Infomaniac: WeBlog

Today's political talk

Need to know:
The discussion about whether or not there's a plan to reinstall the military draft is not going away. I got a seriously worried email yesterday, similar to those that have been going around for months, predicting that a draft law will be passed soon. There have been stories and reports, such as this, on Snopes.com (just updated), trying to allay the concern. Leonard Pitts wrote about it today.
But the concern seems to be growing. Emailers cite this report from the Selective Service System, saying it shows increased staffing planning, and also cite this: The Home School Legal Defense Association's Background on the draft bill.
More background on the draft:
What Happens in a draft, from the Selective Service System: (last updated April 2002) and How the draft has changed since Vietnam.
History of the draft.
Is a draft coming? from Operation Truth.

Alliance for Security investigates the issue, and also has this feature: Send a Draft Card to a friend (it tells them to vote on Nov. 2.)
From the Alliance's Web site:
The Alliance for Security is a program of Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation, an international humanitarian organization that has been addressing the causes, conduct and consequences of war through programs of advocacy and service for victims of conflict around the world for over twenty years.

(Some links from Librarians' Index to the Internet.)

Necessary facts:
One blogger did some extensive research and found out that 64% of people named George Bush are voting for Kerry. Now you know. (via Waxy.org.)

That little voice...:
Lots of talk on blogs about whether George Bush is getting prompted during speeches and during the last debate. Looks like he has a battery pack on his back in some debate photos, and there seems to be a voice saying phrases just before he says them in some speeches. Now there's a blog totally devoted to this subject: IsBushWired.com. Several columns mention this too, recently, but they are all linked from this page.

posted by liz at 4:19 PM