3-2-2015: Billionaire Lawmakers Ensure the Rich Are Represented in China's Legislature(Term 3)

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/03/world/asia/in-chinas-legislature-the-rich-are-more-than-represented.html?ref=topics&_r=0

In a lot of countries legislatures are in the pockets of billionaires, but in China the legislatures are the billionares.  More than 1/7 of the richest people in China are delegates to Parliament or it's advisory body.  The net worth of this delegates combined is $463.8 billion.  More than the annual economic output of Austria. 18 of the Chinese delegates have a net worth greater than the combined wealth of all 535 member of the U.S. Congress, the nine members of the Supreme Court, and President Obama's Cabinet.  This shows the growing influence of the wealthy in China's politics.  "The Communist Party of China today is about doing whatever it takes to strengthen it's capacity to stay in power," Steve Tsang, a professor of contemporary Chinese studies said, "The lack of institutional check and balances allows politics and money to come together on a scale that is not imaginable in a capitalist country like the U.S.A. or a social-democratic country like the U.K."

3-2-2015: Obama and Netanyahu:A Clash of World Views, Not Just Personalities(Term 3)

http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/01/politics/obama-benjamin-netanyahu-clash/index.html

First, go watch the video in this article.  Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu have never really gotten along.  They have different personalities and global views.  The U.S. and Israel have always butted heads, but right now the disagreements are about Obama try to create a nuclear deal with Iran.  Netanyahu is against this.  While he is here he won't talk to the President, but rather campaign against this nuclear deal.  Obama believes that his responsibility is to end foreign land wars and strengthen relationships with America's enemies.  Netanyahu says he has the responsibility of protecting the Jewish state from the threat of Iran's upcoming nuclear progam.

What does Obama need to do in order to strengthen this relationship with Israel?  Is it necessary to have a good relationship with them?  What do you think of Obama's nuclear policy with Iran?

2-1-2015: Chris Christie Sidesteps Vaccine Science (Term 3)

http://www.cnn.com/2015/02/02/politics/chris-christie-vaccines/index.html

There has been a 14-state outbreak with measles, a disease that is coming back after being largely eradicated by science.  Chris Christie was asked whether or not parents should be required to vaccinate their children.  He replied with, "All I can say is we vaccinated ours...parents need to have some measure of choice in things as well, so that's the balance that the government has to decide."  There have been rumors that Christie is anti-science.  Kevin Roberts, spokesman for Chris Christie, said, "To be clear: the Governor believes vaccines are an important public health protection and with a disease like measles there is no question kids should be vaccinated."

Is it smart for Chris Christie to quiet about this topic?  Is he potential presidential contender?  What are your thoughts about the measles vaccine and the current break out?

1-9-2015 It's Happening: Mitt Romney Considering Another Run for President

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/09/mitt-romney-2016_n_6446064.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopular

Mitt Romney told donors in New York City that he is actively weighing another run for president in 2016, The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday.  According to the Journal, Romney cited turbulent events overseas and the state of the economy as two reasons why he is considering another run. Former advisers have been pushing the 2012 Republican presidential nominee to run for months. After initially delivering firm denials about throwing his hat into the ring for a third time, Romney recently became more coy about the matter.  "We've got a lot of people looking at the race," he said, "We'll see what happens."  If he does run, Romney would join a jam-packed field of potential candidates, including Senators Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, and Rand Paul, and Governors Rick Perry of Texas, Mike Pence of Indiana, John Kasich of Ohio, Scott Walker of Wisconsin, and Chris Christie of New Jersey. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who is also considering a run, has been the most proactive potential candidate, setting up a leadership PAC and reaching out to prospective donors should he decide to enter the race.

Do you think Romney will run again?  Will he be successful?  Is he the president our country needs?

1-8-2015 Obama to Propose Paying Community College Tuition for Some

http://www.cnn.com/2015/01/07/politics/rubio-courts-overturn-gay-marriage-ban/

President Obama said that he would propose a new program to waive tuition for many community college students.  The initiative, which the president plans to officially announce on Friday at a Tennessee community college, is another attempt by Mr. Obama to address the growing income inequality that has persisted in the United States despite the economic rebound.  This plan would be funded by the federal government and participating states, but the White House officials will not discuss how much it would cost.  It is obviously going to be very expensive and will not go well with the Republican Congress.  Cory Fritz, a spokesman for House Speaker John A. Boehner, said,"With no details or information on the cost this seems more like a talking point than a plan."

Is this a plan?  Is this part of Socialism?  Will the Republican Congress be interested in hearing about it?

1-8-2015 Marco Rubio: 'We're going to abide' by gay marriage rulings

http://www.cnn.com/2015/01/07/politics/rubio-courts-overturn-gay-marriage-ban/

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio said in an interview with CNN Wednesday that if the Supreme Court eventually rules that same-sex marriage is constitutional, Americans would have to abide by that ruling. He said, "I wouldn't agree with their ruling, but that would be the law of the land that we would have to follow until it's somehow reversed — either by a future Supreme Court, or a U.S. constitutional amendment, which I don't think is realistic or foreseeable." He said he expects the question "is ultimately going to find its way to the U.S. Supreme court," noting that many federal courts have recently issued rulings overturning state bans on gay marriage. Indeed, many court watchers expect the Supreme Court to take up a case on that very issue this month, and potentially deliver a ruling this Spring.

When do you think the Supreme Court will make a decision on gay marriage?

1-8-2015 House GOP plans immigration showdown

http://www.cnn.com/2015/01/08/politics/house-gop-immigration/

An emerging plan would wrap some type of provision that focuses on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, this is the agency that hands out work permits. The plan would not allow any new money be put into a funding bill for the department of Homeland Security, according to two House Republican members. House Republican leaders agreed to a strategy pushed by House conservatives who want to use their chief power -- the power over the purse -- to force changes in the President's immigration policies, which they argue are unconstitutional. Many expected the spending bill debate to reignite the fight over the most recent action Obama took to allow roughly 5 million undocumented workers in the country to stay. But the latest plan is much broader and reaches back to try and nullify other executive actions taken by the Obama Administration in the last several years. House Republican leaders agreed to a strategy pushed by House conservatives who want to use their chief power -- the power over the purse -- to force changes in the President's immigration policies, which they argue are unconstitutional. Many expected the spending bill debate to reignite the fight over the most recent action Obama took to allow roughly 5 million undocumented workers in the country to stay. But the latest plan is much broader and reaches back to try and nullify other executive actions taken by the Obama Administration in the last several years. Republican leaders decided to allow separate votes on amendments pushed that repeal or change the Administration's immigration laws. These would be added to the Homeland Security spending bill. That
agency runs out of money at the end of February. One amendment blocks the ability of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to spend any of the fees it collects to hand out new work permits. Another amendment would roll back the president's 2012 executive order that defers deportations of children, a program known as "DACA" (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals).