Transatlantic Dialogue Transatlantic Dialogue

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Transatlantic Dialogue Transatlantic Dialogue Transatlantic dialogue Transatlantic dialogue WASHINGTON DC Where has all the goodwill gone? By Holly Fechner lofty agenda was not clear until American people were months later. scared and angry about Barack Obama rocketed to the Major victories followed the economy. Polls show US presidency on the promise in quick succession in the that the focus on healthcare and of ‘change’ and he assumed fi rst six months of the new the lack of attention on jobs offi ce with signifi cant Democrat administration: fair pay turned voters, particularly those majorities in Congress. legislation to make it easier independent voters not affi liated His party won almost 60 per to sue employers, healthcare with a political party, against the cent of the seats in the House of coverage for millions of children, Democrats. Representatives. With 58 seats a bill to allow the Food & Drug And on 19 January – just in the Senate, the Democrats Administration to regulate as the President and Congress were just two votes shy of tobacco, legislation creating had resolved one of the defeating Republican fi libusters enhanced penalties for hate stickiest issues delaying fi nal – a powerful procedural tool of crimes based on race, national While passage of the healthcare bill the Senate minority party. The origin and gender. – a special election was held in conditions were ripe for the In April, Senator Arlen Specter Congress and Massachusetts to fi ll the seat of President to champion major switched parties, and in late the President Senator Kennedy, who died last legislative changes. June Al Franken was sworn in as were enmeshed August. In a stunning upset that The President’s agenda was senator from Minnesota, after in healthcare reverberated across the country, robust: revive the US economy, a highly-contested election and Republican Scott Brown defeated pass comprehensive healthcare recount, to give President Obama legislation, the Democrat Martha Coakley, legislation, raise the standing his 60th vote. The President‘s mood of the thereby denying the latter’s party of the country around the clear legislative priority was country began the 60th Senate vote it needed world, pass legislation to reduce reforming the US healthcare to pass a fi nal healthcare bill and greenhouse gases and spur the system. He advocated a series to turn send it to the President. growth of clean energy, and re- of measures to lower healthcare regulate fi nancial institutions. costs and cover a signifi cant In limbo He also promised to change portion of the 47 million As a result, President Obama’s how business is conducted in Americans without healthcare legislative priority remains in Washington by working across coverage. Many Democratic limbo. He and key members of party lines and minimising the members of Congress, including Congress say they will pare back role of special interests and one of the President’s strongest the comprehensive bill and pass lobbyists in policymaking. and most infl uential supporters, parts of it in piecemeal fashion, At the beginning of 2009, Senator Edward Kennedy, but it is too soon to know many economists thought championed this goal. whether they will succeed. the US was on the brink of an The remainder of the economic downturn that could Mood change President’s domestic agenda has rival the 1930s Great Depression. Congress responded by devoting not fared much better. Although The economy had been in a months to hearings and debate the House of Representatives tailspin under President George on healthcare legislation. narrowly passed cap-and-trade W Bush, but the full effects were The House of Representatives climate change legislation last not clear until just before Mr narrowly passed a comprehensive June, the Senate is unlikely Obama was sworn in. bill last November and the Senate to vote on a bill before the Each US president takes offi ce answered with the Christmas Eve 2010 election. Re-regulation of with a signifi cant amount of passage of its own bill. Since then, fi nancial institutions is bogged political capital to spend on the President and leaders of both down in committee and has high priority issues. Mr Obama bodies of Congress worked hard not been voted on by either the was forced by circumstance to at reconciling the differences. House or Senate. spend his capital on passing While Congress and the By historical standards, a large economic stimulus President were enmeshed in President Obama has a long list bill – the American Recovery healthcare legislation, the mood of accomplishments, but by the and Reinvestment Act – and of the country began to turn. Last standards that he set for himself, additional legislation to stabilise November, the Democrats lost he falls short after one year in fi nancial institutions. These bills two critical governorship races offi ce. were passed with lightening in Virginia and New Jersey. With speed, but the toll they took unemployment hovering above Holly Fechner is of counsel at the on the President’s ability to 10 per cent and budget defi cits Washington DC offi ce of global law move the remainder of his as far as the eye can see, the fi rm Covington & Burling www.europeanlawyer.co.uk The European Lawyer February 2010 9 EL_01.10.Transatlantic.indd 9 05/02/2010 15:14.
Recommended publications
  • New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo – He's Not the Worst #Metoo Man but His
    New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo – He’s Not the Worst #MeToo Man But his PR is Near the Bottom Andrew Blum When you look at all the #MeToo men who did bad things to women – and some to men – there are gradations of evil. Al Franken is not Harvey Weinstein, and Louis CK is not Jeffrey Epstein. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a relatively recent addition to the #MeToo list, acted very badly to 11 women, according to a just completed investigation but he’s not worst. What he is horrible at was spinning the probe and its findings. All during the investigation, he held public events like nothing was wrong, often not letting the press attend or ask questions. Then on August 3, after New York Attorney General Letitia James released a 165-page report accusing him of the sexual harassment, he released a pre-recorded video in which he showed no remorse, did not apologize, issued a flat-out tone-deaf denial, made no admission of his behavior, and sounded like he never heard of #MeToo or sexual harassment. He refused to resign. This prompted all his local, state and federal allies among Democratic Party officialdom, voters, unions and donors to all but desert him in the face of almost certain impeachment by the state legislature. They all called for him to resign – right up to and including President Biden. About the only person who said Cuomo should not resign was Rudy Giuliani! I think it is because of the #MeToo movement and thePR ramifications of the bad behavior of powerful men of his ilk that Cuomo received such a public and political rebuke of his actions after the report issued by the NY Attorney General.
    [Show full text]
  • The Grizzly, April 3, 1981 James Wilson Ursinus College
    Ursinus College Digital Commons @ Ursinus College Ursinus College Grizzly Newspaper Newspapers 4-3-1981 The Grizzly, April 3, 1981 James Wilson Ursinus College Barbara Foley Ursinus College Kenneth C. Taylor Ursinus College Jay Repko Ursinus College Duncan C. Atkins Ursinus College See next page for additional authors Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews Part of the Cultural History Commons, Higher Education Commons, Liberal Studies Commons, Social History Commons, and the United States History Commons Click here to let us know how access to this document benefits oy u. Recommended Citation Wilson, James; Foley, Barbara; Taylor, Kenneth C.; Repko, Jay; Atkins, Duncan C.; Bassett, Jennifer; Wegman, Janet; Sacks, Martin; and Lazar, Joey, "The Grizzly, April 3, 1981" (1981). Ursinus College Grizzly Newspaper. 57. https://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/57 This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the Newspapers at Digital Commons @ Ursinus College. It has been accepted for inclusion in Ursinus College Grizzly Newspaper by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Ursinus College. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Authors James Wilson, Barbara Foley, Kenneth C. Taylor, Jay Repko, Duncan C. Atkins, Jennifer Bassett, Janet Wegman, Martin Sacks, and Joey Lazar This book is available at Digital Commons @ Ursinus College: https://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/57 • rl Volume Three Number Eighteen Ursinus College, Collegeville, Pa. 19426 Friday, April 3, 1981 Faculty members promoted • • • Board of Directors Elects Corey to Five Year Term sor of History, as Chairman of the Township Commissioners, an of­ Samuel C. Corey, chairman of History Department.
    [Show full text]
  • Pageant Finalists Show Looks, Talent
    Friday Night Live AtGusma hilarity starts on page THE MIA URMCANE Volume 58, No. 10 Tuesday, September 29 1981 .Phone 284 4401 Pageant Finalists Show Looks, Talent ll\ JEAN C I Al 1)1 de la I KAM I \\l> I RISHA SINDLER lhe". were nervou .luu.s 1 hcv had butterflies, and thej v. ii ihi end, ten of them were glad they, had da I IMI young women who admitted Iha d nol ne'i'it ,i Ini nf prodding in gn after the : '•' l ni WTMU nl Miami in; 198 I 82 w en si li i li d iul entrants Saturday, nighl to compete in the finals on Oc­ tober 26 The selection of the in Finalists culminated a day ol interviews anel taleni routines before judges chosen from the UM facultv and the communit) "It seems t<• me thai we have even more beautiful girls than ever." said Jefl Becker, Horn ming chair­ man "They seem to have mun taleni ihan sn: other group i i an remember " Deborah Cichan typifies whal Beckei de i led \ virtuoso mi several instruments, the 20-year-old junior performed a jazz number on her saxophone fm thi tai fin set tion ol the pageant preliminary s "I have had nine \car ol playing experience, so I was nol nervous at all." Cichan said latei i was very comfortable " The pre-legal finance major explained whs she- is seeking the title "I am running because UM's standards are improv­ ing, and 1 fell I can be a definite asset lo thai improve­ ment," she said "This is a new experience fnr me I Hunk il is going to be fun " Nineteen-year-old sophomore 1 eslie Voogd dis­ played anothei aspect ol the versatility, e.i this year's contestants.
    [Show full text]
  • Ironic Feminism: Rhetorical Critique in Satirical News Kathy Elrick Clemson University, [email protected]
    Clemson University TigerPrints All Dissertations Dissertations 12-2016 Ironic Feminism: Rhetorical Critique in Satirical News Kathy Elrick Clemson University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/all_dissertations Recommended Citation Elrick, Kathy, "Ironic Feminism: Rhetorical Critique in Satirical News" (2016). All Dissertations. 1847. https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/all_dissertations/1847 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Dissertations at TigerPrints. It has been accepted for inclusion in All Dissertations by an authorized administrator of TigerPrints. For more information, please contact [email protected]. IRONIC FEMINISM: RHETORICAL CRITIQUE IN SATIRICAL NEWS A Dissertation Presented to the Graduate School of Clemson University In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy Rhetorics, Communication, and Information Design by Kathy Elrick December 2016 Accepted by Dr. David Blakesley, Committee Chair Dr. Jeff Love Dr. Brandon Turner Dr. Victor J. Vitanza ABSTRACT Ironic Feminism: Rhetorical Critique in Satirical News aims to offer another perspective and style toward feminist theories of public discourse through satire. This study develops a model of ironist feminism to approach limitations of hegemonic language for women and minorities in U.S. public discourse. The model is built upon irony as a mode of perspective, and as a function in language, to ferret out and address political norms in dominant language. In comedy and satire, irony subverts dominant language for a laugh; concepts of irony and its relation to comedy situate the study’s focus on rhetorical contributions in joke telling. How are jokes crafted? Who crafts them? What is the motivation behind crafting them? To expand upon these questions, the study analyzes examples of a select group of popular U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • The Rules of #Metoo
    University of Chicago Legal Forum Volume 2019 Article 3 2019 The Rules of #MeToo Jessica A. Clarke Follow this and additional works at: https://chicagounbound.uchicago.edu/uclf Part of the Law Commons Recommended Citation Clarke, Jessica A. (2019) "The Rules of #MeToo," University of Chicago Legal Forum: Vol. 2019 , Article 3. Available at: https://chicagounbound.uchicago.edu/uclf/vol2019/iss1/3 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by Chicago Unbound. It has been accepted for inclusion in University of Chicago Legal Forum by an authorized editor of Chicago Unbound. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The Rules of #MeToo Jessica A. Clarke† ABSTRACT Two revelations are central to the meaning of the #MeToo movement. First, sexual harassment and assault are ubiquitous. And second, traditional legal procedures have failed to redress these problems. In the absence of effective formal legal pro- cedures, a set of ad hoc processes have emerged for managing claims of sexual har- assment and assault against persons in high-level positions in business, media, and government. This Article sketches out the features of this informal process, in which journalists expose misconduct and employers, voters, audiences, consumers, or professional organizations are called upon to remove the accused from a position of power. Although this process exists largely in the shadow of the law, it has at- tracted criticisms in a legal register. President Trump tapped into a vein of popular backlash against the #MeToo movement in arguing that it is “a very scary time for young men in America” because “somebody could accuse you of something and you’re automatically guilty.” Yet this is not an apt characterization of #MeToo’s paradigm cases.
    [Show full text]
  • Monmouth University Poll NATIONAL: WHO LEADS in the VEEPSTAKES?
    Please attribute this information to: Monmouth University Poll West Long Branch, NJ 07764 www.monmouth.edu/polling Follow on Twitter: @MonmouthPoll _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Released: Contact: Thursday, June 23, 2016 PATRICK MURRAY 732-979-6769 (cell); 732-263-5858 (office) [email protected] Follow on Twitter: @PollsterPatrick NATIONAL: WHO LEADS IN THE VEEPSTAKES? Sanders is top draw for undecideds; Palin a turnoff West Long Branch, NJ – With the presidential nominations in place, speculation about potential running-mates has ramped up considerably. The Monmouth University Poll tested 12 possible vice presidential picks – six from each party – and found that most would have no appreciable impact on voter support. Two names do stand out, however: Bernie Sanders, who could attract undecided voters to the Democratic column, and Sarah Palin, who could potentially hurt the GOP ticket. Scores of names have been mentioned as possible running mates for Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. The Monmouth University Poll decided to test 12 of them – six Democrats and six Republicans – for their ability to attract voters to the parties’ respective tickets. On the Democratic side, only Sanders, Clinton’s primary opponent, registers any notable impact. Overall, 39% of voters nationwide say they would be more likely to vote for the Democratic ticket with the Vermont Senator as Clinton’s running mate compared to 20% who would be less likely to support this pairing. Among those voters who are currently undecided or are leaning toward supporting a third party candidate, fully 50% say they would be more likely to support Clinton if Sanders is her vice presidential nominee and just 16% say they would be less likely to vote for this ticket.
    [Show full text]
  • Politics of Parody
    Bryant University Bryant Digital Repository English and Cultural Studies Faculty English and Cultural Studies Journal Articles Publications and Research Winter 2012 Live From New York, It's the Fake News! Saturday Night Live and the (Non)Politics of Parody Amber Day Bryant University Ethan Thompson Texas A & M University - Corpus Christi, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.bryant.edu/eng_jou Part of the Other Arts and Humanities Commons, Other Film and Media Studies Commons, and the Television Commons Recommended Citation Day, Amber and Thompson, Ethan, "Live From New York, It's the Fake News! Saturday Night Live and the (Non)Politics of Parody" (2012). English and Cultural Studies Journal Articles. Paper 44. https://digitalcommons.bryant.edu/eng_jou/44 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the English and Cultural Studies Faculty Publications and Research at Bryant Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in English and Cultural Studies Journal Articles by an authorized administrator of Bryant Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. 1 Live from New York, It’s the Fake News! Saturday Night Live and the (Non)Politics of Parody Amber Day Assistant Professor English and Cultural Studies Bryant University 401-952-3933 [email protected] Ethan Thompson Associate Professor Department of Communication Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi 361-876-5200 [email protected] 2 Abstract Though Saturday Night Live’s “Weekend Update” has become one of the most iconic of fake news programs, it is remarkably unfocused on either satiric critique or parody of particular news conventions.
    [Show full text]
  • FEC Exhibit Question 27
    Question 27: Table of MURs with some deadlocked votes Type Matter # Name Opened Closed MUR 6078 OBAMA FOR AMERICA 9/22/2008 12/7/2012 MUR 6081 AMERICAN ISSUES PROJECT 9/26/2008 5/7/2013 MUR 6090 OBAMA FOR AMERICA 10/6/2008 12/7/2012 MUR 6108 OBAMA FOR AMERICA 10/27/2008 12/7/2012 MUR 6139 OBAMA FOR AMERICA 12/2/2008 12/7/2012 MUR 6142 OBAMA FOR AMERICA - OBAMA VICTORY FUND 12/4/2008 12/7/2012 MUR 6214 OBAMA FOR AMERICA 9/15/2009 12/7/2012 MUR 6315 ALVIN M. GREENE 6/15/2010 11/28/2012 MUR 6344 UNITED PUBLIC WORKERS, AFSCME LOCAL 646, 8/5/2010 6/29/2012 AFL-CIO, ET AL MUR 6357 AMERICAN CROSSROADS 8/25/2010 1/24/2012 MUR 6368 FRIENDS OF ROY BLUNT 9/2/2010 1/8/2013 MUR 6375 THE INDEPENDENCE CAUCUS 9/15/2010 8/22/2013 MUR 6380 CHRISTINE O'DONNELL, ET AL 9/20/2010 1/2/2015 MUR 6391 COMMISSION ON HOPE GROWTH & 10/7/2010 10/1/2015 OPPORTUNITY MUR 6413 TAXPAYER NETWORK 10/28/2010 5/15/2014 MUR 6421 BENISHEK FOR CONGRESS 11/2/2010 2/5/2013 MUR 6440 FRIENDS OF FRANK GUINTA 12/7/2010 4/29/2015 MUR 6462 DONALD J TRUMP, ETAL 3/16/2011 6/11/2013 MUR 6459 IOWA FAITH & FREEDOM COALITION 3/3/2011 10/16/2012 MUR 6471 COMMISSION ON HOPE, GROWTH & 5/24/2011 10/1/2015 OPPORTUNITY MUR 6474 CITIZENS FOR JOSH MANDEL, ET AL 6/13/2011 3/12/2013 MUR 6485 W SPANN LLC ETAL 8/5/2011 2/23/2016 MUR 6494 JEANNETTE H.
    [Show full text]
  • The American Review of Politics, Vol
    Fighting “Change” in Congressional Campaigns Randall E. Adkins and David A. Dulio The results of the 2008 election cycle were historic. After all of the votes were tallied, Senator Barack Obama garnered more votes than his principal opponent, Senator John McCain. Although the election brought the first African-American president to Washington, there is a lot more to the story. Congressional campaigns are often overshadowed by the presidential campaign and thereby left out of the post-election discussion. This is a mis- take. Campaigns for House and Senate seats are just as important to how the nation will move ahead on serious issues in the coming years. Congress, after all, is responsible for delivering to President Obama the legislation that makes up his agenda. In 2008 congressional Democrats increased their mar- gins in both the House and the Senate and returned the Democratic Party to unified control of government. The articles in this special issue of the Ameri- can Review of Politics examine six important congressional campaigns and help tell the story of the 2008 election, beyond Barack Obama’s historic victory. The National Political Setting Primary among the factors that made up the political landscape in 2008 was President George W. Bush. Indeed, his public approval rating of 25 per- cent in October of 2008 was near historic lows.1 In fact, President Nixon’s approval ratings were at 24 percent at the time he resigned from office due to the Watergate scandal.2 The public’s perception of President Bush created a highly advantageous context for most Democrats running for office and Republicans were effectively “on their heels” throughout the election cycle battling their challengers as best they could by dismissing President Bush and his unpopular policy choices.
    [Show full text]
  • Reconciling #Metoo and Criminal Justice
    Reconciling #MeToo and Criminal Justice Margo Kaplan* I. Introduction ................................................................................................ 361 II. #MeToo’s Achievements ............................................................................ 366 A. Exposing the Criminal Justice System’s Failures .............................. 366 B. Contextualizing Sexual Violence ..................................................... 371 III. #MeToo’s Failures ...................................................................................... 377 A. The Continuing Erasure of Women of Color .................................... 377 B. The Monster Narrative ................................................................... 382 IV. Lessons for the Criminal Justice System .................................................... 389 A. Reforming Rape Law and the Carceral State .................................... 389 B. Alternative Reporting Mechanisms.................................................. 392 C. Restorative Justice ......................................................................... 393 V. Conclusion .................................................................................................. 398 I. INTRODUCTION Depending on who you ask, the #MeToo movement is either overdue or overreaching, but it seems everyone has heard of it. The response to actress Alyssa Milano’s tweet inviting women who experienced sexual harassment or assault to tweet “#MeToo” was overwhelming.1 “MeToo” was retweeted nearly half
    [Show full text]
  • Al^ :^Tion -Received
    AL^ :^TION -RECEIVED 2001 FE3 18 A ^ 30 607 Fourteenth Street N.W. Washington, D.C. 20005-2011 Marc Erik Elias __._. ... PHONE: 202.628.6600 PHONE: (202) 434-160fn9n FAX: (202)654-9126 FAX: 202.434.1690 BMA.L: [email protected] www.perkinscoie.com February 17, 2009 BY HAND 2009 Thomasenia Duncan, Esq. General Counsel Federal Election Commission 999 E Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20463 Re: Al Franken for U.S. Senate and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Advisory Opinion Request Dear Ms. Duncan: Pursuant to 2 U.S.C. § 437f (2009), we seek an advisory opinion on behalf of Al Franken for U.S. Senate (the "Committee") and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee ("DSCC"). Specifically, the requestors seek confirmation that the DSCC, like state parties and federal candidates, may establish a recount fund that will be used to pay recount, election contest and other post-election litigation costs resulting from Federal elections. They also seek confirmation that the Committee may raise federal funds under an additional, separate limit for the post-recount contest litigation now underway in Minnesota. The DSCC is a national committee of a political party for purposes of 2 U.S.C. § 441i(a)(l). Throughout its history, the DSCC has been actively engaged in recounts and election contests in Senate races. See FEC Adv. Op. 2006-24. The most recent example is in Minnesota, where, more than three months after Election Day, the 2008 Senatorial election is still unresolved. A statewide manual recount in Minnesota has been conducted and concluded, giving a 225-vote lead to Democratic candidate Al Franken.
    [Show full text]
  • Center for the Advancement of Women at Mount Saint Mary’S University Table of Contents
    COLLECTIF: COMMISSIONED ESSAYS ON THE 2019 REPORT THEME CENTER FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF WOMEN AT MOUNT SAINT MARY’S UNIVERSITY TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 Letter from the Director 2 Why Are There So Few Women Pilots?: A Comparative Case Study of Women Pilots in United States and Indian Aviation by Caitlyn Keeve, ‘20 13 What Good is an Apology?: Restorative Ethics in the Age of #MeToo by Aimée Koeplin, PhD 23 Identity and History: Decentering the Narrative by Wendy J. McCredie, PhD 30 U.S. Maternity Care in Crisis by Sarah Shealy, CNM, IBCLCD 44 The Challenges of Cultural Proficiency for the African-American-Mexican Woman in los Estados Unidos by Ana V. Thorne, PhD 53 Partner Spotlight: Mount Saint Mary’s University’s First Legislator in Residence by Emerald Archer, PhD 55 Acknowledgments Letter from the Director The Center for the Advancement of Women at Mount Saint Mary’s extends the mission of the university by offering women’s professional development opportunities, commissioning gender equity research, and advocating on behalf of California women and girls. As part of this work, the Center releases The Report on the Status of Women and Girls in California™ annually to shed light on persistent gender inequities so that community members — from students to elected officials — feel empowered to push for positive change. Last year the Center debuted Collectif, an online anthology of original faculty and student writing, that adds depth of understanding to the Report themes covered that year. I am delighted to release the second volume of Collectif, showcasing five commissioned papers from our scholarly community on the 2019 Report theme of intersectionality.
    [Show full text]