As Americans are still trying to figure out the pros and cons of the proposed “bailout”, Sen. John McCain is attempting to decide his stance on the bailout plan. With Election Day looming, McCain’s decision could play a sizeable role in the minds of voters.
On one hand, conservative Republicans are reluctant to contributing a large amount of taxpayer’s money to the crisis on Wall Street. On the other hand, the White House, along with Democrats and Republicans, believes that the bailout is needed to divert a “potential economic disaster.”http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/09/26/america/26campaign.php?page=2?pass=true
McCain needs the support of conservative Republicans. It took them awhile to come around to McCain, but the selection of Sarah Palin as his running mate made them buy into his candidacy. Otherwise, he could possibly lose their votes which would be a big blow to his chances at becoming the next president.
McCain is adamant that the bailout includes a group that observes the treasury secretary, and limits the compensations of executives of financial institutions applying for loans. https://mail.quinnipiac.edu/owa/redir.aspx?C=013ee892631642749d046cefef31e443&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.msnbc.msn.com%2fid%2f26940815%2f
The other presidential candidate for the upcoming election, Sen. Barrack Obama, completely disagrees with how President Bush and his administration are going about their bailout plan. As it stands, the current plan would have taxpayers give money and have decreased benefits. These benefits would in turn go to high-paid executives that are involved in the bailout.
Obama said of the current bailout plan, “It is wholly unreasonable to expect that American taxpayers would or should hand this administration or any administration a $700 billion blank check with absolutely no oversight or conditions when a lack of oversight in Washington and on Wall Street is exactly what got us into this mess.”
In order for the bailout to work, Obama believes the plan must be outlined by four principles:
1. A ban on generous payouts for "irresponsible CEOs on Wall Street."
2. Using a bipartisan independent board to oversee the bailout’s execution instead of Treasury Secretary, Hank Paulson, having sole control.
3. An investor stake for taxpayers.
4. Assisting those in danger of being foreclosed on.
According to Shailagh Murray of the Washington Post, Obama also would call for a stimulus package. However, this package would be omitted from the bailout bill.
In the current plan either the taxpayers or financial system will suffer. Obama says, “It is absolutely wrong to suggest that we cannot protect American taxpayers while still stabilizing our market and saving our financial system from collapse. We can and must do both.”
On Monday September 29, both John McCain and Barack Obama decided to carefully endorse President Bush’s projected bailout plan. This plan allows the administration to use billions of dollars that belong to taxpayers, in order buy the falling properties of the troubled financial firms.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Monday, September 22, 2008
Lost Remote: A Look at CBS' Citizen Journalism iPhone App
This article went on to explain how essentially the iPhone will start allowing people to become walking televisions. They will be able to eventually record anything using their iPhone and be able to share it with others. The possibilities that arrive with the "CBS EyeMobile" application will allow almost any spontaneous event that occurs to be recorded and posted by ordinary citizens. The way Lostremote set up this article gives the reader a view of how EyeMobile is set up on one's iPhone. Another benefit of the article is that it is set up so that if one owns an iPhone, they can select the link that will immediately connect them to the application for downloading.
Scandals Surround 2008 Election
There are many scandals tied up in this upcoming presidential election. One involving Sen. Barrack Obama’s pastor, Jeremiah Wright earlier this year criticized the United States for bringing terrorist attack to this country because of their own “terrorism.” According to Brian Ross and Rehab El-Buri of , there have been multiple accounts of Wright criticizing his country of citizenship (http://www.abcnews.go.com/Blotter/Story?id=4443788). According to Ross and El-Buri, following the September 11 terrorist attacks Wright said in a sermon, "We bombed Hiroshima, we bombed Nagasaki, and we nuked far more than the thousands in New York and the Pentagon, and we never batted an eye."
Obama has said that he does not always agree with what Wright has to say. He states that it sounds as though Wright is simply trying to incite controversy. Sen. Obama says he does respect Wright's "social gospels" and views towards Africa.
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Another scandal has occurred in recently involving Sen. John McCain's running mate, Gov. Sarah Palin. Controversy arose when former Alaska Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan claimed he was fired by Palin after he refused to fire Palin's ex-brother-in-law and State Trooper, Mark Wooten. According to Monegan, there was a family matter involving the Palins and Wooten that could not be resolved and thus, Palin requested Monegan to dismiss Wooten from duty. Rhonda Schwartz and Justin Rood from http://www.abcnews.go.com/Blotter/Story?id=4443788 report that it was Monegan's poor performance that was ground for his firing.
Both of these "scandals" could spur voters to sway one way or another. Controversy still surrounds both situations, but only time will tell if the scandals affect one political icon more than the other.
Obama has said that he does not always agree with what Wright has to say. He states that it sounds as though Wright is simply trying to incite controversy. Sen. Obama says he does respect Wright's "social gospels" and views towards Africa.
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Another scandal has occurred in recently involving Sen. John McCain's running mate, Gov. Sarah Palin. Controversy arose when former Alaska Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan claimed he was fired by Palin after he refused to fire Palin's ex-brother-in-law and State Trooper, Mark Wooten. According to Monegan, there was a family matter involving the Palins and Wooten that could not be resolved and thus, Palin requested Monegan to dismiss Wooten from duty. Rhonda Schwartz and Justin Rood from http://www.abcnews.go.com/Blotter/Story?id=4443788 report that it was Monegan's poor performance that was ground for his firing.
Both of these "scandals" could spur voters to sway one way or another. Controversy still surrounds both situations, but only time will tell if the scandals affect one political icon more than the other.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Lost Remote Response
The article I chose from the website www.lostremote.com was titled, "Direct hit on Galveston, media riding it out." The reports used from CNN senior photographer Gregg Canes in the article put into my mind what the effects of Hurricane Ike were in Galveston. However, the story ended abruptly saying that the storm was not as bad as expected. Overall, it was very short and very readable. The format of the site could be better in general. Their is not much happening and there is nothing that is super appealing to the eye.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Accessing Absentee Ballots
With the 2008 Presidential Election rapidly approaching, it is vital that the youth of our country do all they can to make sure their voted is counted. Over the past few elections, the college-aged demographic of this country has been continuously criticized by our elders for being too apathetic. With the evolution of the internet, college students no longer have an excuse not to participate. On Tuesday, November 4, 2008, the country will be electing a new leader that will hopefully better this country overall.
Some student will have the ability that day to make it home in order to vote. Those who cannot make it home to vote should not use that as an excuse for not voting. By going to www.fvap.gov a student that is unable to make it home during the scheduled voting hours can register for an absentee ballot. After filling out the absentee ballot, the student will mail their vote to the location of their town’s election official. Students also could have filled out an absentee ballot for the elections earlier this year.
One Quinnipiac University student, Matt Pellicane, filled out an absentee ballot so he could vote in New Jersey’s Primary Election in February. Pellicane says “I simply went to my county clerk’s office and picked one up there while I was home.” For Pellicane, the process was quite easy.
Another student, Tim Herre, had some difficulty with obtaining an absentee ballot. Herre says, “I called and e-mailed the office where the ballots were but I was never contacted back.” Herre continued to say, “I think it’s kind of ridiculous that they always criticize our generation for not voting and then when we try to get a ballot we’re not called back.”
Clearly there are still glitches in the system if you plan on voting in this year’s election. The most sure-fire way to obtain a ballot is to go to your county clerk’s office, but if there is no time, visit www.fvap.gov.
Some student will have the ability that day to make it home in order to vote. Those who cannot make it home to vote should not use that as an excuse for not voting. By going to www.fvap.gov a student that is unable to make it home during the scheduled voting hours can register for an absentee ballot. After filling out the absentee ballot, the student will mail their vote to the location of their town’s election official. Students also could have filled out an absentee ballot for the elections earlier this year.
One Quinnipiac University student, Matt Pellicane, filled out an absentee ballot so he could vote in New Jersey’s Primary Election in February. Pellicane says “I simply went to my county clerk’s office and picked one up there while I was home.” For Pellicane, the process was quite easy.
Another student, Tim Herre, had some difficulty with obtaining an absentee ballot. Herre says, “I called and e-mailed the office where the ballots were but I was never contacted back.” Herre continued to say, “I think it’s kind of ridiculous that they always criticize our generation for not voting and then when we try to get a ballot we’re not called back.”
Clearly there are still glitches in the system if you plan on voting in this year’s election. The most sure-fire way to obtain a ballot is to go to your county clerk’s office, but if there is no time, visit www.fvap.gov.
Monday, September 8, 2008
McCain's Acceptance Speech Generates Excitement
On Thursday, September 4th, Senator John McCain gave his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The Xcel Energy Center generated just as much enthusiasm for McCain’s speech as Senator Barrack Obama’s did in Denver. Rambunctious with excitement, the audience would often engage into chants of “U-S-A” early into the speech. Other distractions, which were not shown during Obama’s speech, such as banners and rebellious democrats jockeyed for attention.
Matthew Madore, a declared republican voter, says of the public’s exuberance surrounding the speech, “I felt proud to be an American and a republican.”
Senator McCain began talking about how he could not have come this far in this election without the support of his wife, Cindy. He continued on to thank his mother for all her support as well as those who came before him like his father, grandfather, and all American veterans.
Next on the agenda was thanking his new comrade and choice for Vice President of the United States, Sarah Palin. Madore says of McCain’s choice of Palin, “She’s the greatest choice ever! She is a breath of fresh air in politics. Palin is a self made success story and the democrats have no way to attack her without looking bad.”
At this point it’s unclear as to whether or not McCain has an advantage or disadvantage based on his speech. One Quinnipiac University student, Christopher Kerscher, says “I’m unsure if McCain’s speech gives him an advantage because I didn’t feel that his speech was as strong as Obama’s. I think Palin’s speech was even better than McCain’s.”
Despite some questions about the strength of McCain’s speech, one thing is certain: this election is still far from over.
Matthew Madore, a declared republican voter, says of the public’s exuberance surrounding the speech, “I felt proud to be an American and a republican.”
Senator McCain began talking about how he could not have come this far in this election without the support of his wife, Cindy. He continued on to thank his mother for all her support as well as those who came before him like his father, grandfather, and all American veterans.
Next on the agenda was thanking his new comrade and choice for Vice President of the United States, Sarah Palin. Madore says of McCain’s choice of Palin, “She’s the greatest choice ever! She is a breath of fresh air in politics. Palin is a self made success story and the democrats have no way to attack her without looking bad.”
At this point it’s unclear as to whether or not McCain has an advantage or disadvantage based on his speech. One Quinnipiac University student, Christopher Kerscher, says “I’m unsure if McCain’s speech gives him an advantage because I didn’t feel that his speech was as strong as Obama’s. I think Palin’s speech was even better than McCain’s.”
Despite some questions about the strength of McCain’s speech, one thing is certain: this election is still far from over.
Monday, September 1, 2008
Obama's Acceptance Speech: On the Offensive
When Senator Barrack Obama delivered his acceptance speech on August 28, his message was as clear as it has ever been. Change must happen, and it must happen soon. Obama directed comments towards Bush, criticizing him for failed policies. Shortly thereafter, he turned the spotlight onto Senator John McCain saying that McCain has agreed with Bush's policies about 90% of the time. The following article, written by Doyle McManus of the Los Angeles Times further explains the strategy used by Obama: http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-assess29-2008aug29,0,3064148.story.
Even though Obama pursued the flawed aspect of McCain's campaign approach, he refrained from doing any damage to McCain's loved ones. Obama also has vowed to stay away from McCain's newly selected candidate for Vice President, Sarah Palin's family situation: http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/01/obama.palin/index.html. By setting himself aside from the subject of Palin's 17-year-old pregnant daughter, Obama has shown the public he's a genuine human being as well. He's unwilling to take cheap shots that may help him become the President of the United States.
Overall, the speech given by Senator Obama provided all those in Denver, as well as watching across the country, with a sense of hope. The sense of security implied by the tone of Obama's voice and speaking style, leaving listeners with goosebumps, was key in his attempt at taking over the White House. Ryan Peterson of the Associated Press reports that Obama was not only impressive to the general public, but to those that the general public admire: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26405227/.
Some Americans were unable to view the speech. Thus, a video link to the speech has been provided: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqoFwZUp5vc. Whether republican or democrat, it's suggested that all take in the enthusiam and intensity generated by Obama's speech.
Even though Obama pursued the flawed aspect of McCain's campaign approach, he refrained from doing any damage to McCain's loved ones. Obama also has vowed to stay away from McCain's newly selected candidate for Vice President, Sarah Palin's family situation: http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/01/obama.palin/index.html. By setting himself aside from the subject of Palin's 17-year-old pregnant daughter, Obama has shown the public he's a genuine human being as well. He's unwilling to take cheap shots that may help him become the President of the United States.
Overall, the speech given by Senator Obama provided all those in Denver, as well as watching across the country, with a sense of hope. The sense of security implied by the tone of Obama's voice and speaking style, leaving listeners with goosebumps, was key in his attempt at taking over the White House. Ryan Peterson of the Associated Press reports that Obama was not only impressive to the general public, but to those that the general public admire: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26405227/.
Some Americans were unable to view the speech. Thus, a video link to the speech has been provided: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqoFwZUp5vc. Whether republican or democrat, it's suggested that all take in the enthusiam and intensity generated by Obama's speech.
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