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
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Friday, February 24, 2012
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
Lying Article
Monday, February 20, 2012
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
Santorum Lead Expanding
Friday, February 10, 2012
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.
- "You can be anything you want to be"
- "It's your choice""
- "You are special"
- "Every kid ought to go to college"
- "You can have it all now"
- "You're a winner just because you participated"
- "You can get whatever you want"
Monday, February 6, 2012
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
Approval Ratings Article
Thursday, January 26, 2012
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.
Monday, January 23, 2012
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?
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?
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