Elite

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071029/ap_on_re_us/sarkozy_stormy_interview

In this article, the French president states that in America it does not matter what your name is when dealing with politics. This may be true the public does not judge your name, but the name as a symbol for the family does matter. Those who are elected are part of a political elite that have been raised in a certain manner and have common interests. This results from the amount of money necessary to become a politician. How can we correct this? We could have more public funding, but how much would that help? If you don't have the money for a good education, then you still will not be able to be a part of the political elite.

Clinton

I like Clinton's views on family policies and social progress, as in this article. I wish that the election was more focused on issues such as maternity leave and the crisis of the American family, because these, to me, are the issues that we should be focusing on. The job of the president is to make America a better place, in my opinion. She should also cooperate with those in other nations to make the world a better place.
I think that Clinton is going to have a lot of support from women. As a woman, I know that I might just vote for Clinton because she is a she. She understands me and the woman community like no other candidate, and is ready to effect the changes that need to be made.

Colbert

Colbert "campaign" is going to be an interesting mock of the campaigns of today. I think he will bring out the problems in the system and people might pay more attention to them and ask for reform. I think it would be funny if Stewart "ran" against him, and they used their own shows to advertise and mock the ads and speeches of today. They are beginning to milk elections for all they are worth.

Contraceptives

A middle school in Maine has decided to allow girls as young as 11 to obtain birth control pills without their parents knowing. I hope that other schools follow this example and stop ignoring the pregnancies and diseases that have resulted from abstinence-only education. Not giving someone a drug that could protect them from pregnancy is like turning a blind eye while your child rides a bike without a helmet, just because he was not supposed to be riding it then. We need to stop putting so many morals into our laws and considering instead what is truly in the best interest of children and our nation.

Here is the article

What America Needs

I think that after eight years of Bush, what America really needs is a president that we can respect and that the rest of the world can also see as competent. We need to not have countless videos on Youtube making fun of the missteps of our president, and we need one who can say his thoughts without making mistakes and embarrassing himself (or herself). I thought that both Gore and Kerry were people that I could respect and that I would feel honored to have represent my country. I think that it would be beneficial to our nation if Al Gore would run again. He is respected all over the world, and he has the prestigious title of a Nobel Prise Winner, before a presidency. I understand that he does not want to stop his tours and bookwriting, and global warming is a very noble cause. But I think more pressing issues are the state of our nation and the world, and if we do not get good leadership in the next presidency, then society as we know it will end long before climate change kills us all. And as president he could more directly influence the legislation relating to global warming. So please, Al Gore, throw your hat in the ring. We know you are sore from the last time and you have found a new love, but please, for the sake of us all, give the presidency another chance.

Election Coverage

I think that in the weeks before the primary elections, PBS should do a series about the candidates. Each hour long special should give a biography of the candidate, allow them to speak about their views, have analysts compare their views to other candidates, and list those endorsing them. This would help people who may not have the time or the patience to watch other shows get the information they need to vote intelligently. This would allow some unbiased coverage in conjunction with the typical news shows.

Clinton on Youtube

I found this video on Youtube, and it got me thinking.

Why is Hilary not responding to these criticisms? Does she really not have the time to look at it, or does she just think that putting the video online is enough, if she puts it there it is an effortless way to seem like she is communicating with the common people?
I think Youtube could be a great way for advertising to occur that did not take so much money, but candidates need to respect those watching enough to make the video of good quality and respond to comments.

Warner Brothers

Warner Brothers is not going to have any more female leads in their movies. They say that the films they have made with women in the lead position have not done well. Could it be that it was just the movie, not the woman? I thought that the days of discriminating against women as actors were over.
I think that Warner Brothers is going to get a lot of bad publicity for this proclamation. Feminist groups will boycott their movies, and even less radical groups will be angry.
If Warner Brothers really wants to make more money, they should invest in good directors and screenwriters instead of piling the blame on the women actors.

Here is the article

Clinton

"I pay absolutely no attention to what any poll says or what any pundit on TV says," the former first lady said. "I have absolutely interest in that. Nobody has come to a caucus yet. Nobody has cast a vote yet."

I wonder if anyone in the world actually believes this statement. I am sure that she has people who watch every show for any mention of candidates and so they can see how she is doing in the pundits' eyes. Even thought the current polls do not mean much, they still reflect what the country is thinking, and I am sure she has analysts studying them too.
Has anyone ever seen The War Room, about Bill Clinton's campaign? They have televisions playing news constantly, and every meeting started with a report of the polls. Maybe polls and shows do not matter now as much as they do after the primaries, but I am sure that her statement is a lie.

Here is the story

School

I just read an article in the New York Times about a teacher who requires his student's parents to do homework. They must read what their children are reading every week and post their reactions on a blog. Surprisingly, most of the parents enjoy it and cooperate with the teacher. I think this is a great approach, and it should be broadened to other areas subjects and assignments. Parents could be required to read their children's papers, for example, and thus help them with grammar and critical thinking. The parent would then have to sign the essay to show they read it. Teachers could make up a special study guide for parents to use with their children, so that parents could more easily help their children study, without having to learn the information themselves first. When I was younger, my mother helped me with my homework, which allowed me to learn good study skills that have aided me in high school and now in college. Requiring this interaction would help more students gain the skills they need to succeed in school. I know that this approach might not work in all families, but it might aid enough students that it is worth looking into.

Here's the article

Fantasy Talk Show and Matthews

I would like to see Tim Russert appear on The Daily Show, or have Jon Stewart go on Meet the Press. Hearing Stewart's views on Tim Russert would be interesting, because I see Russert as a positive figure who is good at getting to the truth. He might also be a good match for Stewart because he does not get flustered easily and is very articulate.

I was disappointed in the interview of Chris Matthews. Instead of biting humor, Stewart was occasionally mean and seemed to be grasping for straws. I couldn't believe how nervous they both seemed. It was like boxers getting ready for the championship match.