Recently I have been on the road, up a very hectic Hwy 10 north of St. Paul, heading up to the frozen tundra, to the little fishing town of Normal, Mn.. I was headed up to see Herman, my old country boy lawyer friend who was running for an aldermanic post in the Normal City Council. I thought that given the experience with the Evansville Observer, I might be able to give him some advice and support.
After meeting at the little diner, just across from the Spruce Goose Motel, and loading up on a very black, coffee, extra sugar, no whipped cream, in one of those tall, blue, Minnesota Viking mugs I just was very blunt with Herman. I said, "Herman what is your campaign theme or strategy?"
"Huh?" he laughed. " You must think there is some fancy, pointy headed thinking here, Wolfman (that's what he always called me.) Why no. Up here, it's just real natural. We just say "I lived here all my life," and secondly, "I just love to fish."
Those two golden phrases tell the folks that nothing will change. The powers that be.... will still be. Then when I get elected, I will just do as I please. That is just the way it works up here in God's country. That's just the natural law. It ain't fancy. It's just real simple."
Thank goodness I am back in good ol Wisconsin. Where we have such a strong progressive history of democratic government, and where fishing does not cloud our demoratic sensibilities.