Category Archives: Uncategorized

…and he’s not even a real plumber.

Barack Obama and John McCain…one last time – nose to nose, toe to toe, for the count.  Come see the “Rumble in the Jungle.”

Doors open at 8:00 PM – The Big Bash at 9:00. We’ll see who’s still standing at 10:30.

Bring some cash – we’ll total it all up – Mr. Wood matches the proletariat cash flow. And we’ll EAT pizza. Bring your own pop.

Everybody is invited. See you there!

Map and count is current as of 10/14/08. Presentation by Sam, Lexi, Brittany, and Kaylee.

• Obama / Biden – 313
• McCain / Palin – 158
• Toss Up – 67

Each week between September 15 and November 4 (the election) Senior Current Issues will provide you an update on the progress of the 2008 Presidential Election. Each week at this site you will find a photo (USA Electoral Map in room #112) of the updated polling comparisons between Barack Obama and John McCain. Each week a different group of seniors will offer you a three to five minute podcast of where this election currently stands and the trends they see on the horizon. Student groups will provide a news article that they think will help you to better understand the dynamics of this election. All students are encouraged to listen to the podcast and read the article.

SCI students will offer a “what do you think” question that goes with the news article. All Senior Current Issues students must do the ensuing 20 point blog. All other students may choose to answer the question as an extra credit blog assignment (5 pts max.)

All electoral votes come from estimates located on Real Clear Politics.com Remember polls are only estimates of how people may vote. Until Nov 4 nobody really knows the outcome of this election.

Podcast – click podcast. Go to Real Clear Politics while you listen. Podcast coincides with photo of map in room 112, located at the top of this post.  Special Note the podcast does not work in Foxfire browser.

News Article – MSNBC – “Why this Election Matters to YOU”

Question – Read the article. If you were able to take one issue examined in the article and fix or create a plan to minimize or eliminate that problem, what would it be and why?

Postings for the question must be made by 7:00 PM Friday of the week in question.

Check the category “08 ELECTION – The News” for more news about the candidates and the Election.

EVALUATION: SAM, LEX, BRITTANY, KAYLEE

Podcast: (77% / C+) I like the humor. It’s a nice change of pace. Then you settle down and take on some of the requirements – like the changing states that’s good. We didn’t hear anything about the electoral college – or really why these events were taking place as they were. That would’ve added to the depth and to the time – it was pretty short. But again – it did cover the basics and all of you were involved.

Article / Question: (72% / C-) Students really struggled with your article question combo. I don’t think it was the question – for what we are doing and where we are currently at with this study of the issues, it was GREAT! But the article wasn’t it. It’s got no meat to it. And certainly doesn’t provide a basis for the depth that the question asks for.

Presentation: (72% / C-) The presentation was semi dysfunctional. I’d like groups to be prepared. Go over it a couple of times. Give us an indication of what has happened – what will happen – what might happen. Your smart guys…but it just was kind of winged. sort of like the podcast.

Overall Grade: (74% / C) – You all can do better than this. You know the issues. You know the map. You know the assignment. But it was pretty much winged…and it shows. You covered your basics – got an average grade for an average effort. Be more prepared on the issue debates. Still thank you for the creative podcast introduction and the wonderful photograph.

A letter from Krystal Unwin (Field Organizer) at the Obama HQ posted to all of you who’ve been volunteering at the Merriem Street Office.

I want to give HUGE UPS to the students who smashed the contact record yesterday while I was in Lansing! Our canvassers were Corey, Cameron, Kassi, and Justin. They knocked on 271 doors, and got 179 CONTACTS!!!!! Congrats on smashing the goal, guys! On the phones, Jake made 198 calls, and our first-timer Jamie made 134 calls. Way to go! Without your help, our area WOULD NOT have hit our goals. Thanks to your hard work, we did. I could not ask for a better Barackstar team. As far as other individual day records go, some of our other top canvassers and callers have been Jen, Mariah, Samantha, Brittney, Alexandra, Tyler, Julia and Crystal. If I did not mention your name, you are still doing FANTASTIC work! I want you to know that each and every one of you inspire me everyday. When I am tired because I’ve only slept three hours, it is YOU all that make me get up in the morning. I have never met a group of people so motivated, and so inspiring. Keep up the great work. In the statewide training in Lansing, other Field Organizers from across the state were asking me how I was hitting my very difficult goals. I told them “Oakridge High School in Muskegon!” I told them about all of the work you do, and how involved you are. I told them about your work in the Superduper club. Let me tell you, they were all jealous. You guys rock, and I am very lucky to be working with all of you. Last thing: If you are really being excused from school for election day, or the day before please let me know. I have to fill shifts, and they are mostly canvass shifts. Our GOTV starts Saturday, November 1st, and doesn’t stop until ater the polls close on November 4th. If you are able to help, the shifts are 9:00am, 12:00, and 4:00. Please let me know as soon as possible. You will be well taken care of; fed and hydrated!! Thank you guys again from the bottom of my heart, and please know that I COULD NOT do this without you!

And from Me – Mr Wood – I am so proud of you guys. To have Krystal, a field organizer from a national presidential campaign – so supportive, so thankful and vocal about the work you guys are doing is absolutely GREAT! You represent this school. You represent your generation. And you are doing so with dignity and enthusiasm and intelligence. It is your world! Continue to take the reigns and make it a better place for all of us.

A letter from Krystal Unwin (Field Organizer) at the Obama HQ posted to all of you who’ve been volunteering at the Merriem Street Office. You are really making a difference. Keep up the good work.

ATTN: ALL BARACK OBAMA VOLUNTEERS!!!!!!!

Thank you all SO much for all of your hard work so far on the campaign! You are all doing a fantastic job, and blowing all of the other high schools out of the water. It is because of your work that we are as far as we are right now. I am honored to be working with such intelligent, motivated volunteers. For those of you who phone-banked yesterday (10/6/08), I want to let you know that you set a record for our office for the most calls made in a day. Southern Muskegon County made 1248 calls together, largely in part to all of you! When my state director asked me how I had such a great day, I told him it was because of the awesome students at Oakridge High School. Keep up the good work, and always remember: YES WE CAN!!!!