Hello friends.

Similar to the recent closing of the window for Democratic or Republican candidates to file for office in Illinois, Texas' filing deadline is this Monday, January 2. Since it is vitally important that we have a full Democratic slate up and down the ticket, but particularly on the congressional level, I am concerned by the lack of any Democratic candidate in a number of districts -- not to mention some of the statewide offices.

"Ex-Clinton Aide Ickes Endorses Dean for Chair" by Will Lester of the Associated Press.

From the article's text: "While Ickes would not comment on the Clintons' preferences, he is a close ally and would not be endorsing Dean against their strong objections. No one was immediately available in Sen. Clinton's office to comment.

Ickes said Dean "has a real ability to communicate with people in leadership, but also to grass-roots and average Americans. He understands the need for party building."

Ickes' endorsement comes at a critical time in the chairman's race and gives Dean almost 50 of the more than 215 votes he would need to win the post."

Interesting development, indeed.

Hey all. Motivated by yesterday's electoral count challenge, I decided to take a little bit of grassroots action.

I wrote and submitted a letter to the editor and then assisted four of my friends who were online (we'll all between 19 and 21) to do the same.

Below are our letters. Let me know what you think of the message and the content. As Co-President of the College Democrats at Oakland University, I'm thinking of keeping it up as a concerted effort.

The Oakland County Democratic Party, of which I'm an active part, has an Editorial Action Committee. They have lists of contributors who, once a month, submit letters to the editor in their communities to combat the conservative tilt of the letters.

Again, let me know what you think.
I happen to really benefit from constructive criticism.

The American Family Association, known in Michigan largely through their local head Gary Glenn, has been the driving force behind Human Rights Ordinance defeat efforts throughout the state. In a nutshell, the AFA staunchly oppose gay rights.

Now they're trying to lobby Congress on the matter of homosexual marriage. From their website, they are taking a poll to demonstrate what they know to be widespread opposition -- from within their own rigid organization. As the results have been coming in, though, with a bit of trickery on the part of gay rights supporters, the support has been in fact for homosexual marriage.

Take their marriage poll and demonstrate your support of homosexual marriage. These results will be presented to Congress, although I imagine they will think twice once the gathered responses offer a picture counter to what they espouse.

Former Congressman David Bonior, who served as House Minority Whip when Dick Gephardt was Minority Leader, endorsed Gephardt's bid for the Democratic presidential nomination today.

President George W. Bush came out with public support for passage of a Constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.

Using references to the Comedy Central show 'South Park' and answering questions in what they thought was a candid manner, Presidential Candidate Carol Moseley Braun spoke to students at Concord High School.

"Braun apparently appealed to the students, who crowded around her after the presentation. Many told her she was the most sincere of any of the five candidates who so far have visited the school.

One teenager noted the many student-made banners and signs around the auditorium."

What a disappointment.
I've written ABC news and indicated my personal boycott of their coverage until this unfairness is corrected.

Futile, yes, I know. I'm mad as hell about it, though, and it is curious it happens the day after the debate that Koppel and ABC get their asses chewed out by the candidates, with Dennis Kucinich in particular.

A rather unserious poll is included.

With 62 percent of the vote, Houston City Councilwoman Annise Parker beat out a fellow council member for city controller, the second-highest position in the city's government.

The city's first openly gay city council member, Parker has made a notable contribution to the overall effort to elect more openly gay public officials nationwide.