posting by Ben Goldman

posted by Philip Bahr

He also has some very helpful links on registering to vote - I think this is a worthwhile site to check out.

*Posting by Jane Verostek.

There was a great interview with Cokie Roberts on npr with Diane Rehm - you can listen to it on the Diane Rehm website http://wamu.org/programs/dr/08/04/14.php#19480

*Posting by Jane Verostek.

Science Debate 2008: A Concerned Citizens’ Initiative

Science Debate 2008 is an initiative calling for presidential candidates to share their views on the issues of the environment, health and medicine, and science and technology policy. “The crucial role of science and technology in many policy decisions facing the nation and world cannot be understated,” said UAP President, Robert Smith. “Whoever our next president is, they will have to face these issues.”

Will the candidates debate science?

A debate proposed for April 18 by Science Debate initiative organizers has been officially abandoned after Obama declined and Clinton and McCain failed to commit. In the same time frame, both Clinton and Obama have agreed to participate in the Compassion Forum, a conversation on faith and values to be broadcast by the Church Communication Network, on April 13 at Messiah College in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Science Debate 2008 has now presented candidates with three possible May dates before the Oregon primaries on May 20.

Science Debate 2008 Signatories

Science Debate 2008’s “Call for a Presidential Debate on Science & Technology” has been signed by:

• The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
• The Council on Competitiveness
• The National Academy of Sciences
• The National Academy of Engineering
• The Institute of Medicine
• Nobel laureates and other leading scientists
• Major business leaders,
• Congresspersons of both major political parties
• Religious leaders
• Over 160 leading universities and associations, including now the UAP

For more on Science Debate 2008, visit their official website at http://www.sciencedebate2008.com.

*Posting by Gail Wiese

But what happens after the votes are cast? The next President is going to inherit monumental challenges. The economy, the war in Iraq, health care, education, international affairs, the next direction of the space program and a plethora of other issues.

The following articles are just a few opinions on what needs to happen when our next President is sworn into office:

http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=25531

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/03/22/MNNGVLT77.DTL

http://www.brookings.edu/multimedia/video/2008/0306_issues_aaron.aspx

Our next president could become overwhelmed by the prospects of solving all problems for all people. However, if we choose our next president wisely, he or she should view their election as a tremendous opportunity to do good, solve problems and create a positive mark in history.

–Jean

The 4-11-08 issue of the Daily Orange - Student Newspaper - Syracuse University - Syracuse, New York

Their Donations revealed - of faculty members who donate to presidential campains most of their dollars go to Democrats following the national trends by Melissa Daniels.

The faculty of Syracuse University is making its contribution to democracy this election cycle - a sum of at least $28,000.

And 39 of the 45 contributions made by employees of Syracuse since Jan. 2007 have gone toward Democratic candidates, according to the U.S. Federal Election Commission records. David Murray, an associate dean of advancement at SU, gave $500 to Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) in January. He was convinced Obama was the candidate to back after listening to a speech the candidate gave about race. “His speech on race was the first in my lifetime that anyone had talked about race to the American public as if we were adults,” Murray said. “That was the day I gave him that money.” Going by the numbers, it’s the education industry - not just SU - that leans left. Massie Ritsch, communications director for the Center for Responsive Politics, said donations from the educators are usually largely Democratic. “The education industry is as Democratic as the oil industry is Republican,” Ritsch said. The Center for Responsive Politics is a non-partisan, non-profit research group that tracks political donations and analyzes its effects on elections and public policy, according to its Web site. So far in the 2008 presidential campaign, 75 percent of donations from educators have gone to Democratic candidates, according to the Center for Responsive Politics Web site. The field is ranked 10th out of 80 tracked industries, contributing almost $18 million so far. “Democrats can count on money from college professors and other educators,” Ritsch said.

Here’s the breakdown of contributions since Jan. 2007 from Syracuse University employees to the 2008 presidential candidates:

*$8,850 went to Sen. Hillary Clinton (D.-N.Y.) from 17 individual donations

*$7,500 went to Obama from 13 individual donations

*$500 went to Sen. John McCain (R.-Ariz.) from two individual donations

*$250 went to Republican Mitt Romney from one donation

*$250 went to Gov. Bill Richardson from one donation

*$200 went to Sen. John Edwards from one donation

An additional $1,800 was donated to the Democratic National Committee from three separate donations.
To read the rest of this article go here.

*Posting by Jane Verostek.

You can also look at the MSNBC Hardball College Tour website to read about previous vistis to other colleges. Below is the latest from the MSNBC site on the college tours -

NEW YORK March 17, 2008 - Cathy Finkler “ “Hardball with Chris Matthews” brings its take-no-prisoners style to the college circuit once again, as the “Hardball College Tour” hosts Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., live at Villanova University, Tuesday, April 15, 5-6 p.m. ET (repeats 7-8 p.m. ET). Matthews will interview Sen. McCain on the key issues of the 2008 presidential election, including the economy and the Iraq war, with Villanova students also having the opportunity to question the candidate.

Sen. McCain is the first candidate to appear on the 2008 College Tour. “Hardball” has additionally extended invitations to both Democratic candidates, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., and Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., for additional College Tours in Pennsylvania, and discussions with the campaigns are ongoing.

“John McCain is the first to step up the plate, but as a Pennsylvanian I would love to host a Hardball College Tour for all three major candidates,” said Matthews. “Pennsylvanians deserve their place in the sun and each candidate deserves his or her time at bat.”

In 2007, Matthews gave the commencement address at Villanova University and also received an honorary doctorate.

“Hardball” has a proud tradition since 1999 of college tours from some of America’s great universities, including Georgetown University, the University of Southern California, the University of Notre Dame, Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania, Clemson University, Michigan State University, American University and Stanford University. Marquee guests on the Hardball College Tour have included former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Sen. McCain, Sen. Clinton, Robin Williams and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Villanova University is a co-educational Roman Catholic institution founded by the Order of Saint Augustine in 1842. The University offers a wide variety of undergraduate and graduate degree programs through four colleges: the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Villanova School of Business, the College of Engineering, and the College of Nursing, as well as the Villanova Law School. With a total enrollment that surpasses 10,000 undergraduate, graduate and law students, Villanova is the oldest and largest Catholic university in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. For more information see www.villanova.edu.

* Posting by Jane Verostek.

http://www.gopconvention.com/

http://gopconvention.thehill.com/

http://www.gopconventionreport.com/

* Posting by Jane Verostek.

http://www.demconvention.com/

http://www.democrats.org/a/conventiona/

http://www.denverdnc2008.com/

*Posting by Jane Verostek.