Happy Birthday Marines

On this day in 1775 the United States Marine Corps was founded by an act of the Continental Congress. Thanks to a change in regulations by the Marine Commandant, under aged Marines will be able to drink at on base birthday celebrations. They've certainly earned it.

Casualties: U. S. Navy and Marine Corps Personnel Killed and Wounded in Wars, Conflicts, Terrorist Acts, and Other Hostile Incidents

NAVY MARINE CORPS
ACTION KIA WIA KIA WIA

Revolutionary War,
19 Apr.1775 - 11 Apr. 1783 342 114 49 70

Naval War with France,
July 1798 - 3 Feb. 1801 14 31 6 11

Barbary Wars, Mediterranean
Sea, 10 Jun. 1801 -
4 Jun. 1805 31 54 4 10

USS Chesapeake attacked by
HMS Leopard, off Cape Henry,
Virginia, 22 Jun. 1807 3 18 0 0

War of 1812,
18 Jun. 1812 - 17 Feb. 1815 265 439 45 66

Marines escorting a convoy of
supply wagons ambushed by an
irregular force of Native
Americans and African Americans
in Twelve Mile Swamp near
St.John's, East Florida,
11 Sep. 1812 0 0 2 7

USS Nonsuch captured pirate
ship Caledonia off Savannah,
Georgia, 9 Apr. 1813 0 3 0 0

USS Essex crewmembers battle
with Taipis Tribe, Nuka Hiva,
Marquesas Islands, 29 Nov. 1813 1 2 0 0

USS Essex crewmembers battle
with Taii Tribe, Nuka Hiva,
Marquesas Islands, 27 May 1814 4 1 0 0

Ambush of Navy personnel on
Apalachicola River, Spanish
Florida, during reconnaissance of
fort and settlement occupied by
free African Americans and
escaped slaves, 17 Jul. 1816 4 0 0 0

USS Macedonian shore party
fired on by mob during Peruvian
War of Independence, Callao,
Peru, 6 Nov. 1820 2 6 0 0

Suppression of Piracy in
West Indies, 1822-1825 4 5 0 0

USS Fox fired on from Spanish
castle El Moro, St. Johns,
Puerto Rico, 5 Mar. 1823 1 0 0 0

USS Porpoise skirmish with
Greek pirates, near Andros
Island, Aegean Sea,
23 Oct. 1827 1 0 0 0

USS Potomac punitive Landing at
Qualah Battoo, Sumatra,
6 Feb. 1832 2 7 0 4

Seminole War, Florida,
1835 - 1842 8 12 3 5

USS Natchez Sailor's dispute
with fisherman led to bayonet
attack by Mexican guard,
Vera Cruz, 25 Oct. 1836 0 2 0 0

Wilkes Expedition, skirmish
with natives at Malolo, Fiji,
24 Jul. 1840 2 2 0 0

Mexican War,
24 Apr. 1846 - 30 May 1848 13 3 11 47

USS Plymouth landing party
skirmish with Chinese Imperial
troops during Taiping Rebellion,
5 Jun. 1855 1 1 0 2

USS Water Witch engagement with
a Paraguayan fort at Itapiru,
1 Feb. 1855 1 0 0 0

USS Powhatan engagement
with Chinese pirates
near Hong Kong, China,
4 Aug 1855 3 6 2 0

USS John Adams punitive
expedition to Viti Levu, Fiji,
28-31 Oct. 1855 1 0 0 2

Operations against Native
Americans, Puget Sound,
Washington Territory, 1855 3 1 0 0

USS Portsmouth, USS San Jacinto
and USS Levant reduction of the
Barrier Forts, Canton, China,
16-22 Nov. 1856 7 15 0 6

USS Massachusetts Coxswain Gustave
Englebrecht killed in skirmish with
Native American at Port Gamble,
Washington, 22 Nov. 1856 1 0 0 0

Confrontation with mob during
election violence outside
City Hall, Washington DC,
1 June 1857 0 0 0 2

USS Vandalia, punitive
expedition to Waya, Fiji,
9 Oct. 1858 0 3 0 2

Chartered river steamer
Toey-Wan supported English
and French attack on Chinese
forts at mouth of Peiho River,
China, 25 Jun. 1859 1 1 0 0

Marine assault on building
occupied by abolitionist John
Brown and followers, Harper's
Ferry, Virginia, 18 Oct. 1859 0 0 1 1

USS Saratoga and chartered
steamers Indianola and Wave,
gun battle and boarding of
Mexican armed steamer General
Miramon, near Vera Cruz,
Mexico, 6 Mar. 1860 1 3 0 0

Civil War (Union forces only),
15 Apr. 1861 - 26 May 1865 2,112 1,710 148 131

USS Wyoming battle with naval
forces of Japanese feudal
warlord off Shimonoseki,
13 Jul. 1863 3 6 1 0

USS Hartford and USS Wyoming,
landing party skirmish with
natives near Taka, Formosa,
13 Jun. 1867 1 0 0 0

USS Oneida Sailor wounded
during attack on foreign
residents by Japanese troops
during Meiji Restoration,
Hiogo, Japan, 4 Feb. 1868 0 1 0 0

USS Mohican battle with
Mexican pirate steamer
Forward in Teacapan River,
Mexico, 17 Jun. 1870 2 7 0 1

USS Monocacy, USS Palos
and steam launches from USS
Colorado and USS Alaska,
attack on Korean fort along
Salee River, June 1871 2 12 1 1

Marines from Brooklyn Navy
Yard guarding revenue officers
engaged in destroying
illegal distilleries in
Brooklyn, New York,
14 July and 17 Oct. 1871 0 0 1 3

USS Baltimore Sailors
fight with Chilean Sailors;
mobs subsequently attacked
US Sailors, Valparaiso,
16 Oct. 1891 2 18 0 0

USS Maine sunk in Havana Harbor,
Cuba, 15 Feb. 1898. (Sometimes
attributed to hostile action.) 266 54 0 0

Spanish American War,
15 Feb. 1898 - 10 Dec. 1898 10 47 6 21

Philippine Islands Insurrection,
4 Feb. 1899 - 25 Apr. 1901 9 0 7 19

USS Philadelphia punitive
expedition to Apia, Samoa,
1 Apr. 1899 4 4 0 1

Boxer Rebellion, China,
20 Jun. 1900 - 12 May 1901 4 26 9 17

Seaman Johnson shot by insurgents
while in a small boat from USS
Yankee at Santo Domingo,Dominican
Republic, 1 Feb. 1904 1 0 0 0

Apprentice 2d class Charles Doctor
from USS Columbia landing party
wounded by insurgents at Santo
Domingo, Dominican Republic,
11 Feb. 1904 0 1 0 0

While taking supplies to
US Army Camp Tabla, USS
Pambanga shore party
attacked by Moro rebels,
Basilian Island, Philippines,
24 Sep. 1911 1 3 0 0

Pacification of Nicaragua,
4 Aug. 1912 - 31 Jan. 1913 2 0 5 16

Occupation of Vera Cruz,
Mexico, 21-23 Nov. 1914 17 57 5 13

Pacification of Haiti,
25 Jul. 1915 - 6 Apr. 1917 2 0 7 29

Small boat from USS Annapolis
fired on by Mexican soldiers
at Mazatlan, 18 Jun. 1916 1 0 0 0

Pacification of Dominican
Republic, 1916 - 1924 0 0 17 50

SS Aztec sunk by German
submarine off Island of
Ushant, France, resulting
in death of Boatswain's Mate
1/c John I. Eopolucci,
1 Apr. 1917 1 0 0 0

World War I, 6 Apr. 1917 -
11 Nov. 1918 431 819 2,461 9,520

USS Monocacy fired on by
Chinese bandits, taking 80
bullet hits, north of Chenglin,
Yangtze River, China. Chief
Yeoman H. L. O'Brien killed
and Seaman W. W. Donnelly
wounded during firefight.
17 Jan. 1918 1 1 0 0

USS Olympia shore party operated
with British, French, Serbian
and White Russian troops in
skirmishes with Bolshevik forces
along the Dvina River near
Archangel during the Allied
intervention in northern Russia,
15 Aug. - 6 Sep. 1918 0 3 0 0

Armed guard detachment from
USS Monocacy defended oil
barge from bandit attack,
north of Ichang, Yangtze
River, China, 17 May 1921 0 1 0 0

USS Stewart (DD-224) fired on
by Chinese troops near Wuchang,
Yangtze River, China,
5 Sep. 1926 0 2 0 0

USS Pigeon (AM-47) fired on
Chinese below Hanyang,
China, 19 Sep 1926 0 3 0 0

Nicaragua Pacification,
1927 - 1933 1 2 47 66

USS Noa landing force
fired on by Chinese
warlord's troops, Nanking,
China, 24 Mar. 1927 0 1 0 0

USS Penquin (AM-33) fired on
by Chinese below Kiangyin
forts, China 25 Apr 1927 0 5 0 0

Armed guard detachment on
SS Chi Ping fired on by
bandits, north of Wanhsien,
Yangtze River, China,
14 Mar. 1930 0 1 0 0

USS Guam came under fire
from bandits while
attempting to rescue
missionaries near Yochow,
Yangtze River, China,
4 Jul. 1930 1 0 0 0

USS Palos fired on by
bandits at Changsha,
Yangtze River, China,
31 Jul. 1930 0 1 0 0

Marine 2d Brigade guarding
International Settlement,
during fighting between
Japanese and Chinese forces,
Shanghai, China,
Aug.-Oct. 1937 0 1 0 3

USS Augusta struck by
Nationalist Chinese anti-
aircraft shell, Shanghai,
China, 20 Aug. 1937 1 18 0 0

USS Augusta hit by shrapnel
during fighting in Shanghai,
China, 14 Oct. 1937 0 1 0 0

USS Panay sunk by Japanese
air attack, near Nanking,
Yangtze River, China,
12 Dec. 1937 2 43 0 0

USS Kearny damaged by German
submarine, Atlantic Ocean,
17 Oct. 1941 11 22 0 0

USS Salinas damaged by German
submarine, Atlantic Ocean,
30 Oct. 1941 0 1 0 0

USS Reuben James sunk by
German submarine, Atlantic
Ocean, 31 Oct. 1941 115 8 0 0

World War II, 7 Dec. 1941 -
31 Dec. 1946 36,950 37,778 19,733 68,207

1st Marines reconnaissance
patrol fired on by 40-50
Chinese communist guerillas
northwest of Tientsin, China,
6 Oct. 1945 0 0 0 3

7th Marines jeep patrol fired
on by Chinese communist snipers
near Tangshan, China
19 Oct 1945 0 0 0 2

Ambush of 5th Marines jeep patrol
by Chinese communist snipers
outside of Peiping, China
26 Oct 1945 0 0 0 1

Two marines hunting near 7th
Marines railroad outpost shot by
two Chinese west of Anshan, China,
4 Dec 1945 0 0 1 1

One marine attacked while on
liberty in Tientsin, China,
9 Dec 1945 0 0 0 1

Two 7th Marines supply trucks
ambushed by Chinese communist
guerillas near Tangshan, China,
15 Jan 1946 0 0 0 2

Marine hunting party attacked by
irregular forces in the vicinity
of Lutai, China, 7 Apr 1946 0 0 1 0

5th Marines bridge guards attacked
by Chinese communists firing
mortars, near Tangku, China,
5 May 1946 0 0 0 1

7th Marines sentry attacked by
guerillas in Lutai, China,
7 May 1946 0 0 0 1

1st Marines reconnaissance patrol
ambushed by 50-75 armed Chinese
in village 10 miles south of
Tientsin, China, 21 May 1946 0 0 1 1

Marine sentry attacked in Tangku,
China, 2 Jul 1946 0 0 0 1

Supply convoy, protected by 11th
Marines detachment, ambushed by
Chinese communist forces at Anping,
China, 29 July 1946 0 0 4 11

Chinese communist raid on 1st
Marine Division ammunition supply
point at Hsin Ho, northwest of
Tangku, China 3 Oct 1946 0 0 0 1

Two Chinese communist companies
about 350 men, attack 1st Marine
Division ammunition supply point
at Hsin Ho, northwest of Tangku,
China, 4-5 Apr 1947 0 0 5 17

Marine hunting party ambushed
by Chinese communists outside
of Tientsin, China,
25 Dec. 1947 0 0 1 0

PB4Y2 from VP-26, Det A,
shot down by Soviet
aircraft, over Baltic Sea
off coast of Latvia,
8 Apr. 1950 10 0 0 0

Korean War, 25 Jun. 1950 -
31 Jan. 1955 505 1,576 4,267 23,744

P2V-3W from VP-6 shot down
by Soviet aircraft, over Sea
of Japan off Vladivostok,
Siberia, 6 Nov. 1951 10 0 0 0

PBM-5S2 from VP-731 attacked by
Chinese fighters over the
Yellow Sea, 31 Jul. 1952 2 2 0 0

P2V-5 from VP-22 shot down by
anti-aircraft fire near Swatow,
China, 18 Jan. 1953 9 0 0 0

P2V from VP-19 shot down
by Soviet aircraft, over Sea
of Japan near Siberian coast,
4 Sep. 1954 1 0 0 0

P2V from VP-9 shot down
by Soviet aircraft, St. Lawrence
Island in the Bering Sea,
22 Jun. 1955 0 10 0 0

P4M-1Q from VQ-1 shot down
by hostile aircraft near
Wenchow, China, 22 Aug. 1956 16 0 0 0

P4M-1Q from VQ-1 attacked by
North Korean fighters near the
Korean Demilitarized Zone,
over Sea of Japan, 16 Jun. 1959 0 1 0 0

Vietnam War, 4 Aug. 1964 -
27 Jan. 1973 1,631 4,178 13,091 51,392

Intervention in the
Dominican Republic,
28 Apr. 1965 - 21 Sep. 1966 1 0 9 25

USS Liberty, attacked by
Israeli forces in the
Eastern Mediterranean,
8 Jun. 1967 31 168 2 1

LCDR Ernest A. Munro killed and
RMCS Harry L. Greene wounded by
communist terrorists, Guatemala,
16 Jan 1968 1 1 0 0

USS Pueblo, captured by
North Korean forces in the
Sea of Japan, 23 Jan. 1968 1 8 0 1
[All crew members, 79 Navy and 2
Marines, subsequently awarded the
purple heart for the period of
their captivity]

A-1H from VA-25 on a ferry flight
from the Philippines to an aircraft
carrier in the Tonkin Gulf shot
down by MIG interceptor after
accidently violating airspace of
Hainan Island, China
14 Feb. 1968 1 0 0 0

P3B from VP-26 on a coastal
surveillance photo-reconnaissance
mission, shot down, possibly by
a Cambodian naval vessel, crashing
in the Gulf of Thailand,
1 Apr. 1968 12 0 0 0

Sailors from USS Independence and
accompanying destroyers injured by
students during anti-American
riots in Istanbul, Turkey,
16-23 Jul. 1968 0 19 0 0

Sailors from USS Columbus and
accompanying destroyers injured by
students during anti-American
riots in Izmir, Turkey,
19-22 Dec. 1968 0 14 0 0

EC-121M from VQ-1 shot down
by North Korean aircraft over
the Sea of Japan, 14 Apr. 1969 30 0 1 0

Two UH-1Bs from HAL-3 Detachment
3 shot down in Svay Rieng
Province, Cambodia, by Cambodian
anti-aircraft fire, 28 Apr. 1969 4 4 0 0

Seabee wounded and Marine
Security Guards killed and
wounded during Terrorist
attack on US Embassy softball
game,Phnom Penh, Cambodia,
26 Sep. 1971 0 1 1 3

Marine Security Guard Sidney T.
James wounded during an attack
by a radical communist group,
U.S. Embassy, Manila,
Philippines, 1972 0 0 0 1

LCDR Franklin G. West wounded by
North Korean forces, Panmunjun,
Korea, 3 Mar 1974 0 1 0 0

CDR Robert M. Ballinger killed
by dynamite explosion during
investigation of tunnel built by
North Koreans in the southern
portion of the demilitarized
zone, Korea, 20 Nov 1974 1 0 0 0

Seabees killed by gunfire during
terrorist ambush of jeep on
northeast edge of US Naval Base
at Subic Bay, Philippines,
3 Feb. 1975 3 0 0 0

Two Marines from Marine Security
Detachment, Saigon, killed during
artillery attack while providing
security for Defense Attache
Office, at Tan Son Nhut Airport,
Saigon, Republic of Vietnam,
29 April 1975 0 0 2 0

"Mayaguez Incident," battle with
Khmer Rouge forces, Koh Tang
Island, Cambodia, 14 May 1975 2 3 14 41

Sailor wounded during attack by
unidentified gunman against U.S.
Air Force Bus, 14 miles north of
Clark Air Bus, Philippines,
11 Dec. 1976 0 1 0 0

LT Robert E. Nelson serving with
UN observers in the Lebanese
village of Maroun Al Ras wounded
during attack by Israeli Defense
Forces, night of 14-15 Mar 1978 0 1 0 0

U.S. Embassy Marine security
guard wounded, Kabul,
Afghanistan, 7 Aug 1978 0 0 0 1

U.S. Embassy Marine security
guard wounded, Beirut, Lebanon,
6 Oct 1978 0 0 0 1

SGT Garry Downey and SGT Kraus
wounded by Iranian guerillas during
attacks on U.S. Embassy, Tehran,
Iran, 11 and 14 Feb. 1979 0 0 0 2

Marine security guards injured
when leftist protesters attempted
to storm U.S. Embassy, San Salvador,
El Salvador, 30 Oct. 1979 0 0 0 2

Marine Security Guard CPL
Steven Crowley killed by
sniper fire during attack by
mob on US Embassy, Islamabad,
Pakistan, 21 Nov. 1979 0 0 1 0

Puerto Rican nationalists armed
with automatic weapons ambushed
a Navy bus driving to Sabana Seca
Naval Communication Center near
San Juan, 3 Dec 1979 2 10 0 0

BMCM Sam Novello killed by
Turkish leftists at his home in
Istanbul, Turkey, 16 April 1980 1 0 0 0

Marines wounded in terrorist
attack, Costa Rica, 17 Mar 1981 0 0 0 3

Crewmen from USS Pensacola
(LSD-38) attacked by terrorists
in San Juan, Puerto Rico,
16 May 1982. 1 3 0 0

U.S. Embassy Marine security
guard wounded, Beirut
Lebanon, 7 Jun 1982 0 0 0 1

Lebanon Peacekeeping,
25 Aug. 1982 - 26 Feb. 1984 19 8 234 151

Terrorist bombing of US
Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon.
Casualties included IS1 Daniel
J. Pellegrino and eight Marine
Security Guards, 18 Apr. 1983 0 1 1 7

Lieutenant Commander Albert A.
Schaufelberger killed by
terrorists, San Salvador,
El Salvador, 25 May 1983 1 0 0 0

CPL Guillermo Sanpedro killed
in terrorist attack, Cyprus,
23 Oct. 1983 0 0 1 0

Operation Urgent Fury,
invasion of Grenada, West Indies
23 Oct.1983 - 21 Nov. 1983 4 1 3 15

Capt. George Tsantes shot by
terrorists near Athens, Greece
15 Nov. 1983 1 0 0 0

Lt. Mark A. Lang killed and LT
Robert O. Goodman wounded when
A-6 Intruder from VA-85 shot down
while attacking Syrian antiaircraft
batteries at Hammana, east of
Beirut, Lebanon, 4 Dec. 1983 1 1 0 0

Commander, Carrier Air Wing Six
(CVW-6) CDR Edward K. Andrews
flying an A-7 Corsair II, shot
down by aircraft fire, near
Beirut, Lebanon, 4 Dec 1983 0 1 0 0

LCPL Rudolfo Hernandez killed
in terrorist attack, Germany,
7 Feb. 1984 0 0 1 0

HN Carl P. Englund wounded,
Beruit, Lebanon, 29 Feb 1984 0 1 0 0

PO1 Michael R. Wagner
assigned to Defense Attache
Office, killed; CEC Harvey L.
Whitaker and BU1 Stephen E.
Haycock and four Marine security
guards wounded in terrorist bombing
of US Embassy Annex, East Beirut,
Lebanon, 20 Sep. 1984 1 2 0 4

Seabee Steelworker 2nd Class
Robert Dean Stethem of Underwater
Construction Team ONE was killed
by terrorists in Athens, Greece,
on TWA Flight 847,
14 Jun. 1985 1 0 0 0

Off-duty Marines assigned to
Marine Security Guard Detachment,
San Salvador, El Salvador,
killed by terrorists armed with
automatic weapons at a cafe in
the Zona Rosa district of San
Salvador, 19 June 1985 0 0 4 0

USS Stark struck by Iraqi
missiles, Persian Gulf,
17 May 1987 37 5 0 0

Terrorist grenade attack on
USO club in Barcelona, Spain,
27 Dec. 1987 1 5 0 0

Col. Rich Higgins, killed by
pro-Iranian terrorists.
Captured on 17 Feb. 1988 in
Lebanon and declared dead on
6 Jul. 1990. 0 0 1 0

USS Samuel B. Roberts struck
Iranian mine, Persian Gulf,
14 Apr. 1988 0 10 0 0

Japanese Red Army terrorist
bombing of USO club in Naples,
Italy, 14 Apr. 1988 1 4 0 0

Loss of AH-1T helicopter during
operations against Iranian naval
forces, possibly to hostile
action, Persian Gulf,
18 Apr. 1988 0 0 2 0

Capt. William E. Nordeen,
Defense and Naval Attache,
killed by terrorist car bomb
in Kifissia, the suburb of
Athens, Greece,
28 Jun. 1988 1 0 0 0

Lt. Robert Paz,USMC shot and
witnesses, Navy LT and his wife,
beaten by Panamanian forces at
a road block in Panama City,
16 Dec. 1989 0 1 1 0

Operation Just Cause, Panama,
20 - 24 Dec. 1989 4 9 1 3

Persian Gulf War,
2 Aug. 1990 - 3 Mar. 1991 5 12 24 92

Operation Restore Hope,
Somalia, 9 Dec. 1992 -
4 May 1994 0 0 2 15

Bombing of Federal Building,
Oklahoma City, 19 Apr. 1995 0 0 2 0

Khobar Towers in Dhahran,
Saudi Arabia bombed by
terrorists, 25 Jun. 1996 0 1 0 0

Terrorist bombing of US Embassy
in Nairobi, Kenya, 7 August 1998
Marine security guard Sgt. Jesse
Aliganga killed, one Marine
guarded wounded 0 0 1 1

USS Cole (DDG 67) hit on port
side near forward stack by
explosive-laden suicide boat
while refueling, Aden,
Yemen, 12 October 2000. 17 39 0 0

American Flight 77 hijacked by
terrorists struck the Pentagon.
Casualties include 33 sailors,
6 Department of the Navy civilians,
and 3 Navy civilian contractors
killed and 4 sailors and 2
Department of the Navy civilians
wounded.
Arlington, VA, 11 Sep 2001. 33 4 0 0

Operation Enduring Freedom,
Afghanistan,
7 Oct 2001 through 16 July 2005. 15 6 9 84

Lance Corporal Antonio Sledd
killed, and another Marine wounded
by terrorists during Exercise
Eager Mace in Kuwait, 8 Oct 2002. 0 0 1 1

Operation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq,
19 Mar 2003 through 16 Jul 2005. 26 320 522 5,049

Bush Deregulates

There are 70 days left until Barack Obama takes over the White House and the Presidency.  In that time, there is so much that Bush can do to screw the American people - and he's not wasting any time.  The Deregulator is working hard (for once), easing restrictions and language on rules and regulations governing pollution and land usage.  Some of these changes are:

1. A change in the definition of solid waste that would exempt approximately 1.5 million tons of hazardous waste from rules governing its labeling, transportation, and disposal.
2. It is now voluntary for animal farms to apply for permits to discharge waste into waterways - and the companies decide if they pollute enough to warrant a permit.
3. There is under consideration the removal of Congress's power to control uranium mining, which is currently being used to limit mining near the Grand Canyon.
4. There is under consideration a rule change in power plant emissions controls that would change emissions limits to an hourly limit, thereby actually increasing overall emissions.
5. There is under consideration the removal of a requirement that the Fish and Wildlife Service evaluate federally approved mining, logging, and power plant projects for their impacts on endangered species.  Instead, the federal agencies that issue the permits would decide on their own.

There is so much more Bush could do, and probably will try to do.  Bush is also trying to make it harder for consumers to sue companies for providing faulty products, such as bad motorcycle brakes and pain medications.  The lawsuit-protection language Bush wants could be devastating to consumers who were injured by blatant negligence on the part of the companies.  In the next 70 days, we need to be on the lookout for Bush's sneaky attempts to change the laws to suit him and his cronies.  Obama's presidency should not only be about fixing what Bush did wrong - he needs to have some time to focus on his initiatives to better the lives of all Americans.

Sources:

The Wall Street Journal: Bush Rule Changes could Block Product-Safety Suit

Pro Publica: Bush Forces Deregulation in Waning Days of Administration

The Huffington Post: CA Atty. Gen. Calls of Bush Admin. to Abandon Endangered Species Changes

What's Up With The G.O.P.?

Lately, everyone's been saying, what's up with the Republicans?  How will they respond to the losses of the election?  Well, one pundit is saying that the Republicans had already changed, during the election.  Jeffery Feldman, in an article in The Huffington Post , stated that the Republicans have become a party of hard-right nationalism.  And you know what?  He's damn right.  Think about the last two months, in particular.  What was the McCain-Palin message?  FEAR OBAMA!!!!  Fear Obama, because he's a socialist, and has associated with terrorists, and wants to take away our guns, and is secretly a Muslim and HE HATES AMERICA!!!!

Even before McCain-Palin, the Republican Party has tried to use hard-right nationalism to fire up the base and win elections.  The 1992 and 1996 presidential bids of Pat Buchanan come to mind.  But the difference was, according to Feldman, that Buchanan tried to claim that America was under a social and cultural threat, while McCain-Palin claimed that Obama threatened every American's property and life.  For some as-yet-unwritten-about reason, McCain-Palin's message resonated within their base much more strongly than Buchanans'.

So, what does that mean now?  McCain-Palin have fired up their base so much that they are feeling physically threatened.  In order for Obama to have a safe and effective presidency, those Americans need to be calmed down, reassured that Obama has their interests very much at heart.  According to Feldman, their are two areas in particular that would calm them down, and maybe even get them to support Obama, however grudgingly it may be.  

1. The automotive industry.  Right now, the "Big Three" are in serious economic trouble.  If Obama gave them a rescue package that forced them to re-tool their factories for better fuel efficiency, then they could finally begin producing cars competitive to the asian brands.  This would help decrease unemployment problems, and halt the collapse of American manufacturing.

2. Health Care.  Their are millions of uninsured Americans, to whom an illness or injury is devastating.  If Obama can create a new, effective, widespread health care system, he can get support from an enormous section of the U.S. population.

These two issues are just some of the most pressing, that are hurting America very hard.  If Obama wants to pull the hard-right nationalists back toward the middle, he needs to try to solve the issues that are truly scaring them, deep inside.  Incidentally, those same issues are scaring the rest of middle-class America.  So we really aren't that different, are we?

A letter from a Write or Remain Silent reader

The following is an email I received from a friend/acquaintance — one of a number of people I've come to know to varying degrees through both online and real-world election-related groups over the past year. Although I wouldn't normally devote a whole post to someone else's email, I wanted to include it on our class blog in part because the man who wrote it, Dan Greco, has been reading our blog for the past month or so. I don't usually hear back from readers, but it's nice to give them space here to share their views with our community as well. I actually got it right before Election Day, but haven't had time to get it onto the blog until now.

On the cusp of a new American moment……


I have had two full-time jobs the fast few months. In addition to my job as a tutor (the one that pays the bills), I have also been a full-time election addict, splitting my time in the blogosphere trying to decide if the minute gaffe Joe Biden made on Tuesday (really, on any day) has cost Obama’s chance at victory to slip from 96.4% to 94.9% on 538.com. Nate Silver has become our national electoral therapist. I wake up to the polls every morning, and routinely check liberal blogs several times per day. For my part, I have also canvassed New Hampshire five times and have called more than 2000 people in support of Pre…I mean Senator Obama.

I have finally let it sink in that, barring unforeseeable circumstances, Barack Obama will become the 44th president of the United States. The vaunted McCain comeback did not happen. Obama is widening his lead in the national polls. If you only cherry picked the state polls most favorable to McCain, Obama would STILL have over 300 electoral votes. Barack Obama has a better chance of winning Arizona than McCain has of winning Pennsylvania, Colorado, or Nevada. The only question most pollsters have will be where on the continuum Obama’s victory will lie, from a 3%, 286-252 electoral college victory to a 12%, 400-138 blowout.

Like so many other people out there, this election feels deeply personal to me, so much so that I sometimes tear up a little thinking about an Obama victory, and have even sung “We Will Overcome” in the car. I am not alone. I have spoken to many others who share my obsession. CNN even had a news segment on EOS, Election Obsession Syndrome.

The question is why? Certainly, part of the answer is Senator Obama himself, and his historic candidacy. He is the singularly most impressive political talent I have ever seen. Obama combines a keen intellect, a reassuring temperament, a soaring oratory, and a fundamental decency. He is able to balance icy resolve and pragmatic determination with idealism and optimism, an incredibly lethal combination. He has allowed the Clinton and Republican machines to defeat themselves while incurring barely a scratch (his approval ratings actually IMPROVED during the Ayers/terrorist/socialist silly season). He does it was with a preternatural calm and a disarming smile.

He is also the man of the moment. What an Obama victory tells the world about America, and tells America about itself, is urgently important to our collective identity. An Obama victory tells the world that America does not equal Bush and Cheney, and that America values cooperation and communication. We will listen. An Obama victory tells Americans that we have turned the page of the divisiveness of the last 40 years, and that America is embracing the diversity that is changing the American electorate.

An Obama victory will signal a new American moment. I think this moment, even more than Obama himself, has fueled my emotional connection to this election. Because this new American moment is mine. Ours. This moment is a testament to our wonderful diversity, which, like Obama’s face and family, is of colors of every hue.

It is also a moment of the liberal fusion of reason and emotion. Since Kennedy, Democratic candidates have spectacularly failed to emotionally connect with Americans, with the notable exception of Clinton, whose emotional connection was personal and not liberal. Reagan and Bush were the feel good connectors. Obama has changed the landscape, and has found a language, OUR LANGUAGE, to describe a progressive vision of America that resonates on both an emotional and intellectual level.

Finally, in this moment, we can put an end to the liberal/conservative trench warfare that has defined our country since Vietnam. Obama is progressive, more progressive in fact, than any candidate in our lifetime. But he is not partisan. He is more of a democrat than a Democrat. He is willing to reach across the metaphorical aisle and embrace voters who Democrats have long ago stopped trying to reach. That’s why he has a chance to win the kind of massive electoral victory undreamed of by Democrats in over 40 years. Since 1980, Democrats have been afraid of themselves and their beliefs. They have allowed liberal to become a dirty word. Gore, Kerry, and Clinton all had the stench of political fear, afraid if they were to reveal their true selves, they would lose their election. None of them ever articulated a full throated support of progressive taxation, the need universal health care, or our collective responsibilities for fear these messages would not resonate. They were wrong. Obama does not have the stench of fear. He has the stench of hope and optimism, and has lifted these important but long forgotten values onto American consciousness. Obama is also not afraid to embrace “conservative” ideas such as individual responsibility. Of course, individual responsibility is also a progressive value, but no progressive has talked about it for 40 years, because in the war for America’s soul during the Vietnam era, personal responsibility fell on the side of Nixon’s silent majority, and has stayed there ever since.

I also think in this moment, we are seeing the extinction burst of the hysterical right. An extinction burst is a behavioral term that describes a spike in a behavior right before it extinguishes. I think this is what we are seeing at the McCain/Palin rallies, and the angry delusional rhetoric of the Rush Limbaughs and Shean hannitys of the world. They sense their moment is over. They are angry and hurting, and are taking their last shots before they recede into acceptance. Of course, there is a dangerous strain out there of those who will not accept, and they need to be watched closely. Some will not accept that their moment has passed by. But is has. The moment is ours. If we use this moment to lord it over the Hannitys and Limbaughs, we risk creating the same rift in the electorate that happened to our parents’ generation 40 years ago. May we use this moment to bring out our better angels. May we use our moment to heal and to help. Obama has. So may we.

Dan Greco

Newspaper Front Pages from Wednesday, November 5

I put together some images of how newspapers from around the country and the world reported on the election of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States.

Special thanks to Newseum, which catalogs the front pages of over 700 newspapers every day of the year, and to the people involved in the recording and (re)mixing of "Yes We Can".*

If the video doesn't appear or won't play (it's been hit-or-miss so far), Facebook members can view it here. A lower-resolution version is also available on YouTube here.






*Newseum's "Today's Front Pages" section

"Yes We Can" (Barack Obama, will.i.am, and others)

Here's an interesting site that has archived every major political campaign commercial. I suggest going to the Curator's Choice.

http://www.livingroomcandidate.org

Lipstick Confessions

Now that its been two days after the election, there is already discussion of McCain staffers getting ready to throw Sarah Palin under the Straight Talk Express. It was obvious that Palin was unqualified to lead the country in the event that McCain died or became seriously incapacitated during his term. But it is only now known (perhaps not so hidden now) that even the McCain staffers and many hosts at FOX News knew she was unqualified. I quote Daily Kos by saying: "...but they all sucked it up to put their party first. It must have been a bitter pill for many because now that the election is over, they've started releasing their own versions of "Lipstick Confessions." Below is a video clip released by Daily Kos but broadcasted by FOX:



Some of the highlights of the confessions:

• Palin did not know which countries were part of NAFTA.
• It had to be explained to her that Africa was a continent, not a country
• She was angry at staffers over the Gibson and Couric interviews, yet she previously refused staff requests to prepare for the interviews.
• Palin went "rogue" by attacking Obama for his loose "association" with Ayers, before the McCain camp had a plan of attack
• McCain advisors showed up at Palin's hotel room to meet with her and Todd during the RNC and she entered the room in nothing but two towels (one wrapped around her wet hair).

We can only imagine that more confessions will be released in the near future...

Senator McCain's Concession Speech

And here is Senator McCain's concession speech for those who are interested:

Part One - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24QdO4TGMYc&feature=iv&annotation_id=event_471642
Part Two - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peDK_HyXbvo&feature=iv&annotation_id=event_193492

Senator Obama Presidential Acceptance Speech

Here is Senator Obama's acceptance speech for those who are interested, enjoy:

Part One - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrXkBuWNx88
Part Two - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02BV5Zah1Tw&feature=related
Part Three - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69JeattgAqI&feature=related

Post-Election Stock Market Reaction

On Wednesday, the stock market dropped a considerable amount following the conclusion of the election and the announcement of Barack Obama as the new President of the United States.

“A case of postelection nerves sent Wall Street plunging Wednesday as investors absorbing a stream of bad economic news wondered how a Barack Obama presidency will help the country weather a possibly severe recession. Volatility returned to the market, with the Dow Jones industrials falling nearly 500 points and all the major indexes tumbling more than 5 percent.
The market was expected to give back some gains after a six-day runup that lifted the Standard & Poor's 500 index more than 18 percent. But investors lost some of their recent confidence about the economy and began dumping stocks again; light volume helped exaggerate the price swings (Lepro & Paradis, Associated Press).”
"I think what is happening in the market is a continuation of really the last few weeks," said Subodh Kumar, global investment strategist at Subodh Kumar & Associates in Toronto. "The markets are still incorporating the slowdown in the global economy."

Regardless of the exact cause of the sudden drop in the market, one thing is for certain: all eyes are going to be on President Obama in regards to the future stability and efficacy of the markets upon his inauguration; the nation will be watching to observe how he will (“if he can” to some) react and respond to the limping economy during his presidency. This is just one of the many challenges he will face as President of the United States

Lepro, Sara & Paradis, Tim. “Stocks plunge as investors ponder Obama presidency.” Associated Press. 5 November, 2008. <http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081105/ap_on_bi_st_ma_re/wall_street >

California Passes Ban on Same-Sex Marriage

California voted on Tuesday for the bill opting to pass a ban on same-sex marriage within the state. And so, as it turned out, the bill passed. The verdict came as a shocking blow to gay rights advocates as all previous indications led most to believe that the state of California would spearhead the movement to legalize same-sex marriage in this nation.
As it stands right now, the Constitutional Amendment of the United States only defines marriage as being that solely between that of a man and a woman; despite the fact that on an individual state-by-state basis, California had originally legalized same-sex marriage since this past June. It would appear that the Constitutional Amendment overrides a state-based amendment in this instance…


"Similar bans had prevailed in 27 states before Tuesday's elections, but none were in California's situation — with about 18,000 gay couples already married. The state attorney general, Jerry Brown, has said those marriages will remain valid, although legal challenges are possible (Leff, Associated Press)."


Close to follow in California’s approval in the ban on same-sex marriage were the states of Arizona and Florida.
In Arkansas, however, the measure was taken even further to mandate that not only is same-sex marriage banned, but also it has been declared such that same-sex couples can neither adopt, nor serve as foster parents.


"People believe in the institution of marriage," said Frank Schubert (Co-manager of the "Yes on 8" Campaign), "It's one institution that crosses ethnic divides, that crosses partisan divides. ... People have stood up because they care about marriage and they care a great deal."


Less, Lisa. "California voters approve gay-marriage ban." Associated Press. 5 November, 2008.
<http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/ballot_measures>

The Multi-Party System

One of the cornerstones of American democracy is that any American-born citizen over the age of thirty-five is allowed to run for president if they should so choose. While this is an important democratic idea, I am beginning to see this idea as more of a decoration rather than any idea of purpose. When you look at the numbers, not one state went to anyone other party besides the Republicans or Democrats, and to make it even worse, this comes as no surprise.

Ralph Nader, the frequent presidential hopeful who always falls dreadfully short of the votes he needs, has always been a critic of how our elections are set up in a two party system. He has even gone as far as to say "we've let our country be hijacked by political gangsters in Washington who've sold our government to fewer and fewer giant corporations (that) have no allegiance to this county" (Aronson, "Nader Rails Against Two-Party System at Ames Stop"). While I feel that Nader's comment is a quite extreme, I do agree with its underlying theme: in America, there are only two-parties that are really in control.

In my opinion our political system would be in far better shape if we were to switch from a two-party system, to a multi-party system, which would be harder than it sounds, but would be the best choice for democracy. This would be keeping with the idea that "anyone" can run for president, make it so the political power in our country is now dispersed more evenly to other parties aside from the democrats and republicans and it would provide american voters with more diverse options as to who they want to have represent them in Washington. It would also give a voice to the smaller and generally voiceless third parties.

As it stands now, third party candidates stand virtually no chance of winnning, which almost mocks their purpose in our democracy. Unfortunately the political efforts put forth by candidates like Bob Barr, Cynthia Mckinney and Ralph Nader go unoticed for the most part and are almost solely there to make us feel better and remind us, that yes, we are a democracy, even though it is partially just for show.

The Final Map

This result is if North Carolina is declared for Obama and Missouri is declared with McCain (as if that even changes the map...)

Virginia, Virginia, Virginia!

Virginia, the Mother of Presidents, also known as the Old Dominion; has for the first time since 1964 (when Lydon B. Johnson ran for President) gone from the Republican column to the Democrats. It was perhaps the final blow to McCain -- after all, he had lost Pennsylvania, his only 'true' state he was on the offensive in and then followed by the fall of Ohio. As Republicans known, its impossible to win the White House without winning Ohio and its 20 electoral votes. It was at this point with two of his three big targets had fallen to Obama-- everyone was watching for Virginia. And it happened.

At 11pm last night, the results for California, Oregon and Washington State came in and right after that: Virginia. Over the last few years the state has been turning bluer with the rise of younger voters and more affluent citizen moving into the northern counties of Loudon, Fairfax County (the most populous county in Virginia) and Prince William; which are perhaps the most liberal sections of Virginia since they border the District of Columbia and Maryland. Most political analysts agree that like most states, the Economy was the biggest priority voters made their vote based upon as they went to the polls and by reading the exit polls, they believed Obama's plan was better for the nation as it moves forward into the twenty-first century.

As of this morning, the popular vote is almost complete with 99% of the precincts reporting and it is the following:

• Obama: 1,791,154
• McCain: 1,635,292

Click this link to see the larger county result map of Virginia, courtsey of CNN.

Notice how close the result is: a difference of 155,862 votes -- this was so close, it was even closer than Florida in 2000 when it was decided by 500,000 votes. Virginia this year is the new Florida and with the party change in this critical state, this election is truly a realigning one, it will take a good thirty to forty years before we see another truly as symbolic and important this one.

Wheaton College Reactions:2008

https://mail2.wheatonma.edu/Session/201242-NXgbTwXoZVql8PdmoSMT/Message.wssp?Mailbox=INBOX&MSG=1112



The reaction of Wheaton College students after seeing Obama win the 2008 elections.

The "Closeness" of the Presidential Race

We had previously discussed this concept in English class, but I feel it is necessary to refer back to it in relation to the lead-up and outcome of this presidential debate. For the entire duration of the race for presidency (even until just recently), the mainstream media made it appear as though the race was too close to call. For me, I knew that Senator Obama had won the race upon Senator McCain’s selection of Governor Palin as his running mate – which in my own opinion, was nothing more than a desperate attempt by McCain to accomplish two things: first was to sway Senator Hillary Clinton voters from the democratic party with the enticement of voting for a female candidate for vice-presidency (as I had mentioned in one of my previous posts, some people are foolish enough to vote for someone strictly on the principle of appearance, and completely disregard the critical aspects of political values and views held by the candidate), and the second was to present the voter with a choice of making history with either candidate – with Obama’s election marking the first time for a racially diverse president, and Palin’s election as the first female vice-president. In my opinion, this was nothing more than a desperate attempt to play some last-minute tactics to equalize the political position. However, back to the point… The media had depicted the race as being too close to call for the entire duration, and yet, Senator Obama completely devastates Senator McCain in the Electoral College vote. I suppose that this just goes to show how the media can over-exaggerate certain instances of reality to present a more entertaining visual portrayal of the event (for the sake of ratings and profit).

Recent Israeli Conflict

Another critical issue that doesn't really require action (yet), but rather close international attention is the animosity and violence perpetually waging between Israel and Palestine.
Just recently, Israel launched an airstrike on the Gaza Strip after Hamas militants fired mortars into Israel, killing six Palestinians. This airstrike was the first assault by Israel since the truce previously established back in June.
Now, I have been following events and stories for the past few months regarding the gradual, yet inevitable decline of relations between Israel and Palestine, and I believe this to be a critical international issue that serves to represent the sheer impact and influence of religion on people for them to engage in perpetual (and violent) dispute over religious territorial claim.

One matter I am interested in that I haven't heard very much at all about recently in presidential political debate and discussion is the stance taken on the issue of genocide. Genocidal violence is still occuring (though more subtlely at this current time) throughout the world, even in areas like that of Sudan (e.g. Darfur). Aside from minor conferences being held regarding the animosity between China and Tibet (though no clear lines of resolution have been established yet), I truly haven't heard anything significant in terms of developing an appropriate plan to combat international genocide. But this is a critical issue and deserves attention by the United States.

OBAMA'S VICTORY

Well, Senator Obama has now been elected (in a landslide victory) President of the United States... successor to one of the worst presidents in U.S. history. I am very thankful Obama has been elected as opposed to McCain (no disrespect to Senator McCain at all, it's just that I disagree with his socio-political policies, and I don't really find all too much favor in Governor Palin - I certainly cannot possibly imagine her being President of the United States should something befall McCain due to his age and health).
However, there are two issues that concern me significantly: one being that I hope that Obama is ready to clean up the mess so kindly left in the wake of the Bush Administration – I have faith in him (I wouldn’t have voted for him otherwise), but I just hope he is ready for that…
The second matter I am worried about (probably the most) is the notion of radical white-extremist organizations and individuals doing something incredibly stupid (authorities had already prevented violence planned by one of the white extremist organizations). Unfortunately, there are a lot of racist, bigoted fools in this nation who are not keen on the idea of such considerable change and societal progression, and will resort to violence to prevent such dramatic change. I sincerely hope that nothing will happen while Obama is in office related to that. If such a United States and its reputation on the world stage will evaporate (displaying our adversity towards change and our violent means by which to express such).

What Do We Vote For?

I remember my dad and I having these sorts of discussions on long car rides to and from home and college, pertaining to the simple, yet commonly overlooked aspects of general politics. He and I recently were discussing the two presidential/vice-presidential candidates for this election, and were making reference to the concept of appearance and ethical presentation of the candidate him/herself and its impact on the general audience of America. Most notably, the question of “why do why vote for this person and not the other?” And it is truly something that everyone needs to consider: “am I voting for this individual because I agree with their socio-political views, or am I just voting for them because they look the part of president (and the look/personification of political change in relation to the nature of the political, social, ethical stance and nature of the general populace)?
Not to play stereotypes into the equation, but I am sad to say that there are unfortunately individuals out there who had voted for Senator Obama simply because of his racial orientation, just as there were people who had voted for Governor Palin and Senator Hillary Clint just because they are female. Not to be sexist or racist in any capacity here, but that is what I have observed and that is regrettably what actually happens in this nation. And I am certainly not against having a racially diverse president or a female president/vice-president – truth be told, I frankly don’t care who is our president or their personal background; as long as they we’re qualified for the position, represented that people of the United States well, and I agreed with their socio-political views (that’s what is important to me). I don’t really care what race, ethnicity, religion, gender, or sexual preference that candidate might have – in the end, does it really matter?

The Closing of Guantanamo Bay

To many, the Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility serves as a pure representation of the violation of human rights that contrasts the essence of the United States as a leader in the world for the safeguarding of said rights.
However, both presidential candidates did indeed make reference to the nature of Guantanamo Bay’s establishment in the international realm as retaining such negative reinforcement relating to the treatment and conditions of its prisoners. Both candidates also noted that closing the Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility would help restore the United States’ reputation on the world stage as a leading figure in international preservation and promotion of human rights.
Another element to this is pushing for the United States to abide by the Geneva Convention, Common Article 3 (granting the prisoners standard rights, including that of right to a fair trial) relating to the treatment of prisoners stationed in the Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility – upon which there has been repeated, notable violation, resulting in considerable controversy by the general public.
“About 255 prisoners remain at Guantanamo of the more than 700 brought there. Most have returned to their home countries. In almost seven years since the military began sending detainees there, just two have been convicted of any criminal offense (Boston Globe, November 4th, 2008).”
Amnesty International is consistent in such rational, residing with the notion that the removal of the Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility would certainly promote America’s position internationally as a stronger advocate for social change to prevent abuse to human rights. Being a member of Amnesty International myself, I understand the rationalization for the elimination of Guantanamo Bay, however, one does indeed need to take into consideration the nature of human perception of “appropriate” treatment of said individuals. These aren’t just ordinary run-of-the-mill criminals placed there, there are those detained there that are linked to possible involvement in terrorist plots against the United States. Do they deserve the same rights as everyone else – especially when they strived so hard to attempt to deprive us of those democratic rights and justices? Do they deserve to be transferred to state federal prisons and detention facilities?

Missouri

With 99% of precincts reporting, the current tally in Missouri is 1,418,537 for McCain and 1,415,983 for Obama. McCain is ahead by only 554 votes! With 100% of precincts reporting in Buchanan county, Obama leads by 47 votes. In Washington county, with 9415 votes in, Obama leads by 9 votes. Incredible!

Check it out on CNN.

Obama's Speech

Read the full text here.

I personally thought it was a great speech. It was amazing to be cheering along with the crowd in Hindle auditorium, seeing people with tears in their eyes.

What did you all think of it?

Realignment Has Started

Winograd & Hais were right. Technology, along with the war in Iraq and the current economic crisis, has lead Americans craving for change. And Obama is the one they have chosen as the one to lead them into the prosperity that the United States was once globally known for, an image that has recently lost its luster. Obama clearly showed he understands how to reach the voting and non-voting citizens, especially the millennial generation. Through innovative tactics and eloquent speeches he managed to win over a population of many who had lost confidence in their governments ability to make proper decisions and to serve the citizens in the best way possible. Hopefully Obama can restore the confidence to those who didn't approve of the governments incompetence.

It remains to be seen whether or not this will cause a full realignment in future elections. On one hand, you could think that if Obama won what seemed like an insurmountable goal, any other Democrat could follow in his footsteps and win. Or you could say that it took a candidate with this much diversion from the average candidate to capture an entire nation's attention and propel him to the White House. It also remains to be seen whether Obama's time in office will close the racial divide. As Obama said in his "A More Perfect Union" speech, racism still exists but we have come a long way. Slavery and the civil rights movement were not that long ago but since then, racial equality has greatly increased as evidenced by the fact that a black man could be elected president by American people, including whites. I know the election of Obama won't affect how some black people disdain whites, and how some whites don't trust blacks. It won't affect any of that. But perhaps having a black man in office will inspire other blacks and other races in general to step up and take the chance at running for the White House. Only when a few non-whites have been elected will racial equality begin to show amongst the people. Because the most important diversity in this world is not race, it's intellectual diversity; how people think and how people perceive events and life. For the moment, most non-white races still perceive the power of white privilege with contempt and are willing to support a non-white candidate for the fact that he is not white. But when multiple non-white presidents have been elected, they will be able to see that their respective races are equally looked upon by America as a whole and the idea of white privilege will become a thing of the past. In turn races will be more comfortable with each other of different races, because they see that each race can trust the other race enough to elect him president. Obama's time in office will not change any of that, but his election was necessary to pave the way of others who follow him on the path to presidential diversity.

Congratulations to both President Obama and Senator McCain, and here's to the hope that there really is change we can believe in.

Congrats, President Obama!

It's official!

Our New President: Barack Obama

At 11:05 Barack Obama was announced our new President of the United States of America. Winning the electrial votes for California,Washington,Oregon and Hawaii bringing his electoral votes to 284. At 11:11 Obama wins Virginia leading by far with 297 to 145. At 11:19 Obama wins Florida 333 to 155. McCain makes his speech giving graditude towards Obama for his win on being the first African American president and for all his hard work. He gives thanks to all for the support and thanks America for all that we've done for him. That he wants to work with Obama that republicans should want to make America better that he's our new President.At 11:32 Obama 333 to McCain 155 he wins Nebraska. At 11:37 Obama wins Nevada with 338 to 155. Here's for change our new President Barack Obama.

Obama wins Pennsylvania and Ohio:207

Obama has a great win with Pennsylvania and Ohio leading with 207 to 135. Chicago is packed right now waiting for Obama to make his speech if he wins or doesnt win. The republicans are still optimistic and say it's not over. It's gonna be a close one.

Crazy stuff

I don't know which station it was on, and I don't know which county it was in, but some county in Florida had a very confusing ballot, in which voters had to connect two sides of an arrow for their vote to count. I'll try to find a picture later.

Coming to an end:Finally

There is still time for people to vote, it's only for today and your vote does count. Finally in just a few hours we'll find out who are new president is, I dont know about you but it's a relief for me the wait will finally be over, hopefully for the better.

What would you do if McCain/Obama wins?

 John McCain's daughter, Meghan McCain said she would get a "Live free or Die" tattoo if New Hampshire helped her father win the election. Another blogger on Boston.com said that he would organize tax protests if McCain won. A lot of bloggers discussed how they would flee the country if their candidate did not win. An example was "If Obama doesn't win I am moving my family to Iceland."It is pretty harsh to say that you would flee the country if your candidate does not win. I believe that you should be patient and just hope that you can chose a better candidate in the next four years.

Another blogger said, "If McCain doesn't win, I am moving to a place with lower taxes and more safety." There were a few people who said that the economy is pretty messed up and that no political figure will be able to completely resolve such a problem. Most of the bloggers on yahoo.com believe that it would not matter who wins and that is because any president is better than bush and McCain or Obama would both be a good replacement. 

From reading the blogs, I noticed that there are a ton of Obama supporters who believe that McCain will only make things worse and follow George Bush’s trail. Others think that Obama is too young and is looked at as a celebrity rather than a political figure, and he is going to take everything as a joke. I believe that people should do more research before they decide to blog about what they think and why they think so. Most of the comments were about how McCain is better than Obama because he is older, and how Obama is better than McCain because he is young and has to learn a lot. 

Saturday Night Live-Presidential Bash '08

Here are the links to sections of the Presidential Bash which aired yesterday, Monday the 3rd of November at 9:00 pm. 

 

http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/clips/presidential-bash-gov-palin/807241/

http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/clips/obamamccain-montage/807161/

http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/clips/presidential-bash-sen-clinton/807141/

Who is going to win this intense election?

I believe that Barack Obama is going to win the election tonight.  My roommate, on the other hand, believes McCain is going to win simply because Barack Obama is a good guy and good guys never win. I overheard students talking about how excited they were to find out the results. They had both voted for Barack Obama and would like to see him win this race. When asked why they replied that they were tired and sick of having the same form of leadership for the past eight years and would like to see change. Change is what they see in Barack Obama.

According to www.fivethirtyeight.com, both candidates have “safe electoral votes.” Barack Obama has 225 safe votes, and McCain has about 110 safe votes only. I believe that Obama has way too many supporters and voters to lose this race. I guess we will have to wait and see.  

Voter Perks

Has anyone seen the Starbucks ads that declare, 'if you show us an "I voted" sticker, we'll give you a free cup of coffee'?  Well, according to election laws, that's kinda illegal.  If you offer someone gifts or incentives, even after they have already voted, it's considered bribery.  So this means that Starbucks, Ben and Jerry's, California Tortilla, and Krispy Kreme have all had to change their offers.  Instead of, 'show us you voted and we'll give you free food', it's now 'we'll give you free food'.  Not quite their original message, is it?

Source: The Washington Post, Authorities Eye Voter Perks

New President: Terrorism Threats

History shows terrorist testing new presidents early, who ever becomes president will have to jump right into transit with homeland security. Kenneth Wainstein homeland security advisor says it's not surspring terrorist would strick during transitions. Al qaeda attacked the world trade center on February 26, 1993 shortly after Bill Clinton took office, then on September 11, 2001 when George W. Bush became president months after. Even in other countries on March 11,2004 islamic terrorist attacked spanish trains just before national election day. In Great Britain Gordan Brown became prime minister on June 27, 2007 and 3 days later attacks were made on the glass co airport, and then a week later in London cars bombs were set to detonate but failed. Which is why our new American president and his aids must be ready for anything. George Bush has already got it planned out for the next president to take over. White house chief of staff Josh Bolten has already been working on the transition he calls it a relay a botan hand off , that the next runner needs to already be running when the white house hands over the botan. Will this plan work? What if are attcked will we be ready? Has there been enough training with the new incoming team? I guess were let to wonder until tomorrow November 5th when a president will be announced and in office.

Where's Dubya?

Election day.  It's finally here.  We get to choose who will be our next president.  But what about our current one?  Well, he's nowhere to be seen.  No statements, no appearances, not even a press conference or a wave.  He even didn't make an appearance to vote - he used an absentee ballot.  Apparently, he's holed up in the White House watching the results on TV.  I would have thought that it would be important for the President to put in an appearance, make a statement to the nation, or something, but - not this time.  Bush's support is at an all-time low of 26%, and he's not showing his face.  Maybe it's because many equate him with election fraud - remember 2000?

Federalize it!

Okay, so elections are great. So is voting. But we need a better system.

There has been confusion and turmoil at every Presidential election in recent memory; different states use different ballots, some are electronic and others aren't, and overall there is just so much chaos and stress in the voting process that many people are deterred from voting.

Using whatever method an area prefers in terms of county and state elections is fine, but there needs to be a greater sense of unanimity for the Presidential elections. It is the most important election there is, so why is it not federalized? So many problems would be solved: only one method would be used, so the ballots could all be counted on the same system, it would be much more difficult to fudge numbers (ahem, Florida), and with a trained staff fixing whatever technical problems arose would be easier. All in all, a lot of great things would happen if the US actually made fixing the voting process a priority.

Voter Supression Tactics

There was a fake email sent to students at George Mason University (which is in Virginia) saying that the election has been postponed until tomorrow.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/1108/A_fake_email_at_George_Mason.html?showall

I'm sure that this is just one of many, but I thought I'd share it.

My Election Predictions

Electoral Votes
Barack Obama - 322
John McCain - 216

What are your predictions?

Murdoch likes Obama

I recently viewed a video on You Tube where Rupert Murdoch, media mogul and owner of FOX News, admits to favoring Obama, and allowing the New York Post to endorse Obama in the New York primary election. I just find this interesting that the man who controls arguably the most biased right-wing news corporation supports Obama for president. What does this say about the hypocritical  elite and the influence they have over voters? I was in Alabama over the weekend, McCain country, and I literally heard a middle aged man trying to persuade his buddy that, "Hell sure, Fox is good. I get all my information there and it hasn't led me wrong yet." I wish I were kidding. You would think that Murdoch, an educated man in his own right, would realize the influence he has on the voting public, and provide them with the opinions reflecting the views of the owner.  

Black Panthers Armed Playing Security at Poll

Two black panthers appeared ate a Pennsylvania poll one armed with a nightstick.  When asked what they were doing there the one with a night stick responded that he was security.  The two members o the black panthers did not stop any one from voting, but several people when asked said that the two men made them feel uncomfortable.  One of the two men was a registered poll watched, but the implications of his Black Panther uniform are obvious.  One of the two supposedly said that he was tired of white supremacy.   When questioned about it the man with out the night stick said that the people of the community wanted to voted in a peaceful place, and that the fox news reporter did not have a right to be there, when in fact the reporter has a legal right to be with in ten feet of the front door of the polling place.  The presence of an armed member of a violent gang at any polling place is entirely inappropriate and terrifying. 

Virginia's Voting Dilemmas

It seems Virginia is having widespread trouble, according to reports from the Election Protection Coalition comprised of over a dozen rights groups. Touch screen machines have been experiencing glitches, and ballot-scanner paper jams are creating problems in Richmond, Alexandria, Newport News, Chesapeake, and Vienna. Additionally, some polling places such as Virginia Beach were not open on time, leaving voters waiting. The weather has also added to voters' frustrations. Apparently touch-screen machines are very sensitive to the water on voters' hands from the rain, causing machines to break down. Water stains on traditional ballots have also rendered these votes illegible. Additionally, some machines couldn't be operated due to failure to supply extension cords to the machines. It seems to me that whoever is in charge of such polling locations should feel embarrassed for not recognizing such fundamental problems. They have had two years to organize the orchestration of election day; how do you not understand how to open your voting place on time, or fail to provide resources to operate the machinery? Even if such a simple problem arises, one should plan to have volunteers take care of these hang-ups. Such lack of organization left some voters in the rain for up to 8 hours. 

But beyond dilemmas at the voting booths, Virginia (along with Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Maryland) has experienced underhanded tactics as well. There are reports of automated phone calls with incorrect voting locations. Hopefully this will not deter too many voters from exercising their basic democratic right. 

Supporters Wait for Obama in Grant Park

Barack Obama announced that he will spend election night at Grant Park in Chicago, IL. When supporters head the news, they literally took captive of the park, as main sidewalks and streets have been fenced off, and police stand guard everywhere. Train stops have even closed, and conductors are even leaving work early. Parking is packed, and even suspicious men in suits with squiggly things in their ears with trained dogs have been seen around. Lines have been forming on the sidewalks sine this morning, and no one will be allowed to enter the park until 8:30 tonight. People have complained of the barricade, but those who are eager to attend want to be a part of this moment of history. These eager supporters eagerly await for Obama's arrival, and hopefully tonight they will be able to celebrate his victory with him. 

Information from this article. 

Hillary Clinton: A Broken Woman

One question that has been on my mind since the Democratic primaries ended is, "How does Hillary Clinton REALLY feel about Obama's presidential bid?" Today I got my answer from CNN Video which had a clip of the Clintons voting in Chappaqua, New York today. Watch here:



To me, Hillary Clinton comes off as dejected and generally depressed that she could not have voted for herself in that booth. Her blatant lack of insincerity while speaking about Barack Obama's presidency could not have been more obvious. The way she comes out of the booth and puts those long pauses in between "Barack Obama!...Next president of the United States...No doubt about it....we're going to have a great election today...." comes off almost as sarcastic. Then she begins the interview by saying, "I am so looking forward to getting to work with President Obama..." putting the stress on the work she is going to do rather then congratulating Obama on his campaign efforts. She comes off as still self-centered and bitter after everything that has happened during the primary season. One can see further through her insincerity they way that her eyes wander during the interview. She generally looks down as if she's embarrassed about the outcome. That is the curse of the politician that belongs to a political party. They must endorse their victor even if they themselves are the loser of the primary.

The McCain campaign has recently used a quote from Hillary Clinton in a robocall used to target people in key states that may have voted for Hillary Clinton in the primaries.

The robocall says,

“I am calling for John McCain and the RNC. Listen to what Hillary Clinton had to say about John McCain and Barack Obama:

‘In the White House there is no time for speeches and on-the-job training. Senator McCain will bring a lifetime of experience to the campaign and Senator Obama will bring a speech that he gave in 2002. I think that is a significant difference.’

This call was paid for by the Republican National Committee at 866-558-5591 and authorized by McCain-Palin 2008.”

(RNC enlists Clinton to attack Obama)

Did Clinton have the urge to pull the Republican lever in the booth? And if she did, did she follow it?

Winograd and Hais would argue that this election will act as pivotal and could possible change America forever. If Obama wins, he strengthens our vague sense of culture by embodying democracy in its truest sense. The unusual experience of having a black president would set a new precedent for future generations, as a national intermediary that extends beyond, and will possibly change the media. Either way, we face some national challenges in the coming years. Gas prices will inevitably go up as we crawl out of the recession, we have a war to finish (quickly), and an entire new generation to provide jobs for. Equality has finally broken through political doors and will hopefully break down many other social, economical, and educational barriers in the future. Our culture will rise from its imperialistic ashes to create a new face for America in equality, consciousness, and progressivism.  

The Harlem Interviews

As a segment in his radio show Howard Stern sent a reporter to Harlem to interview black voters.  Stern’s speculation was that many black citizens are voting for Senator Obama only because he is black.  In order to prove this the interviewer in Harlem found black people who intended on voting for Barack Obama, but would then ask them about the policy that Obama supported they would replace Obama’s policy with John McCain’s and were able to receive responses that, for example, people supported Barack Obama choice of Sarah Pailin as his vice president.  The implication that the interviews gives is that these voters have no idea what any of Obama’s policies are, but are going to vote for him because he is black. 

            To state that these people are voting along “race lines” may or may not be a fallacy, but to say that they are completely ignorant is correct. If Howard stern were to do this gain he would most likely be able to get the same responses from several white people.  Consequently what the Harlem interviews indicate, more than Barack Obama’s favorability generated by his race is, the favorability that his campaign generated with out anyone noticing his policy. The ignorance displayed in these interviews is comparable to the ignorance displayed by voters who favor John McCain based on a belief that the name Barack Hussein Obama is evidence that Senator Obama is an Islamic extremist terrorist.   

Election Controversies and Complications

Turnout for this election is high. Very high. The vast numbers of voters flocking to polling booths has created some glitches as well as controversies. There has been a lawsuit from McCain's campaign filed to extend the deadline 10 days for counting overseas ballots because the ballots were distributed late. This has been a huge issue because it is extremely difficult to quickly transport troops' ballots overseas especially in the heat of conflict in the middle east. 

There have also been charges filed against a man in North Carolina who put anti-Obama stickers on a coffin labeled, Joe the Plumber who died from being "taxed to death." Since this was placed outside of a polling location, I feel that these charges are justified. This was not an example of free speech, it is leaning towards voter intimidation. If one is going to put up such an extreme display, make your statement from your private residence. 

In Indiana, a court decision rejecting many old voter registration forms has been challenged. The old form from 2004 contained a check box confirming that the one registering is over 18 and a United States citizen, while the new one requires a signature to affirm these qualifications. It seems to me that whether you check a box, or put down your signature, both are equally fair ways to assess these qualifications. Since you have to sign the registration form either way, it seems that whether you check a box or directly sign your name to declare citizenship and age requirements, both leave a citizen equally liable for truthfulness. 

Ohio is a hotbed for election controversies, with a case leading up to the Supreme Court. Democrats felt that Republicans were attempting to suppress voter turnout. Republicans defended that they merely wanted to discourage ineligible voters from attempting to abuse the system and vote. 5,000 Democratic lawyers were sent to Florida to monitor voting locations. The AFL-CIO sent over 500 poll monitors to "each of the battleground states of Ohio and Pennsylvania." The Justice Department's Civil Rights Division also sent over 800 observers to Virginia where voters had experienced ballot shortages in the primaries. I think Republicans have been smart to check and double check the registration of such vast amounts of voters in order to keep those who would be Democratically inclined out of the polling booths. However, I think it's sad that clearly eligible voters could be stripped of their voting right from a technicality. 

The Absent Middle Class President

To become President in American politics, one must either come from an over privileged, rich family, or from a family teetering on the almost lowest rung of societal hierarchy. Historically speaking, we have not had a "middle-class" modern president. We either have families like the Kennedy's, the Roosevelt's, or the Bush's, that are super-educated, rich and privileged become presidents and politicians, or we have people that come from rural areas of "small-town America" like Ronald Reagan that rise from the bottom to hold the highest office in the land. In Reagan's case, he came from a rural area of Illinois and was educated at public school and then at Eureka College, as small, not particularly elite school. Juxtapose this with George W. Bush's experience, coming from a political family (his father being president), born in New Haven then lived in Greenwich, being educated at boarding school and then Yale. George Bush comes from the upper-class of society and yet in a way acts as if he came from the rural town of Crawford, Texas. Bush's genius has managed to gain the best of both the upper-class and the lower-class.

Politician's main job while campaigning is to reach out to middle class Americans because thats where the biggest base of voters is located. American complain that the middle class is underrepresented and that the focus of politicians is to cater to the middle class, yet we have yet to see a modern president from such a class. Why is this? Is it because the middle class doesn't generally move up or down in the social hierarchy? Is it because we see middle class Americans as too average? The answer is not obvious. Perhaps the next batch of presidential hopefuls will yield the average, middle class American, that has been absent from these past elections.

Wheaton's Voters

This morning when I was in Chase, I overheard two girls discussing the election, both agreeing not to vote because they were uncertain who to vote for. This really made me wonder how common non-voting was here, and how common it was to be undecided on election day. So, this afternoon, to connect myself to the election, I asked numerous students who they voted for and why. Here were some of the results:

"Obama. I preferred his policies over McCain's policies. I believe the health care system needs to be nationalized, the education system needs to be reformed, and I feel strongly that the middle and lower class should receive substantially lower taxes. Also, I support civil unions and aggressive energy reform." -Michael Oppenheim, Senior

"Obama. I know nothing about anything, and I just decided to put a name down. My parents said I should vote - it didn't matter for who." -Colleen Smith, Freshman

"Obama. I think we need a change in political party because clearly the Republican approach isn't working well. Obama is a much better speaker and that makes me feel much better about him that at least he can talk. His ideas seem like they will be good ideas; whether he will put them in place or not is a different story." -Katie MacDonald, Freshman

"I could not vote because my registration wouldn't go through but I would've voted for McCain. I think Obama is a good guy, but he is unrealistic in his plans for the future. In his speeches he will throw in random things like that every child who does 12 hours of community service will get $500 for education. He seems naive and unrealistic about the war, whereas McCain knows what goes on in war." -Emily Norris, Freshman

"I didn't vote because every vote doesn't count. I felt both were bad candidates." -Colby Jenkins, Junior

"I missed the registration time so I couldn't vote. I would have voted for Obama because among other things, his policies are better and if by any chance Sarah Palin became president...we would all die." -Anonymous, Junior

So, in answer to my questions, it seems registration time windows were the main deterrent to students who didn't vote, and most student I talked to were able to provide substantive warrants behind their vote. Clearly, the students I talked to represented an interesting mix of political sense, opinion, and voting eligibility.  

ITS NOW OR NEVER...THE TIME IS NOW !

Today is the most historic day in history; many voters are hitting the polls in large numbers. We will either have the first African American president or the oldest president and first female vice-president. Many voters feel excited to votes because this is one of the most important elections. The voting turn out is historic because many people of different races and some people who are disabled also took place in today's election. Many voters had to wait on long line due to the long lines to vote. The attendances for this election have been very high, where as in some states like New Hampshire 100% of voters registered all voted. The 2008 presidential election is the most expensive in history. "Obama repeatedly shattered fundraising records by soliciting donations over the Internet. As of Tuesday, Obama had raised more than $639 million, compared with the $360 million raised by McCain." CNN polls shows that Obama has the advantage with the 5% undecided votes and electoral votes.
Obama haven’t lost his lead in the campaign. I think that Obama will win the election because of his advantage and due to his charisma and determination on change. Obama is still receiving support with the amount of money he was able to raise in comparison to McCain. At this point every action that each candidate does seems like a competition. I think it is possible to tell who is really going to win by polls and each candidate status of popularity at this point, which is where I feel Obama has won. It is obvious that he impacted many voters with his speeches as well as with plans that can actually save America from its crisis. Obama campaign on change has given him many supporters. So I personally feel that Obama has the edge and will win the election.

People Lining Up to Vote After A Historical Campaign

Voters have been lining up since before dawn to vote at polling locations. Election officials said this was an unusually large turnout. Mainly on the east coast these long lines are forming, in Virginia, people waiting for over an hour to vote. According to the New York Times, one voter used his 45 minute wait to shave and have a cup of coffee in Manhattan.  Experts also predicted that there would be a record turnout of 130 million voters, which beats the 123.5 million voters that voted for years ago. 

With 27 million people who already voted through absentee ballots, many people find it too ridiculous to vote on the 4th of November. There was a six hour wait in Ohio, "Six Hours is ridiculous in terms of waiting in line," of voter from Ohio stated. Another voter in Florida voter said after waiting in a line for three hours, "I still haven't had a chance to vote, it seems crazy" (The Huffington Post).

In Southern California, people waited under rain, and the line circled for blocks. But to these voters, the patience is worth it. They want to be part of this historical event, and the want to change the future of America is too necessary in voters minds.  Many said that this election felt different, and special. Things have been to bad in America recently that people can't miss out on this opportunity. 

"Bush's presidency sort of coincided with my political awakening," one voter said. "It's been pretty awful and today, this is something to be happy about."

Other voters took their children and grandchildren with them to endure the long wait just so they can witness this historical event. "I want him to understand this is history being made," said a voter about her 5 year old grandson. "It's beautiful."

Another an was so paranoid that his absentee ballot didn't make it through the mail, so he flew home from his job in Virginia to make sure his vote was counted. His wife badly wanted to get her vote in today too, "People have fought me to wait in this line," she said. "I'm voting" (Las Angeles Times).

America has gone through thick and thin to vote today, and it proves how important it is to them to get there vote in for the better of our future. They want to a part of this historical event, and they want their vote to change the future. 

Enough With Ayers Already!

I was reading an article in the New York Times (“The Final Countdown: Obama Casts His Vote,” Jeff Zeleny) which talked about how Obama had voted this morning at 7:36 AM in Chicago.

However, Obama was not the focus of this article. Another voter was: Bill Ayers. Shortly before Obama arrived to vote, Ayers and his wife voted in the same place as Obama (Beulah Shoesmith Elementary School). Although Ayers and Obama were not there simultaneously, reporters somehow felt it was worth mentioning this “truth-is-often-stranger-than-fiction moment in the presidential campaign.” Can we please stop talking about Obama’s alleged ties to terrorism through Bill Ayers? Don’t we have anything better to talk about as Election Day moves forward and more and more people cast their ballots? Unless Obama and Ayers met, spoke in a secret code, and exchanged packages marked “Nuclear Weapons – Handle With Care” I really don’t see the relevance that the two men voted at the same place. On the final day of this long campaign, can’t we put aside the hostile attitudes and attack ads? Election Day should be the day we all come together and vote, regardless of the candidate we support. Besides, talking about Ayers is pretty much beating a dead horse now. I don’t think many people really care about the rumor or consider it accurate anymore.

The article also mentions how Obama is spending the day in Indianapolis to try to convert the Republican-leaning state to a Democratic victory. The article ends on a positive note, with Obama talking about how he had fun on the campaign trail and joking that he was worried about who his wife, Michelle, was going to vote for.

Meet the Future Candidates

As the 2008 presidential election comes to a close, I find myself wondering how Barack Obama's potential presidency will open the doors for minorities in politics who may look to run for president in the future. Particularly, I wonder, "What will the candidates of the 2012 and 2016 elections look like? Will the major party candidates become more diverse or will they return to the stereotypical white, older male candidate? Is this the last we've seen of Sarah Palin on a presidential ticket?
Historically, the major party candidates of the Democratic and Republican parties have failed to produce an Asian-American candidate, a Jewish candidate, a Hispanic candidate, an Atheist candidate, and the list goes on. I believe that the the diversification of candidates will depend on Barack Obama's potential presidential performance in the White House. In this way, Obama will become a symbol for all minorities in politics. If Obama can disprove all the rumors about being a muslim and get rid of his "outsiderness" while in office, it may open the doors for other minorities who may face the same troubles while trying to emerge into the American political system. Barack Obama however is a perfect example of hypodescention, or viewing a person thats mixed race as one race. Americans seem to neglect that Barack Obama is as black as he is white and was raised by his white mother.
The question that remains on my mind though is, "Will Barack Obama's presidency change the world's view of America?" If Obama is elected president, other nations will no longer be able to view us as xenophobic, or bigoted. The stereotype of the American as a southern accented, undereducated, racist person can no longer be held in the global community.

State of Terrorism

A video on YouTube, a debate on Firing Line in the '60's between conservative intellectual Bill Buckley and MIT Linguistics professor and leftist intellectual, Noam Chompsky, gives outdated but relevant opinion on topics of war, terrorism, and US foreign policy.

The video highlights many faults of US diplomacy, and also the political theory that Chomsky and Buckley found their opinions on. This established their critique of the subject correctly, civilly, arguing with words instead of malicious slander. Buckley raises issues of morality in war terms and debates military force as a tool for diplomacy, while Chomsky argues the justification of the Vietnam War that can be used as rational in this generation's War in Iraq. Buckley then reasons that the goal of such military diplomacy is to stabilize a region through force, a method archaic and unnecessary, and also one that will lead to continued hatred towards America's foreign policy. It seems that the only way the political right knows how to fix things is by offensively defending American military hubris with our tax-funded "Defense" Department. Perhaps the opinions of the academic elite of yesteryear can shed some histrical light on today's situation. 

Things that make me nervous

My roommate asked me this morning why I was so nervous. She reasoned that Obama had a clear lead in the polls, and that there was very little for me to be worrying about. I tried to explain her that there was more to it than that.

I’m not just worried about the presidential election. I am worried about congressional elections. I am worried about state and local issues (a special note: I am in particular, worried about Proposition 8. I know it is a controversial issue, and that I do not even live in California, but I still feel a connection to it. The dissolution of equality is a terrible crime. If anyone reading this is a California voter, please vote NO on Proposition 8!). I am concerned about so many things that are beyond my control. I can’t vote for a senator outside of Maine. I cannot vote against things like Proposition 8 that I am deeply opposed to. Even my vote for president is fairly useless, as I live in a state with only 4 electoral votes that is not even close to being a swing state.

Right now, according to Pollster, Obama is in danger of losing Ohio, North Carolina, Virginia and Florida. Maine, the only state I have any influence over, will definitely go to Obama. Most of what I do for the rest of today is useless. Now it’s merely a waiting game. And that’s what worries me.

I am not saying that people shouldn’t vote. I am saying that the system is corrupt, and that it does not give the people a fair chance. I am not even really so much against McCain today as I am against the Electoral College. Whichever way the race goes, there will be unheard voices, and that doesn’t sit right with me.

Record Turnout

Record turnout numbers are expected at today's polls. Obama's carefully constructed political narrative is the reason. His political strategists have constructed his political campaign as a blank slate, allowing many new voters to attach to Obama's image rather than his little known career in the public sector. A new generation is now of voting age and are expected to overwhelmingly support Obama. This expected surge of young voters could cause some trouble, though. Long lines at the polls, registration, and a slew of other potential complications may lead to voter discrepancies or problems. 

Does this mean that Americans are once again interested in politics? You bet. We haven't seen Democratic excitement in an election since 1960, when a stoic and tanned Kennedy was introduced to the public. As beloved and missed as Kennedy is within the left, Obama could replace him in history as the one of the most popular presidents in the last hundred years. Obama has broken barriers and acts as a role ideal role model to many young and black voters. He is the embodiment of the American dream and thats why so many are going to vote with him. His policies are so emphatically supported by Democrats because they search beyond politics to the roots of liberalism: that of helping the underdog, righting social wrongs, and creating strength in America by another means than militarily. An enlightened youth population will most likely remember this election as the one that defined their generation. 

McCain's camp has tried to use this same popularity card with the Palin pick, hoping to draw middle class, middle educated folk who really don't know what they're voting for. The Palin factor could pose a moderate threat to voting tallies, but Obama should have nothing to worry about. Everything I'm reading points that McCain come back from poll numbers to "upset" Obama.