President Obama addressed the nation last night to announce the end of U.S. combat mission in Iraq. In case you missed the Presidential address, the video is below:
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Iraq Combat Mission Ends
Tuesday, August 31st, 2010A few moments ago, the United States wrapped up its combat mission in Iraq.
That’s a pretty major statement. The United States went to war with Iraq in 2003, toppled Saddam Hussein’s regime and has been involved in a combat role for since. During the years at war, more than 4,400 U.S. Service Members have died and more than 30,000 were wounded. Estimates for the number of Iraqis dead varies widely, but estimates range in the hundreds of thousands to more than 1 million dead.
Tonight, the U.S. officially ends its combat role and only 50,000 U.S. troops will remain in Iraq in an advisory role and secondary military force only to be called on at the behest of the Iraqi government.
According to some estimates more than 70,000 contractors will also remain in Iraq. Those contractors will provide “security” and will work to help rebuild the country’s infrastructure.
These numbers are important to note because even though the United States service members will no longer be in a combat role, an American presence will still be maintained in Iraq.
Read more on the change in the U.S. role here.
President Obama will be addressing the nation from the Oval Office tonight and you should watch to see and understand how the U.S. role in Iraq will change
News Round-Up: August 16, 2010
Monday, August 16th, 2010Hey Rockers,
In today’s news we have Ohio registering voters in public assistance programs, Obama taking heat for his latest comments on the mosque near Ground Zero, and Sandra Bullock’s ex-husband appears to be moving on.
CRUCIAL:
Ohio registering new voters at public assistance offices: http://bit.ly/cM9XhM
A law taking effect in Ohio will tie the state’s voter registration efforts to public assistance programs.
The issues for Colorado voters this fall: http://bit.ly/a8Bel4
The Denver Post ranks the state budget and immigration as top issues for voters. What issues matter to you?
Republicans attack Obama over Muslim center comments: http://bit.ly/98xUyH
The debate over a mosque near Ground Zero heats up as everyone awaits an official stance from the president.
In Florida Senate race, voters unimpressed, undecided: http://bit.ly/c6nVEW
A new poll by major Florida news outlets finds voters are not too thrilled with any of the Senate candidates, or the direction of their state.
CULTURAL:
Sandra Bullock’s ex-husband sp0tted with a new woman: http://bit.ly/cfOVA6
Jesse James was seen having dinner with LA Ink star Kat Von D
Patricia Arquette and Thomas Jane Split: http://bit.ly/9jvHDB
The stars of Medium and Hung have decided to get a divorce.
Jersey Shore‘s Ronnie Busted: http://bit.ly/bJHwe5
Apparently Ron Ron has some overdue parking tickets.
Victory comes through us
Wednesday, August 4th, 2010Young people are generalized more often than not especially when it comes to politics. Since the 2008 presidential election when record numbers of young people turned out to vote, those who cast ballots for their first time have been dubbed “Obama Voters.” While it is true that Obama’s success with young people was unmatched by any other candidate—in South Carolina alone, exit polls showed that Obama “drew more under-30 voters than all Republican candidates combined”— we can’t forget that young people support all different types of candidates.
Although the Millennial Generation has grown up in such defining moments as 9/11, the Dot-com boom, Hurricane Katrina, and the economic recession, we all have different views, values, and desires, which translate into different party and candidate preferences. In the most recent presidential election, Ron Paul’s young fans organized more than 40,000 members in 751 cities and towns. Huckabee was particularly popular with conservative Christian youth. And while we may be pegged as an overwhelmingly liberal generation, we can’t forget the GOP still has the support of 1 in 3 young people today.
So what does this political diversity in young people mean for who we support? It means that everywhere, young people are getting involved with the political process, making a difference in their communities. They are identifying candidates they want to represent them and they are doing all sorts of things to make sure their voice is heard from voting to volunteering to tweeting and blogging. Many may ask, what is the secret to gaining those young voters? Or will they always vote for one candidate or one party? Heather Smith, Rock the Vote’s Executive Director, said recently, “I do think that in many ways, the party that they [young people] vote for is up for grabs and it will be the candidate who engages those voters who will win the youth vote.”
When candidates pay attention to young people’s concerns and enthusiastically reach out to us, we often respond with an increased sense of ownership and a surge in participation. What issues do young people particularly care about? What can you do to make sure your elected officials know what issues matter to you?
News Round-Up: August 3, 2010
Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010Hello Rockers!
In today’s news we see California Democratic organizers reaching out to young voters while Pennsylvania Senate candidates reach out to moderate voters, and Obama calling the end to the Iraq War!
CRUCIAL
Dems in California scramble to organize the 1.1 mil who cast first-time ballot in 2008 for Obama. Will they succeed again in 2010? http://bit.ly/aBbuip
Grassroots organizers are attempting to coax Obama voters to vote for the California Democratic candidates who support Obama’s agenda.
Senators call to repeal 14th Amendment: http://bit.ly/dq64qN
Senators Kyle and Graham want to repeal the “Equal Protection” Amendment, originally created to guarantee citizenship to former slaves, because they claim it rewards illegal immigrants in the States whose children are born US citizens.
Mission accomplished? Obama says the war in Iraq is “nearing an end:” http://bit.ly/bsUll7
Yesterday Obama said he hopes to have the number of troops in Iraq down to 50,000 by the end of August in order to bring the war in Iraq to a “responsible end.”
But what will the homecoming for Iraq veterans be like? http://bit.ly/anRxGJ
Writer Kinzer is afraid that Iraq War veterans will face isolation upon returning to American society because the majority of America is not emotionally invested in the war.
Politicizing pot: Could marijuana legalization drive turnout in a key election? http://huff.to/bkSdTq
Democrats are investing millions to find out whether putting the legalization of marijuana on state ballots in 2012 will result in reluctant Democratic voters to get out to the polls.
Congrats, Florida! Juvenile crime is down in most central counties: http://bit.ly/ditfO6
Crime is down in Central Florida counties, thanks to several programs aimed at reducing crime among youth such as summer camps.
A race to the middle in Pennsylvania’s campaign for Senators: http://bit.ly/dCVMxd
Are Senate candidates Sestak and Toomey responding to youth aversion to partisan politics? Regardless, both have begun to appeal to moderate voters.
CULTURAL
Did your university make the list? Princeton Review releases “top” schools by categories for 2011: http://bit.ly/dytiYn
University of Georgia takes the gold medal for top party school whereas Tuskegee comes in first for “dorms like dungeons.”
Gaga Goes Political! At her concert in Phoenix this weekend she encouraged her fans to protest SB1070: http://bit.ly/bnKfO1
Lady Gaga wants all of her “little monsters” to protest any form of prejudice and injustice, like Arizona’s immigration law SB1070.
LiLo was freed from jail and moved into rehab: http://bit.ly/c2yDrb
After 13 days in the slammer, Lohan moved into a rehab facility at a UCLA medical center.
Larger than life: Justin Bieber will star as himself in a 3D Movie! http://bit.ly/aBbuip
Now everyone will be able to experience Bieber Fever up close! JBiebs announced that he will act in a movie about his life released in 3D.
