As Election Day grows closer, some pundits seem almost breathless in their prediction that the Presidential election will be close. Well, it has been obvious from the campaign's first day that it would be close. But there is overwhelming evidence that President Obama will win.

Americans recognize that in a vital democracy each of us has a voice; that for all our voices to be heard -- rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, blue state and red state -- we must treat each other with respect. Democracy is at risk. To defend it, Americans must reclaim our core values.

We may be at an historic crossroad requiring some pause and reflection as to whether or not adherence to our principles may be more important than knee jerk "loyalty" to the current Democratic or Republican parties.

Progressive values that have always defined human progress are about hope, not fear. We must nurture them, fight for them, and celebrate them now during the holidays, and in all the battles we face in the coming year.

I don't support Jim Clyburn for Democratic Whip because he's my friend and we've served together a long time. Or because he's African-American. His seniority and race are meaningless to me. I support him because he will not apologize for being a progressive.

Progressives are implored to accept the limitations of the political environment. Well enough, I say. We need to shift our focus toward building a grassroots movement that turns promises made to us into positive outcomes.

This post originally appeared at Campaign for America's Future (CAF) at their Blog for OurFuture. I am a Fellow with CAF. The things that people "kn...

The recent health care reform effort started out with a very low starting goal. That was a huge error. This list is more ambitious -- the way we should be thinking and striving for.

Pediatric aid-in-dying is coming out of the medical closet. In an era of parental rights and child welfare, maybe we are finally ready to grant suffering minors the right to die.

Voters want the proverbial money changers thrown out of the temple of government. They don't want Democrats to be more milquetoast and "sensible." They want something done to right this extraordinary wrong.

Popular action is the very definition of democracy. It doesn't happen without us, and it isn't a human right upheld by some magic fairness-fairy. If the public option's not in the bill, it's because we haven't shown up to demand it.

The health care reform debate strikes me as different from past policy fights for what it says about what we as a people value...or don't.

Imagining headlines in 2020 helps get us past the habit of reacting mostly to today's events and battles, and thinking instead about where we might be able to take our society in the future.

Street goes beyond the Obama phenomenon and investigates who Obama is and what he's all about in Barack Obama and the Future of American Politics.

It's not that I object to critical thinking. We need it. Yet, while we're reminding Obama of his promises and scrutinizing him on his decisions, we need to stand with him.

Last night Barack Obama spoke to Americans as adults. He told America that responsibility for others is not just a stupid value for chumps -- but the definition of begin a grown-up.

Tomorrow, the celebration will not be limited to the mall in Washington, or the inaugural events all over our country. Tomorrow will be a day to celebrate being an American citizen of a new World.

Christmas celebrates the central premise of the progressive ethical system, "love they neighbor as thyself," and rejects the tribalism and radical individualism that lie at the heart of right wing ideology.

I hope it's time, if nothing else, to retire cynical bumper stickers, such as: If elections could change anything, they'd be illegal. The air remains...