[Edited title to not be disrespectful]

Why? Because it is about more than him winning the primary - that he has already done. It is about building and healing; it is about restoring trust in government. It is about putting into practice his belief there are no red states or blue states. It is about respecting all people in America - it is about Yes We Can.  If he writes off WV, it will be like No, You (dumb hillbillies)Can't. Again. Just like we've been told a thousand times before.

Maybe it is unnecessary, but Sen. Feingold's statement has me uneasy.  I think he needs a little push in the correct direction.  Follow me over the fence line and let me know if I did a good job of tipping - or what I might say differently - before I fax it off to Wisconsin and DC.  If you think it doesn't suck too hard, you are welcome to make use of it - Russ's DC and Wisconsin contact info is at the end.

Click here and vote for him for Most Trusted Senator.  Please.  I know it's just an online poll, and maybe not the most important thing in the world, but I want him to have that award to go with his Profile in Courage Award, his Mr. Smith Goes to
Washington Award, and his 10 awards from the Concord Coalition for fiscal responsibility. Edit: Reminder, this poll ends September 15th so there is not much time left. Go back and vote next week, if you can. If he announces his candidacy for President, I will start a blog supporting him and I want to be able to put a banner on there that says voted Most Trusted Senator.  I want to make bumper stickers that say voted Most Trusted Senator.  Just think of how that sounds in an era of government distrust.  Every little bit helps.

When I checked yesterday, he was in 8th place.  Give me a break.

This is transcribed from Sen. Feingold's online listening session, which is ongoing as I type.  

A chatter from Penn. asked: (paraphrased)

What is your reaction to the election in Connecticut on Tuesday?  Will you be campaigning for Ned Lamont?

Russ's answer (transcribed):

I think the results in Connecticut were among the most significant election results in recent years.  Ned Lamont's victory represents the American people's enormous frustration with our policy in Iraq.  I support Ned, have contributed significantly to his campaign, and have offered to help out in any way he wants.

I know this is too short and therefore pisses on the diary rules, but I wanted to get this out in a hurry so that people who were wondering about this can see where Russ stands.

I will update this with the other questions and answers after the online listening session is over. (And I have gone back to work, which is what I was supposed to be doing instead of this...but sh! Don't tell anybody.)

On Saturday, May 20th, my mother, my cat, and I were in my car on our way home from the vet's office.  I was driving, though in this case it were better if my cat or my mother (neither of whom have ever driven, to my knowledge)were in possession of the car.

I decided to stop at a local cemetery to put flowers on the graves of my neighbors who had passed some time before.  The church and cemetery, like almost everything else in West Virginia, is on a hillside.  I pulled up to the cemetery gate intending to be there but briefly.  It is only by the grace of God that I am not permanently ensconced there.