Money the Mother's Milk of Politics

The Senate: Lawyers, Drugs, and Money


SECTOR
# OF MEMBERS

Finance, insurance, and real estate 57

Lawyers and lobbyists 25

Health 5

Agribusiness 3

Labor 2

Energy and natural resources 2

Miscellaneous business 2

Communications and electronics 1

No money raised  3 (clear)


Some fodder from Mother Jones:


What if members of Congress were seated not by party but according to their major business sponsors? We gave it a try.

Politics makes stange bedfellows.....this piece in liberal Mother Jones was collected and posted on Republican, ultra conservative, presidential candidate Ron Paul.


Corporate Sponsors of Congress
More on the early money race for 2012, now that Hurrican Irene has passed and the debt ceiling crisis has been kicked down the road:

Here is a great article from yesterday's NYTimes on the impact on Citizen United v. FEC. It gives a good overview on how presidential candidates can raise unlimited amounts of money in addition to the normal FEC funds.



And,

In June, the second fundraising quarter came to a close. And with it, political fortunes were made and crushed for the men and women running for president in 2012.

Money is seen as an early indicator of momentum — the more you have of the first, the more you are likely to have of the second.

So who will win the cash dash? We explore that question in today’s “Fast Fix” episode:

Fast Fix: Campaign Cash Dash

Lessons Learned? Federal Response Post-Katrina

"FEMA is a four-letter word," --critique from residents of New Orleans six years ago.

Was the response of all levels of government this past weekend to Hurricane Irene an examples of lessons learned? CNN reports, "Six years after "Katrina" became shorthand for a botched response to a crisis, authorities at all levels of government are winning praise for their handling of Hurricane Irene."

You will write a formal essay analyzing federalism in response to Hurricane Katrina and the BP Oil Spill in the next unit, so it is probably helpful to take a systems approach to the response of government (local, state and national authorities) in a federal system in real time.

Did the government (s) work better this time, or was Irene just not as mean as Katrina. Irene death toll: 40-ish; Katrina: 1,700.

Will FEMA's budget get cut?

Constitution Smonstitution

We get into the foundations of American Government and the Constitution next week. But is the Supreme Law of the Land too static? The early leader in Republican primary presidential polls apparently thinks so. As the Ticket reports:

Rick Perry has many ideas about how to change the American government's founding document. From ending lifetime tenure for federal judges to completely scrapping two whole amendments, the Constitution would see a major overhaul if the Texas governor and Republican presidential candidate had his druthers.


Perry laid out these proposed innovations to the founding document in his book, Fed Up! Our Fight to Save America from Washington. He has occasionally mentioned them on the campaign trail. Several of his ideas fall within the realm of mainstream conservative thinking today, but, as you will see, there are also a few surprises.

Seven ways Rick Perry wants to change the Constitution

Friedman: Pie in the sky view of Globalization?

(From Political Warrior, 2008)

The author of The World is Flat, which many of you read last summer, was making remarks that responding to climate change will make America "stronger, more innovative, [and] more energy secure." He was greeted by protesters and a shamrock-colored whipped cream pie.


The Providence Journal (by way of Huffington Post.com reports):

Not everyone agrees with Friedman's vision that innovation is the path to climate and energy salvation. Just seconds into his speech, he was interrupted by two environmental activists, who stormed the stage shortly after Friedman stepped up to the microphone, tossing two paper plates loaded with shamrock-colored whipped cream at him.

Friedman ducked, and was left with only minor streams of the sugary green goo on his black pants and turtleneck.

He stood in bewilderment and mild disgust as the young man and woman bolted from the stage and out the side door, throwing a handful of fliers into the air to relay the message they apparently were not going to deliver personally.

"Thomas Friedman deserves a pie in the face...," the flier said, "because of his sickeningly cheery applaud for free market capitalism's conquest of the planet, for telling the world that the free market and techno fixes can save us from climate change. From carbon trading to biofuels, these distractions are dangerous in and of themselves, while encouraging inaction with respect to the true problems at hand..."

Here's story of Friedman pied:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/04/24/thomas-friedman-pie-in-th_n_98367.html

For the weekend's reading, first Benjamin Barber's Jihad vs. McWorld. This comparative government classic essay, by the title itself has a less optimistic view of globalization than Friedman. We will have a quiz on this reading and Ch. 1 in Hauss on Tuesday.

Jihad vs. McWorld

Second, as America looks out at the rest of the globe today, what big challenges does it see. Read and blog any others you see facing US.

http://teacher.scholastic.com/scholasticnews/indepth/upfront/features/index.asp?article=f011810_challenges

Breakdown of AP Scores Tweeted

AP Trevor (Trevor Packer) has been posting score breakdowns of the various Advanced Placement tests on his Twitter account. So here's how your scores will compare with the National Averages:

"AP US Gov&Pol (and AP Spanish Lit teachers)  have preserved scores very similar to last year, despite now serving approx. 20,000 more students.


AP US Government & Politics scores, 2011: 12.6% = 5; 14.0% = 4; 25.1% = 3; 24.3% = 2; 24.0% = 1."
 
"AP Comp Gov/Pol students struggled with basic, core concepts like UK judicial systems and Nigerian federalism in the free-response section.
 
AP Comparative Government & Politics scores, 2011: 17.3% = 5; 21.7% = 4; 20.3% = 3; 21.6% = 2; 19.1% = 1. (May shift slightly.)"
 
In case you were wondering....
 
 

Students ARE the Government in WA School District

Neat story about a group of students in Lake Stevens, WA who got the school board to approve AP Gov as a course that meets social studies requirements. (The article didn't say whether it was just U.S. or U.S. and Comparative.)

http://www.lakestevensjournal.com/news/article.exm/2011-06-07_high_school_students_step_up_to_create_curriculum_change

High School students step up to create curriculum change

"It was an unusual sight at the weekly Lake Stevens School Board meeting last month when over 20 Lake Stevens High School students walked in the door with the hope of addressing the school board on the subject of a curriculum change..."
________________

BTW, as part of our first semester current events journals, you will cover two government meetings (like a school board meeting)....extra credit, maybe, if you take it to the next level and get on the agenda.

Finish in a 'Grreat' way

So right here, following Chris Matthews' 'Let Me Finish' segment, give me your closing thoughts......comments, critiques, advice for future AP Government & Politics students. What did you like? Dislike? I will use your feedback, and it will be your final 5 points of the semester.


BTW, Justices, 5-4, Tell California to Cut Prisoner Population

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/24/us/24scotus.html?hp