Potomac Fever

Romney Defends the Individual Mandate

2012-01-27T18:48:00.000-05:00

For someone who criticizes Obamacare, he certainly can defend it pretty well.

The Idea of an "Outsider"

2012-01-27T16:19:00.000-05:00

"The Republican presidential candidate with the line of credit at Tiffany's is making fun of the candidate with the Swiss bank account. The one who got wealthy working the inside Washington game is whaling away at the one who got wealthy working the angles of high finance." That quote was taken from an article just published on CBS's website and speaks to this year's theatrical production brought to us by the Republican party. The article itself though asks how can Gingrich get away with calling himself, the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, an outsider, a man of the people, a commoner? The question is a good one and the answer is simple: he cannot; but nor can the other candidates.

The idea of being a Washington outsider reminds me a lot of William Cronon's critique of contemporary society's notion of the wilderness. In his famous book, The Trouble With Wilderness, Cronon argues (among other things) that humans can never experience true wilderness because wilderness is something completely void of human presence. This line of logic can also be applied to politics. In many ways, politicians try to appeal to constituents/the American public as being "one of them", but the truth is their position as an elected official prevents them as being "one of us". To be viewed as "one of us", a politician would have to leave his/her office.

If either one of the Republican Presidential nominees wanted to be one of us, they should try, for example, living on a budget so tight they need to decide between dinner or fuel. Their world of presidential politics is vastly different from the world of reality and their talk i just that.

Record polarization

2012-01-27T14:20:00.001-05:00

Raising the Roof

2012-01-26T18:48:00.001-05:00

Today the senatestruck down a resolution which would have denied President Obama theremaining 1.2 trillion dollars he requested be added to the debitceiling along side the already accepted 900 billion. This was apurely symbolic move however. Regardless of the out come of the votethe GOP lacked the 2/3 majority to override President Obama’sinevitable veto. Even so one has to wonder outside of those whoregistered legitimate objections to raising the debit ceiling, suchas senator Coburn, how many of the republicans simply did this inorder to appeal to their base. Every one suffered during thepolitical gridlock of last year especially because of the loss of ourAAA credit rating. Thus raising the debit ceiling seems like aprudent course of action. Even so those who point toward or massivedebit are correct and a solution must be found.

Schadenfreude

2012-01-26T16:25:00.002-05:00

More big ideas from Newt!!

2012-01-26T11:30:00.002-05:00

The Campaign Really is a Horse Race

2012-01-25T16:50:00.001-05:00

The Race

Visit to National Gallery

2012-01-25T15:46:00.001-05:00

The life of a Hill staffer

2012-01-25T15:44:00.001-05:00

Don't Believe Ron Suskind

2012-01-25T10:34:00.005-05:00

Other interesting links... here and here...

Statement of the Union

2012-01-25T00:30:00.004-05:00

I'm just going to begin with my main thought: this was one of President Obama's strongest speeches. The militaristic metaphors, nationalist statements, and firm tone portrayed him as a strong leader and demonstrated a president who (at least on the surface) is confident that he has a winning message. Three quick things that really struck me:

1) Veiled micro-targeting in a very broad, universalist speech.

President Obama clearly understands that if he is to win in November, he needs the support of his base. When he moved to the more "policy-focused" section of his speech, he began by speaking to the working class Americans--who have traditionally supported the Democrats--by calling for a reinvestment in American manufacturing and training programs for the unemployed. He then moved to teachers, saying that they need help, should not be forced to teach to a test, and should not be the scapegoats for what many people see as an underperforming educational system (trust me--as the son of a teacher, this is a big deal). He spoke to college students by promising to lower loan payments and increase work-study programs. He spoke to Latinos by calling for the passage of the DREAM Act. He spoke to women by calling for equal pay and the end of gender discrimination in the workplace. He spoke to Jews with his promise of "ironclad commitment--and I mean ironclad commitment--to Israel's security." This was a rally-the-base speech designed to not sound super campaigny.

2) The Closing. It was an incredible metaphor. The full text is available here. Just read the last few paragraphs. His speech writer needs a raise for that one. Very impressive.

3) He finally gave a laundry list of accomplishments, communicating the successes of his administration effectively for the first time. A huge criticism (that Republicans are now beginning to feast on) of President Obama is that he hasn't done anything--except ObamaCare. GRRRR! The president began with accomplishments that have received universal support--ending the war in Iraq, killing Osama Bin Laden. But he also discussed financial regulations, health care, immigration, energy, and manufacturing policies his administration has been instrumental in passing. Put together, it sounds like a lot.

What did you all think of the speech? How big of a boost (or fall) will it net him?

Interesting event

2012-01-24T16:08:00.002-05:00

I'm going. If you want to join me, register for free on AEI website.

Will Obama 2012 imitate Bush 2004?

2012-01-24T12:46:00.002-05:00

Romney's Taxes and American Income Discrepancy

2012-01-24T10:56:00.002-05:00

Mitt Romeny's campaign released details of his federal tax returns on Tuesday morning, shedding new light on the Republican candidates vast wealth as well as adding a new dimension to an emerging central theme for the battle for the White House. Economic inequality has become a focal point for both the Republic Campaign and Obama's Democratic Party. With the deficit and budget in dire need for reform, the income tax will continue to generate discussion and debate throughout the 2012 campaign. This article in the Economist provides a practical and moderate strategy towards effectively dealing with income inequality.

The Ironies of Politics

2012-01-24T09:47:00.002-05:00

http://www.economist.com/node/21542765

This article provides a good description of Romney's experience at Bain and the company itself, an issue at the forefront of the inter-Republican debate as well as with Democrats. In my opinion, it is crazy for Republicans and even the Democrats to attack Romney's experiences at Bain and the company itself. Private equity and related industries are high risk, high growth sectors of our economy that have funded some of the most innovative and revolutionary companies in the United States today. It is no wonder that traditional european style capitalist countries are moving towards our business model. Bain made so much money because it made companies more efficient and innovative, which yes requires layoffs and restructuring but also gives rise to higher productivity and thus growth, which helps our economy sustain job creation and expansion. In a time when our economy is in needs of fundamental restructuring and improved efficiency, am I delusional to believe that Romney, an experienced business man who came in the top 5% of his class at HBS, is a better candidate than Obama, who has extensive experience as a "community organizer" and as a one-term senator?

If you can't open that link, here:

Schumpeter

Romney the revolutionary

Mitt Romney’s career says a lot about how American business has changed

Jan 14th 2012 | from the print edition

IN A Republican primary field full of radicals, Mitt Romney is the establishment candidate. Yet earlier in his career he was a revolutionary. Hard though it may be to imagine Mr Romney waving a pitchfork or manning a barricade, Schumpeter is not joking. As a businessman, Mr Romney was at the heart of three revolutions.

The first was the rise of meritocracy in corporate America. In the 1950s and 1960s many people thought management was just a matter of applied common sense. Companies wanted their executives to be “well-rounded men”, not rocket scientists. But the 1960s and 1970s saw the rise of a new kind of brain-intensive company: private-equity outfits such as Kohlberg Kravis Roberts and strategy consultancies such as the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and its stepchild Bain and Company.

These companies valued analytical skills above all else—certainly above experience or golf handicap. Bruce Henderson, BCG’s founder, recruited the smartest kids from the nation’s best business schools. Mr Romney was the archetype of this new breed: he graduated in the top 5% of his class at the Harvard Business School. The earnest young man also loved looking under the hood of companies to see how their wiring might be improved. He joined BCG in 1975 and left a couple of years later to join the even more brain-obsessed Bain and Company.

The second revolution, as Benjamin Wallace-Wells wrote in New Yorkmagazine, was the idea that a company’s purpose is to make money for shareholders. Post-war American capitalism was dominated by managers, not shareholders. These salaried sultans ruled over sprawling conglomerates with elaborate hierarchies and ornate headquarters. The three-martini lunch was de rigueur. And why not? American business was on top of the world. Wall Street was a complacent club. Japanese companies were not even on the radar.

But by the time Mr Romney came of age in the 1970s this comfortable world was crumbling. Post-war prosperity had given way to stagflation. The Japanese had started to run rings around slow American giants. And in 1976 a brilliant article by two business academics, Michael Jensen of Harvard and William Meckling of the University of Rochester, offered a radical diagnosis. Corporate America had a principal-agent problem, they said. Agents (ie, managers) were feathering their own nests rather than serving the interests of their principals (shareholders). The solution was to force managers to focus on shareholder value.

Bill Bain heartily agreed. He had left BCG because he was frustrated with a business model which hinged on consultants producing a report and then moving on to a new client. He wanted to forge more intimate relations with fewer companies. And he took this line of thinking a big step further. Why not go the whole hog and invest money in the firms you advised? Why not buy out bad managers and let your brilliant young consultants rebuild their companies from the ground up? The result was Bain Capital, a company that Mr Romney ran from 1984 to 1999, earning a fortune estimated at $200m.

Bain Capital was a wallet-bursting success. It turned $37m of capital under management in 1984 into $500m in 1994 (and $66 billion today). It kick-started businesses such as Staples (which now has 2,000 stores selling office supplies) and the Sports Authority. But it was also a symptom of a wider change. It was not just people like Mr Romney who were pushing American companies to shape up. It was also the new rigours of global competition. Firms of every description sought to squeeze out inefficiencies, sell off non-core businesses and close redundant operations, all in the name of shareholder value.

The third revolution was the shift from manufacturing to services. George Romney, Mitt’s father, made solid things for 23 years, running the American Motors Corporation for eight of them. Such careers are now unusual. Bright, ambitious young Americans seldom spend their whole lives making products with ballbearings in them. Bain Capital “re-engineered” 150 companies in a bewildering variety of industries during Mitt’s tenure. Mr Romney and his ilk have made corporate America more efficient. But for many people this has involved an upending of the natural order of things, with young men with flip-charts wandering into proud firms and telling veteran managers what to do.

As a candidate, Mr Romney trumpets his 30 years of experience in business. With the economy in such trouble, he argues, America needs a corporate troubleshooter in the White House, not a former community organiser. His opponents put it differently. Even some Republicans are painting him as a heartless corporate raider who has torn apart firms and families to make money for shareholders. Just as the 2008 election involved a debate on race relations, so the 2012 election will involve one on American capitalism. How ruthless, exactly, do voters want it to be?

The debate will be driven by emotions, not facts. The former are easy to inflame; the latter tricky to pin down. Did Mr Romney create 100,000 jobs while at Bain Capital, as he claims, or destroy more? Without knowing what would have happened in the absence of Bain’s intervention, one can only guess. Mr Romney says he made firms more productive, thus enriching America. His rivals—even Newt Gingrich, an unlikely sans-culottes—gripe that he enriched himself.

A tale of two visions

Still, it is a debate worth having. Mr Obama wants to curb capitalism’s excesses. Mr Romney offers, in his own words, “a clear and unapologetic defence” of “the American ideals of economic freedom”. He even tried to explain the virtues of profits to an Occupy Wall Street heckler. This year’s election will not just be about Mr Obama. Voters will have their say on capitalism, too.

This is an Unfair Comparison to Dwight...

2012-01-24T08:43:00.000-05:00

Wife 1. Wife 2. Wife 3. versus Bears. Beets. Battlestar Gallactica

No way... maybe if I become president... maybe in April... well, alright, I guess this Tuesday

2012-01-23T22:04:00.001-05:00

America's infatuation with Mitt Romney's tax returns continues. After conceding to popular indignation, or perhaps just voters' raw curiosity, Mitt Romney has agreed to release his 2010 tax returns, along with 2011 estimates, well ahead of schedule. Depending on the extent of his fortune and how voters perceive his financial activities, Romney's willingness to release them could either quell skepticism, or prove to be another strike against him. We will have to see whether Americans sentence him to the pillory, or prove to be appreciative of his gesture. The attached Politico article outlines why Romney's tax returns have caused such an uproar

In defense of negative campaigning

2012-01-23T11:47:00.002-05:00

The "Bain" of Romney's Existence

2012-01-23T09:22:00.000-05:00

As I read article after article about Mitt Romney and his time at Bain Capital, I continue to wonder why this story has become such a real problem for his candidacy. I think that the main mistake he is making here is that he is, and has been, on the defensive about this particular part of his past. Yes, he has done the right thing by blasting his opponents that see a problem with this work as anti-capitalists. But rather than just explaining his career there openly, Romney has exclaimed that he feels it is "strange, on a stage like this with Republicans, having to describe how private equity and venture capital work." I think the biggest concern for Republican supporters of Romney right now is that he is not even well-prepared to answer questions about himself; if he can't handle the campaign, how can we expect him to run a country? And better yet, how can he even win the Republican nomination if he continues to allow people to hesitate about his biggest strength, his business experience? I guess we will have to wait and see if Romney can bounce back from these attacks or if he continues to lose momentum after Gingrich's win in South Carolina.

Knute for Newt

2012-01-23T09:05:00.002-05:00

I enjoy reading the Economist because I think it highlights issues that many American news sources gloss over. The statistics in this article on Gingrich were awfully interesting, and I agree with their assessment that Mitt might need to take a bolder line if he is going to become the nominee.

http://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/2012/01/south-carolina-primary-1

As an Obama supporter, I fear Mitt the most because I think most moderates (myself included) agree with a lot of what he has to say. With Confidence Men fresh in my head, I think someone who is clearly an exceptional manager will attract voters, as well. So I'm sitting back and cheering for Newt. His resurgence might make Romney focus more heavily on "Conservative" issues rather than the economics, etc, that are his strong suit. If that happens, the President will have an easier time of branding Romney as a candidate who will be hamstrung by his exceptionally conservative base and unable to represent most moderate Americans.

HC DC in the news

2012-01-23T06:52:00.002-05:00

Nourishing the Planet

2012-01-22T20:39:00.001-05:00

As part of my work as a food and agriculture research intern at Worldwatch Institute this semester, I'm going to be going some writing for one of the Worldwatch blogs, Nourishing the Planet. My work probably won't be up for a few weeks, but if you're at all interested in food issues, check it out! Here's the link: http://blogs.worldwatch.org/nourishingtheplanet/.

Gingrich= Bad News

2012-01-22T20:18:00.002-05:00

As Sam stated "I'm not happy about this [Gingrich winning] at all." As Governor of the Great and Noble state of New Jersey, Chris Christie stated, the former speaker has embarrassed our party and our country with his various infractions throughout his years in congress. I understand that many conservative republicans do not trust Romney, I've heard them over the phone, but what this faction of the party must realize NOW is that Gingrich is not even close to electable. I hope that conservative republicans realize that if they vote for Gingrich they are handing the election to Obama for another four years. This election is and has to be about removing Obama from office and Romney is the only republican candidate that has a shot. Newt simply does not have the social fiber, the trust of the American people, and control of his mouth (like Perry, I cringe every time he opens his mouth). I am also shocked that conservatives in South Carolina voted for a man who recently attacked a republican candidate for practicing Capitalism.. That's disgraceful.

Also who cares if Romney is a mormon, what is the difference? (I understand the difference, it is just dumb). Social Conservatives need to get their priorities in order and vote for the one candidate that has a realistic chance to challenge socialism and redirect our nation in the RIGHT direction. Newt is offering to redirect this country, but it is idealistic and the complete wrong direction. Ultimately, Romney is the far better candidate to represent the ideals of the GOP in a national forum.

Today's Washington Post

2012-01-22T12:24:00.000-05:00

Can Big "D" Democratic Populism Work Twice?

2012-01-22T02:00:00.001-05:00

Earlier today, I received an email from the Obama re-election campaign which outlined the major themes of Tuesday's State of the Union address. Watching, I could help but notice a developing trend in the President's recent speeches--a trend that began during a speech in Osawatomie, Kansas in December. In that speech, President Obama spent nearly an hour arguing that the present is a "make-or-break moment for the middle class and those trying to get into the middle class." In just two minutes and thirty seconds, today's message to supporters closely echoed the two main points of the Osawatomie speech: growing income gaps are a problem and big business is the enemy.

It seems we've stumbled on his message heading into November, and it oozes Democratic populism. Presidents in the past have come into office (including Barack Obama himself) on a liberal populist message, but championing that message while wearing the suit of the ultimate Washington elite has proved difficult, sending men like Lyndon Johnson and Jimmy Carter to one-term presidencies. Bill Clinton, while in a very similar situation to Obama, chose the "triangulation" method and captured the middle of the political spectrum in the process--becoming the first Democrat to win back-to-back presidential elections since FDR. That doesn't seem to be the Obama way.

Considering populist movements like the Tea Party and Occupy Wall Street dominating the news throughout his time in office, it's possible that Obama has found a winning message. On the other hand, however, it's possible that this message just can't win twice. Democrats have tried to sell the "anti-Big Business/pro-working and middle class" message since William Jennings Bryan at the turn of the 20th Century. Since then, only Clinton, FDR, and Wilson have been elected to the presidency twice--and Clinton never received 50% of the vote.

In case you're interested:
State of the Union Preview video
Osawatomie Speech

An Interesting Development

2012-01-22T01:01:00.002-05:00

With Rick Santorum being declared the winner of the Iowa Caucus and Newt Gingrich taking South Carolina the battle for the republican nomination has been blown wide open. As a result Mitt Romney is no longer the defacto candidate. With no clear front runner, this race could become a long slow slog to the finish. If this happens will a shared loathing of President Obama’s policies be enough to unite the party or will some abstain? Only time will tell.

Gingrich Takes South Carolina

2012-01-21T23:17:00.003-05:00

"Since 1980, every South Carolina GOP primary winner has gone on to win the party’s nomination."

"Not happy about this at all" -Brandon De Graff

If you can DREAM it, you can do it. Or can you? Thursday Debate topic info

2012-01-21T17:41:00.001-05:00

Debate topic: the DREAM act

Arguments in favor: Amy & Cris
Arguments against its passage: Knute & Nick
Moderator: Galia

Here are some helpful links to understand the basics of the bill:

A very helpful, concise summary of the bill itself, and the arguments in favor and against...if you read any of these links, read this one!
http://www.legallanguage.com/legal-articles/dream-act-summary/

A slightly longer, more thorough explanation of the bill from the White House.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/12/01/get-facts-dream-act

Article highlighting the Acts importance for the upcoming elections and potential voters especially in relation to the Republican nominee front runner Romney.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/01/21/romney-stance-on-dream-act-magnified-in-florida/

Congressional Aid

2012-01-19T23:00:00.000-05:00

For this semester in DC, I intend to merge my interest in government with my deep passion for photography as often as possible. I love using the medium of photography to tell stories of the world around me; pictures have a way of capturing the essence of a particular moment in time, but allow viewers to form their own opinion of that moment. That being said, there are many ways of looking at the above picture I took on my first of what will be many trips around the District. Here are two things that come to mind.

The first thing that caught my mind were the two ambulances parked behind the East Entrance to the Capitol. They are facing the building and appear ready to go at moment's notice. The other thing I found incredibly ironic about this scene was that there are two ambulances, which I interpreted as one to take away the Democrats and one to take away the Republicans. With a congressional disapproval in the 80% range, it's not too difficult to see why these vehicles are symbolic of the dangerous situation both parties find themselves in.

Even in general most people disapprove of the government as a whole, which brings us to the Capitol, arguably the strongest image of the American political system. Here again, this picture - like any taken of this iconic building in the coming weeks - provides ironic symbolism. The base of the dome is enclosed by scaffolding as crews preform repairs to its exterior. The repairs taking place here remind me of the necessary repairs our government needs.

In this season of presidential politics, each one of us has the ability to help, to provide some congressional aid. It is in this climate that the members of DC Semester begin their journey within the heart of American politics.

An Introduction to DC

2012-01-19T18:38:00.001-05:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuPwy77scvw

Should "open marriage" be a deal breaker?

2012-01-19T10:46:00.001-05:00

"This Just In...Hamiltonians visit the Newseum"

2012-01-18T19:20:00.001-05:00

Today we had our first class in which one of our discussions centered around we the current Republican nomination situation. Which leads me to share this gem of a video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMLlNySviZI. Of course, Democrats have their fair share of gaffs as well, but the current spotlight is on the Republicans meaning entertaining videos of this sort are much easier to find.

Additionally, we had our first excursion as a group to the Newseum. The Newseum is a museum dedicated to all things related to freedom of speech and news (papers, shows, reporters etc). One of the highlights was the 4D adventure in which we all successfully traveled through time surviving the revolutionary war, rats at an insane asylum and some casual bombings during WWII. Go us.

Other highlights included the history of news, first dog exhibit, and the interactive news section. The interactive part had computer games testing ones knowledge of the museum. In the race of rights quiz game, I helped runner "Bill O' Rights" beat the competing runner "Dick Tatorship"....see what they did there?).

Speaking of the puns, the Newseum had a variety of entertaining paraphernalia:

Don't worry, there was also "Democrap Donkey Dung". As always, the news is never biased. Right? (**cough cough Fox News)

lol.

Anything news related...including facebook!

The reward for Lincoln's assassin is the same price as one year of Hamilton tuition now. Obviously not counting inflation and such. Still thought it was mildly entertaining.

And here is a group photo with our self proclaimed "fearless leader":

Overall it was a great first day of class and field trip. I am looking forward to the groups continued discussions and debates regarding the republican nominations and upcoming elections.

Keystone Pipeline Update

2012-01-18T18:52:00.001-05:00

The decision came down today from the White House to reject the Keystone XL pipeline proposal. As anticipated, the ruling has already evoked criticism from Republicans who claim that Obama was acting purely in his own political interests. But what do you expect from a man who championed the development of alternative energies and decreasing our dependence on fossil fuels during his campaign? Although this decision creates an opportune moment for Republicans to accuse him of failing to create new jobs, Obama is merely preserving the ideals upon which he was elected.

Surely the creation of new jobs is crucial to economic recovery, but to what extent are we willing to go to achieve this? Should we install an expansive new pipeline that could have serious environmental ramifications in order to decrease short term unemployment? I suppose that the answer depends on your political priorities and whether or not you believe that the pipeline expansion would pose a serious threat to the Ogallala Aquifer. Regardless, Obama has left the door open for an amended proposal, one that would circumvent the area of concern.

In the days to come, expect this to become a principal talking point for Republican candidates, senators, and congressmen alike. We all know how this will end if Obama loses the upcoming election: Republicans will "come to the rescue" and create thousands of new jobs by adopting the most current proposal. The immediate political capital gained by Republicans, however, could pale in comparison to the adverse side affects that have the potential to create massive headaches for our country. For now, candidates are chomping at the bit to weigh in. What do you think?

A liberal defends defends big money and politics

2012-01-17T12:50:00.001-05:00

From Hamilton right to the bar exam?

2012-01-17T05:31:00.001-05:00

Good idea? Google title for full op-ed.

Touring the Capital

2012-01-16T22:01:00.002-05:00

After a long weekend of packing, driving, and schlepping boxes into the new apartment, I finally got a chance to catch a few of the sites and sounds of Washington, D.C. I started out the morning with a great run through the city that ended at the Washington Monument, a truly impressive sight. The city was filled with tourists, being Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which provided an air of excitement. I ran through Adams Morgan, down 18th, and onto Pennsylvania Ave. My surroundings shifted from restaurants and bars, to glass buildings in the financial district, to Grecian columns and white marble. I have the say, the latter of the group was by far the most impressive, which included the White House, the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, the Treasury, and the Washington Monument, among others.

After my run, which was characterized by frequent stops as I took it all in, I ventured out again with Sam, Eric, and Amy. We took the train to Metro Center, walked around the National Mall, and snapped plenty of pictures. In addition to the sites that I visited during my run, we went to the Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Memorial, Federal Reserve, Department of Justice (where I'll be tomorrow morning for my first day of work), and, most importantly, Occupy D.C. We managed to squeeze in a lot on our last day before internships begin.

I uploaded all of the pictures on Facebook, so feel free to check them out. More on Wednesday; we will be visiting the Newseum, which I've heard is awesome. For all of you back on the Hill, best of luck with the new semester!

Nick

Huntsman Out, Endorses Romney

2012-01-16T21:07:00.004-05:00

As of late, there has been much talk about the divisive effects of Republican negative ad campaigns. Unlike the 2008 elections, when both Democrats and Republican candidates jockeyed for their party's respective nomination, in 2012, Democrats have the luxury of an incumbent. So, while the remaining Republican candidates duke it out from Iowa to New Hampshire to South Carolina, Americans cannot help but be become disenchanted with the lack of unity in the Republican Party. But this is nothing new, considering the emergence of the Tea Party over the past few years that has created factions within the party. If Republicans want to be a force in November, they must find a way to break this trend and find a unifying figure. In my opinion, as well as many other Americans, Mitt Romney can be that person.

Today, Huntsman formally announced his withdrawal from the race while endorsing Romney. Based on his speech, it seems like Huntsman is ahead of the Republican curve, encouraging Republicans "to unite around the candidate best equipped to defeat Barack Obama." Most of us know how this will end; Romney, the most moderate of the group, will prevail, and America will have a race. So, let's cut to the chase: Obama or Romney in 2012... Who do you have?

Branding Mitt

2012-01-16T16:24:00.002-05:00

Will Potus outsmart his critics?

2012-01-16T10:30:00.002-05:00

Advice about job interviews

2012-01-16T10:24:00.002-05:00

White House Summer Internship

2012-01-14T14:10:00.001-05:00

Deadline 1/22.

2012-01-01T15:56:00.001-05:00

S.E.C. Charges Former Fannie and Freddie Chiefs With Fraud

2011-12-16T13:04:00.000-05:00

Leonardo's ruthless campaign for Oscar

2011-12-16T10:08:00.001-05:00

Courtesy of Beau.

DC in HC news

2011-12-13T04:18:00.002-05:00

Why Alex is happy!

2011-12-12T14:40:00.002-05:00

Another High Court Issue Looms over 2012: Immigration

2011-12-12T11:28:00.003-05:00

As Obamacare's race towards the Supreme court creates a possible stormcloud over Obama's 2012 election prospects, another contentious issue heads towards the high court with similar possible implications. The hot issue of immigration came into play after Arizona's new immigration law was enacted and challenged.

"Unlike health care, the Obama administration had asked the court to hold off on a big immigration case, saying lower courts should be given more time to consider an array of new state laws seeking to target illegal immigrants."

The outcomes of both cases, Healthcare and Immigration (both expected in June), could be major game-changers late in the Election process.

SCOTUS to hear dissenters of AZ immigration law

2011-12-12T11:19:00.003-05:00

Similar to healthcare debate, this is another dispute between a GOP-dominated state & a Democrat administration the Supreme Court will hear.

Among Gingrich’s Passions, a Doomsday Vision

2011-12-12T08:34:00.003-05:00

Gingrich is ready to ring the alarm bells about the electromagnetic pulse phenomenon. Under this theory, if a nuclear weapon were detonated in outer space high above the American continent, it would set off a huge and crippling shockwave of electricity. This would destroy electrical circuits from coast to coast knocking out every functioning piece of technology that we have, throwing the US Into the dark ages. Scientists call this "far fetched" and the pentagon call "pretty theoretical." Is Gingrich a doomsdayer?

U.S. presence in Iraq

2011-12-11T06:35:00.001-05:00

Interesting story related to our recent briefing at State Department. Picture of fortress-like U.S. embassy

Lebanese Taverna

2011-12-09T05:14:00.004-05:00

Ron Paul's new ad

2011-12-08T16:51:00.002-05:00

Mitt sharpens contrast with Newt

2011-12-08T16:01:00.002-05:00

Rick Perry spoof

2011-12-08T15:10:00.002-05:00

Psychobabbler in chief?

2011-12-08T14:20:00.001-05:00

WTOP says embellishing resumes benefits no one

2011-12-08T10:54:00.001-05:00

Case in point: George Costanza

100 days of F11 HC DC Program

2011-12-08T08:57:00.001-05:00

Surprise!

2011-12-08T07:31:00.002-05:00

WSJ doesn't think much of BO channeling TR.

Marketing yourself on LinkedIn

2011-12-08T06:53:00.004-05:00

Blago at His Best

2011-12-07T22:32:00.001-05:00

Never been prouder to from Illinois. Watch him do karaoke with Fabio.

I miss Paul Wellstone

2011-12-07T21:30:00.000-05:00

With the discussions we've been having with Reckless Endangerment and the OWS movement I can't help but wonder what the late Paul Wellstone, former senator from MN, would say if he were here to witness today's America. Strangely enough, while surfing the web in a state of nostalgia, I came across a clip of him speaking on the Senate Floor in which he eerily predicts many of the economic risks and dangers that would come to pass just a decade or so later.

If more members of congress recognized his creed that "politics is not about big money or power games; it's about the improvement of people's lives" perhaps we'd be in a different place right now.

Belgium's government to be sworn in after 541 days

2011-12-07T18:36:00.003-05:00

This news is a few days old but for those of you that don't know, Belgium finally has a government after 541 days. Belgium set the record for the longest any country has gone without a federal government last February after 249 days of political deadlock. The 249 day record was previously set by Iraq last December. In addition, this will be the first time in over 40 years that Belgium will have a french speaking prime minister Elio di Rupo (pictured above). Hopefully he will be able to bridge the linguistic gaps between the francophones and the flemings, which was at the root of the breakdown of the Belgian government. Only time will tell.

Interesting day at State Department

2011-12-07T16:38:00.002-05:00

including daily press briefing and discussion with the head of Iraq Desk.

Blagojevich Sentenced!!!! WOW.

2011-12-07T15:57:00.000-05:00

Blagojevich Sentenced to 14 years

2011-12-07T15:56:00.003-05:00

Don't worry, I'm sure the corruption stops there...

FYI: Pakistan's President in Dubai for medical treatment.

2011-12-07T08:02:00.002-05:00

Aging and the Presidency: Just Cosmetic?

2011-12-07T07:55:00.000-05:00

"Least Productive Session" of Congress?

2011-12-07T07:43:00.000-05:00

Syria on the brink of Civil War?

2011-12-07T07:34:00.001-05:00

Syrian President, Bashar al-Assad

"There seems to be no common ground between what the government suggests will restore calm versus what the protestors demand."

The last of my pictures with political "celebs" this semester =(

2011-12-06T21:26:00.007-05:00

Till next time D.C...

The Muppets are Communists (?)

2011-12-06T15:50:00.005-05:00

The new Muppets movie has Fox Buniess Network saying so.

Conan O'Brien even seems to concur.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/06/muppets-are-communist-her_n_1131408.html

Hoover must be rolling in his grave...

The End or an Era? No More Next Day Delivery for First Class Mail

2011-12-06T15:08:00.003-05:00

Will the postal service eventually be eliminated?

Blagojevich’s Day of Reckoning Arrives

2011-12-06T14:53:00.002-05:00

Today, Blagojevich is supposed to testify at the hearing that will decide his fate. As a resident of Illinois, this will be especially interesting after 3 years of waiting, since his arrest in 2008. If Blago is jailed, he will be the fourth Illinois governor to serve jail time and the seventh to be arrested or indicted. In addition, he will be the second governor in a row to be indicted for a federal crime after previous governor George Ryan. I have to love my home state. Can't wait for the decision.

Occupy Camelot!

2011-12-06T14:12:00.002-05:00

More on the good news about energy

2011-12-06T14:11:00.002-05:00

Good news on the energy front

2011-12-06T12:10:00.001-05:00

The Washington DC Song

2011-12-06T10:27:00.002-05:00

My entire semester in song form.

A star is born!

2011-12-06T08:40:00.001-05:00

Fox News Field Trip

2011-12-05T21:24:00.006-05:00

This afternoon I had the chance to visit the Fox News offices. One of the senior editors at my internship was interviewed by FBN, discussing the apparent underground tunnels beneath the White House.

Interesting stats on FBN viewers....

I'm no Megyn Kelly.

Denmark's new "Fat Tax"

2011-12-05T20:57:00.002-05:00

-Danish state imposes 2.3% tax on fat; tax translates to approximately $1 per pound of butter (16 Danish Kroners per kg of saturated fat). Law passed through center-right government despite objections from Danish agribusiness.

-Heart disease is no. 1 cause of deaths in Denmark, accounting for 15% of all deaths vs. heart disease and stroke accounting for 33.6% of all deaths in the U.S. (CDCP, 2010).

-Commenters on article suggested taxing "artificial ingredients, high fructose corn syrup, refined sugars instead," since "we need fats." Unfortunately, in current climate, such a tax would not be possible in the U.S.

Ron Paul's New Video Ad

2011-12-05T16:16:00.002-05:00

You are gonna want to see this! Regardless of where you are on the political spectrum, you have to admire Paul's boldness and passion!

Obamacare among many regulations standing in the way of job creation

2011-12-05T16:10:00.002-05:00

Interesting piece by George Will that looks at CKE Restaurants as a case study

The reality of taxes in the U.S.

2011-12-05T15:37:00.003-05:00

Our office circulated this piece that appeared in our local paper that tries to explain the fact and fiction behind the politically contentious parts of our tax code. It was written for the Washington Post so it may be a little partisan but it's still an interesting perspective, especially regarding corporate tax rates.

Yet Another SNL Satire Sketch

2011-12-05T11:37:00.002-05:00

White House makes its case to black voters

2011-12-05T10:45:00.003-05:00

Due to recent allegations that Obama is neglecting black voters, the White House prepares a 44 page report summarizing the president's agenda for black America. Will this have an impact?

Some thoughts

2011-12-04T21:28:00.002-05:00

Heaven is where the GOP nominee has Romney's hair, Santorum's chin, Cain's voice, Bachmann's feminine wiles, Perry's laugh, Gingrich's oratory, Paul's conviction, and Huntsman's eyebrows.

Hell is where the GOP nominee has Romney's conviction, Santorum's hair, Cain's laugh, Bachmann's voice, Perry's oratory, Gingrich's chin, Paul's feminine wiles, and Huntsman's eyebrows.

Key Iowa Poll Reveals Top 3 GOP Contenders for 2012

2011-12-04T11:11:00.003-05:00

Here is the link:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/03/newt-gingrich-ron-paul_n_1127371.html?icid=maing-grid7|maing9|dl3|sec1_lnk2|117557#es_share_ended

Cain quotes Pokemon movie...

2011-12-03T23:24:00.001-05:00

Guess there's hope for me to run for president on a Sailor Moon-inspired platform!

Call me a pessimist but...

2011-12-03T19:03:00.002-05:00

Panel on the Future of Iraq

2011-12-03T17:40:00.003-05:00

Please watch this video prior to our visit to State Dept. One of the panelists is John Desrocher, who will be speaking with you. Very exciting opportunity!

Cain drops out

2011-12-03T14:46:00.002-05:00

Lunch at Ben's Chili Bowl

2011-12-03T13:54:00.004-05:00

Here are some pictures Joe and I took from our trip to Ben's Chilli Bowl! The food was AMAZING

What is the internet anyway?

2011-12-03T06:58:00.001-05:00

Hard to believe this was only 17 years ago.

What did Burt Ives, Roy Rogers, and J. Edgar Hoover have in common?

2011-12-02T20:45:00.005-05:00

(Above: Pillars in the wall indicate donors who have contributed at least a million to the Freemasons.)
Guess who???

Special thanks to our tour guide, Christine, DOJ intern and tour guide at the Freemason Temple.

Donald Trump to moderate Republican debate

2011-12-02T15:25:00.002-05:00

Seriously? Is this really happening?

Unemployment drops to lowest level in two and a half years

2011-12-02T11:00:00.002-05:00

According to the November jobs report, unemployment dropped to its lowest level in two and a half years. However, lest any of us even think of breathing a sigh of relief, the drop in the unemployment rate was partly due to an additional 315,000 workers leaving the labor force. The percentage of Americans actively participating in the workforce dropped to 64%, a historical low.

Words Escape Me

2011-12-02T10:56:00.002-05:00

Granted our financial system has been and continues to be in serious disarray after the financial crisis of 2008 but I was astounded to learn that the FED lent out $7.7 trillion(yes with a t) in secret loans to banks since the financial crisis. The Fed essentially loaned money at a 0.01% interest rate to banks to help solidify liquidity in the financial system. To make matters worse, banks have profited off this never ending cash supply by buying U.S. treasury bills at a higher interest rate. Some experts estimate that banks have made as much as 30 billion dollars of these deals. I am just astounded that no one has been held accountable for these types of lending practices. No Wall Street executive has been punished and forgive me for sounding like an Occupier but that is completely reprehensible...thoughts? And I would absolutely love it if someone tells me I am misinterpreting this story/don't understand the whole issue. I am appalled and I need a pick-me-up haha. Not the greatest source but here is Jon Stewart on this news.

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-december-1-2011/america-s-next-tarp-model?xrs=share_copy

US Unemployment Falls Below 9%

2011-12-02T10:55:00.002-05:00

The unemployment rate fell to its lowest level in over two years this November to 8.6%. In the face of the Eurozone crisis and lack of leadership in domestic fiscal policy this is especially good news. What will this mean for Obama's reelection?

Visit to the World Bank

2011-12-01T18:06:00.007-05:00

Interesting discussion of the World Bank, finance and current affairs. Hosted by Mr. Hasan Tuluy.

European Debt Crisis for Dummies

2011-12-01T15:39:00.002-05:00

If you're like me and need someone to explain the European economic crisis to you like you're five, check out this blog post which briefly breaks down the causes and history behind the debt problems in the Eurozone. Not exactly clear what the implications for Washington and the U.S. are yet.