Go-Po+Web+Assignment+2011


 * 1) Week 1 - June 24th: [|Outsiders vs. Insiders: The Struggle for the GOP's Soul] (//Time// Magazine, 6/27)
 * Whether you realize it or not, the 2012 Presidential Race has begun. Right now nine candidates have declared and several are mulling runs. A [|quick bio of the contenders] can be found at the //New York Times// website.
 * Pick a candidate from the field (the one you find the most interesting). If you were advising that candidate, how would you position them to win the nomination for the Republican Party? What advantages or disadvantages would they need to overcome? BTW - GOP means Grand Old Party and is considered a nickname for the Republican Party (who have been around since 1856).
 * Would you focus on winning the social-conservative/populist voter (religious conservatives and members of the Tea Party) or the realist/moderate voter (independents and suburban middle class)? What type of voter will help win the nomination? What type of voter will help win an election against President Obama?
 * 1) Week 2 - July 1st: [|My Life as an Undocumented Immigrant] (//New York Times Magazine//, 6/26)
 * One of the big "hot button" issues we will talk about this year is immigration given it's political, economic, and social resonance. For a country born (and maintained) via immigration, the political establishment has walked a fine line throughout our history in limiting who could enter. Since the 1920s, the United States has limited the amount of immigrants allowed to enter legally which creates the illegal immigration problem this article details.
 * After reading this article, choose one of the following two sides to defend using 7-10 sentences to do so:
 * Illegal immigration is against the law, but children of parents who knowingly broke the law should be able to earn citizenship (the [|DREAM Act]).
 * Illegal immigration is against the law and as a society built on rules if we start creating loopholes it could lead to an intensification of the practice.
 * 1) Week 3 - July 8th: [|One Document, Under Siege] (//Time// Magazine, 7/4)
 * The Constitution is a living document and how it is interpreted today helps shape the ideological battles that the two political parties fight. Read over the article from //Time// and use the four examples in the article to answer the following questions (and explain why you came to that conclusion):
 * Do you believe the Constitution gives the federal government the power to protect the people or does it protect the people from the government?
 * The Constitution is about who controls the power in government. Who do you think should be more powerful - Congress or the President? How about the states or the federal government? Explain you response for both.
 * 1) Week 4 - July 15th: [|A Republic, if you can keep it](Politico.com, 7/5)
 * As debate rages about spending and politicians are running for President a full 15 months before the election takes place, it is important to keep things in perspective. America has been built on disagreements and compromise - heck we had a Civil War when the sides couldn't solve their differences! After reading this article, I want you to write a short essay (7-10 sentences) on what you think the role of government is in our modern society.
 * 1) Week 5 - July 22nd: [|Conspiracy of Two] (//Time// Magazine, 7/4)
 * The Debt Ceiling is a complicated process to explain but what the two parties are fighting over isn't. Republicans want to cut spending in order to reduce the size of the debt. Democrats want to raise revenues (i.e. raise taxes) in order to reduce the size of the debt. The problem is that Republicans control the House, the Senate is essentially split equally (Democrats control), and the President is a Democrat.
 * This article underscores the problem and possibilities of divided government. Is divided government good or not? Do the American people share sort of the blame for this situation? How do you think they will respond in 2012?
 * 1) Week 6 - July 29th: [|Obama] vs. [|Boehner] Speeches on the Debt Ceiling (7/25)
 * Compare the two speeches: Who made the better argument? Who based on seeing both speeches is standing in the way of a deal in your opinion? Who do you think "sold" their vision the best to the people (meaning they will not get blamed politically if a deal doesn't take place)?
 * 1) Week 7 - August 5th: [|Will Missouri 'Facebook Law' spook teachers away from Social Media?] (//The Christian Science Monitor//, 8/3)
 * Just so you don't think this entire class will be all about politics, I decided to include something that is an example of a "rights" issue (which is something we will spend lots of time discussing as well). Most people think things like the First Amendment are cut and dry (meaning free speech and expression are obvious and protection is a foregone conclusion). However, it is never that simple. Where the First Amendment often comes into conflict is when the rights of one party are sacrificed for the good of another party. How do you feel about this law - should teachers be limited in what interactions they have online with students OR do the teachers' right to express themselves supersede the fears of the community? Explain your answer.
 * 1) Week 8 - August 12th: Since you hopefully worked hard over the summer on the other assignments, just prepare for the school year. No assignment!