Read the following article from The Atlantic about the uneasy relationship between the Tea Party and the Republican Party.
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2013/10/the-conservative-war-on-the-gop/280637/
Write a paragraph summary of the article and answer the following questions.
1. Why are conservative opinion leaders upset with the Republican Party?
2. Why are the conservative voters upset with the Republican Party?
3. What does Glen Beck want people to do instead of give money to the Republican Party? Why would he want them to stop giving to the party that is his best option??
4. How would you describe the current public opinion of the Republican Party?
5. What would happen to the Republican Party if the Tea Party split off of it?
6. What does Gillespe say the effect of the Tea Party running as a third party would be??
7. What does Tim Pawlenty say is to blame for minority voices being so loud in the parties?
8. What do you think the future of the Republican Party will be?
Monday, October 21, 2013
Monday, October 14, 2013
Blog Post 2.2 "Public Opinion & the Govt. Shutdown"
Read the latest public opinion polls from USA Today about the public's opinion of how elections can be changed in order to solve the problems in Washington.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/10/14/americans-election-policy-usa-today-bipartisan-policy-center-poll/2983159/
Write a one paragraph summary of the article and answer the following questions.
1. Why would we consider these poll results to be valid? What do you call the number given by the pollsters?
2. How has California addressed the problem of unfair redistricting?
3. How would candidates for office have to change their approach if they did not have "safe districts"?
4. How would adding independent voters to the party primary electorates change the primaries?
5. How do Democrats and Republicans feel differently about voter ID laws?
6. What proposed reforms could make voting easier? How would each do that?
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/10/14/americans-election-policy-usa-today-bipartisan-policy-center-poll/2983159/
Write a one paragraph summary of the article and answer the following questions.
1. Why would we consider these poll results to be valid? What do you call the number given by the pollsters?
2. How has California addressed the problem of unfair redistricting?
3. How would candidates for office have to change their approach if they did not have "safe districts"?
4. How would adding independent voters to the party primary electorates change the primaries?
5. How do Democrats and Republicans feel differently about voter ID laws?
6. What proposed reforms could make voting easier? How would each do that?
Blog Post 2.1 "Changes to the Electorate"
Welcome back!!!!
For your first blog of the second nine weeks, look at the following maps that analyze the results of the 2012 presidential election.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/election-map-2012/analysis/
For each of the maps: DESCRIBE two conclusions you could draw from each of the maps. You should incorporate your knowledge of demographics and likely voter ideologies.
Also, answer the following questions.
1.What is the impact of the increasing number of Hispanic voters?
2. How is the idea of "pocketbook voting" reflected in the second map?
3. What areas are experiencing downturns in voter turnout? What areas are increasing?
4. How were the results different in Shelby & Davidson County in Tennessee different from the rest of the state? What do you know about voter demographics that explains this?
For your first blog of the second nine weeks, look at the following maps that analyze the results of the 2012 presidential election.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/election-map-2012/analysis/
For each of the maps: DESCRIBE two conclusions you could draw from each of the maps. You should incorporate your knowledge of demographics and likely voter ideologies.
Also, answer the following questions.
1.What is the impact of the increasing number of Hispanic voters?
2. How is the idea of "pocketbook voting" reflected in the second map?
3. What areas are experiencing downturns in voter turnout? What areas are increasing?
4. How were the results different in Shelby & Davidson County in Tennessee different from the rest of the state? What do you know about voter demographics that explains this?
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
1.4 "Voter Turnout in Local Elections"
Read the following article from The Atlantic about voter turnout in local elections.
http://www.theatlanticcities.com/politics/2013/09/why-voter-turnout-mayoral-elections-always-so-abysmally-low/6845/
Write a paragraph summary of the article and answer the following questions.
1. What are the expectations of voter turnout in these elections?
2. What are some of the reasons people aren't showing up?
3. How can you describe voter turnout during the 2012 presidential election?
4. What has the turnout in mayoral elections been like historically?
5. When does turnout for local elections typically increase?
6. Why are local leaders and potential candidates unlikely to work hard to increase voter turnout?
http://www.theatlanticcities.com/politics/2013/09/why-voter-turnout-mayoral-elections-always-so-abysmally-low/6845/
Write a paragraph summary of the article and answer the following questions.
1. What are the expectations of voter turnout in these elections?
2. What are some of the reasons people aren't showing up?
3. How can you describe voter turnout during the 2012 presidential election?
4. What has the turnout in mayoral elections been like historically?
5. When does turnout for local elections typically increase?
6. Why are local leaders and potential candidates unlikely to work hard to increase voter turnout?
Monday, September 16, 2013
Blog post 1.3 "Voter Turnout"
Read the following article from The Huffington Post about voter turnout in the 2012 election.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/28/black-voter-turnout-2012-election_n_3173673.html
Write a paragraph summary of the article, then answer the following questions.
1. How would the 2012 election have been different if voting patterns from 2008 had been the same?
2. Which states were identified as battleground states in the 2012 election?
3. What was unique about African American voting patterns?
4. How would you describe the voter turnout of Hispanic voters?
5. Why is African American voter turnout important in the 2014 midterm election?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/28/black-voter-turnout-2012-election_n_3173673.html
Write a paragraph summary of the article, then answer the following questions.
1. How would the 2012 election have been different if voting patterns from 2008 had been the same?
2. Which states were identified as battleground states in the 2012 election?
3. What was unique about African American voting patterns?
4. How would you describe the voter turnout of Hispanic voters?
5. Why is African American voter turnout important in the 2014 midterm election?
Sunday, September 8, 2013
Blog post 1.2 "Statehood & secession"
Read the following article from Time magazine about statehood issues in Colorado.
http://nation.time.com/2013/08/22/red-state-blue-state-old-state-new-state-northern-colorado-tries-to-secede/
Write a one paragraph summary of the article and answer the following questions.
1. What does Article 4 say to prevent these citizens from forming their own state?
2. Who would they have to get approval from to do so?
3. Why do you think those in the Senate would want to prevent a new state from joining the union?
4. Why do these secessionist groups usually want to break away?
5. Congress is made up of members of political parties. Why do you think they want to keep new Congressmen from becoming a part of the legislature?
http://nation.time.com/2013/08/22/red-state-blue-state-old-state-new-state-northern-colorado-tries-to-secede/
Write a one paragraph summary of the article and answer the following questions.
1. What does Article 4 say to prevent these citizens from forming their own state?
2. Who would they have to get approval from to do so?
3. Why do you think those in the Senate would want to prevent a new state from joining the union?
4. Why do these secessionist groups usually want to break away?
5. Congress is made up of members of political parties. Why do you think they want to keep new Congressmen from becoming a part of the legislature?
Blog Post 1.1 "Checks and Balances'
Read the following article from The Atlantic about president and his relationship with Congress.
http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2013/08/the-authority-to-declare-war-a-power-barack-obama-does-not-have/279212/
Write a two paragraph summary of the article. Then, answer the following questions.
1. What constitutional expressed power would give the president the ability to commit US troops to Syria?
2. What is the legislative check that is supposed to limit the president's ability to use the troops?
3. Why have past presidents argued that they do not need Congressional authorization to commit US troops to action?
4. How would Syrian intervention be different from past situations?
5. What war powers did the Framers give to the legislature?
6. Why did they want to make sure there was a check on the president's war powers?
http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2013/08/the-authority-to-declare-war-a-power-barack-obama-does-not-have/279212/
Write a two paragraph summary of the article. Then, answer the following questions.
1. What constitutional expressed power would give the president the ability to commit US troops to Syria?
2. What is the legislative check that is supposed to limit the president's ability to use the troops?
3. Why have past presidents argued that they do not need Congressional authorization to commit US troops to action?
4. How would Syrian intervention be different from past situations?
5. What war powers did the Framers give to the legislature?
6. Why did they want to make sure there was a check on the president's war powers?
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