Millions of voters will get their information about the presidential candidates by watching the debates this fall. The first debate, on October 3rd, will be moderated by Jim Lehrer and will be focused exclusively on domestic issues. With a moderator like Jim Lehrer — whose show, the PBS NewsHour, has often covered climate change with the gravity that it requires — we have a real chance to generate a substantive discussion about global warming on the national stage…if he asks the candidates about the issue. Right now, the effects of climate change are causing hardship for people across the county — from flooding in the Southeast to drought in the Midwest to the wildfires in Colorado, where the debate is being held. So it would only be natural to assume that Mr. Lehrer should ask President Obama and Governor Romney to discuss how they plan to address global warming. Unfortunately, experience has taught us that we can’t assume much when it comes to climate change coverage in the national media. Despite the fact that July was the hottest month ever recorded in the U.S., only 8.7 percent of television segments that reported on the record-breaking heat waves made the connection to climate change, according to an analysis by Media Matters for America. But we can change that if we work together to push Lehrer to bring climate change into the national spotlight by asking asking tough questions during this debate. That's why we hope you'll sign our petition and share it with your community.

Following the comments made by Missouri Congressman Todd Akin regarding the ability of the female body to "shut that whole thing down" following rape (referring to the falsity that rape cannot result in pregnancy), the scientists of The United States of America, respectfully request that he resign from the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. Representative Akin's comment shows a severe lack of understanding about human biology and define him as unfit to serve as a representative of the world's leading scientific community.

I believe the necessity of presidential candidates ( and all elected officials ) to immediately begin raising funds and courting the moneyed interests for support for reelection inhibits, if not paralyzes, their ability to perform the duties for which they were elected.

I had a stroke at age 35 & decided to end my Toxic 16 yr marriage. During my quest to secure affordable housing in union/essex counties I discovered a large # of waiting lists at senior housing buildings,why? Most lists have years long waiting periods like the Summit senior building list is 6 yrs long. Persons like myself collecting Social Security disability are not eligible for TRA or TANF. Persons with disabilities basically are waiting for seniors to pass away in order to get affordable housing.

Foreclosure is rapidly becoming a major factor in the decay of the family foundation.

Congress is required by law and statute to tell the truth, and many times it appears that they do not tell the truth, and nothing adverse ever happens to them when they tell obvious lies.

This petition is about reversing the media consolidation by implementing limitations on the number of TV, radio, and print news mediums a person or corporation can control in a local media market.

The President can focus on the job, not on spend two-three years out of the current four running for a second term. Four years is no longer enough time to get done what needs to get done in government. It will make it more difficult for the opposing party to block every policy for seven years and force them to work together. This is the best place to start government reform.

Bain (Romney) is currently dismantling a **profitable** US auto parts company and sending it to China, forcing US employees to train their replacements. They bought it with borrowed money, extracted all the wealth they could, then shipped the jobs overseas. We have recently heard about 'legitimate rape.' This is the legitimate pillage of America. Does the 0.01% have to make their money these days by selling out the other 99.99%? How is this legal?

I believe that all these commercials showing people partying and drinking, makes it look attractive to young people! It is a drug and should not be shown in commercials at all! It should have warning labels on it, just like cigarettes. How many people do we have sick and dying from alcohol addiction in this country? Why do people not sue the alcohol companies for wrongful death?

Time to end the gravy train of elected officials in Washington. "Career politicians" only care about their careers; are totally out of touch with their constituents. It's time they join mainstream America in our day to day worries about employment, social security and health care. Change the law so we will finally have politicians who are "in it" to serve, not be served!!!

This petition is about the millions of dogs that are killed every year in America due to the greed and inhumanity of Puppy Mill owners and the continued indifference and inaction of the AKC. Puppy Mills are breeding factories where AKC registered dogs are kept in inhumane situations, forced to breed relentlessly with little to no veterinary care and whose offspring are often sick physically and challenged mentally. Please increase the pressure on AKC to revoke their certifications of all other dogs than those that are bred in private homes and who live as companion animals/pets.