"Miss Jean Louise, stand up. Your father's passin'." To those of us who have read the novel "To Kill A Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, those haunting, memorable words are never forgotten. I was reminded of those words today.
A week ago, we all watched in amazement as Stephen Colbert, without flinching, spoke truth to power. Our conversations here, at home, and at work were peppered with talk about the courageous performance of Stephen Colbert.
Earlier this week, Minnesotans had the privilege of meeting Markos at the "Crashing The Gate" events scheduled in the Twin Cities. Markos was everything I hoped he would be. Bright. Articulate. Passionate. Persuasive. And really, really nice!
On Friday, David Sirota was in town to discuss his book "Hostile Takeover" and its premise. Al Franken was there to introduce David. Both were excellent.
Following Friday's event, I sat down for a cup of coffee in the Barnes and Noble. If you've ever been to a Barnes and Noble, you'll know what I'm talking about when I mention their wallpaper "mural" of the leading authors of times gone by. As I sat there, thinking over the events of the last several weeks, I began to think about the leaders of our day; and how, in the future, they will be depicted in a mural.
My mind wandered back to the time when I used to wonder how 1776 managed to be a time where some of the best minds of all times came together to form a new country. It was then that I then realized that we are truly privy to a similar phenomenon. Markos, Colbert, Sirota, and Franken are but four of a long list of the men and women in 2006 that are creating a chapter in this book we call Democracy. We bloggers on dailyKos are truly participants in a movement that has consistently seen the best and the brightest rise to the top.
We have praised these men and women for being both smart and funny and are proud to have them as our spokespersons. We are pleased to know them, thankful to hear them and hopeful that they will bring about the changes our country so desperately need. We clap. We cheer. We raise a glass and drink a toast to them!
Thank you, Markos. Thank you, Stephen. Thank you, David and Al.
But, if I had to do it all over again this week; at the time when Markos entered the room, I'd have stood up and said, "Miss Jean Louise, stand up. Markos Moulitsas is passin'."