Democratic Ad that is misleading

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/11/28/democrats-ramp-up-anti-romney-ad-attack/

This article is about the Democratic National Committee launching a new TV ad that focuses solely on Mitt Romney. It is used to make him look like a flip flopper and a candidate that Obama should be able to beat. However, there is much more to this than we think. Normal, everyday Americans will watch this ad and do nothing more when deciding whether or not any of this stuff is true. The article, the link is above, describes a section of the ad that has Mitt Romney saying in 2002 that its is a women's right to choose regarding abortion. It then goes straight to a 2007 meet the press interview where Romney said, "The right next step is to see Roe v. Wade overturned." However, the ad does not mention the rest of the interview on Meet the Press and the logic and the CNN article says, "The full quote from the interview shows more nuance in Romney's position than the DNC ad reveals".

So the age old question comes to us again, should attack ads be seen as legitimate ways of persuading the public? Is the real enemy of politics the media? What happened to old fashioned pro-candidacy ads? It is November, a year away from the Presidential election and we are starting to see TV attack ads. It will be interesting to see what the United States Presidential Election timeline will look like in 50 years. Will we debate future presidents the day after one is voted into office?

Nancy Pelosi talking smack

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/11/17/third-reason-pelosi-cant-debate-perry-slips-her-mind/

Nancy Pelosi said she will not debate Perry because of her visiting Portland and visiting labs. She then said that she forgot what the third thing was why she  couldnt debate him. She clearly was making fun of him because of his minor forgetfullness he had in last weeks debate. This was then addressed by Perry,
"Gov. Perry responded through his personal and campaign twitter accounts saying, "Something @NancyPelosi would like to forget: passing a 2k-page gov takeover of healthcare without reading it. American ppl haven't forgotten." I find this funny because the two politicians have been talking about each other through media outlets and not in person. I would like to see a debate between the two of them. I dislike both politicians but I would like to see it because I personally think it'll get personal. Pelosi needs to step up.

GOP flip flop

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/11/14/cnn-poll-gingrich-soars-cain-drops/?hpt=hp_t1

The Cnn article, CNN Poll: Gingrich soars, Cain drops uses a recent CNN poll that shows Newt Gingrich is now in second place behind Rominey. This is obviously due to the Sexual harassment allogations that have kept Cain in the negative spotlight these past two weeks. The article says, "With Cain dropping and Perry flat-lining, it looks like it's Gingrich's turn to become the "anybody but Romney" candidate. If the GOP race becomes a two-man battle between Romney and Gingrich, the poll indicates they are well-matched. Romney and Gingrich are the two most popular Republican candidates among the GOP rank and file, and the only two with favorable ratings above 50% among the Republicans surveyed."

Is this true? Is Newt an anybody but Romeny candidate?
Personally, I would never vote for Newt Gingrich, he has quite a history with women and scandals himself. So itll be interesting to see since the media is talking about candidate character, if his will be questioned.

Voting in Cobb County: Alcohol sales on Sunday??? Please Respond

I know this has nothing to do with Mass Media and Politics but I am doing a policy analysis paper for my Senior Seminar class and its over the alcohol sales on sundays in Georgia, specifically, Cobb County. So, classmates, I come to you all and ask your opinion. If you got the opportunity to vote (if you live within Kennesaw, Austell or Symnra city limits) today for or agaisnt allowing alcohol sales on sunday from 1230 P.M. to 1130 P.M.

This has been a topic up for a potential vote for years now, there are arguments for and against allowing this to pass. Interestingly, I have not been able to find out when these cities will allow it to take effect if approved but Cobb County as a whole will vote on March 6, 2012 during a special election in the Presidential candidate primary. Another question I ask is this: Are the cities that voted today, if passed and taken into effect immediately at an advantage compared to other cities in Cobb or Cobb County as a whole? I ask this because potentially these cities will have months of "outsiders" coming into the city limits purchasing alcoholic beverages resulting in more revenue for that city. Are members/alcohol distributing establishments of Marietta, Powder Springs and Acworth at a disadvantage?

Patterns of Coverage: Cain

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/11/07/allred-and-another-cain-accuser-to-hold-news-conferece/

So, today one of the three women who allegedly have been victims of sexual harassment by Presidential Candidate, Herman Cain is supposed to come out into the public today and talk about what happened.  Her attorney, Gloria Allred said that she will discuss the issues of what happened regarding her sexual harassment with Cain in the 1990’s. Cain has been denying all of these allegations.

This brings us different types of Media coverage, like discussed in Graber’s chapter 8. Specifically, Substance of Coverage: Candidate Qualifications and Issues and Events. Graber explains that candidate qualifications that the media highlights are judging a person’s character and those related to the tasks of the office. So, this brings up the question: is this “sexual harassment scandal” relevant to the specific duties of the President of the United States? Bill Clinton went through the same kind of thing, in office, and nothing substantial happened. So I believe it is the media, and other candidates that are riding the coat tails of these allegations on Herman Cain. I will not vote her Herman Cain, but I believe that regardless of if this is true and “squashed” it has nothing to do with his capabilities to be the President.

How is the media treating Cain?

http://www.cnn.com/2011/11/02/politics/cain-allegations/index.html

This CNN article is about Herman Cain and his sexual harassment allegations that have been circling him for the past few days.

The candidate has kept his composure, however, he has been back and forth as to what happened and what the result was of the "event"
A Fox News reporter is quoted saying, 
"It's outrageous the way liberals treat a black conservative," columnist Ann Coulter told Fox News earlier this week. "This is another high-tech lynching." That phrase was first used by now-Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, whose confirmation hearings also focused on sexual harassment allegations.

The attorney for one of the "victims" also wants to go public with her side of the story. This could be either a big hit to Cain or a major turning point in the run for the GOP seat if the story ends up being a joke. 

The question to be asked is: Does the media, mainly main stream media, focus on events like above for too long and involve irrelevant things like race when breaking down someones eligibility to become president?

Is the world ready for 7,000,000,000 people?

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/print/2011/01/seven-billion/kunzig-text

Above is an article that was cited on CNN.com about the world population reaching 7 Billion very soon and how we will be able to adapt to the growth in decades to come. "Seven billion of us soon, nine billion in 2045"

It is uneasy thinking about the baby boomers getting older, the largest population group, (18-24) getting ready to have children and the effects it will have on the U.S. and the world. Another uneasy thing is the economy and how all of this revolves around the economy. Thousands of Baby Boomers are retiring dailey and are using up their Social Security, that we will never see.

What do you think? Do we need to focus on sexual education aborad so less poor children are born? Or should we take an approach like we did after WWI and mind our own business and take care of our own problems? To those like the last choice, we can do that and become very independent but what others do in Africa or Asia will affect us here.

Obama: Is he War guy?

http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/24/politics/obama-foreign-policy/index.html

The above article, is another CNN article that addresses the question whether or not Obama's foreign policy will be relevant in about a year? He has shed the Democratic sterotype as being weak on foreign military conflicts. Since his election in 2008, the U.S. forces have stopped 3 major threats on the US (people). I do recognnize that this is not to his credit but these events will go down in history under his administration. Does this make him immune to the Republican attack that Dems are weak on hostil foreign affair issues? I do not think this will be the major debate next year. However, he will most likely run campaign ads that make him look like he is very involved in foreign affairs and specifically Iraq and Afghanistan and the terrorists that have been stopped since he has been in. It will be interesting to see what the other candidates say/do about Obama's administration.

What do you think? Will he run on the foreign affairs ticket or will he focus more toward domestic issues and where are his campaign ads going to head?

Stephen Colbert on Herman Cain

http://www.opposingviews.com/i/politics/2012-election/video-stephen-colbert-defends-herman-cains-electric-fence-idea 

The above link takes you to a website that has last nights Colbert Report, a short segment on Herman Cain, and how his views on the border control kept changing. I think with this, the debate last night, and other things that are coming back to haunt Cain his hopes may be fading.

Another thing that bothers me about Cain is his foreign policy... He has NO experience with foreign policy, the only one in the candidates is John Huntsman.  In the video, Cain says, something along the lines of who cares who the president of ubeki-beki-stan-stan is... To me that is pretty embarrassing that he making fun of that part of the world.


If the above link doesnt work. Try the one below.

Let me know your thoughts.

http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/400077/october-18-2011/indecision-2012---herman-cain-s-electrified-fence

Tiger Woods for President?

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/10/16/cain-tiger-woods-for-2016-not/

Herman Cain wrote a 2006 article supporting Tiger Woods for president in 2016. He said yesterday that it was all a joke and that people need to learn to have a sense of humor.
 However, in 2006 the article made Tiger look like a solid candidate, Cain went on to say his accomplishments on the golf course can be used in the white house and that there hasnt been a man like him in Washington since MLK or Reagan.

I think he was very serious about this in '06, but the event that happened in 2008 had to make Cain take back his article. He said it was a joke, I guess we will never know.

How can religion hurt a politician

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/10/10/huntsman-pastor-is-a-moron/

This article/video is of John Huntsman talking about a radical minister and how Rick Perry has not publically dropped his support for the man. The ex-Governor went on with Wolfe Blitzer and said that the elections in 2012 should NOT be based of religion and anybody who said what the minister said should be ignored. The minister said christians should vote for christians and he is a supporter of Rick Perry. Perry has yet to make any break from him.

This brings me to ask... should one drop, ignor or publically dismiss a religious leaders remarks in regards to the election and how people should vote?

Chris Christie on fire

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/10/12/christie-numbers-in-nj-jump-since-presidential-decision/?hpt=po_bn1

The link above is a CNN article describing how Christ Christie's, the Governor of New Jersey, who has repeatedly said he is NOT running, approval rating is increasing...

This has to be a publicity stunt for him to get more attention on himself. If you think about it, there are 3-4 candidates who have been in this race for months now and are not getting the spot light he is getting recently. I think this is because of all the media hype about him running and him being a good candidate. I think what he is doing is very wise if he is actually using the media to further his political career. I haven’t heard of someone who says they are not running because he already has a duty to New Jersey get so much attention.

Let me know what you think...this guy is using the media to its fullest potential and he doesn’t have to worry about the drama of running for president.

GOP candidates boycotting Spanish speaking network debate.... why

http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/05/politics/gop-candidates-univision/index.html?hpt=po_t2

This seems like a big publicity stunt. The above article is a CNN article explaining why 5 of the GOP candidates, Cain, Huntsman, Romney, Perry and Bauchman are not going to be involved in the Spanish speaking network, UNIVISION's debate held in January right before the Florida primary.

I want to bet this is because they ALL want to avoid the elephant in the room, immigration. What better way to avoid it than to not go on the Spanish speaking network, where they would almost certainly bring it up.
The candidates claim its because of what one of the networks news channels said about Florida Senator, Marco Rubio's brother and drug charges. Many think the debate is going to be boycotted because of the strong support for the Senator especially as a running mate in 2012. However, it seems like since UNIVISION is in Spanish most Hispanic people will be watching and instead of giving the viewers bad news on immigration, they will avoid the issue all together.

Congratulations to UNIVISION for working with the candidates, as well as the Florida Senator for being deeply distraught for his brothers drug problems.

Herman Cain...Wow

I know the title is a little bit weird but I had no other words to describe what Herman Cain said in an interview with Wolf Blizter Here is the link:
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/09/28/cain-black-community-brainwashed-into-voting-for-dems/?hpt=po_bn1

So Cain is saying that his fellow Black Americans are "brainwashed" into voting democrat...oh yeah, on national television. Is this ok for him to say because he is black? If someone like Perry or Romney said the same thing would there be back lash form the NAACP?

It seems like he makes a good reason though, He speculated that all Black Americans voted for Obama for one reason really, because he was the first Black candidate running for president. It may be true, it may not. However, Cain pretty much says that he doesnt fit into the mold of a democrat because he is conservative and is expecting to recieve 1/3 of the Black American vote. Not because he is a black man, but because of his 9/9/9 plan.

This makes me think.... Is he saying these outlandish things on CNN to get more attention to himself because he feels himself slipping? Or is it because it is truly how he feels and thinks the Mass Media should air his opinion in order to get the Americans to vote for what could be a good policy instead of strictly voting for race?

Hitting the Links, strategy or good ole fun

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/09/24/obama-and-bill-clinton-tee-off-at-andrews/?hpt=po_bn1

The above link is to a CNN article/video of Obama and Clinton playing golf yesterday outside of Washington. The two have been seen together a lot recently and it makes me wonder if Obama is seeking information and/or guidance from the former President on how to win reelection. I don't know why CNN would post this article; it is of very little importance. However, it does seem that Obama is using the media to get that advantage over his opponents by being in public areas with Clinton, maybe to get Clinton supports who don't like Obama to vote for him.

Are major changes being made to the voting process??

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/09/19/gop-controlled-states-look-to-change-voting-rules-ahead-2012/

The above link to an article posted on Fox News titled, "GOP Controlled States Look to Change Voting Rules Ahead of 2012". It comes as a pretty big shock to see this on Fox news, a more conservative based news media. The article goes into some detail how the state assemblies with the majority being Republican are trying to change the way voting will take place in the coming election of 2012. There are states that have already cut back the early voting times by a week and they have also made it more difficult for absentee ballot voters.

Other states have made strict laws requiring voters to bring a form of ID to the voting station in order to deter people who do not have an ID.

I find this very interesting for two reasons, Fox News telling us of this new looks for voting, and that would clearly benefit republicans in the elections. Secondly, the fact that I haven’t heard about this. What does everyone think? Is this ok? Or should there be more investigation? Is it truly bipartisan?

Bachmann's misunderstood argument agaisnt Perry

http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/09/13/truth.squad.lobbyist.claim/index.html

In the above article, CNN investigated Michelle Bauchmann's claims about the executive order Perry required young girls to undergo. Her claims sounded valid on the T.V. during the debate. However, one must not assume someone is always right because they spit out names and numbers.

I am in no way defending Perry here, and after all I would be against his order if I had a 10-11 year old daughter. The main point of this "debunking" Bauchman is to show us how the media (CNN) posts analysis’s on the statements made by the candidates at a later date and on their website. How many people are going to go investigate what Bauchman said in comparison to who watched the live debate. Probably very few. I dont know if the media is helping Perry out by breaking down Bauchman's arguments to Statements, Facts and Verdict or if they're helping Bauchman by only putting this on the web and as a link...

It was interesting how all the candidates stabbed at Perry for his order but they all probably knew that it was short lived and the misuse of words by other candidates made him look worse than he really is.

Interestingly enough, once again the media played a role in what we saw and how we say it. It did not in big letters across the bottom of the screen display the true facts of the claims. Maybe they should do that from now on... When candidates, in a debate, spit out facts and numbers have the actual data displayed. It will involve quick, smart, unbiased people to do this and it seems very unlikely.

Giuliani, dont tease us!

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/09/06/giuliani-ill-run-if-people-are-desperate/?hpt=po_bn1

The above link goes to CNN and has an article about how former NYC Mayor Rudy Giulani would only run for President if the GOP needed him to. This is comical to me. I do not understand how he say he will run if there is no other option... What is this? Another person getting in the way of the main candidates. I know it is a long time before the primaries, but he knows whether or not he is running. This, like all my other blogs, shows how and why these politicians (if you call them that) like playing with the media. They get attention and with attention they make money. He does however say he most likely wouldn't win but would consider running if they needed him. That seems contradictory to me. I don't know what is going on in his head but making a public announcement that he may run if necessary seems like we'll see him on the list come January. 

Alec Baldwin for Mayor of NYC??

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/08/31/mayor-alec-baldwin/

The above article's headlines are of the only importance here. I see another ally people are using to further themselves and/or their career. A CNN post said that the "idea" of Alec Baldwin running for NYC Mayor was just him publicly saying he would like to be Mayor. This is a perfect example of how the media is misconstruing our words to make headlines. Baldwin said on the Lateshow that he will not be running because he'd rather be traveling with his new girlfriend. So who wins here? Well, I think both. CNN has me blogging about this, people will see the title of the article and click on it and read it. With that said, their viewing will increase from that one article today and maybe their ratings will slightly increase for August 31, 2011. Alec Baldwin is also a winner. His name is out in the media (Neither Bad nor Good news) and he got to promote himself for the TV show he'll be on this fall. I think when the media takes voiced ideas form celebs or politicians and make news of it no one gets criticized. Good one CNN.

Politicians using the media

In a CNN article, http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/08/25/rove-levels-palin-accusation/?hpt=po_bn, Carl Rove has come out to say Sarah Palin has thin skin because she gets upset that we, the American people speculate about her running. This brings up the topic that all, if not most, politicians are using the media to personally benefit themselves regardless what they think the public thinks. This means, for example, like Rove says, Palin should just come out and say she isnt going to run. It isnt that hard. She knows now if she is running or not. Why make people guess and follow her when there is no reason. Instead, we can focus on people who have come out and have said they are running. I do not understand why she or anyone does this. Why waste crucial air time and interview with people just to say, I dont know if Im running or not. Either run for president or move aside!

Rick "sleaze" Perry

http://randyreport.blogspot.com/2011/08/did-rick-perry-invest-in-pornography.html

Check out this article/report that says Rick Perry has invested in a Porn company in 1995. This is unusual because isn't he an outspoken Christian conservative?
What are your thoughts? 

Using the Media?

Here is an article/question about the Perry/Bush disagreement... Is it all a sceme or is it real? It seems like a sceme to me: http://www.care2.com/causes/is-the-perry-bush-feud-a-fake.html