big sky democrats

I will hit 'post' right about midnight, after a day of phonebanking and organizing for Montana Democrats, Tester, and Lindeen that began at 10 a.m. I took an hour to have lunch with my sister, husband, brother in law, and nieces, and an hour and a half to take a dozen staffers to dinner. Compared to many others in the state, that was a slacker day.

I have read posts today from here in Montana and across the country postulating upon the trend in polls, the timing of Saddam's verdict, the military's call for Rumsfeld's resignation, and how the giant wave in America will fly Blue this election cycle. That's all super reading, and a valid academic pursuit, for those so inclined, but none of those things will win this race for Jon Tester on Tuesday.

You know what will? TURN OFF YOUR COMPUTERS. PICK UP YOUR PHONE. CALL YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD DEMO OFFICE. CANVAS. CALL. PURSUADE. ORGANIZE.

Seriously.

Now is not the time to impress one another with a bitch-slap to a faceless Republican on a blog comment stream. Now is not the time to vent to the internet. No one reading the blogs in the next 48 hours is undecided.

Get out the vote. Volunteer your time. The football games will continue. The garage will not fall down if it's not cleaned this weekend. The laundry will wait. The dishes will not rise up against you if they go unwashed for two more days. Let the fridge remain filled with uneaten leftovers and the dogs go unwalked (sorry, dogs).

Let not one person reading this have a regret Wednesday morning. Take a vacation day on Monday, if you are lucky enough to work for an employer who offers paid vacation.

Demo offices in many cities - call them.

If you do not live in one of these cities, call either the MDP headquarters or Tester for Senate headquarters, and tell them that you would like to help restore integrity to Mike Mansfield's Senate seat. Hell, if you would like, call me. I'm in the book.

It will not be glamorous. Remove any hope of a dramatic Sorkin-style environment. You will talk to people who are sick of ads and calls and mail and the election. Be nice, be cheerful, be helpful, and when you talk to that person - the one out of 50 out there who really has not made up his or her mind yet - tell them why Jon Tester is the man. Tell them what about Jon makes you give up your Sunday and Monday and volunteer to send this Montana farmer to Washington D.C. to represent you. Tell them, and they will listen to you.

Turn off your computer, and pick up your phone.