When we talk about the electability of the presidential candidates, we should also think about their effect on the electability of other Democrats that will be sharing a ticket with them in November.  In this analysis, I look at the 23 senate races for seats currently held by Republicans.  

I list the 23 races in order (from the likeliest to go Democratic, to the least).  I list who won the Democratic primary or caucus, and by what margin.  And I list the margin that the Republican won their election in 2002 (in two cases, the most recent election was in 2006).  

Then I offer analysis for whether an Obama or Clinton ticket would be more helpful to the candidate.  

(Crossposted from Booman Tribune, in case anyone needs a break from all the candidate diaries...)

Well, since I skipped posting Knit-a-palooza last week, I have lots to share this week!  Finished socks, newly started socks (the last of my `ball-o-yarn-and-a-picture-of-what-it-will-become' Christmas gifts!), and yarn pr0n for my soon-to-be-new sweater.

The Booman Tribune Open Seat Initiative is designed to help progressive Democrats identify where candidates stand on critical issues.  It is limited to congressional and Senate seats that are open, i.e., there is no incumbent in the race.  One such race is in New Mexico's First District, which Heather Wilson (R) is abandoning to pursue her bid for U.S. Senate.

Albuquerque City Council President Martin Heinrich is a candidate for the Democratic nomination and he was kind of enough to fill out the Booman Tribune Open Seat Initiative questionnaire.  

Go below the fold to find where Heinrich stands on FISA, torture, the Bankruptcy Bill, the Military Commissions Act, and other issues where Bad Democrats have let us down.

If I can get his primary opponents to respond to my questionnaire, I will post those responses.  Enjoy.

[From the Frog Pond], by BooMan, who is past his daily diary quota.

So, the BooMan copped a plea today to 'disorderly conduct' and 'trespassing'.  It's not a big deal...doesn't go on my record, no fingerprinting, I wasn't arrested.  Just a couple of citations, kind of like a parking ticket.  But the whole episode is kind of instructive about how messed up our school systems have become and, also, about the huge difference between urban and suburban justice.

Some photos from the march today...(click on pics for larger images...)

Worn out from canvassing this weekend? Need to relax and unwind?

Come visit the Second Annual Booman Tribune fOtofair. Below you will find links to all participants' fOtodiaries. But since this list is constantly being updated, you may want to check the Master fOtofair diary here. This list will be updated throughout the week-end, so check in often for new entries. Please recommend the fOtofair Master Diary instead of the individual diaries; 4's and comments are encouraged in lieu of recommends.

Thanks to all and ENJOY!

Remember the old Joe Cocker song, "The Letter"?  

Give me a ticket for an aeroplane
I ain't got time to take no fast train
Oh ,the lonely days are gone
I'll be right home
My baby she wrote me a letter

I've given them an update in honor of the DSCC:

Today's focus for the Twelve Days for Justice Protest centers on Judge Alito's views regarding presidential powers, in light of the recent admission of George W. Bush that he has violated the 4th Amendment by authorizing unwarranted wire-tapping on U.S. citizens.

Lately, we've had quite a bit of interesting speculation here in PA about who will or won't be running in the 2006 senate race against Rick Santorum (R-VA/PA).  More on that in a moment; first, a little review of recent dKos history.

In the past few weeks (months, maybe?) there has been a great deal of discussion here on dKos regarding the Democratic party's pro-choice position on abortion.  Some diarists and posters have suggested giving up the defense of Roe v Wade-thus depriving the Republicans of one of their wedge issues-with the hope for political gain in future elections.  

My response to this has been horror at the thought that my own political party would even consider jettisoning my rights in exchange for a few votes from the other side. Of course, many people here at dKos were saying that the Democratic leadership would never do such a thing.  And I believed them.  After all, isn't this the party that built its reputation on defending those who couldn't defend themselves, such as the poor, the elderly, children, minority groups, and WOMEN?  

We were wrong. (More on the flip...)