Election 2008

This is the Columbia College Chicago student election blog. It's real simple. We asked students: Who are you voting for ... and why? What does this election mean to you? What issue is most important to you? How you think it will turn out? They’re telling us. They’re telling us that they’re taking this election seriously.

The ideas and opinions expressed in this blog are those of the individual students alone, and should not be taken to reflect the views of Columbia College Chicago.

Read on to see what our students said when we asked them to speak their minds.

Comment from Scott on 2008-11-10

I voted for John McCain. I would like to thank the Obama supporters for being so polite following the election. Being an outspoken McCain supporter, I thought for sure I would get the typical childish "Ha, ha, Obama won, McCain lost!" when arriving at my classes last week, but instead I was greeted with "McCain's speech was very touching" or "McCain ran a hard campaign." These comments are very touching, and it's great to see people being mature about this. That being said, I voted for John McCain because of the issues. We are at a time where our country is facing an awful economic crisis. John McCain promised to create hundreds of thousands of jobs to engineer new alternative energy sources such as offshore drilling, clean coal, nuclear power, etc. This basically kills two birds with one stone, assisting America's energy crisis while creating new jobs FOR AMERICANS. I also agree with his fight to end pork barrel spending and earmarks, and to really be cautious of how our government invests our money. His tax cuts, I believe, would assist our country in becoming great as we saw following the Reagannomics of the 1980s, allowing Clinton to enjoy a growing economy, up until his tax increases caught up to him in the last year of his presidency and the beginning of the "Clinton recession." Obama promises to cut taxes for 95% of Americans, however McCain promised to cut taxes for 100% of Americans. This is a system I agree with, because the rich should be allowed to invest their money, instead of throwing it away to the government. As we witnessed after the Reagan years, if the rich are allowed to invest their money, business in America will boom, resulting in a strong economy. Sure, McCain voted with Bush in the U.S. Senate, but it sure beats voting "present." Although the majority of McCain's votes were with Bush, he still never voted for any earmark or pork barrel spending, something Obama has done already in his slim term in the U.S. Senate. For those of you that are anti-war, guess what?! Obama is going to stay overseas, moving the war to Afganistan! All I can hope is that 4 years of another Jimmy Carter will lead us into 8 years of Republican prosperity, as what happened in 1976. For those of you interested in Republican politics, please email me at columbiarepublicans@live.com. I would love to start a student organization here at school, and if anyone is interested, please let me know.

Posted on Monday, November 10, 2008 at 01:03 am

Comment from sarah on 2008-11-05

First I want to address Rick's comment. To say that the rich are hard working and the poor or not shows that you need to stay in college for a lot longer than the rest of us. You have to be a complete ignorant fool to say that. Neither the rich or poor work harder than the next. Most times poorer families have to get three jobs to support their family. Tell me how that is not working hard? Or tell me how a rich person who inherits money from their parents is doing hard work when they have mommy and daddy do everything for them. Rich or poor, there are lazy people as well as those who work hard. Second of all if you are rich, you should not get the tax cuts that you already do. Why would you need them? So you can get richer for no reason without working hard. But I can't stop someone who is close minded from listening to their parents for political advice.

Second, we as Americans should come together and vote for a candidate that will better the country. I understand that things such as abortion are very touchy with many. It is fine to have strong beliefs but the topic of abortion really will not change, and if it does, certainly not in the near future. So why take a candidate that has poor abilities just on the idea of abortion. I personally think it is wrong in many cases, but how can someone tell another person what they can do to their own bodies. People should separate religion from state.

Overall I would have to say I am so glad that Obama is our president. I feel he is one of the best candidates that i have seen. His ideals and plans, while of course they are only plans at the moment, reflect what this country should be.

Posted on Wednesday, November 5, 2008 at 05:41 pm

Comment from Amy on 2008-11-04

I think Damien has a great point. To be perfectly honest, I forgot there were other candidates besides McCain and Obama. The biggest issue that we are having in America is open-mindedness and open discussions. Attacking each other is childish, everytime I see a campaign ad against either one of the candidates I see children poking fun at eachother. The point is to get our country back in order. Why not have all the candidates come together in a behaved adult (what does it mean to be an adult anymore anyways?) manner and come together and discuss these issues as a team. "United States" we need to strive to live up to that name and unite together as humans; not divided as political parties or any other classification.

Until we listen, trust, and accept eachother we will always have difficulties in being, truely, "one nation."

Posted on Tuesday, November 4, 2008 at 02:28 pm

Comment from Damien on 2008-11-03

At Jessica:

Can I ask why you, or anyone else for that matter, would ever think that?

Saying that Americans only have a choice between two canditates is just plain ignorant. Just because two candidates are getting money thrown at them to support their campaigns doesn't mean that we should ignore every other candidate on the ticket.

www.opensecrets.org/pres08/index.php?cycle=2008

So maybe what you mean is, so long as America is America, we'll let the popular media make our decisions for us.

Posted on Monday, November 3, 2008 at 01:25 pm

Comment from Tavis on 2008-11-03

John McCain is simply too flip-floppy to be a good candidate. Anyone who sells out their beliefs for votes is too weak willed to run a country. If you asked me what I thought about McCain a year ago, I would have told you he's one of the better republicans you could vote for. I even considered voting for him if he was up against Hillary. However, in the last few months his pandering to the radical right wing has been sickening. This is why I'm voting for Barack Obama.

Posted on Monday, November 3, 2008 at 12:50 pm

Comment from Rick on 2008-11-01

So everyone here is voting for the individual candidate, not the party? Even though we know once either of them get to the White House, their little fantasy speaches will come to an immediate halt. And reality will sit in. The fact is, everyone wants change done to the war in Iraq. The fact is, the radical left wing party wants to take money from the rich (and the ones who have actually earned it from a hard working life) and give it to the poor (who are too lazy to get a fucking job). These movie stars, with their gigantic houses, are doing themselves in by supporting Obama. I don't support individuals. People lie all the time. Okay, and I'm liberal when it comes to my lifestyle. But politics? I don't play with fire.

Posted on Sunday, November 2, 2008 at 12:31 am

Comment from kari on 2008-10-30

Columbia does not have onsite polling… the board of elections sets up locations in what are typically public/government associated facilities and sometimes churches around the city. The Can I Vote website is pretty useful for a quick way to find out if and where you can vote. I also found a neat app on the Obama facebook page which told me where I was registered.

Posted on Thursday, October 30, 2008 at 10:22 pm

Comment from Jonathan Wilson on 2008-10-29

Will there be on campus voting? I am from out of state, and I was informed that I could vote on campus. But I do not know if Columbia offers that.

Posted on Wednesday, October 29, 2008 at 11:48 am

Comment from Jessica on 2008-10-27

To Damien

Sorry to break it to ya, but I think as long as America is America, it will always just be Democrat vs Republican.

Posted on Tuesday, October 28, 2008 at 12:11 am

Comment from Jessica on 2008-10-27

Okay. According to this poll so far I think that 69% of Columbia agrees with me when I say, the Republican Party has ran this country for the past 8 years, and as you can see the problems have only gotten worse. Many people try to say that it was Bill Clinton's fault that the economy is going the way it is, but if that was true, don't you think that 8 years should have been more than enough time for Bush to solve them? I def think it is time to see what one of the other parties have to offer. I'm not gonna get all ceche and say that we need change. I'm just gonna say we need much improvement, and the Democratic party is where it's at!

As for those who's main reason for voting McCain, is because he's pro-life irritates the hell out of me. Just because a Democrate says they are pro-choice doesn't mean they are PRO-DEATH! It means that the individual(s) should have the right to decide what to do with their own body, and what they have made. There are too many people out there who are not fit to be responsible for other lives, and the govt. is def not going to help; so any individual in that situation should be able to decide for themselves what the best decision overall should be.

And why do people keep saying Obama is not supportive of the troops. Just because he is not in support of the 'WAR' does not mean he's not in support of the people. After Sadam, we really had no business being over seas. They were all sent for the wrong reason's!

Who ever the next president is, we know they will have to make a lot of choices with running our country. Well look at the one that McCain has already made by choosing Palin as a running mate. She's a pretty woman, but she is no where near ready to run a country. I feel sorry for Hillary, that she has to witness this right now.

It took the Bush Adm. about 8 yrs to help bring this economy down. Now let's give Obama the next 8 yrs to help boost it back up!!! ;)

Posted on Tuesday, October 28, 2008 at 12:07 am

Comment from Nehemiah D. Davidson on 2008-10-27

Obama 08....
Nehemiah D. Davidson

Posted on Monday, October 27, 2008 at 05:38 pm

Comment from Damien on 2008-10-27

Why is it that we feel the need to continually choose between the lesser of two evils? You want to effect change? Don't put a Democrat OR Republican into office.

Posted on Monday, October 27, 2008 at 08:40 am

Comment from miles vance on 2008-10-24

The Columbia College Chicago Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union
Presents Election Night View and Skew

Presidential Election Results from MSNBC, CNN, and FOX to be viewed November 4th, 2008 6:00PM to Midnight at 731 S. Plymouth Court (Lobby)

Six hours of National Election Coverage of the Most Vital

Civil Liberties Election of our Generation
October 24, 2008 Chicago —The long awaited 2008 Presidential Election results will be screened on Tuesday, November 4th, 6:00PM to Midnight at 731 S. Plymouth Court (Lobby). The CCCC-ACLU has reserved the Plymouth Court to watch the MSNBC, CNN, and FOX Presidential Election results to celebrate with students for voting in the upcoming general election.

We will be providing students with snacks and coffee; as well as raffling off prizes like ACLU t-shirts and ACLU memberships. We will have Uno, Poker, Rummy, Trivia Pursuit, Foosball, and Pool tournaments as well as other games to play.

The goal of this event is to inspire activity at a grassroots level by spotlighting the most important constitutional issues of the day and bringing information to a contemporary TV audience in an immediate and compelling format. We are providing a community hungry for information and ready for change with an evening of politics.

Students and Student Organizations can get
involved by contacting our email at:
CCCCAmericanCivilLibertiesUnion@loop.colum.edu.

Posted on Friday, October 24, 2008 at 02:28 pm

Comment from live free on 2008-10-24

I'm voting for Bob Barr, the libertarian candidate.
Democrats and Republicans have told me I'm just "throwing my vote away". But I don't see it as that.
Even though they claim to be different, both parties are the same when they get into office. They both spend more money, and pass more laws restraining social liberties.

By voting libertarian, I feel more American than ever.

Posted on Friday, October 24, 2008 at 12:07 pm

Comment from T.H.K.D.2 on 2008-10-23

Well I am a young democrat by choice not because my parents are but because I truly believe that we as a society are in a position for a change thanks to the motivational words of Barack Obama. Based on the rising issues at hand which range from health care to the cost of tuition to go to college. I believe that Barack Obama is the answer America has been waiting for the past 40 years.

Posted on Friday, October 24, 2008 at 12:09 am

Comment from Greg Sears on 2008-10-23

My name is Greg Sears and I'm doing a story for WCRX, the campus radio station, about political organizations on the campus and the general political ideology that students here at Columbia have. I would like to know about your political affiliation and why. I'm also looking for Political student groups on campus like Young Democrats, Young Republicans, Nader/Gonzales, etc.. If you are part of any of these organizations or student groups or something related to them, please let me know and we could set up an interview. Any information is appreciated and can be sent to greg.sears@loop.colum.edu

Take care

Posted on Thursday, October 23, 2008 at 02:30 pm

Comment from Jonathan on 2008-10-22

I early voted for obama because I think he truly represents change and I do not want to see what mccain would do (or not do) for the country. If mccains health goes bad we do not need a freak show like palin running our country. I think the obama/biden campaign is a great ticket and after watching all the debates and campaigning I stand firm.

Posted on Wednesday, October 22, 2008 at 10:13 pm

Comment from Dana Lysons on 2008-10-22

For the first time in my voting life, I have become serious about paying attention to the politcial realm of life. I am actually finding myself listening to coverage of the race for President, where before I ignored it and I regret whole heartedly that I didn't vote in the last election. I vote for Obama because he speaks of practical, achievable and real change for America of which we truly need. His Economic plan is doable and I trust he will make the difference America needs right now.

Posted on Wednesday, October 22, 2008 at 04:04 pm

Comment from John S on 2008-10-22

Of course I voted for Obama. Sure, he may not have that "credibility" like McCain, but McCain will make the economy suffer for another four years if he wins. Obama is sticking up for us people who pay too much in taxes. Republicans are, once again, helping the rich become richer. McCains policies are too far fetched and unrealistic or is it because he doesn't have any? For the people who say Obama is "deceiving" the campaign since the beginning, exactly WHAT has he been deceiving? If anything, McCain is the the antagonist. McCain is nothing but a hungry war mongrel. Another 4 years of pain, loss and suffering. Is that what we need? For those Republicans who think McCain is some "John McClain", guess again. It might your kid shipped off to war and you cannot blame Obama for that. Remember this to: McCain is no war hero. McCain was held hostage during the war. So much for, "The American Hero".

Posted on Wednesday, October 22, 2008 at 11:53 am

Comment from Rachel Stapinski on 2008-10-22

VOTE EARLY! READ "BLOCK THE VOTE" IN THIS WEEK'S ROLLING STONE! Watch the RFK jr. interview.

Posted on Wednesday, October 22, 2008 at 01:49 am

Comment from Not Scared of Liberals on 2008-10-20

Obama is a marketing figurehead based on an MTV campaign. He's been deceiving the American people since the beginning of his campaign and his supporters have been using things like racism and sexism to oppress everyone who doesn't also support him. I'm over it.

Posted on Monday, October 20, 2008 at 09:09 pm

Comment from k.d. on 2008-10-20

i'm voting for mccain.

why you ask?
well, one particular reason is the fact that he is pro-life. i believe it is my moral obligation to take a stand for life. if we let abortion go, what next? you can argue that a woman should have a choice, that it's not the government's place to decide for a woman. well, does that mean we should give a murderer the choice to kill someone? you may think that the government has no place in someone's choice, well then what about taxes? shouldn't we have our own choice about that? if you argue that that's different, then are you saying money is more important than life? you may argue that life doesn't begin at conception, then what is that being inside the woman, an alien?

that's my two cents. and that's where i stand.

don't get me wrong, having obama as the first african-american president would be a neat thing for our country; it'd certainly be refreshing. i'm not against him, i just don't agree with everything he says. it's difficult to not be wooed by what obama says. it's difficult not being a full-blown supporter of obama when there are shirts everywhere, and especially when you live in chicago. but i must ask, should we turn our heads away from our beliefs in order to fit in?

Posted on Monday, October 20, 2008 at 01:53 pm

Comment from Dyani on 2008-10-20

I just spent $40 on an Obama t-shirt. If that's not patriotism then I don't know what is.

Posted on Monday, October 20, 2008 at 02:35 am

Comment from Anoney Muss on 2008-10-19

I am voting for Obama! Case closed my view points will not change. At this point, America needs help, it needs to be cleaned up and renewed. Obama can provide that for all, even you lousy republicans. McCain is just trying to re-create America's past time and Sarah Palin is one crazy women. I think most republicans have the potential to vote for Obama. Its just that they are scared (of lord knows WHAT, which i laugh at)... or they are just STUCK in the past and think McCain is an easy way out for them to live better. In reality there will be no living better if you live in a steady fucked up economy with irrelevant WARS and other havoc. Yeah you may have financial benefits. Obama can make America more rational thoughts to everyone even outside of America. I'd rather vote Obama and have money in a developing changing economy than vote McCain and have money in a fucked up one.!

Posted on Sunday, October 19, 2008 at 05:38 pm

Comment from Christine on 2008-10-19

@ Matt:

Alaska, Hawaii and California consistently take the top three spots for most expensive gas in the country. It may be more expensive in Illinois when compared to Indiana, but it is nowhere near the prices in the aforementioned states.

Posted on Sunday, October 19, 2008 at 02:12 pm

Comment from Anonymous on 2008-10-15

I am voting for Obama, but as much as I hate to admit it, I am worried. I'm worried that if/when he is elected, the country might realized that the majority of his supporters voted based on how popular he is(in the media). He seems very promising and he has good intentions when it comes to the middle-class,taxes,the future of the economy,etc. but I'm afraid that when he is elected we'll all be left to accept the fact that maybe he was too good to be true. He talks about change constantly, and you see him doing things that normal people would do (the whole giving dabs, playing basketball with kids,etc.), but what has he done for Illinois? He's been Senator for our state, and I have yet to see any major changes. How am I supposed to expect him to change a whole nation, when he hasn't even changed this one state?
So I'm voting for him because McCain and Palin are a freak show waiting to happen. Yes McCain has more experience, but he seems to be a complete idiot and he's old. God forbid, if he wins that he passes away and we're stuck with Palin as our president. Yes she's a govenor, but she governs ALASKA! Not to mention she was in that crazy Alaskan Independence group. SO this means that McCain expects the American people to accept the fact that this woman was part of an organization that didnt even want to be a part of the United States??! He doesn't even have faith in her, how can we? So yea, until someone better and a bit more "experienced" comes along, Obama it is.

Posted on Wednesday, October 15, 2008 at 11:41 am

Comment from Matt on 2008-10-15

I honestly don't know who to vote for. One thing is for sure though, I absolutely cannot vote for Obama. Democrats run Illinois and I don't see them helping people here. What I see is high property taxes and the most expensive gasoline prices in the country, (it's $2.59 right next door in Indiana and we're paying $3.49 here, how is that helping families?). And Obama is one of our Senators. It's in my opinion that it's just ignorant of anyone who lives in this state to think a democrat is going to ease the pain for struggling families, especially one from Illinois. Obama hasn't accomplished anything, he is effortlessly rising to the top of the polls simply because he has been annointed by the media to be our next president. I'm tired of how people aren't allowed to question him without being called a racist or being accused of playing dirty politics. It reminds me of when people tried to question our current president and were called "unpatriotic." He needs to answer to the people if he wants to be president.

Posted on Wednesday, October 15, 2008 at 01:42 am

Comment from jayjay on 2008-10-15

I voted for Obama, just because i think a more democratic nature for the policies of economics and growing the middle class is needed at this time, im not going to lie, obama scares me, he just seems too good to be true. EVERYBODY loves him. I mean, we all know that nobody is perfect, but it just seems that obama is TOO popular.I can just see something corrupted happening th people will skim over because he's obama, im not bashing his character, ad hominem, its just a vibe, a feeling i have, and i know thats not real evidence. and Im more of a moderate, i like aspects of both parties, and i dont care for super extremes on either side. I just wish politics didn't have so much power that it separates people, causes divisions between them because of personal opinions/values.

thanks buddies!

Posted on Wednesday, October 15, 2008 at 01:16 am

Comment from Kirby G. on 2008-10-14

I do not support either major candidates because both want more of the same. I am a strict follower of the constitution. I want limited government, a non-interventionist foreign policy, and sound money (The Gold Standard). "Change" gets mentioned alot by Obama, but I see none.

I'm a big supporter of Ron Paul. I really think he was the only one this election that could really have turned things around.

He was the only one talking about our monetary policies and how we have to stop printing money out of thin air. He voted against the Iraq war. He's against entangling alliances with other nations.

But now that he is out, I've been looking into Bob Barr (libertarian candidate) and Chuck Baldwin (Constitution parties Candidate)

Bob Barr talks about these issues, but his voting record is nowhere near as spotless as Ron Paul's. (Barr voted for the Iraq War and for the Patriot Act.)

Chuck Baldwin was actually recently endorsed by Paul, and holds the same stance on many of the issues.

I know that neither of these men will win, but I am sick of the republicrat's monopoly. The Libertarian party is the oldest third party; why doesn't Bob Barr get to be in the Presidential Debates? Ron Paul was a Republican Presidential Nominee. Why didn't he get to speak at the Convention while the rest did?

I'm voting for Real change.
http://www.campaignforliberty.com/

Posted on Wednesday, October 15, 2008 at 12:54 am

Comment from Kevin Gosztola on 2008-10-14

What This Election Means to Me
by Kevin Gosztola, Junior, Film & Video

Hello, my name is Kevin, and I am a recovering Democrat.

In the past year, I have started the Students for Media Reform at Columbia College (SMRCC) group on campus and joined the Student Government Association at Columbia College.

We are having events every Monday from now until Election Day, On 10/13, we will be talking about the state of elections and what you need to know to make sure your vote counts after watching “Free for All” in the 600 S. Michigan Building at 6 pm on the 9th floor, on 10/20 we will be talking about the disenfranchisement of voters in America with a speaker from the Green Party who will introduce “American Blackout” (a film that focuses on Cynthia McKinney), on 10/27 we will discuss the unreasonable candidacy of Ralph Nader through “An Unreasonable Man” with the coordinator for all the college student groups for Nader/Gonzalez, Ashley Sanders, and lastly, we will join the Film Club on 11/3, the day before the Election Day and watch “Bob Roberts.” All of these events will take place in the Hokin Lecture Hall at 6 pm and will provide students an opportunity to talk about much of what the media is ignoring.

Now, what does this election mean to me?

I used to be like most voters in this country. The level of involvement I had in the political process did not stretch past the occasional viewing of CNN or short discussions of political topics with classmates and teachers.

I couldn’t vote (so perhaps I am wrong to suggest I was like most voters but my comparison is to the level of involvement in politics outside of just voting). I was in 5th grade. I just talked about Bill Clinton, Kosovo, impeachment proceedings, Saddam Hussein, Boris Yeltsin who always had ulcers, etc.

My attention to the news was the start of something that grew into a deep passion for writing and posting news on Blogger.com.

A Spider-Man movie came out and Blogger had a skin that you could get to make your blog look more attractive than the plain-colored skins Blogger had to offer its users. I was drawn in and became hooked on blogging.

I involved my friends. We all posted to the comments section and argued politics and religion. To most, this would be taboo for friendships. I think it made us better people because we were able to debate from positions that were right and left and still talk to each other in the school hallways.

As I continued to blog, my passion became more rampant. I would camp out in front of my computer waiting for comments so that I could be sure my side of the argument was more clear than the other side. I lost sight of the value of exchanging ideas between friends.

My friends got tired. John Kerry, Michael Moore, and logic and reasoning that clashed with their accepted values and opinions brought this blogging experiment to an end.

Sometime during the experiment, I joined a forum called “IHateLiberals.com” and posted vicious arguments against Bush and for Kerry. I took pleasure from the rebuttals I received and the knowledge that I was much younger than they were. I felt privileged to be engaged in a political argument where I could hold my ground.

I will never forget having a discussion that once led to NAFTA. Right wingers posted reasons why Bill Clinton was a terrible president. I heavily disagreed, but as I look back, I realize that they were correct for being angry with him about NAFTA and other policies he pushed during his presidency.

A couple years later, a semester in to my college career pursuing a film degree at Columbia College in Chicago, I took a Documentary & Social Change class. This led me to a screening of An Unreasonable Man at the Music Box Theatre in Chicago.

I went on a Saturday and watched it twice. I came back for it a second time because I found out that Ralph Nader was going to be doing a video chat that would be projected on the movie screen after the film was over.

Enter OpEdNews.com

About a year ago, I watched Dennis J. Kucinich videos on YouTube as I was making a decision who to throw my support behind in the Democratic primary. I wrote an article titled, “Actually, George, This Debate is Insufficient,” and submitted it to OpEdNews.

I proceeded to keep writing after this article was headlined. I hammered away at all the other Democratic candidates especially Barack Obama. I also made the decision then to campaign for Kucinich in Illinois when I went back to college in the fall.

Writing on OpEdNews earned me a job opportunity to help with the production of a documentary called, “Seriously Green,” which is a film that will provide Americans an account of this 2008 presidential election through the eyes of the Green Party and ask what it means to be “seriously green” at a time when it is fashionable to be green.

My participation in the campaign for Kucinich widened my perception of American politics, opened my eyes to nuances, and allowed me the opportunity to meet people who you do not see on CNN, FOX News, or MSNBC.

During January of this year, while on my semester break, I sat back in awe as I watched the mainstream media keep Dennis Kucinich out of the debates and effectively put an end to his quixotic campaign.

Kucinich dropped out in January to return to Cleveland and save his congressional seat.

After Dennis dropped out, I wasn’t sure what to do. I knew too much about Obama to throw my support to him. I spent the next few months thinking less of Kucinich for letting up on impeachment and read up on the candidacy of Mike Gravel because he had not dropped out. This gave me the ability to not support a corporate pro-war Democrat and still maintain active participation in the election.

After listening to a few interviews and reading his book, Citizen Power, it was clear that I had been unfair when arguing for the debates to be opened up for Dennis Kucinich and not Mike Gravel.

While Dennis Kucinich uttered many great lines during the Democratic debates, it is Mike Gravel who we owe for alerting the American public to the Kyl-Lieberman amendment during the debates by confronting Hillary. If a war with Iran erupts, the amendment will be pinpointed as one of the first acts of war against Iran.

I also began to participate in rallies in Chicago and began to organize small protest events with the World Can’t Wait ---Drive Out the Bush Regime chapter in Chicago.

The members, who are exceptional individuals, taught me the significance of acting outside the system and not relying on voting for change. They also introduced me to the idea of revolutionary communism, which I still do not entirely buy into but recognize that this solution would be much better than the system of government this nation has right now.

In April, Ralph Nader announced that he would be running yet again on Meet the Press. Elated with joy, I found another way to not have to support Barack Obama and I was convinced that I could do so much good for this nation by supporting and participating in the Nader campaign.

Up until my medical emergency in May, I was planning on Road Tripping for Ralph all summer to help him gain access to ballots in as many states possible. For myself, his campaign became a historic campaign to end ballot access obstructionism and put a dent in the political bigotry so many Americans have towards third party and Independent candidates. At this point, it still is and the next step is to achieve 10% in a national poll and get into the Google debate. [*At this point, ThirdPartyTicket.com is taking pledges to raise money to finance a debate that would include all presidential candidates running in this election. The person who set up the Ron Paul Revolution money bombs is behind the organization of the debate.]

Now, I am prepared to participate in actions in Denver to voice my discontent with the Democratic Party and support the Nader/Gonzalez campaign and the McKinney/Clemente campaign at the upcoming Democratic National Convention.

World Can’t Wait, Recreate68, and other activist/citizen groups will come together hoping to convince people that they need to demand that the Democratic Party and Barack Obama not continue the corporatist or quasi-fascist policies of the Bush Administration if elected in November.

And I will be there not only hoping those will demand change (a word that Obama has made synonymous with his name) but also to ask that those people who are fed up with a representative government, which is designed to maintain citizens in civic adolescence, consider saying “no” to Barack Obama and vote third party or Independent in this election.

Having recovered from being a Democrat, I feel liberated. I no longer think in terms of left or right but rather in terms of logic and reason.

Politics is no longer a battle of good vs. evil because one side is not good and one side is not bad. Now, for me it is more like a famous Upton Sinclair quote:

“It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his job depends on not understanding it.”

I refuse to support any man whose job depends on the support of corporate financiers or war profiteers. I only wish to organize to elect leaders who place the fate of their campaign in the hands of the people, the interest that should be behind all campaigns for public offices especially the nation’s highest ranking public office, the presidency.

What do we do when McCain and Obama support the mother of all bailouts for casino capitalists?

What do we do when McCain and Obama are for the bullying, intimidating, and possible annihilation of Iran based on a trumped up nuclear threat?

What do we do when McCain and Obama would like to continue to work towards “victory” in Iraq which means continuing an illegal war and occupation?

What do we do when McCain and Obama would like to keep the “war on terror” going, a “war on terror” that has resulted in a grandiose atrocity that 1 million Iraqis have died in and millions of innocent Iraqis have been displaced in?

What do we do when McCain and Obama would like to continue the “war on terror”, a move that would require tens of thousands more American troops be sent to Afghanistan and Pakistan to bomb more innocent civilians?

What do we do when McCain and Obama support the PATRIOT Act and its expansions and have nothing against the NSA spying on private citizens’ phone calls and have little to say about the placement of activists or concerned citizens on terror watch lists?

What do we do when McCain and Obama say to single-payer health care, examining the role of the Federal Reserve in our nation, making solar and wind energy a priority in greening this economy, and cracking down on corporate crime, corporate welfare, and working to end corporate personhood?

What do we do when McCain and Obama refuse to propose that education be tuition-free for students from kindergarten through college?

What do we do when McCain and Obama refuse to cut the bloated military budget and use the money to fund human needs like college education for this young generation which need degrees to pursue a career?

What do we do when McCain and Obama think the best way for young people to serve this country is to join the military and that any students or school against military recruitment for these wars of aggression should be denied federal funding?

Do we sit at home on our computers and update our Facebooks?

Do we wander aimlessly from class to class with our iPods drowning out the stark realities of the world that we live in?

Do we hook ourselves up into a world of virtual reality every single day via Xbox, Playstation 2, or a Nintendo Wii?

For me this election is an opportunity for our generation to take the lead and show previous generations that we have the ability to take over this country once they pass on. And more importantly, this is an opportunity for us to show we have the capability through creativity, imagination, and community values to do a far better job running this country and world than they have done in the past decades.

The world we have been handed requires a re-envisioning of energy policy, economic policy, foreign policy, and government. It requires us to transform into a nation that favors sustainability over perpetual growth.

A wise man once said, “If you don’t turn on politics, politics will turn on you.” He now says this Chinese proverb quite often, “To know and not to do is not to know.” That wise man is Ralph Nader.

We are the ones who will write a future that emancipates humanity or that condemns humanity. Whatever future we get is up to us.

I will be voting for Ralph Nader and Matt Gonzalez in November and will vote here in Illinois even though I am from Indiana because here in Illinois I can vote for Green Party candidates on the local, state, and federal level. I also can vote Nader/Gonzalez without having to write him in.

Now, if you made it this far, here are a collection of videos that I will never forget from this 2008 Election. I went to the Democratic Party, Republican Party, and Green Party conventions this year. I want to share with you some videos from those conventions and then a particular video that you may like that features Obama Girl. There’s also a few others in there too. (*Any Ron Paul fans out there?)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3bpZqh93PU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeJO9nyjCAM&feature=PlayList&p=07CDBC088F990932&index=9

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rf81_iwCbbY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4nIpvhlgpo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGzUS9vs3ME

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDZ8seg4Nr4

http://wcco.com/video/?id=47018@wcco.dayport.com (I was in there recording this for the “Seriously Green” documentary.)

http://www.twincities.com/video?bcpid=1653590799&bclid=1755456983&bctid=1774291302

http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/99433/incredible_documentary_footage_of_mass_arrest_in_st._paul/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PjHQfoGctU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iz7maOrGW3Y

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaoncB-akQY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FS7M7Z7la0&feature=PlayList&p=07CDBC088F990932&index=85

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73itqDCsvEg&feature=PlayList&p=07CDBC088F990932&index=86

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NihQAFk4aNo&feature=PlayList&p=07CDBC088F990932&index=87

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KR-V6bl41zU&feature=PlayList&p=07CDBC088F990932&index=62

Posted on Tuesday, October 14, 2008 at 03:31 pm

Comment from Kathryn on 2008-10-14

I am voting for Mccain. I've supported him since the primaries.

I've done my research. I've listened to more credible sources than Will.I.Am and Madonna. I've read something other than Pop Media.

Obama SCARES me. (and I guess the left-wing can be prejudiced too because my lack of support for him has nothing to do with the fact that he has an ethnic name, is african american, or can trace his family to Islam)

Not only is he inexperienced (I know you've all heard that over and over again but take it from an Illinois resident... he's done nothing for us but try to tax more of our hard earned money and insult our soldiers both with words and lack of support), but he is corrupt and I truly don't think any foreign leader or terrorist group who wishes to attack us will be at all intimidated by him. And I don't think Obama understands the "common man" any more than Mccain. They're both filthy rich. That's a common denominator among almost all politicians.

I know Palin is fairly inexperienced but less so than Obama, and she's running for VICE president, so it makes a slight difference. I think Biden is a little clueless to what goes on in the real world. He thought FDR was president in 1929 and that he spoke to America on the TV? (one of many examples) I've known that to be false since the 3rd grade.

I think Mccain's experience speaks for itself.

I could probably count on my fingers and toes how many Columbia students are voting for Mccain but I'm one of them! lol

Posted on Tuesday, October 14, 2008 at 02:29 pm

Comment from Becky Sonnack on 2008-10-13

One comment from this story stood out in particular as exactly my beliefs:

"The right wing in the country often tries to paint anyone on the left as anti-semitic, or “secretly something other than what they say they are.” Why? Because they can’t win the argument based on values and policies. So, they have no other recourse than fear and rumor-mongering.

If you notice, no one on the left is saying this non-sense about McCain. If you want to learn who Barack Obama is, read his books, or listen to his hours of speeches, and then decide for yourself. Don’t vote against him because he has ” a funny sounding name ” or because some right-wing blowhard made a statement that absolutely has no basis in reality.

Look at his principles, his values, and his statements, and then decide for yourself."

I don't want to lower myself to McCain's negative bashing standards, so I'll say something of substance. Obama/Biden, while not perfect, is infinitely better than a McCain/Palin (shudder) ticket. Obama empathizes with the middle and lower classes, and will give tax breaks to us struggling people. He will stop giving the rich and the corporations hundreds of thousands of dollars of tax breaks and give it to the people who really need it. Along with Biden, who is regarded as one of the most experienced when it comes to foreign policy, he will help find a responsible way to end this war so we can stop wasting so much money and pause to fix our own suffering country by spending it on things we desperately need, such as education, alternative energy, and healthcare. It is clearer than ever in the past few weeks, when our economy has gone completely down the tubes, that a FDR/Clinton-like turn around is desperately necessary, and if we vote in Bush again-sorry, I mean McCain- it's just going to keep getting worse and worse. I believe Obama will help our country gain the respect of the world it used to have eight years ago, and lead us into another long period of prosperity.

Posted on Monday, October 13, 2008 at 10:32 pm

Comment from Lisa D on 2008-10-13

i'm voting OBAMA. he clearly has a more thought out plan for healthcare, the environment, and foreign policy, among other things. he strikes me as very confident and intelligent, and i'd be proud to call him my president. i also believe that if there was a huge crisis, obama could handle it.

Posted on Monday, October 13, 2008 at 06:15 pm

Comment from JD on 2008-10-13

I'm voting Obama. Even though he's not perfect, I believe he has the best ideas for putting this country back on the right track. He isn't blind enough to think we're perfect, and I respect that.

Posted on Monday, October 13, 2008 at 01:23 pm

Comment from zack hunt on 2008-10-12

im voting for obama because im a proud democrat and this country badly needs it's middle class back.....yes we can!!!!

Posted on Sunday, October 12, 2008 at 10:06 pm

Comment from on 2008-10-12

I am voting for Obama. Palin and McCain scare the shit out of me, they will drill the shit out of Alaska and the rest of this country and completely ruin the environment for a lost cause.

Posted on Sunday, October 12, 2008 at 10:05 pm

Comment from Christine on 2008-10-12

I'm voting for Bob Barr. This country has too much pork and we need to get back to what the Constitution says that we actually have control over, instead of extrapolating what we should be doing. Once we scrap everything, then we could build public programs that function efficiently and properly.

Posted on Sunday, October 12, 2008 at 08:08 pm

Comment from Derek on 2008-10-12

I'm voting McCain, I have researched both candidate's backgrounds and voting records and I find his to be the most logical. No politician is a savior or saint, but in my opinion he is definitely the lesser of two evils.

Posted on Sunday, October 12, 2008 at 06:10 pm

Comment from Lisa on 2008-10-12

I am voting for Obama because I believe he truly has the best plan for our environment, education, and healthcare system. His policies would do a lot to unite and empower the people of America, no matter what their economic status, region, or ethnicity.

Posted on Sunday, October 12, 2008 at 04:53 pm

Comment from Em on 2008-10-12

I'm voting for McCain!! I know that means that everyone here hates me but that's ok.

Posted on Sunday, October 12, 2008 at 03:53 pm

Comment from TreyS on 2008-10-12

It's tough when half your supporters are ignorant .... but oh well.

Posted on Sunday, October 12, 2008 at 01:56 pm

Comment from Matt Cusimano on 2008-10-12

I am not voting against McCain, I'm voting for Obama. I'm not voting on the basis of fear. I'm voting because Obama contains a sense of compassion that is needed to win back America's respect in the world. As unfair as it may seem, most of what the president can do is based on perception, and when 11% of Europeans favor McCain and 52% favor Obama, I know that Obama will create the right tools for progress. He is a man that seeks understanding and not arguments. He does not have experience, but he is qualified (big difference). I'm comfortable with Obama not having experience (Rumsfeld and Cheney had experience I mind you). Obama is on the street level, he knows the common-man problems, he understands where they come from. He realizes when war is not the answer. I'm not a fan of fear mongering, and that's why I'm voting for Obama.

Posted on Sunday, October 12, 2008 at 10:44 am

Comment from William Myers on 2008-10-12

I would definitely vote for Obama... He seems pretty well grounded, and real.. Instead of being all full of Pomp and Circumstance like some of the other candidates. Obama doesn't try to pull the proverbial wool over our eyes. Other candidates would probably try to convince us that the War is a good thing when it is just another way to bankrupt America.

Posted on Sunday, October 12, 2008 at 09:39 am

Comment from Ryan DePesa on 2008-10-12

I'm voting Obama because I'm literally scared of his opposition this year.

Posted on Sunday, October 12, 2008 at 08:58 am

Comment from Rachel Morris on 2008-10-11

Ohh celebrity endorsements...Forest Whitaker and Natalie Portman are two of my favorite actors. I really like their work. And surprisingly, I like them even more when I see them being real. I thought this video was worth the 5 minutes.

Posted on Saturday, October 11, 2008 at 04:18 pm

Comment from AyishaJ on 2008-10-11

I am voting for Obama because though no candidate is ideal, Sarah Palin scares the crap out of me!

Posted on Saturday, October 11, 2008 at 03:39 pm