Early in the primaries, the question of why Obama was winning again and again when, according to the Clintons, he wasn’t offering anything but "Hope" was definitively answered. In the midst of the blood, sweat and tears of the Neverending Primary, I think it's time to pause to remember the strength of Obama’s winning strategy. This article also made a reappearance over at thebigjob.org a new green sprout of a progressive site, rising from the ground made fertile by George Lakoff and the Rockridge Institute.

In david mizener’s excellent post he pointed to the defensive posture of the response by Democratic party leaders after Bush’s recent attack on Obama. We need many more posts like this to unlearn the defensiveness and fear decades of conservative attacks have ingrained in progressives in general and Democrats in particular. As a result of this defensiveness and even fearfulness, the Democratic reputation is not one of being FOR anything, only AGAINST things. If Obama and other Dem leaders are always on the defensive—not matter how "rapid" the response—citing etiquette or unfairness or dirty tactics, or simply issuing denials, John McCain will win. He will.

I recently read a post (from August) by Kos that asked people to stop referring to the large media outlets as MSM. He argues that MSM is a conservative concoction and that

more importantly, by calling them "mainstream media", we are saying that we ourselves aren't mainstream, and that's not something I'm willing to concede.

I think he’s right there, but he suggests that "traditional media" take its place (with the possible alternative of corporate media) and I'm not sure I agree.

The think tank Progressives desperately need has sent out an email announcing that they are folding for lack of funding. This news is sad indeed.

An excellent endorsement article written by  Tom Hayden, Bill Fletcher Jr., Danny Glover & Barbara Ehrenreich  
http://www.thenation.com/...

Includes a link to Progressives for Obama
http://progressivesforobama.blogspot...

excerpt below