No way... maybe if I become president... maybe in April... well, alright, I guess this Tuesday

America's infatuation with Mitt Romney's tax returns continues.  After conceding to popular indignation, or perhaps just voters' raw curiosity, Mitt Romney has agreed to release his 2010 tax returns, along with 2011 estimates, well ahead of schedule.  Depending on the extent of his fortune and how voters perceive his financial activities, Romney's willingness to release them could either quell skepticism, or prove to be another strike against him.  We will have to see whether Americans sentence him to the pillory, or prove to be appreciative of his gesture.  The attached Politico article outlines why Romney's tax returns have caused such an uproar.


http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0112/71855.html

Newseum: Better late than never!

Sorry that I'm so late on getting everyone up-to-speed on what I've been up to down here; it has been a very busy week getting settled in at work.  As busy as it has been, I'm really enjoying the internship, and I am fortunate enough to work with a dedicated and personable group of paralegals and attorneys (and, of course, fellow Hamiltonians, Knute and Cris).  I'm looking forward to beginning my first full week at the office and delving deeper into my assignments.

I have to say, I am thoroughly impressed with Washington, D.C.  It is an incredible city that has seemingly endless educational and recreational opportunities.  Being my first week here, I have felt humbled on a regular basis by the massive monuments and government buildings, the likes of which I have never seen before.  As I continue to explore everything that the capital has to offer, I'm sure that I will grow to appreciate it more and more each day.  

Last Wednesday, during our group outing, we went to the Newseum.  If I'm not mistaken, I believe that the museum is relatively new, and it features some fascinating exhibits.  Here is a sampling of what it has to offer: large segments of the Berlin Wall, which were painted by famous artists; the pen that was used by Mikhail Gorbachev when he officially resigned, symbolizing the end of Soviet rule; prize winning photographs; a First Amendment display; copies of newspapers from around the world that displayed September 12, 2001 headlines; the boots belonging to the infamous "shoe bomber"; and, most chilling of all, pieces from the planes that were hijacked on 9/11.  I cannot describe how strange it felt to be in the presence of these objects; they so poignantly represent a day that left the lives of many Americans in shambles, but simultaneously invigorated the American spirit.  I will certainly not forget this experience any time soon.  I have uploaded pictures on Facebook, so feel free to check them out.

In other news, I seem to be eating my words from a previous post, in which I suggested that the Republican candidates should concede to Romney.  Newt pulled off a huge victory in South Carolina, but, ultimately, I believe that Romney has more firepower and a better chance to contend for the presidency come November.

Federal offices here don't open until eleven tomorrow morning due to ice, so it looks like I can sleep in a bit.  Clearly the folks down here in the Mid-Atlantic aren't as hearty as up in Clinton, where it takes ten-plus feet of snow for a delayed opening.  Although the weather down here has been fairly cold recently, we should see mid-fiftys as the week progresses.  I hope that you all have a good week at school/work!  More to come.

Nick

Keystone Pipeline Update

The decision came down today from the White House to reject the Keystone XL pipeline proposal.  As anticipated, the ruling has already evoked criticism from Republicans who claim that Obama was acting purely in his own political interests.  But what do you expect from a man who championed the development of alternative energies and decreasing our dependence on fossil fuels during his campaign?   Although this decision creates an opportune moment for Republicans to accuse him of failing to create new jobs, Obama is merely preserving the ideals upon which he was elected.

Surely the creation of new jobs is crucial to economic recovery, but to what extent are we willing to go to achieve this?  Should we install an expansive new pipeline that could have serious environmental ramifications in order to decrease short term unemployment?  I suppose that the answer depends on your political priorities and whether or not you believe that the pipeline expansion would pose a serious threat to the Ogallala Aquifer.  Regardless, Obama has left the door open for an amended proposal, one  that would circumvent the area of concern.

In the days to come, expect this to become a principal talking point for Republican candidates, senators, and congressmen alike.  We all know how this will end if Obama loses the upcoming election: Republicans will "come to the rescue" and create thousands of new jobs by adopting the most current proposal.  The immediate political capital gained by Republicans, however, could pale in comparison to the adverse side affects that have the potential to create massive headaches for our country.  For now, politicians are chomping at the bit to weigh in.  What do you think?

Click here for the Washington Post Article

Touring the Capital

After a long weekend of packing, driving, and schlepping boxes into the new apartment, I finally got a chance to catch a few of the sites and sounds of Washington, D.C.  I started out the morning with a great run through the city that ended at the Washington Monument, a truly impressive sight.  The city was filled with tourists, being Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which provided an air of excitement.  I ran through Adams Morgan, down 18th, and onto Pennsylvania Ave.  My surroundings shifted from restaurants and bars, to glass buildings in the financial district, to Grecian columns and white marble.  I have the say, the latter of the group was by far the most impressive, which included the White House, the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, the Treasury, and the Washington Monument, among others.

After my run, which was characterized by frequent stops as I took it all in, I ventured out again with Sam, Eric, and Amy.  We took the train to Metro Center, walked around the National Mall, and snapped plenty of pictures.  In addition to the sites that I visited during my run, we went to the Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Memorial, Federal Reserve, Department of Justice (where I'll be tomorrow morning for my first day of work), and, most importantly, Occupy D.C.  We managed to squeeze in a lot on our last day before internships begin.

I uploaded all of the pictures on Facebook, so feel free to check them out.  More on Wednesday; we will be visiting the Newseum, which I've heard is awesome.  For all of you back on the Hill, best of luck with the new semester!

Nick

Huntsman Out, Endorses Romney

As of late, there has been much talk about the divisive effects of Republican negative ad campaigns.  Unlike the 2008 elections, when both Democrats and Republican candidates jockeyed for their party's respective nomination, in 2012, Democrats have the luxury of an incumbent.  So, while the remaining Republican candidates duke it out from Iowa to New Hampshire to South Carolina, Americans cannot help but be become disenchanted with the lack of unity in the Republican Party.  But this is nothing new, considering the emergence of the Tea Party over the past few years that has created factions within the party.  If Republicans want to be a force in November, they must find a way to break this trend and find a unifying figure.  In my opinion, as well as many other Americans, Mitt Romney can be that person.  


Today, Huntsman formally announced his withdrawal from the race while endorsing Romney.  Based on his speech, it seems like Huntsman is ahead of the Republican curve, encouraging Republicans "to unite around the candidate best equipped to defeat Barack Obama."  Most of us know how this will end; Romney, the most moderate of the group, will prevail, and America will have a race.  So, let's cut to the chase: Obama or Romney in 2012... Who do you have?


Check out this New York Times Article for more.

First time for everything

Being the inaugural post of my new blog, Painting the Town Blue: A Semester in Washington, DC, I would like to welcome you all to the hub of top-notch Washington insight and unprecedented academic analysis... okay, so maybe I'm pushing it a bit.  Nonetheless, thanks for taking the time to read my blog and see exactly what I'm up to in our nation's capital.  For those of you who I haven't seen or spoken to in a while, let me fill you in:

I will be spending the 2012 Spring Semester in Washington, D.C. participating in a program offered at Hamilton College.  The program consists of two seminars focusing on electoral politics, an independent research project, and a full-time internship at an organization of our choice.

Through this blog, I intend to post pictures, describe various experiences, provide political commentary (although I cannot ensure complete objectivity), and, hopefully, create an outlet to stay in touch with friends, family, and folks back on The Hill.  If you like what you see, feel free to spread the word; the more followers, the more fun I have.

Three weeks and counting until departure.

Happy holidays to everyone!

Nick