The November end of this year's presidential and local elections has taught me that playing well with others is a lesson worth learning, both in preschool and in politics.  And while we make progress, more political, ideological, and even spiritual struggles motivate voters into activism. 

The bad news is one election cycle will not resolve every one of the state and country's problems.  And the good news is, with rare exception, the result of one election puts a semi-colon at the end of issues, not a period.  Maybe the nomination of Barack Obama places an exclamation mark at the end of this historic presidential race.  But in another four years, Democrats and bridge-builders everywhere may end that nomination process with a question mark.  We will have to wait and see. 

The point is the work of equality and democracy beckon, and lessons remain to be learned from this incredible, historic season.

As national politics go, our nation's leaders should understand the Bush-era lessons:  the White House should not equally jeopardize the nation's infrastructure and the country's safety by waging ill begotten wars in foreign nations, while trashing the Constitution, opening a heinous torture chamber, turning its back on a nation's city during crisis, and lastly, violating the public's trust by decimating the economy.

Presumptive president-elect Barack Obama (the polls may differ in their closeness, but all of them - even without counting the younger, cell-phone-only generation -  show him ahead, so I'm not harboring any delusions) "does not support reimposing the Fairness Doctrine on broadcasters," according to his press secretary. On this, it seems that he would disagree with quite a few of his powerful supporters in Congress (and the UCC, of which Obama's home church is a part).

Many on the right (and in the libertarian camp) fear such a reinstatement because one of its targets would more than likely be conservative talk radio. Under the doctrine, views expressed in such an outlet would have to be balanced by "progressive" views.

But many congressional Democrats, as well as members of the "mainstream" media, seem to have very little interest in "balancing" other outlets. In Arianna Huffington's book, Right is Wrong: How the Lunatic Fringe Hijacked America, Shredded the Constitution, and Made Us All Less Safe, she writes:

"A key to understanding the fanatical Right's takeover of the Republican Party and how these ideas spread to the rest of the country is looking at the role of the media - not the Fox News pseudo-newsmen or the talk radio blowhards - but the respectable, supposedly liberal media. Without the enabling of the traditional media - with their obsession with 'balance' and their pathological devotion to the idea that truth is always found in the middle - the radical Right would never have been able to have its ideas taken seriously. If not for the media's appeals to balance, movement conservatism would have been laughed out of the court of public opinion long ago."

It is hard for me to take someone seriously who does not acknowledge that there is plenty of "public opinion" out there - including a number of oft-shunned Democrats - that favor a pro-life position. That Huffington feels it is the media's duty to silence a view that she believes is so obviously wrong (and therefore must be) is very telling, but it's not like she can make it so - she's "only" a journalist and not a member of Congress, right?

I often overlook local election issues in favor of presidential races and state propositions - and my guess is, many people do the same. Despite receiving a "Voting Guide for Republicans" in the mail each election, I do my research on the issues rather than blindly fill out my ballot with the guide's recommendations. (I do wonder sometimes how many people use political party guides as command rather than recommendation. My recommendation is do a little research on an issue or don't vote on it at all.)

But researching local candidates is often tedious. Here in Vista, we are electing Vista Unified School District governing board members. And I do care - aside from working towards being a public school teacher myself, I may one day have children in the Vista Unified School District - but even after looking over candidate bios, I find few meaningful ways to distinguish the candidates.

Elizabeth Jaka is a "community volunteer" who seeks to "provide quality educational programs that will give our children the tools they need to succeed in the 21st century." Sounds great! Steve Lilly is a retired educator who wants to see "increased student learning" and assessments that "provide teachers and principals timely data on student performance" (what a concept - tests that indicate performance). Also noble! Angela Chunka wants to give students access to the latest technology and close the achievement gap - no argument here! Stephen Guffanti and Eileen Fernandez want to see students reading and writing English at grade level - a no-brainer, right?

Several weeks ago, I decided to call my African American friends across the country -- some of whom I hadn't seen in years.  I was shocked to learn how many of them, especially those old enough to remember 1968, were very concerned for Obama's well being. Since I had not lived their lives, I knew my arguments held very little weight with them, and I sensed they were figuratively "patting me on the head as a well meaning but basically naïve little liberal."  They feared he would be asked to pay too great a price and they let pragmatism bury their optimism. Perhaps Obama's acceptance speech last night has put their fears to rest, and they are able to embrace the hope that I feel.

My heritage is English, French, Scotch-Irish, Danish and German.  I doubt that there is a drop of Black blood flowing in my veins, but in my heart I am so thrilled, so thrilled...for what this country has done.   Yes I'm also a woman of Hillary's generation and I am gratified that she was an oh so serious contender.   The next time I truly believe it will be a no-brainer -- a woman can and will be a candidate.  A woman can and will be President.

But, here we are, and just look at the changes Obama's candidacy has already wrought.  I don't mean to sound presumptuous to say I sense a soul-deep pride among blacks of all ages. I see evidence all around me- at my swimming pool, at my gym, in my church, in a predominately conservative town...(really...I know we have 2,500 registered Democrats in Coronado, but I drove up and down every street and it's true...we actually DO have the only Obama yard sign in town.)   But yesterday, I noticed a young African American working out at the Community Center. He was the only one of his race among a sea of white, but he carried himself with such dignity, the epitome of self-containment.  His time has indeed come.   

I'm really surprised by the amount of press coverage lately on the Libertarian party.

From Jesse Ventura being interviewed on Al Jazeera to even Time Magazine doing an article on the Libertarian candidate, Bob Barr. It's all rather interesting, to say the least. The current trend, in most news articles, is that the media is gearing up to blame the Libertarian party if EITHER candidate loses.

Some stations, like CBS, are already claiming the Libertarian party is going to cost John McCain votes. While other news media sources are claiming that Sen. Obama may be hurt  -- vote-wise -- by the Libertarian party. 

Whichever side it is, the meaning is clear -- we're not wanted here.

Superdelegates
Michigan and Florida
Trouble in Denver

 
- Citizen Voices blogger Chris McConnell is a bookseller, freelance writer, former high school English teacher and odd jobber who lives in La Jolla.

"Remember what I told you, Mr. Snerdley: There are no rules in the Democrat Party, there are only customs and traditions. Don't frown at me! Do you realize what a brilliant observation that is?" Rush Limbaugh, March 5 broadcast, 2008.

Love him or loathe him, the Right listens to Rush. Why? He’s entertaining. He’s bombastic. But answering beyond that, well, that’s why I listen to Rush.

Plenty of brave souls willingly espouse their political beliefs in public, but few delve the depths of why it matters to them so much as does Rush. I’ve been thinking a lot about Rush lately, and not because he’s so brazenly self-congratulatory. More so because he’s been saying the same thing for so many years and people still listen. 

From what I gather that message all boils down to this: The Democratic Party wants to destroy this country. 

March 4th had potential to be a big, decisive day in politics.

The battle for the Democratic nomination had the potential of being decided.

The California Supreme Court could have shown which way it was leaning in the pending Marriage Cases, a consolidation of cases that will decide the status of same-sex marriage under California law.

With Ralph Nader announcing his presidential candidacy, the embarrassment of holding him partially responsible for Al Gore’s loss in 2000 crept up like a forgotten nightmare. I don’t like admitting this — although many in my party don’t mind — because I believe what Mr. Nader has said about bipartisanship is true.

The two-party system is choking civic involvement. Labeling oneself as either a Democrat or a Republican feels stifling now as more and more voters claim their independence. 

I don’t think Ralph Nader’s run for office this time will siphon votes the way I begrudgingly believe it did in 2000. That’s because Dems have heard his message earlier this year, and mostly rejected it.

When John Edwards’ campaign message featured big corporations versus the little people, it was a prelude to Mr. Nader’s meat-and-potato policy initiatives. Edwards’s message was mostly rejected by early primary voters. So unless former Edwards’ supporters jump ship from backing Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton to go third-party for a day, Mr. Nader is competing for undecided Democratic and Independent voters.

Personally, I think Mr. Nader’s work has made a huge impact on America’s view on the important role of independent voters, the environment, and big business’ relationship with regular consumers. However, his days of running for office are irrelevant and will likely be ignored by most voters this time around. Then again, maybe Ralph Nader is as much a "miracles guy" like Mike Huckabee when it comes to victoriously ending this election.

-Citizen Voices blogger Alma Sove has spent most of her life in San Diego and is currently attending law school. 

A funny thing happened on the way to the polling booth in San Diego County. People got lost. I don’t mean they couldn’t find their polling place, although that happened a lot, too. They couldn’t find their political party.

Sure, most everyone had registered to vote under the patriotic flag of their choice, but many I talked to were feeling disenfranchised by their party and wondering where they really belonged.

People are describing themselves as a mixture of parties these days, saying something like “I’m fiscally conservative, but socially liberal.” So does that describe an elephant or a donkey or some new creature?  What do you get when you mix blue states and red states? You get purple. It seems a new purple voter is emerging. A lot of people I talked with on election day expressed frustration with their party and wanted to know how to change their official voter registration card. America is clamoring for change and voters are beginning with whom they want to align themselves.

Some Republicans, for example, claim that John McCain is really a Democrat in disguise. Has the party left the voters or is it the other way around?