We’re only two days away from the 2008 presidential election and we have one last commentary from Sophia Nelson. Be sure to take a look at her interactive commentary on the last debate between Sen. McCain and Sen. Obama. Click the image below to launch the commentary:
3 comments November 2nd, 2008
By Billy Hallowell, VoterWatch
While the first two presidential debates were completely inadequate in terms of providing valuable information about candidate stances, the final debate was more open in terms of scope and communication. While still not subscribing to the recommendations that The Open Debate Coalition laid out, the final debate did provide a more informative forum.
While we are happy to have Dick Morris and our “regulars” on board for this final debate, we are even more excited to announce that The Heritage Foundation and Reason Magazine have decided to participate in our final installment of the 2008 Presidential Debates Project.
Rob Bluey of The Heritage Foundation did an amazing job inserting commentary using the VoterWatch media player. Bluey brings a robust presentation of thought and perspective to the best debate of the bunch. I’m sure you’ll find the resulting product intriguing. Also, be sure to see the annotation posted on the Heritage site as well as Bluey’s piece about VoterWatch and the player on K Street Cafe. Or, to simply view the commentary, click the image below:
4 comments October 18th, 2008
With the final debate comes Dick Morris’ last VoterWatch media player commentary this electoral season. We must say that we were honored to have Dick on board for this important project. His commentary brought in unbelievably interesting perspective. To see Dick’s final commentary, click the image below. Also, be sure to visit his interactive web site for his free column and much more:
9 comments October 16th, 2008
By Danielle Lanzet, VoterWatch
In a funeral oration delivered by Pericles – a distinguished political leader and general of ancient Greece – for the men fallen in the first year of battle of the Peloponnesian War, Pericles asserted that “Our form of government does not enter into rivalry with the institutions of others. We do not copy our neighbors, but are an example to them.” Pericles believed Athenian democracy to just be intrinsically better than any other political system. In the Athenian government system, a man who did not take interest in the political sphere was not deemed harmless but rather useless. At that point in Athenian history, very few people possessed the ability to vote; in deeming a man who did not fulfill his duty to vote as inadequate and useless, Pericles portrayed and intensified the significance of using that power provided to a private citizen by the government.
Not too long ago, the fifteenth amendment prevented someone from being denied the right to vote because of race and the nineteenth amendment prohibited someone from being deprived of the right to vote on the account of sex. That was no easy feat to accomplish and required the commitment of countless men and women from across the country. However, the dedication and steadfastness of these people has seemed to dissipate into the fading text of yesteryear.
I continue to struggle to understand how people could have the ability to participate in the political process but do not. At the same time, I recognize that some remain indifferent to the whole ordeal and do not want to become involved. I would rather those people that remain apathetic or uninformed do not vote. However, by forfeiting that opportunity during election time, that individual should also surrender the right to complain and criticize the state of the political system. I cannot stand whining and crying about the political sphere when that individual has done nothing but give up his/her chance to be heard. Since when did disappointment + frustration = the right to complain – the action of voting.
While I may not agree with the proposed politician in each main party, I know that I must ultimately come to a decision as participating member of society. I also recognize that as a young, knowledgeable, urbane American citizen now capable to vote in a presidential election for the first time that I have the duty and the obligation to contribute to the political process. Remember that every vote does count.
William E. Simon, businessman and former Secretary of Treasury under Nixon and then Ford, asserted, “Bad politicians are sent to Washington by good people who don’t vote.”
3 comments October 14th, 2008
By Billy Hallowell, VoterWatch
If you missed it, be sure to check out commentary from Dick Morris and Public Agenda. This morning, Sophia Nelson has once again released her commentary using the VoterWatch media player. While she didn’t see the debate as a knock-out, she posits a win for McCain. Agree? Disagree? Watch her commentary and be sure to leave comments. Click below to see it:
Also, the Ralph Nader for President team infuses some much-needed relief from the two-party system! Click below to see what the team has to say about McCain and Obama during this week’s debate:
1 comment October 10th, 2008
This is a very cool promo — one we thought we’d embed and share. Be sure to check out the Hack the Debate web site during tonight’s debate:
2 comments October 7th, 2008
