Political Cartoon 4

When do you think think this cartoon was drawn?

What party do you think the illustrator is in?

Is it ever possible to have all of congress being the same party? 

Presidential Campaign Ads

In earlier years it seemed that campaign ads took the cuter approach. One technique used was a catchy jingle such as the one that President Eisenhower used in 1952. It takes a positive outlook on Eisenhower and doesn't bash the other candidate. I believe this ad was somewhat effective, the jingle is something that i remember and gets stuck in my head. I believe that with the majority of the people this would be effective.  http://www.livingroomcandidate.org/commercials/1952

In 1960 Nixon sat down and explained that he has worked with the prior administration and because of this he know from experience what the country needs. I would call this a straight forward approach. He literally sat down on a chair and talked. There was nothing elaborate to it whatsoever and in my opinion I find this to be ineffective. This is the type of ad on TV that I would just tune out. Nothing caught my eye and it was rather boring to watch.http://www.livingroomcandidate.org/commercials/1960

President Johnson in 1964 took a new and different approach. In an ad that aired only once, Johnson played on fear of the future, that we need a strong President to defend us. We need to keep our children safe from harm and that we need President Johnson to do that. I don't think the ad was that effective, maybe if i was living during that time period I would have found it more effective, but i think that this scared people to much. I don't think it's going to make people vote for him, but will only succeed in scaring US citizens.http://www.livingroomcandidate.org/commercials/1964

Another tactic used in 1968 by President Nixon was to create an ad titled "youth" to a specific target audience, the youth.  In this ad it showed first a concert, then young intelligent students it makes them feel like they're part of this too. It's not just for the older people, we are all effected by this and he tried to play on this by saying that you are the future, you are part of the government, and get involved so that you can have the future you want. I think it wasn't that effective, even though he tried to relate to young people i feel like that's something people would look right through.http://www.livingroomcandidate.org/commercials/1968

Then in 1972 McGovern had an ad where it seemed like he was just hanging out with the people and was really listening to what they said. It helped him to seem like he was less disconected to the people while other politicians are. I couldn't really understand what he was saying but i don't think that's really his concern, the big thing is that he is seen with the people. I think this was a good ad because it really made him look like he was a president for the people and that he was including everyone and everything.http://www.livingroomcandidate.org/commercials/1972

In 1988 there was an ad in favor of the democratic party that used an obnoxious man that sounded uneducated, looked bad, and was an over all mess to represent the republican party. It really bashed the other party going on about how if we keep the republicans in power then the future of our children will be at a great stake because of all of the debt that is being built up. I think this ad worked a little because i was annoyed at it, which is what the democrats want, they want you to be annoyed with the republican party.http://www.livingroomcandidate.org/commercials/1988

Study Conclusions:

• Campaign ads do work, they are not just a waste of money and can be very beneficial to a campaign.
• Ad's aren't there for the education of the voter, instead they are there to influence the voter and are written that was specifically. 
• Campaign ads have been referred to as legal propaganda due to the fact that they're trying to influence voters with info that isn't always 100% in context. 

Electoral College Reform Article

Facts

1. One argument that can be used against the electoral college is that it is undemocratic.
2. Each state gets two electoral votes, regardless of the states population.
3. The undemocratic qualities of malapportionment are masked when each malapportioned district elects a different official.
4. The electoral college makes it so candidates only have to campaign in swing states.
5. In most states, the winner of the state usually receives all of the votes (winner takes all).
6. If an absolute majority is not earned from the electoral college, the house of representatives elects the president from the top 3 candidates.
7. In 1969 and 1970 there was a push to eliminate the electoral college and just have a popular vote.
8. Multiple states have created a law to ensure that the electoral college votes for the people.
9. Nixon would have defeated Kennedy had it been a direct democracy.
10. In 2001 Gore had 51 million votes while Bush had only 50.5 million of the popular vote.

Questions

1. What does malapportionment mean?
2. Is there still a push to abolish the electoral college today?
3. Do you believe that if the founding fathers were still alive today and saw the level of education we now had, would change how they viewed the common people?
4. If presidential elections were done by popular vote would small states like Delaware and Rhode Island even have an impact on the election?
5. Is there a group of people who seek to reform the electoral college but not abolish it?

Issue of the Week: The Death Penalty

1. How many countries have abolished the death penalty. As of now 139 countries have abolished the death penalty. 

          2. How long do people usually spend on death row?

On average a person spends a decade on death row. During this time they are usually isolated from all of the other inmates. Over the years the time on death row has increased. A man named Micheal Ross was on death row for 17 years, there are a number of criminals that have been on death row for more than 20 years. Do you think that it's ethical to let someone sit in solitary confinement that long with no human contact. Even if there is suddenly a break in the case that keeps the criminal from being executed, there are serious psychological effects from being in solitary confinement that long.  Studies show that a person in solitary tends to become more aggressive because of the punishment they are receiving. Do yo think that a person should have the choice of life in solitary confinement and execution?

When the constitution was first written the amount of time spent on death row was measured in days or weeks, not the long periods of time we are used to now. 

           3. What are the methods for execution?

These methods vary from state to state but methods that at least one state uses includes lethal injection, electrocution, Gas chamber, hanging, and firing squad (only if both lethal injection and electrocution are deemed unconstitutional) . Lethal injection is the primary method for execution. 

http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/abolitionist-and-retentionist-countries

http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/time-death-row

http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/methods-execution

Taxpayer Articles

http://www.taxpayer.net/resources.php?action=issues&proj_id=5009&category=&type=Project

1. A new bill will not be introduced to the House until January, but because of the House's calender it will end up not being introduced until February.
2. It seeks to fund infrastructure development with oil drilling revenues. 
3. The bill currently extending SAFETEA-LU expires March 31 2012.
4. There is a possible Senate bill that is needs review, but with work could be a possible replacement of SAFETEA-LU.
5. SAFETEA-LU stands for Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient, Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users

http://www.taxpayer.net/resources.php?action=issues&proj_id=5006&category=&type=Project

1. More than 1.5 million dollars of stimulus money is helping to finance "Diary of a Single Mom".
2. Not all of the money goes to the media
3. The point of the stimulus was to try to get more people connected to the internet.
4. Tax watch dogs are particularly skeptical about how efficient using a web based show will actually be.
5. The group has spent about 825,000 on salaries and fringe benefits from the jobs that have been gained due to the stimulus.

Pending Bills in Congress

1. The Roadless Area Conservation Act of 2011

This bill is to try to provide lasting protection inventoried roadless areas within the National Forest System.
The bill is in the first step of the legislative process.


     2.  Secure Visas Act
To authorize the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of State to refuse or revoke visas to aliens if in the security or foreign policy interests of the United States, to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to review visa applications before adjudication, to provide for the immediate dissemination of visa revocation information, and for other purposes.
This bill has been considered in committee and now it's being recommended it be reviewed by the house as a whole.


     3.  Clean Estuaries Act of 2011
A bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to reauthorize the National Estuaries Program, and for other purposes.
This bill was considered in committee and now it is being recommended it be considered by the Senate as a whole.

Political Cartoon 3

1. Do you think that the Republican primaries will have a poor turnout due to the distaste of many candidates?
2. Do you think this cartoon was drawn by a democrat of republican?
3. What are somethings the cartoonist is trying to say about the republican candidates, especially Romney?