Top 20 Politician Tweets about George Floyd

Posted on by Connor Haugen

Co-Author: Claudia Morales

The nation and the world are seeing the largest movement for race equality since Martin Luther King Jr. Peaceful protests to riots, the death of George Floyd has sparked a powder keg. Many Americans are outraged.

This came right after the loosening of restrictions from social distancing. Many government officials have an opinion on this issue. Here are the top 20 from some of the biggest names in government right now.

20. Cory Booker

Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey has shown active support for the Black Lives Matter movement. On June 2nd he attended a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing to co-sponsor a bill that would prohibit police officers to engage in a choke-hold, eliminate racial profiling, increase police accountability, etc. Furthermore, Booker is wanting to end qualified immunity for police officers. Even though there is concern for a surplus number of lawsuits filed against police officers without immunity, Booker believes that priority should be placed on civilians being able to take civil action against police officers if their rights are violated.

19. Keisha Lance Bottoms

After a long day of peaceful protest in Atlanta on May 29th, riots overturned the evening into a disaster. The city began burning in flames as the situation got out of control and police officers turned to tear gassing to disperse crowds. Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms attended a press conference at City Hall that same night to deliver a speech that received high appraisal by the nation. She expressed, “When I saw the murder of George Floyd, I hurt like a mother would hurt . . . What I see happening on the streets of Atlanta, is not Atlanta. . . If you care about this city, then go home.” Her speech proved to be effective because many returned home that night shortly after it.

Mayor Bottoms implemented a city curfew immediately, but since then there have only been peaceful protests so the curfew has been lifted. She has been serving as mayor since 2017. According to the Washington Examiner, her prospects of being vetted as a nominee to become Joe Biden’s vice president has improved as she has gained the spotlight for delivering an extraordinary speech.

18. Gavin Newsom

Along with other major cities, Los Angeles has witnessed a lot of rioting these past couple of weeks. Governor Gavin Newsom has seized the opportunity to meet with the community members and leaders to discuss police brutality and racism. He is also meeting with multiple mayors to further discuss the Black Lives Matter Movement and what can be modified in their system to provide equality to black members of the community. Many of them are considering cutting the police budget.

Newsom has recently expressed his opposition to the use of force against peaceful protesters on Twitter. He is “Calling for the creation of a new statewide standard for the use of protests” which will not be tolerated. Newsom’s approval ratings have increased significantly.

17. Tom Wolf

Philadelphia is one of the cities that has captured the nation’s attention as multiple police vehicles were set on fire, police officers were injured, and local businesses were looted. Governor Tom Wolf implemented a night curfew and declared a state of emergency calling on the national guard.

However, Governor Wolf has recently done something that is not being commonly done by other governors, he joined the protesters. Marching from Harrisburg capitol to a community center protesting police brutality and racial injustice.

16. Kate Brown

Oregon Governor Kate Brown is currently dealing with two critical issues: handling the protests in her state and challenging a county court rule in which churches can reopen. She is supporting the Black Lives Matter movement and is praising protestors. Governor Brown even included how “I count myself as one of the many white politicians whose good intentions haven’t done enough to tackle the scourge of systematic racism.” She promised that she will push for state level work to focus on racial equality.

On the other hand, multiple rural churches are challenging her COVID-19 state orders. Judge Matthew Shirtcliff issued an injunction on Brown’s order, but the State Supreme Court immediately stepped in. The court is now awaiting to set deadlines for the case.

15. Henry McMaster

Governor of South Carolina, Henry McMaster, is supportive of Trump’s perspective on how to handle protests as he witnessed firsthand the state confronting massive riots. There were historical statues being graffitied, looting, setting fire to police vehicles, etc. McMaster recently had a telephone call with Trump describing the chaos of the situation. He specifically pointed out the difference between protests that were handled on different days with force compared to those that were not. McMaster even acknowledged that Trump was right about the urgency of sending a heavy police force.

However, McMaster later tweeted support for peaceful protesters. He expressed understanding for the anger members of the community are feeling about racial injustice.

14. John Kasich

Governor John Kasich, a former 2016 Republican presidential nomination, is vocalizing his understanding for members of the community feeling frustrated and angry due to racial injustice. He has been working on issues that are centered on racial injustice since December. After the Cleveland Division of Police came under scrutiny for gunning down a 12 year old black boy named Tamir Rice, he created a task force. This task force is currently working on a state policy regarding the use of deadly force by police. The practice of recruiting and hiring police officers is also going to be modified.

13. Ron DeSantis

Governor of Florida Ron DeSantis had a telephone call meeting with Trump and other advisors, he increased the amount of police force in Florida and implemented a curfew. In a statement released by DeSantis, he proclaimed that, “Florida has zero tolerance for violence, rioting and looting . . . George Floyd’s murder was appalling . . . but this cannot be used as a pretext for violence in our Florida communities.” The amount of resources that Florida has available for security include mobilizing 700 National Guard soldiers and 1300 Highway Patrol troopers. Many protesters have since been arrested for not following curfew and misbehavior conduct.

12. JB Pritzker

Following the unrest of protesters, looting, and disaster that has taken place in Chicago, Governor JB Pritzker was one of the many governors who participated in a conference call with Trump. Pritzker confronted him by expressing how “I wanted to take this moment . . . to speak up and say that I’ve been extraordinarily concerned about the rhetoric that’s been used by you,” according to CNBC Chicago 5. Trump responded by shifting attention to the concerning rhetoric from Pritzker regarding the pandemic. Governor Pritzker and Mayor Lori Lightfoot both then publicly criticized Trump for his response in handling the situation in Minneapolis.

11. Mitt Romney

Senator Mitt Romney has recently made headlines for being the first GOP senator to actively participate in a Black Lives Matter protest. He marched with a Christian group in Washington D.C. He tweeted that “We need a voice against racism, we need many voices against racism and against brutality.” Although, he was recently criticized by Trump for participating in the march.

10. Gregg Abbott

Texas Governor Gregg Abbott has stated that, “This is the most horrific tragedy I’ve ever personally observed,” and has personally visited the Floyd Family. He has also hinted that there may be something called the George Floyd Act which would see to the restructuring of police departments and services.

His state had special attention as George Floyd’s service and burial where held in Huston.

9. Andrew Cuomo

Governor of New York Andrew Cuomo has stated that George Floyds death should not go in vain. He has stated that this is a time for change and for the nation to learn something. He is saying that this was due to decades of racial injustice.

He has also said that it is time for a new era of policing and called out Trump’s reaction as crude, mean and irresponsible.

8. Gary Herbert

Utah Governor Gary Herbert has stated support for the police and use of the national guard in Washington D.C. He has also stated that he is deeply saddened by George Floyds death, calling it “inhumane” and “Brutal.” Violent protests broke out in Salt Lake City as those asking for change not only mourned George, but local man Bernardo Palacios-Carbajal. who was gunned down by police.

7. Jay Inslee

Governor of Washington D.C Jay Inslee stated his opinion on reforming policing. He has urged those in his community to propose new legislation. He is meeting with Ethnic Minority leaders and the police department to come to the best conclusions. President Trump reached out to Governor Jay Inslee through a tweet. Trump expressed concern for the city of Seattle and the urgency of the governor and mayor to take control of the riots.

He has also heavily criticized Trump and his remarks on deploying the national guard to stop protestors stating that “These are the rantings of an insecure man trying to look strong, after building his entire political career on racism and the lie of birtherism.

6. Nancy Pelosi

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has had little public statement on George’s death and protests. Participating in the moment of silence and kneeling in the Emancipation Hall for 8 mins 46 seconds. Each major member wearing Kente cloth, a traditional African scarf, has brought heavy criticism as a PR play rather than respect.

Nancy is also on board for police reform and went over some of the changes she and other members of the house would like to see like demilitarization and lynching as a federal crime and the tearing down of confederate statues.

5. Tim Walz

Tim Walz, Governor of Minnesota, has been vocal about how tragic this event has been. Going to the site where the death of George Floyd occurred he has stated that he is afraid of “white politicians appropriating black pain.” He went on to say that he is saddened that he has become friends with mothers because of events like this coming to light. He also asked his state early on June 9th to have a moment of silence in honor of George for 8 min 46 sec, the time George was on the ground suffocating.

4. Bill Barr

Attorney General William “Bill” Barr is for the police force. He has stated in interviews that a majority of Police are good people and that policing is one of the toughest jobs. He stated that you shouldn’t “automatically [assume] that the actions of an individual necessarily mean that their organization is rotten.”

Bill was involved in the unwarranted clearing of peaceful protesters so Trump could have a photo-shoot in front of a church.

3. Barack Obama

The first black president in office for two terms and a hero to many people of color, Barack Obama has been active in stating his opinion on reform. He also started and still funds the My Brother’s keeper alliance “so that every boy and young man of color in America would know that their dreams mattered as much as any other child’s.”

He has also written articles on how protesters and activists can bring real change to this problem. Being one of the best examples that equality has come a long way, but still have much further to go.

2. Joe Biden

Taking this opportunity, Joe Biden has been continually active on social media. Talking with Hollywood actor Don Cheadle, who plays Roadie in Iron Man 2 and Avengers series. Not making a direct appearance at his funeral, Joe did make a video to be played stating his condolences and understanding at the loss of loved ones.

He has also stated that reform is in order for banning choke-holds and having more accountability for officers’ actions.

1. Donald Trump

Many are criticizing Trump on his reaction to the protests. From tear gassing to clear a way to St. John’s Church, an Episcopal church, for a photo shoot. He has been retweeting videos judging George Floyd’s character (this has since been removed from his twitter feed).

The video judged George’s character and criminal history but still said that what police did was wrong. He has also tweeted, stating that official’s “Should have let police do their job and brought in National Guard on Day One, not Day Four!” in a Tweet about the protests turned into riots.

Democrats vs. Republicans on the Second Amendment

Posted on by Aditya Utturkar

Gun control is a major source of policy debates for the Presidential elections of 2020. One side advocates support for stricter gun control, while the other side favors less regulation for personal liberty. The Second Amendment implies that ownership of ammunition is a basic right that cannot be infringed on by federal laws, but in recent years there has been a growing call to revisit this amendment.

The Changing Context of the Second Amendment

This amendment has been worded as follows: “A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” When it was first implemented in the 18th century, it was a different time. Civilian Militias like the Minutemen of Concord and Lexington fame were quite common and favorably looked upon by the general populace. In addition, events like continental wars, civil wars, Westward expansion and even the unknown wildlife made owning guns and ammunition a necessity for survival.

Fast forward to the present day. We are in the post Cold-War era, when cowboys have relegated even on the big screen; when the US is a global superpower with more military spending than the next few countries combined; but more importantly when our children are being targeted in schools, the discussion on gun laws as a policy has taken center stage during the last decade or so.

The debate on gun control has two points of view which draw from these contexts: is gun control really needed for personal protection or is easy access to guns a genuine public health concern?

Democrats vs Republicans on the issue

Generally speaking, Democrats and Republicans stand on opposite ends of the political spectrum when it comes to gun control. However, there are several common key points on this issue which have agreements with both parties. Amidst several high profile mass shootings in 2019, stringent background checks have been deemed necessary by a majority on both sides to prevent weapons from falling into the wrong hands. While this is true, there are still quite a few aspects that the two sides differ on.

Republicans’ stance on gun control stems from a deep-held belief in personal liberty and individual responsibility, and gun ownership being an extension of the right to self-defense.  Republicans claim it is their right to protect themselves, family and private property from criminals, corrupt government, and war-time invasions. While some republicans do support gun control laws such as mandatory background checks, others are mostly against gun manufacturer liabilities and federal licensing. In addition, the National Rifle Association supports and funds several Republican lawmakers while also having a political lobby of their own. This adds a distinct dimension to Republican lawmaking that does not exist with the Democrats.

Democrats treat gun violence as a legitimate public health concern. They believe better gun control will distribute gun ownership rights to more responsible people while discouraging antagonistic individuals. This is best demonstrated by Elizabeth Warren’s gun control plan that she presented in August last year, which involved creating federal licensing, having a firearm cap per person, increasing the minimum age for gun ownership, and more importantly holding gun manufacturers accountable.

Second Amendment in the Presidential Election of 2020

Shooting past the primaries, the target moves towards 2020 Presidential elections and makes it necessary to know what the candidates support, especially in the gun control arena. Like a cowboy face-off, we have two heavy gunners who have a wide range of influence.

On one corner we have Joe Biden, the former Vice-President during the Obama administration. At 77 years of age and having served in different eras, he has seen the relaxed nature of gun control in his prime to the relatively divided and emotional nature of politics today. He was the architect of the assault weapons ban in 1994, helped push the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act a year before and was also Obama’s main choice when it came to handling gun-related issues during his administration. He actually had a pro-gun stance early in his career, which makes his anti-gun stance in recent decades more interesting. He unveiled his plan for gun control late last year in October which includes assault weapon bans, federal licensing and more interestingly the development of smart guns, which would only be activated by the registered owner’s fingerprint. This plan clearly builds up on his previous experience in this area.

As opposed to Biden, Trump has occupied a public office for just a few years and his exact stance on gun control is not as clear. He is committed to the implementation of the Second Amendment as a constitutional right of law-abiding citizens which should not be transgressed, and some of his policies are reflective of this priority. For example, his policy in 2018 has addressed improving school safety by offering to train school personnel in weapons as well as encouraging military men to take up careers in education, in addition to background checks, establishing commissions, and improving mental health. He again showed interest in stricter background checks after the mass shootings in 2019. A bipartisan bill (H.R.8) which makes background checks on all gun sales mandatory passed the House of Representatives last year, but has not made it past the Senate currently headed by Mitch McConnel, a Republican from Kentucky. If passed, it will be in tune with the Second Amendment and not infringe on the ability of able people to carry weapons.

In closing

In a democratic institution, the Constitution is considered sacred and rightfully so. However, defending and implementing the laws that it contains is also equally critical to the democratic process. This gives rise to different interpretations of the law under scrutiny, with the Second Amendment being no different from any other law in this regard. While there are differing interpretations, both sides agree that something needs to be done for the public health crisis of mass shootings to be contained. It is critical to find a powerful solution to this lingering problem as soon as possible.

2020 Presidential Election Calendar: Primaries, Debates, Caucuses, Conventions and more.

Posted on by Arundhati Oommen

(Updated March 1, 2020)

With the presidential election process happening now, you can follow along till the general election with our guide to all the presidential events in 2020 listed below.

February 2020

February 3 (Monday)

  • Iowa caucuses (D- Buttigieg Winner, closely followed, R-President Trump Wins)

February 7 (Friday)

  • Eighth democratic primary debate in New Hampshire

February 11 (Tuesday)

  • New Hampshire primaries (D- Sanders Winner, closely followed by Buttigieg , R-President Trump Wins)

February 19 (Wednesday)

  • Ninth Democratic primary debate in Las Vegas (5pm Pacific, aired live on ABC)

February 22 (Saturday)

  • Nevada caucus (D)

February 25 (Tuesday)

  • 10th Democratic primary debate in Charleston, South Carolina

February 29 (Saturday)

  • South Carolina primary (D)

March 2020

March 3 (Super Tuesday):

  • Alabama primaries (D, R)
  • American Samoa caucus (D)
  • Arkansas primaries (D, R)
  • California primaries (D, R)
  • Colorado primaries (D, R)
  • Maine primaries (D, R)
  • Massachusetts primaries (D, R)
  • Minnesota primaries (D, R)
  • North Carolina primaries (D, R)
  • Oklahoma primaries (D, R)
  • Tennessee primaries (D, R)
  • Texas primaries (D, R)
  • Utah primaries (D, R)
  • Vermont primaries (D, R)
  • Virginia primary (D)
  • Democrats Abroad primary (through March 10)

March 8 (Sunday)

  • Puerto Rico primary (R)

March 10 (Tuesday)

  • Idaho primaries (D, R)
  • Michigan primaries (D, R)
  • Mississippi primaries (D, R)
  • Missouri primaries (D, R)
  • North Dakota caucus (D)
  • Washington primaries (D, R)

March 12 (Thursday)

  • Virgin Islands caucus (R)

March 14 (Saturday)

  • Guam caucus (R)
  • Northern Mariana convention (D)
  • Wyoming convention (R)

March 17 (Tuesday)

  • Arizona primaries (D)
  • Florida primaries (D, R)
  • Illinois primaries (D, R)
  • Northern Mariana convention (R)
  • Ohio primaries (D, R)

March 21 (Saturday)

  • Kentucky caucus (R)

March 24 (Tuesday)

  • American Samoa caucus (R)
  • Georgia primaries (D, R)

March 29 (Sunday)

  • Puerto Rico primary (D)

April 2020

April 3-5 (Friday-Sunday)

  • North Dakota state convention (R)

April 4 (Saturday)

  • Alaska primary (D)
  • Hawaii primary (D)
  • Louisiana primaries (D, R)
  • Wyoming caucus (D)

April 7 (Tuesday)

  • Wisconsin primaries (D, R)

April 28 (Tuesday)

  • Connecticut primaries (D, R)
  • Delaware primaries (D, R)
  • Maryland primaries (D, R)
  • New York primaries (D, R)
  • Pennsylvania primaries (D, R)
  • Rhode Island primaries (D, R)

May 2020

May 2 (Saturday)

  • Kansas primary (D)
  • Guam caucus (D)

May 5 (Tuesday)

  • Indiana primaries (D, R)

May 12 (Tuesday)

  • Nebraska primaries (D, R)
  • West Virginia primaries (D, R)

May 19 (Tuesday)

  • Kentucky primary (D)
  • Oregon primaries (D, R)

June 2020

June 2 (Tuesday)

  • District of Columbia primaries (D, R)
  • Montana primaries (D, R)
  • New Jersey primaries (D, R)
  • New Mexico primaries (D, R)
  • South Dakota primaries (D, R)

June 6 (Saturday)

  • Virgin Islands caucus (D)

June 7 (Sunday)

  • Puerto Rico primary (R)

July 2020

July 13-16 (Monday-Thursday)

  • Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

August 2020

August 24-27 (Monday-Thursday)

  • Republican National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina

September 2020

September 29

  • First presidential debate, University of Notre Dame, Indiana

October 2020

October 7

  • Vice presidential debate, University of Utah

October 15

  • Second presidential debate, University of Michigan

October 22

  • Third presidential debate, Belmont University, Tennessee

November 2020

November 3

  • Election Day

Obama Vs. Trump, What They Accomplished

Posted on by Connor Haugen

With the 2020 elections right around the corner, and Trump‘s impeachment trial finally behind us, we want to reflect on the past of what Trump has done during his reign as President.

According to Politifact, Obama kept more promises during his time as president, though he had two terms to work with. Trump’s administration has more in the works that may go unfulfilled if not elected for a second term.

Trump’s Term So Far

Trump has tried to dip his finger into every pie with his promises. Everything from Tax cuts to cutting funding for planned parenthood. This has created both benefits and controversy.

Some of the recent things Trump has accomplished is that he ordered and killed Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, who was responsible for the deaths of many US troops.

Trump was also the first president to sit and talk with one of the most dangerous men in the world, Kim Jong-un, to try and barter peace. He has recently revealed a peace deal for Israel and Palestine, though it was quickly rejected by both countries.

What drove Trump’s campaign is immigration. Stating he will reverse Obama’s DAPA and DACA orders, but only successfully eliminating DAPA. The other and most iconic is the wall that he wanted Mexico to pay for to further solidify the border. This has been an undertaking which will most likely go unfinished if not re-elected. The most recent development from that front is a section of the wall collapsing towards Mexico.

There is also the large anti-Muslim factor to his immigration standards that fell through since his time in office. Originally wanting to “Ban Muslims from entering the U.S.,” by creating executive orders. If claimed that it was for national security, the supreme court said that it could be done. Though many Americans and world leaders didn’t like this idea of a “Muslim ban,” Trump did meet in the middle and enacted a travel ban that targeted “terror prone” places such as “Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, North Korea and Venezuela,” according to an article by Miriam Valverde of politifact.com.

Eliminating and cutting taxes was another big driver in his campaign, with which he has been able to achieve. One such act is the Tax Cut and Jobs Act of 2017. Though this act did reduce taxes for income brackets across the board according to the Tax Foundation, “bringing jobs back to America ” is a tall order for internationally based companies. Companies like Apple had to repatriate billions of dollars in offshore shares, losing millions if not billions in the process of converting currency and foreign tax.

Trump’s tariffs have created backlash when they were enacted creating higher pricing for industries that rely on foreign industry. Retailers such as Best Buy took a 20% drop in stock prices due to roughly 60% of their stock being Chinese manufactured. Though both have been in a trade war, there are rumors China will cut tariffs by 50% for imported goods.

Under Trump the economy has been slightly boosted. stock market and GDP have been on a steady rise while unemployment has been reduced. He has saved $33 billion by cutting and repealing regulations according to Heritage.org.

Finally he promised to expand the military efforts in the middle east, expanding the Navy by capping to 350 ships and submarines, adding to the Air Force over a thousand new fighter aircraft, and building the Marine corp to 36 battalions. He asked for the removal of troops from Syria. He also followed through with his promise to beef up military action in the middle east, deploying more than 14,000 troops to Afghanistan. the number has risen with the recent attack on the US embassy in Iraq, adding another 750 to the roughly 5,200 deployed there.

Obama’s Time in Office

Obama accomplished a lot in his 8 years as president. No president is perfect, and Obama had many blunders along with other liberal policy enactments and accomplishments.

First and foremost is Obama’s legacy on healthcare, The Affordable Care Act or Obamacare. This act mandated that every citizen of the United States was required to have health insurance or pay a fine (recently redacted fine when the Tax Cut and Jobs act passed). It did much more than that as it put caps on co-pays, restricted the ability for insurers to deny coverage to those with severe illness and so forth. Many people however found it a burden on the Taxpayer as Obamacare forced others to pay for insurance for someone else. Insurance premiums in most cases more than doubled or tripled, making it very unaffordable healthcare.

Obama was the president who was in office when the man who orchestrated the 9/11 attacks, Osama Bin Laden, was killed. He was pulling troops from the area when this act crippled Al-Qaeda. Some argue that by leaving Iraq at this crucial moment this gave ISIS time to establish and claim dominance as the new world terror.

His other most controversial act was to reduce military and nuclear arms in US possession as close to zero as possible. By the end of Obama’s second term, the administration was able to decommission roughly 553 nuclear arms. The stockpile was at 4,018 by the end of his term. He was also the first US president to visit the Hiroshima bomb site.

Obama also tried to fuel the US economy, but instead of focusing on big business he created the JOBS Act, which would help small businesses and start-up. Some aspects regulated crowdfunding and investing. This would make it more difficult for one investor to make all the decisions and allow for more diverse input.

He also had the Dodd Frank Act, which targeted agencies that supposedly caused the recession and financial crisis in 2008. This act targeted large companies and liquidated assets from them to prevent the collapse of the stock market in the event of the companies failure. This also heavily regulated banks from investing financial assets, limiting a banks growth but supposedly protecting consumer investment in the bank.

Obama was also a large advocate for climate reform. Pushing hard on regulating oil, methane, coal and other fossil fuels, Obama pushed for clean energy. Regulations such as the Clean Power Plan required states to reduce carbon emission as they see fit, so long as it is done. Also helped regulate deep water drilling after the BP oil spill.

The Common Ground

What do Trump and Obama have in common? According to FRED (Federal Reserve) he and Obama have both had somewhat positive effects on the economy. Both lowered unemployment rate, raised GDP and both had negative effects like raising the national debt. They both helped boost wages, jobs, and reduce unemployment.

How do Voters Relate to Each of the Top 3 Democratic Candidates?

Posted on by Arundhati Oommen

With the upcoming Iowa Caucus taking place February 3rd of 2020, voters will be able to make their first decisions regarding the democratic presidential primary. Below is a political comparison of the top three democratic candidates, Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, and Elizabeth Warren, as well as the aspects that American voters resonate with: the socialist movement/policies, views on campaign fundraising, and candidates’ personal lives.

Personal Life:

Joe Biden has thus far retained his position as the head of the pack (though by a somewhat slim margin) ever since he announced his candidacy. Voters resonate with the emotional trauma Biden has suffered with the loss of his son Beau Biden. Biden cited his reason for not having participated in the 2016 election being that he needed time to grieve with his family. This particular sentiment of the importance of family was shared with voters. Voters tend to view Biden as the most seasoned politician with the greatest amount of experience with a presidency. Biden tends to be a very well thought out candidate, taking longer periods of time to establish his priorities as well as how to deal with the continuous waves of upcoming conflicts. Though many Americans seem to appreciate his maturity, it also lends to the idea of Biden not being as mentally agile or sharp in comparison to others.

In contrast to Biden’s emotional resonation with voters, Bernie Sanders is able to take hold of the anger and desire for change that much of the democratic population holds. Sanders is a self-proclaimed socialist and many of his supporters are the same. Sanders is thus able to appeal to a vast age range. Both Gen Z and Millennials support lower college tuition fees and Sanders’ stance on climate change. Sanders’ socialistic views have started to engage with a large portion of the growing democratic socialist party.

In distinction to Sanders’ wide fan base, Elizabeth Warren runs her candidacy on her own populist economic platform. Warren speaks to the “ordinary citizens of America”, those who work 9-5 jobs and sometimes struggle to make ends meet: a life Warren knew well herself. [DC1] Warren has particularly managed to resonate with voters over the staggering income disparity between America’s upper echelon and its middle class. Voters empathize with her own struggles of being both a working mom and the pressures of living paycheck to paycheck.

Campaign Fundraising:

A contentious issue in the upcoming Presidential Primary has been the use of PAC funding. Earlier in Biden’s candidacy, he had made clear his lack of support for Pac financing, but as he has continued to drop in the polls his campaign has continued to receive super Pac support.

Similarly, since the 2016 election, Sanders has continued to disavow Pac funding, but also receives support from his own foundation as well as a nurse backed super Pac.

Elizabeth Warren has made it a core point of her campaign to not accept monetary funds from any PACs of any kind, rather believing that her own presidential hopes lie in the pockets of the working class. Regardless, Warren has made strides throughout her candidacy so far and continues to represent America’s lower and middle-income classes

Movements/Policies:

All three candidates have differing priorities when it comes to their presidency. Biden hopes to expand the affordable care act to create more catered insurance opportunities for Americans, as well as reducing the amount of offshore oil rigs. Sharing that he also wants to pull out of “unnecessary warfare” such as the Saudi backed war in Yemen.

Bernie Sanders promises to enact policies to address every front that hurts potential supporters: be it eliminating the high costs of college tuition or increasing the minimum wage. However much of Bernie Sanders policies rely on the trust that Americans would be able to accept the trade-offs that come with his widely socialistic laws and policies. Such trade-offs include high taxes and unemployment paired with open trade and slow growth, whether the benefits outweigh the costs is a choice voters will have to make themselves.

Similarly, in a socialistic perspective, Warren’s main hopes for her possible presidency is to increase the minimum wage to $15.00 an hour as well as to attack big corruption and to break up tech conglomerates.

 

Senate, House and Parties Argue Fairness in Impeachment Trial

Posted on by Connor Haugen

Update: The second day of the trial is underway where the Democrats are now arguing how Trump abused his power and why.

Trump’s impeachment trial has begun, and both Republicans and Democrats say that the process has been “unfair.” Both are arguing lack of evidence, time and due process. As of this moment, there has been little evidence from both sides.

“There isn’t a witness on either side that you can call that can inject fairness and due process into a process that had none,” said Rep. John Ratcliffe in an interview with Fox News. He went on to say that Nixon’s lawyers had more time to bring forth evidence and work with him every step of the way. According to John, who announced he will join Trump’s legal team, said that out of the 78 day process Trump’s lawyers have only had 7 to work with the president.

There has been much controversy and talk of impeachment since day one for Trump. The constitution lists that “treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors,” are impeachable offenses. Currently in questions for abuse of power and obstruction of congress, Some have questioned “high crimes and misdemeanors,” as being to vague.

“It’s only happened twice and so the general thought is that it means whatever the House and the Senate think it means,” Said Suzanne Sherry, a law professor in constitutional law, in an article from ABC news. It is stated in the constitution that the senate does have the right to call the president and hold trial for impeachment. During this trial however, no senator is allowed to speak.

What this means for the elections

As stated in another article here, Trump’s approval ratings are still high with 42.3% approval rating. If this is handled poorly by the democrats it will be a major blow to the party.

Since no solid evidence has been brought forth yet and we are still in the arguments for how to run the trial, it is still too early to say what will happen. One thing is certain, if Trump is acquitted this will possibly discredit the democratic party for the upcoming elections. Trump will also use this to reinforce the views of the trial as a “witch hunt.”

Trump’s Impeachment Benefits Democrats

Posted on by Connor Haugen

Trump’s recent impeachment has a lot of people riled up, Democrats and Republicans alike smelling blood in the water. Though with this impeachment looming over his re-election, Trump still has a high approval rating. According to a recent report from Harvard’s Harris poll, a survey that randomly selects 2,000 registered voters, 32% said that they would still vote Republican.

When asked “Do you approve or disapprove of the job Donald Trump is doing as President of the United States?” 47% responded that they approved of the job he has done. The poll also states 29% would vote for him again and 10% probably.

Though his approvals are higher than expected, Trump still has a long way to go.

If Trump is not Impeached by the Senate

With Mitch McConnell’s plan to bypass the Democrats in the impeachment process, and with the Senate looking like they will drop the charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, Trump has fairly good odds for another 4 years in office.

The most recent Gallup poll puts Trump at a 45% approval rating. With little to no competition in his way from the Republican party other than his VP Mike Pence (who has yet to declare). It will be a neck and neck race with the leader of the Democratic party Joe Biden, former VP of Obama.

Trump also has $463 million dollars backing his election and Joe only having 21.5 million currently, Trump will be able to afford the best of the best to run his campaign.

Recently announced as well were the states of Alaska, South Carolina, Arizona, Kansas, and Nevada pulling the Republican primaries. This is due to many reasons but all in Trump’s favor as all these states have been heavily Republican.

It is still too early to tell what the outcome will be since there are many unknowns still. Suprise declarations and dropout, debates, and other political breaking events like the assassination of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, it is anyone’s game.

If Trump is Impeached by the Senate

There is also the question, what if the conviction actually happens? The only other two declared candidates so far are Joe Walsh, Former Rep. of Illinois, or Bill Weld, former Governor of Massachusetts. Mike pence would take over presidency and most likely decaler himself for candidacy.

Compared to Trump, the approval rating combined don’t compare with a recent poll from Iowa primaries putting Joe and Bill collectively at 12%. Mike Pence would be the most likely to shoulder the weight of the Republican Party with his approval rating sitting roughly at 42%.

With only two declared competitors to Trump/Pence for the Republicans, and the possibility of full impeachment, this scenario would give the Democrats a large lead and advantage the next few months. The leader among the Democratic party is Joe Biden with a steady 50% approval rating.

I think there’s no question that on paper at least Biden is likely the strongest challenger and that Trump has an uphill battle to get reelected,” said Mark Penn, Director of the Caps/Harris poll, in an article by The Hill.

Not only that but other promising candidates like Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and the 12 other candidates officially declared, there is little standing in the way of the Democratic party. If Trump is officially impeached and removed from office it is looking to be a blue election.

Democrats Foreign Policy Comparison – 2020 Presidential Election

Posted on by Arundhati Oommen

Ahead of the next January debate, democratic politicians are re-examining their foreign policy perspectives as the race continues to intensify. Below is a comprehensive politician comparison and analysis of the remaining candidates and their ambitions when it comes to American international relationships.

Michael Bennet

Michael Bennet believes in an “America first” policy when it comes to international relations, seeking to strengthen United States cyber operations as well as the United States military power. However, Michael Bennet failed to qualify for the third presidential debate held in September of 2019 but has yet to drop out of the presidential race.

Joe Biden

Joe Biden believes in leading by example. When faced with increasing foreign tensions, Biden seeks to establish the United States as the global hegemon. However, when faced with an authoritarian crisis such as the assassination of Saudi dissident journalist, Jamal Khashoggi, Biden offered no concrete policy, simply insisting that he would hear how Saudi Arabia would change their approaches to be more democratic in style. Reinvesting in the middle class and strengthening our economy should be our top priorities through international policy, he says, vowing to make deals and establish negotiations with foreign nations that only help, not hurt, Americas struggling middle class.  Biden’s first moves, if elected, would be to re-enter both the JCPOA and the Paris Climate Accord, whilst returning troops deployed to Afghanistan home.

Michael Bloomberg

Michael Bloomberg shares more moderate views when it comes to international tensions. Bloomberg aims to increase trade between the U.S. and China, whilst simultaneously lowering tariffs and sanctions. In turn, Bloomberg proposes increasing economic sanctions upon Russia and increasing the amount of aid provided to Ukraine. Bloomberg hopes to reaffirm “undermined” alliances in order to strengthen ties and cooperation when it comes to countries like North Korea.

Cory Booker

Cory Booker aims to progress international relations and promote national security. Booker is an ardent supporter of Israel and calls for expanding cooperative defense programs alongside Israel. In addition to defense programs, Booker maintains his focus on creating international cooperation when it comes to counter terrorism projects, believing all countries may reap the benefits.

Pete Buttigieg

Pete Buttigieg proposes reliance on newly founded international relationships as well as a balance of independence to stabilize international tensions. Buttigieg encourages increasing the economic independency of the United States and reducing the impact global powers, such as China, have on the national economy. In response to global issues involving Saudi Arabia and assassinated journalist, Jamal Khashoggi, Buttigieg proposes shutting of the Saudi government from the purchase of licensed United States military weapons. Buttigieg also sees reason with reaffirming relationships with allies, such as Israel but whilst laying the groundwork for increased communication and de-escalation.

Julian Castro

Julian Castro’s main foreign policy objective is promoting multilateralism as well as amending already existent foreign policy to compliment present day challenges. When addressing authoritarian powers such as China and Hong Kong tensions, Castro proposes high sanctions and global cooperation. In a Politician Comparison Castro was found to have the most principled perspectives. “America has fought for far too long with our own narrow-minded interests,” says Castro, instead seeking to guide America in a direction that parallels universal values. Castro remains the most progressive candidate, seeking to embody core American values and share our own unalienable rights through foreign policies.

John Delaney

John Delaney advocates for global cooperation when it comes to addressing international tensions. With the U.S.- China trade war coming to a slow, Delaney had proposed a collective of global powers creating an allied coalition against intellectual property theft, what he sees as the primary cause for the trade deficit. However, John Delaney failed to qualify for the third presidential debate held in September of 2019 but is yet to drop out of the race.

Tulsi Gabbard

Tulsi Gabbard seeks to promote national safety whilst aiding American allies with shared goals. In issues relating to authoritarianism, Tulsi Gabbard takes a headstrong approach. Gabbard seeks to shut down relationships with the Saudi government in response to state sponsored terrorism. Furthermore, Gabbard has been vocal against U.S. regime change war policy, believing it has proven as a reckless form of warmongering. Major policies will be proposed that help keep American jobs at home, she says.

Amy Klobuchar

Amy Klobuchar aims to align with global powers with multilateral decision making. Klobuchar’s main goal is reinstating initiatives that have been left unfulfilled through the past presidency. Major agreements include the Paris Climate Accord and the TPP. Klobuchar also maintains her position on reducing military spending and increasing funding for cybersecurity, a defensive strategy, she says, the United States lags behind.

Deval Patrick

Deval Patrick views his possible presidency as a chance to reinvest in American allies and expand trade. On international global powers, such as China, Patrick hopes to decrease foreign tariffs and increase trade relationships both with the middle east and China. Patrick hopes to further support Israel and increase negotiations and presence in Venezuela. Deval Patrick has failed to qualify for any of the debates but is yet to drop out of the race.

Bernie Sanders

Bernie Sanders seeks to use United States relationships alongside allies to set global precedent on political correctness and progressive actions. Regarding authoritarian tensions such as that between China and Hong Kong, Sanders takes a soft willed approach, hoping that his administration and reinforced ally ships will help make clear proper democratic values and may influence Chinese conduct. Sanders vows to only make international trade deals that aid in American job growth rather than hurting America’s middle class, a process, he says, was stunted by the TPP.

Tom Steyer

Tom Steyer hopes to reinforce relationships with American allies and centers his foreign policy on addressing the global impacts of climate change. Steyer insists that trade isolation is not possible with global powers, namely China, but when addressing topics of tension such as Hong Kong, Steyer proposes creating a coalition of global powers that may be able to push back on China. Seeking a bilateral solution is not the answer, he believes. Steyer supports multilateralism and is firm that the “America First” ideal will not be conducive with foreign relations.

Elizabeth Warren

Elizabeth Warren believes in setting healthy foreign relationships with United States allies whilst addressing greater global tensions. Regarding both Saudi Arabia and China, Warren proposes setting firm expectations for foreign relationships, and limiting those relationships when American values are infringed upon. In inter-country tensions, such as those between Russia and Ukraine, Warren says her administration will aid in setting up talks, but ultimately peace negotiations will have to be conducted between those two countries alone, she adds. Warren maintains that her presidency will prioritize working families over multinational corporations when it comes to foreign policies.

Marianne Williamson

Marianne Williamson hopes to use foreign allies in order to reinforce the United States influence on public democracy and to share core American values. Addressing international global powers, such as China, would be contingent on their conduct, she says. Proposing that the United States could block the global sales of instrumental companies in order to defend American interests. Furthermore, Williamson proposes a renewed version of the TPP if it protects American workers and doesn’t invest in jobs overseas. Williamson has also failed to attend the past four debates but is yet to drop out of the race.

Andrew Yang

Yang proposes a reset of international relations in order to more closely mirror American values. In order to address global tensions, such as those with Saudi Arabia, Yang says that the United States must re-establish relations with clear expectations in mind. Yang also proposes on using ally relationships to create a united vocal stance against outside powers that engage in foreign misconduct. Furthermore, with regards to the TPP Yang will rejoin the TPP alongside the implementation of other policies that share the benefits, he says.

With the upcoming 2020 election, positions on foreign policy are becoming increasingly important, deciding whether United States can maintain its Superpower status and guide the world in setting the international agenda on trade, monetary, and human rights fronts, a key role which the next president will have to fulfill. The democratic candidates each differ in the severity of their foreign policy and the reformations they propose. The candidates fall on all ends of the spectrum, from a band-aid like perspective on foreign policy to an outright transformation of the way America interacts with foreign nations.