Today, the AP came out with an article, which stated that the South Dakota Democratic presidential primary was going to be close. Kossack bawbie wrote a scathing diary, posted a few hours ago, extremely critical of that AP story.

The diarist noted how surrounding states had gone for Obama overwhelmingly and noted how popular Barack was with Native Americans who are the state's largest ethnic minority. I certainly hope bawbie is right, the logic of his arguments are sound, but, with all due respect, I don't think we should assume that this is going to be an easy victory.

In an opinion piece published in the UK Telegraph, prominent intellectual Camille Paglia rips Hillary's Campaign and accuses her of making it more difficult for a woman to become president any time in the near future.

In her raw ambition and stubborn, grinding energy, Hillary will certainly cast a long shadow on young women aspiring to high office. She is both inspiring role model and cringe-making bad example — an overtly feminist careerist who never found a way to succeed without her husband's connections, advice, and intervention.

Introducing a new diary type: the Diary Request. The Diary Request is a special type of diary used to request that somebody write a diary on a specific subject. This diary is itself an example of this new type. You should use a title format similar if not identical to the one above. The tagline should also include the tag = "diary request". One thing different between this and most other types of diaries is the length. Unlike most other diaries, the Diary Request may be as short as a single sentence. Naturally, if there is a recent, active thread with a similar topic it would be much simpler to post the diary request as a comment on that related diary.

Or not. I know a lot of people will say, "Well, why not just do the research yourself?" My answer would be "Because you may have other things to do." Besides, I come from a Computer Science background and re-using other people's work and knowledge and building on it and/or making it more accessible and user-friendly is something I am trained to do. I suspect that I am not the only one on this site for whom that is true.

So, if you think that I'm full of shit, this is probably a good place to stop. For those of you foolhardy souls who wish to continue: an example of a diary request comes below the fold. Abandon hope all ye who enter.

OK, this is going to be quick, but I think it is important even if it does not strictly fit the qualifications for a diary.

While reading all the discussions on how to express our displeasure at ABC's deplorable debate in Philadelphia, it struck me that the best way to hurt the Mickey Mouse Network is to go after their sponsors. If we could actually organize a boycott of those companies that sponsored the debate until they withdraw advertising from ABC or ABC issues an apology and starts making changes in their news coverage, I really think that could be very effective. Especially, if we could get a few thousand kossacks to spread the word in their own social networks. Hitting these people in the bottom line is the best way to get their attention.

The only thing stopping me from doing this right now is that I didn't watch the commercials during last night's debate, so I am not sure who did sponsor it. D'OH!!!! Were any of you more attentive than I during the commercials last nigut? If so, let me know and let's get this baby rolling.

We've been trying something in Oregon. While I really don't have any metrics as to how successful it may or may not be, it is something that almost has to have a positive impact and I thought that it might be worth trying it here. The idea with floated by one of hte leaders of Obama's volunteer team here in Portland at a recent meeting of Unite Portland for Obama. I have no idea as to where he came up with it and really don't care, as it is great concept.

How many of you have been frustrated with inaccurate or misleading portrayals of Senator Obama in the media? The Oregon Obama Rapid Response Team exists to alleviate this situation. Check below the fold for an explanation of how it works and how you can help expand it from one state to the entire nation.

There has been much made of the sheer brilliance and political savvy of the Obama campaign, both on this site and in the portion of the media that is concerned with politics and elections. One aspect his campaign's success that has not been discussed is how Obama has usurped the mantle of the "unity" candidate from Bloomberg and company. A recent on-line article by one of Unity '08's leading lights is such great proof of this usurping that it inspired me to write this diary.

By tomorrow evening or early Wednesday at the latest, we will have a better idea of who our nominee will be for president. It is possible that the results will end in something resembling a tie, but either Hillary will hold on to enough of the lead she has held up until now in most states or Barack will defy expectations by winning some of those states.Some folks will be bummed and others will have reason to celebrate.

Celebration is fine, but I hope that we can all agree to avoid gloating.

MSNBC is stating that tonight's Dem debate will be broadcast on MSNBC.com. However I can not find the link to view the debate ANYWHERE on their Website. Does anybody have a link for this debate?
I know this is a very short diary, but I think it would be a worthy service to low-income people who can't afford cable to get this info out there.

We often slam the MSM for not exposing bullshit and lies during election campaigns, and rightfully so. However fair is fair and I think that we should also give them an "attaboy" when they get it right and are proactive in exposing dirty campaigning.
In a recent on-line article Newsweek has debunked some of the more vicious rumors that the wingnuts are spreading via email about the Senator from Illinois.

Being a political junkie, I have followed the primary campaigns, particularly on the Democratic side with some interest. I totally agree with the statement made many times on this site that any of our candidates are better than any of theirs. The more I see of our candidates and hear from their campaigns the easier it is for me to make a case for or against any of them. I'm going to use this diary to demonstrate how easy it is with the 3 top contenders for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Let me add that any one of these worthy individuals will have my support if they win the nomination. Our democracy will probably not survive 4 more years of the sort of leadership the GOP has given us over the last 7 years.
I should add as a side note, that another reason I am pretty ambivalent is that I am not in a position to effect the outcome of the nominating process. My state doesn't have its primary until May and I really don't have enough of an income to be able to donate to campaigns.

Another GOP Senator on the retirement watch is planning to announce his retirement according to the Omaha World=Herald.

Sen. Chuck Hagel is set to announce Monday that he is retiring from the Senate and that he won’t join the race for the White House in 2008, the Omaha World-Herald newspaper reported on its Web site Friday night, citing "people close" to the Republican from Nebraska.

It looks like Bob Kerrey was correct when he predicted Hagel wouldn't run. We now have another GOP-held senate seat that is favored to go Democratic in 2008.

I'm really not terribly surprised that he's not entering the presidential race. Ron Paul has already claimed the anti-Iraq War niche in the Republican sweepstakes and there is little evidence to suggest that taking that position is giving him enough votes to even come close to winning the nomination.

It gives me no pleasure to write this, I live across the river from Baird's district and had always thought that he was a reliable progressive vote. Unfortunately, it looks like he is caving in to Bush's surge in a big way, according to the Washington Post.

Not every Democrat has come back from Iraq supporting a drawdown of U.S. forces in the coming months, as party leaders have advocated. Staking out positions that could complicate efforts to achieve party unity in September, a few Democratic lawmakers have returned expressing support for a continued troop presence. One of them, Rep. Brian Baird (Wash.), said yesterday that he will no longer vote for binding troop withdrawal timelines.

OK this is the third in a series of diaries. I am trying to get some information about kossacks' feelings about the Democratic Congressional leadership's performance. it is my intention to use this in a future diary.
I am doing 2 diaries to find out the amount of responsibility that DK bloggers think the leaders of each house have for the widely-condemned failures of Congress to stand up to Bush on the war. Because there appears to be a limit of one poll per diary, I am going to have to do this in 2 diaries. I'm started with Harry, because he is the leader of what is usually considered 'the upper chamber". you can still vote in that poll here. Now it's Nancy's turn.

OK this is an extension of my last diary. I am trying to get some information on kossacks' feelings about the Democratic Congressional leadership's performance. I intend to use it in a future diary
At the suggestion of fellow kossack hairspray, I am doing 2 diaries to find out how much responsibility that DK bloggers think the leaders of each house have for the widely-condemned failures of Congress to stand up to Bush on the war and warrantless wiretapping. Because there appears to be a limit of one poll per diary, I am going to have to do this in 2 diaries and I'm starting with Harry, because he is the leader of what is usually considered 'the upper chamber". Come back tomorrow for Nancy's turn.

I'm trying to do some research for an upcoming diary. The research is concerning how Reid and Pelosi are perceived by the kossack kommunity as far as their leadership skills are concerned.
Hopefully doing it a couple of weeks after the cave in on wiretapping will give some time for tempers to cool and make it more likely that respondents can answer objectively.
Your participation in this is greatly appreciated. Recs are also appreciated in order to make sure as many as possible are able to respond to this poll thereby making it as accurate as possible

Like most other kossacks I am totally enraged and extremely disappointed with the Democratic congressional leadership's latest cave-in to Bush on the FISA "reform". This is not the first time they have let us down and I'm betting it won't be the last. I've been a Dem for over 30 years, with one break between 2000 and 2004,  and have been let down by my party more times than I can count.

The one thing that really worries me about many of the responses I have seen on DK is that they indicate good people are actually contemplating giving up. The level of their despair ranges from ignoring elections above the state level to saying "fuck politics altogether".

I find this trend more distressing than all the failures of spineless Dem congresscritters combined.

The title really says it all. She made this promise at a campaign stop in Manchester, NH. It was a very direct answer to a very direct question. The story is at this link: http://stopthedrugwar.org/...
This is more evidence to bolster kos's conclusion that Hillary is really on a roll.  

Rahm Emanuel, the 2006 DCCC chairman who gave many of us liberal activist fits by aggressively pushing centrist and conservative candidates in Democratic primaries has given us something to cheer about by urging party leaders to stick to their guns on Iraq funding.