Bad (B)Rand

Presidential candidate Rand Paul has been told to stop selling the Ray-Band sunglasses he has begun to sell on his campaign cite. He called this a mixture of cool and politics. The company didn't find it cool, and they have told him to stop selling their sunglasses as his own brand. This could be something small but it could be used against him by his opponents. Link: http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/rand-paul-yanks-ray-bans-after-complaint/ar-AAbvfEb

Obviously you shouldn't take someone else's work and call it your own, that's why we have patents. If a candidate can't get that maybe they should look at the laws of the country they want to lead. Just saying....

Vote for Pedro, I mean Rubio

Florida Senator Marco Rubio has thrown his bid into the hat for presidential candidates. He is a first time office holder but he is young and Hispanic, and using both to his advantage. Throughout his speech, he repeatedly said that the younger generation must move now to make "A New American Century." With this he took several jabs at his opponents about how they are older and that they are stuck in 20th century politics. He is also using hi background as a person who grew up with a bartender for a father and a maid as a mother, proving that no dream is too big in this country, aka the American Dream. Link : http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/rubio-tells-supporters-he-is-running-for-white-house/ar-AAaWfhu

I like that there is a candidate who is younger and willing to push for a new way of thinking. He may not have as many resources or years of experience as other candidates but he is optimistic. If other candidates can have this sort of energy they may be able to win and due it while not using a personal email account.:)

Racist slurrs on campus

Students at University of Oklahoma were recorded on camera leading a racial chant that included mentions of lynching, and a racial slur against blacks. The president of the university joined students in a pre-dawn  march in protest against the students. The fraternity was shut down by the national organization and the college president has given the students till midnight on Tuesday to leave the building. The legal staff of university is checking to see if the students violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. Link: http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/univ-of-oklahoma-severs-ties-with-frat-after-racist-chant/ar-AA9xFY4

In my opinion, what they did was wrong but it may not be illegal. I say this because they may have said they were not going to allow black students into their fraternity but they have not actually done it. Unless the Civil Rights Act restricts speech that may be hurtful against a person of a different ethnicity, then a lot of people need to be charged for this crime. Yes, it isn't a good thing that happened but it is within their rights so they can't be charged with anything for what they said.

Bill of Rights in Use

A 19 year old teenager is to go to a hearing in march to determine if he has enough evidence against him to stand trial. This same teenager is accused of shooting a 44 year old woman in a act of "road rage". He was reportedly following the women and her 15 year old daughter while driving. They then proceeded home and grabbed another family member and a firearm. The suspect in another encounter opened fire on the vehicle after "seeing a gun being waved around inside it." The prosecution is still gathering evidence to try and take this to court. Link: http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/defense-attorney-fatal-shooting-of-vegas-mom-not-road-rage/ar-BBhHdpf?ocid=DELLDHP


This is good that he is having the system work for him since it is the fifth amendment and not just going to trial and actually getting all the evidence to see if he did do it in self defense or just in a blind rage. I would suggest to go to the link given and see for yourself what this looks like to come to a decision if he is even really needed to be on trial.

So long Yemen

The U.S. Embassy in Yemen is being shut down due to the overthrow of the government by rebel forces after the capture of the capital. The staff at the embassy has been reduced and is currently destroying documents and weapons. The U.S. ambassador and his staff will leave by Wednesday and if needed will be evacuated by the U.S.S Iwo Jima, which is sitting in the Red Sea. The leader of the rebel forces did not directly threaten to attack the embassy but he did say "it is in the interest of powers, both foreign and domestic, to stabilize the country." Link:http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/united-states-closing-its-embassy-in-conflict-hit-yemen/ar-AA9dG8Z




This should have happened a while ago since the rebels took over the capital and overthrew the government. We really wouldn't want a repeat of Iran, but it doesn't sound like there have been direct threats to the U.S embassy so that is an upside. There still appears to be a lot of anti-American sentiment for the drone attacks, which is reasonable to an extent. As long as the rebel group doesn't do anything in these next few days to our embassy or personnel, it should be fine.

Another year, another few trillion

President Obama put forward his economic plans for the year to the Congress. He is trying to get the Republican majority to make some choices they will not like on tax cuts to the middle class with increases on taxing the wealthy. The projection of what will be made in new revenue is around $2.1 Trillion which is nice but it will need about a half a trillion in deficit in this year's plan. Link:http://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/obamas-dollar4-trillion-budget-sets-up-tax-fight-with-congress/ar-AA8SZiq

I don't think what he has done on getting the economy going is bad since it has risen to over $3 trillion but his spending is a little to much if it keeps adding to the debt. Just maybe we should cut back until we have the debt gone.

To the Courts

The United States Supreme Court will meet again to determine the gay marriage issue once and for all. The lower federal courts are split on the issue and now several appeals have gotten the courts attention to where they will decide is it a state or federal decision on if it can happen. Currently 36 states and the District of Columbia have accepted it will 10 have outlawed it. Link: http://www.cnn.com/2015/01/08/politics/supreme-court-gay-marriage-ruling/index.html


Personally, I have now problems with gay people, the idea of same-sex marriage is my only problem. It's mainly the religious and biological view on that it shouldn't happen.

Bring in the Israelis

The day after the president's State of the Union address, speaker John Boehner brought in Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu for an address to the Congress. The President was not informed of this trip which is "break in typical protocol." The reason behind this is because he was not a invited guest of the President. He, Benjamin Netanyahu, is here to give his view on the speech the President gave. His main issue with the speech is with the negotiations with Iran, mainly with the nuclear program. Link: http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/boehner-netanyahu-blindside-obama-with-speech-to-congress/ar-AA8sm8g

I find this interesting since this is one of America's biggest allies in the Middle East and that the leader of it is criticizing our President on his speech. It is something that should be taken into consideration by all political leaders that the things you say to your nation are heard all around the world. Hopefully the two leaders can meet while both are here and come to a better understanding on what both want.

To build or not to build, that is the question

The 114th Congress plans to get the bill to approve the building of the Keystone XL Pipeline by this Friday at the earilest. The President has made it somewhat clear that he will veto this bill once it reaches his desk. A poll taken shows that 59% of the country population support building it. The main opposition is that of enviromentalist groups and memebers of the Democratic party.

This is really one of the most blown up things that has happened in our lifetime that is happening in our country. It is something that is more of a political battle than anything. I get that people are worried what may happen but it will supply us with energy that is close by. It can supply jobs for people and give us a little more oil. If the Congress and the President "battle it out", it will make what they leave behind no different than those they replaced, people who can't/ won't do what is right for the country.
Link: http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/with-veto-threat-obama-and-congress-head-for-collision-over-keystone-pipeline/ar-AA7R6hR