DOCSLIB.ORG

Community Connection Corner: During Artwauk, Dems Debate And

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Community Connection Corner: During Artwauk, Dems Debate And Community Connection Corner: During ArtWauk, In This Issue: In the Doldrums ...........4 ArtWauk ..........................1 Women for Brad ...........5 Dems Debate and Strategize Congress Watch Extra ...1 Trump ..............................6 Congress Watch............2 Off the Mark ..................6 By Barbara Altman Jane Austen ...................3 When Will These Schneider & Moraine Massacres Stop? ...........7 Mary Turley, candidate for Lake Township Dems............3 Shifting the Focus .......8 County Board, contributed to this article. For information or to volunteer, email us at [email protected], call us at The weather was perfect as local 847-266-VOTE (8683), or write to Tenth News, P.O. Box 523, Deerfield, IL 60015. Please visit our residents and visitors from around website at www.tenthdems.org and like/follow us the area strolled through Waukegan’s on Facebook and Twitter. old downtown area on Saturday evening, June 18, to take advantage Editor: Barbara Altman of ArtWauk. An open door, a table Editorial Staff: Lauren Beth Gash, Eric Herman, Adrienne Kirshbaum, Ronald Schwartz, Steve Sheffey, Allan Sperling full of snacks, and the promise of a chance to Contributors: Barbara Altman, Eleonora di Liscia, engage with other Democrats drew more than 30 Steven Gan, Pam Idleburg, Laurence D. Schiller, people to the Community Connection office on Mary Turley Genesee Street, just south of the Genesee Theater. Design: Mike del Rosario Distribution: Roger Baron, Ron Schwartz The main order of business was talking politics. The opinions expressed are those of the writers, and For nearly 90 minutes, Tenth Dems leaders and not necessarily endorsed by Tenth Dems continued on page 5 www.tenthdems.org TenthJuly 2016 Illinois Tenth Congressional District DemocratsNews Newsletter Volume 13, Edition 7 Dold Talks Big But Helps His Party Block House Vote On Gun Violence Prevention By Barbara Altman If you had a seat in Congress and wanted a bill to become law, would you be in favor of a vote on the bill on the House floor? The answer seems pretty obvious. The only way for a bill to become law is for it to be passed by a majority VOTE in both houses of Con- gress and then signed by the President. So how can Bob Dold claim to support enactment of the No Fly, No Buy bill the Democrats have been trying to get to the House floor when he repeatedly Democrats sought to use House procedures to obtain a Yea or Nay vote votes for the House to move on on H.R. 5293, the No Fly, No Buy bill. On both occasions, notwith- to other business rather than standing the horrific slaughter of innocents in Orlando just days before, consider the bill? Dold voted with his party to take up other legislation rather than hold a VOTE ON THIS LEGISLATION TO REDUCE GUN VIOLENCE. It’s obvious that if Bob Dold re- ally wanted to send the No Fly, Despite his nonstop characterization of himself as “bipartisan,” and No Buy bill to the President’s “independent,” Dold has not deviated from the Republican Party/NRA desk, he’d support Democrats’ line on guns with anything other than lip service. In fact, the June 14- efforts to obtain a floor vote and then vote for the bill. continued on page 4 Speaker of the House Paul Ryan But that’s not what he’s done. Turn to page 2 for our regular monthly shakes hands with his buddy Bob In fact, on June 14 and 15, Dold Congress Watch column. Dold. did exactly the opposite. Twice, CONGRESS WATCH: DOUBLE-TALK DOLD IS NO FRIEND OF THE ENVIRONMENT By Laurence D. Schiller party like Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA), who sponsored the resolution. During his first term, in 2011, Dold also voted Bob Dold has a problem. In a district that voted for Barack Obama along with his party’s climate-change deniers to bar the EPA from twice, he has to appear to be independent and moderate. Yet he also regulating greenhouse gases. (Energy Tax Prevention Act; HR depends on right-wing PACs and conservative Speaker of the House 910; vote number 11-HV249, Apr 7, 2011). Paul Ryan to help fill his campaign coffers. Dold’s dilemma became worse when Donald Trump became the presumptive Republican nomi- In January 2015, Dold voted to approve the environmentally nee for President after winning the majority of votes in the 10th Dis- dangerous Keystone XL pipeline (HR 3, January 2015, http://clerk. trict’s Republican primary and the endorsement of Speaker Ryan. How house.gov/evs/2015/roll016.xml). Notably, then-Congressman to appeal to independents, who reject Trump’s racist, misogynist, and Brad Schneider voted against approval when a similar bill downright dangerous policies, while keeping the Trump voters in his came to a vote in May 2013 (https://www.govtrack.us/congress/ camp and Republican PAC money flowing in? votes/113-2013/h179). In 2010, Dold signed the so-called No Climate Tax Pledge sponsored by the right-wing Institute for Liberty Americans for Prosperity (AFP). In May of 2011, Dold voted to repeal President Obama’s ban against drilling for oil in the continental shelf in another straight party-line vote (http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2011/roll320.xml). • Preservation of National Forests In October 2011, Dold voted for a land exchange where valuable Arizona national forest lands were given to Resolution Copper Company for exploitation (HR 1904 October 2011). In July 2015, Dold voted to make it harder to mount environmental challenges to projects, such as logging, in national forests (HR 2647 July 2015). Chameleon Bob’s solution? Create an illusion. Talk like a moderate • Protection of waterways and endangered species while fully supporting the right-wing Republican agenda. In February 2012, Dold voted to stop environmental restoration An analysis of Dold’s votes on key bills by the nonpartisan VoteSmart. efforts in the San Joaquin Valley, including overriding the org shows that on over 40 key votes during his tenure in Congress, Endangered Species Act and ending the reintroduction of salmon Dold has voted against the values he claims he holds in common with (HR 1837 February 2012). the 10th District. And every one of these key roll calls broke down essentially on party lines, with the self-styled independent Dold voting We could go on, but our point should be clear. Bob Dold is no friend with his fellow Republicans. of the environment. No wonder Brad Schneider has earned the endorsement of the Sierra Club. This month, we focus on what Dold has and hasn’t done in Congress to protect our planet. Here are some of his votes: Bob Dold is clearly NOT the environment-friendly moderate he claims to be as, again and again, he follows the party line on key environmental • Dold opposed Clean Water Act regulation. votes. Dold does NOT represent the values of the 10th Congressional District. Time to elect Brad Schneider, who does. Dold voted for SJ Res 22 (January 2016) which sought to overturn President Obama’s expansion of the authority of the EPA and Corps of Engineers after the Flint water disaster. In other words, Dold opposed strengthening the EPA’s ability to protect other communities’ water supplies from the kind of pollution that has exposed Flint’s residents to toxic levels of lead in their water. The bill was sponsored in the Senate by Tea Party darling Joni Ernst (R-IA). President Obama vetoed it on January 20. • Dold has aligned himself with Republican climate change deniers. In June 2016, Dold voted with every other Republican in the House in favor of a resolution stating opposition to a carbon tax, thereby aligning himself with vocal climate-change deniers in his 2 A Lesson From Jane Austen About How We Judge Character By Eleonora di Liscia Gosh, how did I get suckered by that narcissistic creep? Except Jane Austen didn’t write about politics. She stuck to what she knew— when Jane Austen writes it, she the narrow society of the early 19th century English gentry. But the puts it a lot more elegantly. themes she explored through that society are still instructive today— even when applied to the 2016 Presidential campaign! After Lizzie learns the truth, she keeps it secret to spare Darcy’s Let’s take Pride and Prejudice, casting Hillary Clinton as Mr. Darcy, sister from becoming an item Donald Trump as Mr. Wickham, and the American public as Elizabeth on TMZ. Wickham attempts Bennett. Who will win Lizzie’s heart? to run off with and thereby ruin Lizzie first meets Darcy at a ball. He is aloof and his manners are not Elizabeth’s sister, Lydia, the sufficiently ingratiating for the gentry. He lacks superficial charm. He quintessential low-information won’t dance, and Lizzie overhears him making unflattering observations voter. about her and her family. She, and other residents of Hertfordshire, Now Darcy comes to the rescue. don’t like him very much. There’s something about him they just don’t Darcy/Hillary knows how to get like. things done. First, demonstrating But as the story unfolds, we learn that things are not what they seem. To his superior administrative some extent, Darcy/Hillary is a victim of prejudice. His real character abilities, he finds the wayward has been obscured by the media of the day—word of mouth—with pair. Then, he uses his negotiating skills, honed from dealing with some malicious gossip thrown in to stir the pot. world leaders, to save the Bennett sisters from a life of disgraced spinsterhood. Soon after the ball, Mr. Wickham arrives with the militia. Wickham has history with Darcy, and he reports that history as innuendo and Elizabeth falls deeply in love.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Lawmakers Urge Congress to 'Man Up' on Transportation Funding
    Lawmakers urge Congress to ‘man up’ on transportation funding Rosalind Rossi SunTimes April 9, 2015 http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/lawmakers‐urge‐congress‐to‐man‐up‐on‐transportation‐funding/ Illinois’ federal lawmakers stood united with area transit leaders Thursday in urging Congress to “man up” and pass a long‐term federal transportation funding bill before two key transit measures expire or teeter on insolvency. “My message to Congress is `Man up,’ ” U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, (D‐Ill.), announced at a “Stand Up 4 Transportation” news conference at Chicago’s Union Station. Durbin joined U.S. Reps. Dan Lipinski (D‐Ill.), Mike Quigley (D‐Ill.), Bill Foster (D‐Ill.) and U.S. Rep. Bob Dold (R‐Ill.) in urging Congress to pass long‐term funding instead of patchwork short‐term solutions to bankroll the nation’s public transit and transportation systems. Lipinski noted that Congress has passed 11 short‐term extensions to fund the nation’s highway and transit needs in roughly the last six years. “This is not good for our country,” Lipinski said. “Congress cannot keep kicking the can down the road . The system becomes more and more expensive to fix.” Leaders of the CTA, Metra, Pace and Amtrak joined elected officials in urging long‐term, sustainable funding to maintain and upgrade transportation needs — from buses and trains to roads and bridges. Such a move is critical to not only the nation’s ability to move goods and carry people to work and commerce but to its future, they said. Quigley noted that investing in transportation infrastructure pays dividends.
    [Show full text]
  • 114TH CONGRESS / First Session Available at Frcaction.Org/Scorecard
    FRC ACTION VOTE SCORECARD 114TH CONGRESS / First Session Available at FRCAction.org/scorecard U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate Dear Voter and Friend of the Family, FRC Action presents our Vote Scorecard for the First Session of the 114th Congress. This online Scorecard contains a compilation of significant votes on federal legislation affecting faith, family, and freedom that FRC Action either supported or opposed. These recorded votes span the 2015 calendar year and include the greatest number of pro-life votes in history, after the U.S. House increased its Republican membership and the U.S. Senate was returned to Republican control. The year began with a bipartisan effort in the House to prohibit federal funds from being used to pay for abortion coverage under Obamacare. Congress successfully fought to restrict FDA approval of some forms of embryo-destructive research. The House, once again, passed legislation that would prevent late abortions on 5 month old pain-capable unborn children, and although the Senate was unable to pass the bill due to the 60 vote threshold, for the first time, a majority of Senators voted in favor of the bill. The public release of videos revealing Planned Parenthood’s organ harvesting practices renewed efforts to defund this scandal-ridden organization and redirect funding towards community health centers. In an unprecedented victory, the House and Senate passed a budget reconciliation bill, the Restoring Ameri- cans’ Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act, which would have eliminated a significant portion of Planned Parenthood’s funding—roughly 80%— and repealed key provisions of Obamacare.
    [Show full text]
  • Lobbying Contribution Report
    8/1/2016 LD­203 Contribution Report LOBBYING CONTRIBUTION REPORT Clerk of the House of Representatives • Legislative Resource Center • 135 Cannon Building • Washington, DC 20515 Secretary of the Senate • Office of Public Records • 232 Hart Building • Washington, DC 20510 1. FILER TYPE AND NAME 2. IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS Type: House Registrant ID: Organization Lobbyist 35195 Organization Name: Senate Registrant ID: Honeywell International 57453 3. REPORTING PERIOD 4. CONTACT INFORMATION Year: Contact Name: 2016 Ms.Stacey Bernards Mid­Year (January 1 ­ June 30) Email: Year­End (July 1 ­ December 31) [email protected] Amendment Phone: 2026622629 Address: 101 CONSTITUTION AVENUE, NW WASHINGTON, DC 20001 USA 5. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE NAMES Honeywell International Political Action Committee 6. CONTRIBUTIONS No Contributions #1. Contribution Type: Contributor Name: Amount: Date: FECA Honeywell International Political Action Committee $1,500.00 01/14/2016 Payee: Honoree: Friends of Sam Johnson Sam Johnson #2. Contribution Type: Contributor Name: Amount: Date: FECA Honeywell International Political Action Committee $2,500.00 01/14/2016 Payee: Honoree: Kay Granger Campaign Fund Kay Granger #3. Contribution Type: Contributor Name: Amount: Date: FECA Honeywell International Political Action Committee $2,000.00 01/14/2016 Payee: Honoree: Paul Cook for Congress Paul Cook https://lda.congress.gov/LC/protected/LCWork/2016/MM/57453DOM.xml?1470093694684 1/75 8/1/2016 LD­203 Contribution Report #4. Contribution Type: Contributor Name: Amount: Date: FECA Honeywell International Political Action Committee $1,000.00 01/14/2016 Payee: Honoree: DelBene for Congress Suzan DelBene #5. Contribution Type: Contributor Name: Amount: Date: FECA Honeywell International Political Action Committee $1,000.00 01/14/2016 Payee: Honoree: John Carter for Congress John Carter #6.
    [Show full text]
  • 2015 Voting Record
    2015 VOTING RECORD 2016 INTRODUCTION The American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO, is the nation’s largest federal employee union, representing more than 670,000 federal and D.C. government workers nationwide and overseas. Workers in virtually every function of government depend upon AFGE for legislative advocacy, legal representation, technical expertise, and informational services. AFGE is proud to represent federal and D.C. government workers because they are the vital threads of the fabric of American life. Government workers inspect the food we eat and the places we work. They protect citizens from the illicit flow of drugs, maintain the safety of our nation’s borders, and keep the national defense systems prepared for any danger. They care for our nation’s veterans and serve as a vital link to Social Security recipients. AFGE takes seriously its responsibility to protect the rights of the working and middle class Americans who make up the federal and D.C. workforces. The union believes the best way to improve government’s effectiveness and efficiency is to treat federal and D.C. workers as valuable resources rather than easy targets. Federal labor unions, including AFGE, are not currently afforded the same full-scope collective bargaining rights as unions representing private sector workers. For this reason, AFGE relies on a comprehensive legislative and political action program to deal with issues that affect the federal and D.C. workforces. When Congress tackles government employee pay and benefit issues or debates funding of vital government programs, AFGE is on the scene representing its members. The 2015 Voting Record shows where House and Senate lawmakers stood on the issues that were most important to federal and D.C.
    [Show full text]
  • Bob Dold, Republican Party Animal Bob Dold
    In This Issue: Obamacare.................... 7 Bob Dold, Republican Party Animal Bob Dold ........................ 1 Democratic Debate ..... 8 Women in Politics ......... 1 ArtWauk ........................ 9 If you listen closely to what Dold & Letter to Rand Paul ..... 10 Freedom Caucus .......... 5 Labor Town Hall.......... 11 he says to the people of the Econ 101......................... 6 Help Wanted ............... 11 10th District, you’ll notice For information or to volunteer, email us at something odd: incumbent [email protected], call us at 847- Congressman Bob Dold never 266-VOTE (8683), or write to Hon. Lauren mentions he’s a Republican. Beth Gash, Founding Chair, Tenth Dems, P.O. Box 523, Deerfield, IL 60015. Please He likes to portray himself visit our website at www.tenthdems.org as a suburban pest control and like us on Facebook and Twitter. business owner who woke L. to r., Bob Dold and his mentors, Bob Dole, Dan Quayle, and Dan Burton Editor: Barbara Altman up one day and decided to run for Congress. linking riots in Los Angeles to a fictional single Editorial Staff: Joan Attenberg, He’d have you believe he simply flipped a coin mother on TV, Murphy Brown. Lauren Beth Gash, Eric Herman, to decide which ticket to be on. Adrienne Kirshbaum, Laurence D. Schiller, Next, Dold worked for Republican Bob Dole’s Steve Sheffey, Allan Sperling In fact, Dold is a lifelong, partisan Republican. presidential campaign against Bill Clinton. Contributors: Barbara Altman, Ron Altman, Dole thought the best way to head into the 21st Roger Baron, Steven Gan, Eric Herman, From 1991 until President Clinton’s inauguration century was a return to Reaganomics.
    [Show full text]
  • Recognizing Service 7315 W
    ' First Security Trust and Savings Bank Serving the community since 1957 ]1'tJ114 1" SIIHIIF'11\I..4I)S1I ( "A community bank for all your banking needs." $1.50 Thursday, May 21, 2015 OPEN 6 DAYS A WEEK 4 DRIVE-IN LANES DRIVE-THRU ATM TRAVEL SERVICES LOBBY OPEN ON FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY A FULL (708) 4533131 SERVICE (773) 625-3300 KANK www.fstsb.com Recognizing service 7315 W. Grand Ave.Elmwood Park I block west of Harlem) World War II veteran from Niles honored on Armed Forces Day. Page 12 DEVONSHIRE PLAyHOUSE PHOTO Medieval mania Devonshire Playhouse takes on the wacky and winning musical comedy, "Monty Python's Spamalot" Page 34 SPORTS Moving on Several area athletes advance to girls track and field state meet Page 53 GOP STUDENKOV/PIONEER PRESS Congressman Bob Dold, left, speaks to Richard Vana, center, of Niles, and Vanas family during a May16 event to celebrate Armed Nic SUMMERS! Forces Day at Golf Mill Shopping Center, The day also included an armed services recruitment expo. PIONEER PRESS SOC-ILOg1I S31IN Is NO1)0 0969 dodo Isla0 .L>lW:N.L 5CTLLT8'vTO [t' .o 6I0-3101 Th-3;lTSHNdd :bjd 9 TNddTL091IW SHOUT OUT NILES HERALD-SPECTATOR nilesheraldspectator.com Doug James, Park Ridge actor Bob Fleck, Publisher/General Manager Actor Doug James of Park doing my voice over work and Maggie Wartik, General Manager/Suburban Weeklies Ridge recently reappeared on the playing with my bands. [email protected] small screen in a May 6 episode of Q: Will Doug James and the John Puterbaugh, Editor "Chicago P.D' Largely a voice Pocket be playing Taste of Park 312-222-3331; [email protected] over actor for commercials, James Ridge again this summer? Jill McDermott, Vice President of Advertising has also played minor roles in A: Yes, we'll be back at the 224-500-2419; jmcdermotttrihpub.com short films and television shows, Taste.
    [Show full text]
  • US Election Insight 2014
    dentons.com US Election Insight 2014 Election results data contained in this report re lect data available as of 8:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on November 5, 2014. The boisterous sea of liberty is never without a wave Thomas Jeerson 2014 Election Results The Republican Senate Drought Ends In a Deluge For the past eight years, Republicans sought to reclaim As October closed, polling momentum favored the their Congressional majority, but their eorts to achieve Republicans, and Democrats faced lower than expected election night victory fell short of the mark. Last night, turnout among their base, including African Americans, riding a wave of enthusiasm among their supporters Democratic women, Hispanics and young voters. The and bolstered by voter frustration with the Obama general discontent of many voters toward Congress in administration, Republican candidates across the country general and President Obama in particular meant that delivered victories in virtually every key race. With at least a traditionally Republican-friendly issues like opposition to seven seat gain in the US Senate and an increase of more the Aordable Care Act, national security, the economy, than 10 seats in the US House of Representatives, the 2014 and even the Ebola epidemic in West Africa held sway with election was an unmitigated success for Republicans, voters, who ignored Democratic claims of an improving aording them an opportunity to set the agenda for the economy and the dangers of a Republican congress. last two years of the Obama presidency and setting the This last appeal was notably ineective with women stage for a wide open presidential election in 2016.
    [Show full text]
  • 114Th CONGRESS HOUSE RECYCLING CAUCUS MEMBERS
    th 114 CONGRESS HOUSE RECYCLING CAUCUS MEMBERS John Shimkus (R-IL) and Frank Pallone (D-NJ) – Co-Chairs Member of Congress State Member of Congress State Robert Aderholt AL Mark Walker NC Raul Grijalva AZ Richard Hudson NC Matt Salmon AZ Albio Sires NJ Ed Royce CA Frank LoBiondo NJ Lois Capps CA Louise Slaughter NY Grace Napolitano CA Brian Higgins NY Anna Eshoo CA Peter King NY Linda Sanchez CA Patrick Tiberi OH Gerald McNerney CA Bob Latta OH David Valadao CA David Joyce OH Mimi Walters CA Steve Stivers OH Diane DeGette CO Bill Johnson OH Eleanor Holmes Norton DC Tom Cole OK Gus Bilirakis FL Earl Blumenauer OR Debbie Wasserman-Schultz FL Greg Walden OR Alcee Hastings FL Chaka Fattah PA John Lewis GA Tim Murphy PA Tom Price GA Joe Pitts PA Lynn Westmoreland GA Mike Doyle PA David Loebsack IA Bill Shuster PA Daniel Lipinski IL Lou Barletta PA Peter Roskam IL Keith Rothfus PA Aaron Schock IL Charlie Dent PA Rodney Davis IL Tom Marino PA David Bost IL James Langevin RI Bob Dold IL Mick Mulvaney SC Susan Brooks IN Trey Gowdy SC Larry Buschon IN Marsha Blackburn TN Peter Visclosky IN Steve Cohen TN John Yarmuth KY Michael Conaway TX Harold Rogers KY Sheila Jackson-Lee TX Brett Guthrie KY Lloyd Doggett TX Adam Barr KY Michael Burgess TX Chris Van Hollen MD Gene Green TX Fred Upton MI Roger Williams TX Betty McCollum MN Randy Weber TX Erik Paulsen MN Bill Flores TX Sam Graves MO Rob Bishop UT Ann Wagner MO Barbara Comstock VA Billy Long MO Bob Goodlatte VA Virginia Foxx NC Jim McDermott WA George Butterfield NC Rick Larsen WA George Holding NC Adam Smith WA David Rouzier NC Cynthia Lummis WY Members 55 Republicans, 35 Democrats (Italics) 2 .
    [Show full text]
  • 114TH CONGRESS / Second Session Available at Frcaction.Org/Scorecard
    VOTE SCORECARD 114TH CONGRESS / Second Session Available at FRCAction.org/scorecard U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate Dear Voter and Friend of the Family, FRC Action presents our Vote Scorecard for 2016, the Second Session of the 114th Congress. This online Score- card contains a compilation of significant votes on federal legislation affecting family values that FRC Action either supported or opposed. These recorded votes span votes thus far in the 2016 calendar year but may contain additional votes that occur before the end of the year. The year began by handling unfinished business of addressing Planned Parenthood’s organ harvesting practices revealed in undercover videos. Congress failed to fully defund Planned Parenthood but late in 2015 passed a budget reconciliation bill, the Restoring Americans’ Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act, which would have eliminated a significant portion of Planned Parenthood’s funding—roughly 80%— and repealed key provisions of Obamacare. The House in January, 2016 passed the new version and sent to the President who vetoed the measure. The House failed to override the veto. Passage of this bill showed a way forward to substantially repeal Obamacare and defund Planned Parenthood with a future pro-life President. With demo- crat obstructionism of spending bills and the shortened spring and summer congressional sessions due to July conventions, only one other pro-life bill received a vote in the House, when it successfully passed the Conscience Protection Act. This bill would codify and provide a right of action under current conscience laws that already bar government discrimination against pro-life entities.
    [Show full text]
  • The Power of the Latino Vote in America They Tipped Elections in 2008; Where Will They Be in 2010?
    The Power of the Latino Vote in America They Tipped Elections in 2008; Where Will they be in 2010? February 2010 LATINO VOTER TRENDS IN RECENT ELECTION CYCLES Over the past decade, Latino voters have steadily increased their political power, and made a decisive impact in races at all levels, including the Presidency. In 2010, Latino voters are poised to play a crucial role in key House and Senate races across the country. Many analysts have noted that as the Latino electorate grows in size and power, candidates from all political parties must take their views into account to remain viable in an increasing number of House and Senate races as well as future Presidential contests. While trending Democratic overall, at least one segment of the Latino electorate—foreign‐born, naturalized U.S. citizens of Latino descent, who represent 40% of the Latino voter population—has proven to be a true swing constituency. Candidates for political office in 2010, elected officials, and political strategists would be wise to not just look at how Latino voters are likely to vote this cycle, but why. This report lays out trends in Latino voting patterns over the last several years, and examines some of the factors that motivate and influence this segment of the electorate. The report features a list of “Races to Watch”—forty battleground House and Senate contests where Latino voters will play a key role—and details the Congressional districts where Latino voting power is most concentrated. The Latino Vote is Growing – In Size and Geographic Diversity For the past few election cycles, Latino voters have been making an impact at ballot boxes throughout the country.
    [Show full text]
  • THE ESSENCE of NO LABELS No Labels Is a National Movement of Democrats, Republicans and Independents Dedicated to a New Politics of Problem Solving
    THE ESSENCE OF NO LABELS No Labels is a national movement of Democrats, Republicans and independents dedicated to a new politics of problem solving. What exactly is this new politics of problem solving? It’s about an attitude more than anything else. It’s about a willingness to sit down with anyone – conservative, liberal and in between – so long as they are willing to work with you to find solutions. And it’s about recognizing that having principled and deeply held political beliefs doesn’t require an all-or-nothing approach to governance. When No Labels began in 2010, we didn’t have a definitive idea of what the organization and the movement would become. We knew there were millions of people across the country who were frustrated by the dysfunction in our government and who felt they did not have a voice in our political process. And we knew somehow we had to organize this feeling into a coherent national movement that could start to fix our government and secure a stronger future for America. But we’d have to figure out how as we went along – talking to people on Capitol Hill, leaders in state and local government and members of the business and nonprofit communities; and poring through polling data and historical research – to identify the root causes of our government’s problems and what No Labels could do about them. This led us to develop reform plans to fix the dysfunction in our Congress and throughout the federal government and to build a first-of-its-kind bipartisan group of problem solvers on Capitol Hill.
    [Show full text]
  • ABSTRACT Guided Probabilistic Topic Models for Agenda-Setting
    ABSTRACT Title of dissertation: Guided Probabilistic Topic Models for Agenda-setting and Framing Viet-An Nguyen, Doctor of Philosophy, 2015 Dissertation directed by: Professor Philip Resnik Department of Linguistics and Institute for Advanced Computer Studies Professor Jordan Boyd-Graber College of Information Studies Institute for Advanced Computer Studies Probabilistic topic models are powerful methods to uncover hidden thematic structures in text by projecting each document into a low dimensional space spanned by a set of topics. Given observed text data, topic models infer these hidden struc- tures and use them for data summarization, exploratory analysis, and predictions, which have been applied to a broad range of disciplines. Politics and political conflicts are often captured in text. Traditional ap- proaches to analyze text in political science and other related fields often require close reading and manual labeling, which is labor-intensive and hinders the use of large-scale collections of text. Recent work, both in computer science and political science, has used automated content analysis methods, especially topic models to substantially reduce the cost of analyzing text at large scale. In this thesis, we follow this approach and develop a series of new probabilistic topic models, guided by additional information associated with the text, to discover and analyze agenda- setting (i.e., what topics people talk about) and framing (i.e., how people talk about those topics), a central research problem in political science, communication, public policy and other related fields. We first focus on study agendas and agenda control behavior in political de- bates and other conversations. The model we introduce, Speaker Identity for Topic Segmentation (SITS), is able to discover what topics that are talked about during the debates, when these topics change, and a speaker-specific measure of agenda control.
    [Show full text]