Blog Post 2.4 "Pork Barrel Legislation!"

This article was written by Daniel Stone. It is talking about the Tea Party and why they are upset about the budget. It also talks about the pork projects being requested by House leaders and other Representatives. It also shows how some of the GOP candidates are using pork barrel and trying to cut the bdget at the same time. Basically, the whole thing is abut how on the outside, most of the Tea Party congressmen want to cut the spending but privately want more spending in their constituency.

1. He is supposed to help the Speaker of the House and lead his party in the House of representatives.

2. Because his constituency is in Virginia and not in Nevada.

3. Because the members of the House have to simultaneously help thier constituents and do work in Washington, the budget isn't really getting cut and the Tea Party members are upset that the budget isnt being cut.

4. Both John Boehner (The Speaker of the House) and Darrell Issa (The Oversight and Government Reform Committee chairman) both asked for pork projects.

5. Because pork projects have nothing to do with the party as a whole. Pork projects are for a Congressman's constituency.

6. because he is a very far right person, he believes that all spending should be cut and asking for pork projects is a direct contradiction of that belief.

7. Republicans are outwardly opposed to the stimulus package but are orivately happy about it because they can can put it in their constituency.

8. It's kind of a "does this out weigh that?" thing. They are not acting on their beliefs but they are benefiting from it.

Blog Post 2.3 "Congress and Potential Policies"

The article is written by Chris Good. Good talks about the GOP candidates and why their plans wouldn't work or only have a slight chance of working. It also talks about the discord in Congress and how unwilling all parties are to work together to pass laws that would actually do the country some good instead of run it into the ground. Especially in the Senate where the Democrats have the mojority. At the end of the article there is a slideshow of the GOP candidates's plans and why they would never work or only have a slight chance of working.

1. They believe that if the Republicans win the Senate Democrats will be very unwilling to cooperate and won't repeal Obamacare and the Dodd-Frank financial reform bill.

2. The president can't make or even really introduce laws. Thats is Congress's job.
3. 33 Senate seats will be up for the 2012 election.

4. 11 seats could actually change hands.

5. In order to get anything done in the Senate, you have to have atleast 60 guarenteed votes.
6. By allowing younger citizens to not have Social Security it would lessen the ammount of people on it and therefore more money would be avaliable.

7. Because Perry and Cain havent said anything about repealing Obamacare, their plans are more aggreable than Romney's plan.

8. Obamacare can only be repealed if the Republicans can get more than 60 Senate seats and keep their House majoity. Even then it will still be tricky because people refuse to acknowledge that Obamacare is socialist medicine.

9. Republicans don't like it because Grover Norquist doesn't approve and everyone else doesn't like it because it actually raises taxes for certain people. It hurts poor people.

10. Mitt Romney because I know him the best (other than Rick Perry but seriously, who has land named that??) and because he wants to repeal Obamacare.

Blog Post 2.2 "Republicans and Chris Christie"

This column was written by Thomas L. Friedman.  He writes about the country's upcomming election and how Chris Christie has decided not to run.  He also mentions a Grand Bargain and tells us that it needs to happen.  Friedman has also atated his opinion about the presidential race and said that both the far left and far right would do serious damage to the country.

1. He feels that the Republican Party has become a danger to the country.

2. Something that provides more near-term investment in the economy that spurs job growth, combined with a credible long-term plan to increase tax revenues and trim entitlements so the country’s debt-to-G.D.P. ratio stays in a safe range.

3. Lower spending today means lower taxes tomorrow, and limiting the future path of government spending does limit future taxes.

4. Promising never to raise taxes, without reaching a deal on spending, really means a high and rising commitment to future taxes.

5. President Obama’s latest budget plan is moving away from entitlement reform and embracing multiple tax increases on the wealthy.

6. No. He left the country with no credible, long-term fiscal option before it now.

7. They would cut the debt by $3.9 trillion by 2020 — through raising tax revenues, cutting defense and increasing the age at which people would qualify for Social Security and Medicare.

8. Democrats

9. Obama has left a gap for a sane Republican or independent candidate.

10. Because he seemed ready to tell hard truths that Obama has started to shrink from.

11. It is a race between the Democratic left and the Republican right.

12. He seems to be fairly moderate because he is pointing out that the extremes would be very bad for the country.

Blog Post 2.1 "Occupy Wall Street"

Occupy Wall Street is a movement that is spreading fast in cities. It has started recently but it is already struggling to maintain its focus and identity. The future of Occupy Wall Street as a political force may well depend on how well it conveys its message and mission. The group says they cannot wait any longer and let corporate greed and corrupt politics run the nation. The group calls themselves "The 99%." This means that 40% of the nations wealth is in the  hands of the richest 1% of the population.

 

1. It can get confused about what it really stands for and may change without meaning too.

2. OWS means they are the 99% of Americans. The 1% of Americans are wealthy and hold 40% of the nation's wealth. The 99% is every other American and is not wealthy.

3. Protest

4. They are taking the media's attention from the major parties

5. OWS is upset because they do not want him to run because they feel he has done nothing and should be kicked out of office

6. They would like to see change in the economy, corporate corruption of our political system, and the negative effects of corporate personhood

7. I think it has they potential to flourish and make change but only if it can get its bearings straight.

Blog Post # 8: "Transformative Presidents"

Andrew Romano is the author of this week's article. He talks about Chris Christie and how she is attacking Obama's administration. The article also compares Obama's administration to FDR and Regan's administrations. The article also talks about the US needing a savior for the government and how at the first sign of imperfection the American people turn away from the "savior"

1. Everyone wants to run him

2. 1/5 of the population is unemployed or looking for another job

3. They came during an economic crisis

4. they opposed a vulnerable administration, then “cut the knot, raised a new standard, and promised to restore to American government

5. He experimented with a lot of different reforms and restored the American government during a time of crisis

6. He passed the largest income tax cut in history and was credited after the economy was rejuvenated

7. He kept harping on his reconstructive storyline. Yes, both presidents made reforms which went wrong. After the economy is restored Obama will just say he planned that.

8. How are Obama's accomplishments in his first term different from these reconstructive presidents?
Obama is just surviving bill by bill

9. Obama is being too lax about the situation which makes him come off as if he doesn't care.

Blog Post #7 "Political Parties and Safe Districts"

This Article was written by a collection of authors. Anthony Weiner's congressional seat wa lost to the Democrats.

1. Joe Crowly may be campaiggning in New York because New York is one of the few states that changes between democratic and republic.
2. The recent incident with Anthony Weiner could possibly be a reason for the cack of turnout among Democratic voters and volunteers.

3. Labor Unions usually lean to the Democratic side.

4. Labor Unions feel as though more people would vote for in an election for a candidate for a house seat rather than in the presidential election.

5. Weiner showed that in federalism, congressman can do as they please and basically not get in trouble for it.

6. The 9th Disctrict voters have voted against Obama.

7. Crowley has a very important role in dealing with anything concerning the Democratic party.

8. The 9th District has been known as a Democratic district for a long time.

9. People are probably moving out of the district and population in the district`s census is probably getting lower.

Post #5 "Obama & Public Opinion"

This article was written by Daniel Stone covers the release of information right before the 9/11 weekend. The Obama administration released a lot of bad news concerning the welfare of the nation because they knew not many people were like to read the Saturday paper because of it being a holiday weekend.

1. A new employment data release showing no job growth, Obama not stopping the approval process for an oil pipeline, and the management of federal response for Hurricane Irene and the earthquake being more difficult than was supposed to.
2. They would do that right before a holiday weekend because people would be less likely to pay attention.

3. 9/11 commemorations and the GOP presidential debate

4. Obama's agenda are currently to jumpstart his stalled presidency and unveil his jobs agenda

5. This story shows how the Obama administration tries to take control of public opinion so that the media does ot control it by showing how the Obama administration gave the bad news so that the media would not be able to swing public opinion in disfavor of the Obama administration.