by Jessica Falker [courtesy of Blog for America]

IRV stands for Instant Runoff Voting. Here is a good explanation, using the Muppets, of how IRV works:

http://www.fairvote.org/irv/muppets/muppets.htm

Last year, the Vermont Senate passed a bill to use IRV in Vermont's election of our US Senators and US Representative. Yesterday, the Vermont House passed the Instant Runoff Bill by a vote of 81-60.  A comfortable margin, but not veto-proof. You can read the bill here:

 http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2008/bills/senate/S-108.HTM

Please contact Gov. Douglas and encourage him to sign this bill (S.108):

- Phone: 802-828-3333
- Snail Mail: Governor Jim Douglas, 109 State Street, Pavilion, Montpelier, VT 05609-0101
- Through his website (less effective): http://governor.vermont.gov/contact.html 

Talking Points provided by the League of Women Voters:

by DFA Staff [courtesy of Blog for America]

Howard Dean has been on a roll lately when it comes to smacking down John McCain.

Check out David Dayen's (d-day) take on Gov. Dean's recent interview with the National Journal's radio show: http://haloscan.com/tb/ddayen/2660272026813195576

Democratic National Committee Chair Howard Dean told CNN on Tuesday that McCain is trying to skirt election laws, saying, "John McCain is posing as a reformer, and it turns out reforms, as far as he's concerned, are good for everybody but him."

and

Check out the Raw Story's take on his interview with CNN: http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Howard_Dean_challenges_John_McCain_on_0226.html 

by Sheri Divers [courtesy of Blog for America]

1)       ‘Blue Dot in a Red Sea’, jacksonfreepress.com

http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/comments.php?id=15117_0_4_0_C

 2)       Democrats to spotlight community leaders, montclairtimes.com

http://www.montclairtimes.com/page.php?page=15955

 3)       Notes around town, atlanticville.gmnews.com

http://atlanticville.gmnews.com/news/2007/1011/arts_zest/020.html 

4)       Jim Dean, Dan Maffei and Open Thread, openleft.com

http://www.openleft.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=1833 

5)       Impeachment? Tomhull.com

http://www.tomhull.com/blog/archives/675-Impeachment.html 

6)       Pre-empting a war with Iran – Make Congress take a stand, pacificviews.org

by Sheri Divers [courtesy of Blog for America]

1)       County Council candidates weigh in on liquor license, bellinghamherald.com

http://www.bellinghamherald.com/elections/story/202442.html 

2)       Municipal Devolution in MoCo? Don't Go There, maryland-politics.blogspot.com

http://maryland-politics.blogspot.com/2007/10/municipal-devolution-in-moco-dont-go.html

3)       Bush Democrats, pushingrope.blogspot.com

http://pushingrope.blogspot.com/2007/10/bush-democrats.html 

4)      DINOs Beware: Your Primary Opponents are Drawing National Money, blueinthebluegrass.blogspot.com

http://blueinthebluegrass.blogspot.com/2007/10/dinos-beware-your-primary-opponents-are.html

by Sheri Divers [courtesy of Blog for America]

1)      Albany: General meeting of Democracy for the Hudson-Mohawk Region, activistresource.org

http://activistresource.org/calendar/cal_event.php?id=9159

2)      Two intense days of DFA Training with dedicated people, philosopheforum.blogspot.com

http://philosopheforum.blogspot.com/2007/10/two-intense-days-of-dfa-training-with.html

 3)      New Jersey Focus: New Jersey for Democracy, moleprogressive.blogspot.com

http://moleprogressive.blogspot.com/2007/10/new-jersey-focus-new-jersey-for.html

by Sheri Divers [courtesy of Blog for America]

1)      Students petition guns, thehoot.net

http://www.thehoot.net/?module=displaystory&story_id=2226&format=html

2)      Texas Liberal meets with Democracy for America Chair Jim Dean, texasliberal.wordpress.com

http://texasliberal.wordpress.com/2007/10/04/473/

3)      Next JCDFA, jerseycitydfa.blogspot.com

http://jerseycitydfa.blogspot.com/2007/10/next-jcdfa-meeting.html

by Sheri Divers [courtesy of Blog for America]

1)       Make a Note…, clarionledger.com

http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070930/FEAT05/709300303/1023 

2)       Pre-empting the Next War, opednews.com

http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_paul_rog_070930_pre_empting_the_next.htm 

3)       Pickets to Target Fox News for 'Tell the Truth' Campaign, newsblaze.com

http://newsblaze.com/story/20070929082449nnnn.nb/newsblaze/TOPSTORY/Top-Stories.html 

4)       Pre-empting the Next War, huffingtonpost.com

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-loeb/preempting-the-next-war_b_66554.html 

5)       Critical 9-30 Fundraising Goal Approaching, clint-curtis.blogspot.com