Campaign For America's Future is one of the cooler new progressive groups that is making up the bulk of what I'd call the New Infrastructure, building on and continuing the work of groups like the Economic Policy Institute, except in a very political and partisan (in a good way) manner - helping to define and advance the progressive movement, and the Democratic Party as the electoral apparatus of our dominant political arm.  Last year, CAF started their project called Straight Talk, which produced one of my favorite pieces of literature from a think tank in 2007, a follow-up to the big gains of the 2006 elections, Straight Talk 2007 - it's a wonderful document that lays out a compelling progressive agenda.  

And just last week, leading up to TBA2007, CAF released what I think is the most important document of the year, their paper Progressive Majority: Why a Conservative America is a Myth, which lays out how America really is a progressive nation when you get down to it.  It's so important that I'm going to link to it again.  Go ahead, you know you want to download it, read it, print it out and give it to all your friends.  Over at TomPaine.com, CAF president Robert Borosage (a true leading light and public intellectual of the progressive movement) writes about the report, its contents, and some of its importance.  

Back to TBA2007...from sessions like "From Conservative Failure to Progressive Action to just seeing major progressive activists and leaders on the prowl, like David Sirota and Drum Major Institute's Andrea Batista Schlesinger to a rally around one of my favorite issues, the Employee Free Choice Act (and more), the conference was packed with the kind of content that makes a progressive movement activist absolutely giddy.  And just to top it all off, at the same time AFSCME held its presidential forum, also in D.C., CAF's TBA2007 had the presidential candidates in town to talk turkey.  

It's a great mix going on in D.C.  AFSCME is holding its forum, the senate is approaching a vote on EFCA (and there is a lot of activity going on around that), and CAF is doing TBA2007.  Where else would a presidential candidate, especially one who supports American workers like John Edwards, possibly want to be?  

Of course, John Edwards rose to the occaison and nailed another great speech at TBA2007.  There shouldn't any doubt that even in the history of Democratic leaders, John ranks as one of the best on the stump.  How does "Tomorrow Begins Today," as the campaign motto is, go?  Like this:

"No more pontificating, no more vacillating, no more triangulating, no more broken promises, no more pats on the head, no more `we'll get around to it next time,' no more taking half a loaf, no more `tomorrow."

THAT is what a Democrat, especially one running for president in an election where we have a chance to remake American politics, needs to talk like.  And as the TBA2007 blog says:

"When he ended his speech with a progressive call to arms, it was evident that Edwards' message still resonates on the left."

When you think about it, John Edwards' progressive message is the perfect dovetail with what CAF laid out in their paper from last week; a progressive message, a proud progressive laying it out matches the American public and is an electoral winner.  Progressive politics is winning politics.  He's rearing back on his heels and cranking out something that is downright exciting, bold and as the campaign has called it, "transformational."  That's right.  John Edwards is the Democrat to turn American politics from the mush of pablum that we get from timid and safe Democrats into a clear, strong, and powerful progressive agenda.  

Do yourself one more favor and watch the speech.  This has got to be our guy - the history of the 21st Century of American politics awaits.