These two pictures are testament to my service hours. I would canvass over the weeks until the week of the election, when all of that work came to wonderful fruition. I was ineligible for the vote, but I still did my part.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
I did my part
These are the two images I took on my Olympus digital camera on the day that the local Democratic campaign headquarters opened in Herndon, Virginia. I was a fine day, and I think I'll always recall it vividly. We all felt a confidence that we could accomplish something through a unified effort, that we could win. And lo and behold, we did.
These two pictures are testament to my service hours. I would canvass over the weeks until the week of the election, when all of that work came to wonderful fruition. I was ineligible for the vote, but I still did my part.
These two pictures are testament to my service hours. I would canvass over the weeks until the week of the election, when all of that work came to wonderful fruition. I was ineligible for the vote, but I still did my part.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Week 6- The Breath Before the Plunge
Tomorrow is what I suppose is one of the most crucial elections in American history. I am nervous at the turnout, for in the end anyone outcome can happen. But now that I am prompted to give a prediction- I do firmly believe that Barack Obama will win the election of 2008. I think the popular vote (as I can best guess) will be around 52-45%, with Obama accumulating 305 electoral votes. Regarding the Senate race I believe that Warner will win (seeing that he is overwhelmingly high in the polls) and the Republican nominee Wolf will win the House vote (seeing that he is also overwhelmingly in the lead).
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Week 5- The States that Swing
Swing states. Clumps of electoral votes that become the most pivotal during an election. It would hardly be expedient for a candidate to focus their efforts on a state that is overwhelmingly in support of their opponent. However, there are those sectors on the American map that seem to have not yet made up their minds- the swing states. A single swing state can help decide, in a tight race, the next President of the United States.
For this particular election, I'd like to discuss two swing states: Florida and our very own state of Virginia. Both are very crucial for Republican nominee John McCain, who according to political analysts needs to win Florida state in order to defeat his opponent, Barack Obama. The interesting thing is that both states have traditionally been considered solid bets for Republican support. Florida was the key state that won George W. Bush the presidency in 2000, and the state of Virginia hasn't voted for the Democratic nominee since 1964. But both are leaning (by a thin margin) towards Obama, which ought to give the McCain campaign plenty to be alarmed about. Neither are sure bets yet, however. Virginia has, after all, been consistently a conservative state and a-last-minute outpour of support could tip the tide in McCain's favor. And Florida is heavily populated with elderly citizens, who tend to also have a more conservative outlook. Despite those considerations, I predict that Obama will by election day win both states simply because he has the advantage of momentum- something that the McCain campaign is sorely in need of at this point. Obama's support seems to only be increasing, and I doubt that he will lose his hold on either state.
For this particular election, I'd like to discuss two swing states: Florida and our very own state of Virginia. Both are very crucial for Republican nominee John McCain, who according to political analysts needs to win Florida state in order to defeat his opponent, Barack Obama. The interesting thing is that both states have traditionally been considered solid bets for Republican support. Florida was the key state that won George W. Bush the presidency in 2000, and the state of Virginia hasn't voted for the Democratic nominee since 1964. But both are leaning (by a thin margin) towards Obama, which ought to give the McCain campaign plenty to be alarmed about. Neither are sure bets yet, however. Virginia has, after all, been consistently a conservative state and a-last-minute outpour of support could tip the tide in McCain's favor. And Florida is heavily populated with elderly citizens, who tend to also have a more conservative outlook. Despite those considerations, I predict that Obama will by election day win both states simply because he has the advantage of momentum- something that the McCain campaign is sorely in need of at this point. Obama's support seems to only be increasing, and I doubt that he will lose his hold on either state.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Week Four- The Polls
As the day of election looms close, the nation's anticipation mounts to an almost insufferable degree. Measuring the mood of potential voters are the polls. They can influence the way campaigns are run and how alliances are placed.
According to the most recent gallup poll, Barack Obama leads McCain by a 9-point lead; 51%-42%. This ought to give the Obama campaign a great deal of confidence.
http://www.gallup.com/poll/election2008.aspx
This poll from Election Tracker reveals that Obama does better in coastal states whereas McCain fares better in Midwestern towns. However, Obama still leads McCain by 9%.
http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/map/polling/index.html
This Rasmussen Reports poll, regarding the Virginia senate election, reveals that Mark Warner leads Gilmore by a whopping 61% to 39%.
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_senate_elections/virginia/election_2008_virginia_senate
I can imagine that polls play a large role in political campaigns. They can indicate which base of voters a candidate ought to reach out to more. They can also help garner momentum, as it seems to do for both Obama and Warner in their respective elections. Polls can also be misleading- people who express their political inclinations online do not fully represent all of the voting public. Excessive polling can make some candidates overly confident, giving their opponent an upsurge in underdog sentiment.
According to the most recent gallup poll, Barack Obama leads McCain by a 9-point lead; 51%-42%. This ought to give the Obama campaign a great deal of confidence.
http://www.gallup.com/poll/election2008.aspx
This poll from Election Tracker reveals that Obama does better in coastal states whereas McCain fares better in Midwestern towns. However, Obama still leads McCain by 9%.
http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/map/polling/index.html
This Rasmussen Reports poll, regarding the Virginia senate election, reveals that Mark Warner leads Gilmore by a whopping 61% to 39%.
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_senate_elections/virginia/election_2008_virginia_senate
I can imagine that polls play a large role in political campaigns. They can indicate which base of voters a candidate ought to reach out to more. They can also help garner momentum, as it seems to do for both Obama and Warner in their respective elections. Polls can also be misleading- people who express their political inclinations online do not fully represent all of the voting public. Excessive polling can make some candidates overly confident, giving their opponent an upsurge in underdog sentiment.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Week Three- A More Intimate Setting
This week we are going to discuss an election that hits a little closer to home- the contention for the position of class II senator after former incumbent John Warner declined to run for office once more. Vying for the position are two former Virginia governors (Republican nominee Jim Gilmore and the man who succeeded him in office, Democratic nominee Mark Warner). Also in the race is Libertarian nominee Bill Redpath & Glenda Gail Parker representing the Green party. Those two nominees, however, have failed to get any notable traction and the race is largely between Gilmore and Warner.
Jim Gilmore held office as Governor of the state of Virginia from 1998-2002; his accomplishments while in office include a car tax reduction, improvements in educational standards, and implementing a law that designated a holiday for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He recently made an unsuccessful bid for Presidential candidacy, which he gave up hopes for on July 14th, 2007.
Mark Warner would succeed Gilmore as governor in 2002. During his term, the Government Performance Project would grade the state of Virginia an A-, making it (along with Utah) the best-run state of the current time. His clout is considered to have aided his successor, Democrat Tim Kaine, in getting elected Governor himself. Warner would rule out running for President of the United States in 2008 and instead focused his attention on the position of Senator. He would, however, deliver the keynote speech at the Democratic Convention in August, supporting presidential nominee Barack Obama.
Energy has been a key factor talked about in the election. Mark Warner has been stressing the necessity of alternative energy resources whereas Jim Gilmore endorses offshore drilling, much like Presidential nominee John McCain.
A recent poll conducted by Rasmussen Reports (taken on September 25th) has revealed that Warner leads Gilmore by a wide margin, his support being 60% while the latter's is 34%. This may not be a tight election at all.
Jim Gilmore held office as Governor of the state of Virginia from 1998-2002; his accomplishments while in office include a car tax reduction, improvements in educational standards, and implementing a law that designated a holiday for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He recently made an unsuccessful bid for Presidential candidacy, which he gave up hopes for on July 14th, 2007.
Mark Warner would succeed Gilmore as governor in 2002. During his term, the Government Performance Project would grade the state of Virginia an A-, making it (along with Utah) the best-run state of the current time. His clout is considered to have aided his successor, Democrat Tim Kaine, in getting elected Governor himself. Warner would rule out running for President of the United States in 2008 and instead focused his attention on the position of Senator. He would, however, deliver the keynote speech at the Democratic Convention in August, supporting presidential nominee Barack Obama.
Energy has been a key factor talked about in the election. Mark Warner has been stressing the necessity of alternative energy resources whereas Jim Gilmore endorses offshore drilling, much like Presidential nominee John McCain.
A recent poll conducted by Rasmussen Reports (taken on September 25th) has revealed that Warner leads Gilmore by a wide margin, his support being 60% while the latter's is 34%. This may not be a tight election at all.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Week Two: Where We Are Now
I feel that there are several key and troubling topics that deserve attention and to be addressed by the next President of the United States. They range from the Iraq War, our dependency on foreign oil, to the how we treat our environment. However, what will be the key issue this year will be the economy. Following this Wall Street-induced panic, many Americans are concerned that they won't be able to pay for their houses in the economic fallout. I believe that the attention on this issue ought to help Democratic nominee Barack Obama, since polls indicate that a majority of voters have more confidence in his economic ability than McCain.
And now I'd like to discuss last Friday's debate between Obama and McCain. To me, it seemed like an even match, both candidates bringing substance and firmness with their stances. I was irked by how McCain seemed to grin at all that Obama said- that and his lack of any eye-contact with the Illinois senator. I enjoyed how the journalist refereeing the debate got the two to talk directly towards each other (some people didn't like how Obama referred to McCain as "John"- I personally loved it). So I suppose that Obama has the edge on this debate, although I'm probably being very biased. I'm looking forward to how Palin fares against Joe Biden tomorrow. That ought to be fascinating.
And to conclude my musings for the evening, I feel that I ought to mention how the electronic media has influenced this media. Well, obviously it's been a tremendous factor- blogs such as mine give the people opportunities to express their opinions and influence others in ways that weren't possible fifteen years ago. I feel that people of my age are more informed on the issues as a result- we get our information at an instant feed and there is an abundance of it online that never seems to diminish.
And now I'd like to discuss last Friday's debate between Obama and McCain. To me, it seemed like an even match, both candidates bringing substance and firmness with their stances. I was irked by how McCain seemed to grin at all that Obama said- that and his lack of any eye-contact with the Illinois senator. I enjoyed how the journalist refereeing the debate got the two to talk directly towards each other (some people didn't like how Obama referred to McCain as "John"- I personally loved it). So I suppose that Obama has the edge on this debate, although I'm probably being very biased. I'm looking forward to how Palin fares against Joe Biden tomorrow. That ought to be fascinating.
And to conclude my musings for the evening, I feel that I ought to mention how the electronic media has influenced this media. Well, obviously it's been a tremendous factor- blogs such as mine give the people opportunities to express their opinions and influence others in ways that weren't possible fifteen years ago. I feel that people of my age are more informed on the issues as a result- we get our information at an instant feed and there is an abundance of it online that never seems to diminish.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Week One: My political preferences
As a embittered ex-supporter of current President George W. Bush, I have during the last four years come to realize that it is flawed to blindly support a politician simply because of your party allegiance- which is mainly determined by your parents' ideology. I used to be a proud Republican, brandishing my party ways without having a solid clue as to what those policies entailed. I've come to realize that my personal views actually don't resemble those of the Republican party's at all. I generally agree with how they approach the running of the country (less federal government influence) but I am in complete disagreement with them on the social issues. Then I realized that I didn't want to declare myself a Democrat because, frankly, I'm not comfortable with allying myself to a party completely simply because I don't agree wholeheartedly with either party: there are pros and cons on both sides of the coin. So I've decided to be an independent and side with the candidate I most agree with; regardless of party.
I cannot vote in this election (I miss the age deadline by two months), but I am an avid supporter of Barack Obama. It is difficult to articulate why I support him; it's an allegiance that runs deeper than just policies. That stance may sound quite shallow, but that's not the case: I agree very much with Barack Obama's ideas. Whether he can deliver is a valid reservation, but the way he has run his campaign (utilizing things like the internet and texts messages to get the people much more involved and invested), his very visible intelligence, worldliness, and his thoughtfulness only instill confidence in me. His experience is not extensive, but hey: some men achieve greatness, but some men are born great. Call it idealism on my part, but after being disillusioned with the American government for eight long years, I find Obama's confidence and sincerity not just refreshing, but galvanizing. I feel that he can restore this country to both the standards and dignity that the Bush administration has severely damaged, and I deeply hope he wins.
Regarding same sex marriage, it's interesting how McCain and Obama are fairly similar in approach. Obama is outspoken in believing that homosexuality is not a choice by a biological orientation and that we ought to regard it as a matter of civil union and not bring religion into the mix. McCain, unlike some Republicans, actually is very tolerant of homosexuals and, while he does believe that marriage ought to be between a man and a woman, he does agree with Obama that the matter of same sex marriages ought to be left up to the states, not the federal government.
Regarding energy, McCain and Obama are surprisingly similar. McCain does acknowledge that the environment is an important issue that needs addressing and believes that offshore drilling in sanctioned parts of the U.S. (namely Alaska) and exploring the potentials of nuclear power will solve much of our energy resource problems. Obama in fact agrees to the offshore drilling and nuclear power, but to a lesser extent, citing that we ought to commit more funding to other energy resources, regarding McCain's policies as putting a band-aid on a broken arm and only helping the issue in the short term.
And that concludes my first entry; stay posted for more of my babble.
I cannot vote in this election (I miss the age deadline by two months), but I am an avid supporter of Barack Obama. It is difficult to articulate why I support him; it's an allegiance that runs deeper than just policies. That stance may sound quite shallow, but that's not the case: I agree very much with Barack Obama's ideas. Whether he can deliver is a valid reservation, but the way he has run his campaign (utilizing things like the internet and texts messages to get the people much more involved and invested), his very visible intelligence, worldliness, and his thoughtfulness only instill confidence in me. His experience is not extensive, but hey: some men achieve greatness, but some men are born great. Call it idealism on my part, but after being disillusioned with the American government for eight long years, I find Obama's confidence and sincerity not just refreshing, but galvanizing. I feel that he can restore this country to both the standards and dignity that the Bush administration has severely damaged, and I deeply hope he wins.
Regarding same sex marriage, it's interesting how McCain and Obama are fairly similar in approach. Obama is outspoken in believing that homosexuality is not a choice by a biological orientation and that we ought to regard it as a matter of civil union and not bring religion into the mix. McCain, unlike some Republicans, actually is very tolerant of homosexuals and, while he does believe that marriage ought to be between a man and a woman, he does agree with Obama that the matter of same sex marriages ought to be left up to the states, not the federal government.
Regarding energy, McCain and Obama are surprisingly similar. McCain does acknowledge that the environment is an important issue that needs addressing and believes that offshore drilling in sanctioned parts of the U.S. (namely Alaska) and exploring the potentials of nuclear power will solve much of our energy resource problems. Obama in fact agrees to the offshore drilling and nuclear power, but to a lesser extent, citing that we ought to commit more funding to other energy resources, regarding McCain's policies as putting a band-aid on a broken arm and only helping the issue in the short term.
And that concludes my first entry; stay posted for more of my babble.
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