2.2 Repuplicans and Chris Christie

 This column was written by Thomas L. Friedman.  He writes about the country's upcomming election and how Chris Christie has decided not to run.  He also mentions a Grand Bargain and tells us that it needs to happen.  Friedman has also atated his opinion about the presidential race and said that both the far left and far right would do serious damage to the country.

1. How does Friedman feel about Republican taxing and spending policies?

Friedman feels that Republican taxing and spending policies are a danger to themselves and the nation

2. What would the Grand Bargain be?
a budget deal that involved $10 in spending cuts for every $1 in tax increases

3. What are the implications of lower government spending for the future?
the implications of lower govt spending for the future is lower taxes on the people

4. What are the implications of refusing to raise taxes for the future?
a high and rising commitment to future taxes

5. What has been Obama's response to the Republican plan?
Obama's response to the Republican plan is to shift back to his weak fiscale plan
6. Is that a good repsonse leading up to an election?

its is not a good response leading up to an election because it is making him look bad as President

7. What was the Simpson - Bowles deficit reduction plan?
the Simpson-Bowles reduce the deficit by raising tax revenues, cutting defense and increasing the age at which people would qualify for Social Security and Medicare.

8. Which groups is this likely to anger?
Democrates

9. Because Obama has not embraced the bargain, what opportunities do Republicans have?
Republican's have the oppertunity to gain the presidency

10. Why was Christie so appealing for the general election?
Christie was appealing fot the general election because he would have pushed Obama back to appealing to the Moderate crowd

11. How does Friedman say that the race has changed because there's no Christie and Obama has a new approach?
The race has changed because there is no Christie because and the race has become between the far left and the far right with no middle ground

12. How would you describe Friedman's political views based on the article?

I would describe Friendman as a moderate that leans toward Democratic policies

2.1 Occupy Wall Street

Occupy Wall Street is a movement that is spreading fast in cities. It has started recently but it is already struggling to maintain its focus and identity. The future of Occupy Wall Street as a political force may well depend on how well it conveys its message and mission. The group says they cannot wait any longer and let corporate greed and corrupt politics run the nation. The group calls themselves "The 99%." This means that 40% of the nations wealth is in the  hands of the richest 1% of the population.

1. Why might Occupy Wall Street struggle as a movement as it grows in size?

It's a new movement and not well know and have crazy ideologies

2. What does OWS mean by "We Are the 99 Percent"?

The richest 1 percent own 40 percent of the nations wealth so what OWS means is that they are the other 99 percent that own and share the remaining 60 percent of the wealth

3. Which type of interest group tactic would this rally be?

the type of interest group tactice this rally would be is grassroots/ mass moblization also called going public they are trying to be see and heard

4. What problems are the major parties having with these splinter groups within their bases?
They are taking the media's attention from the major parties

5. What is Occupy Wall Street's problem with Obama?

OWS's problem with Obama is that he is being run by big business and needs to show the govt. that the people aren't going to wait any longer for change

6. What changes would Occupy Wall Street like to see in the government?

 to not  let corporate greed and corrupt politics set the policies of our nation

7. What do you think are its chances as a movement, and why?

I think that OWS's chances as a movement are good they arrived at an oppertune time and have the ability to become successful just as the Tea Party has began to do

Transformative Presidents

Wanted: The New Messiah was written by Andrew Romano and published on October 3, 2011.


1. What advantages would Christie have in the general election as a Republican governor of New Jersey?
Christie would have the advantage of alreadying having citzen approval in the general election as a Republican governor of New Jersey

2. What reason is given for voters' dissatisfaction with the current crop of nominees?
they showed the slightest earthly imperfection and were deemed unreliable

3. What situations did FDR and Reagan inherit when they came to office?
economic crisis

4. How did both FDR and Reagan distance themselves from the administrations they replaced?
they cutthe knot raised a new standard and promised to restore American government to the truths that had inspired it

5. What were FDR's notable achievements?
His New Deal

6. What were Reagan's?
stubborn script about the causes and cures for Carter-era malais

7. How did Reagan get credit for the economic recovery from the 1980's and do you think Barack Obama is doing the same thing?
Reagan gets credit for economifc recovery because he kept harping on his reconstructive storyline (tax cuts = growth), which provided the public with a more intuitive explanation, I think Obama is attempting to the the same thing

8. How are Obama's accomplishments in his first term different from these reconstructive presidents?

9. Why is Obama's approach bad for his current situation?

Political Parties and Safe Districts

How the Democrat's Lost a Stronghold was written by Jacob Albert, Emily Atkin, Fausto Giovanny Pinto, and Matthew Deluca and was posted on September 14, 2011. The column records how the Demorats lost a seat they had held in Congress to a Republican candidate. The authors give an account of how unusual it is for a Republican to win the seat by stating that the last time a Republican won the same seat was in 1920. The column ends with an account of how the seat may be dropped in the 2012 redistricting of New York.

Th authors give an account of how New York has a 3 to 1 Demoract Republican ratio. Demorcates have resented the actions of the party and showed it in the election of Senator Anthony Weiner's replacement.
Republican's should have never been able to take the seat from a Democrat.

1. Joe Crowly is in charge of the Democratic Party in Queens, New York, but he is a Representative for a district in Virginia. Why might he be campaigning for candidates in New York?
Joe Crowly might be campaigning for candidates in New York because the House Seat vacated by Anthony Weiner was a seat held by Queens Democrats for 90 years.

2. What are some possible explanations for the lack of turnout among Democratic voters and volunteers?
The Democatic voters and volunteers possibly failed to turnout for the elections because of indifference and a lack of confidence in their party.

3. The article mentions unions pumping money and workers into campaigns, which way do labor unions usually lean?
Labor unions usually lean Democratic

4. Why would labor unions want to support a candidate for the House?
Labor Unions want to support a candidate for the House because they want to influence policy and if the help a candiate into office they feel they are more likely to get what they want
5. How does Weiner's resignation illustrate some problems with federalism?

It illistrates a problem with federalism in that the people can vote out of resentment and not on who is better suited to represent them
6. If people are saying that this is a defeat for Obama, what type of voting decision do you think 9th district voters made?

If people say that this is a defeat for Obama, the voting decision made by the 9th district was to replace the representative in the House with a Republican.

7. What important roles does Crowly have?
Crowly is the highest ranking New York Democrat and the biggest fundraiser for the congressional party
8. Why is it so unbelievable that a Republican won in this district?

Democrats out number Republican's three to one

9. What has happened if they are talking about eliminating the district? (hint: think about the purpose of the Census)
The state of New York was redistricted  based on it's population after the Census.