Category: POL 325

Top Ten Political Satire Tweets

Social media is critical to the candidates running for President in 2016.  All of the candidates have a presence online and on the major social media outlets like Facebook and Twitter.  They use these social media platforms to reach both supporters and undecided voters in hopes of getting out the vote and winning votes.

Social media is also a risk for candidates. For each attempt to rally the base or win an undecided voter there is potential for a satirical counterpoint.  It is unclear if this form of political satire sways public opinion but it is entertaining.  Here are retired2995’s favorite Top Ten Political Satire Tweets so far this election season.

10.  SNL is the James Bond of Political Satire-Nobody does it better and nobody is safe.

9.  Political cartoons- an american tradition.  Her are some from the Miami Herald cartoonist Jim Morin.

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8.  Late 1970’s Friday night TV, Can we do a Love Boat with Bernie and Hillary or Trump and Fiorina?

7.  If you think hard enough Bernie, you can come up with a few democrats and independents as well.  Healthcare for all means for all.

6. Where is Kasich?

 

5. I know how you feel Abe.

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4.  Unconfirmed reports Gov. Christie has retained Daniel Webster in this matter.

3.  Anyone else thinking Titanic?

 

2.  Are they related?

  1.  It’s me Bernie…..

 

Weekly Political News Filter: Week ofMonday February 8, 2016 to Sunday February 14, 2016

Tuesday’s New Hampshire primary was the natural topic in the early part of the week followed by run up for the next major election events.  For Democrats, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders was all but given this primary because of his consistently large pre-primary polling and regional popularity.  Sanders met with the Reverend Al Sharpton courting a needed demographic in the upcoming South Carolina and Nevada Primaries.  Clinton was again hounded by her email controversy.  Also, a Democratic debate in Wisconsin on Thursday night relit fireworks from previous debates. For Republicans, New Hampshire again is a game of political survivor.  Trump lead all candidates in pre primary polls and his campaign would likely survive a non win but for the Governors, Bush, Kasich and Christie it would be unlikely poor performers would continue.

Democratic results were as predicted with Sanders winning easily (60.4%) over Clinton (38.0%).  Sanders added 15 convention delegates for a total of 36 while Clinton added 9 for a total of 32 delegates.

In the Wisconsin debate, the candidates restated their positions and policies on the needed reform to the criminal justice system, the political issues for women in America and the corruption of campaign finance by Wall Street.  The most contentious comments came near the end of the debate where both candidates argued on why they were the best choice to build on the Obama policies.

Reports that Clinton aid Jake Sullivan may have mishandled Top Secret material surfaced in an apparently expanding investigation.  If true Sullivan would become a subject in the FBI investigation.   Clinton’s campaign says the allegations are based on political gain.

Trump convincingly won the Republican primary collecting 35.3% of the vote and 10 convention delegates.  Gov. Kasich’s second place finish with 15.8% and 4 delegates gave him immunity at the “New Hampshire tribal council”.  Rounding out Republican candidates collecting delegates in New Hampshire are Sen. Cruz 11.7% with 3 delegates, Gov. Bush 11.0% and 3 delegates and Sen Rubio 10.6% and 3 delegates.  Gov. Christie’s 6th place (7.4%) and poor performance of Carly Fiorina forced the suspension of their campaigns leaving Ben Carson (2.3%) as the only other candidate in the race.  The current republican delegate count is Trump 17, Cruz 11, Rubio 10, Kasich 5, Bush 4 and Carson 3.  There are 1237 needed for nomination with 2472 available.[1]

The Nevada Caucuses and South Carolina Primaries are the final early voting states. Each party has its respective caucus or primary on a different day between February 20 and February 27.  Super Tuesday March 1 is on the horizon.

[1] Source for Election results and delegate totals are the Associated Press

Weekly Political News Filter: Week of Monday February 1,2016 to Sunday February 6, 2016

The 2016 Presidential election dominated the news cycle Monday with traditionally the first election event, the Iowa Caucus.  Candidates in a crowded Republican field need a top tier finish for campaign survival and momentum.  Democratic candidates vied for each voter in a tight race.  The election night speeches were amenable but as candidates moved on to New Hampshire allegations of cheating and fraud on the republican side and personal attacks on the Democratic side increased.  The winning candidates are by no means ahead and pulling away, they face considerable obstacles on the road to their party’s nomination and many of the remaining candidates are viable in upcoming primary states.

The Republican winner was Ted Cruz (28%) followed by Donald Trump(24%) Marco Rubio (23) and Ben Carson(9%).  The poor showings for Rand Paul, Mike Huckabee and Rick Santorum forced the suspension of their campaign for President.  The Cruz campaign reacted to false news reports of Ben Carson’s leaving the race and urged Cruz supports to solicit now available Carson supporters. The Cruz campaign also sent a “voter violation” mailing with “scores” of the recipients and neighbors voting record.  These acts drew allegations of cheating and a call to void the votes from Trump and criticism from Carson.

The Democrat race remained tight with Hilary Clinton winning with Bernie Sanders in a near tie. Reports of winning her .2% victory by coin flip in some precincts circulated in the media and ead the Sanders campaign to ask for a review of procedures. The poor showing by Martin O’Malley forced the suspension of his command.  With no clear winner the candidates head to New Hampshire amid increased attacks.  Sanders questions Clinton’s ability to reign in Wall Street when she accepted approximately 625000 from Goldman Sachs for three speech’s.  This came to a head in the Democratic New Hampshire debate as candidates traded attacks and attempted to present their policies as the most progressive. Clinton called on Sanders to stop his “artful smear” campaign tactics.