Listening Mid-term assignment

The 2008 presidential Election is just beginning. It looks like the 2008 presidential election will be one of the most exciting republicans vs democratic races in history. Will there be a first woman president? First African-American president? There are many quality candidates for 2008 election; Rudy Giuliani, Ron Paul for the Republicans, and Hillary Clinton, Barak Obama, Bill Richardson and John Edwards for the Democrats. There are many political issues up for debates. The following is about 6 candidates' policies and my response, after I watching 6 videos of each candidates.

Hillary Clinton's video is an amazing and very informative. It is wonderful to see the support that former president Clinton is giving to Hillary. Bill Clinton is still one of the greatest public speakers. His speech very appeal to me. It tells us not only what she plans to do for the U.S., but also all that she has done for others, especially chidren and her career. I didn't know that Hillary had done so many cool things before she were in the White House. She has worked harder and longer to improve health care and public service than other candidates. As a lawyer, advocate, First Lady and senator, helping poor children has been at the center of Hillary's public life. Hillary's historic speech at the International Women's Conference in Beijing in 1995 that " There's no longer acceptable to discuss women's rights as seperate from human's rights" still echoes to many people. Also, as a senator, she has been working on American's problems; health care systems, chidren' health, creating jods, Iraq War, climate changes and better health for veterans. If she win the presidency, she will follow through on her promises and carries out her policies very competently. Because she already knows ins and outs of the legal and political systems.

Barak Obama is the United States Senator from Illinois and a member of the Democratic Party. He is the fifth African America Senator in the U.S. history and the only African American currently serving in the U.S. senate. Obama worked as a community organizer, university lecturer, and lawyer. He has been working on welfare reform, health care for uninsured chilren, death penalty reform, tax relief for low-income workers, alternative energy and higher fuel efficiency standards, and a law to open up the budget process to greater public scrutiny. But more than anything else, his outstanding speech which is about national unity is so enthusiastic and impressive to me. " The pundits like to slice-and dice our country into Red States and Blue States; Red States for Republican, Blue States for Democrats. But I've got news for them too. We worship an awesome God in the Blue States, and we don't like federal agents poking around in our libraries in the Red States. We coach little league in the Blue states and yes, we got some gay friends in the Red States. There are patriots who opposed the war in Iraq and patriots who supported the war in Iraq. We are one people, all of us pleging allegiance to the stars and stripes, all of us defending the United States of America."

As a Republican, Rudy Guiliani supports the Iraq war, and insists on reducing crime and taxes dramatically in the U.S. There is nothing special or attractive thing in his video. It's too short and common. He emphasizes that he has long experiences and a record of producing in getting results. But his speech hasn't persuasive power.

Bill Richardson has nominated 4 times for Novel peace prize. In this video, he emphasizes and shows that he has more international experience than just about anyone else in the 2008 field. He is also one of the best Governors in the U.S. He focuses on cutting taxes and creating jobs.

Despite Ron paul is a republican, he voted against Iraq War, and opposed government taxes. Besides, he never voted for raise taxes and supports federal restriction on gun ownership. Frankly speaking, I hate his video, because the background music make me irritable. It's a terrible video. I think the one who made this video must be an anti to him.

John Edwards wants to emphasize on building one America more than anything else. He says that every person has to have the same opportunities. And he talks a lot about his economic policies; cut taxes on low-income workers, create 1 million steppingstone jobs, enforce labor laws, college for everyone, guarantee affordable health care coverage to every family. Through his video, I could understand his policies. He represents it clearly.