Big Featured Discussions 1116 items | updated May 17 2013

With the 2012 election approaching, campaigns have been using social media in an attempt to use trending topics to steer conversation and benefit candidates. But the outcome doesn't always go as planned, with failures like the Romney campaign's hashtag #AreYouBetterOff, which was taken over by Obama supporters?

Are campaigns attempting to use trending topics on social media being social media savvy or just setting themselves up for mockery? What does this say about who's running these campaigns?

(Photo: Getty Images)

The leaked video of Mitt Romney complaining about the entitled 47 percent of Americans who don't pay income taxes is the latest gaffe from a campaign already struggling with relatablitiy. Romney attempted to walk back his comments in a fundraiser with wealthy donors, rather than directly addressing voters who may be among the group he insulted.

After this moment of unintended candor, what can Mitt Romney do to salvage his campaign?

This Monday marked one year since the Occupy movement began. What started out as a small protest in New York grew to become a global movement. Activists gathered to commemorate the anniversary at the New York stock exchange.

With the one year anniversary, what do you think Occupiers could do to improve their movement?

(Photo: Getty Images)

New technologies have made online education an increasingly common option to enhance traditional education. But critics have worried that online tools are becoming a threat to teachers.

Is online education a threat to teachers, or another tool they can use to reach students?

In the aftermath of Wednesday's attacks that killed three American diplomats in Benghazi, the U.S. has sent warships to the coast off of Libya and deployed Marines to Tripoli.

What should the US military response be, if any, to the situation in Libya and the rest of the Middle East?

(Photo: Getty Images)

Four American diplomats were killed in an assault in Libya this Wednesday, including the American ambassador to Libya. President Obama denounced the attack and vowed to avenge the killings. GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney has criticized Obama's handling of the incident.

How do you think Wednesday’s Libya incident affects the overall opinion of Obama’s military actions in Africa?

By Jo Piazza / current.com / @jopiazza

If you live or work in New York City you were likely reminded that the anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, was approaching by the appearance of the Tribute of Light — twin beams stretching into the sky in place of the fallen World Trade Center — in early September. 

For others around the country, remembrance came this morning as your morning news shows covered the official Ground Zero memorial service or replayed footage from that horrific day 11 years ago. 

I have friends who went to that Ground Zero memorial. I have friends who chose to walk to work over the Brooklyn Bridge so they could reflect on how our city has changed in 11 years.

I have friends who didn't do anything. 

On this particular anniversary, one year past the decade mark, some news organizations and individuals are being called out for not "properly" paying homage to the day. 

The New York Times has been criticized for making the decision not to put the anniversary on their front page.

Margaret Sullivan, The New York Times Public editor, wrote in a blog post Tuesday: "The pain, the outrage, the loss — these never fade. The amount of journalism, however, must."

Similarly, "Good Morning America" pointed out on Twitter that no politicians were scheduled to speak at the Ground Zero memorial service.

"For the first time, no politicians will speak at the 9/11 memorial ceremony at Ground Zero this am, it will be family only," @GMA tweeted.

I read about a half dozen blog posts this morning worrying that the media and politicians had "forgotten" about 9/11.

It is absurd and insulting to think anyone who lived through that day has simply erased it from their memories.

I bike to work along the West Side Highway. On my way I saw a group of people holding signs out to passing cars that said: "9/11 Heroes: We will always love you." They were some 20 blocks north of Ground Zero, where all morning long the official celebration will continue. 

They chose to remember in an intimate group on the side of a highway. You know what? They looked like they were having a really nice time. 

I saw a lone bicycle chained to a pole and covered in flowers — another makeshift memorial.

We don't need to criticize anyone for not showing up to one memorial service or another or for not making it the focus of today's news cycle.

Chicago teachers have gone on strike over contract negotiations. Although wages and benefits have been part of the bargaining, a new system of evaluating teacher performance and job security for teachers laid off from low-performing schools have been the main issues under discussion.

Unions have been under attack by conservative politicians, and as the teachers strike, Chicago kids are missing school and working parents are scrambling to find child-care.

Who is the real victim in the Chicago teachers' strike?

(Photo: Getty Images)

We know what our favorite moment from the Democratic National Convention was (in case you missed it, it was when Jennifer Granholm lit the place up with a fiery defense of the auto recovery – check it out below).

What was your favorite or least favorite moment of the DNC?

See more coverage of the DNC on our Social Dashboard, and see Granholm's speech here.

The Democratic National Convention kicked off in Charlotte, N.C., on Tuesday. Democrats will do their best to highlight President Obama’s successes over the last four years, while framing themselves as the party of inclusion.

What will it take for the DNC to be considered a success? What message do you want to hear from Democrats?

By Jo Piazza / current.com / @jopiazza

By Friday morning @InvisibleObama had more than 37,000 followers. The faux Twitter account was created within minutes of actor Clint Eastwood taking the stage and carrying on a discussion with an invisible Barack Obama.

According to the GOP, Eastwood was just ad-libbing. He had tossed his notes to the side and was doing what actors do best — going off message.

News anchors were baffled, the Internet exploded. But inside the Forum at the Republican National Convention, the crowd was laughing.

The Republican National Convention has kicked off in Tampa, and despite the bad weather, protesters have gathered outside the convention. Groups include anti-war protesters Code Pink and a loosely organized Occupy march.

So far the protests have remained peaceful; will the they continue to remain peaceful? Will the police allow protesters to remain?

(Photo: Getty Images)

The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency has stripped cyclist Lance Armstrong of seven Tour de France titles. On Thursday, Armstrong announced he would not fight the charges and refused to recognize the agency's ability to sanction him.

Do you think Lance Armstrong's punishment is fair?

Gawker has published 950 pages of confidential files related to Mitt Romney's finances. Information from the files is being analyzed already.

What do you think will be revealed from the Bain files?

(Photo: Getty Images)

The Congressional Budget Office warned that cuts in government spending and tax hikes due next year could push the U.S. off a "fiscal cliff." The CBO also noted that the uncertainty caused by anticipation of the cliff is holding the economy back.

What do you think Congress should do to pull us back from the edge?

(Photo: Getty Images)

Republicans are backing away from Rep. Todd Akin's comments about "legitimate rape" and Akin himself has offerend a apology for his remarks. But the GOP's anti-abortion platform offers no exceptions for rape or incest victims.

Did Akin really misspeak or is he simply saying what the GOP believes in plain language?

Rep. Todd Akin, R-Mo., is not surprisingly under fire for his statement that in cases of "legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try and shut that whole thing down" and prevent pregnancy. Republicans are now urging Akin to drop out of his senate race against incumbent Sen. Claire McCaskill.

This all seems to ignore the fact that Akin is a sitting member of the House of Representatives and a member of its Science and Technology Committee. Given three options (unless he opts to ignore the whole thing and hope it goes away), should Akin:

• Drop out of the senate race?
• Resign from the House of Representatives?
• Be removed from the House Science and Technology Committee?

All three?

What consequence should Rep. Todd Akin face for his "legitimate rape" comment?

The documentary "Cocaine Unwrapped" explores the costs of the war on drugs, from the streets of Baltimore to the jungles of Colombia. The film explores the plight of imprisoned female drug mules in Ecuador, the dangers of drug violence in Juarez, Mexico and how Bolivian President Evo Morales has legalized "traditional consumption" of coca.

The film aims to give voice to those campaigning for people in the West to take real responsibility for their drug problem and exposes the human cost of one of the most popular drugs.

What's the real cost of the war on drugs?

The 2012 elections have been filled with accusations and provocative campaign ads -- and there are still more than 80 days until election day. When it comes to heated political rhetoric, even the facts seem to be up for debate.

Does truth still matter in presidential campaigns?

(Photo: Getty Images)