Playing Politics, A Wiiventure

Photo: Courtesy of The Game Play Book

Politcos Got Game

With today's instant news media, politics is everywhere. Its on every TV station, on every book shelf, and now it has even entered into video games. With the release of the NBA Jams, politicians may have found another medium to increase their face time, and possibly there own popularity. As a bonus feature, the designers of the new NBA Jams game created both a Democratic Team and its Republican counterpart. While incorporating real life political basketball players like former Governor Sarah Palin (R-AK) and President Barrack Obama (D-IL), other famous (or infamous) politicians also made their way into the spotlight. With a full playable political cast including: Bill (D-AR) and Hillary Clinton (D-NY), Al Gore (D-TN), Joe Biden (D-DE), John McCain (R-AZ), former President George W. Bush (R-TX), and former Vice President Dick Cheney (R-WY); politics has again found a new (albeit fun) way to capture the public conscience. Even more interesting, it may in fact prove an invaluable tool for reaching the most finicky voting block of all, college students.

To Cut or Not to Cut, That is the Question

He's Found his way back Again

It seems that Republicans and Democrats alike may not agree with President Obama's plan to cut the Bush Tax Cuts. In the past months, former advisers, and current members of his administration have spoken out and asked the President to leave the ta cuts alone. Even more recent, The Heritage Foundation has released the results of a study they conducted that implemented all of Obama's planned tax increases and their effect on the economy. This report is truly astounding and truly terrifying.

Lower and Lower

A Downward Spiral

As if things couldn't get worse for the one of the most popularly elected presidents in recent memory. His Chief-of-Staff is leaving, he's losing his party's majority in the House, and possibly in the senate. Unemployment filings have risen once again and the unemployment rate continues to stubbornly hover near ten percent. Except that now, a recent POLITICO George Washington University Battleground poll indicates that forty-four percent of the nation currently will vote to replace Obama while thirteen percent are considering voting for someone else. Only thirty-eight percent of those questioned said that he deserves to be reelected. With his own approval ratings tumbling and his own party distancing themselves from him, what is a president to do.

When Obama Ate Wall Street

The Saga Continues

In 2008, simply put, Wall Street ate Main Street. In 2010, President Obama ate Wall Street. In one fell swoop the Obama Administration changed the United States marketplace from an extremely unregulated market into an economy of hyper regulation. The federal government can now review, liquidate, and regulate any financial institution it so desires. This explosion of federal regulation has not gone unnoticed, with members of Congress, economists, and even the Congressional Budget Office lodging complaints about the new legislation. Yet our Campaigner-In Chief, a.k.a. President Obama, seems to ignore these constructive criticisms and only seems intent on continuously being his own personal cheerleader. This "look at me, look at me" attitude has not been uncommon throughout this process with Senator Harry Reid doing much the same thing to save his own political career. This post is simply the follow up to "When Wall Street Ate Main Street" and will help the reader understand the drastic shift that has been taken in America's economic policy.

A Challenge to Civilian Rule?

The Rolling Stone Suddenly Stopped

Recently labeled as the "Runaway General," General Stanley McChrystal was once the leader of the American forces in Afghanistan, but has now suddenly found himself retired after a controversial interview with Rolling Stone Magazine. The interview pits the General against President Obama and elaborates about how McChrystal apparently bullied Obama and felt that he was ill equipped to run the war, to put it nicely. As of this morning, Obama had accepted McChrystal's resignation ( in other words, fired him in a nice way) and replaced him with the only man he knew the country would accept, General Petraeus . Let's delve deeper into this issue and find out exactly what was said, and if those comments warranted the replacement of the only general in world history who even had limited success in a war in Afghanistan.

We Deserve to Know...

No More Obama Magic?

With negative ratings and heavy criticism pouring from all sides of the aisle, it seems that President Obama's once safe zone, his rhetorical skills, have abandoned him when he is most vulnerable. The speech itself, under any other circumstances would have most likely have been regarded as adequate however, the nation elected a president who could deliver hair raising and stirring speeches on command. His latest speech, his first address to the nation from the Oval Office, dealt with the Gulf Oil Spill and with a sensational topic, a sensational speech was anticipated. He did not deliver. In his speech I took issue with three different points he made so lets delve deeper into each issue.

Palin to Obama: Call Me

Executive Experience: A Good Idea?

In a new facebook post, former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin (R-AK) channels public sentiment and attacks President Obama for neglecting the situation in the Gulf of Mexico. In her fiery and satirical salvo, Palin expounds upon a perceived neglect for the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill by sighting Obama's lack of contact with oil experts as well as his failure to reach out to those people who have fought 'Big Oil' before. In close she references the people who lived through the Exxon-Valdez Oil Spill, and says, "They can help you. Give them a call. Or what the heck, give me a call," and what a phone call that would be.

Obama Nominates Newest Intelligence Director

Meet Lt. General James Clapper

After the recent resignation of Dennis Blair, Obama found himself with an empty seat in the nations top Intelligence spot. This is not a shocking development, the dislike between Obama and former Chief Dennis Blair was palpable and the job does not have a high retention rate as is (if confirmed Clapper will be the fourth Director of National Intelligence (DNI) in five years). It is the responsibility of the DNI to oversee all sixteen departments in the US intelligence community. Does this man have what it takes for this large of a job? Lets dig deeper and find out.

A Mending Wall

When Yin Meets Yang

The woman who signed the controversial Arizona immigration law and its highest profile critic met on June 3rd to discuss the bill and other issues surrounding it. After emerging from the talks, President Obama stated that the divide between them, though still apparent was decreasing. Arizona Governor Jan Brewer (R-AZ) called the meeting cordial and said that although some aspects were resolved, there were still many other issues before them. However, she did announce that Obama had promised to allocate 1,200 more border patrol troops as well a $500 million dollar increase in border and immigration control funding, with the promise that a majority of these resources would be coming to Arizona.

Sestak Shuts Out Specter

Ducked then Dumped

The longest serving senator from Pennsylvania, Democrat Arlen Specter (D-PA) was defeated Tuesday May 18th, in his primary election for the Democratic nomination for Senator. His opponent was US House Representative Joe Sestak who defied Bill Clinton and the Obama Administration and won 53% of the vote, while Specter picked up 47%. This election was seen by many as a referendum on Specter's actions last year in which he switched from a long time and high-ranking Republican to become a Democrat in order to avoid a bruising primary fight from an opponent who was all but guaranteed to beat him. In a last ditch effort to get Arlen Specter to switch parties, in order to secure an even greater majority in the Senate, the Obama Administration basically ensured a smooth primary and vast support during the general election. Yet, Specter learned that the voters are tired of partisanship and petty politics and that if the administration won't give them change; they will just change Washington themselves, one senator at a time.

Freshman Year: Obama vs. Bush

The Buildup

Yes Mr. President, it does indeed seem as though the nation who once thought you a fool, is feeling some remorse. A recent Gallup poll conducted this month reveals that in the hypothetical situation of an election between former President George W. Bush and President Barack Obama would be statistically tied. The poll found that 48% of those questioned would reelect President Obama while 46% would choose President Bush instead. How is it that one of the most unpopular presidents in our country's history could possibly beat one of the most popularly elected presidents in modern times?