Sexual harassment in schools.

Interesting the things that can trigger memories of high school. If only I could get $100 for every time I walked down the hall and some young man made a comment about how my "cute little ass" was "moving from side to side" - I would be rich. Hell, all I was trying to do was get to the next class. My Momma didn't allow no blue jeans, no mini skirts, no fast girls, so I didn't and I wasn't. I carried myself like a young lady with morals and a plan. Unfortunately, that didn't stop the local clowns from lining up at the lockers and making nasty comments as I walked by. What I didn't know then, is that was/is sexual harrassment. It happened to me all through high school. It happened to my sisters, it happened to my friends. It probably happened to many of you who are reading this.

The story in today's Peoria Journal Star about the young lady at Manual who stabbed a young "man" who was harrassing her is sad. That young lady is currently in a juvenile detention center (she really should not have had the knife at school) awaiting sentencing. I suspect that the "victim", the harrasser is still in school harrassing the next little sista who dares to carry herself with a little dignity, trying to pull her down a couple of notches. That was his true intention you know? He was thinking "how dare she think she is something special, she is just another piece of ass, just another little black girl to be disrespected." So he did it...

We need to educate our children - boys and girls that sexual harrassment in school is against the law and they have rights!

The ERA's website reports that sexual harassment is a serious problem for students at all educational levels. Students in elementary and secondary schools, as well as vocational schools, apprenticeship programs, colleges and universities can be victims of sexual harassment. This problem is more common than you might think because many students are scared or too embarrassed to report sexual harassment. It is different from flirting, playing around, or other types of behavior that you enjoy or welcome. Sexual harassment can be requests for sexual favors or unwelcome sexual behavior that is bad enough or happens often enough to make you feel uncomfortable, scared or confused and that interferes with your schoolwork or your ability to participate in extracurricular activities or attend classes.

Sexual harassment can be verbal (comments about your body, spreading sexual rumors, sexual remarks or accusations, dirty jokes or stories), physical (grabbing, rubbing, flashing or mooning, touching, pinching in a sexual way, sexual assault) or visual(display of naked pictures or sex-related objects, obscene gestures). Sexual harassment can happen to girls and boys. Sexual harassers can be fellow students, teachers, principals, janitors, coaches, and other school officials.

I am pleased that the State's Attorney has chosen to be lenient by allowing this young lady to plead to just the aggravated battery charge and agreeing to give her probation. However, it is unfortunate that the punk who harassed her has been successful in knocking her down a few notches. Hopefully she will be able to recover from this setback.

For more information on exactly what constitutes sexual harassment in school and how to protect yourself, check out this website "Sexual Harassment at School: Know Your Rights".

JSmooth waxing the lyrics political



I loves me some JSmooth over at Ill Doctrine. This dude has mad talent and is keeping it real on the hip hop tip. Just as we are coming into the home stretch on this tiresome, never ending campaign season, here is a reminder to not become complacent. It ain't over until it's over. The polls might look good. Everybody is saying that the Obama/Biden ticket has won, don't believe it until you see it. We still gotsta get out the vote people. Check on the youngsters, help out the oldsters. Please, please, please follow through, GO VOTE NOW.

American Dance Theatre's 50th Anniversary

The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre (ADT) will celebrate their 50th Anniversary in 2009. The ADT performs in more than 70 countries and is one of the most well known dance companies in the world. To commemorate this occasion, the ADT in collaboration with Mattel have created the Revelations Barbie. Each doll wears a costume from Revelations, Ailey's masterpiece production.

The costume the doll wears, was designed by Judith Jamison. Jamison became a member of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 1965 and danced with the company for 15 years to great acclaim. Recognizing her extraordinary talent, Mr. Ailey created some of his most enduring roles for her. Today, Jamison is the Artistic Director of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at the request of her mentor, Alvin Ailey, who personally chose her to succeed him before his untimely death.

The doll, which features rooted eyelashes and feet sculpted to the exact pose of Ailey dancers, retails for $39.99. The ADT 50th Anniversary Barbie won't be available in most toy stores until December, but Target will start selling it this Sunday.

This is one of the most beautiful Barbies I have ever seen. I remember wishing for something like this when I was the only little black face in my ballet classes. This is a collector's item (for us). I am not a fan of Barbie, but I intend to get one of these for the little ballerina in my life.

Chicago: Breast cancer deaths for blacks double that of whites.

According to data released Wednesday by the Metropolitan Chicago Breast Cancer Task Force, African-American women are now dying from breast cancer at a rate 116 percent higher than white women. The racial gap in Chicago was twice that of the United States and sevenfold that of New York City. Experts say genetics or biology alone cannot explain the difference. Lack of health insurance is thought to be the biggest factor in this disparity. Read the full report here in the Chicago Tribune.

Early detection is critical, timely breast cancer screenings can save our lifes. Early detection means finding the cancer before you see the symptoms. If you do not have insurance, there are some programs that can help. The Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program (IBCCP), makes it possible for low-income women to be eligible for free cancer screenings and treatment.

To be eligible, a woman must be uninsured and between the ages of 40 and 64 for mammograms and breast exams, and between 35 and 64 for pelvic exams and Pap test. Women who meet the financial and insurance guidelines are considered for the program on a case by case basis. Find out how to get breast and cervical cancer screening treatment by calling the Women’s Health-Line at 888-522-1282, or go to www.cancerscreening.illinois.gov.

When breast cancer is diagnosed early, the survival rate is 96 percent and cervical cancer is also treatable if detected early. Don’t let lack of insurance or fear stop you from undergoing your yearly exams, there is help out there my sistas - you have to find it.

I knew this heffa was lying...

The McCain campaign volunteer who alleged that a tall black man robbed her and then cut a "B" onto her cheek after seeing a McCain bumper sticker on her car was given a polygraph test because of "inconsistencies" in her story. Now she is confessing to lying about the incident. Check out the story from this Pittsburgh television station.

Immediately upon hearing about the political hate crime, Sarah "the Republican base spokesmodel" and the Maverick called this hardworking volunteer and blessed her heart. The Obama campaign issued a statement wishing her a speedy recovery and hopes that the perp would be caught as soon as possible.

Come on folks, really, how many thugs are so passionate about politics that they would take the time to carve a very special BACKWARDS "B" on a victim's face? Another instance of blame it on the black man and people will believe you. This chick needs therapy if mutilating herself is her way of putting "Country First".

Emerge's prediction for the "October Surprise"


NBC announced today that that John McCain will appear on "Meet The Press" this Sunday, October 26th. McCain has not appeared on Meet the Press since the campaign declared war on NBC, declining invitations for himself and Sarah Palin from host Tom Brokaw, and granting "NBC Nightly News" anchor Brian Wiliams the last of the "big three" network interviews with Palin.

In August, McCain's campaign manager wrote a letter to NBC News president complaining of comments made by Andrea Mitchell on Meet The Press. You may recall at the Republican National Convention, where Palin attacked the mainstream media, and the crowd started to chant, "NBC! NBC!"

Why now? Because this cat is running scared and he has to deploy his October Surprise. What is it? He is going to throw himself on his sword. He is going to spit out a total mea culpa and then ask for our forgiveness. He is going to say he was wrong for allowing the racism to fester, he is going to swear up and down that Sarah Palin is really "that one" and we just gotta give her a chance, he is going to promise his first born child. He accused Obama of doing anything to win, in this respect, I am thinking John McCain is "that one".

Percy Baker and my Carver Center story.



Former Executive Director of Carver Center, community activist and friend to many, Percy Baker, Jr. passed away on Thursday morning in the cardiac unit of Barnes-Jewish Hospital, in St. Louis. Percy, who was 58, had been hospitalized since Monday. Several months ago he underwent a heart transplant. T.W. Parks Colonial Chapel in Peoria is in charge of the funeral arrangements.

I haven't thought about this in a long time, but I remember going to Carver Center as a girl. Mr. Baker was always there making sure we were safe. When boys wanted to control the gym and play basketball all the time, he made sure that the girls had gym space to practice tumbling and basketball. At first the boys were mad and didn't want to give up the space. It wasn't long before Mr. Baker was able to get them to go along and eventually support our gym time. Carver Center was the spot!

Thank you Mr. Baker, for the many years of meaningful service you have given the Peoria Community. You will be missed. God speed.

Superintendent search committee appointed
by District 150 School Board.

Per the Peoria Journal Star, the School Board has appointed the following 10 local people to a panel to form a search committee to find the next superintendent:

Glen Barton, retired chairman and CEO of Caterpillar Inc.
John Erwin, president of Illinois Central College.
Rita Ali, Illinois Central College's executive director of diversity.
Carl Cannon, community organizer and founder of C.H.O.I.C.E.S., a youth outreach program.
Dr. Andy Chiou, a local physician.
McFarland Bragg, president of Peoria Citizens Committee for Economic Opportunity Inc.
Linda Daley, former District 150 School Board member and current member of the Peoria Public Library Board.
Jackie Petty, Peoria Park Board trustee.
Debbie Ritschel, general manager of the Peoria Civic Center.
Barbara Penelton, formerly in the education department at Bradley University and also on District 150's original strategic planning group.

This is a good looking list, very impressive. Now, is it just me - or aren't these same people chosen over and over to make decisions for the Peoria community? They have input on anything and everything without ever having been elected. What would be wrong with having some regular folks on this panel? How about somebody from a local church who is volunteering with the schools? How about a local activist who has been outspoken on issues surrounding education (the pool of people to choose from here alone is huge)? How about seeking input from a hard working PTO Mom? How about a fresh perspective Peoria - a grass roots perspective?

Dear Lover: Get thee to the Health Department.


A website called inSpot.org is allowing users to anonymously notify their partners to get tested for STDs such as HIV, gonorrhea, chlamydia and syphilis.

According to CNN, the site started in San Francisco and has spread to 10 cities including New York and Chicago. The creators are aware of the possibility of misuse and say that fewer than 10 recipients have reported that they received the cards in error. "Our percentage of complaints is very low," said Deb Levine, executive director of Internet Sexuality Information Services, a nonprofit organization. "It's extremely low compared to the number of cards that are sent." Since inSPOT's launch, more than 50,000 e-cards have been sent. With so many people using Internet chat rooms to meet sexual partners. "It was critical to develop online tools to promote sexual health and address this new venue."

So, if you get one of these delightful little e-mails, don't just dismiss it as spam, you might just want to follow-up on it. (wink)

The ACORN voter fraud myth.

Cynthia Tucker, the editorial page editor over at the Atlanta Journal and Constitution recently did an excellent piece clarifying the ACORN voter fraud crap. Here is an excerpt:

In the waning days of the presidential campaign, Republicans have made ACORN, the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, their bête noire. Known for its activism on behalf of the poor, ACORN has long been an object of Republican disdain.

During this election season, ACORN has conducted a registration campaign, hiring workers to sign up new voters. Some workers have decided to fake it, filling in names such as “Mickey Mouse” instead of those of eligible voters. (According to ACORN’s leaders, they discovered the fake names and notified authorities. They’ve also fired workers caught engaged in illegal activities.)

Still, the fake registrations have driven Republicans around the bend. They’ve been exaggerating voter fraud for decades, and the prospect of losing the Oval Office and congressional seats has them scurrying for excuses. If Democrats win big in this cycle, look for more GOP nuttiness about ACORN and voter fraud.

Fake voters are a myth, a convenient cover for those who really don’t believe in the universal franchise. (ACORN has been accused of fraudulent registrations; for actual voter fraud to occur, persons with those fake names would have to show up to cast ballots.) There is no evidence of people coming to the polls using false names and fraudulent IDs.

You can read Cynthia Tucker's entire editorial here on AJC.com.

I voted today!

I voted today! I like this early voting thing, what a load off. The lines were not long, but there was a little wait. On the national level there is some concern about voter supression. The Obama Campaign is looking to track this information, so if you did experience or see a problem with voting in your neighborhood stand up and speak up and tell your experience. You can go here and tell them about it.

Locally, (via http://www.peoriavotes.com/): The Peoria Board of Election Commissioners and Peoria County Clerk want to remind voters that if they receive any election related mail that looks suspicious or that was unsolicited to check with the Election Commission or the Peoria County Clerk's Office before using the mail to request information or as guidance for voting. Neither the Election Commission nor the County Clerk's Office uses P.O. Box numbers as a return address. Both offices use street numbers and names in their return addresses.

Reports in other parts of the country of fraudulent absentee ballot requests with inaccurate return information and attempts at voter intimidation should serve as a guide for voters to make sure information received through the mail is accurate and legitimate. The Board and the Clerk's Office have not received any reports of fraudulent absentee ballots request forms or attempts at voter intimidation in the Peoria area.

Please feel free to contact the Peoria Election Commission at 494-8683 or the Peoria County Clerk's Office at 672-6070 with any questions concerning the upcoming election.

Is Peoria, Illinois Pro-American?

Election Night Party Food Fare

I remember as a child when Daddy used to take us fishing (I love you Daddy). It was always exciting when we happened to catch frogs, because we loved loved loved fried frog legs (taste like chicken). So, imagine how my progressive little mind started working when I saw this frog leg pizza! Well, because Momma-an-nem loves them some frog legs AND because this election is a really big deal for our parents, on Election Night I am thinking about presenting them with a delicious frog leg pizza. Now, where can I catch some frogs this time of year? Does Dixon's carry frog legs?

Who won last night's third and final Presidential debate?
See the picture below - need I say more?

Violence in District 150 Schools

I came across something I found very troubling over on the Peoria Anti-Pundit's blog that needs to be discussed within the black community here in Peoria. You can check out Peoria Anti-Pundit's rant here, but you can get the gist from the following excerpt:

"What the hell is going on at Peoria High School? The after school fights, almost a daily occurrence and the in school fighting is unbelievable. I have been at the school when it lets out in the afternoons and I can count on one hand the number of times the students disperse and go home or to their buses.

Most times, the Campus Police and or the Peoria Police are there in masse. Last week, a bunch of Woodruff girls came up and waited for some Central girls and a huge fight broke out right on North Street in front of the school. Kids were even video recording it and taking pictures of the beat up girls with their cell phones. Then the large group of students that effectively closed Richmond at Ellis Streets.
Unmarked Peoria police cars, lights flashing driving through the crowd of kids trying to break them up.

The most recent case though is today, a teacher had an errand to do and left his class unattended. Of course a fight broke out and a student was so severely beaten, the custodians are still there cleaning the blood off the carpet and floor as I type this.

So I say, what the f**k is going on? This school is over 80% black and almost all the fighting is black on black.

Whatever the reasons, this is a disgrace to our community and it should be a disgrace to a certain segment of our community. No one in this District should have to fear when they go to work and no child should have to fear for themselves to attend school.

The ways these kids are acting is a mirror image of their segment of the community. Or is it? Boy it could be taken that way. Just my observation.....call it what you will. I for one am sick of this shit and the silence is deafening."

Questions: From what I understand a lot of the fighting is girl on girl, even this past Summer many of the riots that happened throughout Peoria, girls were involved. So, I'm asking, what is going on with our girls? What happened to the fierceness that was/is Randy Simmons, I thought he had a handle on things over at Peoria High School? Isn't Simmons considered one of the best and brightest of District 150 principals, and being paid accordingly? Why is the PJStar not reporting on the violence? Are police arresting the knuckleheads or are they just "dispersing" them?

The Anti-Pundit also raises a good question about the leaders in Peoria's black community. They showed up to fight against shorter school days, then they disappeared. It was encouraging to see that schools were actually on the radar of the local NAACP and parent advocates. While the shorter school day issue was somewhat resolved, they left on the table the fate of fifth graders South of War Memorial who are still in primary schools, while their peers North of War Memorial are in middle schools. Now we have this on going violence among our youth and it continues to go unchecked. So, I ask these "leaders" and you know who you are, where are you now?

I am willing to bet that if the City could get to the bottom of the violence in District 150 schools (namely Peoria High) they could get to the bottom of the mob mentality that permeates throughout the City of Peoria.

From Ben Smith over at Politico:

The Atlanta Journal Constitution reported recently on disproportionate early voting among African-Americans. Georgia doesn't appear to be in play in the presidential election, but it tracks early votes contemporaneously (and online), so it may be a useful bellwether for what's happening elsewhere.

If it is, the news continues to be extremely good for Obama. Early vote totals have now reached 499,582 -- more than 75,000 more than were cast early in all of 2004, according to Matt Carrothers, a spokesman for the Secretary of State. (The state is also newly encouraging early voting this year, so that's a major factor in the overall increase.)

Most striking: The ratio of African-American voters remains extremely high. 37% of the early votes were cast by black voters, who make up just 29% of the state's electorate.

The question about what happend to Sam Polk and why you should vote early

From the Peoria Journal Star.

Whatever happened to Sam Polk two years ago remains a mystery veiled in suspicion and skepticism... like a murmur just beyond hearing but distinctly ominous.

After a lifetime of voting in Peoria in every election since he was 18 and living in the same house for the past 18 years, Polk's name mysteriously and completely disappeared from the rolls of eligible voters.

He contacted Mary Harkrader, former Peoria County clerk and current member of the Peoria City Election Commission. "I really hated what happed to Sam Polk," Harkrader said. "I'm not sure what really happened, but they wouldn't let him vote."

"It's a real mystery. The judges did not offer him a provisional ballot. They kept asking him for identification. It can't happen now, and if it does it is a weird fluke," Harkrader said. But with the approach of this historic election, she and others are working with some anxiety to ensure that all goes well with what is anticipated to be record voter turnout.

There are more safeguards in place, Harkrader said. Now a couple of forms are sent through the mail. Provisional ballots must be offered to people and, pending a resolution of their voting status, the provisional ballots are either counted or excluded. "Don't leave the polling place without voting," she said, adding that early voting gives people time to resolve any unexpected problems before Election Day. "I feel much more confident now that people will not be arbitrarily disenfranchised," Harkrader said.

Sam Polk says he was "outraged" two years ago. "The lady I talked to was not too pleasant. She felt I was running some kind of a game. But I'd already read about how blacks were excluded from voting in different states. Then there were those signs and postcards saying if you were convicted of a felony, you can't vote. That's a lie," Polk said. "If you paid your dues, you can vote."

Another postcard that was anonymously distributed in Peoria prior to an election several years ago indicated anyone with a warrant will be arrested if they show up at a polling place. There were other threats that left a number of people afraid to vote. Sen. David Koehler, D-Peoria, said a young, 18-year-old man who recently had graduated from Woodruff High School received one of those postcards and decided not to risk voting. Koehler told him the postcards were false and were an intimidation tactic. "Those postcards targeted precincts with large black populations. They were aimed against Democratic candidates," Koehler said.

"With two African Americans on the ballot this year, we are already seeing these racist pamphlets again on the East Bluff. This is the scourge of political life in America today. There is no place for it. We have to counter that and show it will not be tolerated in Peoria or in the country. Fifty percent early voting would be wonderful. That is our rallying cry by Election Day: 50 percent early voting."

Billy Halstead, Peoria County Democratic chairman, said there are too many similar stories to doubt that "big-time intimidation" is going on. "We hear it every day. Going door to door, we hear people say the Department of Corrections told them they can't vote," he said. In fact, once released from prison, Illinois residents can vote. "The only reason you can't vote in Illinois is if you're incarcerated," Halstead said. "But we hear it so much that, yeah, I believe it's being said by individuals who don't want certain people to vote." Halstead is urging people to vote early. "We finally got early voting. This is an opportunity we've waited for ... an opportunity for working families who couldn't get to the polls on Election Day. Trust me, on Election Day, funny things happen that keep people from voting," he said. "Now we have the opportunity to vote early. No excuse."

McCain vows to whip Obama's 'you-know-what' in debate

From the Associated Press

Republican John McCain vowed Sunday to whip Democratic rival Barack Obama's "you-know-what" Wednesday in their final televised debate.

Mr. McCain made that pledge as top advisers said he is weighing new economic proposals to help the nation weather the financial crisis. He refused to answer a reporter's question Sunday about what plans he might be considering.


Do you think McCain was referring to the use of the always popular Dopey Whip (which they appear to use abundantly at their staged rallies), or was McCain referring to using the more traditional Kunta Kente type of whip on Obama?

That damn gramps he just be so silly, I refuse to believe that he is really a racist.

You can still register to vote
The last day to register to vote was last Tuesday. Per the Journal Star, anyone unable to meet last Tuesday's deadline can still register during a grace period that runs from Wednesday through Oct. 21, although they must cast a ballot immediately.

Area county clerks already are experiencing high voter registration counts for the Nov. 4 general election. Be sure to bring two forms of identification, including one that shows your current address.

- Peoria County residents can register at the County Courthouse Room 101, 324 Main St., Peoria, or call 672-6059 for other locations. Those who live within city limits can register at the City Election Commission, 542 SW Adams St., Peoria.

- Tazewell County residents can register at the County Courthouse, Room 203, 11 S. Fourth St., Pekin, or call 477-2267 for other locations including libraries, village or town halls and township offices.

- Woodford County residents can register at the County Courthouse Room 202, 115 N. Main St., Eureka, or call 467-2822 for other locations.

Early voting October 13 - October 30

No excuse is needed, photo identification is required. Below is a list of early voting locations:

• Peoria City Election Commission, 542 SW Adams St., from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. during the week for residents who live within city limits; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays; and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays.

• Peoria County Clerk's Office in the courthouse from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the weekdays (including today); 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays; and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays.
For more city and county locations, go to www.peoriavotes.com/

• Tazewell County Courthouse, Pekin, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the weekdays; 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays; and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays. For more locations, call 477-2267.

• Woodford County Courthouse, Eureka, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Early voting here begins Tuesday. For more locations, call 467-2822.

Voting Straight Ticket

be sure to tell Momma-an-nem (especially our youngsters)

This is a lengthy post, but worth the read. Emerge received the following e-mail this morning:

Just Passing this on... For those who normally vote "Straight Democratic", please pay close attention!!!!! I was informed this weekend by a group of Obama volunteers that when voting for the presidential candidate this November, you have to make sure you punch Barack's name first, then proceed to punch "Straight Democratic" or else the vote for the president won't count. I'm not sure if any of you are aware of this, but we know they won't tell us this at the poles. Please make sure you inform others.

This issue does warrant further investigation, soooo, here's what I was able to find out from the National Conference of State Legislatures http://www.ncsl.org/ .

Straight-Ticket Voting (STV)
Straight-ticket voting (also called straight-party voting) allows voters to choose a party’s entire slate of candidates. Voters make one punch or mark on the ballot in order to vote for every candidate of that party for each office on the ballot.

A total of 17 states presently offer straight-ticket voting (STV). With a few exceptions, the straight-ticket option is available in all elections, including primaries, and applies to all offices on the ticket, including federal, state and local races.

The states with STV are: Alabama, Indiana, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Iowa, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Rhode Island, Michigan, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, New Jersey, Wisconsin, and New Mexico.

In New Jersey, straight-ticket voting is available only in primary elections. In North Carolina and Wisconsin, straight-ticket voting is available for all races except for presidential elections. In Rhode Island, straight-ticket voting is available only in general elections.

STV has been declining in popularity over the past decade. At least three states did away with it, and a fourth nearly did, during the 1990s.

Georgia – abolished STV in 1994. Some Democrats in Georgia advocate reinstating it on the basis of several studies that have shown losses for Democrats, particularly among African American voters, since it was abolished.

Illinois – abolished STV in 1997. It was a highly partisan battle in Illinois, with the Republican legislature and governor abolishing STV on the last day before the new legislature took office in January 1997. The argument eventually wound up in the Illinois Supreme Court, which in 1998 refused to reverse the decision to abolish STV.

Michigan – attempted to abolish STV in 2001 with the passage of SB 173. However, voters repealed the law in the 2002 election after the issue was petitioned on to the statewide ballot.

South Dakota – abolished STV in 1996. South Dakota’s action was bipartisan, with substantial majorities of both parties in the legislature approving the elimination of STV.

Missouri - abolished STV in 2006 as part of legislation mandating photo ID to vote.

However, what the e-mail said is true, IN SOME STATES YOU DO HAVE TO PUNCH TWICE. The North Carolina Observer reports the following:

On North Carolina's ballot, the presidential contest is not included in the list of “Partisan Offices.” In order to cast a vote for president and a straight party vote, you need to make two marks – one in the presidential contest and the other in the straight party section. (And a straight-ticket vote does not cast a vote in judicial races, because those are nonpartisan.)

A state law passed in 1967 prohibits the combination of the vote for the president with any other office on the ballot. Why would a General Assembly controlled by Democrats in 1967 pass such a law? Straight party voting reduces the time it takes people to vote. It also means more votes are cast for offices lower on the ballot because people can simply register their vote for all partisan offices with one mark.

But for Southern Democrats in the 1960s, the specter of increasingly liberal candidates at the top of the ticket raised a problem. If the vote for president were included in the straight party option, Democrats who did not like the presidential nominee might be less inclined to vote straight party. The solution – separate the vote for president from the straight party vote.

Unfortunately, this ballot design introduces confusion. Some voters check the straight party option without realizing the need to vote separately in the presidential race. Election officials know that the straight party voting option is confusing. The North Carolina ballot for 2008 contains reminders that you need to vote separately for the office of president. Yet the ballot instructions are still hard to follow.

Because these ballots can be confusing, if you live in a state that has STV, it is worth your time to contact your local Election Commission Office to clarify what your ballot will look like.

Have you seen my lipstick?

A rather astute observation from Adam Hanft via Huffington Post:

So let's play a thought game. Imagine if a folksy, inexperienced black woman was nominated to be vice president on the Democratic ticket. And imagine that instead of coming from Alaska she came from Alabama, and instead of dropping white aw-shucksisms like "Doggone" and "You betcha" into her conversation, she used the equivalent black vernacular.

Imagine, as well, if her sentences didn't come close to parsing, if they were wickedly ungrammatical -- no, anti-grammatical -- clouds of disconnected thoughts and sound bites. The right would rise up in indignation and disgust, and the most vitriolic, the Rush Limbaughs, the Michael Savages, would decry the presence of Ebonics on the national stage.

Were she black, Sarah Palin's performance would have been skewered by the right as undignified and demeaning to the office she seeks. But because she is a culture warrior in heels, she is hailed by the right as a breath of populist fresh air, and her use of what conservatives once sniffed at as "substandard English" is celebrated as a signifier of her glorious everydayness.

Funny, I was jus talkn to Momma-an-nem bout dis da otha day, also they concur.

Sarah, Maverick & the 2008 VP Debate


Other talking point parroties squawked out during the debate:
that's a smart thing to do. That's budget neutral.
(wink) You know what I had to do in the state of Alaska?
my own area of expertise, and that's energy (wink)
we have John McCain to thank
Energy independence is the key to America's future.
Alaska Alaska
And that's what we hear all across this country in our rallies (wink)
people are so hungry for those domestic sources of energy to be tapped into
(wink) I am tolerant and I have a very diverse family and group of friends
the counterinsurgency strategy in Iraq that has proven to work
it would be a travesty if we quit now in Iraq.
The surge worked. (wink) Barack Obama still can't admit the surge works.
goes beyond naivete and goes beyond poor judgment
McCain-Palin administration (wink)
He has ruffled feathers.
change is coming
McClellan McClellan
I'm a Washington outsider. (wink)
(wink) as the governor of a state .
He'll know how to win a war.
A team of mavericks (wink)
Of course, ...[I] know what a vice president does.

And now the Beauty Queen Parrot answers the big question (if she had done this well in the 1984 Miss Alaska competition she may have won): ... energy independence in America and reform of government over all, and then working with families of children with special needs. That's near and dear to my heart also.

By the way - have you EVER heard ANYBODY give shout outs to the homies during a Vice Presidential Debate? Leave it to Joe six pack to show his/her ass. Whateva Sarah, you so zexy, see ya Saturday Night around 10:30ish (wink).

Vibe magazine announces its November 2008 cover today with Barack Obama, marking the first time in history that the leading lifestyle publication has ever formally endorsed a Presidential nominee. In the issue, Editor-in-Chief Danyel Smith writes, “…I am clear about what must be done. The staff is behind me. This is a formal endorsement, by VIBE magazine, of Senator Barack Obama…We built hip hop from nothing to something. We can do anything.”

This historic collector’s edition also marks the second time that VIBE has placed the Senator of Illinois on its cover after being the first music magazine to do so in September 2007. In an unprecedented one-page letter exclusive to VIBE readers, Obama also calls out today’s youth, urging them to take a stand and vote for change. He writes, “Dear VIBE Readers…I am running for President to take this country in a new direction. But I can’t do it alone. I need you. Whether it’s the first time, or the first time in a long time, I need you to register and vote on November 4th.”

Using Humiliation to Deter Crime





The Peoria Police Department has unveiled its new Drug Nuisance Property initiative on their website. The PPD is showing mug shots and addresses of offenders (who of course "are innocent until proven guilty"). The posting is an effort to shame those arrested and discourage others from buying and/or selling drugs. Now posted are drug arrests from January-July of 2008, with about 85 mug shots up so far. The PPD is also listing addresses of properties where nuisance letters were sent for city code violations.

The PPD has been attempting to shame prostitutes and johns out of the business since 2005, by posting their names and faces when they are arrested. In keeping with the shaming theme, do you think the Peoria Police Department will show the mugshots, name, address, make and model of the vehicle when people are arrested for DUI?

Moderator of the Thursday Night VP Debate

The McCain camp is pre-attacking respected journalist Gwen Ifill (shown above). McCain supporters are saying that she’s biased. From Politico:

Michelle Malkin and World Net Daily have made a lot of noise today about the fact the Gwen Ifill, the moderator of Thursday’s VP debate, has a new book coming on Inauguration day about Barack Obama and the politics of race – it’s now leading on the front of Drudge. Fox’s Greta Van Susteren reports that the McCain campaign didn’t know about it. “I am stunned….the campaign (actually both) should have been told before the campaign agreed to have her moderate. It simply is not fair — in law, this would create a mistrial.”

Ifill's book can be found on both the Amazon and Random house website. The book, which is entitled "Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama.” talks about a new group of African-American leaders coming up. Ifill also moderated the 2004 VP Debate (Edwards v Cheney).

The moderators were agreed to on August 6. Ifill's book was reported in the Associated Press two weeks earlier. That begs the question, how could the McCain campaign not know about this book? Why would the McCain camp agree to Ifill without knowing her curriculum vitae? Bottom line, there was a process by which a moderator was chosen, both camps, McCain and Obama agreed on Ifill.