catalist

• Marc Ambinder continues his question to educate us about the difference between VANs and VoteBuilders, Catalist and MyBo. Meanwhile, Sarah Lai Stirland at Wired thinks that all these databases pose a privacy problem for Obama supporters.
• Meanwhile, K Street Cafe has some interesting ideas on how Obama can continue to capitalize on MyBo/his supporters while in the White House. The most feasible option, according to the author, would be a leadership PAC.
• You voted. Now what? WireTap has the answers.
• The Christian Science Monitor notes the rise of a new kind of values voter:
  

  Nearly three-quarters of voters (and of religious voters) said people of faith should promote the common good, not protect their own views. Even groups most active in the religious right said a broader faith agenda would best reflect their values.

  Only 1 in 5 white Evangelicals and 1 in 8 Catholics said an agenda focused on abortion and same-sex marriage best expressed their values. A majority of both Evangelicals (55 percent) and Catholics (51 percent) opted for a broad agenda that also includes poverty, the environment, and the war in Iraq. The survey involved a nationally representative sample of 1,277 voters and had a margin of error of 3 percent.

  h/t to Zack Exley

• Does the Ohio GOP face a future without the youth vote? I think that's a question that all smart, conservative operatives are asking now.
• Nicholas Kristoff celebrates youth activism. As in 10 year olds.
• John Dickerson, Slate's political correspondent and host of the rather excellent Slate Political Gabfest, thinks that Obama's YouTube "Fireside Chats" are the opposite of transparent.

• Get your data geek on. Tech President reports that Democracy In Action clients now get free access to Catalist data.
• Think Progress reports that the VA will no longer be outsourcing the implementation of provisions of the 21st Century GI Bill of Rights. This is likely to result in a higher quality of care and service for our veterans.
• Meanwhile, MTV is teaming up with CNN, Kid Rock, Beyonce and more to host a special highlighting the challenges facing our soldiers and promoting veterans rights:
  

  Leading artists from multiple genres will take-part in “A Night for Vets: An MTV Concert for the BRAVE,” taped in New York City on October 23 and airing on MTV on October 24, to raise awareness of veterans’ causes, including employment, healthcare, homelessness, and education. CNN will air “Anderson Cooper 360: Back from the Battle,” a special that delves into the stories of several young vets and the challenges facing them, on October 25 and October 26 at 8 p.m. ET. Additionally, MTV today announced the Bill of Rights for American Veterans (BRAVE), a petition created in partnership with a group of top non-partisan veterans’ organizations calling on elected officials to support veterans’ issues and swiftly enact positive legislative changes.

• Wired Magazine is trying to compile a comprehensive map of voting problems - from machine breakdowns to push polls and intimidation tactics.
• If you live in Michigan, the Center for Progressive Leadership is looking for a few good fellows to apply for their 2009 program.
• Check out Teens in Politics a radio show of, by and for young people in politics.
• The New York Times says that Millennials aren't as colorblind as we think we are.
• PBS and YouTube want you to Video the Vote and send them your short films.
• The CS Monitor profiles the political awakening of a recent college grad struggling in the service economy.

Been traveling a lot this week and my browser has a gagillion open tabs of stuff I meant to blog. Here they are. I'll try to have a recap of the Demos Better Deal Conference posted later.

• Paul Rosenberg has a detailed post documenting all the ways in which McCain has failed to support the troops. - Open Left
• The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) agrees with Webb - McCain is full of it in his opposition to the GI Bill. And they have the stats to prove it. - Think Progress
• Micah Sifry has an interesting post on "Voter File 2.0" and Catalist's plans for the future. - Tech President
• The blogosphere is starting to wonder why YDA and CDA Super delegates have yet to endorse Senator Obama. - Americablog
• Rock the Vote has calculated that Young Voter turnout this year increased by 2.2 million over turnout in the 2000 and 2004 primaries. - Rock the Vote
• More reportage on Obama's success in raising small dollar donations, particularly from young people. - The Politico
• Congress is fast-tracking a student loan bill, though whether that is a good or bad thing for students in the long-term is still unclear to me. - The Politico
• The Millennial Makeover authors argue that Clinton and Obama supporters arguing over the strength of their coalitions just don't get it; demography is destiny for the Democratic Party. - Huffington Post
• Where is the next generation of philanthropists? - Tactical Philanthropy
• More kvetching about the lack of protest music. Will they never stop whining about this? - Huffington Post
• Clay Shirky discusses our "cognitive surplus" and what it means for human information production and organizing. - Open Left
• Andrew Kohut explores the widening generation gap in how voters cast their ballots. - New York Times