In today’s news, 20,000 surface-to-air missiles have gone missing in Libya; the Obama administration is suing over the potential release of photos of Osama bin Laden’s corpse; Rick Perry’s wife may be behind his support for the HPV vaccine; and Mitt Romney meets with former Obama supporter and current JP Morgan Chase CEO, Jamie Dimon. In other news, Ashton Kutcher may have recently cheated on Demi Moore, and Andy Rooney is retiring from 60 Minutes.
Coral + Caitlin
CRUCIAL
Iranian Navy Sending Ships Near U.S. Waters, http://bit.ly/oLB8SO
According to an Iranian newspaper, Iran plans to pull some of its warships out of the Persian Gulf and put them in the Atlantic near the maritime borders of the United States. “We’ve been pushing freedom of the seas for years and the Iranian Navy can go wherever it wants,” said Pentagon Spokesman Capt. John Kirby. However, Iranians may have a hard time refueling its ships unless it does so in Venezuela. The presidents of Venezuela and Iran have been long-time companions.
20,000 Heat-Seeking Missiles Reportedly Feared Missing From Libyan Warehouse, http://fxn.ws/pOSduX
20,000 heat-seeking missiles have apparently gone missing from an Army warehouse in Libya. This recent discovery magnifies the ongoing worry that weapons from Libya’s war are ending up in the wrong hands. “Matching up a terrorist with a shoulder-fired missile, that’s our worst nightmare,” Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., has said. The U.S.has officials working with the new Libyan government to locate the missing weaponry.
CDC confirms 13 dead in listeria cantaloupe outbreak, http://on.today.com/nokLR2
On Tuesday, federal health officials stated that across 18, states there have been 13 dead and at least 72 people sick from the recent outbreak of Listeria in a cantaloupe crop. This is the deadliest Listeria outbreak in over a decade.
Obama to court: Keep bin Laden photos secret, http://usat.ly/pSs2Cy
The Obama administration is asking a court to keep photos of Bin Laden’s corpse a secret. Officials say that revealing the pictures could cause grave consequences to national defense and foreign affairs in the United States. Also, Obama told Steve Kroft of 60 Minutes, “We don’t trot out this stuff as trophies. We don’t need to spike the football.”
7 Long Island Students Charged in SAT Scheme, http://nyti.ms/oEOT0k
On Tuesday, a prosecutor said a Long Island college student was paid by at least a half-dozen high school students to take the SAT for them. The six students of Great Neck North High School are said to have paid college student Sam Eshaghoff, 19, $1,500 to $2,500 dollars to take the test for them. Eshaghoff has been arraigned on charges of scheming to defraud, criminal impersonation and falsifying business records.
Protesters disagree with Pileggi’s electoral vote plan, http://bit.ly/o40LLe
A small group of protesters gathered outside of state Sen. Dominic Pileggi’s Chester office last week to express disapproval of a plan he is proposing that will change how Pennsylvania awards its electoral votes in presidential elections. Pileggi, R-9, of Chester, wants to replace the system of awarding all of the state’s electoral votes to the candidate who wins the statewide election. This plan would cause the number of Pennsylvania electoral votes to shrink from 21 to 20 in the 2012 election, reflecting the loss of one U.S. House seat because of the state’s sluggish population growth.
Florida moves toward January primary, http://wapo.st/oGyza6
Florida state House Speaker Dean Cannon (R) says his state is likely to set its primary for Jan. 31. With Florida moving its primary up, Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Nevada are likely to move theirs up as well. In 2008, Iowa was the first to have their caucus, holding it on January 3rd.
A Political Wife’s Influence on an Issue, http://nyti.ms/mPwdCq
Presidential Candidate Rick Perry has been criticized for his attempt to have every sixth grade girl in Texas receive the HPV vaccine. Opposing candidates wonder if his decision was based on his relationship with pharmaceutical companies; however, Perry’s wife may have actually been the biggest influence on his support for the vaccine. His wife, Anita Thigpen Perry, a nurse, country doctor’s daughter, and career-long advocate for victims of sexual assault has been a vocal proponent of immunizations.
Jamie Dimon, Former Obama Bromancer, Flirts With Mitt Romney, http://bit.ly/rd4s9v
JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon met privately with Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney on Tuesday. Dimon was a huge supporter of the 2008 Obama campaign; however, his relationship with the President has faltered since Obama put Dimon in the category of “fat-cat bankers.” Romney has so far raised twice as much money as Obama has from Wall Street. At least 100 donors who backed the president in 2008 are claiming to switch sides.
GOP Congressmen Propose Plan To Forcibly Deport Undocumented Domestic Abuse Victims, http://bit.ly/n2M4QY
According to immigrant advocates, a new immigration enforcement bill being considered in Congress would undermine existing immigration law by removing prosecutorial discretion and deferred action – two components that protect undocumented victims from domestic violence.
(via DailyBeast) Amazon Tablet Costs $199, http://bit.ly/oFWYdE: The new Amazon Fire will cost less than half of its Apple counterpart. The tablet has a 7-inch display and will run on a customized version of Google’s Android operating system.
CULTURAL
Suzy Geers gives us her take on, “FOX and Google’s GOP Debate,” http://bit.ly/q5x4yz
Kal Penn says, “It’s time to ignore the paralyzing cynicism and get engaged,” http://huff.to/owuWCp
The Chicago Tribune thinks we’re, “Selling our souls to Mark Zuckerberg,” http://trib.in/qGSPxv
Did Ashton Kutcher cheat on wife Demi Moore during the weekend of their wedding anniversary? http://bit.ly/qkmmEH
Heidi, Germany’s celebrity cross-eyed opossum, dies at 3 1/2, http://wapo.st/qLcL4e
Justin Bieber Drops ‘How To Love’ Acoustic Remix, http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1671648/justin-bieber-how-to-love-remix.jhtml
Andy Rooney Retiring from 60 Minutes, http://bit.ly/mU1Qrc
Tags: 60 minutes, amazon tablet, andy rooney, anita perry, Ashton Kutcher, bin Laden, cantaloupe, Demi Moore, florida primary, germany opossum, heidi germany, how to love, hpv, iran, Iran Navy, jamie dimon, justn bieber, kal penn, Libya, listeria, Mark Zuckerberg, missiles, Mitt Romney, obama bin laden, pileggi, Rick Perry, sat scheme, Suzy Geers
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coral@rockthevote.com Bio: Coral is the Marketing Intern at Rock the Vote Email the author at: blog(at)rockthevote.com |
Most Pennsylvania voters want a national popular vote.
A survey of 800 Pennsylvania voters conducted on December 16-17, 2008 showed 78% overall support for a national popular vote for President.
Support was 87% among Democrats, 68% among Republicans, and 76% among independents.
By age, support was 77% among 18-29 year olds, 73% among 30-45 year olds, 81% among 46-65 year olds, and 78% for those older than 65.
By gender, support was 85% among women and 71% among men.
The National Popular Vote bill would guarantee the Presidency to the candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states (and DC).
Under National Popular Vote, every vote, everywhere, would be politically relevant and equal in every presidential election. Every vote would be included in the national count. The candidate with the most popular votes in all 50 states would get the 270+ electoral votes from the enacting states. That majority of electoral votes guarantees the candidate with the most popular votes in all 50 states wins the presidency.
National Popular Vote would give a voice to the minority party voters in each state and district (in ME and NE). Now their votes are counted only for the candidate they did not vote for. Now they don’t matter to their candidate.
With National Popular Vote, elections wouldn’t be about winning states or districts (in ME and NE). No more distorting and divisive red and blue state and district maps. Every vote, everywhere would be counted for and directly assist the candidate for whom it was cast.
In Gallup polls since 1944, only about 20% of the public has supported the current system of awarding all of a state’s electoral votes to the presidential candidate who receives the most votes in each separate state (with about 70% opposed and about 10% undecided). The recent Washington Post, Kaiser Family Foundation, and Harvard University poll shows 72% support for direct nationwide election of the President. Support is strong in virtually every state, partisan, and demographic group surveyed iin recent polls in closely divided battleground states: CO– 68%, IA –75%, MI– 73%, MO– 70%, NH– 69%, NV– 72%, NM– 76%, NC– 74%, OH– 70%, PA — 78%, VA — 74%, and WI — 71%; in smaller states (3 to 5 electoral votes): AK – 70%, DC – 76%, DE –75%, ME — 77%, NE — 74%, NH –69%, NV — 72%, NM — 76%, RI — 74%, and VT — 75%; in Southern and border states: AR –80%, KY — 80%, MS –77%, MO — 70%, NC — 74%, and VA — 74%; and in other states polled: CA — 70%, CT — 74% , MA — 73%, MN – 75%, NY — 79%, WA — 77%, and WV- 81%.
On Election Night, most voters don’t care whether their presidential candidate wins or loses in their state or district… they care whether he/she wins the White House. Voters want to know, that even if they were on the losing side, their vote actually was directly and equally counted and mattered to their candidate. Most Americans consider the idea of the candidate with the most popular votes being declared a loser detestable. We don’t allow this in any other election in our representative republic.
The bill has passed 31 state legislative chambers, in 21 small, medium-small, medium, and large states, including one house in AR, CT, DE, DC, ME, MI, NV, NM, NY, NC, and OR, and both houses in CA, CO, HI, IL, NJ, MD, MA, RI, VT, and WA. The bill has been enacted by DC (3), HI (4), IL (19), NJ (14), MD (11), MA (10), CA (55), VT (3), and WA (13). These 9 jurisdictions possess 132 electoral votes — 49% of the 270 necessary to bring the law into effect.
NationalPopularVote