Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich held a town hall meeting on Monday January 9th, 2011. Where he took questions from the crowd.

Hofstra University was invited to take a tour of the New Hampshire State Legislature where students had a discussion with New Hampshire state Senator Lou D’Allesandro

newshour:

Watch President Obama’s Full Speech at Tucson Memorial

(via rubenfeld)

Nancy Pelosi is no longer the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Ohio Republican John Boehner was just elected as the new Speaker of the House.

-Jennifer Hillman

There’s a new governor in New York and he already set a pay cut in motion for he and his top aides.  

Governor Andrew Cuomo will take a 5-percent pay cut  along with his top aides to show the state of New York is making strides to shorten our $9.3 billion budget deficit. Without the pay cut, Cuomo salary is $179,000. 

Is this just the start of what is to come from Cuomo for New York or is it just good politics and a good press image?

My only question is the pay cut big enough? Isn’t the salary still big with the pay cut? Is the five percent really sending a message?

-Jennifer Hillman

 The Senate voted 65-31 and repealed “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell!” Now President Obama just needs to sign the bill!

Congrats to those in the military fighting for their rights!

-Jennifer Hillman

Missed the Rally to Restory Sanity And/Or Fear, here are 100 signs from the rally that will make you feel better!

newsweek:

sophiologist:

The 100 Best Signs At The Rally To Restore Sanity And/Or Fear

- Jennifer Hillman

I’m not much of a politics person. Normally I can’t focus, but oddly enough (maybe it has to do with being required to watch 2 hours of news a day for class) I ended up watching most of the debate on News 12. 

The debate was really a showdown between Cuomo and Paladino with five other people put in between them. I’ve decided to remember each of them by the little things.

• Charles Barron (Freedom Party) - He just bothered me. I don’t know why. Maybe it was his non-suit outfit or maybe it was his rant about the underground railroad not being part of the education. Sir, elementary school through high school I learned plenty about the underground railroad and black history month. Worry about something else.
• Andrew Cuomo (Democratic Party) - For a long time, I couldn’t think of who he sounded like. It took me about twenty minutes to realize he sounds like Christopher Walken. He had the loudest voice. I could hear it echo of the screen, but he did he have a lot to compete with. The other independent parties were going after him.
• Kristin Davis (Anti-Prohibition Party)- She looked like a hooker then my dad told me she ran an escort service. So it made sense. Her hair extension or if it was her own hair, either way was too long and her make up was very spray on and orange.  I will say she was very organized with her notepad. She was nervous, but held her ground. She even got the crowd to laugh when she compared the MTA to her escort service and jabbed at Paladino and gay bars.
• Howie Hawkins (Green Party) - Who knew people sounded like that in Syracuse? He was good and wasn’t bad. He was kinda in the middle. Not memorable, but not forgotten.
• Jimmy McMillan (Rent is too Damn High Party) - He wants low taxes and he’s got a crazy mustache like from the civil war area. Also why was he wearing gloves? Was he trying to be Michael Jackson, but with black gloves?
• Carl Paladino (Republican Party) - He had horrible posture. He slightly reminds me of Uncle Vernon from Harry Potter and someone else. I don’t know why, but he wasn’t my favorite. Also being one of the front-runners, he seemed to fumble over his words a lot.
• Warren Redlich (Libertarian Party) - He started to grow on me. He seemed honest and humble. I think, but who knows? He’s a politician, they know how to play the game.  He did say repeatedly though, “I’m a husband, I’m a father, I’m a small business owner with a payroll every two weeks.”

I didn’t give you a play by play, but this is what intrigued/ bothered me. How did my polisci majors fare? Did they like seven person debate or would they have preferred Cuomo v. Paladino?

-Jennifer Hillman

I don’t know much about politics, but I thought this was worth mentioning.

Our school, Hofstra University, has partnered with Newsday and News 12 Networks to hold the first ever gubernatorial debate in New York. Aren’t we so lucky? No, I’m not being sarcastic. I’m very happy that Hofstra is able to attract so many politicians to talk about issues that matter most to them. First we had in 2008 the Presidential Debate and now we have another debate happening!

It will air live on News 12 on October 18th.

Date: October 18th

Time: 7:00 P.M.

Who will be attending:

• Charles Barron (Freedom Party)
• Andrew Cuomo (Democratic Party)
• Kristin Davis (Anti-Prohibition Party)
• Howie Hawkins (Green Party)
• Jimmy McMillan (Rent is too Damn High Party)
• Carl Paladino (Republican Party)
• Warren Redlich (Libertarian Party)

Poli-sci majors and politic enthusiasts get excited! Only a week to go!

-Jennifer Hillman