Current Events Recap: August 18-23, 2013

1. Current Events Recap:August 18-23, 2013 Me…Keefer

2. President • Obama Schools on College Costs - CNN • Thursday, August 22 • Obama proposes plan to help make college affordable • Bus Tour to several Colleges and High Schools • Plan has 3 parts • Fed rating system • Payments capped at 10% of income • Students must earn certain # of credits before more aid is given

3. President • Importance • Tuition has gone up 250% over last 3 decades • Income up only 16% • Avg student has $26,000 debt • My Thoughts • College has never been more expensive • Necessary to compete internationally • Crippling debt is a deterrent • Connections: • President can set agenda for nation • Only Congress can legislate • Republicans against most of Obama’s plan • Too much Gov’t regulation

4. Congress • Clock is Ticking for a Deficit Deal – NYTimes • Thursday, August 22 • Obama & GOP Congress can’t agree on Budget • Congress is on recess • Summer talks have broken down • Gov’t could shut down in October • GOP wants spending cuts • Dems want to raise taxes

5. Congress • Importance • Gov’t could shut down • Gov’t could default • If debt ceiling isn’t raised • Same crisis from last December/January • My Thoughts • We elect leaders to work for America • Opposition is good, but only if it leads to statesmanship • Connections • Federal Budget • National Deficit • Division of Powers • Beliefs of Political Parties

6. War/Military • Aid to Egypt Evaluated on a Daily Basis – USA Today • Tuesday, August 20 • After “coup” removing Morsi from power, US considering withdrawing aid • $1 Billion package • $585 Million still not sent • Cutting off aid would jeopardize US/Egypt relations

7. War/Military • Importance • If revolution was a “coup”, US not allowed to send aid • Sending Aid looks like coups allowed • Stopping Aid looks like we back Morsi/Muslim Brotherhood • My Thoughts • Rev was a “coup” • Power Vacuum in Egypt • Scary for US • We could be aiding a potential enemy • Coups can’t exist in a Democracy • BUT – we need strong allies in the Arab World • Connections • Treaties w/other nations help build alliances • Democratic Ideals • Can’t support overthrowing democratically-elected Prez • Rule of Law • Politics • Prez in charge of foreign policy

8. International/Foreign • Allegations of Deadly Gas Attack in Syria – FoxNews • Wednesday, August 21 • Rebels claim Assad Gov’t used chemical weapons • Hundreds to Thousands killed • Many women & children • Assad claims reports are untrue • UN is trying to investigate • Russia and China are blocking UN action

9. International/Foreign • Importance • Over 100,000 killed in 2 years • Chemical Weapons are war crime • Obama said US would intervene if Chem weapons used • My Thoughts • We intervened in Egypt, Libya, Iraq, Tunisia • Why not Syria? • Are rebels any better than Assad though? • Osama Bin Laden • US helped him fight Soviets in Afghanistan • Connections • Prez is commander-in-chief • Can authorize use of troops • Should we help spread of Democracy • Do Syrians see Assad’s authority as legitimate?

10. Political • RNC votes to exclude CNN and NBC from 2016 Primary – Washington Post • Monday, August 19 • CNN & NBC plan to air film about Hillary Clinton • RNC object • Feel it is free campaigning • RNC Chair threatened networks, but they refused to change plans • RNC votes unanimously to not let them cover 2016 RNC debates

11. Political • Importance • Election is 3 years away • Campaigning starts early • Relationship b/w parties and media • My Thoughts • FoxNews is incredibly biased • RNC only hates “bias” against them • Film is about Hillary as first-lady, not candidate • RNC Chair is just bitter b/c his name is ReincePriebus • Connections • Media and Politics • Campaigns • Party Organization • 1st Amendment • Freedom of the Press

12. Economic • Obama Asks Regulators to Speed Up Wall Street Reform – Reuters • Monday, August 19 • Obama meets with Fed regulators to push them to speed up Dodd-Frank • Dodd-Frank is Wall Street reform passed in 2010 • Only 40% of rules have been put in place • Some warn that Wall Street is doing same thing that led to 2008 crisis

13. Economic • Importance • Dodd-Frank reforms not being done • Economy recovering, but still fragile • Only 1 Wall Street exec convicted of crimes • My Thoughts • WTF!!! • These laws were passed in 2010…its 2013!!! • Vast majority of US wants Wall Street reform • Connections • Laws Passed by Congress • Bureaucracy in charge of carrying them out • Special Interest Groups • Money and Politics

14. My Choice • Antoinette Tuff Hailed as Hero for Handling Georgia School Gunman – CNN • Wednesday, August 21 • 20 yr old brought AK-47 & 500 rounds of ammo to Georgia school • Planned to kill many • Prepared to die • Front Office worker talked him into surrendering • Discussed her life • Told him she loved him • Stayed with him while he was arrested • NO ONE KILLED

15. My Choice • Importance • After Newtown, CT, school security is major issue • Rise of trend in mass killings • My Thoughts • Amazing • Truly a Hero • Who else would/could do that under the circumstances? • Connections • 2nd Amendment • Gun Debate • Guns and Background Checks • Lobbyists: NRA

16. Bizarre News • Ted Cruz to Renounce Canadian Citizenship – Huffington Post • Tuesday, August 20 • Ted Cruz (R) – Texas • Tea Party • Very popular right now • Probably running for Prez in 2016 • Born in Canada • Dual Citizen • Renounced his Canadian Citizenship

17. Bizarre News • Importance • Could be serious Republican candidate • Is he eligible to be Prez? • Could a Prez be a citizen of another country too? • My Thoughts • Remember the “Obama” isn’t a citizen” thing? • Where is Donald Trump? • Hypocrisy • Connections • Requirements to be President • Article II • Natural Born Citizen • Politics and Campaigning