President elect Barack Obama. Sounds so sweet...
Better get with the parties! Harlem? Kenya? Philidelphia? Seattle?
Pick a party and get with it!
Showing posts with label presidential. Show all posts
Showing posts with label presidential. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
The polls are open...
Okay, they're not really open up here for another six hours. But my election day insomnia has kept me awake long enough to watch the polls open in ten states, including a bunch of battleground states. By the way, if you are in one of those states and you waited in one of those horrendously long lines, the next time you make it to Alaska, I would like to buy you a drink!
I don't understand why there are still undecideds, but there seem to be. So I will both cast my (public) vote, and make a last ditch effort for both Alaskans and non-Alaskans alike.
President:
Barack Obama
For me personally, his Native American plans are pretty key, but if you're really wondeirng where he wants to take the country, his website is a big help. Early childhood education, the war in Iraq, health care and the environment - there are many, many issues that I agree with Obama about. I've previously covered some endorsements by major Native American leaders and organizations, and it really is because they see their future as best in the hands of Obama.
Senator:
Mark Begich
Much has been made of this election, as one of the senate seats that could very well switch parties. But outside of paty politics, I wish people could really take a look at Anchorage before Mark, and Anchorage after. It wasn't a cesspool before, so I think people don't get the contrast as much. But we're much improved, we have so much development, yet unprecedented measures taken for the environment. My household is now able to do curbside recycling! Add to this a great candidate to advocate for Native issues, education and early childhood plans that make sense, and finally someone who is looking at the social problems as problems to fix.
Congressman:
Ethan Berkowitz
To this, I hope I do not do a disservice to Berkowitz in acknowledging I don't know much about him except for his stated issues, and a few public appearances. I agree with most of the stands he takes on the issues, but hope to see him take some strong stands, and get work done, in the future for Rural Alaska and Alaska Native people, energy (not just oil, but real energy reform) and education. Everything I've seen points to a smart, energized candidate, and that is enough for me to give him a chance for the the next few years.
Now if you haven't voted yet - stop reading. Go vote.
I don't understand why there are still undecideds, but there seem to be. So I will both cast my (public) vote, and make a last ditch effort for both Alaskans and non-Alaskans alike.
President:
Barack Obama
For me personally, his Native American plans are pretty key, but if you're really wondeirng where he wants to take the country, his website is a big help. Early childhood education, the war in Iraq, health care and the environment - there are many, many issues that I agree with Obama about. I've previously covered some endorsements by major Native American leaders and organizations, and it really is because they see their future as best in the hands of Obama.
Senator:
Mark Begich
Much has been made of this election, as one of the senate seats that could very well switch parties. But outside of paty politics, I wish people could really take a look at Anchorage before Mark, and Anchorage after. It wasn't a cesspool before, so I think people don't get the contrast as much. But we're much improved, we have so much development, yet unprecedented measures taken for the environment. My household is now able to do curbside recycling! Add to this a great candidate to advocate for Native issues, education and early childhood plans that make sense, and finally someone who is looking at the social problems as problems to fix.
Congressman:
Ethan Berkowitz
To this, I hope I do not do a disservice to Berkowitz in acknowledging I don't know much about him except for his stated issues, and a few public appearances. I agree with most of the stands he takes on the issues, but hope to see him take some strong stands, and get work done, in the future for Rural Alaska and Alaska Native people, energy (not just oil, but real energy reform) and education. Everything I've seen points to a smart, energized candidate, and that is enough for me to give him a chance for the the next few years.
Now if you haven't voted yet - stop reading. Go vote.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
And the winner of the debate is...
Bob Schieffer!
Yes, I think the real winner here was the moderator. Someone finally got the candidates to talk about some of the issues going on and on in the media. They may not be "issue" issues, but I've certainly met more voters talking about Ayers and the VP's attacks than the candidate's health care plans. Maybe a sad commentary on American politics (I'm not totally sure of that) but I do believe most of the people who would be swayed by "real issues" have been swayed.
Meaning that anyone who is concerned enough about health care to vote based on the candidate's stand on it has gone to the trouble of looking it up. Anyone concerned enough by what the candidate's are going to do for education has looked it up. The people who are going to be swayed now are going to be swayed by "non-issue" issues, issues of character and personality, who can keep their cool, who comes off like a jerk or a hero.
A real good example of this is the economy. When the economic apocalypse started, neither candidate was actually saying exactly what they would do. But a combination of knowing Obama's stand anyways (and McCain's stand on deregulation,) as well as the bizarre behavior of John McCain made so many wavering voters run towards Obama.
The previous three debates (including the one between the VP's) had moderators who seemed so concerned about sticking to "serious" topics. I honestly do believe voters have all those serious topics covered now - if they really do care about them.
When you see interviews of undecideds, they are "unsure" about McCain or "don't know if they can trust" Obama. Although the news focus groups interview voters before, and they all talk about wanting to hear more about this issue or that, afterward, you can tell they already know what they stand for. They liked McCain talking about this issue, "but we know how he stands on that, and he wasn't credible."
Because of this, the moderator wins for getting the candidates to talk about attacks in the campaigns, their vice presidents (despite what history has told us, VP's ARE making a difference in this campaign,) and even Roe. v. Wade/ supreme court justices.
I don't mean to say he dumbed down the debate - there was plenty of policy stuff there. But the previous debates have been exercises in how to get the candidates to speak their issue statements out loud.
Some of the credit for making this more of a real back and forth had to go to John McCain - he was out for blood tonight! He didn't get any, but the effort was noticeable and made the debate interesting. I will say, that bit about, "I'm not George Bush" was pretty good. He must have wanted to say that for a while, and it barely came off as pre-prepared.
It would have worked even better had he been directly responding to something Obama had said, instead of "you know that thing you said back there, here's what I got to that." Obama was bound to bring it up again. Clinton was way better at getting the timing for snappy comebacks down.
In any case, I'm glad the debates are over. I don't know that the last one made any difference, except to solidify the character and temperament of the candidates though. I think one moderator had it right, with a description of, first a strong McCain, then slipping into "Cranky McNasty."
So, final score, unruffled, kinda boring guy beats erratic Cranky McNasty... again, but Schieffer steals the win by getting them to talk about what voters are talking about.
Though Joe the Plumber gets an honorable mention.
Yes, I think the real winner here was the moderator. Someone finally got the candidates to talk about some of the issues going on and on in the media. They may not be "issue" issues, but I've certainly met more voters talking about Ayers and the VP's attacks than the candidate's health care plans. Maybe a sad commentary on American politics (I'm not totally sure of that) but I do believe most of the people who would be swayed by "real issues" have been swayed.
Meaning that anyone who is concerned enough about health care to vote based on the candidate's stand on it has gone to the trouble of looking it up. Anyone concerned enough by what the candidate's are going to do for education has looked it up. The people who are going to be swayed now are going to be swayed by "non-issue" issues, issues of character and personality, who can keep their cool, who comes off like a jerk or a hero.
A real good example of this is the economy. When the economic apocalypse started, neither candidate was actually saying exactly what they would do. But a combination of knowing Obama's stand anyways (and McCain's stand on deregulation,) as well as the bizarre behavior of John McCain made so many wavering voters run towards Obama.
The previous three debates (including the one between the VP's) had moderators who seemed so concerned about sticking to "serious" topics. I honestly do believe voters have all those serious topics covered now - if they really do care about them.
When you see interviews of undecideds, they are "unsure" about McCain or "don't know if they can trust" Obama. Although the news focus groups interview voters before, and they all talk about wanting to hear more about this issue or that, afterward, you can tell they already know what they stand for. They liked McCain talking about this issue, "but we know how he stands on that, and he wasn't credible."
Because of this, the moderator wins for getting the candidates to talk about attacks in the campaigns, their vice presidents (despite what history has told us, VP's ARE making a difference in this campaign,) and even Roe. v. Wade/ supreme court justices.
I don't mean to say he dumbed down the debate - there was plenty of policy stuff there. But the previous debates have been exercises in how to get the candidates to speak their issue statements out loud.
Some of the credit for making this more of a real back and forth had to go to John McCain - he was out for blood tonight! He didn't get any, but the effort was noticeable and made the debate interesting. I will say, that bit about, "I'm not George Bush" was pretty good. He must have wanted to say that for a while, and it barely came off as pre-prepared.
It would have worked even better had he been directly responding to something Obama had said, instead of "you know that thing you said back there, here's what I got to that." Obama was bound to bring it up again. Clinton was way better at getting the timing for snappy comebacks down.
In any case, I'm glad the debates are over. I don't know that the last one made any difference, except to solidify the character and temperament of the candidates though. I think one moderator had it right, with a description of, first a strong McCain, then slipping into "Cranky McNasty."
So, final score, unruffled, kinda boring guy beats erratic Cranky McNasty... again, but Schieffer steals the win by getting them to talk about what voters are talking about.
Though Joe the Plumber gets an honorable mention.
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