Results.

Congratulations Barak Obama, you are the next President of the United States!

Big Day!

Get out and Vote!
Call your Family and Friends and make sure they're voting too!

I'm on my way to my polling place right now, couldn't be more excited.

Happy Election Day!

Track the The Elections

CNN has this tool that lets you track up to 35 elections that are important to you.

Check it out!

Know the OTHER Candidates

Remember that you're not just voting for President this election, there's state senate and and house races on the line too, know your candidates.

Michigan Senate
Michigan's 8th District (MSU's district)
Michigan's 1st District
Michigan's 2nd District
Michigan's 3rd District
Michigan's 4th District
Michigan's 5th District
Michigan's 6th District
Michigan's 7th District
Michigan's 9th District
Michigan's 10th District

Waits at the polls

Hey guys! Don't forget to leave yourself a lot of time this year when you go vote--bring some reading for class or a friend to keep you company! They're adding poll workers and polling places, but if 200 people show up at the same place at the same time, there'll be a wait. They say the best time to vote is between 9am and 4pm, but don't worry, if you're in line by 8PM, they have to let you vote! (article) 

Compare the candidates!

Here is a link where you can compare the candidates side by side! You can also put in your street address to get your local candidates, I know I didn't follow the local elections as much as I should've. 

The Candidates on Abortion

Here's a little recap brought to you by OnTheIssues

McCain Fact list/Quotes on Abortion:

• I've never imposed a litmus test on Supreme Court nominees. (Oct 2008)
• Obama voted no on partial-birth ban & born-alive treatment. (Oct 2008)
• Pro-life and an advocate for the Rights of Man everywhere. (Feb 2008)
• GovWatch: 1999: Don't force women to have illegal operations. (Feb 2008)
• Abortion issue shows what kind of country we are. (Aug 2007)
• Concerned if women undergo illegal dangerous operations. (May 2007)
• Supports federal funding of embryonic stem cell research. (May 2007)
• Prosecute abortion doctors, not women who get them. (Jan 2000)
• “Family Conference” if daughter wanted an abortion. (Jan 2000)
• Abortion OK if raped; and no testing for rape. (Jan 2000)
• Supports fetal tissue research; against over-intensity. (Jan 2000)
• Overturn Roe v. Wade, but keep incest & rape exceptions. (Jan 2000)
• Support adoption & foster care; work together on abortion. (Oct 1999)
• Wants Roe vs. Wade made irrelevant, but would not repeal it. (Aug 1999)
• Opposes partial-birth abortions & public financing. (Aug 1999)
• Nominate justices based on experience, and values. (Jun 1999)
• Restrict abortions; no partial-birth; no public funding. (Jul 1998)

John McCain Voting Record on Abortion:

• Supports repealing Roe v. Wade. (May 2007)
• Voted YES on defining unborn child as eligible for SCHIP. (Mar 2008)
• Voted YES on barring HHS grants to organizations that perform abortions. (Oct 2007)
• Voted YES on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines. (Apr 2007)
• Voted YES on notifying parents of minors who get out-of-state abortions. (Jul 2006)
• Voted NO on $100M to reduce teen pregnancy by education & contraceptives. (Mar 2005)
• Voted YES on criminal penalty for harming unborn fetus during other crime. (Mar 2004)
• Voted YES on banning partial birth abortions except for maternal life. (Mar 2003)
• Voted YES on maintaining ban on Military Base Abortions. (Jun 2000)
• Voted YES on banning partial birth abortions. (Oct 1999)
• Voted YES on banning human cloning. (Feb 1998)
• Rated 0% by NARAL, indicating a pro-life voting record. (Dec 2003)
• Expand embryonic stem cell research. (Jun 2004)
• Rated 75% by the NRLC, indicating a mixed record on abortion. (Dec 2006)
• Prohibit transporting minors across state lines for abortion. (Jan 2008)

Link Here

Obama Fact List/Quotes on Abortion:

• No litmus test; nominate to Court based on their fairness. (Oct 2008)
• 1990: Wrote law article that that fetus cannot sue mother. (Aug 2008)
• FactCheck: Abortions HAVE gone down under Pres. Bush. (Aug 2008)
• Ok for state to restrict late-term partial birth abortion. (Apr 2008)
• We can find common ground between pro-choice and pro-life. (Apr 2008)
• Undecided on whether life begins at conception. (Apr 2008)
• Teach teens about abstinence and also about contraception. (Apr 2008)
• GovWatch: Obama's "present" votes were a requested strategy. (Feb 2008)
• Expand access to contraception; reduce unintended pregnancy. (Feb 2008)
• Rated 100% by NARAL on pro-choice votes in 2005, 2006 & 2007. (Jan 2008)
• Voted against banning partial birth abortion. (Oct 2007)
• Stem cells hold promise to cure 70 major diseases. (Aug 2007)
• Trust women to make own decisions on partial-birth abortion. (Apr 2007)
• Extend presumption of good faith to abortion protesters. (Oct 2006)
• Constitution is a living document; no strict constructionism. (Oct 2006)
• Moral accusations from pro-lifers are counterproductive. (Oct 2004)
• Pass the Stem Cell Research Bill. (Jun 2004)
• Protect a woman's right to choose. (May 2004)

Obama Voting Record on Abortion:

• Opposed born-alive treatment law because it was already law. (Oct 2008)
• Supports Roe v. Wade. (Jul 1998)
• Voted NO on defining unborn child as eligible for SCHIP. (Mar 2008)
• Voted NO on prohibiting minors crossing state lines for abortion. (Mar 2008)
• Voted YES on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines. (Apr 2007)
• Voted NO on notifying parents of minors who get out-of-state abortions. (Jul 2006)
• Voted YES on $100M to reduce teen pregnancy by education & contraceptives. (Mar 2005)
• Sponsored bill providing contraceptives for low-income women. (May 2006)
• Rated 0% by the NRLC, indicating a pro-choice stance. (Dec 2006)
• Ensure access to and funding for contraception. (Feb 2007)

Link Here

Almost time!

We're almost there kids!

MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHERE YOUR POLLING PLACE IS!
check here


Remember to bring an ID if you can.

ALSO: You will not be allowed to vote if you are wearing any campaign material! No buttons, shirts etc, so leave it at home.

We'll do our best to get you more posts before tomorrow so that you can be as informed as possible!

CALL YOUR FAMILY, CALL YOUR FRIENDS.
Harass them into voting tomorrow, this is important.

YOU CAN VOTE HOWEVER YOU LIKE

I'm in love with these kids.

Presidential Health Care Plans

Hey everyone! Here is a fairly extensive look at the candidates' health care plans, side by side, issue by issue. While this was posted on Huffington post, a liberal leaning website, the authors intended it to be merely a reference, not to persuade voters one way or another. The citations are labeled and easily available at the end of the pdf. 

5 Friends, VOTE!

A GOTV commercial with Spielberg, Niel Patrick Harris, Will Smith, Cameron Diaz, Julia Roberts etc etc etc.

Good. Funny. (Uncensored).

Hey Everyone!

When it comes to how the candidate actually wins the election it can get a little confusing due to our system of the Electoral College. Visit this site below and it will help you better understand it and hopefully show you that your vote DOES count!

http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/thepoliticalsystem/a/electcollege.htm

Hello, IT.

Hey for those of you concerned with the Presidential Candidate's history with technology here's some info brought to you by issues2000.org

Obama:

• Google for Government was a bipartisan initiative. (Sep 2008)
• Double basic research funding; make the R&D tax permanent. (Jun 2008)
• National Infrastructure Reinvestment Bank: $60B in 10 years. (Jun 2008)
• Incentives for next-generation broadband in every community. (Feb 2008)
• Increase funding for math and science research & education. (Oct 2007)
• Airlines got into trouble after deregulation. (Oct 2007)
• Organizes campaign events via MySpace.com and FaceBook.com. (Oct 2007)
• JFK inspired with space program; now same with energy R&D. (Sep 2007)
• Increase funding for basic research; expand broadband access. (Aug 2007)
• As Senate freshman spoke out on Katrina ramifications. (Aug 2007)
• Broadband in heart of inner cities and rural towns. (Feb 2007)
• $42B more in university-based R&D. (Oct 2006)
• Invest on transportation and clean coal technology projects. (Oct 2004)
• Voted NO on restoring $550M in funding for Amtrak for 2007. (Mar 2006)
• Close digital divide with high-tech training. (Jan 2001)
• Ensure net neutrality: no corporate-tiered Internet. (Jan 2007)
• Create online database of science & math scholarships. (Dec 2007)
• Website for competitive federal awards. (Jun 2008)
• Overturn FCC approval of media consolidation. (Mar 2008)

McCain:

• Ban Internet taxes & new cell phone taxes. (Feb 2008)
• Don't police Internet crime; go after money to reduce crime. (Oct 2007)
• Veto pork barrel; focus transportation spending on repairs. (Aug 2007)
• Special interest influence corruptly took HDTV frequencies. (May 2007)
• FactCheck: Special interests only delayed HDTV transfer. (May 2007)
• Provide unused spectrum to emergency officials. (Mar 2007)
• 1996 Telecomm Bill: public interest was not at the table. (May 2002)
• Uses Internet to read news & to get donations. (Mar 2000)
• Digital Divide requires tax credits for equipment & teachers. (Jan 2000)
• Internet tax ban saved consumers $600M this Xmas. (Jan 2000)
• Free TV & radio to candidates as a public interest. (Dec 1999)
• Make Internet tax moratorium permanent. (Dec 1999)
• Encourage teachers to learn high tech. (Oct 1999)
• Technology can hasten end of haves vs. have-nots. (Sep 1999)
• Get more government documents on-line. (Aug 1999)
• Telecommuncations Act was an influence-peddling scheme. (Jul 1999)
• Internet access, with filters, at every school & library. (Jun 1999)
• No government control over computer encryption. (Apr 1999)
• Voted NO on restoring $550M in funding for Amtrak for 2007. (Mar 2006)
• Voted NO on disallowing FCC approval of larger media conglomerates. (Sep 2003)
• Voted YES on Internet sales tax moratorium. (Oct 1998)
• Voted NO on telecomm deregulation. (Feb 1996)
• Sponsored bill requiring text on TV for visually-impaired. (Apr 2005)
• Permanent ban on state & local taxation of Internet access. (Oct 2007)
• Website for competitive federal awards. (Jun 2008)

Registered?

Got my voter registration card today!
Super Excited!

Check to make sure you're registered here!

Proposal 1 & 2

For information on Proposal 1: Medical Marijuana, and Proposal 2: Stem-cell research, visit this link.

Quizzes

Take this quiz! They are fun and if you are feeling a little misinformed..this will give you a little boost.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/candidate-match-game.htm

Voting and The Government

When it comes to voting and understanding the government, this site has it all. Please check it out if you are interested in any of the following:
*Contacting Elected Officials
*Figuring out how to register to vote
*Learning more about the Federal, State or Local Governments
*Grants
*Jobs
*Money and Taxes
*Education
etc.
To learn about what is going on in Congress, go to "Federal Government" (located on the left). This will take you to a page that allows you to click on the Senate or the House. From here, a lot is reported about current issues running through Congress.

CATA Bus Proposal

This election there is a proposal on the ballot regarding the CATA Bus system that would effect residents in East Lansing, Lansing, Holt, Delhi Township and Meridian Township.

Here are some facts:

• CATA is the only mass transit system in the area, serving a population of around 277,000 people.
• Currently, CATA receives 47% of their funding from local funds, 33% of their funding from the state of Michigan, and 20% of their funding from bus fares.
• Despite the increase in fares since April 2008 (10 cents for students, 25 cents for others), it is not enough to cover the rising gas prices and increase usage.
  
• For each dollar added to the price of gas the gost of operation increases 1 million dollars per year.
• The proposal would be for an increase in property tax to help fund the bus system. Owners of a home worth $100,000 would be paying $39.95 more a year.
• If the proposal does not pass routes will end earlier in the day or be completely eliminated.

CATA is a system that effects a wide population covering several demographics. Keep yourself informed on this issue.

sarah

You Vote Issue Page for CATA Proposal

Important Dates for Voting in the 2008 Elections

Thought it would be helpful to post some important dates for the elections.

• November 1, 2008 - Absentee Ballot Request Forms must be received by 2pm.
• November 3, 2008 - Last day to vote Absentee Ballot in person by 4pm.
• November 4, 2008 - ELECTION DAY! Polls Open from 7am-8pm.

VOTE!

sarah