Being Thankful for Politics!

Many of us have just celebrated another joyous Thanksgiving Day and I want to say that we are truly thankful for a lot. If you look around the world, we have countries at civil war with another, wars being silently fought and waged underneath the media's scope, and government's being ruthless toward its people. Yes we are thankful for a lot people. I mean, look around you, everything that I have just told are a result of politics. We are thankful for politics, regardless of what type of political system exists, we must understand that within every political system there's a cause and a purpose. Politics make the decisions of who gets what, when, and how. No matter how you look at it, politics is rooted in every type of decision we make as individuals and that is something that we must all be thankful for. So I hope we all realize just how thankful we are for politics, no matter if you view it as good or bad.

Political Blogging

The new trend in politics are political blogs and many people are starting to get into the act of blogging in order to find out what's going on in the political arena. Therefore political parties and politicians are starting to realize now more than ever that they need each other in order to survive. Midterm elections showed that online activists and the party need each other and that is something that could signal the direction of how the 2008 Presidential elections might trend. So if you are not hype to political blogging than I highly encourage everyone to start checking out the political blog circuit now and become acclimated before 2008 gets into full trend.

Military Draft

Will Americans go for a military draft? Well the discussion of implementing a military draft has resurfaced and all I can say is that if it takes place that things are sure to change dramatically and drastically. So I ask will the youth of America allow a military draft to be implemented? Can we afford to see a military draft installed in 2006 or even in 2007? Is the War in Iraq so bad that now they need a military draft in order to meet troop supplies in terms of soldiers? I don't know but I am just posing the questions that one needs to consider.

GOD BLESS OUR SOLDIERS

Whose running in 2008?

Let me know who you would like to see run in 2008? In the meantime, here a couple of pictures of several potential people who might run in 2008 such as Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack (Democrat), Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson (Republican), former Mayor of New York Rudy Giuliani (Republican), U.S. Senator John McCain of Arizona & former 2000 Republican Presidential Candidate, former U.S. Senator from North Carolina & 2004 Democratic Vice Presidential Nominee John Edwards , U.S. Senator from New York & former First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton (Democrat), U.S. Senator from Massachusetts & 2004 Democratic Presidential Candidate John Kerry, U.S. Senator from Indiana Evan Bayh (Democrat), Senate Majority Leader Bill First of Tennesse (Republican), and U.S. Senator from Illinois Barack Obama (Democrat).

South Africa Approves Gay Marriages

If South Africa can allow Gay Marriages, why can't America? Several countries such as Canada, Spain, Belgium, and the Netherlands allow gay marriages to take place and now South Africa has joined the few countries that allow gay marriages to take place. However South Africa lawmakers included in their Civil Union Bill that marriage officers can refuse to perform a same-sex ceremony on religious grounds. This recent bill was created because South Africa's highest court ruled last year that denying gay people the right to marry was unconstitutional and gave the legislature to Dec. 1, 2006 to change the law. Now with law being changed, the bill only needs the approval of the National Council of Provinces before being signed by President Thabo Mbeki.

So if South Africa's highest court could see that a Gay Marriage Ban is unconstitutional than will that mean the U.S. Supreme Court will see it the same way and rule that Gay Marriage bans is unconstitutional. Time will tell and I know for many in Tennessee that they hope such a ruling comes soon with the people of Tennessee voting to ban Gay Marriages for religious reasons.

Welcome back Mr. Lott?

Regardless of what many people may think about Trent Lott, including myself, I have come to realize that a few years ago Mr. Lott's comments were taken out of context. Mr. Lott was simply trying to make an old man happy on his 100th birthday when Mr. Lott said America would be better off if they voted for Mr. Strom Thurmond in 1948 as President, when Thurmond ran as a segregationist "Dixiecrat." Now many individuals including myself quickly called Mr. Lott, a racist and unfit to be the Senate Majority Leader because of those comments. So now I am here today to tell Mr. Lott, I'm sorry and to encourage others to stand up and clap for Mr. Lott because he is back as his parties Minority Whip (Number 2 Guy for the Republicans in the Senate). I am pleased to say that like Mr. John Kerry's comments a week or two ago, Mr. Lott's comments years ago were taken out of context and the media and individuals like myself quickly ran with it and didn't really understand the setting of the occasion where Mr. Lott was at. Mr. Lott said he was just trying to make Mr. Thurmond feel good on his 100th birthday and that is what was truly overlooked in Mr. Lott's comments, the setting and place where his comments were made. All of us have tried to make someone feel good for their birthday and most of us would go to great lengths to do that.

Therefore I am happy to see Mr. Lott back at the top of his Party and I am sure that when he talks everyone will be listening but will be listening to see will Mr. Lott continue to criticize the Bush administration like he has done for the last 2 years since Bush's reelection. Mr. Lott has perhaps been one of the administrations biggest Republican critics and that is surely something that many experts are looking forward to seeing which Mr. Lott will emerge and which Mr. Lott will the public be watching for. Well for me I am looking forward to seeing the outspoken Bush administration critic Mr. Lott and I hope everyone else is too.

Are you Ready for 2008?

I hope all of you are ready for 2008? I know it is too early to be thinking about it but 2008 will be here before you know it. I don't who is running for President but I want everyone to get excited about it because for the first time in several years, we won't be having an incumbent running for the Presidency and won't be having a Vice President running to be President. So I want everyone to get registered to vote like now. Get ready and get pumped for 2008. I know 2007 has not come in yet but we need to start moblizing for 2008 now and not just let 2007 go by without getting as many people registered to vote and excited about the 2008 Presidential election. So I encourage everyone to take time out and tell people to get registered to vote and not wait until 2008 but start doing it now so we can have the largest number of people resistered to vote ever in the United States. Then after getting everyone registered, let's make sure we turnout even larger numbers in the 2008 Presidential election.

So I ask you, are you ready for 2008, I have been ready every since Wednesday, November 8, 2006. So I hope all of you are ready?

Where the Youth At?

While much talk about the 2006 Election has been about the Democrats taking over the House and Senate. I am still ashamed at the fact that it seems that Congress continues to get older and older every year. When will the youth get a chance to emerge in the political racks. We can go fight wars but we can't be political representatives for our country at the highest level of government which is Federal Government. For example, a 36 year old Congressman running for U.S. Senate in Tennessee was constantly considered immature by his opponent and his opponents party but I ask you, if he's considered immature than ain't a lot of the individuals who go fight for this country still immature.

Also isn't President Bush immature at times when he speaks. When will the youth get there chance. When will the people in Congress be truly representative of all the ages. So we as youth need to start our own political party and start creating our own politicians that are good enough to win elections. We need to be our own political party. So everyone between the age of 18-35 and those even younger who can't vote, we should start the Youth Party and emerge to pronounce as a force to wreaking with. The YOUTH PARTY, right here, right now.

Affirmative Action in Jeopardy?

While many people are talking about the Democrats taking over the House and possibly taking over the Senate, there was a major amendment that passed in Michigan that could affect the future of America as we know. Hundreds of televisions screens were tuned in to the 2006 Midterm Election results, over night in a blink of an eye, Affirmative Action was dealt a major blow across American because of Michigan's Proposal 2 passing. The Civil Rights Movement was set back once again as the voters in Michigan decided to pass an amendment that states no affirmative action programs will be used throughout the state. Therefore, minorities in the state of Michigan have to literally fight for everything they want. Minorities probably already had it rough or thought they had it rough but clearly with the passing of Proposal 2 in Michigan, which was labeled Michigan's Civil Rights Initiative. This initiative passed with 58 percent of the vote and clearly the wording in this proposal confused many voters and as a result of that, Michigan no longer has Affirmative Action.

It's a sad day in the political world and it should be a sad day for all college students because while many of our minority leaders went to school off affirmative action, as of today, the passing of Proposal 2 in Michigan could pave the way for other states getting rid of Affirmative Action.

Now I must serious shade a tear for Affirmative Action being banned in Michigan....so sad....oh how the mighty have truly fallen.

Why Get an Absentee Ballot?

An Absentee Ballot is defined as a ballot marked and mailed in advance by a voter away from the place where he or she is registered. Therefore the purpose of an absentee ballot is to ensure that people have the chance to vote a primary or general election although they are not in the place where he or she is registered to vote. For example, let's say you are a college student and you attend college in another state or you attend college in the same state where you are registered but you won't be home to vote on election day. Therefore it would be important for you to request an absentee ballot in advance because you will be outside your voting district on election day.

Now you might ask, how would you go about doing that and the answer is pretty simple, you would contact your local or state election commission i.e. secretary of state office and ask for an absentee ballot application so that you can request for an absentee ballot for any election you know you will not be home to vote in. The early you do this, the better, don't wait until election day to do it when you can do it one or two in advance so that way your absentee ballot is mailed to you in advance and you can quickly fill it out and mail it back in to the election commission just as quickly as you got it. Therefore your ballot can count in the election.

By asking for an absentee ballot that means you can't vote in person on election day even if you are at home in the area where you are registered. Also if you just registered to vote, it is important that you know that you can't vote via absentee the first go round because it is required that all newly registered voters vote in person for their first election.

Anyone besides newly registered voters can request an absentee ballot no matter if you are going to be out of state on election day or out of the country. The sooner you request it, the quicker your absentee ballot application can be processed and the absentee ballot can be sent off to you. So I highly encourage everyone to start considering absentee ballots especially college students because if you are not going to register in the state where you attend college than it make sure you are registered at home and that you get an absentee ballot.

How To Apply For An Absentee Ballot?

How to Apply for an Absentee Ballot

I can't get to the polls on election day. Can I vote?
Yes. You may vote by absentee ballot if you:
will be absent from your city or town on election day, and/or
have a physical disability that prevents your voting at the polling place, and/or
cannot vote at the polls due to religious beliefs.

How can I apply for an absentee ballot?
Apply in writing to your city or town clerk or election commission and include your:
name,
address as registered,
ward and precinct (if you know them),
address where you wish the absentee ballot sent,
in a primary, the party ballot you want, and
your signature.

Can anyone else apply for an absentee ballot for me?
Yes. A family member may apply for you.

When should I submit my application for an absentee ballot?
If you wish to vote by absentee ballot for more than one election in a year you may make one application and request that ballots for all elections during that calendar year be sent to you.
If you vote by mail, make certain the application arrives at your local election office early. Remember, the ballot will be mailed to you. You may mail or hand-deliver it back to the election office but must arrive before the close of the polls on election day.

How do I vote by absentee ballot?
You may vote at the clerk's office or request that the ballot be mailed to you. The deadline for applying for an absentee ballot is noon of the day before the election.

Can a family member apply for my absentee ballot?
Yes.

Must I be a registered voter in order to vote by absentee ballot?
Yes, unless you are a "specially qualified voter". A specially qualified voter is a person:
who is otherwise eligible to register as a voter and
whose present domicile is outside the United States and whose last domicile in the United States was Massachusetts or whose present domicile is Massachusetts and who is:(a) absent from the city or town or residence and in the active service of the armed forces or in the merchant marine of the United States or a spouse or dependent of such person; (b) absent from the commonwealth; or (c) confined in a correctional facility or a jail, except if by reason of felony conviction.

Must my ballot be witnessed?
No.

What if I'm not able to mark my absentee ballot?
You may ask any person to help you. The helper must print his or her name and your name on the brown envelope, write the reason you needed help and then sign his or her name as the assisting person.