Volume VI Issue 2 April 2010

George Miller | Chairman of House Commit- tee on Education and Labor, “Chief Archi- tect” of Democratic Heathcare Reform John DiIulio, Jr. | Former Senior Advisor to Exclusive Interviews! ʬˑˇʵˇ˕˖˃ˍʏʷʵʵˇː˃˖ˇʥ˃ːˆˋˆ˃˖ˇ ʻ˗ˎˋʧˆˇˎ˕˖ˇˋːʏʫ˕˔˃ˇˎˋʥ˃˄ˋːˇ˖ʯˋːˋ˕˖ˇ˔ President George W. Bush 335 SHQQSROLWLFDOUHYLHZ 9ROXPH9,,VVXH,, Executive Board Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief Senior Editors Bob Ma Bill Shotzbarger (C’10), Greg Rollman (W’11), Senior Managing Editor Nantina Vgontzas (C’11) Ned Shell Editors Editorial Board Managing Editor Rachel Fielding (C’11), Stephen Fritz (C’13), Neal Gupta Greg Rollman (C’13), Sarah Heinz (C’12), Emily Kim (C’13), Samuel Lee Publisher (C’12), Jonathan Roth (C’13), Ariela Rosenberg (C’12), Huge Ma Christopher Shimamoto (C’13), Nick Yu (C’13) Treasurer Interiew Editors Patrick Stedman Nathan Werksman (C’13), Collin Lyou (C’13), Michael Interview Editor Soyfer (C’13), Jessica Mayer (W’12) Jessica Mayer Copy Editors Marketing Director Sarah Heinz (C’12), Jessica Mayer (W’12), Alisan Oli- Angel Contrera ver-Li (C’10), Carolina O’Neill (C’10), Nick Stergiopoulos Soapbox Blog Editor (C’12) John Gee Chief of Staff The Soapbox Blog Lucas Blanchard Sarah Boice (C’10), John Gee (C’12), Josh Rittenberg Senior Editor (C’11), Andy Maheshwari (W’13), Luke Hassall (C’11), Nantina Vgontzas Brian Goldman (C’12) Writing Art, Photography & Design Senior Writers Cover Art John Gee (C’12), Gideon Spitzer (C’11), Patrick Sted- Chiyel Hayles (C’11) man (C’10), Rachel Thomas (C’11) Contributing Artists Staff Writers Chiyel Hayles (C’11), Laura Paragano (C’12), Allison Phill Venice (C’13), Neel Lalchandani (C’10), Michael Zuckerman (C’12), Siede Coleman (C’11) Soyfer (C’13), Chris Shimamoto (C’13), Luke Hassall Designers (C’11), Lucas Blanchard (W’12), Sam Greenberg Laura Paragano (C’12), Angel Contrera (W’13) (C’13), Melissa Roberts (C’13), Max Levy (C’13), Samuel Lee (C’12), Emerson Brooking (C’11) Business & Public Relations Angel Contrera (W’13), Laura Paragano (C’12), Daniel Berke (C’12), Jonathan Torem (W’12), Huge Ma (C’11) &RS\ULJKW3HQQ3ROLWLFDO5HYLHZ,WLVIRUELGGHQWRPDNHDQ\UHSURGXFWLRQVLQZKROHRULQSDUW ZLWKRXWWKHH[SUHVVFRQVHQWRIWKH335 335 SHQQSROLWLFDOUHYLHZ 9ROXPH9,,VVXH,, Executive Board Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief Senior Editors Bob Ma Bill Shotzbarger (C’10), Greg Rollman (W’11), Senior Managing Editor Nantina Vgontzas (C’11) Ned Shell Editors Editorial Board Managing Editor Rachel Fielding (C’11), Stephen Fritz (C’13), Neal Gupta Greg Rollman (C’13), Sarah Heinz (C’12), Emily Kim (C’13), Samuel Lee Publisher (C’12), Jonathan Roth (C’13), Ariela Rosenberg (C’12), Huge Ma Christopher Shimamoto (C’13), Nick Yu (C’13) Treasurer Interiew Editors Patrick Stedman Nathan Werksman (C’13), Collin Lyou (C’13), Michael Interview Editor Soyfer (C’13), Jessica Mayer (W’12) Jessica Mayer Copy Editors Marketing Director Sarah Heinz (C’12), Jessica Mayer (W’12), Alisan Oli- Angel Contrera ver-Li (C’10), Carolina O’Neill (C’10), Nick Stergiopoulos Soapbox Blog Editor (C’12) John Gee Chief of Staff The Soapbox Blog Lucas Blanchard Sarah Boice (C’10), John Gee (C’12), Josh Rittenberg Senior Editor (C’11), Andy Maheshwari (W’13), Luke Hassall (C’11), Nantina Vgontzas Brian Goldman (C’12) Writing Art, Photography & Design Senior Writers Cover Art John Gee (C’12), Gideon Spitzer (C’11), Patrick Sted- Chiyel Hayles (C’11) man (C’10), Rachel Thomas (C’11) Contributing Artists Staff Writers Chiyel Hayles (C’11), Laura Paragano (C’12), Allison Phill Venice (C’13), Neel Lalchandani (C’10), Michael Zuckerman (C’12), Siede Coleman (C’11) Soyfer (C’13), Chris Shimamoto (C’13), Luke Hassall Designers (C’11), Lucas Blanchard (W’12), Sam Greenberg Laura Paragano (C’12), Angel Contrera (W’13) (C’13), Melissa Roberts (C’13), Max Levy (C’13), Samuel Lee (C’12), Emerson Brooking (C’11) Business & Public Relations Angel Contrera (W’13), Laura Paragano (C’12), Daniel Berke (C’12), Jonathan Torem (W’12), Huge Ma (C’11) &RS\ULJKW3HQQ3ROLWLFDO5HYLHZ,WLVIRUELGGHQWRPDNHDQ\UHSURGXFWLRQVLQZKROHRULQSDUW ZLWKRXWWKHH[SUHVVFRQVHQWRIWKH335 NATIONAL 335 SHQQSROLWLFDOUHYLHZ The Biggest Loser: .ATIONAL 'LOBAL ʹˊ˃˖ʰ˃˖ˋˑː˃ˎʦˇˏˑ˅˔˃˖˕˅ˑ˗ˎˆˆˑ˖ˑʊ˔ˇʋˎˇ˃˔ːˈ˔ˑˏ ˖ˊˇˋ˔ˈ˔ˋˇːˆ˕ˋː˖ˊˇʵˑ˗˖ˊ The Biggest Loser Wet Canada 0HOLVVD5REHUWV   (PHUVRQ%URRNLQJ STORY BY EMERSON BROOKING Thank You for Your Service... A Deadly Trade  0D[/HY\  n the immediate after- them to seriously reassess the ergy and enthusiasm amongst /XNH+DVVDOO Imath of January’s Mas- direction of their organization. the Democratic faithful as a Healthcare: A Debrief Conservatives on the Rise in Latin America  sachusetts special Senate elec- What’s wrong with the Demo- whole. Liberal grassroots or-  3DW6WHGPDQ /XFDV%ODQFKDUG tion, the bottom fell out of the cratic Party? And, more im- ganizations like MoveOn.org An Unaccountable Silence A Strained, Yet Oddly Healthy Relationship Democratic Party. Conser- portantly, how can it be fixed? or DailyKos – groups that  -RKQ*HH 6DP*UHHQEHUJ  vative pundits crowed at the The answer to this first proved so effective in leading death of the Democratic su- question begins and ends with the Democratic breakthroughs American Detention Policy Abroad Kill the Filibuster permajority, while liberal ob- Democrat Martha Coakley’s of ’06 and ’08 – were nowhere  1HHO/DOFKDQGDQL  &KULV6KLPDPRWR servers reacted with a mix of failed Massachusetts Senate to be seen in the first signifi-  The New Bull-Moose shock and dark apprehension. bid. There is good reason why cant election of the new de- 3KLOO9HQLFH Both sides agreed that the con- Coakley and her dismal can- cade. Instead, it was an emer- What Obama Needs to Do )NTERVIEWS test decided in Massachusetts didacy have become whipping gent conservative grassroots  6DPXHO/HH Yuli Bernstein held far broader implications: posts for pundits and politi- blogosphere that decided the -HVVLFD0D\HU  voters were unhappy with the cians alike. Stories of her gaffes race in Massachusetts, funnel- pace and tenor of their Dem- are legendary: she misspelled ing a million dollars a day into Joe Sestak  ocrat-dominated government, the name of her own state in a Brown’s campaign during the %RE0D-HVVLFD0D\HU-RKQ*HH and they had responded by ele- widely circulated ad (“Massa- final days of the contest. Dem- vating Republican Scott Brown chusettes”), and infuriated the ocratic spirits have faltered, to represent one of the bluest entire Red Sox Nation by incor- and they may well keep on fall- 4HE¸3OAPBOX states in the Union. Late night rectly identifying famed pitch- ing through November 2010. comedian Jon Stewart cap- er Curt Schilling as a Yankees This leads to the second, Loudest from THE¸3OAPBOX  tured this new national mood fan. At the same time, Coak- more important question. If best: “It’s not that the Demo- ley’s campaign was sluggish loss of energy is to blame for crats are playing checkers and and ineffective, squandering a recent Democratic disappoint- the Republicans are playing multimillion dollar fundraising ments, what can be done to stop chess. It’s that the Republicans edge that persisted for much of it? One answer (and potential are playing chess and the Dem- the race and fielding a GOTV source of inspiration) can be ocrats are in the nurse’s office effort that was a weak shadow found south of the Mason-Dix- because, once again, they glued to Brown’s massive Election on Line. It’s a Democratic orga- their balls to their thighs.” Day mobilization. As a result, nization that has stayed reso- As Democrats struggle to a Republican won by a com- lute and optimistic through the regain their lost momentum fortable four-point margin in a very worst of political fortunes, (and find their lost mojos), state whose registered Demo- and it’s not one you’d expect. Republicans are feeling con- crats outnumber Republicans The Democratic Party of fident. Bolstered by a record- by a figure of three-to-one. Georgia has maintained its re- breaking CPAC turnout and Coakley’s inept candidacy solve and spirit through one of deafening string of Tea Party and staggering defeat were a the most caustically anti-Dem- Rallies, conservatives can look referendum on the Democratic ocratic environments in the to the 2010 midterm elections entitlement that has long per- nation. Being a Georgia liberal with renewed confidence. meated supposed party “strong- outside of the Atlanta metro Meanwhile, if Democrats want holds” like Massachusetts or area is hardly a winning prop- to retain their congressional California. Yet Coakley’s loss osition; in my own experience majority – and actually get also carries grimmer implica- growing up in my home state, anything done – it’s time for tions. It suggests lagging en- I never witnessed a Democrat-

 PENN POLITICAL REVIEW APRIL 2010 Page | 5 NATIONAL 335 SHQQSROLWLFDOUHYLHZ The Biggest Loser: .ATIONAL 'LOBAL ʹˊ˃˖ʰ˃˖ˋˑː˃ˎʦˇˏˑ˅˔˃˖˕˅ˑ˗ˎˆˆˑ˖ˑʊ˔ˇʋˎˇ˃˔ːˈ˔ˑˏ ˖ˊˇˋ˔ˈ˔ˋˇːˆ˕ˋː˖ˊˇʵˑ˗˖ˊ The Biggest Loser Wet Canada 0HOLVVD5REHUWV   (PHUVRQ%URRNLQJ STORY BY EMERSON BROOKING Thank You for Your Service... A Deadly Trade  0D[/HY\  n the immediate after- them to seriously reassess the ergy and enthusiasm amongst /XNH+DVVDOO Imath of January’s Mas- direction of their organization. the Democratic faithful as a Healthcare: A Debrief Conservatives on the Rise in Latin America  sachusetts special Senate elec- What’s wrong with the Demo- whole. Liberal grassroots or-  3DW6WHGPDQ /XFDV%ODQFKDUG tion, the bottom fell out of the cratic Party? And, more im- ganizations like MoveOn.org An Unaccountable Silence A Strained, Yet Oddly Healthy Relationship Democratic Party. Conser- portantly, how can it be fixed? or DailyKos – groups that  -RKQ*HH 6DP*UHHQEHUJ  vative pundits crowed at the The answer to this first proved so effective in leading death of the Democratic su- question begins and ends with the Democratic breakthroughs American Detention Policy Abroad Kill the Filibuster permajority, while liberal ob- Democrat Martha Coakley’s of ’06 and ’08 – were nowhere  1HHO/DOFKDQGDQL  &KULV6KLPDPRWR servers reacted with a mix of failed Massachusetts Senate to be seen in the first signifi-  The New Bull-Moose shock and dark apprehension. bid. There is good reason why cant election of the new de- 3KLOO9HQLFH Both sides agreed that the con- Coakley and her dismal can- cade. Instead, it was an emer- What Obama Needs to Do )NTERVIEWS test decided in Massachusetts didacy have become whipping gent conservative grassroots  6DPXHO/HH Yuli Bernstein held far broader implications: posts for pundits and politi- blogosphere that decided the -HVVLFD0D\HU  voters were unhappy with the cians alike. Stories of her gaffes race in Massachusetts, funnel- pace and tenor of their Dem- are legendary: she misspelled ing a million dollars a day into Joe Sestak  ocrat-dominated government, the name of her own state in a Brown’s campaign during the %RE0D-HVVLFD0D\HU-RKQ*HH and they had responded by ele- widely circulated ad (“Massa- final days of the contest. Dem- vating Republican Scott Brown chusettes”), and infuriated the ocratic spirits have faltered, to represent one of the bluest entire Red Sox Nation by incor- and they may well keep on fall- 4HE¸3OAPBOX states in the Union. Late night rectly identifying famed pitch- ing through November 2010. comedian Jon Stewart cap- er Curt Schilling as a Yankees This leads to the second, Loudest from THE¸3OAPBOX  tured this new national mood fan. At the same time, Coak- more important question. If best: “It’s not that the Demo- ley’s campaign was sluggish loss of energy is to blame for crats are playing checkers and and ineffective, squandering a recent Democratic disappoint- the Republicans are playing multimillion dollar fundraising ments, what can be done to stop chess. It’s that the Republicans edge that persisted for much of it? One answer (and potential are playing chess and the Dem- the race and fielding a GOTV source of inspiration) can be ocrats are in the nurse’s office effort that was a weak shadow found south of the Mason-Dix- because, once again, they glued to Brown’s massive Election on Line. It’s a Democratic orga- their balls to their thighs.” Day mobilization. As a result, nization that has stayed reso- As Democrats struggle to a Republican won by a com- lute and optimistic through the regain their lost momentum fortable four-point margin in a very worst of political fortunes, (and find their lost mojos), state whose registered Demo- and it’s not one you’d expect. Republicans are feeling con- crats outnumber Republicans The Democratic Party of fident. Bolstered by a record- by a figure of three-to-one. Georgia has maintained its re- breaking CPAC turnout and Coakley’s inept candidacy solve and spirit through one of deafening string of Tea Party and staggering defeat were a the most caustically anti-Dem- Rallies, conservatives can look referendum on the Democratic ocratic environments in the to the 2010 midterm elections entitlement that has long per- nation. Being a Georgia liberal with renewed confidence. meated supposed party “strong- outside of the Atlanta metro Meanwhile, if Democrats want holds” like Massachusetts or area is hardly a winning prop- to retain their congressional California. Yet Coakley’s loss osition; in my own experience majority – and actually get also carries grimmer implica- growing up in my home state, anything done – it’s time for tions. It suggests lagging en- I never witnessed a Democrat-

 PENN POLITICAL REVIEW APRIL 2010 Page | 5 NATIONAL NATIONAL

ic candidate who came within Martin’s candidacy had beaten advice. Yet, even as national five points of winning. Yet, the odds to embody the first Democrats languish despite Thank you for your time after time and year after significant challenge to Repub- controlling two branches of year, candidates keep trying, lican dominance in six years. government, the tiny core of service, but it’s time to move on and the party perseveres. Un- While Martin’s bid ended in the Georgia Democratic Party like some solidly red states, a runoff defeat, it also proved remains as energized as ever. STORY BY ʮʷʭʧʪʣʵʵʣʮʮ͙ART BY LAURA PARAGANO where liberals have effectively powerful validation for an or- Complacency need not always “clocked out” and ceded the ganization which for too long characterize our government’s state to their Republican op- had failed to be taken serious- political majorities, and a f the world’s 190-plus states, The Constitution lives on due to does not necessitate the rejection of Oonly three (Israel, Great Brit- the potent forces of inertia. Its lon- the entire legacy of the present docu- ponents, Georgia Democrats ly. So long as Georgia Demo- winner’s arrogance need not ain and New Zealand) lack a formal gevity is not a sign of its success but ment. Plenty of ideas from the Con- have never ceased fighting. crats continue to maintain this always supplant a loser’s de- written constitution. Excepting tiny merely how cumbersome it is to stitution could be carried over. The I remember working for a same level of drive and consis- termination. Had Coakley’s San Marino, the oldest constitu- change. Indeed the greatest, and most Bill of Rights, augmented to prevent Democratic congressional can- tent enthusiasm, the future of campaign been conducted with tion of all is America’s. Now over ironic, tragedy of the Constitution is special interest abuse, ought to be re- didate in 2008 who was vying their party looks bright. After this sense of humility instead two centuries old, it outlines insti- WKDW LW SHUSHWXDWHV WKH YHU\ GLI¿FXO- tained. There is no reason for the US to tutions and norms for an embattled ties it was designed to quell. Strictly simply borrow wholesale a new order for a seat in a district that had all, how many dozens of simi- of impatient entitlement, the coastal republic, attempting to bal- divided branches of government, in- from abroad. Parliamentary systems not even considered a Demo- larly hopeless races did Mas- contest in Massachusetts might ance regional power against the need tended to decentralize power, have have plenty of problems of their own, crat since the rout of 1994. sachusetts Republicans stum- have ended very differently. for national coordination as well as ended up merely driving each branch and the question of whether they are This candidate was passionate ble through before achieving The Democratic Party must the rights of the individual against to grab as much as it can for itself. In superior to more republican systems about his race, having mort- Brown’s stunning success? recapture the will and opti- maintaining eighteenth-century so- particular, the weakness of account- is far from settled. This may tempt cial order. Though the document has ability channels between the executive some to argue for merely amending gaged his house to help finance It sounds strange to sug- mism that have served their undergone many revisions and its and the legislative branches may have the Constitution, but that route would his campaign. When asked can- gest that national Democrats Georgia colleagues so well. meaning has been reinterpreted over enabled the deception that covered risk forgoing too many hard battles. didly about his chances of suc- (who have enjoyed an extraor- Until they do so, their broad the generations, its ideological in- the military activities of the Bush ad- Some of the necessary features of cess, he explained that – even dinary volume of victories over legislative agenda – and elec- frastructure remains at the heart of ministration. Similarly, although the a new constitution are obvious. The if he himself did not succeed the past four years) should toral fortunes – will only US politics. The time has come for Constitution provides courts with the Senate, a sop to eighteenth century’s – he knew his candidacy would look to their consistently out- plunge deeper into jeopardy. that infrastructure to be replaced. tools to protect minority rights, these pseudo-aristocrats and the supposed The Constitution was a visionary powers are far too weak. Just as sig- need for equality between states, must be pushing the district one step gunned Georgia brethren for document for the eighteenth century, QL¿FDQW GHVHJUHJDWLRQ HIIRUWV EHJDQ XQGHUJR VLJQL¿FDQW LQVWLWXWLRQDO UH- closer to an ultimate Democrat- but to be farsighted two hundred years only a decade after Brown v. Board of form. State equality is perverse in a day ic victory. While he would ulti- ago is to be backwards today. Much of Education, the prejudices of the leg- when seventy times as many people mately lose his race, his was the the Constitution is concerned with as- islative and the executive branches live in the most popular state than the best challenger performance suaging obsolete fears of tyranny from continue to dominate a weak judiciary least. If the principle is so dear, then above, a regional-national balance, on issues such as gay rights and the we should transfer most of the body’s in the better part of a decade, and a balance of popular sovereignty WUHDWPHQWRIGHWDLQHHV2QO\¿QDQFLDO- powers to the House and turn the Sen- driven by both passion and an and protections against mob rule. Be- ly robust minorities have little trou- ate into a chamber of dispassionate unshakeable belief in the mis- cause the language of the Constitu- ble enlisting the help of the courts. review, akin to Germany’s Bundesrat. sion of the Democratic Party. tion so permeates U.S. politics, these Furthermore, the Constitution is So long as it remains the senior On November 4, 2008, this concerns remain important here, responsible for much of the paraly- branch of the legislature, its arcane determination was briefly long after they have faded abroad. sis and corruption that character- rules and uneven allocation of votes They are the language of pre-dem- izes Washington today. Because the will continue to bedevil politics. In brought to the national fore. ocratic liberalism and focus on the Founders lived prior to true party poli- the House, stronger institutional The Georgia Senate race be- demands of the middle strata for pro- tics, they designed institutions suited support for parties could be com- tween Democrat Jim Martin tection from king and peasant alike. to a personalized legislative process. bined with a new electoral system like and Republican Saxby Cham- They steal the spotlight from The existence of individually elected Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) bliss became one of a handful socio-economic concerns that domi- representatives has meant that poli- combining district representation nate democratic discourse abroad. ticians frequently continue to act as and proportional voting by giving of contests declared too-close- The Founders were children of a pre- automatons, irrespective of their party citizens two legislative votes. But the to-call. For Georgia Demo- modern ideological context. Univer- DI¿OLDWLRQ %HFDXVH WKH &RQVWLWXWLRQ most important change would be to crats, this was a moment of sal suffrage, class issues, the need also provides for no sensible guidance forge new non-partisan institutions. deep excitement. Martin had for rational bureaucratic structures RQHOHFWLRQ¿QDQFLQJVSHFLDOLQWHUHVWV Notably, a federal electoral commis- surged in the final weeks be- divorced from political ones and have hundreds of entry points into the sion with the power to administer all fore Election Day, pushing the Success for Martha Coakley (seen above) will be dependent upon other modern concepts all struggled system. No country can avoid special votes, stronger bureaucratic struc- WR ¿QG WKHLU ZD\ LQWR WKH &RQVWLWX- interests, but in the US they can co-opt tures insulated from politicization, contest into a statistical dead the grassroots enthusiasm she inspires. tion. The defenders of the old order not merely parties, but 535 members and a ban on the election of judges heat. Bolstered by the blogo- claim that reformers do not under- of Congress. Only a de-individualized and prosecutors. Absent these chang- sphere, Obamania and a Geor- stand the reasons for the status quo. political process can restore the will es, partisan politicking will continue gia Democratic institution that That is false. We know exactly why of the people, and dethrone the will to infect those parts of government had long vowed never to quit, things are the way they are; we just of the people with the best lobbyists. that must remain neutral in order deny that they have to remain so. The creation of a new constitution for the rest of the system to function.  Page | 6 PENN POLITICAL REVIEW APRIL 2010 PENN POLITICAL REVIEW APRIL 2010 Page | 7 NATIONAL NATIONAL ic candidate who came within Martin’s candidacy had beaten advice. Yet, even as national five points of winning. Yet, the odds to embody the first Democrats languish despite Thank you for your time after time and year after significant challenge to Repub- controlling two branches of year, candidates keep trying, lican dominance in six years. government, the tiny core of service, but it’s time to move on and the party perseveres. Un- While Martin’s bid ended in the Georgia Democratic Party like some solidly red states, a runoff defeat, it also proved remains as energized as ever. STORY BY ʮʷʭʧʪʣʵʵʣʮʮ͙ART BY LAURA PARAGANO where liberals have effectively powerful validation for an or- Complacency need not always “clocked out” and ceded the ganization which for too long characterize our government’s state to their Republican op- had failed to be taken serious- political majorities, and a f the world’s 190-plus states, The Constitution lives on due to does not necessitate the rejection of Oonly three (Israel, Great Brit- the potent forces of inertia. Its lon- the entire legacy of the present docu- ponents, Georgia Democrats ly. So long as Georgia Demo- winner’s arrogance need not ain and New Zealand) lack a formal gevity is not a sign of its success but ment. Plenty of ideas from the Con- have never ceased fighting. crats continue to maintain this always supplant a loser’s de- written constitution. Excepting tiny merely how cumbersome it is to stitution could be carried over. The I remember working for a same level of drive and consis- termination. Had Coakley’s San Marino, the oldest constitu- change. Indeed the greatest, and most Bill of Rights, augmented to prevent Democratic congressional can- tent enthusiasm, the future of campaign been conducted with tion of all is America’s. Now over ironic, tragedy of the Constitution is special interest abuse, ought to be re- didate in 2008 who was vying their party looks bright. After this sense of humility instead two centuries old, it outlines insti- WKDW LW SHUSHWXDWHV WKH YHU\ GLI¿FXO- tained. There is no reason for the US to tutions and norms for an embattled ties it was designed to quell. Strictly simply borrow wholesale a new order for a seat in a district that had all, how many dozens of simi- of impatient entitlement, the coastal republic, attempting to bal- divided branches of government, in- from abroad. Parliamentary systems not even considered a Demo- larly hopeless races did Mas- contest in Massachusetts might ance regional power against the need tended to decentralize power, have have plenty of problems of their own, crat since the rout of 1994. sachusetts Republicans stum- have ended very differently. for national coordination as well as ended up merely driving each branch and the question of whether they are This candidate was passionate ble through before achieving The Democratic Party must the rights of the individual against to grab as much as it can for itself. In superior to more republican systems about his race, having mort- Brown’s stunning success? recapture the will and opti- maintaining eighteenth-century so- particular, the weakness of account- is far from settled. This may tempt cial order. Though the document has ability channels between the executive some to argue for merely amending gaged his house to help finance It sounds strange to sug- mism that have served their undergone many revisions and its and the legislative branches may have the Constitution, but that route would his campaign. When asked can- gest that national Democrats Georgia colleagues so well. meaning has been reinterpreted over enabled the deception that covered risk forgoing too many hard battles. didly about his chances of suc- (who have enjoyed an extraor- Until they do so, their broad the generations, its ideological in- the military activities of the Bush ad- Some of the necessary features of cess, he explained that – even dinary volume of victories over legislative agenda – and elec- frastructure remains at the heart of ministration. Similarly, although the a new constitution are obvious. The if he himself did not succeed the past four years) should toral fortunes – will only US politics. The time has come for Constitution provides courts with the Senate, a sop to eighteenth century’s – he knew his candidacy would look to their consistently out- plunge deeper into jeopardy. that infrastructure to be replaced. tools to protect minority rights, these pseudo-aristocrats and the supposed The Constitution was a visionary powers are far too weak. Just as sig- need for equality between states, must be pushing the district one step gunned Georgia brethren for document for the eighteenth century, QL¿FDQW GHVHJUHJDWLRQ HIIRUWV EHJDQ XQGHUJR VLJQL¿FDQW LQVWLWXWLRQDO UH- closer to an ultimate Democrat- but to be farsighted two hundred years only a decade after Brown v. Board of form. State equality is perverse in a day ic victory. While he would ulti- ago is to be backwards today. Much of Education, the prejudices of the leg- when seventy times as many people mately lose his race, his was the the Constitution is concerned with as- islative and the executive branches live in the most popular state than the best challenger performance suaging obsolete fears of tyranny from continue to dominate a weak judiciary least. If the principle is so dear, then above, a regional-national balance, on issues such as gay rights and the we should transfer most of the body’s in the better part of a decade, and a balance of popular sovereignty WUHDWPHQWRIGHWDLQHHV2QO\¿QDQFLDO- powers to the House and turn the Sen- driven by both passion and an and protections against mob rule. Be- ly robust minorities have little trou- ate into a chamber of dispassionate unshakeable belief in the mis- cause the language of the Constitu- ble enlisting the help of the courts. review, akin to Germany’s Bundesrat. sion of the Democratic Party. tion so permeates U.S. politics, these Furthermore, the Constitution is So long as it remains the senior On November 4, 2008, this concerns remain important here, responsible for much of the paraly- branch of the legislature, its arcane determination was briefly long after they have faded abroad. sis and corruption that character- rules and uneven allocation of votes They are the language of pre-dem- izes Washington today. Because the will continue to bedevil politics. In brought to the national fore. ocratic liberalism and focus on the Founders lived prior to true party poli- the House, stronger institutional The Georgia Senate race be- demands of the middle strata for pro- tics, they designed institutions suited support for parties could be com- tween Democrat Jim Martin tection from king and peasant alike. to a personalized legislative process. bined with a new electoral system like and Republican Saxby Cham- They steal the spotlight from The existence of individually elected Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) bliss became one of a handful socio-economic concerns that domi- representatives has meant that poli- combining district representation nate democratic discourse abroad. ticians frequently continue to act as and proportional voting by giving of contests declared too-close- The Founders were children of a pre- automatons, irrespective of their party citizens two legislative votes. But the to-call. For Georgia Demo- modern ideological context. Univer- DI¿OLDWLRQ %HFDXVH WKH &RQVWLWXWLRQ most important change would be to crats, this was a moment of sal suffrage, class issues, the need also provides for no sensible guidance forge new non-partisan institutions. deep excitement. Martin had for rational bureaucratic structures RQHOHFWLRQ¿QDQFLQJVSHFLDOLQWHUHVWV Notably, a federal electoral commis- surged in the final weeks be- divorced from political ones and have hundreds of entry points into the sion with the power to administer all fore Election Day, pushing the Success for Martha Coakley (seen above) will be dependent upon other modern concepts all struggled system. No country can avoid special votes, stronger bureaucratic struc- WR ¿QG WKHLU ZD\ LQWR WKH &RQVWLWX- interests, but in the US they can co-opt tures insulated from politicization, contest into a statistical dead the grassroots enthusiasm she inspires. tion. The defenders of the old order not merely parties, but 535 members and a ban on the election of judges heat. Bolstered by the blogo- claim that reformers do not under- of Congress. Only a de-individualized and prosecutors. Absent these chang- sphere, Obamania and a Geor- stand the reasons for the status quo. political process can restore the will es, partisan politicking will continue gia Democratic institution that That is false. We know exactly why of the people, and dethrone the will to infect those parts of government had long vowed never to quit, things are the way they are; we just of the people with the best lobbyists. that must remain neutral in order deny that they have to remain so. The creation of a new constitution for the rest of the system to function.  Page | 6 PENN POLITICAL REVIEW APRIL 2010 PENN POLITICAL REVIEW APRIL 2010 Page | 7 NATIONAL NATIONAL cont’d from Thank you... instituted. The status quo leaves most the handful of competitive states. It cont’d from Healthcare... Compare this with other OECD FRUQ HIIHFWLYHO\ GHÀDWLQJ WKH FRVW RI voters in Presidential elections absent is true that such a change would di- healthcare systems. Although they are extremely unhealthy goods such as These changes, and many others, Though many Americans oppose of political value, and forces candi- rect campaigns towards denser, more known to be both universal and gener- sugars and sodas. It is thus not sur- would go a long way towards right- full-blown universal healthcare, few dates to tailor their program towards populated areas. But is that inferior to DOO\KLJKO\HI¿FLHQWZKDWLVRIWHQRYHU- prising in the slightest that so many of ing the politics of the US. With GHQ\WKDWZHQHHGWR¿[RXUEURNHQ a status quo where in recent looked is the lifestyle and eating habits our poorer citizens are overweight; the time, individuals and parties LQHI¿FLHQWKHDWKFDUHV\VWHPDQGFRYHU times only a few large states most of the people in these countries only food they can afford is unhealthy would adjust to new realities. as many of the 47 million uninsured (Florida, Ohio and Pennsyl- exhibit. Sweden, for example, one of for them. Special interests would give up Americans as possible. However, the vania) have been important the countries most highly touted for These issues need to be addressed if on trying to buy less individu- current debate has ignored the societal in presidential elections? its healthcare, had an obesity rating of we are to have a truly fair and effective alized politicians. Inserting a reasons for bad health in our country. Sadly, no serious change 9.7 percent in 2005, a vast difference health bill. Unfortunately, American proportionality aspect into the Although the conversations taking is on the horizon. So strong from that in the United States. Mean- politicians fear dealing with this unat- House would stimulate mul- place today about costs and coverage is faith in the Constitution while, Japan’s obesity rating is but 3.2 tractive fact. Indeed, in a rare show of tiparty politics, enfranchising are important, if this issue isn’t ad- that to seriously question the percent, and even countries with high- bipartisanship, last fall Congress al- ideological-social groups insuf- dressed it will leave a hole in health- institutional framework of er obesity ratings in the west, such as lowed beverage lobbyist groups to kill ¿FLHQWO\ FRQFHQWUDWHG WR ZLQ care reform that will keep Americans government is political her- the UK, have ratings of only slightly an amendment that would have put a district elections. It would also SD\LQJPRUHLQGH¿QLWHO\ esy. Neither major party’s above 20 percent. relatively low soda tax in place whose preserve diverse regional inter- To put it plain and simple, a stag- platform advocates any seri- 7KLV GLIIHUHQFH LV UHÀHFWHG LQ WR- proceeds would go to pay for health- ests, as regional coalitions for gering number of Americans don’t ous change. Instead Ameri- tal healthcare spending. While Swe- care; Republicans opposed it because power would be less necessary. take care of themselves. While the can politics will remain the den spends 8.6 percent of its GDP on it raised taxes, and Democrats because A strong proportional system numbers have (fortunately) plateaued stuff of madness, the relent- healthcare spending (already above it disproportionately affected poor will keep the political focus on in recent years, according to the Cen- less repetition of the same the OECD average), the United States people. national issues and reduce the ters for Disease Control and Preven- behavior, expecting a dif- spends an extravagant 15 percent (as Wasn’t that the point? The current incentives for pork, while en- tion, “nearly 34 percent of adults are ferent result. New sets of of 2003). While some of this is cer- system encourages Americans, espe- suring equality of importance obese, more than double the percent- “reformers” will be sent to WDLQO\ D UHVXOW RI V\VWHP HI¿FLHQF\ cially the poor, to not take care of their for voters, instead of a focus on age 30 years ago,” while the percentage Washington, and we the peo- (Sweden and other OECD countries bodies. We need to incentivize good marginal districts. Proportion- of children who are obese has leveled ple will watch them be swal- generally have higher levels of gov- eating habits through carrots (pun ality would also render district out at an enormous 17 percent. Obe- lowed whole by the machine, ernment rather than private spend- intended) and sticks; we need to tax gerrymandering pointless. This sity is not just about image; it is a fac- never asking if it is perhaps LQJ DVLJQL¿FDQWDPRXQWLVGXHWRWKH items like corn syrup and trans-fats effect would be reinforced if a tor in overall health. It is the cause of the machine, and not the healthier lifestyles of Europeans and and use the funds to either subsidize popular vote for President were numerous health problems and com- men, that needs replacing. the Japanese, whose cultures favor fruits and vegetables or to pay directly plications, including heart disease and biking, walking and eating well. for the system. Such a policy will not stroke (one of the biggest killers in the This is also revealed in their food only reduce the burden on our health- United States), cancer, osteoarthritis subsidies. France, for example, sub- care system but will make our society and one of the most prevalent prob- sidizes vegetable and fruit growing, overall more productive. We as a peo- lems in our country, diabetes, which so healthier food is cheaper and more ple need to remember there’s no such the CDC estimates affects 24 million likely to be bought. In the United thing as a free lunch - especially when Americans (8 percent of the popula- States, it’s the reverse. We subsidize it comes with a soda. Healthcare: A 'HEULHI tion). Statistically, “African-American adults have the highest obesity rates STORY BY ʲʣʶʵʶʧʦʯʣʰ͙ART BY CHIYEL HAYLES — 37 percent among men and nearly 50 percent among women” while for hough many Americans op- of children who are obese has leveled fective and popularly supported. The “Hispanic women, the rate is 43 per- Tpose full-blown universal out at an enormous 17 percent. Obe- CDC has stated that the economic bur- cent,” two demographics dispropor- healthcare, few deny that we need to sity is not just about image; it is a fac- den of obesity and being overweight is tionately below the poverty line. ¿[ RXU EURNHQ LQHI¿FLHQW KHDWKFDUH tor in overall health. It is the cause of equivalent to 9.1 percent of total US This places an enormous burden on system and cover as many of the 47 numerous health problems and com- medical spending, a whopping $92.6 our heathcare system, in terms of fair- million uninsured Americans as pos- plications, including heart disease and billion (in 2002 dollars). And this is ness and practicality, and is absolutely sible. However, the current debate stroke (one of the biggest killers in the only a direct cost; the damage to the unacceptable if we are to produce a has ignored the societal reasons for United States), cancer, osteoarthritis economy from absenteeism, decreased system that is both cost effective and bad health in our country. Although and one of the most prevalent prob- productivity, restricted mobility and popularly supported. The CDC has the conversations taking place today lems in our country, diabetes, which premature death is indeterminable. stated that the economic burden of about costs and coverage are impor- the CDC estimates affects 24 million These costs must be picked up by the obesity and being overweight is equiv- tant, if this issue isn’t addressed it will Americans (8 percent of the popula- average American, both in rising in- alent to 9.1 percent of total US medi- leave a hole in healthcare reform that tion). Statistically, “African-American surance premiums and taxes, putting cal spending, a whopping $92.6 billion will keep Americans paying more in- adults have the highest obesity rates an unfair strain on our country and es- (in 2002 dollars). And this is only a di- GH¿QLWHO\ — 37 percent among men and nearly pecially its healthy citizens. rect cost; the damage to the economy To put it plain and simple, a stag- 50 percent among women” while for Compare this with other OECD from absenteeism, decreased produc- gering number of Americans don’t “Hispanic women, the rate is 43 per- healthcare systems. Although they are tivity, restricted mobility and prema- take care of themselves. While the cent,” two demographics dispropor- known to be both universal and gener- ture death is indeterminable. These numbers have (fortunately) plateaued tionately below the poverty line. DOO\KLJKO\HI¿FLHQWZKDWLVRIWHQRYHU- costs must be picked up by the aver- in recent years, according to the Cen- This places an enormous burden looked is the lifestyle and eating habits age American, both in rising insurance ters for Disease Control and Preven- on our healthcare system, in terms most of the people in these countries premiums and taxes, putting an unfair tion, “nearly 34 percent of adults are of fairness and practicality, and is exhibit. Sweden, for example, one of strain on our country and especially its obese, more than double the percent- absolutely unacceptable if we are to the countries most highly touted for healthy citizens. age 30 years ago,” while the percentage produce a system that is both cost ef- its healthcare, had an obesity rating of  Page | 8 PENN POLITICAL REVIEW APRIL 2010 PENN POLITICAL REVIEW APRIL 2010 Page | 9 NATIONAL NATIONAL cont’d from Thank you... instituted. The status quo leaves most the handful of competitive states. It cont’d from Healthcare... Compare this with other OECD FRUQ HIIHFWLYHO\ GHÀDWLQJ WKH FRVW RI voters in Presidential elections absent is true that such a change would di- healthcare systems. Although they are extremely unhealthy goods such as These changes, and many others, Though many Americans oppose of political value, and forces candi- rect campaigns towards denser, more known to be both universal and gener- sugars and sodas. It is thus not sur- would go a long way towards right- full-blown universal healthcare, few dates to tailor their program towards populated areas. But is that inferior to DOO\KLJKO\HI¿FLHQWZKDWLVRIWHQRYHU- prising in the slightest that so many of ing the politics of the US. With GHQ\WKDWZHQHHGWR¿[RXUEURNHQ a status quo where in recent looked is the lifestyle and eating habits our poorer citizens are overweight; the time, individuals and parties LQHI¿FLHQWKHDWKFDUHV\VWHPDQGFRYHU times only a few large states most of the people in these countries only food they can afford is unhealthy would adjust to new realities. as many of the 47 million uninsured (Florida, Ohio and Pennsyl- exhibit. Sweden, for example, one of for them. Special interests would give up Americans as possible. However, the vania) have been important the countries most highly touted for These issues need to be addressed if on trying to buy less individu- current debate has ignored the societal in presidential elections? its healthcare, had an obesity rating of we are to have a truly fair and effective alized politicians. Inserting a reasons for bad health in our country. Sadly, no serious change 9.7 percent in 2005, a vast difference health bill. Unfortunately, American proportionality aspect into the Although the conversations taking is on the horizon. So strong from that in the United States. Mean- politicians fear dealing with this unat- House would stimulate mul- place today about costs and coverage is faith in the Constitution while, Japan’s obesity rating is but 3.2 tractive fact. Indeed, in a rare show of tiparty politics, enfranchising are important, if this issue isn’t ad- that to seriously question the percent, and even countries with high- bipartisanship, last fall Congress al- ideological-social groups insuf- dressed it will leave a hole in health- institutional framework of er obesity ratings in the west, such as lowed beverage lobbyist groups to kill ¿FLHQWO\ FRQFHQWUDWHG WR ZLQ care reform that will keep Americans government is political her- the UK, have ratings of only slightly an amendment that would have put a district elections. It would also SD\LQJPRUHLQGH¿QLWHO\ esy. Neither major party’s above 20 percent. relatively low soda tax in place whose preserve diverse regional inter- To put it plain and simple, a stag- platform advocates any seri- 7KLV GLIIHUHQFH LV UHÀHFWHG LQ WR- proceeds would go to pay for health- ests, as regional coalitions for gering number of Americans don’t ous change. Instead Ameri- tal healthcare spending. While Swe- care; Republicans opposed it because power would be less necessary. take care of themselves. While the can politics will remain the den spends 8.6 percent of its GDP on it raised taxes, and Democrats because A strong proportional system numbers have (fortunately) plateaued stuff of madness, the relent- healthcare spending (already above it disproportionately affected poor will keep the political focus on in recent years, according to the Cen- less repetition of the same the OECD average), the United States people. national issues and reduce the ters for Disease Control and Preven- behavior, expecting a dif- spends an extravagant 15 percent (as Wasn’t that the point? The current incentives for pork, while en- tion, “nearly 34 percent of adults are ferent result. New sets of of 2003). While some of this is cer- system encourages Americans, espe- suring equality of importance obese, more than double the percent- “reformers” will be sent to WDLQO\ D UHVXOW RI V\VWHP HI¿FLHQF\ cially the poor, to not take care of their for voters, instead of a focus on age 30 years ago,” while the percentage Washington, and we the peo- (Sweden and other OECD countries bodies. We need to incentivize good marginal districts. Proportion- of children who are obese has leveled ple will watch them be swal- generally have higher levels of gov- eating habits through carrots (pun ality would also render district out at an enormous 17 percent. Obe- lowed whole by the machine, ernment rather than private spend- intended) and sticks; we need to tax gerrymandering pointless. This sity is not just about image; it is a fac- never asking if it is perhaps LQJ DVLJQL¿FDQWDPRXQWLVGXHWRWKH items like corn syrup and trans-fats effect would be reinforced if a tor in overall health. It is the cause of the machine, and not the healthier lifestyles of Europeans and and use the funds to either subsidize popular vote for President were numerous health problems and com- men, that needs replacing. the Japanese, whose cultures favor fruits and vegetables or to pay directly plications, including heart disease and biking, walking and eating well. for the system. Such a policy will not stroke (one of the biggest killers in the This is also revealed in their food only reduce the burden on our health- United States), cancer, osteoarthritis subsidies. France, for example, sub- care system but will make our society and one of the most prevalent prob- sidizes vegetable and fruit growing, overall more productive. We as a peo- lems in our country, diabetes, which so healthier food is cheaper and more ple need to remember there’s no such the CDC estimates affects 24 million likely to be bought. In the United thing as a free lunch - especially when Americans (8 percent of the popula- States, it’s the reverse. We subsidize it comes with a soda. Healthcare: A 'HEULHI tion). Statistically, “African-American adults have the highest obesity rates STORY BY ʲʣʶʵʶʧʦʯʣʰ͙ART BY CHIYEL HAYLES — 37 percent among men and nearly 50 percent among women” while for hough many Americans op- of children who are obese has leveled fective and popularly supported. The “Hispanic women, the rate is 43 per- Tpose full-blown universal out at an enormous 17 percent. Obe- CDC has stated that the economic bur- cent,” two demographics dispropor- healthcare, few deny that we need to sity is not just about image; it is a fac- den of obesity and being overweight is tionately below the poverty line. ¿[ RXU EURNHQ LQHI¿FLHQW KHDWKFDUH tor in overall health. It is the cause of equivalent to 9.1 percent of total US This places an enormous burden on system and cover as many of the 47 numerous health problems and com- medical spending, a whopping $92.6 our heathcare system, in terms of fair- million uninsured Americans as pos- plications, including heart disease and billion (in 2002 dollars). And this is ness and practicality, and is absolutely sible. However, the current debate stroke (one of the biggest killers in the only a direct cost; the damage to the unacceptable if we are to produce a has ignored the societal reasons for United States), cancer, osteoarthritis economy from absenteeism, decreased system that is both cost effective and bad health in our country. Although and one of the most prevalent prob- productivity, restricted mobility and popularly supported. The CDC has the conversations taking place today lems in our country, diabetes, which premature death is indeterminable. stated that the economic burden of about costs and coverage are impor- the CDC estimates affects 24 million These costs must be picked up by the obesity and being overweight is equiv- tant, if this issue isn’t addressed it will Americans (8 percent of the popula- average American, both in rising in- alent to 9.1 percent of total US medi- leave a hole in healthcare reform that tion). Statistically, “African-American surance premiums and taxes, putting cal spending, a whopping $92.6 billion will keep Americans paying more in- adults have the highest obesity rates an unfair strain on our country and es- (in 2002 dollars). And this is only a di- GH¿QLWHO\ — 37 percent among men and nearly pecially its healthy citizens. rect cost; the damage to the economy To put it plain and simple, a stag- 50 percent among women” while for Compare this with other OECD from absenteeism, decreased produc- gering number of Americans don’t “Hispanic women, the rate is 43 per- healthcare systems. Although they are tivity, restricted mobility and prema- take care of themselves. While the cent,” two demographics dispropor- known to be both universal and gener- ture death is indeterminable. These numbers have (fortunately) plateaued tionately below the poverty line. DOO\KLJKO\HI¿FLHQWZKDWLVRIWHQRYHU- costs must be picked up by the aver- in recent years, according to the Cen- This places an enormous burden looked is the lifestyle and eating habits age American, both in rising insurance ters for Disease Control and Preven- on our healthcare system, in terms most of the people in these countries premiums and taxes, putting an unfair tion, “nearly 34 percent of adults are of fairness and practicality, and is exhibit. Sweden, for example, one of strain on our country and especially its obese, more than double the percent- absolutely unacceptable if we are to the countries most highly touted for healthy citizens. age 30 years ago,” while the percentage produce a system that is both cost ef- its healthcare, had an obesity rating of  Page | 8 PENN POLITICAL REVIEW APRIL 2010 PENN POLITICAL REVIEW APRIL 2010 Page | 9 NATIONAL NATIONAL Kill the Filibuster An Unaccountable Silence ʶˊˇ˃˔˅ˊ˃ˋ˅ʏˑˈ˖ʐ˃˄˗˕ˇˆʵˇː˃˖ˇ˔˗ˎˇˏ˗˕˖˄ˇˆˑːˇ˃˙˃˛˙ˋ˖ˊ STORY BY ʬʱʪʰʩʧʧ͙ART BY CHIYEL HAYLES STORY BY CHRIS SHIMAMOTO

n January 18, Harper’s maga- television media would rather move have not yet wholly become memory. n the wake of Scott Brown’s minority. thing to get done when the minority Ozine published online an ar- beyond the question of torture and is Look at this controversy, and talk Istunning upset in the recent %XW XOWLPDWHO\ WKHLU ¿QJHU SRLQW- is bent on obstructing the majority’s ticle by Scott Horton concerning the reluctant to dredge up the events of DERXWLW%RWKWKHRI¿FLDOVWRU\DQGWKH Massachusetts Senate election, CNN ing will ring hollow because their ob- agenda, as is the case with the current June 2006 deaths of three inmates three years ago. The reason for this Horton story do appear to have serious made a puzzling claim. They asserted structionism and manipulation of an 5HSXEOLFDQ PLQRULW\ 7KH ¿OLEXVWHU at Guantánamo Bay. They were ruled reluctance is the same reason for the ÀDZV+RZHYHUWKH8QLWHG6WDWHVKDV that Brown’s victory “really turns the emergency procedure has been espe- FRPSRXQGVWKHLQKHUHQWGLI¿FXOWLHVRI suicides by an NCIS investigation, Internet writers’ eagerness: the al- by its own admission, interrogated tables on the balance of power in the cially appalling. What the GOP has not our legislative process and supports a but by drawing on interviews with legations implicate high-ranking of- prisoners using methods widely con- Senate in favor of the Republicans,” DFNQRZOHGJHGLVWKDWWKH¿OLEXVWHUKDV system wherein the elected majority is guards and a Seton Hall Law School ¿FLDOV VWLOO LQ WKH PLOLWDU\ DQG LQ WKH sidered to be torture, and many details while acknowledging that Democrats traditionally been reserved for emer- thwarted by a less popularly support- report on that investigation, Horton government. To revisit them would of those interrogations remain under maintain an 18-seat majority in the gency situations and has traditionally ed minority. concludes that the government has risk getting in the way of current and wraps. Perhaps the prisoners at Guan- chamber. The math may seem strange, been used with extreme caution. It So what can be done to remedy been engaged in a substantial cover- future projects, and the military’s time tánamo committed suicide in circum- but CNN’s claim is deadly accurate. was not designed to force a 60-vote the problem? Sen. Tom Udall (D-NM) up – and suggests that the deaths were might be better spent concentrating stances the military wanted to keep se- With a miniscule 41-seat minority, the majority on every piece of legislation has proposed implementing what is actually murders. Now, the latter al- on the war in Afghanistan, or even on cret. Perhaps they were murdered by Republican Senate caucus can hold that passed through the Senate, an known as the Constitutional Option, legation remains unsubstantiated, but gathering the political will to reverse interrogators whose techniques went any piece of legislation hostage via intention evidenced by the fact that an oft-mentioned procedural maneu- we don’t need to prove anything in the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. far beyond even what has been en- WKH ¿OLEXVWHU 5HSXEOLFDQV¶ KLWKHUWR it was so infrequently used prior to ver that would allow for the Senate to particular about the deaths in order But, second, and most importantly, dorsed by Dick Cheney et al. Perhaps solidarity in opposing any Democratic the turn of the century. The original hold an up-or-down vote on whether to be seriously concerned. The likeli- the rhetoric from both sides demon- the cover-up was only a nervous over- initiative indicates that they will con- SURSRQHQWVRIWKH¿OLEXVWHUQRGRXEW to amend Senate rules. Constitutional hood of a cover-up, and the tepid re- strates that we’re simply not over the reaction to some unknown but innoc- WLQXH WR DEXVH WKH ¿OLEXVWHU ZLWKRXW would agree that requiring a 60-vote scholars on both the right and the left sponse to Horton’s allegations thus issue of torture, and that we ought to uous irregularities. Regardless, to lie reservation. In order to eliminate this majority on all bills is unproductive agree that the Constitution permits far, should be enough to convince us continue our national conversation on to the public is among the most seri- menace to democracy, the only accept- and undemocratic. each incoming Congress the right to of the terrible consequences of the the subject. Even in the little discourse ous transgressions of justice a govern- able course of action is to do away with To further illustrate the imprac- determine its own rules without being human rights violations our country we have on this particular question, ad ment can commit. While we have long WKH¿OLEXVWHU WLFDOLW\RIWKH¿OLEXVWHUWKHGLI¿FXOW\ burdened by rules enacted by previous has committed in the past decade. hominem attacks abound. Col. Michael accepted that sensitive intelligence A historic overview of the use of of passing any legislation should be Congresses. According to this inter- The reaction to this scoop has Bumgarner, commander at the time matters should be kept secret in their WKH ¿OLEXVWHU LOOXVWUDWHV WKH H[WHQW considered. Bills face an arduous path pretation, the next session of the Sen- been, shockingly, almost complete si- of the deaths, said in his response, “I particulars, deceiving the people eras- to which the procedure is presently WR UDWL¿FDWLRQ HYHQ ZLWKRXW DGGHG ate would be able to amend its rules lence from the major media outlets. don’t know who Sgt. Joe Hickman is, es all pretence to legitimacy; ensuring DEXVHG$YHUVLRQRIWKH¿OLEXVWHUVLP- obstruction from the Senate. They with only a simple majority vote. If The Associate Press wrote it up, de- but he is only trying to be a spotlight the legitimacy of the government is the LODUWRWKHFXUUHQWYHUVLRQ¿UVWFDPHWR must win a majority in the House of the Democrats maintain their major- WDLOLQJ WKH DOOHJDWLRQ DQG WKH RI¿FLDO ranger.” Scott Horton, in his response principal task of political journalism. prominence in the early 20th century Representatives, followed by Senate ity following the upcoming midterm response, but nobody has done any- WR %XPJDUQHU QRWHV ³7KH ¿UVW VHQ- Whether spurious or not, allowing this as a mechanism to block passage of approval, a conference to sort out dif- elections, they may go forth with this thing notable with that in print. The tence is a classic nondenial denial.” He story to pass us by is unacceptable. extreme legislation. For decades, the ferences between the two chambers’ course of action and kill an archaic Internet, however, was immediately later refers to a Department of Justice minority exercised considerable cau- bills, another vote in each chamber rule that is no longer used with discre- set ablaze and continues to discuss the spokesperson’s statement as “classic WLRQLQXVLQJWKH¿OLEXVWHUH[SODLQLQJ WR DSSURYH WKH FKDQJHV DQG ¿QDOO\ WLRQ 7KH ¿OLEXVWHU KDV XQIRUWXQDWHO\ matter quite actively. Andrew Sullivan misdirection.” Joe Cart- the procedure’s 8% application rate signature by the President. There are become an obstacle to the functioning of the Atlantic and Glenn Greenwald er, meanwhile, refers to for major bills throughout the 1960s. plenty of opportunities for opponents of democracy in the Senate. It must be of Salon followed right along with Harper’s as “a second- Flash forward to the 110th Con- in both the legislative and executive done away with to foster much-needed Horton’s allegations, with Sullivan in rate liberal rag,” wonder- gress (2007-2009). The rate of use for branches to strike down legislation legislative progress and the prevalence particular saying, “This [story] threat- ing, “why anyone would major bills surged to 70% and a record ZLWKRXWXVHRIWKH¿OLEXVWHU)RUFLQJD of the will of an elected majority. ens to tear down the wall of lies and ever take Sullivan seri- WRWDORI¿OLEXVWHUVZHUHLVVXHGE\ 60-vote threshold in the Senate simply denial that have protected Americans ously” while calling Hor- the Republican minority. After only makes it impossible for almost any- from facing what the last administra- ton’s case “so unpersua- one year into the current 111th Con- tion actually did.” Joe Carter of First sive that it hardly needs gress (2009-2011), the GOP has al- Things and Jack Schafer of Slate, rebutting.” To one side, UHDG\ H[HUFLVHG  ¿OLEXVWHUV DQG LV on the other hand, believe that the WKHRI¿FLDOVLQFKDUJHDUH on pace to shatter its previous record. whole story is an implausible con- deceitful authoritarians Historical trends and the atrocious spiracy theory that we would do well with no respect for the gridlock suffocating the Senate thus to disregard. Dahlia Lithwick, also of law, “classic” Orwellian MXVWLI\ WKH DEROLWLRQ RI WKH ¿OLEXVWHU Slate, points out the one thing that ¿JXUHV7RWKHRWKHUWKH The GOP will predictably bicker and everybody agrees on: blogs seem to accusers are simply cra- whine about the establishment of a be the only forums where people have zy. Torture, particularly tyranny of the majority. They will seriously discussed Horton’s piece. the aspects of the Bush bring to attention the original intent of This disjunction between the administration’s actions WKH¿OLEXVWHUDVDPHDQVIRUWKHPLQRU- mainstream media and the blogo- that remain in secrecy, ity to strike down particularly objec- sphere tells us some interesting continues to divide us. tionable legislation. They will accuse things. First, the establishment/out- We cannot speak of Tom Udall (seen left), sits down with Thomas Mann, James Thurber and Scott the Democrats of hypocrisy for using Lilly at a symposium on the modern Senate and how current practices are sider divide between print and digi- these events as we might WKH¿OLEXVWHUGXULQJWKHLUWHQXUHLQWKH impacting the quality of government. tal platforms is quite sharp when it of the Yazoo land sale, comes to certain issues. The print and or even Watergate. They  Page | 10 PENN POLITICAL REVIEW APRIL 2010 PENN POLITICAL REVIEW APRIL 2010 Page | 11 NATIONAL NATIONAL Kill the Filibuster An Unaccountable Silence ʶˊˇ˃˔˅ˊ˃ˋ˅ʏˑˈ˖ʐ˃˄˗˕ˇˆʵˇː˃˖ˇ˔˗ˎˇˏ˗˕˖˄ˇˆˑːˇ˃˙˃˛˙ˋ˖ˊ STORY BY ʬʱʪʰʩʧʧ͙ART BY CHIYEL HAYLES STORY BY CHRIS SHIMAMOTO n January 18, Harper’s maga- television media would rather move have not yet wholly become memory. n the wake of Scott Brown’s minority. thing to get done when the minority Ozine published online an ar- beyond the question of torture and is Look at this controversy, and talk Istunning upset in the recent %XW XOWLPDWHO\ WKHLU ¿QJHU SRLQW- is bent on obstructing the majority’s ticle by Scott Horton concerning the reluctant to dredge up the events of DERXWLW%RWKWKHRI¿FLDOVWRU\DQGWKH Massachusetts Senate election, CNN ing will ring hollow because their ob- agenda, as is the case with the current June 2006 deaths of three inmates three years ago. The reason for this Horton story do appear to have serious made a puzzling claim. They asserted structionism and manipulation of an 5HSXEOLFDQ PLQRULW\ 7KH ¿OLEXVWHU at Guantánamo Bay. They were ruled reluctance is the same reason for the ÀDZV+RZHYHUWKH8QLWHG6WDWHVKDV that Brown’s victory “really turns the emergency procedure has been espe- FRPSRXQGVWKHLQKHUHQWGLI¿FXOWLHVRI suicides by an NCIS investigation, Internet writers’ eagerness: the al- by its own admission, interrogated tables on the balance of power in the cially appalling. What the GOP has not our legislative process and supports a but by drawing on interviews with legations implicate high-ranking of- prisoners using methods widely con- Senate in favor of the Republicans,” DFNQRZOHGJHGLVWKDWWKH¿OLEXVWHUKDV system wherein the elected majority is guards and a Seton Hall Law School ¿FLDOV VWLOO LQ WKH PLOLWDU\ DQG LQ WKH sidered to be torture, and many details while acknowledging that Democrats traditionally been reserved for emer- thwarted by a less popularly support- report on that investigation, Horton government. To revisit them would of those interrogations remain under maintain an 18-seat majority in the gency situations and has traditionally ed minority. concludes that the government has risk getting in the way of current and wraps. Perhaps the prisoners at Guan- chamber. The math may seem strange, been used with extreme caution. It So what can be done to remedy been engaged in a substantial cover- future projects, and the military’s time tánamo committed suicide in circum- but CNN’s claim is deadly accurate. was not designed to force a 60-vote the problem? Sen. Tom Udall (D-NM) up – and suggests that the deaths were might be better spent concentrating stances the military wanted to keep se- With a miniscule 41-seat minority, the majority on every piece of legislation has proposed implementing what is actually murders. Now, the latter al- on the war in Afghanistan, or even on cret. Perhaps they were murdered by Republican Senate caucus can hold that passed through the Senate, an known as the Constitutional Option, legation remains unsubstantiated, but gathering the political will to reverse interrogators whose techniques went any piece of legislation hostage via intention evidenced by the fact that an oft-mentioned procedural maneu- we don’t need to prove anything in the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. far beyond even what has been en- WKH ¿OLEXVWHU 5HSXEOLFDQV¶ KLWKHUWR it was so infrequently used prior to ver that would allow for the Senate to particular about the deaths in order But, second, and most importantly, dorsed by Dick Cheney et al. Perhaps solidarity in opposing any Democratic the turn of the century. The original hold an up-or-down vote on whether to be seriously concerned. The likeli- the rhetoric from both sides demon- the cover-up was only a nervous over- initiative indicates that they will con- SURSRQHQWVRIWKH¿OLEXVWHUQRGRXEW to amend Senate rules. Constitutional hood of a cover-up, and the tepid re- strates that we’re simply not over the reaction to some unknown but innoc- WLQXH WR DEXVH WKH ¿OLEXVWHU ZLWKRXW would agree that requiring a 60-vote scholars on both the right and the left sponse to Horton’s allegations thus issue of torture, and that we ought to uous irregularities. Regardless, to lie reservation. In order to eliminate this majority on all bills is unproductive agree that the Constitution permits far, should be enough to convince us continue our national conversation on to the public is among the most seri- menace to democracy, the only accept- and undemocratic. each incoming Congress the right to of the terrible consequences of the the subject. Even in the little discourse ous transgressions of justice a govern- able course of action is to do away with To further illustrate the imprac- determine its own rules without being human rights violations our country we have on this particular question, ad ment can commit. While we have long WKH¿OLEXVWHU WLFDOLW\RIWKH¿OLEXVWHUWKHGLI¿FXOW\ burdened by rules enacted by previous has committed in the past decade. hominem attacks abound. Col. Michael accepted that sensitive intelligence A historic overview of the use of of passing any legislation should be Congresses. According to this inter- The reaction to this scoop has Bumgarner, commander at the time matters should be kept secret in their WKH ¿OLEXVWHU LOOXVWUDWHV WKH H[WHQW considered. Bills face an arduous path pretation, the next session of the Sen- been, shockingly, almost complete si- of the deaths, said in his response, “I particulars, deceiving the people eras- to which the procedure is presently WR UDWL¿FDWLRQ HYHQ ZLWKRXW DGGHG ate would be able to amend its rules lence from the major media outlets. don’t know who Sgt. Joe Hickman is, es all pretence to legitimacy; ensuring DEXVHG$YHUVLRQRIWKH¿OLEXVWHUVLP- obstruction from the Senate. They with only a simple majority vote. If The Associate Press wrote it up, de- but he is only trying to be a spotlight the legitimacy of the government is the LODUWRWKHFXUUHQWYHUVLRQ¿UVWFDPHWR must win a majority in the House of the Democrats maintain their major- WDLOLQJ WKH DOOHJDWLRQ DQG WKH RI¿FLDO ranger.” Scott Horton, in his response principal task of political journalism. prominence in the early 20th century Representatives, followed by Senate ity following the upcoming midterm response, but nobody has done any- WR %XPJDUQHU QRWHV ³7KH ¿UVW VHQ- Whether spurious or not, allowing this as a mechanism to block passage of approval, a conference to sort out dif- elections, they may go forth with this thing notable with that in print. The tence is a classic nondenial denial.” He story to pass us by is unacceptable. extreme legislation. For decades, the ferences between the two chambers’ course of action and kill an archaic Internet, however, was immediately later refers to a Department of Justice minority exercised considerable cau- bills, another vote in each chamber rule that is no longer used with discre- set ablaze and continues to discuss the spokesperson’s statement as “classic WLRQLQXVLQJWKH¿OLEXVWHUH[SODLQLQJ WR DSSURYH WKH FKDQJHV DQG ¿QDOO\ WLRQ 7KH ¿OLEXVWHU KDV XQIRUWXQDWHO\ matter quite actively. Andrew Sullivan misdirection.” Joe Cart- the procedure’s 8% application rate signature by the President. There are become an obstacle to the functioning of the Atlantic and Glenn Greenwald er, meanwhile, refers to for major bills throughout the 1960s. plenty of opportunities for opponents of democracy in the Senate. It must be of Salon followed right along with Harper’s as “a second- Flash forward to the 110th Con- in both the legislative and executive done away with to foster much-needed Horton’s allegations, with Sullivan in rate liberal rag,” wonder- gress (2007-2009). The rate of use for branches to strike down legislation legislative progress and the prevalence particular saying, “This [story] threat- ing, “why anyone would major bills surged to 70% and a record ZLWKRXWXVHRIWKH¿OLEXVWHU)RUFLQJD of the will of an elected majority. ens to tear down the wall of lies and ever take Sullivan seri- WRWDORI¿OLEXVWHUVZHUHLVVXHGE\ 60-vote threshold in the Senate simply denial that have protected Americans ously” while calling Hor- the Republican minority. After only makes it impossible for almost any- from facing what the last administra- ton’s case “so unpersua- one year into the current 111th Con- tion actually did.” Joe Carter of First sive that it hardly needs gress (2009-2011), the GOP has al- Things and Jack Schafer of Slate, rebutting.” To one side, UHDG\ H[HUFLVHG  ¿OLEXVWHUV DQG LV on the other hand, believe that the WKHRI¿FLDOVLQFKDUJHDUH on pace to shatter its previous record. whole story is an implausible con- deceitful authoritarians Historical trends and the atrocious spiracy theory that we would do well with no respect for the gridlock suffocating the Senate thus to disregard. Dahlia Lithwick, also of law, “classic” Orwellian MXVWLI\ WKH DEROLWLRQ RI WKH ¿OLEXVWHU Slate, points out the one thing that ¿JXUHV7RWKHRWKHUWKH The GOP will predictably bicker and everybody agrees on: blogs seem to accusers are simply cra- whine about the establishment of a be the only forums where people have zy. Torture, particularly tyranny of the majority. They will seriously discussed Horton’s piece. the aspects of the Bush bring to attention the original intent of This disjunction between the administration’s actions WKH¿OLEXVWHUDVDPHDQVIRUWKHPLQRU- mainstream media and the blogo- that remain in secrecy, ity to strike down particularly objec- sphere tells us some interesting continues to divide us. tionable legislation. They will accuse things. First, the establishment/out- We cannot speak of Tom Udall (seen left), sits down with Thomas Mann, James Thurber and Scott the Democrats of hypocrisy for using Lilly at a symposium on the modern Senate and how current practices are sider divide between print and digi- these events as we might WKH¿OLEXVWHUGXULQJWKHLUWHQXUHLQWKH impacting the quality of government. tal platforms is quite sharp when it of the Yazoo land sale, comes to certain issues. The print and or even Watergate. They  Page | 10 PENN POLITICAL REVIEW APRIL 2010 PENN POLITICAL REVIEW APRIL 2010 Page | 11 NATIONAL NATIONAL The New Bull-Moose What Obama Needs to Do: ʹˊ˛˖ˊˇ˖ˇ˃˒˃˔˖˛ˏˑ˘ˇˏˇː˖ˋ˕˙ˑ˔˕ˇˈˑ˔ʴˇ˒˗˄ˎˋ˅˃ː˕ ˖ˊ˃ː˖ˊˇ˛͐˔ˇ˙ˋˎˎˋːˉ˖ˑ˃ˆˏˋ˖ Real Bipartisanship STORY BY SAMUEL LEE STORY BY ʲʪʫʮʮʫʲʸʧʰʫʥʧ͙ART BY SIEDE COLEMAN UHVLGHQW2EDPD¶V¿UVW\HDUKDV America simply cannot afford a repeat n November 2, 2010, Ameri- ment by attacking Crist’s support for in the GOP seem to have recognized Pbeen undeniably disappointing of unproductive political gridlock. personal appeal, and he has the pulpit cans will go to the polls to President Obama’s economic stimulus the dilemma that the growing move- to his supporters. He has failed to pass America faces a near-ten-percent un- O of the presidency. Voters will begin determine the makeup of federal and package, and has just recently pulled ment to their right poses for the party a single major bill, besides the stimu- employment rate, unsustainable bud- shifting their blame from the Demo- state legislatures, as well as the occu- ahead of his opponent in the polls. in the fall: if any established Republi- lus bill, and not one of his top domes- JHWGH¿FLWVGHWHULRUDWLQJVFKRROVDQG cratic Party to the Republican Party pants of many governors’ mansions While public opinion shows that Rubio can paints Tea Partiers to be part of a tic priorities — heathcare, education, infrastructure, two wars, and spiraling if they see that Republicans are not around the country. Between talk of would be far more likely to energize fringe group, they will almost certainly energy, and infrastructure — has been heathcare costs. Additionally, America working to compromise but are simply President Obama’s declining approval the right, it is clear that Christ would IDFHDELWWHUSULPDU\¿JKW,ILQVWHDG dealt with. To be fair, much of this is will now be entering its fourth decade opposing any bill that Obama or the numbers and Scott Brown’s surprise be more successful at gaining support the Tea Parties are embraced, Repub- not his fault. Republicans have threat- in which it has not dealt with educa- Democrats propose. If Obama applies YLFWRU\LQ0DVVDFKXVHWWVLWLVGLI¿FXOW from the moderates and independents licans risk moving too far to the right HQHG WKH ¿OLEXVWHU DW XQSUHFHGHQWHG tion, energy, immigration, heathcare, pressure to Republicans by publicly to avoid forseeing a repeat of the 1994 that so often prove to be the determin- and alienating many moderates and levels, requiring Democrats to mar- or infrastructure. reaching out to them, Republicans will Republican revolution. While it is true ing factor in general elections. independents. shal 60 votes for virtually every bill, To avoid a repeat of the past, be forced either to cooperate or to risk that the GOP appears to be on the Serious primary challenges to es- This problem is all too familiar for and the surprise defeat of Martha Obama must simply do one thing: EHLQJLGHQWL¿HGDVWKHSDUW\RIQLKLO- verge of making big gains in the mid- tablishment Republicans from can- Republicans. In 1912, former presi- Coakley has effectively ruined any Prod Republicans into working bona ism. And while many in the Republi- term elections, there are deep divi- didates aligning themselves with Tea dent Theodore Roosevelt mounted a chance of a heathcare reform bill that ¿GHVLQFUDIWLQJOHJLVODWLRQ can leadership will continue to press sions within the Republican base that Partiers continue to gain national at- primary challenge against incumbent otherwise would probably have passed But Obama has very few arrows in the strategy of “no” or offer simply promise to hinder their ability to do tention. In Arizona, popular conserva- William Howard Taft. After losing in and given the Democratic party valu- his quiver. Emboldened by the elec- unworkable solutions, some moderate so.The Tea Party movement – and all tive talk-show host J.D. Hayworth has the primary, Roosevelt then repre- able momentum. But all of that is in tion of Scott Brown and the Demo- Republicans – like Senators Olympia RIWKHSROLWLFDOLQ¿JKWLQJLWKDVLQGXFHG announced his intention to challenge sented his infamous Bull Moose Party the past. What is important now is for crats’ stalled heathcare reform plans, Snowe, Susan Collins, and maybe even on the right – is the greatest electoral Senator John McCain, while in Ken- in the general election, effectively al- Obama to chart a new course, one that Republicans are licking their political Scott Brown – will be willing to com- problem currently facing the Republi- tucky former Republican presidential lowing Democrat Woodrow Wilson acknowledges the reality of a stron- chops at the thought of the mid-term promise and work together. can Party. Republicans and to take advantage of the vote- ger and more numerous Republican elections. These victories seem to have Yet there is only so much Obama members of the Tea Party splitting between his oppo- Party, but one that also allows him to convinced them that their strategy can do. The Republicans will need to movement may share com- nents and win the presidency. DFKLHYH VLJQL¿FDQW OHJLVODWLRQ RQ WKH of blind opposition is working; they meet him halfway. Bipartisanship and mon ground in their opposi- Despite the traditional most important issues. prefer no legislation to a bi-partisan compromise do not mean that the Re- tion to the President and his GLI¿FXOWLHV WKH *23 KDV KDG Consider the last two times that one, because they can then portray the publicans vote against any bill that policies, but for the far-right, with party cohesion, Republi- different parties controlled Congress Democrats as being ineffective. Addi- contains an element of the Democratic many of the established, for- cans still have a vivid memory and the presidency. In the Clinton era, tionally, Obama’s inability to change agenda. They mean being able to ac- midable Republicans are in of their unprecedented suc- Republican control of Congress and public opinion has been demonstrated cept a bill that achieves mostly Dem- no way conservative enough cesses in the 1994 mid-term a Democratic presidency resulted in again and again, from lobbying for ocrat priorities, but includes a sig- to represent them. elections. These successes abject partisan gridlock. But that was America in Copenhagen to the special QL¿FDQWDPRXQWRISURJUDPVWKDWDUH Take for example the re- were made possible through okay at the time, because the technol- election in Massachusetts. Republi- consistent with Republican principles. FHQW VSHFLDO HOHFWLRQ WR ¿OO brilliant strategizing by party ogy boom coupled with Alan Greens- cans realize this and will not be afraid That seems to me to be the way a mi- the vacant seat in New York’s leaders Newt Gingrich and pan’s adroit management of the to defy his calls for bipartisanship, as nority party should act if it wants the 23rd Congressional District, Dick Armey, who were able to economy allowed America to achieve long as they think it is the better politi- government to do anything at all. where moderate Dede Scoz- harness the energy of conser- strong economic growth without much cal strategy. We are seeing America’s decline be- zafava withdrew from the vatives to the right of the par- government action. During the latter But Obama does have tremendous fore our very eyes, and it race days before the election. ty’s mainstream without alien- part of George W. Bush’s would be a tragedy if our Her decision came after for- ating independents. While it presidency, few initiatives government does noth- mer vice-presidential can- remains unclear whether Re- arose from the president, ing but watch, paralyzed didate Sarah Palin declared publicans will be able to imple- and so Democrats were ZLWKVHO¿VKSDUWLVDQVKLS Scozzafava to be “too liberal” ment a similar strategy in 2010, left to propose bills them- While China works bus- to represent the GOP in the one can be certain that the Tea selves, only to be shut ily to invest in educa- US House of Representa- Party movement and the sta- GRZQE\¿OLEXVWHUWKUHDWV tion, infrastructure, and tives, endorsing instead the tus of its relationship with the from the Republicans. green energy, our Con- Conservative Party candidate Doug candidate Ron Paul’s son Rand has 5HSXEOLFDQ 3DUW\ ZLOO KDYH D VLJQL¿- Most experts predict gress is as ineffective as Hoffman. Thus the seat fell into the shaken up the Republican primary for cant effect on the outcome of this fall’s that after the upcoming ever. It will be the test of KDQGV RI WKH 'HPRFUDWV IRU WKH ¿UVW the Senate seat to be left vacant by Jim elections. If the primary season leaves mid-term elections, the Obama’s presidency as time in decades due to vote-splitting Bunning. Tea Partiers feeling bitter towards the Democrats will hold an to whether or not he can on the right. Undoubtedly, the effect that Tea Republican establishment, they are extremely narrow major- force the GOP to work One could also consider the pri- Parties are having on the American likely to either back third-party candi- ity, if not completely lose in good faith with the PDU\¿JKWLQ)ORULGDEHWZHHQIRUPHU political environment is hard to ig- dates or fail to participate in the gen- their majorities in one Democrats to craft bipar- State Speaker of the House Marco nore. Democrats have recognized eral election. The GOP would certainly or more houses of Con- tisan legislation based on Rubio and Governor Charlie Crist for their inability to attract Tea Partiers, reject both of these options, but they gress, creating a political compromise. If he can do the Senate seat left up for grabs by for- but Republicans are fully aware that need keep the moderate component of condition similar to that that, then America’s best mer Senator Mel Martinez. Rubio has the movement simply must be a part their base intact while simultaneously experienced in the Clin- days may yet be ahead of established himself as something of a of their coalition for victory in the up- gaining the support of the Tea Partiers ton era or the latter part Heathcare rallies have become an increasingly partisan activity, as shown above. us. poster child for the Tea Party move- coming midterm elections. Leaders in order to prevent such a situation. of the Bush era. But today,  Page | 12 PENN POLITICAL REVIEW APRIL 2010 PENN POLITICAL REVIEW APRIL 2010 Page | 13 NATIONAL NATIONAL The New Bull-Moose What Obama Needs to Do: ʹˊ˛˖ˊˇ˖ˇ˃˒˃˔˖˛ˏˑ˘ˇˏˇː˖ˋ˕˙ˑ˔˕ˇˈˑ˔ʴˇ˒˗˄ˎˋ˅˃ː˕ ˖ˊ˃ː˖ˊˇ˛͐˔ˇ˙ˋˎˎˋːˉ˖ˑ˃ˆˏˋ˖ Real Bipartisanship STORY BY SAMUEL LEE STORY BY ʲʪʫʮʮʫʲʸʧʰʫʥʧ͙ART BY SIEDE COLEMAN UHVLGHQW2EDPD¶V¿UVW\HDUKDV America simply cannot afford a repeat n November 2, 2010, Ameri- ment by attacking Crist’s support for in the GOP seem to have recognized Pbeen undeniably disappointing of unproductive political gridlock. personal appeal, and he has the pulpit cans will go to the polls to President Obama’s economic stimulus the dilemma that the growing move- to his supporters. He has failed to pass America faces a near-ten-percent un- O of the presidency. Voters will begin determine the makeup of federal and package, and has just recently pulled ment to their right poses for the party a single major bill, besides the stimu- employment rate, unsustainable bud- shifting their blame from the Demo- state legislatures, as well as the occu- ahead of his opponent in the polls. in the fall: if any established Republi- lus bill, and not one of his top domes- JHWGH¿FLWVGHWHULRUDWLQJVFKRROVDQG cratic Party to the Republican Party pants of many governors’ mansions While public opinion shows that Rubio can paints Tea Partiers to be part of a tic priorities — heathcare, education, infrastructure, two wars, and spiraling if they see that Republicans are not around the country. Between talk of would be far more likely to energize fringe group, they will almost certainly energy, and infrastructure — has been heathcare costs. Additionally, America working to compromise but are simply President Obama’s declining approval the right, it is clear that Christ would IDFHDELWWHUSULPDU\¿JKW,ILQVWHDG dealt with. To be fair, much of this is will now be entering its fourth decade opposing any bill that Obama or the numbers and Scott Brown’s surprise be more successful at gaining support the Tea Parties are embraced, Repub- not his fault. Republicans have threat- in which it has not dealt with educa- Democrats propose. If Obama applies YLFWRU\LQ0DVVDFKXVHWWVLWLVGLI¿FXOW from the moderates and independents licans risk moving too far to the right HQHG WKH ¿OLEXVWHU DW XQSUHFHGHQWHG tion, energy, immigration, heathcare, pressure to Republicans by publicly to avoid forseeing a repeat of the 1994 that so often prove to be the determin- and alienating many moderates and levels, requiring Democrats to mar- or infrastructure. reaching out to them, Republicans will Republican revolution. While it is true ing factor in general elections. independents. shal 60 votes for virtually every bill, To avoid a repeat of the past, be forced either to cooperate or to risk that the GOP appears to be on the Serious primary challenges to es- This problem is all too familiar for and the surprise defeat of Martha Obama must simply do one thing: EHLQJLGHQWL¿HGDVWKHSDUW\RIQLKLO- verge of making big gains in the mid- tablishment Republicans from can- Republicans. In 1912, former presi- Coakley has effectively ruined any Prod Republicans into working bona ism. And while many in the Republi- term elections, there are deep divi- didates aligning themselves with Tea dent Theodore Roosevelt mounted a chance of a heathcare reform bill that ¿GHVLQFUDIWLQJOHJLVODWLRQ can leadership will continue to press sions within the Republican base that Partiers continue to gain national at- primary challenge against incumbent otherwise would probably have passed But Obama has very few arrows in the strategy of “no” or offer simply promise to hinder their ability to do tention. In Arizona, popular conserva- William Howard Taft. After losing in and given the Democratic party valu- his quiver. Emboldened by the elec- unworkable solutions, some moderate so.The Tea Party movement – and all tive talk-show host J.D. Hayworth has the primary, Roosevelt then repre- able momentum. But all of that is in tion of Scott Brown and the Demo- Republicans – like Senators Olympia RIWKHSROLWLFDOLQ¿JKWLQJLWKDVLQGXFHG announced his intention to challenge sented his infamous Bull Moose Party the past. What is important now is for crats’ stalled heathcare reform plans, Snowe, Susan Collins, and maybe even on the right – is the greatest electoral Senator John McCain, while in Ken- in the general election, effectively al- Obama to chart a new course, one that Republicans are licking their political Scott Brown – will be willing to com- problem currently facing the Republi- tucky former Republican presidential lowing Democrat Woodrow Wilson acknowledges the reality of a stron- chops at the thought of the mid-term promise and work together. can Party. Republicans and to take advantage of the vote- ger and more numerous Republican elections. These victories seem to have Yet there is only so much Obama members of the Tea Party splitting between his oppo- Party, but one that also allows him to convinced them that their strategy can do. The Republicans will need to movement may share com- nents and win the presidency. DFKLHYH VLJQL¿FDQW OHJLVODWLRQ RQ WKH of blind opposition is working; they meet him halfway. Bipartisanship and mon ground in their opposi- Despite the traditional most important issues. prefer no legislation to a bi-partisan compromise do not mean that the Re- tion to the President and his GLI¿FXOWLHV WKH *23 KDV KDG Consider the last two times that one, because they can then portray the publicans vote against any bill that policies, but for the far-right, with party cohesion, Republi- different parties controlled Congress Democrats as being ineffective. Addi- contains an element of the Democratic many of the established, for- cans still have a vivid memory and the presidency. In the Clinton era, tionally, Obama’s inability to change agenda. They mean being able to ac- midable Republicans are in of their unprecedented suc- Republican control of Congress and public opinion has been demonstrated cept a bill that achieves mostly Dem- no way conservative enough cesses in the 1994 mid-term a Democratic presidency resulted in again and again, from lobbying for ocrat priorities, but includes a sig- to represent them. elections. These successes abject partisan gridlock. But that was America in Copenhagen to the special QL¿FDQWDPRXQWRISURJUDPVWKDWDUH Take for example the re- were made possible through okay at the time, because the technol- election in Massachusetts. Republi- consistent with Republican principles. FHQW VSHFLDO HOHFWLRQ WR ¿OO brilliant strategizing by party ogy boom coupled with Alan Greens- cans realize this and will not be afraid That seems to me to be the way a mi- the vacant seat in New York’s leaders Newt Gingrich and pan’s adroit management of the to defy his calls for bipartisanship, as nority party should act if it wants the 23rd Congressional District, Dick Armey, who were able to economy allowed America to achieve long as they think it is the better politi- government to do anything at all. where moderate Dede Scoz- harness the energy of conser- strong economic growth without much cal strategy. We are seeing America’s decline be- zafava withdrew from the vatives to the right of the par- government action. During the latter But Obama does have tremendous fore our very eyes, and it race days before the election. ty’s mainstream without alien- part of George W. Bush’s would be a tragedy if our Her decision came after for- ating independents. While it presidency, few initiatives government does noth- mer vice-presidential can- remains unclear whether Re- arose from the president, ing but watch, paralyzed didate Sarah Palin declared publicans will be able to imple- and so Democrats were ZLWKVHO¿VKSDUWLVDQVKLS Scozzafava to be “too liberal” ment a similar strategy in 2010, left to propose bills them- While China works bus- to represent the GOP in the one can be certain that the Tea selves, only to be shut ily to invest in educa- US House of Representa- Party movement and the sta- GRZQE\¿OLEXVWHUWKUHDWV tion, infrastructure, and tives, endorsing instead the tus of its relationship with the from the Republicans. green energy, our Con- Conservative Party candidate Doug candidate Ron Paul’s son Rand has 5HSXEOLFDQ 3DUW\ ZLOO KDYH D VLJQL¿- Most experts predict gress is as ineffective as Hoffman. Thus the seat fell into the shaken up the Republican primary for cant effect on the outcome of this fall’s that after the upcoming ever. It will be the test of KDQGV RI WKH 'HPRFUDWV IRU WKH ¿UVW the Senate seat to be left vacant by Jim elections. If the primary season leaves mid-term elections, the Obama’s presidency as time in decades due to vote-splitting Bunning. Tea Partiers feeling bitter towards the Democrats will hold an to whether or not he can on the right. Undoubtedly, the effect that Tea Republican establishment, they are extremely narrow major- force the GOP to work One could also consider the pri- Parties are having on the American likely to either back third-party candi- ity, if not completely lose in good faith with the PDU\¿JKWLQ)ORULGDEHWZHHQIRUPHU political environment is hard to ig- dates or fail to participate in the gen- their majorities in one Democrats to craft bipar- State Speaker of the House Marco nore. Democrats have recognized eral election. The GOP would certainly or more houses of Con- tisan legislation based on Rubio and Governor Charlie Crist for their inability to attract Tea Partiers, reject both of these options, but they gress, creating a political compromise. If he can do the Senate seat left up for grabs by for- but Republicans are fully aware that need keep the moderate component of condition similar to that that, then America’s best mer Senator Mel Martinez. Rubio has the movement simply must be a part their base intact while simultaneously experienced in the Clin- days may yet be ahead of established himself as something of a of their coalition for victory in the up- gaining the support of the Tea Partiers ton era or the latter part Heathcare rallies have become an increasingly partisan activity, as shown above. us. poster child for the Tea Party move- coming midterm elections. Leaders in order to prevent such a situation. of the Bush era. But today,  Page | 12 PENN POLITICAL REVIEW APRIL 2010 PENN POLITICAL REVIEW APRIL 2010 Page | 13 GLOBAL GLOBAL A Deadly Trade: Canada’s Water Supply ʶˊˇˋˏ˒ˎˋ˅˃˖ˋˑː˕ˑˈ˃˒˔ˋ˕ˑːˇ˔ˇ˚˅ˊ˃ːˉˇ STORY BY MELISSA ROBERTS STORY BY MAX LEVY

ne and a half US dollars While stipulations such as freeing ominous than the dangers of an n a move that has left the civilized The true horror of the situation be- America's benevolent stewardship of Ofor one British pound. prisoners in neutral countries could exchange. The psychological pain Iworld standing slack-jawed and comes evident when one realizes that North America is set to end. America Some trades are intuitive and some minimize the risk involved, a further WKDW KLV FDSWXUH DOUHDG\ LQÀLFWHG gawking, Canada has seized unilateral the very foundation of America and has enjoyed its role as ruler of NAF- generate wide-spread consensus. In and unavoidable ethical problem on Israeli society provides plenty of control of the earth's water supply. A our most important export – McDon- TA and general North American gun- the case of captured Israeli soldier remains. Can the government release reasons for terrorists to repeat such bleak press conference was held today ald’s – is threatened. As Canadian- slinger, and has also used this power Gilad Shalit, nothing is agreed upon. terrorists guilty of killing innocent tactics. Additionally, Israel has little atop the icy peek of Canada's national caused climate change progresses, the to do the greatest good for the greatest On June 25, 2006 a nineteen-year- civilians? Indeed, according to the impact on Fatah’s popularity. The best igloo to announce the villainous coun- UN predicts that severe droughts and number - of Americans. Yet Canada's old Israeli soldier named Gilad Shalit Christian Science Monitor, some way to salvage Fatah’s authority is to try's seizure of the planet's precious greater hydration demands for live- rise in stature is so meteoric that Don was captured by Palestinian terrorists of the most vocal opposition comes bolster the Palestinian economy and water reserves. A black-clad represen- stock due to higher temperatures will Brodka of the INS says that, “Mexicans in a cross border raid from Hamas- from families of the victims of past help revamp the education system. tative of the moose-infested northern greatly increase the amount of water are now illegally crossing into America controlled Gaza into Israel. Over three terrorist attacks. They argue that the Accordingly, the paramount concern wastes, who referred to himself solely needed for agriculture. Agriculture is only to make their way up to Canada. years have passed, and all diplomatic release of these terrorists not only for Israel should be the affects of as the 'Mouth of Canada', indicated already responsible for 70 percent of I'm not sure how I feel about this.” and military efforts to secure his snubs the memory of past victims, capture on general military morale. that this latest move was simply the freshwater use, and increased demand One fringe right-wing group known as release have failed. Shalit’s captivity but also increases the likelihood that Israel—which employs a universal ¿UVWSXEOLFVWHSRIDORQJIRUPLQJSORW for water will raise the price of food the 'Republican Party' has even begun and the negotiation efforts made more families will suffer from future draft—cannot require that its citizens to gain control of the North American and limit agricultural production. The advertising to potential illegals the by Israelis and their Egyptian and attacks. Moreover, capitulating to the risk their lives without knowing if they continent and, eventually, the entire burger that symbolizes American in- EHQH¿WVRIVWD\LQJLQ$PHULFDWDNLQJ German mediators have captivated and terrorists’ demands provides incentive have the full support of their nation. world. At this point the speaker broke genuity and expanding waistlines ev- the aliens' preference for Canada to be fragmented the nation of Israel. While for terrorists around the world to Israel’s greatest military asset lies not off into an uninterrupted stream of erywhere might soon cost more than a a grave insult. The Democratic Party SUHFLVH QXPEHUV KDYH ÀXFWXDWHG replicate such tactics, a consequence in the number but in the dedication sinister laughter for several minutes. Shalit’s captors are essentially that no government wants. of its soldiers. Now is not the time It seems that Canada's scheming demanding the release of close to one Nevertheless, a substantial portion to strain the bonds between society, began some centuries ago when the thousand Palestinians being held in of the Israeli and international the government and the military; it insidious nation slyly established itself Israeli prisons — including numerous communities hope for successful is a chance to prove devotion to one atop 1/5 of the world's fresh water re- “The true horror of the situation becomes KLJK SUR¿OH SULVRQHUV ² LQ H[FKDQJH negotiations. While paying a another. Rather than stand divided sources. Since then Canada has mainly for Shalit’s freedom. Undoubtedly, high price for the life of a single against its enemies, Israel should laid low, playing the role of an interna- evident when one realizes that the very the decision regarding a prisoner soldier might mathematically and accept collective responsibility tional joke. So effective was this feint exchange is complex. Submitting to the strategically appear fallacious, it for one another and stand united that most of the world has long con- foundation of America and our most important terrorists’ demands will incite more would morally distinguish Israel from even against an increased threat. sidered Canada to be little more than terror attacks, exacerbating Israel’s WKH WHUURULVW JURXSV WKDW LW ¿JKWV Shalit’s precarious situation an uncivilized band of hockey-stick export – McDonald’s – is threatened.” security crisis. Nevertheless, the deserves careful observation by the wielding barbarians. But, throughout psychological and moral implications  western world since Israel, in many this long dormant period, evil machi- of abandoning Shalit pose a danger to ways, serves as an international nations have been at play. In an exclu- the very foundation of Israeli society. DzŠ‡’•› Š‘Ž‘‰‹ ƒŽ testing ground for interactions with sive report for the Penn Political Re- dollar, undermining the very integrity tried to placate fears by assuring peo- From a pragmatic viewpoint, the ƒ†‘”ƒŽ‹’Ž‹ ƒ–‹‘• terrorist groups. What happens view, it has been proven that Canada is of the dollar menu. American politi- ple, “we don’t want those illegal Mexi- trade price seems ridiculously high. ‘ˆƒ„ƒ†‘‹‰ŠƒŽ‹– to Shalit could form a prototype behind global climate change. Deep in cians have been protesting loudly and cans anyways, because as water gets Military and intelligence leaders fear for dealings between western the barren tundra, the maple-soaked YLUXOHQWO\ WKDW ³WKH ZDWHU PXVW ÀRZ´ scarcer and America starts using more that sending hundreds of terrorists ’‘•‡ƒ†ƒ‰‡”–‘–Š‡˜‡”› governments and non-government scoundrels have secretly been burn- and that Canada has no right to deny of the shared water resources between into enemy hands not only numerically ˆ‘—†ƒ–‹‘‘ˆ •”ƒ‡Ž‹•‘ ‹‡–›Ǥdz sanctioned combatants. Not only ing trash, Canadian bacon grease and her stolen resources to the good citi- the US and Mexico, the Mexicans are strengthens terrorist organizations does Shalit’s case set precedent for polar bears in order to warm the globe zens of America. Ordinary Americans bound to get even dirtier.” Not only EXW DOVR SURYLGHV WKHP ZLWK ¿JKWHUV negotiating with terrorists, but it also and make their ill-begotten water re- are afraid. Even Joe the Plumber, the are hoards of underpaid laborers at experienced in orchestrating attacks. raises the more fundamental question VRXUFHVLQ¿QLWHO\PRUHYDOXDEOH)RU epitome of a brave American, is very VWDNHEXWDOVR$PHULFDQLQÀXHQFHLQ Fatah leaders — the more moderate Placing a premium on human life of the relationship between soldier as America's demand for Gatorade worried that the Canadians might Mexico and Latin America. Soon Hugo political opponents of Shalit’s Hamas explicitly demonstrates Israel’s desire and state. While Israel’s universal and Mexico's demand for any clean start using more than their share of Chavez will be protesting the vile im- captors — also opine that a deal to spread freedom and human rights. draft creates an intrinsic connection water at all have risen, so too has the water from the more than 300 shared perial interference of Canada. Some strengthens the position of the more Furthermore, can Israeli society bear between the military and society, most cost of such resources. The UN Glob- rivers and lakes between Canada and political theorists have made radical radical Hamas, curbing efforts for the weight of guilt if it leaves one of of the western world society has grown al Compact report predicts that by America. In an interview with Fox suggestions, urging America to use a strong Fatah-Israeli relationship. its soldiers in enemy hands because increasingly anti-military. Therefore, 2030 demand for fresh water will be News, he asked, “If we don’t have no ZDWHUPRUHHI¿FLHQWO\LPSOHPHQWLQ- Were Israel to negotiate, Hamas’ it was unwilling to bid high enough the question remains: is our debt to 25 percent higher, thus strengthen- ZDWHUZKR¶VJRQQDSD\PHWR¿[WKHLU novations in agriculture and create a prestige would soar in Palestinian for his release? While agreeing to an soldiers conscribed by contractual ing the icy vise grip of Canada's power pipes?” framework for dealing with water is- society, further marginalizing Fatah’s outrageous demand presents potential law as are other government jobs? on these nations' sweet, soft balls. At But it’s not just America and Mex- sues in North America. As expected, credibility and harming Fatah’s GLI¿FXOWLHV IRU ORQJWHUP VHFXULW\ Or in fact, does there exist a more the same time the northern power's LFRWKDWQHHGWR¿OOERQJVDQGDTXDUL- these people have been dismissed as already precarious hold over the those threats remain unknown and profound relationship that demands weather machines have made rainfall ums; clean water is becoming scarcer lunatics who don’t understand The Palestinian territories. Echoing this obscure. What is certain is the pending a more substantive commitment in the fertile regions of North America around the globe, making countries American Way. opinion, Israeli Defense Minister death of a soldier held in enemy hands; towards our troops? As the Shalit much more erratic, creating a need more eager to enter into alliances with Ehud Barak told the Israeli newspaper the longer the government stalls on situation demonstrates, whether for a more steady supply of water, one the 16-ship naval nonpower they once Haaretz that “we are required to take a deal, the greater the risk to Shalit. or not a deal is made the terrorists which only the soulless Canadians can VFRUQHG$VPRQH\DQGSRZHUÀRZLQWR every possible and reasonable step to Ultimately, the negative impact win. But saving Shalit’s life is the now provide. the cold, heartless bosom of Canada, bring Shalit home but not at any price.” of abandoning Shalit appears more only way that Israel can win as well.  Page | 14 PENN POLITICAL REVIEW APRIL 2010 PENN POLITICAL REVIEW APRIL 2010 Page | 15 GLOBAL GLOBAL A Deadly Trade: Canada’s Water Supply ʶˊˇˋˏ˒ˎˋ˅˃˖ˋˑː˕ˑˈ˃˒˔ˋ˕ˑːˇ˔ˇ˚˅ˊ˃ːˉˇ STORY BY MELISSA ROBERTS STORY BY MAX LEVY

ne and a half US dollars While stipulations such as freeing ominous than the dangers of an n a move that has left the civilized The true horror of the situation be- America's benevolent stewardship of Ofor one British pound. prisoners in neutral countries could exchange. The psychological pain Iworld standing slack-jawed and comes evident when one realizes that North America is set to end. America Some trades are intuitive and some minimize the risk involved, a further WKDW KLV FDSWXUH DOUHDG\ LQÀLFWHG gawking, Canada has seized unilateral the very foundation of America and has enjoyed its role as ruler of NAF- generate wide-spread consensus. In and unavoidable ethical problem on Israeli society provides plenty of control of the earth's water supply. A our most important export – McDon- TA and general North American gun- the case of captured Israeli soldier remains. Can the government release reasons for terrorists to repeat such bleak press conference was held today ald’s – is threatened. As Canadian- slinger, and has also used this power Gilad Shalit, nothing is agreed upon. terrorists guilty of killing innocent tactics. Additionally, Israel has little atop the icy peek of Canada's national caused climate change progresses, the to do the greatest good for the greatest On June 25, 2006 a nineteen-year- civilians? Indeed, according to the impact on Fatah’s popularity. The best igloo to announce the villainous coun- UN predicts that severe droughts and number - of Americans. Yet Canada's old Israeli soldier named Gilad Shalit Christian Science Monitor, some way to salvage Fatah’s authority is to try's seizure of the planet's precious greater hydration demands for live- rise in stature is so meteoric that Don was captured by Palestinian terrorists of the most vocal opposition comes bolster the Palestinian economy and water reserves. A black-clad represen- stock due to higher temperatures will Brodka of the INS says that, “Mexicans in a cross border raid from Hamas- from families of the victims of past help revamp the education system. tative of the moose-infested northern greatly increase the amount of water are now illegally crossing into America controlled Gaza into Israel. Over three terrorist attacks. They argue that the Accordingly, the paramount concern wastes, who referred to himself solely needed for agriculture. Agriculture is only to make their way up to Canada. years have passed, and all diplomatic release of these terrorists not only for Israel should be the affects of as the 'Mouth of Canada', indicated already responsible for 70 percent of I'm not sure how I feel about this.” and military efforts to secure his snubs the memory of past victims, capture on general military morale. that this latest move was simply the freshwater use, and increased demand One fringe right-wing group known as release have failed. Shalit’s captivity but also increases the likelihood that Israel—which employs a universal ¿UVWSXEOLFVWHSRIDORQJIRUPLQJSORW for water will raise the price of food the 'Republican Party' has even begun and the negotiation efforts made more families will suffer from future draft—cannot require that its citizens to gain control of the North American and limit agricultural production. The advertising to potential illegals the by Israelis and their Egyptian and attacks. Moreover, capitulating to the risk their lives without knowing if they continent and, eventually, the entire burger that symbolizes American in- EHQH¿WVRIVWD\LQJLQ$PHULFDWDNLQJ German mediators have captivated and terrorists’ demands provides incentive have the full support of their nation. world. At this point the speaker broke genuity and expanding waistlines ev- the aliens' preference for Canada to be fragmented the nation of Israel. While for terrorists around the world to Israel’s greatest military asset lies not off into an uninterrupted stream of erywhere might soon cost more than a a grave insult. The Democratic Party SUHFLVH QXPEHUV KDYH ÀXFWXDWHG replicate such tactics, a consequence in the number but in the dedication sinister laughter for several minutes. Shalit’s captors are essentially that no government wants. of its soldiers. Now is not the time It seems that Canada's scheming demanding the release of close to one Nevertheless, a substantial portion to strain the bonds between society, began some centuries ago when the thousand Palestinians being held in of the Israeli and international the government and the military; it insidious nation slyly established itself Israeli prisons — including numerous communities hope for successful is a chance to prove devotion to one atop 1/5 of the world's fresh water re- “The true horror of the situation becomes KLJK SUR¿OH SULVRQHUV ² LQ H[FKDQJH negotiations. While paying a another. Rather than stand divided sources. Since then Canada has mainly for Shalit’s freedom. Undoubtedly, high price for the life of a single against its enemies, Israel should laid low, playing the role of an interna- evident when one realizes that the very the decision regarding a prisoner soldier might mathematically and accept collective responsibility tional joke. So effective was this feint exchange is complex. Submitting to the strategically appear fallacious, it for one another and stand united that most of the world has long con- foundation of America and our most important terrorists’ demands will incite more would morally distinguish Israel from even against an increased threat. sidered Canada to be little more than terror attacks, exacerbating Israel’s WKH WHUURULVW JURXSV WKDW LW ¿JKWV Shalit’s precarious situation an uncivilized band of hockey-stick export – McDonald’s – is threatened.” security crisis. Nevertheless, the deserves careful observation by the wielding barbarians. But, throughout psychological and moral implications  western world since Israel, in many this long dormant period, evil machi- of abandoning Shalit pose a danger to ways, serves as an international nations have been at play. In an exclu- the very foundation of Israeli society. DzŠ‡’•› Š‘Ž‘‰‹ ƒŽ testing ground for interactions with sive report for the Penn Political Re- dollar, undermining the very integrity tried to placate fears by assuring peo- From a pragmatic viewpoint, the ƒ†‘”ƒŽ‹’Ž‹ ƒ–‹‘• terrorist groups. What happens view, it has been proven that Canada is of the dollar menu. American politi- ple, “we don’t want those illegal Mexi- trade price seems ridiculously high. ‘ˆƒ„ƒ†‘‹‰ŠƒŽ‹– to Shalit could form a prototype behind global climate change. Deep in cians have been protesting loudly and cans anyways, because as water gets Military and intelligence leaders fear for dealings between western the barren tundra, the maple-soaked YLUXOHQWO\ WKDW ³WKH ZDWHU PXVW ÀRZ´ scarcer and America starts using more that sending hundreds of terrorists ’‘•‡ƒ†ƒ‰‡”–‘–Š‡˜‡”› governments and non-government scoundrels have secretly been burn- and that Canada has no right to deny of the shared water resources between into enemy hands not only numerically ˆ‘—†ƒ–‹‘‘ˆ •”ƒ‡Ž‹•‘ ‹‡–›Ǥdz sanctioned combatants. Not only ing trash, Canadian bacon grease and her stolen resources to the good citi- the US and Mexico, the Mexicans are strengthens terrorist organizations does Shalit’s case set precedent for polar bears in order to warm the globe zens of America. Ordinary Americans bound to get even dirtier.” Not only EXW DOVR SURYLGHV WKHP ZLWK ¿JKWHUV negotiating with terrorists, but it also and make their ill-begotten water re- are afraid. Even Joe the Plumber, the are hoards of underpaid laborers at experienced in orchestrating attacks. raises the more fundamental question VRXUFHVLQ¿QLWHO\PRUHYDOXDEOH)RU epitome of a brave American, is very VWDNHEXWDOVR$PHULFDQLQÀXHQFHLQ Fatah leaders — the more moderate Placing a premium on human life of the relationship between soldier as America's demand for Gatorade worried that the Canadians might Mexico and Latin America. Soon Hugo political opponents of Shalit’s Hamas explicitly demonstrates Israel’s desire and state. While Israel’s universal and Mexico's demand for any clean start using more than their share of Chavez will be protesting the vile im- captors — also opine that a deal to spread freedom and human rights. draft creates an intrinsic connection water at all have risen, so too has the water from the more than 300 shared perial interference of Canada. Some strengthens the position of the more Furthermore, can Israeli society bear between the military and society, most cost of such resources. The UN Glob- rivers and lakes between Canada and political theorists have made radical radical Hamas, curbing efforts for the weight of guilt if it leaves one of of the western world society has grown al Compact report predicts that by America. In an interview with Fox suggestions, urging America to use a strong Fatah-Israeli relationship. its soldiers in enemy hands because increasingly anti-military. Therefore, 2030 demand for fresh water will be News, he asked, “If we don’t have no ZDWHUPRUHHI¿FLHQWO\LPSOHPHQWLQ- Were Israel to negotiate, Hamas’ it was unwilling to bid high enough the question remains: is our debt to 25 percent higher, thus strengthen- ZDWHUZKR¶VJRQQDSD\PHWR¿[WKHLU novations in agriculture and create a prestige would soar in Palestinian for his release? While agreeing to an soldiers conscribed by contractual ing the icy vise grip of Canada's power pipes?” framework for dealing with water is- society, further marginalizing Fatah’s outrageous demand presents potential law as are other government jobs? on these nations' sweet, soft balls. At But it’s not just America and Mex- sues in North America. As expected, credibility and harming Fatah’s GLI¿FXOWLHV IRU ORQJWHUP VHFXULW\ Or in fact, does there exist a more the same time the northern power's LFRWKDWQHHGWR¿OOERQJVDQGDTXDUL- these people have been dismissed as already precarious hold over the those threats remain unknown and profound relationship that demands weather machines have made rainfall ums; clean water is becoming scarcer lunatics who don’t understand The Palestinian territories. Echoing this obscure. What is certain is the pending a more substantive commitment in the fertile regions of North America around the globe, making countries American Way. opinion, Israeli Defense Minister death of a soldier held in enemy hands; towards our troops? As the Shalit much more erratic, creating a need more eager to enter into alliances with Ehud Barak told the Israeli newspaper the longer the government stalls on situation demonstrates, whether for a more steady supply of water, one the 16-ship naval nonpower they once Haaretz that “we are required to take a deal, the greater the risk to Shalit. or not a deal is made the terrorists which only the soulless Canadians can VFRUQHG$VPRQH\DQGSRZHUÀRZLQWR every possible and reasonable step to Ultimately, the negative impact win. But saving Shalit’s life is the now provide. the cold, heartless bosom of Canada, bring Shalit home but not at any price.” of abandoning Shalit appears more only way that Israel can win as well.  Page | 14 PENN POLITICAL REVIEW APRIL 2010 PENN POLITICAL REVIEW APRIL 2010 Page | 15 GLOBAL GLOBAL cont’d from Conservatives... tive president in South America and, ezuela is not the only one who is being Conservatives on the Rise in in his aggressive stance against drug accused of making large military pur- bilize the political branches of the Or- WUDI¿FNLQJDQGJXHUULOODZDUIDUHRIWHQ chases. Paraguay has expressed con- ganization of American States to study found himself at odds with neighbor- cern over Bolivian military upgrades, Latin America the state of freedom of expression in ing Ecuador and Venezuela. Just last while Peru has criticized its traditional STORY BY ʮʷʥʣʵʤʮʣʰʥʪʣʴʦ͙ART BY SIEDE COLEMAN Venezuela and see whether it is on tar- year, Mr. Uribe was heavily criticized rival, Chile, for having, after Colom- get with the framework established in by most South American leaders for bia, the highest military expenditure the Inter-American Democratic Char- n January 17, 2010, Chile of the Latin American right was the friendly. Almost immediately after be- allowing the US to make use of its mil- as percentage of GDP and the third ter, of which Venezuela is a co-signer. elected Senator (and tycoon) election of Barack Obama in 2008. ing elected, Chile’s Piñera questioned itary bases and for crossing over into largest military in South America even O Venezuela and its allies have a long 6HEDVWLDQ3LxHUDWKH¿UVWIUHHO\HOHFW- President George W. Bush was so un- the way in which democracy was prac- Ecuador to kill 16 guerrilla members. though it is the sixth most populated UHFRUGRIHVFDODWLQJFRQÀLFWVLQWKHUH- ed center-right president in 52 years. popular in the region that socialist ticed in Venezuela and stated that he Venezuela and Ecuador have re- country. Last year, Chile mocked Pe- gion. Colombians have already become This marked the end of the 20-year OHDGHUV SUR¿WHG JUHDWO\ E\ FULWLFL]LQJ disagreed with many Chavez admin- sponded by building up their militar- ru’s idea of signing a non-aggression accustomed to constant brinkmanship supremacy held by the Center-Left President Bush and the United States. istration policies. Just a few hours ies, sparking concerns in Washington. pact and has stated that Peru’s worries on the part of Chavez, who has on sev- Agreement of Parties for Democracy Voters tended to favor candidates that later, Chavez responded by warning In a joint press conference last spring, are unfounded. eral occasions mobilized troops to the since the restoration of democratic had anti-American views and pun- Mr. Piñera to “not get involved with State Secretary Clinton and Uruguay- With new conservative presidents Venezuelan-Colombian border and or- rule in 1990. This election is yet anoth- ished conservatives, who have tradi- us” and that he hoped that Chile did an President Tabare Vazquez issued a reaching power in 2010, the disputes dered his troops to “prepare for war.” er example of the quickly collapsing tionally supported close ties with the not become another front of attack on joint statement urging Latin American among Latin American countries will Until the election of Piñera, Colombi- hegemony of left-wing leaders, headed United States and who share Ameri- Venezuela. countries to be transparent in their continue to escalate. As the continent an President Alvaro Uribe, a staunch by Hugo Chavez. Last year, Panama ca’s free-enterprise economic model. According to Ignacio Alvarez, a purchases and clear about their pur- becomes more polarized, these dis- ally of the US, was the only conserva- and Honduras also chose conservative 1HYHUWKHOHVVDIWHU2EDPDWRRNRI¿FH Latin American policy expert from the poses for military build-up. But Ven- putes are sure to worsen. presidents after extensive socialist the popularity of the US government Inter-American Commission on Hu- rule, and this year, conservatives have has skyrocketed and Latin American man Rights, Chavez will not be able to already won in Chile and Costa Rica, leaders are now lining up to take their ignore the regional relevance of Chile. and are poised to win in Brazil and picture with America’s leader rather The latter “has managed to progress Colombia, the two remaining presi- than accusing him of being the devil. VLJQL¿FDQWO\ ZLWKRXW KDYLQJ SUHVL- dential contests to be held in Latin Chavez’s eroding leadership is GHQWVNHHSLQJWKHLUSRVWVLQGH¿QLWHO\ America in 2010. Even left-wing polit- EHVW UHÀHFWHG E\ KLV IDLOXUH WR UHLQ- an independent court system and con- A Strange, Yet Oddly ical strongman Hugo Chavez, who has state President Manuel Zelaya, a close gress exist, and a strong free-market run in Venezuela virtually unopposed friend, as president of Honduras af- economy has been established while Healthy Relationship since 1998, is facing a tough midterm ter a coup d’état last summer. Just a keeping a wide safety net.” Mr. Alva- ʣː˗˒ʐ˃ːˆʐˆˑ˙ːˆˋ˒ˎˑˏ˃˖ˋ˅˔ˇˎ˃˖ˋˑː˕ˊˋ˒˄ˇ˖˙ˇˇːʫ˕˔˃ˇˎ˃ːˆʶ˗˔ˍˇ˛ congressional election following this few months later, Honduras elected rez claims that Chavez sees in Chile a \HDU¶VHQHUJ\FULVLVDQGKLJKLQÀDWLRQ- 3RU¿ULR /RER D FRQVHUYDWLYH DV LWV threat to his way of doing things be- STORY BY ʵʣʯʩʴʧʧʰʤʧʴʩ͙ART BY CHIYEL HAYLES ary pressures. president. The new Latin American cause it provides an alternate govern- Over the past decade, Mr. Chavez conservative presidents have already ment system that has been both popu- has been accustomed to governing in hinted that their relationship with lar and successful. In addition, Alvarez f two countries were liberal de- was humiliated, Turkish Prime Minis- Turkey have had a free-trade agree- a continent ruled almost entirely by Chavez and the left will not be too asserts that Brazil and Chile could mo- Imocracies in a region where ter Recep Erdogan was incensed and ment that sees nearly $3 billion worth left or center-left govern- tolerance fears to tread, are actively $\DORQZDVYLOL¿HG of goods annually crossing their bor- ments who have seldom engaging the western world, and are The Ayalon-Celikkol incident pales ders. In 2006, they agreed to build a criticized his radical poli- VHHQ DV LPSRUWDQW DOOLHV LQ ¿JKWLQJ in comparison to the Israel-Turkey pipeline between the two nations that cies. His closest allies, Bo- global terrorism, then surely healthy row that preceded it. At the 2009 would transport water, oil and natural livia’s Evo Morales, Ecua- diplomatic relations would be all but World Economic Forum in Davos, gas. But their closest cooperation is dor’s Rafael Correa, and assured. Theoretically, Israel and Tur- Switzerland, Erdogan’s criticisms of clearly in the military realm, in which Nicaragua’s Daniel Orte- key should enjoy one of the closest in- Israel’s military policy reached a new Israel is Turkey’s foremost ally. Tur- ga, continue to strongly ternational relationships in the world. height when he openly engaged in a key spends billions revolutionizing its pursue his far-left poli- But on January 11, 2010, the re- shouting match with Israeli President armed forces with Israeli weapons and cies in their home coun- ality was decidedly different in the Shimon Peres. Surely, no size differ- equipment – most notably, the mod- tries. However, after the aftermath of Israeli Deputy Foreign ence between diplomats’ chairs can ernization of Turkish F-4 Phantom recent economic down- Minister Danny Ayalon’s juvenile and possibly deteriorate relations between ¿JKWHUMHWVFRVWDOPRVWELOOLRQDQG turn, constant instabil- spiteful behavior towards Turkish Am- the two nations more than a public Popeye II surface-to-air missiles cost ity, and perpetually high bassador Oguz Celikkol. Ayalon had clash of politicians including one head $150 million. Moreover, their navies crime rates, Latin Ameri- called the meeting to vent his govern- of state. Not to mention that Peres and and air forces hold collaborative ex- cans are beginning to look ment’s frustration over a Turkish soap Erdogan fought on the international ercises and use each other’s training elsewhere for progress. opera, broadcast on a state-sponsored stage in the most literal sense of the facilities. Many have been disap- channel, which depicted Israeli sol- term – in the presence of world lead- The tremendous overlap in Is- pointed by false prom- GLHUVFRPPLWWLQJ¿FWLWLRXVZDUFULPHV ers and the international media. Ac- rael’s and Turkey’s national interests ises of economic develop- )RUWKH¿OPHGSRUWLRQRIWKHPHHWLQJ cording to many, the sixty-two-year- has always been, and will continue ment in these countries, Celikkol was deliberately seated in a old Israel-Turkey relationship was to be, more than enough to preserve and the continent’s poor smaller chair than Ayalon’s, and as now in jeopardy thanks to these two sustainable (if strained) relations be- economic performance opposed to the customary display of confrontations. tween them. In a turbulent Middle in 2009 has made many ERWK FRXQWULHV¶ ÀDJV RQO\ WKH ,VUDHOL Or perhaps not. The bond between East, the cooperation between these wish for a complete over- ÀDJ ZDV YLVLEOH $\DORQ KDG HYHQ LQ- Ankara and Jerusalem is historical- two countries maintains balance and haul of their politicians. structed the cameramen present to ex- O\ VWURQJ DQG PXWXDOO\ EHQH¿FLDO LQ stability. Even when their diplomatic Another important aggerate the consequential height dif- terms of economic and strategic con- relationship sours and appears to tear reason for the resurgence ference as much as possible. Celikkol siderations. Since 2000, Israel and them apart, their military  alliance Page | 16 PENN POLITICAL REVIEW APRIL 2010 PENN POLITICAL REVIEW APRIL 2010 Page | 17 GLOBAL GLOBAL cont’d from Conservatives... tive president in South America and, ezuela is not the only one who is being Conservatives on the Rise in in his aggressive stance against drug accused of making large military pur- bilize the political branches of the Or- WUDI¿FNLQJDQGJXHUULOODZDUIDUHRIWHQ chases. Paraguay has expressed con- ganization of American States to study found himself at odds with neighbor- cern over Bolivian military upgrades, Latin America the state of freedom of expression in ing Ecuador and Venezuela. Just last while Peru has criticized its traditional STORY BY ʮʷʥʣʵʤʮʣʰʥʪʣʴʦ͙ART BY SIEDE COLEMAN Venezuela and see whether it is on tar- year, Mr. Uribe was heavily criticized rival, Chile, for having, after Colom- get with the framework established in by most South American leaders for bia, the highest military expenditure the Inter-American Democratic Char- n January 17, 2010, Chile of the Latin American right was the friendly. Almost immediately after be- allowing the US to make use of its mil- as percentage of GDP and the third ter, of which Venezuela is a co-signer. elected Senator (and tycoon) election of Barack Obama in 2008. ing elected, Chile’s Piñera questioned itary bases and for crossing over into largest military in South America even O Venezuela and its allies have a long 6HEDVWLDQ3LxHUDWKH¿UVWIUHHO\HOHFW- President George W. Bush was so un- the way in which democracy was prac- Ecuador to kill 16 guerrilla members. though it is the sixth most populated UHFRUGRIHVFDODWLQJFRQÀLFWVLQWKHUH- ed center-right president in 52 years. popular in the region that socialist ticed in Venezuela and stated that he Venezuela and Ecuador have re- country. Last year, Chile mocked Pe- gion. Colombians have already become This marked the end of the 20-year OHDGHUV SUR¿WHG JUHDWO\ E\ FULWLFL]LQJ disagreed with many Chavez admin- sponded by building up their militar- ru’s idea of signing a non-aggression accustomed to constant brinkmanship supremacy held by the Center-Left President Bush and the United States. istration policies. Just a few hours ies, sparking concerns in Washington. pact and has stated that Peru’s worries on the part of Chavez, who has on sev- Agreement of Parties for Democracy Voters tended to favor candidates that later, Chavez responded by warning In a joint press conference last spring, are unfounded. eral occasions mobilized troops to the since the restoration of democratic had anti-American views and pun- Mr. Piñera to “not get involved with State Secretary Clinton and Uruguay- With new conservative presidents Venezuelan-Colombian border and or- rule in 1990. This election is yet anoth- ished conservatives, who have tradi- us” and that he hoped that Chile did an President Tabare Vazquez issued a reaching power in 2010, the disputes dered his troops to “prepare for war.” er example of the quickly collapsing tionally supported close ties with the not become another front of attack on joint statement urging Latin American among Latin American countries will Until the election of Piñera, Colombi- hegemony of left-wing leaders, headed United States and who share Ameri- Venezuela. countries to be transparent in their continue to escalate. As the continent an President Alvaro Uribe, a staunch by Hugo Chavez. Last year, Panama ca’s free-enterprise economic model. According to Ignacio Alvarez, a purchases and clear about their pur- becomes more polarized, these dis- ally of the US, was the only conserva- and Honduras also chose conservative 1HYHUWKHOHVVDIWHU2EDPDWRRNRI¿FH Latin American policy expert from the poses for military build-up. But Ven- putes are sure to worsen. presidents after extensive socialist the popularity of the US government Inter-American Commission on Hu- rule, and this year, conservatives have has skyrocketed and Latin American man Rights, Chavez will not be able to already won in Chile and Costa Rica, leaders are now lining up to take their ignore the regional relevance of Chile. and are poised to win in Brazil and picture with America’s leader rather The latter “has managed to progress Colombia, the two remaining presi- than accusing him of being the devil. VLJQL¿FDQWO\ ZLWKRXW KDYLQJ SUHVL- dential contests to be held in Latin Chavez’s eroding leadership is GHQWVNHHSLQJWKHLUSRVWVLQGH¿QLWHO\ America in 2010. Even left-wing polit- EHVW UHÀHFWHG E\ KLV IDLOXUH WR UHLQ- an independent court system and con- A Strange, Yet Oddly ical strongman Hugo Chavez, who has state President Manuel Zelaya, a close gress exist, and a strong free-market run in Venezuela virtually unopposed friend, as president of Honduras af- economy has been established while Healthy Relationship since 1998, is facing a tough midterm ter a coup d’état last summer. Just a keeping a wide safety net.” Mr. Alva- ʣː˗˒ʐ˃ːˆʐˆˑ˙ːˆˋ˒ˎˑˏ˃˖ˋ˅˔ˇˎ˃˖ˋˑː˕ˊˋ˒˄ˇ˖˙ˇˇːʫ˕˔˃ˇˎ˃ːˆʶ˗˔ˍˇ˛ congressional election following this few months later, Honduras elected rez claims that Chavez sees in Chile a \HDU¶VHQHUJ\FULVLVDQGKLJKLQÀDWLRQ- 3RU¿ULR /RER D FRQVHUYDWLYH DV LWV threat to his way of doing things be- STORY BY ʵʣʯʩʴʧʧʰʤʧʴʩ͙ART BY CHIYEL HAYLES ary pressures. president. The new Latin American cause it provides an alternate govern- Over the past decade, Mr. Chavez conservative presidents have already ment system that has been both popu- has been accustomed to governing in hinted that their relationship with lar and successful. In addition, Alvarez f two countries were liberal de- was humiliated, Turkish Prime Minis- Turkey have had a free-trade agree- a continent ruled almost entirely by Chavez and the left will not be too asserts that Brazil and Chile could mo- Imocracies in a region where ter Recep Erdogan was incensed and ment that sees nearly $3 billion worth left or center-left govern- tolerance fears to tread, are actively $\DORQZDVYLOL¿HG of goods annually crossing their bor- ments who have seldom engaging the western world, and are The Ayalon-Celikkol incident pales ders. In 2006, they agreed to build a criticized his radical poli- VHHQ DV LPSRUWDQW DOOLHV LQ ¿JKWLQJ in comparison to the Israel-Turkey pipeline between the two nations that cies. His closest allies, Bo- global terrorism, then surely healthy row that preceded it. At the 2009 would transport water, oil and natural livia’s Evo Morales, Ecua- diplomatic relations would be all but World Economic Forum in Davos, gas. But their closest cooperation is dor’s Rafael Correa, and assured. Theoretically, Israel and Tur- Switzerland, Erdogan’s criticisms of clearly in the military realm, in which Nicaragua’s Daniel Orte- key should enjoy one of the closest in- Israel’s military policy reached a new Israel is Turkey’s foremost ally. Tur- ga, continue to strongly ternational relationships in the world. height when he openly engaged in a key spends billions revolutionizing its pursue his far-left poli- But on January 11, 2010, the re- shouting match with Israeli President armed forces with Israeli weapons and cies in their home coun- ality was decidedly different in the Shimon Peres. Surely, no size differ- equipment – most notably, the mod- tries. However, after the aftermath of Israeli Deputy Foreign ence between diplomats’ chairs can ernization of Turkish F-4 Phantom recent economic down- Minister Danny Ayalon’s juvenile and possibly deteriorate relations between ¿JKWHUMHWVFRVWDOPRVWELOOLRQDQG turn, constant instabil- spiteful behavior towards Turkish Am- the two nations more than a public Popeye II surface-to-air missiles cost ity, and perpetually high bassador Oguz Celikkol. Ayalon had clash of politicians including one head $150 million. Moreover, their navies crime rates, Latin Ameri- called the meeting to vent his govern- of state. Not to mention that Peres and and air forces hold collaborative ex- cans are beginning to look ment’s frustration over a Turkish soap Erdogan fought on the international ercises and use each other’s training elsewhere for progress. opera, broadcast on a state-sponsored stage in the most literal sense of the facilities. Many have been disap- channel, which depicted Israeli sol- term – in the presence of world lead- The tremendous overlap in Is- pointed by false prom- GLHUVFRPPLWWLQJ¿FWLWLRXVZDUFULPHV ers and the international media. Ac- rael’s and Turkey’s national interests ises of economic develop- )RUWKH¿OPHGSRUWLRQRIWKHPHHWLQJ cording to many, the sixty-two-year- has always been, and will continue ment in these countries, Celikkol was deliberately seated in a old Israel-Turkey relationship was to be, more than enough to preserve and the continent’s poor smaller chair than Ayalon’s, and as now in jeopardy thanks to these two sustainable (if strained) relations be- economic performance opposed to the customary display of confrontations. tween them. In a turbulent Middle in 2009 has made many ERWK FRXQWULHV¶ ÀDJV RQO\ WKH ,VUDHOL Or perhaps not. The bond between East, the cooperation between these wish for a complete over- ÀDJ ZDV YLVLEOH $\DORQ KDG HYHQ LQ- Ankara and Jerusalem is historical- two countries maintains balance and haul of their politicians. structed the cameramen present to ex- O\ VWURQJ DQG PXWXDOO\ EHQH¿FLDO LQ stability. Even when their diplomatic Another important aggerate the consequential height dif- terms of economic and strategic con- relationship sours and appears to tear reason for the resurgence ference as much as possible. Celikkol siderations. Since 2000, Israel and them apart, their military  alliance Page | 16 PENN POLITICAL REVIEW APRIL 2010 PENN POLITICAL REVIEW APRIL 2010 Page | 17 GLOBAL GLOBAL

cont’d from A Strange... importance of the Israel-Turkey stra- harsh rhetoric coming from Ankara, entitled to habeas relief—the right to tegic alliance far outweighs any dip- there is little indication that these crit- challenge their unlawful detention in draws them back together. On the sur- lomatic tension, as was the case be- icisms will threaten the alliance that US courts—is currently before the D.C. face, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud fore a controversial Turkish TV show both countries value deeply. When it Circuit Court in the case of Maqaleh, %DUDN¶V RI¿FLDO VWDWH YLVLW WR 7XUNH\ demonized Israel and Ayalon broke comes to Israel-Turkey relations, talk et al., v. Gates, et al. This lawsuit raises in the aftermath of Ayalon-Celikkol the rules of international relations is cheap, but commercial and strategic GLI¿FXOWOHJDOTXHVWLRQVUHODWHGWRWKH episode was an effort to make diplo- decorum. Opposition to Israeli poli- alliances are not. extraterritorial application of the Con- matic amends, but it was also meant cies has been both an elite VWLWXWLRQ DV ZHOO DV GLI¿FXOW SUDFWLFDO to save a suspended $185 million sale and a populist sentiment, ones, including the collection of bat- of unmanned aerial vehicles – which echoed by the Turkish WOH¿HOG HYLGHQFH :KLOH WKHVH LVVXHV had been jeopardized not by Ayalon’s government as well as ci- work their way through federal courts, antics but by the Israeli weapons’ pre- vilian demonstrations. In it is important that the prisoners are vious incompatibility with Turkish both mediums, criticisms provided with some minimal level equipment. of Israel have recently of due process in the interim period. However, this is not to say that the become more vehement As long as the military base is under Israel-Turkey relationship has always than in previous years, American control, prisoners should been perfect. Rather, it has historically but this is hardly shocking be allowed access to legal counsel and been driven by pragmatism, which has as the Turks have always a hearing before a neutral arbiter. A often lent itself to reluctance as op- been sympathetic to the joint US-Afghan review of cases is the posed to enthusiasm. David Ben-Gur- Palestinians. Despite this best option at present, as forces con- LRQ,VUDHO¶V¿UVW3ULPH0LQLVWHURQFH apparent tension, Turkey tinue their efforts to develop a legiti- quipped that although the two coun- has never seriously con- mate and independent justice system tries are married, they treat each other sidered economic sanc- tions” called for the humane treatment ject to the overbroad authority claimed within Afghanistan that is capable of OLNHPLVWUHVVHV+HVDLGWKLVRYHU¿IW\ tions and its dealings with of prisoners in the military’s custody, E\ WKH SUHVLGHQW $ VHQVLEOH ¿UVW UH- processing these cases. years ago, but what better metaphor Israel have continued un- though it is unclear whether Special form, then, is to provide clearly stated While changes are necessary to the could possibly describe a relationship abated. Operations units are exempt from DQGVSHFL¿FVWDQGDUGVWKDWUHFRJQL]H United States’ detention policy abroad, in which Turkey publically lambasts The relationship be- these requirements. Further, in early the different legal protections entitled it is less clear where they should come Israel’s military conduct yet maintains tween Israel and Turkey January, the Department of Defense to different categories of individuals. from. The executive branch is unlikely commercial and strategic ties with Is- has endured far worse announced the proposed handover of International law—which has largely to enact measures that would restrain rael worth billions of dollars in trade controversy than Ayalon’s the Bagram prison to Afghan authori- been ignored by the United States thus its power, especially when President and weapons? disregard for diplomatic ties in one year’s time—a move that far—provides distinctions between Obama’s detainee policies have been Indeed, the strength and mutual conventions. Despite the recognizes Afghanistan’s need to de- ¿JKWHUVFDSWXUHGRQWKHEDWWOH¿HOGDQG largely consistent with those of the velop the country’s institutional capac- those outside Afghanistan, citizens last administration. Congress, for its ity and strengthen the rule of law. The and non-citizens, and individuals en- part, has a track record of passing un- Obama administration also instituted gaged directly in hostilities and those clear and unconstitutional legislation improved Detainee Review Boards to who function in a supporting role. when it comes to detainee matters. hear cases. Still, it is troubling that so While the government has attempted And while courts have been narrowing American Detention Policy Abroad: much uncertainty remains on an issue to hide the demographic information existing policies, institutional limita- ʶˊˇ˗˔ˉˇː˖ːˇˇˆˈˑ˔˔ˇˈˑ˔ˏ integral to the nation’s security, war of the Bagram prisoner population, lit- tions have led to a slow and piecemeal efforts and most fundamental values. igation has revealed that at least some approach. It seems unlikely, then, that STORY BY ʰʧʧʮʮʣʰʥʪʣʰʦʣʰʫ͙ART BY ALLISON ZUCKERMAN Moving forward, two fundamental is- prisoners have been brought to the fa- with attention focused on debates sur- sues need to be addressed: who can be cility from other countries for the sole URXQGLQJ*XDQWDQDPRDQ\VLJQL¿FDQW detained and what procedures should purpose of evading scrutiny. changes to our detention policy will be be in place. The second issue of what proce- effected until there is a sustained level ith slow progress being made ty: tensions between the law of armed about the treatment of detainees have 1LQH \HDUV LQWR WKH FRQÀLFW WKH dures are appropriate for detainees is of domestic pressure that forces the Win Iraq, the Obama adminis- FRQÀLFW DQG LQWHUQDWLRQDO KXPDQ emerged from the shroud of secrecy. legal basis and any limits for deten- critical as well. The question of wheth- government to take action. tration has shifted its attention to the rights, Afghan sovereignty and Ameri- Independent human rights investiga- tion abroad are still largely unde- er some of the Bagram detainees are ZDULQ$IJKDQLVWDQ7KHUH¿QHGFRXQ- can interests, as well as overriding lib- tions have documented multiple cases ¿QHG3UHVLGHQW2EDPDKDVUHOLHGRQ terinsurgency strategy calls for the erty and security concerns, have given of prisoner torture similar in nature an inherent power under the Article dual mission of building governance rise to an arbitrary and unjust system. to the systemic abuse that has been II commander-in-chief clause and a capacity and winning the “hearts and At the heart of the detention documented at Abu Ghraib and Guan- general 2001 congressional declara- minds” of the Afghan people. If the scheme lies Bagram, a US-run Air tanamo. Further, night raids targeted tion to claim the prerogative to hold Advertise. United States is to achieve these objec- Base near Kabul that houses a prison at Taliban and al-Qaeda members people without trial or charge. The WLYHVLWZLOOKDYHWRPDNHVLJQL¿FDQW with close to 600 people—roughly have often resulted in the capture and Justice Department also issued guide- 4HE¸3OAPBOX reforms to the current detention poli- three times more than the number of mistreatment of innocent civilians, re- lines that allowed for the detention of Blog. cies and practices. detainees remaining at Guantanamo. inforcing the symbol of the American individuals who provided “substantial An unconventional war against In addition to the main prison, the military as the occupier rather than support” to Taliban or al-Qaeda mem- Write, Edit, Draw. non-state actors presents unique dif- military runs a number of smaller the liberator. bers—a vague standard that is not ef- ¿FXOWLHVDQGWKH8QLWHG6WDWHV¶ODFNRI detention sites, and the Joint Special It is true that some positive steps fectively different from the one used www.dolphin.upenn.edu/ppr FRKHUHQWGHWHQWLRQSROLF\UHÀHFWVWKLV Operations Command runs a secret have been taken under President by President Bush. IDFW 7KH GH¿QLQJ IHDWXUH RI WKH FXU- prison called the “Black Jail”. Though Obama’s watch. Executive Order Human rights advocates do not rent detention system is its uncertain- all the facilities remain under most 13491 “Ensuring Lawful Interroga- deny that detaining individuals is a Americans’ radars, troubling details necessary part of war; rather they ob-  Page | 18 PENN POLITICAL REVIEW APRIL 2010 PENN POLITICAL REVIEW APRIL 2010 Page | 19 GLOBAL GLOBAL cont’d from A Strange... importance of the Israel-Turkey stra- harsh rhetoric coming from Ankara, entitled to habeas relief—the right to tegic alliance far outweighs any dip- there is little indication that these crit- challenge their unlawful detention in draws them back together. On the sur- lomatic tension, as was the case be- icisms will threaten the alliance that US courts—is currently before the D.C. face, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud fore a controversial Turkish TV show both countries value deeply. When it Circuit Court in the case of Maqaleh, %DUDN¶V RI¿FLDO VWDWH YLVLW WR 7XUNH\ demonized Israel and Ayalon broke comes to Israel-Turkey relations, talk et al., v. Gates, et al. This lawsuit raises in the aftermath of Ayalon-Celikkol the rules of international relations is cheap, but commercial and strategic GLI¿FXOWOHJDOTXHVWLRQVUHODWHGWRWKH episode was an effort to make diplo- decorum. Opposition to Israeli poli- alliances are not. extraterritorial application of the Con- matic amends, but it was also meant cies has been both an elite VWLWXWLRQ DV ZHOO DV GLI¿FXOW SUDFWLFDO to save a suspended $185 million sale and a populist sentiment, ones, including the collection of bat- of unmanned aerial vehicles – which echoed by the Turkish WOH¿HOG HYLGHQFH :KLOH WKHVH LVVXHV had been jeopardized not by Ayalon’s government as well as ci- work their way through federal courts, antics but by the Israeli weapons’ pre- vilian demonstrations. In it is important that the prisoners are vious incompatibility with Turkish both mediums, criticisms provided with some minimal level equipment. of Israel have recently of due process in the interim period. However, this is not to say that the become more vehement As long as the military base is under Israel-Turkey relationship has always than in previous years, American control, prisoners should been perfect. Rather, it has historically but this is hardly shocking be allowed access to legal counsel and been driven by pragmatism, which has as the Turks have always a hearing before a neutral arbiter. A often lent itself to reluctance as op- been sympathetic to the joint US-Afghan review of cases is the posed to enthusiasm. David Ben-Gur- Palestinians. Despite this best option at present, as forces con- LRQ,VUDHO¶V¿UVW3ULPH0LQLVWHURQFH apparent tension, Turkey tinue their efforts to develop a legiti- quipped that although the two coun- has never seriously con- mate and independent justice system tries are married, they treat each other sidered economic sanc- tions” called for the humane treatment ject to the overbroad authority claimed within Afghanistan that is capable of OLNHPLVWUHVVHV+HVDLGWKLVRYHU¿IW\ tions and its dealings with of prisoners in the military’s custody, E\ WKH SUHVLGHQW $ VHQVLEOH ¿UVW UH- processing these cases. years ago, but what better metaphor Israel have continued un- though it is unclear whether Special form, then, is to provide clearly stated While changes are necessary to the could possibly describe a relationship abated. Operations units are exempt from DQGVSHFL¿FVWDQGDUGVWKDWUHFRJQL]H United States’ detention policy abroad, in which Turkey publically lambasts The relationship be- these requirements. Further, in early the different legal protections entitled it is less clear where they should come Israel’s military conduct yet maintains tween Israel and Turkey January, the Department of Defense to different categories of individuals. from. The executive branch is unlikely commercial and strategic ties with Is- has endured far worse announced the proposed handover of International law—which has largely to enact measures that would restrain rael worth billions of dollars in trade controversy than Ayalon’s the Bagram prison to Afghan authori- been ignored by the United States thus its power, especially when President and weapons? disregard for diplomatic ties in one year’s time—a move that far—provides distinctions between Obama’s detainee policies have been Indeed, the strength and mutual conventions. Despite the recognizes Afghanistan’s need to de- ¿JKWHUVFDSWXUHGRQWKHEDWWOH¿HOGDQG largely consistent with those of the velop the country’s institutional capac- those outside Afghanistan, citizens last administration. Congress, for its ity and strengthen the rule of law. The and non-citizens, and individuals en- part, has a track record of passing un- Obama administration also instituted gaged directly in hostilities and those clear and unconstitutional legislation improved Detainee Review Boards to who function in a supporting role. when it comes to detainee matters. hear cases. Still, it is troubling that so While the government has attempted And while courts have been narrowing American Detention Policy Abroad: much uncertainty remains on an issue to hide the demographic information existing policies, institutional limita- ʶˊˇ˗˔ˉˇː˖ːˇˇˆˈˑ˔˔ˇˈˑ˔ˏ integral to the nation’s security, war of the Bagram prisoner population, lit- tions have led to a slow and piecemeal efforts and most fundamental values. igation has revealed that at least some approach. It seems unlikely, then, that STORY BY ʰʧʧʮʮʣʰʥʪʣʰʦʣʰʫ͙ART BY ALLISON ZUCKERMAN Moving forward, two fundamental is- prisoners have been brought to the fa- with attention focused on debates sur- sues need to be addressed: who can be cility from other countries for the sole URXQGLQJ*XDQWDQDPRDQ\VLJQL¿FDQW detained and what procedures should purpose of evading scrutiny. changes to our detention policy will be be in place. The second issue of what proce- effected until there is a sustained level ith slow progress being made ty: tensions between the law of armed about the treatment of detainees have 1LQH \HDUV LQWR WKH FRQÀLFW WKH dures are appropriate for detainees is of domestic pressure that forces the Win Iraq, the Obama adminis- FRQÀLFW DQG LQWHUQDWLRQDO KXPDQ emerged from the shroud of secrecy. legal basis and any limits for deten- critical as well. The question of wheth- government to take action. tration has shifted its attention to the rights, Afghan sovereignty and Ameri- Independent human rights investiga- tion abroad are still largely unde- er some of the Bagram detainees are ZDULQ$IJKDQLVWDQ7KHUH¿QHGFRXQ- can interests, as well as overriding lib- tions have documented multiple cases ¿QHG3UHVLGHQW2EDPDKDVUHOLHGRQ terinsurgency strategy calls for the erty and security concerns, have given of prisoner torture similar in nature an inherent power under the Article dual mission of building governance rise to an arbitrary and unjust system. to the systemic abuse that has been II commander-in-chief clause and a capacity and winning the “hearts and At the heart of the detention documented at Abu Ghraib and Guan- general 2001 congressional declara- minds” of the Afghan people. If the scheme lies Bagram, a US-run Air tanamo. Further, night raids targeted tion to claim the prerogative to hold Advertise. United States is to achieve these objec- Base near Kabul that houses a prison at Taliban and al-Qaeda members people without trial or charge. The WLYHVLWZLOOKDYHWRPDNHVLJQL¿FDQW with close to 600 people—roughly have often resulted in the capture and Justice Department also issued guide- 4HE¸3OAPBOX reforms to the current detention poli- three times more than the number of mistreatment of innocent civilians, re- lines that allowed for the detention of Blog. cies and practices. detainees remaining at Guantanamo. inforcing the symbol of the American individuals who provided “substantial An unconventional war against In addition to the main prison, the military as the occupier rather than support” to Taliban or al-Qaeda mem- Write, Edit, Draw. non-state actors presents unique dif- military runs a number of smaller the liberator. bers—a vague standard that is not ef- ¿FXOWLHVDQGWKH8QLWHG6WDWHV¶ODFNRI detention sites, and the Joint Special It is true that some positive steps fectively different from the one used www.dolphin.upenn.edu/ppr FRKHUHQWGHWHQWLRQSROLF\UHÀHFWVWKLV Operations Command runs a secret have been taken under President by President Bush. IDFW 7KH GH¿QLQJ IHDWXUH RI WKH FXU- prison called the “Black Jail”. Though Obama’s watch. Executive Order Human rights advocates do not rent detention system is its uncertain- all the facilities remain under most 13491 “Ensuring Lawful Interroga- deny that detaining individuals is a Americans’ radars, troubling details necessary part of war; rather they ob-  Page | 18 PENN POLITICAL REVIEW APRIL 2010 PENN POLITICAL REVIEW APRIL 2010 Page | 19 INTERVIEW INTERVIEW that it will just spoil the process. So I involvement for Israeli lobbying initely at the same time I’ve never seen Interview with Yuli Edelstein don’t see how we can start rethinking JURXSVWRKDYHLQ$PHULFDQSROL- AIPAC lobbying against the American the map of Israel in terms of its de- tics? interests. On the contrary, as long as INTERVIEW BY JESSICA MAYER mography. I will even say more than AIPAC is an American Jewish ini- the basic assumption is that the US that. I think that by doing that we will tiative, and I think that enough Jews and Israel are strategic allies, and they reopen the whole UN decision about here understand, for good and for bad, have a lot of common interests, then Yuli Edelstein is Israel’s Minister cooperation, more cooperation on is- least the way it looks after, I’m very the creation of the Jewish State in Pal- that their fate is connected not only $,3$&¶V ZRUN LV GH¿QLWHO\ QRW RQO\ of Information & Diaspora, member of sues that are, as I sometimes think, positive and motivated. I’m not dis- estine, and the moment we start mess- to the country where they live, in this much easier but also appropriate. the Knesset, and former Minister of are not waiting for us to reach peace. cussing that initiative of the American ing with that I’m not sure that the re- case the United States, but also to the Immigrant Absorption. Minister Edel- Think of environment, think of water administration to try to have an imme- sults will be positive. fate of Israel. The days when people stein is a leading member of the Likud resources. If we don’t cooperate we are diate breakthrough. couldn’t identify with their historic Party, and has served in the Knesset basically successfully killing each oth- AIPAC is often considered to motherland I hope are over. I myself since 1996. The Penn Political Review er. So if we learn to cooperate on these +RZKDVWKHVFDQGDOFRQFHUQ- EHRQHRIWKHPRVWSRZHUIXOORE- grew up in the former Soviet Union had the opportunity to sit down with issues, somewhere down the road it LQJ WKH $EX .DELU )RUHQVLF ,Q- E\LQJJURXSVLQ:DVKLQJWRQDQG where to identify with something else Minister Edelstein at the Lubavitch will be possible to look for creative so- stitute affected Israel’s ability VRPHKDYHFULWLFL]HGLWIRUKDYLQJ other than the former Soviet Union House at Penn. lutions for us to live together in more to conduct foreign policy and its WRR PXFK SRZHU :KDW GR \RX was like betraying the country. This is or less the same territory. UHODWLRQVZLWKERWKWKH:HVWDQG believe is an appropriate level of not the situation in the States. But def- How did you become involved WKH$UDEZRUOG" in politics? It’s a very good example. Under Actually, I was involved as an Ali- any other circumstances it would be yah activist, and in the early nineties a very nasty story about some greedy a huge wave of immigration started people cooperating with some greedy Interview with Joe Sestak from the former Soviet Union so we doctors and doing some things that worked in terms of immigration, in are inappropriate. In the present at- INTERVIEW BY JOHN GEE, BOB MA, JESSICA MAYER terms of encouraging more immi- mosphere, in this whole wave of what grants to come. At some stage we re- we sometimes unfortunately have to In 2006, -RH6HVWDN defeated 10- ,Q DGGLWLRQ WR DOO WKH LQVXU- DOL]HGWKDWLWZDVYHU\GLI¿FXOWMXVWWR call new anti-Semitism, people so eas- term Republican Congressman Curt You express your opposition DQFH UHIRUP PHDVXUHV WKDW DUH give advice to the others and in order ily believe all kinds of stories about Weldon, and became only the second WRHDUPDUNVLQ\RXURI¿FLDOSROL- EHLQJWDONHGDERXWLQWKHKHDOWK- to really change things we would have Israel and the Israelis and whatever, Democrat to represent his district FLHV \HW DFFRUGLQJ WR 2SHQ6H- care bills, you supported several to be part of the decision-making pro- it turned into another wave of rumors since the Civil War. After two terms crets.org you sponsored or co- WLPHV D VKLIW DZD\ IURP WKH IHH cess. So we started an independent about every second Israeli being in- in the House of Representatives, Con- sponsored over $46 million in for-service model. How do you party representing new immigrants, volved in some kind of organ traf- gressman Sestak is challenging in- HDUPDUNVGXULQJWKH¿VFDO LQWHQG IRU WKDW WR EH GRQH DQG and we were very successful. In 1996 ¿FNLQJ$QGWKHODVWWHUULEOHH[DPSOH cumbent Senator Arlen Specter in the \HDUUDQNLQJ\RXLQWKHTXDUWLOH ZKHQGR\RXWKLQNWKDWLW¶VDUH- we got seven seats out of the 120 that was the Haiti thing, when our medical Democratic Primary. Congressman of all representatives. alistic goal? there are in the Knesset. I became then team was saving lives and the internet Sestak served in the Navy for over 30 Actually, it’s different than that. We have two pilot programs in this Minister of Immigrant Absorption, was full of rumors that the Israelis are years, and is the highest-ranking for- I am the number one Representative bill to begin moving us away from it. which was really the raison d’être of there to harvest more organs. PHU PLOLWDU\ RI¿FHU HYHU HOHFWHG WR Congressman in all of Pennsylvania, They’re called ACOs, Accountable the whole party. But in the course of Congress. except for John Murtha. Even as a Care Organizations. It’s the only real time, when we felt that we took care $YLJGRU/LHEHUPDQKDVDGYR- freshman I brought home more to my way. It’s not the typical managed-care of the immediate needs of the im- FDWHG D WHUULWRU\ H[FKDQJH WKDW :KDWZDV\RXULQLWLDOUHDFWLRQ district than any other Congressman people talk about. You let, let’s say, migrants, we merged with the Likud would involve Israel ceding areas ZKHQ6HQDWRU6SHFWHUMRLQHGWKH or woman in Pennsylvania. But I did one hundred general physicians set up which is now the ruling party. RI LWV WHUULWRU\ KHDYLO\ SRSXODW- 'HPRFUDWLF 3DUW\ NQRZLQJ WKDW WKLVLQP\¿UVW\HDU,VDLG³,EHOLHYH a network back to specialists. Then you HG E\ ,VUDHOL $UDEV LQ LWV QRUWK- WKH'HPRFUDWVQRZKDGD¿OLEXV- that earmarks should be transparent, say here are 400,000 patients. You’re During your career as an Is- +RZKDVWKHFKDQJHLQDGPLQ- ern region as a trade for Israel WHUSURRIPDMRULW\LQWKH6HQDWH" and who gets them.” I said to every going to be reimbursed on how healthy UDHOL JRYHUQPHQW RI¿FLDO ZKHQ LVWUDWLRQLQWKH8QLWHG6WDWHVDI- retaining control of its largest I was taken aback by a deal that newspaper in my district who got it, they are at the end of the year, based were you most optimistic about IHFWHG86,VUDHOUHODWLRQVDQGGR settlement blocks, around Jeru- was made, because the White House how much they got, etc. I did that be- on statistics and models, rather than peace in Israel? \RX DSSURYH RI WKH 2EDPD $G- VDOHP:KDWLV\RXUYLHZRQWKH was not gained because of political fore it was a requirement. Also, I never fee for service. The quality of the care I am optimistic about peace right ministration’s policies towards SRVVLELOLW\RIVXFKDQH[FKDQJH" calculation. It was gained because said that I think they’re wrong. What I is better and it costs us less because now. I just think that two conditions Israel? I’m not in favor of these plans. I of audacity. And to make a deal for a said was that I think we should go to of preventative care and not having are necessary to be optimistic about Well, it’s not part of my respon- think that when I hear about on one vote which has proven to be meaning- competitive grants, to where there is more operations. And the problem I’m peace. A: That we understand that it is sibility to approve or disapprove of hand the possibility to reach peace less meant that they endangered what VWLOOORFDOLQSXW,JREDFNDIWHUP\¿UVW worried about is that “managed care” not around the corner. B: That in the the American administration. I think and on the other hand on all kinds of 'HPRFUDWVVDLGWKH\ZHUH¿JKWLQJIRU year and go through each of the ear- looks like the government is managing meanwhile we move in the direction of that strategically speaking, there is no suggestions and solutions like moving policy over politics, principle over pol- marks with the people who received healthcare. But you’re not. You’re in- peace and not the opposite direction. change and there is still strategic aid populations, building high fences, and itics. When the Democratic Party be- them. So I know that there’s no real centivizing the doctors to do what they Unfortunately the way I see it most of coming from the United States and all of it, it means that, at least for me, gins to think that in Washington D.C. baggage. I’m on record that I would really want to do: quality of care, not the “peace initiatives” in the last 15-16 that the President and the American we are kind of contradicting ourselves. they can become a party boss and dic- end it in a heartbeat if I could. And if IHHIRUVHUYLFH ¿YH PLQXWHV IRU HDFK years moved us further from peace. DGPLQLVWUDWLRQ GH¿QLWHO\ YLHZV ,VUDHO Because if we want to reach peace, it tate, then they’ve forgotten that count- I am in the Senate I intend to submit patient. Now they are going to manage So we want to move in the right direc- as its strategic partner in the Middle means that we will be able to live side ing votes isn’t what’s most important. that legislation and do it. and take care and make sure you’re tion. It’s not about trying to sign an- East. There are differences of opin- by side and cooperate and develop It’s who is in that suit or that dress. It’s taking your drugs and all. It’s the way other agreement; it will blow up in our ion on many day-to-day issues as far some kind of a relationship. The mo- not just a Democrat, but do you have you really get costs driven down. faces once again. It’s about trying to as the “peace process” is concerned ment there is transfer, the moment someone who can actually shape pol- build the conditions for an agreement and the possibility to reach peace, but there are all kinds of population orga- icy and lead. to live with, which is more economic I think that in the course of time, at nizing activities, I’m very much afraid  Page | 20 PENN POLITICAL REVIEW APRIL 2010 PENN POLITICAL REVIEW APRIL 2010 Page | 21 INTERVIEW INTERVIEW that it will just spoil the process. So I involvement for Israeli lobbying initely at the same time I’ve never seen Interview with Yuli Edelstein don’t see how we can start rethinking JURXSVWRKDYHLQ$PHULFDQSROL- AIPAC lobbying against the American the map of Israel in terms of its de- tics? interests. On the contrary, as long as INTERVIEW BY JESSICA MAYER mography. I will even say more than AIPAC is an American Jewish ini- the basic assumption is that the US that. I think that by doing that we will tiative, and I think that enough Jews and Israel are strategic allies, and they reopen the whole UN decision about here understand, for good and for bad, have a lot of common interests, then Yuli Edelstein is Israel’s Minister cooperation, more cooperation on is- least the way it looks after, I’m very the creation of the Jewish State in Pal- that their fate is connected not only $,3$&¶V ZRUN LV GH¿QLWHO\ QRW RQO\ of Information & Diaspora, member of sues that are, as I sometimes think, positive and motivated. I’m not dis- estine, and the moment we start mess- to the country where they live, in this much easier but also appropriate. the Knesset, and former Minister of are not waiting for us to reach peace. cussing that initiative of the American ing with that I’m not sure that the re- case the United States, but also to the Immigrant Absorption. Minister Edel- Think of environment, think of water administration to try to have an imme- sults will be positive. fate of Israel. The days when people stein is a leading member of the Likud resources. If we don’t cooperate we are diate breakthrough. couldn’t identify with their historic Party, and has served in the Knesset basically successfully killing each oth- AIPAC is often considered to motherland I hope are over. I myself since 1996. The Penn Political Review er. So if we learn to cooperate on these +RZKDVWKHVFDQGDOFRQFHUQ- EHRQHRIWKHPRVWSRZHUIXOORE- grew up in the former Soviet Union had the opportunity to sit down with issues, somewhere down the road it LQJ WKH $EX .DELU )RUHQVLF ,Q- E\LQJJURXSVLQ:DVKLQJWRQDQG where to identify with something else Minister Edelstein at the Lubavitch will be possible to look for creative so- stitute affected Israel’s ability VRPHKDYHFULWLFL]HGLWIRUKDYLQJ other than the former Soviet Union House at Penn. lutions for us to live together in more to conduct foreign policy and its WRR PXFK SRZHU :KDW GR \RX was like betraying the country. This is or less the same territory. UHODWLRQVZLWKERWKWKH:HVWDQG believe is an appropriate level of not the situation in the States. But def- How did you become involved WKH$UDEZRUOG" in politics? It’s a very good example. Under Actually, I was involved as an Ali- any other circumstances it would be yah activist, and in the early nineties a very nasty story about some greedy a huge wave of immigration started people cooperating with some greedy Interview with Joe Sestak from the former Soviet Union so we doctors and doing some things that worked in terms of immigration, in are inappropriate. In the present at- INTERVIEW BY JOHN GEE, BOB MA, JESSICA MAYER terms of encouraging more immi- mosphere, in this whole wave of what grants to come. At some stage we re- we sometimes unfortunately have to In 2006, -RH6HVWDN defeated 10- ,Q DGGLWLRQ WR DOO WKH LQVXU- DOL]HGWKDWLWZDVYHU\GLI¿FXOWMXVWWR call new anti-Semitism, people so eas- term Republican Congressman Curt You express your opposition DQFH UHIRUP PHDVXUHV WKDW DUH give advice to the others and in order ily believe all kinds of stories about Weldon, and became only the second WRHDUPDUNVLQ\RXURI¿FLDOSROL- EHLQJWDONHGDERXWLQWKHKHDOWK- to really change things we would have Israel and the Israelis and whatever, Democrat to represent his district FLHV \HW DFFRUGLQJ WR 2SHQ6H- care bills, you supported several to be part of the decision-making pro- it turned into another wave of rumors since the Civil War. After two terms crets.org you sponsored or co- WLPHV D VKLIW DZD\ IURP WKH IHH cess. So we started an independent about every second Israeli being in- in the House of Representatives, Con- sponsored over $46 million in for-service model. How do you party representing new immigrants, volved in some kind of organ traf- gressman Sestak is challenging in- HDUPDUNVGXULQJWKH¿VFDO LQWHQG IRU WKDW WR EH GRQH DQG and we were very successful. In 1996 ¿FNLQJ$QGWKHODVWWHUULEOHH[DPSOH cumbent Senator Arlen Specter in the \HDUUDQNLQJ\RXLQWKHTXDUWLOH ZKHQGR\RXWKLQNWKDWLW¶VDUH- we got seven seats out of the 120 that was the Haiti thing, when our medical Democratic Primary. Congressman of all representatives. alistic goal? there are in the Knesset. I became then team was saving lives and the internet Sestak served in the Navy for over 30 Actually, it’s different than that. We have two pilot programs in this Minister of Immigrant Absorption, was full of rumors that the Israelis are years, and is the highest-ranking for- I am the number one Representative bill to begin moving us away from it. which was really the raison d’être of there to harvest more organs. PHU PLOLWDU\ RI¿FHU HYHU HOHFWHG WR Congressman in all of Pennsylvania, They’re called ACOs, Accountable the whole party. But in the course of Congress. except for John Murtha. Even as a Care Organizations. It’s the only real time, when we felt that we took care $YLJGRU/LHEHUPDQKDVDGYR- freshman I brought home more to my way. It’s not the typical managed-care of the immediate needs of the im- FDWHG D WHUULWRU\ H[FKDQJH WKDW :KDWZDV\RXULQLWLDOUHDFWLRQ district than any other Congressman people talk about. You let, let’s say, migrants, we merged with the Likud would involve Israel ceding areas ZKHQ6HQDWRU6SHFWHUMRLQHGWKH or woman in Pennsylvania. But I did one hundred general physicians set up which is now the ruling party. RI LWV WHUULWRU\ KHDYLO\ SRSXODW- 'HPRFUDWLF 3DUW\ NQRZLQJ WKDW WKLVLQP\¿UVW\HDU,VDLG³,EHOLHYH a network back to specialists. Then you HG E\ ,VUDHOL $UDEV LQ LWV QRUWK- WKH'HPRFUDWVQRZKDGD¿OLEXV- that earmarks should be transparent, say here are 400,000 patients. You’re During your career as an Is- +RZKDVWKHFKDQJHLQDGPLQ- ern region as a trade for Israel WHUSURRIPDMRULW\LQWKH6HQDWH" and who gets them.” I said to every going to be reimbursed on how healthy UDHOL JRYHUQPHQW RI¿FLDO ZKHQ LVWUDWLRQLQWKH8QLWHG6WDWHVDI- retaining control of its largest I was taken aback by a deal that newspaper in my district who got it, they are at the end of the year, based were you most optimistic about IHFWHG86,VUDHOUHODWLRQVDQGGR settlement blocks, around Jeru- was made, because the White House how much they got, etc. I did that be- on statistics and models, rather than peace in Israel? \RX DSSURYH RI WKH 2EDPD $G- VDOHP:KDWLV\RXUYLHZRQWKH was not gained because of political fore it was a requirement. Also, I never fee for service. The quality of the care I am optimistic about peace right ministration’s policies towards SRVVLELOLW\RIVXFKDQH[FKDQJH" calculation. It was gained because said that I think they’re wrong. What I is better and it costs us less because now. I just think that two conditions Israel? I’m not in favor of these plans. I of audacity. And to make a deal for a said was that I think we should go to of preventative care and not having are necessary to be optimistic about Well, it’s not part of my respon- think that when I hear about on one vote which has proven to be meaning- competitive grants, to where there is more operations. And the problem I’m peace. A: That we understand that it is sibility to approve or disapprove of hand the possibility to reach peace less meant that they endangered what VWLOOORFDOLQSXW,JREDFNDIWHUP\¿UVW worried about is that “managed care” not around the corner. B: That in the the American administration. 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I’m on record that I would really want to do: quality of care, not the “peace initiatives” in the last 15-16 that the President and the American we are kind of contradicting ourselves. they can become a party boss and dic- end it in a heartbeat if I could. And if IHHIRUVHUYLFH ¿YH PLQXWHV IRU HDFK years moved us further from peace. DGPLQLVWUDWLRQ GH¿QLWHO\ YLHZV ,VUDHO Because if we want to reach peace, it tate, then they’ve forgotten that count- I am in the Senate I intend to submit patient. Now they are going to manage So we want to move in the right direc- as its strategic partner in the Middle means that we will be able to live side ing votes isn’t what’s most important. that legislation and do it. and take care and make sure you’re tion. It’s not about trying to sign an- East. There are differences of opin- by side and cooperate and develop It’s who is in that suit or that dress. It’s taking your drugs and all. It’s the way other agreement; it will blow up in our ion on many day-to-day issues as far some kind of a relationship. The mo- not just a Democrat, but do you have you really get costs driven down. faces once again. It’s about trying to as the “peace process” is concerned ment there is transfer, the moment someone who can actually shape pol- build the conditions for an agreement and the possibility to reach peace, but there are all kinds of population orga- icy and lead. to live with, which is more economic I think that in the course of time, at nizing activities, I’m very much afraid  Page | 20 PENN POLITICAL REVIEW APRIL 2010 PENN POLITICAL REVIEW APRIL 2010 Page | 21 INTERVIEW Soapbox

cont’d from Joe Sestak...

Pakistan, which done. It’s a matter of our ideals. I un- VDQGUXQQLQJWKURXJKRXU¿QJHUV6R budget-reconciliation-turned-healthcare-reform down the public’s throat. is the only one that can eradicate that derstand that the President wanted our healthcare plan got us into Chil- base, does its mission by sealing the to focus primarily on our economy dren’s Hospital. So this healthcare bill 6 comments: border and make it a partnership there and the healthcare bill, but there was is what I’m most passionate about. I’d strategically. The problem with Af- time last fall to have addressed an is- lose my job in a heartbeat if that’s what Nantina said... ghanistan and Pakistan was we would sue that has a matter of our ideals, and it took to get the house bill through. I will take this point without rebutting it, only because of midterms. have been out of there by now if it that’s equality for everyone. In addi- It’s that important. It’s payback. But I will quote Paul, whom I can tell you really love, in saying this: The truth, which is obvious from everyday’s news, is that there is nothing, nothing at all, that Obama could offer -- other than switching parties -- that would get him any GOP coop- eration. Can you rebut this? http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/?8dpc

Luke said... Why should the Senate require 60 votes to get anything done? What is the point of that? What other developed country allows such nonsense to bedevil badly needed reforms? The GOP is not interested in a compromise. They are interested in win- ning power back power at all costs. And it’s working well for them. But its a travesty for the country. And while we’re noting the untraditionalness of the use of reconciliation for reform measures, lets not forget that once upon a time the Filibuster was intended to be used only in times of great political crisis, and not as a routine tactic for an egomaniac minority that throws it up for almost every bill.

Brian Goldman said... […] In case you weren’t aware, the Senate…passed a 15 billion dollar “jobs” bill- with the support of 5 republicans. Now, this doesn’t signal that the Republicans will all of a sudden step in lockstep with the Obama agenda. However, it sig- nals that at least part of the Republican caucus is willing to work legislatively- that is, if the Democrats offer some semblance of bipartisanship, and not just gestures. Clearly, the Republicans are not saying “no” to everything Obama puts forth, they are saying “no” to proposals they deem WUXO\LQDGHTXDWHDQGVHOIGHIHDWLQJ7KDWH[SODLQVDOOWKH¿OLEXVWHULQJDQGJULGORFNDVRIODWH+RZHYHUOLEHUDOVDUHTXLFNWR explain that nothing has passed because of those “republicans.”

[…] Anonymous said... Look back a few decades ago, Your man Reagan used reconciliation to get things done. Also, what great REPUBLICAN plan is there to insure the over 30million people who have no health insurance? I can’t think of any.

Nantina said... If we realized how intertwined heathcare reform is with improving the economy, we’d see more of this kind of -- I’ll admit it -- bipartisanship. In fact, that’s the difference between a bill on jobs and one on heathcare: Jobs are obviously linked to the HFRQRP\WKH\DUHWDQJLEOH7KHQDJDLQOLNHKHDOWKLQVXUDQFHLVQ¶W%XWVRPHKRZWKDW¶VDPRUHGLI¿FXOWSRLQWWRVHOOWRWKHQD- tion, and the GOP has simply complicated that task. Politically, the Dems need heathcare. This is why some Reps also need jobs. Unfortunately, two plus two do not equal four in this polarized formula. […] Joe Sestak speaks at the The Center for American Progress Action Fund.

 Page | 22 PENN POLITICAL REVIEW APRIL 2010 PENN POLITICAL REVIEW APRIL 2010 Page | 23 INTERVIEW Soapbox cont’d from Joe Sestak...

Luke said... Why should the Senate require 60 votes to get anything done? What is the point of that? What other developed country allows such nonsense to bedevil badly needed reforms? The GOP is not interested in a compromise. They are interested in win- ning power back power at all costs. And it’s working well for them. But its a travesty for the country. And while we’re noting the untraditionalness of the use of reconciliation for reform measures, lets not forget that once upon a time the Filibuster was intended to be used only in times of great political crisis, and not as a routine tactic for an egomaniac minority that throws it up for almost every bill.

Brian Goldman said... […] In case you weren’t aware, the Senate…passed a 15 billion dollar “jobs” bill- with the support of 5 republicans. Now, this doesn’t signal that the Republicans will all of a sudden step in lockstep with the Obama agenda. However, it sig- nals that at least part of the Republican caucus is willing to work legislatively- that is, if the Democrats offer some semblance of bipartisanship, and not just gestures. Clearly, the Republicans are not saying “no” to everything Obama puts forth, they are saying “no” to proposals they deem WUXO\LQDGHTXDWHDQGVHOIGHIHDWLQJ7KDWH[SODLQVDOOWKH¿OLEXVWHULQJDQGJULGORFNDVRIODWH+RZHYHUOLEHUDOVDUHTXLFNWR explain that nothing has passed because of those “republicans.”

[…] Anonymous said... Look back a few decades ago, Your man Reagan used reconciliation to get things done. Also, what great REPUBLICAN plan is there to insure the over 30million people who have no health insurance? I can’t think of any.

Nantina said... If we realized how intertwined heathcare reform is with improving the economy, we’d see more of this kind of -- I’ll admit it -- bipartisanship. In fact, that’s the difference between a bill on jobs and one on heathcare: Jobs are obviously linked to the HFRQRP\WKH\DUHWDQJLEOH7KHQDJDLQOLNHKHDOWKLQVXUDQFHLVQ¶W%XWVRPHKRZWKDW¶VDPRUHGLI¿FXOWSRLQWWRVHOOWRWKHQD- tion, and the GOP has simply complicated that task. Politically, the Dems need heathcare. This is why some Reps also need jobs. Unfortunately, two plus two do not equal four in this polarized formula. […] Joe Sestak speaks at the The Center for American Progress Action Fund.

 Page | 22 PENN POLITICAL REVIEW APRIL 2010 PENN POLITICAL REVIEW APRIL 2010 Page | 23 335 SHQQSROLWLFDOUHYLHZ LVWKHSUHPLHUVWXGHQWUXQSROLWLFDOSXEOLFDWLRQLQWKH&RPPRQZHDOWK RI 3HQQV\OYDQLD7RJHWLQYROYHGRUWRLQTXLUHDERXW DGYHUWLVLQJSOHDVHYLVLW ZZZGROSKLQXSHQQHGXSSU

Pictured: John Gee, Rep. Joe Sestak, Jess Mayer, and Bob Ma