color of change

I highly recommend that everyone read these first two links.

• Over at Open Left, 21st Century Democrats has an excellent post describing the drop off in turnout between the Presidential contest and down ballot races in key states. This is an excellent argument as to why Obama can't do this alone. He needs outside groups complimenting his ground game and promoting those down ballot races.
• In a preview from this Sunday's New York Times Magazine, Matt Bai analyzes the generational rift between new black politicians like Obama and Newark Mayor Cory Booker, and the old guard civil rights leaders like John Lewis and James Clyburn. The piece also touches on the rift at the institutional level between the NAACP and new players like Color of Change. It's a must read for those trying to get a handle on the new political landscape.
• CQ Politics has a lengthy and fascinating (if geeky) look at why 2008 is a particularly difficult year for pollsters.
• Of late Rock the Vote is championing veterans' voting rights. Heather Smith blogs about their latest campaign at the Huffington Post.
• Conservative Young America's Foundation still won't let reps from Campus Progress attend their conference (despite CP gladly admitting YAF alumns). Read the drama here.
• Confusing reports on the attitude of teenagers (13 - 19) on the direction of the country from a survey out of Medill.
• New Majority, a group out of Virginia, is planning on targeting local youth and Latinos.
• In Kentucky, Democrats are increasing their share of the electorate, thanks mainly to an influx of young voters.

Update: Go read Ari Melber's take over at The Nation.
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Yesterday I mentioned that Nas, Color of Change, and MoveOn were holding a rally outside Fox News to protest the network's racism. Fox ignored them, but Colbert made them the feature of his program last night. Here's the whole thing. Watch it.

• At Pushback, Kay Steiger identifies a huge problem with how a part of the College Cost Reduction Act is being administered. Under current administration, students who opt to go into public service won't be informed that they are eligible to receive debt relief on their loans until 10 years after they begin making payments, effectively nullifying the program and its incentive to provoke public service. The Project on Student Debt is running a petition here.
• US News has an interesting piece analyzing the wisdom of McCain and Obama's respective strategies of targeting the elderly and youth in swing states. More on this later but wanted to call it to your attention.
• I'm super skeptical of celebrity spokespeople, but Rosario Dawson (a founder of Voto Latino) did a good job today on "Morning Joe," an MSNBC program that has been about telling an accurate story about the youth vote this cycle.
• The Hip Hop Caucus reports that Nas, MoveOn, and Color of Change are outside Fox News today protesting racism in the network's coverage.
• Daniel Klein recaps our panel at Netroots Nation over at the YP4 blog.
• Some humor for you.