Post #2: "Cornel West and Barack Obama"

       This is a column about Cornell West and his intense critisims against Obama. West was a huge advocater of Obama during thw 2008 elections, but West has become increasingly more irate with our president. The column explains what West's accusations have done to the African American population in their views and how Obama's supporters have recently been fighting back against West. Many people disagree with West's actions and believe his critisims are not what is best for this country because they "will not inpact the reelection of Barack Obama. That is simply not an option." says the Ogletree for Obama and West.

1. African Americans

2. The percentages. 17% unemployment for African Americans and 11% immenient forclosure.

3. An organization representing the African American members of the US Congress

4. The poor people of the US.

5. He is placing apathy in the hearts of African Americans and causing them to lose heart in the political system.

6. They do not think Obama has helped the economy at all.

7. They may be doing it for the publicity and to their own ends instead of for the poor people

8. Cornell West is criticizing Obama about everything he is doing. West is influencing a lot of people and that's isn't good for reelections.

9. Someone who is very vocal and persuasive about certain topics or issues and influences a vast number of people to have the same opinions as he/she

10. I think he could be a little less destructive and a lot more constructive in his criticisms. He could also accept an invitation from the president and talk all of this over.

Post #1 Obama and the Debt Ceiling

     Krugman begins the article with a comment about the deal about the federal debt ceiling.  He says the deal will depress the economy further and will make America's long tern deficit problem even worse. He then goes on to talk about how the spending cuts without added revenue is depressing the economy further.  Krugman goes back to discuss the actual terms of the deal which brings up his opinion on why the president surrendered. He begins to talk about how the Republican party continues to threaten the president in order to dictate the policies they want to get across. He maintains that we are witnessing a catastrophe on many levels. He ends with saying the Democratic party wont be the only losers and questions the validity of America's democracy if the Republicans can get away with basically blackmailing the president.

1. The federal debt celing is the total limit applied to nearly all federal debt.

2. According to the New Republic magazine, America doesn't have a long term deficit problem. http://www.tnr.com/article/politics/93365/no-long-term-deficit-problem

3. Krugman believes the worst thing you can do during a bad economy is slash government spending.

4. Krugman says the president surrendered to the Republicans because he gave into their demands when they made their threats.

5. Defense spending is the same thing as military spending. Military spending is how much money America spends on "beefing up" the military and what percent of the GDP (gross domestic product) it is.

6. The G.O.P is a short for the Grand Old Party, or the Republican party.

7. It is my understanding that Krugman is most upset over how quickly the president is to give in to the demands and threats of the Republicans.

8. Medicare is medical insurance for people over 65 and young people with certain disabilities and any age with permanent kidney failure (called “End-Stage Renal Disease”)

9. Krugman concludes by questioning America's democracy and if it truly works since the Republicans have gotten away with such blackmail just to dictate policies. 

10. I believe his political opinions are those of the Democratic party. He isn't afraid to call out our president on what he believes isn't right.