There's always an election somewhere in America, and since this is an even-numbered year, there will always be a few hundred thousand of them.

The time is ripe to jump on the advanced organizing platforms available through Wired For Change -- and through package deals, Democratic candidates for Senate, House, and state legislatures can all get set up on Salsa in moments for next to nothing.

But it's time to think strategy, too. 2008 is so 13 months ago! The indefatigable Colin Delany of epolitics.com shares this video of his discussion with one of our former fellow-travelers about the lessons local candidates can and can't draw from the Obama campaign's model.

Topical free ebook downloads from Colin:

• Learning from Obama: Lessons for Online Communicators in 2009 and Beyond
• How Candidates Can Use the Internet to Win in 2010

Read more

"Such was the fate of the son of Marcus, and so easy was it to destroy a hated tyrant, who, by the artificial powers of government, had oppressed during thirteen years so many millions of subjects, each of whom was equal to his master in personal strength and personal abilities." -Edward Gibbon on the death of Commodus

On a day of such relief to see the callow scion strangled in his bath retire to his Dallas mansion, it's easy to get carried away, but this passage would much exaggerate the credit due so many millions of subjects and with it the grandeur of George W. Bush.

Not my country? Nobody who remembers the dark pleasure of those post-September 11 days -- the voluptuous joy of unsheathing the sword without qualm or restraint, the relief of casting off tiresome pieties and giving rein -- can say that without reservation.

George W. Bush was not our Commodus. He was our Smerdyakov.

"You stood before me last time and understood it all, and you understand it now."
"All I understand is that you are mad."
"Aren't you tired of it? Here we are face to face; what's the use of going on keeping up a farce to each other? Are you still trying to throw it all on me, to my face? You murdered him; you are the real murderer, I was only your instrument, your faithful servant, and it was following your words I did it."
"Did it? Why, did you murder him?" Ivan turned cold.
Something seemed to give way in his brain, and he shuddered all over with a cold shiver. Then Smerdyakov himself looked at him wonderingly; probably the genuineness of Ivan's horror struck him.
"You don't mean to say you really did not know?" he faltered mistrustfully, looking with a forced smile into his eyes. Ivan still gazed at him, and seemed unable to speak.

Read more (2 comments)

We are a full-fledged partner in the progressive coalition ... with our allies in the labor movement, our friends in the issue groups, and our party leadership. ... [E]arly hostility – based on substantive differences – is now giving way to new respect and trust.

Read more (6 comments)