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I figure either she or Elisabeth Hassleback must be running, since they’re all CNN and Fox News can talk about. Sheesh.

Pro Choice or Pro Life? Gay Marriage? New taxes? Welfare reform?

I recently had a very long conversation with my friend regarding abortion. She has long voted for Republicans simply because she’s pro life, and in line with the leaders of her church, she votes for extreme conservatives. She also took advantage of programs available to her when she had her children such as no cost health care for her delivery (provided by the government) as well as WIC and food stamps. Her husband owned a small business and they had a few very lean years. The fact that the people she was voting for were basically against those programs intended for low income families never really dawned on her or mattered to her.

So here’s my real question? Do the real, daily-life issues matter to voters? Or only the big, sensational issues?

For example, the cost of health care really effects my family. We have high deductibles for our PPO, and end up spending a lot out of pocket. We pay into Social Security every month weeks, and yet, there’s about 100% possibility that we’ll never see that money again. Same with Medicare. We have a young son, and we’d like for there to be quality public education for him and some natural resources available for his grandchildren. Likewise, we pay a lot in taxes and we’d like to see that used more wisely - if not, then give it back. We could use it to save for our retirement, since we won’t have Social Security.

What I’m saying is that I’m glad to know where the candidates stand on issues like abortion. It helps me to understand what kinds of Supreme Court Justices they would appoint, the kind of legislation they might pass/veto. However, I wish less time was spent during the debates on these polarizing topics. I want to know what these people are going to do about issues that effect our everyday lives.

One last topic…Bring the troops home or stay the course? Some candidates (Obama, Dodd) say that they’re going to bring the troops home immediately, while some are sticking to the “stay the course” doctrine (McCain)…do you think this will be a deciding factor in the election? Personally, I want the troops home yesterday - three years ago, even. But what I’d rather hear them talk about is how they’re going to repair the US’s reputation and standing in the world. How we exit Iraq will be a part of that, but I’d like to hear more specific plans for diplomacy.

The New York Times online has an excellent page with all of the candidates listed - including the officially announced candidates and the widely speculated ones. Each candidate has an info page, a link to their official site, and many have their most recent multimedia (YouTube video, etc.).

Here’s the link:

2008 Presidential Candidates

Before you get started here, I highly recommend this backgrounder by Lionel Beehner, Staff Writer for the Council on Foreign Relations.

It’s all very confusing. Why are we trying to dictate what Iraq does with their national resources? I can’t wrap my head around why our government thinks they have any say in what Iraq does with their oil. Passing a bill in congress that dictates what Iraq must do might sound good to Americans - then if it fails, it’s the Iraqi’s fault - but this seems to be terrible logic to me. Here’s a good article outlining the issues with the first “benchmark” - the oil law.

Hasan Jum’a Awwad, Head of the Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions, recently sent an open letter to the US Congress pleading that the acceptance of an oil law not be linked to the withdrawal of US troops.

From the Council on Foreign Relations website, here’s a sort of breakdown of the current benchmarks, (prepared by Lionel Beehner) :

In President Bush’s January 2007 speech outlining his latest strategy for Iraq, he listed a series of benchmarks on security, economic performance, and governance for the Iraqi government to meet. They include passing an oil revenue-sharing bill, reversing the draconian de-Baathification laws his administration previously forced on Iraq, and holding new provincial elections. He also demanded progress in the spending of billions of dollars in reconstruction money and revisions to the constitutional amendment process. “America will hold the Iraqi government to the benchmarks it has announced,” Bush proclaimed.

How can we hold another government to benchmarks we make up? Without clear guidelines of what defines both success and failure, how can we say we’re winning or losing?
I really feel like it’s not a win/loss situation. It’s a disaster that shouldn’t go on needlessly. Let Iraq govern themselves. The US has no business dictating how their constitution is worded, how much of their oil goes to foreign investors or how their government is divided up between the peoples of Iraq. If anything, the US should pull out all contractors, let the Iraqi’s offer contracts for rebuilding worldwide. The current contractors can pool the billions in profits they’re making to finance actual reconstruction WITH oversight.

Are we obligated to offer some sort of security force? I don’t know. I believe that the US presence fuels the insurgency, and that all progress will continue to be undone by bombs and shooting while we remain there.

So finally, here’s my assessment. The Democrats tried to put together a bill that included the President’s benchmarks and a time line for troop withdrawal. The time line was denied, but the benchmarks remain. It seems very convenient for our Congress and and Executive Branch to approve of something that the US has no way to enforce and no control over.
I hope others will comment on this entry. I’m always looking for new viewpoints, and the more we all understand the situation, the better we can PARTICIPATE in our government.

Paid for, presented by and moderated by Fox News. That alone was troubling to me. But as they went through the many Republican candidates, I was struck by amount of public service - both in state and federal government. Impressive amount of government experience.

I’m typing these notes as I watch the debates on msnbc.com, so bear with me if it’s a little incoherent or long winded. You can skip around to the different headings if you’re not interested in the topics. Also, these are just my opinions as I watch this 2nd debate. I encourage everyone to watch the debates, and form their own opinions!
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It turns out that some of the presidential candidates haven’t written any books, while some have written more than I care to read. I’ve collected all the titles I could find, and made them available in my book store. If you don’t see a title you’re looking for, please let me know with a comment, so I can add it.

As for books written about the candidates, I’m not sure where to start with those. Some are obviously inflammatory, and I wonder at the worth of reading them. For example, I’m currently reading The Truth About Hillary by Edward Klein. I find myself taking huge exceptions to the conclusions he draws on many things. I wonder how much I’m learning about Hillary vs. how much I’m learning about Mr. Klein. At one point he says, “She claims to love her husband passionately, but most of her friends and advisers are lesbians.” Um, what? So if you have friends that are lesbians, you can’t love your husband? There are a lot of these odd, overly judgmental statements, which makes me wonder at the veracity of any of his statements.

For now, I have chosen not to include these books in my store. However, they are all fair game for the challenge. The more the merrier!

I hope to be adding books by other current politicians that might offer insight to today’s political climate, but I want to make sure all sides are equally represented, so those will be coming soon.

Here’s a good link that shows research the Sierra Club has done into each candidate. They are not endorsing anyone yet, but there’s good info here.

South Carolina Sierra Club Chapter 2008 Candidates Info

First of all, if you haven’t seen the debates, I hope you’ll go to MSNBC and watch them. They’re broken up into short segments, so they’re easy to view. (Although I wish you could rewind.)

I also want to preface this by saying that although I liked Brian Williams and Chris Matthews, I felt that there was obviously more time and questions given to some candidates, and some candidates were clearly ignored. For example, I would have loved to hear more from Fmr. Sen. Mike Gravel on the Democratic Debate.

I would like to say that I’m on the fence, and giving both sides - dem and rep - equal time. But I’m not. I watched the whole Dem. debate, and although I was sick of Iraq and terrorism by the end of it, I was interested in what each one had to say, possibly with the exception of Gov. Bill Richardson. More on that later.

As I started the Republican Debate, I was instanly annoyed with their answers. Then as I moved onto the segment concerning abortion, and they all said, (paraphrasing, of course) “down with Roe v. Wade” - with the exception of a wishy-washy stance from Giuliani, I couldn’t watch anymore. There’s no way I’d vote for any of them.

I will go back and watch because I want to know what they stand for. I will go back and watch because I’m sure they will make good points, have valid ideas, and offer solutions that Democrats will not. But not today.

Here’s my snapshot take on each of the Democratic candidates (links go to their official election sites)…after the jump.

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One of my most favorite people in the whole world recently started working at Conceive Magazine - an excellent resource for families trying to conceive. My favorite part is the success stories - you can submit your own on their website. They also have a really cool link called Support Group that goes to a message board full of information. I think a gift subscription would be nice for friends and family that are trying to have a baby. I know two couples that have had IVF treatments two or more times with no success. It’s heartbreaking. I also have a friend that has two children of her own and has been a surrogate twice. She just loves being pregnant.

I feel so blessed to have my son. If you know someone dealing with infertility, perhaps they can find some hope and/or guidance in Conceive.

Looking for ways to show your support for our Military? Click here for options.

From the America Supports You website:

A declaration in 1999 encouraged U.S. citizens to observe May as Military Appreciation Month “in a symbol of unity - to honor the current and former members of the armed forces - including those who have died in the pursuit of freedom and peace.”

A quote from Senator Barbara Boxer:

“When service members are discharged, we should express our gratitude for their profound personal sacrifice, not hand them a bill for their hospital food.“

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