Hillary's Primary Goal

As stated by this CNN article, Hillary Clinton's got her eyes set on $100 million-- the amount of money she says she'll need in the primary to kickstart her presidential bid. Her camp has sent out a video asking for 10 people, aptly named "Hillstarters," to donate $2,700 each to start her fundraising. She is hoping to start raising money early because her staff estimates that it will cost more money to win the 2016 presidential campaign than it cost in 2012, where Obama spent $1 billion. Her strategists are guessing that the Clinton Campaign with SuperPACs and supportive groups will raise $2 billion for the general election, but they are focusing right now on the money that they need for the primaries.

First of all, I think it's ridiculous how much is spent on every campaign. I understand that the expenses are crucial to advertising and the like, but it is SO MUCH MONEY. Clinton is definitely trying to get a head start in this fundraising game, as many other possible presidential candidates have not yet officially declared that they're running. I can see where this would be beneficial, especially since she will have the money to start advertising (positively and negatively) much sooner than the currently uncommitted. Although I'm not exactly sure how one would limit or control raising and spending on political campaigns, I do think it would be interesting to see how much each candidate could do with a specified, equal amount of money-- especially to see if any candidate would pull ahead who right now doesn't have to money to compete with powerhouses like the Clintons.

The Everyday American

This CNN article outlines the first few moves of Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign. The beginning of the campaign took Clinton and a group of close aides to Iowa, but she made a few stops along the way. One of these was at a Chipotle in Ohio (the article describes her order, if one would ever want to eat like a presidential candidate), where the media went abuzz due to her lack of recognition in the restaurant except by the security cameras. Another stop she made was at a gas station, where she engaged in conversation with a young man. The article says that she stopped at different hotels or towns, but did not add any specifics.

Although pretty short and simple, albeit a bit strange/stalker-ish (does anyone really care about the snacks--cottage cheese--that she packed for her journey?), this article is just the first of many articles to come which detail the lives of presidential candidates in order to connect the American people to their possibly-future president. In addition, she is campaigning on the road, which is another way to spark voters'  interest in her campaign. By stopping at gas stations where she engages in conversation, eating at a popular and "normal" restaurant, and sharing these things with the media, Clinton is looking to portray herself as an everyday citizen, just like you and me, so as to better connect herself to her voters. By becoming relatable, she hopes to win more public support and swing public opinion in her favor come voting day. I'm interested to see if this tactic is affective in upcoming polls, but I certainly haven't been swayed by this campaigning.

Another Strike for Tsarnaev

As the Boston Bombing trial continues, CNN reports of a "manifesto" that was found inside the boat in which Dzhokhar Tsarnaev hid while police pursued him. Judge George O'Toole was shown the boat today, and this evidence will be further used in the trial which aims to figure out if Tsarnaev is a "terrorist" or "goofball stoner."Also discussed in the trial was a multitude of Tweets posted through Tsarnaev's two Twitter accounts. Tsarnaev's defense states that these Tweets show the "crass" nature of being a college guy, but not many agree with this statement. After all, he tweeted on the day of the bombing: "Ain't no love in the heart of the city, stay safe people."

I hope Judge O'Toole decides that the writing on the inside of the boat is more evidence that points to the fact that Tsarnaev is responsible for the Boston Bombing. It was his bomb, as this article reminds us, that blew an 8-year-old boy to pieces, for goodness' sake! I think his tweets further this argument, especially when he sickly wished safety on everyone after he assisted in the murder of three people and the injuries of almost 100 times that. I hope they decide this case soon so he can be punished for his crime, but mostly so the victims, family and friends of lost loved ones, and people of Boston can put this horror to rest.

Abercrombie's in Trouble... Again

This CNN article looks at a court case SCOTUS will hear tomorrow regarding a teenaged girl's religious freedom. 17-year-old Samantha Elauf applied for a job at Abercrombie & Fitch in 2008. After a successful interview, the assistant manager was ready to hire her. However, the district manager rejected her application.... because she wore a headscarf. The Equal Employment Opportunities Commission took up Elauf's case, and sued Abercrombie. The store has publicly stated that it denied Elauf the job because employees are not allowed to wear headgear, as well as no heavy makeup, visible tattoos, or black clothing. However, Elauf argued, exceptions have been made in the past for employees who have asked to wear headgear. She believes that the discrimination is due to her Muslim faith; this discrimination in business is a "violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964."

I think it is shameful that Abercrombie & Fitch (or Abercrombie & Filth, as my mom calls it) would discriminate their employees on a religious basis. I understand not wearing hats when working the cash register; however, Elauf is not wearing her headscarf as a fashion statement, but rather as a sign of her Muslim faith. Abercrombie has had problems in the past, like when former CEO Mike Jeffries stated that the clothing store's customers should only be "good-looking people." But this discrimination against religion should be stopped. Hopefully the Supreme Court will rule in favor of Elauf so that religious liberty continues to be upheld in the United States.

Still Just a Bill?

The Rapid City Journal reports in this recent article that the House of Representatives passed the Keystone Pipeline bill with a 270-152 vote Wednesday afternoon. As this bill was already approved by the Senate, it has passed through Congress and is now sitting on the President's desk for signing. However, President Obama has stated more than once that he would veto the bill should it come to him.

This article was very short because this news is so recent; however, we do not need long explanations. This passed through the House with much less media-hubbub than the Senate's vote, which is interesting. I also wonder how Obama will veto it, as he has threatened to do. I'm assuming he will make a big deal about not signing it, but a pocket veto could also work (CNN reported that he had 10 days to sign it). This news was interesting for me to hear after just finishing Lincoln, where we saw how much it takes for a bill to pass even half of the bicameral legislature. It makes me appreciate the work that has been put into this Keystone pipeline bill, which has now been approved by both the House and the Senate. At least within 10 days, we will have more news regarding this controversy!

ISIS-- Now Targeting Freshmen

http://www.cnn.com/2015/02/03/politics/fbi-isis-counterterrorism-michael-steinbach/index.html

Michael Steinbach, the head of the courterterrorist division of the FBI, stated that ISIS is recruiting in the United States. He stated that teens as young as 15-year-olds are being recruited, and that he couldn't say for sure that such teens had not successfully made the journey to ISIS. He does know with certainty that there are "individuals" in the US who are in contact with ISIS, and who want to "conduct a terrorist attack." The government is working on blocking ISIS from reaching US citizens, but social media poses a huge problem due to the "sheer volume" a full staff has to wade through.

Although this story isn't new news, per say, it is interesting to have an FBI official's take on this problem. I also thought it was interesting to read that ISIS targets mostly women through social media, and I was sadly shocked to hear that kids equivalent in age to my freshman sister were being recruited-- I honestly really didn't even follow the news at that age! I'm glad that the government has repeatedly brought up this problem facing the United States, because it takes more than a few governmental officials to stop this attack; we should all be aware of these dangers. I also hope that the government would catch any terrorist attack that these ISIS-sympathizers could plan, like they did recently in Ohio.

Mayhem over Midazolam

This CNN article states that the Supreme Court will look into Oklahoma's death penalty protocol. Attorney General Scott Pruitt asked if the execution of three death row inmates could be postponed until after the Supreme Court makes its decision. There has been recent uproar over the death penalty in Oklahoma because of the botched execution nine months ago of Clayton Lockett. One particular drug is being questioned-- midazolam-- which some say is a "cruel and unusual punishment."


I think that it is good the Supreme Court is looking into this state's death penalty. Although the death penalty will not go away because of this, I think it is good to have national attention towards the fact that killing people is not right-- even if they are just debating over one drug. I hope that someday we will not have a death penalty. Two wrongs do not make a right; two deaths do not make justice.