Congressional District of Texas Campaign Plan

Congressional District of Texas Campaign Plan Khizer Zamani The 23rd Congressional District of Texas is an interesting congressional district. It is a district that shows how the demographics of Texas, and of the United States more generally, are changing. The district is a predominantly Latino one and until the 2014 election, had a Democratic representative; however, the 2014 election caused Republican Bill Hurd to win, unseating Democratic representative Pete Gallego (Ballotpedia, 2014b). As is often the case in politics, it is important to look ahead to the next opportunity. For 2016, how can someone defeat Bill Hurd? One important aspect is, naturally, campaigning. The role of money in politics is increasingly strong, yet it is also important to spend money on media that reaches the target demographic. The 23rd Congressional district is an important one for politics: â€Å"Texas 23rd Congressional District was a battleground district in 2014 due to the fact that the seat was held by a Democrat, but the district had a slight Republican lean and was won by the Republican presidential candidate in both 2008 and 2012† (Ballotpedia, 2014a). The district is more than 70% Hispanic (Ballotpedia, 2014a) and has a 70% high school graduation rate (Ballotpedia, 2014a), a median household income of approximately $46,000 (Ballotpedia, 2014a), and a college graduation rate of about 21% (Ballotpedia, 2014a). The unemployment rate is 6.5% (Ballotpedia, 2014a), and the population is just over 650,000 (Ballotpedia, 2014a). The area is largely rural: â€Å"About the closest thing to a swing district would be freshman Rep. Quico Canseco’s (R-Texas) big and rural 23rd district, running from San Antonio to El Paso† (Blake, 2011). All of these factors indicate that this â€Å"swing† district is winnable by the opposition if they consider how this type of voter works. Marketing segmentation will help here (Weaver, 2013). Dividing up the potential voters on the basis of identity categories will help identify key issues and approaches to meet voters in order to achieve victory. Marketing segmentation is closely related to analyses of voting turnout (Nagler, 2013, p. 27). The typical voter in the 23rd Congressional District in Texas is a relatively lower middle class individual. He or she is likely to be a high school, but not college, graduate. He or she is likely Latino and a hard worker with aspirations for a better life. He or she is likely relatively concerned about their personal economy and is slightly more socially conservative than Texans in other districts, but likely advocates for gay rights. He or she is likely a nominal Catholic or grew up in a culturally Catholic home that informs their ideas about life (Kemp, 2005). This means that the voter may have certain ideas about gender roles, which in turn could influence their votes. The younger median age in this congressional district means that the voters are likely far more digitally connected than the older generation, and they tend to get their news from less traditional sources such as Facebook and even The Daily Show (Baumgartner, 2006). This means that they are actually rather well informed, but have an expectation for immediate responses and irreverence. Despite the problematic aspects of these trends (Popkin, 2006), it is still important to respond to them if victory is the most important thing. Therefore, the hypothetical, proposed campaign – which will be discussed below – will be digital, yet tailored to the demographics of this specific district. Therefore, the ideal candidate for 2016 will be a male of Latino heritage who can appeal to the working class, ideally because he exemplifies the American dream and has worked his way up from humble circumstances. The ideal candidate would be the owner of a blue-collar business and whose personal narrative goes something like he came to the United States at a young age, overcame poverty due to a strong family relationship, went to trade school and now owns a successful, but relatable, business in a blue collar field such as plumbing or HVAC. This would ensure that the candidate is relatable to the economic and cultural dynamics of the congressional district. This does not mean that the path to a democratic victory involves simply dragging out an average Joe or Juan and convincing him to run. It will be a difficult campaign, partly because â€Å"The traditional view in electoral research holds that Congressional election campaigns are principally aimed at highlighting the virtues of the individual candidates† (Kim Leveck, 2013, p. 492). Further, incumbents have a distinct advantage, because they are more experienced at campaigning, because voters often go for that which they already know (Kim Leveck, 2013, p. 492), and because they tend to be higher quality candidates (Kim Leveck, 2013, p. 492). Redistricting has changed the 23rd district in a way that arguably made it more susceptible to voting Republican (Blake, 2011). This means that the incumbent candidate will find it easier to campaign, too, because the voters there are already well matched to his outreach programs know (Kim Leveck, 2013, p. 492). This means that the proposed challenger will have to engage in a campaign that reflects several different aspects. One of these will have to be funding. Money matters in politics, and money changes votes. The individual will have to have much of his own money and will have to obtain support from many powerful people. In terms of the campaign itself, the candidate will likely find success by focusing on the economy and on the Republicans’ distaste for Latinos. Playing up the opponent’s Tea Party ties, if any, could be a useful strategy given that the Republicans in the 23rd district tend to be more moderate and have rebuked the Tea Party in this district (Martin, 2012). The campaign should therefore be heavily focused on digital engagement that dismantles arguments by the incumbent, plays up the hyper-conservative, Tea Party nature of Republicans and their vicious disapproval of Obama’s amnesty policies for undocumented workers. The campaign should still focus on the candidate’s relatability, particularly in terms of his personal narrative and economic success (Coleman Manna, 2000). The campaign should have manifold opportunities for younger people to interact digitally. This could include official social media accounts, contests, and opportunities within the geographically large district for people of all ages to interact with the candidate in person. The gerrymandering that has been undertaken in Texas may have redrawn the district maps, but it has not changed the increasing tide of changes in the state’s demographics. It has not changed overall social trends towards a growing Latino population, increasing economic uncertainty, a more tenuous existence for the middle class, and skepticism regarding rigid belief systems such as homophobia. At the same time, it still means that the district has a large population of conservatives, although they are moving towards a more economically conservative and socially moderate viewpoint. It is possible to flip the 23rd district back in 2016, but it will require planning beginning now. It will require a strong candidate who has an impeccable personal record, yet is still relatable enough for the humble lifestyle of this region. It will also require someone who is capable of traveling across the vast geographic expanse of this district in order to make an impact with constituents and potential voters and to meaningfully campaign in person. This is all doable, but it is important that the right candidate be found immediately and that the campaign launch as soon as possible after the candidate is vetted. Works Cited Ballotpedia. (2014a). Texas’ 23rd Congressional District Ballotpedia. Ballotpedia.org. Retrieved December 15, 2014, from http://ballotpedia.org/Texas’_23rd_Congressional_District Ballotpedia. (2014b). Texas’ 23rd Congressional District elections, 2014 Ballotpedia. Ballotpedia.org. Retrieved December 15, 2014, from http://ballotpedia.org/Texas’_23rd_Congressional_District_elections,_2014 Baumgartner, J. (2006). The Daily Show Effect: Candidate Evaluations, Efficacy, and American Youth. American Politics Research, 34(3), 341–367. doi:10.1177/1532673X05280074 Blake, A. (2011). The GOP’s big Texas gerrymander. Washington Post. Retrieved December 15, 2014, from http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/the-gops-strong-texas-gerrymander/2011/06/02/AGP56VHH_blog.html Coleman, J. J., Manna, P. F. (2000). Congressional Campaign Spending and the Quality of Democracy. The Journal of Politics. doi:10.1111/0022-3816.00032 Kemp, C. (2005). Hispanic Health. bearspace.baylor.edu. Retrieved September 19, 2014, from https://bearspace.baylor.edu/Charles_Kemp/www/hispanic_health.htm Kim, H. a., Leveck, B. L. (2013). Money, Reputation, and Incumbency in U.S. House Elections, or Why Marginals Have Become More Expensive. American Political Science Review, 107(03), 492–504. doi:10.1017/S0003055413000245 Martin, G. (2012). Canseco concedes to Gallego in District 23 San Antonio Express-News. MySanAntonio.com. Retrieved December 15, 2014, from http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Canseco-concedes-to-Gallego-in-District-23-4023778.php Nagler, J. (2013). Who Votes Now? Demographics, Issues, Inequality, and Turnout in the United States. Demographics, Issues, Inequality, and Turnout in the United States. Princeton. Popkin, S. L. (2006). Changing media, changing politics. Perspectives on Politics, 4(02), 327–341. Weaver, J. (2013). Market Segmentation. Bournemouth University Foundation Degree Southwest. Retrieved November 26, 2014, from http://media3.bournemouth.ac.uk/marketing/07segmentation/04strategies.html

Islam vs. Hinduism Essay -- Religion

The principles of early religious traditions hold an abundance of power for today’s students. A power teaching a number of lessons that all students are able to carry for years to follow. The view of an outsider is much different from that of an educated individual because the ignorant individual may perceive oppression within the caste and Islamic systems. Identifying similarities are essential because they demonstrate that the two belief systems are comparable, but recognizing the differences is more important because it is the variations that allow individuals to better understand the religious faiths. Islam is a complex faith that is comprised of a variety of different expectations based on one’s culture. The term Islam can be defined as the submission to God’s will. There are one billion Muslims throughout every part of the world that do not think or behave the exact same way (Kaltner, 2-4). Hinduism is a series of lives where the next life is the sum of all of one’s previous lives and is a very broad religious tradition because the core beliefs and practices are not focused around a single idea. The Hindu belief system is not only a religion, but a philosophy or viewpoint on life (Boyle). By understanding the moralities and core beliefs of Islam and Hinduism students have the opportunity to correct the misunderstandings and labels cast upon these religious traditions. Identifying the key elements of Islam and Hinduism displays that each religious tradition contrasts in how life after death is perceived, the creeds or guidelines to obey, as well as in whom the followers believe. Initially, the Islam and Hinduism belief systems contrast in how each faith perceives life after death. Much like Christians, Muslims ... ...and differences between Islamic and Hindu beliefs of afterlife, the sacred text and teachings, and their respective gods help students understand each religion exclusively. This gives students the power to rise above the majority of society and give Muslims and Hindus the respect and image that they truly deserve. Works Cited Boyle, Mary. "Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Daoism." Orange Humanities. Midland University, Anderson 304, Fremont. Mar. 2012. Lecture. Kaltner, John. "Islam Is a Religion of Orthopraxy - Chapter 2." Islam: What Non-Muslims Should Know. Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Fortress, 2003. Print Manish, Chintamani. "Hinduism." Orange Humanities. Midland University, Anderson 304. Fremont. Feb. 2012. Lecture. "The Vedas." Hindu Texts:. Religion Facts, 17 Mar. 2004. Web. 14 May 2012. .

Animal Biodiversity

The defining characteristic for mammals and the characteristic which gives the class its name is the presence of mammary glands. Both the species I selected have mammary glands and nurture their young with milk from these glands.Apart from the presence and use of mammary glands, the other common features of both animals are the high level of brain development among the animal kingdom as well as the social tendencies of the species.Given these similarities, there are stark differences between humans and dolphins. The most obvious is that humans are land living creatures while dolphins are adapted to life in the sea. As such, humans have evolved an upright stance, as well as opposable thumbs while dolphins have evolved fins and a blowhole.Humans are classified under the order Primates along with monkeys and apes. Defining characteristics for primates are stereoscopic vision, opposable thumbs, highly mobile radius and ulna, and other physical adaptations for life in the treetops.The dol phin belongs to the order Cetacea along with the blue whale and the killer whale. Order cetacea includes mammals who have evolved to a fully aquatic life. As such, dolphins and whales belong to the order.Class InsectaBoth the praying mantis and the monarch butterfly have three main body divisions – the head, the thorax and the abdomen. Both also have compound eyes composed of hundreds or thousand of individual light sensing organs. Lastly, both insects lay eggs for reproductive purposes.One big difference between the praying mantis and the monarch butterfly is flight. The butterfly has wings which enable it to cover large distances for food and for migration during wintertime. As mentioned, the monarch butterfly also undergoes migration. During winter, the monarch butterflies in Northern America travel to Mexico to outlast the cold weather conditions.The butterfly belongs to order Lepidoptera along with moths and skippers. The defining characteristic for the order have been t he presence of antennae, a hard exoskeleton and wings which are covered in scales.The praying mantis belongs to the order Mantodae with its evolutionary siblings the leaf mantis with a thorax shaped and colored like a leaf and its oriental cousin the Chinese mantis. The characteristic for the order have been a predatory diet, their use of camouflage, and the presence of cannibalism among the species.Class AvesThe bald eagle and the chicken, while representing polar opposites of the bravery spectrum have many similar characteristics. First, they lay eggs to reproduce. Second, they have wings and lastly, they also have a feather covering.Also, there are more differences between both birds apart from their symbolism. The bald eagle has binocular vision while the chicken does not due to the placement of the eyes in their skulls. The bald eagle is also a carnivore while the chicken is an omnivore which can feed on seeds and small worms. The bald eagle is also much larger in size than the chicken.The bald eagle together with hawks and falcons form the order Falconiformes. Members of the order are all birds of prey with hooked bills, sharp talons and good eyesight – adaptations needed for spotting and killing prey from the air.The chicken on the other hand belongs to the order Galliformes along with turkeys and quails. The order is best described as being chicken-like in appearance with blunt wings and small to large bodies. Flight is limited for the order with some species having a terrestrial lifestyle.Phylum   EchinodermataBoth star fishes and sea urchins are only found in marine habitats. Physically, both also sport a radial symmetry with the sea urchin going further by having a spherical symmetry. Lastly, both animals under phylum Echinodermata have the spiny exterior which defines members of the phylum.One main difference between starfishes and sea urchins is in physical appearance. Star fishes have an obvious five arms while sea urchins are best descr ibed as round objects with protruding spikes. Sea urchins also have pronounced long spikes for protection against predators and are suspension feeders which feed on algae. Starfish on the other hand are predators and scavengers.The common starfish along with the northern Pacific sea star and the red-knobbed sea star form the subclass Asteroidea. The five rayed body is the unifying feature of members of this subclass.   Five rays connect to a central disc for these animals. The sea urchin along with the sand dollar and heart urchins belong to class Echinoidea.This class is different from other echinoderms because their calcitic ossicles are fused together to form a globe. They also have a very powerful chewing apparatus called Aristotle’s lantern.BibliographyUniversity of Michigan Museum of Zoologyl (2008) â€Å"Animal Diversity Web.† In University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. Retrieved November 30, 2008 from http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/index.html

Essay on Jerry Sandusky Case - 1507 Words

Naomi Abreu Currently in the news, there is a major event that pertains to the topic of the psychology of trauma. This event is the investigation of Jerry Sandusky and his alleged conviction of sexual abuse. Jerry Sandusky, an assistant football coach at Penn State University, has been accused of sexually abusing boys in the basement of his home and in the school workout room and locker room. This investigation was triggered by one of the victims who went to the police and since then, more victims have come out as well. This boy stated that the attacks lasted for about four years. Jerry Sandusky met the boys though a foundation he started to help at-risk youths in 1977 called The Second Mile. So far there have been eight†¦show more content†¦However, I would have to agree with the first half and say that Joe Paterno’s actions were inadequate. Although Joe Paterno reported what he saw to the Penn State president his responsibility shouldn’t have ended there. Yes, he fulfill ed his obligation to report any illegal actions on campus but when the Penn State President chose not to take legal action Paterno should have made the moral decision and had gone to the authorities. Legally, he fulfilled his obligation and therefore no longer holds any responsibility in the eyes of the legal system. In the eyes of morality though, his responsibility in the matter was not over just because he reported it to who he was supposed to. This major problem should have been dealt with a long time ago. It’s just a moral obligation that Joe Paterno should have acted upon. So yes I feel he deserved to be fired. Everyone who knew about it should have reported it to legal authorities. His great athletic achievements and mutual respect should have pushed towards the issue being resolved and not swept under the rug for it to come out years after and now resulting in him being fired. 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