Posts by Barnett Zitron

Thursday, January 31st, 2008

Liveblogging from Hollywood

Filing

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA –- We’re at the CNN/Los Angeles Times/Politico Democratic debate. Energy, Los Angeles and celebrity aside, this debate really does feel like an award show. CNN started off with their usual pre-debate coverage, but this time Wolf Blitzer stood stage front à la Ellen DeGeneres or Billy Crystal cracking jokes and baiting the Hollywood audience. (more…)

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Monday, January 21st, 2008

New Voters Abroad Online!

Following our video submission to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Executive Director and Why Tuesday? Chief Correspondent, Jacob Soboroff, sent me great news in an email this morning: voters abroad are now able to participate in the Democratic Primary via Internet!

Voting should be convenient for any eligible voter who wants to vote. And so the question remains: if ex-pats are good enough for this technology, isn’t everybody else who wants to vote? (more…)

Tuesday, January 8th, 2008

Candidate Challenge: Mitt Romney

MANCHESTER, NH — Increasing voter turnout is vital to a healthy American democracy… or in the words of Mitt Romney a “strong America.” We rank in the bottom 20% of nations in voter turnout despite spending billions of dollars on our elections. Why isn’t Romney, like 13 other candidates, talking about it? (more…)

Saturday, January 5th, 2008

Liveblogging from the ABC/Facebook Debates in New Hampshire

NH

MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE – There are many lessons to be learned from the Iowa Caucuses for tonight’s Candidates at the ABC/Facebook Debates. Iowa Caucus turnout has never risen above 6.8% of eligible voters. In 2000, a race that is more similar to the 2008 race, Iowa caucus turnout was 6.1%. In 2008 the records have been shattered. 16.4% of eligible Iowans showed up to Caucus… that is an additional 222,757 voters! So you might ask: Where did these Iowans come from – because they did not materialize out of thin air? (more…)

Friday, January 4th, 2008

In Caucuses, Size Does Matter…

Caucus

WEST DES MOINES, IA – Born in New York and having never witnessed an actual caucus I was more than surprised at what I saw. Republican caucuses are tame in comparison to the fervor and mayhem that ensues in Democratic caucuses. With all precincts reported there were 120,000 Republican attendees and over 227,000 Democrat attendees this caucus cycle (in 2000, 87,000 Republicans attended and in 2004, 124,000 Democrats attended). Undoubtedly energy levels in Iowa were heightened by this increase in turnout and the amount of dollars spent (projected to be more than $60 Million) – by the way that equals $171.43 per vote!!!

(more…)

Thursday, December 13th, 2007

Blogging from the Des Moines Register Democratic Presidential Debate

JOHNSTON, IOWA — The difference between today and yesterday - Democrat and Republican respectively - can be likened to the difference between Led Zeppelin and Chamber music.

It is almost as if the increased media attention, influx of campaigners and heightened security are creating a heat bubble that is melting the ice off Iowa’s trees. The maelstrom and fervor were so intense that even Ray, the driver of our horse-drawn carriage, steered clear of the main entrance… for insurance reasons. It left me wondering about the candidates’ stances on liability insurance - now that I know their positions on health insurance. (more…)

Tuesday, December 4th, 2007

Looking for Candidates @ CNN/YouTube Debate

ST. PETE, FLA - Jacob hit the Spin Room following the CNN/YouTube Debate last Wednesday. The mission: find the final three presidential candidates who haven’t responded to the Why Tuesday? Candidate Challenge… but they were surprisingly hard to come by. (more…)

Wednesday, November 21st, 2007

Doctor, Doctor! Oh, my vote!

“Doctor, Doctor! My feet are killing me and there is something wrong with the way I vote,” said the patient who booked the appointment one week prior.

“Well you know Election Day is hard on your feet,” explained the podiatrist who thought to himself, “Why Tuesday?”.

Well, here is our answer, Doctor. And here is a brilliant piece of writing that ties visiting the Doctor and casting a vote together on Flavors of Abruzzo. Who woulda known that market day is still on Wednesday in Italy? Enjoy.

Wednesday, November 21st, 2007

Ring… Ring… Been Polled?

Respond

Why Tuesday? is proud to be a co-sponsor of The Polling Project, an exciting initiative from the Huffington Post’s OffTheBus that will take an in-depth look at how campaigns shape their messages.

We’re joining an unbelievable team of journalists and bloggers that have signed up to help unravel the mystery behind polls: What questions are asked? How do they choose who to call? And of course, how do they come to their conclusions?

This is a collaborative project, and we need your help!

(more…)

Wednesday, November 14th, 2007

Voter Intimidation Draws Racial Lines in Virginia’s Prince William County

Photo

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Potomac News reported the most unfortunate of election news this past Saturday. More than 40 years after the Voting Rights Act, which was re-signed by George W. Bush in 2006, America is still plagued by blatant racism at the polls.

Keith Walker reports that a group of unidentified residents of Gainesville in Prince William County, Virginia’s third largest jurisdiction, armed themselves with a camera as they yelled at Hispanic voters who showed up to vote. (more…)

Why Tuesday? is an effort to make America’s democracy stronger through increased voter participation. We work to make election reform an issue that our politicians cannot afford to avoid.

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Recent Comments

  • steve garfield: Great video.
  • mary adkins: just read in newspaper about why vote on tuesday i guess i never knew why just that we did. this needs...
  • Ron K of Illinois: The last 3 times that I voted, the polling place had changed. Since I live in a rural area near a...
  • Adam: Lauri, that’s why we need to modernize it. Orthodox Jews can still vote on Sunday and fundamentalist...
  • polar bear: is that smoke i see blowing? voting machines are susceptible to hacking. period. you can find groups...