TresSugar

Clinton Wins in SD, Obama Wins MT, Takes the Whole Cake

CitizenSugar — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 18:10:22 -0700

Latest: Barack Obama has just been projected to win in the last primary of the election, Montana. Earlier tonight in a bitter victory, Hillary Clinton won the biggest share of South Dakota's 15 pledged delegates. Taking the biggest prize of all, CNN projected that Obama is the Democratic nominee.

Barack Obama has secured enough delegates to earn the Democratic nomination. He confirms what was thought earlier - that he had already secured the magic number to win the Democratic nomination earlier in the day, amid conflicting stories of Hillary Clinton conceding.

Hillary spoke to her supporters in New York tonight, stopping short of actually withdrawing from the race in the speech, instead asking people to write in and share their thoughts.

Many are now calling for a so-called unity ticket, slotting Hillary in to the VP position, as the best way to unite the embattled party after the long primary season.

John McCain jumped in on the action, delivering a major address tonight in which he praised Clinton and dogged Obama. McCain said,

Senator Clinton has earned great respect for her tenacity and courage. The media often overlooked how compassionately she spoke to the concerns and dreams of millions of Americans, and she deserves a lot more appreciation than she sometimes received. As the father of three daughters, I owe her a debt for inspiring millions of women to believe there is no opportunity in this great country beyond their reach. I am proud to call her my friend.

Does the nomination of Obama feel like an historic moment?

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Awaiting Results: The Final Countdown

CitizenSugar — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 16:30:06 -0700

Aw! What a long, strange trip it's been! Jan. 3 in Iowa to June 3 in South Dakota and Montana, Liberty and I are getting a little weepy now that the primary season is all done but the counting. It seems like forever, especially when we dug back through everything that's happened in the past six months. It's almost like a funny yearbook. Take a peek while we wait for the results tonight. Stay sweet, don't change, BFFs etc. - do you remember this?

Hillary's sparkly sweet Christmas wrappingy-goodness television ad, where the gift tags all had presents the tax payers had actually purchased. I wonder if she saved the gift receipts?
Ha! Remember when we thought Super Tuesday might actually determine who was going to be the nominee? So cute and so wrong! Legendary Obama baby picture included.
Some of you might have been psychic? Way back on Feb. 5, 50 percent of you voted for Obama, 30 percent for Hillary. Hmm . . .
Oh, yeah! There was that guy who got in a stabbing fight with his brother-in-law over the candidates. I love the quote that set it all off.
Gloria Steinem's eyebrow raising "secretary" comment? That seems like 100 years ago!
Well, however it turns out tonight, we can all look back on that one shining moment when Barack and Hillary kissed - really kissed - and made up.

What's been your favorite (or most maddening!) moment of the campaign so far?

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Front Page: Australia Leaves Iraq, GM to Close Plants, South Dakota and Montana Primaries

CitizenSugar — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 07:01:08 -0700

Australia Leaves Iraq: Australia has ended its combat operations in Iraq. One of the first countries to commit troops to the war in Iraq five years ago, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd made a campaign promise to bring the troops home - and they're set to return in a couple of days. Pegging his decision on the actions of the previous government, Rudd said, "of most concern to this government was the manner in which the decision to go to war was made: the abuse of intelligence information, a failure to disclose to the Australian people the qualified nature of that intelligence." Australia's 500 troops have helped to train 33,000 Iraqi soldiers. No Australian soldiers were killed in Iraq.

GM to Close Plants: Car maker GM, in response to a growing shift to smaller vehicles with better gas mileage, said yesterday that it would end production at four factories in the United States, Canada, and Mexico that produce trucks and sport utility vehicles. In perhaps the biggest news of all - the Hummer brand might be discontinued. The CEO says the market shift to smaller vehicles is permanent, "we at GM don’t think this is a spike or a temporary shift.". The company plans to build a new small car in Ohio in 2010. The cuts will affect about 2,500 workers at each of the four plants.
South Dakota and Montana Primaries: Voters head to the polls today in the last two primaries of the six month season. Obama will hold a rally tonight in St. Paul, MN - the site of the Republican National Convention - and Clinton plans what's being called by some, a "farewell speech" in New York. Obama is floating the idea of a “unity meeting” with Clinton to come together and regroup after the long and brutal primary battle with his rival. Check back tonight to see the results (and any major announcements) as they break.

Who Will Be the Next President? Watch the Results With Us!

CitizenSugar — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 19:21:46 -0800

Election Night is finally here! We've followed the 2008 Presidential campaign trail from primaries, conventions, debates to every hilarious and unexpected moment in between. East Coast polls have started to close, and we'll be here updating you on the electoral votes as they come in using predictions from pollster and major networks. Join us as we wait for the next American president!

Senator Barack Obama

338

Senator John McCain

156

You can check out all the major headlines of the night right here, and I'll be filling in the results for each state as they come in. To see results, read more.

State	Electoral Votes	State	Electoral Votes
Alabama	9	Montana	3
Alaska	3	Nebraska	5
Arizona	10	Nevada	5
Arkansas	6	New Hampshire	4
California	55	New Jersey	15
Colorado	9	New Mexico	5
Connecticut	7	New York	31
Delaware	3	North Carolina	15
D.C.	3	North Dakota	3
Florida	27	Ohio	20
Georgia	15	Oklahoma	7
Hawaii	4	Oregon	7
Idaho	4	Pennsylvania	21
Illinois	21	Rhode Island	4
Indiana	11	South Carolina	8
Iowa	7	South Dakota	3
Kansas	6	Tennessee	11
Kentucky	8	Texas	34
Louisiana	9	Utah	5
Maine	4	Vermont	3
Maryland	10	Virginia	13
Massachusetts	12	Washington	11
Michigan	17	West Virginia	5
Minnesota	10	Wisconsin	10
Mississippi	6	Wyoming	3
Missouri	11

State Ballot Initiatives Could Influence Presidential Campaign

LibertySugar — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 12:15:19 -0700

Controversial state law initiatives, set to appear on this November's ballot, could influence the debate throughout the presidential campaign, and provide national voters various litmus tests by which to judge the candidates. Research shows that initiatives do not increase turnout, but the measures are prompting Barack Obama and John McCain to take positions on hot-button issues like abortion, same-sex marriage, affirmative action, labor rights, and energy. Here is a roundup of some of the most divisive initiatives:

Abortion: South Dakota will consider banning abortion except in cases of rape, incest, or threats to a woman’s health. California will vote on parental notification (for the third time). Colorado voters will decide whether to define a “person” as “any human being from the moment of fertilization.”
Same-sex marriage: In Arizona, California, and Florida, voters will decide whether to amend the state constitutions and define marriage as between one man and one woman, like 27 other states have. McCain endorsed the proposal, while Obama says he opposes the ban.
Affirmative Action: Arizona, Colorado, and Nebraska will consider banning affirmative action, as California, Michigan and Washington have. McCain supports the ban, although in 1998 he opposed something similar. Obama opposes a ban.

To find out what voters will decide about labor and energy, read more.

Labor: Colorado will decide whether to prohibit employers from requiring union membership or union dues. In South Dakota, a measure would prohibit unions from making political contributions if they have agreements with state or local governments. In Ohio, voters will decide whether to require companies with over 50 workers to provide seven paid sick days. Obama’s platform endorses a similar plan for sick leave, while McCain has criticized the idea. Massachusetts's ballot has an initiative to abolish the state income tax.
Energy: A California measure would require utilities to generate 20 percent of their energy from renewable sources by 2010, increasing to 40 percent in 2020 and 50 percent by 2025.

Do you think ballot initiatives are the best way for activists to call attention to their causes?

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Prisons Turning to Teleconferencing to Save Money

CitizenSugar — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 03:00:07 -0800

Gas prices and strict state budgets have prompted at least 11 states - Connecticut, Kansas, Louisiana, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota and Tennessee - to start regularly using teleconferences between judges and inmates. The move is seen as a way to both improve public safety and save cash.

The AP reports that some inmates say they'd prefer to plead their cases in person, but correction officials say the technology offers a fair alternative to spending millions of dollars moving inmates in person. To see how much the trend saves the state per court date and how it's working in Connecticut, read more.

It costs the state of Connecticut at least $1,600 every time it moves one multiple murder suspect (and high security inmate) to appear in a courtroom. In Oct. the state installed teleconferencing equipment in all of its 18 correctional facilities and more than 150 inmates used the system to participate in hearings involving parole, civil and family court, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Social Security Administration.

The state's court system has a working group that may expand the technique. Do you think teleconferencing offers inmates a fair arena to plead their cases?

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Wild West! 22% Think States Have Right to Secede-Some Did!

CitizenSugar — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 14:30:16 -0700

Ride 'em cowboys! Here's a little poll for you state's rights-ers out there: a new Zogby poll shows that one in five Americans believe that any state or region has the right to "peaceably secede from the United States and become an independent republic." Those in the South and East agreed a little stronger with the notion of ditching the "United" part (perhaps because they've done it before?) and young people agreed with the notion much more strongly - 40 percent of them in fact.

It's one thing to believe in it - but would they support an secession effort by their state? Yup, 18 percent would buy in, with another 10 percent not being sure.

Though the South Carolina secession could be the most famous historical example of breaking away, the Times has a smashing tale of a rogue state fantasy of rebels in 1939 to grab chunks of Wyoming, South Dakota, and Montana to form a new state, Absaroka. The plan was complete with license plates, a Miss Absaroka 1939, and a visit from a foreign King (of Norway.)

If this tale, combined with the fact that 22 percent believe a state can secede - should the US be fearing for the union? Would you support an effort to secede?

View 5 Photos ›

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Ten States Get New Sanctions to Stop Teacher/Student Sex

CitizenSugar — Fri, 30 May 2008 06:00:00 -0700

Ten states have taken action and at least four more states are considering legislation to stop sexually abusive teachers. The new sanctions follow a stream of arrests and reports that have documented the growing problem of educators victimizing students - like the case of Debra LaFave, pictured here.

A nationwide Associated Press investigation found 2,570 educators lost their teaching credentials or were punished from 2001 through 2005 after allegations of sexual misconduct. The number seems high, but experts say the problem is even bigger than those numbers suggest. Many cases go unreported as victims fear retribution and accusations are difficult to prove. To see which states are doing what, read more.

Utah's legislation permanently revokes the licenses of sexually abusive teachers, while Maine's law shares information about teachers disciplined for any reason (including inappropriate sex) with other states

New York has a new investigation funding - New York currently has more than 800 pending cases, most involving sex with students. South Carolina, Florida, Ohio, Kansas, Minnesota and Virginia, also have new programs, and measures are still being considered in California, Colorado, Delaware and Massachusetts.

Proposals failed to win legislative approval in Indiana, Missouri, South Dakota, Washington state and West Virginia.

The South Carolina superintendent says of the need for change, "so much of what schools do is based on trust. Not only must kids trust their teachers, but parents have to trust those teachers too. And schools have to earn that trust each and every day." Will new laws help? Is there something in our culture that's making teacher/student relations more common?

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Quiz Nation! Columbus Day's Different Meanings

LibertySugar — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 12:15:37 -0700

The second Monday in October historically has been celebrated as Columbus Day in the US. But not every place in the country, or the rest of the world, marks Columbus's arrival to the new world the same way due to unsettled feelings about celebrating a historical figure attributed with the suffering of native people.

In South Dakota, the day is called Native American Day. In cities like Boston, New York, and San Francisco, the Italian-American community celebrates their native son with an Italian heritage parade. Find out what you know about the historical event marked today!

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Take the quiz

News to Me: Most Depressed States

DearSugar — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 10:00:00 -0800

Depression is a serious condition that affects 16 percent of the US population. Genetics play a large role, but so could where you live.

A survey produced by Mental Health America named the most depressed states. Here are the top 10:

Utah
West Virginia
Kentucky
Rhode Island
Nevada
Oklahoma
Idaho
Missouri
Ohio
Wyoming

Want to know which states are the least depressed? Then read more

South Dakota
Hawaii
New Jersey
Iowa
Maryland
Minnesota
Louisiana
Illinois
North Dakota
Texas

Check out the article called Ranking America's Mental Health: An Analysis of Depression Across the States to see the full list.

This study, funded by Wyeth pharmaceuticals, was not conducted to point fingers or to say that just because you live in one of the top 10 depressed states that you are automatically predisposed to depression, rather it's meant to bring attention to the high need for people to have access to mental health services and preventative treatments.

Dear's Advice: If you are suffering from depression, talk to someone so you aren't dealing with these sad feelings on your own. Tell a friend, relative, or your doctor, so they can help you get the treatment you need.

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