HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA –- After tonight’s debate at the Kodak Theater, people (and CNN) kept talking about an Obama-Hillary or Hillary-Obama combo ticket. I don’t know if that is the case… either way the notion will be swamping the airwaves until the 5th thanks to Wolf.

More important, is that we are watching history, and because of that, people of all creeds and colors what to be a part of the action. They want to campaign, they want to caucus, they want to vote, they want a voice, and they want the Country to change its course. (more…)

Posted in California, Election 2008, Election Reform, General, Internet Voting, Iowa, Media reform, Nevada, New Hampshire, Opinions, Primary schedule, South Carolina, What is Super Tuesday? | 1 Comment »

New Media and Web 2.0 are remaking presidential politics, and I have the evidence to prove it: Senator Hillary Clinton, Governor Mike Huckabee, Senator John McCain and Senator Barack Obama all took first place in early and important presidential contests… after responding to the Why Tuesday? Candidate Challenge.

I am not alone on the Trail. Citizen journalists reporting to America’s young and old across the country are asking questions and filling the disconnect between the news people want and the news traditional media dishes. And most presidential candidates, but not all of them, understand the role us “backseat bloggers” play. (more…)

Posted in Election 2008, Election Reform, Opinions | Comments Off

Newsweek Contributing Editor Anna Quindlen presents a question in this week’s Newsweek that we live and breathe around here: what’s the deal with our voting system? The article’s tag line: “Every four years Americans select a president. Given our crazy system, it’s a miracle that we manage to seal the deal.”

The article focuses on, as we have around here, how uncoordinated and unreliable our voting system is: early voting in only some states, the old-school Electoral College system, the increasingly long primary schedule, troubles with the Iowa caucus… and of course, voting for president on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November. (more…)

Posted in Election Reform, Opinions | 2 Comments »

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…)

Posted in Election 2008, Election Reform, Iowa, Opinions | 2 Comments »

One of the issues left hanging as Congress is off on recess is the Holt bill to require voter-verifiable paper trails on all voting machines. Despite a robust number of co-sponsors, the bill remains mired in controversy, in part because of the opposition of sizable numbers of election officials who, after having sunk a bundle of money into touch-screen machines after the passage of the Help America Vote Act, are not inclined to change (and are also worried about deadlines and technical glitches).

The drive to create a paper trail has come about because of the widespread public and expert unease with existing electronic machines. It should make Congress think more broadly about why these machines have bred such unhappiness and distrust. (more…)

Posted in Election Reform, Electronic voting, Opinions | 2 Comments »

“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.

Posted in Election Reform, National Holiday, Opinions, Weekend voting | Comments Off