It's mostly just a sticky smudge on the cover of my laptop, but that was an amazing day :)

As much as we (rightly) give people from DC hell, I gained an even deeper respect for the people who make it their life's calling to serve in government as champions for the rest of us.

I'm not convinced that the people who would support McCain would care.

I know. Cynical.

Anyway, looking forward to more posts from you, Josh. And where does the fan club meet?

Does anyone know who produced that ad?

good luck. looking forward to updates as you progress.

Lane is a hero. It's easy to do the right thing when it costs you nothing. Lane put it all out there for something he saw as bigger than himself.

And the people of Memphis certainly paid for Ford's necessary maneuvers that led him right into the chairmanship of the DLC. Had Ford spent his time in office representing his constituents instead of positioning himself, he might have inspired a few votes with his ability to improve the lives of the people he was supposed to be representing.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Anb_uTIBXDM

I'm sure the guilt you feel is far worse than any punishment you could receive.

What I want to know, why is it when Dems were loosing all over the country, we all said it was the fault of the consultant class and the candidates not giving the people a real alternative to vote for.

Then the next election comes around, we have dynamic candidates all over the country who win, but in the south, we get the same old CW candidates following the loser consultant pattern, but now the reasoning for Dems losing here is stated to be the inferior character of most southerners.

It's such bullshit.

Tennesseans rejeceted Ford and his pandering to the stereotypes uninformed people like to attribute to a majority of southerners. His pandering was transparent and disgusting.

Tennesseans rejected Ford and his out conservativing the conservatives. In his vacated house seat they elected Steve Cohen who is very progressive and knows how to be authentic about his values. His authenticity allowed him to pass animal rights legislation in gun-loving Tennessee.

Tennesseans rejected the corruption of a political machine that has brought embarrassment to our state for as long as I can remember, from mistressess driving suv's through wives livingrooms, to embezzling money from daycare centers, to pulling shotguns on utility workers.

Tennesseans rejected a machine that actively campaigned against the Dem nominee (Cohen) in Ford's old district, while trying to pass off another family member as a Dem.

Tennesseans rejected the campaign strategies of the old establishment consultant class...who tried to build a campaign based on the assumptions you state above.

Ford didn't work with local blogospheres. Ford threw his base under the bus to pander. The Ford machine pulled dirty tricks and the consultants convinced him to embrace the stereotypes. And Ford was roundly rejected.

How in the world can you use this campaign as an example of why the south should be abandoned? It's every reason to have hope and the perfect object lesson in why Dems lose in the south.

Indeed!

And my sweet mother in law (72) just had to volunteer for this "nice young man."

http://www.swingstateproject.com/2006/08 /ca11_pulling_a.php

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f55HkPTms vw

I love youtube.

cool video. I would love to see more campaigns do something like this. Nice and personal. Ned seems really likable. I'm looking forward to the next installment!

http://www.yearlykos.org/convention_deta ils

We're still working out the details on some of the panels and will have a number of exciting announcements later this week. So be sure to keep checking back!

I got a review copy.

I thought it would be cheesy, but it gives a lot of practical suggestions anyone can do. It also has tips on things like how to argue with conservatives, how to use wedge issues, battling the religious right...

I'm not finished yet, but so far it's really good.