Community Arts

Going to Washington

This is it. Today marks the day that the last two years have been building up to. All of the primaries and all of the debates, all of the SNL skits and all of the stabs at Joe the Plumber have brought us to this moment: Election Day 2008. Tonight, with any luck, we will all go to bed knowing the name of the next president of the United States. Whether come tomorrow morning John McCain or Barack Obama gets to smack “president-elect” in front of his name, one thing remains certain: The lucky man will have his work cut out for him. Once all of the smoke from the attack ads and the 24-hour news coverage clears, we will be left with one faltering economy, two highly polarized parties and only three months to lay the foundation for what could be the defining administration of our time.

Meet your Genome

Imagine this: Before prescribing one of several medications for an illness, your physician scans your genome using a computer. He or she looks for certain genetic markers, perhaps unique to you, which indicate particular susceptibility to side effects and any potential resistance to therapeutic benefits of the meds in question. Finding that your genetic configuration makes one medication ideal – it’s effective with no or minimal side effects – you get your tailor-made prescription. Now imagine this: While applying for life insurance (Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act doesn’t apply here), potential insurers ask for your genomic data, at which time they screen for future diseases. You’re denied.

Waiting for tonight

Ladies and gentlemen, it’s the moment you’ve all been waiting for! Nov. 4 is finally upon us. At long last, you will have the opportunity to take part in the most beautiful process of modern democracy and cast your vote. More importantly, when you wake up on Wednesday the world will be a very different place. No longer will you have to avoid making contact with all those motivated people carrying clipboards lest you be harassed about your voter registration status. You will once again be able to answer unknown phone numbers without the fear that it will be a well-meaning but nevertheless obnoxious volunteer reminding you that you may vote early.

Congratulations, next President

To whichever candidate manages to come out ahead tonight – Congratulations! You’ve been elected the President of the United States.But now that the cocktail parties are over and the victory speeches have been made, it’s time to get to work.And you’ve got a lot to do.The needs are many. Six in 10 Americans believe the country is headed for a depression. Home values dropped and nearly four million Americans could face foreclosure by 2010. More than 3.2 million jobs have been lost since 2001, and a $700 billion dollar bailout plan was approved. Still, many doubt it will make any real impact. Our economy needs major attention, but there’s so much more to consider.What about the 47 million Americans who don’t have health insurance? Or what about the 3.5 million young Americans who don’t have a high school diploma? Or the 6 billion tons of carbon dioxide the United States emits into the atmosphere each year?Clearly, the nation needs work. New government policies are vital. Better laws and policies must be passed. Oh, but don’t even think about more spending. You don’t want to deepen the $10.6 trillion dollar national debt.Sound like fun? Remember, all of this work will only earn you $400,000 dollars a year, the continual scorn of the news media and the disapproval of about half the country. Your hair will turn gray, and the bags under your eyes will become permanent. You’ll lose sleep and time with your family.

Politics are scene right now

As you read this, I’ll be volunteering during Election Day. I’ll be providing backrubs, hot towels and words of encouragement to those in line to vote. I look forward to the chance to converse with my academic peers, many of whom are voting for the first time. It’s been strange to see apathy turn into passion toward government this fall, especially as one who once decried the uninterested attitude of my generation. I sometimes think the best thing would be to reinstate the draft to finally force those with their heads in the sand to actually take an interest. Vietnam showed us nothing says “I suddenly care what policies my government enforces” like a draft card.

Indiana: The new swing state

For the first time in 44 years, no one knows what will happen in Indiana. The new swing state has emerged, as recent polls show the race in the Hoosier state a dead heat. An WTHR/Indianapolis Star poll last week barely gave Barack Obama an edge against John McCain, 45.9 percent to 45.3 percent, while a Reuters/Zogby poll and a Rasmussen poll gave the Arizona senator a modest lead. Two other national polls showed the race tied in Indiana.

Iraq expects U.S. reply to proposed pact changes

Iraq expects an American response to requested changes in a draft security pact soon after this week’s U.S. presidential election, an aide to the prime minister said Sunday.

Police seek info about 5 homeless shot dead in Calif.

 Family members and friends seeking answers and solace descended Monday on a homeless encampment where five people were shot to death over the weekend, and police hoped an anonymous caller would come forward and say more.

McCain, Obama sweep through swing states as long election season draws to a close today

Aiming for a last-minute upset, Republican John McCain embarked on a grueling odyssey through seven swing states Monday while Democrat Barack Obama was headed toward three longtime GOP bastions that have become Democratic-leaning battlegrounds in the historic presidential contest.

Pakistan warns Petraeus against missile strikes

Pakistani officials warned Gen. David Petraeus on Monday that frequent missile strikes on militant targets in Pakistan fan anti-American sentiment in an Islamic country vital to the struggle against terrorism.

World stocks modestly higher ahead of U.S. election

World stock markets were modestly higher Monday in light trading volumes ahead of Tuesday’s U.S. presidential election – though further dismal U.S. economic data capped any gains.

Jury convicts Yemeni in 2nd Guantanamo trial

An aide to Osama bin Laden who refused to defend himself at his Guantanamo war crimes trial was convicted of three terrorism-related charges and faced sentencing Monday that could bring life in prison.

Republicans "planning for victory"

With John McCain down in the polls and Barack Obama paraphernalia covering campus, Bloomington conservatives might feel a bit discouraged for today’s election. But to members of IU College Republicans, McCain is anything but the underdog. IU College Republicans Chairwoman and junior Chelsea Kane said the polls showing McCain behind Obama are not slowing their campaign efforts.

College Dems make last push

Junior AnnElyse Gibbons only wants two things after Tuesday’s election: to sleep and catch up on homework. For the president of Students for Baron Hill, an executive board member of IU Students for Barack Obama and secretary for the IU College Democrats, a busy campaign season is about to come to an end.

McCain makes late stop in Indy

In a final plea to Indiana voters, John McCain urged a few thousand supporters to show up to the polls tomorrow in a fiery and aggressive speech.

Obama storms to presidential victory

Barack Obama swept to victory as the nation’s first black president Tuesday night in an electoral college landslide that overcame racial barriers as old as America itself. “Change has come,” he told a jubilant hometown Chicago crowd estimated at nearly a quarter-million people.

Polling places map

Who will be the next president?

43 different presidents have shaped our country into what it is today. What the 44th will do is pivotal. In 2004 Barack Obama was a little-known state senator from Illinois. The political newcomer had only been in politics for eight years, but was already making a name for himself in the party.And then came the speech.“Hope” means something different for John McCain.It means surviving five years as a prisoner of war and fighting cancer. After a failed campaign in 2000, it means the chance of winning in 2008.

Potential heads of state

Indiana might historically like its presidents to be conservative, but when it comes to its governors, it’s long been a swing state. Hoosier gubernatorial history is rich in representatives from both sides of the political scale, and the switch of power happens frequently. The two governors elected before Republican incumbent Mitch Daniels were Democrats – Frank O’Bannon and current Sen. Evan Bayh,  both two-term governors. Before that, Republicans held the office with a pair of two-term governors of their own – Robert Orr and Otis Bowen. This year’s gubernatorial election pits Daniels against former Congresswoman Jill Long Thompson, a Democrat, and Andy Horning, a Libertarian.For more election information visit www.idsnews.com/news/politics

LIVE BLOGGING: McCain in Indianapolis

Join Indiana Daily Student reporter Kristi Oloffson in Indianapolis as she blogs during Republican presidential nominee John McCain's rally. BLOG: The Politiker