, he says what he feels, what he believes and most importantly what he means. There is no misunderstanding his message. He is his own man. He walks the Hackett line not the Party line. I think this is what has inspired the people here and across the country. His enthusiasm is contagious. It’s been hot as hell and yet people are coming from everywhere just to be apart of this. Maybe this happens with all campaigns, I dont know. Somehow I doubt it. At the risk of sounding like a hippie….This is history baby…..An experience of a lifetime.
Now I know most of you guys will be obessing…speculating….what are the numbers….who raised the most money….will he win or not…..did he remember his socks. All important issues to be sure but after talking to Paul and watching the dozens of volunteers still cranking it out last night it just made me think. How cool is this?! This is what is all about. Fighting the good fight. Working for what we believe in. Giving all you can whether it be time, money or prayers to make this place better for us and everyone who comes after us. And I dont mean here at OH2. I mean on the blogs, on the ground, liberals, progressives, democrats, everyone. Forgive me for getting alittle mushy, editor says now is not the time for mushy but I’m feeling mushy so dammit thats just too bad…wait and read this tomorrow. Not to mention I might be alittle too tipsy to remember what I want to say tomorrow so this is it. Anyways….It doesnt matter if you win or lose it’s how you play the game. Sappy crap, I know but it’s true. I dont want to wait until tomorrow to see how it goes cuz it doesnt matter. Nothing that happens tomorrow will diminish the greatness that has happend the past few months. I’m proud to support Paul Hackett today, tomorrow…next week. That’s all I wanted to say. See yall tomorrow!!
9 Responses to “We’ve come a long way Baby”
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August 1st, 2005 at 6:55 pm
He has inspired me. He is only the second candidate that I’ve ever donated to. (the first one being John Kerry) and I’m not even in his district. Best of Luck to Paul!!!!
August 1st, 2005 at 7:03 pm
It is best to express the joy on election eve. The tree is up, now we await to see what will be under it.
I want to thank the editor and Mrs. editor for all their time and hard work. I feel you played a huge part in the success of this campaign. And, no matter the outcome, this campaign has been truly a grass roots success.
After the election, I will await the book that contains all of the OH02 blogs. A couple of weeks ago, I took a stroll through all of the pictures. I saw the primary pictures and it felt so long ago, we all seemed so young then. This is the longest shortest election I have ever been involved in. Thank you for keeping me informed and motivated.
August 1st, 2005 at 7:13 pm
Fighting the Good Fight
Ohio 2nd » We’ve come a long way Baby Just some good blogging on the meaning of Paul Hackett’s race up in Ohio from Mrs. Editor at OH02’s blog: Now I know most of you guys will be obessing…speculating….what are…
August 1st, 2005 at 7:17 pm
I wouldn’t publish that book just yet. 2006 is right around the corner. The saga continues… There is no end to the righteous fight for the American Dream. I am proud of the efforts of the people of Southern Ohio (and beyond). Mat God bless you all. You have been doing an honorable thing. Best of luck to Paul tomorrow. His heart is in the right place.
Jim Parker for the American Dream
Former Candidate for US Congress (2005)
Waverly, Ohio (Pike County)
August 1st, 2005 at 7:17 pm
The Smoke Eater
A Last Call
By: Peter Deane
In a moment of a hot summer,
on an Independent afternoon,
I sat under a brown cowboy hat,
and the school band played by me,
a tune that honors our country,
and as I tapped my foot,
one carrying a heart of blue,
stopping briefly he shook my hand,
smiling he called me his fireman friend,
and under the brown cowboy hat,
I smiled back, ”You go get um, I hollered.”
”I’m gonna try like hell!” He hollered back.
And the crowd cheered,
and called for this man… “Paul Hackett!”
And he waved past everyone there,
and on he went caring as if in a war,
from his opponent all I got was silence,
and she gave me a sandy file,
it rubbed my fingers wrong,
and I quickly threw it in the trash,
and went to see my president,
I told him the IAFF was wrong,
never to see the working man’s way,
the electricians, the farmers,
think about the carpenter,
and the plumbers,
departing he tried bet to me,
and I thought of missing coins,
and sandy files,
and money under the table,
it all sounds like a betrayal to me,
and betrayal’s of faith are the worse,
that hit hard and truthfully wide,
and everyone is watching,
Jean’s litmus test story,
I was sickened by it all,
where’s a prosecutor when needed,
watching a prison guard move away,
or too busy slandering an innocent man,
he should know what a baby killer is,
dropped a case — parents weren’t informed,
abortion and stem cell research is pure politics,
and so is leaving the dead for the dead,
we must all go on together,
It’s only one world and one sun,
shake the hand of John Glenn,
look up beyond the light blue,
see a man hug his family,
”You go get um Paul!”
The wounded clap to that.
Believe me I saw it!
And from Jean Schmidt’s camp,
I saw an attack on soldiers serving,
and I saw them blame the innocent for flag burning,
I saw them call a good marine a baby killer…
and tomorrow I shall vote wisely…
our vote is so very sacred,
the culture of the corrupt has got to go!
”You go get um, Paul Hackett!”
May you make it to the seat of Washington!
To those that are volunteering… Cheers!
August 1st, 2005 at 7:40 pm
I completely agree, regardless of the outcome, I will never feel that I wasted a single moment of my time helping with this campaign. It’s been great from start to finish.
You guys are the best, I have counted on this site to give me all the latest news.
August 1st, 2005 at 9:38 pm
I remember that night at the 20th Centaury theatre in Oakley; Paul and Vick were both in attendance. There were high hopes that Pat Dewine would win the republican primary. The sharks gobbled him up before the Dems got a shot at him. I have yet to meet Chris but hope I do soon. You guys have done a great job with OH-02 blog. It has become a daily addiction for me. I stumble out of bed in the mornings and catch what Chris has labored over during the late hours of the night. I didn’t post on OH-02 much because I was usually responding on blogs that Chris brought to my attention. I think I might have hit a couple triples in the process, I don’t know if I have a homerun swing just yet. I could swear I’ve heard the campaign echo some of the things I had posted previously but surely whatever I said had been said before somewhere. My favorite is probably “these aren’t your father’s republicans” which rings so true.
There has been something brewing just under the surface in me since the Chatfield debate, I know what it is now and it isn’t really that important. What is important is that something changed in me and I have Paul Hackett to thank for that. To see a candidate blossom before your eyes is one thing to see change in yourself as a direct result from association with that candidate is another. I witnessed Paul reaching conservatives and independents, they listened to him, they liked him, and they committed themselves to electing him. It gives me hope that one day neighbors won’t be pitted against neighbors, families against themselves. More than anything else Paul has shown me that the terrible divide we find ourselves in this nation can be bridged. I have gained a willingness to join him in building some of those bridges.
August 1st, 2005 at 11:26 pm
Of all the hours I’ve spent tracking down the latest Hackett info online, I’ve found Ohio 2 to be consistently reliable, informative, humorous, human, and compatible. It’s where I start in the morning, and where I finish at night. Before I sign off, I’ll often make just one last stab at Ohio 2 to make sure nothing’s been posted since my last glance. And often there is. I feel like I’ve got a brother and sister (actually many of those) who’re right in the middle of it all, and they make sure they take me along with them. They make sure they take all of us along with them.
Right after the primary, I heard about the Hackett campaign on Ed Schultz. Paul seemed like a worthy guy to get involved with, even though I live in San Francisco. There was plenty of online activity, but it didn’t seem “big enough” as what Paul needed. I kept gritting my teeth over the DNC and the DCCC and even OhioDems. It was frustrating to have such a golden candidate, and it felt like he was this big secret or something. I faxed and emailed and phone called over and over again. Like all of us.
Then things started to move faster; a critical mass developed, and the campaign grew into what it’s become over the last couple of weeks. All in good time. And there’s a familiar cast of characters to thank; and hundreds & thousands of people just like me, who I don’t know, but we’re all part of this Hackett Campaign family. I know, if I could’ve made it to the final push in Ohio, that I’d have found people that I would be at home and at ease with. And I know we’ve set the foundation for an enormous political revolution.
After all the “edge of my chair” emotions, I feel like I can sleep well and be quiet tonight. I feel good about what we’ve done, and I feel calm and optimistic about the future- both tomorrow, and in coming years. We’ve got what it takes, and we can make it happen. And we can do it the right way.
Thanks, Mr. & Mme. Editor, and everyone. And thanks to you, Paul Hackett, and your wonderful family.
August 2nd, 2005 at 7:06 am
Today’s the day for Hackett
Well, today we get to find out just how effective the Paul Hackett campaign has been. I have no idea…