"I am only one,
But still I am one.
I cannot do everything,
But still I can do something;
And because I cannot do everything
I will not refuse to do the something that I can do."
— Edward Everett Hale, American author and clergyman, 1822-1909
Election
Day.
Dress in
brown velour jumpsuit, check. Change message on answering machine to
"Vote for Scott Brown today," check. Put on brown coat, grab Flat
Stanley and ride to polls with Chip Ford, check. Vote for Scott
Brown, check.
Poll
worker in Marblehead says that already more people have voted at our
precinct in two hours than usually vote all day. Citizens doing
something.
And who
is Flat Stanley, you ask?
Stanley
was a little boy in a children's story who was the victim of a
falling bookcase and is now part of an unusual minority — flat
people. My twin Nevada grandchildren are doing a third-grade project
that mails him to relatives in other states, who must help him enjoy
the local scene.
Already
Chip has photographed him with me and the Minuteman on Concord
Bridge and at the sun sculpture on the Marblehead-Swampscott line
during the winter solstice. Today he held a sign for Scott Brown.
Flat Stanley is now a part of history, as are we all.
I
remember the Massachusetts bumper sticker "Don't blame me, I voted
for McGovern," from the Nixon presidency. North Andover activist Ted
Tripp forwarded someone's new variation: "Thank me, I'm from
Massachusetts."
He was
at the rally/parade where the best homemade sign stated, "Beam us
up, Scottie!"
I've
been through many campaigns, won some, lost some. My Election Day
ritual has been to hold a sign for my issue at my own polling place
before heading into town for an election-night party.
This
year, I e-mailed Marblehead friends who are voting for Scott Brown
telling them to call me if they need a ride. Got just one call.
Thought after the weekend storm I might need a ride myself. The
local Republicans have set up their own get-out-the-vote service.
We
appreciated the invitation to the Brown campaign party, but really
hate driving into Boston, so planned to flip between channels from
the comfort of home. Our young friends from RedMassGroup will be
posting photos of the event, keeping our computers informed as they
have throughout this campaign. If you haven't met them, I recommend
you get acquainted with this Web site for the duration of Revolution
2010 — pure political fun. RedMassGroup.com calls me the "ol'
tax-battle axe." It's a compliment, young to old. Ha-ha.
Gotta
run... Independent friend Betsy needs a ride to the polls. Yes,
she's voting for Brown, or the answer would have been, call a cab.
Saving the country trumps friendship this week.
Back
again. After she voted we decided we needed to show off my Scott
Brown bumper sticker so we drove to Panera in Vinnin Square to pick
up soup for lunch. I have, as a civic duty, been taking my bumper
sticker to Panera for the past week, gaining three pounds on bear
claws and heart-shaped butter cookies. (Get it? Brown bear? I heart
Brown?)
Along
with indulging my superstitions, I've been responding to calls from
both national and state media about this race. Right after the
primary a reporter asked me if I thought Brown was running just to
get name recognition for a statewide race later. Without thinking, I
responded that if he is, he and his family could be very surprised
on Jan. 19.
When I
did think about it, I realized the reason I said he had a chance is
that I've been observing the Hudak campaign since summer. I've
followed the exciting tea-party movement, met the new activists,
seen my longtime activist friends recharging their political
batteries. Everything began to seem possible again.
Today
some of these Brown supporters are expressing concern that if Brown
wins, the Washington Democrats will change or subvert the rules to
keep him from being seated until they can pass ObamaCare. I don't
think that will happen, and this is why:
Play a
game with me. You're our congressman, John Tierney. You are driving
along in your Obamobile, you glance in your rearview mirror, and
there is a black truck on your tail — well, a black SUV anyhow —
driven by Bill Hudak, activist challenger for your seat. Nancy
Pelosi tells you to vote for an underhanded deal to keep your
constituents' choice for Senate from voting on a locally
controversial issue; i.e., to throw yourself under the black truck.
What do you say to her?
I chose
the Hale quotation for the top of this column because it honors all
the people who are pulling together to pull our country back to the
people. But I also like it because Edward Everett Hale was from
Massachusetts, the nephew of Nathan Hale, of "I only regret that I
have but one life to give for my country," Revolutionary War fame.
It's a
new American Revolution. Thanks for beaming us up, Scottie.