That’s Montana’s next senator I’m talking about, Democrat Jon Tester. To quote Wonkette: "Our
nation has finally put a 7-fingered, buzz-cut farmer in the Senate.
God bless the United States of America." But they missed the ORGANIC
part - Tester’s farm has been organic since the early ’80s when they
made the switch because "We needed to add some value." Hear that,
stinky chemical farmers of America? Also, herbicide spraying was
making them sick. Especially toxic to his wife were the seed
treatments on conventional grain. (They’re even nuking the seed?
Please, no more details.) One nearby farmer offered his reaction:
"That Tester, he’s growing a bunch of weeds out there." But they’ve
done well enough to close the family butcher shop, except to family and
friends.
Until January, you’ll find Tester back home in Big Sandy, Montana,
population 710, with his high-school-girlfriend wife. Their home is
described as a standard Western plains farmhouse, modest and warm. So
I’m trying to imagine this man moving to D.C. and living in, say, a
one-bedroom near Dupont Circle? (Wait - he’s anti-gay marriage.
Better make that a condo in Virginia, where voters recently took steps
to protect against that threat.) 
On the campaign trail, Tester accused incumbent Conrad Burns of
having "gone Washington," a sweeping attack that blames this fine city
for the excesses of Abramoff-style lobbyists. But that’s okay; we
don’t take it personally.
So Senator-elect, welcome to D.C. If anyone can come here without
"going Washington," it’s gotta be organic farmers from Big Sandy,
Montana. Coz instead of hanging around for the receptions and the
junkets, I know you’ll be catching the first flight out of town every
chance you get. Heck, you have all those weeds to tend.
And since I’ve gone almost totally off-topic, can I say just one
word about the election results?
Hallelujah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
rusty in miami 11.10.06 at 7:33 pm
I agree, if more of politicians were willing to think outside the box and not be in the pockets of especial interest we could be on our way to solve many of our problems like energy and the environment.
PS Ditto on the election
Naomi Dagen Bloom 11.11.06 at 8:48 am
susan, came here from TGB to thank you for echoing my own (thought it was just me) problem with the BlogHer site.
could i suggest you and garden friends introduce Tester’s spouse to wonders of organic gardening? surely she might appreciate something other than the D.C. cocktail circuit.