MSNBC has called it:

WASHINGTON - Convicted Sen. Ted Stevens lost his re-election bid to Democrat Mark Begich after the last large batch of votes was counted Tuesday.

The longest-serving Republican in the history of the Senate trailed Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich by 3,724 votes after Tuesday's count.

That's an insurmountable lead with only about 2,500 overseas ballots left to be counted.

Jon Stewart did a great segment explaining why it took so long to count Alaska's votes, even though its population is tiny.

Congratulations Senator Mark Begich!!

Congress will take up the Auto Industry Bailout when they re-convene this week.  There is no better time than this moment to PUSH for concessions from the Auto Industry.  Time is short.  Democrat.com, can you help us act NOW? Here's a copy of a letter I just mailed to Speaker Pelosi:      Dear Madam Speaker,

Please make the FLEXFUEL component a MANDATORY requirement for any Auto Industry bailout.
IT ONLY COSTS $100 to install this component on a vehicle during the manufacturing process.  The only EPA approved retrofit costs $1300.  All cars sold in Brazil are flexfuel ready.  All cars that GM sells in Brazil are flexfuel compatible.  There is no excuse and there should be no delay in making all cars sold in America flexfuel capable.
THIS IS THE QUICKEST CHEAPEST EASIEST WAY to make rapid reductions in our foreign oil imports.

By Dave Lindorff

Well, as we all know, election season is once again upon us. Our choices are, as always, a great source of controversy and strife among the American people. This is understandable as not every candidate fits our ideals of the perfect President.

However, I've noticed some very disturbing trends among voters and, most glaringly, the Democrats. Frankly, it's appalling. I can't get through a blog or a chat room without seeing Democrats at each other's throats, each bashing the views and private lives of one another's pick as the Dem candidate.

You know what, people?? Knock it off. I'm not particularly wild about Hillary nor Obama either, to be honest... but all have a common goal here. That goal is to do everything we can to keep the GOP out of the White House.

By David Swanson

Tonight, Wednesday, May 7, from 8-9 p.m. ET, I'll have the pleasure of interviewing, with your help, the single most serious, dedicated, and inspiring journalist focused on the integrity of our elections in the United States today, Brad Friedman, the creator of http://www.BradBlog.com

Go to: http://thepeoplespeakradio.net to learn more. Go to http://www.thepeoplespeakradio.net/listen-live to listen live. You'll find instructions there to enter a paltalk chat room where you can post questions. You can also phone in and ask Brad your questions on the air. Call in tollfree from anywhere in the United States or Canada at 888-228-4494 or anywhere else in the world at 877-489-6350. Following the show, the audio file will be posted at http://www.thepeoplespeakradio.net/audio/2008 and you can find there now the recordings of numerous shows with amazing guests.

Steve has launched his first campaign ad, produced by Eichenbaum & Associates (think Russ Feingold's campaign):

Note: Edited by Moderator to remove request for donations.

Of all the November 2008 House and Senate candidates who support impeaching Cheney and Bush in 2008, one of the most interesting is a Senate candidate from the impeachment hotbed of Maine who is also showing leadership on protecting families against predatory lenders. Her name is Laurie Dobson. Check out this statement:

US Senate Candidate Urges Five-Year Moratorium on Home Foreclosures

There are some of the "aggressive progressive" Democratic challengers we're watching. More at AfterDowningStreet.org. Special props to those who attended Netroots Nation in July 2008.

The Boston Globe gets it. The AFL-CIO, even after its members' responses at its presidential candidates debate in Soldier Field, even after this event at the Machinists Union does not. The AFL has launched a campaign in favor of "universal health care" that spells out goals only one presidential candidate supports. But the AFL says it won't back a particular "plan" or a particular candidate. OF COURSE it won't. It will back whoever the corporate media tells it to back. But "plans" that keep the private insurance companies in place do not provide what the AFL is asking for. Only single-payer does that. Only Dennis Kucinich supports it.