It’s been a productive couple of days. I’ve enjoyed talking to Martin Heinrich (running in NM-01) and Alan Grayson (running in FL-08).

I had breakfast with Jim Slattery (running for Pat Roberts’ senate seat from Kansas) and dinner with Sam Bennett (running in PA-15). And I had a ninety-minute private sit-down with Mark Begich (running for Ted ‘Hulk Tie’ Stevens’ senate seat from Alaska). I’ll be writing about all of these experiences in the near future. I also want to send a shout-out to Murshed Zaheed (from Sen. Reid’s office). Murshed, we gotta get you to a Yankee game before they close the Stad down.

I like to complain a lot about how crappy our government is, but five years ago I never dreamed I’d be asked for my opinions by the people that both wield, and aspire to wield power in this country. That’s a big part of what the Netroots is all about. We will soon see real tangible benefits from a having a new generation of politicians in power that talk to informed people as peers rather than potential subjects.

In any case, it’s been an honor to talk to so many political people both formally and informally and on and off the record. I think the Democrats have a very good recruiting class this year and we’re going to be pleased (as pleased as chronic cranks ever get) with the results.