Ok, so let us take a vote. How many of you here support George Bush? How many don’t? The approval rate for Bush is currently about 29%. Last time I checked, that number stinks. A lot. However low his approval rate is, McCain was endorsed by this man. So they are linked in the public mind (well at least mine) however much his campaign tries to change it. I don’t really understand why anyone would want to be linked with Bush. For all they know, there could be people out there who hate Bush so much, they wouldn’t vote for McCain. Hey, that might be taking it a little far, but you never quite know.
It is pretty much universally acknowledged that your actions bring consequences, good and bad. I have a feeling that this one won’t bring such positive ones just because of the track record that Bush has. And maybe having another Bush-like figure in office is too much of a nightmare for people to handle… I agree. Since I have a mother who works in the PR industry and social media, bad social move for McCain and his campaign. It definitely won’t help in the long run.
I know the title sounds like a reality show, like the Search for the Next Elle Woods, but what I’m really talking about is the search for the vice presidents. This is a very serious matter and the nation holds their breath as both Obama and McCain progress in their looking. Obama has hired Caroline Kennedy, Eric Holder (former deputy attorney general), and Jim Johnson (searched for VPs for Walter Mondale and John Kerry). One of the big questions is: “Will Obama have Hillary for vice president?” There are many opinions going around about this so I intend to add mine… Because of the person Barack Obama seems to be, I think that he might, if only to get the votes that Hillary held. However, if I was him, there would be no way I would choose her. For one, I would not want to bring all the bad press and controversial speeches she has given to my campaign. That way it might get ruined. If I was Obama I would rather have Hillary try to do all the harm she could to me and weather it through with a trustworthy, America-worthy vice president. And if Obama did in fact choose Clinton (i’m hoping he won’t) and make it to being president, it would hurt his career as president. That is because Hillary Clinton might try to ruin his time up there, if the past has been any indicator of her feelings towards him. All I am hoping is that Obama AND McCain make the right decision in who their vice president will be. Because that is an extremely important choice, and whoever it is could either help make or break your campaign.
Yes, it is time for my first ever political book review. The book in question is Schlepper! by Iris Burnett. My first thing to say is: This is an AMAZING BOOK!!! You have to read it. This is a fictional book that is based on the author’s own experience with little twists and turns. It is about a Jewish woman named Saide who has a huge family that is with her every step of the way. She leaves her failing marriage to join the rollercoaster political campaign for a new president and then comes the fun. With absolutely no experience whatsoever, Sadie rises from the position of lowest schlepper to a VERY high ranking official. This book is hilarious and not only that but gives a new impression about what really goes into a presidental campaign. I had no idea actually, how much work did go into it. Let me tell you… it is enormous. With funny phrases, interesting facts and great characters, Iris Burnett has not only carved herself a place in politics but a place in literature. It made me want to go into politics because it seemed fun and rewarding, although if you are someone involved in politics and are reading this, you are probably laughing at how wrong I am. Perhaps. Bottom line… GET THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Iris Burnett also has another recently published book out… It is called ” So You Think You Can Be President”. As you can tell from the title, it is a question and answer book that should help you decide if you, in fact, could be president.
Did you know that by humans continuing to eat beef, we contribute so much more to the current state of the environment? This is because when the cows that are raised for beef fart, they emit almost as much carbon dioxide as a CAR!! That is pretty hilarious but also shocking when you think about it. Beef, which so many people love (although I could live without it) contributes a ton to how horrible the environment is right now. I think that is pretty weird. Just by cutting down on beef consumption, we could help protect our environment. I think it is a crazy funny fact.
Did you know that Brazil is the only country where they don’t have to import oil? Years ago, when there was a gas scare, their government planted ACRES AND ACRES AND ACRES of sugarcane. They then figured out how to make oil from the sugarcane and used in daily life, like at gas stations. Now all their gas stations have the sugarcane oil and gas. Chrysler makes cars where it can switch from this sugarcane oil to the gas. This was a very smart way of Brazil to solve their gas problem, and I think that it would be well for the rest of the world to follow suit, especially America, who is one of the largest villan in destroying the environment. And it seems dumb that we haven’t tried to find other ways to create energy/gas/oil (the three biggest argument starting words in politics, besides the war). I wish that I could make people do something about it, people that run our country now, or will in the near future.
I have one more INTERESTING fact… Did you know that China has begun expanding into Africa and taking over some places to use the natural resources that Africa contains? No one else has used their natural resources yet, and they are positively overflowing with them. They have numerous forests, tons of minerals and much more. And the Africans say that the Chinese treat them as equals, unlike the Westerners who still treat them like slaves. I find this very intriguing… What does that say about our world today? And is China going to dominate the economic world soon? If that’s true, I probably should have listened to my mother and taken Chinese in high school.
As you probably know, I was recently in Washington DC on a school trip. The only important people that we saw were Ted Kennedy and Lance Armstrong. Mr. Kennedy was just getting out of his dark blue minivan with an assistant, when we saw him, but we did not say hello because we were farther down the street. In reference to the question I asked in my title, I have no idea. Because the experience we had with Lance Armstrong at the Capitol building made him seem exceedingly rude.
Here is what happened: My group of four boys, four girls and a chaperone had just come through security when a police man told us to wait because Lance Armstrong was about to come through the door as he had an appointment somewhere in the building. And so, all of us being somewhat dazzled by Armstrong’s success as a biker, we waited. Finally Lance Armstrong came through the door and passed through security when the police man told him to wait and say hello to this eighth grade class. Now all of us had our cameras out, ready to snap photos and brag to our friends of who we had met. But then Lance Armstrong turned around, stared at us coldly and barked out a hello. And the best part was, he turned around and left without waiting for a response. If you don’t think that is rude, please say something, because I think that it is rude, especially to a bunch of kids. He probably didn’t care at all, but I hope that all slightly famous people aren’t incredibly rude like that. Hopefully not people who run our country (even though Mr. Armstrong doesn’t).
First of all I would like to apologize for not blogging lately… I was on an amazing trip to Washington DC with my school. We saw many things, but one that I remember the most was the tour we had of the Capitol. It was fabulous in all aspects imaginable. The architecture was lovely and with the unfinished murals upon the walls for the future of America, it was fun to imagine what might actually fill them. I was actually very lucky because a chaperone of mine chose a group of four boys (all of whom were very politically with it) and my room, a group of four girls for a Q and A with the other Illinois senator, Dick Durbin. It was quite interesting and informative, with questions about gas prices, humble thanks for support from this senator and an offering by a UK organization for a visit to England to observe their healthcare system once our president was chosen. I actually couldn’t figure out if that was a snub or an actual offering of kindness. After that my tiny group got a private tour from two of Barack Obama’s aides. We even got to go underground from one building to the next. I think that the most wondrous thing about the Capitol is the atmosphere. It is charged with importance and even the most lowly of assistants have an air of importance as they walk, no march, around in suits as if they always have somewhere to go. You never know who you might see striding from place to place. The Capitol seems quite imposing, but once inside, you can tell it is just a HUGE office building where some of the highest officials happen to work. Everyone is trying to get something done. I would absolutely love to be there when something important is happening, or just on a regular day. It would be a lifetime opportunity to work there. I hope I can return there to see the Inauguration of the 44th president in January.
You’re driving along… $3.95, $3.97, $4.03, etc. Gas prices are skyrocketing and when I watch my mom fill up the tank, it costs close to 60 bucks for one trip to the gas station. I don’t know about you, but that is a lot of money for gas, which is an everyday necessity in the world we live in today. So, John McCain and Hillary Clinton have supported the idea that the gas prices should be cut during the summer months when everyone is buzzing to and fro. But Clinton added that she would tax windfall profits of oil companies so that the gas tax money would not be lost completely. Obama didn’t agree with it and said it was a short term solution. He opted for alternative energy sources and a cutback on oil consumption (like we’re eating it, but at the rate we’re using it, we might as well be having it three meals a day).
Here’s what I think… I might not be the one to pay for the gas, but I definitely hear about it, from parents and teachers, and friends. It seems like a mini break in the summer would be worse that continuing to pay for the gas throughout that time. Most people take time off during the summer, which adds up to less money during that time as well. Add that to not paying for gas, once you return to that harsh reality, it seems like it would be a lot harder to pay for gas. This is because the money you once used for gas, you are spending on other things and therefore once you go back to paying for the gas, it draws from other expenses. So all in all, it doesn’t seem like a very balanced idea. I’d rather keep paying, but that’s coming from someone who doesn’t pay. Another point that Barack Obama mentioned was that in order to change, we have to change Washington. Washington is the core, the heart of our government and that is where the change will start, and slowly spread. That is a gigantic reason that I want to go to the Presidential Inauguration in January, because I want to see if Washington has been changed, will be changed, or hasn’t changed yet.
Although in past primaries, Clinton or Obama has had the leg up, a slight advantage, in the Indiana primary, they begin on equal footing (or so people say). In the two counties where over 25% of the vote comes from (Marion County and Lake County) there are large African-American populations, which is good for Obama. These two counties house Indianapolis and Gary. Not only that, but the north of Indiana considers themselves part of Chicago and have been watching Obama and his growth as politician. I’m thinking to myself… What’s left for Clinton?? Well, even if she won all the other counties, she could still lose because of how big these two ones are. Whatever this data seems to say, I think that it is never certain who will win a primary. What you thought would happen could flip itself around, leaving you feeling as if you’ve been hit by a 50 ton truck. For example, recently I came in second place for a writing competition, The Dupont Challenge. I had no expectations that I wuold win anything and lo and behold… I won second place!! If that will happen with this primary, I have no idea. All I have to say is let the best person win.
At a speech quite recently, Obama stated how he thought that small town voters were bitter about not having jobs, and that they didn’t place their trust in the government but instead held onto religion or antipathy against certain people. And the commentary/intense scanning began. This was analyzed over and over again but what really interests me is Hillary Clinton’s reaction. At everything that she has attended she has mentioned that in order to bring Obama down just a wee bit more. And is it working? Have the people lost faith in Barack Obama? Considering the other things done to him in the past, and that he has worked above in this presidential race, I think not. Barack Obama retaliated by stating that he did not use the correct wording and that he was sorry for offending people. Everyone loves apologies, for they are hard to give. It is interesting however, that Clinton uses the negativity against other candidates to fuel her own campaign. She seems to become more successful from it, or rather in the end will it just collapse around her ears? My mother always says that the honest people win, the good people, and the liars lose out in the end. Will she be right, or will it be an unusual case of the bad one winning (which is funny in movies but not in real life)?
As the race for president and the Democratic nomination draws closer and closer, like a barrel of gunpowder, it is widely said that the super delegates will be the one to decide who becomes the Democratic nominee. And so there is a tooth and nail fight for the super delegates so that Obama or Clinton will be able to run for president. There also seems to be a hierarchy among the super delegates–whoever gets to appoint more super delegates is therefore higher in the pecking order. It seems normal to me, that you would want to have the super delegates with appointing power on your side. I think it is very cool that some super delegates can appoint up to five other super delegates at the convention. Like Art Torres, the chairman of the California Democratic Party. Control over a total of six votes is a pretty big deal when that is what this race is beginning to depend upon. But imagine if you made the wrong decision… And America got a president that we do not need. How horrible would that be? There is never anything that would really help your decision, except whether you would follow your state’s wishes. To be a super delegate, you must have extreme presence of mind and a high determination to do what it right. Which is why I want to see the Inauguration in January to see what came of the super delegates decision.