Dear Readers: Every once in a while, I need to vent. 

Today is just such a day.

To anyone that thinks political blogging is easy, try it out for yourself, you will be quickly dissuaded.  I personally put my own opinions, thoughts and analysis out there on a several-times-a-month basis for public consumption.  We political bloggers are just persistant. 

The only way I know some of our elected leaders, is because I made the first contact.  That’s right, I reached out to them.  And frankly, anytime I have any questions, I have to seek them out and remind their assistants who I am.  It is not like I have their home or cell phone numbers or email addresses.

Everyone has heard me yelling at Max lately about the DC vote.  And even though I am a former favorite employee of his law school study buddy and friend, whose son did an internship with Max a couple of summers ago, I still have never talked to the guy.  I have tried, but I get the same standard response that everyone else does when I contact him over an issue. 

Schweitzer?  Well I think he knows who I am, I have run into him a couple of times, but never spoken with him personally.  Bollinger though, I went up to him at the Dem party returns in 2006 and tell him about the voter suppression tactics going on on Montana’s reservations.  He said he would check into it for me.   (Which begs the point, if I think native vote is important, of course I consider DC votes important; but that is a seperate issue.) 

Dennis, again, never met the guy.  Been to one debate he bothered to show up to and talk about issues, probably remotely somewhat at my prompting. 

Jon Tester?  Well I have met him once, and his mother and wife once.  All at debates, but at least they took the time to shake my hand.  My mother ran into him the other day at a local store, and he joked with her about his granddaughter taking her own sweet time.  I really appreciate him, and his follow through on promises made to Montanans.  For example, the independent ethics audit of his office.  Its not about votes, because it is a non-election year for him, it is about being honest and having it confirmed for Montanans.  Thanks Jon. 

The locals?  Well I can’t help that I know the Mayor, I just do.  And I know a lot of Helena’s local representatives in local and state government, from being involved at the local level.  Attend a few local debate meets, and you will know them too.  Some know who I am, and some don’t.  It is all good. 

The point is, to anyone who thinks that “demo” bloggers are somehow special, or singled out for particular attention and favors. . .you are so off base.  We are just average people, out there, in a public way, talking about what matters to us. No, I am not the most well known blogger in Montana.  And arguably, I have been surpassed in the female political blogger department by a couple of friends of mine.  It is all good.  (Frankly, I thank them for taking some of the pressure off).

The bottom line is this.  I don’t get paid one red cent for blogging.  I do this because it is important for me for people to know what I know.  And the truth is, I only know it because I take the time to research it out.  I like going more in depth on an issue than traditional media does.  I like that I have the time and the forum to do so.  It took work to have such a forum.

Just, every once in a while, while you might not agree, take the time to thank a political blogger for all that they do to keep you in the play-by-play with the ground game that is going on, and bringing up great discussion points that get us all involved in our government.

That’s all really; thanks for the venting time.

Very truly yours;  Cece.