THE SECOND TERM: What would Obama do if reëlected?

More Ryan Lizza.  In an earlier article, he discusses Obama's plan for his second term. 

Pretty interesting comparisons

http://www.economist.com/blogs/buttonwood/2012/09/democracy-and-taxes-0

http://www.newyorker.com/politics/maps#slide=1

http://www.newyorker.com/politics/maps#slide=1

Political Cartoon: Selling Votes

The New Yorker: "Think we could get anyone to buy our vote?"

This political cartoon offers a humorous commentary on the current state of the economy as we enter the 2012 Presidential election.

Mormons vs. Mexicans

Vice recently released this documentary that explores the relationship between American policy and the war on drugs in Mexico (in the video Mexico is likened to the diving board, America to the pool). It also examines the relationship between the Mormons of the area and their connection with Mitt Romney. I am interested to see the overall reaction to this video and also if this changes people's view of Romney and if so, how.

This is another article on a much lighter note in the form of mock debates.

Florida's Problems

This is an interesting article about Florida's registration problems. Basically, "what first appeared to be an isolated problem in one Florida county has now spread statewide, with election officials in nine counties informing prosecutors or state election officials about questionable voter registration forms filled out on behalf of the Republican Party of Florida." Can this problem be fixed in time for the registration deadline?

http://news.yahoo.com/voter-registration-problems-widening-florida-154156242--election.html

Girl Power Golden Age, Thanks to Obama?

An interesting read provided by the women's fashion and lifestyle site Refinery29, their most recent article lists 29 reasons why this is the age of a 4th wave of feminism.

The list-kicking off from the rise of female comedians and advancements in birth control (a term every American by now has heard whether they like it or not), and of course, fashion incentives for girls to feel this rekindled confidence, a few reasons were very interesting to find in the article:



#6 The spread of Smart Lady Reads

#18 Obama singling out women

#19 The rise of Pinterest

#26 Michelle Obama doing the first lady thing her own way

#27 President Barbie

This is definitely a year when media gets involved to get women involved-- as an avid social media user, I really see sites like Pinterest and Twitter engaging the opinions and issues many girls across the globe have, thanks to this easier access. Social and print and television media are effective tools that are not just prominent, but even encouraged, by President Obama himself. People may see this as a way to get support and maintain his "cool" embodiment for America, but regardless, it's a smart and encouraging move for the highest power in government to identify and relate with the masses of his own country. By interviewing with the magazine Glamour after a period of silence, and appearing on The View (which Refinery29 says is something Romney admitted he'd never do) it's showing Americans-- American women-- what they should look for in the coming election, someone who is giving any damn about their concerns. Even the First Lady is demonstrative of reaching out, besides sitting back and letting Obama do the work, pursuing her own causes and forming her own identity, in her campaign for Let's Move and celebrity friends.

As for the President Barbie? A remarkable way to encourage them early, and to make good decisions in November!

images via Google

Because if you haven't seen it yet, you should.

This has been circulating on the internet so I thought I'd post it if some of you have not yet seen it.

90 reasons to vote

Popular local author Michelle Tea has started a blog about why you should vote for Obama. With 90 days left until the election, she's posting one reason per day.
http://90days90reasons.com/50.php

An Atlas Shrugged Movie Trilogy?

This article here, from Slate, reminded me of the conversation we had about Paul Ryan's idolatry of Ayn Rand. I also thought it would be interesting to hear the political discourse associated around the movie's premiere and within Hollywood in relation to the upcoming elections and Ryan's well known interest in the book. The article gives a pretty quirky insight into all of those realms.

Undecided?

The fate of the election is going to be determined by the swing states.  The question remains what that small percentage of undecided voters will ultimately do.  Many of them are waiting for answers.... Are you a little bit harder to please?

Red White and Green

"Envy is the central fact of American life..." Gore Vidal.

Palin Cartoon

This cartoon was not only funny but seemed appropriate when considering Romney's recent disaster, the now infamous 47% comment. As seen in the cartoon, the image of Palin makes light of the Christian dominated bipartisan system but also the supreme amount of ignorance and ethnocentricity often displayed by politicians (and as of late, Romney's own mindlessness). This cartoon somewhat parallels Romney's own comments because, like Palin, he seems to live in this bubble with a completely warped sense of life and the American public. Comments including, "... There are 47 percent who are with him... Who believe they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing." This statement is utterly ridiculous and impossible to deny its stupidity. His belief that minorities somehow have it easier prove just how ignorant and out of touch this presidential hopeful is.

 Is it really game over for Romney? Maybe so. This article cuts to the core of what may be responsible for his potential failure in the presidential race: The crumbling of the GOP.



http://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/2012/09/mitt-romneys-campaign?spc=scode&spv=xm&ah=9d7f7ab945510a56fa6d37c30b6f1709

Game-Changer

In Leigh Ann Caldwell's article, "Romney needs a 'game-changer,'" she looks at a candidate that is slowly losing a hold on his small, yet significant, lead over President Obama.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-3460_162-57518510/roundtable-romney-needs-a-game-changer/

Fact Checker Obsession

Although we, as citizens, have always been concerned with the truth particularly when it comes from the lips of our world leaders, it wasn't until recently that the media has boiled down this desire into what is now called the "Fact Checker".  Its hard to say who capitlized on this first (i.e. FOX, CNN, etc...) but  it certainly makes things easier for citizens to determine whose been "lying" and whose been telling the "truth".  This title, "Fact Checker" becomes a beacon and something to rely on in order to decipher what our presidential candidates are saying.  Its hard to say whether or not this is a good thing, because I wonder at what point do we need to do the work for ourselves and actually live up to the standards of our democracy?

the following article translates some of the things Romney said in his most recent political blunder. But I suppose that demands on what the Fact Checker makes of his statements.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-57515033-503544/fact-checking-romneys-47-percent-comment/

Losing Battle

It does not seem that there is any possible solution to the situation in Afghanistan that could satisfy everybody. Obama has been fighting an uphill battle from the very beginning and it appears that not much more can be done. The below article comes from Slate, and discusses this issue. While reading this article, I was stricken by the immense amount of Americans that are put into the fight, pulled out, moved around, sent home, sent back. There is a lack of humanity to these numbers that transforms the men and women, sons and daughters, to a disposable number lost in some more important's man strategy.

The article:
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/war_stories/2012/09/obama_afghanistan_why_there_is_no_reason_for_u_s_troops_to_remain_fighting_alongside_afghan_soldiers_.2.html

Making a "Loser" Suck More

No one likes political articles that beat around the bush. An interesting read I did find on The New Yorker was this article that didn't do that. It was in its most effective form for something I'd want to read about the race for November 2012. It was more comedic and dramatic for the author John Cassidy to not just present his mass research, but to build issue on issue on issue. Each of the seven "theories" complicate just what a mess Romney is creating, rather than Cassidy just publishing a run-on piece that is too wordy and would probably just focus on one theory to write about. Just a commentary here on how this article is good, and definitely more of the same critiques hurled at the GOP-- but still, it's structure itself is theatrical and almost like propaganda.

Similar Words, Different Candidates

I could not help but post this article too. Since our class revolves around a lot of language and politics, it was interesting to see this table that the New York Times had created. It compares the words both Romney and Obama use at their National Conventions. The words and phrases are also gathered from their supporters, so don't be surprised that Bill Clinton, Michelle Obama, Clint Eastwood, John McCain, and Jimmy Carter show up here as well.

The Young, The Uneducated, and The Election

Reading this article from the New York Times reminded me of one of the very first conversations we had when the class began this fall. Professor Rader gave us the opportunity to speak about our political views and I remember most of us saying that we do not belong to a political party or that we are rather liberalists. The article I have provided talks about this very subject, but also how the election is most interested in gearing the audience of the young and uneducated to vote.

Huffington Post: Mitt Romney's Tan At Univision Forum: A Political Tactic?

Romney appeared in Miami where he discussed immigration issues, and rumors have been circulating that he adopted an orange-y tan in order to appeal to Latino voters. "We even tweeted about it to see if anyone else had noticed, and we got tons of responses: 'Will Romney put on blackface to talk to African Americans and Warpaint for Native Americans?' one person wondered," writes The Huffington Post.

Read the article here.

A history of conservative America

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/shouts/2012/09/a-conservative-history-of-the-united-states.html

What has Obama done so far?

http://whatthefuckhasobamadonesofar.com/

I've always liked this website, especially because so many people ask this question.

Is this good political writing?

I received this email yesterday from "Joe Biden." Is this good political writing? What do you make of the tone?

Dean --

Look, you've really got to get involved here.

We've got the last Dinner with Barack of this campaign coming up, and before this tradition is over I think you should give it a shot.

Chip in $5 or whatever you can and you'll automatically be entered for a chance to fly out with a guest for dinner with the President. Your airfare and hotel are on us:

https://donate.barackobama.com/Dinner

Thanks,

Joe

P.S. -- We've got just 48 days left in this campaign -- and every last one counts. Donate today and help fund our ground game for these last few weeks.

a couple of reviews of STARTING TODAY

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-lundberg/the-poetry-of-obamas-firs_b_191094.html

http://guyslitwire.blogspot.com/2010/06/starting-today-100-poems-for-obamas.html

http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-58729-871-4

The best review, though, is by the always cranky Anis Shivani:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/anis-shivani/americas-most-prominent-e_b_590522.html

Political Cartoon

http://libertyfeatures.com/?p=5909

This is a great political cartoon about how we view republican presidential candidates versus how we view Obama. I think that the Obama side of the cartoon really applies to "Starting Today: 100 Poems for Obama's First 100 Days," because many of the poems in the book view Obama as a sort of lover, and only have eyes for him, which is what the hearts and the wood are supposed to symbolize.

Political Song Parodies.

These are really funny all. Hope you enjoy!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8Q-sRdV7SY   Bush vs. Kerry

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adc3MSS5Ydc&feature=fvwrel McCain, Clinton, Obama

Top Dogs: Our Preoccupation with Presidents' Pets

It's pretty interesting in terms of the president as an entity how their pets affect our perceptions of their overall character and personality. A president's chosen breed, name, and treatment all are analyzed with a scrutiny befitting the first family themselves. Nixon famously denied Eisenhower's allegations of shady campaign financing, while admitting his dog Checkers was a political gift. In an homage to his down-home charm, Clinton's dog was simply named "Buddy." And George W. Bush was not the only political dynasty in the 2000 White House, his dog Spot was the offspring of father H.W.'s pet.

Credit: White House

This year's election marked a bizarrely staggering number of articles and news stories about Obama vs. Romney's treatment of their family pets. Mitty Romney's vacation anecdote about strapping his dog's kennel to the roof of his car for a 12 hour road trip dominated the March news cycle. David Axelrod posted this picture of Obama and Bo on his twitter with the caption "How loving owners transport their dogs." The Romney camp fired back with excerpts from the President's memoir where he discusses eating dog meat as a child in Indonesia, with one advisor re-captioning the image with "In hindsight, a chilling photo."

It reminded me of another pet-related snafu by President Johnson, tugging his beagles' ears in such a way, it actually led to public outcry. So don't worry you guys, we've always been this distractable.

http://politicalhumor.about.com/od/politicalcartoons/ig/Political-Cartoons/Romney-Doubles-Down.htm

This was a political cartoon commenting on both Republican and Democratic National Conventions. I liked the inclusion of Clinton's "double down on trickle down" proclamation. It was a reminder, to me, of the superior speeches demonstrated during the DNC and Clinton's ability to use extemporaneous phrases while sounding intelligent (take some notes, Palin). I also liked how it chided Romney for basing a campaign on his opponent's deficiencies as opposed to his own strategies for improving the nation. That being said, both sides are guilty of incessant mudslinging.

The World is on Fire!

The impression I receive from the news lately, is that the world is on fire. It seems that all hell has broken loose, yet many Americans do not even seem to notice. Of course, there are the scattered Facebook statuses, but those are of no real consequence. With everything that is going on, with American embassies under attack (in Tunisia, Yemen, Egypt, Libya) you would think that the streets would be abuzz with horror and worry. I would at least expect widespread outrage at the American who created the Anti-Islam video that was the last domino catalyzing this mess. Instead business continues on normal.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/un-ambassador-acknowledges-turbulent-time-in-mideast-amid-rocky-transition-to-democracy/2012/09/16/a1e9aeb4-0000-11e2-bbf0-e33b4ee2f0e8_story.html

In April, I spent twelve days in Tunisia and actually visited the embassy there. I met the Ambassador and several Tunisians. Thinking about they are currently experiencing is impossible; my imagination cannot even come close to recreating such a situation. After traveling there, I am no longer sympathetic with only the Americans there but also the citizens of Tunisia, who have lately been so desperately struggling to create their own stable government.

http://www.tunisia-live.net/2012/09/15/recent-attack-on-us-embassy-raises-security-questions/

SNL Mocks Romney for Being Cluless and Ryan for Being "Terrible with Numbers"

"And, before we start, Sasha, Malia, go to bed.  I do that to remind you that I have two adorable young daughters, and not five creepy adult sons," says Jay Pharaoh as Obama on last night's episode of Saturday Night Live.  He goes on to identify Mitt Romney as the Obama campaign's "secret weapon" then Jason Sudeikis sings "Old McDonald"--"a pretty groovy song, right?  Sorry I didn't know all the animal noises..." as Mitt Romney.

Write Your Own Material

“Every sentence has a truth waiting at the end of it and the writer learns how to know it when he finally gets there. On one level this truth is the swing of the sentence, the beat and poise, but down deeper it’s the integrity of the writer as he matches with the language. I’ve always seen myself in sentences. I begin to recognize myself, word for word, as I work through a sentence. The language of my books has shaped me as a man. There’s a moral force in a sentence when it comes out right. It speaks the writer’s will to live.”

                                              - Don DeLillo

This would be relevant in the world of politics if candidates and politicians actually wrote their own material. Otherwise, we must pick through their speeches, addresses, and statements in order to try and find words that reflect their actual beliefs. If language and words are what shapes us an inidividuals, then the public deserves the right to evaluate people based on their own words.  

Truth-Telling Audience

In Steve Coll's The New Yorker article, "Conventional Wisdom," he provides his comments and opinions about the differences between the Republican National Convention and the Democratic National Convention.

Along with the rhetoric and plans for the future, he states that the audience was a good indicator of the true voters for these political parties. Coll states: "If the Conventions retain any authenticity, it lies in the group portraits that they offer of the parties’ activists." 

Although the Conventions may have lost their authenticity from the days where the party candidates were actually chosen at the Conventions, there is authenticity in the people who support the parties.

http://www.newyorker.com/talk/comment/2012/09/17/120917taco_talk_coll

Obama and Eliot

Although this is a bit dated, I did find quite a bit of interesting information about Obama the Intellectual within this article.  It seems Obama is a surprising fan of T.S. Eliot and I think this also touches on a few points we talked about in class as to why poets would even consider writing 100 poems for our president.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/09/opinion/young-obama-an-eliot-conservative.html

from Wild Horses Of Fire blog: Poetry During OWS

in light of reading Starting Today: 100 Poems for Obama's First 100 Days I began thinking of other, maybe more politically aversive anthologies/writing features and thought of this particular feature edited by Thom Donovan surrounding the Occupy Wall Street movement. This feature brings together writers from both the East and West coast (several of which live here in the Bay Area), etc.

In relation to this: tonight at 8:30pm Thom Donovan will be reading with Sara Larsen and Suzanne Stein at California College of the Arts marked by two chapbooks being released by Compline (a press of local poet Michael Cross): the chapbooks are The Hegemon Say by Thom Donovan being sold for $5 and Sara Larsen's MERRY HELL will be handed out for free. If you're interested in obtaining either of these chapbooks let me know!

-----

Wild Horses Of Fire: Poetry During OWS: The following feature contains original writing by 19 participants: Anne Boyer, Dana Ward, Anelise Chen, Brian Ang, Marie Buck, Stephanie Young, Lauren Levin, Brandon Brown, Kristin Prevallet, Josef Kaplan, Brian Whitener, Rob Halpern, Alli Warren, Jackqueline Frost, Michael Cross, Frank Sherlock, Thom Donovan, Susan Bernofsky, and David Brazil. The feature was edited and composed between September 2011 and April 2012, dates which correspond roughly to the first seven months of the Occupy movement. It was originally published in the Summer 2012 issue of the journalRethinking Marxism.

If You Thought Jack Buck's Poem Was Bad...

I found this poem written about Mitt Romney by a 92-year WWII veteran. It's not very recent but I think it contributes to how we're thinking about political poetry. (Skip to 2:09)

Shooting and Aiming

Romney's criticism of President Obama's regarding the Libya and Egypt attacks that resulted in US diplomats' deaths only spawned more criticism from Obama.

Obama told CBS that Romney was "shooting first and aim later," and that from being a president that is not the way to handle a situation. Romney's "shooting first" was disgust at how the White House did not directly have a public statement for the attacks (the statement was made by the Embassy in Cairo), and as this remark has significantly hurt his campaign, it makes sense that now Romney would have a second response that doesn't shoot but now "aims" at the sympathy and grief of the masses.

His focus shifting to loss and mourning with the families of the four slain diplomats in Libya seems too late. It's good intentions, but yes, perhaps he should have approached the statement with his own sympathy from the start. I don't even want to get into the fact-checking part of this story! It's all about strategy, and this definitely seemed like Romney did walk into Obama's trap on this one.

Will Your Vote Be Counted?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dan-froomkin/voting-challenges_b_1877144.html?utm_hp_ref=politics

Protesters storm US Embassy in Yemen

http://xfinity.comcast.net/articles/news-general/20120912/Prophet.Film/?cid=hero_media_x3

Blame

"Mr Obama campaign spokesman Ben LaBolt criticized Mr Romney for making a 'political attack' at a time when the country was 'confronting the tragic death of one of our diplomatic officers in Libya.'"

Half of the political articles that I've recently read use the word, "attack," at least once in reference to Romney. Romney just won't stop attacking Obama! It's making Romney seem like a cruel and unforgiving person who does not deserve to be president. Through his cruel remarks, Romney is clearly trying to make it sound like he is the better candidate for president, and that Obama is currently doing a terrible job, and will continue to do so if reelected. This may be a good way for Romney to argue his way into office, but what if it's deterring more people away than it should be? Maybe he should cool it down just a bit?


http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2012/0912/breaking55.html

Even the Conservatives are Tiring of Romney

The first link http://www.upworthy.com/watch-even-fox-news-is-tired-of-romneys-evasive-campaign
is a video of a Fox News reporter asking for a more concrete response for once from Mittens and his supporters. This website does make an interesting (although frightening) point that it takes a "special kind of candidate to raise this many eyebrows on both sides of the aisle".

The next is from Politico http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0912/81033.html?hp=t2_3, and it laundry lists various GOP supporters who are requesting our dear Mittens to quantify and qualify his stance on financial issues. Liberals and Conservatives may not agree on much at this time in the election season, but right now they're both agreeing that Mitt Romney is damaging his own campaign with his vague words and avoidances.

So, Mitt, what do you really believe?

somebody recently messed up their change of address and now I'm receiving The Economist magazine, Money magazine and The Sunday Times: it must be a sign that I need to keep up with all this who-blah.

anyways, read this article which I found completely biased (obviously ripping Romney) though I couldn't help feeling a bit frightened of Romney. is it all true? Does the fact that Romney's quick rise to Mass. Governor in light of his predecessors failings in any way shine sympathy on his "progressive" opinions during his governorship? versus his conservative opinions now? I don't know.

(http://www.economist.com/node/21560864)

excerpt:

WHEN Mitt Romney was governor of liberal Massachusetts, he supported abortion, gun control, tackling climate change and a requirement that everyone should buy health insurance, backed up with generous subsidies for those who could not afford it. Now, as he prepares to fly to Tampa to accept the Republican Party’s nomination for president on August 30th, he opposes all those things. A year ago he favoured keeping income taxes at their current levels; now he wants to slash them for everybody, with the rate falling from 35% to 28% for the richest Americans.

All politicians flip-flop from time to time; but Mr Romney could win an Olympic medal in it (see article). And that is a pity, because this newspaper finds much to like in the history of this uncharismatic but dogged man, from his obvious business acumen to the way he worked across the political aisle as governor to get health reform passed and the state budget deficit down. We share many of his views about the excessive growth of regulation and of the state in general in America, and the effect that this has on investment, productivity and growth. After four years of soaring oratory and intermittent reforms, why not bring in a more businesslike figure who might start fixing the problems with America’s finances?

I regret signing that MoveOn.org Petition

Okay, I really don't. I'm glad I can look back at that moment and remember how good it felt to be a human helping out humanity.

It felt too good to be true.

Too good when that organization (and my forwarded email to NRDC) started blowing up my email account telling me to sign this petition or watch that mini documentary on why I have to stop off shore drilling, game season with grey wolves, be the one and only true person who could help stop the death penalty of someone's case I had never heard of before... when I started questioning the validity of half these things.

It's funny how easily persuadable organizations that directly pin themselves to Democratic or Republican can continue on with their rhetoric, in your emotions and the "facts" they disclose behind this petition. We can't all be good people, answer every call to arms in helping out the environment or humanity, but to what extent can people take? To me, it starts to hurt the credibility of the party. It really does become too biased.  I do care about all the issues they tell me, but then again why are they only talking about it? I barely see half the issues covered on news channels or online. You could say that no one else in the world cares enough to put the issues out there, but honestly, then what does that say about the world?

I'd like to believe I'm doing good. But I don't like to feel easily persuaded.

 

oh. now i see.

Electoral College

In class, we have been discussing the idea of voting. Do our votes even matter? Personally, I have never understood the Electoral College until I listened to a podcast (from Stuff You Should Know) that explained it in simple terms. This is a very important portion of our government and the voting process and it is important that we do understand it. It also gives me some hope that our votes may at least influence electors in our respective areas.

Blogger will not let me post an Mp3 file, but the podcast can be found if you download this program:
http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/hsw-shows/stuff-you-should-know-podcast.htm

Also, here is an article that explains the process very vaguely. But what make it interesting, is the idea that someone can win the electoral vote, without winning the popular vote.
http://history.howstuffworks.com/american-history/electoral-college6.htm

Jon Stewart's "It could have been worse"

http://www.hulu.com/watch/398955#i1,p0,d2

MSNBC:Obama seeks to widen support base with Florida seniors, Hispanics

We've been discussing the role of occasion in speech-writing, and it seems now that Obama is trying to rally support among Hispanics and the elderly, he has been making attempts to focus on medicare and minority issues. Although he barely won FL last election, he hopes to rally senior support by promising to protect the senior benefits that Romney and Ryan seek to repeal.

http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/09/08/13751572-obama-seeks-to-widen-support-base-with-florida-seniors-hispanics?lite

I liked Obama's speech. I felt the truth behind the delivery. But it was very different than the one he gave in 2008. I think Hertzberg has it right when he says it is sobering. That inspiring optimism which captivated so many Americans four years ago seems to be a bit more subdued, or grounded in reality. But this isn't necessarily a bad thing.



http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/hendrikhertzberg/2012/09/obamas-speech.html

Movie Earnings = Votes?

The new Anti-Obama political documentary, 2016 Obama's America, is gaining momentum. It has just earned the #2 spot in political documentaries, while surpassing three Michael Moore films. Could this be indicative of the impending election? Do movie earnings equal votes? Or, in this case, do movie earnings not equal votes for President Obama?

http://movies.yahoo.com/news/anti-obama-pic-2-political-documentary-now-bigger-100758566.html

Obama Slams Romney, Ryan On Financial Plans

http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/09/09/13763089-bad-math-obama-slams-romney-ryan?lite

But If You're Thinkin About My Baby It Doesn't Matter If You're Black Or White

Really interesting piece from the Times on Obama's appeal to various demographics and the authencity behind it. I personally didn't think his speech was entirely "preachery" or reminiscent of Rev. Wright's holier than now b.s. I thought it was deeply personal and as Maddow says, "literary." He was self-assured, graceful, and charasmatic. Regardless of what he said I was distracted by how he made me feel. I have to say that at the end of his speech I had mad love for the man.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/09/opinion/sunday/obama-and-the-racial-politics-of-american-english.html?_r=1&ref=opinion

Video: Colbert Mocks Obama's DNC Speech

 We discussed a lot about what we thought about the DNC speeches last class, and I thought it'd be interesting to share what a famous political critic thought about it too. Click here. Does watching this affect the way you thought about Obama's speech? Do you believe that Colbert's opinions are valid although amusing?

Ryan and Palin

Jonathan Bernstein's article, 'Flip Side of Sarah Palin', in Salon comments on the Republican aversion to scrutiny and the substantive difference between the DNC and RNC. 

Obama's Centrism

Here is an interesting article from Harper's on the centrism of Obama and the tug right of the political spectrum.

GOP/ Dem Political Platforms: Then and Now

Here's an interesting comparison in Mother Jones between the Democratic and Republic political platforms/rhetoric in 1956 and 2012:  
GOP Platform Flashback: "Government Must Have a Heart"

Poetry and War

Below, I've copied out Yeats' editorial comment on his exclusion of the war poets of the Great War from The Oxford Book of Modern Verse 1892-1935.  

I have a distaste for certain poems Written in the midst of the great war; they are in all anthologies, but I have substituted Herbert Read's End of War written long after. The writers of these poems were invariably officers of exceptional courage and capacity, one a man constantly selected for dangerous work, all, I think, had the Military Cross; their letters are vivid and humorous, they were not without joy--for all skill is joyful--but felt bound, in the words of the best known, to plead the suffering of their men.  In poems that had for a time considerable fame, written in the first person, they made that suffering their own.  I have rejected these poems for the same reason that made Arnold withdraw his Empedocles on Etna from circulation; passive suffering is not a theme for poetry.  In all great tragedies, tragedy is a joy to the man who dies; in Greece the tragic chorus danced.  When man has withdrawn into the quicksilver at the back of the mirror no great even becomes luminous in his mind; it is no longer possible to write The Persians, Agincourt, Chevy Chase: some blunder has driven his car on to the wrong side of the road--that is all.
If war is necessary, or necessary in our time and place, it is best to forget its suffering as we do the discomfort of fever, remembering our comfort at midnight when our temperature fell, or as we forget the worst moments of more painful disease.  Florence Farr returning third class from Ireland found herself among Connaught Rangers just returned from the Boer War who described an incident over and over, and always with loud laughter: an unpopular sergeant struck by a shell turned round and round like a dancer wound in his own entrails.  That too may be a right way of seeing war, if war is necessary; the way of the Cockney slums, of Patrick Street, of the Kilmainham Minut, of Johnny I hardly knew ye, of the medieval Dance of Death.

The work of Wilfred Owen, in particular, is seen as a lacuna in the Yeats-edited volume.   Owen's comments in the drafts to his 1918 work, Disabled and Other Poems, exemplify the opposite of Yeats' view: 'This book is not about heroes. English poetry is not yet fit to speak of them. Nor is it about deeds, or land, nor anything about glory, honour, might, majesty, dominion, or power, except War. Above all I am not concerned with Poetry. My subject is War, and the pity of War. The Poetry is in the pity. Yet these elegies are to this generation in no sense consolatory. They may be to the next. All a poet can do today is warn. That is why the true Poets must be truthful.'

Yeats stated his opinion regarding Owen in more caustic terms in a letter he wrote to Dorothy Wellesley in 1936: "My anthology continues to sell, & the critics get more & more angry. When I excluded Wilfred Owen, whom I consider unworthy of the poets' corner of a country newspaper, I did not know I was excluding a revered sandwich-board Man of the revolution & that some body has put his worst & most famous poem in a glass-case in the British Museum-- however if I had known it I would have excluded him just the same. He is all blood, dirt & sucked sugar stick (look at the selection in Faber's Anthology-- he calls poets 'bards,' a girl a 'maid,' & talks about 'Titanic wars'). There is every excuse for him but none for those who like him. . . ."

My question is this: Do we take poetry's purpose to be to express an emotion, for is not pity, the thing Owen advocates, an emotion?  Is that the purpose of a poem in war?  To make us simply feel?   I don't mean to say that a poem shouldn't make us feel.  My question is: should it make us 'feel' only?  Secondly, do we take Wilfred Owen to be characteristic of all the Great War poets? What do we think of David Jones' In Parenthesis, written in 1937; what do we think of the poetry of Issac Rosenburg? Of Robert Graves? Herbert Read (who Yeats singles out)? 

I have included some poems from the various authors after the jump.

Great Op-Ed by David Brooks on Obama & His Speech

Brooks is considered a conservative columnist and thinker, despite the fact that he writes for the Times. This is a very well written piece about what is wrong with both candidates, the system, and the country: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/07/opinion/brooks-why-democrats-lead.html?_r=1&hp

http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/09/06/13703624-first-thoughts-obamas-four-challenges?lite

Soledad O'Brien Confronts Tea Party Spokeswoman

So, this may not be about politics and writing, but it is about politics, language, and clarity, which George Orwell would have been oh so interested in:

Mitt Romney Accidentally Confronts A Gay Veteran; Awesomeness Ensues

While this may not be directed related to the writing portion of our Writing and Politics class, it is still worth watching - and relevant to the election. Watch it all the way through.

- Katie

Eighteen Hours "Well" Spent

This is an interesting article about two teenagers who spent eighteen hours of their lives working on Obama's campaign, in order to get a ticket to see him speak. Unfortunately, the event was moved to a smaller location due to the weather, and the teenagers got their passes rescinded. Is this fair to them? Obviously not, but was it really the Obama administration's fault? It's not like they can control the weather...

http://news.yahoo.com/teen-volunteers-disinvited-obama-speech-205807059--abc-news-politics.html

Language at the DNC

I'm glad I'm the first one to post something about the Democractic Convention.  Although it may seem like low hanging fruit, this is a convenient article for those of us that missed the opening day.  Furthermore I do find it particularly relevant as this article does address some of the language choices during many of the speeches.  I find it also interesting the strategy the Democrats have taken in comparison to the Republicans last week.

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/05/at-the-democratic-convention-an-emphasis-on-social-issues/

Lyin' Ryan?

We talked in class today about Ryan's integrity. This article suggests otherwise:
http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2012/09/since-when-did-paul-ryan-become-a-liar.html

"You didn't build that..." YES, we did!

.... now what else has been going on?
http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/shouts/2012/08/we-built-it-the-slansky-quiz.html

The wooing of Mitt Romney

http://prospect.org/article/hidden-candidate

Mitt Romney appeals to whatever voters he happens to be wooing at the particular moment. We may as well be seeing Mitt Romney's hand, with his entire body behind a curtain. John Powers writes about the deceitful Mitt Romney, and his hidden past, religion, old tax records--basically anything that wouldn't appeal to voters. In the cartoon displayed, Mitt Romney is simply kicking back, having a drink and a good ol' time. He seems to think he has nothing to worry about.

Katya

Political Humor, More Effective than Ever

The beauty of a representative making a eye-raising (mildly-said) comment is criticism. And in the age of social media, the beauty of critics is how they make it. This video is satire of Rep. Todd Atkin's sour "legitimate rape" comment on contraception and abortion, featuring a pharmaceutical ad showing legitimate rape as an emerging birth control. Fabulous, they make it seem, and easier too!

Well, it's all completely mocking Atkin's remark, and of course after a cringe and laugh, I find it more interesting that people would actually make such an ad, or when any one person does give a damn to express their outrage through humor. It's pretty sarcastic. Humor is a unique platform of criticism for political moves and persons, and especially in a society of Saturday Night Live, it seems more available to the general public, easier for them to understand how ridiculous or insightful some political issues can be.

"Keep America American"

news blog(s) have gone viral with the conspirator-esque unveiling of Mitt Romney's phrase "keep America American" in relation to a KKK slogan documented in several books of the same phrasing: "Keep America American".

My question is: why/how do people receive political energy through long-reaching, historically referenced though temporally distanced connections?

The use of the phrase comes from an entirely different context than the KKK, as far as their intentions/actions, etc. whether racist or not it was a different social situation/temporally distinct and so on. Romney's use of the phrase is obviously directed towards present people with no racial intentions though obviously liberally nationalistic, but what president doesn't carry a bit of liberal nationalism through all of their speeches?

My question: is the excitement over Romney's use of the "keep America American" phrase an excitement solely of those who have already made up their minds about which party they stand with so that the revelation of Romney's supposed tie to the KKK is further assurance of their political choices? OR is this statement something all of America should be concerned about? What about it is concerning?


link to accusing blog

link to article quoting Romney's "keep American American"

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=513056788720973&set=a.224321947594460.75723.224319224261399&type=1&ref=nf

I received this email from my grandmother, which I found both intriguing and a little funny to be honest. The older members of my family made me aware of this image because they had seen it via facebook. Herein lies the humorous aspect of the image, though a personal anecdote, because I was made aware of it from my grandmother (of the generation that is not "supposed" to be so technologically savvy) while I remained completely in the dark. Regardless, the best part of the link for me personally was it's metod of persuasion. I do not consider myself the most political and, consequently, have been leaning towards not voting in the upcoming election. However as a feminist, I now feel my feelings have changed after seeing this convincing picture.

Ayn Rand, Paul Ryan, and...Your girlfriend's yoga pants?

Much has been made in recent weeks of Ryan's bizarrely Objectivist leaning. Rand was something akin to enemy #1 in my household. A personal friend of my father's mother, Ayn convinced my grandma during a book club meeting that my father was not allowed to go to commie Harvard, with its commie professors, where he would become, naturally, a pinko commie liberal. My dad endured four years at the University of Virginia instead, where the appropriately right leaning students stole his yarmulke and voted for Nixon. My grandma was really just a fan of ideologies with no real concern for their mutual exclusivity, also paying egregious amounts for a levitation class with the Maharishi (my father says she really looked more like a frog hopping around the room in lotus position).

Which is why she would surely have been elated by the strange nexus of Ayn Rand and yoga apparel company Lulu Lemon. The popular pants come in a red, reusable bag with irksome life affirmations on the side. Customers spit up their kombucha last fall upon reading amid the "life is todays" the question "who is John Galt?" Galt being the lead character from Atlas Shrugged (this is hardly the most disturbing, I once got a bag that said "children are the orgasm of life"). The head of the company, who- similarly to Ryan- discovered Rand during college, says he loves the ideal of "rising above the mediocrity," of, you know, the rest of us.

My real question: does Paul Ryan wear them to P90-X?
Read more here: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/28/business/media/combines-ayn-rand-and-yoga.html

Ann Romney (Ironically?) Loves "Modern Family"

Although this comes from a pop culture site, it's an interesting collision of politics and popular television.  Ann Romney says Modern Family is her favorite TV show, and a heated debate follows in the comments section.  Several people have commented saying that although the show depicts a gay couple, even those opposed to marriage equality can enjoy it.  How much do politics play into our appreciation of a seemingly light-hearted comedy? According to ET,"the creator of the hit ABC comedy took to Twitter to mock the presidential candidate's wife by inviting her to appear on the show to officiate a wedding between two gay characters."

http://www.etonline.com/news/124579_Modern_Family_Creator_Mocks_Ann_Romney/

Invisible Obama

"Invisible Obama" from Clint Eastwood's Republican National Convention speech/skit has become Twitter famous! 

Since Thursday, the symbolic empty chair, to which Eastwood addressed, has gained a following of 65,432 Twitter users.

Immediately after the convention, in comparison to "Invisible Obama," Romney gained 23,000 and Ryan gained 18,000 Twitter followers.

This truly shows that social media can take any small piece of news and spin it both creatively and humorously. 

http://www.twitter.com/invisibleobama

Go Ahead, Make my Day

Below is the link for Clint Eastwood's speech at the Republican Convention. In which he results to school yard tactics, insulting an "invisible" Obama who is represented by an empty chair. His words lacked any real meaning and he came off as slightly crazy, but a large portion of the crowd seemed to be loving it. This video is a sad example of how easily rallied people can and how the media can be a dangerous playground filled with bullies with microphones.
http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2012/08/30/video_of_clint_eastwood_s_rnc_speech_.html?wpisrc=obinsite

My favorite quote from the speech: "Politicians are employees of ours"

Sucess is Loving Yourself

I haven't taken Ayn Rand seriously since the last guy I dated used her ethics to justify dropping out of UCLA in his last semester, with only one class remaining to graduate in order to 'make a more viable contribution to society.' Nevertheless, his obsession with the word "I" led him on an excursion to South Africa where he ironically had an epiphany and decided to open his own coffee company in SF along with various other operating partners who may or may not have graduated from college. He is now a CFO, driving a Maserati, and firmly convinced that dropping out of UCLA was the best decision he ever made.

Anyways, the fact that Paul Ryan so closely identifies with these economic and social concepts led me to re-visit Atlas Shrugged, Anthem, and The Fountainhead, which I swore I would never do that April morning at The Grove over Bloody Mary's and Egg's Benedict.

What I found were some very interesting quotes that helped me piece together Brad's beautifully fucked up mind and question the sanity of Paul Ryan's:

"There are two sides to every issue. One side is right and the other is wrong, but the middle is always evil..."- Atlas Shrugged

"It is my will which chooses, and the choice of my will is the only edict I respect..." - Anthem

"What is greatness? It is the capacity to live by three fundamental values: reason, purpose, self-esteem..." - Ayn Rand