If Democrats had a noise machine, Republicans would commit "gaffes" and appear "angry" or "aloof."

If Democrats had a noise machine, it would be remind voters that more ballots were cast in the Republican leadership race than there were Republicans eligible to vote.

If Democrats had a noise machine, they would use the following quote to illustrate how out of touch with ordinary Americans Republicans really are. Asked about lobbying reform, Trent Lott complained. "Where are you going, to McDonald's?"

Suggest your own...

The Audacity of Hope (and Action)

DURHAM -- A trio of Duke University sophomores say they drove to New Orleans late last week, posed as journalists to slip inside the hurricane-soaked city twice, and evacuated seven people who weren't receiving help from authorities.

The group, led by South Carolina native Sonny Byrd, say they also managed to drive all the way to the New Orleans Convention Center, where they encountered scenes early Saturday evening that they say were disgraceful.

"We found it absolutely incredible that the authorities had no way to get there for four or five days, that they didn't go in and help these people, and we made it in a two-wheel-drive Hyundai," said Hans Buder, who made the trip with his roommate Byrd and another student, David Hankla.

More here.

The vast right-wing media machine has mastered the art of repetition.

Liberals should do likewise. For each high-profile conservative pundit or politician, we ought to select a single statement and use it each and every time we refer to that individual. Consider, for example, the impact each of these leads might have over time.

1. Tucker Carlson, who supported France's decision to bomb civilians aboard a Greenpeace ship...

2. Mitt Romney, whose senior political advisor last month noted has "been a pro-life Mormon faking it as pro-choice friendly"...

3. George Bush, who said "he didn't spend that much time on" Osama bin Laden and is "truly not that concerned about" bin Laden...

Your suggestions for similar leads for other high-profile conservative pundits and politicians?

Several weeks ago at TPM, Josh provided access to Congressional Republicans' talking points on Social Security. Among the organizations mentioned in the conservative report is COMPASS, the "Coalition for the Modernization and Protection of America's Social Security."

COMPASS' current target, per today's Washington Times? Members of -- you guessed it -- the DLC.

In anticipation of House action, advocacy groups on both sides of the debate are pressuring lawmakers while they are in their home districts this month.

Compass, a coalition of top business groups that favor change, has been pressuring members of the Democratic Leadership Council who signed a document in August 2000 laying out their principles, including structural reform to Social Security. The document was signed by 73 Democrats.

Maybe Rep. Charles Taylor (R-NC) is telling the truth about his "invalid" voting card. And maybe he isn't.

But given that Taylor had made public his intent to vote against CAFTA, shouldn't Rep. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) have followed-up with Taylor after he or his staff heard Taylor's name being called off as not having voted?

I'm all about saying hooray for our side -- and I still support Brown for Senate in 2006. But the Taylor episode raises two questions: (1) Did Brown whip CAFTA well? and (2) Should Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD) have whipped CAFTA in Brown's place (and why didn't he)?

The Gang of 15 Democrats who voted to support CAFTA -- Bean, Cooper, Cuellar, Dicks, Hinojosa, Jefferson, Matheson, Meeks, Moore, Moran, Ortiz, Skelton, Snyder, Tanner and Towns -- will, according to Chris Kromm of the Institute for Southern Studies, undermine Democratic efforts to win the South.

A kind thank you to the DLC for again screwing Democrats.

Ed Kilgore yesterday requested that if New and 'Net Democrats "argue, [we] make it about substance." Fair enough.

Echoing Chris Kromm at the Institute for Southern Studies and, via Atrios, I therefore ask the following:

Why does the DLC argue Democrats should support CAFTA when even Southern Republicans have found it politically wise to oppose the elimination of tariffs on trade between the United States and six Central American and Caribbean nations? In North Carolina, for example, only one of North Carolina's 13 members of Congress believes CAFTA is a winning issue.

Now, mind you, I'm not necessarily a supporter or an opponent of CAFTA (on which the House will vote tonight?) having gone back and forth in the past couple of weeks. But if the DLC wants to rebuff claims that it is a wholly owned subsidiary of the corporations that fund its activities, it would seem to me that it ought, at the absolute minimum, to cease urging Democrats to take positions that, while popular with the business lobby, are political losers.

Stranger things have happened.

But, in all seriousness, why not? From, Reed and their DLC cronies are currently less than a two hour drive from Hackett's district. Rather than spend their days attacking Kos, shouldn't From and Reed lace 'em up and pound the pavement for a candidate who, when elected, will be the first Iraq war veteran to serve in Congress?

Who's with me?

[Update]: Matt Singer of Left in the West suggests we call the DLC press office, sure to take your calls, at (202) 546-0007 or email Al and Bruce using the DLC's online form.

Alternatively, write a letter to the editor of the Columbus (OH) Dispatch or, if you believe Republican operatives DLC staff don't read the Dispatch, send a letter to the Wall Street Journal.

[2nd Update]: This year's DLC "Conversation" is being held at The Columbus, A Renaissance Hotel. If you want to make sure Al and Bruce hear your suggestion before they depart Ohio, you can call the hotel at (614) 228-5050 and ask to leave either a message. (Though this might be a bit much).

I was impressed with Jerry Meek, Chairman of the North Carolina Democratic Party, when he dropped by MyDD to welcome George Bush to the Tarheel State.

But I'm more impressed with Meek now that he thought outside the box and recruited a serious challenger to eight-term Republican incumbent Charles Taylor.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Former NFL quarterback Heath Shuler is mounting a challenge for the U.S. House seat held by Republican Charles Taylor of Brevard.

Shuler, a Democrat who lives in Waynesville, said in a statement Monday that he has filed papers with the Federal Election Commission that clear the way for him to run next year in the 11th Congressional District.

Taylor, an eight-term incumbent, has been targeted by the state Democratic Party in recent months. The party has released a series of statements attacking Taylor's ethics and under the leadership of new party chair Jerry Meek has created a task force aimed at shoring up Democratic prospects in the western mountains.

Think the Republicans will find it easy to tar a former NFL quarterback as soft on national security? Think again.

I have long been frustrated by the "context" the media provides to Howard Dean's activities. See, for example, Erin Billings' latest in Roll Call. (Via The Note).

With tensions on Capitol Hill still somewhat raw over a string of provocative remarks, Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean is finding a friendly reception from at least one group of Members who on Tuesday encouraged him to keep up his candid approach. Dean met over breakfast with about 30 Progressive Caucus Democrats to talk about his vision for the party and his ideas for winning back the House, the Senate and the White House.

Imagine if every article about Mitt Romney began "With tensions still somewhat raw over comments that Romney has been 'faking it as pro-choice,' the Massachusetts Governor attended a fund-raiser held by a group of right-leaning GOP representatives..."

Alternatively, imagine if every article about George Bush began "With tensions still raw over Deputy White House Chief Karl Rove's role in the outing of a covert CIA operative, George Bush met with his National Security Council to discuss..."

During the 2004 general election, the mainstream media (much too) often reported on Republicans' strategy. The result? Articles devoid of any independent reporter analysis that essentially and simply advanced Republican talking points.

Unfortunately, the corporate Washington Post is at it again. Nevermind objective facts, the 'objective' media is happy to carry water for the Republicans. Via Jim VandeHei:

Republicans mounted an aggressive and coordinated defense of Karl Rove yesterday, contending that the White House's top political adviser did nothing improper or illegal when he discussed a covert CIA official with a reporter.

...

"The angry left is trying to smear" Rove, RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman, a Rove protege, said in an interview.

...

The emerging GOP strategy -- devised by Mehlman and other Rove loyalists outside of the White House -- is to try to undermine those Democrats calling for Rove's ouster, play down Rove's role and wait for President Bush's forthcoming Supreme Court selection to drown out the controversy, according to several high-level Republicans.

As the folks at Think Progress noted this afternoon (1, 2) Scott McClellan and the gang that won't shoot straight has opted to ignore Karl Rove's role in the Plame affair.

This is not the first (or the last) time the Bush White House has glossed over would-be blockbuster stories. McClellan has proved adept at preventing the mainstream media -- already asleep at the wheel -- from waking up and smelling the scandal Pulitzer.

Given the size and scope of the conservative media establishment, the disinterest the mainstream media has shown in real journalism, and the (current and relative) lack of a progressive media, how can we as liberals unify behind a single strategy to keep Rove's feet to the fire?

Pop quiz, hotshot: In 2004, which Democratic challenger came closest to defeating an incumbent Republican Senator?

Oklahoma's Carson? Nope. Brad lost by about 12%. South Carolina's Tenenbaum? Nope. Inez lost by about 10%. North Carolina's Bowles? Nope. Erskine lost by about 5%. Alaska's Knowles? Nope. Tony lost by about 3%.

The correct answer?

Sheldon Whitehouse was an early supporter of Howard Dean who months before the primary attended a Southern New Hampshire MeetUp on the Governor's behalf.

He'll make a tremendous U.S. Senator.

Rhode Island's former attorney general and U.S. Attorney Sheldon Whitehouse advised close family and friends earlier this week that he has decided to run for the U.S. Senate seat held by Republican Lincoln D. Chafee.

[snip]

A formal announcement by the 49-year-old Whitehouse is expected Monday, but he signaled his decision in a series of e-mails in which he foresaw that U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy would pull himself out of the running before the week was out.

Whitehouse also took the occasion to state the obvious: "I will have to become a fundraising demon in the new quarter, which will bring you expensive requests for contributions, contacts and so forth."

On Wednesday, he gave his supporters the go-ahead sign with an e-mail that said: "Dear All. Patrick called me this morning to let me know he would not be running and to express his support. Avanti!! Sheldon."

George Stephanopoulos, James Carville, and Paul Begala. Clinton campaign veterans, all.

Effective, partisan, pundits, none.

I think it is (past) time we make sure the (very) few slots liberals receive on mainstream TV are used wisely.

I'm a little hesitant to go after three of our own. But couldn't stand to see Carville suggest Democrats ought to select a DNC Chair in a smoke-filled back room, observe Stephanopoulos tear down more than a single candidate during the presidential primaries, and observe Begala fail to defend the blogosphere during the Wall Street Journal/Zephyr Teachout affair.

Your thoughts? Suggestions?

Given the number of losing presidential campaigns on which Joe Trippi has worked, Adam Mordecai's latest post on Trippi's blog, Change for America, struck me as a bit ironic.

Trippi, of course is no Shrum. Joe usually picked longshot candidates with little chance of winning. Shrum, on the other hand, managed to lose (among others) Al Gore's sureshot campaign against George Bush.

But irony is irony.

Via Kaus -- of whom I'm no fan:

Mickey's a DINO, but I'm happy to see him recognize the netroots.

Power to the people.

Via Olbermann, two observations I found thought provoking:

Discuss.