So, last night I couldn’t sleep, I was so all-fired. I kept thinking of things that I was grateful for: my wonderful family, friends, and our local Democracy for America chapter.

These folks helped me translate my depression and shock at the 2004 election debacle into positive, constructive action. The progressive movement frequently bemoans the lack of infrastructure to support our ideals and candidates, and how much of a head-start the right-wing-nut-o-sphere has on us. Well let me tell you, if the progressive movement is a car that’s been stalled since the 70s, DfA is the biggest pair of jumper cables you’ve ever SEEN.

And at last night’s link-up, they enabled me to meet Eric Massa for the first time. What was he like in person? Well, for starters, I was completely blown away. And it just got better from there…
I’ve really liked what I’ve read about him and things he’s said. But not having met him, well, from some of the stuff I’d heard, I kind of expected what I experienced when I got my hair cut by a retired army sergeant. He handed me the mirror, and when I didn’t say anything (out of shock at the butchering), he started yelling “What’s wrong with that haircut??? There’s nothing wrong with that haircut!!!” (I got out of there before he could order me to drop and give him 20.)

But what I got instead was a passionate, articulate and funny talk on his beliefs and campaign. With nothing more than a couple bullet items scribbled on his notepad, he spoke at length about the funny responses he’s gotten from people when he says he’s running against Kuhl (”That &^$&^$% &%$&%$#&%$#&!” ), his hustle (27 events over the holiday weekend– often driving between the southern tier and Monroe County 2X/day), and about the Discovery Channel following him around for a documentary (I assume a followup to this award winning film).

His average campaign contribution is $20.39, and– this blew me away– he’s accepting NO corporate contributions. Unbought, unbossed. People-powered.

It’s clear he’s a progressive and a populist who will put a “stop payment” on the bill of goods the conservatives have sold the folks in the Southern Tier. He’s said , “Where I live in upstate New York, the ultimate family value is a living wage job.” Damn straight. It’s about time someone calls the conservatives on the BS they’ve been pushing.

Almost anyone’s better than Kuhl, but I feel like we just hit the jackpot. He’s the kind of person that’s warm and engaging, with an infectious passion that makes you want to stand up and applaud every time he takes a breath or a sip of coffee (oops– don’t tell his wife about the coffee). I was sorry he couldn’t keep talking all night.

I’m grateful that RochesterTurning.com is here on the scene to support him, and that there’s so many reasons to support him. We are 12 kinds of lucky to have a candidate like him, who’s running out of a sense of duty to the folks in his district, not because he’s been groomed for it by the political establishment (like Kuhl).

He finished by saying “This train is moving, and in 128 days, Randy Kuhl is not gonna know what hit him.” It sure looks like it.

We’ve got your back, Eric. You’ve certainly got ours.