Audience
This report is directed to students of the political sciences and international relations theories. The issue discussed here is important for them because it relates directly to their area of study. The behavior of a vice-presidential candidate is very important to study from a political science point of view. Through the observations and analogies a student can apply the theories that are learned in class in a very practical way. Of course, the following arguments that are going to be presented here are going to raise discordance among students. The argument for this is because the basis that these students view the behavior of governor Palin depend on a complex set of things. An important role is played but what they have learned studying political theories. One student evaluates the facts regarding governor Palin from a certain political position, another view them according to the principles given by an alternative political theory. Also, their political and moral belief will influence the way they evaluate governors Palin behavior.
Question at Issue
The question at issue here comes from a broader moral and political stance if governor Palin should have behaved differently during the presidential campaign. Now it is a fact that the Republican Party and its candidates, both presidential and for senate seats, lost very badly in the 2008 elections. The general attitude of governor Palin was that of being very familiar with the general public but not so familiar, or not so professional, with regard to foreign affairs. Should she have been more professional in foreign affairs related issues? Should she have presented herself less like a “hockey mom” and more a serious analyst of the affairs going on in today’s world and giving practical solutions, or ideas of solution, for specific issues?
Enthymeme
My central argument here is that governor Palin should have given more professional ideas and solutions for foreign policy issues because these are the issues that are in the basis of the major problems our country has today.
Using the Enthymeme to Plan Your Essay
The analysis of the enthymeme should comprise clarification about the role that a vice-presidential candidate should have regarding foreign policy at the present situation the country is in. Also, there should be an explanation why the foreign policy issues are of such importance today that a candidate should adapt his/her attitude accordingly. There should be an explanation why should a candidate for office (like governor Palin for example) be more professional about these issues. Why do they matter so much to the public?
Enthymeme Analysis
There is a point that only a few analysts disagree: the last presidential elections were in many senses, historical. This is because of series of events combined with each other creating a historical moment, a historical chance. The country was dealing with a subprime crisis which than became a financial crisis that expanded globally. The financial crisis began to influence the real economy world which influenced directly the lives of millions of American citizens. The country was currently conducting an ongoing war in Iraq and just come through a previous one in Afghanistan. All of this part of the broader “war on terror” that was launched after the terrible terrorist acts of September 11th, 2001.
At this moment, the attention toward the administration and its actions was very high. People were expecting from government to do something in order to secure their lives. Unfortunately, the Bush administration did not succeed in creating a positive public opinion toward the measures that it took in this regard. In fact, just before President Bush leaved the presidency, its popularity was very, very low. Less than one third of the American public opinion was in favor of what he has done.
This is why attention was high toward the presidential campaign. People wanted to see what the candidates offered, in order to decide who is going to better solve their problems. And this time, there were plenty of big problems that needed answers and right actions.
It was clear, that “one of us” could not solve these problems. There was need for someone more expert. All of the issues at hand threatening the public were directly internationally related. The situation in Afghanistan and Iraq and the general terrorism threat are issues related to foreign policy but that have direct impact on the lives of ordinary Americans. In order to successfully deal with these threats one must have a good knowledge of them and the international environment. It was clear that terrorism cannot be fight alone without the collaboration of other nations around the globe. It is not just necessary to help protect your borders but you must eliminate its roots if you want to be free from it. Americans understood that they are not alone in this world. After the attacks of September 11th, 2001, they had a glimpse of this. You should have a candidate with good and thorough knowledge of the international environment that knows how to build bridges and create allies. A “hockey mom” that goes for shopping at Wal-Mart, but very rarely has got out of her town, cannot protect you from an outside attack. This is because she can’t understand why we were attacked and how to deal with these guys abroad.
Even regarding the financial crisis the public understood it was not a national but international. The United States economy has a very high rate of integration with other world economies. Let us just remember the deal pacts that President Bush signed with China, India and Brazil. Also, the oil price crisis of last year showed how fragile the county’s economy is to international influence. The G20 meeting held a few months ago was a sign of this inter-related world economy. Again, a “hockey mom” does not help much here too. As an example let’s recall the fact that Wal-Mart has low prices because it imports from China most of its stuff. You ought to have a professional that understands how the Chinese policy toward the United States is, in order to adjust your own policies. Also, you should work together with the other developed, and developing, nations of the world to adjust the world financial system in order to prevent future crises and solve the current one.