As of last week, speculations about possible Obama appointees to the President-Elect's Cabinet have begun to surface. Senator John Kerry, D-MA, has already shown interest in becoming the Secretary of State and has opted to leave his senatorial seat if Pres. Obama appoints him. Reports have also stated that Obama and his campaign advisors are scheduled to meet with a 17-member board of Economics to develop the President's new fiscal policies. Some surprise possible members would make Obama's Cabinet a bipartisan group, including Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-NE, as Secretary of Defense and Sheila Blair, Republican head of FDIC, as Secretary of the Treasury. There has also been some estimating of a soon to be open Supreme Court seat, with some buzz around a possible appointment of Cass Sunstein, constitutional law professor at the University of Chicago, or possibly Hillary Clinton. Who would you put in Obama's Cabinet? What positions will be the most vital for a successful term for Obama?
As votes are finalized today, it seems the margain of President Elect Barack Obama's victory is growing. Winning important swing states early on, including Pennsylvania and Ohio, it seems Obama's campaign was nearly flawless. What was the biggest problem with the McCain-Palin campaign? Was the "maverick" Republican too moderate for staunch or more traditional Republicans across the map? Would any of the other early contenders for the Republican nomination given Obama a better run for the title?
Last night, Senator Barack Obama was elected as our next president with 338 electoral votes compared to Senator John McCain's 163. He spoke last night at Grant Park in his hometown of Chicago and addressed the nation for the first time as President Elect.
Riding a Democratic tide that bolstered the party's presence in both houses of Congress, Obama snared about 62.5 million votes to McCain's 55.5 million, according to totals early Wednesday. According to exit polls, Obama crushed McCain among women voters (56 percent to 43 percent); voters under 30 (66 percent to 32 percent); African-American voters (95 percent to 4 percent); Latino voters (66 percent to 32 percent); first-time voters (68 percent to 31 percent); and voters making less than $100,000 a year (55 percent to 43 percent). As he claimed victory Tuesday night, Obama told supporters, "change has come to America. The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even one term, but America -- I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you -- we as a people will get there," Obama said in Chicago before an estimated crowd of up to 240,000 people.
With Obama's win, he becomes the first African-American to win the White House.
With just more than a week until election day, the presidential race is not the only one with high stakes for the parties. Polls show that there may be a Democratic majority in the Senate if the Republicans can not get victories in several incumbents' states.
Sens. Mitch McConnell and Elizabeth Dole are two top Republicans lawmakers who find themselves fighting to hold on to their Senate seats. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is in a competitive race in Kentucky.
They're also two reasons why Democrats are talking 60 -- the number of seats needed to secure filibuster-proof majority in the Senate.
"We are feeling really good that we are going to pick up a successful amount of the larger number of seats and have a successful election. As for 60? It is possible," said New York Sen. Chuck Schumer, who runs campaign operations for the Senate Democrats.
Winning what's commonly called the "magic 60" would maximize the Democrats' ability to push through a Democratic agenda and would virtually prevent Republicans from blocking legislation on the Senate floor. See a map of the Senate seats in play »
There's been a lot of attention on McConnell's race in Kentucky because he is the Senate minority leader, and he's been re-elected four times. McConnell said this race is tougher than last time because, given his high-profile position, he's a bigger target and "the symbol of the other side."
Dole was elected to the Senate in 2002. Her early poll numbers were strong, but the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has spent a lot of money attacking her on two issues -- her effectiveness (or lack of it) in Washington and the little time that she has spent in the state over the past few years, according to The Rothenberg Political Report.
With just days left until the election, Senate Republicans acknowledge they still face a long road ahead.
Nov. 4 is a little under 2 weeks away, 11 days, 12 hours, and 55 minutes to be exact, and most polls show Illinois Senator Barack Obama with a lead of 5 to 9 points. With Karl Rove now on his staff, do you believe Arizona Senator, John McCain will be able to bridge this disparity and win the election? Recent years have shown us that polls are often not true indicators of the population, evidenced in Bush's 2004 electoral victory, and is 2008 the same? What should either party do to guarantee this election?
Want to hear the positions of each presidential candidate? Want to support Barack Obama or John McCain? Or are you just interested in a night filled with heated debating about the most essential topics such as education, healthcare, and the economy concerning the upcoming election?
If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, then this event is for you!!!
The Face-Off between the College Republicans and the College Democrats will be moderated by WBKO Newscaster Lauren Hanson. She will ask a variety of questions inquired by the student body. The issues discussed will have an immense influence on young people all across the United States. It is our generation's turn to speak up and become politically engaged!
Date: Tuesday October 21st Time: 6:00PM Location: DUC 340
Come out for a fun night filled with politics and come out to support your fellow Democrats or Republicans. Bring all your friends!
**Free Refreshments will be served**
**This event is sponsored by the Political Science Department and the Political Science Senior Seminar Students**
Watch these videos of the candidates for the 2008 presidential election. Who is more appealing to you? Were you decided on your candidate before or after the debates began 2 weeks ago? Do you disagree with any of the policies your candidate promotes?
October 9Post Debate Watch:Let’s Talk about the Election
DUC 340
6-8pm
Sponsored by Political Science Senior Seminar Students and
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity
October 14How to Vote Green
Bread and Bagel
6:00pm
Sponsored by BG Green
October 15An Evening of Environmental Politics
MMTH Auditorium
6:30-8:30pm
Sponsored by Potter College of Arts and Letters, Depts. of
History, English, and Political Science
Healthy Bowling Green Forum
DUC4:30pm
Sponsored by College of Health and Human Resources
October 16Slam Poetry
Java City
1:00pm
Sponsored by Political Science Senior Seminar Students
October 21Face Off: College Republicans v. College Democrats
Moderated by Lauren Hanson, WBKO newscaster
DUC Cupola Room6:00pm
Sponsored by Political Science Senior Seminar Students
The Struggle for the Soul of America: Regional
Universities and the Future of Democracy
Lecture by Dr. Harry Boyt, Hubert H. Humphrey
Institute of Public Affairs
MMTH Auditorium7:00pm
Sponsored by American Democracy Project
Get On the Bus: Songs from the American Experience with
Scott Stroot & Friends"
Place TBA5:00 – 7:00pm
Sponsored by Department of Theatre and Dance and Department of
Political Science
October 23Pornography and First Amendment Freedoms
Grise Hall Room 340 (Warning: Adult Material)
5:00-7:00pm
Sponsored by Political Science Senior Seminar Students
October 27Human Rights and Migratory Policies
Gardenia Chavez, Professor of the Latin American Master’s
Program in Human Rights and Democracy at the Universidad
Andina Simon Bolivar
Tate Page 3394:30pm
Sponsored bythe Office of Diversity Programs,Dept. of Modern Languages, Political Engagement Project, Office of Internationalization, and Potter College
TBAAcross Generations: An intergenerational discussion
Village Manor Residence
Sponsored by Scholars and Gerontology Students
November 4VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE
November 17 – 21Get on the Bus with International Education Week
Selected activities to promote global awareness.Flier forthcoming.
Sponsored by Office of International Programs
December 5English 100 Conference: Forty Years of Political Activism
The event is "Let's Talk about the Election: A Post Debate Discussion." It is to be held on Thursday Oct 9, from 6-8 in DUC 340. Contact information for the event is kaylee.carnahan@wku.edu, christopher.williams1@wku.edu, or daniel.holley@wku.edu. There will be live analysis from WKU professors, prizes, an open forum, and free food. Come join us tomorrow!
The first of the debates are finished after last Friday's only VP Debate, with the second Presidential Debate scheduled for Tuesday in Nashville, TN. So far, how do you rank the candidates? Did Obama meet the hype as today's greatest orator? Was Sarah Palin able to rise above the rumors of her inexperience as governor of America's least populated state? Is John McCain the maverick America needs, or was Joe Biden correct when he said, "a maverick, he is not?"
Tell us what you think and who you are leaning towards in ELECTION 2008!
Sept. 29, 2008 - The President's proposed $700 billion bailout bill failed on Monday by a vote of 228 - 205, 1 non-voting. What are your thoughts on this result? Should the government allow the economy to fix itself, or should regulations be put into place that could help stabilize the economy? Are the Amero and the North American Parliamentary Group possible alternatives for Canada, Mexico, and the United States in this time economic crisis?
The Kick-Off Debate Watch is kicking off the "Get on the Bus" national campaign and advertising the Debate Watch. The party will focus on why 1968 was so important in electoral politics. There will be cornhole, dart boards, and free food! Its from 11-2 at Grise on September 30th. There will also be a survey on how students feel about the candidates before the debate and handing out voter registration cards. It is really a 60's theme that is encouraging students to watch the debate and be politically involved. Come get involved!
BREAKING NEWS: Yesterday, during a press conference, Republican Sen. John McCain announced he would be suspending his campaign in order to return to Washington to assist Congress in the decision of the proposed $700 billion bailout plan. Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Barack Obama, issued a statement from Clearwater, FL., shortly after saying he had no desire to postpone the first Presidential Debate this Friday. However, McCain says the most important debate is the one on Capitol Hill, and until the bailout deal is reached, he will not attend the debate.
TONIGHT'S DEBATE IS SCHEDULED FOR TONIGHT AT 9/8 CENTRAL ON CBS AND CNN. THE MODERATOR IS JIM LEHRER FROM PBS AND IS BEING HELD IN OXFORD, MISSISSIPPI.
The bus has already under gone some major changes on the WKU campus and at Kaleidoscope in Bowling Green, Ky. WKU freshmen attending MASTERPlan from Aug. 16-22 and middle and high school students participating in the Kaleidoscope program, Voices4Justice, have already made their mark on this year's political engagement project by painting the bus with political slogans and symbols. Be on the lookout for the BUS coming to your area soon!
The center piece and showcase for Debate Watch is the psychedelic, political expression bus.The Political Engagement Project purchased a school bus from Warren County Public Schools for just $1.00.The bus will be gutted and retrofitted with an exhibit "40 Years of Political Activism," the exhibit will focus on national, state and local political activism during the past 40 years with a special emphasis on the political engagement of WKU students.The outside of the bus will be painted by several campus and community partners.WKU Art students, Master Plan freshmen and the Kaleidoscope Voices4Justice program for middle and high school students will join forces to paint a collage of political expressions that visually display the activism of the past forty years.Keep checking this website for pictures of the bus in transition…
Want to get involved in one of the most exciting times in history?Come be a part of this political engagement movement. Join our political engagement community/group on BLOGGER for electronic discussion of issues and candidates.You can get quick information about what’s going on around campus, get announcements of events, and stay involved in this heated election!
This forum is for everyone, and everything political is up for debate. Please share your thoughts, concerns, and opinions and let's get the discussion rolling!
The "Get on the Bus" project is the psychedelic, political expression bus. The Political Engagement Project purchased a school bus from Warren County Public Schools. The outside of the bus will be painted by several campus and community partners, including WKU Art students, Master Plan freshmen and the Kaleidoscope Voices4Justice program for middle and high school students will join forces to paint a collage of political expressions that visually display the activism of the past forty years. Want to get involved in one of the most exciting times in history? Come be a part of this political engagement movement.
