Republican David Cappiello is challenging incumbent democrat Chris Murphy in this year’s race for Connecticut’s 5th district U.S. House of Representatives seat. The fifth term state senator for Connecticut’s 24th district (Danbury, Bethel, New Fairfield, Sherman) is looking to displace Murphy by winning the November 4th election.
According to the Connnecticut Senate Repulicans website, the 40 year old Cappiello was first elected into office in 1994 as a Connecticut State Representative from Danbury’s 138th district. There, he served two terms before earning a spot in the State Senate in 1998 where he has remained for ten years.
Capiello has long been an advocate of public safety and health reform. He recently called for an evaluation of Connecticut’s Emergency Management system in an attempt to improve Connecticut’s Homeland Security system. He also played an important role in expanding the state’s prescription drug program for the elderly and disabled. In addition, Cappiello wrote An Act Requiring the Screening of Newborns for Metabolic Diseases, which does exactly what it the title implies; screens newborns for life threatening metabolic diseases.
This November the republican will try to build on his election success in the past and move on to Washington where he can represent his state in Congress.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Connecticut’s 5th District U.S. House Incumbent: Chris Murphy
Chris Murphy (D) is the incumbent state representative from Connecticut’s 5th district, and is running to retain that position against current Danbury State Senator David Cappiello (R). Voting for the election will take place on November 4, 2008, and the winner will take their seat two months later on January 4, 2009.
According to the NationMaster Encyclopedia website, Murphy began his political career in 1998 at the age of 25. He served two terms as a Connecticut State Representative from the 81st district representing Southington. Following that, Murphy was elected to the state Senate from the 16th district representing Southington, Chesire, Waterbury and Wolcott. In both victories, Murphy was in just his twenties and replaced an incumbent who had been in office for over a decade.
As a member of the state Senate, Murphy earned Senate chair of the legislature’s Public Health Committee. Murphy also focused on issues of environmental protection, juvenile reform, and wrote Connecticut’s stem cell research act, making Connecticut the third state to give public funding to stem cell research. In addition, Murphy wrote legislation to help abused and neglected children by creating the Office of Child Protection.
In 2006, Murphy decided against running for re-election to the state Senate and ran for the U.S. House of Representatives from Connecticut’s 5th district instead. Murphy defeated incumbent Nancy Johnson (R) to earn the seat, the seat he is trying to defend this election.
According to the NationMaster Encyclopedia website, Murphy began his political career in 1998 at the age of 25. He served two terms as a Connecticut State Representative from the 81st district representing Southington. Following that, Murphy was elected to the state Senate from the 16th district representing Southington, Chesire, Waterbury and Wolcott. In both victories, Murphy was in just his twenties and replaced an incumbent who had been in office for over a decade.
As a member of the state Senate, Murphy earned Senate chair of the legislature’s Public Health Committee. Murphy also focused on issues of environmental protection, juvenile reform, and wrote Connecticut’s stem cell research act, making Connecticut the third state to give public funding to stem cell research. In addition, Murphy wrote legislation to help abused and neglected children by creating the Office of Child Protection.
In 2006, Murphy decided against running for re-election to the state Senate and ran for the U.S. House of Representatives from Connecticut’s 5th district instead. Murphy defeated incumbent Nancy Johnson (R) to earn the seat, the seat he is trying to defend this election.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Women: Draft Eligible?
“It’s our country too, and we should be responsible to fight for it and protect it as well.”
That’s what Junior Christina Bayne said when asked if women should be subject to a military draft just as men are.
Women have never been subject to a military draft, according to the government website on selective service at http://www.sss.gov/wmbkgr.htm. All women who serve or have served have done so voluntarily.
According to the site, the court case Rostker v. Goldberg (1981) prohibits women from being included in a draft. The site gave the reason, stating that military drafts are primarily used to get candidates for combat roles, and the Department of Defense policy is not to assign women to these roles.
Six female Quinnipiac University students, however, have a contradicting opinion.
“Under certain circumstances, women should be eligible for a draft,” said Junior Kim LeBel. “I think single mothers should be exempt, but all other women within the age limit should be fair game.”
Junior Meghan Trull said, “Women have earned equal rights in this country, and it shouldn’t be any different with a draft.”
All six girls also agreed when asked whether females should partake in combat roles.
“If they are physically capable, then yeah, women should be eligible for combat,” said Junior Heather Maffeo.
Trull also agreed with this opinion, with the same physical stipulation. “If a little 80 pound woman is forced into combat, then she’s going to be a danger to herself and her fellow soldiers.”
The six students thought that a military draft for nurses would also be a good idea.
Nursing major Molly Cuddy said, “The military should be able to draft nurses and other medical staff to meet their needs if it comes to that, and that would be another way to get women involved in a war effort.”
Interactive Narratives
Some of the interactive aspects of these articles is really quite compelling and certainly reveals one of the huge advantages of online journalism has over newspapers. For example, one article contains a “Bridge Tracker” which is a map that tells the current bridge condition of more than 100,000 bridges in the U.S. It provides a detailed map of the nation and allows the reader to search all bridges from one location to another. This makes the article relative to anyone who is reading it, as they can apply it to their general area, possibly a route they drive each day. Such a vast amount of information like this could only be available online.
That’s what Junior Christina Bayne said when asked if women should be subject to a military draft just as men are.
Women have never been subject to a military draft, according to the government website on selective service at http://www.sss.gov/wmbkgr.htm. All women who serve or have served have done so voluntarily.
According to the site, the court case Rostker v. Goldberg (1981) prohibits women from being included in a draft. The site gave the reason, stating that military drafts are primarily used to get candidates for combat roles, and the Department of Defense policy is not to assign women to these roles.
Six female Quinnipiac University students, however, have a contradicting opinion.
“Under certain circumstances, women should be eligible for a draft,” said Junior Kim LeBel. “I think single mothers should be exempt, but all other women within the age limit should be fair game.”
Junior Meghan Trull said, “Women have earned equal rights in this country, and it shouldn’t be any different with a draft.”
All six girls also agreed when asked whether females should partake in combat roles.
“If they are physically capable, then yeah, women should be eligible for combat,” said Junior Heather Maffeo.
Trull also agreed with this opinion, with the same physical stipulation. “If a little 80 pound woman is forced into combat, then she’s going to be a danger to herself and her fellow soldiers.”
The six students thought that a military draft for nurses would also be a good idea.
Nursing major Molly Cuddy said, “The military should be able to draft nurses and other medical staff to meet their needs if it comes to that, and that would be another way to get women involved in a war effort.”
Interactive Narratives
Some of the interactive aspects of these articles is really quite compelling and certainly reveals one of the huge advantages of online journalism has over newspapers. For example, one article contains a “Bridge Tracker” which is a map that tells the current bridge condition of more than 100,000 bridges in the U.S. It provides a detailed map of the nation and allows the reader to search all bridges from one location to another. This makes the article relative to anyone who is reading it, as they can apply it to their general area, possibly a route they drive each day. Such a vast amount of information like this could only be available online.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Military Draft Would Not Be A Welcome Sign According To QU Students
According to abcnews.com, over 4,000 American lives have been lost to the ongoing war in Iraq. With Senator McCain’s plan to send over more American troops to help end the conflict, a question was posed to some Quinnipiac University male students: How would you react to a draft? A relevant question as these people would be directly affected by a potential military draft.
Of the 6 students interviewed, all of them would be upset and most definitely against a draft. Junior Jon Pantano opposed because as he said, “I don’t like being forced to do something against my will” as he would not voluntarily enlist in the military.
Junior Devon Bushey said, “The government shouldn’t force people to go to a war they don’t believe in.”
Despite the disapproval of the draft by all polled, there were mixed reactions when asked if they would serve their country or not. Although 5 out of 6 said yes they would serve, Bushey said that he would “seriously consider draft dodging.”
On the opposite side of the spectrum is Pantano and Junior Brady Giroux. Pantano, although against the draft, said he would be honored to serve his country.
“I would do it because I love my country and I am a true American,” he said, “For all the freedoms I’ve enjoyed in my life, I owe it to my country.”
Giroux said he would serve his country because “It’s the right thing to do.”
Junior Stuart Easton found a way to get out of a war that he doesn’t believe in, saying that he would “play the duel citizenship card” to get out of the draft, as he was born in England.
Whether they were for the war or against at the beginning, all students polled are currently against the cause of the war, and believe that troops should be gradually pulled out.
Easton spoke for the opinion of the entire group when he said “We have to leave Iraq in a better condition than we found them in; we owe it to them and are now responsible for getting them there.”
Five out of six said that if it was a different war and they believed in the cause, they would be proud to serve their country if drafted.
Of the 6 students interviewed, all of them would be upset and most definitely against a draft. Junior Jon Pantano opposed because as he said, “I don’t like being forced to do something against my will” as he would not voluntarily enlist in the military.
Junior Devon Bushey said, “The government shouldn’t force people to go to a war they don’t believe in.”
Despite the disapproval of the draft by all polled, there were mixed reactions when asked if they would serve their country or not. Although 5 out of 6 said yes they would serve, Bushey said that he would “seriously consider draft dodging.”
On the opposite side of the spectrum is Pantano and Junior Brady Giroux. Pantano, although against the draft, said he would be honored to serve his country.
“I would do it because I love my country and I am a true American,” he said, “For all the freedoms I’ve enjoyed in my life, I owe it to my country.”
Giroux said he would serve his country because “It’s the right thing to do.”
Junior Stuart Easton found a way to get out of a war that he doesn’t believe in, saying that he would “play the duel citizenship card” to get out of the draft, as he was born in England.
Whether they were for the war or against at the beginning, all students polled are currently against the cause of the war, and believe that troops should be gradually pulled out.
Easton spoke for the opinion of the entire group when he said “We have to leave Iraq in a better condition than we found them in; we owe it to them and are now responsible for getting them there.”
Five out of six said that if it was a different war and they believed in the cause, they would be proud to serve their country if drafted.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Potential Political Beats
As I stated in my email, I would most likely prefer to be a reporter. I am assuming that the articles I would be writing would be about the upcoming November election and its candidates. That said, the campaign issues that I would be most interested in writing about would be gun control, the war in iraq, and stem cell research. Here are some links to related articles regarding the candidates and these issues.
Obama on gun control
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/06/ar2008040601652.html
McCain on stem cell research
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/95212.php
McCain on Obama's Iraq policies
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/07/15/mccain.foreign.policy/index.html
Obama on gun control
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/06/ar2008040601652.html
McCain on stem cell research
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/95212.php
McCain on Obama's Iraq policies
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/07/15/mccain.foreign.policy/index.html
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