November 2008 Is America ready for a black president? Obama has distanced himself from the race question, but it has been the big issue. We ask the question how many Americans are voting on racial grounds? Half a century ago students at a black college in Jackson State took to the streets demanding an end to segregation. They won, but little has changed. At the Jackson State football match there are no white faces in the crowd. Large parts of America are still split along race lines. Richard Barratt, a pro-segregation campaigner, finds the idea of a black man ruling America repugnant. But he suspects that Obama will be elected and that this will cause a rightwing backlash. When he goes in people are going to say; What have we done? For many Obama supporters race is also the deciding factor. Im not switching from the party, Im just a Republican supporting Obama, says Charles Evers. Its a matter of race. Atlantas former mayor Andrew Young sees the election as a referendum of how courageous America can be in taking a risk on the future. It’s a frightening future for Americans. We’ve never had a weak dollar, never not been in control of the price of oil, never felt that close to half of the world hates us. For him colour is not the issue; Obama is the man for the job. But is America ready to take that leap? Produced by SBS/Dateline Distributed by Journeyman Pictures
Michigan Debates Decision 2008 Co-hosted by Grand Valley State University’s Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies and the Seidman College of Business, the debate featured a showdown between Rusty Hills (supporting Senator John mccain) and Buzz Thomas (supporting Senator Barack Obama). Rusty Hills, a veteran Republican politico and educator is communications director for Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox. Hills has spent the better part of two decades in public service and politics. He was twice elected unanimously as chairman of the Michigan Republican Party, and he served ten years as one of Governor John Engler’s chief lieutenants. Hills teaches at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan. Buzz Thomas, a Democratic State Senator from Detroit, has served for more than a decade in the Michigan legislature, and has held leadership positions in both houses. Thomas, in his second term in the Senate, was recently elected Democratic Floor Leader by his colleagues. A ranking member on important committees, Thomas has established himself as a leader in the fields of energy, technology, health policy, and urban development.
www.pbs.org In this sneak preview from “The Choice 2008,” FRONTLINE reflects on John mccain’s years in the United States Senate following his failed attempt to defeat Gov. George W. Bush in the race for the 2000 Republican nomination. frontline’s critically acclaimed series “The Choice” returns this election season to examine the rich personal and political biographies of John mccain and Barack Obama in “The Choice 2008,” airing Tuesday, Oct 14, 2008, from 9 to 11 PM ET on PBS (check local listings). For two hours, the film draws on in-depth interviews with the advisers, friends and those closest to these unlikely candidates, as well as with seasoned observers of American politics, who together tell the definitive story of these men and their ascent to their party’s nominations. Watch “The Choice 2008″ throughout the election season: ·Premieres Tues, Oct 14 at 9 PM ET on PBS. Check local listings for national television rebroadcasts on Sun, Oct 26 and Mon, Nov 3. Beginning Oct 15, watch online at www.pbs.org ·and at www.youtube.com and download free from itunes through the month of November. · Look for repeat broadcasts of “The Choice 2008″ on the digital channel PBS WORLD on 10/15 at 7pm, 10/16 at 12am, 10/16 at 8am, 10/16 at 2pm, and 10/19 at 12pm ET.
2 of 9 American Blackout critically examines the contemporary tactics used to control our democratic process and silence voices of political dissent. Many have heard of the alleged voting irregularities that occurred during the presidential elections of 2000 and 2004. Until now, these incidents have gone under- reported and are commonly written-off as insignificant rumors or unintentional mishaps resulting from an overburdened election system. American Blackout chronicles the recurring patterns of voter disenfranchisement from Florida 2000 to Ohio 2004 while following the story of Georgia Congresswoman Cynthia mckinney. Mckinney not only took an active role investigating these election debacles, but has found herself in the middle of her own after publicly questioning the Bush Administration about the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Featuring: Congressional members John Conyers, John Lewis, Stephanie Tubbs-Jones, Bernie Sanders and jounalists Greg Palast and Bob Fitrakis.
The Republican addiction to tax cuts is going to mortgage this country into bankruptcy. Less than zero just six years ago, President Bush and the Republicans’ policies have pushed the exploding deficit into overdrive, threatening the very future of our nation. Visit the BI30 Blog: blog.bi30.org
Update August 2008: If you would like to see Tony Abbott and Julia Gillard back on the Today show & more of these videos please let Channel Nine know here: today.ninemsn.com.au (scroll down for message form) Hopefully with enough pressure, this great segment will be on air again soon!
Professor Martin Lewis provides an overview of the Geography of United States Elections. Starting on October 15, you can follow a timely course being presented by Stanford University. Led by Martin Lewis, this map-intensive course will explore the geography of US elections (both past and present), and challenge the suggestion that we are simply divided into a “Red America” and “Blue America.” It’s really much more complicated than that. Offered by Stanford’s Continuing Studies program, the course will last five weeks, and include a debrief after the presidential election. Each Wednesday, we will post a new recorded lecture on youtube. Geography of US Elections Course Website: geog05.stanford.edu Stanford Continuing Studies: csp.stanford.edu Stanford Channel on youtube: www.youtube.com
October 15, 2008 lecture by Professor Martin Lewis for the Geography of United States Elections (GEOG 5) course. Professor Lewis covers the basic principle of political geography; the “red and blue” map of the United States; different ways of mapping US presidential elections; differences in voting behavior between national elections and state and local elections; electoral geography in selected foreign countries. Offered by Stanford’s Continuing Studies program, this course will last five weeks, and include a debrief after the presidential election. Each Wednesday, we will post a new recorded lecture on youtube. Geography of US Elections Course Website: geog05.stanford.edu Join the Discussion: geog05.stanford.edu Stanford Continuing Studies: csp.stanford.edu Stanford Channel on youtube: www.youtube.com