Read the following article from The Atlantic about incumbents in Congress and their reactions to the Obamacare rollout.
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2013/11/the-threat-of-democrats-turning-against-obamacare/281593/
1. Why is the successful implementation of Obamacare so important to Hillary Clinton?
2. Describe current public opinion about Obamacare.
3. What does the article mean by "red state Democrats"?
4. If Congress passed a bill repealing Obamacare, and President Obama vetoed it, what options would Congress have?
5. Describe the midterm election situation for Democrats in the Senate in 2014.
6. Is Obamacare more or less likely to be repealed as the election appraches? Why?
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Monday, November 18, 2013
Blog Post 2.8 "Referendums!!!"
Read the following article from Time Magazine about an election taking place in lovely New Mexico and how interest groups got involved.
http://nation.time.com/2013/11/18/vote-lands-albuquerque-at-center-of-abortion-battle/
Write a paragraph summary of the article and answer the following question.
1. What tactic are these interest groups using at the beginning of the article when they are advertising to the people?
2. Will this particular referendum have any effect on voter turnout? Why?
3. What tactic are these interest groups using later when they "pour hundreds of thousands of dollars" into this election?
4. This referendum was organized by anti-abortion interest groups. Why do you think they would try to do this at the city level instead of the state or national level?
5. What do you think the next steps will be (for the interest groups) if this referendum is successful?
http://nation.time.com/2013/11/18/vote-lands-albuquerque-at-center-of-abortion-battle/
Write a paragraph summary of the article and answer the following question.
1. What tactic are these interest groups using at the beginning of the article when they are advertising to the people?
2. Will this particular referendum have any effect on voter turnout? Why?
3. What tactic are these interest groups using later when they "pour hundreds of thousands of dollars" into this election?
4. This referendum was organized by anti-abortion interest groups. Why do you think they would try to do this at the city level instead of the state or national level?
5. What do you think the next steps will be (for the interest groups) if this referendum is successful?
Monday, November 11, 2013
Blog Post 2.7 "Interest Groups Writing Laws"
Read the following from NPR (the government funded news radio station) about interest groups drafting laws for members of Congress (think iron triangles)
http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2013/11/11/243973620/when-lobbyists-literally-write-the-bill
Write a one paragraph summary of the article and answer the following questions.
Citigroup is one of the largest banks in the country. Dodd-Frank was Obama's Wall Street reform law passed at the beginning of his first term that limited the types of investments that banks were able to invest in.
1. This bill was written by an interest group and given to a Congressman on a committee to propose. Do the other Congressmen know this is happening?
2. Besides writing the words of the bill, what else do the lobbyists in the story do to help get what they want?
3. Is there a way for us (the people) to know when this is happening?
4. What does this quote from the article mean?
""this is just another tick-tock on a story that's been developing for a long time — that Congress has basically outsourced its policy expertise to the private sector."
http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2013/11/11/243973620/when-lobbyists-literally-write-the-bill
Write a one paragraph summary of the article and answer the following questions.
Citigroup is one of the largest banks in the country. Dodd-Frank was Obama's Wall Street reform law passed at the beginning of his first term that limited the types of investments that banks were able to invest in.
1. This bill was written by an interest group and given to a Congressman on a committee to propose. Do the other Congressmen know this is happening?
2. Besides writing the words of the bill, what else do the lobbyists in the story do to help get what they want?
3. Is there a way for us (the people) to know when this is happening?
4. What does this quote from the article mean?
""this is just another tick-tock on a story that's been developing for a long time — that Congress has basically outsourced its policy expertise to the private sector."
Blog post 2.6 "Obama's Approval Ratings"
Read the following report from the Pew Research Center
http://www.people-press.org/2013/11/08/obamas-second-term-slide-continues/
Write a paragraph summary of the report's findings and answer the following questions.
1. What is the sample in this poll?
2. How does Obama compare to other recent presidents at this point in their terms?
3. How do independent voters feel about Obama right now?
4. What implications does that have for the 2014 midterm elections?
5. What have been the highlights of Obama's time in office according to this poll?
6. Compare Obama's approval ratings among the three different blocks of voters.
http://www.people-press.org/2013/11/08/obamas-second-term-slide-continues/
Write a paragraph summary of the report's findings and answer the following questions.
1. What is the sample in this poll?
2. How does Obama compare to other recent presidents at this point in their terms?
3. How do independent voters feel about Obama right now?
4. What implications does that have for the 2014 midterm elections?
5. What have been the highlights of Obama's time in office according to this poll?
6. Compare Obama's approval ratings among the three different blocks of voters.
Monday, November 4, 2013
Blog Post 2.5 "Interest Groups"
Read the following article from The New York Times about an interest group started by investors, the Koch Brothers.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/04/us/politics/koch-group-has-ambitions-in-small-races.html?ref=politics&_r=0
Write a two paragraph summary of the article and answer the following questions.
1. Why is Americans for Prosperity focusing on electioneering local elections?
2. How might these actions in local races in 2013 help the organization in 2014?
3. How do most citizens in the area respond to Americans for Prosperity getting involved in their races?
4. What has the interest group done to help the candidates it supports?
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/04/us/politics/koch-group-has-ambitions-in-small-races.html?ref=politics&_r=0
Write a two paragraph summary of the article and answer the following questions.
1. Why is Americans for Prosperity focusing on electioneering local elections?
2. How might these actions in local races in 2013 help the organization in 2014?
3. How do most citizens in the area respond to Americans for Prosperity getting involved in their races?
4. What has the interest group done to help the candidates it supports?
Sunday, November 3, 2013
Blog Post 2.4 "Party Strategies to Control Congress"
Read the following article from The Daily Beast about the Democratic Party's strategies to gain seats in the Senate.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/10/31/democrats-march-on-the-south-to-hold-senate-majority-in-2014.html
Write a paragraph summary of the article and answer the following questions.
1. Describe the majority currently held by the Democratic Party in the Senate.
2. Why do we predict Senate election results by looking at the most recent presidential elections results?
3. What strategy should Democratic Senate candidates use to appeal to Southern voters?
4. What impact do Tea Party challengers have on Republican candidates in primary contests?
5. Southern Progress Fund is an example of a PAC. How will they impact elections?
6. What type of voters do Democrats need to focus on in "get out the vote" activities?
7. How do Republicans describe the impact of the Democratic Party in the South.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/10/31/democrats-march-on-the-south-to-hold-senate-majority-in-2014.html
Write a paragraph summary of the article and answer the following questions.
1. Describe the majority currently held by the Democratic Party in the Senate.
2. Why do we predict Senate election results by looking at the most recent presidential elections results?
3. What strategy should Democratic Senate candidates use to appeal to Southern voters?
4. What impact do Tea Party challengers have on Republican candidates in primary contests?
5. Southern Progress Fund is an example of a PAC. How will they impact elections?
6. What type of voters do Democrats need to focus on in "get out the vote" activities?
7. How do Republicans describe the impact of the Democratic Party in the South.
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