I found this cute, fun, simple quiz by a non-partisan website. It was created by young voters to focus on the issues. It over oversimplifies sometimes, and in doing so can be a bit inaccurate, but it will give you a general idea. It's a good tool for comparing candidates. Have fun. ;o)
Click her for Quiz - votegopher.com
Related Posts: Politics - Just the facts ma'am?...What's the Truth?
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On Saturday Night Live first skit - Tina Fey as Sarah Palin & Amy Poehler as Hillary Clinton address the nation. It's a riot! It was the only great skit. Usually SNL Season Premiers are great, this one was disappointing. Senator Obama canceled because of hurricane Ike, also disappointing. This video priceless!
SNL - Palin / Hillary Open
Yeah, I'm trying to lighten up. ;o)
"Here's the amazing part: back in 1984, Sarah Palin actually came second in the Miss Alaska beauty pageant. Now she could be vice president. You know what that means? For the first time in history, a beauty pageant contestant might actually bring about world peace. They've talked about it for years; here's one that could do it!" --Jay Leno
"And the big guns are out. The Democrats have sent Hillary to Florida to go after Sarah Palin. So, that makes two Clintons trying to nail her now." --Jay Leno
"Today President Bush called Gov. Palin and congratulated her. Bush told Palin the job of vice president is very important because as vice president, you get to tell the president what to do." –Jay Leno
"But the greatest insult was yet to come. Republicans — those anti-woman, patriarchal Neanderthalian gun-clingers — nominated a woman whom Democrats would call a "Stepford wife," except she'd beat them to a bloody pulp with a moose antler."
"It's true, John McCain's running mate, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, has revealed that her 17-year-old daughter is pregnant. Palin said, 'We should never have introduced her to John Edwards.'" --Conan O'Brien
"Let me ask you a question: is it just me, or does Sarah Palin look like a model for LensCrafters?" --David Letterman
Sources
About.com:PoliticalHumor
USA TODAY: Opinion Feminist template obliterated
The owner of this blog is a bipartisan offender.
In my recent post titled "Obama, McCain, Palin, Biden - What's the Truth?" I talked about propaganda, spin, half truths, exaggerations, and sometimes outright lies in Politics. In a time of political speeches and debates, how do we judge what the truth is? In particular, I felt confused about senator McCain's V.P. pick Sarah Palin. Since she is relatively unknown the media has wiped themselves in a frenzy trying to be the first to get information out about her, and in doing so sometimes become careless in fact checking. Originally I gave you one tool to use fact checks which has a reputation of being very reliable. Since then I have found several others. Hopefully these tools will help us to see the facts.
Here is a list of my favorite fact checking tools. Some of these websites list other fact checking sites. If you have a favorite fact checker website please feel free to leave a comment about it.
Fact Check
PolitiFact
The Fact Checker - The Washington Post
Snopes
On The Issues I don't think this site qualifies as a fact checker, but it provides "non-partisan information for voters in the Presidential election."
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I've been reading a few blogs recently that are noticeably slanted in their opinions concerning candidate/s during this election. They are full of propaganda that they have heard, accepted, and are just passing on. Remember that in elections and in war there is propaganda, spin, half truths, exaggerations, sometimes outright lies. Yes in BOTH parties, as well as BOTH sides of a war.
So during conventions, and political coverage with all the speeches, remember that even your guy (or gal) will probably say things that are propaganda. Also we are hearing some bashing by the media of the new V.P. pick Sarah Palin. Some of which is slanted, and some even sounds gender prejudice. So before you get on the bandwagon remember to do your homework, check the facts at FactCheck.org. Fact Check is a "nonpartisan, nonprofit, "consumer advocate" for voters that aims to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics."
I want to stress that before entering into war a government uses propaganda trying to get the people on their side. It is more difficult for a government to wage war if the people aren't with them. "Naturally the common people don't want war: Neither in Russia, nor in England, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. ... Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country." — General Herman Goering, President of German Reichstag and Nazi Party, Commander of Luftwaffe during World War II, April 18, 1946."
Of course propaganda can be used during a war by both sides. This is a WWII propaganda poster made by the allies to warn U.S. workers. "Allied propaganda typically portrayed the Japanese as nearsighted, bucktoothed caricatures or as monkeys, alternating between a subject of ridicule and an object of fear."
I found a good website that has a section about war time propaganda and the Media, it's call Global Issues.
So folks remember that propaganda abounds during election time and war time. Propaganda will be on both sides and it is upon our shoulders to discern correctly.
Good website to use..
Fact Checks
On The Issues
PolitiFact
Fact Checker Washington Post
Vote Gopher
Snopes
Global Issues Good for War Time
Related Posts -
Politics - Just the facts ma'am! ...What's the Truth?
Quiz - Who do you prefer? - McCain or Obama
Update: I added more factcheckers later.
Photo credit and here
John McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, has just picked a woman to be his running mate for Vice President!!! McCain's pick is Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. McCain just made it more difficult for Obama to win. Some Democrats who voted for Hillary, and felt slighted by Obama having chosen a man, might defect to McCain.
After a wonderful Democratic Convention it seemed like Barack Obama might be unstoppable. But McCain's pick has just made life more difficult for Senator Obama.
History was made when Sen. Obama officially became the first African American presidential nominee. History will be made again due to McCain's choice. As a women I am elated. No matter who wins, a female will become a Vice Presidential nominee. Personally I would love to see a female V.P., but not at the expense of the country. Not for 4 more years of Bush like policies. Not for a prolonged war in Iraq. Not for more bloodshed. It's to high of a cost. I will still vote for Obama.
McCain has just rocked the boat! NOW we have a real race folks. Finally McCain can say that he is the candidate of change with some credibility.
CORRECTION - Gov. Palin is the second female vice presidential candidate on a major party ticket, and a first for the GOP. The first female vice presidential candidate was Geraldine Ferraro. Silly me! I remember her. Still, this is major news!
If your wondering who the heck is Gov. Sarah Palin click here for wikipedia and a news article profile.
JibJab - Time for Some Campaignin'
(It's very funny, only about 2 minutes long.)
California gay weddings start today. Hallelujah! Here are some snippiest from various newspapers about it. At the end is a YouTube video from the Ellen Degeneres Show where she interviews John McCain about same-sex marriage. I think that she did a wonderful job. It's only 3 minutes long, and well worth seeing.
California wedding one more step on long road -
This evening, some county clerks in California will stay open late to start issuing marriage licenses and officiating the exchange of vows for gay and lesbian couples - the first of thousands of same-sex marriages expected in the coming days.
It's a bold step that has been hailed by many gay-rights advocates as a significant milestone while being attacked by opponents as an unmistakable sign of societal decay.
As of Friday evening, 646 same-sex couples had booked appointments to get marriage licenses at San Francisco City Hall over the next 10 days... But the latest wave of same-sex marriages may be short-lived. The court's ruling could be undone when California voters are asked on Nov. 4 to decide an initiative sponsored by conservative religious and legal organizations...
Calif. same-sex weddings will affect other states -
New Yorkers heading west for weddings have a big advantage over most other non-California same-sex couples. New York Gov. David Paterson has stipulated that state law requires recognition of legal marriages performed elsewhere, including same-sex unions.
Most other states have statutes or constitutional amendments specifying that marriage is between a man and a woman, and denying recognition to same-sex unions. The federal government also doesn't recognize such unions...
California economy boosted by gay marriage bonanza -
California's economy is poised for a multi-million-dollar windfall as same-sex marriages get underway here Monday, with the tourist sector eyeing a bonanza as gays and lesbians flock to the state to tie the knot...
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton defeated Senator Barack Obama in the Ohio and Texas primaries on Tuesday, ending a string of defeats and allowing her to soldier on in a Democratic presidential nomination race that now seems unlikely to end any time soon. Mrs. Clinton also won Rhode Island, while Mr. Obama won in Vermont. But the results mean that Mrs. Clinton won the two states she most needed to keep her candidacy alive.
The Associated Press reported that all told, Mr. Obama retains his lead in the delegate count, with 1,477 pledged delegates compared to Mrs. Clinton’s 1,391. The A.P. said that 170 delegates from Tuesday’s contests have yet to be assigned, many from the Texas caucuses.
On the Republican side, Senator John McCain swept to victory in Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas and Vermont and claimed his party’s nomination, capping a remarkable comeback in his second bid for the presidency. Mr. McCain’s main remaining rival, Mike Huckabee, a former governor of Arkansas, announced he was dropping out minutes after the polls closed and pledged his cooperation to Mr. McCain.
Read about it- The New York Times
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Recently Mitt Romney endorsed Sen. John McCain's bid for the White House, asking his national conventions 280 delegates to swing behind McCain.That reminded me. What about former candidate John Edwards?
Edwards has 26 delegates pledged to him. That may not sound like much, but in a closely contested race such as we have witnessed between Hillary, and Obama, it could make a significant difference?
Obama is now leading. There is no agreement on how much of a lead he has. Newspaper reports very from 25 delegates to about 109, (stats from McLaughlin group). Hillary is expected to take Ohio, Texas, Pennsylvania, and possibly Wisconsin boosting her delegate count. If she holds her own in other states it could be a virtual tie... again. Hillary is also retooling her campaign including appointing a new campaign manager.
I have heard much talk about the possible scenario of super delegates deciding who the winner will be. But what about John Edwards? What if at the last minute he endorsed either Hillary, or Obama. Could his 26 delegates make a difference? Could John Edwards possible be the one person to swing the decision? Or not?
Related Story: Obama visits Edwards in Chapel Hill, North Carolina - NC
(He is a handsome devil, don't you think?
