For the first time in 16 years, a presidential candidate is buying a significant national network ad buy.  The Obama campaign will be a TV sponsor of NBC's Olympics coverage, purchasing a $5 million ad package.

A new American Research Group poll has George W. Bush's job approval at a historically low 21%, against a 72% disapproval rating!

Today, Merriam-Webster unveiled the newest one hundred or so words to be added to its Collegiate Dictionary.  And included on the list of words now recognized officially by the American dictionary of record: netroots!

John McCain is heading to Colombia today to meet with President Alvaro Uribe, a man McCain considers a "friend".  I would like to educate McCain about his so-called friend and enlighten those of us here at Daily Kos about the horrific failure of our government's main aid package to Colombia, known as Plan Colombia.  I wrote a paper for my Foreign Relations of Latin America course at George Washington University recently about Plan Colombia's failure, and I would like to share it with all of you.  It lays out in stark detail the abuses of Uribe's government, the coordinated killings of labor leaders and academics, and the actions of rogue U.S. soldiers in Colombia.  Uribe has met several times with paramilitary leaders who are currently in U.S. custody on drug trafficking charges.  Are these the kind of "friends" you are looking for, Senator McCain?  My paper starts over the fold...

Through his spokesman, former President Bill Clinton finally extended his support to Democratic nominee Barack Obama today:

"President Clinton is obviously committed to doing whatever he can and is asked to do to ensure Senator Obama is the next president of the United States."

For many, it's a moment of "What took so long?" or "It's about time!"  Although I would have liked to see President Clinton offer his support on the same day Senator Clinton did, that day was about her, not him, and he has a tendency to overshadow his wife.  So now that he's come out and publicly offered his support, the talk turns to how to best deploy President Clinton in the general election.

(Note: per a request, this diary has been reposted from Saturday.  Senate offices were not open on Saturday, but they are open today.)

We have been witness to a Daily Kos freakout over the last few days.  The sky is falling, the walls are crumbling, Burgess Meredith's glasses are breaking.  We've seen whine after whine echo across this site, but what have we not seen?  A clarion call for action.

We have been witness to a Daily Kos freakout over the last few days.  The sky is falling, the walls are crumbling, Burgess Meredith's glasses are breaking.  We've seen whine after whine echo across this site, but what have we not seen?  A clarion call for action.

You may consider this a manifesto of sorts.

The chaos that has erupted over the FISA bill is threatening to go too far.  The comments that I have read on the subject, threatening primary challengers for everyone voting for it, withholding support for Democrats based on this one singular issue, are out of line.  Some have threatened to withhold their support for Barack Obama because he did not inject himself into this particular vote.  This is insanely stupid.  Let us not forget a major reason why we won back control of Congress: the conservatives decided to overreach.  The Club for Growth decided it would apply litmus tests to Republicans and fund primary challengers because they weren't "pure" enough, in their eyes.  Do not forget the story of Icarus - he tried to fly too high, too close to the sun, and his wings melted.  The moral of the story is, DO NOT OVERREACH.

A new Public Policy Polling (PPP) survey has been released, showing Barack Obama leading John McCain 50%-39% in the state of Ohio.

According to the New Jersey Star-Ledger, CNN blowhard Lou Dobbs is considering a run for Governor of New Jersey.

Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons, who famously was accused of sexually assaulting a woman in a parking garage a month before Election Day 2006, has been going through a rocky divorce from his wife of 22 years.  Now it has emerged that he used his state cell phone to text and call his apparent mistress at all hours of the night.

An AP article quotes Sen. Kent Conrad of North Dakota as saying that Barack Obama's vice presidential vetting team is considering three categories for his vice presidential picks: current top elected officials, former elected officials, and retired military leaders.

Robert Novak's column from yesterday says that Speaker Pelosi is privately talking up Rahm Emanuel as the next U.S. Senator from Illinois should Barack Obama win the presidency.

I have grown increasingly frustrated with the continued bashing of Joe Lieberman.  My problem is not that he's being bashed, but the form in which he's being bashed.

Rep. Leonard Boswell, fending off a primary challenge from Ed Fallon in Iowa's Third Congressional District, has been reduced to one issue and one issue alone as to why voters should back him and not his challenger: the other guy voted for Ralph Nader in 2000.

Remember Gabrielle Giffords?  She won the open seat in southeast Arizona formerly held by moderate Republican Jim Kolbe in 2006.  Well, Rep. Giffords is in the news now - as the first member of Congress with their spouse in outer space.

Warren Buffett, the "Oracle of Omaha" (or "Sage of Omaha", take your pick), has endorsed Barack Obama for President.

Today, my little sister turns 15 years old.  As her oldest brother, I feel deep pride and love for my sister as she turns a decade-and-a-half-old.  I remember when she was born - I was in kindergarten, and my brother was finishing preschool.  I had been wishing for a little sister for years.  On Halloween, 1992, my parents called my brother and I into their bedroom.  They told us that Mom was pregnant with our little sister.  I remember jumping up and down in celebration, and putting my head against my mother's stomach to listen and feel her kick.  I was the happiest kid on the planet.