Extra Credit Opportunity

For those of you clamouring for a bump, here is your chance. Go to the website OpenSecrets.org. Find something fascinating about campaign finance that you can comment on. Be original  as you don't want to post comments that someone else has already responded with. There are 69 APLG students. I will give XC to the first 68 who respond by the start of class on Tuesday Jan. 14th.

Example - In 2012, Amy Klobuchar spent about $8.5 million to be re-elected to the US Senate. and that is far from being an expensive Senate seat.

From 1998 -2012 the number of lobbyists has not changed much (1998 about 10,400 lobbyists while in 2012 there were 12,400 registered lobbyists) the amount of money spent by organizations (businesses, interest groups etc.) has been increasing tremendously. In 1998 about $1.45 billion was spent while in 2012 $3.31 billion was spent lobbying.     Hopefully you could answer the "so what" of this fact.

Of the 534 current members of Congress, at least 268 had an average net worth of $1 million or more in 2012, according to disclosures filed last year by all members of Congress and candidates. The median net worth for the current lawmakers who were in Congress as of the May filing deadline was $1,008,767 -- an increase from the previous year when it was $966,000. And you thought that the qualifications for Congress were age, residency and citizenship. The richest member of Congress was, once again, Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) chairman of the House Oversight Committee. Issa, who made his fortune in the car alarm business, had an average net worth of $464 million in 2012.

All the best,
Darren Thompson

Assignment: George Will Article

George Will is a renowned writer in the United States who has won numerous awards for his remarkable use of the English language. He also shares his political commentary frequently in newspapaer editorials, newsmagazines and on political talk shows. In his article, which appeared in the Post Bulletin the other day, he discusses the upcoming midterm election based on historical happenings of midterms with lameduck presidents etc. etc. Read the article and write a short reflection and post in the comments. PLEASE be sure to reference something specific from Will's article in your comments as it always makes your point stronger to reference content for support. This will be graded and is due by class on Tuesday Jan. 14th.

Enjoy,
Mr. Thompson

Ch 6 and 7 guiding notes

Ch 6

American Demographics

Who are we?   Politically
                           Economically                       So What?
                           Racially/Ethnically
Changes/Trends
                      Movement of people        So What?
                      Graying of America
Political Socialization
How do we measure how we feel?  Polls
Political Ideology – See above “Who are we Politically”
How do we participate in politics in the US?

Ch. 7

1.How is the media a linkage institution?

2.Why invite the media?  Media events in modern America!
3.Print media – today vs. 1950. What has happened? Why the change?
4.Broadcast media – what has happened to our sound bite? Why?  What is the consequence of this phenomenon?
5.Narrowcasting – what is it? Good or bad? Does it have a role in politics?
6.Private vs. Public control – Does it matter?
7.Is the media biased? Is it conscious/stated? What do the studies show?
A.NBC vs. CBS
B.Fox vs. CNN 
C.Post Bulletin vs. Washington Post 
D.Time vs. Newsweek
E.  Brian Williams vs. Tom Overlie
8.Graphic on page 221. Draw some conclusions. Significance of the conclusion?
9.Does the media set the political agenda? Prove it!!!

Good Luck. Do well!
Mr. Thompson

Prep for Tuesday's class

Here are guiding questions from Chapters 8 and 9

1.Strength of American Political Parties compared to political parties in other nations.

2.What is a Political Party?
3.What is a Linkage Institution?
4.How do Americans see themselves politically?
5.Why is US considered a 2 party system if we have many 3rd parties?
6.What is a primary? Types of primaries - Open, Closed, Blanket?
7.National Convention – party platform
                            nomination of President and Vice-president
8.    Critical elections and party realignment: 2012 election? 2008?
9.3rd Parties – What are they? Defined.
            Why haven’t third parties done well in recent US elections?
            What do third parties provide to American democracy?
            What is happening to the strength of the American political party?

1.What is frontloading?

2.What is a caucus?
3.Why is the national convention losing its “luster”?
4.Significance of Citizen’s United!
5.Matching federal funds – a thing of the past?
6.Soft money vs hard money
7.PACS vs SuperPACS

You are welcome Lindsey,
Mr. Thompson