A Little Bit Cheesy, But What The Hey...

Check out this website...

http://abcnews.go.com/politics/MatchoMatic/fullpage?id=5542139

You go through different quotes by Obama and McCain (but you can't see who said each quote while you read them) and choose the ones you agree with most. At the end, the website tallies up your answers and then tells you who you should vote for based on those answers. My answer wasn't too shocking...even though I'm still not 100% sure who I'm voting for in this election, I have a fairly good idea, and this little gem of a test confirmed it.

Thanks for my friend Cindy for the link!

Reminder...

...Get your popcorn and soda ready, grab a comfy seat, and don't forget to tune into the first presidential debate...September 26th-THIS FRIDAY! Make sure you visit here when you're done watching and let everyone know your thoughts.

I've Figured It Out!

I've finally decided who I'm going to vote for as President of the United States!

I'm going to vote for the person who will put regulations into effect immediately that say presidential candidates can only start campaigning 6 months before the election and who will put restritctions on political TV ads! Seriously people...how many of you are sick to death of the mess that is spewing out of our TVs? (I don't even watch tv, and I've seen ENOUGH!) And they are lies, or at least stretched-truths. You can NOT believe everything that is being sad by each of these candidates. Check it out on http://www.factcheck.org/. They are very good at debunking the ads, sorting out the junk and getting to the truth.

So, that's it...Promise me you'll make that your first priority when you get elected, and you've automatically got my vote! So simple.

An Important Matter...

This has recently been brought to my attention. It is a bill that is being voted on in the senate to protect children from sexual predators. Will you please read it and sign your name to send an email to your local senator to get it passed? I've done my research... here is an explanation of the bill on Senator Hatch's website... http://hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.Detail&PressRelease_id=119101f7-1b78-be3e-e018-623293fd27b3&Month=5&Year=2008 .Here is a copy of the bill itself... http://specter.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Files.View&FileStore_id=8672d2ce-2804-4b9d-978e-09bbb946b3ee .

Please tell your local senator that you want him/her to pass this bill to help protect our children from predators that otherwise would be able to work with them side by side on a daily basis! It literally only takes 1 minute to sign. You can link to the page that will send a message to your senator by email here... http://www.protect.org/. This bill has already passed the house, but your senators will have to vote on this bill before the senate adjourns for this month. Don't delay!

Thanks everyone, feel free to pass this on to anyone else you may think would be concerned...

"FactChecking" the Presidential Convention Speeches...

I found this very interesting...

As I watch the presidential candidates speak in various forums or speeches, I often wonder "How the heck do I know if what they are saying is true? Is it just spin? Is it stretching the truth? Is it a complete lie?"

Well, on www.factcheck.org, which is a non-partisian/non-profit website, they took the speeches from both Obama and McCain's conventions and checked their statements with the facts, to see who was telling the truth. This is what they found for both Obama and McCain. Makes sense to me...check it out. What do you think?

Obama...
http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/factchecking_obama.html

McCain...
http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/factchecking_mccain.html

vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote

Another Enlightening Website...

Thanks again to Shannon for this one...

It tells you exactly what the presidential candidates have said regarding certain issues...abortion, the war, you name it. It also includes Independent candidates...

http://2008election.procon.org/

Very Nice...

...a website that has all of the links from the possible presidential candidates on how they voted on certain issues. Very informative! I am so excited to find this, because I believe you can only truly trust someone when you know how they've done things in the past, not just what they "say" they'll do from now on. Here are the links for each of the president elects...

Chuck Baldwin-Independent/Constitution...
http://www.votesmart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=53051
Bob Barr-Independent/Libertarian...
http://www.votesmart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=22028
Cynthia McKinney-Independent/Green...
http://www.votesmart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=26826
Ralph Nader-Independent/Natural Law...
http://www.votesmart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=2508
John McCain-Republican...
http://www.votesmart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=53270
Barack Obama-Democrat...
http://www.votesmart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=9490

Do your research! Find out what issues are most important to you and find the candidate who stands by in defense of those issues...hopefully these links will help you see what kind of integrity they have.

Did You Catch This One?

Please forgive me, I'm a bit out of the loop because I don't have TV in my house, so I didn't see this forum when it happened. Have you seen it? If not, it may be worth your time... It's a forum given by a religious leader in CA...he asks the same exact questions to Obama and McCain. It'll take about 2 hours, but watch it when you have the time and let me know what your feelings are...

http://www.youdecide2008.com/2008/08/17/video-clips-from-the-rick-warren-civil-forum/

A "Save The Date" for My Politically Excited Friends...

...the debates are coming! The debates are coming!

Mark them on your calendar...I can't wait!

September 26, 2008:
Presidential debate with domestic policy focus, University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS
October 2, 2008:
Vice Presidential debate, Washington University, St. Louis, MO
October 7, 2008:
Presidential debate in a town hall format, Belmont University, Nashville, TN
October 15, 2008:
Presidential debate with foreign policy focus, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY

Here is a break down of what each debate will consist of:
1. First Presidential Debate: – Date: September 26 – Site: University of Mississippi – Topic: Domestic and Economic policy – Moderator: Jim Lehrer – Staging: Podium debate – Answer Format: The debate will be broken into nine, 9-minute segments. The moderator will introduce a topic and allow each candidate 2 minutes to comment. After these initial answers, the moderator will facilitate an open discussion of the topic for the remaining 5 minutes, ensuring that both candidates receive an equal amount of time to comment

2. Vice Presidential Debate – Date: October 2nd – Site: Washington University (St. Louis) – Moderator: Gwen Ifill – Staging/Answer Format: To be resolved after both parties’ Vice Presidential nominees are selected.

3. Second Presidential Debate – Date: October 7 – Site: Belmont University – Moderator: Tom Brokaw – Staging: Town Hall debate – Format: The moderator will call on members of the audience (and draw questions from the internet). Each candidate will have 2 minutes to respond to each question. Following those initial answers, the moderator will invite the candidates to respond to the previous answers, for a total of 1 minute, ensuring that both candidates receive an equal amount of time to comment. In the spirit of the Town Hall, all questions will come from the audience (or internet), and not the moderator.

4. Third Presidential Debate – Date: October 15 – Site: Hofstra University – Topic: Foreign Policy & National Security – Moderator: Bob Schieffer – Staging: Candidates will be seated at a table – Answer Format: Same as First Presidential Debate – Closing Statements: At the end of this debate (only) each candidate shall have the opportunity for a 90 second closing statement.

All four debates will begin at 9pm ET, and last for 90 minutes. Both campaigns also agreed to accept the CPD’s participation rules for third-party candidate participation.

Each debate will be broadcast on the major broadcast networks, including CBS, NBC, ABC, and FOX. They will also be aired on cable news channels such as CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, and C-SPAN.

http://www.youdecide2008.com/2008/08/21/official-2008-obama-mccain-presidential-debate-schedule/

Let Your Voice Be Heard...

"Bad officials are elected by good citizens who do not vote."
--George Jean Nathan (1882-1958)

Your vote IS important! Register to vote here...
http://www.fec.gov/votregis/vr.shtml

Is Your Man Winning?

Where does your favorite president elect stand in the national polls?

http://www.usaelectionpolls.com/2008/national-polls.html

What about the veeps...

What do you think about Palin vs. Biden? Hmmm...

How important is the VP in the 2008 election?
http://jakobsladder.blogspot.com/2008/06/how-important-is-vice-president-in-08.html

Non-partisian Website...

So, this seems to be a fairly good website with non-partisian views, from what I can tell. Check it out at your leisure...

http://www.factcheck.org/

...thanks for the link B.K.!

Views on the War in Iraq...

Ok, so this is a HUGE issue for me personally. I don't have friends stationed in Iraq, I don't have family deployed there, but as a mother...and just generally as a human being...the suffered and lives lost from war simply makes me sick. This war in Iraq, in my opinion, should never have been! I don't care if you say Bush was "duped" by the CIA or other officials around him, or if you say he "tried HARD" to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq in order to have a reason to go there...he still did it. It seems to have been terribly mismanaged. I understand that running the country is a messy and terribly difficult job. I feel bad for Bush in a way. But does that give you a right to start a war for reasons you weren't 100% sure of? Killing so many many innocent people, and our soldiers? Am I totally off my rocker here?

This is what our future president thinks about it...

Obama...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhpKmQCCwB8
McCain...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPddbC19LUA

I watched both of these videos. Here's the insane thing...I agree with both of them!!! How am I supposed to know which is the most just, the most crucial, the most correct way? They both make complete sense to me. Please help me...enlighten me! What are your thoughts?

In Case You Missed Them...

Here are links to the Pres and VP elect speakers for both the Democratic and the Republican conventions...
John McCain:
http://elections.nytimes.com/2008/president/conventions/videos/20080904_MCCAIN_SPEECH.html#
Sarah Palin:
http://elections.nytimes.com/2008/president/conventions/videos/20080903_PALIN_SPEECH.html?scp=1&sq=sarah%20palin%20speech&st=cse##
Barack Obama:
http://elections.nytimes.com/2008/president/conventions/videos/20080828_OBAMA_SPEECH.html?scp=1&sq=obama%20speech&st=cse#
Joseph Biden:
http://elections.nytimes.com/2008/president/conventions/videos/20080827_BIDEN_SPEECH.html?scp=1&sq=biden%20speech&st=cse#

What were your thoughts and feelings as you watched these speeches?

My Inspiration For Insight...

So, people have asked me..."Why the sudden interest in politics? Where did this come from?" Well, it's complicated, as most things in life are. But, to make a long story short, I'm tired of being ignorant. I'm tired of saying, "Man, that decision the pres made really stinks," and then turning right back to my facebook account...my favorite mind-numbing activity...and not doing a THING about it. I was talking to a friend today about all this. She said something to the effect of, "I know I should be involved in this election, but I have a hard time believing my vote could possibly make a difference." I know, it seems worthless, doesn't it? Seriously, you can vote, but how much does it matter in the whole scheme of things? One voice in a sea of millions? Well, think of it this way...If you, and everyone, in the country didn't vote because you/they thought it wouldn't matter, you/they DEFINITELY wouldn't make a difference! My thoughts and actions are very influenced by these words...

Fools will be fools
And wise will be wise
But i will look this world
Straight in the eyes

What good is a man
Who won't take a stand
What good is a cynic
With no better plan

Reality is sharp
It cuts at me like a knife
Everyone i know
Is in the fight of their life

Take your face out of your hands
And clear your eyes
You have a right to your dreams
And don't be denied

I believe in a better way
-Ben Harper

Ok, I know it's totally cheesy to quote the lyrics of a song, but they just make so much sense to me! Think of it, really, what good IS a cynic with no better plan? How can I sit here my cushy blue chair and complain about our government's way of doing things if I don't take a stand? So, that is where my quest begins...now I need to absorb, to learn, to injest information...process it and make it my own. Which is exactly why I am so grateful to all of you. With out your thoughts and advice and opinions, I would be much less inspired, and very much more frustrated in my pursuit. Thanks again to everyone who has responded already!

A Few Thought-Provoking Links...

Ok, I'm not sure how biased CNN is or not, but they have a pretty good page that discribes McCain's and Obama's views on a lot of American issues.
http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/issues/
And here is a link to another webpage with the issues...
http://www.ontheissues.org/default.htm
It also has a link to a quiz you can take to find out who you should vote for based on what you think about the issues.
http://www.speakout.com/VoteMatch/Pres2008.asp?quiz=2008
...thanks to Shannon for the quiz link!

Why?

Yes! Thank you for voting in my blogpost poll. I am so excited to see people visiting me here. I thank you thank you thank you for voting, but now I need to push you just a little bit further...Why? Why are you voting for the people you are? What are the main issues that sway you to one side or the other? Discuss...

A Good Point...

Ok, so my sister brought up a good point. Just because I am obsessing over the political passion lately, doesn't mean everyone is...and, polititcs is kind of like religion...a lot of people are "uncomfortable" talking about it. (If you didn't know yet, you can post a comment on my blog completely anonymously! Just click the "anonymous" button when you sign in to post.)

Let Me Explain...

Who am I?...
In a nutshell...I am a stay-at-home mom of 5 young children. I am married to my best friend of 11 years. My husband is a student, finishing up his graduate degree in pharmacy. Education is very important to both of us. I have returned to school, after a short 10 year break, to finish my degree in History and to continue on to my Masters in Library Science. I love books! In the free time I do have, I like to read read read. I like to think deeply about things, you know...ponder them, analyze them, dissect them...to the point that it drives me crazy! I used to be very interested in politics in high school, but since my children were born, I haven't had much time to be involved.

Why am I here?... My dilemma is this...free time is obviously NOT on my side. I'd don't have time to research this election and yet, I have a great desire to be informed! So why don't I just pick up a newspaper, you may ask? Honestly, I have tried. I do know the basics, but I want to know more. And where can I go to get information that isn't biased? Is that even possible? That is why I am here, asking you...my friends, family, and the American people in general...for your opinion. I trust you more than I trust the media. What do you think about this election? Where do you stand? Who do you like..or hate..and why? What issues are most important to you?

Is it worth it?...
You bet! Not only is this going to be great for me to learn from all of your opinions, but it's going to be great for everyone of you to learn from everyone else! It's what we need as a nation, right? People, discussing, enlightening each other...I never learn more than from listening to the experiences of others. I need your input. Our county's president is going to be chosen very soon...not by the media, not by the current president, not by anyone but you. Please let me glean off of your thoughts and impressions. And if you don't know much about political issues these days, please come and learn along with me. Let's dissect the issues together until we figure it out for ourselves. Thank you in advance to anyone who is willing to help me in my quest...

From,
an under-informed, but hopeful, mother of future voters...