He is the fifth African American Senator in U.S. history, the third popularly elected African American Senator, and the only African American currently serving in the U.S. Senate.
Pretty pathetic. I would have guessed we went further on civil rights than this. I jus assumed there were more.
Do they even use the Bible in anything anymore? Like in jury trials or any other swearing in? I would think all that went away and it's used more for photo ops instead.
Kinda like using one if you want but not having it as a requirement. Like Parliament wigs. Huh :eyeroll:
When newly elected members of Congress raise their right hands to take the oath of office in January, they won't be placing their left hands on the Bible or any other religious text.
During official swearing-in ceremonies, newly elected members don't place their hand on any book. However, individual members may choose to carry a sacred text.
"Some members carry a Bible. You don't actually put your hand on a Bible. I can't see how anyone would object to carrying a Qur'an," said Senate historian Don Ritchie.
In Congress, the House speaker administers the oath to members en masse on the House floor. It's up to individual members if they want to hold a religious text, said Fred Beuttler, House deputy historian.
First-time members are more likely to carry a sacred text or have their family and religious leader present for a staged ceremony in the speaker's or their own office, Beuttler said.
Accordingly, although Ellison was not technically sworn in with the Quran, after the official swearing-in ceremony he posed for photographs with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, both of them posed with their hands upon a copy of the Quran once owned by Thomas Jefferson:
Sheesh Mikey :wink:.... I know.... it's just that this is such a non-issue and yet still talked about. I wonder when people will just be judged on their own merit and not all the other stuff. My youngest daughter actually said to me "I don't think America is ready for a woman in the oval office" based on discussions they have been having in her classroom. So many issues that imho seem so silly when we are choosing a leader. After all the person who will be president will represent people from all walks of life. Wasn't aimed at you or your comment...just an observation.
Just heard on the news that tickets to the rally ran out in less than 24 hours. There's now a waiting list of over 2,000. Thanks again for posting that link. I have my ticket and think it will be fun.
I don't know how to caucus. I never needed to since things were usually figured out before Super Tuesday anyway. It's too close this time around.
I read a little but it seems like a pain in the arce where you need to vote on all issues first then on a candidate or something like that. I just want to vote on a candidate. Is this right BFG?
You don't have to stick around for the meetings. You can go to your caucus place and cast your vote and then leave if you wish. But you must cast your vote before 8:00 PM.
Both parties have a presidential preference ballot. However, it's only binding on the DFL side. For example, if Obama gets 52% of the vote in MN, he would get 52% of MN's delegates to the convention. On the GOP side, the ballot is just a straw poll and is nonbinding. This means that in order to have an actual impact on the GOP race, one would need to become a delegate and go through the convention process.
That's crazy. I go to SSP High School and live closer to Simley than you do. I think that will confuse lots of people, splitting up the precincts like that.
I hate the way our voting system is...why can't it be just American Voters Voting forget the Electoral college and all that stuff. Yes I know that the 12th Ammendment says we gotta do it this way but come on with computers now days the popular vote is 1000X easier to compute than it was in 1804. OK so I'm in a constitutional law class right now and this happened to be a discussion question for last week.
I remember that when i was working for Hennepin County they had to give me time off to vote but only if I was scheduled to work all through the voting time. If I had the morning or evening off they didn't have to give me any time off.
The Green Party of Minnesota will hold its caucuses on March 4, the date designated by state law, even though the DFL, Republican and Independence parties have agreed to follow the national trend toward ever earlier caucuses and will hold theirs on February 5. Greens emphasize that they object on principle to the lengthening of campaigns for national office.
“If anything, the campaign season should be shortened rather than extended,” says Rhoda Gilman, party spokesperson. “Nine months of campaigning is unnecessary by any standard. It only increases the money needed to run for public office and assures even further that wealth will govern our elections.” Greens accept no money from corporations or PACs.
“As a minor party, we are not legally required to hold caucuses, but the caucus process is a key element of grassroots participation in political parties,” says Andy Exley, a member of the state Coordinating Committee. As at other party caucuses, Greens attending will discuss and vote on potential candidates and on resolutions. Greens do not need to choose delegates from the local caucus, because all Green Party members are eligible to attend and vote at the state endorsing convention in June. In addition, Green Party members who can not attend the state convention will be able to cast votes for President by mail-in ballot. Caucus resolutions will be forwarded to the platform committee and considered at the biennial meeting, which is usually held in conjunction with the endorsing convention.
Caucus locations will be listed on the Green Party Web site (www.mngreens.org) and also the Secretary of State's website when they have been finalized. All persons in agreement with Green Party values are invited to attend.
You can get picked as a delegate just by showing an interest. I've been a delegate twice and got as far as the state convention once. They pick delegates in the sub-caucuses and a lot of times they're begging for someone to offer to go on as a delegate. It's a pretty long and boring process at the district level and a lot of people don't want to give it that much time. It gets more interesting at the state level though.
So just pick a sub-caucus and be vocal about something and your chances are pretty good to get picked.
Can you imagine a national recount? :wink: I actually agree with you, though, because small states are way over represented in the electoral college. I'd say maybe instead of a straight popular vote, kepp the EC but make the # of electoral votes each state has directly proportional to it's population. E.G. California, the biggest state has 70 times the population of Wyoming, the smallest state. So California would have 70 EVs and Wyoming would have 1 EV.
The law says that employers can't make you work after 6:00 on caucus night. Technically, the law still says March 4th, since the legislature wasn't in session when the parties moved the caucus date up and therefore couldn't change the law in time. However, most employers don't know that. :wink:
I saw that at the Secretary of State website too and was about to call and go all ballistic on them until I found the same information for your precinct at the DFL site.
Well the depends on what type of work you do.. I worked for the jail and well lets just say to let everyone off work for the caucus just wouldnt' work :wink: :cool:
Thanks guys. I feel better now. Why would one want to be a delegate? Are they the only ones who really end up counting anyway? So I'm voting for a delegate and not a candidate?
Minnesota Statutes section 202AAA.19 permits you to take time off from work without pay to attend your caucus if you give your employer written notice at least 10 days in advance.
State universities, community colleges and public schools cannot hold classes or events after 6:00 p.m. on the evening of precinct caucuses.
State agencies, school boards, county boards, township boards, city councils, and all other political subdivisions cannot conduct meetings after 6:00 p.m. on caucus night.
seems like the prior post seems truthful...but also seems like some things are missing that explain more in detail...
He is the fifth African American Senator in U.S. history, the third popularly elected African American Senator, and the only African American currently serving in the U.S. Senate.
Pretty pathetic. I would have guessed we went further on civil rights than this. I jus assumed there were more.
plugging my ears and covering my eyes now :eyeroll: lalalalala
bit more interesting...
Kinda like using one if you want but not having it as a requirement. Like Parliament wigs. Huh :eyeroll:
When newly elected members of Congress raise their right hands to take the oath of office in January, they won't be placing their left hands on the Bible or any other religious text.
During official swearing-in ceremonies, newly elected members don't place their hand on any book. However, individual members may choose to carry a sacred text.
"Some members carry a Bible. You don't actually put your hand on a Bible. I can't see how anyone would object to carrying a Qur'an," said Senate historian Don Ritchie.
In Congress, the House speaker administers the oath to members en masse on the House floor. It's up to individual members if they want to hold a religious text, said Fred Beuttler, House deputy historian.
First-time members are more likely to carry a sacred text or have their family and religious leader present for a staged ceremony in the speaker's or their own office, Beuttler said.
Accordingly, although Ellison was not technically sworn in with the Quran, after the official swearing-in ceremony he posed for photographs with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, both of them posed with their hands upon a copy of the Quran once owned by Thomas Jefferson:
And you can say you "affirm" instead of "I swear"
Oh and - I love Ty too!
(note) this photo was doctored in PhotoShop :pbpt:
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edwards quits..
I thought he just came here yesterday...musta been the cold weather or something...
if you want to go see Obama on Sat. you can get tickets here..
I got a phone call on this last nite...
And for information on the caucus process, and to find out where your caucus will be held, go to this site.
http://www.lwvmn.org/edfund/caucus.asp
that was actually a real intriguing news story.
I know my sister would really like to go to that.
you will have to give us an update on how it went OT.
 here . Minnesota looks like a dead heat on the Democratic side, so every vote will make a difference!
I read a little but it seems like a pain in the arce where you need to vote on all issues first then on a candidate or something like that. I just want to vote on a candidate. Is this right BFG?
http://www.twincities.com//ci_8163199?IADID=Search-www.twincities.com-www.twincities.com
Simley High School
2920 East 80th Street
Inver Grove Heights MN
huh?
seems like it would be very crowded
can I get time off of work??
heh
I'm taking off early tomorrow. Civic duty and all ya know.
maybe we would have more fun going to the "green party" caucus :wink:
and I could get you nominated as a delegate :wink:
“If anything, the campaign season should be shortened rather than extended,” says Rhoda Gilman, party spokesperson. “Nine months of campaigning is unnecessary by any standard. It only increases the money needed to run for public office and assures even further that wealth will govern our elections.” Greens accept no money from corporations or PACs.
“As a minor party, we are not legally required to hold caucuses, but the caucus process is a key element of grassroots participation in political parties,” says Andy Exley, a member of the state Coordinating Committee. As at other party caucuses, Greens attending will discuss and vote on potential candidates and on resolutions. Greens do not need to choose delegates from the local caucus, because all Green Party members are eligible to attend and vote at the state endorsing convention in June. In addition, Green Party members who can not attend the state convention will be able to cast votes for President by mail-in ballot. Caucus resolutions will be forwarded to the platform committee and considered at the biennial meeting, which is usually held in conjunction with the endorsing convention.
Caucus locations will be listed on the Green Party Web site (www.mngreens.org) and also the Secretary of State's website when they have been finalized. All persons in agreement with Green Party values are invited to attend.
So just pick a sub-caucus and be vocal about something and your chances are pretty good to get picked.
strange indeed
Either way, I'm still voting for OT :cool:
Minnesota Statutes section 202AAA.19 permits you to take time off from work without pay to attend your caucus if you give your employer written notice at least 10 days in advance.
State universities, community colleges and public schools cannot hold classes or events after 6:00 p.m. on the evening of precinct caucuses.
State agencies, school boards, county boards, township boards, city councils, and all other political subdivisions cannot conduct meetings after 6:00 p.m. on caucus night.