Political Beliefs and Behaviors

Abdullah, Hallmah (20013). Decisive action or imagery: Gun contol and the power of political sympoblism. CNN. Retreived on January 14, 2014 from http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/14/politics/gun-control-political-symbolism/index.html?hpt=po_c1

• In this article, Abdullah clearly want the reader to believe that the white house is using imagery to persuade public opinion. Not only are the polls evidence that a majority of American feel the need change gun control law, but the recent tragic events have changed people’s heart on the matter. The white has taken the opportunity to place an issue they wanted for years, in the policy agenda.

Foreign Policy

Fisherl, Justin and Jennifer Griffrin (2013). US military preparing to support French forces in Mali. FoxNews. Retrieved on January 14, 2013. from http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/01/14/us-military-preparing-to-support-french-forces-in-mali/?test=latestnews

• According to Fishel and Griffrin, the United States is preparing to sent military support to Mali to combat Al Qaeda forces which could be taking over the country. The United States repeats the efforts from last year which did not give the results they expected.

Civil Rights and Civil Liberties

Willon, Phil (2013). Boy guilty of murdering his neo-Nazi father. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved on January 14, 2013 from

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-neo-nazi-guilty-20130115,0,2412218.story

• 10 year old is found guilty for killing his father. Willon provides us with the details of the case and the reason behind the judge finding the juvenile guilty. Sentencing has not been given yet, but boy, now 12, could come out of juvenile/prison at the age of 23. This raises speculations to whether or not a boy in an abuse home truly deserve the penalty given to given to him.

Constitution Underprintings

Wlashe, Shushannah (2012). Health Care Deadline Looms: How States are setting Up the Exchange. ABC News. Retrieved on January 14, 2013 from http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/health-care-deadline-looms-states-setting-exchanges/story?id=17965423

• Now that the Affordable Health Care Act is not going anywhere, state need to decide their form of exchange. States must decide if they will set up their own exchange or if they will allow the federal government to step in a do it for them. Without questioning federalism, 20 states are giving the national government power already while 19 states are creating their onw state base exchange system. The process has become more of partisan debate than a question of organization.

Institutions of government

Smith, Matt (2012). The Fiscal cliff is nigh; Senators strike deal,

House won’t vote. CNN. Retrieved on January 14, 2013 from

http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/31/politics/fiscal-cliff/index.ht

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• Smith, breaks down the outcomes of the vote made in the Senate. The House would not be voting on the deal, since it had previously presented in the House. The new plan, extends the Bush –era tax cuts for those earning less than $400,000 or couples $450,000. This of course, is far out from the President’s push to make create a threshold at $250,000. Those above $400,000 will go back to Clinton – era rate of 39.6 % tax rate. Even though the plan left many republicans upset, the cliff was avoided, which would have left 88,000 civilians without pay in the pentagon alone. Republicans will come back to attack with a new plan when the budget gets discussed in the next few months.