(full disclosure: I work for the Courage Campaign)

The California Supreme Court announced today its deeply disappointing decision to uphold Proposition 8.

It's wonderful that the court recognized the legal marriages of the 18,000 same-sex couples married in 2008, but this is a very sad day for California.

But we don't have time to mourn the failure of the state court to restore marriage equality to California.

It's time to go on offense. To be fearless in our fight for equality by building a grassroots army 1 million strong. Starting right now.

In response to the court's decision, the Courage Campaign will hit the California airwaves in the next 72 hours with a 60-second TV ad version of "Fidelity"—the heartbreaking online video viewed by more than 1.2 million people, making it the most-watched video ever in the history of California politics.

We are launching this provocative new TV ad in the spirit of Harvey Milk's call to "come out, come out wherever you are" and proudly tell the stories of the people most affected by the passage of Prop 8—in moving images set to the beat of Regina Spektor's beautiful song.

More than 700,000 Courage Campaign members are ready to restore marriage equality to California. Will you help us get to "1 Million for Marriage Equality"? Watch our powerful new 60-second "Fidelity" TV ad and sign the pledge.

If you like TV ad, please contribute to put it on the air in Bakersfield, Fresno, Los Angeles, San Diego, Sacramento and San Francisco.

Here's an example of their latest tactic as a GOP minion confronts Blue Dog Rep. Chris Carney on the street. It's just about as stupid and pointless as you'd expect from the Republican brain trust:

The National Republican Congressional Committee is sending out video "trackers" to ask provocative questions of Democratic members of Congress. The trackers, who are congressional committee staffers, were earlier reported by Congress Daily, a specialty publication distributed largely on Capitol Hill.

NRCC spokesman Paul Lindsay told McClatchy that Democratic complaints were "whining," adding that "The modern-day world of campaign politics demands that we track our opponents' steps and missteps. We have nothing to hide when it comes to asking tough questions, but it appears that Democrats do when it comes to answering them."

The NRCC doesn't require its questioners to identify themselves as partisans on grounds that anyone has a right to approach a member of Congress and ask a question. It wouldn't say how many lawmakers have been questioned: A GOP statement said that, "Videos are posted on a case-by-case basis."

Republicans say they're simply trying to hold Democratic lawmakers accountable. Since the Internet became an important part of campaigns, it's not been unusual for candidates of any party to be tracked by their opponents.

"We've had trackers following us around before, but they were there to observe," said Andrew Stoddard, communications director for Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev., who recently was ambushed by a GOP interviewer.

"What they're doing now," Stoddard said, "takes things to a whole new level."

Well, sure - and that whole new level is the basement. I mean, the Republicans are pretty much admitting that their only hope is to catch a Democrat saying something embarrassing, since they're devoid of principle and any ideas more complex than cutting taxes.

November 15, 2008 C-SPAN
Live coverage from the 2008 Miami Book Fair International featured book talks by authors, interviews with authors this segment includes an International Panel: Writers and Artists Against the Surveillance State with Billy Collins, Art Spiegelman, Carl Hiaasen, Francine Prose, and Esmeralda Santiago

Download | play   Download | play  

Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich spoke at the Democratic National Convention today and there is little doubt his was the most enthusiastic and hard hitting speech thus far. Dennis always comes armed with truth and facts, and today was no exception. 

From illegal wiretapping, Iraq and high gas prices to playing the fear card, he blazed through the laundry list of Bush hackery and crimes and pounded the message home -- Americans to wake up and vote for Barack Obama.

"...Wake up America! The insurance companies took over health care. Wake up America! The pharmaceutical companies took over drug pricing. Wake up America! The speculators took over Wall Street. Wake up America, they want your Social Security. Wake up America, multi-national corporations took over our trade policies, factories are closing, good paying jobs are being lost, wake up America!" 

Now that's the spirit! We need to hear more of this during the convention. The American electorate needs a good dose of reality. If this speech doesn't get you fired up, nothing will.

Democratic Vice Presidential candidate Joe Biden makes a personal introduction to voters in his first official campaign video. Biden seems very much at ease and his no-nonsense, candid demeanor really comes across as he talks about his life, experience and his goals for the campaign. He makes no bones about being outspoken -- and with the ugly, Rove-style campaign the McCain camp is waging, I don't have a problem with that.