CitizenSugar -- Breaking News, Together.

Front Page: Taiwan Arrests Its Former Leader

CitizenSugar — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 08:00:06 -0800

The ex-president of Taiwan was detained by his country's police on charges of corruption and money laundering today. The defiant Chen Shui-bian raised his handcuffed hands above his head while shouting “Long live Taiwanese independence."— New York Times
In his White House meeting with Barack Obama, President Bush indicated that he would support another economic stimulus package, which includes aid to the auto industry, if the Democrats stopped opposing the Colombian free-trade agreement. — International Herald Tribune
Somalian pirates captured a Philippines chemical tanker, carrying 23 crew members, marking the 83rd hijack in Somalian waters this year. — Associated Press

After the Mars Lander ran out of batteries last week thanks to a dust storm, NASA announced that the mission has ended. — CNN
The surrogate grandmother in Ohio that gave birth to her triplet grandchildren last month, told Good Morning America that she is feeling fine, and was happy to serve as his daughter's surrogate at the age of 56. — Associated Press

Voting Case: Supreme Court Rules Against Ohio GOP

LibertySugar — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 13:00:24 -0700

The Supreme Court dealt a blow to a Republican Ohio strategy this past Friday. The Court threw out Ohio Republicans' request for Ohio's secretary of state to provide county elections boards with the names of newly registered voters whose voter registration forms do not match DMV records exactly.

The Supreme Court overturned a lower court decision to require the state to set up a chaotic system that would make it easier for officials to challenge prospective voters with mismatched info. Thus, the Supreme Court decreased the likelihood that as many as 660,000 newly registered voters would be disenfranchised on election day. And guess who one of those voter could have been — Joe the Plumber! His name is misspelled in Ohio state records!

The case reveals that whether we like it or not, voting procedures can be favored or despised by either political party. It would seem that far before elections, Americans could agree on fair, nonpartisan, rules for voting, and then be content with competing for each vote based on the issues and the candidates. Yet, in American politics, every advantage, even trying to challenge or change the rules, is pursued.

Source

Voting Starts Today in OH — What's Your Registration Status?

CitizenSugar — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 07:51:05 -0700

While election day is still 35 days out (who's counting?) today marks the day Ohio residents can start casting their ballots. The opening of the flood gates comes just a day after Ohio courts ruled that new voters can register and cast an absentee ballot on the same day. Both candidates have been in the state, raising a little Buckeye and enthusiasm for their campaigns ahead of bringing on the vote. If you're holding a ballot in your hand and you're still not sure, Google has a rad (yep, I said it. Rad.) tool to help you search quotes from the candidates by subject. Go play and learn!Ohio isn't the only state allowing early voting. States like IA, VA, NV, NM, and NC, all allow early and absentee voting. For some, the question isn't when to vote, it's are they registered — for a bunch of reasons. In Houston, some groups are calling for an extended deadline following Hurricane Ike — lots of voters are more worried about where to sleep, than if they're registered.Are you similarly concerned about the deadline to register, and whether you are or not? You're in luck! The deadline is quickly approaching — check out the list from Rock the Vote to see when your state falls. Saturday, October 4 has deadlines for RI, SC, and WA. Put it on your list of things to do! Think you might be registered but want to check? VotePoke will tell you. Source

Voting Starts Today in OH — What's Your Registration Status?

I'm the voting equivalent of locked and loaded. I'm registered and ready to go!

I'm taking care of it today. I swear. Thank you for the gentle (?) reminder.

Not sure, but I'm figuring it out with these great tools.

Not registered, and not really into it.

Other. I'll vote in the comments.

Crackdown on Tickling: Will Rules For Priests Stop Abuse?

CitizenSugar — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 11:00:21 -0700

The Archdiocese of Cincinnati has released the most comprehensive list of rules to date addressing behavior between priests and children. Among other changes is the requirement of those who have contact with kids to get background checks. Victim advocates support the new rules but realize they're not a panacea. Specific rules also address conduct and communication through touch. On the list of appropriate touches: side hugs, pats on the head, holding hands during prayers. Inappropriate moves include bear hugs, kissing, lap-sitting, and tickling. The sexual abuse scandals have haunted the Catholic Church. Pope Benedict XVI has been including apology outreach as part of nearly every official trip, from Boston to Australia. The new rules are similar to those teachers already have to abide by, with rising teacher/student scandals causing states to crackdown as well. Should religious figures be considered in the same realm as secular adult/child relationships? Will outlining what's appropriate stop abuse, or is it just a bunch of words?Source

Crackdown on Tickling: Will Rules For Priests Stop Abuse?

It's a move in the right direction. Applying standards and enforcing them will really help.

If the rules don't stop abuse, at least it gets the topic in the open and removes secrecy.

A list of rules on paper will not fix anything. The problem is too deeply rooted.

Other. I'll tell you my opinion in the comments.

Jury Awards $11 Million Payout to Neighborhood Denied Water

CitizenSugar — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 09:00:32 -0700

Imagine one family with 10 children sharing two tubs of water between them on bath night. Imagine a neighborhood where residents either pay for private wells to be dug, haul water from cisterns, or collect rain water to be able to drink, cook, and bathe.

In your mental image, what year is this happening? What country is this taking place?

Did you say Columbus, OH, up until 2003? No!? Oh, yes, it's true — and the 67 plaintiffs denied public water service from 1956 up until five years ago have just been awarded $15,000 to $300,000 after civil rights attorneys sued and won a discrimination case in which residents of a mostly black neighborhood were denied public water service. The award totals $11 million.

The residents of the Coal Run neighborhood went without public water for decades. One resident says, "As a child, I thought it was normal because everyone done it in my neighborhood. But I realized as an adult it was wrong." The money will compensate the plaintiffs for pain and suffering as well as monetary losses. To see the defense's argument,

Will There Be a Madame Vice President Not Named Hillary?

LibertySugar — Fri, 30 May 2008 10:00:00 -0700

Three women, none named Hillary Clinton, are on Politico's short list of potential Barack Obama running mates. They include: Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano and Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill.

They all bring red state credentials, have avoided focusing on gender during their campaigns, and are not considered polarizing figures by Republicans in their home states.

For some background info on each potential running mate,

Boy Sells Bike For Clinton While She Soars in Swing States

LibertySugar — Thu, 22 May 2008 12:15:31 -0700

The news out of the Clinton campaign regarding the candidate's finances hasn't been good lately. Even though she has raised an astonishing $200 million so far, Hillary is $19.4 million in debt.

But she has found a diamond, or at least $422, in the rough of bad money news — an 11-year-old Kentucky boy sold his bike and video games and donated the proceeds to her campaign.

Hillary's young fan Dalton Hatfield shared his motivation to give with the New York Times:

I saw that her funds were running low. I just saw so much that I did not need such as like my video games, and I thought, "What can I do with them?"

Dalton agrees with Clinton's position on the war, the economy, and health care.

Despite her lack of cash, Hillary may have a new incentive to fight on. To see why,

Your Lawn a Pain in the Grass? Can a Green Yard Be "Green"?

CitizenSugar — Wed, 21 May 2008 09:00:41 -0700

You might think a lawn a la Mother Nature is more ecologically friendly than a plastic patch of grass. After all, it’s natural and biodegradable — so of course it’s greener (on both sides of the fence). But even that may now be debatable.Turn the sprinkler on these numbers: the average American lawn takes about 21,600 gallons of H20 to maintain every year. This water drain especially sucks in arid regions (Arizona, New Mexico and Texas) where sod and the necessary water just disappear into the sand beneath. Another eco-bruise is gas-powered mowers. A 2001 study by Stockholm University revealed that one hour of mowing has the same smog output of driving 93 miles. (!!!) Most lawn mowers don't have a catalytic converter, which would reduce their smog output by 20 percent.But real lawns aren’t all bad news. According to a 2005 NASA survey, the United States has roughly 40 million acres of manicured lawns, which act as huge carbon sponges soaking up about 13.2 million pounds of carbon dioxide each year. (Though the study’s authors also speculate that figure is negated by the effort to maintain them.)Think the eco-answer is just not using your lawn mower? Not unless you want to see jail time. In Canton, OH residents might face a fine of up to $250 and up to 30 days in prison if they let their lawns grow eight inches or higher. The reason for the crackdown? The city is trying to create stricter enforcement — with the climbing number of foreclosures, empty lots are decreasing neighboring property values.Is keeping your lawn they way you'd like (short, long, or fake) none of the neighbor's business? Have you changed your grassy ways?Source

Your Lawn a Pain in the Grass? Can a Green Yard Be "Green"?

Yes, of course! Just be sensible with water and a lawn is fine.

Considering your climate is key — if you live in a desert, plant rocks.

Nope. With the combination of the mower pollution and water wasted? Come on.

Other. I'm paying the kid next door to leave my opinion in the comments.

Is Bill Cosby Right About the African-American Community?

CitizenSugar — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 15:00:41 -0800

Bill Cosby was in Ohio last night speaking in front of 2,000 people at the Mt. Zion Baptist Church of Oakwood Village. The 70-year-old comedian has raised hackles recently by referring to detrimental issues in the African-American community as "dirty laundry." Last night his speech had a decidedly more religious overtone. Addressing personal responsibility, Cosby said, "Jesus never said, 'Sit down! I shall go forth and do it for ye!'" Adding, "Where did we go wrong? And they keep pointing to civil rights. We didn't lose it in civil rights! We won!"Do you find Cosby's current message shocking? Is he an appropriate messenger? Do you think he's unfairly generalizing about a population? Is he right?

Is Bill Cosby Right About the African-American Community?

Yes. I'm glad he has the courage to speak out. It's tough love.

Whoa. I don't know if criticizing a stereotype helps — it might perpetuate the problem.

No way. Cosby is off his rocker and way out of line.

Other. This is really controversial, and I'll tell you all about my opinion in the comments.

Clinton vs. Obama: Who Has the Momentum?

LibertySugar — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 03:00:58 -0800

Who won today? Well, that depends what your definition of "win" is. Clinton definitely broke Obama's winning streak, and came away with big prizes — Ohio, a state crucial in the general election, and Texas, which is as big as it gets.

Hillary Clinton might have a legitimate ticket out of Junior Super Tuesday, simply as a result of the complicated nature of the results. Deciding which matters most —net delegates, the popular vote, big states vs. small states, momentum — is all susceptible to serious pro-Clinton spin. Today, it may mean that the Democrats and the press, want to take a second look at Barack Obama.

Earlier, most of you said that Hillary Clinton needed double digit wins in Ohio and Texas, or she's toast. It's true that the math is still not in Hillary's favor, and an appeal to superdelegates may turn people away from the Democratic Party. Now that the results are in, do you think Hillary should go on?

And for Politico's Top 5 factors behind a potential Clinton comeback,

Hey Ohio! Did You Get This Phone Call From Jay-Z?

CitizenSugar — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 15:30:03 -0800

It's not just Jessica Alba and company campaigning for Barack Obama — Jay-Z just dropped his newest recording, a robo-call urging Ohio residents to get out and vote. Take a listen . . .

What do you think? To quote Mr. Z, "Sah-weet?" Is it an instant hit destined for your iPod or just another dinnertime disruption?

Source

Junior Super Tuesday Update

LibertySugar — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 14:30:19 -0800

Right now voters are going to the polls across Ohio, Texas, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

In Ohio, flood warnings in the south, and icy conditions in the north could deter voters. A new balloting system in the Cleveland area may potentially make voting messy. The new paper ballot system sometimes counts erase marks or stray marks as a vote for multiple candidates, and with the new system, the voter cannot review her selection. Final results from the area may not be available by tonight.

And in Rhode Island, where polls stay open until 9:00 p.m., record turnout is expected. Check back here tonight for the winners as they're announced!

Source

What Counts as a Clinton "Win?"

LibertySugar — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 12:00:37 -0800

Super Tuesday, on February 5th, was supposed to be the day the Democratic nominee emerged. Instead, absolutely nothing changed. Today could be decisive, but I still get the feeling neither candidate is ready to call it quits. Today, Hillary has a chance to break her 11-state losing streak. If she does well, and closes in on the delegate count, Obama's momentum could be irrelevant.But Obama doesn't see it that way. On Monday, his campaign manager, David Plouffe, wrote in a memo to reporters: "While the Clintons gamely continue to try to move the goal posts, at some point there has to be a reckoning."How far can the goal posts be pushed back and where does the field end? In such a tight race, under what circumstances (if any) should Clinton, now the underdog, exit the race?Source

What Counts as a Clinton "Win?"

Double digit wins in Ohio and Texas, or she's toast.

It's all about the delegates. If she gets a lot, she has to stay in.

She needs to break the streak and win at least one state.

Superdelegates make up 40 percent of the total. This is going to the convention!

The Democratic party is being torn apart. She should drop out now!

Fight on! Regardless what the media says, this isn't over.

Other. I'll tell you in the comments.

It's Junior-Super-Tuesday! Tell Us Who You Think Will Win!

CitizenSugar — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 06:00:38 -0800

With four states up for grabs today including larger-than-life Texas and pivotal Ohio, the campaigns are feeling the crunch and it's anybody's guess how the delegates will fall tonight. Here's your chance to play pundit and tell us who's winning what when the polls close tonight — vote on each contest here, and see how your guesses match up tonight!
Source

Debate Rebate: Putting the Oh! in the Ohio Faceoff

CitizenSugar — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 11:00:23 -0800

So yes, last night was the big 2-0. The 20th Democratic debate of this election. And though there were, shall we say, instant replays of answers and sound bites we've seen before, Liberty and I have ransacked the transcript looking for those two exchanges that made us sit up and say "oh!" Here's mine; Liberty's is coming soon!

Citizen: I'm going to call it the "first lady question that launched a Russert naildown of NAFTA positions." During the "potentially embarrassing videos" portion of the evening, Obama's video showed him criticizing Clinton of claiming a "co-presidency" during her years as first lady. When asked to respond, Obama made me sit up and take note. He said,

I have not in any way said that experience is not relevant, and I don't begrudge her claiming that as experience. What I've said, and what I would continue to maintain, is you can't take credit for all the good things that happened but then, when it comes to issues like NAFTA, you say, well, I — behind the scenes, I was disagreeing. That doesn't work. So you have to, I think, take both responsibility as well as credit.

This idea sparked a little discussion in the comments last night. I think it highlights a prickly position for both, especially as the concept of "experience" is hotly contested. While I think the fact that Barack brought it up at all does give credence to the notion that perhaps first lady doesn't count as experience (despite his actual position), it puts Hillary in a tough position. To see if "first lady" should make Hillary's resume,

Who's Watching the Ohio Debate With Us?

CitizenSugar — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 16:00:24 -0800

Aw, back again so soon?! Yes, yes, your eyes are not deceiving you, it's time for a another romp through debates-ville! Liberty and I will be around, the stakes are high enough this time that sparks may just fly. It's on MSNBC at 6 p.m. PST. Come join us in the comments! And don't worry, we're guaranteeing a stab-free post debate wrap-up tomorrow.

Front Page: Philharmonic, Iran, Dodd to Endorse

CitizenSugar — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 07:03:27 -0800

The New York Philharmonic performed in North Korea yesterday. The musicians represented the largest delegation of Americans on North Korean soil since the end of the Korean War. Coinciding with a visit from U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who was there to discuss North Korea's nuclear disarmament, the event began with both the Korean national anthem, and the Star Spangled Banner. Some have drawn parallels between the orchestra's visit to North Korea, and the ping-pong players who went to China in the 1970s, and their "ping-pong" diplomacy.
European countries are swiftly developing incentives to present to Iran, after the country declared sanctions will not stop its uranium enrichment program. At the same time at the United Nations, Iran's ambassador said that his country will continue to defy Security Council demands to halt the program because the documents submitted as evidence of Iran's effort to develop weapons were "forgeries." The United States is not opposed to the European incentives plan, but will not join in, standing by sanctions instead.
Senator Chris Dodd is set to endorse Barack Obama this morning. A former candidate himself, Dodd waited to endorse until his home state of Connecticut had voted. A new poll released in Texas shows a virtual tie between Democratic candidates Barack Obama, and Hillary Clinton. Though Obama collected 50 percent to Clinton's 46 percent, the results are within the margin of error indicating a tight contest. The Democratic candidates are set to debate in Ohio tonight ahead of next Tuesday's critical primaries.