The Daily Fodder

At the end of 8 hard years for America, we say farewell to a class act. Many people will disagree with me, but I think that President George W. Bush, even with his fualts, is a good man. Focusing on a moral America, President Bush himself lived a life based on values and principles. Perhaps they were not always liked or agreed with, but at least the man had them. My biggest fear for the next 4 years is not that President Obama will not be efficient or effective but that he will not promote a better America. I don't mean in the economy or in our international image. I mean that America will continue to decay in its moral founding of character and integrity.

Administratively President Bush made mistakes. Obama will make some atrocious ones as well. President Clinton, Bush Sr.,Reagan and every president since George Washington have made mistakes. Great Presidents are built upon what they did for America in the long-term. I don't think Bush put us into the recession any more than I think that Clinton put us into the economic boost. I think that too many people think the President has much more power and control then he does. In thinking about the next 4 years I view it with hope, but also with apprehension. Hope that we will continue to rise out of the struggles that we face and build a better America. Apprehension because I hope there is more to Obama then an image, a strategic facade. I hope that he is a man of courage and determination. I also hope that he is not going to lay down and get run over by the D.C. political machine.

I have put the video of President Bush's farewell address because it is worth viewing as you think about the sacrifices and trials that this man has faced. It is also worth viewing before you decide whether this man truly failed or succeeded as President of the United States of America.

Recent violence in Israel has started a renewed conflict in an already troubled Palestine. In December 2008 Hamas (Palestinians located in Gaza, governing small section of Israel) leaders fired rockets into Israeli territory killing civilians, destroying military resources and endangering Israeli nuclear weapons facilities. In retaliation to the Hamas rocket barrages, Israeli government officials began military operations in Gaza to end the terrorizing rockets and cut off the supplies from Hamas terrorists. This latest conflict between Palestinians (Hamas) and Israel bring to light both old and new questions for the Middle East and the international political system.

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Tunnels
Recent attacks have brought about the development of attacking the supply chains of the Hamas war machine. Transporting weapons into Gaza is no small feat with Israel surrounding Gaza by land and by sea except for a small southern half that borders Egypt. It is through this border that Hamas re-supplies its troops and citizens. Egypt has long closed its borders to Gaza and keeps a vigilant border patrol to prevent masses of Palestinian refugees from entering Egypt, but smuggling on this border is both illegal and profitable. Weapons like the Kalashnikov rifle (Ak-47) rockets, ammunition and even infant formula is smuggled into Gaza. So how are they getting through the tight borders? Tunnels...

Tunneling has long been a means to cross borders in all nations. Tunnels have been found under the Mexico/US border, famously the West/East Berlin border and now the Gaza/Egypt border. Some tunnels are owned privately for profit and others have been constructed by political and military organizations. Tunneling has become a dangerous but profitable venture in southern Gaza.

Much of Israel's recent military operations have been centered around Palestinian tunnels. If Israeli military strikes can knock out the Hamas weapons and ammunition supply lines then they can stop the rocket barrages on Israeli cities. The challenge Palestinians face is not just weapons come through the many tunnels from Egypt but also food. What will they do then?

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Below on the left is a map of the Israeli attacks since 27 December 2008 on Gaza by the Israeli military. Notice the tunnels and multiple attacks to the southern borders of Gaza. To the right is a map displaying all of the recent rocket attacks on Israel.

With all the recent talk about the recession and bailouts for every big banker in the country, its hard not to wonder how it will affect our most joyous holiday. Christmas and Santa Claus might have problems too.

Recession Christmas

Recession Christmas - Watch more Free Videos
Christmas with a bad economy, leaves a Santa to outsourcing and downsizing Christmas. See how the economy affects even the most jolly man from up north.

The Daily Fodder's goals for the new year:

* to reach 100 RSS subscribers on my blog
* to create 100 lenses at Squidoo on different niches
* to reach $2 per day of Online revenues
* to launch my first Comprehensive Website - with links to all of my pages, lenses, and blogs
* to stop my addiction to stumbleupon
* to increase total traffic for all online sites, articles, pages, lenses, blogs, etc. to over 1000 a day
* to post something everyday!

Internet Ads, websites, and radio and television commercials have uniquely effected political campaigns through the medium of media. Voters use media to gain information, form opinions and define a candidate/party. Throughout the 2008 election voter's saw and heard information about the Democratic nominee Barack Obama and Repbulican nominee John McCain. The use of ads are not new to this election. The ads aired in the 2008 election are just part of a long evolution of political ads.

First use of Campaign Ads on Television


1952 Dwight D. Eisenhower (R) v. Adlai E. Stevenson (D)
This campaign was very unique. The two candidates used radio and television ads effectively and fought a long hard campaign . Eisenhower (R) was a war hero (Supreme Commander of Allied Forces WWII), so Stevenson was reluctant to attack him directly, and the Republicans had a difficult time attacking Stevenson because he had not been part of the previous democratic administrations. Eisenhower went out and traveled over 33,000 miles during this campaign. Republicans held an advantage which they exploited, the fact that their presidential and vice-presidential candidates were strong family men with supportive wives and families. Family was an important issue during the 50's which helped the Republicans greatly contrast with the Democrats candidate who was divorced.

The campaigns television ads were most effectively used by Eisenhower, who used short ads to promote his popularity. In contrast, his opponent Stevenson used 30 minute speeches as a way to capitalize on the television market. Eisenhower's short ads were substantially easier to remember, more likely to be watched by viewers, and played more often. Political ads were defined by these first ads on television.


Kennedy's Ad Jingle


1960- John F. Kennedy (D) v. Richard Nixon (R)
The 1960 election was largely a debate of experience. The two candidates had both gone to Congress in 1946, but Nixon used his foreign policy work as Vice President to strengthen his resume. Also, at 43, Kennedy's age did not help to discourage the attacks by Nixon. The race's most famous ad was "Kennedy's Jingle". The ad was a peppy commercial-jingle that held similar to the commercial ads of the day. Being easy to remember, the ad also played a vital role in solidifying Kennedy's win and building trust in a relatively new political figure. "Kennedy, Kennedy, Kennedy, Kennedy..."

"Daisy" - The Most Famous American Campaign Ad



Known for its use of fear, "Daisy" quickly changed the political race when Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ) asked America who they wanted to control the Cold War and the potential for nuclear war. Playing upon American societal fears of a nuclear holocaust, "daisy" helped people remember what a vote for president really meant.

"Prouder, Stronger, Better" - Morning in America, 1984


Reagan's ad most commonly known as Morning in America, "Prouder, Stronger, Better" was perhaps the best positive ad ever created for campaigning. Focusing on his promise to make America better in 1980, the ad is a response to America being better four years later because of Ronald Reagan's leadership.

"Willie Horton" Negative Ads


Independent Ad


Ross Perot had his own style and wit that led to a significant 3rd party run for president. In the 1992 election Ross Perot received 17% of the popular vote. This independent ad showed Perot's short, blunt ads.




www.factcheck.org - To check ad information v. truth of statistics or facts

www.4president.org - Websites of the the last presidential campaigns from 1996 until current.