So, I was reading the NYTimes and I found this stunning story that is sure to capture the attention of Americans of every political persuasion:

Shoddy electrical work by private contractors on United States military bases in Iraq is widespread and dangerous, causing more deaths and injuries from fires and shocks than the Pentagon has acknowledged, according to internal Army documents.

But I'm sure that KBR and the Bush regime will take care of this as soon as they are told about it.

The Army report said KBR, the Houston-based company that is responsible for providing basic services for American troops in Iraq, including housing, did its own study and found a “systemic problem” with electrical work.

But the Pentagon did little to address the issue until a Green Beret, Staff Sgt. Ryan D. Maseth, was electrocuted in January while showering.

It seems such a short time ago, the Colorado Democratic Convention.  I'll never forget Mark Udall's excessive entrance.  All the lights went out, the music started, Mark entered through the back, the spotlights and strobes went on followed  by 10 minutes of high fives and handshakes by the candidate as his handlers moved him towards the stage.  Everyone, including myself, was holding Udall for Senate signs high in the air and cheering.  Udall took the stage and promised to fight for our Constitutional rights...

I recently participated in the Colorado State Convention.  I also read MyDD.com on occasion, though I have no account and cannot comment.  However, the animosity of this primary season has reminded me of a funny story involving my 4 year old son.  My 6 year old daughter participated in this life lesson about Democratic politics, as well.

Well, I just returned from the Democratic Party State Convention in Colorado Springs.  What an awesome and chaotic time!  I met all the great candidates and office holders of Colorado.  It was the largest State Convention in Colorado history!  My thoughts and experiences below the fold...

Seriously...
I've been an active member of the online progressive community for almost a decade.  I began my internet activism with a little project called Moveon.  Following my experiences there, I was an avid participant at Alternet, until the trolls moved in.  At the time, Alternet had no rating system, and boy, those trolls were hungry.  This led me to the discovery of an online community called DailyKos.  The characteristic that drew me to Alternet was the rating system and the ability of the community to collectively starve the trolls, or, when trolls persisted, feed them... donuts!  Then, in the year of 2007, primary season fit the shan...
Factions were formed, passions ran hot, the general and the doctor became the southern populist and the boy faced Constitutional scholar with the big ears, opinions were shared, talking points were stuck to, good Democrats were smeared and the community became acrimonious.

Greetings, Friends...
This will be a quick diary, as I am late.  As you all know, I am an Obama supporter.  I volunteer many hours and much money, and I am proud to participate in the audacity that his candidacy is.  However, today, I am extremely depressed...

There is a lot of discussion today about why Edwards lost Iowa and why Obama won.  Popular narratives are that Obama was puffed up by the media.  And that Edwards' blogosphere support didn't work hard enough.  Let me present my point of view...

Greetings, Friends...
This week, the New York Times ran an article titled "Obama's vote in Illinois was Often just Present".  I read the article, and I must admit, I personally feel that the headline is ridiculous.  Reading the article, one finds out that voting "present" in Illinois is very common.  However, that is not my problem.  It is with the grammar and math.  My letter to the NYTimes after the jump...

Yes, my favorite writer continues his hit piece roll on Obama.  What is it this time?  The same thing as last time.  No offense to Paul Krugman, but he must have been late for a deadline to write pretty much the same column as the last one.  Still, it is time to debunk this difference of opinion once again.

Don't get me wrong.  I love Paul Krugman.  In fact, he's one of my favorite writers.  See that add for Conscience of a Liberal to the right of you?  That book is great and should be required reading for all Democrats.  However, people can be wrong sometimes and I am beginning to question Paul Krugman's objectiveness.  He seems to be on a roll against Barack Obama.  And now I will call him a name:
Purity Troll.
More after the jump...

Recently, a one paragraph diary made it to the top of the rec list.  It is a simplistic diary that actually tries to play on your fear of republicans to smear a leading candidate for president.  Also, it assumes it is correct because Paul Krugman said so.  
Now, Krugman is entitled to his opinions, but even he can be wrong sometimes.  And as he was heavily invested in the fight over Social Security recently, I can see how he got his dander up.  However, I read the Krugman article and I disagree completely.
Krugman, as well as the diary earlier, chose to focus on presentation and framing, while ignoring the actual policy.  A rare mistake by Krugman, a common mistake on DKos.  Where I come from, it's called "missing the forest for the trees.

Yes, every morning, after taking the kids to school, before I start work, I sit down with my hot coffee and read the NYTimes and DailyKos.  Here is a little paragragh I caught in the NYTimes this morning:

The Los Angeles Times today reports more details about the initiative to place on the May California ballot a proposal that would change the way the state’s electoral votes are distributed, going from the usual winner takes all to a winner takes congressional district system. Mr. Giuliani had been suspected of being somehow involved in the initiative, since his top financiers and ex-staffers are leading the drive, but the L.A. Times explored the election records and says the plan has gotten funds from supporters of all the major Republican candidates, plus a Mrs. Clinton fan.

Now, call me crazy, but why would Hillary Clinton accept money from a supporter of this initiative?

This is the new column by David Brooks.  I almost hate to link to it.  It is about you.  And me.  And it leaves me speechless.

Senator Barack Obama has a distinct habit of sticking it to the man.  Remeber when he spoke to Detroit auto workers about higher fuel standards?  While many candidates eagerly tell their base what they want to hear (imagine Romney being for choice before he was against it), Barack Obama has consistently told America what they need to hear.  As he says himself:

Obama said in a recent interview with The Associated Press that he is determined not just to campaign by telling people what they want to hear, but to win support for an agenda for change.

Please appreciate it people, from what I can tell, only Obama and Edwards tell Americans the truth.  Obama's latest confrontational policy after the fold.

Let's face it.  I write to my elected representatives, my local paper and the NYTimes fairly regularly.  Anyone who participates in the daunting task of affecting current events knows that this particular effort can be dismaying, with personal responses rare.  As far as the NYTimes goes, I have gotten two responses in many years of writing.  One was in response to an email I sent to Bob Herbert in 2002.  I recieved a simple message: "Thank you..." from Herbert's personal email account.  Let me tell you, I was extremely honored and still have it in my inbox.
The second time was today!  More after the jump...

This is a quick one, but I thought it interesting.  There is anew op-ed in the NYTimes from one conservative dinosaur David Brooks.  The subject of this opinion is John Edwards.  Now, I never agree with David Brooks about anything... and when it comes to his opinions on individual Democrats, well, I usually have to take deep breaths to control my anger.  So I clicked on this piece expecting flames.  What I got suprised the hell out of me.  

Disclaimer:  I am currently undecided...

I just finished watching a video clip of John Edwards on Hardball.  I am almost left speechless, not only by the determination by which Edwards stands up against Ann Coulter specifically (and right wing framing in general), but by the effect his answers have on Tweety.  More after the fold...

When I first came to this site, I thought that I would find like minded individuals who agreed with everything I say.  And from there, I thought we would start a revolution.  Boy, was I wrong...