New Survey...

Replace audience response hardware with Poll Everywhere

Cmapaign Finance...

CAMPAIGNING: HARD MONEY VS. SOFT MONEY

http://www.soak.com/topic/politics/article/tshow/94474/campaigning+hard+money+vs+soft+money

Hard money refers to cash that is raised under the guidelines set out by the Federal Elections Commission.

This money may only come from individuals or political action committees, and strict limits are placed on the amounts an individual or PAC may give. This money may be used for any purpose in a campaign.

Soft money refers to cash that political parties can raise in unlimited amounts from individuals, corporations, PACs and other sources.

While each source may give an unlimited amount of cash, the use of that cash is not allowed for advocating the express election or defeat of a candidate.

Instead, the law says that soft money may only be used for "party-building activities" such as voter registration drives or advocating the passage of an issue or law.

State of the Union, and text of the speech:

Madame Speaker, Vice President Biden, Members of Congress, distinguished guests, and fellow Americans:

Our Constitution declares that from time to time, the President shall give to Congress information about the state of our union. For two hundred and twenty years, our leaders have fulfilled this duty. They have done so during periods of prosperity and tranquility. And they have done so in the midst of war and depression; at moments of great strife and great struggle...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35111851/ns/politics-white_house/

Video:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35083829/vp/35120763#35120763

...and the repercussions of Obama's comments on the recent SCOTUS decision, with Alito shaking his head and mouthing "something" in response to the president.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/35130940#35130940

Aren't the branches/separation of powers allowed to have opinions? Was it not "proper" for the president to comment during the State of the Union - or was it the perfect place, bringing it to the public's attention?
What is your thought?

update on the ruling...

The January 21, 2010, decision:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34822247/ns/politics-supreme_court/
In a landmark ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down laws that banned corporations from using their own money to support or oppose candidates for public office.
By 5-4 vote, the court overturned federal laws, in effect for decades, that prevented corporations from using their profits to buy political campaign ads. The decision, which almost certainly will also allow labor unions to participate more freely in campaigns, threatens similar limits imposed by 24 states.

It leaves in place a ban prohibiting corporations and unions from directly contributing funds to candidates for any use.

Strongly disagreeing, Justice John Paul Stevens said in his dissent, "The court's ruling threatens to undermine the integrity of elected institutions around the nation."

Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer and Sonia Sotomayor joined Stevens' dissent, parts of which he read aloud in the courtroom.

The justices also struck down part of the landmark McCain-Feingold campaign finance bill that barred union- and corporate-paid issue ads in the closing days of election campaigns.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35117174/ns/politics-white_house?GT1=43001

...the decision said corporations and unions could spend freely from their treasuries to run political ads for or against specific candidates.

In his dissent, Justice John Paul Stevens said the court's majority "would appear to afford the same protection to multinational corporations controlled by foreigners as to individual Americans."
Obama said corporations can "spend without limit in our elections." However, corporations and unions are still prohibited from contributing directly to politicians.

recent Supreme Court Ruling...Campaign finance v. Free Speech?

Check out these articles and tell me what you think?

The New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/22/us/politics/22scotus.html

Editorial from the New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/22/opinion/22fri1.html?scp=1&sq=corporate%20spending%20editorials&st=cse

1) How has the conservative court changed past precedents?
2) Is it a blow against free speech, by having unlimited spending for "your" candidate? 
3) Will PACs and Lobbyist groups now have more power in elections, than the common person?

 Print your response and reaction below, by Friday, January 29th.

Justices of the Supreme Court

Who ge/she is? BIO: where they're from, schooling, etc.
How they vote?
Nominated by (president)?  And when?
Tendency towards conservative/liberal?
Literal Interpretation of Constitution/Progessive?

helpful URLs...

This should take care of most of your needs...
happy researching!
http://www.abanet.org/publiced/schoolshome.html

http://www.abanet.org/publiced/glossary.html
http://www.abanet.org/publiced/preview/briefs/home.html

http://www.findlaw.com/casecode/constitution/

http://www.factcheck.org/
for the heck of it...i use this during speeches and campaign promises!

http://library.thinkquest.org/11572/cc/index.html
to look up precedents, past cases

i love this site:
http://oyez.org/

THE Supreme Court:
http://www.supremecourtus.gov/