We've passed 10,000 contributions to the Netroots Candidates!  In fact, we're a few away from 10,100.  Nice.

... so what have you given?

We can talk as much as we want about this fall's elections- who's ahead, who's behind, how close we are to regaining a majority in one house of Congress or both.  But discussion is one thing- action is another.  

What have you been doing for your favorite candidates?  Have you contributed money?  Time?  Your house for a house party?  Have you loaded your car with bumper stickers?  Cluttered your lawn with lawn signs?  Attended a rally?

It was just by chance that I was sitting in my room listening (in the distance) to the MTV's 2006 Video Music Awards......

The announcer just announced Queen Latifah onto the stage.  I glanced over, just to see what she was going to be announcing.  But then she started talking about how it has taken 10,000 generations for the global population to reach only 2 billion and now in just one lifetime it has sky rocketed to 9 billion.  She starting talking about saving our future and how we are messing with mother nature.  (Thought bubble:  "... random.  Where is this going?")  Before I knew it, they were annoucing the "Special Guest"; Former Vice President of the United States of America, Al Gore!  I rushed over to watch to see what this truly surprising appearance was all about.  

The video is now up at MTV.  Go here, click on "2006 Video Music Awards on Demand" and scroll down to "Queen Latifah, Al Gore's Message".  If you can't find it, here's a transcript below.  

I posted a diary on this last night, but due to a misquote on my part and a misunderstanding of what I saw last night on MSNBC led me to delete the diary (shortly after zipping up the recommended list).  While I did make a blunder in the quote I posted and what Scarborough's comments were about; the idea behind what was said last night is the same.

Essentially, through Joe Scarborough's stories of his father, he is saying that Bush is in the same boat as Nixon; his father gave up his support for Nixon the DAY BEFORE he resigned.  And now he has given up on Bush as well.

Read Scarborough's latest blog on MSNBC from yesterday, Losing Patience with Bush.

SurveyUSA just released some polls pertaining to Tom Delay, taken from his constituents.

The numbers below.

I was watching the latest episode of "Lost" when the phone rang.  It was someone representing Lyndon LaRouche, who I had honestly never heard of (I'm young, so I may be out of the loop on this guy...), out of Chicago.  Thoughts raced through my mind:  How did they know my home phone number, which I NEVER give out?  How did they know my name, and town of residence, which I rarely give out?  It seemed strange to me.

... I didn't really talk much though.  The other guy did all the talking.

I wasn't able to attend the rally in D.C. today, but when I had time I was flipping through the news stations trying to find out anything I could about it.... and nothing.  Well, nothing but a very short mention on the bottom news scroll of MSNBC about the protest; but only mentioning it was happening.  Now how big, no information other than it was happening.

So tonight I decided to surf the major news websites to see who was reporting what.

Here's what I could find....

In both 2000 and 2004, the Presidential elections were ultimately decided by the swing states; Ohio, Florida, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Nevada, Colorado, New Hampshire, and New Mexico.  

But as we approach the 2006 Senate elections and the 2008 Presidential elections; will the swings state shift dramatically?  Will "swing states" once controlled by one part switch over to a solid blue, or solid red?

My ideas below.  

Cindy Sheehan was seen live tonight on CN8 in New England (and possible elsewhere).  She seemed unphased from earlier today when she was ushered away from a peaceful protest by NYC police.

Here's a link to the full story on what happened earlier today in NYC.

More below.

A while ago, I began compiling and "analyzing" data from polls taken since Katrina, data which unfortunately disappears from the site after about a week. My first diary using this poll data looked at the first week, and the second examined the changes from the second week.  Now, with some new data, I'll be taking a look at the changes (if any) and what they mean.

(I'm basing this assessment on "breaking news" polls from Survey USA.  Their polling methodology can be seen here.)

Six days ago, I began compiling data from SurveyUSA's polling on Hurricane Katrina, which unfortunately disappears from the site after about a week.  With only about six days of data, it wasn't clear if the BushCo spin/damage control was working (it had just begun at this point), but it didn't appear to be the case.  The numbers were steady and they weren't good.  Now, six days later, let's take another look.

(I'm basing this assessment on "breaking news" polls from Survey USA.  Their polling methodology can be seen here.)

A lot of us thought this would be the final nail in BushCo's coffin; until the backlash began to subside and the spin machine kicked into high gear.  Damage control was, and remains, in full effect.

But no matter what you hear, no matter how bad it looks for us, or how much the public seems to be buying into it... just remember this:  It's just what they want you to think.  The Repubilcans and BushCo are in trouble and they know it.

Yesterday, using SurveyUSA polls as a reference, we tried to decide whether or not the spin machine was working; I think we came to the consensus that Bush's numbers were bad, are still bad, and that the initial perceptions of the response to Katrina have stuck.

And now, the latest numbers seem to back that up.

Is the "blame the local and state official" Rovian spin machine working?  Are Americans buying into it?  Or have the initial perceptions of a delayed and inadequate reponse sticking despite the spin?

I'm basing this assessment on "breaking news" polls from Survey USA.  Their polling methodology can be seen here.

More below.

(NOTE:  I posted this late last night, which was probably not the smartest thing to do.  So I'm reposting it to get more attention to it)

CT and neighboring residents (revised:  everyone here at dkos)the Connecticut Citizen Action Group needs your help.

CCAG has been fighting for economic and social justice for nearly 35 years.  By utilizing grassroots power, CCAG has created change on the issues our members care about, including quality, affordable health care and the protection of consumers, the environment, and democracy.

And now, the CCAG needs your help to fight for clean elections and campaign finance reform in CT (revised:  and hopefully elsewhere too).

CT and neighboring residents, the Connecticut Citizen Action Group needs your help.

CCAG has been fighting for economic and social justice for nearly 35 years.  By utilizing grassroots power, CCAG has created change on the issues our members care about, including quality, affordable health care and the protection of consumers, the environment, and democracy.

And now, the CCAG needs your help to fight for clean elections and campaign finance reform in CT.

Rolling Stone recently released its picks for the People of the Year. Included were Illinois senator-elect Barack Obama, and filmmaker Michael Moore. Yesterday, I posted a diary on the interview and write up on another political recipient, Howard Dean, who offered his insights on his past campaign for president, the media, and the past election.

In the interviews with Obama and Moore, they both offer a similar message: We have to get over this past election, and focus on what we need to do to win next time.

Rolling Stone's People of the Year: Barack Obama
Rolling Stone's People of the Year: Michael Moore

Dig a little deeper for the highlights.

... praising the "daily Kos" logo up there?

Rolling Stone, a pro-Democratic magazine that also happens to be about music, recently announced its picks for "People of the Year". Howard Dean was among the recipients, and offered RS his take on his presidential run, the media, and this past election.

The most important thing to walk away with this interview with comes at the end of it: "If you lead them and give them a reason to vote again, they will get right back in the saddle." We need a leader, and we need a leader who is going to fight. We need someone who is able to motivate the Democratic base, and to drive us to victory. But, as debated vigorously on dKos: Is Howard Dean that person?

Dig a little deeper...