Midday open thread

• We're still building our Darcy Burner army, currently at 2,412 contributors. We're gunning for at least 3,000 today. So join the effort! More and better Democrats!
• Thanks O'Reilly!
• For being capitalistic business owners, these idiots sure don't seem to know how this all works.

  Here's a quick primer -- the way to attract employees is to pay them more. And no, $10/hour isn't something to brag about.

• Happy first birthday to West Virginia Blue.
• WV-02: And speaking of West Virginia and WVB, those guys are getting behind State Sen. John Unger to take out Rep. Shelley Moore Capito next year.
• Young voters hate the GOP.

  A Democracy Corps poll from the Washington firm of Greenberg Quinlan Rosner suggests voters ages 18 to 29 have undergone a striking political evolution in recent years.

  Young Americans have become so profoundly alienated from Republican ideals on issues including the war in Iraq, global warming, same-sex marriage and illegal immigration that their defections suggest a political setback that could haunt Republicans "for many generations to come," the poll said.

  The startling collapse of GOP support among young voters is reflected in the poll's findings that show two-thirds of young voters surveyed believe Democrats do a better job than Republicans of representing their views - even on issues Republicans once owned, such as terrorism and taxes.

• Psst -- DSCC and DCCC -- yeah, I know your investigations were part of the reason that Gonzales quite Justice, but it's sort of unseemly to be taking credit for it and raising money considering that you just voted Gonzales vast new (and unconstitutional) powers before the recess. And I hate to say it, but that ridiculous FISA vote strips much of your credibility on this.
• I'd take Obama, Edwards, Dodd, and Richardson (not in that order) before I would vote for Hillary in my primary ballot. BUT, that doesn't meant that "she's not electable" line of attack against her isn't bullshit. The data definitely does not bear that out.

  My argument against her, aside from her mushiness on Iraq and refusal to acknowledge her mistake in voting to authorize this war, is that she could hurt Democrats down-ticket. But as for her electoral chances, they are just as good if not better than any of the other top-tier Democrats and probably the second tier as well.

• In honor of today's party switch by Louisiana State Treasurer John Kennedy, I'd like to publicly do a Nelson "ha ha" to Rodney Alexander in LA-05, now a back-bencher in the minority Republican Party. He could've been part of the majority in this Congress but he switched to the GOP in 2004 -- just minutes before the filing deadline so Democrats wouldn't be able to field anyone against him that year. May Kennedy suffer such an ignoble fate.
• IL-18: Former NBA coach and on-air personality Dick Versace is considering a run for this open seat as a Democrat.
• PA-03: DavidNYC tells us how to run a winning campaign for this district.
• NH-01: Jeb Bradley supports Bush and his war in Iraq 100 percent.
• NM-Sen, NM-01: Before Bush comes to raise holy hell with Seattle area traffic, he's doing the same for Albuquerque. Even as I type, he's in New Mexico, raising money for Domenici and the NM GOP. Which includes, don't forget, Heather Wilson. Democracy for New Mexico and NM FBIHOP, the two largest and most influential progressive blogs in New Mexico, have launched the "Beat Back Bush New Mexico" campaign. (mcjoan)