Welcome to the first official Kos diary to announce the news that everyone will receive by e-mail.  This diary will updated when the announcement is actually made.  But the important thing is that this diary is here first.  Here we go:

BREAKING NEWS:  (Insert Name) is Obama's VP Pick.

Link to mainstream source will go here:  www.xxx.com

"A blockquote from the mainstream source, which basically just repeats the VP nominee's name, will go here."

More pre-formatted text below the jump.

From CNN.com:

One reason the California earthquake caused only minor damage was new, tough building codes enacted since the deadly Northridge quake in 1994, according to an expert with the U.S. Geological Survey.

Or in other words, sensible regulation saves lives.

I thought today is as good a day as any to remind us of some lesser known facts about our nominee.

Obama once gave a speech that rendered Newt Gingrich temporarily deaf.

Obama's tears can balance the budget.  It's just too bad he never cries.

Of all the people in attendance at his 2004 Dem Convention speech, 72% got laid that night.

More highly important facts after the bump.

I want a bit of "Angry" in my candidate.

If Obama wins the nomination, I will happily and enthusiastically vote for him in the general, where I believe he will trounce whomever emerges from the Walking Dead on the GOP side.

But he's no John Edwards.

From TPM : Report

Here's why this is important. While the chances of passage of the measure are virtually nonexistent, it's the first time that House liberals have been able to leverage a straight yes-or-know vote on withdrawal. "It's huge," said one legislative aide. "It changes the dynamic. It means there will be more and more votes on straight measures like this."

Apparently there's some effort underway this morning to block this vote from coming to the floor, so it's still possible that it might not happen, but at any rate, it's a key development.

Symbolic only?  Yes.  But I still can't wait to see it.

Here's a way that Disney extricate itself from this mess.  Blame the president: http://www.cnn.com/...

The President will be adressing the nation smack dab in the middle of night two of PT911.  

"President Bush will make a prime-time address from the Oval Office on Monday to mark the fifth anniversary of the September 11 attacks.

White House press secretary Tony Snow said the administration had requested network time for the address at 9:01 p.m. EDT. The address is expected to run 16 to 18 minutes, he said."

The network can simply say that they want to air the address, without interrupting their undocumentary.  They would, of course, re-air it after extensive revisions have been made.  It would be weasly and therefore, an apt conclusion to this episode.

If 1994 was the so-called "Republican Revolution," then what shall we call the return of the a Democratic majority this year?

Off the top of my head:

The Return to Common Sense
The Republican Implosion
The Democratic Renaissance
The Great House Cleaning
The Democratic Second Wave
Retreat from Fear and Corruption
The New Blood Infusion
The Republican Rejection

Go for it.

I submit for your derision, country singer Troy Lee Gentry indisputably proving his manhood in the most perilous of ways:

"Troy Lee Gentry, of the country singing duo Montgomery Gentry, has been accused of killing a tame black bear that federal officials say he tagged as killed in the wild."

....

"Authorities allege that Gentry purchased the bear from Greenly, a wildlife photographer and hunting guide, then killed it with a bow and arrow in an enclosed pen on Greenly's property in October 2004."

You have no idea how excited I am about this.  Finally, an avenue that lets us fight out the Culture War without actual violence:

Video game biz converting to Christianity.  Focus on this section:

Another major factor is the unveiling of the first PC release from Left Behind Games, which will translate content from a 13-volume book series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins that has sold more than 63 million copies.

"Left Behind: Eternal Forces" is a real-time strategy game set in New York during the End of Days, which will allow gamers to choose between the angelic Tribulation Forces and the demonic Global Community Peacekeepers in a multiplayer online mode. The game is set to ship before Easter. . .

more...

I read it so you don't have to!  Some tidbits from the "Blog of the Year" on the Bolton confirmation (taken from different posts):

"One more thought: there are, admittedly, differences between the House and the Senate. Nevertheless, watching this apparent train wreck really makes me appreciate Tom DeLay. There is a reason why political parties, and their adherents, value party discipline. Let's hope that what is happening to Bolton doesn't happen to DeLay."

More...

In the early days of the 2004 race Democratic candidates did well running on the Bush Administration dreadful economic record.  Later in 2004 the economy sent out some mixed signals (the occasional good job report, always followed by a correction and bad month, for example)  that were "spinnable" by the GOP to indicate that things were looking up.

Now they're looking worse than ever:

NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - After cruising along for much of 2004 and the start of this year, the U.S. economy may be having engine problems.

Economists and investors who were confident about the pace of growth only a week or two ago are suddenly much more concerned about a slowdown in the months ahead.

As the first-quarter earnings reporting period speeds up next week and key economic reports are released the next two weeks, there will be talk about whether factors such as high gas prices and rising short-term interest rates could choke off growth in the months ahead.

Clouds gather on Wall St.  (More...)

Gen. Clark has relaunched his PAC website: http://www.securingamerica.com/

It pretty sharp and has all the basics; e-mail alerts, the "WesBlog," position papers etc.  I truly do he emerges as a strong voice in the party.  I supported him in the primaries, as he and John Edwards were the only two who's speeches I enjoyed.  He always struck as both competent and intelligent, just not always great on TV.  

Regarding his new website, I love this quote from somebody named Erick Mullen (staffer?):  "To think that this means Wes Clark is running for president is ridiculous," said Erick Mullen. "Having said that, all options are on the table."  Ah, if only!

As a result of the recent $25 million lawsuit against them, USA Next has decided to change the photo they use to capitalize on the homophobia of its audience.  While doing so, they've upped the ante and now have a homophobic appeal combined with a celebrity endorsement.

See below...

Susan Sontag has died at age 71.

I have to admit I have not read much of her work beyond her New Yorker article post 9/11 that made her such a favorite of the right wing blogs for a while.  

I would love to hear any and all anecdotes on how she has influenced you or any recommendations from her works that we should read.

Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11 has been nominated for a People's Choice award.  I think it would make a heads explode in media-land if he won.  Vote early and often: http://www.pcavote.com/voting/film/f01.shtml

Please spread the word!

In those glorious few days before the election, when we are feeling so damn confident that Big John was going to win, and win big, I started thinking about the next race.  Specifically, the race to fill Kerry's sure-to-be vacant senate seat.  With my chickens well an fully counted prematurely, I sent an e-mail to Rep. Barney Frank.  You see, the special election would only be 140 days away I didn't want to waste a minute and lose any of our John-mentum.  So, I told him that I was officially volunteering for his not-yet-announced senate campaign, and would do whatever he needed in Western Massachusetts (where the few opportunities to help Kerry meant dragging my ass up to NH).  Still a bit raw from our loss, I was saddened just a bit more by this letter:

An announcement on CNN.com

Netscape responsible for Bush photo insult

"A Web image and text disparaging President and Mrs. Bush currently circulating on the Internet was not created, disseminated or posted by CNN at any time, as is alleged. It was done by an employee of Netscape and posted on Netscape.com. CNN had no knowledge of it until it surfaced on other Websites. CNN has requested an immediate apology from Netscape. "

Please, please tell me someone has this -- we all need a good laugh today.

Apparently Goldberg has completely exhausted any and all reasons to vote for George Bush.  All he is left with is this (from NRO):

"But if Bush wins, Michael Moore won't be on the Today Show the next day cheering and hugging his friends. Katie Couric will wear black. Alec Baldwin won't give interviews. P Diddy will go away. Susan Sarandon will mope."

More below.