My Thoughts on Why We Should Talk Politics!!!

Columbus, History, and Teaching: Avoiding the Path of Least Resistance

Columbus, History, and Teaching: Avoiding the Path of Least Resistance

Let's Stand Up For Something

I understand that there is a difference between what is said and done during a campaign and what is practically possible as a president.  I understand the realities and difficulties that inherently come with leading a nation over over 300 million people with about 600 million different views.  And don't get me wrong, I was and am a supporter of President Obama and I will be actively campaigning for him leading up to the 2012 election.  But I do feel a little hamstrung and frustrated when looking back at the campaigner Obama and his principles and values, and his lack of standing up for those principles, in totality, over the last two years.

Now I also have to say that often when I have heard Democrats criticize Obama for not doing enough, I have refuted their words and one only has to look at the long list of accomplishments to see how much he really has done (i.e. health care, gay rights, fair pay, etc).  However, being one who believes in liberal values as a means of making a more equal and fair society for all of America's people, there are several things which continue to bother me in a real way.  This video, that I saw on the Rachel Maddow Show really sums it up.

I am also not the sort of person who is surprised by any amount of compromise because I know there are real difficulties in sticking to principles when you have to work with others.  But there are important issues which the president should stick to, especially because they are related to the advancement of the working, middle class.  Sticking to these principles would not only help people on a basal level, but it would undoubtedly help him politically.  According to a recent NBC/Wall Street Journal poll, liberal policies are markedly more popular than conservative ones, and people would much rather millionaires taxed at higher levels than cuts in infrastructure, education, and other investments that would make America a better place to live.  But why don't Obama and the 'main stream' of the Democratic party push harder on these issues?  It truly does not seem to make sense, and its frustrating that they too are playing into the easy story, what would be the path of least resistance. 

In America, both in politics and in everyday life, we must make the difficult choices and decide whether we want a better lives for ourselves and our nation, or if we want to take this path of least resistance, follow the popular media meme, and try to win according to those rules.  The problem with this is that if you are truly a liberal and in favor of progressive policies, and you attempt to play with these rules you are going to get run over and run out of power because you are not following the principles of the values you say you adhere to.  It is difficult to try to change the rules of the game, but it is not impossible and if we really want to advance the liberal policies which would undoubtedly change the country, each one of us must stand up, call for real change, and remind Obama what his campaign was about and what his presidency is supposed to be about.

My 2012 Forecasting

With the balance of power in government being so delicate and next year, 2012, be such a critical year with regard to the same, it is important for those interested in politics to engage in debate, discussion, and conversation about the elections and events which lead up to them.  This is something which I will once again attempt to do, hopefully more consistently.  As a result, I will attempt to shed some light on House, Senate, and Presidential races on a state to state basis.  In doing so, I will attempt to take various different resources, sites, and views to draw up a bigger picture take on the politics at play and the impact they will have on the elections over the next two years.  Over the next couple of days, I will be posting on different races that peak my interest and where they stand now.  Be on the look out!

Republican Chances

So, just perusing my blogroll and two headlines jumped out to me.  The first was from MSNBC saying that Senator John Thune (R-SD) will not run for president and that in a Minnesota poll Donald Trump (all of a sudden R) is beating Former Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK).  What these two headlines say to me is that the Republican field of candidates is very weak, and their chances of winning a presidential election are not good.  Now you might say, why would these two headlines be so telling well I have my reasons.

First, John Thune is a great looking candidate.  Well spoken, young, he's been in the Senate for seven years, spent nothing on his re-election last year, and would make a great candidate for the Republicans.  This being said, by him not jumping in, he's reading the tea leaves, and they're saying that the Republicans have no shot in 2012.  If they did, he would have jumped in, the time would have been ripe for him, but he chose to forgo this cycle and I believe he will shoot for 2016.

Second, if Donald Trump, someone who can not be any less serious about or interested in politics, is defeating Sarah Palin, who obviously has her flaws, but is a political figure, in a Republican primary poll, you have to ask yourself...what are the Republicans thinking?  They seem very disorganized and very scattered with regard to who they want to represent their party and what kind of candidate they want to run for president.  The question for them becomes purity or popularity, and if they choose purity they will certainly lose the election in 2012.

Now I'm not saying that its a slam dunk for Democrats. They certainly have their own problems, but its really all about the candidate, and given these two articles at least it seems the Republicans can't figure much out.   I believe if you see less and less 'establishment' Republican candidates decide to forgo this cycle, it will just prove my earlier point, and the chances of a Republican president in 2012 will continue to diminish.

A Question For Everyone...

Often times when thinking about history or politics, we come into the discussion with preconceived notions that shape or guide our viewpoints.  My question is where do these viewpoints come from?  More specifically, what shapes how YOU see the world around us and the views YOU take on the political issues of the day?

What it's All About...For the Foreseeable Future

In this blog, I will comment on news worthy political stories and their real impact on people, as well as its place in history.  I love history and politics, and have very strong stances about the study and implementation of both.  I will use this interest, along with my intense interest in elections, to hopefully make insightful and useful comments on the events which shape our everyday lives.  I have a bias, as do we all, but as future teacher and serious follower of history and politics I will attempt to be as partial as can be!