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End Oil Dependence Now
They used to say that Democrats were the party of "big ideas" (Social Security, Welfare, Public Education, etc.) and the Republicans just wanted to stop anything new. Now things have reversed. The Republicans have all these major government initiatives (No Child Left Behind, War on Terror, etc.) and the Democrats are the copy-cats with half-assed, half-enthusiastic ideas. What we need to do is create the think-tanks that will create dozens of new "big idea" programs that will get people excited about the party again. (I've been saying that for a year).
About 6-9 months ago John Podesta (former chief of staff for President Clinton) started a think-tank to do just that. They have a web site that I check daily filled with new (and not so new) ideas.
However, they now have their first "big idea" piece. and I'm really excited about it. It combines resolving the oil problem, stopping funding for terrorism, and will create jobs.

Read about it today.

Elizabeth Birch: Why I Stand with Howard Dean

http://www.eastbayvoice.org/NNews/NOpdean.html

After a decade of working in Washington, I've grown tired of lofty words and good intentions. The GLBT community is worthy of results. Governor Dean delivered actual results to the gay and lesbian people of Vermont. He has made a significant down payment on the dream of full equality for every GLBT American. Howard Dean is not perfect. But to me, on this topic, he is more perfect than any of the other candidates. When Governor Dean faced the opportunity to sign Vermont's civil union bill into law, I have no doubt he regarded it as career-ending. Only 35% of Vermonters supported the bill, and it was six months before an election. But Governor Dean stood by his decision and stood up to his opponents. He spent the next several months going town to town to educate Vermonters about the essence of true inclusion, demonstrating the kind of true political courage that I have rarely seen in my lifetime.