Political Cartoon #1

1. This cartoon was drawn by Tom Toles for the Washinton Post.

2. I immediately gravitated towards this particular strip for both its taking advantage of presidential candidate Rick Perry's recent debate blunder and wealth of humorous, caricature depictions of the primary GOP candidates. From my own visceral knowledge, I would say the candidates read, from left to right, Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul, Mitt Romney (I found his particularly funny for whatever reason), Michele Bachmann, Rick Perry himself, and I suppose Herman Cain, though it's difficult to ascertain. The cartoon essentially represents the Republican party's inability to decide upon a particular candidate in response to various candidate scandals and fluctuations in public polling. Toles adds "kind of like their governing philosophy" to reflect the GOP's growing ambiguity in specific party policy in response to growing candidate falters.

3. Toles utilizes humorous caricatures to emphasize specific visual aspects of each candidate, serving to make each clearly recognizable while reflecting a particular aspect of the individual's personality as well. The elephant clearly serves as a representation of the Republican party as a whole in response to a horse race journalist.

4. As stated, the cartoon deals with Rick Perry's recent inability to name the three institutions he would like to cut in addition to the party's constantly changing poll results and developing ambiguity in universal policies.

5. The GOP remains incredibly uncertain regarding its potential presidential candidates, and through them has faced a seeming identity crisis regarding their own policy.

6. Toles appears to be quite clearly liberal in his critical depiction of the party runners and insightful side note.

Question 1: Rick Perry

    While my current perception of Perry is somewhat influenced due to my witnessing his now historical debate blunder live on national television, I'll do my best to assess his standings, policies, and efforts to appeal with the common American public. Admittedly, I feel Mitt Romney is practically guaranteed the GOP nomination, as although he has proven to occasionally lose terms with a specific ideology, his integrity remains relatively unmatched, proving successful in maintaining a strong foothold among the other candidates without proving truly noteworthy or unique in his campaign objectives.
    Despite a dwindling public reception, Perry remains a priority in the media for numerous reasons that could very well result in his unexpected acquisition of the GOP candidate seat. Initially inheriting George W. Bush's seat as the "accidental" governor of Texas, Perry has proven incredibly influential in his unexpected involvement with the state's development. Perry has been able to draw from successful Texan legislation as a blueprint for widespread American development, consistently referencing the state's impressive unemployment developments. In addition, Perry's strong appeal among strong conservatives and Tea Party members cements his support from the far right in addition to widespread recognition in his governed state.
    As referenced, Perry has fallen victim to numerous backlashes to his campaign, most recently his inability to properly name off three agencies he proposed cutting (Commerce, education, and that third one.) Perry's substantial conservative basis has gradually deteriorated, including his supporting a Texas law that allows the children of illegal immigrants to qualify for in-state university tuition rates. Rather unfortunately, such minuscule blunders may prove incredibly influential in the common public perception of Perry, who with Cain has witnessed the gradual rise of Newt Gingrich and prevalent steadfastness of Romney as the Republican forerunner.

Current Event #4: Occupy Wall Street Continues to Attract a Following

Link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-15498098

Despite a seeming lack of direction, the occupy movement has recently escalated nationwide, prompting greater police action on controversy towards personal infringements. Protestors generally assert that the movement works primarily against unequal distribution of wealth and corporate greed, understandable given the protest's origins. The movement has escalated to such proportions that a Nashville law was enacted specifically in response, outlawing overnight camping near the state capitol, and over fifty arrests were recently reported in San Diego, sparking heightened controversy on the treatment of law-abiding protestors. Scott Olson, a protestor who suffered a skull fracture following state trooper intervention in an Oakland protest, has received widespread coverage and dedication from occupiers nationwide. While I strongly support public efforts to extend their influence in government and the economy, I do find several aspects of the protest rather irritating. The internet has been flooded with anecdotal attacks on economic inequality from the "I am the 99%" movement, and while it's certainly true that our nation faces a crisis in government reallocation of wealth and tax distribution, you can't expect a six figure salary out of a bachelors in animal studies. The promise of a respectable job following college graduation is quite simply no longer a reality, and people need to take greater consideration as to their potential career paths.

Political Issue Facing Virginia

    Virginia certainly faces its fair portion of political issues, but none surpass the transportation congestion plaguing much of Northern Virginia, coupled with numerous disputes regarding construction and statewide division and disagreement. Following unprecedented industrial growth in the past decade, the Washington DC area is now designated the second most congested urban area in the nation, most likely following the infamous Los Angeles. In response, man running state delegates have touted transportation restructuring as a primary issue, which is quite understandable given the state's unequal population distribution.
 
   State delegation in Virginia has always faced a fervently ant-tax Republican majority, and thus many Northern Virginians who would gladly provide financial compensation for transportation construction have been deprived the opportunity.IN 2009, Creigh Deeds agreed to signing a bipartisan compromise that would ad transportation funding through a 5% gasoline tax and other individual expenditures that a vast majority of Northern Virginians appear to support. Facing deterioration of highways and much-needed bridge construction, metro projects simply won't provide enough compensation for Northern Virginia's dire transportation issue.

"Democratic and Republican leaders agree there is a need for about $1 billion a year in new money for transportation, Pethtel writes. But they can’t agree on whether to raise taxes, create new taxes, take money from the general fund to use for transportation purposes, sell some state facilities and put the profits into transportation, or any other alternatives."

Current proposals include setting gasoline taxes proportionally to quantity, extending sales taxes, the creation of a statewide transportation district, and creating numerous local transportation districts extending throughout Virginia.

Current Event #3 - Herman Cain Gets a Slice of the Action

Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/cain-defends-9-9-9-tax-overhaul-plan/2011/10/16/gIQAFQblpL_story.html

Coupled with Herman Cain's rising favor in the polls, the public has expressed increased interest in the specifics of his 9-9-9 flat tax plan. Cain also expressed his desire that Americans acquire a sense of humor, because electrocuting immigrants is hysterical. Not many specifics are known regarding how the plan would effect individual Americans, aside from it replacing the current tax code with a 9 percent corporate income tax, 9 percent personal income tax and 9 percent national sales tax. Cain expressed, and rightfully so, that while some will face greater federal tax payments, the plan would benefit the majority of Americans. While that is certainly true, the poor and middle class would face an increase in tax rates, while those with greater economic stability would be the ones paying less. While wealthy Americans utilize a multitude of loopholes when it comes to mortgage payments, a 9 percent income tax is a significant decrease for the financial fortunate, by over 20 percent for some Americans. Cain remains steadfast in defending the plan, and while it could certainly prove beneficial, more details are needed.

President Obama Report Card

Health Care - B
While Obama's Health care reform bill has provoked substantial controversy and skepticism, his ability to make headway in the system alone is admirable. Signed on March 23, 2010, president Obama's reform bill guarantees medical insurance for tens of thousands of Americans, and forbids insurers from denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions. This bill may likely be remembered as Barack's most symbolic achievement, despite unanimous Republican opposition.

Economic Policy - C+
Regarding economic reform, Obama's legislation has been an incredibly mixed bag. The initial government bailout proved very successful in reinvigorating the domestic motor industry, saving GM and Chrysler from liquidation, and both companies have made a significant comeback. Obama should have expressed more executive power regarding the stimulus package, though it did result in minimal increases in the GDP and employment. Following the financial crisis, bank reform was also quite controversial, so while Obama certainly inherited a waning economy, I am undeniably rather disappointed in the progress made.

War on Terror - B-
While the administration has made significant headway since the Bush administration's foreign military fiasco, Obama quite simply hasn't lived up to his promises. While the president has appeared quite effective in ending controversy in Iraq, Afghanistan remains an issue. The recent assassination of Osama bin Laden was certainly beneficial in decreasing public sentiment towards the administrations effectiveness overseas, it has done quite little in truly helping our situation in foreign policy.

Reelection Bid - B
While he recently referred to himself as the electoral underdog, I remain quite confident in Obama's reelection, given the general inability for Republicans to ban together under a single candidate. While Romney may effectively sway some moderates through the public's desire for new reform, public sentiment towards the party in general hurts their chances. Obama has effectively raised over $70 million, and I believe his campaign will successfully, though not as wholeheartedly, capture the minds of the public once again.

Current Event #2: Public Opinion Regarding Impending Financial Crisis

   Quite unsurprisingly, the nation's unanimous pessimism regarding the federal regulation of the economy has led many to predict an impending financial crisis akin to the 2008 stock market fiasco. I'll be utilizing this issue primarily to voice my concern regarding the GOP candidacy, but it's certainly a prevalent conflict that should be addressed. As expected, Republicans remain sheepishly supportive of their party's economic regulation, with practically two thirds believing a conservative president would effectively improve our economic condition. In an effort to assert their individualism (which is rather ironic given liberal ideology), Democrats appear far less confident in Obama's continued regulation of green for a a second term. This could be expected, however, given Obama's three year litmus test of little success.

   When asked what GOP candidate would prove most beneficial to the national economy, conservatives voiced some insightful statistics. First and foremost, Michele Bachmann and Rick Perry have been shot dead, with Cain rising triumphantly from the ashes. Romney, whom I personally believe is the only candidate (sans Huntsman) who holds any potential chance of unseating Obama, continues to lead in the polls, significantly among moderate conservatives. I feel that Romney alone possesses the potential to sway an adequate number of moderates to grant him the presidency, but sadly those who are instrumental in deciding the GOP candidate appear oblivious to this. The article states, rather bewilderingly, that a clear majority of political independents say the economy would be no better or worse with a Republican president, and nearly six in 10 don’t think the outcome of the presidential election will have a big effect on their own personal fortunes. As voiced in our readings, American politics is depressingly converse, in that increasing public disdain for the federal government generally results in a decrease in public participation.

Can we have him back?

Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/behind-the-numbers/post/more-see-crisis-ahead-gop-fractured-on-best-candidate-to-fix-economy/2011/10/10/gIQAgAkUaL_blog.html