I am not from Louisiana, but have a passing knowledge of its election law and local politics. It would be better for someone from there to greatly supplement what I am writing here.

If more details of Vitter's activities arise, and particularly if he is caught lying, it is possible (although unlikely with the tenuous Democratic majority) that Vitter might resign. (An additional reason for this being unlikely it that if other GOP officials are outed, it would be a bad precedent for them). If he does however, it would be at least a short term Democratic pickup possibility, and maybe even ultimately help the Dems add or keep two Senate seats.

More details and thoughts below....

Below the radar, the California State Assembly has hitched on to an intriguing idea.

http://www.latimes.com/...

In brief, they passed a bill and sent it to the Senate a reform to California's electoral vote procedure. If passed there and signed by the Governor, it would begin a process that would forever change the electoral college.

As we watch Dante's Inferno continue to unfold under our eyes. I try to understand what is going on with the administration. In my work and life, I always have found trying to figure out the other guys' motivations is invaluable.

As hard as it is to try to react rationally to these events, it is crucial to think one step ahead of this cabal, likely stage managed by Dick Cheney at every stage.

Why has all this happened? Possible reasons below the fold:

Kos and lesser blogs have been effective in creating and spreading the great phrase "101 Fighting Keyboarders" and then challenging the wingnut trolls and others who back Bush to put themselves on the line in the military.

This is getting traction, and puts what is involved in perspective and the other side on the defensive.

We should build on this - I have already started on other blogs throwing this back to the more erudite and/or annoying trolls.

Goes as follows:

Obviously the blue state/Canada reallignment speculation is mainly a fantasy and a way to dream. But my Canadian progressive friends are not amused, and react with eyerolls about how little liberal/progressive/Dem Americans know about their great country. They want none of this talk.

Canada is a very fragile confederation - its becoming a country in 1867 was specifically related to the end of our Civil War, and British fear that with its end an expansionist Union would next set its sights north. A transcontinental railroad to join the loose collection of towns together was finished. Ever since they have looked south warily, and kept ties to the UK in order to safeguard their independence. Its the main reason the Queen is still their head of state.

As part of visualizing victory, let's anticipate whose on-air reaction we most want to see tomorrow night.

I did one round of this & have revised based on many suggestions & the early voting.

This includes commentators/surrogates/activists - no GOP officeholders or anchors.

There are so many to choose from - whose shock and awe do you most want to see?

Just a break, continue acting like we are 10 points behind, but as part of visualizing victory:

Of the commentators/activists/surrogates out there, after the Kerry victory, whose sputtering do you most look forward to seeing?

I am excluding anchors who barely conceal their bias, and have only one politician (GOPers don't really qualify) and campaign spokesmen, but please feel free to suggest anyone else - I may revise this Tuesday night when we are all celebrating.

For me - Zell Miller gets my vote.

Back to GOTV! Sorry: MEANT ANN COULTER, not COURIC Poll below

Needing to think of something else for a few minutes than 11/2, and anticipating Clinton's return tomorrow, I want to throw out an idea.

If the Dems retake the House (yes, unlikely, but so was the GOP victory in 94), the Dems should elect Bill Clinton Speaker of the House.

You say, ridiculous, he needs to be a member. Well, no, he does not have to be - House rules state that members are free to select whomever theyt want.

Richard Holbrooke just delivered a major smackdown to the Fox anchor post Bush speech

She rambled on, he finally interrupted - are you going to just repeat Bush' speech or let me talk?

CNN now has Kerry's speech from the start - Fox & MSNBC missing a crucial part (re: Sanchez revelations today)

Fox started with speech (intros) then went to commercials All 3 now covering, but other two did not fill in on important beginning

Heading into this election day is going to be one of the most whirlwind periods we have ever seen.

The recent tradition is for candidates to go from east to west and late into the night, often doing airport rallies to save time.

But election day is usually (for presidential candidates) a day of rest until the night.

Well,Kerry needs to rest somewhere. I haven't heard if he plans to be in DC or Boston election night. Here is my thought:

After flying back from his last rally in Las Vegas or Phoenix or wherever, he should head to Florida. Then have a quick rally to get TV, and stay there all day.

What an emotional statement that would make - and send a message to Jeb - we are watching you.

Lou Dobbs just mentioned that there is widespread gouging going on from companies who have the vaccine - up to 10 times the normal price. The Kansas Attorney General has sued one company based in Florida - MedVac.

As the allegations come up, someone should check out Bush/Cheney and RNC contributions to tie these people to them - why would I not be surprised to find they heavily lean to the GOP?

Apart from the fact that we should take nothing for granted, and that down ballot races are crucial as well, here is another thing to motivate us all even if we live in states like California and New York:

The record for most votes any presidential candidate has received belongs to Ronald Reagan in 1984 - 54,455,075.

(Al Gore of course comes in 2nd; it still grates to say that).

The projection of turnout this time is between 110 and 118 million votes.

It would be gravy if on the morning on 11/3, we awaken to find that John Kerry is not only president-elect, but also has broken Reagan's record.

For the first time in my four years (and about 12 elections of one sort or other), my polling place will not be the elementary school a block away, but rather a church.

Is this a wide spread movement? Could schools, worrying about terrorism, backing away from their traditional hosting of voting?

I live in a city that will vote 75-80% for Kerry (West Hollywood CA), so it is not and attempt to depress turnout.

Anybody else notified of a change like this?