The National Rifle Association and The American Presidential Election in 2008

I asked an American why the National Rifle Association (NRA) is more influential than the former President Bill Clinton and President George W. Bush and he said the Second Amendment has made the NRA to be very powerful in America.

The NRA is the most powerful lobbying organization in America.

The NRA has the support of over 80 million gun owners in America and they can make or break the popularity and electability of any of the presidential candidates.

“In each of the last four even-year general elections gun owners have had a massive impact. And the National Rifle Association has proven to everyone that if you want to win the presidency, earning the support of gun owners and Second Amendment defenders might be the deciding factor. The NRA is in a stronger position than ever to influence the 2008 elections.”

~ Kenneth Blackwell of the New York Sun.

Many of the American presidential candidates have been courting the NRA for the endorsement of their candidacy, but Chris Cox, the Executive Director, NRA-ILA, has said that they will evaluate the past records of the presidential candidates and their likely future positions on the Second Amendment before making any endorsement decision. The NRA hosted a political forum to know the political positions of the various presidential candidates on the constitutional rights to bear and own firearms.

“I do not believe the Second Amendment has any geographical boundaries.”— Mike Huckabee

“The Parker decision should be upheld … to underscore the Castle Doctrine.”— Rudy Giuliani

“I’ll honor the right of decent, law-abiding citizens to own and use firearms…”— Mitt Romney

“My friends, gun owners are not extremists. You’re the core of modern America.”— John McCain

Which of the presidential candidates will the NRA endorse?

Will the NRA endorse Senator Hillary Rodman Clinton for the Democratic Party and Senator John McCain for the Republican Party?

I want the NRA to endorse Senator Hillary Clinton for President.

Joseph C. Wilson's article on Hillary Clinton, is worth reading. You should also read "Clinton Insiders Fear Secret Service Records Could Damage Campaign" on the Huffington Post.

The future of America is at stake in the presidential election, therefore unrealistic views and idealistic sentiments should not blur the vision of Americans in their election of the best candidate to become the next President of the United States of America.

The Republicans have been given enough time to rule America and they have disappointed the majority of bona fide citizens of America. Therefore, it would only be rational to elect a Democratic presidential candidate who has the great ambition for the restoration of the American Dream and the global vision for the global mission of America in the leadership of the world in the 21st Century.

The NRA should know that America is facing the great challenges of the resurgence of the Cold War Super Power Russia, the emergence of China as a new Super Power and Iran as the Islamic Super Power. Therefore, the new President of America must have the competence and experience for the defense of the global leadership of America in the world.

May I advise the NRA to check all the qualities, pro et contra, of all the frontrunners in the presidential campaign before the endorsement of anyone of them, because it would be tragic for the NRA to be as ignorant and gullible as the motley legion of Americans who have made erroneous and ambiguous endorsements based on their sentimental views of the presidential candidates and are misleading millions of American voters to underestimate the gravity of the election of a new President of the United States of America.

RASMUSSEN REPORTS: Hillary Clinton Is The Most Presidential

Number of Democrats who See Each Democratic Candidate as Presidential
Hillary Clinton 44%
Barack Obama 17%
John Edwards 14%
Bill Richardson 4%
Joe Biden 3%
Chris Dodd 2%
Dennis Kucinich 1%
Mike Gravel 1%

In the race for the Democratic Presidential Nomination, it’s Hillary Clinton 38%, Barack Obama 27% and John Edwards 14%. Bill Richardson is supported by 4%, Joe Biden and Dennis Kucinich by 3% of Likely Democratic Primary Voters. (see recent daily numbers).

Iowa: Clinton 29% Obama 26% Edwards 22%

Florida: Huckabee 27% Romney 23% Giuliani 19%
47% Say White House Knew About CIA's Torching of Torture Tapes
Generic Congressional Ballot: Democrats 46% Republicans 36%
Obama Ties Giuliani 43% to 43%, Leads Romney by Four

Hillary Clinton is the American Dream

Dear Orikinla,


It has been 316 days since we started this journey.

I've been working my heart out from the very first day of this campaign, because your support deserves nothing less. And you've been right there with me, every step of the way.

In Iowa, we're in a dead heat. There are only 31 days until the Iowa caucuses, the first contest in the race to the White House. With so little time to go, what you and I do in the coming weeks will decide this race.

We are setting fundraising goals on a week-to-week basis, and this week we must raise $1.25 million to ensure we have the resources we need to win. You've already done so much to help me during the past 316 days. Will you contribute today so I can win the Democratic nomination for president?

Click here to contribute and help me win.

Think about what we can accomplish if we win. We can finally end the war in Iraq. We can make sure every last man, woman, and child in this country has affordable, quality health care. We can put our economy back to work for the middle class again, and create millions of new jobs. We can make stopping global warming a real priority, and achieve true energy independence.

We can achieve these together, but not if we don't pass the test we're facing now.

I'm asking you personally, from me to you, Orikinla -- with 31 days left, help me win these races so we can take on the Republican nominee in November 2008, win the White House, and change America.

With the Democratic nomination hinging on our actions over these next few weeks, we cannot take anything for granted or let up for a moment between now and then. That is why I am turning to you now. We have a goal to reach: $1.25 million by midnight Friday.

Contribute to help us reach our goal and win.

It means so much to me to know you're on my side. I promise to continue working as hard as I can to win every last vote.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all you do.

Sincerely,

Hillary Rodham Clinton

The Hillary Clinton Interview

After a series of attacks from both Republican and Democrats, Sen. Hillary Clinton has decided to defend herself. The presidential candidate sits for an exclusive interview with Katie Couric.

Clinton, Thompson Win First Presidential 'Primary'

4 Dec 2007 00:06 Africa/Lagos


Clinton, Thompson Win First Presidential 'Primary'

Nation's Social Studies Teachers Flex Voting Muscles and Choose '08 Contenders Pearson Sponsors Presidential Primary at National Council for the Social Studies Annual Event

SAN DIEGO, Dec. 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --

U.S. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and former U.S. Senator Fred Thompson of Tennessee are the top choices for the 2008 Democratic and Republican nominations for President of the United States, according to the nation's first Presidential "Primary" of voters at the National Council for the Social Studies annual conference in San Diego.


Sponsored by Pearson, more than 700 of the nation's social studies teachers flexed their voting muscles and put the principles they teach about every day into action by casting their votes.


Senator Clinton won her party's nod with 41.9% of the vote. Senator Thompson was the Republicans' top choice with 23.2% of the vote.


On the Democratic side, U.S. Senator Barack Obama of Illinois came in second with 34% of the vote, followed by former U.S. Senator and 2004 Vice Presidential candidate John Edwards of North Carolina with 12.3%.


Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani came in second on the Republican side to Thompson with 20.5% of the vote. Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee was third at 18.9%, while former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and U.S. Senator John McCain of Arizona had 16.3% and 13.2% of the votes, respectively.


A complete list of the results follows at the end of this release.


Following the voting, teachers received a free Election 2008 kit full of ideas and activities designed to promote student learning about the United States' election process.


"All of us at Pearson have a strong appreciation for our nation's social studies teachers," said Michael Gee, Senior Vice President for Humanities and Social Sciences at Pearson School. "They have a direct impact on America's future-they lay the foundation for students' understanding of democracy. A social studies teacher's influence can motivate students to be active participants in society and fuel a lifelong appreciation and love for our country's founding principles."


About Pearson


Pearson (NYSE:PSO) is the global leader in educational publishing, assessment, information and services, helping people of all ages to learn at their own pace, in their own way. For students preK-12, Pearson provides effective and innovative curriculum products in all available media, educational assessment and measurement for students and teachers, student information systems, and teacher professional development and certification programs. Our respected brands include Scott Foresman, Prentice Hall, SuccessMaker, Waterford, AGS, PowerSchool, Chancery SMS, SASI, Pearson Inform, Teachervision.com and many others. Our comprehensive offerings help inform targeted instruction and intervention so that success is within reach of every student. Pearson's other primary businesses include the Financial Times Group and the Penguin Group.


PEARSON PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY RESULTS

Democratic Party
Hillary Rodham Clinton: 41.9%
Barack Obama: 34%
John Edwards: 12.3%
Dennis Kucinich: 6.2%
Bill Richardson: 2.9%
Joe Biden: 1.9%
Chris Dodd: 0.4%
Mike Gravel: 0.4%

Republicans
Fred Thompson: 23.2%
Rudy Giuliani: 20.5%
Mike Huckabee: 18.9%
Mitt Romney: 16.3%
John McCain: 13.2%
Ron Paul: 5.8%
Duncan Hunter: 1.1%
Tom Tancredo: 1.1%

Source: Pearson

CONTACT: Susan Aspey, Pearson, +1-724-222-0531, or +1-347-421-2473,
Susan.aspey@pearson.com


Web site: http://www.pearsoned.com/

How Growing Up in a Family of Cops and Hoods Shaped Rudy Giuliani's Moral Universe

25 Nov 2007 18:17 Africa/Lagos


NEWSWEEK: Cover: Rudy's Roots

How Growing Up in a Family of Cops and Hoods Shaped Giuliani's Moral Universe

NEW YORK, Nov. 25 /PRNewswire/ --

In the December 3 Newsweek cover "Rudy's Roots" (on newsstands Monday, November 26), a team of correspondents look at presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani's background and influences that explain his moral code, which is at once rigid (in public) and flexible (in private life).


Click here for the High Resolution Photograph


As Editor-at-Large Evan Thomas and Senior Writer Suzanne Smalley write, on the one hand, Giuliani has been a crusader against outlaw policemen, as well as mobsters, pornographers, drug dealers, crooked businessmen and politicians and death-dealing jihadists. He now offers himself as the presidential candidate who would deliver us from evil, from terrorism abroad and corruption at home. On the other hand, he was the man who appointed Bernard Kerik, now under indictment for various federal crimes, including tax evasion, to be his police commissioner and later pushed him to become the nation's secretary of homeland security. (Persistently accused of ties to mobbed-up businessmen, Kerik has always protested his innocence of any criminal wrongdoing.)


Giuliani is a dramatic-and self-dramatizing-moralist. But as an intelligent, sensitive man with a solid Catholic education, he knows there is sometimes a fine or blurry line between saint and sinner. He was able to reconcile the rigidities of doctrine with the vagaries of human nature. He has long believed in the power of redemption, and he puts great faith in the virtue of loyalty. He does not shy from confrontation, but seems to welcome and even create conflict, especially if there are cameras nearby. His theatricality can be excessive, and not just because he has been known to dress up in drag as a spoof.


(Read cover story at www.Newsweek.com)


http://www.newsweek.com/id/72121


Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20071125/NYSU007
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
AP PhotoExpress Network: PRN2
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Newsweek

CONTACT: Jan Angilella of Newsweek, +1-212-445-5638


Web site: http://www.newsweek.msnbc.com/
http://www.newsweek.com/id/72121




HILIGHTS:
In the December 3 issue of Newsweek (on newsstands Monday, November 26): "Rudy's Roots. How Growing Up in a Family of Cops and Hoods Shaped Giuliani's Moral Universe." Newsweek looks at Rudy Giuliani's background and his influences that explain his moral code. Also: Obama hits back; refugees start to return to Iraq; a billionaire roils Palestinian politics; the latest in the Stem Cell debate; "The Golden Compass" and its religious issues and shopping for safe toys this holiday season.