More than two billion dollars. That's how much money was spent in the 2012 presidential campaign-the most expensive campaign in history. Each party raised and spent more than one billion dollars as the traditional boundaries of campaign financing were ignored. Both parties could do so because they were playing in a game with new rules-rules that largely developed after the 2010 Supreme Court ruling known as Citizens United. That case removed many restrictions on donation limits, particularly for corporations and unions. The result was the development of a new set of political players called "Super PACs" that were allowed to enter the political arena and spend an unlimited amount of money on behalf of clients. This book looks at how Super PACs raised and spent money and influenced the 2012 election. It provides an insightful look at how both right- and left-leaning groups approached the election and impacted the political process.

The Four Pillars of Politics provides a uniform foundation for evaluating political campaign strategies. The four pillars identified in this book-fear, national narcissism, consumerism, and religion-serve as attitudinal anchors that American voters use in making their voting decisions. The dominant pillar may change from election to election, leading to situations in which a candidate who wins in one election may be defeated four years later. Kitchens and Powell examine how political communication is understood by combining these four pillars with the related matrix of attitudes, beliefs, and values that are integral components of the American culture. The Four Pillars of Politics will appeal to scholars of political science, communication studies, and journalism.

"A "handbook" for communicating in the work environment "" "Assuming a unique perspective for an organizational communication text, this book focuses students on how to communicate with managers and peers to survive, thrive and prosper in organizational environments. This "survival guide for employees" centers on understanding how and why managers communicate the way they do and how employees can adapt their own communication skills to be more effective in the organizational environment. Students who master the study guide objectives in this book will be better prepared to function in real organizational situations. This text provides clear and concise guidelines, along with a foundation of theory and scholarship, to help students become more effective communicators in today's workforce. Learning Goals
Upon completing this book, readers will be able to:

• Communicate effectively with managers and peers
• Understand how and why managers communicate the way they do
• Differentiate between good and poor communication skills

Communicator-in-Chief: How Barack Obama Used New Media Technology to Win the White House examines the fascinating and precedent-setting role new media technologies and the Internet played in the 2008 presidential campaign that allowed for the historic election of the nation's first African American president. It was the first presidential campaign in which the Internet, the electorate, and political campaign strategies for the White House successfully converged to propel a candidate to the highest elected office in the nation. The contributors to this volume masterfully demonstrate how the Internet is to President Barack Obama what television was to President John Kennedy, thus making Obama a truly twenty-first century communicator and politician. Furthermore, Communicator-in-Chief argues that Obama's 2008 campaign strategies established a model that all future campaigns must follow to achieve any measure of success. The Barack Obama campaign team astutely discovered how to communicate and motivate not only the general electorate but also the technology-addicted Millennial Generation - a generational voting block that will be a juggernaut in future elections.

This volume examines one of the most controversial stories in the Bible the akedah, or sacrifice of Isaac recounted in the 22nd chapter of Genesis. Today, more than three thousand years later, the story continues to evoke controversy. It has had an impact on Judaism, Christianity and Islam each clinging to different interpretations. Even among adherents of a common faith, interpretations of the passage differ to such extremes that it can be used to justify unthinkable behavior ranging from infanticide, mass murder, and suicide bombings. Abraham's actions have generated a sacrificial rhetoric that continues to exert a powerful influence on modern society. The rhetoric of sacrifice was born when the first person used the story of akedah to inspire another to sacrifice willingly on their behalf. Since then, a multitude of religious leaders and religious imposters have used the rhetoric of sacrifice to do their bidding. The akedah has proven itself as a tool that placed in the wrong hands can be used to commit unthinkable acts."

The Political Blame Game in American Democracy looks at the forces that have developed over the past fifty-plus years and created a dysfunctional political system in the United States. It argues that the current level of partisan polarization is actually the culmination of a number of forces at work during the past few decades. These include a perception by each party that the other is using unfair political tactics; the subsequent creation of a culture of blame, with each party blaming the other for the dysfunction; a decline in political norms, leading to childlike behavior by politicians and political candidates; and a culture of payback in which the opposition argues that their opponents are responsible for the decline. These four factors culminated in the 2016 presidential campaign, where they were exemplified by Donald Trump, and have continued to have a significant ongoing impact on the political landscape of the United States.

For decades, campaign finance reform has been an on-going topic of discussion. In particular, the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (BCRA) was heralded as a major breakthrough in controlling the flow of money into campaigns. Almost immediately, political players found other ways to financially manipulate the new laws. Campaign Finance Reform: The Political Shell Game provides an in-depth look at the history of political campaign finance reform with special emphasis on legislative, FEC, and federal court actions from the 1970s to present. In particular, the authors examine the ways that campaigns and independent groups have sought to make end-runs around existing campaign finance rules. Oftentimes the loopholes they find make a significant impact on an election, sparking the next round of campaign finance reform. New rules are then enacted, and new loopholes are found. Like a big political shell game, the amount of money in politics never actually decreases, but instead gets moved around from one organization to another.

For decades, campaign finance reform has been an on-going topic of discussion. In particular, the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (BCRA) was heralded as a major breakthrough in controlling the flow of money into campaigns. Almost immediately, political players found other ways to financially manipulate the new laws. Campaign Finance Reform: The Political Shell Game provides an in-depth look at the history of political campaign finance reform with special emphasis on legislative, FEC, and federal court actions from the 1970s to present. In particular, the authors examine the ways that campaigns and independent groups have sought to make end-runs around existing campaign finance rules. Oftentimes the loopholes they find make a significant impact on an election, sparking the next round of campaign finance reform. New rules are then enacted, and new loopholes are found. Like a big political shell game, the amount of money in politics never actually decreases, but instead gets moved around from one organization to another.

The Four Pillars of Politics provides a uniform foundation for evaluating political campaign strategies. The four pillars identified in this book-fear, national narcissism, consumerism, and religion-serve as attitudinal anchors that American voters use in making their voting decisions. The dominant pillar may change from election to election, leading to situations in which a candidate who wins in one election may be defeated four years later. Kitchens and Powell examine how political communication is understood by combining these four pillars with the related matrix of attitudes, beliefs, and values that are integral components of the American culture. The Four Pillars of Politics will appeal to scholars of political science, communication studies, and journalism.

More than two billion dollars. That's how much money was spent in the 2012 presidential campaign-the most expensive campaign in history. Each party raised and spent more than one billion dollars as the traditional boundaries of campaign financing were ignored. Both parties could do so because they were playing in a game with new rules-rules that largely developed after the 2010 Supreme Court ruling known as Citizens United. That case removed many restrictions on donation limits, particularly for corporations and unions. The result was the development of a new set of political players called "Super PACs" that were allowed to enter the political arena and spend an unlimited amount of money on behalf of clients. This book looks at how Super PACs raised and spent money and influenced the 2012 election. It provides an insightful look at how both right- and left-leaning groups approached the election and impacted the political process.

The life and work of American director John Avildsen is thoroughly examined in this detailed filmography. Each of the most significant films made by the Oscar-winning Avildsen is given a separate chapter, including such critical successes as The Stoolie, Joe and Save the Tiger, and box-office blockbusters Rocky and its sequels and the Karate Kid series. The authors' observations on these and other titles--some well known, others less familiar--are enhanced by extensive production notes, and by commentary from John Avildsen himself. Noted cinema historian Jean Bodon, chair of the Department of Mass Communications at Sam Houston State University, provides the foreword.

Communicator-in-Chief: How Barack Obama Used New Media Technology to Win the White House examines the fascinating and precedent-setting role new media technologies and the Internet played in the 2008 presidential campaign that allowed for the historic election of the nation's first African American president. It was the first presidential campaign in which the Internet, the electorate, and political campaign strategies for the White House successfully converged to propel a candidate to the highest elected office in the nation. The contributors to this volume masterfully demonstrate how the Internet is to President Barack Obama what television was to President John Kennedy, thus making Obama a truly twenty-first century communicator and politician. Furthermore, Communicator-in-Chief argues that Obama's 2008 campaign strategies established a model that all future campaigns must follow to achieve any measure of success. The Barack Obama campaign team astutely discovered how to communicate and motivate not only the general electorate but also the technology-addicted Millennial Generation - a generational voting block that will be a juggernaut in future elections.

This book on the Birmingham Black Barons takes a unique approach to the history of a Negro League team and its players. The first half of the book emphasizes the accomplishments of both within the organized black leagues of the 1920s, the 1930s, and the years 1940 through 1947 (the year Robinson broke the color line). In the second half, the author changes tack, devoting chapters to the Black Barons of subsequent decades, the former Barons invited to Tryout Camps, others who were signed with minor league clubs, and the fortunate few who got their long-awaited chance at the major leagues.

Interviewing in a Changing World offers students the broadest coverage of interviewing available today by including several unique interview situations. Students begin to develop a better understanding of how to utilize strong interviewing skills in several different settings, as this text demonstrates that interviewing techniques differ in accordance with varying situations and contexts. The Second Edition covers employment contexts such as job interviews, persuasive interviews, performance and appraisal interviews, as well as media interviews on radio, television, newspapers, and political reporting. There are two full chapters on research, including interviewing skills needed for both qualitative and quantitative research. The book covers several unique interviewing situations that are on the cutting edge of communication research with an interview with a professional from the field and multiple sidebars on related theoretical and applied issues within each chapter.

Now in its third edition, Political Campaign Communication: Inside and Out examines the intricacies of political campaigning through the eyes of both an academic and a political consultant. Unlike others in its field, this text takes a broad view of political campaigning, discussing both theories and principles, along with topics such as political socialization, the role of money, ethics, and critical events. This new edition delves into ongoing changes in the American political environment, with fuller examinations of women and gender, the involvement of social media in political campaigning, political money, and ethics. Advanced undergraduate and graduate students of political communication can make use of updated chapter-by-chapter discussion questions and online practice quizzes.

Now in its third edition, Political Campaign Communication: Inside and Out examines the intricacies of political campaigning through the eyes of both an academic and a political consultant. Unlike others in its field, this text takes a broad view of political campaigning, discussing both theories and principles, along with topics such as political socialization, the role of money, ethics, and critical events. This new edition delves into ongoing changes in the American political environment, with fuller examinations of women and gender, the involvement of social media in political campaigning, political money, and ethics. Advanced undergraduate and graduate students of political communication can make use of updated chapter-by-chapter discussion questions and online practice quizzes.

Please continue to follow the journey of moundbuilder warrior/shaman Ahki as he continues to struggle in the end time of a great civilization. Ahki continues his journey along the Scioto and Ohio River valleys over fifteen hundred years ago. Dr. Larry Powell's journey continues with this edition of his Hopewell Trilogy. He is a retired educator with over forty years experience. This is his second novel.

Ahki, a moundbuilder warrior/shaman, struggles to provide for his family near the end time of a great civilization. He and his family battle mother nature and warlike raiders in their attempt to survive. Pathway of Departed Souls takes place in the Ohio River Valley. Follow the moundbuilder's journey through present day Ohio and Indiana some fifteen hundred years ago.

Surviving Group Meetings takes a different approach to group meetings by addressing the negative aspects of groups in modern organizations. Too many organizations hold too many meetings and accomplish little. Surviving Group Meetings directly addresses the growing dissatisfaction with the group process by focusing on a practical rather than a theoretical view of groups.