I, like hundreds of thousands of others, am anxious to know how the houses of family and friends back in New Orleans have fared.  I've been watching aerial footage from the local news stations, eager to catch glimpses of places I know.  It would be so tremendously helpful if Google, Microsoft, Yahoo, or anyone could obtain some updated aerial or satellite photos for their mapping services so that we can actually get some idea of how individual properties fared.

I've actually tried contacting Google to let them know how helpful that would be but, not surprisingly, can't really get through to anyone beyond the operator.  Knowing how large and diverse the audiences of dKos and other blogs are, I'm hoping there is someone out there who knows how to make this happen, or perhaps why it can't.

As distasteful as it may be, I'm asking that this diary be recommended in order to increase the chances of getting this to someone who may help.

Perhaps my search skills are just lacking, but can anyone explain to me how the Senate confirmation process arose?  How was the Senate given the authority for approving the President's appointments to Sec. of State, Attorney General, etc.?  What was the reason for doing so?  And what are their responsibilities?

I've only listened to portions of the confirmation hearings so far, but I ask this question because what I heard this morning was absolutely apalling...

I've never been to a protest or demonstration before.  But I feel I'm ready for one now! I don't know what else to do.  I'm sitting here watching Bush use his self-declared "mandate" to gear up for his final push to destroy everything this country stands for.  And I see no credible opposition to this in Washington.  I feel it's time for "We, the People," to take matters into our own hands.  It's time for us to show Bush, his cabal, the media, fellow Americans, and the rest of the world, that he does not have our support.  He does not have a mandate.  We do not consent to what he's doing to our country.  And we will not stand for it.

Everybody stop with the "Moral Values" meme already.  Just stop.  The last thing we need right now is continual re-affirmation of the importance of "moral values" in politics right now.  That's so important because

1. the very-right-wing conservatives benefit if we accept that, and
   
2. it simply isn't true.  
   

Bush didn't win on "moral values."  Nor did Kerry lose on "moral values."  

The issue here is trust.

So damage control is already underway.  Starting tomorrow, I'm sure the pundit-spin will concede that Kerry appears to have won on style, but it was likely a draw on substance.  Meanwhile, the Bush campaign will undoubtedly splice together some ad of Kerry apparently flip-flopping during the debates.  

The Kerry team can't afford to sit back and wait to play defense; they need to get their offense going NOW.  IMHO, the Kerry team needs to beat them to it with their own attack along the following lines: