Colleague Critique

(Comment on "Domino Effect")

First, I would say your article is appropriately titled "Domino Effect". The effects of flood and natural disasters this crop season is most definitely going to have far reaching repercussions. With the increase of oil prices and the current difficulties the economy is facing in general, this jump in food prices seems to add insult to injury. With this being said, I agree that the Democrats have a much more aggressive plan to help support the "national needs", but the only way they are going to succeed is in raising taxes. Either way, I feel that the American citizen is going to be out of money. Therefore, whether a democrat is elected or a republican, there will not be an easy fix to the monetary obstacles at hand.

The Media Throughout the Years

Media has changed drastically throughout the course of American History. Beginning in the colonial days, with pamphlets and articles like "The Federalist Papers", media has undertaken the responsibility of presenting the people with information about their government. As technology has improved and America has evolved, so has the media as well as its audience.

The nation has seen wars, protests for civil rights, presidential scandals, and a plethora of other emotion evoking, attention grabbing news publications, which have become the basis of media output. According to Larry Sabato in "Feeding Frenzy: How Attack Journalism has Transformed American Politics," the media has changed from a "lap dog to a watchdog to a junkyard dog". Turning on the t.v. to the evening news broadcast or picking up a national newspaper clearly confirms this statement. As the presidential elections near, one finds less and less information on a candidates specific plan for healthcare, the war in Iraq, economic reform policy (or lack there of), or any other key policies; rather more and more is published and broadcast about the candidate's religious affiliation, or something their pastor has said, and how relations are with their spouse. 

The media serves well to uncover any hidden, dark secrets that one of the nation's leaders may be keeping, but the extent to which the media portrays the smallest of personal infractions is absurd. One must sift through a large number of stories and assumptions to find any real substance, and that is an unnecessary and burdensome endeavor. Therefore, the media as a revenue generating conglomerate is succeeding, but as an informative, trustworthy source of valued news is less than par. 

The Media on Homeland Security

(commentary on Behind the Lines: Our Take on the Other Media's Homeland Security Coverage)

David Morrison, of Congressional Quarterly has outlined and detailed the different topics that the media has chosen to focus on regarding Homeland Security. The article contains truth and factual occurrences, while humorously depicting the sad state of the media. He discusses the media's take on the current Presidential nominees and their stances on national security along with the recent "salmonella alarum" and the new "full body scanners" that the airlines are implementing. Morrison effectively incorporates all aspects of the current media trends regarding national security and does a good job of presenting the information in a concise way. It has a good mixture of outlandish and ridiculous things, such as the allegations that Rachel Ray supports terrorists because she "wore a scarf similar to the kind typically worn by Muslim extremists", as well as pertinent information, such as Virginia Tech's lobby for funds to research how to prevent terrorist attacks. Therefore, this editorial by David Morrison has the substance, relevance, and humor that work together to convey both the media in the present day as well as the nation's security.

Selection, Not Election

(commentary and critical analysis of "Obama was Selected, Not Elected")

Coulter is a strong voice for the Republican cause in the presidential election. She argues that, while the electoral college's vote has the ultimate say in electing a president, the popular vote is still important. "The liberals... imagine the Constitution as a treatise on gay marriage," she says, and they do not realize that "our Constitution sets forth rules for the election of a president." She backs this up by explaining how the popular vote and electoral vote work together, in that the popular vote simply directs legislators to pick a candidate to accurately represent the population. The argument continues through supporting Bush's campaign decision to spend less time campaigning in "big liberal states like California and New York." Her conclusion is strong because it ties together both the common idea that the popular vote has the ultimate say in the presidential election process through relating it to the Bush/Gore race in 2000 in which a recount was demanded. Coulter is obviously an advocate of the Republican agenda while incorporating into her argument the importance of the populace's political education, and the dangers of naiveness. 

The Race Is On

The race for presidential nomination for both the Republicans and the Democrats has been quite exciting this voting season. It has been historically marked for having the most diverse candidates, and now the Democrats are nearing solidification for their nomination spot. According to the New York Times, "Senator Barack Obama is poised to clinch the Democratic presidential nomination...as he received support from a steady stream of prominent party officials." McCain has even acknowledged Obama as his opponent in the presidential race. When thinking about the diversity of candidates one must recall the words of the founding fathers in the Declaration of Independence that "all men are created equal". Therefore, the American melting pot can be represented by any candidate with adequate experience and capabilities.