"Primary Turnout Could Signal Trouble for G.O.P"

Looking at recent data and polls some experts believe that voters are not as excited about the Republican campaign as the republicans think. Republicans voters are more excited about the elections than democrats seeing as polls show that 40% of republican voters say they are more excited compared to the 29% of democrats.

Polls and data also show that Mitt Romney is having some difficulties getting urban and suburban voters excited about the elections. Voter Turnout is down and only in states where democrats and Independents care allowed to vote are the turnouts up. 

Romney and other Republicans think that once there is a nominee that there will be more excitement about the G.O.P race against President Obama. Some also think that a more conservative candidate will best be able to beat President Obama in the presidential race and as the polls show the voters are more excited about a conservative candidate. With the more moderate Mitt Romney in the lead this is why some are speculating that the G.O.P may have trouble winning the presidential elections. 

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/31/us/politics/primary-turnout-could-signal-trouble-for-gop.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&ref=politics

Election Costs

March 26, 2012

The cost of modern day elections is astronomical but necessary to become a viable candidate. Candidates fund their expensive campaigns through donations which will tally in the millions of dollars. Super PACs capitalize on the relaxed campaign laws to gross millions of dollars for their candidate. Of these super PAC contributors the rich are making a huge splash. The top 100 super PAC donors contribute more than 80% of the total money raised despite being only 3.7% of the total contributors. The top 46 donors alone have contributed $67 million of the $112 million raised this cycle. To be among the top 46 super PAC donors you must make a $500,000 minimum donation! This select group represents members of financial services, energy executives and hoteliers. Almost all are white, conservative men. 

It is possible to track the top super PAC contributors to their candidates as well. Mitt Romney has been receiving large donations from Wall Street which is not surprising considering his back ground with Bain Capital. John Paulson, who received 600% returns by betting against mortgages, has contributed $1 million alone to a Romney super PAC. Donations to Romney’s super PAC peak at about $1 million.

Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum and Ron Paul have all received even larger donations. For example, Sheldon Adelson, Las Vegas Sands CEO, and his family have donated $15 million to a Gingrich super PAC. Their $5 million contribution in February accounted for 90% of Gingrich’s super PAC contributions for that month. Ron Paul received a $2.6 million donation from PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel which is 70% of all the money that super PAC had raised.

These massive donations have raised questions about election laws. Many worry about how much money is impacting elections. Some feel that elections are being influenced mainly by wealth and a very small number of political interests. For instance, donors could be making contribution purely based on their financial interests not on their political beliefs. These massive donations were made possible with the Supreme Court’s Citizens United ruling which puts individuals and corporations on equal ground when it comes to independent campaign spending. Super PACs are able to raise an unlimited amount from corporations, unions, associations and individuals for the candidate of their choice.

Super PAC contributors are far more conservative and donations for republicans surpass those of democrats. President Obama does draw in strong support and is expected to do so as the election approaches. The super PACs influence does not end stop at the presidential elections. In fact, its strongest impact could be on the Congressional elections because a little money can go a long way. In either case, a strong case for election finance law reform can be made. It is undeniable that economics is playing one of the strongest roles in modern elections. To be a viable candidate you must have the financial means to fund an expensive nationwide campaign. In the modern election process candidates appear to be campaigning for financial support as much as they are for public support. 

http://money.cnn.com/2012/03/26/news/economy/super-pac-donors/index.htm?iid=GM

Things Falling Into Place For Obama Re-election

Following the recent rise of Republican and Tea Party followers, it seems that the Obama campaign is starting to regain momentum again. President Obama couldn't ask for better timing as he soon will begin to campaign for re-election. Until recently, many Republicans as well as Democrats weren't very enthusiastic on the job of President Obama, but now many Democratic candidates have been publicly backing his decisions. Due to a recent surge of social issues being pursued by the Republicans (instead of fixing our economic problems) and also to the economy showing some positive signs of improvement, Obama looks to be gaining momentum back for the Democrats. Add this to Obamas unbelievable campaigning skills and the uncertainty of the Republican party's representation and we could see him another four years. For the Republicans, it appears that either Santorum or Gingrich would need to drop out to have any chance of catching Romney. Regardless, this should be an interesting election.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/09/us/politics/democrats-warm-to-obama-as-a-campaign-ally.html?_r=1&ref=us

Iran's Nuclear Program

Iran is still enriching its uranium in its facilities, and in some cases without in international organizations making sure it is all for civil purposes. It is very interesting to see how people argue in both ways. Some people may say that Iran having nuclear weapons is not acceptable. It would be a threat to Israel, and to other countries in the region. It would also start an arm race in the region, with countries arguing self-defense for this arm race. Some others could argue that Iran is a sovereign country, and they could take any decision they want within their territory. No one should tell them what to do. Iran did not intervene in US, or Israel’s decision of having a nuclear program, so why should us intervene in theirs. The international community seems to be leaning on not doing anything without UN approval, or international consensus. My opinion in this matter, is very different from the opinion of people up here. I was born in Venezuela, and we tend to have a different approach to foreign issues. What’s your opinion this?


Sources:http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/on-leadership/from-the-atom-bomb-to-attacking-iran-a-leadership-lesson-for-obama-from-our-nuclear-history/2012/03/07/gIQA7Pu2wR_story.html

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/envoy/un-weigh-legality-iran-strike-brazil-foreign-minister-170354507.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/shortcuts/2012/mar/07/israel-picking-on-ducks?INTCMP=SRC

Corporate Tax Reform Plan

February 22, 2012
In the upcoming election the current state of the economy is set to be a huge debate issue. It has already been a grueling race for the republican nomination and the presidential election will be much of the same. President Obama will be judged by the productivity of the country since he has gotten into office. This is one reason why the Obama administration’s corporate tax reform plan is highly anticipated. President Obama would certainly like to have this tax reform plan  as evidence that he is steering the United States in the right direction.

“Our tax system should not give companies an incentive to locate production overseas or engage in accounting games to shift profits abroad, eroding the U.S. tax base,” said a senior administration official. This is the aim of the corporate tax reform plan that the Obama administration is unveiling today. The plan will lower the top income tax rate from 35 percent to 28 percent. The plan will also give new tax benefits to companies that manufacture in the U.S. while oil and gas companies will see greater tax and lose large deductions and subsidies. The plan allegedly will raise $250 billion over the next 10 years. This will be the first time in 25 years that the overall corporate tax rate will be lowered and its current 35 percent is among the highest in the world.

One of the major issues being addressed in the bill is American companies staying in America and investing in America. The bill aims to “create more incentives for corporations to invest in the United States.” As it stands now many corporations shy away from investing overseas profits into the U.S. because they will face a 35 percent tax rate. Getting companies and their money back to America has been a major concern and will be a hot issue in the upcoming election.

Another aspect of the bill is to provide “fairness and simplicity.” The current system has many loopholes which President Obama addressed in his State of the Union speech saying, “Those with accountants or lawyers to work the system can end up paying no taxes at all. But all the rest are hit with one of the highest corporate tax rates in the world (35%).” By simplifying the system and lowering the tax the bill should be able to ensure taxes are being paid while encouraging American business.

This does come at a crucial time for President Obama as he faces reelection which is why “administration officials insisted the president is behind the plan and the Treasury Department is merely filling in the details.” This does appear to be an effective plan that has bipartisan support as “many members of both parties have said they favor overhauling the nation’s individual and corporate tax systems.” Currently all candidates seeking the republican nomination have called for a reduction in corporate tax. Mitt Romney wanted to see corporate tax as low as 25 percent and Newt Gingrich who said he would chop the rate by 12.5 percent. Rick Santorum went as far as wanting to exempt “domestic manufacturers from the corporate tax and halve the top rate for other businesses.”

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/02/21/obama-administration-to-unveil-corporate-tax-reform-plan/

http://whitehouse.blogs.cnn.com/2012/02/22/obama-to-offer-corporate-tax-reform-plan/?iref=allsearch

Blog Schedule

Week of 2/20
Kevin
Nicolas

Week of 2/27
Brett
Garrett
Edgar

Week of 3/5
Dave

Week of 3/12
Kevin
Nicolas

Week of 3/26
Brett
Ben
Sam

Week of 4/2
Garrett
Chris
Kathleen

Week of 4/9
Dave
Patrick
Dan

Week of 4/16
Ben
Patrick
Edgar

Week of 4/23
Sam
Kathleen
Dan

Week of 4/30
Chris

Welcome to our Spring 2012 Blog!

Welcome to our Presidency class blog! The first step for class members is to set up an account with Blogger.com so I can add you to this blog so you can get started posting! Look for an email from me, if you do not receive one, let me know. I will send a sign up sheet around and publish the posting schedule.


(I took this photo when then Senator Obama spoke to us here at PSU).



A few rules to follow:

1. No profanity or obscenities! This Blog will maintain professional standards of discourse!

2. No jerks.

3. No incivility. You are expected to treat one another with respect and offer constructive comments.

4. follow all rules about fair use of material--copyrights etc.

5. You are expected to post a story on or before Thursday of the week assigned below.

Now--get blogging!