Have you ever worked on a political campaign before?  Have you ever wanted to but didn't how where to start?  Later tonight at 8:30pm EDT, Democracy for America is teaming up with Democratic GAIN for an hour long online campaign training on Getting a Campaign Job.

This DFA Night School presentation is free and open to any progressive interested in joining any Democratic campaign or organization this fall.  We'll be discussing tips to build your networks and polish up your resume as well as providing numerous online resources you can put to use immediately in your campaign job search.

Just click here to RSVP and you'll recieve instructions to listen in on the training through Blog Talk Radio.  You can also download the accompanying sideshow at www.democracyforamerica.com/campaignjobs.

Follow me below the jump for more info...

Like me, many people here have been inspired by Gov. Howard Dean, his 2004 campaign, and his 50 state strategy at the DNC.  I work at Democracy for America which was founded by Dean and his supporters almost four years ago.  The mission of DFA can be summed up in one of Howard Dean’s most famous lines from his stump speech:

The biggest lie told by people like me to people like you at election time is: ‘Vote for me, I’m going to solve all your problems.’  The truth is, the power to change this country is in your hands, not mine."

Howard Dean inspired millions of Americans to become active participants in their Democracy.  DFA is empowering ordinary Americans to take action, work on or manage progressive campaigns and even run for office themselves.  One of the primary ways we do so is through the DFA Training Academy.

Yesterday DFA announced 19 campaign training events across the country.  Follow me below the fold for our 2008 schedule.

Disclaimer: I work as the Deputy Training Director for Democracy for America

Angry at the White House lies about the war?

Incensed at your Senator or House Rep. for believing them?

You really only have a few choices then:

1. Sit around and stew until the 2008 elections heat up.

2. Hit the bottle and watch it all burn down.

3. Channel this anger and frustration into action by organizing in our own neighborhood.

Throughout September Democracy for America's Night School is focusing on how you can change history by simply talking to the voters in your own neighborhood.

Precinct Organizing: Getting Started
Tuesday, September 11 -- 8:30pm Eastern
RSVP: www.dfalink.com/precinctorganizing

Over 650 people have already signed up to learn how they can make a difference in their own neighborhood starting this year.

Learn why you should join them after the bump...

Greetings from the massive McCormick Convention center in Chicago!   It’s hot as hell here in Chicago this weekend, the Cubs are only 1 game out of first, and YearlyKos is set to begin tomorrow.  

Jealous?  Don’t be.  You can join us here tomorrow night, if only for a while…see how after the jump.

While at work today surfing the web (I don't actually 'surf the web' for work, I'm just good at pretending to work:) I found a few interesting bits of news that I thought about writing.  While doing some research on both I stumbled upon a fun bit of political activism that I want to share with everyone today.  I call it: AIPAC Jujitsu.

Next week's Newsweek magazine (available online) sinks to new lows in tabloid journalism in its 'exclusive' and 'behind the scenes' look at how Bush "handled the middle east crisis" on his recent trip to the G8 summit in Russia.  Those last words are actually the title of the article.  Bush handles middle east crisis!!  Are you kidding me?  What the hell did Bush do at the G8 summit that Newsweek thinks equates to 'handling' a crisis?  Richard Wolffe does his best to portray Bush's trip as a humorous West Wing episode, a puff piece in the worst way, that lacks the basic critical assessment that is inherent in any piece of respectable journalism.  

That treasonous NY Times is at it again today.  Today they report on the reaction of the G8 leaders to the current middle east crisis and a proposal by Kofi Annan and Tony Blair to send a UN Peacekeeping force to the region.  The most interesting bits, however, are the snippets of conversations between Bush, Blair and other leaders that were picked up by a microphone accidentaly left on.  The picture that emerges from those conversations is one of the so called 'leader of the free world' detached and uninvolved as the middle east spins out of control.

DISCLAIMER
Dairies on Israel and the Palestinian territories are always contentious on this site and others.  This is understandable.  

In light of today's events, I would like to try and foster a positive and productive discussion insofar as this is possible on this topic.  So my question is: What are some solutions?  

If you are here to take cheap shots, demonize, or flame others who have a different take on this conflict that you.  FIND ANOTHER THREAD!!!

If you want to offer positive discussion and real solutions to the conflict follow me below the fold...

In today's Washington Post, Boston University's Andrew Bacevich asks What's an Iraqi Life Worth.  Bacevich looks at the value we place on American lives versus lives of innocent Iraqis and lays bare the absurdity in the notion of a "War of Liberation".

There are no easy answers, but one at least ought to acknowledge that in launching a war advertised as a high-minded expression of U.S. idealism, we have waded into a swamp of moral ambiguity.

To say the least...

Today the National Education Association, the nation's largest teachers union, voted to lobby for reforming the No Child Left Behind Act.  

While I have never understood the logic of NCLB, many teachers and Democrats initially supported it.  Kerry in the elections rightly decried the 'bait and switch' the Repugs pulled by promising to fully fund the initiative if Democrats voted for it.  Now it seems that after having to live with this absurd law for a few years, the teachers have had enough.

Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas will call for a referendum on a 'national reconcilation document' drafted by Palestinian prisoners that calls for the establishment of a Palestinian state along the 1967 borders.  The AP is reporting that negotiations with Hamas on the document have failed and that Abbas will now go through with his threat of calling a national referendum that would implicitly recognize the state of Israel.

Well it's been 5 days since I arrived back in the U.S. and I'm still reeling a bit.   The memories of this trip will stay with us all for the rest of our lives for sure.  I've been relaxing, calling in sick to work, camping, anything to just get away from everything and decompress.   I want to wrap things up, give some perspective and urge you all to support some of the groups we met with and thier vitally important work.

Tonight is our last night of our 'quest' here here in Jerusalem.  Tomorow morning we'll leave Israel and return to our lives in America (most of us that is, one of us has decided to stay here and volunteer for Holy Land Trust for the next 2-3 months.  The people I've met here and the things I've seen have changed me in ways that I cannot yet even comprehend.  I have no idea how I will re-adjust to life in Wisconsin at my nice cushy corporate job after this.  I plan on taking a few days off and visiting home in Iowa and detaching from civilization for at least a few days.  

From this expereince I would like to share 3 distict memories from this experience that I will carry with me forever.  I hope that these diaries have inspired at least someone who reads it to visit here.  In the end the best advice I can give is to not believe a damn thing you hear about Israel-Palestine, come here and see if for yourself.  You will not regret it.

Yesterday I devoted my entry completely to giving the story of our travels without adding much commentary of my own.  While I know it will still take weeks, months, even years before I fully can internalize and understand all the nuances and contradictions inherent in this conflict, I feel I should today dedicate a dairy to my own opinions.  To do otherwise is a cop out, and anyways today was more of a relaxing day floating in the Dead Sea (if you've never done it you don't know what you're missing) and climbing Masada.  While I had an amazing time, I suspect no one back home really cares how many dragonflies and Ibex's (a kind of middle eastern goat or gazzelle) I photographed today in the Wadi David nature reserve.  

So instead I'm going to dedicate this diary to the one thing that I do understand to a large degree: U.S. politics.  Specifically, what should and/or can the U.S. do to help bring about a peaceful solution to this conflict.  

Today was by far the most intense but also enjoyable days of our 'quest' in Israel-Palestine.   Like much of this experience it hasn't really sunk in yet and I will need weeks back home in Madison to decompress before I can really tell how much this trip has changed me and my views of this land.  So this diary will simply be an account of our day without much commentary or opinion.  It's all still a bit too close for that.

Today our 'quest' took us on a tour of Israeli settlements, both from the point of view of an Israeli organization who is vehemently opposed to all settlements inside the 1967 'Green Line' and from the point of view of some of those settlers themselves.  Over the course of 7 hours we experienced two viewpoints of the same phenomenon that couldn't be more different.  The result was similar to that of intellectual whiplash, leaving me somewhat dazed but less confused.

Wow!  Here I am 5 days into an incredible "quest" to the holy lands of Israel-Palestine.  I am typing these words from just outside the Old City of Jerusalem.  

If you missed my first post on this trip last week, I am one of 18  mostly college students from the University of Wisconsin-Madison who are traveling for 10 days in the Holy Land meeting with organizations from both perspectives who are working towards peace and reconciliation.

On Monday I leave on a "Quest" to Israel and Palestine for an experience that will change my life.  For 10 days I and 17 others will travel from Wisconsin to Israel and the West Bank and get a hands on education of the conflict and the prospects for peace.    It's a trip long in the making and I hope you'll come along.