Another Great Communicator?

“Hail to the Chief we have chosen for the nation,
Hail to the Chief! We salute him, one and all”
- Official Anthem of the President of the United States

“Da Da Da Da Da…boom boom…Da Da Da Da…”
- Law and Order theme song


Hollywood has given Washington several notable politicians. Sonny Bono went from a Billboard star to Congressman from California. Arnold Schwarzenegger retired his Terminator suit for a suite in the Governors mansion in Sacramento. The biggest star to grace Washington was former President Ronald Reagan, whose role in Knute Rocke, All American, helped earn him the reputation as “The Great Communicator”, and perhaps catapulted him into the White House.

The President as a conservative Republican with roots in Hollywood? Seems like an oxy moron. Certainly lightening couldn’t strike again in the same place.

Enter Fred Dalton Thompson. Thompson is a former U.S. attorney, co-chief counsel to the Watergate investigation committee, and Republican Senator from Tennessee. In the final months of his term he joined the cast of the long-running NBC drama Law and Order. In doing so, he became the first serving U.S. Senator concurrently to hold a full-time television acting job; however, his first scenes as Branch were filmed during the Senate's August 2002 recess, so he missed no legislative time in order to act on television.

Roughly two weeks ago, Thompson said he was considering a run for president. Since then, he has skyrocketed out of nowhere to rank third among GOP White House hopefuls in a new USA Today/Gallup poll published Tuesday. The poll shows former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani with 31 percent, Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, with 22 percent, and Thompson with 12 percent of the vote.He's even surpassed former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who was the favorite of only 3 percent in the poll.

Experts and pundits agree on the reason for Thompson’s strong showing: he is very popular with the conservative base, something that the other candidates lack.

Why hasn't a single candidate pulled ahead with conservatives? Strategists say McCain hasn't gained overall momentum, Giuliani supports abortion and gay rights, and although Romney is now viewed as a conservative, that wasn't always the case.

Patriot of '76 looks forward to the Richardson vs. Thompson Vice Presidential canditate debate in 2008.


Click here for the AP Govt. Review Guide

Any of our business?

My mother is a teacher in her early sixties. She lives in Deerfield, enjoys a comfortable lifestyle, and usually votes Democratic (Kirk is always the exception). She doesn’t follow politics much, but she always votes. Needless to say, she uses heuristics to make her choices. She’s less concerned with how a candidate stands on campaign finance reform. She wants to know how he performed on Oprah or if he cheats on his wife.

I asked my mom about John Edward’s decision to stay in the race, despite announcing that his wife, Elizabeth, has cancer. Dr. Lisa Carey, the oncologist treating Edwards, categorized the cancer as metastatic Stage 4 cancer, which is largely confined to the bones. She said the prognosis was good.

My mother believes that it is deplorable that Edwards is still in the race. “He has young children, and cancer is unpredictable. Who knows how many good years she has left?”

To many, the fact that the Edwards campaign is continuing on full speed is a sign that he candidate places personal ambition over an obligation to family. Many voters, especially soccer moms, would feel compelled to curtail their professional responsibilities if their spouse was diagnosed with an incurable disease. To these voters, Edwards, who prides himself on being a populist, is very hard to identify with.

"From our perspective, there was no reason to stop," the candidate said. "I don't think we seriously thought about it."

He said, "You can go cower in the corner and hide or you can go out there and stand up for what you believe in. We have no intentions of cowering in the corner."
In this age of YouTube and 24/7 media coverage, a candidate’s personal life is not only in bounds, it can be a major factor in the outcome of the election. My mother represents an important demographic. By staying in the race, is Edwards bravely pursuing the presidency despite medical setbacks? Or is he selfishly putting personal ambition over family?

Click here for the AP Govt. Review Guide

Here it is....

CLick here for the AP Govt. Test Review Guide

WWUD (What would U do?)

Juneau resident Joseph Frederick had no idea that his actions would ignite a nationwide debate on freedom of speech when he unfurled his fourteen-foot long banner as the Olympic torch was passing by. Douglas and fellow students were allowed to leave the grounds of Juneau-Douglas High School so they could watch the torch. Douglas’s sign was meant to get him on TV. It wound up costing him a ten day suspension.

What did the sign say"

"BONG HITS 4 JESUS"

Frederick claimed that the suspension violated his rights, citing the 1969 case of Tinker v. Des Moines This case held that students to have the right of free speech, which can be suppressed only when speech disrupts school activities or the learning environment. The San-Francisco based 9th Circuit United States Court of Appeals agreed.

The case has made it all the way to the Court of Last Resort, the USSC. The Bush administration is even weighing in, arguing that schools have the authority to limit talk about drugs because of the importance of keeping drugs away from young people.

Nobody doubts that Frederick’s message was inappropriate. However, did it significantly interfere with any learning environment? In other words, was the experience of seeing the Olympic torch lessened in any way for the other students because of this sign?

More importantly, if the Court does rule in favor of the student (side note: Kenneth Starr, former prosecutor of the Clinton impeachment case, is arguing for the district), will students be granted more discretion over choices they make concerning their self expression?

If you’re clerking for Roberts, Kennedy, Breyer, Ginsburg, Thomas, Stevens, Scalia, Alito, or Souter, how do you advise them on this case?

The forgotten problem

Roughly one-third of the people living in our nation’s capital are functionally illiterate, according to a new report by the Department of Education. That translates to 36 percent of the population, and it is rising quickly. The national average is 21 percent.

Most of these people are immigrants who are not proficient in English.
Adults are considered functionally illiterate if they have trouble doing such things as comprehending bus schedules, reading maps and filling out job applications.

The District of Columbia Chamber of Commerce, which contributed to the report, said the city lost up to $107 million in taxes annually between 2000 and 2005 because of a lack of qualified job applicants.

That’s 107 million dollars that could be given to schools or shelters. High illiteracy rates are literally taking food off of the plates of our nations poor.

What’s the solution to this problem?

As Congress debates immigration reform, perhaps they should spend some time insuring that all new Americans are literate Americans. Will this be expensive? Yes. Will it pay for itself in the long run? Perhaps.

Is this forced assimilation?

You be the judge

It's important to note that this is NOT just an immigration issue. Schools are graduating students without basic reading skills. As these Americans enter into the workforce, there is a good chance they never go back to school to learn to read and write.

March Madness

It's bracket time ladies and gentlemen. As people all across the world fill out their picks for the NCAA championship, Patriot of '76 has our own spin.

Jeffrey Rosen, an AP U.S. History teacher, has devised a brilliant bracket. Each President is grouped by their geographic region, and awarded a seed based on rankings done by noted historians (higher ranking president get lower seed. Thus, George Washington is a #1).

IF YOUR COMPUTER CAN'T MAKE THE BRACKET LARGE ENOUGH, CLICK HERE

Fill out the bracket, and give us your final 4 Presidents. Winners should be chosen based on contributions to American society, progress, and security.

Were there any upsets? This is MADNESS!

49 down, 1 to go

PO 76 disclaimer: If you are offended or sickened by animal rights abuses, you may want to stop reading this blog entry.

Governor Bill Richardson has taken another step in his drive for the Presidency by signing a bill into law making New Mexico the forty-ninth state to ban cockfighting. Louisiana is the one state in the union that still allows this controversial practice

Cockfighting involves roosters with razors tied to their claws battling to the death with spectators placing bets on the outcome of each contest.

Several New Mexicans are outraged, claiming that cockfighting is an integral part of their culture, and banning it is tantamount to outlawing baseball or football. State Sen. Phil Griego, a Democrat who opposed the ban, called it a "slippery slope.""What's next? A ban on rodeos? Then hunting and fishing?”

Men have died or have been paralyzed in the boxing ring, football field, and hockey rink. Dogs and horses that are unable to race anymore are frequently put down. Violence has always been a part of American sports. Is this ban on cockfighting long overdue, or is it targeted assimilation?

At this moment, you’re probably wondering if Patriot of ’76 has gone off of the deep end.

There is a bigger argument. Banning cockfighting will most likely make the practice go underground, similar to what happened with dogfights. Is it Ok to ban a practice that is impossible to enforce? Why not keep it legal, but regulate it to minimize the cruelty to the animal?

Crazy like a Fox

Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards has refused to participate in an August 14 debate co-hosted by the Nevada Democratic Party and Fox News. The Edwards team has cited the involvement of Fox News, which is often accused of having a conservative bias, as part of his decision to pass.

Fox News has a reputation as being the mouthpiece of the Republican Party. Anchor Chris Wallace went after former President Clinton. Bill O’Reilly’s favorite two people to bash are Jimmy Carter and Michael Moore (in a rare moment of partisanship, Patriot of ’76 agrees that Carter was a week President and a strange and diluted former President). Tony Snow, the former host of Fox News Sunday, is now the press secretary for the Bush White House.

The Edwards team is making a statement; their man is the real liberal candidate. If the NDA wants Edwards in, they’ll drop Fox as a host.

Edwards is doing something that no legitimate candidate has done. He is, essentially, calling for a boycott of the most popular news network on television (yes, Fox has more viewers then CNN).

Is this a line in the sand? Fox claims to be “fair and balanced”. Do you buy it?

Don’t just go based on what you’ve heard. P0 ’76 has a challenge. Watch the first 10 minutes of a Fox News program and the first 10 minutes of CNN show. Which did each network lead with? How did they cover the issues? Do you see a difference? (Perhaps your favorite A.P. Government teacher would hook you up with some extra credit)

Is Edwards out of line? Or is trying to please liberals to win the primaries?

Debates are a great chance for candidates to get their message out without spending a dime. In addition, Edwards is articulate, charming, and passionate. Is he foolish for saying no? Or is he crazy….like a FOX.

Patriot of 76 Prediction

The much embattled and controversial Dick Cheney has been diagnosed with a blood clot in his left leg. The 66-year-old has a history of health problems, including four heart attacks and a quadruple bypass surgery.

Cheney, perhaps the most powerful Vice President in US history, is also one of the most divisive. He is strongly linked to the war in Iraq as strategies keep failing and causalities continue to mount. Most Americans are opposed to the war, and pundits believe that the issue single-handedly cost Republicans the midterms in 2006.

Twenty months before the election of 2008, Republicans are a minority in Congress, and face a dogfight with two of the brightest stars in Washington.

Can the Republicans use Cheney’s health to their advantage?

Certainly. Here’s how:

If Cheney were to step down as VP (citing health reasons, of course), President Bush could nominate Joe Lieberman. Lieberman is a Democrat from Connecticut. However, Lieberman is a firm supporter of the President’s foreign policies. He supported and continues to support the war, which cost him the primary election in the Connecticut senatorial race (he eventually ran as an independent, and won).

Being a Senator, Lieberman would most likely be confirmed. This move would show the President’s ability to bridge the gap between political parties. It may win a Republican some moderate votes in 2008.

As you know, the Democrats control the Senate by only one vote (51-49, Cheney casts the tie breaking vote). If Lieberman moved down Pennsylvania Ave. to the White House, it would leave a vacant seat. The Governor of Connecticut, M. Jodi Rell, would be responsible for nominating his replacement. Rell is, obviously, a Republican. This would give Republicans control of the Senate. Most importantly, it would give them confirmation power over any potential Supreme Court nominee (two justices are well into their eighties). Another pro lifer could mobilize the base, just in time for 2008.

The Democrats are making headlines for having a female, African American, and Hispanic presidential contenders.. Republicans can beat them to the punch, and retake the Senate, by putting the first Jewish person in the White House.

This could mean "shalom" to the Democratic control of the legislative branch.

Underdog!

As noted in my previous blog entry, the mass media has set the stage for voters more than one year before the primaries. Voters in Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina have been told repeatedly that the battle for the Democratic nomination is between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, with John Edwards as the wildcard. Obama and Clinton are fund raising machines. This has allowed them to get their message across, and score hours of free advertising through the evening news and editorials.

By now, we all know the stories of the heavyweights. They are polished. They are coached by the most expensive and experienced campaign staffs available. Their speeches have been tested through focus groups, and are based largely off of what polls tell them that John Q. Public wants to hear.

Does a guy like Bill Richardson have a chance? Who is Bill Richardson?

Richardson is the current governor of New Mexico, reelected with sixty-nine percent of the vote (not easy to do as a Democrat in a Red state). He served as a Congressman for fourteen years, and later was the energy secretary (Energy will be an important campaign issue). Unlike Obama, he has foreign policy experience. Richardson was U.N. ambassador and also worked in the State Department.

Perhaps most importantly, Richardson is not a senator. No senator has been elected since 1961. The last two Democratic presidents, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, were southern governors.

Richardson, who is Hispanic, was born in California and raised in Mexico City. He is personable, well spoken, and approachable. This could make him a favorite among reporters.

A Hispanic governor from a red state with foreign policy and energy experience.

Introducing the next Vice President of the United States…

Showdown in the Midwest: Why Iowa is CRUCIAL

Perhaps the biggest anomaly about the 2008 election is that there is no incumbent president or designated incumbent (Nixon, Ford, G.H.W. Bush, Gore) running for either party's nomination. Thus the media are going to have to cover two party presidential nomination fights at the same time.

The Gatekeepers are more powerful than ever before.

“Media coverage is the oxygen of politics”. Candidates who get media coverage can continue to raise money and candidates who don't get coverage can't usually disappear.

Because the news divisions are less and less profitable, the bias of the television media in 2008 will be to shut off as much oxygen to as many candidates as possible as soon as possible. Which is one reason we have the current coverage configuration, which implicitly states that (1) Clinton and Obama are the front-runners on the Democratic side, with Edwards as the wild-card position player (in Iowa) and (2) McCain and Giuliani are the front-runners on the Republican side, with Romney as the wild-card position player. Everyone else gets the multi-candidate forum coverage package and that's it. If they want day-to-day coverage, they can go generate local coverage. They're not in the national coverage budget.


Given this configuration, the name of the game for the front-runners is "shut off all the oxygen to everyone else early." Which, translated, means: win Iowa and New Hampshire, and the game is over. Lose those two states: it's time to start vying for the Vice Presidency or a Cabinet position.