Articles written by Griffin Limerick

County reports highest voter turnout in history

wpolley — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 01:26:12 -0500

The epidemic of political enthusiasm that swept across the country reached Lee County for the presidential election last Tuesday.

A record 63 percent of Lee County voters showed up at the polls to vote for their favorite presidential candidate.

Of the 85,807 registered voters in Lee County, 54,423 voiced their opinions.

Tim Parson, election manager for Lee County, said although there was a record number of voters, the numbers were still slightly disappointing.

“We expected a few more than turned out,” Parson said. “We were expecting mid-to-upper 60 percent. We only had 63 percent, but our highest percentage up to this point has been 58 percent.”

One reason for increased voter turnout could be student participation. Heather Kennedy, an undeclared sophomore, said she thinks the candidates were the cause for the high student voter turnout.

“The candidates were more exciting, and more people were motivated to vote because of the economy,” Kennedy said. “Everyone wanted things to be better in the White House.”

OBAMA MAKES HISTORY

wpolley — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 00:42:30 -0500

Lee County results closely mirror state choice, differ from overall national outcome

Watching Obama's Victory Speech

On a chilly Tuesday night at Chicago’s Grant Park, Democratic Sen. Barack Obama walked on stage in front of a crowd of thousands and a TV audience of millions to accept the U.S. presidency.

As the first African-American president, Obama’s presence on that stage marked a turning point in American history.

Accompanied by his family and powered by the momentum of a landslide victory, Obama spoke of neither red nor blue America, but instead of the United States of America.

In his victory speech, Obama continued his promise for “change” in America.

He said this election is proof there are no limits to the American Dream.

“It is that promise that’s always set this country apart, that through hard work and sacrifice each of us can pursue our individual dreams, but still come together as one American family, to ensure that the next generation can pursue their dreams, as well,” Obama said. “That’s why I stand here tonight.”

He also congratulated Sen. John McCain and reached out to McCain’s supporters, telling them although he didn’t earn their vote, he will still be their president, too.

The speech was emotional for Obama, because his grandmother died Monday, the day before the election.

At the end of the speech, Obama’s running mate and Vice President-elect, Sen. Joe Biden, entered the stage to renewed enthusiasm and applause from the crowd.

Obama’s margin of victory was just as impressive as his historical achievement.

Of the 270 electoral votes needed to secure the presidency, Obama won 338, while McCain won 163.

Obama won battleground states like Florida and Ohio, as well as historically Republican states like Virginia and New Mexico.

Former trustee not convicted of charges

wpolley — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 23:10:00 -0400

Sen. Lowell Barron, a former member of the Auburn University Board of Trustees, was dismissed of traffic charges Oct. 14.

Greg L. Gambril, the attorney general who presided over Barron’s case, said charges were dropped, because the officer who signed the tickets was not an active officer at the time.

“Barron was dismissed on legal technicality,” Gambril said. “What the officer observed were traffic offenses, and they have to be charged on a uniform traffic ticket and complaint can only be signed by officers. That was the core of the problem.”

The controversial traffic incident occurred July 27, while Barron was returning to his home in Fyffe, Ala., from vacation.

Andalusia Police Chief Wilbur Williams said Barron was traveling north on Florida Road 187 and was crossing the Alabama state line, when former Andalusia police officer Blaine Wilson began following him on a personal motorcycle.

Williams said Wilson noticed Barron driving “erratically.”

Staff Opinion: John McCain’s diary — exposed

wpolley — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 22:40:00 -0400

The following entry was taken from John McCain’s daily journal. The specific date is unknown.

7:00 a.m. I wake up and walk into the bathroom for a quick shower.

No time for a sponge bath this morning.

7:45 a.m. I walk into the kitchen. Cindy is cooking scrambled eggs. I call her “my friend.”

She scrapes my eggs into the trash can.

“My friend” count: 1

8:15 a.m. Cindy and I board the Straight Talk Express.

I call shotgun.

9:00 a.m. I’m channel surfing on the Straight Talk Express. I want to watch Hogan’s Heroes. Cindy wants to watch The View. We settle on Hogan’s Heroes.

“My friend” count: 6

10:00 a.m. I arrive at an NRA meeting. While giving a brief speech, I attempt to quote Charleton Heston’s line, “From my cold, dead hands!” Instead, I accidentally quote Charleton Heston’s “damned, dirty apes” line from Planet of the Apes.

One man in the audience calls me a racist. He was immediately escorted out.

“My friend” count: 23

Party headquarters open for business

wpolley — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 21:53:00 -0400

Workers for the Republican headquarters on Glenn Avenue enter the building.: Rod Guajardo / ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITORTwo workers for the Democratic headquarters welcome volunteers outside the office in Opelika.: Rod Guajardo / ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR

Patriotic Auburn students and residents looking to display party pride for the presidential election are visiting the local Democratic and Republican headquarters.

The two headquarters offer signs and stickers from both the presidential and the local elections. Rena Long, a Republican headquarters volunteer, said presidential signs are popular, and the headquarters often runs out.

“We have an individual who places orders for (presidential) merchandise,” Long said. “Local candidates provide material themselves, but for the McCain/Palin signs, those items are ordered.”

Bobby Donald, a volunteer at the Democratic headquarters, said the Democratic headquarters also frequently runs out of signs for the presidential election.

Long-awaited sparks fly between Obama, McCain during debate - 26 Days To Go

wpolley — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 02:58:43 -0400

Sen. John McCain’s request for a town hall meeting was finally granted in the second presidential debate.

The debate was held Tuesday at Belmont University in Nashville.

This was the only presidential debate presented in town hall format.

Voters submitted thousands of questions for the debate, and moderator Tom Brokaw chose about 13 of these questions to read to McCain and Sen. Barack Obama.

While many of the questions were asked by audience members, Rene McEldowney, an associate professor of political science, said the debate was not conducted in real town hall format.

“In other town hall meetings there are usually more questions from the audience,” McEldowney said. “Brokaw asked a lot of questions.”
Stephen Hoar, a sophomore in English, liked the format.

“I thought the style was cool, because you got to see a lot of the opinions and concerns of the American public,” Hoar said.

Damon Lawrence, a freshman in business management, said Brokaw was a great choice for moderator.

VP debate marks changes in race

wpolley — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 01:22:50 -0400

Sen. Joe Biden and Gov. Sarah Palin never met each other before last Thursday night, but after briefly shaking hands, the two vice presidential candidates proceeded to debate political policy.

The candidates squared off for the first and only vice presidential debate, held at Washington University in St. Louis.

Gwen Ifill of PBS moderated the debate. Palin wanted not only to introduce herself to Biden, but also to the American public.

After stumbling in recent interviews, she hoped to redeem herself. Caleb Byrd, treasurer of the Auburn University College Republicans, said Palin used the debate to talk to the American people.

“I think her main goal was to prove she was capable and knowledgeable, and that she understands what is going on,” Byrd said. “I don’t think the interviews reflected her intelligence.”

Lerato Matlamela, a senior in chemical engineering, said Palin’s answers sounded “rehearsed”.

Nominees dance around issues during first presidential debate

wpolley — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 02:54:20 -0400

Despite increased political controversy and confusion over the economic bailout plan, the show went on last Friday night.

Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain took center stage for the first 2008 presidential debate, held at the University of Mississippi’s Gertrude C. Ford Center, in Oxford, Miss.

The spotlight shown on the two presidential candidates, as the audience watched in darkness and silence.

The debate was moderated by Jim Lehrer of PBS.

Chandler Harris, chairman of the Auburn University College Republicans, said he liked how Lehrer made the debate a personal experience between the two candidates.

“Lehrer is a well-respected journalist,” Harris said. “He attacked McCain on things he thought he could attack him on, and he attacked Obama on things he thought he could attack him on. He seemed pretty unbiased.”

Throughout the debate, Lehrer encouraged Obama and McCain to address each other when talking, instead of looking at the camera.

John Page, treasurer of Auburn University College Democrats, said he liked this tactic.

Web site offers truth about politicians

wpolley — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 22:21:00 -0400

Politicians’ lies catch up to them through Web site, voters presented with correct political facts

Facts brought to you by www.factcheck.org:

A slanderous e-mail claims that Barack Obama will not say the Pledge of Allegiance. The e-mail is accompanied by a picture of Obama without his hand over his heart, while Gov. Bill Richardson, Sen. Hillary Clinton and Ruth Harkin hold their hands over their hearts. However, the picture was not taken during the Pledge of Allegiance like the e-mail states. Instead, the picture was taken at Sen. Tom Harkin’s “steak fry” during the National Anthem. There are numerous video examples of Obama holding his hand over his heart during the Pledge of Allegiance.

An Obama ad says the “Bush-McCain privatization plan” will cut social security benefits in half. The ad implies current retirees will receive the cut. However, the cut would only apply to retirees who have yet to be born. And, Obama’s own economic advisers said the cut would be 28 percent, not half.

In Gov. Palin’s RNC speech, she claimed she put the former Alaska governor’s jet on eBay. Palin fails to mention the jet wasn’t actually sold on the Web site. Instead, the jet was sold through an aircraft broker for less than the asking price and the original cost. Days later, McCain said Palin not only sold the jet on eBay, but also made a profit on the deal. This is also false.

An Obama ad claims McCain voted to cut education funding. The ad gives five votes as examples. However, one of the votes was for increased education funding, just for fewer dollars than democrats wanted. Three other votes were against additional funding, not for cutting funds.

Awaiting the first presidential debate, Sens. McCain and Obama are fulfilling their desires to swap blows through TV advertisements.

Instead of focusing on each candidate’s individual policies, these “attack ads” make accusations about the candidates’ records and negative traits.

However, many of these accusations are unwarranted and false.

Web sites like factcheck.org address lies given by the candidates, whether they be from a TV commercial or a speech.

According to the Web site, factcheck.org is a “nonpartisan, nonprofit, ‘consumer advocate’ for voters that aims to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics.”

One lie the Web site addresses is McCain’s recent advertisement that claims Obama passed legislation to teach comprehensive sex education to kindergarteners.

Obama actually supported age appropriate sex education, which for kindergarteners, would involve learning how to recognize and avoid sexual predators.

Obama advertisements also include lies about McCain.

An Obama ad intended for Hispanic voters claims McCain is friends with radio personality Rush Limbaugh, who has a history of making hateful remarks about Mexicans. The ad goes on to quote Limbaugh’s remarks.

‘Change’ major topic in presidential election

wpolley — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 01:32:00 -0400

After a variety of speeches were given at the Democratic and Republican National Conventions, one message was repeated more then any other: change is coming to America.

Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain used the word “change” several times in their acceptance speeches. Obama mentioned change 14 times in his speech, while McCain used the word nine times.

Change originated as Obama’s platform for a new America. Since the beginning of his run for the Democratic nomination, “change” has adorned Obama signs, car magnets and T-shirts. Yet recently, “change” has become the battle cry for both presidential candidates.

Some people believe the word lacks a true meaning and is used only for political gain. Adam Syfrett, a pharmacy grad student, said the word is meaningless.

“Honestly, it means they don’t have anything else to convince someone to vote for them with,” Syfrett said.

However, Jonathan Howard, a junior in electrical engineering, said change is more than just a word. Howard said change is a part of Obama’s policy.