Blog Post 2.3 "Interest Group Impact on Public Opinion"

Because this assignment is longer.  It will count twice. It will count for an assignment in both your blog assignments and once in your homework category.  You have until November 6th to complete this.  

Your assignment for 2.3 is to watch the documentary produced by PBS's Frontline program about how interest groups and  companies have been able to make climate change essentially disappear as an issue in this year's election.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/climate-of-doubt/

Watch the documentary, and write a three paragraph summary of the movie.
Also, answer the following questions....

1.  Which tactic are these interest groups using during the beginning of the episode as they convince the public that global warming is a non-issue?  Why do you think it's effective?
2.  When members of this group are testifying before Congress, what tactic are they using?
3.  What types of policies do Americans For Prosperity try to influence? (you'll have to look them up)
4.  Why do you think that some of these scientists are publicly stating that global warming is not a problem?
5.  What are the policy goals of the American Tradition Institute?
6.  What was behind the change in stance on climate change from the Congressmen?
7. What types of businesses are supporting these interest groups?
8. What does the money from Donors Change buy the group?
9.  Explain why you think these interest groups were so successful in removing climate change from the agenda in this election.

Blog Post 2.2 'Final Phase of Campaign Season"

Read the following article from Time magazine.   
http://swampland.time.com/2012/10/19/campaign-moves-into-final-phase-driven-by-electoral-math/?xid=newsletter-weekly

Play around with the Electoral College calculator math (first link in the article).
Write a 2 paragraph summary of the article and answer the following questions.

1. What does the author mean when he uses the term "shrinking battlefield"?
2. What nine states does the author say are in play?
3. How are Maine's electoral votes different than most other states?
4. What states must Romney absolutely win in order to win the election?
5. According to the calculator, which states are up for grabs?
6. According to the calculator, which states, if any, is Obama likely to lose that he won in 2008?
7. Using the calculator, what is the least amount of states a person could win the election by?  What would those states be?
8. What will likely be the deciding state in this election?

Blog Post 2.1 "Obama's lack of vision"

Read the following article from Politico about how the candidates are spending their campaign money on ads.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1012/82217.html

Write a two paragraph summary of the article, and answer the following questions.

1. Why is Romney paying more for ads in Ohio than Obama?
2. What kind of audience is Romney going after by focusing on broadcast networks?
3. Why is Romney's campaign handling his ad purchases "in house"?
4. What advantages is this giving the Obama campaign?
5. What would be the advantages and disadvantages of buying ads months early?
6. What would be the advantages and disadvantages of buying ads right before they air?
7. What does it tell you if the Obama campaign is outspending the Romney campaign in swing states even if they pay less per ad?
8. Which strategy do you think is a better one and why?