Paul Ryan was big man on campus during his senior year of high school in 1988. He was Prom King and also voted “Biggest Brown-Noser” by his high school class in a vote that also included “Best Looking,” "Best Athlete” and “Most Likely to Succeed."
Whether he will succeed down the campaign to the November election and become Vice-President remains to be seen, but according to media and non-partisan factcheckers, Ryan's speech at the RNC last night could have won a "Most Likely to be called Pinocchio" award. From Factcheck.org: TAMPA, Fla. — Paul Ryan’s acceptance speech at the Republican convention contained several false claims and misleading statements. Delegates cheered as the vice presidential nominee:
■Accused President Obama’s health care law of funneling money away from Medicare “at the expense of the elderly.” In fact, Medicare’s chief actuary says the law “substantially improves” the system’s finances, and Ryan himself has embraced the same savings.
■Accused Obama of doing “exactly nothing” about recommendations of a bipartisan deficit commission — which Ryan himself helped scuttle.
■Claimed the American people were “cut out” of stimulus spending. Actually, more than a quarter of all stimulus dollars went for tax relief for workers.
■Faulted Obama for failing to deliver a 2008 campaign promise to keep a Wisconsin plant open. It closed less than a month before Obama took office.
■Blamed Obama for the loss of a AAA credit rating for the U.S. Actually, Standard & Poor’s blamed the downgrade on the uncompromising stands of both Republicans and Democrats.
And when he wasn’t attacking Obama, Ryan was puffing up the record of his running mate, Mitt Romney, on taxes and unemployment.
The question is, does playing loose with the facts matter to the voting public. Or are we so cynical with the media and politicians that we don't expect any of them to tell the truth.
For today's assignment look at multinational organizations, Go To:
Globalization 101 then go to IMF/World Bank read through the links and take the quiz by the end of the period. If you have time, browse through any of the other issues of interest.
Blog two pieces of takeaway information and add your comment on should multinational organizations exist at all, or are they an undue threat on a state's sovereignty?
Other Multinational Organizations to be at least aware of:
In 2008, for the first time ever, the 18-29 age demographic turned out in higher numbers than another (65+, the Gray Panthers), but nationally (and locally, in my classes) the newly registered, or to be registered voters appear to be less enthusiastic about their right to cast a ballot. "Vote or Die," t-shirts have been replaced by the shirt pictured at right from urban outfitters.
Your chance to blog here, is there anything that can/or should be done to Rock (you young people to) The Vote?"
Ann Beeson in the NY Times said this about the trending youth apathy.
"In 2008, as a candidate, Obama dazzled the nation with his ability to inspire millions, including loads of young people, to get involved in political organizing for the first time. And they reached their goal – they elected Obama. Problem was, it was the wrong goal. The party ended, and many were disillusioned when change didn’t happen overnight. Voting is critical, but it is just one step in the broad spectrum of engagement required to advance real change, whatever your goals and ideology. For democracy to flourish, we need people to do it all — vote, volunteer and raise some righteous hell."
BREAKING NEWS: Mitt Romney will be the Republican Party nominee for President in 2012 it was officially gaveled last night in Tampa.....oh this just in, you already knew that.
Ok then, what is the point of the GOP pep rally this week and the Democrats' National Convention next week?
For all practical politcal matters, the significance of conventions have been replaced since the 1970s, when state primaries took the nominating process out of the smoke-filled back rooms and brought the power of the vote to the people. You ARE the Government!
The one remaining piece of political policy ideas that get adopted at the conventions is the adoption of the party platform -- a (non-binding) mission statement of what the party and its delegates believe in.
The Republican Party has just
released its 2012 party platform. Read the full document below. For previous
Wonkblog (Washington Post) coverage on a draft version, here’s Suzy pension
reform, immigration and
regulation and and me on
health care.
Benjamin Barber outlines threats to democracy in a globalized world in his
classic, Jihad vs. McWorld. Read & take annotated notes on the article. Be
ready to discuss and. You may also be quizzed on this reading. Also, think about
the tone titles like, "Jihad vs. McWorld," or "Clash of Civiliations," set in
the world today.
In all of the fallout over Missouri Senate candidate Todd Akin's comments about legitimate rape, a question, can male legislators legitimately make law on women's health issues? Blog your thoughts.
An all-time record high of 17 women (13 Democrats, 4 Republicans) currently serve in the United States Senate. Akin, if he stays in the race, is challenging female incumbent Claire McCaskill.
“In Minnesota, we not only believe citizenship is an American right, it is also an American
responsibility…Election Day Registration has guaranteed them that right – fairly and freely. It’s
a right that all Americans should share.”
~Keith Ellison, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives (2009)
Is this really fair, or does it place an undue burden on the 93-year-old voter in the news clip above? If you read earlier posts, all non-partisan organizations that have followed this issue state that voter fraud is miniscule in this country, but state specific mandatory ID laws could have a major impact on the 2012 election. The Washington Post reports:
"A Pennsylvania judge Wednesday allowed a Republican-backed law requiring voters to show IDs to go into effect starting this Election Day, a setback for Democrats and civil rights groups who contend that such laws could deny many Americans the right to vote.
Commonwealth Court Judge Robert Simpson said those challenging the law had failed to prove that it violates the state constitution by denying voters’ rights. He also disputed the challengers’ predictions of the number of voters at stake and said there is still time for those without proper ID to acquire it."
Pennsylvania Democrats are hustling to get out this new potential "Voter Study Guide" to anyone who is not sure if they have the currently mandated ID. The legislature that passed the law provided none of this info, they also provided no evidence of voter fraud at trial, yet the judge upheld the law.
When we start class we will talk about trying to increase voter turnout in the United States, but maybe I may have to change my approach, as from my Soap Box it seems that lawmakers in several state legislatures seem more interested in keeping people away from the polls.
BTW, the rate of voter fraud in the 10 states that passed new restrictive voter laws: 0.00000175%. And in Pennsylvania, they say they will spend $5 million to get voters that need them, the new IDs.
When he picked Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan, Chairman of the House Budget Committee as his running mate yesterday, Mitt Romney was making a bold move political pundits say.
Ryan, a serious supply-side economic advocate is most known (in a polarizing way, Conservatives love, Progressives hate) for his "Road to Prosperity" Ryan Budget proposal. Since talking heads on both sides of the aisle are on their Soap Boxes talking about it, a good source to go to find about about claims of the Ryan Budget Plan is Fact Check.org. Here's what they were saying before Ryan was the VP pick.
And how important is the Vice-Pesidential nominees. NPR lists the top Veep picks that helped their ticket to victory. From this you can get to the strategies a presidential campaign considers before making the pick.
Check out Mitt Romney's report card from 9th grade (above). When you run for President, nothing stays hidden. Even if those tax returns a still not out.
I was in London for Queen Elizabeth's Silver (60-year) Jubilee. The pride of the English people had breaking into "Hip, Hip, Hooray," and singing, "God Save the Queen," was interesting to observe as an American.
Blog here for fun if you can name all of the countries competing in London 2012 that were part of the the (once?) Great Britain commonwealth when Her Highness took the throne in 1952. Second semester will talk about the distinction between, Great Britain and Little England.
From opposite ends of the Cable Political News Spectrum, MSNBC and Fox News had their analysis of what might be a major factor in the 2012 election. Several new laws passed throughout the states that have changed the voting eligibility status of up to 5 million citizens, according to the non-partisan Brennan Center. The following is a summary of their Voting Law Changes in 2012 report.
Analysis
The Brennan Center's Voting Law Changes in 2012 report analyzed how a series of laws imposing new restrictions on who can vote and how could significantly change the electoral landscape. As states continue to introduce and consider new restrictive measures, we will be updating the summary below and this detailed compilation of potentially restrictive laws related to voting that were proposed nationwide in the 2011 and 2012 state legislative sessions, and that have been passed or remain pending. We note that the number of currently pending restrictive bills is declining as states’ 2012 legislative sessions end.
Numbers Overview
At least 180 restrictive bills introduced since the beginning of 2011 in 41 states.
47 restrictive bills currently pending in 12 states.
24 laws and 2 executive actions passed since the beginning of 2011 in 19 states (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin).
16 states have passed restrictive voting laws that have the potential to impact the 2012 election (Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin, and West Virginia). These states account for 214 electoral votes, or nearly 79 percent of the total needed to win the presidency.
Of these, 13 laws and executive actions are currently in effect in 9 states (Florida, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, West Virginia).
•Photo ID laws. At least 34 states introduced legislation that would require voters to show photo identification in order to vote, and an additional four states introduced legislation requesting that voters show photo identification to register or to vote. Photo ID bills were signed into law in eight states — Alabama, Kansas, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania — and passed by referendum in Mississippi. In addition, Minnesota's legislature has passed a bill proposing a constitutional amendment to the Minnesota Constitution that would require government issued photo ID to vote in person. The amendment will be voted on by referendum at the 2012 general election. By contrast, before the 2011 legislative session, only two states had ever imposed strict photo ID requirements. The number of states with laws requiring voters to show government-issued photo identification quadrupled in 2011. To put this into context, 11 percent of American citizens do not possess a government-issued photo ID; that is over 21 million citizens.
•Voter ID laws. Virginia has passed a law changing its voter ID requirements by eliminating the option of executing an affidavit of identity when voting at the polls or applying for an absentee ballot in person, while expanding the list of acceptable IDs. New Hampshire’s new voter ID requirements require a voter to produce documentary ID or submit an affidavit of identity. After September 2013, a voter must produce a New Hampshire or US government photo ID or execute an affidavit of identity, no other form of identification will be accepted.
•Proof of citizenship laws. At least 17 states introduced legislation that would require proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate, to register or vote. Proof of citizenship laws passed in Alabama, Kansas, and Tennessee. The Tennessee law, however, applies only to individuals flagged by state officials as potential non-citizens based on a database check. Previously, only two states had passed proof of citizenship laws, and only one had put such a requirement in effect. The number of states with such a requirement has more than doubled.
•Making voter registration harder. At least 16 states introduced bills to end highly popular Election Day and same-day voter registration, limit voter registration mobilization efforts, and reduce other registration opportunities. Florida, Illinois and Texas passed laws restricting voter registration drives, and Florida and Wisconsin passed laws making it more difficult for people who move to stay registered and vote. Ohio ended its weeklong period of same-day voter registration, and the Maine legislature passed a law eliminating Election Day registration. Luckily, Maine voters later repealed the law. In addition, some opponents of the Minnesota constitutional amendment have argued that it has the possible effect of eliminating Election Day registration as it currently exists in that state. That amendment will be voted on by referendum at the 2012 general election.
•Reducing early and absentee days. At least nine states introduced bills to reduce their early voting periods, and four tried to reduce absentee voting opportunities. Florida, Georgia, Ohio, Tennessee, and West Virginia succeeded in enacting bills reducing early voting.
•Making it harder to restore voting rights. Two states — Florida and Iowa — reversed prior executive actions that made it easier for citizens with past felony convictions to restore their voting rights, affecting hundreds of thousands of voters. In effect, both states now permanently disenfranchise most citizens with past felony convictions. In addition, South Dakota recently passed a law imposing further restrictions on citizens with felony convictions by denying voting rights to persons on probation on top of existing requirement that any term of imprisonment or parole be completed before the state will restore their voting rights.
The Database Dilema
Voter registration in the United States largely reflects its 19th-century origins and has not kept pace with advancing technology and a mobile society. States’ systems must be brought into the 21st century to be more accurate, cost-effective, and efficient.
On of the problems the Pew Center study did not find was a high number of fraudulent voters. However, that seems to be how law makers have tackled the problem since 2008.
Blog here your opinion, are mandatory photo ID laws to vote needed, necessary and good policy ideas, or do they disenfranchise some citizens taking away a basic human right in a democracy?
It was revealed that the USA Olympic Team's Ralph Lauren desgined uniforms were made in China. Next session of Congress lawmakers clamored to their Capitol Hill podiums to call for "Made in America" athletic duds. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said the "Made in China" outfits should be burned. There was non-partisan outrage. Then after it was revealed the medal-winning Americans would have to report their winnings (and be taxed) to the IRS, the lawmakers pushed for a tax break for our country's summer stars. Even the President said he would support giving a break to the likes of Michael Phelps. By the way, while taxing medal-winning olympians might seem against the spirit of the games we should be reminded that our men and women serving our country in Afganistan get taxed on their earnings.
But when it comes to a call for immediate action to deal with three major gun mass murder tragedies around the country in the last year -- two in the last three weeks -- the mute button has mostly been on. The silencer is activated on the big political guns, President Barack Obama and GOP challenger Mitt Romney and most members of our blank-shooting Congress. We will open our study of American Government this fall talking about Constitutional Principles. One, popular sovereignty, says the government must represent and do the will of the people.
On the issue of gun-control legislation, is this principle being followed?
With over 600 gun murders nation-wide since the Aurora movie theatre will the government listen to the people calling for common sense -- assault weapon ban re-do? -- or continue to listen closely to the most powerful special interest group in Washington, the NRA.
Some lawmakers stood on the defiant side of the NRA following the weekend's temple tragedy in Wisconsin, but most are not willing to take on this political fight.
