Our campaign continues to gain the attention of those in the know. This week's Nation features an article by John Nichols on the slew of incumbent Democrats facing primary challenges primarily as a result of their continued support of the Iraq War and the Bush agenda in general.

The article notes: "In New York, former National Writers Union president Jonathan Tasini is stepping up his long-shot bid to displace likely 2008 presidential contender Hillary Clinton"

Our campaign has frequently and strenuously hammered home the point that this campaign is about the war and the soul of the Democratic party.

The Capital District chapter of Progressive Democrats of America has endorsed Jonathan. The Capital District chapter joins the Ithaca PDA chapter in a growing movement of progressive Democrats who support Jonathan's campaign--of the two PDA chapters to have voted on the Senate race so far, both have endorsed Jonathan. We are honored by the support and look forward to working with PDA to build a strong, progressive movement in New York--and throughout the nation.

From the Capital District chapter's press release:

Albany, N.Y., April 24, 2006––The Capital District chapter of Progressive Democrats for America (PDA) tonight endorsed Jonathan Tasini, former president of the National Writers Union, for U.S. Senate from New York. The Capital District endorsement comes ten days after members of the Ithaca (NY) PDA chapter also endorsed Tasini for U.S. Senate.

I was drawn to this week's Rolling Stone, by its cover, which posed two questions I was eager to learn the answer to: Is George Bush the worst president in history (the answer: quite possibly), and is the new Bruce Springsteen CD worth checking out (the answer: of course). But it was another article that proved to be the must read of the issue, and one that I will not soon forget.

The article, by Paul Solotaroff, tells the story of Iraq Sgt. Scott Thorne, who, in September of 2004, was shot in the skull while in combat and remarkably survived. The article details the effects of his injury, both physically (he's partially blinded, suffers from seizures and has trouble stringing sentences of more that 5 words together), and on his loved ones (his wife and he divorced and his mother has been forced to leave her job to care for both her son and granddaughter).

She just doesn't get it. It's not the planning, it's the lying,
Mrs. C.

The U.S. illegally invaded Iraq in a war based on lies. Members of the administration are under indictment (Libby) and investigation (Rove) for their actions in trying to prevent the exposure of Bush's lies about WMD.

Yet all the junior senator from New York wants to know is, how we can plan better for future wars. From the AP:

Clinton, D-N.Y., who walks a political tightrope within her own party on the issue of the Iraq war, did not call for Rumsfeld to go, saying instead it is more important to find out what did or did not go wrong in planning the war....

While normally we wouldn't take a Fox News poll seriously, today we'll make an exception and offer our whole-hearted congratulations to George Bush as he hits a new low. Fox has him at 33% approval, with Republicans defecting in droves. With numbers like this, why do centrist Democrats continue to support his screwball policies?

In particular, why is the junior Senator from New York joining in the rush to war with Iran? When the President mumbles that "all options are on the table," including the nuclear option, it is the responsiblity of sane people to stand up and say NO. As RJ Eskow noted, " It will increase terrorism against us and spark a wider Holy War that will last for generations. Yet she's prepared to take that risk to increase her electoral chances. Is there no end to her cynical ambition?"