May the 4th be With You

Carly Fiorina, the CEO of Hewlett-Packard, will be joining the presidential race as of May 4.  She is the only Republican woman who has declared her candidacy.  Having already spoken at an Iowa forum, she discussed her points of criticism towards Hillary Clinton.  May 4 will be a busy day as Ben Carson is also supposed to announce his candidacy for the 2016 election as well. (Link to article)

I think it's great that more women are running for president, but I honestly have no stance on this topic.  I have no idea what her platform or stance on issues are, therefore I cannot create a proper opinion on this topic.

#WakaForPresident

Just kidding.

Life is Death

Katherine Seelye discusses a poll taken in Boston regarding the Boston Bombing of April 2013 (link to article).  After a public poll was taken in Boston this past month regarding the situation of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, otherwise known as the Boston Bomber who, with his brother, injured many and killed 4, the public stated they would rather have Tsarnaev serve a life sentence in prison instead of being put to death.  62% agreed on a life sentence without parole, while 27% wanted the death penalty.  Though Massachusetts has abolished its capital punishment in 1984, Tsarnaev is facing death because he is being charged under federal law.  

I think I would rather have Tsarnaev rot the rest of his life in prison.  He doesn't deserve to go quickly after what he did to those people.  I would agree with the higher percent in the poll - life sentence without parole. 

Crime or Saving grace?

Stephen Collinson's "GOP Warns Iran and White House" discusses the letter 47 senators signed and sent to the Iranian government regarding the nuclear program (Link to article).  47 Senators of the GOP signed a letter to thwart Obama's deal-making with Iran, something many, including most of the Democrats, are calling "unprecedented."  The letter informed Iran that the deals Obama is planning are possibly useless because he will be leaving office in a little less than two years. 

This is huge.  The GOP is looking for a total shutdown to the possibility of Iran getting nuclear weapons, and some feel Obama is realizing they will create weapons anyways, therefore offering them money for limiting different uses for the nuclear program.  The question at hand is did 47 senators break the law?  It is unprecedented, but since I don't follow this much, I cannot say.  But I do know one thing: Iran with nukes = a very bad day for the United States of America.  I think we all know one of the first thing Iran will do with a nuclear weapon - sending a "care" package to either the US or Israel.  This needs to be stopped as soon as possible.

Assembly es Muy Bueno

In the article “Protesters interrupt McCulloch during SLU Law School symposium on Ferguson” by Danielle Scruggs and Chris Regnier, the freedom of assembly was seen in action on February 20, 2015 in a speech by St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Bob McCulloch.  The post-Ferguson was interrupted by protesters three times, claiming McCulloch was guilty of obstructing the justice system in the Michael Brown case.  The protesters put on a mock-trial of the case, sang a song regarding Michael Brown, and chanted “black lives matter.”  The protesters were escorted out of the building and the whole event remained peaceful.  The group of protesters consisted of students at the SLU Law School.

If the freedom of assembly was not protected, then this whole ordeal would most likely not have happened.  The protesters also would have been at risk of danger also because they would not have been allowed to say or do anything that they did at McCulloch’s speech.  I feel that this article shows how protected the freedom of assembly is.  The college allowed a small hearing for the speech to be on its campus, and there were no violent actions.  Protesters and those listening to the speech practiced this freedom and it was a good thing to see in the media.

(link to article)

Nay Marriage (Get it, it's supposed to be "Gay" but it's not, thus resulting "Nay")

The chief justice of Alabama stated his opinion of his state trying to implement gay marriage laws in an article on February 12, 2015 (link to article).  Chief Justice Roy Moore told the media that he would fight same-sex marriage efforts, even if the Supreme Court will favor the change later this year.  He stated "he will follow the law as he interprets it" because if it is an "unlawful mandate you can refuse to mandate it."  The Supreme Court overturned the state's ban on same-sex marriage on Monday, but Moore told the lower courts not to implement a federal court ruling.  Moore states Alabama recognized the "divine" nature of the definition of marriage.

I feel that Chief Justice Moore is correct in his stance on the issue.  His beliefs and interpretation of the law represents a man who cannot be changed by changing times, which can be good or bad depending on the issue.  But Alabama allowing gay marriage?  Really?  I was surprised by this article, and I seriously thought this would be one of the last states to legalize it.  But, as it is now, I feel that Moore should continue his fight against it.

DOWN WITH ISIS

In the article "Fight Against ISIS Needs Troops to be Effective, Michael Morell Says," the former No. 2 of the CIA stated what he believes to be an effective measure to take against the terrorist group (link to article). Morell stated that the only way for a response to occur is if the "coalition is willing to put more ground troops in Iraq and possibly into Syria, or ISIS."  After the release of the graphic video of the Jordanian pilot burning alive, Morell says there is not a will to commit such a large group of troops (100,000) that exists in the U.S. or Western Europe.  Word has reached the media that ISIS now holds an American woman captive as well.  The United States would be willing to spend the money and use the resources to find her, but there is a chance she may not be alive anymore.  Another possible strategy that exists is to take out the leadership, since the organization is hierarchical.

I think Morell is correct: we NEED to take action against ISIS.  There are reports of ISIS contacting freshman... let me repeat that - FRESHMAN - in the United States to start a terrorist attack.  Now I think 100,000 troops is extremely unnecessary, but I do believe a large amount should be fighting for not only our peace, but for those in the Middle East as well.  These savages who are controlling that area now need to be wiped off the face of the earth.  First off let me clarify by large amounts of troops.  I think the Arab nations should put together a large fighting force to begin the attack on ISIS. Then, the U.S. can contribute some troops to assist the cause.  There are several reasons why I am so fired up about this.  First, this weekend I watched "American Sniper" and it was fricken good. Second, I watched the murder of the Jordanian pilot and I can honestly say I've never been more sick to my stomach/pissed off in my whole life (sorry for the language).  Finally, I'm tired of people living in constant fear of another terrorist attack.  Yes, it's impossible to completely get rid of terrorism, but we do have the power, if other nations help, to rid ourselves of an issue that can be snuffed out with diligence.

Lethal-Rejection

The article "The Humane Death Penalty Charade" by the Editorial Board in the NY Times discusses the constitutionality of lethal-injection and capital punishment as a whole (link to article).  The Supreme Court agreed to hear the Warner v. Gross lawsuit that is fighting lethal-injection as it puts the inmates at risk of pain and suffering.  Warner was convicted of rape and murdering an 11-month old child in 1997.  His execution was scheduled for April last year but was postponed due to a botched lethal-injection of Clayton Lockett right before his.  Lethal-injections have been deemed constitutional in the past, but currently there have been several cases against its humanity and possibility of inducing suffering and pain.  Those against capital punishment do not want to find more "humane" methods, but those who support it don't care what a condemned person is going through in his final moments.

I find this to be quite interesting.  As Catholics, we are supposed to fight for all lives no matter who the person is, but when I read an article discussing what sickening deeds someone does, such as Warner, makes me all for capital punishment - for certain people.  I think those whose crimes are bad enough to be put on death row are there for a reason.  I do feel humanity is an important part of how you kill someone, but for those who dislike lethal-injection, I find it to be possibly one of the quickest ways to get the process over with.  If lethal-injection is so bad, then heck, why not go back to using the electric chair?  The process is faster, and the person wouldn't feel anything that long.  Honestly, I have mixed feelings from this article.

Where have you been?

President Obama's State of the Union Address this week surprised a lot of Americans as discussed in the article "Obama: 'Tonight We Turn the Page'" (Link to article).  Beginning his speech, Obama started by saying that "the shadow of crisis has past, and the state of the union is strong."  He stated that new plans such as a tax on wealthy Americans is necessary to keep the economy growing, since our economy is growing significantly according to him.  He favors the middle-class and says "middle-class economics works."  Of course, he was met with opposing views from the Republican party, especially from Mitt Romney.  They see a "president in denial who hasn't learned anything from last year."  "He is more interested in politics rather than in leadership" (Romney).

Since I still have yet to watch the State of the Union, I cannot say how the president's speech was. From what I have read, I disagree with Obama.  The Union is not at its strongest point and we have a long way to go before we get there.  Our nation is still in crisis; civil rights activists and conflicts have damaged society and we cannot get any better if nobody steps up and helps, and I think Obama should have to do this to calm the black communities.  ISIS is also a scary thing that could impact our nation horribly in the near future.  So from what I have read, I disagree with Obama's 2015 State of the Union.

Rebellious Actions

The article "114th Congress Opens with Tea Party Rebellion, White House Fight" discusses the events of the kickoff of the new Congress (Link to article).  To start things off, John Boehner was elected for a third time to be Speaker of the House.  Surprisingly, there were 25 Republican members who opposed him, the most since "at least 1923."  In the Senate side, Mitch McConnell ascended to Majority Leader, and introduced a bill to approved the Keystone XL Pipeline.  Since this is the first time in the Obama era that the GOP has controlled Congress, Republicans are hoping they will be able to get things onto Obama's desk as to be either signed or vetoed.  The Pipeline was looking hopeful as it received some Democratic support, but it the president would not sign it as "it would bypass the State Department's ongoing evaluation of the project."

It's interesting to see what is going on in Congress as everyone gets situated.  I was quite surprised to see so many Republicans against Boehner.  Since I don't pay that much attention to the leaders' actions, I cannot take a specific stance on each situation.  I hope the Keystone Pipeline gets passed because it will give many Americans jobs and the possibility of a leak is significantly low.  As the 114th Congress continues, I am interested to see what will arise.

"Don't Do It Sally!"

On October 11th, a kindergarten girl was put on homicide and suicide watch for a reason that you won't want to believe.  In the article "Kindergartener Forced to Sign Anit-Suicide Contract After Pointing Crayon", a girl only identified as Elizabeth was placed on suicide and homicide watch after pointing a crayon at a fellow student saying, "Pew! Pew!"  She was then forced into signing a "safety contract" without her mother knowing.  The mother, Rebecca, did not agree with the policy.

I really don't know how to respond to this article.  The absurdity of the situation is so mind-blowing that I honestly can't believe how this could have happened.  Because of the actions that the teachers took, Elizabeth now knows what homicide and suicide is.  I think schools need to calm down on their security policies because all it is doing is scarring the kids for a long time.

ISIS isn't so Hospitable

The FBI has just warned the military that ISIS may attack the United States at home (link to article), and it's going to get ugly.  "FBI Warns Military of ISIS Threat" describes the situation at hand that could cause a lot of damage to the U.S.  The extremist group is looking for likeminded Americans who want to cause harm to homeland America.  The FBI is currently spotting and assessing individuals who may be connected to this contact and/or have the same intentions.  ISIS somehow has gotten a hold of some soldiers' addresses and personal information, which is deeply concerning to the FBI and intelligence.

This article scares me deeply.  I know that there are individuals in the U.S. who want to destroy our country, but this being so prevalent is frightening.  I'm glad that the FBI is already seeking these people who would try to possibly hurt our nation.  I hope that they find out how ISIS knows some of the soldiers' information because that is a breach in our national security.  With the increase of events, I will remain scared until it is resolved.

South Carolina Legalizes Gay Marriage

In the article "1st Gay Marriage Licenses Issused in South Carolina," Bruce Smith describes the situation that has evolved (Link to article).  Judge Irvin Condon issued six gay marriage lisences to couples within the first hour and a half the Charleston County Probate Court was open, and Colleen Condon and Nichols Bleckley exchanged vows.  South Carolina was not allowing the marriages to be legal until the U.S. Supreme Court made a decision for a different gay marriage case, but two counties had probate judges that allowed them to be done.

This event is reliant upon the Fourteenth Amendment because the U.S. has been "discriminitory" against gays.  Gay couples feel that they should be included in the equal protection clause, therefore their marriages should be legal.  I find this hard to accept.  I do not discriminate against gays, but I do not agree with gay marriages.  I don't think the marriages should be legal, but these couples feel otherwise.  This shows how the 14th amendment still affects our lives today.

Abortion and Pot: States Making Crucial Decisions

In the article "Voters pass wage hikes, legal pot; divide on Abortion," by Greg Toppo and Laura Mandaro, they describe the election intiatives that took place.  (Link to Article)
During the Senate elections this week,  voters on the ballot initiatives in 41 states were for the recreational use of marijuana and higher minimum wages.  In Florida, voters rejected a constitutional amendment that would have allowed doctors to prescibe marijuana to those with chronic diseases for relief.  But Oregon passed an initiative that legalized the recreational use of marijuana, allowing citizens to possess 8 ounces of the drug and cultivate 4 plants.  In Colorado and North Dakota, voters rejected adding unborn babies to the list of criminal actions, fearing that it would lead a ban to legal abortion.  In Tennessee, however, there have been more restrictions added that will regulate and restrict abortion.

These results are somewhat concerning to me.  The increased use of marijuana is something I personally disagree with.  I feel that with more marijuana usage, pressure on other illicit drugs may possibly be lightened up, and our country will seriously falter.  The abortion issue in many states is also concerning.  As I take a Pro-Life stance, I feel that those states who are protecting the right to abortion do not realize what they are doing.  I am pleased with the amendment Tennessee passed, because they are headed in the right direction.

Rounds for Senate

In the article "GOP Pulling Cash form South Dakota Senate Race" (Link to Article), Manu Raju discusses how confident Republicans in Washington are withdrawing funds from the senate campaign in South Dakota.  Rounds has been the leader of the campaign ever since he "blasted Pressler and Weiland with hard-hitting ads."  Rounds initially resisted airing the ads, but resorted to them recently, and they took a tremendous effect on the largely conservative state.  The article does mention Weiland's concern of the attack on him and Pressler.  Weiland states the negativity of the ads are not good for anyone including Rounds.

This article shows the current campaigning methods candidates are using.  The republicans obviously feel that Rounds will win Senate for SD, and that is the reason behind their withdrawal of funds.  I agree with Weiland that the ad hominem against other candidates is honestly a bad representation of what he or she believes is okay.  Yes, I understand that in a close race, this may be one of the only options left, but the votes should not be based on a person's attack on another person just for the sake of it.  I am glad that Rounds did not take that option right away, and I am excited to see the outcome of this race!  Go Rounds!

Independent is in my Nature

This man could flip the Senate - CNN.com

In an article published today, a low-key man by the name of Sen. Angus King from Maine could decide who will control the Senate next year.  As an Independent, he is urging his fellow Independent senators not to side with either Republicans or Democrats before the election.  King states if one was to announce who he or she was siding with, they might as well register as that party.  King has advised many Independent candidates, including South Dakota's Larry Pressler who is running this year.  Since there is a narrow division between the Republicans and Democrats, the group of Independents may tip the balance.  King states he will decide when the time comes, "making the best decision for Maine."

This article is extremely interesting because the fate of the whole Upper House of Congress is possibly dependent on a few people representing a small number of states.  Depending on the outcome of the polls, if there are many Independents elected, the ruling party may be different than everyone expected.  I feel that for the Independents' cause, they are doing the right thing.  Senator King has the right mindset in doing what is best for his state, just as any Congressman should do.  Though I am not eligible to vote yet, I will be following this as it proceeds to the elections because I find the possible shift in power to be mind-blowing.

Virus under fire

 President Barack Obama decided to stay in Washington, D.C., after a last minute choice, to discuss a national response to the growing Ebola epidemic in the United States rather than continuing his campaign (Link to article).  He stated that there must be a faster and more efficient monitoring of the infected patients, something that must be attacked aggressively.  Obama stated the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) would "deploy SWAT teams within 24 hours to any hospital with an infected patient".  He calmed nervous tensions, stating that the lethal disease is not airborne. 

This article really made me glad that the President is actually taking some steps toward the protection of the nation from this new deadly epidemic.  I do think it was good on his part to put his campaigning aside to deal with this issue, but I don't really agree with the SWAT teams being assigned to the hospitals with infected patients.  I don't see why we should be doing that because it will only most likely add to the high tensions in those areas.  For the good of the people, I personally feel SWAT teams should stay out of this completely, but I'm not in the position to make that decision.  I do think that we should close our borders to those who have symptoms of Ebola, for the sake of the nation.

Ready or not, You're now done

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is giving its high ranking executive officers a final chance to retire before being fired.  The article "Skepticism from Congress on VA firings" explains how the VA is giving a final opportunity to those who are failing a chance to retire or find another job without consequence. Though Congress initially wanted to fire those in charge without notice, but the VA interpreted the idea differently, then offered a final chance.  Congress gave the VA secretary the authority to fire the failing executives directly, not just propose removing them.  The corruption in some of the departments in certain cities was the cause of this movement.

This new ordinance affects the VA directly, along with any veterans who use this resource.  It impacts Congress as well, because they made the decision, almost unanimously, to give the authority to the Secretary of the VA to fire certain officials they have pointed out.  I think that this will lead to a huge debate over how the certain governmental issues should be mandated and run, but I believe that Congress is doing the right thing by trying to preserve the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Tunneling New Ideas

The article, "Is North Korea still digging tunnels to the South?" (Link to article), discusses the finding of another tunnel underneath Seoul, South Korea.  This tunnel was created by the North Koreans as a possible route for invasion, or so Gen. Hahn Sung-Chu thinks.  There were reports of vibrations from residents in Seoul, yet no subway was underneath.

A total of four tunnels have been found coming from the North into the South, yet the last one discovered was in 1990.  A former resident from the North said the operations peaked in the 1980s.  They would dig down 100-150m, then dig upwards towards the South.

This finding affects national security of South Korea, and the United States as we are helping South Korea defend themselves.  This new tunnel has increased security in South Korea, which is vital for the preservation of the South.  I feel that if there is continued tunnel creations, there will be a major conflict in the near future.

High Creativity

The article, "TSA: Woman arrested at JFK Airport with guns, pot," (Link to article) describes the latest fiasco of drug smuggling in New York City.  A woman, reportedly traveling from Canada to Barbados, was in possession of two disassembled .40 caliber pistols and 33 pounds of marijuana.  After having a baggage check, TSA agents found boxes of kitty litter, laundry tablets, and baby wipes packed with the illegal items.  The woman was arrested on the spot.

This story impacts the whole international airline community.  Drug smuggling has been a major issue in our country, as well as others, but it is becoming more prominent in the United States. 
I feel good that the TSA agents caught that woman because it helps to show that we as a nation are still against drugs (for the most part).  I am left with a positive feeling that our national security at airports are still performing their jobs to their fullest extent.

Interview or Names?

Returning from a trip only to see my school and classmates misrepresented really sent a shock through me.  After reading the article "C-SPAN bus rolls into town, but students still skeptical of political process" that was published in the Rapid City Journal on August 30, I was left with a feeling of unbelief and surprise.  I know this article is a direct misrepresentation of not only our school, but high schoolers throughout the country.

From what I was informed, the students whose names were published in the article were misquoted, giving a poor report of what was actually stated, or what they really meant.  The article informed its audience that students have little to no interest in government or politics.  Knowing who my AP Government classmates are, I can personally say that this group of students is one of the most enthusiastic groups for learning about the political and governmental processes.  For instance, my classmate Andrew and I attended the American Legion Boys State this past summer where we learned how the local and state governing bodies function.  My class has already looked ahead for trips to the South Dakota State Capitol. 

I feel that journalist Meredith Colias merely interviewed my classmates just to have some names, for she had written the article beforehand.  For this I am saddened to have my trust in my local media reduced.  It is a shame to have my faith shaken in something that I have trusted for many years, but we have all learned, least to say, the hard way.