I don't have to tell you the difference special elections can make in setting the tone for national politics: the netroots has been there and done that in special elections over the years, from helping push Stephanie Herseth across the finish line in South Dakota a few years back to pushing the Iraq debate forward by making a powerful statement for change in a so-called rock-ribbed Republican district with Paul Hackett's campaign.

Well, we've got another special election on our hands - only this time it's the Republicans who are pushing to sneak one under the radar screen in Massachusetts next week. The Republicans are desperate to make the case - any way they can -- that they're not in for a very long 2008, and believe me, when I say "any way they can" I know what I'm talking about, but with those scars come lessons learned.

I'll give you the details below the flip:

I'm here today because I don't think this is a time for us to just join a debating society or echo chamber where we talk exclusively to each other; Republicans are denying the Senate a chance to find a new course in Iraq, so what are we going to do about it?

I think we need to run radio ads in the states of the most vulnerable of the Roadblock Republicans who stand in the way, making it clear to everyone that those Senators don't deserve to be reelected because of their continued support for the Bush Doctrine of escalation without end.

And I want you to make the ad.

{crossposted from savetheinternet.com}

I'm writing to let you know directly my thoughts on the "700" auction; I posted this over at savetheinternet, but I know how much the readers of MyDD care about this, as well. This is a very important issue, and I really commend the work done by everyone involved in the effort to get so much activism built up around what can be an arcane discussion. There are a lot of powerful forces working to get the same-old/same-old, big-money auction; I've already gotten a letter from an industry group challenging my stance.

So it's great to know that there are so many activists committed to working together for a better telecommunications infrastructure for the country. Our country has always pushed the curve and led the way in technological advances, and yet we are falling behind in broadband deployment to an alarming degree. That's unacceptable.