I think that last night was McCain’s best performance yet in a debate. He finally came out swinging, while Obama just played defense. Although McCain was good, I don't think he was good enough. With the recent polls putting Obama a good four points ahead of McCain, McCain needed to blow the voters away and I think he came up short.
McCain did a good job of clearly stating the issues, and separating himself from President Bush, but he had some downfalls as well. For instance, he repeatedly tried to call Obama's character into question and link him to Bill Ayers and, contrary to McCain’s belief, those "facts" were not facts. I was also disappointed to hear McCain imply that the health and well-being of the mother should not be a deciding factor in whether or not to perform an abortion.
Most of the polls I have seen have just barely given Obama the victory in this debate, but then again, I don’t watch Fox news. I'm sure McCain took that one in a landslide. In my opinion, I'd call it a tie.. or give the victory to Joe the Plumber...
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Friday, October 10, 2008
The Bailout in Action
AIG recently received an $85 billion loan in order to avoid bankruptcy, but instead of using the money to keep their company alive and help pull the US out of this economic crisis, they decide to take a little spa trip.
But hey, don't you think they all deserved a little vacation?
Seriously, it disgusts me.
But hey, don't you think they all deserved a little vacation?
Seriously, it disgusts me.
"That One" is NOT a Terrorist.
Personally, I think the way that McCain and Palin have been running their campaign this last week is appalling. Spreading lies about how Obama is around cavorting with domestic terrorists just doesn’t seem like an honorable campaign strategy to me.
Obama and Ayers, now a college professor at the University of Illinois, served on the same education board and live in the same neighborhood. Obama can’t help who his neighbors are, hell my neighbors could be serial killers, does that make me one to?
The fact that people at a recent McCain rally were all calling Obama a Muslim terrorist just proves how naive the American public is, and how quick we are to jump onto the bandwagon without giving the facts a second thought.
I respect McCain for telling all the crazies at his rally that Obama is a respectable man and that they shouldn’t be scared of him, but I think its too little too late. McCain supporters literally booed him when he said that Obama was a decent person.
Obama and Ayers, now a college professor at the University of Illinois, served on the same education board and live in the same neighborhood. Obama can’t help who his neighbors are, hell my neighbors could be serial killers, does that make me one to?
The fact that people at a recent McCain rally were all calling Obama a Muslim terrorist just proves how naive the American public is, and how quick we are to jump onto the bandwagon without giving the facts a second thought.
I respect McCain for telling all the crazies at his rally that Obama is a respectable man and that they shouldn’t be scared of him, but I think its too little too late. McCain supporters literally booed him when he said that Obama was a decent person.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Presidential Debates
The face-off starts friday! The focus should be on foreign policy and national security, and regardless of your opinions, I think it's important to listen to each candidate and keep an open mind. All of the broadcast and cable news networks will carry the four debates (three presidential and one vice presidential), and I think this election's debates will be more crucial than ever. These debates afford candidates an opportunity to win votes, lose votes or just seal the deal. One bad line could end it all, and one good one could give the little push needed in such a close election.
Wall Street Woes
Obama and McCain finally agree on something- that the economy is in ruins, and it's going to take $700 billion to fix it. Both Candidates put out strikingly similiar plans, both calling for greater accountability and independent oversight, a path for taxpayers to recoup the money, and a cap on the executive pay of those companies that take part.
McCain stated that his plan essentially requires a ten thousand dollar tax increase per household.
Obama has been unclear in how he plans to raise the money while keeping his same tax plans, but he is also proposing a second stimulus package that would pump $50 billion into the economy -- $25 billion to the states and another $25 billion for infrastructure projects. His plan also calls checks of $500 per individual or $1,000 per household to offset higher gasoline and other energy costs. Obama would pay for those checks with a windfall profits tax on the oil industry
No matter what happens, or who wins, something has to be done, and it has to be done soon.
McCain stated that his plan essentially requires a ten thousand dollar tax increase per household.
Obama has been unclear in how he plans to raise the money while keeping his same tax plans, but he is also proposing a second stimulus package that would pump $50 billion into the economy -- $25 billion to the states and another $25 billion for infrastructure projects. His plan also calls checks of $500 per individual or $1,000 per household to offset higher gasoline and other energy costs. Obama would pay for those checks with a windfall profits tax on the oil industry
No matter what happens, or who wins, something has to be done, and it has to be done soon.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Obama!
Like the rest of the 6000 people at Cross Orchards, I was pumped. The six hours of standing in line was very worth it to be that close to a national icon. I’ve watched tons of his speeches before, but watching him in person was AMAZING. The speech was nothing new, but he did touch on some important points, especially for Colorado. I thought it was great how he laid out his plan for our water rights, and how he commented on how the republican economic plan was out of touch, but then again he could have gone up there and sang the Itsy Bitsy Spider and I would have been amazed. I think it's that smile. Overall, it was the opportunity of a lifetime and I'm sooo glad I got to be apart of it all.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Formal vs. Informal Amendment
The founders of the Constitution realized that change was inevitable overtime, and that in order for a government to succeed, it needs to keep up. They thereby constructed the Constitution as an adaptable document, one that would be able to grow and change along with the people it governs. Therefore, the Constitution can be changed both formally and informally.
The formal amendment process of the constitution consists of two phases, proposal and ratification, each of which can be carried out in two different ways. An amendment can be proposed either by a two-thirds vote in each house of Congress, or by a national convention called by Congress at the request of two-thirds of the state legislatures. Once it has been proposed, the amendment moves on to the process of ratification. In order to be ratified, the amendment must either be approved by three-fourths of the states’ legislatures, as in the case of all amendments except for the 21st, or by a special convention called for by three-fourths of the states. If the amendment is ratified, it then becomes part of the official US Constitution, and is made into law.
The Constitution can also be modified in a less official manner. The Constitution can undergo change through judicial interpretation, changes in political practices, changes in technology, and as a result of the increasing demands on policymakers. The most distinct of the informal processes is the practice of Judicial Review, as established in the 1803 case of Marbury v. Madison. Throughout the years, Judicial Review, although not clearly outlined in the constitution, has become an essential part of the Constitution, as evident in cases such as Roe v. Wade and Brown v. Board of Education. Political parties are another informal yet influential aspect of the Constitution. Although they are not mentioned in the constitution, they have come to play a key role in American politics. Advances in technology have also managed to informally change the way we follow the constitution. When the founders originally drafted the constitution, things such as atomic bombs, abortions, and the internet were not even fathomable. As a result, we have come to follow somewhat of an unwritten constitution, in which the rules for the use of new technology are set. Lastly, the increasing demands that are currently placed on policymakers have also affected the way the Constitution is interpreted. America started off as a meager country that barely had the power to rule itself, let alone the world, but as time went on and the US grew, it gradually emerged as a superpower. As the power of the country grows, so does the power in the hands of the president, resulting in increasing demands on all policymakers involved in our government. As you can see, the Constitution originally given to us by the founders of this country has changed a great deal, and will continue to change as time goes on.
The formal amendment process of the constitution consists of two phases, proposal and ratification, each of which can be carried out in two different ways. An amendment can be proposed either by a two-thirds vote in each house of Congress, or by a national convention called by Congress at the request of two-thirds of the state legislatures. Once it has been proposed, the amendment moves on to the process of ratification. In order to be ratified, the amendment must either be approved by three-fourths of the states’ legislatures, as in the case of all amendments except for the 21st, or by a special convention called for by three-fourths of the states. If the amendment is ratified, it then becomes part of the official US Constitution, and is made into law.
The Constitution can also be modified in a less official manner. The Constitution can undergo change through judicial interpretation, changes in political practices, changes in technology, and as a result of the increasing demands on policymakers. The most distinct of the informal processes is the practice of Judicial Review, as established in the 1803 case of Marbury v. Madison. Throughout the years, Judicial Review, although not clearly outlined in the constitution, has become an essential part of the Constitution, as evident in cases such as Roe v. Wade and Brown v. Board of Education. Political parties are another informal yet influential aspect of the Constitution. Although they are not mentioned in the constitution, they have come to play a key role in American politics. Advances in technology have also managed to informally change the way we follow the constitution. When the founders originally drafted the constitution, things such as atomic bombs, abortions, and the internet were not even fathomable. As a result, we have come to follow somewhat of an unwritten constitution, in which the rules for the use of new technology are set. Lastly, the increasing demands that are currently placed on policymakers have also affected the way the Constitution is interpreted. America started off as a meager country that barely had the power to rule itself, let alone the world, but as time went on and the US grew, it gradually emerged as a superpower. As the power of the country grows, so does the power in the hands of the president, resulting in increasing demands on all policymakers involved in our government. As you can see, the Constitution originally given to us by the founders of this country has changed a great deal, and will continue to change as time goes on.
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