Until October 31st, the only reasonable and reliable way to get in contact with me will be via my cellphone. The number is: 307-421-1500.
Emails will likely sit in my inbox for two to four weeks before being read, and the likelihood of receiving a reply (when I have 10,000 unread messages) is very, very low.
Snail mail might work–the USPS is pretty reliable, but who knows if I’ll get the mail once it arrives at my house (I’ve already lost one package…). My new address is:
1621 S Rouse Ave Bozeman, MT 59715-5754
Smoke signals may prove effective until the start of fire season–though, due to a recent bout of pink eye (and its associated affect on my eyesight), any smoke signals sent in the last week went unobserved by me.
Yes, I’m hard to contact sometimes.
Yes, I’m bad about returning phone calls.
Yes, I’m terrible about returning emails.
No, I’ve never sent a letter.
Yes, I’m cognoscente of my short comings as a son, brother, friend, lover, etc. — as least, in so far as communication is concerned.
And, yes, you’re right: I’m not about to change any of that. =)
Last Monday night (19 May 2008), I had the privilege of seeing Barack Obama in Bozeman. I’m lucky I got in–the free tickets disappeared almost instantly. The line for the 7:30 pm appearance started forming at 10:00 am the morning of, and wrapped around the block when I showed up at 5:30 pm.
Oh, but the wait was worth it.
After a surprise appearance by Michael Keaton, Barack came on stage to cheering and deafening applause. He spoke for a full half hour, before leaving the stage to shake hands in the crowd.
At times, listening to Obama speak, I felt as though I could have been sitting in a rally for George C. Wallace in 1972, or even William Jennings Bryan in 1896. Thoroughly charismatic, Barack brought the audience to our feet time and time again–barely giving us time to find our seats before bringing us again with another thundering denunciation or demand.
He spoke on behalf of the “little man”–the everyday blue-collar worker from Dillon, MT. The factory worker in Detroit. The single-mother who works two jobs and still can’t afford health insurance for her son. He decried the wealth-mongering greed of oil companies, or drug companies. He demanded stronger government regulations, and more accountability for politicians to their voting constituents–rather than lobbyists and corporations.
He spoke highly of Hillary Clinton. The audience erupted in applause and cheers when Obama assured us that, whatever happens in November, the name George Bush will not be on the ballot. The audience was cautioned, however, that John McCain is “running for George Bush’s third term.”
I’ve long been excited about Barack Obama. My enthusiasm has ebbed and wained over the last few months–but I’m once again full of enthusiasm. Barack Obama’s candor and neo-populist politics set him apart from any other politician in my lifetime. His track-record of community service and tough reform legislation assure me that he’s sincere in his commitment to the every-day, working class American. His positions on education reform, health-care reform and foreign policy are, to my mind, spot-on.
For these reasons, I’m excited to be voting for Barack Obama in Montana’s primary on June 3rd, and I’m excited to vote for Barack Obama for President this November.
I’m not actually “having” coffee with Mr. Quammen (this year’s MSU Walt Stegner Chair) … but sitting in the same coffee shop, anyway. The Daily is the Montemartre of Bozeman…