Tuesday was the day of pre-convention receptions and last- minute maneuvering, before the formal convention votes Wednesday. Rumors abound. I feel like Gossip Girl.

Today, I have written a letter to Tim Kaine, chairman of the Democratic Party, asking that, as chair of the party, he use his powers to make sure that no Democratic Party candidate, and no campaign committee or leadership PAC, accept a single dollar from Goldman Sachs, and that all those entities return any money pocketed from Goldman Sachs during this cycle. I have asked him to go one step further: in order to support President Obama’s legislative efforts to reform Wall Street, that he banish all money from the financial services industry from the coffers of any Democratic Party candidate or entity.

We are angry, rightly so, about the obscene bonuses and pay given to bankers and the financial mandarins who destroyed the economy. Part of the problem is that the political dialogue–parroted by the traditional media and the political leaders who are bought and paid for by the financial industry– never questions a basic premise: that financial institutions have to pay “market rates” to retain “top talent”. But, it’s an entirely rigged and phony system. And, while I understand the desire for immediate revenge on the part of the people, if we want real change, we have to challenge the mindset.

Our democracy is for sale. Every day. It is the reason people are just fed up with the dysfunctional political system. People want real change that will give them back a smidgen of security. The Republican Party has shown itself to be incapable of managing our economy. But, there is a fight underway for the soul of the Democratic Party: between Wall Street Democrats and the people.

The Massachusetts Senate race shows what I have been arguing for some time—there  is a great rumbling among voters. Progressives can either hear the rumbling  and try to capture its passion—or ignore it and let the right-wing capture it.  If Kirsten Gillibrand is the Democratic nominee in New York, Democrats will lose the Senate seat.

Profile of Jon Cooper.

As Jim Tedisco cuts the national GOP loose so he can show voters in NY-20 the “real Jim Tedisco” (will that Jim Tedisco have an opinion on the Obama stimulus bill?) New York’s new Senator and the former Congresswoman from NY-20 makes a great ad for Scott Murphy, the surging Democratic candidate.