I think everyone should take a look at the success Evan Bayh enjoyed with his 21st Century Scholars program while he was Indiana's governor.  Evan Bayh signed the 21st Century Scholars Act in 1992, and the rest of the country has yet to catch up with Indiana on this issue.  

Every student eligible for a free lunch program in Indiana gets the opportunity to go to college on a full scholarship to a public university in Indiana.  The prerequisites are that they graduate with passing grades and sign a pledge not to mess around with illegal drugs.  

The fact that this program has been a success for the past 14 years is truly remarkable.  Vilsack has tried to implement a similar program, but with very limited success, in Iowa.  More below...

My buddy posted this on DFA's blog, so I thought I might put it on here:

So I was up late thinking last night. I was watching Fahrenheit 9/11, and as usual the opening scene made me angry and sad at the violation our democracy suffered. And coincidentally, a few nights ago the Al Gore SNL was on E!

So what I'm thinking is this: the Democrats don't have a solid candidate for 2008. No one has any name recognition beyond Hillary, and she'd be risky because of her polarizing personality. Al Gore on the other hand has the name recognition, and could inspire the populist internet group that Dean did. After all, Gore invented the internet.

I'm going to be at Georgetown next year, and I can honestly say if Gore ran I'd be willing to take off a semester to help him out, but I'm wondering where everyone else stands. So I pose the following questions:

1. If Gore runs in '08 does he have a legitimate chance at winning the nomination?

2. If Gore runs in '08, where would he fall on your list of likely candidates?
   

Imagine this scene:

Tomorrow evening, on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, Howard Dean, the Democratic members of Congress, and other significant members of the party hold a press conference.  Dean stands at the podium and says, "Let me be very blunt.  After 9/11 we all supported this president in his war on terror.  None of us wanted "therapy" for the enemy.  

"Last week, Karl Rove accused us, the Democratic Party as a whole, of not wanting to face down the terrorists.  Now, the Republican administration is claiming they don't know what he said that was so offensive.  

"What is offensive is that the President's chief of staff is trying to use 9/11 as a wedge issue.  What is offensive is that Karl Rove is lying to the American people about the Democratic response to terrorism.  9/11 was not a partisan issue, nor should it ever be seen as one.  It is this President's duty to his country to demand an apology or resignation from Mr. Rove.  Any questions?"

Why are we all sitting around resting on our laurels about this Karl Rove speech.  The guy did us and the country as a whole a huge disservice when he smeared the liberal community in his speech.  Now it seems we're content to get in a few potshots and then stop short of an apology.

The reason Republicans got an apology out of Durbin is that they harped on the issue nonstop.  It didn't matter if what he said was taken out of context, they focused all their energy on him for a full week.

This is a call to arms on this issue.  We're never going to take this country back until we grow a spine.  Everyone in the blogosphere needs to be demanding an apology, whether online, in print, or on the air.  We need to start taken these battles as seriously as Rove does, and then maybe we'll win some.

Hey all,

The race in Ohio's 2nd District is heating up.  Wulsin appears to be the choice of the progressives, while Hackett is the party choice.

Check out her blog at www.wulsin4congress.blogspot.com

The race in Ohio's 2nd District has turned ugly.  In an attempt to ensure that the most "electable" candidate is nominated, the Hamilton County Democratic Party has chosen to endorse Paul Hackett, a candidate who believes women shouldn't serve in the military, is endorsed by the NRA, and does not believe in a woman's right to choose.  Remember when Democrats stood for Democratic values?

There is only one way to ensure that a true Democrat is nominated in Ohio's 2nd District.  Dr. Victoria Wulsin has fought AIDS in Africa, negotiated foreign policy, and fought for universal healthcare.  She represents the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party.

I'm not a part of the campaign, but I'm a concerned citizen.  I've given to the Wulsin campaign over the internet, and I'm asking you to do the same.  Give whatever you can.  Whether it's $2,000, $1,000, $500, or $50, it can make a difference.  We found out through Howard Dean's campaign that change comes not from the actions of the party, but the actions of the people.  Help breakup the Good Old Boys network in Cincinnati that cost us the '04 election, and nominate a true progressive.

www.wulsin4congress.us

I know I'm late on this one, but I heard that Bob Woodward tossed Dick Cheney's name around as a dark horse on one of the weekend talk shows (not sure which).  If Cheney does run, which I don't think is gonna happen, can he win?

The GOP has no strong candidates yet.  Allen, Romney, Frist, and the bulk of those in the running are hardly household names.  The theocons will do anything to keep McCain from getting elected, Giuliani has only been a mayor, and Condi doesn't seem too interested.  Although it's a scary thought, could Darth (dammit), I mean Dick Cheney get nominated?

www.wulsin4congress.us

Take back Ohio's 2nd District