By: Hamilton Ryan
Hello all and welcome back to my blog site, and if you are a first time visitor then welcome to the site, and I hope that you enjoy it. As many of you may have noticed there have been a few changes with the display of the site. Let me take the time to address each update and what it is there for. There is a poll question that I have for all of my visitors to answer. Please if you have the time read the question and answer it. That helps me keep up with the major issues affecting my visitors. Now moving on you will find directly below my blog archive a section that shows the electoral votes. This section will keep you up-to-date from day to day with the current state of the election, and which side is winning. The map below that shows you which states the Republicans/GOP are winning, and which states the Democrats are winning. Both of these are updated daily. Lastly you will find at the very bottom of the page that I have put one more thing. This is merely just another way of looking at the current electoral votes.
Now that we have gotten the house cleaning out of the way let me give you an update on the state of the race. Currently in Florida the election has become tied. The Obama team has gained ground! McCain has hurt himself badly by promoting offshore drilling because the people here in Florida realize that affects them in a big way. From what I have heard some students down in Gainesville have stated that there is no benefit to offshore drilling. Gas prices would pretty much stay the same, and if there was a relief it would only be short term. At the same time the beaches would slowly start getting destroyed, and Florida's main asset to its economy, which is its tourism due to the beaches, would crumble. The Republican Party has been hurt in a big way down here in Florida, and it continues losing ground. After talking to many voters I have heard a few other issues that are on their minds. One issue is the political corruption of the state of Florida. I have consistently heard about these "political machines" that run the state, and every time that I hear about them it makes me sick. An obvious product of this would be the conclusion to the 2000 election when Al Gore lost by just 537 votes in Florida. There are so many people down here that are still furious about that election, and they should be, but at the same time we should look for a solution to that, and I have one. The solution, oddly enough, is found in another issue that I heard from Florida voters.
The issue that I am speaking of is voter apathy. According to the great people of the state of Florida, and more specifically Polk County, the Democratic voters have a history of being apathetic come election day. So first we, as a party, need to get the voters excited about their candidate, which should not be too difficult seeing as how he is young and he is up against John McCain. The national polls have proven that the younger crowd already swings to Obama's favor. Now we must capitalize on that. Also, we HAVE to make sure that there are record turnouts in every county come election day. If there are, then they cannot say that we lost by a small number, like 537 votes! These are the issues that I have heard so far from the Democratic, Independent, and even some disgruntled Republican Florida voters, and these are the issues that we need to attack quickly as a party. We have take the ground back in Florida and tied it up. Now we must take the lead, and once we have that lead we must be relentless. This is our election to win, or to lose, and I have full faith in my party, and my country that we will win it. Again I ask you to continue to check back for more updates. Thank you for reading and keeping in touch. Remember that if you have the time to answer that poll question to answer it. I would be very appreciative. Thank you and may God continue to bless this great country of ours!
Monday, June 30, 2008
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Update #1 Solving the Florida Equation: How to Gain this Toss Up State!
By: Hamilton Ryan
After performing some major political analysis on June 10 I decided to fulfill my promise and do a state-by-state analysis starting with the sunshine state of Florida, which happens to be the state that I am residing in at the moment. So let us begin by taking a look at what Senator Obama stands to gain from Florida. As we already know, from the last post that I made, Florida offers 27 electoral votes, which is quite a big chunk. As a matter of fact, that is the biggest amount of votes out of all of the toss up states. For the supporters, and the campaign this will be the first time that Barack Obama has officially campaigned in this state for votes. As we all know he did not get to campaign here during the primary season.
First of all let us take a look at the gender gap between the two parties. The Democratic Party had a majority of 59 percent women turn out while the majority for the Republican Party were men coming in at 56 percent. Although the male gender was a minority for the Democratic primary Obama still took 38 percent of it. While McCain took 37 percent of the male gender, which was the majority for his party. Although not a major difference it could play a bigger role as the race continues.
Next we must take a look at age, and where it factors in. The Democrats had a larger turnout of younger people then the GOP. The age between 18-29 turned out by 9 percent for the Democrats where as the GOP only attracted 7 percent. Of that nine percent for the Democrats 43 percent went in Senator Obama's favor while 30 percent of the younger vote went in John McCain's favor for the Republicans. This is a much lower percentage for John McCain when compared to Barack Obama. While many will say that the young vote does not play into elections I would disagree. Even during the primary season we saw Sen. Obama almost come back and win in Indiana in a county that was predominantly Catholic. Now if anyone followed his demographics through out the primaries they would know that he did not get the Catholic vote. Instead that was Hillary Clinton's strong point. When all of the numbers were taken into account the answer to why Barack Obama took that vote was clear. He won in that county because of the young vote from Notre Dame University. That county almost gave him a brilliant comeback to win the state of Indiana. So do not ever count the young vote out, and Senator Obama has proven to capture the majority of that age group.
The majority that turned out for both Democrats and Republicans in age were 60+, and in this area 39 percent voted Democrat, and 44 percent voted Republican. This is the age group that McCain thrived in, but that is no surprise because the older generation tends to lean for the GOP, where as the younger generation leans for the Democrats. Of the 60+ voters McCain took 39 percent, which was the largest percentage in that demographic out of all of his opponents in the GOP.
So now we know that the area that Obama supporters need to look to capture in Florida is the older vote, and preferably the older women, but what does the rest of the exit poll for Florida tell us? What about the religious vote? People who go to church more than weekly were the minority in the voter demographic for both Democrats and Republicans, but it took stronger roots in the Republican Party. John McCain only got 24 percent of that vote while Barack Obama took 49 percent of that vote. People who go to church more than weekly voted much stronger for Senator Barack Obama. So the religious vote swung in the Democratic Party's favor in Florida.
I think that Senator Obama's challenge in Florida will be the older vote, as well as capturing the Latino vote. We have seen over the entire primary season that his trouble spots were Latino, women, and older voters, as well as, the white blue-collar voters. Depending on who he picks for his Vice-Presidential candidate these challenges could be turned over to work in his favor. Keep checking back for more updates on how he could turn the toss up state of Florida into his favor.
After performing some major political analysis on June 10 I decided to fulfill my promise and do a state-by-state analysis starting with the sunshine state of Florida, which happens to be the state that I am residing in at the moment. So let us begin by taking a look at what Senator Obama stands to gain from Florida. As we already know, from the last post that I made, Florida offers 27 electoral votes, which is quite a big chunk. As a matter of fact, that is the biggest amount of votes out of all of the toss up states. For the supporters, and the campaign this will be the first time that Barack Obama has officially campaigned in this state for votes. As we all know he did not get to campaign here during the primary season.
First of all let us take a look at the gender gap between the two parties. The Democratic Party had a majority of 59 percent women turn out while the majority for the Republican Party were men coming in at 56 percent. Although the male gender was a minority for the Democratic primary Obama still took 38 percent of it. While McCain took 37 percent of the male gender, which was the majority for his party. Although not a major difference it could play a bigger role as the race continues.
Next we must take a look at age, and where it factors in. The Democrats had a larger turnout of younger people then the GOP. The age between 18-29 turned out by 9 percent for the Democrats where as the GOP only attracted 7 percent. Of that nine percent for the Democrats 43 percent went in Senator Obama's favor while 30 percent of the younger vote went in John McCain's favor for the Republicans. This is a much lower percentage for John McCain when compared to Barack Obama. While many will say that the young vote does not play into elections I would disagree. Even during the primary season we saw Sen. Obama almost come back and win in Indiana in a county that was predominantly Catholic. Now if anyone followed his demographics through out the primaries they would know that he did not get the Catholic vote. Instead that was Hillary Clinton's strong point. When all of the numbers were taken into account the answer to why Barack Obama took that vote was clear. He won in that county because of the young vote from Notre Dame University. That county almost gave him a brilliant comeback to win the state of Indiana. So do not ever count the young vote out, and Senator Obama has proven to capture the majority of that age group.
The majority that turned out for both Democrats and Republicans in age were 60+, and in this area 39 percent voted Democrat, and 44 percent voted Republican. This is the age group that McCain thrived in, but that is no surprise because the older generation tends to lean for the GOP, where as the younger generation leans for the Democrats. Of the 60+ voters McCain took 39 percent, which was the largest percentage in that demographic out of all of his opponents in the GOP.
So now we know that the area that Obama supporters need to look to capture in Florida is the older vote, and preferably the older women, but what does the rest of the exit poll for Florida tell us? What about the religious vote? People who go to church more than weekly were the minority in the voter demographic for both Democrats and Republicans, but it took stronger roots in the Republican Party. John McCain only got 24 percent of that vote while Barack Obama took 49 percent of that vote. People who go to church more than weekly voted much stronger for Senator Barack Obama. So the religious vote swung in the Democratic Party's favor in Florida.
I think that Senator Obama's challenge in Florida will be the older vote, as well as capturing the Latino vote. We have seen over the entire primary season that his trouble spots were Latino, women, and older voters, as well as, the white blue-collar voters. Depending on who he picks for his Vice-Presidential candidate these challenges could be turned over to work in his favor. Keep checking back for more updates on how he could turn the toss up state of Florida into his favor.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Just Some Political Analysis for Tuesday June 10, 2008
By: Hamilton Ryan
As an Obama supporter there are a lot of questions I get about how I think the campaign is going. Every time that I am asked that question I always think and respond with the same answer. I look at the person who asked me how I thought the campaign was going, and I say, "Well." I say this with a smile on my face. Although I know that the campaign process is working just fine I know that everyday we can improve. So today I did some political analyzing for the three top questions on my mind right now. The three questions include:
1.) What do the national polls say about the current race between Sen. Barack Obama, and Sen. John McCain?
2.) What does the electoral map show us so far?
3.) Who will be Sen. Barack Obama's Vice-Presidential candidate?
I take a look at these three questions, and I think this looks a little daunting, but luckily there is CNN to the rescue. Here is the best answer that I can give to the first question:
As you can see according to CNN's poll of polls Senator Barack Obama is leading Senator John McCain nationally by four points as of June 10, 2008. This poll does not have a sampling error so what you see is what you get. That question was simple enough to answer. Now let's move on to question number two. What does the electoral map show us so far? This question is a little bit more complicated to answer because the electoral map actually shows us quite a bit so far. Take a look below at the map.
Total Electoral College Votes as of June 10 according to CNN:
Senator Barack Obama: 190 (foundational and lean states)
Senator John McCain: 194 (foundational and lean states)
Toss Up States (Represented by Yellow on the Map): 154
*The numbers in parenthesis below represent each individual states electoral votes.
Senator Obama has ten foundational states plus the District of Columbia. These foundational states are shown in dark blue on the map. They are California (55), Connecticut (7), Delaware (3), Hawaii (4), Illinois (21), Maryland (10), Massachusetts (12), New York (31), Rhode Island (4), and Vermont (3). These ten foundational states give Obama 153 Electoral College Votes. The light blue are the states that Obama has a lead in, but McCain stands a chance at maybe taking over. Those four states include Washington (11), Oregon (7), Maine (4), and New Jersey (15). Now just as Senator Obama has his foundational states, and weaker states so does Senator McCain.
Senator McCain has sixteen foundational states that are almost sure to swing Republican this general election. Those states include Alabama (9), Alaska (3), Arizona (10), Idaho (4), Kansas (6), Kentucky (8), Mississippi (6), Nebraska (5), North Dakota (3), Oklahoma (7), South Carolina (8), South Dakota (3), Tennessee (11), Texas (34), Utah (5), and Wyoming (3). Together these sixteen foundational states give McCain 125 electoral votes. The sixteen states are shown in dark red on the map. McCain has eight weak/lean states however that could be taken over by Sen. Obama and the Democratic Party. These eight states include Arkansas (6), Georgia (15), Indiana (11), Louisiana (9), Montana (3), New Mexico (5), North Carolina (15), and West Virginia (5). These states are represented by dark pink on the map. Together the eight lean Republican states give 69 electoral votes.
There are twelve states that are considered toss up states that could swing either way come November. These states include Colorado (9), Florida (27), Iowa (7), Michigan (17), Minnesota (10), Missouri (11), New Hampshire (4), Nevada (5), Ohio (20), Pennsylvania (21), Virginia (13), Wisconsin (10). These are the twelve toss up states.
Look for Iowa to lean in Obama's favor. He has already had a lot of history with Iowa during the primary season. Nobody even knew who Senator Obama really was until Iowa, the first primary/caucus of the season, put him on the map. There is obviously a connection there. Colorado is hosting the Democratic National Convention so they MAY lean in Obama's favor as well. Florida has always been a toss up until the last day of the general election season. Don't look for that to change. Senator Obama has, however, rallied a lot of support from Florida. Senator McCain rebuttals, however, with the endorsement from Governor Charlie Crist. There has been some bad blood between Michigan and Sen. Obama due to the controversy with the Clinton supporters. This could hurt him, but I would look for that state to probably swing in his favor due to the endorsement of Sen. Clinton. Senator Obama struggled early on in the primary season with the blue collar voters of Pennsylvania, which could make this a heavily contested state in the General Election. John McCain could swing the state of Pennsylvania his way. I will continue to give you state-by-state updates as they are revealed at a later date.
Now to move on and address the last question. The last question asked, "Who will be Senator Barack Obama's Vice-Presidential Candidate?" I have narrowed down the long list to four that I personally think would be a good choice. Ultimately it is Senator Barack Obama's choice, but it is always fun to speculate.
1.) Senator John Edwards: Senator Edwards is from North Carolina with quite a fair amount of support. He is a seasoned veteran as far as Presidential campaigns go. He ran for the Vice-Presidential spot in 2004 with Senator John Kerry. If the cards were played right North Carolina could be twisted into Obama's favor, and pulled out of McCain's grasp. Though he is a seasoned veteran in Presidential Campaigns he has a loss on his record due to the 2004 General Election. Plus he has already stated that he does not want to run on a ticket again.
2.) Senator Chuck Hagel: Senator Hagel reigns from Nebraska. He is 61 years old and a member of the Republican Party. If Obama were to add him he would show that he is serious about putting an end to partisan politics. Hagel was also a one-time ally of Senator McCain and will surely get under his skin by the end of the campaign. Hagel is still a Republican, however, and the Democrats will be wondering if they can trust him.
3.) Governor Bill Richardson: The latino governor from New Mexico, and the former ambassador to the United Nations would be a good choice for Senator Obama because it would help stifle any theories that Obama cannot handle foreign affairs. Governor Richardson could also bring in latino votes for Barack Obama. The question remains, however, why did Gov. Richardson not endorse Obama before the Texas primary was over? Also it is troublesome to consider the fact that Governor Richardson did not get many votes himself during his run for President.
4.) Senator Hillary Clinton: Although I, myself, do not endorse Clinton for VP I will say that she could be detrimental come November. If she was Vice-President we could see a full unity of the party very quickly. Plus she would get a lot of the women voters for Obama, and she does claim many of the blue-collar voters that Barack didn't get in Pennsylvania. If she was VP we could see certain toss up states swing in Senator Obama's favor. She is, however, one of the most divisive politicians in America. She is known as quite a polarizing figure. Also can Obama and Clinton really bury the hatchet after their primary fight? Can he control Bill and Hillary if he wins the White House?
This is my analysis of many of the key questions in today's political realm. The pictures above were provided by:
http://www.cnn.com/POLITICS/
The opinions, however, were all mine. Please leave comments and suggestions below, and I will address them as quickly as I can. Be sure to check back in the next few days for an update, and maybe some state-by-state analysis. Thank you and may God continue to bless America and its citizens.
As an Obama supporter there are a lot of questions I get about how I think the campaign is going. Every time that I am asked that question I always think and respond with the same answer. I look at the person who asked me how I thought the campaign was going, and I say, "Well." I say this with a smile on my face. Although I know that the campaign process is working just fine I know that everyday we can improve. So today I did some political analyzing for the three top questions on my mind right now. The three questions include:
1.) What do the national polls say about the current race between Sen. Barack Obama, and Sen. John McCain?
2.) What does the electoral map show us so far?
3.) Who will be Sen. Barack Obama's Vice-Presidential candidate?
I take a look at these three questions, and I think this looks a little daunting, but luckily there is CNN to the rescue. Here is the best answer that I can give to the first question:
As you can see according to CNN's poll of polls Senator Barack Obama is leading Senator John McCain nationally by four points as of June 10, 2008. This poll does not have a sampling error so what you see is what you get. That question was simple enough to answer. Now let's move on to question number two. What does the electoral map show us so far? This question is a little bit more complicated to answer because the electoral map actually shows us quite a bit so far. Take a look below at the map.
Total Electoral College Votes as of June 10 according to CNN:
Senator Barack Obama: 190 (foundational and lean states)
Senator John McCain: 194 (foundational and lean states)
Toss Up States (Represented by Yellow on the Map): 154
*The numbers in parenthesis below represent each individual states electoral votes.Senator Obama has ten foundational states plus the District of Columbia. These foundational states are shown in dark blue on the map. They are California (55), Connecticut (7), Delaware (3), Hawaii (4), Illinois (21), Maryland (10), Massachusetts (12), New York (31), Rhode Island (4), and Vermont (3). These ten foundational states give Obama 153 Electoral College Votes. The light blue are the states that Obama has a lead in, but McCain stands a chance at maybe taking over. Those four states include Washington (11), Oregon (7), Maine (4), and New Jersey (15). Now just as Senator Obama has his foundational states, and weaker states so does Senator McCain.
Senator McCain has sixteen foundational states that are almost sure to swing Republican this general election. Those states include Alabama (9), Alaska (3), Arizona (10), Idaho (4), Kansas (6), Kentucky (8), Mississippi (6), Nebraska (5), North Dakota (3), Oklahoma (7), South Carolina (8), South Dakota (3), Tennessee (11), Texas (34), Utah (5), and Wyoming (3). Together these sixteen foundational states give McCain 125 electoral votes. The sixteen states are shown in dark red on the map. McCain has eight weak/lean states however that could be taken over by Sen. Obama and the Democratic Party. These eight states include Arkansas (6), Georgia (15), Indiana (11), Louisiana (9), Montana (3), New Mexico (5), North Carolina (15), and West Virginia (5). These states are represented by dark pink on the map. Together the eight lean Republican states give 69 electoral votes.
There are twelve states that are considered toss up states that could swing either way come November. These states include Colorado (9), Florida (27), Iowa (7), Michigan (17), Minnesota (10), Missouri (11), New Hampshire (4), Nevada (5), Ohio (20), Pennsylvania (21), Virginia (13), Wisconsin (10). These are the twelve toss up states.
Look for Iowa to lean in Obama's favor. He has already had a lot of history with Iowa during the primary season. Nobody even knew who Senator Obama really was until Iowa, the first primary/caucus of the season, put him on the map. There is obviously a connection there. Colorado is hosting the Democratic National Convention so they MAY lean in Obama's favor as well. Florida has always been a toss up until the last day of the general election season. Don't look for that to change. Senator Obama has, however, rallied a lot of support from Florida. Senator McCain rebuttals, however, with the endorsement from Governor Charlie Crist. There has been some bad blood between Michigan and Sen. Obama due to the controversy with the Clinton supporters. This could hurt him, but I would look for that state to probably swing in his favor due to the endorsement of Sen. Clinton. Senator Obama struggled early on in the primary season with the blue collar voters of Pennsylvania, which could make this a heavily contested state in the General Election. John McCain could swing the state of Pennsylvania his way. I will continue to give you state-by-state updates as they are revealed at a later date.
Now to move on and address the last question. The last question asked, "Who will be Senator Barack Obama's Vice-Presidential Candidate?" I have narrowed down the long list to four that I personally think would be a good choice. Ultimately it is Senator Barack Obama's choice, but it is always fun to speculate.
1.) Senator John Edwards: Senator Edwards is from North Carolina with quite a fair amount of support. He is a seasoned veteran as far as Presidential campaigns go. He ran for the Vice-Presidential spot in 2004 with Senator John Kerry. If the cards were played right North Carolina could be twisted into Obama's favor, and pulled out of McCain's grasp. Though he is a seasoned veteran in Presidential Campaigns he has a loss on his record due to the 2004 General Election. Plus he has already stated that he does not want to run on a ticket again.
2.) Senator Chuck Hagel: Senator Hagel reigns from Nebraska. He is 61 years old and a member of the Republican Party. If Obama were to add him he would show that he is serious about putting an end to partisan politics. Hagel was also a one-time ally of Senator McCain and will surely get under his skin by the end of the campaign. Hagel is still a Republican, however, and the Democrats will be wondering if they can trust him.
3.) Governor Bill Richardson: The latino governor from New Mexico, and the former ambassador to the United Nations would be a good choice for Senator Obama because it would help stifle any theories that Obama cannot handle foreign affairs. Governor Richardson could also bring in latino votes for Barack Obama. The question remains, however, why did Gov. Richardson not endorse Obama before the Texas primary was over? Also it is troublesome to consider the fact that Governor Richardson did not get many votes himself during his run for President.
4.) Senator Hillary Clinton: Although I, myself, do not endorse Clinton for VP I will say that she could be detrimental come November. If she was Vice-President we could see a full unity of the party very quickly. Plus she would get a lot of the women voters for Obama, and she does claim many of the blue-collar voters that Barack didn't get in Pennsylvania. If she was VP we could see certain toss up states swing in Senator Obama's favor. She is, however, one of the most divisive politicians in America. She is known as quite a polarizing figure. Also can Obama and Clinton really bury the hatchet after their primary fight? Can he control Bill and Hillary if he wins the White House?
This is my analysis of many of the key questions in today's political realm. The pictures above were provided by:
http://www.cnn.com/POLITICS/
The opinions, however, were all mine. Please leave comments and suggestions below, and I will address them as quickly as I can. Be sure to check back in the next few days for an update, and maybe some state-by-state analysis. Thank you and may God continue to bless America and its citizens.
Monday, June 9, 2008
Lunch With Senator Barack Obama (This Is A Really Cool Video)
This was also written on the blog at www.barackobama.com:
"We rolled this video out last week exclusive to our video and audio podcasts, and today it's on YouTube for you to enjoy.
A few months ago, five grassroots donors shared a lunch with Barack in Muncie, Indiana. Ben, Raissa, Paul, Bonnie, and Alisha had the chance to discuss their concerns, talk about their experiences with the campaign, and share their own stories with Barack.
And also be sure to check out the first Dinner with Barack, all the way back from July 2007."
I hope that you enjoy this video. I will continue to update this blog as much as I can with my experiences working with the Obama campaign! I am looking forward to working with this campaign for the next six weeks, and I hope that I can score a job with the campaign after my internship.
Friday, June 6, 2008
My Mission Statement for if I Ran for the Presidency (a.k.a. Why I Run?)
By: Hamilton Ryan
I run to make your voices heard. We, as the people of this nation, are not Republican or Democrat, Conservative or Liberal. NO! We are something more than that. We are something stronger, and more meaningful than a partisan label. WE ARE AMERICANS! We are apart of a nation that we can be proud of, but realize that there is much to be done here. Much to be changed. My future campaign, although far off, is not about me. ITS ABOUT YOU! I have always believed, and I always will believe, in those three simple words that shook nations all around this world when they were declared, and those words were "We the People!" I will always, as long as I have a breath in my body, fight to defend these words, and make sure that our nation can NEVER say that we live off of a Constitution that states, "We the Government," instead of "We the People." That the children who inherit this nation after us can not say that their ancestors built a dictatorship and called it democracy. I can sum up why I run for political office in a quote from Robert F. Kennedy. It states the following:
"I do not want--as I believe most Americans do not want--to sell out American interests, to simply withdraw, to raise the white flag of surrender. That would be unacceptable to us as a country and as a people. But I am concerned--as I believe most Americans are concerned--that the course we are following at the present time is deeply wrong. I am concerned--as I believe most Americans are concerned--that we are acting as if no other nations existed, against the judgment and desires of neutrals and our historic allies alike. I am concerned--as I believe most Americans are concerned--that our present course will not bring victory; will not bring peace; will not stop the bloodshed; and will not advance the interests of the United States or the cause of peace in the world. I am concerned that, at the end of it all, there will only be more Americans killed; more of our treasure spilled out; and because of the bitterness and hatred on every side of this war, more hundreds of thousands of [civilians] slaughtered; so they may say, as Tacitus said of Rome: "They made a desert, and called it peace."
This statement by Robert F. Kennedy sums up a major part of my mission statement. This is how I feel about the War in Iraq, and the current state of this government's foreign relations. I ask that you continue to read my posts and comment with your ideas, beliefs, and opinions. I also want you to be able to ask me any question on any issue. By you bringing the issues that matter most to you to the forefront we can work together to bring about the proper changes in those areas. I am always listening, and I will always be dedicated to you, the American people.
I run to make your voices heard. We, as the people of this nation, are not Republican or Democrat, Conservative or Liberal. NO! We are something more than that. We are something stronger, and more meaningful than a partisan label. WE ARE AMERICANS! We are apart of a nation that we can be proud of, but realize that there is much to be done here. Much to be changed. My future campaign, although far off, is not about me. ITS ABOUT YOU! I have always believed, and I always will believe, in those three simple words that shook nations all around this world when they were declared, and those words were "We the People!" I will always, as long as I have a breath in my body, fight to defend these words, and make sure that our nation can NEVER say that we live off of a Constitution that states, "We the Government," instead of "We the People." That the children who inherit this nation after us can not say that their ancestors built a dictatorship and called it democracy. I can sum up why I run for political office in a quote from Robert F. Kennedy. It states the following:
"I do not want--as I believe most Americans do not want--to sell out American interests, to simply withdraw, to raise the white flag of surrender. That would be unacceptable to us as a country and as a people. But I am concerned--as I believe most Americans are concerned--that the course we are following at the present time is deeply wrong. I am concerned--as I believe most Americans are concerned--that we are acting as if no other nations existed, against the judgment and desires of neutrals and our historic allies alike. I am concerned--as I believe most Americans are concerned--that our present course will not bring victory; will not bring peace; will not stop the bloodshed; and will not advance the interests of the United States or the cause of peace in the world. I am concerned that, at the end of it all, there will only be more Americans killed; more of our treasure spilled out; and because of the bitterness and hatred on every side of this war, more hundreds of thousands of [civilians] slaughtered; so they may say, as Tacitus said of Rome: "They made a desert, and called it peace."
This statement by Robert F. Kennedy sums up a major part of my mission statement. This is how I feel about the War in Iraq, and the current state of this government's foreign relations. I ask that you continue to read my posts and comment with your ideas, beliefs, and opinions. I also want you to be able to ask me any question on any issue. By you bringing the issues that matter most to you to the forefront we can work together to bring about the proper changes in those areas. I am always listening, and I will always be dedicated to you, the American people.
Here Are Some Tips On How To Go Green! You Inherited This Earth Now Take Part In Saving It!
All of the information below will be coming from one single site. The tip that I stress inside of my home is tip #2 below because it is simple and everyone can do it. All you have to do is simply unplug things when they are not in use. The site is:
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/06/how-to-go-green-back-to-basics.php
Here is how to go green on your technology:
1. Go rechargeable
Of the 15 billion batteries produced and sold each year, most of them are disposable alkaline batteries, and only a fraction of those are recycled. Look for electronics that are rechargeable. For removable batteries, lithium-ion (Li-Ion) and nickel metal hydride (NiMH) are cost-effective, green alternatives. The fastest battery chargers can juice up AAs in as little as 15 minutes, and will pay for themselves quite quickly.
2. Kill vampire power
Just because your cell phone is unplugged from the charger or your TV is off, doesn’t mean these devices aren’t drawing a current and running up your electricity bill. Many AC adapters (or “wall warts”) if left plugged in will continue to pull a current from the wall socket (you may notice they are warm to the touch). Many devices that have a standby mode do the same thing. To make sure you aren’t wasting energy, pull the plug on devices when not in use or put all of your electronics and chargers on a power strip. This way you can simply flip the power strip off when your electronics are not in use. There are also a number of “smart” power strips on the market that sense when electronics are turned off, or that turn off the strip when one main unit (like your PC) is powered down. (Note that some electronics need to be turned off via the on/off switch before cutting the power. Inkjet printers, for example, need to seal the cartridge heads to avoid clogging.)
3. Buy with energy in mind
Some types of electronics suck more than others, at least in energy terms. Doing research on different technologies and their respective energy consumption can save you a lot in the long run. For example, if you want a flat panel television, look into LCD models, which use much less energy than plasmas. The Energy Star site will help you identify energy-saving electronic devices like cordless phones, stereo systems, TVs, DVD players, battery chargers, and a whole bunch more.
4. Treat those batteries right
While battery recycling programs are increasingly common and easy to use, the process of recycling anything still takes energy and resources and should not be overused (one of the most polluted sites on the planet is a battery recycling plant in the Dominican Republic). Knowing how to best use and maintain rechargeable batteries will boost their longevity and performance. See Getting Techie below for more on the specifics.
5. Make it a short circuit
So, you just bought the newest, sleekest cell phone. It takes video, filters out calls from exes, and charts barometric pressure. What should you do with the old one? Whatever you do, don’t just throw it in the trash--this risks releasing chemicals into the ecosystem. There are plenty of organizations and charities that recycle and reuse old electronics. If you want a return on your old gadgets, sell them on an online auction site--people will often buy them even if they are broken. Bonus! A growing number of computer manufacturers are adopting take-back programs as well, under which they will accept and recycle their units when you’re done with them.
6. Buy used
Don’t want to spend a fortune on technology? You can find top quality, totally functional used electronics at sites like Ebay and Craigslist, and even at yard sales and flea markets. This not only cuts down on the amount of new resources being used for the production of more stuff, it also creates a market for sellers to safely recirculate electronics they’re no longer using. Ebay’s Easytradein.com is a good resource for the electronics you are ready to part with. You might even be surprised what comes up on Freecycle.
7. Bright idea: The solar charger
There are an increasing number of options for on-the-go solar power. From handheld to backpack power, solar chargers now come in a spectrum of types for juicing up phones, PDAs, Bluetooth headsets, iPods, and laptops. Many have an onboard battery pack that can charge while the solar cells are in the sun, and then transfer the power to your device when you need it. See “Digging Deeper into TreeHugger” below for a list of solar chargers on the market.
8. Extend use
There’s definitely a cult around replacing our electronic toys and tools every 15 minutes or so when a new model comes out. In some cases, the newest technologies are cleaner and more efficient, but often, the older ones will faithfully do their assigned task for a lot longer than the marketplace would have us believe. In some cases, the older models are even superior. Step back a few paces from the whole technophelia thing and take stock of what your real needs are. It couldn’t hurt to practice some of this in the rest of our lives, as well.
9. Look for EPEAT
EPEAT (electronic product environmental assessment tool) is a new attempt at environmental certification for computers (CPUs, monitors, and notebooks). Released in early 2006, only a limited number of products have been registered with EPEAT so far, however, look for this certification to pick up steam in the near future. (EPEAT homepage)
10. Buy a less toxic system
Europe is making huge inroads on reducing the presence of toxic chemicals in electronics such as lead, cadmium, and mercury with a directive called RoHS (Restriction on Hazardous Substances). Look for companies that are adhering to--and even going beyond--the RoHS compliance in Europe and around the globe. [ROHS UK Homepage, Wikipedia's ROHS page]
http://www.treehugger.com/
Here is how to go green on your technology:
1. Go rechargeable
Of the 15 billion batteries produced and sold each year, most of them are disposable alkaline batteries, and only a fraction of those are recycled. Look for electronics that are rechargeable. For removable batteries, lithium-ion (Li-Ion) and nickel metal hydride (NiMH) are cost-effective, green alternatives. The fastest battery chargers can juice up AAs in as little as 15 minutes, and will pay for themselves quite quickly.
2. Kill vampire power
Just because your cell phone is unplugged from the charger or your TV is off, doesn’t mean these devices aren’t drawing a current and running up your electricity bill. Many AC adapters (or “wall warts”) if left plugged in will continue to pull a current from the wall socket (you may notice they are warm to the touch). Many devices that have a standby mode do the same thing. To make sure you aren’t wasting energy, pull the plug on devices when not in use or put all of your electronics and chargers on a power strip. This way you can simply flip the power strip off when your electronics are not in use. There are also a number of “smart” power strips on the market that sense when electronics are turned off, or that turn off the strip when one main unit (like your PC) is powered down. (Note that some electronics need to be turned off via the on/off switch before cutting the power. Inkjet printers, for example, need to seal the cartridge heads to avoid clogging.)
3. Buy with energy in mind
Some types of electronics suck more than others, at least in energy terms. Doing research on different technologies and their respective energy consumption can save you a lot in the long run. For example, if you want a flat panel television, look into LCD models, which use much less energy than plasmas. The Energy Star site will help you identify energy-saving electronic devices like cordless phones, stereo systems, TVs, DVD players, battery chargers, and a whole bunch more.
4. Treat those batteries right
While battery recycling programs are increasingly common and easy to use, the process of recycling anything still takes energy and resources and should not be overused (one of the most polluted sites on the planet is a battery recycling plant in the Dominican Republic). Knowing how to best use and maintain rechargeable batteries will boost their longevity and performance. See Getting Techie below for more on the specifics.
5. Make it a short circuit
So, you just bought the newest, sleekest cell phone. It takes video, filters out calls from exes, and charts barometric pressure. What should you do with the old one? Whatever you do, don’t just throw it in the trash--this risks releasing chemicals into the ecosystem. There are plenty of organizations and charities that recycle and reuse old electronics. If you want a return on your old gadgets, sell them on an online auction site--people will often buy them even if they are broken. Bonus! A growing number of computer manufacturers are adopting take-back programs as well, under which they will accept and recycle their units when you’re done with them.
6. Buy used
Don’t want to spend a fortune on technology? You can find top quality, totally functional used electronics at sites like Ebay and Craigslist, and even at yard sales and flea markets. This not only cuts down on the amount of new resources being used for the production of more stuff, it also creates a market for sellers to safely recirculate electronics they’re no longer using. Ebay’s Easytradein.com is a good resource for the electronics you are ready to part with. You might even be surprised what comes up on Freecycle.
7. Bright idea: The solar charger
There are an increasing number of options for on-the-go solar power. From handheld to backpack power, solar chargers now come in a spectrum of types for juicing up phones, PDAs, Bluetooth headsets, iPods, and laptops. Many have an onboard battery pack that can charge while the solar cells are in the sun, and then transfer the power to your device when you need it. See “Digging Deeper into TreeHugger” below for a list of solar chargers on the market.
8. Extend use
There’s definitely a cult around replacing our electronic toys and tools every 15 minutes or so when a new model comes out. In some cases, the newest technologies are cleaner and more efficient, but often, the older ones will faithfully do their assigned task for a lot longer than the marketplace would have us believe. In some cases, the older models are even superior. Step back a few paces from the whole technophelia thing and take stock of what your real needs are. It couldn’t hurt to practice some of this in the rest of our lives, as well.
9. Look for EPEAT
EPEAT (electronic product environmental assessment tool) is a new attempt at environmental certification for computers (CPUs, monitors, and notebooks). Released in early 2006, only a limited number of products have been registered with EPEAT so far, however, look for this certification to pick up steam in the near future. (EPEAT homepage)
10. Buy a less toxic system
Europe is making huge inroads on reducing the presence of toxic chemicals in electronics such as lead, cadmium, and mercury with a directive called RoHS (Restriction on Hazardous Substances). Look for companies that are adhering to--and even going beyond--the RoHS compliance in Europe and around the globe. [ROHS UK Homepage, Wikipedia's ROHS page]
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
June 3, 2008 A National Day of Change
By: Hamilton Ryan
Last night I watched as my Presidential Candidate won the Democratic Nomination for President. I sat in awe, and almost in tears, that we had finally crossed a magnificent barrier in this country. It reiterated the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., "Free at last. Free at last. Thank God Almighty we are free at last!" Free from the old destructive policies of our government. Free from the typical politics that divide us in our country into red and blue states. Free from the politics that use "religion as a wedge" and "patriotism as a bludgeon." This was a historic moment in our nation's history as well as a monumental one. As an American I looked on and expressed a deep patriotism for my country and a deep respect for it as well, but I also knew that this night was not just for me, but for an entire nation, and even an entire world that looked on from television sets all across this globe. This night was a night of CHANGE!
Obama has used the phrase "Change We Can Believe In." We, the supporters, can now stand up in full faith of this phrase because last night we proved that it was true. We made change that WE could believe in. Obama has lead us this far, and he will continue to lead us all the way to the White House. Last night, however, was not just an important milestone in the hearts of Americans, and other people around the globe, but also an important milestone in the hearts of African Americans. A race that has shown a tremendous amount of strength in the face of adversity. A race that I have an astounding amount of respect for now and throughout history. This is your time. This is your time as much as it is America's time. A time that you and your descendants can look back on and feel great pride. I cannot speak for the African American race, but I can speak for the white and Caucasian race, and I can tell you that we are proud to stand up beside you in equality! I have and always will be proud to stand with you.
Last night we witnessed a change that has been in the works since Martin Luther King Jr. finally happen. It gave me chills to watch and brought me to tears. Tears of joy, pride, and great respect for this country. In a country that has for years past preached inequality we stood up last night from all backgrounds and all races and silenced it. We put an end to divisive politics. We brought about change! So to the supporters I say congratulations, and as a supporter I say thank you Barack Obama. Now we must get ready for a difficult race that is a head of us. The general election will be tough, and, like the primaries, there will be times when we feel that we may not be able to do it, but I ask you to take last night’s moments, last night’s memories, and last night’s promises and use them as proof that under difficult times perseverance can bring about change. Always remember those three words, "Yes We Can!"
Last night I watched as my Presidential Candidate won the Democratic Nomination for President. I sat in awe, and almost in tears, that we had finally crossed a magnificent barrier in this country. It reiterated the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., "Free at last. Free at last. Thank God Almighty we are free at last!" Free from the old destructive policies of our government. Free from the typical politics that divide us in our country into red and blue states. Free from the politics that use "religion as a wedge" and "patriotism as a bludgeon." This was a historic moment in our nation's history as well as a monumental one. As an American I looked on and expressed a deep patriotism for my country and a deep respect for it as well, but I also knew that this night was not just for me, but for an entire nation, and even an entire world that looked on from television sets all across this globe. This night was a night of CHANGE!
Obama has used the phrase "Change We Can Believe In." We, the supporters, can now stand up in full faith of this phrase because last night we proved that it was true. We made change that WE could believe in. Obama has lead us this far, and he will continue to lead us all the way to the White House. Last night, however, was not just an important milestone in the hearts of Americans, and other people around the globe, but also an important milestone in the hearts of African Americans. A race that has shown a tremendous amount of strength in the face of adversity. A race that I have an astounding amount of respect for now and throughout history. This is your time. This is your time as much as it is America's time. A time that you and your descendants can look back on and feel great pride. I cannot speak for the African American race, but I can speak for the white and Caucasian race, and I can tell you that we are proud to stand up beside you in equality! I have and always will be proud to stand with you.
Last night we witnessed a change that has been in the works since Martin Luther King Jr. finally happen. It gave me chills to watch and brought me to tears. Tears of joy, pride, and great respect for this country. In a country that has for years past preached inequality we stood up last night from all backgrounds and all races and silenced it. We put an end to divisive politics. We brought about change! So to the supporters I say congratulations, and as a supporter I say thank you Barack Obama. Now we must get ready for a difficult race that is a head of us. The general election will be tough, and, like the primaries, there will be times when we feel that we may not be able to do it, but I ask you to take last night’s moments, last night’s memories, and last night’s promises and use them as proof that under difficult times perseverance can bring about change. Always remember those three words, "Yes We Can!"
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