Pro-Life Republicans Take Stances on Planned Parenthood Shooting

Pro-Life Republicans Take Stances on Planned Parenthood Shooting

In response to the recent shootings in Colorado outside a Planned Parenthood location, Republicans have tried to take this event and use it as fuel to argue against the organization. Huckabee has shown his pro-life opinions in the following statement: "There's no excuse for killing other people, whether it's happening inside the Planned Parenthood headquarters, inside their clinics where many millions of babies die, or whether it's people attacking Planned Parenthood". Trump has also shown a discomfort with abortion and the actions of Planned Parenthood. Where do you stand on the tragedy that occurred in Colorado? How do you think the support or disapproval of Planned Parenthood will affect the 2016 election?

Obama's Call to Action on Pressing Gun Control

Obama's Call to Action on Pressing Gun Control

In response to the three year anniversary of the tragedies at Sandy Hook Elementary, Obama spoke on behalf of the inaction and stalemate of any gun control laws getting passed. Obama and his staff are working to bring an end to the "gun-show loophole" although it will be very difficult to overcome. The strength of the gun lobby and its allies such as the NRA holds back any legislation that could prevent the next tragedy. Obama's call to action stands: "What if Congress did something -- anything -- to save one American, or a classroom of Americans, or a stadium's worth of Americans from losing their lives to gun violence in the years to come?" This issue of gun control has escalated immensely over that past years. So much so that in a recent Daily Show report, Trevor Noah cruelly joked that due to so many recent shootings, Obama should have a belt with a podium strapped to him in order to prepare him for constant response speeches. What is your stance on our current issues surrounding gun control? What do you think the Obama administration can do to keep Americans safe?

Trump vs. Cruz: Two Bad Options

Recently, Ted Cruz has surpassed Donald Trump in national polls. According to one poll, Cruz has a 10% lead on Trump (31% to 21%), and in another, he has a 2% lead (28% to 26%). Some members of the GOP are relieved; they think anyone would be a better candidate than Trump. However, many GOP leaders only view Cruz as the lesser of two evils, and hope another candidate will win the nomination. What do you think? Is Cruz a better or worse alternative to Trump? Do you think Cruz will be the "compromise candidate," or is it still possible for someone besides Trump or Cruz to win the GOP presidential nomination?

Obama Stresses the Importance of Gun Control

It's been three years since the elementary school shooting in Connecticut that claimed the lives of twenty-six people. There have been other shootings since then, resulting in further fatalities. President Obama is horrified at Congress' continued unwillingness to act in response. He says we need to establish stricter gun control, and improve the background checks required to purchase a gun. Currently, Obama is exploring a legal loophole that could allow him to take action without Congress. Do you think we need stricter gun control? Why or why not? Do you think Obama will be able to get around Congress to strengthen restrictions on guns? And, Obama says, "the rest of us will have to do what we can." What can we do?

Dee Snider to Trump: I may not take it anymore

Dee Snider, frontman of the heavy metal band Twisted Sister, also long time friend of Donald Trump from his show 'Celebrity Apprentice' gave permission to Trump allowing him to use Snider's song "We're Not Gonna Take It" to back his campaign.  However, in Trump's most recent GOP remarks especially the one regarding the ban of Muslim's in the US; Snider has began to regret his decision. Snider has regard Trump as someone completely different during his entire campaign, "My Donald Trump was a Democrat," he said. "My Donald Trump is pro-choice. My Donald Trump is what we call a Northeastern Republican, you know, fiscally conservative, socially liberal. But that's changing." Do you think Snider should no longer allow Trump to use his song? Has Trump gone to far with his remarks towards minorities during the campaign? Do you believe Trump was once the man that Snider claims he was before the race, or has he always been the way he presents himself today

House avoids government shutdown with hours to spare

December 11th, 2015, the day the government was hours away from another shutdown and yet again the House pressed for another bill granting them a few more day to get their act together on what needed to be budgeted for certain issues. Obama passed the bill granting the House until Wednesday to figure out what had to be done. New speaker of the House, Paul Ryan has done everything, but inform the public on what his plan is for the fast approaching proposal. Some of the most pressing issues that are up in the air currently are those of "vetting of refugees from Iraq and Syria to regulations over clean air and water." In your opinion what are some of the issues you think are most pressing and should be considered in the deal? What is your standpoint on the looming threats of government shutdown that constantly surface, causing short term fixes?

Obama may possibly sign an update to the "No Child Left Behind Act"

This controversial bill was signed by George W. Bush to allow the federal government to mandate certain expectations of schools around the countries. Mann politicians argued that the bill gave too much power to Washington and took away some of the freedom of state and local schools to decide their own  education policy.  Do you think that the bill to be signed by Obama called the "Every Student Succeeds Act" will improve or make worse the current education system requirements.

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Questions Race as a Factor of Admission at UT

Chief Justice Scalia recently questioned some of the black students who attend UT because of their admission based on race.  Do you think he is right to question the use of race in admissions at university's?

Interesting Youth Voter Proposal!

Curious what you think about this proposal to "spur civic engagement by younger Americans."

Trump Deflects Withering Fire on Plan Against Muslims

We have seen Donald Trump becoming more and more extreme. He recently stated that he planned on trying to ban Muslims from the United States. This plan has received a ton of criticism from political opponents to people around the world. The Super Pac supporting Jeb Bush has just unveiled its first ad directed towards Trump. Hillary Clinton tweeted for someone to inform Trump that "Hate is not an American value." Trump responded to this criticism by saying that he meant that he wanted to ban only foreign Muslims, not Muslim citizens. He used the example of President Roosevelt's authorization of the detention of Japanese, German and Italian immigrants during World War II to support his plan. Do you believe a ban on Muslims will help prevent any terrorism in the United States? Is Trump's plan comparable to Roosevelt's? Now that these candidates have started to stand up against Trump, do you think we will see others follow in their footsteps?

Email shows Pentagon was able to respond as soon as Benghazi started

Judicial Watch, a government watchdog, had obtained and released a new email regarding the attacks on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi. In this email, a Pentagon official offered immediate military help to the top deputies of Secretary of State Clinton. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta testified saying that there was not enough time to get troops into Benghazi. The newly obtained email, which was sent early in the long fight, contradicts this testimony. Do you believe that the Obama administration, especially Hillary Clinton, properly handled the situation in Benghazi? Should Panetta face repercussions for falsely testifying? What is your overall opinion on the whole Benghazi situation?

Students’ Protests May Play Role in Supreme Court Case on Race in Admissions

Another affirmative action court case is coming before the Supreme Court. White applicant Abigail Fisher was denied admission to the University of Texas at Austin, and claims it is due to the school's unconstitutional racial preferences. In this case, the argument for affirmative action focus more on the importance of a diverse campus as opposed to showing the program as a way to address racial disadvantages caused by the past. The various protests that have taken place on campuses across the nation over racial issues will affect the outcome of the ruling, one way or another. Those in favor of affirmative action claim that the protests on campus are a healthy result of students from various backgrounds disagreeing on different issues. However, those who oppose affirmative action claim that protests are a result of students who otherwise wouldn't have gotten into a given college protesting racial prejudice when in reality they don't do as well because they are worse students. Are you for or against affirmative action? What do you think student protests indicate about affirmative action? What outcome do you expect in the upcoming Supreme Court case?

House Votes to Block Obama Climate Rules

While Obama and other world leaders attempted to create a global climate agreement in Paris, Congress voted to block his Clean Power Plan, which aims to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. These measures will most likely be vetoed by Obama. The GOP claims they blocked the plan to show the climate conference that Obama doesn't have the support of his country on environmental issues.The opposition argues that the regulations will kill jobs, drive up electricity costs, and reduce the reliability of the U.S. energy supply, and that it's more important to focus on national security at the moment. Supporters of the policies believe this plan is an important step in slowing global climate change and its harmful effects on the environment and the economy. The EPA claims it can enact this plan under the Clean Air Act; however, it has received major backlash from twenty-five states, as well as GOP lawmakers. Do you believe that there is as much opposition to Obama's environmental policies amongst Americans as there is in Congress? Should we prioritize national security over environmental regulation? Do you think we can expect any of Obama's environmental policies to be passed through Congress any time soon?

Kentucky Governor Restores the Right to Vote to Most Felons

Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear restored the right to vote to the majority of the state's nonviolent felony offenders. Voting rights won't be restored to those who have been convicted of violent crimes, sex crimes, bribery or treason. About 170,000 people could get the right to vote from this executive order. Kentucky was one of the few states to not automatically restore voting rights to felons once they had completed their sentence, but now incarcerated felons will automatically have their voting rights restored. What limitations do you think should be put on felons' voting rights? Do you think that other states will begin to give back more voting rights to felons following the lead of Kentucky?

GOP Leaders Caught in Standoff with Trump

GOP Leaders have long feared the rise of Donald Trump. Many Republican officials and strategists believe that the nomination of Trump would lead to an electoral wipeout and would undo some of the gains that they have made in recent congressional, state, and local elections. While many Republicans agree that Trump needs to be stopped, almost no one is willing to do it. With increasing divides among the Republican Party, how far do you think party leaders will go to stop Trump? If Trump does not win the Republican nomination, do you think he will run as a third party candidate?

What happened to Carly Fiorina?

As the Iowa caucuses draw closer, Americans seem to have lost view of one particular GOP candidate. Carly Fiorina, who in September was in second place in the race for the GOP nomination, has dropped back in the polls to around 3-4%, not nearly enough to make her a viable candidate. What has happened? She doesn't seem to have made any obvious mistakes in front of an audience, and yet she falls further back. Republican strategist Susan Del Percio says that she believes a lack of funding has brought on the decrease in attention, but what other forces could be at play here? The GOP still has so many candidates that is it just about time that some of them begin to fall out of focus? What could this mean (if anything) for the other lesser known candidates in both parties? Is it still possible to Fiorina to pull ahead and, if not win the nomination, at least make a dent in the GOP vote?

Paris attacks bring about an increase in patriotism and mobilize French youth

The French people have rallied around the attacks earlier this month. Military enlistments have nearly quintupled and Air Force enlistments have quadrupled as the young people in France rush to join in the defense of their country, but these are not the only changes that are occurring in the French mindset. Citizens are also hurrying to buy and display le tricolore, the French flag., and La Marseilles has been breaking out spontaneously in the streets. The article even makes a reference to "un-French" behavior, a term that, as we discussed in class, has not really been heard before. All of these responses are very similar to the American response after the attacks on 9/11. How do you predict that these attacks will change the French mindset for the long term? Is this surge in patriotism temporary or here to stay? Could "un-French" become a term with a similar meaning to "un-American"? Or will French traditions of cosmopolitanism return once the initial response to the attacks has worn off?

Debating the Link between Climate Change and Syrian Instability

Debating the Link between Climate Change and Syrian Instability

Senator Bernie Sanders has taken some heat for his claim in recent debates that climate change needs to be addressed because it directly contributes to terrorism.  He pointed out that even the U. S. Central Intelligence Agency and Department of Defense have recently expressed concerns that the harsh conditions imposed by climate change will foment instability and conflict within and among many countries of the world.  He also cited a National Academy of Sciences report that analyzed the severity of droughts between 2007-2010 in Syria, which occurred just before the Syrian uprising.  Fact-checking found that these reports and analyses were correct, and scientists have associated the record droughts in the region with climate change.  However, the science is still evolving regarding the links between climate change and the veracity and frequency of individual storm, drought, and flood events.  Moreover, the link between any single climate event and social instability is difficult to prove. Fact-checkers have therefore concluded that while Sen. Sanders was largely correct in his sentiments, he should have probably stopped short of saying that the climate-terrorism connection is “direct” since there are many other factors to also consider.  Do you agree with the Department of Defense, which considers climate change to be a “threat multiplier” for worldwide conflicts?  Taking it a step further, do you think that climate stressors can contribute to individual acts of terrorism? 

Police Withhold Videos of Minnesota Shooting

Police Withhold Videos of Minnesota Shooting

Protesters in Minneapolis are requesting that videos be released that might shed light on the circumstances surrounding the death of a 24 year old black man, Jamar ONeal Clark.  The man was fatally shot early Sunday morning by police during a scuffle. According to police, the incident occurred after they had responded to a report of an assault. While paramedics were attending to the assault victim, they were interfered with by a second man who was then shot by police who intervened.  Some bystanders reported that the man had already been handcuffed when he was shot. Protesters in Minneapolis are asking for the release of partial videos that are reportedly available from bystanders, a public housing camera, an ambulance, a mobile police camera, and an Elks Club across the street. With national attention still focused on racial tensions and events in Ferguson, Baltimore, and elsewhere, should video evidence involving apprehensions by law enforcement be made available to the public?  Or would this promote more tensions between proponents of the Black Lives Matter movement and law enforcement, possibly contributing to unsafe conditions?

Trump says US will 'have no choice' but to shut some mosques down

Bush Flip-Flops on Refugee Question

Buying Power

Buying Power 
There are an estimated 120 million families living in the United States. Of these, 158 families have contributed over half of the campaign money that has gone towards the candidates in the upcoming presidential election. These ultra-rich, mostly self made, politically active billionaires have put forth small fortunes to back the candidates and the issues they support. Mostly they are right wing (138 of the families have contributed to republican campaigns while only 20 have contributed to democratic campaigns.) Through the utilization of super-PACs, every single one of these families has contributed over $250,000 to their respective presidential candidate or party compared to the average American household that donates about $21.17. These hyper wealthy individuals convert their monetary worth into political clout effectively by pumping funds into policies they agree with. Is this vast imbalance in funding ethical? Also, should super PACs be utilized if they allow extremely wealthy individuals to donate more than they should be legally allowed?

ISIS in Syria: No easy solution

ISIS in Syria: No easy solution As a result of the recent tragedies in Paris, there has been an outcry to put a stop to ISIS. Many call for complete neutralization of this radical group so that they can no longer commit these atrocities. However, neutralizing this group is unfortunately easier said than done. There is a major deficiency in opposition to ISIS in Syria. The only reliable defense forces against this nihilistic organization in its home nation are undermanned, underequipped, and underfunded. Neighboring Turkey is only adding fuel to the fire by largely disregarding the radicals that flood into Syria and instead focusing their military power on the Kurds that inhabit the surrounding nations. This influx of radicals has given given the flame that is ISIS a metaphorical can of lighter fluid by allowing it to grow and become more potentially dangerous. Also, even though the United States military is the mightiest in the world, our  strategy for handling this situation is tired and inefficient. The combination of sending military personnel to train the existing opposition forces and air strikes isn't effective if there aren't enough people to train. The situation seems dire at this point. What do you think about our chances of effectively neutralizing ISIS influence. Also do you think there is a more efficient way to go about this than the military strategy already put in place?

Republicans Don't Like Dynasties. Or maybe they just don't like Jeb Bush.

54% of Americans think electing another Clinton or Bush president would be bad for the country. More than six of ten Republicans say electing Clinton or Bush would be bad for the country while 42% of Democrats believe the same. More Republicans appear to be against Jeb Bush because of his last name than Democrats against Hilary Clinton. Why do you think the parties act so differently towards dynasties? Bush's campaign might also be suffering because the 2016 presidential election is viewed as a supportive "outsider" election while Bush is very much a political insider. Do you think it is the candidates' family name or the distaste of dynasties in general that is hurting Bush's campaign? Do you think Jeb Bush still has a chance at the GOP nomination? Does his family's name hurt his campaign or is fundamentally Jeb's bad performance that causes his drop in polls?

Paul Ryan Calls For Halt To Syrian Refugee Program

Image from Newsweek.

After the terrorist attacks that happened in Paris on Friday night and resulted in at least 129 casualties and over 300 wounded, France and many other countries are revitalizing their attacks and positions on the Syrian War. Obama has pledged to accept Syrian refugees to come to the United States, yet not everyone in the United States is on board with this costly endeavor. 25 out of 50 governors have already opposed to accept these refugees as there is fierce opposition, complaints, and concerns about safety among US citizens. Today Speaker of the House Paul Ryan called for a suspension of the Syrian refugee program until the Obama administration comes up with a definitive and clearer strategy towards the Islamic State and a stricter way of vetting refugees before allowing them to resettle in the US.

To quote Paul Ryan: “Our nation has always been welcoming,” Mr. Ryan said at a news conference. “But we cannot allow terrorists to take advantage of our compassion. This is a moment where it is better to be safe than to be sorry. So we think the prudent, the responsible thing is to take a pause in this particular aspect of this refugee program in order to verify that terrorists are not trying to infiltrate the refugee population.”

Do you agree with Paul Ryan's decision? Do you think we should allow Syrian refugees into the US? Could we potentially be endangering ourselves? Should we appeal to our humanitarianism or national security?

UK leader: 'More likely than not' bomb brought down Russian plane

This article is about the recent downing of Metrojet Flight 9286, a Russian commercial jet heading from Sharm el-Sheikh to St. Petersburg, Russia. The plane crashed Saturday, October 31st in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula. Of the 224 people on board, 219 were Russian, four were Ukrainian, and one person was Belarusian, all of whom died. British Prime Minister David Cameron has now come out and said that it was most likely brought down by a bomb. As a result of this news, many British citizens have avoided flying back from Sharm el-Sheikh, a popular tourist destination, until the airport beefs up security. US officials have their opinions on the issue, stating that intelligence suggests that someone at the airport helped to get the bomb onto the plane. US intelligence also suggests that ISIS planted planted a bomb on the plane. On Wednesday, an audio message was posted on online from ISIS' Sinai Branch, claiming responsibility for the attack. Both Egypt and Russia have denied the claims, saying there's no evidence to support such an attack. Do you think that this is something ISIS would do? Also, do you think this is something the United States should be involved in, or should we stay out of it?

Red Tape Slows U.S. Help for Children Fleeing Central America

This article talks about the recent failure of the new Central American Minors program, which allows refugee children from other countries to apply for refuge here in the United States. To date, not a single child has entered the United States through this program. Of the 5,400 children that have applied to the program, only 90 have been interviewed to be considered and no one has been actually chosen. The program was created last December to help counter the large number of children illegally entering the country, often in very dangerous conditions. Over 40,000 unaccompanied children from Central America illegally came to the United States last year. Administrative officials argue that the delay is justified because if any mistakes are made about who is allowed entrance, it could give political adversaries motive to have the program shut down. But activists from international refugee organizations disagree, saying that children in these areas are still in dangerous situations, and don't have time to wait. Do you think the program is a waste of taxpayer's money, seeing that it has not legally permitted any children into the country, as proposed? Or do you think the program is a good idea but needs to be executed faster? Also, do you think that the wellbeing of these endangered children trumps "bureaucratic concerns"?

Enemies due to beliefs or titles?

Politics are turning into a two-sided battle between Republicans and Democrats, instead of conservative ideas versus those of liberals. GOP members' "views of Deomcrats have soured", and vice versa. There used to exist two sides even within each party, but political parties are now more often than not strictly title against title. The Washington Post explains the height of each party's dislike for the other- a left-sided Republican may have the same beliefs as a conservative Democrat, but the two will never agree to that. This has led to voters casting their ballots because he or she is completely against the Republican candidate, rather than because they support their Democratic runner. A posed question in this article is "whether polarization among politicians or among the public is the more important factor". What do you believe? Is it better (or worse) to have political polarization within the government itself or those who elect our government?

UVA Sexual Assault Scandal

UVA Waged Intense Fight to Influence Federal Sexual Assault Investigation

This article talks about the University of Virginia and its history with sexual assault, along with the legalities. UVA has had "21 instances of alleged sexual assault from 2008 to 2012", which is a staggering number to many. The publicly-released allegations resulted in a blow to the University's reputation. The OCR, or US Education Department's 
Office of Civil Rights had composed a 39 page document to be released, but first had to share it with UVA, who claimed it was "riddled with inaccuracies". "The university was enormously displeased with what our (the OCRs) findings were and very much hoped we would change them”. The OCR shortened this document of accusations to 26 pages, which was made public. This copy didn't list every event of assault, and made the time span of these assaults seem much shorter, indicating that sexual assault at the University hasn't been as ongoing of a problem as it truly is.  Gov. Terry McAuliffe is the one who said that UVA was in danger of losing their rights to due process, and that they should be able to review the allegations before they went public. Do you think the University of Virginia should've been able to review the claims, seeing that the severity/number of occurrences of sexual assault was lightened so much? Additionally, the school was called a "hostile environment". Do you think that since UVA is taking hold of the offenses that the school can still be considered a "hostile" place?

The largest religious group among Democrats? 'None.'

In a recent study by the Pew Research Center on religion, it was found that the largest religious affiliation among Democrats is actually no religious affiliation at all. This number has increased by 10% since Pew conducted the same study a few years ago. The most common affiliation among Republicans is evangelical Protestants, and that number has only increased by 1% since the last study was conducted. The main reason why these trends are occurring is because the younger generation tends not to affiliate themselves with a religion and tends to be Democratic. As we read in the article about Red and Blue America, this article also mentions the distinct differences between the two. Do you think they are accurate? Does it make sense that people who do not associate with a religion are most often Democrats? Why do you think religion has such a large influence on whether someone is a Democrat or a Republican?

Paul Ryan doubtful about defunding Planned Parenthood

In a recent interview, new House Speaker Paul Ryan said that Planned Parenthood should not receive any money from taxpayers. He claimed that he has always thought this, "even before these disgusting videos came out." Ryan currently has a team investigating Planned Parenthood. Yet when asked if he would defund Planned Parenthood, he replied that, in order to be effective, his party needs to be realistic about what is and what is not achievable, but they still need to push for things they believe should be changed. Should Paul Ryan be investigating Planned Parenthood? Although he is doubtful that Planned Parenthood will actually be defunded, would you agree with those who want to defund it? Do you believe that Planned Parenthood should get taxpayers' money?

Charles Koch Speaks Out in Defense of His Large Campagin Donations

Charles Koch, someone who normally prefers to avoid the media, has recently been very exposed due to the release of his new book. In a recent interview, he also spoke out in defense for his large contribution to politicians campaigns. Koch blatantly states that he wants something back from his donations, but implies that his donations are justified through his intentions, which are, in his eyes, good. Is does Koch's defense truly justify his actions? Furthermore, is it right, even so, for someone to buy legislation they want passed? Finally, which is a more pressing freedom, the freedom for people to be able to use what they have however they want, or the freedom for everyone to have their own political needs fairly represented through government (this being in situations where they directly interfere with one another, such as this one)?

New Ruling Allows The F.B.I. To Ignore A Citizen's Rights, Simlpy Because It Occurred Overseas

In 2007, Amir Mohamed Meshal, a U.S. citizen from New Jersey, travelled to Egypt to visit family. After that, he decided to provide humanitarian relief for rebel groups in Somalia, where, during that work, he along with many others were forced out of Somalia and into Kenya (and in Meshal's case, eventually Ethiopia) to be interrogated by many people, including F.B.I officials. According to Meshal, while he was interrogated he was denied both Fourth and Fifth Amendment rights and was also told by the officials that he would "disappear" if he did not cooperate. Eventually, Mr. Meshal was released and returned to the U.S., where he appealed for monetary compensation for the way he was treated. However, the court ruled in favor of the F.B.I., saying that it was overseas, and also pertained to a matter of national security. This ties in almost directly with our reading from the Cigler book not too long ago. Does the U.S. have the right to treat people as Meshal was treated in order to "preserve national security", or does it vary from situation to situation? If you think that latter, what draws the line to determine if it is justified? Furthermore, does the U.S.'s right to act this way change whether it is physically in the U.S. or another country? If so, how? Finally, should we be willing to still provide monetary compensation for mistakes made in the war on terrorism, or should we not have to because the breaches of their rights were "justified"?

Political Typology Quiz

I found this quiz that defines your political views. It's really interesting, and I think it's worth checking out!

Pew Research Center Political Typology Quiz

President Obama's Belief on Police Being "Scapegoated" for Society's Failures

Barack Obama defends law enforcement and their effort to help the community. He does think they don't get enough credit for the good they do, rather only get attention for the bad things they do. Obama believes the police are "scapegoated" for all the problems in society. Even with there being a tendency of racial bias in how police act towards a certain person, Obama believes it's not all up to the police to eliminate. In addition, more gun safety laws in the United States has been a major goal to Obama. He believes that if less people own guns, it will ultimately eliminate a lot of problems; there will be less deaths, and there will be a safer environment for the people. Do you agree or disagree with Obama's views on the law enforcement? Explain. Is there true validity to use the police as scapegoats? How do you think the police respond to being scapegoats? Additionally, do you think Obama has the right to take away our right to the Second Amendment (the right to bare arms)? Do you agree with Obama's belief on gun safety in this country? Why or why not?

Carly Fiorina's Potential as Republican Candidate in 2016 Presidential Election

Carly Fiorina is starting to prove her potential as a great candidate in the 2016 presidential election. She is very determined to go up against the favorable Donald Trump and with the loss in the 2010 election for Senate, Fiorina is hungry for the win. Some controversy on the topic of Planned Parenthood caused a negative effect on people's views of Fiorina, but other than some small controversies, Fiorina is preparing to campaign and run to be the potential Republican Party candidate. Even though Carly Fiorina has a different approach on campaigning and her views, do you think Carly Fiorina has potential in the Republican race? How can she compete against the popularity of Donald Trump if she is an outsider to the election with less popularity than him? Explain why you think this? Do you think Carly Fiorina is wasting her time? Why or why not?

University of Mississippi Lowers State Flag with Confederate Symbol

University of Mississippi Lowers State Flag with Confederate Symbol


The University of Mississippi recently took down its state flag, which had the Confederate battle emblem on it, because it had received complaints from student leaders. Although the student government had voted 33 to 15 to remove the flag, some state leaders were against it, such as State Senator Chris McDaniel (a Republican). He said that a public university is  not a "cocoon designed for coddling the feelings of the perpetually offended". What do you think the Confederate symbol represents? Do you think the Confederate flag should be removed? Would a Democrat react differently to this situation, and if so, how?

White House Disagrees With F.B.I. Chief On Scrutiny as a Cause of Crime

White House Disagrees With F.B.I. Chief On Scrutiny as a Cause of Crime

According to the FBI director, James B. Comey, the rise in violent crime in some cities is not because police officers have been shirking their responsibilities, but because recent criticism of police has caused police officers to be more passive. Many law enforcement leaders and officers have said that they fear that their direct interactions with people would be caught on camera. Officers described a crowd of young people with mobile phones jeering at them when they stepped out of their cars, which made them feel as if they were under siege. This has become known as the Ferguson effect. However, many White House officials disagree with Comey's statements, and some were even offended that Comey had suggested that criticizing the police had caused the increase in violent crime. The end of the article also briefly mentioned that the government's more lenient prison sentences and that federal prison population had declined. The people that are video taping and taunting the police have their actions protected by the 1st Amendment, but their actions are creating public disorder. Should these rowdy people have their actions protected if they are disrupting law enforcement's ability to do its job? Also, should the U.S. consider making its sentences for criminals more lenient or more harsh in order to curb crime?

The Trump Poll Numbers Lie

America has a fascination with anything - or anyone - out of the ordinary. This is nothing new. In the case of the 2016 election cycle, this "out of the ordinary" thing just happens to be Donald Trump. But election after election, there has almost always been a Donald Trump - someone who captures America's attention for a time being, before getting boring. Now, almost everyone thought the American people's obsession with Trump would be long over by now. But, much to everyone's surprise, Trump is leading the polls - with a large margin in some cases. However, it's just a matter of time before Americans come to their senses and back someone not shiny and new, but tried and true. What does America's obsession with anyone different say about Americans? Is the fact that we so desperately want someone new necessarily a bad thing? Does placing so much emphasis on someone without a chance of winning hurt the Democratic process?

American Airstrike Hits Doctors Without Borders Hospital in Afghanistan

Just a couple weeks ago, the United States military launched an airstrike on a Doctor's Without Borders Hospital in Afghanistan and killing 19 patients and staff. Our government has defended the attack, arguing that the primary targets were Taliban insurgents inside of the hospital while hospital staff maintain that there were none. Unfortunately, the incident comes at a time when the United States is being increasingly heavily scrutinized for its use of airstrikes and drone strikes. Many say that our Military is being too indiscriminate with its use of force. In what cases is such force justified? Under which circumstances, if any, are civilian lives worth being put at risk? Is the force being used in the Middle East worth alienating the citizens there?

George W. Bush unleashes on Ted Cruz

On Monday, GOP front runner Donald J. Trump blamed former president President George W. Bush for the 9/11 attacks, causing Jeb Bush to defend the legacy of his brother. The former president did speak out this week about a candidate, in a donor meeting for his brothers campaign, but it was not Trump. Instead, he spoke about Senator Ted Cruz, saying "I just don't like the guy." Donors said that he didn't like the alliance that he made with Trump and one specific donor paraphrased the former president, "[George W. Bush] said he found it ‘opportunistic’ that Cruz was sucking up to Trump and just expecting all of his support to come to him in the end.” George W. Bush knew his home-state senator well, as he served as a domestic policy adviser on his 2000 campaign, until Cruz distanced himself from both Bush and the GOP. Another donor said that “[George W. Bush] said he thought Cruz was going to be a pretty formidable candidate against Jeb, especially in Texas and across the South,” and Bush was cited saying he would not doubt Cruz's strength. What do you think about Cruz? Is he a real threat to Jeb or other candidates running for the nomination? Or do you think he is on the way out of the race?

Jim Webb Withdraws From Race for Democratic Presidential Nomination

Former Senator Jim Webb withdraws Tuesday from the democratic presidential nomination. This decision came after months of polling just above zero and low fundraising. Webb, a military veteran and a former Republican, only further progressed his issues after the disastrous debate last week were he spoke only fifteen minutes out of the full two hours, and spent a lot of that time complaining about not getting enough time to speak. Webb, however, said he is considering a bid as a independent, saying at the conference, “If we ran an independent race, I honestly could see us beating both [Clinton and Trump].” Do you think that Webb's dropping out will help, hurt, or not effect the democratic presidential nomination? Furthermore, do you think that Webb has a shot at running as an independent?

As he ponders run, Biden touts accomplishments at forum.

The time has finally come for a post on Joe Biden. As Joe Biden begins to talk about the banter that occurred last Wednesday, Washington is pondering, will he run or won't he run? Does a Joe Biden campaign help or hurt the Democratic Party? The latter might be a better question. Also, when will it be too late for him to jump in the race?

Republican Freedom Caucus’s Revolt in House Is Stoked Back Home

It's clear that the goal of the Tea Party has been to cause complete turnover in the Republican Party on Capitol Hill. This article looks into the biographies of five members of the branch of the Republican Party. How do the views of these legislators differ from the majority of the party and how do these members plan to pass policy in Washington with these ideals. Will it work?

Ending Mass Incarceration One Good Job at a Time

The number of people imprisoned in the United States has grown at "a rate five times greater than the world average." Part of the problem is that those who end up behind bars once are likely to be imprisoned again. With a crime on their record, former inmates have a harder time finding a job than others, which leads them back down a path of crime when they cannot find employment, effectively perpetuating the cycle of criminal activity. However, some steps have been taken to enable ex-convicts to find a job, such as trade programs that train inmates in trades and earn union membership for them. With marketable skills, they are better prepared to find a stable career upon release. On job applications, though, applicants are required to report any crimes they have been convicted for, which could effectively nullify any prospects they might have had. As a result, many unions support "Ban the Box" proposals. Should ex-convicts have to report their criminal past? Should this only apply to all ex-convicts or just those who have been convicted of misdemeanors? Should employers have the right to know prospective employees' backgrounds? But also, are these programs a good way to prepare former criminals for a stable working life? Or should we not offer such programs to those who have been convicted of crime?

Many Low-Income Workers Say "No" to Health Insurance

The Affordable Care Act, while having the intended effect of making healthcare insurance more accessible to those of low socioeconomic status, has not been entirely successful. Met with fierce opposition, this controversial law includes a mandate requiring employers to offer healthcare insurance to their employees. However, surprisingly few low-income workers have bought health care from their employers, as it is still not reasonably affordable. Many such workers are instead forced to go without health insurance so that they can cover their other expenses; if they are lucky, they rely on health insurance provided by their spouse's employer. These workers who are offered health insurance by their employers, even if it is not affordable for them, are no longer eligible for subsidized health insurance, which still leaves many unable to afford healthcare. Also, low participation makes insurance companies hesitant to sell policies to employers. And some employers still opt out of offering insurance plans to their workers and instead choose to pay tax penalties. How can these problems be addressed? What revisions should be made in order to ensure the Affordable Care Act has its intended results?

Senate OKs Massive Defense Bill, Sends Measure to Obama

Congress sent Obama a $612 billion defense policy bill with 70 to 27 approval in the Senate and 269 to 151 approval in the House.  Obama has threatened to veto, which would only be the fifth time in the past 50 years.  His reasons are that the bill increases the war-fighting account with no increase in money for domestic agencies.  Others are unhappy with the bill because they claim it needs to focus more on long-term military strategy.  The overall vote in the House and Senate proves that most people are happy with the bill even if some think it could be better.  Obama is receiving pressure to sign the bill.  Should he choose to veto?

House Votes to Lift 40-Year Ban on Oil Exports

After a 40-year ban on oil exports, the House voted to lift the ban, giving major oil companies suffering from low prices and falling profits, victory.  Those who support the bill say that it'll make more jobs, while allowing American producers to compete on the same level as other countries, revitalizing our economy.  Those who oppose are afraid that lifting the ban could raise gas prices.  The Obama administration is wary of lifting the ban because environmentalists claim this would only increase fossil fuel usage at a time when the country should be using less to reduce climate change.  Should this ban be lifted as a job creator?  Or are the costs of lifting this ban too high?

US Weaponry Is Turning Syria Into A Proxy War With Russia

The US has been deploying weapons for rebel insurgent groups in Syria. US involvement in the Syrian conflict has increased now that Russia has significantly increased airstrikes against the insurgent groups. With the United States supporting the rebels and Russia supporting the Syrian government, their involvement has escalated into a heavy proxy war. Although moral on both sides of the Syrian conflict has increased, things are looking in favor of the Syrian government due to the direct Russian involvement. Do you think we should react to the Russian presence in Syria? If so, how? Should we be concerned that we could be arming future terrorist organizations like we did in Afghanistan? Is it even our job to be intervening in the Syrian conflict?

Some Places Are Celebrating A Different Holiday On Columbus Day

As most of you probably know, Christopher Columbus didn't discover America. Native American were here long before he was. Because of this, cities such as Seattle and Minneapolis have passed resolutions to recognize today as "Indigenous Peoples' Day" in addition to recognizing Columbus Day. At least twelve states do not recognize the holiday at all. Columbus Day has been recognized as a federal holiday since 1968. Since it is a federal holiday, state and local government cannot officially  override the holiday. State and local governments hope that the push to change the focal point of the day will draw attention to the current state that most indigenous communities have suffered from decades of marginalization and oppression. Should the federal government change the recognition of the holiday from Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples' Day? What should be done about the current state of our indigenous population? If we want to cleanse America of its oppressive past, why stop at Columbus? You can make arguments for plenty of other historical figures as to why they should be discredited due to oppression of the indigenous.

California Becomes 2nd State To Automatically Register Voters

California Governor Jerry Brown recently signed legislation that automatically registers voters when they renew driver's licenses or state identification cards. Lawmakers hope to increase California's voter turnout, which was a low 42 percent in the 2014 midterm elections. According to Brown's office, 6.6 million Californians (of 39 million) are eligible to vote but are not registered. Oregon was the first state to pass such a law. Is this a good way to increase voter turnout? Should Pennsylvania adopt a similar policy?

The Families Funding the 2016 Presidential Election

Just 158 families have contributed nearly half of the money so far in the 2016 presidential election. There are over 120 million households in the United States, so half of the money is coming from just 0.0001% of families. While individuals are limited to campaign donations of $2,700, these donors give money in the form of "super PACs," which can raise unlimited funds. Most of the donors earned their fortunes themselves (rather than by inheritance). Should those with the means be allowed to spend unlimited money on elections? Or are we granting the rich a disproportionate share of power?

Poll: Donald Trump, Ben Carson hold onto top 2 spots

Ben Carson and Donald Trump dominate this recent poll at 22% and 26% of the support of the Republican party respectively. The rest of the candidates fail to break double digits with the next closest being Marco Rubio who is at 8%. On the left, Clinton received 45%, Bernie Sanders received 23%, and Joe Biden (who has not announced his candidacy yet) came in third with 17%. What does it say that over 50% of the Republicans who were polled are supporting candidates who have never held political office (Fiorina, Trump, and Carson combined for 55%) and that the majority of Democrats are supporting establishment politicians (including a vice president and a former secretary of state)? What does it say about the Democrats that Joe Biden has 17% of their support without announcing his candidacy?

Pa. House rejects Wolf budget plan

 The House has voted down Wolf's budget plan to increase funding for schools through an income tax increase and a new tax on natural gas drillers. This means that Pennsylvania is currently without a budget, which halts aid to schools, counties, and nonprofits. Wolf is a Democrat and was defeated by the Republican majority as well as nine Democrats. What is your opinion on Wolf's budget plan? What type (or types) of politics are evident during the budget debate?

Desperate House Republicans BEG Paul Ryan to Restore Sanity by Agreeing to Become the Next Speaker

In a sign of increasing desperation and panic, House Republicans are practically begging Paul Ryan to agree to run for the Speakership despite his repeated insistence that he does not want the post and is much happier in his current position as chair of the Ways and Means committee.

Divided House Republicans Search for Consensus on a New Speaker

After Kevin McCarthy shocked his House colleagues by dropping his bid for the Speakership, Republicans are left searching for a new candidate who can gain majority support.

Gay Marriage Arguments Divide Supreme Court Justices

Arguments for Obergefell v. Hodges, a combination of cases relating to same-sex marriage, was heard in the Supreme Court on Tuesday. The cases dealt with two main issues.

1. Should states recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states?
2. Should states be able to keep same-sex marriage illegal within their own borders?

With the Supreme Court seemingly split on the issue, Justice Kennedy is seen as the one who will break the tie when the decision, expected to come in June, is made. How would you answer the questions being posed?

The Baltimore minefield for 2016 hopefuls

The riots in the Baltimore have gotten significant attention this week. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that some potential and declared candidates for the presidency have given a few words on the matter. Hillary Clinton and Ted Cruz make the argument that while the circumstances of Freddie Gray's death must be investigated, the rioting must stop. Rand Paul argues that the riots stem from cultural issues. Martin O'Malley has been under sharp criticism. How should the riots in Baltimore be dealt with? Should police tactics and training be reformed?

Clinton calls for body cameras on all police

Hillary Clinton is calling for all public police departments to require body cameras on their officers. To me, this sounds like a good idea. While it sounds like it infringes on privacy, police are publicly funded and are the most responsible for their actions, as our safety is their goal. If they are good cops and have nothing to hide, then this legislation should not pose a problem for anyone. I think that while it sounds like the scope of the government is growing unnecessarily, it is a good idea, because there have been way too many issues regarding police violence involving any race or demographic.

2 shot in Ferguson following Baltimore riots

Two people were shot in Ferguson following the riots in Baltimore that were caused by the latest fatality of a black man by police. Police are attempting to investigate however it's proving difficult due to rocks being thrown at them by angry onlookers. This is just another addition to the violence between police and angry citizens who believe the police are racist and unnecessarily brutal. While I feel for the victims and those who are targeted by police without reason, adding extra violence to the mix is not right and should not be expected to fix the issue.

Growing Pot Next Door to Congress

Two months ago, Washington D.C. voters approved an initiative that allows adults to carry up to 2 ounces of marijuana on them, as well as grow up to 6 plants in their homes. Congress went along with the voters and began implementing the laws on Friday. Though, Congress has placed regulations of trade so you cannot buy or sell marijuana in D.C. Do you think that it is right to have weed legal in  the nations capital, when it is illegal in the majority of the nation? Do you think the test in D.C. is just the beginning of marijuana being legal nation wide?

In an Already Troubled Nepal, a Picture of Despair Emerges

Even before the massive earthquake, Nepal was struggling with political tension and issues. The earthquake has made things much worse, leaving most citizens receiving no aid from their government. The severity of the earthquake stems from many things including the landscape of the area as well as poorly structured buildings. The earthquake has created a time of need for the Nepalis, this is when they really need there government to support them most.

McConnell Introduces Bill to Extend Surveillance Under Patriot Act

This highly-controversial act is set to expire in June. Clearly, Republican leadership is in favor of renewing the Patriot Act. Personally, I oppose the mass surveillance of American citizens. What are your thoughts on the issue?

John McCain: Rand Paul is the 'Worst Possible Candidate' on National Security

McCain's comments have highlighted the growing divide in the Republican Party between conservatives and libertarians. He is referencing Rand Paul's promise to "immediately" end NSA mass surveillance of Americans if he is elected President. This is not the only issue that Republicans fail to agree on, and as time goes on, the ideological inconsistencies within the GOP will become more and more prevalent. Ultimately, I believe the party will choose to align itself with libertarian values and "modern" conservatism will become a thing to the past. Which route do you think the Party will take?

Warning Iran, U.S Sends Two More Ships to Yemen

as a warning to Iran, who has been shipping weapons to rebels in Yemen, the U.S. had sent two more warships on top of the other ten that were already in the waters of Yemen. The warships are about sending a message to Iran that the U.S. is watching and meant to reassure Saudi Arabia that the U.S. supports their bombing campaign against the rebels.

A New Comer to Populism? Hillary Clinton Begs to Differ

In her second run for office, Hillary Clinton is embracing the ideas of the populist party and Senator Elizabeth Warren. Clinton must convince voters she is a valuable messenger for inequality and prove her sincerity as a populist.

Sex-Trafficking Bill, Ensnared by Politics, Is Left in Limbo by a Senate Vote

Currently, there is disagreement in the Senate over a bill that would protect victims of sex trafficking. Mitch McConnell said he will not direct the Senate's attention towards confirming Loretta E. Lynch, the nominee to replace Attorney General Eric Holder, until the bill gets off the floor. The grid-locked measure would create a victims' fund collected from sex traffickers. In the bill is language banning the use of the funds on abortions. Some say this ban is simply an extension of the Hyde Amendment while others believe Republicans snuck the language into the bill. Should the nomination process be held up until this bill is passed?

House Republican Budget Overhauls Medicare and Repeals the Health Law

House Republicans have just unveiled a budget proposal for 2016. They have set the bar very high, promoting a goal of hitting $33 billion in surplus by 2025. Among the new budget provisions are a plan to privatize Medicare through a voucher program, repeal Obama Care, abide by strict military spending caps, and pull money away from k-12 education programs. Do you think achieving such a surplus is possible? Will the cap on military and domestic spending cause some Republicans to vote against the plan?

House Select Committee Demands Hillary Clinton's Emails

The House Select Committee on Benghazi has issued a subpoena asking for all of Hillary Clinton's emails that are related to Libya. The Committee is asking for all of Clinton's emails, as she used more than one personal email during her tenure as Secretary of State. Despite this, Clinton's lawyer says that her second email was not used until after she had left her post as Secretary of State. The Committee continues to demand both emails, saying that Clinton's use of personal emails raises issues on transparency.

US Ambassador Attacked

United States Ambassador to South Korea Mark Lippert was recently attacked by an assailant by the name of "Kim." Lippert was attacked by a small razor blade  but is in stable condition. He was attacked prior to delivering a speech in Sejong Hall in Seoul, and the attacker was heard yelling about the reunification of South and North Korea before assaulting Lippert.

Netanyahu, in Speech to Congress, Criticizes ‘Bad Deal’ on Iran Nuclear Program

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel spoke before Congress against the deal with Iran concerning nuclear weapons. He believes it will not be able to stop the violence and will instead "guarantee" it. Obama has said that Netanyahu didn't even present another option or way of dealing with the nuclear weapons in Iran. This article also writes about the possible ways to deal with this issue. What do you think of Netanyahu's speech? Do you support a certain way to deal with Iran's nuclear weapons?

Ending Uncertainty, House Approves Year’s Funding for Homeland Security

The House has passed a bill that will fund Homeland Security for the rest of the year. This comes after weeks of uncertainty and prevents the partial shut down of the agency. Conservative republicans are angered by this outcome but this decision prevents their political fallout because it does not threaten public safety. Boehner has received praise for what some consider a strategic move while others believe he just "caved in". Do you agree with the bill? What do you think of Boehner's actions?

Hillary Clinton and the Gender Card

For the upcoming presidential elections next year, Hillary Clinton is one of the biggest names on the democratic ballot. Recently, she's been "on tour", if you will, speaking about her beliefs and getting a feel for her potential voting base. But, recently she's also come under some fire for the tactics that she's using to attract voters. Some think that she's playing the "gender card" too much and that her being a woman will be harped on too much to get votes. My question is, do you think that Clinton playing up her gender is okay? As in, do you think that her gender should be a side note to her policy ideas and beliefs or do you think that using her gender is a key way to relate to voters that is necessary in any presidential election?

Abercrombie and Fitch... Against Hijabs?

Samantha Elauf applied to a job at Abercrombie and Fitch and her application was accepted. But, when her employers found out that she wore a hijab, they decided that she didn't meet their "preppy style" well enough with it on. When Abercrombie and Fitch were getting sued, they used the argument that Elauf had never told them it was for religious purposes and that the only thing they were saying originally was that the hijab as a "fashion statement" was unacceptable. On one hand, companies have the right to hire who they want. But on the other hand, it shows that religious intolerance is still present. Do you think that employers should be obligated to tell a company that they have a certain religion, or wear certain things to express that religion when applying for a job?

Jeb, the Introvert

Jeb Bush is a self-admitted introvert. He would rather read a book than go to a party. He (unlike his older brother) took only two and a half years to graduate from college. Although this introvertedness can demonstrate intelligence, it also demonstrates awkwardness: not a quality desired in a Presidential campaign. Jeb, currently the frontrunner of 2016 Republican Presidential candidates, must be careful to use this quality of his to his benefit and not detriment. If he did this successfully enough to become governor of Florida, there's a decent chance he could do the same and become President. (Be sure to notice the second page)

Keystone veto will be first of many for President Obama

President Obama issued just the third veto of his time in office this week, the fewest of any President since James Garfield. Obama is said to have issued so few vetoes because with the Democratic party's former control of the Senate, not much Obama disagreed with ever made it to his desk. Now that his party no longer has a majority in the Senate, Obama is expected to issue many more vetoes in his final two years.

Obama mocks GOP, promotes Democratic agenda

Obama spent a bit bashing on the GOP, pointing out how they've rejected many of Obama's liberal policies. In doing so, he also announced the Democratic agenda. Do you think this is a reflection on how the President and Congress's relationship will be like?

Unlikely Cause Unites the Left and the Right: Justice Reform

The coming together of the left and right wings, specifically the Koch Brothers and The Center for American Progress, to reform the justice system in America has stunned many. Do you think this collaboration of the left and the right is a good thing? Do you think this'll be helpful for all of us? Do you think this makes for a hopeful future when it comes to both wings collaborating and working together?

Jeb Bush vows to be 'my own man' on foreign affairs

Jeb Bush faces overcoming the Bush legacy if he wants a chance at the White House. During a speech on Wednesday, he attempted to separate himself from his father and brother, especially in relation to foreign policy decisions. How do you feel about another Bush running for president? Will he turn out to be more similar to the Bush legacy than he claims?

In Bid to Allow Guns on Campus, Weapons Are Linked to Fighting Sexual Assault

Gun rights advocates who are trying to legalize firearms on college campuses have formed a new argument: armed female students will reduce sexual assaults. Do you agree with this solution to ending sexual assault? Do you think students should be allowed to carry firearms on campus?

Aid to Needy Often Excludes the Poorest in America

This article takes a really interesting look at how messed up government aid truly is. The article takes a deeper look into how government aid has gone up for basically everyone except the people who need it the most. That is, generally unemployed single mothers with children. Their benefits actually have declined by about one-third. The article then goes on to state how Obama has done nothing to try and reverse this trend. Should Obama push for change? Is this fair? If you're not working, are you not trying?

U.S. Intensifies Effort to Blunt ISIS’ Message

This article is basically all about how the United States is now recognizing how ISIS's propaganda has been working. Now the question is how will Obama handle this? The article goes on to describe how at the heart of his plan is expanding a tiny State Department agency, the Center for Strategic Counterterrorism Communications. The funding for this department is only at a mere five million dollars. Will this plan work? Should government spend more money? Or should government even waste their time?

Obama Sends Letter To Congress Seeking Authorization Of ISIS Fight

President Obama has just recently send a letter to Congress concerning ISIS. The president is asking for authorization of a three year plan that would allow him to continue using air strikes against the terrorist group. Congressmen have said that they will need to think long and hard about whether or not to allow the president authorization. Congress is going to be sure to take their time with this decision. What would you like to see Congress do? Also, do you see this has simply a PR move from President Obama as one Congressman suggested?

House Expected To Pass Keystone BIll

The House has intended to pass a Keystone Bill on Wednesday despite President Obama vowing to use his veto power.  The bill would have a pipeline going from Canada to the Gulf Coast put in. Oil Companies and Republicans are pushing very hard for this to get passed. Republicans are making this their first bill to send to Obama this year. Since Obama is going to veto this it will most likely not become a law. Do you think that since the House is now majority Republican but our president is still Democrat that even less with get done in Washington then already is?

Weak bridges may mean higher gas taxes

Across the country bridges and roads have fallen into states of disrepair, Pennsylvania being one of the worst offenders. States like New Jersey and Iowa are throwing around the idea of raising gas taxes since gas prices are so low and the gas tax in NJ hasn't been raised in 20 years.

Native Americans strongly opposed to Keystone XL, threaten violence

The proposed Keystone pipeline will run directly through sacred buriel grounds and the  large aquifer that supplies the Rosebud Souix tribes in South Dakota. "The tribe last week declared that a vote to authorize the controversial pipeline, which would carry tar sand oil from Canada to a port in Louisiana, amounts to an “act of war” against the tribe. Members of the tribe have for seven months been camped in the proposed path of the pipeline, and say they’ll stay there “forever” if need be to stop the pipeline." The leader of the Rosebud Souix, President Cyril Scott says "our people have been massacred throughout the generations".

Fed Judge to Hear Arguments Thurs. on Alabama Gay Marriage

This article continues on with the issue we discussed in class on Monday regarding same-sex marriages in Alabama. Probate judges in a majority of Alabama counties have refused to issue same-sex marriage licenses following the striking down of the state's same-sex marriage ban. As a result, a federal judge will hear arguments Thursday on whether it should order local judges to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples despite their refusal to do so. What do you think of this entire situation? Do you think these judges should be allowed to refuse to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples despite the striking down of the state's same-sex marriage ban by a federal court?

Illinois Gov Acts to Curb Power of Unions

This article discusses the attempt by Bruce Rauner, the newly elected Republican governor of Illinois, to weaken the power of public sector unions. He announced an executive order that prevents unions from requiring all state workers to pay union fees, following the steps of other Midwestern Republican governors who have taken such steps in their own states to weaken the powers of public sector unions. What do you think of this? Do you agree with his action? Do you think he will ultimately be successful in curbing the power of unions in such a solidly Democratic state?

Courts Write Decisions That Elude Long View

This article is about federal appeals courts that write decisions that are basically good for that trial alone, a "one time ruling". Unpublished decisions cause problems if a particular case is pushing to be sent into the higher courts. Without a published decision, a similar case could be ruled differently a second time around, revealing the issues with the system. What do you think about unpublished decisions?

Measles Outbreak Proves Delicate Issue to G.O.P. Field

This article is about the recent measles outbreak and the debate over whether or not the government should require vaccinations. This issue is very challenging for Republicans. In more recent years, the topic of vaccinations has become more prevalent in the political sphere and will probably continue to do so in the coming election. Do you think vaccinations should be required?

Under Obama Budget, Medicare Proposals Would Hit Patients and Providers

This article discusses another aspect of Obama's budget plan, this time focusing on Medicare. Obama proposes that Medicare make adjustments to its regulations in order to increase the profitability of the program. This would include such changes as increasing the premiums for low-income patients and reducing Medicare payments to hospitals, making it difficult for them to provide quality care. What do you think? Is it better to make Medicare more profitable or to provide better quality healthcare to more people?

Obama's Budget Seeks $534 Billion for Pentagon

This article discusses one aspect of Obama's budget proposal. Despite the fact that Obama ended a costly war, the military budget is still extremely large. They claim that any less spending would be a danger to the nation with the threat of ISIL. What do you think? Is it more damaging to cut military spending and risk a weak defense force or to cut spending elsewhere to fund the military?

White House preps expansive online privacy bill

This article is about President Obama's plan to restrict the way online companies like Google can use consumer information. After the scandals and public concerns with maintaining privacy, this bill would require companies to involve the consumer in the way they use the consumer data by asking permission before sending off information. The Federal Trade Commission would monitor the way companies are using the data, and the FTC's expanded power may cause conflict from Congress. Will this bill help people get their sense of privacy back, or is it already too late? Should the government implement more restrictions like this one? Do you think this bill will be made into a law?

http://www.politico.com/story/2015/01/online-privacy-bill-white-house-114696.html?hp=r2_3

Father of Boy With Leukemia Asks California School Officials to Bar Unvaccinated Students

This article is about the amount of unvaccinated children in California, and whether or not vaccination should be manditory. It focuses on a father's concerns about his son with leukemia being exposed to diseases from his schoolmates. However, up to this point, vaccinations have be easy to opt out of for parents in California. Now, the state government is enforcing slightly stricter rules, like requiring a signature from a doctor, in the hope that parents will let their children will be vaccinated. Should the California (and other states) make laws that make vaccinations manditory for all children who are able, for the sake of other children? Should the vaccinations continue to be left up to the parents?

 http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/29/us/father-of-boy-with-leukemia-asks-california-school-officials-to-bar-unvaccinated-students.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=second-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0

Georgia inmate put to death after Supreme Court denies stay

In the days and hours leading up to Tuesday's execution, Hill’s legal options dwindled: On Monday evening, a federal appeals court denied a request to review the issue of Hill's mental capacity; on Tuesday morning, the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles, the sole authority in the state that can commute a death sentence to life without parole, voted to deny clemency. Just 30 minutes before Hill was scheduled to be put to death, the U.S. Supreme Court denied a review of his case. The court turned down Hill's appeal for a stay of execution in a 7-2 vote, with Justices Stephen M. Breyer and Sonia Sotomayor dissenting.

Morning Plum: Majority wants GOP to fix Obamacare if Supreme Court guts it

Republican leaders are openly rooting for the Supreme Court to gut Obamacare subsidies in three dozen states, explicitly in order to accomplish what Republicans failed to accomplish through the political and legislative process. That suggests Republicans have no intention to agree to any “fixes” to the law if SCOTUS does gut it, even though some conservative reform types want them to offer some sort of policy response of their own if millions lose subsidies and coverage.

House bill would undo President Obama’s immigration moves

Rep. Robert Aderholt, a Republican House member from Alabama, is in the process of proposing a bill that would put further restrictions on immigrants. This piece of legislation would overide Obama's decision to defer deportations and to grant up to 5 million work permits for these immigrants. It would also reinstate Secure Communities, an immigration enforcement program which Obama has ended.

Same-Sex Pairs in Florida Say Jubilant ‘I Dos’

On January 5, a judge lifted the ban on same-sex marriage in Florida, making them the 36th state to do so. Many joyous coup,es were wed only a few hours after the descision was made. The article also portrays the views of both clerks and politicians alike who are opposed to same-sex marriage on the lifting of this ban. The more conservative of these clerks announced they will continue issuing licenses because it is the law, but will be ending ceremonial courthouse weddings, so as not to force clerks into participating in something that may go against their beliefs. Jed Bush also commented on the lifting of the ban, urging for the respect of persons on all sides of the issue.

Obama to meet with lawmakers next week

Next Tuesday, President Obama will be meeting with the congressional leaders from both Republican and Democratic parties. How do you think this will go? Do you think there is any chance they will be able to cooperate?

Judge Lifts Ban, and Gay Weddings Begin in Florida

On January 5, 2015, Florida became the 36th state to allow gay couples to get married. The Republican party with leadership of Jeb Bush (the state's former governor) had an interesting comment. Do you think republicans are becoming more accepting towards same sex marriage? What do you think will happen now that Florida allows same sex marriage? Will this change the minds of other states?

Obama Dials Up Executive Power

Obama Dials Up Executive Power All eyes are on the U.S. Congress, awaiting the clashes that are bound to take place between Obama and a Republican-dominated Congress. Obama has begun to use his executive power to get things done, which some criticize as unhelpful. This article provides a list of key policy issues that are bound to cause drama this year, including energy, labor, health care, and others.

Seven Years In, Reporter Says Little to Court

Seven YeRs In, Reporter says Little to Court Seven years ago, James Risen wrote a book detailing a failed CIA program that would attempt to slow down Iran's nuclear program. The court believes that Jeffrey Sterling provided the information, but Risen refuses to admit the sources for his information. Risen fought his court summons and los, but he still is against revealing information to the government. This is one instance of the crackdown the Obama administration has taken in regards to leaked information. Is Risen right in refusing to reveal his sources?

Start the Clock on Assessing Congress

The 100-day evaluation is used as a market in US politics. By Tax Day, there will be a good sense of whether the year will be shaped only by confrontations or if it will feature a decent dose of  compromises. How do you think this political year will turn out considering the Republican dominated House and Senate?

California Governor Unveils Energy Goals

In California Governor, Jerry Brown's inaugural and state of the state speech on Monday, he addressed the role California was going to play in environmental issues. He stated that California was going to have to be a policy leader in "stopping potentially catastrophic changes to our climate system." What do you think of his plan and will other states incorporate these changes?