How do you think the 2008 Presidential VP sweepstakes strategy will play out? Should Arizona Senator John McCain counter any age or conservative concerns the voters might have with someone younger and more to his right — former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney or Mississippi Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal. Should the Senator from Illinois, Barack Obama, make a strong play for party unity by adding New York Senator Hillary Clinton to the ticket? The latest Cronkite-Eight poll shows that may actually hurt his chances with Arizona voters. Would Virginia Senator Jim Webb or Delaware Senator Joe Biden offer a stronger balance for international politics?
What would you suggest to the candidates? Post your comment below.

Both candidates are touting energy solutions. Read the latest reporter’s blog from The NewsHour: McCain is challenging the industry to develop a car battery that exeeds those currently available in cost, size and power. Obama promises to strengthen government oversight of energy traders. Which do you think would offer consumers the fastest results? Check out photos from the 2008 campaign trail: McCain | Obama
Then post your comments below.

Maybe it is reflective of the music of the times, or the music fans, but not one song was repeated in our top five responses. Don McLean, Grateful Dead, John Lennon, Queen, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Jackson Five. All on the list. (No Donna Summer, though.) So the Eight Blog Editorial Board selected the following Top Ten (five just wasn’t enough) from your responses:

1. Hotel California / Eagles
2. Night Fever / Bee Gees
3. Love the One You’re With / CSNY
4. American Pie / Don McClean
5. Born to Run / Bruce Springsteen
6. Everybody’s Everything / Santana
7. Dream On / Aeorsmith
8. I’ll Be There / The Jackson Five
9. We will Rock You / Queen
10. It’s Too Late / Carole King

If this has you longing for more 1970s sound, check out the new two-part Soundstage special featuring Peter Frampton. Classics like “Show Me the Way” and “Nassau/Baby I Love Your Way” on Friday, June 13. Then a cover of George Harrison’s “My Guitar Gently Weeps” and other showstoppers on Friday, June 20. Watch them both on Eight/KAET.

New features on our 1970s site, too: 1970s tv shows, movies, Far Out quizzes.

It wasn’t all disco music and Donna Summer (Who is back on the Billboard charts, by the way.) Some of rock’s biggest artists came of age in the 1970s. Fleetwood Mac, Foreigner, Elton John, Grand Funk. In Arizona, Alice Cooper, The Tubes, Stevie Nicks were helping to shape the sound of the decade. You will hear from them and more in the Eight/KAET production, Arizona Memories from the ’70s. Along with the now legendary story of KDKB. With Bill Compton as music director, the fledgling radio station changed Arizona’s radio and music scene forever. Local artists and celebrities – Jerry Riopelle, Marty Manning, Russ Shaw, Hans Olson – recall the groundbreaking format, of no format. Jazz. Rock. Funk. KDKB disk jockeys were given carte blanche for free-from radio. Interesting side note. The director’s cut of the film Almost Famous includes an interview with KDKB disk jockey Toad Hall.
Join the conversation.
What would you select as the top 5 singles of the 1970s? (Check out the top Billboard songs.) Share your memories of music in the 1970s.
Post your comment below. Then check back, we will be posting the top 5 of everyone’s top 5.

No one said it would be easy. It takes some of your valuable time, and homework. Fortunately, there are many tools to help. Locally, you will find your lawmakers (and reporters who cover them) regularly on HORIZON and HORIZONTE discussing the latest legislation. Nationally, the NewsHour, Now on PBS, National Public Radio, and Washington Week present insightful discussions and commentary. Tracking polls (Rasmussen, Zogby, Pew Research Center) and fact-checkers will keep you posted on the latest. We will compile more voter tools and resources in the weeks and months to come. In the meantime, if you haven’t already done so, register to vote. Know your Arizona lawmakers. Stay informed.
Post your comments below.

American Experience offers a welcome dose of historical perspective with profiles of seven modern presidents.
The series begins with George H.W. Bush. Then follows with FDR (early career | presidential politics | legacy) and Truman (early career | presidential politics | legacy)

Fascinating facts, as well. Did you know “The buck stops here” was not coined by Truman? The sign on his desk was a gift from a friend. Truman referred to it so often enough that it became his unofficial motto. Great for history buffs and political junkies, or anyone voting this year.
Post your comments below.

Has it been a wild ride? No doubt. This election year is putting even the savviest pundits to the test. Heated debates. Dramatic revelations. Explosive accusations. And a possible brokered convention for the Democrats. Every week there is some new contentious issue brewing.
Is this any way to select the leader of the free world?
The reality is though, this truly is nothing new in American politics. We have survived worse.
A few from the record books: the 1968 Democratic convention | the Republican convention in 1948 and 1940. Or even further back in history, the famed election of 1800. (That year, when the electoral votes were tallied there was a tie between Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr. The election was ultimately decided in the House of Representatives.)
As usual, perspective can offer some comfort. But it makes one wonder. How might history treat today’s front-runners? Clinton, McCain and Obama. Who will be remembered, and for what? And who might soon be forgotten?
Post your comments below.