The latest Plunderbund podcast features Oh02′s favorite candidate for nothing, Paul Hackett. Renee in Ohio has been cool enough to transcribe the interview. Good stuff.

This section stands out:

When I was running last year in the 2nd congressional district in southern Ohio, I can’t tell you the number of elected officials from the state level and the national level that, as my campaign, after the primary, began to catch a little bit of traction, would call up and plead with me–*plead* with me not to make the race a referendum. Plead with me not to be critical of George Bush, and plead with me not to be critical of the war in Iraq. Because in their vast failed experience, it was a losing way to fight the race. They *begged* me to just stay silent about my criticism on Bush, and they *begged* me to just stay quiet on my criticism on the war in Iraq.

And if you go back a year ago now, you’ll see Bush’s approval rating was above 50%, and there were *no* national–*zero* national Democratic leaders that were taking on the president on the war in Iraq. Not Harry Reid, not Chuck Schumer, not Nancy Pelosi, not Jack Murtha. Not a one of them! Not a one of them except for, forgive me if I sound like I’m blowing my own horn, one loud-mouthed Marine who’d just come back from fighting in Iraq, who was quoted on the front page of the New York Times, calling President Bush a chickenhawk, and telling the American people that it’s a resounding failure what’s going on. And then some months after that, Congressman Murtha had the temerity to stand up, without, may I add, the approval or Nancy Pelosi, Rahm Emanuel and Chuck Schumer–

BTW, I believe that, Michael Wood, the guy who coined the term candidate for nothing has accepted a gig with Shamansky in the 12th as Communications Director. During the special and senate debacle Wood was usually the first person that I’d bump into at events… the problem was that he wasn’t allowed to talk to me, so it was always a “Mr. Baker”, and that was it. His gig was similar to Charlie’s in the first seasons of West Wing.
Since Mike was often the driver, I wonder if Shamansky will rent out the big ol’ bus. The 12th has the potential to be a fun one, so congrats on that.