Youth Vote 2012

As we approach this summer and the 2012 presidential campaigns heat up, I wanted to share with all of you an interesting chart I found discussing young people and voting. After taking a look at the chart, share your impressions with me. Did anything surprise you? How do you think young people (we'll say 18-24) will come out to vote this fall? Which candidate do you see young people voting for this year?

Open Post (Please respond by Friday, April 20 at 8:00 AM)

You asked for it, and I listened. Without further delay, this is your "open blog post" week. Your task is to post on anything happening in the world of politics, government, or anything else related to topics we have covered in this class. Respond to your classmates posts, start a healthy debate, and let's see where these conversations go!

Do African Americans Trust the Police? (Please respond by Friday, March 30 at 8:00 AM)

In response to the recent murder of Trayvon Martin in Florida, I felt we should touch on this issue. I have included an interesting, yet potentially controversial article, I found while reading CNN. I have included this article below. The question I have for you is a simple one, yet complex: Do African Americans overall trust the police? Take this question and respond as you like. My only request is to be respectful in your responses.

Police Article

Obama's Reelection Campaign (Please respond by 8:00 AM on Friday, March 23)

For our discussion blog this week, I want you to take a look at an article I have included below about Joe Biden's campaign plan. After reading this article and thinking about the plan the Obama administration is devising to win reelection, I want you to tell me your plan. If you were working for President Obama, what would be your plan for reelection? Which demographics would you target? What states would you focus a large amount of campaigning in? Please give me a clear vision of what your particular plan would be.

Biden's Reelection Campaign

How do we handle Iran? (Please respond by Friday, March 16 at 8:00 AM)

For our next weekly blog entry, I felt it was important to address the ever changing crisis with Iran. I have attached an article published today by TIME Magazine which raises the question as to how should the United States handle the escalating crisis with Iran? Since Israel is a major ally of the United States and the fact they are strongly considering an attack on Iran, President Obama has a difficult decision to make. Please share with the class your thoughts on how the United States should handle this situation as well as what you predict will be the final outcome.

Conflict with Iran Article

Do we finally have a Republican candidate? (Please respond by Friday, March 9 at 8:00 AM)

In the never ending saga that is the Republican race for the nomination, it appears we may be closer to finding an answer. With Super Tuesday approaching this week and Mitt Romney winning the states of Arizona and Michigan last week, my question for you is a simple one: have we finally found the person to face Barack Obama this fall, or, will this never ending story take another turn? Is it possible for a "dark horse" to emerge this late in the primary season?

On to Super Tuesday

Is Lying a Crime? (Please respond by Friday, March 2 at 8:00 AM)

As we begin our next unit on the courts, I found a very interesting article which I have included below and I would like for all of you to read. After reading the article, give me your response. If you are lying, could it be conveyed as actually breaking the law? Or, do you think lying is a part of "freedom of speech" which many Americans tend to agree with unfortunately these days?

Lying Article

Santorum's Expanding Lead (Respond by Friday, February 24 at 8:00 AM)

In the ever changing race that is the Republican presidential campaign, we now find Rick Santorum's lead expanding nationwide. With this being said, I have included a short article from CNN below I want you to take a look at, and then tell me: do you think this will the individual going up against President Obama this November? Why or why not? Do you think more Republicans would be able to relate to Santorum or Romney?

Santorum Lead Expanding

Lies to Your Generation (Please respond by Thursday, February 17 at 8:00 AM)

For this week's blog, I want to try a rather different approach. I recently read a passage by author Tim Elmore titled "Seven Lies That Can Disable A Generation" Out of the seven I have listed below, I want you to choose one that you believe is the most detrimental to your generation and explain why.

1. "You can be anything you want to be"
2. "It's your choice""
3. "You are special"
4. "Every kid ought to go to college"
5. "You can have it all now"
6. "You're a winner just because you participated"
7. "You can get whatever you want"

Presidential Reelection and Approval Ratings (Due Friday, February 10 at 8:00 AM)

For our blog this week, I want you to take a look at an interesting article recently published in The New York Times. After clicking the link below and reading the corresponding article, I have a very simple question for you: if Romney goes on to win the Republican nomination, should be considered the favorite or an underdog against President Obama? After observing Obama's current approval ratings, should he be concerned? What factors might cause his ratings to increase or decrease over the next several months?

Approval Ratings Article

Political Cartoon Analysis (Responses due by Friday, February 3 at 8:00 AM)

For our blog this week, I would like for you to analyze the political cartoon I have included below. This cartoon, as many of you will agree, unfortunately summarizes the state of our country at this time. Do you agree with this cartoon? Why or why not? Why does it seem, according to the author, the poor do not have a voice in the political world? What types of specific issues should political parties be addressing in reference to the poor in America? Cite specific examples in your answers. Originality and creativity (not simply restating an answer given by another student) will be considered in your grade for this particular blog.

What happened to Romney? (Please respond by Friday, January 27 at 8:00 AM)

Columbia, South Carolina (CNN) -- Newt Gingrich has pulled a Double Lazarus, coming back from the dead twice in this campaign to win decisively in South Carolina.Exit polls showed a broad and deep victory in this conservative state, with Newt winning tea partiers and evangelicals -- as well as both men and women. Interestingly, Newt won voters who said the economy was the number one issue as well as people who said their priority was defeating President Barack Obama in November.
This not only turns the Romney campaign's electability narrative on its head, it's got to be making the Obama camp in Chicago smile, looking at a long GOP nomination fight ahead.
Mitt Romney's sole strong suits were people making over $200,000, moderates and non-tea partiers, making him look like Jon Huntsman in this primary state. South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley's endorsement did not have the impact that was projected -- pulling back the curtain on her 34% in-state approval rating despite her rising national profile.
At the Romney HQ, the atmosphere was like someone died before a big party, but the caterers still arrived, standing glumly behind the cash bar.
Supporters on bleachers behind the podium were prompted to chant "Florida! Florida!" as a way of pivoting attention forward from the debacle that was unfolding as Newt was declared the early winner.
The state of the race has fundamentally changed in the course of one dizzying week. The inevitability narrative that surrounded Mitt Romney -- along with the claim that he was the only GOP candidate to ever win both Iowa and New Hampshire consecutively -- has collapsed. Rick Santorum was belatedly declared the real winner of Iowa on Thursday morning and that same day Rick Perry dropped out of the race and immediately endorsed Newt Gingrich.
Over the course of two contentious debates, Romney was hammered on his failure to release his taxes, the revelation that he pays a 15% rate and reports that he has accounts in the Cayman Islands. The result was a stunning reversal of fortune, from 10 percentage points up in the polls a week ago to a double-digit loss on primary day.
Gingrich revived his campaign with pugnacious debate performances punctuated with deep policy knowledge. Two-thirds of voters said the debates had helped determine their vote and not surprisingly those voters mostly cast their ballot for Gingrich.
In addition, Team Newt's ever-present attack on Mitt Romney as a "Massachusetts Moderate" seemed to have special resonance south of the Mason-Dixon line.
Two quick notes on the other two candidates: Rick Santorum and Ron Paul. Days after New Hampshire, a meeting of evangelical big-wigs at a Texas ranch resulted in a broad-based endorsement of Rick Santorum -- but the religious right's benediction failed to create a surge of support for Santorum even in this stereotypically religious and socially conservative state.
That should call into the question the real influence the religious right's self-appointed leaders actually have in the Republican electorate.
Ron Paul had a strong showing in a state where conventional wisdom stated that his libertarian beliefs would fail to attract broad-based support because of the evangelicals' disproportionate influence.
I spoke to several voters who had cast ballots for Ron Paul, ranging from fiscal conservatives who leaned libertarian on social issues to Democrats who voted for Paul in this open primary because they agreed with his views on civil liberties and non-interventionist foreign policy.
In his concession speech, Romney started by recycling lines from his New Hampshire victory, but delivered in a very different tone. His attacks on President Obama were now balanced by indirect hits on Newt, trying to tie him to what was styled as Democratic-oriented attacks on free market capitalism. This primary fight is getting personal.
The big picture takeaway: Florida is now set up to be the tie-breaker -- its traditional role in the January gauntlet. A different candidate has won each of the three primary contests to date, reminding Republicans and political observers to call off the coronation and give the people a chance to vote.
We are looking at a long-primary fight now -- almost certain to extend through Super Tuesday in early March. All of this is good in my book -- the more voters who have a say in picking the Republican nominee, the better the democratic process is served.

Source: http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/21/opinion/avlon-romney-stumble/index.html
Questions:
1.) Do you believe that Romney will be able to regain momentum in Florida.
2.) Does it seem like the race has become solely between Gingrich and Romney, or does the  race now have a larger spectrum?
3.) How does the GOP struggle affect the race of Barack Obama?

Nuclear Weapons In Iran? (Please respond by 8:00 AM on Friday, January 20)

On January 28 a team of UN nuclear agents will make their way over to Tehran, in order to talk to the Iranians because now saying they are "ready after years of refusal to discuss allegations that it was involved in secret nuclear weapons work”. For over three years they have blocked the International Atomic Energy Agency from following up the US and intelligence sources on how Tehran is converting Iranian work on nuclear arms. However as Tehran talks to the UN, Iran is staying clear and denying such allocation yet if they do choose to take part in this meeting this will create a hopefully future in working together in the future.

With America pulling out of the Middle East, slowly but surely, allegations of US officials killing off Iranian nuclear experts, "There is firm evidence that certain foreign quarters are behind such assassinations. As has been claimed by these circles, such terrorist acts have been carried out as part of the efforts to disrupt Iran's peaceful nuclear program, under the false assumption that diplomacy alone would not be enough for that purpose”. Hilary Clinton, Sec of State has denied such comments. The US and other allies are urging Iran to stop their uranium enrichment programs that lead to the key ingredient to a nuclear warhead.

What’s your view on America’s involvement with the nuclear situation over in the Middle East?

Do we need to keep our guard up?

How should we go about preventing a nuclear fall out with other nations holding or possibly building these destructive weapons?

For more information please see:

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2012/01/12/iran-says-ready-to-discuss-nuclear-work-ahead-un-visit/