Note: One pleasure of planning Ron Shepston's (aka CanYouBeAngryAndStillDream) campaign rollout for CA-42 has been assembling a wonderful collection of diarists who are either part of the campaign or willing to lend their reportorial expertise to helping people understand the district. We've planned to include our fellow Southern Californian, occams hatchet among them. OH put together a brief diary last week to promote Ron's announcement diary. I had wanted him to write a full one for this week but have found out that -- tragically -- he has left for a vacation. So I'm re-running this one, which got too little attention, because OH belongs in our series and this is the only way I have to give him his own special day.
Oh yeah: donate here. I'm sure he'd want you to. So: here's occams!
I’ll never forget it: it was my first full day at YearlyKos I, the inaugural event last year in Las Vegas. I was still in a bit of a fog, having spent half the previous day driving in from L.A., and my mind reeling from the experience of actually meeting many of the living, breathing, flesh-and-blood humans who gave life to their corresponding blog personae.
Previous diaries in the CA-42 campaign rollout series:
7/15: thereisnospoon's CA-42: A Kossack is running for Congress
7/16: atdnext's CA-42: The Case Against Dirty Gary Miller
7/17: Major Danby's CA-42: I'm managing a netroots U.S. House campaign
7/18: CanYouBeAngryAndStillDream's CA-42: CA-42: Hi, I'm Ron Shepston and I'm running for Congress
7/19: hekebolos's CA-42: A Netroots campaign-- politics the way it should be.
7/20: dday's CA-42: The Lay of the Land
7/21: OrangeClouds115 CA-42: "I Know His Heart"
7/22: Shockwave's CA-42 Ron Shepston rides into a Republican stronghold
7/23: Major Danby's CA-42: The DCCC knows us, reads us, and likes us
[Returning now to occams hatchet's words, with some slight editing where noted due to timeliness.
-- Danby]
The buzz that evening was that Maryscott was hosting a party in her suite, so a few of us headed over that way, eager for the enlightened conversation, forward-thinking camaraderie, and a shot of esprit de corps - except for those who were only interested in the free beer and the chicks.
I met a lot of people that evening, trying to find two square feet of floor space within which to stand and hold a conversation. It was loud and crowded and chaotic and wonderful. And even though I was sober as a judge, my memories of that evening are pretty fuzzy.
I remember two things vividly, though: the first was meeting kid oakland, which I considered a great honor (and still do). The other – which I now understand was just as great an honor – was having a conversation with a Kossack whose screen name I recognized (it was annoyingly long), and who had dropped some thoughtful, heartfelt comments in various threads in which I had participated over the previous few months.
His lovely wife was there as well, and from both of them I learned that it had been she who had suggested the annoyingly long screen name, after her husband had expressed his growing frustration about the political situation in this country.
As I stood there and chatted with him, I realized that here was a Good Guy – one of those people with integrity (‘cause he doesn’t know anything else), a big heart, and a highly developed sense of morality, real morality. I could tell from talking with him that he was the kind of guy who you’d want to have in your corner, who you know wouldn’t back down from a fight, and who wouldn’t hesitate to tell you if you were full of shit.
In spite of that last part, I liked him immediately.
And now – as if to prove that there is a political God – that very same guy is running for Congress. In a district "represented" by – well, not truly represented by anyone, but whose seat in the House of Representatives is occupied by a slimy, corrupt corporate/right-wing Republic parasite.
And that guy who's running against this Republic parasite? You might recognize his screen name: CanYouBeAngryAndStillDream.
His real name is Ron Shepston.
His diary [announcing his candidacy] is here. [...]
And while you’re at it, if you’re so inspired, you can head on over to Ron’s ActBlue page and drop in a few bucks. Remember, E.M.I.L.Y.: Early Money Is Like Yeast – it helps the dough rise.
I am truly excited about Ron’s candidacy, and proud to know him. He is a tremendous example of the kind of high-quality people who contribute so much to this site, and who are looking to serve this country in Congress.
Thanks again for your support.