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Faith, Certainty and the Presidency of George W. Bush

Here is the must-read New York Times Magazine profile of George W. Bush that is garnering so much attention. It starts with this quote from Reagan policy adviser Bruce Bartlett and goes from there:

Returns: National Elections

OK, it's getting there. Polls will start closing soon. Please use this thread to discuss the returns as they come in.

Returns: Local & State Elections

Use this blog to discussion Mississippi and Jackson elections. Yes, non-Jacksonians are welcome. Here's to America and freedom.

JFP Election After-Party, Blogging at Soulshine

After you vote Tuesday, head to Soulshine in the Hal & Mal's complex to watch the returns on the big-screen TV, and either celebrate or drown your sorrows–Happy Hour prices all night long. The JFP will be blogging from Soulshine about the returns and whatever the hell else we feel like adding to the blogosphere. So if you can't make it, check in on this site to keep yourself up-to-date with what's going on here and in the outside world, and be sure to add your comments.

Open Thread: Catharsis

If it doesn't fit somewhere else, say it here. Don't libel or toss around ad hominems, though. Otherwise, get it off your chest, serious or not.

Open Thread: Media & How They're Doing

I'm getting a little tired of all the hopeful predictions from media that this one is going to be just like Florida. They seem to be relishing the idea, because it's good for their bottom line. What are your thoughts about media coverage of the election today and tonight?

Open Thread: Post Exit Polls, Predictions Here

All, use this thread from here on out to share exit polling info and such. We'll start an actual Returns thread when the polls close.

Your Voting Experience

Use this blog to discuss your voting experience rather than posting on off-topic blogs. Feel free to share your stories here regarding election day!

Just In: USM Ballots Missing; Protest Planned

It starts. We just got this from LiveJournal tonight from "ThatGuy":

A protest is being organized for tomorrow for all disenfranchised students. please call Kim Dixon at 601-266-3385 for more information. [...]

Is Mississippi a Swing State?

The JFP has been telling readers for weeks that the presidential race is much closer than people think in Mississippi. We reported Sept. 30 on the state-by-state poll by the American Research Group that showed that Bush was only pollng 51 percent in the state, Kerry 42 percent with 5 percent undecided, and a 4 percent margin of error. We've been shocked to see no other state media report these numbers. The Tupelo daily even said they didn't think any national polls of the state had been done and the Associated Press on Monday reported that the race is closer here than people think—but without reporting these numbers. Today, finally, Sid Salter—who writes about politics for The Clarion-Ledger—is admitting that Bush's lead is shrinking in Mississippi. But still no numbers—at least about this race. Salter does tell us that John F. Kennedy only got 36.3 percent of the vote here, that Bush I beat Dukakis with 59.7 percent of the vote, and and the best Bill Clinton got was 44.6 percent of the vote here. But where's the actual news—that mere weeks ago, Bush was only polling 51 percent in Mississippi and that Kerry has a real shot if people turn out and vote? Why not tell us this?

Keep the Faith

All, this is an example of what I mean. A Jackson woman I've never met took the quote I posted this a.m. and made this image for me.

Why I'm Voting for George W. Bush

Although it is clear that the JFP has fully endorsed John Kerry, we would like to offer a forum for those who support George W. Bush to give us the reasons why. I ask Kerry supporters not to fill this blog with reasons to vote for Kerry—although anyone is welcome to challenge and discuss the reasons that others give for supporting Bush. I urge everyone to include back-up links where possible and to keep this discussion respectful. Ad hominem attacks will be deleted without comment.

IRS Probes NAACP; Group Calls It Suspicious

The NAACP has revealed that the U.S. government if probing it for crossing the line into politics. AFP reports:

Molly Ivins Calls the Election for Kerry, the ‘Uniter'

Molly Ivins this week:

Without fear of contradiction, I can say that George W. Bush has turned out to be a divider, not a uniter, for the past four years. Sheesh, if we get any madder at each other there will be fisticuffs, brethren, I say fisticuffs.

Appearance of ‘Man Who Got Away' Doesn't Matter

The New York Times reports that the re-emergence of bin Laden isn't having an affect on voter opionion:

4,000 Al-Qaida Members Escaped at Tora Bora

Editor & Publisher is reporting: "Today, in a story sent to Knight Ridder newspapers, the bureau examined the current, and perhaps crucial, election debate in the aftermath of the new Osama bin Laden video: Did the U.S. military let the terrorist leader escape in Tora Bora nearly three years ago? [...] The report revealed that two KR reporters and two photographers were at Tora Bora during the battle, and photographer David Gilkey of the Detroit Free Press and reporter Drew Brown traveled there a year later, interviewed Afghan fighters, retraced al-Qaida escape routes and talked to Pakistani intelligence officers who were tracking al Qaida. 'Their reporting,' KR recalled today, 'found that Franks and other top officials ignored warnings from their own and allied military and intelligence officers that the combination of precision bombing, special operations forces and Afghan forces that had driven the Taliban from northern Afghanistan might not work in the heartland of the country's dominant Pashtun tribe.'"

Losing Your Voting Virginity

In a story printed in our one of the JFP's youth voting issues, Jane Eisner argues that older people should help young people celebrate the right to vote—and give them a reason to vote:

Questions of Faith

Why John Kerry Should Be Elected President

Web Exclusive

How many of you remember your parents talking about the president? I remember as a child I wondered why we elected such terrible presidents. Truman could hardly get anything right, it seemed to me, and Eisenhower was not much better. Why, any one of the adults we knew could've done a better job!! Of course, what I didn't understand at the time was the emotions and exaggerations that are part of politics. Politics can certainly stir the emotions, and it's good that it does. We should care, and care a lot, about the decisions that we as a country make; decisions about sending our young people to war, about caring for our retirees, about preserving the beauty of our country for future generations, about protection of our liberties, our right to speak our minds, to bear arms and to have a fair trial if accused of a crime.

Songwriter to Bush: Stop Using my Song!

AP is reporting::

Ralph Nader

Report: 100,000 Iraqi Citizens Killed in War

Bloomberg is reporting:

Rankin Anti-Liquor Flier Bashes Jackson

The Clarion-Ledger is reporting:

Springsteen: ‘The Future Is for the Passionate'

80,000 Turn Out for Kerry, Springsteen in Wisconson

Salon reports:

Bush Campaign Doctors Campaign Ad

This story is burning up political circles. Salon today:

Just In: Ashcroft Sending Poll Watchers to Mississippi

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ANNOUNCES FEDERAL OBSERVERS TO MONITOR GENERAL ELECTION IN STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY (including) Jones, Kemper, Leake, Neshoba, Newton, and Winston Counties, Mississippi.

Giuliani Blames Troops

Nothing like supporting our troops. Salon reports:

Madison Mayor's Husband Arrested for Corruption

Clarion-Ledger reports:

U.S. Supreme Court

Jermal Clark - District 3

Two Democrats are vying for the position. Jermal Clark is challenging incumbent Frank Figgers Jr., who has served two terms. Clark, however, is not running a very vigorous campaign from what we can see.

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