Here's a slew of candidates, etc in California (more local races further down)

First off, I think NO ON PROPOSITION 8 is a must. This Hate Proposition is just plain wrong. Let's stop trying to legislate some kind of separate-but-equal marriage policy. To quote from a Daily Kos blog:

Proposition 8 is an unapologetic attempt by religious extremists to deny civil rights to a minority group incapable of independently defending itself against encroachments on its freedom.

Here is what Apple Computer says right on their website (I am more of a PC person, but here Apple is kick ass):

No on Prop 8
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When the Republicans sent our soldiers into Iraq without the proper equipment, they made a strategic error that undoubtedly led to higher casualty rates than were necessary. But they also made a political error because our soldiers aren't dumb. They quickly realized that the Republicans bungled the war from the start and that the soldiers and veterans of that war would be the ones to suffer because of Republican incompetence.

This has led to quite a few pissed off veterans getting involved politically, like 1st Lieutenant Paul Rieckhoff of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America and Jon Soltz of VoteVets.org.

VoteVets in particular has put our some devastatingly effective ads taking Republicans to task for failing to provide our soldiers with the equipment they needed...like body armor. The latest such ad targets Republican Elizabeth Dole, locked in a very tight race for the North Carolina Senate:

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I met Diane Benson, Congressional Candidate in Alaska, about a month ago and was very impressed. But only got to hear her speak as a candidate tonight. Again I was impressed. Diane is a genuine American who has worked hard all her life to get an education and to better the life of her son. Often she and her son have worked hard for our country and for their community. She has the confidence of someone who worked their way through school driving trucks while raising her son. She has the confidence of a woman who worked in the male dominated workers camp on the Alaskan pipeline. She has the confidence of someone who has had to work for everything, being given nothing easily. The contrast with the spoiled brat who inhabits the White House is about as striking as you can get.

Among those who came out for Diane was as diverse a group of Democrats you can find. Avid Hillary supporters rubbing shoulders with avid Obama supporters, both writing checks for Diane and THANKING her for her running. Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney was among the strongest voices supporting Diane with both enthusiasm and a bit of awe. Also there were former US Attorney General Ramsey Clark, our next Public Advocate Norm Siegel, Captain Jon Soltz, Veteran of Kosovo and the Iraq War and founder of VoteVets.org, fellow Daily Gotham writer Dan Jacoby, and City Council Candidate Steve Behar (if I left anyone out, please let me know!). I also saw members of two Brooklyn Democratic clubs, IND and CBID, and the current CBID president, Chris Owens, was on the host committee. Quite an interesting collection of Democrats.
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Rush Limbaugh, the Republican Chickenhawk who ducked out of Vietnam duty because of boils on his ass, took on the organization VoteVets.org, calling them "fake soldiers."

Well, here are some responses from real soldiers.

Isn't it time Rush Limbaugh just shut up.

Location

The latest ad from VoteVets.org targets John McCain for his terrible idea of escalating Bush's war in Iraq.

Remember, McCain received a D rating from the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, a zero rating from The Retired Enlisted Association and in 2005 and 2006 he received 25% or lower from the Disabled American Veterans. John McCain wants to send our troops off to the Iraq Quagmire, but he doesn't support them when they come home.