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?