Occupy movement plans Iowa protests, 'People's Caucus'

Date: 20 December, 2011
Author: Michael A. Memoli
Publisher: LA Times

Iowa, the location of the nation's first nominating contest, is feeling the presence of OCCUPY members. However, their main target this time is Mr. President himself, not Republican candidates. Members came up to the HQ of the Democratic Party and protested that Obama should veto any legislation that would fund the government in order to preserve the Pell grants. From the Federal Pell Grant website, Pell grants are defined as grants that "...provides need-based grants to low-income undergraduate and certain postbaccalaureate students to promote access to postsecondary education." Eight were arrested on the charge of criminal trespassing. On one hand, they are allowed to exercise their right to freedom of speech, however on the other, they are only inhibiting one of the most important things in the U.S., the election for the next president. Norm Sterzenbach, the executive director of the Democratic HQ in Iowa said, "While we recognize their right to lawful protests, an occupation of our office is not acceptable and only interferes with the work we do to elect Democrats and build a better future for Iowa and our nation. It's unfortunate that some members chose to face arrest, rather than leave as they were asked to do multiple times."OCCUPY members have planned out a "Caucus of the 99%" in which members will split up into groups that will go around and occupy a certain candidate's campaign office. This will take place on December 27rd. These caucuses are private parties and if OCCUPY members are seen as disturbing the peace at them, they can and will be arrested.

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-occupy-iowa-protests-20111220,0,3064237.story?track=rss

Just Another Political Circus

Date: 19 December, 2011
Author:Kathleen Hennessey and Lisa Mascaro
Publisher: LA Times

Once again, the payroll tax cut has been delayed in being passed by, you guessed it, Republicans. Not just any Republicans either, House Republicans. Republicans hold the majority of the House and on Monday evening, they delayed and then canceled the vote on the bill, citing that they were working on a strategy for a one year tax cut paid with by spending cuts and a new revenue. The Senate passed the vote and have gone on holiday, not returning until January 23rd. In fact, of the 89 senators that voted for it, 39 were Republican. That not only clashes with the motives of their fellow party members, but it also goes against the party's stance on supporting tax cuts. In essence this is just whinging on the part of House Republicans and in the end, they will end up losing support from middle class voters for which this bill is meant to aid to the Democrats in the upcoming election. If this bill is not passed, on average, all middle class workers will have to pay up $1000 dollars, increasing annually. Republican Senator Dean Heller said, "What is playing out in Washington, D.C., this week is about political leverage, not about what's good for the American people." Whether this bill passes or not may decide just who people are going to vote for this election.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-payroll-tax-cut-20111220,0,4170273.story

Mitt Romney Addresses Gay Marriage And Abortion Flip-Flops

15 December, 2011
Author: Jason Linkins
Source: Huffington Post

There were several interesting topics discussed during the debate including the economy and possible Iranian ownership of nuclear weapons. However, I found it interesting on the issue of Mr. Romney's response to abortion and the gay community. As a former governor, Romney always pushed for decisions that were pro life, IE diminishing abortion's place in society. However, now he has changed his views, saying that time changes things. Furthermore, Romney believes that the LGBT community must be protected against discrimination, and yet he supports the "Don't ask, don't tell" ideal from the Clinton Administration. He is clear about supporting LGBT, but not so much with the issue of how to support them. Through this, Romney is flopping like a fish on land. Yes, at the time "Don't ask, don't tell" was prevalent, but now there should not be as much animosity on the subject. There have been more and more people coming out supporting LGBT and I believe that if not to accept it wholly, to at least acknowledge that they are people as well and that by holding back the community and not giving the rights that they are pushing for, that there will come a time where perhaps the community as well as supporters may move to extreme measure to get their point across. Getting back to the election, Romney is flopping around and this is contradicting what he or as a  matter of fact all candidates are saying is needed of a president, that a headstrong person is needed to lead this nation. In the end, this will only hurt his support. 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/15/mitt-romney-gay-marriage-abortion_n_1152738.html?ref=politics

GOP Leader Claims Dem Support for Payroll Tax Cut, Pipeline Package

11 December, 2011
FoxNews

Obama's recent threat to veto the Keystone Pipeline that would connect Alberta to the U.S. gulf coast, bringing crude oil to the refineries situated there. Interestingly enough, Republican Senate Minority leader Mitch McConnell believes that there are enough Democrats to support this bill. The pipeline was ear marked onto Obama's plan to extend the payroll tax cut, which was meant to extend the cut from 6.2% to 4.2% as well as extend unemployment benefits for 59 weeks. It is true that this would create new jobs, but environmentalists are worried this may cause incidents that would ruin the areas through which the pipe travels. In the end, bipartisan support is necessary for this to be even feasible. Democrats and Republicans want to extend the tax cut and create more jobs for people, but they need to find a compromise where both sides can be addressed properly. McConnell thinks this might be the solution while Democratic Senator Dick Durbin, argues that the Republicans need to stop letting the rich get off without having an increase in their taxes in order to support this tax extension. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham says neither ideals will pass the Houses. Seeing how Obama reacts on this subject may have an effect on how the people vote in the coming election. So should he sign this bill off or reject it? You decide.

Source: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/12/11/republicans-contend-have-dem-support-to-pass-payroll-tax-cut-pipeline-package/ 

Debate Reverberates Going Into Final Stretch

11 December, 2011
Michael D. Shear
NY Times

As time is drawing to a close, the election for a Republican candidate heats up after last night's debate. All are scrambling for the voter's affection in the nomination to run in the general election against Obama. Much of the decision making will be about what was discussed during the debate. Some hot issues are Mitt Romney's $10k bet, Michele Bachmann's new slogan, Newt Gringrich's humility and his Gringrinch's hot headed rant about Palestinians.

Rick Perry's attack on Romney's new book garnered an instantaneous response in which Romney wagered 10,000 dollars against Perry about his views on the health care issue. Perry's response was that he doesn't bet. Mr. Romney has screwed himself with the voters in the sense that not many people have 10 grand, nor can they feasibly do that with a salary that amounts to only a fraction of that amount of money per month. Romney may be viewed as a man that's too willing to spend precious money over such small issues and that will affect the voter's especially the 9-5 shift workers.

Employing a tactic used by former governor of Minnesota Tim Pawlenty, Michele Bachmann's criticized Gringrinch and Romney on their stances on certain issues where their stance follows that of Obama. Hoping to garner support from conservatives, Bachmann stated “If you look at Newt Romney, they were for ObamaCare principles,” she said. “If you look at Newt Romney, they were for cap and trade. If you look at Newt Romney, they– for the illegal immigration problem. And if you look at New Romney, they were for the $700 billion bailout. And you just heard Newt/Romney is also with Obama on the issue of the payroll extension.” This may rouse some to stand behind her.

Mr. Gringrinch has definitely had some ups and downs in the debate. Scrutinized over his infidelity by his opponents, Gringrinch's response was simple and effective in saying that the past is the past and he has attempted to atone for it. What matters now is how Gringrinch can serve the people as best as possible. As effective as his response was to the criticism, Gringrinch then went on to rant about supporting Israel and how the Middle East was full of terrorists where the schools there taught terrorism. This came off as as a hot headed response that is a bad quality of a commander in chief. He brought up how Reagan demanded to Gorbachev to knock down the Berlin Wall and that a leader that isn't afraid to speak their minds is needed. Whether the voters will take this as a good or bad quality is purely up to their opinions.

Voting for these candidates will commence on January 3rd and from then on, the victor will compete against Obama. Gringrinch is holding out well and is apparently at the top in most polls, but after last night, voter's may be speculative over his capability as leader of the U.S. Bachmann may gain a lot of support from conservatives in her criticism of the stances of Romney and Gringrinch. Romney himself will have to find a way around the impulsive bet that he called on during the debate.

Source: http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/11/debate-reverberates-going-into-final-stretch/?ref=politics