Foreign Policy / Politics

Venezuela’s Opposition Looking For Its Presidential Candidate

Venezuela’s highly anticipated presidential election does not take place until October 7, but the competition will begin in earnest this weekend. Venezuela’s opposition party is holding its first presidential primary on Sunday, February 12th. This is an important step for the opposition because it will offer them an opportunity to create a more unified movement … Continue reading

Communications / Politics

The Accountability of Social Media

Social media instigated major political change in 2011.  Most notably the Arab Spring saw governments corrode under the pressure of its citizens who were fed up with years of corruption, poverty and joblessness.  Social media sites, Facebook and Twitter, enabled people to quickly learn about the demonstrations, organize and react through massive protests.  The accessibility … Continue reading

Foreign Policy / Politics

2012 Mexican Presidential Election Primer

Mexico’s three main political parties have selected their respective candidates for the July 1, 2012 presidential contest. The favorite appears to be Enrique Peña Nieto, the former governor of the state of Mexico, from the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI). The PRI dominated Mexican politics for over 70 years until 2000, when it failed to win … Continue reading

America / Education / Politics / Uncategorized

Why Education Will be a Top Issue for the 2012 Election

In 2011, education emerged indirectly as a hot button issue during the public sector collective bargaining battles in states across the country. The bitter pill offered by Republican governors has still left a bad taste in the mouths of voters and has resulted in the recall of lawmakers and the repeal of legislation. Unfortunately for … Continue reading

Economy / Politics

Tax and entitlement reform overshadowed by credit-taking, blame games, and job report

Following a jobs report released this morning showing the unemployment rate dropped from 8.5 to 8.3 percent last month, the President emphasized his plan to keep the economy growing at a fire station in Arlington, Virginia. “The economy is growing stronger. The recovery is speeding up. And we’ve got to do everything in our power … Continue reading

America / Education / Energy / Gov. Officials / Politics / Regulation / U.S. Domestic Policy

The Scientists Strike Back

On Friday, the Energy and Environment Subcommittee held the second hearing “Fostering Quality Science at EPA: Perspectives on Common Sense Reform.” At this hearing, the overarching theme was attack and response of the EPA research and risk analysis process. Again, Representative Harris and Representative Miller acted in dichotomous, conflicting positions attacking and defending the EPA, … Continue reading

Economy / Politics / U.S. Domestic Policy

President details housing plan, imperfect and ill-timed

Lost in the mire of political news about yet another trillion-dollar deficit and the latest from the campaign trail are a number of important developments in housing. This week the President kicked off the campaign to sell his plan for solving America’s housing market woes, a plan he outlined in the State of the Union. … Continue reading

America / Economy / Education / Politics / Regulation / U.S. Domestic Policy / Uncategorized

The Lost Generation

On Wednesday, the Center for American Progress (CAP) hosted a seminar on Restoring the Middle Class. Senator Harkin, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, outlined his need plan to attempt to restore middle class section of America. He began with “Over the past year, Republicans have been pushing not … Continue reading