7 November 2016

Thanks, candidates, volunteers, sources, fellow bloggers, and readers

Wednesday morning, all candidates will be weary. Slightly more than half will be unhappy and at least momentarily depressed. Most have been working hard for two years, raising money, recruiting volunteers, educating themselves on the issues, and talking to thousands of voters. Although the polls close tomorrow evening, the campaign is not over for the candidates: yard signs must be collected, bills must be paid, volunteers thanked, and final campaign finance reports prepared and filed.

Behind almost all candidates are groups of dedicated volunteers, some working directly for the candidates, others for the candidates’ political parties, who make thousands of telephone calls, knock on, or deliver literature to, thousands of doors, always at the expense of time spent with their families and friends.

I know candidates and volunteers from both major and some minor parties. Almost all, even the people with whom I disagree vigorously, are decent human beings trying to do the right thing. Yes, some, like Donald Trump, are fools and knaves, but most are serious people. Many partisans, especially at the end of bitter elections that demonize opponents, find that hard to believe, but it’s true.

In one sense, of course, the campaign never ends. Philosophical differences remain after the votes are counted, as do disagreements on facts and what those facts mean. Elections end (and the second they do, the next election begins), but the work of governing never ends. Once we choose our leaders and representatives, the issues that the campaigns discussed return for action — and further dispute — in legislative and executive domains. In two months, the Montana Legislature convenes, and it could be a rowdy session that will increase the sales of Prozac and Valium.

At Flathead Memo, I’ve had the good fortune during this campaign of receiving considerable useful information from both Democrats and Republicans, as well as from academics. Some sources have taken considerable risks to help me better understand events. I appreciate their willingness to trust me, and thank them for their help.

Thanks, too, for the hard work of Montana’s other independent political bloggers, both those mentioned in addition to Flathead Memo (The Western Word’s Mike Brown, Montana Cowgirl, Intelligent Discontent’s Don Pogreba and Pete Talbot, PolyMontana’s Ed Berry) in Mike Dennison’s story in early September, and sites such as Logicosity, Big Sky Words, Button Valley Bugle, Reptile Dysfunction, Richard Barrett, and East of Billings. Collectively, I believe that independent political blogging has improved the discussion and understanding of politics in Montana, and I look forward to reading these and other blogs in the months ahead.

Finally, thanks to those of you who read Flathead Memo. Some of you take the time to alert me to typos and broken links. Others provide tips and facts. Some dispute my opinions. I appreciate the feedback, and hope it continues.