Cool Political Compass Test

Hey guys! My family and I found this site this weekend and I thought it was really neat. If you guys want to you can post your results in the comments or share on Monday! If not that's completely up to you. Enjoy!

Big Bird steps out of ‘Sesame Street’ for starring role in 2012 presidential contest

Big Bird has become a symbol in the presidential election in the past week. Romney stated in the Presidential Debate last week that he would cut federal funding of public broadcasting. While this proposal has been part of Romney's campaign plan for a while, the debate last week brought this to the attention of many Americans and brought about much debate among those Americans. President Obama and his administration took this proposal and linked it to Romney acting against a much-beloved symbol of the American population (children's show). The Obama campaign released an add pointing out Romney's plan in a negative way and emphasizing that he wants to end a beloved symbol while reduce taxes on the wealthy. Obama's actions taken with this debate have really annoyed me. To me, Romney recognizes that this cut of federal support would not save much money, but rather it shows the nation that the government will not and does not need to fund programs that can get along on their own, for specifically public broadcasting receives much financial support from individual organizations and people. While I recognize Obama's point that this funding cut will not save much money, he took this proposal and made it something it is not; an attack on a beloved character. Sesame Workshop (which supports Sesame Street and other public broadcasting shows) requested the ad be removed. To me this shows the trivial actions of President Obama in dealing with this debate specifically, his ad especially.

Shifting Reports on Libya Killings May Cost Obama

Shifting Reports on Libya Killings May Cost Obama
This is an article that talks of the different possibilities floating around the past couple of weeks about the killings in Benghazi, Libya. Initially the Obama Administration claimed that this attack was a spontaneous act that was a result of the derogatory video about the Profit Muhammad. However, more recently there is belief that the attacks may be linked to the Al Qaeda group as a terrorist attack, not simply a spontaneous attack. James R. Clapper Jr (an intelligence official of the nation) blatantly claimed on Friday that intelligence agencies "revised [their] initial assessment to reflect new information indicating that it was a deliberate and organized terrorist attack carried out by extremists." The question now that the Romney administration is touching on is the question of the accuracy of the nation's intelligence-gathering and if American personnel are receiving adequate protection. Romney has been critical of the White House administration's intelligence being scattered and has taken the recently-leaked accounts that there were around 230 requests of the officials in the embassy for higher protection that were not adequately answered.  I am also questioning the efficiency of the Obama administration and the nation's intelligence agency. I recognize that the administration faced the difficulty of understanding the attacks and the motives behind them, yet it bothers me that it had been heavily enforcing the idea that the video insulting Islam was the cause of the killings, when this premise was simply disregarded a few weeks later. 

Race tightening up in battleground Ohio

A CNN poll conducted from October 5-8, after the debate on October 3, shows that the difference between Obama and Romney have decreased to 4%, with a sampling error of 3.5% in Ohio. The previous poll that was conducted before the debate showed that Obama had a 7%-10%, lead over Romney. Other polls, like the American Research Group, also show that both the candidates are neck and neck. Mitt Romney has a 14% lead over Obama in male voters, and Obama has a 22% lead over women voters. As November 6th, is approaching, the lead for Obama has been decreasing. Both the parties have spent about $92 million on advertising in Ohio, and out that $20 million have been spent in the last two weeks. Both, the candidates are campaigning in Ohio right now, making it even more interesting. Which ever party make the most noise in the next two weeks might win Ohio, whether it be Obama or Romney. "This is the battleground of the battlegrounds."

Paul Ryan Fundraiser Bans Recording

This interesting article from the Huffington Post talks about how a fundraiser for Paul Ryan had a very interesting message on one of the signs.  The sign said no audio or video recording.  This is strange given that the fundraiser was being covered by the press anyway, but I think many people can guess why recording has been banned after Romney's slip-up last month.  It is going to be interesting seeing whether this will cause controversy or not for the Romney campaign.  Ryan raised $2.5 million for the Romney campaign with ticket prices for the fundraiser going from $2,500-$75,800.  Does anybody else find these prices disturbing or sickening?  If I am paying that much money there had better be some pretty awesome stuff at that fundraiser, not just give this politician your money so he can insult the other candidate and shake his hand.  Also included on the article page is a picture of the sign and some interesting videos if you go to the bottom.

Stakes get higher in upcoming Biden-Ryan debate

After Mitt Romney's win in last week's presidential debate, the stage is now set for a debate between Vice President Joe Biden and Mitt Romney running mate Paul Ryan. Following the presidential debate the pressure is now put on Joe Biden to really go at the Romney-Ryan campaign in an attempt to halt the momentum from Romney's victory. His opponet Ron Paul is up for one serious debate, especially with all of the experience that Mr. Biden has over the years as a great orator in his political career. Although Biden is prone to gaffes, the engery and tenacity that he will have Thursday night will be at very high levels. I believe that Joe Biden understands the expectations of him at the debate and due to his experience will overpower Ron Paul. This is wher Biden shines and it would be a real blow to the Obama campaign if he were to fail in his duty at this debate.

In Congress, A Shrinking Pool of Moderates

With the upcoming Presidential and Congressional elections a lot is uncertain. However one thing is clear that there will be many fewer moderate politicians in Congress. A combination of redistricting, retirement of fed-up law makers and large amounts of campaign spending to push these moderates out of Congress has been underway creating uphill battles for re-election. This has been occurring to centrist Democrats as well as Republicans and in turn is beginning to polar the House to a great effect. A census done by a professor at the University of Georgia and another from the University of Princeton concluded that the House has not been as polarized in over a century. This means that Congress, who failed to pass even the most mundane bills, will be even more stagnant without the the essential tie breaking power of the centrists. I believe that this is a step back for the American Political system and puts even more power into the hands of the radicals of either side making it easier for radical view points to be valid options in Congress. Not to mention Congress will be incapable of passing any legislature at all because of a lack of moderates that could help shift a bill one way and get it passed. The lack of moderates in Congress will prove to be poor decision by the radicals on either side of the spectrum.