Ferguson Riots Continue

Riots have erupted nation-wide over the decision not to indict Officer Darren Wilson. In Ferguson Missouri the prosecution attorney came out and publically announced the grand jury’s decision not to press charges against the police officer who fatally shot the unarmed teenage Michael Brown. This decision has been largely criticized by the mainstream media and the far left.

Following the public announcement, riots began in the city of Ferguson. It started with angry citizens throwing bottles and other objects at the officers protecting the police station. Before long, people had lit a police car full of live ammunition on fire and proceeded to burn down several local businesses. Soon after, the violence continued. Many individuals began looting stores and basically causing overall mayhem and destruction to the city of Ferguson.

            The next morning, it became clear that riots had spread throughout the many major cities in the nation. From New York City to Illinois, protests that were both violent and nonviolent began to erupt. A report on CNN showed protestors in Los Angeles tearing down a fence and shutting down a freeway causing an incredible amount of traffic on several Los Angeles area freeways. In New York, many roads were blocked and effectively shut down as well.

            While the decision made by the grand jury remains highly controversial, many are not surprised. The Trayvon Martin verdict rendered similar results with African Americans largely feeling betrayed by the broken system. Riots and protests will likely to continue to occur for the weeks to come, although it is likely they will decrease in size and strength. The president has publically called for an end to the violence and has encouraged those upset by the decision to stay true to their cause in a way that will not jeopardize their cause.

Wallis, Ellen, and Edward McAllister. "Scores Arrested as Ferguson Protests Spread to Other U.S. Cities." Reuters. Thomson Reuters, 26 Nov. 2014. Web. 26 Nov. 2014. <http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/11/26/us-usa-missouri-shooting-idUSKCN0J80PR20141126>.

Hagel Resigns

After close to two years as the leading officer of the Pentagon, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel has resigned. His resignation doesn’t come as a huge surprise. It has long been publicly known that he has had disagreements with the administration’s handling of the Islamic State conflict in the Middle East.  Hagel has been the only Republican in the president’s cabinet throughout his whole time in office. Many believe that he supports a stronger and more heavily militarized approach to combating ISIS.

It was just a few weeks ago that the nation’s top law officer, Attorney General Chuck Holder, announced his resignation as well. It appears as though there has been some internal conflict within the Obama administration and after the Democrats lost a majority in the midterm election, it is likely that the president wanted a change. While nobody knows whether Hagel’s decision was unilateral or whether he was pushed to resign, it is clear that his resignation was inevitable.

The question that now awaits an answer is who the president will choose to fill this newly vacant position. While there are many names on the list of logical successors, the second in command of the pentagon has withdrawn herself from consideration claiming she is currently dealing with family issues. The president will have to pick wisely as the current conflicts overseas demand someone who is capable of taking on the challenge but also someone who holds the same views as the president.

It is highly likely that the world will watch the president’s appointment closely. While the next secretary of defense will largely follow and support the policies of the president, he/she will play a huge part in deciding American foreign policy. Mr. Hagel has publicly thanked the president and praised him for the opportunity. He has also stated that he is exceedingly proud of what they have accomplished together and wishes the administration and the president all the best.

Cooper, Helene. "Hagel Resigns Under Pressure as Global Crises Test Pentagon." The New York Times. The New York Times, 24 Nov. 2014. Web. 26 Nov. 2014. <http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/25/us/hagel-said-to-be-stepping-down-as-defense-chief-under-pressure.html>.

A Change For Climate Change

            President Obama and many other leaders of the world’s most powerful nations have been trying for years to reach a climate change agreement with China. China has long been a large manufacturing nation since countries first began outsourcing jobs. Due to a lack of labor and environmental laws China has been able to establish a booming economy; however, despite their economic success, they are the most polluted major industrialized nation on the face of the earth.

            In many of China’s largest cities the pollution levels are so bad that citizens wear masks covering their mouths and noses to avoid breathing in pollutants. It has long been believed that the Chinese were more concerned about their economic standing than their environmental conditions. An article in the New York Times written by Coral Davenport has stated that after years of trying, President Obama has finally reached a carbon emissions agreement with China.

            Several nations signed on to obey the air quality requirements of the Kyoto Protocol in 1997 but the agreement largely failed. This news of a new agreement couldn’t be more welcome among Americans and other citizens of countries across the globe. Climate change was a key issue during President Obama’s campaign and he has consistently promised to do everything he can to crack down on air quality control.

            This agreement brings new hope to people everywhere. It is a huge step in the right direction. If we can reach a global agreement when the climate change talks occur in Paris, we might be able to begin making a big difference for the future of our planet and for the future of the human race. While this is largely seen as a political win for the President, it is a win for the planet, and a win for human beings. The world will anxiously watch as we hope to see further action taken to counter the hazardous effects of a changing global climate.

Davenport, Coral. "Deal on Carbon Emissions by Obama and Xi Jinping Raises Hopes for Upcoming Paris Climate Talks." The New York Times. The New York Times, 12 Nov. 2014. Web. 12 Nov. 2014. <http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/13/world/asia/deal-on-carbon-emissions-by-obama-and-xi-jinping-raises-hopes-for-upcoming-paris-climate-talks.html?

Obama Vows To Cooperate After Republicans Retake Senate

            The midterm elections went as many expected with Republicans retaking the Senate. Now in control of both houses, the Republican Party will be able to hold firm control over any proposed legislation throughout the rest of President Obama’s second term. An article published in The New York Times by Julie Hirschfield Davis stated that President Obama intends to cooperate with the Republican congress, but only to a certain extent.

            Gridlock has been plaguing congress since the house was retaken by Republicans in 2010. The president has tried unsuccessfully to work with house leadership to pass some of the groundbreaking legislation that he promised during his campaign such as immigration reform. Republican leadership in congress had made it very clear to the President that he would not be able to pass any legislation unless he tailored it to their liking.

            Now the President is vowing to try to cooperate with the Republican house and senate. If he has any desire to pass any legacy policies in his second term he will be forced to extend the olive branch and negotiate with his opposing party. A speech given by the new Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said that with both houses under Republican control, gridlock should finally be over. Many democrats are extremely skeptical of this claim and with support for congress at an all-time low, most Americans feel the same.

            The new congress will have to be willing to compromise with the President in order to truly end the gridlock. Unfortunately, with the radicalizing of both parties the odds of the president and congress working together are extremely low. For now, the best American citizens can hope for is that partisan politics can be put aside so the federal government can begin to solve the many problems that are holding our mighty nation back from progressing.

Hirschfield Davis, Julie, and Michael Shear. "Mitch McConnell Promises Cooperation and Compromise." The New York Times. The New York Times, 5 Nov. 2014. Web. 5 Nov. 2014. <http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/06/us/politics/midterm-democratic-losses-grow.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=span-ab-top-region®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news>.

Turkey Joins The Fight

            After much hesitation from the Turkish government about what kind of role they are willing to play in taking on the Islamic State, the debate is slowly coming to an end. An article published by BBC has stated that with ISIS fighters on Turkey’s doorstep, Turkey has decided to allow Peshmerga fighters to cross its borders. The fighters plan to enter into Syria from Turkey where they will meet the Islamic State fighters face to face in the Syrian city of Kobane. This comes as a large surprise after the Turkish Prime Minister had been very clear about not allowing the use of Turkish territory or resources in combatting the Islamic State.

            This change in tone from Turkey is welcomed by the United States and other coalition countries. Allowing the use of its territory and resources will be a huge help in halting the ISIS war machine. Turkish involvement does have a price though. The prime minister has stated that Turkey’s involvement in this conflict will be “an integrated strategy” that will also take action against the Syrian dictator’s forces. On its face, this seems to complicate the situation; however, the United States would love to see Bashar Al Assad lose power just as much as the people of Turkey.

            With ISIS fighters advancing into Syria and closing in on the Turkish border, being able to launch airstrikes from Turkey will be extremely advantageous. If the coalition is able to gain the cooperation of all the surrounding countries, it will be able to surround the Islamic State territory and stop it from gaining more ground. Once ISIS can be contained, coalition forces can begin to reclaim lost territory and defeat the Islamic State at last. It will be interesting to see how the support of Turkey will aid the coalition in the long run, but as of now it is gratifying news that is warmly welcomed by the United States.

"Peshmerga Fighters Head to Turkey." BBC News. BBC, 28 Oct. 2014. Web. 29 Oct. 2014.

A More Equal Union

            The battle for equal rights has long been waged in this country and is still not over. Since Abraham Lincoln issued the emancipation proclamation in 1863 to when Lyndon Johnson passed the civil rights act of 1964, there has been a heated passion for equality among the American people. While the direct issue at hand may been different today, the general sentiment remains extremely similar. Over the last few years several states have slowly been allowing same-sex marriage. An article published in The New York Times on October 17^th, by Adam Liptak, stated that Alaska and Arizona are the most recent states to lift the ban on gay-marriage.

            For Alaska, it took action by the Supreme Court to make this new change. Five couples had sued the state over its ban on same-sex marriage and they can now happily claim a victory. In Arizona, however, a republican attorney general stated firmly that he would not appeal a recent ruling that struck down the state’s ban on gay-marriage. This comes as a surprise to many all over the country but nevertheless is a symbolic gesture that hints toward changing times and widespread tolerance of lifestyle choice.

            This new change in attitude towards same-sex couples in both Arizona and Alaska makes 31 states that now allow same-sex marriage. This is a pivotal and important time in our nation’s history. We are on the brink of widespread tolerance and we are slowly moving towards a more equal union. While there remain those southern, more conservative states that still have a ban imposed on gay marriage, they are now in the minority. It is more than likely that we will see nationwide acceptance of same-sex marriage within our lifetime and I am proud to be part of a generation that allows and accepts change. It is important that we practice what we preach and until we can achieve true equality for all, we will never really be free citizens in a free country. Liberty and justice have prevailed in these states and it is merely a matter of time before they sweep across the country and do the same nationally.

Liptak, Adam. "Alaska and Arizona Are Latest to Clear Way for Gay Marriage." The New York Times. The New York Times, 17 Oct. 2014. Web. 19 Oct. 2014. <http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/18/us/alaska-gay-marriage.html?ref=politics&_r=2>.

Midterms On The Horizon, Republicans Have Slight Lead

            As the November election creeps closer, new polling data shows that the Republicans are holding the upper hand. An article published in the New York Times by Nate Cohn on October 5^th states that while the battle for the senate remains close, Republicans are quickly gaining momentum. It has been almost three years since President Obama has been reelected and his approval ratings, which are around 40%, have seen better days. After the flawed roll out of his legacy healthcare program, republican watchdogs have been hounding the president. Through claims of an unorganized administration and a weak foreign policy, the GOP has been winning the support of the public and is heading towards a majority victory in the upcoming election.

            Unfortunately, democrats seeking office this year have been forced to attempt to distance themselves from President Obama. They are taking every step they can to disassociate themselves from the many issues the American people have with this administration. The main question that every newsman in America is asking is will this act of distancing be enough to give the Democrats even a slight chance of victory. It is almost certain that the Republicans will keep the house, but the senate remains in question. Key supporters of the president have been speaking out about his recent decision to form a military coalition to combat ISIS. Many of them suggest that America needs to play a smaller role, while so-called “hawks” like Hillary Clinton believe that we should be doing much more. This clear crack in the party line presents a tough situation for the November election. Democrats seeking office must do everything in their power to gain the support of their constituents in the crucial month to come.

            Republicans, on the other hand, are beginning to look more favorable to voters. Despite the fact that a solid majority of Americans oppose any troops on the ground in the Middle East, many do support doing more to eliminate the Islamic State. The American people are growing wearier of the President and his party with every passing day. What have been seen by many as failures of his policies and a lack of progress for the country is coming back to bite the Democrats this election. Unfortunately for the citizens of our mighty nation, a republican majority in both houses will only halt further progress by continuing the gridlock in congress. Without any support in congress the president will not be able to pass any key legislation and will likely have to kiss any legacy policies he had in mind goodbye.

            A simple look back into the history of our country shows that a change in party power is imminent this election cycle. The American people are quick to be frustrated with the party of the president in power. They are sold with partisan promises during the campaign and when they don’t see the drastic changes they desire, they turn. This is a systematic process that happens virtually every election. If the average voter knew how truly limited the power of the president is, especially during a gridlocked congress, they might be inclined to re-think their decision this election. For now, it seems it would be safe to presume that the Republicans will likely take both the house and the senate this November.

Cohn, Nate. "Republicans Maintain Edge in Senate Races, Poll Finds." The New York Times. The New York Times, 5 Oct. 2014. Web. 8 Oct. 2014. <http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/06/upshot/republicans-maintain-edge-in-senate-races-poll-finds.html?ref=politics&_r=5&abt=0002&abg=0>.