Fire Burns, indeed

Can I just take a moment and bore you with my latest political crush?

Yesterday I threw some scratch to Jon Tester's senatorial campaign. As much of a political junkie as I am, this is the first campaign contribution I've ever made. I know, I know. I have volunteered time, run phone banks, sat by phones giving legal advice to people having trouble voting, and done voter registration. But I've always spent my money on environmental organizations and other nonprofit groups.

But I was compelled to do it this time because damned if I don't have a huge political crush on Jon Tester, who's running in Montana against Senator Conrad Burns, a Republican. The polls are looking good for Tester, and I really wanted to be a (tiny) part of his victory. I'm only a part-time Montanan (for now), but my heart is lodged firmly up in the northwest corner of that great state.

I was in Libby the day before the primary, when it was still kind of expected that Morrison would beat Tester. But I was seeing Tester yard signs, and not much for Morrison (though Morrison did end up winning Lincoln County.) I'd heard about Tester from the various political blogs I read, probably Daily Kos or something.

He's a farmer. And more than that, his farm has been moving toward organics for some time. He also used to be a custom butcher. That this fact has not diminished this vegetarian's enthusiasm for him is testament to the size of my crush.

This is shaping up to be a great election season, but the biggest bummer for me is that I don't get to vote for Jon Tester. I just have one thing to ask of the future Senator Tester:

Please, please, please. Don't let DC turn you into a washed-out, limp copy of your robust self. I want to keep my political crush on you for a long time.

That is all.

Here are my favorite Tester ads. I love the way he says "Montana" in that clipped kind of, well, Montanan way.