Friday, newly minted Senator-Elect Energy Smart Jeff Merkley (D-OR) took the time to reach out to the netroots with a blogger conference call.  "The Netroots were critical to my election ... It is 40 years since an incumbent lost in Oregon and only the second time in 100 years that a Republican incumbent lost ... the Netroots put the campaign over the top."  

But, more important than any plaudits for bloggers ("Netroots Nation was one of the best things that I did during the campaign.") and promises to remain engage for the future, was Merkley's evaluation as to the election's mandate and visions for moving forward.

We have a very strong mandate for a progressive agenda. We have had two cycles in a row with winning six [at least] seats in the Senate.

Bush claimed a mandate when he didn't even win the popular vote.

We absolutely have a mandate and we should not be shy in anyway in claiming it.

If not now, when?  Our people need us, our planet needs us ...

For the past several months we have been getting our new Southern netroots site http://bluesunbelt.com up and running. We are in need of front pagers who can contribute diaries on politics and issues of the Southern and Sunbelt states that are our demographic focus area.

We need front pagers who can submit diaries on:

-Coverage of local, state, and federal races.
-Coverage of the presidential race.
-Coverage of progressive policy and issues.
-Diaries supporting candidates are welcome
-Diaries to organize local grassroots for candidates and causes.
-General diaries that are of interest to the progressive community.
-Cross posts from other sites are welcome

If last week was defined by Katie Merrill catapulting a primary campaign against Congresswoman Ellen Tauscher, this was the week that Tauscher tried in vain to distance herself from Joe Lieberman.

The following is how the week developed, you can sign up to get this delivered by email at the Ellen Tauscher Weekly.

Today's LA Times Political Blog noticed:

The death toll for California soldiers is approaching 300 in Iraq. Click here for a casualty count by states. California has sacrificed more soldiers in Iraq than any other state, followed by Texas.

We won, and like the rest of you I am celebrating, but now comes the hard part.  How can the netroots and the grassroots capitalize on this victory and continue to grow the movement to take back the soul of the Democratic Party?  Electing Democrats is not the end, but simply a means to an end.   We will have won nothing if the new Democratic majority continues the normal money, career, influence peddling, and corporate friendly system that passes for government in Washington.  

2006 is the year of the Democratic Revolution -- a year that will be recorded in the annals of America as a U-turn from oblivion.

Sadly, we've come full circle -- once again finding ourselves fighting for our basic freedoms -- to establish our nation's commitment to the ideals of the founding fathers and the documents they authored.

Fortunately, we've just declared victory in a crucial battle -- one that likely saved our children and future generations from untold calamity. But as you all know, a revolution is neither won nor lost within the confines of a single battle. And as we've learned over the course of the last six years, success in a Revolutionary War does not guarantee freedom, liberty, and justice for eternity.

These things need constant nurturing and vigilant defense. But we all know that. That's why we're here.

In 1994, Newt Gingrich led the Republican Revolution, a victory that offered potential for great Republican accomplishments. Instead, they opted to abuse power and languish in arrogance.

Now the failed remnants of their lost potential has been erased from the slate of American hopes.

In 2006, we have been offered a similar opportunity.

It is our responsibility to ensure that we do not go the way of the Republican revolutionary.

It is our place to nurture and defend our progressive ideals. These, we believe, will bring our nation and our world to a more peaceful, healthy and prosperous place. One that offers our children the promise and potential we would've appreciated for ourselves.

So the revolution has begun but what we make of it will not be determined for generations to come.

But as I have come to know the elements of the greater Progressive Revolution, I am comforted and encouraged that we will not repeat the failings of past revolutionaries.

Indeed, we cannot.

Peace. Prosperity. Happiness:)

They'll be premiering at Brian's Fundraiser Monday night in Manhattan (Details Below). So be sure to show up and bring a friend. We'll have a great time as we give it one FINAL PUSH! We're almost there! So put on your party shoes and...

...leeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee et's ROCK!!!

EVENT: "Blograiser II" -- a Fundraiser for Brian Keeler, Democratic Candidate for NY's 41st Senate District.

OVERVIEW: Netroots candidate Brian Keeler is running for New York Senate and he is HOT!!! Spitzer, Clinton, and Schumer have all given him their hearty endorsements and the NY DSCC has moved his race to the 'Top Tier' level. He is a true inspiration and a proud progressive Democrat who has an outstanding opportunity to up-end the mini-Bush incumbent Republican and help hand the Senate back to the Democrats.

Kossacks across America unite! Join us in a national event -- a simultaneous 50-state Kossack meetup to support the candidacy of the one true Netroots candidate, Brian Keeler (aka NYBri).

Here's the deal. As many of you already know, one of our very own, Kossack Brian Keeler, is running to unseat incumbent Republican Steve Saland from the State Senate seat in NY's 41st District (WAIT...okay, so he's a NY candidate and you're not from NY, but please continue reading because we need your help to make this work -- whether you're from Boise, Cheyenne, Tampa, or Houston. This is critical to our movement. So please hear me out. And please see toward the bottom for the reasons why Brian's candidacy is critical to EVERYONE!)

On the evening of Monday September 25th (That's next Monday) we will be holding a transnational 'Blograiser' for the Keeler candidacy.

But we need YOU to help us make it a blazing success -- and what we ask is very simple and VERY FUN:)

This is what will happen and what we need from YOU:

1. First, there is the PRIMARY PHYSICAL FUNDRAISER Monday, September 25, 2006, 7:00 - 10:00 PM EST, @ Prey NYC (Online and beyond) 4 West 22nd Street. If you live near Manhattan, we want you ALL there that night. I guarantee you will have a great time -- just ask those who came to the event back in July!!

2. KOSSACKS ACROSS AMERICA: Second, we need volunteers to organize local Kossack meetups on Monday 9/25! So far opendna has volunteered to spearhead the organization of a Los Angeles satellite. But we're looking to every corner of the nation. Take the reigns! Contact your fellow regional Kossacks and get together on 9/25! Whether it's 5, 25, or 200 supporters -- a house party, a formal gathering or a few beers at a bar, it's all good! Just drop a comment below to let us know you are organizing for your town/area. I'll contact you soon thereafter or you can contact me first at TomBall@Keeler2006.com. Anything you can do will be appreciated!!

Monday, September 25, 2006, 7:00 - 10:00 PM EST, @ Prey NYC (Online and beyond (See below)) 4 West 22nd Street.

Leeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet's  ROCK!!!!!

Sprint to the finish! Kossack Brian Keeler (NYBri) has been BUSTING HIS ASS over the past months, working tirelessly to take our progressive hopes and dreams into public office as a State Senator from the 41st District of NY.

Now there's just 50 days to the election when NYBri tosses incumbent Republican Steven Saland OUT of the NY State Senate.

ONE LAST PUSH...

The least we can do is give him our fervent support by attending his FINAL Blograiser  (Either online or in person) and coughing up a few bucks for the one Netroots candidate that has been a driver of the Netroots movement BEFORE he became a candidate.

If you were fortunate enough to join us either in the Big Apple or online at the Big Orange (DKos) for the Brian Keeler 2006 campaign 'Blograiser' back in July, then you know what an amazing time it was -- the aura of excitement that surrounded the campaign -- the feeling of camaraderie that pervaded the like-minded and like-hearted community of Kossacks and other progressives that attended.

NOW IS YOUR CHANCE

And to celebrate Brian's candidacy and his unique status as a national 'Netroots Hero' (Markos 5/26/06), this Blograiser is going national -- and not just online. We're working to have local 'satellite' Blograisers in a town near you -- essentially DKos Meetups across the nation getting together to support the original Netroots candidate, Kossack Brian Keeler (NYBri). See below to see exactly how this would work.

On the heels of the Netroots victory in Connecticut with Ned Lamont, there is much excitement, confidence, and hope pervading the progressive blogosphere. But where do we go from here?

That's a no-brainer. Now we have to get him and other 'Netroots' candidates elected -- into positions of policy-making power and influence that will help our movement ingrain itself in the political establishment. This is the step necessary to truly shift American policy toward the progressive agenda that was set forth by its forefathers. This is how we'll infiltrate 'establishment' politics creating fundamental, long-lasting change.

And here, at DailyKos (And it's offspring Political Cortex), we Kossacks/Cortexans have something even more special. We have a 'DailyKos/Cortexan Candidate' -- someone born of our community to carry our message to the legislatures even as the rest of us carry our message to the masses.

The diary below was originally posted in my blog the Intrepid Liberal Journal on Sunday, August 20th.

It was autumn 1992 and I was out of college for a year. Like many undergraduates from liberal art schools I was well educated but didn't possess any skills for the "real world." So I telemarketed for a hideous company that sold overpriced latex gloves to nursing homes while living in the East Village.

The market value for these gloves was approximately $30 per case (10 boxes per case) and we sold them for $400. I earned either $8 an hour or 5% per sale if commissions exceeded my base salary. The company provided us with names of nursing homes nationwide on index cards and we read from a script.

First, congrats to Ned Lamont and Co. Lamont Rocks!!!

Now take a deep breath and let loose with a Cheshire-cat smile as we celebrate for a moment the victory of people power in Connecticut. Clearly a message has been sent. People-powered Netroots is a force to reckon with even in its infancy.

The New York Times describes the election results as "a vivid demonstration of how the Iraq war is buffeting American politics and of the deep hostility toward President Bush among Democrats." It also "suggested there are stiff anti-status-quo winds blowing across the political landscape as the fall elections approach." Lamont's victory "marked the first time that liberal political blogs, after playing an increasingly noisy role in Democratic politics, have been associated with a major winning campaign, suggesting a moment of arrival for this new force in political combat."

And the USA Today writes "the depth of Democratic opposition to the war in Iraq coupled with a challenger who had personal wealth and the fervent backing of liberal bloggers denied Lieberman his party's nomination for a fourth term -- and launched a warning flare to some incumbents in both parties."

Of course, a battle has been won -- an immensely important one, but the war has just begun.

After reading about various interesting events that had taken place in virtual venues within the world of Second Life, it finally sunk in. This might have a potential as a civic space, where I could talk to people all over the world about the idea of dignity as a human right.

Second Life is a massive virtual reality environment. It's not so much a game as a global conference call that takes place in fantastic imaginary settings. All sorts of activists could set up kiosks around the virtual public square. People with common interests could meet and coordinate for political action. One day there might even be ways to facilitate voter registration. Enthralled by the vision of cyber-democracy, I set up an account.

It was a tragedy that I couldn't attend BlogHer. The conference took place a 40 minute drive away (San Jose), and I knew some people who were going. Unfortunately, I don't drive, and I just can't afford the transportation and hotel costs right now. I had thus reconciled myself to the fact BlogHer was out of my reach, and I planned to spend the weekend twiddling with Breakingranks.net and catching up on Jamal Dajani's Middle East Intelligence Report.

This is it folks. Tonight is the night!

Endorsed by Eliot Spitzer...

Designated a 'Top Tier' race by the NY DSCC...

...Our man Brian Keeler (NYBri) is having a 'Blograiser' -- located physically in Manhattan and virtually online -- live-blogged on DailyKos.com and other excellent sites across the blogosphere.

This is our chance to make a bold statement about the direction of politics in America -- and continue to expand the passion and implement the progressive values of the Netroots.