THE DECIDING VOTE: YOUNG VOTERS IN THE 2008 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION (SNIPPET)

Presidential Debate #1: And The Winner Is...McCain.

According to Senator Obama, "You cannot be a 21st-century superpower and act like a 20th-century dictatorship" in his analysis of McCain. This was the most compelling statement from Obama all night. Other than that, McCain clearly outshined the younger, inexperienced Obama.

Here are some footnotes from the debate:

1. McCain dictated the pace of the debate. Obama was not sharp; could not intuitively put arguments together; debating is quite different from giving a speech.

2. Obama did not over-state the relationship between McCain and the Bush Adminstration. This should have been a focal point. He did not take advantage of the discussion on fiscal spending, cutting social programs (i.e., education), and the continued funding of Iraq and its impact on other programs.

3. McCain played on the psyche of the American electorate; painted Obama as inexperienced and unknowledgable about certain issues (i.e., foreign policy). He stated several times, "Senator Obama doesn't understand", "Senator Obama doesn't know what it means...". This was a major theme in the debate.

4. McCain clearly showed his experience on foreign relations. He was more thorough in his analysis and direction of the war; alliances with other countries. At one point, Obama made a clear reference to his inexperience by stating that is why he chose Joe Biden as his running mate.

BLOG: CAN OBAMA CHANGE THE IMAGE OF BLACK MEN? ---WILLIAM HOSTON

Are Poor Women For Sale?

'Our Entire Economy Is In Danger,' Bush Warns.

President Bush, saying "our entire economy is in danger," urged Congress to approve his administration's $700 billion bailout proposal.

"We're in the midst of a serious financial crisis, and the federal government is responding with decisive actions," Bush said in a televised address Wednesday night from the White House.
Bush pointed out that the collapse of several major lenders was rooted in the subprime mortgage market that thrived over the past decade.

He said passage of the $700 billion bailout proposal was needed to restore confidence in the market.

"I'm a strong believer in free enterprise, so my natural instinct is to oppose government intervention," he said. But "these are not normal circumstances. The market is not functioning properly. There has been a widespread loss of confidence.

"Without immediate action by Congress, America can slip into a major panic."

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/24/bush.bailout/index.html

Does Hillary Still Want Barack To Win?!?!?!?!?

Does Hillary Still Want Barack To Win?!?!?!?!? Since speaking at the Democratic National Convention (DNC), Senator Hillary Clinton has been quiet on the campaign trail. With the addition of Gov. Sarah Palin to the McCain ticket, which energized the Republican party and cast a shadow over Obama's decision to choose Biden instead of her, Clinton has not been fervent in her support of Obama. With less than six weeks left before the Nov. 4th Presidential Election, should Clinton make a strong push in her support of Obama?

Presidential Ads on the Economy

AN ANALYSIS OF TODD TIAHRT vs. DONALD BETTS JR (4th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT): KANSAS POLITICS: (NPR Broadcast)

And They Say Racism Doesn't Still Exist...

On Sept. 13, 2008, while fixing a salad at a local grocery story in Wichita, Kansas. The elderly lady in front of me, observed my presence behind her, and began clutching her purse repeatedly.

PRESIDENTIAL ANALYSIS: PART 1 (NPR Broadcast)

Are Gay Black Men Damaging the Community?

Young black gay men, black women and white gay men in their 30s and 40s are much more likely to be newly infected with HIV than other groups in the United States, according to a new analysis from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Aggregate data from 2006 shows that 53 percent of the estimated 56,000 cases of new HIV infection in 2006 were among gay and bisexual men, and 46 percent of the infections occurred among blacks. Within the gay and bisexual group, young black men (13 to 29 years old ) were roughly twice as likely to get infected as young white and young Hispanic men. And among women, black women were almost 15 times more likely to get HIV than white women and almost four times more likely than Hispanic.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/conditions/09/12/hiv.blacks.gays/index.html

Senator McCain's Full Speech

Gov. Palin's Full Speech

OBAMA'S CANDIDACY IS FULFILLING KING'S DREAM ---WILLIAM HOSTON

Forty-five years to the date of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.' s "I Have a Dream" speech, Democratic nominee Barack Obama delivered an acceptance speech for the ages. It was a speech that would have made King proud.

By no means did Obama's speech compare to King's in terms of the social and political impact on greater America, but the speech was paramount in realizing the dream that was born out of King's momentous speech.

The context of the Obama speech was workmanlike rather than inspirational (but it did inspire). It covered the gambit of policy issues. And the main punch line was that John McCain equals more of the same.

But as important as the speech, it was the date itself that was significant -- Aug. 28. For those who believe in fate, destiny appears to be rearing its head. Obama's acceptance speech marks the first time in history that an African-American has led a major party.

This feat is embodied in the "I Have a Dream" speech. King stated, "Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood."

King's fight against racial injustice and lifelong dedication to promote social and political equality has taken some time to accomplish (and is still a work in progress). But many Americans now believe Obama can be that unifier.

Obama's plight is storybook, emerging from both the roots of Kansas and Kenya, which are worlds apart. But notwithstanding his racial and ethnic background, Obama appears to be poised to lead the United States in a direction it has never gone and that is to "not be judged by the color of (his) skin but by the content of (his) character."

Obama has the capacity to make the dream a reality. In his acceptance speech, he stated, "I will restore our moral standing so that America is once again that last, best hope for all who are called to the cause of freedom, who long for lives of peace, and who yearn for a better future." These are the kinds of words that have truly inspired some, while others have dismissed them as mere rhetoric.

In King's last speech before his death, he professed, "I've been to the mountaintop.... And I've looked over. And I've seen the promised land." The election of Obama to the White House would be a promise fulfilled, not only for black America, but also for America as a whole. It is as important for America to elect Obama as it is for Obama to be resilient, steadfast and make the sacrifice to be elected. The time is now to finish the civil rights movement spearheaded by King and other pioneers.

William T. Hoston is an assistant professor of political science at Wichita State University.

Did Palin Capture the Attention of America?

Stupidity At Its Finest...

Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick pleaded guilty on September 4, 2008 to charges resulting from a sex scandal and has decided to resign from office. Kilpatrick will go to jail on October 28, the day of his sentencing, and serve 120 days.

The mayor pleaded guilty in Wayne County Circuit Court to two counts of obstruction of justice. "I lied under oath in the case of Gary Brown and Harold Nelthrope versus the city of Detroit," Kilpatrick said, reading from his prepared statement.

Did Kilpatrick believe he was above the law?

Sen. Joe Lieberman Asking Voters to Cross Party Lines

Does Senator McCain Want the Bush Endorsement?