Field Observation/ Interview

VIDEOS ON BARACK OBAMA:

" One of the failures of foreign policy over the last seven years has been a secretive type of foreign policy, that is not informing the American people of what's happening , what's at stake, how decisions are being made, what are the risks and benefits of any particular course of action."
" I would like to be open, make sure that people have access to my decision, advisers. I'm going to make sure that we are explaining our policies in a very clear manor, to makes sure that people can develop and restore a since of trust that my administration is making the best decision based on the best advice, the best information and based on the beliefs of the American people. "

"He is no longer talking about the war of terror, he is talking about a specific well defined enemy, Al Quaeda. He is not going to use terms such as Islamic facism. He is going to focus on Al-Quaeda withouth eliminating the rest of the Arab world.
“My job to the Muslim world is to communicate that the Americans are not your enemy,”

" No country will find it exceptable to finding missiles ranning down on the heads of their citizens."
" When you see civilians whether palestinian or Israeli harmed undergoing heardship, it's heartbreakin, and obvioulsy what it does, is make me more determined to break a deadline that has gone on for decades. "
" I think that if you look at what happened under the Clinton Administration and the Bush Admninistartion, you are seeing general outlines ofn an approach, and players of the region are understaning the comprimises that are going to need to be made."
"The reason for the United States to be involved and engaged emediately, not waiting until the end of their turn is because working through the politics of this requirs a third party, and the Obama Administration can create it."

For my Field Observation, I looked at several intervies of Barack Obama on youtube. The main theme through out all of them, is that Barack OBama is moving forward, finding a solution for the Middle East, going and talking to the Arab world, and assuring them that the U.S no longer wants to be their enemy. Barack Obama has great plans for the middle East. The main goals for Barack Obama's foreign policy are : to secure loose n uclear materials from "terrorists, to pursue tough, direct diplomacy without preconditions to end the threat from Iran, and to renwet the American Deplomacy. Watching vidoes on Barack Obama was timeconsuming, but extremely fun. He is a great public speaker, and I learned a lot. I am so happy to of done this project on him, and pleased that he is now the President of the United States.

Response #11 : Obama Steps Up and Expands War on Taliban

This article proved that the OBama administration has already taken action in the middle East. Obama has intentions on attacking the Taliban and the Al-Quaeda. But will that lead to a genocide? is sending military troops in, really the right thing to do? I do not know the answers to those questions. We are just going to see what happens.

Article #11 : Obama Steps Up and Expands War on Taliban

- The Barack Obama administration is planning to send troops against the Taliban and al-Qaida in Pakistan.

- Taliban militants are using the area to launch attacks on U.S.-NATO forces in southern Afghanistan.

- Obama has continued the policy of former U.S. President George W. Bush of launching strikes by unmanned CIA-operated Predator drones against the Taliban and al-Qaida hideouts.

- "A new energy is evident in President Barak Obama's prosecution of the war" against the Taliban, a U.S. official said.

- "I think we'll see a much more intense effort," said Middle East expert Tony Cordesman. "The war will be expanded in a comprehensive way, but just what resources that will entail isn't clear yet."

- A total of nine U.S. airstrikes against the Islamic militants has already been launched by the new administration as opposed to a total of 30 attacks dating from last September when Pakistani President Asif Ali Zadardi assumed power.

- On March 12, a Predator fired missiles at a Taliban training camp and weapons depot in Kurram killing 24 militants, U.S. officials said.

- "You could definitely say [the attacks] represent an expansion of the air war on the Taliban," an administration official said.

- However, expansion of the war could provoke opposition from some Democrats who fear a deepening U.S. entanglement in Afghanistan, U.S. officials said.

- Currently a policy review is underway and should shortly be presented to the president, they said.

- On March 15, a Predator targeted for the second time a Taliban weapons depot in the town of Jani Khal in the Bannu district of the jihadist stronghold of the Northwest Frontier province.

- Two al-Qaida and two Taliban operatives were killed, according to Pakistani news reports confirmed by U.S. officials. The dead were not identified but were not "high value" targets, these sources said.

- In any case, the Taliban were quick to retort. On March 16, a force of 50-60 fighters savaged the al-Faisal terminal.

Response to article #10 : The pluses of a regional grand bargain

This article helped me on the Iran field. I now know what Iran is likely to do and how it is vital to return to speaking conditions with them. Becoming allies with Iran will make the American withdrawal from Iraq easier, and cool down the conflict in Afghanistan. Personally, I agree completely with this article. I now need to find more articles like this concerning Iraq, Palestine, and all the other countries in the Middle East.

Article # 10: The pluses of a regional grand bargain

- The Obama administration has declared a peace process concerning Afghanistan and Pakistan and re-establishing communication with Syria and Iran.

-Obama is considering speaking with some of the Taliban in Afghanistan to wind down the war there.

- Washington and Tehran have not talked in a sustained way for 30 years.

- The list of things the US and the West do not know about Iran is long

- Iran will settle for a deal on its nuclear enrichment capabilities; whether it wants a nuclear bomb

- Iran has already achieved its important first goal, despite intense American-led threats, warnings and sanctions.

- It has established a spinning-centrifuge-based system for enriching uranium. Now confronted with the Obama approach of talking rather than only sanctioning, the Iranians now face many new possibilities.

-Iran (like Syria on a smaller scale) is strategically placed to both talk and work on many fronts. It has communications withI raq, Afghanistan, Syria, Hizbullah and Hamas. This provides opportunities for the US.

- Iranian leadership has fear of bargaining with the US, because of the tension between Washington and Tehran.

- Achieving a grand bargain is complex.

- A grand bargain on Iraq, Iran, Syria, Afghanistan and Arab-Israeli peacemaking would require satisfying needs for all sides.

Final Focus: further research needed.

My final research is going to consist of two articles, and an interview or field experience. When writing my blog essay, I discovered that I need to know more about what Obama is planning on doing about the current situation in the Middle East. A question that occurred during my thinking process is: Is sending more troops in Afghanistan really necessary? I need to draw out more research on what has been done to stabalize the Middle East, and draw conclusions on what I think should be done as well as Obama. For further reaserach for my presentation, I need to find some photos, i will make a slideshow.

Response to Article #9

I believe there is no military solution to Afghanistan, there should be some kind of reconciliation with the Taliban. Pakistan should bring those involved with the attack on Mumbai to justice. This article is about what Obama is facing as a president. He has a huge crisis at home, in America, but also has to deal with the Middle East and other places. Barack Obama has alot on his plate and It will be interesting to see what he can resolve!

Article # 9 : Q+A - What can Obama do about Afghanistan, Pakistan?

-The emphasis Obama has placed on the peaceful Afghanistan and abolishing the al Qaeda threat in Pakistan has moved to being top priority in U.S. foreign policy challenges.


WHAT ARE THE PROBLEMS IN AFGHANISTAN?
- The Taliban insurgency has gained strength
- The best business to be in is drug-running.
- The country could become a narco-state.
-Governance is poor

WHAT ARE WE DOING?
- Obama is boosting the number of troops in Afghanistan

AND PAKISTAN?
- Government is weak,
- Weak economy
- Islamist militancy and India are influencing the northwest.
- Distaset for the alliance with the United States,
- U.S missile attachs target Pakistani tribal areas.
- Hard to see stability in the region, because not only is it a nuclear weapons state, but it is a a hiding place for al Qaeda.

WHY INVOLVE INDIA?
- India isasking the same question.
-Biggest regional power.
- India has always resisted outside meddling in what it sees as an internal matter .
- Pakistani intelligence agents had ties with the Lashkar-e-Taiba militant group it blames for carrying out the attack on Mumbai
- Pakistan should bring those involved, to justice before expecting India to revive a five-year-old peace process on "pause" after the attack on Mumbai.

Response to Article #8: House of Representatives Passes American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan

This was a great article for finding out Obama's plan. The Recovery and Reinvestment Plan is such a great plan, it will open up job opportunities, create job opportunities, create several green jobs, improve schools and their green programs. This is a plan that needs to happen and happen fast, and will help America immensely!! I am so excited for this plan to happen, it will specifically he will put the working class.

Article #8:House of Representatives Passes American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan

-By a vote of 244-188, the House of Representatives has just passed American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan. The plan will now move to consideration by the Senate.
Following the vote, President Obama released the following statement:

-Last year, America lost 2.6 million jobs.
-Some of our biggest employers plan to cut another 55,000. which is a wakeup call to Washington that the American people are in need for action.
- There are many numbers in this plan.
- It will double our capacity to generate renewable energy.
-It will lower the cost of health care .
- It will modernize thousands of classrooms and send more kids to college.
-And it will put billions of dollars in immediate tax relief into the pockets of working families.
- But the one that matters most is :this recovery plan will save or create more than three million new jobs over the next few years.
- Once it is passed, every American will be able to go the website recovery.gov and see how and where their money is being spent.
-The plan now moves to the Senate
- This must move swiftly and boldly to put Americans back to work, and that is exactly what this plan begins to do.

response to : Article #7 Obama Plays to the Crowd at Inauguration Parade

The Inauguration was today, which i watched! This article gave a brief summary about what was going on behind scenes and what was going on in the crowds during the inauguration. There were a lot of illnesses behind scenes and thousands of supporters in the crowds who wanted to become a part of history.

Article # 7: Obama Plays to the Crowd at Inauguration Parade

-President Barack Obama was greeted by an enthusiastic crowd at his inauguration parade .
- As the Obama family participated in this historic moment, they watched the end of the inaugural parade outside the White House, hours after Obama had addressed his fellow Americans as president of the United States.
- About 15 minutes into the parade, Obama and his wife, Michelle Obama, stepped out of the limousine with a USA 1 license plate.
- A couple of moments later, Vice President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, joined them on the walk to the loud cheers of hundreds of people .
-Earlier in the day, there had been some unexpected drama on Capitol Hill. Sen. Ted Kennedy, was taken to the hospital after suffering a seizure brought caused by a "simple fatigue."
- He went into convulsions during Obama's celebratory inaugural luncheon, and was taken out on a wheelchair.
- People peered from the windows of every building near by.
"He's the people's president," Patricia Correia, 68, of Lancaster, Calif., said. "He would not be the type to sit here in the car. He knows that we waited out here this long."
-At 15th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, most people cleared the bleachers right after Obama walked past, not waiting for the Bidens.
- At points along the route, spectators bundled in parkas and blankets and at one spot people danced in place to the "Electric Slide" to keep warm in .
- "I came because it's about us making history," said Latori Brown, a 21-year-old black woman who'd been waiting since dawn and shivered under a blanket. "I'm not worried about the cold. It's worth it."

Liam's Third Response

Aimee, I knew Barrack Obama played basketball but I didn't know he played golf until his recent vacation in Hawaii. It must be annoying having hundreds of cameras taking you picture when you are trying to play golf, particularly if you are not very good. I think it is good that you included an anti-Obama article from a less than impartial news source. It is useful to hear opposing viewpoints to know how other people see him.

By the way, I think it is a very good thing for the country that George Bush now has plenty of time to play golf.

Jeanette's 3rd Response

Hi Aimee! I like that you are finding information about different aspects of Obama's life. It is good to know that the president has a life like other people. A few things I think you might find helpful are if you researched the population that supports him and his family. It might be interesting to find out what group of people, (race, gender, age, etc...) really supports him and voted for him. His family would be interesting to research because it would make him more of a normal American. Lastly, you don't have a response for your 4th article...:o But good job otherwise!

Response to Obama takes his golf swing to oval office

This article was fun! It gave information about Obama's leisure time and how he plays basketball and golf. It also showed that Golf is a popular sport to practice among the presidents. I did not write it on my blog report, but it said that Bush would have plenty of time to improve his golfing skills now that he is not President! It was a bit of a surprise to hear that Obama was "fit". It was an interesting article, different from the other articles I have written about.

#6. Article: Obama takes his golf swing to oval office

- It was publicized that during his presidential campaign, Barack Obama enjoyed playing basketball.
-Now, it has come out that he also enjoys playing golf.
- According to the Golf Digest magazine, Obama took up the game 12 years ago,
- During his recent vacation in Hawaii, he found enough time for three roundsa t a private golf course.
- Obama will become the 15th of the last 18 presidents to play golf.
-John F. Kennedy, whose average score was 80 despite chronic back pain, ranked No. 1, and Calvin Coolidge, who is said to have left his clubs at the White House after he left office, was No. 15. George W. Bush, who may have time to work on his game after Obama is sworn in as president on Jan. 20, is No. 6.
-“He’d be better if he could play more,” Marvin Nicholson,
-“He wants to play all the best courses: St. Andrews, Pebble Beach, Bethpage Black. When he becomes an ex-president, he’d like to try to become a single-digit handicapper.”
Nicholson said Obama doesn’t curse on the course or cheat to make his score look better.
-“When he’d shoot an 11 on a hole,” Nicholson said, “I’d say, ‘Boss, what did you shoot?’ and he’d say, ‘I had an 11.’ And that’s what he’d write on his scorecard. I always respected that.”
-Nick Smith, now in the Marine Corps and stationed in Hawaii, got to play basketball with Obama on Christmas Eve at a gym near Obama’s vacation home.
-“He’s really fit, and a great outside shooter,” Smith told The Morning Sun of Pittsburg. “You can tell he’s played some basketball before.”
Big New Year’s Eve

Response to Military Poll Finds Troops Wary About Obama

This article helped because it let me know that there are people who do not support Barack Obama, people who in theory should. It let me know that a lot of the troops do not want Barack Obama in charge because of his lack in military experience. Then again, this article came from a republican channel. Fox news is generally against Barack Obama and is not completely liable. However it made me more conscious about the fact that there are a lot of people who are against him. I have been using a lot of articles from the Google news site, so I will broaden my research places.

#5. Article: Military Poll Finds Troops Wary About Obama

-More than half of U.S. service members ( troops) feel uncertain about Obama as the President of the United States.
-Six out of 10 Americans in uniform are concerned about Obama's lack of military experience
-The uncertainty has to do with Obama's time for pulling the troops out of the war. It conflicts with the "don't ask, don't tell" policy, the Army Times reported.
- "Being that the Marine Corps can be sent anywhere in the world with the snap of his fingers, nobody has confidence in this guy as commander in chief," a lance corporal who asked not to be identified responded to the Times survey.
-The findings are results of the sixth annual Military Times survey of subscribers to Army Times, Air Force Times, Navy Times and Marine Corps Times newspapers. Conducted Dec. 1 through Dec. 8, the survey had more than 1,900 active-duty respondents.
Nearly half of the respondents described their political views as conservative or very conservative, the Army Times reported.

Phoebe Responce #2

I agree with Kelsey- I really like all the different aspects you're looking at, it makes it so the reader doesn't get bored with the same information over and over again. Of course, that won't happen know that BARACK OBAMA IS PRESIDENTTTT yayyyy :] But still, it is important that you are not limiting yourself to just one part of this very large topic. I also really liked how you're doing your article summaries with bullet points. It makes it very easy to read and is an effective way to organize the information you find. Great job!
ps. Have you noticed in the top left corner of your blog, your title says "Barak-Obam"? Not important, I just thought I'd mention that in case you wanted it changed.

Kelsey Schwarz- Second Response

I like how you are doing a variety of different topics within your one topic. You talked about Barack Obama's speech and took pieces of it and talked about it. I also liked how you did an article on a person that is associated with him. I think you're doing a good job overall and you'll be able to keep up with the good information. Doing an article on what he wants to accomplish and his goals will help with your overall research. You can figure out whether he's reaching his goals or if things aren't working out.

#4.Article:Obama focuses on alternative energy, environment

- This article talkes about Obama and is new ideas of forms for energy.
- President Obama insisted that he needs to develop new forms of energy and chose his energy secretary on monday who is a major promoter of alternative fuels.
- Steven chu is now working with Obama to find scientific solutions to climate change and was nominated the heaf of the Energy Department.
-"In the 21st century, we know that the future of our economy and national security is inextricably linked with one challenge: energy," Obama told a news conference. "All of us know the problems that are rooted in our addiction to foreign oil. It constrains our economy, shifts wealth to hostile regimes and leaves us dependent on unstable regions."
-"To control our own destiny, America must develop new forms of energy and new ways of using it. And this is not a challenge for government alone -- it's a challenge for all of us."
- On his energy and environment team he has Lisa Jackson ( head of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection) running the Envrionmental Proteciton agency, Nancy Sutley ( a deputy mayer of LA) to head the White House Council on Environmental Quality, and Sen. Ken Salazar ( former environmental lawyer) as the secretay of the intereior ( the Department of the Interior leases public lands for oil and gas drilling).
- Oabama will hold a meeting with his economic team on Tuesday where the nominees for all the top financial posts including Treasury Department, national Economic Council and the Pffice Management and Budget Council will be ellected.
- Obama's energy team will play a very important role in his quest to use renewable energy and create millions og "green" jobs that will ease America's reliance to foreign oil.
- "THIS TIME WE CANNOT FAIL"
-"This time has to be different. This time we cannot fail, nor can we be lulled into complacency simply because the price at the pump has for now gone down from $4 a gallon," he said.
-His team will develop policies to reduce carbon emissions blamed for Global warming and will make decisions based on facts.
-Obama has already layed out plans for a recovery of the economy and create about 2.5 million jobs, and most of them will be "green" jobs such as to work building wind farms, solar panes,and fuel-efficient cars.

Morgan response #2

I love your variety of articles. I also really appreciated the article on Joe Biden. I think it would be very interesting to look at the peole Obama is picking for his cabnet, to get a fuller look at his future administration.

Good information . . .missing a citation

Interesting information thus far!. . . Work on the following: Is your title on the blog page itself correctly spelled? Complete a citation for Obama calls Iraq PM . . . Use periods, not commas, between citation components. Explain how the picture on your blog is relevant to your research or delete it. Check your color coding. It must be consistent - one color for notes/data. A second color for responses.

Response to Iraq Prime Minister

That article helped me with understanding the full goal of Barack Obama. Barack Obama wants to retreat the military in Iraq to re stabilize the sovereignty of the country. He also thinks that resources should be reduced in Iraq and shiftedinto Afghanistan. Barack Obama is also trying to re-Allie himself with the other major nations and fix what George W. Bush has created with his "war". Obama called Denmark, Holland, Greece, Kuwait and Qatar and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, to epxress his appreciation for their congratulations on his election.

#3. Article:Obama calls Iraq PM to discuss cooperation

-Barack Obama called Iraq's prime minister(5 houres ago) and told him about his commitment to the withdrawal of the American army from Iraq.
-During Wednesday's call, Obama thanked Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and the Iraqi government for gaining the parliament's approval of a security pact. I sets out a three year time frame for the full withdrawl of the U.S tropps.
-Obama also gave assurances he's committed to respecting Iraq's sovereignty and to a responsible withdrawal of U.S. forces, al-Maliki's press office said.
- A spokesman Nick Shapiro, said that Obama returned calls to six world leaders, to express his appreciation for congratulations on his election.
-Obama believes resources should be reduced in Iraq and shifted to Afghanistan.
-Obama also called the prime ministers of Denmark, Holland, Greece, Kuwait and Qatar and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Response to Joe Biden

That article talked about Joe Biden and how he is going to be different then the previous vice President and is going to be a loyal and useful one to Barack Obama. He has run for President a couple of times but is now satisfied with being Vice president. When he resigns from being in the senate in Delaware his son is likely to take his place. Biden will be a useful tool in foreign policy problems, for he has travelled a great deal and is " a man at home in most lands". Joe will serve as the globe-trotter and message-bearer for his boss. Joe Biden is almost as important as Barack Obama and this article made my opinion of Joe Biden stronger. I think Joe Biden will be a great Vice president for Barack Obama. I like using google news for there is a lot of current information on Barack Obama

#2. Article: As Vice President, Joe Biden Will Be Central to Barack Obama's Administration

-Joe Biden was chosen by Barack Obama because of his experience as a senator in 1973 in Washington, he was the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, and of the Judiciary Committee.
- He is going to serve as great importance to Barack Obama unlike some vice presidents in the past, some have seemed disloyal or untalented, and Biden is neither.
-Before Joe decided to accept his nomination as Vice President, he had Obama agree to meet with him once a week.
- "Biden will be especially instrumental in helping on the urgent foreign policy matters," says a well-connected Democratic strategist who has served in the White House and has known the Delaware senator for many years.
- Bide turns 66 on November 20, and is expected to participate in decision making on foreign policy, making sure that Obama's wishes are respected and his preferences enforced. He has travelled around the world and is a man who is at home in many lands. He will be an influential senator and will serve as the globe-trotter and message-bearer for Obama and will undertake diplomatic missions for the administration.
-Joe says he will not under any circumstances, emulate Dick Cheney, his predecessor, in emphasizing secrecy and trying to expand the powers of the executive branch. He says that it is time for the White House to show more respect for Congress and the Constitution. He will do everything in his power to keep things friendly with his legislative colleagues.
-"Joe will be very helpful in improving relations and in helping pass legislation, especially in the Senate," says a friend. "He is knowledgeable and well liked, and that goes a long way. He will play a pretty big role in keeping things together on the Hill."
-Joe will resign from Congress, there's a good chance that Biden's son, Beau, who is the attorney of Dela-ware who is now serving a stint in Iraq with the National Guard, will take his place. Meaning there would still be a Biden in the Senate after Joe leaves to become the vice president in January.

Response to Obama:This is your victory

The previous article helped a lot on finding quotes. The quotes were out of his presidential speeche.The quotes were quotes that described how passionate he was for America and how much he wants to change America for the better. Those quotes will help a lot at the beginning of my paper to give a broad overview of Barack Obama. It helps a lot that he got elected for the President of United States because I will have more information then if he hadn't of been elected!

#1.Obama: This is your victory

-As Obama was giving his presidential victory speech he told his supporters that "change has to come to America".
-"The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even one term, but America -- I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you -- we as a people will get there,"
- He is the first African-American to win the white house.
-Obama told the roaring crowd, "This is your victory."
-"While the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress," Obama said.
-Obama had conversations with both mcCaine and President Bush and how they can work together.
-Obama will be working with a higlhy democratic congress.
- Over 1,000 people gathered outside of the White House, yelling "Obama, Obama!"
-Obama won the state of Virginia, which has not voted for a Democratic president since 1964.
- Tuesday marks the end of the longest presidential campaign season in U.S. history -- 21 months.
-Obama, 47, will now begin his transition to the White House. He will be sworn in at the 44th president on January 20, 2009.

Final I-search Topic

Final I-Search Topic
Aimee Keushguerian

My interest in politics and economy has swayed me towards Barack Obama as a final topic. I have followed the presidential election from the very beginning. I have seen Barack Obama win against Hilary, and hopefully will see him win against McCaine. Barack Obama is my idle because of what he has accomplished in his life. Even if Obama does not win I will still be interested in him because of his act in the election and him being a large political figure.
There will be no problem with current information about Barack Obama. He is one of the larges topics in the news right now and will be a bigger topic if he becomes the first black president of America! There a lot of sites out there that have updated stories on politics, and the TV has loads as well.
I will not find as much information on the sites that were given to the class but I will find a lot of information on cnn and websites like that. It will be a little more difficult finding information about his life before the election then information on him during and after because before the election was less important to Americans.
There will be ongoing research for my topic. There is going to be current, updated information as well as old information posted all over the Internet, in magazines and in news papers. I will have more than enough information for my project. There will probably be an unbalance however. There will be a lot of current information, meaning during the election and after the election, but there will not be as much old information on Barack Obama. However I am looking into a book on his life in the library that will cover a lot.
There will be challenge to this project because my writing is not as strong as it should be for my age. But the research will be easy because of all the information that I will find. Although that might lead to difficulties in refining the information and selecting the key elements. Since this is only my second I-search paper I think that it is about the perfect level of difficulty for me.

I agree that it would be very interesting to research Barack Obama's life before, during, and after the election. The only potential problem I can see with this is if he doesn't win the election there wont be very much information about him or what he's doing after a few months. But hopefully that wont be a problem! Both of your other topics would also have been interesting but I'm glad you chose to go with Obama. Good Luck!

[Title]

You have already chose your topic and it sounds good. The only thing that could be bad is that the inauguration isn't till January, I don't know if that will affect anything or not but it might (assuming he wins, not McCain) I can't think of anything to say except good luck and you capitalized He in your last sentence, which leads me to believe you think Obama is God.

I see you set your mind on Barack Obama. This will no doubt be a very interesting topic because it sounds like there is a lot that people don't know about him. Also, it is looking more and more like he is going to be the next president every day now. It would be awesome to research his views on all the controversial topics like health care, the war in Iraq, the economy, and many others including his views on Darfur. As part of your project you could maybe send the senate or someone a letter talking about Darfur and see if you get a response. More importantly than all of that: Why would he be a good president? If you looked into not only these areas but others, you would have a very up-to-date and interesting isearch!

All of these topics are very interesting and current. The genocide in Darfur was also one of my possible topics, because Ive learned about it alot in civil rights team. Trials are now beginning for Sudanese government officials and President al-Bashir, so there is a lot of current activity going on that relates to Darfur.
New studies come out every day about global warming, so it would also be good choice to research. There is also a huge number of sub topics that could relate to global warming. Barack Obama would be a very good topic to choose, because there is a plethora of information about him in the news, and (unless he really screws up in the next week) I think he'll be our next president. My advice is that you choose Barack Obama for your topic, especially since (suprisingly) no one else has chosen him. Also, Barack The House would be a good name for your blog, but "Barack Obama" is probably better because its more formal.

Topic Choice

I-Search Topics
Aimee Keushguerin

-Politics, economy and world issues are the way to go for me. I chose Global Warming, Barack Obama and Darfur as possible research topics for my final I-search paper. I went into this process ( of picking a topic) thinking that I would just focus on Barack Obama, but through the research process my interests fluctuated in different directions.
-The World Studies class last year was assigned a major project on Darfur, and being friends with most of the students in the class felt like I was assigned the project as well! Darfur interested me because of immense disorder going on in Sudan. There is a huge problem going on in that territory and I thought it would be interesting to research it even more. I found a lot of information on Student Resource Center, and the Opposing Viewpoints sights. There was information suggesting that there is no genocide going on in the area, and information suggesting that there is a genocide, as well as if the US should intervene or not. Darfur would be an interesting topic to write about because it would make me more aware of global issues and come up with a personal resolution for the problem.
-Global Warming interested me because of the movie I watched, the inconvenient truth by Al Gore. I had watched in 8th grade in library class, and again with my parents about a month ago. The Opposing viewpoints sight showed me 141 pages of information on Global warming and opinions on rather global warming is true, or false, or good or bad. The World and I sight had 251 documents to show me. So I know that I will not have any trouble finding current information. I can also tie Global warming in with the election, due to my interest in politics.
-I have followed the presidential election very closely and my interest in Barack Obama grew. Barack Obama is like a role model to me, 8 years ago he didn’t have enough money for a car to see the debate with Al Gore, and in 8 years after being broke look where he is know! A lot of these sites weren’t as useful as I liked but when we are allowed to explore the web there will be a lot more current information.
-I would see Global Warming as my last choice for it is one of the three topics that interest me the least. My second choice would be Darfur for it is an extreme problem of sovereignty in a country , which would lead to me finding a personal resolution. After researching all three topics I have chosen Barack Obama as a final topic. I will write about his life before, during and after the presidential election. I feel like He is the topic that interests me the most, and would keep me with updated, current information.