Because I Said So…

After months of reading about what candidates want to do for you, it’s time to ask what you can do as a candidate.  Think you have what it takes (25,000 friends and free time) to run for president?  Here’s an instructional video on how to meet requirements for filing nomination papers to join the 2008 general election as an independent candidate. 

I followed the instructions for Illinois, but requirements vary from state to state.  Check here for a great compilation of state rules for candidacy.

The Houston Chronicle published this hilarious political cartoon by Nick Anderson in today’s paper:

Looks like people are thrilled to see that Ralph Nader has decided to run for president.  See more of Anderson’s 2008 election cartoons here…or join the Nader nuts here.

Americans are constantly being told what they do, think and feel believe.  Last night I think someone told me on CNN that my gender and race all but render me helpless if I am a Democrat and have to choose between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.

Pundits, scientists, commentators and busy-bodies have been polling and guessing (wrongly) how we are voting in this country since election season began.  I thought it was time to speak to the one type of person whom no one seems to be asking about the presidential race: a voter!

Kwame Thomison is a recent Cornell University graduate.  He earned a B.A. in Information Science with a concentration in law.  He also has no affiliation with any particular party, like, apparently, around one-third of the country is–at least, that’s what the pundits told me.

 Check out the audio from the interview, below.  We talk about his take on the impact of third-party and independent presidential candidates this year and how student governments in colleges mimic the democratic electoral process we hold so dear in America.

http://becauseisaidsoonline.net/audio/Constituencyspeaks.mp3

 A full transcript of the interview after the jump.

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–Garlinggauge.com takes a look at youtube and what it has done for unknown candidates.

–Project Vote Smart has compiled a database full of profile information of all announced candidates, most of whom are not prominently represented in the media.

–This YouTube video demonstrates how much larger the presidential race is than the public realizes.