I remember my first ever post on Hackett,
Paul Hackett for Congress, back on June 15th. I can remember my mindset when I made the post, like it was yesterday. In the deepest fiber of my being, I knew he had no chance. I knew, long before the special election primary, that OH-02 was a ridiculously Republican district--the worst in Ohio. Still, after everything I had posted since the election, about
a real fifty-state strategy, about
challenging every seat, about
the basic structural problems progressives faced (also
here) there was no way I could back down. I knew from that day forward, I was going to push Hackett as hard as I could.
I tell you something else: I never thought he would come this close. Never, ever, ever, ever. Never once, at least not consciously. But that still doesn't mean I don't want to cry right now.
I know this is a huge victory--crazy, bizarre, impossible that he came this close. I know how important this is--and not just for an Ohio tidal wave that now seems all but assured in 2006. Hackett would have won any other district in Ohio. He only lost this one by less than two points. After the general culture of vote corruption in Ohio is exposed, it will be revealed that he lost by even less (or who knows....)
But still, despite all this, I want to cry. I had suppressed all hope for so long, and then at the final hour it came out when Hackett took the lead. When Tim called me with the numbers at 190 precincts, I couldn't stop shouting "YES! YES! YES!" It wasn't even possible to talk to me. It was like every deepest dream you ever had coming true. I actually wrote on MyDD "The force will be with Hackett, always. It is getting close to total freak-out time." And that it went away so quickly.
We held out for so long, against impossible odds. The volunteers, the research, the free media, the fundrasing--unbelievable. We started with little help--except for a great candidate--and made it so close when it should have been such a huge blowout. But I still want to cry.
Just after the election was over, Ginny Schrader, the original candidate for whom Blogosphere Day began--the same day that really launched Paul Hackett online--sent me the following email:
I know it may not feel like it right this second but you are changing the world. I know it sounds corny but in this case it is accurate. Each time, you push us closer and closer to having better candidates and eventually winning candidates. Not in the high profile races where it takes no guts at all, but in the races where the "pros" have blown it.
Soon, you will have the victories you so rightfully deserve. Congrats to all of you who fought so hard. Hackett will take it next time around. I'm sure he has learned a lot.!!!! Rest easy, ya did good!!! Love, Ginny
I also thought of a Citizen Cope song, though with different pronouns than the original:
The candidate I love
is forty feet tall.
He's a movie star,
he's all in the papers.
And everywhere I go,
people hand me quarters
and they pat me on the back.
They treat me like I'm famous (...)
And Mr. Officer,
if you come to take him,
then that means one of us
goin' end up in a stretcher.(...)
If I had a pistol
I'd brandish it and wave it.
He's the only one alive
that knows that I'm not crazy (...)
Helicopters and cameras
all shooting for the station.
They say that a wild man is defending his candidate,
but for some odd reason they callin' you a pain.
I'll tell ya', it feels like that sometimes--like the whole world is telling us we're nuts for defending and supporting these candidates. It's like we are waving a pistol in front of a mob trying to defend our guys from certain death and injustice, and both D.C. and the MSM are calling us a pain for doing so. In a country gone mad, perhaps the sane people are now the crazy ones.
Writing this has made me feel a lot better. The Alamo fell, but we are going to win the war because of it. Tomorrow, it's back to business. There is, after all, a huge DFA Meetup where I will be the MC. I hope to see you there.
Yeah, the sun's gonna rise in a mile,
in a mile you'll be feelin' fine,
in a mile you will see, after me,
you'll be out of the dark,
yeah, you'll get your shot.