Matt Vasilogambros -- Politics Daily

Published: 07/16/10

Wind Farms Generating Energy and Jobs in Iowa

In Cedar Rapids, hundreds of workers have found employment with Clipper Turbine Works, one of many forward-looking companies found these days in Iowa's "Wind Belt." Clipper has emerged from what was the faint memory of the heavy manufacturing business, which up until recently had been shifting overseas. Those who once worked with manufacturers of printing presses and coal trucks are being reborn in this new economy and its need for clean energy. In recent years, public perception of wind-generated power has shifted from a research and development project to a realistic source of electricity. ...

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Published: 07/8/10

Beck University: First Course Faith 101 Provides Education On Demand

Glenn Beck has been called many different things, but "academic" has never been high on the list. That changed last week when the Fox News personality announced his online program called Beck University -- a nine-part series on faith, hope, and charity. For $9.95 a month or $74.95 a year, prospective students can become an "insider extreme" on his website and delve into a "unique academic experience bringing together experts in the fields of religion, American history, and economics," complete with a list of suggested readings after every course. But before you go chomping at the bit to ...

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Published: 06/14/10

Interns in Washington: Finding News Ways to Wow the Hill

It's the time of year when 20,000 bright-eyed, ambitious college students pour into Washington, D.C. to start their jobs as summer interns. These kids have finally made it to the big show, working in the nation's capitol. Eagerness and egos in hand, they soon find out that the qualities that got them there can just as soon lead to their demise. Interns in Washington have become a spectacle, a means of entertainment to fill up conversations at the water cooler. Classic mistakes and faux pas have become legend for locals. So, interns, watch out when summer comes around. You're being observed ...

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Published: 05/14/10

Benjamin Backstrom Case: Shock and Questions on Drake Campus

Though national media interest has faded in the tragic and strange case of Benjamin Backstrom, a Drake University sophomore who apparently staged his own murder, shock and confusion remain in the campus community. Early on the morning on April 27th, Backstrom was found hunched over a bridge four miles north of Indianola, Iowa. After being rushed to the hospital in serious condition, he was pronounced dead that afternoon. Identifying the case as a serious assault, Warren County officials said that they were treating the case as a homicide. University President David Maxwell also said in an ...

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Published: 04/2/10

The Great Divide: Connecting Student Governments With Student Bodies

The passage of health care reform was not without its subplots; the most visible being the outrage at elected officials who supported legislation found to be unpopular by public opinion polls. These frustrations with government transparency and accountability have reached a level in the national discourse where they're sure to factor in to the fall campaign cycle (though actually legislating by polls raises serious issues). While campus student governments are much more limited in their powers and initiatives, they are still significant parts of student communities, and over the past school ...

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Published: 03/16/10

College Tea Party Groups Boost Campus Conservative Ranks

Over the past year, the Tea Party movement has grown from fringe group to Palin-supported national sensation. Images of angry, disheartened protesters crying out for fewer taxes and less government spending were ubiquitous in media coverage of the health reform and stimulus debates, and the movement's impact is beginning to be felt in the 2010 election cycle. Despite the partiers' broad base among older, libertarian-leaning Americans, the ranks also boast members from college campuses around the country. During the big Tea Party tax day protests on April 15 of last year, one event took place ...

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Published: 02/18/10

Obama White House Interns: Bags, Meetings, Unforgettable Experiences

Most of the tasks given to interns do not inspire pride. Whether getting coffee for the boss or making copies for a meeting, it's a first taste of the daily grind -- though perks and future advantages may be included. White House intern Monique Dorsainvil discovered this at the 2009 Christmas Press Party, where she was assigned to transport bags from one room to another. As the president and first lady took photos with guests, Monique found herself clutching 15 bags. In this moment of desperation, looking up from her carefully balanced totes, she saw President Obama look over and flash her a ...

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Published: 01/27/10

Sales Tax Hike at Issue in Chicago Election

Whoever called politics a blood sport must have been referring to a Chicago election. The Democratic primary for the Cook County Board presidency, currently held by Todd Stroger, has been deeply rooted in Chicago-machine politics, race baiting, and fear mongering -- as shown in the Soldiers for Stroger fliers. Since Stroger was elected in 2006, his office has been flooded with controversies, namely surrounding the nepotism he shows when hiring county officials and the higher sales tax he championed in 2008. For the last four years, Chicago media and local politicians have been relentless in ...

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