Actually, 64.  

These are all individuals who have absolutely no reason, based on their own elections, or how their states voted, to hold back their endorsement of Barack Obama.  Who are they?  Governors, senators, and at-large DNC superdelegates from states that Obama won decisively.  No supers from states that Clinton won, even from those she won narrowly (Indiana, New Mexico) or in a split decision (Texas).  No supers from states that Obama won narrowly (Missouri).  No members of Congress, even those from blue districts in blue states, as they have their own re-election issues to address.  And not even party leaders like Gore and Carter.

So who are we left with?  A complete list after the jump.
 

I just returned home from hearing Al Gore speak to the Economic Club of Chicago (ECC). More than 2,000 people attended--enough to fill two ballrooms.  The crowd, consisting primarily of business and civic leaders, was enthusiastic.  Gore was, by turns, gracious, extremely funny, passionate and insightful.  This was the first time I believe I ever saw the real Al Gore.

And, heartbroken though I am to admit it, tonight's speech made clear to me that Gore has no intentions of running for President. He was not asked THE question, but his presentation spoke volumes.  I'll tell you why, after the flip.

The appeal of Ibrahim Parlak--one of the most important immigration cases in recent years--is scheduled to be heard by the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati on Monday, October 22. Parlak's case is important because of the two fundamental questions it presents:

1. Should immigration courts be allowed to rely on evidence from torture-induced confessions in deportation hearings?

2. Should DHS be allowed the unlimited discretion to retroactively designate any group of "two or more individuals, whether organized or not" as a "terrorist organization," even if that group has not engaged in "terrorist activity" for decades?  Note that "terrorist activity" does not have to include violence.  "Material support" or fundraising for terrorist organizations qualifies.  If the Court agrees, then DHS is free to brand members of the Irgun, African National Congress, and even the French Resistance from WWII as terrorists.

A brief video from Ibrahim's supporters and more on his case after the flip.

The most significant manifestation of leadership often comes during times of national mourning.  The stuff that makes great leaders who they are--their ability to reassure us, unite us, and appeal to the better angels of our being--is never more obvious than when we are trying to make sense of what is often a senseless world.

Like many, I was ambivalent about the president's decision to speak at today's memorial service at Blacksburg.  But knowing that his participation was inevitable, I was hopeful--yet again--that he would rise to the occasion.  And once again, I was disappointed.  It wasn't that my personal distaste for the man and his policies got in the way of my willingness to be comforted (although I'm sure that was true for many).  It was the hollowness of his words that failed me.

The best way to explain this is by comparing what the president said today to what Vice-President Gore said almost 8 years ago after Columbine.  As you will see, there is no comparison.

The solution to the twin problems of climate change and petroleum vulnerability has been staring back at us each time we visit this site.  Whenever we read a diary, post a comment, or provide a rec, the answer is right there.  It's so obvious, so easy to look straight through, that we've missed it.

I am not referring to the many sound proposals contained in Energize America or initiatives like Apollo Alliance.  This is about something even simpler--but far more transformational.  It is about the personal empowerment that data--information--makes possible.

The information revolution that began with the Apple II 30 years ago has given us the netroots today. The time has come for the next great societal evolution--the energy grassroots, or enroots--that will result from the collection, aggregation and dissemination of end-user energy data. Like the birth of the information age, it will begin with one person, one household at a time.  But nothing--not even the trillion-dollar energy sector--can prevent its eventual arrival.  A familiar parable illustrates why, after the fold.

From Matt Apuzzo of the Associated Press:

Banana company Chiquita Brands International said Wednesday it has agreed to a $25 million fine after admitting it paid terrorists for protection in a volatile farming region of Colombia.

The federal indictment filed today alleged Cincinnati-based Chiquita paid $1.7 million between 1997 and 2004 to the Self-Defense Forces of Colombia, also known as AUC.  This included monies paid by Chiquita after 2001, the year the Treasury Department declared the AUC to be a "specially designated global terrorist," or SDGT.

Under the immigration laws (as interpreted by the Justice Department), immigrants who buy or have purchased Chiquita products can now be charged with affording material support to a terrorist organization.  See why, after the fold.