The checks aren’t even in the mail yet, but many people already have big plans for their tax rebates. President Bush signed the $170 billion stimulus package this week, in hopes of setting off a rush of springtime spending, and adding a spark to the slowing economy.

The plan will give rebate checks of $300 to $600 for people who have an income between $3,000 and $75,000, plus $300 per child.

 Do you have plans for your rebate check? Do you think the stimulus plan is a good idea?

For the first time in decades, California voters are excited that they’ll be casting their ballots while the presidential race is still in play.  It’s a welcome change from years past when California was the political piggy bank, and the race was all but decided by the time voters took to the polls in June.

What makes this election exciting for you? What was your voting experience like at the poll today? 

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The economy's rapid decline in the last few months has caused a turnabout on the presidential campaign trail. Candidates have turned their attention away from the war in Iraq, and instead focused their efforts on telling hard-pressed Americans how they would bolster the slumping economy. Recent polls show Americans have economic anxiety over the halt in job growth, skyrocketing oil prices, teetering stock market and millions of home foreclosures.

How important is a candidate's economic platform to you as a voter? What issue is most important to you this presidential election?

Special Statewide Broadcast:
Primary Concerns: California Speaks Out
A collaboration between KPBS, KQED, KPCC, & Capital Public Radio
Thursday, January 24 from 9-11 a.m.
Listen to the archive online

It's been nearly five years since the creation of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The move was recognized as the most significant reorganization of the federal government in more than fifty years. It brought together 200,000 federal employees and two dozen other law enforcement agencies to protect the U.S. from terror attacks following 9/11.

DHS was recently criticized in a report by the Government Accountability Office for failing to achieve even half of what it was assigned to do, and leaving our country vulnerable to another major terror attack. But the fact is, there hasn't been a terrorist attack on U.S. soil since 9/11.

 

Five years later, do you think the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is protective or ineffective?

 

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The race among Republican and Democratic presidential candidates is heating up for the rapidly approaching Tuesday primary in New Hampshire. Clinton and Romney were defeated in last week's Iowa caucuses and are struggling to avoid another major loss. McCain is gaining ground on the Republican side, and polls show Obama leading on the Democratic side.

(Updated January 8, 2008) In a night of comebacks, Sen. John McCain has won New Hampshire's Republican primary, and Sen. Hillary Clinton clung to a narrow lead over Sen. Barack Obama to win the Democratic primary.

What is your reaction?

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Last week, presidential candidate Mitt Romney delivered a speech to address perceived concerns about his faith in Mormonism. His speech was quickly compared to the one John F. Kennedy delivered when he was a presidential candidate in 1960. In Kennedy's case, the subject was his Roman Catholicism. Kennedy, of course, would soon become this country's first-ever Catholic president.

What does a candidate's religious belief say about what kind of leader he or she would be? Should religion even matter in the race for president?

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Republicans in California are proposing a ballot initiative that would split the state's electoral votes and end the winner-take-all approach -- a change that could dramatically affect the outcome of the 2008 presidential election. The measure would award a single electoral vote to the presidential winner in each of the state's 53 congressional districts and two to the statewide victor. A required 434,000 signatures are needed by Dec. 1 to get the initiative on the June ballot. (You can read some background on this in Gloria Penner's October 1st blog post.)

Republicans say the proposal is aimed at attracting presidential candidates to campaign in California --something they rarely do because the statewide vote usually leans Democratic. Opponents call the proposal an attempt to steal Democratic votes.

What do you think? Is this an attempt to steal the presidential election or a much-needed electoral reform?

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(Updated November 16) Political turmoil continues in Pakistan. Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto was placed under house arrest for a second time in recent days, to prevent her from leading a cross-country rally to protest President Gen. Pervez Musharraf's military and emergency rule. Pakistan's president ended the house arrest of opposition leader of Benazir Bhutto on Friday ahead of the visit of a senior U.S. envoy. Bhutto has asked for Musharraf to step down immediately and end military and emergency rule. (Listen to Benazir Bhutto talk to NPR about her house arrest) Musharraf said the restrictions were needed to bolster the fight against the Taliban and al-Qaida.

The United States has expressed concern about Bhutto's detention and urged Pakistani authorities to return to constitutional order and democratic norms. Yet the Bush administration has historically relied on Musharraf as a key supporter in the war against terrorism.

How do you think the U.S. should respond to this situation?

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Cracking a beer during a beach bonfire or enjoying a glass of wine at sunset on your beach blanket will soon be a thing of the past. On Monday, the San Diego City Council passed a one-year booze ban on all city beaches, bay shores and coastal parks. The council will consider making the ban permanent in January 2009.

The ban follows a drunken brawl last Labor Day on Pacific Beach, which led to a near riot. Opponents of the ban say those who drink responsibly at the beach shouldn't be punished because of the actions of one group of drunken beachgoers. Supporters of the ban say beach drinking has gotten progressively worse through the years, and the beaches have gained a bad reputation -- from tourists and residents alike.

Do you agree with the council's beach booze ban decision?

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As San Diego progresses deeper into a looming water crisis, many environmentalists are calling on the city to enforce mandatory water restrictions. But the city is putting its efforts on urging residents to voluntarily conserve - with hopes of saving 20 gallons a day per person, and closing the gap between supply and demand.

Is volunteer conservation enough, or will it take mandatory restrictions to get residents to change their habits?

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