Like many people, I feel powerless in the face of the huge political issues around us.  How do we stop war, rampant corruption, environmental degradation.   Blah, blah, blah.  The list of outrages is neverending and scrolls by on Daily Kos 24 hours a day.  I found myself thinking not "what can I do" but "where do I run?"

I had been aware of Camp Wellstone for a while and thought it would be great to participate.  I figured a quality program like this woudl be semi-expensive, so I waited until I had some savings to spend.  Unfortunately, I never looked closely enough at signing up.  If I had, I would have learned that the camp is only $75 for three days of training, including three meals.  Yes.  $75.  (This is where you stop reading this diary and go sign up.  Then come back and finish reading...)

In the 2008 election, Kerry gets to be the incumbent defending his record, and Bush would be the challenger.  Kerry will have to deal with the fallout of 4 years of disastrous Bush policies - things in America will not be pretty because we're cleaning up his mess.  How do we fend off the Republicans in 2008 so America can right itself and get back on a path toward respect and success?

The Republicans turned their back on their gay members at the convention with an overtly homophobic platform.  This is what they get.  A large advocacy group that would have stayed silent and supported their fearless leader.  Instead, they realize they have to look out for themselves because the larger party won't.  So much for blind loyalty.  Good for them.

Cheney's answer focused solely on Congress.  It was as though the voters, the people of the US didn't exist.  There was no acknowledgement of the deep anger across the country.  No acknowledgement of the huge leadership gap and aggressive acts of divisiveness from the Republicans since 2000.  All that mattered was which bills Congress worked together on.  Wonk insider issues.

It was a lobbed softball ready for Edwards to hit out of the park, and it was the last question of the debate.  Edwards had a chance to contrast Bush/Cheney's focus on politics and insider arguments versus a vision of creating a united, thriving nation.  Instead, he talked about the K/E health care plan.  

It was the last question.  I wish the debate could have ended with a withering Edwards attack...

We should band together at DailyKos to catalog and debunk Bush's lies as the debate happens.  Counter his rhetoric, generalities and falsehoods with facts and quotes, and have them available on the site before the debate even ends.

Who's up for taking this on?

Apologies for the short entry, but this public service message from the Galilean Citizens For The Truth was too important not to share.

Time/CNN's online poll accompanying the article is "Does Bush Have A Credibility Problem?"  With 1898 votes cast, 85.3% say yes.  55% expressed reservations about Bush's trustworthiness in a telephone poll on February 5-6.

Bush's credibility, and not just on being AWOL, needs to be the prime issue of this election because he loses on the facts of every credibility issue.  Vote now to reinforce how suspect Bush's credibility is.

That's why the Republicans win.  They frame the issue as far away from them as possible, unless they pre-emptively claim a victory for themselves.  They make a lame proposal, attack the other side and watch us crumble.

Why help them?  

"Clinton made our party once again fiscally responsible, pro-growth, strong on values for middle class tax cuts. Howard Dean is against all of those," Lieberman said."

I know Kos doesn't like it when Lieberman's called a Republican, but quotes like these make me wonder whose side he's on.  Is he that desperate to win the nomination that he will undermine another candidate with misinformation at a moment when the entire party could ride the coattails of positive publicity from the Gore announcement?  Has he really convinced himself he has a chance?

If I were looking for a candidate, such un-Presidential, sour grapes behavior would immediately disqualify Lieberman in my book.

Imagine that a Democrat leads Bush in the Presidential election next fall.  Imagine that Democratic candidates look to pick up significant gains in the House or Senate.  What strategies will the Republicans use to nullify the vote?  We better think about it now so we can approach it proactively rather than reactively.

This candidate must shift momentum away from dubya, knowing America's support will not go to him.  It will go to another Democratic candidate.  The sacrificial lamb needs to create room for the real candidate to articulate a vision for America, to create hope, to differentiate himself from politics as usual.  The sacrificial lamb needs to get mired in the negativity so the real candidate can stay on message and win over America.

Who should be the sacrificial lamb?  Would any leading Democratic personality be willing to take one for the team?