Final Blog

Overall I thought the Blogging in this class was alright. I didn't like that they were due at the end of a Sunday night, but beyond that the blog wasn't too bad. When I actually did it. I'm not sure why I, and for that matter many of my fellow classmates, didn't keep up with it. I do think it was better than writing a term paper, although it was probably the same amount of work, just spaced out over several months. As for a grade, I think I would give myself a C-. I did some of the blogs, but I could have done better. They were a good idea, and I think they should continue to be part of this class and other classes.

Sorting

Political sorting is a defined as voters selecting a candidate or a party based on which party or candidate more closely agrees with their own ideology. This for example, could help explain why southern voters, who historically voted democratic, began to vote republican when that party began to become more in tune with conservative ideals and values. This could also help explain the emergence of independent or moderate voters. Voters who dont blindly follow a certain party, rather they select a candidate by determining how many of their issues (such as gun rights, gay marriage) their candidate supports.

1990's Republican Congress

During the 1990’s, a democratic president was in power, however, (starting in 1994) the Republicans controlled both houses of Congress. (until 2006) President Clinton became a polarizing figure due to his scandal involving a white house intern, leading to his impeachment. Several other scandals of the Clinton administration caused a split in America, such as the Waco siege. However the 1990’s produced one of the most lucrative and fastest growing economies in American history. The economic prosperity of the 1990s allowed for Clinton to be easily re-elected in 1996. Despite the political successes of the Clinton Administration, the republican controlled congress impeached him for lying under oath during an investigation centering on his affair with an intern that worked at the White House. Although he was impeached, the republican controlled Senate did not convict him, thus he was not removed from office. This was the only the second time a president of the United States was impeached. In today's political climate, both the president and congress have very low approval ratings.