It's been an amazing first day. The Hotline, the most influential political newsletter in Washington, D.C, has a piece today clearly framing our campaign as credible.

It focused mostly on labor issues and my opponent's close relationship with Wal-Mart. As one labor leader said, "He might force a sharper edge to her labor message." We'll put up the rest of the piece today.

So, join us at the kick-off press conference: 12:30 today at the W Hotel on Union Square in New York City.

More later in the day...

This is your campaign.

I may be the candidate. But, we’re trying to ignite a movement.

A movement to stop an immoral and destructive war.

A movement for a better New York.

A movement for a better America.

So, before I go on, we need to build this movement right now: with people and money.

Can you donate today? Our campaign will not have the big money contributors, especially from corporations and the wealthy that my opponent will rely on. We will succeed because thousands of people make contributions of $25, $50 or $100 (of course, if you can afford to invest more in our movement, that’s great).

Make a Donation Now!

Our goal is to raise $3 million. Not to run television ads full of poll-driven political spin. We want to build a statewide, grassroots movement of people who are tired of politics as usual and want their elected politicians to reflect their values.

Make a Donation Now!

And we want to build an army of grassroots activists throughout the state. So, can you volunteer today?

Join Our Team At Our Volunteer Center!!!

Tomorrow, I’d like to hear what you think of a statement I will make at our press conference today. Let’s talk about it on the campaign blog.

Our revolution begins today.

Jonathan
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The Administration and others who attack those who call for an immediate withdrawal from Iraq often pose that option as "cut and run." The language is purposely designed to try to frame people who oppose the war as unreliable cowards who can't be trusted to stick around when the going gets tough.

But, the truth is immediate withdrawal is a far more sophisticated position...might I say "adult" position. It acknowledges the reality and the chaos of the war, it looks at the facts on the ground as they are and, effectively says, the war was a mistake. Grown-ups admit mistakes, learn from them and try to pursue a better course.

Yesterday, 10 more marines were killed in Falluja and eleven more wounded. Ten more families have now experienced grief that this immoral war has brought.

The president, obviously, made no mention of the deaths--the politicians who support the war want to distance themselves as much as possible from the human face of the war hence the Administration's refusal for many months to allow the publication of pictures of the coffins of the dead soldiers as they arrived at Dover Air Force base.

What is particularly revealing is the observation in the media reports that the deaths of the marines in Falluja took place in a city that was the target of a fierce American assault just a year ago.

As I pointed out yesterday, the president's empty "Strategy For Victory" speech has one unintended consequence: it pushed House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi a bit further in the direction of sanity, as she declared that she would follow John Murtha's lead.

In today's Washington Post, Jonathan Weisman writes under the headline, "Democratic Lawmakers Splinter on Iraq: Many Surprised as Pelosi Calls for a Fast Pullout" (registration required). Here are the first few paragraphs--