Creating a virtual 51st state

What do you all think of this?

American citizens living in Canada will be able to use the Internet to vote in the U.S. presidential primaries for the first time in 2008, but only if they're Democrats.

Democrats Abroad, an organization representing more than seven million Americans living outside the U.S., is holding its first "global primary," allowing American ex-pats in Canada and around the world to vote online as part of a virtual 51st state.

Unlike Republicans Abroad, whose members must still vote by absentee ballot in their home states, Democrats Abroad is recognized as an official branch of the Democratic National Committee, and will send 22 delegates to the party's convention in August, putting its influence on par with states like Idaho (23) and North Dakota (21).

In previous elections, these delegates were selected in caucuses held around the globe, requiring American citizens to actually show up at polling centres. In 2004, a group of just 80 Americans gathered in Toronto's Metro Hall to showcase their support for John Kerry or Howard Dean.

But in next year's primary, Democrats across Canada can vote through the mail or on the Internet, and organizers hope to dramatically increase voter involvement...

Does this really constitute the equivalent of a 51st state, or is the headline deliberately provocative?

Presidential Ads, Take-Five

How about a little blog time for the more mainstream candidates? Of that group, John Edwards is perhaps the left edge of the ballot. But who thought they'd ever hear a Democrat, nevermind a liberal Democrat, slam their own party the way Edwards has done? Good for him.

I guess the conservatives aren't afraid of Edwards. Being a decent enough God-fearing person isn't enough to trump being a trial attorney, and the Repub's certainly made enough hay of that last time around. They conveniently always forget to mention that all their candidates, except for Ron Paul, are lawyers and professional politicians too. Need a translation? Professional politician = wealthy lying scumbag.

Presidential Ads, Take-Four

Dennis Kucinich may be the most 'hip' candidate running for President. He's a vegan, married to a British redhead with a pierced tongue. He has a MySpace page. He has a YouTube page. He's making extensive use of the internet, more than anyone else I've seen. He may not win, but he's out there swinging and talking about issues that are, or should be, important to everyone. You've got to appreciate that, if nothing else.

I'm not sure Sean Penn's endorsement is going to help Dennis any more than Oprah will help Obama, but it might get him some publicity, and we all know that bad publicity is better than none.

Nothing could stop the forest fire...

Dr. Paul and Mike Gravel

I like that these two genuinely like each other and see what we all see. Also, that both speak clearly and to the point, not like the other 'skirt the issue candidates'.

Each time someone tries to blindside them, they speak right up with a well thought out, make no apology answer... yes, they actually answer the questions! Something new I'd say.

Abortion?
Economy?

Presidential Ads, Take-Three

Mike Gravel is the little known Democratic side of the Libertarian coin, with Ron Paul being the other side. As with Ron Paul, I don't agree with everything Gravel says, but at this point, I'm ready to pitch out the usual suspects and give these guys a shot. He's got teachers, teachers, making ads for him. Not Madison Avenue, not some advertising giants, just a couple teachers.

btw, the "crazy" reputation? He gets that from the likes of Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter. They don't like anyone who can look them in the eye. They don't like people who *think*, and who believe, given the chance, that the average American can think and maybe understand the metaphors that the teachers were going for with their videos. They certainly don't like people who think and then aren't in lockstep with them (goes without saying, I know). What do you suppose Limbaugh and Coulter have to fear from a couple of upstarts like Gravel and Paul?