Trump Disregards the First Amendment

  Trump becomes our leader in approximately 50 days, and he's already targeting the First Amendment. He says that people who burn the American flag should be punished, either jailed, or "stripped of their citizenship". After hearing this statement, the media went wild. CNN is saying that he's using a similar tactic as his presidential campaign. Like when he said he was going to build a wall, and send all illegal immigrants home. He's embellishing his plans to get media and public attention. People are worried that Trump isn't aware of what limitations he will face once he's in office, or that he might even try to get rid of those limitations. Trumps tweet caught major flame, no pun intended, because it seemed like Trump was overlooking 2 past Supreme Court rulings that held flag burning is a form of free speech; a right that is defended by the First Amendment. CNN's senior legal analyst, Jeffrey Toobin, said, "It is pretty remarkable that the President-elect of the United States is calling for penalties, criminal penalties for protected speech". I would agree with Mr. Toobin, and I would hope that the majority of America would as well. Because essentially Trump is planning on deporting us for practicing something that is in our Constitution, aka the document our entire nation is based off of.

Trump 100 day plans

    In a video released on Monday, Trump enlightened the public on what it is he would like to do with America. He focused on things that he could only do with executive actions only, there wasn't a mention of a plan that would have to go through Congress first. He says he wants to withdraw from the "Trans-Pacific Partnership" and replace it with fair bilateral trade deals. Which will ruin Obama's goal to strengthen US influence in Asia, leaving the Western world's trade in 'disarray'. Trump says he will reduce environmental restrictions. He says he will "cancel job-killing restriction on the production of American energy, including shale energy and clean coal, and create  many millions of high-paying jobs." He said he'll investigate corrupted visa programs that undercut the American worker in hopes to end illegal immigration, and suspend immigration from terror problem regions. However there was no mention of "building a wall" in the video. Some would say that he lied to the American population during his campaign. others might say that the wall was really just a metaphor for a more secure border. The only person who really knows is Trump. But also does he really know? 

Dakota Pipeline

   The Dakota Access pipeline is an oil pipeline that would potentially run through the boarder of Canada in North Dakota, and go all the way southeast to Illinois. Geological surveys have shown that there is about 7.4 billion barrels of undiscovered oil. After completion the pipeline's goal is to shuttle about 470,000 barrels of oil every day. That can make up yo 374.3 million gallons of gasoline per day, which means gas prices could essentially go down. So what's the issue here? The Sioux Tribe. They have sued the US Army Corps because the pipeline threatens the Tribe's environment and economic well-being. They also say that the pipeline will destroy/damage historical, religious, and culturally significant sites of the Tribe. An advocacy group of the pipeline says that this claim is false and that the pipeline will not cross Sioux Tribe reservations. 100% of those affected by the construction have voluntarily signed to allow construction, not including the Tribe obviously. There's only one major con in the construction of this pipeline, and that's the destruction of sacred Tribal land. On the other hand there are a lot more benefits for the entire country. For example, the economy will grow tremendously, and we won't have to rely on foreign oil anymore. However I do think that we should respect the Sioux Tribe's wishes and try to come up with a better access point for oil.

Actress Shailene Woodley protesting at the Dakota Pipeline Site 

Formal vs Informal Senate Powers

Formal powers- Passing Bills, proposing bills,  power to declare war, coin money, raise an army/navy, regulate commerce, establish rules of immigration and naturalization and establish the federal courts and their jurisdictions.
Informal Powers-  power of persuasion, issue executive orders, issue signing statements, crease and use bureaucracy, personality and leadership and make legislative proposals.
How do you know?
Formal powers are powers that are explicitly stated in the Constitution.

Jeff Sessions

• When was Sessions first elected to the Senate? In what year did he most recently win reelection?  This means that his current term is up when?
• First elected in 1997, most recent re-election November 4, 2014. His current term will end in 2020. 
• What committees is he on? Include subcommittees.  What committees does he chair?
• Senate Committee on Armed Services, Subcommittee on Airland, Subcommittee on SeaPower, Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism, Subcommittee on Oversight, agency action, federal rights and courts, Senate committee on budget, Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety, Subcommittee on Fisheries, water and Wildlife, Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure
• Chairman of Strategic Forces and  Immigration and national interest, 
• Where does Sessions rank in terms of his seniority in the Senate? In terms of his seniority Republican?
• In terms of seniority as a Republican, he ranks at #9
• In the senate he's ranked at #18
• Who are his major donors? Any Huntsville donors? 
• McWane Inc, Parker Towing, Drummond Co, Maynard, Cooper & Gale, Smith's Inc
• No
•  What will happen to his Senate seat if he has to resign it? How will this process work?
• If Sessions is confirmed to be the Attorney General, there will be an interim replacement. The replacement will be chosen by the Alabama governor, and then a special election will be held to replace Sessions. 
• Which individuals are being discussed as potential replacements for Sessions?
• US Representative Robert Aderholt, Mo Brooks, State Senator Del Marsh, Senator Arthur Orr, Jim Byard Jr., US Representative Martha Roby, AL Attorney General Luther Strange, State Senator Cam Ward. 
• For what cabinet-level post has Sessions been nominated by president-elect Trump? What department would he head, and what is the job description for this position?
• He is nominated for the Attorney General from the US DoJ, the attorney general holds the power of attorney in representing a government in all legal matter. He can prosecute cases that involved the government and gives advice to the president and heads of the executive departments when needed. 
• Why might Sessions nomination generate controversy?
•  There's controversy around his nomination because he's been accused of racism. When Reagan was president he voted against appointing him. And he thought the KKK ok until he found out that they smoked pot. Spoke critically of Civil Rights legislation, basically he's a bad dude. 
• What will the Senate have to do in order for him to actually assume the post for which he has been nominated?
• They have to vote on it and confirm his position. 
• Find the individuals who served as Attorney General for Obama, Bush, and Clinton.What will the Senate have to do in order for him to actually assume the post for which he has been nominated?
• Obama 
• Loretta Lynch 
• Bush 
• Alberto Gonzales 
• Clinton 
• Janet Reno 

Hamilton Vs. Pence

   Friday night, Vice-President elect, Mike Pence, went to watch the hit Broadway musical, Hamilton. As the show ended, one of the cast members called out Pence, as he was exiting the show. Cast member Brandon Victor Dixon, who plays Aaron Burr said the following:

       "You, know we have a guest in the audience this evening. Vice President elect Pence, I see you walking out but I hope you hear just a few more moments. There's nothing to boo, ladies and gentlemen. There's nothing to boo. We're all here sharing a story of love. We have a message for 

you sir, we hope that you will hear us out. 

      And I encourage everybody to pull out you phones and tweet and post because this message needs to be spread far and wide.

    Vice President-elect Pence, we welcome you and truly thank you for joining us here at Hamilton: An American Musical. We really do.

      We, sir, are the diverse America who are alarmed and anxious that your new administration will not protect us: our planet, our children, our parents or defend us and uphold out inalienable rights, sir. But we truly hope this show has inspired you to uphold our American values and to work on behalf of us. All of us.

     Thank you truly for seeing this show, this wonderful American story told by a diverse group of  men, women of different colors, creeds and orientation." (Hamilton, Twitter)

   In response to the viral videos, and various tweets about this confrontation, President Elect Donald Trump (Cringe), demanding that the cast of Hamilton apologize for their actions. He claims that Pence was harassed by the cast. He followed with this twee, " The theater must always be a safe and special place. The cast of Hamilton was very rude last night to a very good man, Mike Pence. Apologize!" (Twitter). Trump didn't even acknowledge the concern the cast showed in their remarks. Simply ignoring the fact that the diverse population of America is genuinely terrified. Instead, he makes the cast of Hamilton look like the bad guys. The Washington Post reminds us that, "During his public career, Pence has been an outspoken opponent of equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender citizens. In Congress, he opposed efforts to encourage foreign governments to decriminalize homosexuality and sought to block the repeal of the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. As a governor, he stood against not only marriage equality, but civil unions as well. He also opposed a law prohibiting discrimination against LGBT people in the workplace and signed one opening the door to wide-ranging discrimination against these residents of his own state under the guise of religious liberty." The Hamilton cast was not wrong to do what they did, they were voicing the fears that many Americans have around the country. Lin Manuel Miranda, creator of Hamilton, tweeted Dixon and the rest of the Hamilton cast saying, "Proud of [Hamilton the musical]. Proud of Brandon Dixon, for leading with love. And proud to remind you that ALL are welcome at the theater." (Twitter).

Brandon Dixon enlightening Mike Pence 

Protesting Gone to Waste?

     Ever since we found out that Hillary won the popular vote, people have been furious. Riots and protests have broken out all over the country. Mostly in New York, Chicago, DC, and LA. Most protests are being held in front of Trump's hotels, blocking off multiple streets at a time. My friend in Chicago posted videos of her protesting in front of Trump Tower in downtown Chicago, along with hundreds of other people. They were chanting things like "ho ho, hey hey, Donald Trump has got to go", and the women would chant "its my body, my choice!" and the boys would respond with "It's her body, her choice!". Alot of people are also protesting against the electoral college; arguing that the peoples voices aren't being heard.As empowering and substantial these protests are, they aren't really accomplishing anything at all. We can't remove the Electoral College, and we can't remove Trump from the office with no reasoning at all. To get rid of the electoral college we would have to amend the Constitution, which would require a 2/3 majority vote, and ratified in 38 different states, highly unlikely to happen. So basically all the people who are out there protesting are wasting their breath. I do think it would be amazing to be a part of something so big and historical as these protests, but I know that I wouldn't really be accomplishing anything.

Protests in front of Trump Tower, Chicago 

2016 US Election (aka the end of an era)

   Yesterday was the United States general election. Meaning that the citizens of America voted for their next POTUS as well as their states' house and senate representatives. Last night was also the most embarrassing night in all of American history. I don't know how, but freaking Donald J. Trump won the presidential election. And I have never been so worried in my entire life. I honestly can't believe that America is so incredibly stupid. How could we let this happen?! We all thought this was a joke, no one thought he was seriously going to win. It's like the BREXIT of the United States. Trump won all of the critical states, like: Florida, Ohio, Wisconsin.... etc.  Clinton was doing so incredibly well in the polls, yet she lost with Trump exceeding the 270 necessary electoral votes. HOW!!??!?!?!? The senate races also occurred yesterday. I've been focused on the Pennsylvania race between Katie McGinty and incumbent Pat Toomey. In the early stages of the night, Katie was winning immensely, with polls showing that she had 61% of the votes, and at one point she even had 81% . But towards the end of the night she, as well as Clinton, lost Pennsylvania to the Republican nominee. It's going to be another 4 years of no gun control, pro- life, racism, police brutality etc. Everything that Obama has worked so hard for in the past 8 years will now be for nothing. Many people are saying that we have "taken 5 steps forward, but 10 steps back". I am genuinely terrified, I have cried, screamed, and just waited for this nightmare to be over.

Campaign Ad Done Right

   Jason Kander, democratic nominee for Missouri's senate race, released a campaign ad not too long ago. In the video, he appears blindfolded and assembles an AR-15 rifle, without messing up. The video went viral within days. Kander's message was clear; he supports the 2nd Amendment, but also thinks that there should be background checks for those who buy guns. His ad was very powerful in my opinion, because it showed that he knows how to use a gun, and he's been trained to know the inner workings of a gun. I would not be afraid if he held a gun in front of me. Which makes you realize that most of the people purchasing guns are not trained like Kander. Soldiers aren't the only ones buying guns, so there's people out there who don't know how to use their guns, and that can be so incredibly dangerous. Also Kander made a smart move in releasing such a viral video, because he just had to upload it once, and then the media took over. The media began talking about it, and putting it on all their platforms. All Kander had to do is release the video, and now he's talked about all over the country.

Jason Kander assembling a gun blindfolded 

Toomey

  As of Monday night, Pennsylvania Senator, Pat Toomey, is ahead of opponent, Katie McGinty. 44.3% to 42.3%. With the election one week away Toomey still has to reveal what his stance on Trump is. Many have asked Toomey, and he has often responded with a very vague statement. Neither confirming nor denying his endorsement. Toomey may be playing it smart though. He's being cautious of his supporters. He knows that if he says the wrong thing he will lose a handful of supporters. Which will cause him to lose his leading spot in the polls.

Pat Toomey