The United States presidential election of 2008, scheduled for Tuesday November 4, 2008, will be the 56th consecutive quadrennial United States presidential election and will select the President and the Vice President of the United States.

The Republican Party has chosen John McCain, the senior United States Senator from Arizona as its nominee; the Democratic Party has chosen Barack Obama, the junior United States Senator from Illinois, as its nominee. The Libertarian Party has nominated former Congressman Bob Barr, the Constitution Party has nominated pastor and radio talk show host Chuck Baldwin, and the Green Party has nominated former Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney. Ralph Nader declined to seek the Green Party nomination and is running as an independent candidate.

The 2008 election is particularly notable because it is the first time in U.S. history that two sitting senators will run against each other for president, and because it is the first time an African American is a presidential nominee for a major party, as well as the first time both major candidates were born outside the continental United States—Hawaii for Obama and the Panama Canal Zone for McCain. Since the Republican nominee for vice-president is a woman, the eventual winning ticket is very likely to be historic, as neither an African American nor a female has achieved either office. Also, the Republican presidential candidate, John McCain, would be the oldest first-term president and the Democratic nominee for vice-president, Joe Biden, would be the first Roman Catholic vice president.

The election will coincide with the 2008 Senate elections in thirty-three states, House of Representatives elections in all states, and gubernatorial elections in eleven states, as well as various state referenda and local elections. As in the 2004 presidential election, the allocation of electoral votes to each state will be based partly on the 2000 Census. The president-elect and vice president-elect are scheduled to be inaugurated on January 20, 2009.

What is Super Tuesday?

In the United States, Super Tuesday commonly refers to the Tuesday in early February or March of a presidential election year when the greatest number of states hold primary elections to select delegates to national conventions at which each party’s presidential candidates are officially nominated. More delegates can be won on Super Tuesday than on any other single day of the primary calendar, and accordingly, candidates seeking the presidency traditionally must do well on this day to secure their party’s nomination. In 2008, Super Tuesday is February 5; 24 states will hold primaries or caucuses on this date, with 52 percent of all pledged Democratic Party delegates and 41 percent of the total Republican Party delegates at stake.

History

The phrase “Super Tuesday” has been used to refer to presidential primary elections since at least 1984 as dates when a large number of states held presidential primaries. In fact, the 1984 primary season had three “Super Tuesdays,” ending with “Super Tuesday III”, when Walter Mondale finally secured the Democratic nomination.

Pundits often mistakenly claim that the phrase “Super Tuesday” first came into use for the primary elections that took place on March 8, 1988, in the Southern states of Texas, Florida, Tennessee, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Kentucky, Alabama, and Georgia leading up to the 1988 election in November. Southern Democrats came up with the idea of a regional primary in an effort to nominate a moderate candidate who would more closely represent their interests. (Their plan ultimately did not succeed as Jesse Jackson, Al Gore, and Michael Dukakis split the Super Tuesday primaries, and Dukakis was subsequently nominated.) Since then, the particular states holding primaries on Super Tuesday have varied from year to year. Subsequent “Super Tuesdays” have taken place on March 10, 1992; March 12, 1996; March 7, 2000; and March 2, 2004. In 2000, 16 states held primaries on Super Tuesday, the largest presidential primary election day in U.S. history.

Convincing wins in Super Tuesday primaries have usually propelled candidates to their party’s nomination. While the Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary receive much press attention because they are first, they are sometimes criticized for being small states that are unrepresentative of the U.S. as a whole. Since Super Tuesday primaries are held in a large number of states from geographically and socially diverse regions of the country, Super Tuesday typically represents a Presidential candidate’s first test of national electability. In 1992, after losing earlier primaries, Democrat Bill Clinton emerged as a candidate “back from the dead” when he convincingly won a number of Southern primaries on Super Tuesday. Clinton ultimately went on to win the Democratic nomination and the presidency. In 1996, Republican Bob Dole’s Super Tuesday sweep sealed his bid for the Republican nomination. In 2000, Democrat Al Gore and Republican George W. Bush cemented their nomination bids with Super Tuesday victories, and both went on to win their parties’ nominations. In 2000, approximately 81% of Democratic delegates and 18% of Republican delegates needed to secure nomination were up for grabs on Super Tuesday.

Election controversies

The issues of caging lists and other techniques of voter suppression which gave rise to many 2004 United States election voting controversies have not been addressed by further legislation or a regulatory crackdown, and are predicted by Greg Palast (a reporter who has investigated these controversies) to recur to the extent that they could swing the result.^{[citation needed]}

Voter list purges using unlawful criteria threaten election integrity in at least six swing states: Colorado, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Nevada and North Carolina.

On October 5, 2008 the Republican Lt. Governor of Montana, John Bohlinger, accused the Montana Republican Party of vote caging to purge 6,000 voters from three counties which trend Democratic. These purges included decorated war veterans and active duty soldiers.

An allegation that the Republican Party in Michigan plans to challenge the eligibility of voters based on lists of foreclosed homes has led to a lawsuit from the Obama campaign and a letter from the House Judiciary Committee to the Department of Justice calling for an investigation.

Libertarian candidate Bob Barr filed a lawsuit in Texas petitioning to have Obama and McCain removed from the ballot in that state. The suit alleged that both the Republicans and Democrats missed the deadline to file, and were present on the ballot contrary to Texas election law. The Texas Supreme Court dismissed the lawsuit without giving an explanation.

For those who don’t know yet:

Nominees for the Republican Party:

Nominees for the Democratic Party:

Latest chart:

Question of colour?!

Many people see Barak Obama already as the new President of the United States. Having been critized for being in contact with Reverend Jeremiah Wright who still preaches against white Amerika Obama gave a what will probably go down as a historical speech on the issues of race in Philadelphia on March 18, 2008. He has told the story of his race as a story of wrath and anger (see Peter Kümmel, Ein Mann, dem Zorn enstiegen, in: DIE ZEIT Nr. 14, 27. März 2008, 49). Here is his speech.

Obama – Questions and answers to Iraq!

You don’t defeat a terrorist network by occupying Iraq

You don’t defeat a terrorist network that operates in eighty countries by occupying Iraq. You don’t protect Israel and deter Iran just by talking tough in Washington. You can’t truly stand up for Georgia when you’ve strained our oldest alliances. If John McCain wants to follow George Bush with more tough talk and bad strategy, that is his choice–but it is not the change we need.

I will only send our troops into harm’s way when necessary

As Commander-in-Chief, I will never hesitate to defend this nation, but I will only send our troops into harm’s way with a clear mission and a sacred commitment to give them the equipment they need in battle and the care and benefits they deserve when they come home. I will end this war in Iraq responsibly, and finish the fight against al Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan. I will rebuild our military to meet future conflicts. But I will also renew the tough, direct diplomacy that can prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and curb Russian aggression. I will build new partnerships to defeat the threats of the 21st century: terrorism and nuclear proliferation; poverty and genocide; climate change and disease. And I will restore our moral standing, so that America is once again that last, best hope for all who are called to the cause of freedom, who long for lives of peace, and who yearn for a better future.

$10 billion a month spent in Iraq should be spent in the US

If people tell you that we cannot afford to invest in education or health care or fighting poverty, you just remind them that we are spending $10 billion a month in Iraq. And if we can spend that much money in Iraq, we can spend some of that money right here in Cincinnati, Ohio, and in big cities and small towns in every corner of this country.

Source: McCain-Obama speeches at 99th NAACP Convention Jul 12, 2008

President sets Iraq mission; Generals then implement tactics

Q: Will you vote to confirm Gen. David Petraeus in his nomination to be the head of Central Command?

A: Yes. I think Petraeus has done a good tactical job in Iraq.

Q: If Gen Patraeus says your plan to get out of Iraq is a mistake, will you replace him?

A: I will listen to General Petraeus given the experience that he has accumulated over the last several years. But it would be my job as commander in chief to set the mission, to make the strategic decisions in light of the problems that we’re having in Afghanistan & Pakistan.

Q: So would you replace him or would you just say, “I’m the commander in chief, follow my order?”

A: What I will do is say, “We have a new mission. It is my strategic assessment that we have to provide a time table to the Iraqi government. I want you to tell me how best to execute this new assignment, and I am happy to listen to the tactical considerations and any ideas you have, but what I will not do is to continue to let the Iraqi government off the hook.”

No matter what I still think many people will ask themselves the same question before voting, “ARE WE READY FOR A BLACK PRESIDENT?!” Yes WE are!

- Dragan Filovski Jr.

Go for the CHANGE..vote for OBAMA!

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The campaign raises awareness of current issues…..

…..that may be facing voters in this years election!

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Today after noon in your 20 Minute box! Can’t miss!

A new child is born….”Thank God Is Friday” Magazine by 20 Minutes…the first high gloss magazine avaiable free in more than 900 20 minute boxes all over Switzerland every friday after noon. Stay tuned with the international and national Stars, Fashion and Lifestyle…

Gossip (page 12-13)

Beauty (page 18-19)

The “Supermodel”-canditates ROCKK! (page 26-27)

That was the sneak previwe for more click HERE! STAY TUNED!

Don’t be shy n try!? Today after noon!

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Short skit..for more click here

The BET Awards came and went once again. And once again, BET delivered a special show for all of the network’s supporters and the fans of the artists nominated. Highlighted by an amazing showing via the winne of “Best Female R&B Artist” Alicia Keys. Keys brought in SWV, Chilli and T-Boz of TLC and En Vogue to tear down the house. Chris Brown showed off some impressive moves while T-Pain brought the circus to the stage with his eccentric performance. Lil Wayne also came correct with T-Pain aiding him for “Lollipop” before rolling into “A Milli” to close out the evening. But it will probably be best to see for yourself as BET will replay the show again on Friday June 27th at 7:30pm.

Below are the winners (in BOLD) of the 2008 BET Awards.

Best Female R&B Artist
Mary J. Blige
Mariah Carey
Keyshia Cole
Alicia Keys
Rihanna

Best Male R&B Artist
Raheem DeVaughn
J. Holiday
Ne-Yo
Trey Songz
Chris Brown

Best Group
Danity Kane
Day 26
Gnarles Barkley
Playaz Circle
UGK

Best Gospel Artist
The Clark Sisters
Deitrick Haddon
Marvin Sapp
Kirk Franklin
Trin-I-Tee 5:7

Best Female Hip-Hop Artist
Missy Elliott
Eve
Kid Sister
Lil Mama
Trina

Best Male Hip-Hop Artist
Common
Jay-Z
Lil Wayne
Snoop Dogg
Kanye West

Video of the Year
“The Way That I Love You” – Ashanti
“Honey” – Erykah Badu
“Just Fine” – Mary J. Blige
“Like You’ll Never See Me Again” – Alicia Keys
“International Player’s Anthem” – UGK & OUTKAST
“Good Life” – Kanye West featuring T-Pain

Best Director
Erykah Badu and Mr. Roboto
Benny Boom
Gil Green
Chris Robinson
Hype Williams

Best Collaboration
“Kiss Kiss” – Chris Brown featuring T-Pain
“Let It Go” – Keyshia Cole featuring Missy Elliott & Lil’ Kim
“Low” – Flo-Rida featuring T-Pain
“I’m So Hood (The Remix)” – DJ Khaled featuring T-Pain, Young Jeezy, Ludacris, Busta Rhymes, Big Boi, Lil Wayne, Fat Joe & Birdman
“Good Life” – Kanye West featuring T-Pain

Viewer’s Choice
“No One” – Alicia Keys
“Lollipop” (featuring Static) – Lil’ Wayne
“Kiss Kiss” (featuring T-Pain – Chris Brown
“Let It Go” (featuring Missy Elliott and Lil’ Kim) – Keyshia Cole
“Crank Dat (Soulja Boy)” – Soulja Boy Tell ‘Em
“No Air”(featuring Chris Brown) – Jordin Sparks

BETJ Award
Raheem DeVaughn
Chaka Khan
Ledisi
Jill Scott
Angie Stone

Best New Artist
Estelle
Flo-Rida
Chrisette Michelle
Soulja Boy Tell ‘Em
The-Dream

Best Actress
Angela Bassett
Halle Berry
Queen Latifah
Jill Scott
Chandra Wilson

Best Actor
Anthony Anderson
Don Cheadle
Idris Elba
Terrence Howard
Denzel Washington

Best Female Athlete
Cheryl Ford
Candace Parker
Serena Williams
Venus Williams
Tamika Catchings

Best Male Athlete
Kobe Bryant
LeBron James
Tiger Woods
Floyd Mayweather, Jr.
Chris Paul

Here some pics…..and the HOT and NOTs, I know you all have been waiting for it…enjoy:

Very businesslike..love the colours…HOT!

Jada..to Hip Hop…gotta give him a NOT!

ICE “Man” Cube…true oldschool…i like..HOT! (just cause I remeber the good old dayyz..lol)

Som nice pieces.

Winter plaid slip cover…

Kanye is the cover model for this issue.

Big Sean and Kanye

Verbal from Teriyaki Boys

Ryo-Z from Teriyaki Boys

Wise from Teriyaki Boys

Ilmari from Teriyaki Boys

Pharrell

NIGO

NIGO, Ryo-Z, Kanye, Pharrell, Ilmari, Wise, Shay and Verbal

Here’s some behind the scenes pics that I took while we were @ the shoot…

Yeezy making sure the pics are looking up to par…

And messing around for an episode of MTV Japan’s “NIGOLDENEYE”…

Here something for the ladies:

Yuuri Morishita

Mika Kaneda

Yukie Kawamura

Mai Satoda

Isetan x BAPE

NIGO outside the BAPE Store @ Colette in Paris

NIGO inside the BAPE Store @ Colette

I already pre ordered…lol

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Pharrell Williams. Upon showing off his new Brooklyn Machine Works fixed gear, a the piece can be seen in the background.

Jenny Holzer never signs her work. Her most prominent creations, glowing text-based installations fashioned over the last 30 years on everything from billboards and building façades to rock faces and crashing waves, are almost eerie in their anonymity, voices anchored more to their physical and social contexts than to any single, human personality.

A new exhibition, opening on Saturday 25th at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, Jenny Holzer: Protect Protect, examines the artist’s work since the 1990s across a breadth of media including futuristic LED installations, sculpture, light projections, and paintings based on declassified government documents.

Let these pix impress you…

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PsP 2 concept designed by designer Tai Chiem

An electric charge powering the display stiffens it while providing near bezeless prime real estate for gaming. Stereo speakers on either side double as a jog wheel and camera control. He also envisages Sony finally implementing two joysticks.

Here a couple of other fresh designes, for more click here!

Huhhh!

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