10.12.11
QOTW #3: Obama
Obama faces a precarious reelection effort next November. His approval ratings have steadily dropped from the beginning of his term, and he is now at a mediocre 42%, with 51% of the American populace disapproving of his job in office. To be assured reelection, he must push through major legislation dealing with the economy. As it is, he still holds a lead over all Republican candidates, but as the Republican party gradually unites behind a single candidate, this could change. Still, he holds broad support and can mobilize a large and devoted base. I give 2:1 odds of reelection.
Political Cartoon 12/10
1. This cartoon is by J.D. Crowe
2. Rick Perry with an unidentified cowboy, representing homophobia.
3. The cartoonist uses a pop culture reference to Brokeback Mountain to ridicule Rick Perry's homophobia and the adverse effect it has for his candidacy.
4.The cartoon deals with Perry's recent anti-gay remarks in public appearances.
5. In order to advance in the polls, Perry must tone down his anti-homosexual rhetoric, which alienates many independents and moderate republicans.
6. The cartoonist is most likely a liberal poking fun at Perry's stances on homosexuality.
4.12.11
QOTW #2: Mitt Romney
Mitt Romney has been the Republican front-runner since the first days of campaigning. He has held a constant lead in the polls, and has been unaffected by the fleeting popularity of challengers Michele Bachman, Rick Perry, Herman Cain, and most recently Newt Gingrich. Romney's success has been based on his popularity among right-leaning independents and moderate conservatives, who see Romney as, quite frankly, the sanest candidate. He has well-defined and well thought out stances on key policy issues, including the economy and energy, which have so far come under only limited criticism. If conservative voters are spooked by either his religion or his previous support for universal healthcare in Massachusetts, he could yet lose out on the nomination.
QOTW #1: Rick Perry
Rick Perry's climb to the top of the Republican pack has been built on shaky (at best) ground. His positions on many policies are hazy, and his insistence on cutting programs and departments as a solution to the deficit problem is myopic, paying no attention to the possible effects of such cuts on the operation of the government and on the welfare of the US populace. Still, his popularity among more conservative Republicans ensures a relatively wide base of support, which may bear him out further.
Political Cartoon 11/20
2. The only object in the cartoon is what appears to be a flaming SR-71 Blackbird. The choice of aircraft is significant, as the Congressional super committee which it represents was hyped as having unprecedented power and flexibility, just as the SR-71 was heralded as the greatest stealth aircraft at its advent.
3. The cartoon is quite serious, with only dry humor. The rhetorical question "Time to eject?" illustrates the perceived failure of the Congressional super committee to achieve its goals.
4. The cartoon deals with the Congressional super committee set up to agree on a viable long term plan for cutting the deficit. The committee was given extraordinary powers, but still managed to get nothing done.
5. The cartoon advises the super committee to pass some resolution that will do something positive before partisanship makes it impossible.
6. The cartoonist is jaded by the sluggish progress of a gridlocked Congress, and the super committee's failure simply reinforces his cynicism.
Political Cartoon 12/4
2. The elephant is used to represent the Republican party.
3. Caricature is heavily used, with Mitt Romney presented as an animatronic puppet or robot, and Newt Gingrich as a bloated floating head.
4. The cartoon deals with the 2012 Republican primary candidates, specifically Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich.
5. The cartoon illustrates the trapped feelings of the conservative right, caught between the moderate Romney and the unpalatable Newt Gingrich.
6. Eaton seems to have the view of an educated, conservative Republican, expressing his frustration in the inadequate choices present in the Republican field for 2012.
2.11.11
QOTW #4
Though there are many important political issues facing the state of Virginia, one of the most important is gay marriage. Though an alteration to the Virginia Constitution declaring marriage to be only between a man and a woman was recently passed by Virginia voters, a large and growing portion of the electorate supports free and equal marriages between homosexual partners. In my opinion, striking the alteration and expressly allowing gay and lesbian marriages would be unquestionably a good step forward for the entirety of the states population, expanding an important, though mostly symbolic right to a segment of the population which is as deserving of it as any other group.
30.10.11
7 Billion and Counting
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-seven-billionth-baby-20111031,0,455314.story
Sometime tomorrow, the birth of a baby will herald the expansion of our human race to 7 billion individuals. This is cause for celebration, but also for some serious thought on the state of our society and on what we can do here in the US to better it.
It should be noted that the latest 1 billion inhabitants of Earth have been added in little more than a decade, and most growth projections show a continuing steep population expansion until around 2045, when we should top out at near 9 billion. Most of this growth will be concentrated in the developing world, including sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, areas where poverty rates are constantly high and average lifespan is much shorter than the global mean. The addition of such a large mass of people is sure to exacerbate existing problems of poverty, starvation, and armed conflict, which already are rampant. Granted, the population growth comes with improving medical care and better education in these areas, but it remains to be seen whether such advances can keep up with the rapid population growth.
The US, under financial pressure from the recent economic crisis, may be tempted to cut aid programs to developing nations. In my opinion, such a move would be foolhardy. First of all, millions of people throughout the globe rely on US aid for survival, and withdrawal of such aid would result in many deaths and much more human suffering. Second, however, is that the aid we pour into other countries actually reciprocates and helps our economy by developing new lucrative markets for US exports. As a country develops, increasing prosperity leads to increasing demand for goods, which is satisfied in part through foreign imports. By investing in the economies of tomorrow, the US secures new economic ties that will pay dividends down the road. Finally, the US gains trust, influence, and good-will through its foreign aid, all of which are important for retaining our position as a world leader. If we withhold support for those that need it, we will eventually find ourselves isolated in the globalizing world economy and society.
Sometime tomorrow, the birth of a baby will herald the expansion of our human race to 7 billion individuals. This is cause for celebration, but also for some serious thought on the state of our society and on what we can do here in the US to better it.
It should be noted that the latest 1 billion inhabitants of Earth have been added in little more than a decade, and most growth projections show a continuing steep population expansion until around 2045, when we should top out at near 9 billion. Most of this growth will be concentrated in the developing world, including sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, areas where poverty rates are constantly high and average lifespan is much shorter than the global mean. The addition of such a large mass of people is sure to exacerbate existing problems of poverty, starvation, and armed conflict, which already are rampant. Granted, the population growth comes with improving medical care and better education in these areas, but it remains to be seen whether such advances can keep up with the rapid population growth.
The US, under financial pressure from the recent economic crisis, may be tempted to cut aid programs to developing nations. In my opinion, such a move would be foolhardy. First of all, millions of people throughout the globe rely on US aid for survival, and withdrawal of such aid would result in many deaths and much more human suffering. Second, however, is that the aid we pour into other countries actually reciprocates and helps our economy by developing new lucrative markets for US exports. As a country develops, increasing prosperity leads to increasing demand for goods, which is satisfied in part through foreign imports. By investing in the economies of tomorrow, the US secures new economic ties that will pay dividends down the road. Finally, the US gains trust, influence, and good-will through its foreign aid, all of which are important for retaining our position as a world leader. If we withhold support for those that need it, we will eventually find ourselves isolated in the globalizing world economy and society.
16.10.11
QOTW #3
Report Card for President Barack Obama:
Health Care: A
Health Care overhaul was much needed, provides a necessary safety net for uninsured Americans.
Economy: C
Though he has pushed through emergency legislation, including bailouts, that has had positive impacts on the economy, his efforts, often hamstrung by Congressional gridlock, have not been timely or powerful enough to significantly revive the economy.
War on Terror: D
This grade is not directed at the way he has handled the wars, which has been generally satisfactory, rather at the fact that we are still AT war. Call me a hippie, but we have to get out ASAP.
Reelection: C
He's looking to be in trouble if he doesn't push through significant and popular legislation in the run up to the election.
Health Care: A
Health Care overhaul was much needed, provides a necessary safety net for uninsured Americans.
Economy: C
Though he has pushed through emergency legislation, including bailouts, that has had positive impacts on the economy, his efforts, often hamstrung by Congressional gridlock, have not been timely or powerful enough to significantly revive the economy.
War on Terror: D
This grade is not directed at the way he has handled the wars, which has been generally satisfactory, rather at the fact that we are still AT war. Call me a hippie, but we have to get out ASAP.
Reelection: C
He's looking to be in trouble if he doesn't push through significant and popular legislation in the run up to the election.
Current Event #3: Rising Cain
Recent polls show Herman Cain gaining popularity as the Republican primary approaches. His rise has been buoyed by solid debate performances and his 9-9-9 plan for economic recovery, and now seems to be on a course that will soon surpass front-runner Mitt Romney's 22% poll ratings.
It must be remembered that Cain is only the latest candidate to enjoy a rapid rise; Michelle Bachmann and Rick Perry have enjoyed such surges before, only to fade in popularity in the course of a few weeks. It remains to be seen whether Cain will suffer this fate or if his claim to popularity is more durable.
I, for one, am not a fan of Cain's policies. I find that his proposals for gutting the tax code and instituting his 9% income, 9% sales, and 9% business tax plan to be deceptively simple and ill-advised. The new tax code would lower taxes on top tax brackets, while actually raising taxes for working and lower middle class citizens. For all his talk of the poor needing to pull themselves up by the bootstraps, Cain seems intent on creating yet another obstacle in their path.
His stances, or lack-there-of, on foreign policy are equally troubling. Joking about not being able to name the president of such "small and insignificant states" as Uzbekistan is indeed humorous and personable, but should not be the conduct of a man who seeks the most powerful office of a country with many complicated interests abroad.
I believe that Cain's popularity will begin to fade as Americans begin to appreciate the less than savory implications of Cain's 9-9-9 plan and his lack of a foreign policy strategy becomes more apparent. I still see Mitt Romney eventually securing the Republican nomination, with his steady poll ratings, appeal with moderates, and comprehensive 59 point economic plan.
"Rising Cain." The Economist [London] 15 Oct. 2011: 35-36. Print.
It must be remembered that Cain is only the latest candidate to enjoy a rapid rise; Michelle Bachmann and Rick Perry have enjoyed such surges before, only to fade in popularity in the course of a few weeks. It remains to be seen whether Cain will suffer this fate or if his claim to popularity is more durable.
I, for one, am not a fan of Cain's policies. I find that his proposals for gutting the tax code and instituting his 9% income, 9% sales, and 9% business tax plan to be deceptively simple and ill-advised. The new tax code would lower taxes on top tax brackets, while actually raising taxes for working and lower middle class citizens. For all his talk of the poor needing to pull themselves up by the bootstraps, Cain seems intent on creating yet another obstacle in their path.
His stances, or lack-there-of, on foreign policy are equally troubling. Joking about not being able to name the president of such "small and insignificant states" as Uzbekistan is indeed humorous and personable, but should not be the conduct of a man who seeks the most powerful office of a country with many complicated interests abroad.
I believe that Cain's popularity will begin to fade as Americans begin to appreciate the less than savory implications of Cain's 9-9-9 plan and his lack of a foreign policy strategy becomes more apparent. I still see Mitt Romney eventually securing the Republican nomination, with his steady poll ratings, appeal with moderates, and comprehensive 59 point economic plan.
"Rising Cain." The Economist [London] 15 Oct. 2011: 35-36. Print.
QOTW #2
One political issue I am particularly interested in is gay marriage and gay equality. I have many gay and lesbian friends and relatives, and several family friends are gay, and I find much anti-gay rhetoric to be utterly bigoted and irrational.
10.10.11
US of A: Life, Liberty, and My .380 Cal Smith and Wesson Bodyguard
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-brown-guns-20111011,0,5655548.story
Earlier today, Gov. Jerry Brown of California signed legislation banning the unconcealed carry of handguns. By doing so, he strays into one of the most vitriolic and polarized policy disagreements facing the country. Brown, who cited the support of California police chiefs in his defense of the bill, has received heat from those who would like to pack their heat proudly and visibly in a holster on their hip. The bill says nothing about openly carrying long barrel firearms such as shotguns and rifles.
Brown, himself the owner of three firearms, signed the legislation as a continuation of a recent push for increased gun control, targeted at felons. Brown argues that the open carry of firearms does more harm than good, causing consternation among the general populace and making the jobs of law enforcement much harder.
In response, gun rights advocates have argued that the ban of open carry handguns will result in an increase in concealed carry permits and infringe on the rights of honest citizens to bear arms for self-defense purposes.
I observe the growing trend of lax gun regulation sweeping the nation with angst, and so laud Gov. Brown for his political courage in bucking the trend. In my opinion, the case for open carry weapons is very weak. First of all, states generally require open carry firearms to be unloaded. The argument that open carry firearms would be any sort of deterrent to crimes is thus laughable. Second of all, the presence of more guns on the street (or, as in four states of our beautiful Union, in government buildings), whether concealed or not, simply complicates the jobs of law enforcement officers, as they are forced to deal with the increased likelihood that any given person is exercising their 2nd Amendment rights to the fullest.
Going deeper, I believe that the 2nd Amendment is, in itself, flawed. In the late 1700's, with little to no law enforcement present throughout the new nation, the amendment granted citizens the rights to form their own militias for the purpose of law enforcement. Now, over two hundred years later, with law enforcement well established throughout the United States, I believe the 2nd Amendment is much less relevant and in need of serious review. Unfortunately, this opinion is not shared by many others. Ah, well. Guess I'll head over to Starbucks, where the person directly behind me in line will be proudly bearing his Glock for the rest of the clientele to nervously gaze at.
Earlier today, Gov. Jerry Brown of California signed legislation banning the unconcealed carry of handguns. By doing so, he strays into one of the most vitriolic and polarized policy disagreements facing the country. Brown, who cited the support of California police chiefs in his defense of the bill, has received heat from those who would like to pack their heat proudly and visibly in a holster on their hip. The bill says nothing about openly carrying long barrel firearms such as shotguns and rifles.
Brown, himself the owner of three firearms, signed the legislation as a continuation of a recent push for increased gun control, targeted at felons. Brown argues that the open carry of firearms does more harm than good, causing consternation among the general populace and making the jobs of law enforcement much harder.
In response, gun rights advocates have argued that the ban of open carry handguns will result in an increase in concealed carry permits and infringe on the rights of honest citizens to bear arms for self-defense purposes.
I observe the growing trend of lax gun regulation sweeping the nation with angst, and so laud Gov. Brown for his political courage in bucking the trend. In my opinion, the case for open carry weapons is very weak. First of all, states generally require open carry firearms to be unloaded. The argument that open carry firearms would be any sort of deterrent to crimes is thus laughable. Second of all, the presence of more guns on the street (or, as in four states of our beautiful Union, in government buildings), whether concealed or not, simply complicates the jobs of law enforcement officers, as they are forced to deal with the increased likelihood that any given person is exercising their 2nd Amendment rights to the fullest.
Going deeper, I believe that the 2nd Amendment is, in itself, flawed. In the late 1700's, with little to no law enforcement present throughout the new nation, the amendment granted citizens the rights to form their own militias for the purpose of law enforcement. Now, over two hundred years later, with law enforcement well established throughout the United States, I believe the 2nd Amendment is much less relevant and in need of serious review. Unfortunately, this opinion is not shared by many others. Ah, well. Guess I'll head over to Starbucks, where the person directly behind me in line will be proudly bearing his Glock for the rest of the clientele to nervously gaze at.
2.10.11
QOTW #1
I am most closely aligned with the Democratic Party. I am liberal on most social issues, including same-sex marriage. I also favor increased government involvement in the economy, higher taxes on upper and upper middle income brackets, and more welfare programs that would raise the standards of living for the millions of American living below or near the poverty line.
Current Event #1: Perry's Racist Ranch
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44747781/ns/politics-decision_2012/
Texas Governor and Presidential hopeful Rick Perry was recently slammed by fellow hopeful Herman Cain over the "insensitive" name of Perry's onetime hunting camp: "Niggerhead."
Though Perry insists that the name, which appeared on a rock at the front of the property, was painted over well before his entrance into politics, sources for the Washington Post claim that the name was in fact visible through the 1980's and 90's, as Perry's political career was in full swing.
Ray Sullivan, Perry's communications director, also disclosed that Perry had last visited the camp in 2006, and had stopped leasing it in 2007.
"Niggerhead" is a very offensive and insensitive name for any location. However, the name of a one time hunting camp says nothing about Perry's own ideas and politics. Perry himself had nothing to do with naming the camp, which was established well before Perry's father leased the camp in the early 1980's. Furthermore, Perry's claims that he painted over the name before the beginning of his political career are well attested by sources close to the governor, and the anonymous claims otherwise in the Post contradict each other, some stating that the offensive name was visible in 2008 while others say that the name was erased in the 1990's.
All petty details aside, the entire brouhaha over the name is a sad example of modern attack politics. You know you've got a problem when the name of a hunting camp gains more attention than the actual positions of campaigners for a national election. Instead of slinging mud (or feces) around like a bunch of monkeys, let's actually have some productive, educated discussion of the complicated problems facing the nation and the candidates' plans for addressing them.
Texas Governor and Presidential hopeful Rick Perry was recently slammed by fellow hopeful Herman Cain over the "insensitive" name of Perry's onetime hunting camp: "Niggerhead."
Though Perry insists that the name, which appeared on a rock at the front of the property, was painted over well before his entrance into politics, sources for the Washington Post claim that the name was in fact visible through the 1980's and 90's, as Perry's political career was in full swing.
Ray Sullivan, Perry's communications director, also disclosed that Perry had last visited the camp in 2006, and had stopped leasing it in 2007.
"Niggerhead" is a very offensive and insensitive name for any location. However, the name of a one time hunting camp says nothing about Perry's own ideas and politics. Perry himself had nothing to do with naming the camp, which was established well before Perry's father leased the camp in the early 1980's. Furthermore, Perry's claims that he painted over the name before the beginning of his political career are well attested by sources close to the governor, and the anonymous claims otherwise in the Post contradict each other, some stating that the offensive name was visible in 2008 while others say that the name was erased in the 1990's.
All petty details aside, the entire brouhaha over the name is a sad example of modern attack politics. You know you've got a problem when the name of a hunting camp gains more attention than the actual positions of campaigners for a national election. Instead of slinging mud (or feces) around like a bunch of monkeys, let's actually have some productive, educated discussion of the complicated problems facing the nation and the candidates' plans for addressing them.
27.9.11
Soft Musings: Volume 1
Welcome to the wide world of my existence. Grab a soft drink if you'd like (I prefer Dr. Pepper, but I'm not being paid or anything). Put on some soft Jack Johnson and prepare to be utterly bored to death as I ramble on about whatever next pops into my head.
Topic 1: Rap Music...
...
...
You know what? Screw it. I have nothing productive to say.
Have a beautiful Tuesday.
Or Wednesday.
Or rest of the week...how about you just have a great rest of the year. Except on unhappiness day. And with that craptastic segue, I leave you with these token words of wisdom from one of the greatest literary and cinematographic works of all time...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ke6oEmLepno
Topic 1: Rap Music...
...
...
You know what? Screw it. I have nothing productive to say.
Have a beautiful Tuesday.
Or Wednesday.
Or rest of the week...how about you just have a great rest of the year. Except on unhappiness day. And with that craptastic segue, I leave you with these token words of wisdom from one of the greatest literary and cinematographic works of all time...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ke6oEmLepno
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)