The people who stepped out of their comfort zones on a rainy Friday morning saw that they could have impact. Their presence helped their fellow New Yorkers, their courage and idealism furthered a cause they had followed online.

              -Justin Krebs, It's A Free Country blogger.

Remember that time Democrats stood in the way of the Republican plan for creating jobs for the American people? When a Democratic minority slowed the already sluggish pace of Washington, killed every proposal that bore a different party affiliation and offered none of their own? Neither do I.

-Justin Krebs, It's A Free Country blogger.

Despite tonight's debate being billed as a focus on the economy, we won't see any real plan for creating jobs. We won't see any support for the American Jobs Act, but we also won't see any realistic alternatives. We won't hear about investment in our country. We won't be offered a plan to cure economic injustices. We won't get beyond bromides about "job creators." These candidates are better at running against than running on.

-Justin Krebs, It's A Free Country blogger.

The Democrats ignored rising frustrations and let the Tea Party steal part of the story. When debt and deficit overtook jobs and economic security, the media had a completely different fable to run with.

-Justin Krebs, It's A Free Country blogger.

We have all seen principled political voices get drowned out. What makes this different isn't that he's more passionate or more savvy -- it's that he's not alone. A network of progressive organizations have seen that he's a politician they can believe in and they have added their energy, insights and mailing lists to the cause.

-Justin Krebs, It's A Free Country blogger.

This is counter to how many protests work - with scheduled speakers, officially printed signs, organized buses. But as those marches on Washington have found less and less traction in the media and the public imagination over the years, maybe something less scripted has a chance to break out.

-Justin Krebs, It's A Free Country blogger.

If we really trusted that the business community, unfettered, would solve our problems, then they'd be solved by now.

                -Justin Krebs, It's A Free Country blogger.

It's about races that used to be shoo-ins becoming competitive. And if more challengers sense blood in the water, you'll just see more incumbents and party favorites fighting for their jobs.

-Justin Krebs, It's A Free Country blogger.

Lessons of the fragility and resiliency of democracy have shaped our America and our New York -- and we learned them in the long shadows of towers that are fixed in our memories.

-Justin Krebs, It's A Free Country blogger.

The president made one irrefutable point last night. We can stake out sharply contrasting positions and let the electorate decide at the ballot box. But that will only ensure 14 months of no relief for working families and the unemployed.

-Justin Krebs, It's A Free Country blogger.

The presumptive front-runner thought he could just keep his gait steady and eyes steely and it would all be his. But debates are where is center-right two-step looks the most awkward.

-Justin Krebs, It's A Free Country blogger.

It's only a matter of time before today's Congress seeks to change Labor Day to Capital Day. In the end, they will only compromise and call it "Ronald Reagan Labor Day" if the White House cuts more jobs programs.

-Justin Krebs, It's A Free Country blogger.

The White House did what it does best: They backed down. They'll now give the speech on Thursday - rather than go head-to-head with a group of clowns bashing each other for sport, they are going to try to compete with NFL football.

-Justin Krebs, It's A Free Country blogger.

A swath of Florida resembles the deep South, terrain that Rick Perry believes is his. There are plenty of Tea Party conservatives who Bachmann and Ron Paul would love to court. Then again, the state did elect former executive Rick Scott Governor, which shows Romney his pro-corporate constituency, and it is neighbor to Newt's homestate.

-Justin Krebs, It's A Free Country blogger.

'If at first you don't secede, try, try again' might be how they do things in Texas, but it isn't the right campaign slogan for the rest of the USA.

-Justin Krebs, It's A Free Country blogger.

What's "unacceptable" is the notion that the AGs would create a settlement before they even investigated the extent of the criminal activity.

-Justin Krebs, It's A Free Country blogger.

The president has been telling us "I will" for a long time. The American people, though, don't need a promissory note. We don't need to be tantalized by a trailer for a fall blockbuster.

-Justin Krebs, It's A Free Country blogger.