Obama's State of the Union Address

President Obama got much standing ovation from his audience during his State of the Union address. Obama was very energetic and passionate during his speech. He definitely tried to make his audience believe that is the right man to lead the nation. He brought up the problems that were there before he was elected and how they disappeared after he got into office. General Motors was facing many problems a couple of years ago but now they are fine and is doing very well in the market. Obama talked about how the US doesn't have to be afraid of Al Qaeda, Taliban and other threats, American troops are finally returning home after years of fighting away from the homeland, the Wall Street needs reform, taxation on business that takes their business out of the country, illegal media spreading around, college tuition, illegal immigration, and oil. His speech was full of hope but I don't know how far can he carry on the American's hope. Empty promises mean nothing and some things are out of the President's hand over a period of four years, so for him to give people so much hope is useless. Many people were standing and applauding for him during the right time, but do they truly believe his words or are they just standing and applauding to look good for their neighbors.

Gingrich is the forerunner in polls just a day before the South Carolina elections

Just a day before the South Carolina elections, Newt Gingrich managed to beat Mitt Romney in the polls. Newt Gingrich is the fore-runner for now. He managed to beat Romney by 6%, 32vs. 26%. His numbers show the success he had with the conservative voters in South Carolina. Romney is depending on Santorum's voters along with his. Romney might be able to surpass Gingrich if Santorum gets a good amount of votes, if not then it is a sure victory for Gingrich.
South Carolina is not the only thing that is in the candidates head, for Romney, Florida has been floating around. Ads for Romney has been running in Florida for weeks now, but Gingrich is somewhat behind, he has not looked toward Florida yet. The Florida election will be held on January 31st.

The result of the poll was a surprise. After all the news reports on Gingrich's past marriage, he still manages to bring in conservative voters. Romney has been the forerunner for awhile now, yet he is falling behind, especially for the South Carolina election. The South Carolina election has been forecasting Republican candidates for the general election all the way to the Reagan era, so he should have kept it strong, but he is growing weaker.

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7395840n&tag=mncol;lst;1

SuperPACs' effects during elections

Candidates don't have to do much to hurt their opponents. The opponents can hurt themselves with their own past and their wrong actions but there is also something called SuperPACs. SuperPACS are allowed to receive millions of dollars and they can use that money to help the candidates very much. Gingrich dropped in the the polls early on because of advertisements that were bashing on him and it was all funded by SuperPACs. People fear SuperPACs because they feel it will bring about corruption since SuperPACs do whatever they can to help the candidate win without associating with them. Rick Santorum when asked about the association between him and his contributor, he refused to have association. SuperPACS funds varies, they see who they want to support and some put much money in their candidate. For instance, Mitt Romney may have had $350 million dollars while Rick Santorum only got $1 million dollar assistance.
If the SuperPACs are supposedly doing all the work, then what are the candidates doing? The SuperPACs are helping the candidates keep a good reputation, since the SuperPACs are doing all the bashing, then the candidates are not to be blamed. A question is raised though, so are American really voting for candidates because of their values or is it for the Superpacs values?


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/46018827#46018827

Candidates' debate before S.C.

The debate started with the spotlight on Gingrich, asking about his wives's issue. The question should have stomped Gingrich but he turned it around quite smoothly. He did not answer the question that was asked, instead he used it to lash back at the interviewer for starting a presidential debate with a personal question that should not be in the debate. It is surprising to see how people supported Gingrich lash back with standing ovation, because with the issue with his wives, it can make voters turn their back on him but still interested in what is going on. The audiences's standing ovation says that they support what he said, the presidential debate should not have started with such a question. He did not forget to add that the story his ex-wife gave to nightline was false news. Rick Santorum felt that the issue was relevant to the debate, it is a part of a candidate's life, and it helps people see who the candidates really are. Healthcare reforms came up and Rick Santorum did not beat around the bush, he talked about his opposition to Romney's healthcare plans. He also briefly compared the healthcare plan to Obamacare. Ron Paul feels that the money that are carelessly spent oversea should be used in healthcare. Later on, an audience asked about the candidates tax return, a subject that has been putting Romney in the hot seat and last night was no different.

http://cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/us/2012/01/20/cooper-podcast-thursday-site.cnn.html

Obama is stuck in the middle.

Hollywood threatens to withdraw funding for Barack Obama over SOPA
By Nick Allen
January 20,2012

Some of Hollywood top people were behind Obama's reelection until he said that Obama's stance on the anti-piracy bill does not fully align with their belief. Obama felt that the people proposing and working for the bill may have went too far, but the people in Hollywood don't think so. The people want Obama to be for the bill or at least be neutral to it all if he is for a helping hand from them. The directors and people in Hollywood have started to show their disappointment in the President, they have taken out their contribution to the Obama campaign. Nine million dollars was put into the Obama campaign by the people of Hollywood in 2008 and right now, there has been only four million dollars of contribution. Obama is stuck between his other supporters; the people in the technology world that are against SOPA and PIPA. It would be best if Obama can find a middle ground for both but it seems like it will unlikely for him to keep both sides of the bills on his side. One of the supporter of SOPA and PIPA expressed that the President is only looking out for himself, and how is he supposed to expect contribution from Hollywood if he is not looking for them. Despite negative opposition, there are still planned fundraisers for the President and his First Lady in Hollywood.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/barackobama/9028611/Hollywood-threatens-to-withdraw-funding-for-Barack-Obama-over-SOPA.html

Gingrich, Paul, Romney, Santorum

The four battle it out in a debate held in Charleston before the South Carolina caucus on Saturday. Mitt Romney has been the frontrunner in the polls but the numbers that will come out from the caucus on Saturday might change that. The polls that shows bad news for Romney, shows good news for Gingrich. The number shows how Gingrich is tying things up with Romney and he also got an edge from Perry dropping out. Rick Santorum has something to boast about, he can boast about how he won the Iowa caucus after this morning news of his victory in Iowa spread. Paul did well in Iowa and South Carolina but he did not do too well during a debate on Monday. All four candidates will get their limelight but in tonight's debate, people will be looking for Gingrich to continue hurting Romney while Romney tries to gain his name back.

Romney is facing some setbacks at the moment

Is Romney damaged?
By David Gergen,
January 19, 2012

Romney has been beaten by Gingrich in some polls because of Gingrich's fabulous performance on money and Romney's lost of words when talking about his taxes. Gingrich is in the lead in South Carolina. Rick Perry backing out of the race seems like a loss for Perry, but it will in turn affect Romney also. Perry has backed out but he will be endorsing Gingrich and this will put Romney on edge a bit. Romney also has to face the turn around results of the Iowa caucus. It was announced that he was the winner if the Iowa caucus, but reports have came out that says Rick Santorum was the winner. Facing all of these setbacks, he can not face another one, he must win South Carolina. For eight Presidential elections, the South Carolina's caucus has been there to foretell who will be the republican candidate for the general election. Numbers are slipping for Romney, and on a poll between him and Obama, Obama is 50% favorable as opposed to Romney's 45%. Things are looking bad for Romney but he is still in the lead for the republican nominee.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/19/opinion/gergen-romney/index.html

A turn around for Rick Santorum and Mitt Romney

January 19,2012
By MICHAEL D. SHEAR and JEFF ZELENY

After the Iowa caucus, it was believed that Mitt Romney had beaten Rick Santorum by 8 votes but as it turns out, Rick Santorum had beaten Mitt Romney by 38 votes. It was a delayed victory for Rick Santorum because the votes for Mitt Romney was not able to be confirmed. Rick Santorum's victory was confirmed with a call from his opponent, Romney. To save face, Romney's side does not seem to be affect, they feel that it was a tie from the very beginning. Right after the caucus, Santorum also felt that there was no true winner, it was a tie. To some, the numbers from the Iowa caucus does not mean much, it does not foretell who will be the candidate to represent the Republican party, it is only supposed to tell what the Iowa's citizens are thinking about. Although, it is small, it may go a long way for Santorum and Romney. Santorum will be able to get moral boost and Romney will not be able to say he got it all planned out for him. Romney is also facing some trouble dealing with his tax and money.

Good news and bad news for Newt Gingrich

January 19,2012
By Trip Gabriel

Newt Gingrich is happy about losing a rival, he even got new endorsement but reporters are curious about how he will respond to his ex-wife comment. His second ex-wife said that Newt Gingrich wanted an open marriage, this has been on many people's mind since it has been released, although the full interview has not been released yet. Gingrich does not respond to questions regarding this, he is leaving it for his two daughters from his first wife to answer. As of right now, his numbers are looking good, he is up there with Mitt Romney, in a way, it can be looked as a two man race. If it is a two man race, then the race looks very good for Gingrich because Romney is too liberal for his Republican candidate. For the primaries, Rick Santorum is the one that is standing in Gingrich ways because of his conservative views.

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/19/gingrich-does-not-respond-to-ex-wifes-claims/?ref=politics

Candidate Rick Perry is no more.

Ricky Perry is dropping out of the race and is returning home. He seems like he was in the best shape when he decided to join the race and for a little bit seems a tough competitor, he was high in the votes and was leading the candidates, but in actuality he was never ready. The facade that Perry created even made Romney nervous as to make Romney focus on taking him down. It was not seen, but Rick Perry has been struggling from the beginning, he was not able to take on debate as well as he should. He had been tackled with the issue of immigration and social security. Perry made an ugly mark on his reputation when he forgets and jumble his words while answering in a debate. he tried changing his crew but it was just too late, his old crew just did not prepare Perry enough and that really damaged the future of his campaign. Perry's final straw was when he finished the Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary in the single digits. Although Perry started out weak, he walked out of the running better but it was all too late. Perry will endorse Gingrich from now on.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/rick-perry-campaign-never-ready-for-primetime/2012/01/19/gIQAVaYoBQ_story_2.html

An American having a wife and a mistress?!?!

Gingrich's second marriage of eighteen years ended because his ex-wife, Marianne Gingrich does not want to share her husband with another woman. Gingrich asked his wife then for an open marriage, with his present wife, Callista. Gingrich, then told Marianne, that Callista does not care what he does and that is what he needs from his spouse since he feel Marianne wants him too much, she wants him ALL TO HERSELF. Gingrich asked for a divorce during a critical time for Marianne. She was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and was to avoid stress at all cost. Marianne said she did this interview and came out with this truth that may hurt Gingrich's campaign dramatically because she don't want Gingrich to later on create a monster out of her, because things are starting to turn in that direction. Gingrich's two daughters and his spokesman, quickly went against it and denied it.
This piece of news will really hurt Gingrich's campaign. America is a very religious country and committing adultery will not be tolerated. Gingrich will lose many women voters because of this because they will sympathize with his ex-wife. A marriage is between two people not three, and most people in America understands that very well.

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/politics/2012/01/19/tsr-todd-newt-marriage.cnn

Mitt Romney's Victory Speech Turned Into "Obama is a bad President Speech"

in New Hampshire, as his family stands behind him and as everyone in the audience expect him to give his victory speech after he won the primary there, he talked much about the wrongs President Obama has done. Romney believe in restoring the United States to the time before Obama. In his view, Obama has turned American upside down, and is looking forward to changing it altogether, it will no longer be the United States of America but a second Europe, if it lays in Obama's hand for another four more years. Romney turned the clock back four years ago, when Obama was standing in New Hampshire giving his victory speech, he said then President Obama spoke of change for the nation but those were just words coming from a hopeful candidate, Romney is not the same, he is not a promising kind of candidate, he will restore the US back on its feet. Romney guarantees that if gets the chance, he will undo many of Obama's doing, for instance, he will repeal ObamaCare. Romney also talked about the soldiers returning home to unemployment. Romney is looking into the people for success, while Obama is looking into the government. Mitt Romney plugged in South Carolina where the next primary will be held on the 21st and asked them to join New Hampshire in being a great state because he won in New Hampshire. Romney did not forget to mention what a mistake his fellow Republican have made for changing side and supporting Obama. For more than 10 minutes, Romney over and over again, compared himself and attacked Obama, and even added Obama being a failed president without shying away.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2012/01/10/145003124/in-n-h-primary-victory-speech-romney-blasts-obama-largely-ignores-gop-rivals

President Obama knows how to raise money!

By MICHAEL D. SHEAR
Published: January 12, 2012

President Obama wrapped up the old year, 2011, by raising 42 million dollars; he raised this much in the last three months of 2011. The Democratic National Committee raised 24 million dollars more for him, so it is a total of 66 million dollars that the President can use to keep his seat as the President of the United States of America. This sum was contributed from about 586,000 people with 200,000 of the whole being people that have never contributed to Obama and this was their first time. Obama and the Democratic National Committee has raised a total of 244 million dollars since the whole election. Mitt Romney, the leading Republican candidate did not even come close. He raised 24 millions at the end of last year, and only a sum of 56 million dollars since he started running. Once the nominee has been announced, the amount of money will start pouring in heavily, for the Democratic and the Republican party. The Democrats will support Obama so he can stay in office, while the Republicans will try to get Obama to leave office. Comparing Obama and Bush's reelection contribution, Obama raised more money than Bush by just a bit, Bush raised 239 million, while Obama has raised 244 million dollars. Obama's campaign manager Messina feels that many Obama supporters are not contributing right now because they feel they are not needed or they are not needed at the moment, they think Obama has everything under control but they are wrong, Obama needs all his supporters helping hand.

The contributions just show how many Obama supporters there are out there, they are not dead. People feel Obama's supporter getting less and less but they are not extinct. Since the amount of money Bush and Obama has raise is very similar, maybe they will follow similar path, a victory for Bush means a future victory for Obama?

Perry wants the troop to return to Iran.

What is going on in Rick Perry's head? He is following the footsteps of President Bush. President Bush was not well liked by many US citizens because of the Iraq-Iran war. The people just want to troops out of there and that is why President Obama took them out when he thought it was time. Perry said the time was not right but two Presidents have waited for a whole decade before deciding to pull the troops out so how is the time not right? It is really a wonder how the GOP people think alike; a republican President put the troops in the Middle East, a Democrat President pull them out, and now a Republican candidates wants to put them back. Perry should not be oblivious to the people's feelings, he knows that most of the US population does not want the war to go on anymore, but why does he still want to prolong the war by returning the troops to the Middle East. He will likely fall favor with tons of US citizens, making his candidacy position very unstable.
He wants to talk to Iraqis, but the US is not the one that is unwilling to talk and negotiate it all out, the problem is that the Iraquis are not willing to compromise.

Rick Santorum Saves Cash, Gains A Surrogate, By Turning To Daughter
01/2/12

Santorum's eldest daughter, Elizabeth halted her studies at University of Dallas and help her father with his campaign. She has been in Iowa helping her father campaign for months, with the exception of little trips to other states here and there. She is there for his speeches, standing and watching him all through out and reminding him of his schedule. She sometimes also does interview; within the interview no matter how far the subject is, she can always bring it back to her father's merit. Santorum's son, Jon also halted his studies to help aid his father, but not the way Elizabeth does, he aids in a low-key manner.

Santorum has be bash many times for his stance on gay marriage. Having his children happily helping him with the campaign is a very good image. It shows how great of a family man he is. Also, with his children having the same stance as him regarding same sex marriage, they can cover more ground. Older generation can understand his stance because he has his way of getting to those people, and his children can get through to the younger generation.









http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/02/rick-santorum-daughter_n_1179470.html

Bash ads are really hurting Gingrich in Iowa

Newt Gingrich on Iowa: 'I don't think I'm going to win'
By Mark Z. Barabak
January 2, 2012

The ads Romney put out to hurt Gingrich's campaign is really working in Iowa. Gingrich was doing really well in Iowa, but Romney's ads are really hurting Gingrich so he urges the citizens to not mind the ads that are put out their to hinder him from going forward in his campaign.The ads even made Gingrich say, " I don't think I can win Iowa." The ads claim Gingrich as "feckless, reckless and ethically tainted." In a Des Moines poll, Gingrich place 4th out of the 6th candidates. Although, he feels like he has lost Iowa, he still have hope in New Hampshire and South Carolina.

For a candidate to admit defeat so easily just does not give the candidate a good image. The ads and polls should not have affected him, he should have stood up, put the ads in the back of his head and fought on. The Iowa caucus is one of the key state in the primary election, if he already admits defeat how is he supposed to face the other challenging state?

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-gingrich-not-going-to-win-iowa-caucuses-20120102,0,5558828.story?track=rss