McCain takes shot at 'don't ask, don't tell' repeal

(CNN) -- Now is not the time to repeal the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy on gay men and lesbians serving openly in the U.S. armed forces, Sen. John McCain said at a hearing Thursday.

"At this time, we should be inherently cautious about making any changes that would affect our military, and what changes we do make should be the product of careful and deliberate consideration," the Arizona Republican said at the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing.

His position is not that the law should never be changed, he said, but that "it may be premature to make such a change at this time and in this manner."

In contrast, Defense Secretary Robert Gates urged that the repeal be signed into law as soon as possible, to avoid the issue being taken up again by the judiciary, where a repeal of the ban could be ordered immediately, rather than on the military's timetable. A judicial fiat would be "hazardous," he added.

The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Mike Mullen, said he believes that even among those combat forces, a transition to a new law is possible.

"Should repeal occur, some soldiers and Marines may want separate shower facilities. Some may ask for different berthing. Some may even quit the service. We'll deal with that. But I believe, and history tells, that most of them will put aside personal proclivities for something larger than themselves and for each other," he said.

My Opinion

First, I think it is very funny that my very blog post was about Senator McCain and my very last post coincidentally is about him too. However, in my first blog post I criticized him on his policy views toward immigration. I have matured since then. I will not criticize him on this, because I don't believe his views towards this issue are wrong. I feel like he is being reasonable on this and is just looking out for the safety of the country. Not that he was not looking out for the safety of the country with the immigration issue, but I believe his beliefs on this issue are more noble than the ones from immigration.

He believes that the DADT policy should not be repealed because it may affect our military conditions. In a sense I believe he is right. There are a lot of people who strongly oppose gays and lesbians. Somewhere in the military some of these people exist. So, I just think he is looking out for the safety of the country, and the safety of those troops who are gay or lesbian.

On the other hand, I also agree with Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Mike Mullen. I have no military experience, neither does anyone in my family so I speak for myself when I say this. I believe that in the military is not about being gay, lesbian, straight, Black, White, Latino, or Asian. I believe that in the military a brotherhood exist. I believe that each and every one of those soldiers will have each other's back at any given moment. Like the soldier who recently received the medal of honor, with his story I highly doubt that if his wounded brother was gay that he wouldn't have returned for him. I think that if that soldier who eventually died was openly gay then he would have still went back for him. At least I would.

I think that the media could play a little bit more of a role in this issue. They could interview soldiers about how they would feel if this policy was repealed. That way the world could see that it is not about being gay or lesbian, but about staying alive. In this sense I agree with McCain when he said he was bothered that the soldiers did not get asked how they felt about this. They wouldn't care, they probably know already who is gay and who is not.

Closing Commentary

Welp, just like my first post I will end this one with a few comments. It's been fun blogging this semester, I have learned a lot. Reading you guy's blogs has kept me informed with the many stories that I don't keep up with. Just like I said before, our mission entering this class was to get out with an "A." I hope we all do that, and we all succeed in the future, and also thanks to Dr. DeWitt for a fun semester. My fellow classmates, good luck the rest of the way with your education/ professional career, and life. I wish you all the best, and many blessing your ways.

Over and OUT!!!
-Hector Rojas

Amazon Pulls Plug on WikiLeaks

Amazon.com has severed ties with controversial website WikiLeaks, the organization that just released a trove of sensitive U.S. State Department documents.

Computers run by Amazon's Elastic web Computer service in Tulsa, Portland, New York and elsewhere had been hosting the site cablegate.WikiLeaks.org, the Wall Street Journal noted on Tuesday, as well as WikiLeaks.org, the controversial site's front page.

Joe LLieberman, chairman of the Homeland security and Governmental Affairs Committee, said that Amazon told him of the decision to end the relationship between the two companies.

"This morning Amazon informed my staff that it has ceased to host the WikiLeaks website," Lieberman said in a public statement. "The company's decision to cut off WikiLeaks now is the right decision and should set the standard for other companies Wikileaks is using to distribute its illegally seized material," he said in a statement.

"I call on any other company or organization that is hosting WikiLeaks to immediately terminate its relationship with them," Lieberman added.

My Opinion

Most of us know what happened here with this developing story. If you are new to the story then I will take a second to explain the situation. WikiLeaks, a website know for publishing anonymous submissions and leaks of sensitive governmental, corporate, organizational, or religious documents. The contributors to this website are unknown.

Recently the website has leaked  thousands of documents that detail with the nation's diplomatic interactions with other countries. To just name a few of the issues leak: ---Saudi King Abdullah urged the United States to attack Iran to halt its nuclear program, warning that if Tehran we to go nuclear, other countries in the region would, too. --- The United States keeps bombers ready to strike al Qaeda targets in Yemen if "actionable intelligence becomes available.'


So, this is what is going on recently in the world of politics today, as long with many other things. Many Politicians, including President Obama, are saying that with the release of the documents we are hurting our relations with foreign countries. I completely agree. It is almost like when that one pastor down in Florida was contemplating on burning the Koran or not. People all of the sudden became aggressive and threats against the United States arose. Well, with the release of the leaks, I feel like the same could happen. The release of more sensitive documents in the future could lead to possibly new foreign enemies.

Amazon backed out I think because of the pressure from the media. Although in this article, provided by Fox mobile, says that Amazon would not comment on decision. I still believe that they backed out because of pressure form the media and the government. I have read lately that the government plans to file suits on WikiLeaks, maybe this is why Amazon backed out. Maybe they did not want to be affiliated with them  just in case they did go down.

Again this is one of the many ways how the media is so powerful. Once something gets out, its out forever. It is down in the record books and no one can erase it. In this sense the media is so powerful.

-HR

"White America"- Eminem

Eminem’s “White America” is one the Detroit rappers most potent records where he pens and open letter to the main stream. The animated video is a work of art.



(The video will not play on my blog because it is from "VEVO" and it is restricted, but if you click on the link it will redirect you to youtube and you should be able to see it there.)

Lyrics

"White America"

America, hahaha, we love you, how many people are proud to be citizens of this beautiful
Country of ours, the stripes and the stars for the rights that men have died for to protect,
The women and men who have broke their neck's for the freedom of speech the United States
Government has sworn to uphold, or
(Yo', I want everybody to listen to the words of this song) so we're told...

I never would've dreamed in a million years I'd see,
So many motherf*****' people who feel like me, who share the same views
And the same exact beliefs, it's like a f*****' army marchin' in back of me, so many lives I
Touch, so much anger aimed, in no particular direction, just sprays and sprays, and straight
Through your radio waves it plays and plays, 'till it stays stuck in your head for days and
Days, who would of thought, standing in this mirror bleachin' my hair, with some peroxide,
Reaching for a t-shirt to wear, that I would catapult to the forefront of rap like this, how
Could I predict my words would have an impact like this, I must've struck a chord, with somebody
Up in the office, cause congress keeps telling me I ain't causin' nuthin' but problems, and now
They're sayin' I'm in trouble with the government, I'm lovin' it, I shoveled shit all my life,
And now I'm dumping it on...

[Chorus]
White America, I could be one of your kids, white America, little Eric looks just like this,
White America, Erica loves my s***, I go to TRL, look how many hugs I get, white America, I
Could be one of your kids, white America, little Eric looks just like this, white America, Erica
Loves my s***, I go to TRL, look how many hugs I get...

Look at these eyes, baby blue, baby just like yourself, if they were brown, Shady lose, Shady
Sits on the shelf, but Shady's cute, Shady knew, Shady's dimple's would help, make ladies swoon
Baby, {ooh baby}, look at my sales, let's do the math, if I was black, I would've sold half, I
Ain't have to graduate from Lincoln high school to know that, but I could rap, so f*** school,
I'm too cool to go back, gimme the mic, show me where the f*****' studio's at, when I was
Underground, no one gave a f*** I was white, no labels wanted to sign me, almost gave up, I was
Like, f*** it, until I met Dre, the only one to look past, gave me a chance, and I lit a fire up
Under his a**, helped him get back to the top, every fan black that I got, was probably his in
Exchange for every white fan that he's got, like damn, we just swapped, sittin' back lookin' at
S***, wow, I'm like my skin is it starting to work to my benefit now, it's...

[Chorus]

See the problem is, I speak to suburban kids, who otherwise would of never knew these words
Exist, whose mom's probably would of never gave two squirts of piss, 'till I created so much
Motherf*****' turbulence, straight out the tube, right into your living room I came, and kids
Flipped when they knew I was produced by Dre, that's all it took, and they were instantly hooked
Right in, and they connected with me too because I looked like them, that's why they put my
Lyrics up under this microscope, searchin' with a fine tooth comb, its like this rope, waitin'
To choke, tightening around my throat, watching me while I write this, like I don't like this,
Nope, all I hear is, lyrics, lyrics, constant controversy, sponsors working 'round the clock, to
Try to stop my concerts early, surely hip-hop was never a problem in Harlem, only in Boston,
After it bothered the fathers of daughters starting to blossom, so now I'm catchin' the flack
From these activists when they raggin', actin' like I'm the first rapper to smack a b****, or
Say f*****, s***, just look at me like I'm your closest pal, the posterchild, the motherf*****'
Spokesman now for...

[Chorus]

So to the parents of America, I am the derringer aimed at little Erica, to attack her
Character, the ringleader of this circus of worthless pawns, sent to lead the march right up to
The steps of congress, and piss on the lawns of the White House, to burn the casket and replace
It with a parental advisory sticker, to spit liquor in the faces of in this democracy of
Hypocrisy, f*** you Ms. Cheney, f*** you Tipper Gore, f*** you with the freest of speech this
Divided states of embarrassment will allow me to have, f*** you, [vocal melody],
He, hahaha, I'm just playin' America, you know I love you...
Meaning

I feel like there is a lot of meaning behind this song, and that it is not just Eminem being typical young Eminem as he was in his early career. Basically I fell like Eminem is attacking the censorship in America and pushing for more freedom of speech. There is a line that says, "I must've struck a chord, with somebody Up in the office, cause congress keeps telling me I ain't causin' nuthin' but problems, and now They're sayin' I'm in trouble with the government." I feel like this is the thesis of the song. I feel like Congress is his audience and this entire song is for them, and he is just basically just exercising his freedom of speech. "White America" is also a song in which Eminem creates many contradictions to show inconsistencies in the American social structure. These contradictions are important because they reveal a critical flaw in the American society that disillusions both immigrants and natives into thinking America is a leveled playing field for capitalistic ventures.
Some of these flaws include the idea the "Democracy" is the ideal form of government. He also states this in one of his line towards the very end of the song.

I realy like this song not becuase I am an angry person, rather becuase it states many truths of the nation. It shows the reality of the way people think, but are just afraid to say anything about how they feel. If you have ever herd any of Eminems lyrics, well then you know he is "Not Afraid!" I also like the lyrics to this song because they are in a sense objective. Even though he is talking about his personal feelings and beliefs, there are many Americans (as he states in the beginging of the song) who feel like him and share those same exact beliefs. Imagine if the media and Journalisim was like this, completely raw. If it were like this, then it would be no suprise to us when important documents would be leaked, such as those leaked recently.

-HR

Rage Against The Machine: 'Testify'

The movie ran through me
The glamour subdue me
The tabloid untie me
I'm empty please fill me
Mister anchor assure me
That Baghdad is burning
Your voice it is so soothing
That cunning mantra of killing
I need you my witness
To dress this up so bloodless
To numb me and purge me now
Of thoughts of blaming you
Yes the car is our wheelchair
My witness your coughing
Oily silence mocks the legless
Now traveling in coffins
But on the corner
The jury's sleepless
We found your weakness
And it's right outside our door

Now testify

With precision you feed me
My witness I'm hungry
Your temple it calms me
So I can carry on
My slaving sweating the skin right off my bones
On a bed of fire I'm choking on the smoke that fills my home
The wrecking ball rushing
My witness your blushing
The pipeline is gushing
While here we lie in tombs
While on the corner
The jury's sleepless
We found your weakness
And it's right outside your door

Now testify

Mass graves for the pump and the price is set

Who controls the past now controls the future
Who controls the present now controls the past
Who controls the past now controls the future
Who controls the present now?

Now testify



The music video shows the two presidential candidates at the time ( George W. Bush and Al Gore for the 2000 Presidential Elections) stating the same policies and views on important issues, and the movie aims to highlight the lack of choice in the US electoral system. Other key themes in the video focus on America's reliance on oil, with several clips of the Gulf War, and lines at gas pumps accompanied by the lines "Mass graves for the pump and the price is set." This line shows how we sacrifice our soldiers and send them to Iraq to get oil, even if it means war.  "I'm choking in the smoke that fills my home..." is referring to the diesel that cars burn that are polluting our air.

The song also shows how the media takes stories and twist them for their own gains, such as higher ratings.
"Mister anchor assure me, That Baghdad is burning..." This line right here probably refers to what I was saying. This shows how even 10 years ago the media is still the same. They still skew stories so that we get what they want us to get and not the truth . Although I will admit it has gotten better. This is a great song that is very political, and got many people thinking about these events.

Website takes votes on whether woman should get abortion

A website run by a Minnesota couple that is polling readers on whether the pair should abort the wife's fetus was generating plenty of votes -- along with controversy -- on Friday.

The site, called birthornot.com, asks readers to take a poll that asks "Should we give birth or have an abortion?"



In today's world, we vote for everything. We vote for policies, officials, and for important decisions. With this said, who would have thought that our world would come down to voting on whether a human beings life should start, or end before it ever started. This site, birthornot, is absolutely disgusting. I personally visited the site, and am in complete disgust after viewing it. We don't vote for things like this, personal things. This is between the couple and they should make their decision based on their current life status. The life of this human being should not be left to complete strangers of the world, it should be the couple's choice. So far, 81% encourage the birth while 19% encourage the abortion.

If people voted for the abortion, would this couple seriously make the choice to kill this baby? It makes you wonder what kind of country we live in, and the people that live in it.

Many people, including myself think that this is just a sad way to get attention. The website, which is essentially a blog, includes post about their experience throughout the short pregnancy. In the post they seem happy talking about the baby named "wiggles." This is just an example of how different media outlets, such as the Internet can grab attention. Also, I think that this is an example of how soft news/entertainment still rules the news world.

Another thing that is disgusting, is the people who visit this site and comment on the blog. If we didn't pay too much attention to it, then they probably would close the blog down, and make their own decisions and not bring the world into it. But as consumers we hunger for stories like this, entertainment, and soft news that fill our minds with garbage. I can see why Senator Rockefeller wants news stations such as Fox to shut down. It's because they are garbage and do not give us stronger more hard news stories. Sure they give you a few stories here and there, but there are other news stations that can provide gossips for us. I hope these people make an informed decision based on what they want, and not what strangers they have never seen want.

-HR

Senator Rockefeller wants FCC to 'End' Fox News, MSNBC

During a committee meeting on Wednesday about television retransmission consent, Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) veered away from his prepared remarks to take aim at both Fox News and MSNBC:

"More than just retransmission consent ails our television markets. We need new catalysts for quality news and entertainment programming. I hunger for quality news. I'm tired of the right and the left. There's a little bug inside of me which wants to get the FCC to say to Fox and to MSNBC, "Out. Off. End. Goodbye." It'd be a big favor to political discourse, our ability to do our work here in Congress, and to the American people, to be able to talk with each other and have some faith in their government and, more importantly, in their future."

As the New York Times points out "There is little the Federal Communications Commission can say about Fox News or MSNBC since the channels are on cable, not delivered over the broadcast airwaves."
Rockefeller opened his remarks with a stinging rebuke of the 24-hour news cycle and the blurring of news and entertainment:

"When it comes to developing content, our entertainment machine is too often in a race to the bottom. In fact, it is in a race to the bottom. Getting close. Even worse, our news media has all but surrendered to the forces of entertainment. And much of our news media is entertainment as opposed to news. Instead of a watchdog that is a check on the excesses of government and business, we have the endless barking of a 24-hour news cycle. We have journalism that is always ravenous for the next rumor, but insufficiently hungry for the facts that can nourish something called our democracy. As citizens, we are paying one heck of a price in the dumbing down of America. You're probably responsible for that."

Watch

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/18/senator-rockefeller-wants_n_785253.html

My Opinion

In class all semester we have been discussing how the media can help or hurt politics. We have also been talking how different forms of media exist such as free media and biased media. We have also discussed how some media sources are a lot more biased than other news sources. Fox News, is an examole we all used in class that tends to favor a particular side.

Fox News slogan is Balanced and Fair, but are they really balanced and fair? Or do they tend to serve to Republican side a bit more. It isn't strange that a Democratic senator would be saying this about Fox News, becuase a Republican would certainly not say this about the news station.

Senator Rockefeller says that news stations does not serves us as citizens well. He says that one of the reasons he believes this is because our news seems to be more entertainment based. He mentions that journalisim has become more hungry for rumors than for the facts that can nourish our democracy.

I completely agree with senator Rockefeller. I agree that news has become a lot more entertainment based and that hard news tends to stay out of the picture now a days. Soft news has become more dominant with the rise of popular culture and with that hard news begins to diminish.

The only time you see hard news on t.v. these days is when there is a crisis or an election, other than that its just celebrity gossip and rumours. I agree when Senator Rockefeller says we need a new catalyst for quality news.Objectivity is key to news sources and media outlets, but a lot that has vanished. We need a news source that is not biased and that is literally fair and balanced and does not just portray that false image. This may never happen, because we all all humans and eventually emotions will play a role in everything we do. If it does happen though, I believe that we will become more informed citizens that will be able to contribute to the community in a positive manner.

-HR

2010 Midterm Election Analysis

After the 2008 elections and their subsequent events, the United States Senate was composed of 57 Democrats, 41 Republicans, and two independents who caucus with the Democrats. Of the above 37 seats up for election in 2010, 19 were held by Democrats (seven of whom retired or were defeated in the primary) and 18 were held by Republicans (eight of whom retired or were defeated in the primary).
As in most midterm elections, the party not controlling the White House gained ground. Republicans captured six seats from the Democrats by defeating incumbents in Arkansas and Wisconsin and winning open seats in Illinois, Indiana, North Dakota, and Pennsylvania. This was the largest number of Senate gains for the party since the 1994 election and also the first time since that election that they successfully defended all of their own seats.

The 2010 Elections pretty much went as planned, with the Republicans on the winning side. I do not think that their victory was because of their ability to campaign and run ads, but with the American people frustration towards President Obama's administration. Before the 2010 Election and after the 2008 Elections Democrats had complete power in Washington. They had the majority in the House (which they lost), the majority in the Senate (which they kept) and they had control of the Presidency.

With complete control in Washington, Democrats still were unable to get much done. They only thing they got done was passing the health care reform. But is that what is really on the mind of Americans? Health care? NO!!! That is not what Americans are concerned with, and it has been proven by surveys and polls. The American people number one concern going into the election was and still is the economy. The American people want to feel secure, that they have money and that they have a job. They want to feel secure enough that they will be able to pay their bills and have food on the table. The economy is my main concern to, but these past two years Democrats with complete control have not done anything. Now, it will be a lot harder for Democrats to implement or pass policies with the Republican party victories.

Here are a few links that take you to the New York Times website. They show a complete breakdown of the Senate and the House and who won each state, and each district. The first link shows the break down of the House http://elections.nytimes.com/2010/results/house. You can see a lot more red states here as the Democrats lost 60 seats.

The second link shows an analysis for the Senate http://elections.nytimes.com/2010/results/senate. Here the Democrats keep their majority, but lost 6 seats in the process.

In the end I still believe that the Republicans victory was due to Obamas lack of getting things done. In life, if you try something and it does not work then you try something else to fix it. I think that is the approach that the voters took this time around, and that is why so many states are no colored in red.

-HR

O'Donnell regrets witch ad

 (CNN)- It was the ad that launched a thousand parodies. Now Delaware Senate candidate Christine O'Donnell says she regrets her famous "I am not a witch" ad.

"I haven't publicly stated this and I don't know if I will get in trouble for saying that, but our intention was to kill [the witch story] and that's not what happened," she said in an interview with ABC News.

The ad in question, O'Donnell's first of the general election, launched earlier this month and featured the surprise Republican Senate nominee pointedly stating, "I am not a witch. I am nothing you've heard. I am you."

The ad immediately went viral, given its peculiar opening, and soon spawned several parodies – most notably one on Saturday Night Live. But perhaps most damaging for O’Donnell, the ad did exactly what her campaign was trying to prevent: keeping her witchcraft comments from 10 years ago in the headlines.

Ultimately, O'Donnell said she wants voters to think about her fiscal conservatism when they go to the polls, not the fact that "this is a woman who is not a witch."

Still, O'Donnell may keep the witch narrative alive for a few more days given her choice of Halloween costume:

"I was thinking about just going as Dorothy. I killed the witch, there you go!" she said.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/10/21/odonnell-regrets-witch-ad/

My opinion

Is it safe to say that O'Donnell is crazy!? I say this because she is such an awkward person. This ad is more creepy than beneficial. In this ad she says I am not a witch I am you. When I first saw this I laughed and said no you are nothing like me. I think if you are trying to clear up a witch rumor you need to shoot a better ad than this. The fact that she was standing alone and with a dark background made it seem so much more creepy and not beneficial. Its like she said she actually did more harm to her campaign than good.

I think that she takes hard verbal hits by the media, opposition, and voters because she makes it so easy for these people to pick on her. She never is clear on anything that she says and leaves people with second thoughts about what she stands for and what she believes.

This is a prime example of how the media can ruin you. It also shows you how your own ad can ruin you. If she was going to try to clear up any rumors about her being a witch she could have done a way better ad than this one. I think she could have picked a different background, I also think that she could have had different characters in her ad, and a different voice tone.

I am glad she apologized and is realizing that her ad was awkward, but at the same time it does not change my opinion on her, and if I were able to vote I would not vote for her.

NO DONNELL!!

-HR

'Chi Chi Chi, Le Le Le'

The nation of Chile exploded in joy as the last of the trapped miners was hauled to the surface. Squares in most towns were packed with people watching the drama unfold as rescuers first descended into the shattered San Jose mine, before bringing up each man one by one.


Chileans sounded car horns as they drove through the streets of the capital Santiago, waved the national flag and led chants of 'Chi Chi Chi, Le Le Le' as each miner emerged.

Most people know the incredible story of the Chilean miners. In early August one of the Chilean mines collapsed, leaving 33 men caved in half a mile underground in about a 600 square foot hole. Not knowing if they were going to be rescued, the miners expected the worse. After 17 days of surviving on their own, drills were finally able to reach them. Through a tunnel that seemed to served as an umbilical chord for the miners, rescuers we able to send essential necessities to the miners such as food and water. After spending 69 days in a mine, rescuers were finally able to bring these gentlemen up one by one in an operation called "San Lorenzo" that lasted almost 24 hours. All 33 men were rescued and brought to a local hospital where they would be evaluated, and taken care of. There were many heroes is this mission, but in our world today where media and news has become almost disgusting to watch because of all the lies that go on, I think the media did an excellent job covering this story.

Media's Job

The media played an important role in this rescue and demonstrated that the media still does a good job covering stories.The media kept us informed step by step with what was going on in this situation. From the time that the miners were buried alive, to the time that they released their first video, to the very last miner being brought up the shaft. I thought it was incredible how the media covered this event.

On the day of the rescue, there was an important debate going on for the Delaware state senate seat and at times the media interrupted that to cover the rescue.

I thought that this story was a classical example of how hard news still rules the media world. Hard news is what informs us and tell us what is going on in the world. Soft news such as Lindsay Lohan's trial a few months ago, tells us nothing beneficial and makes us dislike the media for choosing to cover those stories. I also thought that this was a good example of how hard news can cause emotion to its viewers. People around the world watched this even praying and jumping with joy as each miner came up the shaft.

The media played the role of a guardian in covering this story. The settled in "Camp Hope" or "Camp Esperanza" and never left until the very last miner was brought up. They stayed there to show they supported the miners, and that they were not going to be forgotten.

After everything was said and done this marked the end of the most incredible rescue operation in mining history that saw the men trapped underground for the longest time.

I remember hearing the Chilean president say that Chile is not the same anymore after this event. How could it be? This was a remarkable event and a miracle that should give everyone hope in their owns lives to do better and fight to survive.

After the final rescuer was brought up, the Chilean people celebrated so hard that one might confuse their celebration for another event such as wining the FIFA World Cup. What the heck this just might be bigger than the world cup, and the Chilean people deserve to celebrate their victory. 'Chi Chi Chi, Le Le Le!!!!'

-HR

O'Donnell complains about 'liberal media'

Delaware Republican Senate candidate Christine O'Donnell is asking voters to give her a second look. At a candidate forum sponsored by a group of local Republicans, O'Donnell blamed her campaign's recent troubles on unfair coverage in the "liberal media."



"I've put my name on the line. And I've taken a lot of hits ... a lot of character assassination," O'Donnell said.

A local GOP leader moderated Wednesday night's tightly controlled event, asking the candidate her positions on taxes, spending and the new health care law. O'Donnell did take a few questions from the audience. But she left the forum via a back door and did not stop for interviews with reporters.



So, she is blaming "liberal media" for her campaign troubles? Yea right, are you joking?! In this article she doesn't even define what 'liberal media' is. She just says that she has put her name out there and has taken a lot of shots for doing so. I wonder if she has ever herd the quote that says you have got to risk things to be able to gain greater things.

I she is being bias by saying that liberal media is ruining her campaign. First of all, like I mentioned what is liberal media? Does she classify HBO as liberal media? Because last time I checked HBO stood for Home Box Office, and is that media or entertainment? Instead of trying to make people feel sorry for her she should explain why she believed in witchcraft. Then maybe people will take her a bit more serious. Even though some of her supporters are not bothered by the fact that she believed in witchcraft with one of them saying, "If anything, I support [O'Donnell] more."

I mean the whole witchcraft thing doesn't bother me, but what does kind of bother me is that she blames it on 'liberal media.' I wish she would define what that was in this article instead of just playing the victim game. Its funny how the title is "Complains about liberal media", but she doesn't back up her statement. Just points fingers.

P.S. here is the link to the article

http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/10/07/odonnell.criticism/index.html?hpt=T2

-HR

Palin for President???

The Sarah Palin storyline taking shape lately is whether the former Alaska governor, vice presidential candidate and Tea Party icon will run the president in 2012. Every move and word is scrutinized for clues about her future as she travels the country, offering support for Tea Party candidates, castigating President Obama, the GOP hierarchy and the press while raking in millions in her new media career.
On Friday last week in Iowa, for a speech at the Iowa Republican Party's annual Reagan Day dinner, Palin was asked about her 2012 presidential aspirations. She was coy in her response. "I don't know," she said. "I know that you can make a big difference in America without even having a title, so I'm grateful for this opportunity."
On Tuesday, however, SarahPAC, the political action committee authorized by Palin, released a video that makes it hard not to believe that she is making a 2012 run for the American presidency, or least seriously testing the waters wrapped in the Tea Party flag.
The video is a highly produced campaign ad for the Tea Party movement. The one minute, 20 second video shows images of Palin giving speeches to large crowds, proclaiming that the Tea Party is "the future of politics," with "real people, not politicos" speaking out for "common sense conservative principles."
The video leaves no doubt as to who is the leader of the Tea Party and the person trying to remake the Republican party as well.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20017066-503544.html



The purpose of this post is to analyze this video, because I think this video relates to a lot of topics we discuss in class. First, I have to admit that this add is BRILLIANT! I say that because if you believe in what the Tea party group believes in then this add is perfect. Also, this add makes Sarah Palin a genius. By using words such as "real people" and saying statements such as " who can argue movements that is by the people" is just brilliant. Because that is what a democracy is about, a government for the people. If you are a believer in this interest group or in the beliefs of this interest group then you will most like give Palin some cool points, and consider her for the next presidential elections in 2012.

Now, why do I say this video is so brilliant? First this video shows a great deal of dramatization. The song playing in the background adds alot more emotion to the video. Try to imagine the video without the background music and see if it has the same effect on you. Another reason why I think this video is dramatized is because, they use all of the soundbites of Sarah Palin when she is emotional. Like that one video we saw in class "fired up" people giving out speeches do not always yell throughout the entire speech.  This video also shows personalization, because they add is personalized in a manner to make Palin look good with all the effects included.

Overall this is a great add. If you believe in this, then like I mentioned above Palin will earn bonus points. But even if you do not believe in this particular interest group then in my opinion I still think that Palin earns bonus points. Because she mentions that people making decisions is what a democracy is about, and at the end of the day like or hate Palin, those are the fundamental principles of a democracy:)

-HR

Venezuelan Elections 2010 Results

Hey guys! I don't know if I mentioned this in my introduction ( and I am too lazy to check), but I was born in a country called Venezuela! It is in South America and I am sure everyone is familiar with its bad rep. Well just recently, actually yesterday was election day for the legislative elections. Polls opened up yesterday, and the the Venezuelan people waited in lines that stretched down sidewalks and plazas outside polling stations in Caracas early Sunday. Venezuelans are voting for all of the 165 members of the National Assembly, which is controlled by the Socialist Party of President Hugo Chavez.Opposition candidates are assured of expanding their tiny share of seats, after boycotting the previous vote in 2005.  It is unclear if they can seize a third of the seats, which they are seeking in an effort to block major legislation that requires two-thirds approval. The following is very important as it will tie in with the results and the bigger picture which is the 2012 Presidential elections. President Chavez campaigned heavily for Socialist Party candidates around the country, in an effort to ensure his party retains at least two-thirds of the legislature.

The Venezuelan people though are ready for a change, and they are saying that Chavez decides everything in the country, and the opinions of other people do not matter. They also hope that opposition lawmakers will help to give voice to the people outside the socialist party.

The Results

So, what happened?

Well, President Chavez maintained his sway in the National Assembly, with his ruling Socialist Party winning at least 90 of 165 seats that were up for grabs in Sunday's congressional polls.However, Chavez failed to hold on to the two-thirds majority his party enjoyed in the Assembly, with the Opposition alliance getting as much as 59 seats, up from 11 last time.

Even though we lost, we still won. Why? Because Chavez lost his two- thirds majority. That is significant because now Chavez will no longer (at least legally) control the government because his opposition has some power now. But what is the bigger picture? The 2012 Presidential Elections! This will be the year that the Venezuelan people will have to rise and stand up for the country they love. Because if this man remains in office and gets re-elected, then say good-bye to any form of democracy and freedom Venezuela has because Venezuela will become the new Cuba.

In the end this is actually a win for us Venezuelans. Chavez's opposition campaigned hard for these elections, but Chavez Socialist Party did no campaigning at all. Actually, Chavez did all the campaigning. So, in the end this is a huge blow and a major lost for Chavez. This means that the Venezuelan people are starting to see things how they really are and not for the lies and tricks of Hugo Chavez. There are still two years left for the Presidential Elections, but much can happen in two years. Hopefully those that sided with Chavez today will betray him tomorrow.

-HR

BP oil well 'effectively dead'

The blown-out well at the heart of the worst oil spill in U.S. history has been cemented shut and is "effectively dead," the federal government's point man for the disaster said Sunday. The well erupted on April 20 and spewed an estimated 4.9 million barrels(206 million gallons) of crude into the Gulf of Mexico before it was temporarily capped in July.

Finally, the well has been capped. Many people (including myself) thought that this process was going to take a lot longer than this. If you think about it though this process still is not done. Yes, the well is shut and is no longer leaking oil, but there is still some oil that remains below the surface, and years of economic and environmental recovery in the region lie ahead.

BP may have shut the well, but they are still not admired. The federal government will press for answers and lawsuits-- including those brought by the families of the 11 workers who died in the Deepwater Horizon rig explosion-- will eventually make there way through the courts. There is still a long road ahead for BP as they try to regain their title as an oil giant. Which they still are, but they may not be respected as much after this oil spill. But they say, "BP is doing everything we can to make this right. We continue to... clean up the environment, and make sure that people are compensated for legitimate claims," its website says. I just hope that they actually do make this right.

P.S. The link to this story will be shared through my twitter.

-HR




 

"Not today, not ever"

"Not today, not ever" were the words of Florida's pastor Rev. Terry Jones. Jones said these remarks regarding the quaran burning. He also said this once he decided to call of the burning of the Quran that was to be held Saturday-- the ninth anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attack on the United States by the al Qaeda terror network.

Looks like somebody came back to planet Earth. Hello!!!! What are you thinking Sir? Did you think that it was just going to be like burning a piece of paper that had no meaning? Did you think everyone would be okay with it? Did you think this would not cause any tension in the world? For Mr. Jones to be a pastor that was not very pastor like of him to burn another religions beliefs. Even though I, myself disagree with what the Quran says, I would never publicly say that I am going to burn it. Are you mad!?! So that Osama can come hunt me down? No way not me!

It does not take a brilliant man such as Pres. Obama to know that this act would have brought security issues to our nation. This act would have brought more war to our country and the possibility of more terrorist attacks, and in addition it would have endangered the lives of our troops in Afghanistan. And like Pres. Obama said that the idea that "we would burn the sacred texts of someone else's religion is contrary to what this country stands for." 

I have no clue what this man was thinking, because obviously he was not. I just hope that he watches his own back from now own and prays for himself. Because al Qaeda could just use this as an excuse to just kill another person or attack the United States again. ( #Dumb A**)

P.S. He does not even want to apologize. In this video he brings up some good arguments why he should not apologize, but I would at least apologize for the thought of burning the Muslim holy book. Because that is not what being a christian is about. But those are just my thoughts what about you guys?



-HR

What's The Deal!?

Hey guys, what's going on? Well, I hope everyone had a good Labor day weekend. I did, but my computer broke so I'm a little late on my posting (its all good though). Well, today I was reading an article on CNN and it was about the economy and Obama's speech in Milwaukee. In his Labor day speech he talked about the economy and what he plans to do with it. One of the things I thought was very interesting was that he (like usual) focused a lot on the middle class. He mentioned that in order to fix this economy we have to build a stronger middle class and create more jobs. He also mentioned a new infrastructure plan to boost the economy, by rebuilding 150,000 miles of roads, 4,000 miles of rail, and 150 miles of airport runways.

This new infrastructure package would be great if congress would pass it, but it is very unlikely. Sources also say that even if it did pass, new jobs would not be created until at least 2011. President Obama though has been criticized lately for promising too much. In many reviews and articles that I have read about his speech, analyst are saying that he is just trying to get bonus points for the up coming elections. As I watched President Obama's speech, I thought he was very sincere and very blunt. He even joked (not really) about congress saying that all the republican congress men say is "no". I thought these remarks were very risky, but made the speech so much more raw and I thought people could relate to that more. He even made remarks towards what he said the man who thinks he is going to be the next speaker. I thought these were really good parts about the speech.

As far as our economy goes, I think Obama's ideas are great. I think that his plans to strengthen this economy and to create new jobs are brilliant. In a perfect world I think that if these plans were to be executed, we would be able to dig ourselves out of this recession. BUT we all know we do not live in a perfect world, and that things NEVER go according to plan. Sometimes it frustrates me when people say that he is getting distracted with issues like health care, immigration, and the Iraq war. They say that he tends to stray of task and not focus so much on the economy, and that he could be doing more. Well, I think that he is doing enough, that he is providing ideas, that he truly wants to fix the economy and not just his approval or the seats of the democrats in the upcoming elections. But he can not do it alone. He needs the help of congress, and like he said they always turn down everything he proposes. Kobe Bryant could not win back to back championships alone, he needed help, he needed his teammates. And I guess you can think of congress as Obama's teammates, but there being stingy and not wanting to help him out.

Overall, I thought It was a very good speech and that everything he said was very inspirational. No doubt that every time Obama speaks he gives us hope that our country will strengthen. But his promises and his hope and his ideas can become reality if he were to get more help out of congress, but we know that's no easy task. Well, I'm out guys thanks for reading and comment if you'd like I'd really appreciate it.

-HR

McCain Train

Okay guys, so after a long week of class I think I am ready to finally blog about something that we have learned or something in the media that is relevant to what we have learned.  With the primary elections having passed recently I decided that I want to dedicated this post to the man, the myth, the legend..... John McCain. After a tough election week for McCain (maybe one of the toughest in his career) he was able to pull out a victory against ex-congressman and radio host, Republican J.D. Hayworth. Basically, this blog is about how McCain uses his own interest to lie and to trick people to vote for him. My opinions on McCain are pretty brutal, but I wont get into that right now. I want to talk about what he proposes in his campaigns as far as immigration and the war going on right now. First, lets talk about what he wants done as far as for immigration. I managed to get one of his adds off of youtube that pretty much summarizes what he wants. Basically want he wants is more force to be added to control the immigration issues in Arizona.  Now this video is a spoof version of the first video that in reality shows what McCain want to be done regarding immigration. In class Tuesday my group and I will be debating about how media outlets should cover issues that encourage good citizenship.Now, I don't think I can blame this on the media because when I saw this add it was after McCain had already won the primary, and plus its a campaign add the media has to show it. Its McCain fault that he uses words such as "dang" and a plan that is more brutal than helpful. Words such as dang don't encourage good citizenship it shows frustration, and madness. There is another link that I will post on my twitter that you can follow that shows how McCain a few years ago had the support of illegals and how his beliefs changed overnight.

Another thing I want to talk about that shows how people or more specifically politics make decisions for their own interest and not for those of the people is by describing what I believe is how McCain views the war in Iraq. In the 2008 elections McCain said that he would adopt or keep similar policies to those reflecting the Bush administration. Policies that would keep us in war, and that would only send more troops over. Now, when he won the primaries this past week in his victory speech he said that if he keeps his seat in congress he would fight hard to bring the troops back and end the war. Well, recently I found a video via my iPhone that says he wants to keep the war in Iraq and on top of that to send more troops to the fight. I will also upload this video via my twitter. This just shows how he tells the people what they want to hear, but will never stay to his word or a single decision.

There are a lot of people out their in this world that are like this. That only think about themselves and not others. Many of us are like that too. But the difference between us and McCain is that he has a lot more power to impact this nation that we do. We want somebody that will make tough decisions and make good rational choices. Not guide us towards the wrong direction. Although most politics are like this I just seem to follow the McCain train because I find it really interesting. Maybe one day media outlets will pick on him until he breaks or becomes a better person. But for now will will just have to keep watching and see whats next.

PS
This is my first real post. A little brutal and maybe of topic, but I will try to get better. Feel free to comment and say whatever you'd like.
-HR

What It Is!!

What's going on everyone? My name is Hector Rojas and I am a Political Science major with a concentration in Legal Studies. I was born in Venezuela, but moved to Marietta Georgia when I was two years old and been here ever since. I plan on being a hot shot prosecutor one day, but for now I just want to make it out of this class. To be completely honest, I'm not as politically involved as I should be. I much rather be watching Sport Center than The Strategy Room on FOX. With that said, I now force myself to watch the news for at least 60 minutes a day.  I encourage everyone to write, comment, disagree, agree, and to feel free and be themselves on this blog. We are all just undergraduate students trying to make a name for ourselves, and not politicians (at least not yet, I think). So sit back, relax, and pray that we can all make an "A" in the class! Bring IT!
  -HR