Our Vote...Students Voice their Opinions About the Election

Here is our video project Domineke, Duncan and I have been working on this past couple weeks. With the election just around the corner, WSU students give us their opinions on issues that are important in the election.

WSU Veterans Day Ceremony

The ASWSU Veterans Affairs Committee and the WSU Veterans Outreach Center invite you to honor Amercia's Veterans by attending the 2008 WSU Veterans Day Ceremony, Saturday, November 8, 2008 at 10:00 a.m.

The ceremony will be begin in the CUB Auditorium and conclude with a wreath laying ceremony at the WSU Veterans Memorial. Coffee and pastries will be provided beginning at 9:30am.

The Candidates Stance on Iraq

Although the economy as taken precedence over the war in Iraq with the up coming election, the war is still the biggest foreign policy issue in the election. CCN wrote an article on the candidates stance including the vice presidential candidates. It includes their voting history with the war and what they think should be done in terms of withdrawing from Iraq. There are so many adds on TV that misconstrue information and this article is very helpful in understanding where the presidential candidates stand on the Iraq war and the war in Afghanistan.

The Choice

One of the better articles I have found so far was this one called the “Choice” from New Yorker Magazine. The article sheds light on many important issues and shows the opinion of both McCain and Obama. The New Yorker claims, “the Iraq war seems to leave McCain and Obama roughly even.” Obama had opposed the invasion because he knew it would be so costly and would make America not well liked. McCain is on the opposite, whereas he wants more combat brigades in Iraq. Both hold varying positions that hold positive and negative attitudes to both of themselves. McCain still argues that Obama is valuing his career over his country. However, a lot of people do not believe McCain has political strategy in Iraq and Afghanistan. Either way the article points out restoring foreign affairs are huge to American success. American morals need to be restored as well. “The modern Presidency is as much a vehicle for communication as for decision-making, and the relevant audiences are global.”

Why Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda Might Try to Affect the Election Between Barack Obama and John McCain.

Although we have been focusing more of how going into war will affect voters, this article is more about how something might occur prior to election time. Intelligence officials are worried that al Qaeda might try to stir up matters to hinder the election. It is likely that members will commit acts of violence against Americans, not necessarily in the United States, but where our embassies are. Some people believe al Qaeda is going to do this to get the attention back on itself rather than on the election. Members want to remind us that they still pose a threat and should not be looked upon lightly. If an act of violence was committed soon, the media would go crazy. US News claims, "such a media-amplified attack might help them with recruitment and fundraising." An attack of such would possibly be more beneficial to John McCain's campaign than Barack Obama's. While all this is speculation, I personally do find it interesting and a likely, possible event. We will all just have to sit back and see what happens in the next week.

Iraq War Fades as Election Issue

Reuters concluded earlier this month that the Iraq war has considerably faded as an issue in the quickly-approaching presidential election. The news source cites three reasons, presented by analysts, for the shift: "the riveting of public attention on the battered economy and plunging markets, the decline in violence in Iraq, and a narrowing of the candidates' differences on the war..." Read More

Check back next week for Angie's and my video broadcast about a couple of WSU students for whom the Iraq war is still a big issue.

WSU Veterans: OEF/OIF Benefits Breifing

Found on the WSU Office of Veterans Affairs website, as well as an ad in the Daily Evergreen:

Veterans Benefit Briefing, the briefing is conducted by a representative from the Veterans Outreach Center in Spokane. It discusses various benefits such as disability, Veterans loans, and other educational benefits.

This will take place Oct. 23 in CUE @ 1730

Here is a link to the WSU Office of Veterans Affairs.