GIANT SURGE IN THE GOP

Today, Santorum took 3 states: Minnesota, Missouri and Colorado. He won by double digit percentage in Missouri and Minnesota. He ran an extremely close race in Colorado with Romney, being only a couple percentages off. This surge has set the stage for a battle that may have left Newt on the sideline. Romney now has a tough competitor for the presidential nominee. Next up are Maine, Arizona and Michigan. Is Newt still in it? Will Romney regain strength? Will it be a close race between Romney and Santorum? So many questions as this election season is starting to heat up. Who is your pick?

Will 2012 Decide Our Fate?

We are already in 2012...the year the Mayan Calendar says there is going to be a big event, possibly the apocalypse?

Aside from that misunderstood tidbit that people twist around so much, is 2012 are pivotal year for humanity. Well, let us take a look at the big topics, issues and decisions that will need to have an answer this year.

1. European Debt Crisis -> the ever growing debt of several countries in the EU have caused somewhat of a crisis in the world market, most notably Greece. The EU must decide on an answer this year or the problem, if not already, will be too big to solve for the EU, possibly spelling it's end, or at least the end for some of the countries.

2. Iran -> the escalating threat of Iran is almost at a tipping point. Israel is strongly hinting of attacking Iranian nuclear facilities, while the U.S. and other nations keep shoving sanctions down Iran's throat with little avail. Meanwhile, China and Russia kind of just want to let Iran run wild. If Israel does end up attacking Iran in the coming months, then who knows. We could end up with another WW in the Middle East with Egypt and Syria already imploding on themselves, too. Attacking Iran will definitely set off worldwide fears and could possible end up in another, larger-scaled all out war, which hopefully if that does happen will not involve China or Russia. If they get involved, then WWIII will be on the horizon. Let's hope not

3. Climate Change -> Yes, the debatable topic of climate change. So many republicans deny climate change even though the science is right in front of their faces, kind of sad. This year will be the hinge year that will decide if we take steps to improve our climate, or make no changes and let the problem escalate. Already the effects can be seen throughout the world today, it is just a matter of countries coming together willing to come up with effective, drastic solutions. 2012 will definitely be an important year for us deciding whether we will do something, or let it get worse. It has come to a point where we can see and measure what is going on, and more accurately predict what will happen in the future.

4. President -> The presidential elections are this year in case you didn't know already. This will set the stage for the next 4 years for our country. The economy is doing better, but still is not where it should be. Unemployment is slowly lowering, but is still high. Our debt is over $14 trillion, too. This year will decide who tackles the problem of the growing deficit and debt. The people need to elect the right person who will balance the budget, spend under deficit, and lower the debt. If the elected president does not, than we are in for a bumpy ride for our future and it will eventually end up in disaster.

New Support for a Disturbing Reality

Vast parts of Europe have been thrown into a deep chill with record temperatures and snowfall that have left many dead. What is the probable cause of this phenomena? - Shrinking of the polar ice caps.

Researchers from the NOAA and at the Alfred Wegner Institute in Germany say the cold snap is due to an abrupt change in the Arctic Oscillation. This wind current brings the warm air that ha risen in the Arctic down to Europe, while keeping the cold air up in the Arctic. As the polar ice caps melt, which this summer they have seen their lowest amount of ice coverage in 3 decades, the sun is reflected less and less, and is absorbed. This warming of the Arctic has disrupted the Oscillation that forms basically a wall between warm and cold air during winter months. This effect is being seen throughout Europe.

This is yet just more proof that climate change is happening and we need to act. 97% of scientific researchers that actively research in the climate field agree man is causing/contributing greatly to this recent climate change. There are studies that I will hopefully get up that actually show the temperatures should actually be declining now going into a cool period, but records and data have shown that average global temperatures have been rising over the past century.

This another reason why investing in renewable and clean alternative energy choices are pivotal to our future, not just economically, but for our survival. People may not see the greater effects of climate change now or in the next decade, but we need to take note of the smaller, rapidly growing threats that are happening right now. This issue should not be argued over party lines, but should be agreed upon by all. It is time to start taking note of science, dropping the paranoia that it is government made, and do something now because it is real and it is happening. Denial will not make it go away, it will just make the problem worse. Denial will not hide the fact the temperatures have been rising, man is contributing greatly by adding billions of tons of GHG's into the air, the polar ice caps are melting, and millions of people have felt the effect already of our changing climate. The time to act is not when there is a major disaster, but before. We have as a country acted too many of times after the fact, less often being proactive. Be proactive and take a stand.

Nevada Caucus

Mitt Romney wins again. Most candidates didn't even bother campaigning in Nevada because it's high Mormon population. Will it be so easy for Romney in Colorado and the other states? Santorum is laggin behind, Newt is losing steam, and well Ron Paul has always been where he is at for the most part. Could there still be an upset in the primaries?

WWIII in 2012?

A report Panetta has either heard of or was told directly was reported in the Washington Post by David Ignatius saying there is a strong likelihood Israel will attack Iran in April, May, or June. Needless to say Panetta refused to comment on the subject. he said, "What I think and what I view, I consider to be an area that belongs to me and nobody else."

Could this be true? What implications would this have? Would the U.S. get involved?

The Romney Misstep

"I'm in this race because I care about Americans," Romney said. "I'm not concerned about the very poor.  We have a safety net there.  If it needs repair, I'll fix it."


He told this statement to a CNN morning reporter today (2/1) after winning the Florida primary. Now I can see his intentions in this statement, and the statement is exactly what it means. Their is no alternate side around it, he simply cares about the middle income citizens the most, and is actually almost all concerned with them. How do you take this statement?

DECISION FLORIDA

Romney comes out with a second primary win in Florida. Does this secure his for the nomination or is it to early to tell? He has won 2 key states. Do the other candidates have a chance?

Freedom of Speech or Freedom of Piracy?

Back to the SOPA/PIPA issue! I very important question that should be underlined in this debate is should people have the freedom to pirate materials online, even though it is illegal in the physical world? This bill is/was not trying to censor people and what they say, but protect companies and businesses from having their material and ideas stolen. This is a law in the physical world, why shouldn't it be one on the internet? Is it freedom of speech when we take material from other sites and use them to our own benefit without permission?

This bill is not related to China, and should not be compared to policies in China because they censor media/the internet that contradicts their teaching. SOPA/PIPA were aimed at solely protecting businesses and companies from piracy, they do not impose censorship on originality or individualism.
Also, if you wanted to use a video or other material from a site, as outlined by this bill, you can use them as long as you have permission.

Should we ask before we use someone else's stuff, or is the web a public domain that no one has control over? Is their a line to what should be protected online, or should everyone do what they want?

Most Important Issue Poll

So the poll has been closed, and most put the Economy as the most important issue, though there was a vote for the environment and national debt.

First off, I will discuss national debt. I think that is closely related with the economy, but I also think that to fix many economic problems, the debt must be reduced and stay that way until we reach a equilibrium. Once that has occurred, we must be careful to maintain that, then, and only then, will we truly prosper. The debt is pivotal to many economic issues, and fixing that will fix a lot of our problems. It will take sacrifice from all citizens, but it is highly worth it in the end.

Second, I will go over the economy. Yes this is a major problem we are dealing with today and it needs to be fixed. The economy ties into all the different sectors of society. Fixing the economy would most indefinitely be repairing the American dream.

Third is the environment. With the increase of warming around the globe (a proven fact that can be seen through research and data) has wide-ranging effects from draught to more intense weather patterns. It is most likely we will be increasing our disaster aid in the coming decades to this warming trend. And for those of you who are not good with science, an increase in temperature increases evaporation in areas that usually tend to get rainfall, increase draught conditions in areas where they get some-little rain, and an increase in temperature of the water which feeds hurricanes and melts glaciers, which in turn melt and do not reflect the sun's energy as much. Hopefully that was not too confusing. In short, not focusing on environmental issues such as destruction of wetlands and other natural habitat will cost us billions down the road. Wetlands in Louisiana protect the area around it from some of the strength of hurricanes, mitigating effects of waves and wind. This is only one habitat though that helps us. There are countless others we are destroying that will prove to be a negative for our society. And with climate change, we will spend billions in the coming future paying for disasters. Turning over a new leaf now, right now, will lessen some of the effects and save us countless of dollars and possibly even human lives. Whether you think these people are alarmist or tree huggers that think this way, there is more scientific support from the science community than the reverse side. Ignoring science is a huge misstep that no one should take. This is a topic I will discuss in a future post about many of the GOP candidates
Helping the environment will help our economy and other crisis around the world.


There you have it. Disagree? Well comment below!

The Evaluation...What's Around the Corner?

Stay-tuned this week for an evaluation I am sure all of you would like to read, the Evaluation: Obama. This will outline several points (good and bad) or his presidency and what we can look forward to him doing if elected again. Right after giving this evaluation, I will state my preferences for the presidency, including my nomination for the GOP candidates. This will be interesting to say the least, hopefully you will find it interesting, too.

Evaluation, next on Bite-Size Reality! (insert Jaws song here)

Blog ^date!

So last week has been busy and I haven't been able to get much up; that should change this week. Also, don't forget to vote on the "Most Important Issue Listed" to the right of the blog, it ends today! I will put a post up about that most likely tomorrow hopefully. also you can now follow the blog via email or gmail user to the right of the blog also! Please follow so you can stay up-to-date about Bite-Size Reality as it continues to grow!

Regards,
Matt

GOP Primary...Losers and Should-Be Winners

With the Florida Primary tomorrow, the front-runner for that primary is Mitt Romney, then Gingrich, then Santorum, then Paul. Now, I won't argue about Paul because he is where he belongs. Mitt Romney, along with Santorum had very strong appearances at the Florida debate, with Gingrich having a very weak appearance. He was attacked and could not get back up, because he simply had nothing to back anything up with. Mitt Romney was hit hard on his state's health plan by Santorum, and somehow voters did not connect his government run program as being extremely similar to Obama's. It seems to me, now tell me if I'm wrong, that Republican voters (the majority of them at least) have NO IDEA who they want, and who they think they want they don't know anything about. Again, the ignorance of the people hurts the people.   Santorum did not get nearly enough credit from the debate. If people actually matched up the candidates and saw that debate, Gingrich's numbers would be in the toilet. Santorum, in my opinion, was the strongest person to come out of that debate.
It seems now though that there is finally a mass gathering around Mitt Romney. Funny though, one of the main issues people have with Obama is his healthcare, but they are to blinded to see that Romney MADE a GOVERNMENT RUN healthcare system.

My vote still lies with Santorum, but that is not official just yet.

Attack on Religion, Attack on the People

This excerpt was taken from the Peoria (Illinois) Journal Star Newspaper released on 1/26. This is not the only diocese resounding this message, but the whole Catholic Church throughout this nation, as with other religions. The contraceptive legislation that would require every business/institution who provides insurance to cover contraceptives, one thing Catholicism vehemently opposes. Is this an attack on freedom of religion?

"The Obama administration’s requirement that most health insurance plans must cover contraceptives could close down “every Catholic school, hospital, and other public ministries of our Church,” Bishop Daniel Jenky of the Catholic Diocese of Peoria said Thursday in a news release.

Calling the recently clarified ruling an “unprecedented governmental assault upon the moral convictions of our Faith,” Bishop Jenky urged area Catholics to oppose the rule by “every means at our disposal.”

Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius announced final details of the rule Jan. 20. The rule’s religious exemption language does not apply to religious employers who serve or employ large numbers of people of different faiths, as many Catholic institutions do.

The rule takes effect Aug. 1 for employers and insurers that do not already provide coverage of contraceptives. Church-affiliated organizations, such as the Catholic Church, have an additional year to comply.

In a signal that the church is ready for a war, Bishop Jenky asked that the Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel be prayed in every church in the diocese over the weekend.

The prayer:
'Saint Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle.
Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray;
and do Thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host —
by the Divine Power of God —
cast into hell, Satan and all the evil spirits,
who roam throughout the world seeking the ruin of souls.
Amen.'"

Obama's State of the Union Address

Obama had some pretty strong points in his address. Some being: some millionaires pay less taxes than the middle class, tax credits being given to companies that move oversees, ending subsidies for big oil, increase tax credits and incentives for companies providing new American jobs and innovation. He also supported his actions by proof that the economy has been recovering and over 3,000,000 jobs have been created. His rhetoric is often very convincing, but do you think giving him a 2nd term will do good? Do you think his presidency is the reason why our economy has recovered. GM is the top auto producer in the world, and unemployment is going down?

State of the Union

It is showing now on every news channel. I am unable to watch it though I really wanted to. I will watch the re-run so be ready for a post in a day or 2!

Foreign Aid: Yay or Nay?

One key issue that we have faced for decades now, mostly since WWII, is foreign aid. Who should get it? Why should we give our money away when we could use it here? Why should we help? 

In 2009, we gave a total of about $45 billion. Countries like Russia received $223 million, Egypt $1.2 billion, Ethiopia $550 million, Israel $2.6 billion in 2010. For a full comprehensive list, see http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2012/tables/12s1297.pdf.

Foreign Aid Given as %of GDP

Granted, included in this price-tag is USAID as well as other agencies price-tag, is their a real necessity to all of this, or are we just throwing our money out without no benefit?

Here are some answers to discuss about:
U.S. funded countries in the Middle East, such as Israel and Egypt have need of such aid in order to maintain a position of strength and reliance for the U.S. since there is a history of conflict and violence in that area. Here are few key benefits Israel gives us in return as told by the historian Dr. Steve Carol:

• Israel heads calls for military integration from the U.S., such as in the Cold War.
• In 1967, Israel defeated a pro-Soviet, Arab offensive that led to the capture of vital intel that the U.S. was able to have access to.
• Israel stopped Syrian advanced into Jordan in the 1970s at a time the U.S. was unable to intervene.
• 1970s-present day Israel provides access to the Middle East for the U.S. via ports and airfields.
• 1981-present day Israel acts in unison with U.S. and many other countries to prevent nuclear weapons from being created by the wrong people, as seen in 1981 in Iraq and with present-day Iran.
• Israel is a strategic command base for the U.S. and U.N. in the Middle East and Asia.
• Israel shares intelligence, research, and military developments that would cost the U.S. billions of dollars.
• There is no need to have a military base with U.S. personnel on the ground in Israel because of the strength and intelligence of Israel, which alone saves billions of dollars.

In stark contrast to what many may think, Israel seems like a very good investment considering the flop-side where we would be spending 5 times that amount everywhere if we weren't giving the aid to them.

As for other countries such as Russia and 1st world nations, funding should be nearly cut to $0. They have an ability to help themselves, just like we do. In times of natural disaster and a disaster such as 9/11, giving some sort of aid is almost a responsibility among the strongest nations, and it is also human to be able to help in some sort of way those who are suffering.

What is your stance? Do you agree or disagree?

January 22: Roe v. Wade

January 22 marks the 39th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, a Supreme Court ruling that made abortion legal in this country under the pretenses the women have the right over their body, thus having a right of an unborn fetus/zygote. This is a very strong topic, passionate topic for so many people. What are your stances on abortion and why? Should women have the choice to eliminate a zygote/fetus that they are carrying even though the fetus/zygote has a different set of DNA and at 5 weeks, their heart begins to beat?

What's coming next?!

This Week's Subjects and Posts:


Evaluation of Obama
Republican Voters
Climate Change - most important crisis of the present-day
Foreign Aid - yay or nay?
World War III - question of when, not if
Evolving conflict in the Middle East

Stay tuned for these topics and comment on this post if you have a topic you want to see be discussed and I will post it.
This week will be busy for the blog due to the current changing faces of the blog, new users coming in, and some big topics, so this week should be filled with excitement as this blog goes into bloom.

Bookmark this blog!

S.C. GOP Primary

Newt Gingrich came out on top by nearly 15%! Do you think this means anything in regards to the other primaries?

What's Happening!?

So as you may notice they are some changes to the page...this will be happening for the next couple of weeks until I can get the page looking good. Take a look at the Transform Page at the top right of the blog to read further details. Don't forget to spread the word about this blog so the debate and discussion can be more diversified with much more people. The bigger the bite the better! Also, bookmark this blog so you don't forget to comeback often ;) Stay tuned in the next couple of weeks for a brand new Bite-Size Reality page with hopefully more followers to join in the fun of debate and discussion.

Regards,
Matt

P.S. I tried to post this early and it didn't show up, so if there is a similar post like this ignore it, this one is better :p