http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/politics/national/stories/DN-immig_30nat.State.Edition2.ee3307.html

My one stipulation with Barak Obama – I am a little worried about the way in which President Obama will handle illegal immigration. As a native Texan, this is obviously a top isssue on my list, and I cannot understand why it would not be of equal importance on Obama’s. I understand that our economy is in trouble right now, and needs special attention, but I also believe that immigration reform goes hand in hand with our economy. With extra illegal immigrants populating our country, I cannot help but think that they are just making our economy worse. 

Is it because he is a Democrat… and alot of immigrant/minority groups are Democrat? Is it because he is a minority… and obviously, immigrants are minoritites? I hope that he doesn’t think that he will step on people’s toes if he nips this whole immigration situation in the butt. It is necessary for the proper function of our economy for the logistics in immigration to be worked out immediately.

Signing off… Go Team America!

Until next time… Go Team America!

Can anyone say Franklin Delanor Roosevelt and Fireside Chats? “Sometimes beginning his talks with “Good evening, friends”, Roosevelt urged listeners to have faith in the banks and to support his New Deal measures. The “fireside chats” were considered enormously successful and attracted more listeners than the most popular radio shows during the “Golden Age of Radio.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fireside_chats).” We all know that FDR’s Fireside Chats were a way in which the American public could feel connected and informed about what was going on in the Presidential administration.

Obama’s attempt at this is presented in his weekly online/radio addresses to the nation. I really think that he should continue to present these videos (that are easy to find on good old YouTube!) to the public. For example, sometimes a State of the Union may be seen as too formal and hard to understand for a good majority of American citizens. Perhaps allowing the American people in on weekly issues, and only taking up a few minutes of their time, will create a positive attitude toward President Obama’s policy. As well as this, it makes Obama look good. It adds to his likeable image, and charisma. Definetly a smart move for his administration — if the President can seem “buddy buddy” with his public.

Anyways, I was interested in taking a look at some of the past weekly addresses and can confirm that Obama sounds intelligent and seems put together. It assures me that maybe, (against my will), with him as our President, at least the public will think of him in a positive light. Can’t wait to see what his approval ratings will be after the first few months of him in the oval office!

Until next time… Go Team America!

With this year’s election, there seemed to be a new form of media that was more popular this time around than ever before – political blogs. I, with this, my own political blog, have been able to vent, voice my opinions, and criticize others. I have to admit, I am totally adicted to blogging. I am one of those people that will yell at a wall if I have to, and blogging has given me a chance to do exactly that, no matter if anyone is listening or not. This year’s election has been driven, in a way unlike ever before, by political blogs. It allowed people, especially undecided voters, to really look at alot of angles on the spectrum and make an accurate decision concerning our new President.

My favorite political blogs that I have relied on this year for many points to spur off of are the following:

My favorite: The Caucus Blog from the New York Times – http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/

The Daily Kos: http://weblogs.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=weblogs&cdn=compute&tm=5&gps=44_78_1062_654&f=00&tt=13&bt=1&bts=1&zu=http%3A//dailykos.com/

The Huffington Post: http://weblogs.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=weblogs&cdn=compute&tm=35&gps=124_282_1062_654&f=00&tt=13&bt=1&bts=1&zu=http%3A//www.huffingtonpost.com/

Mudflats.Wordpress.com: http://mudflats.wordpress.com/ (Everything you wanted to know about Sarah Palin).

Tucker Carlson – The Daily Beast: http://www.thedailybeast.com/

Hope you enjoy browsing these as much as I do! Take a look at them! They will open your eyes to a world of politics and will make you question your views!

Until next time… Go Team America!

I am trying to make a point as to Obama’s talent in rhetoric and likeability! Just watch…

Until next time… Go Team America!

Election night of 2008 will be one to always remember. I personally, was disappointed to find out that John McCain would have to make a concession speech, handing over the victory to Obama, but after hearing it, I had nothing but pride for my candidate. I thought it was one of the classiest, and gracious ways to bow down from the election. I hope the nation enjoyed the way in which he called for his supporters to pull together, and change their eyes to the new President elect. He showed his true American spirit by calling on everyone to come together and suppport the decision that the majority of our countrymen made by electing Barak Obama. I couldn’t help but just feel sorry for McCain, in that I wonder if he actually had a shot at the Presidency from the start. After all, as much as I love Bush… I’ve got to admit, he didn’t leave McCain the best set-up to win.

I thought Obama’s was basically Martin Luther King, Jr.’s famous speech “I Have A Dream…”, insert “Yes We Can”. I also thought that he played up his being black too much for election night. Barak, you obviously know the entire country is going to be watching – Democrat and Republican. I just thought it was a little disrespectful in his metion of “slavery” and “minorities”, etc. If he would have been speaking to just his supporters, that would have been just fine, but he should have kept in mind that everyone was watching. On a lighter note though, I did think that because of his talent in rhetoric, this speech will go down as one of the more memorable in history. Not just because of the circumstances (first black President, youngest, etc.) but also because of the feeling of “hope and prosperity” it truely conveyed.

Election night was groundbreaking for sure, and it will always be remembered because of these two speeches.

Until next time… Go Team America!

What kind of President has enough guts to do… this?

As much as I would hate to admit it, I think I might have a little bit of a crush on Barak Obama (especially after seeing those dance moves)! Lets face it – Barak Obama is young, charismatic, and charming.

Just look at them. A young, black President and his lovely wife. Their two young daughters at home. I look at this situation, and all I can think is “Camelot”. It is so funny to me, to think about everyone freaking out about the fact that we have a black President. But, within the past few weeks, and with inauguration day soon upon us, I think America has started to overlook the stereotypes and appreciate the Obama family for what they are. They are a shining example as to what the modern day American family should look like. The have created an image that stresses the importance of family and have a “fun” sort of heir surrounding their activities. The once elite and stuffy image of the first family has been shot down by images of the Obama family spending time together in casual attire, participating in “common folk” activities.

Also, analyzing Michelle Obama’s on point sense of style, we can see that her affordable, but extremly stylish wardrobe choices may deem her a new style icon. “Everyone knows that people respond to the way you look when you run for office,” André Leon Talley, an editor-at-large for Vogue, which featured Mrs. Obama as an “It” girl in its April issue, said last week in an interview. “A black Camelot moment is the right moment for the Obamas,” he added.”

Looking back at the success of John F. Kennedy and his Camelot administration during his time as President, I am hopeful that the Obamas will experience this same such public approval and likeability.

Until next time… Go Team America!

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/01/us/politics/01clinton.html?hp

I knew the spoils system would be alive and well as Obama’s new cabinent was being pieced together. We all know that it has always been a prominent, but overly justified, exercise in politics. So when reading the above article in regards to Hillary’s new position, I began to wonder how the spoils system even came to be about in our politcal spectrum. Well, according to the always trusty (ha…) Wikipedia:

“After Andrew Jackson became President in 1828, he systematically rewarded his supporters by starting the Second Party System. He considered that popular election gave the victorious party a “mandate” to select officials from its own ranks.”

“The term was derived from the phrase “‘to the victor go the spoils.”

With this election, I had never seen such unconditional support for a candidate than with Obama. Because he was originally seen as the “underdog” in the election, I guess people needed to especially rally together in their support for Barak Obama. This included Senator Hillary Clinton. Even though she was his running mate, she quickly (after loosing in the primaries) endorsed fellow Democrat, Barak.

So, as Obama is started to piece together his clearly majority-Democrat administrative team, I find it no surprise that he is handing away, even the smallest “pity jobs”, to his most adamate supporters. After all, they really do probably deserve it – in the fact that they had to push twice as hard for their minority candidate to win the office of the President.

All in all, I am not implying that Hillary does not deserve a spot in Obama’s security team, but more so just pointing out that it is completly natural for a elected official to reward those in support of his policy. I do think Hillary will do great wherever she is placed (I would have rather had her win than Obama) and I wish her the best of luck once she accepts her new position on his team.

Until next time… Go Team America!

Oscar winning actress Halle Berry in a Barak Obama t-shirt.

“Artist Ivey, son of rap singer Coolio, wear a Barack Obama T-shirt as he arrives at the NBC All-Star party in Beverly Hills, California July 20, 2008.”

A few weekends ago, I was watching another politically charged episode (go figure) in which some “no-name rapper” performed at the end of the show. I’m not much of a rap music fan, (it probably isn’t a coincidence that I still think McCain should have won), so I really had no idea what the guy’s name was… Anyways, blazed across his t-shirt was a colorful, graphic print of his homeboy, Barak. So, when I saw this, I just couldn’t get to thinking.

I wonder if without all of this celebrity endorsement and hype, if Obama still would have won the Presidency. To me, it is clear that the deciding factor in this election was media coverage, and if every major music artist, actor/actress, and general celebrity have endorsed Obama, then of course more people are going to favor him. It all has to do with the fascination that Americans have with their favorite celebrities. Many admirers try their hardest to emulate these far off characters – buying the same clothing, reading their books, listening to only their music. I really do think that popular music singers hold a much bigger power in our country than what we think them to be.

A few days ago, I was having a conversation with my mother and mentioned the famous rapper “50 Cent”. Being the sheltered woman she is, she asked, “Who is that?”. I laughed when I explained that 50 Cent is a multi-platinum recording artist, rapper, and business entreprenuer who is worth tens of millions of dollar. “Oh.”, she replied dumbfoundedly. I also then explained to her that this influential figure in our society was a direct supporter of Barak Obama.

“No wonder why he won.”

Until next time… Go Team America

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/11/us/11jenna.html

Okay, okay. So I know the wedding was back in May of 2008, but I have decided that not only was here wedding an important union between Respublican party powerhouses, but is also the wedding that I will be modeling mine after.

I’m going to be really girly for a second… Check out that ring!

Anyways, back to the political side of the wedding.

“He’s Henry Hager, a 26-year-old Richmonder with a Virginia political pedigree. Richmond’s Style Weekly reported yesterday that his father is John H. Hager, Virginia’s first director of homeland security and a former lieutenant governor. John Hager recently joined the Bush administration as an assistant secretary of education.

We hear the young Hager got his start two years ago as an intern in the White House for Karl Rove and later moved to the Bush-Cheney reelection campaign. “He’s a nice guy, a smart guy, an ambitious guy,” a Bush adviser told us. “Well liked, popular.” “

I’m sure her husband, Mr. Hager, is a wonderful and intelligent guy, but I do find it convenient that he will now always have a job in politics waiting for him. What a lucky guy! Although, could you imagine asking the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES for his daughter’s hand in marriage?!

After going through that… I bet you the guy could handle anything, including a future career in politics. Clearly, this is the direction that he is headed. If he is anything like President Bush… then kudos Jenna! You’ve got yourself quite the hubby!

Until next time… Go Team America!