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The 2008 Presidential Election Edition
Published by The TAG Students of East & Torringford Schools.
John McCain
TPS
By James Haggard
John Sydney McCain III was born August 29,
1936 in a Navy Hospital at the Coco Solo Air
Base in the Panama Canal Zone.
When he was only 17, he enrolled in the U.S.
Naval Academy. He trained as an aircraft carrier
pilot.
In July 1967 he started his chain of neardeath experiences. McCain was aboard the USS
Forrestal when it was accidentally hit by a
missile, many men died but John McCain was
one of the survivors.
Then in 1967 he was shot down while on a
bombing mission over Hanoi. He broke two arms
and a leg. The North Vietnamese captured him
and refused to give him the medical attention he
needed. While he was held captive they tortured
him and made his life miserable. He was a
prisoner of war ( P.O.W.) until 1973 when the
North Vietnamese finally released him.
John Sydney McCain III is now the
Republican Candidate in the fight for the job of
president against Barack Obama.
USS Forrestal
Get the Inside Scoop on John
McCain
By Kayla Underkoffler
John McCain is a Republican running for
President!
A Peek Into The Issues
Senator John McCain has
created a 52.2 billion dollar
economic plan. He thinks
the federal government
should be less involved in
education and believes in
giving individual states and
local governments more
power to provide options.
Senator McCain thinks that
college tuition is way too
expensive for young people.
Young people should get involved in the election process, “It’s the best feeling on
the trail!” says Senator
McCain. He is worrying
about the same economic
problems you are…… and
will find a way to help. He
knows it’s just a “phase”
we’re going through,” and I’ll
be the hero!” McCain says.
By Julia Traub
Get the Inside Scoop on Barack Obama!
By Scott Dixon
How well do you do you know Barack Obama? Obama’s
a Democrat like some of us and he’s also running for
President of The United States.
He plays basketball, scrabble and poker
He is 6 feet 2 inches
He drives a Ford Escape Hybrid
Barack Obama graduated from Harvard in
Boston
He got a “D” in the 8th grade in French
He has two children. There names are Malia and
Sasha.
His favorite book was Moby Dick
He has a wife named Michelle
His personal heroes were Martin Luther King
Jr., Mahatma Gandhi, Pablo Picasso,
and John Coltrane.
Senator Barack Obama
thinks that potential bad
debts are apparently making
people concerned about doing doing ordinary business
with credible companies.
The Federal Government is
taking some good steps by
trying to pump money into
the stock markets . He also
thinks there are bad terms of
debt out there like credit
card companies and loan
markets. Obama is thinking
of creating a program called
F.U.H.M. (Floor Under
Housing Markets), to make
sure that people don’t lose
their homes. After this, the
banks will go back to doing
regular business. This issue
is important to Obama.
By Brandon Charron
First Pets?
By Joshua Profeta
McCain’s favorite hobbies are hiking fishing,
boxing, basketball, baseball, and history
John McCain is 5 feet 9 inches tall He drives a
Cadillac CTS
John McCain did not get good grades in school
He has 7 children. There names are Doug,
Andrew, Sidney, Meghan, Jack, Jim, and
Bridget.
His favorite book is For Whom the Bell Tolls by
Ernest Hemingway
His wife’s name is Cindy
He has 3 personal heroes. They are Theodore
Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan, and Barry Goldwater.
Move over first ladies, the Presidents’ pets are in the house!
The White House has had many dogs, cats, hamsters, and mice but there are many unique pets that
have also lived there. John F. Kennedy had a horse named Macaroni, and 7 geese that loved to
WADDLE! George W. Bush had a longhorn (cow) named Ofelia. Candidate Barrack Obama has no pets
but plans on adopting a dog after the election. Candidate John McCain has an Iguana, a turtle, 2 snakes,
one gecko, 13 fish, and 3 parakeets! Now that's one long list of pets. Thomas Jefferson owned a
mockingbird, and two bear cubs. John Quincy Adams owned an alligator and silkworms. Those must
have been some pretty expensive worms. Martin Van Buren had two tiger cubs and they were fierce. I
bet they scared off the gardeners. Just when you thought The White House had quite a few unique pets,
President Theodore Roosevelt was elected into office. He had a badger, pony, a macaw, a rat, snakes,
12 horses, 5 bears, 5 guinea pigs, 2 kangaroos, lizards, roosters, an owl, a flying squirrel, a raccoon, a
coyote, a lion, a hyena, and a zebra!!!!! The White House could have been confused with a zoo.
Page 2
The TAG-TEAM Times
Spirits in The White House
To this day it is said that many
ghosts haunt the White House. The
most seen ghost is the spirit of Honest
Abe. According to what people say he
strolls the halls on the second floor, and
he looks out the Oval Office window.
The sightings have occurred mainly
when the country is in need or at war.
have seen her spirit drifting along in the
rose gardens. The White Houses hired
gardeners swear Dolley has threatened
them to leave. Even today nothing in
the garden has changed.
Another ghost seen often is Abigail
Adams. Witnesses say she is running
down the hall with her arms stretched
out as if she is carrying a basket of
clothes, ready to be dried in the East
Room.
Dolley Madison and her husband
had to leave the White House because
the British army had burned it in 1812,
but did Dolley really leave? No! Visitors
These are only a few of the more popular ghosts and spirits. Who knows…
maybe our next president will meet up
with an unknown spirit.
By James Haggard & Andrew Spielman
William Henry Harrison was in the
White House one month before he died
of a severe cold. Though he was not
there for a long time, apparently he is
still there. The aids and servants that
work in the White House have spotted
him searching all the corners in the
White House attic. What in the world is
he looking for? Medication to cure a
cold? Nobody knows!
There are a lot of ghosts in the
White House and even maybe ghosts
that nobody has ever even seen before!
Abraham Lincoln, The 16th President of
The United States
Who Is Sarah Palin?
Sarah Palin- Personal and Early life
By Ashley Dowd
Sarah Palin, running mate of John
McCain, was born in Sandpoint, Idaho,
the third of four children. Her mother
was a school secretary, and her father a
science teacher and track coach. Sarah
Palin is of Irish, German, and English
descent. When she was very young,
her family had moved to Alaska.
and “Miss Congeniality” award.
The next year, she returned to the University of Idaho. There she spent three
semesters completing a Bachelor of
Science degree in communications –
journalism, and graduated in 1987.
That year, Sarah Palin eloped to marry
Todd Palin. Todd owns a commercial
fishing business. Sarah Palin has 5 children. Sons: Track and Trig, daughters:
Bristol, Willow, and Piper.
Sarah Palin won the “Miss Wasilla” pageant and finished 3rd in the “Miss
Alaska” pageant, getting a scholarship
BATTER-UP Mr. President
By Colleen Kilgore
In 1988, she got a job as a sports reporter. She also helped her husband
with his commercial fishing family business. She was mayor of Wasilla for two
terms. Sarah Palin was also governor of
Alaska.
Pictured at left: is Sarah Palin’s Family
SPORTS
Did you ever wonder if any of our Presi“Basketball Baracuda”
dents played sports? Well, George W. Bush
By TJ HERMAN
did. He played baseball. He was on a little
league baseball team. His dream was to
Move over Michael Jordan, Sarah Palin’s on the
court. John Mccain’s vice presidential running
follow in the footsteps of Willie Mays, one
mate played basketball in her teens. Her nickof the greatest players of all time. George
name ,“Sarah Barracuda”, and was given to her by
Bush’s love for baseball continued through- her teammates and fans. She played point guard
out his youth and adult life. He was a man- for the Wasilla High School girl’s basketball team
aging partner for the Texas Rangers Major
in Alaska. Being athletic runs in the family, her
League Baseball team. George Bush threw daughter plays hockey and Sarah is often referred
the first pitch in Game 3 of the 2001 World to as a “hockey Mom”. “When I have kids they will
definitely play sports, I will make sure of that”
Series. The Arizona Diamondbacks were
says Sarah’s daughter. Sarah Palin is keeping
playing the New York Yankees in New York,
sports alive in her family.
a very proud moment in his life.
Knock –Out John McCain?
By Jake Reynolds
John McCain has loved boxing since he
was a 127 pound fighter at the Naval
Academy in the 1950’s. He enjoyed
watching Friday night boxing fights on
his 12 inch black and white television.
John McCains experience with boxing
helped him survive during the war. He
says, “I am used to taking hard blows.”
Knock –Out John McCain? I don’t think
so. Barack is in for a fight to the presidency.
The 2008 Presidential Election Edition
Page 3
Ever Wonder What The Story Is Behind The Two Famous Party Animals?
By Marielle Franco& Torrie Pound
Republican Elephant Revealed!!
By Eric Baccei
Andrew Jackson adopted the donkey
as the symbol for the Democratic Party
in 1828. When his opponents referenced him to a jack***, he thought it
was amusing. The donkey was added
to Andrew Jackson’s campaign posters
and later became the symbol for the
Democratic Party.
The Donkey stands for bravery and
intelligence.
Have you ever wondered why the Republicans have an elephant for their
symbol? In 1874, Thomas Nast, who
made the Democratic Donkey famous
in 1828, made another well-known
symbol, The Republican Elephant.
Nast drew a cartoon in Harper’s
Weekly that year. In it, a donkey
dressed in lion’s skin, scared away all
of the animals at the zoo. Of all the
animals, only the elephant had a label
saying, “The Republican Vote”. This
was all it took for the elephant to become associated with the Republican
By Torrie Pound & Marielle Franco
In 1874 Thomas Nast, a famous
political cartoonist, drew an elephant in one of his comic strips.
The “elephant” comic appeared in
Harper’s Weekly, a Political
magazine based in New York
City. The public voted for it to be
the symbol of the Republican
Party.
The elephant represents strength
and dignity.
All In The Family
Malia & Natasha Obama
The McCain Children
By Chloe Richardson
Barack Obama’s children are Malia
and Natasha Obama. If Obama is
elected, the sisters will be the youngest residents of The White House
since 1980. Natasha, the youngest,
plays the piano and tennis. She also
tap dances and enjoys gymnastics.
Like Natasha, Malia also plays tennis and the piano. In addition she
plays soccer and is enrolled in dance
and drama.
By Chloe Richardson
John McCain’s children are Doug, Andrew, Sidney, Meghan, Jack, James, and his
adopted daughter Bridget. Doug McCain is a pilot for American Airlines and previously flew the A6-E Intruder for the US Navy. Andrew McCain is Chief Financial
Officer & Vice President of Hensley & Company. Sidney McCain lives in Canada
and is a manager for V2 Records. Meghan attended Columbia University where she
earned a Bachelors Degree in Art History. She went on to study fashion design and
hopes to one day design her own line. Jack is a student at The Naval Academy in
Annappolis. James enlisted in the Navy and will be headed to one of the worst
parts of Iraq. Bridget McCain ,John McCain’s daughter, is adopted from Bangladesh. She is 16 and is enrolled in a private school.
Home Sweet Home
An Inside Tour of The White
House
By Torrie Pound
How many rooms does your
house have? I bet you’ll be
amazed to find out that The White
House has 132 rooms. Some of
the unique rooms are a movie
theater, a library, a music room
and a beauty salon. The presi-
The White House
dent and his family will never get
cold while living
in The White
House. The
White House has
28 fireplaces
throughout the
residence. The
exercise room
keeps the “First
Family” fit and if
they’re tired after a workout, they can
ride on one of the three elevators.
The president and his family never
have to worry about sharing a bathroom because there are 35 within the
house. If you are feeling bored at The
White House, no problem, just head to
the game room for some fun. The
White House really is “Home Sweet
Home”.
the Apple Doesn’t FAll FAr From the
Presidential Tree
James Madison
and Zachary Taylor Related?
Like Father, Like Son
By Emily Whaley
By Emily Whaley
You’re probably thinking, “James
Madison and Zachary Taylor are
2nd cousins? That can’t be true!”
But it is. James Madison was the
4th President of the United States
and Zachary Taylor was the 12th.
James Madison is best known as
the “Father of the Constitution”,
because of how hard he worked to
make sure it was approved. Zachary Taylor was in the Army for 40
years and was the first professional
soldier to become president.
John Quincy Adams, the 6th President of
the United States, was the son of John
Adams the 2nd president of our country.
John Adams became President in 1797
and his son John Quincy Adams become
President 28 years later in 1825. John
Adams was the first Vice President of our
country under George Washington. His
son, John Quincy Adams, was a very famous Secretary of State who attended
Harvard University and was a lawyer
before becoming President. Like they
say…“like father, like son”.
The Better Halves
A Look Into Some famous First Ladies
By Marielle Franco
Jacquelyn Kennedy (John F. Kennedy) ~ Jacqueline was in the car when her
husband was assassinated.
Martha Jefferson (Thomas Jefferson) ~ Martha died before her husband
became president.
Mary Lincoln (Abraham Lincoln) ~ Mary was only five feet and two inches
tall and looked extremely short next to her husband.
Edith Roosevelt (Theodore Roosevelt) ~ Edith knew Theodore because she
and his younger sister played when they were little.
Margaret Taylor (Zachary Taylor) ~ Margaret did not want her husband,
Zachary Taylor to win the presidency.
Elizabeth Ford (Gerald Ford) ~ Elizabeth was known as “Betty” and she
established the Betty Ford Clinic for drugs and alcohol.
Elizabeth Truman (Harry Truman) ~ Elizabeth was a great athlete.
Julia Grant (Ulysses Grant) ~ Julia’s wedding was delayed for four years
because Ulysses was a junior officer in the Mexican War.
Martha Washington (George Washington) ~ Martha did not enjoy being the
First Lady because she was homesick of Williamsburg, Virginia where
she had grown up.
Laura Bush (George W. Bush) ~ Before she was the First Lady, Laura
worked as a librarian in Houston.
Benjamin Harrison & William Henry Harrison
BY Ali DuBois
Benjamin Harrison, the 23rd President of The United States, is the
grandson of William Henry Harrison,
the 9th President. Benjamin Harrison
spent most of his time either milking
cows or making candles for his
house. Benjamin’s grandfather, William Henry Harrison, was president
when Benjamin was only seven
years old. William Henry Harrison
was President for just one month
when he died of pneumonia.
John McCain, the Author
By Stephen Torlai
Before running to make The Oval Office his own, the Republican Candidate, John McCain wrote books. McCain
wrote mainly about his past in The Vietnam War. He
wrote books for children and adults alike.
The following is a list of books written by John McCain.
“Character Is Destiny”, “Why Courage Matters”, “Worth
Fighting For”, “Hard Call”, “Faith of My Fathers”, and
more. Writing books is in the family, John McCain’s
daughter Meghan wrote “My Dad, John McCain”. It is a
children’s about John McCain.
Election time is exciting and can be stressful at times.
During these times, it’s a good idea to read a book. If you
like politics, try reading Meghan McCain’s “My Dad, John
McCain”. It is a wonderful timeline filled with interesting
information starting at John McCain’s early years and
ending within the past few months. Republican fan or not,
when the game between the donkeys and the elephants
has you stressed, read a good book.
The Vice President Living In The White House? NOT!!!!
Thanksgiving At
The White House
By Nicolette Marinelli
Gobble, gobble I’m at the White
House!!!Every year at the White
House there is a pardoning of a
Thanksgiving turkey. The special guest is Katie, the national
Thanksgiving turkey. President
George W. Bush says, “ Katie is
not on her way to the dinner
table, but to Kidwell farm in
Virginia.” Every year they raise
a beautiful turkey to participate
in the annual pardoning. Bush
also offers annual pardoning to
May, another Thanksgiving
turkey, on November 20, 2007
in Rose Garden at the White
House. They shall not eat the
turkey, but fly her in first class
to Walt Disney World to be in
Mickey’s backyard and to be in
the Thanksgiving Day parade.
This year will be the 60th anniversary of the turkey presentation. The first time they pardoned a turkey at the White
House was in 1947, when Harry
Truman was president. From
today on, any turkey raised by
the White House will have a
happy life on Thanksgiving!!
By Camryn Iffland & Cynthia Orr
The vice president’s house was built in 1893 on the grounds of the United States Naval Observatory on the corner of Massachusetts Avenue and 34th Street in Washington D.C. This
house was officially designating the vice president’s house in 1974.
Before this time, the vice presidents either stayed in a hotel or many of them bought temporary homes in the area.
President Jimmy Carter’s vice president Walter Mondale and his wife were the first full time
residents of the home. The three story Victorian style home was painted white and has 9,150
square feet of floor space.
Should A Zodiac Sign Be
Important When Choosing
A President?
By Torrie Pound & Marielle Franco
Barack Obama
Born: August 4th 1961
Zodiac Sign: Leo
Meaning:
Generous & Warmhearted
Creative & Enthusiastic
Broadminded & Expansive
Faithful & Loving
Presidential Factoids
By Elena Escobar
John McCain
Did you know John Tyler had 15 children?
Born: August 29th 1936
Zodiac Sign: Virgo
Meaning:
Modest & Shy
Meticulous & Reliable
Practical & Diligent
Did you know James Buchanan was the 1 st,
and only bachelor (not married) president?
Abraham Lincolin was the first president to
have a beard in the White House!
Did you know John McCain’s real name is
John Sidney McCain 111?
Did you know John McCain’s great-aunt was
a descendant of Robert the Bruce, an early
Scottish king?
Andrew Johnson’s wife taught him how to
write and read?
Did you know Ulysses S. Grant was the only
president to get a ticket for speeding on a
horse?
Funny Quotes
By Elena Escobar
“I promise you I will listen to what has been said here, even though I wasn’t here.”
George Bush said at the President’s Economic Forum in Waco, Texas Aug. 13, 2002.
John McCain said, “My friends we got them just where we want them.” On Barack
Obama and the state of the presidential campaign, Virginia Beach, Virginia, Oct. 13,
2008
“What a waste it is to lose one’s mind. Or not to have a mind is being very wasteful.
How true that is.” Dan Quail said.
Barack Obama said, “How’s it going Sunshine?” as he addressed supporters in SUNRISE, Florida.
“I’ve now been in 57 states; I think one left to go.” Barack Obama said about the 50
STATES in Beaverton, Oregon.
Presidential Poetry
Presidential Trivia
By Matthew Ahlman and Chris Butkus
The President’s Job
Q: Who assassinated [killed] President Lincoln?
By McKayla Ford
Q: Where was Lincoln assassinated?
Presidents do the job
Q: Which president led the Union [North] in the Civil War?
The most important job
Q: What famous document does America treasure the most?
The job that rules the country
Election ’08
Q: From what president’s name did the “teddy” bear come from?
The job of the strong
By Kyle Peet
Q: Which animal represents the Republicans?
Of mind
On November 4th
And heart.
Is the Election of 2008.
More Trivia
By McKayla Ford & Ashlyn Verderame
Q. Why was Washington the only president who didn’t live in D.C.?
Q. What did Americans think was poisonous until Thomas Jefferson ate some?
Our country will
Decisions
no longer have to wait.
By Ashlyn Vederame
When we vote
Decisions
It’s hard to decide
John McCain
McCain or Obama
And Sarah Palin
Choose your political side.
The election is soon
Answers: Q1– John Wilkes Booth ,Q2-Ford’s Theatre, Q3– Ulysses S. Grant, Q4– The Declaration of Independence, Q5-Theodore Roosevelt, Q6– Elephant, Q7– The city wasn’t built
yet. Q8– Tomatoes
Will they win the election
Or will Barack Obama steal it
McCain and Sarah –vs– Obama and Biden
Presidential Matchup
By: Andrew Schimanski
Suitcase
Barack Obama, a devoted Democrat,
For years on a Senate seat he has sat.
1) George Washington
scandal
A. Left office because of Watergate
He just might send the Republicans packing!
2) Ulysses Grant
B. Nicknamed “Old Hickory”
3) John F. Kennedy
C. Led U.S. during World War II
4) Andrew Jackson
D. Current President
5) Richard Nixon
E. Commander of the Union army
6) Theodore Roosevelt
F. First President
7) George W. Bush
pendence
G. Author of the Declaration of Inde-
8) Franklin D. Roosevelt
H. Assassinated in Dallas,TX
9) Thomas Jefferson
I. Gave the Gettysburg Address
10) Abraham Lincoln
Peace Prize
With much support & The Democratic Party backing,
J. First American to win the Nobel
Draw a line from the President to their accomplishment.
Anonymous