Third Round Bracket

Democrats

Kirsten Gillibrand
(refer to previous blog)


Joe Biden

Political Party: Democrat
Political Ideologies:
Abortion: Believes that the government shouldn't have a say in abortion but believes in abortion rights
Education: Pro-Teacher Union, against school vouchers, wanted smaller classrooms
Gun Control: votes towards anti-gun ownership, given an F by the National Rifle Association
Healthcare: Supports funding for healthcare
Immigration: Supported the Comprehensive Immigration reform bill. Supports guest-worker visas
LGBT: supports gay marriage and civil unions

Formal and Informal Qualifications
Education
University of Delaware
Syracuse University College of Law

Jobs/Career
Attorney
New Castle County Council
Senator ( elected 6 times)
Chairman of foreign relations committee and Senate Judiciary committee
47th Vice President of the United States


Assets and Liabilities
assets
Worth $230,700
Rental Property, Wilmington Saving Fund Society
Mass Mutual Whole Life Insurance Policy
Guggenheim Investments

Liabilities
Wilmington Saving Fund Society
Sun National Bank
U.S Senate Federal Credit Union

Electability
Very Good


I would vote for Biden because he is more experienced and has been involved in peacemaking policies during war time, crime prevention, women's rights and so much more. He is more qualified than all of the candidates except for Hilary Clinton.


Republican

Chris Christie
(Refer to previous post)

Michael Bloomberg

Political Party: Republican
Political Ideologies: Socially liberal and progressive
Abortion: Supports abortion rights
LGBT: supports same-sex marriage
Education: Strengthened the no cellphone policy,
placed the school district under mayoral control
supports afterschool programs
believes that students should move on to the next grade when they are academically ready, not socially.
Environment: Supports environmental sustainability
Immigration: illegal immigrants should be offered legalization, does not believe the republican view on immigration
Gun Control: Pro gun control

Formal and informal qualifications

Education
John Hopkins University
Harvard Business School

Jobs/Career
Worked at Saloman and Brothers
Formed his own company named Bloomberg L.P
Chairman of board of trustees at Johns Hopkins
Mayor of New York City
Special Envoy for Cities and Climate Change for the United Nations Secretary

Assets and Liabilities
Assets
worth $33 Billion, making him the 11th richest person in the U.S and 16th in the world

Liabilities
None

Electability
good

I would vote for Bloomberg because he is more experienced and liberal.

Second Round Bracket-R

Republicans

Pat Toomey
(refer to previous blog)

Chris Christie
Political Party: Republican

Political Ideologies:
Abortion: Pro-life
Economy: cap municipal spending
LGBT: against same sex marriage
Education:  wants to increase accountability for failing schools and build universities to support businesses
Gun Control: "focus on violence control, not gun control"
Immigration: wants to fix the broken system and believes in immigrants' rights

Formal and informal Qualifications

Education:University of Delaware
Seton Hall law school
Rutgers University
Momouth University

Jobs/careers
Partner at Cranford Law Firm
County Legislator at Morris County
U.S Attorney for New Jersey
Governor of New Jersey

Assets and Liabilities
Assets:
N/A

Liability
closure of George Washington Bridge scandel

Electability
Very Good

I would vote for Chris Christie because he is more of a liberal republican ad makes a lot of his decisions in morals rather than party stances.

Possible Presedential Candidates-D

Democrats

Cory Booker

Political Party: Democrat

Political Ideology:
Abortion: supports abortion
Gun Laws: In the coalition Mayors against Illegal Guns
Healthcare: Healthcare costs must be controlled. Obama Care is helping people, but It needs to be improved.
Economy: Endorses Gov. Chistie's property tax agenda
wants to cut municipal taxes
LGBT: Believes that gays should be treated equally under the law
Education: Supports school voucher
Believes charter schools will work in inner city schools
Environment: wants to save our environment while creating jobs and wealth
Immigration: Fully supports the DREAM ACT

Formal and Informal Qualifications

Education
Rhodes Scholar
Attended Stanford University, University of Oxford and Yale School of Law

Jobs/Careers
Newark city Councilor
Mayor of Newark ( reduced crime rates, eliminated a deficit of $80 million and balanced the budget)
U.S Senator

Assets and Liabilities

Assets
worth $1-$5 million
Invested in Waywire of New York

Liabilities
Short satirical feud with Conan O'Brian
Forgot to include his investment in Waywire while writing his assets


Electability
good



Kirstin Gillibrand




Political Party: Democrat

Political Ideologies: Bluedog, Progressive
Abortion: Pro-choice
LGBT: believes in civil union. Wants to leave same-sex marriage decision to the states
Gun Control: supports gun rights
Economy: voted for the stimulus package. Wants to give tax credits to small businesses.
Healthcare: voted for Obama care
Immigration: Opposes deporting illegal immigrants and cutting funding from sanctuary cities. She also supports the DREAM ACT.


Formal and Informal Qualifications

Education:
 Dartmouth College,
UCLA school of law

Jobs/Careers:
Associate at Davis Polk and Wardwell
Law clerk at United States Court of Appeal for the Second Circuit
Special counsel to the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
Partner at Boies, Schiller & Flexner
U.S representative for New York's 20th district
U.S senator

Assets and Liabilities

Assets
worth $998,003
Mostly cash
Stock/ public company $32,501

liabilities Zero

Electability
Good

I would vote for Cory Booker. The fact that he was able to eliminate the deficit in Newark and proceed to balance the budget is very impressive. He is also very actively involved with his constituents and is very passionate about helping them and prioritizing them.

Second Round Bracket-D

Democrats

Kirsten Gillibrand
(refer to previous blog post)

Andrew Cuomo

Political Party: Democrat

Political Ideologies
Immigration: Supports immigrants and wants to grant them more rights ad protection
Economy: Growth through development projects
Education: replaced formula grants with performance incentives
Environment: Supports sustainability and environmental protection
Gun Control: Supports restrictions on the right to bare arms
Health Care:Supports government run health care
LGBT: Signed same-sex marriage legislation

Formal and Informal Qualifications

Education- Fordham University Albany Law School

Jobs/ Careers:  Governor's policy advisor
New York assistant district attorney
worked at the law firm Bllutrich, Falcone & Miller
Founded Housing Enterprises for the Less Privileged
Chairman of the New York City Homeless Commission
secretary of the department of  Housing and Urban Development
New York Attorney General
Governor of New York

  Assets and Liabilities
Assets: Worth between 1.7-2 million dollars

Liabilities:
Was criticized for proposing to cut about 4 million dollars from programs that support homeless and runaway teens
A lawsuit was filed against the same sex law that Cuomo signed

Electability
good

I would vote for Andrew Cuomo because he is well experienced and progressive.

Possible Presidential Candidates -R

Republicans

Kelly Ayotte


Party affiliation : Republican Party

Political Ideology: economically and socially conservative
Abortion: Pro-life
LGBT: opposes gay marriage
Immigration: Supports the Comprehensive Immigration Reform
Labor and Minimum wage: opposes minimum wage, paid sick leaves and labor union formation without going through the secret ballot
Gun Laws: Believes everyone has the right to carry their own guns
Climate change: Believes that human activities are not the sole cause of climate change
Health care: Supports state-based healthcare programs
Social security: would like to raise the retirement age for younger workers
Government spending: Believes that the country needs to cut its spending. Also believes in adding a balanced budget amendment to the constitution.

Formal and Informal Qualifications

Education-
Attended Pennsylvania State University and Villanova University School of Law.

Jobs/Career
Law clerk for the New Hampshire Supreme Court
Private practice
Prosecutor for the New Hampshire Department of Justice
legal counsel to New Hampshire governor Craig Benson
Deputyappointed Ayotte as attorney general of New Hampshire,
 U.S senator of the 112th Congress


Assets and Liabilities

Assets : Worth $863,506
Invests in: Construction, Mixed, Finance / Insurance / Real Estate
PRIVATE COMPANY $375,001
CASH / MONEY MARKET / SAVINGS / CHECKING $223,502
REAL ESTATE $175,001

Liabilities
Failed to investigate Financial Resources Mortgage for orchestrating a Ponzi scheme.
Ayotte's office deleted all her emails and calendar appointments before she resigned as New Hampshire's attorney general. They offered a policy memorandum stating that the information was deleted legally and was on a back-up system. However, several emails were unrecoverable and it is nor known weather the deletion of the information was legal.

Electability
fair




Pat Toomey




Party Affiliation: Republican

Party Ideology: socially and financially conservative

Abortion: Prolife
Education: Wants more charter schools
Environment: does not fully support laws/bills that help the environment
Financial Regulation: supports deregulation wants to eliminate or cut taxes ( Taxpayer's friend)
Guns: supports a decrease in gun regulation, but advocated for back up checks for gun sales.
LGBT: against same sex marriage
Healthcare : wants to cut federal spending on Medicaid by half by 2021
against the Affordable Care Act

Formal ad Informal Qualifications
Education
La Salle Academy
Harvard College

Jobs/Career
Chemical Bank
Morgan, Grenfell & Co.
Pennsylvania Representative
U.S senator
Chairman of the Steering Committee.


Assets and Liabilities

Assets
Worth $3.3 Million
$1.1 Mutual Funds
stock/Public Company $ 833,002
Real Estate $ 750,001
Team Capitol Bank

Liabilities: Zero

Electability
fair


I wouldn't vote for either. They both hold ideologies that are too conservative and I feel as though they do little for their constituents.

Its Too Cold for Another War

The current crisis in the Ukraine has grabbed the attention of several countries, including its neighbor Russia. In order to protect citizens in Ukraine who are of Russian ethnicity from the grueling conflict, Russia has bestowed it upon itself to take the initiative and station several troops in Crimea. Crimea is a fairly autonomous region of Ukraine and rests on the Crimean Peninsula on the Black Sea. 60% of this sovereign republic consider themselves ethnically Russian. However, they are still considered a part of the Ukraine. The stationing of Russian troops has angered the Ukrainian government, and although they have demanded Russia to leave the region, Russia is resistant, stating that they are answering a plea for help from the residents of Crimea. Obama and Putin, Russia's President have been speaking, but their words have not reached a compromise yet. Putin believes that he is doing the right thing and protecting Russia's interest. Obama states that Putin's actions are in violation of Ukraine sovereignty. In response to Russia's actions, the United States has decided to ban all visas of Russian and Ukrainian officials who are believed to be responsible for the crisis. Obama is also constructing a plan to place sanctions on corporations and people who have contributed to the crisis. Secretary of state John Kerry has also been negotiating with Russian and Ukrainian officials, but the discussion seems have become stagnant. Given the history of Russia, Ukraine and Crimea as a separate entity, I believe that the best solution that the United States can offer for this predicament is to enforce sanctions on both Russia and Ukraine until they allow the residents of Crimea to vote on whether they would like to be a part of Russia or Ukraine.Although we are no longer in an era where we play scribble lines on maps and call them countries, I believe that we need to correct a wrong that was done decades ago and not allow it to blow out of proportion. Crimea was originally a part of Russia but was given to the Ukraine in 1954. This is the origin of the cultural differences that we see today in the region. However, giving Russia more land from Ukraine can be very detrimental to Ukraine, so perhaps another solutions is to recognize Crimea as an independent country. This is if Russia absolutely refuses to remove itself from Crimea. If the United States uses any kind of hard power to remove the Russian soldiers, Obama will find himself in an entangled situation that could have the potential to give rise to a war. However, as I am writing this, I am realizing that there is not a panacea for this problem and for every argument I formulate, I come up with an equally reasonable counterargument. If Crimea were to become its own country, how will it be able to sustain a government and economy without the help of its neighboring countries? Most likely Russia and Ukraine will fight each other to "help" the newly founded country build its economy and Crimea will be too dependent on the winning nation to the extent that it will cease to become its own nation. This situation is too convoluted for me to decipher and i will end it with saying that Russia needs to to.

Dream for a better America

Immigration has been a hot topic in the United States for decades, and with roughly 11 million undocumented immigrants, the topic continues to catch fire. It has created a great divide in our governments, with Democrats allowing greater amnesty towards immigrants and republicans believing that amnesty results in more illegal immigration. Amongst these immigrants are minors who have attended or are still attending schools in America and have planted their roots on American soil. These minors come from parents who have either crosses the borders illegally or have outstayed their visas. With the possibility of getting deported at any instant, they have built their lives on precarious hopes and dreams. However, they have been able to extract some sympathy from both democrats and republicans and have been the primary focus on immigration reform. In 2001, the DREAM Act (Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors) was introduced to the Senate floor by Dick Durbin and Orrin Hatch. It would give permanent residency to minors who came to the United States as minors, graduated from a U.S high school and have lived in the U.S for 5 consecutive years or more. It would also give a 6 year residency guarantee to immigrants who have attended 2 years of a higher learning institution or military and would give them the chance to work for permanent residency if they receive a degree from a high institution. You must have proof of all the above and be of “good moral character”. The bill has been reintroduced in 2009, 2010 and 2011 and in 2012, President Obama agreed to halt the deportation of minors. Although this bill was never passed as a law, similar forms of it have been adopted by states such as Texas, New Mexico and New York. One of the biggest issues for illegal minors is education, specifically college. Because they are not citizens or green card holders, minors under the Dream Act are eligible for federal loans, making college very difficult to afford. Luckily, states like Maryland and New York have either adopted or introduced the Dream Act with an intention of financially aiding illegal college students. However, there are still college students who have more remnants of the American culture than their original culture that are being deported in the middle of their academic year. Other students are denied school all together in one way or another. For example, Alabama has passed a law requiring officials to check the immigration statues of all students, and as a result, noticed a 5% decrease in Hispanic students in class. If these students were to be reported, they and their families would be deported. Immigrants, whether be legal or illegal, are unarguably the backbone of this country. They contribute to the economy by either taking jobs that no “American” will take, and are leaders in fields that help boost our economy. They start new businesses at a higher rate than “Americans” and are less institutionalized than ‘Americans”. In fact, it is estimated immigration reform will cut our deficit by $175 Billion in the next two decades and increase the GDP by 1.4 trillion by 2033. Why deport progression and keep regression? Immigration helps our country prosper and these immigrants who risked their lives to stay here or come here, are not playing around. They know the struggle and us their knowledge of it to better themselves and in return better the country. This country was built by immigrants, and is the only place on earth that has been able to sustain such a progressive global population.