The ONLY thing that could possibly be worse than the Repuplican's controlling the Congress would be for the Democrats to control Congress!
I am totally disappointed with the "Accomplish Nothing" Republican Congress, but am scared to death what a Democrat congress would do. I hold my hard earned freedoms too close to allow the Democrats to whittle them away. A party bent on controlling every aspect of my life is not in my best interest. If I were so afraid of making my own decisions, I would move to Sweeden or some other socialist country, but I cherish what we have been able to hold onto here in the US. Giving Democrats control will put all that in jeopardy.

A chart in the Dallas Morning News (Business, 10/3/06) shows that the rate of increase in gasoline prices (increase in cost per week) during the price run-up is almost the exact inverse of the recent rate of decrease in price. After the run-up the price became almost flat. Such a profile in not characteristic of a freely operating market(the explanation we were supposed to believe). One would search in vain for an identically shaped chart of a stock price. If the market was not operating freely, how was it determined?
There seems to be cause for a fundamental investigation of the matter. Who would that indict?

A chart in the Dallas Morning News (Business, 10/3/06) shows that the rate of increase in gasoline prices (increase in cost per week) during the price run-up is almost the exact inverse of the recent rate of decrease in price. After the run-up the price became almost flat. Such a profile is not characteristic of a freely operating market (the explanation we were supposed to believe). One would search in vain for an identically shaped chart of a stock price. If the market was not operating freely, how was it determined?
There seems to be cause for a fundamental investigation of the matter. Who would that indict?

DARFUR

For all of you mothers and fathers out there:

DARFUR

For all of you brothers and sisters out there:

DARFUR

For anyone who has a friend they would never want to see hurt:

DARFUR

For anyone who loves anyone:

DARFUR

For anyone who loves the human race:

DARFUR

DARFUR DARFUR DARFUR DARFUR

Since when has THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN LIFE needed to be forced on the political agenda?

THE TIME TO ACT IS NOW

While approval ratings and the economy are both very important issues, neither lack a truly urgent need for help. However, the situation in Darfur, Sudan does. To date between 200,000 and 400,000 people have been murdered. In 2002 Congress correctly identified the killings as genocide. By doing this Congress has shown the need for intervention in this crisis. The Convention for the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, of which the United States is a signer, requires any country that identifies a crisis as genocide to act. Still the United States has failed to act. Over 70% of Americans feel supportive of limited intervention. Why then has Congress not acted? Representatives and Senators are elected by the people to do the work of their constituents. An overwhelming majority (70%) is in favor of intervention. Congress needs to act now. How many more people must die before we decide this issue is "important" enough for the United States?

Yesterday, like most days, I sat down to watch the afternoon news (Hardball, CNN, but rarely FOX) and heard over and over again the encompassing term "War on Terror." This term is lovingly used by the GOP, but sounds very stupid when coming from the mouths of fellow, and I would like to believe intelligent, Democrats.

There is no such thing as the "War on Terror." Terror is a tactic, not a physical enemy. It is a made up Rove-ism that only fuels it's legitimacy in the minds of impressionable American people through its perpetual misuse by both parties.

The "wars" we are fighting are two: Bush's War on Iraq, and the War on Al-Qaeda and Bin Laden in Afghanistan (and Pakistan). Please people, stop perpetuating this ridiculous notion and undeserved legitimacy of the Bush Administration's fictional "War on Terror." Anybody Bush disagrees with can be called a "terrorist." Are we at war with them too (Hezbollah)? Who's next?

Most people are smarter than that and it would help me and my voting shoes to stop hearing Democrats use the term, it's BOGUS. Let's get REAL.

There are so many issues that concern me that there is not enough space to list the parade of horrors. But, I shall begin with the war...Illegal(per U.N.), immoral; costly in lives and treasure, and it has made us hated around the world resulting in a much less safer America. The fight against terrorists; we still don't inspect airplane cargo. The small percentage of ships we screen for nuclear materials is done at the docks, not at sea. Our railways, subways, chemical & nuclear plants are vulnerable. Oil storage facillaties and pipeline are easy targets; and on and on. The $11,000,000 we spend an hour in Iraq could be so much better spent on making us safe, healthy and respected. Wake up, America, you are victims of the greatest political con in our history.

Getting our country extricated from the unfounded and incredibly expensive war in Iraq is top priority. We are breaking our military, and their families, and soon will have to resort to unwanted measures to simply keep up with the strains of two wars. The obvious expense of lives and billions of dollars for another country's civil and religious fallouts are outrageous. We were unwarranted in the invasion of Iraq, and it is time to bring the troops, all their equipment, and our view of democracy back to the United States, and let the politicians in Iraq figure out Iraq.

I lived/worked in Darfur for 3 months in 2005, and while I don't think it is helpful or accurate to use the term "genocide" at this stage in the conflict, what the Sudanese Government is doing/not doing is morally reprehensible and justifies intervention by the international community to ensure security in Darfur so that people can plant. Foreign governments, led by the United States, should use whatever diplomatic tools they can to ensure that security forces are ramped up such that Darfurians feel safe to return to their homes. Otherwise, we'll be feeding them for the next 100 years and the camps will become their cities.

Bush has brought shame and fear to this country, he has lied and cheated and spied on his own people, he has taken us to war for his own gratification and his own ego, he his no better than any third world dictator except he has more power and more money!!!

The November ellections should focus on the Bush Administration's numberous, delliberate, unconciontionable war crimes and their crimes against humanity-- (domestic and international)in deferrence to US based multinational corporatocracy proven by the Bush War Crimes Commission.

What a shame that we have to pay $3.00 a gallon for gas -- give me a break! That's extremely small potatoes next to: corruption in government; the continuing assault on our civil rights; a policy that winks at torture to obtain information from prisoners and asks for changes in the Geneva Convention so we can perpetrate it; foreign policies that have made us hated all over the world; a war we should never have entered and cannot win, that has probably made us a terrorist target for generations; an immigration situation that's out of control; a truly incredible national debt; the dismantling or watering down of practically every social program created in the last 50 years. And that's just a start -- I could list another 20.

Whatever it takes to get a vote from e-v-e-r-y single American of voting age. The only clue we have to our identity as a country has been shaped by professional politicans elected by a comparitively small number of people. This as no real bearing on what our country is about nor the direction our citizens could collectively choose to take. I'd place my bet, every time, good, bad or indifferent, on an America that was represented by the real American People.

the republicans have a remarkable capability to target the voters they want and get them to vote. they are very computer literate and optomize these tools.

the democrats argue about how to prioritize their work in this area. they do not appear to have any data mining tools similar to the republicans.

my concerns, along with all of the above you have identified, are: polarization/partisanship in the electorate at large & coarsening of political dialogue; MSM's weakness in presenting issues to the public; and lack of environmental initiatives.

Let us make decisions that are benificial to all Americans. Immigration policy has been a failure. We have thousands of illegal allians in America, we need them to choose become an American, pay taxes or leave. Allow them to pay five years of their back taxes, learn English, Pledge their Alligiance to the United States of America. Welcome them. After that action, secure our borders. Let us stop selling America out to oversea's interests. Big business would have everyone work for little or nothing. Let us do what is good for America and Americans.

The most significant issue of US Elections is election/voting accoutability. It's my belief that this issue transcends all others for local, state, federal elections. Would admonitions to keep it simple work? Purple fingerprints? Paper ballots? Hand counting by 10 year old fourth graders?

Politics is about how individuals interact over issues important to the collective society. It's my belief that until the reliability of our voting system becomes a paramount issue, we will will continue to erode trust in government; we will continue to have compromised the integrity of the every "chosen" leader. "Do you trust the system?" "The system" is the voting process, right?

If I pay taxes, get junk mail every day, and/or make phone calls, why can't I believe there isn't a tracking and counting system that is accurate and will count votes correctly? .

The most significant issue of US Elections is election/voting accoutability. It's my belief that this issue transcends all others for local, state, federal elections. Would admonitions to keep it simple work? Purple fingerprints? Paper ballots? Hand counting by 10 year old fourth graders?

Politics is about how individuals interact over issues important to the collective society. It's my belief that until the reliability of our voting system becomes a paramount issue, we will will continue to erode trust in government; we will continue to have compromised the integrity of the every "chosen" leader. "Do you trust the system?" "The system" is the voting process, right?

If I pay taxes, get junk mail every day, and/or make phone calls, why can't I believe there isn't a tracking and counting system that is accurate and will count votes correctly? .

For the last two months, civilian deaths in Iraq have averaged 100 a day. That's 3,000 a month -- more than a 9/11 a month. Morally, we are Germany in WWII.

I blame your newspaper and the NY Times. Why is corruption not much of an issue? Because of your newspaper and the NY Times. And some others. Because you cooperate and print propaganda, and do not energetically go after the truth and shout it from the rooftops, as you should. Because you stopped asking tough questions a long time ago.

Oh, yes, I know. Now, after six years of this, very occasionally now someone does ask a tough question. And once someone does, do they follow it up? Do they follow it up tenaciously? And the next day? And the next? What page of the paper? What makes it to the headline? WHere is the truth buried in the article?

WHy is corruption not much of an issue? Because the media are corrupt, too.

I don't think it matters what the issues are, who the candidates are or any of the things that should matter in an election. I believe this election will be manipulated through hacked electronic voting the same way the 2000 and 2004 were, and that the neo-cons will emerge the winners. when they control ALL the power - presidencey, Congress, Judiciary and media - who will stop them?
Princeton has shown how easy it is to steal votes. Robt. Kennedy Jr. thinks so.

what happened yesterday with bush and congress coming to a so called agreement giving bush and his cia cronies immunity against past international war crimes was a sad sad day for Americans and for people all over the world. this should not be quietly swept under the rug. And what about the subject of extraordinary rendition of which people in our government have committed? I would like to see Congress pass a law against extraordinary rendition/ie political kidnapping and this wiretapping issue of bushes addressed/ thats another issue i have some opinions about,we will see if our voices get heard and ACTION taken on behalf of the average AMERICAN CITIZEN

Iraq, healthcare, global warming, minimum wage increase, immigration,terrorism. These are all important issues. We need a change. Republicans have had been in control for almost 6 years its time to go back to a check and balance type of goverment. Give one party control and we see now what happens.

Here in Southern Indiana the two most closely watched races are the Hostettler -
Ellsworth (Evansville), and Hill vs. Sodrel. Both are tight. Local issues are very important (but tie into national ones): the war, and what it has done to further weaken the midwest economy (huge job losses,gas prices, housing costs, minimum wage issue); domestic security reform; health insurance costs & the need for insurance reform; agriculture-environment; America's role in the world (this is Lee Hamilton country) and President Bush's serious lack of diplomatic expertise; the increasingly high cost of public higher education (& its implications for our young people). There is also informed concern about the
poor use of the military and national guard in terms of national/local security.
The continuing lack of effective federal leadership to assist in the Katrina disaster has not been lost on Hoosiers....

Combat vets are pushing for more ads like the recent one from votevets.org. Those chicken hawk/right wing members of Congress who claim to support the troops but vote against veterans benefits are going to be exposed between now and the elections in November.

For those fixing the odds, remember--all those seniors (you know, those voters who if they are feeling ill get an absentee ballot just to make sure!) who signed up for the new drug program--over the next 45 days over 90% will be past the first $2100 allotment and will have to be paying out the next 3 grand. Something tells me that all the current GOP'ers who are trumpeting that prescription program are going to find out from the recepients that it isn't a program to get excited about--unless by excited you mean angry; look for the grey panthers to be on the prowl on this issue.

Why isn't Congress impeaching the President and his adminsitration for Constitutional violations of Americans' rights --warrantless searches are illegal.

IRAQ.

What's with this evangelical approach to Armageddon that the President is taking? Isn't anyone concerned that this quagmire in Iraq and Afghanistan is leading to escalation with Iran and possibley North Korea?

McCain is right -- we need to protect the rights of prisoners of war. If we can't do that, we can't protect rights for our own citizen-soldiers elsewhere. We need to safeguard our freedoms.

There are other issues, but Congress seems dull to them -- price gouging by oil companies, cronyism in business and Congress, scandals left and right in Congress, a foreign policy that is foreign to Americans, a slow dissolution of American rights and freedoms.

Health Care for all! This country is a disgrace when it comes to the "social safety net". The administration has destroyed what little was available to help the old, the poor and the ill. I have good health care now but for how long? Health Care & Stem cell research need to be major issues.

You are overlooking the PA district 03 US House race.

There are several blogs out there (including the one below) that are claiming allegations of (homosexual) pedophilia for sitting Congressman Phil English.

Such allegations are very serious for any perpetrator of that kind of heinous act. But for these allegations to be against a sitting congressman and no one bothers to look into them is reprehensible. When Bill Clinton engaged in oral sex with a consenting adult, the media was relentless in its pursuit of any and all salacious allegations, even before the stained dress confirmed his involvement.
:
http://downwithtyranny.blogspot.com/2006/04/pa-03-not-one-anyone-is-talking-about.html

I agree with the issues identified so far. However, one that may not be very important to most citizens, but does register on my radar is the U.S. space program. The Bush Administration has made some dramatic changes to the national space effort. It has moved the program away from science and technology, and set it on a course that duplicates much of what was done 40 years ago on Apollo. Not only will this course be exhorbitantly expensive, but it has gutted the most highly successful elements of NASA.

What people should note is that NASA is one of the few federal agencies that has actually seen an increase in its budget over the last several years. This is inconsistent with the Republican tenet of reigning in government spending and improving efficiency. However, this Administration has abandoned many Republican principles that Republicans hold dear.

The real risk to the country and our area is our enemies see us as weak and wishy washy. When some third rate dictator calls our president Satan, you see our country falling in world stature. Thank you democrats by bad mouthing everything without offering a plan for anything except isolationist. Come home and put your head in the sand and hope no one will want to hurt us again. When will we understand - after no one can fly out of the country or we have to beg someone for permision to buy something on the internet. We have to take a look at the image you in the mdies on the right and left hurt us more than help

The real risk to the country and our area is our enemies see us as weak and wishy washy. When some third rate dictator calls our president Satan, you see our country falling in world stature. Thank you democrats by bad mouthing everything without offering a plan for anything except isolationist. Come home and put your head in the sand and hope no one will want to hurt us again. When will we understand - after no one can fly out of the country or we have to beg someone for permision to buy something on the internet. We have to take a look at the image you in the mdies on the right and left hurt us more than help

Issues that would benefit Democratic prospects for winning in November are not mentioned here. Specifically they are 1) raising the minimum wage, 2) go after the Republicans who are planning to "revisit" the privatization of Social Security again after the election is over, 3) the huge tax cuts showered on the rich, 4) the 20 billion in unaccounted funds spent in Iraq. Where did it go???, 5) ideas and ways on how to get out of the Iraq mess, 6) passing stem cell research legislation without the influence of the right-wing, 7) making Christian Churches that support right-wing politicians pay taxes.

Well, absolutely the war, high gas prices, poor health care, and national security are all important issues in this years election. But we can not forget about the poor education provided in America for our children. We are one of the richest nations in the world but we spend very little on education. End the end our children not only suffer but so does the nation. If we are not investing in our children in a positive fashion, there is no way they will be productive citizens.

The most talked about issues here: Iraq/Afghanistan, Iran, global warming, healthcare, deficit, declining wages, sanctioned torture. Not necessarily in that order, but approximately.

Our most critical issue is to get the Big Money out of political campaigns and make illegal ALL rewards given to elected or appointed government officials. Solution: Publicly Financed Election campaigns of no more than 3 months duration.

We now have the WORST government money can buy.

Universal, single-payer health care. If Canada and most of the rest of the western world can do that, so should the U.S.

Get out of Iraq now and get people in government who have the skills to negotiate peace , compromise, and cooperation not the draft-dodging war mongers among us.

Abolish all the Bush tax cuts and institute a new tax system, simplified, and highly progressive so that those making over $1M per year and above pay at least 90% of that back to our country in taxes. THAT WOULD BE REAL PATRIOTISM!!

Reduce our military budget appreciably and use that amount of reduction to fund education, health care, and other needed environmental and social upgrades .

I'm amazed at the Washington Post's take on Webb and Allen's debate about Iraq. Whereas the Post sees severe divergent views, I see general agreement between the two. I wonder if I was watching the same program as the Post reporter.

Both men in general pretty much agreed in their criticism of the way the war was carried out and although Webb thinks building fort-like installations in Iraq is a pretext to permanent bases there and Allen disagrees, both men think we should not send our troops home any time in the immediate future. The only difference then between them are what means we use to keep our troops in Iraq. Left to both men, we're in Iraq for generations. Both men obviously appear optimistic about Iraq's future because they're both for policies that count on peace and democracy taking hold eventually, and that's the fatal flaw of their positions. Democracy in Iraq is just a pipe-dream and those who hold out for it are not only fooling themselves but the Amefican people as well.

I suppose a war with Iran is a main concern of mine. I don't see a president as intransigent as Bush has been on any issue wavering on attacking Iran. Every time someone from this admistration tries to blow the idea off the more nervous I get, yet we need to do something about Iran's production of nuclear weapons. If talk is out of the question unless Iran acceeds to our demands to halt production, there's nothing left but war. Unfortunately, both leaders of Iran and the U.S. are determined to push the envelope as far as they can and that means everyone's in deep trouble.

Another top issue is the war in Iraq and the fight against terrorism. Both issues are seperate yet our war in Iraq impacts the war on terror in a very negative way. Bush brought terrorism to Iraq with his war. We're less safe as well because our armed forces have been so degraded in numbers and spread so thin, that we'd probabably have to resort to nukes alone if a shooting war developed between North Korea and the U.S.

Other issues are health care, the environment, global warming and government violation of civil rights under the guise of protecting them.

As a democrat, I'm also very concerned about the democrats in general who complain well but offer no concete plans or solutions to the war in Iraq. I don't want to hear Hillary Clinton or Barak Obama resort to evasion when it comes to this issue. I want to hear them firmly state that even though we broke Iraq, we can't fix it and should get out now. Sending more troops or redeploying them to other areas of Iraq solves nothing and only means more of our troops coming home in flag-draped boxes. There's nothing wrong in admitting the truth. In fact, this country could use a nice airing-out of the truth. We've been so flim-flammed by Bush and company for so long, so taken for fools and lied to over and over by this White House that a nice admission of defeat is welcome, and don't think wew haven't been defeated in Iraq. We have. Some wars are unwinnable. We stalemated the Korean War and lost the Vietnam War. We should have no reservations about telling America Iraq is a quagmire where another day of our involement there only prolongs the agony of that day when we have to say, "we lost". Democracy ain't gonna happen there because Iraqis really don't want it and are incapable of making it happen, so let's cut and run, say arrivadecci and not let the door hit us on the way out and save American lives and get out ASAP. Leave Iraq to its culture of revenge, hatreds and ignorance,. We can only do so much.

As a young Republican, the #1 issue in this election must be the horrendous killings in Sudan. Congress has labeled the situation in Darfur GENOCIDE and yet little action has been taken and the plight of millions of men, women, and children has worsened. How could stopping the world's worst humanitarian crisis at present not be our nation's first priority?

Whoever controls the language, controls the people. "Keep 'em stupid and let them believe you are helping them with handouts is all that matters to the D's."

R's give people a hand up and oportunity to succeed on their own. They teach them to fish, not just give them the fish.

R's aren't perfect, they know it, and move on....I like this 'independent' mentality rather than the 'dependent' mentality of the D's.

Economy IS good; Gas prices ARE falling; recent finding of Oil in Gulf WILL be accessed aleviating future worry; Terrorism handled much BETTER by the R's....these will win this fall!

Health insurance and stopping the drilling in ANWR are important, but all issues take a back seat to the genocide in Darfur. What could be more henious than genocide? Ergo, there's nothing more important than stopping genocide.

Stoping the Genocide in Darfur! We need to prevent another mass killing in its tracks! The kidnapping of Children in Uganda needs to stop as well!! We need to make the WORLD aware and take ACTION!
Never have there been such pure sources of EVIL!!! (Since the Holocaust)

Having a plan to help end the heinous genocide in Darfur is really important to me in the coming elections. I want to see a candidate that will take responsibility for improving our international status and will now allow despicable international crime to continue. A candidate with this type of guts will turn my head and recieve my vote.

I read a disturbing article today in the New York Times about Darfur. Although it was only a small article I was happy to see it on the front page. With a lot of our country's energy and resources being channeled into the prevention of terrorism I wonder how much credibility (if any) we have when we put forth no effort to prevent it in other countries. Case in point: Sudan. The Clinton administration embarrassed us in 1993 after failing to act in Rwanda...will we let the same thing happen again?

GENOCIDE.

If the American people were to make the same priorities list for the years 1939 to 1945, it would be anyone's guess that the genocidal murders of twelve million -- the "six million" we read in our textbooks is of the missed Jewish victims, alone -- would top the list. In a time where this sort of slaughter happens again, let us not negligently send the ship back. It is the responsibility of the United States to stop the killing going on in the Darfur region of Sudan and the racial and political murders happening in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Genocide must be stopped.

People in my area and of my generation(I'm 21) are talking about what i think are the three big domestic issues that hopefully our generation will help face, but that are being somewhat ignored now. I called it the Triple E. Energy/Environment + Economy + Education.
These are issues that are intertwined, directly realted to how safe we will be in the world and how well off we will be economically, but people seem to be dancing around them. I wish I could say I will vote for a candidate who is good on these issues, but really I'm waiting for future candidates who focus on these issues and frame them around the all important issue of our saffety in this world.

Thanks

The most important factor this year and in all upcoming election years is which party can get the young to vote for them. Right now the democrats are begining to move in that direction, but most 18 to 24's don't vote or vote for third party candidates. The party that controls the young voters will have 3 to 6 million politically motivated and active people on their side. This would be more then enough to swing congress and the presidential elections. The issues that matter most to young people are the war and the environment. So those are issues that the parties should seriously keep in mind.

1 Illegal Immigration - No Amnesty, No Gift Cards, Send them Home. Build a wall. Can't vote for the weak Leftists on this one.

2 Energy. Disown the Oil Companies and Take Away their control over Alternate energies. Do Not Let them drill in the 48 so they can sell our oil to China. I see some of the Repubs coming around on this. I can't get a position from the Dems.

3- Iraq - neither side has a winning solution so we might as well leave. Subservient issue to illegal immigration which was the cause of 9/11.

4 - Economy - the Dems will raise middle class taxes to give more welfare to Illegals. I'd rather stay with the Repubs who will at least kill estate taxes.

The list of Republican failures is almost endless.

One issue that few (if any) have mentioned is Medicare Part D. Many senior citizens will be falling into the "doughnut hole" just prior to the election.

Seniors may also remember Bush's proposal to privatize Social Security, which would drain the trust fund even faster than if nothing is changed.

Short and sweet- Americans don't have alot of time--ITS ABOUT EARNINGS. It's about providing for our children, at this point the Republicans are failing in that area and will suffer for it. To what degree who knows but in my opinion they will definitely lose seats in the North East and Midwest.

While Iraq remains tops on my list for national trends (GOP loses big if this stays on people's minds), if the GOP can manage to keep repeating 9/11 over and over (remember those good ole days in 2002 when that's all we heard) and there have been no attacks here in the US since 9/11, there is no take over by the Dems. The Dems win in states that they haven't won in years if they can provide voters with reason to either go to the polls (yes, they really do have a plan in Iraq) or conversely for typical GOP voters, they stay home in protest. As much as we like to debate the issues, it all comes down to voter turnout. Turnout the base, or make them angry enough (it cuts both ways), and that seals your fate. All politics in local except when a president and his party send a country to war with no exit strategy.

If nothing changes in the next 60 days, you might see the Dems pick up 30-plus seats in the House and the Senate could be tied. We can all count on the GOP to parade around images of 9/11 and instill fear back into the mix. People should know better by now, or do they?

The lack of an energy strategy that focuses on alternate energy sources seems to be too big for our leaders to deal with. They need to address this aggressively, both for its benefits in the greenhouse gas arena and so that we can stop funding terrorists with the revenues generated in OPEC by the sale of oil.

The issues are:

1)The middle class economic squeeze.
1A) The incompetence of George Bush.
2)Health care insurance.
3)Iraq.
4)Illegal immigrants.
5)Border security.
6)The corruption and arrogance of elected officials.
7)Crime.

Top Issues:
1. Energy Policy (more nuclear,"clean coal",wind,solar,hydroelectric,and wave)
2. Renewed American Image - Uniting
3. Iraq exit strategy - "Not cut and run", majority of troops out by end of 2007"
4. Global Warming (US and Global Plan)
5. Balanced Federal Budget
6. Education Reform - "K-12 10 month school year and increased federal grants towards college degrees in demanded fields"
7. Health Care reform
8. Increase in "gas mileage" for automobiles across the board as well as emission controls - ULEV or better
9. Immigration control - no one gets in without a green card and send illegals back who have been here less than 5 yrs, stiff penalty for hiring illegals.
10.Diplomacy with Iran and North Korea - offer them trade alliances if they withdrawl from nuclear bombs, oh and fix sudan.

I believe the genocide in Darfur is one of the most important issues not only for this election but for my lifetime. According to a Zogby America Poll conducted in March of this year, stopping the genocide is a RESPONSIBILITY of Americans and their government. "There is even stronger support for limited military action, with 70% backing creation of a U.S.-enforced no-fly zone over the African nation." --Zogby America poll (March 2006).
After the atrocity was officially labeled GENOCIDE, the activity toward stopping it has deteriorated.

How could stopping the brutal murder of an entire ethnic group not make the top eight?

1. The environment and research into alternate fuel sources.
2. Educational reform.
3. Foreign policy and the genocide in Sudan.
4. Poverty in America.

Universal, single payer, health insurance for all! Enough about "lack of choice". My Canadian friends love their system. So do my Brit friends. And both countries spend less than we do and have better health outcomes!

OUT OF IRAQ!

Take big oil profits and invest them in alternative energy!

Fight the root causes of terrorism, such as oppressive regimes, starvation, etc. and the terrorists will be marginalized and, eventually, disbanded!

Free, public, higher education for all who qualify academically!

It's all about priorities. If we take the $s spent in Iraq and the $s glutting oil company profits and invest in the list above we can make America great again and witness the rebirth of the American dream.

In the past year, the anti-genocide movement has demonstrated extraordinary power. Yet many leaders still haven't gotten the message -- stopping the genocide in Darfur needs to be a political priority.

• "Ending the killing in the Sudan is a U.S. responsibility, according to a majority of likely voters" --Zogby America poll (March 2006)

• "There is even stronger support for limited military action, with 70% backing creation of a U.S.-enforced no-fly zone over the African nation." --Zogby America poll (March 2006)

• More than two years ago, Congress unanimously called Darfur what it is -- genocide. Since then, the situation has deteriorated further.

• Champions for Darfur are from both sides of the aisle. Congress needs to focus on these important, unifying issues instead of playing partisan politics.

1. Either support the military sufficiently that it can do nothing other than win or get out of the Middle East. I do not need two Viet Nam's in my personal history.

2. Wean the US off of any fuel that is not locally produced. Being independent is not the same as being isolationist.

3. Understand that the average American voter is completely alienated by extreme positions either left or right.

4. Fix health care--now!

5. How hard would it be to insure every American child got an excellent education whether or not the child thought it was important. Someone has to be the parent!

Incompetance. In every attempt to define important issues in such way that real strategies can be ENACTED SUCCESSFULLY--the government has failed. Fact--the "deciders" are the Republicans. They bear the responsibility.
Americans are aware of the grade these folks have earned:
Iraq------Failure
Foreign policy----Failure
Energy policy-----Failure
Immigration Policy----Failure
Health care provision policy---failure
Katrina-----Failure
Economic policy----failure(budget deficits and increased discretionary funding)
Enviroment and global warming---Failure
Funding for research and development in alternative energy and stem cell technology---Failure

I am very upset about what is going on in Darfur, Sudan. The Republicans have very low scores as to following the initiatives already approved in Congress to help the Peace Keeping Mission in Darfur, so tension continues to build on a daily basis.

Bush has Sadam on trial for killing some 10,000 of his own people.

Genocide in Rwanda in 1994 killed from eight hundred thousand to a million, men, women, and innocent children.

Now in Darfur, Sudan, over 450,000 people have already been killed, and 2.5 million people have been displaced.

Why is this such a low priority in the Media and with Republicans in particular? Do we need the numbers to go even higher before this is stopped? I just don't get it.

1. Lying; 2. Incompetence 3. Iraq; 4. Corruption 5. Universal health care 6. Fuel and fuel prices; 7. terrorism; 8. tax reform; 8. secure voting

Media must cover more on the phenomena why voters continue to vote against their own self interest. Result: gap between rich and poor increasing; the volunteer army of mostly young people who enlisted to further their education, or young heads of household who enlisted in the reserves to earn a few extra bucks - fighting our wars, and federal lawmakers are not personally affected by the senseless loss of lives because their children are not in harm's way.

John Lewis is my Congressman, Saxby Chambliss and John Issakson are my Senators. For me the key issues are the War in Iraq, the non-Fortune 1000 economy, the federal deficit , social security, healthcare costs, illegal immigration, the lack of credibility of our leaders and institutions in the world community.

I feel that one of the main issues should be transparency in government. The American people have a right to know how the hired help are arriving at their decisions. Executive Order 13233, signed by GW Bush, states that he NEVER has to have any documents of his administration released. It allows him to designate an entity (say a law firm) to make the decision to release his papers after he is dead. Needless to say, their orders will be to never release any papers. This order has also prevented any release of documents from the Reagan/Bush years, the Bush/Quayle years, and the Clinton/Gore years. Specifically, I would like to know about our relationships with Al-Queda and Bin-Laden for those years. However GW has made sure that will not happen until someone gets in who will rescind it. Government of the People.

In Wisconsin, District 8 is a big issue with Mark Green stepping down to run for Governor. Presently there are (4) Dems in the ring and only (1) Republican.

For front at the present puts John Gard (R) in the lead; but is close enough to change daily.

For front of issues, stop spreading roses. Quit talking tax cuts everytime you want to give someone an incentive. They don't work as that throws the budget out of wack, then budget cuts, then more organizations want more money out of my pocket which is more then the tax cut I was given anyways.

Iraq, we don't belong there; we never did. Get out. The same holds with Afghanistan. Did anyone really think the person with enough intelligance to pull off the events of 9/11 would be sitting where you know he is, waiting for you to come and get him. Be real.

Economy, fix it or put plans into place that will make a real impact and not tax cuts to get employers to higer more people. (see previous comments above on tax cuts.)

Gas prices, I don't see how you can do something about it. Many congressmen make money from them, will they vote for less in thier pockets? I think not.

Legislation, quit bundling legislation where you pass my bill you don't agree with and I'll pass yours. Pass them on their own and let your employers (voting public) know the whole truth.

Another big issue in Wisconsin is a new law to "Ban Gay Marriages". Sure it is, but Wisconsin Law already defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman. The new one uses "Ban Gay Marriages" to strip rights of all un-married couples regardless of gender.

I could go on forever, which this is not intended to allow me to do, understandably so.

The issues, there are many; even one that includes more Americans getting more involved to see what is being lost because we don't listen, care and often forget.

Each of the pertinent issues are the symptom of one major problem: lack of accountability. That alone should drive voters to the polls in record numbers to return some measure of balance to our precariously weighted system. In that sense, the number one issue is the Republican Party itself, and its failure to govern.

I believe that stopping the genocide in Darfur is one of the United States' 8 most top priorities. How can legislators pretend to be creating peace in the middle east when we turn our backs on the genocide in Sudan? Electing legislators who will act in this region of the world is one of the key issues for likely voters.

This letter was written to the President and members of Congress on March 20, 2005.

Whatever became of the common good?

Political partisans whose relentless quest for power and wealth make them forget the common wealth again and again.

I believe Congress and the President have strayed from helping the average American secure life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness to one of creating burdens and hardships for the American people who pay the bill.

I believe that Congress and the President are delivering for themselves and their special circle of rich, powerful, special interest friends and contributors. I believe Congress and the President are doing a miserable job of setting a vision and leading this county. I believe special interest, political ideology, and the naked quest for power continue to control our public discourse and political decision-making.

America has a vision problem. This is why American politics seem to lack both principle and purpose and why our political discourse produces lots of blame and not many solutions. We see powerful congressional figures argue and finger point at one another and vie for greater position and influence while far less powerful people suffer and are forgotten. We all suffer when there is no vision, no guiding moral compass that steers our public life. We are all diminished when our life is reduced to the survival of the fittest.

I believe our present policy is being shaped by visions that defend wealth and power, rather than opening up more opportunity; that are more exclusionary then inclusive; that pursue policies that destabilize families and communities; that exalt private interests over the common good; that simply leave too many people behind; that seek national or corporate self-interest over international peace and justice; or that increase conflict rather than reducing it.

The lack of vision in political life and the emptying out of values that visionless leadership creates lead to a politics of complaints. In reaction to politics without values people begin to complain - and there is much to complain about. Here are some of mine:

THE WAR
I believe this war of choice to be unnecessary and unjust. If America persists on this present long-term strategy of pre-emptive war and mostly unilateral foreign policy we will be facing endless war in our lives. March 19th, 2005 will mark 2 full years since the bombs started falling in Iraq. Fifteen thousand five hundred and sixteen (1,516) American troops have been killed in combat, and over 11,220 have been seriously injured. Uncounted tens of thousands of Iraqi civilians have died, and millions are without electricity or running water. The administration is in the middle of an optimism campaign on Iraq, and wants us to believe that a stable peace is around the corner. But most realists see years of chaos and violence ahead. An overwhelming majority of American agreed that we need to have a clear exit plan. And that consensus remains: in order to gain the trust of the Iraqi people, they must know that we don't intend to be there forever.

The President needs to negotiate a binding exit plan with the Iraqi government. America should not establish permanent military bases in Iraq, which would send such a terrible message to the world about our motives there.

Congress needs to root out the corporate corruption that has undercut the rebuilding efforts and washed billions we've already put into Iraq down the drain. This is especially crucial as you prepare to approve another $80+ billion for Iraq.

THE FEDERAL BUDGET Budgets are moral documents. The federal budget shows what we most care about and how that compares to other things we care about. So when you present your budgets, you are really presenting your priorities.

The budget cuts that's on the table gives huge tax breaks to the rich, cuts education and health care for middle class folks and the poor, and sends the debt burden for future generations through the roof.

The budget explodes the deficit - adding more than $400 billion to our national debt, when you include the extra money requested for the Iraq War. According to the bipartisan Congressional Budget Office, the deficit is due mostly to the gigantic tax cut legislation and Iraq spending - two things Congress and the president want to make worse, not better.

The budget gives the wealthiest Americans permanent tax breaks, while cutting programs for the middle class and poor.

The budget would make gigantic cuts in health care - especially for Medicaid - which are unconscionable. Medicaid principally serves two groups: senior citizens and the working poor. Most seniors in nursing homes count on Medicaid. The budget slashes education funding, especially funds for middle class and low-income Americans. The budget leaves out the needed funding for No Child Left Behind and funds to help moderate-income Americans afford college. Pell Grants are dramatically hurt in the budget. Core government programs that create affordable housing, curb juvenile delinquency, hire police officers, make child care available to low-income working mothers, and guarantee children's health insurance have been drastically cut. These budgets reflect the federal government's priorities.

THE POOR
The poverty rate has risen over the last three years, more people than ever are without health care insurance, increasing numbers of people can't find affordable housing, and the minimum wage hasn't been raised for eight years.

The ongoing costs of the war with Iraq, along with the cost of tax cuts for the wealthy, are leading to a crisis for American's poorest children, as U.S. domestic needs have been literally pushed off the political agenda.

The truth is that hungry people are going without food stamps, poor children are going without health care, elderly are going without medicine, and schoolchildren are going without textbooks because of war, tax cuts, and a lack of both attention and compassion from Congress and the President.

Consider these sinful statistics for the richest county in the world:
-one of every six children is poor (13 million children)
-36 million people live below the poverty line
-4 million families are hungry to the point where people in the household are skipping meals (and three times that number are "food insecure," meaning at some time during the year they have difficulty providing enough food for members of their family)
-45 million Americans are without health insurance - including 8.4 million children
-14 million families have critical housing needs as affordable housing disappears, rents and housing prices soar, and homelessness is on the rise.
-40 million adult Americans are functional illiterates.
-the bulk of the jobs being created these days are low - and minimum-wage jobs. We are asking fellow Americans to live on $5.15 an hour.

In addition, I would suggest these additional priorities that will improve the overall lives of Americans and the operation of government:

1.Establish a realistic livable wage for all Americans
2.Eliminate all riders on proposed congressional bills
3.Establish term limits for Congress
4.Simplify the tax law
5.Eliminate corporate welfare
6.Provide health care insurance for all Americans
7.Eliminate/limit congressional lobbying
8.Correct the balance of trade
9.Control the flow of illegal immigrants into the United States and the payments for their health and general upkeep
10.Do not establish privates accounts for Social Security
11.Reduce the huge federal budget deficit
12.Eliminate the electoral college for presidential elections
13.Strengthen marriage and the family
14.Improve education, especially for the poor
15.Establish adequate child care
16.Stop the flow of jobs abroad

Please take aim at correcting these scandalous conditions in the world's richest country, instead of blaming each other for the problems. It has become standard practice in Washington to name the problem, then make the public afraid of it, and finally blame it on the opponents. What Congress and the President never get back to is solving the problems. The problems are simply used in the battle for political power; they are not something to be really addressed.

I believe the President and Congress are bleeding our public budgets, over-militarizing our foreign policy, taking care of corporate and special interest, distorting our priorities for domestic programs, and shredding our civil liberties in a climate of politically promoted fear and anxiety. The government of the United States should function to protect, serve, and make life better for each and every citizen. Congress and the President are no longer doing that job for Americans.

They are so many things the Democrats could REALLY jump on but due to their (LACK OF ENEGERY THEY WILL STAND AROUND WITH THEIR FINGERS UP THEIR BLOW HOLE )stances in the past they probably do not know how to jump. THE WAR IN IRAQ AND THE LIES WHICH LED TO IT. IF YOU SWEAR IN OUR COUNTRY AND THE RESULTS TO YOUR LIE LEAD TO A DEATH AND/OR KILL SOMEONE IT IS CALLED MURDER (BY A DESERTER AND A DRAFT DODGER THEY BOTH NEED TO BE HANGED FOR TREASON)
THE PRICE OF GAS THE WAY IT GOES UP IN AN INSTANCE AND THEN NEVER COMES DOWN (PRICES SHOULD BE MONITORED CLOSELY THE THE HOUSE AND REQUIRED TO FALL WHEN PRICES GO DOWN) NOT A PENNY BUT THE FULL AMOUNT THAT CRUDE HAS FALLEN.
ANOTHER BIG PROBLEM FOR THE REPUBLICANS SHOULD THE DEMOCRATS WISH TO SIEZE THE MOMENT IS THE PLAN D OF THE MEDI-GAP INSURANCE. (THIS PROGRAM IS ROBBING THE BANK BOTH FROM THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PEOPLE I AS AN INSURANCE AGENT HAVE SEEN WITH MY OWN EYES. THE IMMIGRANT PROBLEM COULD CUT BOTH WAYS I THINK IF ONE IS CAUGHT THE SECOND TIME ILLEGAL HE SHOULD BE SHOT. I THINK THIS WOULD SLOW DOWN THE PARADE NORTH BY THE ILLEGAL. LAST I THINK THEY (THE DEMOCRATS) SHOULD MUZZLE THE LITTLE IDIOT IN THE WHITE HOUSE EVER TIME HE SIGNS SOMETHING OR SAYS SOMETHING IT HURTS THE MILITARY, THE VERERANS, THE DISABLE VETERANS AND THE SOON TO BE VETERANS, THE POOR THE SICK AND THE AGED OR SENIORS. HELL IT PROBABLYS HURTS ABOUT 95% OF THE AMERICANS. SO SHUT HIM UP. tHE FREE HANDOUTS TO THE LARGE COMPANIES SUCH AS OIL AND CIGRAETTES. THE LIST GOES ON. FRANK BOWERS IN AUSTIN, TX AND THIS IS NOT BUSH COUNTRY BUSH COUNTRY IS IN CONN. WHERE THE SQUINT EYED LITTLE WAS HATCHED.

Two issues really concern me. One is how the right wing hypocritical Christian fundamentalists have hijacked the Republican party. Issues like gay marriage distract from more important ones. Our tax dollars are being used overseas for some anti-AIDS programs, but health care workers funded by US tax dollars are NOT allowed to even mention condoms as a way to control the spread of the disease! Ridiculous.

The second issue that bothers me is that, largely due to Bush's arrogant foreign policy, the U.S. is much less regarded overseas, even by our traditional allies, the Canadians and the Europeans. I'm almost embarassed to be an American!

It seems like the "silent majority" is finally waking up and realizing what a disaster Dubya and his cronies have been! Not a moment too soon!

We need to get Bush and Cheney out of office as quickly as possible; we need a Democratic Congress; we need leaders who are not corrupt; we need our social programs restored, expanded and improved; we need our civil liberties restored; and we need the corrupt prosecuted and punished. If we do not act, in my view, there will be class warfare in this country, and by "class" I do not mean black/white. I mean the rich vs. everybody else - middle class, lower class, homeless, sick people - the non-rich. If we don't institute the above changes - now - we are going to have people with no medical care dying in the streets from illness, and people with no food, no food stamps and no Medicaid starving in the streets, and people with no shelter because it is impossible to pay for a roof over your head on minimum wage, dying in the streets from exposure to cold or dehydration. The entire country will look like New Orleans. We have been warned. If we have not learned what these people (the administration and other rich people - mainly Republicans) are capable of doing from watching New Orleans and Iraq, then shame on us. The issue is way bigger than Iraq or New Orleans, or the price of gas, although our so-called leaders have been "masterful" in distracting the public into thinking that all the discontent is about the war. We have allowed them to out-source and privatize what this country used to stand for and believe in. They will not stop until they control and own everything and everyone. It is time to take our country back.

Americans do not understand the extent to which corporate America influences government politics. They are the "men" in the shadows who manipulate and control our daily lives; as well as our future. Orwell did not go far enough when he described the monstrous regime in "1984"; or did he?

It's the economy,health care, the War, and a corrupt Congress on both sides of the isle. Our country is corrupt and it's a dog eat dog society with more and more people entering the 'being eaten' catagory.
It's the realization that Dems and Pubs alike don't care about the American people amymore, all they care about is money and power and helping corporations screw us somemore.

Some things which should be on more people's lists:

#1. Torture. A country that tortures people is in danger of losing its soul.

#2. Gerrymandering of congressional districts. The extent to which parties will go to protect incumbants is a disgrace. So is the public acceptance of this practice.

#3. The need for public financing of elections. The current situation is nothing but legalized bribery, and--again--public acceptance of the situation is a disgrace.

#4. The currrent administration's willingness to dismiss scientific evidence when it conflicts with ideology.

This is not to say that the standard items on your list are less important. Just that the issues above deserve more attention and passion than they usually get.

oh yeah, GLOBAL WARMING too.

DARFUR - we said "never again" after the holocaust... i guess some people in the government didn't really take that to heart.

Top issues for November:
1. Iraq
2. Economic issues: stagflation, wages, gas prices
3. Immigration
4. Competence of the current administration and Congress
5. Direction of our foreign policy
6. Healthcare
7. Corruption in and out of government
8. A feeling of 'malaise' about the nation's direction

It's not just Joe Lieberman, the Likud candidate for the U.S. Senate, who is out of touch with the voters: it's Santorum, it's Chaffee, it's Cheney, it's McKinney and it's much of Congress, Democratic or Republican. And it's, most assuredly, the conservative movement, so-called. These truly dreadful 'folks' have managed to weasel themselves into an undeserved legitimacy; they were pariahs not long ago. May they return to outcast status and remain there.

Making a moral commitment to end the killing in Darfur is definitely number one. How can the US who always boasts about its "moral leadership" in the world just stand by and do nothing? No wonder the rest of the world can't stand us. Second is finding sources of alternative energy. Haven't we been talking about this since the 70's? I just don't get it with all the technology we have. If a country like Brazil can reduce their dependence on foreign oil by something like 75% why can't we? How difficult is it to get ethanol in the gas pumps like Brazil has done? Maybe we should send our "experts" down there to see how they have done it.

Three G's:

Global Warming
Genocide in Darfur
Gas Prices

Hundreds of people are being killed every day in Darfur. Tens of thousands of refugees are being displaced every month. An honest-to-goodness genocide is taking place in full view of the world, and all we can do to put a stop to it is play political games with the government that caused and continues to support the genocide?

The United States must do EVERYTHING within its power to stop the violence and restore enough stability to the region to allow aid workers to put things back together. The UN must call it what it is, a genocide, and must put a peacekeeping force with a Chapter VII mandate on the ground NOW, not later. Who cares if the Sudanese government doesn't want a UN force? The UN itself acknowledges that the world has a moral obligation to intervene and stop genocide even if the host government refuses to allow a UN force to be deployed. Who cares if China might veto a Security Council resolution demanding a Chapter VII force deployment? There must be SOMETHING that the US can offer China to convince them not to veto, and if there is, we should offer it.

You listed "President Bush's approval rating, corruption in Congress, the economy, immigration, and the Iraq war" as the issues that could decide the election. Sure, all of those are important. But frankly, the only one of them that isn't more about politics than anything else is the war in Iraq, and the situation in Darfur is a hell of a lot worse than Iraq right now, at least judging by the number of people killed and displaced each day in the two conflicts.

I vote in every election, and I WILL vote again candidates whom I think haven't been doing enough to stop the genocide in Darfur.

I would also argue that the genocide in Darfur, Sudan should be a top priority for our country in this coming election cycle. It's truly amazing how often the world can allow this most heinous of all crimes continue with deadly regularity. There are so many issues that I feel are important for this election, but I honestly feel like action on Darfur is a fantastic compass for knowing how my senator or representative will act in other situations. For the sake of our collective conscience, I sincerely hope this will become an election issue.

Darfur.

Ending the genocide in Darfur, Sudan must be a top priority for the US government. If we don't act to help bring peace to this troubled region, if we don't ensure that the 2 million displaced people receive the necessary humanitarian assistance and security, who will?

The Administration should realize that Darfur matters to the American public. According to a March 2006 Zogby America poll, "Ending the killing in the Sudan is a U.S. responsibility, according to a majority of likely voters. There is even stronger support for limited miliary action, with 70% backing creatio of a US-enforced no-fly zone over the African nation."

Darfur. We have to take responsibility for preserving human decency and the ability to look beyond one's self. We have the power to change and save lives on a massive scale. Why are we taking so long?

Enviroment. It is obviously essential that we preserve our planet. Or is it? Until recently it didn't seem all that obvious to most people. Greed, greed and more greed ruled the day. But, now people are waking up. Or at least catching on. It has never been cooler to be green. The tipping point has been reached and surpassed. This is now officially a trend. Good in that the support will be widespread, bad in that it might only last an election or two. For now though, candidates and companies will pay for seeming indifferent.

The number one issue facing the United States is how the nation will finance itself today and tomorrow. Every day that passes without action on that issue further constrains the options available to the country.

The current leadership in the Capitol seems happy to leave this unpleasant election topic to the next generation. Let someone else lose their reelection bid by having to make difficult decisions.

Here in the heartland of Kansas a big issue is the "American Taliban", the religious right. They took over our school board and forced "ignorant design" down our throats. While they were at it they changed the sex ed policy to 'opt in' from 'opt out'. Finally, they hired a commissioner of education whose sole claim to competancy for the position comes from having been an outspoken critic of public funding of education for many years! We managed to boot them in the primaries and these policies will be reversed.

The Bush administration in particular and the GOP in general pander to the type of wing nuts who ruled the KS school board because they will vote Republican to advance their social agenda regardless of what else the GOP does, e.g., wars for oil, elimination of our rights and freedoms, obscene profits for the oil companies with $400m annual salary CEOs, shamelessly offering a few pennies more to minimum wage earners if we give $250b to the richest 2,600 heirs and heiresses, etc.

Were it not for the religious right the GOP would have no base and would not win another election. Some day these folks will awaken to the irony of the question, who would Jesus bomb? Remember, these folks are not the super rich who benefit from the GOP tax cuts.

If you are one of these less than well-to-do evangelicals consider this joke before you vote in the next election (language sanitized for your protection): Folks who have sex with members of the opposite sex are called heterosexual. Folks who do it with members of the same sex are called homosexuals. Folks who do it to themselves are called poor Republicans!

Controlling illegal immigration is my No. 1 issue.
Question: why could New Jersey Dems replace Torricelli and Texas Republicans couldn't replace Delay?

DARFUR.
I do not understand how Darfur could not be in one of the categories. In my opinion, and I'm sure many others this is one of the most important issues that is occuring as we speak. It is GENOCIDE. Although the genocide has been in some press, the issue needs to be recognized more, and fixed; we need to do something and it is our responsibility to end the genocide in Darfur as soon as possible. Too many people are being killed and though progress has been made and peace agreements signed, there is still much more to come to beat this. If you have no idea about whats going on in Darfur, I suggest you read into immediately and than I expect you will understand the urgency that this needs to be recognized and should most definettly be one of the top issues.

DARFUR.
I do not understand how Darfur could not be in one of the categories. In my opinion, and I'm sure many others this is one of the most important issues that is occuring as we speak. It is GENOCIDE. Although the genocide has been in some press, the issue needs to be recognized more, and fixed; we need to do something and it is our responsibility to end the genocide in Darfur as soon as possible. Too many people are being killed and though progress has been made and peace agreements signed, there is still much more to come to beat this. If you have no idea about whats going on in Darfur, I suggest you read into immediately and than I expect you will understand the urgency that this needs to be recognized and should most definettly be one of the top issues.

I am very concerned about the low opinion of the world of Americans and our government. I am also concerned about the economic uncertainty and the huge and growing deficit. Globalization may tend to level out the economic status of the world in a way that most Americans will not like.
Our middle class may cease to exist. I am also concerned about our seeming disregard for the environment and the implications for the future of our planet. It seems that Americans are no longer the leaders of the world because our government has abdicated that responsibility.

1) The number one issue impacting voters will be the "Bush-Blair" Terror and Fear campaign. Every possible gremlin will be unearthed to scare and threaten voters. And... to challenge Democratic candidates.

2) What should be number two is "Energy" But both parties are absolutely out-to-lunch when it comes to a competent energy policy - they are ruled by the oil-gas industry contributions and lobbyists (robbing us of our democracy)

3) Clearly number three is the loss of democracy - lobbyists and contributions (see above) - can anyone actually discuss this in terms that the average american will understand

4) The aimlessness of our direction in Iraq, the middle east and the world. Do we care? Do voters have a clue? Our foreign policy is just that - foreign. Can you believe this is the Unted States?

5) The absolute rape of our country's bounty to "feed the greed" of the rich at the expense of the middle and not-so-middle class. This translates to tax cuts for the rich and an increasing national debt for everyone else. (Wish I could move to somewhere else)

6) The loss of our freedom of speech and privacy - this really should be number one - but with all this stuff above - it falls woefully to number six. Do you really believe the Supreme Court will support this most recent NSA setback?

7) The conversion of the US economy to a service-only economy. Detroit pushes the Shelby Cobra and the Camaro while they are losing market share (can anybody remember the 1973 gas crisis?) to the Japanese. And MIT can design a 300 mpg car is eight weeks - who are they kidding - they're part of the oil-gas lobby.

8) The destruction of our education and scientific genius - to christian fundamentalists and radical neo-conservatives and rapturists (like Bush and Blair)

Well those are my eight key election defining issues - but actually it will probably look more like the following

1) Did we screw up the JonBenet Ramsey case and why?
2) Let's eliminate steriods from baseball and cycling.
3) Do or don't elect Clinton because she has boobs.
4) Building higher fences on the Mexican border.
5) Did Ned Lamont "dis" Waterbury?
6) Should gays serve in the military and why?
7) What is your position on carrying firearms?
8) Should the helmet law be national?

What have we become?

The American Bar Association came out a couple weeks ago with a news appearance on C-Span about Pres. Bush's continuing use of 'signing statements' when approving congressional legislation, that allows him to renege on just those items in each piece of legislation he chooses to enforce -- essentially a 'line-item veto' which Congress specifically has refused to give him.

He has used this devious mechanism over 800 times in his presidency, versus just 600 times by all of his predecessors combined. His actions negate any legislation by Congress he doesn't like, reducing the tri-partite structure of government that serves to keep things in balance.

He is sworn to uphold the Constitution, which the ABA among others find has routinely been violated by employing such 'signing statements'. DO THESE NOT CONSTITUTE 'HIGH CRIMES' AGAINST THE CONSTITUTION WORTHY OF IMPEACHMENT?
* * *

The American Bar Association came out a couple weeks ago with a news appearance on C-Span about Pres. Bush's continuing use of 'signing statements' when approving congressional legislation, that allows him to renege on just those items in each piece of legislation he chooses to enforce -- essentially a 'line-item veto' which Congress specifically has refused to give him.

He has used this devious mechanism over 800 times in his presidency, versus just 600 times by all of his predecessors combined. His actions negate any legislation by Congress he doesn't like, reducing the tri-partite structure of government that serves to keep things in balance.

He is sworn to uphold the Constitution, which the ABA among others find has routinely been violated by employing such 'signing statements'. DO THESE NOT CONSTITUTE 'HIGH CRIMES' AGAINST THE CONSTITUTION WORTHY OF IMPEACHMENT?
* * *

Once again the media quickly pushed the ongoing genocide in the Sudan out of the spotlight.
Meanwhile the Sudanese government has violated the peace agreement signed in Darfur where genocide has raged since 2003.
The United States has special leverage with all stakeholders and the most influential voice in decisions about troop sizes and the speed of deployment. While Bush has been on record in support of a UN intervention, the US has failed to do the diplomatic heavy lifting required.
WE MUST HELP THOSE WHO CANT HELP THEMSELVES!!

The genocide in Darfur is definitely a priority issue. I don't think a candidate deserves the presidency if they do not intend to be aggresive about ending genocide.

GENOCIDE!

Genocide: "Deliberate and systematic destruction of a racial, political, or cultural group."
Genocide has been taking place in Darfur, Sudan since 2003. Despite half-hearted efforts of the U.S. and UN, the situation is rapidly deteriorating.
Why shouldn't the mass slaughter of hundreds of thousands of people make the list as a top election issue? How could it not?
According to Zogby America Poll: "Ending the Killing in Sudan is a U.S. responsability, according to a majority of likely voters."
Stopping genocide in Sudan is an American responsability. A responsability the American people wants to see our future President carry.

On the subject of issues driving this election cycle, everyone misses one important truism:

All politics is local.

Very local.

Despite all the various analytical approaches that will be tried by the punditocracy in the coming months, this is quite the simple political year.

It's the return of Richard Nixon's great Silent Majority.

Only this time, it's pointed in the opposite direction.

It's the war. The Great Main Street / K Street War.

And it sits upon the very definition of governance.

Main Street thought these guys could govern better than the other guys. They failed. They're out. The math is simple.

The GOP thought they were truly special. Main Street thought they were simply different. They're not. They're actually worse. So, they're out.

Maybe since 1994, but certainly since 2001, the average American, having changed things to make them work better, first paid no attention, then denied, then slowly began to understand, that this Republican-controlled government, despite its vast political power, has done NOTHING during these years to help make his or her Main Street life any better -- in any way. In fact, most Americans have spent years watching things fall apart around them with increasing speed.

Awake and paying attention, they now clearly see that the ones who've prospered under GOP leadership are the money boys, and the rich guys, and the vast army of K Street lobbyists who shill for them. The world has been an exciting, enriching place for this group these last six to 12 years. Greed, corruption and indifference to suffering are now the coins of the realm in our nation's capital. It's a lobbyist party!

The Main Streeters now know that their voice no longer counts in Washington. They know now that the K Streeters can and will break every law on every level to gain every legislative advantage for their corporations -- their job is to eliminate any vestige of federal and state guidance or control over corporate malfeasance in the name of profit. And they're very good at their jobs, perhaps the only competant people left in Washington.

When Ford Motor chose to pay off the population of dead and maimed Ford riders, since it was cheaper than fixing a core design flaw, Americans were outraged! Today, most Americans simply assume that that's how things always work. Your family dies, but a corporation will still flourish. Your sacrifice is duly noted, and appreciated. Here's a check.

A deeply moral lot, Main Streeters watch their country overridden by soulless people who think their corporate positioning carries more weight than the nation's quality of life. Or its very life.

Average Americans now know their water is dirtier, their job security non-existent, every physical object they come in contact with (cars, roads, bridges, toys, mineshaft safety materials, coffee containers) are more shabbily (cheaply) made and, therefore, more dangerous to themselves and their families. They see their world has gone toxic. And nobody cares whether they live or die.

And they clearly see that if they complain or question, they're called whiners, rather than heroes.

They see they can no longer afford to pull out of the driveway, let alone send their kids to college.

They see their lives diminished in every quantifiable way.

They also see large, gaudy Rolexes on wrists. They see $3,000 suits. They see expensive cars. Houses worth $320,000 being happily snapped up at $1.3 million. Mostly, they see very connected, successful people moving into their stable neighborhoods, forcing the prices of housing, retail goods and everything else through the roof. They sense the "Tough luck, loser; I've got mine" response from the new affluent neighbors when they offer a simple welcome. And they now know that their lives will be lessened in the months and years to come, until they're forced to move on, as their neighborhood becomes a rich-folk enclave.

What you see this year is glacial. Slow and very, very powerful.

It's called anger.

It's where people live.

In short:

"If MY life stinks, YOU'RE going down, bub, I don't care WHO you are. Or WHAT your philosophy is."

Politicians and pundits miss this at their peril.

E. J. D.

Iraq and the Environment

Sending jobs oversees, IRAQ, Gas prices caused by current administration's far too close ties to Big Oil Companies, Abortion, Lack of initiative/ability on part of current administration/Congress to make things better.
For example, if you want to quickly reduce our dependence on oil offer big tax credits and promote for telecommuting - we'd save gas and give people more hours in the day which might allow them to work out and lose weight which would reduce health care costs.

The ongoing genocide in Darfur, Sudan is my main concern and the candidate who will get my vote in the upcoming elections will most certainly have a good track record in regards to Darfur legislation. Genocide is the most horrific crime against humanity and before we tackle other issues we must turn our attention to the neediest.

What concerns me is the situation in Darfur. While I agree with the other issues on you list I think the genocide that is occuring should also be listed. I hope that with the addition of this situation on your list our leaders will put this on their "to do list".

Why is the Bush Administration getting a pass on the fact the North Korea continues to develop and build nuclear weapons? Where is the media, where is the public outcry while Bush turns his back on the real WMD and perpetuates his fiasco in Iraq??
We know for certain that the terrorists' dearest wish is to explode a nuclear device in an American city. We can prevent this only if we are willing to make the gigantic and expensive effort necessary to secure every nuclear weapon, every sizeable piece of plutonium and enriched uranium.
The Bush Administration keeps silent because their credibility is gone and they cannot admit error in Iraq and ask for the national effort and sacrifice that it will take to make us truly safe. The terrorists are counting on this!

I have to agree with most of what I've read above, but I'd add global warming and the environment as issues in the fall. When I went to see An Inconvenient Truth and Who Killed the Electric Car there were WAY more people in the theater than I would ever have seen in years past.

I have to agree with most of what I've read above, but I'd add global warming and the environment as issues in the fall. When I went to see An Inconvenient Truth and Who Killed the Electric Car there were WAY more people in the theater than I would ever have seen in years past.

Checks and Balance is the most important issue for Novemeber, if the republicans were doing their job we would not be in this mess today, I like that line I read in the Post today, if the GOP agrees with bush 98% of the time then why do we need both.

Genocide in Dafur...its' Rwanda all over again and this time we can do something about it. It's amazing how much the crisis in the Middle East is over-shawdowing this. Hundred of thousands have been killed and many many more displaced, raped, starved..we have to help these people.

The possibility of electronic voting machine manipulation (Diebold etc.) and wide scale voter disenfranchisement by the GOP in a number of states seem to me to be the major issues that will affect the mid-terms.

Or perhaps you meant what issues matter to the electorate? But of course, if either issue - electronic fraud or effective, selective disenfranchisement - comes into play, it doesn't matter what the electorate thinks about ANY issue.

I do hope the Post will be assiduously covering those issues as well!

The issue is homeland security, however, not from external forces. Rather it relates to the domestic and foreign policies of the Bush adminisration. The national debt, the tax poicies that favor the wealthy, the insane energy policies (if there are any), lack of health care for all citizen, etc. If we continue in this direction we risk the security of the nation from internal threats.

The amusing way that the MSM and Demos allow this gang of incompent thugs to "win" on the protecting America line. Huh?! Let's see, this gang plundered the Demo states on the west coast via a fake energy crisis, they then sat back and did nothing to stop attacks on our great country before and during 9/11 -- Bush even KNEW, had warnings of the attack and we even have a memo, which they didn't want to release, stating that; they then lied us into Iraq and failed to protect yet another Demo city/state (NO) from destruction. Yeah, they rae protectin' us real good. When will these spineless Demos stand up, produce some ads reminding the people what Bush failed to do on 9/11? Hit them back hard!

Oh, I dunno, maybe how the Post and every other "liberal" media have no institutional memory and can thus be suckered into being the pr machine for this evil gang of thugs. Ho-hum, another "terror alert", even one in Ohio! What a shock! Muslims reselling cell phones = national "terror alerts"! The Post's childish naivette is so sweet. Even Tom Ridge told us (after the election of course) that this gang was LYING when it issued "terror alerts", that it was all part of the plan to win in 2004. Why is it that everyone but Post editors know this? Why is it that the Post constantly gives us these fake "alerts" on the front page?

The President lied when he said that the genocide in Darfur would stop. He needs to step up and keep his word. Thousands of people are dying and nothing is being done.

The incompetence and hubris of Bush and his minions are the top issues of the election. Everything else flows from that: Katrina, Iraq, the Medicare drugs fiasco, a failed foreign policy that has fed the flames of Islamic terrorists' hatred of America, etc., etc. etc. No, Bush is not up for re-election, but his lackeys in Congress will be his stand-ins in the voting booth.

An issue in Pennsylvania that the national press hasn't mentioned is voter rebellion. State legislators gave themselves a large pay raise late at night on the last day of their session, after not voting for an increase in the minimum wage, and there was pandemonium. Lots of long-term incumbents who voted for the raise, nearly all Republicans and some of the leadership, lost their primaries. The chastened legislators repealed their pay raises and passed an increase in the minimum wage, but a lot of voters are still mad.

This rebellion isn't obvious in Philadelphia or its suburbs, where the congressional seats called most competitive are located, but in the rest of the state, people are still feeling mean. Upsets in safe districts are possible. Governor Rendell seems to have escape