Presidential Candidates’ Tax Proposals – Post #9

Review the handout distributed in class (from the Tax Policy Center) to evaluate each candidate’s proposal to reform fiscal policy through assorted tax positions.  You may use this document or other information from other sites to support your response to the following question:

Given the fragile and declining economy, which candidate has the best plan to cure the national recession?

A More Perfect Union – Post #8

Presidential hopeful Barack Obama confronts race and politics amid the controversy surrounding his relationship with Reverend Jeremiah Wright. After viewing the speech, feel free to respond to two questions.

In thinking about the relationship between race and politics, what message(s) resonate most in your mind (positively and/or negatively)?

How will the speech affect Obama’s political standing in the race for the Democratic nomination (and the national election, if he becomes the nominee)?

A Voter’s Guide to Education – Post #7

Summary

A recent Time Magazine issue on education includes a piece on issues related to this field and each candidate’s plan for curing problems in schools.  Four candidates were profiled, and a snapshot of their stance on four issues was provided, including: No Child Left Behind, Vouchers, Merit Pay, and Longer School Day or Year. 

Focus Question: Review each candidate’s perspective on each issue, and decide who would be the “education president”.  Once you make your decision, support your position with information from the candidate’s website about education and the issues posed in the Time article.

The Road to E-Democracy: Post #6

Use this article, our blog, and two sources to respond to the focus question(s).  In searching the below blogs, you may encounter more graphic language used to articulate a strong position.

Talking Points Memo: Weblog – www.talkingpointsmemo.com
Huffington Post: Weblog – www.huffingtonpost.com

How do the rhetoric (language; construction of arguments) and discussion format compare between the popular political blogs and our class blog?  Do either forms represent the kind of e-democracy explored in the Economist article?

The Road to E-Democracy: Post #5

Does the interactivity of web 2.0 democratize societies?  Use evidence from this article and your experience following the election (or through other political experiences) to support your response.

Superdelegate Debate – Post #4

Summary: If results continue to be uncertain in the Democratic primary, superdelegates will play an integral role in deciding the outcome of the nomination.  These individuals are party leaders and elected officials with the power to pledge support at the national convention irrespective to the results of the primaries and caucuses.  CNN invited two superdelegates to discuss the implications of their decisions if a majority (winner) is not decided by the pledged delegates awarded to the primary and caucus winners. 

Focus Question: As posed on the CNN video, if superdelegates play a role in deciding the outcomes of the Democratic nomination, should they: a) vote according to the results of their state; b) vote according to national primary/caucus election results; or c) vote on their own accord?  (incorporate the arguments of the two superdelegates in your support or critique of a position).

Note: To access the video, go to the below website and look for the superdelegate debate under the series of most recent videos; it is not the video immediately linked to the website.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/02/11/monday.analysis/index.html#cnnSTCVideo

The Real Youth Vote – post #3

Summary: The Star Ledger published an article in today’s Union County section depicting the youth vote in the presidential primary. In spending a few hours at Park Middle School, the reporter collected information about the methods and strategies used to facilitate student voting and instructional activities. In addition, the results and some demographic information about the schools were included in the piece. Interestingly, the results from the student election (at both levels) was not consistent with the state results.

Focus Question: Since you were immersed in this election experience you have many insights about the outcomes of the day. Think about a few issues and respond accordingly (to the parts of interest to you).

1. What was the intended message conveyed by the author?

2. Did she accurately depict the day’s experience?

3. How will our school-community be perceived by readers outside of the district?

4. What does this story show you about how the media and politics are closely linked?

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2008/02/the_real_youth_vote_union_coun.html

“16 Ways of Looking at a Female Voter”(NYT)- Post #2

Summary: With the race for president contested for both parties, every segment of the population is dissected by political scientists to see how one group could have an impact in swaying the outcomes of the primaries and national election. The female vote is interesting because it does constitute a numerical majority, but has often been treated like a minority group. In first presenting the “Hillary Factor” as front-and-center to the minds of female voters, the writer identifies the most obvious connection. Upon further reading, one may find that the female vote in these elections is complex, ambiguous, and misunderstood due to the flood of conflicting polls and reports showing numerous factors stimulating political interest and engagement of women.

Focus Questions: After reading all 16 ways to look at the female vote, which factors do you feel will be most instrumental to determining the primary election outcomes? Overall, do you believe the female vote can (should) be characterized or generalized?

Article Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/03/magazine/03womenvoters-t.html?ref=politics

Hitting the National Airwaves – Post #1

Summary: Both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama recently began campaigning nationally for the Democratic nomination, even though the primaries and caucuses typically render campaign messages specifically targeting each state. With “Super Tuesday” on the horizon and many delegates at stake, the two candidates decided to make their general messages and plans national. In viewing the brief NY Times video clip, you may find out what the implications are of this calculated campaign decision.

Focus Question(s): Do you believe Clinton and Obama were too early in catapulting to a national campaign? What will be the effects of these decisions?

http://video.on.nytimes.com/?fr_story=6f470a4302a94856f6927179725a91a6f50ff3a9

Two Hopefuls Share Little but Youth Appeal- Courtney B.

Summary: Senator Barack Obama received the most amount of votes amongst the young population. Obama has spoken on college campuses for months, and has successfully driven an enormous database of potential volunteers. In Iowa, young voters came out in strength, and 57% of them ages 17 to 24 said Obama was their first choice. The youth vote can do the same on Tuesday in New Hampshire as well. Professors from Dartmouth predicted a 60% voter turnout on the campus, exceeding previous primaries. John McCain is a close second behind Obama. He drew Mr. hundreds of young potential voters when he spoke at Dartmouth. Falling behind in the youth vote are Democrats John Edwards (with only 14% of the youth vote in Iowa), and Hilary Clinton (10%). Republicans with a very little percentage of the youth vote are Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani.

Impact on the 2008 election: Over the long run, young voters rarely vote in percentages as high as older voters. Most candidates aren’t concerned about the youth vote. However, Obama has been so determined to capture its power. His campaign catches the youth’s attention, an impression he emphasizes by having aides place young people behind him on stage. With a big turnout of Dartmouth voters at the New Hampshire primary, Obama could very well take the lead.

Focus Question: Will young voters make a huge impact on the 2008 election? Or are young voter turnouts still not strong enough to have a big effect?

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/08/us/politics/08youth.html?hp