Clarification: Ron Paul Still in the Race
- At May 31, 2012
- By Leann Davis Alspaugh
- In The Latest
On May 16, we blogged that Ron Paul had ended his campaign for president. Our readers have pointed out that it is not quite true to say that Paul has “withdrawn” from the race. While Paul has ended active campaigning for the GOP nomination, his name still appears on the ballot, and his campaigners look [...]
Read More»Voting Turnout Trends Among Americans
- At May 30, 2012
- By Dale Anderson
- In Current Events
How do you convince 132 million Americans to do the same thing on the same day? Not by watching a Super Bowl—the 2012 contest between the New York Giants and New England Patriots brought in only about 111 million viewers. In 2008, more than 132 million Americans voted for president, the highest number in history. [...]
Read More»Which Commanders-in-Chief Were Also Commanders?
- At May 25, 2012
- By Dale Anderson
- In Current Events
On Memorial Day, America honors those who have given their lives in the line of duty. During an election year, it is also a good time to consider whether or not military experience gives the commander-in-chief an edge. First, Some History The first eight presidents include distinguished military heroes George Washington (#1) and Andrew Jackson [...]
Read More»Green is the New Red, White, and Blue: Debating Environmental Issues
Did you celebrate Earth Day? Do you recycle? Do environmental policies influence how you vote? If you answered “yes,” then you are part of a large number of voters for whom going green is a form of patriotism. Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness Most everyone agrees that pollution is undesirable and that being [...]
Read More»Face Value: Analyzing Presidential Candidates
What makes a president…presidential? Consider these presidents: Andrew Jackson was an orphan who led a rough frontier life. He married a woman who may not have been legally divorced from her previous husband. Jackson went on to be a hero of the Battle of New Orleans and, as president, carried through an unprecedented program of [...]
Read More»Ron Paul Withdraws
Ron Paul announced on May 15 that he is ending his campaign for president. The longtime Texas congressman outlasted a large field of GOP contenders, but conceded that Mitt Romney is now the strongest candidate to win the Republican nomination. Paul’s campaign, Restore America Now, attracted a significant base of enthusiastic and loyal supporters, especially among younger [...]
Read More»Can the candidates’ differences on student loans influence the election?
- At May 8, 2012
- By David Holford
- In Current Events
In the last two weeks, both Obama and Romney have stepped up their efforts to attract college-age voters and recent graduates, many saddled with heavy student loan debt. Lowering interest rates on these loans or even forgiving them altogether has become a critical campaign issue for this age group. In 2008, the youth vote played [...]
Read More»Obama Kicks Off Reelection Bid
He’s essentially been on the stump for weeks, but President Obama officially kicks off his bid for a second term on May 5 with events in Columbus, Ohio, and Richmond, Virginia. Obama and the First Lady plan to start the campaign in these two hotly-contested states where the president will speak about “how far we’ve [...]
Read More»The Wild West of Campaign Funding
- At May 3, 2012
- By David Holford
- In Current Events
For the first time since campaign laws were enacted, we’re facing a presidential campaign in which neither candidate will accept federal funds. Refusing public money also removes the limitations that come with it. In a recent statement to the House, Paul S. Ryan of the Campaign Legal Center described “how current laws and regulations . [...]
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