Senator Hillary Clinton started out as a candidate running for president. She lost to Senator Barack Obama who is now the President-elect. Now where is she? After she lost to Obama she helped him with running against Senator John McCain.

I think Clinton lost because she and Obama both had the same ideas of what they would do if they were chosen to be president, and by working hard Obama won. I was very inspired by Hillary Clinton because she would be the first woman to be president.

If President-elect Barack Obama chooses Clinton for secretary of state, she will work in the White House, but not as president. I think she should try again. This time she might actually win. I think Obama should have picked Clinton for vice president because she was a good candidate and is fit for that job.

I think Clinton needed a little more work before she could enter the White House as president. I still think she could be president. She has been the First Lady, she also knows what it takes to be a president since her husband was a president. I think she is an amazing woman.

by Ida S., 5th grade
Writer / CONTRIBUTOR

We all know about the Democrats and the Republicans, but did you know there are four other political parties that were part of this year’s election? Who are they and why aren’t they noticed, and why aren’t they as popular as the other two?

Well, it turns out that the other parties don’t get support from corporate America. It’s a “two-party system” so unfortunately the other parties are not recognized as much, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t learn about them!

Some of these “third parties” include the Green Party, the Reform, and the Libertarian. These are just a couple of them, there are many more you can learn about.

Probably one of the only times that there has been a third party candidate who was well recognized was back in 1992. His name was Henry Ross Perot. Who??

This was pretty epic because normally all people hear about is the Democratic and Republican parties. Perot was in the Independent party. President Bush (our current president’s father) was the Republican and Governor Bill Clinton was the Democrat.

Governor Clinton won the election and was the President until the year 2000.

Take a look at these websites and learn more about these third parties! Who knows, maybe you might find that you like what they believe in, and when you’re old enough to vote, these other parties will be more recognized.
Check out these links! (The websites below were also sources/resources for this story).

“Elections the American Way: Party System”
http://rs6.loc.gov/learn/features/election/partysys.html

“The American Presidency Project: Political Party Platforms”
http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/platforms.php

“Wikipedia.org Entry: 1992 Presidential Election”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ross_Perot#1992_presidential_candidacy
by Andrea Granera, 8th grade
Editor / THE LION LEDGER

Most people know Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. for his “I Have a Dream” speech. This speech was about how he wanted all people to be treated fairly and equal. This speech has been and always will be remembered in history for a very LONG time.

Dr. King said he dreamed of equality to all, and for all people to love and care or each other. Now, I believe that his dream has come true. I also think he would feel very accomplished that an actual African American is going to be the President of the United States. President-elect Barack Obama.

If Martin Luther King Jr. was still alive today, I believe that he would be very proud of the 2008 election turnouts. I believe this because there was a chance of a woman becoming a vice president of the United States, and a chance of an African-American becoming the president of the United States.

Dr. King fought very hard so that all people of different races could have equal rights. He also fought for the right for women to vote and I think he would be very proud that not only are women voting, there was one that was actually being voted for.

Now, if you fast forward many years later (to today) you will know that Barack Obama, the newly elected president, said in his speech, “Change has come to America.” I believe that this is the change that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was talking about.

And now, because of all the work Dr. King has done for us, the United States now has our 44th President, the first ever African-American President, Barack Obama! Thank you Dr. King. Without your help, we wouldn’t be where we are today.

by Semhal G., 8th grade
Editor-in-Chief / THE LION LEDGER

MCT is a joint venture of McClatchy and the Tribune Co.

While real voting was taking place down the street at Piedmont Avenue Elementary School, or right across the street at St. Leo’s Gym, Tuesday’s Election Day found St. Leo’s students from Grades 4-8 voting on the same issues that all the grown-ups in California were voting on as well.

The polls closed last night at 8:00p, just around the exact moment that the news on TV announced that Democratic presidential candidate, Senator Barack Obama, had earned enough votes to win the election race– the candidate of choice based on the student majority at St. Leo’s.

Although some of the votes are still being tallied in the Bay Area and all across the state, the results of St. Leo’s students’ votes are all in and here are the results below. (It would be interesting to find out how the students’ votes match up with the actual votes in the state).

Presidential Race
• Senator Barack Obama (D)- 96%
• Senator John McCain (R)- 4%

Propositions (State)
• Prop 1A- High Speed Rail………………………………YES: 58% / No: 42%
• Prop 2- Treatment of Farm Animals………………..YES: 68% / No: 32%
• Prop 3- Bonds for Children’s Hospitals…………….YES: 51% / No: 49%
• Prop 4- Parental Notification (Abortion)……………Yes: 28% / NO: 72%
• Prop 5- Changes to Drug Treatment………………..YES: 51% / No: 49%
• Prop 6- Changes to Juvenile Sentencing……………Yes: 49% / NO: 51%
• Prop 7- Renewable Energy Generation……………..Yes: 46% / NO: 54%
• Prop 8- Eliminate Right of Same-sex Marriage…..Yes: 29% / NO: 71%
• Prop 9- Victims’ Rights………………………………….YES: 52% / No: 48%
• Prop 10- Alternative Fuel Vehicles…………………..YES: 56% / No: 44%
• Prop 11- Redistricting……………………………………Yes: 49% / NO: 51%
• Prop 12- Veterans’ Bond Act of 2008……………….YES: 74% / No: 26%

**only students in Grades 6-8 participated in the voting on propositions

LINK– To find out what was being voted on in each proposition, read through the
Voter Information Guide: State of California General Election 2008, an electronic PDF file of the guide that students were able to read through before voting.

from Staff Reports
News Team / THE LION LEDGER

Today was the first time on Election Day that St. Leo had their own election for the school. The students voted on the president and vice president and they also voted on the propositions.

The classes upstairs, 4th to 8th grade were the only classes that voted. They did this in eighth grade teacher Mrs. Karabinis’s social studies class .

Mrs. Karabinis taught the Jr. High the way you vote in a voting poll. Students voted in a little booth. They had to go to the table and get a ballot from the eighth graders and then go to the booth and vote.

Every one took the voting seriously. When they were done voting the students took their ballot to the ballot box. Then they got a “I Voted” sticker. Almost every one thought it was a learning and fun process. It was like a real voting booth.

Students also voted online at The Lion Ledger website, during computer lab time. (Or last night at home on their own computers).

The only thing left to see is what the students voted for. Who do you think won?

by Donnie Carey, 6th grade
Staff Reporter / THE LION LEDGER

If I was President I would change a lot of things. I would have a list five things I’d want to take care of right away.

First, I would take all the soldiers in the Iraq war and give them five years of free things for fighting so hard for our country.

Second I would lower the gas prices 70 percent so people would not have to pay so much.

Third, I would not allow discrimination around the world.

Fourth I would let kids take a test and if they pass 60 percent they get to vote.

Fifth I would get better books and labs for public schools.

After my list of five things, I would feed the homeless and put them in a shelter. I would also provide more money to public schools so they can go on field trips. I would also provide money to private schools for better uniforms.

Then I would have a clothes drive for people who have no clothes. Also I would start programs how to keep kids and teens off the street, selling drugs.

I will lower taxes 25 percent. I would also start a convention that can help kids stay away from fast foods and get closer to vegetables.

Last but not least, I will not let you down. As President I would make you, the people, proud.

by Devohn Moore, 6th grade
Writer / CONTRIBUTOR

Do you know what today is? Today, Tuesday November 4th, 2008, is Election Day! This reason it is special because this one only comes once every four years, when people run to be America’s new president.

The two candidates in this election are Senator Barack Obama and Senator John McCain. Obama is the Democratic nominee McCain is the Republican nominee. Whoever wins, it’s going to be one of the most historic elections ever.

If John McCain wins, he is going to be the oldest president and Governor Sarah Palin from Alaska will be the first female vice president. If Barack Obama wins he will be the first African American to be president.

People are ready for a new leader, for the past eight years we have had the same leader, President George W. Bush. A lot of Americans are happy about this change. That is why today is so important.

They want something new, someone who in their opinion understands the people better. That is why many Americans are planning on voting for Barack Obama because his campaign is about change.

by Andrea Granera, 8th grade
Editor / THE LION LEDGER