A few days ago, I began my research into the often frightening and very often misunderstood word known as recession. In this episode, we continue to unlock the fiscal mystery that seems to have our country in a headlock…

Why is everyone talking about taxes?

Taxes are a way that the government can inject money back into the economy.

A way of reversing the chain—you buy something at a store= store owner buys something at another store= etc.

President Bush and Senator McCain believe that continuing the current economic trajectory with regards to taxes is the proper response. They feel that this is all merely an economic downturn, — not the R-word.

Both Senators Obama and Clinton call for tax reform in the form of restructuring the system – placing the burden of taxes upon the upper echelon of people and giving more breaks to the middle and lower classes.

While the politicians continue their debate over tax cuts/ breaks/ rebates/ and whether the term recession should be employed, you and I are daily facing the economic reality—whatever you choose to call it. Read More »

Many candidates running in the primaries are able to go back to their political careers nearly unscathed by the political process. It is already clear, however, that this campaign will have a lasting effect upon the political trajectories of both Barack Obama and Hilary Clinton.

As a recent New York Times article comments, Obama’s campaign can be summed up in one word: growth. Obama’s campaign has only added to the inspirational picture portrayed through his two-bestselling books, “Dreams of My Father”, and “The Audacity of Hope”. He is compared to Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King to such an extent that some fear for his personal safety.

Clinton’s campaign, on the other hand, seems to be increasingly about mudslinging and accusations. The New York Times featured an article on Hilary’s “5-point attack” leading up to the primaries in Ohio and Texas. From attacking Obama of hypocrisy over campaign ad spending to comparing his foreign policy to that of President Bush, it is obvious that she has decided to risk all during these last few months. Should Hilary loose, it is possible that her tactics during this race will haunt her political career. Read More »

Right now, politics are more heated than I can certainly ever remember them being. Especially for the “liberal” and “open minded” Democrats.

Considering the fact that the party has a reputation for being so passive when it comes down to the views that others hold onto, it surprises me that so much hostility has been boiling over between the Democrats who support Obama and those who support Clinton. If you don’t think the tension is getting out of control, take for example, this story:

A man in Pennsylvania, Jose Antonio Ortiz, allegedly stabbed his brother in law after an argument about Hillary Clinton. Ortiz didn’t believe that Obama was a “realist”. His brother in law, Sean Shurelds, believed that Obama was not only the best presidential candidate, but was also “trashing” Clinton.

The verbal argument turned into choking and punching. And choking and punching turned into a stabbing…Ortiz stabbed his brother in law in the stomach. He was jailed with a $20,000 bail. Read More »

You wouldn’t think it, but there is one way this 2008 presidential election looks sort of like the end of the 2004 campaign.

The celebrities are coming out early and in full force.

Here’s how it breaks down by candidate (the ones who are still in the game) and celeb (this is a MUCH abbreviated list):

Mike Huckabee – Chuck Norris

Barack Obama – Oprah Winfrey

John McCain – Red Sox pitcher Kurt Schilling

Hilary Clinton – America Ferrera

I understand that a celebrity endorsement can bring excitement to the campaign and makes people who otherwise might not pay attention to a particular candidate tune in and then (I hope) research that candidate’s platform. Perhaps I shouldn’t be so shocked that not only do quite a few people take note of who throws their support where, but it actually makes a difference as to who is coming out to back you up.

According to a Forbes.com poll, six celebrities “who would have the most positive impact on the image of a candidate with whom they associated were Oprah, on top, followed by Tom Hanks, George Clooney, Jon Stewart of The Daily Show, Angelina Jolie and Tiger Woods.” Read More »

Everybody wants to tell me how they feel about Hillary.

Super Tuesday has come and gone. In spite of the fact that Hillary Rodham Clinton won the majority of the votes on that day, which usually cements the leading presidential candidates for both parties, her nomination as the Democratic Party candidate is not at all secure.

Obama has won eight straight primaries, and leads the race by a small but significant margin, aided by the fact that he continues to win over voter demographics that have been, in the past, more inclined to vote for Clinton.

This is, of course, fascinating – a close race, an important decision – and I’m more than willing to talk about the candidates’ policies, track records, voter bases, etc. with anyone who shows a vague interest in the subject. In fact, I keep getting suckered into conversations about it, only to face, again and again, the ugly truth: when it comes to Hillary C., her politics are the last thing that anyone wants to talk about.

Most of the folks who want to talk Hillary with me forgo any discussion of her career. They’d rather focus on her personality – which is, according to most of the folks in my vicinity, cold, harsh, ambitious, calculating, conniving, aggressive, angry, bitchy, and even (gasp!) lesbian.

God help me, I try to engage with these people. But at some point during the endless recitation of Hillary’s character flaws, my eyes glaze over and I tune out. Because, I swear, no matter what they say, the translation software in my brain supplies the same meaning over and over again: not a girl, not a girl, not a girl… Read More »

With the infamous Iowa caucus and the first Primaries (in New Hampshire, if you haven’t been paying much attention) out of the way, the 2008 election is on. Not that it wasn’t really on before – I couldn’t open a web page or turn on the radio without hearing something about Obama, Hillary or Huckabee – but we have officially entered a new phase. And things are about to get serious.

Welcome to Primary Season, the time when we get out and vote for the candidate we want representing our party in the run for the Oval Office. This might seem completely boring/unimportant- ”who the hell is this Barack Obama character, anyway” to you, but it is quite the opposite.

There are currently a slew of Democratic and Republican candidates traipsing across the country in attempts to become our next President. Only one of each will have the opportunity to go for the gold. And only one will actually take it.

And, might I remind you, the man or woman who finally moves into the White House in 2008 is completely up to us. Yes, even you.

I know that discussing politics is not the top priority of many college students. What with more important topics like class, partying and reality TV, who even has the time? But it should be; especially now. Read More »

Facebook will be a powerful tool in the 2008 presidental race.Although there’s no guarantee everyone who joins a candidate support group on Facebook will make it out and vote, it is a good way to create awareness.

Obama created a group called Barack Obama (One Million Strong for Barack) 9 months ago and it currently sits at 381,000 members. There is a anti-support group called Stop Hillary Clinton: (One Million Strong AGAINST Hillary) started 8 months ago that currently has over 488,000+ users.

These were the strongest two political groups on the Facebook network until Stephen Colbert officially entered the 2008 presidential race on October 16th.

1,000,000 Strong For Stephen T Colbert was created on Wednesday Oct 17th at 5PM and quickly overtook Obama’s “1,000,00 Strong” in less than 5 days. Currently at 441,000 members the group will pass the Hilary group later this afternoon.

Whether or not you support Colbert (or even think he is a legit candidate) it’s worth visiting the page, waiting one minute and hitting refresh to see the number jump. Read More »