Politics: 101

It's always best to know what you are getting yourself into. So I am using this first blog to briefly outline my political persuasion. First off, you could say I am a liberal conservative. I think I am too left to be a far-right conservative, but I am definitely not liberal. I usually align with the GOP, but I'm not strictly partisan. Sometimes I will back up Democrats if they are in the right.

Favorite politician: Sarah Palin
You better get used to that. There will probably be numerous posts about her.
Second favorite politician: Mike Huckabee
Least favorite politician: Barack Obama

Stances:

Homosexuality marriage - Immoral but should be legal.

Gun control - Should be stricter but ultimately, guns are a necessary evil.

Abortion - Illegal in all cases.

Marijuana - Strictly illegal in all cases.

Government run health care - No thank you.

Sex education - Abstinence only.

Redistributing the wealth - Unconstitutional.

Military - Homosexuals and women should be able to participate.

Religion - There should be a separation of church and state, but people should be able to freely express themselves.

Media - Mainly liberal.

Education system - A total mess and parents should be able to choose what school their child attends.

Those are just a few basic stances of mine. Throughout this blog, I will fully explore different subjects.

Since the last presidential election, politics have became even more popular within the U.S. Right now, the majority party is the Democratic party. This year has been marked by the push for health care reform. Now, do I believe health care issues need to be addressed? Of course. I do not agree with the options that are being offered by Democrats though. It doesn't help that they contrive hundred page bills that almost half of them don't even read. I believe they are trying to push this down the American people's throats.

Barack Obama is probably one of the men I like the least. No one can take away his mastery of the oratory. He is also an intelligent man and a man of diplomacy. The election though, was a joke. Most of his supporters knew nothing about his platform and policies. He also was vague on his platform during the campaign. His talks were primarily about this "change." What change has there really been other than health care reform which is very unpopular among many Americans? His term has been very uneventful considering his numerous promises he made. The media has practically kissed him and his wife's feet. He even received the Nobel prize for what he might do, instead of what he has done, which is nothing. Fortunately, next presidential election, I will be old enough to vote, and I will be part of the revolution that votes for a change to this change.

Sarah Palin, hands down, has shaken up the world of politics forever. Love her or hate her, you know at least a little about her. Unfortunately, much of the facts have been skewed. I have never seen such smear campaigning against a person. Is a middle-class, Christian, conservative woman that intimidating? Obviously she must be. She is what this country really needs. Don't give me the little experience card. We have a community organizer as a current president. Don't give me the unintelligent card because that is not true. Many of her words have been taken out of context. She is a powerful woman who can't be stopped. Be prepared in 2012, if she runs for president, then there is a strong possibility that she will be our first female president. Right now, people are divided about her but she is slowly gaining popularity.

That's enough for now. I would love to hear others' opinions and comments. Comment on the blog or send an e-mail to politicsandpopculture@yahoo.com. Until next time.

-Colby

2009 Pop Culture in a Nutshell

2009 was a very interesting year, filled with pop culture to top off the decade. From a middle-aged British woman becoming an Internet singing sensation overnight to Stefani Germanotta (better known as Lady Gaga) taking the world by storm with her outlandish fashion to the first black president for the US to the unforgettable, televised incidents at the VMAs and the AMAs, it's been quite a crazy 12 months.

2009 was, in essence, the year of celebrity deaths, break-ups, and babies; Twitter; very public faux pas; Lady Gaga; history; and so much more.

Now let me sum up 2009 for you.

Beyonce made an awesome video for Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It), in which she wears this sort of mechanical glove on her left hand, that involves her and two other female dancers in black leotards dancing around in a white room. I've seen so many spoofs and parodies of this video on Youtube. The most disturbing one, though, goes to Joe Jonas.

Susan Boyle became an overnight international Internet singing sensation when she sang I Dreamed a Dream on Britain's Got Talent. Who ever thought such a beautiful voice could have came from her mouth?

If you don't have a Facebook or Twitter account by now, then you must not exist.

Kanye West became the most hated man in America by all teenage girls when he interrupted Taylor Swift's acceptance speech at the VMAs and said, "Beyonce had one of the best videos of all time." What really ices the cake is Beyonce received the award for Video of the Year later during the show and then allowed Taylor to come back on stage to give her speech.

Lady Gaga became the first singer whose debut album (The Fame) had four #1 singles: Just Dance, Poker Face, LoveGame, and Paparazzi. Originally scheduled to tour with Kanye this fall/winter in the Fame Kills Tour, she is currently headlining her own tour called The Monster Ball. She also shocked pretty much everyone with her choice of fashion this year, from the Kermit dress to the blood-soaked Paparazzi performance to what has been dubbed "The Bird's Nest".

Blake Lively's hairstyle became the new "Jennifer".

Brittany Murphy is the latest celebrity to die this year. Others include Beatrice Arthur, Billy Mays, Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcet, Henry Gibson, Jett Travolta, Les Paul, Michael Jackson, Patrick Swayze, Steve McNair, and Umaga.

Several sequels were released this year: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, The Twilight Saga: New Moon, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Halloween II, and Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel, as well as many other blockbusters: Avatar, 2012, Where the Wild Things Are, Sherlock Holmes, Monsters Vs. Aliens, and Watchmen.

One of the most shocking moments of 2009 happened when the winner of this season of American Idol was announed: Kris Allen. The runner-up, Adam Lambert, did a little shocking of his own during his performance of For Your Entertainment at the AMAs.

Celebs who called it quits on their relationship or marriage: Kim Kardashian and Reggie Bush, Jessica Simpson and Tony Romo, Jon and Kate Gosselin, Mel Gibson and Robin Moore, Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson, John Mayer and Jennifer Aniston, Holly Madison and Criss Angel, Prince Harry and Chelsy Davy, Jennifer Love Hewitt and Ross McCall, Reese Witherspoon and Jake Gyllenhaal, and Katy Perry and Travis McCoy.

On a happier note, Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disick, Jennifer Hudson and David Otunga, Tim and Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Molly Ringwald and Panio Gianopoulos, Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick, Djimon Hounsou and Kimora Lee Simmons, David and Jordon Grohl, Kimberly Williams and Brad Paisley, Josh and Yessica Holloway, Tim Allen and Jane Hajduk, Charlie Sheen and Brooke Mueller, Tiger and Elin Woods, and Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck all became parents this year.

Speaking of Tiger Woods, he's been in the news lately for his many alleged affairs and his car accident. The pro-golfer has decided to take a break from golfing.

Barbara Walters named Michelle Obama the Most Fascinating Person of 2009, while her husband, President Barack Hussein Obama II, received the Nobel Peace Prize. For what, we still aren't sure.

That's 2009 for you. 2010 will kick off the next decade in just a few short days. Who knows what it will hold?

-Amber