Kossacks Under 35 is a weekly diary series designed to create a community within DailyKos that focuses on young people. Our overall goals are to work on increasing young voters' Democratic majority, and to raise awareness about issues that particularly affect young people, with a potential eye to policy solutions. Kossacks of all ages are welcome to participate (and do!), but the overall framework of each diary will likely be on or from a younger person's perspective. If you would like more information or want to contribute a diary, please email kath25 at kossacksunder35 (at) gmail dot com

Family Research Council stole the name of my blog, Faithfully Liberal, as a title for their update regarding the Compassion Forum.  It was in an attempt to smear the Forum and the candidates' faith, their positions and the issues that are most dear to so many Americans.

Cross posted at Faithfully Liberal

Yes 3 trillion... 3,000,000,000,000.00

The people at Brave New Films uses this figure contrived by Nobel prize winning economist Joseph Stiglitz and allows visitors to the website to purchase 3 trillion dollars worth of items ranging from DVDs and CDs to ending world poverty.  All in an effort to highlight the unbelievable cost of the war we currently find ourselves fives year in.
The number is derived by the following:

* $526 billion — borrowed money poured into Iraq so far * $615 billion — total interest costs for taxpayers * $280 billion — to rebuild our military * $590 billion — disability benefits and health care for Iraq veterans * $1.5 trillion — estimated costs through 2017

The presidential primary scene is fully under way and every punch seems to be pulled.  But one thing that almost seems to be forgotten by larger media outlets in the Chicago area are some key congressional primary races.  One in particular is that of Mark Pera versus current Representative Dan Lipinski.  Just over three weeks remain before voters in the third district will flock to the polls, with expected record turnout being driven by Illinois Senator Barack Obama's appearance on the ballot for the Democratic nomination in the presidential contest.  That may just help Pera beat out Lipiniski with new voters demanding change from the status quo.

Today is my 25th birthday.  I am a quarter of a century old now. Typically I have spent my birthday with a nice family dinner, some little presents and a nice cake for dessert.

Today I am doing something different.  Follow me below the fold.

Looks like Rev. Pat Robertson's tenure at the Christian Broadcasting Network is coming to an end.

The Rev. Pat Robertson said Monday that his son, Gordon, has succeeded him as chief executive of the Christian Broadcasting Network, the most recent shift to a younger generation of leaders within major conservative Christian groups.

Unfortunately, for us it does not mean his disappearance on television. He will still remain on the 700 Club with his son Gordon.  

I like to think that I work hard on the other six days of the week and take Sunday nice and easy, get some things down around the apartment, spend some quality time with my partner, but today I went out and volunteered.

As everyone knows, former Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert finally announced his resignation from Congress, setting the stage for a special election on top of the general election for the 14th Congressional District in Illinois.  President Bush won the district by 11 points, so while it is a difficult one to possibly win, it is vital to compete with a credible Democratic candidate.

This district has a special place in my heart as I spent 12 of my first 18 years living in the district, attending junior high and high school near Ronald Reagan's hometown of Dixon.  Follow me below the fold for more.

A while back I had an interview with Chicago Theological Seminary President Susan Thistlethwaite.  She is the 11th president of Chicago Theological Seminary. She was professor of theology at CTS for 16 years, director of the Ph.D. center for five years; has a Ph.D. from Duke University, a Master of Divinity (Summa Cum Laude) from Duke Divinity School and a B.A. from Smith College.

An ordained minister of the United Church of Christ since 1974, she is the author or editor of ten books and has been a translator for two different translations of the Bible. She is currently working a book entitled, Beating the Devil: Confronting Evil in American Life and Faith.

I also took a class from her while I attended Chicago Theological Seminary, she is very insightful when it comes to faith and politics.

Cross posted at Faithfully Liberal.

Imagine you are out in your backyard doing something fun with your best friend.  You are having a great time and suddenly you notice that there is smoke coming from your neighbor's house.  You know them well and the fact that they have a one year old baby as well.  You rush over there and the mother of the child is frantic and saying that they child is still inside a blaze of a fire to save the child.

Cross posted at Faithfully Liberal