Want to go to Louisiana?

One Last Fight
by Trapper John
Thu Nov 18th, 2004 at 19:12:59 PST

Being the poli-junkies that you are, you probably knew that thanks to Louisiana's typically unusual election law, there are two races yet to be decided in the 2004 campaign. Willie Landry Mount (LA-7) and Charlie Melancon (LA-3) both face runoffs on December 4, in the last push to give Nancy Pelosi a bigger army with which to fight Denny Hastert and the Sugarland Princess.

This isn't a nag to donate. God knows we've seen enough of those for at least, oh, the next four months or so. (Of course, if you're dying to give one last time, both candidates and the DCCC are asking.) No, this is a lot cooler. The DCCC is going all out for these last two races -- they're willing to pay your room and board (and, in some cases, airfare) if you're willing to head down to Cajun country to ply your canvassing skills, which are undoubtedly honed from knocking on doors for Kerry.

This won't be for everyone. But for anyone who wants to do something to take one last shot for economic justice and civil rights before W II begins in earnest -- this could be fun. As we saw in 2002, when Mighty Mary Landrieu beat back the entire Republican Party, a late Louisiana victory can be the silver lining on the darkest election season.

National Lawyers Guild Urges Senate to Reject Alberto Gonzales as Attorney General

Media Repression in 'Liberated' Land

BAGHDAD, Nov 18 (IPS) - Journalists are increasingly being detained and threatened by the U.S.-installed interim government in Iraq. Media have been stopped particularly from covering recent horrific events in Fallujah.

Dahr Jamail, one of the few unembedded journalists in Iraq reports on the efforts to curb the flow of unfiltered information from Iraq.

The Streets of Baghdad

Dahr Jamail's daily post from the streets of Baghdad. Dahr Jamail is risking his life to provide un-embedded and independent reports of the crisis in Iraq.

Now Is Not the Time For National Unity!

An excellent commentary on the current state of the Democratic party.

by Nicholas von Hoffman


A little disunity, please. Let’s get divisive, gang. No national healing—raw wounds, anger and resentment. This is the moment for accusations and recriminations.

As per the routine used by countless other defeated politicians, John Kerry wrapped up a quavering call for unity and oneness inside his tardy concession speech. "In the days ahead, we must find common cause. We must join in common effort," quoth the fallen leader of the failed effort. Yeah, yeah, yeah, link arms with George W. Bush and … and what? Mr. Kerry’s answer was forget politics and take it up with the local divinity.

"I leave this campaign with a prayer that has even greater meaning to me now that I’ve come to know our vast country so much better thanks to all of you, and what a privilege it has been to do so," he said. "And that prayer is very simple: God bless America."

Unity and prayer. I cannot think of a less helpful farewell sentiment to leave the many thousands of first-time Democratic volunteers with. Let’s talk about unity and prayer.

The rest of the article can be found here: Now Is Not the Time For National Unity!