Marriage should not be a government issue
HopeNation says:
"AMP says:"The problem I have with gay marriage is the term marriage. I think if every union done by a religious institution is called marriage, and every union done by the state is called a civil union, then I wouldn't have as big of a problem with it. And civil unions and marriages would share the same civil benefits and status. This appears to be legally plausible. But that would mean that a lot of married couples would stop being considered part of a marriage, instead members of a civil union. I know, I know, it's not perfect."
Plessy v. Ferguson has been overturned for several years now... calling gay marriage a civil union is a separation of rights"
Im not saying gay marriage is the only civil union...straight marriage as well, unless it is a union made under their church or faith. Basically all unions made by the state are civil unions, regardless of who is getting married. Understand the difference?
Marriage should not be a government issue
The problem I have with gay marriage is the term marriage. I think if every union done by a religious institution is called marriage, and every union done by the state is called a civil union, then I wouldn't have as big of a problem with it. And civil unions and marriages would share the same civil benefits and status. This appears to be legally plausible. But that would mean that a lot of married couples would stop being considered part of a marriage, instead members of a civil union. I know, I know, it's not perfect.
Democrats let Lieberman keep committee chair
Speaking frankly, Pelosi is a little far to the left for my taste, so maybe. Reid, I am really not sure...
Democrats let Lieberman keep committee chair
Most democrats in politics aren't radicals, except maybe Kucinich. I get tired of hearing this. Just because they don't agree with you it doesn't mean they are radicals. Just because you don't agree with me, that doesn't make you a radical conservative. Being a radical isn't a bad thing, but I'm just pointing out an observation.
SAY YES TO THE DRUG LEGALIZATION
I am completely against legalization of drugs. I wouldn't be as dramatic as Lolly, but she does have a very valid point. Legalization of drugs is condoning conduct that in itself puts peoples lives at stake. There is no perfect solution, but legalization is no solution.
can someone tell me why are people opposed to this
Going back to the topic,"PR doesn't want state status because they get all the benefits of being a state but none of the downsides." HopeNation, that's not exactly true, PR has almost no control over it's future, it has a voice without vote in Congress, it's limited in Trade policies by the US. Looking at the political parties recently, you can interpret percentages of support for status, since each party basically supports a status. 47% Pro Statehood 45% ELA (Current status or similar) 5% Independence
When ELA wins its because they receive the undecided vote (3%) and maybe some of the independent vote, if they don't get it, Pro Statehood party wins.
But this is just one persons interpretation.
What would you tell a future President?
"Presidential Courage" by Michael Beschloss A pretty humorous book is "So you think you can be President?" by Iris Burnett and Clay Greager
JD by itself wont prepare you to go into politics, life experiences do. Don't jump from academics straight into the political arena without experiencing life and having a family, since politics has a knack of keeping you away from your family. Just some advice, you don't have to listen to it. ShawninMo raises a good point, but I wouldn't say that it is just limited to Conservatives, being genuine is a respectable trait, even if you don't agree with that persons views. Also, just wanted to recommend you to focus on Economics in the Masters, might be important. Lol
McCain to seek 5th Senate term
Had McCain lost his home state, things would be a little different. But as it is, he'd be a fool not to run again.
can someone tell me why are people opposed to this
I was raised in PR, the Puerto Rican people don't really understand the difference between democrat and republican. Some think that being Republican means you are pro statehood, like the newly elected governor (a republican that is pro statehood). But about 60% of the population like the "help from the govt". But 0069twiggy is right, in the sense that PR moral values are to the right, its a Christian island, heavily so.
Where can I track specific elections online?
Sorry to say, it's not surprising, you may see that happen in a few precincts in this election. Logic would make you think they should at least have the exact number of ballots for registered voters in that precinct, maybe even 2 or 3% more, just in case there is a problem when filling out a ballot, that's what I think at least.
How can anyone support the death penalty?
Yes, I know. But can you honestly say no one, after going through the 20 years of appeals, has been put to death after a wrongful conviction?
How can anyone support the death penalty?
I have never fully made up my mind on this issue. I cannot morally support it, but I can see a situation in which I would wish it to be applied. I also agree with the argument that the possibility of applying the death penalty to a wrongfully convicted innocent person is too great. I guess I contradict myself on this one. It's just one of those issues...
Stop Gloating, Learn The History Of One Party America
Niceday- You are right, the GOP will not die. I believe they are weak this year, but they will be back whether it be in 4 or 8 years at their normal strength. Doesn't mean they will win. jejeje, had to inject a little something in it. I feel confident in saying the party of Abraham Lincoln will be ok in the future, as will the party of Andrew Jackson. The pendulum is normal in this two party system, but I don't see either party "dying" even if a third major party arises, it just may change a little over time, like in the past.
Ga. residents wait up to 8 hours to vote early
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<span class="strong">Barack Obama</span><br/> <span class="dgray f-10">Djuana Belk-Massey, right, and Dmitri Belk look over a sample ballot as they stand in line to vote at an early voting site in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, Oct. 23, 2008. In three Southern states critical to deciding who will win the White House _ Georgia, Florida and North Carolina _ there are clear signs after several days of early voting that favor Democratic nominee Barack Obama. In North Carolina, for example, 40,000 more blacks who are registered as Democrats have cast an early ballot than have registered Republicans overall. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)</span>
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<p>Georgia residents packed polling places as early voting started in earnest this week, braving lines as long as eight hours to cast ballots and forcing some voting sites to stay open deep into the night.</p>
Polls have been open in Georgia since Sept. 22, but dozens more opened this week as part of a statewide strategy to ease the crunch on Election Day. The advance voting sites will be open every day through Friday.
The new system has been popular: About 200,000 voters cast their ballots on Monday alone. They're among 1.2 million people, more than 20 percent of the state's 5.6 million registered voters, who have voted early so far. The votes won't be counted until Election Day.
In Florida, a crucial battleground state where early voting lines have also been long, Gov. Charlie Crist signed an executive order Tuesday keeping polling places open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., four hours longer than specified in state law. He cited record turnout in signing the order, which also requires polling places to be open a total of 12 hours this weekend instead of eight. Many counties in Tennessee have also extended their polling hours.
Nationwide, about a third of voters in more than 30 states are expected to cast their ballots early.
In Georgia, lines were down to under four hours in most places by Tuesday, but the long waits prompted the Democratic Party to urge Secretary of State Karen Handel to keep the polls open longer during the week and over the weekend.
"No one wants to see Georgia's failed processes become a national news story," wrote Jane Kidd, the party's chair. "But today, it is clear that we are in a crisis, and it is unclear even if there is enough time for the remaining four million-plus Georgia voters to cast their votes in an efficient and timely manner."
Handel, a Republican who oversees Georgia elections, said state law doesn't provide for weekend voting and prohibits voting on the Monday before Election Day. Besides, she said, county officials will be working through the weekend to prepare for the crush of voters.
"There's a lot that happens Saturday, Sunday and Monday to prepare for Tuesday they've got to get ready for the three million people that are coming."
She said her office has dispatched 100 monitors around the state, and is sending teams to polling places with waits over two hours. The average wait time on Tuesday, she said, was around an hour.
"We had one day in four counties where there was an issue of longer-than-acceptable lines that's a pretty good performance," she said. "I think all in all it's gone pretty smoothly."
The lines were longest in metro Atlanta, where Democrat Barack Obama's candidacy was expected to increase black voter turnout. Republican John McCain is favored to win the state, although recent polls show he has a modest lead.
About 35 percent of the early voters were black, a disproportionate hunk of the state's population. Figures from Oct. 1 show blacks make up 29 percent of Georgia's electorate.
At a library north of Atlanta, wait times topped more than eight hours Monday night when the computer system crashed several times. Workers who didn't leave until 11 p.m. returned Tuesday morning to find voters had begun lining up at 4 a.m.
Lines were also long at a senior center in Clayton County, a suburban county south of Atlanta where some voters who showed up Monday had to wait until after midnight to cast their ballots. The lengthy lines continued Tuesday, but they averaged three to four hours instead of six to eight.
Dianne Meeks waited about three and a half hours and likely had another hour or two to go but seemed unfazed.
"It's worth it to wait because we have the freedom to vote and pick our officials, so that's what we need to do," said Meeks, a 58-year-old retired administrative assistant. "It's a civic duty if you want to call it that, but it's a privilege."
Denise Burgess of Decatur, an Atlanta suburb, waited 90 minutes outside a senior center, warding off chilly temperatures in her husband's parka.
"That was reasonable," said the Decatur resident. "I got in line last Friday and it was a three hour wait, so this was very reasonable."
Outside the Atlanta area, waits at many polling places were under 45 minutes.
Clare Morriss, a 50-year-old from Monroe, a rural area about 45 miles east of Atlanta, said she heard horror stories about long lines in Atlanta, but decided to give early voting a shot when she saw a short line outside her polling place.
"I was in and out in 30 minutes, no problems at all," Morriss said.
Associated Press writers Shannon McCaffrey in Monroe, Ga., Dionne Walker in Decatur, Ga., Kate Brumback in Riverdale, Ga., and Bill Kaczor in Tallahassee, Fla., contributed to this report.
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You only think you know OBAMAMAN, WHY?
"8. Law practice client list -- Not released, WHY?" Just wanted to point out that it is an ethical violation to reveal who your clients are without their permission or consent, unless they are a major corporation and your representation of them is not a secret. It's a part of Attorney-Client confidentiality. You can look it up on the Model Rules of Professional Conduct, or any states adaptation of the Ethical Rules. You can probably remove than one from your list now.
REGARDING THE SUPREME COURT RULING
It difficult for me to say, and I can't believe I'm going to say this, but Scalia's decision was very persuasive. However, I think he contradicted himself in it, he looked for the current view of the second amendment, when he is ussually considered an "originalist" that interprets a "dead document", or so he has said. He even has a dictionary of the colonial days. I just want to know whether they looked at the "well-regulated militia" part of it. Now I know there is no militia, therefore they cannot possess weapons, but it should have been brought up. In the end, I agree with the end result. But that's because I'm not an "originalist", I believe in interpretation of the Constitution with a modern point of view. If we get into what type of weapons should the people keep, then that's a different issue for me. I personally don't believe people would need any more weapons than a handgun, rifle or shotgun, anything more is overkill in my opinion, but as I said, that's a separate issue. What did you think bigj480?
