Momathon Blog

Your Vote Matters {Presidential Debate Is Tonight}

If you watch tv or listen to the radio then you've heard the campaign ads. You know it's crunch time for President Barack Obama and Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney. Only 33 days to go until until election day on Tuesday, November 6th.

So what are the candidates talking about? Have your political questions regarding the next four years been answered?

If you want to hear more than prepared speeches, listen in to the debate tonight. In many ways the debate is a like a job interview for the candidates—and the questions in the debate tonight might be tough. According to CNN, half of the debate tonight will be focused on the economy. Other topics open for discussion include health care and the role of government. One of the hot topics that might not get discussed is climate change. Groups including @Sierra_Club are lobbying to have this topic included.

Watch the debate with your family

If you have kids—especially kids in middle school or above—I encourage you to sit down and watch the debate together. What topics are most important to your kids and your family as a whole?

The debate will be a live broadcast starting at 9:00-10:30 p.m. Eastern Time today, October 3rd. PBS NewsHour's Jim Lehrer will be moderating the presidential debate.

Social media and the election
Of course you can follow the debate and the election on social media. Check out these Twitter accounts:

• @BarackObama
• @VP (VP Biden account on Twitter)
• @MittRomney, 
• @PaulRyanVP

Looking for more news on the campaign to follow? Try searching on Twitter using these hashtags: #election2012 or #debate. Although it would be impossible for me to find a nonpartisan list, here are a few people or organizations to follow on Twitter: 

• @NewsHour, 
• @pewresearch, 
• @nytdavidbrooks, 
• @cbellantoni, 
• @AnnCurry, 
• @JudyWoodruff, 
• @nprpolitics, 
• @David_Gergen, 
• @AC360 (Anderson Cooper 360°).

Keeping the facts straight

Are you interested in how factual the information given during a campaign is? Check out @politifact on Twitter or at PolitiFact.com. Another resource is Vote 2012 at PBS NewsHour.

Women and the election

Are you interested in women's issues regarding the campaign? Check out 

• @BlogHerNews
• @iVillage
• @HuffPostWomen

Presidential Debate Schedule

• 1st debate: October 3rd, 2012, University of Denver
• 2nd debate: October 16th, 2012, Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York
• 3rd debate: October 22nd, 2012, Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida

 

VP Debate:

• October 11, 2012, Centre College in Danville, Kentucky

Images: VOTE image by me, Chris Olson. Feel free to Pin it Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks!

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 Your Ballot, Please

 

Your Ballot, Please

It's crunch time. No more excuses. Today's the perfect day to make sure you are registered to vote. On November 6, 2012, people in the U.S. will vote for the next president, as well as other state and local offices—including issues relating to school districts.

Are you unsure if you are registered to vote? The Can I Vote? nonpartisan web site created by state election officials helps eligible voters figure out how and where to go vote as well as help you determine if you are already registered to vote. You can also go online to the USA.gov web site Register to Vote and Voting for registration information and voting locations. 

If you need to cast an absentee ballot, go to the Federal Voting Assistance Program website for information on how to vote absentee. 

You can also register to vote via the nonpartisan organization Rock the Vote.

What we end up saying when we point fingers

Chances are if you caught the news this morning you saw the picture of Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer pointing her finger at President Obama by Air Force One that landed in Phoenix Wednesday. 

They were both smiling in the photo, but the body language that stands out is her finger wagging at him. We've probably all pointed a finger at someone. As a mom these are not my proudest moments. In fact, I've learned pointing fingers at kids (or adults) doesn't work. It usually backfires. It's almost like waving a mini white flag. 

Kids see right through the finger pointing. When I point, I usually am so frustrated that I am unable to say the best words to make my point. And if somehow I miraculously manage to utter the right words, the pointing finger is far too distracting. 

Back to the President and the Governor. In the age of cell phone cameras, you would think we would learn the lesson. Photo ops are every where. And photos often speak louder than words--or worse, say the opposite of what you were really saying.

Remember to Vote Today

 

 

Art by me, Chris Olson.

Week of VOTE doodles: Day 6

 

"Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost."
~John Quincy Adams

 

Check out more of my doodles at Momathon doodles.
Illustration: Chris Olson © 2010.

Week of VOTE doodles: Day 5

 

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."
~ Margaret Mead

Check out more of my doodles at Momathon doodles.
Illustration: Chris Olson © 2010

 

 

 

 

Week of VOTE doodles: Day 4

 

 

"Those who stay away from the election think that one vote will do no good: 'Tis but one step more to think one vote will do no harm."
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

 

Check out more of my doodles at Momathon doodles.
Illustration: Chris Olson © 2010

Week of VOTE doodles: Day 3

Every VOTE matters.

Check out more of my doodles at Momathon doodles.
Illustration: Chris Olson © 2010.

Week of VOTE doodles: Day 2

"A politician thinks of the next election.
A statesman, of the next generation."
~ James Freeman Clarke

Check out more of my doodles at Momathon doodles.

Illustration: Chris Olson © 2010.

Daily doodle: Vote!

 

 

"If  you have knowledge,
let others light their candles in it."
~ Margaret Fuller

 

Check out more of my doodles at Momathon doodles.

Illustration: Chris Olson © 2010.

Not surprised by the snarkiness on Sarah's show

On Tuesday, Rapper LL Cool J tweeted about the fact he was surprised to find out an old interview was now scheduled to be on the new series "Real American Stories" tonight. Sarah Palin's crew at Fox turned the tweet into a PR real mess...

Celebrity interviews produced by Fox originally meant for different programs were picked up by the new program "Real American Stories" hosted by Sarah Palin. 

A few of the celebrities felt they should have been contacted before their interviews were included in this political show. 

LL Cool J tweeted: 

"Fox lifted an old interview I gave in 2008 to someone else & are misrepresenting to the public in order to promote Sarah Palins Show. WOW."

Evidently Fox reads his tweets and doesn't like his attitude. 

In fact the Fox network is trying to transform LL Cool J's relatively mild tweet into blast against everything American. Yikes. I didn't know that Republicans are the only ones who care about helping the less fortunate. 

Still trying to figure out why Fox does not refer to LL by his rapper name in their responses to the incident. Maybe they don't like rap? Whatever the reason, Fox prefers the name James Todd Smith, his birth name. 

According to TVNewser on mediabistro.com, a network spokesperson for Fox told them:

"Real American Stories features uplifting tales about overcoming adversity and we believe Mr. Smith's interview fit that criteria. However, as it appears that Mr. Smith does not want to be associated with a program that could serve as an inspiration to others, we are cutting his interview from the special and wish him the best with his fledgling acting career." 

The Fox "Real American Stories" series has an admirable goal to uplift people, but that is not personal property of the Republicans. In fact, the series goal to uplift America with inspirational uplifting stories about overcoming adversity fits the Democrats platform too. 

Hmmmm. It saddens me that Fox in a weird re-writing of history makes it sound like LL Cool J does not like to help those less fortunate.

Maybe LL just doesn't want to be part of a political machine that twists the truth.

LL Cool J's interview from 2008 is no longer scheduled for the show tonight. Is it surprising that an "inspirational" show blasted a celebrity for giving an opinion?