I love the new ideas! Keep up the good work, perhaps an expanded blogroll?

Devastated by the 2004 losses, I cannot wait to be devastated in 2006. I would like to see a list of all Senate candidates up for reelection in 2006 so I can start building my hopes up now.

Thanks, and keep up the great work.

I agree with John Gor0-   I'd like to see a picture of the political landscape for 2006, so as to start thinking about how we can recover some of what we lost this year.

I also wonder if we ought to be thinking about local initiatives.  Are there some actions that could be taken at the very local level that might serve as a counterweight to the bad shit we know is coming down from Washington?  It looks to me like we are in for a ironic reversal of the situation that has been in place for the past 50 years, wherein conservatives were always grumbling about a federal government that was too assertive.  Now that they pretty much own it, I'm sure they are not going to be shy about wielding the power of the national government.

Defense of the Vote or Freedom to Vote or Voter Reforms. I think the real concerns should be transparency, and making certain we have a system legitimate in fact rather than by legitimate by speculation from either side of the divide.

I'm really happy to see you shake things up. One problem at DKos--which I also dearly love--is that it seems to be somewhat a prisoner of its own considerable inertia.

I'm not sure what I'd suggest right off--other than the comment I made about using the term "election protection"--I just wanted to weigh in with a note of appreciation for this sort of thoughtfulness. We need a whole lot more of it when it comes to continually refining the institutions we create.

Chris, can I be any help to you in this department? My time is a little limited right now, but I have taken an interest in getting discussions rolling on state-to-state election issues.

Let me know if there's anything you'd like me to do to help out. I think you still have my e-mail.

-Shawn

especially for the activism part!  I'd love to see updates on legislation, state or federal, so we'll know when to start being a squeaky wheel (just like the reactionary right is so effective)--e.g, time to start writing to legislators in the 10 states currently considering statutorily protecting pharmacists who refuse to fill birth control prescriptions.  And a way to track our progress would be great, too.  Finally, am interested in whether anyone else is starting up any state intiatives/lobbying legislatures to ensure that future elections have a verified paper trail.

And I'm definitely free to help with any of the logistics for this!

Keep the focus on the need to eliminate private companies running our elections and counting our votes. We do not want private companies to run our elections! It certainly is not what the Framers intended and the possible conflict of interest is simply enormous.  Thanks.

I would like to see, is a site that compiles house and senate bills that will be up for vote, and contact inks to Congress.  That way, we can at least make our voice heard.  

I think the idea is great, but one book per week is a lot for people like me (two small kids, a job, wife finishing PhD, a long car commute).

How about an article (preferably freely available) every other week, or even 2 out of 3 weeks? And try to announce the selections 3-4 weeks in advance.

I'm going to try to participate as much as I can anyway. Also, we should try to keep the conversation going for at least a week so us slower thinkers can think of something to say ;-) This would be a good use the blog format, I think.

Long term strategy for the next election is what most of the postings are about and I'd like to see a spot dedicated specifically to that kind of big picture.  We always seem to get lost in the trees.

I would like to have a resource bank for candidates in '05 and '06.  I know a lot of people in PA who are alredy intent on working to defeat Santorum.

It would be nice to have a list of links and texts on candidates positions, votes so that we can distribute information quickly to people in the GOTV eforts and to write LTEs.  

I like all these ideas.  In the "Balance of Power," will you include elected state judges?  In Alabama we just lost 3 more seats on the state Supreme Court and need to start working on taking some of these positions back.  Control of the state courts is important and most people know very little about those races.

I'd like to see a push for continued donations to the great grassroots organizations that developed in the run up to this last election.  We've got a bit before there's new candidates, so I'd like to see the same level of fundraising push for NDN, ACT, moveon, etc. as we did for the great candidates that were advocated by MyDD.

Continued high fundraising will keep these orgs healthy, provide them the ability to mobilize against Bush appointees and initiatives, give a voice to show Democrats in Congress that we want a vocal opposition party, and provide a nice news narrative about the unity and activism of the left (with the handy "fundraising by the net" bit that they like to report).

I agree with those who said that no district should go uncontested.

Is there a resource for filing deadlines and a list of who and how many filed for Congressional District races? State house & senate seats?

If I knew that a Republican was running unopposed in my district, hell, I'd try to get the signatures and file myself just to force the Repugs to spend the money. (big talker)

I'd like to see some section devoted to "what it means to be a democrat". What, exactly, is the philosophy of the party? How is that philosophy translated into action? Does registering as a Democrat mean that you're a progressive? Is the Democratic party simply a retail outlet?

There's a great little story about two Atlantic City "Salt Water" Taffy manufacturers who have been feuding for over a hundred years. Both companies have their loyal customers. Both count on people who would never think to buy the other's product. Well, it turns out, that for the last twenty years or so, BOTH companies are owned by the same man.

I think we need to take a long, hard took at the party and what this party believes. For the life of me, I can't figure it out. I mean, I think I know, then everything gets turned on its head -- like the vote for the tax cuts when Bush first came into office.

Should we hold those people we elect as Democrats to some sort of Party principles? I think we need to ask ourselves these questions and a whole lot more.