Unit Six: Civil Rights and Civil Liberties

“Taxes, end Obamacare: House Republicans unveil summer wish list”

http://www.cnn.com/2012/05/25/politics/gop-congress-wish-list/index.html

Synopsis: House Republicans have released their summer goals. One of these is a vote on extending the Bush-era tax cuts that are to expire at the end of the year. The plan for the Bush-era tax cuts is to renew the current rates for some period and lay framework for tax reform the lowers rates across the board. Other goals include, job creation, the economy, reducing spending, decreasing the size of the federal government “while protecting and expanding liberty.” Another issue that Congress has to deal with is spending cuts to federal agencies. Republicans do not want to affect defense spending but make deeper cuts to domestic programs. However, the Republicans’ goals are not without opposition from Democrats in both houses of Congress.

Analysis: This article is about the Republican Party and their agenda setting for the summer. In their agenda, Republicans are staying true to their party platform.  Republicans are known for advocating tax cuts and their opposition for tax increases. Their agenda reflects this because they plan to keep the Bush-era tax cuts and hope to cut taxes across the board. In the agenda, the federal bureaucracy is mentioned by saying they want to decrease the size of the federal government and because of spending cuts to different federal agencies. One of the main criticisms of the bureaucracy is that it is too big and the Republicans are acting on this criticism. Also, with the spending cuts, the article illustrates how Congress can check the bureaucracy because all appropriations and revenue bills originate in the House of Representatives which would determine the funding that each agency in the bureaucracy receives.

Unit Six: Civil Rights and Civil Liberties

“AP News Break: 22 States Join Campaign Finance Fight”

http://www.centurylink.net/news/read.php?id=18941618&ps=1017&cat=&cps=0&lang=en

Synopsis: Montana is fighting to keep its state laws that restrict corporate campaign spending. Twenty-two states have joined Montana in its efforts to prevent the Supreme Court from ruling against them. The Supreme Court will most likely use the controversial court case Citizens United as its basis for reversing a state court’s decision the upheld the Montana law. An interest group called American Tradition Partnership wants the Supreme Court to rule without a hearing because they believe that the state law conflicts with the Court’s previous ruling in Citizens United. However, Montana and the other twenty-two states supporting them say that the ruling in Citizens United does not apply to them because it only applies to presidential and congressional elections. Also, Montana’s law does not ban corporate political speech, but regulates it by requiring corporations to create political action committees (PACs).

Analysis: This article illustrates how the Citizens United court decision has continued to spark controversy in politics. In the decision the Supreme Court ruled that money equals free speech and that corporations could donate money to presidential and congressional campaigns. There are those that believe that this unlimited corporate campaign funding could cause corruption in the political system. The Montana law is in conflict this decision because it makes corporations donate to campaigns through PACs. Also, this article shows how interest groups try to influence court decisions in their favor. In this case, American Tradition Partnership is trying to influence the Supreme Court to rule against Montana in the case. It is probable that this interest group wrote an amicus curiae brief to argue their opinion and to convince the justices to rule that way.

Unit Six: Civil Rights and Civil Liberties

“Obama urges students to pressure Congress on loan rates”

http://www.cnn.com/2012/05/04/politics/obama-student-loans/index.html

Synopsis: President Obama is urging students and their parents to contact members of Congress to prevent the interest rates on student loans from doubling. This is in response to a bill that Republicans in the House of Representatives passed which solves the interest rate problem but cuts money from a health care fund that promotes preventive care.  Obama and Democrats in the Senate want to keep the interest rates at their current level by eliminating some corporate tax loopholes. President Obama plans on vetoing the bill passed by the House and the Senate plans on voting on its version within the week and then both the Senate and House will try to negotiate a compromise.

Analysis: In this article Obama is encouraging students to lobby and to influence their legislators. This proves just how much influence voters are able to have if the President of the United States is encouraging them to lobby. Also, the article introduces the idea of a conference committee because the Senate and the House of Representatives have to come together to compromise to come up with one bill to vote on and send to President Obama to sign. Congress does not have the time to filibuster and have these bills die in committee because the interest rates will automatically rise in July.

Unit Five: Public Policy

“GOP ignores veto threat, passes student loan bill”

http://www.centurylink.net/news/read.php?id=18915738&ps=1017&cat=&cps=0&lang=en&page=1

Synopsis: Republicans in the House of Representatives led a vote that passed a student loan bill. This bill would keep the interest rates down for subsidized Stafford loans at 3.4 percent and not the 6.8 percent that they would jump to if no action were to take place. Even though this bill will solve the student loan problem, the White House is planning on vetoing the bill because it will eliminate a preventive health care fund that is part of President Obama’s health care law. This preventative health program has initiatives such as breast cancer screening and children’s immunizations. Since Democrats control the Senate it is unlikely that the bill will pass. However there is a different version of the bill in Senate that would raise Social Security and Medicare payroll taxes on high-income owners of privately owned companies to cover the costs. An interest group called, the Club for Growth, pressure Republican lawmakers to oppose the bill because they thought that the government should not subsidize student loans.

Analysis: This article shows how Congress influences economic policy. In this bill, lawmakers are trying to decide what programs they need to cut, or what taxes they need to raise in order to make college more affordable. Also, it illustrates how interest groups influence legislation as well as public policy by the Club for Growth’s opposition of the bill. Also, social policy is being formed in this legislation as well because of the cuts of funding for President Obama’s preventive health care fund. The article also shows how we have a divided government and the two party platforms. Republicans are not in support of Obama’s health care law and in raising taxes. Democrats on the other hand think the opposite; they do not mind raising taxes to fund other programs.  

Unit Five: Public Policy

“House Passes GOP Small Business Tax Cut”

http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/19/politics/house-tax-vote/index.html

Synopsis: The Republican-controlled House of Representatives passed a small business tax cut bill. The bill would provide deductions to companies with less than five hundred employees that would be worth up to 20% of their income. Republicans insisted that the bill would help to boost the economy. The Democrats opposed the bill because they thought that it was “a deficit-busting giveaway to the wealthy.” The bill hardly has a chance of making it through the Democrat controlled Senate and even if it does it will most likely be vetoed.

Analysis: This article illustrates not only the workings of Congress, but it also represents the two different party platforms. For example, Republicans are known for their support of tax cuts and their hatred of raising taxes. This bill illustrates this because Republicans are advocating the tax cuts to small business owners. This article also shows how even though a bill passes through the House of Representatives it does not guarantee that it will become a law. This bill has to pass through the Senate where it is put into another committee to be dissected and amended. Then it goes to the floor to be debated on. If it does pass a vote in the Senate then the President has to sign it or veto it. Finally, this article is an example of divided government. Right now the House of Representatives is controlled by Republicans and the White House and Senate are controlled by the Democrats. This bill does not have Democratic support so it will most likely die in the Senate.

Unit Four: Institutions of National Government

“Romney Assures N.R.A. of Support for Gun Rights”

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/14/us/politics/mitt-romney-assures-gun-rights-group-of-his-fealty.html?_r=1&ref=politics

Synopsis: Romney tried to win votes from conservatives in the general election by talking to the, National Rifle Association, an interest group. This demographic has not always been supportive to Romney because he has supported legislation that has threatened their view of the 2^nd Amendment’s “right to bear arms.” Also, the group was skeptical of Romney because he exaggerated his hunting experience in the 2008 election. However, Romney won over the group with his criticism of President Obama and by involving the possibility of the appointment of new U.S. Supreme Court justices within the next four years. However, there is no evidence that any justice plans on retiring soon.

Analysis: Romney is looking for support that will help him to win the general election from conservative voters that help to make up the interest group, the National Rifle Association.  He does not have a very good standing with these voters so he has to try to appeal to them in every way possible. Besides the usual criticism of his opponent, President Obama, Romney introduced the idea of the U.S. Supreme Court. Currently, there is a divided court in which there are four justices that tend to vote liberal, four justices that tend to vote conservative, and one justice that votes either way, called a swing vote. Romney talked about the possibility that some of the older Supreme Court justices could end up retiring within the next four years. If this occurs a new justice would be appointed. If President Obama is re-elected he would nominate a liberal justice and cause the divided court to become a more liberal court. This would be bad news for the members of the NRA because their second amendment right to bear arms could be threatened by a liberal court and that previous landmark cases that supported this right could be reversed.

Unit 4: Institutions of National Government

“White House approves new sanctions on Iran”

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/03/30/10944314-white-house-approves-new-sanctions-on-iran

Synopsis: The Obama administration approved further sanctions on Iranian crude oil exports after determining that oil supplies were adequate to justify the new penalties. These sanctions were written into law by Congress and are to take effect at the end of June. These sanctions will bar foreign banks from doing business in the U.S. if they buy or sell Iranian crude oil. The President’s Press Secretary Jay Carney, stated that the administration believes that “the oil market became increasingly tight over the first two months of 2012” and “that tightness remains today,” there still “appears to be sufficient supply of non-Iranian oil to permit foreign countries to significantly reduce their import of Iranian oil.” Out of the 23 countries that publicly import Iranian oil, the State Department announced exemptions from these sanctions last week for 11 of those countries. They are Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, the United Kingdom, and Japan. These countries have taken steps to significantly reduce their imports of Iranian crude oil.

Analysis: This article brings up to roles that the president has, that is the role of Guardian of the Economy and Chief Diplomat. This article illustrates President Obama’s role of Guardian of the Economy because with these sanctions on Iran he has to make sure that he does not allow gas prices to go up to the point where Americans cannot afford oil or that they run out of it. The article represents President Obama’s role as Chief Diplomat because he is making decisions that deal with foreign policy with Iran.  The President’s staff and Cabinet are also mentioned in the article. His Press Secretary releases a statement and the State Department does research on the countries that should be exempted from the sanctions.

Unit 4: Institutions of National Government

“GOP focuses on health care law repeal in weekly address”

http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/24/politics/weekly-addresses/index.html

Synopsis:  Senator Mitch McConnell (also Senate minority leader) hammered President Barack Obama over his health care reform law, which is under review by the Supreme Court, in the Republican weekly address. McConnell says that “the president was certainly right to join a call for health care reform. But the giant bill that he and others rammed through Congress has made things worse.” He, like many other members of the Republican Party, called for a repeal of the law. He argues that the law does not fix issues with Medicare funding, access to care, and rising costs. McConnell is also against the individual mandate provision, which is central to the Supreme Court’s consideration of the law. Obama did not address the health care law in his address but spoke about energy.  He states that an increase in oil drilling will not help to “feed the nation’s energy appetite,” but drilling “has increased in his administration.” The president also states that his plan for a “clean energy future requires a rebuilding of transportation and communications infrastructure.”  However Congress, especially the Republican-led House is slowing down progress including on a transportation bill that passed the Senate with bipartisan support.

Analysis: This article is an example of the president’s role as a Chief Legislator. The article talks about “Obamacare” which was a piece of legislation that President Obama had on his agenda that he had hoped to pass. Now this health care reform law is being reviewed by the Supreme Court because Republicans want to repeal it, mainly because of the individual mandate provision. This mandate is being questioned for its constitutionality. The article shows the president’s Chief Legislative powers by recommending measures on transportation, for example, the transportation bill that is being held up in Congress.  Also, since this bill is being held up, mainly by the Republican-led House, this is an example of divided government. The Democrats are in control of the White House and the Republicans are in control of the House of Representatives. Rising gas prices and unemployment rates are key issues right now in the country. The president is acting on his role as Guardian of the Economy by trying to push through bills that will create jobs for construction workers and hopefully lower gas prices.

Unit Four: Institutions of National Government

“Obama on GOP challengers: ‘They’re not commander in chief’”

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/03/06/10593398-obama-on-gop-challengers-theyre-not-commander-in-chief

Synopsis: Obama chose Super Tuesday to respond to GOP presidential candidates’ criticisms on how he handled the situation in Iran and Syria. President Obama said “Now, what’s said on the campaign trial—you know, those folks don’t have a lot of responsibilities. They’re not commander in chief.” He continued to say “And when I see the casualness with which some of these folks talk about war, I’m reminded of the costs involved in war; I’m reminded of the decision that I have to make…This is not a game. And there’s nothing casual about it.” Obama also spoke of immigration reform and that the reason that he did not keep his 2008 promise of immigration reform was because “what used to be a bipartisan agreement that we should fix this ended up becoming a partisan issue.”

Analysis: This speech made by President Obama on Super Tuesday was basically a campaign speech. He criticized his GOP opponents as well as blaming the whole Republican Party and Congress for not accomplishing his immigration reform agenda. The President’s response to the GOP candidates’ criticisms of his handling of the situations in Iran and Syria not only defended him put questioned whether his opponents could handle the role as commander-in-chief. He made them appear to think that war is no big deal and that they would not think about all the consequences of a decision. This could cause voters to second guess the Republican candidates and their foreign policy and feel uneasy about voting for them. Obama also geared up for his campaign by giving an explanation as to why he could not keep his promise of immigration reform. I feel that he is blaming divided government for the reason his goals were not accomplished, but instead of pointing a finger I think it would be better to take action and try to make a change now. However, we are in the middle of an election and I think that we will be hearing more excuses as to why certain promises were not kept.

Unit 4: Institutions of National Government

“House Passes Bipartisan Bill to Help Small Businesses”

http://constitutioncenter.org/NewsWire.aspx?title=House+Passes+Bipartisan+Bill+to+Help+Small+Buisnesses

Synopsis: The House of Representatives passed the JOBS Act, which is a package of bills that make it easier for small businesses to raise the capital that they need to grow and hire new workers. The bills make it easier for small businesses to go public by providing temporary reprieve from Securities and Exchange Commission regulations. It removes restrictions that prevents small businesses from using advertisements to solicit investor and removes restrictions on “crowdfunding” so entrepreneurs can raise equity capital from a large pool of small investors. Also, the bills raise the ceiling for shares a private company can sell as part of a public offering from $5 million to $50 million before having to register with the SEC and the SEC registration threshold from 500 to 1,000 shareholders and they increase the number of shareholders permitted to invest in a community bank from 500 to 2,000. Republicans praised the legislation and President Obama supports it.

Analysis: This article shows exactly what we are doing in class by the House of Representatives voting and debating on a bill. Also, the article shows that Congress can pass bills even though we have a divided government. Currently, the Democrats are in control of the White House and the Republicans are in control of the House of Representatives. As I learned in class, once a party has a majority in the House it is easy for them to get their way. The Republicans could have easily passed this bill without the approval of the Democrats, but what illustrates the idea of a united government is that President Obama supported this bill. Obviously, economic and job growth is a concern for both parties.

Unit 3: Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Mass Media

“Romney wins Washington state caucuses”

http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/03/politics/washington-caucuses/index.html  

Synopsis: Mitt Romney has won the Republican caucuses in Washington. Washington is the last state to hold their caucuses before Super Tuesday, when ten states hold their primaries, and holds 40 delegates. Washington holds open caucuses meaning that Democrats and Independents also came out to vote. Romney won Washington with 38% of the vote. Rick Santorum and Ron Paul were very close to each other with their percent of the vote. Santorum had 24% and Paul had 25%. Newt Gingrich had 10% of the vote.

Analysis: Washington was the last state to vote before Super Tuesday where many delegates are at stake. Super Tuesday could change the whole GOP race with so many states holding their primaries and so many delegates at stake.  I think that the reason that all the presidential candidates campaigned so much in Washington was that with its forty delegates whoever won the majority of them had some kind of security going into Super Tuesday. Also, with their win so close to Super Tuesday it could cause more people to look into the candidate and see what their opinions are on certain issues, and maybe decided to vote for them, because so many people voted for them in Washington.

Unit 3: Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Mass Media

“Seven States Challenge Birth Control Coverage Rule”

http://constitutioncenter.org/NewsWire.aspx?title=Seven+States+Challenge+Birth+Control+Coverage+Rule

Synopsis: The first legal challenge of the Obama administration mandate on birth control coverage has occurred. The mandate requires that all employers give their employees birth control coverage, including those of religious-affiliated hospitals, schools, and outreach programs. Seven states, Nebraska, Florida, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Texas, have filed a lawsuit claiming that the mandate violates the First Amendment right to freedom of religion.  Also, the lawsuit claims that the mandate might force religious employers and organizations to drop health insurance coverage, leading more people to enroll in Medicaid programs and increase patient numbers at state-subsidized hospitals and medical centers.  The Obama administration has said that they do not want to “abridge anyone’s religious freedom but they want to give women access to preventive care.” The administration has also said that they will shift the requirement from the employers to health insurers.

Analysis: I think that the Obama administration is in a predicament.  In trying to appeal to women and liberals, they have angered many conservatives and the Catholic Church. However, both sides do have reasoning and constitutional supports. Women want their right to choice and the Catholic Church wants their right to freedom of religion and to not be pressured into supporting something that they don’t believe in. I think that the administration’s idea of shifting the mandate to the health insurers would be a good compromise because then no one’s right to freedom of religion would be violated nor would be any woman’s right to choice be violated.

2012 Election Prediction

http://www.270towin.com/

The link above is to a map with my prediction of the 2012 Presidential Election. On this map I predicted that a majority of the Southern states and Texas would vote Republican. I came to this conclusion because these states are historically red states. The only Southern state I predicted to be a blue state was North Carolina. In the 2008 election, North Carolina voted for Obama instead of McCain so I'm assuming that this will be the case again. I predicted that the Western states of California, Washington, and Oregon would vote for Obama too, because in past elections, these states have been blue states. I predicted that the swing states of Pennsylvania and Florida would vote for Obama again, like they did in the 2008 election. Overall, I think that the winner of the 2012 election will be Obama. 

Unit 3: Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Mass Media

“GOP Sees Chance to Attack Obama on Rising Gas Prices”

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46444584/ns/politics-the_new_york_times/t/gop-sees-chance-attack-obama-rising-gas-prices/

Synopsis: Republicans are using the increasing gas prices to fuel their criticism for President Obama. In some places gas prices are approaching $4 a gallon and this rise could cause the optimism that Americans have placed in the economy to disappear. However, these prices come after better-than-expected job growth, a surging stock market, and a payroll tax deal.  Rick Santorum said that “they want higher energy prices. They want to push their radical agenda on the public.” By this he refers to Democrats supporting alternative energy. Obama counters the Republicans’ attacks by looking into better fuel efficiency of cars and to open new areas to oil and natural gas development. Also, he says how his payroll tax deal will help Americans with the rising gas prices. He thinks that the money that Americans receive from this deal will help them cope with the gas prices.

Analysis: The rising gas prices are another source of debate for the political parties. The Republicans are gearing up for the general election by using the rising gas prices as another reason to criticize President Obama. The Democrats are doing the same by using the gas prices to criticize the Republicans.  The Republicans are attacking the Democrat’s party platform, in which they support new and alternative energy methods and the Democrats are attacking the Republicans because of their support of the oil companies.

Unit 2: Political Beliefs and Behaviors

“Social Issues Overtake US Politics”

http://constitutioncenter.org/NewsWire.aspx?title=Social+Issues+Overtake+US+Politics

Synopsis: The economy is not the only issue on people’s minds in politics. Social issues such as gay marriage, abortion, and contraception are now “at the center of American political discourse.” These social issues can become key tools for the candidates running in the election, even though the economy is still voters’ major concern. Republicans are trying to win votes of religious conservatives, such as Catholics in Ohio and Pennsylvania, which are battleground states. Obama is trying to preserve support among women, moderates, and independents. The Republican candidates are using the White House’s policy on birth control coverage to fuel their attacks against Obama and win voters. Rick Santorum says that the policy threatens religious freedom and violates the Constitution. Romney says that the Obama administration is “waging an assault on religion.” Gingrich, who is a Catholic, says that Democrats have “declared war on the Catholic Church.”

Analysis:  It is one’s civic duty to vote and the presidential candidates are trying to get as many voters to come out to the polls as possible. They are trying to gain support by highlighting key social issues such as gay marriage, abortion, and birth control. You can see how the two parties are on two different sides of the political spectrum. The Republicans are basing their views on conservatism, trying to win those with strong religious views, and the Democrats are basing their views on liberalism, by advocating women’s right to birth control. Mainly, the candidates are trying to appeal to their voters’ political values and political socialization. The Republicans have shown that they know voters are strongly influenced politically by their religion, which is why they are attacking Obama and saying that he is “waging an assault on religion.” And the Republicans are saying that Obama is infringing on their core American value of liberty to practice religion. However, it can be said that Obama is observing this core American value by giving women the liberty to have birth control costs covered.

2/5/2012

Unit 1- Constitutional Underpinnings and the Federal System

"Will Nevada Give Romney A Second Straight Victory?"

http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/04/politics/gop-nevada-caucuses/index.html

Synopsis: After Mitt Romney won the Florida primary it is expected that he will win the Nevada caucus as well. Recent Polls suggest that Romney will be far ahead of the other candidates, with 45% of the voters saying they would vote for Romney. Even though Romney is in the lead and a loss for Gingrich would be damaging to his campaign, Gingrich is vowing to stay in the race until the very end.

Analysis: When creating the United States, the founding fathers wanted to ensure that the people had the right to vote for the leaders in their government. When it became apparent that the Articles of Confederation would not be sufficient enough to govern the country, the Constitution was created. The people who wanted to keep the Articles of Confederation were the Antifederalists and the people who supported the Constitution were the Federalists. The Articles of Confederation did not have a strong national government nor did they have a president. In the Constitution a strong national government was created as well as the presidency. In Article II of the Constitution, it outlines the process of electing a president, a process that Romney and the other presidential candidates are participating in today.