Tag: election

Presidential Election 2012: Indian Perspective

Back in India, my peers and I would religiously wake up at 6:00 am during each US election cycle to watch the presidential and vice-presidential debates live on CNN. For long, the US has been a shining beacon of what a successful democracy could do for its populace and the model which people around the world… Continue reading Presidential Election 2012: Indian Perspective

A Conservative in Each of Us

  To a politician, the next election is always the most important of his or her constituents’ lives.  This year, however, most Republican voters would agree.  They believe the results of President Obama’s first term must be reversed.  As President Obama campaigns (did he ever stop?), his emboldened rhetoric attempts to drown out many inconvenient… Continue reading A Conservative in Each of Us

The Seven States that Will Decide the 2012 Election

With Election Day nine months away, it is worth taking a break from the Republican primaries to look at the general election landscape.  Despite a persistently weak economy, Obama can win reelection, and it is a better than 50-50 bet that he does so.  Assuming Mitt Romney eventually captures the Republican nomination, it will be… Continue reading The Seven States that Will Decide the 2012 Election

Participating in History

From his announcement joining the Democratic primaries in February, 2007, to his inauguration on January 20, 2009, Barack Obama has incited an unparalled following among young voters. This is the story of one student’s involvement in his campaign up to, and including, his inauguration. I came alone to the inauguration, but I am joined here… Continue reading Participating in History

One Step Forward, One Step Back

“Marriage is the most natural state of man, and the state in which you will find solid happiness.” (Benjamin Franklin) On the same day Americans elected their first black President, Californians approved Proposition 8. The measure amended the State’s constitution with a simple statement: “Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or… Continue reading One Step Forward, One Step Back

The Hope that Change Brings

6 members of the HBS African American Student Union (AASU) family discuss what the election of Barack Obama means to them. Lauryn Hale Barack Obama ran for President on a platform of hope and a promise of change. His victory last Tuesday, November 4th was America’s first step towards these promises becoming reality. It is… Continue reading The Hope that Change Brings

Obama and Me

A conservative Kenyan relates his personal odyssey through the 2008 election. In the process of selecting a leader, he makes surprising discoveries that transcend politics. On the surface, it appears that I voted for Obama because I am black, or because I am Kenyan, or both. But nothing could be farther from the truth. More… Continue reading Obama and Me

Election Day in America

$1.5B dollars and nearly 2 years of non-stop campaigning. Thousands of hours of media coverage and millions of words of commentary and dissection. An unprecedented online campaign with Facebook fans, entertaining YouTube clips and virtual organizing like never before. Controversies, the Bradley effect, accusations, hockey moms, and various incarnations of Joe fill-in-the-blank. It all came… Continue reading Election Day in America

Letting the American Reality Sink In

Whenever something big happens, people always say “remember where you were on that day,” as if you will forget. On November 4th 2008, something big happened – Barack Obama, was elected the 44th President of the United States. Remember where you were that day, and where you were when it finally sunk in that our… Continue reading Letting the American Reality Sink In

Republican vs. Democrat — A Parents Choice for President

Republican Paul Buser (OH) and MPA ’09, Contributing Writer The historic election in front of us takes on a greater significance when considering the next generation to whom we will bequeath our great country. It is the sensible choice to pass along the Republican ideals of freedom, empowerment, and love of country. Election day has… Continue reading Republican vs. Democrat — A Parents Choice for President

Accepting the Torch on January 20th

On January 20th, 1961, John Fitzgerald Kennedy proclaimed in his inaugural speech that “the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans–born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage.” It was a humble declaration that his generation would take on the challenge… Continue reading Accepting the Torch on January 20th

It’s Never Been a Better Time to be a Democrat

In many ways, this election reminds me of FDR’s 1932 campaign. FDR ran a campaign as a great communicator against the stumpy Herbert Hoover. He campaigned through a tumultuous economic environment, with a failing banking system, high unemployment, and in a relatively hostile global environment. The 1932 election was also transformative. During the 70 years… Continue reading It’s Never Been a Better Time to be a Democrat

What Barack Obama and Chicken Contact Lenses Have in Common

With the U.S. losing 160,000 jobs in September, suddenly Barack Obama’s tax cuts, and health care and education reform are starting to sound a little more important than religion and guns to the working-class Sometimes it’s hard to convey a message about a product to the working class. That product could be chicken contact lens..or… Continue reading What Barack Obama and Chicken Contact Lenses Have in Common

Former Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis Visits HBS

Former Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis (HLS ’60) spoke at HBS on December 11 at the invitation of the HBS Democrats Club. Dukakis’ speech focused on the importance of grassroots, precinct-based political campaigning. In fact, he attributed the success of his campaigns to successful recruitment of precinct captains and block captains to coordinate local campaign activities.… Continue reading Former Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis Visits HBS

D‚j… Vu?

I am an optimist by nature. Always convinced that tomorrow will be better than today. That is, except for one thing. Observing French politics in recent years, I must admit that I have surprised myself by losing hope. Wherever my eyes would turn, whichever politician I would talk to, I would always have a sense… Continue reading D‚j… Vu?

Raising Expectations

This week’s national media news cycle looks to be dominated by discussion of the midterm election cycle here in the United States of America. There will be a lot of talk, some analysis, and few clear answers on what happens next. We know that any given election night holds the possibility of something extraordinary happening… Continue reading Raising Expectations

Alejandro Toledo: The Legacy of the Peruvian President

Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo addressed a packed audience at the John F. Kennedy, Jr. Forum Wednesday in a speech titled, “Economic Growth and Democracies in Latin America: The Case of Peru.” The speech largely defended his record as president of Peru over the last five years as he prepares to step down July 28. Constitutionally… Continue reading Alejandro Toledo: The Legacy of the Peruvian President

HBS Alumnus Prevails in Second Cliffhanger Election

George W. Bush, arguably HBS’s most famous alumnus (HBS ’75), eked out a victory earlier this month over Democrat challenger John F. Kerry in a Presidential contest that drew the highest U.S. voter turnout since 1968. While Bush managed to garner the popular mandate that eluded him in the last election, results showed razor thin… Continue reading HBS Alumnus Prevails in Second Cliffhanger Election

Lying in Public Life

Not content with forcing U.S. President Richard Nixon to resign following the Watergate scandal, former Washington Post editor Ben Bradlee has been shaking things up over at the Kennedy School. In his weekly study group “Lying in Public Life,” Bradlee hosts fellow journalists and political figures who explore lying by past and current public officials.… Continue reading Lying in Public Life

Oh, Canada!

The hubbub of International Week here at HBS got me thinking, especially in light of the presidential election this week. Depending on the outcome, there could be an economic opportunity awaiting for our neighbors to the north. Let me explain… Not too long ago, there were a number of large advertisements in The Washington Post… Continue reading Oh, Canada!

You Are What You Drive

I can see it now – commuter cars on campus littered with flyers printed on recycled, cruelty-free, soy-ink, union-made paper. The HBS Democrats have a reason to be a little concerned, for it appears as though Kerry’s appeal is weak among certain auto owners. Anyone with a web address can conjure together a presidential candidate… Continue reading You Are What You Drive

Musings From Columbus

I stepped off a cramped regional jet onto the tarmac – it seemed like the hundredth such time – and quickly transformed into my Ohio persona. Ah, Columbus. Jokingly known in my family as Cowtown, the city again greeted Buckeye football season with a euphoria indescribable to those indifferent to Big Ten football. Don’t get… Continue reading Musings From Columbus

Elections In Your Country:

Whatever their political orientation, I salute American voters Being an informed voter in the age of the information superhighway is hard enough but to be ‘informed’ by the current inundation of partisan trash talk by the two parties in the fray simply makes a bad situation worse. To ease the pain of deliberating over the… Continue reading Elections In Your Country:

Welcome to Viewpoints

A little over a week ago, I had dinner with a sectionmate. As we dined in a Brazilian steak house, sipping iced cold beers and consuming an abundance of grilled steaks, steamed vegetables, and traditional Brazilian beans and rice, the topic of politics and policy came up. Our descent into the conversation was admittedly slow,… Continue reading Welcome to Viewpoints

State of the Union: Perspectives

“The President shall from time to time give to Congress information of the State of the Union and recommend to their Consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient.” – Article II, Sec. 3, U.S. Constitution o On Tuesday, Jan 20th, President George W. Bush (OC) was welcomed in Congress with a round… Continue reading State of the Union: Perspectives

Leadership Lessons from the White House:

Disproving the notion that HBS is indifferent to politics, a crowd of over 170 students recently gathered to hear Kenneth Mehlman, manager of the Bush-Cheney ’04 campaign, share his thoughts on presidential leadership and the 2004 election. Mr. Mehlman, a graduate of the Harvard Law School, served as the National Field Director for the Bush-Cheney… Continue reading Leadership Lessons from the White House:

Mayor Ron Kirk Addresses Students at HBS

The Mayor was neither wearing a cowboy hat nor did he sport a pair of lizard, boa constrictor, or ostrich boots, but rest assured, Ron Kirk, spoke like a true Texan. Animated, articulate and insightful, Kirk provided a compelling portrait of the modern mayor in a large metropolitan area with a twist. Kirk, an African-American,… Continue reading Mayor Ron Kirk Addresses Students at HBS