a wonderful christmastime

I don't really have a favorite holiday memory, but my favorite holiday tradition is eating bouillabaisse with my family on Christmas Eve. My mom is a great cook, and I like how we have a little unique family tradition that I can look forward to every year. I also love cooking, so this tradition might even continue when I have my own family.

{recipe: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Bouillabaisse-238411}

that one i stuffed myself

This cartoon, illustrated by Star Tribune's Steve Sack, depicts Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin relaxing amidst several stuffed animal heads. We see him pointing to one more stuffed item, a Russian ballot box, with the caption "That one I stuffed myself." The image of Putin lounging around with exotic animal heads suggests that he is living a life of luxury in a country plagued by continuing economic distress following the collapse of the Soveit Union. The caption and the reference to the ballot box is drawing attention to Putin's alleged electoral fraud. Russia's recent parliamentary elections ended up with the United Party (Putin's party), retaining a majority of members, though a reduced majority. By using a mix of caricature and a ridicule, the cartoon clearly favors the view that Putin did indeed rig the votes. The cartoonist's point-of-view is that of many Westerners and Russian activists who have seen the progressive reforms Putin has undertaken being overshadowed by the oppressive restriction of civil liberties and freedoms.

the obama update

With President Obama's approval ratings hovering at around 42%, the 2012 race could potentially go either way. It's hard to gauge just how likely it is that Obama will be re-elected because a lot depends on who the Republican candidate ends up being and if the state of the economy declines or improves in the months leading up to the election. According to Gallup, if the match-up comes down to Romney vs. Obama, it will be a tight race- they are currently tied in the polls at 47%. If Obam focuses his campaign on the fact that the Republican-controlled Congress interfered with his plans, he will probably be able to gain the advantage. Furthermore, if Romney is unable to create a convincing image (or if Gingrich gets the GOP ticket), President Obama will likely be seeing a second term in office.

preoccupied

The political cartoon I chose for this week was drawn by Joel Pett. It depicts three scenes: the Occupy Wall Street movement, "unoccupied" storefronts, and the "preoccupied" Congress. This cartoon is an interesting way to depict three important elements of the American political climate by using different versions of the same word. Through this cartoon, we can see the Occupy Wall Street protests, which are continuing to hold out despite arrests and shutdowns; the poor state of the economy as represented by the unoccupied buildings; and the distracted, out-of-touch way in which Congress deals with these and other problems. Though Pett refrains from using any outrightly scathing techniques or devices, by captioning the image of Congress with the word "preoccupied" we are presented with a critical view of the government and its efforts. The cartoonist's point of view is similar to any American's; he simply sees the tumultuous state of the economy and of society juxtaposed with the inaction and distracted nature of Congress.

mitt romney?

Mitt Romney, thus far the most quiet (and arguably the most boring) GOP candidate, will probably shape up to be the 2012 Republican presidential candidate. As other hopefuls have essentially crashed and burned (Perry, Bachmann, Cain) Mitt Romney has continued campaigning and rasing money. The most likely reason for his victory will be sheer necessity- there are quite honestly very few prospects for the Republican candidacy. Additionally, Romney has a successful record in Massachusetts and has proved himself to be more personable than he was in 2008, thus eliminating the critical stumbling block of his previous campaign.

However, Romney has two critical problems he must overcome- if he can't, he won't get the ticket. The first is Newt Gingrich. Though Newt Gingrich wouldn't have seemed like a viable candidate a mere two months ago, he is steadily rising in the polls and could indeed overtake Romney if his momentum becomes great enough. Romney's second problem is his past with healthcare. Critics have been drawing attention to his "flip-flopping" record on healthcare reform, pointing out that he implemented policies during his tenure as Massacusetts governor that are very similar to Obamacare.

As the start of the primary season nears, I think we will see Newt Gingrich more heavily scrutinzed by both the press and the public. By the time the party nomination comes around, I think it's more likely than not we will see Romney vs. Obama in 2012.

look at the mess

Mike Luckovich's cartoon depicts what we assume to be wealthy businessmen looking down upon the recently evacuated Occupy Wall Street camp at Zuccotti Park. The businessmen are situated on top of a large pile of collapsed Wall Street buildings, representing the U.S. financial collapse. The destruction created by the bankers looms over the meager campsite at Zuccotte Park, which has only a few tents. The irony of the businessman's comment- "Look at the mess those protesters left behind"- emphasizes hypocrisy and skewed perspectives of the wealthy on Wall Street who have contributed to many of the problems that caused the Occupy Wall Street protests.

This cartoon emphasizes the obscene power that many of the businessmen of America hold, compared to the average citizens found among the Occupy Wall Street protests. Additionally, this cartoon serves as a commentary on the disparity between the crimes and related consequences of the protesters and those of the investors. Lastly, the businessmen are almost blind to the results of their actions, instead focusing on the "mess" the protesters have left behind. Luckovich's point of view is similar to that of many left-leaning, or even average, Americans in his understanding of the injustice of the financial market as it is today. Many Americans feel that the mess made in the wake of the financial collapse of 2008 has yet to be cleaned up, and efforts by protesters to raise awareness about the situation have been quickly dismissed.

"i stand before you today... united with you to restoring our nation and reviving the american dream."

{quote by Rick Perry}

Though many (myself included) have dismissed Rick Perry due to his poor debate performances and series of campaign missteps, he is a plausible "anti-Romney" Republican candidate. He has a strong record of reform in Texas, where he has served as governor, and he also has strong leadership qualities. He has stuck by his ideals, defending his claim that Social Security is a "Ponzi-scheme." For better or for worse, this kind of kind of dedication to policy goals may resonate with voters. If people start to focus on these things as opposed to the mishaps the press focuses on, Perry could have a good shot at the Republican nomination.

However, Perry's campaign could most definetely go in the opposite direction. Some of the qualities that could draw people towards him could also push voters away: his steadfast conservative radicalism (as evidenced by his plans to cut governmental departments and programs) and his record in Texas may bode poorly with many moderate voters. Furthermore, with President Bush's term still fresh in Americans' minds, many voters may be wary of electing a similar figure like Perry into office.