Second Quarter! Question of the Week #1 - Rick Perry

Contrary to most people, I actually really like Rick Perry. The fact that he usually can't keep track of what he's saying is probably a major reason why he would not win. Also, many people think he is a little too much of a hard core Conservative - he has some radical ideas such as closing off the borders that most people don't agree with. 

However, ideas such as his Flat Tax (everyone pays 20% income tax - richer people pay less, poorer people pay more compared to progressive) really appeal to those on the right who want a fairer taxing system (fiscal conservatives). Also, the fact that he has lots of prior political experience is only helping him out; as the Governor of Texas he has a good record of creating new jobs - something the US needs very badly.

And It Looks Like A Handoff! - Week 1

1. Who drew the cartoon?
Pat Bagley for the Salt Lake Tribune

2. List and describe the key objects in the cartoon and describe what each represents?
**The man in the red represents priests who are known to be involved in sex scandals
**The man in the Penn State jersey represents one of the coaches of the Penn State football team... Jerry Sandusky
**The child represents young boys who have been involved in abuse scandals

3. What techniques or devices does the cartoonist use?
Bagley is basically making fun of both Sandusky and the priests who are known to get involved in scandals with young boys. By using the phrase "And it looks like a handoff!" he is tying it all together with football terms by showing that now the focus is shifting to football coaches like Sandusky and the guy from Syracuse.

4. What issue or event does the cartoon deal with?
Abuse scandals - especially the most recent one involving Jerry Sandusky

5. What is the cartoon's message?
People have come to expect behavior like this

6. What is the cartoonist's point-of-view?
If someone is involved in abuse scandals they will be ridiculed, made fun of, looked down upon, and forced to account for their actions.

Question of the Week #4: Virginia's Biggest Issue

From personal experience, I would say the biggest issue in Virginia right now is traffic control....the worst downside to living so close to an urban area and a technological hot-spot. 


22.7% of people working in DC commute from Northern Virginia alone, 13.2% of which are from Fairfax County - you can just imagine how hard it is to get to work on time amidst all the traffic. After NYC, DC has the second highest percentage of public transit commuters in the United States!


Virginian politicians are known to put traffic at the top of their agendas, and rightly so! Lucky for us, the Metro is creating a direct line from Reston to DC. However, for those within DC, traffic can be a nightmare. Because the city is so old, the streets are narrow and run in a grid-like pattern, which make them an absolute pain to drive through. The slightest change in weather upsets the entire balance, and delays ranging anywhere from a couple minutes to a couple hours are commonplace.


If politicians desire election or reelection, it is in their best interest to find a solution to the transit problems in NOVA/DC. Some people's jobs rely on being able to get there in a timely fashion ........ As for the rest of us, we just avoid DC as much as we can!

GOP Updates - Gingrich Makes A Comeback, Romney and Cain Contest First (Current Event #4)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/newt-gingrich-gops-consummate-survivor-is-back-on-his-feet/2011/10/29/gIQAG6rYTM_story.html?hpid=z4


After Newt Gingrich's disastrous campaign collapsed due to debt earlier this year, many thought he was done for good. However, due to his recent performances in debates, his fan base seems to be growing. Herman Cain, whom many consider to be Mitt Romney's biggest challenger, continues to make mistakes every time he speaks. Most believe that Romney is currently holding a strong first, followed closely by Cain and/or Gingrich.


Newt Gingrich is gaining ground slowly, hoping for an upset. He consoles his disciples stating simply that “If you’re with me, I think we will win the most decisive election in modern times, and I think we will win it by a shockingly big margin.” 


Only time will tell who will gain the Republican nomination, but until then, I believe it is very important that we pay close attention to the similarities and differences between the candidates, as that will be the deciding factor for who gets their name on the ticket.

Question of the Week #3: Obama's Report Card

Health care: A
I actually like the Affordable Care Act, and I think Obama has achieved a lot by actually getting it to pass. The bill bans lifetime limits and dropping your coverage when you need it the most, helps cover young adults on their parent's plan, prohibits discriminating against children with pre-existing conditions, and restricts the use of annual limits. For those who call this socialized medicine or believe that government will take over health care, Obama has this to say: "The Affordable Care Act puts people, not health insurance companies or government, in charge of health care. The new law strengthens the existing employer-based health insurance market while making the market fair for consumers by implementing landmark consumer protections. Families and individuals that don't have access to affordable coverage can receive tax credits to help them purchase coverage in the private health insurance market. There is no government-sponsored, public, or "single payer" plan in the law."


Dealing with the economic downturn: B-
Although Obama has tried a lot to help out the economy, we're still not doing as well as we could be - however, that is not entirely his fault. The biggest problem with bipartisan politics is that each party wants it their way, and no one wants to compromise. Obama tries and tries to pass bills that will please both parties, like his new Jobs Act, but nothing happens. I think the Congress and Obama need to work a little harder and find a solution to this problem, because arguing is getting us nowhere!


War on terror: A
I think Obama has done a really good job so far. He has shifted the focus of the war on terror from Iraq to Afghanistan, signed an order to end prisoner torture at Guantanamo Bay, provided better body armor for our troops, restructured military command and deployed additional troops to Afghanistan, ended the "stop-loss" policy that kept soldiers overseas past their enlistment dates, provided the Department of Veteran Affairs with more than $1.4 billion to help America's veterans, improved conditions at Walter Reed, changed the war strategy in Afghanistan (limits aerial bombing and prioritizes aid, development of infrastructure, diplomacy, and good government practices by Afghans), improved pay and benefits for military personnel and veterans, killed Osama bin Laden and other notable terrorists, etc. etc. Though all these things may not be directly related to the War on Terror, they impact those involved in many ways. In any case, Obama has done a lot more than past presidents have to better conditions. 


Reelection bid: B-
As of the 13 of October, Obama has raised $70 million for his reelection (not including PACs), leading his Republican rivals by tens of millions of dollars. However, I wish he would be as prominent and "out there" as the Republicans are. Although he is doing well, I don't see a lot or hear a lot from him, and so I would give him a B-. President Obama has faced months of declining polls numbers, largely due to the economy. 

MLK Memorial Dedication Takes Place Amid Controversy (Current Event #3)

http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/16/us/mlk-memorial/index.html?hpt=hp_t1


On August 28, 1963, over 200,000 civil rights supporters gathered in Washington, DC to listen to a speech by a influential and well-known man known as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Today, supporters have once again gathered in DC, shortly after the 48 year anniversary of the "I Have A Dream" speech to remember, commemorate and honor a man who did so much for this country.

Though we have come a long way since the '60s, some say that there is still a lot of work to be done. Dr. King's son urges us to remember that although he paid "the ultimate price for our civil rights," we seem to have forgotten what his goal was; in his son's words, "we've lost our souls," referring directly to the racism and inequality that is still a part of our every day lives.


Unfortunately, the American people cannot allow this memorial dedication ceremony to be free of controversy. Some of King's most devout supporters, including Maya Angelou, claim that the quotes inscribed on the memorial have been altered, therefore making Dr. King seem more arrogant than he really was. Those who know him claim that he was a humble, down-to-earth man who has been misportrayed. 


For example, the first quote on the memorial reads "I was a drum major for justice peace and righteousness." However, the original quote from Dr. King was "If you want to say that I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice. Say that I was a drum major for peace. I was a drum major for righteousness. And all of the other shallow things will not matter." According to Angelou, the removal of the word "if" makes a big difference in the meaning of the sentence. 


I believe that as a nation we should just be proud that we are able to honor him in this way, instead of nit-picking at little issues. 


Regardless, the outpouring of support for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. today shows that America has not forgotten his message, and that we still have a dream in which our "nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."

Tea Party fo lyfe!

So everyone has been telling me lately that I support a lot of Tea Party ideas... which I do. Is this good or bad? I don't want to really be associated with ditzy candidates like Palin and Bachhman, but they do have some good points.

Is this political suicide? Is everyone going to think I'm radical?

Tea Partiers .....
-they are whiter, angrier, and more racist
-they are generally male, over 45
-they think government should be smaller no matter what
-they call themselves "very conservative" and Obama "very liberal"


Some Tea Party ideas I agree with (part of their non-negotiable 15 core beliefs)
-Illegal aliens are here illegally
-stronger military is essential
-gun ownership is sacred
-reduce personal income taxes is a must
-english as core language is required
-traditional family values are encouraged
-"you don't have to be a Christian to enjoy freedom - the Tea-Party welcomes all red-blooded US citizens"

All I have to say is .... RON PAUL 2012. Lets legalize everything!