WJZ News: 'Md. Voters To Decide Same-Sex Marriage In Close Race'

Source:WJZ News is the Baltimore, Maryland affiliate for CBS News.

"BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Election night is just about a day away. The White House is up for grabs and polls show this could be one of the closest races in history. Here in Maryland, several hot button issues will finally be decided.

Derek Valcourt has the final push from both sides over same-sex marriage.

Both sides are pulling out all of the stops from robocalls to TV ads as the clock ticks down toward Election Day. At Marriage Equality campaign headquarters, same-sex marriage supporters are stuffing envelopes and calling voters in an all out race to the finish line.

"This is crunch time, man. This is it," said Ezekial Jackson. 

"I have two gay kids. I want to be at their wedding," said volunteer Bob Hollander.

And now WJZ has learned they're getting a little help from First Lady Michelle Obama. She recorded a robocall to thousands of Maryland voters, asking them to support same-sex marriage.

Campaign officials are feeling optimistic. 

MARYLAND NEWS 

Md. Voters To Decide Same-Sex Marriage In Close Race

baltimore

NOVEMBER 4, 2012 / 11:59 PM / CBS BALTIMORE

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Election night is just about a day away. The White House is up for grabs and polls show this could be one of the closest races in history. Here in Maryland, several hot button issues will finally be decided.

Derek Valcourt has the final push from both sides over same-sex marriage.

Both sides are pulling out all of the stops from robocalls to TV ads as the clock ticks down toward Election Day. At Marriage Equality campaign headquarters, same-sex marriage supporters are stuffing envelopes and calling voters in an all out race to the finish line.

"This is crunch time, man. This is it," said Ezekial Jackson.

With hours to go until voting begins Tuesday, volunteers across the state are loading up campaign signs and learning how they can help--all for their own reasons.

"I have two gay kids. I want to be at their wedding," said volunteer Bob Hollander.

And now WJZ has learned they're getting a little help from First Lady Michelle Obama. She recorded a robocall to thousands of Maryland voters, asking them to support same-sex marriage.

Campaign officials are feeling optimistic.

"If you're voting for it, you're on the right side of history," Jackson said.

But opponents of same-sex marriage are hard at work, as well. They're taking their campaigning to congregations.

"If you can't talk about marriage in church, you need to go home," said Rev. Derek McCoy.

They're promising their own last-minute push of fliers, campaign signs and TV ads.

"Question 6 is a lot of broken promises. Vote against Question 6," an ad said.

Polling shows Marylanders divided on the issue and both sides know it.

"This may come down to one to two to three to five to 10 votes. That's how close it is," said McCoy. 

Both sides are promising on Election Day they will have supporters out in force at polling locations across Maryland. 

From WJZ News

More freedom of choice coming to Free State of Maryland if both Questions 6 and 7 pass tomorrow, casinos and same-sex-marriage.

ABC Evening News: ‘Ted Kennedy’s Potential Run For President in 1972'

Source:ABC News- if you are one of the 3 people who don't recognize these cars: (ha, ha) those are d-model Citroens, which are French luxury cars.

Source:The Daily Journal

“In this clip, ABC goes over the rumors of Ted Kennedy’s possible run in 1972, It did not happen. Also discussed is the Vietnam peace treaty and action and Vietnam.”

From E-Fan

Senator Ted Kennedy was still way too controversial to run for president in 1972. He wasn’t ready to run for president and was happy in the Senate being a Senator and being one of the largest voices in Congress, at least in the Democratic Party. Gaining seniority and influence in what happens in the Senate and Congress as a whole. Where he had a lot of friends in both the Senate and House. I sort of see him as his generation’s Paul Ryan. As someone who could have done more things outside of Congress, but was happy in Congress. Paul Ryan, now Speaker of the House. Ted Kennedy, long time Chairman and Ranking Member of the Labor Committee. Plus he had personal issues he was still dealing with in his family, including his wife.

There was never much reason for Ted Kennedy to really ever run for president. He never actually wanted the job, again because of how successful and happy he was in Congress being such a powerful Senator who had so much to do with so much important legislation that came out of Congress. His 1979-80 presidential run showed that being president was not something he wanted. When he couldn’t even answered the point-blank question from NBC News’s Roger Mudd, ‘why do you want to be president?’ He wouldn’t have won in 72 even if he did run and win the nomination, because of how divided the Democratic Party was between their mainstream Progressives and their New-Left that George McGovern represented. Ted Kennedy, made the right decision not running in 72 and he shouldn’t have run in 1979-80 either.

WJZ News: 'MARYLAND NEWS Expanded Gambling Ballot Question Proves To Be A Battle To The End'

Source:WJZ News is the affiliate for CBS News Baltimore, Maryland.

"ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ)—The battle over Question 7 is intensifying ahead of Election Night. The controversial issue would expand gambling to table games and increase the number of slot machines here in Maryland.

Monique Griego has more on the final push from both sides of the ballot question.

With the election just days away, both sides of Question 7 are making a final push.

The stakes are high for Question 7, a bill to add table games and increase the number of slot machines at Maryland's casinos.

"There's a lot of confusing messages. Each side has spent millions of dollars," said James Brochin, D-Maryland. 

Critics question whether money collected in casino taxes would be used to help education and don't like the tax breaks it offers big casinos.

"So we're lowering taxes for multi-millionaire casino operators and in the meantime the legislature increased taxes for Marylanders who make 100,000 or more," Brochin said.

On the other side...

"This is a fight. A battle between states. Maryland and West Virginia," said Jim Murren, MGM CEO.

Supporters believe expanded gambling will bring in much needed jobs and money for education. Both the fire and police unions are getting behind it.

"It creates revenue for the state. Any revenue that can be dedicated to education will free up other revenue sources that the state can channel down into public safety and other priorities," said Jeff Buddle, Maryland Firefighters Association.

They believe if Question 7 loses so does Maryland. 

"To us it's a no brainer. It doesn't cost taxpayers anything, and it's something they'll benefit from," said John "Rodney" Bartlett, President of Maryland Fraternal Order of Police.

It's estimated that if Question 7 passes, it will initially generate around $260 million for Maryland.

Part of Question 7 also proposes a sixth casino in Prince George's County.

But a majority of Prince George's County voters would have to approve it." 

From WJZ News

More gambling, casinos, and jobs, as a result coming to Maryland, thats my prediction. Which means the State Government in Maryland could lower sales and property taxes, because of all the new revenue and good paying jobs that would come from legalize gambling in Maryland. And in an economy like this, you can't get enough good paying jobs and new tax revenue, with so many states being forced to cut their public services because of the low economic growth and high unemployment across the country. 

Al Jazeera: US Calls For Overhaul of Syrian Opposition

Source:Al Jazeera talking to a member of the Syrian opposition.

"The United States has called for a major overhaul of Syria's beleaguered opposition, saying it is time to move beyond the Syrian National Council (SNC) and bring in those who are "in the frontlines fighting and dying today".

Signalling a more active stance by Washington in attempts to form a credible political opposition to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Hillary Clinton, the US secretary of state, said a meeting next week in Qatar would be an opportunity to bring more people to the table and broaden the coalition against him.

Mohammed Vall reports." 

From Al Jazeera

"Al Jazeera (Arabic: الجزيرة Al-Jazīrah [æl (d)ʒæˈziːrɐ], lit. 'The Peninsula') is a Qatari state-owned[a] Arabic-language international news television network. It is based in Doha and operated by the Al Jazeera Media Network.

The patent holding is a "private foundation for public benefit" under Qatari law.[3] Under this organizational structure, the parent receives funding from the Qatari government while maintaining nominal editorial independence.[4][5] At the onset of the Qatar diplomatic crisis in 2017, several national governments of the Arab League called for the closure of the entire Al Jazeera conglomerate as part of a list of thirteen demands that were presented to the Qatari government in exchange for re-normalized relations.[6] Al Jazeera has been accused of pushing "Qatari propaganda" by many countries and organizations, including those in the Arab world." 

From Wikipedia

The United States calling for a united opposition against the Assad Regime in Syria.

RussiaToday: Mask Avengers: Canadian Protesters to Show Faces or Get 10 Years in Jail

"

Source:Russia Today- talking to a Montreal, Quebec reporter, about this story in Canada.

"Wearing a mask in Canada could now cost you up to ten years in jail. The country's MPs have approved a bill banning people from hiding their faces during riots - READ MORE... 

From Super Sheen TV 

"RT (formerly Russia Today or Rossiya Segodnya) (Russian: Россия Сегодня)[9] is a Russian state-controlled[1] international news television network funded by the Russian government.[16][17] It operates pay television and free-to-air channels directed to audiences outside of Russia, as well as providing Internet content in Russian, English, Spanish, French, German and Arabic.

RT is a brand of TV-Novosti, an autonomous non-profit organization founded by the Russian state-owned news agency RIA Novosti in April 2005.[8][18] During the economic crisis in December 2008, the Russian government, headed by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, included ANO "TV-Novosti" on its list of core organizations of strategic importance to Russia.[19][20][21] RT operates as a multilingual service with channels in five languages: the original English-language channel was launched in 2005, the Arabic-language channel in 2007, Spanish in 2009, German in 2014 and French in 2017. RT America (2010–2022),[22][23] RT UK (2014–2022) and other regional channels also produce local content. RT is the parent company of the Ruptly video agency,[5] which owns the Redfish video channel and the Maffick digital media company.[6][7]

RT has regularly been described as a major propaganda outlet for the Russian government and its foreign policy.[2] Academics, fact-checkers, and news reporters (including some current and former RT reporters) have identified RT as a purveyor of disinformation[58] and conspiracy theories.[65] UK media regulator Ofcom has repeatedly found RT to have breached its rules on impartiality, including multiple instances in which RT broadcast "materially misleading" content. 

From Wikipedia

Even though Canada has a very similar form of government as America, I can't say as an American whether this law would be constitutional or not in Canada or America. They don't have the same free speech, freedom to assemble, right to privacy, protections as Americans. But this law would definitely be challenged in America, both by right-wing and left-wing groups, and I'm sure Libertarian, and perhaps even center-right groups as well, as being unconstitutional, for multiple reasons.

Al Jazeera: Greek Unemployment to Top Spain

Source:Al Jazeera- welcome to Athens, Greece.

"Greece's government says it will run out of money next month unless it gets the next batch of international bailout money - which is dependent on painful austerity measures.  The finance minister has presented the 2013 budget which includes $21bn in cuts, mainly from pensions and public sector wages.  Greece's unemployment rate could break EU records, surpassing even Spain which hit 25.8 per cent in September.  Al Jazeera's Nadim Baba reports." 

From Al Jazeera 

"Al Jazeera (Arabic: الجزيرة Al-Jazīrah [æl (d)ʒæˈziːrɐ], lit. 'The Peninsula') is a Qatari state-owned[a] Arabic-language international news television network. It is based in Doha and operated by the Al Jazeera Media Network.

The patent holding is a "private foundation for public benefit" under Qatari law.[3] Under this organizational structure, the parent receives funding from the Qatari government while maintaining nominal editorial independence.[4][5] At the onset of the Qatar diplomatic crisis in 2017, several national governments of the Arab League called for the closure of the entire Al Jazeera conglomerate as part of a list of thirteen demands that were presented to the Qatari government in exchange for re-normalized relations.[6] Al Jazeera has been accused of pushing "Qatari propaganda" by many countries and organizations, including those in the Arab world." 

From Wikipedia

A big problem that Greece has right now with its deficit and debt, is that their government is simply too big doing too much for the Greek people. Greeks expect way too much from their government. Which might be find when times are good and maybe they can bring in the taxes to pay for it. But when times are bad or real bad, it leads to high debt and deficits because the economy is way too slow to finance such a large socialist government that Greece has. Which is why they are being forced to not only cut the size of the Greek Government but to reform it so the Greek people are doing more for themselves and being less dependent on the Greek Government to support their lives. 

But the good news is that with more privatization, comes more tax revenue to fund the things that the Greek Government should be doing for its people. So Greece right now needs to cut, reform and generate more economic growth, so more Greeks are working and collecting less public assistance.

Brave New Foundation: 'Former Prosecutor John Amabile- Drug Policy Kills More People Than The Drugs Themselves'

Source:Brave New Foundation- former Boston, MA prosecutor John Amabile.

"John Amabile was a prosecutor in Boston and saw the effects of the War on Drugs first-hand. What he saw confirmed that current policies aren't working. 

This is part of the SafeKeepers video series produced by the Beyond Bars campaign and Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP). ABOUT BRAVE NEW FILMS 

Robert Greenwald and Brave New Films (BNF) are at the forefront of the fight to create a just America. Greenwald and BNF create free documentary films that inform the public, challenge corporate media, and motivate people to take action on social issues nationwide. Brave New Films’ investigative films have shined a light on the Trump administration, voter suppression, U.S. drone strikes, the prosecution of whistleblowers, and Wal Mart’s corporate practices. BNF's mission is to champion social justice issues by using a model of media, education, and grassroots volunteer involvement that inspires, empowers, motivates and teaches civic participation and makes a difference." 

From Brave New Foundation 

If you add up all of the people we lose in the War on Drugs, from people who get shot in the streets over it or even get shot by law enforcement officer prosecuting this so-called War or the people we lose to prison each year who never come out the same as when they went in and generally come out worse or better criminals then when they went in, it wouldn't surprise me that we lose every year more people to the so-phony War on Drugs, then we lose people to illegal narcotics in America. 

The War on Drugs is really more a war on people who use or sell illegal narcotics. We arrest and put people away and in a lot of case for long sentences for simply possessing or using illegal narcotics. We arrest and lockup people for what they do to themselves and we arrest and lockup people for selling illegal narcotics, selling a product that we clearly have a large market for in America or we wouldn't be fighting this so called war for now over forty years and working with other countries to keep these illegal narcotics out of the country in the first place.

How America deals with narcotics should be done with two principles in mind: freedom of choice meaning that adults are smart enough to make these decisions for themselves instead of Uncle Sam making these decisions for them and that regulation and taxation would be a better way to control. narcotics, then locking up people for what they do to themselves which is wrong on many levels. 

Rehabilitation for the users of narcotics who are addicted, not incarceration, unless they commit another felony while under the influence. I'm not say I'm for full legalization of narcotics in America, but taxation, regulation and decriminalization would be a much more effective approach.