Mark Warner

Average: Select ratingPoorOkayGoodGreatAwesome

Your rating: None

This has in many ways been a disheartening week. I left Texas the day before Ike began his assault, and I worry for the people I know in Texas, and hope that they are all right. Natural disasters are a time to be devoid of politics, and I hope you will take a few minutes, and your checkbook, and go over to the Obama site and use one of the links on the splash screen to help the victims. While even now we don’t know the full extent of the damage, we know that many homes were lost, power is non-existent for millions, and the need for food, shelter, clothing, and animal care is great.

Average: Select ratingPoorOkayGoodGreatAwesome

Your rating: None

So, you want to be part of the new progressive grassroots movement, but you don't know where to start? Not yet ready to sign on for phone banking or canvassing in a campaign?

Then, start small right where you live. This election is so critical to our nation's future that each of us needs to do something...anything...to get Barack Obama elected. There is a part you can play that is really easy.

Everyone can practice what I like to call "The Rule of Ten." This grassroots exercise is geared to getting ten votes for the candidates of your choice - in this case Barack Obama and Joe Biden, Mark Warner, and your local congressional candidate.

You surely know at least ten people who respect your opinion enough to be influenced when you discuss a candidate or an issue with them. They might be relatives, close neighbors, friends, people you work with (but no politics on company time, please!) If you can assure your candidate of ten votes, plus your own, you can make all the difference in a campaign.

Average: Select ratingPoorOkayGoodGreatAwesome

Your rating: None

Yes Virginia we’re in play, BIG TIME…

Average: Select ratingPoorOkayGoodGreatAwesome

Your rating: None

Last night, Democrats finally started pushing the simple narrative that electing John McCain means four more years of the same Bush policies. At this morning's New Jersey delegation breakfast, New York David Paterson took that message a step further.

Paterson pointed out that John McCain is not merely the same as President Bush. Instead, using an extended analogy to astronomical phenomenon of parallax, Paterson argued that McCain is worse than Bush. The Empire State Governor cited several examples, from taxes to health care, where McCain's position is farther from the American public than Bush's.

Just like the man himself, Paterson speech was phenomenal. Paterson is legally blind, but he does not use braille or large print notes in his speeches. Instead, he has his staff read them to him, and he memorizes them. This morning, his speech drew the most laughs and the loudest applause. If Mark Warner's keynote speech from last night was something of a letdown, Paterson's breakfast astronomy lecture far exceeded the high expectations I had for him.

Pictures below the fold

Average: Select ratingPoorOkayGoodGreatAwesome

Your rating: None