Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Campaigns and Elections Project Links and Comments

Based on your knowledge of Campaigns and Elections, current events, and responsible journalism, please share a link about the current presidential campaign that fits into each of the four categories.  Label which link represents which of the four areas, post it as a comment at www.civicsblog.blogspot.com   Labels: (1. Issues  2. Polls  3. Behind the scenes  4. Money)

Disclaimer: Please remember that we have an academic honesty policy that says that you should do your own work.  Please don't copy and paste somebody else's links!

2.         Next, comment on at least one of your four links.  What do you know, what do you believe, what do you think should be done.

3.         Next, comment on at least one other person's link at    www.civicsblog.blogspot.com  Have a great discussion!

11 comments:

Mr. Bretzmann said...

ON BEHALF OF ARIANNAJ:
1. Issues
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/07/23/romney-new-gun-laws-wont-make-a-difference-in-this-type-of-tragedy/
2. Polls
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/07/18/poll-presidential-race-in-dead-heat/
3. Behind the scenes
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/07/23/campaigns-resume-attacks/
4. Money
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/07/20/obama-spends-nearly-30-million-more-than-romney-in-june/?iref=allsearch

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/07/23/romney-new-gun-laws-wont-make-a-difference-in-this-type-of-tragedy/

Romney: New gun laws won't make a difference 'in this type of tragedy'

What I know
~After the Colorado theater shooting on Friday, Mitt Romney argued there was no need for new gun laws on Monday.
~He says that new gun laws won’t make a difference in this type of tragedy.

What I believe
~I believe that Romney is right to a certain point. Crazy/evil people will still be able to get guns no matter how many restrictions or laws you put on guns.

What should be done
~They should have psychological testing for when people go to buy a gun instead of just a background check.

Unknown said...

1.Issues
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/07/20/obama-romney-views-toward-gun-rights-have-evolved/

2.Polls
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/07/21/will-colo-economy-turn-purple-state-red-or-blue/

3.Behind the scenes
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/07/20/obama-hocked-and-saddened-by-colorado-movie-theater-shooting/

4.Money
http://video.foxnews.com/v/1750245015001/obama-campaign-overspending

Obama campaign overspending?

What I Know:
-President Obama’s deficit spending could cost him his job.
-Obama raised 45.9 million dollars and spent 58 million in June (burn rate 120% raised)
-Romney raised 33million and spent 27.5 million dollars (burn rate 83% raised)
-Obama paid his 778 member staff $2.9million
-Romney paid his 272 member staff $1.3million
-Obama spent on Advertisements $38.2million in month of June
-Romney spent on Advertisements $10.4million

What I Believe:
-I believe Obama is overspending on his campaign. Spending large amounts of money to disrespect the opponent is unnecessary. I believe the money could have been used towards the nation’s debt or used for other foundations across the states. In my opinion I believe Romney spends money more wisely than President Obama.

What should be done:
-There should be cuts on spending for presidential campaigning. The large amounts of money are unnecessary and selfish. The money could be used to help other foundations across the world. If cuts cannot be made limits should be set in place in order to reduce spending on campaigns.

Unknown said...

In response to Arianna's post by Mr. Bretzmann about Romney's statement about how new gun laws wont make a difference.

Although I agree with Arianna that gun restrictions would not stop people from obtaining guns, I believe that more security should be enforced in addition to the psychological testing Arianna suggested. A basic background check is not efficient enough so a pyschological test would sort out the sane and insane people. However, people could still obtain weapons by stealing or purchasing the weapon for other person. Increasing security in public areas could help reduce public events such as in Colorado. For example, in a public area metal detectors could be put in. I know it would cost more money, but safety would increase.

Unknown said...

1. Issues
http://www.examiner.com/article/romney-signs-obamacare-repeal-pledge
2. Polls
http://www.politico.com/p/2012-election/polls/president/national/national-12-president-general-election-216/
3. Behind the Scenes
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/18/world/obama-re-election-complicated-by-world-events.html
4. Money
http://www.npr.org/2012/07/25/157381528/part-of-romneys-foreign-itinerary-raising-money

Part Of Romney's Foreign Itinerary: Raising Money

What I know:
-Mitt Romney is on a week long trip overseas meeting with important political figures, and raising some campaign money.
-A source says that Romney is looking to make approximately 1 million dollars for his presidential campaign.

What I believe:
-I believe that this trip overseas for Romney should be used to strengthen political ties with important figures, and not for fundraising.

What should be done:
-I think that Romney should still make the trip overseas, but focus on the political aspect of it more than the financial part.

Unknown said...

Commenting on Jessie Kummm's story:
I do agree that Obama is overspending on his campaign and that it is a little insulting to the presidential candidate, Mitt Romney. I don't know that the money that he is using in his campaign could be used to solve the nation's debt problem. I think it would be a good idea to donate some of that money to charities though! Overall, I think that both presidential candidates should spend less on their campaigns.

Unknown said...

1.Issues
http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2012/campaign-issues.html
2. Polls
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/07/27/as-romney-heads-to-israel-new-poll-shows-jewish-americans-favor-obama/?iref=allsearch
3.Behind the scenes
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/05/us/politics/behind-the-scenes-at-the-fox-news-forum.html
4. Money
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/obama-raises-millions-for-2012-campaign-within-spitting-distance-of-white-house/2012/07/26/gJQAbkdeBX_story.html


As Romney heads to Israel, new poll shows Jewish Americans favor Obama

I know:
-68% of Jewish AmericIans back President Barack Obama, while 25% support romney
-Obama signed the bill passed by Congress pledging $70 million to increase U.S. security ties with Israel.
-Romney talks to the press about how much better he would do when making a relationship with israel.

I believe:
-I believe president obama is doing the right thing with israel to keep our relationship strong. I think we should try to make a good relationship with every country.

I think:
-obama spent way too much money to help become a better ally with israel. we have billions of dollars in debt, we dont need 70 million dollars for that.
-If romney wants more votes he should appeal more to the jewish religion and talk about things they would like in his interview in a few days.

Unknown said...

to follow ub on evan's post


I totally agree with what he is saying. Romney should go overseas if he wants more support. If other countries that we are friends with like him then we can trust him. If he becomes president then he will be making a lot more of those trips. If he becomes friends with them now then all is well. I also agree on the the political perspective because he is trying to get elected. He should just put aside the financial part

Jacob Syk said...

1.http://www.cnn.com/election/2012/campaign-issues.html
2.http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/us/general_election_romney_vs_obama-1171.html
3.http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/07/27/obama-loves-the-olympics-might-watch-romneys-horse-compete/
4.http://elections.nytimes.com/2012/campaign-finance/

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/us/general_election_romney_vs_obama-1171.html

General Election: Romney vs. Obama

What I know:
President Obama and Romney are quite close in the polls.
Based on the average poll, Obama seems to be ahead about one percentage point.

What I believe:
Only one can win...

What should be done:
They should keep tracking the polls so I can keep watching... constantly every day.

Jacob Syk said...

@ Arianna's story

I agree that there should be psychological testing for people going to buy guns. I don't think that this will stop all violence in the U.S., but it's a good measure to ensure that people who are at risk do not own firearms.

Unknown said...

1.Issues

2.Polls

3.Behind the Scenes

4.Money

Obama spends nearly $30 million more than Romney in June

What I know
-Obama Spent 12 million dollars more than he raised int June

What I believe
-Romney spent less than he made. This seems like a good quality for the president of the United States.

What should be done
-They should continue to campaign on their money, spending how they want.

Unknown said...

@Arianna

I disagree that psychological tests should be required for owning a gun. It would just be one more restriction on our freedom. The federal government would be expressly violating the II and X amendments. We have the "Right to form a Militia," and the government has not been given the power to infringe on that.