So... the sad part of this is that my dyslectic tendencies made me transverse the dates for the film fest contest, so rather than submitting my video by the 12th I thought it was the 21st. So even though I was early... I was late....

That said, the importance of journalists correctly covering the youth movement this election is essential - 100% essential and those who flub the facts I know frustrate me to no end.

Thus, here is my wrap-up version of this election according to youth

After much too long our Congress can now use social networking sites. These sites cannot ever ever be used to promote campaigns or elections, but can be used to connect with constituents and have some transparency.

According to the press release

"The Committee on House Administration adopted new web regulations that will permit Members
to use outside websites like YouTube to communicate with constituents.

The new regulations, which are based upon a proposal presented in June by GOP Members of the Committee, represent a vital step to providing new, uncensored channels of communication between Members of Congress and their constituents. The new web regulations, which were adopted via Committee poll, permit Members to post content on outside websites so long as the content is for "official purposes," and not personal, commercial or campaign related.

Ranking Republican Vern Ehlers, R-Mich., applauded Committee
Chairman Robert Brady, D-Pa., for his leadership and ability to achieve policy agreements in a nonpartisan fashion. "Mr. Brady recognized the need to allow enhanced constituent communication, and demonstrated outstanding leadership that enabled this Committee to adopt a long-overdue change," Ehlers stated. "It is imperative that Members have the ability to use whichever web services they feel will best inform their constituents about the important issues facing this country."

The DNCC Press Conference featuring Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius, Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, and Texas State Senator Leticia Van de Putte appeared on stage Sunday to talk about the upcoming convention, its inclusiveness and upcoming excitment.

I was able to ask the panelists about how they are reaching out to young voters and young people at the convention this year. The video is of their answer below! Sorry for the quality of vid I'm trying to upload as things become available.

A staffer on Capitol Hill once told me that working in the US Congress was a lot like summer camp. People who are leading our country eat junk food, live in fraternity style housing, and have summer recess.

For the members and staffers of the US Congress, August means spending much needed time off to in their districts and with their families.

For DC staffers, August means a full month with no pressing legislation, research, and no members of congress to staff. Hill staffers will tell you that they get much more work done when their member is not in the office.

So... finally I have video uploaded to YouTube from Netroots Nation.

My post for Rock the Vote is here and includes this video. But below I want to share interviews in their entirety that include everything they have to say. To see all the videos I'm uploading here's the YouTube channel.

There were a lot of things to talk about. Notably the myth that bloggers are young. I knew that, but had never quite seen that in action. There were many of us that were certainly under 30 and more under 40, but such a huge number of them that were older, x-hippies maybe... I think there is an assumption that we are all young and the reality was odd.

Beginning July 1st, the first phase of largest college aid expansion in six decades kicks in, according to a release sent out from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office. This was part of the number of bills pushed through Congress in 2006 when the New Direction Congress rolled into town.

In efforts to help middle class families live more affordable, the House passed, among other things, a minimum wage increase as well as the the expansion in college aid which includes an expansion of Pell Grants as well as this reduction in interest rates which will cut in half by 2011 and will begin with a drop from 6.8% to 6.0%.

According to the release

Crossposted from Left Toon Lane, Bilerico Project & My Left Wing


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Crossposted from Left Toon Lane, Bilerico Project & My Left Wing


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Crossposted at Progressive American Patriot

Dear Madame Speaker,

Recently you had the audacity to call yourself a leader, while simultaneously deriding the desires of progressive activists who want to get our soldiers out of Iraq as quickly as is safely possible. Like George W. Bush, you seem to have confused raw power with leadership, and rhetoric with action. You are no more a leader simply because you hold a position of power than Iraq is free simply because George W. Bush says it is. And we are no closer to getting our troops out of Iraq simply because you say it is your “highest priority... to [immediately] stop the war in Iraq," than we are to ending the bribery of elected officials because you say that ethics reform is one of your top priorities.

Amid disingenuous half-truths, an obvious penchant to submit to Bush’s resolve to indefinitely stay in Iraq, and now cobbled together excuses instead of results, Nancy Pelosi has shown little true grit to exercise Congress’ ability to end the bloodbath in Iraq.

::::

Crossposted from Left Toon Lane, Bilerico Project & My Left Wing


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Crossposted from Left Toon Lane, Bilerico Project & My Left Wing


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In response to 'It's Up to Us' by Cindy Sheehan

Dear Ms. Sheehan

From the time I learned about your efforts to reign in George Bush's murderous and lying ways, I have not wavered in support of what you are trying to do. I rave about your focus on impeaching this scum. I have seen the shitstorms you have weathered and been pretty damn offended by the left-wing  uproar against you.

Call Chairman Conyers about Impeachment, he's been waiting to hear from you. I don't care where you call him from, but I have a few suggestions. You need to get out of Washington D.C. more often, you've been there for twenty years, and your long residence in that twilight zone of truthiness and treachery seems to have significantly impaired your ability to think.

Crossposted from Left Toon Lane & My Left Wing


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