Question of the Week #6: Senior Year Evaluation!

Not that I was really expecting it, but senior year is nothing at all like what everyone tells you. I'm not even taking as many AP classes as my peers and the majority of the time I'm drowning in homework. Pretty much all of my teachers seem to band up against me each week and schedule their tests on the same day or all huge projects due on the same day.

I'm not a total slacker, but I have found that the senioritis I thought I experienced my junior year was absolutely nothing compared to actual senioritis this year. Now, I'm not touting that my work is sloppy and done at the last minute, but it seriously takes so much effort to do one simple worksheet of math problems or write these blog posts or even practice violin. I'm not even into my first choice school yet, so there really is no excuse to be slacking off, but inevitably that lack of attention to my school work has somehow completely infiltrated into every part of my life. It really sucks.

HOWEVER, despite tests/schoolwork/college apps/scholarships/life/work, senior year has been pretty darn good. Maybe the only reason for this is because I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. It still seems a pretty long way away, but at least I'm working towards something. I'd have to say that I totally lucked out with all of my teachers this year, and that they're all stellar. School work hasn't been completely pointless (even though I think I still use that excuse the majority of the time). For once I actually understand calculus and actually seem to be good at it. There were tons of good movies this year (sorry Stroud, watching the Golden Globes, but you know it's true). There were tons of good TV shows (Sherlock! Walking Dead! Mad Men is coming back in March!) And now you know why I'm so distracted by things other than homework.

But I'm sure your life is more stressful than mine, so I shouldn't be talking. :)

LONG WAIT TILL APRIL 1ST.

Political Cartoon #6:

1. Adam Zygliss drew this for the Buffalo News. 

2. Key objects:

• Mitt Romney: After winning both the Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary, Mitt Romney is currently the front-running candidate in the Republican primary race (#1 foam hand). He'll most likely become the GOP candidate to run against Obama if he wins in South Carolina. However, he's recently been scrutinized for being part of the upper "1%" (thus the % poster), and therefore is unable to truly connect with voters. 

3. The cartoon uses caricature and ridicule to mock Romney's current lead and potential facade of being "one of the people" when he clearly is not. The cartoonist does this with the added 1% poster and the foam finger. 

4. The cartoon addresses the recent attacks against Romney of him being unable to relate to the general public, and most notably the middle class. 

5. The cartoon's message shows that Romney is not one of the "average" Americans. 

6. The cartoonist doesn't directly show any bias, but clearly thinks that Romney is not who most think he is. 

So I May Have Jumped the Gun

After last night's debate, people in New Hampshire might be rethinking their choice of Romney as the GOP nomination, since everyone was out attacking him on inconsistency. Which probably should've been brought to light some time.

But I did my blog post on Friday, so you really can't blame me for seeming semi-uniformed. :)

Political Cartoon #5:

1. Adam Zygliss drew this for the Buffalo News. 

2. Key objects:

• Mitt Romney: The current leading GOP candidate. He probably has the most financial support out of any of the candidates (thus the "Unlimited Cash: $$$$"), and his experience with campaigning and organizational skills far surpass any of the other candidates. He recently unleashed a huge dirty ad campaign against Newt Gingrich in preparation for the Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary. 
• Newt Gingrich: Another GOP candidate. He was expected to have good support in Iowa, but after Romney's ad campaign that targeted him, his values, and his policy, Gingrich dropped significantly in the polls. Many people find that he is being targeted specifically by Mitt Romney (therefore he is pac-man food in the game played by Romney). 
• Pacman game: The Pac-man arcade game is a play on the acronym PAC (Political Action Committee). Romney, unlike Gingrich, is gaining most of his financial support via PACs, and is consequently using that money to target Gingrich in a series of (costly) ad campaigns. 

3.  The cartoon uses a little bit of ridicule to make fun of the fact that Romney is out to get Gingrich. By making Romney the player of the game, Gingrich appears incredibly insignificant, weak, and inadequate. 

4. The cartoon addresses Romney's recent ad campaign against Gingrich. 

5. The cartoon demonstrates Romney's financial power to destroy the other candidates. 

6. The cartoonist doesn't directly show any bias, but clearly thinks that Gingrich doesn't stand much of a chance against Romney. 

Question of the Week #5: Potential GOP candidate?

   I think that at this point in the race, it's looking pretty good that Mitt Romney will win the nomination for the GOP candidate for the 2012 presidential election. Although there has been some recent speculation that Rick Santorum might have possibly won the Iowa caucus due to miscounting, I feel like Romney's lead (and win) is justified, even if only by eight votes. Santorum might have more political experience (serving in both the House and Senate), but Romney certainly has more experience with presidential campaigning tactics. In addition, he has WAY more resources that Santorum, meaning that he's able to set up strong campaigns in each major state (New Hampshire and South Carolina), and Romney's organizational skills coupled with his money beat Santorum's pennies and grassroots tactics any day. Santorum is also way too conservative to appeal to a wide array of voters, whereas Romney, although wishy-washy on policy, can gain support from a much larger group of people.

   And then Paul is really the only other potential threat, but that's never going to happen.