The 2006 elections are coming up in a few short months. You have probably heard how there’s a good chance the Democrats might take back one or both houses of Congress and several Governorships.

Recently I decided to explore the various races, and determine where I could best spend my campaign contribution dollars. I’ve compiled a list of campaigns that I will be supporting financially. Each race listed below contains the name of the Democratic candidate, their campaign web site, and a direct link to their donation page. If you are planning on contributing to any campaigns this year, hopefully my thoughts on the topic will be helpful to you.

The first on the list is the California governor race. I wish more than anything for Schwarzenegger to be ousted. If you feel the same, I recommend supporting the Phil Angelides campaign.

I’ve separated the Senate races into two-tiers. Those in my first tier are the races that are very close, where the Democrat challenger stands a chance of beating a Republican incumbent, or where the Democrat is severely underfunded in comparison to the Republican. The second tier races are also important, but I have had to prioritize so that I can afford to contribute different amounts at different times to many races.

GOVERNOR: California Phil Angelides neck and neck with governator. Web Donate UPDATE: new poll as of 7/27 shows Angelides trails Arnold by 13%.

SENATE (My Top picks): Pennsylvania Bob Casey Jr is Dem challenger and leading polls against Rick Santorum Web Donate

Montanna Jon Tester is Dem challenger and slightly leading polls Web Donate

Rhode Island Sheldon Whitehouse is Dem challenger with slight lead over incumbent Lincoln Chaffee Web Donate

Missouri Claire McCaskill is Dem challenger - neck and neck with incumbent Jim Talent Web Donate

SENATE (My Second-tier picks) Minnesota Amy Klobuchar is Dem replacement for Dayton and holds slight lead Web Donate

Ohio Sherrod Brown is Dem challenger trailing slightly Web Donate

Washington Maria Cantwell is Dem incumbent leads just slightly Web Donate

New Jersey Bob Menendez is Dem incumbent leads slightly Web Donate

Virginia James Webb is Dem challenger to George Allen Web Donate

Connecticut Ned Lamont challenging Joe Lieberman who is criticized for being too supportive of Bush Web Donate

SOURCE MATERIAL The sites I’ve been using to follow these races and prioritize are: Rasmussen Reports CQ Politics

The most bizarre thing I’ve read recently: An x-ray of a wounded duck revealed an alien’s face in it’s stomach region. The x-ray is being acutioned off to raise money for the hospital. The news is filled with weird stuff.

New survey data and poll results have been combined to create a much much more blue map of the US:

This is hilarious. Apparently the BBC anchorwoman was supposed to be interviewing a computer expert named Guy Kewney. However, another man named Guy (a perpesctive employee arriving for an interview [thanks lukas]), was ushered into the building and onto the set. Someone goofed and mistakenly thought the perspective employee Guy was the computer expert Guy.

Watch the wrong Guy’s bewildered expression as he hears the anchorwoman say Guy Kewney’s name. Amazingly, he sticks with it and gives his opinion of music downloads. Bravo Guy. Bravo.

Americans United for Change has just released a new video spot featuring George the first and George Jr. The clips show each of them saying that leaks of classified information are “bad things” (George Jr’s words) and that those leaking the information are “the most insidious of traitors” (George the first’s words).The twist, of course, being that Libby’s testimony suggests that the President himself approved the leaking of Valerie Plame’s identity.

Worth a watch.

This USA Today article showcases democracy at its finest. Gay and Lesbian candidates, fed up with state-sponsored discrimination against them, seek to insert themselves into Bushco state legislatures across the country including Alabama, Arkasas, and Oklahoma this Fall. Incumbents in Idaho, Iowa, Oklahoma, North Carolina and Utah will attempt to defend their respective state legislature posts.

I’m really happy to see that the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund is shelling out millions to help these candidates. It’s absolutely necessary for activism to spearhead the frontlines of the gay marriage battle in homo-friendly states. But, it’s also imperative that gays shore up the attack from the rear — that gay and lesbian citizens take active roles in the more homphobic (Bushco) states where they can prevent state-sponsored discrimination from within the system. Utah state senator Scott McCoy did just this, by blocking a bill that would have denied gay partner benefits.

This company offers an interesting solution for all those used tires. Recycling tires into sidewalk sections helps reduce landfills, limit damage to tree roots, and create longer-lasting sidewalks. Interesting idea, despite the hokey site.

Phillips/Norelco web commercial. (scroll over “Bodygroom” at the bottom of the page to get things rolling)

Dance Monkey Dance (link via Moose)

Apparently there’s a new Spanish version of the Star Spangled Banner called Nuestro Himno. Americans are overwhelmingly against the notion that the anthem be sung in any language except English. One poll showed 69% of Americans opposed to the the Spanish version of the national anthem.

King George apparently reads the polls. Asked if he thought the meaning held true across languages, Bush said:

“No I don’t, because I think the National Anthem ought to be sung in English. And I think people who want to be a citizen of this country ought to learn English, and they ought to learn to sing the National Anthem in English.”

Of course, this is in stark contrast to the State Department posting the national anthem in Spanish and various other languages on their web site.Condi gets it. She feels, “the individualization of the American national anthem is quite under way.”

Of course, what we’re not hearing, is that even Bush used to support the Spanish Star Spangled Banner, at least before the immigration scuffle, that is. Think Progress notes that in 2000, Bush would often sing the anthem in Spanish in swing states where he thought he could pick up the Latino vote.