Policy, Media, and Power

10/18/2006

As discussed in last class…

• The President holds power in regards to:

• Process – How we do it• Priority – Which do we do first or the

best?• Persuasion – People listen to the

President, and if it’s your party follow him.

Process Example – Patriot Act

• `(5) the term `domestic terrorism' means activities that-- `(A) involve acts dangerous to human life that are a violation of the criminal laws of the United States or of any State; `(B) appear to be intended-- `(i) to intimidate or coerce a civilian population; `(ii) to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion; or `(iii) to affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination, or kidnapping; and `(C) occur primarily within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States.'.

Patriot Act (Quote from George Bush)

"The law allows our intelligence and law enforcement officials to continue to share information. It allows them to continue to use tools against terrorists that they used against -- that they use against drug dealers and other criminals. It will improve our nation's security while we safeguard the civil liberties of our people. The legislation strengthens the Justice Department so it can better detect and disrupt terrorist threats. And the bill gives law enforcement new tools to combat threats to our citizens from international terrorists to local drug dealers."

It gets better…

• ) It shall not be unlawful under this chapter for a person acting under color of law to intercept the wire or electronic communications of a computer trespasser transmitted to, through, or from the protected computer, if–

• `(I) the owner or operator of the protected computer authorizes the interception of the computer trespasser's communications on the protected computer; `(II) the person acting under color of law is lawfully engaged in an investigation; `(III) the person acting under color of law has reasonable grounds to believe that the contents of the computer trespasser's communications will be relevant to the investigation; and `(IV) such interception does not acquire communications other than those transmitted to or from the computer trespasser.'.

Straight from the White House

• The Patriot Act Authorizes Vital Information Sharing To Help Law Enforcement And Intelligence Officials Connect The Dots Before Terrorists Strike. The Patriot Act enables necessary cooperation and information sharing by helping to break down legal and bureaucratic walls separating criminal investigators from intelligence officers.

It’s long and confusing

• Check it out if you have 5 minutes to make your head hurt.

http://www.epic.org/privacy/terrorism/hr3162.html

Policy (Agenda)

• What do you want to accomplish as President?

• Domestic – Social Security (hot topic)o Jobs! Economic Growth! Healthcare

It’s such a big deal… it has it’s own Council. Under President Bush, the Domestic Policy Council oversees major domestic policy areas such as education, health, housing, welfare, justice, federalism, transportation, environment, labor and veteran's affairs.

Foreign Policy

• Always a ‘Hot’ topic• Should we nuke em all?• Should we try to hug and make up?• Should we force freedom?

Why do we even care?

• Valid Question… we have our ‘own problems right?o World is too small. It’s a Global Economy,

and we must understand that ignoring a problem doesn’t make it go away?

o Who remembers WWII? The Japanese came out of no where!

Foreign Policy

• Cold War (MAIN EVENT: USA VS. USSR FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE WORLD!)

• Sad, but true and ironico We helped Bin Laden fight the Russians in

Afghanistan. We even gave him weapons, and introduced him to ‘similarly’ minded individuals.

Famous Presidential Policies

• FDR’s New Deal – Domestic/Economic Policy to bring us out of the Great Depressiono Social Securityo Securities and Exchange Commissiono Labor Rightso Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

The ‘Other’ Side of the Coin

• National Recovery Administrationo Complete Failureo Production costs went up 40%o Black Market Grew

For an interesting read check out The Roosevelt Myth by John T. Flynn

Social Security

• The BASICS• Started off with a $0 balance• What you put in, is immediately paid

out• THE PROBLEM• What happens when more people use

it, then are paying into it?• Did you know SS is only taken out of

the first $100,000 you make?

President Bush’s Policy Focus

• Protecting the Homeland• Hurricane Relief

(Preparation/Readiness)• Fighting Terrorism• Strengthen Iraq• Strengthen Social Security

Off the Record…

• Media is a very powerful tool. • Very• Very• Powerful

Media Today

• Internet• 24 Hour Networks

2005 Revenue TotalsCNN 915.2Fox 610.8MSNBC 251.4

MILLIONS

Cable’s Top 10

TNT USADISNEY CHANNELNICK AT NIGHTESPNLIFETIMECARTOON NETWORKFOX NEWS CHANNELTBSMTVSPIKE TVA&EHISTORY CHANNELSCI FI CHANNELFX

ONLINE CONTENT SPENDING

($ IN MILLIONS)• Entertainment/lifestyle $573.8• Personals/dating $503.4 • Business content/investment $320.3

Research $152.3 • General news $87.9 • Sports $52.8

Media’s Effect

• FDR gained popularity with “Fireside Chats”

• Many attribute Kennedy’s Presidential success on the televised debate

Ronald Reagan and Media

Website