Cartoons 2/17-2/24

"The Kids' Campaign Trail"

• I honestly don't understand why this caption was used. 
• Newt Gingrich is with a poster of Mitt Romney.
• Newt is drawing two vampire teeth on the Romney poster, while saying he wants to make "two points" about him, the points actually being the vampire fangs.
• The message in this cartoon is to show Newt Gingrich's feeling towards Romney in a childish way (by drawing fangs on his poster), which may be why the title says the "kids'" campaign trail.
• This cartoon doesn't relate to any specific political event, but just Newt's general feelings towards Mitt Romney.
• It is satirical because in reality I don't think you'd ever catch Newt Gingrich, or any politician for that matter, drawing on another's poster. 

"The Beneficiaries of Tea"

• This title is used to show the real people who benefit from the tea party, but with actual tea.
• Paul Ryan's budget is represented by a tea bag, while the tea spreading in one area are the benefits for the 1%, and the other is the small 99%.
• The action taking place inthis cartoon is a tea bag spreading the majority of it's "benefits" to the the 1%.
• The message of this cartoon is to reveal who really receives benefits from Paul Ryan's budget.
• This cartoon relates to Paul Ryan's proposed budget plans, but not to much we discussed in class.
• This is satirical because the beneficiaries of Ryan and the tea party are represented by real tea. 

FOX NEWS SUNDAY WITH CHIRS WALLACE 10/14

FOX News Sunday with Chris Wallace
with David Axelrod, Obama's Senior Strategist
Sunday, October 14th, 2012

         In this episode of FOX News Sunday, Chris Wallace has David Axelrod, senior strategist for the Obama administration on the show. The two start off discussing the horrible terrorist attack on the four American diplomats in Libya. Wallace begins by showing a clip of vice president Joe Biden claiming that he wasn't aware there were requests for more security in Libya, when there were. He asks David Axelrod to explain. Axelrod says the vice president was talking about what "the White House knew," saying that the information didn't get to past security or the state department to the White House. He assures Wallace that the President's top priority is to get to the bottom of this situation and bring those responsible to justice and make any necessary adjustments to keep America's diplomats safe, considering they are in some of the most dangerous places in the world. The president is responsible for everyone. He says this is not a matter of blaming.
          Chris Wallace continues to ask Axelrod if Obama will come more prepared with a more agressive approach at the second presidential debate. He replies by saying Obama will definitely make some adjustments at this next debate, and be agressive in making the case for "where we should go as a country." He will be willing to challenge Romney. Axelrod also adds that the Obama campaign believes Romney's recent progress is result of the first couple of days after his first, successful debate. He ends by saying the Obama campaign feels good, and has a great ground game.
          The information in this episode may cause some people to question the integrity of those in office, including Joe Biden because of his statement about being unaware of the security requests in Libya. I could use this information to show how sensitive polls are because of how much Romney's numbers improved after his first debate. This show is as whole takes a Republican stance, criticizing many of Obama and Biden's moves. In the political arena today, Biden's statement in the clip shown could cause a lot of controversy about how situations like the attack in Libya are handled in Washington.

CNN STATE OF THE UNION 10/7

CNN State Of The Union
with Reince Priebus
Sunday, October 7th, 2012

          In this episode of State of The Union, Candy Crowley introduces Republican chairman, Peince Priebus onto the show. Crowley brings up "the burden of great expectations," referring to the pressure that may be on the Republican party and vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan after Romney's winning performance at the first presidential debate. Priebus says that Paul Ryan is very prepared and ready. He says Joe Biden may have made some "promlematic" comments in his career, but he is still a very "relatable" man, and "gifted orator." He knows Paul Ryan has dedicated his life to solving America's problems and building a plan for the country's success. In the end he and Biden are two very different people.  Candy asks if he thinks it is crucial for Ryan to keep the momentum Romney set up after the first debate. He says they've (the Republican party) has had a good week but it is important that all the weeks to come are good as well.
          Referring to Romney, Priebus says he is an inspiring and prepared, and Obama showed the opposite of those things at the first debate. He says if that is Obama unfiltered, he is showing the American people he is not right for the job. He says that just because the unemployment rate is below 8%, doesn't mean the President is really bringing change. Crowley also asks if there has been any talk about a third party threat. Priebus replies without any worry, saying he doesn;t think the election will come to that because there is no third party candidate with the popularity or recognition like that of Ross Perot or John B. Anderson.
          The information in this episode show how the Republicans are going about keeping the "momentum" from the first debate. Priebus said "this race isn't going to come down to money," instead it's about heart and inspiration. This shows the more personal side of the Republican campaign. I learned that the unemployment rate is currently below 8%. I could ue the information in this article to portray the sympathy shown by Reince Priebus and potentially some other Republicans. Priebus made a great effort to praise Joe Biden on his great debating skills when talking about Paul Ryan. This show was unbiased. However, Priebus is a Republican and did show how much he really thought Obama's past term was a failure.In the political arena today, some people, especially those who have recently been employed, may be offended when Priebus says bring the unemployment rate below 8% isn't change in our country.

CBS FACE THE NATION 9/30

CBS Face The Nation
Segment with NJ Governor Chris Christie
Sunday, September 30th, 2012

          Bob Shieffer starts the show off by introducing New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. Shieffer asks a series of questions about why Christie thinks Romney has been having a bad couple of weeks, and how he thinks he'll do in the upcoming debate and the coming weeks before the election. Chris Christie agrees, that Romney has had a tough time the past couple of weeks but he is coming with all he has to the next debate. He says Governor Romney is going to contrast his vision of the nation with what the President has done in his term. Christie says that the debate will give the people of America a chance to answer the question, "who do we trust the most to be in Washington during these times?" When Shieffer asks about the effect  of Mitt Romney's 47% comment, Christie says he doesn't think the American people are focusing  on it because it was just something Romney said, and continues to compare it to when Barack Obama once misspoke and said there were 57 states in U.S. instead of 50. Christie says that just because of his comment, Romney is still a smart and respectable man.
          Shieffer brings up how many seniors in states like Florida and Virginia are upset with the changes that are to be made to healthcare. Christie says that those changes won't affect them, just younger people and people who have just become seniors, but other than that, it should be known that changes will always have to be made. He then says that Obama doesn't talk about this because he is avoiding the truth, and that he's been avoiding the truth for the past four years. Shieffer ends the interview by asking if Christie plans to run for president in 2016. Christie answers by saying that in 2016 he hopes to be working hard under Mitt Romney as president, and repeatedly, "Mitt Romney will win the election."
          This episode shows Chris Christie as an example of a committed and dedicated Republican completely behind Mitt Romney. He is passionate that Romney has a strong and promising vision for America and he will most definitely win. I could use this information to show why some states that are home to many seniors are going Democrat because they don;t like the healthcare changes. This show was unbiased. Chris Chris Christie gave his point of views from the Republican side.

NBC MEET THE PRESS 9/23

NBC Meet The Press
"The Debate Over The 47%: The Role Of Government" 
Sunday, September 23rd, 2012

          On this Sunday Morning, David Gregory meets with Democratic Governor of Massachusetts, Deval Patrick and Kelly Ayotte, junior U.S. Senator of the Republican party. The two were on the show mainly debating over the 47% comment made my Governor Romney at a private Republican fundraiser. Romney claimed that nearly half of America felt they were entitled to things like food, housing and healthcare, and victimized themselves. Deval Patric started off a bit off point criticizing Romney's tax returns and what he actually plans to do with all the taxpayers' money. When asked if she agreed with Romney on the statement, Kelly Ayotte said she "sees what the Governor sees." She believes too many people must rely on food stamps, and the unemployment rate is outrageous. She says she has campaigned with Romney and knows he cares about every single American, and is reaching out to get everyone work. Patrick rebuttals by saying there are so many people on food stamps because we are in such a terrible economy, and what Obama and America are focusing on is strengthening that economy. Ayotte says the President tried, but his policies failed, and all the Democrats have brought us in unemployment. She says Obama has not been "the uniting force we need to get things done." Patrick says, that Mitt Romney's policies have also shown themselves to fail, referring to the trickle-down policy. He says the president has shown he can make change, and the country has been "brought back from the bring of depression."
          The results of this debate could influence a change to Obama's policy since some people may have seen his first term as a failure, but it could also cause Romney to change around his tactics so that they'd seem more promising. I learned that the unemployment rate is higher among young people than it is nationally, according to Deval Patrick. I could use the information in this show to see the Republican view on things, and why they think Obama has failed in the past 4 years. Deval Patrick is an Obama supporter while Kelly Ayotte is advocating Governor Romney. David Gregory makes an effort to ask questions pertaining to both the Democratic and Republican parties. The information in this show brings in a spokesperson from each political party for their view on the "47%" and the "role of government," getting a more elaborate analysis on the sate our economy is in and what the presidential candidates are working towards.

"Obama, Romney Launch Final Blitz" 11/

"Obama, Romney Launch Final  Blitz"
by CNN Political Unit
CNN Politics
November 4th, 2012

         This article goes into some detail about the nerve-racking days before the election. It's crunch time for both candidates, and they are going across the country preaching their plans to people in the battleground states. Obama is focused on building a "strong middle class" and saying Mitt Romney is not change, while Romney and his campaign say that Obama would reuse his old tactics in his second term. The election is very close, many polls show Romney and Obama's numbers to be split right down the middle. Pennsylvania was a big stop on Romney's trail. The state hasn't been Republican since 1988. Mitt's running mate Paul Ryan stopped in Pittsburgh while Romney spoke in Philadelphia suburbs. Bill Clinton was also along side Obama on some of his stops. Mitt Romney stopped in Boston for election day, while Obama headed back to Chicago.
          This is a crucial time for both candidates and undecided voters. The information in this article gives people a look at what both Romney and Obama have to say and what matters most, days before the election. I learned tat Pennsylvania hasn't gone red in an election since 1988. I could use this information to finalize who I want to vote for and why because I believe the candidates want to get out their strongest words during their closing statements. The author of this article takes a neutral position, and talks about both candidates' viewpoints. What Mitt Romney and Barack Obama say to people right before their election is what they leave their supporters and undecided voters with, which could potentially make or break them in the election.

URL: http://www.cnn.com/2012/11/04/politics/election-closing-blitz/index.html

"Romey: Country Shouldn't Go 'Forward' On Obama's Path" 10/29

"Romney: Country Shouldn't Go 'Forward' On Obama's Path"
by Tony Leys
DesMoineRegister.com/Iowa Politics
October 29, 2012

          Tony Ley's article is about one of Romney's recent rallies in Davenport, Iowa. He criticizes Obama's well-known slogan "Forward." He claims, if reelected, Obama will lead Obama in the wrong direction. Romney talks to his cheering fans about how much energy they give him, and continues to make promises about improving education, creating jobs, and putting a stop to taxes on middle-income Americans and  small business owners. Yet, as much as he reiterates, he doesn't go into detail at all about how he's going to do these things. The article also talks about how Mitt's rallies will come to a stop for some time to show respect to those experiencing the damage done by Hurricane Sandy. Romney later talked about how Obama said you "can only change Washington from the outside." However, Romney claims he knows how to change it from the inside, by "reaching over the aisle" in the election to Democrats, but still doesn't explain how he will actually do this. Erin Seidler, Obama spokeswoman from the Iowa campaign says Romney never "reached over the aisle" to work with Democrats during his time as Massachusetts governor like he said he did, nor did he speak his mind to the big Republican figures, instead he humored them so they'd like what he had to say. Romney has also began to reference encouraging words from TV show, Friday Night Lights. Speakers like the former wrestling coach from University of Iowa spoke before Romney.
          The information in this article shows why some Republicans like Romney, he talks about how much his supporters mean to him and throws them upbeat words and slogans. However, for democrats, or potential democrats like me, it causes skepticism about how Romney actually plans do to the things he says he'd do as president. He never seems to elaborate on how he plans to get America on the "right path." I learned that Romney's campaign stopped his rally trip in order to respect those struggling with the hurricane damage and I thought that was absolutely the right thing to do, president or not.  I would use this information to back up why I don't see Romney as a promising president, he never backs up his points. The author, Tony Leys, doesn't take a clear position in this article, he just reports on the rally. I believe this article could cause critics to interrogate Romney about how exactly he plans to solve the problems in America, just like I would. Romney says good things, but it seems like he has no information and no plan to fall back on.

URL: http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2012/10/29/romney-country-shouldnt-go-forward-on-obamas-path/article