I was inspired by Steven D's front-page diary to put together my own version of a Democratic campaign ad for 2006. It doesn't include the word "impeach" anywhere in it, for a couple of reasons, but I wanted to get some comments from the blogosphere.

Since I'm a storyteller rather than a mercenary, I am putting this forward for the public good and donating it into the public domain. Do what you like with it, but I would just kvell if someone would pick up this ad, adapt it for their local candidate, and get it aired. Or use it as a springboard for their own ideas.

Hey, if it gets us a Democratic congress and the real possibility of impeachment hearings, so much the better.

Follow me beyond the flip, as you're watching your favorite show on TV and this ad comes on screen. I've tailored it for two candidates here in Washington, one incumbent and one challenging an incumbent, but it should work for pretty much anyone with a D behind their name.

You just can't make this stuff up.

According to a story in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, more Americans can name two members of the Simpsons than can name two of the rights enumerated in the First Amendment.

There has been a great deal of discussion lately on the state of the Democratic party. Should those of us who are progressive defect and start our own party? Should we work to change the Democratic party? Can we change the Democratic party? What are we going to do to get our country back?

Let me clue you in on something many of you already know: I am an outsider. I came into politics because I felt I had to do what I could to get George Bush and his cronies out of office and someplace where theycould no longer do damage to my country and the Constitution it is founded on. Even though I hold many of the same beliefs that are in the Green Party's core statement of values, I side with the Democrats out of pragmatism: They are the one organization big enough and rich enough to take on the Bushistas.

Or so I thought. Some days -- like yesterday -- it sure doesn't seem like it. But, like Booman, I happen to believe that a third party will not do anything but split votes that should be going to defeat the Republicans. If there's going to be a third party in this country, let them pull votes from the Republicans.

And then I had a flash of out-of-the-box thinking. I came up with a way that we progressives can eat our cake, and have it too. Follow me past the break to see my plan, and let me know what you think.

Ah, good morning! Good morning, and welcome to Sunday Griot! And Happy New Year! I'm glad to see so many of you up and around after what could have been a very late night last night. There's bagels in the back, plus some crackers and cheese left over from the New Years' party.

Oh yes, and strong black coffee if you need it.

Well, when you're ready to settle in, grab a chair and I'll tell you the story of The Chautauqua Speaker. And then, if you would, please stick around for just a moment.

Good morning everyone, and welcome to Sunday Griot! Thanks for taking a bit of time on Christmas to stop by for a story.

Today's story is an original; I'll tell the circumstances of how it came to be written in the tip jar. But now, without further ado . . . The Innkeeper's Bodyguard.

Good morning! Good morning, and welcome to Sunday Griot! So nice of you to take time out of your busy holiday schedule to stop by for a story. Please, I know it's not Chanukah yet, and won't be until next week, but we've got some oil in the back and batter for do-it-yourself latkes. (Make sure you have some coffee to wake yourself up first. I don't think I actually remembered to tell the landlord we were going to do this when I rented the room.)

Today's story is a Chanukah story, and it isn't. Well, it happened around the time of Chanukah, and it involves a menorah, but there's much more to it than that. You may have heard this story before, but I wanted to share it one more time.

Ah, good morning! Good morning and welcome once again to Sunday Griot! You're all looking good today, if I do say so myself. Grab a bagel and some juice and coffee and then come on over by the fire and settle in for today's story. It's another oldie but a goodie from Aesop.

Ah, good morning! Good morning, and welcome to Sunday Griot once again! Here we are right smack in the middle of the holiday season, and I wanted to tell a holiday story today. It's not a holiday we celebrate here in the United States, by and large, but you might recognize it once we get into the story. Grab a bagel and some juice, and come have a seat, and let me take you back about, oh, 1700 years or so . . .

Ah, good morning! Good morning, and welcome to Sunday Griot! Nice to see you all here once again. Help yourself to the fruit basket on the back table, and then come on up and grab a seat, and I shall tell you a story.

You'll notice that the fruit basket is shaped like a giant horn. That is not a coincidence . . .  

Ah, good morning! Good morning, and welcome once again to Sunday Griot! Thanksgiving is this Thursday here in the United States, and I wanted to do a story that had something to do with Thanksgiving. We tend to associate Thanksgiving with Pilgrims and turkeys and leaves and the like, but there are other reasons to give thanks as well. Here's a story from the Ojibway Native Americans about something they gave thanks for -- the introduction of corn into the world. (And funny thing, it doesn't mention Monsanto even once.)

(Did I say that??)

Oh, and before you sit down with your corn muffin and orange juice, I'd like you to take this dried pea and put it on your chair. That's right, just sit right on the pea. I'll tell you why in the tip jar.

Ah, good morning! Good morning once again, and welcome to Sunday Griot! I had a good time last Sunday, but I missed you. Believe me, being on vacation was more stressful than telling stories. So I'm glad to be back.

I went back and consulted with my old friend Aesop, and he had a story that was relevant to today's goings-on. But let me warn you, today's story is a bit more graphic than usual. Nothing bloody or gory, but it does have a bit of violence. Maybe about as much as "The Angel of Fredericksburg," if you remember that story from last May. So you might want to look it over before you tell it to the kids.

Ah, good morning! Good morning, and welcome to Sunday Griot once again!

What's that? Why is everyone sitting in a circle today? Well, it's that time of the year again. You know, pumpkins, falling leaves, frost, the air turning colder . . . and scary stories. And what better place to tell a scary story than around a campfire?

Well, they wouldn't let me build a campfire here on the rug, so for a moment, imagine a campfire . . .

Ah, good morning! Good morning, and welcome once again to Sunday Griot! Grab a Danish and some juice and have a seat, and we'll have a story.

Today's story is a new twist on an old idea. I do hope you like it. It is inspired by current events, but any resemblance to any actual city -- or country -- is purely coincidental. Really.

Ah, good morning! Good morning, and welcome once again to Sunday Griot! I'm glad to see you all here again on such a blustery morning.

You know, the wind reminds me of a story. But that should hardly surprise anyone by now! After the last story that took three weeks to tell, today's is a little more modest. It's about a man with an unusual job qualification . . . but maybe when you think about it, it isn't that unusual after all.